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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1995)
New group hopes to take active role By Paula Lavigne Senior Reporter Minority students wanting to improve relations with UNL Po lice officers launched a new stu dent organization to express their concerns Monday night. Geno Venegas, president of Stu dents Taking Active Roles (STAR) and member of the Mexican Ameri can Student Association, said the group, which met at the Nebraska Union, would give underrepresented student organi zations a chance to communicate and work with University Police. Venegas, a senior psychology major, was hired by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police to act as a liaison between the depart ment and minority students. Venegas said the Francisco Renteria case brought minority and law enforcement relationships to light on campus. Renteria died Oct. 1, 1994, af ter a scuffle involving Lincoln Police officers and one UNL of are working on diversity training, he said, but too much of it has been just lip service. Nasim Cross, a member of the Afrikan People’s Union, said po lice could “have their way and not answer to anybody.” “It’s become acceptable — ha rassing people and being suspi cious of everything you do,” he said. “They get away with it. “What message are we sending when a police officer can say, ‘I’ll do what I want, and you’ll cover my back’?” Cross said police officers should be setting an example rather than breaking the rules. “When they catch someone, they practice all these tactics, but they need to practice some self control,” he said. Some students also defended the officers. ficer. Some students disapproved of the university officers’ actions fol lowing the incident. Venegas said the organization wanted to calm those feelings. “When we confront a police officer, we act differently when compared to white people,” he said. “We’ve been conditioned to be fearful.” Kevin Nguyen, a member of the Vietnamese Student Association, said he was with a group of friends when a police cruiser slowed down and followed them for a short dis tance. “That could be kind of racist,” he said. “They shouldn’t have to do that because we’re minorities.” Police officers have said they “They are putting their lives in danger,” Nguyen said. “They take their chances too. They get shot. They get killed.” Students offered three sugges tions to improving minority and university police relations: — begin stress-management classes for university officers. — work on exerting self-con trol in high-pressure situations. — set up a system where stu dents and others can register com plaints against an officer they be lieve is harassing them. Venegas said he wanted the group members to bring their dis cussion back to their respective groups. “I know this organization may not make a big difference at the start,” he said, “but we hope it will spread.” Muslims celebrate holy month By Alex Harriger Staff Reporter For Masroor Malik, the next month will be an exhilarating religious ex perience. “There is a special feeling in the air during Ramadan,” said the gradu ate student in mechanical engineer ing. “It’s a feeling that I just can’t describe. You can feel it all around you. It’s a feeling that everything is blessed.” Ramadan, a holy month on the Islamic calendar, begins when the new moon is first sighted. Muslims around the world, like Malik and more than 700 others in Lincoln, will begin observing Ramadan this week. Malik, secretary of the Islamic Foundation of Lincoln, said Ramadan was the holiest of all months to Mus lims— a special time to gain strength from themselves, understand the plights of the needy and perform good deeds. The Islamic Foundation of Lin coin is planning to send a shipment of food, clothing and money to refugees in Chechnya during Ramadan. During the holy month, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. They break their fasts at night, when it is accept able to consume anything except pork and alcohol. Malik said the reasons for fasting included gaining self-restraint from worldly pleasures, as well as a true appreciation for those who go every day without food or water. “It gives me more desire to help those who suffer because it gives me a sense of how others feel when they are hungry and thirsty,” he said. Ramadan lasts for about 30 days, Malik said, and the last 10, while not required, are very important. The end of the month, he said, was the last opportunity for Muslims to perform good deeds. Muslims believe that Allah rewards them 70 times for their good deeds, he said. During the last 10 days of the month, Malik said, the Islamic Foun dation of Lincoln organizes “all nighters” for Muslims, or anyone in terested, to break their daily fasts and pray. Malik, a native of Karachi, Paki stan, said Ramadan in America was a bit different than in his homeland. However, he said, it still provided a special opportunity for him to be close to friends and to teach Islam. To accommodate residence hall students observing Ramadan, the Selleck dining hall will provide spe cial meals students can pick up and eat later. Ron Burke, director of food ser vice in Selleck, said students on the university’s food service program could pick up food in microwaveable styrofoam containers at 6:45 p.m. each evening to break that day’s fast. They may also pick up cold cereal to eat before dawn the next day. Hot breakfast also will be avail able at 6:15 a.m. each day during Ramadan, he said. 2 fans arrested at Eagles concert From Staff Reports Two Eagles fans who decided to take it to the limit ended up arrested on charges of assault and failure to comply with an officer. Michael Brown, 22, was arrested at the Eagles concert Saturday night after UNL Police received several complaints that he was being disrup tive. UNL Police Sgt. Bill Manning said Brown was pushing and shoving other fans, and became verbally abu sive after one concert-goer told him to quiet down. The incident occurred shortly af ter 9 p.m. Manning gave the follow ing account: Officer Brian Peters and Cpl. Brian Scusa both contacted Brown and his 22-year-old brother, Aaron. The officers reported a strong smell of alcohol on both brothers, Manning said, and escorted them from the Bob Devaney Sports Center, where the concert was being held. Michael Brown, however, decided to follow Peters back into the build ing and grabbed hold of him. When Peters then attempted an arrest, Aaron shoved Scusa to get to the arresting officer. CUT COST Continued from Page 1 said. After the student was readmit ted by administrators, she counted the number of students in class on a Friday. The following Monday, McGoveran said, the student found five more people in class who appar ently had not been dropped. “I want to tighten up on professors . and administrators and lighten up on students,” he said. When asked, McGoveran said that he saw himself as a student advocate. “We have 500 prosecutors, one objective ombudsman and no defense attorneys,” he said. “If a student is trying to get something, and someone is keeping them from it, I’ll help them no matter what.” McGoveran, who worked on tug boats on the Missouri River for 12 years before a motorcycle accident sent him back to school, said his age would help more than hurt. “I always say that we put Loud (ASUN president Andrew Loudon) in and it got quiet,” he said. “Put the old man down there and see how loud it gets.” However, McGoveran said, he is dedicated to students. “If it costs me the chance to get an education, I’m willing to pay that price, he said. r- f \ ■ Worn US) ^csdl look For These Great Savings Ever; Tuesday In The Student ID Section European Tan Spa •6 Comfortable Beds •High Intensity Lamps • 100% Guarenteed Tan Gold's Gallaria 10th & O • Suite 216 (2nd level) 474-5355 r-n I IS Tanning Sessions | S-Jff 00 only Zj. +tax I I with coupon-expires 8-15-95 Buy 1 get 1 FREE when you bring a friend 1 Month $ Af\ 00 ! | Unlimited W. +tax | with coupon-expires 8-15-95 *“ Lincoln's Hotspot ^ Dancing*Pool»Spirits D.J. 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Cookie Company to v** Free Cookie with Student ID & coupon 138 N. 12th-475-0625 -Police Report Beginning midnight Wednesday 9:31 a.m.—Larceny from build ing, Nebraska Union, Bookbagtaken, $230 loss. 1:25 p.m.—Vandalism/criminal mischief. Area 1/2 19th and U to R streets, side mirror broken, $100 dam 3Q0. 2:04 p.m. — Burglary, Adminis tration, printertaken, $1200 loss. 2:14 p.m. — Accident, non-in jury, Union Meter Lot, $300. 2:18 p.m. — Disturbance, Lied Center. 11:13 p.m. — Shooting, assist Lincoln Police, 2630 Orchard. 11:35 p.m. — Accident, 1300 block N. 16th, non-injury, $5000 dam age. 1:37 a.m. — Disturbance, 13th and R streets. Beginning midnight Tueaday 12:59 a.m.—vandalism/cnminal mischief, Abel Hall, sprinkler head broken, $50 damage. 9:14 a.m.—Larceny from build ing, case cleared/unfounded. 11:08 a.m.—Outside police as sistance, case cleared/unfounded. 12:41 p.m.—Property damage, Area 20 at 14th Street and Avery Avenue, $150 property damage. 1:00 p.m.—City of Lincoln, mis cellaneous. 1:55 p.m. — Richards Hall, in jury/sickness. 6:37 p.m.—Abel Hall, wallet and contents stolen, $35 loss. 6:37 p.m. — Abel Hall, theft by deception, unknown loss. 7:08 p.m.—Law Library, miscel laneous. Beginning midnight Monday 12:11 a.m.—12th to 13th street, miscellaneous. 4:24 a.m.—Alarm/security, acci dental trip by custodian. 11:34 a.m.—Larceny from auto, 12th and R streets, $100 damage, $340 loss. 1:55 p.m.—Vandalism/criminal mischief. Area 3 Harper-Schramm Smith, mirror broken, $50 damage. 2:36 p.m.—Larceny from build ing, Campus Recreation Center, bag and contents. $220 loss. 2:56 p.m.—Larceny from build ing, 715 N. 16th St., cellular phone taken, $100 loss. 3:40 p.m.—Vandalism/criminal mischief, Andrews HaH. 4:29 p.m.—Fire, Area 1/219th and R to U streets, $2,000damage to vehicle. 5:05 p.m. — Accident, 14th and West meter lot, $200 damage.