WE One hundred ten years ofeditorilafreedom WAW NEWS: 76-DAILY CLASSIFIED: 764-0557 wwwmichigandaily.com Monday December 4,2000 " IX Y -S I I Judge to rule a fter 2 days AP PHOTOS ABOVE: Thomas Spencer, a Miami-Dade County election canvassing board observer, testifies in the courtroom of Leon County Circuit Judge N. Sanders Sauls in Tallahassee, Fla., yesterday. Lawyers for Vice President Al Gore and Gov. George W. Bush argued in court for a second day over Democratic demands for a recount of disputed ballots. BELOW: The Rev. Jesse Jackson leads supporters in front of'the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday in Washington. -4 ureme ConrtnikS hitoyby heanng case oftestimony The Associated Press Lawyers for Al Gore and George W Bush slogged through a second day of testimony about chads, voting machines and the vice president's pleas for a recount, while GOP running mate Dick Cheney said yesterday it's time for Gore to concede. Gore said he knows America is weary of the long election ordeal but counseled the coun- try: "It won't last forever." As Democrats talked about the possibility of a gracious exit from the presidential contest, a circuit judge presided over a nearly 13-hour hearing yesterday on Gore's historic election protest and listened to v closing arguments into the night. Judge N. Sanders said he would deliver his ruling this morning. The vice president braced for the next round of legal action and attended church, where he heard a sermon. titled, "A Time for Waiting." It was an apt metaphor for the longest, closest presiden- tial contest in 124 years. Gore, testing Americans' will- ingness to wait as he exhausts his legal options conducted an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" as part of a public relations blitz. "At the end of the day, when all processes have taken place, if George Bush is sworn in as president he'll be my president. He'll be America's presi- dent," Gore said in the interview. He talked of the ordeal of uncertainty the entire country has gone through. "The public, I think, has shown a remarkable amount of patience," Gore said. "This isn't easy for any of us in this country. I know the Bush family, as well as my family, is wanting this to be over. The American family wants it to be over. He also said: "It won't last forever. I'm expecting it will be over within the next two weeks." Nearly a month after Election Day, Cheney led a herd of Bush and Gore allies to yesterday's news shows. "I do think that ifs time for him to concede," he told NBC. "So far, he's chosen not to do that - to pursue other avenues - and clearly that's his prerogative. But I think ... history would regard him in a better light if he were to bring this to a close." Gore allies said he won't consider quitting before.Sauls rules on his request for hand recounts in two counties, and the Florida Supreme Court settles the appeal that will undoubtedly be lodged by the losing side. The vice presi- dent has one other life line: The U.S. Supreme Court is considering the case in a separate appeal filed by Bush. See FLORIDA, Page 8A By Jeremy W. Peters Daily Staff Reporter WASHINGTON - In an attempt to clarify the dispute over Florida's 25 electoral votes that hold the key to the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court stepped into the pages of American history Friday, hearing arguments from attorneys representing Gov. George W Bush and Vice Presi- dent Al Gore. Reaction to the arguments was as partisan as the disputed election itself. "What this case does is it signals that the highest legal authority in the land is aware of what goes on and that there isn't sort of carte blanche on the part of the (Florida) Supreme Court to change the rules after the election," said Sen. John Ashcroft (R-Mo.), who attended the Court's oral arguments. Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) also witnessed the arguments and weighed in on what she saw. "The Florida Supreme Court rendered a decision based on the laws of Florida," Jackson-Lee said after the argu- ments had concluded. "I believe for the will of the people to be evident, the Court will follow its traditions and not inter- fere. I believe the Court in its wisdom would be appropriate. in not overturning the Florida Supreme Court's decision." See WASHINGTON, Page 8A Greeks clean up neighborhood 'I By Karen Schwartz Daily Staff Reporter While LSA sophomore Kate Foster n6rmally spends weekend mornings raking in hours of sleep, Saturday morning Foster, a member of the Delta Gamma sorority, spent hours raking leaves. "What's a few hours of my day if I can help do this - if I can help clean up the community," she said. t Nearly 100 fraternity and sorori- members gathered Saturday to volunteer their time and contribute to the cleanliness of the community as part of the fourth annual Oxbridge Neighborhood Greek Ser- vice Day. "The project is a chance for us to reconnect with the neighborhood," said Dan Fenton, this year's Greek Service Day director and former pres- ident of the Delta Chi fraternity. "You start to really appreciate where you're living. We have some really great neighbors." Volunteers from the area and even outside the Oxbridge Neighborhood Association's boundaries came together to clean streets, rake leaves and help prepare homes for the winter months. Prior to Saturday's Service Day, res- idents of the 220 family-owned homes in the neighborhood received letters asking if they needed assistance. "it gives neighbors who are busy a chance to get their lawns raked and helps out those who might not be able to do all of this themselves," Fenton said. After leaving the Delta Chi house, participants worked from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to improve the neighborhood, which is located southeast of cam- "The project is a chance for us to reconnect with the neighborhood." - Dan Fenton Greek Service Day director pus near Oxford and Cambridge roads. "Service is a strong part of any Greek organization. It's our way of reaching out to the community," said Interfraternity Council President Adam Silver, an Engineering senior. "This is the Greek community sup- porting each other and the neighbor- hood." Jane Fergusen, past president of the Oxbridge Neighborhood Asso- ciation, also stopped by to lend a hand. She said the timing of the event was important because today is the last day that the city trucks come through to get the leaves before winter. "If we don't get it all out there, then we have to live with it all winter" Fer- gusen said. Fergusen also commented on the need to raise student awareness to the neighbors they interact with and whose lives they affect. "I hope fraternity and sorority mem- bers get acquainted with the neighbors and remember that these are places See GREEK, Page 2A New sidewalk on Diag eases construction woes NORMAN NG/Daity Singer Ashley Erdmann entertains diners at the Martha Cook Building during the 55th annual Messiah Dinner last night. Dinner showcases Cook traditions By Jane Krull Day Staff Reporter * Shoes of students and faculty will be a little less muddy due to a new sidewalk connecting the east entrance of Angell and Mason halls to the Diag. The sidewalk was completed last week at the urg- ing of the University community to aid with the dif- ficulty of maneuvering around the construction areas, Facilities and Operations spokeswoman DianeBamwn sai. said. "As we approach snow, the grounds department will have a specific path to clear," Brown said. The sidewalk that previously connected the Fishbowl area of Angell Hall to the Diag was torn up for the ongoing renovations to Haven Hall. A new entrance was added to Mason Hall through a former classroom, but many students cut across the grass as a shortcut to the center of the Diag. One of the students that contacted Facilities and By Came Thorson Daily StaffReporter Residents of Martha Cook brought out their old prom dresses and stayed up all night decorating for last night's annual Messiah dinner. For the 55th year in a row, Martha Cook hosted its traditional formal dinner yesterday after the University Musical Society perfor- and crown of the University." Resident Kerstin Hanson, an LSA senior, said the event was so enjoy- able that she thinks it's unfortunate more members of the University community weren't able to partici- pate. "The outside campus doesn't see what really happens in here" Hanson said. Guests of the formal dinner includ- ELLIE WIT E/DVaily The University constructed a sidewalk last week from Mason Hall to the Diag, replacing one that was torn a fnr *.nn.etrut-.in I