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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 1997)
EDITOR Doug Kouma OPINION EDITOR Anthony Nguyen EDITORIAL BOARD Paula Lavigne Joshua Gifiin Jessica Kennedy Jeff Randall Erin Gibson Our VIEW Speak Out Thke an interest in upcoming ASUN elections Living in fear of a Mountain Dew-less campus? Wondering why the modem pool was drained beneath your feet? Looking for a parking space in Waverly? While students may complain about these issues, their power to do anything is limited. The students’ real power lies in those who represent them — the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska. Less than 10 percent of the student body votes in the ASUN elections, but far more were affected by the end of the modem pool and would be affected by a single-beverage contract on campus. These were two issues that came up last year when students could have turned to— and should have been able to rely on—their student government to represent their inter ests. That’s reason to care, and it’s reason to vote in die upcoming ASUN elections on March 12. Students should realize the power ASUN could have and push for representa tives to act on its chaige. 1 he new student government should make its duties a priority. The senators should be dedicated to their positions, and the entire senate should plan for productive meetings that encourage lengthy debate. ASUN senators need to be vocal within their colleges. ASUN presidents should of fer strong student input at NU Board of Regents meetings. Senate members should also work to represent students outside the university and in the Legislature. The upcoming campaign should reflect parties dedicated to advancing the interests of students through action. Candidates to watch should be those who not only have ideas, but plan to put them into action. Any one can say he or she wants to improve this campus — the difference is someone who shows how he or she can do that. For example, students may be facing another tuition increase if the Legislature rejects or cuts the university’s proposed budget increase. Candidates should tell you what role ASUN would play if the adminis tration proposes this. What would the candidates have done to prevent the dissolution of UNL’s modem pool, and what will they do to represent the students’ interest in a single-beverage con tract? How hard will they look for student interest outside of their weekly meetings? Will they use ASUN for themselves or for the students? Do they have several other obligations or do they have the time to de vote to the job? Is their party a fair repre sentation of all students on campus? While it may be very idealistic for us to encourage candidates to carry out these wishes, the students are the only ones with the power to hold them to it. So, unless you’re willing to buy Surge every day until you graduate, size up your options and vote March 12. Editorial Policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Spring 1997 Daily Nebraskan. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Univer sity of Nebraska-Lincoln, its employees, its student body or the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. A column is solely 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, established by the regents, supervises the production of the papet According to policy set by the regents, responsibility for the edi torial content of die newspaper lies solely in the 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 the right to edit or reject any material submitted. Sub mitted material becomes the property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be re turned. Anonymous submissions will not be published. Those who submit letters must identify themselves by name, year in school, major and/or group affilia tion, if any. Submit material to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R SL Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. E-mail: letters@unlinfaunl.edu. Mehsling’s VIEW I cowtawj»Tfrtis 1 M' DN LETTERS Shootin’ Bricks I don’t know if anyone has noticed lately, but the Nebraska men’s basketball team has been in a slump. How could this happen when we have all this talent? The answer is the man with the fancy tie. Coach Danny Nee has taken NCAA-caliber talent the last three years and gotten the worst out of it. Two NIT tournament berths and likely no postseason this year. I have attended all of the Nebraska basket ball home games over the past two years and have seen how he has let such good talent go to waste. The players under Nee play lethargically and most of the time they lode unorganized. This is the reason the Huskers turn the ball over 20 times every game — uncalled for in Division I. Danny Nee just cannot seem to install any discipline in his players — remember the boycott last year? In the Husker’s game Monday night, KSU switched from a man defense to a zone. As a result, the Huskers could not score for the next eight minutes. The Huskers looked completely baffled at this zone — and this is the 23rd game of the season. If you cannot have your team prepared for a zone defense this late in the season, then you should not be coaching Division I! One other thing that bothers me about Nee is his attitude after each game — he never gets down on his players. After our eight-point whipping of Division I power Oregon State earlier this season, Danny Nee commented on how good a team the Beavers were and how this was such a quality win far our program. The Beavers were 4-27 last season. Only recently has Coach Nee begun to get a little upset at his team’s performance—but now it is a little too late. I feel that there are many other people here at the university and throughout the state who feel the same way about our basketball coach. I think it is time to let Danny Nee go and take this program in another direction. I do not think I can stomach any more NEEbrasketball. Craig Eberle sophomore accounting ‘Vox Populi’Victims I’m outraged and sickened by the rampant racist and prejudicial atmosphere of this campus. The latest evidence of this phenomenon appears in J.J. Harder’s column “Have bode, will read,” (DN, Wednesday), ostensibly a piece intended as a critique of President Clinton’s “America Reads” initia tive. What I find appalling, however, (beyond the fact that he felt the need ~ to denounce a seemingly worthwhile program) is that this smirking boy cannot conduct his intended critique without racist and age-ist senti ments. Harder writes, “Sure, I want every 8-year-old in America (not counting illegal immigrants) to be able to read...” Please tell me what Harder, a teen-ager from Lincdn, knows about immigrants (or immigration) — illegal or otherwise. • * Harder’s parenthetical comment is nothing more than a thinly veiled racist attack aimed at Mexicans — the most common targets and victims of right-wing (often Republi can) discourse that singles out and vilifies these so-called “illegals” as the sole perpetrators of crimes against America. I’m so sick and tired of people like Harder denigrating Mexicans, and in turn Mexican-Americans, with these uninformed, myopic and simplistic denunciations. Harder’s parenthetical statement exhibits a deep-seated prejudice toward Hispanic peoples that too often goes unexamined in this state and is in no way less serious than the implications of Sigma Chi’s racist behavior to African-Ameri cans. I leave the examination of Harder’s age-ism to some other concerned student or university member. Robert A. Aguirre graduate student English A Choice Kasey Kerber should be com mended for his column “No regrets” in Wednesday’s DN. It took a great amount of courage and self-confi dence to write and publish Ids editorial on sex. “Vitgin” is not a bad word in our society—yet it is often treated as if it is. Everybody has the right to make his (x* her own decisions about sex, but in this day and age, it seems stupid to go around having promis cuous sex. Whether you choose to abstain for moral or religious reasons or if you are afraid of contracting an STD or getting pregnant, it is an individual’s choice. A choice that should be respected and in many cases admired, but never ridiculed. Congratulations Kasey — for having the courage and dedication to stand by your convictions, even if they are not always the most popular ones! Mind! McMann freshman