Williams Receives 1st GLBT Contributions Award

Retired counselor Vern Williams is the first recipient of the Outstanding Contributions to the GLBT Community Award.

In conferring the award March 27, Chancellor James Moeser noted that "During his long career at the University of Nebraska, Vern Williams has consistently been a person of innovation, hope, courage, intellect, compassion and generosity. Those character traits were among the many reasons he was nominated for the inaugural award."

The award recognizes outstanding efforts to create an inclusive, respectful and safe climate for GLBT people on campus.

Williams joined Nebraska in 1964 as a member of University Counseling Services and he directed the center for 17 years. Among his early accomplishments was the founding of the Teaching Council. When budget restrictions closed the Counseling Center in 1993/1994, he shifted to a position in Career Counseling, a position he held until his retirement last year. While in that position, Williams looked into the employment practices of companies and was able to tell students which companies might have more friendly policies than others, information that helped students make employment choices.

He still maintains an office at the university and it's not uncommon to see him biking around campus, always wearing his helmet and a friendly smile.

Williams held long-time membership on the university's Committee on GLBT Concerns and was its first coordinator. His documentation of the workload involved in working with GLBT student issues lead to the creation of a graduate assistant position in Student Involvement. He also served in the coordination of and participation in annual the Human Rights Day Congress on campus. In addition to chairing the planning committee, he contacted a variety of groups to ensure full participation and inclusiveness, and at the December 1999 Congress, he presented a workshop on issues dealing with violence directed at individuals who are perceived to be GLBT. He is a long-time member of Community Peacemakers, has served on the county AIDS Task Force, and is current president of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays-Cornhusker Chapter.

He assisted several groups including Spectrum (The GLBT Student Association), Allies Against Heterosexism and Homophobia, and the Diversity Council. Nominators said Williams earned the full confidence and trust of GLBT students, faculty and staff and was seen as a person of quiet authority and complete credibility in all his dealings with GLBT people on and off campus.

The award carries a $1,000 stipend that will be donated to a campus organization of Williams' choice.

Ali Moeller Named ACE Fellow

Ali Moeller, a professor of curriculum and instruction, has been named an American Council on Education Fellow for academic year 2000-2001.

The ACE Fellows Program is designed to strengthen institutions and leadership in American higher education by identifying and preparing promising faculty and senior administrators for positions in college and university administration.

This year 34 fellows, nominated by the presidents or chancellors of their institutions, were selected in a national competition. Moeller received one of five special fellowships tailored to women faculty in Research I institutions.

Moeller joined the University of Nebraska faculty in 1990 after 11 years as a teacher and administrator in the Omaha Public Schools. In 1997, Moeller was appointed to the Edith S. Greer Professorship at NU's Teachers College.

"My passion is in the area of teaching and learning in higher education," Moeller said. "What I'd like to do during my year-long internship is to investigate what other universities are doing in this area in order to enhance the role of teaching and learning on our own campus."

Moeller is in the process of narrowing a list of possible universities for her visit.

Marlene Ross, director of the Fellows Program, said most previous fellows have advanced into major positions in academic administration. Of 1,248 participants in the first 34 years of the program, more than 250 have become chief executive officers and nearly 1,000 have become provosts, vice presidents or deans.

The American Council on Education is the umbrella association for more than 1,800 colleges, universities and higher education organizations.

Ellis Article Is Spur Award Finalist

An article by history instructor Mark Ellis is a finalist for the 2000 Western Writers of America Spur Award for Best Western Short Nonfiction. One of the top three articles in its category, Ellis's "Reservation Akicitas (ah-KEE-chee-tas, meaning law enforcers): The Pine Ridge Indian Police, 1879-1885," appeared in the Fall 1999 issue of the South Dakota State Historical Society's official journal. Ellis is a history instructor and an editorial assistant for the forthcoming Encyclopedia of the Great Plains.

In "Reservation Akicitas," Ellis challenges the conventional view that 19th-century tribal policemen were young, progressive and politically ambitious. The presence of a large number of akicitas, or traditional Lakota law enforcers, in the ranks of the Pine Ridge police suggest that the force was an extension of Lakota tradition. Appointed from various men's societies, akicitas policed camp moves, regulated buffalo hunts, and enforced tribal laws and customs.

When Congress provided funds in 1878 for establishing police forces on western reservations, Indian agents strongly supported the implementation of native units. The presence of tribal lawmen allowed American Indians to police themselves rather than submit to federal occupation troops, somewhat easing the transition to reservation life.

Since 1953, WWA Spur Awards have annually honored the best in writing and filmmaking about the American West. Panels of judges select award winners and finalists in 14 categories. The 2000 awards will be presented at the WWA convention June 13-17 in Kerrville, Texas.

Smith Names Bioethics Advisory Committee Members

NU President L. Dennis Smith has named the members of the new Nebraska Bioethics Advisory Committee. In December, Smith announced his intent to appoint a panel of experts and members of the public to review potential biomedical research and to recommend a set of principles to guide the ethical conduct of such research at the university.

The committee includes specialists in biological research, law, medical ethics, medicine, philosophy and theology, social and behavioral sciences, and members of the public at large.

"I am pleased that we have been able to bring together a distinguished and knowledgeable group of people to serve on the committee," Smith said, "and the wide spectrum of experiences and viewpoints represented among the members will be important in the process of examining sensitive legal and ethical issues."

Smith added that the discussions conducted by the committee will help establish a higher level of public and scientific dialogue concerning biomedical research. "This field is advancing very rapidly, and substantive efforts must be made to ensure that legal and ethical aspects of the research are adequately addressed," Smith said.

Harvey Perlman of Lincoln, former dean of the University of Nebraska Law College, will chair the new committee.

The other members are:

Biological Research

Richard H. Finnell, Omaha, director of the Center for Human Genetics in the Monroe-Meyer Institute, UNMC; John Janovy, Lincoln, Varner Professor of Biological Sciences, UNL; Marjorie Lou, Lincoln, professor of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, UNL; and Anne Vidaver, Lincoln, director of the Center for Biotechnology, UNL.

Law

Linda Crump, Lincoln, chair of the Nebraska State Bar Association House of Delegates and director of Equity, Access and Diversity Program at UNL; Josephine Potuto, Lincoln, Richard H. Larson Professor of Constitutional Law, UNL; and Lawrence Yost, Fremont, past president of the Nebraska State Bar Association.

Medical Ethics

Andrew Jameton, Omaha, associate professor of Preventive and Societal Medicine, UNMC; Sister Renee Mirkes, OSF, Omaha, director, Center for NaProEthics, The Ethics Division, The Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction; and Ruth Purtilo, Omaha, director of the Center for Health Policy and Ethics, Creighton University.

Medicine

Darroll Lozien, York, past president, Nebraska Medical Association; and Edward Walsh, Omaha, staff scientist at Boystown Research Hospital and Professor of Otolaringology and Human Communication, Creighton University School of Medicine.

Philosophy/Theology

Robert Audi, Lincoln, Charles J. Mach Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, UNL; Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Omaha, Temple Israel; Rev. Larry Menyweather-Woods, Omaha, pastor, Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church; Sister Maryanne Stevens, RSM, Omaha, President, College of St. Mary, and Rev. Dr. Otis E. Young, Lincoln, senior pastor, First-Plymouth Congregational Church

Public

Barbara Engebretsen, Laurel, assistant professor of Exercise Science, Wayne State College; Shirley Goldstein, Omaha, community activist; and Dan Parsons, Lincoln, executive director, Family First.

Social/Behavioral Sciences

Gloria Gonzales-Kruger, Lincoln, assistant professor of Family and Consumer Sciences, UNL; and Susan Swindells, Omaha, associate professor of Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases, UNMC.

Transportation Services Earns ASE Seal

Transportation Services has earned the Blue Seal of Excellence Recognition as prescribed by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. ASE is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of vehicle repair and service by means of voluntary testing and certification for automotive repair and service professionals.

To be eligible for this recognition, a company must have 75 percent of its automotive professionals ASE certified. In addition, there must be a certified technician in each area of service offered. To remain in the program, a business must renew each year and confirm their professionals' certification status.

Transportation Services maintains a full-service repair facility for the support of more than 900 university vehicles that include sedans, vans, light and heavy duty trucks and a fleet of shuttle buses. They are also responsible for the purchasing, licensing, titling, and disposal of all University vehicles. Transportation services is one just two shops in Lincoln, and 10 in Nebraska, to have earned the Blue Seal.

Geary Appointed Director of Payroll

Phyllis Geary has been appointed director of Payroll. Geary began on April 3, replacing replacing Terry Tallon who retired in December, 1999.

Geary has an extensive background in payroll, personnel management and accounting. She was most recently employed in the South Dakota State Auditor's office where she managed the payroll process for more than 25,000 employees. She also has experience implementating and enhancing new payroll systems.

Student Government Honors McLaughlin, Hinrichs

Bill McLaughlin, senior lecturer in chemistry, and Kelly Jo Hinrichs, associate professor of advertising, were named Outstanding Educators of the Year by student government.

The two were honored March 29 at ceremonies installing new ASUN senate members and officers.

Beth Lee, chair of ASUN's academic committee, said the two were among six faculty members whom students voted for in elections in early March. The others were Martin Gaskill, physics and astronomy, Keith Gilster, animal science, Gordon Woodward, mathematics and statistics, and Patrice Berger, history and Honors Program director.

All six faculty were interviewed by the academic committee, Lee said, and McLaughlin and Hinrichs emerged as the winners.

"I think it's a big honor because it's from the students," Lee said in reference to the award. "It honors them because of the positive and good impact on students."

Lee said this is the fourth year ASUN has sponsored an outstanding professor award. University Bookstore is donating a book in each winner's name to the UNL Libraries' collection.