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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 8, 1998)
Lewis enjoys new post Vice chancellor brings experience to university By Lindsay Young Senior staff writer It’s the University ofNebraska. His answer was that simple when Scott Lewis was asked why he want ed to come to work as UNCs associ ate vice chancellor for business and finance. He will work as one of the senior managers to Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance Melvin Jones. Lewis, who was hired this sum mer, said the University of Nebraska Lincoln offered him the opportunity to use his experience. “When you’re here, 1 don’t think you fully appreciate what that means in the rest of the country,” Lewis said. He said UNL is a top land-grant institution and is highly respected in other parts of the country. Lewis will be working with legal and contract matters, construction, finance, accounting, facilities opera tions and many other aspects in the office of business and finance, said lick Edwards, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Before UNL, Lewis worked at Arkansas State University in kmesboro,Aik. There, Lewis said, he was die executive assistant to die uni versity president. He also was the ;hief executive and chief financial executive for the Arkansas State University Foundation and die secre tary to die trustees. Lewis spent 14 years in higher education and worked for the Arkansas Legislature.' He also is an attorney. Edwards, chair of the search committee, said Lewis was a well rounded candidate for the position. (<I think you always hire, in a position like this, somebody who brings both the experience and skills and most importantly the potential for being an outstanding leader,” Edwards said. Lewis lives in Lincoln with hjs wife, Linda, three dogs and three cats. Changes give City Campus a facelift PLAN from page 1 structure to die campus, Benson said. Parking will be redirected to park ing garages, winch will lie on tbe cam push periphery. Some of tbe space that may be used for new recreation fields is now private ly owned, including the railroad tracks near Harper-Schramm-Smith resi dence halls. Benson said the univereity is in the process of acquiring that land. Also, Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, which will be relocated, is privately owned, Bedson said. He said the university is looking to relocate die sorority, building a struc Creating Wuqwinte for the future of NU campuses is done about every 10 years, Benson said. UNUs plans were last updated in 1990. Some of die modifications pre sented Tburaday also were mi die 1990 plan, he said. The changes will be made in six year phases until 2011, and SMne after that date. A set schedule has not been devel oped, Benson said. However in die first six years, buildings will be renovated under a bond issue authorized under LB1100, passed in spring’s legislative session The bill gives $5.5 million a year for foe next lOyears to pay for deferred maintenance to buildings on NU cam puses, including the replacement of Lyman and Bancroft halls, which are located at 14* and U streets. An overall cost estimate for the plan has not yet been figured, Benson said. But students may be affected by the potential changes as early as the next couple of years, said James Griesen, vice chancellor for student affairs. Facilities such as the Campus Recreation Center, University Health r * xt~u i— tt_:__i,: VVUIV1) Structures and ed by state funds, construction of these facilities ate paid for through bonds. These bonds are then paid off through revenues generated through student fees, Griesen said. One immediate impact could be the construction of the parking garages, he said, which could result in an increase in fee cost of parking permits. But students don’t need to worry about an immediate hike in fees and costs, Griesen said. “We’re not going to jump today or anything like that” __• , ■_ Rest Assured. Be Insured. > ** .!i4*{£>v4 %yW-»#1# i Enrollment deadline 18 wzu/98! jfiU " - • ■ > ~ .32 ’• : 5 NOW is the time to review your current medical insurance and/or consider a plan to assist you with your health care needs! Your University Health Center, together with GM Southwest of Dallas,TX, offers UNL students a comprehensive and affordable medical insurance plan specifically designed to suit the needs of undergraduate ana graduate students. Tne plan offers students: ' • An annual premium of only $399! • The convenient location and services of the University Health Center (located at 15th & U) for initial treatment! • Dependent coverage is al|b available! (see policy brochure for dependent premiums and specific details) Brochures and applications are available at the University Health Center, International Affairs Office or by mail. Have any questions? Call our 24-hour information line at 472-7437. Farmers face low profits By Todd Anderson _ Senior staff writer For Nebraska farmers, the eco nomic effects of sagging grain prices hit hard and direct And wife ihe worst yet to come as harvest nears, many can identify the roots of the problem, bid few can offer clear solutions. A year after com and wheat pro ducers sold an abundant crop at near record-level prices, tins year’s harvest likely will bring about large amounts of debt and unused supply for some, and threaten the very livelihood of others. free market vs. price supports The Agricultural Reform and Improvement Act of 1996 completely restructured howthe federal govern ment works with the nation’s volatile agricultural markets. The bilk referred to as the Farm Bill of ’96* intended to move farmers away from government price supports and toward managing their business in a fine market system. It is set to be phased out by 2002JFor some, itb a blatant attempt to shut down small farms. For others, it’s an overdue transition from a government-regulated produc tion scheme to an open market system. John Hansen is president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, which repre sents more than 5,000 farmers in Nebraska. Hansen, who owns a farm near Newman Grove, said die 1996 Farm Bill leaves farmers in the cold at a time When grain prices are lower than they have been in years. But Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation president Bryce Neidig has a different take on die 1996 Farm Bill and the grain companies. Neidig, owner of a farm near Madison, said the iarmbilloffeisasti£ fkient safetynet ftnr fanners in trouble. ' While the new free market system of management produces more ups and downs for farmers, he said, it’s the best way to manage production. Neidig points out that last year farmers sold their grain for more than $5 a bushel -well over die cost of pro duction - and didn’t need die transfer payments set aside by the government Guesstimate Knowing how to predict die season ahead has proven to be die challenge for farmers and policy-makers alike. World demand, previous years’ supply, crop disease, natural disaster - every part ofthe picture can change the look and feel of a farmerls season. Vem Jantzen, a farmer who has been in the business for 12 years near Plymouth, calls this year a “good” year because the crop yield has been high. But die numbers have been so high that overproduction has driven prices down. Jantzen said his more difficult for farmers to adjust to shifts in supply and demand because a farmer’s total planti ng potential first depends on how much grain is planted - a decision made well before itfc clear what sort of factors will affect price and in whatway. “A farmer is geared up to produce uic uttuumuiu oil uic uuic, ucstuu. Lower prices for grain don’t neces sarily mean buyers are snatching up the goods. Both Hansen and Neidig agreed troubles in Asian markets, including Russia, have worsened the problem. US. grain fanners produce more wheat and com than U.S. consumers can use, so farmers rely on export mar kets to stay in business. Closing markets coupled with a farm bill moving farmers to the open market equals a difficult situation for many farmers who have a majority of their land invested in one crop. Jantzen said federal leaders should have made sure foreign markets would remain open before cutting farmers loose from federal protection. “Right now.we’re running down the road without a shock on the vehi cle,” lie'said. t ':' “When you hit a bump, you fly high; when you run over a hole, you go way down.” Short-term/long-term After 40 years of farming, Bill Rolf of Fullerton said he expected to retire. But with loan payments mounting, taking another hud hit might extend die length of his farming career. He said he would have to earn 33 percent more per bushel to break even, without accounting for his own labor. “I’m always paying interest,” he said. ‘I’ve paid interest for 40 years and I’m still paying interest” Neidig predicts a rough ride for farmers as com harvest time, a short three to five weeks away, draws near. “I don’t think there are going to be any quick fixes,” he said. For now, he said, he encourages fanners to apply to receive their transi tion payment checks early and tries to offer hope. “Eventually we’ll get those over seas markets back,” Neidig said. Jantzen said diversification Jr -investing in several types of produc tion-has been the key to staying afloat Jantzen uses the grain he produces to feed the dairy cows he raises, and he Mfito Aid flic AAmkinAC f*Ar knrtrAof fA make extra cash. Hansen said farmers are taking on more and more responsibilities, which limits the time they have to involve themselves politically. Nevertheless, he said he encourages Nebraska farmers to seek active partici pation in the policy-making process. “We’re trying to get people to somehow make a large commitment in time and resources to participate in die political process where they get swal lowed up in it all.” While there are no clear solutions, organizations like the Nebraska Farm Bureau and Farmers Union, with the help of small-time fanners like Jantzen and Rolf, will push to find more reme dies to problems posed in an ever changing world market. “We’ve got to do everything we can to make sure we have as many peo ple saved as possible,” Neidig said Crash your butt at the Beer Bash! j Come over to Came Day Bar and Brill's Beer Ba$h~an outdoor concert filled with beer and hut! ♦ where: Stfi and L, in the fenced-in Ini test north el Game Days • when: &30-12:30, Friday, September 11 . * iihifc Ctncort aw«i drinks! Drank and Disoideriy 1 • why: No cover and $2 for 16 oz. draws! Raffing Rock, Coors Light, Killian’s Red Need a Lift? Night Shuttle Service! ’• Us City Campus East Campus Departure Times Departure Times (from Lyman Hall) (from Burr-Fedde) 6:15 6:35 6:55 ' 7:15 7:35 7:55 8:15 8:35 8:55 9:15 9:35 9:55 \ 10:15 10:35 Free Night Service Between East and City Campus 6:15 p.m. to 10:35 p.m. “A student fee supported service of the Nebraska Unions”
