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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 2000)
High Court rejects Confederate-flag drawing case ■The Supreme Court began its new term on Monday by saying a Kansan's school-suspension appeal would not be heard. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court, opening its new term Monday, turned down an appeal by a Kansas boy who was suspended from school for draw ing a picture of a Confederate flag in class. The youth contended the three-day suspension violated his free-speech rights, but school officials said he was in violation of a “racial harassment and intimidation” policy that was adopted after incidents of racial tension at his school. "We’re greatly disappointed,” said a lawyer for the boy, John Whitehead of the Rutherford Institute in Virginia. “You don’t teach democratic values by slam ming a hammer down on some one because of free expression." The justices had no comment in denying the youth's appeal, one of hundreds of cases rejected on the 2000-2001 term's first day. They have agreed to hear 47 cases so far, including a challenge to the Clean Air Act and a dispute over whether people can sue states to enforce a federal ban on discrimination against the dis abled Other cases ask whether police can stop motorists at traf fic checkpoints in hopes of find ing illegal drugs and whether public hospitals can test preg nant women for drug use and report to police the names of those who test positive. The jus tices are expected to add about 30 more cases to their agenda in the coming months. Some observers believe the most important day of the court’s new term will be election day, Nov. 7. The new president will Choose the next members of a court that has been divided 5-4 on some of the nation’s most diffi cult issues. The Confederate flag case began in 1998 when T.J. West, a seventh-grader at Derby Middle School in Derby, Kan., made a 4 by-6-inch sketch of the Confederate battle flag during a math class. West later told an assistant principal a friend had urged him to draw the flag and that he knew what it was but not what it meant West also knew drawing the flag violated the school’s racial harassment policy adopted in 1995. The policy banned students from possessing “any written material, either printed or in their own handwriting, that is racially divisive or creates ill will or hatred.” Confederate flags were listed as such material. West and his father chal lenged the boy’s suspension, but a federal trial judge and the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for the school district The appeals court said West had already been suspended from school once for calling another student “blackie" and was reminded at that time about the harassment and intimidation policy. Accused rapists would take HIV test under bill THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON - Under a last-minute flurry of bills in the House, rape victims could demand HIV tests of their suspected assailants upon arrest The bills also call for adults to be jailed for 10 years for sending pornography to 17-year-olds or younger. Currently, rape victims have no legal right to demand that a suspect be tested for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, lawmakers said. Under the bill introduced by Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., a person accused of rape must be tested for HIV or AIDS, if the alleged victim asks, within 48 hours of an indictment. The results must be given to the alleged victim. "No longer will a victim have to wait for months or years for such a test of the accused,” Weldon said. While Democrats said they support the idea, Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., said Weldon’s bill was rushed through without giving them a chance to study it He said the Democrats could have per haps offered amendments that would have made die bill better. Under the bill, an accused per son has no chance to prove inno cence before having to take an AIDS test Also, the test results would be given immediately to the alleged victim and the victim's lawyers, “No longer will a victim have to wait for months or years for such a test of the accused.* Dave Weldon bill sponsor *vuu aic aui 1C4U11CU uauci uie bill to keep the results confidential The rush, Weldon said, is to take advantage of new AIDS drugs that can reduce chances by about 80 percent of getting the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, die infection-preventing AIDS drugs are useful only when taken shortly after HIV exposure, not days or weeks later. “This is clearly a case of finding the greater good,” Weldon said. Also on tap for the House is a vote on abill prose cuting people for sending pornographic material to 16- and 17-year-old children. The bill is aimed at closing a loophole in the 1998 Protection of Children from Sexual Predators Act, which specified 10 years in prison and fines for any one who knowingly gives pornography by e-mail, telephone or mail to juveniles younger than 16. The age of consent normally is considered 18. The Stop Material Unsuitable for Teens Act, or SMUT bill, introduced in March by Rep. Tom Thncredo, R-Colo., changes the definition of a minor in the bill to someone under the age of 18, instead of someone under the age of 16. “We should make sure that those who would seek to spread this filth knowingly to our children be ready to pay the price of up to 10 years behind bars,” Tancredo said. Darren McCollester/Newsmakers The media center stands ready Monday at the University of Massachusetts in Boston where the first presidential debate will occur today. More than 1,500journalists are expected to cover the debate between Democratic Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Debates may loosen tight election Gore, Bush race closest in decades; first presidential debate is tonight THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SARASOTA, Fla.-A1 Gore offered a picture of noncha lance when talking about tonight's high-stakes debate. George W. Bush’s camp also portrayed an assured candi date who planned to relax, jog, maybe even nap, before the confrontation. But there was no mistak ing the importance of the first presidential debate of Campaign 2000 - 90 minutes in front of a national televi sion audience likely to exceed 50 million, the largest for any single campaign event this season. Gore wasn’t talking pub licly. Wife Tipper, when asked what to expect, said: “I just look for him to be relaxed and be able to make his points with ease.” Bush, on his way to the Boston debate site, stopped in West Virginia and said vot ers there could produce an Election Day surprise for Gore. The Texas governor had little to say about the debate, but aides said he intended to "talk about why his proposals are better.” The men had spent the weekend cramming and holding practice sessions, Gore in Florida, Bush in Texas. Polls show the White House race as the tightest in decades, making the three televised debates over the next three weeks - plus one between vice presidential nominees Joseph Lieberman, Democrat, and Republican Dick Cheney - potentially crucial opportu nities for either side to break away. By now, five weeks before the election and after a year and a half of campaigning by Bush and Gore, the potholes each faces are familiar ter rain. Political pros agree: ■ Bush must avoid foul ups in wording (such as "sub liminable”) and bury skepti cism that he might not have the intellectual heft to be president, all the while letting his charm shine through. ■ Gore, who has been staging mock debates under a massive model shark at Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida, cannot afford self aggrandizing exaggeration (as in, "I took the initiative in creating the Internet”), mean attacks or smarty-pants con descension. Gore has signaled that he intends not to go on the attack, a change in tone that he hopes will make him more likable to swing voters. It is perhaps instructive that Gore collared Mote’s stuffed shark with a farm harness - a lucky charm since his 1992 debate rehearsals - brought from Tennessee. Gore also has been work ing in Florida with 13 “real people” he met along the campaign trail on a more conversational speaking style. “I think our opponent is a likable, engaging fellow, there’s no question about that,” Tipper Gore said Monday on ABC's "Good Morning America.” “I hope it’s not going to be based on likability." Bush, a senior adviser said, was polishing several “crisp lines of attack” and has a plan to combat any Gore plan to plant his “real people” debate coaches in the audi ence. A Pew poll showed that just over four in 10 voters say they are very likely to tune in Tuesday night, while just over half say they are only some what likely or not likely to watch. That's about the same level as in 1996, when 46 mil lion watched President Clinton's first debate with Bob Dole, but lower than in 1992, when voter interest in the election was high and about 70 million watched the presidential debates. The candidates will have teams of supporters on hand to explain their win. Cabinet officials and congressional leaders headed will vouch for Gore. Officials for Bush include Republican Govs. John Engler of Michigan, Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin, Paul Cellucci of Massachusetts and George Pataki of New York. Weather TODAY Showers high 76, low 55 TOMORROW Mostly cloudy high 61, low 42 £><z*(yNebraskan Editor Managing Editor Associate Nows Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor Arts Editor Copy Desk Co-Chief: Copy Desk Co-Chief: Photo Chief: Art Director Chief: Editor Assistant Web Editor Design < WebE Sarah Baker Bradley Davis Kimberly Sweet Samuel McKewon Matthew Hansen Dane Stickney Lindsay Young Danell McCoy Heather Glenboski Melanie Falk Andrew Broer Gregg Steams Tanner Graham Questions? Comments? Ask for the appropriate section editor at (402)472-2588 ore-mail: dn@unl.edu General Manager Publications Board Chairman: Professional Adviser Advertising Manager Assistant Ad Manager Classified Ad Manager Circulation Manager Dan Shattil Russell Willbanks, (402) 436-7226 Don Walton, (402) 473-7248 Nick Partsch, (402) 472-2589 Nicole Woita Nikki Bruner Imtiyaz Khan Fax Number: (402) 472-1761 World Wide Web: www.dailyneb.com The Daily Nebraskan (USPS144-080) 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 Lifting Dutch ban on brothels legalizes, regulates prostitutes THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ROTTERDAM, Netherlands - Prostitutes and politicians toasted the lift ing of an 88-year-old ban on brothels, a move intended to better regulate the world’s oldest profession and turn its prac titioners into legitimate taxpayers. Legislation enacted last year and signed by Queen Beatrix went into effect Sunday, ending the anomalous status of bordellos as illegal but tolerated. Amsterdam’s red light district draws millions of visitors every year to its cine mas, live sex shows and sex stores. It isn’t uncommon to see middle-aged tourist couples walking hand-in-hand past store front windows where barely clothed prosti tutes flaunt their wares. Prostitution itself was already legal in the Netherlands, but the new law trans forms the sex estaJ>Rshments into legal businesses with working guidelines and employment benefits. Prostitutes and brothel owners alike will be obliged to pay taxes. “Prostitution has become an official occupation,” said the author and colum nist who uses the pen name Carrie, at a cel ebration inaugurating the law. At the event, organized by a long-estab lished trade union for prostitutes called “The Red Thread,” activists praised the change as a long overdue recognition of a service “as old as time.” Former prostitute Mariska Majoor, 31, called it “the beginning of emancipation in prostitution,” giving men and women in the field the right to health benefits and a pension. It also will set legal guidelines for the sex business that will make it safer to be a pros titute, such as the right to refuse a cus tomer. Bob Schijndel, a parliament member who voted in favor of the bill, said it will become tougher for criminals to use bor dellos as fronts for drug and weapons trade. He expects about 6,000 registered prosti tutes to take advantage of the financial ben efits enjoyed by every Dutch employee. Hie Dutch government also will gain an important source of income. The Dutch sex industry, along with the coffee shops that sell small quantities of marijuana, generate billions of dollars each year, amounting to an estimated half percent of the nation’s gross domestic product World/Nation The Associated Press ■Canada Notre-Dame funeral today for former prime minister MONTREAL - A train carry ing the body of Pierre Trudeau reached Montreal on Monday, hours after the former prime minister’s ex-wife broke down in tears and fell to her knees on Parliament Hill in an emotional outpouring of grief. The train carrying Trudeau’s flag-draped coffin pulled into Central Station after a two-hour journey from Ottawa for today’s state funeral at Notre-Dame Basilica. Trudeau died Thursday at age 80, and the country has since been absorbed in remem bering his political legacy and . flamboyant lifestyle. ■ Washington D.C Thurmond released from hospital; opens Senate Sen. Strom Thurmond, the oldest senator in American his tory, gaveled the Senate to order on Monday after being hospi talized over the weekend for losing consciousness at a restaurant Thurmond was released from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington at about 10:45 a.m. He immediately returned to his routine of open ing the daily Senate session, part of his duties as Senate pres ident pro tern. The 97-year-old lawmaker was hospitalized after losing consciousness while having lunch Saturday afternoon in a suburban Washington restau rant. A spokesman for Thurmond said the problem was likely dehydration. Thurmond has been hospi talized several times in recent years for various problems and had prostate surgery in 1999. ■ Washington D.C World War II memorial opponents appeal to court Opponents of placing a World War II memorial on the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial asked a fed eral court Monday to block con struction, arguing that govern ment officials had not complied with the law. Groundbreaking has been set for Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Opponents say the site now planned is on the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial. Andrea C. Ferster, lawyer for the opponents, said the com plaint and a request for an injunction were filed at the Federal District Court of the District of Columbia. Named in the suit were Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, Director of the National Park Service Robert Stanton and other officials who have approved the site. ■Mexico Hurricane spurs hard rain, wind on Caribbean coast CHETUMAL -Hurricane Keith poured rain on Belize and the southern tip of Mexico’s Caribbean coast Monday, as the deadly storm whirled just off the Belize coast. Flooding associated with Keith has caused two deaths in Central America, and residents of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula and northeastern Belize fled their homes. Maximum winds rose to about 90 mph as the hurricane wandered closer to land; by early Monday, it was swirling in shallow waters just 35 miles east of Belize City. Clarification In Monday’s Daily Nebraskan, MJ swimmer Sara Jowsey’s quotes were taken out of context. Jowsey was speaking hypothetically of the situation surrounding the team’s alleged violations, and it appeared her comments were in fact describ ing those alleged violations.