Kelli Kellogg/DN
U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY Richard Riley, left, greets University of
Nebraska President Dennis Smith during Saturday’s dedication of the Peter
Kiewit Institute in Omaha.
Peter Kiewit Institute
dedicated in Omaha
KIEWXT from page 1 _
including the whole state of Nebraska
in its campus.
Paul Seaburg, associate dean of the
College of Engineering and
Technology at UNL, agreed.
“I think (UNL) will be very proud
of the things we do here in Omaha in
our new building and with the funds
that have been given to us,” he said.
While providing many students an
opportunity to receive a degree in tech
nological fields, the institute also will
show the benefits of a partnership
between the academic and business
worlds, said Thomas McClung, interim
dean of the College of Information
Science and Technology at UNO.
“It’s really unique because of the
collaboration and the strong, strong
commitment of business and industry,”
McClung said.
Along with providing funding for
the institute, many businesses such as
IBM and Boeing will provide support
for the program.
One example is the funding of the
Experts-in-Residence program, which
«
Without
opportunities like
this, (stopping brain
drain) becomes
nearly an impossible
endeavor’
Gov. Mike Johanns
will bring executives from high-tech
companies to spend a year teaching and
mentoring students.
By utilizing its business and acade
mic partnerships, Walter Scott Jr.,
chairman of the board of policy advis
ers at the Kiewit Institute, said the pro
gram has great potential.
“It’s our goal to make the Kiewit
center one of the top 10 in its field,”
Scott said. “I think we’re off to a great
start.”
^MiigMiedSExpress
Band Auditions
August 24,25 & 26
Audition registration at the Band Office,
101 Westbrook Music Building.
The Big Red Express plays for all home
volleyball, men's and women's basketball games.
Auditions are open to all academically eligible
university students. Usual band instrumentation
plus lead guitar, keyboard and bass guitar.
Successful candidates receive a stipend.
Call the Band Office at 472.2505 for more information.
Moeser outlines
goals for university
MOESER from page 1
year graduation rate from 50 to 60
percent by 2006.
Moeser reported that UNL was
on its way to fulfilling both goals.
Increasing retention and graduation
rates helped propel UNL’s ranking in
the annual review of national univer
sities by U.S. News and World
Report. Falling to the third tier last
year, UNL was placed among sec
ond-tier schools in this year’s edi
tion.
The report also placed UNL on
the list of die top 48 universities that
provide an affordable education.
While the reallocation of funds is
a stark reality for many, Moeser
urged faculty and staff to do more
and “build a culture of excellence.”
This means establishing mean
ingful relationships between stu
dents and faculty members, continu
ing to reverse the brain drain and
supporting the Honors Program.
Along with improving the learn
ing community and increasing
research, Moeser said it was neces
sary to reach out to rural Nebraska
communities that have aging popula
tions and dwindling economic
resources.
Staying committed to diversity
also is important, he said. The
Faculty Liaison Task Force on
Diversity will continue its work this
year, and funds have been reallocat
ed to support the Diversity
Enhancement program, Moeser said.
With UNL’s faculty and staff
working toward fulfilling these
goals, the financial shortages the
university has been facing will slow
ly ease, Moeser said.
“The good news is that the same
plan that moves us to financial stabil
ity also moves us toward excellence.”
Welcome offers involvement
WELCOME from page 1
5,000 freshman.
He said about 3,000 community
members attended.
Students took advantage of free
pizza, sandwiches, ice cream and
candy while stuffing Frisbees, koozies,
pens, pencils, magnets, T-shirts and
fliers into their plastic bags.
“All the stands are helpful,” said
Lizzie Fraser, a freshman from Omaha.
She also thought the free items were a
“good way to get lots of people to
come.”
Students who have been through
the Big Red Welcome before also took
advantage of the day.
“I came down here to see the differ
ent types of involvement offered,*clubs,
free stuff and whatnot,” said Tyler
Levey, a junior communications major
from Omaha.
Among the most popular booths
included Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity’s
dunking booth, which it used to
encourage recruitment.
The Agriculture Education Club
and UNL’s FFA Alumni co-sponsored
putt-putt golf because “we thought it
would be an activity that would make
people stop by,” said Megan Patent,
president of the Agriculture Club
Other popular booths included the
voter registration booth, manned by
Anita Fussell, a Lincoln resident. As
students left the welcome convocation
at the Lied Center they were greeted
with the booth.
“We’re having a big flurry of regis
tration,” Fussell said.
Students also had a chance to show
off their basketball skills at a booth
operated by Athletic Marketing.
“Everybody thinks they can shoot.
Everybody is a player,” shouted Coach
Randy Roth, who was running the
Athletic Marketing basketball free
throw competition.
Kettlehut began planning the wel
come about a year ago by sending let
ters to past participants and all student
organizations. Booths were filled on a
first-come, first-serve basis.
All NSE members helped set up,
worked water stations, cleanedup and
ran information booths.
Student organizations got their
booths for free, and non-profit commu
nity groups and businesses paid a fee.
66
As for the weather,
Id rather have the
possibility of a few
sprinkles than being
100 degrees outside
Angie Klein
NSE member
Morning radio station show host
Brady Goodman from The Point radio
station, 104.1 FM, said he came to Big
Red Welcome because of its exposure
and to increase the number of listeners.
Angie Klein, NSE member, said
the day was fun for NSE leaders '
because they were able to see the fresh
men they helped over the summer.
“As for the weather, I’d rather have
the possibility of a few sprinkles than
being 100 degrees outside,” she said.
“At least it makes my job of filling
waters not so bad.”
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■ > How far are you willing
to go to make a difffearanart
..
Information Table:
9 arr> - 3 pm
Wednesday, August 25
Student Union
