D«z/vNebraskan
Since 1901
Editor Sarah Baker
Opinion Page Editor Samuel McKewon
Managing Editor Bradley Davis
Told you so
Hall not Abel to stand
behind symbol of tolerance
Picture this: A group of Abel Residence Hall’s
finest stumble into the place they call home.
Someone gets the ingenious idea to steal the
Allies pink triangle off the Abel Residence Hall
Association’s door. They do.
Repeat at least 10 times, probably more.
Unless Abel is home to a person afflicted with
obsessive-compulsive geometry disorder, the
pink triangles are endangered because of the
prevalent attitude in die dorm seems to be this...
Screw the residence hall government and screw
the pink triangle.
By placing the pink triangle on its office door,
the Abel Residence Hall Association was
attempting to take a stand against homophobia.
This is a good thing. The members of the organi
zation are, at best, concerned with fighting intol
erance on campus, and, at worst, indifferent to
die matter.
But, as we stated in our original editorial on
this issue, the problem is that many Abel resi
dents, along with the residents of other UNL
halls, don’t agree. Many are intolerant Many are
immature. Many are normal 18-year-olds living
in Nebraska attending UNL
The ARA is fighting the battle backwards. To
combat this attitude so prevalent in the resi
dence hall and on the campus, they have posted
a pink triangle.
This isn’t going to change peoples’ minds
about gay, lesbian^ bisexual and transgendered
people. It's going to give your average freshman
ample opportunity to put a pink triangle up in
his dorm room next to the Tyra Banks poster.
It was bound to happen, this mass thievery of
pink triangles. Common sense dictates that
there would be a backlash to the ARA’s decision
to put the original pink triangle up.
We predicted as much this semester, stating
that Abel, because of its reputation as a rather
rambunctious place, would be the last place on
campus such a symbol would be welcomed.
After that editorial, we received many angry
phone calls and letters, mostly from members of
the ARA and residents of Abel They said we had
degraded their organization and dorm, manag
ing to tear down the tolerance they had built
within the dorm with our 15 inches of copy.
Well, recent events seem to prove that we did
n't do that, as the symbol has been tom down
about 10 times. Now, the ARA is going to buy a
glass case to protect its card. Ifa card of tolerance
needs to be protected, what message does this
send to gay students? That they need protection?
Then there is the statement of the ARA presi
dent, who said the problem of students who take
signs down is “not our problem. They elected the
people in the office who voted for this.”
The president is correct But what is incorrect
is that when elected, people can do as they
please, right or wrong, separate from their con
stituents. Rather, the problem of the general Abel
student body is exactly the problem of the elect
ed officials. What else are they there for?
We don’t question that taldng the sign down
repeatedly is childish and immature. We
addressed that in the original editorial. We also
knew a small group couldn't force a symbolic
mandate on students, and the symbol wasn’t
nearly as important as actual treatment.
We are not pleased that the sign is taken down,
just so we can be right about Abel. We would have
liked to be proven wrong. But Abel residents have
yet to prove themselves ready for this tolerance.
The ARA believes a glass case will solve the
problem. It will only serve to push the problem
into the background, as the symbol continues to
be hollow. And that’s saying nothing for the fact
that glass can be broken.
Editorial Board
Sarah Baker, Bradley Davis, Josh Funk, Matthew Hansen,
Samuel McKewon, Dane Stickney, Kimberly Sweet
Letters Poficy
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Submit material to: Daily Nebraskan. 20 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St. Lincoln, NE 68588-0448. E
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Editorial Policy
Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Fall 2000 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 erf Regents. A column is solely the opinion bf its author a cartoon is
solely the opinion of its artist The Board of Regents acts as pubisher of the Daily Nebraskan: po*
cy is set by the Daly Nebraskan Edtoriai Board. The UNL F>ublicabons Board, established by the
regents, supervises the production of the paper. According to policy set by the regents, responsi
bjlty tor •« editorial content of the newspaper lee solely in the haids of its employees.
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NealObermeyer/DN
Love, hate and the law
Like many in the media, the DN still doesn’t
understand people’s response to President
Clinton. Monday’s editorial stated that “most hate
him for his personal life, not his economic policy.”
The fact is that very few people hate him. Many
feel his behavior was wrong, and when he lied
about it under oath to a grand jury, he ought to
have been held accountable and removed from
office, not for his sexual behavior but for his per
jury. That's not hatred but simply a belief in the rule
of law.
The editorial also states that, “Love him or hate
him, we don’t doubt whether President Clinton is
qualified to be president.” The fact is that, when a
man who is responsible for defending the
Constitution won't even tell the truth when he’s
under oath, then we have no logical reason to
assume he’s telling the truth when he’s simply
addressing the nation. Integrity can't be compart
mentalized.
Either a man is honest or he isn’t, and if he can't
be trusted, then he lacks the moral qualifications
to be president. It’s not enough to simply have a
good economy.
Brad Pardee
staff member
University Libraries
Back to the good or days
WANTED: One or more conservative states
that are willing to secede and return to the original
values set forth in the U.S. Constitution. Looking
for state that will respect and focus on the impor
tance of personal responsibility, families, truth,
law, fairness to all and future generations of its cit
izens. Willing to relocate.
Ken Murphey
Yucca Valley, Calif.
Floyd and I: Nothing but trouble
It’s not that / should
not be on the road today.
You see, it's Floyd’s fault.
I feel that the only person
that truly knows me, besides
my savior, Lothar, is my
Bronco 11. inougn my 1—*— -1
Bronco is not technically a Karen
“person,” we have been a Brown
couple for 5 1/2 years, and, mhhmhhmb
holy cow, we have been
through a lot together.
My partner’s name is “Floyd the Barber,” and
we’ve decided to break up (gas-guzzling piece of
crap) and start our new lives. He had an affair with
a young, blonde musician named Andrew and I
had one with a 2000 Lexus.
Was it worth it? No, but we came to grips with
our spreading differences, and now I would like to
recap the good times we’ve had throughout our
anti-tepid love-hate relationship.
I’ve changed a lot over these years, (I would
never buy a Ford again, nor an SUV.) and I see a
renaissance of sorts on the horizon.
After seeing Floyd get sicker and sicker (I saw
him cough up oil the other day.), I am ready to be
free of the hassles of an ’85 Bronco II. But still I shed
a tear when I think of what the backseat and I have
shared, and I know that “parking” won’t be the
same on my bicycle.
Trips across Nebraska (August 1996-August
2000)
Winter trips:
It's not that I mind so much having to stop
every hour to scrape ice off the inside of the car
windshield as I mind seeing my breath the whole
way home and having to wear a hat, gloves and a
snow suit.
The heater was broken when I bought Floyd
and, as always, I was too broke to fix it. My mantra
for the winter’s travels soon became: “You’re not
alone; no one’s heater works. You're not crazy; that
was an elephant.”
I thought that thinking my car is just as good as
that 1998 Venus Flytrap would ease my pain.
However, the frostbite spread, and I now have no
fingers and only three toes.
“Three toes are better than none, elephant.”
My only true complaint is that once I arrived
home with a 104-degree temperature. Floyd was
just as sick as me, and we spent the next week eat
ing chicken-noodle soup and gasoline.
Summer trips:
Because Floyd’s engine ain’t so "up to par” (He
doesn’t really like to go over 5 mph.) the engine
overheats more quickly than a McDonald’s ham
burger under a heat lamp. Because I’m insensitive
and lead-footed, I decry Floyd's senseless pleas for
ease.
Here’s my summer joke: “What do you get when
you cross an ’85 Bronco II with 100-degree outside
temperature?”
Me, naked and sweaty. Not a pretty picture,
with my hairy back and warts, but it’s necessary.
And to add fuel to the fire, Floyd lacks an air condi
tioner.
Therefore, I have to turn on the heater (that I
got fixed) to draw heat away from the engine. So...
naked, sweaty me drives down the interstate and
soon the heater, which I alternately point on my
feet and head, becomes too much. I must buy cold
bottled water to pour on my feet and arms every 20
minutes while watching the engine temperature
dial slowly climb to the top of the “H” in Too
Goddamned Hot.
After I pass York, just starting the first leg of the
400 miles home, my compact-disc player stops
working. It’s too hot.
Everything is too hot.
I drive the rest of the 320 miles without any
tunes. In North Platte I go crazy from listening to
myself talk about why robots are better lovers than
telephones. At the truck stop I eat 68 Twinkies,
drink 14 Jolt colas and try to kidnap a baby which I
mistake for a roll of toilet paper.
With the cops on my tail, I try to blow my hose
with the baby’s arm, and they catch Floyd and 1.1
explain to them that my car is a Ford and they glad
ly release me saying: “We’re sorry you have to deal
with this, ma’am. Good luck and... keep the baby.”
Sidewalk driving (May 1998)
I was bored in my small town, and I decided to
be “white-trashy" with my friend. I drove Floyd up
onto the sidewalks while yelling: “Look out, you
pedestrians. I can’t control my car! Wooh!”
Well, the only pedestrian in sight was a police
officer.
Officer Don Short. Short-tempered was he, as
he stood about 5-foot-2, fuming at my stupidity.
“What are you doin’?" •
"Just looking for something to hit.”
He slapped me first with his hand and then
with a court date - reckless driving (three points off
my license) and a $50 fine. Boy, was he pissed when
he found out I used to babysit for the district attor
ney. My punishment was reduced to no court date,
one point off my license, and they had to pay me
$3,000.
There are so many more stories, but I won’t
bore you with them. I’ve written another haiku in
honor of Floyd that I hope he gets to read:
TWo pedestrians
hit. Jail time for me. Kudos
to you. Vroom, vroom, SCREECH!
Tell us what you think.
Call: (402) 472-2588
Email: letters@dailyneb.com
*
A courteous
word is all
we're asking
“University
operator, how
can I help you?”
“Yeah,
gimme the num
ber for Michelle
Smith.”
“That num- ■
ber is 472-1010." OwuBU
That’s just a
typical rude
caller I have to deal with as a university
operator.
Most callers generally are courte
ous and actually say “hello," “please”
and “thank you.” But it’s amazing how
many people don’t.
For the last few months I have been
missing in action working as a univer
sity operator. You won’t see me, but
you’ll hear me. And with my distinctive
British accent it won’t be difficult to
recognize me.
I applied for the position because I
was curious about how the operating
system works. Now I know it all.
Working as an operator is interest
ing, and it can be a demanding job,
requiring one to assist different people
in different situations.
When you’re an operator people
expect you to know everything. We
don't have the answers for everything,
but we always try to help our callers as
well and as quickly
as we can. I can
assist a caller with- ^nen
in 10seconds. you’re CM
«iof “H; operator,
computers, and people
when you under- expect you
stand the system .
it’s fairly easy to tO know
find information, everything.
Operators search » ,
the names of indi- aOn t
viduals by last have the
namMy°onbl fuMi- answers
ing because I am for every
providing informa- Mng fcuf
non and assistance .
to many individu- W6 always
als in the state, city, f yy tO help
county and univer- .,
sity. I speak to a 0W/' Callers
mixture of people: as Well and
county jail auicklv
inmates, students, LiulLKlY
faculty and foreign- as We Can.
ers. -
However, as much as I enjoy being
an operator, I have a lot to complain
about because I occasionally have to
tolerate a lot of nonsense.
People generally call the operator
for a number of reasons. During my
training, an ignorant “loser” student
who called just burped and hang up.
There are people who call up and
ask for a number, and it’s obvious that
they don't bother to write it down
because they ask you to repeat the
number five times.
There are some callers who simply
do not know what they want. I call
them the confused callers.
There are many callers who call
from the noisiest places and try to have
a conversation with the operator and
their friends at the same time. That’s
just rude, and I shouldn’t have to toler
ate it.
mere are aiso cauers wno are too
lazy to look through the phone book or
dial a number.
“Can you transfer me, please?”
they say. They use operators as a quick
search alternative. There’s nothing
wrong with that, but operators should
not be abused.
Among operators’ most regular
customers are the greeks. The sorori
ties and fraternities are constantly call
ing the switchboard to get telephone
numbers.
They’ll give you little stories about
themselves. I’ve memorized all the
phone numbers to every fraternity and
sorority.
One guy called last week and said
that he met some girl at a party, but he
couldn’t remember her last name, but
her first name sounded like Carissa.
Like I said, we only search names by
the last name and a complete name
always helps. So, unfortunately I
couldn’t help him.
Then there are other funny charac
ters who call and say: “I can’t find my
birth certificate. What should I do?”
I feel like saying, “Ask your mom -
how should I know?" But I can’t say
that.
The convenience of having opera
tors makes life easy for all of us. We all
call the operators. Just dial zero on
campus and we're there to help.
Just remember to treat the opera
tor with respect and to say thank you.
“You’re welcome.”
From your university operator.
A
