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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2000)
Helping minorities feel welcome is ongoing task wnn an me discussion surround- * — ing the term “diversity” in recent years, a a lot of questions have arisen. jong ^g Some students, and even faculty for me at ^g and staff members, wonder whether university” diversity is really that important. James Griesen, vice chancellor for *** student affairs, said that a diverse cam pus is critical for students to be pre- An up-to-date Culture by Margaret Behm ' issues in tne workplace sucn as >the denial of domestic partner benefits show gays and lesbians that they’re not my as important as straight people, job, I Tetreault said. have ' to An accomplishment for the gay push and show community this year was the first another side of the annual Outstanding Contribution to store’” Smith said. the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and pared tor hte outside ot college. “I think it is very important for the university to prepare students for the real world in an multicultural setting,” he said. And with all this talk, many ponder whether race relations have even start ed to improve. Or if it has, indeed, been just talk. Jimmi Smith, director of Multicultural Affairs, said even though there have been positive changes at this univer- U denier, closer 10 ine union, may help minority students feel more welcome here, Griesen said. Reyes said the condition of the cur rent Culture Center makes the univer sity look bad. “I think the Culture Center reflects very poorly on the university and its attitude toward students of color,” he said. Daryl Swanson, unions director, said $37,000 has been allocated to the center for improvements. _ _ n_• j_: j sity, mere is room tor improvement. “I can say that race relations are better. My checkpoint would be compared to 10 years ago,” he said. “Now, whether race relations have improved enough? No.” Some may also question if what administrators call a small number of minorities is notice able. Now, whether race relations have improved enough? No.” Jimmi Smith director of Multicultural Affairs jwaiiduii id uttiu ing Aether to put that money toward a $60,000 improvement project or a $ 120,000 project The $60,000 would replace the fur nace and air condi tioning units. The $120,000 would replace those and the ducts and improve the control system. *** Stephan Reyes, a junior construc tion management major, said he notices few minorities on campus. Reyes said that having few minori ty students on campus can be a surprise to some students. “After the initial shock, you learn to deal with it,” he said. “If I woke up every morning and said that I am an underrepresented minority, it would be Griesen said a more diverse faculty also would help students feel welcome here. “It’s easy to get a perception that this campus isn’t multicultural if (stu dents) only see white staff and white faculty,” Griesen said. Smith, director of Multicultural Affairs, said it is obvious that there aren’t enough minority faculty mem bers on this campus. “In looking around the campus, we are a European-based campus in num bers and in the faculty hiring politics and promotion politics,” he said. “And until you can change that, we’re in trouble.” A legislative bill passed this ses sion that will give the university $500,000 for the recruitment of women and minorities. *** An important part of races’ coming together is admitting to racist actions, Smith said. He referred to Neal Obermeyer’s cartoon (in the Daily Nebraskan) fea turing senior marketing and business major Eddie Brown as a mascot. Obermeyer said that the purpose of the cartoon was to show that the uni versity uses Brown to present an image of diversity that doesn’t exist. But Smith said that people should admit that the cartoon was racist. “Sometimes you have to call racism for what it is when you make a mistake,” he said. “You don’t have to hide under the banner of saying, ‘It’s Smith said that Chancellor 1 ransgendered Community award. James Moeser was correct for Moeser presented the award to acting quickly by // Vernon Williams, an writing a letter to the • • ItS CCISV tO QCt educational psycholo Daily Nebraskan. ^ ^ gy professor and “The dmnceUor a perception that zrcounselor at is the CEO for the * t' UNL. campus. One would fhiS COmpUS isn’t expect that he would r lend ms voice in helping us know what diversity is,” he said. Brown and Moeser were unavailable for com ment. Obermeyer said he had one regret about the cartoon. “If there was a way to do it without personally insulting that’s the only thing I about it.” multicultural, ij they only see white staff and white faculty.” Chuck van Rossum, assistant director of minority assistance program in Multicultural Affairs, said that he would like to see all people cele brating their cultures. James Griesen J would llke toseer u it c „ . . ,r . students who aren t of vice chancellor tor student altairs , , . , color talking about their culture,” he said. „ ,,. “That’s one thing that I don’t see much Eddie Brown, encouragement for.” would change Van Rossum said people should be patient because someday the outcome * * * oi tneir actions to diversity tne campus will come. Pat Tetreault, sexuality education “I am very optimistic that if the coordinator for the University Health university keeps making efforts to Center, said getting equal rights for bring people together, one day we will gays and lesbians still hasn’t become a see the gain,” he said. “But it’s slow in universal concern. coming.” I * •$$: • : ' , -m- • Log on to start/stop your electric service and you could wirj a $50 gift certificate. Before you head home for the summer or move within Lincoln, you need to start or stop your electric service. Every stu dent that starts/stops service on our website from April 19-May 7, will have their name put into a drawing for one of six $50 gift certificates to the Nebraska Bookstore and University Bookstore. Just go to our web site at www.les.com, click on the Starting & Stopping Service light, go to the *Tjn a student and I'm moving" section, cRck the appropriate option for you, fill out the simple form, submit it, and you're done. UN001N ELECTRIC SYSTEM www.les.com To be eligible for the drawing, entrants must be students who use the LES web service for stop ping&tarting service between April 19 and May 7,2000. Landlords, realtors, title companies, and u apartment managers are not eligible. .Winners will be drawn on May 8^20001 and notified via mail. | j I I i BORSHEIM'S. Fme Jewin' and Gifts A Bakslm Hatkt*ay Gmpm l.■'y.L~M; : Regency Court, 120 Regency Parkway, Omaha. NE 68114 (402) 391-0400 (800) 642-GIFT www.borshcims.commailCoborshetms.com Hours: Mon & Thurs. 10-8; Tues.. Wed. & Fri. 10-6; Sat 10-5:30 . -- . ' it. vs>- - •