IUSA

Clinton organizer supports Obama

I could not disagree more with the opinions in Kristi Oloffson’s article, “Clinton’s Biggest Fans Prepare to Choose ‘Between 2 Evils.’” I spent more time, worked harder and put in more hours on the Hillary Clinton campaign than anybody else on this campus, and yet I have had absolutely no problem working and campaigning just as hard for Barack Obama this semester. Why is this? Because what made my campaign work the hardest during the primary wasn’t arguing my position, it was the fact that the opposite side was arguing almost the same exact thing. The differences between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama were so slight that even the debates between the two were forced out of the realm of policy. The people who stood next to me, and argued for Hillary’s platform, supported her because they agreed with her campaign and her stances on the issues.

Stocks point to lower open on retail sales drop

Wall Street appears to be heading to a sharply lower opening after economic data raised the possibility that the country is either in a recession or moving toward one.

Union Board proud of Edwards planning

Union Board prides itself on programming for a diverse student body with a wide array of interests. We are students, elected and selected by our peers to enhance campus life and enrich the IU community. As directors, we take our roles as student leaders seriously and we listen carefully to any feedback from students regarding the events we put on or decisions we make. With that in mind, I would like to address last week’s guest column by Justin Hill, chairman of Students for John McCain, regarding Union Board’s lecture with Senator Edwards.

U.S. troops kill No. 2 leader of al-Qaida in Iraq

American troops acting on a tip killed the No. 2 leader of al-Qaida in Iraq — a Moroccan known for his ability to recruit and motivate foreign fighters – in a raid in the northern city of Mosul, the U.S. military said Wednesday.

Place of our own, not segregation

I was recently interviewed for the Indiana Daily Student article “GLBT residents say city has few gay-only resources,” and I would like to clarify my stance on the issue of segregation. I don’t believe we want to be segregated from the general public, but want to have a place of our own where we feel comfortable in our “gayness.” Uncle Elizabeth’s is a great place, but clubs such as those in Indianapolis or Louisville or the late Bullwinkle’s would be nice as well. For example, many straight people, men and women included, show up at clubs such as Talbott Street in Indianapolis because they like the atmosphere.

Rethinking sexy

As faithful readers of the Indiana Daily Student, we’re familiar with Gabrijel Gelic’s usually witty fashion column.  But this week’s “Animal Heaven” was surely hell for animals. As usual, Mr. Gelic encouraged IU students to “stay classy,” and implored us to “look like (we) just came off the runway” by going fur-crazy. Yes, he assures us, we will all be extremely fashionable in anything with a dead animal attached to it. The style-writer passionately proclaims, “you can’t go wrong with fur.”

For the record

News coverage has been dominated by allegations of voter registration fraud in places as disparate as Ohio and Nevada. Indiana has seen its fair share of registration fraud, as well. A recent CNN investigative report concluded that more than 2,000 voter registration forms filed in northern Indiana’s Lake County were bogus. At the center of this controversy is the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, a community organizing group.

Don’t support the troops, don’t support the war

An age-old, worn-out adage is still thrown around these days: “I support the troops, but I don’t support the war.” Take a moment to think what this actually means. If you are intellectually honest with yourself, you would realize this is a logical contrivance. The troops are the war: The war is the troops. “But Jack, they are just following the backward policy initiatives of our politicians.” Well, I suppose so, but wasn’t the Nuremburg defense invalidated back in the ’40s? Certainly there is ample evidence of the disastrous nature of the U.S. involvement in Iraq. No matter your background, this evidence is enough to know better than to ship yourself to the Middle East.

The nail in the coffin

In a debate that opened with a prolonged back-and-forth with the candidates referencing “Joe the plumber,” Barack Obama set himself aside as the only serious presidential candidate. But before the winner was decided, Obama and McCain wasted time with a futile debate about whose policies would best care for “Joe” and other Main Street Americans. During this portion of the debate, many of us were even inclined to support McCain as he succinctly delivered an attack on federal subsidizing for ethanol production. These policies have done little to promote true energy independence and have substantially raised world food prices. Obama’s failure to support McCain’s ethanol position was, while no doubt in his political interest of gaining more traditional Democratic farmers’ votes, a disappointing slip into unrealistic populism.Thankfully, Bob Schieffer proved to be the most adept moderator we’ve seen so far. Directing tough but important questions to the candidates about cutting government spending and controlling the deficit, their negative campaign ads and Roe v. Wade, Schieffer is undoubtedly responsible for the superior quality of the debate relative to its predecessors. 

The worst show this fall

Wait a second, Entertainment Weekly. Don’t give out the worst show of the year honors yet. You’re probably thinking, “FrankTV.” Duh. No show could be as bad as a guy trying to ride a one-trick pony for a second season. However, Mike Huckabee recently received his own television show called “Huckabee.” Producers wanted the title to express, “Simply Mike Huckabee,” but at the same time, didn’t want potheads thinking the Jamie Kennedy Experiment had been resurrected.

Around the arts

'Scream' star performs at Buskirk-Chumley

With jokes covering everything from herpes to plastic surgery, comedian Jamie Kennedy filled two performances with stand-up comedy at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater on Tuesday.

Heroes of open mic night

Although karaoke is said to be a Japanese tradition that stemmed from bar life, the art has become refined in its own right in Bloomington.

Waldron shows SMALL gallery of items smaller than 10-by-10 inches

The John Waldron Arts Center has an exhibition of miniature artwork that defies the notion bigger equals better.

Colts add 3 RBs after injuries

The Indianapolis Colts needed help in their injury-depleted backfield. They expect three new running backs to fill the holes. With Pro Bowler Joseph Addai unlikely to play Sunday against Green Bay, and Mike Hart out for the rest of the season, the Colts added three running backs to the roster Wednesday, one day after acquiring defensive tackle John McCargo in a trade with Buffalo. The Colts addressed their most pressing need – a leaky run defense – with the trade for McCargo, but Sunday’s injuries to Addai and Hart changed their priorities.

Burton puts Chase sights on Johnson

Forty-one-year-old Jeff Burton now has two race wins in 2008, but his victory Saturday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway outside of Charlotte, N.C., could not have come at a better time.

Wishing I could make it rain like Pacman

LAS VEGAS – Sometimes, the smartest move is to fold. That statement is extremely relevant for a lot of businesses in Las Vegas. Last week, the Indiana Daily Student sent me to Vegas for an extensive research trip for this column. Before you run to the newsroom to grab an application, let me tell you that the Indiana Daily Student didn’t pay a cent for my trip. National sports columnists don’t get top priority on budgetary concerns, and I doubt they will ever pay me a dime past the amazing weekly salary I currently rake in.

IU men's soccer team gets ‘motivation’ for Freitag, make strides

Dropping out of the national rankings and falling further back in the Big Ten, IU men’s soccer coach Mike Freitag decided to change up his typical practice regimen this week. His players responded. “I found out that these guys need external motivation,” Freitag said. “If you lose, you have to run. ... I didn’t have those punishments before. We had a long discussion as a team on how to get things right. You get it out in the air, talk about it, and go back to work, and that is what we did.” The Hoosiers face No. 9 Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. today at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Senior midfielder John Mellencamp said the added passion in practice is necessary for his team’s crucial matchup against the Fighting Irish. “It was one of the most intense trainings I have seen this season,” he said. “There was a lot more competition today and guys were taking things personally on the field. No one wanted to lose a single thing they did today, and that is the mind-set that gets you ready to play a game.”

Revenge of the dorks

Traditionally, a man in a movie has been portrayed as a hyper-masculine archetypical male, who, at the last possible moment, darts onscreen to save the day and then saves his love from near-certain demise, all the while looking impossibly handsome and glossy.

Mason Jennings rocks Bluebird

Minneapolis-based artist Mason Jennings made the crowd dance at the Bluebird Nightclub  during his performance Tuesday night.