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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 1995)
Professor shared with students By Rebecca Pitmans Staff Reporter Gordon Greene’s office in Henzlik Hall is covered with pieces he left behind. Comic strips and a picture of him I sketched by a former student cover the door. Inside, hang lit tle handprints, thank you notes and elementary school drawings. A picture of his dog, Buster, snares tne wail _ with a map show Greene ing the route of Greene’s cross-country bike ride. Korean War memorabilia and a picture of actor Tim Matheson, whom Greene taught in his 1958-59 sixth grade class, hang just across the room. Greene taught that “teachers should share pieces of who they are with students,” said colleague Karla Wendelin, and it seems appropriate that the teacher, author and soldier left so much of himself in this room. Greene, 64, died Aug. 4, two months after he was diagnosed with cancer. Wendelin, who worked with Green teaching language arts to elementary education students since 1977, said Greene shared the most about himself by making others laugh. “He was a great storyteller,” she said. “He’d tell students about his dog, his childhood and life back home in Indiana.” Greene would go to the extreme to get a student’s attention or relieve tension in serious situations, said Bill Sesow, who worked with Greene for 25 years. “He would sometimes start class by blowing a bugle,” Sesow said. But Greene took his job seriously, Sesow said, and was one of those rare professors who emphasized students’ strengths. He was always approach able and available to students, Sesow said. “If I had a student who was running behind deadline and they needed an other professor to read their paper,” Wendelin said, “I could always tell them to ask Gordon, and I knew he would do it” In return, he gained a lot of respect and admiration. His wife, Marynelle, said one of his students expressed that on a card Greene received during his illness: “If your life were a baseball game, your stadium would always be filled with fens.” Greene came to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1969. Before that, he was an elementary school teacher and principal. , He won die Bereuter Outstanding Teacher Award, the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Student Ed ucation Association in 1977 and 1986, and the 1991 Recognition Award for Contributions to Students from die University Parents Association. He also wrote children’s books, most recendy “A Star for Buster” in 1994. . Leitzel will give State of University address From Staff Reports Joan Leitzel, interim chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will deliver die annual State of the University Address Aug. 18 at 11 a m. at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. A picnic lunch for university em ployees will follow the address, which is open to the public. The address is free and will be broadcast live on KRNU Radio, 90.3 FM. The UNL Academic Senate’s an nual forum also will be Aug. 18 from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at the Comhusker Hotel. The forum is called “Higher Edu cation in Transition: Who Will Be in Charge?” It will feature keynote speak er Peter Bishop, associate professor and chairman of the graduate program in studies of the future at the Universi ty of Houston-Clear Lake. The public forum is free. Also on Aug. 18th, the League of Women Voters will conduct voter reg istration from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. in conjunction with Big Red Welcome. The voter registration booth will be set up at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Track Arena. The Culture Center has a rich history of being a place to affirm one's cultural heritage through ongo* g# interaction with others who share the same experience. Visit the Center and see for yourself. You'll find a whole new world that's only a short distance away. The three story building contains about 9,000 square —— feet which include large multi-purpose rooms with Culture center stage, meeting rooms, study rooms, a kitchen, a pool 333 N-14th-street table and recreation room. TT ■ _ Formore information, call 472-5500. Hours: cM°n 'Thur' 2p.rn.-9p.rn. __Friday 12p.m.-5p.m. STUDENT SPECIAL: ALL SWIMWEAR 33% OFF APPOINTMENTS AND WALK INS WELCOME GIFT CERTICATES AVAILABLE 4703 PRESCOTT SUITE B 484-8311 ---—I UNLIMITED I MONTHLY PACKAGE 539-951 WITH COUPON OR STUDENT LD. J ONLY EXPIRES 9-30-95 j ALL TANNING | J PRODUCTS j I IN STOCK!!! ! WITH COUPON OR STUDENT I.D. J EXPIRES 9-30-95 jj'IOT GOOD WITH ANY OTHER OFFER I SUNDAY PAPERS Sbc jNeto ||ork Sitncs The Denver Post BesIftoinesjRepster l^T A 815 S. 11th St. OAVJA SunHrs 7:30-6:00 475-4720 STUFF YOU GOTTA HAVE UNL ACADEMIC PLANNER $4.95 ■ Coupons • Schedules Maps • Campus Info & Lots More T'/iere, reaiUtf is a di^er-enc&. I Ml ^ J ^ WA V 13th & Q Street • 476-0111 BACK TO SCHOOL HOURS AUGUST 14-18 & 21-25 MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:00 am - 9:00 pm r—-*-y? '-"w— H Imp 1 46