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(11/06/02 4:02am)
CHICAGO -- Loyola University, which has been plagued by financial woes, burned through $143 million of its endowment over the past eight years to erect buildings and plug a series of annual budget deficits, a university official said.\nLoyola pursued the unusual course of spending its unrestricted reserves during the 1990s, when the stock market carried most university endowments around the nation to record levels. Loyola's endowment dropped to $282 million last year from a high of $425 million in 1993.\n"It was a university that thought it had about $40 million more every year than it had," said the Rev. Michael Garanzini, Loyola's president.\nEducation officials say most universities guard their endowments by spending only a portion of the interest earned from principal because it is a crucial building block in the financial health of a university.\n"Anytime that the endowment is lower from one year to the next, the institution needs to prepare building the endowment back up," said Damon Manetta, an official with the National Association of College and University Business Officers in Washington, D.C.\nOther education officials say dipping into an endowment can help a school regain its financial footing.\nThe Jesuit school has had successive record freshman classes, including 1,635 new students this year -- up from 889 two years ago. Loyola expects a $17 million deficit this year, but Garanzini said that with a balanced budget planned for next year, the University will have erased a $34 million budget deficit in two years.\nLoyola's financial troubles began in 1995 when it was split into two units -- the medical center in suburban Maywood and a liberal arts university, resulting in the loss of about $40 million a year. To help the financial situation, the school's former president eliminated jobs and course sections while increasing tuition and fees.
(11/06/02 4:02am)
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University officials filed a complaint against the University's faculty Monday with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, the latest punch in a bitter fight over a new contract.\nSIU officials say the faculty's 688-member union is not bargaining in good faith, is bringing up old and settled issues and is threatening to strike over issues not on the bargaining table, SIU lawyer Mark Brittingham said Monday.\nUnion officials did not immediately return a telephone messages left by The Associated Press.\nThe union, which claims its members are paid far less than faculty at similar universities, filed an intent-to-strike notice with the the labor board Oct. 30, clearing the way for a walkout anytime after a mandatory, 10-day "cooling off" period expires Nov. 10.\nThe SIU professors, who earn an average $60,200 yearly, are demanding a 21 percent raise in salary and benefits over three years. The union claims the school has the money to pay it despite absorbing more than $10 million in state budget cuts this year.\nPublic university professors in Illinois average $66,000 annually, according to the Illinois Board of Higher Education.\nSIU officials have offered a five-year plan that included no raise for the current year and unspecified raises each of the following four years tied to future state appropriations. They say they can afford no more.\nThe Educational Labor Relations Board will appoint an investigator to look into the allegations, said Elizabeth Gaffney, head investigator for the state agency.\nThe agency's executive director will ultimately decide whether a hearing will be conducted on the allegations, she said.
(11/06/02 4:01am)
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Virginia stands to lose more than $1.1 million in federal criminal justice grants if it doesn't develop a system in the next year to inform people about sex offenders attending or working at colleges and universities in the state.\nOnly California, Tennessee, Utah, Iowa, Colorado, South Carolina, Michigan and Florida met the deadline to adopt campus sex offender registries Monday. Tennessee's law took effect this week and California's began Monday.\nBut Virginia State Police officials don't plan to let Virginia lag behind for too long because if a system is in place by Sept. 30, 2003, any grant money lost will be restored. If not, the money is gone forever.\n"As we speak, we are preparing legislation to enhance our sex offender registry," said Lt. T. W. Turner, assistant division commander for Virginia State Police Criminal Justice Information Services Division in Richmond.\nThat legislation would bring Virginia into compliance with the expanded version of Megan's Law, which now covers colleges and universities. Megan's Law requires states to make sex offender registries public so residents will know if a convicted sex offender moves into their area. \nPassed in October 2000, the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act went into effect this week. It requires states to keep track of registered sex offenders when they enroll at colleges and universities or begin working or volunteering on campuses. That information must then be shared with campus or local police and the public.\nBeginning Oct. 1, 2003, colleges and universities will be required to make that information available to students and employees.\n"I don't think anybody yet has figured out a prototype for that," said Sam Sadler, vice president of student affairs at The College of William and Mary. "But the public colleges have asked the state attorney general's office how we should handle this so there is a uniform methodology. We want to know if there is a best practice or approach in the way we inform our students."\nUntil such a method is determined, several local colleges plan to provide links on their Web sites to the Virginia State Police sex offender registry.\n"But that doesn't make us comply with the act," Sadler said. "We must get data that is specific to our institutions and let our campus communities know how they can get the information."\nMargaret Yancey, director of development at Christopher Newport University, said CNU's link will be up and running in about a week or two. The school's police department will then spend the next year working with the state police to develop a system to log and track sex offenders, she said.\nVirginia's sex offender registry is used as a model around the country, Turner said. But while it provides details about sex offenders registered in the state, he said, it doesn't say if they are going to school, working or volunteering on college campuses.\n"We can assume that they're in a college in the general facility of where they live," he said. "But that's not a good assumption to make because the student could live in Williamsburg and instead of going to William and Mary be going to school at ODU.\n"So we want to tighten that up," said Turner, "and the guidelines are now pretty well set."\nDaniel Carter, vice president of Security On Campus Inc., said most states failed to meet the Oct. 28 deadline because the U.S. Department of Justice didn't release those guidelines until this week.\n"That's been part of the problem," Carter said. "Many states were not comfortable moving forward with their own legislation until the Department of Justice came out with instructions.\n"But, hopefully, within the next year, Virginia will be in compliance," he said. "I know there are efforts to bring them into compliance, and it's good that steps are being taken."\nSecurity On Campus Inc., a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit advocacy organization, helped develop and secure passage of the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act two years ago after learning about loopholes in the law that often kept campus police from getting and releasing the names of sexual predators on college campuses.\n"It became apparent that this was not an isolated problem," Carter said. "So this new federal standard provides the same level of protection to campus communities that every other community receives under Megan's Law"
(11/04/02 5:40am)
LOUISVILLE -- While he crisscrossed the nation promoting GOP candidates, President Bush threw his support behind an Indiana businessman running for Congress in the state's 9th District.\nBush, who stopped in Louisville Friday afternoon, hoped to extend his political influence across the Ohio River into southern Indiana, where Republican businessman Mike Sodrel is challenging two-term Democratic Rep. Baron Hill.\nSodrel was among the GOP candidates on stage as Bush spoke at a convention center to an enthusiastic crowd.\nWhen Bush put in a quick plug for Sodrel, people in the audience wearing shirts promoting the candidate let out a loud cheer.\n"I think Mike has something going," Bush said.\n"You need to go to your coffee shops, your houses of worship, your community centers, and tell the people they need to go and vote, and tell the people that we've got some fine candidates," Bush said.\nIn a speech before Bush took the stage, Sodrel touted his involvement in civic projects and his role in creating jobs as the founder of a charter bus company and owner of trucking and shipping companies.\n"I will take that record to Congress to build the bridges," he said, referring to the proposal to construct two new spans across the Ohio River connecting downtown Louisville and its eastern suburbs with Indiana.\nJoining Sodrel on stage with Bush was Geoff Davis, GOP challenger in Kentucky's 4th District northeast of Louisville.\nBush made his strongest pitch on behalf of Kentucky Republican Rep. Anne Northup, a political ally facing a tough re-election fight in a traditionally Democratic district. The three-term incumbent is trying to fend off a 3rd District challenge from Jack Conway, a former aide to Gov. Paul Patton.\nSodrel said the race is still up for grabs, and that Bush's visit just days before the election would give his campaign a valuable boost.\n"Our sense is that we are still maintaining momentum, and I think this certainly helps my momentum," Sodrel said as he waited to greet Bush at the Kentucky International Convention Center.\nTime constraints and logistical problems such as not having a place to land Air Force One prevented Bush from visiting Indiana, Sodrel said.\nHill, who served in the Indiana General Assembly and was former director of the state's student assistance commission, won the seat in 1998 in a close election. For 34 years before that, the district was held by Democrat Lee Hamilton.\nAlso running are Green Party candidate Jeff Melton of Bloomington and Libertarian Al Cox of Nashville, Ind.\nHill's campaign welcomed Bush but said his visit was unlikely to sway voters.\n"Hoosiers are independent-minded voters, and they're not going to vote for a candidate just because someone tells them to," said Hill's campaign manager, Scott Downes.\nThe district, which consists of many Ohio River counties and rural counties to the north, was described in the Almanac of American Politics as "ancestrally Democratic, culturally conservative and recently turning Republican"
(11/04/02 5:11am)
The next University of Washington president will lead a $1.6 billion, 42,000-student enterprise that higher-education leaders call one of the "better jobs in the country."\nBut with a crippled state economy and other prestigious schools in the hunt for new leaders, these are bad times for public universities to put out help-wanted ads. \n"The job is just very difficult because of funding issues at the state level," said David Ward, president of the American Council on Education. "There's no question this is a challenging time."\nThose challenges are exacerbated because Washington will be competing with several top universities to lure a new leader to replace Richard McCormick, who recently was named president of Rutgers University in New Jersey. \nThe universities of Minnesota, Indiana and Iowa -- which are "similar to Washington in scope and reputation" -- also are looking for presidents, Ward said. That makes for a candidates' market, driving up salary demands. \nMcCormick will make a starting salary of $525,000 at Rutgers, a 78 percent increase over his UW salary. McCormick, 54, is a native of New Jersey and previously was on the Rutgers faculty for 16 years. He was at the helm of UW for seven years. \nAccording to analysis done by Rutgers, the average annual salary for presidents at top public schools is $576,570. \nNew presidents hired recently at such schools as the universities of Michigan, Tennessee and Arizona ranged from $520,000 per year to $734,000. \n"Public universities are now offering pay and benefits comparable to private universities," said Scott Jaschik, editor of the Chronicle of Higher Education. \nAs it hunts for a successor to McCormick, UW officials recognize they, too, may have to up the salary ante. \n"If we want to attract the best people, we're going to have to offer a competitive salary," said Jerry Grinstein, president of the UW Board of Regents. \nThat may mean looking to foundations or donors to supplement the university's budget, he said. \nThe UW will enter that competitive salary market just as the state faces an estimated $2 billion budget shortfall. \nMost public institutions in Washington can expect severe funding cuts when the Legislature convenes next year to tackle the deficit. UW faculty and staff already have their salaries frozen, a decision that undermined morale. \n"That's not exactly a big draw to a new president," said Ronald Dear, a past chair of the faculty senate who served on the search committee that recruited McCormick seven years ago. \nThe UW is one of the nation's top recipients of research funding and continues to be highly successful in attracting private gifts and grants. But the school is also near the bottom of its class in per-student funding. \nIn 1991, the UW ranked 12th in per-student funding among the top 25 state institutions -- schools such as Illinois, Michigan and University of California, Los Angeles. But by 2001, UW had dropped to 20th place, putting it roughly $91 million annually behind the average institutions. \n"Our research is cooking, but our finances are in deep trouble and we're feeling very vulnerable," said UW Provost Lee Huntsman, who is likely to be named interim president during the search to replace McCormick. "If the day comes when key people, especially faculty, decide this is not the place to end their careers, it will implode."\nThe so-called brain drain is already occurring, said Faculty Senate Chair Sandra Silberstein, citing the departure of more than a dozen faculty members in the past few years from the English department alone. \n"People are very worried about the university's ability to maintain excellence," Silberstein said. "At every level of the institution, people make a great deal less than their peers at comparable institutions."\nHigher education is "at a crossroads in our state," said Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee. "And depending upon decisions made, we could find our public higher-education institutions in real jeopardy in terms of being able to keep their quality and being able to provide affordable access to qualified students."\nGrinstein, the regents' president, acknowledged these are trying times to begin a presidential search. \n"There are some major universities looking for presidents who are months ahead of us," Grinstein said.
(10/30/02 5:06am)
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Robert Stewart Flores Jr. struggled as a nursing student at the University of Arizona. Classmates said he tangled with instructors and annoyed fellow students.\n"He came across as very aggressive and mean and seemed to have a lot of issues with being angry," said Lori Schenkel, a fellow nursing student.\nAuthorities said Flores' anger boiled over Monday when he allegedly shot three of his professors to death during a rampage at the College of Nursing that sent dozens of terrified students diving for cover.\nOfficials said the 41-year-old Gulf War veteran had been carrying five handguns and at least 200 rounds of ammunition. After shooting the three staff members, Flores turned one of the guns on himself.\n"Mr. Flores went in there to create a holy hell for our community," Tucson police Chief Richard Miranda said. "I can't imagine what the building would look like if he didn't have a sudden change of mind."\nBomb squad members were called in after a backpack or package was found underneath the gunman's body. The suspect had threatened to blow up the building, though it was unclear when the threat was made, police said. The college and nearby buildings were evacuated but no explosives were found.\nThe nursing school remained closed Tuesday, with police tape blocking access. Many employees at the medical school complex embraced as they went into work. Some were dressed in black.\n"I feel terrible this morning," said Melody Pelot, 55, who works at the college of medicine. "As I walked past the police tape I thought, 'This is just mind boggling. Someone lost their mother, their wives, in that building.'"\nPolice said Flores first killed assistant professor Robin Rogers, 50, in her office on the second floor of the nursing school building. He then went to the fourth floor, where he entered a classroom full of students taking a test being given by two teachers.\nThere he confronted associate professor Cheryl McGaffic, a 44-year-old ethics teacher who studied death and dying and the relationship between health and spirituality in seriously ill patients.\nHe told McGaffic "he was going to give her a lesson in spirituality," said student Laura Kelley. Witnesses said Flores fired two shots into McGaffic's chest and stood directly over her as he shot her in the head.\nAssistant professor Barbara Monroe, 45, was allegedly Flores' last target. She was cowering behind a desk as Flores approached, witnesses said. "He asked her if she was ready to meet her maker. She said 'Yes,' and then he shot her once and then twice more," said student Gena Johnson.\nFlores worked at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Tucson as a licensed practical nurse and was studying to become a registered nurse. He was employed by a nursing agency, said Spencer Ralston, associate director for the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System.\nFlores failed a pediatric nursing class and was struggling in a critical care class this term, said University Vice Provost Elizabeth Irvin. An exam on critical care was being administered when the gunman burst into McGaffic and Monroe's classroom.\nSchenkel said Flores bragged to pediatrics classmates last year that he had received a concealed weapons permit. She said he seemed to enjoy calling attention to himself by asking inappropriate questions and challenging instructors. He failed that class and had to take it again, Schenkel said.\n"Most of the people in class didn't like him," Schenkel said. "He was very obnoxious and rude."\nUniversity police Chief Anthony Daykin said a university staff member filed a report with the police in April 2001 saying "Flores conveyed to staff he was depressed and may take action against the college of medicine." Police attempted to contact Flores but Daykin didn't know if they had been successful.
(10/30/02 3:47am)
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam -- A fire swept through a building that houses offices of foreign companies, shops and a popular disco in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday, killing at least 54 people and injuring more than 100, officials and news reports said.\nAt least one unidentified foreign man was among those killed, and six staff members of an American insurance company were missing, officials said.\nDozens more people were believed trapped, firefighters said.\nFirefighters only managed to enter the six-story building in early evening, four hours after it started, because of the intense heat and lingering flames.\nAt least one person could be seen at a window trying to summon rescuers, but firefighters said they did not have the necessary equipment to reach him. Flames raged at other windows.\n"Fighting the fire was very difficult. Many people were trapped inside," said fire chief Le Tan Buu.\nThe International Trading Center building has several floors of shops and about 50 offices. The American International Assurance Co. was conducting a training program in the building for about 100 insurance agents when the fire began, said a company official who identified herself only as Tien. Six staff members were missing and about 30 were injured, some seriously, she said, without specifying their nationalities.\n"A bell rang, and then the electricity cut off," she said. "The fire came very fast."\nA wedding reception was also being held in the building, Ho Chi Minh City Television said. It said about 500 people were inside when the fire broke out.\nThe cause of the fire in the city's downtown area was not immediately known, but police said they suspected it started in the Blue Disco, the city's most popular dance spot. The disco has been attacked in the state-controlled press in recent days for allegedly condoning "social evils" such as drug use.\nState-run Vietnam Television said at least 54 people were dead and called it the city's deadliest fire. Hospital officials said more than 100 were hospitalized, many with serious injuries.\n"What is worrying is that firefighters were not equipped with the necessary equipment to put out the fire. It took them more than three hours to bring the water hose inside the building, and sometimes they did not have enough water," the television station said.\nHo Chi Minh City, formerly named Saigon, is Vietnam's southern commercial center.
(10/28/02 6:17am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- Across Indiana, the United States and the globe, protestors marched against war in Iraq Saturday.\nAround 100,000 turned out in Washington, D.C. Tens of thousands filled streets in San Fransisco and cities in Europe while smaller rallies were held across nation. \nIn Indianapolis, a diverse crowd of about 200 -- including students from IU, Purdue University and Butler University, Vietnam combat veterans, representatives of central Indiana's Muslim community and other concerned citizens -- gathered downtown at Monument Circle to make it known that support for war against Iraq is not universal. The Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center organized the rally.\nSpeakers and interviewees offered a wide variety of reasons for opposing war. Some said they were concerned with the inevitable deaths during an invasion of Iraqi civilians and American solidiers. Other questioned what an attack would mean for the standing of the United States in the Middle East, citing the Israel/Palestine conflict and the potential for creating more anger with U.S. foreign policy.\nNearly everyone condemned a unilateral approach to war.\n"I am an instructor of U.S. history, so I have somewhat of a long view," said Bloomington resident Jack King. "Unilateral action in the Middle East represents a radical departure for us."\nPresident Bush was roundly criticized at the rally as were other politicians who recently signed the resolution giving Bush the authority to wage war against Iraq.\n"There's innocent people in Iraq that didn't do anything," said Keyia Brazelton, who lives in Indianapolis. "President Bush is not speaking on our behalf."\nJohn Farah, president of the Indiana chapter of Veterans for Peace, an anti-war group, said he was young and naive when he volunteered for Vietnam in 1962. Though he was not sent to Vietnam, Farah eventually served in Germany. \nHe said that his group has seen a surge in membership since the Bush Administration initiated discussion about a war against Iraq.\n"This is not a moral war. As a veteran, you saw the things that happened, and war is not a beautiful thing," Farah said. "Is cheap energy worth war?"\nSaad Omar, a high school student from Indianapolis, spoke at the rally on behalf of the Muslim Youth of Indianapolis, a local community service organization. \n"I see Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus and other religions represented here today," Omar said. "This is not about one religion or race. The greatest act of patriotism is standing up and saying 'No America, you are wrong.'"\nDuring his speech, Omar also read parts of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, changing some of the locations in King's speech to sites in the Middle East. He said while there was consensus against a new war in his group, it did not mean they supported Saddam Hussein's regime, a sentiment echoed by every speaker.\nMost of those in attendance said that weapons inspection should start again.\nFormer congressman Andy Jacobs, a veteran from the Korean War, said he had been at war related events at Memorial Circle in Indianapolis before.\n"When I was 18 I marched to the train station from here to go to Korea. Years later, I was addressing teenage marines about to go to Vietnam," Jacobs said. "It broke my heart because they didn't know where they were going."\nJacobs criticized the process by which the United States goes to war, emphasizing in the Constitution that only Congress has the power to declare war.\n"They've argued that since the president is the commander in chief, that allows it," Jacobs said. "But who has attacked us lately?"\nMost in attendance said they were pleased with the rally and took heart when passing cars and trucks honked and waved.\n"Even in the heart of middle America, there is resistance to this unilateral war," one protestor said.
(10/28/02 6:17am)
A 20-year-old female student was sexually assaulted early Friday morning in a lobby in Briscoe Quad, according to a police report. The student was the victim of sexual battery by an acquaintance, and the case is under investigation.\nThe incident follows a string of assaults on campus in Wright and Forest Quads and comes as students and community officials are talking about preventing sexual assault.\nWhile it's fairly common for women to be assaulted, females can take steps to avoid sexual assault, said Cathi Crabtree, an on-scene advocate for Middle Way House in Bloomington.\n"Rape and sexual assault are the most underreported crimes," Crabtree said, citing FBI statistics. Crabtree said 75 to 90 percent of all rapes on campus are date rapes, meaning the victim personally knows their attacker. But of those cases, Crabtree said many go unreported because there is still a stigma attached to sexual assault.\n"Society still seems to blame the victim," Crabtree said. \nDuring this year's Take Back the Night, Crabtree spoke about what steps females can take to avoid future assaults on campus. She said students should be strong in their voice and body language and should communicate their limits clearly.\n"When they say no, (people) should take it seriously," Crabtree said.\nCrabtree said another factor in sexual assaults is the influence of drugs and alcohol. She said if students are drinking, they should always keep their drink in their possession and should never take a drink from someone else because others can place "date rape" drugs in other people's drinks. Alcohol can also slow someone's judgment and reaction time.\n"You just have to be aware of your circumstances," Crabtree said. \nDespite the recent sexual assaults at IU, Crabtree said all students should feel safe on campus and in their dorms.\n"As long as people are conscious and aware, IU is probably as safe as anything," Crabtree said.\nFreshman Ashley Fuhry, who lives in Briscoe, said she feels very safe in the dorms, but the recent date rape in Briscoe bothers her.\n"I don't put myself in those situations, but I could see how it could happen to somebody," Fuhry said. \nOn her floor, Fuhry's residential assistants have held floor meetings to discuss what students should do in certain situations that arise on campus, which included sexual confrontations.\n"Everyone on this floor agreed that if we saw someone we didn't know, we'd tell someone," Fuhry said.\nFor students that find themselves involved in an unwanted sexual encounter, the Sexual Assault Crisis Service is available on campus for all students, faculty and staff. SACS offers a confidential 24-hour crisis line, as well as individual counseling for students.\nDebbie Melloan-Ruiz, a counselor at SACS, said the more a female can control themselves, the less vulnerable she will be.\n"It is important for males to know that having sex with someone that is passed out does constitute rape," Melloan-Ruiz said.\nCrabtree advised female students that if a sexual assault ever happens to them, they should immediately go the hospital.\n"If anyone is assaulted, their best chance to prove if anything happened is going to the hospital," Crabtree said. The hospital will then conduct an evidentiary exam. The odds of proving if a sexual encounter was rape or consensual sex is difficult, but easier if there is immediate medical attention.\n"The sooner that they can get that exam done, the better," Crabtree said. \nFrom there, both the police and the Middle Way House will step in.\nBut even with preventive steps against rape, sexual encounters are still likely to take place on campus.\n"The main thing I'd want to stress, is rape is never the victim's fault, because I think our society sometimes still forgets that," Crabtree said.
(10/28/02 6:01am)
This weekend's IU Dance Marathon began on Friday evening with 600 bright eyed and energized dancers running through a tunnel of people into the HPER gymnasium. It ended Sunday morning with tired eyes and tears over a sense of accomplishment. \nThis year's IU Dance Marathon raised $415,001 for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. The total beat out last year's sum of $405,412.\n"By volunteering their time these students are making a difference in a Riley family's life," said Mary Thomas, the mother of a Riley patient.\nThis is the 12th year IU students have come together to put on Dance Marathon for Riley Hospital. IU Dance Marathon is one of the largest student run organizations in the country. Over the past 12 years, the event has raised over $1.5 million for Riley Hospital. This money gave the hospital the resources to build the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center in 2000.\n600 dancers and members of 13 Dance Marathon committees danced the hours away to raise money for the approximately 7,500 inpatients and 120,000 outpatients Riley receives every year. Numerous bands including Three Minute Mile and Straight No Chaser provided music for the students to keep them motivated.\n"We danced like nobody was watching," junior Jackie Mikusevich said.\nStudents found many ways to keep themselves going despite the lack of sleep. Many of them played catch, took showers, gave back massages, and colored to keep themselves awake. Members of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity got the crowd going again Saturday night when they sang a lively karaoke rendition of Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer."\nThe morale committee was in charge of keeping the dancers motivated. \n"We are responsible for making sure that the dancers and the families are having fun," said J.R. Reisinger, Director of the morale committee.\nDuring the event, members of the morale committee taught the students a line dance. The dance was completed and performed in the early hours of Sunday morning. The committee was also in charge of organizing games and getting the students to interact with the Riley kids. Members of the morale committee had to maintain their high energy level to help encourage students during the event.\n"Morale has done a good job of keeping us motivated. They have a lot of energy," Mikusevich said.\nThere were numerous Riley families in attendance this year. Students were able to interact and play games with many of the children they were helping. IU Dance Marathon President Allison Morgan said her favorite part of the event was seeing all the Riley kids and hearing their stories. \n"This is the one time of the year we know we will see these kids," Morgan said.\nThe event is meaningful to the kids and families of Riley.\n"The difference they make today changes tomorrow for me," said Stacie Thornburgh, a Riley patient.\nThe dancers also received words of support from visitors like Dean Richard McKaig, who arrived in his slippers Saturday afternoon. However, the friends and family members who dropped in were some of the most important and encouraging visitors for the dancers.\n"The visitors keep you going," said sophomore Liz Senn, a dancer. "The hardest times are when there are no visitors."\nFriends and family members brought food, games, flowers and letters of support to the students who gave up their weekend for kids at Riley.\nBaxter, Phillip Morris, Cingular, Kilroy's and many other businesses helped sponsor this year's event. Tortilla Flat donated almost a full meal to the dancers who were fed ten times throughout the weekend.\nAs the event came to an emotional end Sunday morning, students gathered in a circle and listened to the song "Angels Among Us." Riley families took the stage to thank the students for everything they had accomplished over the weekend. As the total was raised early Sunday morning smiles and tears from students, Riley families and visitors filled the room. \n"Because of these kids we have the ability to give our kids the quality of life they have," said Nathaniel Black, the father of a Riley patient. "What these kids do is just amazing"
(10/28/02 5:04am)
The IU Foundation honored six Indiana legends with the Herman B Wells Visionaries Award Friday.\nIn the spirit of the former president who led IU for 63 years, this award is given to Hoosiers whose vision and entrepreneurial spirit have not only had success in their own lives, but shared their success with others.\nThis year's recipients include:\n• Irvin M. Borish, an optometry practitioner, teacher and researcher, was voted "Optometrist of the Century" by the readers of Review of Optometry. He served on a committee which persuaded the state government to establish IU's School of Optometry and served as a professor there from 1973 to 1982. In 1994, the Center for Ophthalmic Clinical Research was named after him. \n• Edward L. Hutton, of Cinncinnati, Ohio, is the chairman of Chemed Corp. in Cincinnati and chairman of Omnicare Inc. Hutton, who grew up in Bedford, Ind., earned his bachelor's and master's degree from IU. After serving in the Army, Hutton became president, chief executive officer, and eventually chairman of Chemed and Omnicare, which is the leading firm in the United States supplying pharmaceuticals to patients of nursing homes.\n• Eli Lilly of Indianapolis receives this award posthumously for his pioneering of the pharmaceutical industry. Born in 1885, Lilly founded the pharmaceutical firm bearing his name and was instrumental in the creation of such medicines as Insulin for Diabetes, antibiotics and Jonas Salk's vaccine for Polio. Years later at his death in 1977, his company also developed the antidepressant Prozac, gaining billions for their company. Lilly, as a philanthropist, founded Connor Prairie in Indianapolis and helped support the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Indiana Historical Society and the Indianapolis Children's Museum. \n• J. Irwin Miller is the honorary chairman of Cummins Inc. in Columbus, Ind., the world's largest manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel engines. Started as a family business of only 40 employees, his investment blossomed into a Fortune 500 company with annual sales of over $6 billion. In addition, he was a leader in social reform. He helped organize Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 civil rights march on Washington. He even shut down a factory of his in South Africa to protest apartheid. In 1967, Esquire magazine ran his face on the cover and said, "This man ought to be the next president of the United States."\n• William S. Shields, retired chairman of Wells Companies, which make aluminum, electronics, metal tooling and plastic blast materials, grew his businesses by studying and anticipating customer needs in the market. He is a recipient of IU South Bend's E.M. Morris Achievement Award. His wife Kathryn was also a recipient of the Wells Visionaries Award. \n• Kathryn L. Shields, a former educator, is very involved in hospice and has been active in medical problems such as shortage of nurses. To address these problems, she helped found scholarships in nursing and technology.
(10/28/02 5:00am)
The IU Foundation honored six Indiana legends with the Herman B Wells Visionaries Award Friday.\nIn the spirit of the former president who led IU for 63 years, this award is given to Hoosiers whose vision and entrepreneurial spirit have not only had success in their own lives, but shared their success with others.\nThis year's recipients include:\n• Irvin M. Borish, an optometry practitioner, teacher and researcher, was voted "Optometrist of the Century" by the readers of Review of Optometry. He served on a committee which persuaded the state government to establish IU's School of Optometry and served as a professor there from 1973 to 1982. In 1994, the Center for Ophthalmic Clinical Research was named after him. \n• Edward L. Hutton, of Cinncinnati, Ohio, is the chairman of Chemed Corp. in Cincinnati and chairman of Omnicare Inc. Hutton, who grew up in Bedford, Ind., earned his bachelor's and master's degree from IU. After serving in the Army, Hutton became president, chief executive officer, and eventually chairman of Chemed and Omnicare, which is the leading firm in the United States supplying pharmaceuticals to patients of nursing homes.\n• Eli Lilly of Indianapolis receives this award posthumously for his pioneering of the pharmaceutical industry. Born in 1885, Lilly founded the pharmaceutical firm bearing his name and was instrumental in the creation of such medicines as Insulin for Diabetes, antibiotics and Jonas Salk's vaccine for Polio. Years later at his death in 1977, his company also developed the antidepressant Prozac, gaining billions for their company. Lilly, as a philanthropist, founded Connor Prairie in Indianapolis and helped support the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Indiana Historical Society and the Indianapolis Children's Museum. \n• J. Irwin Miller is the honorary chairman of Cummins Inc. in Columbus, Ind., the world's largest manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel engines. Started as a family business of only 40 employees, his investment blossomed into a Fortune 500 company with annual sales of over $6 billion. In addition, he was a leader in social reform. He helped organize Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 civil rights march on Washington. He even shut down a factory of his in South Africa to protest apartheid. In 1967, Esquire magazine ran his face on the cover and said, "This man ought to be the next president of the United States."\n• William S. Shields, retired chairman of Wells Companies, which make aluminum, electronics, metal tooling and plastic blast materials, grew his businesses by studying and anticipating customer needs in the market. He is a recipient of IU South Bend's E.M. Morris Achievement Award. His wife Kathryn was also a recipient of the Wells Visionaries Award. \n• Kathryn L. Shields, a former educator, is very involved in hospice and has been active in medical problems such as shortage of nurses. To address these problems, she helped found scholarships in nursing and technology.
(10/28/02 4:55am)
Students attempting to logon to their Webmail accounts over the weekend found the e-mail system close to inoperable.\nWebmail and the IU Web site have experienced problems since Friday and UITS employees are working to correct the problem.\nMost students have tried to logon their usernames but have not been able to get access to the system.\n"The web technical services engineers are working to assess the situation with web page access," said Karen Adams, the chief of staff for UITS.\nAdams said the problems aren't just with Webmail but is part of a bigger problem within the system.\nThe problems have caused some students some unneccessary grief in their classes.\n"I was waiting for these emails from my professors about a a mid-term," said sophomore Elizabeth Moran. "I was trying to get on for about an hour on Saturday and then I just gave up. I couldn't wait any longer. I went on for another hour and finally got on today."\nMoran said the e-mail problems caused her to study the wrong materials for her classes.\nSenior Aaron Zubler experienced some of the problems.\n"I've actually been trying to contact professors about classwork," Zubler said. \nHe said he was thinking about trying to call his professors about class, but didn't know if that was appropriate.\n"We become so dependent on e-mail and these so-called conveniences and when they break down, we don't know what to do," Zubler said.
(10/28/02 4:55am)
Zeta Phi Beta sorority held its third annual ZetApollo talent show Friday night to a full house, with acts ranging from dance groups and poetry readings to gospel singers. \nThe night kicked off with In-Motion, a student run dance group that started ten years ago at IU.\nDespite having performed in front of audiences before, the dancers were still nervous. \n"This was more intimidating because we could get booed off," said junior Leah Barak. \nDespite their anxieties, the girls said they enjoyed themselves. \n"It was awesome!" said junior Alice Cockrum, co-director of "In-Motion."\nGospel singer Jacob Hughes won the event, and received a $100 cash prize. \nThe talent show was one of several events the sorority organized throughout last week. Other activities included a drive to help victims of the Martinsville tornado disaster, an open house and a karaoke night. \nThe ZetApollo talent show, which was in the IMU Frangipani Room, has become a staple of the Zeta Phi Beta activities calendar due to its popularity.\n"I thought it was a success," Zeta Phi Beta secretary Rickesha Ewing-Spates said of Friday's event. "We had a great turnout."\nThe talent show let the audience be the judge of each act, but in an unconventional way. Each performer was given 30 seconds to start their act, after which it was up to the audience to decide whether they should be on stage any longer. \nThe audience booed or cheered, depending on the quality of the act, and the act was taken care of accordingly. Performers were pulled off stage traditionally: with a cane.\nLocal groups, as well as several from Indianapolis were present. The rap group "Naptown" from Indianapolis and local dance group IU Essence performed at the event. \nHughes, a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and the IU Soul Revue, performed the gospel song "I won't complain" as a solo act. \n"I feel blessed that people took time to listen to what I had to say," he said of his performance, "It's good to get some recognition."\nThe audience was responsive, with many acts receiving a standing ovation. Others, however, were not so lucky, and several were booed off stage. It was all in good humor, however, and no acts were hurt in the proceedings.\n"It was really entertaining, even though some groups were much better than others," said junior Jenna Rooney.
(10/23/02 5:51am)
IU students say a hallway in Teter quad was the location of an adult film shoot the first weekend in October. The film, "Campus Invasion," scheduled for release sometime in November, was made in various locations on IU's campus by adult filmmakers from Shane's World, a Web site based in Van Nuys, Calif. \nCalli Cox, publicist and adult film actress for Shane Enterprises, said she, along with a number of her colleagues visited IU during the first weekend of October in order to "party with students from the No. 1 party school."\nThis is not the first time Shane Enterprises has invaded a college campus. Last year at Arizona State University, four Greek houses (Sigma Nu, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Theta Chi) were suspended for hosting the film crew, and those in the video who could be identified were threatened with expulsion from the University.\nASU senior and current student government vice president Brian Buck was a participant in a film entitled "Frat Row Scavenger Hunt 3." \n"It was a pretty fun day," Buck said. "It just turned into the biggest storm ever."\nAccording to a statement issued by ASU President Michael Crow, the University refused to tolerate the making of sexually explicit material on its campus. The statement also promised action against students involved in making the video.\nBuck said he has been threatened with expulsion.\n"We never did anything illegal," Buck said. "It's just something people looked down on, and because I have a position of authority they are making an example of me."\nCox, who remains in contact with Buck, said she doesn't understand why the University is so angry.\n"I think it sucks that because he's in a government position they single him out," Cox said.\nFreshman Adam Brown, a resident on the third floor of Teter Wissler, said the filmmakers were trying to get students involved.\n"I don't know who the porn crew was. They followed some kids back from class, and they made a video on our floor," Brown said. "College is crazy."\nBrown said the film actresses were giving certain students oral sex in the hallway.\n"I would say at least 25 people were in the hallway," Brown said. "They (the actors) were pretty much messing around with each other, and everybody was watching."\nJunior Josh Kirk said he was slated to view the filming, but did not go.\n"I know that they were in town because I have other friends who went to it," he said. "I was actually supposed to see this whole thing take place."\nIU spokesman Bill Stephan said it would be difficult to comment on the situation until it was confirmed by an official organization. He did offer speculation.\n"If this is confirmed, I would imagine this would be prosecuted by local authorities," Stephan said. "If you have a group of adults involved in highly suspect activities while on our campus we are surely going to investigate it."\nStephan said the reports to date were unconfirmed and said he questioned the reliability of Shane Enterprises.\n"I think you have to consider the source," Stephan said. "Had we been alerted and known about this incident we would have considered it a trespass"
(10/23/02 5:34am)
SAN FRANCISCO -- Once again, Barry Bonds hit a long home run and the San Francisco Giants came up short.\nBonds set a pair of records with a 437-foot shot to center field Tuesday night, but the Giants lost 10-4 to the Anaheim Angels and fell behind 2-1 in the World Series.\nBonds, putting his past postseason failures even further behind him, hit his record seventh homer this October and also became the first player to go deep in his first three World Series games.\nBut like Bonds' solo shot with two outs in the ninth inning off Troy Percival in an 11-10 loss in Game 2 on Sunday night, the Giants' pitchers created too big a deficit for San Francisco to overcome.\nWith the Giants trailing 8-2 and a runner on in the fifth inning, Bonds drove a 1-1 pitch from Ramon Ortiz over the center-field fence to make it a four-run game.\nBonds admired the shot and walked the first few steps to first base before jogging around the bases with another home run. The only other player to homer in the first three games of a World Series was Hank Bauer of the New York Yankees in 1958.\nBonds homered in his first Series at-bat, connecting off Jarrod Washburn in a 4-3 win in Game 1.\nBonds, who set a record with 73 home runs in 2001, had been a postseason dud until this year. He had lost all five series his teams had played in and his own performance was a big reason why.\nHe came into this year hitting only .196 with one home run and six RBIs in 97 postseason at-bats.\nBut he broke out of that slump with three homers in the division series against Atlanta, one in the NLCS against St. Louis and three in the World Series to break a tie with six others for the most homers in a single postseason.\nBob Robertson (1971), Lenny Dykstra (1993), Ken Griffey Jr. (1995), Bernie Williams (1996), Jim Thome (Cleveland), and Anaheim's Troy Glaus (2002) all hit six homers in one postseason.\nWhen Bonds really could have done damage in Game 3, the Angels predictably pitched around him.\nWith runners on first and third in the first inning of a scoreless game, Ortiz intentionally walked Bonds as Angels manager Mike Scioscia clearly didn't want the pitcher who allowed the most homers this season to pitch to the game's most feared slugger.\nThe fans booed at the Angels refusal to pitch to Bonds as the scoreboard played the chicken dance.\nIt was the seventh time Bonds was intentionally walked in the postseason after setting a record with 68 in the regular season.\nBy the time Bonds came up again, the Giants were trailing 4-1. This time, Ortiz challenged him with a runner on first base and one out. Bonds looked at a called strike before swinging through two more to strike out for just the fifth time this postseason.\nThe Angels didn't challenge Bonds again after the homer, walking him on four pitches with two outs in the seventh inning. That was Bonds' 20th walk in the postseason, tying the record set by Gary Sheffield in 1997.
(10/23/02 5:33am)
The same name kept appearing.\nAs she researched the history of gender and sexuality during the post World War II era, IU history professor Joanne Meyerowitz kept encountering Christine Jorgensen, a man who with the help of science, became a woman. \n"I kept finding articles about her and interviews with her in The (New York) Times, "True Confessions" magazine, in "Time," "Newsweek," anywhere I looked, and I got intrigued," Meyerowitz said. "I decided to follow up on her story which led me to the larger history on transsexuality."\nMeyerowitz's research resulted in the publication of her third book, How Sex Changed: A History of Transsexuality in the United States. \n"It traces the emergence of what we now call sex change from the first experiments on animals in Europe in the early 20th century, to the contemporary transgender movement," she said.\nUnder the umbrella term of transgender, one who chooses to live his life as a member of the opposite sex, lies transsexuality. A transsexual is someone who decides to change their sex through surgery and hormones. \nMeyerowitz's book is considered the first serious history on the topic. A history that GLBT assistant Carol Fischer said she believes is long over due. \n"I think that a lot of people in American society believe this whole transsexual thing is just a new phenomenon, just a perversion, or evidence of the moral decay of our society," Fischer said. "And nothing could be further from the truth."\nBecause IU's liberal environment, Fischer said she believes the majority of staff and students are accepting of both transsexual and transgender individuals. \n"Compared to five years ago the community has made giant leaps in acceptance. Part of that is because we have students who are very vocal. And when a student steps up, they have much more power than they think they do," she said. "I'd love to take all the credit, but I only deserve about one percent."\nCaleb Colvard, a female to male transgender junior at IU started Gender CORE last year to battle ignorance on campus and within the Bloomington community. The student organization's main goal is to educate through workshops and events including a transgender awareness week.\n"No matter what (students) think, they come. They listen. And it gives them food for thought," Colvard said. "People try to put you in a box. Everyone feels the need to put you in a box. And when you don't fit in those boxes, people don't know what to do with you."\nColvard said students don't have a chance to be accepting because they know almost nothing about transgender students. Colvard has encountered students who "understand the gay thing," but had never heard of transgender. \n"The sort of images they know of transsexuals are these sort of Jerry Springer images," he said. "It's really, really stereotyped."\nColvard emphasizes the fact that sexual orientation and gender identity are two separate ideas. \n"It's a common assumption that if you have a female body and you identify as a guy, then you must be wanting to be a straight guy," Colvard said. "There are plenty of 'f' to 'm' transsexuals who identify as gay men and plenty of 'm' to 'f' who identify as lesbians."\nFischer said she supports that statement because of her various interactions with transsexual individuals. She said she remembers when she first started working at the GLBT offices and a woman came in.\n"She said, 'I have real breasts, but I also have a penis. I'm engaged to a genetic woman who loves me because she says I'm the best of both worlds.'"\nUntil knowledge about transgender spreads, books like Meyerowitz's play an important role in education and awareness. \n"The history of gender and sexuality are relatively new subfields of history. And topics like transsexuality have been considered off limits in some ways," Meyerowitz said. "It's certainly something we hear about constantly on tabloid TV. So, it's important to have a serious scholarly history that accompanies the popular cultural images." \nColvard said he plans to tell his mother about his transgender identity within the next few weeks and hopes she will be as accepting as his friends and professors have been.\n"There are lots of types of people, and I can be attracted to certain ones. I'm not attracted to everyone, but there are certain people you like and certain people you don't like." Colvard said, pausing for a moment. "Who really cares what's between their legs"
(10/23/02 5:33am)
Natalia Galvan is devoted to helping others, and it's obvious when she talks about it. She smiles widely. Her eyes sparkle with enthusiasm, and she jumps at the chance to tell other students how to get involved.\nThe devotion Galvan possesses earned her a $2,000 grant from Indiana Campus Contact, a college service organization.\nGalvan, a senior majoring in psychology, has always been highly active in programs on campus that encourage and help students get involved with the community. She is also the president of the Volunteer Students Bureau, an entirely student-run organization that works with students to plug them into philanthropic activities they are interested in.\nSince this program has played a significant role in Galvan's life, she took it upon herself to apply for the $2,000 grant to support it, she said. \n"The opportunity to plan initiatives that benefit others less fortunate than me is a reward in itself; however, I am also given the pleasure of collaborating with other students, faculty members and administrators who are committed to making a change," Galvan said.\nThe Indiana Campus Contact organization is an association of 30 colleges and universities that supports the combination of community service and campus culture. The Student Citizen Fellowship grant is intended to support students involved in finding problems in the community and being a leader for others in developing an answer to address that problem. \n"We found Natalia's efforts with the Volunteer Students Bureau to be so wonderful, because the widespread work she's doing helps get many other students involved in the community," Keri Hunt, assistant director for student development at Indiana Campus Contact said in a statement. "We were attracted by her willingness to reach out to her peers to find ways to help the community."\nGalvan's advisor, assistant director of the Student Activities Office Darrell Stone, praised Galvan for her efforts and involvement on campus. Over the three years she has known Galvan, Stone said she has seen the work Galvan has accomplished.\n"She has the quality of determination and leadership skills that have benefited every organization she has been involved in," Stone said. \nGalvan has been particularly involved in Students Organized Against Poverty, Alpha Phi Omega (a service fraternity), College Mentors for Kids and the Volunteer Students Bureau. Her experiences with these organizations have helped to shape her college experience.\n"It has definitely enriched my life greatly," Galvan said. "I grew up in a privileged home, so to be able to give back is wonderful."\nGalvan is also committed to helping other students on the IU campus get involved.\n"You can meet so many good-hearted people," Galvan said. "Bring a friend and get involved with something you love to do. There's something for everyone."\nGalvan's encouraging nature is obvious to anyone who meets her. \n"She is incredibly friendly," Stone said. "She loves what she's doing. It shows, and her examples of hard work and vision sparks motivation in other students."\nThe Volunteer Students Bureau has some upcoming activities that Galvan said she is very excited about and encourages students to get involved. In November, a Pottery Day and Food Drive are planned. Also, during the first week of December, there will be an Adopt-a-Child kickoff, which is where over 100 needy children in the Bloomington community are matched with college students who basically fulfill that child's wish list, which can normally be as simple as a new pillow or toy truck. This event will also have several co-sponsors. Galvan said it is her favorite project.\nMany other unique events are planned through the Volunteer Students Bureau, and students can find out more about those on its Web site: www.iub.edu/~iuvolbur. Also, students are encouraged to call the Bureau's office at 812-855-8290 or visit their office in the Indiana Memorial Union Room 378. Their e-mail address is vsb@indiana.edu.\n"You just have to jump in," Galvan said.
(10/23/02 5:30am)
JERUSALEM -- On the eve of a new U.S. mediation mission, Israel held off Tuesday on retaliating for a bombing that killed 14 Israelis, while the Palestinians said they welcomed Washington's phased plan for Palestinian statehood by 2005.\nIt marked the first time in months that the Israeli military did not respond quickly to a major Palestinian attack. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is under growing pressure to prevent an escalation in fighting as the United States courts moderate Arab countries in preparation for a possible U.S. strike against Iraq.\nIsraeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai confirmed that U.S. interests were being considered. "There are those (in Israel) who say that we need to react now and immediately with all power and all force," Yishai told Israel Army Radio. "On the other hand, we could cause difficulties for the Americans. If the Americans attack Iraq, it's in our interest as well as that of the Americans."\nIn Monday's bombing, the deadliest Palestinian attack in three months, a car stuffed with about 220 pounds of explosives rammed into a bus in northern Israel, turning it into a huge fireball. Fourteen bystanders and two attackers were killed, and 65 people were wounded.\nThe attack, claimed by the militant Islamic Jihad group, came as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns planned talks Wednesday and Thursday with Israelis and Palestinians about a new U.S. peace plan.\nPalestinian Cabinet Minister Nabil Shaath, who met twice with Burns in the past week, on Tuesday provided what he said was a detailed outline of the U.S. proposal, complete with dates for each of three phases.\nThe first stage would begin in November and end in April 2003, Shaath said. Israel and the Palestinians would declare a truce, followed by an Israeli withdrawal to positions held before the start of fighting in September 2000 and by Palestinian elections.\nIn the second phase, from May to December 2003, a provisional Palestinian state would be established in parts of the West Bank and Gaza, with Israel dismantling some settlements and withdrawing further to allow for territorial contiguity of the fledgling entity, Shaath said.\nTalks on a final peace deal would begin in 2004 and be concluded by mid-2005, with the establishment of a Palestinian state.\nIn the meeting with Burns on Thursday, "we will give him our positive position regarding this road map," Shaath said, adding Palestinian officials would ask for clarifications regarding a settlement freeze and monitoring of compliance.\nRaanan Gissin, a Sharon adviser, said the plan wouldn't work at the present level of violence. "We are being asked to make concessions which are irreversible, to give up territory and permit the establishment of a provisional Palestinian state," he said. "We cannot do this unless there is a significant drop in the level of terrorism."\nThe Israelis scheduled consultations for late Tuesday to draw up a position on the U.S. proposal, which Sharon received in Washington last week.\nThe bus bombing did not disrupt the U.S. mission, said Paul Patin, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. "We can't change directions every time there is a suicide bombing," Patin said, adding that the United States condemned the attack.\nPalestinian leader Yasser Arafat also denounced Monday's bombing, but Israel held him ultimately responsible, saying his security forces have made no serious attempt to prevent attacks. The Palestinians say Israel's devastating military strikes have rendered their security forces powerless against the militants.\nDefense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said Israel would respond to the bus bombing in due time. In the past, Israel has launched military offensives in retaliation for major Palestinian attacks. This time, the response was expected to be more limited. Military officials suggested the gradual easing of work and travel restrictions on Palestinians might be frozen.\nIslamic Jihad on Tuesday identified Monday's bombers as Mohammed Hassanein and Ashraf Al Asmar, both 18, of the West Bank town of Jenin. Neither had known ties to Islamic Jihad, but it is customary for militant groups to recruit bombers in secret.\nIn the West Bank city of Hebron on Tuesday, Israeli soldiers ordered residents to leave the home of a relative of a senior Islamic Jihad fugitive, Diab Shweiki. Soldiers then fired at the house, knocking bits of stone and dust from the walls of the home.\nPalestinian Parliament Speaker Ahmed Qureia said Arafat has formed a new Cabinet and would present it to the legislative council next week. Qureia did not divulge names. Palestinian officials said the council was unlikely to approve the new Cabinet, since the list contained some officials from the previous Cabinet who have been accused of corruption. That body resigned Sept. 11 ahead of a parliamentary no-confidence vote.
(10/23/02 5:27am)
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Hours after a bus driver was killed in a shooting that appeared to be the work of the Washington-area sniper, police revealed Tuesday they had received a message over the weekend warning: "Your children are not safe anywhere at any time."\nThe chilling message apparently was discovered by police outside a Virginia steakhouse where the sniper critically wounded a man Saturday night.\nMontgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose said the warning came in the form of a "postscript."\nHe also said police "will be responding soon" to the latest message. He did not take any questions from the media.\nOn Monday, police asked the shooter to call them, saying investigators had received a message too muddled to be understood.\nEarly Tuesday, bus driver Conrad Johnson, 35, was fatally wounded as he prepared for his morning bus route in nearby Aspen Hill, the suburban Washington community where the shootings began Oct. 2.\nIn all, 12 people have been shot by the sniper in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.; three were critically wounded.\nJohnson, a father of two, was shot as he stood at the top of the steps of the bus shortly before 6 a.m. He died later at a hospital.\nMoose has now used four briefings to communicate directly with the person believed to be the sniper.\nA senior law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity said Tuesday a letter found near the scene of Saturday night's shooting suggested the killer wants several million dollars.\nTwo other law enforcement sources said the letter also contained information that police interpreted to be a vague threat to children. One of the sources, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the letter was "lengthy."\nSchools in the Richmond area, near Saturday's shooting, remained closed a second day Tuesday.\nImmediately after Tuesday's shooting, police put a widespread dragnet into place, clogging traffic on Connecticut Avenue, one of the main arteries into Washington, just as the morning commute began.\nThe shooting happened near an apartment building and wooded area along Connecticut Avenue. The bus was parked at a staging area where drivers get ready for their morning runs, state police spokesman Cpl. Rob Moroney said. He didn't know if anyone else was on the bus.\nAgents for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms combed the crime scene. A police dog searched near a basketball court in a park, and police helicopters flew over the scene.