The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, February 10, 1999, Image 1

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    _SPORTS_
Weighty issues
Becky Beachler and Erin Wibbels are doing their
best to follow in a line of great Nebraska shot
putters and weight throwers. PAGE 7
Art made for two
Throughout the month of February, two friends
will be exhibiting their individual and coopera
tive pieces at Aardvarx Gallery. PAGE 9
WEDN :s IAY
February 10, 1999
Blowin’ in the Wind
Cloudy, breezy, high 64. Rain likely tonight, low 35.
Kickin’ back
Matt Miller/DN
ABOVE-BRETT
SCHROER, a
sophomore land
scape design
major, soaks in
the record-high
temperatures
Monday afternoon
after he finished
his classes.
LEFT-SOPHOMORE
ARCHITECTURE
MAJOR CHRISTIAN
PRASCH stretches
I for the Frisbee on
Monday outside
the Nebraska Un
ion.
Police look into
bones discovery
By Lindsay Young
Senior editor
University Police have launched an
investigation to determine why American
Indian remains were under a podium in
109 Bessey Hall on Fnday.
Last Apnl, the room was supposed to
have been cleared of American Indian
remains.
Sgt. Bill Manning said the room was
to be cleared of all human remains on
Dec. 21 to prepare the room to once again
be used as a classroom.
Bone fragments and a tooth were dis
covered Friday when anthropology
department members, an American
Indian activist and University Police were
clearing the room in preparation for a
blessmg by an American Indian spiritual
leader.
They also found two original log
books that had been missing prior to the
clearing. The books detailed American
Indian finds at two Nebraska excavation
sites.
When the room was cleared in
December, no remains were found in the
places they were found Friday morning.
Manning said.
From April until Friday, Karl
Reinhard an anthropology associate pro
fessor, has had one of two keys to the
room. The other key was m the hands of
Robert Hitchcock, the anthropology
department chairman, who said that his
key didn't work.
Now the Arts and Sciences dean’s
office has the two keys.
Manning said the police want to find
out if the remains were actually in Room
u
I'm really shocked. I
wonder who had them.
I wonder what their
motivations were. ..."
Pemina Yellowbird
member of Three Affiliated Tribes
109 in December during the second
clearing, whether the remains were plant
ed there or if the remains were brought
there to study after the December search.
The University Police will be staying
in contact with the State Patrol through
out the investigation, he said.
Reinhard, who has been accused by
tribal representatives and activists of
studying and storing the remains illegally
in Room 109, would not comment
Tuesday on those accusations.
“I can confirm bones were found in
the room overlooked in previous clear
ances,” Reinhard said.
Under the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990,
remains must be inventoried and returned
to affiliated tribes upon request.
Some say under NAGPRA, the
remains cannot be studied without tribal
permission. The Society for American
Archaeology has disputed that claim.
American Indians who have worked
with the university before this discovery'
in the preparation for the repatriation of
Please see REMAINS on 6
Proposal would lower
leeral alcohol level to .08
u
■ Opponents of the bill
say it is anti-alcohol and
could result in harassment.
By Shane Anthony
Staff writer
No one who spoke at a Transporta
tion Committee hearing Tuesday after
noon denied the existence of problems
with drunken drivers.
But in a IVi-hour debate filled with
statistics and philosophy, proponents of
familiar legislation disagreed about how
to solve the problem.
LB235, sponsored by Lincoln Sen.
LaVon Crosby, would lower the legal
blood alcohol concentration for drivers
from . 10 to .08. Crosby has co-spon
sored or introduced the bill in each of her
11 legislative sessions. Tuesday, detrac
tors urged senators to look for another
solution. Supporters said that the bill’s
time has come.
“This year is different,” Crosby said.
“The tide is turning in favor of .08.”
Crosby said if the legislature passed
.08 legislation, the state would be eligi
ble for SI.2 million to SI.5 million in
federal funds, according to the Nebraska
State Department of Roads.
Sixteen states have enacted similar
measures, she said, and 70 percent of
constituents support the legislation.
Opposition, she said, comes from the
liquor industry and defense attorneys.
One of those attorneys, Clarence
Mock, who said he has served as both a
defense attorney and a prosecutor in dri
ving-while-intoxicated cases, said the
average blood-alcohol level of drivers
involved in fatal crashes in 1997 was .15.
Cracking down on those drivers and pro
viding education would help, he said.
“The passing of the law will not help
solve the problem,” he said. “Leave the
law where it is. Encourage its enforce
ment.”
But Crosby said she has supported
measures to enhance penalties for repeat
offenders, require alcohol treatment and
establish zero-tolerance law's for minors.
Please see ALCOHOL on 6
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