Community Arts

Gun owner immunity bill passes

By Alyson Brodsy and Deanna Wrenn · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:43 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would give civil immunity to gun owners whose weapons are stolen and later used in a crime. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Robert Meeks, said he is trying to protect responsible gun owners. He said people whose stolen firearms are used in crimes should not have to pay for legal fees to defend themselves against frivolous lawsuits.

Contra dancing group has been swinging for years

By Jeanine Murray · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:38 p.m.

Every Wednesday night, the Bloomington Old Time Music and Dance Group offers a way for the community of Bloomington to come together over dance and music. From 8 to 10:30 p.m. the group offers live old-time music and contra dancing.

Professor captures musical spirits of Beethoven, Schubert

By Adam Sedia · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:37 p.m.

An unusually large and variegated audience gathered in Auer Hall Monday evening for a recital. All were there to hear Edmund Battersby's performance. Battersby is a professor of piano at the IU School of Music and an internationally recognized virtuoso pianist. In store for Monday night's audience was a large and very diverse selection of solo piano music occupying a good one-and-a-half hours of listening.

Shakespeare opens at Buskirk-Chumley

By -Jenny Kobiela · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:36 p.m.

The Acting Company, an award-winning acting troupe, will present Shakespeare's "Richard III" at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. The Acting Company's appearance is part of "Shakespeare in American Communities," the largest tour of Shakespeare in American history, according to www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org.

'I am the Walrus'

By Alyson Brodsy and Phil Kijak · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:31 p.m.

In "High Fidelity," Nick Hornby wrote, "what really matters is what you like, not what you are like." Things like books, movies and food may seem trivial now, but they'll drive you mad when you're arguing in the car with your new boyfriend or girlfriend about where to eat and what movie to see, all the while being bombarded by the sounds of the Insane Clown Posse -- which you have recently discovered is your mate's favorite band.

Diversity and date auctions

By Alyson Brodsy and Brian Matzke · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:29 p.m.

Sometimes you've just got to buy some Asians. Last Friday was one of those times. Fortunately, the Asian American Association had a date auction that very night.

Putin dismisses staff 1 week before election

By Alyson Brodsy and Vladimir Isachenkov · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:28 p.m.

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin fired his prime minister Tuesday -- less than three weeks before the Russian presidential election -- in a surprise stroke riding the Russian leadership of a top holdover from the Boris Yeltsin era.

Civil unions for everyone

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Hintz · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:28 p.m.

In one of my favorite "Saturday Night Live" sketches, a couple is arguing about a particular product. They both love it, but can't agree about what it actually is. One insists it's a dessert topping. "It's a floor wax," says the other.

The culture of seduction

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:26 p.m.

Six rape charges surfaced last week against the University of Colorado's football team -- an institution already being critically examined for using sex as a recruiting tool. Six rape charges are shocking, as was Colorado coach Gary Barnett's response -- verbally criticizing an alleged rape victim.

IU-Southeast proposes on-campus dorm

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:20 p.m.

NEW ALBANY, Ind. -- Officials at IU-Southeast New Albany are developing plans to build student housing in an effort to increase the campus's appeal. Campus administrators said a community task force would be established to help plan the project and they expected to present the results to IU's board of trustees later this year.

U.S. to expand VISIT program to improve land border security

By Thomas Bender · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:20 p.m.

With the new U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security hopes to improve the U.S. entry and exit system at the borders. The initiative involves collecting travel information and biometric identifiers, such as fingerprints, in order to identify visitors.

Falafel contest benefits charities

By Laura Bare · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:19 p.m.

Amid a room full of approximately 500 falafel balls and roughly 100 spectators feasting on a variety of Middle Eastern food, the first annual falafel ball eating contest was held in the McNutt conference dining hall Monday night. Sponsored by the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center, the falafel ball eating contest was a part of Tzedakah Leads to Community week.

IMU Market introduces sushi

By Allison Ricket · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 11:18 p.m.

Cheese and grease have a new contender vying for the saliva of famished IU students. The Indiana Memorial Union announced the addition of sushi to the list of alternative food options available at the Market yesterday by distributing free samples of california rolls, wasabi shrimp and halibut to sushi fanatics and sushi virgins alike.

Around The Campus

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 1:57 p.m.

Sigma Alpha Mu is holding a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the Wildermuth basketball courts in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. The tournament, scheduled for March 28 from noon to 11 p.m., costs $35 for one team of three or $100 for three teams of three.

Merck lawsuit disputes patents

By Nellie Summerfield · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 1:10 a.m.

A lawsuit filed by IU against pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. alleges the company patented vaccines based on reports by Dr. Darron Brown of the IU School of Medicine. The lawsuit charges Merck with four counts -- declaration of inventorship, unjust enrichment, breach of contract and civil conversion -- surrounding the ownership of patents with a projected market value of $2 billion.

Little Fifty date set

By Josh Weinfus and Josh Weinfuss · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 1:10 a.m.

Get the running shoes ready, and start training. The 2004 Little Fifty will take place Sunday, April 18, the IU Student Foundation has announced. Because of the success the inaugural race garnered last year, IUSF has placed the race as the kickoff for Little 500 week festivities, moving it a week closer to Little 500, compared to last year.

Voting begins today for IUSA

By Mike McElroy · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 1:10 a.m.

Eight hundred and 14 red cups line the Arboretum on an uncharacteristically sunny February afternoon, and junior Tyson Chastain is in full form. "This is supposed to symbolize every person who's gotten arrested last year," the Crimson presidential candidate says, pausing several times to wave to a familiar face amid the torrent of passing class-goers. "Vote Crimson!" he insists.

Atwater vandalism, theft on the rise

By Mallory Simon · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 1:10 a.m.

Students and visitors parking in the Atwater Garage beware. Recently, the Atwater Garage, located on Faculty Drive between 3rd Street and Atwater Avenue, has been the target of vandalism and theft, with six incidents reported on Feb. 17-18. Many of the targeted cars were located on the upper levels of the garage.

DiNardo's field staff full after departures

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 1:08 a.m.

The reshuffling of the IU football staff has begun to settle. IU coach Gerry DiNardo completed his field staff Monday, promoting Steve Addazio to offensive coordinator, on top of his offensive line coaching duties. Last week, DiNardo promoted defensive line coach Joe Cullen to the defensive coordinator position. The only position still open is director of football operations, formerly occupied by Dino Mangiero, named linebackers coach last week. Also Monday, DiNardo named Bob McConnell wide receiver's coach.

Students catch glimpse of Red Planet in 3-D

By Michael Zennie · Tuesday, Feb. 24,2004 1:04 a.m.

The Informatics Building was full of students wearing 3-D glasses Monday afternoon. But those in attendance weren't watching a cheap horror movie. Instead, they were viewing the latest three-dimensional images of Mars as part of i-Mars, an educational event held by the School of Informatics, the Office of the Vice President for Research, the Department of Geological Science, the Department of Astronomy