Community Arts

IU follows Ukraine vote

In a country devoid of democracy for nearly all of its independent history, Ukraine's parliamentary election Sunday has been hailed as a resounding achievement in creating a representative government, while at the same time appearing to have created new obstacles for the country's party leaders to overcome. As international observers acclaimed it as the nation's most free and legitimate election, the country's voters failed to give any party a majority, and the splintered parties must now form coalitions before much of the new government can assemble.

IU to hold annual Relay for Life charity event

On Saturday, the IU community will play host to its third annual Relay for Life. The event will start at noon at the Billy Hayes Track on North Fee Lane. In the past two years, the IU community has raised more than $140,000, and last year IU ranked as the third largest fund raising university for the American Cancer Society (ACS). "This is an incredible success considering how difficult it is to gain student involvement," said Cynthia Morse, event development coordinator of the IU event. "We hope to raise $80,000 in net income this year."

CVS robbery suspect arrested

Bloomington police arrested a woman whom they believe robbed a Bloomington CVS last week. Officers arrested Amber R. Ratliff, 33, on preliminary charges of armed robbery after they contacted Yellow Cab to see if anyone had taken a cab near the CVS at the time of the robbery, according to a press release issued by Bloomington Police Department Captain Joe Qualters. He said an officer was told that Yellow Cab had picked up a female matching the description of the suspect at a Marshsupermarket a few blocks away from the convenience store.

MTV reality stars visit students

A mix of rain, snow and sunshine didn't prevent IU students from attending a casting call Saturday with stars from "The Real World." The event, also a promotion for Bradford Place Apartments, took place at the complex's Third Street office from 2 to 5 p.m. Syrus Yarbrough from "The Real World Boston" and Ace Amerson from "The Real World Paris" were hosts of the casting call. Attendees were able to submit applications for a chance to be on reality television shows in addition to touring the Bradford Place Apartments. Music, food, T-shirts and door prizes were also provided.

Burned frat house tampered with

IU Police Department officers discovered Friday that boards on the windows of the abandoned Sigma Alpha Epsilon house, which sustained fire damage in February, had been removed and a lock on the side door of the house had been partially pried away, said IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger, reading from the police report.

Research topics presented

The use of prepositions in a Niger-Congo language, bioterrorist agents, the effect of color on working memory and Turkish shadow puppets were a few of the topics on which 23 undergraduate Hutton Honors College students presented Sunday in the Dogwood Room in the Indiana Memorial Union. The event featured students' 10-minute Powerpoint presentations in which students discussed their own specific fields of research.

Group helps storm victims over break

Not content to simply relax and treat spring break as a respite from school, some members of IU Habitat for Humanity spent the week working to better the lives of people in need. "We accomplished so much in that week, and I felt more energized when I got back to campus than after my usual lazy spring breaks," said IU Habitat board member Jessica Donaldson in an e-mail. "I met so many awesome people and really feel like I made a difference," she said. "My favorite part of the build was putting up the trusses. ... It was a good test of trust because we were standing on boards where the ceiling would be, usually with nothing but the concrete floor below us." Each year, Habitat for Humanity sends groups of college students to building sites in the South during spring break. By sending students to places like Florida, the group hopes to gain the interest of more potential student builders.

Reunion brings together Kesem campers, counselors

Parents, campers and counselors gathered at the Monroe County YMCA for the Camp Kesem Spring Reunion on Sunday afternoon for a chance to relive the experiences of a typical day at camp. For almost four hours, last year's 21 campers were able to reunite with counselors and other campers while their parents looked on. "The reunion is a great chance for everybody to reconnect during the year since we're not at camp and we don't have the time we did," Project Coordinator and junior Sigall Rave said. "It's good to just get together for a few hours to see everybody."

IUEMS starts new initiative

Following its mock wreck staged Saturday, the IU Emergency Medical Service club is broadening its efforts to increase awareness about the importance of safety on campus. Club members will be handing out flyers all week to promote ICE, the "In Case of Emergency" plan that encourages people to program a list of emergency contacts into their cell phones. "Basically, IUEMS is in the business of saving lives. That's what we do," said IUEMS President and Chief Tamara Habib. "And one way that we can do that is through education in the community." Habib said the sooner an emergency response team can get in contact with someone's parents or close friends, the better chance that person has to make a speedy and meaningful recovery.

The Student Consumer

Sophomore Jake Ruby says haircuts are what separate men from beasts. Yet for many IU students, looking like a beast might appear to be the only option when the comforts of home and their stylists are hundreds of miles away. While finding a decent salon in Bloomington seems difficult, some students have proved research combined with trial and error yields results.

Risky business?

Many people like to tell me they are entrepreneurial but they do not pursue their entrepreneurial dreams because they are "too risky." Right ... Everyone talks about how entrepreneurship is risky, but they do not define what they mean. Before we can define something as risky, wouldn't it be convenient if we knew what we meant by this word? In fact, the term "risky" is one of the most relative terms in the dictionary. The sad truth is that when most people say something is risky, they are implying one thing: It would risk their comfortable standard of living. Think about it. What is the worst thing that can happen to an entrepreneur in this country?

Bloomington

Lake enthusiasts from Chicago should be living in paradise. With access to Lake Michigan, boaters and beach-goers have plenty of opportunities for fun. But Jeff Hammond, the Fourwinds Resort and Marina's general manager, said people from the Chicago area come to Lake Monroe all the time, with the busiest season being from April to October. "It's a different type of boating experience than Lake Michigan," Hammond said. "It's more relaxed with a different type of scenery. Visitors can feel like they've really gotten away." Nestled in rolling hills between Indianapolis and Louisville, Ky.,, Bloomington has increasingly become a hot spot for tourism.

BEATBOXING

Actor's bravery, talent shine in 'Our Country's Good'

UPDATE: Coaching decision imminent, IU spokesman says

Larry MacIntyre, director of media relations, said he expects an announcement of the next IU men's basketball coach to be made "within days." He added the announcement could come as late as early next week. MacIntyre's expectation, though, was only based on "me reading the tea leaves in front of me," he said.

Burglary at Taco Bell thwarted

A Bloomington man was arrested early Thursday morning after confessing to police that he had planned to rob the Taco Bell on South Walnut Street. Joshua H. Arthur, 18, a Taco Bell employee, was charged with attempted burglary after Bloomington police found him in the woods behind the fast food restaurant with a black bag and ski mask.

ONLINE ONLY: The Weekly Weird

DENVER -- A makeshift mannequin that failed to fool police monitoring the high-occupancy vehicle lane on Highway 36 fetched $15,000 in an auction on eBay, with proceeds going to charity, the buyer announced. Denver-based Video Professor bought the Styrofoam head, coat hanger, and clothing stuffed with newspapers from HOV scofflaw Greg Pringle, 53, of Broomfield, said Brian Olson, a company spokesman.

UPDATE: Man arrested for attempted murder

Bloomington police arrested Chad Luck on preliminary charges of attempted murder and armed robbery resulting in serious body injury early Sunday Morning, according to a press release issued by BPD Captain Joe Qualters.

Spaghetti and strip clubs

The sixth season of the HBO series "The Sopranos" began March 12. Its much-anticipated return after almost two years is a spark in my fire of TV love. I don't watch many new TV shows anymore. I watch more sitcom reruns on TBS than anything else. But with their return to TV, Tony and Carmela's violent and tumultuous lives have made their way back into my routine.

President visits Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS -- About 500 supporters of Rep. Mike Sodrel, R-9th District, came to a fundraiser at the Murat Centre's Egyptian Room Friday to hear President George W. Bush speak. The president's speech yielded constant cheering and applause from the crowd -- despite protesters marching outside -- and about $500,000 for the Republican congressman's re-election campaign, said Cam Savage, Sodrel's chief of staff.