IUPD

CNN's conservative conversation

The Cable News Network (CNN) reeks of liberal bias. There are few immutable truths in life and this is one of them. Ladies and gentlemen, expect the unexpected. Fewer than two weeks ago CNN began its courting of none other than Rush Limbaugh, the most popular conservative radio show host in the country.

'South Pacific' comes to IU

A new national tour of the award-winning musical "South Pacific" will launch at the IU Auditorium next month. The play will be in town for two nights only, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 21 and 22. Tickets are on sale now at the IU Auditorium Box Office and at all Ticketmaster locations. "South Pacific" is not part of the Auditorium's regular fall schedule -- the tour is renting the Auditorium for the week of Sept.16. During the week, the Auditorium will be used for final rehearsals, leading up to the debut performance.

Hoosiers deadlock in two weekend exhibition games

The men's soccer team found itself deadlocked in two exhibition games last weekend at IU-Purdue University at Fort Wayne's Soccer Showcase. The Hoosiers matched up with No. 17 University of South Carolina on Friday. The first of four yellow cards was handed out 14 minutes into the game, setting the tone for the match. The teams combined for a mere eight shots and both were held scoreless for all 90 minutes.

Operation Pullover targets seat-belt slackers

For the next two weeks, not being buckled up likely means a ticket. Local law enforcement agencies are participating in Operation Pullover, a statewide initiative to step up enforcement of seat-belt laws. In Indiana, anyone under 12 or in the front seat of a car must wear a seat belt. Since Sunday, officers have patrolled busy intersections throughout the city. At red lights, they pass stopped cars on foot and issue a $25 ticket to any motorist not wearing a seat belt.

Revamped design has debut today

The IDS has decided to update its look and move forward in the newspaper business. Some changes will be noticeable, while others will not be. Newspapers redefine their look every four to six years by updating their appearance to reflect the changing times and make it more visually appealing. The IDS changed its look two years ago, and we have been tweaking here and there. This year we are completing the final stages and made a few final tweaks, which we think will be beneficial to all readers.

Police crack down on parties

Phil Worthington can't rest without earplugs and a nightly sleeping pill. He's so disturbed by the loud noise in his neighborhood that he's even insulated his walls. "I'm not going to invest in (my home) anymore," he said. "I'm eventually just going to have to move away." Worthington, who's lived in Bloomington for 16 years, experiences the same routine every year. IU students move back into town in the fall and blast loud music to the wee hours of the morning from their cars and rental houses. With its "Quiet Nights" initiative, the city hopes to crack down on noise in the next few weeks and establish a tone of neighborly behavior. The city is paying the Bloomington Police Department $70,000 in overtime to beef up nightly neighborhood patrols.

Athletics director names top aides

The IU Department of Athletics announced the appointment of Jason Lewis as chief financial officer and executive associate athletics director and Lauren Rochet as assistant athletics director for personnel and administration.

Manning injuries not severe

INDIANAPOLIS - The blue brace on Peyton Manning's right knee was not a pretty picture Sunday at the Indianapolis Colts practice. But it was a welcome relief. "I was pretty fortunate," Manning said. "That is the type of play where you can be hurt pretty seriously. The thing that I thought saved me was that, when I followed through, I was on my toe instead of being planted. If I'd have been firmly planted, it might have been worse."

Team warms up for season

The women's volleyball team tuned up for the season with an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday. The rain didn't stop the Hoosiers' as they warmed up for their first scrimmage in University Gym. The scrimmage had the two teams cheering each other on with screams, high fives and encouraging advice. "We are really starting to gel as a team," head coach Katie Weismiller said. "The team chemistry is great and they didn't have any trouble playing against each other. They all remained friends."

Aiming for nationals

The women's cross country team sat and waited last season for a phone call. That call never came. The team was on the bubble for the NCAA national meet in Ames, Iowa. The Hoosiers finished fourth in their regional with the top two teams automatically qualifying. The women's team did not get the at-large bid for which it had hoped. This year, the Hoosiers aren't worrying about an at-large bid. They plan to qualify at regionals. "We definitely want to make it to nationals. I think that it is very possible. We're going to be a very solid team," junior Allyson Hammond said.

New Music, Movies and More shops open

Residential Programs and Services and the Residence Halls Association have opened Music, Movies and More shops at which students can borrow movies and CDs for free with a valid student ID in six residence halls. RPS will pick up the tab for the new shops, which will eventually add DVDs, snacks and phone cards.

IUPD Blotter

Event explores campus faiths

Religious leaders gathered in Dunn Meadow Sunday, hoping to attract new freshmen to weekly services. Organized and sponsored by the Campus Religious Leaders Association, the fifth annual Fun In Dunn provided new and old students exposure to the unique and diverse religious groups on campus and in the Bloomington area. "Fun in Dunn remains a great way to partner students with their religion of choice, as well as to expose students who aren't as sure of their religious preference (to these organizations) in a nonthreatening way," said Ken Larson, member and association spokesman for the event.

RecFest displays club sport choices

With loud music blasting, more than 1,500 freshmen gathered Friday night in the North Fee Lane fields for IU's annual RecFest, an event put on by the Division of Recreational Sports. RecFest brought many club and intramural sports teams together so members could introduce themselves to new students. B97's Pam Thrash was broadcasting live and interviewed several group promoters. "We're here to get (freshmen) interested and get them on a bike to ride," said Jonathan Nall, a student with the cycling club. "This is a good way to get our club out there for new people to see and for freshmen to see what's on campus."

A new semester begins

As the student newspaper of a Big Ten university, the IDS covers many events and noteworthy issues. But one of the most important things we can do as a newspaper is to listen to you, our readers, and present fair and unbiased stories. This is your newspaper, and I encourage you to use us as a resource and give us feedback. Let us know if you see news happening or if you have an idea for a great story. The IDS began publishing last Wednesday, and we will continue to do so, Monday through Friday, until finals week. Many changes are in store for the IDS this semester, including our redesign, which has its premiere with today's edition. Designers have been hard at work since the summer working on bringing a different look to our readers. Let us know what you think by sending e-mail to letters@indiana.edu.

CultureFest celebrates campus diversity

About 2,000 students flooded the IU Auditorium and surrounding area Thursday for CultureFest, a celebration of IU's diversity. The Welcome Week event showcased a variety of opinions and talents from student perspectives. An eight-minute video highlighting IU's history was shown in the Auditorium, followed by a speech about diversity and acceptance by author, journalist and historian Kevin Powell, a cast member of MTV's original "The Real World."

IUPD Blotter

August 15 • Sophomore Kathryn A. Brow, 18, resident on Sunrise Avenue, was cited at Bloomington Hospital for illegal consumption.

RecFest promises demonstrations, fun

Freshmen focused on climbing staircases, luggage in tow, will have the chance to make a more leisurely ascent tonight. Following the Traditions and Spirit of IU at Assembly Hall, freshmen will follow the crowd to RecFest, starting at 6 p.m. in the North Fee Lane Fields. Once there, new students will be deluged with demonstrations, games, food and prizes, highlighted by a rock-climbing wall.

Free rides around Bloomington, campus

Students looking for a way around campus or Bloomington can ride any campus, Bloomington Transit or Express Lines of Rural Transit bus free with a student ID next week.

Parking Operations grace period ends Monday

For IU students parking at "D" spots on campus without a valid permit, the grace period ends Monday at 7 a.m. With students moving into residence halls, and families flooding Blooimgton to send off their sons and daughters, Doug Porter, parking operations manager, said IU Parking Operations is not enforcing these zones today and this weekend. But come Monday morning, as the start of school nears, Porter warned that only cars with valid permits should park in "D" spots.