( II HI IH I JJ I Inside: J u 111 111 X T1 UNL freshman slain FI “Page5 NebraskaN I - ~r: Inti. Affairs helps students make trips abroad possible By Doug Kerns Staff Reporter J.J. wakes up one day and realizes that she has never gone anywhere. Innumerable trips to Kansas and Iowa notwithstanding, she has re ally never left her back yard, and even the most hardy Husker cools on cornfields after a while. She must escape! One problem: on a pseudo-subsistence in come common amongcollege students, she will never be able to save enough for a trip to Europe, Asia or anywhere else. Or so she thinks. ‘7 think most students who go abroad come back feeling an increased sense of confidence. Knowing about the world is something that you incorporate into your life. IPs not just a one-time thing. ” m Christa Joy International Affairs Program Coordinator According to International Affairs Program Coordinator Christa Joy, the opportunities for inexpensive travel are there for students who are interested in seeing more of the world. “We have a resource center exactly for stu dents who want to travel on a low budget; it’s one of our reasons for being,” Joy said. A key obstacle to student travel is high airfares. One possibility for flexible travellers inovercomingthis is a program cal led Airhitch. An Airhitchable flight to Europe from the Midwest is $229. The traveller decides on a departure region, a departure-time interval, and three preferred cities within the destination re gion. Joy said, “These are good prices, compa rable to low-season fares. You have to be very, very flexible.” Another way of keeping flight costs down is by going through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). “As a benefit to students and youths under age 26, they have worked out contracts with various airlines few discounted airfares. It’s not a standby kind of thing,” Joy explained. To enable students to get around while they are abroad, Joy suggested both youth hostels and rail passes as ways for the budget-con scious traveller to keep costs down. Work-exchange programs through CIEE offer another chance for thrifty students to visit foreign lands, “If you have enough money saved for the airfare, you can earn at least enough to earn you room and board and some spending money while you’re there. It’s the summertime kind of thing to do,” Joy stated. What are the long term benefits of travelling to other areas of the globe? “I think most students who go abroad come back feeling an increased sense of confidence,” Joy said. “Knowing about the world is some thing that you incorporate into your life. It’s not just a one-time thing.” Joy feels that seeing more of the earth con tributes to a compassion for foreigners in this country. “Remembering what they felt like in another country, they may reach out to an international student here and make this place a little friend lier for them.” For more information on student travel, con tact the International Affairs Office at 472 5358. For information on Airhitch, call (800) 397-1098. Tanna Kinnaman/DN Bridges of Lancaster County Trail enthusiasts enjoy crossing many bridges along the MoPac Trail. This bridge across O Street was used by Burlington railroad trains before it became part of the MoPac Trail. The trail extends from 30th and X streets to Elmwood. On July 29, Elmwood will host a MoPac Trailhead Rally. Participants can choose between a 31-mile bicycle round trip from Elmwood to Walton, a 15-mile bicycle round trip from Elmwood to Eagle, a hiking venture or a guided bird watching tour. They will also receive a sack picnic lunch and ice cream at Elmwood Park. Profits will used to establish a trailhead in Elmwood Park with restroom facilities, pay telephones, bike racks, drinking fountain and improvements to existing shelters. -g'-. Bottle bill has both sides popping their tops By Becky Keasling Staff Reporter A controversial issue is brewing ri ght here in Nebraska. And this time, it’s not about abortion or the death penalty. It’s about beer and soda containers. Although it may not seem like an important issue, many people either strongly support or oppose having a bottle bill in Nebraska. Ten states currently have bottle bills. The bill requires consumers to put a deposit on any glass, plastic, or aluminum beverage contain ers. Refunds are given to those who return the containers to a specified location. Oregon was the first state to enact a bottle bill in 1972. The last state to pass a bill was California in 1987. “Nebraska should model it’s system after California’s,” Wanda Leonard, University of Nebraska Community Development Specialist, said. “Customers simply return the containers to recycling centers, and the state administers the system from there.” Currently, there is a strong lobby against having a bottle bill in Nebraska. Opponents of the bill believe the deposit system will be ex pensive, inefficient and will cause beverage prices to increase. Opponents also believe tne bill will harm curbside recycling programs. “Many people believe that the bottle bill will drive up the cost of beverages. I don’t understand why people would think that way. If the bill is properly enforced, beverage prices will remain the same. ” m Wanm Leonard Community Development Specialist jL Proponents of the bill claim the deposit sys tem will decrease litter. They also believe the containers that are returned will be cleaner than those from other recycling programs. “Many people believe that the bottle bill will drive up the cost ofbeverages,” Leonard said. “I don’t understand why people would think that way. If the bill is properly enforced, beverage prices will remain the same.” The legislative Natural Resources Commit tee is holding a hearing about the bill during the month of September. They will discuss various issues that pertain to redeeming beverage con tainers.