I
EDITOR
Doug Kouma
OPINION
EDITOR
Anthony Nguyen
EDITORIAL
BOARD
Paula Lavigne
Joshua GiUin
Jessica Kennedy
Jeff Randall
Erin Gibson
Our
VIEW
Melting stew
Learn about the
history of all peoples
Black History Month is almost over.
While this month provides an impetus
to read up on those in America’s storied past
— the triumphs
achieved and obstacles «
overcome — one
shouldn’t forget that
after February has
gone into the sweet
night, there’s still a
year until the next
Black History Month.
But that doesn’t
mean the learning has
to be — or should be
— put on hold for 11
months.
It doesn’t take
much to go and read up
on the history of
prominent blacks in
American history. It
doesn’t take a specially
designated month to
justify desires to learn
about an integral part
of American culture.
Learning about black
history, or any history
for that matter, is not
limited to a month —
it’s a lifelong process.
Who hasn’t heard
of the Rev. Martin
Luther King Jr.? Or of
MalcomX? ...
Black History
Month isn’t just about
the famous. It’s also
about the less well
known — the Civil
War soldiers who
fought for what was
right, doctors who
struggled to prove old myths wrong, phi
lanthropists who left lasting impressions on
society and the defenders of liberty.
Black History Month should be a cue
to people of all races to take the time to learn
the history of all the ethnic peopleswhomake
up the American experience.
Of course, there can’t be a month, week
or day for everybody. That would detract
from the importance of Black H istory Month
and demean the intention of its founders.
This is not to say that Polish, American
Indian, Egyptian, Hispanic, Asian—for that
matter any ethnicity or nationality —
peoples are not deserving of recognition for
their heritage.
Black History Month is almost over.
Take the time to learn something about this
part of American history.
And while you’re at it, instead of learn
ing about only one ingredient in our melting
“stew,” crack open the pot and take a taste
of all the goodies.
Black
History
Month
should be
a cue to
people of
all races to
take the
time to
learn the
history of
all the
ethnic
peoples
who make
up the
American
experi
ence. ”
Mehs ling’s
VIEW
Btewm
vieu.«v
TO!
Anne
HJERSMAN
The doctor is in
Procrastination. It’s the greatest
and most addictive drug ever to hit
college campuses.
Procrastination is specially
formulated to provide fast, maxi
mum-strength relief of pain and
congestion due to inflamed responsi
bilities. It coats the stomach. It
glazes the eyes. It numbs the brain.
Procrastination induces the
expectoration of excuses to soothe
nagging headaches, professors and
bosses.
Easy to swallow, isn’t it?
Procrastination — better known
by its street name “eras” — is
something I’ve dabbled in for as
long as I can remember, but it was
not until recently that it began to
suck my will to live.
I have heard it said that the first
step to recovery is admitting that
you have a problem.
So I admit. I have a problem.
I am addicted to procrastination,
and though my actual state of being
alive has not been threatened by this
dependence, my life is most defi
nitely in danger.
I have already begun to display
all the telltale signs: altered person
ality, edginess, sleeplessness,
slovenly unshowered appearance,
inability to concentrate on any single
task for a prolonged period, uncon
trollable flinching at the sound of
my name being called, excessive
ducking of responsibility...
If you are one of the two people
on this campus who read my
columns regularly — or if you are
my mother—you may have noticed
my absence from the opinion pages
last week.
I’m sure you missed me.
I missed me.
As much as I hated to do it, I
forced myself to put off writing my
column until there was not a chance
that I could finish it before
Thursday’s issue of the Daily
Nebraskan went to print. I pushed
my addiction to a level I had not
known before.
Believe me, it hurt me more than
it hurt you. I sacrificed $15, all for
the sake of research.
I know. I’m a saint.
But for you, my readers, I’d do
anything. No pain is too great.
And now that I have reached the
depths of absolute irresponsibility, I
am ready to start the trek back to
normalcy — or at least efficiency.
As I begin the long haul down '
the road to recovery, I offer to those
of you who feel you too may be at
risk of falling prey to this evil
escapism we call procrastination,
some advice:
Do not exceed the recommended
dosage.
If symptoms persist, do not
improve within seven days, or are
accompanied by high anxiety, or if
new symptoms occur, consult your
transcript before continuing use.
Do not take this product if you
have any hopes of graduating,
having a career or accomplishing
anything in your lifetime, except
under the supervision of your
conscience.
Do not take this product for more
than 10 days.
May cause drowsiness: alcohol,
sedatives, tranquilizers and dead
lines may increase the drowsiness
effect.
Avoid alcoholic beverages,
driving a motor vehicle, operating
machinery and everything else in
your life while taking this product.
KEEP THIS AND ALL DRUGS
OUT OF THE REACH OF CHIL
DREN.
In case of accidental overdose,
seek professional help immediately.
I know I’m going to.
Hjersman is a senior news
editorial and English major and
the night editor and a columnist ;
for the Daily Nebraskan.
66
I am addicted to
procrastination,
and though my
actual state of being
alive has not been
threatened by this
dependence, my life
is most definitely in
danger.”
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 paper. Accordi ng to policy
set by the regents, responsibility for the edi
torial content of the 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@unIinfo.unl.edu.
