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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 1984)
t ? i Friday, December 14, 1984 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Vol. 84 No. 78 Weather: Today, snow and blowing snow with periods of freezing rain possible and a high of 31 (-1 C). Friday night, snow and freezing rain making travel hazardous, low 24 (-4C). Saturday, snow ending with a high of 32 (OC). Bob CrubtchtrDsily Nttrtskcn Tho Sower visit! small townsInside Swimmer rides high &3aCK...Page 12 TfTTVTTT v v. to ssitasi lugM stun tee eiiire j T1 ic iemaiicii By Gene Gectrup Dslly Netnwisn Eecior Reporter A high demand for courses has prompted UNL officials to create an additional 104 course sections for the 1C35 spring semester. UNL Vice Chancellor for Aca demic Affairs Robert Fergason said Thursday that about $180,000 has been taken from a number of funds most coming from the university's equipment fund to accommodate more than 2,900 course requests for UNL students. "It's a little gambling on my part," Fergason said. "By intro ducing more sections we're hop ing students will register for classes they wouldn't have origi nally registered for in the first place." Fergason said if tuition from the classes does not cover the expenses for additional courses, more money will have to come from the equipment fund to cover the deficit. The new funds have created 27 new sections in the Arts and Sciences College, including classes in art, English, speech communi catin, geography, computer science and mathematics. The 27 new sections are open to about 930 students. The College of Business Admin istration has opened 40 new sec tions that will accommodate 1 ,320 students. Classes have opened in accounting, economics, finance, management and marketing. The School of Journalism has opened 28 new sections for the spring semester. The new classes will accommodate 400 students and include classes in advertis ing, broadcasting and news-editorial. Ten additional sections have been opened in the Teacher's Col lege. New classes in business edu cation will accommodate about 250 additional students. "There are too many students that are unable to get the classes they wanted due to full sections, and thi3 does not allow them to progress toward their degree," Fergason said. He said the bulk of the new sec tions will be taught by additional instructors instead of increasing the teaching load of existing in structors. Fergason said he asked college deans to estimate what they thought their college could han dle in terms of hiring quality instructions in addition to find ing the available teaching facilities. He said sections are filling up and should reach capacity. Fergason said he was feeling pressure from colleges to open new sections, and said the addi tional sections may be made permanent, pending a successful registration. Official says traffic design TV niistUlowfor expansion Dcr? i:;l-rastaa osiar Eej sorter Trafe wl!l tonti&tre to roll through Cnpws;cn116th:;:snd! 17th streets i VlJh and city divert trd7;c front the univcr- University officials want trteriri tiztZc moved to 22r.d and 22rd streets to a"r,v uni versity expansion, UNL Busi ness Manager Kay CofTysaid. But heavy, traffic cn these streets ould divide residential areas and disrupt city traffic plans, said George Selvia, city director of transportation. Each day about 15,000 cars and trucks travel 16th and 1 7th streets north cAlna Street and about 30,000 south ofVine, Selvia said. About 55 percent go to and from the university, he said. Thi3 traffic is hazardous for more than 5,0C0 students who must cross one or both streets to ?t to class, Coey said. Ipespsffc the S5-rophipec liirilt-: on 17th Street, cars often pc-s 10 mph, Coucy said, The arteries rJbo split rcsi- itece;.hMf the Scoit Engineir! iling Center::;is!i : Cocy saidL UerOwtiu tras would unify the campus, he said. University architects have considered closing sections of both streets and opening them to two way trafllc, Coffey said The university plan also would give campus traffic bet ter access to buildings and parking tots, Coffey said. Be cause 16th and 17th are one way streets, most people have to drive around the block to get where they need to go, he said. Some want attorney general to 'pay ' Defense attorney p reclaims Dougl as innocence By Brad Gilford Daily Nefaraskan Staff Reporter Defense Attorney William Morrow told jurors Attorney General Paul Douglas is innocent of the charges against him and should not be found guilty simply because some people want him to "pay5, for the fall of Commonwealth Savings Co. Morrow told the Lancaster County Dis trict Court Thursday in his closing argu ments that the case against Douglas is "weak." He told the jurors that the charges Douglas faces stem from alleged incidents that occurred after the fall of the finan cial institution. Assistant Prosecutor Vincent Valentino, whose arguments preceeded Morrow's, told the eight men and four women jurors to "use your logic and common sense." He said that the jury has more than enough evidence to convict Douglas on both charges against him. Douglas is charged with perjury, a fel ony, for allegedly lying to the Legislature's Special Comnmonwealth Committee about: The amount of money he received from Marvin Copple, former Common wealth vice president. Douglas testified that he received $32,500 from Copple for private consulting involving the devel opment of some Fox Hollow property. He later said that he had received $40,000, but had forgotten about a payment of $5,000 and that the other $2,500 was written off as an expense. The influence Copple had on his actions as attorney general. Copple testi fied that Douglas pushed a zoning change through the Lincoln City Council which enabled Copple to develop some property he had purchased. Copple also said that Douglas persuaded a U.S. attorney to drop charges against James Gillette, Copple's son-in-law. Whether he paid taxes on the money he received from Copple. Douglas recorded only $32,500 income from Copple, which he paid taxes on. But the other $7,500, not on his 1980 return, was not taxed. If, as Doudas said. $2,500 of that amount was an expense, he would have been lia ble for taxes on the other $5,000. Instead, he received a tax refund in 1980. Nebraska law states that it is not enough to show that Douglas' statements are false. The prosecution must prove beyond a doubt that Douglas knowingly and intentionally made the statements. Douglas also faces obstruction of gov ernment operations charges for telling Copple about an FBI investigation into possible wrongdoing at Commonwealth. Testimony concluded ear Jy Wednesdasy afternoon, and the jurors were seques tered early Thursday afternoon following the closing arguments. Morrow told the jury that the case has boiled down to his client's word against that of Copple. Morrow stressed that theme throughout the proceedings. Morrow said Douglas had a good record as a public servant, and he said Douglas is "a human being just like you and me, who makes a lot of mistakes." Morrow told the jurors that Copple may be trying to pin some of his blame on Douglas. Copple faces theft charges in February for allegedly stealing $500,000 from Commonwealth, but received par tial immunity from future charges in exchange for his testimony. Morrow asked the panel if Copple might be escaping penalties for other charges by testifying against Douglas. Continued a Page 11 1 x i 4 ft s 77r.fr? one last look . . . Stormy clouds roll in over Western Nebraska farmland as winter prepares to cover everything in time for a white Christmas.