By Andres Cediel 

Special to the Daily Planet 

Animal rights activist Gary Yourofsky is proclaimed an international terrorist by some and savior by others. His most recent feat, which earned him six months in maximum security prison, was releasing 1,500 minks from a farm in Canada where they were being raised for fur. 

“I knew I would get out [of prison],” said Yourofsky, “but the animals never would.”  

Yourofsky is on a nationwide speaking tour as a lecturer for the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Yourofsky spoke to a group of two dozen students and activists at UC Berkeley on Tuesday, alleging cruelties within the meat industry, calling lab testing on animals unscientific and espousing veganism as the path to world peace. 

“I’m not an animal lover,” he explained. “I just loathe injustice.”  

Yourofsky’s grievance that 10 million adoptable animals are put to death every year is particularly relevant to Berkeley citizens, who will be voting on a ballot initiative this November to rebuild the city’s animal shelter. The current facility, built in the 1940s, is thought to be inhospitable to animals. It has sewage problems, a rodent infestation and is unable to provide proper isolation for sick animals, shelter officials say.  

Shelter volunteer and co-author of the initiative Jill Posener calls the shelter “Berkeley’s dirty little secret” and said that the facility was designed “to hold an animal for 24 hours and then kill it.”  

Yourofsky’s message was not directed at those working to save animals in poor conditions, but aimed at UC Berkeley professors uphill who use animals to advance their field of study. 

According to the university’s public relations office, more than 40,000 animals are housed on campus for research. Psychology professors who experiment on them receive millions of tax dollars to investigate such things as how the brain analyzes visual motion and the neural mechanisms of sound recognition. 

The Berkeley Organization for Animal Advocacy (BOAA) points out that these procedures involve attaching electrode pedestals to the brains of monkeys or zebra finches, and then paralyzing eye movement or subjecting the animal to eight to 16 hours of continuous audio stimulation. In both cases, once the experiment is complete, the animal is killed for brain examination. 

“When will we let go of these medieval practices?” Yourofsky asked. 

He added that, aside from the ethical contradictions, animal testing is not scientifically valid. There is no correlation between one species’ reaction to a stimulus and that of another species, Yourofsky contended. 

“I’m still waiting for the scientist who can show me the formula [showing this correlation],” he said. 

Richard C. Van Sluyters, professor of Optometry and chair of the Animal Care and Use Committee at the university, disagrees with Yourofsky’s assertion. 

“It would be ludicrous to suggest that there are no similarities,” he said. “You’d have to be a conspiracy theorist.” 

Van Sluyters points out that the medical field has relied on animal testing for the past 100 years, and that advances show clearly that testing is useful.  

In regard to the treatment of animals, the professor explained that labs undergo rigorous internal and governmental inspections to make sure they meet certain standards for testing. Just last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture cleared the university labs, Van Sluters said. 

Veterinarian Elliot Katz is more skeptical. 

“I realized that they [university scientists] were treating the animals in a crap manner,” said Katz, “because they knew that the experiments they were doing were crap anyway.” 

In the early 1980s, Katz became involved in animal rights when he organized a defense of Max Redfearn, a university veterinarian who was threatened with his job after refusing to sign USDA papers certifying that animals had been treated humanely. 

Katz, Yourofsky and others assert that there are more effective and humane alternatives to testing on live animals, such as computer models and videos. 

Members of BOAA have picked up on Katz’ work and have drafted resolutions calling for UC Berkeley to phase out animal testing. Both Berkeley City Council and UC Berkeley’s student government have officially supported the effort. 

To the Editor: 

Herb Caen once wrote that you can tell it is election season in Berkeley when the streets are being repaved. Many elections have been decided over potholes. Our mayor knew to head this one off and make sure the roads were smooth. That is really nice, but did we have to wait eight years for an election? 

Yard signs are popping up all over. Great sign of personal expression. But what about those signs on streetlights and telephone poles? Unnecessary visual sign blight has long been considered bad taste in Berkeley. An impersonal sign is not a sign of community support. It is just a sign of a campaign who paid someone to put up signs. Interesting that one of the culprits has been one of our most dogged environmental watchers. 

Don’t forget to vote Tuesday Nov. 5. Make a difference right here where you live. 

Carrie Olson 

Berkeley

The Studio Building, located at the corner of Shattuck and Allston Way was built in 1905, and was the tallest building in downtown until the Shattuck Hotel was completed in 1909. Both are five stories tall, while the majority of downtown’s early 20th Century masonry buildings are between three and four stories. In 1925 the Chamber of Commerce Building (now Wells Fargo Bank) was constructed at 11 stories and became Berkeley’s only “skyscraper” until 1970 when the Great Western Building was completed. The Chamber of Commerce had its offices on the top floor of the building, a perfect place to tout the charms of Berkeley’s location directly opposite the Golden Gate.  

The Studio Building is one of the early group of masonry buildings constructed to replace downtown’s pioneer, wood-frame commercial buildings. The building is distinctive because it is the only one with a tile mansard roof and rounded window bays. The first-floor storefront bays were built as a series of alternating rounded and pointed arches, some of which have been covered. Set into the tile floor at the entrance is a mosaic picture of a palette and paint brushes and the name “Studio Building.” 

The building was constructed by Frederick H. Dakin and built for his company which handled investments in gold mines and real estate. His son, Clarence Casebolt Dakin, and niece, Edna Deakin (one side of the family changed the spelling of their name), were practicing architects in Berkeley at the time of construction, but there is no record of who designed the building. Bricks used for the foundation were manufactured by Dakin in Stege, Calif. 

The Mason McDuffie Real Estate Company occupied the ground floor from 1905 until they built the building across the street in 1928. Many older pictures show the building with Mason McDuffie signs on it. 

The studio part of the building was the fifth floor designed as artist studios and included a gallery. In December 1906, the first art exhibit was held; it was sponsored by Frederick Dakin, Mrs. John Galen Howard, and Mrs. William Keith. Exhibitors were Frederick Dakin’s brother, Edwin Deakin, William Keith, and Raymond Yelland. Building tenants included architect John Hudson Thomas and photographer Oscar Maurer. After the 1906 earthquake and fire Frederick H. Meyer moved his design studio from San Francisco to the Studio Building, where he founded the College of Arts and Crafts. Although the College moved after one year, the earliest instructors taught in this building and included Meyers, Perham W. Nahl, Isabelle Percy West, and Xavier Martinez. 

For many years the building was a hotel; it was restored in the late 1970s.  

Susan Cerny is author of Berkeley Landmarks and writes this in conjunction with the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association.  

ST. LOUIS – Author Salman Rushdie says his trips through airport security lines are slow again. 

At first, the author said he took the attention personally, remembering his years of hiding after his novel, “The Satanic Verses,” generated death threats from Muslims who found the work insulting to Islam. 

But Rushdie said he asked around and learned that he is being singled out because he’s a book-touring author with a perpetual one-way ticket. 

“It’s one of the problems of book touring,” he said Wednesday from Minneapolis, a stop on an American and Canadian book tour that brought him to St. Louis for an appearance at Washington University Thursday and another on Friday. The author was in Berkeley last month. 

And when he goes through airport security checks, he said, “I meticulously remove my shoes and inform them I do not have box cutters; I don’t plan on hijacking a plane any time soon.” 

The 55-year-old Rushdie, author of “The Moor’s Last Sigh,” “Shame” and “Midnight’s Children,” which won the Booker Prize, is currently promoting “Step Across This Line,” a book of essays that includes descriptions of his nine years of hiding because of a fatwa death edict. 

His visit to Washington University had been scheduled for last October, but university officials postponed it because local police said they could not provide adequate support for the event in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. 

Since Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s 1988 fatwa — or Islamic edict — against Rushdie was lifted by the Iranian government in 1998, the author has regained his freedom, moving to New York from London and traveling at will throughout the world. Rushdie was born Muslim but says he no longer practices the religion. 

“For almost four years I have had a pretty uneventful, security-free existence,” Rushdie said. 

In his new book, he gives advice to Americans about living with terrorism in a post-9/11 world. 

“The thing about fear is you’ve just got to get over it,” he said. “Living with danger is not going to stop you.”

Saturday, Oct. 5 

Day of Service  

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

Cal Corps Public Serice Center joins for a day of service projects in Berkeley. 

643-0306 

Free. 

Berkeley National Lab Open House 

10a.m. to 4 p.m. 

1 Cyclotron Rd. 

Live music, food, lectures, job fair, etc. 

495-2222 

Free. 

Leading Edge Technology Conferece 

9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Haas School of Business, Arthur Andersen Auditorium, 2200 Piedmont Ave. 

594-748 for more info. 

Berkeley Historical Society Walking Tour 

10 a.m. 

Call for meeting point information. 

Photographer Allen Stross will lead a tour of the various art institutions located near San Pablo Ave. and Ashby Ave. 

Call for reservations: 848-0181 

www.ci.berkeley.ca.us./histsoc/ 

$10 donation 

Elmwood Neighborhood Fall Festival 

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 

This “giant block party” includes Korean BBQ, tap dancing, Baroque organ recital,  

the Pacific Mozart Ensemble, and seminars on health and Japanese food. 

845-6830 

Free 

East Bay Solar Home Tour 

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Cedar Rose Park (first stop) 

Attendees collect a map to guide them  

on the self-guided tour—eight homes in Albany, Berkeley and Oakland in all. 

531-1184 

$15 per car. 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Eckanka Worship Service 

10:30 to 11:30 a.m. 

East Bay ECK Center, 3052 Telegraph, near Whole Foods 

“How to Survive Spiritually in Our Times” 

549-2807 

“A Jewish Religious Perspective on the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict and Prospects for Peace” 

12 p.m. 

First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way 

Rabbi Michael Lerner will speak. 

848-3693 

War Tax Resistance Information  

and Support Gathering 

4 to 6:30 p.m. 

1305 Hopkins St., near Peralta. 

Join others who refuse to pay taxes for U.S. militarism at this monthly  

potluck supper. 

843-9877 

Free: bring food or drink to share. 

Monday, Oct. 7 

Free Homework Assistant  

at Young Adult Project 

Martin Luther King Youth  

Services Center 

1730 Oregon St.  

Young Adult Project (YAP) has a  

homework program for ages 7-13. A scheduled appointment is needed.  

Snacks and transportation are provided. Priority given to south and west  

Berkeley students.  

981-6670 

NOW Meeting 

6 p.m. 

Mama Bears Bookstore and Coffee House, 6536 Telegraph Ave.  

Monthly meeting of the National Organization for Women. Lorraine Provost, executive director of the Alameda County Commission on the Status of Women will speak. 

287-8948 

School Board Candidates Night 

7 to 9 p.m. 

The Florence Schwimley Little Theaterat Berkeley High, Allston Way at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Candidates will speak and answer questions. Sponsored by the PTSA and the League of Women Voters 

BHSetree@HighSchoolEmail.com 

Berkeley Gray Panthers Home Owners Meeting 

3 p.m. 

Berkeley Gray Panthers Office, 1403 Addison St., behind Univesity Ave. at Andronico’s supermarket. 

Jane Kadosh will talk about real estate ethics. 

548-9696 

Wednesday, Oct. 9 

Berkeley Free Folk Festival Tour 

3 p.m. 

Meet at Malcom X School  

1731 Prince St. 

Join the Berkeley Free Folk Festival for a tour of possible festival locations. 

649-1423 

Free. 

Thursday, Oct. 10 

Public School Finance Discussion - League of Women Voters 

Noon to 2 p.m. 

Albany Public Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 

843-8824 

Free. 

Natural Building and Permaculture Slide Show 

7 p.m. 

Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. near Dwight Way 

Slide show and presentation by Kat Steele and Erin Fisher. 

548-2220 x233 

Free 

Grandparent Support Group 

10 to 11:30 a.m. 

Malcom X Elementary Arts & Academics School, 1731 Prince St. Rm.105A 

644-6517 

Free. 

Come and Take a New Look at the Catholic Church 

7:30 to 9 p.m. 

Norton Hall at St. Mary Magdalen Parish, 2005 Berry St.  

For those feeling alienated from the Catholic Church, combined teams from four parishes offer this opportunity to ask questions and talk.  

653-8631 

Friday, Oct. 11 

Celebration of completion of the “Channing and Popai Liem Archival Collection” 

6 p.m. Reception 

7 p.m. Program begins 

Morrison Room, Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley 

UC Berkeley’s first Korean American archive has been completed. 

“Iraq and the Looming War” 

11:45 a.m. luncheon, 12:30 p.m. speaker 

City Commons Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 

Professor Bruce E. Cain, PhD, department of political science at UC Berkeley will speak. 

526-2925 or 665-9020 

$11.50 or $12.50 luncheon 

$1 speaker only / students free 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers 

7:30 p.m. 

Ashkenaz 1317 San Pablo 

525-5054 

$11. 

Leon Bates 

7:30 p.m. 

Calvin Simmons Theatre, 10 10th St. 

Pianist Leon Bates offers works by Mozart, Brahms and Chopin. 

451-0775 or www.fourseasonsconcerts.com 

$25-$35. 

All Bets Off, Benumb and Uphill Battle 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

House Jacks  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 or www.freightandsalvage.com 

$16.50 in advance. $17.50 at door. 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Joaquin Diaz 

7:30 p.m. 

Ashkenaz 1317 San Pablo 

525-5054 

$11. 

Jimmie Dale Gilmore  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$17.50 in advance. $18.50 at door. 

African Children’s Choir 

9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. 

First Presbyterian Church, 2407 Dana St. 

These African children, ages 5 to 12, are staging a series of concerts across the U.S. as a gesture of hope towards victims of Sept. 11. 

Free 

Ledisi and the Braxton Brothers 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

845-5373 

$10-15. 

Yaphet Kotto, The Fleshies  

and Lesser of Two 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

Monday, Oct. 7 

Holly Gwinn Graham, Joel Landy and Lynda Williams 

7:30 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage Coffee House  

1111 Addison St. 

Benefit concert for the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space.  

548-1761 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at the door. 

Thursday, Oct. 10 

M Headphone w/ Lowrise 

8:30 p.m. 

Bear’s Lair Brewpub 

704-4492 

$5, 18 and over. 

Saturday, Oct. 12 

Rilo Kiley (saddle creek) and Arlo (subpop) 

5:30 p.m. 

Bear’s Lair Brewpub 

704-4492 

$5, 18 and over. 

Kira Allen 

6:30 p.m. Open mic sign-up 

7:00 p.m. Reading 

Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St.  

Presented by Rhythm & Muse 

527-9753 

Free / donations accepted 

Sunday, Oct. 13 

Jenna Mammina and Andre Bush 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

Jazz standards, obscure cover tunes and original compositions. 

845-5373 

$10-$15. 

“Please Pay Attention” 

Tuesday, Oct. 8 through Oct. 25 

4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

Worth Ryder Gallery, 116 Kroeber Hall 

UC Art graduates feature drawings, video, etc. 

DepartmentofArtPractice 

"Balancing Acts" 

Through Oct. 10 

Gallery 555, 555 12th St., 

Oakland City Center 

Oakland's 'Third Thursday' art night  

features Ann Weber's works  

made of cardboard. 

http://www.oaklandcitycenter.com.  

Free. 

Ceramics - Opening Reception 

Through Nov. 17 

3 to 5 p.m. 

A New Leaf Gallery, 1286 Gilman St. 

525-7621 

Free. 

“Hunger: What will you do about it?”  

Through Oct. 30  

Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The Civic Center Building 

2180 Milvia St., 5th floor 

Featuring 40 photographs  

by Berkeley artist David Bacon. 

834-3663, Ext. 338,  

uchanse@secondharvest.org 

Richard Misrach, Berkeley Work 

Though Oct. 13 

UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way 

On view in Gallery 2, presents two photographic series by this internationally recognized Berkeley-based artist.  

642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

$7. $5 BAM/PFA members.  

$4 UC Berkeley students. 

Berkeley Ballet Theater’s Youth Company 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

2 p.m. 

Julia Morgan Center, 260 College Ave. 

The Youth Company has been selected to perform in an Austrian dance festival in 2003. This is a special performance to raise travel funds. 

843-4687 

$10 general / $5 under 14 

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar 

Through Oct. 12 

Thurs. through Sat. 8 p.m. 

LaVal’s Subterranean Theatre  

1834 Euclid Ave. 

234-6046 

$10. 

The House of Blue Leaves 

Through Oct. 20 

Berkeley Rep's Roda Theater  

2015 Addison St.  

647-2949 or 888-4BRTTIX 

$10-$54. 

The Shape of Things 

Through Oct. 20 

Aurora Theatre Company  

2081 Addison St. 

Play by writer/director Neil LaBute's spins a morality tale of a young art student, his art major girlfriend, and the Pygmalion-like changes that bring into question how far one should go for love. 

843-4822, www.auroratheater.org for reservations 

$26-$35. 

Escape From Happiness 

Through October 20 

Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Berkeley Campus 

UC Berkeley’s department of theater, dance, and performance studies presents this dark comedy exploring the interactions of a highly dysfunctional urban working-class family. 

www.ticketweb.com or (866) 468-3399 

http://theater.berkeley.edu 

$8-$14 

The Berkeley High football team continued to steamroll its opposition on Friday night, demolishing De Anza High 33-6 in the league opener for both teams. 

Fullback Aaron Boatwright ran for 159 yards and quarterback Dessalines Gant threw for 152 yards and two touchdowns for the Yellowjackets, who have now outscored their opponents 131-27 on the season. 

The Berkeley defense also did its part, forcing five turnovers and holding the Dons scoreless until late in the fourth quarter. Safety Robert Young had two interceptions in 27 seconds in the first half, while Chris Watson settled for a single pick when his 100-yard interception return was called back on a Berkeley penalty. 

Berkeley’s special teams even pitched in with a touchdown, as Sean Young returned a punt 52 yards for his team’s only score of the second half. 

“I’m pretty satisfied with the way we played today,” said Berkeley head coach Matt Bissell. “We came out strong in the first half and never really let [De Anza] get in the game.” 

The Jackets opened the game with a remarkable 15-play touchdown drive that ate nearly eight minutes off the clock, with Antoine Cokes plunging over the goal line from a yard out. When safety Patrick Henderson picked off a pass on De Anza’s second play from scrimmage, it looked like another squash job for Berkeley. 

The De Anza defense and some untimely penalties stalled the ensuing drive at the 28-yard line, and kicker Terrell Elliott came on to try a long field goal. But the snap was over holder Jeff Spellman’s head, an apparent disaster. 

Spellman picked up the ball and scrambled away from two tacklers. With both teams converging on the ball, Berkeley tight end Robert Hunter-Ford rumbled down the field by himself. Spellman tossed a high pass towards Hunter-Ford, who made a twisting, leaping catch in the back of the end zone for a 13-0 Berkeley lead. 

“Everything doesn’t always go perfect,” said Spellman, who played most of the second half at quarterback in relief of Gant. “Sometimes you have to make something out of nothing.” 

The botched-kick-turned-touchdown seemed to break De Anza’s spirit, as Berkeley scored twice more before halftime. The Dons drove down to the Berkeley nine-yard line only to fumble the ball away, and the Jackets answered with a touchdown when Hunter-Ford came down with a jump ball in the end zone on a fourth-and-goal from the 19. Hunter-Ford used a bit of his rebounding technique learned on the basketball court to yank the ball away from two defenders for his third touchdwn catch of the year. 

Another De Anza turnover set the stage for Berkeley’s biggest play just before halftime. Robert Young tipped away a pass with 27 seonds left in the half and managed to grab the ball before it hit the turf. Although three straight penalties knocked the Jackets back to their own 28-yard line, they needed just one play to make up that yardage and more. Sean Young went in motion to the right and found himself uncovered on the sideline. Gant didn’t miss the opportunity, hitting Young in stride for an easy 72-yard touchdown. 

Gant was impressive in his first start as signal-caller, showing nice pocket presence and a cannon arm. The senior, who played in the second half of the two previous games, completed 5-of-10 passes. 

“I felt pretty comfortable. I know I made some mental mistakes that I’ll have to work on in practice,” Gant said. “but my offensive line gave me a lot of time, so it wasn’t too hard.” 

Bissell refused to name his starter for next week’s game against Encinal, although he did praise Gant’s performance. 

“I thought Dez played well, I was very happy with what he did tonight,” Bissell said. “But Jeff played well too. We’ll have to watch the tape and practice next week and make a decision.” 

ley nine-yard line only to fumble the ball away, and the Jackets answered with a touchdown when Hunter-Ford came down with a jump ball in the end zone on a fourth-and-goal from the 19. Hunter-Ford used a bit of his rebounding technique learned on the basketball court to yank the ball away from two defenders for his third touchdown catch of the year. 

Another De Anza turnover set the stage for Berkeley’s biggest play just before halftime. Robert Young tipped away a pass with 27 seonds left in the half and managed to grab the ball before it hit the turf. Although three straight penalties knocked the Jackets back to their own 28-yard line, they needed just one play to make up that yardage and more. Sean Young went in motion to the right and found himself uncovered on the sideline. Gant didn’t miss the opportunity, hitting Young in stride for an easy 72-yard touchdown. 

Gant was impressive in his first start as signal-caller, showing nice pocket presence and a cannon arm. The senior, who played in the second half of the two previous games in relief of Spellman, completed 5-of-10 passes. 

“I felt pretty comfortable. I know I made some mental mistakes that I’ll have to work on in practice,” Gant said. “but my offensive line gave me a lot of time, so it wasn’t too hard.” 

Bissell refused to name his starter for next week’s game against Encinal, although he did praise Gant’s performance. 

“I thought Dez played well, I was very happy with what he did tonight,” Bissell said. “But Jeff played well too. We’ll have to watch the tape and practice next week and make a decision.” 

Notes: Berkeley’s junior varsity team tied with De Anza, 12-12.

A state labor board has ordered UC Berkeley lecturers and clerical employees to defend the legality of a joint, late-August strike that led to class cancellations and other disruptions. 

If the campus employees can’t convince the Public Employment Relations Board that they were legally entitled to strike, the board could block future strikes and even impose fines. 

The board ordered meetings on the matter in response to university complaints about the Aug. 26-28 strike. 

Union and university officials will meet with PERB Regional Director Anita Martinez Nov. 14 to seek an informal resolution to the university’s legal concerns. If no agreement is reached, a formal hearing would follow with an official ruling by PERB. 

University officials hailed the PERB decision to hear their complaint as a victory. 

“It confirms the seriousness of the issue and clearly, to us, it signals that PERB wants to address these kinds of strike actions,” said University of California spokesperson Paul Schwartz. 

But union officials said they will be victorious in any PERB hearing. 

“It was, in fact, a legal strike and it will be determined to have been a legal strike,” said Margy Wilkinson, chief negotiator for the Coalition of University Employees, which represents 18,000 clerical workers in the nine-campus UC syCUE has been locked in contract negotiations with the university since last year, battling over wages and workplace safety. The next negotiating session is set for Oct. 10 and 11. 

The clerical and lecturers unions are not allowed to strike as a bargaining tactic, but can walk off the job if the university engages in any “unfair labor practices.”  

The unions have filed dozens of unfair labor practice charges against the university on a range of issues, including the university’s treatment of temporary employees, but has not received a PERB ruling on any of them. Nonetheless, Wilkinson said the filings form the basis for a valid strike. 

Schwartz, pointing to state law and past PERB rulings, said the unions cannot engage in a legal strike until they have exhausted the formal collective bargaining process, which includes state mediation among other measures. 

Robert Thompson, general counsel for PERB, said the case law is unclear. A series of PERB rulings in the 1980s would suggest that the unions cannot strike before exhausting the collective bargaining process, he said, but a mid-1980s California Supreme Court decision on a sanitation workers strike in Los Angeles County, granting public employees the general right to strike, may give ammunition to the unions. 

“That’s a pretty gray area,” he said. 

Thompson said the types of charges filed by the unions and the university in this case tend to fizzle out because the two sides reach a contract settlement before PERB rules on the charges and agree, as part of the settlement, to drop the charges. 

Michelle Squitieri, a union representative for the roughly 600 lecturers at UC Berkeley, said the university filed the illegal strike charge with PERB as an intimidation tactic, discouraging employees from future strikes. 

“This is not about intimidating employees,” Schwartz responded. “It’s about the unions honoring the collective bargaining process as stated in the law.” 

Contact reporter at scharfenberg@berkeleydailyplanet.netstem. 

To the Editor: 

Reading the pro-Dean letter in the (Daily Planet Forum, Sept. 23), I’m very pleased to see that someone, somewhere in Berkeley has a use for our current mayor, Shirley Dean.  

However, I’m personally wondering what good is a mayor who constantly puts down her own town, habitually siding against us with big business and corporate interests from outside of town, constantly trying to homogenize Berkeley in the image of the rest of the country, complaining that too many of her constituents are “stuck in the ‘60s,” encouraging other cities and businesses to boycott Berkeley for daring to speak out against war and injustice. 

How many times has Shirley coldly betrayed her constituents while claiming that she was really on our side? During the KPFA crisis, for example, after blatantly siding with her friend Lynn Chadwick and the rest of the Pacifica management (saying we needed to look on “both sides” of the issue and steadfastly refusing to support a hemorrhaging KPFA) she ended up pretending to be on our side when it became obvious how passionately Berkeley residents supported their community radio station.  

Wasn’t it Shirley Dean who advocated for a 500-car garage under Civic Center Park, while posing a few days ago for a photo at the annual Streams and Rivers celebration at the park, as if bringing hundreds more cars downtown would somehow help local creeks like Strawberry Creek, which runs right by the park?  

And wasn’t it the same Shirley Dean who “ostensibly promoting a hate-free environment in our city” pushed to hire the Anti-Defamation League “ a group convicted for its own hate crimes of spying and disinformation against tens of thousands of innocent US citizens” as our proposed “sensitivity trainer”?  

With moderates like this, who needs right-wing conservatives? 

Khalil Bendib,  

Berkeley 

Most movies bend over backward to explain everything to the audience; not so with “Bloody Sunday,” Paul Greengrass’ uncompromising recreation of Derry, Northern Ireland, on Jan. 30, 1972 — the day British soldiers shot 27 unarmed protesters, killing 13. 

The accents run thicker than Guinness, and everybody talks at the same time; the handheld camera stays right in the middle of the action, never pulling back for a god’s-eye view of the proceedings; and the pace is relentless. 

By placing you right in the thick of things, writer-director Greengrass elicits the frustration and confusion of the participants on both sides. There’s no time to catch your breath, no time to step back and reason through what’s going on. 

The movie begins by cutting between plans by Derry’s Catholics for a peaceful march and the British army’s plans to contain it. Led by their member of Parliament, Ivan Cooper (James Nesbitt), the people of Derry are marching for basic civil rights, protesting the mass internment without trial of suspected Irish Republican Army members. 

Greengrass portrays naivete on both sides leading up to the confrontation — Cooper’s belief that the march can go forward peacefully, and the army’s belief that it can arrest hundreds of young “hooligans” and send a proper message. The film is not without sympathy for the soldiers, who feel out of their depth as they try to contain, not engage, an unruly crowd. 

Violence erupts quickly and chaotically. Facing resistance as they try to forcibly alter the parade route, a few soldiers hear what sound like gunshots — we never learn for sure what they are. Fearing that the protesters are armed, they open fire and begin mowing them down. 

Nesbitt anchors “Bloody Sunday” with his forceful, ultimately heartbreaking performance as Cooper, a Protestant who sees his Catholic constituents enduring basic human injustice. Cooper begins the day as a cheerfully harried politician who sees himself as a disciple of Martin Luther King Jr. (The protesters even sing “We Shall Overcome.”) 

But he becomes grim and taciturn as he’s forced to console distraught families while digesting his personal failure to effect peaceful change. At the end of the day, he articulates his own helplessness, telling the British in a press conference: “You’ve destroyed the civil rights movement, and you’ve given the IRA the biggest victory it will ever have.” 

Other recognizable British and Irish actors pop up in pivotal supporting roles: Gerard McSorley, who specializes in stern, slippery Irish authority figures, has a sympathetic turn as Derry’s police superintendent. With a smattering of dialogue and a handful of wordless close-ups, he communicates the frustration of local authorities who know they could have done a better job preventing the violence. 

Greengrass’ just-the-facts approach falters when he attempts a Romeo-and-Juliet subplot, involving a Catholic lad trying to distance himself from the hooliganism in his past for the sake of his Protestant girlfriend. Since the movie provides no context, the romance has no depth; they’re just two pups in love. 

For its blow-by-blow account of a military operation gone wrong, “Bloody Sunday” could be called a “Black Hawk Down” for the Troubles. But as the stirring U2 song about the events in the film plays over the closing credits, it becomes an elegy not only for the Derry victims but for everyone who died in the senseless violence that followed. “Bloody Sunday” is tightly coiled, powerful and terribly sad.

MINNEAPOLIS – The Oakland Athletics found a great way to quiet that noisy Metrodome – hitting home runs, both in and out of the park. 

Ray Durham led off the game with a sinking liner that let him circle the bases and Scott Hatteberg followed with a drive over the right-field wall, sending the Oakland Athletics past the Minnesota Twins 6-3 Friday for a 2-1 lead in their AL division series. 

Backed by four home runs off Minnesota starter Rick Reed, Barry Zito struck out eight in six innings for the win. Ricardo Rincon pitched two scoreless innings in relief and Billy Koch closed for the save. 

The shots by Durham and Hatteberg marked the first time in postseason history a team has hit back-to-back homers to start a game. 

Torii Hunter had two of Minnesota’s eight hits and capped a game-tying, two-run rally in the fifth with an RBI single. The All-Star center fielder, however, also was the who let Durham’s liner skip under his glove. 

Jermaine Dye’s homer in the top of the sixth made it 4-3 Oakland, and the A’s bumped their lead back to three in the seventh against Johan Santana. 

Randy Velarde, pinch-hitting for Hatteberg, hit an RBI double to score Durham, and moved to third on the throw home. Velarde scored on Miguel Tejada’s sacrifice fly off Mike Jackson. 

Zito (1-0) gave up five hits, three runs and four walks. 

Reed (0-1) threw 100 pitches and surrendered six hits, four runs and two walks while striking out eight.

A November ballot measure to limit the height of Berkeley developments will lead to more traffic, dirtier air and less affordable housing, opponents of the initiative said at a televised debate Thursday. 

Supporters, however, claimed on public access television that the measure’s only consequences would be to make Berkeley a more livable and less crowded city. 

The height initiative, written by neighborhood advocates hoping to stop the proliferation of tall buildings in Berkeley, reduces allowable building heights along major traffic corridors, such as San Pablo Avenue, where the city has called for denser development. 

On San Pablo Avenue, allowable heights for buildings blending housing with commercial space would drop from four stories to two. Along parts of University, College and Shattuck avenues, building heights would drop by about one story. The exact limits would differ by area. 

Developers could apply to build an extra floor but would have to meet strict criteria showing that they’ve made efforts to maximize the number of living units. 

The initiative’s proponents Howie Muir and Norine Smith of the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, argued that the height initiative was a reasonable response to the city’s zoning process which they say is corrupted by developers and city officials. 

Meanwhile, the measure’s detractors Matthew Raimi and Nancy Bickel said the measure is a draconian response that will endanger Berkeley’s ability to care for its residents. 

Height limits imposed on streets like San Pablo Avenue would discourage developers from building housing and helping clean up older, crime-ridden neighborhoods, Raimi maintained. 

Muir, who like Raimi lives near San Pablo Avenue, disagreed. He said developers will still profit from smaller developments and, consequently, developers would continue to build. 

On charges that height limits would reduce the city’s supply of affordable housing, Muir said that most city efforts to provide housing come from converting current housing stock into affordable units, not building new ones. 

The two sides clashed on the initiative’s environmental impact as well. 

Smith said Berkeley should not be forced to accept dense, urban development under the pretense that it will preserve open space outside the city. “The idea that we can save open space in Contra Costa County, if we build more housing here is just ludicrous,” she said, adding that cities there will determine that question, not Berkeley. 

Raimi countered that the initiative would have serious ecological consequences for Berkeley residents and others in the Bay Area. By discouraging local development, 83,000 acres of open space would be overrun with sprawl, he said. 

On traffic, Raimi argued that denser development on transit corridors, which the height initiative would block, prompts fewer people to drive, resulting in less air pollution and fewer cases of asthma. 

Smith countered that streets labeled as transit corridors have historically had poor public transit and that most people who moved into new development would still need to use their cars. 

Both sides insist that their position best reflects the interests of Berkeley voters. 

Contact reporter at matt@berkeleydailyplanet.net 

To the Editor: 

Our president’s practice of smoke and mirror politics is becoming outrageous and ridiculous. George W. Bush and his cabinet must feel that the American public, and our representatives, are obtuse and oblivious to their chicanery. 

I hear comments daily from people left incredulous by the latest plans of this political organization: Where is the proof that Iraq has deadly weapons?; Is it legal for America to hold Iraq’s oil reserves as a stick over Europe?; Are they doing anything about our failing health care system?; Can we morally open the last pristine wilderness in this country to oil exploration?; Why disband the National Human Research Protections Advisory Committee?; What is the rational of moving the Animal Welfare Act under Homeland Security?; Can the government take away our rights to contest logging in our National Forests?; Will anything be done about the cost of prescription drugs?; Is there any rational to constantly placating the anti-abortion movement?; How can the United States continually disregard the U.N.’s opinion? 

Bush and his compatriots are all wealthy enough that they will not personally feel the impacts of these decisions. They are also taking advantage of the fact that Americans are still grieving the events of last year, reeling from the economic impact of the fall of many industry giants and dotcoms, shocked by losses to their retirement funds, dismayed by rising healthcare costs and depressed by the looming possibility of war with Iraq. Bush’s cronies seem to feel that this is the perfect opportunity to pull the wool over America’s eyes. 

Melissa Brosnan 

Berkeley 

San Francisco Opera projects $7.7 million deficit 

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Opera has projected a $7.7 million deficit for the 2002 fiscal year. 

The downturn in the Bay Area’s economy and the impact of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks resulted in poor ticket sales, said Elizabeth Connell Nielsen, a spokeswoman for the opera. 

“We estimated a reduction of approximately $2.5 million in single-ticket sales as a direct result of 9/11,” she said Thursday. 

Two-thirds of the opera company’s shows opened after the terrorist attacks between September and November. 

Connell Nielsen explained that the company’s September 2002 opening of the gala production of Saint Francois d’Assise has not contributed to the fiscal 2002 deficit since it opened after the fiscal year’s end in July. 

Unlike other forms of art, opera costs cannot be cut at the last minute, Connell Nielsen said. 

“Opera has fixed costs that are set four to five years in advance,” she said. 

The unexpected economic downturn also resulted in a dramatic drop in donations to the opera, she said. 

Gaiman wins ‘Spawn’ suit  

MADISON, Wis. – A federal jury has upheld writer Neil Gaiman’s claim that he co-authored two characters in the “Spawn” comic books. 

Following Thursday’s decision, arbitrators must decide how much money series creator Todd McFarlane owes Gaiman for co-creating the characters Medieval Spawn and Cogliostro in an early “Spawn” issue. 

They also will decide how much McFarlane must pay Gaiman for not crediting him with writing part of another “Spawn” issue. 

Gaiman, author of the novel “American Gods” and “Sandman” comic books, lives in Menomonie in central Wisconsin. 

His lawsuit in U.S. District Court claimed McFarlane used Cogliostro, Medieval Spawn, and another character Gaiman created, Angela, without his authorization. 

Gaiman’s lawsuit also alleged McFarlane made a wrongful claim to Miracleman, a character in a comic book series Gaiman co-wrote with Alan Moore. The jury agreed. 

Afterward, McFarlane and Gaiman obliged a young fan by autographing a collaborative issue of “Spawn” that had landed them in court. 

National Enquirer to publish celebrity books 

NEW YORK – Scandal is headed for your bookstore. The National Enquirer is starting a line of true crime and celebrity books, with works planned on the Kennedys, Michael Jackson, O.J. Simpson and other tabloid favorites. 

“When we do a story, we do an enormous amount of research and interviews that never make it into the paper,” said Val Virga, president of the newly formed book division of American Media Inc., parent company of The National Enquirer.

When Cal has the ball 

The ground game 

The Huskies have been stingy against the run, allowing under 100 yards per game and just 2.9 yards per carry. Their front seven is a bunch of overachievers who swarm to the ball. If they can keep Joe Igber from bouncing outside, the Huskies shouldn’t give up much on the ground. 

In the trenches 

Washington has one of the smaller defensive lines in the Pac-10, but end Kai Ellis is a pass-rushing terror. He is fast enough to get around most offensive tackles and strong enough to throw in a bull-rush on occasion. How the Bears contain Ellis will be the key to their offense. 

Taking to the air 

The Huskies don’t have great cornerbacks, but they do have good depth in their secondary. Kyle Boller should have plenty of open receivers this week and could hit for some big gains. Jon Makonnen showed signs of becoming a top receiver last week. 

When Washington has the ball 

The ground game 

For years a power in the running game, Washington has struggled for the last two seasons. They are averaging just 3.1 yards per carry, but the banged-up Cal linebacking corps doesn’t bode well. Tailback Rich Alexis is always a big-play threat. 

In the trenches 

As always, Washington has a massive offensive line. But that didn’t hurt Cal too much against Baylor or Michigan State, so maybe the Bears match up better against bigger opposition. It’s key that they get some push from the defensive tackles, so Lorenzo Alexander may get a longer look. 

Taking to the air 

Quarterback Cody Pickett has thrown for more than 300 yards in every game this season, so it could be more bombs away against a Cal secondary that looked vulnerable against Washington State last week. In fact, count on some big plays from wideout Reggie Williams, as big receivers have killed the Bears this year. 

Bites, attempted bites and legal skirmishes over evidence were at the heart of the second day of student conduct hearings for UC Berkeley pro-Palestinian protester Roberto Hernandez. 

University police officer Billy Brashear testified that Hernandez, one of 79 activists arrested in the April 9 takeover of the Wheeler Hall foyer, bit him on the hand during his arrest. 

“It hurt really bad,” said Brashear, who added that Hernandez admitted to the bite during a conversation several minutes after the arrest. 

But lawyers for Hernandez, who faces penalties ranging up to expulsion, emphasized during cross-examination that there is no evidence on police videos of the alleged bite or Hernandez’s alleged confession. 

They also noted that there are no photos of bite marks on Brashear’s skin. 

The officer said there were no marks because he was wearing thick leather gloves designed to protect against sharp objects. 

Hernandez faces five student conduct charges, ranging from disturbing the peace to assaulting an officer. His hearing began Monday and continued Friday. Testimony was not complete by Friday evening and is expected to continue sometime in the next three weeks. 

Hernandez, who has not yet testified, is the first of 32 students who will face conduct hearings. Nine students chose to skip hearings and accept a one-semester probation.  

The remaining 38 protesters who took part in the Wheeler Hall takeover, demanding that the nine-campus UC system divest from Israel, were not students. 

All 79 activists faced criminal charges in the wake of the protest, but the Alameda County District Attorney’s office dropped the charges in June. 

University police officer Ken Torres testified, before Brashear, that Hernandez attempted to bite him, pointing to a police video as evidence. 

The video shows Hernandez head moving toward Torres’s arm, but the view is blocked at the last moment. Defense attorneys contended that Hernandez’s head movement was simply an instinctive response to pain holds used by police officers during the arrest. 

“You don’t know that Mr. Hernandez attempted to bite you,” said defense attorney Noreen Farrell, addressing Torres. 

“From what I saw on the tape, I believe he did,” Torres responded. 

University officials and defense attorneys spent much of the hearing wrangling over an attempt by Hernandez to invalidate police videos, police reports and other key pieces of evidence. 

Hernandez’s lawyers contend that the Alameda County Superior Court, under the terms of the June deal to drop all criminal charges, sealed the videos and police reports on Hernandez and the other 78 protesters. That evidence, lawyers contend, cannot be used in student conduct hearings or in any other forum. 

Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Stuart Hing testified Friday that defense lawyers are misinterpreting the June agreement. 

“They’re trying to undo the agreement I agreed to,” Hing said. 

Defense lawyers said Hing is misinterpreting the agreement and they are pursuing the matter in court. 

Contact reporter at scharfenberg@berkeleydailyplanet.net

To the Editor:  

UC Berkeley is now holding hearings on the student demonstrators who disrupted a commemoration of the Holocaust last spring and took over Wheeler Hall. I urge the chancellor and the dean of student affairs to expel these students. 

Sanne DeWitt  

Berkeley 

No. 6 Cal ended No. 7 Wake Forest’s 10-game unbeaten streak with a 1-0 shutout Friday afternoon at Edwards Stadium. The Golden Bears improved to 7-2-1 with their third victory of the season over a top-10 program. The Demon Deacons dropped to 9-1-1.  

“Wake Forest is a very good team,” said Cal head coach Kevin Boyd. “They were undefeated coming in, and I anticipate that they’ll do very well in the ACC. Any time we can beat an out-of-region ranked team, and an ACC one at that, that’s a big win.”  

Senior midfielder Carly Fuller netted her latest game-winning goal against Wake Forest in the 69th minute. Cal freshman midfielder Jamie Mangiardi, who started her first collegiate game Friday, passed the ball to junior midfielder Kim Yokers, who found Fuller from about 15 yards out. Fuller’s shot rolled off the far post and into the back of the net for her fourth goal of the year.  

During Fuller’s freshman season at Duke, she scored the golden goal in a 3-2 win over the Deacons 30 seconds into overtime.  

“Carly is playing very well right now,” said Boyd. “Last weekend, she was probably our top performer. She had another great game today and got the goal.”  

Cal redshirt junior goalkeeper Sani Post recorded five saves to help the Bears preserve their fourth shutout of the season. The biggest of her saves came in the 86th minute when she snared Alena Thom’s diving header.  

The Bears had several good chances to score in the first half, including two quality shots from freshman forward Tracy Hamm in the 10th and 25th minutes, but Wake Forest goalkeeper Erin Regan came up with one of her seven saves.

Parent activist Cynthia Papermaster has bowed out of the Board of Education race, narrowing the field to six candidates for three open spots on the five-member panel. 

Papermaster declined to discuss the specific reasons for her decision but issued a three-sentence statement on the move. 

“I regret that I am unable to continue my candidacy for school board,” she said. “A number of factors contributed to this decision. I will continue to work to improve the Berkeley public schools and to advocate for parent participation in the education of our children.” 

Papermaster had placed the issue of parent participation at the center of her campaign.  

The six remaining candidates include incumbents Shirley Issel and Terry Doran and challengers Sean Dugar, Derick Miller, Lance Montauk and Nancy Riddle. Incumbent Ted Schultz, who would face re-election in November, decided months ago to retire at the end of his term.

To the Editor: 

A false fire alarm breaks the law, creates major disruption and may even place lives in jeopardy. But the “terrorism” label smacks of mindless hyperbole (reported in the Oct. 4 Daily Plant article “Staff ‘terrorized’ by false alarms”). Terrorism denotes an act of war. Berkeley High School co-principal Laura Leventer should know better. Equally irksome: I am old enough to remember an era when many men (and, regrettably, women) of my parents’ generation, would have snickered “feminine hysteria,” or worse. Ms. Leventer can certainly do better. 

Leroy W. Demery, Jr. 

former BHS math teacher 

Berkeley

NEW DELHI, India — Pakistan and India, nuclear-armed rivals who came to the brink of war only four months ago, staged tit-for-tat missile tests Friday, increasing tensions and raising fears of a renewed arms race. 

India’s government called Pakistan’s test a publicity stunt ahead of next week’s general elections, the first since a 1999 military coup. 

Pakistan’s information minister, Nisar Memon, said India was trying to “turn this into an arms race” by testing a sophisticated surface-to-air missile the same day Pakistan tested a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile. 

The two countries have had 1 million soldiers on alert along their 1,800-mile frontier for most of the year and were close to all-out conflict in June before the United States, Britain and Russia mounted a diplomatic campaign to curb the hostilities. 

Both India and Pakistan portrayed their tests as routine and noted they had told each other of the plans in advance to avoid any misunderstanding. 

India said it conducted two missile tests last week without fanfare or criticism, and Defense Minister George Fernandes said there was no reason for concern. 

“I don’t see any reason why we should be worried about Pakistan conducting tests,” Fernandes said Friday in Bombay. “They have their missiles and they are testing (them). We have our missiles and we also do tests. 

“To tackle the situation today we must have the same strength that our neighbors have,” he said.

OAKLAND — Four men taken off of a Phoenix-bound flight and questioned by FBI agents at Oakland International Airport were later released, authorities said. 

The FBI would only say early Friday that the men were released and the incident is under review. No other information, including the men’s identities, was immediately available. 

America West Flight 624 was inspected at Gate 4 and sent on its way about an hour later than scheduled Thursday, said airport spokeswoman Cyndy Johnson. 

The four men detained were ticketed for the flight and had boarded the airplane at the gate, Johnson confirmed. 

The airplane was a Boeing 737 with 83 ticketed passengers, including the four men removed by police and an air marshal, and five crew members, according to America West spokeswoman Patty Nowack. 

After the men were removed from the airplane, all the remaining passengers deboarded as well. The airplane was then inspected, the passengers reboarded, and the flight took off, Nowack said. 

The flight was delayed for about an hour because of the incident. It departed for Phoenix at about 6:30 p.m. and arrived safely at 8:17 p.m. 

Johnson said proper safety precautions were taken, though she did not know why the men piqued the interest of police and federal agents. 

“What this is demonstrating is that the security measures that are in place and have been at a heightened awareness since Sept. 11 are working,” Johnson said. 

ALAMEDA — The Blue & Gold Fleet has filed paperwork with the California Public Utilities Commission to end ferry service between Alameda, Oakland and several San Francisco piers starting in January. 

No other company offers daily commuter ferry service from the East Bay to San Francisco. 

The PUC filing last month came as contract negotiations between the City of Alameda and the Blue & Gold continued. 

Blue & Gold Fleet spokeswoman Marla Bryant said the company is losing money on the service, at least $250,000 over the last year. 

Ridership has fallen from a total of 540,000 boardings a year — from Alameda and Oakland to San Francisco — to about 445,000 total boardings last year, said Alameda’s ferry manager Ernest Sanchez.

n Car vandalism 

Vandals used peanut butter and soap to deface the car of a resident on the 2100 block of Blake Street Wednesday. According to police, the vandal used the sandwich food and cleaning material to write profane words on the victim’s Pontiac Grand Am. Police have no suspects. 

n Driving with drugs 

Police stopped a car on the corner of Dwight Way and McGee Avenue for a minor traffic violation at 7:30 p.m Wednesday. During a routine background check, the police officer was informed that the driver had an outstanding warrant for arrest. The driver was also found to have rock cocaine in his possession. Benjamin Dewitt, 27, was arrested for possession with intent to sell cocaine. 

SAN FRANCISCO – Tempers cooled a bit as the dockworkers union and shipping companies returned to negotiations under the careful watch of a federal mediator, even as the port shutdown threatened to further hamper industries across the nation. 

The standoff appeared to ease Thursday when both sides emerged from one of their sessions. 

“We’re working hard. We plan to be here for as long as it takes,” said dockworkers union president Jim Spinosa. “We’re here to get a contract, whatever it takes.” 

But in the absence of an accord, a group of manufacturers planned to meet with White House officials Friday to press for intervention, and one association of manufacturers was in constant contact with members of President Bush’s cabinet including Commerce Secretary Donald Evans. 

The Bush administration has been called on by some politicians to intervene and repoen the waterfront. The administration says it hopes the sides can settle their differences at the negotiating table. 

The stalemate caused by a bitter contract dispute has stopped all commercial shipping at 29 Pacific ports for nearly a week. 

Both sides hunkered down Thursday and prepared for more long talks to come. 

“We were told to bring our toothbrushes,” said Joseph Miniace, lead negotiator for the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents shipping lines. 

The longer the association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union take to reach a settlement, the more the economic effects furrow through the wobbly U.S. economy. 

“Every hour is another hour of economic harm,” federal mediator Peter Hurtgen said before Thursday’s negotiations began at a hotel here. “I think we all feel the pressure.” 

Along the coast, 162 ships were either idle at the docks or have dropped anchor, according to the shipping association. Another 13 were due to arrive by Friday morning. 

Food is rotting in cargo holds, railroads have halted grain shipments from the Midwest and already one part-starved auto plant near San Francisco has closed since the meltdown over a contract dispute led to a port closure that began last Friday and resumed Sunday after an abbreviated reopening. 

The work stoppage is hurting companies such as Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Elope Inc., a hat wholesaler that usually does brisk business this time of year. 

“We’ve already lost the Halloween business. It’s Christmas I’m worried about now,” said company chief executive Kevin Johnson. “If this isn’t resolved in the next week, we’re dead in the water.” 

Having already hit the transportation and manufacturing sectors, the lockdown is now causing increased concern in the U.S. agriculture industry, as evidenced Thursday by a sharp drop in wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade. 

The economic impact of the work stoppage was accelerating and could be costing the U.S. economy $2 billion a day, said Robert Parry, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. 

Pressure continues to mount on President Bush to intervene under the Taft-Hartley Act. Under the act. A president can block a strike or lockout for 80 days if the dispute will “imperil the national health or safety.” First, though, an inquiry board would investigate the issue, which could take several days. 

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is among the lawmakers who have appealed for Bush to order the ports reopened under those powers. 

The last time the government intervened in a work stoppage under Taft-Hartley was 1978, when President Carter unsuccessfully tried to end a national coal strike. 

Meanwhile, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka urged Bush not to use Taft-Hartley. Over the summer, unions charged the White House with meddling in the talks, and the White House has since meticulously avoided the appearance of getting involved. 

Some business officials are concerned over the effect of a protracted ports shutdown. 

“I’m banking on the president stepping in to force the two sides to go back to work,” said Dennis Sheldon, senior vice president of Los Angeles-based clothing designer Guess Inc. “I’m convinced this is the number one domestic issue.”

LOS ANGELES – Even if the West Coast dock shutdown ends soon, many U.S. factories may have to shut down anyway because the parts they need will be caught in a huge backlog of cargo, business leaders said Friday. 

“It’s a foregone conclusion that assembly lines are going to close down,” said Robin Lanier, executive director of the West Coast Waterfront Coalition, which represents retailers and transportation companies that rely on the ports. 

Even if President Bush immediately invokes the Taft-Hartley Act and declares an 80-day cooling-off period, manufacturers will not be able to avoid interruptions on their assembly lines, she said. 

“The challenge is going to be the chaos and bedlam on the water as they try to pull things out,” said Michael Damer, spokesman for New United Motor Manufacturing near the port of Oakland, which has been idle since Wednesday, halting the assembly of Toyota and Pontiac cars and trucks. 

Household names in American manufacturing may run out of parts and be forced to shut down their assembly lines in the next few days, said Darren McKinney, spokesman for the National Association of Manufacturers. 

“They are running up against the wall very quickly,” he said. 

Nissan and Boeing were among the companies feeling the pinch from the shutdown that began Sunday at the nation’s 29 West Coast ports in Washington, Oregon and California. The shutdown is costing the U.S. economy an estimated $2 billion a day. 

Almost 200 ships laden with Asian cargo were left waiting along the coast, cutting off supplies for manufactures and retailers awaiting holiday goods. 

Union Pacific, the nation’s largest railroad, had 55 trains parked across the western United States, unable to move cargo. Grain shipments bound for export are sitting in warehouses and growers of perishable goods like apples and citrus worry that their harvests will not reach lucrative Asian markets. 

On Friday, dockworkers and management met for a second day with a federal mediator in an effort to reach a new contract before the weekend. 

Business groups pushed for government intervention and met Friday with officials at the White House. 

“We will make the case abundantly clear that an extended shutdown of the ports will have a catastrophic effect on the economy,” McKinney said.

SAN FRANCISCO – Spectrum Organic Products Inc. works so hard to ensure the food it sells is free from genetically modified organisms that it sends employees as far as France to purchase corn oil guaranteed to be untainted by biotechnology. 

These extra costs can be worthwhile because some consumers are willing to pay a premium for food labeled “GMO-free,” as Spectrum once stamped on its bottles of canola oil. 

But under pressure from the Food and Drug Administration, Spectrum changed the bottles’ labels. The FDA says it’s misleading to suggest that genetically modified ingredients are inferior. 

That stance has deepened a growing rift between food producers. While the FDA’s action angers the organic community, it delights the biotech and processed food industries. 

“We now struggle to find a way to maintain our commitment to consumers while acceding to FDA demands,” Neil Blomquist, president of Petaluma-based Spectrum, wrote in a letter to the FDA. 

Spectrum’s letter was responding to a November agency missive that questioned the technical accuracy of Spectrum’s “Verified Non-GMO” labels. 

The FDA letter noted that traditional selective breeding methods, where crops with ideal traits are bred together, can also be considered genetic modification. Five other companies received similar letters. None were threatened with action. 

The FDA says the labels may run counter to draft guidelines it published in January 2001 that also reject any requirement to label bioengineered foods as such. An FDA spokesman had no comment on the letters, saying the agency must first review public responses to the draft guidelines. 

“It’s pretty confusing,” said Blomquist. “There aren’t any regulations. There are only recommendations.” 

Still, Spectrum has reduced the information to small print on the back of the bottle: “Third-party verified, this oil is made from canola that was not genetically engineered.” 

Other organic companies receiving letters have reluctantly agreed to modify their labels — or do away with them completely. 

“We don’t agree the labels were misleading,” said James Kelly, chief executive of Van’s International Foods, which dropped its non-GMO label from its organic waffles this year. “But I have better things to spend my time on.” 

Two other producers are working with the FDA on label revisions. Many others continue to brand their products GMO-free. 

“It’s a marketing ploy that some organic companies are using,” said Stephanie Childs of the Grocery Manufacturers of America, which supports biotechnology. “It’s definitely misleading.” 

The FDA letters were sent in response to a complaint from the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest, which broke ranks with its usual left-leaning allies when it came out in support of genetically engineered food. The center obtained copies of the FDA letters through a Freedom of Information Act request. 

Meanwhile, the organic lobby is clamoring for labels on foods with engineered ingredients. 

“It’s ridiculous that the FDA is spending its time going after these small companies,” said Simon Harris of the Berkeley, Calif.-based Organic Consumers Association. “The FDA should be more concerned with the other side of this debate.” 

A measure on the November ballot in Oregon would require such labels. A consortium of food and biotechnology companies raised $4.6 million through Sept. 20 to defeat it; pro-label proponents raised about $84,000. If the Oregon measure passes, it would be the first such law in the United States. 

Abroad, however, 19 countries require labeling and the European Union has since 1998 banned the sale of any new engineered products. 

The ban has angered U.S. exporters and hampered the growth of European agricultural biotech firms. The EU is expected to consider lifting the ban later this year, but may require labeling, which could be a boon to U.S. organic food companies who guarantee their products are biotechnology-free. 

Only about a dozen genetically engineered crops are approved for human consumption, including corn, soy and tomatoes. The crops are engineered to better resist pests and weed killers. The FDA says the ingredients are just as safe as those produced by conventional methods. 

U.S. officials have said the labeling could cost U.S. companies $4 billion a year. The Bush administration opposes mandatory labeling. 

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is set to implement new organic standards Oct. 21. 

If a product claims to be organic, it must have been produced without pesticides, genetic engineering, growth hormones and irradiation. Whether consumers will understand that an “organic” sticker means the product is biotechnology-free remains in doubt. 

“The consumer is pretty ignorant about this,” said Spectrum’s Blomquist.

SAN FRANCISCO – Gap Inc. on Thursday disclosed that Silicon Valley pioneer Steve Jobs resigned from its board of directors, just days after the struggling retailer switched chief executive officers. 

Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple Computer Inc., had been a Gap director since 1999 – the same year that Gap’s longtime leader, Millard “Mickey” Drexler, joined the personal computer maker’s board. 

Drexler retired as Gap’s CEO last week when the San Francisco-based company hired Paul Pressler to lead its efforts to reverse a 28-month sales slide. Pressler, hired away from Walt Disney Co., is expected to join Gap’s board. 

Jobs had served on Gap’s corporate governance committee – a watchdog position that has become more important amid a wave of business accounting scandals that have rattled investors. 

Gap said Jobs stepped down “to focus on other priorities.” Besides his duties at Cupertino-based Apple, Jobs also is CEO of Pixar Animation Studios, the maker of “Monsters Inc.” and several other hit movies. 

Jobs missed one-third of Gap’s board meetings last year, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Jobs and stock brokerage magnate Charles Schwab were the only Gap directors who didn’t attend at least 75 percent of the company’s board meetings last year, the SEC documents said. 

Gap pays its non-employee directors $36,000 annually, plus attendance bonuses. Jobs waived his Gap compensation last year. 

Gap filled the board opening created by Jobs’ departure with Penny Hughes, a former Coca-Cola Co. executive in Europe. 

Pressler and the Gap’s board are under pressure to heal the company’s ailing stock. The company’s shares fell 79 cents Thursday to close at $9.17 – down 34 percent so far this year and well below its record high of $53.75, reached before Gap’s sales slump began in May 2000.

SACRAMENTO — The newest thing to hit the underground club scene in California is a sweet, colorful little pill that can keep someone dancing all night long. 

But what may seem as harmless as candy is a new form of methamphetamine called ya ba, a Thai name meaning “crazy drug,” that is said to be significantly more powerful — and dangerous — than the current club drug of choice, Ecstasy. 

Last month, federal agents in Sacramento made the largest bust of ya ba smugglers since the drug first appeared in the United States three years ago. The arrests of 10 people in Sacramento for allegedly smuggling 75,000 pills from Thailand and Laos came after U.S. Customs seized 46 shipments of ya ba in Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Honolulu, which were destined for Sacramento addresses. 

So far, ya ba has appeared mainly in Southeast Asian communities around California, but law enforcement’s efforts have been hampered because “we’re talking about a pretty closed community, so it’s pretty hard to get information about that,” said Daniel Lane, the lead U.S. Customs official in Sacramento. 

Some drugs have started out in a niche market and gradually spread into the mainstream community. Oxycontin, a prescription painkiller that has also shown up on the underground club scene, first gained a following in poor, rural areas, gaining the nickname “hillbilly heroin.” 

An activist in Sacramento’s Southeast Asian community, who asked not to be named, said she first started hearing about ya ba three or fours years ago. Ya ba use has been “causing dysfunctional families,” she said, in the Mien, Hmong and Laotian communities, which have large concentrations in the Sacramento area. 

“We’ve reported it, but I think the federal authorities didn’t think it was that much of a problem,” she said. 

Will Glaspy, a spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, said the drug has mostly remained in the Southeast Asian community. “Many of them are just keeping it to themselves. They’re not distributing it.” 

More recently, however, unidentified meth tablets have begun to show up at raves, which could be ya ba pills, Glaspy said, although they were simply categorized as methamphetamines. 

“The scary thing about these is that they are adding color to them and adding flavor, which could give the perception that these drugs are less dangerous than they really are,” he said. 

A potent mix of methamphetamine and caffeine, ya ba allows its users to stay awake for days. A meth high also brings hallucinogenic effects, during which users sometimes believe they have bugs crawling under their skin and scratch themselves violently to get them out. Other common side effects include increased heart rate, dehydration, paranoia and depression. 

Ya ba has become a vague label for any type of meth in pill form, although it specifically refers to the brand produced in Southeast Asia. Meth more commonly comes in powder form, allowing users to snort it through their nostrils or inhale its fumes when heated. 

In its pill form, ya ba is sometimes passed off at raves as Ecstasy, another popular stimulant, Glaspy said. But the added danger with meth compared to Ecstasy is that there is no set recipe for it, so its purity is often questionable. 

“One person who’s manufacturing ya ba could come up with something that’s a little different than the next guy,” Glaspy said. 

Ya ba is produced mainly in Burma by the United Wa State Army, a group of ethnic tribespeople allied with the country’s ruling junta and known to be one of the world’s largest and most well-armed drug-dealing organizations, law enforcement officials said. 

The pills are then smuggled across the border into Thailand by the millions. The drug has caused what officials have called a national epidemic, with the Thai Health Ministry estimating that as much as 5 percent of the population, or 3 million people, regularly use ya ba. 

When the drug first began showing up in Thailand more than 30 years ago, it was sold legally at gas stations, where truckers would pop a pill to stay alert through long-distance drives. The government declared it illegal in 1970, but the drug has since managed to enter all segments of Thai society, with reports of widespread drug use by manual laborers, college students and even five-year-old schoolchildren. 

The drug already has spread outside Southeast Asia, where ya ba has reportedly shown up on the underground club scene throughout Europe and Australia. 

In the United States, ya ba has shown up only in California, which is already the nation’s main meth maker. Mexican criminal groups still dominate the meth production, according to the DEA, although the Southeast Asian variety has been gaining ground. 

Sacramento was the scene of the first mainland seizure of ya ba in 1999, when police found a few hundred pills during an investigation of a local Southeast Asian gambling house. Before that, drug officials had only heard of ya ba from seizures in Guam and Hawaii, said Sacramento Police Department detective Thomas Little, who was involved in that investigation. 

The arrests in Sacramento last month stemmed from four different investigations, three involving attempts to mail boxes of ya ba into the country and one involving an attempt to smuggle both opium and ya ba in a shipment of furniture. 

But smugglers have gotten much more creative than that, Lane said. He’s seen ya ba stuffed into CD cases, chopsticks and even dead insects.

SACRAMENTO — Saying California grows by one new person every minute, a major land developer association is recommending significant state government reforms to prevent California from becoming unlivable within 20 to 40 years. 

Amid projections of 58 million residents by 2040, the Urban Land Institute is calling for the state to encourage more “smart growth,” an emerging theory of land development to put more people in less urban space with more transit and less loss of farmland. 

“No state framework is in place to facilitate smart growth planning and development,” says the report, titled “Putting the Pieces Together.” 

The 28-page document follows two years of meetings between major California land developers, urban planners, environmentalists, social justice advocates and local politicians. The first-of-its-kind effort nationally by the ULI, financed by Bank of America and the James Irvine Foundation, occasionally featured sparring between opposing groups and some conclusions about developing California that eluded agreement. 

Among major recommendations of the ULI report: 

— Giving state grants to growth-besieged city planning divisions to draw up smart growth visions for their neighborhoods. 

— Giving priority for state infrastructure funding to cities that rebuild downtowns and older neighborhoods, develop near transit routes and mix stores, houses and offices to reduce traffic. 

— Providing cities special redevelopment-style powers to steer more public investment to neighborhoods next to transit lines. 

The report, produced with the aim of spurring eventual state legislation, also seeks easier environmental reviews of infill projects, clearer rules for redeveloping old industrial sites and turning schools in more usable neighborhood centers. 

Greenlaw “Fritz” Grupe, a builder who co-chaired the two-year effort as head of the Stockton-based Grupe Company, said the combination of ideas will steer growth into areas where it doesn’t exist now and “reduce commute necessity, decrease air pollution and reduce the need for more highways.” 

“We’re definitely trying to get the state leaders to consider all these ideas,” said Gary Binger, who directs the ULI’s California Smart Growth Initiative. The initiative began two years ago to explore new solutions to growth that has created a housing shortage while lengthening commutes and paving over 50,000 acres of farmland yearly. 

Other builders behind the report include Bruce Karatz, chief of Los Angeles-based KB Homes and Gary Cusumano, president of Valencia-based Newhall Land and Farming Co. 

While the study says California needs to concentrate more development in less space, it concludes the state is “moving in the opposite direction,” with most growth in “largely suburban counties characterized by low-density development — such as Merced, Fresno, Sacramento, San Bernardino and Riverside.” 

The ULI, considered the progressive wing of a conservative development industry, is launching similar efforts to affect state policies in South Carolina and Florida, said the Washington, D.C.-based institute’s Michael Horst. 

At Bank of America, environmental initiatives chief Candace Skarlatos, said, “Smart growth is important to us. The growth of our economy depends on the growth of our community.” In 1995, the bank sponsored a report, “Beyond Sprawl,” on the threat to California’s economy and quality of life from low-density growth patterns. 

On the Net:  

Read the report at www.smartgrowth-california.uli.org. 

OAKLAND — After almost a one-year hiatus, a $1.4 billion plan to expand the Oakland International Airport is getting back on track with an agreement to be signed Tuesday by community groups, city officials and the Port of Oakland. 

The agreement means the port can continue working on a master plan for the airport expansion. 

Concerned about noise and the environment last November Alameda officials and neighborhood activists filed a suit that stopped the project. 

In that action, the state Supreme Court required the Port of Oakland to conduct new environmental impact reports of noise, toxic pollution and the impact of the project on a rare burrowing owl. 

The environmental impact report still needs to be approved, said assistant city manager for Alameda, Rob Wonder. But he added that the city has decided to drop some legal objections to the project. 

The project, scheduled to be completed by 2008, will include a new main terminal, a 6,000-space parking garage, 12 new gates and expanded cargo facilities.

LOS ANGELES — A Superior Court jury Friday awarded a record $28 billion in punitive damages to a former smoker who sued Philip Morris Inc. for fraud and negligence. 

The 12-member jury made the award to Betty Bullock, 64, of Newport Beach, who started smoking when she was 17 and was diagnosed last year with lung cancer that has since spread to her liver. 

Last month, the same jury awarded Bullock $750,000 in economic damages and $100,000 for pain and suffering. 

Before Friday’s verdict, the largest jury award to an individual against a tobacco company was $3 billion, won in June 2001 against Philip Morris U.S.A. by Richard Boeken, a former heroin addict with cancer who died in January of 2002. 

That $3 billion was later reduced by a Superior Court judge to $100 million. 

Both awards were won by Michael Piuze, a maverick Los Angeles attorney who had never before tried a tobacco case before Boeken’s. 

During Bullock’s trial, Philip Morris did not try to defend its past actions. Instead, the company turned the spotlight on Bullock and her decision to smoke. The strategy was a major shift from previous defense efforts. 

“If she had stopped smoking ... even in the 1980s, she would not have lung cancer today,” Peter Bleakley, the attorney representing Philip Morris, told jurors at the start of the trial in August. 

Piuze argued that Philip Morris concealed the dangers of cigarettes with a widespread disinformation campaign that began in the 1950s. 

“We will show what I believe is the largest fraud scheme ever perpetrated by corporations anywhere,” Piuze said in his opening presentation. 

Piuze used photographs of Bullock, cigarette ads from her teenage years and internal tobacco industry documents to lay out his contention that Philip Morris concealed the dangers of cigarettes with a widespread disinformation campaign that began in the 1950s. 

The defense denied such a campaign ever existed. 

“At this point, it’s really open season on the industry,” Daynard said. “Juries all around the country are sending a message that this conduct was not only totally inexcusable but that it was so outrageous there is no amount of money that would be enough to punish the people who perpetrated it,” said Richard Daynard, a law professor at Northeastern University in Boston and chairman of the Tobacco Products Liability Project. 

The Bullock case has drawn added interest because it follows a state Supreme Court ruling that grants cigarette makers a new window of immunity. The Aug. 5 decision said most statements and acts by the tobacco companies between 1988 and 1998 cannot be used as evidence against them because of a state law, which was later repealed.

SAN FRANCISCO — Environmentalists embroiled in a lawsuit against Pacific Lumber Co. asked a Humboldt County Superior Court judge on Friday to enforce two of his previous orders concerning the company’s logging. 

The motion was filed days after Pacific Lumber Co. sent Judge John Golden a letter telling him the company’s interpretation of the two previous motions. The judge responded that court procedure prohibited him from reading the letter. 

Golden’s first order was issued Aug. 29 and banned the timber company from logging land that did not have a valid timber harvest plan. A Sept. 27 order denied motions by Pacific Lumber and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to reconsider the initial order. The Sept. 27 order specifically exempted six of Pacific Lumber’s timber harvest plans from the order. 

The company has taken the position that the ban applies to all unapproved timber harvest plans, and it reiterated that in its letter.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – John Walker Lindh, whose discovery as a U.S.-born Taliban fighter startled the nation, received a 20-year sentence Friday after condemning Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network during a sobbing, halting plea for forgiveness. 

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III accepted the plea-agreement Lindh’s lawyers had negotiated with the government. During a drama-packed two-and-a-half hour proceeding, he told the young Californian, “You were willing to give your life for the Taliban but not for your country.” 

In a 20-minute statement, Lindh expressed remorse for joining the Taliban. “I understand why so many Americans were angry when I was first discovered in Afghanistan. I realize that many still are, but I hope that with time and understanding, their feelings will change.” 

Ellis acknowledged Lindh’s plea, but declared, “Forgiveness is separate from punishment.” He told a packed courtroom, which included Lindh’s parents, brother and sister, that many Americans will think his sentence was too lenient while others will believe it was too severe. 

U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty, asked if he thought Lindh’s statement was sincere, replied, “The information he provided was viewed by the court as an acceptance of responsibility and I’ll leave it at that.” 

Lindh’s tearful apology, during which he repeatedly stopped in mid-sentence to compose himself, contrasted with Richard Reid’s laughter as he pleaded guilty in Boston to attempting to blow up a trans-Atlantic flight with explosives hidden in his shoes. He also declared himself a follower of Osama bin Laden. 

Lindh, on the other hand, has consistently denied that he ever swore loyalty to bin Laden and his Al-Qaida network, even though he acknowledged having met him briefly at a military training camp in Afghanistan. He roundly condemned the terrorist leader in his statement. 

On a day of coast-to-coast developments on the terrorism front, government officials announced the arrests of four people in Oregon and Michigan on charges of conspiring to wage war on the United States and support al-Qaida. Attorney General John Ashcroft called it a “defining day” in the war against terrorism. 

Two other suspects were indicted and were being sought overseas. Five of the six named in an indictment are U.S. citizens, and prosecutors said that some of them took weapons training and then tried to travel to Afghanistan to join up with al-Qaida and the Taliban, but could not get into the country. 

At his sentencing in suburban Alexandria, Va., Lindh told the judge that “Bin Laden’s terrorist attacks are completely against Islam, completely contrary to the conventions of jihad and without any justification whatsoever.” 

“His grievances, whatever they may be, cannot be addressed by acts of injustice and violence against innocent people in America.” 

Both Reid and Lindh were apprehended late last year while the U.S. was pursing the war in Afghanistan. But even as the government prosecuted Lindh and Reid, neither emerged as more than foot soldiers in the terrorist ranks. 

Lindh was captured on the battlefield in Afghanistan and was in the vicinity of a prison uprising where CIA agent Johnny “Mike” Spann was killed. Spann’s father, Johnny, told the judge Friday that Lindh was partly responsible for his son’s death. 

“My grandchildren would love to know their dad would be back in 20 years,” he said. “The punishment doesn’t fit the crime to me.” 

Ellis, however, said he never would have approved the plea agreement if the government had shown any evidence that Lindh was responsible for Spann’s death. Lindh told the judge, “I had no role in the death of Johnny Micheal Spann.” 

Lindh pleaded guilty last July to supplying services to the Taliban and carrying an explosive during commission of a felony. Each count carries a 10-year sentence. The government told Ellis last week that Lindh had fulfilled his agreement to cooperate, allowing prosecutors to drop more serious charges that could have brought a life sentence. 

As part of the plea agreement, neither Lindh nor his family can profit by selling his story. 

Lindh, wearing glasses and a standard-issue green jumpsuit, still has the close cropped hair style he adopted soon after being returning to America. His appearance remained a far contrast from the long-haired, bearded image that he projected on television after his capture — a picture that shocked Americans who discovered that one of their own had been fighting for the Taliban. 

“I want the court to know, and I want to American people to know,” Lindh said, “that had I realized then what I know now about the Taliban, I would never have joined them.” 

Lindh also told the court that he never understood jihad to mean anti-Americanism or terrorism and declared, “I condemn terrorism on every level unequivocally.” 

He said he went to Afghanistan and enlisted in the Taliban army because he believed it was “my religious duty to assist my fellow Muslims militarily in their jihad against the Northern Alliance,” the Taliban’s internal Afghan enemies who eventually fought alongside the United States. 

Government officials said Lindh and other al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners told U.S. interrogators the Sept. 11 hijackings were supposed to be the first of three increasingly severe attacks against Americans. Their claims have not been corroborated, government officials said. 

Ellis said he is troubled that there were two separate accounts of when Lindh heard rumors that 50 terrorists would be sent on suicide operations. The original indictment said Lindh heard that information before Sept. 11, but Lindh has contended he heard it after the attacks. 

Ellis suggested that Lindh address the discrepancy during the sentencing hearing, but he never did. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Bellows told the judge that Lindh is still being interrogated and when the interviews are completed, he will take a lie detector test.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Police linked a sixth death to the sniper killings of five Maryland residents and said Friday the same high-powered rifle was used to kill at least four of the victims. 

Police were searching for two men — a shooter and a driver — in the slayings and investigating whether a seventh shooting outside a Virginia store was part of the same terrifying crime spree. 

“We implore him to surrender, stop this madness,” Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose said. 

The sixth victim, a 72-year-old Washington, D.C., pedestrian, was killed by the same weapon used to kill at least three of the Maryland victims, said Special Agent Michael Bouchard of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Forensic testing was still under way in the two other Maryland shootings. 

Bouchard also said ATF agents would examine evidence collected from the scene of a Friday afternoon shooting outside a crafts store in Fredericksburg, Va., 55 miles south of Rockville. A 43-year-old woman was shot in the back and in serious condition. 

Police were looking for two men in a white van with dark lettering, a description that came from a witness to one of the killings. Police pulled over white vans Friday and plastered orange stickers on the back to show the vehicles had been checked. Moose said investigators were chasing more than 500 leads. 

Each Maryland victim was felled by a single bullet, apparently from a high-powered rifle or handgun. Police said evidence indicated the killer was some distance away and used .223-caliber bullets. 

The search Friday went on amid a mix of fear and defiance among residents of the economically and culturally diverse slice of the suburban Washington county where most of the shootings occurred. 

All over Montgomery County, people did what they usually do on a Friday, but they moved slowly and quietly, glancing at trees, bushes and rooftops. Many said they were afraid but wouldn’t stop getting groceries, going to work or leaving their children with a baby sitter. 

“I had to shop. I need to eat. I can’t stay at home all day,” said Kira Leonova, who works at a bookstore near one of the slaying scenes. “I have to work and I have a family.” 

Dexter Evans, 20, scanned the traffic as he waited for a bus to Rockville, and he took a second look at every white truck. “You can’t even walk down the street without looking over your shoulder,” he said. 

Schools opened with extra police patrols and calls poured into 911 dispatchers about suspicious noises. 

The five Maryland victims died within five miles of one another during a 16-hour span Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. All were gunned down in broad daylight in very public places: two at gas stations, one outside a grocery, another outside a post office and the fifth as he mowed the grass at an auto dealership.

CHAUVIN, La. – The remnants of Hurricane Lili spun out of Louisiana and into the Ohio Valley on Friday, leaving behind a trail of muddy misery and tens of thousands of homes without power. 

Lili was a Category 4 hurricane packing 145-mph winds before it weakened substantially and hit land Thursday. It still left ripped-up roofing, felled trees, downed power lines, mud and debris along a coast already sodden by Tropical Storm Isidore a week earlier. 

The Insurance Information Institute in New York said claims from the storm could reach $600 million in all states affected, with most of the damage in Louisiana. State Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom said the storm dealt a heavy blow to Louisiana’s sugarcane, cotton and soybean crops. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Joe Allbaugh said he had no idea what Louisiana damage estimates were “other than in the millions.” Damage from Isidore’s flooding last week totaled $100 million. 

“We have assessment teams out right now,” Allbaugh said. “We will be here a long time.” 

Some 500,000 customers in Louisiana lost power during the storm, and 219,000 were still out Friday, state officials said. Utility officials said it could be several days before damage is repaired. 

Lili, blamed for a dozen deaths in the Caribbean, took no lives and caused few injuries along the Gulf Coast. But it swamped many low-lying areas in the bayou country southwest of New Orleans with a storm surge and 8 inches of rain. 

Water still covered the main road in Chauvin. Pirogues and other canoe-like boats remained the preferred means of transportation in nearby Montegut, though most of the water that poured in from a broken levee Thursday had receded. 

Kim Guy’s grandmother’s house in Chauvin was knocked off its concrete foundation — saved from floating into nearby Lake Boudreau by only a small oak tree. 

“I been living over here since I’ve been 5 years old,” the 38-year-old crabber said in the clipped Cajun French cadence of the area. “So we just deal with it. We just figure there’s nowhere else to go. Where are we going to go?” 

In Montegut, Jeremy and Dolores Koenig had a bass boat parked in front of their home, which was lifted off its foundation by the storm and dumped 50 feet away in the middle of a street. 

The couple said their insurance will leave them with about $3,000 and maybe ownership of the lot, but nowhere to live. 

Jeremy, a shrimper, said they will rebuild with a higher foundation. 

“I’m going to shrimp the rest of my life,” he said. “I just like being on the water.” 

In the Gulf of Mexico, the storm ripped one offshore drilling rig from its moorings, sending it drifting for 45 miles, and capsized another. No one was on the rigs, and the Coast Guard reported minimal oil damage. 

Lili destroyed all seven of the fishing nets Ray Trahan uses to catch mullet, a fish available for commercial harvest during a limited season in Louisiana. He hoped to replace the nets before the season opens later this month. 

“This is our livelihood,” he said, traipsing up Chauvin’s still-flooded main road as frogs and small fish skittered at his feet. 

“It’s all I know how to do. You’ve got to take the good with the bad.”

HONOLULU – Scientists have found the first evidence of coral bleaching in the Hawaiian Islands, providing a worrisome sign of more potential environmental damage from global warming. 

Coral bleaching happens when the algae that populate and build the coral die off. 

The bleaching was discovered around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, 10 mostly uninhabited islets and atolls that extend 1,200 miles northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands. The reefs are some of the most pristine in the world. 

Scientists said that the reefs will probably recover in a few weeks but that the condition should be watched closely. 

“It’s important not to overreact to the evidence of coral bleaching we’ve observed during this trip,” said Greta Aeby, a coral biologist with the state. “In severe cases, coral bleaching can cause mortality, but most mildly bleached colonies will recover in a few weeks.” 

Coral bleaching has increased worldwide over the past several decades, particularly in Florida. Some environmentalists have warned that coral reefs are headed for extinction. 

Short-term bleaching happens in higher water temperatures and often is linked to global warming. Pollution can also cause bleaching. 

Federal officials are working to establish a national marine sanctuary in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which have more than 70 percent of the nation’s coral reefs. They are home to endangered seals and a rich variety of other wildlife.

This weekend, Berkeley residents will get a rare glimpse into the mysterious fortress on a hill – Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. 

Members of the public attending the lab’s semi-annual, kid-friendly open house Saturday will, among other things, tour the Advanced Light Source, which emits ultraviolet and X-ray light a billion times brighter than the sun, visit an “electronic petting zoo,” where they can pull apart cell phones and fax machines and isolate salmon DNA in a test tube. 

“We’re trying to get people more familiar with what we do and why we do it, so people are less intimidated,” said Ron Kolb, head of public communications for the lab. 

Kolb said many locals confuse Lawrence Berkeley with nearby Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which focuses on national defense issues, or know about the lab only through its ongoing battle with community activists over emissions of tritium, a radioactive isotope.  

Federal research has deemed the emissions safe, lab officials say, but activists continue to raise concerns. 

The lab, founded in 1931, is administered by the federal government’s Department of Energy and the University of California and has an annual budget of $450 million. Scientists conduct research in 14 areas, ranging from life sciences and genomics to energy conservation and physics. 

The nanofabrication lab in the Center for X-Ray Optics, open to visitors on Saturday, builds microscopic devices that allow scientists to view infinitesimal particles like atoms or molecules. 

A chart on the wall shows that the devices are two to three times smaller than the grooves on an ant hair. 

“Going as small as possible is the goal here,” said Erik H. Anderson, director of the Center for X-Ray Optics. 

The nanofabrication lab is currently working with Hewlett-Packard to devise computer chip components the size of molecules in the never-ending search for faster machines. 

Visitors to the engineering division will watch a group of small, computer-controlled robots move in tandem and play with a ball.  

They’ll also get a glimpse at the division’s two rapid prototyping machines, which create small, plastic, detailed, three-dimensional models of devices designed on lab computers. 

One of the prototypes on display is a model of the Supernova Acceleration Probe, a satellite the lab hopes to launch in partnership with NASA to help determine the ultimate fate of the universe. 

Visitors to the Advanced Light Source will get a glimpse of one of the most powerful research tools on the planet, but they’ll also see the backdrop for a scene in the upcoming Universal Studios film “The Hulk.” 

The film, scheduled for a June 2003 release, will feature actor Eric Bana as the Hulk bursting through the dome of the Advanced Light Source, renamed the “Berkeley Nuclear Biotechnology Institute,” courtesy of the special effects wizardry of Industrial Light & Magic. 

“It was fun to have Hollywood here for a couple of days,” said Kolb. 

Now, the lab has its sights set on a community visit. The open house runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. On-site parking at Lawrence Berkeley, located behind the UC Berkeley campus, will be limited. Visitors are encouraged to board buses at the Downtown Berkeley BART station or at a series of UC Berkeley parking lots. Signs on Hearst Avenue will direct drivers to the appropriate lots. 

Contact reporter at 

scharfenberg@berkeleydailyplanet.net 

To the Editor: 

Chris Bagley's article “Web site to lose critic list” (Daily Planet, Oct. 1) is incomplete. Daniel Pipes, who publishes the “Campus Watch” blacklist (his “think tank” consists of himself) is a professional bigot. 

As far back as 1983, the Washington Post wrote (Dec. 11, 1983) that Pipes displays “a disturbing hostility to contemporary Muslims ... he professes respect for Muslims but is frequently contemptuous of them.” In The Weekly Standard (Jan. 22, 1996), Pipes called an anti-Muslim book “quite brilliant” and “startlingly novel,” adding that “This religion would seem to have nothing functional to offer.” (The National Catholic Reporter found the book, “Why I Am Not a Muslim,” to be “the literary equivalent of hate radio... literary warfare against Islam.”) Pipes expressed his distaste for Muslim immigrants who “wish to import the customs of the Middle East and South Asia” in the Los Angeles Times (July 22, 1999). Earlier he complained in the National Review (Nov. 19, 1990): “Western European societies are unprepared for the massive immigration of brown-skinned peoples cooking strange foods and maintaining different standards of hygiene. ... All immigrants bring exotic customs and attitudes, but Muslim customs are more troublesome than most.” 

That's a small but representative sample of Pipes' rants. He even blamed Muslims, with no evidence whatever, for the Oklahoma City bombing (USA Today, May 2, 1995). A former director of Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies (and one of Pipes' instructors) wrote, “I have been appalled frequently by his polemical stance on almost everything to do with Islam, Muslims, or the Palestinian/Israeli issue. ...The irony is of course that Dr. Pipes and other radically and blindly pro-Zionist American Jews are much farther along the chauvinist and ultimately anti-American spectrum than are even radical American Muslims.” (Arabic-Info web posting, Sept. 10, 1999). 

Without putting Pipes into his slimy racist context, your reporter's line that Pipes “seeks to promote fair and open debate” is naive. For Cal's Israel Action Committee to front for him speaks volumes about them. 

Ken Scudder 

San Francisco 

A research center in the hills overlooking Berkeley and the UC campus is where lots of lofty mathematics is pondered. On Sunday the thinkers from the Mathematical Science Research Institute will come down the hill to a theater near you. 

During the CineMath Film Festival at the Pacific Film Archive Theater a collection of both popular and obscure films describing number theories and their inventors. 

Though some might dub CineMath “Cinegeek” for its apparent task of pointing out numerical equations that hold up emotional stories on the screen, math-challenged laypeople who struggle to compute tips for restaurant checks might be surprised to find out that mathematics has nothing to do with needing a calculator.  

“Math is not numbers,” said Dr. Keith Devlin, director of the Center for the Study of Language and Information at Stanford University. “Its is extracting patterns from the universe.” 

The festival presents the drama and fascination those patterns can bring to stories, like the tense black-and-white migraine “Pi” (1998), Peter Greenaway’s stylish serial murders in “Drowning By Numbers” (1988), the Argentinian high-concept thriller “Moebius” (1996), and a handful of documentaries and experimental works visualizing number theories and portraying the shadowy men behind the derivatives and algorithms.  

“Pi” involves dividing a circle’s circumference by its diameter: 3.141592653 … ad infinitum. Its infinite string of decimal places is a curious phenomenon, in that numbers cannot exactly express its value. The plot of “Pi” has the maniacally obsessive anti-hero jacking into his homemade mainframe computer to tap into the secrets of pi, which he believes holds the name of god. 

“It’s a belief that is about 3,000 years old,” said Devlin. The film takes strands of an ancient Hebrew myth that God’s name is hidden inside patterns of numbers and weaves them into hallucinogenic visions of theological purity. “This is not mathematics. It’s numerology,” said Devlin, adding that the “spurious” subject belongs in the New Age bookstore sections. 

However spurious its science, the film was never meant as a treatise on the essence of pi. At the time of the film’s release in 1998, director Aronofsky said “Pi really isn’t a math movie. The hardest math problem in the film is 41+3, and then we give you the answer about 10 seconds later. Most of the math in the movie is the mystical, mythical, bugged-out math you hear about at cocktail parties.” 

“First and foremost, we wanted ‘Pi’ to be a chase movie, a thriller,” Aronofsky continued. “We wanted it to be a 90-minute roller coaster ride that audiences could strap into and be filled with adrenaline.” 

The story of Max Cohen, caught between Mob hitmen and a dangerously aggressive cabal of Hassidic Jews, is a gripping one in part because his insane predilection for extreme math lifts the chase movie into a vaguely plausible intellectual realm. If you let yourself believe, the story scratches at the secret of the universe. 

Devlin said there is a case to be made for studying pi as a troubling definition of randomness. Although the numbers in its infinite decimal places have no pattern to them, the value of pi is not random because it is generated by a formula. Its inside that gap – between the rational and the random – where storytellers find their stuff. 

Of course, storytellers and filmmakers will give themselves scientific liberties to make compelling drama, but for hose who want to faithfully represent abstract mathematical ideas on screen the challenge is dreaming up ways to visualize it. Math theories don’t readily exist in the concrete world. You can’t point a movie camera at math theory.  

That’s the challenge across the board in all the films at Cinemath. The festival will screen experimental works directly addressing mathematical principles. On Tuesdays in October the PFA will screen avant-garde works attempting to represent through visuals and sound, theories, problems and patterns. 

Oakland-based filmmaker George Csicsery struggled with presenting mathematics in his documentary on the most prolific mathematician ever. “N is a Number” is a portrait of Paul Erdos, a nomadic intellectual who was purportedly responsible for over 1,000 published mathematical papers. 

Using animation Csicsery poses the Party Problem, in which all the different ways a small number of people can be connected is pondered. As the number of hypothetical people increase, the possibilities of connection increase at an outrageously exponential rate. Even with visual cues, it’s difficult to follow the logic of the problem. 

“What we were aiming for was not a full understanding,” said Csicsery, “but how quickly things get out of control.” Sitting in the small, cluttered office in his Piedmont home, the veteran journalist-filmmaker called himself a “sociological refugee.” He now has a small handful of projects making films about mathematicians, but in the past he has made films about hookers and romance novelists. 

“They’re actually similar,” he said about romance writers and mathematicians, “they both have managed to escape reality.” Paul Erdos, a house-guest intellectual with no fixed address bouncing around the world from conference to residency to lecture stint, was unencumbered by rent, departmental meetings, and research grants. He just kept flying around the world thinking about math. “He was successful in that he evading things that torment people.” 

The math in Csicsery’s film is minimal. “N is a Number” is about the people behind the theories. Erdos, who died in 1996 at age 83, was so prolific and so globally gregarious that he literally worked with everyone of any importance in the field of math. Csicsery chose his a subject because he was at the center of the mathematical community. Not only did he have a genius for number theory, but a bottomless cache of jokes and anecdotes of mathematicians past and present.  

“There is an interaction between life and ideals,” said Csicsery about the way Erdos chose to live. The film subtly suggests that Erdos’ freedom to think about abstract number theory enabled his peripatetic lifestyle. Mathematics allowed him to skirt real life, and live as closely as humanly possible inside his own castle in the air. 

Friday, Oct. 4 

Earth Traditions: Buddhism and Ecology 

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.  

Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave.  

548-2220 

Free. 

Social Issues Roundtable 

12 p.m. to 1 p.m. 

202 Chavez Center - UC Berkeley 

Post Sept. 11 Srvice Surge 

643-0306 

Free. 

Service and Leadership Opportunities Fair 

12 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Upper Sproul Plaza - UC Berkeley 

Get involved with 40 nonprofit agencies. 

643-0306 

Free. 

Peace Corp. Volunteer Returns 

Triple Rock Brewery “Happy Hour” 

5 p.m.  

1920 Shattuck Ave. 

(800)424-8580 

Free 

“The Complex Troika: Pakistan, Kashmir, India” 

11:45 a.m. luncheon, 12:30 speaker. 

City Commons Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 

Professor Thomas R. Metcalf, PhD, of the department of history at UC Berkeley will speak. 

526-2925 or 665-9020 

$11.50 or $12.50 luncheon 

$1 speaker only / students free 

International Day of No Prostitution 

6 to 8 p.m. 

Boalt Hall, Booth Auditorium,  

UC Berkeley 

Bay Area rally and march  

against prostitution.  

358-2725 

Resist Oil & Mining 

6 to 10 p.m. 

The roof, 1916A Martin Luther King Jr. Way, at Berkeley Way 

Project Underground’s sixth birthday party and annual prize drawing.  

Entertainment, music, drinks, childcare. Wheelchair accessible. 

705-8981 or maistella@moles.org 

$15 suggested donation. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

Day of Service  

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

Cal Corps Public Serice Center joins for a day of service projects in Berkeley. 

643-0306 

Free. 

Berkeley National Lab Open House 

10a.m. to 4 p.m. 

1 Cyclotron Rd. 

Live music, food, lectures, job fair, etc. 

495-2222 

Free. 

Leading Edge Technology Conferece 

9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Haas School of Business, Arthur Andersen Auditorium, 2200 Piedmont Ave. 

594-748 for more info. 

Berkeley Historical Society Walking Tour 

10 a.m. 

Call for meeting point information. 

Photographer Allen Stross will lead a tour of the various art institutions located near San Pablo Ave. and Ashby Ave. 

Call for reservations: 848-0181 

www.ci.berkeley.ca.us./histsoc/ 

$10 donation 

Elmwood Neighborhood Fall Festival 

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 

This “giant block party” includes Korean BBQ, tap dancing, Baroque organ recital,  

the Pacific Mozart Ensemble, and seminars on health and Japanese food. 

845-6830 

Free 

East Bay Solar Home Tour 

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Cedar Rose Park (first stop) 

Attendees collect a map to guide them  

on the self-guided tour—eight homes in Albany, Berkeley and Oakland in all. 

531-1184 

$15 per car. 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Eckanka Worship Service 

10:30 to 11:30 a.m. 

East Bay ECK Center, 3052 Telegraph, near Whole Foods 

“How to Survive Spiritually in Our Times” 

549-2807 

“A Jewish Religious Perspective on the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict and Prospects for Peace” 

12 p.m. 

First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way 

Rabbi Michael Lerner will speak. 

848-3693 

War Tax Resistance Information  

and Support Gathering 

4 to 6:30 p.m. 

1305 Hopkins St., near Peralta. 

Join others who refuse to pay taxes for U.S. militarism at this monthly  

potluck supper. 

843-9877 

Free: bring food or drink to share. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

Leon Bates 

7:30 p.m. 

Calvin Simmons Theatre, 10 10th St. 

Pianist Leon Bates offers works by Mozart, Brahms and Chopin. 

451-0775 or www.fourseasonsconcerts.com 

$25-$35. 

All Bets Off, Benumb and Uphill Battle 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

House Jacks  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 or www.freightandsalvage.com 

$16.50 in advance. $17.50 at door. 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Jimmie Dale Gilmore  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$17.50 in advance. $18.50 at door. 

African Children’s Choir 

9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. 

First Presbyterian Church, 2407 Dana St. 

These African children, ages 5 to 12, are staging a series of concerts across the U.S. as a gesture of hope towards victims of Sept. 11. 

Free 

Ledisi and the Braxton Brothers 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

845-5373 

$10-15. 

Yaphet Kotto, The Fleshies  

and Lesser of Two 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

“Please Pay Attention” 

Tuesday, Oct. 8 through Oct. 25 

4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

Worth Ryder Gallery, 116 Kroeber Hall 

UC Art graduates feature drawings, video, etc. 

DepartmentofArtPractice 

"Balancing Acts" 

Through Oct. 10 

Gallery 555, 555 12th St., 

Oakland City Center 

Oakland's 'Third Thursday' art night  

features Ann Weber's works  

made of cardboard. 

http://www.oaklandcitycenter.com.  

Free. 

Ceramics - Opening Reception 

Through Nov. 17 

3 to 5 p.m. 

A New Leaf Gallery, 1286 Gilman St. 

525-7621 

Free. 

“Hunger: What will you do about it?”  

Through Oct. 30  

Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The Civic Center Building 

2180 Milvia St., 5th floor 

Featuring 40 photographs  

by Berkeley artist David Bacon. 

834-3663, Ext. 338,  

uchanse@secondharvest.org 

Richard Misrach, Berkeley Work 

Though Oct. 13 

UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way 

On view in Gallery 2, presents two photographic series by this internationally recognized Berkeley-based artist.  

642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

$7. $5 BAM/PFA members.  

$4 UC Berkeley students. 

Misch Kohn - Celebrating  

60 Years of Printmaking 

Through Oct. 16. Tues.-Fri., Noon to 5:30 p.m.; Sat., noon to 4:30 p.m. 

Kala Arts Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 

549-2977, kala@kala.org 

Nancy Salz 

Through Oct. 23, Tues.-Fri.,  

10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Barbara Anderson Gallery, 2243 Fifth St. 

848-3822 

Timoteo Ikoshy Montoya 

Through Nov. 1  

Reception Sept. 20, 6 to 8 p.m. 

Gathering Tribes Gallery  

1573 Solano Ave.  

Acrylic/air brush paintings  

by this Native American artist.  

528-9038 

Threads: Five artists who  

use stitching to convey ideas 

Oct. 6 through Dec. 15, Wed.-Sun., noon to 5 p.m. 

Berkeley Art Center 

Live Oak Park, 1275 Walnut St. 

Information: www.berkeleyartcenter.org, 644-6893 

Free. 

Berkeley Ballet Theater’s  

Youth Company 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

2 p.m. 

Julia Morgan Center, 260 College Ave. 

The Youth Company has been selected to perform in an Austrian dance festival in 2003. This is a special performance to raise travel funds. 

843-4687 

$10 general / $5 under 14 

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar 

Through Oct. 12 

Thurs. through Sat. 8 p.m. 

LaVal’s Subterranean Theatre  

1834 Euclid Ave. 

234-6046 

$10. 

The House of Blue Leaves 

Through Oct. 20 

Berkeley Rep's Roda Theater  

2015 Addison St.  

647-2949 or 888-4BRTTIX 

$10-$54. 

The Shape of Things 

Through Oct. 20 

Aurora Theatre Company  

2081 Addison St. 

Play by writer/director Neil LaBute's spins a morality tale of a young art student, his art major girlfriend, and the Pygmalion-like changes that bring into question how far one should go for love. 

843-4822, www.auroratheater.org for reservations 

$26-$35. 

Escape From Happiness 

Through October 20 

Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Berkeley Campus 

UC Berkeley’s department of theater, dance, and performance studies presents this dark comedy exploring the interactions of a highly dysfunctional urban working-class family. 

www.ticketweb.com or (866) 468-3399 

http://theater.berkeley.edu 

$8-$14 

Friday, Oct. 4 

Rosemary Wells 

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. 

Cody’s Books, 1730 Fourth St. 

“Getting to Know You” - songbook signing and singing. 

559-9500 

Free. 

Katherine Forrest 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Reading from “Daughters of the Amber Moon” 

559-9184 

Free. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

Jane Dyer 

2:30 to 5:30  

Cody’s Books, 1730 Fourth St. 

Book sigining. 

559-9500 

Free. 

“Black Like Us: A Century of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual African American Fiction” 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Led by co-editors Devon W. Carbado and Donald Wiese, and several of the book’s writers. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Poetry Reading 

3 to 5 p.m. 

West Branch Berkeley Public Library, 1125 University Ave. 

Held by the Bay Area Poets’ Coalition 

527-9905 

Sunday, October 6 

Bruce Feiler 

1 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 

Feiler will discuss his book Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths. 

559-9500 for more info. 

Ledisi and The Braxton Brothers 

4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Jazz School, 2087 Addison St.  

845-5373 

$15. $12 students & seniors.  

$10 Jazz school students. 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Cinemath Films 

Pacific Film Archive Theater 

5:30 p.m. 

2575 Bancroft Way 

642-1412 

$7 for one film. $ 8.50 for double bills. 

Monday, Oct. 7 

Documentary Film - “Of Rights and Wrongs: The Threat to America’s Freedoms” 

12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. 

UC Berkeley Law School Center for Social Justice - 100 Boalt Hall 

642-4474 

Free. 

Berkeley High quarterback Dessalines Gant will start tonight’s league opener against De Anza, head coach Matt Bissell said Thursday. 

Gant, a 6-foot-2 senior, replaces junior Jeff Spellman. Spellman led the team to wins over Liberty High and Kennedy (Richmond) High, but Gant’s superior athletic skills and improving mental game convinced Bissell and offensive coordinator Clarence Johnson that a change was in order. 

“Jeff played well, but we owe it to the team and Dez to see what he can do,” Bissell said. “We want to give Dez a chance just like we gave Jeff a chance.” 

Gant, who can throw the ball 65 yards, made a pitch for the job last week against Kennedy by throwing a 20-yard touchdown pass on his first play in the fourth quarter. Gant relieved Spellman in each of the first two games with the Jackets comfortably ahead. 

Gant, who played only briefly for the junior varsity as a sophomore, realized he had a chance to win the starting job after throwing two touchdowns against Pittsburg High in a preseason scrimmage. The Berkeley High coaches quickly began giving him more snaps in practice, and Johnson has been diligent in getting Gant ready to play with the league opener as a target date. 

“After the scrimmage, I could see it off in the distance,” he said. “I’ve been working hard to get in there.” 

Bissell said the move is not necessarily permanent, and Spellman will undoubtedly be chomping at the bit if Gant should struggle. Bissell complimented the Bishop O’Dowd transfer for his maturity in dealing with the demotion. 

“Jeff’s shown incredible character through this whole thing,” Bissell said. “I have to commend his ability to see the whole picture, what’s best for the team.” 

Tonight’s game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Berkeley High.

Mayor Shirley Dean’s proposal to replace the earthquake-prone Center Street garage with a new state-of-the-art automated one has raised some eyebrows here – and in Hoboken, N.J. 

In 1999 the New York City suburb was the first U.S. city to build a garage that uses computerized lifts to park cars and can pack in twice as many cars as a conventional garage. 

Today – $4 million over-budget and with a police investigation pending – Hoboken is awaiting the garage’s opening next week. 

“It’s been a debacle,” said Tom Jennemann, who has covered the garage issue for the Hoboken Reporter newspaper. “It has gone so badly that at the next City Council meeting, they are going to try to dissolve the parking authority.” 

Robotic parking is common in many European and Asian cities. The system uses machines to move cars. A driver deposits his car at a landing, where a lift moves it to an available parking space. To pick up a car, the owner types in a password, and the machine retrieves the car and sets it back on the landing. 

Dean first advocated robotic parking for the 420-space Center Street garage in 2000, but City Council voted down paying to study the idea. On Tuesday she repeated the idea during a debate with her main election rival, Tom Bates. 

“I said we should consider doing a study. If it doesn’t work we won’t build it,” Dean said. 

Dean said that she was unaware of the difficulties in Hoboken. She noted that the Center Street garage is seismically unsafe and that the $6 million price tag for a new conventional garage is about the cost of a new robotic garage. 

“[A robotic garage] is ideal when there is limited space and the cost of land is exorbitant,” said Peggy Zuignon, executive vice president of Robotic Parking Inc. (RBI), the only U.S.-based robotic parking company and designer of the Hoboken garage. 

Because a robotic garage does not need extra space to accommodate open car doors or tall drivers walking to their cars, it can fit twice as many cars in the same space as a conventional lot, Zuignon explained.  

Also, automated garages are not unsafe for drivers at night and can be designed to fit into the architectural style of the surrounding neighborhood, she said. 

RBI is currently in discussion with other U.S. cities about the possibility of building robotic garages, but Zuignon would not divulge the names of the cities. 

RBI does not accept blame for the Hoboken fiasco. 

“There have been a lot of local issues and Hoboken politics at play” said Zuignon. 

To build the garage, a contractor was employed to build a base structure for RBI to install its machines and computer software. However, according to Zuignon, the contractor, which has since declared bankruptcy, delayed its work by a year and when it finally finished, steel frames were not properly aligned for RBI to install its machines, causing further delays. 

In addition to the delays, Jennemann said RBI has failed to live up to the terms of the deal. “The garage will never function up to it’s promised specification,” he said.  

Hoboken officials were promised the new garage would retrieve cars in less than two minutes, but recent tests put retrieval at two minutes and twelve seconds, Jennemann said. 

Contact reporter at  

matt@berkeleydailyplanet.net

To the Editor: 

Thank you Nancy Bickel, your letter (Daily Planet Forum, Sept. 18) convinced me to support Measure P. When you stated that you admire Oakland, San Jose, Livermore, Fremont, and Mountain View for their growth strategies, you convinced me to vote for Measure P. I moved to Berkeley to get away from this kind of overcrowding. 

I would never want Berkeley to turn into one of these cities. If Nancy Bickel and Councilmember Linda Maio have these cities in mind when thinking about the future of Berkeley, I hope then can promote their ideas there and leave Berkeley alone. 

As Nancy Bickel stated, Berkeley downtown has become a vibrant, enjoyable place, but so is Shattuck and Vine and Fourth avenues. Neither of these location required new four and five story buildings to create a enjoyable place to visit. I wonder what Nancy Bickel thinks about the monstrous buildings on Sacramento. Are these buildings necessary to create a vibrant neighborhood? Are these neighborhoods in need of a sore thumb to liven them up? 

Angela Canepa 

Berkeley 

A wrong turn couldn’t stop Gabriela Rios-Sotelo from winning the first Bay Shore Athletic League cross country meet on Thursday, as the St. Mary’s High sophomore blew away the field and won by nearly a full minute at Crab Cove in Alameda. 

Rios-Sotelo led the pack from start to finish, so when she inadvertently added half a mile to the course by turning the wrong way at a junction, the other runners followed. The varsity girls ended up running 3 1/2 miles rather than the planned three, but it didn’t make much difference to Rios-Sotelo. 

“I can’t tell that kind of thing,” Rios-Sotelo said of the additional distance. “I just run until I hit the finish line.” 

Rios-Sotelo ended up winning the race in 23:36, 51 seconds ahead of teammate Emily Olson, who wasn’t even in sight when Rios-Sotelo crossed the finish line. There was a similar wait for the third-place finisher, St. Mary’s Nicole Shanahan. The Panthers took 10 of the top 12 places in the girls’ race. 

The boys’ race was a bit more competitive, but again it was Panthers finishing in the top two spots. Sophomore Tino Rodriguez won with a time of 17:32, with junior Scott Howard on his heels just a second behind. As the two came down the stretch, the pro-St. Mary’s crowd cheered for Howard to catch his younger teammate, but it wasn’t to be. 

“Everyone likes the underdog,” Howard said with a grin. “I’ll be happy if we just finish 1-2 every race.” 

Rodriguez, on the other hand, wants to make sure he finishes first, or at least ahead of Howard. 

“All the yelling gave me extra energy at the end,” he said. “I didn’t want my friend to come and beat me.” 

St. Joseph High nearly pulled off the upset of the defending champion Panthers, with touted freshman Neal Rodriguez finishing third and Andrew Wright coming in fourth. But St. Mary’s Gabe Texara edged out St. Patrick/St. Vincent’s Sean Daly for fifth place, and the Panthers wrapped up the race when a pack of four runners finished together in spots eight through 11. 

The Panthers are rebuilding following the graduation of Bridget Duffy and Rudy Vasquez, the duo who helped the St. Mary’s program reach new heights. But Rios-Sotelo benefitted from a year of Duffy mentoring and is actually running faster times than Duffy did as a sophomore. And while Rodriguez has stepped into Vasquez’s shoes as the boys’ front-runner, there may be another youngster waiting to snatch that title away: freshman Tommy Vasquez, Rudy’s little brother, finished eighth on Thursday in his first BSAL race.

Home movies aren’t supposed to be this cool: footage of Bob Dylan goofing around at Hamlet’s castle. The Beatles taking the stage in 1964. 

But for more than 30 years, drummer Mickey Jones had those and other 8 mm images sitting in his garage collecting dust. He says he never gave it much thought. Now he is releasing them for the first time. 

aJones said. “It adds a little bit more texture to the world of Bob Dylan photographs.” 

Jones, 61, took the movies during his career as a drummer, most famously backing Dylan during his 1966 world tour. It was on that tour that Dylan played electric rock for the first time, shocking many fans who saw it as selling out. (The band’s regular drummer, Levon Helm, apparently got sick of being booed during the U.S. leg of the tour and dropped out.) 

Historian C.P. Lee of the University of Salford in Manchester, England, said Jones’ films offer a fresh window on a cataclysmic period in both Dylan’s career and rock music. 

“To my way of thinking, it’s better than writing a diary,” said Lee, who has written books about Dylan on film and the 1966 tour. “If you’ve got a diary, you mediate it. If you’ve got a camera, it just shows what it shows.” 

The silent, full-color tapes include a dark-sunglass-wearing Dylan getting a private tour of Hamlet’s castle in Denmark, members of his band goofing off between gigs, and fans waiting outside hotels for a glimpse of their hero. 

In the past decade there has been a greater demand for rare footage, insider documentation and other rock ’n’ roll collectors items, said Pete Howard, a Dylan historian, and editor and publisher of ICE Magazine. 

“The whole landscape for releasing outtakes has moved into the mainstream,” Howard said. “Ten years ago this would have been a freaky release.” 

Dylan was unaware of the project and did not participate in it, said his spokesman Elliott Mintz. 

“He just has nothing to say about the project,” Mintz said. 

The Jones tapes show Dylan and his band — who would later become The Band — on stage, in hotel rooms, taxis and buses, and walking the streets of Europe. 

Dylan’s concerts in the spring of 1966 came on the heels of his infamous performance at the Newport Folk Festival in the summer of 1965, the first time he plugged in. By going electric, Dylan was largely abandoning the formula that had propelled him to fame. 

Jones, now a TV and film actor living in California, offers a firsthand account in voiceover of the booing, slow hand-clapping and foot-stomping that greeted Dylan each night from Hawaii to London. 

The drama reached a high point in Manchester, where an enraged audience member shouted “Judas!” at Dylan. The band responded with an in-your-face version of “Like a Rolling Stone,” highlighted by Jones’ cannon-fire-like drumming. 

The film images — along with Jones’ commentary on such things as haggling with Dylan over pay — are important and unprecedented pop culture documents, Howard said. 

Aside from snippets shown at a Dylan convention in England five years ago, the footage has not been seen by anyone besides Jones’ friends and family. 

At the urging of Joel Gilbert, who portrays Dylan in the cover band Highway 61 Revisited, Jones set about transferring the films to digital for sale on DVD and video. 

The 91-minute movie, titled ”1966 World Tour, The Home Movies,” is being sold only on Jones’ commercial Web site, http://www.1966tourhomemovies.com/ ($19.95 VHS, $24.95 DVD). 

Although Dylan is the focus, Jones includes footage of other famous people he met during his career, including the Beatles in never-before-seen shots on stage in Paris in 1964. 

Jones wasn’t the only one with a camera rolling during Dylan’s 1966 tour. Filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker shot a documentary called “Eat the Document” that has been shown sporadically in public but is not commercially available. 

Jones said he hopes his home movies, which show Pennebaker making his film, will motivate Dylan to release “Eat the Document.” 

A last minute effort by swimmers at the city’s Willard Pool to recruit more users will likely save it from a planned winter closure, city officials said Thursday. 

“I think there is a lot of energy for the community to rally with staff to make it [keeping Willard Pool open] a viable option,” said Lisa Caronna, director of the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront.  

The community pool at the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and Derby Street was set to close mid-November through mid-April as part of a city cost cutting measure. 

The city loses $47,000 keeping the pool open during winter months when usage is at its annual low, Caronna said. But plans to attract more winter swimmers to pay fees and help offset operating costs is reason to keep it open, she added. 

City Council is scheduled to decide the pool’s fate at its Oct. 15 meeting. 

Pool users have historically said that too few swimming programs and poor publicity are reasons for low winter turnout. 

But Wednesday, the recently formed Willard Swimmers Association [WSA] agreed to a deal with city officials in which swimmers will recruit residents for new pool programs and the city will provide instructors and advertising. 

“We’ve had interest in water aerobics, a masters [seniors] swim team and synchronized swimming,” said Karen Davis of the WSA. 

The pool controversy materialized in May when the parks department recommended closing both Willard Pool and West Campus Pool to help make $100,000 in required budget cuts.  

But last month, after vehement opposition from West Campus swimmers, the parks department offered a compromise plan that would keep West Campus open and close only Willard. 

City Council balked at the deal, however, and asked the parks department to consider ways to keep Willard open too. 

“I’m committed to keeping it open,” said Councilmember Kriss Worthington, whose district includes the pool. “It’s a horrible message to send to close Willard and keep the others open.” 

Contact reporter at  

matt@berkeleydailyplanet.net 

To the editor: 

Local development policy both reflects and shapes the character of a city and its social values. This November, Berkeley voters have an important development issue on the ballot, Measure P. 

We should vote “No” on Measure P, exercising our belief in five social values.  

Affordable Housing: Economics tells us that limiting housing supply in a high-demand market will increase the cost. Measure P would increase the costs of market rate housing, which are already too high, and the costs of providing affordable housing, which is already extremely difficult to build. Berkeley should be a city for everyone, not just the rich. 

Affordable Education: Measure P would drive up rents, increasing the cost of getting an education at UC Berkeley. 

Stopping Urban Sprawl: As citizens of the Bay Area, we have a responsibility to stop urban sprawl. Measure P is a pro-sprawl initiative; through its NIMBYism, it asks that the next houses be built even further out.  

Public Transit: Many of us take public transit rather than drive. Many more of us would take it if it were more convenient. Public transit relies on density. We can't improve our public transit system if we halt development. 

Local business: Local, neighborhood businesses thrive on people living close. Squelching mixed-use development halts the ability of less affluent parts of Berkeley to bring in local businesses like food markets and family restaurants. It's destructive for affluent neighborhoods as well. Let's keep the local businesses and not drive to Emeryville. 

As environmentalists, affordable housing advocates, and believers in diverse neighborhoods, we should vote No on Measure P, 

Scott Klemmer 

Berkeley 

NEW YORK — As a ferry filled with brunchers and skyline-gazers cruised along the East River on a crystal-clear September Sunday, architecture critic Paul Goldberger drew his audience’s attention to a fire boat, spouting graceful arcs of spray. 

“Now, that’s architecture!” he mused into his microphone. 

Meanwhile, back on land, author Calvin Trillin was treating a lucky group to his favorite downtown culinary delights, with mozzarella in Little Italy and dim sum in Chinatown. Legal writer Jeffrey Toobin was showing his guests the inside of a criminal forensics lab, and art expert Simon Schama was guiding a tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

The “About Town” tours, all led by writers at The New Yorker, were new features this year of the annual New Yorker Festival, which ended Sunday. In its third year, the weekend festival seems to be gaining in popularity all the time. Some of the top events sold out within 15 minutes of online sales, frustrating those who didn’t log on fast enough. 

But fans of The New Yorker, who often speak of devouring the magazine cover to cover, had a wide array of events to devour in the same manner. 

For fiction-lovers, there were paired readings with the likes of Stephen King and Amy Tan, Ian Frazier and Steve Martin, E.L. Doctorow and Edna O’Brien, and Annie Proulx and George Saunders. 

For film-lovers, there was a sneak preview of the upcoming epic “Gangs of New York” by director Martin Scorsese, which he then described in a conversation with critic David Denby. 

There was also a riotous session with the British critic Anthony Lane, who in a lecture pondered the themes of sex and violence — “The Odd Couple.” Then, in a hilarious question-and-answer period, he covered everything from Noel Coward to Antonio Banderas to the wave of karate stars in movies to the unfortunate Midwestern mallworker who’d heard Lane’s impeccable British and somehow theorized he was from Brazil. 

Then there were this year’s late-night events, also a new feature, highlighted by a visit to the “Saturday Night Live” studios for a conversation between David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, and SNL creator Lorne Michaels, along with cast members Darrell Hammond, Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph. 

Michaels told the crowd about one of the first-ever skits on “SNL,” involving John Belushi in a bee suit at a bee hospital. A note soon came from the network: the bees didn’t work. (They did indeed make a comeback.) 

As Michaels described the sketch on Friday night, the crowd laughed, and Remnick commented: “It’s working now.” Michaels countered: “It was ahead of its time.” 

Sitting in the audience was a couple from the small town of Bakersville, N.C., who’d flown up to New York for the festival. Glenn Harling and Vicky Steele were also planning to attend a talk by historian Bernard Lewis, a specialist on Islam, and a conversation with the neurologist Oliver Sacks. 

“We were online at 9:02 a.m. the day tickets went on sale,” Steele said. “There’s only us and another couple in town that reads The New Yorker. We go through it cover to cover.” 

A spokesperson for the magazine, Jodi Bart, said 31 percent of this year’s 14,000 ticket buyers were from outside New York and its suburbs. They included festivalgoers from 28 states and several foreign countries. 

Most events were fairly intimate, but there were 1,100 people at one event, a tribute to the late poet Elizabeth Bishop, Bart said. 

The New Yorker festival was launched three years ago to mark the magazine’s 75th anniversary. It quickly became an annual event. 

For Ramona Rukavina, a consultant from Providence, Utah, this year’s festival was reason enough to fly across the country. Her main goal was to see an event with the actor and comedian Eddie Izzard, but she also needed a trip to ground zero and an infusion of New York-style culture. 

“I just can’t get enough of this place,” she said. 

——— 

On the Net: 

Festival: http://festival.newyorker.com/ 

The Berkeley High girls volleyball team rolled through yet another league opponent on Thursday, demolishing Pinole Valley in straight games, 15-1, 15-4, 15-0. 

Senior outside hitter Amalia Jarvis led the way for the Yellowjackets with 11 kills and eight digs. Senior Nadia Qabazard had eight aces on the day, with four of them coming as she served the Jackets to a 14-0 lead in the opening game. 

Berkeley head coach Justin Caraway was looking for a strong performance from his team after losing a game to Encinal High on Tuesday, the first game the Jackets have dropped in Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League play this season. That’s about as bad as it gets for Caraway’s team when it comes to league games, as Berkeley has yet to lose against an ACCAL foe in three years. 

Berkeley (7-6 overall, 4-0 ACCAL) had an excellent match from the service line, and Pinole Valley had nearly no offensive game as the Spartans struggled to simply get the ball back over the net. What serves they did return were slammed back at them by Jarvis and senior middle blocker Vanessa Williams, who had eight kills. 

“We ran a lot of offense off of free balls, and we even ran some off of digs, which is a step up for us,” Caraway said. “We still need to be better terminating the ball from certain positions.” 

Berkeley will get its final test of the season at the Castro Valley Tournament this weekend. The Jackets have struggled against top-shelf opposition this season, so the tournament will be a shot at winning against the types of teams they will face in the playoffs. Then it’s likely to be another romp through league play before things get serious again for the postseason.

A bomb threat and a string of at least 10 false fire alarms at Berkeley High School have disrupted classes and raised safety concerns in the last week. 

In connection with the false fire alarms, police have arrested six students, Berkeley police spokesperson Mary Kusmiss said. 

Police have no suspects in the bomb threat but they have clues from a telephone recording and from finger prints they lifted off a public phone.  

At 11:20 a.m. Tuesday a caller to the high school warned that the school would “blow up” at noon, Kusmiss said.  

The department’s 911 system traced the phone call to a pay phone in the basement of Berkeley High’s Florence Schwimley Little Theater, she said. 

Ten officers responded to the call and found no suspicious packages at the school. Administrators, in consultation with the police, decided not to evacuate. Police took fingerprints from the phone and, in reviewing the tape, determined that the caller was likely an Asian teenage male.  

A bomb threat is a felony and is punishable up to a year in prison for an adult, but a minor would likely face a lesser penalty, Kusmiss said. 

A false fire alarm is a misdemeanor and maximum punishment for an adult is six months in prison and a $1,000 fine. But Kusmiss said minors would likely face no more than probation.  

The school, though, plans to pursue expulsion in an undetermined number of cases. 

“Let’s face it, almost 100 percent of the students are here to learn,” said Berkeley High School dean of students Meg Matan, explaining the decision to seek expulsion. “They’re feeling frustrated, we’re feeling frustrated. ... We want to support the kids who are here.” 

The expulsion process is a lengthy one that ultimately requires Board of Education approval. 

Berkeley High co-principal Laura Leventer said the fire alarms began Sept. 26 and peaked Tuesday with six in one day. She said the alarms created a number of problems, including lost class time. 

“You’re missing your education which is, of course, very important,” Leventer said. 

Sophomore O.J. Denton said students were happy to get a break from class during the first few alarms, but quickly soured on them. 

“The first couple of times it was like, whatever,” Denton said. “Then I started getting frustrated.” 

Denton said the constant interruptions affected his ability to do classwork. 

Leventer added that repeated alarms were a safety concern for disabled and injured students who have trouble getting up and down stairs quickly. 

“Complacency is also an issue,” she said, arguing that if students and staff get used to false alarms, they might not react quickly in the case of a real emergency. 

Matan, the dean of students, said the high school has become more vigilant in the wake of the false alarms, maintaining a heavy adult presence, including some parent volunteers, at vulnerable fire alarms. 

“The parents have been hugely supportive,” she said. “They’ve been great.” 

Matan said the increased adult presence in the hallways has had a positive side effect – encouraging students to stay in class. 

“Something that was negative has turned out to be a positive thing,” she said. 

Superintendent Michele Lawrence added that the rash of fire alarms has prompted better communication with the police and fire departments, boosting long-term safety and security at the high school. 

Matan said one alarm sounded Thursday, but only in the midst of a staff training. It was the first day in a week that a pupil did not pull an alarm. 

Contact reporter at  

scharfenberg@berkeleydailyplanet.net

To the Editor: 

Ms. Joanne Orengo's opinion regarding the Sept. 21 bicycle accident and printed in the (Daily Planet Forum, Oct. 1) was based on false information. I forgive Ms. Orengo. I am the grandfather and have never blamed the police.  

Frank Thomas 

Concord 

Girls Tennis - St. Mary’s 6, Holy Names 1 

Maren Sagat, Kristen Maita and Doris Ng win singles matches for St. Mary’s, while the Panthers doubles teams all come out victorious as well. 

Girls Volleyball - Piedmont def. St. Mary’s 16-14, 13-15, 13-15, 15-6, 15-8

Berkeley High School administrators equated this week’s rash of false fire alarms with terrorism, in a student bulletin. 

“This is an act of terrorism and we will not stand for it,” the bulletin read.  

Berkeley High co-principal Laura Leventer said the sight of fire trucks for students and staff who endured previous fires at Berkeley High and in the Oakland hills is difficult. 

“I think it is [like terrorism] for anyone who lived through the ‘B’ Building fire and the Oakland Hills Fire,” she said. “They’re traumatized.” 

“I think that’s a little extreme,” said Berkeley High senior Nicholas Ware. “I think it’s a bunch of kids trying to have fun.” 

- David Scharfenberg 

BAGHDAD, Iraq — An Iraqi vice president offered a unique solution to the U.S.-Iraq standoff: a duel between George W. Bush and Saddam Hussein. 

Taha Yassin Ramadan said the duel could be held at a neutral site and with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan as the referee. 

Ramadan, wearing a green uniform and a black beret, made his remarks without giving any outward sign that he was joking although reporters who were present detected a note of irony in his voice. 

“A president against a president and vice president against a vice president and a duel takes place, if they are serious, and in this way we are saving the American and the Iraqi people,” Ramadan told the Associated Press Television Network. 

Iraq has two vice presidents, and Ramadan did not say whether he or Taha Muhie-eldin Marouf would take on Dick Cheney. 

At the White House, press secretary Ari Fleischer saw no humor in Ramadan’s remarks. 

“There can be no serious response to an irresponsible statement like that. I just want to point out that, in the past when Iraq had disputes, it invaded its neighbors. There were no duels, there were invasions. There was use of weapons of mass destruction and the military; that’s how Iraq settles its disputes,” Fleischer said. 

Ramadan also said that his government was not concerned by U.S. lawmakers’ support of a congressional resolution that would authorize President Bush to use military force against Iraq. 

“We pay no attention to this issue,” he said, adding that approving such a resolution “makes no difference” to Iraq. 

Ramadan criticized U.S. efforts to delay the return of U.N. weapons inspectors to Iraq until the Security Council adopts tougher measures that would give the inspectors broad new powers to hunt for weapons of mass destruction and provide them with military backing. 

He said such efforts were aimed at “hampering the inspection process.” 

“They (the Americans) were surprised by the agreement reached by Iraq and the United Nations. So their reaction was unbalanced,” he said, referring to the deal in Vienna on Tuesday between Iraq and chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix. 

Under the agreement, Iraq agreed to an unconditional return of the inspectors under the existing U.N. Security Council resolutions and a 1998 agreement that put the so-called presidential sites — including Saddam’s palaces — off-limits to surprise visits. 

At the United Nations, the United States was pursuing a tough resolution that would end the exemption for those sites, give Iraq 30 days to compile an “accurate, full and complete” inventory of all aspects of its weapons programs — and provide U.N. inspectors military backing to carry out their search. 

But the three other veto-wielding members of the Security Council — Russia, China and France — have said they are not ready to authorize force before inspectors have time to test Iraq’s willingness to comply. 

OAKLAND – A leader in Oakland's Nation of Islam community again delayed entering a plea in Alameda County Superior Court Thursday to a charge that he allegedly molested a 13-year-old girl 20 years ago. 

Yusef Bey, 66, was not in the courtroom for proceeding.  

Andrew Dosa of Alameda, Bey's attorney, asked for, and was granted, the continuance by Judge Allan D. Hymer in Oakland. 

Bey is now scheduled to enter a plea on Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. Hymer asked that Bey be present on that date. 

One week ago, Bey appeared in court and was granted a delay in the arraignment A complaint filed Sept. 18 charges Bey with one felony count of committing a lewd act on a child under 14 in September 1981. He surrendered to police on Sept. 19 and immediately posted $50,000 bail, police said. 

According to police, a woman approached the authorities in early June to report that Bey had allegedly molested her about 20 years ago. She told police that she was 13 when she gave birth to a child allegedly fathered by Bey in June 1982. 

Police said DNA samples confirm that Bey is the child's father. Bey's attorney has declined to comment on the charges.

OAKLAND – The Oakland Police Department reports that three people were shot and injured in a gunfire exchange in east Oakland. 

Police arrived around 8 p.m. and found two women and one man all suffering from gunshot wounds, on the ground at the 2200 block of 96th Avenue. 

All three were taken to the hospital where one woman and one man are listed in critical but stable condition, police say. 

The second woman is in stable condition. Police were not able to disclose what hospital they were taken to but both San Leandro and Highland hospitals say they do not have any shooting victims from last night in critical condition. 

Police are on the scene investigating the possibility that a fourth person was involved in the shooting and fled the scene.

OAKLAND – The U.S. District Court is considering reducing the prison term of wealthy Berkeley landlord Lakireddy Bali Reddy. 

Reddy is serving his first of an eight year sentence for smuggling teenage girls from India into the United States for prostitution and cheap labor. Lawyers for Reddy say they are petitioning the court to shave nearly two years off his prison term because of new information revealed after his June 2001 sentencing. 

In October of 2001, federal prosecutors said court interpreter Uma Rao had encouraged four of the six victims to embellish testimony against other Reddy family members involved in the illegal immigration ring. 

Sept. 18 court papers filed by Reddy’s attorney Ted Cassman argue that Rao’s agenda to fabricate testimony is reason to trim Reddy’s sentence by 19 months. 

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken is expected to rule any day on Cassman’s request.  

Next month, Reddy’s son Vijay Lakireddy, who pleaded guilty to one count of visa fraud, is scheduled for sentencing. 

Reddy’s younger son, Prasad Lakireddy, still awaits trial on charges of illegally importing girls to the country for “immoral purposes.” 

Reddy’s brother and sister-in-law, Jayaprakash and Annapurna Lakireddy, each pleaded guilty to one count of visa fraud. Neither was sentenced to prison time. 

n Armed robbery 

A 20-year-old male was robbed at knife point at the corner of Dana and Blake streets Monday, police said. Two suspects approached the male, one suspect then put the knife to his stomach and demanded his wallet. The victim complied and was then ordered to run east on Blake Street and not look back.  

n Lions stolen 

Two concrete lion statues, each weighing 400 pounds, were stolen from an Asian restaurant on the 700 block of University Avenue Tuesday, police said. The statues are valued at $1,000. 

SAN FRANCISCO — A computerized system that will allow homeless people in San Francisco to reserve beds was launched Wednesday. 

Homeless people can checking in daily at five locations with computers linked to the new software and reserve beds at two of the city’s 11 shelters by entering their names and Social Security numbers into the system. 

Homeless advocates warn that the request for personal information will discourage people, especially illegal immigrants, from seeking help. 

But city officials believe the new system will enable San Francisco, for the first time, to see exactly how many people asked for which services and whether they received them. 

The city controller and the civil grand jury reported separately in May that San Francisco had no idea exactly how many people were homeless or how much was spent on services. The estimates range from 8,000 to 15,000 homeless and very poor people who rely on homeless services, and $104 million to $200 million spent on services annually. 

Cities in about 30 states have already installed the system, including San Diego and New York City.

SAN JOSE — A herd of 30 wild hogs have made their home in a condominium complex, where they are wrecking the landscape, multiplying and scaring people away. 

The California Department of Fish and Game said its not unusual for wild pigs, mountain lions and deer to move into human communities near open spaces. 

State officials said this years’ exceptionally dry conditions have made the irrigated lawns of the California Maison, a condominium complex at the edge of San Jose’s greenbelt, appealing to the pigs, some weighing as much as 400 pounds each. 

Officials said the pigs have poor vision and usually will try to avoid humans. However if they feel cornered, they may attack. 

The complex has set traps and caught five pigs. State officials do not allow hunting in or near the condominium. Officials think a good fence will be more effective for keeping the pigs away until rain starts again, when they hope the pigs will go back to the oak woodlands areas.

SAN FRANCISCO – A San Francisco supervisor's bid to speak out against a possible congressional resolution in favor of military action in Iraq was scheduled for a hearing Thursday at City Hall. 

Supervisor Mark Leno, who sits on the Health and Human Services Committee chaired by his colleague Chris Daly, introduced the proposed resolution on Sept. 23 and has obtained two co-sponsors.  

Thursday’s hearing falls on a day in which the U.S. Senate is debating a resolution authorizing the use of force overseas – a prospect that Leno's resolution calls “premature” since the United Nations Security Council has yet to deliberate on its stance. 

Leno notes that U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, has been privy to classified security briefings because of her leadership position in the House of Representatives and commented recently that she has not been persuaded that the Middle Eastern nation poses a nuclear threat to the United States. 

Oakland janitors cashed in  

on fraudulent overtime 

OAKLAND — Fraudulent time cards from janitors made the Oakland School District pay as much as $150,000 in overtime that did not exist, an investigation has found. 

Peter Haffner, the district’s director of custodial services, found enough discrepancies on 2001 time cards that the district hired an investigator. 

The investigation shows that some custodians, whose base salaries are in the low-$30,000s, nearly doubled them through overtime. Some custodians submitted two time cards at once, claiming to be working in two schools at the same time, or reported to have worked more than 24 hours in one day, or when they where on vacation. 

The janitors under scrutiny represent 10 percent of the custodians. The district plans to fire six of them as well as their supervisor. Twelve have been suspended with pay. 

Janitors historically account for the bulk of the district’s annual overtime budget, because they are often called to guard construction projects overnight and open buildings for after-school meetings. Last year, the district spent $3 million in custodial overtime. 

To avoid this mistake now custodians will need approval from Haffner before working overtime. 

No one has been charged with a crime, but the Oakland Police Department is reviewing the case with the possibility of seeking felony theft of public funds charges from the Alameda County district attorney. 

State opts not to euthanize tiger that attacked boy 

Officials with the California Department of Fish and Game have elected not to euthanize a young tiger that attacked a 6-year-old boy during a school assembly in Scotts Valley last month. 

The department recently wrapped up its investigation into the Sept. 20 incident at Baymonte Christian School and determined that the tiger poses no serious threat to people and should not be put to death.  

The youngster was briefly hospitalized with two cuts to his head, but the cause of those wounds is still in question. 

Police and school officials said at the time of the incident that the tiger bit and scratched the boy, but Anita Jackson, the tiger's owner and handler said it was her belt buckle that scratched the boy when she jumped in to protect him.  

The 18-month-old tiger had also been de-clawed, Jackson added, so it could not have scratched the child. 

While the tiger narrowly avoided being put down, its handlers have been asked by the Department of Fish and Game to put together a formal plan on how they will control it in the future. 

SAN FRANCISCO — Negotiators for dockworkers and shipping companies toned down their antagonistic rhetoric after spending most of Thursday with a federal mediator who is trying to end the West Coast port shutdown that has staggered industries across the United States. 

The stalemate caused by a bitter contract dispute has stopped all commercial shipping at 29 Pacific ports for nearly a week. But the standoff of the last few weeks seemed to have eased when dockworkers and the shipping companies emerged from one of their sessions. 

“We’re working hard. We plan to be here for as long as it takes,” said dockworkers union president Jim Spinosa. “We’re here to get a contract, whatever it takes.” 

Amid calls for emergency federal intervention to reopen the waterfront, the Bush administration continued to say it hopes the sides can settle their differences at the negotiating table. 

Both sides said they thought the talks would last a while. 

“We were told to bring our toothbrushes,” said Joseph Miniace, lead negotiator for the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents shipping lines. 

But the longer the association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union take to reach a settlement, the more the economic effects furrow through the wobbly U.S. economy. 

“Every hour is another hour of economic harm,” federal mediator Peter Hurtgen said before Thursday’s negotiations began at a hotel here. “I think we all feel the pressure.” 

Along the coast, 162 ships were either idle at the docks or have dropped anchor, according to the shipping association. Another 13 were due to arrive by Friday morning. 

Food is rotting in cargo holds, railroads have halted grain shipments from the Midwest and already one part-starved auto plant near San Francisco has closed since the meltdown over a contract dispute led to a port closure that began last Friday and resumed Sunday after a six-hour attempted reopening. 

The lockout hit the transportation and manufacturing sectors first, and is now causing increased concern in the U.S. agriculture industry, as evidenced Thursday by a sharp drop in wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade. 

The economic impact of the work stoppage was accelerating and could be costing the U.S. economy $2 billion a day, said Robert Parry, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. 

That has led to mounting pressure on President Bush to intervene under the Taft-Hartley Act. Under the act, a president can block a strike or lockout for 80 days if the dispute will “imperil the national health or safety.” First, though, an inquiry board would investigate the issue, which could take several days. 

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Thursday the U.S. economy is at risk, but wouldn’t speculate on Taft-Hartley. 

“The administration continues to urge labor and management to come together to get an agreement because the longer this goes, the more harm it will do to the economy,” he said. “The president is routinely informed of the status.” 

The last time the government intervened in a work stoppage under Taft-Hartley was 1978, when President Carter unsuccessfully tried to end a national coal strike. 

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is among the lawmakers who have appealed for Bush to order the ports reopened under those powers. Such pleas were echoed by the National Association of Manufacturers and American Trucking Associations. 

Assembly probes impact of piracy  

on recording industry 

SACRAMENTO — A global music industry claiming to be under siege from widespread and growing online piracy took its case for new laws to curb free file sharing to the California Assembly on Thursday. 

Former music stars, emerging acts, songwriters and record industry executives spoke of a business increasingly reeling from a practice that’s become part of world Internet culture: downloading music without paying for it. 

“We must start by calling unauthorized ’file sharing’ what it is: illegal,” said Cary Sherman, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Recording Industry Association of America. 

Sherman and others, testifying before the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media, cited reports of 2.6 billion illegal downloads a month and 130 million software downloads of KaZaA, a leading file sharer with 500 million files available. 

Steve Jobs resigns from Gap’s board 

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. on Thursday disclosed that Silicon Valley pioneer Steve Jobs resigned from its board of directors, just days after the struggling retailer switched chief executive officers. 

Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple Computer Inc., had been a Gap director since 1999 — the same year that Gap’s longtime leader, Millard “Mickey” Drexler, joined the personal computer maker’s board. 

Drexler retired as Gap’s CEO last week when the San Francisco-based company hired Paul Pressler to lead its efforts to reverse a 28-month sales slide. Pressler, hired away from Walt Disney Co., is expected to join Gap’s board. 

Jobs had served on Gap’s corporate governance committee — a watchdog position that has become more important amid a wave of business accounting scandals that have rattled investors. 

Gap said Jobs stepped down “to focus on other priorities.” Besides his duties at Cupertino-based Apple, Jobs also is CEO of Pixar Animation Studios, the maker of “Monsters Inc.” and several other hit movies. 

Jobs missed one-third of Gap’s board meetings last year, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Jobs and stock brokerage magnate Charles Schwab were the only Gap directors who didn’t attend at least 75 percent of the company’s board meetings last year, the SEC documents said. 

Gap pays its non-employee directors $36,000 annually, plus attendance bonuses. Jobs waived his Gap compensation last year. 

Gap filled the board opening created by Jobs’ departure with Penny Hughes, a former Coca-Cola Co. executive in Europe. 

Pressler and the Gap’s board are under pressure to heal the company’s ailing stock. The company’s shares fell 79 cents Thursday to close at $9.17 — down 34 percent so far this year and well below its record high of $53.75, reached before Gap’s sales slump began in May 2000. 

Analysts cited Wall Street’s demands for more vigilant directors for a recent change in Apple’s board of directors, too. Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison, a close friend of Jobs, resigned from Apple’s board last month to focus on other interests. 

Ellison never attended more than 75 percent of Apple’s board meetings during his any of his five years as a director. Apple hasn’t replaced Ellison on its board. 

——— 

On The Net: 

http://www.gapinc.com 

http://www.apple.com 

NEW YORK — The San Francisco Giants can remove a scoreboard sign featuring Enron Corp.’s tilted “E” logo from Pacific Bell Park, a federal bankruptcy judge ruled Thursday. 

Under the ruling, Enron has until Dec. 2 to find another company to sponsor the sign. The Giants can also look for a new sponsor for the center-field scoreboard sign for next season. 

The team is “experiencing negative reactions from their fans and the media due to the continued presence” of the 17-foot-by-33-foot “E” sign, the Giants said in a court filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. 

Financial terms of the 1998 sponsorship deal weren’t disclosed. But the Giants said Enron hasn’t made any payments due this year. 

In February, the Houston Astros baseball team paid $2.1 million to buy back the naming rights for its home stadium, then called Enron Field, from the fallen energy trader. Coca-Cola Co. agreed in June to spend more than $100 million over 28 years to rename the stadium Minute Maid Park. 

SACRAMENTO — California officials began selling nearly $12 billion in municipal bonds Thursday, by far the largest such issue in U.S. history. 

The bonds will repay the state treasury for last year’s energy crisis, though conditions have changed dramatically since electricity and natural gas prices have dropped and energy companies such as Enron Corp. have imploded. 

The fallout continues, however, for California’s depleted state budget, for state and federal regulators, and in the courts. 

“The California energy market has been stabilized and is much different and ... has been for some time,” state Treasurer Phil Angelides said during a conference call with potential investors nationwide, including those attending a J.P. Morgan Chase conference in New York City. J.P. Morgan Chase is handling the bond sale. 

He said the market was stabilized in part because of the state’s electricity purchases on behalf of three cash-strapped utilities, long-term energy contracts the state negotiated at the peak of the market and has since been renegotiating, contracts for new power plants and reduced consumer demand due to conservation efforts. 

The state’s cost for a megawatt of electricity has dropped to 10 percent of its cost at the height of the crisis, from about $298 in January 2001 to about $30 this year. 

But the break in the crisis came at a significant price for about 10 million California utility customers. Those customers of the three investor-owned utilities will be paying off the bonds with a portion of their bills, although their rates will not necessarily increase beyond rate hikes imposed last year. 

Bond advisers expressed concern the state could face the same energy supply crunch and resulting price spikes again, making it harder for the state to repay the bonds. That uncertainty helped lower the bond ratings, which in turn are expected to bring the state less favorable interest rates. 

But the state’s energy consultant, Navigant Consulting Inc., laid out four separate scenarios over 10 years, each including a natural gas price spike and other variations including a drought that would trim hydroelectricity, increased consumer demand and delays in building new power plants. 

In none of the scenarios would the state have to dip into the $1.8 billion reserve required by the bond guidelines, Navigant concluded. Though each scenario included a natural gas price spike, the consultant predicted sufficient natural gas supplies and a gradual increase in prices for the fuel that powers many existing and planned power plants. 

The bonds to be issued later this month and next were initially proposed for last year, but have been repeatedly delayed. The $98.9 billion budget signed by Gov. Gray Davis last month depends on money made by selling the bonds. 

The $11.95 billion in bonds will be issued for up to 20 years to repay $3.5 billion in bank loans and $6.5 billion in tax money that the state spent to buy electricity last year. The remainder covers the reserve and bond sale costs. 

The sale eclipses the largest previous bond sale, $3.4 billion by the Long Island Power Authority in 1998. 

State and bank officials plan to promote the sale with investor meetings in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco between Oct. 11 and Oct. 25, as well as with national ads in The Bond Buyer. 

——— 

On the Net: 

http://www.treasurer.ca.gov/ 

http://www.emuni.com/nav/newemunios.html 

OAKLAND – The U.S. Army has agreed to hand over the Oakland Army Base to the city of Oakland at no cost, city officials announced Thursday. 

In a written statement, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown said, “after marathon discussions we are now in a position to complete the toxic clean-up and prepare the base for maritime and commercial use.” 

The city's application for the property transfer was submitted under a no-cost economic development conveyance law. The law, which expired this year, allowed recipients of former bases to direct resources into the development rather than purchase of the land. 

The city plans to redevelop the base to include new waterfront facilities and a signature “gateway” entrance to the city. 

“The mayor and City Council are interested in showcasing the waterfront and increasing public access, including a shoreline route for bikes and pedestrians,” executive director of the Oakland Base Reuse Authority Aliza Gallo said. 

It is estimated the new developments will create more than 8,000 jobs for the Bay Area.  

“We had to demonstrate our ability to plan and ensure a project which would create many job benefits,” said Gallo. 

A large part of the redevelopment will include the use of a $2.4 million federal grant to design and engineer a new infrastructure. In addition, Oakland will perform an environmental cleanup with $13 million in funding from the Army. 

“Our remediation action plan allowed conveyance of the property to the city sooner, saved the army a lot of money and provided a model for other remediation programs.” Gallo said. 

The Oakland Base Reuse Authority began a successful lease program on the base after it was closed in 1999. Approximately 70 tenants now occupy 3 million square feet of space. 

The complete package of documents transferring ownership will be ready for Gov. Gray Davis' approval by the end of the year. A transfer of the deed is expected next spring.

SAN JOSE — The mother of Yosemite killer Cary Stayner pleaded for his life Thursday, saying that he isn’t a monster and that his execution would not change anything. 

Kay Stayner said she has a hard time believing that the “ideal” child she raised — artistic, seldom in trouble and quiet — would grow up to be a killer. But it’s something she has come to accept with the four murder convictions that could send her son to death row. 

“If his dying would bring these people back that he killed, I’d say do it,” she said. “But executing Cary is not going to bring them back.” 

In what amounted to an emotional and public family reunion of sorts, Stayner’s parents and three sisters all appeared in court for the first time during the 12-week trial as the defense attempted to sway the jury that Stayner should be sentenced to life in prison without parole. 

Jurors will weigh testimony from Stayner’s family, friends and experts who said mental illness made him kill against evidence of the crimes. 

Stayner, 41, was convicted of murdering Carole Sund, 42, her daughter, Juli, 15, and their Argentine friend Silvina Pelosso, 16, while they were staying at the motel where he worked as a handyman outside Yosemite National Park in February 1999. 

He is already serving life in prison without parole for murdering park nature guide Joie Armstrong, 26, five months later. 

Evidence during the testimony by Stayner’s parents included enlarged photographs from happier times: their infant first son; a young boy lathered in calamine lotion after an encounter with mosquitoes or poison oak; and a smiling young pupil with crooked bangs. 

Stayner’s mother and sisters looked straight ahead as they testified, avoiding eye contact with the defendant as he bowed his head, occasionally wiping tears with his palms and blocking his ears with his hands. 

When his father, Delbert Stayner, took the stand, he grinned quickly at his son, nodded his head and said he had been a bad father at times. 

He was recovering from back surgery when his son was born in 1961 so he avoided picking him up. If the boy cried, Delbert would yell at him to stop, which only scared the infant. 

After his youngest son, Steven Stayner, was snatched off a Merced street in 1972, Delbert Stayner became obsessed with finding him, neglecting 11-year-old Cary and his three sisters. Family road trips were spent chasing far-flung leads from psychics, distributing fliers or digging in fields. 

“When he really needed his papa, I was too concerned about Stevie. I hardly ever talked to him,” Delbert Stayner said as he wept. “I was especially hard on Cary.” 

Kay Stayner, who has been referred to throughout the trial as an unemotional disciplinarian, broke down and cried as she recalled toll the seven-year disappearance of Steven took on the family. 

Her father, who suggested the disappearance of Steven was a good thing because she would only have to clothe four kids, had taught her not to cry. He said it would make her appear crazy like her mother and Kay Stayner brought that demeanor to her own house. 

The family rarely discussed Steven’s disappearance because it was troubling and they didn’t have answers. 

“I know it upset Cary because he felt responsible,” she said. “He was the big brother.” 

In 1989, nine years after Steven returned home a hero after escaping with another boy from their abductor, he was killed in a motorcycle crash. Kay Stayner said Cary Stayner, always a bit of a loner, retreated further. 

Delbert Stayner said they all broke down in tears when they first visited their son behind bars after his arrest in the killings. 

“It was terrible,” he said. “Cary said to me, ’Papa, I’m so sorry.”’ 

Both parents said they didn’t want their son to die, that they loved him and wanted him in their lives. 

“My son is sick right now, very sick,” Delbert Stayner said. “I’ve lost one son.” 

The Stayners said they have avoided the trial because their son asked them not to attend and because Kay Stayner works and the expense would be too great. But she said she wouldn’t have missed the opportunity to tell the jury that he’s a “wonderful human being.” 

“I want to be here to tell that he’s not the monster that people said he is,” she said. 

Defense lawyer Marcia Morrissey said the family’s show of affection for their son was symbolic of a change that has occurred in the last three years. 

“The parents who reacted so coldly when Steven was gone and the parents who appeared in court today are different people,” Morrissey said outside of court. 

Francis Carrington, who lost his daughter Carole Sund and granddaughter Juli to Stayner, said he respected the parents for fighting for their son’s life, but he said that Stayner didn’t deserve sympathy because he didn’t show any during his crimes.  

SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco officials said Thursday they will work with a wireless telephone company to raise both awareness and cash for domestic violence victims, as well as hundreds of cell phones for their use. 

Mayor Willie Brown joined representatives of Verizon Wireless to describe the plan, which calls for the New Jersey-based company to donate 200 wireless phones with voicemail and prepaid minutes of calling time to the city's Commission and Department on the Status of Women. The local group will distribute the equipment to shelters. 

Through its HopeLine program, begun last year, Verizon collects used phones and refurbishes or sells them to help end the cycle of domestic violence. Any proceeds either go to victims or the agencies dedicated to helping them. 

Verizon representatives said they are also giving $40,000 to fund a public service announcement campaign on cable television in the city and place posters in buses for a month, as well as publish a resource guide for abuse victims. 

The program also calls for a direct mail campaign in late October to local companies to let people know the problem of domestic violence affects many employees and employers and includes a drive to collect old cell phones from city employees. 

"Domestic violence is a serious issue that affects women of all ages, races and socioeconomic backgrounds,'' the mayor said. "We, as San Francisco's family of city departments, nonprofit agencies and businesses, need to come together to raise awareness about this issue and work towards the eradication of domestic violence in all our communities.'' 

San Francisco's Environment Department is also getting involved in the partnership by working with Verizon to recycle phones in a way that keeps hazardous waste out of the city landfill. 

ALBANY – Community gardeners and a local architect are staging a last ditch effort to save a plot of Albany farm land from being toppled by a development. 

Officials at UC Berkeley are preparing to replace seven acres of agriculture land known as the Gill  

Tract with two little league baseball fields and a community center. The plan is part of a larger effort to redevelop the adjacent 77-acre University Village, a community for UC students with children, along San Pablo Avenue, between Monroe and Buchanan streets.  

But opponents of the university’s plan who support urban agriculture say the university’s goal can be met while preserving the historic farm land, which has been cultivated continuously since the 19th century. 

Carla Hyman, a designer with DSA Architects of Berkeley, said she has devised a way to provide playing fields without surrendering any farm land. This week, Hyman submitted her plan to the two development companies competing to build the project for UC Berkeley. 

UC planner Jeff Bond, who had not yet seen Hyman’s proposal, said he was open to ideas that will save the farm land, but was skeptical that it could be done. “If they can incorporate all of the issues that would be great,” Bond said. 

While the university’s proposal calls for playing fields on the Gill Tract, Hyman’s plan would put them south of the tract where unused greenhouses stand.  

University officials, though, said parking and traffic concerns make this land unsuitable for playing fields. The current plan here calls for “creative” uses to be determined by the developer. 

Agriculture supporters say the university is underplaying the importance of farming at the site. 

“The Gill Tract is just as much an asset to the community as baseball fields, housing or retail space,” Hyman argued. 

Urban Roots, a group formed to support urban agriculture, maintains that the Gill Tract, which is currently home to an experimental corn-growing project and a small community garden, is too valuable to plow over. 

“There is nothing else like the Gill Tract anywhere in urban California,” said Josh Miner, a graduate student at the college of natural resources, which operates the tract. “This is the only resource that could be used to study how to better grow and distribute food in urban areas.” 

But UC planners say urban agriculture is not a top concern. 

“The university is most interested in developing reasonably priced housing for students,” said Bond.  

The university’s plan calls for the construction of more than 330 new housing units to bring the total number of units at University Village to 722. An undetermined number of shops and restaurants are also part of the plan. 

Albany officials support the university’s plan. “The community wants to see the site preserved for open space and they see baseball fields as a way to preserve that,” said David Dowswell, Albany’s planning manager.

To the Editor: 

I have agreed to co-sponsor with Councilmember Miriam Hawley an item on the Berkeley City Council agenda for next Tuesday night asking our government to pursue a United Nations solution to the Iraq weapons issue. For eight years I have stood firmly against our City Council weighing in on international/foreign policy issues. It has always seemed to me that we had plenty of local problems to deal with and that my constituents did not elect me to represent them on international questions. 

Today the situation appears to me to be different. Our country is struggling with how to deal with a rogue country that may be a threat to us and to the world. There are those who urge immediate confrontation because we are the strongest country in the world and so we can and should act. As I travel about my district and the city I hear only people who are hoping for a different way of proceeding. Every voice I hear urges working through the UN, with other countries, to pressure Iraq to open its doors and its soul to weapons reduction and a move toward peace. Everyone to whom I speak eventually says, “What's the hurry?” We need to urge our government to slow down its push to war. Because we are the strongest country it is incumbent upon us also to be the most responsible ... setting an example of the civil and humane way for countries to behave. 

I believe that the people of Berkeley love America and that they are patriots to the core. They take seriously the role they play as the city that questions authority. Usually I disagree with the style and rhetoric that is used. Often we are reactive rather than thoughtful and I am embarrassed by what seems a childish approach. Nonetheless, I am always aware of how valuable it is for there to be a city that questions. I fear that we may have lost much of our gravitas in our rush to be the first and most outrageous voice on world issues in the last decades, but today I think our country needs our voice more than ever. I think it needs our voice and the voices of cities all across America to say slow down, walk softly. Let us explore every means possible to avoid war. The UN is our best hope for a measured outcome to this crisis. We must use it with patience. 

There is plenty of time for war and hopefully plenty of time for peace. 

Polly Armstrong 

Berkeley City Council 

By Brian Kluepfel 

Special to the Daily Planet 

While most Berkeley residents march to the beat of modern athletics – the pulse of a basketball in summer, the smack of shoulder pads on an autumn afternoon and the crack of a baseball bat in the spring – a corner of Acton Street maintains one of the world’s oldest sporting traditions, brought to America by English colonists in the 1600s and revived by 19th century Scottish immigrants. 

On a gentle patch of grass, ladies and gentleman of leisure participate in lawn bowling. The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club was founded here in 1929. 

Lawn bowling, also known as lawn bowls, dates to at least 1299 in England, and has its variants in Italy's bocce and French Provencal's petanque. Historians feel the sport originated with a game Roman soldiers played, tossing large stones at a smaller stone during their leisure time. 

In lawn bowling, points are scored by the player whose bowl is closest to the “jack,” a small, white ball which is rolled first. 

To bolster membership and promote the game, the Berkeley’s club recently hosted an open house. 

Club members, dressed in competition whites, demonstrated the intricacies of rolling a bowl – not a ball, because it’s not round – down a meticulously manicured green. The rules and etiquette of a game that was codified in 19th-century Scotland were laid out for guests, along with plates of vegetable dips and cookies. 

Although it once boasted more than 100 members, the club now numbers 55. One reason for lower membership club spokesperson Ted Crum gave is the high cost of joining. 

It’s an expensive proposition to maintain a bowling green, members say. The imported Australian grass-cutting machine costs $5,500. Further expenses include re-seeding the special Astoria.  

Bent grass each year, a biannual aerating of the green which means pulling out more than a million plugs of grass and back-filling with eight tons of sand and a specialized sprinkler system.  

The economics of bowling have always been an issue: King Henry VIII of England, himself a bowler, banned the sport among the lower classes in 1511. He also taxed private bowling greens 100 pounds, ensuring that only the well-to-do would play, and the rest of the kingdom would continue to produce bows and arrows.  

Another reason membership at the Berkeley club is dwindling, members say, is because the younger generation hasn’t taken up the game in any significant way. The most junior bowler in the Berkeley club is eight years old, but the majority of its members are well into their retirement years. 

Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson attended the open house and said some outreach programs would be a step in the right direction. “If you get high school and junior high kids down here, they’ll get hooked like they do on any other game. It’s fun,” said Carson.  

Carson, who grew up in the neighborhood and often passed the green on his way to play in Strawberry Creek, had never been to the club before. “As a kid in south Berkeley, this place was always mysterious. Now I know what’s going on here,” he said. He enjoyed his first lesson and game, although he refused to divulge his score.  

One thing Carson and the new bowlers picked up is a bit of the subculture’s jargon. If you “get good grass” at the West Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club, it only means one thing – you read the lawn and rolled your bowl well. And if you’re too “thin” or too “wide,” no one is commenting on your physique, only your most recent bowl. And when one speaks of “bias,” they are talking about the way a bowl is irregularly shaped, so that it curves back toward the center as it traverses the rink.  

One bias that seems to have been corrected in recent times is women’s participation. In America, lawn bowling has not always been a female sport. The American Women’s Lawn Bowls Association was not founded until 1969, and only two years ago merged with the men’s organization to form the United States Lawn Bowls Association. The USLBA comprises more than 130 clubs, including ones in Richmond, Oakland, San Francisco and Palo Alto.  

Although only a couple of younger generation folks showed up for the open house, the event did prove one old adage true: Only mad dogs and Englishman brave the midday sun. On one of Berkeley’s most scorching summer days, many players were from the British Isles.  

Frank Sugden is a semi-retired domestic from Essex, England, who now resides in Piedmont. He never took up the game back home, but now plays regularly. Why? “It’s just like any game,” he says. “You get a sense of satisfaction – especially when you win.” 

He notes that many of the clubs in England have a waiting list to join – a problem that certainly the Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club wishes it had.

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Nutrition Career Open House - Institution of Educational Therapy 

7 to 8:30 p.m. 

706 Gilman St.  

558-1711 

Free. 

Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master 

Berekley Shambhala Center 

7 p,m. 

2288 Fulton St.  

(415)887-2820 for more info. 

Investing in the Future 

7:30 p.m. 

St. Mary Magdalen Church 

2005 Berryman St. 

Learn how to invest to meet more than your financial needs. 

Call to reserve space: (925) 417-6654 

Free. 

How to Defeat CommitmentPhobia:  

In Yourself or the One You Love 

7:30 to 9:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish  

Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

Learn a variety of strategies for those who are ambivalent about commitment. Taught by Susan Page.  

848-0237 Ext. 127 

$10 public. $8 BRJCC members. 

Friday, Oct. 4 

Peace Corp. Volunteer Returns 

Triple Rock Brewery “Happy Hour” 

5 p.m.  

1920 Shattuck Ave. 

(800)424-8580 

Free. 

International Day of No Prostitution 

6 to 8 p.m. 

Boalt Hall, Booth Auditorium,  

UC Berkeley 

Bay Area rally and march  

against prostitution.  

358-2725 

Resist Oil & Mining 

6 to 10 p.m. 

The roof, 1916A Martin Luther King Jr. Way, at Berkeley Way 

Project Underground’s sixth birthday party and annual prize drawing.  

Entertainment, music, drinks, childcare. Wheelchair accessible. 

705-8981 or maistella@moles.org 

$15 suggested donation. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

Berkeley National Lab Open House 

10a.m. to 4 p.m. 

1 Cyclotron Rd. 

Live music, food, lectures, job fair, etc. 

495-2222 

Free. 

Leading Edge Technology Conferece 

9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Haas School of Business, Arthur Andersen Auditorium, 2200 Piedmont Ave. 

594-748 for more info. 

East Bay Solar Home Tour 

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Cedar Rose Park (first stop) 

Attendees collect a map to guide them  

on the self-guided tour—eight homes in Albany, Berkeley and Oakland in all. 

531-1184 

$15 per car. 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Eckanka Worship Service 

10:30 to 11:30 a.m. 

East Bay ECK Center, 3052 Telegraph, near Whole Foods 

“How to Survive Spiritually in Our Times” 

549-2807 

War Tax Resistance Information  

and Support Gathering 

4 to 6:30 p.m. 

1305 Hopkins St., near Peralta. 

Join others who refuse to pay taxes for U.S. militarism at this monthly  

potluck supper. 

843-9877 

Free: bring food or drink to share. 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Pete & Joan Wernick featuring Dr. Banjo  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at door. 

Figa Productions DJ Night 

9:30 p.m. 

The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. 

$7. $10 after 11 p.m. 21 and over. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

Leon Bates 

7:30 p.m. 

Calvin Simmons Theatre, 10 10th St. 

Pianist Leon Bates offers works by Mozart, Brahms and Chopin. 

451-0775. www.fourseasonsconcerts.com 

$25-$35. 

All Bets Off, Benumb and Uphill Battle 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

House Jacks  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 or www.freightandsalvage.com 

$16.50 in advance. $17.50 at door. 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Jimmie Dale Gilmore  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$17.50 in advance. $18.50 at door. 

Ledisi and the Braxton Brothers 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

845-5373 

$10-15. 

Yaphet Kotto, The Fleshies  

and Lesser of Two 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

"Balancing Acts" 

Through Oct. 10 

Gallery 555, 555 12th St., 

Oakland City Center 

Oakland's 'Third Thursday' art night  

features Ann Weber's works  

made of cardboard. 

http://www.oaklandcitycenter.com.  

Free. 

“Hunger: What will you do about it?”  

Through Oct. 30  

Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The Civic Center Building 

2180 Milvia St., 5th floor 

Featuring 40 photographs  

by Berkeley artist David Bacon. 

834-3663, Ext. 338,  

uchanse@secondharvest.org 

Richard Misrach, Berkeley Work 

Though Oct. 13 

UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way 

On view in Gallery 2, presents two photographic series by this internationally recognized Berkeley-based artist.  

642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

$7. $5 BAM/PFA members.  

$4 UC Berkeley students. 

“Recent Acquisitions” 

Oct. 13 through Dec. 14 

Thurs., Fri., and Sat., 1 to 4 p.m. 

Berkeley Historical Society, Veterans Memorial Building, 1931 Center St. 

848-0181 

Free. 

Misch Kohn - Celebrating  

60 Years of Printmaking 

Through Oct. 16. Tues.-Fri., Noon to 5:30 p.m.; Sat., noon to 4:30 p.m. 

Kala Arts Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 

549-2977, kala@kala.org 

Nancy Salz 

Through Oct. 23, Tues.-Fri.,  

10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Barbara Anderson Gallery, 2243 Fifth St. 

848-3822 

Timoteo Ikoshy Montoya 

Through Nov. 1  

Reception Sept. 20, 6 to 8 p.m. 

Gathering Tribes Gallery  

1573 Solano Ave.  

Acrylic/air brush paintings  

by this Native American artist.  

528-9038 

Threads: Five artists who  

use stitching to convey ideas 

Oct. 6 through Dec. 15, Wed.-Sun., noon to 5 p.m. 

Berkeley Art Center 

Live Oak Park, 1275 Walnut St. 

Information: www.berkeleyartcenter.org, 644-6893 

Free. 

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar 

Through Oct. 12 

Thurs. through Sat. 8 p.m. 

LaVal’s Subterranean Theatre  

1834 Euclid Ave. 

234-6046 

$10. 

The House of Blue Leaves 

Through Oct. 20 

Berkeley Rep's Roda Theater  

2015 Addison St.  

647-2949 or 888-4BRTTIX 

$10-$54. 

The Shape of Things 

Through Oct. 20 

Aurora Theatre Company  

2081 Addison St. 

Play by writer/director Neil LaBute's spins a morality tale of a young art student, his art major girlfriend, and the Pygmalion-like changes that bring into question how far one should go for love. 

843-4822, www.auroratheater.org for reservations 

$26-$35. 

Ceramics - Opening Reception 

Through Nov. 17 

3 to 5 p.m. 

A New Leaf Gallery, 1286 Gilman St. 

525-7621 

Free. 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Brenda Hillman 

12:10 p.m. 

Morrison Library in Doe Library, UCB 

UC Berkeley’s Lunch Poems Reading Series. Author’s six books include “Loose Sugar” and “Cascadia”. 

http://www.berkeley.edu/calendar/events 

Free. 

Nathaniel Mackay and Trane Devore 

6 p.m. 

Maud Fife Room,  

315 Wheeler Hall, UC Berkeley 

Part of Holloway Poetry Series for Fall 2002. 

jscape@socrates.berkeley.edu 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 4 

Katherine Forrest 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Reading from “Daughters of the Amber Moon” 

559-9184 

Free. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

“Black Like Us: A Century of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual African American Fiction” 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Led by co-editors Devon W. Carbado and Donald Wiese, and several of the book’s writers. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Sunday, October 6 

Ledisi and The Braxton Brothers 

4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Jazz School, 2087 Addison St.  

845-5373 

$15. $12 students & seniors.  

$10 Jazz school students. 

Tuesday, Oct. 8 

Daniel Wilkinson 

7:30 p.m. 

Cody’s Books, 2454 Telegraph Ave. 

Author Wilkinon and panelists from Global Exchange and Equal Exchange will discuss Guatemala, globalization, and book “Silence on the Mountain.” 

(617) 351-3243 

Thursday, Oct. 10 

Daniel Wilkinson 

7:30 p.m. 

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave. 

Wilkinson, author of “Silence on the Mountain” will present slide show. 

843-3533 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 11 

Beth Glick-Rieman 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadacia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave.  

at Colusa Circle 

Glick-Rieman shares her findings on the status of women around the world, reading from her book, “Peace Train to Beijing and Beyond”. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 18 

Storyteller Nancy Schimmel 

Poets, singers, musicians and storytellers are invted. 

7:30 to 10 p.m. 

Fellowship Cafe, 1924 Cedar St. 

540-0898 

$5 to 10 donation. 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Cinemath Films 

Pacific Film Archive Theater 

5:30 p.m. 

2575 Bancroft Way 

642-1412 

$7 for one film. $ 8.50 for double bills.

Twenty-six years. That’s how long it’s been since the Cal football team beat the Washington Huskies. 

Twenty-two years. That’s how long it’s been since the Cal football team won in the state of Washington. 

Seventeen games. That’s how many games Washington has won at Husky Stadium since last losing at home. 

To say history is against the Golden Bears heading into Saturday’s game against No. 12 Washington at Husky Stadium would be a bit of an understatement. 

But ask any of the participants, and they’ll say this year is different. Washington coach Rick Neuheisel sounded positively frightened of the rejuvenated Bears in a conference call on Tuesday. 

“Every game with Cal has been a dogfight,” he said. “We know we’re going to have to play a great football game to win.” 

That’s not all bluster from Neuheisel, who is in his fourth year in Seattle. The Huskies have extended their winning streak against the Bears with three straight come-from-behind wins, including last season’s game that Cal led 21-10 at halftime before falling 31-28. The year before that, Washington scored 23 points in just six minutes of the fourth quarter to post a 36-24 win in Seattle, a collapse that devastated the Bears and sent them into a 2-13 tailspin to end the woeful Tom Holmoe era. 

So to be honest, the Huskies just might have some higher power looking out for them when they face Cal. Or maybe they’ve just been a better team, not an unfair assessment considering the decade-long slump from which the Bears are trying to break free under Jeff Tedford. 

Tedford wasn’t aware of the Washington winning streak over his new team until Monday and said he wouldn’t be mentioning it to his players. Neuheisel pointed out that none of his players were even born when the streak started, and the Bears have just three players who were alive on Nov. 6, 1976 when their predecessors won 7-0 in Seattle. 

“We just have to prepare to win this year’s game,” Tedford said. “The streak really doesn’t have anything to do with anything.” 

Saturday could be the biggest game of the season for the Bears, and not just because of the history involved. A win would put the Bears at 4-2 with winnable games against conference foes Arizona, Arizona State and Stanford left on the schedule, meaning a winning record wouldn’t be out of the question. A loss would leave them with three straight defeats, not exactly the kind of pick-me-up players like midway through the season, especially players who have known little but losing in their college careers. 

Neuheisel certainly doesn’t want his team to have to make up a deficit this season. Although the Bears have allowed their last two opponents to come back in the second half, the Washington coach wants his team to be the first to get a fast start against Cal. 

“It’s important for us to give our fans something to get excited about early in the game,” Neuheisel said. “The way Cal’s been getting out of the gate, we don’t want them to do the same to us.” 

At least the Bears are no strangers to upsetting a ranked team on the road. Their win at Michigan State three weeks ago was the high point of the season thusfar, so a packed Husky Stadium shouldn’t be overly daunting. 

Cal wide receiver LaShaun Ward, who missed the 2000 trip to Seattle due to injury, said the Bears believe they can defeat the Washington hex. 

“We just have to go in confident,” Ward said. “I know we can go into their house, with all their hype and national ranking, and beat them.” 

Notes: Cal offensive guard Jon Geisel is questionable for Saturday’s game, as is linebacker Matt Nixon. Nixon sat out the Washington State game after spraining his knee in practice last week, while Geisel was forced to leave the game in the first half with a knee injury and did not return... Tedford said freshman wide receiver David Gray, who caught a 71-yard touchdown pass from tailback Terrell Williams on the Bears’ first play from scrimmage this season, will likely be a medical redshirt due to a shoulder injury. Tedford said linebacker Ryan Estes will also redshirt, although he is working on the scout team.

California does a poor job of preparing students for college but provides young people with an affordable higher education, according to a national study released Wednesday. 

“California is probably the top state [in the country] in terms of providing low-cost education,” said Mikyung Ryu, policy analyst for the San Jose-based National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, which published the report. “[Students] should be better prepared when they enter [college].” 

The center, in its “Measuring Up 2002” study, graded all 50 states on higher education in five separate categories: preparation, participation, affordability, completion and benefits. 

California received a C- in preparing pupils for higher education and an A in affordability, matching grades from the first “Measuring Up” study in 2000. 

California held steady on its participation grade – which measured, among other things, the number of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in college – at a B+.  

Its completion grade, which included factors like the number of full-time college students graduating within six years of enrollment, jumped from a C to a C+. 

The benefits score, which measured voting patterns and income jumps for college graduates, moved from a B+ to an A-. 

The group based its preparation grade on 12 separate measures. California made progress in a few cases – the number of eighth-graders taking algebra, for instance, jumped from 21 percent in 2000 to 33 percent in 2002. But the state held steady or dropped in most other categories. 

The number of high school students taking at least one upper-level math course, for example, dipped from 36 percent in 2000 to 34 percent in 2002. 

“This is kind of an alarming result, because many other states are making progress on this measure,” said Ryu. 

Figures for Berkeley High School, in particular, were not available at press time. 

Ryu said the low cost of community college contributed heavily to California’s A for affordability. According to the center’s report, community college tuition in California amounts to only 3 percent of a low-income family’s average income, the lowest percentage in the nation. 

“A student can get a very, very good education, and fulfill all the requirements to go to any university, at extremely low prices,” said Terry Tricomi, spokesperson for Vista Community College in Berkeley. 

California residents can attend a community college full-time for roughly $300 per year under state regulations that govern every community college in California. 

The figures are not as strong when it comes to public, four-year colleges or universities. The average California family must devote 28 percent of its income to pay tuition, room and board for a public, four-year institution.  

Utah, by contrast, leads the way at 16 percent. 

But University of California spokesman Hanan Eisenman said residents get bang for their buck. 

“For the quality of UC’s education, there isn’t a better-priced education in the state,” he said. 

This year, the average fee for the nine-campus UC system, including tuition, is $3,859.  

Eisenman said the figure was $2,005 less than the average fees at four comparable universities – the University of Illinois, Michigan University, the University of Virginia and the State University of New York.

To the Editor: 

The president of Harvard University, Lawrence Summers, recently made public his views on a petition signed by professors at Harvard and MIT calling upon their universities to divest from corporations that do significant business with Israel. Lamenting that anti-Israeli views are increasingly finding support in progressive intellectual communities, Mr. Summers stated that such views have been “anti-Semitic in their effect if not their intent.”  

We, the undersigned, professors and lecturers at the University of California have signed a similar petition urging our institution to divest from Israel. But we reject the allegation that our opposition to state violence by the state of Israel in any way constitutes anti-Semitism, which, like all forms of racism, we unequivocally reject. 

Mr. Summers’ judgments, in their effect if not their intent, obscure the following fact. The State of Israel continues to violate the human rights of three million Palestinians in the occupied territories. Labeling gentiles as anti-Semitic for calling attention to this injustice is like accusing opponents of South African apartheid of being anti-Dutch. We among this list of signatories who are Jews feel an added responsibility to speak out against Mr. Summers' brand of slander, just as we feel responsible to denounce the daily atrocities committed by the Israeli government in the name of Jews. 

Mr. Summers enjoys support among those who claim that petitions such as ours are anti-Semitic because they single out Israel in a sea of many other countries also guilty of human rights abuses. To these, the ideological soul mates of Mr. Summers, we offer one final fact. Unlike most of these other countries, Israel receives billions of dollars each year from the United States. Israel, in fact, receives more U.S. aid than does any other nation. 

This is why our call for economic divestment from Israel is entirely appropriate. This is why the comments by Lawrence Summers and others of his stripe are shameful deceptions ... in their effect if not their intent.  

Rutie Adler, Hamid Algar,  

Daniel Boyarin, Julian Boyd, Michael Burawoy, Judith Butler, Michael Cassidy,  

Paula Chakravartty,  

Vasudha Dalmia,  

Susan Ervin-Tripp, Nancy Krusoe, Samer Madanat, Alaa Mansour, Glen Mimura, Michael Nagler, Joe Neilands, Lisa Rofel,  

Nancy Stoller, Dell Upton,  

Ling-Chi Wang, Linda Williams

Poet Brenda Hillman is scheduled to speak today at UC Berkeley’s Morrison Library. The author of six books, including “Loose Sugar” and “Cascadia,” Morrison uses language to explore the edges of consciousness, and examines the fine line between the sensual and the spiritual. 

Hillman teaches at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, and has received two Pushcart Prizes, a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and the Delmore Schwartz Memorial Award for poetry. 

Hillman appears as part of Lunch Poems: A Noontime Poetry Reading Series, organized by professor Robert Hass of UC Berkeley. 

The readings are scheduled 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. the first Thursday of each month, at Doe Library, UC Berkeley. Free. 

Other poets to be featured this year will be Li-Young Lee on Nov. 7 and Mary Ruefle on Dec. 5.

OAKLAND – Mark Mulder didn’t see panic in his teammates’ eyes after the Oakland Athletics’ playoff run got off to a rough start. 

He saw a quiet maturity from three years of postseason experience – and a pride that wouldn’t allow the A’s to fall off the pace in the division series. 

David Justice’s bases-loaded triple highlighted Oakland’s 14-hit barrage, and Mulder pitched six strong innings as the A’s beat the Minnesota Twins 9-1 Wednesday to even the series at one game apiece. 

Eric Chavez had a three-run homer, and rookie Mark Ellis got three hits as Oakland emphatically replied to the Twins’ 7-5 comeback victory in Game 1 with a tremendous offensive game against Joe Mays (0-1) and the Twins’ bullpen. 

“Just looking at the guys in the locker room, you could tell everybody knew how important this game was,” said Mulder, who allowed five hits. 

Each of the first seven hitters in Oakland’s lineup got an extra-base hit as the A’s jumped to an 8-0 lead after four innings. Justice, the most prolific run-producer in playoff history, added three more RBIs to his record total during Oakland’s five-run fourth. 

“With our offense, we just look for certain guys to check in from time to time,” Chavez said. “Everybody knows our team is built on pitching. We’ve just got to ride their coattails as far as they’ll take us. Today, we were able to make it easier.” 

The Twins were on an emotional high after winning in their first playoff appearance in 11 years, but they were brought back to reality by the A’s dominant victory. Minnesota got just seven hits, scoring its only run on Cristian Guzman’s homer in the sixth. 

Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said he was embarrassed by his team’s effort, and his players agreed. 

“That wasn’t emotionally draining,” Doug Mientkiewicz said with a grimace. “That was, ’Please hurry up before they score 40 runs against us.”’ 

Mulder (1-0) – who went 19-7 and finished the season on a six-game winning streak – wasn’t overpowering, but he mostly stayed out of trouble while striking out three. He didn’t allow a runner to reach third base in the first five innings.

Both Mayor Shirley Dean and her chief rival in the November election former state Assemblyman Tom Bates declared support for putting cameras on traffic lights to catch speeders and red light runners. 

Their statements, made at a candidates debate Tuesday evening, come a week after city transportation head Peter Hillier announced his intention of bringing the camera idea before City Council next summer.  

Tuesday’s debate, sponsored by the Ecology Center and other environmental advocacy groups, focused primarily on land use and ecology issues.  

The candidates offered similar visions of a more environmentally-friendly Berkeley – liberated from its dependence on cars and with better public transportation, cleaner air, solar powered buildings and safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists. 

Bates went on to advocate for tougher measures regulating traffic flow. 

Calling cars “the biggest single [safety and environmental] problem we have in our town,” Bates said the city should build more street diversions to slow traffic. For some roads, Bates said he favored traffic circles and narrower streets as well. 

Dean disagreed with Bates’ diversion idea. She noted that Arlington Avenue has several twists, but many drivers continue to speed, “enjoying the turns and the screech of the wheel.” Dean hopes to fight fast traffic with four new traffic officers, and said they would pay for themselves with fines collected. 

The candidates also clashed about air pollution in west Berkeley. 

Bates said pollution near the Berkeley Transfer Station is so bad that he wonders whether it is safe for children to play at the nearby Harrison Park soccer fields. 

Recent city air monitoring tests have detected high and potentially dangerous levels of particulate matter near the fields. 

While Dean has called the construction of the fields one of her top achievements as mayor, Bates said the city should consider closing down the fields if the air quality worsens, and using new fields scheduled to be built at the Albany Plateau. 

Bates also criticized Mayor Dean for her response to health disparities reported among Berkeley neighborhoods. Noting a study taken several years ago that found west Berkeley residents, on average, die 20 years before residents of other neighborhoods, Bates said Dean has failed to provide the leadership or funds to address the disparity.  

Dean defended her record on dealing with the issue. She said the city has given a community action team $200,000 a year to formulate a plan to identify and solve the problem. The team is looking into a range of possibilities, from pollution to health care access. 

To aid in the improvement of air quality in west Berkeley, both candidates advocated switching the city’s sanitation trucks to cleaner bio-diesel fuel, and promoted environmentally-friendly fuels in other government vehicles. 

UC Berkeley also figured prominently into Tuesday’s debate. 

Bates criticized Dean for letting the university get away without paying its fair share of costs for city services. He said he would use his contacts in the state Legislature, including his wife Loni Hancock who is an Assemblywoman elect, to give the city stronger leverage in dealing with the university. 

Dean said she had not dropped any issues with the university and that the state Legislature would compel the university to pay it’s fair share no matter who is elected mayor. 

On many issues, the candidates laid out similar ideas with minor variations.  

Both Bates and Dean called for improved recycling programs, with Dean wanting the city to focus on reducing food waste, while Bates called for renewed efforts to improve recycling at small businesses. 

Both candidates advocated extending the city’s eco-pass, a free bus pass, to large private employers. Bates also proposed setting up a Web site for UC Berkeley employees to coordinate car pools. 

On parking, Bates said he would study the need for more downtown parking, while Dean called for rebuilding the earthquake-prone Center Street garage with robotic parking to create more parking spaces.

To the Editor: 

Whatever the merits are for moving or not moving Memorial Stadium on the UC campus, it might be interesting to hear the facts about the stadium and when it was built. 

Construction on Memorial Stadium was completed late in 1923 in time for the first football game held there on Nov. 24, 1923 – the Big Game between Cal and Stanford. It was the 29th Big Game and was won by Cal 9-0. The year 1923 was a rebuilding one for Cal after the graduation in 1922 of several members of coach Andy Smith's original Wonder Team of 1920-’22. 

Cal's record for the year of 1923 was 9-0-1. Not too bad for a rebuilding year. Cal's win in the 1923 Big Game evened the series at 12-12-5. Andy Smith coached at Cal through the 1925 season and died suddenly of pneumonia on Jan. 9, 1926, while vacationing in Philadelphia. He was 43. 

T. Brillhart 

Berkeley

NEW YORK — Is CNN Headline News down with it? 

The cable network is trying, judging from an effort emanating from its executive suite to think young. 

CNN Headline News general manager Rolando Santos told the San Francisco Chronicle this week that he’s looking to mix “the lingo of our people” — words like “whack” and “ill” — into newscasts to attract young people. 

And the New York Daily News on Wednesday quoted from an e-mail sent by a network manager to his headline writers, sending them a copy of a slang dictionary so they can be “as cutting edge” as possible. 

“Please use this guide to help all you homeys and honeys add a new flava to your tickers and dekkos,” the message said, referring to graphics on the Headline News screen. The list of phrases included “fly,” meaning sexually attractive.

Bay Area Rapid Transit was the way to go for the Twins. Most of the players and coaches opted for public transportation Tuesday, and it was a good thing.  

While most of them arrived plenty early to the Coliseum, club executives and other officials were running late because the team bus was held up in horrible traffic trying to cross San Francisco Bay. 

But a few players, including starting pitcher Brad Radke, weren’t so fortunate getting to the stadium – they got on the wrong BART train and ended up in Berkeley, about 10 miles to the north. But all the players made it to the Coliseum in time for the game.

For years day laborers like Victor Guevara have stood on the corner of Fourth and Hearst streets in west Berkeley hoping to get a days work in exchange for a day’s wages. But as the economy flattened and their numbers increased, so did complaints about their presence. 

Next month, Berkeley will become one of more than 10 cities in California that will address rather than ignore its unregulated labor market. 

“Pretending invisibility on this type of reality in our cities doesn’t solve anything,” said Father Rigoberto Caloca-Rivas, executive director of the Berkeley-based Multicultural Institute. 

Caloca-Rivas will work with city officials to relocate the workers to a pick up area west of Fourth Street on Hearst. The designation of the area, which will be equipped with toilets, is the first phase in the collaborative effort to help day laborers as well as satisfy loitering concerns of local businesses and residents. 

Also part of the first phase, Caloca-Rivas wants to create a plan to ensure that laborers are not financially abused by contractors. 

In the second phase, the institute will open a storefront labor center at an undetermined location where workers can wait for work. In preparation for this phase, the institute will offer English language classes, GED classes, job training and life skills courses. Finding and setting up a location will probably take six to nine months, Caloca-Rivas said. 

The program is funded by the city, donations and grants. 

Caloca-Rivas, who also runs a mentoring and tutoring program and a program that works to improve communication between parents and children, hopes to eventually organize workers in an independent “grassroots union model.”  

“The goal of our efforts,” he said “is self-organizing and sustainability on its own.”  

Day laborers have been organized in other cities, including neighboring Oakland as well as Los Angeles. While some of these programs have been organized with city support, others have been created after tough battles against city ordinances. 

Caloca-Rivas’ plan is one of the first to introduce an educational component into the labor program. 

The collaboration between Caloca-Rivas and the city of Berkeley began more than a year ago after a series of neighborhood complaints. The Berkeley Office of Economic Development and Health and Human Services responded by commissioning a study to learn more about the issue. 

A consultant reported back this summer, showing that the number of workers who come to Berkeley from Richmond, Oakland and other Bay Area cities has grown exponentially in recent years. 

The Federation for American Immigration Reform estimates that there are three to four million undocumented immigrants in California. Berkeley officials say that many of the 80 to 200 men that gather on Hearst are undocumented. 

The city’s study also looked at day laborer programs in other cities. In Concord, a trailer with computers serves as a labor center. Laborers pay $1 per day in dues and organize themselves. In Glendale, solicitation is limited to the labor center, and day laborers pass out flyers to inform prospective employers of their services. 

Caloca-Rivas brought his proposal to the city last spring. 

“[The Multicultural Institute has] an excellent level of trust within the community, especially the Spanish speaking community,” said Delfina Geiken, Berkeley Worksource Employment Programs Administrator who is working on the project for the city “And that’s what we need … an agency that the laborers feel comfortable with.” 

In Berkeley, it was also crucial to find an agency that could engage merchants frustrated by the presence of the laborers. 

Warren White, President of Truitt and White Lumber Company said that laborers disrupt business and create sanitary and safety problems.  

“I’m not pointing fingers at the entire group,” said White. “I know it’s just a small number, but unfortunately that creates problems for the whole group.” 

Mary Sawatzki, an assistant manager at the Discovery Store at the corner of Fourth and Hearst, is concerned for her safety, but is also frustrated with the contractors. 

“[The contractors] are extraordinarily rude,” she said. “They think they have a right to block your driveway, take your parking spaces. They have no respect. They just want to get their cheap labor without benefits. To me it’s totally immoral.”  

For Victor Guervara, the pattern is work. 

“It is necessary,” says Guevara, who left his wife and three children two months ago. “I think everyone who comes here comes because it is necessary.”

To the Editor: 

I object to the City Council lending support to the formation of a Joint Powers Authority with Berkeley as a member since this type of written support implies a future commitment to the JPA, and there has been none of tbe public input required before formation. A Joint Powers Association is not “a mechanism for multiple agencies to jointly manage and operate a regional facility,” but a Marks-Roos bond pooling instrument which allows a group of municipalities to issue bonds without citizen input for the benefit of one or more of the members, and each member is then liable for the repayment of the full amount of the bond. Marks-Roos Community Facilities Districts (including JPAs) are formed for finance only and no provisions are made for the co-management or operation of these facilities. 

By sending this letter to the city of Albany, the council will be committing its support, not only financially but as a matter of policy, to the creation and financing of playing fields in the new Eastshore Park without the input of those who will be most affected: the citizens and tax(bond)payers of Berkeley. 

Rhiannon, Berkeley

With all due respect to Anthony Hopkins, the world did not need to see him play Hannibal Lecter a third time. 

The supposed allure of “Red Dragon” lies in seeing Hopkins star in all three movies as the cannibalistic criminal expert, with his impeccable manners and his propensity for serving up victims with “fava beans and a nice Chianti.” 

But right there — the fact that a snippet of dialogue from “The Silence of the Lambs” is so instantly recognizable more than a decade after the movie’s release — proves my point. 

Since that 1991 movie — Hopkins’ first as Lecter, which earned him a best-actor Oscar — the character has been mimicked and parodied so many times, he’s practically become a beloved comic figure. 

Then in 2001, amid massive anticipation, Hopkins reprised the role in “Hannibal,” Ridley Scott’s beautiful but blood-soaked adaptation of the third book in Thomas Harris’ series. 

Now, Hopkins has returned for the screen version of the first book, “Red Dragon.” But it’s hard to take him seriously as he stands in his cell and snarls at FBI investigator Will Graham, “You stink of fear under that cheap lotion.” 

We’ve seen him run this mind game on Clarice Starling. It’s too comfortable to cause chills. 

The world also didn’t need “Red Dragon” because it already existed; it came out in 1986 and was called “Manhunter.” 

Brian Cox played Lecter before the character became ingrained in the cultural consciousness, and his take on the role was fascinatingly different — charismatic like Hopkins, but with a more intense edge. His screen time was way too short — you wanted to see more of him. 

The thoroughly underappreciated “Manhunter” still holds up well today, even if writer-director Michael Mann’s “Miami Vice” aesthetic is a bit dated. As Will Graham, William Petersen (now of the hit TV show “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”) wears Crockett and Tubbs’ hand-me-downs, as a heavy synthesizer score drones with his every move. 

The substance of “Red Dragon” is the same as “Manhunter,” if the structure’s a bit different: Will (Edward Norton) is dragged from the sanctity of his Florida retirement to help look for a serial killer known as The Tooth Fairy, who has brutally slain two families in the South. 

Will reluctantly must return to Lecter, the former ally he helped put away for murder, for insight in understanding the killer’s mind. 

While “Hannibal” was gratuitously gory, “Red Dragon” strays too far in the opposite direction. It’s surprisingly tepid, considering that Brett Ratner of the “Rush Hour” movies is the director. And its villain (Ralph Fiennes) snivels and shrieks so much, he’s more funny than frightening. 

(We’re supposed to believe that years of abuse for a physical deformity made The Tooth Fairy homicidal, but even with a cleft lip, Fiennes is still a gorgeous man. Tom Noonan, who played the role in “Manhunter,” was truly creepy, in a silent, unforced way.) 

The rest of it feels simply familiar; “Silence of the Lambs” screenwriter Ted Tally is back, with several lines from Mann’s “Manhunter” script. (One of Lecter’s more memorable zingers: “You ever see blood in the moonlight? It appears quite black.”) 

Cinematographer Dante Spinotti returns from “Manhunter,” though he’s replaced Mann’s striking whites and pastels with such a bleak shade of gray, the whole movie may as well take place at FBI headquarters. 

Even Anthony Heald is back from “Lambs” as the uptight, scheming Dr. Chilton. Other members of the superb cast — including Emily Watson, Harvey Keitel and Mary-Louise Parker — seem to be going through the motions, and have proven themselves capable of far more. 

Philip Seymour Hoffman stands out, though, as a slimy tabloid reporter who’s hounded Will for years. 

And there is, undeniably, a chemistry to the sparring between Hopkins and Norton — with so much talent between them, how could there not be? 

“Just like old times, eh, Will?” Lecter asks from behind bars. 

It does — and hopefully, it’s for the last time. 

“Red Dragon,” a Universal Pictures release, is rated R for violence, grisly images, language, some nudity and sexuality. Running time: 126 minutes. Two stars out of four.

TRENTON, N.J. – Giving hope to Democrats scrambling to retain control of the Senate, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that the party can replace Sen. Robert Torricelli on the November ballot.  

Whether the decision will allow Democrats to replace Torricelli with former Sen. Frank Lautenberg remained to be seen. 

Republican officials have promised to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. There was no immediate response to the ruling from the GOP.  

The court cited previous rulings that said election law should be broadly interpreted to allow parties to put their candidates on the ballot, and most importantly, “to allow the voters a choice.” 

Allowing the Democrats to replace Torricelli, the justices said, was a move “in favor of a full and fair ballot choice for the voters of New Jersey.” 

The court fight over who will appear on the ballot is key: Democrats hold a single-seat majority in the Senate. 

The dispute erupted after Torricelli dropped out of the race Monday, saying his campaign had been overwhelmed by ethics questions. He was admonished over the summer by a Senate committee for allegedly taking lavish campaign gifts from a contributor to his 1996 campaign.  

Late Tuesday, top state Democrats settled on the 78-year-old Lautenberg as their substitute candidate. 

Republicans argued it is too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that Democrats shouldn't be allowed to dump a candidate who was trailing GOP nominee Douglas Forrester in the polls. 

Republican officials did say they planned to file a motion in federal court Thursday to block any move that would alter ballots already sent to military personnel and civilians overseas.  

The GOP also wants a federal judge to compel the state to immediately mail out any remaining absentee ballots, which have been held up under a state court order. 

The state's highest court said the state Democratic Party must pay for ballots to be reprinted. State election officials estimate it will cost about $800,000 to do that.  

For nearly three hours Wednesday, the seven justices — four Democrats, two Republicans and one independent — peppered lawyers, state election officials and even some third-party candidates with detailed questions.  

They questioned whether it was possible this late in the game to print and pay for new ballots, and whether it was fair to bend the rules to accommodate the Democrats' request.  

“Here we have a candidate, he's capable, he's able, he's just changed his mind about running,” Associate Justice Jaynee LaVecchia said.  

John Carbone, an attorney representing the county clerks, said time was critical.  

"If we go beyond Wednesday of next week, Tuesday of next week, it's not going to be doable no matter how deep the pockets,” Carbone said.  

Democratic lawyer Angelo J. Genova told the court that Torricelli is no longer the party's choice, and voters should not be forced to check his name and hope a replacement would be selected later.  

“I think he has effectively created a vacancy by his withdrawal. He's not a candidate. He's not a candidate for public office,” Genova said.  

Republicans pointed to state law, which says replacement candidates must be named 51 days before an election; Torricelli withdrew 36 days before Election Day.  

“I believe the statute should be enforced as it presently reads. We don't believe there are any extraordinary circumstances,” said Peter Sheridan, the lawyer Forrester.  

While Democrats waited for the court to act, they planned Lautenberg's campaign and negotiated the transfer of funds and operations from Torricelli's operation. A kickoff party was scheduled for Wednesday evening.  

Still, there are concerns that New Jersey's election would be decided in federal court, as Florida's was during the 2000 presidential race.

First-grader Tanyonika Scott and third-grader Andrea Smith of Malcolm X School were among brigades of students, parents, teachers and a few local politicians who set out on foot and bike from several meeting points in town to take part in the city’s second annual Walk to School Day Wednesday.  

Upon arriving at school they waved signs and filled the air with chatter while given yellow stickers that said “I walked.”  

The event is international but wasn’t adopted in the Bay Area until last year, to celebrate health, air quality improvements and the benefits of pedestrian safety.  

All Berkeley district schools were told of the event but the heaviest participation was in the elementary schools, especially Malcolm X and Washington.  

Pam Webster, coordinator of the event, said that it is important to get kids in the habit of walking. She hopes to make Walk to School Day a monthly event in Berkeley. 

“This is supposed to be a model today, not a one-time event,” Webster said. “In order for it to be part of the culture of our students, we need to reinforce it.” 

The state’s Department of Health Services sponsored the day to encourage better health, air quality improvements and less traffic.

A proposed fire station in the Berkeley hills won the support of the East Bay Regional Park District Tuesday. 

Although Berkeley City Council has already approved the station, the city is required to win support of the park district and the East Bay Municipal Utility District before it can move the project forward. 

East Bay MUD, which owns the land at 3000 Shasta Rd., where the new fire station is planned, is expected to approve sale of the land to the city on Nov. 12. 

Although Berkeley will run the new fire station, the park district will help staff the station during high fire hazard days.

FRESNO — A county judge gave the University of California approval Tuesday to begin construction on its new Merced campus, rejecting a suit by environmental groups. 

Judge William Ivey ruled in Merced County Superior Court that plans for the campus met state environmental requirements, clearing the way for construction to start on 100 acres later this month, said Patti Istas, a university spokeswoman. 

Environmental groups claimed university officials did not adequately evaluate the campus’ impact on air pollution, water quality and surrounding areas. 

“We don’t have the map or any type of understanding of what they want to put where,” said Lydia Miller of the San Joaquin Raptor Rescue Center. “They are basically saying, ’Just trust us and we’ll take care of it later.”’ 

Attorney Patience Milrod, who represented the center and two other environmental groups, said she would ask the 5th District Court of Appeal in Fresno on Wednesday to halt construction pending an appeal. 

Last month, Ivey allowed the university to demolish three Merced Hills Golf Club buildings to clear the way for building. 

Construction beyond the golf course depends on a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The agency is considering whether to allow the campus on wetlands where vernal pools are home to endangered fairy shrimp and serve as feeding grounds for migratory birds. 

While the controversy over the tiny shrimp has gained wide attention, Milrod said the university is ignoring the larger problem of showing there’s an ample water supply for a campus that will ultimately have 25,000 students. 

She said the university has not studied how it will deliver water to the campus and what impact it will have on a depleted aquifer or other environmental concerns, such as endangered species. 

“This is the most powerful research institution in the country, maybe in the world, and they can’t figure this out,” Milrod said. “I think it’s an insult to the people of this valley.” 

The first phase of the campus includes classrooms, libraries an office building and housing to be opened by Sept. 2004. About 1,000 students are projected to attend.

n Pedestrian safety sting 

Police said that 11 motorists were given citations for failing to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk during a sting at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Oregon Street Wednesday morning. The traffic operation was the eighth since July, police said. The operations have resulted in approximately 200 citations for failure to yield to a pedestrian. 

n Peeping tom 

A woman reported seeing the silhouette of a man outside her bedroom window on the 1500 block of Spruce Street at 10:50 p.m. Friday. According to police, the man ran from the window after the woman yelled. Immediately after the incident the woman saw an unfamiliar man sitting in an automobile outside her house. The vehicle is described as a dark blue Ford Bronco with a white top.

LOS ANGELES — Former New York City police commissioner William Bratton has been selected as the new chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, city officials said Wednesday. 

The announcement is expected Thursday, said City Council member Jack Weiss, who called it “a positive step forward for the city of Los Angeles.” 

Bratton beat out Oxnard chief Art Lopez and former Philadelphia chief John Timoney to lead a 9,000-officer force struggling with low morale and the aftermath of a corruption scandal. Crime is also rising in the city. 

Erwin Chemerinsky, a law professor at the University of Southern California who has been active in police reform movements, praised Bratton’s selection. 

“What the mayor has done is pick somebody who has a track record of success in turning around departments, in lowering crime rates and boosting morale of the troops,” Chemerinsky said. “If somebody can do it, this is the right person for the job.” 

Bratton, 54, was police commissioner in New York from 1994-1996 before resigning under pressure from then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani. 

Bratton was recognized for advocating community policing and reorganizing the New York department. The city’s crime rate declined sharply under his watch: Serious felonies dropped 33 percent and the murder rate was cut in half. Crime declined in other major cities, but not as much as in New York. 

Bratton also led the Boston Police Department and New York’s transit police. 

The search for a new chief started after the Police Commission voted 4-1 in April against giving Chief Bernard Parks a second five-year term. Parks, who failed to get Mayor James Hahn’s support, is now running for a seat on the City Council. 

Bratton’s selection is expected to be announced Thursday by Hahn in the San Fernando Valley, where a secession movement on the November ballot has been partly driven by concerns over rising crime. Hahn’s choice must be confirmed by the City Council. 

Parks suffered in the fallout of the scandal at the department’s Rampart division, where officers allegedly planted evidence, lied and in some cases shot innocent people. Charges against about 100 inmates were dropped as a result. 

Since November 2000, the LAPD has operated under a federal consent decree implemented after Justice Department lawyers found what they described as a pattern of civil rights violations dating back decades. 

The most notorious was the 1991 beating of black motorist Rodney King which led to devastating riots when the four white officers involved were acquitted of most charges. Parks was the second of two chiefs hired to salvage the department’s reputation. 

The last outsider to run the Los Angeles police was former Philadelphia police commissioner Willie Williams, who took over in 1992 and lasted for one five-year term that was widely viewed as a failure.

High fire danger prompts  

East Bay park closures 

A high fire danger warning issued by the National Weather Service Tuesday has prompted a number of East Bay Regional Park closures. 

Parks impacted by the warning include Tilden Park, Wildcat Canyon, Claremont Canyon, Sobrante Ridge, Sibley, Huckleberry, Temescal West Slope and trails and Briones.  

Citing strong winds and dry conditions, the Red Flag Warning, declared for much of Northern California, was expected to run through last night. 

For further information concerning closures contact the East Bay Regional Park Police at 881-1833. 

Labor study challenges  

Bay Area liberal image 

A new labor survey challenges the conventional wisdom that the Bay Area is more liberal than Southern California. 

When it comes to issues of economic inequality, Los Angeles-area residents surveyed for the State of California Labor 2002 report were more likely to support government-led solutions than Bay Area respondents to the poll. 

University of California at Berkeley sociologist and political scientist Margaret Weir, who contributed to the report, said those political leanings might be due to the large growth of low-wage jobs in the Los Angeles area during the 1990s. 

"We can speculate in two ways. One is in Southern California, the more pro-government stance ... is result of the higher proportion of low-income workers. Their presence is really beginning to change the political profile of Southern California,'' Weir said. "The other piece is the rise of Silicon Valley really helped promote more faith in market solutions.'' 

The political differences between California's two main urban centers "really surprised me when we first uncovered it,'' said Ruth Milkman, a UCLA sociology professor who also contributed to the report. 

Lawyer for tree-squatters  

has new plan to let them stay 

BRISBANE — A lawyer for the couple that San Mateo County officials want to remove from their home at the base of a 300-year-old tree says he has a new plan to allow them to stay. 

Burlingame lawyer Bill Johnston said Besh Serdahely and Thelma Caballero should be allowed to remain in their San Bruno Mountain County Park home where they’ve lived for 12 years and become permanent caretakers of the park in exchange for permission to continue living there. 

The county gave the couple an eviction notice after a review of property lines showed the hideaway county rather than state land. 

To allow the couple to stay, Johnston proposed in a letter to county officials that the county implement a program similar to that of the state park system’s Campground Host program.

SAN FRANCISCO — The economic impact of the work stoppage along the West Coast ports is accelerating, and could cost the economy $2 billion a day if it continues after Thursday, said Robert Parry, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. 

“If this gets resolved immediately, then I think the impact on the national economy is pretty minimal. But if shipments in and out of ports here are interrupted much longer, the drag on the economy would be more significant,” Parry told a gathering of security analysts on Wednesday. 

California’s high-tech industry has been spared somewhat, because “a lot of it is handled by airplane — that helps a little bit,” said Parry, who arrived at the $2 billion figure after consulting with research firms and other economists. 

Parry focused his speech on broader economic developments, predicting that growth will be uneven coming months, and that current interest rates should support an expansion in economic activity. 

“We’re now in the midst of an expansion that’s both modest and uneven” as growth lurches from growth to weakness on a quarterly basis, Parry said. 

“It’s likely that the economy’s growth rate will continue to bounce around in the last half of the year,” with a strong third quarter and slower advance in the fourth, Parry said. 

Parry is a nonvoting member of the Federal Open Market Committee, which sets interest rates. In a meeting last week, the central bank left its overnight interest rate target steady at 1.75% and warned of the possibility of future economic weakness.

Port shutdown,  

by the numbers: 

n 29 ports affected in California, Washington and Oregon. 

n Employers estimate cost to the economy at $1 billion a day. 

(President of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Robert Parry estimates $2 million if no resolution by Thursday.) 

n 10,500 union members 

n Full-time longshoremen earn an average $80,000 a year; the most experienced foremen average $167,000. 

The issues: 

n PMA wants to introduce new computers, sensors and scanners that would help track and move containers through the ports more quickly.  

The upgrades would eliminate some positions, although the PMA said no current employees would lose their jobs. 

The ILWU wants all jobs created by the new technology to be unionized; the PMA wants the right to control any new jobs result from new technology. 

n The ILWU wants to maintain 100 percent health coverage. The PMA initially sought to cut back benefits, saying costs had risen too quickly.  

It later agreed to maintain full coverage but tied the concessions to an agreement on technology.

Government accused Sega  

of workplace discrimination 

SAN FRANCISCO — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Sega of America Inc. on Wednesday, alleging it fired a dozen video game testers because they were Filipino. 

The commission, in a suit filed in San Francisco federal court, also said another four workers were dismissed because of their friendship with an employee who complained about discrimination. 

Gamemaker Sega, based in San Francisco, denied the charges. 

“We are an equal opportunity employer,” company spokeswoman Gwen Marker said. 

She said Sega would vigorously defend itself. 

The commission said it tried to settle the suit before it was filed but could not reach an agreement with Sega. 

“It is not often we see such a clear case of national-origin discrimination,” said Susan L. McDuffie, the commission’s San Francisco director. 

Legislators continue attacks  

on Proposition 51 

SACRAMENTO — California legislators continued their attacks Wednesday on Proposition 51, a groundbreaking ballot initiative targeting nearly $1 billion a year from the state budget for traffic relief projects, including many that benefit contributors to the initiative campaign. 

Repeating themes of three previous legislative hearings, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Steve Peace, D-El Cajon, labeled the initiative a threat to state finances and an affront to the democratic process. 

“Over time it perpetuates the practice of making tax and spend decisions through the initiative process,” he said. 

Representatives of the League of Women Voters of California and California Tax Reform Association also testified against the measure. State financial analysts said it will raise this year’s deficit by $420 million — and $1 billion a year afterward unless legislators raise taxes. 

The initiative, proposed by a 10,000-member California environmental coalition, the Planning and Conservation League, is on the Nov. 5 ballot. 

Ebay trying to sell  

collector-car unit Kruse 

SAN FRANCISCO — EBay Inc., in a further step to divest itself of non-Internet businesses, Wednesday said it is seeking a buyer for Kruse International, an eBay subsidiary that runs a series of collector car auctions across the country. 

The step follows San Jose-based eBay’s recent sale of its Butterfields auction house to English auctioneer Bonhams for an undisclosed price. 

Kevin Pursglove, an eBay spokesman, said Kruse management notified the group’s employees in Auburn, Ind., that eBay would look for a buyer for the subsidiary. Pursglove said Kruse helped eBay with the launch of its eBay Motors automobile auctions on the Internet, but the company wasn’t focused on expanding Kruse’s off-line auction events, more than 30 of which occur around the U.S. every year. 

“I think we eventually came to the conclusion that for Kruse to continue to grow, it’s best to have an owner that is dedicated solely to building that off-line business,” Pursglove said. 

EBay acquired Kruse in a stock deal in May 1999. At the time, eBay said the value of the Kruse acquisition and the acquisition of Billpoint Inc., an online payment processing company, were worth $275 million combined.

On Oct. 1, 1964, former student and Congress of Racial Equality worker Jack Weinberg was passing out flyers at Sproul Plaza after the college had forbidden the distribution of literature for non-university causes. Police arrived and put Weinberg in a squad car. But they couldn’t take him away. A group of students had surrounded it, and they held the car captive until the college agreed to lift the distribution ban. 

“The students won,” said Matt Murray of the student ACLU Tuesday to about 50 people celebrating the 38th anniversary of the Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley. 

In today’s climate, Murray said, under the Patriot Act and other legislation, freedom to speak is not a given. “Today we need to protect our freedom of speech,” he said. 

To underscore the value of the free speech that was won in 1964, the campus ACLU brought together a dynamic range of people with strong, opposing views to participate in a series of quick debates on the steps of Sproul Plaza. 

The Israel Action Committee and Students for Justice in Palestine were among groups that squared off with words. “I’m an Israeli,” said student Oren Lazar, arguing that Israel is the “only place in the Middle East where free speech is truly celebrated.” He attacked the Palestinians for walking away from the 2000 Camp David peace talks and into guerrilla war. The solution now, he said, is helping Palestinians find another leader. 

But Chris Cantor countered that arguments put forward for the IAC speaker did not go to the heart of the issue. “What is the problem we’re solving?” he asked, then answered: “Occupation.” You don’t resolve the question of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands by building settlements, he said. 

Other debaters included the anti-abortion Berkeley Students for Life who argued that abortion supporters “fail to extend liberties to the weakest among us.” The National Organization for Women was there, reminding listeners that illegal abortions caused death and injury to countless women, and warning that President George W. Bush was poised to appoint pro-life judges. An atheist from Students for a Nonreligious Ethos called for religion to get out of government and the schools, while a speaker from Victory Christian Ministries said that god exists and that it is 99.99 percent certain that the New Testament is an authentic document. 

The Berkeley College Republicans and the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action By Any Means Necessary were given a few extra minutes to respond to one another’s arguments for and against affirmative action.  

Republican Paul LaFata argued that affirmative action based on race is illogical because as people of different races intermarry and have children, the question of what race a person is becomes moot. “Races are constantly changing,” he said. Further, he argued, people of all races have endured discrimination, so how does one go about deciding which group gets affirmative action. 

Arguing for affirmative action, Yvette Felarca pointed to a dramatic drop in the number of Latinos and blacks at the university since the end of affirmative action. Responding to LaFata’s arguments, Felarca contended that “If you look black, you’re treated like you’re black. You’re racially profiled.”  

Affirmative action is critical, she said. “You can’t pull someone up by his bootstraps on an unequal playing field.” 

To the Editor: 

Recently I circulated a petition at the meeting of my neighborhood association and among other interested Berkeley residents requesting that meetings of the Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) be broadcast on B-TV, Channel 78. A representative at B-TV informed me that the cost would be $240 each meeting and must be approved by the Berkeley City Council.  

Development in Berkeley is greatly influenced by the ZAB since most important building projects in Berkeley are reviewed by them. It has been my experience that many citizens in Berkeley are unaware of important development issues and events affecting them, and broadcasting the ZAB meetings would greatly improve the dissemination of information. Rent stabilization board meetings affect primarily renters and landlords, and school board meetings affect primarily families with school-age children, yet both are currently broadcast. Readers who agree that it is logical to also broadcast ZAB meetings should consider writing to the mayor and city council requesting the addition of ZAB to the schedule of governmental broadcasts. 

Honor Thompson 

Berkeley

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

Advisory Council Meeting 

10 a.m. 

1901 Hearst St. 

981-5190 

Does Anyone Really  

Understand Berkeley? 

7 p.m. 

Berkeley Central Library  

2090 Kitteredge St. 

Berkeley History Classes, runs every Wednesday through Nov. 13 

981-6147 

South and west Berkeley Community Action Team Advisory Group 

7 p.m. 

Over 60’s Center, 2031 Sacramento, at Alcatraz 

Refreshments provided 

981-5362 

Walk to School Day 

Join around 200 other Berkeley students in the city’s second annual Walk to School Day. 

www.walktoschool.org 

848-0305 

Humanistic Judaism 101 

7:30 to 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

Marcia Grossman of Kol Hadash facilitates this workshop dealing with humanistic alternatives to conventional judaism.  

848-0237 Ext. 127 

$5 public/ free for members of BRJCC and Kol Hadash 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Nutrition Career Open House - Institution of Educational Therapy 

7 to 8:30 p.m. 

706 Gilman St.  

558-1711 

Free. 

Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master 

Berekley Shambhala Center 

7 p,m. 

2288 Fulton St.  

(415)887-2820 for more info. 

Investing in the Future 

7:30 p.m. 

St. Mary Magdalen Church 

2005 Berryman St. 

Learn how to invest to meet more than your financial needs. 

Call to reserve space: (925) 417-6654 

Free. 

How to Defeat Commitment Phobia:  

In Yourself or the One You Love 

7:30 to 9:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish  

Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

Learn a variety of strategies for those who are ambivalent about commitment. Taught by Susan Page.  

848-0237 Ext. 127 

$10 public. $8 BRJCC members. 

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

Hookslide 

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at door. 

Divit/The Locals/B9/Tragedy Andy 9:30 p.m. 

Blakes on Telegraph, 2367 Telegraph Ave.  

848-0886 

$6. 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Pete & Joan Wernick featuring Dr. Banjo  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at door. 

Figa Productions DJ Night 

9:30 p.m. 

The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. 

$7. $10 after 11 p.m. 21 and over. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

Leon Bates 

7:30 p.m. 

Calvin Simmons Theatre, 10 10th St. 

Pianist Leon Bates offers works by Mozart, Brahms and Chopin. 

451-0775 or www.fourseasonsconcerts.com 

$25-$35. 

All Bets Off, Benumb and Uphill Battle 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

House Jacks  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 or www.freightandsalvage.com 

$16.50 in advance. $17.50 at door. 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Jimmie Dale Gilmore  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$17.50 in advance. $18.50 at door. 

Ledisi and the Braxton Brothers 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

845-5373 

$10-15. 

Yaphet Kotto, The Fleshies  

and Lesser of Two 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

Monday, Oct. 7 

Holly Gwinn Graham, Joel Landy and Lynda Williams 

7:30 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage Coffee House  

1111 Addison St. 

Benefit concert for the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space.  

548-1761 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at the door. 

Sunday, Oct. 13 

Jenna Mammina and Andre Bush 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

Jazz standards, obscure cover tunes and original compositions. 

845-5373 

$10-$15. 

Sunday, Oct. 20 

Madeline Eastman with  

the Matt Clark Trio 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

845-5373 

$10-$15. 

Wednesday, Oct. 23 

$18, $14 for members - need to reserve tickets. 

"Balancing Acts" 

Through Oct. 10 

Gallery 555, 555 12th St., 

Oakland City Center 

Oakland's 'Third Thursday' art night  

features Ann Weber's works  

made of cardboard. 

http://www.oaklandcitycenter.com.  

Free. 

“Hunger: What will you do about it?”  

Through Oct. 30  

Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The Civic Center Building 

2180 Milvia St., 5th floor 

Featuring 40 photographs  

by Berkeley artist David Bacon. 

834-3663, Ext. 338,  

uchanse@secondharvest.org 

Richard Misrach, Berkeley Work 

Though Oct. 13 

UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way 

On view in Gallery 2, presents two photographic series by this internationally recognized Berkeley-based artist.  

642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

$7. $5 BAM/PFA members.  

$4 UC Berkeley students. 

“Recent Acquisitions” 

Oct. 13 through Dec. 14 

Thurs., Fri., and Sat., 1 to 4 p.m. 

Berkeley Historical Society, Veterans Memorial Building, 1931 Center St. 

848-0181 

Free. 

Misch Kohn - Celebrating  

60 Years of Printmaking 

Through Oct. 16. Tues.-Fri., Noon to 5:30 p.m.; Sat., noon to 4:30 p.m. 

Kala Arts Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 

549-2977, kala@kala.org 

Nancy Salz 

Through Oct. 23, Tues.-Fri.,  

10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Barbara Anderson Gallery, 2243 Fifth St. 

848-3822 

Timoteo Ikoshy Montoya 

Through Nov. 1  

Reception Sept. 20, 6 to 8 p.m. 

Gathering Tribes Gallery  

1573 Solano Ave.  

Acrylic/air brush paintings  

by this Native American artist.  

528-9038 

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar 

Through Oct. 12 

Thurs. through Sat. 8 p.m. 

LaVal’s Subterranean Theatre  

1834 Euclid Ave. 

234-6046 

$10. 

The House of Blue Leaves 

Through Oct. 20 

Berkeley Rep's Roda Theater  

2015 Addison St.  

647-2949 or 888-4BRTTIX 

$10-$54. 

The Shape of Things 

Through Oct. 20 

Aurora Theatre Company  

2081 Addison St. 

Play by writer/director Neil LaBute's spins a morality tale of a young art student, his art major girlfriend, and the Pygmalion-like changes that bring into question how far one should go for love. 

843-4822, www.auroratheater.org for reservations 

$26-$35. 

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

Poetry Slam 

8:30 p.m. 

The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. 

Nazelah Jamison and Karen Ladson host this slam. $90 cash prizes. 

841-2082 

$7/ $5 with student ID. 21 and over. 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Brenda Hillman 

12:10 p.m. 

Morrison Library in Doe Library, UCB 

UC Berkeley’s Lunch Poems Reading Series. Author’s six books include “Loose Sugar” and “Cascadia”. 

http://www.berkeley.edu/calendar/events 

Free. 

Nathaniel Mackay and Trane Devore 

6 p.m. 

Maud Fife Room,  

315 Wheeler Hall, UC Berkeley 

Part of Holloway Poetry Series for Fall 2002. 

jscape@socrates.berkeley.edu 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 4 

Katherine Forrest 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Reading from “Daughters of the Amber Moon” 

559-9184 

Free. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

“Black Like Us: A Century of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual African American Fiction” 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Led by co-editors Devon W. Carbado and Donald Wiese, and several of the book’s writers. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Sunday, October 6 

Ledisi and The Braxton Brothers 

4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Jazz School, 2087 Addison St.  

845-5373 

$15. $12 students & seniors.  

$10 Jazz school students. 

Tuesday, Oct. 8 

Daniel Wilkinson 

7:30 p.m. 

Cody’s Books, 2454 Telegraph Ave. 

Author Wilkinon and panelists from Global Exchange and Equal Exchange will discuss Guatemala, globalization, and book “Silence on the Mountain.” 

(617) 351-3243 

Thursday, Oct. 10 

Daniel Wilkinson 

7:30 p.m. 

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave. 

Wilkinson, author of “Silence on the Mountain” will present slide show. 

843-3533 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 11 

Beth Glick-Rieman 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadacia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave.  

at Colusa Circle 

Glick-Rieman shares her findings on the status of women around the world, reading from her book, “Peace Train to Beijing and Beyond”. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 18 

Storyteller Nancy Schimmel 

Poets, singers, musicians and storytellers are invted. 

7:30 to 10 p.m. 

Fellowship Cafe, 1924 Cedar St. 

540-0898 

$5 to 10 donation. 

Saturday Nov. 9, 16 

Alice Walker and Dorothy Allison appear in support of Boadecia’s Books 

8 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda at Solano 

559-9184 

$25, sliding scale. 

Film 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Cinemath Films 

Pacific Film Archive Theater 

5:30 p.m. 

2575 Bancroft Way 

642-1412 

$7 for one film. $ 8.50 for double bills. 

Tuesday, Oct. 8 

Saturday, Oct. 12 

“Antarctica and the Breath of Seals” 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadacia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave.  

at Colusa Circle 

Lucy Jane Bledsoe presents a slide show based on travels in Antarctica. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 18 

Working for the Mouse 

Fantasy about playing at Disneyland. 

8 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 7 p.m. Sun. 

La Val’s Subterranean Theater  

1834 Euclid 

464-4468 

$12 general, $7 students. 

Sunday, Nov. 3 

“Focus” 

2 to 4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

William H. Macy stars in this early 1940’s period piece. 

848-0237 

$2 donation. 

Sunday, Dec. 8 

“Annie Hall”, by Woody Allen 

2 to 4:30 p.m. 

An autobiographical love story. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Center  

1414 Walnut St.  

848-0237 

$2 donation.

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

Advisory Council Meeting 

10 a.m. 

1901 Hearst St. 

981-5190 

Does Anyone Really  

Understand Berkeley? 

7 p.m. 

Berkeley Central Library  

2090 Kitteredge St. 

Berkeley History Classes, runs every Wednesday through Nov. 13 

981-6147 

South and west Berkeley Community Action Team Advisory Group 

7 p.m. 

Over 60’s Center, 2031 Sacramento, at Alcatraz 

Refreshments provided 

981-5362 

Walk to School Day 

Join around 200 other Berkeley students in the city’s second annual Walk to School Day. 

www.walktoschool.org 

848-0305 

Humanistic Judaism 101 

7:30 to 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

Marcia Grossman of Kol Hadash facilitates this workshop dealing with humanistic alternatives to conventional judaism.  

848-0237 Ext. 127 

$5 public/ free for members of BRJCC and Kol Hadash 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Nutrition Career Open House - Institution of Educational Therapy 

7 to 8:30 p.m. 

706 Gilman St.  

558-1711 

Free. 

Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master 

Berekley Shambhala Center 

7 p,m. 

2288 Fulton St.  

(415)887-2820 for more info. 

Investing in the Future 

7:30 p.m. 

St. Mary Magdalen Church 

2005 Berryman St. 

Learn how to invest to meet more than your financial needs. 

Call to reserve space: (925) 417-6654 

Free. 

How to Defeat Commitment Phobia:  

In Yourself or the One You Love 

7:30 to 9:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish  

Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

Learn a variety of strategies for those who are ambivalent about commitment. Taught by Susan Page.  

848-0237 Ext. 127 

$10 public. $8 BRJCC members. 

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

Hookslide 

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at door. 

Divit/The Locals/B9/Tragedy Andy 9:30 p.m. 

Blakes on Telegraph, 2367 Telegraph Ave.  

848-0886 

$6. 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Pete & Joan Wernick featuring Dr. Banjo  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at door. 

Figa Productions DJ Night 

9:30 p.m. 

The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. 

$7. $10 after 11 p.m. 21 and over. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

Leon Bates 

7:30 p.m. 

Calvin Simmons Theatre, 10 10th St. 

Pianist Leon Bates offers works by Mozart, Brahms and Chopin. 

451-0775 or www.fourseasonsconcerts.com 

$25-$35. 

All Bets Off, Benumb and Uphill Battle 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

House Jacks  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 or www.freightandsalvage.com 

$16.50 in advance. $17.50 at door. 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Jimmie Dale Gilmore  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$17.50 in advance. $18.50 at door. 

Ledisi and the Braxton Brothers 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

845-5373 

$10-15. 

Yaphet Kotto, The Fleshies  

and Lesser of Two 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

Monday, Oct. 7 

Holly Gwinn Graham, Joel Landy and Lynda Williams 

7:30 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage Coffee House  

1111 Addison St. 

Benefit concert for the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space.  

548-1761 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at the door. 

Sunday, Oct. 13 

Jenna Mammina and Andre Bush 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

Jazz standards, obscure cover tunes and original compositions. 

845-5373 

$10-$15. 

Sunday, Oct. 20 

Madeline Eastman with  

the Matt Clark Trio 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

845-5373 

$10-$15. 

Wednesday, Oct. 23 

$18, $14 for members - need to reserve tickets. 

"Balancing Acts" 

Through Oct. 10 

Gallery 555, 555 12th St., 

Oakland City Center 

Oakland's 'Third Thursday' art night  

features Ann Weber's works  

made of cardboard. 

http://www.oaklandcitycenter.com.  

Free. 

“Hunger: What will you do about it?”  

Through Oct. 30  

Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The Civic Center Building 

2180 Milvia St., 5th floor 

Featuring 40 photographs  

by Berkeley artist David Bacon. 

834-3663, Ext. 338,  

uchanse@secondharvest.org 

Richard Misrach, Berkeley Work 

Though Oct. 13 

UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way 

On view in Gallery 2, presents two photographic series by this internationally recognized Berkeley-based artist.  

642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

$7. $5 BAM/PFA members.  

$4 UC Berkeley students. 

“Recent Acquisitions” 

Oct. 13 through Dec. 14 

Thurs., Fri., and Sat., 1 to 4 p.m. 

Berkeley Historical Society, Veterans Memorial Building, 1931 Center St. 

848-0181 

Free. 

Misch Kohn - Celebrating  

60 Years of Printmaking 

Through Oct. 16. Tues.-Fri., Noon to 5:30 p.m.; Sat., noon to 4:30 p.m. 

Kala Arts Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 

549-2977, kala@kala.org 

Nancy Salz 

Through Oct. 23, Tues.-Fri.,  

10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Barbara Anderson Gallery, 2243 Fifth St. 

848-3822 

Timoteo Ikoshy Montoya 

Through Nov. 1  

Reception Sept. 20, 6 to 8 p.m. 

Gathering Tribes Gallery  

1573 Solano Ave.  

Acrylic/air brush paintings  

by this Native American artist.  

528-9038 

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar 

Through Oct. 12 

Thurs. through Sat. 8 p.m. 

LaVal’s Subterranean Theatre  

1834 Euclid Ave. 

234-6046 

$10. 

The House of Blue Leaves 

Through Oct. 20 

Berkeley Rep's Roda Theater  

2015 Addison St.  

647-2949 or 888-4BRTTIX 

$10-$54. 

The Shape of Things 

Through Oct. 20 

Aurora Theatre Company  

2081 Addison St. 

Play by writer/director Neil LaBute's spins a morality tale of a young art student, his art major girlfriend, and the Pygmalion-like changes that bring into question how far one should go for love. 

843-4822, www.auroratheater.org for reservations 

$26-$35. 

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

Poetry Slam 

8:30 p.m. 

The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. 

Nazelah Jamison and Karen Ladson host this slam. $90 cash prizes. 

841-2082 

$7/ $5 with student ID. 21 and over. 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Brenda Hillman 

12:10 p.m. 

Morrison Library in Doe Library, UCB 

UC Berkeley’s Lunch Poems Reading Series. Author’s six books include “Loose Sugar” and “Cascadia”. 

http://www.berkeley.edu/calendar/events 

Free. 

Nathaniel Mackay and Trane Devore 

6 p.m. 

Maud Fife Room,  

315 Wheeler Hall, UC Berkeley 

Part of Holloway Poetry Series for Fall 2002. 

jscape@socrates.berkeley.edu 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 4 

Katherine Forrest 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Reading from “Daughters of the Amber Moon” 

559-9184 

Free. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

“Black Like Us: A Century of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual African American Fiction” 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Led by co-editors Devon W. Carbado and Donald Wiese, and several of the book’s writers. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Sunday, October 6 

Ledisi and The Braxton Brothers 

4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Jazz School, 2087 Addison St.  

845-5373 

$15. $12 students & seniors.  

$10 Jazz school students. 

Tuesday, Oct. 8 

Daniel Wilkinson 

7:30 p.m. 

Cody’s Books, 2454 Telegraph Ave. 

Author Wilkinon and panelists from Global Exchange and Equal Exchange will discuss Guatemala, globalization, and book “Silence on the Mountain.” 

(617) 351-3243 

Thursday, Oct. 10 

Daniel Wilkinson 

7:30 p.m. 

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave. 

Wilkinson, author of “Silence on the Mountain” will present slide show. 

843-3533 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 11 

Beth Glick-Rieman 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadacia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave.  

at Colusa Circle 

Glick-Rieman shares her findings on the status of women around the world, reading from her book, “Peace Train to Beijing and Beyond”. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 18 

Storyteller Nancy Schimmel 

Poets, singers, musicians and storytellers are invted. 

7:30 to 10 p.m. 

Fellowship Cafe, 1924 Cedar St. 

540-0898 

$5 to 10 donation. 

Saturday Nov. 9, 16 

Alice Walker and Dorothy Allison appear in support of Boadecia’s Books 

8 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda at Solano 

559-9184 

$25, sliding scale. 

Film 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Cinemath Films 

Pacific Film Archive Theater 

5:30 p.m. 

2575 Bancroft Way 

642-1412 

$7 for one film. $ 8.50 for double bills. 

Tuesday, Oct. 8 

Saturday, Oct. 12 

“Antarctica and the Breath of Seals” 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadacia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave.  

at Colusa Circle 

Lucy Jane Bledsoe presents a slide show based on travels in Antarctica. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 18 

Working for the Mouse 

Fantasy about playing at Disneyland. 

8 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 7 p.m. Sun. 

La Val’s Subterranean Theater  

1834 Euclid 

464-4468 

$12 general, $7 students. 

Sunday, Nov. 3 

“Focus” 

2 to 4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

William H. Macy stars in this early 1940’s period piece. 

848-0237 

$2 donation. 

Sunday, Dec. 8 

“Annie Hall”, by Woody Allen 

2 to 4:30 p.m. 

An autobiographical love story. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Center  

1414 Walnut St.  

848-0237 

$2 donation.

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

Advisory Council Meeting 

10 a.m. 

1901 Hearst St. 

981-5190 

Does Anyone Really  

Understand Berkeley? 

7 p.m. 

Berkeley Central Library  

2090 Kitteredge St. 

Berkeley History Classes, runs every Wednesday through Nov. 13 

981-6147 

South and west Berkeley Community Action Team Advisory Group 

7 p.m. 

Over 60’s Center, 2031 Sacramento, at Alcatraz 

Refreshments provided 

981-5362 

Walk to School Day 

Join around 200 other Berkeley students in the city’s second annual Walk to School Day. 

www.walktoschool.org 

848-0305 

Humanistic Judaism 101 

7:30 to 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

Marcia Grossman of Kol Hadash facilitates this workshop dealing with humanistic alternatives to conventional judaism.  

848-0237 Ext. 127 

$5 public/ free for members of BRJCC and Kol Hadash 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Nutrition Career Open House - Institution of Educational Therapy 

7 to 8:30 p.m. 

706 Gilman St.  

558-1711 

Free. 

Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master 

Berekley Shambhala Center 

7 p,m. 

2288 Fulton St.  

(415)887-2820 for more info. 

Investing in the Future 

7:30 p.m. 

St. Mary Magdalen Church 

2005 Berryman St. 

Learn how to invest to meet more than your financial needs. 

Call to reserve space: (925) 417-6654 

Free. 

How to Defeat Commitment Phobia:  

In Yourself or the One You Love 

7:30 to 9:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish  

Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

Learn a variety of strategies for those who are ambivalent about commitment. Taught by Susan Page.  

848-0237 Ext. 127 

$10 public. $8 BRJCC members. 

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

Hookslide 

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at door. 

Divit/The Locals/B9/Tragedy Andy 9:30 p.m. 

Blakes on Telegraph, 2367 Telegraph Ave.  

848-0886 

$6. 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Pete & Joan Wernick featuring Dr. Banjo  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at door. 

Figa Productions DJ Night 

9:30 p.m. 

The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. 

$7. $10 after 11 p.m. 21 and over. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

Leon Bates 

7:30 p.m. 

Calvin Simmons Theatre, 10 10th St. 

Pianist Leon Bates offers works by Mozart, Brahms and Chopin. 

451-0775 or www.fourseasonsconcerts.com 

$25-$35. 

All Bets Off, Benumb and Uphill Battle 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

House Jacks  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 or www.freightandsalvage.com 

$16.50 in advance. $17.50 at door. 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Jimmie Dale Gilmore  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$17.50 in advance. $18.50 at door. 

Ledisi and the Braxton Brothers 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

845-5373 

$10-15. 

Yaphet Kotto, The Fleshies  

and Lesser of Two 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

Monday, Oct. 7 

Holly Gwinn Graham, Joel Landy and Lynda Williams 

7:30 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage Coffee House  

1111 Addison St. 

Benefit concert for the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space.  

548-1761 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at the door. 

Sunday, Oct. 13 

Jenna Mammina and Andre Bush 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

Jazz standards, obscure cover tunes and original compositions. 

845-5373 

$10-$15. 

Sunday, Oct. 20 

Madeline Eastman with  

the Matt Clark Trio 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

845-5373 

$10-$15. 

Wednesday, Oct. 23 

$18, $14 for members - need to reserve tickets. 

"Balancing Acts" 

Through Oct. 10 

Gallery 555, 555 12th St., 

Oakland City Center 

Oakland's 'Third Thursday' art night  

features Ann Weber's works  

made of cardboard. 

http://www.oaklandcitycenter.com.  

Free. 

“Hunger: What will you do about it?”  

Through Oct. 30  

Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The Civic Center Building 

2180 Milvia St., 5th floor 

Featuring 40 photographs  

by Berkeley artist David Bacon. 

834-3663, Ext. 338,  

uchanse@secondharvest.org 

Richard Misrach, Berkeley Work 

Though Oct. 13 

UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way 

On view in Gallery 2, presents two photographic series by this internationally recognized Berkeley-based artist.  

642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

$7. $5 BAM/PFA members.  

$4 UC Berkeley students. 

“Recent Acquisitions” 

Oct. 13 through Dec. 14 

Thurs., Fri., and Sat., 1 to 4 p.m. 

Berkeley Historical Society, Veterans Memorial Building, 1931 Center St. 

848-0181 

Free. 

Misch Kohn - Celebrating  

60 Years of Printmaking 

Through Oct. 16. Tues.-Fri., Noon to 5:30 p.m.; Sat., noon to 4:30 p.m. 

Kala Arts Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 

549-2977, kala@kala.org 

Nancy Salz 

Through Oct. 23, Tues.-Fri.,  

10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Barbara Anderson Gallery, 2243 Fifth St. 

848-3822 

Timoteo Ikoshy Montoya 

Through Nov. 1  

Reception Sept. 20, 6 to 8 p.m. 

Gathering Tribes Gallery  

1573 Solano Ave.  

Acrylic/air brush paintings  

by this Native American artist.  

528-9038 

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar 

Through Oct. 12 

Thurs. through Sat. 8 p.m. 

LaVal’s Subterranean Theatre  

1834 Euclid Ave. 

234-6046 

$10. 

The House of Blue Leaves 

Through Oct. 20 

Berkeley Rep's Roda Theater  

2015 Addison St.  

647-2949 or 888-4BRTTIX 

$10-$54. 

The Shape of Things 

Through Oct. 20 

Aurora Theatre Company  

2081 Addison St. 

Play by writer/director Neil LaBute's spins a morality tale of a young art student, his art major girlfriend, and the Pygmalion-like changes that bring into question how far one should go for love. 

843-4822, www.auroratheater.org for reservations 

$26-$35. 

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

Poetry Slam 

8:30 p.m. 

The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. 

Nazelah Jamison and Karen Ladson host this slam. $90 cash prizes. 

841-2082 

$7/ $5 with student ID. 21 and over. 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Brenda Hillman 

12:10 p.m. 

Morrison Library in Doe Library, UCB 

UC Berkeley’s Lunch Poems Reading Series. Author’s six books include “Loose Sugar” and “Cascadia”. 

http://www.berkeley.edu/calendar/events 

Free. 

Nathaniel Mackay and Trane Devore 

6 p.m. 

Maud Fife Room,  

315 Wheeler Hall, UC Berkeley 

Part of Holloway Poetry Series for Fall 2002. 

jscape@socrates.berkeley.edu 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 4 

Katherine Forrest 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Reading from “Daughters of the Amber Moon” 

559-9184 

Free. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

“Black Like Us: A Century of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual African American Fiction” 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Led by co-editors Devon W. Carbado and Donald Wiese, and several of the book’s writers. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Sunday, October 6 

Ledisi and The Braxton Brothers 

4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Jazz School, 2087 Addison St.  

845-5373 

$15. $12 students & seniors.  

$10 Jazz school students. 

Tuesday, Oct. 8 

Daniel Wilkinson 

7:30 p.m. 

Cody’s Books, 2454 Telegraph Ave. 

Author Wilkinon and panelists from Global Exchange and Equal Exchange will discuss Guatemala, globalization, and book “Silence on the Mountain.” 

(617) 351-3243 

Thursday, Oct. 10 

Daniel Wilkinson 

7:30 p.m. 

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave. 

Wilkinson, author of “Silence on the Mountain” will present slide show. 

843-3533 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 11 

Beth Glick-Rieman 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadacia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave.  

at Colusa Circle 

Glick-Rieman shares her findings on the status of women around the world, reading from her book, “Peace Train to Beijing and Beyond”. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 18 

Storyteller Nancy Schimmel 

Poets, singers, musicians and storytellers are invted. 

7:30 to 10 p.m. 

Fellowship Cafe, 1924 Cedar St. 

540-0898 

$5 to 10 donation. 

Saturday Nov. 9, 16 

Alice Walker and Dorothy Allison appear in support of Boadecia’s Books 

8 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda at Solano 

559-9184 

$25, sliding scale. 

Film 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Cinemath Films 

Pacific Film Archive Theater 

5:30 p.m. 

2575 Bancroft Way 

642-1412 

$7 for one film. $ 8.50 for double bills. 

Tuesday, Oct. 8 

Saturday, Oct. 12 

“Antarctica and the Breath of Seals” 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadacia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave.  

at Colusa Circle 

Lucy Jane Bledsoe presents a slide show based on travels in Antarctica. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 18 

Working for the Mouse 

Fantasy about playing at Disneyland. 

8 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 7 p.m. Sun. 

La Val’s Subterranean Theater  

1834 Euclid 

464-4468 

$12 general, $7 students. 

Sunday, Nov. 3 

“Focus” 

2 to 4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

William H. Macy stars in this early 1940’s period piece. 

848-0237 

$2 donation. 

Sunday, Dec. 8 

“Annie Hall”, by Woody Allen 

2 to 4:30 p.m. 

An autobiographical love story. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Center  

1414 Walnut St.  

848-0237 

$2 donation.

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

Advisory Council Meeting 

10 a.m. 

1901 Hearst St. 

981-5190 

Does Anyone Really  

Understand Berkeley? 

7 p.m. 

Berkeley Central Library  

2090 Kitteredge St. 

Berkeley History Classes, runs every Wednesday through Nov. 13 

981-6147 

South and west Berkeley Community Action Team Advisory Group 

7 p.m. 

Over 60’s Center, 2031 Sacramento, at Alcatraz 

Refreshments provided 

981-5362 

Walk to School Day 

Join around 200 other Berkeley students in the city’s second annual Walk to School Day. 

www.walktoschool.org 

848-0305 

Humanistic Judaism 101 

7:30 to 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

Marcia Grossman of Kol Hadash facilitates this workshop dealing with humanistic alternatives to conventional judaism.  

848-0237 Ext. 127 

$5 public/ free for members of BRJCC and Kol Hadash 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Nutrition Career Open House - Institution of Educational Therapy 

7 to 8:30 p.m. 

706 Gilman St.  

558-1711 

Free. 

Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master 

Berekley Shambhala Center 

7 p,m. 

2288 Fulton St.  

(415)887-2820 for more info. 

Investing in the Future 

7:30 p.m. 

St. Mary Magdalen Church 

2005 Berryman St. 

Learn how to invest to meet more than your financial needs. 

Call to reserve space: (925) 417-6654 

Free. 

How to Defeat Commitment Phobia:  

In Yourself or the One You Love 

7:30 to 9:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish  

Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

Learn a variety of strategies for those who are ambivalent about commitment. Taught by Susan Page.  

848-0237 Ext. 127 

$10 public. $8 BRJCC members. 

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

Hookslide 

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at door. 

Divit/The Locals/B9/Tragedy Andy 9:30 p.m. 

Blakes on Telegraph, 2367 Telegraph Ave.  

848-0886 

$6. 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Pete & Joan Wernick featuring Dr. Banjo  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at door. 

Figa Productions DJ Night 

9:30 p.m. 

The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. 

$7. $10 after 11 p.m. 21 and over. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

Leon Bates 

7:30 p.m. 

Calvin Simmons Theatre, 10 10th St. 

Pianist Leon Bates offers works by Mozart, Brahms and Chopin. 

451-0775 or www.fourseasonsconcerts.com 

$25-$35. 

All Bets Off, Benumb and Uphill Battle 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

House Jacks  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 or www.freightandsalvage.com 

$16.50 in advance. $17.50 at door. 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Jimmie Dale Gilmore  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$17.50 in advance. $18.50 at door. 

Ledisi and the Braxton Brothers 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

845-5373 

$10-15. 

Yaphet Kotto, The Fleshies  

and Lesser of Two 

8 p.m. 

924 Gilman St. 

525-9926 

$5. 

Monday, Oct. 7 

Holly Gwinn Graham, Joel Landy and Lynda Williams 

7:30 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage Coffee House  

1111 Addison St. 

Benefit concert for the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space.  

548-1761 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at the door. 

Sunday, Oct. 13 

Jenna Mammina and Andre Bush 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

Jazz standards, obscure cover tunes and original compositions. 

845-5373 

$10-$15. 

Sunday, Oct. 20 

Madeline Eastman with  

the Matt Clark Trio 

4:30 p.m. 

Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. 

845-5373 

$10-$15. 

Wednesday, Oct. 23 

$18, $14 for members - need to reserve tickets. 

"Balancing Acts" 

Through Oct. 10 

Gallery 555, 555 12th St., 

Oakland City Center 

Oakland's 'Third Thursday' art night  

features Ann Weber's works  

made of cardboard. 

http://www.oaklandcitycenter.com.  

Free. 

“Hunger: What will you do about it?”  

Through Oct. 30  

Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The Civic Center Building 

2180 Milvia St., 5th floor 

Featuring 40 photographs  

by Berkeley artist David Bacon. 

834-3663, Ext. 338,  

uchanse@secondharvest.org 

Richard Misrach, Berkeley Work 

Though Oct. 13 

UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way 

On view in Gallery 2, presents two photographic series by this internationally recognized Berkeley-based artist.  

642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

$7. $5 BAM/PFA members.  

$4 UC Berkeley students. 

“Recent Acquisitions” 

Oct. 13 through Dec. 14 

Thurs., Fri., and Sat., 1 to 4 p.m. 

Berkeley Historical Society, Veterans Memorial Building, 1931 Center St. 

848-0181 

Free. 

Misch Kohn - Celebrating  

60 Years of Printmaking 

Through Oct. 16. Tues.-Fri., Noon to 5:30 p.m.; Sat., noon to 4:30 p.m. 

Kala Arts Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 

549-2977, kala@kala.org 

Nancy Salz 

Through Oct. 23, Tues.-Fri.,  

10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Barbara Anderson Gallery, 2243 Fifth St. 

848-3822 

Timoteo Ikoshy Montoya 

Through Nov. 1  

Reception Sept. 20, 6 to 8 p.m. 

Gathering Tribes Gallery  

1573 Solano Ave.  

Acrylic/air brush paintings  

by this Native American artist.  

528-9038 

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar 

Through Oct. 12 

Thurs. through Sat. 8 p.m. 

LaVal’s Subterranean Theatre  

1834 Euclid Ave. 

234-6046 

$10. 

The House of Blue Leaves 

Through Oct. 20 

Berkeley Rep's Roda Theater  

2015 Addison St.  

647-2949 or 888-4BRTTIX 

$10-$54. 

The Shape of Things 

Through Oct. 20 

Aurora Theatre Company  

2081 Addison St. 

Play by writer/director Neil LaBute's spins a morality tale of a young art student, his art major girlfriend, and the Pygmalion-like changes that bring into question how far one should go for love. 

843-4822, www.auroratheater.org for reservations 

$26-$35. 

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

Poetry Slam 

8:30 p.m. 

The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. 

Nazelah Jamison and Karen Ladson host this slam. $90 cash prizes. 

841-2082 

$7/ $5 with student ID. 21 and over. 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Brenda Hillman 

12:10 p.m. 

Morrison Library in Doe Library, UCB 

UC Berkeley’s Lunch Poems Reading Series. Author’s six books include “Loose Sugar” and “Cascadia”. 

http://www.berkeley.edu/calendar/events 

Free. 

Nathaniel Mackay and Trane Devore 

6 p.m. 

Maud Fife Room,  

315 Wheeler Hall, UC Berkeley 

Part of Holloway Poetry Series for Fall 2002. 

jscape@socrates.berkeley.edu 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 4 

Katherine Forrest 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Reading from “Daughters of the Amber Moon” 

559-9184 

Free. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

“Black Like Us: A Century of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual African American Fiction” 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Led by co-editors Devon W. Carbado and Donald Wiese, and several of the book’s writers. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Sunday, October 6 

Ledisi and The Braxton Brothers 

4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Jazz School, 2087 Addison St.  

845-5373 

$15. $12 students & seniors.  

$10 Jazz school students. 

Tuesday, Oct. 8 

Daniel Wilkinson 

7:30 p.m. 

Cody’s Books, 2454 Telegraph Ave. 

Author Wilkinon and panelists from Global Exchange and Equal Exchange will discuss Guatemala, globalization, and book “Silence on the Mountain.” 

(617) 351-3243 

Thursday, Oct. 10 

Daniel Wilkinson 

7:30 p.m. 

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave. 

Wilkinson, author of “Silence on the Mountain” will present slide show. 

843-3533 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 11 

Beth Glick-Rieman 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadacia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave.  

at Colusa Circle 

Glick-Rieman shares her findings on the status of women around the world, reading from her book, “Peace Train to Beijing and Beyond”. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 18 

Storyteller Nancy Schimmel 

Poets, singers, musicians and storytellers are invted. 

7:30 to 10 p.m. 

Fellowship Cafe, 1924 Cedar St. 

540-0898 

$5 to 10 donation. 

Saturday Nov. 9, 16 

Alice Walker and Dorothy Allison appear in support of Boadecia’s Books 

8 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda at Solano 

559-9184 

$25, sliding scale. 

Film 

Sunday, Oct. 6 

Cinemath Films 

Pacific Film Archive Theater 

5:30 p.m. 

2575 Bancroft Way 

642-1412 

$7 for one film. $ 8.50 for double bills. 

Tuesday, Oct. 8 

Saturday, Oct. 12 

“Antarctica and the Breath of Seals” 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadacia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave.  

at Colusa Circle 

Lucy Jane Bledsoe presents a slide show based on travels in Antarctica. 

559-9184 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 18 

Working for the Mouse 

Fantasy about playing at Disneyland. 

8 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 7 p.m. Sun. 

La Val’s Subterranean Theater  

1834 Euclid 

464-4468 

$12 general, $7 students. 

Sunday, Nov. 3 

“Focus” 

2 to 4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

William H. Macy stars in this early 1940’s period piece. 

848-0237 

$2 donation. 

Sunday, Dec. 8 

“Annie Hall”, by Woody Allen 

2 to 4:30 p.m. 

An autobiographical love story. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Center  

1414 Walnut St.  

848-0237 

$2 donation.

OAKLAND— In the first two postseason innings of their lives, the young Minnesota Twins made three errors, allowed four unearned runs and reached their boiling point. 

It wasn’t the way October was supposed to be for the Twins, particularly the ones who’ve been dreaming of the playoffs since their days together in the low minors. There was an emotional dugout scene — and the jitters evaporated, replaced by hard-nosed play and growing confidence. 

A.J. Pierzynski had four hits, and Corey Koskie homered and drove in three runs as the Twins overcame an early deficit and a series of fielding blunders to beat the Oakland Athletics 7-5 Tuesday in the first game of the AL division series. 

It wasn’t a happy time when the Twins came back to the dugout down 5-1 in the second inning of the franchise’s first postseason game since winning the 1991 World Series — largely thanks to their own mistakes, including an infield popup that four Twins allowed to drop untouched. 

Starting pitcher Brad Radke slammed his glove into the dugout bench. Pierzynski, their volatile All-Star catcher, fumed and shouted. Several players yelled angrily at each other — until one of them said something that made sense. 

“Torii (Hunter) came in screaming,” Doug Mientkiewicz said. “He was saying, ’We’ve waited our whole lives for this! Let’s get our heads out and get it done! We’ve still got seven innings!”’ 

But the Twins, who defied baseball’s conventional wisdom about small-market teams to win the AL Central, steadily rallied back with offense from nearly every player — eight Twins got a hit — and more of the steady bullpen work that’s been one of their strongest assets. 

Eddie Guardado capped four innings of scoreless relief with the save, getting pinch-hitter Adam Piatt on a fly to right with two runners on to end it. 

The Twins were the best defensive team in the majors this season, making just 74 errors. They tied the division series record for errors in a game, yet still came back to win. 

“We don’t make three errors. We just don’t do that,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “At one point in the game, it was comical. ... The game was getting a little crazy on us. I’d have a hard time this year finding three innings we played like that. I think it was just nerves. We got some stuff out of our system today.” 

Game 2 in the best-of-five series is Wednesday, with Mark Mulder pitching for Oakland against Joe Mays. 

Eric Chavez drove in two runs for the A’s, who tied the Yankees for the major league lead with 103 victories in the regular season. But Oakland didn’t get the standout pitching that’s been its trademark in three straight playoff campaigns. 

Tim Hudson, the longest-tenured member of Oakland’s Big Three starters, never got comfortable in 5 1-3 shaky innings. He allowed eight hits and four runs. 

“The bottom line is we just didn’t pitch today,” Hudson said. “They gave us some breaks early in the game, (but) they settled down. Obviously we would’ve liked to have won, but there’s a lot of baseball left to be played.” 

Mientkiewicz homered for the Twins, who took the lead with a three-run sixth inning. Koskie put Minnesota up 6-5 with a bases-loaded groundout against Ted Lilly (0-1), who relieved Hudson moments earlier. 

Brad Radke (1-0), who stopped Oakland’s AL-record 20-game winning streak last month with a six-hit shutout in Minneapolis, allowed eight hits and five runs — although just one was earned — in five innings. 

Once Radke left, Minnesota’s outstanding bullpen came through again. Johan Santana, J.C. Romero and Guardado shut out the A’s. 

Miguel Tejada, Oakland’s top run-producer and MVP candidate, struck out twice in the late innings, stranding three runners. 

The Coliseum crowd of 34,853 was enthusiastic for its AL West champions, but thousands of empty seats remained in the upper deck. 

“Last year (against the Yankees), we won the first game and ended up losing,” Oakland manager Art Howe said. “The year before, we won the first game and ended up losing. What we’ve been through the last couple of years should show us this isn’t the end of the road.” 

Oakland scored three runs in the first inning with a rally that started when shortstop Cristian Guzman’s throw to second base pulled Luis Rivas off the bag. One batter later, Chavez singled to right, scoring one run — and Pierzynski let Michael Cuddyer’s throw get past him into the A’s dugout, scoring another run. 

The Twins got a run in the second on Cuddyer’s RBI double, but Oakland got two more in the bottom half with a two-out rally sparked by the Twins’ impression of a Little League team. 

Ray Durham was on second when Scott Hatteberg popped up to the infield. Radke, Pierzynski, Mientkiewicz and Koskie all converged — but nobody even made a grab at the ball as it plopped on the infield grass halfway up first base and Durham sped home. 

“I should have taken charge,” Radke said. 

“I should have taken charge,” Mientkiewicz said. 

“That’s my play,” Pierzynski said. 

Moments later, Koskie made a bad throw to first to keep the rally alive again, and Chavez got another RBI single to give Oakland a 5-1 lead. 

Koskie hit his two-run homer in the third, and Howe pulled Hudson shortly after Mientkiewicz’s solo homer in the sixth. But Lilly gave up three straight hits, including Jacque Jones’ game-tying RBI double, and Koskie’s bases-loaded groundout drove in the go-ahead run. 

Pierzynski added a run-scoring triple in the seventh against Cory Lidle. 

Notes: Pierzynski had his fourth career four-hit game. ... David Justice, making his 10th postseason appearance, drove home Chavez in the first for his major league-record 60th postseason RBI. 

UC Berkeley pro-Palestinian protester Roberto Hernandez and his legal team didn’t show up on the second day of the activist’s student conduct hearing Tuesday, drawing the ire of the university panel hearing the case, now postponed until Friday. 

But Hernandez attorney Dan Siegel said university officials left the defense team Monday with the impression that logistical problems would prevent the hearing from continuing the next day. 

Siegel said that the university told the defense late in the day Tuesday that the hearing would go forward, but that didn’t provide time to gather witnesses and notify Hernandez. 

“I just think the university’s totally at fault here,” Siegel said. 

Hernandez is one of 32 student protesters who participated in the April 9 takeover of UC Berkeley’s Wheeler Hall and now face student conduct charges ranging from disturbing the peace to, in Hernandez’s case, physical assault on a university police officer. 

The students, who called on the nine-campus University of California system to divest from Israel, face penalties ranging up to expulsion, although the Office of Student Life has recommended nothing harsher than suspension. 

The Hernandez hearing, the first of 32, began Monday but did not finish by the end of the day, as expected. Both sides agreed to reconvene Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. if university officials could find a room and make security arrangements. 

Siegel, a partner at the Oakland law firm of Siegel & Yee, which is representing students at no charge, said UC Berkeley’s Director of Student Judicial Affairs Neil Rajmaira told defense attorneys after the hearing that getting a room Tuesday was unlikely. 

But Rajmaira, who is prosecuting the case, said defense attorney Anne Weills, who is married to Siegel, provided him with a phone number Monday night and asked him to call Tuesday morning with an update. 

Rajmaira said he called Tuesday morning, only to get an answering machine. 

Siegel said Weills did not pick up the message, left on the couple’s home answering service, until after noon. She then called Rajmaira and Professor David Zusman, who is chairing the hearing committee, and said two hours notice was not enough to gather witnesses. 

Zusman pushed back the hearing until 3:30 p.m., but Siegel said his office could not reach Hernandez or defense witnesses by that time. Siegel acknowledged that Hernandez did not contact his lawyers either. 

Members of the hearing committee were incredulous. 

“I’m really appalled that he didn’t contact his lawyers today,” said Zusman, referring to Hernandez. “I find that, frankly, incredible. ... I’m a little suspicious about how sincere their efforts are.” 

Rajmaira made a motion to finish the Hernandez hearing Tuesday without the defense present, but the committee decided to reschedule until Friday. 

“I have a feeling that if we don’t reschedule, there will be trouble,” said Professor Paul Volta, one of three members on the hearing committee, perhaps referring to the tense political atmosphere surrounding the case. 

The undergraduate member of the committee, whose name is being withheld for privacy reasons, said he had made a good faith effort to get to the hearing and expressed his displeasure with the defense for failing to appear. He said the committee would not be “jerked around” in the future. 

Rajmaira accepted the committee’s decision to reschedule and emphasized Hernandez’s right to a fair hearing, but said the defense had wasted state resources by failing to appear. 

“I would like to say on the record that an enormous, enormous, enormous amount of university and therefore state resources have been expended this afternoon,” he said. 

Rajmaira said security costs, room rental and other expenses factored into the equation. He could not provide a full estimate, but a half-day room rental at Clark Err campus costs $175 according to the university’s web site. 

Hernandez did not immediately return calls for comment. 

To the Editor: 

Students for Justice in Palestine activist Hoang Phan in a letter (Daily Planet Forum, Sept. 25), ridicules the UC Regents for not agreeing to their demands to divest from Israel. Phan refers the regents to the divestment website (www.ucdivest.org) in order to learn “the basic history of the conflict.” 

The website is indeed instructive, though not for its heavily biased, historically inaccurate account of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Rather, by visiting the site one will quickly notice that little more than 1,000 people have signed their petition – far fewer than the bloated figure of 6,000 cited in David Scharfenberg's recent story “Students Push Israeli Divestment” (Daily Planet, Sept. 19). 

Given that over 4,000 UC students, faculty and staff have actually signed the anti-divestment petition (http://www.ucjustice.org) it seems that an overwhelming majority of people recognize the divestment drive for the prejudiced, one-sided smear campaign that it is. 

Benjamin Klafter 

UC Berkeley Alumnus 

African-American and Latino students at Berkeley High School failed the 2002 California High School Exit Exam in large numbers, mirroring statewide trends and renewing local concerns about the “achievement gap” separating white and Asian students from African-Americans and Latinos. 

“That’s pretty distressing,” said Michael Miller, a member of Berkeley-based Parents of Children of African Descent. 

The High School Exit exam, designed to ensure that students graduate with basic skills in place, is divided into two parts, English and math, and the clearest evidence of the achievement gap came in the math section.  

Eight-two percent of white Berkeley High students passed the math portion of the test, compared to 30 percent of African-Americans and 26 percent of Latinos. 

Members of the Class of 2004 are the first students who must pass both portions of the test in order to graduate, although the state Board of Education may vote this summer to postpone the graduation requirement. 

If the exit exam remains a requirement, students who fail either section of the test will have seven chances to take it again before graduation. 

Students are not required to take the test until they are sophomores, but many members of the Class of 2004 volunteered to take the test in 2001 as freshmen.  

Those who passed as freshmen did not have to retake the exam last year.  

Hundreds of Berkeley High freshmen took one or both portions of the exam in 2001 and scored well above the state average. Sixty-four percent passed the math portion, compared to 44 percent statewide, and 76 percent passed English, versus 64 percent across the state. 

Latinos, in line with the overall trend, scored well above the statewide Latino average in 2001. Fifty-five percent passed the math section versus 25 percent statewide.  

But a substantial achievement gap still separated whites and Asians from African-Americans and Latinos. 

Parent activists said the lingering gap is of concern, and some argued the district is not doing enough to address the issue. 

“The question becomes what is the district trying to do except dismantle the programs supporting these kids,” said Miller, making reference to a planned consolidation of Berkeley High’s African-American Studies Department that the district reversed last week. 

Superintendent Michele Lawrence and members of the Board of Education have argued that they were unaware of the planned consolidation, a cost-cutting measure included in an agreement with the Berkeley Federation of Teachers this summer, and moved as quickly as possible to restore the department when they learned about the agreement. 

Miller said the district should begin implementing programs like Rebound, an intense mentoring and tutoring effort pushed by black parents in the Spring of 2001, to address the achievement gap. 

“I have no problem with Rebound-type programs,” said school board member John Selawsky. “My question is how do we fund them for the number of students who need them.” 

The Berkeley Unified School District currently faces a $3.9 million budget shortfall. 

Berkeley High special education students failed the exit exams in huge numbers, as did special education pupils statewide.  

Eighty-two percent of Berkeley High special education students failed math and 74 percent failed English. 

Oakland-based Disability Rights Advocates have filed suit against the state, claiming that the exit exam is unfair for special education students. 

One part of the suit challenges a provision in state law that invalidates special education students’ scores if they use a calculator, a spell checker or an aide to read aloud parts of the English exam or write for them. 

Braille, extra test-taking time, extended breaks and other accommodations are allowed if they are included in a student’s individual education plan. 

Staff attorney Melissa Kasnitz of Disability Rights Advocates said special education students use the forbidden accommodations for every other test they take in school. 

“Suddenly, on the most important standardized test of their educational career, they’re being told that if you use an accommodation you’ve always used, you can’t pass,” she said. 

Kasnitz said once a special education student passes the exam with one of the forbidden accommodations, a school district may apply for a waiver, allowing the student to graduate without a valid test score. 

Some community activists questioned the worth of the exit exam altogether, arguing that one test should not determine whether a student can graduate. 

“High stakes testing really is not going to help our educational process,” said school board candidate Derick Miller. 

“My hope is that we’ll be able to convince the folks up in Sacramento that punishing kids for adults’ mistakes is not the way to do it,” added school board candidate Nancy Riddle. 

While separate figures are available for the number of Berkeley High students who have passed the math portion and English portions of the test, in 2001 and 2002, there are no figures available for the number of students who have passed both. 

Students must pass both sections in order to graduate. 

To the Editor, 

It has come to my attention that the city of Berkeley subsidizes its 1,800 employees not to use the city pools. All city employees are offered a special membership package to the Berkeley YMCA which includes use of the YMCA pools. Under this benefit the city pays 75 percent of the monthly fees, leaving 25 percent to be paid by the employee. City employees, including the city and recreation department leaders, tell us they swim at the YMCA, then complain that the city pools are underused. Discount membership to the YMCA is a great employee perk, but where does this leave the community swimmer? The YMCA has no senior rate, no pool-use-only rate and no noncommunity-member day use rate.  

If King pool becomes the only open year-round, community pool, then the recreation and aquatics departments have an obligation to provide daytime use for the community. If King pool is already heated and then not available for use, it is a big waste. If the school district policy is one of not allowing the community on the school grounds during school hours, even though the pool is not used by the students during the day in the winter, perhaps the policy needs review. Taxpayers should have the right to use what they pay for. 

Jean Johnsen 

Berkeley 

VIENNA, Austria — Iraq agreed Tuesday to a plan for the return of U.N. weapons inspectors for the first time in nearly four years, but the deal ignores U.S. demands for access to Saddam Hussein’s palaces and other contested sites. 

Chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix said an advance team of inspectors could be in Iraq in two weeks if it gets the go-ahead from the U.N. Security Council. 

But U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, clashing with Blix, said hours later that the search for hidden arsenals in Iraq should be held up until the Security Council adopts tough new rules. 

Powell said in Washington that sending inspectors back to Iraq now after a lapse of nearly four years would risk further deception by Saddam. 

Blix said the agreement on logistics, hammered out in two days of talks in Vienna, called for “immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access” to most suspect sites. 

But, he said, eight presidential sites — 12 square miles of territory — would remain off-limits to surprise inspections unless the U.N. Security Council bends to U.S. demands that all sites be subject to unannounced visits. Besides the palaces, also declared off-limits were several government ministries, including defense and interior, as well as the headquarters of Saddam’s elite Republican Guard. 

Under a 1998 deal worked out between U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Baghdad, the inspectors are not allowed to visit the presidential sites unannounced and must be accompanied by a team of international diplomats when they do. 

The chief Iraqi negotiator, Gen. Amir al-Sadi, sought to deflect attention from the presidential sites. 

“Quite honestly, I don’t understand why it is so critical,” al-Sadi said, adding that on the whole, Baghdad was “happy with this agreement.” He and Blix agreed that the issue of presidential sites had not been on the Vienna agenda. 

“We have come to a very practical arrangement and we anticipate every inspection to go to a sensitive site,” al-Sadi said. 

The United States, meanwhile, moved negotiations on its tough new proposal for Iraq to the United Nations on Tuesday, meeting with permanent members of the Security Council opposed to authorizing force against Saddam before testing his willingness to cooperate. 

At the meeting, ambassadors from the United States, Britain, Russia, France and China discussed the resolution’s so-called “or else” clause which warns Saddam to cooperate or face military action from member states. 

The draft resolution would also give member states the right to give military support to inspections. 

France and Russia vehemently oppose the U.S. position, with Paris floating its own proposal for a two-phased approach which would only authorize force if Iraq failed to cooperate with inspectors. 

But a senior U.S. official in Washington told The Associated Press that all five veto-holding members agreed that a new system of inspections — after a four year absence — must be worked out to open Saddam’s palaces. 

The United States and Britian have drafted a new plan that would give Iraq seven days after adoption of the resolution to declare whether it would comply, and then 23 days to list all sites where weapons are stored, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. 

Also, the resolution contains a provision giving inspectors the authority to declare “no-fly” and “no-drive” zones that would keep out Iraqi officials while the inspections proceed. 

The State Department said any inspections should be deferred until a U.N. resolution is approved. However, spokesman Richard Boucher said the Bush administration had no objection to inspectors making arrangements in advance. 

“We continue to work with other members of the council to come up with a resolution that makes clear the need for thorough and unfettered inspections and the need for consequences if Iraq refuses to cooperate,” Boucher said. “They really don’t understand quite yet that they have to disarm, they have to cooperate.” 

Blix, who was to brief the Security Council on Thursday, said the talks focused on practical aspects of the renewed inspections, such as where the inspectors would fly and their security on the ground. The Iraqis were unable to guarantee the safety of inspector aircraft that might cross “no-fly” zones in parts of Iraq, he said. 

The Iraqis handed over four CDs containing a backlog of monitoring reports for suspect sites and items, spanning June 1998 to July 2002, Blix said. Although that information was not yet analyzed, it will provide important clues about Iraqi weapons activity, he said. 

“It was promised to us in New York, and I’m glad it came here,” Blix said. 

He said the Iraqis were serious about allowing the return of his team despite the continuing standoff on the presidential sites. “There is a willingness to accept inspections that has not existed before.” 

Britain welcomed the agreement but said it did not replace the need for a tough new Security Council resolution. 

“I welcome the work of Hans Blix and his colleagues and look forward to his report to the Security Council,” British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said. 

“However, this work is not an alternative to the high priority we place on a new and tougher resolution in the Security Council.” 

To the Editor, 

Among the reports of the employment dispute at UC Berkeley, both in the Daily Planet and in other media, the observation has been made that lecturers are paid less than “local grade school teachers” (Daily Planet, Aug. 29). I have no independent knowledge of the issues at UC and am not an educator, but allow me to suggest that using this disparity to argue for a pay raise contains a false premise that should not go unchallenged. Elementary school teachers should be paid more than university lecturers. Quite frankly, I think their jobs are more important. In fact, after parents, I believe elementary teachers are the most critical actors in our educational scheme, charged with the primary care and intellectual feeding of our youngest children as they begin to learn to take on their roles and responsibilities in society. Lecturers may well be underpaid, but to suggest that they should get a raise because they are paid less than elementary school teachers misplaces our priorities and misstates our society’s educational needs.  

Robert Firchock 

Oakland 

As the heat of fire season approaches, UC Berkeley police is warning people not to dump wood chips, which provide dangerous fuel to wildfires, on campus wildlands. 

The cost of bringing debris to waste centers and fears about the Sudden Oak Death tree disease are enticing many tree service companies to dump wood chips in the nearest open space, police say. 

This summer, police forced at least one company to remove chips it dumped illegally near the intersection of Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Fish Ranch Road. University police would not say the name of the company. 

Wood chip dumping is on the rise, police say, and presents an increasing danger to residents of the Berkeley and Oakland hills. 

When a large pile of wood chips catches fire, the chips smolder and the fire becomes more difficult to extinguish, said Cheryl Miller of the Hills Emergency Forum, a team of local cities and fire safety organizations formed to prevent a repeat of the 1991 Oakland hills fire. 

The hills fire spanned more than 5 miles. It killed 25 residents, destroyed 3,000 homes and caused roughly $2 billion in property damage. 

“As we saw in 1991 fires can move very quickly,” said Tom Klatt of the UC Berkeley Police Department. Local wildfires are fanned by “Diablo winds,” a strong low-humidity current that can throw smoldering wood chips a mile or more, Klatt said. 

Hills communities are especially vulnerable to wildfires in late summer and early fall when high temperatures and hot, dry winds whip over the flammable brush. Last month, two wildfires broke out in the Oakland Hills, causing minor damage. Neither fire was caused by wood chips. 

The increase in wood chip dumping this fire season is due in part to the local infestation of the Sudden Oak Death tree disease, Miller said. The pathogen, which has been found in all Bay Area counties except San Francisco, attacks 16 species of California trees including redwood, douglas fir and two types of oak.  

Since the pathogen spread to Alameda County, in September 2001, the state Department of Food and Agriculture has prohibited the transfer of living plant matter outside county boundaries.  

Though wood chips from infected trees are dead, many tree companies do not make the distinction, Miller said. The result, said Miller, is that tree companies from outside the county mistakenly think they are not allowed to transfer wood chips from stricken trees to waste centers in their home counties. 

Consequently, the companies often choose to dump the chips on a vacant parcel of land. 

Klatt noted that some tree companies choose to dump in open spaces to save money. The Berkeley Transfer Station charges $6.25 per 320 pounds of tree materials. Because trucks often carry as much as 2,000 pounds of wood chips, some companies prefer to dump for free, Klatt said. 

Santa Clara judge sentences man for planned massacre 

SANTA CLARA — A man convicted of plotting a Columbine-style rampage at his community college was sentenced to seven years in state prison Tuesday. 

Superior Court Judge Robert Ahern ruled that more than 100 of the counts against Al DeGuzman, 20, had to be dismissed because of two appellate court rulings that applied to his case. 

After Ahern dismissed the felony counts, he gave DeGuzman the maximum sentence for the remaining charges. Ahern said he saw DeGuzman as a danger to the public. 

The judge cited two cases in which a California Court of Appeal said the state Legislature did not adequately specify that criminals found with multiple weapons could be charged with multiple counts. 

DeGuzman could be released on parole after about two years, said prosecutor Tom Farris. 

DeGuzman was scheduled to be sentenced in July on 108 counts of amassing an arsenal of guns and bombs in his bedroom and planning a massacre at De Anza College in Cupertino. 

The charges carried up to 95 years in prison, and a probation report recommended that he get 61 years. But Ahern postponed sentencing and raised the possibility that DeGuzman could get between three and seven years. 

When he postponed the sentencing Ahern said California law is ambiguous on whether DeGuzman should have been charged separately for each weapon found in his bedroom or whether he should have faced just two all-encompassing counts. 

DeGuzman was arrested in January 2001 the day before the planned attacks on his community college. Authorities say the rampage was averted when a photo-developing clerk saw a picture of DeGuzman posing with his arsenal and called police. 

Red Cross continues to aid  

victims of Croy fire 

MORGAN HILL – While the Croy Fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Morgan Hill has been fully contained, the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross has not halted its efforts to reach out to the victims still affected by the disaster. 

The fire that began on Monday, Sept. 23 scorched more than 3,200 acres of land, destroyed 32 homes and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate. Most have since been allowed to return after firefighters brought the blaze totally under control over the weekend. 

Federal screeners arrive at Mineta San Jose airport 

SAN JOSE – Mineta San Jose International Airport this morning became the first of the three major Bay Area airports to undergo the transformation from private to federal security screeners. 

Acting Federal Security Director Mark Pooler made the announcement of the transfer from private to federal security today during a news conference at the airport. 

Checkpoints in the airport's Terminal C were taken over by Transportation Security Administration-trained screeners when the airport opened at 5 a.m. Federal screeners have not yet been deployed in Terminal A.

SACRAMENTO — California’s tough education standards are a bragging point for many state officials, but the nation’s new education law could force the state to lower the bar or risk falling short of federal requirements. 

President Bush’s No Child Left Behind act requires that all students be proficient in math and English in 12 years — a goal that top education officials in California say they won’t be able to meet. 

That’s because California has set its sights much higher than most of the nation, requiring students to master advanced math and language skills. 

The federal law lets each state set up its own education standards and decide what it means to be “proficient.” States with lower standards will have an easier time reaching the target. 

“The problem is our standards are very high and we don’t anticipate we could ever be 100 percent proficient,” said California Secretary of Education Kerry Mazzoni. 

Results from the state’s standards-based test show that California still has a long way to go to hitting the 100 percent mark. Only about 10 percent of 11th graders, for example, are proficient in algebra and geometry based on California standards, 30 percent are proficient in U.S. history and 16 percent are proficient in earth sciences. 

California and other states that set up tough standards before the federal law was enacted could be forced to lower the standards or risk missing the target, which could ultimately jeopardize federal education funding. 

“It’s very unfair to states with high standards,” said T.J. Bucholz, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Education. 

Earlier this year, the federal government identified more than 8,000 schools across the country as low performing based on their own state’s education standards. Only Michigan had more schools on that list than California. 

“When you see the numbers on the surface, you might think that California and Michigan schools are doing very poorly. They aren’t. We just have incredibly high standards,” Bucholz said. 

However, Eugene Hickok, undersecretary in the U.S. Department of Education, said high standards shouldn’t be an excuse for not meeting federal requirements. 

“Those who argue that having such high expectations is unrealistic are doing a serious disservice not just to the kids, but to this nation,” Hickok said. 

Mapping and reading J. Craig Venter’s genome took 15 years, $5 billion and some of the most sophisticated computers available. 

Now, Venter hopes to burn individual genomes, a human’s entire DNA sequence, onto shiny compact discs that can be read within a week for about $500,000 a piece. 

Venter hopes ultimately to mass-produce gene CDs like so many Bruce Springsteen CDs that will stock the shelves of every general practitioner’s office and be covered by insurance. He said he has lined up a number of rich donors to kick off his nonprofit individual genome project. 

“We are trying to push genomics to the $1,000 genome,” Venter said. 

But Venter has his work cut out. Not only does he have to surmount ethical, financial and scientific hurdles, there’s the issue of fitting and analyzing the three billion DNA base pairs that make up the genome on CD — that’s three gigabytes of computer storage. It would take 200 volumes, each the size of a Manhattan telephone book, to compile the human genome in written form. 

The idea is that doctors will be able to prevent and treat diseases better when they are able to read and interpret individuals genomes. Already, genetic tests can determine if some women are more prone to breast cancer than others. Armed with that knowledge, women can alter their diets and exercise regimen to lower their cancer chances. 

Venter led the for-profit team in the dramatic race against government scientists to decipher the human genome. Both teams simultaneously announced the successful sequencing of five human genomes, including Venter’s, in competing scientific papers last year. Venter, former chief of genomics pioneer Celera before being forced out when the company changed business directions, now runs three nonprofit ventures he founded. 

Those three ventures are pouring $30 million to build a new gene-sequencing center in Rockville, Md., which Venter expects to open by year’s end. It’s there that Venter and other scientists will work on putting individual genomes on CDs by next year. 

Venter said the only way to mass produce genes cheaply on CD is just to do it. He estimates the first CDs will cost about $500,000 each. So he said he’s lined up several wealthy individuals, whom he has declined to identify, who will pay to have their genomes mapped.

SAN JOSE — The U.S. Commerce Department accused Sun Microsystems Inc. of violating export rules in sales it made to Egypt and, through a reseller, to China. 

The hardware sales took place in 1997 and 1998, according to a letter the company received in February from the Commerce Department’s bureau of industry and security. The letter was disclosed Monday by Sun in a regulatory filing. 

Sun said it is in settlement talks. The agency has given the high-powered computer and software maker until Nov. 1 to respond to the accusations. 

“We expect to reach a resolution on this, and it will not have a materially adverse effect on Sun,” company spokesman Andy Lark said Tuesday. 

If Santa Clara-based Sun is found to have violated the regulations, it could face financial penalties or the loss of its export privileges, according the filing. 

SACRAMENTO — The fallout from Gov. Gray Davis’ decision to sign or veto hundreds of bills in the last week continued to settle Tuesday, as some groups celebrated and others prepared for lawsuits or new legislation. 

Among those praising the governor’s actions were California farmworkers, who cheered as Davis staffers announced his decision Monday to sign a bill that will offer mediation in labor disputes between agricultural employers and unions. 

Meanwhile, farm groups are planning legal action against the new law, which they called unconstitutional and legally questionable. 

“I think there’s a good probability that we will take this fight to the courts, but there’s a lot of options in there that we need to look at and study,” said Mike Webb, government affairs counsel for the Western Growers Association, which opposed the bill. 

Fierce lobbying on both sides led up to Davis’ decision, which proved be one of the more difficult of his political career. The governor has often prided himself on drawing the Central Valley vote, which is largely Republican. 

“I’m sure it just killed him — absolutely killed him — to sign that bill,” said Bruce Cain, a political science professor at the University of California, Berkeley. “But he had to choose between the core Democratic constituents and the swing Republican agribusiness vote.” 

Immigrant groups also expressed outrage at Davis’ veto of a bill, by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, that would have granted driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. Bill supporters pushed the controversial measure, saying it would have made California’s highways safer to have them to take the driver’s test and purchase auto insurance. 

But Davis sided with the bill’s opponents, who worried about the increased security risks from licensing non-citizens after last year’s terrorist attacks. 

Cedillo said he would reintroduce another version of the bill next year and would reevaluate it to better address the security concerns. He will also seek the help of the AFL-CIO, the powerful group of labor unions he hopes will help drum up popular support and ultimately the governor’s. 

Despite the prominence of corporate accountability as a political issue after the Enron and WorldCom bankruptcies, Davis vetoed a bill that many said would have been the toughest in the nation. 

The bill, by Sen. Martha Escutia, D-Commerce, would have required corporate executives to report financial fraud in their company or face up to $100,000 in fines. 

“There is too much public frustration with the state of corporate America to let this go, and Gov. Davis can be assured that he will see strong corporate reform legislation again,” said Doug Heller, spokesman for The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. 

Conservative groups, including the Campaign for California Families celebrated over “a tremendous victory for children and families,” as Davis also vetoed a bill, by Assemblywoman Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park, that would have encouraged counties to offer sensitivity training to foster parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender youth. 

But Geoff Kors, executive director of the California Alliance for Pride and Equality, which sponsored the bill, said it is “very likely” the bill will show up again next year. 

“Being a foster youth is difficult enough; being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender adds a whole new dimension,” Kors said. “This was a simple bill to put that protection into law.” 

CAPE suffered another legislative defeat Monday, when Davis vetoed a bill, by Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara, that would have authorized pharmacies to sell hypodermic needles to adults without a doctor’s prescription.

SACRAMENTO — Half of the state’s 18 million patients in health maintenance organizations can’t leave their HMO because their employers only offer one insurance plan, but they may be able to find a better medical group within that HMO. 

On Tuesday, Davis administration officials released the 2002 HMO Quality Report Card, designed to give consumers more information about HMOs and medical groups so they can find a doctor who will best serve them. 

The report card rates 10 of the largest HMOs in California, representing approximately 95 percent of the state’s HMO enrollees. 

This year, the report focused on 80 of the state’s largest medical groups in 11 regions, rating overall services, specialty care, patient relationships and timely care. 

The report by the state’s Office of the Patient Advocate found that patients tend to be happy with the relationships with their doctor, but are less satisfied with the medical groups’ ability to offer timely care. 

Martin Gallegos, director of the Office of the Patient Advocate, called the report an “anxiety-relieving remedy.” 

“When people are aware of their health care options, they are able to get the best care available,” Gallegos said, adding that the report card makes it easier for HMO enrollees to compare different health care groups in their area. 

It’s based on a survey of more than 35,000 HMO patients in the state. 

“This is not a movie rating,” said Daniel Zingale, director of the Department of Managed Health Care. “A missing star can mean a missing surgeon, or a missing service.” 

FRESNO — Passengers on a Greyhound bus were dozing off after a food stop when a man armed with scissors charged the bus driver and slashed his throat. 

Two passengers were killed and dozens were injured as the bus swerved into a cotton field, flipped on its side and tossed bodies on top of each other and out the windshield. 

The suspect, Arturo Martinez, 27, was held Tuesday in the Fresno County Jail on two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Authorities said they did not know of any motive. 

Witnesses said Martinez appeared out of nowhere Monday night as the San Francisco-bound coach sped north on Interstate 5 along the desolate west side of the state’s farm belt. 

“The people in the front, when they saw, they tried to stop the guy, but he already had the driver,” said Alfredo Saravia, who was dozing when the assailant hustled past. “Everything happened in seconds.” 

Screams filled the air as the bus swerved off the road and overturned. When it came to a rest, screams turned to moans in the chaotic wreckage. 

“People were falling onto people,” said Shanna, a 21-year-old college student from Washington, D.C., who refused to give her last name because she was skipping classes. “You had to walk over people to get out.” 

Many of the injured were unconscious. Some of those who could get to safety helped others. Saravia, who had a bruised forehead and injuries to his left side, said a female passenger next to him was dead, but he hauled another woman out through the shattered windshield. 

As survivors gathered in the dark field, there was a sense of panic that the assailant was loose. 

Police later found him hiding among the cotton.

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis vetoed a bill Monday that would have allowed pharmacies to sell hypodermic needles to adults without a doctor’s prescription. 

The bill, by Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-San Jose, would have also allowed people over the age of 18 to possess up to 30 hypodermic needles or syringes. 

Bill supporters said the measure was intended to reduce the number of cases of HIV and other diseases caused by the sharing of needles among drug addicts. They said needle sharing is linked to 19 percent of all AIDS and half of all Hepatitis C cases. 3/8 

But opponents of the measure said it would encourage drug use. 

In a statement released Monday, Davis said he could not sign the measure because it did not require a one-on-one needle exchange, which has been the basis of needle distribution programs already authorized throughout the state. “This bill could potentially increase the amount of contaminated needles and syringes in parks, beaches and other public areas.”

LOS ANGELES — Moviemakers will be reimbursed for hiring local law enforcement to guard film productions on public property under a bill signed into law Tuesday by California Gov. Gray Davis. 

Filmmakers can receive up to $750 a day for monitoring costs associated with local law enforcement, according to the governor’s office. The maximum reimbursement cap for use of local police is $3,000 per movie or television episode. 

The initiative is part of the state’s “Film California First” program, designed to keep film and television productions from moving to Canada or Australia, where production costs are frequently cheaper. 

California already rebates expenses for filming on public property, including fire safety, transportation and other monitoring tasks by public employees. 

LOS ANGELES — The dock shutdown on the West Coast tightened the squeeze on businesses across the country Tuesday, holding up Christmas toys and worrying automakers that rely on just-in-time delivery of parts. 

The lockout of dockworkers at all 29 West Coast ports is also hurting freight railroads and trucking companies that haul cargo to and from the coast. Some businesses are considering sending goods by air, a more expensive option. 

If the labor dispute is not settled quickly, business leaders said, shoppers could see higher prices and less selection this holiday season. 

“This is the two-minute warning for the Christmas season. We got hit at the most vulnerable moment,” said Charlie Woo, founder and chief executive of Megatoys in Los Angeles, which has $750,000 worth of toys in transit. “The customer wants my stuff, but it’s on the water.” 

The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents shipping companies and terminal operators, has locked out about 10,500 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union since Sunday. 

On Tuesday, a federal mediation session fell apart before it began. Union representatives stormed out, saying their employers showed up with “gun-toting security guards.” 

Jim Spinosa, the union’s president and chief negotiator, accused the Pacific Maritime Association of sabotaging the session. “PMA’s lockout is holding a gun to the head of the American economy and now they move to aim real guns at us,” Spinosa said. 

A spokesman for the association said the guards were there to ensure the safety of the association’s president and chief negotiator. 

“They have been deployed in a very discreet manner, and we would hope the union would understand these circumstances,” spokesman Steve Sugerman said. 

The port shutdown came at the most critical time for all kinds of retailers, from sellers of toys to electronics stores. 

If the situation drags on, “things are not going to be arriving on shelves when they are supposed to be,” said Erik Autor, vice president and international trade counsel at the National Retail Federation. 

Many merchants have protected themselves by shipping some holiday goods in advance by aircraft. But air shipping is expensive and stores could pass the costs along to customers. 

The auto industry relies almost exclusively on container ships because most parts are large. 

“A day’s worth of disruption is not enough to create enormous concern, but if it extends, yes, there will be some difficulties,” said Xavier Dominicis, a spokesman for Toyota Motor Sales USA in Torrance. 

Sony’s electronics unit is considering bringing more goods in by air. Although a lot of the Japanese company’s manufacturing takes place within the United States, virtually all of its products use components from Asia. 

Sunkist Growers, a marketing cooperative of 6,000 California and Arizona farmers, expects to lose about $2 million in exports to Asia each week the disruption continues. Air freight is not a competitive option because standard 40-pound fruit cartons are too expensive to send by air, Sunkist spokesman Mike Wootton said. 

Railroads and trucking companies that link ports and the rest of the country are losing business. 

Yellow Corp., a trucking company in Overland Park, Kan., has seen a drop of 10 percent to 15 percent in its West Coast business, said chief executive William Zollars said. And Burlington Northern Santa Fe stopped westbound shipments from Chicago to avoid having them stack up on the West Coast. 

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — A 66-year-old Arizona man has been missing from the park for the past 11 days, and rangers are asking for help in finding him. 

Walter H. Reinhard, of Oro Valley, Ariz., apparently started a hike from the White Wolf area on Sept. 20. His car was found at the trailhead Monday. 

Park Ranger Debbie Schweizer said he checked into an area hotel on Sept. 19, and was apparently going for a day hike. 

“We have credit card transactions that are from Sept. 19. Whatever might have gone wrong might have happened on the 20th. That’s why we’re asking for help from those who may have seen him. We want to keep every option open,” she said. 

Reinhard is an avid hiker, but not a frequent Yosemite visitor, Schweizer said. He was in California after returning from a hiking trip in Oregon. His family reported him missing on Sept. 29 after he did not return home, Schweizer said. 

Rangers are asking park visitors to call if they have seen Reinhard since Sept. 19. He is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 145 pounds. He has blue eyes and graying brown hair. He may have been wearing a gray felt alpine hat with a narrow brim and leather hiking boots and a large fanny pack. 

Dozens of protesters shook police barricades and chanted “drop the charges” outside UC Berkeley’s Krutch Auditorium Monday as student conduct hearings began for 32 pro-Palestinian activists who took over a campus building in April. 

Inside, university officials launched their case against graduate student Roberto Hernandez, who faces five charges ranging from disturbing the peace to assaulting a university police officer. 

The hearing was scheduled to end 5 p.m. Monday but ran until 6:30 p.m. and is still incomplete. The proceeding will reconvene as early as today and the student conduct committee hearing the case is expected to recommend a ruling about a week after the hearing ends. 

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Residential and Student Service Programs Harry Le Grande will consider the committee’s recommendation and make a final decision on punishment. 

Hernandez and the other 31 students who will take part in the hearings face sanctions ranging up to expulsion. 

The 32 activists, who will participate in hearings through the end of October, are among 79 protesters who took over UC Berkeley’s Wheeler Hall April 9, demanding that the nine-campus University of California divest from Israel. 

In June, the Alameda County District Attorney dropped criminal charges against the protesters, but the university pursued student conduct charges against the 41 students who took part. Nine accepted an “informal resolution,” agreeing to a one-semester probation, leaving 32 to face formal hearings. 

Last week, student activists raised concerns about a decision by professor David Zusman, committee chairman, to close the Hernandez hearing to the public and press and move it away from the center of campus to Krutch Auditorium in the university’s Clark Kerr facility. 

Zusman blocked public access to the hearing Monday, citing concerns about student privacy, but allowed a handful of reporters into the room on the condition that they omit in press accounts the names of student witnesses other than Hernandez. 

Student activists criticized the decision to exclude members of the public. 

“The public also has a right to be there,” said Hoang Phan of Students for Justice in Palestine, an activist group which spearheaded the Wheeler Hall takeover. 

Phan said protesters outside Krutch Auditorium on Monday pushed police barricades to the ground several times as a symbolic protest against the closed hearing. 

Activists also raised concerns, last week, about the composition of the hearing committee.  

University officials informed student lawyers Thursday that the panel would be made up of three professors. Protesters said at least one student should serve on the panel. 

The final committee included two professors and an undergraduate student. 

After lengthy wrangling about the composition of the committee and the legality of the evidence at the start of the hearing, UC Berkeley Director of Student Judicial Affairs Neil Rajmaira called Dean of Students Karen Kenney as the first witness. 

Kenney testified that the university caught wind of the planned takeover before April 9 and warned student activists in advance that they would face punishment if they disrupted academic activity. 

She also disputed activists’ claims that the university has cracked down on pro-Palestinian students because of their political beliefs. 

Rajmaira drove home the point, arguing that the case “would have been conducted in the same manner if Mr. Hernandez were part of the Cal Rugby team.” 

An undergraduate student testified for the university that the protesters disrupted her class in Wheeler Hall. English professor Ian Duncan, who was running a seminar on the third floor of the building April 9, countered that the disruption was minimal. 

A pair of university officers allegedly assaulted by Hernandez will take the stand when the hearing resumes, and then the defense will present the remainder of its case. 

Hernandez said the first day of hearings was “a tad bit more fair” than he expected and that he looks forward to presenting his case.

To the Editor: 

So the current mayor of Berkeley, Shirley Dean, wants to consider relocating and rebuilding the UC Memorial Stadium. 

This is a truly lunatic notion for several reasons. 

First, UC Memorial Stadium is the property and responsibility of UC, not the city of Berkeley.  

Second, the present location of the stadium is fine and dandy. It is on the campus. It is built on bedrock (not mudflats) and it is accessible to students on foot.  

The UC Memorial Stadium was built back in 1928, some 74 years ago. Any local neighborhood bitches about congestion and traffic on fall football Saturdays from anyone younger than 95 years of age are ridiculous. Football, foot traffic and automobile traffic were there long before any of the current residents were even born, let alone old enough to want to complain about it. If area residents don't want to live near UC, they can just move a few miles north to Albany or El Cerrito.  

The stadium is in a fine bedrock location to withstand future seismic events. For those Golden Bear home games, the stands are rarely even one-third full. The students can always flee the stands and occupy the field if there is an emergency. Wildfires are highly unlikely in the lower Strawberry Canyon area: It is filled with tennis courts and swimming pools.  

Perhaps the mayor of Berkeley should devote her energies to some of the real and continuing problems of the city: crime, traffic, the school system and keeping the public park toilets supplied with toilet paper.  

Go Bears.  

James K. Sayre 

Oakland

OAKLAND — Oakland Athletics bench coach Ken Macha, one of the most sought-after managerial candidates in the major leagues, has been contacted by the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs for their open managerial jobs. 

The A’s, working out Monday in preparation for the AL division series against the Minnesota Twins, said the organization granted permission to both franchises to meet with Macha, but that it would be sometime after the team’s best-of-five series. 

“At this point, the schedule is kind of crowded,” Macha said. “Perhaps I’ll get a chance to talk with them after this series.” 

Macha is second in command behind Oakland manager Art Howe, and the two were big league teammates for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the mid-1970s. Macha also played in the majors for Montreal and Toronto. 

Late in spring training, he was approached by the Boston Red Sox after they fired manager Joe Kerrigan, but the A’s denied Macha permission to speak to Boston. 

“He gets the young guys going and stays on them to play,” Howe said. “I’m glad we didn’t lose him this year. He makes the Energizer Bunny look slow.” 

Macha was Pittsburgh’s second choice after Lloyd McClendon two years ago. Macha has interviewed for five managerial jobs in all — Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Toronto and twice with Anaheim. 

“I’ve talked to a lot of people before and nothing worked out,” he said. “Hopefully this is the year that something works out.” 

Macha has connections to Detroit. He is close with team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski. They worked together in the Expos’ organization. 

“He’s a guy mentioned that is mentioned with almost every opening that becomes available,” Dombrowski said. 

The 52-year-old Macha is under contract with the A’s until through the end of the World Series. He was named bench coach Oct. 30, 1998, and this is his 13th season on a major league coaching staff. That includes stints with Montreal and California. 

The Tigers fired manager Luis Pujols on Monday and the Cubs fired interim manager Bruce Kimm on Sunday, before the final game of the season but he managed anyway. 

The first two calls A’s president and general manager Billy Beane received Monday were from the Cubs and Tigers. 

“My gut feeling is that the interest in Kenny is peaking right now,” Beane said. “His demand is at the top of everybody’s list. He would have been very difficult to replace (in the spring). We told them that we’d like to reserve this week so we can play the Twins, but the next week or 10 days we can work something out. 

“We’re trying to be fair to both Ken and the teams. I expect from any of the managerial openings this year, we’ll get a request for Ken.” 

Macha is a Pittsburgh native. He had a career major league batting average of .258 with 98 hits, one home run and 35 RBIs. 

“He’ll be missed,” said A’s equipment manager Steve Vucinich, who first got to know Macha as a player when Vucinich was visiting clubhouse manager. “He’s a good baseball man.”

Tuesday, Oct. 1 

Setting Limits: A Mini Crash Course for Busy Parents of Preschool & School-Age Children 

7 to 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 

Jill Shugart, MFT, teaches this course on how to set appropriate boundaries and feel more in charge, while still responding to your children’s needs. 

848-0237 Ext. 127 

Discounted Book Sale 

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

UC Press headquarters  

2120 Berkeley Way 

Paperbacks for $3, hardcovers for $7. Over 300 titles to choose from. 

642-4247 

“A Biblical Perspective of War, Peace and Justice” 

12:45 to 1:45 p.m. 

Pacific School of Religion, Mudd 103, 1798 Scenic Ave. 

Brown bag discussion. 

849-8229 

UC Berkeley’s Week of Service 

Hours vary (through October 5) 

Cal Corps Public Service Center, Eshleman Hall, UC Berkeley 

Make new friends while making a differece at local non-profits. 

http://students.berkeley.edu/calcorps/cad.html or 643-0326 

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

Does Anyone Really  

Understand Berkeley? 

7 p.m. 

Berkeley Central Library  

2090 Kitteredge St. 

Berkeley History Classes, runs every Wednesday through Nov. 13 

981-6147 

South and west Berkeley Community Action Team Advisory Group 

7 p.m. 

Over 60’s Center, 2031 Sacramento, at Alcatraz 

Refreshments provided 

981-5362 

Walk to School Day 

Join around 200 other Berkeley students in the city’s second annual Walk to School Day. 

www.walktoschool.org 

848-0305 

Humanistic Judaism 101 

7:30 to 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

Marcia Grossman of Kol Hadash facilitates this workshop dealing with humanistic alternatives to conventional judaism.  

848-0237 Ext. 127 

$5 public/ free for members of BRJCC and Kol Hadash 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Investing in the Future 

7:30 p.m. 

St. Mary Magdalen Church 

2005 Berryman St. 

Learn how to invest to meet more than your financial needs. 

Call to reserve space: (925) 417-6654 

Free. 

How to Defeat Commitment Phobia:  

In Yourself or the One You Love 

7:30 to 9:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish  

Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.  

Learn a variety of strategies for those who are ambivalent about commitment. Taught by Susan Page.  

848-0237 Ext. 127 

$10 public. $8 BRJCC members. 

Friday, Oct. 4 

International Day of No Prostitution 

6 to 8 p.m. 

Boalt Hall, Booth Auditorium,  

UC Berkeley 

Bay Area rally and march  

against prostitution.  

358-2725 

Resist Oil & Mining 

6 to 10 p.m. 

The roof, 1916A Martin Luther King Jr. Way, at Berkeley Way 

Project Underground’s sixth birthday party and annual prize drawing.  

Entertainment, music, drinks, childcare. Wheelchair accessible. 

705-8981 or maistella@moles.org 

$15 suggested donation. 

Tuesday, Oct. 1 

Toshi Reagon 

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at door. 

Open Mic 

7:30 p.m. 

The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. 

841-2082 

Free. 21 and over. 

Cracked Normans 

9:30 p.m. 

Blakes on Telegraph  

2367 Telegraph Ave. 

Jazz-funk jam. 

848-0886 

$3. 

Wednesday, Oct. 2 

Hookslide 

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at door. 

Poetry Slam 

8:30 p.m. 

The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. 

Nazelah Jamison and Karen Ladson host this slam. $90 cash prizes. 

841-2082 

$7/ $5 with student ID. 21 and over. 

Divit/The Locals/B9/Tragedy Andy 9:30 p.m. 

Blakes on Telegraph, 2367 Telegraph Ave.  

848-0886 

$6. 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Pete & Joan Wernick featuring Dr. Banjo  

8 p.m. 

Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison St. 

548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

$15.50 in advance. $16.50 at door. 

Figa Productions DJ Night 

9:30 p.m. 

The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. 

$7/ $10 after 11 p.m. 21 and over. 

"Balancing Acts" 

Through Oct. 10 

Gallery 555, 555 12th St., 

Oakland City Center 

Oakland's 'Third Thursday' art night features Ann Weber's works made of cardboard. 

http://www.oaklandcitycenter.com.  

Free. 

“Hunger: What will you do about it?”  

Through Oct. 30  

Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The Civic Center Building 

2180 Milvia St., 5th floor 

Featuring 40 photographs  

by Berkeley artist David Bacon. 

834-3663, Ext. 338,  

uchanse@secondharvest.org 

Richard Misrach, Berkeley Work 

Though Oct. 13 

UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way 

On view in Gallery 2, presents two photographic series by this internationally recognized Berkeley-based artist.  

642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

$7. $5 BAM/PFA members.  

$4 UC Berkeley students. 

“Recent Acquisitions” 

Oct. 13 through Dec. 14 

Thurs., Fri., and Sat., 1 to 4 p.m. 

Berkeley Historical Society, Veterans Memorial Building, 1931 Center St. 

848-0181 

Free. 

Misch Kohn - Celebrating  

60 Years of Printmaking 

Through Oct. 16. Tues.-Fri., Noon to 5:30 p.m.; Sat., noon to 4:30 p.m. 

Kala Arts Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 

549-2977, kala@kala.org 

Nancy Salz 

Through Oct. 23, Tues.-Fri.,  

10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Barbara Anderson Gallery, 2243 Fifth St. 

848-3822 

Timoteo Ikoshy Montoya 

Through Nov. 1  

Reception Sept. 20, 6 to 8 p.m. 

Gathering Tribes Gallery  

1573 Solano Ave.  

Acrylic/air brush paintings  

by this Native American artist.  

528-9038 

Threads: Five artists who  

use stitching to convey ideas 

Oct. 6 through Dec. 15, Wed.-Sun., noon to 5 p.m. 

Berkeley Art Center 

Live Oak Park, 1275 Walnut St. 

Information: www.berkeleyartcenter.org, 644-6893 

Free. 

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar 

Through Oct. 12 

Thurs. through Sat. 8 p.m. 

LaVal’s Subterranean Theatre  

1834 Euclid Ave. 

234-6046 

$10. 

The House of Blue Leaves 

Through Oct. 20 

Berkeley Rep's Roda Theater  

2015 Addison St.  

647-2949 or 888-4BRTTIX 

$10-$54. 

The Shape of Things 

Through Oct. 20 

Aurora Theatre Company  

2081 Addison St. 

Play by writer/director Neil LaBute's spins a morality tale of a young art student, his art major girlfriend, and the Pygmalion-like changes that bring into question how far one should go for love. 

843-4822, www.auroratheater.org for reservations 

$26-$35. 

Thursday, Oct. 3 

Brenda Hillman 

12:10 p.m. 

Morrison Library in Doe Library, UCB 

UC Berkeley’s Lunch Poems Reading Series. Author’s six books include “Loose Sugar” and “Cascadia”. 

http://www.berkeley.edu/calendar/events 

Free. 

Nathaniel Mackay and Trane Devore 

6 p.m. 

Maud Fife Room,  

315 Wheeler Hall, UC Berkeley 

Part of Holloway Poetry Series for Fall 2002. 

jscape@socrates.berkeley.edu 

Free. 

Friday, Oct. 4 

Katherine Forrest 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Reading from “Daughters of the Amber Moon” 

559-9184 

Free. 

Saturday, Oct. 5 

“Black Like Us: A Century of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual African American Fiction” 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books, 398 Colusa Ave. at Colusa Circle 

Led by co-editors Devon W. Carbado and Donald Wiese, and several of the book’s writers. 

559-9184 

Free.

At least 139 Berkeley High School juniors will have to retake a state exam if they hope to earn a diploma next year, according to administrators of the California High School Exit Exam.  

The exact number of students who failed at least one portion of the test is not yet known. But administrators said that 59 percent of Berkeley students failed the math portion of the state exam while 43 percent failed the English section.  

The scores were released Monday, and are part of a two-year-old exam that attempts to hold high school students accountable for basic math and language skills. 

The test was first given to ninth- and 10th-graders in 2000. To the 10th-graders the test was a trial run as the scores had no consequence. But for the ninth-graders, the Class of 2004, those who passed didn’t have to take the test again. Students in the Class of 2004 will be the first who must pass the test to graduate.  

Despite many failing scores, Berkeley students exceeded the state average and were consistent with other students in Alameda County.  

Sixty-eight percent statewide and 62 percent countywide failed math. On the English section, 54 percent statewide and 58 percent countywide passed. 

Students must pass both English and math sections to graduate, and students who fail either section are given seven opportunities to retake the test during their junior and senior years. 

Local school officials gave differing perspectives of the test scores. 

Berkeley superintendent Michele Lawrence is concerned that high stakes tests, such as the state exit exam, fail to improve student performance and instead will burden local school districts. 

“Will the state now allow and pay for fifth-year seniors? Do we just pass them out the door without a diploma?” Lawrence asked. 

She found some consolation in the fact that the city’s 10th-graders beat out the statewide average. “I’m marginally pleased in relation to the state results,” she said. 

In 2000, 50 percent of county students passed the math portion, while 67 percent passed the English section. Berkeley students scored even better: 64 percent passed math, while 76 percent passed English. 

Although students scored higher in 2000 the statistics are deceiving. Ninth-graders who passed the test in 2000 did not have to retake it. Thus, the 10th-graders who took last year’s tests had either never taken the test or had failed it the year before. 

According to statewide results released by the Department of Education: 

n Nearly 460,000 students took the test in March 2001 and last May.  

Overall, 10th-graders performed better on the language arts portion of the test than in math. Sixty-four percent of the students who took the test in both years passed the English-language arts section, while only 52 percent passed the math portion. Forty-eight percent of the students passed both sections. 

n Less than 20 percent of 10th-graders who speak little or no English — more than 63,000 kids — passed the test. 

n Eighty-seven percent of special education students didn’t pass the test. 

The exam was created in 1999 as part of Gov. Gray Davis’ plan for raising standards and accountability.  

– The Associated Press contributed to this story

To the Editor: 

The split in the Sierra Club over Measure P, proposed new building height restrictions, should be understood in context. The Sierra Club has a complex, democratic structure. The split occurred in one, subregional committee, which came within one vote of opposing Measure P. The Sierra Club, nationally and statewide, and the San Francisco Bay Chapter, have long-standing, policies of opposition to sprawl and pollution. The Club supports: 

n Public Transportation. 

n Pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly communities. 

n Compact, mixed use centers whose residents can reach many activities on foot and can conveniently travel to other centers by transit, thus reducing automobile use. 

n Preservation of open space. 

n Social justice. 

n A range of housing and transportation options. 

Measure P conflicts with these policies. It would reduce the heights currently permitted along major streets with frequent AC Transit service. The reduction would be so much that rehabilitating deteriorated properties along streets like San Pablo and University might become financially not feasible. These are the very locations where we might see construction of the small but affordable units that low -income citizens seek. Low income is not limited to those at the poverty level. It includes retirees wanting to sell a house but remain in Berkeley, and starting wage earners who have not yet put aside a down payment for a larger home. The heaviest burden would fall on those parts of the city where minority residents live and small businesses struggle. 

Measure P would not alter at all the heights permitted in existing, residential neighborhoods. What it would do is add delay and cost to owners seeking to increase height over 28 feet. We and many other long-time Sierra Club members believe that Measure P is bad from both environmental and social justice standpoints. There is a world of difference between resisting change in an urbanized area and preserving scenic wilderness. 

Helen Burke, 

Robert R. Piper 

Berkeley

SAN FRANCISCO— The San Francisco 49ers returned Monday from their bye week a bit wary of the winless opponent they will meet next. 

The St. Louis Rams can have that effect on a team and the 49ers say they’re not fooled by the surprising 0-4 record the Rams will bring to San Francisco on Sunday. 

“Certainly, it’s a different record than we anticipated them being when you look at your schedule prior to the season,” 49ers coach Steve Mariucci said Monday. “But they’re a good team and they’re going to come out swinging. Until somebody knocks them off, they’re the defending (conference) champion.” 

The Rams won their second NFC championship in three years last season and have became an obstacle the 49ers couldn’t overcome in the NFC West on their climb back to playoff competition. 

San Francisco tried to do something about it during the offseason. The 49ers added speed and bolstered their defense through the draft and free agency. 

St. Louis has beaten the 49ers six consecutive times, and San Francisco has been pointing toward ending that streak this week at home since losing to the Rams in St. Louis last December. 

But instead of being the significant hurdle to San Francisco’s progress, the reeling Rams have stumbled into the NFC West basement. The 49ers (2-1) have an opportunity to bury them there this week, but they still respect their West Coast foes. 

“The Rams have beaten us six straight times,” tackle Derrick Deese said. “You can’t take them lightly. The Rams are the Rams and you kind of got to go by what they’ve done to you, and they’ve beaten us.” 

The Niners, after a week off to heal several injuries, would seem to be catching the Rams at a good time. St. Louis quarterback Kurt Warner, last year’s NFL MVP, was lost Sunday with a fractured finger and the Rams also will be without Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Pace this week. 

But Niners defensive coordinator Jim Mora said that’s no reason to think the Rams can’t regain their offensive explosiveness at any time. “It would be ludicrous for anyone to think you’d count the St. Louis Rams out,” Mora said. “Those guys are winners and they’ve got great pride. I mean, they’re scary. They can still get you in a lot of different ways.” 

The Niners received some good news Monday when offensive lineman Matt Willig returned to practice after missing two games following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. 

San Francisco appears to be leaning toward rookie Eric Heitmann as their new starter at left guard to replace Dave Fiore. Willig, however, gives the team valuable depth as the top reserve along the line and a viable alternative if Heitmann struggles. 

Fiore was placed on injured reserve last week after tearing knee ligaments in San Francisco’s 20-10 victory over the Washington Redskins on Sept. 22 that left the 49ers in first place entering their bye week. 

They can take a major step toward remaining there Sunday against the Rams. 

“We have to find a way to win back the division,” Mariucci said. “So, that’s the first thing we’re trying to accomplish. (The Rams) have too many veterans, and too many Pro Bowlers and too many prideful guys to just let this season slip away. We have to play well to beat these guys, believe me.”

As expected, Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation Sunday forgiving a $1.16 million fine the Berkeley Unified School District owed the state for filing late paperwork in 1999. 

The legislation, sponsored by state Assemblywoman Dion Aroner, D-Berkeley, pours the money into consulting services and reform efforts within the district. 

The law ships $700,000 of the $1.16 million to the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance team, a state-sponsored fiscal adviser that has been working with Berkeley Unified for almost a year. 

FCMAT must use the money to develop a five-year district improvement plan by July 2003 covering several areas: instruction, financial management, facilities management, personnel management and community relations. 

The district must use the remaining $460,000 to implement reforms, with FCMAT providing a report on implementation by June 2005. 

The late paperwork was a staff development form. District officials have acknowledged negligence in failing to meet an October 1999 deadline to file the document, but have argued that the $1.16 million fine was draconian.

To the Editor: 

I chuckled over the predictably hysterical letter against Measure P from “Berkeley Design Advocates” (Sept. 25 Daily Planet Forum). This group has no credibility. By my recollection, it has endorsed every blockbusting, out-of-scale development proposal made in Berkeley in recent years. 

Having never met a high-rise it didn't like, BDA has helped foster the pro-developer climate in which Measure P became necessary. The group apparently exists solely to promote job security – or retirement security – for architects who can't win commissions for the contextually appropriate projects that Measure P will promote. 

But more importantly: The governor last week signed AB 2292, a vaguely written bill that was strongly opposed by California cities. When it becomes law next year, AB 2292 will make it significantly harder for cities to ever again downzone any parcel of land. 

If Berkeley residents want to maintain control over our neighborhoods' density and livability, our most prudent course would be to pass Measure P on Nov. 5 – while we still can. We can always choose to later revise density upwards; but we will soon lose the option to revise it downwards. 

Tom Brown 

Berkeley

ALAMEDA — Almost everything has gone right for the Oakland Raiders, yet coach Bill Callahan is aggravated with one aspect — all the senseless penalties. 

“I think we’re a long ways yet (from perfection),” Callahan said Monday, a day after the Raiders (3-0) routed the Tennessee Titans 52-25. “There are areas we need to shore up, the penalty situation for one.” 

The Raiders had four major penalties Sunday. 

Longtime center Barret Robbins was called for two personal fouls, including one in the second quarter in which he appeared to be poked in the eye, then reacted by throwing a punch at Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. 

The drive resulted in a field goal, not a touchdown. 

Then, in the third quarter, Robbins was whistled for unnecessary roughness, and offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy picked up a personal foul. By then with such a lead, the drives were meaningless, but the mental mistakes still have Callahan fuming. 

“It was completely and totally uncalled for, for us to lose our poise and discipline,” Callahan said. “It’s intolerable to put us behind as a team when we have an opportunity to score. It was aggravating. That was addressed and will be addressed.” 

Speaking of Robbins’ reaction to Haynesworth, Callahan added, “The retaliation foul is totally uncalled for.” 

Robbins, an eight-year NFL veteran, claims Haynesworth had his hand in Robbins’ face mask and scratched his lip and hit him in the nose. Robbins hopes he won’t be fined for throwing the punch.

Consistent with Berkeley City Council’s practice of international politicking and with anti-war discussions nearby cities, council is considering asking the President to go through the United Nations to resolve Iraq’s military threat. 

The resolution, which is being written by councilmembers Linda Maio and Maudelle Shirek, would put city support behind by U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, and her effort to prevent a U.S. first strike.  

Lee’s push, formalized as House Concurrent Resolution 473, requests that President George W. Bush go through the United Nations, and advocates a “peaceful” solution. 

Maio said most Berkeley voters identify with Lee’s sentiment. 

“Many people have tremendous concerns about rushing into war,” Maio said. “Our resolution supporting Barbara Lee furthers the dialogue.” 

The Berkeley resolution, which Maio said is still being drafted and would be ready for council consideration next week, is merely symbolic and carries no action. 

Last week, the city of Santa Cruz started the latest round of community-based anti-war protest when its City Council unanimously passed a resolution denouncing a United States-led attack of Iraq. Tonight, Oakland’s City Council is slated to consider support for Lee’s anti-war resolution. 

“We want to set an example for young people not to kill each other in the streets,” said Oakland Councilmember Nancy Nadel, sponsor of Oakland’s peace resolution. Nadel also said war with Iraq could have negative impacts on the already slumping U.S. economy. 

Berkeley’s proposed resolution continues a series of city objections to U.S. policy since Sept. 11, 2001. 

Last month, City Council passed a resolution criticizing the federal Patriot Act as an infringement of civil rights. Last October, council passed a resolution calling for a quick end to bombing in Afghanistan. 

Maio said she expects the latest resolution to win the support of her colleagues at the Oct. 8 City Council meeting.

To the Editor: 

I read the front page article in the Sept. 24 Daily Planet with concern, as I began to realize that the grandparents of the young girl were attempting to blame the police officer for the accident. 

Please believe me when I say I have no particular ax to grind in favor of the Berkeley police, or any other police department. In fact, I would be inclined to believe the worst of the police, in general, given my own experiences as a pedestrian and bicyclist (as well as occasional motorist) in Berkeley. 

The fact that this 7 year old was out riding her bike, without a helmet, in a city, totally disregarding the most elemental rules of safety (look both ways before you cross a street, use the crosswalks and intersections, cars are fast and may not always see you, etc.) does not speak well for her temporary guardians. The child has paid for her ignorance with an extremely hard lesson. I just hope she does not also learn that when something bad happens to you, blame someone else.  

I was not there, so I cannot say for sure that the officer was driving within the speed limits. But the fact that she is alive is a good indication that he was. In addition to thanking god, perhaps the grandparents might also thank the police officer for his quick reflexes. 

Joanne Orengo 

Richmond

To the Editor: 

I read the front page article in the Sept. 24 Daily Planet with concern, as I began to realize that the grandparents of the young girl were attempting to blame the police officer for the accident. 

Please believe me when I say I have no particular ax to grind in favor of the Berkeley police, or any other police department. In fact, I would be inclined to believe the worst of the police, in general, given my own experiences as a pedestrian and bicyclist (as well as occasional motorist) in Berkeley. 

The fact that this 7 year old was out riding her bike, without a helmet, in a city, totally disregarding the most elemental rules of safety (look both ways before you cross a street, use the crosswalks and intersections, cars are fast and may not always see you, etc.) does not speak well for her temporary guardians. The child has paid for her ignorance with an extremely hard lesson. I just hope she does not also learn that when something bad happens to you, blame someone else.  

I was not there, so I cannot say for sure that the officer was driving within the speed limits. But the fact that she is alive is a good indication that he was. In addition to thanking god, perhaps the grandparents might also thank the police officer for his quick reflexes. 

Joanne Orengo 

Richmond

The Web site that received national attention for its controversial monitoring of Middle East sentiments on college campuses has decided to stop posting personal profiles of university activists. 

Daniel Pipes, president of Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum – which runs www.campus-watch.com – said Monday that the posting of dossiers that included a profile of a Palestinian sympathizer from UC Berkeley “distracted from the underlying issues we wish to raise.” 

The organization seeks to promote fair and open debate on events in the Middle East but recently drew criticism as a heavy-handed approach to Palestinian supporters. 

Two weeks ago, the group began listing universities where the forum found sentiments could be biased against the United States and Israel. UC Berkeley, San Francisco State University and Stanford University were among those listed. 

Also noted on the list were the names of eight academics, including Snehal Shingavi, a UC Berkeley graduate student who teaches a literature class that examines the Palestinian uprising. 

The class became controversial earlier this year when the course description came out reading “conservative thinkers are encouraged to seek other sections.” 

Shingavi and other national scholars on the site’s watchdog list could not be reached for comment. 

The Middle East Forum lists were still posted on the Internet Monday, and Pipe gave no indication of when the lists would be removed. 

But Pipe said the decision will not affect the group’s efforts to monitor college campuses for fair exchange about U.S. Middle East policy.

VIENNA, Austria – U.N. weapons inspectors demanded the right to roam freely around Saddam Hussein's palaces and other suspect sites when they opened talks with the Iraqis Monday on the logistics of a possible return to Baghdad.  

Chief inspector Hans Blix, leading the closed-door meetings with an Iraqi delegation, said the inspectors were operating under the assumption they would be able to go anywhere, anytime if they return to Iraq for a fresh assessment of the country's nuclear, biological and chemical programs.  

The dispute came to a head after the Bush administration repeatedly accused Iraq of blatantly violating U.N. resolutions requiring Baghdad to disarm. Washington threatened to unilaterally remove Saddam from power because more than a decade of international pressure had failed to win Iraqi compliance.  

When President Bush made an impassioned plea for tougher U.N. action at the General Assembly last month, Saddam switched course and pledged unconditional access to sites across Iraq. But in recent days Baghdad has rejected any new U.N. resolutions to broaden and toughen the inspection regime. Iraqi resistance has thrown into question whether the eight sprawling presidential palaces — up to now off-limits to surprise visits — would be open to renewed inspections.  

“We're telling the Iraqis we don't want any limitations on our access,” a senior diplomat close to the talks said on condition of anonymity.  

The issue of palace inspections and some other contentious matters would require amending the most recent U.N.-Iraq agreement on inspections. While the Vienna meetings have addressed those topics, a decision on changing the sanctions regime would have to be made by the U.N. Security Council once Blix reports back on Thursday.  

Under a deal U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan cut with Baghdad in early 1998, the inspectors' access to eight so-called presidential sites encompassing a total of 12 square miles was restricted. The deal prevented inspectors from carrying out surprise visits to the sites, which include Saddam's palaces. The deal also created a team of international diplomats to accompany inspectors when they did enter.

Police are investigating two “suspicious” fires that caused $50,000 in structural damage this weekend, fire officials said. 

The first fire broke out early Friday at a home on the 1600 block of 63rd Street, firefighters said. One room was burned with an estimated $25,000 of damage.  

A second fire took place Sunday at 10:30 p.m. at a modular office in a car lot on the 2800 block of San Pablo Avenue. About $25,000 of damage occurred, said fire officials. 

“It’s too early to draw any conclusions,” said assistant fire Chief David Orth. 

Berkeley Police Department is investigating the cause of both fires.

OAKLAND – Oakland police are investigating a drive-by shooting in which a homeless man was wounded outside St. Francis Bakery early Monday. 

Officer Downum says the victim and another man scaled a security fence at 1125 67th St. and were searching for pastries in the bakery's trash bin when a car drove past and open fired. 

One of the men suffered several gunshot wounds to the leg. Police say he is currently in stable condition in an area hospital. 

Neither of the men could provide information about the suspects