Daily
Nebraskan
Editorial Board
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
J. Christopher Hain.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
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BretGottschall/DN
Difference maker
School jam supporters deserve thanks
The School is Cool Jam continues to be a smashing success. Since
its inception in 1992, the annual event encouraging elementary
school students to make education a priority has grown dramatically.
Five years ago, it was a small event involving a handful of UNL
students and student-athletes and 300 local school children. On
Monday, it featured a collection of Nebraska sports heroes and a near
standing-room only crowd of 14,000 children.
Such success doesn’t just happen.
Congratulations and thanks arc in order to a number of parties.
To the role models — not only student-athletes like Tommie
Frazier, Michael Booker and Christy Johnson, but also those whose
claim to fame is classroom excellence.
To the organizers of the event—the UNL athletic department, the
UNL chapter of the Golden Key Honor Society and the Lincoln
Public Schools Department of Special Education.
And, of course, to the sponsors — former UNL standouts and
current professional football players Trev Alberts and Will Shields, •
and corporate sponsors CablcVision, National Bank of Commerce,
Lincoln Telephone, Nebraska State Department of Education and
Runza.
The combined efforts, talents and resources of all these groups and
individuals result in a much-needed program for the state’s youth.
And the efforts go beyond Lincoln. Today, another Jam will be
held at Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte. Organizers
expect about 2,000 kids to attend.
Children growing up in Nebraska face a growing number of
challenges — drug and alcohol use, teen pregnancy and juvenile
crime, just to name a few. By reaching these children early in their
school careers, the School is Cool Jam can give them a vision of what
the future can hold. Positive messages delivered by influential people
can provide inspiration for children to make the most of their young
lives.
It is encouraging to see people make a difference in the lives of
youth. The School is Cool Jam does make a difference—just ask any
of the 16,000 children who attended the two events this year.
Editorial policy
Staff editorials represent die 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
l ands of its students.
I ■ ■ -■«
Loner 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.
Excommunication
In the Daily Nebraskan editorial
“Ultimatum,” a statement was made
that the Lincoln Diocese should
promote dialogue with the 12 groups
whose “Catholic” members face
excommunication. The simple truth
is that the items that some of these
groups wish to promote and autho
rize, such as abortion, birth control,
women priests, etc. are not matters
that are negotiable because they are
incompatible with the Catholic faith.
Throughout its history, the
Catholic Church’s beliefs and
doctrines have been carefully
preserved and protected by its
hierarchical structure. The Church
docs not operate as a democracy
where its teachings and beliefs are
“up for vote.” A Catholic cannot
choose the teachings he wishes to
follow and ignore those he dislikes
or finds difficult. Rather, he must
embrace and practice the faith in its
entirety.
Tracey Hcitz
class of 1995
Lincoln
Obey the Church
Your editorial comments regard
ing the local Roman Catholic
bishop’s interdiction and threats of
excommunication were shallow and
perhaps just another attempt to
confuse the public. The Roman
Church is a small reflection of the
true order of things and the way this
hierarchical and authoritarian
universe really works. We children
here in the West forget that so-called
liberal democracies are not the
natural or normal order of things.
Because of some greedy politi
cians some time ago now, someone
named Luther was successful in a
nasty little revolt against this
divinely established authority — the
I
Jason Gildow/DN
Catholic Church. My question is,
why do those with basic tenets so at
odds with the Roman Church desire
to continue to call themselves
Catholics? Of course, we’ve all
heard their answer, “But we LOVE
the Church.” Fine. If you love the
Church, OBEY IT! If not, believe
me, the Protestants would love to
have you join them.
Fredrick Porter
. Lincoln
Bishop’s stance
outdated
♦
It is rather disturbing to find
medieval sentiments such as Karen
M. Benes’ (‘“Cafeteria style’
Catholicism” March 27) alive and
well in the Roman Catholic Church.
Although she rejects “heretical”
views and demands acceptance of all
dogma (of which there is no
complete listing), her own subjuga
tion by the church is a heresy that
goes by the name of fidcism. On the
books of the church is a feudalistic
hierarchy that is taken far too
literally in our American legalistic
society. Italian law is under the
philosophy of “if it’s outdated,
ignore it.”
The church is not a lifeless
hierarchy, but the Holy Spirit uniting
a community. Bishop Fabian
Bruskewitz obviously is trying to
repress change, as all human
institutions do. I can only hope that
the Bishop and his diocese decide to
include themselves in this post
Vatican II laity movement and stop
treating parishioners like mindless
serfs.
Charity H. Dredge
Creighton University
Facing reality
In r'n
editorial “Rape reality” (March 29),
I cannot agree more. First of all, it is
very saddening that although most
of us in our society look down upon
rape, it is still as prevalent as it is.
Unfortunately, I think a lot of people
turn their heads, and don’t pay
attention to what a serious crime it
is. Rape ruins so many lives, both
physically and psychologically.
Although I think it is still necessary
to teach women how to protect .
themselves, I do agree that the
problem lies within men. Guys,
what’s the problem? One-third of us
“would COMMIT rape if they
definitely could escape detection.”
That horrid statistic places shame
and disgrace upon our entire sex. To
me, a rapist, or anyone who would
consider committing rape is a
worthless, disgraceful coward who
doesn’t deserve to bear the title of
being a man. I wish all rape victims
would report the crime. Like Bob
Ray, I too wish that there was a way
to make these so-called “men”
endure the hell that lies within each
and every victim.
Dan Payzant
freshman
elementary education
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