This Week, July 25 - 29, 2011
Big Red Welcome 'Party' reservations due by July 29
The 2011 Big Red Welcome "Party at the Union" is 9:30 p.m. to midnight, Aug. 20 in the Nebraska Union. The event offers UNL student organizations the opportunity to host interactive booths for new and returning students.
Booths and creative stations are available to UNL student organizations for one-hour periods starting at 9:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Space is set aside for 12 to 14 different stations. Read more about Big Red Welcome on Today@UNL.
'Incendies' opens at the Ross, 'Buck' continues
The Oscar-nominated drama "Incendies" continues at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center. Also showing is "Buck," a documentary about the horse whisperer Buck Brannaman.
"Incendies" follows twins Jeanne and Simon Marwan (played by Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin and Maxim Gaudette) as they attempt to piece together their mother's past. When they sit down with notary Lebel (Rémy Girard) the twins are stunned to receive a pair of envelopes — one for the father they thought was dead, the other for a brother they didn't know existed.
"Incendies," which plays through July 28, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and won eight Genies (Canadian Oscars), including Best Motion Picture and Best Achievement in Direction. The film features French and English with English subtitles. "Buck," also playing through July 28, traces the life of Brannaman, from his abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses. A real life "horse-whisperer," he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment. Read more about these films on the The Ross website.
Extension earns $4.1 million to address climate, animal issues
UNL Extension has been awarded $4.1 million from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture for a five-year project addressing climate change and animal agriculture issues. Five other land-grant universities are partnering in the project that will be facilitated through the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center.
"A wide range of beliefs exist about climate change and there are strong and varied reactions to proposals for countering global warming, which creates challenges for those involved in agricultural policymaking, product marketing and research," said Rick Stowell, UNL Extension engineer and the project's director. "As often is the case, livestock and poultry producers are in the position of having to prepare, to adapt and respond to conditions that might be imposed on them -- whether it's due to the potential impacts of more extreme weather patterns and other climate trends, or to prospective policies that may place attention on greenhouse gas emissions from their operations," Stowell said. Read more about this project on Today@UNL.
Hammond to assist farmers in Afghanistan
Vaughn Hammond
Vaughn Hammond, a UNL Extension educator, is heading to Afghanistan to help farmers there make the transition back to crops earlier generations grew before decades of war befell the nation.
Hammond, a specialist in growing small fruits and market vegetables, is based at the Kimmel Education and Research Center at Nebraska City. The Afghan people grew such crops before entering more than two decades of war, which started with the Soviet Union's 1979 invasion. Read more about Hammond's work on Today@UNL.
Nebraska Rep Season Continues with 'The 39 Steps'
The Nebraska Repertory Theatre continues its season with "The 39 Steps" in rotating repertory with "Church Basement Ladies" and "Becky's New Car" and two one-night-only performances as part of its Destinations series from July 7 to Aug. 7.
Individual tickets for performances are $20, $18 faculty/staff and senior citizens, and $10 students with ID. Season Passes are $50, $45 faculty/staff and senior citizens, and $30 students and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) members. Tickets and passes are available at their website, or from the Lied Center Ticket Office, 301 N. 12th, Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and one hour prior to the performance in the Temple Theatre's Lobby, or by telephone at 472-4747 or 800-432-3231. Reservations for performances are recommended. Read more about Repertory Theatre performances on Today@UNL.
