A man plays a violin tribute to a deceased veteran in the Soldiers Circle at Wyuka Cemetery Wednesday.
Professors
dispute plan
for addition
of minuses
By Shelley Biggs
Senior Reporter
Professors debated on Wednesday the
pluses and minuses of a proposal to add
minuses to the grading system at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
James Ford, an associate professor of En
glish, and Herman Knoche, a professor of bio
chemistry, agreed that the plus system should
be removed, but they disagreed on adding
minuses to the present plus system of grading.
The professors dcbatod the proposed grad
ing policy changes during an open forum in the
Nebraska Union, sponsored by the College of
Arts and Sciences Student Advisory Board.
Ford said he thought having only pluses
inflated grades on report cards.
He said he became concerned about the
present plus system after he had a difficult time
trying to convert minus grades into the plus
system. Because there is no minus system at
UNL, Ford said, he often has to “bump up”
grades of students who may not have deserved
See GRADES on 3
Ban on prayer
at graduation
to be reviewed
By Angie Brunkow
Staff Reporter
Spanier proposes corporation
Chancellor says aim
is to help Nebraska
compete worldwide
By Susie Arth
Senior Reporter
UNL Chancellor Graham Spanier has
formed a committee that will study the
feasibility of a new corporation that
would help Nebraska’s businesses in interna
tional markets.
Spanier said he believed the corporation,
which would be operated by the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, could help businesses in the
state compete in the global economy.
“There is a growing number of businesses
that have the ability to compete in the interna
tional marketplace," he said. “(UNL) can help
these businesses do this by marshaling the
university’s vast expertise.’’
Spanicr said local businesses would receive
the most benefits i f the corporation proved to be
workable, but the university would benefit as
well by improving its bond with the business
sector.
“It’s not really designed to help the univer
sity as much as it is to help the rest of the state,"
he said, “I see it as a part of the public service
mission of the university.
“Ultimately we sec it as an opportunity to
form tighter lies between the university and the
rest of the state.'*
But the corporation could benefit UNL by
opening additional doors for faculty and stu
dents in the field of international business,
Spanicr said.
, Spanicr said he believed UNL’s resources in
modem languages, international affairs, agri
culture, trade, cultural exchanges and study
abroad opportunities would be especially in
strumental in the corporation’s operation.
Spanier said he expected the committee to
report its findings back to him in abouf-six
months.
The committee, which already is preparing
for its first meeting, is comprised of represen
tatives from the university and business sector.
The committee will explore the resources at
UNL that could be pulled together to help
businesses, Spanicr said.
In addition, Spanicr said he hoped the com
mittee would determine if the corporation could
be self-supporting.
Spanicr said he was uncertain when the
corporation would form, but he hoped it would
be within one year.
The idea for the corporation, he said, came
about when he repeatedly heard local business
executives express a desire for international
markets.
And Spanicr said he believed UNL’s re
sources could fulfill their desire and provide
benefits for all sectors.
“We want to launch this initiative to better
the university, the government and the state,”
he said.
Tho^UN^ Commencement Committee
will reconsider its decision to strike
prayers from the commencement cer
emony, an AS UN official said Wednesday.
Andrew Loudon, speaker
of the senate for the Asso
ciation of Students of the
University of Nebraska, said
that student mobilization
led Herb Howe, associate
to the chancellor and mem
ber of the Commencement
Committee, to call a meeting to reconsider the
decision.
Howe first raised questions about the gradu
ation invocation and benediction at the
committee's meeting last week. He said the
committee decided to ban the prayers because
of graduates’ diverse backgrounds.
Chancellor Graham Spanier said the issue
came up because of a Supreme Court decision
to ban prayer in graduation ceremonies in kin
dergarten through 12th grade.
The committee wanted to look at how the
case relates to UNL, he said.
See ASUN on 3
Awareness week to educate
students about sex crimes
By Kristine Long
Staff Reporter
Rape, sexual assault and sexual harass
ment arc not crimes that victims feel
comfortable reporting, but they must be
reported if they arc to be prevented, a UNL
police officer said.
Officer Lisa Yardley said she hoped Rape/
Sexual Assault Awareness Week, which begins
today, would educate students about these
crimes and make it easier for victims to report
-them,--—
ASUN Sen. Leslie Strong and President
Andrew Sigcrson, along with 14 members of
the Rape Awareness Committee, have orga
nized the week’s events, which will end Nov.
19 with a nationally known speaker.
Rape survivor Nancy Zicgcnmeycr, one of
the nation’s leading rape-prevention advocates,
will be the highlight and finale of Rapc/Sexual
Assault! Awareness Week, Strong said.
Zicgcnmeycr, from Grinnell, Iowa, shared
her story with the Dcs Moines Register in
February 1990 with the hope of helping other
rape survivors. The Register won a Pulitzer
Prize in 1991 for coverage of her story.
Zicgcnmeycr will speak Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at
the Lied Center for Performing Arts.
The theme of Rapc/Sexual Assault Week is
See RAPE on 2
Rape/Sexual Assault Awareness Week I
“Confronting Sexual Harassment on Campus,”
IWWi 12:80 to 2:30 pjn., Nebraska Union; Panel 2&0 to 3 p.m.
UA^V, —REACT: Rape Education and Campus Training,
WIHWii 7:30 p.m., Nebraska Union BaHroom
1HH|k —“He said....She said,” panel and video on acquaintance
ivPPtli rape, 11:45 ajn. to 1 p.m., Nebraska Union
—Self-defense training, Campus Recreation Center,
Martial Arts Room, 3 to 5 p.m.
^Comedian T. Mami Vos, 8 pjn., Nebraska Union
BaRroom
MMMM^gPieying tbe Game,” presentation, 8:30 p.m.,
IfuHWWIi Nebraska Union Regency Suite
TUMBCAAV, —Bwnmeyer will speak at 7 p.m.
at Hie tied Center
