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(07/25/05 2:22am)
Although he was thousands of miles away from Bloomington, the excitement of Lance Armstrong winning a seventh consecutive Tour de France was still very close to home Sunday. For cycling enthusiasts the Tour was a chance to cheer on one of their favorite cyclists and a USA hero. \n"We definitely watch and follow different stages whenever we get a chance," said Adam Hale, a mechanic at Bikesmiths Bicycle Shop at 112 S. College Ave. "It creates a buzz. It encourages people to get back on their own bikes when they see inspiring athletes."\nPossibly the most inspiring rider of all time, Armstrong is more motivating to some for his determination off the bike than his enormous collection of Parisian trophies. The Texan, who overcame testicular cancer in 1997, has been someone to look up to for numerous local riders, including 2005 Little 500 Champion sophomore Daniel Houchens. The Dodds House rider was sidelined from cycling and school for nearly a year after a car hit him while on a ride, leaving him with multiple injuries. After a year of physical therapy and countless hours of hard work Houchens powered back to the bike and his Dodds teammates. \n"I definitely look up to him a lot more because of my accident," Houchens said of Armstrong. "You appreciate the suffering in cycling a lot more after being in the hospital."\nFor local riders, Armstrong and his American teammates can provide some backing during hot summer rides on the hills of Bloomington. Senior and Kappa Alpha Theta cyclist Liz Milne said after watching the Tour with friends on the Outdoor Life Network or at the Bakehouse, it's easier to battle grueling rides when she thinks back to what the professionals are doing on each stage. \n"It makes things that we do seem a little easier," Milne said. "They're doing things that are 10 times harder than what we are. It's inspiring."\nMilne said she cheered for the whole Discovery Channel team including Armstrong and USA teammate George Hincapie, who finished 14th. With Armstrong's retirement this year Milne said the 2006 Tour will no doubt be something to watch with the yellow jersey up for grabs. \n"Next year is going to be really exciting," she said. "Riders will be changing teams and coming up to win. Too bad it won't be as popular without such an icon representing the event, but it'll still be popular. Lance just happens to be one of the best."\nHouchens, an adamant Armstrong fan, said the seven-time champion has brought some new faces to the sport of cycling.\n"Everybody gets really caught up in the moment," he said. "I think there's a 'Lance effect.' More people get into cycling once they watch him on TV."\nRecent graduate and Houchens' Dodds House teammate Craig Luekens agreed the 2006 race will be a whole new competition, but the sport will never again see someone like Armstrong, he said. \n"Next year is going to be a lot more exciting," Luekens said. "But it's been pretty neat to witness such greatness in this guy. We'll never see this again, that's for sure"
(06/02/05 8:16pm)
INDIANAPOLIS -- As MSNBC's Debra Norville greeted fans on the red carpet at the Indianapolis 500 Sunday, she asked a young girl which driver was her favorite. As the young race fan answered, Norville echoed the same sentiment that many women yelled throughout the day: "Girl Power!"\nThe "Girl Power" cheer came in support of female favorite Danica Patrick. This season, the 23-year-old rookie has quickly become the poster girl of female empowerment, making history as a contender that can hold her own against her male counterparts on the track. \nAnd for good reason. \nBecoming the first female to ever lead a lap in a running of the Indianapolis 500, and going on to lead 19 laps overall, Patrick made history for females in racing Sunday. But she said she's just doing what she does best.\n"I'm just racing," Patrick said. "I don't know. It sounds so goober stupid, but I just don't think about it."\nBut "just racing" wasn't easy for the Roscoe, Ill., native Sunday. \nPatrick began the race after qualifying fourth and after ending weeks of media hype around her first Indy 500 and what was possibly a looming first victory. \nAfter 40 laps, Patrick was in fifth place and going strong. Ending lap 56, she had done what no woman had ever accomplished -- lead a lap -- before going into the pits. It wasn't until pitting at lap 79 that the first of many rookie mistakes began. During her pit she stalled the car while exiting, causing her pit time to total 48 seconds -- a normal pit lasts between 12 and 19 seconds -- dropping her from fourth to 16th place. \n"I'm going to be mad at myself for the stall," Patrick said. "I was in great position, I was running fourth, it was a very good car. I thought that that was a good place. But I think the spin had to happen for a reason, so I'm not mad at that."\nThe bad fortune didn't stop there. At lap 121 after bumping wheels with another driver she spun out and almost left the race in a crash. \nBut while the mistakes seemed like they wouldn't end, the "Girl Power" and female fans were behind her and at lap 142 Patrick had crawled from 16th to 8th place and began to make her comeback. \nFor the second time Sunday, Patrick gained the lead and cruised in and out of the pits as the leader and comfortably held the lead in yellow at lap 172. As the laps began to tick away the crowd screamed each time her red, white and dark blue car passed over the start/finish line -- each time signifying another lap totaled by the rookie and woman. She was in first place and close to the end of the 200 lap race. \nAt lap 185, Patrick was passed by English driver Dan Wheldon, but quickly grabbed the lead back at lap 189. As the two made attempts to flip-flop the lead, Wheldon took first place for the last time at lap 194. A yellow flag occurred at lap 199, causing the drivers to ride out the last lap in yellow. As Patrick tried to conserve fuel for the last laps she dropped into fourth place -- where she had begun the race.\nAlthough she didn't win, her work has been done. Patrick made an impression on females on Sunday, but she said she made an impression on a few more people than just women.\n"I made a hell of a point for anybody, are you kidding me? I came from the back twice," she said. "I definitely got a lot of experience in different situations... This one was overcoming the adversities and the things that happen in a race"
(05/31/05 6:14pm)
INDIANAPOLIS -- As MSNBC's Debra Norville greeted fans on the red carpet at the Indianapolis 500 on May 29, she asked a young girl which driver was her favorite. As the young race fan answered, Norville echoed the same sentiment that many women yelled throughout the day: "Girl Power!"\nThe "Girl Power" cheer came in support of female favorite Danica Patrick. This season, the 23 year old rookie has quickly become the poster girl of female empowerment, making history as a contender that can hold her own against her male counterparts on the track. \nAnd for good reason. \nBecoming the first female to ever lead a lap (and to go on to lead more than 13 laps overall) in an Indianapolis 500, Patrick made history for females in racing on Sunday. But for her, she's just doing what she does best.\n"I'm just racing," Patrick said. "I don't know. It sounds so goober stupid, but I just don't think about it."\nBut "just racing" wasn't easy for the Roscoe, Ill. Native Sunday. \nPatrick began the race after qualifying fourth and after ending weeks of media hype around her first Indy 500 and what was possibly a looming first victory. \nAfter 40 laps, Patrick was in fifth place and going strong. Ending lap 56, she had done what no woman had ever accomplished -- lead a lap -- before going into the pits. It wasn't until pitting at lap 79 that the first of many rookie mistakes began. During her pit she stalled the car while exiting; causing her pit time to total 48 seconds (a normal pit lasts between 12 and 19 seconds) dropping her from fourth to 16th place. \n"I'm going to be mad at myself for the stall," Patrick said. "I was in great position, I was running fourth, it was a very good car. I thought that that was a good place. But I think the spin had to happen for a reason, so I'm not mad at that."\nThe bad fortune didn't stop there. At lap 121 after bumping wheels with another driver she spun out and almost left the race in a crash. \nBut while the mistakes seemed like they wouldn't end, the "Girl Power" and female fans were behind her and at lap 142 Patrick crawled from 16th to 8th place and began to make her comeback. \nFor the second time on Sunday, Patrick gained the lead and cruised in and out of the pits as the leader and comfortably held the lead in yellow at lap 172. As the laps began to tick away the crowd screamed each time her red, white and dark blue car passed over the start/finish line -- each time signifying another lap totaled by the rookie and woman. She was in first place and so close to the end of the 200 lap race. \nAt lap 185, Patrick was passed by English driver Dan Wheldon, but quickly grabbed the lead back at lap 189. As the two made attempts to flip-flop the lead, Wheldon took first place for the last time at lap 194. A yellow flag occurred at lap 198, causing the drivers to ride out the remaining two laps in yellow. As Patrick tried to conserve fuel for the last laps she dropped into fourth place -- were she began the race -- and passed over the start/finish line. \nAlthough she didn't win, her work has been done. Patrick made an impression on females on Sunday, but she said she made an impression on a few more people than just women. \n"I made a hell of a point for anybody, are you kidding me? I came from the back twice," she said. "I definitely got a lot of experience in different situations. So it was frustrating to be leading the race with so few laps to go and not be able to finish hard and just hang out up front and win the thing. This one was overcoming the adversities and the things that happen in a race"
(04/28/05 4:00am)
For 131 years, the Kentucky horse racing tradition has continued with style, grace and booze. It's hard to believe that within a few feet of each other the epitome of class and the epitome of trash can be enjoying the same event, but that's the Kentucky Derby -- located at the corner of horse racing and drunken madness. \nThe tradition, which brings the best horses and people from across the world together for the best two minutes in sports, is a sight to see, especially if you see one of the four-legged runners. \n"It's where spring break meets thoroughbred racing," said Tony Terry, director of publicity for Churchill Downs. "If you take your time and get there early you can actually see some horses before you start to party."\nAnd party is what everyone does at Churchill Downs, the legendary racetrack where the Derby is held. Whether old or young, Louisville native or out of towner, getting into the spirit of spring and horse racing is what the Derby's all about. For the people of Louisville, one day isn't enough to celebrate the Kentucky Derby; they need a two-week festival. \nA two-week party? Ok!\nOur border neighbors do things right when they celebrate the Derby. Not only do they throw one of the biggest parties in the Northern Hemisphere the first Saturday in May, but they get a warm-up the two weeks leading up to it. The two weeks are appropriately called the Kentucky Derby Festival and are jam-packed with everything from wild celebrity parties to family events to a steamboat race. There's something for everyone including students from IU.\n"A Pegasus Pin gets you into a lot of the events or many of the other events are free to attend," said Mark Shallcross, communications manager for the Kentucky Derby Festival. "(Louisville) is a short drive from Bloomington and students are going to want to blow off some steam after finals. The festival is a great time of year in Louisville; the town is a buzz of excitement with people in town."\nThe two-week buzz starts with the nation's largest annual fireworks event -- Thunder Over Louisville. This isn't just any fireworks show, but 60 tons of fireworks packed into a 28-minute show at the Kentucky waterfront. \nOnce the smoke clears, more than 50 festival events begin. A Pegasus Pin will get you into those events. The pins -- $3 this year -- are uniquely designed, featuring different festival events on different pins. The pins are an admission ticket and a memento. \nBut while many of the events cost money, Shallcross said the best events are free. The Pegasus Parade, Great Steamboat Race and Great Balloon Race are all events where all that is required is a good spot to watch the action and in some instances a blanket and picnic lunch. \n"The steamboat race is a free event and it's the only place you can see authentic steamboats," Shallcross said. "The parade Grande Marshall is Chubby Checker and there will be a whole rock 'n' roll theme. That will be very enjoyable."\nAlong with the traditional events there is also a wine tasting, numerous chow wagons with live music and cheap food and lots of concerts -- including Widespread Panic, Alkaline Trio, Seether and Crossface -- over the two-week period.
(04/27/05 5:39am)
For 131 years, the Kentucky horse racing tradition has continued with style, grace and booze. It's hard to believe that within a few feet of each other the epitome of class and the epitome of trash can be enjoying the same event, but that's the Kentucky Derby -- located at the corner of horse racing and drunken madness. \nThe tradition, which brings the best horses and people from across the world together for the best two minutes in sports, is a sight to see, especially if you see one of the four-legged runners. \n"It's where spring break meets thoroughbred racing," said Tony Terry, director of publicity for Churchill Downs. "If you take your time and get there early you can actually see some horses before you start to party."\nAnd party is what everyone does at Churchill Downs, the legendary racetrack where the Derby is held. Whether old or young, Louisville native or out of towner, getting into the spirit of spring and horse racing is what the Derby's all about. For the people of Louisville, one day isn't enough to celebrate the Kentucky Derby; they need a two-week festival. \nA two-week party? Ok!\nOur border neighbors do things right when they celebrate the Derby. Not only do they throw one of the biggest parties in the Northern Hemisphere the first Saturday in May, but they get a warm-up the two weeks leading up to it. The two weeks are appropriately called the Kentucky Derby Festival and are jam-packed with everything from wild celebrity parties to family events to a steamboat race. There's something for everyone including students from IU.\n"A Pegasus Pin gets you into a lot of the events or many of the other events are free to attend," said Mark Shallcross, communications manager for the Kentucky Derby Festival. "(Louisville) is a short drive from Bloomington and students are going to want to blow off some steam after finals. The festival is a great time of year in Louisville; the town is a buzz of excitement with people in town."\nThe two-week buzz starts with the nation's largest annual fireworks event -- Thunder Over Louisville. This isn't just any fireworks show, but 60 tons of fireworks packed into a 28-minute show at the Kentucky waterfront. \nOnce the smoke clears, more than 50 festival events begin. A Pegasus Pin will get you into those events. The pins -- $3 this year -- are uniquely designed, featuring different festival events on different pins. The pins are an admission ticket and a memento. \nBut while many of the events cost money, Shallcross said the best events are free. The Pegasus Parade, Great Steamboat Race and Great Balloon Race are all events where all that is required is a good spot to watch the action and in some instances a blanket and picnic lunch. \n"The steamboat race is a free event and it's the only place you can see authentic steamboats," Shallcross said. "The parade Grande Marshall is Chubby Checker and there will be a whole rock 'n' roll theme. That will be very enjoyable."\nAlong with the traditional events there is also a wine tasting, numerous chow wagons with live music and cheap food and lots of concerts -- including Widespread Panic, Alkaline Trio, Seether and Crossface -- over the two-week period.
(04/26/05 5:44am)
Stepping off the elevator onto the 10th floor of the Herman B Wells Library, the stacks look as they should to Graduate Assistant Volkan Sahin. But rounding the corner, things begin to look disorganized at best.\nLooking for a book on American literature is nearly impossible, he said. Piles of books on the floor stand in the way, and when Sahin pulls one book from a shelf, four more come crashing down. As each volume is shoved into the wrong place, he points out, its binding is torn, its call numbers are whittled off, and its cover is ripped. The books are falling apart.\nWith the invention of the computer and online journals, most students don't go searching for books on the research side of the library very often, but when they do, they are constantly faced with this problem.\nBut it's not only students who deal with this problem. Sahin works as an assistant in the library stacks office and confronts the stacks' condition every day.\n"It's really frustrating," Sahin said. "I'm also a user of this library for my studies. I don't know how I could find these books if I didn't work here."\nAnd although Sahin doesn't have much trouble locating and re-shelving books because of his position at the stacks office, it doesn't make his job any easier. The office employs a total of five supervisors and more than 40 staffers to re-shelve books, but it doesn't have enough room to accommodate such a large staff. The office is slightly bigger than a dorm room and has only two computers to monitor every book that is re-shelved in the library. On top of the inadequate conditions, the computer system that tracks re-shelving requires each supervisor to check the re-shelving progress manually, which can take hours. \n"The re-shelving process has to change," Sahin said.\nWhen talking about the problems within the stacks, Sahin points his finger at the new exterior and interior renovations the library is expecting to undergo during the next 10 years. He explained that instead of elaborate and "unnecessary" renovations, library personnel should focus on restructuring the stacks and mending books instead of making the library visually pleasing.\n"Make it more functional than appealing. I don't care how many glass canopies you have," he said, calling attention to the exterior renovations the library will undergo.\nAlthough library renovations might seem elaborate and expensive -- $28.9 million for the beginning phase of renovations and an overall $80 million to complete the total overhaul -- Dean of University Libraries Suzanne Thorin said what concerns Sahin and what will be renovated are part of two separate budgets. \n"It's not a problem," Thorin said. "Within a year, we will have the rest of the books moved to the auxiliary location ... that's all part of the master plan. He just can't see it yet. The canopy has nothing to do with it."\nThorin said this year library staffers have been working to move books from the stacks to the library's auxiliary location -- a vault at the Ruth Lilly Auxiliary Library Facility -- to allow more room. Thorin said completing the move will prompt much relief. She also defended the renovation plans that include a new entrance, book drop, yard and plaza, circle drive, auditorium, faculty and staff research areas and a glass canopy.\n"It's a building that has exceeded its time," Thorin said. "The plans are very practical; the renovations meet a huge need that students and faculty have asked for."\nJunior Matt Duff said he doesn't have trouble locating books in the library. The English major entered the 10th floor and wandered past the piles of books on the floor and disorganized shelves to find a book on Harriet Prescott Spofford. It took him less than two minutes to locate the book he needed to write his 19th Century American Fiction final paper. Although the book was in protective binding because of its old age and poor condition, Duff was pleased he found what he was looking for quickly. \n"That does suck," Duff said eyeing the carts of overflowing books. "This is a resource that is seldom used. I guess you could say you can't judge a book by its cover. I'm satisfied by it."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(04/21/05 4:00am)
Britney Spears has done it all -- sold millions of records, traveled across the world and back, gotten married (twice) and kissed Madonna. But as the pop princess has said in tabloid rags she hasn't done the one thing that will put her close to God and give her what every little girl dreams of -- have a baby. Well thank the Lord above, Brit and her hubby of almost nine months, Kevin Federline, have been blessed with a bun in the oven. According to what Britney has been saying to the media she's now at the perfect age to be a mommy.\n"I want to be a young mom," she told People magazine in 2004. "Next year, at 23, I'm so there."\nAnd now it seems she is "so there." After announcing on her official web site on April 12 that she is with child it seemed it was the time to come clean after hiding her expanding waistline all over Los Angeles. At first US Weekly speculated that she just couldn't keep the pounds off, but maybe she was just eating for two?\nPeople and US Weekly both showed photo after photo of Britney covering her stomach (but let's be honest, every girl in a bathing suit does that from time to time, you don't have to be preggers to be a little self conscious of your tummy). Then People plastered a few more shots of Brit walking around the hotel she's staying at with Federline with what appeared to be a tummy bulge. No one could figure out if it was extra weight or a baby until Brit, who loves the media question blitz despite what she says, announced she was expecting. \nThe real question here isn't whether Britney will put on a few extra pounds over the next nine months -- which is sure to happen while she's out of work and loading up on her favorite snacks of extra large Starbucks drinks (remember to make it caffeine-free while you're pregnant Britney!), McDonald's fries and Cheetos. \nThe question remains to whether Mrs. Federline is really ready for the responsibility of having a baby of her own. Let's face it; I'm sure she's fine with having babies when she can have them for the weekend or when there's always the option of giving them back to their rightful owner, aka Kevin's kids from his previous relationship with actress Shar Jackson. It's like babysitting -- I love taking care of my cousins Maggie and Will, but after about three hours of household bliss their screaming, tantrums and cleaning up poo is only so cute. \nKevin's darlings -- daughter Kori, 2, and son Kaleb, 9 months -- have become Britney's stand-in children over the last months, especially Kori. She's been seen buying Kori little dresses and swimming with her in the pool of the hotel they have been staying in while her and Kevin's mansion is being renovated. But does swimming and buying a kid clothes really make someone a good mother? And does all this excitement about having another little one running around really make Britney super-mom? To Britney's cousin, evidentially this does. \n"She talks about Kori nonstop, and every time I see her she always has new pictures to show me. She's always loved children," Laura Lynne Covington said to People. \nTo me, I say no. If you think about who Britney Spears is and what she's done in the past this is just another fad she's decided to adopt -- one that I'm sure she's going to get sick of real quick. The problem with pregnancy -- just like her tattoos -- is this isn't something she can get rid of in 55 hours like her quickie marriage to high school chum Jason Alexander in Vegas. \nThe most recent Britney fad I'm still baffled by is Britney's idea of a summer job. First off, does the girl really need one? Anyway, just before she announced her pregnancy, Britney and Kevin showed up at her dad's restaurant in Venice Beach, Calif., called JJ Chill where Britney announced she was planning to work for the summer. Is it just me or does it seem odd that Spears would need to blend smoothies and slop chili for tips? Another Britney fad that came and went in moments. \nWhile I have to admit I'm like most girls -- while I'm in the grocery store checkout any cover of a magazine with Britney on it will catch my eye, whether trash or true. But what I sometimes love about Britney is her ability to make me laugh with her ridiculous larger than life stunts. She always reminds me that although she's two months older than me I'll probably always be a little more mature. \nBut Britney's pregnant with a real baby and no matter how you look at it, it's still pretty insane. I was fine with her being married, I thought for sure she would be divorced before the year was up and now I'm glad I didn't put money on it. But a baby? Not only is it crazy, but I don't think I've even stopped to think about the fact that a smaller version of Britney and Kevin put together will be running around someday. It's an ever scarier concept than her 55-hour marriage, summer job or Madonna kiss put together.
(04/20/05 4:59am)
Britney Spears has done it all -- sold millions of records, traveled across the world and back, gotten married (twice) and kissed Madonna. But as the pop princess has said in tabloid rags she hasn't done the one thing that will put her close to God and give her what every little girl dreams of -- have a baby. Well thank the Lord above, Brit and her hubby of almost nine months, Kevin Federline, have been blessed with a bun in the oven. According to what Britney has been saying to the media she's now at the perfect age to be a mommy.\n"I want to be a young mom," she told People magazine in 2004. "Next year, at 23, I'm so there."\nAnd now it seems she is "so there." After announcing on her official web site on April 12 that she is with child it seemed it was the time to come clean after hiding her expanding waistline all over Los Angeles. At first US Weekly speculated that she just couldn't keep the pounds off, but maybe she was just eating for two?\nPeople and US Weekly both showed photo after photo of Britney covering her stomach (but let's be honest, every girl in a bathing suit does that from time to time, you don't have to be preggers to be a little self conscious of your tummy). Then People plastered a few more shots of Brit walking around the hotel she's staying at with Federline with what appeared to be a tummy bulge. No one could figure out if it was extra weight or a baby until Brit, who loves the media question blitz despite what she says, announced she was expecting. \nThe real question here isn't whether Britney will put on a few extra pounds over the next nine months -- which is sure to happen while she's out of work and loading up on her favorite snacks of extra large Starbucks drinks (remember to make it caffeine-free while you're pregnant Britney!), McDonald's fries and Cheetos. \nThe question remains to whether Mrs. Federline is really ready for the responsibility of having a baby of her own. Let's face it; I'm sure she's fine with having babies when she can have them for the weekend or when there's always the option of giving them back to their rightful owner, aka Kevin's kids from his previous relationship with actress Shar Jackson. It's like babysitting -- I love taking care of my cousins Maggie and Will, but after about three hours of household bliss their screaming, tantrums and cleaning up poo is only so cute. \nKevin's darlings -- daughter Kori, 2, and son Kaleb, 9 months -- have become Britney's stand-in children over the last months, especially Kori. She's been seen buying Kori little dresses and swimming with her in the pool of the hotel they have been staying in while her and Kevin's mansion is being renovated. But does swimming and buying a kid clothes really make someone a good mother? And does all this excitement about having another little one running around really make Britney super-mom? To Britney's cousin, evidentially this does. \n"She talks about Kori nonstop, and every time I see her she always has new pictures to show me. She's always loved children," Laura Lynne Covington said to People. \nTo me, I say no. If you think about who Britney Spears is and what she's done in the past this is just another fad she's decided to adopt -- one that I'm sure she's going to get sick of real quick. The problem with pregnancy -- just like her tattoos -- is this isn't something she can get rid of in 55 hours like her quickie marriage to high school chum Jason Alexander in Vegas. \nThe most recent Britney fad I'm still baffled by is Britney's idea of a summer job. First off, does the girl really need one? Anyway, just before she announced her pregnancy, Britney and Kevin showed up at her dad's restaurant in Venice Beach, Calif., called JJ Chill where Britney announced she was planning to work for the summer. Is it just me or does it seem odd that Spears would need to blend smoothies and slop chili for tips? Another Britney fad that came and went in moments. \nWhile I have to admit I'm like most girls -- while I'm in the grocery store checkout any cover of a magazine with Britney on it will catch my eye, whether trash or true. But what I sometimes love about Britney is her ability to make me laugh with her ridiculous larger than life stunts. She always reminds me that although she's two months older than me I'll probably always be a little more mature. \nBut Britney's pregnant with a real baby and no matter how you look at it, it's still pretty insane. I was fine with her being married, I thought for sure she would be divorced before the year was up and now I'm glad I didn't put money on it. But a baby? Not only is it crazy, but I don't think I've even stopped to think about the fact that a smaller version of Britney and Kevin put together will be running around someday. It's an ever scarier concept than her 55-hour marriage, summer job or Madonna kiss put together.
(04/18/05 6:42am)
Although it's meant to be one race between 33 teams, the end of Saturday's 55th running of the Little 500 turned into two separate races -- one for first and second places and another for third and fourth.\nDodds House and Phi Gamma Delta sprinted down the stretch for first, while Briscoe and Delta Upsilon battled for third.\nWhen it was all over, the Dodds House riders stood victorious as this year's men's Little 500 champions. \n"It's just an amazing feeling coming across the line to not see anyone in front of you," senior Dodds rider Craig Luekens said of his sprint to the finish. "I can't describe it."\nFiji came in a close second behind Dodds. Delta Upsilon won the second close race of the day finishing third, while Briscoe finished fourth. \n"I'd be lying if I said I was happy we didn't win, but fourth place in my last Little 5, we were in it in the end," said Briscoe senior Tim Smith. "It sucks now, but looking back I'm pretty happy."\nThe lead lap ended with four teams, but more than seven were in contention for the title at lap 180. At that lap three five-second penalties were dealt to Alpha Tau Omega, LiSiHi and pole sitter Phi Kappa Psi, who sat in fifth, sixth and seventh place, respectively. The penalties were given due to an earlier yellow flag around lap 170. The teams were said to have been "creeping during yellow," or trying to move up in the field during a caution. After serving their penalties ATO, Phi Psi and LiSiHi returned to the race. After being almost 10 seconds behind the top four teams at lap 180 ATO, Phi Psi and LiSiHi lost enough ground to do serious damage to their cause. \nATO finished the race in fifth, Phi Psi in sixth and LiSiHi in eighth. \nOther teams were also caught up in a case of bad luck before any of the teams had a chance to complete a full lap. Coming into the first turn after the start, teams began to pick up their pace and suddenly more than 13 teams were caught in a wreck, including ATO, Chi Phi, Collins, LiSiHi, Sigma Nu and Team Major Taylor. \n"That was something you don't normally see in the guy's race," said Fiji senior Joe Keck. "But you gotta' give ATO credit because they went down and they fought back to get back on the pack. It was unfortunate for them."\nAnother team that had to fight hard while they were behind was Cutters. With their only veteran rider, junior David Caughlin, sidelined around lap 12 with what onsite EMS said could be a concussion, the team rode the rest of the race with three riders. Cutters was down one lap for most of the race. Near lap 180 the team improved its position and gained ground to finish seventh. \n"These guys are stepping it up," Caughlin said inside infield EMS tent. "I was supposed to ride a big bulk of the laps. All the other guys are rookies, but it looks like they're making the most of it."\nAt lap 195, the laps began to get faster with Dodds, Delta Upsilon, Briscoe and Fiji in contention. Freshman Daniel Houchens came off the bike for Dodds and Luekens jumped on. Briscoe and Delta Upsilon also made exchanges, and one lap later Fiji's senior Matt Davis mounted the bike in preparation to make the final sprint for the team. \nAs the teams entered lap 197 it was obvious Dodds and Fiji would battle to the finish as Briscoe and Delta Upsilon were nearly a half lap behind. \nIt could be seen in both teams' pits -- this was it. Fiji team members, still on their warm-up bikes in their pit, peddled as Davis sped past them on lap 198. It was opposite in the Dodds pit; the team stood still until Luekens neared, then cheering erupted.\nThe final lap approached and inches away from each other Fiji and Dodds, Luekens and Davis, rounded the fourth turn and sprinted to the finish.\nDodds won without question.\n"It was great, it was so much fun," Houchens said. "It was all worth it, but it was a long time coming; I'm ready for this."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(04/18/05 6:16am)
Third place in Individual Time Trials. Second place in Miss-N-Out. Third place in Team Pursuit. Senior Craig Luekens' 2005 Little 500 Spring Series Events résumé is full of second- and third-place finishes, but when it really counted the senior finished first.\nAfter a sprint for the finish against Fiji rider senior Matt Davis, Luekens took this year's Little 500 checkered flag along with his Dodds House teammates, a first for Dodds since 1998. \nFor Luekens, who has been riding for Dodds since his freshman year, the win was a long time coming after continually finishing second, but the team had a plan. \n"It was hard for the series events, but we knew we didn't want to peak for those, we wanted to have a good race and our team was just so strong," said Luekens, the team's only senior. "It turned out just the way we wanted it to."\nGetting the race to turn out the way they wanted had to do with Lueken's drive and determination, said sophomore teammate Christopher Chartier. \nAlthough Luekens had been beat out by ATO junior Hans Arnesen in the Spring Series Events, Chartier didn't discount his teammate's talent on the track. \n"Hans is a great racer and you can't argue that he beat Craig in Miss-N-Out and ITTs, but I knew that if we put Craig in a good spot -- even if Hans was on that last lap -- Craig would want it more," Chartier said. \nIt's not just his own teammate singing Luekens praise after his performance at Little 500 on Saturday. Fellow dorm team Briscoe celebrated with Dodds after its win and numerous other teams congratulated Luekens and the rest of the team after their victory lap around Bill Armstrong stadium. \nWhile Fiji riders came within seconds of taking the checkered flag themselves, Fiji senior Stephen Spencer congratulated the team and spoke highly of Luekens, pointing out that he doesn't always get the recognition he deserves as a highly competitive rider.\n"Luekens is amazing," Spencer said. "You can't give enough credit to Craig Luekens."\nThe people that have given him the most credit are his Dodds teammates, who have each said their teammates are their best friends. After the race, Luekens said his teammates achieved their goal of giving him the win as a going away present.\nWhile it was a happy occasion, Chartier was visibly upset to have seen the oldest of the foursome have ridden in his final race. \n"I kind of ignored it for awhile ... and (then) I realized how much it meant to lose him," Chartier said. "I knew after that moment that I wasn't going to let anything happen to not send him out on a win. He means so much to the program; four-year guys like that just really keep it going."\n-- Contact Senior Writer \nKatie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(04/15/05 6:20pm)
His first memory emerges 10 days after he was involved in the accident. He has left Bloomington Hospital -- which he doesn't remember -- and has been moved to the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana where a buzzer is next to his bed. He presses the buzzer more than eight times a night to get the nurses' attention. The repeated buzzing isn't to complain about the pain he's experiencing; it's to get the nurses to bring him more cereal.\n***\nFreshman Daniel Houchens is like most IU students -- he's from Indiana, he's smart, good-looking and athletic. But 17 months ago Houchens was involved in a near-fatal car accident on IU's campus that almost ended his dreams of competing in Little 500 and without question changed his life forever.\n***\nOn Nov. 10, 2004, freshman Daniel Houchens is finishing a late afternoon ride. He heads into the intersection of 17th Street and Fee Lane when a car strikes him from the side. Daniel's head punctures the windshield, his bike flips backwards and into the air. \n***\nAround 6:30 p.m., the phone rang at the home of Peggy and Dennis Houchens in Zionsville, Ind. Dennis Houchens answered and heard the words that every parent dreads -- his youngest son had been in a serious accident and was taken to Bloomington Hospital.\n"Peggy and I jumped in our car without packing any clothes," Dennis Houchens recounted in his journal about his son's accident. "I cannot describe the anxiety and nauseous feeling that gripped us on what was the longest drive of our life. Probably 10 words were spoken in an hour and 15 minutes. While I tried to focus on the positive of him breathing on his own, I couldn't help but think about whether he was going to be dead by the time we got there ... Peggy said she prayed all the way there."\nAt 7:45 p.m., Peggy and Dennis Houchens went straight to the emergency room to see their son. With tubes down his throat and a brace around his neck, the brown-haired 18-year-old lay unconscious and sedated. Bloomington Hospital neurologist Dr. Souheil B. Haddad met Dennis and Peggy Houchens after they arrived in the emergency room and explained to them Houchens' head scans were clear. But Haddad said he didn't know when their son would wake up.\n"I knew no one would fight harder to recover than Daniel," Dennis Houchens wrote in his journal. "No one works harder to reach a goal than Daniel."\nWhen Houchens came to IU he began training with the Little 500 team Dodds House and was chosen as a team member because of his athleticism and drive. A separate hospital waiting room was set aside for his visitors -- his Dodds House teammates, other Little 500 riders, the IU Student Foundation's Little 500 director Rob Rhamy and a representative from the IU's dean's office. \n"We could hardly believe it," Dodds House teammate senior Craig Luekens said of the accident. "We wanted to know everything about his condition and we wanted to be there for his family. It was good to know that everyone was there when it counts."\nThe next three days pass as Daniel lies unconscious in the Bloomington Hospital Critical Care Unit. Each day doctors come in to give morphine and run tests, which consist of grabbing flesh on Daniel's shoulder and twisting. As the days continue Daniel begins responding to the doctors' tests, opening his eyes for a brief moment, and talks in small words. Four days after the accident, Daniel wakes up. \n***\nMidday on his fourth day, during his first session with the physical therapists, Houchens is awoken from his sleep and kept awake for a total of 10 minutes -- the longest he had been conscious since the accident. Dennis Houchens wrote in his journal that the therapists asked Houchens questions while he was awake, which he couldn't answer until they asked him his last name. \n"He thought about it for a few seconds then clearly stated, 'Houchens,' Peggy cried. He made the full 10 minutes then went back to sleep," Dennis Houchens wrote in his journal.\nHouchens was moved from the Critical Care Unit to the Neurology Unit after his 10 minutes of lucidity. He was brought his first meal, which he ate, plus granola bars, Nutri-Grain bars and Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookies, which he also ate. Over the next four days, Houchens' eating became legendary at the Bloomington Hospital. \nHe was moved to the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Nov. 19. He set a goal to be home by Thanksgiving -- in eight days. While at RHI, doctors tell the Houchens family most brain injury patients' recoveries take up to a year. Houchens will not return to IU for spring semester. \n"Daniel took all this pretty well," Dennis Houchens wrote in his journal. "Not only will he be out of school, he won't be riding in the Little 500. Peggy and I are concerned because we know when Daniel's physical injuries have healed, it will be hard for him to understand why he has to be held back from the things he loves to do."\nHouchens made it home for Thanksgiving, but doctors said he needed 24-hour supervision because of his injuries. After Thanksgiving, Daniel began outpatient therapy and memory exercises at home. Peggy and Dennis Houchens noticed his memory coming back. \n***\nIt's six weeks since the accident and Daniel has made such good progress he rides his bike outside for the first time. Dennis rides behind him in the car with the flashers on -- starting in the neighborhood and then on country roads. After the bike test, Daniel drives a car for the first time with Dennis in the passenger seat. Daniel retakes the drivers test and passes with "flying colors," according to Dennis' journal. \n***\n"I was just excited to be out of the house," Houchens said of his first ride after the accident. "I didn't understand the accident. I didn't really comprehend it. It wasn't until the summer and really until I got here where I really started to think about it a lot." \nAs the months progressed through January, February and March Houchens' determination only pushed him further into recovery. Although he had to be sidelined temporarily to correct the vertical and horizontal distortion in his left eye, his headaches decreased and his physical therapy increased his strength. \nIn March Houchens and his dad went to Bloomington for the court hearing of the driver that injured him. From what the Houchens know the driver was a Ball State student driving his girlfriend's car, who was an IU graduate student. The driver didn't come to the court hearing, but called the day before to plead guilty.\nAt the beginning of April, Houchens competed in his first race since the accident, although his dad wrote in his journal that he was "apprehensive" about how his son would do. As a credit to his personality, Houchens won the time trial. \nAs a second-year freshman and a Little 500 rookie, Houchens competed in Individual Time Trials and placed 25th with a time of 2:27.32. Dodds House finished third in Team Pursuit and will be in row two for the 55th Little 500. Daniel Houchens is part of that team.\n"I definitely feel very lucky," Houchens said. "I'm lucky to be riding a bike period, but especially after being almost killed. I've been looking forward to this year's race for the past two years, so I'm definitely pretty psyched up for it, but I don't think I feel extra special just because of what happened. I just want to go out there and do my job for my teammates."\n-- Contact Senior Writer\nKatie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(04/15/05 6:32am)
As students slowed down their schoolwork and began to prepare for the "World's Greatest College Weekend," Little 500 riders began to slow down too. But their adjustment was different, as they prepare for Saturday's 55th running of the men's Little 500 at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The men cut back their training to be at full strength for the race and prepared to get in the mindset to be in front on the 199th lap. \n"We are making sure we are all completely healthy," said Phi Kappa Psi sophomore Erik Styacich of the team's pre-race preparations. "We go over race tape, make sure we have enough rest so that we are at full strength for Saturday."\nPhi Psi, who holds the pole position on Saturday, has been performing well in the series events -- placing eighth in Team Pursuit -- but the team has plenty of competition coming from the rest of the pack, including high performance teams like Alpha Tau Omega, Briscoe, Dodds House, Phi Gamma Delta and returning champions Cutters. \nWhile the team has said they understand they'll have an automatic "X" on their back come Saturday, they'll still be taking the race one lap at a time.\n"Winning the pole was nice, but it's still 200 laps on Saturday," Styacich said. \nAfter a devastating loss to Cutters last year, ATO has come into this year's season bigger and stronger than ever, dominating in the form of junior Hans Arnesen, who has gotten everything out of Little 500 but a first place win on race day. Arnesen recorded a track record at Individual Time Trials with a time of 2 minutes, 15.78 seconds. He went on to win Miss-N-Out and the team finished Team Pursuit in fourth place.\nWhile Arnesen said the team doesn't have any specific goals other than winning, he said they do know how their training will help them in the end.\n"We're going to keep focused and know what we have to do to win the race," Arnesen said. "I know that we have the confidence to win it this year."\nWhile ATO has the confidence, Fiji has the team résumé after winning the spring series events with the least amount of points. Scoring for the events is done is reverse order. Signifying they are the series winner, Fiji will wear white jerseys on race day.\nAlthough many teams say the three series events -- Individual Time Trials, Miss-N-Out and Team Pursuit -- has no bearing on the race itself, senior Fiji rider Matt Davis said the events have something to do with what's to come, along with a little luck.\nAfter their 2004 third place finish, Fiji came back more powerful in 2005 winning Team Pursuit and had two team members -- Davis and senior Stephen Spencer -- in the finals of Miss-N-Out.\n"I think we are four strong and we should have a really strong team out there on race day," Davis said. \nOther than pole sitter Phi Psi, Fiji and ATO, other teams to look out for are dorm teams Briscoe and Dodds House, who have been performing well in the series events with Dodds House finishing third at Team Pursuit and Briscoe finishing sixth. Dodds also has veteran senior Craig Luekens, who finished third at ITTs and second at Miss-N-Out. \nWhile most Little 500 teams have slowed down, most still have the mindset of leading the pack at lap 199. Since Phi Psi hasn't seen the top of the Little 500 list since the 1960s, they are still taking it one lap at a time and will see were they are were 199 comes. \n"We're not concentrating on starting at No. 1," Styacich said. "But concentrating on doing well with the entire 200 laps."\n-- Contact Senior Writer\nKatie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(04/12/05 4:20am)
Before he ever set foot on IU's campus, 13-year-old Hans Arnesen was on his way to becoming a Little 500 rider. At the time, nobody knew how successful he would become -- he was a first-time rider who was about to set out on the first of many cross-country bike trips. \nThe trips would contribute to turning him into one of Little 500's most accomplished riders of all time -- winning Most Valuable Rider as a sophomore, setting a track record at Individual Time Trials as a junior and going on to train with one of the most prestigious under-25 cycling teams in the nation. \nBut before it all, Arnesen was just a 13-year-old preparing to ride his bike around the country for the summer.\n"One of my dad's old college friends called him up and said he was starting up this long-distance bike program during the summers across the United States, so I got into that when I was 13," Arnesen said.\nEach summer, from the time he was 13 years old to the time he was 17, Arnesen traveled the country with the Bloomington-based cycling program called Decycles. The program is headed by Alpha Tau Omega's coach Norm Houze, a friend of the Minnesota-based Arnesen family. \nThough Arnesen had never ridden long-distance, he accepted the challenge and joined Decycles as its youngest member in 1997. The trip took two weeks -- riding more than 1,000 miles from Bloomington to Toronto and back.\n"He showed up that first year in basketball shorts and with a funky bike," Houze said. "Two years later was the trip from LA to New Jersey and it was like he rode a time-machine; he turned into a cycling monster. It was tough for me to keep up with him after that."\nAfter Arnesen completed his five cross-country summers with the Decycles he came to IU and joined ATO after riding with many of the fraternity's riders through the program. \n"The trips led him to see IU as somewhere he would want to go for college," said Paul Arnesen, Hans' dad. "And biking as something he was very gifted at."\nEight years later, as a junior and member of ATO's team, Arnesen's Little 500 résumé stretches far, including Rookie of the Year his freshman year, Most Valuable Rider his sophomore and an ITT record time of 2 minutes, 15.78 seconds.\n"We look at him as an untouchable," said ATO teammate sophomore Brian Laiderman. "He's done it for so long he knows just about everything."\nPaul Arnesen can agree, after watching his son mature on the bike year after year.\n"I've never found his limit," Paul Arnesen said of his son's talent and strength. \nEvidently his son hasn't found his limit either. After winning the MVR award Arnesen received the chance to train with professional cyclist Jonathan Vaughters and his TIAA-CREF Under-25 team, an opportunity that came with the MVR prize. Team TIAA-CREF trains and sponsors young riders in hopes of making cycling a full-time career. \n"He was the one that led the sprint from a long way off," Vaughters said after choosing Arnesen for the MVR award last April. "He was the strongest individual in the race."\nArnesen accepted Vaughters' invitation and went as the only non-member of the professional team to train for a week in Colorado in February. \n"It's something that I'm envious of all those guys. They have some great coaches ... they have some really great support," Arnesen said of the experience. \nAs for his future in cycling, the Business Management and International Studies major said he honestly hasn't put much thought into what he'll do after graduation, but cycling could definitely be in the equation. \n"It's something I would like to try," he said. "I never though about it, but I think I would like to try that; take it to the pro level."\nWhether or not Arnesen decides to pursue a professional career in cycling, he'll have the backing of his dad all the way.\n"I think he should give it his best shot," Paul Arnesen said. "He's extremely good at it. He has tremendous natural ability; he has the chance to be an amazing cyclist."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(04/08/05 5:26am)
For Phi Gamma Delta rain, cold and wind aren't enough to hinder a great performance. \nAs rain struck during the 30th heat during Thursday's final Little 500 event, it was hard to see if there would be an end to the Spring Series Events. \nLuckily for the IU Student Foundation and the remaining riders, the rain let up and a winner -- Fiji -- was determined. \nThe two teams coming into the final heat were Fiji and the Cutters, who recorded amazing times during their initial heats earlier in the day. Fiji recorded an initial time of 8 minutes, 58.71 seconds and the Cutters 9:11.44. \n"We were definitely happy with the way we did," Fiji senior Joe Keck said of the team's initial time. "It showed how strong and deep the team is; especially since we crossed the finish with all four guys, we didn't have to drop a rider."\nDropping a rider is part of the game during Team Pursuit, the third and final of the Spring Series Events, which tests team unity nearly a week before the race. The event consists of two teams beginning at opposite ends of the infield while their bikes lay on the track. At the sound of a gun the teams race to their bikes and begin to ride 15 laps; switching leaders as they ride. The fastest two times during the day face off in a final heat to determine the champion. \nCutters and Fiji went into the final heat together -- Fiji with an experienced team from last year's race and Cutters returning only one rider from their 2004 Little 500 championship team. Although the team may have been inexperienced in the event, veteran rider junior David Caughlin said the team showed from its performance that the Cutters can compete well. \n"I thought every single one of those guys gave 100 percent of their effort and pushed through so much pain tonight," Caughlin said. "We've got a young team, but we proved we are strong."\nAs for Fiji -- who won the event with a time of 9:05.11 -- the team full of veterans said they are more than satisfied with their time and performance. \n"It's always nice to get the four of us out there and riding strong," said senior Fiji rider Matt Davis. "It gives us the confidence we need to ride well coming into next week."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(04/05/05 5:48am)
Now that the Main Library is to be known as the Herman B Wells Library, plans to begin renovations will get underway, pending funding from the state.\nAt the IU board of trustees' monthly meeting this weekend, plans were presented to completely reconstruct the library. The trustees also approved naming the library after former IU President and Chancellor Herman B Wells.\nDean of University Libraries Suzanne Thorin said the University does not want to have Wells' name on a building that doesn't reflect his stature, so a push at the legislative level to gain funding will now begin, but it won't be easy.\n"It's been a priority from the University, but what any priority needs is a push, and so what I think the University is hoping is that the naming will be the beginning of that push and students can of course help that," Thorin said. "I think enough people knew him on the legislature as the great chancellor and we can find that collective energy we need to get the funding."\nWhile the plans to renovate are feasible, IU Trustee Patrick Shoulders said money is exceedingly tight, and the state economy is not in the best position to be giving out money right now, especially $28.9 million, which is the estimated cost of beginning phase one of renovations. An overall $80 million is needed to complete the renovations over a period of about 10 years. Although money looks tight, Shoulders gave the plans strong backing. \n"This will happen, it is a priority," he said. "The board will work with the legislature to make sure it takes place."
(04/04/05 5:24am)
While plans have been drawn up and the Information Commons and Information Commons 2 have officially opened, two of the biggest steps toward renovating the Main Library were taken Friday.\nAt the IU board of trustees April meeting at IU-South Bend this weekend, the board approved naming the library after former IU President and Chancellor Herman B Wells and were presented renovation plans. Naming the library after Wells was easily approved.\n"There is no building, no central location to the University environment than the library or central person to the University than Herman Wells," said IU Trustee Patrick Shoulders. "There is wonderful symmetry to unveiling the plans to renovate and appropriately naming the library for the most important person in Indiana University history."\nPlans to name the library for Wells has been reserved since shortly after his death in 2000, since Wells had refused any building to be named for him during his lifetime or until five years after his death. The naming was recommended at the trustees meeting Thursday and approved Friday.\nWells was IU president from 1938 to 1962 and was chancellor from 1962 until his death in 2000. He made considerable changes at the helm during IU's post-World War II expansion and is credited with revamping IU into an internationally recognized center of research and scholarship. Wells was active as chancellor until his death March 18, 2000, at the age of 97.\n"We are indebted to Herman Wells for his vision and tireless efforts that transformed Indiana University into a world-class research university," said IU President Adam Herbert in a statement. "In recognition of President Wells' distinguished institutional leadership, it is particularly fitting that the University's central repository of knowledge -- our Main Library -- be named after him."\nDean of University Suzanne Thorin said it is only appropriate that the Main Library be named after Wells because of his continuing support for IU's libraries.\n"I think it was a fitting honor because the size of the building and it's location on this campus, but also because of the support Dr. Wells gave to the library, somehow he thought of them within the life of the University," Thorin said. "I can't imagine another building that would so link the work of the University to his name."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu
(04/01/05 5:29am)
With the NCAA tournament and March winding down, many sports fans are starting to miss competitive sports brackets, but Saturday's Little 500 event should fill that void for a short time. \nThe second of three Little 500 Spring Series Events, Miss-N-Out will be held at 2 p.m. at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The event is described as the most exciting of the series for spectators and riders alike, but it also may be considered the toughest and most grueling for riders to endure as it's carried out in bracket style. \n"You really have to try to conserve your energy," senior Dodds House rider Craig Luekens said. "You don't want to blow yourself out at the beginning."\nMiss-N-Out tests rider's abilities in pack riding and race strategy as six to eight riders are placed in heats according to Wednesday night's Individual Time Trial results. Riders are eliminated from heats if they are the last to cross the start/finish line in their respective heat. Riders advance from preliminaries to quarterfinals to semifinals to the final.\nLuekens, who placed second last year at Miss-N-Out and third in this year's ITTs, he should have a good position to do well in the event. \n"I'm going to ride smart, stay up front and try to give myself a chance to win in the end," he said. "There are a lot of fast guys especially with the way Hans (Arnesen) and (Matt) Davis are riding right now; it's shaping up to be an exciting day."\nThe excitement should be heightened with the amount of talent in this year's pool of riders. After Alpha Tau Omega rider junior Hans Arnesen broke the all-time track record Wednesday with a time of 2:15.78 and senior Phi Gamma Delta rider Matt Davis behind him with a time of 2:17.86 the competition should be fierce -- but that doesn't mean riders don't have fun. \nSenior Tim Smith of Briscoe said the event is his favorite to compete in. \n"It's definitely the most fun event to be in," Smith said. "You really get to see a lot of the other riders and get to compete with them directly, which is different than the other series events."\nAnother rider in last year's Miss-N-Out final was senior Chas Pall of pole sitter Phi Kappa Psi. \nPall, Luekens and Arnesen made up the final six riders of Miss-N-Out with senior Team Major Taylor rider Simeon Commissiong and graduated riders Tom Meersman from ATO and Cutters rider Chris Vargo. Commissiong took first place, Luekens finished second and Meersman third. \nAlthough Pall said lots of luck was involved in his Miss-N-Out run last year he also added that it's also a head to head game that forces a rider to be aware at all times. \n"It's more of a chess game than anything," Pall said. "You have to set yourself up to do well or if not you'll miss out."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(03/31/05 5:56am)
His freshman year, he won Rookie of the Year. His sophomore year, he won Most Valuable Rider. And as a junior, only one event into the Spring Series Events, he broke the track record. It's safe to say Hans Arnesen is going places -- fast. \nWednesday evening, Little 500 riders and spectators watched as four Little 500 veterans -- Arnesen, senior Dodds House rider Craig Luekens, Phi Gamma Delta rider senior Matt Davis and sophomore Cutters rider Sasha Land -- raced at Bill Armstrong Stadium in one of the most competitive heats of this year's Individual Time Trails. The heat was collectively fast, but Arnesen was faster, beating out his competition and recording a new track record of 2:15.78. \nComing off the track after four laps, Arnesen threw his arms in the air as he joined his Alpha Tau Omega teammates and ATO coach Norm Houze. \n"It felt great out there," Arnesen said. "I had no idea where (the other riders) were, but on the back stretch I saw the clock, put my head down and went all out. I'm really happy."\nArnesen said breaking the record means his hard work has paid off, which he'll celebrate for the moment -- then continue to work towards doing well in the race. For Luekens, who finished third with a time of 2:19.69, ITTs wasn't what he expected. The 2004 ITTs third place finisher put up the best ITTs time of his career but wasn't completely satisfied with his performance. \n"I went as fast as I could; It was the fastest time of my career. They just outdid me," Luekens said. "I lost; it's hard to beat 2:15. Hans just stepped up big. He rode a great race."\nOther riders raced in a highly competitive heat later in the evening which included senior Fiji rider Joe Keck, Dodds rider senior Kevin Moore, Delta Upsilon rider junior Jason Purdy and senior Sigma Pi rider Nick Haskamp. Keck, who placed tenth with a time of 2:24.01 brushed off the commotion of the broken track record and looked at the positive.\n"It inspired me," Keck said. "I after they went I knew the track would be fast, so I knew I could put up a pretty good time."\nOther riders to post fast times were Cutters rider junior David Caughlin, who placed fifth with a time of 2:20.81; Fiji rider senior Stephen Spencer, who placed six with a time of 2:20.88; and Moore, who finished seventh with a time of 2:22.93. \n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(03/31/05 5:00am)
OK, I'll admit I asked my boyfriend and best friend and neither would go see "Ice Princess" with me over spring break. Lucky for me my cousin Maggie, who is in kindergarten, was free on a particularly dull Friday night and attended the opening of the latest Disney movie with me. I didn't have to twist Maggie's arm to go see what I thought would be another one of those ultra-girlie movies full of montages including skating, girls running around frantically and maybe a love interest. To my delight the movie was everything I had hoped; think "The Cutting Edge" meets "Center Stage." Excellent!\nThe movie focuses on brainy Casey, who is on the fast track to Harvard thanks to her overbearing mother, played by an unpleasantly unquirky Joan Cusack. While working on a school project, Casey slips into the competitive world of U.S. National figure skating and learns she has more natural talent than the three elite skaters she's been watching. Casey soon gets the chance to train with a former skating champion, played by Kim Cattrall. While Cattrall's teaching triple toe loops, all I could think was the last time I saw her she was having triple orgasms; she's come a long way from her "Sex and the City" days. \nTraining and balancing school isn't all smooth skating for Casey, and she's soon on thin ice (pun intended) with her mom when she has to decide between an academic life at Harvard and her fantasies of competing at the national level of figure skating. Without giving the end away, let's just say it wouldn't be a Disney movie if Casey didn't follow her dreams to a "happily ever after." \nWhile Disney has long escaped most of your vocabulary along with curfew, string beans and jump rope, I suggest giving this movie a chance -- at least when it hits video. "Ice Princess" is super-cute and has lots of laughs, plus it's a great chance to relive childhood for a quick hour and a half. And if not, it's always a good chance to see Kim Cattrall in a role that's not "Samantha" -- which is always a sight to see.
(03/30/05 6:07am)
Only silence and the clicking of keyboards will be heard in the new Information Commons 2 beginning today. The newest installment of the Information Commons at the Main Library will officially open for quiet individual study and work this afternoon with a reception and brief remarks by Dean of University Libraries Suzanne Thorin and Dean of Information Technology Brad Wheeler.\nAlthough the 9,600 square-foot study space has been open since late February, library officials have waited on the grand opening while final touches were being completed. But that hasn't stopped students from steadily pouring into the newest work area, located on the second floor of the west tower, directly above the current Information Commons.\n"I was surprised the second day construction was complete. I walked out of my office and (the IC2) was filled," Thorin said. "We hadn't even announced the opening and it was already filled."\nThe IC2 is described as a scaled-down version of the first floor IC with 68 individual work stations that feature a computer at each desk and an additional 100 desks with space for laptop users to plug in and access wireless Internet.\nThe IC2 is dedicated to individual work while its downstairs counterpart is for collaborative and group-based work, said Interim Head of Information Commons for Undergraduate Services Diane Dallis. The IC2 also boasts plush couches and glass windows that overlook the Arboretum.\nThe IC and IC2, a collaboration between IU-Bloomington Libraries and University Information Technology Services, combine information and technology, said Chip Rondot, senior communications specialist for UITS. Both offer research or computer tech support from librarians, reference assistants and technology consultants during their open hours.\n"Students are getting the best strengths of each," Rondot said. "With this joint project, students can get what they want 24/7; it's not 9-to-5 anymore. When students are getting ready to study at 11 o'clock they can have that luxury."\nWhile some professors argue that technology has begun to take over where books once ruled, Dallis said that the combined 36,600 square feet of the IC and IC2 haven't made books second-class citizens. \nThe new IC2 houses a current, high-use core collection, which offers more than 15,000 books. Along with the core collection are new materials and books available to check out, which Dallis said hasn't seen a decrease. She also said much of the library materials have been added online, so a computer addition isn't seen as a problem.\n"A lot of library materials are online, so we don't mind that it shares space with the books," Dallis said.\nThorin said with the new additions, the Main Library now has more to offer, giving students the option of collaborative learning in the IC or quiet study in the new IC2. \n"I think this gives students interested in a quiet study area a place to go to hit the books and have a computer in a safe and attractive environment."\nIUB Libraries and UITS will host the official opening of the IC2 today from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the second floor of the west tower of the Main Library. The event is open to the public.\n-- Contact Senior Writer\nKatie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.