UNL named among elite research universities
By Brian Sharp
Staff Reporter_
The University of Ncbraska-Lin
coln is considered to be among the top
research institutions in the country.
The Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement in Teaching has up
graded UNL’s classification to “Re
search University I.” The foundation’s
system is the standard when compar
ing schools, UNL officials said.
The high rating represents a uni
vcrsity that grants at least 50 doctoral
degrees and receives $40 million or
more in federal support annually.
While UNL easily qualified on the
first mark, it had not previously re
ceived enough funding.
A letter sent by the foundation to
Chancellor Graham Spanicrexplained
the rating meant UNL “offers a full
range of baccalaureate programs, is
committed to graduate education
through the doctorate, and gives high
priority to research.”
Priscilla Grew, vice chancellor (or
research, said having a nationally rec
ognized program would make it easier
for UNL to recruit quality faculty and
graduate students.
But Grew said the ranking didn’t
just reflect on research.
“I think they (Carnegie) share the
view that you don’t separate out re
search from teaching,” she said.
The rating is the highest classifica
tion by the Carnegie Foundation,
awarded to only 86 universities na
tionwide. Other universities include
Stanford, Cornell and Columbia.
Don Hclmuth, associate vice chan
cellor for research, said the rating
would heighten UNL’s visibility in
certain federal funding programs and
make it easier to obtain grants.
“It’s a prestigious class,” he said.
“Many universities strive for it, and
many have spent a lot of money to try
and get there.”
UNL previously was classified a
“Research University II” by the foun
Author challenges evolution theory
Bjorklund
Continued from Page 1 *
prayer. Endacott reportedly said some
thing like, “May God be with us.”
Born said she interpreted his words
as a prayer for safe travel.
The prayer had nothing to do with
her decision and did not compromise
her judgement. Born said. She said
Bjorklund was treated fairly.
“To me it was over when it was
over because everything was present
ed and we took our time in going over
evidence and thoroughly gave
(Bjorklund) the benefit of the doubt,”
Born said.
According to court transcripts, on
March 23 Endacott overruled motions
from Helvic for a new trial with a
different judge.
Defending his actions, Endacott
explained to the attorneys he hugged
the jurors to show his appreciation lor
By Patty Wewel
Staff Reporter
1 f humans arc the products of an
accidental universe, they have no
one to answer to, a speaker said
Thursday.
Phillip Johnson, author of the
book “Darwin On Trial” and a law
professor at the University of Cali
fornia at Berkeley, challenged the
theory of evolution Thursday in the
Centennial Room of the Nebraska
Union.
Johnson said evolutionists who
claimed humans developed through
gradual changes as the result of
chance and random mutation were
unsupported.
He said evolutionists, such as
Richard Dawkins with his Blind
Watchmaker Theory, contended
that God never had an effect on
nature.
The idea that there is no su
preme being, not the theory that
creatures changed over time, is what
Johnson calls dangerous.
Johnson said teaching evolution
in schools was teaching a religious
creation story. He said if society
was taught they were products of an
accidental universe — humans,
independent of a god, would be
responsible for finding their own
purpose in life and their own defi
nition of right and wrong.
Johnson said he lectured at uni
versities around the country in or
der to start a debate on this subject.
Johnson offered several argu
ments as to why evolution should
not be taught as a scientific theory.
First of all, Johnson said, the
examples evolutionists offered did
not defend their theory.
One of these examples includes
new breeds of dogs developed by
humans.
Johnson said this case did not
support evolution because it was a
purposeful event, not a chance hap
pening. More importantly, Johnson
said, only dogs resulted from these
breedings, not a different species.
As for gradual mutations,
Johnson said, fossil records do not
support this. Rather, he said, fossil
records show huge jumps in struc
tures of particular organisms in
stead of gradual changes.
Not everyone at the lecture
agreed with Johnson.
William Benner, a junior phys
ics and philosophy major, said
Johnson tried to show that, by prov
ing evolution wrong, he had in turn
proved there was a creator. Benner
said that was not logical.
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dation. But last year, the university
received about $50 million in federal
funds as part of a record high of ncarl y
$74 million in grants and contracts for
the 1993 fiscal year.
In 1992 UNL accepted $45.5 mil
lion in federal money and received a
total of $66 million in all funds.
Helmuth said while the honor was
a psychological boost for the universi
ty, it wasn’t a signal to relax.
“It’s not anything that will put us in
a complacent state,” he said.
their services.
“My business is to provide a fair
and impartial trial,” Endacott said at
the hearing. “And 1 can say, 'cause 1
know in my heart, 1 have done every
thing possible to provide both sides
with a fair and impartial trial through
out: absolutely impartial and abso
lutely fair.”
Hclvic said he didn’t think Endacott
had acted wrongly. But, he said, be
cause he could base that only on his
own perception he was obligated, on
behalf of his client, to make the mo
tions.
Lancaster County Attorney Gary
Lacey said at the hearings that he
thought Endacott’s actions were justi
fied.
“It’s perfectly appropriate for a
judge in the circumstances of this
particular ease to thank a jury for...
their services as it did at the end of the
case,” he said.
Senior Kditor Adeana 1.eftin contributed
to this report.
Opponents
Continued from Page 1
Council Bluffs, said women must be
able to discuss all matters related to
abortion with a doctor.
“It would have a devastating effect
on Nebraska’s women,” she said.
“Many clinics would shut down, and
it would lead to more unwanted preg
nancies.”
Kennedy said it was ironic that
senators were opposed to “big govern
ment,” but they wanted to pass laws
allowing the government to intervene
on abortion.
Russ Alberts, president of the Ac
ademic Freedom Coalition ofNebras
ka. said the bill would alter academic
freedom across the state.
Though AFCON lakes no position
on the issue of abortion, he said, the
group opposed LB156 because of the
threat it presented to academic free
dom.
He said since every public school,
public university and public teaching
hospital in Nebraska received funding
from the state, LB 156 would restrict
counselors and educators in such ar
eas as health, psychology and biology.
The bill would allow the state to
prohibit class outlines or lectures that
mentioned abortion. Alberts said the
bill would prohibit librarians from
providing books and articles that men
tioned abortion.
“Most Nebraskans want a free and
open discussion about such things as
abortion.” he said. “LB 156 is a threat
to democracy."
Baldwin
Continued from Page 1
the athletic department.
Baldwin intends to continue tak
ing his medication, which includes
lithium, a calming agent, and Prozac,
an anti-depressant, Shuart said.
During cross-examination, Lacey
blasted Shuart and questioned
Baldwin’s credibility.
“1 was told a year ago, by a doctor
of your stature, (Baldwin) was going
to stay on his medication,” he said.
“Why should I believe you?”
Merritt sustained Hclvic’s objec
tions to Lacey’s line of questioning,
and Lacey continued asking about
Baldwin’s history of not taking his
medication.
Shuart said Baldwin had said six
times in the last week that he intended
to stay on his medication. He said
Baldwin had twice seen what hap
pened when he did not take his med
icine and was convinced of the medi
cine’s importance.