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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 1994)
.«4 SPORTS Leaping the Kangaroos Spurred by aggressive defense, Nebraska rips the University of Missouri Kansas City, 92- 71, for its 11th straight win. Page 7 Monday 0/-25 Blustery and very cold with scattered flurries. January 17, 1994 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Vol. 93 No. 83 Board approves new chairman, EPA fines Regent: NU neglects governing structure By Jeffrey Robb Senior Editor Charles Wilson said he wanted to use his new position as chairman of the NU Board of Regents to refocus the board’s attention to the university’s proper governing structure. The regents unanimously voted to approve Wilson of Lincoln as the new chairman at its meeting Saturday. Wilson, the only regent nom inated for the position, replaces John Payne of Kearney who was chairman for two years. IKegentiNancyu orien oi Waterloo was elected vice chairwoman. Rosemary Skrupa of Omaha declined a nomination for the position. Recently, W ilson said, the University of Nebraska had neglected to follow the struc ture it bases itself on — one Wilson university witn a strong pres ident. He said the NU campuses and the regents had taken it upon themselves to tackle issues that should have gone through other channels. “The board is supposed to function through the president,” Wilson said after the meeting. “I don’t think the board should act independently or directly with the chancellors ... the board as a governing body hires the president to admin istrate this institution. “I think it’s important that we honor the governing structure.” Regents need to follow proper procedure when bringing issues before the board, Wilson said. He said the board needed to avoid situations 1 ike last fall, when O’Brien and Skrupa suggest ed NU consider the possibility of adding an engineering college at the University of Ne braska at Omaha. O’Brien and Skrupa by passed NU President Martin Massengale and administration and went straight to the board, he said. Wilson said the university couldn’t divert into a federation of campuses. Some campus construction projects have led to that break down, he said. The first step in realigning the proper struc ture, Wilson said, could be to create a smooth transition for new NU president Dennis Smith. “We need to make sure the changing to Dr. Smith as president succeeds,” Wilson said. “I think it’s very important that the board very early has extensive and serious dialogue with the president-elect, to sit down and talk to make sure he understands what the board expects of him from his role as president.” The board needs to include the president in all discussions, including those that involve the regents, the university or the Legislature, he See WILSON on 3 University avoids $5 million penalty By Jeffrey Robb Senior Editor The NU Board of Regents averted a pos sible $5 million penalty from the Envi ronmental Protection Agency on Satur day by voting unanimously to enter into a settlement agreement. The tentative agreement would total more than $600,000 and settle EPA allegations that NU violated federal environmental regulations. If the university had decided against settling, it could have faced paying $5 million in damages, EPA officials said. After routine inspections, the EPA found the university to be violating regulations regarding storage and label ing of waste, personnel train ing, emergency planning and burning of waste in an incin erator. NU President Martin Massengale has said none of the alleged violations resulted in damage to the environment or the health and safety of any NU REGENTS individuals. NU General Counsel Richard Wood and Special Counsel Judy Roots said the university was disputing all charges, but advised the uni versity to accept the settlement or risk higher fines and drawn-out hearings. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln would pay $76,350 in fines and $152,700 for a com puter chemical tracking system. The Universi ty of Nebraska Medical Center would pay the rest of the settlement. Chairman Charles Wilson of Lincoln said the university would continue to negotiate fur ther, and the settlement should be finalized within two months. “We want to get on top of this and become a model program for nuclear and hazardous waste,” he said. Regent Don Blank of McCook said entering into a settlement wasn’t an admission of guilt by the university. The regents held a one-hour closed session before the meeting to discuss strategy for fur ther negotiations. The settlement proposal could change, but Wilson said he hoped the amount would go down. Wilson said the university had problems with the complexity of the environmental reg ulations. Two agencies, the EPA and the Nucle ar Regulatory Commission, created different regulations. Because the agreement was still pending, Wilson said he couldn’t comment further. Regents also approved a plan to install video screens in Memorial Stadium. The project will cost $4.5 million, but will be paid entirely by See REGENTS on 3 Jeff Haller/DN George Thorn, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student, speaks at a Martin Luther King Jr. candlelight vigil, while Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity members hold candles Saturday night in the Nebraska Union. Ceremony celebrates King’s dream Candlelight vigil honors leader in civil rights By Cami Walker ivil rights leader Martin LutherX ing Jr. had a dream that black children and white children someday would join hands and walk together as broth ers and sisters. Though progress has been made since King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech 30 years ago. his vision has not been real ized yet, said Dwayne Mays, who spoke Saturday night at a candle light vigil honoring King. “Wc\e come a long way since Dr. King made that speech,” Mays said. “But when we look around us today, we see violence and crime, Staff Reporter high unemployment — especially among blacks and people of color —and a general degradation of the opportunity to achieve the Ameri can dream. “This brings the realization that Dr. King’s dream is not reality,” said Mays, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, which sponsored the vigil. Mays told a crowd of more than 40 people that it was important to keep alive King’s dream of equal ity for all people. “Young people need to realize that the lives they enjoy today arc the results of sacrifices of persons like Dr. King,” he said. Young people cannot become complacent, Mays said. They must continue to challenge themselves and others to further peace and equality. The vigil paid tribute to King’s goals and ideals, recognized other champions of the civil rights move ment and reminded people of the war being waged today for equali ty, Alpha Phi Alpha member Torry Garland said. Because King was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the fraternity has sponsored the event for the past two years, he said. “We feel a certain pride and closeness to him,” Garland said. “It is only proper that we give him tribute here tonight.” Ten-degree weather forced those attending the vigil into the Nebras ka Union, but candles were still lit to honor King’s birthday. The can dles also symbolized a ray of hope for African Americans in their strug gle for equality, Garland said. Mays said cooperation, not vio lence, was the best way to solve problems between people. Selfishness causes many of those problems. Mays said. Those who have overcome obstacles need to reach out to their neighbors and help them do the same, he said. “Some people feel they have achieved their full potential, but all arc capable of betterment ... The struggle must go on to realize the dream of true equality,” he said. Alpha Phi Alpha member Reggie Chandler said young peo ple had an important role to play if King’s dream would someday be realized. “The most important thing we can do is not to forget the dream of equality,” he said. But remembering isn’t enough. Chandler said. People have to add to King’s dream and make equality a goal of this generation, he said. Learning about other cultures and finding common ground for discussion and cooperation to solve conflicts and overcome ignorance are important first steps, he said. Spacecraft may move to Devaney By Matthew Waite Senior Reporter The Apollo 009 space capsule may have found a new home, thanks to a UNL student’s note to the chancellor’s office. Graduate student Michael Amundson wrote a letter to Universi ty of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Graham Spanier in September, sug gesting the space capsule be moved from an East Campus storage shed to a corner mezzanine in the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Herb Howe, associate to the chan cellor, said the Athletic Department was involved in a study to review the use of its space. The Apollo 009 plan would have to be incorporated into the study, he said. Athletic Director Bill Byrne said Sunday the athletic department was in the process of developing the study, which would not be complete for an other six months. “We just learned of the interests of the chancellor’s office,” Byrne said. Howe said the placement of the capsule in the sports center presented some unique problems. For one, the capsule would take up most of one corner mezzanine. “It’s not like you’re taking a little comer and putting a basketball up in a Plexiglas case,” he said. “You’ve taken up a good chunk of space.” The sports center was not one of the buildings originally considered as a location for the capsule, Howe said. The Walter Scott Engineering Build ing initially had been planned to house the capsule, but there wasn’t a door big enough for it. An East Campus storage shed, where the capsule sits, is the only fac il ity w ith doors big enough to house the capsule, Howe said. If a door big enough does not exist in the sports center, Howe said it would be impossible to put the cap sule there. See APOLLO on 3