Friday, August 27, 1982
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Vol. 82 No 6
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Staff Photo by Craig Andresen
Dane Kennedy
Prof is in Nairobi
during rebel coup
By Janet H. Chu
Fully aware of the growing political tension, Dane
Kennedy, an assistant professor of history at UNL,
went to Nairobi, Kenya, to do research for his book on
white settlers in Rhodesia. Little did he know that he
would find himself in the middle of an attempted coup
led by Kenya's own air force.
On Aug. 1, fighting erupted near the United Kenya
Club where Kennedy was staying, he said. Soon rebels
had taken over an English-speaking radio station where
they announced that the dictatorship of President Daniel
Moi was being overthrown, Kennedy said. The rebel
leaders declared that economic conditions were severe,
making it difficult for the poor to survive. They also
werer ppposejl to new constitutional amendment that
officially made IkenyaV one-party state. Before the
amendment, a multiple-party system was allowable.
The rebels claimed that Moi's government had become
increasingly authoritarian and had begun unlawfully
detaining people and denying them trials, Kennedy
said.
"When I first heard the gunfire, I thought it was
a police shoot out with bandits, but it was so extensive
and so much gunfire," he said. When people realized
what was happening, they cheered for the rebels, Ken
nedy said. The poor people and the university students
were especially pleased.
"The poor slum people weren't too disappointed.
Some were clearly happy. Rebels encouraged them to
loot stores - like Robin Hood style," he said.
The Kenyan economy has degenerated because the
country imports most of its oil and oil prices have risen,
Kennedy said. At the same time, prices of Kenya's pri
mary exports, tea and coffee, have dropped.
Kenya also has one of the fastest growing populations
in the world, with a 4 percent annual increase. He said
these factors created public discontent and political
pressures, building up to the coup.
The rebellion did' not last long. By that afternoon,
the army and General Service Unit surrounded the rebels,
Kennedy said, and the Moi government regained con
trol. "One thing that was strange is that the air force would
carry this (coup) out by themselves, without the aid
of the army. I wonder if they were that naive or if they
were double-crossed," Kennedy said.
As a result of the Aug. 1 events, Kennedy said Kenya's
image as one of Africa's most stable countries has been
shot down. Many of the country's Indian population
now live in fear, as much of the violence was directed
at them. Kennedy said he suspects they will start to
leave the country, which is now suffering politically and
economically.
State fair a
All exhibition space for the Nebraska State Fair Sect.
3 through 12 has been sold, and advance ticket sales
are at a record high, the fair's general manager, Henry
Brandt, said.
He said the Sept. 9 show with country-western group
Alabama is sold out. Only bleacher seats remain for the
Rick Springfield show Sept. 10 and the Barbara Mandreil
appearance Sept. 12.
Republican Cov. Charles Thone and Democratic
gubernatorial candidate Bob Kerrey will hold a can
didatcs forum Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. The debate will take
place at the grandstand before a news media panel.
throe
Nigro' resigns chief justice pos
By Eric Peterson
ASUN President Dan Wedekind acknowledged the re
signation of Joe Nigro as chief justice of the UNL Student
Court at an ASUN Senate meeting Wednesday night.
Nigro sent a letter of resignation to Wedekind during
the summer.
"I just decided there were more important things to do
with my time," Nigro said.
Nigro's action followed a dispute between ASUN
Electoral Commissioner Jennifer Fager and the Student
Court last spring.
The court requested her resignation after she gave con
flicting testimony about her rules regarding campaign
posters. Fager in turn sued the Student Court, and the
case is still pending before the University Appeals Board.
Fager refused to comment on the case.
Dolores Simpson-Kirkland, assistant to the dean of
students and ASUN faculty adviser, said Fager still wants
to be on the Student Court.
"I understand she wishes to remain," Simpson-Kirkland
said. She added that as soon as the appeals board is
set up for this year, the case will be settled.
"I don't think we need to continue to drag it out,"
she said. "We've prolonged an unfortunate situation, and
now we should deliberate the whole issue in a timely,
fair and reasonable way."
The dispute started early last spring. Soon after Fager
was appointed to the UNL Student Court for a term be
ginning this year, Mike Frost, STUPID II party can
didate for the ASUN presidency, and Kathy Mach brought
a complaint before the court that Fager had violated elec
tion rules regarding student campaign posters.
The rule said no posters could be posted before Feb.
10; however, Fager supposedly had informed some of the
candidates that they could post material early. The rest of
the commission, however, denied giving any such permis
sion. In testimoney before the court on the matter,
Fager first denied suspending the rule, but later changed
her statement.
On March 1 , the Student Court asked then ASUN Pres
ident Rick Mockler to remove Fager from her post.
However, according to Simpson-Kirkland, Mockler felt
the court procedures were inappropriate and refused
to do it.
Later, the ASUN Senate asked Nigro to resign. The
conflict went to the appeals board, and the end of the
school year postponed the resolution of the issue until
this fall.
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Staff Photo by Craig Andrtttn
Roofer Bart Bosco's job takes him to high places. Bosco was perched on the roof of Love Library Thursday to re
pair some leaky spots.
Hons bringing brisk ticket sales
Agricultural Day also will be Sept. 9, Brandt said,
and 100,000 free gate passes have been distributed for
the day.
Other events include Veterans Day Sept. 4 and Senior
Citizens Day Sept. 8, with free admission for both
groups on their respective days, Brandt said.
Murphy Bros. Exposition of Tulsa, Okla., will operate
the midway carnival with a special "Sneak-A-Peak"
planned for opening day.
Those 16 years old and younger can ride the rides
for $6 until 6 p jn. on Kids Day Sept. 3.
A "East Blast," with all rides again for $6, is planned
for 6 pjn. to midnight Sept. 9.
A new feature will be a fair shuttle system, with
tractor-pulled trailers carrying up to 70 riders from
parking lots to the fairgrounds and around the midway.
Shuttle buses will run between the fairgrounds and
Memorial Stadium Sept. 11, the day of the Nebraska
Iowa game.
Last year's state fair made about $58,000. "If we
break even, that is what it is all about," he said.
Fair tickets are $1.50 in advance and $2 at the gate,
and tickets for shows at the Bob Devaney Sports Center
are $8.
