UNMC’s Faculty Senate will sponsor a forum today at noon in the Wittson Hall Amphitheatre on ballot initiative 424.
If approved by voters, 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.
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 forum will be broadcast to UNMC campuses in Lincoln, Scottsbluff and Kearney in the following locations:
- College of Dentistry-Lincoln, Room 7;
- College of Nursing-Lincoln, Room 307;
- College of Nursing-Kearney, West Center 144; and
- College of Nursing-Scottsbluff, Room 204 at 11 a.m. MST.
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.