Community Arts

Moussaoui jury selection begins

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Proclaiming "I am al-Qaida," Zacarias Moussaoui disavowed his lawyers Monday and pledged to testify on his own behalf in the trial that will determine whether he is executed for terrorist conspiracy. An often volatile figure in his proceedings, Moussaoui was removed from the courtroom during the opening of jury selection for speaking out of turn, each of the three times he appeared. "I want to be heard," he demanded. Of his lawyers, he said: "These people do not represent me."

Gonzales defends Bush's wiretapping program during committee hearing

WASHINGTON -- Senators raised doubts about the legal rationale for the Bush administration's eavesdropping program Monday, forcing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to provide a lengthy defense of the operations he called a vital "early warning system" for terrorists. A handful of Republicans joined Democrats in raising questions about whether President Bush went too far in ordering the National Security Agency's monitoring operations. The senators were particularly troubled by the administration's argument that a September 2001 congressional resolution approving use of military force covered the surveillance of some domestic communications.

Caricature protests turn deadly as unrest, anger spreads

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghan troops opened fire on demonstrators Monday, leaving at least four people dead, while Iranian police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters hurling stones and firebombs at the Danish Embassy in Tehran, Iran, as anger mounted over the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Police had encircled the walled brick villa housing the Danish mission in the Iranian capital, but the crowd of about 400 protesters ignored orders to break up, only running into a nearby park after tear gas was fired. Earlier in the day, 200 student demonstrators threw stones at the Austrian Embassy, breaking some windows and starting small fires.

Students donate plasma to earn extra money, aid those in need

If students could get paid for sitting in a cozy chair, listening to music and doing homework for an hour or two, they would, right? BioLife Plasma Services in Bloomington is a center devoted entirely to plasma donation. It offers donors $20 for one donation in a seven-day period, and $30 for the second donation in that period. There is a limit of two donations per week, with at least one day in between each of those visits. There must be at least 48 hours between donations, but the body replaces plasma removed during the donation process quickly, according to the BioLife Web site. "The reason why they're willing to pay so much for (plasma) is because there's so much of a human need for it," said Omar Faiz, the manager of BioLife. "It's vital for life for some people."

Free testing to be offered for AIDS Awareness Week

AIDS Awareness Week 2006 began yesterday, sponsored by the IU Health Center, Bloomington Hospital Positive Link and the IU Student Global AIDS Campaign (IUSGAC). The groups look to provide educational programs to IU students about HIV and AIDS. Information, condoms and red ribbons will be available at the Indiana Memorial Union until Feb. 14. Tuesday, free and anonymous HIV screening tests will be available in the Dogwood Room of the IMU from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anne Reese, director of Health & Wellness Education at the IU Health Center, said "the free screening during AIDS Awareness Week is intended to raise awareness and provide information (to students) about (HIV) testing." The free testing is an "advance rapid testing," an oral swab test that provides students with results in 20 minutes.

Intruders attack, rob 2 men in home

Two Bloomington men reported they were robbed and attacked by four or five male intruders in their home early Sunday morning. The victims reported that the perpetrators entered through the back door of their home on the 1200 block of North Washington Street at about 2 a.m. and assaulted them, said Bloomington Police Department Captain Joe Qualters, reading from the police report. Officers met with the victims at Bloomington Hospital. According to the report, one of the residents, 22, suffered dislocated shoulder, while the other resident, 23, had small lacerations, swelling to his face and a cut on his ankle.

House shoots down gaming proposals

The General Assembly has again rejected a proposal to install slot machines at Indiana's two racetracks. Under House Bill 1077, drafted by state Rep. Eric Gutwein, R-Rensselaer, tax revenues generated from the slots would have been funneled into county governments to ease property taxes. Under the plan, licensing fees and a 32 percent wager tax would have brought in $292 million to the state along with more than $157 million annually, according to a press release from Gutwein's office. The legislation would have annually distributed $500,000 earmarked for tax relief to all non-gaming counties and $25 million to the Indiana State Department of Agriculture to further economic development.

Facing NFL withdrawal

As the clock ticked to zero during the Super Bowl XL Sunday evening, some fans shrugged their shoulders and sighed in disbelief, wondering what competitive activities might occupy their Sundays for the next five months. A variety of games and competitions around town offer competitive or recreational play. From bowling to fishing to board games, people can get their professional football fix from other, less violent sports. Julie D'Argent, a graduate student and Back Alley employee, said bowling and billiards offer both fun and competition.

Police arrest man after disturbance at Read Center

IU Police Department officers arrested a student early Saturday morning who, according to the police report, was causing a disturbance, yelling obscenities and spitting on residents of Read Center. Officers responded to the call Saturday at about 2 a.m., said IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger, reading from the police report. He said the complainant gave them a description of the man, but officers ended up leaving the residence hall because they were unable to locate the suspect.

IU ranks 14th in number of Peace Corps volunteers

It was 2001 and Rachel Price was thousands of miles away from home. She was living in a new place -- a rural village on the Pacific coast of Panama -- helping teach environmental science to grade-school children while working to conserve sea turtles. She was with new people and engaging in new experiences. And she says it was all worth it. A graduate student in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Price was working with the Peace Corps, an organization that sends American volunteers around the world to work in developing countries. "I think it was amazing to live and be a part of a different culture and to be able to share my culture with them. That was probably the best part about it -- just the cultural exchange," she said.

WHERE ON CAMPUS IS THIS?

Lecture to tackle ideas on social equality

Some will be scared. Some will be offended. But Brandon Wilson believes all cultures and ethnicities will benefit if they "step out of their box." Wilson, a speaker for the Southern Poverty Law Center, will present "Ten Ways to Fight Hate on Campus" at 7 p.m. tonight at the Whittenberger Auditorium in the Indiana Memorial Union. "We are thrilled to have someone from the Southern Poverty Law Center here to do this nationally recognized program," said Eric Love, IU's director of diversity education. Ten Ways to Fight Hate on Campus, a program founded by Wilson, will focus on changing university administrators' and students' thoughts about social equality.

Students attend 4th annual Read-In

Students from area high schools filled 250 seats to listen to classmates and IU students perform at the African American Read-In Monday. Original poems, stories and pieces by African American writers were read for the audience. The fourth annual Read-In, which was held in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, was hosted by the School of Education. Brandon Reid, a senior at Bloomington High School South, taped the program for his personal use after he was moved by the event last year.

The Student Consumer

Want to satisfy your sweet tooth, but need to preserve that tight tummy and cocktail money for spring break? If it's ice cream you crave, many choices can be found right here in Bloomington. I investigated the offerings of three of Bloomington's most popular ice cream parlors. At each of these stores, I focused on the price and nutritional content of vanilla ice cream. I also noted the availability of healthier choices such as frozen yogurt and low-carb options.

Investinging for students

After spending the summer of his senior year in high school landscaping and doing yard work, then 18 year-old Michael Klein saved his summer earnings. A summer of cash could have funded any number of freshman excursions, accessories, or luxuries, but Klein had something else in mind. "I decided to invest the money instead of spending it on stuff," said Klein, who hasn't become ridiculously wealthy ... yet. But for Klein it wasn't just about the riches, but about growing up and responsibility. With time, MSNBC financial reports began to make sense, and knowledge poured into his head. Now a senior studying finance he has realized a great truth: "It is never too early to start investing." For many students the doors of the financial world seem inaccessible, the keys only given to an exclusive club of elites walking around in thousand dollar Armani suits, with briefcases to match.

STRING QUARTET

Fashion competes with football

Who knew fashionists liked football? This was the question many were asking themselves as Olympus Fashion Week in New York City kicked off with a slow start. While editors waited for shows to begin, one could hear them placing bets on which team would win the Super Bowl. New York designers competed with the Super Bowl for guest attendance this Sunday and editors and groupies alike couldn't help but notice empty seating in many of the most sought-after venues. Still, the shows and parties went and the wine was poured.

SWING

ARTIFACTS

Bassoonist devoted to instrument

Fingers flew amid a maze of black appendages: suit sleeves, music stands and folding chairs. Noise and motion jumbled into a mish-mash of bows poking upward, toes tapping and metal gleaming. Junior and bassoon major William May played contrabassoon, the largest and lowest-pitched of the double-reed wind instruments, in a student orchestra last Sunday. May prepared to play, soaking his hand-carved reed in a pill bottle of water. He tries to avoid any sort of mental preparation before performing, he said. "I try to go into everything as cold as possible to avoid panic," he said. Nerves can cause May's right hand to shake, but if he focuses and thinks about the music, he can control the quivers.