NATION/WORLD
The Michigan Daily - Friday, January 5, 2001- 7
'107th Congress convenes, appoints new leaders
WASHINGTON (AP) - house Republi-
cans installed new chairmen yesterday at com-
mittees that will handle the high-profile
legislation on President-elect Bush's agenda,
including Rep. Bill Thomas of California at the
tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.
*Thomas, sworn in Wednesday for his 12th
term in the House, will take over the helm of a
panel likely to take first crack at Bush's call for
sweeping tax cuts, modernizing Medicare and
allowing workers to make private investments
of a portion of their Social Security taxes.
The 59-year-old Thomas and other chairmen
were nominated by the GOP leadership and
ratified by the rank and file on one end of the
Capitol while Republican and Democratic
leaders on the other end held private talks over
power-sharing in a 50-50 Senate.
*"We re still exchanging ideas," Senate OP
leader Trent Lott of Mississippi said. "We're
trying to come up with ways to deal with the
realities of where we are, while guaranteeing
that the process is not paralyzed by obstruc-
tionism."
Several Senate sources, speaking on condi-
tion of anonymity, said Lott and Democratic
leader Tom Daschle had discussed giving the
two parties equal representation on at least
some committees. These officials cautioned
that no final agreements had been scaled.
One day after the 107th Congress convened,
no formal business was conducted on the floor
of either the House or Senate. But both houses
were busy with organizational issues that will
set the tone for the two years ahead.
Apart from the Ways and Means panel, Rep.
Jim Nussle of Iowa won a three-way competi-
tion to become chairman of the Budget Com-
mittee, where spending priorities are set.
Rep. John Boehner of Ohio won a bid to
become chairman of the committee with con-
trol over education -- another issue where the
president-elect has pledged to concentrate his
efforts.
Thomas is known as a determined lawmaker
with an occasionally abrasive style. He has left
his imprint more on health and Medicare legis-
lation than on taxes in recent years as he
presided over the committee's Medicare sub-
committee.
He was the GOP point man last year in craft-
ing legislation to offer prescription drug cover-
age to Medicare recipients, a measure that
cleared the House on a party-line vote.
The Californian told reporters he received a
congratulatory from the incoming president
shortly after his selection. He was vague,
though, when it came to legislative specifics.
"President-elect Bush ran on sime particular
ideas about the tax code," he said. "We're
going to share our ideas."
In tapping Thomas. GOP leaders jumped
over Rep. Phil Crane, who has greater seniority
and hails from Illinois, the home state of
Speaker Dennis Hastert. Crane issued a state-
ment confessing his disappointment, and prod-
ded Hastert and Thomas to "remain committed
to President-elect Bush's tax plan."
Officials said discussions continued on
Crane's bid to retain chairmanship of a trade
subcommittee, despite GOP rules requiring
him to relinquish it after six years in the post.
Republicans hold a narrow majority in the
House, although the precise division has
changed frequently since election day, and con-
tinued to do so.
Rep. Bud Shuster. sworn in on iesda? foi-
his 15th term, announced less than 24 hours
later he would resign his seat on Jan.'31. A
fierce advocate for highway and other trans-
portation programs, Shuster lost his power
perch at the end of last year when term limits
required him to give up chairmanship of the
transportation committee. His recent tenure has
been marred by scandal, including a 2000,
House ethics committee report that cited him'
for "serious official misconduct" for accepting
improper gifts and other actions.
While one Republican was leaving, a Demo-
crat was in transition, as well.
Democrats decided late Wednesdav night not
to provide rebellious Rep. Jim Traficant with
committee assignments, acting several hours
after the Ohio lawmaker supported Hastert's
election as speaker.
Arson suspected in last
year's blaze at Seton Hall
NEWARK. N.J. (AP) - An open flame ignited a
couch in a residence hall lounge and caused a fire that
killed three students and injured 62 people at Seton
Hall University last year, prosecutors said yesterday.
Essex County Prosecutor Donald Campolo said
investigators have been gathering evidence on the Jan.
19, 2000, blaze under the assumption that the fire was
arson. He did not name suspects or announce charges.
"Our objective was not to seek a quick resolution, but
a correct one," Campolo said as lie released the first
public details of the investigation.
Investigators ruled out electrical problems or a smol-
dering cigarette as possible causes, Campolo said. No
accelerants were found.
The Star-Ledger of Newark, quoting unidentified
sources close to the investigation, reported yesterday
that the probe was focused on two students who were
drinking and roughhousing to celebrate a victory of the
school's basketball team.
The two have denied setting the fire, the newspaper
said.
Witnesses have identified students who were in a'
lounge minutes before the fire, but authorities have
been unable to get enough evidence to make an arrest,
the newspaper reported.
Investigators said the fire began when an open flame
set a couch on fire in the student lounge. Two other
couches also caught fire.
Three freshmen died after intense heat and heavy
smoke spread throughout the residence hall floor. Four.
of the 58 injured students were critically burned, and
four police officers and firefighters were also hurt.
AP PHO10
President-elect George W. Bush, with advisor Larry Lindsey, speaks yesterday as he takes part in an economic meeting
with business leaders in Austin, Texas. Bush named Lindsey to lead the economic team in the White House.
'Bush names senior advisers
Tennessee courts outlaw
racial quotas in colleges
The Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas -- President-elect Bush named his top
political strategist to hold a similar role in the White
House yesterday, completing a troika of advisers that will
dominate decision-making in the Bush White House.
The three -- Karl Rove, yesterday named to be Bush's
senior adviser, designated staff chief Andrew Card and des-
ignated counselor Karen Hughes - will have roughly
equal power and separate spheres of influence, Bush aides
say. In the arrangement, similar to the first Reagan adminis-
tration's troika of Michael Deaver. Edwin Meese and James
A. Baker III, Rove will govern strategic and political deci-
-sions, Hughes will create the public face of the White
House and Card will handle day-to-day operations.
With the naming yesterday of Rove and of Nicholas
Calio to be the administration's top lobbyist on Capitol
Hill, the senior staff of the Bush White House is nearly
conplete. The picture emerging so far is one of fierce loy-
alty and a strong chain of command, dominated by cam-
paign advisers, Texans and Bush family loyalists.
The White House power structure will be much broad-
er than three people, Bush advisers are quick to note. Pol-
icy head Josh Bolten, a deputy chief of staff, has
developed a close relationship with Bush and will have
important voice in administration decisions. And the
incoming vice president, Dick Cheney, will have unprece-
dented power in the Bush administration, as he has had in
the transition, and his influence may override the tradi-
tional White House power centers.
Scholars of the presidency and former White House
officials say that with his selections, Bush has built a
White House staff that appears to be highly structured and
disciplined and designed to dictate the president's priori-
ties to his Cabinet. And they add that Bush is likely to
avoid many of the organizational missteps that character-
ized the early days of the Clinton administration. On the
other hand, they say, his trio of top advisers risks creating
a situation with rival power centers and confusion.
"If power is shared by a troika, then a chief of staf' is not
a chief of staff" said Martha Kumar, who directs the Pew
Charitable Trusts' White House 2001 Project. "Having
more than one center of gravity is difficult in a White
House. Everyone in the White House is always looking for
the go-to petson. If there's a sense of power being shared,
that can be difficult for a coordinated White House."
In a brief announcement in Austin yesterday morning,
the president-elect also said that his campaign manager and
former staff'chief, Joe Allbaugh, would become head of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency. Allbauph, along
with Rove and Hughes, 'ormed the "Iron Triangle" of Bush
insiders who ran a tight ship during the campaign .
"During the course of the campaign, much was made
of the so-called "Texas lr'n Triangle,"' Bush said in
announcing the appointments of Rove and Allbaugh. "It's
a wonderful pleasure to announce the triangle has been
completed and that these two good men and their families
will be joining us in Washington, D.C."
With Allbaugh outside of the White House, Bush will
create a new trio of top advisers with Card. "This will be
the platinum triangle," said Mark McKinnon, who created
Bush's campaign ads.
NASHVIL LE, Tenn. (AP) -- A
federal judge approved a settlement
yesterday that would end decades of
court-ordered desegregation and
racial quotas at Tennessee's public
colleges and universities.
"This is truly a historic day, " Ten-
nessee Attorney General Paul Sum-
mers said. "It is no end-all, be-all to
end desegregation in higher educa-
tion in Tennessee, but it is a case that
will help."
The original lawsuit was filed 32
years ago by Rita Sanders Geier,
then an instructor at predominantly
black Tennessee State University.
She sued the state to end that she
called a "dual system of' higher edu-
cation" and to get more money for
her school.
In 1984, U.S. District Judge
Thomas Wiseman ordered that racial
quotas be set for admissions to Ten-
nessee State and nine other schools
and that the federal government
monitor desegregation efforts.
The agreement Wiseman signed
yesterday would require the state to
invest up to S75 million in 'Tennessee
State programs over the next 10
years, and would end quotas and
court supervision within five years.
The most widely criticized quota
- which opponents called divisive
and unrealistic - required Ten-
nessee State to increase its white
enrollment to 50 percent. About 16
percent of students at the school are
white.
The settlement also requires more
scholarships and recruiting for white
students to attend Tennessee State
and black students to attend predorn-'
inaitly white schools.
Geier, now a 56-year-old associate
commissioner of the Social Security
Administration in Washington,
attended the court hearing yesterday
and said she was pleased with the
settlement.
"Tennessee has learned a lot in 32
years " she said. "People are very
focused and have committed their,
resources to making this work.
CENSUS
Continued from Page 1
think they can do it," she said.
Redestricting will not take place until after the U.S.
Census Bureau releases the detailed results in March,
but expectations already exist for Michigan's map to
find its way to the state Supreme Court.
"I would be surprised if it does not find itself in
court," Rivers said.
With the Republicans in control of the state House,
Democrats are expecting two Democratically held dis-
tricts to be combined in the redrawn map.
"I expect Republicans will do what they can to
advantage themselves," Rivers said.
Current statutes make it impossible to use outright
gerrymandering - redistricting that gives a severe
advantage to a specific party - but Rivers said the map,
will most likely be "tweaked."
Emmons, a member of the Senate Reapportionment
Committee, said the standards in place will not allow,
for any sort of tampering.
"You can't really call it gerrymandering when you're
working with rules," she said.
w I
ROBBERIES
Continued from Page 1
and a lot of their residences have been broken into"
AAPD Lt. Gregory O'Dell said. "It's something we go
through every year, which is unfortunate
Several fratertities also reported break-ins that
occurred while members were away on winter break,
*Dell said. "They (burglary reports) will be trickling
in for several days," he said.
These recent crimes are a reminder that students
HUBBLE
Continued from Page 1
dynamic.
The professors have already received half of the
to be sent by the Hubble and Cassini. Waite and G
bosi, along with several other researchers at the
versity of Michigan and at University of Califor
s Angeles, are placing this data into a mathena
model to determine facts and details about the plat
aurora.
The researchers expect to have a preview of the
lected data by the end of this month, with a m-
extensive understanding of the data in one year at
earliest.
"We are looking at something that's five times
distance from the sun (than Earth)," Clarke said.
should
safety,1
always be aware of their options for personal
Brown said. DPS publishes a Campus Safety
Handbook and strongly encourages students to use it,
she said. It provides safety tips for all kinds of situa-
tions, including robberies.
"The biggest incidents we have on campus are not
robberies or burglaries." Brown said. "They're larce-
nies." Larcenies occur most often when students leave
their belongings unattended and someone steals them.
"It's a crime of opportunity," Brown said.
Safewalk and Northwalk, student groups that pro-
CORRIGAN
Continued from Page 1
Denno responded, "It doesn't really matter.-
data But Rich Studley, senior vice president o
oom- government relations for the Michigan Chambe
Uni- of Commerce, held Corrigan in a higher regard
ia at "We think very highly of Justice Corrigan an
tical believe she will do a good job as chief justice
net's We know her to be a very capable and hard
working jurist," he said. "We also think highl
col- of Justice Weaver."
pore Sage Eastman, spokesman for the Michiga
the Republican Party - which strongly support
jurists it deems to be strict constructionists --
the echoed positive views. "I think it's a goo
'The choice. Justice Corrigan is a highly respecte
justice who holds the law in the highest regard.'
vides two escorts to walk students hoie at night, are
another safety option available to students.
"Mostly we make people feel secure," said North-
walk Coordinator Graham Lanz, an LSA senior. "If
we're making them feel more comfortable, we're mak-
ing them a better student."
Safewalk members have a radio that connects them
directly to the Ann Arbor Police Department, Lanz
said. "Though the odds of that particular student being
attacked are low," he said, "the odds of three students
with a police radio being attacked are virtually zero."
Eastman said Corrigan "is someone who
makes sure the court is interpreting the law, not
writing the law.... For nearly fifty years the lib-
erals dominated the courts and they would
f rewrite the laws."
r With regards to upholding civil rights, the
J. Michigan branch of the American Civil Liber-
d ties Union has an unfavorable view of Corrigan.
e. "Our concern with the Michigan Supreme
- Court is its clear ideological bent that clearly
y disfavors civil rights and we don't expect that to
change under Chief Justice Corrigan," said Kary
n Moss, executive director of the Michigan
s ACLU. "The court has weakened the Fourth
Amendment."
d Moss cited "a whole mumnber of decisions that
d limit individuals' access to the court for dam-
ages -- such as in injuries."
Cover inzg Race ~ i.=u,~.r
The Pres s ar1
Featuring Gerald Boyd and
yr 2 Soma Golden Behr, editors of
the New York Times series
U. S~o "How race is lived in Anerica,
and
David Halberstam
Rackham Amphitheatre DvdHlesa
Clarence Page
University of ,Michigan Pu eae
Paul Delaney
Gene Roberts
John Seigenthaler
Sponsored by the Michigan J c "-"
on Diversity.
Hubble photos are really spectacular.'
II
Continued from Page 1
research center ini Gr'and Rapids, said
Lee Cattarall, assistant to University
Vice President for Research Fawwaz
Ulaby. The University will be home to
state, which will encourage increased
collaboration, Pobojewski said.
University Vice President for Med-
ical Affairs Gil Omenn said this col-
laboration will yield significant results.
"The Corridor investment in major
infrastructure technologies' will
"Nothing by this scale has ever been
done before."
- Lee Cattarall
Assistant to the vice president for research