Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 2000)
News Diciest FDA approves use of abortion pill THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Capping a bitter 12-year battle, the govern ment on Thursday approved use of the abortion pill RU-486, a major victory for abortion rights advocates that could dra matically alter abortion in this country. The long-expected decision by the Food and Drug Administration allows Americans an early-abortion method already used in France, Britain, China and 10 other countries. The action is expect ed to make abortion in the United States more accessible and more private. Coming in the final weeks of the presidential campaign, the move also is sure to renew fierce political debate. Republican candidate George W. Bush, whose father’s administration banned RU-486 imports in 1989, opposes abortion. Vice President Gore supports the pill option. The pill, known chemically as mifepristone and by the brand name Mifeprex, will be available to doctors within a month. v Mifepristone, which blocks a hormone vital to sustaining pregnancy, only works during the first seven weeks of preg nancy, when an embryo is about one-fifth of an inch; that is earli er than surgical abortions are often offered. Two days after taking mifepristone, women take a sec ond drug that causes cramping and bleeding as the embryo is expelled, much like a miscar riage. “For those who choose to have an early termination of their pregnancy, this is a reason able medical alternative,” said FDA Commissioner Jane Henney, who approved mifepri stone based on studies that found it 92 percent to 95 percent effective in causing abortion. . Complications are rare; seri ous bleeding occurs in 1 percent of women. But the pill-caused abortion requires three doctor visits and, to ensure it is per formed accurately, the FDA restricted its use to doctors with certain training and mandated detailed patient-information brochures be given to every woman. Proponents hailed the FDA’s move. Although some doctors already use a cancer drug called methotrexate to cause abortion - legal, although not formally FDA-approved - they said mifepristone would increase access to the nonsurgical method. “At long last, science trumps anti-abortion politics and med ical McCarthyism," said Eleanor Smeal of the Feminist Majority Foundation. Mifepristone may “turn the tide against anti-choice intimi dation," because doctors who don’t offer surgical abortion can use the pill in private offices instead of protester-targeted clinics, added Planned At long last, science trumps anti-abortion politics and medical McCarthyism.” Eleanor Smeal __Feminist Majority Foundation Parenthood president Gloria Feldt. But anti-abortion groups, which fought mifepristone by threatening U.S. drug compa nies with boycotts, pledged to continue fighting. “We will not tolerate the FDA’s decision to approve the destruction of innocent human persons through chemical abor tion,” said Judie Brown of the American Life League. "Never before has the FDA approved a drug intended to kill people,” said Rep. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who promised legisla tion calling for severe limits on which doctors could administer mifepristone. On the campaign trail, Bush called the FDA’s decision “wrong,” saying “I fear that mak ing this abortion pill widespread will make abortions more and more common.” His campaign added if elected, Bush wouldn't have the authority to overturn the FDA’s decision, but he would order a probe of whether the agency’s review was influenced by politics. Gore praised the pill’s avail ability. “Today’s decision is not about politics, but the health and safety of American women and a woman's fundamental right to choose,” he said. Health experts note abor tions did not increase when RU 486 debuted in France in 1988, or later across Europe. Teen-agers unconcerned about Senate movie hearings THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES - Like many teens, Matt Casazza isn’t listen ing much to the debate raging over Hollywood’s marketing of violent films: One way or anoth er, he’ll see what he wants to see. “Sooner or later they’re all gonna come out on tape and then you can rent it," the 15 year-old Casazza said. “It doesn’t really matter, because they don't card at (video stores)." Teen-agers across the coun try were largely unaware of- and uninterested in - the Senate committee hearings under way in Washington on Wednesday in which Hollywood executives admitted marketing movies made for adults to children. Despite pressure from law makers, executives refused to promise an end to the practice. Joseph Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential nominee and senator from Casazza’s home state of Connecticut, derided movie makers for refusing to "say explicitly that they would stop marketing adult-rated products to our children." Although many teens said there was too much sex and vio lence in many films, they agreed with Casazza that Washington was powerless to do much. “I don’t think (lawmakers) can stop you from seeing some thing out there,” said Cassity Hamilton, a 12-year-old resident of the Atlanta suburb of Woodstock, Ga. “Kids are going to watch what they want, some way.” Sarah Wilson, a 16-year-old resident of Chapel Hill, N.C., said her class at school had dis cussed the debate over advertis ing for R-rated movies, which are supposed to be restricted to peo ple 17 and older unless accom panied by a parent. While she goes to R-rated films in theaters, she thinks Hollywood goes over board on the violence and nudi ty “Most of it’s unnecessary anyway," she said. “If they really want kids to watch the movie, then they should put things in it that are appropriate for kids. I think (violence) desensitizes us to things that happen in every day life.” Another 16-year-old North Carolina girl agreed that R-rated movies were too violent for some young people. "Little children don’t need to be introduced to those things until they’re older. What kind of audience are they trying to attract?” asked Emily Alderman of Raleigh, N.C. One Southern California teen-ager who has been home schooled said he and his friends tried to be selective about the R rated movies they watched. “A lot of it is garbage in, garbage out. Know what I mean? The movies tend to play up the sex and the violence,” said Matthew Beasley, an Orange County 17-year-old who watched R-rated movies before his recent birthday. 7 don’t think (lawmakers) can stop you from seeing something out there. Kids are going to watch what they want, some way.” Cassity Hamilton 12-year-old Woodstock, Ga., resident Studio executives said Wednesday all R-rated films were not inappropriate for young people and might even be valuable for mature viewers under 17. The executives reminded the Senate Commerce Committee an “R” rating does not bar children, it only required they be accompanied by a par ent. Rob White, a 17-year-old from Shelby, N.C., has gone to R rated movies with his parents. “Ultimately I think it is the responsibility of the parents,” he said. “If the parents are responsi ble, then I don’t think it makes a difference what kids watch.” In the end, teen-agers say they’ll continue frequenting R rated movies because other films simply didn’t interest them. “What else is there to go see? Any movie worth going to is R rated,” said Shawn McReedy, a 13-year-old from Woodstock, Ga. Casazza and his 16-year-old friend Cate Holden agreed, say ing they shun “G” and PG-13 movies and “don’t do cartoons.” “I don’t want to see a G-rated movie,” Casazza said. “They can make a PG-13 movie as long as it's not too corny. The Walt Disney movies and stuff.. .the happy endings -1 don’t like that.” Elian's Miami relatives sue Reno THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MIAMI - Elian Gonzalez’s Miami relatives filed a lawsuit Thursday against Attorney General Janet Reno, alleging the armed raid that took the Cuban boy from their home and reunited him with his father was illegal. “The last time I saw anything like that was in films from postwar Germany when the Nazis were invading people’s homes without cause,” said the family’s lawyer, Ron Guralnick. The lawsuit filed in federal court claimed Reno and the Immigration and Naturalization Service used false statements to obtain the arrest and search warrants used in the pre-dawn April 22 raid to seize the 6-year-old boy. The Justice Department defended the decisions made by its lead ers as appropriate under the circumstances. “Unfortunately, the Gonzalez family’s refusal to comply with a lawful federal order and their statements that they would never give up the child except by force com pelled us to take enforce ment actions,” Justice Department spokes woman Carole Florman said. “We still believe our actions were appropriate and lawful.” The INS has yet to see the lawsuit and will review it with the Justice Department once it does, spokeswoman Maria Cardona said Thursday. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are Elian’s great uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez; his great-aunt, Angela; and . their daughter, Marisleysis, Elian’s sec ond-cousin. They had cared for Elian since November 1999, when the boy sur vived a boat crossing from Cuba that killed his moth er and 10 other people. The family then sought custody of Elian to raise him in the United States. Their lawsuit claims the raid violated the fami ly’s rights of expression and assembly, freedom from unreasonable search and seizure and freedom from the use of excessive force without due process of law. The raid was also ille gal, the lawsuit claimed, because it acted against an 11th 'Circuit Court of Appeals ruling preventing any party from taking Elian back to Cuba. After the raid, the Justice Department reunited Elian with his father in the Washington area. Juan Miguel Gonzalez, Elian, his half brother and stepmother lived in the United States for several weeks under the court’s order. After the Miami rela tives exhausted all appeals to seek asylum for the boy, the court’s ruling expired and Elian returned to Cuba on June 28. He start ed the second grade. i>toz/j/NeDrasKan ec . _ . Questions? Comments? MmigingEdp A^< for th. .pproprt... ««ion tdlto,« Associate News Editor Kimberly Sweet or dn@unl.edu Opinion Editor Samuel McKewon Sports Editor Matthew Hansen Arts Editor Dane Stickney General Manager: DanShattil Copy Desk Co-Chief: Lindsay Young Publications Board Russell Willbanks, Copy Desk Co-Chief: Danell McCoy Chairman: (402)436-7226 Photo Chief: Heather Glenboski Professional Adviser Don Walton, (402)473-7248 Art Director Melanie Falk Advertising Manager Nick Partsch, (402) 472-2589 Design Chief: Andrew Broer Assistant Ad Manager Nicole Woita Web Editor Gregg Steams Classified Ad Manager Nikki Bruner Assistant Web Editor Tanner Graham Circulation Manager ImtiyazKhan Fax Number: (402) 472-1761 World Wide Web: www.dailyneb.com The Daily Nebraskan (USPS 144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board, 20 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, NE 68588-0448, Monday through Friday during the academic year; weekly during the summer sessions. The public has access to the Publications Board. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by calling (402) 472-2588. Subscriptions are $60 for one year. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, 20 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, NE 68588^0448. Periodical postage paid at Lincoln, NE. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2000 DAILY NEBRASKAN Canadian political giant dies; praised as'great man' ■ The former prime minister was noted for his sharp departure from Canada's traditionally dry political scene. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MONTREAL — Former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, a flamboyant and charismatic political giant who led the country through some of its most tumultuous events, died Thursday. He was 80. Trudeau died of prostate cancer, said Roy Heenan, senior partner of the Montreal law firm Heenan Blaikie, where lYudeau worked. He said the Trudeau’s health had been declining “very steadily” in the last few days. Trudeau’s sons, Justin and Sacha Trudeau, also confirmed their father's death. Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien praised Trudeau as a force for change that continued to “shape the soul of his people.” He said Trudeau “dreamed of a society that afforded all of its citizens an equal opportunity to succeed in life.” Heenan described Trudeau as “a great man, not only in his public life but from our point view, from his private life as well.” Trudeau was hospitalized for 10 days with pneumonia at the beginning of the year, and associates say he never fully regained his strength. He was also believed to be suffering from Parkinson’s disease. During 16 years as prime minister, briefly interrupted by a 1979 election defeat, Trudeau seemed to personify the dynamic political and social changes in North America with a sophisticated, some times irreverent style that fascinated and captivated his country. Cosmopolitan and witty with a flair for celebrity, he represented a sharp departure from the generally dry, provincial politi cians of Canada’s past. So strong was his personality and influ ence, Trudeau was chosen Canada’s news maker of the century in a Canadian Press Broadcast News poll of editors and broad casters in December 1999. In typical Thideau style, he described himself as “surprised and quite pleased” at learning of the honor, but refused to be swayed from his personal desire for priva cy in his post-political life. A sharp, energetic figure, he wore san dals to Parliament, dated celebrities such as Barbra Streisand and actress Margo Kidder, flashed an obscene hand signal to protesters and once did a pirouette behind the back of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth. Politically, Trudeau came.to promi nence at thfc height of the 60s revolution and his policies reflected changing atti tudes. As justice minister in 1967, he liberal ized laws on abortion and homosexuality, then continued to introduce new direction upon becoming Canada’s 15th prime min ister a year later. A Montreal native, he made French an official language with English, promoted the metric system, led the fight against Quebec separatists, and in what was his most profound legacy, enshrined the Charter of Rights in a new Canadian Constitution in 1982. He married Margaret Sinclair, a “flower child” half his age, in 1971, and they had three sons before their 1977 separation and eventual divorce, which received the kind of media attention normally given film stars. He is survived by two adult sons. His grief over the death of his youngest son, Michel, in an avalanche in 1998 at age 23, was considered a factor in his hospitaliza tion for pneumonia during the new millen nium celebrations. TODAY TOMORROW SUNDAY Windy Partly cloudly Partly cloudy high 84, low 61 high 81, low 57 high 82, low 54 The Associated Press ■ India Survivors face dangers after torrential flooding AISTHALA - Steering clear of bloated corpses and poison ous snakes, flood survivors wade through chest-high water in eastern India, searching for lost relatives and valuables. Jackals and vultures move in, and there is no place for cre mations or burials in the after math of 10 days of torrential rain that have killed about 1,000 people and marooned millions. Ten days after unseasonable monsoon rains forced rivers to overflow across eastern India and western Bangladesh, peo ple - joined by their goats and dogs - are still living on the roofs of their mud and brick houses to guard against thieves who row up in boats to loot abandoned homes. In India, 651 people are known to have died in the floods, and 225 are missing and presumed dead. The floods began Sept. 18 when late rains mixed with melting snows of the Himalayas. ■ Washington, D.C. Large oil company indicted over pollution A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted one of the nation’s biggest oil pipeline companies, alleging it violated environmental laws at one of its Texas plants in a case involving a pollutant linked to cancer. The indictment in Texas charges Koch Industries Inc., its subsidiary Koch Petroleum Group and four employees with 97 felonies for problems with the pollutant benzene at a Corpus Christi, Texas, plant dat ing to 1995. The company self-disclosed the problems to Texas regula tors, but the indictment alleges the company engaged in a con spiracy and made false state ments to Texas officials. “Companies that produce dangerous pollutants simply cannot focus on profit and effi ciency at the expense of a com munity’s health,” Assistant Attorney General Lois Schiffer said in announcing the indict ment. ■ Denmark Voters reject euro as their currency COPENHAGEN - Voters refused to adopt the European Union’s beleaguered currency as their own Thursday, reflect ing Denmark’s traditional go slow approach toward European integration. With nearly 90 percent of referendum votes counted, 53 percent opposed making the euro Denmark’s currency, while 47 percent favored the switch, according to the Interior Ministry. The Social Democratic-led government, which had strong ly supported the euro, conced ed defeat. “Democracy has spoken, our people have spoken,” a teary-eyed Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said. “We will respect the result.” Pia Kjaersgaard, the leader of far-right Danish People’s Party, called the result a “great, great victory.” ■ Georgia CDC advises flu shot delays overoutput lag ATLANTA - Federal health officials said Thursday they don’t expect a flu-vaccine shortage this year but recommended healthy Americans postpone getting shots while manufacturers over come a lag in production. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants doctors and clinics to give first priority for flu shots to the elderly and the chronically ill, groups at highest risk of dying from the flu. A CDC advisory panel rec ommended healthy people wait until at least November for vacci nations. “The best information avail able is that the problem will be largely one of delay in distribu tion rather than a severe short age, ’ said Dr. John Modlin, chair man of the CDC panel.