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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 22, 1996)
Opinion Monday, April 22, 1996 Page 4 Daily 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 Soaring spirit Berringer exemplified true heroism Friday evening, as cold, dark clouds filled the northern sky, a brilliant rainbow stretched horizon-to-horizon over the city of Lin coln — a fitting tribute for a fallen hero. Family, friends and fans of Brook Berringer will say their final goodbyes today, but the former NU quarterback’s spirit won’t soon be forgotten. It wasn’t so much Berringer’s role in helping lead the Comhuskers to two consecutive national championships that made him so spe cial. It wasn’t his high-profile position on a high-profile team. It was the man behind “No. 18” who touched so many lives. He was someone you’d want your son to be like, football coach Tom Osborne said. He was “one of our brightest,” “a good guy,” “a hero,” “a fine young man,” “just stellar,” others said. While too many people argue over how to make the world a bet ter place, Berringer just did it. While many wonder “what’s in it forme,” the smile on Berringer’s face after reading Dr. Seuss to a grade school class showed that he neither expected nor desired anything in return. While others would take their celebrity status as license to slip into arrogance, Berringer accepted — and exemplified — the re sponsibility that goes along with fame. ••••• £: .. Berringer made such a positive impact on everyone around him, but most importantly he lived his life for himself. “I’m sure he had no regrets,” Osborne said. Teammate Tony Veland said, “Brook won the biggest championship of his life when he committed himself to the Lord. Although we mourn, we rejoice for him.” And we thank him. He won’t be forgotten. Mindful Ecology ideology seeps into ’90s thought Today, Earth Day activists will gather together to chant cco-slo gans and hand out pamphlets. Environmental awareness has become a trend in 1990s popular culture. It’s also become a trend in 1990s popular consciousness. For 26 years, Earth Day has been a social rally cry — a festival of environmental propaganda during which activists (or capitalists) market their Earth Day buttons, posters, caps, T-shirts and bumper stickers. And each comes with an awareness pamphlet. Save the whales. Save the rain forests. Save the ozone. Stop pollution. Stop global warming. Stop toxic waste. Stop erosion. Earth Day has become one massive cause, broken into hundreds of little causes. Regardless of whether one is an activist, environ mental awareness has seeped into our daily behavior. The three bent arrows forming the recycling triangle are a com mon site at most workplaces and schools. No longer do all trash cans stand alone — many arc joined by paper and aluminum recep tacle friends. Earth Day is nothing new. After 26 tireless years, its advocates have made noticeable changes in people’s attitudes. It’s no longer a holiday for Birkenstock wearing trcc-huggers. Conservatives and capitalists have joined the cco-crusade, proving that some causes don’t divide people by ideology. Earth Day is just a day for promoting a cause. Its by-product is an environmental conscience — an attitude that steers our earth friendly behavior weeks after the pamphlet has been recycled. 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. -1 Connection As I was taking a break from studying for finals at Love Library on Friday evening, I look a look outside the window, where I saw the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen. It hovered over the campus out of the same direction where Brook Berringer’s life suddenly ended. This rainbow sent chills running down my neck. Ironically, the rainbow appeared at 7 p.m. — the same time that Brook was to be on campus to bask in the glory of another accomplishment with his teammates. I truly believe that Brook was here Friday night in the essence of that rainbow that symbolized the color that he put into other people’s lives. I think this was Brook’s final way of showering light and love over the UNL campus as he has done so many times before. This school will truly miss him. Hopefully, you too were able to sec Brook’s final farewell. Brad Wright junior psychology/criminal justice Correction I wish to thank the Daily Nebras kan for its coverage of our roof leaks in Nebraska Hall that threaten the Museum’s research collections. However, I wish to set the record straight that the quote attributed to me, “This is what I got a Ph.D. for?”, was NOT made by me nor is it even remotely indicative of how I feel about the different kinds of tasks in which we engage in the pursuit of science. We had (and will continue to have) a problem with water leaking into our building, and the entire staff (regardless of their duties) pitched in to help. Brett C. Ratcliffe Curator & Professor Systematics Research Collections Smile For those of you who fail to see the humor in Jim Mehsling’s editorial cartoon works, I can only weep for you. Don’t you understand that it is humor? It is OK to laugh at it. Go ahead. You’re missing out otherwise. There is no judgment, court or trial in session to prosecute one, for laughing at something only meant as a harmless joke. Ironically, the joke’s on you if you keep that grimace because you arc spending your pathetic time complaining, whining and moaning instead of contributing a smile to the world. Jim is doing a good share of putting fun into my day and even having me laugh at myself some times. It takes a very talented person, let alone an artist, to do that in today’s society — he’s doing it in the center of the Midwest of all places. He’ll be gone soon. Some of you will have to pick on another talented writer, artist or photogra pher in the Daily Nebraskan. Grind your teeth all that you like; I will be James Mehsling/DN looking elsewhere to see what Jim is up to next. Jason Tsclcntis junior fine art Catholic bashers lack knowledge The Daily Nebraskan cartoon of April 16 saw Bishop Bruskewitz at odds with Jesus Christ. Students of intellect will do some research before taking sides against the bishop. The brilliant Saint Augustine explored many philoso phies before writing his “City of God” following his conversion. “Summa Thcologica” by Saint Thomas Aquinas is available in Love Library. Catholic bashing seems to be politically correct these days, and it’s time some defense of positions surfaced. Nancy Russel Love Library staff Post it Send your brief letters to: /O fhp Daily Nebraskan, 34 '' ' ^ ^ * Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., - Lincoln, Neb. 68588, or Fax to (402) 472-1761, or email <letters @ unlinfo.unl.edu.> -_l=—T- Letters must be signed and ^ NebrasKan ss,?„phonei
