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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 1997)
Robak boasts citizens ROBAK from page 1 nesses and government are scram bling to fill hundreds of highly paid information technology posi tions. As technology races ahead, Robak said, Nebraska can be a leader if it works to coordinate its technology. A statewide organiza tion designed to monitor the state’s technological advancements is in the works, she said. Robak also spoke about Nebraska’s one-of-a-kind Legislature. As lieutenant gover nor, she presides over the Unicameral. During the last 60 years, the state’s one-house, non-partisan Legislature has served its citizens well, she said. By avoiding the messy work ings of conference committees that in other states are needed to make two houses’ legislation con form, Robak said, the Legislature operates much as its “father,” long time U.S. Sen. George Norris of Nebraska, envisioned. And, for the most part, partisan squabbles are avoided, Robak said. Robak, considered a front-run ner in the 1998 governor’s race before her decision in June not to run, said her responsibilities as lieutenant governor and mother of two had been stressful enough for the time being. “1 have no social life. I have no friends,” she laughed. Jennifer Griffin, a senior bio chemistry major and event orga nizer, said Robak’s speech was the first Honors Forum lecture. The Honors Program plans to sponsor a speech each semester by a presti gious person, she said. Robak's speech got the series off to a good start, Griffin said. “She is a very good speaker and someone who’s obviously going to attract a lot of people,” she said. Woman arrested for alleged embezzlement From Staff and Wire Reports A former employee of the University of Nebraska extension center in North Platte was arrested late Monday for allegedly embezzling about $60,000 from the university. Sandra Thompson, 44, of Keokuk, Iowa, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in Iowa on three counts of felony theft by deception, a sheriff’s department official said. Thompson, also known as Sandra Louck, was being held Tuesday night at the sheriff’s office. Thompson has n’t been employed by the extension center since mid-October. Gary Hergert, interim director of the West Central Extension Center in North Platte, said Monday that center employees discovered the alleged embezzlement a few days after Thompson quit her job as an account ing clerk at the center. Another employee of the center noticed a deficit in the employee sundry account, which held a pool of employee donations used to buy cof fee, candy, flowers and other office perks, Hergert said. Further investigation into the account’s activity showed university checks wrongly had been deposited into the non-university sundry account after being marked with the sundry fund stamp, he said. The signature of an authorized sundry fund supervisor then was forged onto checks and cash was withdrawn from the account. Hergert said the embezzlement occurred over a six- to 12-month peri od. Thompson had worked at the cen ter for three years before leaving her job, he said. Some of the center’s loss would be covered by the university’s insurance policy, which carries a $10,000 deductible, he said. Since discovering the alleged embezzlement, center officials have instated new procedures to increase the security of internal accounts, Hergert said. Group to stroll for safety By Sarah Baker Assignment Reporter The University of Nebraska Lincoln Parking Advisory Committee plans to see some differ ences on campus during its annual Spring Safety Walk. Linda Swoboda, PAC president, said after last month’s blizzard, the committee is looking for change. “After this tree fiasco, it looks like it’s going to be a lot different,” Swoboda said. Tad McDowell, manager of University Parking and Transit Services, commended the storm cleanup teams on the work they have done. Landscape services nas done a tremendous joS with the cleanup of the tree branches,” McDowell said. Some members of the PAC voiced concern about lights that were out after the storm and said they won dered if it was because of the storm. McDowell said he would check with maintenance to see what is being done. PAC tentatively scheduled its walk for April 11 or April 18. The walk will take place at 4 a.m. McDowell said the revenue of the new parking garage is steadily increasing. “Right now we are at 43 percent occupancy in the structure and we are at 5 1 percent of our expected rev enue,” McDowell said. “One reason why we are down on our revenue is because we are also down on student permits.” McDowell also said the snack shop in the southeast corner of the garage is still scheduled to be com pleted in the first part of January. He said that the bus waiting room on the south side of the structure will soon be open for use. “We can start using the bus stop as soon as the construction workers are finished in that area,” he said. McDowell also gave the PAC his agenda for the rest of the semester. “I would like to discuss the new Visitor’s Center, the Antelope Valley project, and the Holdrege expan sion,” McDowell said. Week maps out geography ~ z- u r>Y TANYA WORTMAN Staff Reporter One of the nation’s finest geogra phers, a former UNL professor, will be honored tonight as part of UNL’s Geography Awareness Week. The geography department at the ! University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Geography Student Organization will have an open house from 6 to 9 tonight on the third floor of Avery ; Hall. It will begin by honoring Professor Emeritus Leslie Hewes, ; who retired from UNL in 1974 and ; was chairman of his department for ; 22 years. He was a student of Carl Sauer, • who was a professor at the University ; of California, Berkeley, and has been called “the great American geograph ; er.” Hewes caries on Sauer’s belief in ; holistic geography, which includes all | aspects of the science. Michael Shambaugh-Miller, a geography graduate student, consid ers Hewes one of the five most renowned geographers in the U.S. during the prime of his work. Shambaugh-Miller said Hewes was one of the first in his field to study the culture of the Great Plains. Hewes also is an accomplished author. Shambaugh-Miller said Hewes has published about 10 books m Kiv; a* Geography is more than just memorizing state capitals. It deals with environmental, social, political, ... (and) economic topics Michael Shambaugh-Miller geography graduate student and about 35 to 40 articles. Hewes also received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Association of American Geographers while teaching. At 91, Hewes continues to trav el and work in his field, But has never been formally recognized by the university. Tonight a plaque will be erected in Avery Hall, Room 309. At 7 p.m., following Hewes’ cere mony, William Marlatt, professor emeritus and former chairman of the Earth Resources Department at Colorado State University, will speak on the environmental trauma in the former Soviet Union. The evening’s last activity will be the Second Annual UNL Geography Bee, which will begin at 8. Teams of two will compete against each other in answering questions from geogra phy’s various fields. Rick Clark, a geography graduate student and member of the Geography Student Organization, said the event helps get undergradu ates and graduate students in the group involved. Because the univer sity has so few geography students, this event is usually the biggest of the year, he said. Geography education is included as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Goals 2000, a legislative act signed in 1994 to reform educa tion. The legislation ranked geography with math and science as necessary parts of a well-balanced education, Shambaugh-Miller said. He said he encourages everyone to come to the events and look at the wide range of geographic topics. “Geography is more than just memorizing state capitals. It deals with environmental, social, political, as well as economic topics.” Nelson spells out visions NELSON from page 1 scholarship they would have to work in Nebraska for a year after gradua tion,” Nelson said. However, the scholarship would provide some flexibility for students who chose not to work here. “If they still left the state, the scholarship would become a loan with a moderate interest rate that must be repaid,” Nelson said. College students can help advance Nelson’s ideas by talking to their legislator, he said. During his political career Nelson has always sought to serve the interests of the people of Nebraska, not his political career, he said. “I ran for office because I wanted to do the best for Nebraska, and I have always believed that good govern ment is the best politics,” Nelson said. Lt. Gov. Kim Robak agreed with Nelson’s decisions. “He always listens to everyone,” Robak said. “Then he makes the tough choices for the good of Nebraska, not politics.” Government has an important but limited role in society, Nelson said. “It’s just like learning to ride a bike: everyone needs training wheels sometimes, and government must be there to provide those,” Nelson said. However, government must be careful not to do too much, he said. “Government can’t be every thing for everybody,” Nelson said. One of the points of Nelson s Success 2000 plan is to ensure excel lence in Nebraska’s schools. Students asked how this plan would work in light of Nelson’s con servative budgeting. “I have found that squeezing the budget a little forces efficiency,” Nelson said. The future holds uncertainty for Nelson as he prepares to leave the governor’s mansion at the end of next year. “I have set the standard for the future, and it will be up to the next governor to follow it.” KJomens .Services P.C. • Abortion Services Provided During All Legal Stages • Awake or Asleep • Outpatient Care • Full-Time OB/GYN Physicians • Birth Control • Saturday AppointmentsAvailable • Total OB/GYN Healthcare INOMAHA *554-0110 TOLL FREE • 1-800-922-8331 201 S. 46th St., Omaha, NE 68132 httpJgynpages.com/omaha Throw thogLSgofc.. oUvU'S 3 SfTlofceout! GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT IS NOVEMBER 20! 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