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(02/14/08 5:00am)
Hot Chip's 2006 record The Warning became one of the most loveable dance records of the year, from the infectiously repetitive "Over and Over" to the catchy and endearing "And I Was a Boy From School." With its follow-up Made In the Dark, the London hipsters explore the two extremes of their sound -- the ballad and the dance hit -- making for a loveable yet fragmented effort. \nThe title Made In The Dark is no coincidence, as the album feels made for the darkness of the dance floor or of your bedroom, depending on the song. Made resides mostly in minor keys, but the dark atmosphere is also there because of the heavier beats and deeper grooves. "Shake Your Fist" delves into hypnotic house, and "One Pure Thought" opens with a grungy guitar leading into one of the album's best songs. \nAlthough the dance grooves will not leave any time soon, Hot Chip shows it has a real knack for balladry. "We're Looking For a Lot of Love" is smooth R&B that will leave you wanting more, which comes soon with the honest and earnest title track. The album lacks the major hits The Warning provided, but it does have a great single in the radio-ready pop of "Ready for the Floor."\nThe uncanny transition from heavy beats to heartfelt ballads leaves the album a bit unfocused, with the stark contrast of Alexis Taylor's soothing falsetto and Joe Goddard's weary monotone vocals, which makes for a pleasant yet unusual balance. Finally, when it comes to lyrics, Hot Chip mixes dry wit ("Wrestlers") and well-written sincerity ("Whistle For Will"), making for another interesting contrast. \nBut just as Alexis Taylor chimes on "Bendable Poseable," "there are holes in what we do." Whether it's the occasional overindulgence or the lack of cohesiveness, the album is flawed. "Hold On" carries on too long, and an undanceable "Don't Dance" makes its title easy to follow. \nEven with its shortcomings, Made In The Dark is electro-pop worth listening to.
(12/06/07 5:00am)
The Line:\n"I think you got the big package. You've got the whole package here, Mike, and I really want to encourage the people to check you out ... Once they check you out, I really believe that they will turn onto your camp."
(12/04/07 5:07am)
In becoming a true Hoosier fan, each one us will travel along our own road of important sporting events and players that define the way we view the Crimson and Cream. It is an individualized path that leads one to IU fandom, filled with common road markers and personal detours. \nThe following are the top five Hoosier sporting events that have helped shape me as an IU sports fan. I hope that I share some of the same moments with my fellow Hoosier faithful.\n \n1. Maryland defeats IU 64-52 in the 2002 NCAA Tournament Men’s Basketball Championship Game\nOf the most amazing rides and bitter defeats ever witnessed by IU faithful, the Hoosiers’ run at the 2002 national championship is among the greatest. On the shoulders of Tom Coverdale, IU won five tournament games only to be denied in the championship against a bigger, more powerful Maryland team. The run still serves as one of the moments of glory the Hoosier nation longs to witness again. Sitting in front of the television, the run left me in awe of IU sports.\n \n2. Purdue defeats IU 63-24 in the 2004 Old Oaken Bucket Game\nI am from Lafayette, Ind., and grew up about 15 minutes from the Purdue University campus. \nWhen I returned home for my first Old Oaken Bucket Game since becoming a Hoosier, I was excited to finally be cheering for the other side, since I was never really been inspired by Purdue football. The thumping the Hoosiers received that day, while expected, forever pitted me against the university in my hometown. I better understand the rivalry because of it.\n \n3. IU defeats UC Santa-Barbara 3-2 on PKs in the 2004 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship Game\nThe first realization of championship-caliber play for any sports fan is an ecstatic moment that should live on in one’s mind for the rest of one’s life. I was a freshman in the first semester of my college career when the Hoosiers took home their second consecutive championship this time under the tutelage of IU coach Mike Freitag. The subsequent partying by Hoosiers across campus as a result was euphoric (if you spent time amongst sports fans as I did). Since then, we have longed for another bite of the championship pie.\n \n4. The 2007 Little 500\nAs far as IU history and campus unity, there is no event to match the annual Little 500 bicycle race. In 2007, I was given the unique opportunity to spend time in the presence of the race coordinators, riders and coaches as a member of the media and was truly enriched by the experience. There are few things like being on the inside of the track looking out at the spectacle that is race day. I will never forget the opportunity I received to learn about the deeper meaning of the IU tradition.\n \n5. IU defeats Purdue 27-24 in the 2007 Old Oaken Bucket Game\nElation is the only word I can think of to describe the feeling in a packed Memorial Stadium as the 49-yard field goal by Austin Starr sailed through the uprights for the winning score in the Hoosiers’ victory. The storied season of the Hoosiers, beginning with the loss of Terry Hoeppner and ending with Starr’s golden kick, has been extended to fulfill the late coach’s dream of playing in a bowl game. On Dec. 31, IU will meet Okalahoma State in the Insight Bowl and finally play 13.
(12/03/07 3:46am)
This is the last list of my opinions that will appear. Henceforth, I will keep my trap shut and let someone else do the talking. But I will remain respectfully, a Hoosier at Heart.
(11/27/07 4:40am)
Dear Purdue, \nFirst and foremost, you lost to us before Thanksgiving break ... twice! Thanks for the effort, but it just wasn’t good enough this time around as our women’s soccer team out-kicked you and so did Austin Starr. Maybe you’ll do better next year – but we doubt it.\nHowever, the point of this letter is not to gloat (OK, maybe a little). It is a follow-up to the previous note sent on May 21 titled “Enclosed: Letter to Purdue.” In that letter we made it quite clear that we would not allow you to win the Crimson and Gold Cup this season, as we are better than you intrinsically. We are still working toward that end, and this weekend we took major strides in fulfilling our promise (though our women’s soccer victory in the NCAA tournament did not count toward the cup, we ended your title hopes).\nAfter the fall sports season, we Hoosiers and you Boilermakers are deadlocked in the standings at 2.5 points a piece. This is unacceptable. We are currently investigating which officials were bribed and rules were broken for you to obtain the obviously tainted victories that you have “achieved,” which may or may not have included the exchange of 15 head of cattle for each penalty called against IU. As of yet, this investigation (however absurd) is inconclusive. We will let you know of our findings, and in our infinite generosity, let you have a chance to admit your crimes before taking further action, including the possible effects of Purdue Pete’s rumored steroid use.\nAs it stands, we are headed into a winter sports season that is clearly made up of games in which we have the advantage. Of six competitions between today and Feb. 19, three IU-Purdue outings are to be played in Bloomington (the best college town in our state). We present you this offer: If you should decide that driving more than 100 miles to get embarrassed is clearly not worth the gas money, we will encourage the media and fans not to ridicule you for your decision. Instead we will agree with your position that it simply was a good fiscal move that saved time and money for later athletic competitions. There’s no shame in good business sense. The Krannert School of Management, which houses your Master of Business Administration program, would be proud. It is probably best you stick to the classroom anyway.\nThis letter should act as a reminder that we are doing all in our power to thwart any small aspirations that you have in beating us in this year’s competition. We will win. You will lose. That is the end of the story.\nHowever, if you insist on continued and fruitless attempts to defeat us during the winter sports season, then we are compelled to inform you that we will not pull a single punch. We will come after you mercilessly with the intent that you end up curled in the fetal position, Purdue Pete’s sledge hammer wedged in an orifice that you will find unpleasant. That is simply the way IU athletics operate, as you well know after years of competition.\nBut not all of us like that image (most of us do, but not all of us). So, we implore you to consider and ultimately accept the aforementioned offer that is intended merely to help you save face. It is with best intentions that we will beat you in this year’s competition.\nBest of luck!
(11/18/07 11:21pm)
This week, students get a well-deserved break. A hiatus from working on papers and creating massive projects, the IU community is preparing for its home stretch with a few days off to let its hair down before the sprint to finals week. And what better way to spend those days than with nagging parents and relatives whose names you can barely remember, hoping that the prayer will be over soon so that you can turn the damn game back on. Ah, the joy of spending time with family. But if you’re looking to formulate a more exciting Thanksgiving break, I suggest you put down the turkey leg and pick up the Wild Turkey Bourbon. Like all holidays (and a whole mess of other activities) Thanksgiving can be enhanced by the consumption of alcohol and the drunken ramblings that follow.\nThe majority of us have a drunken uncle who spends Thanksgiving celebrations brooding in the corner, not because someone took the last turkey leg but because somebody took away his Natural Light. As we get older, we begin to sympathize with the man, understanding his need to get a little juiced before hanging out with these people. After all you can’t pick your family, but you can certainly pick your beer. So instead of the long hours of small talk and bickering, perhaps carrying a flask and making regular “bathroom” visits is in order. You could even share your secret with Uncle Charlie and let him have a few swigs. Now that’s family bonding.\nNot to mention that being a little blitzed during the celebration could just make you the life of the party. There’s nothing like sitting with the men of the family and slurring expletives at the T.V., while threatening a physical confrontation with an enemy cousin (a tradition developed in 1621 when, after a huge feast of turkey and vegetables, the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians sat together to watch the Dallas Cowboys kick the Washington Redskins’ asses). Not to mention that with every drink you get smarter and everything you say sounds like the wisdom of Aristotle – your aunts will be very impressed.\nAt the end of the feast (and secret alcohol consumption) the family will leave and you will once again be in sweet solitude. But if you’re not one who likes to be alone – especially while intoxicated – then there’s always the option of calling up some old friends and challenging them to a drinking game (one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions). \nSo this holiday season, don’t forget to stop by the local liquor store and pick up some holiday cheer. A quick drink with your dad before the endurance trial that is Thanksgiving dinner can make the whole day worthwhile. Sharing a shot with your mom before she puts the turkey in the oven will give the meat just the right amount of char. Having fun with your family on Thanksgiving is easy. But for some of us, it just takes a little bit of Grandpa’s cough medicine to get along. Happy Thanksgiving!
(11/13/07 5:16am)
Winters in Indiana can drive any good Hoosier insane. \nThe temperature will rise into the 60s in late November, causing excitement and happiness as the mini heat wave takes a little dreariness out of the day.\nThen, without warning, a snow storm will hit in the early weeks of December, causing frigid temperature and frigid attitudes. But the temperature will go up again and Hoosier nation will be all smiles. \nThis will last until February, when the cold of winter hits the state and, in spite of a few warm spots, Indiana residents will pray for the arrival of March and a renewed – if small – glimmer of hope. \nBut through all of this Hoosier basketball season gives Hoosiers something to cheer about. This season looks hopeful, as always, since the men’s team looks to fulfill high expectations that accompany a No. 9 pre-season ranking and the women’s team looks to follow second-year coach Felisha Legette-Jack into a new season on the strength of a young squad.\nAs any good Hoosier will tell you, there’s no season like basketball season. The legacies of Indiana and IU hinge on the squeaking of sneakers on hardwood floors and the snapping of nets as a little orange ball enters the basket. From Gene Hackman in “Hoosiers” to Gene Keady’s comb-over, basketball and Indiana go together like shoes and socks. \nHere at IU, our own distinct history is sprinkled with national and conference championships and includes one of the greatest head coaches in basketball history, Bob Knight. \nThe men’s 2002 run at the national title has left in the minds of current IU students the small aftertaste of hysteria that accompanies such success. Now we want a full portion.\nBut as fans, it is our duty to raise our performance as the expectations for our respective basketball teams skyrocket to national prominence. While we have made Assembly Hall one of the toughest places for opponents to win, each of us can still do more to support our storied program’s pursuit of continued greatness.\nWith this in mind, I make the following pledge: If the men’s basketball team makes the Final Four in San Antonio or the women’s basketball team wins the Big Ten Tournament, I will get the IU emblem tattooed on my shoulder blade. If both teams achieve these respective goals I will get two tattoos, one on each shoulder blade. \nThis is not an empty promise that will go unfulfilled, or one I hope will not come to pass. I truly wish the respective teams hold up their end of the bargain so that, in my senior year, I can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, once and for all, that I do in fact bleed crimson. I hope that several other fans will follow my lead and make similar pledges in order to show their passion for IU and for the state of Indiana. \nIt is our duty as Hoosiers and IU fans to do our part to provide even a little extra motivation for our teams. \nThis is Hoosier country. Game on.
(11/06/07 3:48am)
In the heat of the moment, with time running out, the game on the line, all the money in the pot, everything left on the field, athletes are given a chance to be remembered in a moment of greatness that few others will ever be able to achieve. All eyes are on them. \nAs the postseason begins for IU and its Big Ten counterparts, it will be the fans that have the authority to pass final judgment on the actual quality of their teams and the greatness that might be obtained. In Bloomington, definition of a squad is given not only on the fields of play, but also in the dusty corners of Kirkwood Avenue’s finest pubs, where Hoosier nation holds its breath with every play. This Big Ten season, IU teams have been defined by their regular season performances and now are faced with proving to Hoosier fans that they are deserving of bearing the crimson and cream colors. Each team has a reputation to fulfill and expectations to surpass in the late stages of the fall sports schedule.\nThe feel-good story that Hoosier nation takes to the gridiron every Saturday is that IU has just become bowl eligible for the first time since 1994. The challenge of late football coach Terry Hoeppner to play in a 13th game is nearly within the team’s grasp (the Hoosiers are eligible, but not a shoe-in). If IU has the honor of being selected, IU fans will not be pleased unless they can come away with a victory, especially considering that the large national stage has a tendency to attract the best recruits.\nAny good program has at one time had its back against the wall as an underdog. All teams have looked a seemingly unbeatable opponent in the eye and hoped to be able to achieve the unthinkable. The IU women’s soccer team learned this after being dismantled by rival Purdue, which is ranked No. 8 nationally. The Boilermakers spanked the Hoosiers 7-0 in last weekend’s contest. IU put up a better showing against top-ranked Penn State on Oct. 28, losing that match only 2-1. \nWhile the Hoosiers finished the Big Ten season in fourth place (not a horrendous showing), the Big Ten Tournament will be defined by the victims or slayers of the monsters known as the Boilermakers and the Nittany Lions. Hopefully, the Hoosiers can remember that underdogs bite back.\nAnd finally, Hoosier nation has its perennial champions, the men’s soccer team. The pressure on this team might be the greatest of all as it enters the Big Ten Tournament as the top seed and No. 10-ranked squad in the nation. Hoosier fans have come to expect great things from a program that has 13 Big Ten championships under its belt and seven national championships. Fans fully expect the winning tradition to continue. It’s up to the men in crimson and cream not to disappoint.\nNo matter what occurs when the teams take to the playing fields this postseason, one thing is for certain: Judgment is coming and it’s coming straight from the heart of Bloomington. How a team deals with the passion of its own fans can make or break its performance. And Hoosier passion runs deep.
(11/05/07 12:57am)
Since the announcement of former IU President Adam Herbert’s plan to ban smoking on all IU campuses, the IU community has been at odds, taking up sides drawn along a smoke-blurred line. On Thursday Provost Karen Hanson sent by e-mail the policy that students, faculty and staff will be required to follow as of January 2008. The policy itself will be beneficial if it rids the IU campus of smoking – preventing the harm caused by second-hand smoke, without hampering the rights of individuals. But as many times as this sentiment has been portrayed, the number of questions about the enforceability of IUB’s new policy grow with every dissenter – and now with at least one supporter.\nThe policy calls on the students, faculty and staff to assist in the enforcement of the policy and to encourage compliance among their peers and other campus inhabitants. Those found in violation of the rule that bans smoking on all IU owned or leased property will be referred to the appropriate disciplinary office, depending on the violator’s standing with the University. Students will be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students (I would know, having been referred there myself after violating the 30-feet rule my freshman year). The policy also outlines cessation programs available to all for little or no cost.\nEnforcing this ban seems unlikely – an admittance, that on the surface, seems like a blow to supporters of the policy. However, in reading the new rules outlined in the smoking ban, it is clear that the policy is not, and possibly never was, about enforcement. By calling on members of the IU community to compel smokers to operate within the bounds of the rule, the policy seeks to embolden those who support the policy to request others to cease smoking. With the weight of the University behind people who do not wish to be in the vicinity of cigarettes, social pressure to stop smoking will hopefully cause smokers to avoid the habit on campus. Add in the possibility of a penalty assessment that would accompany a discovered violation of the rule and the “I’m gonna tell on you” approach actually has some force, even though it seems unlikely that initially people will employ that tactic. And while smokers will complain that they are not children to be chastised in such a manner, the ban is based on their health, and, more importantly, those they rob of that choice inhale the carcinogens in second-hand smoke.\nSo, although it will be difficult for the university to actually enforce the rule, the ban may still accomplish the goal it sets out to do, by backing those who do not wish to inhale second-hand smoke. In addition, the cessation programs won’t simply hang addicted smokers out to dry but will assist them in kicking the habit. If this effect comes to fruition, then the health of the entire University will benefit.
(11/05/07 12:57am)
Since the announcement of former IU President Adam Herbert’s plan to ban smoking on all IU campuses, the IU community has been at odds, taking up sides drawn along a smoke-blurred line. On Thursday Provost Karen Hanson sent by e-mail the policy that students, faculty and staff will be required to follow as of January 2008. The policy itself will be beneficial if it rids the IU campus of smoking – preventing the harm caused by second-hand smoke, without hampering the rights of individuals. But as many times as this sentiment has been portrayed, the number of questions about the enforceability of IUB’s new policy grow with every dissenter – and now with at least one supporter.\nThe policy calls on the students, faculty and staff to assist in the enforcement of the policy and to encourage compliance among their peers and other campus inhabitants. Those found in violation of the rule that bans smoking on all IU owned or leased property will be referred to the appropriate disciplinary office, depending on the violator’s standing with the University. Students will be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students (I would know, having been referred there myself after violating the 30-feet rule my freshman year). The policy also outlines cessation programs available to all for little or no cost.\nEnforcing this ban seems unlikely – an admittance, that on the surface, seems like a blow to supporters of the policy. However, in reading the new rules outlined in the smoking ban, it is clear that the policy is not, and possibly never was, about enforcement. By calling on members of the IU community to compel smokers to operate within the bounds of the rule, the policy seeks to embolden those who support the policy to request others to cease smoking. With the weight of the University behind people who do not wish to be in the vicinity of cigarettes, social pressure to stop smoking will hopefully cause smokers to avoid the habit on campus. Add in the possibility of a penalty assessment that would accompany a discovered violation of the rule and the “I’m gonna tell on you” approach actually has some force, even though it seems unlikely that initially people will employ that tactic. And while smokers will complain that they are not children to be chastised in such a manner, the ban is based on their health, and, more importantly, those they rob of that choice inhale the carcinogens in second-hand smoke.\nSo, although it will be difficult for the university to actually enforce the rule, the ban may still accomplish the goal it sets out to do, by backing those who do not wish to inhale second-hand smoke. In addition, the cessation programs won’t simply hang addicted smokers out to dry but will assist them in kicking the habit. If this effect comes to fruition, then the health of the entire University will benefit.
(10/25/07 4:00am)
Smashed pumpkins, missing lawn decorations, corned cars and toilet-papered houses put the "trick" in Halloween's trick-or-treat.\nHalloween has become a time of not only trick-or-treating for children, but practical jokes and pranks for teenagers and young adults, IU Police Department Sgt. Craig Munroe said. However, he said, these pranks can have serious consequences. \n"If you're smashing pumpkins, that becomes disorderly conduct," he said. "But if there's actual damage to property, it's criminal mischief; we're talking about fines and jail time." \nSenior Lainna Cohen said her friend once smashed pumpkins and drew obscene artwork in black permanent marker all over another person's vehicle. Then, to top it off, Cohen's friend shot fireworks at that person's house.\nIronically, Munroe said, the department does not get more vandalism calls than usual around Halloween. In 2005, there were five cases of vandalism total reported Oct. 30 and 31, and in 2006 only one case was reported for both days. \n"There really are so many different factors that contribute, though: Was there alcohol or drugs involved? Was someone trying to defend their pumpkin so a fight broke out? It's hard to tell," Munroe said. \nSenior Chris Mechell said he thinks it's funny when people dress up as scarecrows and hang out on porches to scare trick-or-treaters. \n"Jumping out at them is hilarious," he said. \nJunior Melia White once pulled a prank of her own in order to scare a neighbor who had a vicious dog. \n"I filled a baggie with corn syrup and red food coloring to look like blood, then squirted some on my wrist and arm. I covered it with a paper towel, ran over to my neighbors and kept pushing the baggie so more blood would squirt out. She freaked out! It was a good time," she said.\nBloomington Police Department Officer Jerry Arthur said that a prank is technically vandalism only when permanent damage is done.\n"When something is able to be cleaned off, that doesn't count. It gives the courts wiggle room," said Arthur. \nBut Halloween pranks could amount to jail time or misdemeanor charges, depending on the crime.
(10/23/07 1:03am)
This weekend’s homecoming football game painted a beautiful picture of IU, its athletics program and college sports throughout the NCAA. \nFrom the young to the old, the bachelor to the family man, the student to the alumnus, Hoosier nation turned out to support the Crimson and Cream. Even some of the academically inclined, who usually have no interest in IU football, could be found on this one day among the crowd cheering for the Hoosiers. \nHomecoming games have such a unifying effect. However, across the nation, the division between academics and athletics is seen as a growing rift on the university scene.\nAccording to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the NCAA’s Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics found that 62 percent of the more than 2,000 Football Bowl Subdivision faculty members polled claimed that the academic programs were separated from athletics programs in their structures. A major complaint of about 50 percent of faculty members was that the main reason athletic spending occurs is to please the entertainment industry. \nThese are staggering, but not necessarily surprising statistics. Consider that one of the major storylines running during this weekend’s Homecoming game was that it’s the only IU game to be carried by ESPN, the nation’s foremost viewed sports entertainment network, so far this season. \nAnd what could be seen in several shots on the network on Saturday afternoon? The construction of the North End Zone project that will cost the University an estimated $55 million upon its completion.\nAcademics at FBS schools have a legitimate right to complain. Athletic spending can and will inevitably be detrimental to pure academic achievement and the advancement of every one of a given university’s academic goals. Members of the IU academia might even have a greater reason for protest than those at most institutions at the moment as, in addition to the above mentioned $55 million dollar expenditure, the board of trustees recently agreed to replace Assembly Hall, a project worth literally hundreds of millions of dollars.\nSpending millions of dollars on athletics will certainly take away from some areas \nof academics.\nHowever, in today’s world of media coverage – and considering the public’s unwavering attention on athletic achievement – it is also certain that athletics spending might be necessary for the continued success of higher education institutions. In the same Knight Commission report, half of the respondent faculty also believed that athletic success led to contributions by alumni for programs not related to athletic programs.\nIt seems that athletics and academics have a natural opposition to each other that will long be debated at major universities. Academic goals should always and without fail be mentioned first. Their fulfillment is the reason such institutions exist. \nHowever, since athletics are so close to the hearts of screaming fans and alumni at FBS schools, concentration on athletic spending should not necessarily be seen as the bane of academic existence. \nMaybe $55 million is a little much. But if IU reaps dividends in the form of major donations above and beyond that in the coming years, it might be a sacrifice that \nis worthwhile.
(10/22/07 3:45pm)
In the life of almost all individuals, there is a day cherished above other days – a day that brings a person back to the place where he was raised. On that day he might roam the crowded streets of a major metropolis, talk with neighbors in a small town or stare out at the beauty of rolling hills in some distant countryside. But for each and every person, it is their individual returns – their own personal homecomings.\nThis Saturday will see the masses that have graduated from IU return to a great city and a wonderful university during the annual homecoming celebration for Hoosiers. In much the same way that people might envision the one day when they return to their birthplaces, homecoming for current and former Hoosiers should be held as a day of happy memories and long-awaited reunions. This is the place of our education – academically and emotionally – where we are trained for the great achievements that take us forward into the unpredictable future. It has been home for all of us and will remain such long after we leave it or leave it again.\nIU is very much a home. Homes are more than residencies, but places where families reside and share the intimate moments that shape their outlooks on life. The time we have spent on this campus and in this city, meeting great friends and learning what it means to live our own lives can never be replaced. Just as the distant memories of our childhood affect us for the rest of our lives, the time spent in Ballantine Hall, Dunn Meadow or a dingy bar on Kirkwood Avenue has bearing upon the decisions that we make every day.\nHomecoming is a time to give thanks. IU, in the light of both the fondest and hardest memories of our lives, is unwaveringly ours. Students and alumni have ownership of it and will continue to as long as we pledge to bleed crimson. And so, a million “thank yous” are in order to IU and Bloomington, for simply existing. And for all the future generations that have yet to attend the University, we can hope only that they will hold it in the same deserved esteem.\nAs tens of thousands of fans – drunk from beer and happiness – cheer on the IU football team working meticulously toward the end of victory, the Hoosier homecoming will rise to its summit and all present will be reminded of the University’s glory. For all of us who are currently enrolled at IU, walking the road toward whatever our tomorrows might hold, we will be given a rare chance to view those who came before us on the path. To all those who came before, walking and stumbling, finally seeing the twisting lane to its end on graduation day, we will do our best to show that we are maintaining the quality of your alma mater. Welcome home.
(10/21/07 11:36pm)
The controversy in Jena, La., has thrown discrimination back into the limelight of U.S. debate after six black high school students were charged under obviously racist pretenses for attempted murder. With a Capitol Hill hearing, thousands of words of commentary in Internet forums and Facebook activists appearing in droves, the Jena Six have lit a racially charged fuse that has not been seen since the O.J. Simpson murder trial of 1994.\nIt seems unlikely that an American citizen could have missed the whole story and its heated context – unlikely, but not impossible. A Muncie, Ind., sanitation worker was suspended without pay for 30 days last week after he attached nooses to the review mirror in his trash truck. The unidentified employee claims that the nooses were completely innocent Halloween decorations. The man was suspended after complaints were filed by co-workers, who, after hearing the man’s explanation, have said that he does not deserve the suspension.\nThis is a time that we can praise open dialogue and interpretation. There is no doubt in my mind that the man in question unknowingly placed objects in his vehicle that had clear racially charged undertones. Luckily, in this case, workers discussed the issue and decided that ignorance is not a crime. While the suspension might yet stand, at least it seems that the man will not feel the effects of lingering bad sentiment.\nMore importantly, the case of the Muncie employee seems to be the identification that ultimately occurs in an environment of minimally limited free speech. By any moral standard, the man was not guilty of any crime nor could he logically be labeled a bigot or racist. However, the symbol he chose to use in order to show his love of Halloween has clearly developed back into a symbol of hatred and threats in light of recent events. The difficulty arose as a result of a misunderstanding and two separate interpretations. The solution to the tension produced at least a decent outcome. Whether the suspension is adequate to punish ignorance will still be debated (but no doubt at least some reprimand was appropriate).\nIncreasingly, we must tread lightly in everyday speech for fear of such reprimands and the placement of labels such as “racist.” It is a natural and blameless response to draw lines and take sides based on an individual view of certain speech. In Muncie this week, the best-case scenario developed and the misunderstanding did not result in any unnecessary altercations, even though some jumped to conclusions before hearing the Halloween enthusiast’s story in full.\nJena, La., has reopened a necessary debate concerning the actual status of equality in the United States. Debates should be held with impassioned words and well-reasoned logic, and above all else, with open ears before open mouths. For all involved it is best to listen to varying viewpoints and to avoid jumping to conclusions that are difficult to take back. The case of a Muncie man who simply loves Halloween certainly proves that.
(10/16/07 3:40am)
Exposure. Female athletes and supporters have been asking for it for years. The Big Ten Network is giving it to them.\nMajor television companies won’t miss out on the advertising revenue for long. And with basketball season around the corner, the names of greatness, such as Tennessee’s Pat Summitt, will no doubt gain more attention for the sport. \nAccompanying this great exposure is the fans’ desire to see their teams succeed. Here at IU, we are accustomed to having a basketball legacy that rivals the most storied programs in NCAA history. With coverage devoted to women’s athletics on the rise, Hoosier fans may begin to hold the women’s basketball team to the same expectations as the men’s team – rightfully so given the name of the university attached. Living up to the crimson and cream tradition is no easy task, but IU will head into this season with high hopes.\nWhether those hopes are realized will depend on a multitude of factors – but above all else, the pressure is on second-year head coach Felisha Legette-Jack.\nLegette-Jack was named IU’s head coach before last season and immediately pleased fans, opening her inaugural season with five wins and 11 wins in the first 13 games – all in non-conference play. However, as is the case with any sport played in the Big Ten, the conference schedule – a long, grueling, hard-fought stretch of games with some of the biggest powerhouses in the NCAA – proved too much for IU. The Hoosiers manage just six wins in 16 games, including a five-game losing streak from Jan. 11 to Jan. 28. Two of those losses came against rival Purdue, a Big Ten tournament winner and elite eight qualifier in the NCAA tournament.\nThe second Big Ten season for Legette-Jack and company will be similar as they face Purdue, Ohio State and Michigan State – the top three finishers in 2006-2007 – twice. \nHopefully, a year under her belt as IU head coach will give Legette-Jack some experience and the ability to compete with the Big Ten’s major programs. However, as always in Big Ten competition, the ultimate success of the IU women’s basketball team will come down to the players’ ability to execute. With six freshmen joining the team, Legette-Jack will be faced with the task of teaching fundamentals and teamwork, two factors that mark victors in Big Ten play. Luckily for the IU coach, the Hoosiers already have in place a player who has shown the ability to be a floor leader and a major threat for opponents. \nNikki Smith, the team’s only returning senior, will have the task of leading the Hoosiers into battle against some of the toughest teams in the nation. Leading the team last season in points per game and minutes played, Smith started all 33 games for the Hoosiers and experienced the high and low points of the season firsthand. Legette-Jack would do well to ensure that Smith is the focal point of her team.\nLegette-Jack has her work cut out for her entering her second season. The Big Ten will test her merit to its fullest, and her ability to weather the storm will determine the respect with which fans mention IU women’s basketball. While this is a daunting task for any one person to shoulder, the benefits that success would bring should not be forgotten.
(10/08/07 12:45pm)
If in the following weeks students feel the ground begin to shake and see a few bricks come loose from campus buildings, they should not be alarmed. Indiana isn’t exactly along the San Andreas Fault. It’s no earthquake. Rather, it’s the adult smokers of Monroe County grumbling about the limits being placed on their right to privacy and the dangers of government limitation. Just ignore it and move on.\nThe Monroe County Board of Health made a proposal to county commissioners last week that would ban smoking in cars carrying children ages 13 and younger. However, primary concern rests on the issues of enforcement and penalties, including the ability of police to effectively ticket the offense. Commissioner Pat Stoffers also expressed concerns about the ban’s effectiveness and if the end might be better served by a second-hand smoke awareness campaign.\nAccording to the American Lung Association, 32 percent of middle school students are exposed to second-hand smoke, increasing the risk of respiratory infections, asthma, bronchitis and cancer, among other complications. The proposed ban in Monroe County is intended to protect a group of individuals dependent on adults for transportation and will hopefully cut back on the risks some children face. A lack of enforcement possibilities is not enough to immediately kill the proposal (and, thankfully, county commissioners have not).\nEnforcement of the ban will no doubt be worked out in Monroe County’s bureaucracy. What is important is not the complete elimination of the problem at hand but its reduction. Speeding tickets do not stop students from cruising down Highway 37 at 80 mph. But after one speeding ticket that costs hundreds of dollars, they’ll certainly slow down. If it takes officers handing out tickets like speeding violations to parents who smoke with their children in the car to control the problem, then so be it.\nMany will argue that a right to privacy is too big a sacrifice to make in order to enforce this ban. The mentality goes “my car, my kids, my cigarettes.” But considering that second-hand smoke has such harmful effects on children, the argument that smokers should be allowed to smoke around their children because it’s their private choice shakes and falls. If the word “knife” is inserted for the word “cigarettes,” the mentality certainly would not justify a parent stabbing their child in the lungs. Cigarettes have the same effect.\nAs for Stoffers’ proposal that there be an education campaign concerning second-hand smoke, few will find good reason to argue. However, in an information age with television and the Internet trumpeting the dangers of second-hand smoke for the entire nation to hear, it is clear that education is not enough. The effects of second-hand smoke are known, even by those who would do their best to ignore them. Action by the Monroe County government is necessary in order to protect its young population. The grumblings of adults who prefer convenience over safety is no reason to skirt that responsibility.
(10/02/07 3:59am)
Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. \nSince the Beatles released “Love Me Do” in 1962, those three words began a love affair that would develop and become a phrase that was socially accepted all over the world. Generation after generation of the music scene’s greatest artists have been under the influence of everything from marijuana to LSD and, in light of the resultant creativity, the social crackdown on drug use is limited.\nBut has the social acceptance of drug use gone a little far? It is possible, especially if we consider replacing one of the words. Try this on for size: sex, drugs and major athletics.\nSince IU basketball recruit Bud Mackey was arrested Friday on drug trafficking charges, the IU community was slapped in the face again with the idea that drugs have infiltrated the college sports world. Mackey, who was released on $10,000 bond Saturday morning, has still not been proven guilty and as such should be considered innocent. But the news reports in the major media do little to quell the fans’ concerns as they watch athlete after athlete accused or convicted in drug-related issues. \nIn this “drug” culture that is building within major athletics, beginning in high school and making its way up to professional sports, athletes are dehumanized. How many IU basketball fans’ immediate response was “Damn, we just lost ANOTHER recruit?” \nI know that, upon reading headlines concerning Mackey’s arrest, this was my initial reaction. But after reflection, my opinions changed. How sad is it that as a sports culture we are more concerned with Mackey as an athlete and the success he might bring our program than we are with him as a person?\nBy no means is it proper to condone actions of this nature, and athletes who take part in them should be punished accordingly if found guilty. However, in a high school and NCAA sports system that vaults basketball and football players to the levels of gods, what can fans expect? \nThe pressure of such a venerated position in the highest level of amateur competition and eventually in the professional level – for those who might have the honor of obtaining such stature – must be heavier than many fans can imagine. And if from the first snap of the ball or first swish of the net athletes are taught that they are almost untouchable, pushing the line seems a natural, albeit rebellious, action.\nBut who takes the time to stop and wonder about athletes’ health when a drug case emerges? Not many, no doubt, as the system asks only for production. If an athlete cannot produce, for whatever reason, he is tossed into the blowing wind that will take him to the land of underachievers.\nPerhaps a better way to combat the problem of sex, drugs and major athletics is to identify the root cause of the issue instead of immediately crucifying those who might have a problem.\nIn a win-above-all-else sports world, that tactic seems unlikely. And those who are never caught, though they might be using, will become more famous than many will ever imagine.
(09/27/07 4:00am)
SEASON 4 PREMIERE: 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, on ABC\nSUMMARY: Last season sent fans into panic, wondering where Creator Shonda Rhimes would take the show next. It ended with Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek (Patrick Dempsey) reaching an emotional turning point in their relationship. Christina (Sandra Oh) and Preston (Issiah Washington) failed to get married. George (T.R. Knight) failed his exam and will be back to repeat an internship in season four. Callie (Sara Ramirez), whose husband George (T.R. Knight) cheated on her with Izzie (Katherine Heigl), was named chief resident. Viewers received a glimpse of some new interns, one being Meredith's half-sister Lexie (Chyler Leigh).\nPREDICTION: It's hard to predict what will happen, since season three left so many questions in the air. Lexie will likely interfere with Meredith and Derek's relationship. George won't get off easily for having slept with Izzie, and Callie will likely find out about the affair, and he will have to make a decision. As Callie enters the season as chief resident, Dr. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) who vied for the position, will question where she belongs at the hospital. As for Christina, it's hard to say what she will do since Preston is now gone, but she may have a hard time getting over him.
(09/10/07 1:25am)
For the great number of convicted felons who have committed serious violations of the law in the state of Indiana, they can be almost certain that they will breathe free air again. And if they keep their heads down and wait on a literal “get out of jail free” card from the Indiana Parole Board, this will most likely occur sooner, rather than later.\nSuch was the case for Richard Allen Dobeski, a Winamac, Ind., man who was released on parole after serving 40 years in prison. Dobeski was convicted of murder in 1964 for the deaths of a 6-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy. In 2003, the Indiana Parole Board granted his release.\nBut Dobeski was rearrested last week for attempted criminal confinement after offering to pay a child to accompany him to a nearby beach and pose for photographs.\nIt is easy to treat this occurrence as an isolated incident, especially given the violent nature of Dobeski’s initial crime. \nBut paroled criminals are seriously inclined not to complete parole, and many end up back where they started after breaking the punitive rules imposed upon them or committing another crime. In late 2005, national statistics showed that 38 percent of all parolees – of which there were more than 700,000 – returned to prison or jail.\nConsidering such statistics does not exactly breed secure feelings in the hearts of law-abiding Hoosiers and raises serious questions about the ability of the Parole Board to assess criminals or the ease with which it releases prisoners on parole. Many Indiana criminals are eligible to receive one day of credit for every day they served in prison if they comply with Department of Corrections’ rules of conduct.\nSo why is it that potentially dangerous criminals are given second chances when statistics show that almost two times in five they will violate parole? It seems that Indiana law enforcement should be extremely concerned for its law-abiding citizens when violent offenders are involved .\nThe answer, as usual, has to do with money. Currently, keeping an adult inmate in prison costs an average of $58.99 per day or about $21,000 per year. Considering that in June 2007 there were 25,876 inmates in Indiana prisons, the total funding spent on inmates is quite daunting and takes a serious cut out of the DOC’s $500 million-plus budget. Inmate needs also put extra strain on Indiana taxpayers.\nHowever, before clearing out the prison because of fiscal hardship and tight budgets, another statistic should be considered. According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, in 2000 a violent crime occurred every 24.8 minutes. A history of violent crime in a person’s record should be enough to ensure that they will be the least likely to commit such acts, especially if the state already had them incarcerated. \nPerhaps Indiana should re-evaluate its commitment to corrections, or at least make sure that parole is granted only to those who have clearly been rehabilitated under intense scrutiny. It’s time to look at criminals as criminals and not as dollar signs.
(09/05/07 3:39am)
Touting itself as the “nation’s foremost athletic conference,” the Big Ten launched its network amongst tremendous anticipation from fans who hoped to see better coverage and critics who expected it to fall flat on its face.\nFor better or worse, at 8 p.m. Aug. 30, 18 million households had access to the Big Ten Network when Dave Revsine introduced the first edition of Big Ten Tonight.\nBut with the sports network still up in arms with cable provider Comcast, many fans were unable to see the coverage presented this weekend. The eight-state region that houses the 11 universities of the Big Ten had only 3.5 million viewers with access to the station. Sitting in a Bloomington bar along with about 100 post-tailgaters, I viewed Saturday night’s prime time football game between our Hoosiers and Indiana State.\nThe fact that many Big Ten fans were unable to view the Big Ten Network no doubt left the ominous question, just what are these fans missing?\nAs a DirectTV subscriber and thus having access to the station, I can assure those who are unable to view the newly launched network that you don’t get much out of the news coverage that couldn’t be found on ESPN. Granted, the limited scope of the program did allow football analysts like former IU football coach Gerry DiNardo and former Illinois running back Howard Griffith to visit each schools’ training camp prior to the start of the season. Their plotted scripts, however, seemed to differ little from the style of ESPN’s Lou Holtz. \nThe fact remains that those fans unable to see the programming available on the new network still missed out on game coverage. This is the real downfall of the current battle between the Big Ten Network and major cable operators. It’s the fans who lost last weekend as a result of a power struggle between two major corporate entities.\nUnfortunately for the Big Ten Network, its creation will probably come off as a hassle for fans who missed out on major Big Ten coverage this weekend, like the major upset of Michigan’s football team by Appalachian State. If previously they would have had at least limited coverage, what good is a network that they can’t access and so have no coverage?\nThe Big Ten Network needs answers to this question and it needs them fast.\nAs for the inaugural weekend, I was far more content to watch highlights on ESPN from anchors that I know and love than listen to the ramblings of a network still trying to find its footing. And while I enjoyed access to IU athletics this weekend, which included a men’s soccer game, concern for those who were unable to tune in should be of primary focus. \nRight now, the only winner in the battle between the Big Ten Network and major cable providers is ESPN, who will no doubt get the overflow of Big Ten fans looking for highlights.