The Massara Report

My name is Steve Massara, and I am the current student body president/regent for the University of Nebraska at Omaha. It is my duty to inform you of the happenings of Student Government because we are here to serve you, the student body. As finals week quickly approaches, I hope you are finding time to prepare for your tests and papers. The end is in sight and, if you are anything like me, I am elated to be finished.

To update, Student Government has just completed a very productive month since my last correspondence. Several senators compiled the surveys from our promotional week in March, gaining precious insight into student support for the smoking ban. More than 60 percent of students surveyed support a ban of smoking on campus. I have included your concerns about a compromise, and the "smoking compromise" initial proposal will be released this Thursday. I encourage you to e-mail me with feedback once the document is posted on our Web site.

Also, some very exciting news from University Library transpired last week for students. Thanks to University Library Dean Stephen Shorb's close work with Student Government, library hours have been extended to midnight, Sunday through Thursday, indefinitely. Hopefully, this long-awaited increase will help with your busy schedules and assist scholastic performance. A full list of extended summer and fall hours will be posted soon.

Last week, Student Government sponsored a forum to gauge support for a new student-funded agency on campus. The formation of an agency to serve the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community has been proposed. This concept is in the initial stages of development, and Student Government readily seeks your input. When the fall semester arrives, look for more educational materials and a likely referendum vote on this issue and the smoking ban compromise. 

Please do not hesitate to surf our new Web site at http://sguno.unomaha.edu/ for more information. We meet at 7 p.m. on Thursdays in the Milo Bail Student Center and always love to have visitors. You may also contact me at any time at smassara@mail.unomaha.edu or 402.554.3578. Thanks for reading!

University Library Extends Hours

University Library is now open until midnight Sunday through Thursday. This permanent increase in hours takes effect immediately and will become part of the normal schedule for next fall and beyond. Additionally, the library will increase both evening and weekend hours during the summer sessions. 

The hours have been expanded at the request of Student Government.

"Steve Massara came to us with a proposal to expand our hours, and he made a pretty good case," said University Library Dean Steve Shorb. "With new on-campus housing coming soon and the library addition opening by fall of 2006, we felt it was time to offer more hours."

"I'm ecstatic," said Massara, student body president/regent at UNO. "The students have been asking for this for a long time, and it's gratifying that the library was able to respond."

The new schedule is listed below.

Monday through Thursday    

7 a.m. to midnight

Friday                         

7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday                     

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday                                   

Noon to midnight

Summer Hours (May 8 through August 11):

- Monday through Thursday    

7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

- Friday                         

7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- Saturday                     

Noon to 5 p.m.

- Sunday                                   

Noon to 9 p.m.

Foreign Languages to Offer New Teaching Degree

The UNO Department of Foreign Languages has announced a new sequence of graduate courses that culminates in a Master of Arts in Language Teaching (MALT) degree. The degree is a new and unique offering in Nebraska.      

MALT is a multidisciplinary, 36 credit hour graduate program that will involve foreign language faculty and the UNO Departments of English and Education. The sequence of courses focuses on language, language acquisition and teaching methods designed to reinforce and build upon the language skills and knowledge of language educators. The majority of classes will be offered evenings and during UNO summer sessions.

"The MALT degree will draw from current faculty who teach French, German, Spanish, English, linguistics, literature, culture, foreign language methods, education, instructional technology and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)," said Carolyn Gascoigne, chair of foreign languages at UNO. "Students who complete the course work will greatly enhance their knowledge and be much better prepared to teach foreign languages and/or English as a second or other language."

Students will select one of four possible MALT concentrations – French, German, Spanish or TESOL. Basic admission requirements include having an undergraduate degree with a minimum 3.0 G.P.A. and letters of recommendation. Specific admission requirements differ for students interested in the foreign language concentrations, TESOL or for nonnative speakers of English.

"We know there is a tremendous need for this kind of degree," Dr. Gascoigne said. "The United States needs more people who are fluent in other languages and many, many more language teachers. MALT will help our city, state and region."

For more information on MALT, including admission requirements, visit http://www.unomaha.edu/foreignlanguages/malt.html, or call 554.4841.

UNO Students to Fight Hunger

A group of UNO students will discover what it might be like to be homeless this week on campus. 

Members of Pi Kappa Alpha and Alpha Xi Delta are leading the challenge to collect thousands of canned food items for The Salvation Army Food Pantry and its North Omaha Feeding Program. No Frills Supermarkets, Tenaska, Two Men and a Truck, and Channel 94.1 are sponsoring the third annual food drive known as "Just Can It."

The drive runs from Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 21. Donations of food may be dropped off on the UNO campus or at any local No Frills Supermarket. Blue Salvation Army barrels, identified with the organization's familiar red shield, will be located on UNO's main campus and inside each No Frills Supermarket. No Frills will accept donations from the public through April 25.

About 25 to 30 UNO students will be "homeless" outdoors in the Pep Bowl just north of Caniglia Field each night of the collection week. Their homes will be converted cardboard boxes. Students have planned a variety of activities to attract interest and donations of canned food items.

New this year is the Tenaska Business Challenge, a corporate effort to collect food for The Salvation Army.  Employees of Tenaska and designated neighboring businesses will collect donations this week through April 21.   

The food drive will officially kick off during a brief ceremony on the Henningson Plaza south of Milo Bail Student Center Monday, April 17, at noon.  Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and UNO Chancellor Nancy Belck, along with event sponsors and Salvation Army representatives, will be present.

During the ceremony, the Pancake Man will serve hot cakes to the crowd. Students will be accepting donations all day Monday and each day and night of the week. Special activities will take place at 10:30 p.m. each night, including a house-building contest, skits, flag football, a scavenger hunt, kickball and the "Golden Can" competition.

The Salvation Army is participating in the Feinstein Foundation's challenge to help fight hunger. Donations of food valued at 50 cents per can and cash collected by "Just Can It" will be matched by dollars from the foundation. 

The Salvation Army Food Pantry and North Omaha Feeding Program provide food to hungry individuals, families and children in Omaha who might otherwise go without. The public is encouraged to contribute nonperishable foods such as beans, pasta, tuna, peanut butter, baby food, diapers, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal and soup. Monetary donations provide the most flexibility to purchase what is needed most. They may be sent to:

The Salvation Army

3612 Cuming St.

Omaha, NE 68131. 

Those interested can donate online at http://www.salvationarmyomaha.org.

Student Re-Carding Event Begins April 17

Students, faculty and staff at UNO will be learning a new set of numbers that will increase identity security and be more universal across other University of Nebraska campuses.

UNO will be transitioning from the public use of social security numbers on E-BRUNO and the Student Information System (SIS) to an eight-digit sequence called the NU ID number. Each NU ID will be a unique number in the University of Nebraska system so that a student or faculty/staff member will have the same NU ID number at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln or the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Currently, the University of Nebraska Medical Center has not adopted the NU ID number.

"This is a standard that many, many universities have moved to because it is more secure and it's so transportable," said Mark Goldsberry, director of records and registration. "We're also doing everything we can to make this transition as simple and smooth as possible."

Work began last fall at UNO to make the system changes needed to replace social security numbers with the NU ID. Beginning June 1, students and faculty/staff will be able to input their new NU ID on E-BRUNO and SIS. An option will be available to use either the current student ID (generally a social security number) or NU ID, but after five logins to E-BRUNO only the NU ID will allow access.

"We know getting used to the new NU ID will take a little time," Goldsberry said. "We thought it was important to give people several logins to get used to the new system."

MavCard Services will begin issuing the new ID cards with the NU ID this month, starting with students going through New Student Orientation.

All currently enrolled students will need to get the newly designed MavCard during the recarding event taking place April 17 through May 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be extended hours April 18 and 26 and May 4 from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Students will go to the Milo Bail Student Center's Fireplace Lounge to receive their new cards. Active faculty and staff will be notified once dates have been selected for their recarding. Starting Aug. 1, only newly issued cards will work, so students are encouraged to stop by during the scheduled dates.

For more information about MavCard Services, visit http://mavcard.unomaha.edu/ or call 554.2220.

Book Fair April 17-19 at University Library

University Library and the UNO Honors Program will host a "buy one, get one free" book fair April 17-19. The UNO Honors Program is an associate sponsor of the event.

For every item purchased, customers can choose a second book of equal or lesser value for free. Proceeds will benefit the UNO Library Juvenile Collection. The book fair schedule is listed below.

Monday, April 17

5 to 9 p.m.

Tuesday and Wednesday, April 18-19

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The UNO Honors Program supports Liberty Elementary School, and books may be purchased and donated to the school's program.

For more information, contact event organizer Melissa Cast at 554.3130 or mcast@mail.unomaha.edu.

Organ Donor Awareness Barbecue April 18

When it comes to organ donation, people age 18 to 25 are most receptive to the idea, yet many are not registered donors.

To increase the number of registered donors at UNO, five public relations students from the School of Communication will host a barbecue Tuesday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Milo Bail Student Center Plaza.

The event is part of a weeklong campaign to increase organ donation awareness on campus. Stoysich Meats has donated 750 hot dogs, and Rotella's Italian bakery has donated 700 buns for the event. Trick Magnet, a pop-rock band from Omaha, will play on the plaza at noon.

The campaign is part of the national organ donor awareness competition sponsored by the Rowan University chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. The UNO team created its slogan, "License to Give: We Card," to stress the importance of becoming an organ donor. Team members are asking students and faculty to show organ donor identification to receive a free hot dog.  Those who are not donors can sign a donor card at the event to receive food and refreshments. 

The biggest hurdle the team faces is breaking down the myths surrounding organ donation, said Erika Berg, project leader. The most common myths involve religion and funeral planning. "We want students to realize all major religions approve of organ donation, and it's completely possible to have an open casket funeral," Berg said. "Organ donation won't delay a family's funeral arrangements at all."

Berg said working with local groups such as the Nebraska Organ and Tissue Coalition and the Nebraska Organ Recovery System has provided the team with community and professional support.

For more information, contact Sally Gutschow, media relations director, at 712.253.4862 or sagutschow@mail.unomaha.edu.

Spring Dialogue on Volunteerism April 19

The UNO circle of Omicron Delta Kappa will host a spring dialogue titled "Volunteer: Your Community, Your Help" Wednesday, April 19. The event will be held from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Chancellor's Room.

The discussion will focus on volunteerism efforts in the metropolitan community. The following people will serve as panelists:

- Scot Adams, Catholic Charities;

- Ellen Freeman-Wakefield, Heartland Family Services;

- Todd Landry, Child Saving Institute;

- Roger Lewis, Children's Hospital;

- Paul Sather, UNO Service-Learning Academy; and

- Sarah Price, Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Omicron Delta Kappa is a national leadership honor society. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact Nicole Sturzenegger at nsturzenegger@mail.unomaha.edu or Carmen Mattes at cmattes@mail.unomaha.edu.  

Performances of "The Arabian Nights" Continue April 19-22

The UNO Department of Theatre's performances of Mary Zimmerman's "The Arabian Nights" continue April 19-22 in the UNO Theater. The production is directed by D. Scott Glasser.

The house opens at 7 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. curtain for all performances. The April 19 performance will be ASL interpreted. A talkback session with the director, designers and cast will follow the April 21 performance.

Nebraska native Zimmerman's adaptation weaves ancient tales of wonder into a poetic testament to the transformational power of storytelling. Her trademark use of multiple stories that embody a common thread of human experience captivated audiences last season in UNO's performances of "Metamorphoses," a collection of tales from Ovid's "Metamorphoses" uniquely written to be staged in a pool of water. UNO's production was hailed as 2004's "Best College Production" by Omaha World-Herald reviewer Bob Fischbach.

The UNO Theater is located in the Weber Fine Arts Building, and the box office is now open. Ticket prices are $15, and $10 for students and seniors.  They may be purchased in person at the box office, by e-mail at unoboxoffice@mail.unomaha.edu, or by phone at 554.2335.

For more information, contact Ron Zank at 554.2406.

The Crop to Promote National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month. The Crop, a student organization in the Writer's Workshop at UNO, has planned several campus activities in conjunction with the event.

The group's main project is titled "Poetsmatter." In order to bring attention to poetry, members of The Crop will ‘smatter' bulletin boards and kiosks on campus with short poems.

On Wednesday, April 19, The Crop – in collaboration with the UNO Department of English – will host a poetry reading from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Milo Bail Student Center (MBSC). Students and faculty will read a poem or two from one of their favorite authors. The rain location is the MBSC Fireplace Lounge.

On Thursday, April 20, The Crop will host sidewalk chalkings in which students will be invited to create poetry on the sidewalks outside and around University Library and the Milo Bail Student Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information, contact Catharine Dixon at catharinebdixon@cox.net.

Public and Nonprofit Job Fair April 19

Career Exploration and Outreach will host a Public and Nonprofit Job Fair Wednesday, April 19. The event will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom. Representatives from local and national organizations will be available to discuss employment and volunteer opportunities with students and alumni.

For more information about the fair and other services offered by Career Exploration and Outreach, call 554.3672, or stop by 211 Eppley Administration Building.

OWH Writer to Speak at Journalism Conference

Henry Cordes, an award-winning reporter with the Omaha World-Herald, will be the featured speaker at the UNO School of Communication's annual high school journalism conference Wednesday, April 19.

Cordes will present "Why Journalism Is a Great Gig" at 12:30 p.m. in the W.H. and Dorothy Thompson Alumni Center's Bootstrapper Hall. UNO students, staff and faculty members are welcome to attend. 

Cordes is a senior reporter for the Omaha World-Herald. The 1981 Central High School graduate and 1985 UNO journalism graduate is in his 25th year at the paper. He worked his first four years in sports and has since covered crime, courts, politics, the military and the Legislature, including six years as the paper's bureau chief in Lincoln. He has won numerous state awards and is a two-time winner of the Thomas C. Sorensen Award for Nebraska's most-distinguished journalism.

The program also will include a recognition ceremony for the winners of a high school journalism and broadcasting contest sponsored by the UNO School of Communication.

For more information, contact Sherrie Wilson at 554.3677 or swilson@mail.unomaha.edu.

Liver Transplant Recipient to Promote Organ Donation April 20

A 23-year-old organ recipient will share his story with UNO students at an event Thursday, April 20, to help raise awareness of the need for organ donation.

Brian Holcomb of Payson, Utah, who received a liver in the fall of 2004, is president of the Utah chapter of Donor Dudes. This is a student-run organization created by Chris Klug, a 2002 Olympic snowboarding bronze medalist and liver transplant recipient.

The event is part of an organ donor awareness campaign created by five public relations students from the UNO School of Communication. The team, in conjunction with the Nebraska Organ Recovery System, plans to launch the first Students for Organ Donation chapter in Nebraska.

"In order for Nebraskans to continue to benefit from organ donation, our campaign must educate students and show them how register and become a donor," said Erika Berg, project leader.

The team's slogan, "License to Give: We Card," stresses the importance of becoming an organ donor. Team members are asking students and faculty to show proof of organ donor registration to enter the April 20 event. Those who are not organ donors can sign a donor card at the event in order to participate.

Holcomb's speech will begin at 10:15 a.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Nebraska Room. Following the speech, students will compete in an organ donation rendition of the "Jeopardy" game. Refreshments will be served.

Research shows that people age 18 to 25 are most receptive to organ donation. The team's campaign targets this age group.

The UNO students are entering their campaign in a national competition sponsored by the Rowan University chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America.

For more information, contact Sally Gutschow, media relations director, at 712.253.4862 or sagutschow@mail.unomaha.edu.

University Library to Host An Evening of Poetry April 20

University Library will present An Evening of Poetry featuring readings by Nebraska poets Jim Reese and Mark Scott Thursday, April 20. The event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in Room 100. This presentation is made possible by Nebraska Humanities Council grant funds. 

In celebration of National Poetry Month, Reese and Scott will read from their work, sign books and answer questions from the audience.

Reese teaches in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of English and works on the editorial staff of the Prairie Schooner. His work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including New York Quarterly, South Dakota Review, Plains Song Review, Poetry Motel and others. His full-length collection of poetry, These Trespasses, was published by Backwaters Press in 2005. Poems from These Trespasses recently were nominated for the Pushcart Prize.   

Scott received his doctorate in English from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and he currently teaches English at the College of Saint Mary in Omaha. His first collection of poems, Tactile Values, was published by New Issues Press in 2000. He has two collections of poems, A Bedroom Occupation and The History Editor, currently being considered for publication. He is at work on a collection of prose.

In addition, UNO Book Arts students, under the direction of Bonnie O'Connell, will produce letterpress-printed broadsides commemorating the evening's readings, which will be available as a keepsake for audience members.

An Evening of Poetry is one of many grants funded by the Nebraska Humanities Council (NHC).  The NHC has awarded more than $100,000 in grants each year.

For more information on the April 20 event, contact Marvel Maring at 554.2992 or mmaring@mail.unomaha.edu.

Application Deadline for Cyber Corps Scholarships April 21

Applications for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Cyber Corps Scholarship for Service (SFS) at UNO are due Friday, April 21.

This program provides scholarship funding in exchange for service at a federal agency as an information assurance professional. While participants complete their studies, they will gain practical experience working with a federal agency as a summer intern. Once they graduate, their hands-on experience in information assurance at a federal agency will continue as they serve in a full-time position in the federal government.

Student participants receive scholarship funding for up to two years in exchange for service at a federal agency for the period equivalent to the length of the scholarship or one year, whichever is longer.

Application materials and instructions on how to apply are available at http://nucia.unomaha.edu/coeannounce/cybercorp.php.

Full program details are available at http://nucia.unomaha.edu/academics/academics.php.

Free Screening of "The Silent Killer" April 28

The Omaha chapter of Americans for Informed Democracy will host a screening of "The Silent Killer: The Unfinished Campaign Against Hunger" Friday, April 28. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Nebraska Room.

A discussion will follow the movie. For more information, visit the Web at http://aid.unomaha.edu.

UNO Students to Make Global Night Commute April 29

Imagine living in the country and having to walk miles into town each night just to get a good night's sleep. It's a reality for thousands of children in the war-torn country of Uganda who face the threat of abduction into the rebel army if they remain in their homes.

More than 100 students from 29 organizations at UNO will take part in a "night commute" Saturday, April 29, to bring attention to the situation in Uganda.

Individuals will gather at 5 p.m. at Creighton University in the parking lot near 30th and Cuming streets. At 6 p.m., the group will begin its "commute" to the Omaha/Douglas Civic Center at 1819 Farnam St., where they will spend the night and participate in a variety of activities. 

Omaha is one of more than 136 locations across the nation to host such an event in conjunction with Invisible Children Inc., a nonprofit organization established in 2004 that is committed to ending the war in northern Uganda where children are forced to fight as soldiers. Invisible Children is the result of a trip to Africa by three southern California filmmakers who documented their findings of children who are the weapons and the victims.

Pauline Mburu, a UNO student and organizer of the April 29 commute, said this event is very important because it helps shed light on an issue that many in the United States may not be aware of or consider a problem. 

Earlier this year, UNO students had the chance to view a film made by Invisible Children. After watching the presentation, Mburu said she was motivated to aid in the cause. 

"I was moved to do something in hopes of dispelling the myth that the situation in Uganda is just ‘the way Africa is,'" she said.  "I was born and raised in Kenya, and I never saw or experienced what the children in Uganda are undergoing.  I am demanding that the U.S. government help put an end to the longest-running war in Africa and one of the worst crises in the world today."

Those joining UNO in the commute include students from Creighton University and Lewis Central High School (Council Bluffs), as well as participants from First Christian Church and Christ Community Church, among others.

For more information about the April 29 commute or how to become involved, contact Mburu or Sharif Liwaru in the UNO Office of Student Organizations and Leadership Programs at 554.2711, or visit the Web at http://www.invisiblechildren.com.

Summer Schedule for Shuttle Service Begins May 8

Starting Monday, May 8, the summer shuttle service will operate Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., excluding holidays. The shuttle will service the north and south campus only. There will be no shuttle service to Crossroads Mall during the summer months. 

For more information, contact Campus Security at 554.2648.

Maverick Watch

Go Mavs! Support your Mavericks by attending their home events. At home this week:

Tuesday, April 18

- Softball vs. Minnesota State, Mankato

Claussen-Westgate Field, 8121 D. St.

3:30 and 5:30 p.m. (double header)

Wednesday, April 19

- Baseball vs. Winona State

The Ballpark at Boys Town, 137th and West Dodge Road

Noon and 2 p.m. (double header)

Saturday, April 22

- Baseball vs. Augustana

The Ballpark at Boys Town, 137th and West Dodge Road

Noon and 3 p.m. (double header)

- Red vs. White Football Spring Game

Caniglia Field

1 p.m.

For more information about UNO Athletics, visit the Web at http://gomavs.unomaha.edu/.

CWS General Admission Ticket Booklets On Sale

The 2006 College World Series (CWS) is set for June 16-26 at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha. CWS general admission ticket booklets are currently on sale in the UNO Athletic Department. The cost is $60 for a booklet of 10 tickets while supplies last.

To purchase a booklet or for more information, contact Geri Backora at 554.2506 or gbackora@mail.unomaha.edu.

UNO Women In Aviation Chapter Receives Award

The UNO Women in Aviation "Maverick" Chapter received the 2005-06 Outstanding Organization Award from Student Organizations and Leadership Programs.

The "Maverick" Chapter received this award for its dedication to community outreach and education through numerous projects. The most recent project the chapter was involved with was "Operation American Hope - Project Walter Reed." The organization assisted in making blankets and raising funds for the material. It is also providing funding to ship the blankets to the Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.

In conjunction with the UNO Aviation Institute, the Women in Aviation Chapter worked with the Mid America Council's Exploring Program. The purpose of the program is to educate high school students on the aviation industry and numerous career opportunities. The chapter set up and attended tours of various aviation businesses with the Explorers.

The group also assisted in raising funds to purchase nearly 500 school supplies for Liberty Elementary School, attended a dozen educational career days at elementary schools and participated in the Women's Career Roundtable sponsored by Northeast Community College last summer. In addition to providing support for each other and educational sessions for younger generations, the chapter is very active in networking and working on professional development.

For more information, contact Beth Flynn at 554.3386.