IUSA

Students challenge racism in essay contest, win prizes for efforts

By Savannah McDermott · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 11:24 p.m.

In a January 2006 speech, IU Vice President for Institutional Development and Student Affairs Charlie Nelms raised the challenge of individuals to attempt to make a difference. That challenge has been transformed into an annual essay contest in Martin Luther King Jr.'s honor. The theme of this year's contest was "The Power of One: Making the Commitment and Meeting the Challenge."

2 former Saddam aides hanged in Iraq

Monday, Jan. 15,2007 11:22 p.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Two top aides to Saddam Hussein were hanged before dawn Monday, and the head of one of them -- the former Iraqi dictator's half brother Barzan Ibrahim -- was severed from his body during the execution, a government official said.

Around the World

Monday, Jan. 15,2007 11:20 p.m.

The death toll from a powerful winter storm rose to 36 across six Midwest states Monday as utility crews labored to restore service to hundreds of thousands of Missouri households and businesses enduring cold weather without electricity for heat and lights. The crews hoped to take advantage of moderate weather expected Monday -- with only a few lingering snow showers and flurries -- before temperatures plunged back to the single digits Monday night.

Hoosiers return from layoff with 2 victories

By Kevin Kane · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 11:17 p.m.

During the week leading up to IU's first dual match event Sunday, coach Lin Loring expressed concerns about his team's readiness to play after a two-month layoff. Ten hours and two victories later, his players proved they were up to the challenge.

Nation marks MLK Day after widow's death

By Errin Haines · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 11:16 p.m.

ATLANTA -- The first Martin Luther King Jr. Day since the death of King's widow and chief keeper of his civil-rights dream was marked Monday with speeches, visits to the couple's tomb and the opening of a collection of his papers, including a draft of his "I Have a Dream" speech.

Hoosiers sweep past IPFW, Morehead State

By Jordan Cohen · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 11:16 p.m.

As clocks around campus struck 10 a.m. on Monday, the men's tennis team struck its first balls of the spring season with a 6-1 victory against Morehead State. At No. 3 doubles, junior Michael McCarthy and sophomore Mak Kendall won the first doubles pro set, 8-4, with a combination of powerful strokes, high energy and solid team chemistry.

IDS presents 11th annual Housing Fair

By Shannon McEnerney · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 11:15 p.m.

The 11th annual IDS Housing Fair will take place Wednesday in Alumni Hall near Starbucks in the Indiana Memorial Union, 900 E. Seventh St. More than 100 property-management representatives will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer questions about housing for next year. The fair is sponsored by the Indiana Daily Student.

Hoosiers unable to defeat Boilers, former coach Versyp

By John Wustrow · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 11:15 p.m.

WEST LAFAYETTE -- In its first shot against its former coach, the IU women's basketball team came up on the short end. Coming in with new coach Felisha Legette-Jack, the Hoosiers dropped a 73-51 game against No. 13 Purdue on Sunday in a match against former IU and current Boilermakers coach Sharon Versyp. Versyp, who coached the Hoosiers last season, left IU in April to take the head-coaching vacancy at her alma mater.

OUT student union hosts IU's first drag king pageant Feb. 1 at McNutt

By Brandi Baldwin · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 11:14 p.m.

IU has a 15-year tradition of drag queen pageants. This year, however, a new tradition is starting. OUT, IU's student-run Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender student union is putting on the inaugural Hoosier Daddy Drag King Pageant, which will take place at 8 p.m. Feb. 1 in the McNutt Flame Room.

IU pins Eastern Illinois in dual meet

By Aaron Beard · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 11:13 p.m.

The No. 15 IU wrestling team showed Eastern Illinois why it's earned that ranking this weekend in a staggering 41-4 victory against the Panthers. With an overall record of 16-6-0 against EIU, IU has won the last 12 matches between the two schools, including a 36-3 blowout last season. For the fifth year in a row and eight of the last nine seasons, the Hoosiers and Panthers have competed during the regular season. IU has won all eight matches.

Hoosiers head home for Hawkeyes

By Matt Mattucci · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 11:12 p.m.

The IU men's basketball team will return home Tuesday night to face the Iowa Hawkeyes after a successful weekend trip to State College, Pa. The Hoosiers defeated Penn State 84-74 behind a career-high 25 points and 12 boards from senior guard Rod Wilmont. The Hoosiers improved to 12-4 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play with the victory. "Rod threw up a couple of vomit shots the other day," coach Kelvin Sampson said during a press conference Monday. "I doubt we had anybody else on this team that would even think about shooting some of his shots, but what are you going to say to Rod? I thought he did a good job defending (Penn State forward Geary) Claxton and their half-court sets. He had 12 rebounds and was busting his tail."

'Team chemistry' leads Hoosiers to weekend win

By Brian Buckey · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 11:11 p.m.

IU swimming coach Ray Looze has been coaching long enough to know that it doesn't always take the most talented team to get the best results. He points to the unity and chemistry of this year's women's swimming and diving squad as the key to its undefeated start.

No. 15 IU swims to tie with No. 12 Michigan

By Brian Buckey · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 11:11 p.m.

The IU men's swimming and diving program is rich with history and tradition. For a program that dates back to 1923 and has seen countless All-Americans come and go, Saturday's tie result in Ann Arbor, Mich., marked the first such result in the 84-year program history.

Monroe residents question bypass plan

By Michael Reschke · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 10:53 p.m.

MARTINSVILLE -- A group of concerned citizens met Thursday in the auditorium at Martinsville High School to discuss the privatization of Indiana's highways and the Indianapolis Bypass Toll Road as proposed by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Abandoned newborn now in foster care

By Michael Reschke · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 10:52 p.m.

The newborn baby boy who was found outside a PromptCare clinic Jan. 5 is now in the custody of the Monroe County Department of Child Services and has been named "Baby Monroe" by that office.

Backstreet Missions to construct new women's shelter

By Andrea Knapp · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 10:50 p.m.

Backstreet Missions Inc., a nonprofit Christian-based organization, is building a new shelter on West Third Street to house homeless women and children. Until now, the organization has only had a shelter for men.

Club connects students, industry

By Haley Beck · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 10:43 p.m.

Far from the East and West Coast hot spots of entertainment, students at IU interested in the business side of the industry are at a geographical disadvantage. To give Hoosiers a fighting chance in such a competitive job market, the five-year-old Business Careers in Entertainment Club has worked to connect students with industry executives and hosted events on campus. "Basically we are the only way for people to get their foot in the door in the entertainment industry," said the club's president, senior Ashley McPherson. "Recruiters in this industry don't come to IU, so we take networking trips to New York and Los Angeles. We bring in guest speakers that members can network with as well." The annual networking trip to New York and the newly established trip to Los Angeles are major selling points for membership, McPherson said. The club leaders work throughout the year to develop contacts with companies to help members network with executives and land internships and jobs.

Proposed tax would further limit smokers

By Elizabeth Dilts and Liz Dilts · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 10:42 p.m.

It's 9 p.m. and 40 degrees outside, but three men are standing behind a dumpster. Two girls are loitering in the middle of a courtyard. Their hands, torsos and faces are covered. They're talking quietly, standing in a fog of breath and smoke. Even if they weren't hooded or leaning into each other, you wouldn't be able to see their faces. But they aren't doing anything illegal. "I'm against smoking in-doors, but as long as it's out here in the courtyard, I think it's fine," freshman Nick Benson said before taking a drag from his cigarette. He averages a 3.2 grade-point average. Freshman Katja Sednew agrees that outdoor smoking should be tolerated. "I feel like (if we are) 30 feet from a building, people can avoid (smokers)," Sednew said. If anti-smoking advocates were only worried about second-hand smoke, these students might be right. But according to a study by the Indiana State Department of Health's Epidemiology Resource Center, smoking is an anti-status symbol of the poor and uneducated. The study says people with lower socio-economic status are more likely to smoke to cope with the stresses of poverty.

Stressed? Aren't we all

By Gal Shifron · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 10:39 p.m.

Stress can be defined as the conflict between a desired situation and the reality of what actually is. For example, we experience stress when the desired situation is earning an 'A' on a research paper due tomorrow but the reality is that you have just started to read the necessary materials.

Housing search proves trying for some

By Kelsey Nash · Monday, Jan. 15,2007 10:12 p.m.

Sophomore Allie Bovis said she and her four friends have spent the past two months searching Web sites, sifting through classified pages in the newspaper and driving around Bloomington seeking "for rent" signs.