UNMC’s Faculty Senate will sponsor a forum on ballot initiative 424. The controversial initiative will change Nebraska’s constitution to prohibit the consideration of gender, race, ethnicity or national origin in public contracting, public employment and public education.
The forum will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 29 from noon to 1 p.m. in Wittson Hall Amphitheater, Room 3034.
UNMC Faculty Senate President Jim Turpen, Ph.D., will moderate the discussion which includes representatives from both sides of the issue:
- David Kramer is the spokesperson and campaign manager for Nebraskans United. This group of businesses, faith groups, students and grassroots organizations seek to preserve equal opportunity in Nebraska.
- Doug Tietz is executive director for the Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative. Representatives from this group filed the petition and organized the signature-gathering process to put the initiative on the November ballot.
Because of the potential impact of this initiative on UNMC, the faculty senate wanted to provide a forum for discussion, Dr. Turpen said.
“This is an opportunity to educate our colleagues, students and staff,” Dr. Turpen said. “Many individuals have raised questions or concerns about the impact an affirmative action ban would have on our campus. As a result, the faculty senate decided it was important to provide an avenue for conversation.”
“UNMC can not take a formal position on this issue,” said Karen Honeycutt, faculty senate vice president and associate program director for clinical laboratory science in the School of Allied Health Professions. “Since this initiative is of interest to faculty, we support dialogue and debate on its merits.”
This forum will be broadcast to UNMC campuses in Lincoln, Scottsbluff and Kearney. More information on room numbers will be featured later in UNMC Today.
During the forum, individuals will have the opportunity to ask questions of both speakers. Forms will be provided at the beginning of the event for written questions. Participants at remote locations, however, must send their questions in advance. Questions can be submitted to jturpen@unmc.edu or sent to Dr. Turpen at campus ZIP 6395.