I Culture Center frustrations aired at forum
FORUM from page 1
that would have been used to maintain and improve
the Culture Center was used to purchase movable
items, such as the chairs and tables in the new audi
torium.
But now that the project is complete, Griesen
said, he and Nebraska Unions Director Daryl
Swanson could bring money back to die center.
Griesen said he had scheduled a meeting with
Swanson to determine the building’s future, now that
die two can speculate how much money is available
to dedicate to the center.
Reshell Ray, assistant director of Student
Involvement, testified about the Culture Center’s
importance to students of color.
“It is first and foremost a place for students of
color,” Ray said. “It’s a place to call home - a place to
be.”
When a cross-burning happened during a Sigma
Chi Fraternity ritual two years ago, the center was the
only place minority students could express their feel
ings honestly and openly, Ray said.
Student leaders from minority groups also said
they were frustrated in the scheduling of events. No
groups receive priority in scheduling events.
Oftentimes, groups are forced to hold meetings
or listen to speakers in the basement of the center
while a loud band is playing above them in the mul
tipurpose area, Brown said.
Swanson said the mission of the building is to be
open to all.
“A concern when this building came into being
was that if would become a separate but equal facili
ty,” Swanson said. “From the day we opened it, any
student group could use it.
“No group is declined the opportunity to use it
based on race.”
Members of the audience said one of their main
frustrations was that talk was the only progress ever
made.
Brown said some students expressed that they
would like to cover the dingy walls of the building
with murals.
After university officials said the building could
have a fresh coat of paint instead, Brown said, stu
dents became frustrated.
“Why do we even meet?” Brown said. “Here we
are at another discussion of the Culture Center.
“When is there going to be a plan?”
Griesen said the first time he’d heard concern
about the building was last fall. He responded to
concerns saying that plans would take time to devel
op.
“The possibility of commercial interests is one
thing that is plaguing us,” he said. “We’re coming to
a point where we’ll have to make a judgment call.”
Professor, 63,
dies of cancer
PETERS from page 1
for the university.
He was a former Marine pilot and
one of his favorite ways to spend free
time was flying his Cessna 150 airplane.
His love of flying was nearly taken
away by a battle with lymphoma and
basal cell, in which he lost an eye, but he
recovered and regained his pilot’s
license.
Peters is survived by his wife, Jane
Spence Peters, and two daughters.
Services were held Thursday at the
First Plymouth Congregational Church,
2000 D St., and burial will be 11 a.m.
today at the Bancroft Cemetery in
Bancroft.
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