Opinion
Nebraskan
Editorial Board
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Joel Strauch..Editor, 472-1766
Gerry Beltz.Features Editor
Jennifer Miratsky.Copy Desk Chief
Jody Holzworth..Staff Reporter
Patrick Hambrechl.'.Staff Reporter
Customer disservice
UNL forgets number one rule
At most large stores and businesses, customer service is always
the number one rule.
If you are displeased with the service or the product that you
get at a Wal-Mart or Dillard’s, they will do their best to
accomodate you.
There is no question who the Wal-Mart was built for. Without
the customers, there would be no business.
Unfortunately, at a business like the University of Nebraska
Lincoln, customer service is way dpwn the list, coming in behind
bureaucracy and “the rules.”
Customers at UNL, often called students, are usually treated
with disdain by the employees of this business.
Although much of the funding for this institution comes from
the taxpayers as well as the students’ tuition, the university needs
to realize the purpose of this business.
The university sells itself to prospective students as a caring
institution that puts the needs of its customers as highest priority.
Then, after students are neck deep in bills and classes and have
no other place to go, UNL often turns a cold shoulder to their
concerns.
Perhaps there should be a little less emphasis on the outer
aesthetics of the campus (Green Space, for example), and a little
more interest shown on the inner-workings of the institution.
The goal of UNL should be the betterment of the higher
education that its customers receives, not to follow rules without
exception.
Too many students have complained that various professors
and administrative offices have been putting the students’ educa
tion last and their own set of rules first.
An institution of higher learning needs to concentrate on being
just that — giving students a greater level of competence and
education to help them make their own contributions to our
society.
If that means making an exception to an unfair rule to help a
student continue their education, so be it.
NeliraSkan
Editor Jooi Strauch, 472-1766
Features Editor Garry Baitz
Copy Desk Editors JannHarMiratsky
Courtney Mathieeon
Photo Chief TannaKinnaman
Art Director James Mahsling
General Manager Daniel Shattil
Production Manager Katherine Policky
Advertising Manager Amy Struthers
Asst. Advertising Manager Laura Wilson
Publications BoaraChairman Tim Hedegaard, 472-2588
Professional Adviser Don Walton, 473-7301
The Daily Nebraskan (USPS 144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board,
Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St., P.O. Box 880448, Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448, weekdays
during the academic year (except holidays); weekly during the summer session.
Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by
phoning 472-1763 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The public also has
access to the Publications Board. For information, contact Tim Hedegaard, 472-2588.
Subscription price is $50 for one year. (
Postmaster; Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34,1400
R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. Second-class postage paid at Lincoln, NE.
ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1995 DAILY NEBRASKAN
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If you could legally carry a con
cealed handgun, would you?
That a question I’ve been asking
people lately because it’s an idea that
seems to be gaining popularity.
In Florida, it’s now easy to get a
gun permit. Virginia’s legislature re
cently passed a similar bill, although it
hasn’t taken effect yet.
And there is a bill pending in Illi
nois that would allow non-criminal
adults to pack a weapon.
So, would you?
My random interviews of Chicago
ans produced some surprising results.
An unmarried woman who lives on
the North Side, said: “I’ve always
been afraid of guns and I’ve never
even held one. And I’ve always been
in favor of strict gun controls.
“But would I carry one if it were
legal? Absolutely. I’m sure that with
proper instruction, I could leam touse it.
“I ride the CTA to and from my job
downtown and in the winter months
when it’s dark early, I have to walk a
couple of blocks cm a dark side street
to my apartment.
“One night this winter a man fol
lowed me from the bus. I’m sure of it.
Nothing happened because some
neighbor happened to come out of
their place and I ran to my building.
“But I’ve been nervous ever since.
If I had a gun in my purse, I’d feel
much safer.”
A married woman, who lives in a
suburb but works at a hospital in the
city, said: “Probably. No, make that
certainly. I wouldn’t carry it all the
time, but if 1 had to be out at night, I
would.
“I feel safe in my own community.
But when I walk to my car after after
work, I’ve seen some strange charac
ters, and there are times when I feel
vulnerable.
. —— ... mbsezj
Mike Royko
“A friend I work with has carried
one for a couple of years, ever since
she was attacked. The police have no
way of knowing, and if she ever had to
use it to defend herself, I doubt if'
anyone would blame her.
“I’m really sure if I could shoot
someone but I imagine that if I fired it
somewhere in the right direction, that
would do the trick.”
A woman who lives in a far North
Shore suburb said: “No, why would I?
There’s no street crime where I live
and shop.
I ne only serious enmes we have
up here are some rich middle-ager has
a midlife crisis murders his wife be
cause he doesn’t want to make a big
divorce settlement. It seems to be get
ting common.
“Since my husband and I get along
fine, I don’t anticipate his trying to
murder me, so I have no reason to
shoot him.
“Besides, I wouldn’t use a gun on
him anyway. I’d just let him start smok
ing again and load up his meals with
fat and cholesterol. That’s the clever
way to do it, you know.”
A Hyde Park man, who works
downtown, said: “Absolutely not. The
whole idea is ridiculous. What are we
going to do - have fast-draw contests
outside of the bookstore?
“I don’t care if everyone in the city
f-N
is armed, I’m not going to have any
thing to do with it. I am uncondition
al ly against private ownership of hand
guns, and I’m not going to change.
That they would ever consider such a
law shows that what madmen we have
holding office.”
But a business owner in Jefferson
Park, on the Northwest Side, said: “I
like the idea. You know why? Be
cause I think it would make people
nicer. *
“There are a lot of inconsiderate,
rude people. And it gets worse all the
time. They don’t care about anybody
else’s feelings. They cut you off in
traffic or spit on your shoes and if you
look at them, they just give you the
bird or tell you to — off.
“But if they thought you might pull
out a gun and blow a hole in them, I’m
sure they have better manners.”
A Northwest Side tavern owner
said: “Oh boy, that’s all I need. I
already have some regulars who have
a few drinks and they think they’re
Jack Dempsey. Now I’d be worrying
that they all think they’re John Wayne
or Clint Eastwood. Me and my dog
can handle the wrestling matches. But
if everybody is packing heat, I’m go
ing into another line of work.”
A Lincoln Park man, single and in
his 30’s, was hitting golf balls at the
Diversey Driving Range. “Sure if ev
erybody else had a gun, I’d have one. I
think most of my friends would, too. It
would become the thing to do, like golf.”
But it’s nothing for anti-gun people
to worry about. Gov. Edgar would
have to sign any new gun law. And he
doesn’t strike me as the bold sort who
would want to be answering questions
the day after the big gunfight at the OK
Driving Range.
© 1995 Trlbaie Media Services, lac.