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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 1997)
EDITOR Paula Lavigne OPINION EDITOR Jessica Kennedy EDITORIAL BOARD Erin Gibson Joshua Gillin Jeff Randall Julie Sobczyk Ryan Soderlin mk^mm unionai roiicy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Fall 1997 Daily Nebraskan. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nebraska-Lincoin, 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 serve as publisher of the Daily Nebraskan; policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. The UNL Publications Board, established by the regents, supervises the 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 student employees. Our VIEW Pour us the money Pepsi contract fizzles without funding details The choice of a new generation is a non choice at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after Pepsi was granted an exclusive beverage contract over the summer. This deal allows Pepsi to promulgate its products on campus in exchange for $ 11 million up front and $1.1 mil lion a year for 12 years to the university. When the concept of a beverage contract was introduced last year, students weren’t given a choice in agreeing to a contract. Their promised voice in the decision was an opinion poll that named Pepsi products students’ No. 1 choice. While $24.2 million is probably worth sacri ficing a morning Coke, the contract is chillingly vague on promises to students and obnoxiously specific in its benefits to Pepsi. With the deci sion made, students must be less concerned about what’s going in their mouths and more concerned about what’s going in UNL’s wallet. When administrators were touting the bene fits of the contract to students, technology was the big buzzword; however, in the final contract, there is no mention of campus technology. The agreement lists these recipients of money from the Pepsi Quasi-Endowment Fund: student scholarships, campus/student life initia tives, community service and outreach initia tives, food service operations, facilities support, academic enhancements, diversity commit ments, athletic and recreational activities, cam pus technology, Title IX support. No where does it say how much money goes to which department, when it goes and how the money will be distributed. Administrators said they didn’t want it to seem as if decisions were made behind closed doors, and therefore left the money path to be determined later. But words such as “initiatives” “operations,” “support,” “enhancements” arid “commitments” already icck ui wasieu money ana nun spenamg. The final decision on spending rests with a Pepsi Quasi-Endowment Committee and Advisory Committee, both of which will be meeting within the next month. The committee is made up of UNL vice chancellors who are also part of the advisory committee, along with central administration representatives, a Pepsi representative, the Athletic Department director, UNL administrators and faculty, and the student body president, who is the only student involved in the negotiations. Within a month, these meetings must pro duce a detailed outline of where the Pepsi money will go for at least the next three years. During the meetings, ASUN President Curt Ruwe should request the bulk of funding for stu dent scholarships and technology, as promised to the students. Ruwe needs to ensure that the figures define who receives what and when the students will see the benefits of the contract. Another concern is the agreement that Pepsi receives several tickets and other athletic kick backs and has secured prominent sponsorship ad space in atheltic venues. There’s no mention of a Pepsi sponsoring campus honoraries. Aside from being subject to Pepsi promo tion, we’re also subject to Pepsi inflation. While a 12-ounce can remains at 50 cents, the other option is a 20-ounce bottle for 85 cents. The con tract states prices can go up after three years. The decision to enter into a beverage con tract is not a bad idea. However, there are some glaring oversights that could potentially cost students more than their choice of soda. Because if we’re Pepsi’s new generation, then we’d better start making the choices. Letter Policy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters tothe editor and guest columns, ' but does not guarantee their publication. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject any material submitted. Submitted material becomes 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 affiliation, if any. Submit material to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St. Lincoln, NE. 68588-0448. E-mail: letters@unlinfo.unl.edu. Haney’s VIEW j/*** F** . <*rr A s*j*r ^ "feKM LOAM ^ L X W»MTEC> j The good ol’ days Reflections on life, love and losing one’s skinny-dipping virginity 66 I have been very fortunate at UNL. I’ve had plenty of sagas, several victories and a few heartwrenching losses life lessons; classes that I actual ly remember something from. Getting down in Theater 114 my freshman year was awesome. There’s nothing like making strange noises and rolling around on the floor to erase one’s inhibi tions, erase self-consciousness and instill a willingness to take risks. New Student Enrollment was an interesting time for me. For no better reason than it sounded more fun than being a political science major, I signed up to be a broadcasting major. I figured that I could talk better than any thing else, so why not get on the track to get paid to talk. After four years in the college, let me tell you, it was one of the best decisions of my life. The most insightful class I took was called “Improving Children’s Life Chances.” This class was a chilling expose into how the other half live; or rather should I sav, the other half ekes by. Thirty hours of volunteer work with at-risk youth really forced me to challenge my opin ions and attitudes about poverty and education. No class has had such a significant and long-last ing effect on me as this one. And there was - is - nothing quite like Chem 109. Unless you’re a serious student or you really like chemistry, I would not recommend this class. For me, this was a lesson in failure (or rather near-failure) and accep tance. My GPA is still trying to recoup that one. In the nonacademic realm of r’ve-got-to-earn-a-Iiving, I’ve been extremely lucky for a col lege student. My first three years of school were spent alone in a very small, dark room talking to myself. And no, I wasn’t a Harris lab rat. Rather, I had the very cool job of being a disc jockey - not a job I would ever have imag ined myself in, but it was a blast. What I learned from my time at the station was, “all you’ve got to do is ask.” Most of my jobs, including radio, came from hav ing the cajones to ask for them. My advice to you, then, would be if you want something, go after it. That goes for employment as well as other things. Then there’s the rest of your life. Make sure to have fun, live free and don’t have regrets. I’ve fallen in - and out - of love, found a slew of wonderfully loyal friends and skipped impor tant things to have fun. You too will fall in love (mutually or not). I believe that it’s impossible to go through four or five years of college and not find someone who takes your breath away, makes your knees weak and causes slap-happy grins while you’re stopped at a red light. Everyone needs some one to daydream about, to wine, a:__i__ uiuv uuu lumuuvv, auiuvuuv iw share your deepest feelings and thoughts with. You will also find some of the best friends of your life. I’ve been extremely fortunate; every year I’ve met wonderful people to hang out and bond with. People to laugh and cry with, to bitch and moan to and get silly with. Most importantly, don’t regret anything. That means don’t make stupid choices that you’ll regret in the morning or in a week or in five years. Likewise, take advan tage of all the interesting things that come your way. Do the one thing you thought you could never do. For instance, I went skinny-dipping for the first time this summer, after swearing I’d never do it. If you get the chance, try it - it’s the greatest! Starting college is scary and exciting all at the same time. But it’s important to let loose and have some fun. See you around campus! JESSICA KENNEDY is a senior advertising and broad casting major and the Daily Nebraskan opinion page editor. It’s been five falls since I moved from south to central Lincoln. My then-roommate and I survived moving into Neihardt in the pre-A/C days and hun kered in to get settled. Beginning of my final semes ter, I’m feeling nostalgic. In the past week I’ve seen old friends, dug out the photo albums (sever al times) and reminisced - a lot. I’ve come to the slow realization that this will be my last semester. The last time I pay undergradu ate tuition, qualify for student discounts and oe.t to he eYcnsnhlv footloose and fancy-free. I’ve grown up a lot in the past four years. I left high school embittered, cranky and burned out. I’m leaving college happier, more sure of myself. But boy, it’s been one hell of a ride. I have been very fortunate at UNL. I’ve had plenty of sagas, several victories and a few heartwrenching losses. The sto ries and memories I carry with me are very special. I’m not alone ... in four or five years, you too will sit around remem bering the good times and bad. Much like what you’ve been doing with your high school bud dies all summer long. Academically, college has been interesting, to say the least. For example, I did better on my freshman chem final than I had on any of the tests all year - and I had been up drinking the night before. I started in the honors program, took my honors classes, but will be editing opinions at the DN this fall instead of slowly killing [myself over a senior hon ors thesis. In retrospect, there have been some classes that totally shaped my college - and life - experience. These are classes that provided me with
