1 O B S E R V E R Wednesday, April 15,1998 « Vol. XXXI No^Z4 THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME AND SAINT MARY'S Pendergast pleads guilty in point-shaving scandal By PAUL SUWAN “Mr. Pendergast has agreed to cooper­ and Dewey Williams, 25, in connection Lee’s arraignment was set for April 20. The Daily Northwestern ate fully with the government’s investiga­ with a scheme to fix three NU men’s bas­ After the arraignment, Pendergast was tion,” assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick ketball games during the 1994-95 season. released on a $4,500 personal recog­ It was a gray, gloomy day outside, but Collins said. “We expect him to be one of Prosecutors estimated that between nizance bond. At the government’s federal prosecutors in the Northwestern our lead witness­ $40,000 and request, his sentencing will be postponed point shaving scandal got just what they es at trial.” $70,000 was until all trials in the case are over. wanted inside U.S. District Court in Pendergast and r . P e n d e r g a s t h a s a g r e e d t o b e t on NU Collins said Pendergast, a former kicker Chicago — the case’s his attorney, games against for the Notre Dame football team, would COOPERATE FULLY WITH THE GOV­ lirst guilty plea. Thomas Foran, ‘m: the University norm ally face 15 months to 21 months in As expected, alleged left the Dirksen ERNMENT’S INVESTIGATION.’ of Wisconsin, jail without a government recommenda­ mastermind Kevin Federal Building Penn State tion for a reduction in sentence. Pendergast, 27, of Los th ro u g h a University and “We anticipate making a recommenda­ Olivos, Calif., pleaded restricted exit P a t r i c k C o l l i n s the University tion for downward departure,” said guilty Thursday to one and could not be a s s i s t a n t U.S. A t t o r n e y of Michigan in Collins, who will be the lead prosecutor. count of conspiracy to reached for com­ February and “But that is dependent on several factors commit sports bribery, ment. March 1995 by Pendergast and a ring of — (Pendergast’s) continued cooperation, On March 26, Pendergast was indicted gamblers. his testimony at trial and his continuing according to the terms Pendergast of a plea bargain along with Brian Irving, 27, and former Last Thursday, both W illiams and agreement. Wildcat players Kenneth Dion Lee, 24, Irving pleaded not guilty to all charges. see PLE A / page 4 Civil suit names Free as a bird ... five form er ND football players By TIM LOGAN News W riter South Bend attorney John Hosinski named five former Notre Dame football players in a $1.4 million civil suit filed against eight people on behalf of Dominiack Mechanical, Inc., a local business. The company’s owner, Jerry Dominiack, claimed that Lee Becton, senior Jarvis Edison, Derrick Mayes, Kinnon Tatum and Ray Zellars knew of and profited from Kimberly Dunbar’s alleged misappro­ priation of more than $1 million from Dominiack. The lawsuit comes two weeks after St. Joseph County prosecutor Michael Barnes officially charged Dunbar, a former employee of Dominiack, with two class C felonies for allegedly embezzling more than $250,000. “[The players] either partook in the conversion of, or profited from or knowingly participated in the distribution or use of these wrongfully converted proceeds," Hosinski told the South Bend Tribune. “A great deal of evidence that we have available indicates that more than Miss Dunbar is involved in the taking of this money,” he added, though did not disclose the aforementioned evidence. None of the defendants could be reached for com­ ment. Dennis Moore, director of Public Relations and Information at Notre Dame, said he knew of no con­ nection between the players and the crime. “We were told I by the prosecuting attorney! that The Observer/Spider Feighrey Dos Goldkamps en le Full Monty lost yesterday in the second round of the Bookstore Basketball tournament to Big Head Jeff and the Monsters. The game wasn’t the only thing the team lost, however, as players see L A W S U IT / page 4 removed articles of clothing for every point the team scored. Huerta advocates rights of farm-workers, immigrants By LAURA PETELLE she asked the audience. The est infant mortality rate in our Assistant News Editor answer was a resounding nation,” she said. “The people “farm worker.” who created the wealth have Dolores Huerta, Ms. Woman “When you sit down to eat, been locked out. We’re still of the Year 1997, championed give a special blessing for those benefiting from the wealth that the rights of farms workers and that feed us — their work is the has been exploited.” spoke about her vision of the most sacred work of all,” Huerta discussed the situa­ United States in her lecture last Huerta said. “Why should the tion of race relations and immi­ night in the LaFortune people who do the most impor­ gration in California. Ballroom . tant work of all have no “It has not been the immi­ Huerta is the co-founder and rights?” grants who did anything wrong secretary-treasurer of United Huerta cited racism as one of to the economy,” Huerta said. Farm Workers, a member the primary factors in the “The anti-immigrant rhetoric is Union of the AFL-CIO devoted denial of rights to farm work­ a diversion so we really won’t to representing the interests of ers. question what goes on in our farm workers. “We are never taught in our society. Immigrants pay seven “The biggest connection we schools the contributions of the times more in taxes than they have is with farm workers,” colored and women in our soci­ get back in benefits.” Huerta said. “The people we ety,” she said. “They [the California legisla­ connect with the most are the “Whose land are we sitting tors] want to make it illegal to people who feed us everyday.” on? Native Americans’. Have teach children in the language “If you were on a desert we ever paid them for the they understand,” Huerta said, island, who would you want land? Have we ever thanked discussing the initiative against The Observer/Spider Feighrey with you — an attorney, an them for the land? They have bilingual education in Dolores Huerta, co-founder and secretary-treasurer of United Farm accountant, or a farm worker?” the highest suicide rate, the Workers, spoke in the LaFortune Ballroom last night. highest poverty rate, the high­ see H U E R T A / page 6 page 2 The Observer • INSIDE Wednesday, April 15, 1998 I n s id e C o l u m n S i Quit, don’t V O utside the Dom e Compiled from U-Wire reports spit Tragedy, health risks influence changes in college wrestling Please don’t call me ANN ARBOR, Mich. months. For the recommendations to in the next few days. Less than six months after the be mandated at the university and I'm waiting for a very deaths of Michigan wrestler Jefferey other institutions, the divisions’ cham­ important phone call. Reese and two other collegiate pionship committees will have to I know — who’s not? wrestlers, members of two NCAA com­ r v r ? approve the changes. This is the season of mittees presented Monday official rec­ The report was presented by the jobs and internship ommendations to improve the safety of MICHIGAN I NCAA’s Wrestling Rules Committee announcements. collegiate wrestling. and the organization’s competitive This phone call for Most of the six recommendations safeguards committee. which I am waiting reaffirm ones enforced by the NCAA in “I’m very happy with everything that will tell me whether Spencer Stefko January. They also mirror changes — was done, “ said Michigan wrestling or not I have cancer. Assistant Viewpoint including the banning of rubber suits, 7 3 V D coach Dale Bahr. “Everything that was If I do, put away the Editor self-induced vomiting and the use of suggested by the Big Ten and the uni­ them as best we can and certainly peo­ violin; because it will laxatives — made to the Michigan versity to the NCAA was implemented, ple have to be aware that when they have been, as is most oral cancer, self-inflict­ wrestling program several months ago. and in some cases, it was taken even try to subvert roles and try to do things ed. I will have gotten it from chewing tobac­ One of the changes include adjust­ further. “ to gain a competitive advantage, some­ co. ments to the sport's 10 weight classes. The recommendations come at the times they may endanger their health 1 chewed for the first time when I was 12. NCAA officials said they were made to end of a school year marked by tragedy in the process, “ said Bryan Smith, a For many, chewing is as much a part of the reflect the current pool of high school at the university and throughout the member of the Committee on national past time as the hot dog. seniors entering collegiate wrestling, as college wrestling world. Competitive Safeguards and Medical Unfortunately, for the last generation of opposed to wrestlers entering the sport Reese, a Kinesiology ju n io r, died Dec. Aspects of Sports. ballplayers, now oral cancer is also a very when the classes were originally set. 9 after working out in excess to shod The recommendations are being for­ intricate part of the game.