Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 10, 1992)
Proposed center to offer classes on the history, culture of Judaism By Mindy Leiter Staff Reporter The University of Nebraska-Lin coln will gain a new center for Judaic studies, thanks to $4 million in contri butions from alumni and the fund raising group, Friends of the Univer sity, an official said. The proposed Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies will allow UNL students to take classes on Jewish culture, history and religion, said John Peters, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The NU Board of Regents is set to approve the center’s name. The center will offer classes to students majoring in history or phi losophy, in which the study of Juda ism would be relevant, he said. In addition, the center will establish pro fessorships and offer a major in Jew ish studies. Peters said the S4 million also would go toward faculty scholarship, library collections and community outreach programs on the Jewish ex perience. “I’m proud of (the center),” he said. “It’s a very good thing for all of UNL.” Peters said UNL had an interest in Judaic studies for a long time, but was unable to create a center until it re ceived the $4 million in contribu tions. Norman and Bernice Harris of San Diego provided the cornerstone of the center’s funding with a gift of nearly $3.5 million as part of a trust agree ment in their wills. The Harrises also gave their rare collection of Native American art and pottery to the Nebraska State Mu seum for permanent display. Norman Harris, who graduated from UNL in 1941 with a degree in political science, said the university was “a part of his good memories.” “If I were to do anything for a university, it would be for Nebraska,” he said. “Some of my happiest days and experiences were spent during those four years. I think this is my.way of giving back.” ’ Harris said he hoped the classes offered by the center would help dis pel stereotypes about Judaism and foster a greater understanding about the Judco-Chrislian culture. “Judaic studies is a noble purpose,” he said. “It is an American duty to teach people to understand each other for the sake of peace and justice and decency. “If students learned this, then maybe it will change the way they treat their fellow man.” Harris said people must work to find the similarities in other cultures, rather than emphasizing the differ ences. Few Midwestern universities have Judaic studies centers and establish ing one at UNL will place the univer sity in a>leadership position, he said. Two professorships have been cre ated to foster Judaic studies at UNL. Zella Rosenberg of Lincoln do nated $ 100,000 for a professorship to honor her late husband, Hymen Rosenberg. The professor will teach modern European and Jewish history, Peters said. The university still is searching for someone to fill the position. James and Elaine Wolf of Albion gave $100,000 to establish a Col. Melvin H. Schlesingcr Professorship of Social Justice to honor Elaine Wolf’s father, a 1916 UNL graduate. Gifts from Gretl Wald and Norman and Helene Krivosha, all of Lincoln, will establish lectureships in Judaic studies. Election Continued from Page 1 Democratic nominee Bill Clinton on foreign policy, Forsythe said, it often is assumed that Bush has the upper hand. Forsythe said he did not make that assumption. In the past, he said, Democrats have stayed away from discussing foreign policy issues because they were viewed as too weak on com munism. Now, with the collapse of the Soviet UnioiV, Forsythe said, the Republicans h^ve lost their hold on foreign policy issues. “The conventional wisdom is (foreign policy) would be a Bush strength,” he said. “I don’t think Clinton necessarily sees it that way. “The changes in the world, I think, actually work to Clinton’s advantag6.” Forsyjthe said he thought Bush would stress his handl ing of Opera tion Desert Storm, his role in the collapse of communism and Clinton’s inexperience in foreign policy issues. Clinton, he said, would attack Bush for being indecisive about Iraq after Desert Storm, for not being tough enough on China for human rights abuses and for being slow to help disaster victims in Somalia. Forsythe gave Bush high marks for his handling of Desert Storm, but was critical of his overall lead ership in foreign policy. “I am not that impressed with U.S. foreign policy at the moment,” he said. However, Forsythe said it was unclear whether Clinton would be able to do a better job. “I don’t know that we know for sure,” he said. “We don’t have much to go on — he doesn’t have much of a track record.” Neither candidate, he said, is significantly better than the other on foreign policy issues. “I think it’sa very mixed picture on both sides,” he said. “I don’t think it’s black vs. white either in favor of Bush or Clinton.” BE A RED CROSS VOLUNTEER Lottery profits would reachNU, coordinator says By Shelley Biggs Senior Reporter Profits from a proposed state lot tery would reach the University of Nebraska only indirectly, an official said. Randy Moody, coordinator for the Friends of Education and the Envi ronment campaign that supports Amendment 1 A, said the lottery leg islation directed profits only to schools within the kindergarten through 12th gradc range. Amendment 1A would allow the creation of a state lottery. But he said NU ultimately would benefit from the lottery’s effects on education in Nebraska because the university would gain better-prepared students. Amendment 1A, approved by the Legislature in 1991, would amend the Nebraska Constitution to allow the state toestablish, operate and regulate a lottery. The amendment will be voted on in November. LB849 is the part of the lottery legislation that deals with the alloca tion of the lottery’s profits. According to the bill, proceeds from the lottery would go to education, environmen tal and landfill cleanup projects. Some of the funds also would be used to help people with gambling addictions. Gov. Ben Nelson spoke in support of Constitutional Amendment 1A at a press conference last week. The governor would allocate 49.5 percent of the lottery funds for grants to school districts. Nelson said the state would decide what school dis tricts would receive the money on a yearly basis. The lottery would provide funds for one-time grants to go toward edu cation, including educational facili ties, he said. The lottery also would provide funds to set up an environ mental trust fund to aid in conserva tion. POLICE REPORT Beginning midnight Tuesday 12:42 a.m.—Vehicle window bro ken, parking lot at 17th and Holdrcge streets, $150. 7:35 a.m. — Vehicle pushed from stall, parking lot at 19th and S streets. 8:30 a.m. — Auto accessories sto len, parking lot east of Abcl-Sandoz Complex, $20. 2:27 p.m. — Vehicle scratched, parking lotal 14 th and A very streets, $500. 7:35 p.m.—Camera stolen, Gather Residence Hall, $72. THE FIRSTIER SURVIVAL KIT... “YOU CAN’T MAKE IT THROUGH SCHOOL wnHourm" It’s A Jungle Out There. You Need The Financial Advantage. ^ The FirsTier EDGE is our most popular checking account for those who want unlimited check ing for a low fixed monthly fee. It’s checking simplified! • No minimum balance. • Unlimited check writing. • Free FirsTier Style checks. • FirsTier Teller ATM Card for 24 hour banking convenience. • Credit Card with no annual fee with approved credit. • No Fee VISA® Traveler’s Cheques. All these benefits for a low fixed fee of only $6.00 a month! Value Plus Checking... A Great Value For Those Who Write Few djecks! FirsTier has the ideal solution for those who don’t write many checks. It’s Value Plus Checking and it’s designed for students who frequently use ATMs. There’s no minimum balance requirement for you to worry about. And whether r the hitting the books at school, your money is just an ATM away. • Low $2.50 monthly service charge. • Write up to 10 checksper month with no fee. (ifyou write more thqh 10 checks in (X month, automatic payments are included in this number, there is a $.35 fee for each check over 10.) • All FirsTier Teller ATM transac tions are free! FirsTierAid—It Can Keep Your Colfege Hopes Alive! Making your way through college can be a real financial struggle. FirsTier offers three programs to help students and parents handle the rising cost of higher education: Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Supplemental Loans to Students (SLS) and Federal Parent Loans for Students (PLUS). Ask your Firmer Representative for details! The Student VISA® Is Perfect For Emergency Situations. There are times when you need money fast. That’s where FirsTier comes to the rescue! See your Firmer Representative for an application today! • No Annual Fee. • No Co-signer required. t Minimum $500.00 Line of Credit (upon approval). DON’T WAIT FOR AN EMERGENCY. OPEN AN ACCOUNTNOW!! FirsTier FirsTier Banks. N.A., Members FDIC.