t i Thursday January 6, 2000 Weather Today: Cloudy. High 36. Low: Tomorrow: Cloudy. High 31. 23. One hundred nine years of editorialfreedom .. . . .. .... ..... ... .... .... wcc student receives aipology By Yaeli Kohen Daily Staff Reporter Washtenaw Community College stu- dent Saousan Kiwan received an apolo- gy from the college for being told recit- ing a short prayer before giving an oral presentation in class last semester was tppropriate. In the Islamic culture it is customary for observers to say a short prayer before many daily activities, said Council for American Islamic Relations Research Director Mohamed Nimer. The prayer uttered before the presentation was "In the name of God, most merciful, most gracious." Kiwan said that as a student in Damascus, Syria, she said the prayer whenever the occasion called for it and *ntinued the custom when she arrived in the United States. The instructor, Margo Czinski, told Kiwan after class that praying before the presentation was inappropriate in an American classroom, Nimer said, adding that Kiwan was not comfortable with the idea of not saying the prayer. Before Kiwan made a second pre- sentation, Czinski explained in a letter at if Kiwan said the prayer before the sentation she would be asked to sit down. After receiving the letter, Kiwan withdrew from the class, WCC President Larry Whitworth said. "The instructor had acted in good faith," Whitworth said, adding that it was merely a misunderstanding of the constitutional idea of separation of church and state. But others feel that the situation is more a matter of intolerance. Some people have attitudes against Stain religions" and don't have open minds, Kiwan said. "It's representative of the general cli- mate toward in the U.S.,' said LSA senior Will Youmans, president of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee. "If she was a Christian the teacher wouldn't ban it.'' Whitworth said that the teacher was working in the best interest in the class, *king efforts to not bring religion into the classroom. But as soon as he heard about the situation, Whitworth said that he came to the conclusion that Kiwan was not in violation of the separation. 'It is my interpretation that (separa- tion of church and state) does not apply to personal invocation or prayer," Whitworth said. The prayer was for Kiwan's own per- sonal benefit, Nimer said, adding that Czinski assumed that Kiwan was trying roselytize to the class. Kiwan received a phone call from Whitworth apologizing for the situation and offering her the opportunity to complete the course by completing two more required presentations. Kiwan accepted the offer. "I'm thankful that I received" the apology, Kiwan said, adding that she agreed to finish the class because "he jderstands my view." W'The larger issue is religious accom- modation," Nimer said, adding that it is "a larger problem to all religions not only Muslims." - Daily Staff Reporter Josie Gingrich contributed to this report. Suit filed against 10ft builder By Caitlin Nish Daily Staff Reporter Questioning the safety of his daughter's residence hall loft, George Cantor filed a lawsuit against Peter Johnston, who built the loft from which Cantor's daughter Courtney allegedly fell in October 1998. Cantor died from injuries sustained after falling from her sixth-floor Mary Markley Residence Hall window. The new suit, filed Dec. 7, follows a previous suit filed in September by Cantor against the University for failing "to use due care and caution in providing and maintaining a reasonably safe and fit building for students." The original suit claims the University is guilty of having faulty windows that open too wide. The law- suit has not yet gone to trial. The second lawsuit states that Johnston "failed to use due care and caution in the design, construction, installation and sale of the loft beds" and "failed to properly and adequately warn Courtney Cantor about the existence of hazardous, dangerous and/or unsafe conditions created by the loft bed." Johnston is not believed to be associated with any professional loft building company. Jeff Rebitzke, an employee of the seasonal loft building company AAA Loft Express, said he believes it is almost impossible Cantor's death resulted from the loft. "The way we build lofts, they sit so that it would be difficult for someone to fall off and out the win- dow. There is a space of about one foot between where the loft and window are. Also, the person's head would be perpendicular to the window," Business "certainly will suffer if the lawsuit makes it through, but I don't think that (the lawsuit) will." - Scott R undell Co-owner of A AA Loft Express Rebitzke said. Cantor declined to comment on the case. "My attorney has advised me not to comment on anything surrounding the case. We are in litiga- tion right now," Cantor said. AAA Loft Express is one of several loft compa- nies registered with the University. Scott Rundell, co-owner of Ann Arbor Loft Company, which is also registered with the University, said that his business could be affected' if Cantor is successful with his suit. "It certainly will suffer if the lawsuit makes it through, but I don't think that (the lawsuit) will," See CANTOR, Page 2 Profs. to help plan memonal By Jeannie Baumann Daily Staff Reporter Two University professors will join the group selecting the design for the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial' in Washington D.C., which will stand among other national monu- ments on the tidalh basin adjacent to f the National Mall. Arch itecture Prof. James Chaffers and Jon Chaffers Lockard, a professor in the School of Art and Design and Center for Afro- American and African Studies, will serve on an international jury of assessors with architects and designers from across the country -and from China and India. The jury will select the design at an interna- tional competition and conference sched- uled to take place in May. "It's an honor being associated with (King) and his deeds. He was a very approachable person." Chaffers said. "Outstanding leadership with humanity - this is what he had." University alum Ed Jackson, design committee chair for the MLK Jr. National Memorial Foundation, said he choose Chaffers and Lockard based on their personal and professional merits. "These were two individuals that I felt could capture the spirit of what the See MEMORIAL, Page 2 Lights out DAVID KATZ/Daily A broken window in the Alpha Epsilon PI fraternity house remains boarded up yesterday after it was vandalized during the winter break. The house is uninhabitable and residents have found alternative housing. Vandalism fo sAEP -memlbers firo-m house By Jeremy W. Peters Daily Staff Reporter The University chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi has again encountered misfortune - except this time it is on the opposite end of the law as the victims of vandalism that has left the fraternity house uninhabitable. According to University spokesperson Julie Peterson, the house was severely damaged during the early morn- ing hours of Dec. 23. "Over 40 windows were broken and most residents of the house have now found alternate housing on an indi- vidual basis," Peterson said. The damage occurred after residents of the house had left for the winter break and was discovered by a con- tractor doing work on the house. As of yesterday, the lawn was littered with broken glass and other debris. Neither the Ann Arbor Police Department, who responded to the call, nor AEPi members could be reached for comment yesterday. The AEPi national chapter, who owns the house locat- ed at 1620 Cambridge Road, decided that it was not fit to house fraternity members. Interfraternity Council Adviser John Mountz said van- dalism to vacant fraternity houses has occurred in the past. "Two summers ago, three or four houses were vandal- ized," Mountz said. He added that he did not remember which houses were damaged or who was involved. AEPi national chapter officials are scheduled to visit Ann Arbor today and plan to continue interviewing chapter members about the alleged hazing incident in which a pledge was shot in the groin with a BB gun last month. Though officials at AEPi could not be reached for comment yesterday, Peterson said the purpose of their visit to Ann Arbor is to continue interviewing members and decide if the chapter will be allowed to remain on campus and if so, under what conditions. The fraternity's national chapter suspended the frater- nity until it could begin its investigation after winter break. Interim Vice President for Student Affairs E. Royster Harper said she was appalled by both the alleged hazing See VANDALISM, Page 2 DANNY KALICK/Daily Holiday Lighting Service employee Tom Hey removes lights from trees along Maynard Street yesterday. Cindy McCain holds teleconference with 'U' Judge refuses to toss out Alvarez charges Candidate's wi By Hanna LoPatin Daily Staff Reporter If her husband is elected as the 43rd fsi dent of the United States, Cindy jcCain says "my first priority will always be my children." Cindy McCain, wife of presidential can- didate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), stayed true to this statement when she canceled her scheduled appearance at the Michigan Union vesterdav to stav at home with her ife cancels visit Yesterday's visit to the University, along with two others to Battle Creek and Birmingham, Mich., was canceled at a cru- cial time for the McCain campaign. With the Michigan Republican primary only six weeks away and a debate on Monday night at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., the state is going to be the McCains' chief focus after the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 1. Most Michigan Republicans. including By David Enders Daily Staff Reporter The trial of Robin Alvarez, the Ann Arbor woman charged with inciting a riot during a May 1998 Ku Klux Klan rally con- tinued yesterday, as the defense presented a slew of witnesses on Alvarez's behalf. The trial did not begin until Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Donald Shelton presented his deci- sion to proceed with the trial. At the end of court' Judge Shelton "expressed real concerns about the prosecution's case, but he said essentially that he would let the jury decide," Massie said. "They have no case against Robin," Massie added. At the finish of yesterday's hearing, Alvarez said, "My case has not been dropped because I am a target of the city. "The mayor of the city, is putting pressure on a lot of important people to make sure I get put in jail for 10 years," she said. The allegations against Alvarez, a 46-year-old divorced mother of two, are centered on police tes- timony that her chants of "Take down the fence" at DANNY KALICK/Daily LSA Junior Will Rubens speaks to Cindy McCain yesterday during a teleconference In the Parker Room of the Michigan Union. "We're not trying to get our message to the elected officials, we're trying to get our I