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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 1994)
I Nebraskan 4 SPORTS Battling back Nebraska freshman guard Kate McEwen, who underwent back surgery in December, is working on a comeback. Page 5 Wednesday 27/5 Today, partly cloudy with flurries. February 2, 1994 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Vol. 93 No. 95 Bill would outline commission s jurisdiction By pauia Lavigne Senior Reporter The Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education has over stepped its bounds, said those testifying before the Legislature’s Education Committee Tuesday. The committee heard tes timony on LB 1063 and LB954, both dealing with issues concerning the Co ordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education. LB 1063, introduced by Sen. Jerome Warner of Waverly, amended previous legislation by outlining the LEGISLATURE jurisdiction and duties of the commission. NU Board of Regents Chairman Charles Wilson testified in favor of the bill. Wilson said changes needed to be made because the commission was encroaching into the management of the university. “The commission’s function as coordinating body was to some degree undermined by por tions of the original legislation,” he said. LB 1063 would provide clarity in drawing boundaries for the commission and “would strengthen what is good about the commis sion,” he said. John Moore, chairman of the steering com mittee of the Nebraska Council for Higher Education, also spoke in favor of the bill. Moore said the amendments were not meant to deter the commission, but problems needed to be solved. “We are not proposing legislative changes to circumvent the coordinating commission nor to hinder its constitutional commission,” he said. “However, misunderstandings and disagree ments have developed between the coordinat ing commission and higher education regard ing coordination versus government, compre hensive plan, budget review, capital construc tion and program review,” he said. Moore said the commission was influencing areas of administration that were not related to coordination. “We need a sharper focus on constitutional and legislative intent,” he said. Dennis Baack, executive director of the Ne braska Community College Association, said although he was in favor of the bill, it was in no way designed to bash the commission. “Some people say we’re trying to abolish the commission with what we’re doing here,” he said. “That’s not our intent. “I think one thing we have to realize is that the coordinating commission is an entity that is slowly evolving. There are going to be problems that are going to develop,” Baack said. “We want to know what the law is, and we want to be very clear,” he said. There was a very fine line between government and coordination that needed to be defined, he said. Eric Seacrest, commission chairman, testi fied in a neutral capacity for the bill and the past role of the commission. “When we began this noble excursion, we expected criticism to be endless,” he said. “We plead guilty on going under the surface on some issues.” Because the commission is still in its early stages, Seacrest said, its role is demanding. “A Greek philosopher once said the oldest and shortest words, yes and no, were those that required the most thought,” he said. See COMMISSION on 3 PECIAL REPORT ■ This week: Campus consumption ■ Today: Drinking in residence halls Students drink despite hall policy By Matthew Waite Senior Reporter ______ Getting alcohol into UNL residence halls is as easy as carrying in the laun dry, one student said. Sam, who lives in one of the halls on campus, said it was easier to drink in the halls than at off-campus parties. “I drink in the halls a lot more,” he said. “I rarely drink outside of the halls. You don’t have to drive home or worry about transporta tion.” Sam said he has been caught with alcohol on the floor and sent to a drug and alcohol abuse course at the University Health Center. He was required to pay $30, attend two classes lasting three hours and take a test. The chances of him getting caught again are slim, Sam said. “As long as you keep it quiet, there’s no chance.” Katie, also a resident of the halls, said drinking in the residence halls was easy. “All you need is a big bag and someone to buy for you,” she said, “and that’s not hard to find.” The Student Assistants on her floor are pretty lenient when it comes to alcohol, Katie said. “She pretty much knows when we’re drinking because we get a little loud," she said. Katie said she wasn’t worried about getting caught, but has had some close calls. “I have been drinking beer in the lounge and been totally smashed, M and a security guard would come R in,” she said. “They just wouldn’t | see it.” The security guards Katie met are B full-time members of the Univer- P sity of Nebraska-Lincoln police de- p partment. Sgt. Bill Manning of the UNL g police said the one or two guards on t patrol in the halls were checking on ¥ the safety of the building and on possible disturbances. In the past, Manning has said it was easier to control alcohol in the residence halls than in the greek houses. The reasons, he said, were ! because the Student Assistants and the Residence Directors lived in the halls. Assistant Director of Housing Glen Schumann, who lived in the residence halls when he was a stu dent at UNL, said it was unrealistic for anyone to believe alcohol was not in the halls. “It’s there,” he said. “There’s no See HALLS on 3 ■ Rilliislit Campus Consumption This week, the Daily Nebraskan takes an in-depth look into the issue of alcohol on campus. Thursday's story will explore how alcohol-related problems are addressed within the university judicial system. Photo Illustration by Kiley nmpfcrtey/DN Although part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s dry-campus policy calls for no alcohol in residence halls, students say they often drink in their rooms. Charges may be tiled in incidents involving athletes Search continues for more evidence By Kara G. Morrison Senior Reporter _, The Lancaster County Attor ney’s office will decide today whether to file charges in two weekend incidents that police said involved Nebraska football players, County Attorney Gary Lacey said. Lincoln Police Chief Tom Casady said Tuesday a shooting incident near 17th and L streets was oeing investi £ ted as a possible attempted first gree assault. Comhusker defensive back Tyrone Williams has been identified as a sus pect in the incident, which occurred at about 2:50 a.m. Sunday. University of Nebraska-Lincoln student Brooke Bohac reportedly told police she was stopped at alight while driving west on L Street, when a car load of people she recognized pulled up besiae or behind her. A man, whom she identified as Williams, stepped out of that car, walked up to the passenger’s side of her car and smashed the window with a handgun, Casady said. Casady said Bohac drove off and heard two or three gunshots. Police later found two bullet holes in the right rear panel of her car. Investiga tors were using metal detectors to search for further evidence at 17 th and L streets Tuesday. At a press conference Monday, UNL football coach Tom Osborne said he was told the gunshots were acci dental. Osborne said the group of football players thought they were being fol lowed by another car when they re ceived a call on their cellular phone that they interpreted as a threat. Osborne said the players stopped the car and got out, and a gun acc iden tally discharged. Casady said a statement from the victim and corroborating evidence of the bullet holes found in her car led him to believe the shooting was not accidental. Bohac said she was advised not to comment. Williams declined to talk to police Sunday night, Casady said. Casady said police also were inves tigating several leads Tuesday in an earlier incident that occurred Sunday at the Residence Inn motel, 200 S. 68th St. Two officers were dispatched to a fight at the motel, where several Ne braska football players and recruits were congregated. Nebraska redshirt freshman Ramone Worthy reportedly was stabbed in the back and wingback Abdul Muhammad received lacera tions to his right hand when unidenti fied assailants entered the room, Casady said. Muhammad and Worthy were treated and released from St. Eliza beth Community Health Center. Osborne said Monday the players involved intended to file charges. Casady said no charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon. No ar rests have been made in either inci dent. Casady said police had been talk ing with Athletic Department offi cials Tuesday.