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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 2000)
11 DN Issues To eat meat or not to eat meat? j| ^ Columnists debate the merits of veg etarianism. j B B nocKumentar ^ Bob Dylan film proves some Wednesday, February 16,2000 dailyneb.com Vol 99, Issue 103 some fact inside the rock'n'roll lifestyle. PAGE 7 Blowin’ in the wind v Nate ^Jfagner/DN AMANDA SVEC, a freshman music major, takes advantage of feeeday* warm weather to blow bubbles between classes at theNMhreek Music Hall. Hie normal high for tMs date is 37 dbgrees, but Itiesday provided Lincoln residents a glimpse of spring as tlm mercury climbed to the 65-degree mark. Today, temperatures will be considerably lower, with highs Hi the ruid-30s. — LEGISLATURE — Bill would fund scholarship By Veronica Daehn Staff writer No action was taken Tuesday in the Education Committee on a bill that would mandate the state continue a minority scholarship program started in 1989. LB1379, introduced by Sen. Chris Beutler of Lincoln, would provide state money to help support the Davis scholarship, a fund set up for black, American-Indian and Hispanic stu dents. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs James Griesen said the pro gram was important. “We have a lot of people in our state right now who are unable to go to a four-year institution,” Griesen said. “It’s pivotal we remove those barriers.” In 1989, the Legislature gave $800,000 to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents to estab lish a minority scholarship program. That amount was matched by $200,000 in private donations, much of that from Omaha businessman Dick Davis. The Davis Scholarship is now used to support minority students at all four NU campuses. If the bill passes, money would also be given to state colleges and community colleges to start minority scholarship programs there. Griesen said the Davis Scholarship has made a difference in the lives of minority students. “The Davis scholarships have been a real door-opener to minority students on our campus,” he said. “The univer sity would be thrilled if we could extend this out further.” _ Griesen said he would love to recruit more minority students from two-year colleges and get them into a Please see SCHOLARSHIP on 3 Benefits plan lauded at ASUN forum By Kimberly Sweet Staff writer IfUNL wants to be competitive in drawing faculty members and graduate students, it will have to include domestic partners in its benefits plan, a group said Tuesday night. Faculty members, a graduate student and members of an ASUN advisory council expressed their concern to those interested in learn ing more about implementing domestic partner benefits at the University of Nebraska. Implementing the benefits would give partners of gay employ ees at the University of Nebraska Lincoln the same accessibility to insurance coverage, sick leave, tuition assistance and other bene fits available to spouses of married couples. Daniel Justice, a graduate stu dent who serves as a teaching assis tant, said die lack of domestic part ner benefits is a burden to him and his partner. “We have to purchase two poli cies,” Justice said. “It’s double the cost financially and double the cost emotionally.” When he leaves UNL and begins to look for a job, which he hopes will be in academia, he will look for a university that offers domestic partner benefits, he said. “I’m going to end up being a faculty member,” Justice said. “I do not consider the University of Nebraska a future employer.” Those who feel like Justice have many options, because 141 colleges and universities across the natipn now offer domestic partner benefits, said Angela Clements, chairwoman of ASUN’s sexual ori entation advisory council. The university will not only lose out on talented gay faculty members but will push away those who are straight and desire a work U The issue is important for morale.” Gerry Brookes English professor place that does not discriminate, said Gerry Brookes, an English professor. ror me, as a straight faculty member, it is a matter of equity in the workplace,” Brookes said. “The issue is important for morale.” One of the main arguments against providing the benefits, Brookes said, is the economic implications. But universities who have adopted the policies have riot expe rienced large amounts of people added to insurance policies as a result of implementation, Brookes said. Some are concerned gay employees will take advantage of the policy. George Wolf, a gay associate professor in English, said the possi bility exists with married couples. “I’ve been in a relationship with my partner for 27 years,” Wolf said “I’ve seen colleagues get mar ried and divorced and married and divorcedEach time, their spouse is entitled to benefits my partner is not.” The forum was held to educate students and faculty members about a bill that will come before the student senate on Feb. 23. The bill would support the adoption of domestic partner benefits for facul ty, staff and students at UNL. The senate will debate the reso lution on Feb. 23 in the Nebraska East Union at 6:30 p.m., said Natalie Hoover, an Arts and Sciences senator and the sponsor of the bill. A-Team party candidates: Increase ASUN’s connection to students ■ Party would abolish credit card solicitors and improve freshman orientation. By Katie Mueting Staff writer ASUN student government election group A-Team announced its candidacy Tuesday in the Nebraska Union. The party is among four groups trying to rally votes for the March 1 Association of Students of the University of Nebraska elec tion. The campaign manager and three execu tive candidates spoke about making ASUN an organization more representative of students. “I realize that as a new party we may be criticized for our lack of involvement in ASUN,” said Hal Hansen, a junior history major and A-Ieam campaign manager. But this lack of experience would let A Team have more of a connection to the student body, Hansen said. A-Team’s first vice presidential candidate, Riley Peterson, said he was “just your average student.” “I just really want to make a difference instead ofsitting on the couch talking about the problems with this university,” die junior polit ical science major said. Joel Webber, a junior broadcasting major, is running as A-Team’s second vice presiden tial candidate. Presidential candidate Joel Schafer said in last year’s election, voter turnout was a little over 12 percent. “Do we want the ASUN as it has been: dominated by the few uninspired - a non-visi ble force on campus?” he asked. Schafer said A-Team would abolish on campus credit card solicitation and make cred ” I just really want to make a difference.” Riley Peterson * first vice presidential candidate it counseling more available to students. A-Team would establish an online voting system to improve voter turnout, Schafer said. He also proposed giving international students a voice in ASUN through a “shadow senator” program. The party would also create a new fresh man orientation program. “We need an orientation system that will foster a community feeling right when stu dents come on to campus, before they feel like a number. This feeling is the most detrimental to our campus - being lost in a sea of num bers,” Schafer said. Nate TOtgner/DN A-TEAM PRESIDENTIAL candidate Joel Schafer, first vice presidential candidate BHey Petersen and second vice prat Identlnl candidate Joel Webber talk before tlwlr party announcement Ibesday niplit In the Nebraska Union.
