Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 1998)
WASHINGTON (AP) - In a blend of constitutional drama and partisan struggle, Kenneth Starr laid out his evi dence against President Clinton on Thursday in the third presidential impeachment inquiry in US. history, then fended off a withering attack by Democrats. The independent counsel, in an appearance before the House Judiciary Committee that was televised national ly, also said die “plain language” of the Constitution makes clear that Clinton could be prosecuted for perjury after he leaves office, regardless of the outcome of the impeachment proceedings. “I stand behind it because it is mine,” Starr said as he was peppered with criticism of his report outlining grounds for possible impeachment. Starr’s opening statement accused Clinton of a months-long “scheme to conceal” his affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Even before Starr began to speak, Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., accused the former federal judge of having “crossed the line into obsession” with his four-year, $40 million investigation. A second Democrat, Barney Frank of Massachusetts, asked why Starr had not told the public before the fall elec tions that he had found no evidence of impeachable offenses in inquiries into other areas, such as FBI files, the dis missal of White House Travel Office employees and the Whitewater real estate deal in Arkansas. When Starr responded that his man date under the law was only to report on evidence of potentially impeachable offenses, Frank said: “In other words, don’t have anything to say unless you have something bad to say.” Clinton was in Asia beginning a five-day visit when Starr stood before the committee’s chairman, Rep. Henry Hyde, raised his right hand and swore the traditional witness’ oath to tell the truth. Starr’s testimony was the first the committee had taken since receiving boxes of his evidence this fall. Though the full GOP-controlled House has voted for an open-ended inquiry, Republican appetite for pro longed proceedings has diminished markedly in the wake of election set backs. Thus, it was not clear whether - or when - articles of impeachment would ever emerge from the panel. Starr, himself the target of attacks from Clinton’s defenders, spoke meth odically - but ambiguously - as he offered his first public account of his investigation into Clinton^ relationship with Lewinsky and other matters. “He testified that he could not recall being alone with Ms. Lewinsky. That was untrue,” Starr said of the president “He testified that he could not recall ever being in the Oval Office hallway with Ms. Lewinsky, except perhaps when she was delivering pizza. That was untrue,” he added. Four more times, on matters relating to Clinton’s utterances, Starr firmly repeated, “That was untrue.” Fake ID search continues By Josh Funk Senior staff writer After last month’s charging of a UNL student, fake IDs remain a con con for police and administrators, and the investigation for more fake opera tions continues. Sophomore Eric Montgomery was cited for felony possession of forgery materials, but last week prosecutors granted him a pretrial diversion, which means he will not face trial and will not have a criminal record. Last month, the police served a search warrant at Montgomery’s house, and seized materials for making IDs. Evidence found there has fueled the Lincoln Police investigation. Lincoln Police Investigator Ross Fosler said officers still are looking at fake ID production at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He said police think two more ID producers are operating around campus. He would not comment on any of the details of the suspected operations. University administrators will not start their investigation into violations of the student code of conduct until after the police complete their investigation, said Linda Schwartzkopf, director of Greek Affairs. The arrest of Montgomery, an Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity member, put scrutiny on the greek house because investigators wanted to check the involvement of other house members. But nothing released from the investigation to date has implicated the house. Montgomery lives in his north west Lincoln home away from the fra ternity, and AID President Paul Blecha said Montgomery did not have much contact with the house. But in the long run, it is fake IDs that are a real concern for police and administrators. As part of the Robert Wood Johnson $700,000 binge drinking grant awarded to UNL this fall, Schwartzkopf said, committees are looking at how fake ID production can be curbed. Programs will be planned this year and implemented next year. UNL student selected to meet business elite JOHNSON from page 1 Federal Trade Commission. “I think a lot of times history repeats itself” Johnson said. “The discussions we have will give us a chance to preview what we think will happen in the future ” Looking ahead is not something new for Johnson. He always has set his goals high and strived to be the best “I’ll be honest. I’m a control freak,” he said. “I take a lot of things too seriously. But when it comes to my life and my future, I can never be ,, too serious.” Joyce Cooper, managing direct tor of INROADS/Greater Omaha Inc., an international career devel opment agency for minorities, said Johnson is a wonderful choice for the conference because he is “opti mistic about the opportunities he sees.” Cooper has worked and advised Johnson on internship and career opportunities throughout the past year. Johnson said INROADS has helped him “cultivate and grow as a leader.” The leadership and confi dence INROADS offered guided Johnson to apply for the conference. Johnson said he believes he is a smart man and is good at what he does; however, he doesn’t classify himself in a particular category or group. “There will be brilliant minds at the conference. I think I may be out of my league,” Johnson said. When Johnson is at the confer ence, he hopes to overcome stereo types other colleges or universities I may have about Nebraska. “When you mention Nebraska people think Herbie Husker - a blond guy wearing overalls,” Johnson said. “Look at me. I’m an African male. That alone will kill any stereotype people have.” Cooper agreed that Johnson breaks the mold. “Ka’Ron is not your typical man,” Cooper said. “He’s a really talented, vivacious, outgoing man who is always ready and willing to take the initiative and get things done.” John Guiniven, assistant profes sor of advertising, said Johnson’s - solid values and strong ambition make him a good representative for the university. “He has a world view,” said Guiniven, who also is Johnson’s academic adviser. “He sees life beyond his classes, this university, the city, the state and the nation.” Johnson said past experiences as a student assistant for the NU Sports Information Office and as an intern at The Omaha World-Herald would allow him to relate with conference participants. “The conference can benefit from my personal and people skills,” Johnson said. “I want to come back with knowledge that will further life experiences.” Johnson said there was nothing more in life he would like to achieve than acquiring knowledge from learning. “I just want to stand on the shoulders of giants,” Johnson said. “I want to learn from the best and then teach others what I have learned.” -1 c r^u Questions? Comments? issEstEi; aar -JaasL. Assignment Editor: Kasey Kerber Opinion Editor: Cliff Hicks General Manager: Dan Shattil Sports Editor: Sam McKewon Publications Board Jessica Hofmann, A&E Editor: Bret Schulte Chairwoman: (402) 466-8404 Copy Desk Chief: Diane Broderick Professional Adviser: Don Walton, Photo Chief: Matt Miller (402)473-7248 Design Chief: Nancy Christensen Advertising Manager: %■ Nick Partsch, Art Director: Matt Haney (402)472-2589 Online Editor: Gregg Steams Asst. Ad Manager: Andrea Oeltjen Diversions Editor: Jeff Randall Classffleid Ad Manager: Mami Speck Fax number: (402) 472-1761 World Wide Web: www.unl.edu/DailyNeb TJie Daily Nebraskan (USPS144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board, Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St, Lincoln, NE 68588-0448, Monday through Friday duming the academic year; weekly during the summer sessionslhe public has access to the Publications Board. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by calling (402)472-2588. _ ___ . .. Subscriptions are $55 lor one year. Postmaster: Send addnss changes to the Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St., THE DAILY NEBRASKAN £ ASUN may revote on election rules ASUN from page 1 guidelines. England said he would like to see party names back on the ballot, while Schreier said he has no opinion on the issue. Electoral Commission Director Ryan Fuchs said the decision to remove party names came from an election party survey of students con ducted earlier this year. ASUN President Sara Russell said she agreed with the senate’s deci sion. Despite being approached by sen ators requesting a veto, Russell signed the bill. Russell said her main reason for approving the legislation was brcause the senate passed the hill. “The senate knows how I stand on this issue,” Russell said. “But these rules passed because the senate passed them, not me.” However, senators who voted in the minority want action taken on the party affiliation issue, as well as on concerns involving reporting cam paign expenditures and campaign fine regulations. “These are not trivial issues,” Schreier said. “If we do not under stand the ramifications to these rules, we are really taking a risk with our student government system.” Russell said she has been swamped with phone calls from sen ate members Voicing their opinions about the decision. She said she agrees with the sen ate’s decision, but said she was dis heartened over the way the senators presented themselves. “I understand that they have con cerns and issues to discuss,” Russell said. “But I didn’t want (party affilia tion) to be a big controversial issue. Senators had the opportunity to voice their concerns before the meeting.” Marlyne Beyke, ASUN director of development, said election rules have never been sent back to the com mission in the past 10 years. Beyke said senators have been discussing the option to reconsider the bill. But if students want to have an election, she said the senate must make any other changes to election rules this semester before students can begin campaigning next year. If any further legislation would take place, it would need to be during the Dec. 2 meeting, she said. Speaker Matt Boyd, who voted for the election rules, said that if the senate votes to reconsider, student leaders need to examine their past actions. - “(The bill) leaves the senate as being rude,” Boyd said. “They had months to go voice their opinions. They should have taken the opportu nities they had.” The commission has had nine meetings over the past three months, during which senate members could have discussed election changes, Beyke said. Arts and Sciences Senator Kara Slaughter said ASUN needs to keep its decision and not reconsider its vote. “The more we go back and forth on these things, the more confusing things get,” Slaughter said. “If our ultimate goal is to make ASUN elec tions accessible, let’s keep these rules and continue with the elections.” UNITE members speak out UNITE from page 1 community they attend UNL. Misty Thomas, a sophomore family science and native studies major, remembers the nervousness she felt when she promoted this weekend’s UNITE-sponsored pow wow to a number of American Indian leaders at a rally. “I was scared to say I am a stu dent at UNL,” said Thomas, a mem ber of the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska. “I was scared about what they were going to think.” Having fears about-being con nected to UNL isn’t simply psycho logical, said Daniel Justice, a gradu ate student from the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. When the mistreatment of American Indian remains was revealed last spring, Justice consid ered leaving UNL. Months later, Justice still attends UNL and is studying American Indian literature. But he knows that when he graduates with his doctor ate in English, he will face obstacles if he decides to return back home. “Unless UNL makes some changes, our degrees are going to be useless in Indian country,” Justice said. “We come from the grave-rob bing, bone-crushing university.’** Native students also face a lack of understanding from students each day, they said. FewTails-Castellanos said misinformation and misunder standing of native cultures is the rea son for students’ lack of sympathy. “So many people have asked me, ‘What is this big thing?’” she said. “That just irks me - how could this not be serious?” Though some students may see it as a minor issue, Few Tails Castellanos said she has to deal with it every day when attending classes. “It influences me,” she said. “I have to read about it every day in the paper.” Despite the issues UNITE has faced over the past months, mem bers are eager to bring other American Indian students and peo ple to campus today for the ninth annual powwow this weekend. But events surrounding the issue of mistreatment of remains could potentially scare away many who normally attend the powwow. “We’re hoping that it doesn’t have an effect,” said Bearskin. “But that is why we have tried to make a real appealing environ ment,” she said. “We wanted to pro vide a positive event to show that the university is addressing diversity issues.” UNITE set out to provide addi tional events to draw those students who are leery about attending this year’s festivities. The group also wants to educate other students about American Indian culture and issues. One of the goals of the powwow is to attract non-native students so they can experience an American Indian tra dition. The weekend’s festivities begin today with a lecture series in which various American Indian leaders will speak. Bearskin said the lectures will heljp students confront stereotypes and false beliefs they have been tabght Another new addition this year is the hand game, a traditional pastime of the Omaha tribe. Members are hoping the events, along with the new student recruit ment day coinciding with the pow wow, will help American Indian stu dents understand UNL is addressing diversity issues, Bearskin said. The weekend’s events will also demonstrate a larger goal of UNITE. “We existed before the NAG PRA controversy, and we will be here When it is resolved,” Justice said. “It has brought UNITE into the public’s awareness, but it needs to continue. ’ ; “We can’t be forced into invisi bility The lecture series will begin at 9 a.m. today at the Culture Center, 333 N. 14th St., and will run until 5 p.m. The hand game will begin at 6 p.m. at the Culture Center. The pow wow will run Saturday at the Nebraska Union with grand entries at 1 p.m. and 7p.m. and Sunday with the grand entry at 1 p.m. All events are free, but donations for hurricane victims in Central America are being accepted.