Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 1996)
UNL programs get low ratings By Chad Lorenz Senior Reporter Low ratings for doctorate programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shouldn’t be a problem the next time programs are evaluated, a UNL vice chancellor said Monday. Priscilla Grew, vice chancellor for research, said a National Research Council study completed in Septem ber 1995 ranked all but three UNL doctorate programs in the lower half nationwide. The study, which was conducted in the spring of 1993, measured the qual ity of the university’s doctorate pro grams by evaluation questionnaires given to university faculty across the nation. Grew said. UNL’s departments of chemistry; biochemistry and ecology; evolution and behavior were the only three that scored in the upper half of all depart ments evaluated. Ten of the 21 programs studied — including philosophy, civil engineer ing, mechanical engineering, history and economics — ranked in the bot tom quartile. But Grew said the study didn’t truly represent the quality of the doctorate programs at UNL because it was based on other faculty’s perceptions. “There is an effect that skews the results of these studies,” she said. In 1993, when the study was done, UNL was ranked 112th for federal research funding. Grew said. UNL’s research funding for the 1992-93 fiscal year was $20.2 million. Last year it was $29.6 million. The ranking for last year was not available because of the federal government shutdowns. Grew said she wasn’t surprised UNL got low rankings during a time when research ftmding was low. Former Chancellor Graham Spanier was credited with raising more funds for doctorate research since then, Grew said. In one program, Spanier allocated research money to the deans to match funds for research proposals. Grew said. Brian Foster, dean of the College of Arts and Science, started a program called Areas of Strength, Grew said, in which professors teamed up for in terdisciplinary research. The doctorate agriculture programs at UNL weren’t evaluated in the study but would have been ranked at the top, she said. “It’s really kind of unfair we can’t include that in the research,” Grew said. Another effort in which the univer sity will work with other colleges on research could give UNL more expo sure and a higher reputation among faculty nationwide, Grew said. “Hopefully next time they get a questionnaire, they’ll know about our program.” Nelson distributes funds to combat homelessness By Ted Taylor Senior Reporter V Fifty-five community-based non profit programs in Nebraska now have a bit more money to tackle the state’s increasing homelessness problem. Gov. Ben Nelson announced Mon day during a telephone news confer ence that $1.1 million would be dis tributed throughout the state to assist programs combating homelessness. “Unfortunately, there continues to be Nebraskans who find themselves homeless or on the brink of being homeless,” he said. An October study revealed that 320,000 Nebraskans were near homelessness — at risk of becoming homeless within the year. The money will be awarded through the 1996 Nebraska Homeless Assistance Program, which is made up of the Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund and the Emergency Shel ter Grant Program. But the state will not receive all of the federal funding it should because of recent budget problems in Wash ington, D.C. Communities throughout the state, including small rural areas, would use the funds to provide permanent or temporary shelters and assist families with rent. Seven regions across the state re ceived funds ranging from $25,000 to $380,000. Nelson emphasized that homelessness in the state did not end in metropolitan areas and was begin ning to spread to rural communities as well. Del Bomberger, director of the Lin coln Connection center in North Platte said residents were surprised that most of the town’s homeless population were not transients. “We serviced just over a 1,000 people in our first year,” he said, “and a majority of services went to North Platte Residents. “The smaller communities, just like the larger towns in the state, have prob lems.” Bomberger said that of the 1,000 people his program assisted last year, 350 were locals, and of the 5,500 to tal nights of shelter, two-thirds were occupied by North Platte residents. “We really appreciate the state step ping in and funding something like this,” he said. “Nebraska is ahead of the ball game.” Students can donate blood this week By Patty Wewel Staff Reporter The UNL Campus Red Cross wants to drain your blood today. Don’t worry—the Red Cross won’t take all of your blood. The annual blood drive takes place today and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m in the Centennial Room at the Ne braska Union. Students who want to donate blood should bring either their student identification or their social security card, said Jeana Schmid, the blood drive’s co coordinator. Also, those wishing to donate should eat at least two to four hours before they donate. Schmid, a junior biology major, said the goal for the two day drive was 550 donations. The blood drive is held in conjunction with the American Red Cross, the community blood bank and the health aide pro gram. Scott Bruhn/DN Author Warren Blumenfeld told an audience of more than 40 people Monday afternoon in the Nebraska Union that he sees the end of problems with homophobia. Blumenfeld Continued from Page 1 portray same-sex couples. “Sex is discussed as only white, working class and heterosexual,” he said. If homosexuals did not face ste reotypes and harassment, it would be easier for a person to say that he or she is gay, lesbian or bisexual, Blumenfeld said. Instead, Blumenfeld said, homophobia forces homosexuals into rigid gender roles, diverting energy from more constructive en deavors, restricting development of a self-identity and inhibiting a so cietal response to AIDS. Information and education about AIDS is lacking in schools, Blumenfeld said. ‘7 just think about young people growing up today who fear messages like this and who fear derogatory comments. ” WARREN BLUMENFELD author “So consequently many people die from it. And homophobia is the one pushing it,” he said. To combat homophobia, he said, homosexuals can attend lesbian, bi sexual and gay events, challenge homophobic jokes, monitor media coverage, initiate serious discus sions and develop support groups. Firemen investigate fraternity gas leak A natural gas leak sent members of Kappa Sigma fraternity to the side walk Monday evening to watch firefighters monitor gas levels in the fraternity house. Eric Fugleberg, a sophomore fra ternity member, said he and some other members of the house were in the kitchen doing dishes after dinner when they smelled gas coming from an old stove. They had turned on the stove* . which hadn’t been used in a few years, during dinner to keep some catered food warm, he said. The stove had just been repaired, Fugleberg said. Deputy tire chief Dean Staberg said the leak was potentially dangerous but was under control. — Erin Schulte Sfe' •— >« M «* tai«« * to"11c**> '8 « my I «k», «hltj|l y« frie»fc «m. W tnvtca/ pjra<foe. B escape - come to our H&R Block location right here on campus. Have us complete and electronically file your taxes, and our people can get you your refund in as little as three weeks ■ in plenty of time for Spring Break And, as a special offer for college P students, we’ll prepare and electronically file both your state and Federal taxes for just $49.00. Even better, we have an option where you don’t have to pay anytbmo your best shot at qettinq a Sprinq Break gH BLOCK February 20-22, Small Ball Room, Union V- ’ . •