dn the
dailynebraskan.com
wednesday, april 24, 2013 volume 112, issue 144
Inside Coverage
Green ales & glam Brewing duo wows at contests with green tea ale
Poise and power
The Nebraska women’s gymanstics team finished its season a couple weeks ago, but three individual competitors participated individually in the national meet this weekend. Two of those gymnasts received All-American accolades to finish up the year in Husker gymnastics.
ASUN welcomes younger members
5 Senior selfishness Damien Croghan explains why self-care is key to success
Conor Dunn DN
4 Nebraska takes on Kansas State Husker baseball hosts the Wildcats Wednesday night
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relax photos by andrew barry
Time spent in Los Angeles UNL alumnus braves trials of stand-up world
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ABOVE: Sophomore business management major Brad Merrit receives a free massage from Becky Ohlson, a licensed massage therapist for UNL Campus Recreation, at the “Stress Free Zone” in the Nebraska East Union.
EPA speaks out on Keystone XL DANIEL WHEATON DN
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The Environmental Protection Agency waited until Earth Day to submit its opinion on TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline. The agency found the environmental review conducted by the U.S. Department of State on the proposed pipeline route to be “insufficient.” The review raised questions about greenhouse gas emissions, the dangers of a spill and possible damage to the Ogallala Aquifer. The criticisms are aimed at the latest environmental review of the pipeline project, which was released on March 1. The state department will publish a final review in a few months. The pipeline, if constructed, would carry 830,000 barrels of tar sands oil from the Alberta tar sands to the Texas gulf coast. Activists in Nebraska have been concerned about possible harm to the ecologically sensitive Sandhills and how a spill could damage the state’s water
Brigham McCown, a federal supply. Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman approved Keystone XL’s new transportation and pipeline expert and first full-time deputy adminisroute in early January. trator of the Pipeline and HazardIn the letter, Cynthia Giles, assisous Materials Safety Administratant EPA administrator for enforcetion, said “pipelines are 99.9999952 ment and compliance assurance, arpercent effective,” during the only gued that some of the assumptions public hearing on the current route, made in the state department’s rewhich was held last week. port weren’t sound. TransCanada reiterates the “We recommend that the final route was chosen because it was EIS (Environmental Impact Stateshorter, more cost-effective and ment) more clearly acknowledge that in the event of a spill to wa- avoids sensitive ecological regions. “The goal ter, it is possible that in pipeline conlarge portions of dilThere’s struction is to bit (diluted bitumen) no such disturb the least will sink and that amount of land,” submerged oil signif- thing as a perfect said TransCanicantly changes spill ada spokesman response and im- route.” Shawn Howard. pacts,” Giles wrote. “There’s no such The letter also Shawn Howard transcanada spokesman thing as a perfect raised concerns on route.” the risk of a spill. Howard sent Citing the 2010 oil out a statement Tuesday afternoon spill in Michigan, the EPA said the crude oil mixed with sediment in responding to the EPA’s claims. He Kalamazoo River caused risks to wrote that TransCanada’s technical experts will “continue a detailed republic health. Responding to the letter, State view of the EPA letter and provide a fact-based response.” Department spokesman Patrick The letter questioned the EPA’s Ventrell said in a statement the motives and stood by the state deagency “has always anticipated that in preparing a (final environmental partment’s findings. The EPA’s complaints bolster opreview) it would conduct additional position to the pipeline. On Monday, analysis and incorporate public comBOLD Nebraska sent a 67-page letter ments on the draft review.”
After applying to be a representative of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska and facing rejection four times last semester, Will Duden is the one in charge of appointing people to student government. A sophomore business administration major from Connecticut, Duden is ASUN’s newly named Appointments Board secretary. Before this year’s senate elected him to the position, he was a senator during the spring semester. As Appointments Board secretary, Duden is responsible for leading a three-member committee that appoints nearly 200 students each year to serve on the committees, advisory boards and commissions that serve the Uni-
asun: see page 2
Sheldon to show graduate student artwork kayla Schultz dn
RIGHT: Lydia Molnar, a sophomore food technology for companion animals major, decorates a cookie at a free stress-relieving event sponsored by the University Health Center, Campus Recreation and Lincoln Pet Partners. In addition to cookie decorating, participants could pet dogs, get a massage or make crafts.
Agency raises concerns over spill dangers, damage to Ogallala Aquifer
@dailyneb
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to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry. “There are five key areas we believe need further review by the State Department: impact of spills on our water, the route, economic risks to landowners and rural towns, landowner property rights and safety,” said Jane Kleeb, BOLD’s executive director. “While the document we submitted is long, we hope it helps outline our concerns about protecting our land and water.” According to BOLD’s website, 13,004 public comments from Nebraskans were submitted to the State Department. Nationwide, more than 1 million comments have been submitted. Proponents have been on the warpath as well. Nebraskans for Jobs and Energy Independence has gathered 4,000 signatures supporting construction of the project. Ultimately, the decision on the pipeline rests in Obama’s hands. The State Department will consider all of the public comments for and against the pipeline and do additional reviews as it prepares its final report. According to estimates from the State Department, a decision on the pipeline is expected sometime in the fall. NEWS@ DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
The Sheldon Museum of Art’s Young Art Circle wants to showcase artwork fashioned by University of NebraskaLincoln fine arts graduate students. This Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m., an exhibition and reception in Richards Hall will offer a one-day-only opportunity to meet the artists. Graduate students picked their best pieces to display for the “Buy it Before They’re Famous” event. Young Art Circle members receive free admission and there is a $10 entry fee for nonmembers. “I think $5 to $7 would be a reasonable price (if free was not an option),” said UNL freshman geology major Anna Nygren, “but if I had friends going or I knew someone showing their art, I’d definitely go.” Nygren said her favorite type of art is Renaissance-era because it is a window to that time period — how society worked then and how people envisioned aspects of life. UNL freshman biology major Hannah Reed said she likes modern art. “I like how real it is,” she said. “The textures of it are very real.” Many types of art will be on display at the exhibition this Thursday in Richards Hall. To RSVP, contact Jennifer Cantrell at jcantrell2@unl.edu or 402-472-1454. news@ dailynebraskan.com
if you go what: Buy It Before They’re Famous when: Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m. where: Richards Hall cost: Free for Young Art Circle members, $10 for non-members contact: Jennifer Cantrell, 402-472-1454