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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 1999)
VOL. 98 COVERING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN SINCE 1901 NO. 138 SPOUTS QBs Unplugged Bobby Newcombe and Eric Crouch talk to reporter David Wilson about the quarterback race that awaits them in the fall. PAGE 9 A&E Seek Shelter Omaha’s Shelterbelt Theatre offers only first-run plays, giving Nebraska writers a safe haven for experimental work. PAGE 11 WEDNESDAY April 14, 1999 Here Comes th Rain likely, high 57. Series tackles students’ risks, consequences Editor’s note: For many students, col lege is synonymous with frolicking in high risk behavior. During their undergraduate years, they sample sex and alcohol and suffer conse quences. Some just have a good time. Other students fight against collegiate vice, perhaps by working to educate others, by joining activist groups or by just quietly following their own convictions. Regardless of how students approach sex, drugs and the ministries trying to pro tect students from poor choices, each sub ject touches all those enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In the next eight days, the Daily Nebraskan will chronicle how high-risk behaviors touch students’ lives and how campus, local and state groups, as well as laws and educators, combat or support such risk taking. Today, we examine how UNL students view sex and sexuality, and how three uni versity women dealt with their unplanned pregnancies. The series then will examine the following: Day two The state of sex education at the univer sity and in Nebraska Day three State MIP law and how drug and alco hol use influences crime and punishment Day four Illicit drugs on campus and in Lincoln ' Day five Binge drinking on campus Day six The fight to curb binge drinking Day seven How ministries reach and affect stu dents by teaching morality through religion Day eight How personal convictions drive secular activists, including Tom Osborne, to fight vices such as pornography and drug use _:_! MEGAN BASSETT AND daughter, Mia, share a quiet moment while Bassett dresses Mia after a nap. Bassett said while she always planned on keeping Mia, she fust wanted to make sure , she made the right decision. "“Small Change Story by Photos by Lindsay Young Heather Glenboski Unplanned pregnancies alter three women's lives Megan Bassett accepted that her stu dent life would drastically change. Tara Smith, whose last name has been changed at her request, just sat and shook. It couldn’t be happening. Tara Christiansen was more calm but knew she wasn’t ready for this. Once, these three University of Nebraska-Lincoln stu dents went to classes, worried about weekend plans and left their dorm rooms on midnight Kmart runs. But when they found out they were pregnant, their lives rapidly went from simple to complicated. No longer could they go out with their friends until 3 in the morning. They needed their sleep instead. Smoking and drinking were out of the question, and one big decision had to be made: What would each do with a baby she never planned on having this soon? Deliberation was limited to exactly nine months. Please see PREGNANT on 6 Read the Daily Nebraskan on the World Wide Web at dailyneb.com Legislature Cigarette tax bill shelved ■ Senators delay further debate on the bill after a proposed amend ment, which would have raised the proposed tax increase by 36 cents, fell one vote shy of passage. By Shane Anthony Staff writer After a failed attempt to soften the blow of a proposed cigarette tax hike Monday, state sena tors delayed further debate on the bill. Sen. Dave Landis of Lincoln introduced an of cigarettes by 66 cents a pack instead oT^ft^ cents. His amendment fell one vote short of the 25 needed - 24-23. Senators then passed commit tee amendments but delayed further debate. During discussion, Landis said the bill’s intent was to encourage young people not to smoke. He cited a number of statistics to plead his case. But some senators said the Legislature could deter smoking in other ways. “I think smoking is probably the stupidest thing people can do, and I was stupid for 47 Please see SMOKING on 8 City Elections Debate goes on despite absence By Kim Sweet Staffwriter What was supposed to be a full-fledged debate between Lincoln mayoral candidates Don Wesely and Cindy Johnson turned into a forum for Wesely after his opponent didn’t show up. The forum, sponsored by the ASUN Government Liaison Committee and Delta Sigma Pi, attracted fewer than 25 people to hear Wesely’s view on issues such as UNLs Master Plan, trans portation in Lincoln and other issues affecting UNL students. Johnson, the Republican candidate, didn’t show up because of a conflict with a neighborhood meet Please see DEBATE on 8