Goldstein lectures continue focus on human rights
Shirley and Leonard Goldstein (pictured) have devoted more than 30
years to the cause of human rights around the world. Their interest in human
rights began with the strong belief that "it is simply wrong for governments to
prevent people from worshipping as they wish" and the awareness that Soviet
Jews were prevented from practicing their religion.
In the 1970s, the
Goldsteins made several trips to the Soviet Union, where they witnessed
firsthand the oppression of Soviet Jews. Their experiences in the Soviet Union
spurred them to become involved in the cause of human rights.
In 1973, Shirley and
her friend, Miriam Simon, founded the Omaha Committee for Soviet Jewry, which
sponsored the program, Freedom for Soviet Jews. Recognizing their work on
behalf of human rights, the Jewish Federation of Omaha and the National
Conference of Christians and Jews both have honored the Goldsteins. In 1996,
Shirley Goldstein was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from
UNO for her many contributions to the cause of human rights.
In 1997, Shirley and
Leonard Goldstein decided to expand their efforts on behalf of human rights by
establishing an annual lecture on the UNO campus. The lecture is designed to
keep UNO and the Omaha community as a whole informed about human rights issues
and activities.
Previous lecturers
include:
• Xiao Qiang,
executive director, Human Rights in China;
• Kenneth Roth,
executive director, Human Rights Watch;
• LaShawn Jefferson,
women's rights division director, Human Rights Watch;
• Jo Becker,
children's rights advocacy director, Human Rights Watch;
• William Schultz,
executive director, Amnesty International;
• David Chandler,
senior lecturer, Centre for the Study of Democracy, Univ. of Westminster,
London;
• Jerry Fowler,
staff director, Committee on Conscience, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
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2006 Goldstein Lecture
The eighth annual Shirley and Leonard
Goldstein Lecture on Human Rights was held Oct. 19 in the Milo Bail Student
Center at UNO. This year's speaker was Dr. Stephen Marks (pictured),
Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Professor of Health and Human Rights, Harvard School of
Public Health.
Marks addressed about 100 attendees on the subject of "Claims —
legitimate and exaggerated — about human rights in development."
The emphasis of Marks' work is on the
interface of health and human rights, drawing on the disciplines of
international law, politics, organizations and economics. Marks' current
interests include integrating human rights into sustainable human development
and developing human rights indicators of relevance to poverty reduction
strategies.
Speaking on one popular misconception regarding
globalization, Marks says, "The violent conflict is not between the morally
indignant voices of the poor versus a band of greedy capitalists meeting in
some boardroom in Washington or London."
Marks proposes that human rights can be part
of these development processes:
• Economic development—a historical process
that takes place in almost all societies, characterized by economic growth,
construction of infrastructure, expansion of industry, increased production and
consumption of goods and services; and,
• Human development—a version of the same
process that embraces human needs and social goals beyond material well-being,
such as higher standards of education and healthcare, and wider opportunities
for work and leisure, increased capabilities and choices for the individual.
Marks has been consultant to the United
Nations Development Program on this topic and expects to collaborate on a new
project for UNICEF with Professor Ajay Maha.
UNO's department of
philosophy and religion and International Studies and Programs sponsored the
lecture.
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Luna remembered for originality
Colleague Diane Andrew remembers Dr. Norman Luna as a renaissance
man. She writes, "He was respected by his colleagues—he had a passion for his
research and was a regular contributor even after his retirement. He had a
marvelous singing voice and a love of opera. The breadth of his knowledge about
everything was amazing."
Luna passed away in
June 2006 at the age of 70. Since his retirement in 2001 he had held the
position of professor emeritus in foreign languages.
Luna first was hired
to teach Spanish at UNO in 1969. He completed his Ph.D. that same year at the
University of Colorado, Boulder.
His broad range of
interests was reflected in his research. He was a regular presenter at The
Third World Studies Conference and The European Studies Conference at UNO and
brought original insights into the works of a wide variety of authors from
Shakespeare to James Joyce and from Cervantes to Paz.
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Horejs leaves
legacy in UNO English department
by Dr. David Raabe
James C. Horejs,
longtime supporter of the English department, died in May at age 86.
In 1978, Horejs first contributed $100 to start a scholarship fund
for undergraduates in the English program. He then gave steadily to build the
fund. At his death, the principal had accrued to more than $80,000, allowing
the English department to award several annual scholarships.
Horejs (yearbook
photo at right) graduated from Omaha University in 1949 with a BS in business
administration. He went to work for the U.S. Postal Service and was there for
many years. He later endowed a similar fund for economics students.
A UNO Alumni
Association memo from 1979 noted that Horejs "lives in a modest duplex-type
home" and "he wants to endow this scholarship and receive very little
publicity. He suggested we use his initials to identify it at first ['The J.H.
Alumni English Scholarship'] and maybe in five to six years refer to it with
his full name."
Says English Chair
Susan Maher: "We owe James Horejs a deep debt of gratitude. They may not have
known how to pronounce his name ("HORSH"), but an entire generation of students
has now benefited from this man's generosity.
His persistence and
dedication make him a model of effective philanthropy on a scale that has made
a timely difference in the lives of individuals."
Eight students
received Horejs scholarships for 2006-2007. One was Sarah Sanderman, who began
her degree work in another college. Sanderman writes: "The enthusiastic
professors in the English department ignited my passion for writing and
literature. Within two semesters, I was officially enrolled as an English
major, a decision I have not regretted.
"This scholarship
greatly motivates me for my final semester at UNO."
James Horejs, by
making his scholarship an endowed fund, assured that the principal would be
kept intact. The awards come out of interest only.
For a modest man's
modest beginning — and two decades of persistence — our students will benefit
in perpetuity.
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Speakers help college mark Native American Heritage month
Each November, to mark National Native
American Heritage Month, the Native American Studies Program together with
student organizations and leadership programs and the Intertribal Student
Council sponsors a series of events to celebrate Indian heritage and explore
current issues.
On Nov. 2, Steve Hendricks, author of "The
Unquiet Grave," gave a presentation entitled "The FBI v/s American Indians."
The book investigates the shooting of AIM
member Anna Mae Aquash and the apparent FBI coverup. "Unquiet Grave," published
by Thunder's Mouth Press, has received considerable critical acclaim from,
among others, Studs Terkel who describes Hendricks' first book as
"Investigative journalism at its gutsiest, at its noblest."
On Nov. 14, a panel of UNO's Native American
faculty led a discussion on the issue of Native American mascots. Carolyn
Fiscus (coordinator, Community Outreach and Service; coordinator, Native
American Studies, sociology/anthropology department) , said, "I've been talking
about this issue for 40 years, and we're still talking about it."
The issue centers on Native Americans being
depicted and used as logos for sports teams such as the Washington Redskins.
"It is dehumanizing," says Fiscus.
Another member of the panel, Dennis Smith,
history department, explained, "our culture is beautiful and sacred to us."
Ed Zendejas, J.D., political science
department, added that, "the feathers and paint mean something to us."
Barbara Robins, English department, rounded
out the panel with related illustrations from Native American art.
On Nov. 15, UNO Professor of history Michael
Tate gave a presentation entitled "From Cooperation to Conflict: Indian and
Emigrant Relations on the Overland Trails (1840-1860)," drawing on his recently
published book "Indians and Emigrants: Encounters on the Overland Trails"
published by the University of Oklahoma Press.
Tate's research draws a very different picture
of relations between Native American peoples and emigrants than is portrayed in
the popular press of that time and for decades beyond in Hollywood movies.
This year's events also included a discussion
led by Fred Leroy on Ponca Restoration Day, a film screening of "Pow Wow
Highway," a poetry reading by Native youth co-sponsored by OPS, a presentation
by Michael Murphy, local song writer and Native American flute player, and a
panel discussion on Bear Butte.
A panel of UNO's Native American faculty led a Nov. 14
discussion on the issue of Native American Mascots. From left, Carolyn Fiscus,
Ed Zendejas, Dennis Smith and Barbara Robins. Said Fiscus: "I've been talking
about this issue for 40 years, and we're still talking about it."
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Center grows as "advocate for the sciences"
Photos by Tim
Fitzgerald / University Affairs
In describing the overall mission of the new science and math
learning center, Dr. Dana Richter-Egger (top photo) explains, "We want the
center to be an advocate for the sciences."
In recent history,
the United States has fallen behind other countries in secondary school science
achievement scores and has suffered a relative decline in interest and ability
in the sciences at the university level. The sciences faculty has plans to turn
things around for the local community and the region.
The new center
originally was conceived as part of a $2 million National Science Foundation
grant awarded in 2004 in support of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering
and Math) Talent Expansion Program. It since has garnered additional funding
through university Programs of Excellence funding and a University of Nebraska
Foundation grant and mathematics.)
The $110,000
Foundation grant will go toward construction costs for building the facility in
Durham Science Center and toward equipping the center with state-of-the-art
technology.
Richter-Egger,
assistant professor of chemistry, is interim co-director of the learning center
(with Dr. Harmon Maher, professor of geology, pictured below) and one of the
principle investigators on the NSF grant.
Much of the $88,000
in Programs of Excellence funding eventually will go toward hiring a full-time
director for the center whose responsibilities will include establishing and
maintaining communication with sciences faculty and assisting them in their
need for instructional and assessment resources. One key component of the new
learning center will be visualization technology. Richter-Egger explains that
many of the concepts which students struggle with in the sciences are either
too small or too large to see or touch. With the latest technologies, chemistry
students can manipulate a 
molecule and geology students can carve the Grand Canyon.
The foundation of
the learning center will be tutors—advanced students who by virtue of a strong
foundation in all of the sciences can assist other students in understanding
any of the sciences.
"Combining tutoring
services for all of the sciences allows for the optimal use of student talents,"
says Richter-Egger.
Dr. Jack Heidel,
chair of the mathematics department and one of the principal investigators on
the NSF grant adds that, "the tutors will themselves benefit from interaction
with other majors. Furthermore, serving as a tutor will lead to greater
awareness by students of what it means to be a scientist or a teacher. This
directly contributes to STEP's goal of increasing the number of undergraduate
STEM majors."
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