Region

Volunteers' efforts help Special Olympians

From helping the Special Olympians put on their bowling shoes to cheering for them as they bowled, the Spirit of Sport volunteers bonded with the athletes at the Special Olympic bowling tournament last November. The bonding experience at the tournament helped the volunteers focus on what they are working toward for this weekend's Spirit of Sport events, said Christine Geary, the assistant director of special events for Recreational Sports.

Centers offer evening help

Students looking for homework or study help late at night have a place to turn. The Academic Support Center offers tutoring in various subjects, workshops and advising 7 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday.

Around The Campus

Kevin Glowacki, assistant professor of classical studies, was awarded the 2000-01 Archaeological Institute of America Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

Council approves historic district

The Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission won its petition to make McDoel Gardens the city's first historic conservation district. But the attempt to hold the district together fractured the community. The petition was passed by a vote of 6-3 in the city council meeting Wednesday, but not without a debate between supporters and those opposing the petition. Discussion on the petition, which began at 8 p.m., continued until the early hours of the morning. The area being designated as a historic preservation district means the commission would have to approve any demolitions or relocations of houses or businesses, as well as any new construction in the district.

AIDS on the rise ... again

Every major network channel broadcasts messages about AIDS. But how much is actually getting across? How much of this information are viewers absorbing and using to prevent contracting this disease? According to recent figures, many people are not listening. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows AIDS is on the rise -- 12 percent overall. But, for homosexual black males, one in three are are at risk of contracting the virus.

Time change would be pointless

Indiana is one of only three states that don't recognize daylight-saving time. Neither do Arizona and Hawaii. Because these states don't fit into a specific time zone, the business community wants them to conform to the rest of the country and adopt daylight-saving time. Every year, a bill comes before the Indiana General Assembly to adopt daylight-saving time, and every year it fails.

Trumping the race card

The other day, a liberal friend reminded me of what I expect to be a large part of the Democratic strategy for the next four years: "When all else fails, charge racism." When I told him I was generally in favor of a "one nation, one language" policy (having been born in Canada, that gives me a different perspective), he rebutted with one simple term: "Racist."

Our tax dollars at work

If only Al Gore and Joe Lieberman had been elected, we wouldn't be facing this attempt to break down the wall of separation between church and state by giving government funds to "faith-based" charities… Oops! My mistake. Of course Gore and Lieberman also endorsed "charitable choice" during the campaign, seeking to bring religion and government closer together. If they had won, I daresay the Democrats who are now attacking President George W. Bush's "faith-based initiative" would be defending it with pious blather about the "vacuum of values" found in a "hollow secularism."

Around The Region

Woman, 2 children killed in Elkhart fire ELKHART, Ind. -- A fire Thursday morning in an Elkhart duplex left a woman and two young children dead, a fire department official said. The names of the woman and the two children, ages 1 and 2 1/2, were not immediately released.

Around The Arts

Beyond the Pale presents evening of puppet theater Beyond the Pale Productions will present and evening of puppet theater, including "The Puppet Show of Don Cristobal," "Buster Keaton and the Buddha" and "The Third Pythia of Flin Flon" 8 p.m. Saturday in the Rose Firebay of the John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut St. Tickets are $9 in advance at TD's CDs & LPs or $10 at the door. For more information, visit www.beyondthepale.org.

City chosen for conductor contest

Bloomington has been chosen from every city in North America for the upcoming Maazel/Vilar Conductors Competition. Maestro Lorin Maazel, the newly appointed artistic director of the New York Philharmonic, will direct the auditions scheduled for December.

Chocolate dreams become reality

It sounds like something out of a chocolate lover's dreams. All-you-can-eat chocolate pies, cakes and cookies. But it's going to be a reality Saturday in Bloomington.

An evening of experimentation

The IU Symphony Orchestra put on a nearly flawless musical display Wednesday at the Musical Arts Center. Conducted by David Dzubay, the orchestra performed music by Sven-David Sandstrom, Stravinsky and Bartok.

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TOGA disqualified from IUSA race

The IU Student Association race narrowed further Tuesday night when IUSA announced the disqualification of the TOGA party. Elections commissioner Erin Koops, a senior, said TOGA is ineligible because presidential candidate Joe Koleszar, a senior, is not a valid candidate.

State heat subsidy needed in schools

With the price of natural gas on the rise, many public schools are struggling to pay their heating bills. Heating costs have as much as quadrupled since last year, and many schools must dip into their budgets to finance this unprecedented expense. This means funds that would normally pay for textbooks, staff development and salaries are going to pay for heat. And it is the students who will suffer.

Alumnus targets White House

The gunman who fired shots at the White House Wednesday was an IU alumnus who neighbors described as a quiet man. Robert W. Pickett, 47, graduated in 1979 with a degree in history. Neighbors said they were surprised to hear that he was identified as the man who shot at the White House Wednesday morning. Surprised, but not shocked. Neighbors described Pickett as a recluse who lived alone after the death of his parents. They said his only companion was his dog. Read the text of Pickett's suicide letter.

White House gunman's suicide letter

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