Monday
February 5,2001
Volume 100
Issue 97
dailyneb.com
Since 1901
Daily Nebraskan
In Opinion/4
The Husker track team
found the new indoor
track to its liking this
weekend
In SportsMonday/8
The Montana Repertory
Theater performs The
Diary of Anne Frank at the
Lied Center.
In Arts/6
Rights
maybe
solidified
■Though already in the form of
a constitutional amendment, a
bill was introduced that would
guarantee victim's rights.
BY JU. CONNER _
Although Gus Lamm’s wife,
Victoria Lamm and her friend,
Janet Mesner, were murdered in
1980, he still fights for the killer's
life.
"Abraham Lincoln once said,
‘You haven't changed a man’s
mind simply because you’ve
silenced him’,’’ Gus Lamm said.
In January 1999, the Nebraska
Pardons Board, consisting of Gov.
Mike Johanns, Attorney General
Don Stenberg and then-Secretary
of the State Scott Moore, voted to
deny a commutation hearing for
Reeves, which would have
allowed the Lamms to argue
against Reeves’ death sentence.
Nebraska’s constitution states
that crime victims, including a
victim’s family members, have
the right to address proceedings
dealing with the sentencing or
release of the criminal.
The Lamms then filed a suit
stating they were denied these
rights.
But victim's rights-now in the
form of a constitutional amend
ment - aren’t enforceable
because the Legislature hasn’t
passed a bill to guarantee these
rights.
Assistant Attorney General
Kirk Brown said last December
the Lamms could not use the vic
tims protection amendment
because it is a "totally unenforce
able constitutional right”
But now, victims' rights could
be guaranteed if a bill in the
Legislature passes. ' ^
LB847, introduced by Sen.
Kermit Brasheai of Omaha,
would ensure victims their full
rights.
Brashear would not com
ment about the bill Sunday.
Gus Lamm said he was
denied this right in January 1999
when he and his daughter,
Audrey, asked the Nebraska
Board of Pardons, for the right to
express their opposition to
impose the death penalty on
Reeves.
In defense, Johanns said the
case had already been given its
dues time in court.
"Its hard to imagine a case
being granted more due process
than this,” Johanns said during
die 1999 meeting.
At the same hearing, Stenberg
also read a letter written to the
Lincoln Journal Star by one of
Vicki Lamm’s sisters in support of
the death penalty.
Gary Lacey, Lancaster County
Attorney who originally prose
cuted the case, could not be
reached for comment Friday.
A situation like the Lamms’
would be avoided with the pas
sage of LB847.
The bill ensures victims the
right to examine information on
public record and receive notice
of time and place of any sched
uled court proceedings.
It also guarantees victims
financial assistance and other
social services available, protec
tion from harm and threats of
harm.
It permits them to be present
throughout the entire trial of the
defendant and the right to make
an oral or written statement at the
sentencing proceeding.
Renny Cushing, executive
.director of Murder Victim’s
Families for Reconciliation, a
Massachusetts-based group for
families who oppose die death
penalty, said the Lamms were not
given die right to speak at Reeves’
re-sentencing because of their
anti-death penalty views.
“We find routinely that the
law gets interpreted in a manner
that if you oppose the position of
the prosecutor, then the state no
Please see VICTIM on 3
Cell phones, driving don't mix, senator says
BY GEORGE GREEN
Sen. Dave Landis of Lincoln wants to
zip the lips of some Nebraskans.
The Judiciary Committee heard testi
mony Friday on Landis’ bill that would
stick the blame for automobile accidents
on cell phone users who were chatting
when the crashes occurred.
LB42 would modify state law to pre
sume that the holder of the phone was
responsible for the wreck.
But the presumption will also allow
cell phone users the chance to prove in
court that the phone played no part in the
crash.
Landis said he introduced the bill to
address a serious health threat to
Nebraskans.
“Cell phones increase risks on the
highways,” he said.
Landis equated his bill to cigarette
companies having to paste warning
labels on their products.
In both cases, he said, consumers
deserve to know that their behavior hurts
their health.
By dialing and chatting on the road,
he said, Nebraskans increase the likeli
hood of wreck by 400 percent.
Joe Schuele, a spokesman for Alltel,
Nebraska’s largest wireless provider,
acknowledged that cell phones shouldn’t
be used irresponsibly.
But, he said, singling out cell phones
from the myriad of other distractions
drivers endure is not fair.
Combing hair, talking to passengers
and deciphering new navigational sys
tems distract drivers just as much as the
ring of a cell phone, Schuele said.
“This is anecdotal, specialized legisla
tion,” he said.
Frank Nowak, an Omaha resident,
said the bill focuses on cell phones
because they divert the attention of driv
ers more than the other distractions.
"Your mind is completely diverted,"
he said.
Steve Lathrop, a spokesman for the
Nebraska Bar Association, said he didn’t
have a beef with Landis’ cell phone
claims.
Please see CELL on 3
Eddy Cunagin, a Lincoln resident looks at cell phones at the Cellular One kiosk at Gateway Mall Sunday.
Cunagin said he does not have a cell phone but supports any bill that would keep people from driving while
talking on one.
Josh Wolfe/DH
GAZING AWAY: Freshman Bethany Theer looks at the planet Mercury on Friday night at the UNL student observatory.The event, which included glimpses
of Venus and Jupiter, was open to the public See page 3 for story.
Math talents
bring women
to conference
■ More than 93 undergraduates from all around
the world gathered at the third annual event
held on the university campus.
BY SHARON KOLBET
Friday afternoon 93 undergraduate women
gathered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoin to
crunch some numbers and to break some stereo
types.
They traveled from local and international
locations to attend the third annual Nebraska
Conference for Undergraduate Women in
Mathematics held in Lincoln this weekend.
Judy Walker, a UNL math professor and chair
woman of the organizing committee for the con
ference, gave the opening remarks.
“Look around you," Walker said to the confer
ence participants gathered in Burnett auditorium.
“The people in this room will be your colleagues
for life. Take time to make some friends.”
With 52 schools represented at the conference,
Walker said the weekend was designed to encour
age women’s scholarship in mathematics.
Julie Berg, a University of Nebraska-Lincoin
mathematics graduate student, said the confer
ence was a wonderful opportunity for women to
meet other researchers.
“There aren t too many conferences for women
in mathematics,” Berg said.
The impetus for the annual conference came
in 1998 after the UNL math department won the
Presidential Award of Excellence for its success
with women graduates. Walker said the depart
ment used money from this award to start the first
women’s undergraduate conference.
The 1999 inaugural conference had nearly 50
participants. The next year saw nearly 70. Walker
said this year’s program included 93 undergradu
ates, including those who traveled from as far
away as Puerto Rico and Ireland to attend the
event.
"I am proud to be associated with this depart
ment,” said Richard Hoffman, dean of the College
of Arts and Sciences, when speaking at the confer
ence’s opening event.
Nationally, about 25 percent of post-doctorate
mathematics degrees are held by women, Walker
said, but at UNL, the percentage of women doctor
al candidates is much higher.
“Forty percent of the PhDs awarded by UNL’s
Math department have gone to women,” Hoffman
said. “The climate in this department must be
extraordinary.”
ASUN raises curtains, unveils four parties ready for battle
BYJILLZEMAN
Whether it's folding table tents or
defending party platforms in debates,
students running for office in the ASUN
elections have their campaigns in full
swing.
Four parties have officially
announced their candidacy and will
run for office.
No Bull, Score!, NU Force and The
One Party will vie to get their candi
dates elected in the March 1
Association of Students of the
University of Nebraska election.
No Bull is represented by
Presidential candidate Andy Mixan,
First Vice-Presidential candidate Bill
Westering - and Second Vice
Presidential candidate Alisa Hardy.
No Bull’s platform, as stated in its
official party announcement last week,
is to replace student Bigred e-mail
accounts, change the Dead Week policy
and create a student advocate program
for students who are accused of violat
ing the student code of conduct.
Members of the Score! party said
they intend to repair ASUN’s negative
reputation with students.
The party is represented by
Presidential candidate Nathan Fuerst
First Vice-Presidential candidate
Jessica Lopez and Second Vice
Presidential candidate Nick Fitch.
The group will focus on maintain
ing tuition rates for current UNL stu
dents as well as implementing a bool
exchange program in the ASUN offices
NU Force, whose members aim tc
diversify ASUN, is represented
Presidential candidate Angeh
Clements, First Vice-Presidential can
didate Erick Kinyungu and Seconc
Vice-Presidential candidate Rowena Y
Pacquette.
The group wants to increase upper
, classmen scholarships and financial
: aid, especially for minorities and inter
national students.
The One Party, led by Presidential
candidate Jaron Luttich, will announce
its candidacy and platform today.
: Two more students also plan to run
for president independently but have
• yet to make platfrom announcements.
r The four groups of official ASUN
i candidates will face off at 6 p.m.
Tuesday in a public debate sponsored
t by the Daily Nebraskan.
The debate will take place in the
Nebraska Union, 1400 R Street. The
room will be announced.
