Tuesday
August 27, lj996
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Picking up
Ryan Sodbrlw/DR
JIM OSTERBUHR carries buckets of cement used to secure metal poles for a fence
that will be north of Burnett Hall. The fence is being built in preparation for the
building’s renovation. See story on page 6.
Former official
files discrimination suit
By Chad Lorenz
Senior Reporter
A former affirmative action officer is suing
the University of Nebraska, saying he lost his
job because he was a white male.
Martin Munn is asking for $350,000 in a civil
suit filed in federal court earlier this month.
Munn’s complaint states that he was forced
out of his position as the initial full-time affir
mative action/equal employment opportunity
officer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in
1991.
Munn agreed to lake a reassignment in the
College of Journalism and Mass Communica
tions, but later realized he had been “predestined
to fail” in his new assignment, the complaint
stated.
Munn accepted the new position because he
thought then-Chancellor Graham Spanier
wanted a minority in the affirmative action posi
tion instead, the complaint states.
When Munn started his job at the College of
Journalism and Mass Communications in 1992,
he was responsible for part-time teaching and
writing grants. Munn was unprepared for his
duties and received no training or assistance,
according to the complaint.
Also, the college did not give Munn adequate
office space or equipment, did not appoint him
to a faculty committee or give him an annual
teaching evaluation, the complaint stated.
Munn attributed his poor working conditions
to hostility on the part of Will Norton Jr., dean
of the College of Journalism and Mass Commu
nications, the complaint stated.
Munn alleged that Norton indicated hostility
toward him in 1993. Munn’s complaint stated
the hostility stemmed from a past discrimina
tion complaint against Norton, which was filed
while Munn was affirmative action officer.
Norton said he had no knowledge of any such
contact with Munn and that he was not hostile
toward Munn.
Munn is seeking $350,000 for lost wages and
benefits, mental anguish and humiliation.
John Wiltse, general counsel for the univer
sity, said he had not yet received the formal com
plaint and summons. The case probably would
not go to trial for another year, if at all, Wiltse
said. .
Arrest or UNL. freshman
- —
By Chad Lorenz
Senior Reporter
A rash of more than 20 wallet thefts at the
Campus Recreation Center last spring was
cleared up this summer with the arrest of a UNL
freshman.
Daniel Weyer, 19, of Seward, was respon
sible for 26 thefts since Jan. 1, from the men’s
locker room, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
police Sgt. Mylo Bushing said.
Weyer used credit cards from 10 of those
thefts to charge $4,867 in cash advances and
merchandise, Bushing said.
After arresting Weyer in one case of credit
card fraud, Bushing followed Weyer’s trail to
solve the other thefts, Bushing said.
A little detective work by a vigilant sales cleric
at btereo west helped Bushing s pursuit.
“The cleric did an excellent job,” Bushing said.
“Without him, we still may be chasing this guy.”
Weyer was initially arrested on May 16 for
trying to use a stolen card at Stereo West, 4011
O St. Bushing gave the following account of the
arrest:
Weyer used a newly stolen card to purchase
some stereo equipment, but the clerk wasn’t able
to process the card and gave it back.
- Wfyerused the store’s phone to call his work
and tell a manager he would be late. Weyer told
the clerk he would return and left the store.
The clerk became suspicious, followed Weyer
out and recorded his licence plate number and a
description of his car.
The clerk then used the re-dial button on the
phone to find out Weyer worked at McDonald’s.
Please see CARDS on 6
Administrators seek solutions to dropout rates
Schools form support groups for freshmen
From the Associated Press
OMAHA — Freshmen face a big
challenge this fall when they take on
college and university curricula, but the
schools are just as concerned about
their challenge — keeping those stu
dents around for a sophomore year.
Records show that one in four fresh
men do not return to their sophomore
year at college. The University of Ne
braska-Lincoln manages to keep all but
25.4 percent of its freshman class
around for a second year. Other state
colleges and universities are not so for
tunate.
The University of Nebraska at
Omaha’s withdrawal rate is 42.3 per
cent, Peru State 42 percent and Wayne
State, 39 percent. Colleges and univer
sities are trying to do something to
improve those retention rates.
“All the research shows that die big
thing is to get them from that first year
to the second year,” said Dorothy We
ber, director of the Wayne State Col
lege Learning Center.
Classes teach study skills and de
scribe resources such as the library,
counseling and health centers. Orien
tation programs focus on academic
advising and schools encourage oppor
tunities for new students to form bonds
with organizations or groups of other
students.
“People don’t leave when they feel
connected,” said Thomas Thielen, Iowa
State University’s vice president for
student affairs.
Melissa Caccomo, who became a
freshman at Wayne State College this
week, experienced a hint of that con
nection when she visited die small col
lege with a friend last winter.
“Students just stopped and asked if
they could help us,” said the 1996
Millard South High School graduate.
If she perseveres, she would be the first
in her family to graduate from college,
i “I kind of don’t know what to ex-:
pect,” she said. ‘Tm nervous about
meeting the roommate and about get
ting homesick.”
«———
We have a serious
problem. I think we
can cut it in half.”
James Moeser
UNL chancellor
But James Griesen, vice chancellor
few student affairs at UNL, said Mon
day that most students’ decisions not
to return for their sophomore year
could be traced to more concrete rea
sons: grades and money.
“If you survey students on any col
lege campus, the main reason they’re
going to give you for not returning will
be finances.”
I Finances alone often do not lead to
students’ withdrawal, Griesen said.
Please seeTZJZZZ~Jlon 6
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