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Grand jury probe requested
Photo by Stcva Boomer
Mayor Helen Boosalis
inside
Cosmos: Apollo-Soy uz spacemen
visit Omaha p.9
Comments: On the City-County
Common's call for a grand jury
investigation in the Lewis
shooting p. 8
Also Find:
Editorials. . , p.4
Arts and Entertainment. . . ; . p. 12
Sports p. 14
Crossword p. 16
Short Stuff p.2
A resolution was passed Wednesday by
the City-County Common requesting the
convening of a grand jury to investigate the
shooting of Arvid Sherdell Lewis and the
appointment of a special prosecutor to
conduct the hearing.
Councilman John Robinson made the
motion to recommend the grand jury inves
tigation and Commissioner Bruce Hamilton
seconded it.
Max Denney, chairman of the Common,
presented the resolution to District Court
Judge Samuel Van Pelt.
Denney stated in his request to Van Pelt
that "there were statements made by
various members of the City-Council Com
mon as to the reasons why they felt the
motion should be passed or defeated, but
the City-County Common did not have
anything in writing other than the news
paper reports."
Denney said that police reports in
Mayor Helen Boosalis' possession "have
not been made available to the City
County Common, as a whole."
Clear the air
Denney stated the basic reason for the
motion was that certain members of the
Common "felt this would help clear the
air and would indicate that the members
... as community leaders, were attempt
ing to do something to quiet the unrest and
fears of the community brought on as a re
sult of the Sherdell Lewis incident."
According to Hamilton, there are too
many unanswered questions and discrep
ancies surrounding the case. He said he
wants justice done and the truth out.
"The Common should pr'ide leader
ship and ask for cooperation from the
judicial system," Hamilton said. "We
should petititon the court as elected
leaders of the community to provide, the
answers."
Members of the two governing boards
that voted for the resolution were City
Council members Sue Bailey, Bob Jeambey
and Robinson, and County Commis
sioners Jan Ganger and Hamilton. Boosalis
also voted for the resolution. Councilmen
Bob Sikyta, Steve Cook, Richard Baker
and Denney and Commissioner Robert
Colin voted against the resolution.
State law
State law provides two ways to call a
grand jury-by court action or by petition.
The Common's request action exceeds the
authority of the Common and is not bind
ing on the judicial branch of the local gov
ernment, according to state law.
"In essence we're only signing a
petition," Gauger said. "We're adding our
voice to other citizens' that if evidence
warrants it, a grand jury is called."
Denney opposed the resolution, saying
that the benefits of calling a grand juiy are
questionable and that they should wait
until after the FBI releases its findings.
'This body has no business and author
ity to get involved with calling a grand
jury," Denney said. "It's never been done
before."
. The last grand jury investigation in
Lancaster County was called for in 1922.
The original purpose of the Common
meeting was the scheduled review of a
report from Lancaster County Sheriff
Merle Karnopp and Lincoln Police Chief
George Hansen about police training, pro
cedures and policies. The report was re
quested Sept. 29 by a resolution supported
by Hamilton and Robinson.
Following Tuesday's request by Omaha
State Sen. Ernie Chambers for people to
register to vote so they could sign a pe
tition calling for a grand jury, investigation,
the Lancaster County Election Commis
sioner's office reported that 88 persons did
so Tuesday afternoon. Of the 88, 69
registered for the first time and 19 re-registered
because of changes in address.
The office had not compiled any break
downs according to what party was domi
nant or how many of those registered were
students.
thursday, October 16, 1975
volume 99 number 30 lincoln, nebraska
doilu
ASUN approves alcohol-on-campus opinion poll
By George Miller
A resolution passed by the ASUN
Senate at its Wednesday night meeting
marks the beginning of efforts by the stu
dent body to obtain approval of the sale
and consumption of alcohol on the UNL
campus.
The resolution, introduced by Senator
Gina Hills, approves the spending of ASUN
funds to hire a professional polling service
to conduct an opinion survey of UNL stu
dents on their thoughts about alcohol on
campus.
Hills said that it was time for the senate
to begin moving again on the alcohol issue.
She said that the senate was actively work
ing on the alcohol issue. She said that the
senate was actively working for alcohol on
campus two years ago, but that movement
"was idle" at the present time.
Senator Frank Thompson said that in
the past, most people on campus had been
in favor of alcohol in the past, but that the
NU Board of Regents had rejected past
proposals.
"Student favor was not a consideration
in the past," he said.
Senator Jim Wefso said that a poll
would put "the burden of pressure on the
Regents" to approve alcohol.
The resolution passed by a vote of 22 in
favor, one opposed and one abstention.
Hill's resolution approves spending of
$400 in ASUN funds to hire Selection
Research Inc., a professional polling
service, to conduct an opinion survey of
UNL students to see if they favor the sale
and consumption of liquor on campus.
Jeff Search, chairman of ASUN's
Government Liaison Committee said the
committee decided to hire a professional
polling service in order to provide the
committee with reliable data on student
opinion.
Searcy said Selection Research Inc. has
done research for the State Legislature and
the Governor and that they were "higlily
recommended" to the committee.
The total cost of the poll will be $700,
Searcy said. The committee hopes to make
"up the remaining $300 with funds from
other campus organizations, but that if
necessary, the committee will pay the re
maining $300 itself.
Search said the pollsters will survey
from 300-500 students sometime in the
next month. The students will be divided
into categories such as their year in school,
their sex and whether or not they live off
campus. The pollsters will "try to solicit the
general feeling of students on the issue of
alcohol on campus," Searcy said.
He said the results of the poll should be
ready for the committee three weeks after
the poll is completed.
Searcy said the Residence Hall Associa
tion, the Interfraternfty Council and the
Alumni Association have expressed support
for the Committee in lobbying with the
Legislature. Search also said he hopes to
coordinate lobbying action with the Uni
versity of Nebraska-Omaha and the four
state colleges.
"The Regents can allow consumption of
alcohol, but permission for sale will definit
ely have to come from the Legislature,"
Searcy said.
He said his committee is presently
trying to "scope over" the Legislature to
find Senators willing to introduce a bill
legalizing sale of liquor on University
property. He said he hoped to get the bill
passed in the next Legislative session.
"Some schools take in profits of around
$20,000 annually from the sale of liquor,"
Searcy said. "It's not a matter of morals
and ethics, it's good business," he said.
He said over 120 universities around the
country allow the sale of liquor on their
campuses.
ASUN plans Friday meet
for info on Lewis shooting
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By George Miller
The ASUN Senate Wednesday night
called for an "open campus meeting" to
inform UNL students about the Arvid
PL.-J.II t -...1-
. A resolution introduced by Sen. Tony
Williams, calls for students not to attend
classes on Friday, Oct. 17 between 11:30
a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and asks teachers to
support and attend the meeting.
After a lengthy debate on the resolu
tion and the addition of four amendments,
it passed 23-1-1.
A seven-person committee, formed to
organize the meeting, spent several hours
Wednesday night attempting to contact
speakers for the gathering.
State Sen. Ernest Chambers, Lancaster
County Sheriff Merle Karnopp, Lincoln
City Councilman John Robinson, County
Attorney Ron Lahners, County Commis
sioner Bruce Hamilton and Mayor Helen
Boosalis have been invited to attend the
meeting which is scheduled to be held on
the north side of the Nebraska Union.
Chambers was contacted late Wednes
day night and expressed interest in
attending, but could not make a firm com
mitment until this evening.
Mayor Boo&alis said she was interested
in being a spectator, but would not speak
unless formally addressed at the meeting.
In addition, Karnopp told the commit
tee that he will probably be at the meeting,
but like Chambers was unable to make a
definite commitment Wednesday night.
The other possible speakers were not
... a .
Williams' resolution also calls for a
grand jury investigation into the Lewis
shooting and that a copy of the resolution
be sent to every state senator.
Although the resolution originally called
for the grand jury investigation, the idea
for a public meeting originated with Ron
Sindclar who addressed the senate during
the open forum part of the meeting.
Sindelar told the senators that they
should support a "moratorium" on classes
Friday, with speakers present to inform
students about the shooting.
' "Any one of us at the present time'
could be shot at if the police think we pose
a threat to them," Sindelar said. "We have
to show support to the black community
and make sure justice is being done. Now
is the time to show what ASUN can do,"
he said.
Senator Dan Roh amended Williams'
resolution to include the call for a
moratorium.
Sen. Scott Cook said a moratorium
might cause violence on campus.
"If people are willing to disrupt it (the
public meeting) then we're just causing
(Continued on pg. 9)
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Photo by Td KMc
Ship Smith, a UNL student, explains what he saw during the arrest by
Campus Police of a black woman student in the Nebraska Union north
lobby about 4:15 Wednesday. Gathered around Smith are Ken Dader,
vice chancellor for student affairs, Ely Meycrson, dean of student
development, and Gail Cade, chief of Campus Police.
Gade said Wednesday evening that the woman was being held in the
Lincoln city jail until County Atty. Ron Lahners decides whether or
not to file charges.
The arrest followed a scuffle involving a white male and a black
female in front of the Union North Desk. Gade said no .information
on the case would be released until Lahners acts.