IUPD

Watch this movie and die of boredom

Culture center sparks pride

IU is carrying its dedication to diversity beyond ink on paper, beyond words that fade into silence. A $26 million commitment in limestone, glass and plaster will unite African American culture and the performing arts at IU when the Theatre/Neal-Marshall Education Center is dedicated tomorrow. The 2 p.m. ceremony marks a commitment that should make every member of the IU community proud.

Lawmakers unreceptive to tax hike

Bloomington resident Joel Rennard smokes a pack of menthol lights a day. Dragging away at a cigarette, he bristles at Gov. Frank O'Bannon's plan to raise cigarette taxes to offset a massive revenue shortfall. Speaking before the General Assembly Monday, O'Bannon suggested suspending a 1999 property tax cut and hiking cigarette taxes by 50 cents a pack. "I don't think it's fair," Rennard said while exhaling a cloud of smoke. "And people are going to quit smoking, and they're not going to get their money. It's really a lost cause."

Geriatric revolution in policy

I'm not the wagering type, but I'd bet money that our vice president will be 70 percent prosthetic before the Bush administration is through. First it'll be a hip, then he'll need a kidney. Next thing we know, a robot with remote-controlled facial expressions will air live from the White House.

Kirkwood Hall on restoration waiting list

Three shades of white cover classroom walls. Layers of paint are chipping away. Years of traffic have caused each main staircase step to dip in the middle. A staple of IU's Old Crescent, Kirkwood Hall has seen better days. Renovations to the structure, which was built in 1894, are still at least two years away, because the building has to wait its turn.

Editorial dissent

Bioterror lecture starts series

Representing a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, IU faculty will gather tonight to explore the causes and consequences of bioterrorism. Director of graduate studies in political science Michael McGinnis, accompanied by biology professor George Hegeman and associate history professor Nick Cullather, will speak at 7 p.m. in Swain Hall West Room 119 as part of a new lecture series sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor.

Jazz Fables celebrates Coltrane's 75th

Just a few weeks ago, the Jazz Fables celebrated its 12th anniversary. This week, its celebrating another birthday. Tonight, the weekly jazz series at Bear's Place, 1316 E. Third St., will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the birth of jazz legend John Coltrane. The saxophonist, who was born Sept. 23, 1926, and died when he was 40, will be remembered in a special concert featuring assistant music professor Tom Walsh on saxophone, associated music professor Pat Harbison on trumpet and visiting assistant music professor Luke Gillespie on piano. "Coltrane's music is some of the most powerful and most popular jazz from small groups of the 1950s," said David Miller, trumpet player and founder of Jazz Fables. "It continues to be a part of the idiom that all jazz players must come to grips with."

America's greatest responsibility

As time passes we attempt to put events behind us, to rationalize them. War was declared on our country a little more than two weeks ago, but the state of our union is strong, says President Bush. Although alarmed by the terrorist attacks, the general feeling among young people seems to be that things will work themselves out. Our generation's perception of destruction and evil has been blurred by complex film plots and special effects. But the damage in Washington, D.C., New York and Pennsylvania is real -- not part of some movie promoted by the networks. What's most scary about the attacks is they were carried out by other young people. Young people who were not only willing to die for their beliefs, but kill more than 6,000 others in the process. And for one day our country, and the world with it, stopped.

Concern expressed over makeup of legislature

INDIANAPOLIS -- As next week's primary draws closer, some lawmakers and minority advocates are expressing renewed concern that the Indiana General Assembly does not accurately represent the state's varied demographics.

IU flounders in opener

RALEIGH, NC - The experiment didn't work. Coach Cam Cameron admitted it. Tommy Jones knew it. And Antwaan Randle El's statistics revealed it. Cameron's fledgling idea -- moving Randle El to wide receiver and Tommy Jones to quarterback -- sputtered in front of a sellout crowd of 51,500 fans at North Carolina State's Carter-Finley Stadium Thursday night as the Wolfpack (1-0) rolled to a 35-14 victory.

Renaming 'McCall's' not a good idea

What do Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart and Rosie O'Donnell have in common? They all have magazines that bear their own name and focus on their own beliefs and causes. The difference, though, is that Rosie didn't start her own magazine; she took over someone else's.

Blues Traveler: Bridge

DMB's latest album far from 'Busted'

If I'm former long-time Dave Matthews Band producer Steve Lillywhite, I'm not happy. He produces the deepest and most personal DMB album ever, only to be replaced by pop-producer Glen Ballard on the more-poppy Everyday; but that's not the worst part.

Giuliani should have term extended

New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has not been a perfect mayor. His term had ups and downs, including a public divorce and controversy over banning artwork. New York City, though, is cleaner and safer than before. That is, until the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Letters to the editor

IUSA elections are a joke The IUSA elections are a total joke. First, I have to say how obnoxious it was to have four separate groups of IUSA campaigners knock on my door after midnight last night trying to get me to vote, despite the fact that I was sleeping. When I did try to vote, I found that the IUSA site was so swamped with people that just getting my vote through took more than half an hour.

Powerhouses to compete

Twenty-seven days ago at qualifications, the field for the women's Little 500 was set. Today, the field will be set loose to determine the 2002 women's Little 500 champion. "It's going to be an awesome race," IU Student Foundation assistant director and Little 500 coordinator Alex Ihnen said. "I think the race is going to be really competitive. The field is wide open. The returning championship team has maybe the strongest rider on the track, but a number of other teams are deeper.

Independence necessary

Graduate and professional students have little to gain by remaining part of the IU Student Association. The Graduate and Professional Student Organization has recently drafted a constitution to break off from IUSA and declare itself an independent arm of student government. IU academic departments with graduate and professional student enrollment must ratify the constitution; the IDS encourages them to do so. Issues that are most pressing to graduate and professional students differ widely from those affecting undergraduates.

Hoosiers continue win streak

The women's tennis team stretched its winning streak to four with a dominating 6-1 victory against Purdue Sunday in West Lafayette. This was the first conference road victory for the Hoosiers in three tries. "I think we played a very good match today," coach Lin Loring said. "I was especially pleased with our overall singles effort. This win gives us a four-match win streak as well as evens our record in conference play at two."

IUPD Blotter

The IU Police Department reported the following activity: Feb. 22 • An employee reported vandalism to a concrete ashtray on the south side of the Mathers Museum. Estimated loss is $650.