Weather T ,O : September 13, 20 2 02002 The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan One-hundred-eleven years of editorialfreedom Mostly cloudy with light wind during the day, staying mostly cloudy during the night. LOW: 57 81156 Vol. CXIII, No. 9 www.michigandaily..com -::!: 1: 1 :1 !!: !:I I I 11:111 IN 1: 1111 11 offecitiIillill 11 MINE 1:11:1 ITAIIIIJAVATM !Ing ::: --------- - ------------ Webber surrenders, pleads noi By Steve Jackson Daily Sports Editor "I will fight this case to the end, and I feel that I will be vindicated," Former Michigan basketball star Chris Webber said from his practice facility in Sacramento. Roughly 24 hours later, Webber took the first step toward fulfilling that vow, surrendering to U.S. marshals and pleading innocent to charges of conspiring to obstruct justice and giving false testimony before a grand jury. If convicted, Webber could face a maximum of five years in jail and $250,000 in fines for each charge. Webber's father and aunt also face the same charges, but have yet to be arraigned. The government claims that Webber lied to a grand jury about the $280,000 he allegedly received from former Michigan booster Ed Martin from 1988 to 1993. Martin was being investigated for conspir- ing to launder money and running an illegal gam- bling ring in metro- Detroit auto plants. Webber was fingerprint- ed and photographed before he stood in front of U.S. Magistrate Virginia Webber Morgan, a 1968 University alum. Steve Fishman, Webber's lawyer, entered his not guilty plea, and Morgan released him on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Webber's only words during the brief hearing Wednesday were to confirm that he understood the charges against him. No money was immediately collected from Webber, and he is free to travel without restric- tions in the United States. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for Sept. 26 in front of U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds, but it is possible that the case may be transferred to Judge Robert Cleland, who is handling the Ed Martin case. Webber, the 29-year-old All-Star forward for the Sacramento Kings, hopes to be ready to play when his team starts its season with an exhibition game at Dallas on Oct. 8. Geoff Petrie, the Kings' vice president of basketball operations, said it is too soon to say whether Webber will miss any games in the upcoming season to deal with his legal problems. Oct. 8 is also the date of Martin's sentenc- ing. Martin, who pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to launder money on May 28, faces 30-37 months in prison - which could be shortened if he reveals all the details of his dealings with Michigan basketball players to the University. Martin said he took money from the gam- bling ring, combined it with other funds and lent it to Webber and several other former Michigan basketball players while they were still amateurs. Martin, 68, said that money included t guilty $280,000 to Webber, $160,000 to Robert Tray- lor of the New Orleans Hornets, $105,000 to Maurice Taylor of the Houston Rockets and $71,000 to Louis Bullock, who plays profes- sionally in Europe. Michigan's basketball program has been under suspicion for violating NCAA guide- lines relating to improper benefits since 1996, when a Ford Explorer driven by Traylor con- taining several other players and recruits crashed. That accident sparked the first of three Uni- versity investigations, which led to the firing of coach Steve Fisher but turned up no major vio- lations. "We are cooperating fully with the investi See WEBBER, Page 3 Most don't believe old superstitions Friday the 13th fear, superstition stem from scripture passages By Soojung Chang Daily Staff Reporter Do you have a fear of Friday the 13th, or paraskevidekatriaphobia? Most University students claim to be unfazed by the suppos- edly unlucky date. "I know that bad things are supposed to happen," LSA junior Kristin Casanova said. But Casanova will not be taking any spe- cial precautions today. "To me it's just another day. The only thing I associate with Friday the 13th is horror filmson TV," she said. LSA sophomore Rodey Wing said he is not concerned, but he used to play practical jokes on the day by delivering pumpkins on people's doorsteps. Most students questioned were unaware of the origins of the Friday the 13th super- stition, although Rackham student Daniel Marco said that "13 in America is not regarded as a good number." And Marco is pretty much on target. According to an article published on urban- legends.com titled "Why Friday the 13th is Unlucky," by David Emery, the Friday the 13th superstition arose from the fact that the day Friday and the number 13 were both historically considered ijnlucky. The controversy about 13 stems from Bib- lical scripture, as there were 13 present at the Last Supper, one of whom went on to betray Jesus Christ. Friday's negative connotation is also tied to Biblical origins. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ and Eve's famous sin were said to have taken place on Friday. While some believe Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, others instead believe in other superstitions. "My great aunt, she would say you have tq burn your hair after you get a haircut or else a bird will make a nest in it and you will go crazy," Engineering senior Mark Christian said, adding she also believed that if you got your shirt wet while washing the dishes, you would marry an alcoholic. Rackham student Wendy Grus said her coworker's superstitions made her suscepti- ble to practical jokes. "I convinced her once that her cookie was cursed and she didn't eat it," Grus said. "I say that I don't have any supersti- tions," LSA sophomore Alana Ward said. "But I'll try not to split the pole when I'm walking with a friend." "Splitting the pole," or letting a pole come in between you while walking with a friend, will result in the end of your friendship unless you say "bread and butter" after you pass the pole, Ward said. As for the reason why so many people believe in superstitions, Ward said she thinks superstitions are just "leftovers from childhood." Planes again banned from flying over Big House, By Steve Jackson Daily Sports Editor The skies over America's stadiums are free from adver- tisements once again. Citing the orange "high" level of alert, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration renewed its ban on banner-towing planes flying over major open-air assemblies on Wednesday, but this ban is only temporary. The University has been lobbying strongly against the use of this kind of advertising over and around Michigan Stadi- um, but this particular victory has not ignited any celebration. "I have mixed thoughts about the whole thing," Michigan Athletic Director Bill Martin said. "It's a shame that we have to live with a higher level of alert because of terrorism. But we have a lot of fans that are very uneasy about those planes. So, if this helps people feel safer at Michigan foot- ball games, then that's a very positive thing." r reac' f rejoicing in a short-term fix that forbids any airplanes from coming within a three-mile radius of Michi- gan Stadium on game days, University officials have simply re-devoted themselves to the goal of a permanent ban. "It's like we are in the sixth inning of a baseball game," Michigan Vice President for Government Relations Jim Kosteva said. "It may look like we are in the lead right now, but we have a lot of work yet to do before we can say that we'ye won. "We will continue our efforts, along with Major League Baseball, the (National Football League) and other major college programs, to press our case before Congress." Neither Kosteva nor Martin had any idea how long the temporary ban will stand, but the Federal Aviation Adminis- tration said it will hold "listening sessions" to determine the impact of any long-term plan before a solution is reached. But University officials feel that Congress, not listening sessions, is the best place to air their grievances. Martin said the entire Michigan delegation supports his cause. He added that he and his representatives are trying to cut funding for issuing waivers out of the Transportation Spending Bill. After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, all planes were banned from flying over extreme groups of people. But in February the TSA began issuing waivers to small businesses that met certain specifications. Several local aircraft owners took advantage of these waivers to fly around the Big House during the Wolverines' first two home football games against Washington and Western Michigan. "I feel sorry for the small-business owners that this ban hurts," Martin said. "But our objective is the safety of our fans." Despite the recent outcry from college and professional See PLANES, Page 2 Photo illustration by JOHN PRATT/Daily While many ignore the old adage not to walk under ladders, some still believe in many different superstitions. The sweetest thing Family members still coping with grief By Shannon Pettyplece Daily News Editor I Some have attended community support groups, some have lived life a bit more carefree, and others have started scholarship funds in their loved ones memory to- cope with their grief. But as America moves past the one-year anniversary of thet Sept. 11 attacks, and it slowly fades out of the z media, family members and friends of the victims are still coping with their personal grief - one year later. "The last few weeks have been very difficult. All the talk and stuff in the papers has been very difficult," Danny Polatsch said. "The planes and the sounds of ambulances takes a different mean- ing for me now." Danny Polatsch lost 'his brother, Larry Polatsch, and close friend Scott Weingard on Sept. 11 - all three are University alums. Danny said the loss of his brother has been so difficult in the past year that he has not been able to fully come to terms with the loss of his friend. "I'm having a rough time with my brother, I haven't even approached the loss with Scotty," Danny said. Scott's friend said he will be coming back to the University for a home football game with other friends of Scott's this semester, which was a tradition they used to share with Scott. For Herb Ouida, who lost his son Todd Ouida See MOVING ON, Page 3 Red Cross volunteerism remains strong ALYSSA WOOD/Daily Kelsey Snyder (left) and Makenzie Knue of Ann Arbor enjoy Dairy Queen ice cream cones yesterday afternoon. Mag azine recoVnizes student activism at'U By Donielle Cunningham Daily Staff Reporter By Allison Yang For the Daily The combination of the University's 300-plus student organizations and the vast diversity of its student body played a large role in Mother Jones' recent decision to rank the University No. 2 for campus activism among all colleges in the nation. The Mother Jones' ranking was pri- marily based on the University's law- suits regarding the use of race as a organizations acted as interveners in the cases, which appeared before the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year. Twenty-five representatives from those organizations presented their defense along with a petition sup- ported by the signatures of about 50,000 people in support of the Uni- versity's policies. The case of Grutter v. Bollinger, which brings into question Law School admissions policies, now awaits acceptance to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. Although lines are no longer wrapped around the Red Cross build- ing with hundreds waiting to offer their assistance, people remain willing to offer a helping hand. "We live in a giving community," Beverly Smith, coordinator of volun- teer services at the University Hospital said. "We have people here that help in times of suffering and need, but there are people that have that sort of spirit all the time." One year ago, the Washtenaw Coun- ty Red Cross was flooded with volun- teers. About 8,000 people donated blood in the three-week period after Sep. 11- almost half of their normal annual number of 19,000. "Hundreds of people were waiting in line each day," said Pamela Reading-, fimith Adirtor rf ninhlw cinnnrtfofr faculty and staff blood drive in Novem- ber 2001 collected more blood for the Red Cross than the two previous'blood drives in January and April. But Smith said their drives are always successful. Business contributions have remained consistent throughout the year. "Vendors and agencies offered their commercial services to us, and they have lingered on." She said, "They will still do some free work for us, but have become sort of partners with us." She said she noticed that a lot of professionals that had available time during the day, such as doctors and social workers, were more numerous at the Red Cross than before Sep. 11. Not everyone that stepped though the Red Cross doors was there solely to donate blood. Many came to offer their talents in areas such as adminis- tration and graphic design. Reading-Smith said that the Red kk I ai vccn wnnn/naHv