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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 1994)
___ _t _ Sports Weekend ■ Turman likely to start against Kansas State, Page 9 Weekend Preview ■ Offspring plays at Ranch Bowl Saturday, Page 11 PAGE 2: Iraq ready to drop its claim to Kuwait COVERING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA SINCE 1901 VOL. 94 NO. 38 FBI probe won’t be released — By Brian Sharp Senior Reporter Any information gathered in a U S. Justice Department investigation into the death of Francisco Renteria will not be released, federal officials said Thursday. John Campbell, FBI assistant spe cial agent investigating the case, said he couldn't say much more other than that the investigation, which began Thursday, was proceeding. Renteria, 29, was involved in a struggle with city and University of Ncbraska-Lincoln police on Sept. 30. He died on Oct. 1 while in police cus tody. U S. Attorney Tom Monaghan said Wednesday that the Justice De partment would investigate the pos sibility of civil rights violations. Mike Wellman, first assistant U.S. attorney, said the department became involved after receiving requests from State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha: Cecilia Huerta, interim ex ecutive director of the Mexican American Committee: Donna Polk of Lincoln: and Gov. Ben Nelson. Federal investigations don't hap pen often, Wellman said. “It’s not automatic,” he said. “It happened in this case because there was such a wcllspring of feeling from the Hispanic community and other communities in Lincoln. That seemed to indicate that there was absolutely no confidence in the local folks to run an investigation." Wellman said he didn't know whether that feeling was merited. He always had faith in local law enforce ment in the past, Wellman said. Wellman said the FBI would run the investigation locally. The case will be pursued separately from local or state investigations, he said. The federal investigation will examine the actions of Renteria and Lincoln and UNL police. Wellman said information frpm the federal investigation would be given to the U.S. Attorney’s office and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department in Washing ton, D.C. Campbell said the information would be turned over as soon as the probe was completed, regardless of the progress of local investigations. He would not comment on how many investigators were involved in the case or what was being done Wellman said any decision in the case would come from Washington. j Image upgrade | Photos by Michollo Paulman/DN Sheridan sixth-grader Shanna Hunsucker hears classmate Emily Hergert, right, amplified through a model of bat’s ears at “Masters of the Night,” a display at Folsom Children’s Zoo on the secret lives of bats. _ Zoo presentation brings bats to light By Paula L«vl<W Senior Reporter As Halloween approaches, hun dreds of black-winged, furry bats can be seen casting shadows on the Capitol dome under the light of a full moon. Popularized by “Dracula” mov ies and Halloween lore, bats have been stereotyped as dangerous, blood-sucking vampires. But “Masters of the Night,” a touring exhibit at Folsom Children's Zoo, is trying to change that negative image by bringing bats out of the dark. The exhibit features informa tional, multi-sensory, interactive and ecological displays and videos. Adam West, from the “Batman” TV series, will appear at the Lin coln exhibit in November. An upside-down Gothic castle greets visitors as they enter. A se ries of informational stations lead to a video presentation. A special exhibit describes a bat's sonar. The self-guided tour ends with a bat cave and ecological rain forest. Todd Kirshenbaum, zoo mar keting director, said the exhibit was designed to educate people on the importance and wonder of the bat world. “They’re very valuable,” he See BATS on 6 Students peer Into a mock-up of a bat cave. The dis play also Includes an educational video on bats and hands-on bat activities. Storm soldiers not surprised by Hussein’s actions By Paula Lav I gn« Senior Reporter Soldiers involved in Operation Desert Storm expressed amusement rather than shock at the recent military developments in the Middle East. Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein stationed 80,000 soldiers at the Kuwaiti border Oct. 8. The soldiers retreated Thursday after thousands of allied and U S. forces moved into the vicin ity. Officers and cadets in the Reserve Officer Training Corps Army division at the Univer sity of Nebraska-Lincoln said they didn’t fore see a Desert Storm repeat. Maj. Greg Dibella was stationed in Saudi Arabia in 1992-93 during cease-fire operations. He was at the headquarters in charge of de ploying forces. “This is what we were always waiting for. We knew he would try something. It didn’t surprise me much,” Dibclla said. “1 don't think he really understood or was aware of what our response would be.” Dibclla said he thought Hussein's troops were merely a “tactic to get our attention.” “He brought his troops down there to see what would happen,” he said, “and he found out we wouldn't take this sitting down.” He said the Iraqi retreat didn't surprise him either. But the area still has to be watched, he said. “We’ll just have to wait and sec what de velops,” he said. “The soldiers over there are going in with a lot of confidence. They have a lot of support.” Dibella said the troops were ready for what ever confronted them. “We’ll take out anything he can muster.” Capt. Michael Dittamo was with the Field Artillery Battalion of the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley from December 1990 through June 1991. Dittamo spent much of his time in Safwain, Iraq. “I Dittamo said he was amused with Hussein’s U recent actions. “I find it sort of funny. I can’t believe he ^ actually intended to have us nuke him again,” Dittamo said. “His army cannot face ours. It’s not possible to do that unless his intention is si to die in place. “I don't believe for a minute he intends to invade and start another war.” tx Iraq is hurting, Dittamo said. He said he thought Hussein’s actions were designed to get the United Nations to lift its economic sane lions. “All he did was reaffirm our resolve,” jr Dittamo said. He said if Hussein were to abide by the U N. decisions, he would definitely lose power. ai Dittamo said the chance of escalating the hi situation was slim. tl “I don’t see us fighting anybody over there. If we did, it’d be a very quick air war,” he said. d just hate to be on the receiving end of the S. Air Force. I pity those guys, the Iraqis.” Staff Sgt. Gary Barnes, a junior exercise iencc major, said Hussein was “crazy.” “This is a guy that shouldn't be in a leader tip position, he said. Barnes said he thought Hussein should have :cn eliminated in previous operations. “Now we’re going to have to go back and ) something about it.” Barnes offered advice for troops stationed the Middle East. “Pack your undergarments in Ziploc bags, id I would say donYt be afraid to pack alco >1,” he said, laughing. “Don’t get caught with c alcohol, though. “Be prepared for anything.”