UVSC College Times, 2002-02-04

              vouiMi- M) issim; 42 WHAT'S INSIDE -M i VALLEY WEATHER Calendar-Page 2 See our dairy updated calendar at netXnews.net For complete and V) ! up to date weather : go to our website at WWW.IIGIAMGnd.IIGI Take that special someone on the ALWAYS i -1 Wolverine softball iifcc jw-f r'.Vi k nT nerfpr.t liatp tn I L Hill N PA NO I N I I K( A Si: VI M) HJ jsjL' A m tit m 1 rn nfm rr ' fitlfil I i f t i 1 I t I I I 1 I All w-SS1.;. :. ....... .: y , v.;.;!-:- - .:-:,:-: .::.. :-..:-?. y,x5 fe..,v..;::- ....; : u 1 1 ui : i .? i 1 . , ui r La waiman seepage 6 opens season in Arizona. Preview and results seepage 8. Students: The good the had and the uglF ses pays 5 news-line Plugged in Jobless Rate Takes Unexpected Fall WASHINGTON- Nearly 1 million discouraged people suspended their job searches in January, producing an unexpected drop in the nation's unemployment rate. i Winona Ryder Charged With Felonies LOS ANGELES - Winona Ryder was charged with four felony counts stemming from her shopfifting arrest at a Saks Fifth Avenue store in December. The Oscar-nominated actress was charged with theft, burglary, vandalism and possession of a controlled substance. Although she is free on $20,000 bond, prosecutors recommended raising the bail to $30,000. The 30-year-old actress was arrested Dec. 12 for stealing merchandise worth $4,760 and possessing painkillers without a prescription. Winter Storm Skids Into New England New England- A winter storm blamed for at least 20 deaths blew a double-barreled blast of snow and ice across the Northeast on Friday, leaving thousands without power and schools and businesses closed. Freezing rain downed tree limbs and power lines, and as daytime temperatures rose, falling ice threatened pedestrians. High wind gusts worsened the mess and drivers were banned from some roads. Argentine Bank Freeze Deemed Illegal BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Argentina's Supreme Court ruled Friday that a widely hated banking freeze is unconstitutional, striking a surprise blow to government efforts to shore up the teetering financial system. Afghan Power Struggle Resumes KABUL, Afghanistan -A warlord rearmed his men Saturday to mount another assault on a provincial capital where residents don't want him as governor and are dismayed that U.S. forces operating in the area won't come to their rescue. Vote on today s poll question: "Will we be safe during the Olympics?" Vote at www.netxnews.net and see immediate poll results. 1 sJ Watch for the latest episodes of On Campus, UVXNEWS, and the UVSportzone Atoa to csiiriry SymnipDC torch UVSC volleyball Sam Atoa will carry the Olympic torch through Ephraim Tuesday afternoon IS 4 ;l-W.--;J :v f : I i ! I 1 l. TSf.: ; . :; . . . . . "v: : ' '"' :i j--: ' ' ' ' . '-v ":; I s I ? UTSC imittlc 0prtmMl Nominated bj his sister, UVSC volleyball coach Sam Atoa will carry the Olympic torch through Ephraim, Utah at 3:55 beginning on 209 S. Main Street. By Steve Schaack OF THE NETXNEWS STAFF An opportunity to carry the Olympic torch doesn't come around to often. It is also not very often you will get the opportunity to run through enemy territory and receive an ovation while doing it. That is what will happen to UVSC volleyball coach Sam Atoa on Tuesday at 3:55 when he carries the torch through Ephraim, Utah, home of the Snow College Badgers. "For me to be part of this thing is quite an honor," said Atoa on carrying the torch. "It is very humbling. ..We definitely will be driving through enemy territory. I don't think for this reason it would be enemy territory. I'm just happy to be a part of it." The reason Atoa is a part of the Olympic celebration is because of his younger sister Lori Vimahi who wrote a letter to SLOC to nominate her brother. "I nominated Sam for two reasons," said Vimahi, Sam's sister. "Sam has accomplished a lot in sports and it has played a big part in his life since his youth. He also carries our father's name. He will be able to run the torch in honor of our father. He played a big part in sports on the island of Samoa." After Atoa found out that he was nominated by his sister, the current UVSC volleyball coach said, "I didn't think twice about it. I thought it was neat that my sister would think enough about me to do that. I didn't think I would be chosen at all." Little did Atoa realize that he would be chosen to carry to torch. "I was excited," said Vimahi when she found out her brother was chosen to carry the torch. "It blew me away." It was just a little over a week ago that Atoa received his assignment to run in Ephraim. "It is sort of like waiting for a mission call," said Atoa on receiving his call. As Tuesday gets closer the Wolverine volleyball coach continues to get more excited about the opportunity to run and wear the Olympic uniform. "I was able to get the uniform and put it on for the first time," said Atoa. "It's a thrill. What the uniform represents is the important "Atoa" continued on pg. 3 Fate of kidnapped reporter unclear Net spot Sharon: U.S. Should Cut Arafat Ties A C' By Zahld Hussain Associated Press Writer ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP)-Conflicting reports emerged Friday about the fate of reporter Daniel Pearl, with Pakistani police saying U.S. officials had received a ransom demand and a new e-mail claiming he had been killed. A caller contacted the U.S. Consulate in Karachi and demanded $2 million and the release of the former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, senior police officials said. A Justice Department official subsequently said the telephone call may have been a hoax. "We haven't reached any conclusions officially, but it looks like the call may have been a hoax," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. However, CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson said it received an e-mail claiming the Wall Street Journal correspondent had been killed. CNN said the e-mail added that the unidentified group was "thirsty for the blood of another American." Fox News said it also received the e-mail. Dow Jones, which owns the Journal, said in a statement, "We've seen the latest reports, and we remain hopeful they are not true." A for the e-mail, the Justice Department official said the ....:K.mr'r ...... I.. . - f s , I,' i D department still has reached no conclusions about veracity of claims that cum pitoio Pearl had been Government officials are killed. working hard to bring The depart- kidnapped reporter ment and home, other U.S. government agencies confirmed receiving a copy of the e-mail from the news media. Experts were studying it, but U.S. officials said they had no independent information on Pearl's status.The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement saying it was aware of the report about Pearl and hoped it would prove false, adding: "Our thoughts are with his family, his colleagues, and his many friends around the world." Residents of Karachi, a city of 12 million, said police vans were moving throughout the city late Friday and uniformed officers were seen checking vacant lots and graveyards. The Pakistani police officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the anonymous caller gave the Americans 36 hours to meet the demand for money and the freeing of the envoy, Mullah Abdul Salaam "Reporter" continued on pg. 3 'THE HOTTEST SPOTS IN: NewsPolrtks Check out www.cnn.com for all the latest news from around the globe. Entertainment: Looking for one of the 2 things to do in Utah? (heck out www.moviephone.com for all the latest info on movies playing this weekend. Music Online: Go to www.audiogalaxy.com for all of your favorite music downloads. Student helps: Need some help from your school? Go to www.uvsc.edu and check out what the library has to offer. Sports: For scores, stats, and reactions to this weekends matchups, try www.espn.com or www. cnnsi.com for all your the sports info your heart desires. By Karin Laub Associated Press Writer JERUSALEM (AP) Ariel Sharon held secret talks with three senior members of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's inner circle this week, the first such meeting since he became Israeli prime minister a year ago, a Palestinian official said Friday. Sharon aides declined to comment. The meeting came amid angry exchanges, including Sharon's expression of regret that he did not order Arafat killed 20 years ago and a Palestinian Cabinet minister's retort that Sharon was the "head of a gang"trying to oust an elected leader. In an interview published Friday, Sharon warned that he hasn't exhausted his repertoire of sanctions against Arafat and that he will ask President Bush to break off contacts with the Palestinian leader. In Gaza, Israeli helicopters fired at least four missiles at a Palestinian naval base in the village of Dir Ballah, Palestinian security officials said, speaking on customary condition of anonymity. The building was evacuated before the missiles struck, the officials said. There were no reports of - courts st photo injuries. The Israeli army did not immediately comment. Sharon is to hold talks with Bush at the White House next week, their fourth meeting in a year. Bush has not invited Arafat since taking office. In a statement, the army said the attack was in response to gunfire and mortar shells that were fired at army outposts in the area earlier in the day. In the interview with the daily Yediot Ahronot, Sharon said he will advise Bush "to ignore Arafat. Boycott him. Don't have any contact with him and don't send him delegations."Bush renewed his harsh criticism of Arafat, saying he misled the United States about an illegal shipment of Iranian weapons to the Palestinian Authority and "must do a better job" of fighting terror. B'ish also urged Arafat to assert his leadership, suggesting that the United States, unlike Israel, has not given up on him as a "Sharon" continued on pg. 4