Weather Friday October 18,2002 @2002 The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXIII, No. 32 One-hundred-twelve years ofeditorialfreedom TDAY: Mostly cloudy throughout the day with light rain expected by early evening, and thunderstorms at night. HI: 50 LOW: 45 Tomorrow- www.michigandaily.com ------------------ U' endowment loss relatively small By 'Tyler Boersen and Meghan Hayes Daily Staff Reporters FLINT - Despite a national economic downturn, the University outdid investment expectations and ranks among the top 25 per- cent of national universities in investment' returns, Chief Investment Officer Erik Lund- berg told the University Board of Regents at their monthly meeting yesterday. "We are doing extremely well in relation to our peers, Chief Financial Officer Tim Slot- tow said. During the past year, the University suffered a 4 percent loss to its endowment fund, bring- ing the total value to $3.4 billion. But the Uni- versity's overall assets decreased by only $10 million due to an 8.7 percent increase in work- ing capital. "We gave some money back and took a hit in venture capital and private equity, but because we have a diversified investment strategy, we made money in other areas that offset the loss- es," Slottow said. Lundberg said the University's investment success lies in the fact that it diversifies risks and moderates economic volatility. He said the University has a long-term investment strategy designed with the knowledge that the economy is unpredictable. "We know the market is going to go up, we know the market is going to go down," he said. "The past two years have been tough - we're not out of the woods yet." Slottow said working capital investments are made in bonds that are low risk and low return. Because bond values are higher than normal, bond returns have been greater this year. Investment of endowment funds can be more risky because they are based on long term strate- gies, accounting for greater losses, he said. Regent Olivia Maynard (D-Goodrich) said it is important for the University to maintain this strategy to protect its assets. "We are diverse in our investments, and that is a good way to run a public institution," she said, adding that through this strategy, the Uni- versity has done better than the benchmarks that reflect goals established by a group of investment experts. In terms of expectations, Slottow said the University suffered a 1 percent loss of all sal- able investments, compared to the 6 percent benchmark which represents greater success than anticipated. Slottow said the University is where it should be in terms of short term loss - in the middle with respect to other universities. He said this means the University's strategy is not too con- servative or too risky. "When you take big risks, you get big wins and big losses," Slottow said, adding that while there are no immediate results from safe invest- ing, they should be stable over time if the econ- omy improves. "If the economy stays in the tank, we need to restructure," Slottow said. The regents also formally approved the appointment of Paul Courant as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, and approved the appointment of architects for three College of Engineering projects that will continue to be developed over the next several months. CIA warns threat of F. attack still very high WASHINGTON (AP) - New al- Qaida strikes may be imminent on U.S. soil or overseas, CIA Director George Tenet warned yesterday as he defended his agency's counterterrorism efforts to lawmakers. "You must make the assumption that al-Qaida is in an execution phase and intends to strike us both here and over- seas," Tenet said, noting recent attacks in Kuwait, Indonesia and off Yemen. "That's unambiguous as far as I'm concerned." Tenet's comments came during an extraordinary session as he joined FBI Director Robert Mueller III and National Security Agency chief Lt. Gen. Michael Hayden to answer sharp questions from the House and Senate intelligence com- mittees, in the culmination of five weeks of public hearings on missed warnings of the Sept.. 11 attacks. The hearing also led to new revelations regarding al-Qaida's planning for the Sept. 11 attacks. In a written report declassified yesterday, Tenet suggests that Osama bin Laden himself may have suggested the hijackers use large planes to strike the World Trade Center. He also said al-Qaida will try to attack again. "Based on what we have learned about the 11 September, an attempt to conduct another attack on U.S. soil is cer- tain," he said. Tenet said he was meeting later yes- terday with Homeland Security Direc- tor Tom Ridge. He said Ridge has already taken defensive measures "in specific areas where the intelligence was most credible and in sectors where we're most worried about." He didn't identify them. But he said the current situation is comparable with what existed in the United States in the summer before the Sept. 11I attacks. "You must make the analytical judg- ment that the possibility exists that peo- ple are planning to attack you inside the United States - nmltiple simultaneous attacks. We are the enemy, we're the peo- ple they want to hurt inside this country," he said. The nationwide alert level remains code yellow - "significant risk of terror- ist attacks" - because officials do not have specific details on where and when an attack may occur, Homeland Security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. Yellow is the third-highest of five threat levels. Animated and sometimes annoyed, Tenet offered his most detailed public accounting to date of what the CIA did to stop bin Laden's terrorist network before the Sept. 11 attacks. He said his agency has saved thousands of lives by success- fully stopping terrorist attacks. New memo says Granholm shows favor to donors By Loule Melzl~sh Daily Staff Reporter State Republicans are making hay of another internal memo they say shows the basis on which state Attorney Gener- al Jennifer Granholm will make deci- sions if elected governor: donations. The Michigan GOP obtained and yes- terday released an inter- nal memo from Plano, Texas-based Electronic Data Systems Corp. in which EDS' lobbyist urges company officials to give to the Granholm campaign in order to remain on solid footing, MICHIGAN ELECTIOjI JOHN PRATT/Daily A veteran of the South African liberation movement, Ahmed Kathrada was a political prisoner for 26 years on Robben Island. He spoke last night in West Hall about his experiences. olitical prisoner recalls time on Robben Island should the Democrat win the Nov. 5 election over GOP Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus. "The race for Governor is really Granholm's to lose," wrote Jennifer Kwapis, EDS Midwest regional direc- tor of government affairs, in a memo dated Oct. 7. "We need to secure our position with the future Governor so that she can benefit from EDS' sup- port in the final days of her campaign - and also that she will recognize EDS as a key IT partner to the State who can help as a thought leader dur- ing her transition time." The memo also notes EDS' aspira- tions of winning a large state contract to improve the telecommunications infra- structure in Michigan. But Granholm's campaign yesterday distanced itself from the memo and said it was canceling her appearance at an Oct. 18 fundraiser at which EDS planned to present her with a check for $30,000. "That's not the way we do business," Granholm spokesman Chris De Witt said. "She won't be attending the event nor taking the money. When the memo was brought to our attention, it was very clear that that's not the way we do busi- ness, so that was conveyed very clearly to EDS." Republicans had previously blasted Granholm over a memo obtained by WKBD-TV in which Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick offers support of Granholm's campaign in exchange for Granholm's naming Detroiters to head several top state offices: The mayor's office at the same time said it never sent the memo and Granholm said she did not receive it. Not satisfied with Granholm's response, state Republicans pointed to Granholm's tenure as Wayne County's corporation counsel when they say 84 percent of county-administered air- port contracts went to donors to the campaigns of Granholm's then-boss, county Executive Edward McNamara. "Interest groups now beieve in order to do business with Granholm you have to pony up a check," Republican Party spokesman Jason Brewer said. By Emily Kraack and Lindsey Wisniewski Daily Staff Reporters "Dr. Kathrada exemplifies'what ordinary people in extraordinary cir- cumstances can do," said Brent Chrite, director of the South Africa Initiatives Office, in his introduction of South African anti-Apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada at last night's lecture in West Hall. About 100 students and communi- ty members turned out to hear Kathrada speak on his experiences as a political prisoner on Robben Island, a prison in Capetown, South Africa reserved mainly for political prisoners. The lecture, titled "A Life of Politi- cal Activism and Robben Island as a Symbol of Reconciliation and Memo- ry," was presented by the Center for See KATHRADA, Page 3 Partisan, support drives Democratic majority By Christopher Johnson Daily Staff Reporter Members of the Ann Arbor City Council have often rallied around party support in their politics and initiation of programs. Ann Arbor is one of the few cities that allows party identi- fication to appear on the election ballot next to city council candidates, and those running for election this year have drawn heavily on parti- san support in their bid to obtain seats. Since the Democrats have enjoyed a super- majority in the council for the past several years, Democrats running in this election have collectively emphasized the productiveness of City Council during that period. Democrat Jean Carlberg, who has represent- ed Ward Three on the council for eight years, pointed to the body's work in improving afford- able housing. She cited the council's establish- ment of a land trust that allows people to build a home without paying for the land itself. "We have a number of non-profit organiza- tions providing housing and we need more of it," she said. Carlberg also noted the council's efforts to improve the environment of Ann Arbor. She plans to rid the Huron River of phosphorous by implementing non-phosphorous fertilizer and reassessing parts of the storm water ordinance to provide a better sewage system. She added that she would only consider a filtering process as a last result because of its great cost. Joan Lowenstein, the Democrat running for a seat in Ward 2 after having lost it in last year's election, emphasized the council's effort to improve housing. She pointed to her vote for a plan to construct an eight-story residential building downtown and said she would support See DEMOCRATS, Page 3 SNRE senior Jeff Lee sterilizes between petri dishes. a probe before using it to transfer fungal colonies No.11MICHIGAN a t a ' % Tomorrow I Noon I Ross-Ade Stadium I ESPN T THE OPPONENT Purdue (3-4) has been a disappointment so far this season. Despite their powerful offense, turnovers have killed the Boilermakers. Israeli students keep their nation 'At Heart' By Maria Sprow Daily Staff Reporter Kim Gordon, a 26-year-old Israeli from Jerusalem, was at work the Saturday night her brother was almost killed by a suicide bomber. They both worked at bars in Jerusalem, and Gor- don said her brother happened to be bending down behind the bar when a Palestinian suicide bomber killed himself and 11 others. Scared, Gordon said she quit her job, fearing that what happened to her brother could happen to her as well. Although he physically recovered from the attack, she said the emotional scars have not healed for either of them. "He was saved, though saved is a relative term. He "After that, I just stayed at home for a month. I quit my job because I was afraid." She is now traveling the United States along with two other Israelis, Dani Abelow and Avishai Ratsabi, both 26, as part of the Israel at Heart program. According to its website, Israel at Heart is an inde- pendent group that does not represent any govern- ment agency or political party. Currently, there are 48 Israeli students touring American colleges. Besides the University, the trio has also visited Michigan State University, Indiana University, Wayne State University and the University of Kansas, among others. They are participating in the program to tell their stories of life in Israel, as well as to refute anti-Israel statements being made on col- lege campuses. "When any terrorist bomb or event goes off, whenever anything happens, there is always a con- nection somewhere," said Abelow, whose neighbor was killed in a terrorist attack. But the ambassadors have been met by controver- sy at other universities, including Wayne State, where members of the Arab Student Association tied their hands together and placed duck tape over their mouths in a silent protest. Abelow and Gordon are graduate students at Hebrew University, where a bomb placed in the cafe- teria exploded earlier this year, killing 10 students. Ratsabi is an alum of the university. Though they briefly talked of their country's thriv- ing culture, nightlife and educational opportunities, their focus was on the affect terrorism has had on LAST WEEK Michigan won a dramatic overtime contest against Penn State in the Big House, 27-24. OUTLOOK a f - 11