Alumni return to UNLfor Homecoming EVENTS from page 1 plays, which will be posted on the site. The winner will receive the “Homecoming Herbie Alumni Choice’’ award. So where do the students stand in all of this? Homecoming events have traditionally high participation from fraternities and sororities and low off-campus student involvement, said Kevin Naujokaitis, Homecoming royalty coordinator. Outside student organization members, fraternities and sorori ties, several students seem apa thetic about the week, Naujokaitis said. "A lot of groups feel left out,” he said. But Homecoming coordina tors have been woridng hard to attract a greater variety of stu dents to the events. Events such as comedian David Spade’s scheduled|)er formance should draw in more than just members of greek hous es, he said. Griesen said UNL traditions have been gaining steam in the past years. But comparing UNL to a tra dition-rich school such as Texas A&M in College Station is another story, he said. The Aggies have strong tradi tions, and students work year round to preserve them, he said. "The difference between us and A&M is that our events don’t draw the crowds theirs do,” Griesensaid. That can be attributed to A&M’s strong military traditions, he said. Griesen also said he noticed the strong participation of frater nities and sororities in UNL's Homecoming events. Part of this is because people who join greek houses are looking for a strong bond and are more willing to participate in Homecoming events, he said. Increased Homecoming par ticipation can be fostered through the development of freshman learning communities, the Honors Program and sports pro grams. “We work in lots of different ways to bring a community on campus, and that can’t be done in just one week," Griesen said. Targeting incoming freshmen is another way to make Homecoming activities grow, he said. “I find that students are inter ested in the history of UNL and maintaining its traditions,” he said. Reporter hurt in Mideast WEDEMAN from page 1 only reckless, but crazy,” Ben Wedeman said. “Somebody has to go report on this ... I don’t regret what I did. I was doing my job.” UNL Journalism Professor George Tuck said journalists are a naturally curious breed who are tasked with finding out what’s going on. “If people are shooting, you ' want to know why they are shooting. If people are dying, you want to know why people are dying," I\ick said, “though most of us don’t get into situa tions where we are being shot at" It is likely that international journalists will have to cover conflicts such as this if they stay in the field, 7\ick said. Andrew Wedeman said even though he worries about the dangers of his brother’s job, he knows Ben is “not reckless and foolhardy." “You know it’s dangerous, but it is what he wants to do," Andrew Wedeman said. The members of the Wedeman family developed their international interests while growing up in different parts of the world. The brothers' father worked for the U.S. State Department's Agency for International Development. His work brought the family to many dif ferent countries. Andrew Wedeman, whose expertise is in East Asia, said he and his two brothers and one sister developed interests in dif ferent parts of the worid based on where they lived when they came of age. “It has more to do with where we were living when we got interested in life,” said Andrew Wedeman, who devel oped his interest in East Asia while his family lived in Korea. He said his other brother is in Moscow on a business trip right now, and his sister is a business consultant in Philadelphia. Wedeman's par ents are retired in Arlington, Virginia. Andrew Wedeman said that even with the injury, he proba bly won’t see his brother soon, though the two exchange e mail regularly. “I see him on TV more than anything else," Andrew Wedeman said. The Associated Press con tributed to this report Please Recycle this Newspaper Hiker, biker trails to be linked BRIDGE from page! Omaha together, he said. "Eventually, kids from Omaha will be able to ride their bikes home if theywant to” he said. As Greathouse and Rodenburg struggle to raise money, businesses along the trail are excited by its potential to bring in additional income. Jeff Harr, manager of Walton Trail Company, a bike shop just off the MoPac trail in Walton, said enthusiastic cyclists from all over the Midwest will come to ride the trail. More riders means more business, he said. But Harr said he is looking forward to much more than money. The trail will give families a chance to see wildlife, beautiful landscapes and exercise, he said. “It's going to be a terrific thing,” he said. Mopac\ Connection Platte C River Connection USHWY34 Royalty elections today FROM STAFF REPORTS Homecoming is in full swing, and students still have time to get inonthefim. Homecoming royalty elec tions are today. Students can vote for king and queen at the Nebraska Union, Nebraska East Union and Campus Recreation Center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The NU Alumni Association will provide pizza tonight to stu dents working on lawn displays during its annual Pizza Pass. Comedian David Spade will make his appearance at the Devaney Sports Center Thursday night at “Tailgate D: Party on the Paint.” The event begins at 7:30 p.m. The “Come On Home" recep tion and pep rally will start at 4:30 p.m. on Friday at the Wick Alumni Center. The all-university Homecoming dance at the State Fair Park Grandstand will start at 9:30 p.m. and go until 1 a.m. The dance features the band Bossphilly. Tickets are $4 in advance and $5 at the door. Advance tickets are available at a booth in the Nebraska Union and at the ASUN office. The week wraps up with a tailgate party before the football game at the Nebraska Union Plaza beginning at 12:30 p.m. Winners of the competitions and Homecoming royalty will be announced during half time of the Nebraska-Kansas game, which begins at 2:30 p.m. A* your HuMpbomt lor our oomploloiy NEW ootocMon of holr com. Now wolUMi —dmfrofr at r « Sir sS ST 3T JLMrTO-ELL. tmi T*ui ptoftteMMMt,