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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 1995)
‘Jimi’ Hendrix rocks College ofEngineering By Paula Lavigne Senior Reporter Some people may think the new engineering dean should move to the College of Fine and Performing Arts. After all, James Hendrix is a rock ‘n roll legend. One of them is, anyway. This James Hendrix doesn’t even play a guitar—though it’s the first thing students always ask him. “Spoons are more my style,” he said. The dean was bom July 19,1943, in Nebraska — eight months after the guitar wizard was bom in Se attle. Hendrix said he normally went by Jim, and sometimes Jimi “just for the heck of it.” In fact, he almost put Jimi Hendrix on his business cards. “Then I decided, nah, this state’s too formal,” he said. “I had to act like a dean.” The name is where the similari ties end. Hendrix won’t interrupt a faculty meeting with a screaming guitar riff. Although the dean admits he is not a big fan, he does own a few Hendrix albums and especially 1 ikes the rock legend’s version of “The Star Spangled Banner.” He’s more of a blues fan, he said, and likes musicians Fats Domino and Chuck Berry. He said he might want to check out a few blues bars in Lincoln. The living Hendrix wears a tie and dress shoes, unlike the leather pants and metallic shirts common to the late Hendrix. But he might consider a jazzier wardrobe. “I also see where Jimi Hendrix T-shirts are coming back,” the dean said, “and I’d like to get one of those.” Bob Burchess/DN James Hendrix, the new engineering dean, says he is ready to leave the separate college debate behind. Hendrix says more important higher education issues will provide plenty of debate. Hendrix Continued from Page 1 “Because of some of the rhetoric, we lost track of our undergraduate program. It’s in really good shape. When you really look at it, there's nothing wrong with our program." JAMES HENDRIX Dean of the College of Engi neering straight, technical application of engi neering skills, he said, because its students will be dealing with col leagues in fields other than engineer ing. A new direction is a long-term goal, Hendrix said. In the short term, the college wants all Nebraskans to send their children to NU for an engineering education, he said, and plans to use scholarships and recruiting to attract them. “Because of some of the rhetoric, we lost track of our undergraduate program,” Hendrix said. “It’s in really good shape. “When you really look at it, there’s nothing wrong with our program.” Hendrix said he wanted to send the message that the engineering college was a tremendous resource for Ne braska. “We have to be responsive to the needs of our external stakeholders,” he said. But instead of marketing the col lege, Hendrix said he wanted to “mar ket what the college is.” “We have the capability to meet . people’s demands,” he said, and “the ability to share that capability.” Dexter’s not his usual self. You suspect the salsa. So you call Dr. Nttsblatt, your family vet back home. The call is cheap. (Too bad about the Consultation fee.) ■ • . - • V Life can be complicated. AT&T True Savings is simple. Just spend $10 a month on long distance and we’ll subtract 25% off your AT&T bill* Spend $50 a month, get 30% off. Guaranteed. This special offer ends soon, so you’ve got to call 18Q0 TRUE-ATT to enroll by September 15. No fees. No lists. And no circles. That’s Your True Choicd" AT&T
