0 Thn RAinhirtnn llniltr Atnrlrtne rlntr CtAkrirarir 47 IOOCI z - i ne iviurigan Laily - vYeunesuay, reuruary i.t , NO NR NATIN oRLDr ermnany to co-mpensate wovr kes The Washington Post BERLIN - The German government announced yesterday that 12 of the country's largest banks and businesses will contribute money to a new fund designed to compensate hundreds of thousands of workers, mainly from Eastern Europe, who were enslaved by the Nazis during World War II. The formal pledge to establish the fund, which is expected to be worth at least $2 billion and possibly ,rmuch more, follows months of intensive talks to head off a flurry of lawsuits that threatened to inflict serious economic damage on Germany's largest corporations and disrupt their expansion plans in the United States. 'Many of the corporations feared that unless some kind of compensation fund was established, they could face the kind of international business boycott that threatened Switzerland's two largest banks last year until they reached a $1.25 billion settlement signed in January. Deutsche Bank chair Rolf Breuer, who has been a rallying force in setting up the fund, started pushing the idea when he realized that a proposed $10 billion purchase of Bankers Trust in the United States could be derailed unless some kind of deal was achieved. Breuer called yesterday's commitment a "mile- stone" in settling the slave labor dispute. But he warned that "there are still a lot of details to sort out" notably the total value of the fund and how the contri- butions will be shared among the donor companies. In addition to Deutsche Bank, the companies that plan to take part in the fund include some of the biggest names in German banking and industry. They are the automakers Volkswagen, BMW and Daimler- Chrysler; chemical and pharmaceutical companies Bayer, Hoechst, and BASF; Dresdner bank; industrial firms Degussa-Huels, Friedrich Krupp and Siemens; and the Allianz insurance company. At a news conference, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder acknowledged that the purpose of the fund was to counter the risk of class-action lawsuits "and to remove the basis of the campaign being led against German industry and our country." He praised the firms that signed up to provide the financing and said the initiative "shows that German business can deal responsibly with its his- tory." Since taking office in October, Schroeder has tried to accelerate a resolution of the slave labor controversy. While Bonn has paid out more than $60 billion in reparations since the war to Jews and other victims of Nazi crimes, it excluded slave workers because they were technically "employed" by private companies, such as Siemens or Volkswagen. AROUND THE NATION Peace keeping forces out of Bosnia WASHINGTON -Tacitly acknowledging that the Clinton administration blun- dered by setting a deadline that it could not keep for getting Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said yesterday that if U.S. troops are sent to Kosovo, another Balkan hot spot, the commitment will be open-ended. "We really learned a lesson, I think, in Bosnia that setting an artificial deadi* doesn't work," Albright said. Three years after a peace agreement was reached, U; . troops remain in Bosnia-Herzegovina. But the administration faces opposition on Capitol Hill to an open-ended com- mitment of troops. A spokesperson for newly elected House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) said the House may vote soon on a nonbinding resolution on the wisdom of sending troops to Kosovo. Albright insisted yesterday that NATO peacekeepers must be part of any agree- ment to end the ethnic violence in Kosovo, a separatist province of Serbia that is predominantly ethnic Albanian. She warned that unless Serbia withdraws its oppo- sition to the NATO deployment, it will face a bombing campaign by the United States and its allies. Albright's remarks escalated a war of nerves with Yugoslav President Slotxxd Milosevic, spelling out Washington's bottom-line positions for the Kosovo peaE talks now in their second week at a chateau near Paris. etsI~ Vsrs.ty com Free Lecture Notes on the Internet -j ASL Continued from Page 1 officials told Friedrichs that Linguistics was the wrong department to host the program, later reporting the American culture department would develop the program. ASL, Faller told Friedrichs in 1997, would be part of a four-term curricu- lum that could be used to fulfill LSA's language requirement. "We were ecstatic, thinking our work and pressure had finally paid off," Friedrichs said. During the next year, Arfa worked with University officials to integrate the course into the curriculum, but, she said, the class did not develop. "It's been a problem of bureaucracy more than anything," said Rory Diamond, an LSA representative in MSA. Diamond said he is working with an MSA committee in an attempt to push the administration to introduce a four-semester course. Last month, Owen informed Arfa, Friedrichs and others interested in taking the class that it would not be part of the American culture depart- ment. Instead, Owen said, a pilot course would be hosted by the linguistics department this fall. "It's a good start I guess but ... we need to have a full program," Diamond said. Linda Eggert, an American culture department administrative associate, said resource issues prevented her department from hosting the new pro- gram. "We don't have the faculty to pur- sue this venture, and it is a new one," Eggert said, adding that funding was BUDGET Continued from Page 1 Sen. Walter North (R-St. Ignace), chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Corrections, said he understands the arguments against prison spending, but he said unfortu- nately prisons are in need of the money. "I think Sen. Schwarz's point is well taken," North said. But "the cost of incarceration is not cheap." Department of Management and Budget spokesperson Kelly Chesney said state colleges and universities comprise only a small portion of total educational spending. Of the entire budget, $13 billion goes toward education, and $1.56 bil- lion goes toward corrections," Chesney said. also a factor. But Friedrichs said LSA guaran- teed money for ASL which could be used for faculty funding. Friedrichs said Eggert told him the American culture faculty did not see ASL playing a role in the future of their department. "Certainly a major obstacle has been finding an academic home for ASL," Owen said. The person hired for this fall's pilot class will likely have an adjunct appointment in linguistics, Owen said, adding that it is difficult to develop a program that has no history at the University. "We cannot acquire expertise until we hire someone knowledgeable in ASL," Owen said. Diamond said ASL should be part of modern languages because "it is a language." Arfa, whose hearing impairment did not prevent her from attending regular public school in Chicago, is frustrated because the four-semester class has not been introduced after three years of campaigning. Arfa does not use sign language but can read lips to communicate. "There is no place at the University where students can learn about dis- abilities," Arfa said. Owen said he understands why Arfa and others may be upset with the delays of ASL's introduction into LSA's curriculum. LSA Dean Patricia Gurin "and I, as well as a number of others, have been working on this issue and have kept students informed about our progress," Owen said. Owen added that he believes the pilot ASL class "will turn into some- thing more permanent." "You can see that education is see- ing the lion's share of the budget," she said. If the budget recommendation were to stay as proposed, the University would receive at most a 3 percent fund- ing increase from the current fiscal year. In December, the University Board of Regents submitted a request for 5 percent more funding. Although Engler's proposed bud- get falls 2 percent short of the regents' request, Chesney said the needs of the University were con-' sidered when drafting the budget recommendation. "We looked at the University," Chesney said, "and we believe that the University of Michigan has received a fair increase. It's above the rate of infla- tion." LIKE TO WRITE? JON THE DAILY. CALL 76-DAILY OR STOP BY 0 MYNARD ST. Army proposes to recruit dropouts WASHINGTON - Army Secretary Louis Caldera argued yesterday that the Defense Department should allow the Army to recruit more high school dropouts with equivalence diplomas to help make up a projected shortfall of up to 10,000 soldiers this year. Caldera's idea, which would require a change in standards adopted five years ago, reflects growing alarm with- in the Army, Navy and Air Force that they are failing to attract enough recruits and that the shortage will get worse if the trend is not reversed. "Frankly, right now we have rules that don't make sense," he said. The rules have "put us in a box that really hurts. Everyday we turn away people who want to join." Like the Air Force and Navy, the Army is facing the worst peacetime recruiting shortfall in its history. Of the major services, only the Marines have attracted a sufficient number of recruits in recent years. "The Army is an institution that should not write off young people in America who need a second chanee" Caldera added at a breakfast with defense reporters. Texas men on tria for dragging death: JASPER, Texas - Sheriff Wi y Rowles was the first witness as alldged white supremacist John William King went on trial yesterday on murder charges in the gruesome death of James Byrd Jr. Byrd, was chained to the back of a pick- up truck June 7 and dragged for tiee miles as his body was ripped to pieces King, an unemployed laborer, is 0 first of three white men charged inthe crime to stand trial. He could get the death penalty. Prosecutor Guy James Gray said that King's tattoos and writings in his apart- ment show King was an angry racist who wanted to form a hate group and "needed to do something dramatic in order to gain in their warped world respect for his newly formed gang." AROUND THE WORLD Politicians approve new plan for Ireland BELFAST, Northern Ireland - Northern Ireland's politicians approved yesterday the blueprint for a new Protestant-Catholic government, a his- toric vote that still leaves a formidable hurdle to making the setup work: the IRA's refusal to start disarming. Ten months after striking their his- toric peace accord, legislators in the Belfast Assembly voted 77-29 in favor of plans to create a 12-member admin- istration for Northern Ireland. The verdict followed months of painstaking negotiations and two days of often bruising debate. As expected, all 40 Catholics and eight "neutral" politicians present voted in favor of the blueprint, which outlines plans for the transfer of some powers from the British govern- ment. More significantly and against expectations, Protestant leader David Trimble, the new government's desig- nated head, kept the support of exactly half the Assembly's 58 pro-Britigh, Protestant members. Trimble had appeared likely to lose a majority of the Protestant votes, a w6r- rying sign for those trying to make@0 deal work. Two members of Trimble's Ulster Unionist Party had vowed to defy their leader, but one changed his mind at the last moment. Arrest of rebel prompts protest ANKARA, Turkey - A Kura rebel leader was arrested after wagi;. 14-year guerrilla war for autoomy from Turkey, setting off massive protests yesterday as enraged Kurds seized embassies and held hostages across Europe. With the capture of Abdullah Ocalan, Turkish officials claimed a crushing vic- tory over his rebel movement and hoped for an end to the long conflict that has claimed 37,000 lives and strained iela- tions with neighboring countries. - Compiledfivm Daily wire reports. I The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail ar $85. Winter term (January through April) is $95, yearlong (September through April) is $165. On-campus sub- scriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of the Associated Press and the Associated Collegiate Press. ADDRESS: The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1327. PHONE NUMBERS (All area code 734): News 76-DAILY; Arts 763-0379; Sports 647-3336; Opinion 764-0552 Circulation 764-0558; Classified advertising 764-0557; Display advertising 764-0554; Billing 764-0550. E-mail letters to the editor to daily.letters@umich.edu. World Wide Web: http://www.michigandaily.com. NEWS Jennifer Yachnin, Managing Editor EDITORS: Nikita Easley, Erin Holmes, Katie Plona, Mike Spahn. STAFF: Janet Adamy, Melissa Andrzejak, Marta Brill, Nick Bunkley, Kam Chopra, Adam Brian Cohen, Gerard Cohen-Vrignaud, Nick Falzdhe, Lauren Gibbs, Jewel Gopwani, Michael Grass, Maria Hackett, Jody Simone Kay, Yael Kohen, Sarah Lewis, Chris Metinko, Kelly O'Connor., Asma Rafeeq, Nika Schulte, Emina Sendijarevic, Jason Stoffer, Avram S. Turkel, Jamle Winkler, Adam Zuwerink. CALENDAR: Jewel Gopwani, Adam Zuwerink. EDITORIAL Jeffrey Kosseff, David Wallace, Editors ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Emily Achenbaum STAFF: Chip Cullen, Ryan DePietro, Jason Fink, Seth Fisher, Lea Frost, Scott Hunter, Thomas Kuljurgis, Sarah LeMire, Sarah Lockyer, Laurie Mayk, James Miller, Michael Nagrant, Steve Rosenberg, Scott Rothman, Branden Sanz, Killy Scheer, Jack Schillaci, Megan SchImpftDrew Whitcup, Paul Wong, Nick woomer. SPORTS Rick Freeman, Managing EDITORS: TJ. Berka, Chris Duprey, Josh Kleinbaum, Andy Latack, Pranay Reddy. STAFF: Josh Borkin, Evan Braunstein, David Den Herder, Dan Dingerson, Jason Emeott, Jordan Field, Mark Francescutti, Geoff Gagnon, Raphael Goodstein, Chris Grandstaff, Rick Harpster, Michael Kern, Vaughn R. Klug, Chris Langrill, Ryan C. Moloney, Stephanie Offen. Sharat Raju, Jim Rose, Kevin Rosenfield, Tracy Sandler, Michael Shafrir, Mark Snyder. Nita Srivastava, Uma Subramanian, Jacob Wheeler, Jon Zemke. ARTS Jessica Eaton, Christopher Tkaczyk, Editors WEEKEND, ETC. EDITORS: Aaron Rich, Will Wessert SUB-EDITORS: Gabe Fajuri (Music, Chris Cousino (TV/Newmedia), Anna Kovalszki (Fine/Pefonning Arts), Ed Sholinsky (Film). Corinne Schrleider (Books) STAFF: Amy Barber, Matthew Barrett, Jenny Curren. Jimmy Draper, Jeff Druchniak, Cortney Duweke, Brian Egan, Laura Flyer, Steve Gertz, Jenni Glenn, Jewel Gopwani, Caitlin Hall, Gina Hamadey. Garth Heutei, Elizabeth Holden, Chris Kula, Bryan Lark, Kristin Long, Kelly Lutes Ryan Malkin. Rob Mitchum, Andrew Mortensen, Kerrn Murphy. Dikran Ornekian, Enin Podolsky, Lauren Rice, Adlin Rostr, Ted Watts, Juquan Williams, Lah Zager. PHOTO Margaret Myers, Warren Zinn, Edtr ARTS EDITOR: Adriana Yugovich ASSISTANT EDITORS: Louis Brown, Dana Linnane @ STAFF: Chris Campernell, Derby Friedlis. Kns n Goble, Dhani Jones, Jessica Johnson, Kelly McKinnell, David Rochkind, Nathan Ruffer, Sara Schenk. ONLINE Satadru Pramanik, Editor STAFFToym TAFinmusuru, Seth Benson, Rachel Berger, Paul Wong. GRAPHICS STAFF: Alex Hogg. Vicki Lasky.___________ Steer yourself toward success at Navistar International Transportation Corp. We operate one of the world's largest facilities dedicated to the design, development and testing of trucks and truck components. And we can provide you with the challenges you're looking for in a post-graduate career. If you'll be receiving an engineering degree or are interested in an exciting technical career, come to Chrysler Auditorium on February 23"dat 6pm and You'll discover how you can accomplish your career goals with Navistar and our state-of-the-art facilities where to-the-minute technologies are put to work to shape the future of the transportation industry. Anything is possible with the resources we have available. There's incredible career potential for engineers with insight, abilities and aspirations. Join us and hear from one of the industry's leading Live with British students in the center of Oxford as an Associate Student of an Oxford college at an affordable price. DISPLAY SALES Nathan Rozof, Manager i i