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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1996)
I if MONDAY 4 \ WEATHER: Today - Cold with a 40 percent chance of rain. Northeast wind 20 mph. COVERING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA SINCE 1901 VOL 95 NO 113 T°"Wrt " Clustery and cold. Low around 20. __February 26, 1996 Regents give UNO engineering a boost By June Sobczyk Senior Reporter Alter more than an hour of debate, the NU Board of Regents approved a three-part plan to improve engineer ing and information science programs at UNO. The plan, passed by a 7-1 vote, improves existing engineering pro grams at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and creates a new UNO Col lege of Information Science and Tech nology. A new Omaha Institute for Infor mation Science, Technology and En gineering also will be created, and will be jointly run by UNLand UNO deans. An amendment to the proposal, passed unanimously by the board, in cluded a time line that would have the project completed by July 1999 as well as a six-month progress review on the construction of a building for the college. Cost figures for the program and building were not immediately avail able. Regent Nancy O’Brien of Water loo, a longtime supporter ofexpanded engineering in Omaha, said the ap proved planendcd two yearsofa heated engineering struggle. “We got exactly what we wanted,” she said. “We got commitment to the institute, a timetable and board moni toring.” Regent Drew Miller of Papillion, I he lone dissenting- vote, said the plan could have been stronger if UNO’s engineering building had been made the top construction priority. “I hope we made a strong enough statement of support,” Miller said. “I hope we have committed enough.” O’Brien tried to have the project moved to the university’s No. 1 con struction priority, but the board re jected that on a 4-3 vote, Smith had talked with Omaha busi ness leaders a lew weeks ago about moving the construction date from 2002 to July 1999. “We need to accelerate as rapidly as we can,” Smith said. But he also said the new lime line “will be a real push.” To show the university’s full com mitment to the Omaha business com munity, Miller said, the new timetable should be part of the proposal. “I support the change,” Miller said. “But we should be bound to it. We have to be committed, or support won’t be there.” Regent Charles Wilson of Lincoln said the only way the board could guarantee a new time line would be if funding for the building was guaran teed as well. Funding for the plan will come from reallocation of university funds, state funds and private donations. The plan must be approved by the Coordinating Commission for Post-secondary Edu cation. Wilson called the proposal a “com promise.” “It’s administratively efficient and responsive to the needs of our cam pus,” Wilson said. “It’s a very effec tive compromise.” NU President Dennis Smith said the proposal allowed UNL and UNO to work together to strengthen the en gineering program. “It is a concept which brings to gether elements of engineering, com puter science and information man agement under a whole new approach,” Smith said. “It encourages partnership and collaboration.” John Paul Mua speaks during the Afro Unity Festac. The festival was presented by the African Students’Associsrtion! Cultural connections Afro Unity Festac celebrates diversity By Michaela Pieler Staff Reporter Dcspitelheirdifferent cultures,all people of African descent can learn much from each other by sharing their traditions. That is what the first Afro Unity Fcstac participants wanted to prove Sunday night in the Nebraska Union ballroom. “Out there people die and kill because of cultural differcnccs,” said Cecil Howell, vice president of the African Students Associa tion. “But here, cultural differences are go ing to bring people together.” The festival, organized by ASA, began with a meal of various African, Afro-Carib bean and Afro-Hispanic foods. About 400 visitors enjoyed the meal, which included dishes such as a Nigerian cereal called Ogi, a South African fruit salad and jollof rice from Ghana. In a fashion show, John Paul Mua and Patricia Grant of ASA presented models wcaringtraditionalAfricandresses.Theshin ing, loose satin dresses ranged from wedding uWe must learn to appreciate each other and reach out for each other." JOHN PAUL MUA keynote speaker and festivity fashion to casual home and work wear. Mua, the keynote speaker for the evening, stressed in his speech the historic impor tance of Africa, a continent three times the size of the United States. Many important tributes to civilization originate from those of African descent, he said, such as the development of the tele phone and the telegraph. Mua urged the audience not to underesti mate Africa and its people. “This land called Africa is a continent,” he said, “not a country.” The festival helps Africans redefine their common history, Mua said. “We must learn to appreciate each other and reach out for each other,” he said. “No man is an island,” he said at the end of his speech. “No man stands alone.” UNL Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs James Griescn agreed. Cultural diversity enriches a university campus, he said. “A meeting like this helps us to broaden our cultural horizon.” The festival continued with several events, including musical performances, poetry read ings and dancing. The band Kusi Taki earned a standing ovation from the audience for their song “Takiiriasu,” which means “Come, sing, dance and celebrate with us.” Thirteen-year-old Crystal Nelson, a stu dent at Park Middle School, filled the union’s ballroom with enthusiasm as she performed a traditional African dance. The Festac was organized by ASA mem bers, including Howell; Fred Afuh, presi dent; Ola Olude, organizing secretary; and Rudy Moseley, treasurer. Teen smoking sparks debate in Legislature By Ted Taylor Senior Reporter ~ She couldn’t reach the microphone, but her testimony spoke volumes. . Legislature '96 A iwcivc-ycar old Melissa Giles of Omaha told Nebraska lawmakers Friday that she didn’t want to sec young people 1 ike herself start smok ing — and she needed the Legislature’s help. “It is bad for the young kids because they will start to smoke and not stop,” she said. “I think we should help them stop.” uilcs was oncot thrccyouthswhotestified in favor of Omaha Sen. Don Preister’s LB1151, which would prohibit the automatic dispensing of tobacco products. The bill targets cigarette vending machines and self-service merchandis ing methods that would reduce underage to bacco use. “We need to do more than we’re doing to keep kids from getting access,” Prcistcr said. “It’s time we treat underage tobacco use as a real problem in the Legislature and make it a priority.” By stopping self-service dispensing of to bacco products and putting them behind counters, supporters say, shoplifting of ciga rettes would decrease among youth. Ian Newman, a health education professor at UN L, said a recent survey of 1,356 seventh-and eighth-graders reported that 16 percent of those who obtained cigarettes did so by stealing them. “Eliminating self-service sales will greatly reduce youth access to tobacco,” he said. A statement from the president of the Ne braska division of the American Cancer Asso ciation, Dr. Alan Thorson, echoed Newman’s remarks. “Research also indicates that requiring a face-lo-faee interaction to purchase tobacco does deter youths from even trying to make a purchase.” Thorson’s statement said the measure would have positive cost implications for health care. “By reducing the number of youths who smoke,” he said, “many long-term health prob lems will also be reduced, resulting in cost savings to the budgets of Medicare and Medic aid.” Eric Akko of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department said it was time to prevent another generation from becoming addicted to tobacco. “LB 1150 would send a clear message that tobacco is reserved for adults, not for children,” he said. “Base your dec ision on what is right and what is just for the children of Nebraska.” See CIGARETTES on 6