Region

Doctors or dropouts

By Holly Johnson and Holy Johnson · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 12:11 a.m.

Three years ago, Ali Navid packed up and made the days-long trip southeast from North Dakota to Bloomington. Working the graveyard shift in his father's Los Angeles video store and manning the cash register at gas stations led the University of Maryland graduate to think there had to be something better for him elsewhere.

Hoop'n Hoosiers Tournament canceled

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 12:11 a.m.

Citing the lack of participants registered, the Student Recreational Sports Association has decided to cancel the Hoop'n Hoosiers basketball tournament. The SRSA hoped for about 28 teams to register, but failed to reach this goal.

Three-peat can't be beat

By Ryan Want · Wednesday, Feb. 25,2004 12:10 a.m.

The Bulls did it twice in the 90s, and more recently, IU junior Alex Zamudio pulled off the feat. Zamudio attained the highly coveted three-peat by winning this month's intramural racquetball championship for the third straight year. Zamudio defeated doubles racquetball champion senior Dan Moore in the finals.

Around The State

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:49 p.m.

Two-thirds of children taking expanded ISTEP pass INDIANAPOLIS -- Two-thirds of students who took a statewide test given to additional grade levels last fall passed, the Indiana Department of Education said.

Wartime love story crosses borders

By Andrew Welfe and Andrew Welfle · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:48 p.m.

The sixth longest-running show in Broadway history, "Miss Saigon," will be playing at the IU Auditorium throughout this week. Written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, who composed "Les Miserables," "Miss Saigon" is one of the few theatrical musicals that tells a story in a modern setting -- in this case, the Vietnam War. It gives a perspective of the war and the life of the soldiers not often seen in America.

Michael Jackson removed from lawsuit

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:44 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- A federal judge has removed Michael Jackson from a copyright infringement lawsuit, ruling that the Indiana-born entertainer had no involvement in a disputed 1996 compilation of songs the Jackson 5 performed decades ago.

Gun owner immunity bill passes

By Alyson Brodsy and Deanna Wrenn · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:43 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would give civil immunity to gun owners whose weapons are stolen and later used in a crime. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Robert Meeks, said he is trying to protect responsible gun owners. He said people whose stolen firearms are used in crimes should not have to pay for legal fees to defend themselves against frivolous lawsuits.

Contra dancing group has been swinging for years

By Jeanine Murray · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:38 p.m.

Every Wednesday night, the Bloomington Old Time Music and Dance Group offers a way for the community of Bloomington to come together over dance and music. From 8 to 10:30 p.m. the group offers live old-time music and contra dancing.

Professor captures musical spirits of Beethoven, Schubert

By Adam Sedia · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:37 p.m.

An unusually large and variegated audience gathered in Auer Hall Monday evening for a recital. All were there to hear Edmund Battersby's performance. Battersby is a professor of piano at the IU School of Music and an internationally recognized virtuoso pianist. In store for Monday night's audience was a large and very diverse selection of solo piano music occupying a good one-and-a-half hours of listening.

Shakespeare opens at Buskirk-Chumley

By -Jenny Kobiela · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:36 p.m.

The Acting Company, an award-winning acting troupe, will present Shakespeare's "Richard III" at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. The Acting Company's appearance is part of "Shakespeare in American Communities," the largest tour of Shakespeare in American history, according to www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org.

'I am the Walrus'

By Alyson Brodsy and Phil Kijak · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:31 p.m.

In "High Fidelity," Nick Hornby wrote, "what really matters is what you like, not what you are like." Things like books, movies and food may seem trivial now, but they'll drive you mad when you're arguing in the car with your new boyfriend or girlfriend about where to eat and what movie to see, all the while being bombarded by the sounds of the Insane Clown Posse -- which you have recently discovered is your mate's favorite band.

Diversity and date auctions

By Alyson Brodsy and Brian Matzke · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:29 p.m.

Sometimes you've just got to buy some Asians. Last Friday was one of those times. Fortunately, the Asian American Association had a date auction that very night.

Putin dismisses staff 1 week before election

By Alyson Brodsy and Vladimir Isachenkov · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:28 p.m.

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin fired his prime minister Tuesday -- less than three weeks before the Russian presidential election -- in a surprise stroke riding the Russian leadership of a top holdover from the Boris Yeltsin era.

Civil unions for everyone

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Hintz · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:28 p.m.

In one of my favorite "Saturday Night Live" sketches, a couple is arguing about a particular product. They both love it, but can't agree about what it actually is. One insists it's a dessert topping. "It's a floor wax," says the other.

The culture of seduction

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:26 p.m.

Six rape charges surfaced last week against the University of Colorado's football team -- an institution already being critically examined for using sex as a recruiting tool. Six rape charges are shocking, as was Colorado coach Gary Barnett's response -- verbally criticizing an alleged rape victim.

IU-Southeast proposes on-campus dorm

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:20 p.m.

NEW ALBANY, Ind. -- Officials at IU-Southeast New Albany are developing plans to build student housing in an effort to increase the campus's appeal. Campus administrators said a community task force would be established to help plan the project and they expected to present the results to IU's board of trustees later this year.

U.S. to expand VISIT program to improve land border security

By Thomas Bender · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:20 p.m.

With the new U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security hopes to improve the U.S. entry and exit system at the borders. The initiative involves collecting travel information and biometric identifiers, such as fingerprints, in order to identify visitors.

Falafel contest benefits charities

By Laura Bare · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:19 p.m.

Amid a room full of approximately 500 falafel balls and roughly 100 spectators feasting on a variety of Middle Eastern food, the first annual falafel ball eating contest was held in the McNutt conference dining hall Monday night. Sponsored by the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center, the falafel ball eating contest was a part of Tzedakah Leads to Community week.

IMU Market introduces sushi

By Allison Ricket · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:18 p.m.

Cheese and grease have a new contender vying for the saliva of famished IU students. The Indiana Memorial Union announced the addition of sushi to the list of alternative food options available at the Market yesterday by distributing free samples of california rolls, wasabi shrimp and halibut to sushi fanatics and sushi virgins alike.

Around The Campus

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 1:57 p.m.

Sigma Alpha Mu is holding a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the Wildermuth basketball courts in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. The tournament, scheduled for March 28 from noon to 11 p.m., costs $35 for one team of three or $100 for three teams of three.