Columnist Page speaks on racial relations Kate Peistrup Page speecFi Race relatons in the United States will get worse before they get better, a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist said in a speech at the Nebraska Union Thursday night. Clarence Page, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune and a commentator on National Public Radio and PBS, spoke at the opening session for the African Americans and the Great Plains symposium. Page stressed the importance of historical perspec tive in today’s controversial issues. “Ben Franklin could have run Pete Wilson’sre-election campaign,” Page said, referring to the California gov ernor who recently was re-elected on a strong anti-immigrant platform. He said victims of racism often were members of ethnic groups new to an area, because people are uncom fortable with that unfamiliarity. “Prejudice is 85 percent presence,” he said. Page also said that African Ameri cans must avoid criticizing each other for being ‘Hoo white,” and for “speak ing proper English,” because by do ing so, they were embracing stereo types of themselves. He also cautioned against “stealth racism.” He said that because African Americans such as Oprah Winfrey and Bill Cosby were popular figures in society, people could perceive that the United States did not have prob lems with race relations. Page praised the Nation of Islam for “reaching out to the underclass,” something he said middle-class Afri can Americans had failed to do. He said that when speaking of race relations in America, one should think of the country not as a melting pot, but as Mulligan stew. “All the parts are distinct ... but they all absorb flavor from each other,” he said. Page said he hoped to use his col umns as a way to improve race rela tions in the United States. He said his criterion in deciding what columns to write was “is this good for black folks?” And, he said, a newspaper’s role is to solve problems, not to create them. “I’ve done my job when I’ve of fended everybody,” Page said. The African Americans and the Great Plains symposium runs through 5 p.m. Saturday at the Lincoln Down town Ramada Hotel. The Center for Great Plains Studies also is sponsor ing a Kansas City-style jazz concert Friday night from 8 to 10 at the Kimball Recital Hall, 11th and R streets. The symposium and concert are free to UNL students. —Police Report—■ Beginning midnight Wednesday 8:52 a.m.—Manter Hall, alarm/fire, set off by construction dust. 11:46 a.m. —Abel Hall, injury/sick ness, party transported to Lincoln General Hospital. 12:47 a.m. — Manter Hall, assault/ misdemeanor. 2:01 p.m.—Smith Hall, vandalism/ criminal mischief, bike lock cables cut, $50 damage. 2:07 p.m. — Seaton Hall, larceny from building, phone taken, $58 loss. 2:45 p.m. — Oldfather Hall, larceny from building, TV taken, $672 loss. 5:15 p.m. — Nebraska Union, lar ceny from building, purse and con tents taken, $39 loss. 5:40 p.m. — Ferguson Hall, larceny, bike taken, $500 loss. 7:24 p.m. — Love Library, larceny, bike taken, $730 loss. 8:36 p.m.—Woods Art Building, lar ceny from building, cash taken, $70 loss. Beginning midnight Tuesday 9:49 a.m. — Area 3 lot, Harper Schramm-Smith, larceny from auto, $3,000 loss, $75 damage. 11:43 a.m. — Area 20 lot, Buck Beltzer Field, larceny from auto, $30 loss. 12:37 p.m. — Dental College, lar ceny from building, case unfounded. 1:16 p.m. — Andrews Hall, injury/ sickness. Donated crayons to be sent to Africa From Staff Reports ^UNL Fulbright scholar Joan Sullivan ran into a problem as she was teaching her grade school stu dents in Ethiopia. In Sullivan’s school, the floors are made of dirt. Holes — absent of cur tains, panes or glass — are the only windows. Supplies are limited. For get the computers of Lincoln class rooms. Forget even a blackboard. Or crayons. Sullivan, an assistant English teacher for grades kindergarten through 12, wanted to begin art classes to add sky blues, brick reds and aqua marine to the normal gray and brown. She had some paper and a few crayons with her. When Sullivan showed them off, the students were thrilled. But the crayons were lim ited, and the government will not provide more, said Larry Andrews, Sullivan’s adviser. That’s where the Teachers Col lege Advisory Board stepped in. The board has set up a booth in Henzlik Legislature Continued from Page 1 Warner said that without the net incentives, the Brashear amendment was going against what the Revenue Committee had been using for many years. He said the Brashear amendment also severed his support for the bill, even after it was repealed. “I regret supporting this bill as far as I did,” he said. “I was only in support because I thought there was a going to be a justification I could tell people.” Sen. Tim Hall of Omaha, who has opposed the Micron bills, voted sar castically to keep the amendment. He said the “sham” of the Brashear amendment should continue. “What we are doing is gambling,” he said. “We’d have a better chance rolling dice. In fact, I think we’d probably have a better chance at a slot machine. “We’re going to roll the dice. I think there is a very good chance that it will end up with craps.” Debate Continued from Page 1 a very emotional two or three days.” Withem said the debate had been good, with a lot of input from many people. Despite the long hours, few feathers had been ruffled with mem bers of the Legislature, he said. Withem said those that were upset were more upset with the bills, not the process. Sen. Roger Wehrbein of Plattsmouth said it was too early to see if there was any political fallout from Withem’s push. “There’s no question he’s taken a risk,” he said. “It’s a tough spot to be in.” Sen. Don Wesely of Lincoln said that the bigger political risk in the Micron debates was being taken by those opposing the measures. “The power in this state wants this bill,” he said, adding that it was difficult to oppose big money. “If it was easy to oppose (the Mi cron bills), you’d see a lot more people oppose it.” Chambers said “rancorous” de bate and late nights were nothing new to the Legislature. Arrests Continued from Page 1 Police received a disturbance call involving a group of males in the 2700 block of Apple Street. A second call came in later saying a weapon might be involved. When officers arrived about 12:15 p.m., they learned the group had gone into a house at 2931 Apple St., the same address listed for Muhammad, a senior wingback from Compton, Calif. William Sellers, 20, told police he was standing near 2748 Apple St. when the group of four to five males walked by and Hashed gang signs. Sellers yelled at the group and then began following down the street, continuing to shout at them. A block and a half later, one mem ber of the group allegedly reached into his jean pocket and pulled out a handgun. Sellers told police the gun was similar to a revolver, and after the man pointed it at him, Sellers ran. Police arrested the man for making terroristic threats. After police made the arrest, the group came off the porch at 2931 Apple St. and walked into the street, yelling at and taunting witnesses. Police told Muhammad twice to leave the area, but he refused, ac cording to reports. Muhammad, 21, was then arrested and jailed for failing to comply with an officer. Knuckles was cited while po lice were serving a search warrant at the house to look for a gun. No gun was found, Heermann said. Muhammad is scheduled to be arraigned in early March. Hall so people can donate either money or crayons to be sent to Sullivan. The booth will stay open through today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The advisory board got off to a good start early in the week. The goal is to collect 300 boxes, said Tricia Koch, president of the advisory board. Members also are contacting greek houses and residence halls. Sullivan is getting information for her dissertation, which she will begin writing when she returns in July, Andrews said. THE ALPS HISTORIC SITES THE BLACK FOREST MEDIEVAL CASTLES AND MUCH. MUCH MORE SUMMER STUDY IN GERMANY Study Germany and its Criminal Justice System this summer - July 13 to August 7, 1995. Six hours of credit possible: Instruction in English, Field trips to criminal justice facilities, historic sites, medieval castles, and World War II landmarks. For information contact: Professor Finn Esbensen Department of Criminal Justice 472-6383 GRH.i^j|f BAR ThE hUyMAldcET 826 P Street (402) 477-2171 Celebrate Spring with a New Bike I r from Wheel'n & Deal n. Check out our new '95 bikes. 2706 Randolph Street 438-1477 Yell/Dance Squad Tryouts Open to any males or females interested in trying out. Attend information meeting in NE Union Tuesday, Feb. 28,6:00pm Wednesday, Mar. 816:00pm (Room posted in Union) Come see what cheering for the Huskers is all about! If unable to attend or if you have any questions contact: Greg 436-0425 or Renee 472-4622 Plug Into the World with FREE Herbie Classes Now that you have your computer account you can discover how to tap into the resources available to you on the internet. These classes are free and no reservations are required. Seats are available on a first come, first served basis. Call 472-0515 if you have any questions. 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