Region

Award-winning poet to share struggles in a 'white world'

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 11:33 p.m.

Award-winning poet and author Toi Derricotte will share her experiences as a black woman living in a society where racism and sexism exist at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center Grand Hall. The Office of Vice President of Academic Support and Diversity, the department of English, and the MFA Creative Writing Program are all sponsoring the event, according to a press release.

Students can develop new painting skills with art group

By Paul Coover · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 11:32 p.m.

The Bloomington Watercolor Society's savings are so small, treasurer Carol Rhodes has to add up the numbers in her check book to remember if there is $437 or $439 in the club's bank account (it turns out to be $439).

Subbaswamy's departure may hurt research

By Peter Stevenson · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 1:11 a.m.

The loss of College of Arts and Sciences Dean Kumble Subbaswamy may mean more than just a new administrator for IU-Bloomington. Some faculty members say Subbaswamy, known for his aggressive pursuit of research grants, will be hard to replace. "The administration will have to work very hard to find someone who can pick up where (Subbaswamy) has left off," said physics professor James Glazier. "(He) has been unusual in that he is perceived by all as completely fair -- who puts the interests of the university above all else."

D.J. White sidelined again

By Andy Romey · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 1:11 a.m.

Sophomore forward D.J. White is out indefinitely after injuring his left foot in Saturday's game against Ohio State, IU coach Mike Davis announced Monday. The injury is on the same foot White hurt earlier this year, but the location is different. "It is a significant injury to the foot," team trainer Tim Garl said. "It is a different injury to a different part of the foot than he had originally. Originally, it was more of a stress fracture that happened over time. This is an injury that happened from a specific episode."

Constructing the life of a Legend

By Adam Aasen · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 1:11 a.m.

Former IU President Herman B Wells didn't understand why anyone would ever want to read a book about his life. Despite the fact that during his presidency, the size of IU-Bloomington quadrupled, enrollment increased by 500 percent, the campus was desegregated and IU became known worldwide for arts, sciences and graduate studies, Wells still felt others were more deserving of a biography than he. "He said, 'Isn't there something better you could be doing with your time?' He said other people out there were more worthy," said James Capshew, Wells' biographer and professor of history and philosophy of science. "But that's just the way he was. He was very humble. He didn't want to be an icon. But he was such a strong leader that that's what he became."

Possible robbery suspect escapes IUPD

By Audrie Garrison · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 1:11 a.m.

A man who ignored an IU Police Department officer's attempts to stop him for about a mile and then escaped on foot might also be out on bail for armed robbery, said Lt. Jerry Minger, reading from the police report. At about 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Officer David Winburn began following a maroon 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo which, according to his radar, was driving at 46 mph in a 30 mph zone, Minger said. According to the police report, the officer turned on his siren and lights, signaling the driver to pull over.

Proposed cuts may limit loans

By Chip Cutter · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 1:09 a.m.

Significant changes could be coming to student loan programs in the future, including $12.7 billion in cuts, as the federal government attempts to reduce spending and lower the deficit. The student loan reductions, which are part of a larger legislation package totaling $39.7 billion in cuts to the federal budget, were previously approved by the House of Representatives and passed in the Senate by a 51-50 margin Dec. 21, with the tie-breaking vote coming from Vice President Dick Cheney. Because of small changes made in the Senate, the bill will go back to the House for a vote, where it is expected to pass and move along to President George W. Bush for final approval.

Russell qualifies for Commonwealth Games

By Joel Sanders and Joel Sansers · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 1 a.m.

Junior Colin Russell earned the rare opportunity to represent his native country when he qualified for Canada's Commonwealth Games team during the nation's trials held Nov. 23-26 at Saanich Commonwealth Place in Victoria, B.C. "Wearing my country's colors and representing Canada for me is a great feeling," Russell said. "I love Canada and what it stands for. It's an honor." Russell was born in Barrie, Ontario, after which he moved to Florida and Spain and then returned to Canada to decide whether to attend a Canadian or American school.

Framing the playoff picture

By Alyson Brodsy and Andrew Shaffer · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 12:59 a.m.

I have come to announce the end of the college football season. It's about time, right? The Fiesta Bowl in overtime? Boring. Vince Young leading the Longhorns to the upset of the decade? Snoozer. I need some excitement, some action and dare I say -- some postseason Peyton Manning -- in my life.

IU drops 2nd consecutive Big Ten game in Assembly Hall

By Steve Brennan · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 12:58 a.m.

Hanging high above Branch McCracken court, IU coach Sharon Versyp appeared on the scoreboard and proclaimed the keys to victory prior to Monday night's match-up with No. 17 Minnesota (10-3, 3-0 Big Ten). Number one on the list was dominating the boards. That did not happen. Minnesota finished with six more rebounds than IU (8-7, 2-2 Big Ten), 13 offensive rebounds and a 69-64 victory.

Hoosier duo sets free throw shooting records

By Tim O Brien and Tim O'Brien · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 12:57 a.m.

While Monday's game against No. 15 Minnesota will go down in the books as a loss, two IU players will go into the record books for personal achievements. With 2:11 remaining in the second half, senior forward Jenny DeMuth stepped to the free throw line. With the Hoosiers down by six, DeMuth sunk both shots, breaking IU all-time career free throw record of 443. The record was previously held by Denise Jackson, IU's all-time leading scorer with 1,917 points. DeMuth entered Monday's action needing to hit seven free throws to tie the record and eight to break it. On the night, the senior sunk all ten of her free throw attempts in leading the Hoosiers with 18 points.

Cricket, the sport

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 12:54 a.m.

India versus Pakistan. It doesn't get bigger than this. No, it's not war time again; the nations are well and truly on the path to peaceful co-existence. It is the cricket series between these neighboring nations that makes the news. Cricket? "It is just like baseball" is what we tell most people who cannot differentiate between cricket, the sport, from cricket, the insect. (In fact, my word editor underlined the word cricket here, saying it should be crickets! Cricket lovers in Microsoft, something to work on, guys.)

Renew cautiously

By Alyson Brodsy and Tony Sams · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 12:52 a.m.

The most talked about issue in Washington this month will probably be the confirmation process of Samuel Alito. While I'm not one to say the appointment of a new Supreme Court justice is any small occasion, I'm worried serious discussion about the renewal of the Patriot Act will slide off the radar. Right before the holiday season, Congress -- stymied in the way only Congress can be -- failed to renew the controversial law, notorious for hastily broadening law enforcement powers after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. After staunch objections by civil libertarians, liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans alike, Congress temporarily imposed an extension of the act until Feb. 3.

Getting legislative priorities in order

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 12:51 a.m.

This session of the Indiana General Assembly promises to be a busy session. By law, the legislative work this spring must end by March 14, but already more than 500 bills have been filed. Some of the bills are urgent matters worthy of time, money and the public debate; many are not. Indiana Republicans, who control both chambers of the General Assembly and the governor's office, are on the front line of the agenda. The details of many of their proposals have not been made public, and much of the debate in the closely divided Indiana House of Representatives might hinge on those details. So far, though, the skeletal outline of what House Republicans wish to pursue this legislative session looks at least promising.

Congessmen Blunt, Boehner vie for Majority Leadership, claim progress

By Alyson Brodsy and Andrew Taylor · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 12:46 a.m.

WASHINGTON - Reps. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and John Boehner, R-Ohio, rivals in the race to succeed Majority Leader Tom DeLay, both claimed progress Monday and released the names of supporters to prove it. The two men maneuvered for support as Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia claimed the votes needed to move up the leadership ladder when elections are held early next month. "He has 140 firm commitments for majority whip," said Cantor's spokesman, Rob Collins. He declined to provide a list.

Dow Jones tops 11,000 as blue chip stocks continue to rally

By Alyson Brodsy and Christopher Wang · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 12:45 a.m.

NEW YORK -- The Dow Jones industrial average crossed 11,000 Monday for the first time since before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, buoyed by a rally that has sent stock prices soaring through the first five sessions of 2006. Wall Street's best known stock indicator rose as high as 11,020.15 by mid-afternoon, the first time since June 13, 2001, that the index of 30 blue chip stocks traded above 11,000. It last closed above that milestone on June 7, 2001, when it stood at 11,090.74.

Iraqi police search for kidnapped American journalist following weekend abduction

By Alyson Brodsy and Patrick Quinn · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 12:44 a.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi police were searching Monday for an American journalist who was kidnapped during the weekend when gunmen ambushed her car and killed her translator in western Baghdad. Jill Carroll, 28, a freelance reporter on assignment for The Christian Science Monitor, was seized Saturday in the al-Adel area, a Sunni Arab neighborhood and one of the capital's most dangerous. Police said she went there to meet a Sunni Arab politician. Gen. Mahdi al-Gharawi, commander of the Interior Ministry's public order forces, said Monday an investigation was under way.

Congress opens Alito Supreme Court nomination hearings

By Alyson Brodsy and Jesse J. Holland · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 12:43 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito said Monday that judges should operate free of any agenda or preferred outcome as the Senate opened hearings on President Bush's choice for the high court. "A judge can't have any agenda. A judge can't have a preferred outcome in any case," Alito told the Senate Judiciary Committee in a brief statement in which he made the distinction between judges and attorneys working for clients. In a prelude to days of grilling, several Democrats expressed misgivings about Alito's 15 years of decisions and opinions as an appellate judge and his writings during his tenure as a lawyer in the Reagan Justice Department.

NASA to return first comet samples

By Alyson Brodsy and Alicia Chang · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 12:41 a.m.

LOS ANGELES -- Comets have long lit up the sky and the imaginations of scientists. Now these icy bodies from the beginnings of the solar system are finally ready for their close-up. Six months after NASA scientists first peeked inside one comet from afar, they're bringing pieces of another to Earth for study under the microscope. This weekend, the Stardust spacecraft will jettison a 100-pound capsule holding comet dust. It will nosedive through the Earth's atmosphere and, if all goes well, make a soft landing in the Utah desert.

Bayh: Next 6 months critical in Iraq

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Jan. 10,2006 12:36 a.m.

U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., making his second trip to Iraq, said Saturday that the next six months are crucial to Iraq's stability, and hinge largely on relations between its divided religious and ethnic groups. The Indiana Democrat, who is on a fact-finding trip through the Middle East with three other federal lawmakers, arrived in Baghdad on Saturday. He spoke to reporters by telephone after meeting with U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. intelligence officials and having lunch with troops.