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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 1998)
Stop, collaborate and listen DN strives to encourage active editorial discussion CLIFF HICKS is a news editorial and English major and the Daily Nebraskan opinion edi tor\ Hi. Let’s get this out of the way up front. Don’t kill the messenger because of the message; don’t kill the idealist because of the ideas. What you’re going to see on these two pages in the coming months will often make you feel uncomfortable, and that’s a good thing, because it means that we’re getting to you. Ideas are meant to get under your skin even if you don’t agree with them. And that’s what the opinion section is. Pages of raw ideas. In the past, opinion editors before me have talked about the positive effects that the newspaper has had on them, as well as how they got into journalism. They tell you a little about their life story, and then a lot about the DN. They talk about the great things that have happened to them while they’ve been here at the uni versity. They offer positive advice uj mtuiumg siuucms <uiu icii oiu war stories about days of yore. Basically, they BS for a few pages to make you feel better. Me, I’m the kind of guy who likes to pick a fight. I’m not here to hold your hand and tell you that the university isn’t a scary place. It is. I’m not here to tell you all the people you hated in high school are gone. They aren’t. In fact, there’s more of them, whomever they are. I’m not here to give the university nothing but praise, nor nothing but criticism. I’m no cheerleader, but I’m no doomsayer either. I’m a realist, and I’m here for a reason. I’m here because I want to make a difference. Yeah, it really sounds cheesy when I say it, but I’m here because I think somehow, something I have published will stop and make someone think. I’m hoping two students will get into a dialogue over something they’ve read here. I want people to really think. No matter what you may think about the columns, the cartoons, the editorials or the letters, they aren’t done just to get on your nerves. There are quite a few peo ple on this planet, and each and 66 These pages represent a battlefield of ideas. This is where conflicts begin and problems see at least a little closure. This is where people come to discuss.” every one of them has something different to say. I want them to say it here. The Daily Nebraskan isn’t a place where a bunch of elitists come, sit down and say “Well, what can we do to tick off the stu dents of the university today?” We are students just like you. We’re concerned about what’s going on, and we want to keep you informed. The editorial section is your chance to keep your finger on the public pulse. It’s your voice as much as it is ours. Maybe they’re the same voice. Or maybe just a very out-of-tune chorus of voices. These pages represent a battle field of ideas. This is where con flicts begin and problems see at least a little closure. This is where people come to discuss. If you haven’t got an opinion, wait awhile. You’ll form one. We all know what opinions are like. We’ve all got one. This is where we talk. And talking is important. I know, you’re thinking that yuu vc ucai u ims icciurc auuui communication before, and it was from your parents. At least they raised me for 18 years, you’re thinking, so what gives this guy, who’s never even met me, the right to pontificate about opinions to me? I’m trying to save you some of the hassle I went through. College isn’t easy. I’ve been here for three years, and that’s the lesson I’ve learned best. You’ll do more growing up here than you have the past 18 years of your life. Not only are you surrounded by thousands of people who have nothing in common with you, you have to get along with them. Some people you’ll like. Some you’ll hate. But no matter what you think of the people sitting next to you in whatever boring class you’re read ing our columns in, those people can teach you as much as any teacher on this campus can. And there are plenty more people just like them. Every person has at least one story to tell. Columnists will talk to every one through the DN, and everyone has the chance to respond. They’re stating their opinions, and they don’t reflect on me, the newspaper, their fraternity/sorority, their place of birth or any other group of peo ple. These are their opinions. Columnists are allowed to talk about anything, as'long as what they’re saying is new or insightful. And that’s what I’m asking out of all of you. This is a discussion, a dialogue if you will. And one person can’t do it alone. While two people make a conversation, imagine how much more interesting it’ll be when everyone starts getting involved. A university full of ideas, rather than a house of lem mings. Think before you rush blindly into the sea because the guy next to you told you so. New concepts, new dreams, new problems - new answers. College is about stripping away all of what your parents taught you, your high school taught you, your friends taught you, television taught you and the media taught you, then building from scratch on whatever’s left. __i_i . rv • _ uttaust wnai a l^u is yuu. It won’t always be smooth sail ing, not here nor in whatever dorm room or apartment you’re in. We at the DN are idealists, and I’m hop ing you will be too, when you get deep down inside yourself. But being an idealist isn’t easy. I know things aren’t going to work out in the end, and wearing rose-colored glasses just means you’ve got red in your eyes. Problems do exist. We’ll never be without them, thank God, or I’d be out of a job. I think most of us are cynics at heart, like me. But that doesn’t mean we can’t strive to right what’s wrong. And remember, it’s us I’m talk ing about, not just me. You belong here as much as I do, or as any of these columnists. You have ideas; we want to hear them. We want you engaged in these debates. We crave your let ters, be they resentful, proud, angry or just plain funny. We need you with us. We can’t do it without you. It’s not my paper. It’s not your paper. It’s our paper. Welcome to the Daily Nebraskan. I’ll be seeing you. j Hov to G«t Your OpMon • HtodWiMMi ! \ 1 L.\ *,n ^ 1 imam | 1. Keep it short We get alptaf letters and the , longer they are, the more likely it is dial they’ll j get cut or not printed at all i 2. Write your name, major, year in school «nri telephnnenumber at the bottom of the letter, 1 otherwise it won't be printed We only print letters t after calling to verify their source. 3. Don't go through and point-by-point challenge I a column. People want to hear your opinion, not | watch you dissert someone Oise’s. 4. ‘type the letter. Bad handwriting ensures a one I way ticket into die paper-recycling bin. 5. Don’t beat a dead horse. We will choose to 1 print fresh ideas over letters about stale subjects I or subjects many painted letters have dealt with j recently. I 6. Don't include profanity. It has yet to advance ' any argument ] 7. Write well If you want to be heard, make sure you ha ve something to say. 10% Student Discount off our everyday low prices, now thru Sept 19! EN. Thompson Forum on World Issues A cooperative project of The Cooper Foundation and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Expand your world vision The Thompson Forum offers thought-provoking speakers on issues key to our changing world. The 1998-99 lecturers are: Sept 9 Dorothy Ridings President and CEO, Cound of Foundations As the World Turns: Global Giving Goes Center Stage Oct 13 Edward 0. Wilson Pelegrfno University Professor, Curator of Entomology; Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge Nov. 12 Robert Hitchcock Anthropology Chair, Associate Professor, University of Nebrasfca-Uncoln Africa: Environmental Conservation, Development and Human Rights March 9 Anthony Lake Former NaNonal Security Adviser to President CMon Superpower or Supercop: Dangers and Opportunities in the Post-Cold War Era April 14 Peter Arnett Puizer Prize-miming CNN International Correspondent Live from the Battlefield: From Vietnam to Baghdad to Bosnia All lectures be#n at 330 p.m. at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Free and open to the public. For more information, call 472-2844. Nebraska flii-fiuiwof— grgiBi Division of Continuing Studies Department of Academic Conference* and Professional Program* 61996, University of Nebraska, Board of Regents. The University of Nebraska a in affirmative acttoiVequai opportune instituton