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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (June 23, 1994)
Research unpredictable, yet essential to education By Deb McAdams Editor Building the George W. Beadle Center for Genetics and Biomaterials Research was one of the wisest deci sions ever made at UNL, President Dennis Smith said in a recent inter view. That decision,-made nearly five years ago, represents the state’s in vestment in the Nebraska Research Initiative. Proposed during the Orr adminis tration, the NRI was intended to pro vide state funds for focused research, in increasing increments over a five year period, said Kim Phelps, assis tant vice chancellor of business and finance. The NRI appropriation would have reached $20 million in the fifth year, but Orr was defeated, and the appropriations were scaled back,he said. The NRI appropriation in 1993 94 was only about $8 million, accord ing to the UNL Fact Book. State support for the university is not likely to increase in the near fu ture. leaving students to pay for new programs and development through tuition increases. The state’s invest ment in research will not detract from its investment in undergraduate pro grams, even though funds arc limited, said Marion O’Leary, head of the department of biochemistry. “Most research is supported by fed eral funding,” O’Leary said. “Grants end up in the community. The state’s $6 million investment (in the Beadle Center) was multiplied into $30 mil lion, and it all ended up in the Nebras ka economy.” The Beadle Center will have a strong program of basic research, par ticularly to enhance plant productivi ty, O’Leary said. Although increased plant productivity aggravates surpluses and price support programs, Nebras ka’s economy depends on it, which justifies further research, he said. “Look at the history of agriculture in the United States over the past 50 to 75 years. Continued profitability has come about because of increased pro ductivity and efficiency,” he said. It’s difficult to make a value judge ment about research, O’Leary said. “You never know where research is going to go,” he said. “What is the lead time from basic research to eco nomic benefits?” — 44 Most research is supported by federal funding. Grants end up in the community. The state’s $6 million investment was multiplied into $30 million, and it all ended up in the Nebraska economy. — Marion O’Leary Head of the department of biochemistry -H “Forty years ago, a man at Purdue was working on boron complexes. The National Institute of Health cut off his funding because they saw no application for his research. It turned out that the compounds were very valuable forchcmical transformations of biological compounds,” O’Leaty said. The man eventually won a Nobel Prize for the unanticipated results of his research. “Research is an essential part of the education process. It provides a train ing ground for higher education. Re search isn’t just carried out for the hell of it.” Scott Barney displays remorse after sentenced to life in prison By Sam Kepfield Staff Rapoftar_ Judge Donald Endacott sentenced Scott Barney to life in prison Tuesday for his role in the murder of UNL Candace Harms. The sentence was in accord with a plea agreement be tween Barney and Lancaster County Attorney Gary Lacey. Endacott add ed that it was his hope that Barney never receive an early release, and that he spend the rest of his life in prison. Barney gave a statement at the hearing Handcuffed and shackled, wearing blue prison overalls, he faced a half-filled courtroom accompanied only by his attorney, John Stevens Berry of Lincoln.“Thc first thing I wish to say is I take responsibility for my part in the death of Candace Harms,” Scott Barney told the court Wednesday morning. “I do not blame my parents, my educators, my sib lings, drugs, or Roger Bjorklund.” In his prepared statement, read in a low and halting voice, Barney still proclaimed his innocence, saying that he knew nothingof Bjorklund’s intent to murder Harms until a few minutes before she was shot. Barney insisted that he made several feeble attempts to stop Bjorklund, but was unsuccess ful. “The night of September 22,1992 was a nightmare for Candy Harms, and it was also a nightmare for my self,” Barney said. Barney also spoke of his conver sion to Christianity while in jail, say ing that his sins had been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ. “If the truth shall set you free, then I stand before you a free man,” he said. “Even the death of Candy Harms can be used by God to bring about some good in the world.” He offered his apologies several times to the Harms family, telling them that he was truly sorry for his acts. “Noonc raiscsachild to have them taken away and killed for no reason,” he said. Stan Harms, the father of Candace Harms, sat impassively looking di rectly at Barney throughout the hear ing. See BARNEY on 5 BUY IT. SELL IT. Nebraskan CLASSIFIED 472-2588 $ 45 > Lend Me A Tenar He fooled the audience but will his girlfriend think he is really II Stupendo? “Uproarious! Hysterical!” USA Today June 16-June 26 For Tickets Call 402.472.2073 Nebraska Repertory Theatre • 12th and “R” Street • Lincoln, NE ^Nebraska* Save 20-30-50% throughout the store! 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