IUSA

Phi Mu sorority continues to reinvent itself

By Allison Parks · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:37 p.m.

As several sororities and fraternities on campus continue to grow and evolve, many Greek houses have had to deal with change. The Phi Mu house, a sorority located on the North Jordan extension, is just one house to have recently renovated to accommodate the needs of its members. Some of the most recent renovations included the installation of a new furnace and an update to the house's security system, but the basic structure of the house remains. Minor redecorations have freshened up the interior of the dining room and the hallways of the upper floors. As far as funding for such projects go, Jane Land, president of the Phi Mu House Corporation Board, said, "Money for basic redecoration comes from funds that have been saved, but larger projects require the aid of bank loans."

Overseas study to resume in Israel

By Jackie Faine and Jacqueline Faine · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:36 p.m.

Following a turbulent year, the Safety and Responsibility Committee of the IU Overseas Study Advisory Council has reinstated study in Israel for the spring term. Several University sponsored or affiliated programs were suspended July 31 due to heightened violence between Israeli and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. Kathleen Sideli, associate dean in the Office of Overseas Study, said typically each semester IU sends three to five students to Isreal. Most students who study in Israel go through IU's co-sponsored program at Hebrew University. However, Sideli said, this is not the first time the plan has been put on hold. "We suspended the program the first time in 2002, and prior to that time we had 10 students a semester, sometimes more," she said. "Between 2002 and 2005 it went down to about 3 to 5 students a semester because they were going independently without university permission."

You can't speed through life, but you can learn a lesson

By C. Warner Sills and Alyson Brodsky · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:33 p.m.

Has life ever become so chaotic you wished you could just pause things? Or how about fast forward through things you disliked? It's a thought that has crossed the minds of many and one that director Frank Coraci ("The Waterboy") has been thoughtful enough to bring to life.

Behind the scenes of a radio show

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:31 p.m.

Director Robert Altman and I used to be bitter enemies. Our introduction was the banal "Gosford Park" and was followed-up by films such as "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" and "3 Women" -- all of which did nothing for me. Yet, in the spring of 2006, a good friend told me I just hadn't seen the right Altman films, lending me "M*A*S*H" and "The Long Goodbye," plus the recommendation of "The Player." I proceeded to watch all three and was convinced I had pegged Altman wrong. So when opening night came for his latest achievement, "A Prairie Home Companion," I was there.

Get in a Buffett state of mind

By C. Warner Sills and Leah Linder · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:29 p.m.

Last week, Jimmy Buffett was stopped by officials in a private French airport for carrying Ecstasy. Though Buffett loves a party, the alleged drugs were simply vitamin supplements. The Margaritaville Maestro casually admitted that the "drug" bust was really just a buzzkill. "My vices these days consist of boat drinks, beer, wine and the occasional hot fudge sundae," the singer posted on his blog.

Don't blindly buy this album

By C. Warner Sills and Dan Hoppman · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:27 p.m.

It's been three years since Robert Randolph and the Family Band released its debut album, which earned critical success and garnered a large fan base. The Orange, NJ. band concocts a potpourri of musical styles, including rock, blues, funk, jam, soul, and gospel. RRFB lives and dies by its frenzied concerts, and Unclassified provided rousing material to bolster those early live shows. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of Colorblind.

More than 500 students attend nation's largest law school fair

By Nick O'Neill · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:26 p.m.

Hundreds of aspiring law students flocked to the Indiana Memorial Union in hopes of acquiring help in applying for law school and finding the place that meets their interests and needs.

Panel shows differing views on Israel-Lebanon conflict

By Shannon McEnerney · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:24 p.m.

IU professor of Jewish studies and English Alvin Rosenfeld knows what Israel looks like during times of peace. Over the summer, Rosenfeld got to witness what he described as looking like a distant hope for the country. "I was in Israel three weeks this summer just before the war broke out," he said. "At the time, everything in Israel looked calm and prosperous and peaceful.

Get your blood boiling

By C. Warner Sills and Brian J. McFillen · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:24 p.m.

"First there came the screams... " Not a bad intro for a horror novel, but it also captures the first thing that anyone new to The Blood Brothers will have to deal with: Can you get to like the high, screeching vocals of Jordan Billie and Johnny Whitney or not? Because, make no mistake, the two produce shrieks akin to AC/DC's Brian Johnson being fed into a chipper-shredder. However, just as the Jesus & Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine buried pop goodies under walls of feedback and white noise, Billie and Whitney's voices provide the challenge one must face in order to better appreciate the band's treasures.

Settling down, hip--hop style

By Eamonn Brennan · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:22 p.m.

Lloyd Banks has always seemed like the cool member of the G Unit family -- the young cousin everyone at the reunion wants to talk to but who never lets his guard down to give a cliché drunken toast. He's a special boy, that one, his aunts might say. He's going places. After the strong debut effort Hunger For More, Banks was indeed going places. Even if 50 Cent lost his way, it seemed, Banks would be the natural successor, if just for his knack for catchy rhymes. With his second album, Rotten Apple, Banks has finally shown us the reality of his trajectory. It's not nearly as promising anymore.

Hold a "Grudge" against this movie

By C. Warner Sills and Ash Cartwright · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:19 p.m.

"The Grudge 2" follows the spread of the curse that haunted Karen Davis (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in "The Grudge." The ghostly mother and child are back, but they are less frightening this time around, as they don't have many new tricks. For example, the little boy still meows, but it is no longer as disconcerting as in "The Grudge." His mother's long black hair is still showing up unexpectedly to remind those who have seen her that she will not leave them alone. What's new in this film is that the curse is somehow spreading beyond those who enter the house in Tokyo, where Karen Davis (whose role in this film is minimal) as well as those who did not survive the previous film were exposed to the vengeful ghosts.

Jon Stewart for president

By C. Warner Sills and Alyson Brodsky · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:10 p.m.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if someone like Jon Stewart were president of the United States? Some may argue the world would break out in chaos, while others might say, "Hey, it can't get any worse than our current situation." Writer and director Barry Levinson tries to show what it might be like if a comedian were elected as president. Even if it is a bit far-fetched from reality, most of America, and most politicians, should find this movie enjoyable.

IU alumna uses theater to depict life as baby boomer

By Shannon McEnerney · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:08 p.m.

Diane Kondrat would not tell you to walk, jog, skip or hop to see a performance and show by Nell Weatherwax. Instead, she recommends you run. "If someone has never seen one of her performances, my advice is to run to see it because Weatherwax's artistic quality is top of the line," said Kondrat, a longtime friend of Weatherwax. The opportunity to see a show of Weatherwax's is at a prime, as she will perform at a fundraiser for the Bloomington Playwrights Project at 8 p.m. this Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors. No reservation is required. Her show "Boomer" is an improvised autobiographical movement theater performance.

SoFA Gallery gets in touch with nature

By Lindsey Landis · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:08 p.m.

Friday, the School of Fine Arts gallery will open the first part of a two-part exhibition series titled "Human Nature I: The Natural World" from 7 to 9 p.m. Fifteen nationally- and internationally-acclaimed artists and scientists will display more than 40 examples of sculpture, painting, video projection, animation and sound work. The pieces will "examine scientific experimentation, biological materials and living systems," according to a press release from the gallery. Gallery director Betsy Stirratt explained that the exhibit will be "a look at our relationship with nature." She said the first show will cover many different issues, including human ties to the environment and animals, as well as topics in health care. The exhibit will remain open until Nov. 18. The second show, which opens in February, will focus more on the advances in biotechnology. Stirratt described the material as being "more science-y."

Naked man faces charges from BPD

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:05 p.m.

A Bloomington man faces various preliminary charges after police saw him running through downtown streets naked. Shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday, Bloomington Police Department officers Cody Decker and Shane Rasche saw a man wearing only a baseball cap run south on Dunn Street at the intersection with Kirkwood Avenue right in front of their squad car, Detective Sgt. David Drake said, reading from a police report. The officers turned their lights on to follow him, but the man ran behind Kilroy's Bar & Grill.

Council gives Jill's House green light

By Audrie Garrison · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:03 p.m.

The Bloomington Common Council gave Jill's House the green light to begin construction at Wednesday night's meeting. Building plans for the 60-bed temporary housing facility went under scrutiny recently because the proposed site is on part of the Griffy Lake watershed, and the area is environmentally sensitive. Bloomington has a "general policy to discourage development in the Griffy watershed," said Planning Director Tom Micuda during a presentation of the Plan Commission's findings. Both the Plan Commission and the Common Council voted in previous weeks to recommend an amendment to the zoning designations for this specific project.

Jackson County Council faces budget woes

By Tracy Liaw · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 11:02 p.m.

Negative publicity about the Jackson County budget of the past few years has cooled down competition for the 2006 county council race, according to council incumbents. "It's not fun to be on the council when you don't have a lot of money to spend," said Democratic Councilman Andy Fountain, who is seeking his third term unopposed.

Artist melds Music & Murals

By Ashley Wilson · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 10:58 p.m.

For Max Kauffman, making art is the easy part. It's the business side of it all that gets to him. A few months ago, Kauffman, a former IU student, decided to take his art on tour. He began calling venues in different cities across the country to convince them to show his art. This was no easy task.

Rock legend Chuck Berry still producing music at 80

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 10:44 p.m.

ST. LOUIS -- As he turned 80 Wednesday, Chuck Berry could leave the hard work of great music to younger souls and rest comfortably as the rock 'n' roll legend who first made his mark in the 1950s. But Berry, the duck--walking, guitar--playing rock genius who defined the music's joy and rebellion in such classics as "Johnny B. Goode," "Sweet Little Sixteen" and "Roll Over Beethoven," has plenty left to say and play.

Desks designed by inmates put on display

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Oct. 18,2006 10:43 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA -- While dorm rooms keep students cramped close to their books, and studio apartments don't offer much room between the stove and the bed, it's rare to find living quarters smaller than those in prisons. So when conceptual artist Peggy Diggs wanted help designing furniture that fits in tight spaces, she turned to a group of 15 inmates at the maximum security State Correctional Institution at Graterford.