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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1990)
Dale Bacon, research investigator for the Lincoln Fortean Research Center, investigates sightings of intelligent forces. “I think it would be vain to be thinking we are the only beings inhabiting this planet,” Bacon said. Lincoln researchers investigate mysterious encounters By Bryan Pe»e«*son Staff Reporter The staff at Lincoln’s Fortean Research Center has been researching local unex plained phenomena since 1982. Founder Ray Boeche “fell a need for organized research on unex plained phenomena in the region,” said Scott Colborn, current director of the center. Colborn, a 38-year-old Lincoln native, is heavily involved in local efforts to investigate claims of unusual experiences such as UFO sighti ngs and reports of ghosts a nd poltergeists. The Fortean Research Center, P.O. Box 94627 Lincoln, Neb. 68509, publishes a quarterly journal which Colborn ediLs. Colborn also hosts the KXIJM talk show "Exploring Unexplained Phenomena” with Dale Bacon, a former associate director of the center. Colborn also is the current state director of the Mutual UFO Net work Inc., or MUFON, which he says is the world’s largest private body of UFO investigators. The Fortean center shares research with MUFON, which has its headquar ters in Seguin, Texas. In all these efforts, Colborn secs himself and fellow researchers a$ “open-minded skeptics doing open minded research.” Colborn describes the research done on a typical report of a UFO sighting: A researcher receives a report, does subsequent research and looks for alternate explana Uoas such as the presence of weather balloons, flocks of geese, cloud formations or temperature inver sions (weather conditions which create the illusion of something solid). "We also try to evaluate the person making the report,” Colburn said. ‘‘What is our impression of this person; is the person involved in a big hoax?" Referring to a recent poltergeist case investigated by Colborn and Bacon, Colborn said, ‘‘It is my be lief that much ofwhat was reported was a result of extreme stress on that person — a recent job termina lion and severe financial repercus sions.” Colborn said there often is a rational explanation for what wit nesses perceive to be UFOs. The majority of reports can be explained with a knowledge of flight pat terns, meteorological conditions and animal behavior. "We try to explain UFO sight ings in everyday terms,” he said. But there arc reports that defy explanation, Colborn said. "Ten to 20 percent of worldwide reports cannot be explained.” Fellow researcher Bacon gave his idea of open-minded research: "I’ll listen to anybody Something may have happened to these people; what it is, I don’t know ” Colborn also treats each report with objectivity. "We try to be tolerant and not dismiss peoples’ reports out of hand,” Colburn said "We dissoci ate ourselves from UFO-bashers or debunkers. They simply haven’t taken the lime to look at the mate rial.” Fortean publishes a quarterly journal that reports on a variety of unexplained phenomena, with topics ranging from ghosts and poltergeists to claims of religious miracles, archaeological anomalies and UFO sightings. ‘‘Each issue ofthc center’s jour nal tries to print a cross-section of received reports. My own primary interest is UFOs," Colborn said. The journal, which usually runs 32 pages, is available locally and to members of the center. The $15 annual membership is open to the public. Colborn said membersalsohave quarterly dinners and share infor mation about related topics. The Coffee 1 louse, 132-1 P St., will host the first of several planned monthly discussions Feb. 25. People interested in unexplained phenomena also can listen to the “Exploring Unexplained Phenom ena” radio show on KZIJM at 10 Saturday mornings. I his Saturday’s show vyill fea ture author and UFO abduction researcher Dr. Edith Fiore. Listen ers are invited to call in to the station during the hour-long talk show. “Many people will share UFO experiences privately, but not in the paper," co-host Bacop said. He described how those who have sighted UFOs often get a negative response when they speak to oth ers of their experience. “After that they talk little," Ba con said. "In private circumstances, almost all arc willing to talk." MUFON’s international director Walter H. Andrusjr. said interest in UFOs is growing daily and people are reporting more sightings every day. He added that interest in UFOs will be legitimized a.s reported sight ings increase. Yet MUFON, like the Fortean Research Center, finds that about 90 percent of reported sight ings can be explained after research. It is the remainder, the 10 per cent of the cases for which “no earthly explanation can be found," which continues to intrigue research ers and the general public alike.