The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, December 10, 1996, Image 1
L,. . ... . ' . ■ , ' . I i ■». I • ■ * • - * I “ HP^^——— JEREMY VETTER, a senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is the first UNL Rhodes Scholar student in more than 20 years. Excellence otivates Rhodes Scholar BtChad Lorenz Senior Reporter UNL senior Jeremy Vetter likes the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and the Rolling Stones... and economics, po litical science, history, physics, phi losophy and psychology. Classic rock ‘n’ roll is not one of Vetter’s majors — but the others are. Vetter, UNL’s first Rhodes Scholar in 20 years, says that of all his inter ests, his love for the music of the 1960s and ’70s best typifies his idealist per sonality. “I don’t think I’d be a very good representative of my generation,” Vetter said. “I’d probably better repre sent my parents’ generation minus ■ ft- ■ me drugs. Vetter’s personality and attitude were the valuable traits that won him a Rhodes Scholarship. Vetter was one of 32 college students in the United States honored as a Rhodes Scholar this year. While Vetter’s 4.0 GPA and 216 credit hours were a vital line on his Rhodes Scholarship application, his love of learning and extracurricular accomplishments made him stand out from the other applicants. ‘It’s not something you can just feel entitled to because of good grades,” Vetter said. “They won’t choose you unless you’re a leader or involved in social issues.” ,:i Like die social activists of Simon and Garfunkel’s era, Vetter considers nimseii among people who warn iu change the world, he said. He’s been dedicated to participating in human rights campaigns, such as domestic abuse awareness and protests against the death penalty. Before he graduates in May, Vetter wants to form Allies, a group of het erosexual UNL students who support gay and lesbian rights, he said. He also serves as a delegate for the United Methodist Church in the Na tional Delegation of Churches and as president of the UNL student honors board. While Vetter’s idealistic personal ity got him involved in many activities outside of school, 1m said another part ■ ■■■ ■” ' Please see RHODES on 6 ---1 UNL might invest in Lincoln dly block By Erin Schulte Senior Reporter Cars go in. Cars sit. Cars go out. Should a block in the heart of downtown Lincoln be more exciting than that? The city of Lincoln says “yes,” and plans to sell Block 35, which is now a pay-by-the-hour parking lot between 10th and 11th and P and Q streets. The city is looking for a developer and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln hopes to work with whomever buys the property and turns it into a hotel, apartment complex, offices, movie theater, restaurant or other proposals from which both the city and university benefit. “That’s pretty expensive real estate to sit as a parking lot,” said Kim Todd, interim execu tive director of university relations. “We want to continue to enhance the quality of downtown.” City officials agree. Polly McMullen, assistant to the mayor, said parking needs were a priority, “but is surface parking the highest and best use of such a valu able block in the downtown?” Block 35 is hot property — and UNL wants in. It won’t be buying Block 35, but because the university community contributes to down town business, and Lincoln’s downtown has the potential to attract people to the university, it wants to invest in whatever goes up in Block 35, Todd said. McMullen said the city understands the university’s interest. I “Block 35 is a very important block to the city because it’s transitional between the down town and university campus,” McMullen said. “It’s natural for UNL to be very interested.” But UNL’s financial backing will depend on -• whom is chosen by the city to develop the block, « If we have needs in mind, they feel fit withJkeir*^ development, it’s for the benefit of all of us” Kim Todd interim executive director of university relations and what they want to put there. “It all depends on whether they see the uni versity as being able to provide the market for whatever they want to build,” Todd said. “If we have needs in mind they feel fit with their de velopment, it’s for the benefit of all of jis.” Melvin Jones, vice chancellor for business and finance, sent a letter to Mayor Mike Johanns stating the university’s needs, including: • Housing for faculty. • A visitor’s center. • Offices for research faculty. • Parking or restaurants conducive to the fine and performing arts district Redeveloping Block 35 was the first initia tive listed in a downtown development plan named “Downtown 2001: The Heart of the City,” which was adopted by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission and the City Council earlier this year. The plan lists several other goals: • Renaming P Street “Market Place” and making it a pedestrian-oriented street with shops and restaurants. Please see DEVELOPMENT on 6 ■ k L» >>': • - ' j it. ■ BRENT HOOD, a sophomore biosystems engineering major, took advantage of the first day of Dead Week and found a quiet place to study Monday afternoon among the stacks at Love Library: North Platte youths near From The Associated Press NORTH PLATTE—From his van tage point on North Platte’s streets, Rick Ryan sees young people on the verge of turning ganglike words and attitudes into real-life gang violence. The North Platte police lieutenant sees youths wearing the clothes and flashing the hand signs popularized by big-city gangs. They’re taunting each other, they’re carrying weapons, and occasionally . ».■ ne>■ they’re daring each other to use them, he said. The kids know what’s going on, Ryan said. But too often their parents don’t “When you talk to the parents about it, they become defensive, saying it’s just a group,” he said. “When you tell them about the activity, they say it can’t be, you can’t compare this to Omaha or L. A. ' “It scares me to death, what we have a potential of going on here, and the parents don’t see it.” Ganglike activity sputtered three years ago after authorities put some young criminals behind bars-. Now it’s growing again. *Tve seen some type of activity that speaks of a loose-knit organization here,” said Lincoln County Attorney Kent Turnbull. “But, fortunately, they’re like the gang that couldn’t shoot straight and have no influence from outsidegangs. “That’s what scares me. All that seems to be needed is an outside per son with gang influence to organize.” Some gang influence has come into the city from families who move from larger cities, says Henry Madrid Mirabal, the North Platte Public Schools’ truant officer. “What I’ve noticed in the last 12 years I’ve been here is there are par ents who moved from Los Angeles, Denver or Chicago, and when they were young, (they) may have been members of gangs,” he said. “And they moved here because they didn’t want their kids to be involved in gangs.” Parents have more power than they realize to steer their children away from gang behayior, authorities said. Community crusades to censor the gang culture usually backfire because they give gang leaders the reputations they crave, said Sgt. Ron Stallworth, gang intelligence coordinator for the Utah Division of Investigation. Parents reinforce the message of the gang culture if they themselves abuse drugs and alcohol or resort to crime and violence, Stallworth said. “My position is to be a responsible adult, a responsible parent.” f ‘ '■ '