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
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guest opinions sent to the newspaper become the
property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be re
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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.
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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
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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
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