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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 1996)
Senators, musicians By Kasey Kerber Senior Reporter The unveiling of UNL’s new alma mater may be two weeks away, but some students already have had a sneak preview. The unveiling is planned for half time of the Oct. 12 homecoming game against Baylor. Students in the Comhusker March ing Band, various UNL chorus groups and, most recently, senators of die As sociation of Students of the University of Nebraska all have had a chance to preview the song’s music, lyrics or both. At Wednesday night’s ASUN meet ing, Chancellor James Moeser played a tape of a synthesizer version of the alma mater, which was written by Omaha composer Chip Davis. The senators heard only the music, not the lyrics. “I think intuitively that it will be received very well,” Moeser said. “So far the reaction has been very positive.” ASUN senators confirmed Moeser’s prediction. “I thought the instrumental version was great,” said Russ Ripa, a junior representing the business college. “It’s something that belongs to ev eryone and that we can all sing at foot ball games or wherever else,” he said. Amy Rager, a junior representing the college of arts and sciences, agreed with Ripa. “I can’t wait to hear it with the marching band,” Rager said. “I think it’ll have more pep and be a little less formal.” The Comhusker Marching Band has already practiced with the swig’s music and will take part in the alma mater’s unveiling. Dram Major Brandy Spreitzer said bandrgembe^s’ rEactipnsitp ih§ sphg were “split Jown the lftie” between fa voring the alma mater and claiming it was nothing special. tr Chad Wenzl, a senior secondary education math major, said he thought the song was typical of an alma mater. “It’s just an alma mater,’’ Wenzl said. “It’s simple and that’s always what an alma mater is.” The simplicity of the song was a common element noticed by some band members. Audrey Carl, a sophomore bio chemistry major, spoke in favor of it. “It’s a pretty simple melody. There’s not too much frilly stuff in it, which can be good,” she said. Members of UNL chorus groups have had an opportunity most band members haven’t had—to view lyrics that will accompany the song. James Hejduk, UNL director of choral activities, said the University Singers and Concert Choir, along with members of the University Chorale and Varsity Glee Club would participate in the unveiling of the alma mater. He said the reaction of chorus stu dents had been positive. “I haven’t heard anyone come right out and say they hate or despise the song,” Hejduk said. He praised the song’s lyrics, say ing they “will appeal possibly to an older generation,” but would also “cross generations”. Chancellor Moeser hopes the alma mater quickly will become a UNL tra dition, but said it would get a “fair chance” no matter what the initial re action. “Traditions are things that take years to build up, so it won’t be an. overnight process,” Moeser said. ASUN President Eric Marintzer said that if students didn’t respond well to the alma mater, their opinions would be heard. “I think that if students don’t like it, we should be able to voice our con cerns,” he said. r Marintzer said that if a majority of the’student Body didn*fappfove of the new alma mater, ASUN could draft a resolution against it. m NMA discusses right to die Dignity crucial for terminally ill, panelist says By Brian Carlson StaffReporter Jack Kevorkian, the man Ameri cans know as “Doctor Death,” has performed an effective service by bringing the topic of death into pub lic discussion, a representative from the Hemlock Society USA said Thursday. Richard MacDonald, medical director of the society, spoke in sup port of the legalization of medically assisted death for terminally ill pa tients who choose to end their lives. “Most Americans, including physicians, don’t talk about dying and death,” he said at a press con ference in Lincoln. He called Kevorkian a “friend” of the Hem lock Society and credited him with successfully challenging legal con trol of private decisions. MacDonald voiced his support for legislation expected to be rein troduced in next year’s legislative session by Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha. The bill, which failed earlier this year, would allow physicians to pro vide “final treatment” for terminally ill patients in cases meeting specific guidelines. The press conference followed a full-day seminar on Physician Assisted-Dying/Euthanasia at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus. MacDonald partici pated in panel discussions during the seminar. The Nebraska Medical Associa tion, which sponsored the seminar, maintains its opposition to medi cally assisted suicide. The NMA views physician-assisted suicide as a violation of the Hippocratic oath, which forbids physicians to do harm to patients. Chris C. Caudill, president of the NMA, said it is unethical for a phy sician to actively terminate a patient’s life. He added that this position is based not on religious views, but on appropriate standards for physician behavior. Saying that euthanasia is too complex an issue for government to successfully regulate, Caudill criti cized the Hemlock Society’s efforts to pass the proposed legislation. “I don’t think this issue can be legislated or decided in courts,” he said. “It’s a very private issue. “Neither the courts nor the leg islatures have the background, knowledge, or willingness to take that on.” Caudill said the NMA does not insist that physicians use extreme measures to Keep terminally 111 pa tients alive. Rather, he said, physi cians should be prevented from tak ing steps to actively end patients’ lives. But MacDonald contends that such “hastening of death” is distinct from “suicide” and should be al lowed when extreme circumstances cause patients to lose dignity and control of their lives. He said it is not irrational to claim that patients with a terminal illness but a sound mind should have the right to make decisions regarding the end of their life. “The thing terminal patients fear most is not pain, but loss of con trol,” he said. Caudill, however, expressed concern that it would be difficult to impose safeguards ensuring termi nally ill patients did not receive implicit, unwanted encouragement from their physicians to end their lives. MacDonald cited a UNL survey that found 72.5 percent of Nebras kans favor physician aid in dying for the terminally ill. Caudill dismissed the findings, attributing them to the blurred per ception between active and passive euthanasia. Health Fair offers checkup for students From Staff Reports Students wondering what toll the college diet of fast food and stress is having on their bodies can find out to day in the Nebraska Union. The Chancellor’s Wellness Plan-, ningjupfnmitteeis sponsoring die UKL Health Fair firom 9 a.rti. until 3 pjn._ today. The fair includes a variety of I'A- ^ health screenings, immunizations and wellness services. Free screenings include blood pres sure, physical therapy (posture align ment and back care), glaucoma and podiatry. Other screenings are available for a fee. These include: cholesterol, $6; glucose, which is used to diagnose dia betes, $2^ hemoglobin^ used to diag-. nose anemia, $3; and others. Muaenis aiso can. oecome aware me biological effects of stress. Body tem perature, pulse rate and heart rate change according to stress and relax ation levels. Information on biofeed back and other stress management ap proaches will be demonstrated. In addition, free strength and flex ibility tests will be available, and a body composition test will be available for $3. r" ; FROM NEBRASKA {rift shop You want to be the first to Macintosh. More flexible than ever. We don’t know how you’ll fill in the blank. Thafe why we make Macintosh’ computers so flexible. To help you be the first to do whatever you want to do. And with word. multimedia and cross-platform compati ©1996Apple Computer, Inc. All rigpts reserved. Apple, He Apple logo, Mac and Macintosh are registered trademarks Apple Computer. Inc. AH Macintosh computers an designed to be accessible to mhiduais with disability, lb learn more (US only), call 800-600-7808 or TTY800-755-0601. -■ great Nebraska gifts and gift baskets! A century ago there swept off the great Nebraska plains, the mighty Bugeaters. Between 1890 and 1900, the Nebraska Football Team, dubbed the "Bugeaters" by an eastern Nebraska sportswriter, compiled a record of 47 wins, 26 losses and 3 ties. 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