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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 2000)
* ^ jjtj Square Off band makes the big time Iin the Battle of the Bands in L A. A&E, PAGE 9 S? rfSk t J Are the media public enemy No. 1 or have they been given a bad rap? Wednesday, January 26,2000 dailyneb.com Vol 99, Issue 88 opinion, page 5 Death penalty choice delayed ■ Lawmakers don’t have to rush to decide whether to switch to lethal injection. By Jill Zeman Staff writer Lawmakers who feared Nebraska could be left without a legal method of execution could breathe a sigh of relief Monday. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled not to review a Florida case challeng ing the constitutionality of the use of the electric chair for execution. The court dismissed the case because earlier this month the Florida Legislature passed a law that would make lethal injection the legal form of execution, unless die inmate prefers electrocution. Nebraska legislators have been debating LB52, which proposed to change the state’s legal form of exe cution from electrocution to lethal injection. The bill was introduced Jan. 7 by Omaha Sen. Kermit Brashear and had received the support of Gov. Mike Johanns and Attorney General Don Stenberg. Lawmakers may have felt pres sure to pass LB52 because if the Supreme Court would have ruled the electric chair unconstitutional, Nebraska could have been left with out a means of execution. “The Supreme Court’s decision certainly takes a lot of pressure off the governor,” said Sen. Pam Redfield of Omaha. K.eaiieia, wno co-sponsorea me bill, said she didn’t feel the panic that some senators may have experienced, but she was glad the Legislature did n’t have to decide soon. Redfield said she was happy the senators could take their time and evaluate the facts carefully before making a decision. Sen. Dave Landis of Lincoln said the Supreme Court’s decision could allow senators to focus on issues other than lethal injection. “It may not become an issue the Legislature will sacrifice an entire session for,” Landis said. Redfield said she thought the bill probably wouldn’t be voted on until next session, but Landis said he wouldn’t be surprised if die senators voted this year. “I don’t think (the decision) changes any votes,” Landis said. A pre-session survey conducted by The Associated Press revealed that of die 45 senators who responded, 22 said they favored lethal injection as the legal mode of execution, and 13 said they were leaning in that direc tion. Twenty-five votes are needed to advance the measure. The Associated Press con tributed to this report ' 11 L. 1 JAUL-U1... Mike^rren/DN A LINCOLN firefighter shovels ashes out of nhouse, 1440 N, I4tfc St., to keep them from flaring up and to Investigate the fire's cause. Josh Wolfe/DN FLAMES QUICKLY engulfed the house soon after fire trucks arrived. Flames ruin home By Michelle Starr Bryant, 55, who left the home 45 7—7:— - minutes before tiie fire broke out. Fire Inspector Chuck A near-campus house went up Schwete said the fire started at in flames early Tuesday evening. m overstuffed chan Bryant usually A call came in at?31 p.m. after sat in when he smoked. The fire Matt Smithmier, 25, from was caused by an unattended ciga Michigan, noticed black smoke rett®’ Schweitzer said, coming from a house at 1440 N. ,, It took fire inspectors until 14th St., across the street from 11:3°Tuesday mght to determine where he was visiting a friend. No one was hurt in the fire. Because there was so much The house was rented by James , — 7 Please see FIRE on 6 iNnEsB1RdAeS K A ("^lassroom oaches ^ v > : V % » • 'I V ‘ • Hewit programs ensure learning is part of game ByErkRineer Staff writer Ask any coach, academic coun selor or athlete at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln about the pressures student athletes free during college. You’d get a long and involved answer. Nebraska Football Coach Frank Solich, like other coaches at UNL, would tell you one of the keys to a stu dent athlete’s success is the tutoring system at die Hewit Center. Solich said the transition from high school to col lege can be overwhelming for recruits brought into the Husker program. “I think there’s a big adjustment when you come in from high school as a true freshman, playing big-time col lege football, going from high school to college,” Solich said. “There’s a big change in your studies.” Like otter college teams that travel frequently, football players are swamped with schedules that consist of road games, practices and daily studies. Hie system helps student athletes learn better and enables them to adjust to busy schedules. Each freshman athlete is required to participate in study halls Monday through Thursday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Athletes who maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or higher after freshman year are not required to attend study halls. After freshman year, about 25 per cent of athletes utilize the Hewit Please see TUTORS on 8