Region

A nation of dittoheads

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Hintz · Wednesday, April 14,2004 12:24 a.m.

Americans -- we're tough-minded and independent. We're rugged individualists. We like to blaze our own trail. It would be great if that were true, but it turns out this ideal is a load of crap. For all our supposed independent thinking abilities lately, it seems as though our leaders and political discourse have slowly become slaves to politics itself. Instead of discourse shaping politics, it gets shaped by politics.

Grade cap gets an 'F'

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, April 14,2004 12:23 a.m.

The grades of students at one of the country's most prestigious colleges have been steadily rising for the past 30 years, according to the Associated Press Web site. Forty-six percent of students at Princeton are now receiving A's for their classwork, and the administration is now attempting to bring that number down.

Ashcroft: government 'blinded itself to enemies'

By Alyson Brodsy and Curt Anderson · Wednesday, April 14,2004 12:20 a.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a strong defense of the Bush administration, Attorney General John Ashcroft said Tuesday the nation was stunned by the Sept. 11 attacks because "for nearly a decade, our government had blinded itself to our enemies."

Rare second edition of 'Hamlet' to be auctioned off

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, April 14,2004 12:15 a.m.

BOSTON -- A rare edition of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" could fetch much more than $1 million when it is auctioned at Christie's in New York. The nearly 400-year-old book is one of 19 copies of the 1611 printing known to exist and is the only one remaining in private hands. It was owned by Mary Hyde, Viscountess Eccles, a renowned New Jersey book collector and English literature scholar best known for her extensive Samuel Johnson collection, now at the Houghton Library at Harvard University.

Churches across Indiana keep up with need for services in Spanish

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, April 14,2004 12:11 a.m.

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. -- His Spanish was a little rusty, but the small congregation gathered around the Rev. John Zahn didn't seem to mind. Hearing a Palm Sunday service in their native tongue was satisfaction enough. "This is needed more than you can realize," Westfield resident Jesus Ramos, 50, said of the 7 p.m. Spanish service at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. "We only do this here once a month, but people really need it every week."

West Nile virus threat diminished by heavy rains in 2003

By Alyson Brodsy and Mark Jewell · Wednesday, April 14,2004 12:10 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Standing water is a mosquito's friend and flood water an enemy -- a reality that helped Indiana avoid a threatened increase in West Nile virus cases last year.

Sorority to host blood drive today

By Andrea Opperman · Tuesday, April 13,2004 2:20 a.m.

Most people think of giving blood as a grueling process that involves sticking needles into their arms, but for Junior Shiva Kalaiselvan, the purpose of giving blood is to save a life. Gamma Phi Beta sorority will host the second -- annual blood drive, taking place today from 1 to 6:30 p.m. at the Gamma Phi house on Jordan Avenue. "There are a lot of people out there that need it, and if you can, why not," she said. "There's no reason not to if you're healthy."

What happeneed to the Little 500 concerts?

By Lori Geller · Tuesday, April 13,2004 2:17 a.m.

For years, it was a Little 500 tradition for the Union Board Concert Committee to bring in various artists to play at the IU Auditorium, adding to the excitement of the world's greatest college weekend. Past performers have included Nelly, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

IUPD arrests 2 cocaine suspects

By Mallory Simon · Tuesday, April 13,2004 2:17 a.m.

In two separate incidents, IU Police Department officers arrested two male Bloomington residents for the sale of cocaine Friday. John Hardin, 51, was arrested on two charges of dealing crack cocaine, which is a class A felony, as well as maintaining a common nuisance, a class D felony, said IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger. Brandon Goodman, 35, was arrested and also charged for dealing crack cocaine, a class A felony, Minger said. Hardin was dealing out of his place of residence.

U.S. citizens missing; 7 hostages freed

By Alyson Brodsy and Hamza Hendawi · Tuesday, April 13,2004 2:17 a.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two U.S. troops and seven contractors were confirmed missing Monday following an attack on a convoy west of Baghdad, a U.S. commander said, amid a wave of abductions of foreigners in Iraq. More than 40 foreigners from at least 12 countries -- including a Mississippi man whose fate also was unclear -- have reportedly been kidnapped in recent days by insurgents.

Campus up in arms about bill

By Rick Newkirk · Tuesday, April 13,2004 2:17 a.m.

IU students and faculty are growing increasingly concerned with a House of Representatives Bill that might constrict academic freedom in higher education. HR 3077, also known as the International Studies in Higher Education Act, is an amendment to Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and was initially created to increase foreign studies funding in universities.

University will not punish 'teen Keira'

By Chris Freiberg and Warren Christopher Freiberg · Tuesday, April 13,2004 2:17 a.m.

A freshman who stars in an adult Web site featuring semi-nude pictures of her taken in her dorm room and showers at Briscoe-Shoemaker will not be charged through the campus judicial system, Dean of Students Richard McKaig revealed Monday.

13-year-old reports rape in Poplars

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, April 13,2004 2:17 a.m.

A 13-year-old girl has accused an acquaintance of raping her in the Poplars Garage at 6th and Dunn on the evening of March 6, according to the IU Police Department. The girl's mother called IUPD after her daughter told her she had been raped by a 30-year-old acquaintance, said IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger.

Health care cut-off

By Brittany Hite · Tuesday, April 13,2004 1:34 a.m.

With the pressures of finding a job, figuring out where to live and deciding whether or not to attend graduate school looms ahead, many seniors will soon be faced with an added challenge -- finding their own health insurance.

Jordan River Forum

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, April 13,2004 1:29 a.m.

The dialogue lives I would like to thank J. Marty Cope for his letter of April 6, in which he calls for an open dialogue on issues of sexuality. Hurrah, I say! I fully agree with the need for an open mind when discussing these issues, and I would like to disagree with Mr. Cope's implication that I -- by virtue of the vocabulary in my original letter -- am not willing to listen to both sides.

Business Briefs

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, April 13,2004 1:18 a.m.

PHILADELPHIA -- DuPont Co. will eliminate at least 2,500 jobs companywide, about 3 percent of its work force, as part of cost-cutting plans announced last year, a union leader said Friday.

Eli Lilly gives $6 M after settling lawsuit

By Alyson Brodsy and Mark Jewell · Tuesday, April 13,2004 1:16 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- A medical research foundation that settled a $100 million drug patent lawsuit against Eli Lilly and Co. a year ago found itself on the receiving end of a $6 million gift from the drug maker Tuesday, with past harsh words replaced by mutual praise. The money to create two endowed faculty chairs in biomedical research is the largest gift in the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation's 58-year history, said Adam Cohen, director of legal and public affairs.

Food handlers must pass test

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, April 13,2004 1:16 a.m.

TERRE HAUTE -- At least one food handler in all Indiana retail restaurants, day cares, schools and nonprofit organizations must pass a test and obtain state certification beginning next year, a health official said.

Anthem CEO to receive $42.5 M

By Alyson Brodsy and Mark Jewell · Tuesday, April 13,2004 1:15 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The top executive of Anthem Inc. is set to receive a $42.5 million stock and cash incentive package as a reward for the health insurer's rapid growth in the past three years.

College and porn go hand-in-hand

By Alyson Brodsy and Jake Rossman · Tuesday, April 13,2004 1:07 a.m.

I visited the Teen Keira Web site before the entire hubbub began and didn't give it another thought until the stories began to show up in the news. Now that the University has decided Teen Keira did not violate its ethics code by publishing nude photos of herself taken in Briscoe Quad, we can all breathe easy. But what could this mean for the future?