Travis Heying/DN
UNL Interim Chancellor Joan Leitzel speaks to faculty and students at the annual State of the
University address Friday. Leitzel promised continued commitment to education and research.
Address
Continued from Page 1
Renovation of Burnett Hall will
begin this year.
Leitzel also described several
university programs that are new
this fall. The Comprehensive Edu
cation Program will begin with 100
and 200 level courses. The pro
gram makes it easier for students to
transfer to UNL, particularly from .
community and state colleges, she
said.
Another new program will help
freshmen establish firm ties to UNL.
The Freshmen Learning Commu
nity has 70 members this fall. Par
ticipating students will take three
classes in common and live on the
same residence hall floors.
Leitzel said the goal of the pro
gram was to encourage firm roots at
UNL by living and learning to
gether.
UNL’s work toward diversity is
another accomplishment that will
be carried throughout this school
year, Leitzel said.
“We have worked toward diver
sity at all levels,” she said, “not just
one certain level.”
“We know our
programs are
exceptional. Positive
commentary is
reaching back to the
high schools and
hometoivns about the
strength of our honors
program. ”
m
JOAN LEITZEL
Interim chancellor
Although Leitzel said she was
optimistic about the new year, she
noted some challenges.
One challenge will be keeping
faculty salaries competitive, she
said.
Students also might find new
challenges, she said, because fur
ther financial-aid cuts are likely.
But overall, Leitzel said, she is
confident about UNL’s future.
“We have a good understanding
of future needs,” she said, “and we
will continue that progress.”
LINL student dies after fall in Uzbekistan
By tJulie Sobczyk
Senior Editor
What should have been a summer of helping
others ended in tragedy for one UNL student.
Brad Holmes, a senior secondary education
major, died July 17 after falling from a ledge
outside his fourth-floor apartment in Tashkent,
Uzbekistan, part of the former Soviet Union.
Holmes was traveling in Uzbekistan with
eight other college students for Focus Interna
tional, an organization that recruits students for
cultural exchanges overseas. The students em
barked on the trip to teach Uzbek students about
America and American students.
Holmes’ death occurred after he tried to
climb onto the ledge outside his apartment
window. He had locked himselfout ofhis apart
ment that night and was unable to wake his
roommate to get in. His death was ruled an
accident by Uzbek authorities.
Holmes was active in Lincoln’s Trinity Bap
tist Church and Christian Challenge, a UNL
campus ministry.
“Brad was a kev student leader in our col lege
ministry,” said Doug West, associate pastor of
Trinity Baptist Church. “He was a great role
model for younger students.”
West said about 12 church members traveled
to Holmes’ hometown of Hershey for his fu
neral. The trip helped church members deal
with his death and express grief, West said.
Brett Yohn, director of Christian Challenge,
said the ministry felt a deep loss without Holmes.
“He was someone we can’t replace,” Yohn
said. “We feel a deep hole, not only in our
hearts, but in our group.”
Rot Havlovic, Holmes’ best friend and room
mate of three years, said it was hard for him to
move on after the death.
“I’m learning how empty my life is without
him,” said Havlovic, a junior psychology ma
jor. “There is a void in my life. He touched me
dearly.”
Because of his friend’s death, Havlovic said
he had learned to be more of a risk taker and a
leader.
“He was always the initiator, and I was the
follower,” he said. “Now I have to do more of
the initiating.”
To help Holmes’ friends at UNL handle his
death, West said the church would have a prayer
gathering on campus Sunday.
“It will be a time to honor Brad and a great
time to bring people who knew him together,”
West said. “It will be a time to thank God for his
life, express our love for Brad and move for
ward.”
Landscape program
wins a national award
From Staff Reports
Nebraska has won a second national
championship... of sorts.
The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum
received a national award recognizing its
statewide program to improve commu
nity landscapes. The program targeted 49
Nebraska townsand cities, grantingmoney
for 53 projects.
The Award for Program Excellence
was given to the state organization by the
American Association of Botanical Gar
dens and Arboreta.
Communities matched grants of more
than $1 million, which came from the
'Peter Kiewit Foundation of Omaha.
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And Register for Prizes
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