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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1998)
relations WHITE from page 1 The best man When Matt Alexander, a senior agriculture economics major, arrived in Lincoln as a shy fresh man from Kearney, he had a lot of misconceptions about blacks, White said. Alexander said he met White, originally from Omaha, through Alexander’s roommate. Because White was so willing to sit down with Alexander, those misconceptions were cleared up. Now, four years later, White is going to be the best man in Alexander’s wedding on July 4. Because of a few shared experiences, Alexander said he has learned things hadn’t been as easy for White as they had been for Alexander. “Some people have to work harder to get the things I have,” Alexander said. One time the two friends were pulled over by a police officer for speeding, Alexander said, and it was obvious White was treated differently by the officer than Alexander would have been. He said there were more questions directed at White, and the car behind diem was going faster than they were, but White was stopped instead. “That kind of opened my eyes that things weren’t as equal as what I believed,” Alexander said. It’s gone both ways, though, he said. The two have learned from each other. Alexander said he took White to a rodeo in Kearney one summer and has invited White numerous times to his family’s cabin. White said sharing such experiences made the relationship meaningful to him. A race relations bubble’ advertising major. White’s desire to help first-year|7^^^*’TT^^^H students got him an assignment with! *1 Li ■ il I ^ the Freshman Learning Community inBBHjfl|H|B^^^I Representing a population Schramm Hall. As the president of the Afrikan Josh Johnson, aresident on White’stlljijLJB^^^B Peoples Union, White is often the floor, said White has taught the stu-Is^m^UT^^^^B group’s yoke, dents to keep an open mind. EAUttij|jJgHBBfl The job brings a lot of pressure, “He stresses that college is noti|T|TT7jJl|Tj|Tj||B White said, always just your GPA,” Johnson said.k|MM|>i|Ha|l “I know what I say has a lot of “The connections that you make and^^^^H^^^H weight, because I am Afrikan Peoples the people that you meet are also very^^^^^K^^H Union president,” White said. “But I important.” think I strongly believe my organiza White said one of the things h^^^HHH^Hbon stands behind the type of person I focuses on is race relations. am “You ask anybody on my floor andlHB^HBI “That’s why they put me in this it’s like, ’You always talk about race^^^^l position.” relations. Donny’s just this race rela- ^B3| It’s a position of trust, he said, lions bubble,”’ he said. “They know innately that ‘DotmyS But White said there is very open com munication between him and residents. “They also say, too, that they feel they can come to me about anything, and I’m not going to attack them,” White said. Michael Piemicky, a Schramm student assis tant who has known White for two years, said this focus taught the residents a lot. “Donny focusing on race relations especially has promoted a lot of community on his floor and a lot of learning and understanding between people that may have not connected,” said Piemicky. Residents agreed. “Our floor is very diverse. There’s so much openness on our floor. I think he stresses that more than I’ve seen anybody,” said Johnson, a freshman ^F not gomg to misrepresent us , and mat really means a lot. It realty does,” White said. He has learned a lot about how to deal with racially sensitive issues as they arise, he said. Some of the events include the burning of a cross during a Sigma Chi initiation ceremony last' year, and English Professor David Hibler’s recent e-mail. But when issues like these arise, White said, people should know a lot about the situation before they speak about it White has been contacted by news media during many of these ordeals. “I’ve learned that people aren’t most receptive to a lot of yelling and screaming, and I find myself knowing how to calm down before I address an issue,” he said. -----_i_at -- The university has problems, and even though it has made some progress in dealing with such issues, much needs to be done, White said “I think I’ve said time and time again that the problem with this institution now is you’ve got city America coming in contact with small town America with ho trainihg,” V&ite said. “They don’t taiowhow|o interact with each other. And nine times dtitofiO they don’t have to.” IpgpjF^ Looking to the future White also is taking his idea of change and applying it to his future. White plans to be a psychiatrist for veterans of wars such as the Vietnam War and the GulfWar. He said he wants to help others like his father, who was ^n the GulfWar. “After war, no one is ever the same,” White Said. “It takes a lot of work to integrate them back into society.” Just, as he hopes he can make a change in the l^ture, White hopes he made a difference while he was at the university. And if he was to return in 10 years, White said, he would hope to see a new university. White said it will take time to solve the prob lems at UNL. “I also believe and know the type of change I would like to see is not going to happen (soon) in any shape or form,” White said. “I’m just trying to plant seeds, if you will, to hope the change will miraculously come.” : 17th &‘N’ : I No Appointments Necessary I 476-9466 | $6 Off Oil Change Service * with UNL student IEC 1' " ' ! [ Now Only $19.70 1 I (reg. $25.70, Environmental disposal fee included.) | • Oil & filter change ( up to 5 qts.) i • Lubricate zerk fittings I • Check & fill fluids: | brake, power steering, battery, washer, and ' I automatic transmission fluid only I • Check antifreeze, air filter, wiper blades, i and tire pressure 1 • Vacuum interior & wash windows j Best Service in | i Just 10 Minutes 1 I Most brands available 1 Expires 5-31-98 L PBenMonjW,yiSat, I I ■ i m«« 1 Ullkh NrchaM! p I of Two Visits i i ■ MSB MRSOSMMNM MSS j I HI Void with any other offer Must present coupon. I | HHHHHHHi : Diversity in History ' . >vi Dk Edtpr’shote^Each day during Black History Month, the Daily Nebraskan p\ will m the story of a minority who made an important contribution in Amerfca^tiispry. • :.*v . V* is. Because the young Georgia-born woman attended Langston induftjial College in Oklahoma before moving 3^ to Chicago to work at the White Box Barber Shop and rwage aghistaurant; lecause she learned French and went to Europe in itlon-which she could not do in thr “r1 under the chief pilot for Anthony aircraft corporation and learn to fly a German Fokker airplane; ; Lr Because, by studying overseas, she became the f i r efAf r i can-A meric an woman to earn a pilot’s license % t922;*r * W' ■■ Btcauss she returned to the United States to 1 d perferm4ier barnstorming act before thousands of S4Useveral air shows that year; D B ecause she lectured on the opportunities in aviation at schools and churches and dreamed of Hk starting an Anjerioiio school to train other black 5-^ aviators; ' Because she agtceed to perform a 1926 Memorial *p\ Day air show for tne Negro Welfare League in *p>r Jacksonville, Fla.where her plane experienced £-4” mechanical failure during practical maneuvers, and she fell from her plane to her death, “Brave Bessie” Coleman is known as an air-bound -] v explorer who broke down barriers to black Americans J and women in flight. J Half of congress is made up of lawyers. No wonder congress doesn't get along. Speaking of lawyers, ours made us include this disclaimer with our 12 menu items under $4. Plus tax. (Thank congress for that.) Not valid during Halley’s Comet. Must be hungry. Offer expires when you do. No swimming for one hour after dinner. Purchase required. No space aliens, please. 4603 Vine Street, 466-4045, Lincoln :V:'l :/• K " ,J ^ '\.v jroffiHkV P' NIE i EENIES AREN’T THAT TASTY ANYWAY.
