UNDEFEATED 😤

Happy Friday Ledgers,

We've all heard the saying: "First is the worst, second is the first loser, third is quite clearly the best." And it turns out Nebraska is living up to that third-place glory. According to a Newsweek article analyzing the hardest-working states in the U.S., Nebraska proudly clinched the bronze. As for the two states that edged us out? North Dakota and Alaska. But let's be real—they're practically part of Canada anyway.

And as for Iowa? They didn't even make the top ten. 👀

In this week’s issue:

• DEI: UNL to close Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

• What To Do: Hub and Soul, Huskers, and (likely) a hangover.

• Sportz: Push-up. Pull-up. No need to glow up.

• Neighborhood Watch: Flute boy flexin’. 🪈

Watch your step this weekend while traversing O Street, lest you step on a soggy discarded Zyn pouch.

- Landon

UNIVERSITY

UNL Shutters Office of Diversity and Inclusion: A Shift in Approach

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) has announced a significant shift in its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work by closing its Office of Diversity and Inclusion. This decision, revealed by UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett, marks a notable change in the university’s DEI strategy.

“We will reimagine how we approach this work at UNL,” Chancellor Bennett said in an email. He also stated that he “fully grasped the weight of the decision and its implications,” indicating a need for a new direction but offering no specific plans as of yet.

A growing trend in DEI closures… UNL is not alone in rethinking or reducing its DEI efforts. Across the country, the list of corporations that have shut down their DEI initiatives is growing. Notable names such as Tractor Supply, Harley-Davidson, Ford Motor Company, and John Deere have recently made similar moves.

Not just UNL…. UNL's decision follows similar actions within the University of Nebraska system. Earlier this summer, the University of Nebraska Omaha closed its Gender and Sexuality Resource Center following the shutdown of its Office of Multicultural Affairs last fall.

What's Next?… As UNL moves forward, many in the university community and beyond are left to speculate about what a “reimagined” approach to diversity and inclusion might entail. Will it mean a decentralized model with diversity efforts integrated across various departments? Will new initiatives focus on specific areas or communities? Or could it lead to a completely new framework altogether?

For now, the university community, alumni, and stakeholders await further details, hopeful that whatever comes next will support a diverse and inclusive environment at UNL.

Sources:
Nebraska Examiner - University of Nebraska community responds to diversity office closures in Lincoln, Omaha | Zach Wendling

WHAT TO DO

Traditional game day weekend in LNK.

Have fun, stay safe, and LADIES AND GENTLEMEN—START YOUR SEASON… 🎈

🎺 Hub and Soul
Kick off the weekend with live music and mouth-watering food at Hub and Soul! Enjoy two fantastic sets of music while indulging in delicious bites from local vendors—perfect for stuffing your lil' pie hole. The festivities run from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, offering one of the last two chances to experience Hub and Soul before the season wraps up. With ideal weather in the forecast, it’s the perfect evening to unwind outdoors, soak up the tunes, and savor the flavors. Don’t miss out!

🏈 Football Season Opener
We won’t put the ‘Skers game in this section every weekend. But, there is never a better time to celebrate together than the season opener. We’ll do a classic NU day of tailgating, making our way through the Haymarket and into classics like McKinney’s and the Tavern on the Square. From there, tailgate hop between friends’ tailgates (or their parents’) before either (a) making your way into the stadium to watch the game in person or (b) continuing to fill your gullet with the tastes of football season (12-hour liquid diet followed by an entire large pizza consumed solo while horizontal on your couch).

⁉️ Bonus: Weekend Riddle
I’m a drink that’s refreshing, with bubbles so nice,
I’m chilled and I’m zesty, like a splash over ice.
You’ll find me at parties, where fun’s the device,
With a hint of citrus — guess me once, not twice.

Poll Details: See bottom of email for more details. 👇

SPORTZ

Sporting headlines from around the capital.

• 🏐 Volleyball: Huskers started the season off right with a 3-1 win over University of Kentucky, and host their home opener tonight against TAMUCC.

• 🏈 Football: Huskers football to start a new route to the stadium, dubbed the “Husker Legacy Walk”

• 🥇 Paralympics: NU alumni Petra Luteran will compete in the 2024 Paralympics today.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

3821 S 42nd St, Lincoln, NE 68506

Flute boy flexin’ 🪈

Hidden in the deepest, darkest corners of this 1970s ranch is a diamond just waiting to shine. The real question is: how deep are you willing to dig to unearth it? Are you willing to chase the enchanting melodies of a woodwind instrument to true nirvana?

Let’s be clear—this isn’t your average weekend DIY project. This is the kind of renovation that tests your resolve, your budget, and quite possibly your relationships. But despite the dated carpets in every shade imaginable and a pedestrian exterior, something about this place just drew us in. Maybe it was the private tennis court, or the pool room that looks like it was borrowed from the basement of a small-town church, or perhaps it was the quirky little flute man statue that shoots water from every possible orifice. Whatever it was, this house has potential—if you’re up for the challenge. Hey, maybe it’s time to launch your TikTok content creator career, because this “Before” is BEGGING for an “After”.

But before you get carried away with dreams of a perfect ranch retreat, we need to talk numbers. Specifically, how to drive them down. This house needs serious work before it can be transformed into something special, and that means you need to bring in your secret weapon: that friend who lives for a good bargain. With their help, you might just negotiate this fixer-upper into a price that leaves you enough budget to handle the massive renovation ahead.

The Details:

• 5 beds, 7 baths

• 5,969 sq/ft

• Built in 1971 (and it shows)

❤️ KEEP: The appliances, the tennis court (but be ready to drop some serious cash on its restoration), the well-established landscaping, and that’s about where the list ends.

🗑️ TRASH: The carpets (all ten variations), the bland trim color that does the place no favors, the interior brick that’s more eyesore than charm, and, let’s be honest, the flute man—he’s gotta go.

CHECKLIST

An over-ambitious weekend to-do list.

• Air dust your laptop keyboard.

• Reseal any wooden surfaces outside with Thompson’s Water Seal.

• Head to the farmers’ market and pick up some fresh produce.

• Schedule your in-ground pool closing (and acknowledge these champagne problems).

• Pick out a new tree for your yard. We’re coming into the ideal time of year to plant it.

HEADLINES

More news from around the capital.

• Meat Guy: Gov. Jim Pillen is exploring legislation that would ban the sales of plant-based meat.

• Trash Fire: A cardboard recycling pile caught on fire outside of a Lincoln recycling facility.

• Prison: The new $350M state penitentiary broke ground this week.

• Running: There’s a new running club in Lincoln, and we hear they allow rollerblades.

🐯 Weekly Wildcard:
One headline (or post) we never saw coming.

• Retired: A caravan of Corvettes makes its way through Lincoln, definitely not at all living up to Corvette driver stereotypes.