IUPD

It's Davis: Officials say he earned it

Mike Davis wondered if he was walking out of Assembly Hall for the last time as IU's men's basketball coach following IU's victory over Minnesota Feb. 28. But he was there again Wednesday when IU President Myles Brand removed the interim label from Davis' title and announced Davis' four-year contract worth at least $400,000 per year. "For the next four years, I plan on taking this basketball program to the next level," Davis said. "I look forward to bringing a lot of great players here and having a lot of great memories." Brand called Wednesday a "very important day in the history of IU basketball."

Bill chips away at abortion rights

A bill that would allow criminals who commit a crime against a pregnant woman to be charged separately for violence against a fetus gained approval by a House subcommittee last week.

Repent and be saved

Gotti burial in Roman Catholic cemetery approved

NEW YORK -- Notorious mob boss John Gotti will be interred in a Roman Catholic cemetery alongside his son, but his family was denied permission to hold a funeral Mass for the convicted killer. Gotti, responsible for at least five murders during his bloody reign atop the Gambino crime family, will not receive a Mass of Christian burial, the Rev. Andrew Vaccari, chancellor of the Diocese of Brooklyn, said Wednesday.

From city hall to center for arts

The stone building at 122 S. Walnut St. was once Bloomington City Hall. Until 1985, it housed the police department. And 10 years ago it was redeveloped to fulfill a new purpose: bringing the arts to Bloomington. Through all the residents, the building's face has changed little. It is unlike any other place in Bloomington. The two theaters and three galleries in the John Waldron Arts Center give local artists and performers a place to show their work.

Words bring comfort to desis

Take care. Be good and don't do anything I wouldn't do," was one of the last things my mom said to me as she left me to fend for myself out here last fall. By the simple instruction, she had clipped my wings. She also got me thinking. Take care. It's a phrase which most of you take for granted and has now become ingrained in your daily speech. It probably rivals "whassup" in the frequency of its usage. But what about desis like myself?

Buskirk movie ban may be lifted

Talks regarding a lift of a ban on showing movies at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre on Kirkwood Avenue look optimistic, State Senator Vi Simpson said.

Distracting the public eye

Dear Dr. Brehm, As you prepare to take on the duties of Bloomington chancellor, I feel the need to tell you I can't imagine IU without basketball -- try as I might, I simply cannot.

'Nutcracker' delightful

With Christmas quickly approaching, this weekend marked the occasion with a perennial favorite, Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" performed by the IU Ballet Theater at the Musical Arts Center. With four performances, the ballet gave everyone a chance to get in the holiday spirit with the retelling of a magical story. The first act shows the main character, Clara (sophomore Julie Brumfiel on Friday night and Saturday matinee, junior Dori Goldstein on Saturday night and Sunday), receiving a nutcracker from the eccentric Dr. Drosselmeyer (Thor Lok Johnson) at her family's holiday party.

Carlin pleases with trademark wit

Comedian George Carlin strode onstage in his trademark black jeans and shirt, with nothing more than a few papers, a glass of water and his notoriously filthy mouth to keep him company. Despite his loathing for politics and complete disregard for tact and compassion, he started by addressing the issue of the World Trade Center attacks. He even practiced some of the act he intends to use in his upcoming performance in New York to see if it was well--received.

All-Star game isn't funny

Tuesday night's Major League Baseball All-Star game meant one and only one thing to me: Have I seen the "Frasier" rerun on the competing network, or did I miss it the first time around?

World to America: Why now?

Now that we have bombed Afghanistan, we must ask whether throwing devastation at an already devastated country has really done anything to prevent terrorism, punish a global network of anti-American terrorists and enlarge our understanding of a confusing international web of cause and effect.

Derby field set for Saturday

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Edgar Prado isn't just responsible for riding Harlan's Holiday in the Kentucky Derby. The jockey also got to pick the colt's post position.

Not just another teen DVD

Dixon, Davis draw spotlight

ATLANTA -- Juan Dixon wasn't needed nearly as badly by his Maryland team Monday night as he was on Saturday. With Dane Fife harassing Dixon all night, Dixon was held to 18 points, his lowest output in the tournament.

Muslims thrown into unfair light

I am a Malaysian Muslim, and I am profoundly disturbed by the recent attack on innocent American civilians in the very heart of the Big Apple. But it is too early to judge that people that share with this person's nationality and belief should be blamed and punished.

The Odds: Part 1

Alan Boston is one of the men that IU grad Chad Millman profiled for his book "The Odds," a story surrounding sports gambling during the college basketball season 1999-2000. Millman tracked a couple of professional bettors and a bookmaker -- all living in Las Vegas -- as their fortunes rose and fell with each game. Excerpts of Millman's book, which went on sale March 20, appear in today's IDS.

What a riot!

When I first heard the news last Wednesday that IU's football coach Cam Cameron had been fired, I immediately picked up my little journalist notebook and took to the streets. Students have a propensity for unruliness when beloved coaches are fired, so it was a logical conclusion that something big was about to go down.

The joy of summer jobs

My summertime job is about as exciting as an after-school special. And my summer is like one big extended recess. I have a lot of play time, I just don't have much green in my pocket. I know, you're just dying to know what I do.

Officials: Bus plan will wait

An IU committee will recommend putting off universal bus access for students for at least another year, opting instead for a plan similar to the current one, IU officials said. The IU transportation committee will present its proposal, which includes free rides on all Bloomington Transit buses and a stadium-to-campus shuttle, to the board of trustees today. The services would require a student ID. The plan will cost students about $26 per semester, an increase of about $5, said IU Vice President for Administration Terry Clapacs, a member of the transportation committee.