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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 2, 1995)
'Vi,; Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln J. Christopher Hain....,. .Editor, 472-1766 Rainbow Rowell .... ..: ...Managing Editor Mark Baldridge... ...... Opinion Page Editor DeDra Janssen..........;... Associate News Editor Doug Kouma .. ... Arts & Entertainment Editor JeffZeleny.....Senior Reporter Matt Woody...v.Senior Reporter James Mehsling.......... V.... .*'............ Cartoonist Justice on trial Simpson trial puts system in hotseat O.J. Simpson may be on trial in Los Angeles, but all across the United States, as the public peered into the Los Angeles County Courthose and watched defense and prosecution lawyers wrangle in front of the jury, Americans have been judging the criminal jus tice system. The O.J. Simpson trial has showcased the uglier side of the U.S. court system. Criminal justice in America was set ud to allow a certain amount of freedom for the accused — innocent until proven guilty, judgments made only on the evidence allowed in court, free dom ahead of security. Money isn’t supposed to be a factor injustice; neither is race. But in this trial both are. Can anyone argue that O.J. Simpson’s wealth has not bought him a better-than-aver age shot at an acquittal? r The makeup of the jury and the strategy of the defense has made race central to the question of guilt or innocence. No matter what verdict is handed down, it will not be ac cepted by certain segments of the populace. -Wif r^HfJ If Simpson is found inno Jason GicBow/DN cent, many will cry that he bought freedom and that the system is corrupt. If he is found guilty, others will say he was framed by racist police in Los Angeles (lest we forget Rodney King), and that the system is corrupt. Most Americans see grandstanding by the two sides in this struggle, with the winner being the team that can put on the best act in front of the jury. Some might argue that the intense media coverage is what has turned the trial into a sideshow. Certainly throughout the trial, the defense, the prosecution or Judge Lance Ito have said things in tended as much for the viewing audience as the courtroom jury. But does that blame fall on the cameras bringing the trial to the rest of the world or on the criminal justice professionals aiming their statements outside of the halls of justice? Perhaps, this is no different than Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan in the Scopes monkey trial, the trial of Bruno Hauptmann for the murder of the Lindburgh baby or any of the other “trials of the century.” The attention focused on high-profile cases like the O.J Simpson trial give the American public a skewed perspective of the Ameri can criminal justice system. Don’t believe everything you see on TV. Ours is a fairer system than any on earth. Editorial policy Staff editorials represent the official policy of die Fall 1995 Daily Nebras kan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebras kan Editorial Board. Editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the university, its employees, die students or die NU Board of Regents. Editorial columns represent die opinion of die author. The regents publish die Daily Nebraskan. They establish die UNL Publications Board to supervise the daily production of the paper. Accord ing to policy set by the regents, respon sibility far die editorial content of die newspaper lies solely in the hands of its students. Letter policy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor from all readers and interested others. Letters will be selected for publication on the basis of clarity, originality, timeliness and space available. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject all material submitted. Readers also are welcome to submit mate rial as guest opinions. Hie editor decides whether material should ran as a guest opinion. Letters and guest opinions sent to die newspaper become die property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be re turned. Anonymous submissions will not be pub lished. Letters should include the author's name, year in school, major and group affiliation, if any. Re quests to withhold names will not be granted. Submit material to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. #ot> mss, ?s$e- ame^\ca ?umc Ktcess ^ CffiLt iv; Smart farmers As a student who has directed much of my time and effort at this university doing research, I find the recent comments by Nebraska regent Drew Miller about research narrow-minded and short sighted. He was quoted in the DN (“Resolution to determine NU research”, Sept. 29) as having said that, even if NU research led to a new theory of relativity, it would be hard to justify that research to a Nebraska farmer. I grew up in a small rural town in northeast Nebraska, and most of the people I knew were farmers. The farmers Regent Miller talks about do not sound like the farmers I know. If Miller were to stop farmers after a hard day of work and ask them if they favored spending their hard earned motley on research that wouldn’t clearly benefit them, he might well get the negative answer he is looking for. But sometimes actions speak louder than words. A few years ago Clearwater, my home town, voted “yes” on a school bond issue to build a new school, and it passed with overwhelming support. The farmers who voted yes did so knowing full well that most of their children were not going to stay home after graduating and remain farmers. Many do, but most don’t. They voted to give their children the best education they could afford, even though that education would not always directly benefit the farming community. Those farmers do not sound like the narrow minded people Regent Miller thinks they are. If I am right, I hope they express their displeasure at the condescend ing and insulting remarks made on their behalf. Mark Hankla Senior Psychology via e-mail Moitago mixer I would like to cite the words of Todd Crossett, Assistant Professor of Sports Management and Sociol ogy, as published in the Oct. 2 issue of People Magazine: “In suspending Lawrence Phillips from the Nebraska football team, Coach Tom Osborne has delivered a clear message that violence against women will not be tolerated. If he reinstates Phillips, he’ll be sending a mixed message,” Pamela F. Starr Associate Professor Music History via e-mail Bitter truth I am writing in response to Rotin E. Lemon’s guest editorial concern ing violence against women and its effects on men (“Violence to women victimizes men too,” Sept. 27). Unfortunately violence against women is one of the many serious issues that men do not take seriously until it affects them directly. It is also an issue that men do not usually talk about even when it does directly affect them. ror many reasons most males cannot breaik out of their macho shells long enough to discuss the pain that they inflict and the pain that is inflicted upon them as a result of violence against the women they know and love. I would like to personally thank Mr. Lemon for sharing his pain in the hopes that more members of the male gender can begin to deal with and talk about this issue. Tom Sanchez Graduate Student Sociology via e-mail One hand clapping Two thumbs up and a standing ovation for Jamie Karl’s column (“English needed to unite states,” Sept. 27). Coming from Los Angeles, a place where I have lived my entire life, it was refreshing to see an article like this. In L.A. this article would not have even made it to print because of the controversy it would stir. Nicole Markota Freshman Criminal Justice Klqg of Cupps In response to Jamie Karl’s arguments for English as the national language, Rodney Cupp (Letters, S^pt. 28) responded: “I suggest that Karl is, in fact, ‘simple’ and ‘uncultured,’ is out of place (xi a university campus, and should go the hell back to where he came from—some backwater, I imagine.” Is Cupp suggesting that only nonsimple and cultured folks should be found on a university campus? Surely he does not meet these criteria because, for example, no cultured graduate philosophy major would abandon one of the funda mental precepts of philosophical debate: to attack the argument, not the person. 'mm Perhaps a retaking of Philosophy 101 is in order for Mr. Cupp. Tom Eads Senior Political Science and English via e-mail In his Cupps Thursday’s letters to the editor reveals a telling example of academic pomposity. In arguing a very reason able point Rodney W. Cupp tries to baffle the masses with his “analytic” approach to the United States’ discourse cm multilingualism. Instead of insulting our fellow discussers in public debate and trying to wow us with his analytical philosophy, Cupp should engage his opponents honestly and in terms which the public will understand. Individuals such as Cupp only give academia a bad name and will result in the kind of professors-who make college a limiting experience. Cupp demonstrates academic slop. Dan Pojar Graduate German via e-mail Cupp runneth over I submit to Mr. Cupp that the use of logic will cause you to form the same conclusion that Mr. Karl reached when he wrote his article on language in the United States. You yourself use no logical discussion, nor provide alternative ' solutions, but rather resort to the grade school mentality of name calling. •' In fact, you almost got the gist of Mr. Karl’s article: . Yes, we need to stop spending tax dollars on such programs, but not because of the amount of money, but rather of the illogical use of such monies. ; Mr. Cupp, and other liberal name callers out there, should stop and use a little logical thought on the political issues of the day. Gene Paulsen Graduate Student Mechanical Engineering via e-mail