The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom l Friday, April 6, 2007 -- 3 NEWS BRIEFS BAGHDAD Eight U.S. soldiers killed as militants fight back The U.S. military reported yesterday that eight U.S. soldiers were killed in the Baghdad area over the past three days as mili- tants fought back against a secu- rity plan in its eighth week. An Army helicopter went down south of the capital, wounding four, after an Iraqi official said insur- gents fired on it. Four British soldiers - includ- ing two women - died yesterday in an ambush that Prime Minister Tony Blair called an "act of terror- ism," suggesting it may have been carried out by elements linked to Iran but stopping short of blaming Tehran. One U.S. soldier died and two were wounded in a roadside bomb- ing yesterday in restive Diyala province north of Baghdad, the military said. WASHINGTON Pentagon plans second tour for Nat'l Guard brigades Several National Guard brigades are expected tobenotifiedsoonthat they could be sent to Iraq around the first of next year, according to a senior Defense Department offi- cial. If their assignment to Iraq is ultimately approved by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, it would be the first time full Guard combat brigades were sent back to Iraq for a second tour. The units would serve as replace- ment forces in the regular unit rota- tion for the war, and would not be connected to the recent military build-up for security operations in Baghdad. Gates is expected to sign the notices alerting the Guard troops shortly, said the official, who requested anonymity because the information has not yet been released. LONDON Three charged with conspiracy in London bombings Prosecutors. filed charges yes- terday against three people who allegedly conspired with suicide bombers in the attacks that killed 52 subway and bus passengers in London on July 7, 2005. The three, who were arrested last month, are from the same area of West Yorkshire, England, as three of the four suicide bombers. "The allegation is that they were involved in reconnaissance and planning," said Susan Hemming of the prosecutors' office. An initial court appearance is scheduled for tomorrow. CHALCO, Mexico Health officials rule out epidemic at boarding school Government health officials who examined about 600 female students suffering from symptoms that sparked fears of an epidemic at a Roman Catholic boarding school said yesterday the mystery illness was psychosomatic. Media coverage showing girls unable to walk out of the La Villa de las Ninas school in the state of Mex- ico prompted allegations of abuse by the South Korean nuns who run the school and treat the girls with traditional Asian medicine. Victor Manuel Torres, assis- tant director of epidemiology at the Mexico State Health Insti- tute, told The Associated Press the teenage girls appear to have suffered from "psychosomatic symptoms." The cause "probably comes from being in a state of isolation," he said. - Compiled from Daily wire reports Captured Brits welcomed home CHICKEN LITTLE ROYAL MARINE BASE CHIVE- NOR, England (AP) - Fifteen Royal Navy crew members freed from Iran enjoyed their first night on English soil yesterday. Amid the relief, champagne and tearful embraces, however, some Britons raised questions about the sailors' conduct and their apparent confes- sions in captivity. While much of the country ral- lied behind the crew's return, oth- ers criticized them for offering apologies where none was required - namely for appearing in videos in which they admitted and offered regrets for entering Iranian waters. Defense officials sought quash the criticism and said that none of the sailors and marines willbe pun- open to comprot ished for making the apologies. ters, particularly Prime Minister Tony Blair was for a halt to Iran somber. He said that while the coun- ment program. try celebrated the safe return - and But Iran alrea praised the diplomacy that secured would retaliate i their release - the joy was dimin- too hard, and U. ished by the killing of four British fied their criticis soldiers in Iraq on Thursday. restraining their "Just as we rejoice at the return the 13-day stand of our 15service personnel, so today naval crew. we are also grieving and mourning Gordon John for the loss of our soldiers in Basra, for the National who were killed as the result of a said Washington terrorist act," Blair said outside his nian willingnesst office at 10 Downing St. nations on scalin Iran's release of the eight sailors program, which and seven marines raised hopes allies suspect is a among some that Tehran might be atomic weapons. mise on other mat- Western demands 's uranium enrich- dy was warning it f the West pushed S. officials intensi- m of Tehran after comments during off over the British droe, spokesman Security Council, saw no sign of Ira- to work with other ng back its nuclear the U.S. and its imed at producing that time, a grad- d in the gatehouse as responsible for grounds, which Ann Arbor resident Kathy Nathan promotes Ann Ar bor 9/li Truth's event 'Truth Strikes Back" in the lobby of Haven Hall yesterday. The gravy argues that the U.S. government ied ahout itn role ir the Sept.11, 2001 terrorist attacks. INGLIS From page 1 Citing security concerns, Gallo- way and Cunningham did not per- mit The Michigan Daily to tour the third and fourth floors of the house, which is where the guest rooms are located. The five-bedroom house, which is rumored to have had the first stand-up shower in Ann Arbor, can accommodate up to 10 overnight guests, but Galloway said typically only about three to six guests stay there in a typical week. Football season and the spring are generally the busiest times of the year, she said. The house and the extensive gar- dens surrounding it are also used for University functions, formal dinners and receptions. The din- ing room can accommodate up to 40 guests for a formal dinner, and the house's library and gardens are often used for receptions and tea parties for faculty groups. Din- ners at the house are catered, but a caretaker who lives in the estate's gatehouse prepares breakfast for overnight guests. Galloway said the house is one of only six University buildings with a liquor license. Inglis House can only be reserved for events and guests by University departments, and all requests must be approved by Galloway. Departments must pay $175 per night for guests to stay in the house and are also charged for other functions hosted there. Most guests stay for a night or two, but at the request of then-Uni- versity President Lee Bollinger, former Athletic Director Tom Goss was allowed to live in the house for nine months while he searched for permanent housing after he was hired in 1997. Galloway, who has overseen the house for the last eight years, said she has never had a request from a student group to have an event at the house, but that such a request would require University President Mary Sue Coleman's approval. There are two full-time staff members dedicated to running and maintaining the house as well as two groundskeepers that split their time between Inglis House and the President's Residence. Galloway said that about 20 years ago, the house's grounds were maintained by the School of Natural Resources and the Envi- ronment. During uate student live full-time and wr maintaining the HASH BASH From page 1 Bash is a worthwhile tradition. Many fraternities and houses on campus hold Hash Bash parties, complete with live music. Although the number of students on the Diag may have decreased, it remains a widely celebrated campus holiday. "It brings the campus communi- ty closer together," Morton said. Brook said he warns people every year that smoking marijuana on the Diag could cost them heavy fines because itis on University property. Marijuana possession in the city of Ann Arbor is a civil infraction that carries a $25 fine for the first offense, a $50 fine for the second offense and a $100 fine for each subsequent offense. But a fine for marijuana possession on University property, which includes the Diag, is a minimum of $100 or 90 days in jail for each offense. Brown said additional police will be patrolling the Diag on Saturday. "We expect people to comply with the law every day of the year," she said. The main purpose of Hash Bash, though, is to encourage reforms in marijuana laws, Brook said. The Michigan Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws is spon- soring the event this year. The orga- nization backs ballot initiatives to legalize the drug. Hash Bash is not officially affili- ated with the University. Brook said he usually coordinates with student organizations to reserve the Diag. But Susan Wilson, the University's assistant dean of students, said event organizers have not reserved the Diag Saturday. Brown said the lack of a reserva- tion shouldn't be a problem for the group as long as no other student group has reserved the Diag for the same time. "As long as Hash Bash does not interfere with a previously-orga- nized activity, participants are free to gather on the Diag," she said. Engineering senior Pam Reasor, who said she isn't sure if she will go to Hash Bash, said the weather will probably not deter anyone who planned on attending the event. "People are hardcore about it," Reasor said. The tradition began in 1972, the year after Ann Arbor activist John Sinclair was arrested for possessing of two joints of marijuana. The Supreme Court re-examined Sinclair's case three days after a rally held by John Lennon and Yoko Ono at Crisler Arena. Protesters at the rally claimed Sinclair's incar- ceration was cruel and unusual punishment and the result of police entrapment. Sinclair was released from jail on Dec.13, 1971, four months before the first Hash Bash. 3,259 Number of American service members who have died in the War in Iraq, according to The Associ- ated Press. No new deaths were identified yesterday. r; :l- ; ;, ; : 'i"3i