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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1993)
»■***■ Arts^Entertainment Conference explores unexplained phenomena Center’s director insists UFO believers have evidence, sanity By Sam Kepfield Staff Reporter Physicist Enrico Fermi once asked, “If there arc other intelligent extraterrestrial life forms out there, where arc they?” Some people believe the answer to Fermi’s question is that they arc already here, and have been for nearly 50 years — and that the U.S. government knows about it. The Lincoln-based Fortcan Research Center sponsored “Exploring Unexplained Phenom ena V” this weekend at the Nebraska Center for Continuing Education. Founded in 1982, the Forlean Center, named for paranormal re searcher Charles Fort, has sponsored five con ferences over the past 10 years, on various paranormal topics. The focus of this year’s conference was Unidentified Flying Objects. Scientific data was presented by world-renowned researchers from such divci*sc fields as nuclear physics to theology, on topics from crop circles to abduc tions. Scott Colbom, director of the center, said it was“high time that we forget about whalothcrs think of this. It’s time for people to come forward with what they know, be it research or personal experiences.” The UFO field has too often been painted as the province of the “True Believers,” who want to be beamed up now,” Colbom said. Two presentations centered on the crash of a spacecraft near Roswell, N.M., in July 1947. Kevin Randle, a former Air Force intelligence officer, set out initially to disprove the entire story in 1988. But as he and his partner, Don Schmitt, dug deeper, they found credible, first hand evidence that the crash had indeed oc curred, and that the U.S. government had cov ered it up. Their first book on the incident appeared in 1991; a second book, presenting even more evidence, is due out at the end of 1993. Stanton Friedman, a nuclear physicist, has researched the same event for the last 15 years. Friedman said he had uncovered evidence point ing to a crash near Roswell, as well as indica tions of another one nearby at the same lime. Although hcandRandledisagreconsomcof the details, the two arc in accord on most of the basics. Friedman said the theory that UFOs arc the staple of uneducated fools is inaccurate. He said Gallup polls showed that the majority of people believe in UFOs and that the more educated a person is, the more likely he is to believe in UFOs. “If you’ re a believer, you’re the cream of the crop, not the bottom of the barrel. Come out of the closet!” Friedman said, adding that most scientists and engineers arc believers as well. The three-day conference also included a panel of five people, four of them from Ne braska — two from Lincoln — who claimed to have multiple abduction experiences. One of the speakers was Dr. John Slater, a professor of Indian Studies at the University of North Da kota. Slater said he had been abducted several times, most recently in 1988. Theologian Ray Bocchc, co-founder of the Fortcan Center, spoke on the similarities be tween ancient tales of demons and fairies and Robin Trimarchi/DN Carol Sinaer of Fort Collins, Colo., browses among the alien dolls made by J.P. Moore of Lincoln, on display at the “Exploring Unexplained Phenomena" conference at the Nebraska Center on Friday. -it If you're a believer, you're the cream of the crop, not the bottom of the barrel. Come out of the closet! —Friedman - ** - modem talcs of “Men in Black” who often threaten and harass UFO witnesses and abductccs. Bocchc said he was doubtful that these sightings were actually extraterrestrial. He said he believed some may come from inside the Earth and abductions may be conducted in tandem with the government. “The danger of belief,” Bocchc cautioned, “is that widespread, uncritical belief could lead to overt rule by god-like beings, much like Mount Olympus. The subject must be ap proached with a great deal of caution, he said. Colbom agreed. “The center comes at this from an open-minded, skeptical point of view. - We try to be open-minded, but not so much so that our brains fall out.” Abduction survivor shares experiences about meeting aliens By Sam Kepfield Staff Reporter “The first time you meet someone who’s had a bizarre experience like this, you feel like you’re no longer alone in this world.” For Vicki Stadlcr, that sentiment is particu larly important, in light of hor “bizarre experi ences.” Stadler, 41, a lifelong Lincolnitc, said she has been abducted by aliens nearly one hundred times since age seven. She told her story Friday night at a confer ence sponsored by the Fortean Research Cen ter, at the Center for Continuing Education, 33rd and Holdrcgc streets. Stadlcr said her first experience occurred at ' age 7, while playing in her back yard. She saw a liny man — very old with large eyes and dressed in a snug-fitting uniform — motion to her from a garage in the back yard. She fol lowed him inside, and walked into “an enor mously bright light.” She awoke three hours later in a closet—unusual, considering she had „ claustrophobia. In 1984 Sladlcr’s experiences began again, when she began to have a recurring dream that she was in her car taking a trip to Branched Oak Lake. At the lake she was met by a large ship and was drawn up into a light. Once inside, the aliens examined her physically and questioned her. She was returned two days later. In 1989, she began seeing a psychologist to help her remember the events. With the aid of hypnosis, the memories came back in a “land slide.” Since then, Sladlcr’s visitations have re sulted in two mysteriously-terminated preg nancies. One five months along, which physi cians termed a “miscarriage.” She was followed several limes by “men in black,’’after beginning work on an article, with her husband and her psychologist, about a secret underground installation in New Maxico which houses human and hybrid human-alien children. Stadlcr said that everything that has oc curred has left her with symptoms akin to post traumatic stress syndrome, or rape trauma syn drome. Socially, she said she was hesitant at first to come forth with her story, “because someone you know will find out and think you’re a lunatic.” This is only the second time she Has made her experiences public; the first was a year and a half ago at a similar conference in Lincoln. She is not fazed, though, by those who might cry hoax. More professionals arc coming to recognize the problem, and it is gaining accep tance from the general public, with support groups forming everywhere, including Lin coln. “Most people don’t know the magnitude of it I’m not real educated, but I’m real knowl edgeable on this topic,” she said. “I try to live my life, with a husband and our children, and - odd things occur in life from which there is no reference point to deal with them.” Summer movies — big names, budgets aim for success The Coneheads, Hot Shots sequel amongjpthe list of upcoming flicks By Gerry B«Mz Staff Raponar _ The summer season for movies is almost upon us. It’s the lime of year mat the movie companies look For ward to, mainly because they make a lot of money. It’s not going to be a sequel-filled iummer like it was in ’92 — with novics like “Batman Returns”, “Alien I”, and “Lethal Weapon 3”—but one vith movies with megabudgets and >ig-namc stars, all hoping for sue CHmianger: Sylvester Stallone is a park ranger trying to complete a res cue mission amid mountains and gla ciers while being chased by a helicop ter. Memorial Day release. The Coneheads: Based on the Satur day Night Live skit. The original cast of Dan Akroyd, Lorraine Newman and Jane Curtin is back. July 23 re lease. Dragon: Biography of Bruce Lee, a legend in both lire and cinema. Cov SivSSSt Mav7UtoLOZSZ w*q i * Cttfocfs* * rcivaso. I nc The Firm: Features an alt-star CM J including Tom Cruise, Oscar-winner Gene Hackman and Jeanne Tripplchom. Based on the best-seller about lawyers and mobsters, by John Grisham. Directed by Sydney Pol lack. July 2 release. The Fugitive: Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. Ford plays a doc tor wrongly accused of killing his wife. Based on the popular ’60s se ries, the story is about the doctor’s dodging the authorities while search ing for the infamous one-armed man who really committed the crime. Look for a latc-July/carly-August release. Hot Shots? Part Deux: The Zucker brothers arc back with the second installment of “Hot Shots?” movies. Stars Charlie Sheen, and looks to be a takeoff on ‘‘Rambo 2.” Look for Charlie’s dad (Martin Sheen) doing his“Apocolypsc Now” thing. May 2l release. Jurassic Park: A rumored $80mil lion blockbuster about dinosaurs in 1992. Directed by Steven Spielberg, and based on the book by Michael Crichton. Stars Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill and Laura Dcm. A hopeful June 11 release. The Last Action Hero: Another sup 18 fckanc. W ^SSi^WngJonc Moth Ado About Nothing: Kenneth Branagh, who brought “Henry V” to the screen, does another Shakespeare Hick. An all-star cast, including Michael Keaton, Denzel Washing ton,and Emma Thompson (Mrs. Ken neth Branagh). Already in limited release, wider release in late May. Sliver: Suits Sharon Slone and Billy Baldwin. The sex scenes between the two were redone to avoid the dreaded NC-17 rating. May 21 release. Super Mario Brothers: Based on the cvcr-popular Nintendo game. Stars Bob Hoskins and Dennis Hopper. Memorial Day release, from Walt Disney.
