IUPD

If walls could talk...

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 2:28 a.m.

As students filed into Woodburn 100 Monday and Tuesday, first day icebreakers and step-by-step instructions of the syllabus were put aside in place of a discussion on the controversial Thomas Hart Benton mural that adorns the walls of the room. This discussion is preceded by a nine-minute long video explaining the mural. This was one of three primary initiatives set forth by Chancellor Sharon Brehm. In March, Brehm announced the controversial mural would stay put in Woodburn Hall after complaints by the Black Student Union and others on campus because of the portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan in one of the painting's panels.

Telethon raises record amount

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 2:04 a.m.

LOS ANGELES — The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association received a record $58.3 million in nationwide pledges through Monday, a telethon spokesman said. The 76-year-old Lewis, his face and body bloated and puffy due to steroid medication he takes for pulmonary fibrosis, was assisted during the 21 1/2 -hour fund-raiser by co-hosts that included Ed McMahon, comedians Wayne Brady and Norm Crosby, and performers Charo and Andy Williams.

Judge squashes sale of site

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 2:02 a.m.

SAN FRANCISCO -- A Delaware bankruptcy judge Tuesday blocked the sale of Napster to its chief investor, Bertelsmann AG, killing a deal that might have revived the song-swapping service as a legitimate business. Judge Peter J. Walsh issued the ruling in Wilmington, Del. Bertelsmann had sought to purchase the remains of the defunct Napster network for an additional $8 million after sinking $85 million into the company to keep it afloat. Napster has been off line for more than a year.

Esteemed movie director passes away

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 1:56 a.m.

LOS ANGELES — British director J. Lee Thompson, whose more than 50 films included the original "Cape Fear," "The Guns of Navarone," "Planet of the Apes" sequels and nine Charles Bronson movies, has died. He was 88. Thompson, who spent summers in Canada, died Friday of congestive heart failure in Sooke, British Columbia, publicist Robert Rooney said Monday. "He was a very large directorial presence," said co-producer Pancho Kohner. "He was a gentleman and such a pleasure to work with. Everyone who worked with him once wanted to work with him again and again." Kohner collaborated with Thompson to make Bronson action films including "St. Ives," "10 to Midnight," "Messenger of Death," "White Buffalo" and what became Thompson's last film, "Kinjite," in 1989. Thompson also worked several times with Gregory Peck, including 1962's "Cape Fear," with Anthony Quinn, "The Greek Tycoon" released in 1978, with Yul Brynner in "Taras Bulba" in 1962 and again the next year in "Kings of the Sun."

Trip to space a no go for pop star

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 1:52 a.m.

MOSCOW — 'N Sync singer Lance Bass was asked to leave Russia's cosmonaut training program because his sponsors didn't come up with the $20 million for a trip to the International Space Station, a Russian space official said Tuesday. Sergei Gorbunov, spokes-man for the Russian Space Agency, said the Russians negotiated with Bass "in good faith," but "his sponsors didn't fulfill the conditions of the contract and we never received the money."

Years later, USA not as controversial

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 1:47 a.m.

Abe Lemons, the famous basketball coach/humorist who died Monday at age 79, once said, "Finish last in your league and they call you an idiot. Finish last in medical school and they call you doctor." This is interesting to note in light of two events related to international basketball: The 30th anniversary of the U.S.'s controversial 1972 loss to the Soviet Union in the Olympic gold medal game in Munich and the current World Championships of Basketball going on in Indianapolis.

Hoosiers can't make it 2 in a row

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 1:43 a.m.

As the clock struck midnight on the IU field hockey team Tuesday, the young Hoosiers were faced with an important lesson: Success doesn't come overnight. Although IU is much deeper and more talented than in 2001, the Hoosiers could not follow up their season opening win. They lost to Maine 2-1. While the Hoosiers (1-1) could not pull out the victory, coach Amy Robertson did find several positives to take out of Tuesday's game.

Why can\'t I hate you?

By Joe Grace · Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 1:43 a.m.

Never date a humor columnist. Because if you do date a humor columnist and you do break up with said columnist, he will immediately proceed to write a nasty column about you the first chance he gets. Hopefully, you have learned your lesson Miss Amy. What jilted boyfriend wouldn't love to call his ex everything from a putrid ball of slime to a paramecium brained koala gremlin (my personal favorite) in front of 30,000 people? What guy who has just been thrown out like Fat Albert trying to steal second base wouldn't drown in his own saliva at the opportunity to embarrass his former girlfriend in what Shakespeare would refer to as "revenge sweeter than a coffee creamer filled with three sweet n' lows"? That guy would be me. So far the worst insult I've been able to come up with is that she is a poopie doo doo head and unfortunately I don't even really mean that.

Knight reaches settlement in assistant's suit

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 1:40 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Knight has agreed to pay $25,000 to a former assistant coach after signing an agreement in which he admitted to "shoving" Ron Felling "in anger," Felling's attorney said Tuesday.

Who screens the screeners?

By Cherry Blattert · Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 1:40 a.m.

Although I normally use this column space to highlight a controversial event in the news, this week I feel compelled to generally point out just how stupid governmental bureaucracies really are. One of the funniest examples of a typical bureaucrat (admittedly, the lunacy of bureaucracies is oftentimes not funny) is found in airport security screening. These people blindly enforce laws they barely understand. One of the new rules enforced after Sept. 11 is to require everyone going through airport screening to drink any liquids they're transporting. We all probably heard about the woman who was forced to drink her own breast milk. How absurd! The intent of the "liquid" law is to keep toxic substances and acids off of planes. Fine. Someone who had any sense would ask the woman to dribble a little of the milk on her skin. Or pack it up with her luggage. Or feed her child before boarding the plane. Or something else besides drinking her own milk! Then there is the idiot in airport screening who made Elliot Gosko, a 14-year-old East Coast high school student, drink his Rocky Mountain spring water samples he was bringing back for study in his biology class. Come next week, Elliot was infected with the common waterborne protozoan giardia.

Professors: a field guide

By Rory Starks · Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 1:36 a.m.

While traveling through campus, students will come across many different professors. Having been here a couple of years, I would like to inform the newer students about the various species of professors. I can hardly describe every type of professor, so I have selected the most well known of the species. This is not meant to offend anyone, so I hope readers will not read too far into my descriptions. The first type of professor I would like to describe to you is the generic, no frills, professor. Generic professors are usually unexcitable, and never discuss life outside of the classroom. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a generic professor. Aside from their sleep-inducing monotone voice, you will not have any problems from these docile creatures. The next type of professor is the absent professor. Yes, I said absent professor, not absent-minded professor. You will rarely see this type in the classroom as they have their associate instructor minions to herd their students. These professors are usually researchers so they have more important things to do like translate Beowulf or calculate pi to the billionth decimal. Absent professors are very attainable during their office hours. Make sure to take note of these hours as you will rarely see them otherwise.

Local oppurtunities to volunteer abundant

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 1:01 a.m.

While students become immersed in their studies and social life, a number of volunteer organizations located on campus and in Bloomington are looking for students to give their time and energy to help others. Over 130 different kinds of volunteer programs, which range from working with pre-school children to organizing activities for the Hoosiers Outrun Cancer event, exist here in Bloomington.

Guards deny boys with braids, ponytails from high school

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 12:59 a.m.

SOUTH BEND -- Security guards at a city high school kept at least 30 boys wearing their hair in braids and ponytails from entering the school on Friday. Some parents of those Washington High School students were angry after their sons were turned away at the school's doors as they arrived.

Business owner refuses to take down American flag

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 12:58 a.m.

NEW CASTLE -- A business owner says state highway officials have pressured him to take down an American flag he has flown since last year's terrorist attacks because it blocks the view of an Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame sign.

Security talks begin on Hill

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 12:52 a.m.

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The Senate opened debate Tuesday on legislation creating a new Homeland Security Department as White House officials voiced confidence that they and Democrats will settle differences over the bill.

Residents return, see damage left by tornado

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 12:40 a.m.

LADYSMITH, Wis. -- Residents and business owners returned to downtown Ladysmith Tuesday to inspect the aftermath of a tornado that injured dozens of people and damaged as many as 100 buildings. Some of the people carried video cameras to record images of the tree limbs, glass and boards that littered the sidewalks in this rural northwestern Wisconsin town of 4,000 people. A trailer was left in a bank lobby, and a convenience store roof was wrapped around a tree.

There is a 'd' in Indiana

By Sara Meinecke and Sarah Meinecke · Tuesday, Sept. 3,2002 2:37 p.m.

Yup, the IU football team won its first football game. While it really should not be much of a shock, since they did play William and Mary, there were several moments throughout the game that deserve recognition. So, much like the "most likely" awards given out in high school, here are a few given to the team:

Letter blasts BPD alcohol tactics

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Sept. 3,2002 2 a.m.

The Bloomington Police Department's tactics on alcohol arrests are unfair and fueling an adversarial relationship with students, the IU Student Association alleges in a letter sent to the BPD Monday. IUSA says the BPD has increased scrutiny of parties and arrested people walking home intoxicated -- creating an unsafe atmosphere. The letter, written by members of the IUSA administration, calls on the BPD to promote a more constructive relationship with students. "It has been brought to our attention that many of the tactics used by the BPD go far beyond promoting safety," the letter says. "Many students have also voiced concern over the amplified scrutiny by the Bloomington Police Department related to parties and the consumption of alcoholic beverages."

Religion majors up 50 percent

By Alyson Brodsy and Jamie Lusk · Tuesday, Sept. 3,2002 1:54 a.m.

People looking for a job after graduation are turning to religion. But it's not what you think. Religious Studies majors have increased 50 percent during the past two years at IU, said Carolyn Dowd-Higgins, a department advisor. Many students are sensing a shift in the way employers think, she said. Businesses are now looking for graduates with a general liberal arts background, something a Religious Studies degree offers.

Critics say arresting drunk walkers makes them want to drive

By Alyson Brodsy and Mitch Blacher · Tuesday, Sept. 3,2002 1:54 a.m.

Stopping walkers heading home from bars forces them into cars, said former city mayoral candidate Mike Andrews. "The BPD may want a zero percent tolerance on alcohol, but maybe they should concentrate on safety and use a little common sense," Andrews said. "People are so scared of getting arrested while walking home it causes them to get back behind the wheel." Andrews is among a group of city activists who agree with the IU Student Association that Bloomington Police stress safety over authority on issues of drinking. IUSA sent a letter to city police officials Monday evening asking police to be prudent in arresting drunk pedestrians.