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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
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