The pros and cons of raising bison for food and breeding stock is the subject of the next Paul A. Olson Seminar in Great Plains Studies Jan. 21.
John Hansen, manager of the Spike Box Ranch near Mullen, will speak informally on the subject from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Great Plains Art Collection, 215 Love Library. The seminar and a 3 p.m. reception at the art collection are free and open to the public.
The Spike Box Ranch herd numbers approximately 1,800 bison and is one of several herds owned by businessman Ted Turner. Some of the animals at the Spike Box Ranch are sold as an alternative to beef, but the majority remain on the ranch as breeding stock.
Hansen will discuss some of the differences between bison and cattle and how those differences affect efficient herd control and expansion.
The Jan. 21 seminar is cosponsored by the Center for Great Plains Studies and the Center for Grasslands Studies at UNL.
The university's recycling program continues to put up some pretty good numbers, according to data supplied by Dale Ekard, recycling coordinator.
In the fiscal year that ended June 30, 1997, nearly 733 tons of material (paper, aluminum, steel and plastic) were recycled. The result was a significant reduction in energy, water and landfill space consumption and air pollution production compared to what is needed to process raw materials.
For example, paper recycling, which accounts for 719 of last year's recycled tonnage, resulted in:
The collection of other recycled materials, although smaller in volume, also produced significant environmental and economic savings. For example, compared to the production of the same amount of aluminum from bauxite ore, the four tons of aluminum recycled saved 204,200 kwh of energy, reduced the consumption of water by 97 percent and produced 95 percent less air pollution.
The 719 tons of material recycled in 1996-97 represented an increase of 28 tons, or nearly 4 percent, above 1995-96. That's the smallest increase the program experienced in its first four years, but that may simply be a reflection of the program's maturity after three years of rapid initial growth - from 346 tons in its first year (1993-94) to 554 in 1994-95 and 693 in 1995-96.
--Tom Simons, Public Relations
UNL students will have an opportunity to study for a semester at one of five European universities under an unusual new program.
Participants in "Investigations of the Scientific or Cultural Aspects of the Bicycle Using Multimedia" will work on multimedia projects related to the bicycle with a faculty mentor at the host institution. Their work will become part of a bicycle CD-ROM produced by the program.
"This is probably UNL's most unusual study abroad exchange program," said Robert Fuller, physics professor and program organizer. "Students in many majors may participate, including physics, mechanical engineering, anthropology, sociology, physical education, environmental sciences or any subject that can be related to bicycles."
The European universities involved are the University of Vienna (Austria), the University of Jyvaskylla (Finland), the University of Kiel (Germany), the University of Athens (Greece) and the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands).
The program is supported by funds from the European Community and the United States government. It will cost Nebraska students about $500 for 12 transfer credits - less than half the 1997-98 resident tuition for 12 undergraduate credit hours at the university ($1,173). Program scholarships also are available.
Students will be able to do their projects in English. For further information, contact Christa Joy, study abroad coordinator in the International Affairs Office, by phone at (402) 472-5358 or e-mail at cjoy@unlinfo.unl.edu; or Fuller by phone at (402) 472-2790 or e-mail at rfuller@unlinfo.unl.edu.
The deadline for applications for the 1998-99 academic year is April 1.
The Psychological Consultation Center in the Department of Psychology has opened an Anxiety Disorders Clinic at 325 Burnett Hall.
The clinic is the first of its kind in Lincoln and offers specialized assessment and treatment of anxiety-related problems, including panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The clinic offers a comprehensive evaluation for anyone who believes he or she may have an anxiety disorder. If appropriate, individuals receive state-of-the-art psychotherapy for anxiety disorders.
Debra Hope, nationally recognized expert on the assessment and treatment of anxiety, is director of the center and the clinic. A licensed psychologist and an associate professor of psychology, she said the cognitive-behavioral therapies used in the clinic are not experimental and have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing or eliminating anxiety symptoms and helping people return to normal lives. All therapies are short-term, typically 12-14 sessions, and referrals for medication will be provided as appropriate. Therapy may be coordinated with psychiatric treatment.
Fees at the Psychological Consultation Center are based on a sliding scale and the services also are covered by some insurance companies. Day and evening appointments are available. For more information or to arrange services, call the clinic at 472-2351.
Items from the collection of Love Library chronicling the life and times of Martin Luther King Jr.will be featured in a display at Love Library, Rm. 200N from Jan. 13 through Feb. 2.
Communications and Information Technology is offering the Winter quarter hands-on computer training classes beginning Feb.11. Topics covered include Windows 95, WordPerfect for Windows (6.1/7.0/8.0), Desktop Publishing with WordPerfect, PowerPoint 7.0, Netscape Navigator, Eudora, and HTML. These classes are held in the computer lab in the Animal Science Complex on East Campus and vary in length from 3 to 5 hours. A seminar on "Advanced Web Publishing" will also be offered.
Information on registration cost, class topics, and schedule of classes is available on the Web at: http://www.ianr.unl.edu/compute/classes.html. You may also register for the classes at this site.
To receive the printed flier, "Information Technology Training Schedule: Winter 1998," call 472-5630 or send an electronic mail note to ianr022@unlvm.unl.edu.
Information on self-study opportunities is available on the Web at: http://www.ianr.unl.edu/compute/ .
Campus Recreation has arranged for another free skate night to current NU students and Campus Recreation members at the Ice Box from 9-11 p.m. Jan. 18 . Be sure to bring your NU I.D. card. Skates can be rented at the Campus Recreation Center in advance or at the Ice Box on Sunday night. Guests and non- members are welcome to skate for $5. For more information, call 472-3467.
Looking for a great way to reach your fitness goals? Try a Campus Recreation fitness or power pacing class. Prices have been reduced. Thirty power pacing classes are only $40 (members) and 20 aerobic classes are only $35 (members). Register in Room 55 of the Campus Recreation Center or in Room 32 of the East Campus Activities Building. Classes are ongoing so don't worry about what you might have missed. For more information, call 472-3467. Make 1998 the year you feel great by becoming more fit! Thanks. For more information, call Kenda Scheele at 472-3467.
The Center for Science Mathematics and Computer Education will celebrate its new home in 126 Morrill Hall with an open house from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Jan. 22. The center is a new partnership between the College of Arts and Sciences, Teachers College and the Nebraska Math and Science Initiative to improve the teaching and learning of math, science and technology at all levels.
Do you want to verify your monthly ledgers before the end of the month? Do you want to check budget lines and you don't have a Budget Book? Do you want to validate Personnel Action Forms and Personal Data Forms? What if you could get this information and much more from the University of Nebraska's Intranet Web Site? It is as easy as entering your company/center or selecting an employee name. Have you heard of the nulook Data Warehouse? It is a collection of production data supported by the Information Access Team. The Information Access Team is part of the University of Nebraska Central Administration Computing Services Network.
The Information Access Team and the UNL nulook User's Group invite you to attend the premier demonstration of the new improved nulook Data Warehouse Web Site at 3 p.m. Jan. 20 in the Varner Hall Board Room. The Information Access Team will show you how to verify ledgers, check budget lines, review Personnel Action Forms and validate Personal Data Forms. We will have our Client Support Team at this demonstration to instruct you how to perform these functions on your machine. You won't want to miss this! If you have any questions, please call the Client Support Team of Arlean Crossgrove (472-7642), Carol Brown (472-7638) and Jill Avey (472-7608).
Students are encouraged to attend the "Study Abroad Extravaganza," a fair providing information about World Campus opportunities beginning at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 in the Centennial Room of Nebraska Union.
Every summer UNL offers several courses taught in other countries. These programs are part of what is known collectively as the UNL World Campus. Students earn credit to fulfill college degree requirements while they are immersed in another culture in an academic setting. When they return to UNL, they bring back knowledge and perspectives that enrich the university environment and also provide them with global awareness that only an international experience can provide.
Promoting gradual and permanent weight management is the objective of the University Health Center's "Active Weight" class. The class is offered on Mondays beginning Feb. 2 from 12:10 - 12:50 p.m. or 5:15 - 5:55 p.m.
Participants attend 10 one-hour sessions. At each session, there will be an opportunity to weigh-in, followed by an educational presentation and open discussion. Topics include good nutrition, exercise, behavior modifacation, body image, fad diets and much more.
To join, you must be a UNL student, staff or faculty member and you must have a medical evaluation prior to acceptance in the program. Students may be evaluated at the University Health Center; Faculty and staff must bring a written OK from their personal physician to the first class.
The cost is $30 for students and $35 for faculty and staff. All classes are at the University Health Center and coordinated by Karen Miller, registered dietitian and licensed medical nutrition therapist. Call 472-7478 for more information.
The Engineering and Technology Career Fair '98 will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 5 in the Wick Alumni Center and Centennial Room of the Nebraska Union. More than 75 employers from across the country will be available to speak with engineering and technology students and alumni.
Employers are also interested in talking with computer science students and possibly other science majors such as chemistry, biology and physics. The fair is appropriate for students looking for career information, co-ops, internships or permanent post graduation positions.
For more information, contact Connie Husa (472-7094) or Chris Timm (472-8049).
W-2 Forms will be distributed to the departments during the week of Jan. 26. Employees should note that the amount shown as gross year-to-date earnings on their last check stub/payroll deposit advice and the amount shown as taxable income on their check stub/payroll deposit advice and W-2 Forms may be different because:
If there is an amount in Box 13, there will be a code (letter) next to it. The codes are:
For 1998, the federal-income tax rates, the standard deduction and the personal exemption amount have been indexed for inflation. These adjustments will result in a slight reduction in federal income tax withholding for most individuals.
The value of each federal personal exemption will increase from $2,650 to $2,700 for 1998. The standard deduction for married persons filing joint returns will be $7,100, an increase of $200 over 1997. For single taxpayers, the standard deduction will be $4,250, an increase of $100.
The Nebraska state income tax cut that was passed by the Legislature in 1997, will result in a reduction of state income tax withholding of about 6.3 percent.
It should be noted that withholding amounts for individuals are affected by tax sheltered retirement, pre-tax benefits, and personal allowances claimed on their W-4.
The social security (OASDI) tax rate will remain at 6.2 percent and the Medicare (HI) will remain at 1.45 percent. The taxable wage base for the social security portion of the tax will increase from $65,400 to $68,400. The taxable wage base for the Medicare portion of the tax was removed beginning in 1994. Therefore, all covered wages will be subject to the 1.45 percent Medicare tax.
The new $400 child tax credit is a new tax break that is effective in 1998. Taxpayers can receive the child tax credit on their 1998 tax return or they can fill out a new W-4 form to spread the allowable child credit over their yearly paycheck.
Employees must complete the personal allowance worksheet on the 1998 W-4 Form before completing line 5 (withholding allowances). The child tax credit applies for each child under age 17, available to singles making less than $75,000 and couples making less than $110,000, but diminishes after that point based on income limits and number of children.
Lincolnites and University of Nebraska faculty, staff and students will have one more opportunity to put their thanks to Coach Tom Osborne in writing by signing a 20-foot "Thanks, Coach" banner, on display at the Wick Alumni Center this week.
Hundreds of fans signed the banner at a Jan. 1 "We're Husker Proud" pep concert in Miami. It will be available for signing in the lobby at the Wick Center, 1520 R St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Jan. 16.
The NU College of Law will show a live telecast "Roe Turns 25: Blackmun Lecture on Privacy" produced by the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy from 2-3:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at the college. The showing is free and open to the public.
The symposium, broadcast live from the Newseum in Arlington, Va., is billed as "an opportunity to engage the next generation of legal advocates, health professionals, activists and leaders in a conversation about the constitutional issues relating to Roe vs. Wade. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun is among the speakers.
Those scheduled for the broadcast are Anna Quindlen, journalist and novelist; David Garrow, professor of law at Emory University; Helen Rodriguez-Trias M.D., co-director of the Pacific Institute for Women's Health; and Janet Benhsoof, president and founder of the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy.
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