EDITOR
Paula Lavigne
OPINION
EDITOR
Jessica Kennedy
EDITORIAL
BOARD
Erin Gibson
Joshua Gillin
Jeff Randall
Julie Sobczyk
Ryan Soderlin
Nearly everyone who rides his or her
bike to and from class on a daily basis has a
horror story or two regarding downtown
traffic, especially if night classes are
involved. And even the most careful drivers
can occasionally miss the view of a bicyclist
until it’s too late.
Keeping bicyclists off the sidewalks is a
move meant to protect pedestrians, and it is
an understandable one. But now its time for
the city of Lincoln to protect bicyclists, and
it should do so by creating bike lanes on all
downtown streets.
These lanes would give bicyclists a
chance to ride safely, stay out of the way of
overzealous motorists and keep off the side
walks, all at the same time. By nature, most
bicyclists don’t want to break any laws; but
until bike lanes are made available, bicy
clists have to fight an urge to survive and
avoid injury in order to remain law-abiding
citizens.
Drivers won’t change, the bikes-on-side
walks ordinance probably won’t change and
the result of a motorist-bicyclist collision
definitely won’t change; so maybe it’s time
for Lincoln’s streets to change.
If our lawmakers truly want to protect
every citizen, it’s the least they could do.
Editorial Policy
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the Fall 1997 Daily Nebraskan. They do
not necessarily reflect tee views of the
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University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
A column is solely tee opinion of its author.
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V
Haney’s
VIEW
Alternatives
Unfortunately, ours is a society
that would rather restrict things from
individuals or not talk about them
than conduct life in an open, candid
and understanding manner. The
recent policy of alcohol on campus,
specifically in the dormitory
dwellings, is one of such restriction
over responsibility. Unfortunately,
there are many members of our soci
ety whose irresponsibility^spoils the
U freedoms professed! to all.
Unfortunately, much of this irrespon
sible behavior is advertised as a
'cool’ or ‘status quo’ personality.
If I were chancellor, my first
order of business would be to pro
mote responsible and enjoyable gath
erings. In fact, I not only would only
allow alcohol to be consumed on
campus, but promote student gather
ings in campus buildings and allow
the students some responsible oppor
tunities, such as throwing parties with
music and drinking and without a
time limit. These gatherings bring all
the students together, regardless of
their fields of study and social
groups. It is much more fun, much
easier to meet people and much safer
than the “O-Street drunkest” that
occurs every weekend.
I think parties like this could work
hsfje, but it would take a few opportu
nities to prove the example that not ail
university students are irresponsible,
over-drinking, aggressive, short-tem
pered idiots. But until that happens,
the rules the university has made,
however restrictive and ridiculous,
(attend alcohol classes after the sec
ond offense?) its rules must be oblig
ed.
Graham Johnson
Graduate student
German
Art?
I will be graduating in December,
so maybe it’s too late for me, but I
would like to get something off my
chest that I believe will help the stu
/ DN
LETTERS
Aaron Steckelberg/DN
dents and the campus. For four
years, I have seen what I believe to be
wasteful spending by the university.
Much of this spent on the so-called
artwork throughout the campus. The
most recent being that Torn
Notebook, which to me is just an eye
sore.
I have visited other university
campuses and have seen the sculp
tures that they have. Almost all of
them have some figure that seems to
bring all the students together, much
like our former Broyhill Fountain. I
especially like the large sculptures of
the school mascot and I believe that
we as students, the ones who pay for
these pieces of art, need to join
together and vote on the next art pro
ject. I would suggest a large Herbie
Husker - the old one, not the new one
with the face of Bill Byrne - or per
haps a statue of Bob Devaney. These
are symbols that every UNL student
can relate to, not just the athletes or
art students. No matter what the next
piece of art on campus should be, I
believe we, the students, should have
some say as to where or on what our
money is being spent.
Trevor McFarland
Senior
Agribusiness
Byrne would cry too
Steve’s absolutely right. When
you get back to the basics, the foot
ball team exists primarily for the stu
dents, the families, and the alumni.
Of course, everyone in the-general,
public loves Husker football. Veali,
students can get a little out of hand
once in a while, we all did and don’t
deny it! Maybe even Byrne. ... But
even he would have cried if someone
took his seats away. Keep the student
section in a priority spot where it
belongs.
Mike Johnson ’93
UNL alumnus
Quick fix?
It’s too easy.
The article “From this day for
ward” (DN, Monday) struck me
because I myself am a divorcee.
Churchill discusses the laws that exist
in Louisiana. I don’t think it’s to easy
to get divorced in today’s society.
My divorce took less time for me
than my wedding did. I went to a
lawyer and discussed what actions
needed to be taken (this took about 20
minutes) and then went to court (this
took about 10 minutes). The process
took roughly 20 minutes, which was
far less than my wedding itself.
People of my generation usually hunt
for the quick fix and society has let
divorce become a quick fix.
Divorce should not be taken light
ly, and more requirements for divorce
may be a good idea, but instead of
looking at correcting or improving
the end process (divorce), look more
closely at the beginning process
(marriage).
Kurt Brumbaug
Graduate student
Our
VIEW
City needs
bike lanes
Law-abiding citizens
fear for their safety
Every day, thousands of bicyclists are
faced with a troublesome choice: Ride in
the streets and risk serious injury at the
hands of careless drivers, or ride on the side
walk and risk a citation from the Lincoln
Police Department.
This dilemma is the result of a Lincoln
• 'V>
ordinance that prohibits bicycles, skate
boards and in-line skates on sidewalks in
and around the downtown area. This no
wheel zone extends from Ninth to 16th
streets and K to R streets, covering almost
the entire area adjacent to the south side of
City Campus. And if bicyclists are caught in
violation of the ordinance, a $26 fine is the
usual result.
This ordinance is not new - it was passed
in 1954 - but in the last few weeks, the LPD
has stepped up enforcement of it at the
request of downtown businesses.
And bicyclists - at least the ones who
don’t have an extra $26 to spend - are stuck
in the streets.
If the streets were as safe as the law
intended, being street-bound wouldn’t be a
problem. But sometimes, the law isn’t based
in reality. In reality, Lincoln’s streets are rife
with motorists who make sharp turns,
change lanes without looking, speed
through yellow lights and honk maniacally
at anyone who dares travel at a slower speed
than them.
Dealing with such motorists is a life
endangering experience even when surr
rounded bya ton or so of steel. Imagine fac
ing «fch^ scene on a 20-jwuM aluminum
frame.
