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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 13, 1989)
NEBRASKAN wmsam WBWl V i ^BfEfcjjB m ^Maj swEyKgi 8PBSi H fflfmm U.S. citizenship sought UNL Chinese students petition congressmen By Laura Smith Suff Reporter__ University of Nebraska-Lincoln students from the Peoples Republic of China took petitions to Nebraska congressmen Tuesday in support of congressional bills that would allow Chinese students to stay in the United States. Xin Chen, a member of the Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars at UNI., said the association is trying to per suade Nebraska congressmen to support meas ures to keep Chinese students in the United States. The UNL students passed the petition among UNL faculty and students, he said. Liu Ding, president of the association, said the students would like to slay in the United States as long as there is civil turmoil in China. Four bills have been introduced to make it easier for Chinese students to stay in the United States. Tuesday, the Senate passed an amendment to an immigration bill that would extend Chi nese students’ visas until June 5,1992. The bill would allow the students to apply for permanent resident status at the end of that period or return to China. Nebraska Senators J. James Exon and Bob Kerrey voted in favor of the amendment. The Senate should vote on the bill this week. Xin said he doesn’t think Congress will pass any measure concerning Chinese students because of pressure from President Bush. If a bill does pass, Xin said, he thinks the president will veto it “He (Bush) is afraid of losing his friend, China,” Xin said. Bush has made an offer to extend for one year visas that expire for Chinese students, but after that year the students would have to return to China. Xin said he doesn’t believe many students will take advantage of Bush’s offer. Some students are afraid of what will happen when they return to China after having applied for visa extensions. Xin said he believes most of the students whose visas run out will go back to China to avoid political repercussions. The bill which currently is before the senate is a good bill, Liu said. “Many of us think it’s the best,’’ he said. He said the legislation would give Chinese students a chance to look at the changing conditions in their homeland and decide whether it is best for them to return or to stay in the United States. Liu said students want Congress to pass a bill allowing students to apply for permanent residency. He said this option appeals to stu dents more than a one-year visa extension or residency that is established by asking for political asylum. “Political asylum means you turn against the Chinese government,’’ he said. “Family and friends (in China) may suffer.’’ r raternity prints apology for ridiculing homosexuals Accused Triangle member denies charges By Jon Nachtigal Staff Reporter Evidence has surfaced that alleges a member of Triangle fraternity at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln pro duced a newsletter that ridiculed homosexuals. The mock newsletter, pul out by a group or individual calling them selves the “Society for the Preven tion of Cruelty to Avacados (sic)”, was distributed on the UNL campus in early March. In the summer edition of the Tri angle fraternity’s newsletter, editor Bryce Glenn issued an apology to Triangle members, writing, “The SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Avacados) in no way rep resents the views of the Nebraska Chapter of Triangle and is, in fact, largely the efforts of a single brother.” Triangle President Greg Imig said he knows only of rumors identifying a Triangle member as the creator of the newsletter. “I confronted this person and he denied (making the newsletter),” Imig said. “There’s not much I can do when there is no proof.” Imig said it was a mistake for Glenn to print the apologies because no solid evidence exists implicating a Triangle member. Glenn was unavailable for com ment. The mock newsletter proposed the creation of a' ‘COLAGE College’ ’ at UNL that would offer students courses in sodomy, androgyny and speech communication that “shows how anyone can learn to talk like a homosexual.” The letter continued with other abusive remarks targeted at the UNL student group COLAGE (the Com mittee Offering Lesbian and Gay Events). UNL Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs James Griesen said he was disappointed with such behavior. But even with proof of the news letter’s circulators, Griesen said, no action can be taken by the university against an individual involved or the Triangle fraternity because of their First Amendment right to free speech. “As far as rules or regulations,” he said, “I don’t think there is any thing which says you can’t express your opinions. But I certainly hate to sec this type of ignorance dis played.” Jerry Wesch, a Clinical Psycholo gist at the Howard Brown Memorial Clinic in Chicago and a UNL Tri angle alumnus, said he was outraged that anyone would make such de rogatory comments toward homo sexuals. Wesch, who works with the Mul ticcnter AIDS Cohort Study, said he first learned about the fraternity’s involvement by reading the frater nity’s regular newsletters. “I could not believe what I saw. Come on guys, this is bullshit,” Wesch said, referring to Triangle members’ alleged actions. ”1 think it is right up there with the Ku Klux Klan in terms of stupidity. This is an unfortunate result of the bigotry and stereotypes that exist in our country today.” Overpaid awards must be repaid, new policy states By Cindy Wostrel Stiff Reporter iew policy requiring immedi te payment of 1988-89 federal inancial aid overawards has sent some students scrambling for money. The Department of Education passed a policy in June which re quires students who received Title IV overawards in 1988-89, including Pell grants, Perkins loans and Staf ford loans, to repay that money. Those who don’t immediately repay the excess money will have any future aid packages frozen until the overawards are repaid. Previously, overawards were de ducted from the student’s aid pack age for the following year. i ne policy nas anecica aoout tuu to 140 University of Nebraska-Lin coln students, said John Beacon, in terim director of scholarships and financial aid. Some UNL students have complained, Beacon said. The new policy “simply doesn’t permit us to give additional money (until the overaward is repaid),’ ’ Beacon said. Overpaid students still may attend UNL, he said. The amounts of overawards have varied. Beacon said. While some have been small, he said that some have been quite substantial. Some UNL students may have been overpaid because they became Nebraska residents before they could adjust their aid packages. The government reduces the amount of financial aid it gives to resident students because their tui tion cost, and thus their need for fi nancial aid, decreases. See AID on 6 Connie Sheehan/Daily Nebraskan Hot to trot. Athletes take advantage of Wednesday’s cooler 88 degree weather to train.