After 25 years of coaching and four national championships, John Cook has an arena and bronze statue to commemorate his contributions to the Husker Volleyball legacy.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the naming of John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Center at its meetings meeting on Friday.
Cook, who retired after last season, coached NU Volleyball to 15 conference titles and 12 Final Four appearances.
“Coach Cook, of course, is the most successful coach in the history of intercollegiate volleyball, and more so as a role model, a mentor and a friend to many, including myself," said University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold. “Coach Cook, we are so proud of what you have done, and our student athletes have built here in Nebraska."
The Board of Regents had been planning the renaming six months prior to Cook's retirement. Along with the change in signage, the university is planning to erect a bronze statue of Cook outside the Devaney Center.
The estimated cost of the project is $400,000, an amount that has already been paid for by donors.
In other business Friday, the Board of Regents voted to approve language in their policies to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order on diversity, equity and inclusion.
The federal government sent a “Dear Colleague” letter on Feb. 15 to “cease using race preferences and stereotypes.”
The board reviewed the policies in February and cut a lot of language surrounding diversity and specifying certain groups. The policies approved Friday added language back that provides protections for things such as, race, sex, disability and veteran status.
The Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action guidelines were cut to stay in compliance with the executive order.
Regent Elizabeth O’Connor voted no on the policy that cut guidelines for equal opportunity and Affirmative Action within the university such as putting up posters that inform students and faculty.
O’Connor said she voted no because she saw this as the first step to unraveling support for students.
“I want NU to be a true marketplace of ideas. DEI initiatives help colleges and universities recruit more diverse students. There is strong empirical evidence to suggest that students learn better when they have diverse peers,” O’Connor said.
Regent Jim Scheer, who voted yes, said he didn’t disagree with O’Connor, but he wanted to make sure that students had funding.
“For all I know, by not doing this, we may lose Pell funding grants. The same students that we're talking about being recognized and feeling inclusive or important and helpful, without those Pell Grants, wouldn't be here,” said Scheer.
The policy passed on a 6-2 vote.