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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2000)
Thursday December 7,2000 Volume 100 Issue 73 dailyneb.com Since 1901 Dailv Nebraskan Theidentftyof petaluma watson Is revealed /. In Opinion/4 [A Assistant “Soupy” Campbtll DTftot fit for I iuikar hoocn In SportsThursday/12 Homegrown or corporate? Downtown business owners debate the proposed i entertainment megaplex In Arts/8 David Gasen/DN SMOKE ALARM!: Firefighters rest in front of a fire at 3627 S. 17th St on Wednesday night The fire is believed to have started in the basement utility room of the duplex. Haase see story, Page 6. Protests not planned for visit GOP groups say they look forward to seeing the president when he visits the state dt ucunuc mnccw Despite harsh comments last week from a Republican official, GOP representatives now say they're looking forward to the pres ident’s first visit. But at least one group insists it will be on hand to protest Clinton’s stop in Nebraska. Nine days ago, Chuck Sigerson, chair man of the Nebraska Republican Party, said he didn’t want the president to tarnish the state with a visit. He said Nebraska didn’t want to soil its “Clinton-free air, Clinton-free water and Clinton-free land.” Over the past week, though, Sigerson has changed his tune. Republicans honor the president, Sigerson said, even if they disagree with the president’s policies. “We always respect the office of the pres ident,” he said. Sigerson said the state Republican party doesn’t plan to protest Clinton’s visit. And, he said, he hopes the Nebraskans who want to see the president get to. But Sigerson said there might be a hand ful of people demonstrating outside of the presiueni s various stops. "Every president has their followers and detractors,” he said. Phil Weitl, a spokesman for Gov. Mike Johanns, said the governor will be among the Nebraskans who get to see the presi dent. Johanns will briefly meet with Clinton at the Kearney Municipal Airport, and he also will listen to Clinton’s address at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Weitl said the governor believes the president's visit is an honor for Nebraska. And, he said, even though Johanns, a Republican, sometimes disagrees with Clinton, he wants to talk to the president. “Politics aside, the governor is looking forward to seeing him,” Weitl said. Bill Protexter, chief of staff for Omaha Mayor Hal Daub, said the mayor is also happy to see the president stopping in to visit the state. In fact, Protexter said, the Republican mayor will be Clinton’s official greeter in Omaha. That means Daub will be able to talk pri vately with Clinton for a minute or so before he moves to an Omaha fund-raiser, he said. “We always respect the office of the president Chuck Sigerson chairman, Nebraska Republican Party Similar to Johanns, Protexter said, the mayor may disagree with the president on - some policy issues but, he said, the mayor is excited to have a president dropping in to visit the state. As far as protests or demonstrations go, Protexter said the mayor did not anticipate too much ruckus. “There might be a few people expressing their free speech rights,” Protexter said. At least one person, Fred Phelps, a Baptist fundamentalist, has said he will be protesting during the president’s visit. Phelps campaigns across the country preaching about what he says are the evils of homosexuality. On his Web site, Phelps criticizes Clinton for being pro-gay and promises he will be on hand when the president arrives in Kearney. NU Regents could count student vote BY JILL ZEMAN Students sitting on the NU Board of Regents may not have a countable vote, but some stu dent regents say their voices don’t go unheard. The University of Nebraska Board of Regents consists of eight elected members and four student representatives - one from each of NU’s four campus es. The eight members are the university’s governing body, and the four student regents express student opinion to assist the board in its decision-making. Student regents now vote on issues, but their votes count as student opinion and don’t factor into the overall vote tally. A state constitutional amendment would be neces sary to give student regents full voting'privileges. The amendment must be passed by the Legislature, then placed on the ballot and approved by the citizens of Nebraska. Vince Cogley, UNL sopho more history major and mem ber of ASUN's Government Liaison Committee, said he plans to address the issue next semester. Cogley said he’ll research the issue, introduce legislation to the Government Liaison Committee, and if that’s passed, present the information to ASUN. If ASUN passes a directive, Cogley said he planned to lobby to the Legislature’s education committee. Cogley said he’s interested in the issue because he thought it would give students a voice on issues that affect them. It also would stimulate interest in student government, which Cogley said, is needed. “I think this is the single biggest step to giving legitimacy to student government,” he said. “Student regents are taken seriously now; and having a vote would only enhance that." Joel Schafer ASUN president, student regent University of Nebraska at Kearney Student Regent Ryan Samuelson and University of Nebraska Medical Center Student Regent Allison Cushman-Vokoun couldn't be reached . for comment Wednesday. University of Nebraska Lincoln student regent and ASUN President Joel Schafer said if student regents’ votes counted, they would be taken more seriously on the board. But Schafer said he still felt as though his voice mattered on the board. For example, when the regents discussed raising tuition in July, Schafer said he called Regent Charles Wilson of Lincoln at home and talked to him for an hour and a half. “I thought my concerns were taken very, very seriously,” Schafer said. "Student regents are taken seriously now, and having a vote would only enhance that.” Student regents are given access to the same information as the other regents, Schafer said. The only real difference is the power of the vote, he said. “We’re in the loop,” Schafer said. “It’s not like giving us a vote would put us in the loop." Schafer said if student regents were given a vote, the student population would take ASUN elections more seriously. Please see STUDENT on 6 Minority groups gear up for center BY VERONICA DAEHN Minority student organiza tions at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln may have a new home in the future. And it’s about time, many of them say. Plans to build a new Culture Center next to the Nebraska Union started last week when Interim Chancellor Harvey Perlman approved an Academic Planning Committee recom mendation to construct a three story, 30,000-square-foot build ing. The new center would replace the current Culture Center, located at 333 N. 141*1 St., which some students have called dilapidated and in need of repair. Cameya Ramirez, president of the Mexican American Student Association, said there were a number of reasons why the new building was needed. “It’d be a great opportunity to be next to the union," Ramirez said. Ramirez said now she spends a lot of time running back and forth between the cen ter and the Nebraska Union. All of the paperwork and reservations for the Culture Center are done in the union, she said. The Culture Center also would be open longer if it were part of the union. It now closes at 9 p.m. And it’s not just a conven ience issue, Ramirez said. There are problems with the current building, too. Because of the lack of heat in the winter, MASA doesn’t even use its second-floor office space. And because the Culture Center isn't open in the sum mer, MASA doesn’t have an office then, either, she said. Sometimes there isn’t enough room in the current center for activities, so they have to be held in the union, she said. It would be nice for the organization to have its own space, Ramirez said. That way, it wouldn’t be competing with other organizations. Curtis Biggs, president of the International Student Please see CENTER on 5 Clinton sightings may be rare BY BRIAN CARLSON The best bet for students wish ing to catch a glimpse of President Clinton during his visit to Nebraska tomorrow may be at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue. The White House released Clinton’s complete itinerary on Wednesday. The highlights of his trip will be a major foreign policy address at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, a tour of the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, a public appearance at Offutt Air Force Base and a pri vate fund-raiser for the Nebraska Democratic Party. Clinton will arrive at Kearney Municipal Airport at 8:25 a.m. in a plane designated as Air Force One. He will then take a motorcade to UNK. At 9 a.m., he will address a crowd of about 6,500 at the University of Nebraska at Kearney Health and Sports Center, 2501 15th Ave. The title of the foreign policy address will be “A Foreign Policy for the Global Age.” UNK students and faculty have the first crack at tickets, which they are expected to pick up today. Because of the crowd, the White House expects few open spaces would be available to the public. At 10:45 a.m., Clinton will take part in a plaque unveiling at the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, which is two miles east of Kearney on Interstate 80. Then he will tour the monument. This appearance is closed to the public. At 11:40 a.m., Clinton will return to Kearney Municipal Airport, reboard Air Force One and fly to Offutt Air Force base in Bellevue. He will arrive there at 12:40 p.m. At Offutt, Clinton will make a public address, so this may be the only opportunity for the public to see him in person. The gates to the base open at 11 a.m., and no advance tickets are required. The public should arrive no later than noon, according to a White House press release. Sen. elect Ben Nelson will attend this event. At 2 p.m., Clinton will attend a private fund-raiser for the Nebraska Democratic Party at the home of Omaha businessman Vinod Gupta. At 3:30 p.m., Clinton will return to Offutt in a motorcade. He will fly on Air Force One back to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Clinton, the 42nc* President of the United States, will leave office Jan. 20. This will be his first trip as president to Nebraska, the only remaining state he has not visited during his two terms. Presidential Itinerary, Friday e president arrives at the Kearney Municipal Airport i Air Force One and departs via motorcade to the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The president addresses the audience at UNK’s Health and Sports Center, 2501 15th Ave. Open to those with tickets only The president participates in a plaque unveiling at the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument. Closed to the public The president arrives at the Kearney Municipal Airport via motorcade and departs via Air Force One to Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue. The president arrives at Offutt Air Force Base 1 One and addresses the Omaha and Offutt communities on the Tarmac. Open to the public : The president gives remarks at a Nebraska Democratic Party event at a private Omaha residence. The president arrives at Offutt Air Force Base via cade and departs via Air Force One to Andrews Air Force Base in ‘ * ~ Melanie Falk/DN