IUSA

Illegal immigrants used as runway models

By Mar Roman · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:44 p.m.

MADRID, Spain -- A Spanish fashion designer used illegal African immigrants as models in a Barcelona fashion show to draw attention to the plight of thousands of poor migrants who embark on dangerous sea expeditions for a chance at better lives in Europe. Eight Senegalese immigrants paraded down the catwalk in white and beige outfits Thursday as part of the show, which also featured a white wooden fishing boat -- the same type many illegal immigrants use to reach Spain's Canary Islands off west Africa.

Parcells retires from Dallas after 4 years

By Aaron Beard and Jaime Aron · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:43 p.m.

IRVING, Texas -- Bill Parcells retired from coaching Monday, leaving the Dallas Cowboys after four years without a playoff win and just two weeks after a stinging wild-card loss to Seattle. During a 19-year career that also included coaching the New York Giants, New England Patriots and New York Jets, Parcells made it to three Super Bowls, winning twice with the Giants.

A time to be born, a time to die

By Ryan Brown · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:43 p.m.

In the last few days of 2006, Google Video and YouTube were bombarded with searches for Saddam Hussein's hanging. Somewhere in the midst of the world's top secret execution, one of the attendants managed to capture the event on a cell phone, documenting perhaps one of the most defining moments of our time.

The anatomy of a Super Bowl species

By Andrew Shaffer · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:42 p.m.

A ninth Cincinnati Bengals player was arrested within nine months, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was caught carrying a suspicious water bottle and legendary head coach Bill Parcells announced that he's retiring from coaching. But, who the hell cares? The Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears will face off in Super Bowl XLI, and finally Bloomington is going bowling -- Super Bowling, that is. Of course, there is only one town on Earth that will serve the front lines for this February feud. If Chicago and Indianapolis were the respective capitals of this gridiron clash, only one region will be the bedrock of bedlam. "What town?" you ask.

IU Art Museum curator leads 'noon talk' on influential engraver

By Kyle Meehan · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:41 p.m.

Stanley William Hayter's work and influence is the subject of an upcoming "noon talk" from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the IU Art Museum. Though trained as a chemist, Hayter studied engraving under Joseph Hecht in the early 20th century. Many feel that his artwork and the studio he founded revitalized what was then considered an archaic practice, influencing generations of artists.

Report: School board member bought meals for voters

By AP Reports and Alexandra R. Moses · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:40 p.m.

A school board member faces criticism for using $422 in school money to buy meals for teenage voters on the day they cast absentee ballots in primary races that included the district in which he was seeking re-election.

Awkward Silence Comedy to host 'improv jam session'

By Brian Hettmansperger · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:40 p.m.

Junior Brian Frange jumps up on stage and asks the audience to suggest a setting for the next improv game. Someone yells, "dildo factory!" Two members of Awkward Silence Comedy immediately start improvising the intricacies and potential hazards of working at a dildo factory. The audience erupts with laughter.

Juvenile intimidates police with BB gun

By Michael Reschke · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:39 p.m.

Police say an off-duty Bloomington Police officer witnessed a juvenile brandish a gun while both were driving Friday night on Kirkwood Avenue.

TSA might sue IU grad student

By Sonia Rana · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 8:52 p.m.

The Transportation Security Administration is conducting a civil investigation into an IU Ph.D. student that could lead to substantial monetary penalties, according to a letter from the TSA posted on the student's blog.

Rehab won't save Lohan's soul

By Stefania Marghitu · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 8:21 p.m.

After a tumultuous 2006, hard partier and sometimes actress Lindsay Lohan finally checked into rehab. In a most ironic turn of events, it was Brandon Davis, the same guy who once called her a "fire crotch," who so fixedly urged her to check herself into the Wonderland Center in West Hollywood. This was just after he spent some time at the center himself. Ah, celebrities -- they're so fickle. One minute they're calling each other fire crotches, the next they're recommending rehab centers to one another.

Hot to hibernate

By Abby Schwimmer and Ab Schwimmer · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 8:17 p.m.

Remember the last time you were woken up early? More than likely, you let out a stream of expletives, moaned in agony and reached for the nearest available object to throw at the wall.

The liberal fundamentalist

By Brian Stewart · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 8:15 p.m.

My connections at the highest levels of government have guaranteed me an advance copy of President Bush's State of the Union address, which he will deliver tonight at 9 p.m. in an effort to rescue his orphaned Iraq policy. Here are some excerpts of what he will say: "What's the point of having this superb military if we can't use it?" "America is the indispensable nation." "The requirements of justice are to bring democracy and freedom to people 'round the world. The starving, the wretched, the dispossessed, the ignorant, those living in want and squalor from the deserts of Northern Africa to the slums of Gaza, to the mountain ranges of Afghanistan -- they too are our cause."

Context matters

By Scott Leadingham · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 8:13 p.m.

A very wise professor of mine once quipped that context matters in every situation. Granted, this was a very ambiguous statement, but I thrive on such ambiguity.

Let the (minute) man speak!

By Aparna Venkatraman · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 8:12 p.m.

In a country divided over illegal immigration, a debate about undocumented immigrants is bound to ruffle some feathers. In July 2006, the Minuteman Project aimed for precisely that when it decided to hold a meeting to examine the impact of illegal immigration in Compton, Calif. But the group was denied access to the Compton Community College -- because, college officials said, special-interest groups are not allowed to use the school's facilities.

UPDATE: Police to question Missouri men in Steffey disappearance

By Alberto D. Morales · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 3:44 p.m.

The case of missing Purdue freshman Wade Steffey has lead police to question two men who were charged in the death of a Missouri man, said Purdue University spokeswoman Jeanne Norberg.

Bloomington teenager remains missing

By Alberto D. Morales · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 3:43 p.m.

WEST LAFAYETTE -- After no new evidence was found in the search for Purdue University freshman Wade Steffey's cell phone, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children joined the case Sunday. "The search is basically wrapped up," said Capt. Tim Potts of the Purdue University Police Department. "We found a lot of articles but we didn't find the cell phone, not yet."

UPDATE: Indiana joins Top 25 for first time this season

By Jim O’Connell · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 3:01 p.m.

Kelvin Sampson's first Indiana team is where most of his Oklahoma squads spent quite a bit of time. The Hoosiers moved into The Associated Press' Top 25 for the first time this season Monday, riding a five-game winning streak to No. 23 in the poll. "It does and it doesn't," Sampson said when asked if being ranked really matters. "I might be wrong, but it seemed we were ranked every week for the past five or six years at Oklahoma, and when you are good you take it for granted. With this team it does matter. It gives our kids confidence."

IU students 'Bear down' at sports bars

By John Wustrow · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 2:57 p.m.

From the northwest suburbs of Chicago, junior Jon Beck has been a lifelong fan of the Chicago Bears. But he's too young to remember his beloved team defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX.

College Consumerism

By Mike McElroy · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 9:23 a.m.

Professors can be a little territorial at times, and every once in a while, they cross the line.

Facing Adversity

By Jake Stewart · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 9:22 a.m.

Creepy, annoying and pointless. These are a few of the words used to describe Facebook. But is the Web site, accessible and stalker friendly as it might be, really the great social stitch in our side causing us to double over in friendship exhaustion?