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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 1996)
I • I I * y. t % S I 1 ■ fl 5 _■ ■0mm ■■RiMmgnMRRinsRMrxininsnnssnsEni mn Lane Hickenbottom/DN THE REV. LARRY DOERR will retire Sunday from the United Ministries in Higher Education at UNL. Doerr retires after 26 years as UNL pastor By Stacey Range Staff Reporter UNL’s campus pastor has heard a calling, but not from above. In stead, Father Time said it is time to retire. And the Rev. Larry Doerr obliged. “It just seems the time to bow out,” the 65-year-old pastor said. “It’s the right thing to do.” And Doerr has always tried to do the “right thing.” Since he be A gan working with United Ministries in Higher Education 26 years ago, Doerr has guided university stu dents through 2 1/2 decades of so cial uprisings, injustices and re forms, often in the face of univer sity opposition and criticism. Doerr has often been a part of controversies, from anti-Vietnam War protests and minority rights battles to gay rights activism and university child care struggles. But he’s quick to point out that Please see DOERR on 8 Fraternities fal ftModctsst Violations imperil occupancy permits, members By Matthew Waite Special Projects Reporter - The Phi Gamma Delta house at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill burned to the ground in May, kill ing five people and injuring three. Members of the house had been warned that disaster could strike if they didn’t fix the house’s numerous fire code violations. Closer to home, University of Ne braska-Lincoln fraternity houses have been repeatedly warned about the con ditions in their houses, and city fire inspectors are worried about what could happen. “There are some places that just plain scare me,” said Eric Schoen, one of two inspectors who monitor the fra ternities and sororities on campus. “I can see a lot of potential for a disaster in Lincoln.” Fraternities on campus averaged 5.4 violations per house on the fire in spectors’ last visit. Sorority averages were lower, but still averaged 4.7 vio lations on the last visit. City officials would not release in ; for it^livujjual houses. ' fronrtoo many plugs in a socket to ' ‘-bpoken or missing fire doors. Sprinkler systems are not required in UNL’s mm greek houses — some of which are more than 100 years old — and no houses have them. Inspectors visit each house twice a year. Their next visits are in October. “The sororities as a whole are not bad,” Schoen said. “The fraternities leave something to be desired.” Schoen wouldn’t comment on spe cific houses, but sources in the Build ing and Safety Department said Phi Gamma Delta, Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Theta Pi, Theta Xi, Phi Delta Theta, Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi were the worst fire-code offenders. Schoen said at least four houses risk losing their occupancy permit, which allows them to house students, but he would not name those houses. Also at risk is an agreement be tween the university and the greek houses to maintain all city health, housing and fire codes. James Griesen, vice chancellor for student affairs, said fraternity and so rority houses were required to sign a contract every spring before they were allowed to house people in the fall. “We extract an agreement and we expect them to live up to it,” he said. Griesen said some houses waited un thrQQtQr>QH with punish ment before they fixed problems in the houses. Griesen add other university offi « There are some places that just plain scare me. I can see a lot of potential for disas ter in Lincoln ” Eric Schoen Lincoln fire inspector cials said they were concerned about fire-code violations, but that there was not a major problem at UNL. Jayne Wade Anderson, director of Greek Affairs, said that as the fire code has changed, houses have tried to keep up. “Some of the changes have been astronomically expensive, and money doesn’t grow on trees,” she said. In Anderson’s 31 years at UNL, there has never been a major structure fire at a greek house, she said. Also, Please see CODE on 8 Alma mater composed tor UJNL Another university tradition will begin as Chip Davis composes Nebraska’s first alma mater. By Erin Schulte Senior Reporter There is no place like Nebraska — a school with lots of university fight songs, but no alma mater. After more than 125 years of uni versity traditions, UNL soon will have another: an official school anthem. Nationally-known composer Chip Davis has captured UNL’s spirit in the new anthem, or alma mater. Davis, who is best-known as the founder of Mannheim Steamroller and owner of Omaha-based American Gramaphone Records, said most schools already have an alma mater. Davis said it’s an honor to get to com pose one for Nebraska. “I’m a giant supporter of the state of Nebraska,” Davis said. “This gives me an opportunity to do this with a great university like the University of Nebraska.” Davis offered to write UNL’s first alma mater after.he contributed origi nal compositions for broadcast with Husker football games. He realized UNL did not have an alma mater and contacted UNL Chan cellor James Moeser to talk about writ ing one, he said. “I told them, ‘I’ll take a whack at it,”’ Davis said. The song will have its premiere during halftime of the Oct. 12 home coming football game against Baylor. Mannheim Steamroller will perform with the UNL marching band and a combined university choir. After deciding to write the piece, Davis said, he had to capture the spirit of UNL. Comhusker Marching Band director Rod Chesnutt said Davis at tended last week’s football game and left with his inspiration for the music. “Quite often, songs are written around words, but after Chip went to the game on Saturday, it came to him what he wanted to say musically, as far as an alma mater that speaks the Please see ALMA MATER on 8 Ace White House journalist praises government progress By Erin Gibson Staff Reporter Veteran political reporter Helen Thomas entertained an audience of 500 at Nebraska Wesleyan University " Thursday, with an speech some re garded as a campaign stop for Presi dent Clinton. Thomas, who began covering the White House in 1961, praised Presi dent Clinton’s progress and re-election nawipaigii, and warned against degrad ing the federal government. “Nothing is easy, nothing is perfect, but I-think our country does its best,” Thomas said. The pro-government stance re ceived loud applause and audience approval. L » Thomas, now White House bureau chief for United Press International, recently reported from Clinton’s “Whistle Stop” cross-country cam paign by train. Thomas was the first speaker in the fall 19% Nebraska Wesleyan Univer sity Forum series. “The word ‘defeat’ is not in (Clinton’s) vocabulary,” she said. “He claims his campaign is in the future, and Dole is fixed on the past.” Thomas said that GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole hopes for a his torical, Harry Truman-type comeback to win the November election. “1 knew Harry Truman, and Bob Dole is no Harry Truman,” she said. Thomas also spoke of a new “cul tural revolution” that is overturning traditional American ideals and values. She cheered progress in civil and women’s rights, and discussed the United States’ position as-the new world leader. ' ^ “In the new world disorder, we have learned that peace is wonderful and war is hell,” she said. “The U.S. can be successful as a world leader because our heart is in the right place.” The scope of Thomas’ knowledge impressed audience member Dan Lutz, a former newspaper editor and re porter. However, Lutz was surprised by Thomas’ bias toward the Demo cratic Party. “She has proven herself a great re porter and newswoman,” Lutz said. “But at times that sounded like a Democratic speech.” , r Brian Taylor, a sophomore at Ne braska Wesleyan, enjoyed Thomas’ political commentary and agreed that die federal government is too heavily criticized. \ “I remember when I wanted to vote so badly,” Taylor said. “Now, negative campaigning turns me off.” -— Scott Bruhn7DN VETERAN WHITE HOUSE correspondent Helen Themas spoke Thursday about her years of covering the White House to a crowd at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Thomas has worked for United Press International since the Kennedy Administration.