t ian IWI One hundred ten years feditorlaieedom ti EWS: 76-DAILY LASSIFIED: 764-0557 wwmichigandaily.com Wednesday November 29, 2000 4., 42, sore seeks speedy recount e Associated Press Al Gore sought a speedy hand recount of lorida's contested ballots yesterday to sure "no question, no cloud" hangs over nation's 43rd president. A judge rejected is timetable, Democratic lawyers vowed to ppeal and Republicans demanded, "It's me to wrap this up." As the campaign played out in five sepa- ate courtrooms, the vice president sought Saccelerate the proceedings to avoid fur- der testing of the public's patience three eeks after Election Day. "Seven days, starting tomorrow, for a full accurate count of all the votes," the vice resident said shortly before his lawyers sked Circuit Judge N. Sanders Sauls to rder the recount of 13,000 questionable Amenicans indulge In Poliday wvereating ly Undsey Alpert aily Staff Reporter ballots in two Democratic counties. The judge instead scheduled a Saturday hearing and ordered the ballots - along with one or two voting machines - sent to Tallahassee in case he agrees that a recount is needed. Bush's lawyers objected to Gore's timetable, saying they needed time to prepare, their case against him. Sauls is working against a Dec. 12 deadline for states to assign presidential electors. "We could count until everybody is slap- happy, but if no one is on the same page, I don't know what's being accomplished," Sauls said, explaining why he wanted one broad-ranging hearing before considering Gore's recount request. The political morass stretched to the U.S. Supreme Court, with Bush's lawyers asking the nine justices to bring "legal finality" to the election by overturning Florida's top court and ending any further recounts. The case has the "potential to change the out- come of the presidential election in Florida, and thus the nation," Bush lawyers said in legal papers. Gore's legal team argued in its high court brief that the issue "does not belong in federal court." They want the justices to back the Florida Supreme Court, a Democratic-leaning body that extended the deadline for recounts. U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments are set for Friday. The vice president made his case for the second day in a row for further recounts, announcing the shift in legal strategy during a brief exchange with reporters in Washing- ton. "What is wrong with counting the votes?" Gore asked. Bush's team quickly noted that the south- ern Florida ballots had already been tabulat- ed by machine. "He proposes yet another count and another deadline," Bush spokes- woman Karen Hughes said in Austin, Texas. "Common sense does not allow it." GOP vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney, appearing on NBC, said he believes "that it's time to wrap this up. That we've had the election, we've had the count, we've had the recount. Now we've had the See ELECTION, Page 7 AP PHOTO Vice President Al Gore speaks to reporters yesterday outside his home at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington. Having a ball Mandela cancels visit to campus t's the time of year when belt uckles are loosened, waist lines ncrease and scales are tossed to the ide: Holiday eating in America has egun., As students stock up on home cook- ng, refrigerators full of food and holi- ay desserts when on break from lasses, they help to contribute to the merican culture of eating. "Americans are substantially fatter n any other advanced industrial cul- ," psychology Prof. Richard Nis- ett said. "And it's getting worse elative to ourselves and the rest of the orld." Individuals are considered obese if hey weigh 30 percent more than the deal weight, which is set by popula- on norms. While Americans tend to eat large meals during the holiday season, 're also overeating on a day-to-day asis. "People are eating more often dur- ing the day," said Sheila Gahagan, an associate professor in the pediatrics and communicable diseases depart- ment. "Americans are also eating more often alone rather than in family or social groups and that may change how we eat," she said. People are eating in their cars and peking between meals, Gahagan said, and this probably increases the number of calories people take in. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it takes about 1,600 extra calories to add a pound of fat. The calorie count is cumulative and can add up over weeks, months or years. "Even if I add an extra 50 calories t my diet, which is less than one Mle, I'm going to gain weight," Gahagan said. "If you don't increase your physical activity, you'll gain weight"' Adding extra calories during the holiday season is a lot easier than it seems, considering that many holiday goodies are loaded with calories and fat. "I like the stuffing and the sweet potatoes," LSA sophomore Brittany J son said. "I guess I end up eating Male bit rore (during the holidays) and then I cut back a little." Egg nog contains about 261 calories per cup, pumpkin pie has about 229 calories per slice and bread stuffing contains about 108 calories per ounce. "One thing that happens during hol- idays for adults is that they get a lot of See EATING, Page 7 By Rachel Green Daily Staff Reporter Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, presi- dent of the Women's League of the African National Congress in South Africa, has canceled her scheduled visit to the University tomorrow night. Mandela was scheduled to speak at the Michigan Union about the HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa. "My biggest regret is that it tremen- dously disappointed the students," said English Prof. Marlon Ross, assistant director of the University's Center for Afroamerican and African studies. "They've been looking forward to this for three weeks and a lot of people have worked hard to make this event happen." Mandela, who was scheduled to appear in Atlanta yesterday and Detroit today before visitings both the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University tomorrow, remained in South Africa on Monday. Ross said it is unclear why Mandela postponed her trip or whether she plans to attend her scheduled appear- ances in the United States next month. "We just don't have good informa- tion from her end what happened at this point,"he said. Ross said his office had to make a decision whether to cancel the event or still hope Mandela might appear tomor- row night. "There have been circum- stances where she has shown up and the engagement was able to proceed after difficulties, but we are not in a position where we can wait," he said. School of Information Prof. Derrick Cogburn said Mandela, the ex-wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, was a prominent figure in that nation's transition from Apartheid to a democratic government. "She was able in a dignified way to carry forward the ideal of her husband at the time Within South Africa," Cog- burn said. "She was a beacon of light for the ANC Women's League, one of several key movements in the African See MANDELA, Page 7 NORMAN NG/Daily Two-year-old Taylor Wilson of Ann Arbor plays in a sea of colored balls at the new Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in Pittsfield Township yesterday. Four apply for vacant City Council seat By Carrie Thorson Daily Staff Reporter At their meeting next week, the Ann Arbor City Council will decide which of four appli- cants will be the next Ward I representative. Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje, a former Ward I councilman; was-in the middle of his two-year term when elected mayor this month. Only one of the two seats in each ward is up for election each fall, and voters elected Democrat Jean Robinson to fill the other Ward I position. International The City Council decided on a public appli- cation process to fill the vacancy left by Hieftje, a decision that differs from past practices of not going public when trying to fill vacant council seats. "We wanted to open it up so that anyone, no matter their party affiliation, would feel comfortable coming forward and applying," Hieftje said. Community members reacted positively to the public announcement, he said. "One gentleman actually came over to my house Sunday night to pick up an application and had it in by the Monday morning deadline," Hieftje said. Anthony Ramirez, who ran as an indepen- dent candidate against Robinson, did not apply for the vacant seat. Ramirez said he believes the application process was not fair after he received more than 1,500 votes in the election. "I went out and campaigned very hard," Ramirez said. "I'm retired, not looking for another job. I'm looking for something the peo- ple want me to do." Ramirez also cited more personal reasons for not applying. "Bob Elton, a good friend of mine, asked me not to apply for it," Ramirez said, "and I prefer to let him go ahead and take it." The four applicants being considered are security guard Peyman Bohlori, engineer Bob Elton, Wayne State University Medical School Prof. Robert Johnson and Wayne State law stu- dent Jim Nicita. Council members interviewed the candidates Monday night. "I was favorably impressed with all of them," Councilman Joseph Upton (R-Ward II) said. He acknowledged that although he is a Republican, he would choose the candidate that could best See COUNCIL, Page 2 MSA picks winter committee leaders Center naies new director By Elizabeth Kassab' Daily Staff Reporter, "I know the challenges, I know the fears, I know the frus- trations, I know the joys" of being an international student, Rodolfo Altamirano said. "I know how to survive." In 1983, Altamirano, who was officially named director of the University's International Center at a reception in the Michigan Union yesterday, was a college student leaving the Philippines for Michigan. After earning his masters and doctoral degrees at Michigan State University, he worked as a complex director in the Department of Residence Life at Michigan State. Most recently, Altamirano served as assistant director of the Office for International Stndents and Scholars at Michinan State. Rodolfo Altamirano, a native of the Philippines, was named Director of the University's International Center in a reception at the Michigan Union yesterday. extensive collection of resources regarding study, volunteer and work abroad programs as well as international intern- ships. It also processes paperwork for international faculty and staff. "We bring the best of the world to the University of Michi- gan" by processing working visas for international faculty members. Altamirano said. By Jane Krull Daily Staff Reporter The first action of the newly elected Michigan Student Assembly at their weekly meeting last night was the election of committee and commission heads. Chairs and vice chairs were elected from within the assembly to head MSA's seven committees and chairs were picked from the entire student body to lead the 13 commissions. LSA sophomore James Justin Wil- son defeated current Peace and Justice Commission Chair Jessica Curtin for her position by a vote of 21-17. "Peace and Justice has only been a was not discouraged by her loss. "It's unfortunate, but not a big obstacle to DAAP to build a national movement to defend affirmative action and integration," Curtin said. LSA Rep. Reza Breakstone was elected External Relations Committee chair. "I hope to continue the path that for- mer chair Sarah Pray blazed in involv- ing the University at all political levels," Breakstone said. LSA sophomore Elizabeth Ander- son said that with being re-elected as the Women's Issues Commission chair, she can continue her work in getting the "Vagina Monologues" off the ground. L