Weather: Cloudy today with a
good chance of light snow and a high
near 40. The low tonight near 30.
High in the mid-30s Wednesday.
Veteran Angie Miller
gives NU leadership
Sports, page 10
Dynamic leading couple
adds spark to 'Romance'
Arts and Entertainment, page 8
...
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February 4, 1986
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Vol. 85 No. 94
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By Bill Allen
Arts and Entertainment Editor
Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery Direc
tor George Neubert has received tele
phone calls for and against his decison
to cancel the film "Hail, Mary."
At least one person has picketed the
art gallery because of the cancellation.
Neubert said his decision to cancel
Jean-Luc Godard's controversial film
was based on a statement of principle,
not on political or administrative pres
sure. Sheldon presents films and exhibits
purely for aesthetic viewing, Neubert
said. Because the film has been con
demned by the Catholic Church and
Catholics have picketed the film at
threaters throughout the nation, the
artistic value has been distorted, he
said.
The film presents a contemporary
depiction of the birth of Christ and
includes two nude scenes of the actress
who portrays Mary. In the film, Mary
works in her father's service station
and Joseph drives a cab.
Dan Ladely, Sheldon Film Series
director, said that he originally sche
duled the film based on Godard's
international fame as a film artist.
Sheldon has shown his films in the
past, Ladely said. "Hail, Mary" is
Godard's latest work.
Neubert said that Ladely came to
him with information about the con
troversy, including a letter from state
Sen. Bernice Labedz, who expressed
concern about the film. Labedz could
not be reached for comment Monday.
"I surveyed other cities (where the
film was shown)," Neubert said, "and
found that the issues of the film had
been distorted. I felt it would be detri
mental to Sheldon to show the film, so I
made a decision, right or wrong."
Neubert, who has not seen the film,
said his decision was a compromise
not censorship. He said that politi
cians who want to use Sheldon as a
political whipping post might use this
film to lobby against university spend
ing. Sheldon, as well as other parts of
UNL, has been subject to legislative
budget cuts the last two years. Neubert
said the "Hail, Mary" cancellation could
hurt Sheldon financially.
"I don't know whether this is a great
film," Neubert said. "Evething Godard
does is not great. Why should I jeopardize
the goals of the Sheldon Art Gallery for
it?
"Probably one of the most volatile
issues is when you touch someone's
religion," said Neubert, who is not
Catholic. "I felt quite frankly, that this
had been totally distorted."
He said any meaning the film intended
has been misconstrued and misunder
stood by the publicity.
Ron Kurtenbach, a UNL graduate
student, is protesting the withdrawal
of the film. Picketing in front of the
gallery Monday, he said that the film
was withdrawn only for financial reasons.
By canceling the film, Neubert raised
the issue of "whether professional
integrity will be supported at the uni
versity," Kurtenbach said.
Neubert said he discussed the film
with John Yost, associate to the chan
cellor. But Neubert said he made a
routine discussion and was not pres
sured by anyone on the administration
to cancel the film.
Yost said that as the director Neu
bert has full responsibility for any pro
gramming decisions at Sheldon.
Neubert said Ladely wrote a letter to
Labedz, explaining that the film had
won an award and had received several
positive critical reviews.
Kurtenbach said the university should
"hang a red light from Sheldon," because
"it is now a house of intellectual
prostitution."
He said he plans to picket again
today and hopes people will join him.
Neubert said that if students want to
see "Hail, Mary" it may be shown in the
Nebraska Union or another campus
building.
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Mark DavisDaily Nebraskan
Fire marshalls leave the UNL College of Business Administration Monday morning after Investigating a false bomb
threat.
Classes canceled, but police say threat was a 'hoax'
From staff reports
A bomb threat at the UNL College of Busi
ness Administration forced students and
faculty into the rain Monday morning.
UNL police officer Bill Manning said an
anonymous person called a university opera
tor at 7:56 a.m. and said a bomb was set to
explode at 9 a.m. in the CBA building.
Police then evacuated the building and
searched for the bomb. All 8:30 a.m. classes
were canceled.
Manning said he and five other UNL police
officers, an investigator, and an inspector
from the state Fire Marshall's office, searched
the building
Searchers found no bomb, and the building
reopened at 9:80 a.m.
Manning said UNL police received three
bomb threats in 1985, eight threats in 1984
and seven threats in 1983.
Manning called the bomb threat "a hoax,"
but said the Lincoln Bomb Disposal Unit
would have been called immediately if some
thing suspicious had been found.
"It would have taken nothing to get them
here," Manning said, referring to the amount
of time it would have taken for the disposal
unit to arrive on campus.
Manning said campus police still are
investigating the bomb threat.
Ex-gambler
will speak
during forum
By Lise Olsen
Senior Reporter
A nationally known gambling expert and a
former professional football player will speak at
a UNL gambling forum in March.
Washington, D.C., Veteran's Hospital worker
Dr. Robert Custer and former quarterback Art
Schlichter will speak at the forum. Schlichter
played for the Balitmore Colts (now Indianapo
lis) before he was suspended for gambling.
Eleven student and administrative leaders
representing different UNL perspect ives endorsed
the public forum at a meeting Monday in the
Nebraska Union.
The forum, which is sponsored by several UNL
groups, could address gambling related issues
such as compulsive gambling, gambling as a
hobby or money-making venture and dealing
with friends that gamble.
ASUN leaders, Jeff Fishback and Gerard Keat
ing, and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Rudy
Lewis have been planning a gambling program
since January. Other campus groups, including
Residence Hall Association, Intrafraternity
Council, Panhellenic and UNL housing, also have
been working individually on a program since 1 1
gambling-related arrests at UNL in December.
Custer said Monday he would speak at UNL.
Custer, a nationally recognized gambling expert,
reportedly has worked with several students
from Big Eight schools. V . J '
. .University housing, RHA, -ASUN, Panhellenic
and Intrafraternity Council will pay the $1,000
speakers' fees and expenses for Custer's and
Schlichter's appearances.
Campus leaders at the meeting expressed
concern that gamblers may not attend the forum.
Several emphasized that gambling had not
been treated as seriously as other potentially
dangerous social activities.
Other details and a definite date for the forum
will be announced this week. "
Lt. Ken Cauble of the UNL police said student
interest in and requests for information about
gambling had increased dramatically since the
December arrests.
Cauble said that the program should not be
limited to students.