Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 24, 1997)
Faculty refocuses on King holiday question KING from page 1 Other faculty members suggest ed UNL should incorporate a year long effort to commemorate King's message of equality and diversity. The proposal, which passed unanimously at Friday’s meeting, is addressed to the Academic Senate, the NU Board of Regents and top administrators. It urges those offi cials to designate the third Monday of January as an official holiday “to honor the life, work and message of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.” It also asks that the chancellor set aside money for activities, appoint a diversity committee to plan them and set aside the Lied Center for Performing Arts as a venue for some activities. Regardless of the Academic Senate’s final vote, many faculty members agreed to cancel their classes on the King holiday with the support of their, students. Representing" the Academic Senate executive committee, Leo Sartori, professor of physics and astronomy, said his committee also had endorsed a different resolution to cancel class for the holiday. He said the plan calls for uni versitywide programming to com memorate King and his ideas, but to use Saturday as a makeup day for classes affected by the holiday. The reason for a makeup day is some instructors, especially those with classes or labs meeting only once a week, are worried about los ing an academic day and falling behind. Sartori’s plan also urges admin istrators to make time available to staff who want to participate in the day's events; normally they would have to report to work. Sartori said the resolution will go to the Tterof atthe grodp^s December meeting. However, Provost and Executive Vice President Lee Jones, who was out of town Friday and unavailable for comment, will be the one who makes the ultimate decision. The second half of the town hall meeting established a “diversity watch,” a group of faculty members to respond to discrimination or harassment against racial and eth nic minorities, or gays and les bians. Miguel Carranza, associate pro fessor of sociology and ethnic stud ii It is an academic issue. It also is a teaching issue ” Gargi Roysircar Sodowsky associate professor of educational psychology ies, said there is no set university plan to deal with issues like those that have drawn attention this year, including a cross burning during an fraternity initiation ceremony, anti homosexual chalkings on the side walk during National Coming Out Week and a controversial advertise ment in the Daily Nebraskan that disputed the Holocaust. 1 “Our university has not done a good job at self-reflection with issues of diversity,” he said. “We don’t have a plan to take action. ... We need the university to respond. “It’s time the university took a step forward in delivering a univer sity plan.” Robert Benford, associate pro fessor of sociology, said he agreed with Carranza and cited results from a 1992 study by UNL’s Bureau of Sociological Research. He said the racial climate survey found there are really two campuses at UNL: a minority and a nonminori ty. The survey also stated that minorities felt there was racism on campus while the nonminorities disagreed. “When this happens, the stu dents then perceive this is not a friendly environment for minori ties,” he said. Nickoletti said he also support ed the Diversity Watch because the university needed a group separate from the administrators. “There’s this assumption that people are taking care of this, but that’s not necessarily true,” he said. “There has to be a better coordinat ed system. You cannot rely just on a small number of minorities of fac ulty, staff and students. We also need more support from the white mainstream population. That’s where the power is.” We buy. sell and trade used and out of print games. Open gaming all day. everyday. (By gamers, for gamers. Collectible Card Games. Miniatures. Role Playing, and more. Just minutes from campus. SW Corner of 27th & Randolph 2639 Randolph • 476-8602 Tinlvetsitif <f{edtk dcntet Thanksgiving Holiday Hours November 26 8 p.m. November 27& sed November 29 2 p.m. 472- ets /If ter hour the T\N£ /\sk-/\-Nurse Line at 473-5499. RHA pledges donation to Salvation Army From Staff Reports The University of Nebraska Lincoln Residence Hall Association showed its holiday spirit Sunday night. RHA passed a bill to give $100 to the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program, and then Husker Hall Senator Larry Willis f gave another $100 out of his own pocket toward the organization. J “I think it’s a great program, and I can’t imagine being a child and not getting any gifts on the holidays,” Willis said. Smith Hall President Amber Bourek said with the $200, RHA would be able to provide 10 chil dren with gifts and 10 families with holiday meals. RHA also allocated money to the Smith Hall Floor Three mocktail party. They also dis cussed options for their new logo. RHA’s next meeting will be held on Dec. 7. -1 GIVE IT A SHOT NU Women vs. Creighton Monday, November 2A at 7:05 pm at Bob Devaney Sports Center Promotion: Free Nebrasketball™ t-shirt to the first 50 UNL students at the game. EXCEPTIONAL SELECTION OF ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDING RINGS, EXTRAORDINARY VALUES AND PASSIONATE SERVICE. FOR A COMPLIMENTARY ENGAGEMENT PACKAGE, CALL L800.642.GIFT BORSHEIM' S* A Berkshire Hathaway Company Regency Court, 120 Regency Parkway, Omaha (402) 391-0400 (800) 642-GUT
