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(11/15/07 5:00am)
Comedians-turned-actors seem to follow the same pattern. They do screwball movies when they start their careers, then they want to be taken seriously and choose intelligent roles. Then they return to their comedy roots, but the magic is lost along the way. Just like Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler returned to comedy movies after serious flicks such as "Spanglish" and "Punch-Drunk Love." But "Happy Gilmore" has left the building.\n"I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" is about two firemen and the bonds of friendship, loyalty and stereotypes. Larry Valentine (Kevin James) and Chuck Levine (Sandler) are the dynamic duo in their firehouse, and to receive insurance benefits for Valentine's kids, they elope to Canada for civil union status in New York state. In the process, Valentine learns to move on after his wife passed away, and Levine learns how to fall for a gorgeous attorney (Biel) without being a womanizer anymore.\nThe extras are as predictable as the overtly "gay" soundtrack. With tracks by Queen and an on-screen cameo from Lance Bass, it almost feels like the filmmakers thought you needed to be reminded what the movie's theme is. Your standard "how we did the stunts" and "look at us mess up and then laugh" outtakes are here. There are two commentary tracks, including one with James and Sandler. For a Sandler movie, the extras seem too standard. The commentaries themselves feel scripted, with almost no emotion whatsoever, and for Sandler to come off as boring is a letdown from the days of "Billy Madison."\nI'm sure diehard Sandler fans will buy this DVD just to add to their Happy Madison Productions collection, but for anyone else who doesn't worship at Sandler's feet, this is one worth passing.
(11/02/07 3:25am)
Four counterfeit $50 bills passed through the Indiana Memorial Union Starbucks and Burger King on Wednesday.\nThe IU Police Department is working with the Secret Service in Indianapolis to investigate the case, said IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger. \nThe bills were passed during times when both businesses were “experiencing a high volume of customers,” according to the police report.\nA Starbucks employee discovered the first two counterfeit bills between 7:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. The suspect was described as a white male between the ages of 18 and 24, about 5 feet 6 inches, with an unshaven appearance and wearing a gray hoodie, according to the police report.\nBefore this encounter, a suspect of a similar description attempted to pass $50 bills at the IMU Sugar and Spice coffee shop, but was not able to because of insufficient change available at the time, according to the police report.\nThe other two $50 were passed through the IMU Burger King at about 11:15 a.m. by both a male and a female. The employee remembers a large group of 20 to 30 young school children in line, with a male and a female cut into different parts of the line, and the female was seen handing the male a bill, according to the police report.\nThe female is described as white with blond shoulder length hair with a brown tint, 5’8”, slightly overweight, light colored eyes and big ears. The other male suspect is described as white with blonde “puffed out” curly hair, 5’10” and average weight, according to the police report. \nAll the four counterfeit bills had the same serial number – G07496486A. \nMinger said that the serial number has not turned up outside of the local area, so police are currently gathering as much information as they can. \nIUPD is asking anyone who may have seen the suspects or witnessed anything unusual in these areas to contact the investigation department at 855-4111.
(11/01/07 9:00pm)
Four counterfeit $50 bills passed through the Indiana Memorial Union Starbucks and Burger King on Wednesday.\nThe IU Police Department is working with the Secret Service in Indianapolis to investigate the case, said IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger. \nThe bills were passed during at times when both businesses were “experiencing a high volume of customers,” according to the police report.\nA Starbuck’s employee discovered the first two counterfeit bills between 7:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. The suspect, who passed the bills, was described as a white male between the age of 18-24, about 5’6’, with an unshaven appearance and wearing a gray hoodie, according to the police report.\nBefore this encounter, a suspect of a similar description attempted transacting $50 bills at the IMU Sugar and Spice coffee shop, but was not able to because of insufficient change available at the time, according to the police report.\nThe other two $50 were passed through the IMU Burger King at about 11:15 a.m. by both a male and a female. The employee remembers a large group of 20-30 young school children in line, with a male and a female cut into different parts of the line, and the female was seen handing the male a bill, according to the police report.\nThe female is described as white with blonde shoulder length hair with a brown tint, 5’8”, slightly overweight, light colored eyes and big ears. The other male suspect is described as white with blonde “puffed out” curly hair, 5’10 and average weight, according to the police report. \nAll the four counterfeit bills had the same serial number – G07496486A. \nMinger said that the serial number has not turned up outside of the local area, so police are currently gathering as much information as they can. \nIUPD is asking anyone who may have seen the suspects or witnessed anything unusual in these areas to contact the investigation department at 855-4111
(11/01/07 4:00am)
Say Anything's quirky brand of emo-pop on …Is a Real Boy was a substantial success and vocalist Max Bemis' battle with bipolar disorder has been the topic of enough interviews, garnering them a lot of buzz in the process. And although he seems to be better, Bemis' condition didn't have much negative effect on Say Anything's new album, In Defense of the Genre. \nDefense is a 27-track, double-disc album that includes extreme diversity throughout; there are emo-pop songs, straight-up rock songs, and even a few ballads. On a basic level, it is a concept album about falling in love (disc one) and then losing that love (disc two).\n"Shiska (Girlfriend)" is one of the more obvious upbeat tracks, and is a perfect emo-pop song. It features technically sound guitar work and a bit of Parker Case's excellent synth work. Of course, Bemis' oddball lyrics are present: "Even if you stomp me 'til I'm sore / No matter what, I'll bleed to be your whore."\nThe best addition to SA's sound is the aforementioned synth and key work by Case, which shines on "Baby Girl, I'm A Blur." The nearly entirely electronic single features subtle guitar work, but a stinging drum beat that adds another layer to the band's sound. \nThe songs on the second half of Defense are a bit more diverse than the first, and more lyrically ferocious. The title track features driving guitars and attacking vocals from Bemis as he growls about the music industry: "Go tell the false friend who doubts your art / Hey, toss my caustic salad / Their noise pollution is a one-night stand / A closet corporate ballad."\nThe band also develops some strong mid-tempo songs like "Spores" and "Plea." Guitars initially lead in "Spores," but all the instruments fade in place of a surprisingly beautiful vocal from Bemis: "I still miss you more / I miss you more than I ever did before you left your spores inside."\nDefense also features a shocking 23 guest vocalists/ musicians including Pete Yorn, Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance and Hayley Williams of Paramore. Some of the guest spots are hard to catch, but many of them add something to the songs. \nIn Defense of the Genre is an album that requires a huge investment, but once you listen to it all straight through a few times, the fluidity of the concept really materializes. Say Anything is one of the best bands in the genre and they've defended it very well with easily one of the best albums of 2007.
(11/01/07 4:00am)
Most people only know of Cobra Starship because of their uber-catchy "Snakes On A Plane (Bring It)" from the cult-favorite film by the same title. At the time that song and the rest of their debut album While The City Sleeps, We Rule The Streets was recorded, Cobra was solely comprised of ex-Midtown vocalist/bassist Gabe Saporta. While the debut was solid, it wasn't much more than a guilty pleasure. Luckily, Saporta surrounded himself with a full band to tour and now they've come together to record their follow up, ¡Viva La Cobra!\nCobra has made tremendous strides with their sound on Viva. On the debut, the production was nothing but Saporta and his digital beats, but here the use of a band has vastly strengthened the musical aspects, especially the drums and guitars. \nThis is most present on the aptly-titled single, "Guilty Pleasure," which features a guitar riff that could easily come from one of Cobra's buddies like Fall Out Boy. It also includes an extremely strong vocal from Saporta, the self-proclaimed "Justin Timberlake of emo," as he sings "I came here to make you dance tonight / I don't care if I'm a guilty pleasure for you." No chorus could explain Cobra better.\nWith Viva, the band also explores new territory by including two songs that almost pass for ballads: "One Day Robots Will Cry" and "The World Has Its Shine (But I Would Drop It On A Dime)." The latter, with its synth subdued, sounds like something out of an old Nintendo game, but the guitar solo allows it to rock harder than Cobra has before. It's pure power-ballad goodness.\nBut really, the album is all about the party. In addition to "Guilty Pleasure," there are at least six other tracks that are full-fledged dance jams. The strongest of the lot are "My Moves Are White (White Hot, That Is)" and "Smile For The Paparazzi." None of the cuts feature any lyrics that are going to be remembered for quality, and some are borderline retarded, but they're damn catchy. \nThe tracks on ¡Viva La Cobra! should be placed on anyone's dance-party playlists because they flat out ooze sex and machismo. Cobra Starship will never be considered anything but a fun escape for fans, but because they've completely embraced that role, their brand of dance-punk continues to improve, and Saporta's goal of becoming the JT of emo doesn't seem too far fetched.
(10/25/07 4:00am)
After leading the post-hardcore movement earlier this decade, Thrice revamped its sound with 2005's Vheissu, an experimental record of sorts. Now the band has extended its boundaries even further with The Alchemy Index, which is divided into four, six-song albums each with its own theme: Fire, Water, Earth, Air. The first two that have been released are Fire and Water, and Thrice has proven that its experimentation keeps improving.\nFor each element, Thrice has created a specific sound. On Fire, the band revisits some of its heavier moments, but not quite in the same vein as pre-Vheissu. Fire's opener "Firebreather" features ferocious baritone guitars that drive the track until it completely switches gears into gang vocals that cue into just how epic this project is.\n"Backdraft" is led by interesting guitar work laid over Dustin Kensrue's distorted vocals, which lead into an explosive chorus. The song changes directions in the bridge again, as Kensrue whispers, "Show me your jaded eyes / I will turn them red / Drunk with vivid flame."\nAs good as Fire is, Water is even better. The album has digital sounds and synthesized drums, elements Thrice has never before included in its music. "Digital Sea" is the most digital, and the synthesized drums paired with Kensrue's subdued voice are perfect for each other.\n"Open Water" is one of the best songs Thrice has ever done and certainly the best so far on Index. Kensrue dials down the vocals in the verses as the synthesized drums lead, but once the chorus begins, his vocals soar. It's haunting and beautiful at the same time, as he belts, "I'm starting to believe the ocean's much like you / Because it gives / And takes away." Thrice weaves thematic elements of fire and water in the tracks very well. Each song title and the lyrics relate to the theme, but they never get to a point where the band is trying too hard. Musical symbolism is apparent on both: Fire's tracks soar to a maximum point and spread, much like a fire; Water's songs drag on and flow as water would.\nThese records were a huge risk for Thrice, but the first half of Alchemy Index is a massive creative triumph. Spring will bring the other half, and only then will the entire project's impact be understood. The way it looks so far, though, is that Thrice has the correct formula for success.
(10/25/07 4:00am)
Being the lesser of the two halves of "Grindhouse" isn't necessarily a bad thing. Maverick director Robert Rodriguez makes the most out of his second fiddle spot to Quentin Tarantino with "Planet Terror," a glorious exercise in pure camp that's a tip of the hat to every one of the B-grade zombie movies and horror flicks Rodriguez grew up loving.\nWhereas Tarantino's "Death Proof" successfully transcended the genres it was spoofing to create something fresh and original, Rodriguez is content simply to add another exploitation film to the canon, having wicked, indulgent fun all the while. The acting is laughable on purpose, and the script, despite being far wittier than those old movies could have ever hoped to be, is still "get us from point-A to point-B" material. Where Rodriguez hits his mark is with the entire movie's sheer ridiculousness. Thankfully, this two-disc unrated edition ups the gore factor even further, pushing NC-17 territory despite its pervasive cartoonish vibe.\nThe cast was clearly having a field day on set, with Rose McGowan and Freddy Rodriguez playing the formulaic hero and heroine and strong guest turns from Michael Parks, Michael Biehn and "Lost" actor Naveen Andrews as Abby, the testicle collector. The unbearably hot Marley Shelton is unmissable as Dr. Dakota Block, and Rodriguez's even hotter nieces Electra and Elise Avellan add a dash of insanity as the crazy Babysitter Twins.\nAs we've come to expect from Rodriguez DVDs, there's a fine commentary track (as well as a fun audience-reaction track), and another great featurette is Rob's valuable series of "film school" segments for aspiring filmmakers. Featurettes on casting and stunts are sprinkled about, and the "Machete" trailer that fans have been clamoring for is finally available on disc. Supposedly Rodriguez is considering making "Machete" into a full-length film, but I'd rather see it go down in history as a brilliant faux-trailer.\n"Planet Terror" is, in the end, a bundle of gory fun, no more and no less. As with most of Rodriguez's work, it's a jolt to the senses, and this edition will only increase the clamor of fans hungry for the ultimate "Grindhouse" edition that's sure to come.
(10/11/07 4:00am)
Shortly after recording 2002's near-masterpiece The Rising with his longtime E Street collaborators, Bruce Springsteen got political. He also shed his rocker persona for a while and recorded two radically different albums: the haunting, acoustic Devils & Dust and the dusty folk covers of We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. For this brief moment in time, though, he's back on E Street, and once again he's showing the kids how to rock like tomorrow might never come. \nMagic is filling the stadiums on Springsteen's current sold-out tour, but most of these songs are meant to be long-remembered. Working again with producer Brendan O'Brien, who gave Devils its sense of menace and The Rising its gleam of human aural spirit, Springsteen has made an album that is spare and dense in equal measure. It only has a couple of clunkers, namely the banal "Human Touch"/"Lucky Town" throwback "I'll Work for Your Love" and the uninspired "Devil's Arcade." The rest of the record, though, is some of Springsteen's most resonant work since the late '80s. \nThe title track recalls the looming mood of "Nebraska," and "Girls In Their Summer Clothes" is a pleasing diversion. The remainder, though, finds the full band in peak form. "Gypsy Biker," the tale of a soldier coming home from war to a world of disillusion, is Springsteen's most stadium-ready rocker since "Born in the U.S.A." (ironically covering similar lyrical territory), and "Radio Nowhere" and "Livin' in the Future" explore the same emotional territory with more crunching guitar than we're used to hearing from the E Streeters. "You'll Be Comin' Down" and "Long Walk Home" find Springsteen on the occasional pop high, and "Last to Die" is the only political statement of the lot, but is destined, with its lyrics about false tyrants and would-be kings, to become a relevant anti-war anthem long after Iraq is left in ruins. \nIn many ways, Magic feels like a more personal album than Springsteen's last couple and therefore is a worthy successor to The Rising. Devils found him masquerading as others for a time, and We Shall Overcome was simply a tribute to one of his idols. With Magic, though, Springsteen is once again tackling modern times and commanding a sense of urgency from his band. If The Rising was all about shaking off the ashes, Magic is about what happens when those ashes are forgotten, and we're left to fight off the complacency.
(10/11/07 4:00am)
We live in a society void of romance. Writer-director Robin Swicord reminds us of this in the first two minutes of the charming the "The Jane Austen Book Club" via a montage of how technology is a constant source of annoyance and awkwardness, not to mention how hard it is to do much of anything correctly when we have cell phones pasted to our ears.\nAlso void of romance, the women in this film seem to have thorny relationships with men: Sylvia (Amy Brenneman) gets a surprise divorce from her husband after 20-some years of "happy marriage;" her best friend Jocelyn (Maria Bello) is receiving the unwanted attention of Grigg (Hugh Dancy), an Orlando Bloom look-alike who ends up roped into the Jane Austen Book Club despite his dedication to sci-fi over chick lit; and Sylvia's daughter Allegra is a hot lesbian who needs no men but still has romance trouble. \nSylvia's mother Bernadette (Kathy Baker), cheerful six-time divorcee, recognizes the solution that we Austen fans hold as gospel -- "All Jane Austen, all the time. It's the perfect antidote to life!" Hence, the book club is born: Six Austen novels to be read by the members in six months. \nThe film, in its acting and shooting style, feels like TV, lacking the type of depth, breathtaking shots and character study found in "great movies." But this movie isn't attempting to be "On the Waterfront." Is there something for everyone? Probably not. Most men will be turned off by jokes obviously pitched to middle-aged women, such as lingering shots on Dancy's package in a cycling suit, but they won't complain during the lesbian bathing scene. Austen fans will be amused at the notion that a gorgeous man might actually pick up an Austen novel.\nThe movie reminds us of the power Austen has to stir, heal and guide us. The books that the characters read and discuss connect to and parallel their lives in ways that would seem contrived, except that the same thing is true for all of us. As they all negotiate their relationship strife with each other's support -- as this movie is about female bonding as much as anything else -- they follow the principle WWJD: "What would Jane do?" Moral of the story? Any character with staying power has read Austen and, therefore, wised up. Men, take note.
(09/27/07 4:00am)
James Blunt is back for your mom ... Well, her pocketbook, anyway.\nIf nothing else, one has to admire the focus, the determination, the singular pursuit of this goal in Blunt's sophomore album All The Lost Souls. Much like Coldplay's X&Y, Lost Souls is a study in disciplined mediocrity, but with a narrower end: It's a precisely calibrated, fastidiously crafted device for the delicate operation of separating your mom from $10 plus tax. \nTake, for example, all the touchstones nicked from other pop songs -- the references to "shining on," to sprouting wings and flying away; the "Hey Jude"-like sing-along at the end of "Give Me Some Love." Or take the fact that it starts with a nostalgic tune about nights spent clubbing in 1973 ("1973") and concludes by name-dropping "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in "I Can't Hear The Music." Blunt even learns from Coldplay's mistake, injecting a bit (just a bit) of edge into the mix: the "I've taken a shitload of drugs" line in the chorus of "Give Me Some Love," a hint of anti-war/social criticism in "I Really Want You," a mention of cutting himself in "Same Mistake," etc. See, smooth James knows the ol' lady likes a bit of excitement (and, if not, she can get the edited version from Wal-Mart). \nAnd yet, despite occasional "bad boy" lyrics, Lost Souls makes Blunt's 2005 debut Back To Bedlam sound adventurous by comparison. In nearly every track, quiet piano or guitar open; percussion, additional vocals and instruments are added; things build until roughly two-thirds of the way through when an orchestral Wall of Sound breaks out. And what Blunt's lyrics lack in originality, they make up for in repetition. If you didn't think a lyric was interesting at first, wait 'til you hear it, or a virtually identical lyric, 11 more times (as in "Shine On"). \nThis is all very dull but never objectionable (as long as you don't think about it too much). However, as a good son or daughter, you should prevail upon your mom to simply buy one track and put it on repeat -- it's the same experience, and she'll save $9.
(09/27/07 4:00am)
SEASON 4 PREMIERE: 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, on ABC\nSUMMARY: Last season sent fans into panic, wondering where Creator Shonda Rhimes would take the show next. It ended with Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek (Patrick Dempsey) reaching an emotional turning point in their relationship. Christina (Sandra Oh) and Preston (Issiah Washington) failed to get married. George (T.R. Knight) failed his exam and will be back to repeat an internship in season four. Callie (Sara Ramirez), whose husband George (T.R. Knight) cheated on her with Izzie (Katherine Heigl), was named chief resident. Viewers received a glimpse of some new interns, one being Meredith's half-sister Lexie (Chyler Leigh).\nPREDICTION: It's hard to predict what will happen, since season three left so many questions in the air. Lexie will likely interfere with Meredith and Derek's relationship. George won't get off easily for having slept with Izzie, and Callie will likely find out about the affair, and he will have to make a decision. As Callie enters the season as chief resident, Dr. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) who vied for the position, will question where she belongs at the hospital. As for Christina, it's hard to say what she will do since Preston is now gone, but she may have a hard time getting over him.
(09/14/07 4:02am)
The IU Police Department received a call in reference to two possible gunshots fired off around 4 a.m. Thursday. \nTwo custodians called in after hearing a possible shot on the northwest side of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation building, near Woodlawn Field, said IUPD Sgt. Craig Munroe, reading from a police report. \nThe custodians saw a white male suspect walk by after the gunshots, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt. They asked him if he had been shooting off fireworks, but the suspect replied he hadn’t, but he had heard a similar noise as well. The suspect then left.\nFrom there, Munroe said the suspect walked to the gate at 10th Street and Fee Lane to the limestone gazebo in the Arboretum, where he sat down. Sgt. James Snyder and Officer Joseph Amandola approached the suspect, who they identified as Christopher Conley. The officers reported a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, Munroe said. \nLater, officers found a black 380 semi-auto handgun located 60 feet east of the west gate of the Arboretum. The gun was found under a tree and fully loaded. An empty shell case was also found near the Woodlawn Field track, Munroe said.\nPolice believe the suspect fired the gun, then proceeded to the Arboretum and north to Fee Lane. The weapon was disposed during this time before the suspect was found at the gazebo, Munroe said. \nConley was arrested on preliminary charges of criminal recklessness with a firearm and public intoxication.
(09/12/07 4:53am)
IU Police Department has reported at least four incidents involving sexual offenses since Aug. 22. Police have responded to three incidents of forcible fondling, and last Friday, police responded to a sexual assault.\nIUPD Capt. Jerry Minger said Friday’s incident has brought about increased patrol. In his 35 years as an officer, Minger said he has never heard of anyone abducted in broad daylight, as this female student was during her walk to the SRSC. \nMinger said IUPD is investigating the case and doing everything possible to ensure the campus remains safe for all students. However, students can take certain precautions to avoid unsafe situations.\nSenior Francesca Monn, treasurer of the IU group Friends of Middle Way House, a liason between IU and the local abuse and rape shelter Middle Way House, said enhancing knowledge and awareness regarding what is and what is not sexual assault is important amongst students.\nMonn said students need to know their surroundings in order to stay safe on campus. She also mentioned that if students are at parties where alcohol is served, they should bring a friend and stay in groups to avoid being left alone under the influence. \nMonn said she encourages students to speak out if they are in an uncomfortable situation. If someone is speaking to a student in an uncomfortable sexual manner, then it is sexual harassment, and students should not ignore the incident.\nBut incidents go unreported, said Kristen Jozkowski, coordinator of Raising Awareness of Interactions in Sexual Encounters, often because victims blame themselves. “The victim shouldn’t be blamed because they wore a certain top or were in a certain location,” Jozkowski said.\nWith all sexual assault cases, Minger, Monn and Jozkowski firmly state that it is never the victim’s fault. \nLike Monn, Minger said students should remember to be aware of their surroundings. IU is a college campus, and even with the abdundance of students, Minger reminds that crime notoriously occurs when there is opportunity. \nMonn said she feels safe on campus, but also believes IU is as safe as you make it. \n“If you take safety precautions, then yes, IU is very safe,” Monn said. “If you are walking alone at night, then you are jeopardizing your safety.”
(09/05/07 5:28am)
Adding to the 108 citations the Indiana State Excise Police issued Friday and Saturday, the IU Police Department recorded 41 arrests during the weekend.\nOut of the 41 arrests, six individuals were unconscious, needing some sort of medical assistance, IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger said. \nDuring the Aug. 22-26 Welcome Week period, IUPD had 13 cases involving medical assistance. \nWhile Minger said 41 arrests is a high number, he acknowledges that it was the first home football game and the weather was nice. But, he said, this past weekend was not a weekend in which incidents could not be addressed.\n“What is most distressing is six students were found unconscious and several of those people were vomiting,” Minger said. “There is always a great chance that if they don’t get medical attention, they could aspirate on their own vomit and choke to death. It’s a very serious situation.”\nHowever, this weekend, none of the people suffered severe medical ramifications. Minger said it is always good advice to exercise responsible drinking. If students observed the law, they would not find themselves in serious situations, he said.\nMinger said it was also disturbing that the average blood alcohol content for people arrested was .16.\n“That’s enough blood alcohol content to incarcerate two people while driving under the influence,” Minger said. “If .08 is evidence you are driving while impaired, then at .16, you are way too impaired.”
(09/05/07 5:24am)
She was an adviser, a Jacobs School of Music practice room proctor, a confidant and a motivator to nearly 47 years worth of music school students passing through the halls.\nHelen Clouse did it all.\nAfter almost a half-century of serving the University and reigning as the oldest employee at the age of 100, Helen Clouse passed away Sunday, leaving behind a missing note in the music sheets practiced throughout the Jacobs School’s halls. She served as the coordinator for student practice room scheduling until the very end.\n“It’s hard not to have her with us,” said Jacobs School of Music Dean Gwyn Richards. “To have a relationship with her for five decades, she becomes a part of the fabric of the school.”\nRichards, who met Clouse during the 1970s when he was an IU student, recalled her immediate importance in the music school family. \nAs December of the late 1970s rolled around, “Helen Clouse’s lounge” began. The week before finals, students in the music school gathered to enjoy catered goods and baked treats, often made by Clouse herself. She refused to let students travel hungry, Richards said. \nThis tradition still continues today, and Richards said it will continue, as it will be one of the things students close to Clouse will remember her by.\nOn her 100th birthday, the music school dedicated “Helen Clouse Plaza,” located right outside of the Music Practice Building on Third Street.\nClouse’s grandson, Charles Aikman, remembered how during the dedication, as the rock with the plaque was unveiled, she said, “I’m glad you picked that rock, I’m mighty fond of it.” \n“I think I will miss her wit. She had a wonderful sense of humor,” Aikman said with a laugh. “Working until she was 100 years old, quite an accomplishment. She made an impact she would never take credit for – she was always humble in terms of contribution. ‘They’ve done everything for me,’ she would say.” \nWhat Clouse leaves behind is a missing bond – the bond between her and the school, the faculty and staff and the alumni.\n“Ask any alumni, and they will say one of the things they remember most of all is the relationship with Helen,” Richards said. “She was remembered years into the future.”\nDuring the 1980s, Alvin Chow attended IU for his doctoral studies. \nAs a new music student, he remembers turning in his practice sheets to request times and rooms for practicing. The chore of assigning the hundreds of music school students to practice rooms didn’t faze Clouse. It was through her job that she met generations of students, keeping in touch with many and remembering them all. \nDespite the hundreds of students bustling in and out of the music practice building day after day, Clouse took the time to get to know the students, to ask them questions and listen to them, and occasionally, to offer advice, Chow said.\n“She was almost like a mothering figure for me at Indiana, even though I was a graduate student,” Chow said. After he left IU, Chow said he kept in touch with Clouse, sending her Christmas cards and making a point to visit her if he neared the Bloomington area.\nBesides conversation and advice, Clouse offered students newspapers and magazines to read, and snacks, which were always on her desk. \n“It was a great way to bring humanity to such a large imposing school of music,” Chow said. \nHer selflessness spread to all aspects of her life.\nYears ago, when the music school became financially challenged, Richards said Clouse offered to forgo her salary.\n“She was extraordinarily giving,” he said. “And she gave the best advice. If you wanted advice, you could go to Helen. You always knew she was doing it for your best interest.” \nHer legacy, Richards said, will be the intense bond she created in her lifetime of service to others. No desire mattered more to her than helping people live up to their potential. \n“On her birthday, several alumni returned to campus to celebrate with her,” Richards said, recalling how she’d remember qualities about students. “She’d say, ‘What is it about practice room 135 that you liked so much?’ And the student would have long forgotten the practice room but she knew the number.” \nWhile she was physically failing, her mind was sharp and clear, and her memory vivid as always.\n“It was remarkable that way, and the way she stayed young,” Richards said. “Even at 100, she was a young person, and I think that was because of the students, they kept her young.”
(08/28/07 5:47pm)
Police officers were dispatched to Bryan Hall Sunday after being notified of a bomb threat, IU Police Department Capt. Jerry Minger said. \nAround 10 a.m., a dean in the building received a threatening e-mail mentioning a bomb around Bryan Hall, a building where the University president and other administrators work.\nPolice officers restricted entrance to the building and began searching for traces of a bomb, Minger said. \nBefore notifying professional bomb squads, Minger said IUPD wanted to do a search to investigate the validity of the threat. The bomb squad was never dispatched to the site.\nSince the bomb threat occurred via e-mail, police are using the Information Technology Security Office to track down the origin of the e-mail, Minger said.\nShortly after noon, occupants were able to return to the building. Then, police, working with IT, determined that universities in other states – Iowa, Illinois and Pennsylvania – received similar messages.\nThe interstate messages were all sent using anonymous portals and compromised computers.\n“We are still continuing to try and determine where the person is or the computer that is originating the messages,” Minger said. “It does seem hopeful. At this point we don’t want to narrow our possibilities as to what it might be.”\nMinger said the police would like to pinpoint the exact origin of the threat and figure out why these messages were sent.\n“To make a bomb threat or to send any harassment of communication is a violation of the law,” he said.
(08/28/07 4:28am)
Three hours of studying – give or take a few minutes – awaited freshman Andrew Myers. And it was not even for class.\nMyers, along with the rest of the 7,000-student freshman class, is required to take an alcohol education course called AlcoholEdu. In the first year of the program, it has already been met with negative assessments from many students interviewed for this story. \nFreshman Aubrey Chase summed up the course in one word: pointless.\n“I didn’t think it was effective,” Chase said. “A lot of people are doing it because they have to and are not paying attention.”\nChase said she has heard friends turn on the video from the course’s Web site, which can be taken at anytime or place, but they just ignored the lesson and watched TV while it played.\nHowever, University officials supported the program with its emphasis on prevention. With this focus, Dee Owens, director of the Alcohol and Drug Information Center, said it is difficult to measure if the course is effective or not.\n“If you prevent something, how do you know it was you?” Owens said. “That’s why we follow up to see the effect. Why would you come to a university and not be educated? The course helps students not hurt themselves.” \nMonday was the deadline for all freshmen to complete the course. As of Monday, about 6, 722 students completed the three-hour lesson, with a few hundred left to complete it. Owens said students can still take the course late, barring in mind the consequences if they don’t do it soon. \n“We will know who doesn’t take it,” she said, adding that students will not be allowed to register for second-semester classes until it is completed.
(08/28/07 4:25am)
Police cracked down on underage drinking this weekend, issuing about 200 alcohol-related citations to students during IU’s Welcome Week.\nFrom Wednesday through Sunday, the Indiana State Excise Police wrote 181 citations, a 60 percent jump from last year’s count of 107. In addition, the IU Police Department made 32 arrests, said IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger. \nMinger said 13 of their arrests involved some sort of medical assistance, including an unconscious individual who recorded a .27 blood alcohol content level. \nThe Indiana State Excise Police began assigning extra officers to Bloomington locations the week before classes began. Eighty-one minors were charged with illegal possession, consumption or transportation of alcoholic beverages. In addition, 38 minors were charged with the possession of a fake I.D.\nOfficer Travis Thickstun of the Excise Police said underage drinking and fake I.D.’s are the biggest problem on Bloomington’s campus. He cautioned students to not have fake I.D.’s and not to drink underage at all, but said the main issue is really that students are more concerned with not getting caught than not possessing illegal items. \nThickstun said officers approach students they believe to appear young and then check for information.\nThe excise police plans to continue the same level of activity as before by working at alcohol establishments inside and outside and general patrols around the Bloomington campus.\nNine adults were arrested for furnishing alcoholic beverages to minors, and 20 minors were charged with entering a liquor store or tavern.\nThe excise police also caught 33 people who were arrested on charges of a variety of offenses, including drug possession, public intoxication and other violations. \n“All officers have discretion on when to work and where to go, it is the officers choice where to check and where to patrol,” Thickstun said. \nBusinesses were no exception to violations. Big Red Liquors on College Avenue was cited for allowing a minor to loiter along with the sale of alcoholic beverages to a minor. In January 2007, the store was cited for the same violations, according to excise police reports.\nKilroy’s on Kirkwood was also cited for six counts each of allowing a minor to loiter and the sale of alcoholic beverages to a minor. A total of 13 minors were issued citations at Kilroy’s.
(08/28/07 2:53am)
Police officers were dispatched to Bryan Hall Sunday after being notified of a bomb threat, IU Police Department Capt. Jerry Minger said. \nAround 10 a.m., a dean in the building received a threatening e-mail mentioning a bomb around Bryan Hall, a building where the University president and other administrators work.\nPolice officers restricted entrance to the building and began searching for traces of a bomb, Minger said. \nBefore notifying professional bomb squads, Minger said IUPD wanted to do a search to investigate the validity of the threat. The bomb squad was never dispatched to the site.\nSince the bomb threat occurred via e-mail, police are using the Information Technology Security Office to track down the origin of the e-mail, \nMinger said.\nShortly after noon, occupants were able to return to the building. Then, police, working with IT, determined that universities in other states – Iowa, Illinois and Pennsylvania – received similar messages.\nThe interstate messages were all sent using anonymous portals \nand computers.\n“We are still continuing to try and determine where the person is or the computer that is originating the messages,” \nMinger said. “It does seem hopeful. At this point we don’t want to narrow our possibilities as to what it might be.”\n Minger said the police would like to pinpoint the exact origin of the threat and figure out why these messages were sent.\n“To make a bomb threat or to send any harassment of communication is a violation of the law,” he said.
(08/24/07 4:04am)
A female freshman reported she was forcibly sexually fondled near Seventh and Union streets Wednesday evening.\nAt about 10:30 p.m., a friend of the victim reported to the IU Police Department that her friend was very upset because she was attacked and inappropriately touched by two men, said IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger, reading from a police report.\nThe police went to the victim’s dormitory and found her upset and crying. The victim, an international student on campus, said she was walking by a volleyball court when she heard a male subject yell her name. When she turned around to see who called her name, someone approached her and placed a hand over her mouth. She said she couldn’t see, as her eyes were covered and her hands were restrained behind her back, Minger said. The victim said she thinks at least two males were involved.\nThe victim said in the police report she felt someone touch her on one of her breasts. One of the individuals then unzipped her jeans and she felt a hand go into her pants; however, she said she is unsure of whether her actual genital area was touched, Minger said.\nAs the victim was thrown to the ground, her cell phone began to ring, and the suspects involved ran off.\nMinger said the victim was unsure of the whereabouts of the incident because she is new to IU and unfamiliar with the campus. While the place of the assault is unknown, Minger said the fondling may have taken place about 400 feet north of 7th Street and 400 feet west of Union Street. \nThe situation is currently being investigated, and Minger said IUPD is increasing patrols in the suspected area.