April 9 - April 23, 2021

Alumni in the News

Jim Pillen, University of Nebraska Regent and Alumni, Announces Governor Candidacy.

University of Nebraska- Lincoln Regent and former Husker football player, Jim Pillen, announced on Wednesday April 7th, 2021, that he will be running as a Republican candidate for governor in 2022.

Pillen seeks to provide a “conservative leadership” to the race, as well as a commitment to protect “the values, freedoms and unparalleled quality of life Nebraskans enjoy.”

During his campaign announcement, Pillen shared his views on many state issues stating;

“Our state is at a crossroads, and it’s never been more important to have principled, conservative leadership with a vision for Nebraska’s future,” Pillen said in a press release. “We have to fix our broken property tax system, grow our economy statewide, and defend our principles and our way of life.”

The election is not set to take place until November 8th, 2022. 

Courses to Check Out

Join UNL's New Film Club

The UNL Film Club is up and running! Also unofficially called Good Film Hunting, this organization is a space for students, regardless of majors or affiliations, to have an open discourse about cinema and to meet other like-minded individuals, as well as introduce students to a broader array of films. 

Link To Sign Up For A Membership:https://unl.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/unl-film-club

Department of English Announcements and Events

Chris Harding Thornton reads from her new novel PICKARD COUNTY ATLAS

Date:

 Apr. 9, 2021Date:Apr. 13, 2021

 Time:5:00 pm

 Zoom

Chris Harding Thornton, a seventh-generation Nebraskan, will be holding a zoom reading of her very first novel PICKARD COUNTY ATLA. Her book tell the story of the fallout from the murder of a young boy eighteen years earlier, and family traumas that link a deputy sheriff to the victim’s surviving brothers—one a suspected arsonist, the other a speed addict. Set the date in your calendar today!

Zoom Link:https://unl.zoom.us/j/97057579117

Connecting Race and Time: Early Modern and 19th Century Textual Encounters

 Date:Apr. 14, 2021

 Time:5:00 pm

 Zoom

Hosted by the Medieval & Renaissance Studies Program, guests Dr. Brigitte Fielder (University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Letters and Science) and Dr. Julia Schleck (UNL Department of English) will give talks on the intersection of race, cultural practices, and literature. A special focus will be on the way racial practices and discourses intersect with early modern literature, and especially, with Shakespeare across time and place.

Zoom Link: https://www.unl.edu/medren/registration-zoom-april-14-context-and-race-early-modern-and-19th-century

Every Time I Talk About… Black Voices In A Time Of Change: Poetry, Art, And Music

 Date:Apr. 20, 2021

 Time:7:30 pm–9:00 pm

 Lied Center Virtual Event

Drawing on the poetry of the late poet Lucille Clifton, UNL Poets will celebrate the long history of Black poets bringing often uneasy truths to the heart of America. Curated by Kwame Dawes, the poets, in conversation with music and visual art, will perform their own compositions and selections of poems by Lucille Clifton, whose words continue to resonate in our culture today.

Link For Registration: https://events.unl.edu/2021/04/20/154742/

Reading: Grace Bauer and Hilda Raz

 Date:Apr. 22, 2021

 Time:7:00 pm

 Zoom

In this zoom reading Grace Bauer and Hilda Raz, two poets who helped build UNL’s Creative Writing Program, will read from their new books Unholy Heart and Letter from a Place I’ve Never Been.

University Announcements and Events

IGNITE with Bri Castellini

 Date:Apr. 9, 2021

 Time:12:30 pm–1:50 pm

 Zoom

Seed&Spark’s Film and Community Manager Bri Castellini will present a workshop titled “Crowdfunding to Build Independence.” This workshop lays out the steps toward a successful crowdfunding campaign, as well as a career-long action plan most likely to create a lasting, flourishing, direct relationship with an audience.

Link For More Information: https://arts.unl.edu/carson-center/beyond-classroom/ignite

Zoom Link: https://go.unl.edu/ignitespring

Fort Laramie Writing Festival Digital Experience with the Overland Trails

 Date:Apr. 12, 2021 – Apr. 16, 2021

 Time:12:00 am–11:55 pm

 Online

Writers (teachers and students) grades 5-12 are invited to this year’s Fort Laramie Writing Festival, a free digital event designed for writing classes and clubs with the ability to watch videos and participate in digital writing prompts. This year’s event offers four asynchronous activities pairing a virtual tour of part of Fort Laramie National Historic Site with a writing activity led by a Nebraska Writing Project teacher

Link For Registration:https://www.unl.edu/newp/youth-writing-festivals

“Within Reach: Zero Hunger” Conference Day 3

 Date:Apr. 12- April 15, 2021

 Online

The Deaton Institute for University Leadership in International Development is excited to announce the virtual inaugural Within Reach conference, with the theme of Zero Hunger hosted April 12-15, 2021. Renowned World Food Prize Laureates, like international food security powerhouses Catherine Bertini and Roger Thurow, and many others, will contribute to this conference with a goal to inspire, empower, and challenge students to take action against hunger in a world plagued by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, virtual education, and economic hardship.

Thomas C. Sorenson Policy Seminar Series: Policies For A Gender-Equitable Recovery and Resilience After COVID-19

 Date:Apr. 13, 2021

 Time:12:00 pm–1:00 pm

 Zoom

Following the worst pandemic in modern history, policymakers are debating how to address the deeply unequal impacts and recovery from COVID-19. In this seminar, Dr. C. Nicole Mason will discuss the varied impacts of the pandemic on women, and long-term policy needs that will lift and sustain women’s well-being, economic stability, and upwards mobility in the United States.

Link For Registration: https://go.unl.edu/nmas

“What were you wearing?” Survivor Art Installation

Date:

 Date:Apr. 12- Apr. 22, 2021

 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, 10:00 am- 8:00 pm Time:

 Willa S. Cather Dining Complex and  Nebraska East Union Room: Prairie Suite

This art exhibit asks participants to understand that it is never about the clothing when sexual violence occurs, the display will show recreations of outfits worn during assaults with accompanying stories from sexual assault survivors. 

Hire Big 10+ Virtual Career Fair

 Date:Apr. 20, 2021

 Time:2:00 pm–6:00 pm

 Handshake Virtual Platform

This virtual career fair event is open to all enrolled students at member schools of the Hire Big Ten Plus Consortium and recent alumni. Register and sign up for sessions in Handshake.

Link For More Information: https://wisc.joinhandshake.com/career_fairs/23733/student_preview?token=swQBFpY4ZR8Q_nWgM5owkHkBFuKXb61IKrq0A8h0LGowRXmPC3ikmw

Earth Day!

 Date:Apr. 22, 2021

 Time:6:45 am–8:00 pm

 Cather Dining Center- 530 North 17th Street Lincoln Ne 68588-0607

The Cather Dining Center will be serving some Nebraska, local, and plant-based items all day! Join in celebrating our planet and being sustainable.

Link To View Menu: https://dining.unl.edu/daily-menus

2021 Nebraska Conference on Health Equity

 Date:Apr. 22, 2021 – Apr. 23, 2021

 Time:8:30 am–4:00 pm

 Zoom

The Nebraska Conference on Health Equity is a call to action on health equity and access. This conference will address the role that social determinants of health play when caring for and working with minoritized populations in Nebraska. Participants in this virtual meeting will have the opportunity to learn about and strategize with experts to improve health outcomes for underserved communities in Nebraska. This is a great opportunity to learn more about various healthcare equity issues from diverse perspectives, and help design solutions! 

Link For More Information: https://mhdi.unl.edu/

Internships, Jobs, and Professional Development

HuskerVision Student Producer

HuskerVision is the video production arm of the University of Nebraska- Lincoln Athletic Department. The department works with all 22 varsity sports and closely with the Big Ten Network. Students working at HuskerVision will receive hands-on training with professional cameras and editing software, while gaining real-world experience working live productions. All majors are welcome to apply!

Application Deadline: April 16th, 2021

Link For More Information: https://unl.joinhandshake.com/jobs/4620885?ref=preview-header-click

Box Office Student Worker

The Lied Center for Performing Arts ticket and subscription sales is looking to hire UNL students that can provide friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable customer support to all ticket buyers.

Application Deadline: April 28th, 2021

Link For More Information: https://unl.joinhandshake.com/jobs/4643192?ref=preview-header-click

Community Events

New Exhibition Featuring Nona Faustine's In Praise of Famous Men No More

 Date:Apr. 23- Jul. 3, 2021

 TBDTBD

 Sheldon Muesum of Art- 12th and, R St, Lincoln, NE 68588

The Sheldon Museum of Art's Student Advisory Board (SSAB) seeks to represent the student body voice for the Sheldon Museum of Art. With opportunities for leadership, creative exploration, and community, members of SSAB collaborate with staff and peers to enhance student experiences at the museum. Each year SSAB works with the Sheldon to acquire a new piece of art for the museum's collection. This year the piece that was chosen was In Praise of Famous Men No More by artist Nona Faustine. The beautiful silk screen print will make its debut at the Sheldon on April 23, 2021.

One Day Without Shoes Drive

 Date:Apr. 5- Apr. 16, 2021

 Time:8:00 am–5:00 pm

 Nebraska Innovation Campus

Nebraska Innovation Campus is a proud partner for the annual “One Day Without Shoes” event. Organized by People’s City Mission and Cornhusker Bank, the event aims to collect new or used wearable footwear for people in need.

Link For More Information: https://www.cornhuskerbank.com/Day-Without-Shoes.asp

Stay Woke: Readings in Social Justice

New Proposed Nebraska Health Education Standards; A Topic Of Debate

The Nebraska Department of Education has released a draft proposing major changes to Nebraskan public-school health education standards. The plans emphasize teaching topics that focus on sexuality, gender, gender expression, and gender identity.

There has been an uproar by Nebraskan citizens, as well as elected officials like governor Pete Ricketts, in disfavor of the suggested revisions. On Thursday April 8th, 2021, Governor Ricketts declared "The new standards from the department would not only teach young children age-inappropriate content starting in kindergarten, but also inject non-scientific, political ideas into curriculum standards.”

The Nebraska Department of Education released the draft on standards in an effort to receive public opinions before authorization by the Nebraska State Board of Education, which is expected to occur later this year.  Members of the public can submit formal comments by emailing nde.standardsinput@nebraska.gov or submit comments online at nde.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8dI1y2pRSfXlG8R

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Literary News

How Ramona Quimby Taught a Generation of Girls to Embrace Brashness

"In 1955, Ramona Quimby, a near American cousin of Pippi Longstocking, tumbled into the picture, all scraped knees and exuberant doodles. She and her creator, author Beverly Cleary, united with Pippi and Lindgren in literary confederation, bright beacons for little girls who have been variously told they are too much: too loud or pesky or hyperactive. Upon a cursory read, it might be tempting to describe Ramona as mischievous, but Cleary herself has protested against this accusation, and with good reason. Ramona loves the world with ferocity; she does not so much want to disturb it as she yearns to discover, to turn it over, examine every piece and crook and marvel at why each creature, commodity, and substance exists the way it does. “She was a girl who could not wait. Life was so interesting she had to find out what happened next,” explains Cleary in Ramona the Pest."

Read more from Rachel Vorona Cote on LitHub.

Film News

Showing This Week at the Ross

French Exit- April 2- April 15, 2021

Oscar Shorts 2021- April 9- April 22, 2021

Kinky Boots Virtual Event- April 14- April 20, 2021

The Gospel of Neo: How The Matrix Paved the Way for the Marvel Universe

Before the MCU, superhero movies were different. Richard Donner’s 1978 Superman: The Movie focused primarily on the Kryptonian’s relationship with Lois Lane while he tried to keep his identity secret and battle criminal mastermind Lex Luthor. It’s a seminal film, but very much of its time. And while it spawned three sequels, the third, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, was derided, putting the kibosh on any more Superman movies for 19 years.

Those Superman films paved the way for Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989—a hugely popular Oscar winner that, once again, bred some below-par sequels. Hollywood at that time couldn’t seem to hit upon a successful sequel formula, which killed off many potential franchises. Attempts to adapt other comic book superheroes to the big screen, in the interim, up to the point in time when The Matrix landed, were a mix of hit (Blade), miss (Howard the Duck, The Punisher, 1990’s Captain America), or prohibitively obscure (Swamp Thing) for big swaths of audiences. And then came The Matrix.

Read more from Kim Taylor-Foster at LitHub.