Gerald Ford passes away

America mourned the death of former President Gerald R. Ford, 93, who died Dec. 26, 2006 at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. His funeral commenced Jan. 2.

For two days and a night, thousands of Americans filtered through the Capitol Rotunda to pay their respects to the 38th president, who is considered to have restored America’s trust in government after the Nixon scandal.

“In President Ford, the world saw the best of America, and America found a man whose character and leadership would bring calm and healing to one of the most divisive moments in our nation’s history,” President George W. Bush said in his eulogy.

After a service at Washington National Cathedral, the state funeral for Ford moved from Washington, D.C. to Grand Rapids, Mich. Ford’s casket carried by a White House Jet.

Hussein hanged for crimes

Former Iraq dictator Saddam Hussein was hanged before dawn on Dec. 30 for crimes committed during his reign.

Official video of Hussein’s final moments was aired, showing a noose placed around Hussein’s neck by masked executioners. Another video showed his body wrapped in a burial shroud with his face and neck showing to prove identity. Both were aired without audio.

After camera phone footage of the hanging was leaked, an investigation was ordered by Iraq’s prime minister, Jawad al-Maliki, on Jan. 3 to uncover who leaked the video and who taunted Hussein.

The video included Saddam exchanging insults with his executioners, and at least one person had shouted “To hell” at Hussein.

“The Iraqis are a sovereign government, doing what they think is appropriate,” White House press secretary Tony Snow said of the investigation.

Free speech prohibited on campus

Martin Smith, graduate student, Marine Corps veteran and member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, was asked to leave the Undergraduate Library after he was found passing out fliers about a January rally.

Two weeks earlier, members of the Anti-War, Anti-Racism Effort, commonly known as AWARE, were told by Champaign police that they could not pass out fliers describing “What Families Need to Know About Military Recruiting in High Schools and Colleges” at a University parking lot.

These occurrences have raised the question of free speech at the University. Currently, the University’s policies are available on the University’s Web site.

In an article from the Jan. 7 News Gazette, Scott Walter, associate university librarian for services said, “I think it is a valid question: Is there an opportunity to create a public space within the library that would allow for a wide variety of action without having a detrimental impact on the environment that we have to maintain for our users?”

Compiled by Susan Kantor from Associated Press and News-Gazette reports