Letters to the editor, 3/8

FUSION earns progressives' vote

During the first go around at elections, the Progressive Student Coalition was torn between choosing which party to endorse. After the Wednesday election, we have decided to endorse the FUSION executive board for the ASUN in Tuesday's run-off elections. To us, FUSION has seemed dedicated to work with us for a more progressive University.

Michael Dunn
Co-Chair of the Progressive Student Coalition and freshman English major

Personal view of FUSION shows passion for UNL

My Dear Student Body,
Let me begin by giving full disclosure: For the last two years I have suffered the great misfortune of living with Reid DeSpiegelaere and, by default, most of the FUSION party. For two years I've had my personal space invaded at any and all hours of the day. For two years I've lost sleep because of the myriad voices babbling on the other side of my paper-thin Courtyards bedroom wall. Two years of single-minded conversation. Two years of neglected dishes. And just when I was about to get some measure of peace back in my life, I find my purgatory extended by a week due to a run-off election (mutters under breath).
I can't blame FUSION for this extension, though. I mean, they wanted to win, right? Instead, I blame you, student body: You're really the cause of my ills. Do you know what it is that keeps these people coming into my room? Do you know what it is that drives their every conversation? Do you know what they blather about until the wee hours of the morning?
It's you.
They never shut up about you, actually. It's all "student body" this and "what's best for students" that. Involvement, engagement, enfranchisement: I'm surprised they haven't taken you out for dinner and a movie. Not one person wearing a purple shirt has uttered a word about themselves — no mention of job perks or resumes or personal glory. The magnanimity is as thick as the layer of dust in this over-crowded, under-cleaned living room.
I can't speak about the folks from N VISION — I'm sure they're all swell, and I mean that very sincerely. I simply don't know them. But I've been forced to know the FUSION crowd intimately. And I can guarantee you, with the utmost surety, that their political and personal lives are dedicated entirely to you and your best interests.
So help me out, here, I'm begging you. Do yourself (and me) the greatest favor of your undergraduate careers, and go vote for FUSION in this run-off, even if your candidate didn't win the first time around, and even if you didn't vote at all the first time. You'll be voting for some of the most generous and selfless people you'll ever meet, people who will be your advocate every step of the way. I promise you, you'll be electing a true student government.
And we might finally get caught up on doing dishes over here.

Sincerely,
Ben Koch
senior Music Education major

Let's build a bridge to a new beginning

In the course of the past year, I've been part of an ASUN administration that has been dedicated to projects and decisions that have positively affected the quality of student life at UNL. In the course of a couple of weeks, I've seen that hard work belittled and discredited in several editorials. As senator of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, it's been extremely difficult to witness this and still be sympathetic to the views of the writers of the Daily Nebraskan, many of whom are my constituents. So, taking on the role of the bridge builder, I'm attempting to clear the air and encourage everyone to move forward.
Yes, a newspaper should hold its government accountable. But in turn, that newspaper should be committed to delivering its opinions tactfully. ASUN expects the DN to care when we do something wrong, but when we get antagonized for information that is simply not true, the already tense relationship between the DN and ASUN is further strained. Thus, both sides take criticism and attacks (even when said in jest) very personally.
And why shouldn't we? We're students, after all. Both entities are doing what they love in order to serve the student body in some way, one with necessary information and news, the other with representation to administration and providing useful resources. Why do we limit ourselves to an adversarial relationship that plagues so many media outlets and political agencies in the real world?
So, current and future DNers, ASUNers and anyone else who will pay attention, I am writing to encourage a movement of discretion, integrity and productive rapport. No more uninformed generalizations and snide editorials. No more ruthless, public bashing and passive aggressive comments on the Web site (I'm a little guilty of this one myself). With all of this petty fighting, we both look ridiculous to the student body and everything positive that we do accomplish is undermined. Let's put all of this fruitless negativity behind us, grab hold of the proverbial olive branch and work together for a better university.

Lauren Garcia
senior Advertising major