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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 1998)
_sums_ _ah_ FRIDAY Cookie doesn’t crumble Lil’ Big Man February 20,1998 Nebraska sophomore guard Cookie Belcher says Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials, a four-piece he’s looking to step up his play to an all-confer- blues band from Chicago, will perform at the NOT QUITE In The CLEAR ence level. PAGE 7 Zoo Bar tonight and Saturday. PAGE 9 Mostly cloudy, high 39. Cloudy tonight, low 28. ; ... - - i|iiwis^w VOL. 97 COVERING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN SINCE 1901 NO. 107 Board passes King holiday By Brad Davis Senior Reporter UNL could celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday with a day off from classes as early as next year, the NU Calendar Committee said Thursday. The committee, comprising two representatives from each University of Nebraska campus, recommended the university cancel classes on King’s birthday - the third Monday m January. James Gnesen, UNL vice chancel lor for student affairs, said the commit tee's decision reflected the opinions and desires of most UNL faculty members, students and staff “If this recommendation is put into effect, it is extremely important that we respond with meaningful educational and community service programs that will truly honor the memory of Dr. King,’’ Gnesen said. NU Provost Lee Jones, who makes the final decision to cancel classes for systemwide holidays, said he was pleased with the committee’s recommendation. “The cancellation of classes will allow for a much broader spectrum of activities during the entire day to honor Dr. King and the philosophy he espoused.” The university will implement the holiday by January 2000, although it could be implemented next year, he said. To determine whether the university can enact the holiday next year, Jones said, NU Board of Regents guidelines require each of the four campuses to provide a plan detailing how it will make up for the day's missed classes. NU Spokesman Joe Rowson said Jones would confer with the university chancellors and determine if the holiday can begin next year. The NU Board of Regents must approve both break recommendations, but the board will not consider the pro posals during their Feb. 28 meeting. Proposal would end ‘preferential’ programs By Brad Davis Senior Reporter If it has the same effect as California’s Proposition 209, a constitu tional amendment proposed by Omaha Sen. Kate Witek could eliminate some affirmative action programs at UNL. LR314CA, if advanced by the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, would ask Nebraska voters to prohibit government programs that “discrimi nate against or grant preferential treat ment to” certain groups. The bill would ban discriminating against or granting preferences to indi viduals based on race, sex, color, ethnic ity or national origin. During the committee hearing on Feb. 13, when questioned why the bill didn’t identify homosexuals as an offi cial group, Witek said the bill reflected language in Proposition 209, which also did not include sexual orientation. Witek said her Proposition 209 based proposal would not eliminate all affirmative action programs - only those that include discriminatory or preferential practices. .An educational program that would help “anyone that needed help” would remain unchanged under her legisla tion. she said. Matt LeMieux. executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union Nebraska, said he thought Witek’s pro posal was part of a national movement to abolish affirmative action programs. At the University of California, Berkeley, a public school where Proposition 209 was enacted, only one minority student was enrolled in the first-year law school class, he said. “It would have a devastating effect on the educational atmosphere at the university,” LeMieux said. “We’d be foolish to deny that part of the educa tional experience at a major university is being educated with a diverse student body.” But NU Law Professor Richard Duncan said discriminating and granti ng preferences to achieve diversity broke federal law. “What a lot of people don’t know,” Duncan said, “is that many of the things the university already does - some of the scholarships designated for minori ties only - almost certainly violates the U.S. Constitution.” The problem with race-based affir mative action is that the program assumes the minority group has been discriminated against, and that the majority group has done the discrimi nating, Duncan said. “We often focus on the claims of one side.” Duncan said, “but there are a whole bunch of silent v ictims out there - white males who can't apply for a posi tion set aside for minorities or females. “(White males) sent their applica tion in, and it got thrown in the waste basket because they were the wrong race or gender," Duncan said. Witek agreed. When some say affir mative action creates a “level playing Please see BILL on 6 Lane Hickenbottom/DN LT. COL. PAUL ADAMS holds a picture taken of himself during his days spent as a fighter pilot for the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Adams said he was the victim of racial prejudices even while he was fighting for his country. Vet now fights with education Editor s note: In honor oj Black History Month, the Daily Nebraskan is printing profiles of prominent black leaders in Lincoln and at UNL. Today is the last in a five-part series. By Brian Carlson Senior Reporter When Lt. Col. Paul Adams returned from World War II in August, 1945, America’s long weary spirits had begun to lift. The Allied victory in Europe 66 He has strong values for whats right, not just for black people, but for everybody” Annie Scott Scott Middle School principal had been secured. Two U.S. atom ic bombs had devastated Japan, making victory in the Pacific imminent and shaping the course of world history for the rest of the century. U.S. soldiers returned home to ticker-tape parades, and the United States celebrated the tri umph of its ideals of liberty and Please see ADAMS on 2 Poet: ‘Sail on’ for unity’s sake By Josh Funk Senior Reporter The rhythmic pulse of bongo drums resonating through the Cornhusker Hotel’s Grand Ballroom signaled the opening of the 21st annual Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government with a traditional African welcome. After some welcoming remarks from organizers and poetry readings by local stu dents, poet Nikki Giovanni, the conference's opening speaker, took stage. UNL junior Lynn Bowers said Giovanni’s writing transformed her. “She made me want to hug myself inside out,” Bowers said. Giovanni used historical examples to advise student lead ers on sex, school and persever ance. “Sex is overblown,” Giovanni said. “If it was that good you would not have to get drunk to do it.” Giovanni urged men and women to take responsibility for their own sex lives. From sex Giovanni moved on to some stereotypes black col lege students face. Many people believe that blacks have a free ride to school, but Giovanni cautioned students not to believe that. “You are here because some body black (in the past) dreamed you would be here,” Giovanni said. “You have a tremendous responsibility to those people.” Giovanni cited examples from black history from colonialism and slavery to show how black people had to work together to achieve everything they have Please see GIOVANNI on 6 Read the Daily Nebraskan on the World Wide Web at http: / lwww.unl.edu/DailyNeb