One hundred eleven years ofeditorialfreedom ;Fl ti NEWS: 76-DAILY CLASSIFIED: 764-0557 wwwmichigandaily.com Thursday April 4, 2002 Webber focused on winning, not indictment By Steve Jackson Daily Sports Writer AUBURN HILLS - Former Michigan bas- ketball star Chris Webber said he has never run away from an issue before. But that didn't stop him from delaying his comments on the Ed Martin scandal yes- terday. "I came to play a game today. My focus is on win- ning a championship," Webber said before his Sacramento Kings beat the Webber Detroit Pistons 107-86 last night. "So I'm not going to entertain all the negative things that I've been hearing and seeing in the paper." According to a federal indictment, Martin, a former Michigan basketball booster, loaned $280,000 to Webber before the for- mer Michigan star became a professional. The loans were allegedly used as a means for Martin to launder money from his illegal gam- bling ring in Detroit-area auto plants. "I'm trying to win a championship, not an election. This isn't a popularity contest," Web- ber said. "I'm not going to address this or try to make anybody like me. I'm not going to let this become a distraction." Martin and his wife were arrested on March 21 on charges of money laundering, running an illegal gambling ring and con- spiracy. They pleaded innocent and were released on bail. Webber acknowledged the significance, of the allegations, but nonetheless referred to the situation and the media attention as "funny." "It doesn't hurt," Webber said of the scandal. "Because I talk to the real people in the streets, and they don't care about this stuff." Despite his unwillingness to discuss the situ- ation last night, Webber said he would tell his side of the story at another time. "What we're going to do is, at a designat- ed time when we aren't in the middle of a championship run or a long road trip, I will sit down and discuss most of these issues," Webber said. His attorney, Fallasha Erwin, said an exclusive interview with the Sacramento Bee is in the works "so that Chris can answer all the questions that people have about this issue." On ESPN Classic this past weekend, Webber said "I didn't take anything" from Martin. But last night, Webber admitted to being caught off guard by the question. "Sometimes you allow yourself to be naive, Webber said. "You allow yourself to believe the fact that people say that this issue won't be dis- cussed." Erwin has also had his share of problems with the media. In yesterday's edition of the Ann Arbor News, Erwin was quoted as saying that Webber did, in fact, take gifts and money from Martin. Erwin said the words were either misquoted or taken out of context. "Can I say definitively that Chris didn't take anything from Ed Martin? No, there is a possibility," Erwin said. "Do I have any personal knowledge of this situation? No, I don't. I don't speak for Chris. But I can tell you that .I saw no indication that he received $280,000." Erwin, who has represented Webber since the Martin saga began in 1996, went on to say that Webber fully complied with Michigan's investigations. "The outside law firm gave us some ques- tions, and all those questions were answered," Erwin safd. "There were other players that did- n't cooperate at all" University General Counsel Marvin Krislov questioned these claims. According to Krislov, Webber repeatedly "declined to comment" to the University. "Neither Webber nor anyone who spoke for Webber ever said anything about him getting any funds," Krislov said. --Daily Staff Reporter Shannon Pettypiece contributed to this report. Offensive moves into seventh day BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) - Israeli tanks rolled into the West Bank's largest city, Nablus, on yesterday and other troops laid siege to a refugee camp in Jenin, battling Palestinians who barricaded entrances and fought back with bombs and guns. Soldiers also encircled hundreds of Pales- tinian gunmen holed up in the church marking Jesus' birth- place. Twelve Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed on the sixth day of Israel's offensive aimed at crushing Palestin- ian militias and stopping terror attacks on Israeli civilians. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convened Cabinet ministers to approve the next stage of the open-ended "Operation Protective Wall." Only two major West Bank towns - Hebron and Jericho - were still under Palestinian control late yesterday. President Bush repeated his support for the Israeli assault. "He understands and respects Israel's right to defend her- self," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. Secretary of State Colin Powell said he was weighing a meeting with Israeli and Arab leaders during a trip to Europe next week. "My mind is open," Powell told reporters at the State Department. "We are examining all possibilities. I would not rule out meeting with anybody where it would serve a useful purpose." U.S. special envoy Anthony Zinni remains in the region striving to implement a truce plan authored last June by CIA chief George Tenet. The U.S. Embassy hasn't released any information on his activities in recent days, and no meetings were scheduled with either Israelis or Palestinians. But daily anti-Israeli protests in the Arab world grew more- violent. Thousands of Lebanese and Palestinians clashed with security forces yesterday outside the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, with at least 25 reported injured as pro- testers threw stones and security forces used tear gas and water cannons. Under pressure to cut off ties completely with Israel, Egypt took a more limited step yesterday, announcing it would suspend all diplomatic contacts with Israel except those aimed at helping the Palestinians. See FIGHTING, Page 7A Mitchell discusses possibility. of peace Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-Maine), who spon- sored peace negotiations in Northern Ireland and has been instrumental in orchestrating peace efforts in theĀ° Middle East, will be on campus today y discussing global I security in the face of the recent terror- ist attacks. Mitchell'sMicel r attempts to reach Mitchell peace in Northern Ireland culminated in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. He has also been active in trying to resolve the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Since Sept. 11, he has helped coordinate disaster relief efforts in the U.S. .lk l l _ -1 . 11 . . 4.1_t* ,A 'T Judge rules Haddad's trial must be open By Louie Meizlish Daily Staff Reporter In a move that possibly sets the stage for a high profile court challenge, a federal judge ruled against the U.S. government yesterday, ordering that the immigration violation hearings of jailed Ann Arbor Muslim leader Rabih Haddad be opened to the press and public. U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds of the Eastern District of Michigan not only ruled that Haddad's case be open to the press and public, but also that all cases classified by the Justice Depart- ment's chief immigration judge as "special interest" must be open. The "special interest" determination is made by the office of Chief Immigra- tion Judge Michael Creppy, and is made when the Justice Department feels an open hearing could jeopardize national security in post-Sept. 11 investigation cases. The government is seeking Haddad's deportation for overstaying a six- month tourist visa which the Lebanese native was granted in 1998. Haddad is also a co-founder of the Global Relief Foundation, a charity whose. assets were seized by the government for allegedly funneling money to terrorist organizations. The GRF's offices in Illinois were raided on Dec. 14 of last year, the same day Haddad was detained. The American Civil Liberties Union, the Ann Arbor News, The Detroit News, the Metro Times and U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Detroit) sued the government - specifically Attorney General John Ashcroft, Creppy and Detroit-based U.S. Immigration Judge Elizabeth Hacker - claiming Had- dad's closed removal proceedings vio- late the constitution. The case is a classic example of the conflict between national security and the need to have transparent justice, said Richard Rossman, a former U.S. See HEARING, Page 2A JONATHON TRIEST/Daiy Kelly Martin-Crawford, an LSA sophomore, and members of Alpha Phi, Theta Chi and Kappa Sigma perform at Greek Week's closing event, Sing and Variety, at Hill Auditorium last night. Preparationsbegin for next Greek Wee By Jordan Schrader Daily Staff Reporter Greek Week came to a close with last night's Sing and Variety, as fraternity and sorority mem- bers sang and danced on the Hill Auditorium stage. Pi Beta Phi Sorority, Beta Theta Pi Frater- nity and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity were declared champions. But organizers are already planning an expansion of the event for next year. The event raised about $44,000 for charity this year, LSA senior and Greek Week spokesman Dan Fanton said. Camp Heartland, a Minnesota-based camping and outreach program for children whose lives have been affected by AIDS, will receive $36,000. Remaining money will be divided between the Coach Carr Cancer Fund, the New York Firefighters 9-11 Fund, the Boys and Girls Club of America and Students Promoting Eating Disorder Awareness and Knowledge. Greek Week also collected 285 pints of blood for the American See GREEK WEEK, Page 2A Profiled Prof JANICE JENKINS Walking through the halls between her ofice and lab, Prof Janice Jenkins explains how she has just bought the perfect condominium on Chicago's lakefont. "It's perfect. I'm on the 29th floor and I have a perfect view of the harbor" On sabbatical in Chicago for the year; Jenkins travels to the University's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building afew times a month to oversee her medical computing laborato- LASTINATHREE ry and digital design laboratory. It is clear PART SERIES, that Jenkins is equally " O as enthusiastic about her work as she is about her new "baby" on Lake Michigan. Recognized as an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Fellow and an American College of Cardiology Fellow, Jenkins latest work is a combination of her expertise in engineering and cardiology. Currently, she is focused on the design of computer algorhythms for detecting abnormal heart rhythms, specifically for implantable cardioverter/defibrillators or ICDs. These devises reverse sudden cardiac death by automatic shocks directly to the heart. While abnormal heart rhythms used to be treated with drugs, researchers discovered these drugs had adverse affects. In the past few years ICD has become the major therapeutic treatment for abnor- mal heart rhythms. Well over 150,000 ICDs have h,,n imnnnft'rI in theI.S at a cost nfover An SSA sophomore who wished to remain anonymous stares Intently at his computer screen as he participates in an online blackjack game. Gambling simple for U' By Tyler Boersen Daily Staff Reporter students The gambler sits staring at the computer screen, adrenaline racing through his body, hoping to win back the thousands of dollars he lost the night before. His pulse races as he loses and places another bet larger than the last. With casinos developing in Detroit and websites making it possible to win and lose in pajamas from the comfort of home. ambling has games, bet on sports or lay down money on the Internet. A University student, who wished to remain anonymous, enjoys visiting casinos and often plays poker with friends. He said when he has gained money he tends to continue gambling because he wants to earn more. When he is down, the urge increases to earn his money back. A recent study conducted by Uni- versity psychologists William Gehring and Adrian Willoughby found proof that a loss increases the u. ,: I