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
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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
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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.
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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
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\ 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.
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The Thompson Forum offers thought-provoking speakers on issues key to our
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Sept 9 Dorothy Ridings
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As the World Turns: Global
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Oct 13 Edward 0. Wilson
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Consilience:
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Africa: Environmental
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March 9 Anthony Lake
Former NaNonal Security Adviser
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Superpower or Supercop:
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Nebraska
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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