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EDITOR
Doug Kouma
OPINION
EDITOR
Anthony Nguyen
EDITORIAL
BOARD
Paula Lavigne
Joshua Gillin
Jessica Kennedy
Jeff Randall
Erin Gibson
Qur
VIEW
All UNL groups need to
reach out to each other
Last week, a group called People for a
Change met in the Nebraska Union to talk
about diversity and racism on the Univer
sity of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. Partici
pants in the group, sponsored by the Ethnic
Minority Affairs Committee, came from all
races and backgrounds on campus and rep
resented the diversity of UNL members well.
The discussion quickly moved from the
late-January cross burning to cross-cultural
understanding and unity. Members of the
group talked about taking action to create a
more positive campus environment—one
that would no longer spawn hate crimes such
as the recent vandalism of a black
employee’s car at the University of Nebraska
at Omaha.
In one 90-minute discussion and a brief
candlelight vigil, the group made a positive
move away from accusations of university
inaction and racism and toward understand
ing and appreciation.
, ; In terms of real campus unity, People
for a Change got it right.
The group was unified in its diversity.
All people were welcomed. All races were -
embraced. All participants’ thoughts were
heard without backlash or accusations.
But perhaps most importantly, white
students and staff spoke out against racism.
And they spoke loudly—in public.
On a campus or in any community, if
are the only groups; to
; opepfy advocate diversify arid ttnlfydrto
denounce racism, the division between ra
cial groups is only widened.
If minorities’ efforts to eliminate rac
ism are not supported by white community
members, minorities’ efforts seem unappre
ciated. An “us vs. them” attitude can de
velop on both sides and destroy any hope of
unifying a campus community across racial
boundaries.
Today we issue a call to unity—for all
white students, faculty and staff to join mi
nority efforts to denounce racism and work
for cross-cultural understanding at UNL.
Whites at UNL must no longer remain
quiet while their minority peers say, “I am
uncomfortable with racism at UNL.” Like
wise, minority groups cannot cloister them
selves. For any group at UNL, silence can
only perpetuate misunderstanding.
Unity on this campus will only materi
alize if all campus members deliberately and
publicly seek it. The first to do so should be
those in leadership positions—candidates
seeking ASUN offices in next month’s elec
tion.
Chancellor James Moeser has voiced his
desire for unity. So have the People for a
Change.
All of UNL should follow their leads.
I
Editorial Policy
Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the
Spring 1997 Daily Nebraskaa They do not
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I
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•'* t v ^ >
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VIEW
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.
Isn’t it Ironic?
“Parking Lot May Pave Way For
New Hotel,” (DN, Friday). The
headline alone makes me wonder if
anybody listens or reads anymore. Is
Mayor Johanns completely oblivious
to the stories we he^r every day *.
concermng parking?' >
I am glad that Lincoln’s down
town area is expanding to bigger
and brighter things, but how are
people going to enjoy them when
they cannot find a legal spot within
a 10-block radius to park their car?
The 250-spot lot in question is
the same lot I park my car in every
day ... if it’s not already occupied by
9 a.m. Though I can’t really afford
the $15 to $20 a week it costs for
parking, some days I can’t get
myself motivated enough to bike
from 73rd and A streets in 9 degree
weather.
There are the city buses, but I
have no way to get home when I
have meetings and rehearsals at
night that exceed the hours the buses
run. These problems may not affect
every student, but they do with
nearly everyone I know. Everything
I have mentioned doesn’t even
scratch the surface.
Now there will be signs that will
say “Embassy Suites customers
only.” Maybe I am mistaken, but
these football games that attract so
many spectators, where’s the
spectators’ designated lot? Sure, the
boosters have plenty of roan (that’s
another issue), but what about the
very people who bring the money to
these games?
The Lied Center draws quite a
crowd as well, especially when
events are scheduled the same week
of things such as the “Star Wars”
premiere. Let us not forget about the
stores throughout the downtown
area where parking is limited to 10
Natalie Linstrom/DN
minutes, one of five spaces or just
praying that when you park illegally
all you’ll get is a $5 ticket.
Expansion is an exciting option
for nearly every city, but before the
residents leam to enjoy the new
possibilities, one must make sure an
attempt has been made to meet their
needs.
Shelby J. Follis
sophomore
fine and performing arts
1984 in *97?
Just shoot the horse and slap me
silly. I am shocked ... nay, OUT
RAGED ... at the pending legisla
tion in the Unicameral. Regardless
of whether or not you are in favor of
the death penalty (I happen to be in
favor of it), we should ALL be
frightened of legislation making it
easier to apply capital punishment to
cop killers.
Despite Gov. Nelson and Jim
Wilson Sr.’s support for bills that
allegedly crack down on “crimes
against all society,” LB422 and
LB774 simply, in a de facto manner,
place more importance on the lives
of police.
Even worse, these two bills do
little more than strengthen the
stranglehold of an ever-growing
police-state upon .our “democratic”
society. WAKE UP PEOPLE!
George Orwell wasn’t just writing
fiction.
Kevin Gregorius
senior
broadcasting
Feeding the Lions
I was part of the Veritas forum
this week in the Centennial Room of
the Union. It was a very well
attended meeting (1,000 people over
three days). It was sponsored by 11
recognized UNL student organiza
tions. We bought ads in the DN. We
sent PSA’s out to various media, this
paper included.
I don’t want to be guilty of
prejudgment, so I will ask a few
questions that I hope will give me
some understanding.
Why was this event not covered
in the Daily Nebraskan? What is the
criteria of choosing stories? Did the
fact that the sponsoring groups were
campus ministries play a role in the
decision?
I also ask these questions because
no one from the DN covered the •"'N
prayer vigil on Jan. 31, but other
local media did. If I were making a
judgment, but I’m not, it seems that
the DN has something against those
who would call themselves Chris
tians.
Could you clarify for me please?
Kevin Shinn
Christian Challenge
DN
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