One hundred four years of editorialfreedom
ummer
Weekly
Wednesday
May 31, 1995
a,
Judge may dismiss charges against Baker
m Staff and Wire Reports nocence is "totally unrelated" to the decision to It now appears Cohn may dismiss all "So what is there in these words that would
Federal Judge Avern Cohn said Friday suspend him. charges against Baker. express a threat of serious bodily harm?" Cohn
'the court is very skeptical" of the "That is for the courts to decide," Harrison During the hearing on Friday, Cohn ques- said.
overnment's case against Jake Baker, a said. "We are very confident that we have acted tioned assistant U.S Attorney Christopher P. Messages Baker wrote to a correspondent
Former University student suspended last responsibly." Yates repeatedly on the content of Baker's calling himself Arthur Gonda were introduced
lanuary for Internet activity. Baker was held and denied bail by U.S. posted messages. by Yates to illustrate the scope of Baker's
University President James J. Duderstadt Magistrate Judge Thomas A. Carlson, who felt "What if I was walking down the street and threats.
ased his authority under Regents' Bylaw 2.01 he was a threat to society. I said to my law clerk, 'Stuart, I'd really like to Cohn, however, said that without knowing
to suspend Baker, who was arrested later by After more than a month behind bars, Cohn 'f' that broad.' Would that be a threat?" Cohn who Gonda was or his state of mind, it would be
FBI agents. released Baker on $10,000 bond based on a asked. impossible to put the conversation in context.
Vice President for University Relations psychological evaluation that deemed Baker Yates admitted the statement was "prob- "Arthur Gonda could bea 12-year-old boy or an Baker
alter Harrison sald Baker's legal guilt or in- harmless, ably not" a threat. SEE BAKEy, PAGE 2
_ Jur se uestering
o pens rapist trial
JONATHAN LURIE/daly
Hot wheels
Engineering junior and driver Grace Chan works on the Solar Car yesterday. The Solar Car team is
getting ready to race In Sunrace '95.
'U'may win $ 9M funding
increease fom Lansing
By Frank C. Lee
Daily Staff Reporter
Jury selection neared completion yesterday in the
highly publicized rape and murder trial of Ervin
Dewain Mitchell Jr. Charged
with three counts of first-de- -
gree criminal sexual conduct
and one count of attempted
murder, Mitchell, 33, has main-
tained that he is innocent.
Opening statements are
scheduled to begin this morn-
ing. The trial is expected to take
three weeks.
The sexual assaults oc-
curred during a two-year period
and included an alleged attack Mitchell
on a University student and the alleged murder of a
University employee. First-degree murder carries a
mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge Donald
Shelton announced last Tuesday that the 12 jurors
and four alternates selected will be sequestered at a
local hotel under the supervision of the court and the
Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department when the
trial is not in session. Jury selection began yester-
day morning when 65 possible jurors packed into a
courtroom.
A potential 165 witnesses could be called to
take the stand including civilians, members of the
Ann Arbor Police Department, Michigan State po-
lice officers, DNA lab technicians, medical wit-
nesses and members of the University's Depart-
ment of Public Safety.
Shelton, who is presiding over the trial of the
accused Ann Arbor serial rapist, said he has ordered
several measures to ensure a swift and orderly trial.
He issued a gag order in March prohibiting police,
attorneys and witnesses involved with the case
from talking to the press. The judge also moved up
the trial date six weeks despite the defense's pro-
tests.
The judge issued a decorum order Thursday
setting rigid guidelines for spectators. The order
subjects spectators to daily security checks before
entering the courtroom. No one is allowed to enter
or leave the courtroom during testimony. Still pho-
tographers will be restricted to a designated area,
and no photos of jurors will be allowed. Anyone
SEE MITCHELL, PAGE 2
By James Nash
Daily Staff Reporter
The University is in line for a
$9 million handout under a plan
headed for the state Senate this
eek, following a period of in-
se lobbying.
The increase, to be drawn
from an $18.8 million pot desig-
nated for infrastructure and tech-
nology, will have little or no bear-
ing on tuition, University offi-
cials said.
The Senate Appropriations
Committee approved the funds
last Thursday.
"If this increase were in the
*se appropriation, it would be a
lot easier for us to handle tuition, Extra Funding?
said Vice President for Univer- taF nig
sity Relations Walter Harrison. $18.8 million may be left over
"On the other hand, this is begin- from thin year. A Senate plan
ning to look like the best deal we would split it among the states
can et."colleges thin way: -
can get.''"kad
Under a funding package Oakland
proposed by Gov. John Engler Unirersity:
and endorsed by the House, the Michigan:
University would receive a 3- $9 mon
percent increase in base appro-
priations. That would bring the
institution's total state outlay toWayE
$279.7 million, or $8,132 per 7 4'tte e mEa:
student. Michian $4milin ichigan:
steden..$1 million
A Republican senator, up- $
set over the University's policy
SEE FUNDING, PAGE 2 JONATHAN BERNDT/Daily
B-ball coach faced probation
bation at the end of the academic year.
U layers omplane a Roberson's disposition stated that Roberts
Roberts' attitude toward team could have "no further problems with some of the
complaints from some student athletes and from
By Nicholas J. Cotsonika parents, and that those would be addressed, and that
Daily Sports Editor the academic concerns of the team would be more
Michigan women's basketball coach Trish Rob- closely monitored."
erts was put on probation midway through the 1994- Former Wolverine Tannisha Stevens and her
95 season after repeated complaints about her con- parents filed a lawsuit against Roberts and the Uni-
duct toward players and her attitude toward academ- versity in November 1994, claiming that Roberts
ics, according to published reports. harrassed her and forced her to leave theteam due
Testimony given by Michigan Athletic Director toa disability.
Joe Roberson followed lawsuits filed against Rob- Stevens lost sight in her left eye after she was hit
erts and the University. Roberts was taken off of pro- SEE ROBERM, PAGE 7
Sports: Softball eliminated from Series/ 12
Arts: Mel Gibson looks good in a kilt in 'Braveheart'/8