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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1998)
_spouts _Ly tues: >ay Hold on Basket case January 13, 1998 Despite a 15-point win over Colorado on Sunday, Lincoln band Rascal Basket has new plans for the Nebraska men's basketball team hopes to the new year, and it will make those plans public No MERCY FROM MOTHER MATURE impnn e on Ms 24-turnover performance. PAGE 7 m a concert tonight at Duffy s. PAGE 9 Chance of :,ght snow. hlgh , 3. cloudy tonight, low 27 NO. 78 Speech pleases senators By Todd Anderson Assignment Reporter General support and few surpris es characterized legislators' reactions to (iov Ben Nelson's final State of the State Address Mondav afternoon. After a positive report on quality o! life in Nebraska. Nelson's speech outlined optimistic goals as part of his ”Si. ■co'" 2<»Utpian. while reaffirm ing his connnued ode m the hate Son 1 Tv mi i r-'sbv ■ ! 1 incoln ; '.mi Net'-on N plan was a positive j apnr -aGs a osnotcmlv Ct.mginu I vt.i!'. j \!,.• .,- ihouzli' \elst •!, s , p : for imp;.'- mg heai;i . eon n'loi: an.; icJumlrg weie nai-on S'OI i v v., i. P':.i,i • ; * rerlng said Nc-Gon s goal" '\s re "v et > acinevable" and she supported con- | tinned ell -rt'. to enhance partnerships j between state and local governments j She said she also supported mak- \ mg last year's temporary income tax I reduction permanent. That part of the prov ision is gen eral!} supported. Sen Boh Wickersham of Harrison said Nelson's plan to reform propertv valuation to help reduce rising prop ertv taxes drew mixed rev iews. Wickersham said while he was uncomfortable with the prov lsion to limit propertv valuation increases to j 15 percent, he welcomed discussion about it When asked about how Nelson's speech would affect the governor's standing. Crosby said it would help enhance his positive image "1 don't think he's finished w ith government." she said, noting Nelson's last year in office "We'll see him later on " Matt Haney Daily Nebr.ayk.an Matt Miller/Daily Nebraskan SEN. JERRY SCHMITT of Ord shakes hands with Gov. Ben Nelson after the State of the State Address Monday at the Capitol. Nelson emphasizes state strengths By Brian Carlson Senior Reporter In his final State of the State Address Monday. Gov. Ben Nelson touted Nebraska s flourishing economy but challenged legislators to respond to the public's call for lower taxes. Focusing on the positives during his afternoon speech in the legislative chambers. Nelson pointed to the state's low- unemployment rate, its growth in population and number of jobs and its expanaea international markets. "Despite the skeptics and the critics and those predicting bad times ahead Nebraska is thriving." he said. But as the good times roll. Nelson said taxpayers have a right to cash in on the state budget surplus the strong econ omy helped bring. Government estimates of future revenue indicate last year's enactment of a tw o-year, 5-percent tax cut not only can be made permanent, but can be Please see NELSON on 6 | Money shortages close Theta Chi Fraternity | ■ Theta Chi Fraternity is the fifth UNL house to close in the last four years. By Brad Davis Senior Reporter Bracing themselves as their fra ternity prepares to close its doors for good, some members of fNL's Theta Chi Fraternity questioned w hether the shutdown was part of a grow ing trend. The fraternitv. set to shut its doors on Jan 3 1. is the fifth to close at the University of Nebraska Uincoln in the last four vears. & Although other house closings were because of disciplinary rea sons. members of Theta Chi said their small fraternity simply could not afford to meet financial obliga tions. Joe Kopp, Theta Chi vice presi dent-elect. said he was concerned that "small houses go away while big houses get bigger " With open rush during the sum mer. bigger houses had more "man power and financial backing." Kopp said "We had to reiv on basic strength good ideas and intentions," he said. "We always kind of felt it was more quality than quantity, but qual ity doesn't necessarily pay the bills." Mike Murphy. Theta Chi presi dent last semester, said the UNL chapter, along with its alumni cor poration and the national headquar ters. made the decision to close. Murphy emphasized that the chapter worked together with the alumni and national headquarters and no animosity existed among the groups. He said since the national head quarters makes membership deci sions nothing has been decided \et about current members' status once the house closes. He said although he was not bit ter about the closing, he thought UNL's fraternity rush needed to be reexamined. UNL Director of Greek Affairs Linda Schwartzkopf said declining fraternity membership was a nation al trend that was not unique to L NL. "On a national level, you're see ing fraternities really de-emphasiz ing the social, and starting to make a recommitment to academics and commun 11y service crea11 ng a place that really supports the mis sion of the universitv." she said. She said any time an organiza- j tion has a philosophical transition, j membership may decrease, but it would also reverse once more peo ple were aware of the redirection. Kopp agreed. "A lot of members of the greek system don't portray it in the most positive image," Kopp said. "They join a fraternity to meet girls or to party or to buy their friends rather than looking for leadership opportu nities." He said fraternities need to work to live down the "Animal House" Please see THETA on 3 j Read the Daily Nebraskan hn the World Wide Web at http: uuuMid.edu Daily Neb