dn the
dailynebraskan.com
thursday, april 3, 2014 volume 113, issue 125
Inside Coverage
Virology enhanced
Sacrifice victory
UNL unveils new wing of Morrison Center
Huskers win with help of sacrifice bunts
2
10
Digging up roots
The Germans from Russia Museum’s general store exhibit contains artifacts collected from families with Russian roots and German heritage. The museum includes multiple buildings that help simulate life in a community of Germans from Russia. photo by andrew barry
Oath of office
5
New ASUN executives, senators sworn in for 2014-2015 term
Kevin Knudson, a junior political science major, is administered his oath of office by former ASUN president Eric Reznicek, a senior finance and marketing major. Knudson will lead the senate in its 2014-2015 term as well as serve as UNL’s student regent.
s t or y by G a b ri e l l e L a za ro | p ho to s by C a hne r Ol s on
T
he annual Association of Students of the University of Nebraska inauguration is always a bittersweet time for the university, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Juan Franco said. “We have to say goodbye,” he said. “After working with them for a whole year – you get attached. We’re going to miss them and hope they don’t go too far. On the other hand, we have new senators and officers coming in. I always enjoy this time of year because they have so much energy and enthusiasm.” The 2014-2015 ASUN Inauguration was held Wednesday night at the Van Brunt Visitors Center. New senators, executives and other representatives were announced and took their oaths.
Each of the three past executives administered the oath to the student, replacing him or her. Outgoing internal vice president and senior economics, finance and management major Kaitlin Coziahr introduced and administered the oath to Grant Garrison, incoming internal vice president and a junior biological sciences and psychology major. “This opportunity is something you’re going to learn so much from,” Coziahr said. “Whether it’s how to communicate with others, how to put together different platforms or how to put together an event — little things you don’t think you’re going to learn, you really do learn in these roles. I can’t imagine my college experience without this. … I hope all of
ASUN: see page 2
Interim president-elect begins on-the-job training As Dr. Linder prepares to take over for Milliken, he plans to focus on access to education for all Tyler Williams DN Dr. James Linder didn’t spend his first day as the University of Nebraska’s interim president-elect in the office, or even in Nebraska. He spent it in Washington, D.C., speaking with policymakers and congressional leaders in the Nebraska delegation about what NU is doing right. “It was a great learning experience,” Linder said. “I, and the regents who were with me, were
gratified to learn that many of the programs already operating at NU are aligned with what policy makers in Washington believe is desirable.” Linder, who will officially become interim president on May 2, when current NU president James B. Milliken formally resigns, will hold the position until the Board of Regents approves selection of a replacement. He started working alongside Milliken on Tuesday in a sort of on-the-job training before Milliken becomes chancellor of the City University of New York. A national search is underway for the new president, and Linder won’t be considered for the position. But Lincoln Regent Tim Clare said Linder has all the traits of a good president. “He has a tremendous background in both the medical field and business field and has been a leader in the university system, and he brings a lot to the table,”
His favorite position he has Clare said. Linder was born in Omaha held is being a teacher. He said he’s most excited to be spending and earned a Bachelor of Science time with the students degree in biochemistry and faculty across all and microbiology from the campuses of the Iowa State University university system. in 1976. He received “The University of his M.D. with distincNebraska educates the tion from the Universicurrent and future genty of Nebraska Medical erations of our populaCenter in 1980 and has tion, it does research served on the faculty that helps feed the there since 1983. world and trains the “Your time at the majority of our healthuniversity is unlike care providers, among any other because it is countless other contridedicated to learning Linder butions,” Linder said. and personal growth,” “So how could I not be Linder wrote in an excited at the opportunity to lead email. “Be curious, be engaged with your classmates, learn as the university in those efforts?” After becoming a professor much as you can from the faculty in 1989, Linder served in several and build good habits of being a positions within UNMC admincontinuous learner, being compassionate for others and contributing istration, eventually becoming to your community. Then, go out associate dean for Academic Afand do great things for the world.” fairs. He has been responsible for
@dailyneb | facebook.com/dailynebraskan
developing intellectual property and clinical research programs at UNMC. Linder has also written five textbooks and more than 130 professional articles. He’s on the editorial board of several medical journals including “American Journal of Clinical Pathology” and “Modern Pathology”and is a member of the foundation board of the U.S.Canadian division of the International Academy of Pathology. Linder is also the acting chief medical officer for Boston-based Roche Diagnostics Hematology. He’ll continue to fill that position during his time as interim president, working two days a month for Roche, which is within UNL guidelines for full-time employees. Linder is still forming his overall vision for the university system but is focusing on making the leadership of all campuses successful and strengthening inter-
campus collaboration. He said the board is dedicated to increasing the accessibility of college to all Nebraskans, which is the reason for its ambitious enrollment goals. “Access to education is important for all Nebraskans because a higher education is so closely tied to job and personal success” Linder said. In addition to making education accessible, Linder hopes to work with the board to make internationally recognized programs that will attract learners not only from Nebraska but across the nation and world. “In over 30 years I have worked with faculty at dozens of different institutions,” Linder said. “I think we should all be proud of what we have at the University of Nebraska.” news@ dailynebraskan.com