tuesday, february 10, 1981
lincoln, nebraska vol. 106, no. 22
(ofefflw mmim lam
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Student faces charge of motor vehicle homicide
By Val Swinton
and Diane Andersen
A UNL student was charged with three counts of
motor vehicle homicide Monday in Lancaster County
Court following a weekend accident that claimed three
lives.
John i:. Moreland, 18. a member of Phi Gamma Delta
fraternity, was charged in connection with the deaths of
Christopher K. Harris, 21, Mission, Kan.; Peter J.
Phclan, 20. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, both students at Creigh
ton University; and UNL student Geri Lynn Foster, 19, of
Omaha.
The victims were part of a group leaving a 1950s party
near Sprague in southwest Lancaster County when a car
driven by Moreland came over a hill and allegedly struck
several people walking along the road.
The party was attended by about 300 members of
UNL and Creighton fraternities and sororities.
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Daily Nebraskan Photo
Meridith James finds the cold unbearable for bare skin as she braves the elements to go to class Monday.
Tuesday's forecast calls for approximately four inches of snow and declining teamperatures.
Payment for players defended
By Patti Gallagher
In support of putting UNL football players on the uni
versity payroll. Sen. Lrnie Chambers of Omaha quoted
from the Bible Monday during testimony.
"first the blade, then the ear. then the full grain of
ear." Chambers, an atheist, told the Nebraska Legislature's
Lducation Committee in support of LB3o3.
He said the bill is not solely to address the fact that
football plavers "bring hundreds of thousands of dollars
to the university while being told they should play for the
fun of the game."
It is actually motivated. Chambers said, to look at "an
educational svstem which hinders maturation and
development of football players."
Chambers sole supporter
Chambers was the sole supporter of l.B3(3 during the
O-mmute hearing. One UNL representative testified
against it. saving it would violate NCAA regulations.
On face value.' the bill would compensate "these UNL
football plavers who are really a part of a big business"
for their hours of work and its accompanying psychologi
cal stress, according to Chambers.
Compensation would "pay them and get rid of the
hypocrisy." he said. It is hypocritical, he said, that toot
ball players arc often compensated by non-salaried means
which have t. be hidden because of NCAA regulations.
But the bill also faces the recognition that football
players are human beings. Chambers said. That would
lead, he said, to consideration ot the deficiency in their
educational programs.
"Football plavers liave strong bodies and weak
academic accomplishments." he said. They are therefore
left with "nowhere to go when the game is over.
"When the jersey comes off and the last whistle blows
blows, thev have no identity." he said
"Plavers are sub,ecied to a mental sot tenmg process
from the time they are in little league football. Chambers
That process continues at the university in the form of
lowered class requirements, inflated grades and other
special privileges, he said.
Examples of privileges cited by Chambers were allow
ing players to cut into lines during registrations, supplying
free meals and shoes, and having other people take their
tests.
Chambers said some of his information comes directly
from football players at UNL. He declined to name them.
Chambers' bill does not specify salary amount. He
suggested to the committee it could be set by the NCAA,
the Big Light Conference or UNL.
Speaking against LB363 was Keith Broman. UNL pro
fessor of finance. Broman, the UNL faculty representative
to the Big Light Conference, said NCAA and Big Light
regulations prohibit employment of athletes for pay.
If the bill were passed. "UNL would have to declare
those employed ineligible to play," he said.
No indication from NCAA
Chambers said he has had no indication from the
NCAA or UNL that the bill would violate any regulation.
However, a recent Sports Illustrated article about the bill
indicated that NCAA "may be nervous about it," he said.
Asked by committee member Sen. Tom Vickers of
I arnam if football players get preferential academic treat
ment. Broman said, "The university educational programs
are not remiss.
"Of course, there are exceptions," he said. "There are
cases in which athletes do not finish their education, just
as there are students in other areas who do not finish their
education."
Committee member Sen. Maurice Kremer of Aurora
expressed concern that if LB363 passed, other states
would enact similar laws and players would go to the high
est bidder.
Vickers said other sports consume as much time and
require as much exertion as football, and said "if we're
going to do this for one sector we ought to do it for all
sectors."
Chambers said, however, that football is different both
because it is more dangerous and because it is big business.
"They are entitled to compensation for what they do
for the college and the state," he said.
According to the information filed in court Monday,
Moreland was charged with unintentionally causing the
deaths of the three students.
The report also said Moreland operated "a motor
vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic liquor or of
any drug."
According to the report, a chemical analysis showed
Moreland had an alcohol content above the legal limit of
.10 of one percent.
Deputy County Attorney John Colborn refused to
elaborate further on the results of the chemical analysis.
Judge Jeffery Cheuvront released Moreland on a
53,000 personal recognizance bond, wliich means he was
not required to post a cash bond on his promise to appear
in court.
The charge of motor vehicle homicide is a felony that
carries a maximum prison sentence of five years or a fine
of up to $10,000 or both.
The conditions of most of the remaining hospitalized
students were improved, according to Monday afternoon
hospital reports on their conditions.
Creighton student Michael O'Keefe, 18, of Plymouth,
Minn., still was in critical condition at Lincoln General
Hospital with head injuries and a fractured leg, a hospital
spokesperson said.
UNL student Robbin Campbell, 18, of Omaha, was in
serious to fair condition at Bryan Memorial Hospital with
slight head injuries and a fractured leg. Her condition had
not changed much since Sunday, a Bryan Memorial
Hospital official said.
Robert Arias, an 18-year-old Creighton student from
Los Angeles, Calif., was transferred from Bryan Memorial
Hospital to St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha Monday. Arias
was listed in good condition at the time of the transfer.
Creighton student Doug Steenblock, 20, of Fremont,
was in good condition Monday afternoon at Dodge
County Memorial Hospital in Fremont, a night super
visor said.
Campus alcohol
debate renewed
The fact that alcohol was alleged to be involved in the
car-pedestrian accident near Sprague Saturday in which
three students were killed has prompted some renewal
calls by UNL students to allow alcohol on campus.
Several students interviewed by the Omaha World
Herald in a Monday story expressed concern that stud
ents are not allowed to hold parties on campus where al
cohol is served and must drive to and from parties off
campus.
Richard Armstrong, UNL vice chancellor for Stud
ent Affairs, said Monday that: "The question that is
being raised is one that has been raised before when the
alcohol policy was in review.
"At this point in time, we don't know that alcohol
played a big part in the accident.
Armstrong said recent efforts by the Residence Hall
Association to legalize drinking on campus have started
a review process "that would possibly lead to a review of
the policy" by the NU Board of Regents.
Such a call for a review of the alcohol policy occurs
about every four ears. when a new batch of students is
on campus. Armstrong said, recalling that the last such
review was in 197o.
"I don't embrace the idea (of alcohol on campus) with
open arms." he said, but added he takes a neutral posit
ion on the issue and is willing to see the review process
take place.
"There are pros and cons on both sides of the issue."
Armstrong said.
Emotionalism often rules at times when a tragedy has
just occurred. Armstrong said.
"It's most unfortunate to bring this up when there's
sadness in the community." Armstrong said, adding he
thinks any discussion on changing the alcohol policy
should wait for about six weeks to avoid upsetting famil
ies of those involved in the accident and to avoid emot
ional debat on the subject .
fiuesday
A Continuing Controversy: Arguments over the abortion
issue flared in the Legislature Monday Page 6
Economy -Sized Comedy: Vie Incredible Shrinking
Woman jibes our consumer economy, though it is Lily
Tomlin herself that provides some of the movie's
flaws page 8
Boulder Battlefield: Husker Basketball Coach Moe Iba
says playing at Colorado Wednesday won't be an easy
task Page 10