Community Arts

Arts Fair heats up the square

Artists and art lovers crowded the courthouse lawn Saturday for the 22nd annual Art Fair on the Square. This year, the event was bursting with artistic talent from near and far.

Talent drowns in musical experimentation

Like many artists today, Corey Harris has difficulties determining his true musical style. On his 1999 release, Greens from the Garden, Harris bounces all over the musical spectrum. Some parts of it are upbeat, New Orleans-style blues, while other aspects walk the beaten trail of Cajun-esque country. At times it works well -- really well.

Police state isn't answer to terrorism

Congress is considering a bill that would allow police to listen in on phone calls and search Americans' houses without having to demonstrate probable cause.

Attempted thefts at 3 area businesses

Police have identified a suspect in an investigation of three attempted thefts from Bloomington businesses Friday night. Prison officials recognized an image of the man caught on surveillance tape. The man, described as a heavy-set, 6-foot African-American male, entered the Steak 'n Shake at 1900 N. College Ave. at about 11 p.m. Friday. Police said he ordered a Coke and then went out to the parking lot, saying he needed to go to his car to get his billfold. Upon returning, he asked the cashier on duty if he had change for a $100 bill. The cashier said he did, then proceeded to take the appropriate amount out of the drawer. At that point, the man grabbed the change from the cashier's hand and ran away.

Attack on the World Trade Center: Students react

Today's horrendous events have produced immediate devastation unprecedented in our short history of domestic terrorism. As hard as it may be to contemplate, these losses were probably not the primary goal of the terrorists. More likely they were merely bloody stepping stones along which to prod the United States toward becoming, irretrievably, a police state.

'Othello' remake a conniving good time

Take "Dead Poets Society," "The Skulls" and "Cruel Intentions" and put them in a blender. Out comes "O," the latest remake of William Shakespeare's "Othello."

Weekend marred by Big Ten sweeps

The IU softball team dropped four games in conference action this past weekend as it played host to No. 13 Michigan and Michigan State. Michigan (27-7, 5-1 Big Ten) swept IU (9-19-1, 0-8) in two games Friday and Saturday. Michigan State (18-21, 3-3) also swept the Hoosiers in their doubleheader Sunday.

Sophomores add depth to sprints

Teams across the country yearn for the day when they have a strong and deep sprint core to help build a successful track squad. But coach Randy Heisler has been living this dream ever since sophomores Rose Richmond and Rachelle Boone signed at IU.

Built to Spill lapse into mediocrity

Polar opposites will always be infinitely more fascinating than any piece of the long stretch of middle ground that makes up most of the world. Mediocrity is, by its nature, very boring. So when it comes to reviews, I always find myself more interested in the four star and one star reviews than the three and two-star reviews. To give a four-star or one-star (and sometimes even the dreaded half-star) review, one must have an intensely strong feeling about whatever is being reviewed. For an example, let's take Lou Reed's 1975 album "Metal Machine Music."

Exit polls show France's conservatives take control of parliament

PARIS -- Exit polls showed French Socialists had lost control of the nation's parliament on Sunday, with the mainstream right winning a landslide election that would give conservative President Jacques Chirac more power than at any time in the last five years. Chirac's Union for the Presidential Majority, a coalition of rightist parties, captured between 360 and 378 seats, winning control of the 577-seat National Assembly, France's lawmaking body, exit polls showed.

Hockey team looks for National Championship

Hoosier center Brandon Phillips doesn't scare anyone with his size. At 5-foot-8, 155 pounds, the senior isn't the most imposing player on the ice, and more than a few opponents have watched him during the pre-game skate and anticipated the chance to squash him against the boards. But any opponent who has ever felt the impact of Phillips’ check knows better.

Learn through individuality, sleep deprevation

How to survive in D.C.

There are certain things in life that everyone should do: fall in love, eat fresh mangoes and live in a house with a porch swing. Working in Washington, D.C., tops the list of important experiences -- right up there with waiting tables.

Iraq expels five U.N. officials

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq has expelled five U.N. officials it accuses of jeopardizing its security. The United Nations said Iraq failed to substantiate the claims, but that the officials were withdrawn for safety reasons. An Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman, speaking Wednesday on condition of anonymity, accused the five officials, four Nigerians and a Bosnian, of "jeopardizing the security and the integrity of Iraq."

D.A.R.E to be different

Drug Abuse Resistance Education is an effective program that truly keeps kids off drugs. I'm a funny guy aren't I? You wanna make people laugh? Tell them that D.A.R.E. works. Anyone who spent a day with the D.A.R.E. officers knows the programs is nothing more than an amusing distraction from the mundane homework of middle school. The D.A.R.E. officers came equipped with stories meant to keep kids drug-free and well-adjusted. My favorite was the one about the boy and his "self-esteem balloon" that inflates and deflates with different events during his day.

Senator Clark speaks to IU students

Indiana state Sen. Murray Clark spoke to the IU College Republicans and other students Tuesday night at the Indiana Memorial Union. The native of Indianapolis emphasized the importance of being involved in politics, while also addressing the topics of leadership, taxes and improvement of job opportunities.

Slower travel, bigger hassles

For the second summer in a row, it seems that everything in Bloomington has to readjust to the incredibly slow pace of the 10th Street construction. Students and Bloomington locals are forced to take unnecessary detours through back roads -- 13th Street, Cottage Grove Avenue and Fee Lane -- and even the Bloomington Transit and IU Campus Bus Services have been forced to alter their routes due to the lack of timeliness of the project's completion.

Jordan River Forum

Gov. O'Bannon proposes solutions to budget crisis

INDIANAPOLIS -- In his annual address to the State last night, Gov. Frank O'Bannon made it clear that in spite of the state's budget crisis, maintaining that a commitment to education is at the top of his agenda. The governor promised that he would do "everything possible to protect our progress in Indiana's schools." That would include raising cigarette and gambling taxes and restructuring property taxes. These tax increases will be unavoidable to offset a loss in state revenue caused by the dismal economic situation.

After slow start, Purdue hits stride

This season has been rough for Gene Keady and his Purdue Boilermakers. Trying to fight through the Big Ten without much defense, Keady has been left feeling a little under the weather. "These games lately, my chest has been hurting," Keady said. "January and February can get long. Thank goodness the weather's been nice." Sun began to shine for the Boilermakers (11-11, 3-5 Big Ten) last week when they had two victories, beating Northwestern and Iowa. The wins took Purdue back toward the middle of the Big Ten standings after opening the conference season with five losses in six games.