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8th May 2008

Commencement is TOMORROW

Every time I’ve attended commencement at the Civic there is inevitably someone in a cap and gown flying to try and get into the right place at the last moment.  It’s kind of funny and sweet . . . and aggravating, too.

Some advice — parking will be a chore–go early.  It takes time to primp, get the gown and hat on right and find your college–go early. Photos are easier to take in the Civic lobby before the ceremony–go early.

  UNO Commencement May 9 at the Civic

Omaha - More than 1,200 students will graduate Friday, May 9, during the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) spring commencement ceremony. The event will be held at the Omaha Civic Auditorium, 1804 Capitol Ave., beginning at 2 p.m.

Aaron Albin, an Omaha native, will present the student commencement address.  He graduates with a bachelor of arts in English (with a concentration in writing and linguistics) and a bachelor of arts in Spanish. This fall, he plans to move to Indiana to enter a master’s program in linguistics and teach Japanese courses through an associate instructorship.

Kathy Pfeiffer, UNO budget coordinator since 2000, will receive the Chancellor’s Medal.  Responsible for preparing the UNO operating budget, she oversees changes and updates to the budget to ensure the adherence of guidelines set by the University of Nebraska Office of the President and Board of Regents.

UNO Chancellor John Christensen will receive the Alumnus Achievement Award. Christensen has spent nearly his entire academic career at UNO, beginning in 1978 as a faculty member in the College of Education’s Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders.  He has served as the 14th chancellor of UNO since May 2007 and is the first UNO graduate and Omaha native to lead the institution.

For more information, call (402) 554.2358 or (402) 554.2762.

And for those of use around campus next week . . .

Elmwood Park Lower Road to Close May 12

The city of Omaha will begin resurfacing the Elmwood Park lower road on Monday, May 12, at 8 a.m. Due to the narrow width, the road will be closed to all traffic. The intersection of University Drive South and University Drive East will remain open.

The project is expected to last four days. For more information, contact Campus Security at 554.2648.

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6th May 2008

New WRC Director Says “Hi”

Jenn Piatt was great, but she has — metaphorically — left the building.  The new Women’s Resource Director is Lori Young.  She posted this yesterday on Facebook.   Thought it should get passe along  –

“Hello all!

I am the new director of the Women’s Resource Center for 2008-2009. My name is Lori Young, I am a 5th year senior majoring in Women’s and Gender Studies.

While the WRC has been closed due to the changing of hands, it will re-open May 19th.

I want your input on what hours I should have the center open in the summer. What days and hours are the best for you all so I can be there to gleefully hand out free condoms, lube, tampons, pads, and hugs if need be. In that order.

Shoot me and e-mail and feel free to friend me if you have not done so already.

Have a great finals week,

Lori”

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2nd May 2008

You don’t have to own stock to meet Warren Buffett

UNO student Jaime Ishii (who works in my office) had an opportunity more than a month ago to meet the country’s richest man along with other students. Below is her first-person account. She and the other students got a great deal closer to Mr. Buffett than most shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway will this weekend. Read on –

A “Day With Warren Buffett”

By Jaime Ishii

I wasn’t sure what to expect of my lunch with the world’s richest man. I was invited to attend a “Day with Warren Buffett,” complete with a tour of the Nebraska Furniture Mart, a two-hour question and answer session followed by lunch with the richest man in America himself, Warren Buffett.

PRSSA students with Warren Buffett

I am not a savvy, investment kind of person. I like money. When I can I will go on E-Trade and hope for the best. I only know that we are on the brink of a recession everyday because the news lets me know. My major is journalism with a public relations emphasis. Mr. Buffet and I have only one thing in common, a sense of pride and passion from our home city. However the invite to attend this auspicious day intrigued me. I felt honored to be able to participate.
Jeremy Lipschultz, the director of the School of Communication, invited me to this event last spring. Of course, I was familiar with Berkshire Hathaway. My couch comes from Nebraska Furniture Mart, I once sold Kirby vacuum cleaners, and have waited on many a visitor from the annual Stockholder meeting at various restaurants. But this day seemed a more intimate, insider-esque kind of scenario, where Warren and I might exchange barbs and (hopefully) stock tips. I was partially right.
The day included over 50 UNO students from business and finance majors as well as the most actively involved communication students. My vision of WB and me chatting leisurely after a steak lunch was different than I imagined…100 Canadian students joined us as well..
Before the luncheon, we were given the background about how this event came to be. We were also reminded not to bring any recording devices and surreptitiously instructed to be on our best behavior- no running up to hug him, no asking for student loans. The room was somewhat divided–business finance majors here, communication majors there, but we were all going to hang out with the man-Warren Buffet.
Some wanted to know how he did it, others wanted to know his views on the media, still others wanted to merely lay eyes on a billionaire, breath the same air and hope some of that “money magic” would imbue itself to them. I wanted to see how one person handles all of this kind of scrutiny. Easy grace and humility are the only words to use when speaking about Buffet and his demeanor. He is the perfect picture of the Midwestern mentality– real, genuine, and hard working.
The day started with the NFM tour hosted by Mrs. B’s grandson, Bob Batt. We all gathered close to hear the history of this family-owned furniture store, and its rise to nationally recognized levels. NFM is an example of Buffet’s discerning eye for businesses that will flourish under the right investor and time. It is Buffet’s belief that you buy a company as a whole, owners, managers and staff included. Buffet doesn’t micromanage, he wants the company to grow and flourish. Nebraska Furniture Mart now has a sister store in Kansas City, and it is still recognized regionally for its excellent quality furniture and prices.
I listened, sitting on the one mattress in the place that was important, the Warren mattress. This mattress is firm, yet comfy, one of the only concessions Buffet has made to one of his company’s using his name for a product. It was very appropriate, as Batt told us that Buffet aspired to be a mattress tester someday. I laughed inwardly, as the crowd roared- I too wished to test mattress for a living.
We moved on, listening as Batt spoke of how the market for furniture has shifted from distributors in the South to mainly imported furniture from China. I quietly wonder how this shift has occurred, answering myself with the obvious answer: More people, government controlled income, and a wider wealth of resources. That is left unsaid, but the subject of China will re-emerge later.

The group travels east to the Kiewit Building, where Buffet awaits us in the top floor appropriately named the Cloud Room. A panoramic view of Omaha is the backdrop for the main event- Mr. Buffet and the students armed with questions. He is dressed in a striking black suit, red tie and a grin. He jokes with us about his partner-Charlie Munger. The only barbs thrown are by Buffet-about himself. He is gracious, almost bubbling over at the prospect of hosting aspiring professionals. I find myself returning his smile, and watch as those who seemed to expect nothing less then a god find themselves charmed into feeling at home, briefly.

The questions start, all well chosen, thought out and hopeful. Questions range from the specific investment/financial to grandiose and far-reaching, some personal. Buffet answered them all to the best of his ability. The most memorable answer was about how to get started in a successful investment career. “Do something you love,” said Buffet, “ anything else isn’t worth it.” He goes on to advise us to find the right spouse “who has the right expectations, preferably low ones.”

When asked about how to fix the current recession, Buffet doesn’t have the answer. “If I had the answer to that, I would tell the people who could fix it. That isn’t me, and that’s not the nature of how my business works.” He admits to not having the magic money touch, that all his success has been a product of smart acquisitions, time and work. He still goes in to work everyday, even though he is well past retirement age and necessity. He hates to fire anyone, but will do so for the good of the company.

Admittedly, I was more taken with the aspect of seeing the regular person side of Buffet, he reminds most people of their grandfather. I listened to the specific investment strategy jargon and gleaned that it is 70% smart investment, 18% opportunity, and 12% patience. The international investment market seems to guardedly include China. The long and short of it was “Who is putting out the most goods, for the cheapest rate at the highest productivity?” That is China–right now.

After two hours of questions, we traveled on to lunch. The group would have gone to Buffet’s favorite restaurant, Gorat’s, but it is closed on Mondays. Instead we traveled to Piccolo Pete’s for steak and old school fabulousness (complete with a huge disco ball in the middle of the dining room.) We ate, chatted and exchanged banter with our respective tables. Afterwards, we were all invited to take pictures with our host.

While waiting in line to see the fun, I overheard a few Canadian students asking “Why would he live in this small town? Why did he pick this restaurant?” and so forth. I explained that Omaha is now considered a small city, with a population over 850,000. This is home, and Buffet is a home kind of guy. As for the other inquiries, I politely shrug.

I think you have to be from here to get it. If they had been listening at all- invest in stable, well chosen companies, etc they might see that Omaha is like just such a company. Slow steady growth, good people, all of this makes Omaha a good investment. Patronizing privately owned restaurants, like Gorat’s or Piccolo Pete’s, is putting money into the economy of a city well worth investing in.

Outside the restaurant, people crowded in the cold rain to get a picture with Buffet. Again I am struck by his ability to handle such adoration, but he looked as comfortable and flattered as anyone could be. I wrestled with the idea of pushing my way in for a picture, but decided that 149 people was enough, so I boarded my bus. My picture with Warren Buffet can wait for another day.

And for those studying all weekend . . . .

Just chill. Listen on.

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1st May 2008

Graduation Celebration for Young Alumni

The Alumni Association wants you!

UNO Young Alumni members are celebrating the commencement of UNO’s first Class of 2008 graduates. The group, a UNO Alumni Association affiliate, will meet Thursday, June 5, from 6 to 9 p.m at the Fox & Hound, 120th and Dodge streets. All UNO graduates under the age of 40 are welcome to join the celebration/networking event. For more information visit http://www.unoalumni.org/events/uno_young_alumni/june_5_graduation_celebration/

Belltower Sounds and Pictures 

Kinda proud of this.  It was fun to work on –

Henningson Memorial Campanile Concert

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30th April 2008

Ret. Police Chief Thomas H. Warren speaking at UNO tonight (Wed April 30th)

Got this from Ryan Flores Murphy — Read on.

“You are invited to attend an Affirmative Action Forum with featured panelist Thomas H. Warren, Sr. President and CEO of The Urban League of Nebraska and retired Chief of the Omaha Police Department, at the UNO Alumni Center’s Bootstrapper Hall tonight Wednesday April 30th at 7:30pm.

Other Pannelists include Dr. Byron D’andra Orey, University of Nebraska at Lincoln Professor of Political Science; Ramon Sanchez; Chalie Livingston, UNMC; and moderator
Dr. Thomas Sanchez, UNO Professor of Sociology.

The Event is sponsored by The Latin@ Political Awareness and Action Committee (LPAAC), The Women’s Resource Center (WRC), Inter-Tribal Student Council, and The African American Organization.

The event is FREE and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

For more information please contact:
Ryan Flores Murphy at (402) 714-9511
or Roger Garcia at (402) 714-7387″

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28th April 2008

Alumni Center to Host Affirmative Action Forum

An open forum on Affirmative Action will take place Wednesday evening, April 30, at the William H. and Dorothy Thompson Alumni Center. The UNO Women’s Resource Center, Latino Political Action and Awareness Committee, Inter-Tribal Student Council and African American Organization are all event sponsors and participants. The forum, which is free, will run from 7:30 until 9 p.m. in Bootstrapper Hall.

UNO Alum to have Art Opening in May 

And check out the info below on former UNO student Bart Vargas. He created the giant “nest” that was displayed in the library last year made out of wire, computer parts and keybooards.

http://bartvargas.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/08vargas_poste51.jpg

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25th April 2008

Weekend reminders . . .

. . . see below for the information on the SPO Day at the Zoo (a tremendous bargain) and the Library’s Stress Free Sunday (which is free.)

 Other stuff

Benson’s Waiting Room lounge has a new, easier to navigate website.  Check it out at waitingroomlounge.com.

Like new technology, like mp3 player?  But do you find analog recordings interesting?  How about a case for an iPod made out of old audio cassettes?  Really.  Check out 45ipodcases.

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24th April 2008

Finishing Up the Semester

Go to this slide show — Finishing Up the Semester.

Enjoy the heck out of it.  Be strong and study hard.

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24th April 2008

Symposium to Feature Medieval, Renaissance Period

The  Medieval/Renaissance Student Group will present a Spring Symposium on Wednesday, April 30, that will feature displays on art, literature, alchemy, weaponry, women’s dress and games for the campus community and the public to participate in.  Organizers of the Symposium said they want this to be a fun, and interactive, way to learn about the Medieval and Renaissance time periods.
All activities will take place in the Milo Bail Student Center Fireplace Lounge between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.  In addition to a bake sale, free Byzantine food will be available for visitors to taste.  For more information, call 402-332-6739

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23rd April 2008

The Bag Monster is coming to town

I don’t make this stuff up.

Choose to Reuse Event to be Staged at UNO

To close out Nebraska Public Health Month and to follow-up on Earth Day, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma, a national health education honorary organization, will stage an event, “Choose to Reuse,” on Wednesday, April 30. Activities will take place at the UNO Pep Bowl, near the south entrance to Eppley Administration Building.
The event will raise awareness about the plastic bag problem and celebrate the communities and stores that have banned plastic bags. Hundreds of plastic bags will be on display to illustrate how ubiquitous and numerous they are.
The average American uses at least 600 plastic bags per year. These bags litter the environment, aren’t biodegradable, are petroleum based products, are hazardous to wildlife and are wasteful in that they are not generally reused or recycled and are only used for a short amount of time and then discarded, said David Corbin, professor of health education and public health and an event organizer.
“We will be urging people to use and reuse cloth bags instead of using plastic or paper bags,” said Shandy Ramet, Eta Sigma Gamma president. Paper bags are a big environmental problem, too, he added.
Free cloth bags will be distributed while supplies last at the event.
From 11 a.m. until noon the “Chicobag Bag Monster” will be on campus to express an opposing viewpoint.
“You’ll have to see it to believe it,” Dr. Corbin said.
The Bag Monster (actually a volunteer in a costume made out of hundreds of plastic bags) will “advocate” for even greater use of plastic. A short video of the Bag Monster on the streets of San Francisco is available for viewing at chicobag.com
For further information, please contact Shandy Ramet or Dr. Corbin at 554-2670. Online, information is available at both
http://www.unomaha.edu/healthed/choosetoreuse.html and
http://www.myspace.com/choosetoreuse.
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And here’s a small preview — take a peek at photos from last weekend’s Women’s Walk.

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