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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 1998)
EDITOR Erin Gibson OPINION EDITOR Cliff Hicks EDITORIAL BOARD Nancy Christensen Brad Davis Sam McKewon Jeff Randall Bret Schulte It s time to confess, UNL. But confession is just the first step; search ing for new methods and new approaches to old ones is also essential. And perhaps some of those solutions lie to Nebraska’s south. In Missouri and Texas, university leaders have had the same goals as Nebraska, but their results have been drastically different. The University of Missouri-Columbia has seen its black population nearly double over the past four years. And although several steps like ly have been made to result in such numbers, one program in particular seems like it could be easily duplicated at UNL. Though Missouri has the metropolitan areas of Kansas City and St. Louis to draw from, Nebraska could draw from minority communi ties in Omaha, Lincoln and smaller towns. At MU, minority recruitment days are held in the state’s two major cities, where campus representatives let prospective students know not only what the school has to offer, but also that there are people like them on campus. Missouri has put its money where its mouth is with the construction of a black student cen ter and substantial funding for minority schol arships. A similar program is in effect at the University of Texas at Austin, where incoming students spend three or four days of the summer in student-orientation sessions - short summer camp-type arrangements at which new stu dents congregate for the first and only time. During the session, students live together in campus residence halls, learn about colleges, student groups and campus issues, and take academic placement tests. Students also choose a major, register for fall classes and attend new students-only social events every evening. Students leave the orientation session with a network of friends they can lean on from day one of fall classes. The network keeps students in school. At UNL, students’ pre-enrollment exposure to the university is usually limited to New Student Enrollment days. One afternoon of campus tours and presentations is hardly enough to give students a head start on making friends, establishing connections and getting used to the idea of college life. The Daily Nebraskan thinks a program sim ilar to those at MU and UT would be a solid and positive first step toward increased minority enrollment in Lincoln. UNL’s administration should examine these programs and take a seri ous look at bringing them here. Our VIEW Moral minority Improving recruiting means search for ideas It’s never easy to admit when something doesn’t work. But when looking at the steady-and-dwin dling minority enrollment at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, it becomes obvious that fes sing up to the administration’s flawed approach to recruitment is necessary. Particularly in the case of black students, UNL has been unsuccessful in recruitment and retention. Currently, UNLs black student popu lation has shrunk 10 percent from just two years ago. Editorial Palicy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Fall 1998 Daily Nebraskan. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 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 serves 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. Letter Policy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the 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. Mook’s VIEW I DN LETTERS NlTs evil fans (Shannon Heffelfinger, “KSU knows how to win; its fans don’t,” Monday) Sorry you let a few people ruin your experience in Manhattan. I am sure that is just what it was: a few peo ple. But your views are a bit myopic. I attended KSU from ’83 to ’87. If you know our history, you’ll know how good we were back then; in a word, “pathet ic.” Scores of the NU-KSU games back then were usually 60-plus to 3. I attended many a game, both in Lincoln and at KSU. I assure you 100 percent that the behavior of our “fans” is not unique. I can think of two times I attended a KSU-NU game in Lincoln and was abused by YOUR fans. At that time you had beaten us 15 plus times. I was repeatedly taunted by NU fans about this and numerous other things. Why? Because we dared to root for our soon-to-be alma mater. Were we rowdy? Not in the least. It is hard to be rowdy when you are No. 1, with your girlfriend; No. 2, losing 35-0 at the time; and No. 3, in a sea of red We were called so many names that we had to leave early. We had had enough. Nebraska fans, I had decided, were rude, obnox ious, insensitive and complete jerks. Oh, did I mention I also played at KSU during those pathetic years? I was a walk-on and played one year. I have been taunted and called names and had things tossed at me as I stood in the tun nel. Trust me, it happens everywhere. Your players, fans and football pro gram are just like everyone else - not all saints and not all sinners. You say, “I have never seen Nebraska or any other program belittle an opponent before the game.” Did you see any of the Notre Dame-U of Miami games in the ’80s? Did you see any of the NU-Oklahoma games of the ’80s? How about Ohio State University Michigan, every Let us enjoy it I understand your comments about the fans yelling at Crouch after the game, but this is no differ ent than Nebraska fans yelling at K State players that “you’ll always be K-State, and we’ll always be Nebraska.” Crouch played a great game and yes, he did get face masked. This brings up the personal foul that wasn’t called on KSU’s third-down attempt at Nebraska’s 11 yard line when Bishop was hit in the head late. First of all, to the introduction-of the game, it was great. If w'e had lost, you would have laughed at it. But since Nebraska lost, you turned bitter about it. Nebraska has had a dynasty and will continue to have it. Kansas State has only started ours, and beating Nebraska was a big step for our program. Nebraska fans and players trying to downplay it is only a sign of sour grapes and may be a little fear that this might have been the passing of the torch. Second of all, don’t dog on your team being 8-3. It is a great football team that got beat by a great football team. Every school has poor fans (even Nebraska, Colorado’s being the worst) and Kansas State does, too. On the comment about next year, we lose two key linebackers, one quarterback, one receiver and one running back. All these are big positions, but what people don’t know is who are behind them: Frank Murphy, Travis Litton, Ben Leber, Jonathan Beasley, David Allen and a Clemson transfer at a linebacker position. Next time you talk about next year and how bad Kansas State will be, do your research before you open your mouth and remove all doubt. A ^ Finally take a A \\ y ' I MattHaney/DN stats of the game, and eliminate Kansas State’s turnovers, and Nebraska is not even in the ball game. Let us enjoy our win. We haven’t beat Nebraska for 29 years. How the hell would you act? Probably a lot like Kansas State fans did. Good luck to Nebraska. Kansas State needs you to keep winning. Pat Goering KSU fan Oh YEAH? I couldn’t agree more with this article about the fans at KSU. I had to order the game out here in Michigan, and it looked like NU was playing one of the old Miami Hurricane teams. I think those peo ple out in Manhattan better grow up and learn what a true winner acts like. ineir players were sucn not dogs, and their fans weren’t much better. This is not a dynasty; this is a one-year thing. My hats off to Bill Snyder, but Michael Bishop is the whole team. If he falls, they fall. Wait till next year - don’t be sur prised if NU isn’t the No. 1 pre-sea son favorite. I think Eric Crouch just won the No. 1 quarterback job. I think Bobby Newcombe should go back to wing back and punt returner so we have more weapons. Why waste a talent by making Crouch the No. 2 QB? He played his heart out in the biggest game in a long time. I hope KSU enjoys it while it lasts. If KSU wins the national cham pionship - good for them, but I hope they doesn’t disgrace the Big 12 while they win the championship. KSU has a lot to learn - maybe they should watch a real winner in NU. Patrick Nichols NUfan