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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 1997)
ft American Heart Associations^^ Fighting Heart Disease and Stroke »nll ____ NEBRASKA UNIONS Your Campus Activities Centers City Union • East Union • Culture Center welcO^ BACK STUb&11TS m I City Union East Union Culture Center M-F.7A.M.-11P.M. M-F.6:45a.m.-11p.m. M-Thurs.9A.M.-9P.M. Sat......9a.m.-11p.m. Sat.7:30a.m.-11p.m. Fri.9a.m.-5p.m. Sun.Noon-1lP.M. Sun.8a.m.-11p.m. Weekends by reservation Lawsuit hinges on name, trademark of competition AUTHENTIC from page 1 Department is funding Huskers Authentic and will cause unfair com petition for businesses. “What market will (UNL) get into next? At what point do you stop gov ernment from competing in private industry?” White asked. But several UNL officials said those arguments are invalid because the Athletic Department is indepen dent of the university and Huskers Authentic will offer products in a dif ferent price range than those in stores such as Nebraska Spirit. Business groups such as the Nebraska Retail Federation and Lincoln Independent Business Association are also opposed to Huskers Authentic. Charlie Claus, executive vice president of LIBA, sent a letter in June to Chancellor James Moeser expressing his concerns about Huskers Authentic and its effect on private industry. In a return letter, Moeser said the Athletic Department was indepen dent of the university. Do you...love teens? ...have a couple of hours a week to spend serving God? ...want to be involved in a ministry that sees lives being changed? Then... CAMPUS LIFE/YOUTH FOR CHRIST is the place for YOU! We are an outreach to unchurched teens. We’d love to hear from YOU! Call: 477-3755 and/or Come to our VOLUNTEER BURGER BASE September 9, 7:30-8:30 at Antelope Park (30th and A St.) llnM the Athletic Department, which will operate this facility, receives no state funding, tuition or student fees. Indeed, the University of Nebraska receives over $ 1 million per year from that department,” Moeser wrote. But White said the Athletic Department would not exist without the university, so he thinks of that department as part of the university. White has also sent letters to Moeser, as well as Gov. Ben Nelson, U.S. and state senators, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and other business groups. “They’re treating UNL like a pri vate school. A public school is com pletely different; their goal is to aid and to support, and business is not a goal of university,” White said. Huskers Authentic will be selling Husker sportswear similar to, but not the same as, merchandise sold in other Lincoln businesses. Gary Fouraker, associate athletic director for business affairs at UNL, said he had no knowledge about a lawsuit concerning Huskers Authentic. Fouraker also said Huskers Authentic will not really compete with stores like Nebraska Spirit and the Big Red Shop because the new store will sell the “high-end types of things.” “Basically we will be selling stuff that’s in the equipment room - stuff coaches and players wear on the side lines and during games,” Fouraker said. Everything from socks to caps to sunglasses sported by Husker players will be sold at Huskers Authentic, Fouraker said. But White disagrees. He said though the store will not sell the exact same merchandise, it will be similar enough. “A Husker T-shirt is a Husker T shirt, mesh shorts are mesh shorts, so essentially we are selling the same product,” said White, who has owned Nebraska Spirit for 13 years. The closest thing to items sold at stores like Nebraska Spirit, Fouraker said, will be merchandise commemo rating national championships, but they will be different styles and designs. Fouraker said he did not know why Huskers Authentic was being singled out either. “Other areas on campus that would be argued as competition, such as the University Bookstore and the Nebraska Union, do not have opposi tion,” Fouraker said. Besides the lawsuit, White has been working with state Sen. DiAnna i Schimek about a possible resolution. “Right now it’s in the hands of the (Legislature) and the citizens of Nebraska,” White said. Fouraker said Huskers Authentic will have limits, which are detailed in a “letter of agreement” the Athletic Department has issued to a local business about what the store can sell. Loraine Livingston, manager of Big Red Shop at 701 N. 10th St., said her son and the store’s owner, Cliff Livingston, is the one who entered into the agreement with the universi ty In a letter he sent to the Board of Regents in March, Livingston wrote that his concerns about the opening of Huskers Authentic had been satis fied and he did not oppose the con struction of the shop. Some terms of the agreement are that the Athletic Department will run the store, the merchandise will be authentic Husker goods and the uni versity will not sublease the store, Fouraker said. The university probably could have opened the store without an agreement with the Big Red Shop, Fouraker said, but the Athletic uepanmenr am noi want an antago nistic” relationship between the Big Red Shop and the university. But as long as the university keeps its word, Livingston said, there should not be any problems. The decision to open Huskers Authentic was based on a number of factors, Fouraker said. “I’ve seen other stadium shops in Iowa and Florida and basically they were the regular souvenir shops. We are looking for an unique look and for a different revenue stream,” Fouraker said. The Athletic Department also gets many requests from people who want merchandise that the players and coaches are wearing, Fouraker said. The NU Board of Regents approved the store 4-3 in February. The building and equipment for Huskers Authentic will cost $587,000 and is being paid for out of the athlet ic operating budget. Fouraker said no tax dollars would be used to pay for it. Even though the Athletic Department pays for a project that could potentially cut into some of his business, White said that it is not his goal to hurt the Athletic Department. “Not any of the business groups are against the university and the Athletic Department because our success as a retailer of collegiate products is directly related to their success,” White said. Editor: Paula Lavigne Questions? Comments? Ask for the Managing Editor: Julie Sobczyk appropriate section editor at (402) 472-2588 Associate News Editor: Rebecca Stone ore-maiidn@unlinfo.unl.edu. Assistant News Editor: Jeff Randall Assignment Editor: Chad Lorenz Opinion Editor: Jessica Kennedy General Manager: Dan Shattil Sports Editor: Mike Kluck Publications Board Melissa Myles, A&E Editor: Jim Goodwin Chairwoman: (402) 476-2446 Copy Desk Chief: Nancy Zywiec Professional Adviser: Don Walton, Photo Director: Ryan Soderlin (402) 473-7301 Design Director: Joshua Gillin Advertising Manager: Nick Partsch, Ait Director: Aaron Steckelberg (402) 472-2589 Online Editor: Mary Ann Muggy Assistant Ad Manager: Daniel Lam Asst. Online Editor: Amy Pemberton Classified Ad Manager: Tiffiny Clifton Fax number: (402) 472-1761 World Wide Web: www.unl.edu/DaiiyNeb The Daily Nebraskan (USPS 1444)80) is published by the UNL Publications Board, Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St, Lincoln, NE 685884)448, Monday through Friday duming the academic year; weekly during the summer sessions.The public has access to the Publications Board. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by calling (402)472-2588. Subscriptions are $55 for one year. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Daly Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St, Lincoln NE 685884)448. Periodical postage paid at Lincoln, NE. ALL MATERIAL COPYRKjHT 1997 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN www.unl.edu/DailyNeli/
