IUSA

I blame the booty call

Stocks tumble as Wall Street worries about financials

Wall Street extended its steep declines Tuesday as enthusiasm over the Federal Reserve’s latest efforts to inject frozen credit markets with a dose of much-needed confidence gave way to concerns about financial companies’ balance sheets. Trading remained fractious, with the Dow Jones industrial average losing more than 300 points.

Ignoring the economy

“When are you going to take the gloves off?” “How about Tuesday night?” That exchange took place at a John McCain town hall meeting last week, with the question posed by an older lady and answered by the candidate himself. As you’re reading this, you will probably already know how off the gloves came during Tuesday’s debate. It seems, though, that the process of dragging down the 2008 presidential campaign has already started.

The real Reagan

In response to Krista Lafree’s column on Barack Obama titled “He’s not Reagan,” I can only assume that she was not yet born when Reagan was president, because she seems to have accepted the gauzy Fox News image of the “Gipper.” I was around then, so let me tell you what it was like. Reagan was disengaged as president; his White House aides pretty much ran the government. This eventually led to the Iran Contra scandal, which Reagan claimed to know nothing about. Given his level of disengagement, he was probably telling the truth.

Cloddish campaigns

I have quite the affinity for free stuff. I’ve accumulated a lot of pseudo-branded, marginally useful items: IU Career Center pens, fridge magnets from Jimmy John’s and various T-shirts promoting restaurants I’ve never eaten at and clubs I’ve never joined.

Where ‘credit’s’ due

If you don’t do anything else to prepare for Election Day, I implore you to make every effort to understand the current financial crisis before you vote. Here’s a brief synopsis to get you started. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are two government-sponsored enterprises charged with helping low-income individuals buy homes. That’s a fine goal in principle, but the government used a law called the Community Reinvestment Act to strong-arm banks into making loans to people with little means for repayment.

Pander to me

The other day I saw an ad from our congressional representative Baron Hill. After showing a frustrated couple dealing with bills, the ad collapsed into a populist dribble attacking speculators and oil companies. I was inspired to look at the ads from our 2006 Congressional election and found some other gems.

A complete waste of time

When asking candidates about the financial crisis, moderator Tom Brokaw remarked that “the federal government got drunk and, in fact, the American consumers got drunk.” College students taking shots each time John McCain said “my friends” were probably pretty drunk too. They got more out of the debate than any sober person could have. Tuesday night was a sad affair. The debate showed more clearly than any other moment the complete transition of Barack Obama and John McCain from real people to walking sound bites. The town-hall style debate had the appearance of being more open, but the candidates didn’t engage each other and follow-ups were scarce. Some of the questions were actually pretty good, but few were answered adequately. At one point the candidates were asked whether health care should be viewed as a commodity. Both just spewed off their typical talking points.

ONE Campaign sells beads to ‘make poverty history’

Typically reserved for campaign slogans or, as of late, voter registration forms, the Lit Desk in the Indiana Memorial Union featured an unusual product: jewelry. The IU chapter of the ONE Campaign, a campaign to “make poverty history,” sold accessories women from Uganda made from recycled paper Tuesday. The members will be selling bracelets, loose beads, necklaces, earrings and jewelry bags for the organization BeadforLife from 12:30 to 6 p.m. through Friday.

New cafe at School of Informatics accepts meal points, now open

First, RPS created a more student-friendly I-Bucks meal points program. Now, it added a new café in the School of Informatics building, which accepts meal points.

Ball State receiver, Love 'improving'

MUNCIE – Ball State receiver Dante Love has made great progress in his recovery from a career-ending spinal injury and might be released from a rehabilitation center this week, coach Brady Hoke said.Love, who took a head-on hit during the Cardinals’ 42-20 win against IU on Sept. 20, underwent surgery one day after the game.

Program helps students explore options for majors

The seminar was part of the University Division’s program “Explore Your Options.” The program was originally created to sponsor evening events encouraging students’ educational assistance. Now, the program has been on campus three years and has increased annually to include more majors for students, said Joyce Miller, assistant director of advising for the North campus, which includes Briscoe, McNutt and Foster. The program takes place in dorm lounges – usually Teter – throughout campus.

I agree, Ring: It’s ‘time to turn that potential into something’

It’s time for the IU men’s soccer team to live up to its potential.After opening the Big Ten campaign with an exciting 3-2 overtime win against Wisconsin, the Hoosiers dropped two of three games before getting back on track with a 2-0 victory against Butler on Tuesday night.Soccer can be a fickle game because no matter how dominant a team is, unless that team can finish its scoring opportunities, the opponent will always be one goal away from pulling an upset.For the Hoosiers, it’s been the type of season where good play has not always translated to wins.

Seniors don’t deserve recent digression

Uncharacteristic losses pile up for women's soccer team

Early strike sparks men's soccer to 2-0 win at Butler

This past weekend against unranked Michigan, the IU men’s soccer team was upset 1-0 after the lone Wolverine goal came less than two minutes into the match. But come Tuesday night, it was IU sophomore forward Daniel Kelly providing the early spark for the Hoosiers in their 2-0 win at Butler.Kelly scored his second goal of the season just 11 seconds after the opening whistle was blown, when a pass back to Butler junior goalkeeper Nick Hegeman was misplayed on the wet field. Kelly rushed in on the loose ball to put it in the back of the net and give his team a one-goal advantage.

Crean talks offense in address to students Tuesday

The two presidential candidates weren’t the only ones doing a bit of politicking Tuesday night.IU coach Tom Crean shook hands, signed autographs and took pictures with students Tuesday night, all after sending a message similar to one laid out the night before when he spoke at the IU Auditorium.Crean pleaded with IU students at the Hoosier Den in Foster Quad to purchase season basketball tickets.          PODCAST: Hoosier Sidelines“Get your things in order, you don’t want to miss this,” Crean told those in attendance. “I don’t know where it’s going, but you don’t want to miss this.”On Monday, Crean spoke in a more formal setting. In a more laid-back scene Tuesday, a projector screen replaced the red curtain of the auditorium stage, and a montage replaced Crean’s lecture.The montage showed highlights and images of former Hoosier greats, ranging from the 1976 championship team all the way to the 2002 Final Four squad. Intertwined in the highlights of Hoosier basketball were images of enthusiastic IU fans from last year, prompting Crean to say those are the fans needed back this season.

Long Thompson hits the road, not the airwaves

INDIANAPOLIS – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson is spending the week touting her economic plan to voters around the state – trying to draw attention to her campaign after about a month without television advertising.

Disaster food stamps OK’d in 10 more Ind. counties

INDIANAPOLIS – Federal officials gave the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration permission Tuesday to distribute emergency food stamps to residents of 10 southern Indiana counties raked by severe weather last month.

Around the state

A look at news briefs from around the state of Indiana.