Region

Classical guitar major finds healing in music

By Michael Sanserino · Monday, March 20,2006 11:41 p.m.

A native of Detroit, home to rock legends KISS and more recent rock star Kid Rock, Matthew Douglas Smith wanted to play guitar his whole life. Detroit had established itself as a city infatuated with rock 'n roll, and it was the perfect laboratory for up-and-coming rock stars. But Smith wasn't really interested in any of it. Ever since he began to play guitar seriously as a freshman in high school, Smith has known his talents were better suited for the Metropolitan Opera than they were for the Mets' Tigers' stadium, which hosts occasional rock concerts.

"Piss Christ:" a controversial crucifix

By Alyson Brodsy and Lindsey Landis · Monday, March 20,2006 4:21 p.m.

Andres Serrano mixed blood, urine and a crucifix in a vat and concocted a controversy. In 1987, he photographed his creation, called it "Piss Christ" and was given a $15,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. At a Senate meeting in 1989, Alfonse M. D'Amato, R-N.Y., and Jesse Helms R-N.D., expressed their outrage.

Players feel Davis fallout

By Andy Romey · Monday, March 20,2006 8:25 a.m.

SALT LAKE CITY -- After IU's 90-80 loss Saturday night, the walk through the long-winding tunnel beneath the stands of the Jon Huntsman Center felt like a funeral procession. The awkward silences and the irrelevant small talk couldn't conceal the fact that IU coach Mike Davis was making his final trek to the IU locker room. The fallout of his departure couldn't be concealed, either. "I'm sure he knows this, but my father passed away this summer, and he's like a father figure to me," sophomore forward Robert Vaden said. "I love him with all my heart and I'm sure he loves me as well."

3 teenagers die in accident over break

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, March 20,2006 8:24 a.m.

Three young women were killed in a two-car accident on Ind. 46 Wednesday afternoon.

Senior ties school mark

By Sam Story · Monday, March 20,2006 12:41 a.m.

IU senior golfer Shannon Johnson knew she had been playing well. She had carded round after round of sub-80 golf. What she didn't know was how dominant her play would be at the UNLV Spring Invitational in Las Vegas during spring break. Johnson's three-day score of 211 (68-75-68) tied the IU school record, but more importantly, was good enough to finish at the top of the leaderboard.

IU captures Florida State Invitational title

By Chris Engel · Monday, March 20,2006 12:40 a.m.

After three weeks of what-ifs, the IU women's softball team had a breakthrough weekend by capturing the Florida State Invitational March 12. The Hoosiers defeated two ranked opponents in one weekend after posting a 0-2-1 record against ranked teams prior to the tournament. Overcoming mental barriers helped push the Hoosiers to finally defeat a ranked opponent for the first time since 1998.

Hoosiers win 3 of 7 during spring break trip

By Jordan Majewski · Monday, March 20,2006 12:40 a.m.

After playing seven games in seven days in Bradenton, Fla., the IU baseball team completed an eventful spring break road trip with a 5-1 loss to the University of Illinois-Chicago on Saturday. The Hoosiers went 3-4 on the trip and now have an overall record of 4-10.

Hoosiers' rowing season back onboard

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, March 20,2006 12:40 a.m.

After a long winter hiatus, the IU women's rowing team jumped back into action at the Clemson Regatta on Saturday. The meet concluded the squad's spring break training trip, which was held from March 11 to 18. The event showcased Clemson Universitiy, Marist College, Pennsylvania, Purdue and IU in Clemson, S.C. Coach Steve Peterson said in a statement the regatta would be a positive starting point for the relatively young team.

More of the same

By Ryan Phillips · Monday, March 20,2006 12:37 a.m.

A 90-80 loss to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament was more of the same. IU struggled all night and battled back but simply came up short against another great squad.

Wrestling champion KINGPIN

By John Wustrow · Monday, March 20,2006 12:34 a.m.

As the last match of Joe Dubuque's collegiate wresting career came to a close, the IU senior flexed his arms as he walked around the mat and then raised two fingers in the air, presumedly to signify his back-to-back national championships. Dubuque defeated Troy Nickerson of Cornell 8-3 at the NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City on Saturday to capture the 125-pound title once again. Dubuque is the second Hoosier wrestler in the program's history to win two national titles, but the first to do it in consecutive seasons. Charlie McDaniel captured titles for IU in 1935 and 1938.

Senior trio dominates in WNIT win

By Tim O Brien and Tim O'Brien · Monday, March 20,2006 12:33 a.m.

For the IU women's basketball team, the postseason is the postseason whether it is the NCAA or the National Invitation Tournament, but the goal remains the same -- keep winning.

Insurance woes continue for grad students

By Chip Cutter · Monday, March 20,2006 12:33 a.m.

When graduate student Nicholas Remmes wanted to provide health insurance for his wife and newborn daughter this year, he added them as dependents to his insurance plan. While IU subsidized his portion of the coverage because he is a student academic appointee in the physics department, Remmes paid for the cost of his spouse and child entirely on his own, totaling $4,228. (Student academic appointees include graduate students who are associate instructors and research assistants.)

College prodigy is first woman tuba player in top orchestra

By Alyson Brodsy and Tom Krisher · Monday, March 20,2006 12:27 a.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- It was 9:30 on a Saturday night, and Carol Jantsch was at an ultimate frisbee tournament when her cell phone rang with an audition invitation from the Philadelphia Orchestra, one of America's finest symphonies.

Christian convert faces execution

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, March 20,2006 12:25 a.m.

KABUL, Afghanistan -- An Afghan man is being prosecuted in a Kabul court and could be sentenced to death on a charge of converting from Islam to Christianity, a crime under this country's Islamic laws, a judge said Sunday.

Eight civilians dead after troops clash with insurgents

By Alyson Brodsy and Vanessa Arrington · Monday, March 20,2006 12:22 a.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- On the eve of the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion, American troops clashed with gunmen north and west of Baghdad Sunday as insurgents lobbed a mortar round into the holy city of Karbala where a million Shiite pilgrims assembled for a major religious commemoration.

Arboretum once site of Little 500, football

By Allison Parks · Monday, March 20,2006 12:07 a.m.

The green space on 10th Street known as the Arboretum was once the site of the original Memorial Stadium, a structure that housed both football games and the annual Little 500 bike race.

Student groups participate in Relay

By Dana Tesser · Monday, March 20,2006 12:05 a.m.

This year at the Relay for Life, the Volunteer Students Bureau will not be using its energy to race around the track. Instead, the organization is donating its time and energy in a different way.

E-mail sparks discussion

By Michelle Manchir · Monday, March 20,2006 12:01 a.m.

IU trustee Cora Smith Breckenridge of Elkhart, Ind., wants to get the word out that the board of trustees is working hard to increase diversity at IU, despite recent controversy regarding an e-mail sent to trustees from trustee Tom Reilly Jr.

ARTifacts

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, March 19,2006 11:58 p.m.

What: Venus de Milo where to find it: A duplicate is in the hotel lobby at the Indiana Memorial Union. The original is in the Louvre Museum in Paris. Why you should care: The IU class of 1897 donated this statue depicting Venus, the Roman goddess of love. The unknown sculptor created the piece in the second century B.C. Source: www.sculpture.com

Dancin' in the streets (but not in NYC)

By Alyson Brodsy and Amanda Robert · Sunday, March 19,2006 11:50 p.m.

Dance is everywhere. It's in the studio. It's on the stage. It's in the subway and on the streets. Novelist Kurt Vonnegut once said, "Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room."