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IMP students showcase majors, art at exhibition tonight

Sophomore Abbey Stemler wanted to study mental health, but since there wasn't a program for that at IU, she developed her own major. Calling it Social Constructions of Mental Health and Illness, Stemler developed it through the Individualized Major Program. She selects classes from anthropology, sociology and psychology to gain perspectives from different disciplines. At the IMP's 2nd Annual Creative and Performing Arts Exhibition at 6:30 p.m. in the John Waldron Arts Center, Stemler and 19 other IMP students will display posters they have made that outline their majors. At 7 p.m., IMP students in dance, musical theater and fashion design will perform their talents in a show that is free to the public.

Wave of sectarian violence in Iraq leaves at least 56 dead

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A series of suicide attacks, car bombs and mortar barrages rocked Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least 56 people and wounding scores as fears of an Iraq civil war escalated. President Bush decried the violence and said Iraqis must choose between "chaos or unity." Iraqis have suffered through days of reprisal killings and attacks on Sunni mosques since bombers blew apart the gold dome of the revered Shiite Askariya shrine in Samarra on Wednesday. The Iraqi Cabinet said at least 379 people had been killed and 458 wounded in reprisal attacks since the mosque blast.

Mardi Gras returns to post-Katrina New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS -- The crowds were small and the costumes wickedly satirical as Mardi Gras built toward its boozy climax Tuesday in the hurricane-buckled city. The culmination of the eight-day pre-Lenten bash fell nearly six months to the day after the Aug. 29 storm that smashed thousands of homes and killed more than 1,300 people, the vast majority of them in New Orleans.

Elections have recent history of violations

IU Student Association elections began yesterday and have been running smoothly so far. But anything can happen before the complaint submission deadline at 5 p.m. Thursday. Although Elections Coordinator Keith Johnson said he thinks this year's election will continue to run smoothly, current IUSA President Alex Shortle said sometimes tickets get carried away campaigning.

SLAVIC SONGS

New comics focus on black achievements

Forget Batman and Robin. The men of Omega Psi Phi are using black heroes in weekly comic strips to inform people about black achievements. Danny Perkins, the creator of the comic's story line each week, said the comics are called Que Comics, dubbed after the nickname for Omega Psi Phi members. Perkins said each week he researches the people behind black achievements who are not typically talked about, such as the founder of Black History Month, Dr. Carter G. Woodson.

Opinion on the front page?

Regular readers of the Indiana Daily Student might have been surprised to see the front page of Friday's paper. Beneath the usual news stories, graphics and photos that took up the top three quarters of the page appeared a guest column written by Ozair M. Shariff, president of the IU Muslim Student Union. Shariff submitted an insightful piece regarding the recent controversy surrounding Danish cartoons that have offended many Muslims and led to protests and violence throughout the world.

Author Tucker Max to visit Sigma Chi, sign books

Tucker Max -- notorious to some for his actions he describes as inappropriate and unsafe -- will be signing copies of his book "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" on campus at 7 p.m. today at Sigma Chi.

Half-heartedly Hoosier

The IDS Editorial Board invited both of the IU Student Association tickets to a discussion Friday to determine whether to endorse Hoosier or Red Hot for this year's election. To our dismay, neither ticket swept us off our feet. Fighting through campaign rhetoric, unrealistic idealism and misguided platforms helped obscure and confound our decision-making process even further.

5 groups back Hoosier party

Leaders of several student groups announced their support for IU Student Association ticket Hoosier on Monday. The executive boards of the College Democrats, the College Republicans, IU Dance Marathon, the Interfraternity Council and the Student Athletic Board have agreed to back Hoosier in the IUSA election. The Council for Advancing Student Leadership executives voted to support Hoosier but withdrew that support after realizing that CASL's charter prevents it from backing a single party.

IUSA elections begin today

Voting in student government elections that current student body president Alex Shortle called the most important in 30 years begin at 10 a.m. today. Students can vote online in the IU Student Association polls at www.indiana.edu/~iusa through 10 p.m. Wednesday. Elections coordinator Keith Johnson said he foresees a smooth election this year with an announcement of the winner coming Thursday afternoon. This year, two tickets, Hoosier and Red Hot, are vying for the chance to represent the student body in University governance.

Little 500 concert up in the air

Little 500 has had a rich tradition for not just amateur athletics, but also for music. Since 1960, five years after the first race, a big-name concert for students has been part of the tradition of the "World's Greatest College Weekend." But for many seniors, last year's Little 500 concert featuring hip-hop band The Roots was the first since their freshman year.

Hospital program monitors outbreaks

A new software program at Bloomington Hospital now registers patients by their names, addresses and "chief complaints" or symptoms to prevent the rise of certain health issues. The Public Health Emergency Surveillance System collects information on patients' symptoms from the emergency room check-in desk and local pharmacies. Epidemiologists analyze this information in Indianapolis at the Regenstrief Institute, an internationally recognized informatics and healthcare research organization.

IU finishes 15th in weekend's Lady Puerto Rico Classic

What hampered play for his squad wasn't a mystery to IU women's golf coach Clint Wallman as it played this past weekend at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. "We did some good things ... but I thought the wind gave us some trouble," the coach said. Heavy winds and the rust of an offseason were two big factors that kept the IU women's golf team from hitting full stride in its first event of the spring season. Not that all was bad: the Hoosiers' overall score of 969 (322-321-326) put the Hoosiers in 15th place after all was said and done. Senior Shannon Johnson spearheaded the charge for the cream and crimson as she continued to show why she is one of the best in the Big Ten after carding 17 consecutive rounds of below 80. She fired a 73 on the opening day and followed with rounds of 78 and 77, respectively. Her three-day score of 228 was good enough for a 31st finish overall.

No. 31 Hoosiers face undefeated Fighting Irish squad

Coming off an upset of No. 28 Tennessee last weekend, the IU women's tennis team faces a challenge on the road this afternoon in South Bend. The No. 31 Hoosiers will take on in-state rival and undefeated Notre Dame. The No. 7 Fighting Irish are off to their best start in 20 years, winning their first nine matches of the season, including wins against No. 10 North Carolina and No. 13 Harvard. "We have to play awfully well (to win)," said IU coach Lin Loring. "I think if we get off to a good start, it will be a good match."

Early combine results include Young Wonderlic rumors, controversy

INDIANAPOLIS -- Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly would not rule out trading the No. 1 pick in the draft to try to improve his 2-14 team. Casserly named three players as standing above the rest: Quarterbacks Vince Young from Texas, Matt Leinart from USC and all-purpose back Reggie Bush, also from USC. Most analysts believe the Texans will take the multitalented Bush. But Casserly left several possibilities open, including trading the pick. "We need a lot of things," he said. "I think we've got a nucleus. I don't think we're as bad as our record, but we're not a playoff team. We can make a jump here if things are hit right between free agency and the draft."

Flat on your face

The Olympics should be a big deal -- kind of like Ron Burgundy. Imagine an NFL season that only came around every four years or the NASCAR season appearing as often as a presidential election. Well, OK -- I wouldn't mind NASCAR coming around every decade if possible, but hey -- another time, another column. In fact, the Olympics were as interesting as men in cars driving in circles, and well, nothing innovative here.

Musings of a DD

I worked Saturday night. From the hours of 5 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., I washed dishes, served customers and cleaned the little store I work at until my hands were wrinkly and dirty. For my services, I earned two things: money on my paycheck and a phone call. I picked up my phone after getting out of my late-night shower and heard jumbled expletives and yelling from which I could only decipher this: "Jake? -- Shut up I'm tryin' to talk to somebuddy -- Jake?! -- Are you sober? -- Jake, wait a minute -- HEY, GET YOUR DRUNK ASS BACK HERE -- Jake?! Can you come pick me up, I'd really 'preciate it -- there's a big fight and I think -- hold on -- HEY, DON'T HIT HER! -- JAKE, PLEASE COME GET US!" Click.

Who's the boss?

A university president clashes with an entrenched, frustrated faculty. The faculty scream for his head. The president decides to step down after five years. Quick, which college am I talking about? IU or Harvard? After Harvard President Larry Summers' resignation, the role of the embattled university president took another fateful step, and his fall seemed to mirror the fall of IU's own Adam Herbert. To be fair, differences abound between the two examples. Harvard is an inordinately well-endowed private university that many consider the flagship of American universities, while IU is a huge state school that rarely gets national limelight and that has various budget problems Harvard has rarely faced.

Black and white

The network FX is launching a show, starting March 8, called "Black. White." In it, two families switch races. Understanding and harmony, followed by world peace, follow. Right? Maybe, maybe not. I'm guessing that no, it isn't going to solve any problems, but I'm dying to see what kind of mayhem ensues. Let me explain the premise: The Wurgel family is from California and is white. The Sparks family is from Georgia and is black. All four parents are college-educated, and the two kids are older teenagers. Both families move into a house in Los Angeles and are transformed, via makeup and hair styling, into the other family's race. I have really mixed feelings about this show already, and it hasn't even aired yet.