The Massara Report

Greetings:

My name is Steve Massara, and I am the current student body president/regent for UNO. It is my duty to inform you of the happenings of Student Government because we are here to serve you, the student body. Student Government has had a fantastic year with great student participation and support. I want to extend my sincere gratitude for making it possible to best serve your interests. In combination with such admirable participation should come a vested interest in the election Tuesday, Nov. 7, for university regents and various initiatives impacting our interests at UNO.

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the candidates who will represent your concerns on the Board of Regents in Lincoln. This 12-member governing body consists of individuals elected to six-year terms from eight population-based districts around Nebraska. These indispensable officials help guide university policy, tuition and fees, and program offerings. Each campus in the University of Nebraska system (UNO, UNMC, UNL and UNK) has a student regent who represents the student body and campus as a whole on the board. I currently serve as UNO's student representative but, in January, Alex Williams will be assuming the position as your chief advocate for student opinion. I encourage you to contact him with questions or concerns at awilliams@mail.unomaha.edu.

Also of critical interest is Initiative 423 on the ballot in the state of Nebraska. It would place a limitation on state spending and could have serious ramifications on higher education funding. Please take time to become acquainted with the issue, and be sure to vote Nov. 7!

Please do not hesitate to surf our new Web site at http://sguno.unomaha.edu/ for more information. We meet Thursdays at 7 p.m. 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 554.3578. Thanks for reading!

Douglas County Voters' Guide Available

The Douglas County Voters' Guide, published annually by the League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha, is an unbiased, non-partisan look at all candidates running in the Nov. 7 general election.

Brief biographies of each candidate are included in the guide, along with their answers on issues of current concern to voters. The guide is available on campus at the locations listed below.

University Affairs
108 Eppley Administration Building

UNO School of Communication
107 Arts and Sciences Hall (ASH)

Criss Library
Circulation Desk

For more information, contact Rita Shaughnessy in 107H ASH or at 554.6057.

Artist-in-Residence Program to Feature Big Band Nov. 8-9

The UNO Department of Music and a grant from the Nebraska Arts Council are sponsoring an artist-in-residence program featuring the Jim Widner Big Band Nov. 8-9 on campus. The residency will include a concert and series of free clinics. The clinics are aimed at college and high school music students and teachers.

The Jim Widner Big Band will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the Milo Bail Student Center (MBSC) Ballroom. Prior to their concert, members of the band will present an improvisation clinic to UNO students while Jim Widner works with the Metropolitan Area Youth Jazz Orchestra (MAYJO). Darren Pettit, a saxophone professor at UNO, directs MAYJO, an auditioned group made up of Omaha's finest high school musicians.

At 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, Widner and members of his band will present instrument masterclasses to UNO music students. The masterclasses are free and open to the public.

An alumnus of the Stan Kenton, Woody Herman and Glenn Miller Big Bands, Widner is a graduate of the University of Missouri and holds a master's degree from Memphis State University. He has performed with a variety of well-known artists - including Clark Terry, Louis Bellson and Marilyn Maye - and made an appearance before former President Bill Clinton. Currently, Widner is artist-in-residence/director of jazz studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

"The Jim Widner Big Band is one of only a handful of professional big bands that actively records, performs and tours throughout the country," said Pete Madsen, coordinator of jazz studies at UNO. "The purpose of his visit to UNO is to support jazz and jazz education by providing the opportunity for the campus community and the public to attend a professional jazz concert," Madsen said. "The concert and clinics will give students a learning opportunity outside of the traditional classroom."

Tickets for the concert are $15 for the general public and $10 for students. For more information about the clinics, contact Madsen at 554.2297. To order tickets, call 554.3427.

Sustainability Forums to Be Held on Campus

This November, UNO will be the site of two events focusing on sustainability. The details are listed below.

Sustainability Forum
The first event, a forum titled "Exploring Sustainability," will be held on the UNO south campus Friday, Nov. 10, from 11 a.m. to noon in Room 256 of The University of Nebraska Peter Kiewit Institute. This forum, similar to two events held earlier this year on the UNO north campus, is open to all faculty, staff and students.

The event will address the following questions:
- What is sustainability?
- How can individuals make the campus and community more sustainable?
- How can I get involved?

"If you missed the first couple of events, this is your chance to catch up!" said Patrick Wheeler, event organizer.

The event will also include discussions in the areas of energy and water use, transportation, green building (and smart growth), landscape and maintenance, solid and hazardous waste, and recycling, food services, student projects and grant availability.

Sustainability Discussion
This event will feature a continued discussion on sustainability topics. It will be held Tuesday, Nov. 14, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Chancellor's Room.

"All levels of expertise, faculty, staff and students are welcome to participate," Wheeler said. "We welcome your interest and enthusiasm, and look forward to putting our ideas into action."

At the event, participants will be asked to identify their top two ideas for improvement in one or more of the following topical areas: energy and water use, transportation, green building (and smart growth), landscape and maintenance, solid and hazardous waste, and recycling and food services. All ideas will be compiled and listed on a sustainability Web page, which is currently under construction.

"The top two priorities will be identified in each area, as well as those used to demonstrate how we can best begin to implement sustainable practices," Wheeler said. "The time has come for us to share our expertise and enthusiasm to ‘Green Our Campus and Green Our Minds!'"

For more information on both events, contact Wheeler at 554.3921 or Shannon Bartelt-Hunt at 554.3868.

2nd Annual Heritage Ball Nov. 10

The UNO and Omaha sections of the National Council of Negro Women Inc. will host the organization's 2nd Annual Heritage Ball Friday, Nov. 10. The event will be held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the William H. and Dorothy Thompson Alumni Center.

The Heritage Ball is a formal social event that celebrates the rich heritage of the African-American culture.

"This annual event supports unity of the African-American people by allowing the community a chance to gather, socially connect with one another and celebrate life through music, food and dance," said Sharif Liwaru, cultural awareness programs/organizations adviser at UNO.

Formal attire is required. The cost is $7 for UNO students and $10 for the general public. For ticket information, call 578.5992 or e-mail kwarner122283@yahoo.com.

UNO Sorority to Raise Funds for Breast Cancer Research

Zeta Tau Alpha at UNO will host two events on campus this month in support of breast cancer research. Details are listed below.

"Pink Out Day"
The UNO sorority will host "Pink Out Day" Saturday, Nov. 11, at the UNO vs. Central Washington football game.

The sorority is inviting Maverick fans to participate in the event by wearing pink to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Pink shirts will also be sold game day at the gates.

All donations and proceeds from the Nov. 11 event will benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

In conjunction with the event, breast cancer survivors will be honored at half time. Those interested in being honored should contact Mandy Beal at pinkoutday@yahoo.com.

"Big Man on Campus"
Zeta Tau Alpha will host its annual "Big Man on Campus" male beauty pageant Sunday, Nov. 12, to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. It will be held at 7 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom.

Men from UNO are eligible to participate for the chance to win the title and prizes. The registration fee is a donation of $25.

The pageant will include swimwear, formal attire, a question-and-answer section and a talent competition. Donations of $2 will be accepted at the door.

Those interested in participating in the pageant should contact Karen Speckmeir at 660.7309 or Kelly Campell at 427.4159.

Omaha Peace Corps to Visit Campus Nov. 9-10

The campus community is invited to speak with a returned Peace Corps volunteer and recruiter about the tangible and intangible benefits of the Peace Corps service Thursday and Friday, Nov. 9-10, in Omaha.

Two events are scheduled at the dates and times below:

City of Omaha Peace Corps Information Meeting
Thursday, Nov. 9
6 to 8 p.m.
W. Dale Clark (Main) Library, Rooms 2 and 3
215 S. 15th St. (between 14th and 15th, and Douglas and Farnam Streets) Parking is available underneath the library near the ramp entrance on 14th Street.

Peace Corps Information at UNO
Thursday and Friday, Nov. 9-10
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Milo Bail Student Center south entrance

For more information, contact Anne West-Leclou, international studies and programs, at 554.3822 or awest-leclou@mail.unomaha.edu.

Native American Heritage Month Festivities Continue

Native American Heritage Month activities will continue Friday, Nov. 10, with a Poetry Slam. It will begin at 6 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Dodge Room. The Poetry Slam is free and open to the public.

At the Poetry Slam, Native American youth will speak about contemporary Native issues. UNO Native American Studies and Omaha Public Schools are sponsoring the event.

For more information, call 554.2711.

Free Screening of "Les Choristes" Nov. 12

The UNO Department of Foreign Languages and the Nebraska Association of Teachers of French will present the French film "Les Choristes" Sunday, Nov. 12, at UNO.

The free screening will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Eppley Administration Building Auditorium. It is free and open to the public.

For more information, call 554.2862.

"Psychology Undergraduates for Sanity" Group to Meet

Psychology Undergraduates for Sanity, a group which helps prepare potential or current psychology students for graduate school, will offer two introductory meetings this semester in the Milo Bail Student Center (MBSC).

Join the group for two short introductory meetings to find out more about the organization, decide if graduate school is the right choice, and learn how to get help during the process.

The meeting dates and times are as follows:

- Monday, Nov. 13
1 p.m.
MBSC Dodge Room

- Thursday, Nov. 16
1 p.m.
MBSC Omaha Room

Topics that will be discussed include:
- Taking the GRE;
- Taking the Psychology GRE;
- Picking, applying and getting into grad school; and
- Applying for scholarships.

For more information, contact psych.undergrads@gmail.com.

Library Friends to Host Talk on New Technologies and the Law

The UNO Library Friends will hold a discussion on new communication technologies and the law Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. Jeremy Lipschultz, director of the UNO School of Communication, will be the featured speaker.

The meeting will be held in Room 100 of Criss Library, and the discussion is free and open to the public.

Some of the questions to be discussed will include:
- How will new telephone and digital television services challenge existing laws and regulation?
- How has the Internet redefined communication law and regulation?
- What role have the courts played in interpreting digital law?
- How have recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions set Cyberlaw precedents?

Dr. Lipschultz is also the Robert Reilly Diamond Professor in the School of Communication. He co-authored Mass Media, An Aging Population and the Baby Boomers (2005) and Crime and Local Television News (2002), and he is also co-editor of Studies in Media & Information Literacy Education ( SIMILE). As author of Broadcast Indecency: F.C.C. Regulation and the First Amendment (1997) and Free Expression in the Age of the Internet (2000), Lipschultz is often called upon by national news media as a source for stories on the issue of broadcast indecency.

For more information, contact Diane Rockhold at 554.3205 or drockhol@mail.unomaha.edu.

International Education Week Set for Nov. 13-17 at UNO

International education will be showcased at UNO this month in conjunction with the observance of U.S. International Education Week.

A variety of events are planned for Monday through Friday, Nov. 13-17, to give international students an opportunity to share their heritage with the rest of the campus community. Most activities are free, except where noted.

"International education enriches the lives of everyone who becomes involved culturally, academically and socially," said Thomas Gouttierre, dean of International Studies and Programs at UNO and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). "However, one of the most important contributions is the mutual understanding that results among those who participate in international exchanges, and the potential this has for global stability and peace."

This past year, there were more than 1,300 international students at UNO. The three countries sending the greatest number of students were India, Japan and Saudi Arabia. In all, 116 countries - ranging from Azerbaijan to Zambia - are represented on campus.

Below is a listing of the 2006 International Education Week schedule of events at UNO, including dates, times and locations.

Nov. 8-17
Photo Contest and Exhibit
Criss Library
The fourth annual "Eyes Into The World" Photo Contest and Exhibit is open to all UNO faculty, staff and students. Entries will be on display in Criss Library, and all students, faculty and staff members will be able to vote for their favorites. The deadline for submitting an entry is today, Nov. 3. Winners will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 14, at Café Internationale. Instructions on how to submit a photo and entry forms are available in 241 Arts and Sciences Hall (ASH).

Nov. 13-17
Ethnic Foods Menu
As part of the International Education Week celebration, the Maverick Buffet and food services on the UNO south campus will serve a variety of ethnic foods according to the schedule below.

- Maverick Buffet, Milo Bail Student Center (MBSC) Food Court
Monday, Nov. 13 - Tandoori Chicken Masala
Tuesday, Nov. 14 - Tacos and Spanish Rice
Wednesday, Nov. 15 - Stir Fry and Fried Rice
Thursday, Nov. 16 - Wiener Schnitzel and German Potato Salad
Friday, Nov. 17 - Moroccan Chicken

- The University of Nebraska Peter Kiewit Institute (south campus)
Monday, Nov. 13 - Pasta Bar
Tuesday, Nov. 14 - Taco Bar
Wednesday, Nov. 15 - Kung Pao Chicken with Rice

Monday, Nov. 13
International Bake Sale
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MBSC south entrance
Students and faculty members will have a chance to purchase a wide variety of baked treats prepared from recipes from around the world. Proceeds from this sale will go to the International Student Emergency Loan Fund.

Bethsaida Exhibit Tours
9 a.m. to noon; 3 to 5 p.m.
343 ASH
Excavations at Bethsaida, situated on the northeast coast of the Sea of Galilee, began in 1987 under the direction of UNO professor Rami Arav. The project includes archaeological, geographical and geological surveys aimed at reconstructing the environment and landscapes in ancient times.

Special exhibits during International Education Week include:
- "Silent Spectators of the Sacred"
The exhibition of 1st century stones from Herod's Temple Mount in Jerusalem is on loan from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

- "Ancient Writing in the Mediterranean World"
The exhibit - a collection of ancient writing implements, coins, Egyptian scarabs and figurines, and inscriptions in Mesopotamian cuneiform, Aramaic, Hebrew, Latin and Coptic - was donated by the Museum of Archeology and Biblical History in Albuquerque, N.M.

Study Abroad Displays
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
MBSC south entrance
Information about study abroad opportunities will be available at the display tables. Stop by to ask questions regarding available study abroad programs, and learn how to incorporate study abroad into your academic plans.

Tuesday, Nov. 14
Café Internationale Open House
2 to 4 p.m.
241 ASH
Sample international foods from around the world, and join UNO's international students as they showcase their cultures through displays, presentations and musical performance. Those in attendance will also have the opportunity to visit the recently renovated Study Abroad Library during its grand reopening.

International Career Seminar: Preparing for Global Business and International Careers
1 to 2:15 p.m.
206 Roskens Hall
Join students in Rachel Wilson's "Entrepreneurial Foundations" class and learn from the experience of three successful executives who are active in today's global business community. The speakers will share their experience, ideas and advice on entrepreneurship. After the presentation, the speakers will be available to answer questions from the audience. The speakers will include Steve Kuhl, CEO, Currency Logix; Sven Jasinski, CEO, Aero-Tec Inc.; and Stephanie Healy, CEO, Vente Inc.

Wednesday, Nov. 15
International Education Week Luncheon
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
MBSC Dodge Room
Graduating international students, graduating international studies majors and sponsored exchange students will be recognized at this invitation-only event.

Bethsaida Exhibit Tours
9 a.m. to noon; 3 to 5 p.m.
343 ASH
Excavations at Bethsaida, situated on the northeast coast of the Sea of Galilee, began in 1987 under the direction of UNO professor Rami Arav. The project includes archaeological, geographical and geological surveys aimed at reconstructing the environment and landscapes in ancient times.

Special exhibits during International Education Week include:
- "Silent Spectators of the Sacred"
The exhibition of 1st century stones from Herod's Temple Mount in Jerusalem is on loan from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

- "Ancient Writing in the Mediterranean World"
The exhibit - a collection of ancient writing implements, coins, Egyptian scarabs and figurines, and inscriptions in Mesopotamian cuneiform, Aramaic, Hebrew, Latin and Coptic - was donated by the Museum of Archeology and Biblical History in Albuquerque, N.M.

Thursday, Nov. 16
Study Abroad Displays
10:30 a.m. to 1p.m.
MBSC south entrance
Information about study abroad opportunities will be available at the display tables. Stop by to ask questions regarding available study abroad programs and learn how to incorporate study abroad into your academic plans.

Friday, Nov. 17
International Outreach
2 to 3:30 p.m.
Crestridge Elementary School
UNO international students will visit UNO's Omaha Public Schools Adopt a School partner, Crestridge Elementary School, to meet students and participate in a school-wide assembly. This performance will feature entertainment from around the globe, including singing, dancing and instrumental music.

For more information, call 554.2293.

UNO OAA to Present "The Red Chair Show"

The UNO Organization for the Advancement of the Arts (OAA) will hold "The Red Chair Show" - an exhibition of art, music and poetry from local college students - Saturday, Nov. 18.

The one-night-only event will run from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Bemis Underground, 724 Leavenworth St. The event is free and open to the public.

OAA will be accepting student work Thursday and Friday, Nov. 16-17, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Bemis Underground. There is a $5 fee for all entries, with a limit of six entries per person.

For more information regarding rules and regulations, contact Alex Myers at unooaa@mail.unomaha.edu.

Nov. 22-24 Library Hours Announced

On Wednesday, Nov. 22, Criss Library will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additionally, the library will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 23-24, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

For more information, contact Gayle Roberts at 554.3213.

Inclement Weather Reminder

When inclement weather arises locally, access the UNO Weather Announcements Web site at http://www.unomaha.edu/news/weather.php for the latest university closing information. Remember to hit the reload or refresh button on your Web browser first.

You also can dial 554.CALL (554.2255) for the latest weather announcements, and KVNO Radio 90.7 FM will also announce UNO closing information.

Maverick Watch

Go Mavs! Support your Mavericks by attending their home events.

Students are admitted free to all home athletic games with a valid UNO ID (MavCard) and game-day ticket. The spouses, significant others and children of students also are admitted free. At the game, students must present their MavCard to receive a ticket. Tickets will be available on the day of the game at each home event. For more information, call 554.MAVS (6287).

inPlay, located downtown at 15th and Cuming St., will offer free parking and shuttle service from its parking lot to the Qwest Center Omaha for all UNO home hockey games in the 2006-07 season. Shuttle service is available for all UNO hockey fans, but a shuttle ticket is required to receive free transportation. Tickets will be available for fans at the counter inside inPlay.

At home this week...

Saturday, Nov. 11
- Football vs. Central Washington ("Pink Out Day" – see story above for details)
Caniglia Field
1 p.m.

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