Community Arts

Conflict devastates Middle East economy

Since the latest violence began 20 months ago, Palestinians and Israelis have seen their death toll rise, military costs soar and economies sink.

Kirkwood prepares for frenzy

It's radiating from the asphalt and beaming invisibly from the street lights on Kirkwood Avenue. It's anticipation, and it almost seems to be beckoning the IU masses. Thousands gathered last Saturday night on Kirkwood to celebrate the basketball team's victory, and business owners are preparing for a potentially larger crowd this weekend.

IU's young violinists to play at 'Kids play for Kids' benefit at Carnegie Hall

Twelve young violinists from IU School of Music's Violin Virtuosi plan to grace New York City's Carnegie Hall with a benefit concert, "Kids play for Kids," June 18. The concert will raise money for the Harlem Public School Violin Program, Opus 118 Music Center, which has suffered this year because of the Sept. 11 backlash. "Opus 118 is largely supported with city money, and they lost their funding almost completely. So much of (it) went to the catastrophe, cleaning up and helping people," said Mimi Zweig, director of Violin Virtuosi.

Ignorance should no longer be bliss

If you ever get bored at night, turn on Jay Leno and observe his "Jay-Walking" -- a segment at the beginning of shows where he surveys average Joes and Janes and asks them about general facts that you would hope anyone who passed U.S. history could pull from some memory bank.

Film explores relationships

A dorm room, a camera and two naked college students. If this seems like your typical Saturday night, that's because it's supposed to. Student filmmakers and seniors Scott Schirmer and Dan Dixon use the art of film to explore human sexuality and gender relations in "Three Animals, One Stuffed." The 32-minute film, which will be shown at 7 p.m today in Ballantine Hall Room 228, follows a one-night-stand gone away. "I hope that it (will) make (the audience) think about gender roles and ask themselves whether these differences come from biology or whether it's intrinsic or if it's because of sociology," Schirmer said. Schirmer, who wrote and directed the film, is a homosexual: He said it was his amazement at heterosexual relationships that inspired him to write this film. "Being gay, I look at heterosexual people and I am always marveled at the fact that they can ever get along," he said.

Around The Region

Indiana homeowners to see drop in heating bill expenses this year State behind in payments to social organizations aiding disabled Cummins Inc. reports $3 million in profits

Texas festival highlights upcoming bands

Talk of Lakers dynasty overrated

Well, the NBA Finals are over and done with, and one more season is down the drain in the sports world, leaving only baseball for our summer enjoyment.

Looking on the sunny side

The police are pulling a body out of the bay right now. Can you run down to the pier to check that out?" That was the idea of a message from my editor that flashed across my screen one day this summer. I was interning at a Florida newspaper as a reporter on the city desk. My mission was to find out who died -- and how.

Critics skeptic of Bush oil plan

Electricity shortages in California have raised awareness of energy supply and conservation, and inflated gas prices are raising public concern over crude oil supplies. But some experts say that the real energy supply situation in America is hardly worthy of the title of an energy 'crisis', and that compared to the oil embargoes, supply cutoffs and long fuel lines of the '70s, this summer's perceived supply shortages are minor and short term. "(There is) no comparison between what happened in the '70s and what is going on today," said IU business professor Bruce Jaffee. "The concerns raised about energy are similar, but the policy and the causes are different. The '70s issue was perceived supply shortages. Price caps were implemented. Most importantly, there was an Arab oil embargo.Today there are no broad shortages. The Bush administration will not tolerate price controls or supply cutoffs from third parties. Most importantly, there is no embargo by a third party."

Getting outside

For students with no plans for spring break and a little extra cash burning in their pockets, there is an alternative to the traditional spring break locations. IU's Outdoor Adventures is sponsoring trips over break as far away as Utah and Arizona and as exotic as the Virgin Islands.

'Men in Black' sequel a cosmic failure

Men in Black II -- PG-13Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee JonesDirected by: Barry SonnenfeldShowing: Showplace West 12

Student trustee election process proves flawed

Every two years, the state Governor gets to select from 10 finalists a student trustee who will represent the students of all Indiana University campuses throughout the state. Last Monday, Gov. Frank O'Bannon nominated 32-year-old graduate student Sasha Wilsey from here at the Bloomington campus as the student trustee. That's right, a 32-year-old graduate student.

Henna tattoos catching on

Alma Molina works quickly, squeezing the brown henna paste onto the hand of the young woman sitting across from her like an artist painting on a canvas. About 13 people are watching with awe, pining for their turn as she expertly crafts a freehand dragonfly design on freshman Stacee Griffith's hand and wrist. Once the paste is dry, it will leave a red stained design that will last between three and 15 days.

Roadrunners sit in first, greek teams follow

The front row for the 14th women's Little 500 has 14 riders who are capable of competing. But only 12 are eligible to get on the bike on race day. When the Roadrunners and Delta Zeta took the top two spots in qualifications March 24, they had five riders on the team's rosters. Come race day, one person from each team must be cut to meet the required maximum of four. With three veteran riders, Phi Mu isn't faced with that problem and will be starting from the third spot on the outside of Row 1.

United Nations reports executions in Mazar-e-Sharif

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- There have been reports of summary executions and abductions of civilians in Mazar-e-Sharif since opposition fighters seized the northern city from the Taliban, U.N. officials said Monday.

Everybody's a member

There is something the directors of Union Board want students to know: Every student is a member. By paying activity fees, students become members of Union Board, one of IU's largest student activity programming boards. All members of Union Board are eligible to be on committees and to become directors. Director of marketing Scott Dittmer said getting involved with Union Board is a great social activity. "(Union Board) is a way to make the campus smaller, to meet people and to influence how (activity fee) money is spent," he said.

Mid-nineties pop rock revisited

'Royal' is a DVD treat

The Royal Tenenbaums" was one of the finest movies of last year, and the Criterion Collection two-disc DVD set does incredible justice to this unique film.

Scott May says son Sean has open mind while looking at schools

Former Hoosier basketball great Scott May is hoping a college coach will make a commitment to his son -- Bloomington High School North star Sean May -- similar to the one his mother received from Bob Knight on a recruiting visit nearly 30 years ago.