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Two students assault junior outside Briscoe Quad

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 11:48 p.m.

Two IU students were arrested early yesterday morning for assaulting another student at Briscoe Quad, according to the IU Police Department. Around 2 a.m. junior James Trinka called IUPD to report he had been punched in the face while driving past the dorm. IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said Trinka told the police he was driving his girlfriend to Briscoe Quad when he came upon four subjects who were blocking the road. When Trinka asked the four men to move out of the way, two of the men approached his vehicle and punched him in the face.

Former inspector: U.S. wrong about WMD

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 11:48 p.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Former weapons inspector David Kay said Wednesday "we were almost all wrong" about Saddam Hussein's weapons programs, as Congress pressed a high-stakes struggle to pinpoint why that happened and who was responsible.

Fed maintains interest rates

By Alyson Brodsy and Jeannine Aversa · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 11:47 p.m.

WASHINGTON D.C.-- The Federal Reserve, not wanting to upset the economic recovery, held a main short-term interest rate at a 45-year low Wednesday. But the central bank hinted rates could move higher in the future. Wrapping up a two-day meeting -- the first regularly scheduled session of the year -- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and his colleagues left the federal funds rate unchanged at 1 percent. The funds rate, the interest banks charge each other on overnight loans, is the Fed's primary tool for influencing the economy. The Reserve lowered the funds rate to its current 1 percent level in June and the rate hasn't budged since then.

Trustees to consider new SLIS dean

By Chris Freiberg and Warren Christopher Freiberg · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 11:47 p.m.

The IU Board of Trustees is expected to discuss soccer, parking, and library sciences among other topics at this month's board meeting, scheduled for today and tomorrow in the Dogwood Room of the Indiana Memorial Union. Friday, the board will review IU-Bloomington Interim Chancellor Kenneth Gros Louis' recommendation for the School of Library and Information Sciences Dean position, former SLIS Dean Blaise Cronin. Debora Shaw is the current interim dean.

Solving racism: Part 1

By Jack M. Silverstein and Jack Silverstein · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 11:13 p.m.

This is the first of a three-part series. How do we end racism?

Teeter-tottering tuition

By Paul Musgrave · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 11:11 p.m.

Indiana's Senate faces a tough decision this week as it considers S.B. 262. The bill's drab title, "Tuition rates for state universities," conceals its importance. If passed, the bill would have a major impact on the way IU, Purdue University and the other state universities set tuition rates. Deciding whether that impact would be in the state's best interests is difficult.

Angry black women

By Melanie Sims · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 11:09 p.m.

Hey, MTV, I can't be your angry black woman. I know "The Mole" has Rudy (Keisha Knight-Pulliam), "Top Models" has Camille and "The Apprentice" has Omarosa. But sorry, I just can't help ya'll compete for ratings.

Where are the women?

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 11:08 p.m.

The science department is missing some chromosomes, but the problem is not with a lab expiriment. It's among the faculty -- the XX combination is noticeably elusive in departments that continue to be dominated by men.

Falling into fame

By Jenny Sung · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 6:45 p.m.

At the age of ten, Ryan Cook wanted to grow up to be just like his older brother -- a drummer. So for his birthday he asked for a drum set. Instead, his father gave him a guitar, hoping he'd follow in his footsteps. Disappointed, he abided by his father's wishes and began guitar lessons. Although reluctant at first, Cook soon fell in love with the guitar. It became his passion and a way of expressing himself. And though he swore he was never going to sing, he turned to songwriting soon enough.

Islandvibes

By Holly Johnson and Holy Johnson · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 6:35 p.m.

Aaron Zeis was perusing old 45s in Kingston, Jamaica, when he came across David Isaacs of the Grammy-nominated Jamaican band the Itals. Zeis, a Ft. Wayne native, had recently formed Bloomington-based One People Productions in response to a palpable need for live reggae shows in central Indiana and was intrigued by the "genuine kindness" of Isaacs and his bandmates.

Carrie Newcomer: A mother of music

By Doug Smith · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 6:31 p.m.

Carrie Newcomer will be performing on Feb. 7 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, celebrating the release of her latest album, Betty's Diner: The Best of Carrie Newcomer. From the timeless singer/songwriter tradition, Newcomer uses her personal touch of storytelling for the benefit of her audience and community. Her total love, compassion for and emersion in her work is not solely for her pleasure, but for those she has the opportunity to reach. Newcomer says the studio process of selecting tracks for a "best-of album" made creating this record stand out to her.

Not Coldplay nor cold sore

By John Barnett · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 6:20 p.m.

Elbow certainly is a diamond in the rough among the current British art rock crop -- though it won't be the next Coldplay. Released in the UK last August to much critical and fan acclaim, Elbow's sophomore album, Cast of Thousands, makes its American debut this month. Free-form poetic lyrics about the amazements and annoyances of everyday life blend perfectly with subtle yet boundless soundscapes, making Cast a rewarding, if only slightly challenging, listen.

Ain't no lie -- this is great blues

By Ryan Whirty · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 6:19 p.m.

It's almost unfathomable that three guys could cover Jimmy Reed, Collective Soul, Bob Marley, Jim Reeves and Gillian Welch and not make fools of themselves at some point. But guitarist Wendell Holmes, bassist Sherman Holmes and drummer Poppy Dixon have not only avoided looking foolish, they've given all the cuts on Simple Truths, their second album for Alligator, a brilliant, soulful shine that almost by default will put even the most grumpy listener in a pretty damn good mood.

Derivative sounds 'Eclipse' Stereolab's talent

By Craig Shank and Eric Smith · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 6:18 p.m.

Stereolab songwriters Tim Gane and Laetitia Sadier obviously adhere to the adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," because they haven't felt the need to fix anything since the 1996 album, Emperor Tomato Ketchup. This isn't necessarily good or bad, but their effort certainly is in question with the release of Margerine Eclipse.

A record so good it'll make you Dizzee

By Mia Partlow · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 6:18 p.m.

When listening to Dizzee Rascal's first album, Boy In Da Corner, I have the distinct feeling that I am dancing in a seedy UK club smelling of beer, cigarettes and the sweat of 100 moving bodies. It is impossible to stop dancing. There is a frenzied air to the dancing, as if the song's subjects -- among them love (the unrequited teenage kind) and the threat of missed opportunities (the frighteningly real kind) -- are the reason we are all there, in that seedy club moving to the beat.

Into the great, wide 'Open'

By -Alec Toombs · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 6:17 p.m.

Kevin Costner returns to the frontier with his latest entry to the Western genre, Open Range -- new to DVD. The film received strong critical notices upon its release this past August, and yet went relatively ignored by mass audiences. Those of you who missed Range during its theatrical run would be well advised to check out this sterling, 2-disc DVD set.

Post whatever-ism

By Greg O'Neill · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 6:17 p.m.

I'm trying to get famous by calling our generation the Indoor Generation. Generation Y makes us sound genetically engineered. So what has the Indoor Generation inherited from Generation X? Sarcasm, apathy and irony. At least on a macro level, that sounds about right. All three have engulfed nearly every sphere of our culture -- entertainment, politics, humor, music, etc.

Saturday morning craptoons

By Doug Evans · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 6:15 p.m.

Remember back when Saturday was a day you went out of your way to wake up early, even though it was possibly the only day you knew you could afford to sleep in? Thank you very much, Sunday school. But it was worth all that and more just to see the classic Saturday morning cartoon lineup that network television had to offer. With cartoons like "Garfield and friends," "Ghostbusters," "Batman: The Animated Series," "Scooby-Doo" (when the gang was young, much like us), "X-Men" and the legendary "Looney Tunes" to name a few, there could not be a better start to the weekend.

'Boy Meets Virus' on DVD

By Ben Warden · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 6:06 p.m.

Not for the squeamish or faint-hearted, Cabin Fever aims to be a throwback to the horror films of the '70s and '80s where intense gore and strong sexual content dominate over plot. The director, Eli Roth, is proud of this and packs the movie with reference after reference of presumably his favorite horror movies.

There's good times to be had in 'Mexico'

By Tony Sams · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 6:03 p.m.

I'm not entirely sure I know everything that was going on in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, an action flick new to DVD from hotshot director-writer-producer-editor-cinematographer-composer-special effects supervisor-production designer, Robert Rodriguez, and I'm not entirely sure that matters.