Campaign hopes to motivate Nebraska women voters
Activists perceive 1996 as Year of the Woman*
By Erin Gibson
StaffReporter
Women’s groups celebrated a resur
gence of female political influence on
die steps of the State Capitol Saturday
morning.
“If you thought 1992 was the ‘Year
of the Woman,’ wait until you see
1996,” said Omaha City Council
woman Brenda Council.
Council spoke to representatives
from more than 50 women’s groups
who gathered to kick off the “Nebraska
Women Vote ’96" campaign. The cam
paign is intended to motivate women
voters for the Nov. 5 elections.
Speakers thanked those who fought
for women’s suffrage and praised
women’s progress in political arenas
since gaining voting rights in 1920.
But former Lincoln Mayor Helen
Boosalis warned onlookers not to lose
sight of long-term goals in the celebra
tion.
“We can’t be content to celebrate
who we are, what we’ve accom
plished,” Boosalis said. “We must do
more.”
Lt. Gov. Kim Robak said that al
though more women were taking time
to run for office and use their voices in
politics, room for progress remains.
“Certain issues wrongly get labeled
‘women’s issues,”’ Robak said. “All
u
Certain issues wrongly get labeled
‘women’s issues.’All issues are women’s
issues.”
Lt. Gov. Kim Robak
issues are women’s issues.”
Larry Bourn, who attended the rally
with his wife and young daughter,
agreed that issues affecting women
lack understanding and publicity.
“Women’s issues are family is
sues,” Bourn said.
Joni Gray, executive director of the
Nebraska Commission on the Status of
Women, said many issues women think
are important may not be heard in the
90-percent-male Congress.
Gray said Congress could overlook
issues including equal wages for equal
work and child care for working
women. Speaker Cindy Proucha said
many women’s issues were children’s
issues, too.
“Only 20 percent of child support
is collected in Nebraska,” Proucha
said.
She said she worried that a lack of
child support would add to women's
hardships under new welfare reforms.
“The working poor—women who
earn too much for (government) aid but
not enough to survive—will face in
credible financial stress,” she said.
She said women’s issues also were
endangered by bills currently in the
Legislature.
“The proposed Equal Opportunity
Act of 1995 will end 30 years of civil
rights enforcement” and endanger the
basis of sexual discrimination lawsuits
against both sexes, Proucha said.
In recognition of women’s concerns
for family issues and their own lives,
and the important influence of women
voters, Gov. Ben Nelson proclaimed
Sept. 7, 1996 to be “Nebraska
Women’s Vote Day.”
But Judith Kriss, director of the
UNL Women’s Center, said the cel
ebration of women’s voting rights did
noLend on Saturday and will continue
during a voter-regikration drive at the
Nebraska Union Monday and Tuesday.
Masni Spsck/DN
LX GOV. KIM ROBAK, right, shakes hands Saturday with Joni Gray,
spokesperson for the Nebraska Women Vote ’96 coalition.
Antelope Valley Study
iimi
Fri, Sept. 20 - 6pm to 9pm &
Sat, Sept. 21 -9am to 3pm
Lincoln High School
Study area neighborhoods
include:
•Antelope Park
• Clinton • Downtown
•East Campus^North Bottoms
• Northwest Uncolh
• University Place • Hartley
• Malone • Near South
• Woods Park
Free Parking
Located on dty bus routes:
#8 Veterans Hospital
#15 Eastridge
Free child care provided by
Family Service
is
(For registration through a telecommunication
device for the deaf (TDD), please call 441-7864.)
—
S ■ r A
_
Join the discussion and participate m
building a better Lincoln!
The City of Lincoln, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the
Lower Platte South Natural Resources District invite you to
participate in this important Town Hall Meeting to discuss
Lincoln’s core area - the location of our original historic
neighborhoods, businesses, and the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Antelope Valley Study seeks to
fold practical solutions for:
• community revitalization,
• stormwater, and
• transportation.
That’s where you come mto the picture!
Your input is needed to develop a community-wide vision of a
healthier core area. Participate and make a real and positive
difference in people’s lives - improved safety, travel, housing,
sense of harmony, job opportunities, health care, education,
recreation, goods and services.
Event Highlights...
♦ Presentation of study area’s strengths, needs,
and opportunities
♦ Small group discussions to identify options and solutions
♦ Bus tour of study area
Test Anxiety?
”''3wswbw?sii|*
Do You Draw A
Blank At The Test?
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Join us and leam how to relax
as you prepare for tests.
Tuesdays, 3:30-5 pm
Oct 1- Nov. 5,1996
Registration is required.
For more information,
Call CAPS (472-7450)
Quality Women**
Reproductive Health Care
at Affordable Price*!
✓ Birth control options
✓ Free pregnancy testing
Sr all options information
✓ Abortion services
✓ Diagnosis/treatment
of sexually transmitted
diseases
✓ Diagnosis/treatment of
urinary tract infections
✓ HIV testing