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The Indiana Daily Student

Community Arts

The Indiana Daily Student

Delta Zeta sorority sisters being dealt double standards

By Aparna Venkatraman and Holly Hudecek · Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

I was the VP of membership at Delta Zeta’s IU chapter during the 1995-1996 school year. While I was at IU, our chapter was asked to assist the DePauw chapter with their recruitment activities, an echo of what happened recently between the two campuses. When a chapter is struggling to meet quota and simply does not have enough women to speak with prospective new members, gaps need to be filled, and, out of respect for our fellow sisters well over a decade ago, we agreed to assist (as did the current collegians at the IU chapter). The fact that the DePauw women referred to the IU women who volunteered to help them this year as “plastic”, while simultaneously claiming that they were being judged by nationals based on their own appearances, smacks of irony. “Real women” come in all shapes, sizes, colors and physical packages. To suggest that one is being judged on her appearance in one breath while passing judgment on others based on their appearance in another is a little unfair. Although the timing of the decision from Delta Zeta nationals to move women from the DePauw chapter to alumnae status was extremely poor, I don’t see it as being malicious. Sororities have objectives they must meet, one of which is a membership quota. The fact the DePauw chapter actually voted to disband after the 2006-2007 school year is being overlooked. The fine print of that decision included repercussions such as being moved to alumnae status and losing their housing at the sorority. It is very unfortunate the women at DePauw were unable to connect with prospective new members on their campus and meet their quota. However, that is really what this is about at the end of the day; it’s not about being asked to leave because they weren’t “attractive.” Had they met their quota, this would be a nonissue and nationals would have had no reason to step in and conduct a membership assessment. Holly Hudecek Atlanta, Ga.

The Indiana Daily Student

Artists bridge the gaps between arts, sciences

By Jessica M. Pasko · Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

TROY, N.Y. – Adam Zaretsky once spent 48 hours playing Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Greatest Hits” to a dish of E. coli bacteria to determine whether vibrations or sounds influenced bacterial growth. Watching the bacteria’s antibiotic production increase, Zaretsky decided that perhaps even cells were annoyed by constant subjection to “loud, really awful lounge music.”

Know Arcade Fire chapter and verse

By Brian J. McFillen , Aaron Beard and Jenna Fryer · Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

You'd think that recording one of the decade's greatest rock albums, praise from David Bowie, gracing the cover of Time magazine's Canadian edition, opening for U2 and touring the world would make Arcade Fire happy. But Neon Bible, their sophomore album due out March 6, belies this notion. Chock-full of paranoia, despair, loss, betrayal, war, religious demagoguery, media malfeasance and apocalyptic visions, Neon Bible could be the darkest modern rock LP since Radiohead disappeared into their cave (it's even more depressing than Arcade Fire's 2004 debut, Funeral). But don't worry, that's a good thing.

The Indiana Daily Student

Defending Delta Zeta’s action

By Aparna Venkatraman and Sara Silbiger · Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

I was very disheartened to read what was said about Delta Zeta in not only the IDS but other newspapers as well. On Monday a letter from the Delta Zeta national president was written to explain what really went on at DePauw University. The New York Times was extremely incorrect and misinformed on the situation at hand. I hope that this letter is read and the facts start to spread around so that this horrible rumor about “plastic” Delta Zeta girls diminishes. I find it sad to read in the IDS almost the same thing that was written in the New York Times. Maybe the next time an article is written, the facts can be sought out so that the article contains truth. Also, I feel that since the Times bashed on the IU Delta Zeta girls, that maybe the IDS would find out the real story and stick up for us. Here is the national Delta Zeta Web site containing the letter from our president: www.deltazeta.org/pages/content/dz_happenings.html. Sara Silbiger Freshman

The Indiana Daily Student

Picasso paintings stolen from his granddaughter’s house

Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

PARIS – At least two Picasso paintings worth nearly $66 million were stolen from the house of the artist’s granddaughter in Paris, police said Wednesday. The paintings, “Maya and the Doll” and “Portrait of Jacqueline,” disappeared overnight Monday to Tuesday from the chic 7th arrondissement, or district, a Paris police official said. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said that they were worth nearly $66 million and that there were signs of breaking and entering in the house.

The Indiana Daily Student

Around the World

Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

The economy grew at a sluggish 2.2 percent pace in the final quarter of last year, the government reported Wednesday in one of the steepest downward revisions in years. In another report, new-home sales plunged in January by the largest amount in 13 years. The pair of reports released Wednesday by the Commerce Department came a day after stocks on Wall Street and around the globe took a nosedive.

The Indiana Daily Student

Defending Dow

By Edward Delp · Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

First they came for Wal-Mart. Then they came for Coca-Cola. The anti-capitalist forces on this campus are vicious but have wandering eyes. Now they are going after Dow Chemical Co.

Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin play detective duo Bernard and Vivian Jaffe in “I Heart Huckabees.”

UPDATE 4:46 p.m.: McRobbie chosen as IU's 18th president

By Brian Spegele · Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS – Interim Provost Michael McRobbie was confirmed as IU’s 18th president today, receiving an outright vote of confidence from the trustees who took nine months to select him. In a simple announcement at IU Purdue University-Indianapolis, trustees all emphasized they were pleased, but also stressed that it was tough to pick between the two qualified candidates.

Magic doesn't come across on DVD

By Ash Cartwright and Kim Cullman · Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

An engaging tale of rivalry between Victorian-era magicians Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman), "The Prestige" is itself like a magic trick, keeping viewers guessing as to how the pieces of this mystery-suspense will finally come together. It is in this way reminiscent of director and co-screenwriter Christopher Nolan's earlier film "Memento," though "The Prestige" is more spectacular and considerably less edgy and original than "Memento."

Bare bones DVD, not bare Dixie chicks

By Michael Reschke · Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

Fact: The Dixie Chicks were the greatest selling female group of all time. Fact: On the eve of the beginning of the Iraq war, Natalie Maines spoke out against President Bush and the war, overseas. Fact: Since then, the Dixie Chicks' career has suffered. So what do you do when you've become one of the most hated women in America because of your views? Make a documentary. At the height of their Top of the World Tour, a crew was filming footage backstage when the comments were made and they just kept on rolling for three years. Despite the context and circumstances behind the film, it's not as political or liberal as you might expect. The documentary focuses more on the sisterhood between the women and the support of their husbands and crew members, managers, etc., and ultimately how they dealt with the struggle of standing up for what they believe in an industry that doesn't tolerate dissenting views.

This film is more insulting to the number 23 than when Michael Jordan switched to 45.

Stick to comedies Jim

By Paige Ingram · Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

At one point in the movie "The Number 23," Virginia Madsen's character tells Jim Carrey's character, "You're insane." Perhaps Carrey can use this excuse as to why he chose to be in the movie. Stealing plot lines and camera angles from about 23 other movies, the film falls far from its potential. The film, directed by Joel Schumacher, centers around Carrey's obsession with the number 23. As he reads a book titled with the same integer, he starts to notice how everything in his life revolves around the number. Forced cinematography leads to montage scenes where Carrey is writing addition problems all over the walls of his house and his body.

The Indiana Daily Student

Hess argument flawed, unfounded

By Aparna Venkatraman and Morgan Sohl · Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

As a daughter of two lesbians, I was disgusted by the column “Fathers and mothers” by Abram Hess (Feb. 1). Not only are his opinions filled with hate but most importantly a general lack of compassion and acceptance about people who differ from him. My two mothers conceived (with help from a sperm donor – who also happens to be gay) and raised me in a loving, supportive and wonderful environment. I was adopted by my nonbiological mother (the first child in the United States to be adopted by a gay nonbiological parent in 1984 using the same rights afforded to straight stepparents). Luckily, the court accepted the view that two mothers are better than one, that love does make a family and that discrimination in any form is unacceptable. This world is filled with loving couples (gay and straight) who choose to open their hearts and homes to children who no one else wants. I never missed having a father in my life, nor do I miss that relationship now. One parent is better than none and two is even better – gay, straight, male, female, it doesn’t matter. The only thing that is important is that a child has an adult who loves them.

Solid debut from Stones influenced band

By Wes Jakacki and DeAntae Prince · Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

While the band's spelling suggests they are of English descent, the Colour are actually from L.A. I first heard about these guys about three years ago from a friend who went to Biola University, a small Christian school where the band had formed. The band originally came up in the wake of the British rock revival scene that included the Strokes, The White Stripes and Hot Hot Heat. Since their forming, the Colour have released a few EPs that received little attention, and now, five years after forming, they've released their debut album, Between Earth and Sky. On the album they mix Rolling Stones-esque groove rock with elements of new wave to make a promising debut.

The Indiana Daily Student

E buses must be added, not U route

By Aparna Venkatraman and John Newton · Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

In response to “Proposed bus plan would require hike in student fees,” Feb. 27: I wanted to comment on the proposed new bus route by the Student Transportation Advisory Committee. I am not alone in my opinion that this new route is completely unnecessary, when there are other routes or options that need to be considered first. I ride the E bus every day, and everyone else rides with me knows how frustrating it is to not only wait 20 minutes for one of two E buses, but to have it come pass us by because it’s already full. This proposed U bus would only serve the purpose for those along Fee Lane, and the people who live in the fraternities and sororities along North Jordan Avenue. Correct me if I’m wrong, but they already have, respectively, the A route and the B route. I’ve counted many times, and those buses comes around at least one every five minutes or less! How can there be overcrowding on these routes when those buses are so plentiful? Has this transportation committee even seen an E bus before, let alone try to ride one at peak hours? Before you raise fees on worthless routes that won’t even benefit most of the campus, take a moment to recognize an even bigger overcrowding issue. So what if people have to wait another five minutes for an A or B bus? Think about the people who wait around for 20 minutes in the rain only to see “Sorry, Full Load.” Give us our E buses! John Newton Junior

The Indiana Daily Student

North Korea hurt by financial restrictions

Thursday, March 1,2007 12 a.m.

WASHINGTON – The lead U.S. envoy in nuclear talks with North Korea told lawmakers Wednesday that U.S. financial restrictions connected with North Korean money laundering and counterfeiting had forced banks around the world to question their business dealings with Kim Jong Il’s government.

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