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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1998)
Earth Day celebrated Professors deny harassment charge with music, games EARTH from page 1 LuckofAelea. The University of Nebraska Lincoln’s Wildlife Club, Amnesty International and Outdoor Adventures helped promote the day by providing information booths. Michelle Haddix, project coordi nator, said she was pleased with the day’s activities and the turnout. She said it was an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the envi ronment. Haddix said she was especially encouraged by the amount of interest displayed by students during the ques tion-and-answer portions of various speeches. “It’s important for people to get something out of this,” she said. Among the guest speakers at the event was tugene uiock, an agncui tural representative for Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey, dock addressed a crowd of students about environmen tal issues pertaining to government. Though the purpose of the event was to educate students on the envi ronment, Haddix said it also was an opportunity for students to be out doors. Many threw Frisbees and kicked around Hacky Sacks. Dan Armendariz, a senior crimi nal justice major, said it was only fit ting that the weather remained nice throughout Earth Day. He said the event was an excellent idea because it “takes a little of the edge off of going to school.” “We should celebrate our Earth every day,” he said. “It’s the only one U-: Hemp is a very useful product. It can save us a lot of money.” Mitch Langvardt communications major we have.” Mitch Langvardt, a sophomore communications major, said he enjoyed the various information booths that were set up to answer questions. He said the hemp booth, in particular, contained a great deal of information. “Hemp is a very useful product,” 1a a mi + /«nn r mra 110 r% 1 ♦ aP money.” Langvardt said it was important for the university to sanction such an event. “It’s good because people tend to concentrate mostly on school or jobs,” he said. “They tend to forget about nature.” Kate Hoke, a sophomore criminal justice major, said it was disappoint ing that more students could not attend the event. But she was happy a majority of the students who did attend “made the most of it.” “The main point is to let people know what they can do for this cam pus,” die said. “There’s a lot of issues to know about.” '■\ i '■'■'l ■ I 3 i Read and earn credit at your pace this summer Add hours to your schedule while you: ■ Take course work with you to summer destinations. I ■ Study at home at your own pace. Register by May 8: ■ Choose from 32 undergraduate \ courses in 13 departments. ■ Meet with instructor before registering for reading courses. ^ ■ Register by May 8 by paying $25 reservation fee. ■ lkub regisirduon is May 11-za. run turnon aue ax registration. Note: Grade* will not be poatedin time for rtudents pfenning to gmduaie in August. I Call for your Reading Course catalog: 472-1392 : ’ - f " University of Nebraska-Lincoln - : Division of Continuing Studies . |A ■ ^■''B UNL is a nondtecnminatofy institution. ■ r " HARASSMENT from page 1 university if the situation is not resolved to their satisfaction. Political science faculty mem bers said they have not seen the con fidential report that sanctions the department. UNL Chancellor James Moeser has 30 days to respond to the com mittee’s report, with which he was presented late last week. Moeser will decide what sanc tions, if any, will be carried out against the political science depart ment. “Let me say first that these are issues of grave concern, and I will give them serious attention,” Moeser said. The committee recommended Moeser require faculty members and graduate students in the political sci ence department complete sensitivi ly training ior race ana genaer issues. All members of the university community need to be sensitive to race and gender, Spinner said, though he said the political science department should not be singled out. “We appeal to the chancellor’s sense of justice and fairness,” Spinner said, “that before he sanc tions us in any way, he ensures that fair proceedings are held.” Michael Combs, a political sci ence professor, said he resented the charge in the report which said racial concerns received greater attention than gender concerns in the depart ment. Combs, who is black, said the department is more assertive hiring women than racial minorities. Jean Cahan, an adjunct political science professor who has taught in the classics, history and philosophy departments, said she has never experienced anything “the least bit” hostile in the political science department. “I’ve dealt with four different chairs in the political science depart ment alone,” Cahan said, “and each one of them has tried to help me with my career. They’ve only been appre ciative of rity presence.” Cahan, who is Jewish, said the department was cooperative when she wanted to cross-list courses in Judaic Studies and experiment with classes. “I don’t think the faculty in that department are any more sexist or AtluiAAPnfrin in omr nortiAnlor tion, any more than any other depart ment I’m familiar with,” she said. One of the chairmen of the department Cahan worked with was David Forsythe, a professor who resigned from his chairmanship in February. Forsythe is a visiting professor at the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights in Utrecht until July, and could not be reached. Elizabeth Theiss-Morse, politi cal science associate professor, said it was “absurd” that Forsythe was exonerated in the report while the department was still found guilty of having a hostile environment. “This department has been pretty proactive, especially over the past five years or so,” she said. “We’ve taken very direct, aggressive action to make sure there’s not a bad cli mate for women.” In her classes, Theiss-Morse said, her students have been sur prised about the allegations. Cynthia Berreau, a UNL law stu dent, graduated with a master’s degree in political science in 1995 and said she never questioned the climate. “I never had a problem with male professors or male students,” Berreau said. “I didn’t perceive an atmosphere of sexual harassment in any sort” Despite some political science professors’ insistence that the atmosphere in the department is friendly to women, Moeser has the ultimate power to decide the fate of the department. He said he would consult with Senior Vice Chancellor for Acaaemic Anairs Kicnara nawaras and Director of Affirmative Action Linda Crump when making his deci sion. “While I can’t comment on the specific case,” Moeser wrote in a press release, “let me reinforce my commitment to engaging leadership among faculty, staff and students alike to create a more welcoming cli mate on this campus.” Kara Slaughter, an arts and sci ences college ASUN senator, said she hopes administrators will talk openly about the situation. Instead of a problem confined to the political science department, Slaughter said, an unwelcome envi ronment permeates through all aspects of campus. “There are no monsters in the political science department,” Slaughter said. “But there’s always more we could be doing.” fcg I §*>>& f * Ip • Kt &:■' p.;. |. p I p;/ fe. ” H *pr' H -1 |-3£r, I Pr :* ■ fe I ||£ / I feV p*" -•- I tfc |g& .•*> _ i .v W.M II *lfc« dm «■ ha chart from 5-7pm to restock mocdnadsa. '» ■», . ' ;\«^v f •'" •I’r*';''v‘%"' >l7~’;''-7 •1 1„U| - aiTil llHIWJl I.LJ ,, i..: ^ <.#x>.- t f \ |