Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 1998)
_SPORTS_ _ill_ MON TAY Cat nap Imported action February 9 TheKansas State men’s basketball team capped a Chow Yun-Fat, a world-renowned film veteran, 69-63 victory over NU Saturday with a 7-0 run in makes his American film debut with “The RaMYDaysAm the final two minutes. PAGE 7 Replacement Killers.” PAGE 9 Chance of rain, high 46. J. * i I VOL. 97 COVERING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN SINCE 1901 NO. 98 Centennial Mall rebirth discussed ■ The environs commis sion wants to extend the architecture of the State Capitol to campus. By Josh Funk Senior Reporter The cracked concrete and crumbling steps bear the toll of 30 years of footsteps. But while the fountains remained dormant and gray Friday morning, the Capitol Environs Commission announced its plans for the rebirth and renewal of Centennial Mall. The commission, along with Denver architects, unveiled the new face of Centennial Mall in colorful drawings and plans. , The plan is designed to connect the Capitol to the university cam pus using art deco ideas to make the mall an extension of the Capitol’s architecture. “We want people to continue oohing and aahing once they get outside the Capitol,” Gov. Ben Nelson said. “Right now it is more of an ‘ugh’ when people get out side.” The new design incorporates three main plazas, one at each end of the mall, and a larger festival plaza in the middle, said architect Russ Butler. “We want to create a grand civic space,” he said. H We want to create a grand civic space” Russ Butler architect All of the steps will be removed and replaced by two graceful, curving walkways that span the entire mall, Butler said. The 20-foot-wide promenades, characterized by colorful paving, will incorporate the history of Nebraska in displays along the walks: cultural history on the west side and natural history on the east. The walkways will be flanked by long lines of oak trees leading nr\ trv fKp PoniMl The Denver firm EDAW has worked on projects such as the Olympic Park in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., monuments, but Butler said this is the most sig nificant project he’s ever done. Unlike the current mall, the new plan incorporates streets into the design. While the streets will remain open to traffic, the colorful walk ways and other elements will con tinue across the asphalt to better connect the entire mall. Like the current mall, fountains Protesters gather to support prisoners By Kim Sweet Staff Reporter Words encouraging awareness, action and perseverance rang from the Centennial Mall Friday as pro testers gathered in support of releas ing American Indian Movement activist Leonard Peltier from prison. About 75 people gathered to hear from local AIM leaders who chal lenged the group to come together on Peltier’s behalf and begin the fight at home for his release from prison in Leavenworth, Kan. Peltier has been in prison for 22 years. He was arrested on charges of murdering two FBI agents and another AIM leader in 1975 at Pine Ridge, S.D., said Andrew Ascherl, a member of Food Not Bombs. Since the 1975 incident, evi dence of coerced testimony and fab ricated evidence has been brought forward in thousands of pages of H We are prisoners in our own land, and we are fighting back” Linda Anfuso American Indian Movement member documents from the investigation, proving Peltier’s innocence, Ascherl said. Frank Lamere, a member of the Nebraska Inter-Tribal Development Corporation, has urged protesters to come together and use all the means necessary to have Peltier released. “Indeed, the case of Leonard Peltier is unfinished business, not only for Nebraska, but for the whole world,” Lamere said. Please see PELTIER on 2 I Read the Daily Nebraskan on the World Wide Web at http: / lwww.unl.edu /DailyNeb 8 i '■ ■ V . • ;ii 4 V * ' I S • ••• il Courtesy EDAW/Bahr Vermeer and Haecker AN ARTIST’S RENDITON of the proposed changes to Lincoln’s Centennial Mall looking south from 15th and R streets. Denver landscape architecture and urban design firm EDAW and Lincoln's Babr Vermeer and Haeckerheni to begin work on the prefect by 1999. —— will remain an important part of the new design. The main plaza, near Pershing Auditorium, will feature a foun tain with flush-mounted jets, so people can walk right through it, Butler said. The new mall also will include a law enforcement memorial in remembrance of Nebraska service men who have died in the line of duty. But before construction can begin, there are several issues that must be resolved, including fund ing and ownership, said Gary Rex, environs commission chairman. The project will cost about $17.5 million dollars and will take 20-24 months to complete, Rex said. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in 1999. The money will come from state, city and private contribu tions. “We must decide who will pay for what and who will own the mall when it is complete,” Rex said. There are also other issues such „ J as the loss of parking and the effects on downtown businesses, Rex said. “We want to rebuild the mall into something inspirational and useful.” 1 I i Republicans meet public Candidates explain why they should receive votes By Todd Anderson Assignment Reporter Republican candidates empha sized their commitment to lowering taxes and shrinking government as they met the public in downtown Lincoln Friday night So corranon were those and other conservative themes at the Republican party’s “Meet the Candidates” night that candidates distinguished themselves by high lighting their qualifications. “No otter (gubernatorial) candi date has the experience I do as a leader, mayor and chief executive officer,” Lincoln Mayor Mike Johanns said. State auditor John Breslow said his experience as a businessman dis tinguished him from otter candidates. “1 have signed the front of a pay check, and they’ve only signed the back,” he said. Former Tecumseh Mayor Lavem Bartels said he decided to run because he was frustrated with die inactivity of state government. Taking a break from his own cam paign party, Rep. Jon Christensen of Omaha also made a stop in the Haymarket Candy Factory for the reception. In addition, candidates for lieu tenant governor, state auditor and Omaha’s 2nd Congressional District were among die minglers who pre sented their campaign objectives. Sen. Dave Maurstad of Beatrice said experience counts in choosing a candidate for lieutenant governor. “(I) can strengthen die ticket with my small business background and experience as state senator,” he said. Elliott Rustad, a Lincoln derma tologist, said his statewide business experience would help him to repre sent the entire state. “I don’t have regional bias,” Rustad said. “I won’t represent just one district or community.” Ewing businessman Kevin Fry and Omaha businessman Matt Butler also were answering questions. Fry said he would bring broad appeal to the lieutenant governor tick et “I want people to see my candida cy as one that can really fill the con servativeness that Nebraskans identi fy with,” he said. Also present were Rep. Doug Bereuter and Omaha Mayor Hal Daub. Bereuter, who has announced plans to seek his 11th term as Nebraska’s 1st District Congressman, said this yearb Republican lineup fea tures a lot of strong candidates. “None of these people are doing this casually,” he said. “This is going to be the most actively contested race in my memory.”