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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 1996)
Is ' ~ r September rV | l g£G| ^ “ ' . \%' ' ■ Attorney asks for more time to read arraignment file in McMenamin case. \ By Chad Lorenz Senior Reporter The man accused of slaying a UNL student last year was given another week Wednesday before he has to enter a plea in Lancaster County District Court. Gregory Gabel appeared in district court for the first time to be arraigned on first-degree murder charges for the July 1995 homicide of Martina McMenamin. District Judge Bernard McGinn postponed the hearing until next week because Gabel’s attorney, Scott Helvie, said he had not received the arraignment file within 24 hours. Attorneys may ask a judge to postpone ar raignment if they haven’t had a full day to re view the arraignment information. Gabel appeared in court Wednesday morn ing wearing a navy blue, short-sleeve prison uniform and shackles on his ankles. IBs bushy, blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail that hung to the base of his neck. Thick glasses distorted his eyes. Gabel didn’t speak during the brief hearing or look at the back of the courtroom where fam ily and friends of McMenamin sat. The packed courtroom emptied after Judge McGinn’s decision. Family and friends of McMenamin lingered outside the courtroom, spoke in soft voices and embraced each other. McMenamin was killed in her apartment in south Lincoln the summer before her sophomore year at die University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She was discovered by her roommate. Lincoln police spent nearly a year search ing for a solid suspect. In June, DNA test re sults on a blond hair found at the murder scene gave police probable cause to arrest Gabel. Gabel was arraigned in Lancaster County Court in July where he stood mute when asked his plea — the equivalent of a not guilty plea. He will appear before McGinn on Wednes I day. I Bricked in ^ _ . JAyCalderon/DN STACEY JOHNSON relaxes and reads the paper at Oak Lake Park north of downtown Lincoln. After a sunny Wednesday, thunderstroms and lower temperatures will creep into the forecast today and into the weekend with highs near 70. Regents to vote on new insurance carrier By Erin Schulte Senior Reporter Health insurance for university staff and fac ulty will be in different hands if the NU Board of Regents approves an insurance carrier change at its meeting Friday. The university has been using Mutual of Omaha since 1992. James Van Horn, NU vice president for business and finance, said the uni versity went through an extensive search about every five years to make sure it was getting the best quality and lowest cost insurance possible. This year, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Ne braska had the best deal. Faculty members shouldn’t be worried about changes in their coverage, said John Russell, NU associate vice president for business and finance. Russell said the plan was an “as-is bid,” which means the coverage of the new insurance plans would be exactly the same as current cov erage. If there are any changes, faculty will be no tified after the regents vote on die issue, Russell said. Two construction issues are also on the agenda. In July, the regents approved an improve ment plan for Memorial Stadium that would fix up rest rooms, concession stands, the press box, indoor seating areas and install permanent field lighting. The regents also will decide whether or not to spend $350,000 to replace the 14-year-old artificial turf on Buck Beltzer Reid. The turf has become slick and has several open seams at the surface. The meeting is 1 p.m. Riday in Varner Hall. ---1 V S^.1' ' - : * j J v.. I^Hic®»nwmw®N SAMI WHITLOCK, a freshmam UNMC dental student, works out on a stair-stepper in the remodeled ' - i . - . . ' .. t East Campus Rec adds hours, machines BtKasetKerber Senior Reporter The East Campus Recreation Cen ter showed off brand-new equipment and facility hours at an open house Wednesday afternoon. Using funds allotted by the Com mittee for Fees Allocation, the center’s stage area was revamped during the |summer to make room for 12 hew car diovascular WOfkOUt “The stage was once used for gen | eral audience purposes,” said Kara P&ngsten, assistant director for East Campus programs and facilities, f Pfingken said the ceiling fixtures and equipment were moved, and the walls woe repainted so the space could now be used for die machines. Previously, Pfingsten said, a small space in the weight room was all that had been devoted to cardiovascular health machines. “There would often he times people would have to wait ta use the ma chines,” Pfingsten said. “It still hap pens today, but usually only in the busy hours.” The new machines include Stairmasters, treadmills, Lifecycles, cross-country ski machines and Schwinn Air-Dynes. “Basically, we now have every thing that the city recreation center has, just not as much,” Pfingsten said. She said that many students took advantage of the open house and that 10 faculty and staff members had signed up to join the rec center. ' The East Campus Recreation Ceo ter also expanded its hoars. The cen ter once opened at 11 ajn., Monday Please set BBC on 8
