The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, March 02, 1999, Page 2, Image 2
Senators hear arguments for school-incentive aid ■ Unicameral Education Committee considers money for good teachers, and assistance for schools. By Brian Carlson Staff writer The Legislature’s Education Committee on Monday heard bills pro viding incentives for schools that hire highly qualified educators and adjust ing the cost-per-pupil factor to assist small schools hurt by changes in school finance. LB646, sponsored by Sen. Ron Raikes of Lincoln, would provide pro fessional-staff-incentive aid for schools that hire highly qualified educators. Schools would be eligible for addition al state aid based on the amount of experience and number of advanced degrees among faculty members. Jim Griess, executive director of the Nebraska State Education Association, said schools too often must hire die best teacher who could be hired most cheap ly. To continue attracting outstanding educators and providing quality educa tion, the state must provide financial incentives, he said. “If we can’t, high school graduates will choose other careers, and teachers college graduates will go ter other states,” he said. “We must address this critical problem now if we are to attract and retain the brightest and best into the teaching profession.” A1 Inzerello of Westside Community Schools said the bill would allow schools to innovate as they attempted to meet new educational challenges. “This has the potential to do a lot of good things for education,” he said. LB668, sponsored by Sen. Bob Wickersham of Harrison, would adjust the cost-per-pupil ratio for schools with 250 to 900 students under the state’s adjusted formula. Smaller schools face greater per pupil costs, putting a squeeze on many v districts, Wickersham said. “This impinges hardest on schools with under 900 pupils,” he said. Brad Cabrera, superintendent of Sutton Public Schools, said his school system would see a sharp drop in state funding in coming years unless a bill like LB668 were passed. “Next year, my concern is that the cuts we’re going to have to make are going to harm our students,” he said. Jack Moles, superintendent of Nemaha Valley Schools, said his school system had provided quality education but needed increased state funding to deal with high per-pupil costs. “By passing LB668, the Legislature would make a strong state ment in support of rural schools,” he said. In other Education Committee action Monday: ■ The committee advanced the Student Freedom of Expression Act to die floor on a 5-4 vote. The bill would allow high school students greater free dom of expression in school publica tions, allowing only their adviser to edit material. ■ The committee heard LB329, which would end the requirement that school districts provide information about the parental-notification law for minors seeking abortions. Instead, school districts would be required to post a toll-free telephone number to the Department of Health and Human Services; students could call this num ber to receive information on the parental-notification law. Management department ranks among top 52 in nation ByIeva Augstums Senior staff writer The* many hours students spent waiting in line trying to override into UNL College of Business Administration’s management class es may have been worth it, manage ment department faculty members said. The college’s management department has just been ranked among the top 52 in the nation. “This recognition will be great for us,” said University of Nebraska Lincoln Management Department Chairman Sang Lee. “And it will help us attract excellent undergraduates, because people pay attention to this kind of thing.” UNL’s management department was listed among 31 departments nationwide as “middle status,” for overall course instruction, faculty research publications and graduation and doctoral student recruitment rates. Twenty-one schools were classi fied as high status, while 53 schools were classified as low status. Out of hundreds of top universi ties, 105 met the study criteria, which was published in the December issue of the prestigious Academy of Management Journal. The study compiled 18 different studies regarding college deans’ and department chairmen’s perceptions and the reputation of faculty mem bers, as well as faculty research in top-tier publications. Two of UNL’s peer institutions, Ohio State University and the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana, were placed in the high-sta tus group. The university’s remaining peers, except for the University of Colorado at Boulder, which was placed in the low-status group, were placed in the middle group. Fred Luthans, George Holmes Distinguished Professor of Management, said UNL’s placement was superior, even when compared to its peer institutions. “The schools rated above us have an advantage,” Luthans said. “They are at least twice as big as we are, and they have twice as many faculty.” Lee agreed. “Our management department is one of the best among state universi ties,” he said. “I believe our rating is accurate.” Luthans said the department would continue to expand its scope from a local and regional level to national and international levels. The recent ranking would help, he said. “The key here is the value added to our university and the students at Nebraska,” Luthans said. “We want a quality program for everyone, univer sitywide.” At the beginning of the semester the department saw a large increase in students wanting to take management information systems courses. Management information sys tems courses teach students how to make an organization, like Microsoft, for example, more effective and responsive through information tech nology. The college has about 400 management majors, with hundreds of CBA students taking management courses every semester. Students who finish the manage ment program usually receive five to seven job offers and have a beginning salary of $60,000 or more per year after graduating, he said. “It’s good publicity for the college and the university,” Lee said. “The ranking is something to be proud about.” fcfc The schools<mted above us have an advantage. They are at least twice as big as we are and they have twice as many faculty Fred Luthans management professor Questions? Comments? Ask for the appropriate section editor at (402) 472-2588 or e-mail dn@uni.edu. THE DAILY NEBRASKAN r . , _ \ Editor: Erin Gibson Managing Editor: Brad Davis Associate News Editor: Sarah Baker Associate News Ettttor. Bryce Glenn Assignment Editor: Lindsay Young Opinion Editor: Cliff Hicks Sports Editor: Sam McKewon A&E Editor: Bret Schulte Copy Desk Chief: Tasha Kelter Asst Copy Desk Chief: Heidi White Photo Co-Chief: Matt Miller Photo Co-Chief: Lane Hickenbottom Design Chief: Nancy Christensen Art Director: Matt Haney Web Editor: Gregg Steams Asst Web Editor: Amy Burke ' General Manager: Dan Shattil Publications Braird Jessica Hofmann, Chairwoman: (402) 466-8404 Professional Adviser: Don Walton, (402)473-7248 Advertising Manager: Nick Partsch, (402)472-2589 Asst Ad Manager: Andrea Oeltjen Classifieid Ad Manager: Mary Johnson a * ' ; Week’s events observe women’s history month ■ Programs will include speakers, workshops and an art display. By Veronica Daehn Staff writer Starting Monday, women at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will get an entire week all to themselves. Women’s Week,* a week chosen to celebrate March as National Women’s Month, began Monday and runs through Friday. Tolandra Coleman, Women’s Center resources coordinator, said ' events were planned for all five days. “I’m truly excited for every event we’re going to have,” Coleman said. A women’s faculty reception was held Monday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Nebraska Union Heritage room. “Not only do we celebrate stu dents, but also faculty,” Coleman said. “We wanted to say thank you to the women faculty.” A panel discussion by women in nontraditional occupations will be held today from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Nebraska Union Heritage room. Titled “Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors,” the discussion will center on ways women can break the barriers that prevent them from advancing in society, Coleman said. Panel members will include an architect, engineer, computer pro grammer, funeral director, fire fight er and truck driver. Another discussion will be held Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Nebraska Union Auditorium titled “Becoming the Womyn We Admire.” Coleman said two of the featured speakers will be Venita Kelley, pro fessor of communications and African American studies at UNL, and Francine Blythe, a woman active in both the performing arts and American Indian community “Venita is a dynamic speaker and a dynamic woman,” Coleman said. “Raising Voices, Raising Hope” is the title of a benefit concert to be held Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Nebraska Union Crib. Coleman said the event offers a “coffee-house environment” and fea- ; tures Pheromone Pholk, Nancy j Marshall, and the Afrikan People’s Union Gospel Choir. These acts will be followed by an open stage for anyone interested. Coleman said a $3 donation was requested at the door and money raised would be given to the new Lincoln Children’s Museum per forming arts area. “We want to give back to the chil dren of tiie Lincoln community,” she said. The Sixth Annual Women’s Studies Regional No Limits Conference is scheduled for Friday. Carole Levin will speak about medieval images of women at 11:30 a.m. in the East Campus Union. Judith Oritz Cofer will present a reading of her literary work and hold a discussion about it at 7:30 p.m. in the East Campus Union. Women stu dents’ artwork is being displayed through March 10 in the Women’s Center, 340 Nebraska Union. Coleman said 11 pieces of art work were being shown, including paintings and photos. “There are so many women in today’s society that I admire,” Coleman said. “These events will give them a chance to be seen.” Lincoln organization aids international students By Veronica Daehn Staff writer A program designed to promote understanding between cultures has taken hold with some Lincoln resi dents. Lincoln Friends of Foreign Students seeks to promote friendship between University of Nebraska Lincoln international students and members of die community. With the help of the International Affairs Office, LFFS pairs interested students with community members who serve as a “friend” to them while they are away from home. LFFS Board of Directors President Shirley Deethardt said it was always overwhelming for a new student to arrive on a college campus. “As a foreign student, the first time away from their homeland can be even more overwhelming,” she said. LFFS attempts to alleviate that nervousness by providing foreign stu dents with someone to talk to and a house to visit While LFFS sponsors five or six group activities a year, volunteer friends are expected to interact with their foreign students at least once a month. Judy Wendorff, UNL liaison to LFFS and student adviser in International Affairs, said all volun teers were welcome, though most are religious people with families. “They see this as fun and also good,” Wendorff said. “The one requirement, though, is that friends are not to evangelize.” LFFS, which was started 40 years ago, is governed by a Board of Directors and assisted by a student workteam. The work team, composed of for eign students and one American, started five years ago when a group of foreign students wanted a more active role in the organization. While only one American student is involved now, Deethardt said the group would like to see more of them. “We encourage all students to be involved,” she said. “What a great. time.” Wendorff agreed that the program was beneficial. “It’s a good education for every one,” she sa|d. “It’s really fun to go to an event where the whole world is there.” London legislators vote to lower consent age for homosexual acts LONDON (AP) - Legislators voted to lower the age of consent for homosexual acts by two years to 16 on Monday, but die House of Lords is expected to block the measure. In the third and final reading of the controversial bill in the House of Commons, lawmakers voted 281-82 to make the consenting age for homo sexuals the same as that for hetero sexuals, three decades after gay acts between adults ceased to be illegal. The bill, which would bring f Britain in ling wit)i most othgr _ ' * ' European Union nations, now goes to the House of Lords, where opposition leaders in the conservative controlled chamber have said they will defeat the bill, as they did last summer. Members of the largely heredi tary House of Lords said their deci sion echoed the feelings of most Britons. Speaking in the Commons, Home Office Minister Paul Boateng said the bill was about “equality before the law, respect for vulnerability and tru&” , . , . , . , ,