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Letters to the Editor

Weird is relative "Lueck described his time on 'The Real World' as the best four months of his life, saying it was not weird living with two gay guys, and that he believes the show portrayed him accurately" ("Real World star visits IUDM" Nov. 8). How nice. Would the writer have said the same thing had she interviewed a gay man, and said it wasn't weird for him to live with six straight people? Or a black man and said it wasn't weird to live with six white people?

Around The Arts

'Superstar' comes to IU Auditorium Through the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and the lyrics of Tim Rice, the story of Jesus' last seven days will be told rock-opera style in "Jesus Christ Superstar" at 8 p.m. tonight and Wednesday at the IU Auditorium.

Elderly couples and swollen ankles

The elderly population in Spain is so crazy that sometimes I feel like I'm at home in Florida. But these Spanish women are tough ... I wouldn't mess with them.

A fitting farewell

Anton Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" opened this past weekend at IU's Ruth N. Halls Theatre. It is the last IU production directed by Professor Howard Jensen before he retires, and given how excellent the production is, he will be missed.

Jordan River Forum

American action Waddell Hamer contends, French-like, that the Bush administration's "arrogance" lends it to believe that "the world revolves around the United States" ("Looking into the crystal ball," Nov. 8). To start, it does. And, excusez-moi, we excessively arrogant compared with whom? Absent America, I am inclined to ask, who would uphold a just international order? The United Nations? The Europeans? China? This is not intended as arrogance, but rather a statement of fact.

Competition reveals sexual designs

IMU security guard arrested at fraternity dance scuffle

IU Police Department officers responded to a call early Sunday morning about a fight involving about 20 subjects at the Indiana Memorial Union. According to IUPD reports, the incident resulted in the arrest of Rob Dubinski, an IMU security officer, for battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.

Belly dancing class healthy for body, mind

Belly shaking and hip shimmying isn't the only thing going on in IU's belly dance classes. The Student Recreational Sports Center's Middle Eastern Belly Dance classes not only offer physical exercise through a unique form of dance, but also offer aspects of mental health.

Students prepping for spring break

As most students prepare to head home for the holidays and brace for the winter ahead, some students are looking forward to the third week in March with thoughts of spending spring break on a warm beach. Although spring break is nearly three and a half months away, some eager students have gotten a head start on making their plans for 2005.

The end as we know it

It's the end of the world as we know it. Wait, no -- it's just IU. Everyone has a prediction. Most people who make predictions are kind of crazy. I'm not crazy because I have evidence. It's just like the Bible says, an IU apocalypse is coming. Think about it, the semester is a little more than halfway finished, and so many strange and horrible things have already happened.

Sailing beyond the sunset

What am I going to do with my life? This is the question I am asked each time I walk into a holiday party, a family shindig or even a visit with my parents. Where am I going after May? Which company am I applying to? What will I do over the summer? How often am I going to visit? How much money do I want to make in 10 years? I feel like Aretha Franklin is tap dancing on my chest and the world is watching every choice I make with skepticism and scorn. I guess the answer to all of these questions is "I don't know."

Pop Quiz: Lilly or McDonald's?

A report released by the Higher Education Subcommittee of the Indiana Government Efficiency Commission Thursday held the answer to all of Indiana's education and economic problems: a further increase in the divide between rich and poor. Well, maybe it didn't say that in so many words, but the report implied that for Indiana's higher education institutions to be more effective, they'd have to focus on money and not students.

Bowling event empowers disabled athletes

The only thing louder than bowling balls thundering down the allies this weekend at Classic Lanes Bowling was the laughter, cheers and screams coming from the athletes who threw them. Saturday afternoon kicked off the 24th annual Special Olympic Bowling Tournament for athletes with mental disabilities and, like every other Special Olympic event, began with the Special Olympics Oath.

IU upset in conference tournament

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The inability to finish games is something that plagued the IU men's basketball team last season and the IU football team this season. That inability trickled down to the No. 4 IU men's soccer team (14-4-1, 5-1 Big Ten) this season and finally caught up to the team in the Hoosiers' 2-1 loss Friday to Michigan State (11-6-4, 2-4-0 Big Ten) in the Big Ten tournament.

Week brings diversity, celebration

What does one have to do to speak French, Spanish, Romanian, and Japanese; learn to belly dance and see a Persian film all in one week? IU's International Education Week -- a national program started by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of State in 2000 to promote multiculturalism and international education -- will kick off today with a variety of on-campus events. The annual tradition will end Saturday.

Sexual healer

Bill Condon is sorry. The Academy Award-winning director and writer of the new movie "Kinsey," a biopic about IU professor and human sexuality research pioneer Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey, is sorry because when it came time to give acknowledgements in the film's credits, it read that the filmmakers would like to thank the "University of Indiana."

New book displays local art

The Bloomington Chamber of Commerce unveiled its 2004 "Bloomington Sketchbook" Friday night at Gallery North on the Square. "Bloomington Sketchbook" is an art book dedicated to the works of local artists. Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Programs Sara McGoun said the book took two years to organize.

'Live by Request' recorded at Buskirk

For a musician, there's no greater satisfaction than returning home to give a sold-out performance -- unless of course that performance also happens to be broadcast live on national television. As John Mellencamp took the stage Thursday night at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater with a cigarette in one hand and a guitar in the other, more than 650 fans cheered on their hometown hero as he broke into an a cappella rendition of his 1985 hit "Small Town."

Team outdone by ranked Illini in straight sets

Hoping to bounce back from a tough loss against Purdue last week, the IU women's volleyball team played host to Illinois Friday night at University Gymnasium. The Hoosiers fell behind quickly against the Illini and never bounced back, losing in straight sets, 20-30, 18-30, 22-30. IU came out looking tired after the emotionally draining five-set loss to the Boilermakers Wednesday.

Rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard found dead in studio at age 35

NEW YORK -- The rap artist O.D.B., whose unique rhymes, wild lifestyle and incessant legal troubles made him one of the most vivid characters in hip hop, collapsed and died inside a recording studio Saturday. He was 35. O.D.B. complained of chest pains before collapsing at the Manhattan studio, and was dead by the time paramedics arrived, said Gabe Tesoriero, a spokesman for O.D.B.'s record label, Roc-a-Fella Records.