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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1998)
EDITOR Paula Lavigne OPINION EDITOR Kasey Kerber EDITORIAL BOARD Brad Davis Erin Gibson Shannon Heffelfinger Chad Lorenz Jeff Randall Guest VIEW Ethnically unbalanced Admission change is cause for concern The Guardian University of California-San Diego (U-WIRE) LA JOLLA, Calif. - In the first year that affirmative action was not used in University of California under graduate admissions, UCSD admitted 40 percent fewer applicants from underrep resented racial-minority groups than last year. « The small number of black, Mexican American and American Indian students admitted is especially alarming consider ing there is already a pitifully low number of students from underrepresented racial minoritv erouos on camous. If the University of California truly intends to serve all the people of California, then the university system should strive to have a student body whose ethnic makeup is similar to that of California. Obviously, we are far from meeting this goal. Although it would be easy to blame the lack of racial minorities on the UC Regents for abolishing affirmative action, no one person or entity is entirely responsible for the lack of diversity in the University of California. However, some blame can surely be placed on California’s miserable public school system. How can it be possible that California, the richest state in America, has one of the poorest school systems in the coun try? These students need the opportunity to attend good schools that prepare them for attendance at institutions like UCSD. This can be accomplished only if more money is allocated to the public school system and that money is well-spent. It is important to note that the University of California has taken the first step in reaching out to students from underrepresented racial-minority groups. In particular, UCSD has placed full time recruiters in Los Angeles and San Francisco to begin working with prospec tive students as early as ninth grade. In addition, UCSD may one day have a Model School on campus attended by stu dents from underrepresented communi ties. xi snouia noi oe me responsiomty oi the UC system only to ensure that more students from underrepresented racial minority groups are eligible to attend the University of California. Instead, it should be the responsibility of California legislators and citizens who watch students move through California’s public schools without ever really gaining the skills necessary to attend the University of California. EflMMNtty Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Spring 1998 Daily Nebraskan. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nebraska-Uncotn, its employees, its student body or die University of Nebraska Board of Regents. A juiLinan U . ||.L nrtintnn |U m ■Hi n ■ a column 6 soieiy me option of ns autnor. The Board of Regents serves as pubSsher of the Daily Nebraskan; policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Edtorial Board. The UNL Pubiiaions Board, established by the regents, supervises the production of the paper. According to policy set by the regents, responstonty for the editorial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of its student employees. letter Policy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor and guest columns, but does not guarantee tneir pubNcalion. The Daly Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject any material submitted. Oa t nM ouormaBO material oeoomee property or the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be returned. Anonymous submissions will not be published. Those who submit letters must identify themselves by name, year to school, major andfor group affiliation, if any. Submit material to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St Lincoln, NE. 68588-0448. E-mail: letters@unlaifo.unl.edu. ' Haneyjs VIEW ihr/Lr i ' - * Who is He? •i . ’ ■ Christians unite, gain faith in Jesus Week M Realize that at this very time someone is sitting quietly in his or her room praying for the whole campus,-for you! ” KATYA OVCHARENKO it a freshman English major and a Daily Nebraskan columnist, Jesus rises from the dead in the stone hearts of people; one more time we celebrate His resurrection, only this time on campus - during this whole week, today through April 10. This is Jesus Awareness Week. It will change many hearts, many minds, many attitudes. . Different small events will con tribute to this big celebration of life. During dinners in the dining rooms of the residence halls, there will be tables with 10 “myth” posters about Jesus. They will list the most frequent misconceptions about Christ. Like this, for example: Do we know who Jesus Christ was? If you are interested, ask people around you and you’ll understand that most of us will reply that Jesus was a prophet, or a great teacher, or a ’ good and kind man with perfect morals, or an upstart, who was cruci fied for confusing people, calling himself “the King of Israel.” See, Biblical events are still alive today! Once Jesus asked His disciples who men said He was. Matthew 16:14: “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets,” was the reply of apostles. That was what other people thought of that Jesus of Nazareth. “But who do you say that I am?” “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Simon Peter answered. So who do YOU say Jesus is? Is He a dead prophet or the Son of God? f..~ The most interesting event to me will take place on Wednesday. It will be a 24-hour prayer: from 6 a.m. on Wednesday till 6 a.m. on Thursday. Many Christians signed for certain hours-to pray. Wallsing to die school, sitting half asleep on boring lectures, working out in the Campus Recreation Center, eat ing in a fast food restaurant, doing homework dr doing nothing, sleeping - realize that at this very time someone is sitting quietly in his or her room praying for the whole campus, for you! Most of the events - lectures, prayer meetings, Bible studies, etc. - will take place in the Nebraska Union during lunch time when students have a short break. You will see Christians every where: Most of us will carry our Bibles with us, in case someone will have any questions about this book. For many Christians this week will bring great time spent for God. The spiritual growth will be unbeliev able. Many will become stronger. For some of us it will be a good opportunity, given by God Himself, to step forward and, with no fear of being misunderstood, to say proudly, “I follow Christ.” Remember how many times you were afraid that someone would turn from you when you said the simple words “I am a Christian”? Every time you keep silent about this fact that you belong to Christ, you offend and betray Him. Why do we follow Peter and refuse our faith by simply not talking about it? Faith is dead without deeds. Others will hear about Jesus for the first time in their lives, will hear the truth about Him and will discover something new about Christianity. Some of us may completely change our attitude toward the Christian world. There also are some students on our campus who seem to be Christians before they come to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, but years at the university change them. I’m not blaming my university for this loss of faith. It’s a common thing for young people, who just graduated from high schools, to tear the ties with the past and to gain some free dom in the college setting, far from home and dependency on parents. Their souls close for God imme diately, as if they never knew Him. They step into a lonely and empty life, where the spiritual world is filled with material things. Maybe it’s time to turn back. Christ is waiting patient ly; He knocks at your door offering you LIFE. There is nothing in the whole world that can compare to life with God. How safe it is to be on His side, to be surrounded by His love, to be filled with His indescribable peace! He loves us no matter how bad we are or what we do. Because of the Lord’s great love, He chose to die for us. This coming week will influence the hearts and minds of many people. I hope that Jesus Awareness Week will bring unity to many Christian organizations at UNL, if all the denominations will participate and contribute into this big work. It will be a good, blessed week when we will grow spiritually. It’s time to get together, not only in the words, but in deeds. We have been talking about unity far too long; we should do something at last! ——----•——' -
