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tuesday,april 29, 1980
lincoln, nebraska vol. 104, no. 72
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Photo by Jon Natvig
Home, sweet home
A mouse takes up temporary residence in a glass jar
caught in the lengthening afternoon shadows of Lyman
Hall.
calls remarks defamatory
By Randy Essex
James Coe, the donor of 1300 gold
Krugerrands to the NU Foundation, has
told the Daily Nebraskan in a letter that
he is "about to take legal actions against
certain individuals who have made
(allegedly) defamatory and slurring re
marks to the press (allegedly) impugning
my character and reputation."
In the letter, Coe wrote that the al
legedly defamatory statements have caused
him embarrassment, mental anguish, loss
of standing and loss of friends.
"I feel I must demand redress under the
law. There wUl be no further comment at
this time," Coe wrote.
Contacted by telephone at her Phoenix
home Monday, Jessie Coe, James' wife,
refused any comment. "You're wasting
your call," she told the reporter.
When asked if the Coes had contacted
an attorney about the possible litigation,
Mrs. Coe said, "No comment, no comment,
no comment."
NU Foundation vice president Ed
Hirsch told the Daily Nebraskan Monday
that he knew nothing of the possibility
of a lawsuit or series of lawsuits.
The Coes donated the Krugerrands
now worth about $650,00 on the gold
market -in January and drew criticism
from the UNL African People's Union,
as well as some other students and some
faculty members.
Those critical ofthe donation charge
that the Krugerrands represent blood
money and are minted and sold by the
South African government as a symbol
of that government's policies.
The Coes earlier this month decided
that the Krugerrand donation should not
be spent on programs at UNL because of
the criticism they drew.
A story in last Friday's Lincoln Journal
quoted Mrs. Coe as saying the Coes wanted
the Krugerrands returned.
Asked if there were any new develop
ments in ownership of the Krugerrands,
Hirsch said, "Nothing we can discuss
at this time."
UPC fee cuts would hurt
fat-free ' budget Venburg
By Rathy Stokebrand
Although the NU Board of Regents
failed to approve the Fund A student
fees allocations for next year, Greg Ven
burg, president of University Program
Council-City, said the council has not
considered possible program cuts.
"Our budget is fat -free," he said, ad
ding that any cut would seriously affect
the' council's programs. Vendurg said the
UPC City, East and Culture Center budgets
were formed from the committee level
up and student input was requested and
given at each level.
At the last regents meeting the board
voted not to approve the Fund A alloca
tions for UNL and UNO, which includes
money for the Daily Nebraskan, ASUN
and University Program Council. The
executive committee of the board was
directed to meet to propose alternatives
to the allocations which could satisfy
opponents of the original allocations in
Fund A.
The executive committee consists of
Regents Robert Raun, Robert Prokop,
Robert Koefoot, and Student Regent
Renee Wessels.
Venburg said it was "somewhat sur
prising" that the regents didn't approve
the Fund A allocations and especially that
the UPC speaker program was questioned.
"We complied with the November de
cision of the Regents that we could have
speakers funded with student fees if the
program was balanced," Venburg said.
He said the program on the draft
Continued on Page 6
Pro-space group knocks moon treaty out of orbit
By Mary Jo Pitzl
A treaty propc:J in the United Nations which would
prevent exploitation of the moon's resources is nearly
dead, according to members of a pro-space colonization
group, but money is needed to "put a stake through its
heart."
Members of the L-5 Society were in Lincoln last week
to participate in a Department of Energy-sponsored
symposium on the use of a satellite power system as an
alternative energy source in the next century.
The L-5 Society draws its name from the five libera
tion points-points between the earth and moon where
the gravitational pull from each body cancels out the
other's pull. This creates an area where space colonies
could be located. Liberation point five js where the L-5
Society hopes to have its final meeting of the 20th Cen
tury. Arel Lucas, one of the editors of the five-year-old
society's news magazine, said L-5 attended the four-day
symposium as an interested party. Discussion of the moon
treaty was not on the agenda, but Lucas took time to ex
plain why the 3,500-plus-member organization opposes
the treaty that would prevent exploitation of the moon's
resources by any one government or corporation.
Lobbying effect
When L-5 members learned the proposed treaty was
about to get U.S. support, they hired a lawyer and
mounted a lobbying effort that helped block UJS. ap.
proval of the treaty, she said. The treaty must be signed
by the president'i representative and be ratified by the
Senate before . getting U.S. support, Lucas explained.
The approval of any five nations would make the
treaty law, according to Lucas, but she said that without '
U.S. support, it is unlikely to pass. So far, France and
Chile have signed , she said .
"L-5 is not against a treaty," Lucas said. "We don't
want to see Coca-Cola take over the moon."
However, the treaty as it now exists has several hitches,
Lucas said, including:
Problems listed
-It doesn't specify under which conditions the moon's
resources can be exploited. "Are people really going to
want to go out there when they don't know the rules?"
Lucas asked.
-The treaty calls for no disturbance of celestial bodies.
Lucas pointed out that the moon's resources couldn't
be exploited in 1 ,000 years of use at the current rate of
consumption on the earth.
-The treaty bans private property in space, which
Lucas said the society finds antithetical to pioneer spirit.
"If you can't have anyting for yourself, what is the in
centive?" Lucas said.
Lucas said another moon treaty proposal is in the
works and may eventually earn L-5 support. She com
pared the treaty to homesteading, whh each settler
staking out his claim. There would be limitations to how
much property one could have, Lucas said,
Lucas said she is satisifed with the stop-the-treaty move
not only because it blocked UJS. approval, but also be
cause of the controversy it created.
Space knowledge
"Fighting over it has created value in space knowledge,"
she said, adding she feels the public's awareness of space
exploration has been expanded.
Lucas herself has been an L-5 member for two and a
half years.
"Three years ago I was out in the backwoods of Bri
tish Columbia milking my cow and thinking space was
ridiculous," she said. By picking up information, she
developed an interest in space colonization. Lucas said
she has no formal science background.
The Tucson-based organization was started five years
ago by H. Keith and Carolyn Henson with the intention
of establishing several space colonies by the year 2000.
A common interest in space exploration and the pro
ceeds from a wrecked car got the society on its feet,
according to Mrs. Henson.
Nebraska's L-5 membership consists of three people,
according to Michael Leonard of Lincoln. Leonard said
he hopes to expand the statewide membership within the
next year.
2000 committee discusses goals: Committee made up of a
cross section of Nebraskans tries to identify long term
goal for the state Page 2
Thrush does it their own way: Local band plays familiar
tunes with a personal touch, . , Page 9
UNL women's volleyball season ends prematurely: Team
passes up chance to attend national tournament Page 10