The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Friday, September 24, 2010 - 3A The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Friday, September 24, 2010 - 3A NEWS BRIEFS DETROIT Aretha Franklin speaks out on her son's beating Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is speaking out on the beating her adult son took from three men at a Detroit gas station. Franklin said in a statement yesterday through a public rela- tions firm that Eddie Franklin underwent surgery after arriving at a hospital emergency room early Tuesday morning. She said his jaw was wired shut. Franklin also said her son's girl- friend gave her the wrong location of Monday night's attack. Police said Eddie Franklin, who is in his 50s, was driven to the hos- pital by a female acquaintance. He gave officers a written statement Wednesday. The attack originally was report- ed by Gwendolyn Quinn, who at the time was Franklin's spokeswoman. Franklin calls Quinn's GQ Media and Public Relations Inc. her "for- mer publicist" in Thursday's state- ment. SEATTLE Four shot to death in Seattle home Police found four people fatally shot in a Seattle home yesterday after neighbors reported gunfire and a wounded woman ran into the front yard telling officers, "My mom's gone crazy." Officers responded to a report of gunshots at about 1:30 p.m. and could still hear shots being fired from the house when they arrived, police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said. Police said that while they were arriving, a man in his 50s ran into the house. Two more shots were fired and he ran back out, telling officers his wife had shot herself. When police were able to go inside, they found the four dead, including a woman in her 50s they believe was the shooter, Whitcomb said. He said police don't believe any- one else was involved. In addition to the older woman, the dead were two women in their late teens and a man in his 30s, police said. Their relationships were not immediately known. Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel told Seattlepi.com a 42-year-old wounded woman - who fled the house and is expected to survive - was able to speak to officers when they arrived. PARIS Al-Qaida claims kidnapping of five Al-Qaida's North Africa branch has claimed responsibility for kid- napping five French nationals near a uranium mine deep in the desert of the African nation of Niger, an audio message broadcast yesterday said. In the recording broadcast by the Arabic news channel al-Jazeera, a voice claiming to represent al- Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb said the group would issue its demands to the French government shortly. "It was not a real surprise to learn that al-Qaida was at the ori- gin" of the kidnapping, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouch- ner told journalists at the United Nations in New York. "Now that it's certain, we will continue - the French, their allies, Israel - to put every effort into obtaining their freedom." HELENA, Mont. Woman fends off bear with zucchini A Montana woman fended off a bear trying to muscle its way into her home yesterday by pelting the animal with a large piece of zuc- chini from her garden. The woman suffered minor scratches and one of her dogs was wounded after tussling with the 200-pound bear. The attack happened just after midnight when the woman let her three dogs into the backyard for their nighttime ritual before she headed to bed, Missoula County Sheriff's Lt. Rich Maricelli said. Authorities believe the black bear was just 25 yards away, eating apples from a tree. Two of the dogs sensed the bear, began barking and ran away, Mari- celli said. The third dog, a 12-year- old collie that wasn't very mobile, * remained close to the woman as she stood in the doorway of the home near Frenchtown in western Mon- tana. - Compiled from Daily wire reports. After spil, oil to flow through pipeonce again HENNY RAY ABRAMS/AP Members of the United States delegation to the United Nation listen yesterday as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addresses the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. U.S. delegation leaves A ja Ahm-aiea speech Two months later, Kalamazoo River pipe repaired TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - Oil should resume flowing early Monday through an underground pipe that ruptured nearly two months ago and spilled at least 820,000 gallons of crude oil into a southern Michigan waterway, the pipeline owner said yesterday. Enbridge Inc. CEO Patrick Dan- iel said the operation will begin in the morning unless government regulators object. The company's restart plan won approval Wednes- day from the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Enbridge's line 6b - which runs from Griffith, Ind., to Sarnia, Ontario - has been out of service since the leak was detected July 26. When the flow resumes, pres- sure in the 286-mile-long pipe will be 20 percent below normal, Dan- iel said. "It is very significant to get this line back into service ... safely," he said, adding that the company will notify the public and emergency response agencies in the area over the next two days. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, said she was concerned about going ahead with the plan before the government investigation ofthe spillis finished. "Restarting the pipeline with- out fully knowing the cause of the rupture will put families and com- munities across Michigan at risk," Stabenow said. PHMSA said the restart will be monitored by an independent third party. Enbridge alsowill haveto fix numerous defects in the line and replace a dented section running beneath the St. Clair River within a year. Daniel said those requirements will be met, and the new 3,800- foot segment under the St. Clair should be installed and operating by mid-2011. Enbridge, based in Calgary, Alberta, also will meet a Monday deadline set by the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency for completing the initial cleanup of the Kalamazoo River and nearby creeks and shorelines, Daniel said. Yesterday, the EPA ordered the companytofinishremovingoilthat has been found beneath the water's surface - and contaminated sedi- ments - by Oct. 31. Other measures to restore the area to its pre-spill condition will continue into next year, said Mark Durno, the EPA's deputy incident commander. Some plants along the Kalama- zoo River will die this winter, said Mike Masterson, a section chief with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environ- ment. Experts will decide next spring where additional vegetation is needed, he said. Enbridge also must submit a report on potential damage to drinking water supplies and take samples from wells within 200 feet of affected waterways, said Susan Hedman, the EPA's regional administrator. Some oil in sensitive areas may be left to deteriorate naturally if removing it would cause additional damage, Hedman said. About 11 million gallons of oily water have been removed from the river and creeks, and about 700,000 gallons of oil has been recovered through a separation process, Daniel said. Iranian president suggested U.S. staged 9/11 attacks UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.S. delegation walked out of the U.N. speech of Iranian Presi- dent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday after he said some in the world have speculated that Amer- icans were behind the Sept.11 ter- ror attacks, staged in an attemptto assure Israel's survival. He did not explain the logic of that statement that was made as he attacked the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ahmadinejad has called for the destruction of Israel and is deeply at odds with the United States and European allies over its nuclear program and suspicions that it is designed to produce an atomic bomb. Iran says it is only working on technology for electricity gen- eration. The U.S. delegation left the hall after Ahmadinejad said there were three theories about the Sept.11, 2001 attacks: -That "powerful and complex terrorist group" penetrated U.S. intelligence and defenses. -"That some segments within the U.S. government orchestrated the attack to reverse the declining American economy and its grips on the Middle East in order also to save the Zionist regime. The majority of the American people as well asother nations and politi- cians agree with this view." The Americans stood and walked out without listening to the third theory, that the attack was the work of"a terrorist group but the American government supported and took advantage of the situation." Mark Kornblau, spokesman of the U.S. Mission to the world body, issued a statement within moments of Ahmadinejad's attack. "Rather than representing the aspirations and goodwill of the Iranian people," he said, "Mr. Ahmadinejad has yet again cho- sen to spout vile conspiracy theo- ries and anti-Semitic slurs that are as abhorrent and delusional as they are predictable." Ahmadinejad, who has in the past cast doubt over the U.S. ver- sion of the Sept. 11 attacks, called for establishment of an indepen- dent fact-finding U.N. body to probe the attacks and stop it from turning into another sacred issue where "expressing opinion about it won't be banned". He said the U.S. used the attacks as a pretext to invade Afghanistan and Iraq that led to the killing of hundreds of thou- sands of people, saying the U.S. should have "designed a logical plan" to punish the perpetrators ' while not sheding so much blood. Ahmadinejad boasted of the capture in February of Abdulmalik Rigi, the leader of an armed Sunni group whose insurgency in the southeast of Iran has destabilized the border region with Pakistan. He said authorities did not resort to violence, but captured the suspect after trailing his movements in an operation by Iranian secret agents. Rigi was later hanged. The Iranian leader spoke of threats to burn the Quran by a small American church in Florida to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Although that church backed down, several copycat burnings were posted on the Internet and broadcast in the Muslim world. "Very recently the world wit- nessed the ugly and inhumane act of burning the holy Quran," Ahmadinejad said. He briefly touch on the four sets of sanctions imposed on his coun- try by the United Nations over Tehran's refusal stop enriching uranium and to prove Iran is not trying to build an atomic bomb. Some members of the Security Council have "equated nuclear energy with nuclear bombs," Ahmadinejad said. He accused the United States of building up its nuclear arsenal instead of dismantling it and reit- erated his call for a nuclear-free world. "The nuclear bomb is the worst inhumane weapon which must totally be eliminated. The NPT (Nonproliferation Treaty) prohibits its development and stockpiling and calls for nuclear disarmament," the Iranian presi- dent said. Ahmadinejad hinted that Iran is ready for talks on its nuclear program provided they are based on "justice and respect", suggest- ing that the U.S. and its allies must stop pressuring Iran through sanctions before Tehran will sit at the negotiating table. Peace Corps events' timing with theme semester 'a lucky accident,' officials say Chicago awaits Emanuel's decision on mayoral race White House chief of staff is rumored to be mulling bid CHICAGO (AP) - The phones are ringing. Signatures are being gathered. Groups are vetting who to support. If White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is going to launch his expected campaign for mayor of Chicago, the clock is ticking on getting started. Prospective candidates are lining up support around town, reaching out to business leaders, union officials, activists and oth- ers. Unlike Emanuel, who has not been seen in Chicago since Mayor Richard Daley announced he would not seek re-election and even canceled a trip to the city, some already are showing up at local events and drawing voters into their corners. "I met with business leaders, I met with labor leaders, religious leaders, an individual who is a representative of the gay commu- nity," said James Meeks, a state senator and one of the Chicago's leading black clergymen, who is gathering signatures and widely expected to run. And, he said, "It has reached the point where I've talked to a group of people who can write some fairly large checks." Even if Emanuel decides to run, it's not clear whether he would leave President Barack Obama's administration before the Nov. 2 midterm elections. Playing wait and see now could find him playing catch-up later. While Emanuel has clearly been working the phones and meeting with Chicago politicians in Washington - and imme- diately would be considered a heavyweight if he entered the race - his absence from the city is only highlighted by other actions by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and others. Dart will enter the race, according to people close to him, and this week alone he's doing something other candidates, particularly Emanuel, cannot: Making news for doing his job in Chicago. He's touted an arrest by his office of someone suspected of bilking a mentally disabled man out of tens of thousands of dollars and issued a news release about a new partnership with federal agents to prevent abuse and theft of prescription drugs. Chicago Alderman Bob Fio- retti, another possible candidate, attended a recent protest march by Chicago police who are angry at their boss, Superintendent Jody Weis. Fioretti told officers he supports them and believes, as they do, Weis should be replaced; he mentioned that his supporters were collecting petition signa- tures too. Mayoral candidates need 12,500 valid signatures to get on February's ballot. And Dick Simpson, a University of Illinois at Chicago political scientist and a former alderman, said that actually means collecting about 30,000 to ensure a spot once any number of signatures are thrown out for one reason or another. That takes people working the streets. While Meeks and Dart and others are seen by analysts as able to reach that number, Simp- son said he is not sure Emanuel, with no apparent army of volun- teers at his disposal, can do the same. "My sense is Rahm won't be able to pull it together," Simp- son said. But, he said, "If he does enter the race soon and uses the money he has he could hire the people (to collect signatures)." Some black and Latino candi- dates mulling a run are preparing for interviews with a coalition of black and Latino clergymen, union leaders, elected officials and others who are holding what amounts to their own mini pri- mary to determine a single candi- date to support. City Clerk Miguel del Valle has announced his run and released a television ad, while U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez has been gather- ing signatures for support in Chi- cago's heavily-Mexican enclaves. Former U.S. Sen. Carol Mose- ley Braun, who announced this week she was considering a run, is making her own rounds of the city. But to some, including U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, the interviews are the whole ball game. "If I'm chosen then I'm a can- didate," he said. "If (they) choose someone else, I will support who- ever they choose." Meeks said he doesn't know whether he also would drop out without that group's support, but he may be a front-runner to win it after finishing first last week among 16 candidates in a straw poll of 100 ministers, most from black churches on the city's South and West sides. From Page 1A selves," he continued. "There's probablya huge variety of answers, but you're not going to have an answer unless you engage the question. Our goal ... is to raise the question, to legitimize discus- sion of it, because if you can't do it on a university campus, where are you going to raise that question? Where are you going to discuss it l an open way?" The co-organizers added that at the University today, students are often more worried about prepar- ing for future careers than they are about learning for learning's sake. Chamberlin and Peterson both said they hope the theme semester will help change this mindset. "In these economic times, stu- dents are especially concerned about, 'How am I going to prepare for a career?' and sometimes that takes them towards pre-profes- sional thinking and, perhaps, away from a general question of what makes life worth living," Peterson said. "I think in the modern uni- versity, disciplinary specialization increasingly leaves attention to these questions to others." Peterson used a metaphor to describe the focus on pre-profes- sional tracks. "It's easy to miss the forest for the trees," he said. "The forest is what makes life worth living. Why are we trying to get good grades? Why are we trying to get jobs? We just want to have a discussion going, and I think it's starting." Most of the theme semester events, Peterson said, are being organized by other departments and are just being co-sponsored by the theme semester. This means there will be a wide array of events to appeal to individuals with vary- ing interests. Some of the theme's signature events will revolve around the Uni- versity's celebration of the Peace Corps's 50th anniversary, from Oct. 13-1S. When then-Senator John F. Kennedy was runningfor president in 1960, he made an impromptu late-night speech to a crowd gath- ered on the steps of the Michigan Union. In that speech, Kennedy first announced his intentions to create an organization for interna- tional service - later to be named the Peace Corps. Chamberlin said it was a tre- mendous coincidence that this particular theme semester so appropriately coincides with the Peace Corps celebration. "That was a lucky accident for us," he said. "Sometime after we said, 'Let's do this!' we realized the Peace Corps celebration was going to happen. It's the perfect event to have duringthe theme semester." Chamberlin continued, "Michi- gan has sent several thousand peo- ple into the Peace Corps. It's been an important way in which liberal arts graduates, in many cases, go out and find themselves in the world." A full listing of theme semes- ter events can be found at the theme semester website, www. wmlwl.com. WANT TO READ DAILY HEADLINES ON YOUR CELL PHONE? WELL NOW YOU CAN! Visit m.michigandaily.com