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Eastern Illinois University The Keep February 2003 2-27-2003 Daily Eastern News: February 27, 2003 Eastern Illinois University Follow this and additional works at: http://thekeep.eiu.edu/den_2003_feb Recommended Citation Eastern Illinois University, "Daily Eastern News: February 27, 2003" (2003). February. 18. http://thekeep.eiu.edu/den_2003_feb/18 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the 2003 at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in February by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. "Thll the troth February 27, 2003 + T HU R S D A V and don't be afraid." VO LUME 87 . NUMBER 107 THE DA ILYEASTERN NEWS . COM Who's looking THE DAILY at O'Henry? NBA scouts show Interest in Eastern senior guard Henry Domercant thanks in part to a publicity blitz from the sports information department. EASTERN NEWS Page 12 SPORTS gets death penal + .Jury deliberates for 2 7/2 hours in first Appeal could last death sentencing sinee more than 10 Ryan commutations years By Carly Mullady By Shauna Gustafson CITY ED ITOR SEN IOR WRITER Convicted murderer Anthony Shannon McNamara's family B. Mertz is the only person cried and applauded as the j ury occupying Illinois' death row. filed out Wednesday evening after It took 2 1/2 hours delivering a death sentence to Wednesday for a jury to issue a Anthony B. Mertz. death sentence following the McNamara's mother Cindy commutation of all death sen shouted: "You got him, Shannon. tences in Illinois in early Shannon did it. You destroyed that January. evil," as the McNamara family Defense attorney Paula consoled each other and applauded Phillips said she was not sur the verdict and sentence at the end prised a j ury was willing to use of almost a grueling five weeks of the penalty. j ury selection, trial and sentencing. Mertz's sentencing is the first Final deliberations lasted about following former Gov.. George 2 112 hours In what became the first Ryan's decision to commute death penalty sentence since for individuals previously on death mer Gov.. George Ryan commuted row. all death penalty sentences to life "Downstate Illinois is fertile sentences In early January. ground for the death penalty," Prosecutor Ed Parkinson said it Phillips said, following the seemed "pretty quick" for deliber jury's decision Wednesday ations. evening. "That tells me they thought the She also said the case is auto evidence was very strong. I think matically appealed because it is the Amy Warner evidence played a death penalty case. Phillips PHOTOS BY STEP HEN HAAS / heavy In it," Parkinson said. said several options for appeal ASSOC IATE PHOTO EDITOR Warner, a Charleston resident, eXist following this case, includ was found dead in her home In ing the defense not being Above: Christina (right) and Brandi June 1999. The prosecution tried to allowed a change of venue, the Mertz (middle) leave the courtroom tie Mertz to that crime scene dur possible influence of the anti with their grandmother, Dorothy Ing sentencing. malaria drug Lartum and a few French, Wednesday evening after Mertz was convicted of murder problems the defense had with the jury sentenced Anthony Mertz Ing McNamara In her home June the way the j ury was selected. to death. Mertz was sentenced to 12, 2001. He also was found guilty death for the 2001 murder of of aggravated criminal sexual SEE APPEA L +Page 6 Shannon McNamara. DLring assault and home invasion. sentencing, evidence was Not everyone was pleased with presented also tying Mertz to the the verdict, however. Mertz attorneys and both McNamara's 1999 death of Amy Warner. showed little emotion as he was and Warner's families comforting ushered out of the courtroom. His each other and discussing the final Right: Cindy McNamara, Shannon's grandmother Dorothy French and outcome. mother, talks to friends and family sisters Brandi and Christina quick "Shannon fought so hard for outside the courtroom in Coles County Circuit Court Wednesday ly left the courtroom and exited the this," Cindy McNamara said after afternoon while the jury courthouse. French said she would the decision. "She would never deliberated. not comment to the press on the ever allow this to happen to some sentence. one else. She destroyed this evil. "Not a thing, to you or nobody He'll never have another victim. else," she said as they left. She's our hero." The rest of courtroom was pleased, with police, detectives, SEE MER TZ + Page 7 Deadline for essay Prayer service contest extended The deadline for The Dally Eastern News African provides 'time American Heritage Celebration 2003 essay contest has been extended because of a Jack of for healing' entries. The deadline to submit By Jennifer Chiariello essays has been moved back a ACT IVIT IES ED ITOR week to 3 p.m. March 5. Prizes, including free movie Closure and comfort was on the minds of Shannon rentals and food certificates McNamara and Amy Warner's friends and family from area businesses, will be Wednesday. awarded, and the top three A prayer service honoring the memory of essays will be published In The McNamara and Warner was held following the sen Dally Eastern News after tencing of Anthony Mertz. spring break. Following 2 112 hours of deliberation Wednesday, Interested students should stJb. Mertz was sentenced to death for McNamara's mur mit an essay that correlates with der. the theme, "The Ties that Bind: Lauren Lagoni, a member of Alpha Phi, McNamara's Culture and Heritage." sorority, began the service with the announcement that Essays should be between a tree, funded by the university will be planted beside 500 and 600 words and can be the Alpha Phi house In Shannon's honor. turned In to Buzzard Hall Room Lagoni said the tree will be selected by the Alpha 1811. Submissions also can bee Phi house and planted in the spring as a remembrance STEPHEN HAAS/ ASSOC IATE PHOTO EDITOR mailed to [email protected]. of Shannon. During a memorial service for Shannon Mc Namara and Amy Warner, 7-year-old Hannah Three faculty members from A video of Shannon, set to the song "Who can say for Walker, Warner's daughter, talks with her grandmother and Warner's mother, linda Walker, in different departments will the auditorium of Lumpkin Hall Wednesday evening. Anthony Mertz was sentenced to death judge the entries. SEE SERV I CE +Page 9 Wednesday, making him the only person on death row in Illinois. Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Mostly sunny Mostly sunny Cloudy Mostly sunny Mostly sunny Mostly cloudy ~~w w G Thursday, 35° 22° 37° 27° 42° 21° 35° 28° 43° 27° 38° 26° February 27, 2003 TWO HI GH LOW HIGH L OW HI GH LOW HI GH LOW HI GH LOW HI GH LOW HI GH L OW Counselor: Look past color to see person By Matthew Kent Edwards said. ACT IVITIES REPORTER He said growing up in Mississippi during the 60s and GroWing up In Mississippi dur the 70s, no one ever questioned ing the Civil Rights movement, him about himself. Bud Edwards, counselor with the "No one ever questioned the Counseling Center, said he never language and the dialect I chose had to respond to racial issues. to use," Edwards said. He addressed a small crowd In He asked the audience for pos a workshop titled "Black and sible solutions to ending such White and Shades In Between," struggles. which focused on race In the 21st Mikki Meadows, a farnily and century and how the impact of consumer sciences instructor, changing racial demographics said people should stop categoriz affects society today. ing individuals. "In this country, race has "You need to see color and her always had huge implications In itage; we need to be proud of our society," Edwards said. background," Meadows said. He said 2.4 percent of Joycelynn Phillips, an adviser Americans identify themselves for Minority Student Affairs, as a mixed race, and an Increase offered her own perspective. in Interracial marriages has dra "We need to provide a safe matically affected society. zone or a place where they (chil "There has been a shift In atti dren ) feel comfortable to discuss tudes and how we view race," how they feel," Phillips said. Edwards said. Edwards stressed that over the He also spoke of the challenges next 10 to 15 years, there will be people face and said children a mixed responsibility of how we COLIN MCAULIFFE/ PHOTO EDITOR growing up often struggle with shape this country. Members of the Washington, D.C., based percussion dance ensemble "Step Afrika" incorporate traditional identity. "It is important not to j ust see African dance with step dancing Wednesday night as they perform for students and members of the community "The peer group that they have color but to be seen as a person," in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. can have a huge impact," Edwards said. When NATO uses force Step Afrika rocks Union By Holly Henschen August 1995. By Kerry-Ann Malcolm sizes In its performances: preserving the art of step, STAFF WR ITER Hendrickson said Claes had a STAFF WRITER reinforcing stepping as an educational and motiva "very organized, cut-and-dry tional art and getting involved with the art of African Ryan Hendrickson, assistant method" during NAC meetings The Martin Luther King Jr. Union sprang alive With stepping. political science professor, spoke but was known to throw "temper stomping and African drums Wednesday as Step The group defined the process of traditional pledg Wednesday about NATO secre tantrums" to reach an agree Afrika USA (SAUSA) performed for more than 200 Ing.