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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 1993)
"V T 1 V 1 "iSS4 X LJllV^ P \y <\ VY • *&«*§. 38/20 XIt I 11 f~A IV g^\ I I ymm, assar1 ' ! it> a s~\ . i • » Travis Heying/DN Out on a limb Carl Landenberg, front, and Matt Grahm from UNL Landscaping Services trim pine trees outside Architecture Hall Tuesday morn ing. senators hear debate on multicultural bills LB179, LB52 supporters express concerns, dislikes to education committee By Chuck Green Senior Reporter For more than four hours Tuesday, the Legislature’s Education Committee heard comments from supporters and opponents of proposed bills that would alter planned multicultural curriculums for Nebraska schools. More than 30 people addressed both support and concern to the committee about LB 179 and LB52—two proposed bills that would amend a law requiring Nebraska second ary and elementary schools to develop and implement multicultural programs by the 1993-94 school year. The multicultural program law stemmed from LB922, sponsored by Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha and passed last spring. The bill’s multicultural programs were not designed to add new classes or teachers to the . schools, Chambers said, but rather to require schools to integrate multicultural education into existing programs. The multicultural curriculum would be implemented on a test basis for the 1993-94 school year, then revised and installed perma nently beginning in 1994-95. LB 179, also sponsored by Chambers, would create a Multicultural Education Advisory Com miuec, which would be established by the Nebraska Board of Education tooversee imple mentation of multicultural curriculums. It also would create a permanent, full-time position within the state Department of Educa tion that would oversee the multicultural pro gram omc it was installed. “For something of this magnitude to work the way it was intended, there has to be some one present to see the whole picture, Cham bers said. The full-time position would not require additional funding, Chambers said, because the Department of Education’s budget already can accommodate it. i LB52, introduced by Sen. Kate Witek of Omaha, would delay the first phase of LB922 until the 1994-95 school year because, Witek said, multicultural programs in the state’s sec ondary and elementary schools need to be studied further. “I have no qualms about multicultural edu cation,” Witek said. “My main concern is that for something that is supposed to be imple mented next year, there are many, many ques tions from all levels. -44 My main concern is that for something that is supposed to be implemented next year, there are many, many ques tions from all levels. — Witek state senator ---tt - This is such a large task, we simply need more time to investigate this further.” Doug Christensen, associate commissioner of the Nebraska Department of Education, said he supported LB 179, and that additional staff ing was needed at the state Department of Education to implement such a sweeping cur riculum. He said the current department staff was not representative of the diversity of students in Nebraska’s schools, and that it would be “abso lutely arrogant” to proceed with the program without better administrative diversity. See LEGISLATURE on 3 Peace park, maze planned for rural site near Lincoln By Doug Kouma Staff Reporter Inspired by the wave of freedom that has encompassed the globe in recent years, a group of Lin coln residents is working to create a new vision of peace and understand ing for the Heartland. The Prairie Peace Park and Maze, » which is sponsored by the World Peace Center and is being built seven miles west of Lincoln, is scheduled to open in June 1994. Featuring hands-on ac tivities and exhibits, the park will promote a belter understanding of the principles of world peace, organizers said. Don Tilley, park director, said -44 When the people of Nebraska see this wall, they will be moved by it, because they will see themselves in It. — Tilley Prairie Peace Park director Tuesday that one of ihe premier ex hibits would be ihe World Peace Mural,lobecreatedai ihe 1993 World Clay Stomp. The clay stomp will be in Flagstaff, Ai iz., May 24-27, and bring together people from more than 50 countries to share their cultures and ideas for the future. Almost 16,000 “stompers” will blend and condition 10 tons of clay for the hundreds of artists who will create the 80-foot-by-10-foot wall. Musi cians from all over the world, playing simultaneously on instruments indig enous to their cultures, will create a unique atmosphere for the event, park promoters said. “The whole intent of the project is to transcend differences and cultures of people and create a vision of com ing together,” said Joel Pfeiffer, the stojnp’s director. Tilley compared the mural to the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in w w Washington, D.C. But while the Wall is a memorial to a tragic event, the peace mural will be full of life and positive emotions, Tilley said. “When the people of Nebraska sec this wall, they will be moved by it, because they will see themselves in it,” Tilley said. Former Nebraska Gov. Frank Morrison, a member of the peace park ’ s board of di rcc tors. said the wal 1 would be symbolic of a new coopera tion among different cultures. Morrison said just as the Berlin Wall was built to divide society, the peace wall would be a symbol of international unity. . In addition to the mural, the peace park will feature different exhibits and learning centers, such as an elec tronic light show, a life-size human conflict maze and several sculptures. “Amber Waves of Grain,” an 8,000-squarc-fooi exhibit of nuclear warhead replicas, was permanently loaned to the park by artist Barbara Donachy as a call for nuclear disar mament. * See PARK on 3 Lr A works to prevent student fee increases Fund increases expected for DN and ASUN By Michelle Leary Senior Reporter The desire lo keep student fees down for 1993-94 is ex tremely important for students at UNL, said Shane Tucker, president of the ASUN Committee for Fees Allocation. “We’re trying to halt the student fee monster that we’re burdened with each year,” Tucker said. “We’d hale to see an increase in student fees next year.” Last year, student fees rose $10, bringing the total up to $ 171. CFA members, who review fund requests made by student organiza tions, are working to prevent another increase for next year, Tucker said. Andrew Sigerson, AS UN president, said one of his lop priorities was keep ing student fees at the same level they were this year. “Students need a break from the increasing tuition costs and the costs of living, Sigerson said. Student fee assessments vary ac cording to the number of hours for which a student enrolls each semes ter. In 1992-93, students taking 6 or less hours paid $80; those taking 7 or more hours paid $171. See FEES on 2 1992*93 Student fees allocation Fund A Fund B Total per student Total pgr student per per semester: $7.89 semester: $163.11 Projected annual Projected annual revenue: $368,847 revenue: $7,177,584 r\ ^ *