f Monday January 6, 2003 ©2003 The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXIII, No. 67 One-hundred-twelve years of editorialfreedom Light snow wl fall throughout the day. Hh30 wOW1. Tomorrow-. WWW.Michigandaiy corn I I I i I I M E 11 Iiiii!: IN S IN illi!i iiiiii iiiiiii 11 Ii I I ill E m !Ili ii: Haddad 4 appeals denial of asylum By Jeremy Berkowitz Daily Staff Reporter It has been more than a year since local Muslim community leader Rabih Haddad was taken into cus- tody and he continues to fight a bat- tle with the federal government to remain in the United States. Two weeks ago, Haddad's lawyers appealed a November decision by U.S. Immigration Judge Robert Newberry to deny asylum to Haddad and his family. Haddad's attor- ney, Ashraf Nubani, said he filed the appeal with the Federal Board of Immi- Haddad gration Appeals, located in Falls Church, Va. He hopes to argue in front of the board sometime in the next couple of months. The family will be able to remain in the United States as the appeals process continues. At Haddad's October asylum hearing in Detroit, his lawyers argued that Haddad would be in danger if he was deported back to Lebanon, saying al-Qaida opera- tives could take retaliation against him for speaking out against the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, or the Lebanese government could take action against him to prove to the U.S. government that they are fight- ing terrorism: "Governments of these countries would be eager to please the U.S.," Haddad said. "I fear torture, impris- onment and even death." But in his ruling, Newberry said there was no substantial evidence that Haddad would be in danger if deported. Newberry added that Haddad was a danger to national security. "A plethora of public evidence circumstantially links respondent to terrorist elements," Newberry said in his ruling. Haddad, first arrested in Decem- ber 2001 on a visa violation, has been held in Monroe County Jail for the last year. He has also been suspected of having links to terrorist organiza- tions as the founder of the Global Relief Foundation, an Islamic relief charity. He had three closed hearings in front of Immigration Judge Eliza- beth Hacker in December 2001 and January 2002. But in April, U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Edmunds ruled Had- dad's hearings had to be open in response to a lawsuit filed at the end of January by a group of Detroit newspapers, the Michigan chapter of the American Civil Lib- erties Union and U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Detroit). The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Edmunds' decision in late August. See HADDAD, Page 7A Four teens charged with armed thefts By Maria Sprow Daily Staff Reporter The Department of Public Safety has apprehended four area teenagers in connection to the armed robbery spree that struck North Campus on Dec. 8 and 9. Though the suspects do not fully match the original descriptions given by victims, DPS Sgt. Stacy Richmond said the four were appre- hended after a full investigation consisting of interviews and search warrants. DPS officers arrested three of the suspects after they were apprehend- ed by the Washtenaw County Sher- iff's Department for robbing an Ypsilanti gas station, Richmond said. The fourth suspect was arrest- ed after further interviews. Three women - Folana Carter, 18, Kesha Warren, 16, Kisha Richardson, 19, and one man, Eric Oliver, 18, have each been charged with four counts of armed robbery, one count of assault with attempt to commit a robbery, and five counts of conspiracy. In addition, Warren is charged with one count of ethnic intimidation. The charges could result in life in prison, Richmond said. Richmond said the four worked together to commit the armed rob- beries and were charged as though each had committed every incident. All four will be tried as adults. Four of the incidents occurred within the same area - near Cram See ARRESTS, Page 7A 1 Tight end Bennie loppru celebrates after a 48-yard reception fromn quarterback John Navarre. In his last game at Michigan, Joppru caught six balls for 80 yards, setting a Michigan tight end record for receptions in a season, with 53. Varsity kicks off y ear with Outback victory Airline travellers not delayed b baginspections- CHICAGO (AP) - Knowing holi- more than 400 of the nation's com- day travelers would be putting the mercial airports be screened for country's new airport baggage- explosives. screening system to its first big test, "It wasn't nearly as bad as we were Robert Chesniak gave himself 90 led to believe it was going to be," said minutes to check his luggage yester- Roger Burlingame, who was traveling day at O'Hare International Airport. from Chicago to Phoenix. "A piece of That was about 85 minutes more ' cake," his wife, Marni, said. than he needed. Spot checks yesterday at several of "That wasn't bad at all," said Ches- the nation's airports showed no major niak, 53, after a security worker delays caused by the new security wiped his bags with a sheet of materi- measures. al designed to pick up traces of "It's about the same as before," said explosive chemicals for analysis in a Richard Blackwell of Gainesville, detector device. Ga., who watched as screeners at Around the country, air travelers Atlanta Hartsfield International Air- had much the same impression on port opened and inspected a sealed what was expected to be the heaviest box of stereo equipment before a travel day since Jan. 1, when a Con- flight to Florida. gressional order went into effect At the international terminal for requiring that every checked bag at See AIRPORTS, Page,7A Suicide bombers strike urban area TEL AVIV Israel (AP) - Seconds apart, two Palestinian suicide bombers blew themselves up in a crowded part of Tel Aviv where foreign workers live, killing 23. bystanders, wounding more than 100 and ending a lull in such attacks just three weeks before Israeli elections. Israeli helicopters firing missiles blasted metal workshops in Gaza early today as Israel's leadership met to consider how to respond to the deadliest single Pales- tinian attack since March, when a suicide bomber killed 29 Israelis at a Passover meal. The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack, naming the bombers as two young men from the West Bank city of Nablus. There was also a less spe- cific claim from the Islamic Jihad. In Washington, President Bush called the .uack "a despicable act of murder" See ATTACK, Page 2A By David Horn Daily Sports Editor TAMPA, Fla. - Michigan began 2002 as the victims of a central Florida slaughter, courtesy of Tennessee in the Florida Citrus Bowl. Fortunately for the Wolverines, the first day of 2003 began very differently. Michigan (6- 2 Big Ten, 10-3 overall) survived six lead changes and a late Florida charge to defeat the Gators, 38-30, before a sold-out crowd of 65,101 at Raymond James Stadium. Trailing by eight with just over two minutes remaining in the game, Florida junior quarterback Rex Grossman engineered a drive from his team's own 27-yard line. Grossman, who was likely playing in his final game for the Gators, completed two passes for 18 yards and drew a 15-yard personal foul on a late hit from Michigan senior linebacker Victor Hobson. But two plays after jeopardizing his defense's chances at shutting down the suddenly efficient Florida offense, Hobson made amends. On 1st-and-10 from the Michigan 27-yard line, the Gators (6-2 SEC, 8-5) called for a reverse option pass to wideout (and former high school quarterback) Vernell Brown. Brown rolled out to the left and was pursued by defensive end Alain Kashama, then forced a desperate, wobbly pass toward the sideline. Hobson stepped in front of Grossman (the intended receiver) and took the ball 42 yards in the other direction to ensure victory for the Wolverines. "They'd been getting man coverage all that series, and Rex was going to be open," Florida first-year coach Ron Zook said. "When you're in man coverage you don't account for the quarterback, and at that point in time I thought it was a good opportunity." Hobson was one of several Michigan seniors who made waves in his final game for the Maize and Blue. In partic- ular, captain Bennie Joppru set the team's season-recep- tions record for a tight end on the strength of eight catches for 80 yards. That brought his season total to 53, surpass- ing a 33-year old record previously held by Jim Mandich. But it was truly a couple of juniors who led the Wolverines. Tailback Chris Perry set an Outback Bowl record with four touchdowns; the accomplishment is also a Michigan bowl record. He finished the game See OUTBACK, Page 7A Granholm encourages civic responsibility at inauguration By Loule Melzilsh Daily Staff Reporter LANSING - Echoing the words of President John Kennedy's 1961 inaugural address, Jennifer Granholm urged Michiganders to get involved in the political process, telling them, "You, in your hands, hold the power to change the world." Granholm, 43, was sworn in Wednesday just before noon as Michigan's first female governor, becoming the second Democrat to hold that post in 40 years. Her inauguration capped a meteoric rise in Michigan poli- tics for the Northville resident, who began serving in elec- tive office only four years ago, as the state's attorney general. She had previously served as Wayne County corpo- ration counsel and assistant U.S. attorney. Sworn in on the steps of the State Capitol by Judge Damon Keith of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, CTranhnlm and varions other ton state officials. fter a 21- gun salute and a flyover by four Air National Guard jets, then proceeded to the Lansing Center for their inaugural addresses. Michigan's new governor commenced her address with an optimistic outlook. "The door has been opened, so bring in an air of innova- tion," she said. "The door has been opened, so breathe a renewed air of citizen patriotism,, duty and service to one another. The door has been opened, so bring in an air of pos- sibility and of hope." Her address followed a rousing rendition of the National Anthem, performed by famed Motown singer Aretha Franklin. During her address, Granholm predicted the first part of her term would prove difficult, as she will have to find ways to close a more than $1 billion hole in the state budget. Granholm has said "pain" will be felt by many dependent on state government services as long as the budget problems Se e RANHOLM. Pa 7A Michigan's new governor, Jennifer Granholm, takes the oath of office Wednesday on the steps of the State Capitol. She is sworn in by Judge Damon Keith of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.