Region

New movie features first black Jesus

By Alyson Brodsy and Sandy Cohen · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 10:27 p.m.

It's a familiar image for millions of Christians: Jesus, with a crown of thorns, hanging from the cross. What color is he? In a controversial new film opening Friday, he is black. "Color of the Cross" tells a traditional story, focusing on the last 48 hours of Christ's life, as told in the Gospels. In this version, though, race contributes to his persecution. It is the first representation in the history of American cinema of Jesus as a black man.

Cigarette butts, Band-Aids, ketchup: treasure for a New York artist

By Alyson Brodsy and Colleen Long · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 10:25 p.m.

Rotting garbage piled along the curb, decades-old furniture decaying in the rain, discarded cigarette butts everywhere you look -- New York City can be a filthy place. To many, it's a disgusting downside of living here. To Justin Gignac, it's treasure.

TV themes losing place in prime time

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 10:24 p.m.

I don't remember much about high school biology or physics, and I couldn't tell you how to compute a calculus problem, but, for the love of Will Smith, the theme song to "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" remains fresh in my mind. Smith's catchy rap opened each episode of his hit '90s sitcom, in which he starred as a street-smart teen from Philly who moves in with wealthy relatives. A whole generation knows the rap by heart, as well as the "Saved by the Bell" song.

Artist demonstrates calligraphy as part of ongoing exhibit

By Shannon McEnerney · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 10:21 p.m.

Zhiyuan Cong stands with his eyebrows arched and his hand raised with a brush angled, ready to dive into the paper. After a slight hesitation, he sweeps his brush across the page, forming black lines that look like a waterfall. After adding a mixture of blues, greens and grays, the picture is complete. Cong, an art professor at William Paterson University, holds up his finished Chinese ink painting with calligraphy. The painting depicts a red flower emerging from a dark background. Jaws drop as members of the audience marvel at the creation.

Putin says he won't run for 3rd term, promises justice for slain journalist

By Alyson Brodsy and Henry Meyer · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 10:12 p.m.

MOSCOW -- President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Wednesday that he would not try to run for another term but said he would retain influence over Russia even after leaving office in 2008. The immensely popular Putin is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term, but supporters have called for a referendum on amending the country's laws to allow him to stay in power.

Man alleges sexual abuse by same priest who fondled Foley as a boy

By Alyson Brodsy and Jennifer Kay · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 9:20 p.m.

Another former altar boy says he was sexually abused in the 1970s by the same retired Catholic priest who acknowledged fondling former Rep. Mark Foley when Foley was a teenager, the man's attorney said Wednesday. The new allegations against the Rev. Anthony Mercieca were made by a man who lived in North Miami and was an altar boy at St. James Catholic Church, where Mercieca worked, attorney Jeffrey Herman said.

Online Only: The One-Issue Voter

By Alyson Brodsy and Abram Hess · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 2:44 p.m.

In two weeks, patriotic Americans will go to the polls to perform their civic duty, and I will, reluctantly, be among them.

Faith vs. prejudice

By Alyson Brodsy and Waddell Hamer · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 2:40 p.m.

This weekend, I attended an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship conference in Washington, Ind. I would call myself a Christian with many struggles; some are with myself, but some are with trends in the Christian community that I find troubling. One of these trends presented itself through a chance encounter I had during the conference.

Blood and guts

By Alyson Brodsy and Brian J. McFillen · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 2:40 p.m.

It may still be a week before Halloween proper, but one of the best things about the holiday has already arrived: the proliferation of horror movies on your TV.

Everybody spills

By Joanna Borns · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 2:38 p.m.

Oops, I spilled on myself -- again. By the time you read this, I might have spilled thousands of food items all over my clothes. In the course of a day, I can spill an entire list of things on myself, including nacho cheese, maple syrup, Salisbury steak, Chanel No. 5, and two-thirds of an iced venti mocha chai machiatto frappuccino with an extra shot of albino koala tears.

Shhh! We're huntin' presidents

By IDS staff and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 2:37 p.m.

Last week, some IU faculty expressed concern about the secrecy in the ongoing search for the University's next president. The search, which could continue into 2008 when current President Adam Herbert's term is set to expire, has thus far been confidential. The candidates' names have not been made public -- those in consideration for the position are only known to the 13 representatives on the presidential search committee.

Study fuels debate of life on Mars

By Julie Mahomed · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 2:19 p.m.

A new IU study that found a self-sustaining community of bacteria living 2.8 kilometers below the Earth's surface fuels optimism that similar life could exist on Mars.

Business Travelers

By Kasey Hawrysz · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 12:23 a.m.

The most frightening part of Anna Satrom's ten-day journey in India was getting on the bus. Satrom was one of 60 sophomore business students to travel to Delhi, India to study different aspects of the economy and culture as part of an advanced program offered through the Kelley School of Business. But while the traffic situation might not show it, in the last 10 years India has emerged as the fastest growing economy in a rapidly shrinking world, said Dan Smith, dean of the Kelley School of Business.

Myers 'nonchalant' in police interview

By Audrie Garrison · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 12:23 a.m.

MARTINSVILLE -- An Indiana State Police detective testified Tuesday afternoon that John R. Myers II's answers seemed "rehearsed" when police questioned him in May 2005 about the murder of IU student Jill Behrman.

Election could impact graduate student debt

By Brian Spegele · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 12:23 a.m.

Graduate students at IU have experienced higher tuition costs and face greater debt when leaving the University, as state funds for higher education have withered away over the past decade. With the upcoming Nov. 7 elections, many are questioning how politics and government spending can affect graduate students.

Hurricane weakens to tropical storm off Mexico

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 12:22 a.m.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, Mexico -- Hurricane Paul weakened to a tropical storm Tuesday as it headed toward the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, whipping up high surf that left one person dead and another missing in the resort region.

Club offers high-level competition

By Ricky Braun · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 12:19 a.m.

Hitting a plastic ball with holes in it might seem boring. But then again, most people haven't played with the Whiffle Ball Club. While it might not compete with schools across the Midwest like other club sports, that doesn't mean the whiffle ball team lacks the intensity of other sports, said Justin Ross, the club's vice president.

Woman who once confessed testifies

By Sarah Core · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 12:18 a.m.

MARTINSVILLE -- Wendy K. Owings, 32, of Bloomington, testified Tuesday about her involvement in the Jill Behrman murder case, which stemmed from a false confession of murder.

First wins of the season costly to Hoosier team

By Mike Abrams · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 12:18 a.m.

The IU hockey team remains unbeaten after winning both games this weekend against Robert Morris University. The Hoosiers (2-0-2) beat Robert Morris (1-4-0) Friday and Saturday at the Frank Southern Ice Arena in Bloomington, notching their first wins of the season. IU forward Dan Karlander kicked off the game with an early goal. From that point on, the Hoosiers never looked back. Though the team won the game 4-2, they suffered other losses on the ice.

Baseball stands alone in era of parity in U.S.

By Ben Walker · Wednesday, Oct. 25,2006 12:14 a.m.

The Boston Red Sox broke the curse. The Chicago White Sox won their first crown since Shoeless Joe Jackson. The Detroit Tigers could complete an unprecedented turnaround. In this era of baseball parity, most everyone is invited to the World Series party.