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(03/13/03 5:10am)
Spring break is finally upon the students at IU -- one week without classes, homework and the stress that accompanies college life. Perhaps the greatest aspect of spring break is the large amount of time for leisure reading -- no need to prioritize between class work and reading for pleasure. \nI put together a list of books that I believe anyone can enjoy during his or her spare time while on spring break. They can be read on a plane, train or automobile. They can be read in a bus, on the beach or while recovering from the night before; all are quick reads and books you won't regret picking up. So while you're packing your sunscreen and bathing suit, pack a book or two to take with you. Trust me, you won't regret it.\n'THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER'\nOne of the greatest military fiction writers of the second half of the 20th century is Tom Clancy, a former insurance adjuster who has written a slew of bestsellers. It all started with his first novel, "The Hunt for Red October." The book became a runaway bestseller, hit movie and started the Jack Ryan series for Clancy. Clancy, who has no formal military training, has met with the president to discuss naval strategy because of the accurate descriptions of submarine tactics.\n"The Hunt for Red October" opens with the newest Russian missile submarine leaving port. The captain, Marko Ramius, is long known as a maverick within the Soviet navy. Shortly after leaving port, Ramius murders the political flunky appointed to oversee the actions of the crew. After covering up the death, Ramius announces false orders to the crew: Red October is to lay off the coast of New York City conducting missile drills. Little does the crew know that Ramius and his officers intend to defect to the United States, turning over the newest Soviet technology in the process.\nEnter the hero: Jack Ryan. The star CIA analyst catches wind of Ramius' plan. The challenge is convincing the Joint Chiefs of Staff that his scenario is the correct one. The United States has been told by the Russians that the Red October is set to fire its missiles on the U.S. mainland. Ryan is convinced that the Soviets are using the U.S. Navy to hunt down their renegade sub so they can destroy it, avoiding an intelligence bonanza for the CIA. \nDespite a couple of close calls, including a decoy sub destruction, a false nuclear accident, evacuating the Red October's crew and avoiding an attack by a Russian submarine, Ramius and his fellow officers make it safely to the United States. Ryan is given the highest award in the CIA for the amazing intelligence coup he helped orchestrate.\n"The Hunt for Red October" is a taut and thrilling military tale. While laden with military jargon, it is an extremely interesting read. I found it difficult to put it down once I picked it up; the pages practically turn themselves. The story is full of intrigue, subterfuge and pure adrenaline. "The Hunt for Red October" is a great read for a long road trip or an airplane ride; the fast-paced story is a great way to kill a few hours at a time.\n'THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS'\nHannibal Lecter. The name itself draws up lurid images and tableaus of the blockbuster movie, "The Silence of the Lambs." The novel of the same name, written by Thomas Harris, is hardly done justice by the cinematic interpretation. Any true fan of the movie is bound for a surprise upon reading this murderous thriller. \nClarice Starling, an FBI trainee, is given the opportunity to work with the FBI's falling star, Jack Crawford, on the notorious "Buffalo Bill" serial killer. The brute she is hunting is a man who kills large women and flays them, removing various parts of their skin. She begins interviewing Hannibal Lecter, a convicted cannibal, in hopes of gaining understanding of the mind of a serial killer.\nWhat begins instead is an intricate dance between Clarice and Dr. Lecter. The two trade information while the life of a young woman hangs in the balance, every day bringing her nearer to an unspeakable death. With a few wrong turns and a couple of right ones, Clarice ends up in the home of the killer, Buffalo Bill. Using her training and the information from Dr. Lecter, she is able to save the young woman and gain the acceptance of the FBI. Once Lecter has assisted Clarice, he decides he's had enough, escapes from prison and flees the country.\n"The Silence of the Lambs" is a prime example of why a book should be read when there is a movie adaptation. While played excellently by Anthony Hopkins, Hannibal Lecter is not portrayed as well as he could be. While reading the book, I gained sympathy for the cannibal. I really was rooting for Dr. Lecter in his escape attempts. The ability for Harris to make such an utterly despicable character sympathetic is a tribute to his prowess as a fiction writer. \n"The Silence of the Lambs" is a page turner, with each word drawing you in further. The story expertly weaves the history of Lecter with the current crimes of Buffalo Bill, making Lecter's involvement in the case seem natural. I recommend "The Silence of the Lambs" as a beach read. The engrossing topic will help make the tanning time pass that much faster; it's also a great conversation starter.\n'TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD'\nHarper Lee's debut novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" quickly became an American classic, winning a Pulitzer Prize for best novel in 1961. The story, set in the deep South during the Depression, follows the antics of a little girl, Scout Finch, her family and friends. Her father, Atticus Finch, is a well-respected lawyer in town. The first chapters of the book focus on the children's obsession with Boo Radley, a reclusive neighbor who is reputed to have attacked his father with a pair of scissors.\nThe children are obsessed with the story of Boo, but Atticus reprimands them to leave him alone. Soon they are distracted by school and other undertakings, but Boo remains in their lives. The summer following the start of the novel, Atticus agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white girl. Though the evidence shows clearly that Tom could not have committed the crime, he was convicted anyway. Atticus was convinced that the verdict would be overturned on appeal, but Tom attempted to escape prison and was killed by a guard. \nMany of the townspeople turned against the Finches when Atticus took the case, but none did more so than the Ewells, the family of the girl who claimed she was raped. Consumed by his hatred, Mr. Ewell attempted to kill Scout and her brother on the way home from their Halloween play. Boo saves the children by killing their attacker, and Scout finally gets the opportunity to meet the man by whom she was saved. But after she walks Boo home that night, she never sees him again.\n"To Kill a Mockingbird" is one of the best American novels ever written, many say. It speaks with a simple grace and charm that is unparalleled in modern literature. It is a compassionate, dramatic novel that speaks of dignity and reason overcoming the ignorance of racism. The mystery of Boo Radley intertwines well with the unfortunate events regarding Tom Robinson. "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a book that will draw the reader in; it is perfect to read when there are a few spare hours in a day. The book makes for a perfect travel companion, and its conversational tone makes it an easy read to take on the plane or anywhere else you may be.\n'NIGHT'\nWorld War II is one of the most discussed and documented topics in recent history. The horrors of the Holocaust have been discussed in many novels and memoirs, including the well-known "Diary of Anne Frank." While not as well-known, "Night," the memoirs of Elie Wiesel, painfully and powerfully illustrates the journey of one teenage boy through the death camps of the Nazi regime. \nWiesel was a deeply religious boy living in Sighet, a small town in Transylvania. When war broke out, the people hoped to be spared. This, however, was not the case, as the Nazis rolled into town and established Jewish ghettos. Wiesel's family was respected in the Jewish community, and his father's assurances to his neighbors that nothing would happen to them were heeded. They established a local Jewish government and regulated the activities within the ghetto. But then the Nazis began exporting the Jews of Sighet to the concentration camps to comply with the "Final Solution."\nWiesel was sent first to Birkenau and Auschwitz, the most notorious of Nazi death camps. He was separated from his mother and sister at this point; he never saw them again. He and his father stayed together and were spared just moments before being incinerated. They were sent to Buna and Buchenwald to labor as slaves under Nazis or other criminals who were selected for their cruelty and harshness. \nLiving as slaves for more than two years, Wiesel and his father barely survived. Once the Allies neared the camp, the long marches of death began. Forcing the malnourished prisoners to march more than 20 miles a day, the Nazis retreated with their slaves. At this point Wiesel and his father were finally separated. After two years of malnutrition and heartbreak, Wiesel's father passed away. At this point nothing touched Wiesel, and he remained numb until his liberation three months later. When the camp was liberated, he cared for nothing but food. Revenge never crossed the prisoners' minds. The memoirs end with Wiesel looking in a mirror, a corpse staring back at him.\nI cannot emphasize the beauty and poignancy of "Night" enough. The words seem as though they are pouring from Wiesel's heart onto the page. It is heart-wrenching and touching. It's a story that haunts the mind; the pain and suffering that Wiesel witnessed and endured comes alive. I firmly believe there is not a memoir of concentration camps more powerful than "Night." Because of the serious nature of the topic, I recommend "Night" for a quiet day or evening by yourself. You can lose yourself in this slim volume for a few hours and emerge a better person for it.\n'BRAVE NEW WORLD'\nAldous Huxley emerged as one of England's eminent minds in the second half of the 20th century, writing several works destined to be classics, including "The Doors of Perception" and "Crome Yellow." However, Huxley's most enduring work is "Brave New World," a searing fantasy of the future where man has been incapacitated by seeking pleasure and ease over toil and accomplishment.\nIn Huxley's bleak view of the future, negative utopia man is not born but rather hatched from a test tube. Instead of families, children are raised in conditioning centers. Morals and cultural values are instilled in children with the aid of sleep teachings. Babies are conditioned to hate roses and books. People never age, and sexual relations are not the private things of the past. The entire focus of society is self-gratification and ease. Nothing takes work, and everyone floats along happily in his or her own self-indulgent paradise. \nInto this blissfully unaware world insert the Savage, a man born of the same blood of the civilized world, but raised in a savage reservation where children are born of mothers and knowledge is passed down through the elders. He is brought into the brave new world of civilization by Bernard Marx and Lenina Crown, a marvelously unhappy man and a blissfully ignorant woman. \nAs the Savage is shown the world of modern England he grows to love Lenina, who wants to love him but cannot in the way he wants her to. Lenina intricately connects love with the physical; she cannot disentangle sex from the pure love the Savage wants. She doesn't understand his self-denial, and the whirlwind of emotions the Savage experiences drives him to a despairing suicide.\n"Brave New World" is one of the finest books written in the 20th century, illustrating the perils of a self-indulgent world where every last whim is gratified. The joys of work and pain and longing are thrown away, and I think Huxley marvelously extolled their virtues by bemoaning the decrepitude of this brave new world. He raises alarm that man is heading down this path, and the warnings of the bleak future are as current today as when the book was written. "Brave New World" is a remarkable book that leaves an indelible mark on the reader. It is a book that can be taken anywhere. It reads well as a whole or by the chapter, and every word is as engrossing as the last.
(03/11/03 4:25am)
Do You Love Me or Am I Just Paranoid?," a book of tongue-in-cheek relationship advice by Carina Chocano, is a hilarious dive into the often murky world of adult relationships. I was a little wary of a self-help book for relationships because I often think they are full of bad advice (a la "The Rules"), but "Do You Love Me" reveled in its awful advice and unabashedly proclaimed itself to be a guide to failing relationships. Chocano carves out the often humiliating and daunting world of dating into humorous anecdotes peppered with bad advice. \nThis book came across as a different type of advice book in the first page of the introduction. Lacking was the optimism present in most relationship books. Instead, "Do You Love Me" proclaimed relationships to be a waste of energy, a nightmare of compromise and generosity and a liquor-fueled period of psychosis counteracted by a tingling sensation in the pants. An interesting start for an advice book to be sure.\n"Do You Love Me" then separated the joys of the opposite (or same) sex relationships in different sections, including monogamous relationships, the joys of being single, how to break up with somebody and the world of casual dating. In each, Chocano pokes fun at the often pathetic ways otherwise normal, healthy adults conduct themselves in a two-some. \nI found the anecdotes at the end of each chapter to be the best part of the book. Chocano says in the introduction that these are stories about herself, her friends and her friends' college roommates. They offer a humorous peek into the relationships that any detached observer can tell are doomed to crash and burn. The insecurities of both parties are often evident, and the reactions of friends and family are often priceless insights into the human condition. \nI was most amused by the anecdote discussing a woman who went through boyfriends like Kleenex. At a wedding when her boyfriend's name was wrong on a place setting, she took it as her family not making an effort to get to know the new boyfriend and thinking she was promiscuous. What may have been a simple oversight got blown into a large-scale aspect because of the woman's insecurities about her own dating past. \nChocano breathes fresh air into the realm of self-help. Instead of promoting the happiest and smoothest paths possible, Chocano's book encourages readers to go about their lives in their own ways. Despite the fact that some relationships are bad, Chocano encourages living and enjoying them to their fullest extent. As pig-headed or wrong as it may be, I think it is fabulous that an advice book encourages normal human behavior. As the title suggests, love is not a rational emotion, and it is invaluable that a book recognizes that fact.\nThe advice offered for relationships in books certainly won't make for a perfect one, especially the advice contained within "Do You Love Me." However, in a raucously funny way it does confirm the behaviors that many otherwise sane adults engage in when in love. As advice, I would take the snippets with a large grain of salt. As a hilarious read, I would recommend "Do You Love Me or Am I Just Paranoid?" without reservation.
(03/04/03 4:51am)
God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian" is certainly an interesting way for Kurt Vonnegut to grab your attention from a shelf. I picked it up not knowing what to expect; my curiosity was rewarded with a strangely uplifting collection of musings on the fate of people who have passed on. Some are humorous, some are sad and all provide a story that affirms hope. \nThe premise of the book is that Vonnegut is a reporter who has a fantastic assignment. With the aid of Dr. Jack Kevorkian and the Texas Department of Corrections, he engages in a series of near-death experiences to interview those who have passed on. In a series of interviews with the dead he learns their thoughts on life, death, life afterwards and everything in between.\nWhile in the realm between ours and the gates of heaven, Vonnegut interviews some of the most famous and notorious people to die in our day. In an interview, Adolf Hitler expresses his regret over his actions that caused the death of so many. He simply says to Vonnegut "Entschuldigungen Sie," roughly translated as "Please pardon me." He also interviews esteemed writers and philosophers like Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the author of "Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus," and Isaac Asimov, the former head of the American Humanist Association and one of the most prolific American authors. \nAll those interviewed have amusing things to say to Vonnegut, and not all of them are complimentary. William Shakespeare is particularly harsh towards Vonnegut, calling him a hack and answering questions with quotes from his tomes of work. James Earl Ray, the admitted assassin of Martin Luther King, Jr., is also hostile toward Vonnegut.\nVonnegut doesn't limit his interviews to only the famous or infamous. He conducts one with a man who died protecting his beloved schnauzer from a rabid pit bull. When the man is asked how he felt dying for a pet, he responds that it was better than dying for nothing. \nThis book is not religious in any nature. In fact, Vonnegut is the current head of the American Humanist Association and professes to believe in no higher power. He believes that people should be good for the sake of being a good person, not for any reward, actual or not, in the afterlife.\nWith that said, I found this book powerful. It is short, succinct and deeply spiritual without scaring off the reader. It shows how each person creates their own heaven or hell within their minds. The wily St. Peter at the gate allows everybody in, but some choose not to enter. "God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian" provides the reader with hope for something beyond in a book that can be finished in less than a day. Vonnegut has once again exercised his unparalleled talent as an author and lifted his readers up with a spiritual and moving work.
(02/24/03 6:03am)
War Stories: a Memoir of Nigeria and Biafra, a collection of stories about the Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970, is a poignant look at the war that divided a nation and pulled on the heartstrings of the rest of the world. The author, John Sherman, was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Eastern region of Nigeria before the civil war broke out. After hurriedly fleeing Nigeria, he returned to work with the starving children of Nigeria and Biafra, the seceding area of Nigeria. \nAs an International Committee of the Red Cross volunteer, Sherman helped distribute food and medicine to the severely malnourished children caught in the conflict. He tried to re-enter the area he taught in, but it was impossible to enter Biafra during the fighting. Instead, Sherman volunteered to help the children of Nigeria recover from a severe malnutrition disorder called 'kwashiorkor.' This form of protein malnutrition is the most severe, with children suffering distended stomachs and losing hair and skin pigmentation. \nThe pictures of these children are the ones that haunted the world during this conflict. International outcry was intense, but misguided. People around the world were under the impression that those suffering were the freedom fighters of Biafra and their children. However, people on both sides of the conflict were starving and suffering; and volunteers labored to cure the infirm. Donations poured in to help the unfortunate sufferers of malnutrition. \nSherman describes the condition of the children in disconcerting detail, as well as the obstacles that were presented in treating them. Not only were food and medicine in short supply, but the military forces on both sides of the conflict were suspicious of relief efforts and did what they could to thwart them.\nThis book is an extremely well-written account of a horrific period in African history. Sherman makes the conflict come alive; vivid descriptions of the obstacles facing the relief workers were poignant and enough to anger the reader. I wondered why the Nigerians and Biafrians were so intent on preventing the aid that was going to their own people. The suspicions and paranoia were ridiculous when all the Red Cross was trying to do was feed and medicate the sick and hungry.\nI was impressed with Sherman's candor regarding the entire experience in Africa. He didn't paint his work as a holy crusade or himself as a saint. He described how tired he grew of racism he experienced, as well as the inefficiencies of the relief effort. Sherman got tired, frustrated and grew weary of the war. His honesty and his ability to accurately describe his role in the relief was extremely refreshing. Too often memoirs paint the authors as saints, angels or something in between. \nI highly recommend War Stories. It was an extremely interesting and informative read. I feel it presented a fair representation of the events of the Nigerian Civil War. The memories come alive with Sander's vivid descriptions and enclosed photos, and I was able to place myself in the Nigerian bush alongside the author. It's an extremely interesting and engrossing read, one that draws the reader in with the first page and doesn't let go until the end.
(02/06/03 5:31am)
"Journey to Center." the second book by Thomas F. Crum, is an interesting, informative read on how to "center," a method of relaxation and heightened mental awareness. I picked up "Journey" with a bit of skepticism, a little leery of the practicality of self-improvement books. What I found was a volume full of informative anecdotes and practical exercises for every day life.\nCrum proposes that all people can perform at their peak if they center, a method of relaxation that aligns the soul, mind and body. People who are centered will experience better athletic performance, higher productivity in the office and more fulfilling personal relationships. I read those claims with a small amount of skepticism. \nMy skepticism was laid aside after the first section on the physical centering. Crum told a story of how he almost perished in a skiing mishap by panicking, losing sight of his companion and their destination. After centering he was able to hear his companion and made his way to safety. \nCrum also wrote about an exercise to find the physical center of the body, the area at which the body is able to perform at its peak. He asserts that focusing on the physical center will help improve balance, performance and the mental aspects of any activity. When I enlisted one of my skeptical roommates to help me find my physical center I was surprised at how effective the exercises provided were. I really could sense the difference between my physical state when I was centered and when I was not. \nCrum also offered a section on mental centering. There were several amusing stories concerning the emotional state of center. One story focuses on an aikido sensi who led a platoon of Japanese troops in World War II. By focusing on his emotional center, he managed to have no casualties during the entire duration of the war. The sensi's center, his intuition, managed to save the lives of all of his men. The main point of this section is learning to self-trust. \nI found the use of examples extremely useful in this book. Not only do the chosen anecdotes add much-needed illustration for Crum's abstract points, but they also provide an easy way to remember the lessons. \nI recommend this book for anybody who is particularly interested in self improvement. It's not a book that I would pick up just for pleasure, but the information contained in it is useful if you are looking to relax and perform better.
(01/14/03 4:54am)
Fevers of the Mind, the debut novel by Avery Z. Conner, is a detailed memoir of the author's descent into mental illness, as well as his slow and varied recovery. He painstakingly describes his life (all 30 years of it) in a verbose and self-serving story touting his own genius. While mental illness can be an extremely interesting topic, this novel degenerated from a somewhat interesting autobiography into a repetitive and boring recap of the author's mental state and medications.\nFevers starts by narrating the highlights of Conner's childhood romps in Lafayette, Ind. While this section was enjoyable, the book quickly degenerated. Conner's description of high school, as well as his extremely high academic achievements, was arrogant to the extreme. While attending IU on a prestigious Wells Scholarship is certainly something to be proud of, it is not something that needs to be reiterated on over 20 pages. \nAfter touting his own genius at IU, Conner moves on to his graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. This is the section of the book where his mental illness becomes apparent. His descriptions of his symptoms, as well as his perception of the world at this time were extremely interesting. However, the good qualities of this section of the text were marred by the overly repetitive and detailed descriptions of his medications. The remainder of the book continues much as the previous sections did, with very interesting pockets of text in an otherwise boring and verbose tale. \nFevers is not written with an engaging style; it reads more like an academic paper than a story that is meant to capture the reader's attention. While one would expect a first novel to have a cruder form than later works, the level of choppiness in the text makes it almost unreadable.\nAside from style problems, Conner fails to attract as much of my sympathy as he must have intended. The book reflects the author's enormous ego, alienating the reader from the storyteller. In fact, this ego may serve to explain why the book was written in the first place. \nAll in all, if mental illness is a particular interest, I may suggest that someone read it. Otherwise, steer clear of this disaster.
(01/10/03 1:55pm)
I'm confused by British people.\nWith that out of the way, "Tunnel Vision," Keith Lowe's debut novel, is a dismal attempt at explaining the British fascination with the London Underground.\nThe premise of the novel is a tad farfetched. The protagonist (and I am using this term loosely) is a trainspotter and tube fanatic who is willing to risk his impending marriage to the girl of his dreams for a collection of vintage tube tickets.\nThe bet he has made with his mate Rolf, who is conveniently enough the antagonist, is that he can travel throughout the entire London Underground in less than 24 hours. Keep in mind, that is traveling through over 240 tube stations in the oldest subway system in the world. Oh yeah, and the world record for such a feat is around 19 hours. Strikes me as an implausible feat at best, but whatever. I suppose it makes for a good enough premise. \nAndy is assisted throughout his journey by a tramp he came upon at the first station on his journey. The tramp, Brian, inexplicably guides Andy throughout the day, averting near disaster time and time again. Rolf has hidden Andy's personal effects throughout the sprawling Underground, and it is Andy's task to retrieve them within his time frame. How does his marriage come into the picture? He has wagered his train tickets to Paris, where his wedding is to be held, as well as his honeymoon reservations. \nDid I mention Andy's fiancée hates the London Underground with a passion?\nMaybe I have to be British to understand this fixation with the Underground. I really can't see this type of story happening in the bowels of the New York City subway. Subways are great; they are an efficient and convenient mode of transportation in major cities. They are not fascinating and engrossing beings worth throwing your life away for. \nDespite the ludicrousness of the plot, there are several more problems with the book. The characters are completely static. There is no growth in Andy's outlook on life or the tube. I'm left with the feeling that if it all happened again tomorrow, Andy would make the same wager. Brian has no other purpose than that of a guardian angel. He does nothing but mindlessly push Andy further and further. Neither of the two men think for even a second that the bet is stupid and foolish, a fact that was immediately apparent to me. \nBy the end of the novel I didn't even really care if Andy made it to Paris in time to get married. I didn't care whether or not he was still friends with Rolf. I didn't care if Brian stayed in touch with Andy. In fact, I was just really glad that I was done with the book.
(11/15/02 4:47am)
Last Wednesday saw the performance of one of America's most prestigious and lauded dance troupes at the IU Auditorium. Pilobolus, the modern dance troupe founded at Dartmouth College in 1971, amazed the audience with their unique style dance that combines acrobatics, contortions, humor and dance into a surreal experience.\nPilobolus was the first modern dance performance I have ever attended, and I left wanting more. While the dancers were amazingly strong and graceful, I felt the performance lacked a soul, one of the most important components of dance.\nPilobolus performed four selections out of their repertoire of 75 original dances. The first piece they performed was "Brass Ring," a piece commissioned for the Olympic opening ceremonies. It was an amazing beginning to the show. I was blown away at the level of flexibility and strength the dancers exhibited. The choreography involved dancers using each other as their support. It seemed as though some never touched the ground.\nThe second dance performed, "Ben's Admonition," was the most moving piece of the performance. Only two of the male members performed, and they spent the entire time suspended either by an arm or leg. It was a morbid display between the two, permeated with sadness and guilt. The dance culminated in the dancers hanging themselves from their suspensions. Ras Mikey C and Matt Kent, the performers, did an amazing job. Their strength and endurance was only matched by their grace. Despite the dark theme, this was the most moving and emotional piece of the evening.\nThe third dance, "Symbiosis," was by far the most unusual. It was another performed between two dancers, this time a man and a woman. When they entered the stage I was convinced they were nude (on closer inspection they were not, but it took a few minutes to convince me of that). The dancers, Otis Cook and Renee Jaworski, then performed an undulating and writhing dance, one which I can describe only as a bazaar alien mating ritual. It was like nothing I've ever seen before. Though it was very strange, it was still an enjoyable experience.\nThe final dance, "Davenen," was a poor note to end the performance. It began with Yiddish music and then all the Pilobolus dancers entered the stage. The dance itself was executed flawlessly, but it was way too long and extremely repetitive.\nThe overall performance of Pilobolus was good, and I walked away with a profound appreciation of the strength and skill of the dancers. However, I also left with a feeling that humanity is missing from the dance itself.
(11/13/02 3:48am)
Long held to be the masters of modern dance, the nationally-renowned dance troupe Pilobolus will be performing their gravity and flexibility-defying dances tonight at the IU Auditorium at 8 p.m. The troupe, founded by a Dartmouth College dance class in 1971, has won several eminent honors, including the Berlin Critic's Prize, Brandeis Award, the New England Theater Conference Prize, and a Primetime Emmy for outstanding achievement in cultural programming.\nThe troupe is based in rural Washington Depot, Connecticut, where the six dancers and four artistic directors collaborate to create some of the most innovative and influential modern dance being performed. Pilobolus tours year round and travels extensively. Next year the troupe is booked for performances as far flung as Russia and Italy.\nDoug Booher, director of the IU Auditorium, said Pilobolus was the type of programming that IU has been seeking to book. \n"With our efforts to program a wider variety of art forms at the IU Auditorium, we felt that Pilobolus was a great fit because of their inventive and magical style of dance," he said.\nThe dances performed by Pilobolus are best described as an exciting mix of athleticism, acrobatics, contortionism, and full body contact. The troupe is only composed of six dancers who interact intimately on the stage. The repertoire of over 75 dances has deep themes ranging from the Holocaust to the interaction between love and sex.\nSusan Broili of The Herald-Sun of Durham, North Carolina said Pilobolus dancers "create many beautiful shapes together... dancers seem as much insect as human."\nDespite the fame achieved by the troupe, the choreography is constantly changing.\n"The troupe constantly surprises with new inventions, yet retains its distinctive trademark—sleek athletic bodies blending into ever-changing sculptural form," said the Fairbanks Concert Association. "Pilobolus is the freshest combination of performance art to crawl, leap, roll, ripple, glide or metamorphosize its way across the stage."\nThe unusual style of dance should not keep those with modern dance experience away. Though often experimental, Booher said the performance is a great opportunity to be entertained and enlightened. \n"I have seen them perform in the past and came away with a real appreciation of their strength and grace," he said. "The colors and movement of Pilobolus are truly captivating."\nTickets for "Pilobolus" are still available at the IU Auditorium, www.ticketmaster.com, or IUauditorium.com. Prices start at $12 for students, and $22 for adults. For more information contact 855-1103.
(11/08/02 5:06am)
There are books that draw you into the story and don't let go,the type of books that you can't put down. "Bare: on Women, Dancing, Sex, and Power," a novel by Elisabeth Eaves, is that type of book.\n"Bare" throws the reader into the underground world of strip clubs. It takes the reader down the dark hallways of a peep show, past the booths patrons watch the dancers in, and right into the dressing room. It takes the reader into the life of the dancer, studying her emotions and motivations for dancing naked in front of strangers every night.\n"Bare" studies the motivations of three different women: how they got into stripping, how it affected their lives, and how, if they did, get out of the industry. The author speaks extensively about how she perceived her body as a weapon that could be used against men. When in college she determined that the behavioral mores of society shouldn't bind her. She got a job stripping at a Seattle landmark, the Lusty Lady. This strip club operated as a peep show, with all the women dancing on a stage separated from patrons by a glass window. Eaves believed the men watching the women were below her, an attitude shared by many of the dancers.\nEaves told the stories of two other dancers that also worked at the Lusty Lady, one who had her life consumed by stripping, and one who used it as a crutch in her relationships. The descriptions of these women was so vivid I felt that I knew them for years.\nI was fascinated by this book. I never gave much thought to strippers, and if I did, I assumed they were drugged out and looking to make a quick buck. I don't think I will ever assume that about a stripper again. The author was a college graduate when she began taking off her clothes for cash. She used the job to save money for her graduate school education. She walked into the sex industry, and she walked out.\nHowever, I also felt sorry for the women who were not able to walk away. Some women discussed in "Bare" couldn't walk away, even when it meant their personal relationships and day careers were destroyed. Women left husbands over stripping, and husbands left wives. Girlfriends and boyfriends split up.\n"Bare" was an insightful book that opened up the complex world of the strip club to me. It explained how women could share what is most private with strangers on a daily basis, and it detailed the consequences of their actions. For an engrossing read, I highly recommend "Bare"
(10/29/02 4:29am)
Susan Graver hit the nail on the head with her first book "It's a Fit!" The book, which touts itself as a guide for dressing with "style, comfort, and confidence," provides good common sense on creating a professional wardrobe.\nAs a college student my wardrobe consists of jeans, sweatshirts and t-shirts. I haven't the first clue how to economically build a professional wardrobe. Graver, the in-house fashion designer for QVC home shopping network, provides excellent advice on how to build a wardrobe.\nGraver suggests that women begin building their wardrobes based on their body type. Each type had a list of cuts and styles that were (or were not) flattering. While I found this interesting, I did not find a body type that I thought accurately reflected me. I believe that Graver, if she decides to write another book, should keep in mind that women's bodies do not fall into three categories. Despite my disappointment with the body-typing, the book redeemed itself with the basic wardrobe building advice.\nGraver suggests that women starting a wardrobe should focus on the basics, including a well made suit, high-quality neutral blouses and sensible leather shoes. She also suggests individualizing outfits by using accessories like scarves, necklaces and handbags.\nI found the section on quality of garments to be particularly interesting. I never knew how to inspect a seam to see if a garment is well constructed, let alone how to see if the type of thread would matter. The advice on fiber-content is interesting. While it suggests high quality (and usually pricey) natural fibers like wool and linen, Graver states that women can get by on synthetics like polyester and nylon. I was always under the impression that synthetics were the way to build a cheap wardrobe, but a cheap looking one at that. However, Graver believes that some synthetics that are high quality make just as good of an impression as the natural fibers they emulate. \n"It's a Fit!" is a great book for seniors (or other interviewing students) who are looking for advice on building a wardrobe that's appropriate for the real world.
(10/23/02 4:00am)
After reading Robert Burrows' The Great American Parade I can only draw one conclusion. He thinks I am stupid. I can think of no other explanation for this book. Why else would an author, who presumably writes for the college audience, continually beat me over the head with his mantra: "George W. Bush is the devil." While I did not vote for the Dubya, I certainly do not find it necessary to spout off about how I disagree with his policies or personal life at every opportunity.\nThis politically charged novel certainly held promise, offering a plot about college newspaper staffers fighting a great crusade. However, it quickly degenerated into a repetitive attempt to sway my political beliefs towards the author's.\nThe novel begins with the still touchy accusation that President Bush stole the election of 2000. Certainly an attention grabber, but it is also a great way to alienate about half of the people in this country. The political rhetoric didn't stop there.\nThe premise of the book is President Bush wanted to arrange a Great American Parade, a celebration of the wealth of our nation. The plan was to honor the top 1% of incomes in the country with a grand affair, including gigantic balloons and high-flying jets. The plan is lauded by the Republicans, yet the Democrats were not in on the plan. Burrows proceeded to give graphic examples of the amount of poverty in our nation, stating repeatedly that President Bush does not care about the common man, those below the national average income.\nStudent newpaper editors inevitably find out about the plan to honor the wealthy, and they are aghast. They want to see all Americans represented at this parade, and they take time out of their busy schedules to arrange a massive protest movement and topple the credibility of the Bush regime. All I ask is, is this a little far fetched?\nBurrows characterizes student newspaper editors as liberal activists out to set the world right at any cost, personal or professional. I've worked for the IDS for a year and a half, and I have never heard the type of pontificating in the newsroom that the characters in the book engage in regularly. I also can't think of many students with the time to organize a massive protest parade, become close friends with multi-millionaires and still pull a 4.0 GPA, all while producing a newspaper.\nIf Burrows wanted to inform the public about the massive gaps in incomes in America he should have written an essay or an article. If he wanted to write a novel he should create characters that are not one dimensional crusaders for the common man. In short, skip this book if you don't want to be slammed with political rhetoric thinly veiled as fiction.
(10/07/02 4:24am)
When I picked up "Quick Fiction: Issue One" I didn't quite know what to expect. With its colorful cover art and thin size I thought I accidentally picked up a children's book. Much to my surprise, this thin volume contains some extremely hilarious and mature short stories.\n"Quick Fiction" publishes stories in collections that are extremely quick reads. The short stories in this collection are all less than 500 words, and some are significantly shorter. While extremely brief, all the stories were engaging. The true art of these authors is that they managed to say succinctly what many authors cannot do in page after page.\nDespite being in the same collection, the brief stories had widely differing themes, as well as radically different styles. From the conversational style of Corey Messler's "Aftermath" to the belligerent tone of Manuel Luis Martinez's "Pumpkins," the authors managed to express themselves through the fewest words possible.\nMy favorite story in the collection was "What Tim Haynes Found in a Yellowed Envelope..." by Beth Bayley. This story read as a confessional letter from three men who stole a town mascot, etching their names forever into the town's folklore. The story transported me to the attic where the letter, along with the stolen statue lay for decades, awaiting discovery. The author made the story real and involved the reader intimately with the thieves.\nAnother exemplary work is "Babysitter" by Anne Panning, which relates the story of a babysitter who tries to have a romantic rendezvous with her olderboyfriend while her charge's parents are out of the house. The desperation felt by the babysitter when the parents arrive home early is palpable, and the humorous twist at the end (and no, I will not give it away) draws a chuckle at the ignorance of the babysitter.\n"Quick Fiction" is an excellent choice for college students who wish to continue reading outside of coursework without having it consume a lot of time. The brief stories can be enjoyed one at a time like sips of a fine wine, or they can be devoured at once by those greedy for entertaining fiction.
(09/27/02 5:27am)
When I picked up Plebes: The Cartoon Guide for College Guides I had some hope for the book. I am a devoted reader of the Onion, a satire newspaper, and the cover boasts that the author, L.T. Horton, is a contributor. Alas, my hopes were in vain.\nI like cartoons just as much as the next girl, but these comics were nothing short of offensive. The third page in described campus Christians as people who are vapid, brainless, and repressed; I sincerely doubt that all the members of Campus Crusade do behind closed doors is masturbate furiously. I also doubt that IU cheerleaders fall into a deep depression every time the football team loses. With the way our team plays, we'd be lucky to ever see a cheerleader in class. \nDissapointingly, the subjects covered in the Guide did not improve. While the cover boasts that it mocks the behavior of the college male, it does nothing but continue the drunken fratboy stereotype. I don't know where Horton went to school, but I don't think bringing beer for your entire class would be a winning strategy for a good grade, even at the number one party school in the country. It's mindsets like this, thinking all college is is beer and babes, that prevent college students from being taken seriously.\nEven if you find the content humorous, there is no excuse for the quality of drawing in the Guide. The comics are drawn with a very rough hand, making them difficult to concentrate on for any given amount of time. I set the book down after every other page to prevent a splitting headache. Too bad I couldn't figure out whether my headache came from the content of the book or the scribbled mess that sat in front of me.\nMaybe I missed the point of the Guide, but I don't think so. What I found instead of a humorous look at college life, was a crass, stereotypical image of college men and women that doesn't even hold true today.
(09/13/02 6:08am)
Four o'clock today marks the beginning of many students' foray into a distinct culture at IU. The kickoff of men's formal rush, beginning with registration from 4 to 7 p.m. today in Dunn Meadow, marks many students' first contact with the large greek system at IU. With this first contact, many rushees may keep stereotypes about fraternities in the back of their minds.\nPresidents of the fraternities starting recruitment tomorrow said the stereotypes about greek organizations are misleading and often wrong. All said that "going greek" means more than parties, drinking and pledgeship.\nAlpha Sigma Phi president Samuel Locke, a senior, said joining a fraternity means that men will enter the rich history of IU, as well as make lifelong friendships.\nMatt Cairns, president of Acacia, said going greek was the best decision he made at IU.\n"I joined the greek system three years ago, and I could not have made a better decision," he said. "I have grown socially, academically and professionally. No other organization could have given me the experience and opportunities that the greek system has."\nEach chapter participating in recruitment will be hosting a number of rush events to help potential members meet brothers.\n"We have several activities planned in the next two weeks, such as a camping trip, Monday Night Football, cookouts and several functions with sororities," Dave King, president of Delta Chi, said. "We will be contacting rushees to invite them to our activities after the rush kickoff this weekend."\nPhi Kappa Psi has some non-traditional events planned paired with more mundane ones, including slip-n-slide parties and formal and informal dinners with sororities.\nOff-campus fraternities are also planning events for potential members.\n"We have events, such as barbecues, open houses and things of that nature," Kristoffer Troy, president of Delta Kappa Epsilon, said. "We also hope to take rushees out to dinner so they can meet each other, and more importantly we can meet them."\nDuring the rush events, fraternities will meet the rush guests; conversely guests will get the opportunity to meet the members of a chapter and decide whether or not it is right for them. All of the presidents interviewed stressed the importance of feeling comfortable with the chapter before deciding to join.\nTau Kappa Epsilon president Bill Surprise believes the most important factor in choosing a fraternity is making sure the rushee meshes with the chapter.\n"I would ask (rushees) to most importantly see how their morals and ideals would fit with those of the individuals in the chapter," he said.\nChapter presidents said men have much to look forward to if they decide to pledge a fraternity.\n"Men should expect a positive experience, one which they would benefit from and help make better," said Mike Miller, president of Lambda Chi Alpha. "Being part of a fraternity means being part of a family, and they should expect a lifelong friendships and memories."\nHowever, the presidents also cautioned potential members that fraternities are not the constant party many people believe them to be.\n"Men shouldn't expect this to be a big party," said Mark Krodel, president of Chi Phi. "The greek system has come under scrutiny for the actions of a few, but as a whole stands for brotherhood and sisterhood. We raise more money for charity than other organizations on campus and volunteer more hours of service."\nMen interested in rushing fraternities can sign up for formal recruitment from 4 to 7 p.m. today in Dunn Meadow. Chapter tours will take place 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
(09/11/02 4:28am)
NEW YORK -- In the center of Times Square people wait in a line that snakes as far as the eye can see, all in the hopes of purchasing inexpensive tickets to Broadway productions. The people waiting patiently are surrounded on all sides by promoters selling their show, vying for the crowd's attention with statements promising more than the last.\n"Come see the 'Lion King'!" shouted one eager salesman. "Best show on Broadway this year."\n"This year?" retorted another. "You want to see the 'Full Monty.' It's the best show this decade!"\nThe onlookers in line watched the scene with some amusement, but slowly advanced to the ticket booth with pamphlets describing the various shows the promoters were selling.\nLaden with promotional materials Ellen Smith, a resident of Chicago, made her way to the window, purchasing tickets to a performance of "Beauty and the Beast."\n"Thank goodness you are able to buy tickets the day of shows," she said. "There is no other way we could afford them. We wanted to take our children to a show while we were in town, and the way they discount the tickets made it possible."\nSmith, like thousands of theatergoers, purchased her tickets to a Broadway production at the TKTS, a booth in Duffy Square on the center island of 47th Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue. Established in 1973 for the betterment of theater in New York, TKTS sells unsold tickets on the day of the show discounted 25 to 50 percent. The daily selections are on electronic screens in front of the booth, showing both the availability and the discount. \nThe tourists buying their tickets the day of the show is becoming increasingly common, according to an article in The New York Times. Advance ticket sales are down over fifty percent, with most people buying the discounted tickets instead of purchasing them at face value in advance.\nCristyne L. Nicholas, the president of NYC & Company, the tourism and convention bureau of New York City, said in an interview with The New York Times that while tourism numbers from this past summer are equivalent to that of last year, the tourists are behaving differently.\n"More people are booking last minute," she said. "And more people are hunting for discount deals."\nIndustry experts said these changes in purchasing patterns will affect how shows are booked and marketed in the future. Producers may need to spend more on promotion and advertising to attract audiences, cutting into the profits of the investors. \nDespite what it means for the future of Broadway, the crowds hoping for inexpensive theater tickets are a welcome sight to New Yorkers, who were witnessing the faltering of Broadway after Sept. 11. For months after the terrorist attacks theaters sat half empty during Saturday night performances, and hotels were giving away tickets to hot Broadway shows to entice tourists back to the Big Apple.\n"It's so good to see people back in the city," said Carole Steer. Steer, a resident of Hastings-on-Hudson in Westchester, recalled when the scene of Times Square was much different. \n"Last November there was nobody in the streets," she said. "It was a ghost town in the middle of Manhattan."\nThose days are past. Times Square, a traditional tourist destination, was packed with people taking in the sights, heading to Broadway plays and hawking their wares.\nOff-Broadway productions are also faring better with the resurgence of tourism. These productions, performed in smaller theaters on tighter budgets than Broadway shows, often contain more daring and controversial material than traditional theater. \nOne such show is "Reno: Rebel without a Pause." This show, a reflection on the events of Sept. 11, has drawn much press for its frank discussions of the issues surrounding the attacks and life in New York afterwards. \nPerforming artist Reno discussed her thoughts on the events of Sept. 11 in a humorous light to a packed house at the Lion Theater, just two blocks from Broadway. Drawing gasps and chuckles from the audience, Reno lambasted President George W. Bush's rhetoric that caused fear and distrust in many Americans.\n"(President) Bush keeps telling me that (terrorists) hate my way of life," she said. "I don't see why. If they talked to me they would see that I'm a very nice person. They don't hate me; they hate what we stand for."\nTen minutes later Reno had people laughing at the way people in her neighborhood were trying to figure out what happened on the day of the attacks.\n"We were trying to offer the people running away from us water and towels," she said. "But they kept running away and screaming. We couldn't figure it out until we thought they might not know people actually live in TriBeCa. Guess what New York, people live here!"\nOn Broadway and off, theater in New York has recovered from a devastating blow. Though permanently altered by the events of Sept. 11, New York's art community has survived and flourished, drawing inspiration from the events that took place.
(09/03/02 4:04am)
Almost every college student has the test they didn't study for, the paper they blew off, or the class they shouldn't have skipped. Every student has an answer that they could not believe they wrote. Non Campus Mentis, World History According to College Students, shows the results of students' unfortunate study habits or plain foolish responses. This collection, compiled by Professor Anders Henriksson of Shepherd College in West Virginia, is a hilarious compilation of all the dumb answers students wish they could take back.\nAnders takes the reader through history, beginning with the Stoned Age and and finishing with The Age of Now. In each chapter there are several excerpts from papers or blue book exams containing the ludicrous answers of harried students. These students maintain Joan of Arc achieved fame as the wife of Noah, victims of the Black Death grew boobs on their necks and Hitler's instrument of terror was the Gespacho. These malapropisms and revisionist theories grow funnier by the page. Turns out that Judaism has one god named "Yahoo," Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Yikes of March after he said "Me too Brutus," and Martin Luther nailed ninety-five theocrats to the church door. Somehow I recall history a little differently, but who am I to point fingers? After all, this is world history according to college students, and that is what I am.\nI thoroughly enjoyed Non Campus Mentis. It was a quick and funny read, and I felt a certain solidarity with the unintentional authors of the book. I, too, feel like I have made bloopers like these on a history exam in the past. The ridiculous statements made by the students who were unfortunate enough to have their tests and papers sampled made me chuckle, not only at their mistakes, but at the knowledge that I could have easily been the person who believed that Magellan circumcised the globe.
(09/03/02 3:57am)
An irresistible aroma wafts out of the open door as a long line of hungry students snakes through Delights in front of the register. \nThose in line hungrily eye the bags being distributed at the counter while digging in their wallets for spare change. Girls outside debate over which of the plethora of salts they should use to flavor their freshly popped treat.\nIU students have become accustomed to this scene every Wednesday afternoon, or as many students affectionately call it: Popcorn Day.\nDelights, located in the Indiana Memorial Union, runs a special every Wednesday, offering a small bag of popcorn and a medium soda for $1. Junior Josh Ross, a Delights employee, said business increases significantly Wednesdays, mostly among hungry students.\n"People really like the popcorn deal," he said. "We have regular customers who come in every week for it."\nRoss said Delights pops their own popcorn and provides customers with a wide variety of salts to flavor their treat with. Salts available include butter, ranch, jalapeno, pizza, parmesan and white cheddar.\nSenior Laura Schwartz believes that her job at Delights comes with some perks, namely one of the popped variety.\n"This popcorn is so great," she said. "I could sit here and eat it all day."\nDespite its popularity, popcorn is not the only fare the IMU has to offer. Delights also offers bulk and prepackaged candies.\nFor those who still need to indulge their sweet tooth, Sugar and Spice is a good option. The bakery located by the bookstore on the mezzanine level offers cookies, breads, iced cappuccino, bottled drinks and Starbucks coffees.\nThe selection of baked goods varies daily, and all are baked that day. Around holidays there are festive sugar cookies, and the no-bake cookies are a perennial favorite among patrons.\nSophomore Aran Mordoh, a Sugar and Spice employee, said her job is literally sweet. \n"The cookies are great," she said. "And the best part is I get to take them home at the end of the day." \nStudents who are looking for more than a snack can find complete meals at the IMU. There is a Burger King located by the Commons where students can enjoy traditional fast food fare. The IMU Market provides a la carte dining with Pizza Hut, Sub Connection, and Charleston Market and prepared salads, sandwiches and fruit plates.\nA perennial IMU favorite among students and parents alike is the Tudor Room, which offers a gourmet Sunday brunch. The arching ceiling festooned with banners is a perfect backdrop for the more formal dining atmosphere.\nThose searching for a restaurant style meal in a more informal atmosphere frequent Kiva Cafe, which is located below the Commons. There, diners enjoy wholesome wraps, salads and desserts.\nThough many students are stuck on campus because they do not have a car, they are not confined to eating in the dorms. The dining options at the IMU are varied and all able to be paid for with IMU meal points, Campus Access, or cash.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Walk in the door and the welcoming smell of freshly baked goods beacons, the hiss of espresso machines underscores conversations and people gather around cups of exotic coffees and teas. \nBut local entrepreneur Dean Foster says his store is not just another coffee shop.\nFoster said the local flavor of Bloomington will help set The Copper Cup apart from the homogenized coffee franchises.\nThe Copper Cup, 1400 E. Third St., is one of several cafes located in Bloomington. It is an independent store that was created by Foster to fill a need he saw in Bloomington coffee stores.\n"The Copper Cup has a distinctly local flavor," Foster said. "The interior was designed and created by Bloomington artists. The chairs are all one of a kind, and the logo (on the side of the building) is a 600-pound piece created by another artist."\nFoster, the owner of ProWinds, decided to open his cafe on the corner of Third and Jordan when the vacancy opened up. The Copper Cup opened in June, giving time to train employees before the fall rush began. \nThough it is a new store, advertising has not been heavy. Foster said he believes that the prime location, quality products, and word of mouth generates more customers than heavy marketing.\n"The location could not be more ideal," Foster said. "We get heavy traffic from the University and locals. Word is spreading, and we are getting busier every day."\nFreshman Julia Blanford stopped into the cafe after seeing it while buying her books at nearby T.I.S. Bookstore, 1302 E. Third St., and has now become a regular customer, stopping in for a smoothie once a week.\n"I love the smoothies here," Blanford said. "They use frozen fruits instead of syrups. It's a difference that you can taste. (The location) is somewhat inconvenient because I live in the Northwest Neighborhood, but the walk is worth it."\nBlanford has done what Foster had hoped: The next time she returned for another smoothie, she brought her friends, bringing more students to enjoy coffee or tea at the Copper Cup. \nFoster said he hopes that word continues to spread among students. While The Copper Cup has only one location, it is poised to open further locations if demand is strong, he said.\nWhile many java junkies applaud the new coffee houses, many wonder how many more can be built. Bloomington is home to several, including Starbucks, Soma, Runcible Spoon and Runcible Spoon Too. While each cafe has its specialties, the general products are virtually identical.\nProfessor of Economics Arlington Williams said the number of cafes is bound to grow.\n"Until entrepreneurs believe that they cannot make a profit by establishing a coffee house, they will keep opening," he said. "They see a market that they can enter and make a profit in. Each cafe tries to fill a different niche by emphasizing different aspects of the establishment. Some choose product, some choose price, and some choose atmosphere"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Notes of joy, love, and empathy rang through the halls of the Unitarian Universalist Church Sunday night, as parishioners and students gathered at a concert fundraiser for the Friends of the Prisoners ministry. \nPictures on the wall reflected the successes of the four-year-old program, showing joyous church members and prisoners laughing, learning and growing together. The ministry, that serves Wabash Valley Correctional Institute, the Federal Penitentiary in Terre Haute and State Correctional Facility in Putnamville is a program that reaches out to offenders and reaffirms their dignity and worth. \n"This program reflects a basic precept of the Unitarian faith," said Glenda Breeden, a congregation member. "When we visit the prisoners, we are visiting without an agenda. We're not trying to save their souls, we're just there to listen and give support. We visit as friends."\nReverend Bill Breeden, the founder of the program, feels the visits add something to the prisoners lives. He said he is sometimes the only person who visits the prisoner, so his visits are especially meaningful.\n"In my visits, I really try to reach them," he said. "I'm not worried about their soul, but their bodies. We preach nonviolence, and that is a big issue in prisons today."\nThe benefit concert was scheduled to raise more funds for the program. An $8,000 grant was awarded to the church by the Unitarian Universalist Association Funding program, with another $5,000 available for matching funds.\nThe benefit raised $2,562, with more collections being made in the church during services. Breeden said the $5000 goal will be met.\nTo raise the money, donations were accepted at the door and also at the creative cake contest, where the members of the church displayed their baking and creative skills. Cakes ranged from tropical lagoons and Get Out of Jail Free cards to the Sidney Opera House and top hats, with pies added for diversity. Coffee cups placed next to the cakes collected donations, and the cake that received the most money was voted the winner, with all the money going to the benefit. \n"We had a great turnout tonight," said Steve Krahnke, event chair. "This event is really the kickoff to an expansion of the program. Every penny helps us expand this program to more congregations and prisons."\nPerforming at the concert were the UU Choir, Beth and Dan Lodge-Rigal, Craig Brenner, Heartland String Band and the Breedens and the Lost Shoe Band. Musical styles were eclectic, ranging from blues and gospel to bluegrass.\n"Getting the acts together was not tough," Krahnke said. "This congregation is very musical. Gathe-ring this much musical talent was only a matter of making a few phone calls, and everyone was willing to help out. Lots of friends and internal support made this event a success."\nVolunteers can visit the prisoners on a one-to-one basis or participate in other prison functions. The Unitarian Universalist choir performs every January at the Wabash Valley Correctional Institute, where it was voted the Most Outstanding Religious Program of 2000. The church also offers ecumenical services and counseling at the prisons.