The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, February 04, 1992, Page 3, Image 3
Students discuss interracial dating Lee’s ‘Jungle Fever’ sparks honest talk about relationships By Sean Green Senior Reporter A film about interracial dating sparked discussion of the pros and cons of such relationships Monday night at the UNL Culture Center. After a showing of “Jungle Fe ver,” about 40 UNL students discussed interracial dating and marriage, in cluding some students who related their own experiences. After one white woman who de clined to be identified talked about her relationship with a black man, another student said, “Your relation ship is going to be subjected to a lot of hell in this society.” “Sometimes I would just like to hear some positive reinforcement,” the student said. The film and discussion marked the beginning of Black Homecoming Week activities and the celebration of Black History Month. “Jungle Fever,” written, produced and directed by Spike Lee, centers on two characters, a married, black man and a single, white woman. The two have an affair, but their relationship is quickly complicated by the disapproval of their families, their own altitudes about each other’s race and the question of infidelity. The film, set in New York City, addresses the interracial issue and other issues often faced by African Americans, in a straightforward manner. Students talked about the different issues brought up by the characters that related to interracial marriage and dating. In one scene, the wife of the man having an affair talks about her anger at her husband, both for breaking their marriage vows and going to a while woman. During the discussion, some stu dents said they agreed with the wife’s point of view. Other students said they were upset when they saw a black man dating a white woman, instead of a black woman. Black Homecoming Week aclivi-' ties will continue today with a panel discussion from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Culture Center. Travel on officials’ calendars By Michelle McGowan Staff Reporter UNL Chancellor Graham Spanicr and Michael Mulnix, executive di rector of public relations, will travel throughout the spring semester to build support for the university. Spanicr said he and Mulnix would spend two days a week traveling “to visit and become belter acquainted with Nebraska, its leaders, and with what the people we serve arc think ing. In addition to Nebraska, their trav els will cover cities such as Denver, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Los Angeles. Mulnix said he and Spanicr planned to visit UNL alumni organizations, chambers of commerce, Rotary clubs and community colleges. They will visit community lead ers, as well as potential donors, he said, to raise funds for the University of Ncbraska-Lincoln. Mulnix said he would talk mainly to legislators and media representa tives, while Spanicr would have a broader focus. The chancellor will spend most of his time speaking to different service clubs and attending some Founders’ Day dinners sponsored by alumni i organizations, Mulnix said. Although the two will concentrate on fund raising, their main purpose “is to establish a rapport with the people,” Mulnix said. But before Spanicr and Mulnix begin their travels, they will meet with officials on East Campus, the High School and College Relations department and other departments to pinpoint potential donors. While keeping a vigorous sched ule on the road, Span ier said he would continue “to work and focus on issues such as UNL’s budget, faculty work load, our commitment to instructional improvement and to serve Nebraska through various programs.” .-NEWS BRIEFS*-, Videoconference to feature author Alex Haley, Pulitzer Prize-win ning author of “Roots” and “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” will be among a host of African-Ameri cans to participate in a videocon ference Wednesday on the condi tion and progress of Black Ameri cans. Part of the annual ‘‘Beyond the Dream” program, the videoconfer ence will be broadcast live via sat ellite from Black Entertainment Television in Washington, D.C. The videoconference will be shown in the Nebraska Union. The room will be posted on the union schedule of events. Women and aging subject of course Women may reflect on the is sues of their own aging in a six week session of classes titled, “Women & Aging: Celebrating Ourselves,” beginning today from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Gathering Place, 1448 E St. Issues to be explored include facing the fear of aging, support networks, role models and well ness. Cost for the course is $30. 3OLICE REPORT Beginning midnight Saturday 2:55 p.m. — Tail-light broken and vehicle denied, parking lot at 17th and Vine streets, $200. 2:57 p.m. — Bicycle damaged, Hamilton Hall, $50. 4:52 p.m.—Wallctstolen.City Campus, $35. 6:30 p.m. — Person injured, Bob Dcvancy Sports Center. 6:45 p.m. — Vehicle damaged, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, 425 University Terrace, $100. Beginning midnight Sunday 1:35 a.m. — Fraternity fight, 16th and S streets. 3:15 a.m. — Two males trans ported to Detoxification Cen ter, 721 K street. 1:35 p.m. — Bicycle tire taken, Abel Residence Hall bike rack, $100. • • - r • ;r. RHA escort program successfully revamps By Michelle McGowan Staff Reporter The UNL Campus Escort Pro gram, which got off to a shaky start more than a year ago, has been reorganized and is back on its feet, the new RHA president said. Mike Lew is said that after being revamped, the ' program was up and running. When the pro gram began, it was “never fully organized, and partially successful at best,” Lewis said. “One person was in charge all week, and it is an awfully big responsibility to take on by yourself.” The escort service was created by Malt McKeever, speaker of the Residence Hall Association senate last year. The new coordinator is Dennis Hyman, a senior economics and political science major. Instead of just one manager, Hyman said, the rejuvenated program has four managers and about 40 to 50 es corts. “We need at least six people a night, and it runs in two shifts,” he said. Escorts range from students living in the residence halls to so rority members. Escorts carry walkie-talkies, given to them by the UNL Police Department. Because the program was created for women, each shift consists of a dispatcher and two escorts — either two females or one male and one female. “Other escort programs have found this to be most effective,” Lewis said, because there are both men and women escorting the stu dent. Escorts display badges to iden tify themselves, and they use other “core rules” to run a safe escort program, Lewis said. Escorts are not allowed to ex change phone numbers with stu dents they are escorting, they are not allowed physical contact with the student and they are only al lowed to walk students as far as their doors. “By doing this, we are trying to avoid a potential rapist,” Lewis said. Lewis and Hyman both said the escort program had been success ful. During the past two weeks, they said, eleven students have used the escort service. “This has become a better or ganization, all in all,” Lewis said. “We’ve learned from our mistakes.” The escort service runs Monday through Thursday, 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. To gel in touch with the serv ice, call the RHA office. f . ■ /* --—__-frw. ■ m** _■ _ ' _. _ ■ii. ooo bin mi The AT&T Calling CVm/will never go to waste. You can use it to make a call from almost hmh ih «m mm i it anywhere to anywhere. Once you have one, you’ll never need to ajply for another. It’s the least expensive way to call state-to-state on AT&T when you can’t dial direct. □ And now you could also get 10% hack on all the long distance calls you make with your card* D Of course when you use your Calling Card, you’ll 9 always be connected to the reliable service you’ve come to expect from AT&T. □ So, as you see, there’s only one way to describe the AT&T Calling Card in today’s college environment. Indispensable. 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