IUSA

Around the World

Wednesday, Feb. 7,2007 12:59 p.m.

Gunmen wearing Iraqi army uniforms seized an Iranian diplomat as he drove through central Baghdad, officials said Tuesday. Iran said it held the U.S. responsible for the diplomat's "safety and life." One Iraqi government official said the Iranian diplomat was detained Sunday by an Iraqi army unit that reports directly to the U.S. military. A military spokesman denied any U.S. troops or Iraqis that report to them were involved.

Trial opens between best-selling author and billionaire producer of 'Sahara'

By Greg Risling · Wednesday, Feb. 7,2007 12:34 p.m.

LOS ANGELES -- A production company that made the action film "Sahara" reneged on a deal to give best-selling author Clive Cussler creative control of the movie based on his book, his attorney said Friday. Attorney Bert Fields told jurors at the outset of the trial of dueling lawsuits between Cussler and Crusader Entertainment that the agreement was breached when vital story lines were eliminated and Cussler's script suggestions were ignored.

Sustainability struggles

Wednesday, Feb. 7,2007 9:27 a.m.

It's only a few weeks into the semester, but IU already has some serious catch-up work to do, according to its College Sustainability Report Card 2007. This review of 100 schools, conducted by the Sustainable Endowments Institute, measured environmental policies and programs in the fields of administration, climate change and energy, food and recycling and shareholder engagement.

Marching Hundred wins top award for university bands

By Jessica Anderson · Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 11:38 p.m.

After a long football season with 1-1/2-hour-long practices five days a week, plus whole Saturdays taken away by game days, the IU Marching Hundred's efforts have paid off. The marching band received the 2007 Louis Sudler Intercollegiate Marching Band Trophy, the nation's top award for college and university marching bands, this December at the Midwest

IU presidential search nears end

By Brian Spegele · Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 11:38 p.m.

IU has moved one step closer to selecting the University's next president. The Presidential Search Committee has completed its work and passed on its candidate recommendations to the board of trustees.

Astronaut in love triangle arrested

Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 11:37 p.m.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- She was the Robochick. He was Billy-O. According to police, her obsession with him led her to drive 900 miles from Houston to Orlando, bringing with her a trenchcoat and wig, armed with a BB gun and pepper spray, and wearing a diaper to avoid bathroom breaks on the arduous drive.

Club's motion-sensor light project prompts installation in dorm lounges

By Christine Lunde · Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 11:35 p.m.

The nine students in the Environmental Business Club are trying to help make the campus more environmentally friendly and the University is listening. On Dec. 14, they presented a plan to Residential Programs and Services directors about ways to cut back on light use in residence hall lounges.

IU receives high rankings in faculty productivity for several programs

By Alisha Chaudhary · Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 11:24 p.m.

A survey brought out by Academic Analytics at the end of January ranks 14 programs at IU-Bloomington and two at the IU School of Medicine among the best in the country.

Journalist discusses Iranian politics

By Christina Stigliani · Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 11:23 p.m.

Iran's political culture is more vibrant than most Western democracies, journalist Danny Postel told students during a lecture in Woodburn Hall Tuesday night.

Kelley to open location in Carmel this fall

By Whitney Wyckoff · Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 11:21 p.m.

Starting in August, Kelley School of Business students will be able to take courses for the first two years of the three-year evening MBA program from a satellite location in Carmel, Ind.

CIA campaign uses Facebook

By Andrea Knapp · Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 11:20 p.m.

Students often join Facebook groups started by their best friends or roommates, but now a national government agency is behind one.

IDS Presents: Chancellor Ken Gros Louis

By Maria Srour · Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 11:08 p.m.

University Chancellor Ken Gros Louis, a native of Wilton, N.H., received his undergraduate degree and masters from Columbia University and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1964. He has been at IU for 43 years. In 2006, he became the first University-wide chancellor since Herman B Wells died in 2000.

IU diver set to represent U.S. for second year

By Brian Buckey · Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 10:47 p.m.

On Jan. 26, IU diver Christina Loukas browsed the USA diving Web site looking for her name. Later that day, Loukas got a call from diving coach Jeff Huber confirming what she saw.

Gates: Troop buildup 'not the last chance'

By Anne Flaherty · Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 10:43 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates held out hope Tuesday that U.S. forces might be able to start leaving Iraq before the end of the year, if daunting conditions including subdued violence and political reconciliation are met.

Man assaults woman after she runs red light

Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 10:29 p.m.

Bloomington Police are still looking for a man who assaulted a woman after she ran a red light at the intersection of Third Street and Pete Ellis Drive Monday night said BPD Detective Sgt. Jeff Canada.

2nd man charged in murders of South Bend homeless men

Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 10:28 p.m.

SOUTH BEND -- A second man charged with murder in the deaths of four homeless men, over what police describe as a dispute over scrap metal, was transferred Tuesday to the St. Joseph County Jail. Randy Lee Reeder, 50, is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on four counts of murder. He was transferred to the St. Joseph County Jail after appearing before a Michigan judge on Monday to waive extradition. He was being held without bond.

Cancer society volunteers urge $1 rise in cigarette tax

By Deanna Martin · Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 10:28 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Nearly 300 volunteers for the American Cancer Society lobbied lawmakers Tuesday, urging them to pass a $1 increase in the state cigarette tax. "With 300 of us in the snow, the bad weather and the cold, it shows our dedication and our strength," said Brenda Davis, who came to Indianapolis from Mitchell. "We mean business."

County workers again find paycheck errors

By Brian Spegele · Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 10:27 p.m.

Monroe County will likely pay about $30,000 for assistance from an outside accounting firm, following errors in employee paychecks for the third consecutive pay period. The mistakes were discovered Friday, after a software glitch in the county's computer systems overrode some human calculations, causing some government employees to receive incorrect paychecks, said Iris Kiesling, president of the Monroe County Commissioners.

IUAM Noon Talk series continues Thursday with graphic artist

Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 8:15 p.m.

The IU Art Museum will feature a gallery talk by James Reidhaar from 12:15 to 1 p.m. tomorrow. Reidhaar, who is an associate professor of graphic art, will give a talk about work from his "Then and Now: Eternal Subjects, Eternal Processes," collection. Wednesday, Feb. 14, the Noon Talk series will present "A Machine for Seeing," featuring speaker Tim Kennedy, a painting, drawing and design lecturer.

Local band RLYL brings life, unique sound to IMU Gallery

By Nick Mills and Nicholas Mills · Tuesday, Feb. 6,2007 8:14 p.m.

On Feb. 1, the smell of Starbucks coffee flowed through the air while the sound of Bloomington indie band Red Leather Yellow Leather awakened the empty ghost town known as the Indiana Memorial Union. The performance was part of a concert series called NOISE, which is held every Thursday in the IMU Gallery.