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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 1999)
S P D n T s Recruiting games NU Coach Danny Nee practices a recruiting philosophy that pays off but neglects some of the top in-state talent. Part two of the Daily Nebraskan’s State of the Huskers report. PAGE 7 A&E Writing home The release of “Guide to Nebraska Authors” con firms more than 700 resident writers and a flour ishing local literary scene. PAGE 9 TUESDAY January 26, 1999 Batten Down the Hatches Windy, rain possible, high 42. Breezy tonight, low 30. VOL. 98 COVERING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN SINCE 1901 NO. 87 Accused don’t respond to Schwebach suit ■ The university advises political science faculty members not to comment on the harassment accusations. ByIevaAugstums Senior staff writer A tight-lipped atmosphere permeat ed the UNL political science depart ment Monday, after a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment incidents were cov ered up behind department doors. At the advice of university counsel, faculty members would not discuss the case. “I’m sorry, but I cannot comment,” said John Comer, political science department chairman, who was identi fied in the lawsuit as allegedly disre garding complaints brought to him by an undergraduate in the spring of 1996. “We have been instructed by the university that all information regarding the case is to be directed to university general counsel,” he said. Graduate students, however, were not told to keep quiet, and some spoke about the department’s climate “Personally, I haven’t seen or heard anything that can be considered harass ment,” said Nancy Heltzel, a first-year political science graduate student. “But I have only been here since the fall.” Valerie Schwebach, a former assis tant political science professor, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit Thursday against the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. The lawsuit details Schwebach’s allegations ofharassment in the political science department soon after she arrived at UNL in 1994 until her resig nation in May 1998, as well as informa tion regarding several graduate stu dents’ sexual harassment complaints. NU General Counsel Richard Wood said the university was aware of the law suit, but he would not comment on it because he said the university had not formally been served court documents. “Our general policy in this office is not to comment on litigation,” Wood said. “When we are served, I can tell you we will file the appropriate proceedings in federal court refuting the allegations.” College of Arts and Sciences Dean Brian Foster, who is mentioned in the lawsuit, would not comment on the law suit or the atmosphere of the political science department. “I cannot make any comment because I know nothing about the law suit,” Foster said. “The only information I know is from what I read in the Daily Nebraskan (on Monday).” Eric Brown, one of Schwebach’s attorneys, said he thought it was odd that some political science professors were unaware of the lawsuit. “It’s very interesting because this thing has been explored in many admin istrative areas,” Brown said. “People should know about, or at least have heard about, the case.” Please see SUIT on 2 Up the down staircase Matt Miller/DN A LONE STUDENT climbs the stairs in the north entrance of CBA on Monday afternoon. Tomorrow, winter coats may need to be traded in for raincoats and umbrellas - there is a 40 percent chance of rain and the highs are expected in the 40s. Underage drinkers could lose licenses By Jessica Fargen Senior staff writer Lt. John Kucer of the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department dreads knocking on the doors of strangers in the middle of the night to tell them their teen-ager has just died in a drunken driving wreck. But it has been part of his job the last 20 years, he told the General Affairs Committee on Monday as he testified in favor of a bill that would bring an auto matic driver’s license suspension for those convicted of minor in possession of alcohol. A minor caught attempting to pur chase alcohol would be subject to an automatic license suspension under LB 126, sponsored by Stanton Sen. Stan Schellpeper. The bill would also require parental notification of an MIP offense. The committee did not vote on the bill Monday because Schellpeper planned to meet with liquor retailers, who were opposed to the bill, either today or Wednesday LB 126 would also stiffen penalties for liquor license hold ers who sell to minors. Elkhom Sen. Dwite Pedersen, who a At long last, MIP will no longer be something to laugh aboutA Dwite Pedersen Elkhom senator has sponsored similar legislation in the past, said receiving an MIP was a joke to many Nebraska teen-agers, and said the penalties were weak and inconsis tent. He said he hoped this bill would put an end to that. “Time and again, kids have told us that the penalties have to be stiff enough to do some good. “At long last, MIP will no longer be something to laugh about.” Kathleen Tinley, a 17-year-old senior at Omaha's Duchesne Academy, said respect for MIP laws was lacking among teen-agers. The only way to cor Please see ALCOHOL on 2 Police department up for accreditation again By Josh Funk Senior staff writer The Lincoln Police Department is hoping to retain its status as one of a select group of nationally accredited law enforcement agencies. This week the department is being evaluated on more than 300 law enforcement standards as part of a peri odic recertification. Nationwide, 447 of the approxi mately 17,000 law enforcement agen cies, or 2.5 percent, are accredited. A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies arrived Sunday, and will be m Lincoln until Wednesday. “Accreditation promotes pride and self-confidence within the department,” Chief Tom Casady said. “And there is the distinction of being part of a small group.” During its visit, the CALEA team is examining police records and guide lines, interviewing key people, riding with officers and gathering public input. Monday night the assessors held a public hearing to let citizens voice con Please see POLICE on 2 Read the Daily Nebraskan on the World Wide Web at dailyneb.com