N EDITOR Doug Kouma OPINION EDITOR Anne Hjersman EDITORIAL BOARD Doug Peters Matt Write Paula Lavigne . Mitch Sherman BethNarans Jt fc 11 w-: \ “One of the worst things in prison is in mate idleness. When they’re working eight hours a day, they’re occupied — their minds are occupied, their bodies are oc cupied.” — Don Lincoln, superintendent of Comhusker State Industries, which coordi nates contracts to put inmates to work. “He agreed not to engage in unlawful con duct.” — Lancaster County Attorney Gary Lacey, on his plans to have Lawrence Phillips’ probation revoked. “Be prepared to see 97-year-old grandmas wearing 50-gallon red cowboy hats and spray-painted muscle shirts that read, ‘SPARTANS SUCK.”’ — DN staff reporter Steve Willey on preparations for the Nebraska-Michigan State game. “My overall view of preseason polls is that they don't mean a damn thing." —Missouri Football Coach Lany Smith, on predictions that his team will finish last in the Big 12. “I'll never count myself out, I guess, until I'm dead." —Husker comerback Mike Fullman, on coaches’ doubts that he would be able to play this season after being injured. “It's just gone. I had an ocean-front house and now I can't find it." —Hurricane victim Glenn Sasser, on life after Fran. “We're so sophisticated in this age of tech nology and science, but Mother Nature comes through and we're back to 400 B.C." —Linda Daigle, another Fran victim, as she cleared foliage from her lawn. “We have a lot of young players who went to the prom in May, then beat Purdue last week and said, ‘Hey, this is easy.’” —Michigan State Football Coach Nick Saban, on his team’s inexperience. “This is a beautiful place where once we had a very unbeautiful parking lot” —UNL Chancellor James Moeser, at the unveiling of “Tom Notebook.” “This bill does nothing to defend mar riage.” — Matt Coles, director of the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project on the Defense of Marriage Act. “People are starting to follow us around, which is both cool and freaky at the same time.” — Dayroom guitarist Mike Winger, on his band’s success. “Watch out sister, watch out brother, Watch oar children as they kill each other with a gun they bought at the Wal-Mart discount stores.” — Grammy winner Sheryl Crow, in her new song, “Love is a Good Thing.” Editorial Policy Unsigned editorials are die opinions of the Fall 1996Daily Nebraskan. They do not nec essarily reflect the views of die University of Nebraska-Lincoln, its employees, its stu dent body or the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. A column is soley the * opinion of its author. The Board of Regents serves as publisher of the Daily Nebraskan; policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Edito rial Board. The UNL Publications Board, es tablished by the regents, supervises die pro duction of the newspaper According to policy set by the regents, responsibility for the editorial content of die newspaper lies solely in die hands of its student employees. Letter Policy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief let ters to the editor and guest columns, but does not guarantee their publication. The Daily Nebraskan retains die right to edit or reject any material submitted. Submit ted material becomes the property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be returned. Anonymous submissions will not be published. Those who submit letters must identify themselves by name, year in school, major and/or group affiliar tion, if any. Submit material to: Daily Ne braskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St. Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. E-mail: letters@unlinfo.unl.edu. • A < " |“ ■; * ‘ ' ■ ■■ P wistiv srer 91 Tie «w®^ Kicfet?w ttitetn _____ « / NICE BEER m J ( /te/AKSwW ‘Lieding’acts I am writing in response to the editorial regarding this season’s offerings at the Lied Center (“Inter lude: Lied Center has hit a dry spell, Sept. 10). As a 24-year-old fan of the Lied Center who does not consider herself part of an “older audience,” I feel the need to offer my own thoughts. While I agree that this season does not offer a “Cats” or “Les Mis,” isn’t it just possible that high-caliber performances can be found in a more obscure title? More important, did the author of this editorial even bother reading the descriptions of the performances before slamming them? I can’t imagine that a hip-hop show like “Jam on the Groove” is exactly screaming out to grandparent-types. Or maybe the jazz classic “Ain’t Misbehavin’” starring a Motown legend like Martha Reeves isn’t as fim and lively as one may think. And I guess BobbyMcFerrin’s 10+ Grammy Awards aren't enough to call him a “big name with broad appeal.” Trust me, he does much, much more than “Don’t Worry, Be -t't'J • _ I agree that maybe chamber music and ballet aren’t for everyone, but please don’t make judgmental generalizations, much less put them into print. The Lied Center does a magnificent job of bringing world class entertainment of all types to Lincoln. They should be praised for giving this kind of opportunity to _ students, not criticized. TVy opening your mind to something other than mainstream and you may be surprised, or even (gasp) entertained. The “26,000 people looking for an alternative to dinner and-a-movie” should remember why they are here: to broaden their horizons and expand their minds. Even on a Saturday night. Louise Baskin Department of Animal Science No BUTTS ABOUT IT This whole business of states filing lawsuits against tobacco companies is totally ridiculous! Individuals choose to smoke! How in the heck can you blame someone else (in this case, tobacco companies) for the choice you made? As a nonsmoker who tried it once, I made the choice to try smoking. I made a second choice not to smoke because the cons really outweigh the pros. Come to think of it, in smoking there are no “pros.” So, all you individuals who are sick because of smoking, tough. You made your bed, now sleep in it! j Mark Mercer junior Natalie Ijnstrom/DN broadcasting Justice for all Kudos to your editorial (“Intoler able, Senate bowed out on same-sex vote ” Sept. 12,1996) regarding the Senate votes on the Defense of Marriage Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Many Senators showed their true colors of homophobia on this vote, including Nebraska’s own J J. Exon. However, one must also note that the vote an die Employment Non Discrimination Act was closer than ever before (49-50), meaning that perhaps it will pass within the next two years or so. The bill would make it illegal not only to discriminate against lesbians, bisexuals and gays, but it would also make it illegal to discriminate against heterosexuals as well, for those - extremely rare cases where such things happen. For most employment situations, sexual orientation should not be a factor in whether a person is capable of performing her/his job duties. Some would argue that sexual orientation shouldn’t be brought up at all in the workplace and that therefore, the Employment Non Discrimination Act is unnecessary. It’s been my experience both on the job and off, however, that it is brought up in all kinds of situations. For example, people ask if you are married or if you’ve got a boyfriend or girlfriend. Most heterosexuals don’t hesitate to answer those questions, but gays and lesbians are expected to remain silent, if it’s true that sexual orientation shouldn’t be brought up in the workplace. Or if invited to the company picnic or other work-related social function where co-workers are expected to bring their spouses or girlfriends or boyfriends, most lesbians and gays are expected to come alone, if it holds true that sexual orientation should not be brought up in the workplace. So, realistically, sexual orientation is brought up all die time. Robert W. Anderson graduate student unclassified .JRS- Write B>ack tetters to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Unjo.n-140ft "R" St;, Lincoln; NE 68588,.Qrfaxto(402)472-1761,ore-maiI