Editor's Note (2/19/2008)

Story by Carson Vaughan 

| Published Feb 19, 2008

There was a plethora of reasons the current staff of The Dailyer Nebraskan felt it was imperative to start a satirical newspaper at UNL—the Daily Nebraskan’s previous monopoly on student readership, the need for someone to tell those involved with UNL’s student government that they’re the only ones voting for student government, an intense desire to publish the word “shit” for thousands of people to read—but it was ultimately the following headline, published on the front page of the Oct. 1, 2007, issue of the Daily Nebraskan, that pushed us over the edge:

“Campus bell tower donated by 1898 UNL alumnus”

In the words of Harold Ramis as Dr. Egon Spengler, “Very good, Louis. Short, but pointless.”

That article, enlightening as it proved to be, was our tipping point. We felt that we had eaten our share of university-spiced pablum, so we proposed the creation of The Dailyer Nebraskan to the university’s publications board.

They denied our proposal. We appealed.

And the paper you are currently reading is the result of the infamous decision declared in the Dec. 13, 2007, case of The Dailyer Nebraskan v. UNL Publications Board.

We’re feeling pretty good about the foundation we’ve set, and we have been receiving a tremendous amount of positive feedback from the public. For instance, one reader of the Lincoln Journal-Star’s online edition, posting under the username “alan,” wrote the following after reading the Journal-Star’s article about our endeavor:

“Hey Carson, how about this for satire that’s deeper and more truthful than hard news: Give ME some of YOUR money to fund and found the Dailiest Nebraskan. Freedom of Speech doesn’t mean it’s free for you and is paid by me. Don’t mimic The Onion. Grow some.”

Thanks to the care and support from fans like Alan, our dream has become a reality. What you are now reading is the culmination of nine months of hard work by our student staff, $860 (per issue) respectfully finagled from the Daily Nebraskan’s contingency fund and a universal passion for a hearty laugh.

Thank you, students. Thank you, UNL Publications Board. Thank you, Daily Nebraskan.

The Dailyer Nebraskan intends to be a satirical and, at times, radical newspaper, presenting current news in a false or comical light, while simultaneously featuring “serious” entertainment reviews, interviews, etc.

Please note that The Dailyer Nebraskan is split between two distinct sections. Our news section is meant for entertainment purposes only and is by no means to be taken seriously. Our entertainment section, on the other hand, is neither fictitious nor satirical. All interviews placed within the entertainment section are the bona fide words of the interviewee, and all reviews are critiques of authentic works of art, be it music, literature, cinema or other.

This is the inaugural issue of The Dailyer Nebraskan, and we think it has a lot to offer. Featured on page 2 is a guest editorial submitted by the features editor of The Onion, Joe Garden.

The entertainment section presents a rare interview conducted by The Dailyer Nebraskan with Seattle musician Mat Brooke (Band of Horses, Carissa’s Weird), whose first album with Grand Archives was released today on Sub Pop Records.

Most exciting, however, are the first published news stories written by staff members of The Dailyer Nebraskan.

Enjoy.


Respectfully-er,


Carson Vaughan
Editor in Chief
Dailyer Nebraskan