Feb. 2, 1996




UNL Hosting Regional Wheelchair Hoops Tourney

UNL is host this weekend to the UNL Invitational wheelchair basketball tournament of the Central Intercollegiate Wheelchair Conference.

Games will be played Feb. 2 and 3 at the UNL Coliseum, home court of Rolling Storm, UNL's wheelchair basketball team. Joining the Rolling Storm in the tournament are teams from the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater and Southwest Minnesota State University at Marshall.

Games are set for 6 and 8 p.m. Feb. 2 and 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Feb. 3. The tournament is free and open to the public.

Shad Dahlgren, a senior from Bertrand, is captain of the Rolling Storm. Now in its third year as a club sport at UNL, the Rolling Storm has a 2-3 record in competition this year. Dahlgren said the team is always looking for recruits for this face-paced and strenuous sport.

For more information about the tournament or wheelchair basketball, contact Dahlgren at (402) 467-5735 or Leah Hall Dorothy at UNL's Office of Campus Recreation at (402) 472-3467.

Massengale, Butterfield to Discuss Grasslands

"Grasses and Grasslands" will be the topic of the next Sunday Afternoon with a Scientist Program at the University of Nebraska State Museum Feb. 4.

The program will be from 1:30-4:30 p.m. in Morrill Hall. The program is free and open to the public, but a donation of $1 is suggested for museum visitors over the age of 2.

Appropriate for all age groups, "Grasses and Grasslands" will be presented by Martin Massengale, president emeritus of the university and director of UNL's Center for Grassland Studies, and Chuck Butterfield, a research technologist for the UNL Department of Agronomy.

Massengale and Butterfield will display and discuss the grassland plants that are the sources of many of our foods, from bread to rice pilaf. They will also discuss prairie plants and their root systems and how these plants are part of our everyday lives. At 2:30 p.m., Massengale will give a slide presentation in Elephant Hall on the uses and values of grasslands.

Van Deun to Lead Philippine Exchange

Bryan Van Deun, president and chief executive officer of the UNL Alumni Association, will lead a Rotary Club group study exchange to the Philippines during the month of February.

The five-member group will include two other UNL staff members, Kathleen L. Rees, assistant professor of merchandising and textile economics, and Joan Arnold, vice president of member services for the Federal Credit Union, plus Karen Firnhager, a real estate agent with Woods Brothers Realty in Seward and Dawn L. Nickel, a licensed practical nurse from Friend. The study team will spend the month in the state of Bulacan, northeast of Manila on the island of Luzon.

Van Deun, a board member of Lincoln Rotary Club No. 14, said he hopes to interact with Filipino Rotarians in secondary and higher education and to talk with prospective UNL students. Rees is interested in the textiles industry in the Philippines, a leading exporter of clothing to the United States. Arnold will study the operation of credit unions while Firnhager will focus on design and construction of homes, the use of space and the real estate sales process. Nickel will view the medical delivery system, how medicine and religion interact, and the agricultural system of the country.

Ag Entrepreneurs Focus of March 22 Conference

Successful tools for agricultural-related entrepreneurs are the focus of a March 22 conference at the University of Nebraska Agricultural and Research Development Center near Ithaca.

"Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Agriculture Clients, Trends and Strategies: The Business Plan" is for anyone wishing to develop or update their agricultural-related business skills, said Alan Corr of Minden, conference coordinator and extension educator for Kearney and Franklin counties.

"Effective business tools are essential to success, especially today where economics and competition are so keen," said Corr.

The 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. conference is based on information and ideas from researchers and Nebraska business owners with day-to-day experiences.

Presenters and topics include: Mike Roselius, research director with the Gallup Organization of Princeton, N.J., on customer trends; Elmer Miller, associate director for the NU Center for Leadership Development, addressing customer relations and making changes; John Allen, UNL rural sociologist, on changing demograpics; and Tony Dolle, outdoor communications manger of Cabella's in Sidney, on customer strategies.

Advance registration of $20 is due March 8 and includes meals. If desired, the fee also includes a 6- by 8-foot booth space in the exhibit area. Non-profit information tables are available to qualifying organizations. To register for the conference or for a space, contact Corr at (308) 832-0645.

Community Conversations Focus on Harassment Feb. 14

"Dealing with Sexual Harassment: Sensitive to It? Sick of It?" is the topic of the second UNL Community Conversations forum scheduled from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Main Lounge of the Nebraska Union.

John Harris, special assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs, will be the forum moderator. Joining Harris as a panel will be Ellen McWhirter, assistant professor of educational psychology; David Moshman, professor and chair of educational psychology; Linda Crump, associate director of affirmative action and diversity programs; Amie Haggar, member of Chi Omega sorority and volunteer in the Women's Resource Center; and Layton Brooks, a graduate student who also works in the Community Health program of the UNL Health Center.

The UNL Community Conversations forum was created to foster vigorous yet civil discussions on issues of campus concern. The first forum examined the issue of violence. The program's steering committee plans to offer at least two forums each semester, and may offer special forums on breaking issues.

The steering committee includes representatives from the Nebraska Union, the Office of Student Affairs, Residence Hall Association, ASUN, the Office for Student Involvement, and the Cornerstone-UMHE campus ministry. The Committee is in the process of issuing invitations to nearly 20 other faculty, staff and student governance and representational groups to join the sponsorship of the forums.

Take Time to Care at the Volunteer Fair

The United Way Volunteer Center will host a Volunteer Fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 17 at Gateway Shopping Center in Lincoln. Representatives from 40 non-profit agencies and programs in the community will provide information about how they use volunteers and how individuals can become involved in the community.

Transportation Available for UNL Service Awards

Employees of UNL will be honored Feb. 15 with service awards at events hosted by Chancellor James C. Moeser at the Nebraska Union. Employees with five and 10 years of service will be recognized at a reception at 9:30 a.m. in the Centennial Room. Employees with 15 and 20 years of service will be recognized at a reception at 2:30 p.m. in the Centennial Room, and employees with 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service are invited to a luncheon at 11:45 a.m. in the Regency Suite.

Shuttle service is available on East Campus for the following groups:



Irish Dance Workshop First Session Is Feb. 11

A five-week workshop series on Irish dance will begin at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the First Plymouth Congregational Church, 22nd and D streets. Traditional Irish dances, such as Siege of Ennes, Haymaker's Jig and others will be taught by LuAnne Anderson of the University International Folkdancers. For more information call Anderson at 475-8674.

First Tuesday Program Focuses on Web Promotion

The Teaching and Learning Center will host "Using the World Wide Web to Promote Teaching and Learning" at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 6 in the Selleck Hall private dining room. Charles Ansorge, TLC associate for instructional technologies, will lead a discussion on how instructors are using the World Wide Web at UNL.

Al Steckelberg, special education/communication disorders, will demonstrate how he uses the Web to collect information for class use. David Fowler, curriculum and instruction, will discuss why he encourages his students to create their own Web sites. Marilyn Grady and Bernita Krumm, educational administration, will tell how they set up a Web site to promote a conference on the UNL campus.

To register, contact the Teaching and Learning Center (unltlc@unlinfo.unl.edu), 2-3079.

Free Emergency Identification Stickers for Child Safety Seats

Nebraska Cares has recently produced emergency identification stickers for safety seats. The need for the stickers arose out of a crash involving 13-month-old child, who had been traveling by car with his babysitter when the car collided with a truck, killing the babysitter and leaving the child seriously injured.

Treatment was delayed while identification and parental permission was sought for the child. Since the crash, the child's family has worked with the Department of Transportation to promote a child identification program which distributes stickers that can be affixed to the child safety seat, giving emergency medical personnel immediate information about the child. Send requests to the Safety and Health Council, 8710 F. St., Omaha NE 68127, Attn: Connie Marinovic. Phone (402) 592-7233 Fax (402) 592-8944.

Theology for Lunch to Feature Doerr Feb. 9

On Feb. 9 the Rev. Larry Doerr will be the speaker for the first of the spring semester series of Theology for Lunch brown bag sessions in the Nebraska Union. Informal luncheon fellowship is available at 11:30 a.m. for each session. The formal program begins at about noon, with discussion concluding by 1 p.m. Theology for Lunch programs are open to all UNL faculty, staff and graduate students, plus any interested persons from the Lincoln community.

Doerr, who has been campus pastor with United Ministries in Higher Education at UNL since 1970, will address the semester's theme, "Theological Angles on a University Community." A response and additional comments will be given by Helen Moore, professor and chair of sociology.

The same topic will be the focus for Liz Polanzke, 1995-96 seminary intern at the ELCA Lutheran Center on March 8, and Father Don Hanway, vicar and chaplain at St. Mark's-on-the-Campus Episcopal Church, on April 12. Joining Polanzke for comment will be John Harris, special assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs, while Father Hanway will be responded to by Larry Routh, director of career services at UNL.

The programs are co-sponsored by the UNL campus ministries of the ELCA Lutheran Center, St. Mark's Episcopal Church and Student Center, and United Ministries in Higher Education, in cooperation with the UNL Program in Religious Studies.

Food for Thought Examines Addictions

"Feeding the Hunger -- Addictions: Personal and Social" will be the topic for the three monthly sessions this semester of the Food for Thought series of brown bag lunch programs at the East Union. Luncheon fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m., the formal program at noon, with discussion closing by 1 p.m. All UNL faculty, staff and graduate students are invited, as are interested persons from the Lincoln churches and community.

The three programs, the first of which is scheduled for Feb. 8, will focus on two recent books, The Addictive Organization by Anne Wilson Schaef, and Addiction and Grace by Gerald May. On Feb. 8 the Schaef book will be reviewed by Herbert Lingren, professor of family and consumer sciences. A theological response will be given by Eileen Lindeman, an Episcopal priest and spiritual counselor.

On March 7, the May book will be reviewed by Colleen Babcock, graduate student in Family and Consumer Sciences, with response by Pastor Otto Schultz, director of Communities of Hope for the Nebraska Council to Prevent Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

At the final session of the semester, on April 25, the two reviewers and both respondents will join in a panel discussion on the topic of personal and social addictions.

Food for Thought is sponsored each academic semester by the UNL campus ministries of United Ministries in Higher Education, the ELCA Lutheran Center, and St. Mark's Episcopal Church and Student Center, in cooperation with the Program in Religious Studies.

SIS+ Training Session Is Feb. 13 at Wick

The Student Information System Program will offer a SIS+ training session from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 13 in the Wick Alumni Center.

The class will cover logging onto SIS+ and an overview of accessible SIS+ screens. These sessions are free to faculty and staff. Space is limited; registration is required. For more information or to register, send e-mail to sistrain@unl.edu or call Geri Larsen at 2-0558.

New Media Center Offers Workshops

The following workshops are offered by the New Media Center. These sessions are available to faculty and staff at no charge. Space is limited. Call 2-0606 to register or for more information: Feb. 8, 1:30 to 4 p.m., Photoshop I; Feb. 12, 1:30 to 4 p.m., Powerpoint; Feb. 21, 1:30 to 4 p.m., Director -- Basic Animation; Feb. 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Persuasion.

On ETV


School Lunch Program Focus of 'Statewide'

Statewide producer Brad Penner looks at who's getting a free lunch when the weekly news journal airs 8 p.m. Feb. 9 on the Nebraska ETV Network.

Penner reports that one school district found some parents are lying about their income to qualify for free school lunches for their children. In up to 50 percent of the cases checked, parents failed to prove they met income guidelines. Now, the school district is cracking down and may become the first in the country to prosecute violators. According to Penner's report, audits of other Nebraska school districts show similar violations, but administrators there aren't as concerned.

Welsch Takes Personal Look at Neihardt

In the new series Roger Welsch, host and author Roger Welsch spends time with Hilda Neihardt, daughter of Nebraska poet laureate John G. Neihardt, when the interview program airs 8:30 p.m. Feb. 9 on the Nebraska ETV Network.

The weekly series features humorist Welsch in discussion with a variety of Nebraskans -- from authors and educators, to historians and prominent citizens -- whose contributions to the good life in Nebraska make for interesting conversation.

Jazz and Blues in the Little River Town

Rich interpretations of jazz and blues standards are performed by Kansas City vocalist Kevin Mahogany on this week's offering from the Brownville Concert Series, airing 7 p.m. Feb. 6 on all stations of the Nebraska ETV Network.

During the hour-long program, the charismatic Mahogany's performance includes In the Evening, Don't Get Around Much and Route 66. On the medley "When Sonny Gets Blue/Confirmation," Mahogany engages in some extended scat singing.

A Special Night for Political Junkies

The 1996 presidential campaign shifts into high gear in February and the Nebraska ETV Network will provide detailed reporting and in-depth analysis of the Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire Primary.

"Iowa '96: A Washington Week in Review Special" reports the results of the Iowa Caucuses as they become available 9 p.m. Feb. 9. Washington Week in Review moderator Ken Bode will anchor the program, which includes analysis from leading Washington journalists.

New Hampshire's "first in the nation" primary is the focus of Is This Any Way to Pick a President?, which will air 9 p.m. Feb. 16. The one-hour program takes a dynamic, fast-paced look at the week leading up to the Feb. 20 primary election through the eyes of New Hampshire voters.

Both programs are part the Citizens '96 series and the PBS Democracy Project, which are designed to generate conversations about political issues among Americans and encourage them to participate in the political process.

The shape and condition of that process is the subject of a third special, A Third Choice: Beyond the Two Party System, airing 9 p.m. Feb. 23. This two-hour program looks at third-party movements throughout American history and at the potential emergence of a third major party capable of challenging the dominance of the Republican and Democratic parties.

All three programs are closed-captioned for hearing-impaired viewers.

Heard and Observed

Nebraska Hall's Own Sherlock Holmes

Or, Looking for Grandma in the Gravel

By David Ochsner, Scarlet Editor

One of America's most talented and versatile writers, John McPhee, paid a visit to James Swinehart's office in Nebraska Hall late in November 1994 to talk about gravel and how it relates to time, and crime.

Swinehart, an associate professor and research geologist with UNL's Conservation and Survey Division, was helping McPhee understand the cosmic significance of a few handfuls of gravel McPhee had earlier scooped up from a Platte River sandbar near the hundredth meridian. McPhee would later take this information and weave it into a fascinating article, "The Gravel Page," which appeared in the Jan. 29 edition of The New Yorker.

In his article, McPhee describes how "forensic geologists," by examining layers of soil and gravel collected in wheel wells and under car bumpers, can trace the paths of criminals and even place them at the scene of a crime.

McPhee also relates how Swinehart, who specializes in the Cenozoic paleogeography of Western Nebraska, can sort most of the gravel bits McPhee had collected from the Platte into their various places of origin. When Swinehart picked two dark pebbles from the collection and identified them as Colorado calderas, McPhee asked him how he could be so confident about his claim. Swinehart, a former art history major, replied "I learned the language. Someone asks you, 'How do you know that's a Vermeer?' It's like your grandmother walking down the street."

A 20th Century Journey

There is a remarkable film showing at the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater that is well worth braving the cold to see this weekend.

Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey is a documentary that plays more like a drama and tells the "truth is stranger than fiction" story of Leon Theremin, a Russian engineer, scientist and musician who invented an unusual instrument that bears his name.

Theremin virtually created the entire field of electronic music in 1920 with the introduction of the theremin, an instrument that resembles a wooden lectern with antennae. The instrument is never touched, but played by moving one's hands more or less above the instrument.

That is strange and wondrous enough, but what is even more remarkable is how filmmaker Steve Martin (not the comedian) defines the 20th century through the work of this one man, from the industrial age to the information age, from high art to low culture. Somehow in 85 minutes Martin weaves together the KGB, the Mickey Mouse Club, Einstein, the Soviet Gulag, American Sci-Fi films and the Beach Boys all into the same movie and make sense of it, using Theremin as the glue that binds it all together.

Throughout the film Theremin is something of an enigma, and the viewer is drawn into the film as a participant in search of this great wizard. Screenings are at 7 and 9 p.m. tonight (Friday); at 1, 3, 7, and 9 p.m. on Saturday; and at 3, 5, 7, and 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Jared Alberico, who describes himself as "Nebraska's Theremin Virtuoso," will demonstrate the instrument at the 7 p.m. Saturday screening and again at the 3 p.m. screening on Sunday.

The film also will be shown at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha Feb. 11 at 1:30 and 3:45 p.m.

In Search of a Water Feature

It's hard to imagine anything taking liquid form these days in the great outdoors, but plans are moving along nicely for the expansion of the Nebraska Union and the replacement of the Broyhill Fountain.

As the Daily Nebraskan noted earlier this week, a lot of us have fond memories of the fountain and will hate to see it go, but the excitement generated by new ideas for the plaza may make it a bit easier to say goodbye.

Kim Todd, campus landscape architect and interim director of physical campus planning, presented three design plans to students during the past week. They all included plans for a new fountain or "water feature" that could be attractive year-round.

Todd said she will continue to work with consultants and student groups until a consensus is reached. Construction on the Nebraska Union expansion project is expected to begin in the fall.


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(402) 472-8518, Fax: (402) 472-7825