Scarlet Deadlines Revised

Due to changes in production at the Scarlet, the weekly deadlines for receipt of information have been moved up by five hours. Material intended for inclusion in the Scarlet must be faxed, emailed or delivered to the Office of Public Relations by noon the Friday before publication. Items received after the deadline will be considered on a case by case basis and may run at the discretion of the editor depending on space availability.

The office is located in 321 Canfield (0424); the fax is 472-7825; or email the Scarlet at scarlet@unlinfo.unl.edu.

Advertise in the Scarlet

The Scarlet accepts display advertising from university-related entities. The ad must pertain to university-related functions, activities, processes, products or events. Our rates are $7.50 per column inch (one column wide by 1 inch deep). Minimum ad size is 2 columns by 2 inches (4 column inches). Maximum ad size: full page. There is a 10 percent pick-up discount for subsequent placements of the same ad (no changes in copy).

Space reservations must be placed by noon the Friday before desired publication. Camera-ready copy must be received by noon Tuesday before publication. If the Scarlet design team is creating the ad, costs are $25 per hour with a minimum $25 charge. Copy must be to the design team by noon Friday before publication. You will be billed through your university company center.

To reserve space, contact Kim Hachiya at 472-8844 or khachiya@unlinfo.unl.edu. For information about ad sizes or to send the ad electronically, contact Bob Crisler at 472-9878 or bcrisler@unlinfo.unl.edu.< /P>

Health Center Weight Management Classes to begin Sept. 14

Promoting gradual and permanent weight management is the objective of the University Health Center's "Active Weigh" class.

Participants attend six-45 minute sessions. At each session, there will be an opportunity to weigh-in, followed by an educational presentation and open discussion. Topics include nutrition for health, exercise, hunger/satiety work, label reading and much more. To join, you must be a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student, staff or faculty member. You also need to be ready to make lifestyle changes to improve your health

The class is offered on Mondays with two different sessions. Session 1 starts Sept. 14 and will meet through Oct. 26. Session 2 starts Nov. 2 and will meet through Dec. 7. Two times are offered, 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. is for faculty/staff and 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. is for students. The cost is $15 for students and $25 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 or to register.

Degree Application Deadline Sept. 25

Sept. 25 is the deadline for applying for a degree to be received on Dec. 19. A $25 non-refundable degree application fee must accompany the Application for Degree form. The fee applies only to the term indicated on the application and is not transferable to another term. Applications are to be filed at the Records Office, 107 Canfield Administration Building.

Bowling Begins Sept. 14

University Employees Bowling League will begin its season at Hollywood Bowl on Sept. 14. The league is open to adults who are associates of an institution of higher education in the city of Lincoln, and adult members of their immediate family.

This is a mixed league, made up of four members per team. Bowling begins at 4:30 p.m. The cost is $4.50 per bowler per session. Each team bowls two lines per night.

Individuals and teams are welcome. Contact Jim Augustyn at 472-4327 or augustyn@unlinfo.unl.edu for more information.

Purchasing Cards Updated in September

Many university Purchasing Cards will expire on Sept. 30. Renewal cards will be mailed to cardholders by the Purchasing Department sometime during the month of September. Do not destroy your old card until you personally activate the renewal card. All renewal cards will have to be activated by calling the 800 phone number that will be included with the renewal card. The same personal cardholder information (date of birth, mother's maiden name, etc.) will be asked when activating the renewal card.

Please note that a slight change has occurred in the wording on the card. The word "Purchasing" has been changed to "Commercial" by First Chicago/MasterCard. This change is in anticipation of additional features being added to the card in the future.

Please destroy the old card. If you have not received your renewal card by Sept. 25, contact Darla Huff at 472-5050 or Bill Bode at 472-3609.

Purchasing Open House Sept. 15

Sept. 14-18 has been designated as "Buying for Higher Education Week." To help promote this endeavor, the university's Purchasing Department will hold an Open House from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 15 in the Purchasing Office at 1700 Y St. Members of the university community are invited to learn about how Purchasing supports the educational mission of the university and to meet the procurement staff. For more information, contact the Purchasing Office at 472-2126.

Planetarium Announces Fall Show Schedule

The current Planetarium show "Just Imagine" continues as the featured program shown at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sundays. "Rusty Rocket's Last Blast" is shown at 3 p.m. on Saturdays. There are no shows on home-football Saturdays.

Tickets for Planetarium shows are sold 30 minutes before showtime in the Planetarium lobby. Admission for planetarium astronomy shows is $4 for adults and $3 for elementary, secondary, college and graduate students and senior citizens.

Laser light shows will operate on a separate schedule and admission prices and will be announced in September.

For more information call 472-2641 or visit http://www.spacelaser.com.

TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Counselors on Campus

If you would like to discuss retirement investment strategies, TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments counselors will be on campus the following dates:

TIAA-CREF counseling is scheduled on Sept. 10, Oct. 20, Nov. 18 and Dec. 1 at the Nebraska Union, and Sept. 9, Oct. 21, Nov. 17 and Dec. 2 in the East Union. To make a reservation call Coco Chance in the Denver Regional Office at 800-842-2009.

Fidelity counseling is scheduled on Sept. 9 and Nov. 11 at the Nebraska Union, and Sept. 10 and Nov. 10 in the East Union. To make a reservation call Central Reservation Systems in Boston at 800-642-7131.

If you have any questions, please call the Benefits Office at 472-2600.

Observatory Features Moon, Lagoon Nebula Aug. 28

Weather permitting, the Student Observatory will be open for public viewing from 8:15 to 10:30 p.m. Aug. 28.

In twilight, the telescope will be trained on the stunning sight of the craters on the almost first-quarter moon. After dark, the focus of attention will be the Lagoon nebula in the constellation of Sagittarius. This nebula and an associated star cluster are located in the next spiral arm of our galaxy toward the center of the galaxy, about 4,800 light-years away from the earth.

The nebula is so called because from a dark place it looks as though there is a "dark lagoon" in the nebulosity. This "lagoon" is really dust mixed in with the glowing gas. Stars are still forming inside dust clouds in the Lagoon nebula. Astronomers consider the Lagoon nebula to be a "young" cluster, astronomically speaking. The estimated age of the cluster is "only" 10 million years. Our sun is about 500 times older than the Lagoon nebula.

The observatory will not be open if it is there is heavy cloud cover.

For more information, call Martin Gaskell at (402) 472-4788. Images taken at the observatory can be viewed on the World Wide Web at http://www. blackstarpress.com/arin/unl/stdobsv/remote/.

NU Athletics Department Certified by NCAA

Husker Athletics One of 21 Schools Certified in August

By Tom Simons, Public Relations

The University of Nebraska on Aug. 19 was one of 21 NCAA Division I institutions certified by the National College Athletic Association. The certification was announced by the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification at NCAA headquarters in Overland Park, Kan.

A designation of "certified" means that an institution operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Division I membership.

"This is very good but not unexpected news," said Chancellor James Moeser. "The Nebraska athletics department sets very high standards off the field as well as on and has a remarkable record of meeting or surpassing those standards. It's always gratifying, though, to have an authoritative outside source confirm what we already know."

Athletics director Bill Byrne agreed.

"While I never had any doubts about getting certified, I am happy to learn that the NCAA Certification Committee thinks as much of our program as we do," Byrne said. "The NCAA certification process is very useful for college athletics and is a learning tool, but I'm glad that the NCAA has decided to make it a 10-year process for renewal, rather than five years. Clearly, after going through this lengthy process, we feel Nebraska has an outstanding program, one that ranks among the nation's best and serves as a model for many programs across the country, even for some NCAA programs. The NCAA Life Skills program, for example, is modeled after our own student services program.

"I want to thank all the people who worked so very hard on this project. Thousands of hours were spent compiling information and investigating all aspects of our program. I particularly want to thank Joan Laughlin, chair of the self-study committee, and the 15 other members of the committee."

Laughlin is associate dean of the College of Human Resources and Family Sciences and professor of textiles, clothing and design.

NCAA certification is a year-long process, which all 308 Division I members will undergo within five years. Certified status decisions have been made for 215 institutions. The certification program's purpose is to ensure integrity in the institution's athletics operations and to assist athletics departments in improving their programs. Legislation mandating athletics certification was adopted by a vote of all Division I members at the 1993 NCAA convention as a key part of the association's reform agenda.

Certification examines the athletics department's governance and commitment to rules compliance, academic and fiscal integrity, and commitment to equity. The self-study committee on each campus analyzed these four areas and submitted a report to the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification.

After the institution submits its self-study reporting, a peer group of administrators from other NCAA member institutions visited each campus and interviewed various institutional personnel. The peer group then reported back to the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification, which rendered the final decision.

The certification process is separate from the NCAA's enforcement program, which investigates allegations that member institutions have violated NCAA rules. A decision of certified does not exempt an institution from concurrent or subsequent enforcement proceedings. The NCAA Committee on Infractions can ask the Committee on Athletics Certification to review an institution's certification status as a result of the completed infractions case.

Fans Should Keep Stadium Construction in Mind

By Tom Simons, Public Relations

With skybox construction in full swing at Memorial Stadium, fans attending Nebraska's home football games this fall should allow themselves extra time to get to the stadium and to their seats, particularly if their tickets are in the West Stadium.

For the 1998 season, the West Stadium will be limited to two entrances, one at the northwest corner and one at the southwest corner of the stadium. Fans who have previously entered Gates 4, 5, 6 and 7 should enter at the southwest corner. Those who previously entered Gates 8, 9 and 10 should enter at the Northwest corner.

The entrance to the press box elevator will be on street level in the middle of the West Stadium.

All other stadium gates are available as before and fans are encouraged to enter the gate printed on their tickets.

Policies regarding security, parking and other issues in and around Memorial Stadium during home football games have been announced by Butch Hug, director of events for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln athletics department.

Stadium policies:

• Gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff. The Athletic Ticket Office, housed in the Stadium Parking Garage, will open four hours prior to kick-off.
• Stadium Drive, the street on the west side of the stadium, will be closed on game days. Only vehicles with permits for lots adjacent south and southwest of the stadium will be allowed to enter T Street.
• Memorial Stadium, like all university buildings, is a non-smoking area. Those who want to smoke must leave the stadium to do so. Re-entry passes are available at each gate.
• Fans are not allowed to bring glass, cans, large coolers, backpacks, video cameras, parcels or umbrellas into the stadium.
• The stadium is alcohol-free. Fans should not bring alcoholic beverages of any type into the stadium. In addition, alcohol is prohibited from university parking lots and property.
• Throwing of any object in the stadium is prohibited. Any person throwing an object is subject to immediate removal from the stadium.
• The Stadium Assistance Team, wearing orange jackets, can help with any problems fans may encounter.
• If fans become separated from their friends, they should report to any First Aid station for assistance.
• A lost and found area is located at the south end of each concourse.
• All parking lots on City Campus require fees or permits. On game days, all lots are reserved for booster club parking and permits are required. Parking for people with disabilities is available for $7 for people who have state-issued handicapped parking permits. This parking is available in the Area 10 lot northwest of Memorial Stadium at the corner of Stadium Drive and V Street. Access to the lot is via Stadium Drive off Holdrege Street.

Traffic and transportation information:

• A taxi drop-off and pick-up area is available at the northwest corner of the stadium.
• The "Big Red Express" will offer shuttle service to and from the stadium from various sites around Lincoln at a charge of $2 each way. Service begins two hours prior to kickoff with the last pregame shuttle running 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Postgame shuttles begin running at the end of the game. Pick-up locations are parking lots at the State Department of Roads at 14th and Burnham streets, Gateway Mall, Holmes Park, Sam's Club, Super K-Mart and Southeast Community College. For the Aug. 28 game against Louisiana Tech and the Sept. 5 game against Alabama-Birmingham, a StarTran shuttle also will run from the south side of the Bob Devaney Sports Center to the stadium for the convenience of State Fair attendees.
• The Nebraska Department of Roads reports that highways in the Lincoln area are open. Work on Interstate 80 between Highway 50 and Q Street in Omaha has two lanes open in each direction, but there are no shoulders. Motorist will encounter lane shifts and reduced speed zones. Work continues on I-80 Interchange 312 at Grand Island with lane closures and speed zones.

NU Start Gives Freshmen Early Taste of College

Fifty-five incoming freshman got an early look at what college will be like when they successfully completed the "NU Start" program this summer.

In the inaugural year of the residential program, the students were on campus from July 31 through Aug. 13. They earned four hours of credit toward the university's general education requirements by taking English 180 (introduction to literature) and Library Research 110. The NU Start students participated in small informal classes with hands-on computer applications taught by experienced NU professors.

"They now know what university professors expect of students in the classroom and, in turn, what students can expect from the university," said program coordinator Deb Johnson. "These students can now begin their fall classes with a strong academic foundation and a community of close friends as well as a level of certainty and confidence that is rare among first-year students."

Johnson said student evaluations of the program showed that it was well received. Witness the reponse from Omaha's Katie Hart:

"Nothing can replace the new relationships I made, not only with other NU Start students, but with the program staff and professors." Hart wrote. "I really feel confident that I'll be starting the fall semester on the right foot. These three weeks were a great opportunity for me to shake out the 'freshman jitters' and find out how to study and have fun."

NU administrators said they hope to double enrollment in the program in 1999 and eventually enroll 10 percent of the incoming class each year.

-Tom Simons, Public Relations

NU Center for Grassland Studies Offers Seminars on Prairie Restoration

By Cheryl Alberts, IANR news writer

Prairie restoration is the theme for the fourth annual fall seminar series sponsored by the Center for Grassland Studies at the University of Nebraska here.

Seminars are free and open to the public at 3:30-4:30 p.m. Mondays at the Nebraska East Union.

"Restoration and preservation of ecosystems are of keen interest today," said Martin Massengale, center director. "This seminar series focuses on a prominent Nebraska ecosystem - grassland prairies."

The series includes a Sept. 28 presentation by William Laycock, former head of the University of Wyoming Department of Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management. Laycock is the first speaker made possible by an endowment from the Leu Foundation, headquartered in North Platte, Neb., and formerly chaired by the late Frank Leu. Laycock's visit is cosponsored by the Center for Great Plains Studies at UNL.

Massengale said the Leu Foundation has made significant contributions for furthering grassland studies through this endowment. In the past, the foundation has provided scholarships and assistantships for students from the North Platte area.

The schedule follows:

• Aug. 31 - "Evolution of the Grasslands of the Great Plains," by James Stubbendieck, professor, Department of Agronomy and Center for Great Plains Studies, both at UNL.
• Sept. 14 - "Prairie Restoration Checklist," by Glenn Pollock, Iowa Prairie Project.
• Sept. 21 - "Ecology and Restoration of Sandhill Blowouts," by Charles Butterfield and Jeff Rawlinson, technologists, UNL Department of Agronomy.
• Sept. 28 - "True Grassland Restoration - Is It Possible?" by William Laycock, former head of University of Wyoming Range Management Department,.
• Oct. 5 - "Restoration of Eastern Nebraska Grasslands," by Bruce Anderson, professor, UNL Department of Agronomy.
• Oct. 12 - "Improving Native Legume Establishment for Prairie Restoration and Grassland Renovation," by Dan Berans, graduate student, UNL Department of Agronomy.
• Oct. 26 - "High Diversity Prairie and Wetland Restoration in Central Nebraska," by Bill Whitney, Prairie Plains Resource Institute, Aurora, Neb.
• Nov. 2 - "Prairie Restoration - Now What?" by Brent Lathrop and Chris Helzer, Nebraska Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
• Nov. 9 - "Grassland/Wetland Restoration: Approaches in the Sandhills," by Gene Mack, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Nov. 16 - "Evaluation of Wet Meadow Restorations in the Platte River Valley," by Kent Pfeiffer, Platte River Whooping Crane Trust.
• Nov. 23 - "Consumer Viewpoints of Prairie Restoration," by Greg Davis, assistant professor, UNL Department of Horticulture.
• Nov. 30 - "Nitrogen Cycling and the Stability of Tallgrass Prairies," by David Wedin, assistant professor, UNL School of Natural Resource Sciences.

Videotapes of the seminars will be available for onsite viewing or checkout from the CGS reference center. For more information contact the Center for Grassland Studies, 222 Keim Hall, PO Box 830953, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.; phone (402)472-4101; fax, (402)472-4104; e-mail, cgls001@unlvm.unl.edu.

The Center for Grassland Studies is a part of NU's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

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14th Annual Women in Agriculture Conference Sept. 10-11

By Faye Colburn, IANR News Assistant

A nationally known psychologist is the keynote speaker for the University of Nebraska's 14th annual Women in Agriculture conference Sept. 10-11, in Kearney.

Val Farmer of Fargo, N.D., will bring his unique perspective on living and enjoying life to the "Women in Agriculture: The Critical Difference" conference at the Regency Inn, said Deb Rood, NU program coordinator. Farmer writes a weekly column on rural mental health that's syndicated in 65 U.S. and Canadian newspapers, and he's aired every Monday on the AgriTalk radio network, Rood said. His Sept. 11 presentation is titled "Overloaded, Overwhelmed, But Still Kicking."

The "Erma Bombeck of agriculture" also will be featured Sept. 11. Lynette Brown, an Oxford farm wife and NU Cooperative Extension assistant, concludes the conference with "Left Brain, Right Brain, No Brain."

The Sept. 10 evening banquet will recap the second International Conference on Women in Agriculture which several Nebraskans attended. One of them, Lynell Franklin of Wallace, said what impressed her most was with visiting with ag women from all over the world.

"We may be raising different crops in different parts of the world, but I was impressed with how much alike we are in our lives and in our hearts we're alike," she said.

Rita Divis of Wahoo was awed by the Third World women who had to "struggle as hard to get food on the table as big farmers here struggle to put a buck in their pockets." Those women are very strongly involved in sustainable agriculture, she said.

Each year, the state WIA conference helps women understand and celebrate their role in agriculture and recognize their value to the farming operation, Rood said. It provides them an opportunity to get together and talk about their problems and how they've solved them. Last year 484 Nebraska farm and ranch women attended the conference, more than half sponsored by local lending institutions.

Workshops this year include estate planning, basic marketing, changes in income tax law, management with records, a futuristic look at agriculture, off-farm opportunities, transfering assets between generations, waste management legislation, designer grains, machinery partnering, building family relationships, balancing your life, managing time and menopause.

The early registration fee of $55 for conference materials and meals is due Sept. 4. After that, registration is $60. Checks should be made payable to: University of Nebraska and sent to Women in Agriculture, Room 303C Filley Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0922.

The conference is presented by the Department of Agricultural Economics and Cooperative Extension in NU's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. For more information, call (800) 535-3456.

Poll Shows Most Rural Nebraskans Increasingly Optimistic

By Molly Klocksin, IANR News Writer

Rural Nebraskans are increasingly optimistic about their present and future, the third annual Nebraska Rural Poll shows, although farmers and ranchers are less optimistic than other rural residents.

The percentage of respondents who said they were better off compared to five years ago has increased from 36 percent in 1996 to 41 percent in 1998. Looking to the future, 42 percent of this year's respondents said they would be better off 10 years from now compared to 32 percent in 1996.

"That surprised me," said John Allen, the University of Nebraska rural sociologist who conducted the poll.

"There's always been a myth that rural Nebraskans were negative and doomsayers," Allen said. "What we're finding is that's not the case. The optimism continues to grow."

The percentage of people who believe they are worse off than their parents has declined steadily, from 21 percent in 1996 to 15 percent this year. The proportion who felt they're better off than their parents has remained steady at about 60 percent.

Allen, an NU Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources researcher, launched the poll in 1996. Based at the university's Center for Rural Community Revitalization and Development, Allen and Project Manager Becky Filkins gather information about a variety of rural issues through the poll.

Allen describes each year's poll as a "snapshot in time," capturing Nebraskans' attitudes at one moment. The picture is becoming clearer with three years of results, he said.

Overall, household income, age and occupation are major influences on well-being, the poll showed. A gradual decrease in overall well-being is evident as rural Nebraskans age. Generally, well-being increases as incomes go up.

Farmers and ranchers are less optimistic about their current and future situations than respondents in other fields, the poll shows. For example, only 31 percent of farmers or ranchers believed they would be better off in 10 years, compared to 51 percent of those in professional/administrative jobs.

"Part of it is uncertainty about what's going to happen in the farm economy," Allen said.

However, young farmers and their non-farm peers were more optimistic.

"What we're seeing is that younger producers are fairly positive they'll be better off," Allen said.

For example, 75 percent of 19- to -29-year-old farmers said they'd be better off in the future, while 79 percent of non-farmers in that age group said so.

Among farmers 65 or older, 12 percent predicted they'd be better off in the future. The figure was 11 percent among non-farmers in that age group.

The poll found 32 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that people are powerless to control their own lives while 55 percent disagreed or strongly disagreed. Those results are about the same as the 1996 poll, but higher than the 1997 poll, Allen said.

Respondents living in small communities, those with lower incomes, older respondents, less educated respondents and manual laborers were most likely to think people are powerless to control their lives, he said.

More than half of respondents said they are very satisfied with their marriage, family and greenery and open space.

"Those reflect Nebraska values," Allen said.

Respondents were most dissatisfied with job opportunities and financial security during retirement, a theme from previous years, he said.

The poll is the largest annual survey dealing with rural Nebraskans' quality of life and helps reflect rural residents' varied views, he said.

Many rural Nebraskans feel "out of the loop" politically, he said. Allen said he hopes the poll helps local, state and federal policy-makers think about how to empower rural Nebraskans to become active in politics, volunteering and keeping communities viable.

This year's poll is based on 4,196 responses from Nebraskans living in towns and the country in the state's 87 rural counties. The survey was mailed to 6,500 randomly selected rural households during February and March. Respondents' average age was 51. Ninety-five percent were married and 58 percent were female. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 3 percent.

Poll results are available on the center's World Wide Web page at http://www.ianr.unl.ed u/rural/ruralpoll.htm.

The Nebraska Rural Poll was conducted in cooperation with the Partnership for Rural Nebraska and IANR's Cooperative Extension Division, Agricultural Research Division and Center for Rural Community Revitalization and Development.

Nebraska ETV Presents New Season of Roger Welsch &

Find out about the efforts of the Nebraska Groundwater Foundation when its president, Susan Seacrest, appears Sept. 4, on Roger Welsch &. The interview series airs at 8:30 p.m. Fridays on the statewide Nebraska ETV Network.

Welsh comments, "It was Mark Twain who said, 'whiskey is for drinkin,' water is for fightin.' Water is one of Nebraska's most valuable assets and one of our most ignored treasures. This week my guest is a woman who is making headlines for her role in society, business, charity and education-determined to educate as many of us as possible about the importance of water. Her name is Susan Seacrest and I hope you'll listen to what she has to say."

The weekly television series features humorist and author 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.

Husker Volleyball Live On Nebraska ETV

Volleyball fans will enjoy all the play-by-play action when the University of Nebraska-Lincoln takes on Creighton University at 9 p.m. Sept. 1 on the statewide Nebraska ETV Network.

The two-hour sports special will be telecast on a tape delay basis from earlier in the evening at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Coliseum.

Omaha Royals Baseball on Nebraska ETV

The Omaha Royals take on the Salt Lake Buzz in Triple-A Alliance baseball action when Royals Baseball airs live at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 30 on the statewide Nebraska ETV Network.

The broadcast team for the three-hour telecast from Omaha's Rosenblatt Stadium will include sportscasters Bill Doleman, Kevin Kugler and Adrian Fiala.

Big Red Wrap-Up Season Premiere on Nebraska ETV

As the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers head into a new season under new coach Frank Solich, Big Red Wrap-Up will be in the middle of the action. The state's only live television call-in Big Red football show returns to the Nebraska ETV Network with highlights from the Cornhusker clash with Louisiana Tech at 8 p.m. Sept. 1. Future episodes of the series will air at 7 p.m.

The series, hosted by sportscaster Bill Doleman, is a combination of highlights from every Big Red match-up at home and on the road, coverage of the coaches' weekly press conferences, analysis with Nebraska sportswriters, appearances by special guests and questions and comments from viewers across the country. (Viewers can call 472-1212 in Lincoln or 1-800-676-5445 outside of Lincoln.)

Statewide Investigates Antiquated Coroner System

Does justice suffer in Nebraska because of a 100-year-old system that requires county attorneys to do double duty as county coroners?

Correspondent Bill Kelly examines the state's antiquated county coroner system in a "Perspectives" report airing at 8 p.m. Sept. 11, on Statewide, the Nebraska ETV Network's weekly magazine series.

The series, which repeats Saturday at 7 p.m., includes up-to-the-minute news reports from across the state and other features of interest.

Nebraska is the only state in the nation that gives the job of coroner to county attorneys. Some experts in the field argue that county attorneys lack the forensic and medical training to conduct the type of sophisticated death investigations that coroners in other states are conducting.

Statewide conducted a special survey of Nebraska's county attorney/coroners to see how they liked the job. The report includes interviews with Keith County Attorney Deb Gilig, Washington County Sheriff Terry Horner and the chief medical examiner for Connecticut, Dr. Henry Lee, who was one of the star witnesses for the O.J. Simpson defense.

Hoppner, Johanns Debate to Air Sept. 6 on Nebraska ETV

Nebraska gubernatorial candidates Bill Hoppner and Mike Johanns will meet at 5 p.m. Sept. 6 in a debate that will be telecast live on the statewide Nebraska ETV Network and on WOWT-TV Channel 6, Omaha. The debate will occur at the Open Air Auditorium at State Fair Park in Lincoln.

Hoppner, the Democratic nominee, and Johanns, the Republican standard bearer, will respond to questions from co-moderators Ed Howard, host of Nebraska ETV's Nebraskans Ask series, and Gary Kerr, co-anchor and reporter at WOWT-TV Channel 6, Omaha.

The debate is structured to encourage the candidates to deal with questions in depth, said Bill Ganzel, senior producer for the Public Affairs Unit of University of Nebraska-Lincoln Television. "We want to avoid scripted, two-minute speeches where candidates don't actually answer the question," Ganzel said. "What we're trying to do is enable voters to find out how a candidate would actually deal with a particular issue."

Howard and Kerr will question the candidates and follow up on the candidates' answers to get at the heart of the issues. While there are no time limits, each candidate's response will be timed.

Both candidates' campaign staffs have agreed to discourage campaigning at the Open Air Auditorium during the debate. Campaign signs, campaign buttons and campaign T-shirts will not be allowed inside the Auditorium, Ganzel said.

The debate is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Nebraska, WOWT-TV, Nebraska ETV and the Nebraska State Fair Board. The program will also air on WOWT-TV.

Roger Welsch Talks With Raptor Savior Betsy Hancock

Discover how birds of prey are protected when Betsy Hancock, founder and executive director of the Nebraska Raptor Recovery Center, appears at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 11, on Roger Welsch & on the statewide Nebraska ETV Network.

Welsh comments, "It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while you look to the sky and see a falcon, a hawk or if you're really lucky, an eagle. These birds of prey, or raptors, are majestic, beautiful creatures that for whatever reason have been objects of contempt, anger or even hatred by some. Fortunately, they have a friend in Betsy Hancock."

The weekly television series features humorist and author 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.