Amy Van Dyfcen, left, Darra Torres, Courtney Shealy,and Jenny Thompson of theU.S. Women's 4x100 freestyle relay team celebrate their gold medal and a new world record at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games on Saturday in Australia. Al Bello/Newsmakers Athletes set new goals, records for Olympics American Olympians are Brandi Chastainlater scored a Munz and Lindsay Benko, she After five days of competition, ending the Cubans’21-game • .. .. , , . goal to help boost the U.S. established an Olympic record of the Americans topped the medal Olympic winning streak. aneaO in tne race lOr medalS, women’s soccer team into the 7 minutes, 57.80 seconds. tables with 23 (10 gold, 7 silver, 6 The next stop for the U.S. with nnHprthpir hpltc sem^nnals, while the American The 21-year-old Hyman bronze). Host Australia was sec- women’s soccer team: the wiui lj UIIUCI Ulcll Uclli. baseball team used a two-out, shocked defending champion ond with 22 (7-8-7), while China Olympic semifinals. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS eighth-inning home run to defeat Susie O'Neill of Australia to win had 17 (6-4-7). The Americans took step No. 1 • South Korea 4-0. the 200 butterfly. Hyman shocked On the baseball diamond, toward defending their 1996 gold SYDNEY, Australia-A game- For Thompson, the 800-meter herself, too; upon seeing her Doug Mientkiewicz’s eighth- medal by defeating Nigeria 3-1 to winning grand slam homer. A dra- freestyle relay victory catapulted Olympic record time, she repeat- inning grand slam gave the United finish first in their half of the draw, made, record-setting upset at the her into ratified Olympic compa- edly said, “Oh my God! Oh my States a 4-0 victory over South World Cup heroine Brandi pool. A soccer star revisiting her ny. With seven golds, she now has God!” Korea, the fourth straight victory Chastain opened the U.S. scoring, World Cup heroics. more than any woman swimmer, Pieter van den Hoogenband of for the Americans. with Kristine Lilly and Shannon Some of the U.S. Olympians snapping a tie with Germany’s the Netherlands won gold in the Mientkiewicz snapped a MacMillan adding the other goals, werent just winning Wednesday, KristinOtto. 100 freestyle in 48.30 seconds. scoreless tie for manager Tom On Sunday, the women will face they were doing it in style. Thompson, 27, who also has a American Gary Hall Jr. took the Lasorda's team by driving a two- Brazil in one game, while Norway Longshot Misty Hyman and silver in her career, tied Czech bronze. out pitch deep over the wall in and Germany will battle in the relay team anchor Jenny Republic gymnast Vera Caslavaska Van den Hoogenband became rightfield. other semifinal. Thompson captured gold medals for the second-most Olympic the first man to sweep the 100 and The American victory came China, the other finalist in the in record times for the American golds by a woman. With team- 200 freestyles since American on the heels of the Netherlands’ 1999 World Cup, was eliminated swimmers to start the heroics. mates Samantha Arsenault, Diana Mark Spitz in 1972. stunning 4-2 victory over Cuba, by a surprising 2-1 loss to Norway. French journalists escape TrlE ASSOCIATED PRESS MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government on Wednesday portrayed the escape of two French journalists as vindica tion of its decision to use force against Muslim rebels holding hostages in the jun gles. The attack by thousands of elite troops on the Abu Sayyaf rebels had been strongly criticized by French President Jacques Chirac, who said it could endanger the 19 hostages. The two television journalists, who had been taken captive July 9, headed home Wednesday. They credited their nighttime escape to the army assault on the guerrillas. Philippine President Joseph Estrada beamed as he presented the journalists at a news conference in Manila as a vindication of his decision to use force. “As you can see for yourself, these two gentlemen are in good shape," Estrada said. The journalists - Jean-Jacques Le Garrec and Roland Madura of France-2 television - were the first hostages recovered from Jolo, a remote southern island, since Estrada ordered the military assault Saturday. The two men escaped Tuesday evening as the guerrillas fled the attack. “We took the opportunity of the military pressure,” Le Garrec said. He said he two bolted as he rebels were crossing a road. After hiding overnight in he jungle, they flagged down a military truck at dawn and were taken to an army camp. Philippine officials had said initially hat “As you can see for yourself, these two men are in good shape." Joseph Estrada Philippine president the military rescued the two hostages after a clash with the rebels. “It’s been 21/2 long months for us, but we feel very good,” Le Garrec said. “Of course we are very happy today and we are in good shape, as you may judge, for people who have not been sleeping for some nights.” The separatist group Abu Sayyaf have kidnapped scores of people since March. Estrada’s decision to attack the rebels last weekend has been widely supported by Filipinos. Estrada said Wednesday he would order a halt to the assault if the other hostages are freed. Estrada also said an American hostage, Jeffrey Schilling, had been spotted and that troops hoped to rescue him. The rebels also are holding three Malaysians, a Filipino kidnapped in April and 12 Filipino Christian evangelists. Schilling, of Oakland, Calif., converted to Islam in 1994 and visited an Abu Sayyaf camp with his wife on Aug. 28. He was reportedly abducted because of an argu ment over religion with the rebels. Drt/()Nebraskan A«*S1£n£!m|!!£ Ask(or^Uw™^»S7«lito,« Associate News Editor; Kimberly Sweet Opinion Editor: Samuel McKewon or e’mal1* dn@unledu Sports Editor: Matthew Hansen Arts Editor: Josh Nichols General Manager: Dan Shattil Copy Desk Co-Chief: Lindsay Young Publications Board Russell Willbanks, Copy Desk Co-Chief: Danell McCoy Chairman: (402) 436-7226 Photo Chief: Heather Glenboski Professional Adviser Don Walton, (402) 473-7248 Art Director Melanie Falk Advertising Manager Nick Partsch, (402) 472-2589 Design Chief: Andrew Broer Assistant Ad Manager Nicole Woita Web Editor Gregg Stearns Classified Ad Manager: Nikki Bruner Assistant Web Editor Tanner Graham Circulation Manager ImtiyazKhan Fax Number: (402) 472-1761 World Wide Web: www.dailyneb.com The Daily Nebraskan (USPS 144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board, 20 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, NE 68588-0448, Monday through Friday during the academic year; weekly during the summer sessions. The public has access to the Publications Board. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by calling (402) 472-2588. Subscriptions are $60 for one year. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, 20 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, NE 68588-0448. Periodical postage paid at Lincoln, NE. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2000 |, DAILY NEBRASKAN _ Jp 4 * r v' Cuban survivor questioned THE ASSOCIATED PRESS KEY WEST, Fla. - The FBI interviewed the hospitalized survivor of a Cuban plane crash, and the Coast Guard said Wednesday it plans to transfer the eight others rescued from the Gulf of Mexico onto a U.S. ship. Authorities were trying to figure out whether Tuesday’s crash, which killed one of the 10 Cubans on the plane, came at the end of a hijacking or whether the group left Cuba to flee the communist country. The distinction could help determine whether they qualify for asylum in the United States. The U.S. has returned some skyjackers to Cuba for prosecution and has prosecuted some in this country. The most seriously injured, Rodolfo Fuentes, 36, was in a Key West hospital, making him eligible for possible asylum, U.S. immigration officials said. Fuentes was questioned Wednesday, FBI agent A1 Alonso said. “At this point, it doesn’t appear to be a hijacking, but until we interview them we can’t be sure,” said Judy Orihuela, an FBI spokeswoman in Miami. Doctors said Wednesday, Fuentes’ prog nosis was good. “He has a concussion, a big cut on the back of his head and a sore neck,” said Dr. David Bannon. “He's really doing quite well considering the drama he suffered.” The eight other survivors, including three children, remained aboard the Panamanian freighter Chios Dream, whose captain rescued them Tuesday. *■* The seas were too rough to transfer them to the Coast Guard cutter Courageous, but another attempt would be made Wednesday evening, Petty Officer Danielle DeMarino said. U.S. law lets Cubans apply for residency if they reach U.S. soil. Ordinarily, those captured at sea are returned to Cuba, but authorities said it was too early to say what would be done with the survivors. Once the survivors were transferred to the cutter, they will be interviewed by the Immigration and Naturalization Services and the FBI, federal officials said. “If they pass the ‘credible fear’ test they will be taken to Guantanamo Bay,” said Maria Cardona, an INS spokeswoman in Washington. “If they do not, they will be repatriated to Cuba.” To pass that test, Cardona said, migrants must demonstrate a fear of persecution if returned to their home country, “based on nationality, race, religion, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.” When asked about the Fuentes’ status, Cardona noted he was now on U.S. soil. “Essentially if a person makes it to U.S. soil and they are eligible, and they want to stay, then they would be eligible to apply for residency,” she said. Cuban officials said the pilot reported to the control tower the government-owned plane was being hijacked and that it was headed to Florida with a group of adults and children. Whitewater investigation ends THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON - Four months before President Clinton leaves the White House, prosecutors brought the six-year Whitewater investigation to an end, con cluding there is “insufficient” evidence that the president or the first lady commit ted a crime. Robert Ray's six-page statement dissi TODAY Windy high 68, low 61 TOMORROW Showers high 66, low 49 J > pated a cloud that bedeviled the Clintons since the 1992 election campaign and that made Clinton the most investigated presi dent since Richard M. Nixon, who resigned rather than confront impeachment. “I'm just glad that this is finally over,” Hillary Clinton said. The president ignored a question about Whitewater. Ray has one major piece of unfinished business - a decision whether to indict the president after he leaves office for his con duct in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Ray said his office investigated at least seven separate criminal allegations involv ing the president or his wife in Whitewater. “This office determined that the evi dence was insufficient to prove to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that either President Clinton or Hillary Clinton know ingly participated in any criminal con duct,” Ray said. V The Associated Press ■ Wisconsin University brochure photo altered to show diversity MADISON- Seeking an image of diversity, the University of Wisconsin at Madison says it doc tored a photo on a brochure cover by inserting a black student in a crowd of white football fans. “We did it in this one instance, and it really was an error in judg ment,” university publications director A1 Friedman said TUesday. The university’s undergradu ate admissions director, Rob Seltzer, said his office spent the summer looking for pictures that would show the school had a diverse enrollment, but had no luck. As of fall 1999, less than 10 percent of the school’s more than 40,000 students were non-white, and only 2.15 percent were black. The staff settled on a 1993 photo of white Badger fans at a football game. Friedman said his office altered the photo to add an image taken in 1994 of senior Diallo Shabazz. The university won’t disci pline those involved because they admitted their mistake and apol ogized to Shabazz, said Patrick Strickler, a university spokesman. ■ Washington, D.C Imports hit record level as world oil prices rise The U.S. trade deficit climbed to an all-time high of $31.9 billion in July as rising world oil prices pushed imports to a record level. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that America's deficit with China soared to the highest level ever recorded with a single country. The United States also set new records in its deficits with Japan, Western Europe and Canada. The July deficit was up 6.9 per cent from a revised $29.8 billion June trade gap. So far this year, America’s trade deficit is running at an annual rate of $353.7 billion, far above last year's record of $265 billion, as trade remains the one blot on an otherwise sterling eco nomic performance. The Clinton administration said that nearly half of this year's deterioration in the trade balance has come from a surge in world oil prices but pointed to hopeful signs of a rebound in U.S. export sales over the first seven months of this year. ■ California Iraqi citizens detained after trying to cross boarder SAN DIEGO - American authorities detained 25 Iraqi citi zens Wednesday after they tried to walk across the Mexican border and into the United States. The 21 adults and four chil dren arrived at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, which links San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, in three groups without visas to enter the country, said Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. All were being held at the bor der crossing while the INS await ed translators to determine whether the Iraqis are seeking asylum, Mack said. “They are very well, very calm, very quiet,” she said. Both the INS and the U.S. Customs Service called out extra agents after receiving reports that more Iraqis were in Tijuana and planning to come to the border. ■ Washington, D.C. U.S. warns of repercussions if Milosevic claims win Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic will lose Sunday’s presi dential election but declare victo ry anyway, a senior State Department official predicted Wednesday. James O’Brien, special presi dential adviser on the Balkans, said the United States would “make it clear to Milosevic that he does not have a free hand” if he declares himself the winner of a fraudulent election. He warned not to underesti mate U.S. “willingness to stand up for the stability of the region.” O’Brien stopped short of threatening military action, but did not detail what the U.S. response would be. Joint U.S. military exercises with Croatia beginning Monday have nothing to do with the elec tion, he said. * V