Opinion Friday, March 29,1996 Page 4 Nebraskan ; Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln J. Christopher Haiti.J.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 “It’s a terrible waste of human life.” — Columbus resident Mark Shannon, on the deaths of four Columbus teens last week. “If it was going to do me any harm, I would have noticed by now.” — Briton Andy Campbell, on eating English beef despite warn ings about mad cow disease being transmitted to humans. “I said, ‘I could have a fair amount of plastic surgery for that and win an Oscar myself.’” — An anonymous Hollywood studio executive, on the $2,600 price tag scalpers put on a balcony ticket for the Academy Awards. “Some debts can never be repaid. But I have come to Russell to acknowledge mine. I will never forget your kindness and your care. I will never forget your sacrifice and your prayers.” — Senate majority leader Bob Dole R-Kan.. during a return visit to Russell, Kan., Ills hometown. “The battle for the Republican nomination is over.” — Dole, after winning California's primary Tuesday. “Obviously, it will be a younger person, somebody who’s in good health.” — Dole, 72, on choosing a running mate. “This program will honor the memory of your son and of every fallen officer.” — Gov. Ben Nelson to James Wilson Sr., on the plan to put video cameras in every police cruiser in Nebraska. “As usual, they’re pretty aggressive.” — Nebraska head football coach Tom Osborne, on Monday's first practice of the spring. “Like most directors, what I really want to do is act.” — Mel Gibson, winner of this year's Best Director Oscar, joking during his acceptance speech. “I find it a shame that the student body is not more willing to support the government which works hard for it.” — James Griesen. UNL rice chancellor for student affairs, on low voter turnout for ASUN elections, after the inauguration of new officers. “She has shown at Nebraska that she is an executive officer. She has endeared herself to a lot of Nebraskans. Everyone has enjoyed working with her.” — Griesen. on the upcoming departure of UNL senior vice chan cellor for academic affairs Joan Leitzel, who will leave to become president of the University of New Hampshire. ' • v • . ..... “It’s not the NCAA, but it’s still something prominent ... it’s very special to me.” — Nebraska senior guard Erick Strickland, on playingfor the NIT championship. Editorial policy Staff editorials represent the official policy of the Spring 1996 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 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. 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. I c**" \ UV<\ tfa Wj ' Alto WM MW TO TUE EWMTOUK I THIS ^iTURPAY ■ WtoHKMIWE? ^ ^ 5 J \ ; -1 Tragedy an apt example I’m replying to the letter by Julie Demuth about using the Columbus accident as an example in Kasey Kerber’s article on Monday. On Sunday I found out through a call from home (Arizona) that a close family friend had been killed by a drunk driver. He and two other high school seniors were turning onto a residential street when a drunk driver broadsided them. All three students were killed, while the drunk driver survived the accident with minor injuries. These young adults weren’t drinking, yet an irrespon sible person took away their lives. My friend lost his life by someone’s careless actions and no matter how “good” a person is, they arc still accountable for their actions. Yes, as in the Columbus incident, it is sad to lose friends and loved ones at such a young age, but they had a hand in their own death. They chose to drink and then attempt to drive a car. Luckily, other innocent victims weren’t hurt or involved. If using the Columbus deaths as an example persuades some students on this campus not to drink and drive, then maybe their senseless deaths will not be in vain. Kccia Trujillo freshman undecided Freedom includes assault weapons In response to Kelly Johnson’s editorial “Unbearable” dealing with the assault weapons ban, I have one question. Should our current need for a particular freedom be the basis for whether or not we are allowed to have that freedom? According to the logic of your editorial, there would be nothing wrong with Congress banning electric can openers and electric mixers, because we don’t ;&k\ i-1 Aaron Steckelberg/DN rcaily need them. The moment we start believing we should only have the right to do those things Congress or the majority declares it is neces sary or good for us to do is the same moment we become slaves. Does anyone need to smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol? No. Do I need to spend my money on CD’s or comic books, or eat pizza and watch TV late at night when I should be studying? Of course not, and 1 would probably be better off if I didn’t. But as long as I hurt no one else, nobody should be able to tell me I can’t do these things. Now should I be able to walk across campus wielding an UZI and a bazooka, just because I want to? I’m not sure. I realize there’s a big difference between that and partak ing in whatever vices I may enjoy, and I don’t claim to have the answer to the assault weapons debate. But that’s not the point of this letter. I just want to remind people that we need to be extremely careful of what rights we allow (or ask) to be taken away, and the reasons we have for doing so. For though I have no need for an assault rifle now, who’s to say I never will? Freedom is easily lost, but is won only at a very high price. It shouldn’t be squandered just i— because some people don’t think we “need” it. Kevin Krausnick sophomore history and economics Pro-life ad applauded Seeing the inserts scattered on the ground and in the recycling bins was a very saddening sight. It just goes to prove that ignorance is bliss! So many people are ignorant to the facts, which were clearly given inside the Pro-Life insert, and just tossed it aside. My guess is that when people saw the defenseless and helpless little child on the cover, they were scared of the realization of what abortion really docs — kills a living baby. - . I’m glad that Ms. Williams realizes that the University is a learning institution. The article is all about learning. Sure the ad was paid for, but the entire article is about learning. It is an informative ad - thus learning would be inevitable, if the article is read. Jonathan Little freshman accounting Make most of time In response to Veera Supincn’s “American idols” (March 27): Dear Veera, lift your eyes from the thesaurus and look around. After all, intelligence means being able to make the most of every experience. By the way, how do you say “pompous” in Finnish? Signed: An Italian foreign student who well remembers his First year in the U.S. Simon Livcrani graduate student journalism - Send your brief letters to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., _ Lincoln, Neb. 68588, or Fax _1 ^ to (402) 472-1761, or email r\ “t*O C O iT\ ^1 K-S JL CtkjXVCi.JL X Letters must be signed and include a phone number for __ verification.