SPOTS Knightmare Nebraska survived a scare from the University of Central Florida Golden Knights on Saturday before rallying for a 38-24 victory. PAGE 8 * ft E Urban assault Chopper One descends upon Lincoln Tuesday, performing at Duffy’s Tavern in support of its new album, “Now Playing.” PAGE 13 September 15, 1997 SwMa’sUsrStUD Sunny and humid, high 88. Cloudy tonight, low 68. Crosby warns drivers ■ Senators say a bill on using cell phones while driving may be re-opened. By Ted Taylor Assignment Reporter A recent traffic fatality may bring a bill back to life in the next legisla tive session that would make it illegal to use a cellular phone while driving, a state senator said last week. Lincoln Sen. La Von Crosby said even though her bill, LB338, was killed in the Transportation Committee this year, a two-car acci dent last week that took the life of an Omaha man may have re-opened some eyes to an increasing problem. She also said she hopetHtwould push senators to look further into the matter. “This accident has caused renewed concern by a lot of people — concern that people should curb the use of the phones while driving,” she said. Crosby’s comments came after a car driven by a Gretna woman, who state police said reached for a dropped cellular phone, crossed the median on 1-80 west of Omaha, and collided with another car. The woman and her 9-year-old daughter received only minor injuries, but the 64-year-old man in the car she hit was killed. A February study printed by the New England Journal of Medicine that said using a cell phone while dri ving quadrupled the risk of an acci dent. The fourfold chance of getting in an accident while using a cell phone in a car is the same as getting behind the wheel when you are legally drunk, the report said. Crosby said she hadn’t spoken with senators about re-addressing the issue when the session begins again in January, but she hoped there would be time to bring it up. “If there is an opportunity to bring it up on the floor, then yes, I will discuss it,” she said. “But one of the things we’ll have to discuss at the beginning of the session is ways to make it more feasible.” She said that at this stage of the game, she doubted the bill would get any more consideration than it did when it was killed in committee. The bill, which would have assessed a small penalty to anyone Please see PHONES on 6 Local walk * *- •: • ‘ ^ - - | supports AIDS cause By Jonathan Houghton Staff Reporter Derric Field wore a green band on his left arm Sunday at the sixth annual AIDS Walk Nebraska to make a statement. “It means that I don’t mind who knows that I’m HIV-posi tive,” he told the crowd of people gathered in Lincoln to participate in the walk. Field, the event’s organizer, said that making more people aware of AIDS, as well as increas ing tolerance for those with the disease, were objectives of AIDS Walk Nebraska. The walk, held simultaneously in Lincoln, Omaha, Kearney and Norfolk, raised $75,000 in donations. “I feel it’s showing the com munity that people with AIDS need our support one way or , another,” said Philipp Kessler, a volunteer at the walk. A total of 156 people walked Lincoln’s 10-kilometer course, which started at the Nebraska AIDS Project offices, 2123 Winthrop Road, Sunday. Many walked simply out of concern for the cause, but for some the mes sage struck closer to home. Field said he knew of at least 20 people participating in the walk that were HIV-positive. Only three people, including Field, wore green bands on their arms. “That shows you how much fear there is,” Field said. “It is still very difficult for people to admit they’re HIV-positive in this part of the country.” ' _ Lane Hickenbottom/DN ANDIE SEIRIGER, left, and Ann DeVries walk along Antelope Park as part of the 10 kilometer Aids Walk Nebraska. The walk sponsored by the Nebraska AIDS Project washeld In Lincoln, Omaha, Kearney and Norfolk. Field, who attended UNL as a nontraditional student last year, said he experienced intolerance firsthand on campus when he wore a T-shirt with the words “HIV-positive” emblazoned on it. “People would freak,” Field said. “They’d see it and cross the Please see AIDS on 6 Pepsi giveaway week celebrated on campus - ---- > * By Erin Gibson Senior Reporter Free pop. Free concert. Free sports tournament. Free Jeep. Free party. It seems a little of everything with a Pepsi Cola Co. logo will be free on campus this week. Pepsi Week, a week of on-cam pus giveaways sponsored by local bottler LinPepCo, starts today and lasts through Friday at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Steve Ford, LinPepCo president, said Pepsi sponsored the weeklong celebration to show appreciation for its new 12-year beverage contract. “Our goal, really, is just to say ‘thank you’ to the students and the staff for giving us an opportunity to be a part of the university,” Ford said. Pepsi will pay the university more than $24.2 million in ^j^fitowge for its exclusive contract to sell soft drinks on campus. Although Pepsi representatives will arrive on campus today to dis tribute schedules for the week, offi cial Pepsi Week activities begin Tuesday when a four-day scavenger hunt kicks off. Students and staff can follow II Our goal, really, is just to say 'thank you ... Steve Ford LinPepCo president clues given in the Daily Nebraskan to find free Pepsi products and keys to the Mountain Dew Jeep that will be given away Friday evening in the greenspace east of Memorial Stadium. The Jeep giveaway began this summer on radio station KGDE-FM 101.9 and 90 keys have been given away so far. But only UNL students, faculty and staff will be able to win 8 of the remaining keys through the scavenger hunt. One of the 100 keys given away will start the Jeep, and the key’s holder will win the green and yellow vehicle. Thursday, a few thousand root beer floats will be given away dur ing an all-university ice cream social from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Please see PEPSI on 6 Party honors China By Shane Anthony Staff Reporter The strong scent of pork grilling over hot coals drifted across Trago Park on Sunday evening. The tempting smell was supposed to come from a large barbecue rack the Chinese Student and Scholar Association had set up Saturday night. But someone took the rack. A police report had to be filed, but the minor setback could not halt the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the second biggest event of the Chinese calendar year. Several CSSA members donned aprons and set to work at five smaller grills on the south end of the park. Tian Xing Zhant, a graduate stu dent in agronomy, smiled and laughed with friends as she helped grill cuts of pork flavored with a tra ditional Chinese soy sauce. “I just don’t want to waste the fire,” Zhant said. “Just keep the grill full.” She worked quickly alongside Qingyi Chu, a graduate student, to prepare enough food for the 200-300 people the organizers expected. Chu joked about being chosen to cook because of his food science major. He actually studies biological analysis, which does not require a great deal of cooking, he said. Because of the work of CSSA members like Chu, the food was pre pared in time for a crowd who gath I 1 ered to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of the celebration. Florescent Frisbees floated across the park. The sound of feet and hands connecting with soccer and volley balls echoed over laughter and friendly conversation. Chu’s son, Bryan, 4, blew on a whistle he said was a birthday present as he ran near his father’s grill. Several playmates his age played on the basketball courts next to a picnic shelter decorated with lights. Fuming Zheng, president of the CSSA, said he was pleased with the turnout. He said the festival is the association’s second-largest event. The other, the Spring Festival, won an award last year from Student Involvement as on of the most excel lent events sponsored by a student organization, Zheng said. Zheng described CSSA’s version of the celebration as a “family reunion.” The get-together provides a way for students who cannot go home to their families to celebrate the holi day and just take time to talk. Zhi Zhou, a graduate student in family and consumer sciences com pared the festival’s celebration in China to Thanksgiving in the United States. “People go home, visit their fam ilies and have dinner,” Zhou said. “It’s a big deal.”