The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, November 10, 1995, Image 1
FRIDAY WEATHER: Today - Cloudy. A 50% chance of snow. Northwest wind 10 to 20 mph. Tonight - Mostly cloudy. Low 10 to 15. COVERING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA SINCE 1901 VOL. 95 NO. 59 ----- ___ November 10, 1995 ' Education takes Thompson traveling By Mark Baldridge Senior Editor In the second row of a univer sity literature class. Jack Thompson holds his glasses aloft and wonders aloud about the meaning of a par ticularly dense poem. One might never guess that quiet Jack becomes, on more formal oc casions, E.N. Thompson of the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues. For eight years, the program has brought international figures to speak at the University of Nc braska-Lincoln. At other times, the studious classmate is the chairman of the Cooper Foundation, a philanthropic organization that oversees a num ber of Nebraska grant programs. Before he settled into that posi tion he was something of a vaga bond. That is, he’d been around. China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia — all have passed before those blue-gray eyes. He calls Great Britain “a second home" and adds Italy and Spain to that list. • Just 50 years ago, he was busy attending the birth of the United Nations; before that he worked as an international journalist. “The only place I have not been that I would particularly want to go," he says, “well, there are sev eral — Tibet, but it’s so high, and Australia’s so far... “But other than that I’d like to take a cruise through the Panama Canal — I’ve never been there — and to the Caribbean. We haven’t been there, much." In the meantime — between re sponsibilities, travel and reading the histories and biographies that are his constant pleasure — he has his classes. At 82, Thompson regularly au dits classes in an attempt to “fill in the holes” of his education. “More information!" is his battle cry. Not that he issues many war whoops. The man in horn-rimmed spectacles and an ever-present bow tie looks more like a Cambridge don than a barbarian at the gate. And his soft-spoken, somewhat husky voice doesn’t ring with pre sumed authority. Instead, it stoops to ask. Thompson takes political history classes, for the most part, though See THOMPSON on 7 Jeff Haller/DN E.N. “Jack” Thompson, chairman of the Cooper Foundation, regularly audits classes at UNL. Thompson, 82, constantly strives to further his education. ---J Hurricane gives up legal fight By Ted Taylor Staff Reporter After a month of swirling legal storms. The Hurricane has officially blown away from the downtown Lin coln scene. Owners ofThe Hurricane, a bar and dance club located at 1118 0 St., vol untarily relinquished their state liquor 1 iccnse Wednesday morning, just a day before their appeal was to be heard regarding the Lincoln City Council’s decision to revoke the license Oct. 16. Jack Hanrahan, co-owner of The Hurricane, said in a handwritten let ter to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission that the decision stemmed from a burglary that oc curred Nov. 3. The burglars took the actual liquor license and caused more than $12,000 in damage. The bar has been closed since that date and will remain closed while the owners seek a new buyer. See HURRICANE on 6 NU hires OU botanist for museum By Jeff Zeleny Senior Reporter A University of Oklahoma botany professor was named director of the University of Nebraska State Museum Thursday. James Estes will take the reins of the museum on Feb. 1, after his hiring is approved by the NU Board of Re gents. The university has searched nationally for a museum director for more than a year. John Janovy has been interim di rector of the museum since October 1994, when former director Hugh Genoways resigned amid controversy. At the time, university officials and Genoways disagreed on the museum’s mission. Genoways had led the mu seum since 1986. Priscilla Grew, UNL vice chancel lor for research, said Estes was an in ternationally recognized botanist who See ESTES on 7 Mission increases trade potential Chancellor list complete; By Mike Kluck Staff Reporter A chance to get in the “driver’s scat” of commerce in four central Asian countries has prompted Gov. Ben Nelson and Nebraska business leaders to embark on a trade mission. The mission, which included stops in Singapore, Malaysia and Indone sia, will conclude in India next week. Nelson said Thursday during his weekly teleconference that Nebraska’s contingent has talked trade with gov ernment representatives in all four countries, mainly Indonesia, the fourth most populated country in the world. “Indonesia has a specific need for the type of hard winter wheat grown in Nebraska,” Nelson said from that country. “Their diet is changing from rice products to more noodles and pasta.” Since 1993, Indonesia has doubled its wheat imports from 2.5 million tons to an expected 5 million tons this year. That number could reach 6 million to 7 million by 1998, Nelson said. In previous years, Indonesia has imported its wheat from Australia, Canada and Saudi Arabia. But since it opened its trade market and allowed its middle class to have a greater earn ing power, the country must find other wheat sources. As Indonesia diversifies its diet from rice to wheat products. Nelson said it could increase trade in other Nebraska products. Behlen Manufacturing in Colum bus has started exporting large grain dryers to Indonesia, bringing in an additional $900,000 in sales, said Tony Raimondo, president and chief execu tive officer of Behlen Manufacturing. Raimondo said the trade mission created a positive relationship with Indonesian officials that could double or triple Behlen’s trade with Indone sia. “Our business leaders have estab lished credibility with Indonesian of ficials that can carry over to other Nebraska businesses,” Nelson said. “We have made business contacts that we can follow up on later.” Besides Behlen, Nelson was joined on the mission by representatives from Nebraska businesses such as ConAgra, Paxton Steel, ME Group, Centurion, American Business Infor mation Systems and Dreisbach’s Steaks. Larry Sitzman, director of the Ne braska Department of Agriculture, said Indonesians were starting to eat more beef products, but they don’t have feed for their cattle. “They are very interested in learn ing feedlot technology,” Sitzman said. “Their economy is growing in leaps and bounds. They want to produce a higher quality of beef and have been in contact with ConAgra. There is tre mendous potential here.” finalists to be announced By Jeff Zeleny Senior Reporter A list of three to five finalists for the new University of Nebraska-Lin coln chancellor was selected Thursday and could be announced publicly this afternoon or Monday. The 13-member search committee met for more than two hours Thurs day afternoon and evening. Spokes man Joe Rowson said they were ex pected to forward the list to NU Presi dent Dennis Smith. The list will be released as soon as Smith reviews it, Rowson said. How ever, Smith’s illness could delay the announcement of candidates. He en-_ tered the hospital Tuesday for a coro nary angioplasty and is expected to be released today. The UNL Chancellor Search com mittee met at 4 p.m. in Varner Hall. During the meeting, Rowson said, the 13-member committee was to whittle down the list of about 10 prospects. Chancellor candidates were to be contacted Thursday evening, after the meeting. If all agree to continue with the search, Rowson said, their names will be announced. A new chancellor is to take office by Jan. 1. Former chancellor Graham Spanicr left Lincoln in August to be come president of Pennsylvania State University. Sources have said Interim Chancel lor Joan Leitzel is one of the candi dates being considered for the chan cellor position. She has declined to speak about her interest in the job. The Daily Nebraskan reported last week that former UNL administrator Roy Arnold also was nominated fotc-; the position. He said Thursday he was unaware of his progress in the search.