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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 13, 1995)
I.... . ^^ Susie Kiene/DN Melissa Prochnow, a freshman chemical engineering major at UNL, served as U.S. Senator Jim Exon’s intern. Student goes behind scenes as U.S. Senator Exon’s intern By Doug Kems Staff Reporter Being intimately involved in poli tics is not impossible for college stu dents. Just ask freshman Melissa Prochnow. Prochnow recently served as an intern for U.S. Senator Jim Exon in Washington, D.C. She answered let ters and worked on computers, as well as attended a committee hearing. “I had a great time,” Prochnow said. “I learned that every letter gets read, but they really don’t have the funds to answer every letter, espe cially mass mailing, because funds were cut back.” This is the kind of behind-the scenes look at the political arena that can possibly await interns and volun teers in both state and national gov ’imaCvjE.a'i The tmSpRoI July Sale AT PRICES YOU WONT BELIEVE! A Tuxes starting at $5 A Pants & Shirts A lies A Shoes I And much, much more! Check us out at: 13110 St 474-0062 *Sale runs from July 5-29 emment. Prochnow’s interest in politics didn’t originate with this particular intern job. It began when she started high school in Lincoln, though she became involved under her own ini tiative. “I’ve done some work for the Lieu tenant Governor and for a few state senators. I met all these people and got entangled in the whole web,” she ex plained. Although her case is unusual, Prochnow felt that anyone can be in volved as an intern or volunteer. “All you have to do is write them a letter and tell them you are interested in interning.” A press release from the office of Exon stated, “The intern program al lows young people from across the state to learn more about the U.S. Senate and the nation’s capital.” Verdict Continued from Page 1 braska State Patrol were completed, Bartle said. Defense attorney Greg Schatz of Omaha, fired back telling members or thejury the only reason Bartle put Renteria’s mother on the stand was to get sympathy from them. Schatz also mentioned that no wit ness identi fied that it -——— was aciicu Schellpeper peper with his knee on Renteria’s neck. Schatz tried to get jurors to sym pathize with how the charges had taken a toll on the Schellpeper fam ily. He told them how Schellpeper had been a member of the Lincoln community since he was a boy: he went to high school here and gradu ated from the University of Ne braska-Lincoln all with the dream of becoming a Lincoln police officer. The bottom line is why would Of ficer Schellpeper risk his Career, fam ily, everything he lives for, Schatz asked jurors. “Officer Schellpeper only did what he was trained to do,” Schatz told ju rors towards the end of closing state ments. Bartle then told jurors, “This is not a death case. This is a case of third degree misdemeanor.” He also reemphasized that Schellpeper’s actions were improper: “The 6 and 1 in this case was not called for.” Bartle told jurors he was not out to get the LPD. After a little over four hours of de liberation, Schellpeper was found not guilty. He stood emotionless before a courtroom of family, co-workers and the media. The Renteria family was not present. As the verdict was read, members of the Schellpeper family began to cry and one said in a soft enthusiastic voice, “Yes.” Schellpeper left the courtroom with his wife Linda, but declined comment. Wilke, who had been present in the courtroom when closing statements were made and the verdict, declined comment. As members of the jury were es corted out of the County City Build ing by a Sheriff, all declined com ment. As Bartle left the courtroom, he said, “I think we got out all the evi dence we could. Obviously we would have preferred to try the two defendants together.” Schatz who had tried to get the charges against his client dropped said, “It’s pretty clear that the citi zens of this community don’t feel there were crimes committed in volving the arrest of Mr. Renteria and it’s time, I think, to check the records of the special prosecutor with these continued criminal charges that are being pursued.” LPD Union Secretary Jim Spanel said, “We’ll probably have a couple of bumps and bruises but we’ll get through it.” Future arrests will not be second guessed, Spanel said. Officers will not think twice about an arrest be cause of charges that may or may not be filed. Some are not as happy about the verdict as the police are. Elliot Rivas, assistant director of the Hispanic Center said, “Someone did die and no one is being held ac countable. something in the system needs to be changed.” r 1 Post •-‘Nickel’s SEMI-ANNUAL Clearance I 30%ja|V “4°~50% savings Additional Reductions.. ■ Don't Miss This One! f**¥osF^TUcSLef^i tt 14th & P I) NV_great clothes at great prices._JJ ^^yaway^KBankcard^Welcom^^^^^^