Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 1998)
SPORTS Rekindled rivalry Backed by a 10-run seventh inning Sunday, the Nebraska baseball team completed a three-game sweep of 14th-ranked Oklahoma. PAGE 9 NEWS Jones remembers trial Stephen Jones,defense attorney for Timothy McVeigh tells the Daily Nebraskan about the Oklahoma City bombing trial and his client PAGE 8 MON >AY April 20, 1998 Hold Onto Your Hats Cloudy, breezy, high 60. Clearing tonight, low 36. VOL. 97 COVERING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN SINCE 1901 N0.143 Officials: Racial climate could improve By Brad Davis Senior Reporter Federal officials who look at racial cli mates on college campuses revealed on Friday that UNL has broken no laws but could improve its environment for minori ties. Linda Crump, director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's affirmative action and diversity programs, said three investigators from the U.S. Office for Civil Rights released a preliminary report Friday that said the uni versity had complied with legal racial harassment requirements. But the investigators said legal compli ance wasn’t enough and asked the university to discuss three areas: racial policy, investi gation of racial harassment and diversity training, Crump said. “All of these recommendations were pos itive ones,” Crump said. “And the things that we need to do - that I plan to do - are proba bly going to be more comprehensive (than the government requires).” Investigators from the civil rights office heard testimonies from students, faculty members and staff last week. Crump said she was previously unaware of some incidents of racial harassment dis cussed by the panelists, all of which she said were not illegal but contributed to an envi ronment that was not welcoming to minori ties. Olsuegun Okubanjo, a law student and student senator for the law college, said the administration’s lack of response to acts, such as English Professor David Hibler’s allegedly racist e-mail and anti-gay chalk mgs on campus last semester, sent the wrong message to students. “It seemed like the administrators weren't really sure whether they were for Or against what happened,” said Okubanjo, who met with civil rights investigators last week. “There was no clear action.” Subtleties, not illegal acts of discrimina tion, are what Crump said contributed to an unwelcome and sometimes hostile racial environment at UNL. “There’s always a difference between the environment that one can set up that makes a person feel welcome and wanting to be part of the environment, than an environment that does everything legally that should happen,” Crump said. To help create a more-welcome environ ment, Crump said, the university will create and sign an agreement with the Office for Civil Rights. Because UNL receives federal funds, Please see CLIMATE on 6 Democrats honor Nelson, rip GOP By Brian Carlson Senior Reporter Democrats commemorated Gov. Ben Nelson's eight years in office and tossed barbs at the Republicans who want to be his successor during their Jefferson-Jackson dinner Saturday night. A corps of prominent Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey, former U.S. Sen. James Exon, Lt. Gov. Kim Robak and gubernatorial candidates Bill Hoppner and Jim McFarland praised Nelson for his efforts to pro mote Nebraska's agricultural products, his fiscal conservatism and his enthusi asm for Nebraska. “Beyond Democrats, as Nebraskans and Americans, we are very grateful for your serv ice,” Kerrey said. “You have changed the lives of hun dreds of thousands of people" Robak, who will leave office w ith Nelson in January, was also honored. She said she wanted to crack jokes about Nelson, but couldn't. “Ben Nelson just isn't funny," she said. "Oh sure, he's got 100 of the same tie. And he’s so tight his shoes don't oz-impciL' Anri hp hnc thp wnrlH'c mnst perfect hair. But other than that, he's just not funny." The event showcased a half-hour video in which more than 70 friends and colleagues shared memories and praise ofNelson. Video participants celebrated Nelson's success in promoting ethanol as a renewable energy source and in forging markets for Nebraska agricul ture overseas. But mostly, they talked about Nelson's legendary tight pockets. “Ben Nelson is tighter than two coats of paint," said Tim Becker, Nelson's chief of staff. Minutes later, he said “Ben Nelson is tighter than three coats of paint." Toward the end of the video, Becker reappeared and said “Four coats, Ben." Nelson thanked his supporters and said his years as governor had been “eight of the greatest years anybody could have ever had certainly the great est I've ever had.” “I don’t profess to say I've always been right.” Nelson said. “But I've always intended to be on the right side.” Exon took a shot at Republican gubernatorial candidates Jon Christensen, John Breslow and Mike Johanns, who participated in a forum Thursday night. “I listened very carefully to each and every one of the Three Stooges," Exon said. Their message, he said was that “if we can just get another million dollars, we can be nominated to be the sacrificial lamb for Jim McFarland or Bill Hoppner in November.”Hoppner said he had watched the forum with acute interest. He concluded that the Republican candidates' message amounted to “the proposition that gay Nebraskans will not get a 25 percent tax cut unless they agree to live near a large hog confine ment operation and marry a virgin." Hoppner added that, in contrast to the Republican candidates, his cam paign is "committed to providing lead ership that sees all Nebraskans, not just a privileged few." McFarland said he had been a Nelson supporter since Nelson's suc cessful campaign for governor in 1990. The two share many political views, he said. "Ben Nelson showed us in eight years that a nice guy can be a politician and be a state's leader," he said. “I'd like to continue that tradition and build on the Nelson legacy.” Ken Haar. executiv e director of the Nebraska Democratic Party, said about 700 people attended the S75-per-plate dinner at Pershing Auditorium. The pro gram, “Nelson and Stars: The Legacy,” raised between $60,000 and $65,000, he said. In his closing remarks, Nelson had a last chance to one-up Becker. “I’m probably tighter than five coats of paint, Tim.” Read the Daily Nebraskan on the World Wide Web at http: / / www.unl.edu /DailyNeb Hollywood outfitter closes shop By Sarah Baker Senior Reporter Karen Anderson thought nobody would ever want the ugly, pink wool coat that wouldn't sell at her down town vintage clothing store. That is until Hollywood called. The coat wasjust one of the items she sent to the set of 1995’s best pic ture. “Forrest Gump." and one of many articles from her store that have been used in major motion pictures set in the 1950s and 60s. Anderson’s store. Second Wind vintage clothing, 1640 O St., closed its doors for good Saturday after 11 vears in business. "1 thought this was my chance to dump it because before that I could n't give that coat away,” she said. “It ended up being in one of the major scenes near the end of the movie. It really is awesome to see your stuff on screen, bigger than life.” Clothing from Anderson's store also can be seen in “Quiz Show,” “The Hudsucker Proxy,” “A Bronx Tale” and the recent Tom Hanks-pro duced HBO miniseries “From the Earth to the Moon,” which began air ing two weeks ago. Please see VINTAGE on 3 Dawn Dietrich/DN SHARON KOEPKE, of Lincoln, examines scraps of fabric (luring an auc tion at Second Wind,1640 0 St., Saturday afternoon. Clothing from Second Wind has been used in “Forrest Gump” and other films. Nelson vetoes educational funding bill By Brian Carlson Senior Reporter Gov. Ben Nelson vetoed a bill Sunday that included a controversial amendment obligating the state to provide an additional $70 million in school funding beginning in 2001. Saying the bill had not been thor oughly debated in the Legislature and that it would hurt efforts at tax relief. Nelson vetoed LB1175, which also included other education measures. “This bill is just not good govern ment,” he said in a statement. “It obligates the state to spend money before it has been clearly shown that this expenditure will be necessary.” But the veto does not mean Nelson will call a special legislative session. The governor has constitu tional power to call a special session on his own, or the agreement of 33 of 49 state senators can compel the gov ernor’s action. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ardyce Bohlke of Hastings, also included a formula for special educa Please see VETO on 2
