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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1996)
Nebraskan Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln J. Christopher Haiti..Editor, 472-1766 Doug Kouma .Managing Editor Doug Peters. Opinion Page Editor Sarah Scalet.Associate News Editor Matt Waite.Associate News Editor Michelle Garner...Wire Editor Jennifer Mapes..Columnist Aaron Steckelberg/DN Snow daze Lincoln, UNL need winter weather review “If you can’t stand the cold, get out of Nebraska.” That is one possible reaction to the recent cold snap and bliz zard-like winter storms. But it’s not the best one — not by a long shot. A better one might be: “If you can’t stand roads that are covered with snow and ice for hours and days after the storm ends, get out of Lincoln.” Or: “If you can’t stand risking your life to get to a 50-minute lecture that could easily be canceled with little or no loss to the students, professor or university community, get out of UNL.” In the past weeks, both UNL and the city of Lincoln have dis played reactions to extremely cold and snowy conditions that range from indifference to ineptitude. Both entities need to step back and review their policies concerning reactions to severe winter weather. On city streets, drivers participated in a veritable free-for-all on roads that went largely untouched by city snow-removal crews for much of the day Friday. The snow removal that was performed con sisted of piling drifts in the middle of major one-way streets, forc ing many motorists to change lanes in intersections, which is both dangerous and illegal. On streets that aren’t considered “major” such as the those in the Hay market area, the job of snow removal seemed to have been left to Mother Nature, who, thankfully, re sponded. Snow-removal efforts should begin as soon as the need becomes apparent, not after the accidents begin. These efforts should extend to more than just the most-traveled streets, as well. Unfortunately, here in Lincoln, they often do not. The city is not the only entity guilty of shoddy reactions to snow and cold. UNL, in refusing to cancel classes or close offices, except for two short hours two weeks ago, is showing callous indifference to students, faculty and staff. At the very least, having to brave win ter storm conditions to attend class or open offices is a big inconve nience. At worst, it is downright dangerous. Many students and faculty risked life and limb commuting in blizzard conditions last Friday, even as wind-chill temperatures dipped into the minus 30 F range. Canceling classes or closing of fices is not going to cause the downfall of the university, but failing to do so could cause the injury or death of members of the univer sity community. Editorial policy Staff editorials represent the official policy of the Spring 19% Daily Ne braskan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. Editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the university, its employees, the stu dents or the NU Board of Regents. Editorial columns represent the opin ion of the author. The regents publish the Daily Nebraskan. They establish the UNL Publications Board to super vise the daily production of the paper. According to policy set by the regents, responsibility for the editorial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of its students. Letter policy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor frwn all readers and interested others. Letters will be selected for publication on the basis ofclarity, originality, timeliness and space available. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject all material submitted. Readers also ate welcome to submit mate rial as guest opinions. The editor decides whether material should run as a guest opinion. Letters and guest opinions sent to the newspaper become the 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. Garcia, followers not scum In reference to Brent Hawkins’ letter (Grateful Jerry’s Dead) on Jan. 24, Jerry Garcia may be dead, but his contributions to many people always will keep him alive. We don’t know if Brent was aware that Garcia donated $250,000 to Lithuanians when they couldn’t support themselves. Being an international business major, we were wondering if Brent was aware that he would be working with many different cultures and types of people. Many of the people that he will encounter could possibly be “dead heads” or “tie-dyed scum.” Jerry Garcia never purposely promoted drugs. He just got up on stage and peacefully did what he was good at, entertaining people with his music. These “drug-hazed followers” made their own decisions and we make our own. Nobody can tell someone else if their decisions are right or wrong for them. People have different backgrounds and lives, and a way of life cannot be forced upon them. We learned that when the government tried to force their way of life on the Native Americans years ago. Like Brent, we do not advocate using drugs, but unlike Brent, we do not wish death upon someone because we don’t like what they do. If Brent has so much built-up anger that he wishes someone dead, maybe he should seek some professional help. We would hate to see him at a UN peace conference disagreeing with the foreign diplomats. The outcome could be extremely deleterious for United States relations with foreign countries. Marti Crawford jophomore criminal justice Carey Smith freshman elementary education via e-mail Remember triumphs After reading the stories about the effects of the Challenger explosion on college students in your Jan. 26 edition, I can’t help but wonder about the effects of these students on future shuttle missions. Will these students remember that NASA took this nation to the moon Jason Gildow/DN and back when people supported it? Will they tell future generations about the progress of manned space flight, leading to a space station that has occurred since the Challenger explosion? Or will their only memory be the single space shuttle accident in the history of the program? Seven lives are a terrible loss for any reason, but to focus only on tragedy while overlooking the pioneering spirit those people risked their lives for is an even greater loss. Terri Muggy Lincoln Forgiveness wasted I would like to thank Bob Ray for saying things that needed to be said. I’m tired of hearing that Lawrence Phillips needs to have a second chance when we all know that if he was a regular student, he would have been expelled. I can’t believe that this university has so little respect for women that they praise and blindly forgive an abuser. The victims need to be praised for their survival! Amanda Hiner sophomore psychology In the afterglow As a “new Nebraskan” (I’m a native of Wisconsin), I appreciate the Daily Nebraskan for its coverage of world, national, state and local news. I found a job through its classifieds, and cheered on Big Red sports with its sports pages. The paper as a whole reflects well upon the university and the state. I fail to understand, however, why the column by Mark Baldridge is continued. He seeks not to inform or enlighten the reader, nor does he present a cohesive opinion. His column seeks only to inflame and prompt letters to the editor. I suggest that the editorial staff put a damper on the childish thrills he must receive from receiving letters such as mine and cancel his column. At no time during the day am I pleased to read a column which begins with “the afterglow of unprotected oral copulation” and ends with ruminations about drug abuse. If it is satire, I fail to find the humor in it. Hedonist or not, Mr. Baldridge could use his column to prompt rational discussion about sex and drug use. There is nothing wrong with a university paper discussing sex and drugs, but it needs to be done in a sane and educational manner, not through vulgarity. Jeanne Nichols graduate student anthropology via e-mail ■■■■■I Send your brief letters to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 i T ■■ Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., ■■■■■Efl Lincoln, Neb. 68588, or Fax _ t to (402) 472-1761, or email If <letters @ unlinfo.unl.edu.> X CXCJXVCJlXX Letters must be signed and include a phone number for verification.