IUSA

Simply brilliant

By -Kehla West and Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:56 a.m.

Aside from the beautiful campus, maybe the best thing about IU is the general "Midwesternliness" of the people here. I'm from Indiana, so it's a trait I thought was universal before I came here. It's not. And in my opinion, the best quality of the multifarious "Midwestern" trait is the knack for finding simple solutions to big problems. The new printer release stations at the Herman B Wells Library are maybe the best example of this. They're totally easy -- you tell your computer to print, you walk over to the printer and put in your user name and password, and then the computer prints. And who hasn't accidentally printed 90 copies of a document? I accidentally used most of my printing allotment on one badly executed print job my sophomore year. The stations prevent this. They'll prevent a ton of wasted paper and save a lot of people a lot of hassle.

Taxing our tunes

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:55 a.m.

One of the constants in life has struck again. No, not death -- the other one. No, not IU losing at football -- the other, other one. You know: Taxes! Last week, a study by CNETNews.com revealed that 15 states (and Washington, D.C.) have laws requiring sales tax on downloads from online music stores, such as Apple's iTunes. And, lucky us, Indiana's among them. According to a bulletin on sales tax published in May 2002, Indiana considers music downloads to be a form of software -- specifically, pre-written or "canned" programs -- and has stated: "Pre-written programs, not specifically designed for one purchaser, developed by the seller for sale or lease on the general market in the form of tangible personal property and sold or leased in the form of tangible personal property are subject to tax ... Pre-written or canned computer programs are taxable because the intellectual property contained in the canned program is no different than the intellectual property in a videotape or a textbook."

Former Illinois governor convicted of racketeering

By Alyson Brodsy and Mike Robinson · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:51 a.m.

CHICAGO -- Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, who drew international praise when he commuted the sentences of everyone on Illinois' death row, was convicted of racketeering and fraud Monday in a corruption scandal that ended his political career in 2003. Ryan, 72, sat stone-faced as the verdict was read and afterward vowed to appeal. "I believe this decision today is not in accordance with the kind of public service that I provided to the people of Illinois over 40 years, and needless to say I am disappointed in the outcome," the former governor said. FBI Special Agent Robert Grant said he hoped the verdict would end "political prostitution" in Illinois.

Suicide bomber kills 9 in Tel Aviv

By Alyson Brodsy and Laurie Copans · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:49 a.m.

TEL AVIV, Israel -- A Palestinian suicide bomber struck a packed fast-food restaurant during Passover on Monday, killing nine other people and wounding dozens in the deadliest attack in more than a year. In a sharp departure from the previous Palestinian government's condemnations of bombings, the Hamas-led administration said the attack resulted from Israel's "brutal aggression." The bloodshed and the hard-line stance could set the stage for harsh Israeli reprisals and endanger Palestinian efforts to secure desperately needed international aid.

McDonald's combating upcoming book

By Alyson Brodsy and Dave Carpenter · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:45 a.m.

OAK BROOK, Ill. -- McDonald's Corp. will promote its healthier menu choices to counter negative publicity expected from a new book co-written by the author of "Fast Food Nation," Chief Executive Jim Skinner said Monday. While McDonald's maintains that the strategy is not aimed solely at undermining "Chew On This," which is due out next month, Skinner acknowledged that "it's important to ramp this up now" amid heavy criticism of the fast-food industry for its perceived role in increased obesity. "I wouldn't call it a campaign," he told reporters in a news conference at McDonald's headquarters. "It is a continuous improvement relative to the communication of our story regarding our high-quality food in McDonald's."

Blogging from Everest

By Alyson Brodsy and Nina Mehta · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:45 a.m.

Last week, as I was icing my feet after walking on a bed of hot coals, I thought to myself, "I wish I could share this exciting experience with the world instantly." I asked my friend I met while backpacking through Asia, as he prepared my bed of nails to sleep on, "Isn't there some sort of technology that can show my friends and family how adventurous I am?" He pulled a Blackberry from the pocket of his tunic and suggested I invest in a new cell phone with blogging capabilities. Sony Ericsson and Google announced a new line of cell phones that enable users to update their Blogger.com accounts from their mobile devices. This means that from your cell phone, you can snap a picture and put it online instantly.

IU alumnus starts 'dirty' Web site

By Amy Carol Wolff · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:44 a.m.

A Web site launched this year introduces a place where flashy photos, celebrity gossip, crazy stunts and the latest fashions of the party scene come together. How does this site differ from the rest? You, your friends, and people from your school are in the pictures. The Web site www.dirtymascot.com launched last month by 2005 IU graduate Ryan Alovis, aims to be the "voice of the majority of college kids." "We're for that kid who wakes up in the morning, not knowing what he did the night before," Alovis said. "We have the mind, focus and attitude of the college kid."

IU researchers participate in exhibit that maps progress, history of science

By Matt Cunningham · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:41 a.m.

Maps are tools that help people understand, learn and in rare cases reveal the location of buried treasure. Maps are usually restricted to physical places, but researchers at the IU School of Library and Information Science, as well as other institutions, have used them to chart the vast terrain of science. Twenty-two maps from different researchers are currently showcased at the New York Public Library. The exhibit, titled "Places & Spaces: Mapping Science" and featuring work by IU researchers and students, will remain on display until Aug. 31. Innovative illumination techniques were used to construct maps, diagrams and globes that offer both visual and intellectual simulation.

Vital vitamins?

By Alyson Brodsy and Nina Mehta · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:41 a.m.

Quick-fix multi-vitamin supplements have become a growing health trend among Americans. As the health-concious so nciety is growing, so are vitamin sales. Consumers scarf down $7 billion worth of vitamins, according to the Wall Street Journal. Seventy percent of Americans pay homage to the health store gods and swear by their vitamin routines. As vitamins become more popular, it is important for users to get all the facts to make smart choices.

Study: 9,000 Indiana students lose aid because of drugs

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:36 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana leads the nation in the rate of college students being denied federal aid because of a law that bars those with drug convictions from receiving tuition assistance, a study published Monday showed. Since 2000, more than 8,900 Indiana students have lost their eligibility for federal financial aid because of drug offenses, according to an analysis by the advocacy group Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

Workshop aimed at combating poverty

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:35 a.m.

Bread for the World, a nonpartisan citizen's movement concentrated on combating international hunger, is holding an Offering of Letters workshop tonight at First Presbyterian Church, 221 E. Sixth St. The event is an effort to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals created at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000. These goals include eradicating hunger and poverty, combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases and providing universal primary education. The goals are intended to cut international hunger in half by 2015. To fulfill this purpose, Bread for the World partnered with the One Campaign to write a bill urging U.S. representatives to increase poverty-focused development spending by 1 percent of the national budget.

Handgun fired in parking lot

By Audrie Garrison · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:35 a.m.

Bloomington police officers arrested a Bloomington resident early Sunday morning after he shot a gun in the parking lot behind Dunkirk Square. Officers received a call from Uncle Festers bar at 3:35 a.m. after a gun was shot outside, said Bloomington Police Department Detective Sgt. David Drake, reading from the police report. When officers arrived, he said, they found a man lying in the parking lot "motionless, with a great deal of blood about his head and face," and a man was walking toward them holding a handgun.

2 join School of Informatics' Dean's Advisory Council

By Zachary Osterman · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:31 a.m.

The School of Informatics announced the appointment of two new members to its Dean's Advisory Council. Chuck Franz of Cook Group Inc. and Skip Walter of Attenex Corp. were named to the Council on March 27 and March 30, respectively. The council consists of 28 members, including high-ranking employees of several notable companies such as Eli Lilly, Google and Microsoft. Former IU and current NCAA President Myles Brand is also a member. The DAC exists to "advise the school on curriculum and program development, public and private sector funding, research support, long-range planning, student guidance, external relations and institutional advancement," according to the School of Informatics' Web site.

AEPi to hold Little 500 concert

By Lee Hurwitz · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:31 a.m.

This Saturday, Atlanta rapper Bubba Sparxxx will culminate the Little 500 weekend as he takes his music to a new venue -- the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. The event, which was finalized last week, will take place from 8 p.m. to midnight. The rap duo of DJ Rhythm and Legacy will take the stage alongside Sunnay Dae for the first two hours before Sparxxx begins his set. "We think that it's a great opportunity for our house and we're happy to provide it for the University," said AEPi President and freshman Josh Philipson. "I'm proud of the guys that planned it and that we're able to do it."

Dancers pursue artistic vision

By Nicky Purser · Tuesday, April 18,2006 12:27 a.m.

Junior Stephanie Lampe stood amid her dancers, with all eyes on her. They tilted their heads as she demonstrated how they all should turn and sweep an arm to reach for a corner. "Release the head," she said, almost letting the top of her head face the floor. Lampe is one of a group of IU ballet majors who will present their work at Ballet at the BCT: An Evening of New Choreographic Works at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

IU might investigate logo use in Playboy

By Adam Aasen · Monday, April 17,2006 8:21 a.m.

IU officials plan on looking into potential trademark infringement as nine female IU students posed nude next to IU logos in Playboy's "Girls of the Top Ten Party Schools" -- the magazine's most recent issue. Four of the girls were photographed at the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house, according to several ATO members. Dean of Students Dick McKaig said he has not seen the issue and had not heard of any IU logos in photos, but would be contacting University Counsel and Jenny McDaniel, vice president of licensing and trademarks with the IU Research and Technology Corp.

Wilco to rock IU today

By Chip Cutter · Monday, April 17,2006 8:20 a.m.

The campus will rock into a week of Little 500 festivities tonight with a concert by Wilco -- a Grammy award-winning group recognized for music that spans a range of genres.

Divided in the mind, united in the stomach

By Alyson Brodsy and Nick O'Neill · Monday, April 17,2006 2:40 a.m.

On a wet day in Belfast, the rain briefly calms the tensions that have spilled blood in this old city for years. Northern Ireland remains under British control and will continue to sit under the crown until the majority of the population votes to reunite the north with the rest of Ireland. Northern Ireland is almost split down the middle -- half wants to remain part of the United Kingdom while the other half fights to end British rule.

CREAM OF THE CROP

By Tim O Brien and Tim O'Brien · Monday, April 17,2006 12:35 a.m.

IU coach Terry Hoeppner asked for execution in Saturday's spring game. What he got was eight touchdowns and more than 700 yards of total offense. The Cream squad fought back from a ten-point deficit going into the fourth quarter to claim the 31-27 victory. "I wanted execution on both sides of the ball," Hoeppner said. "It wasn't necessarily horrible plays by the defense. I think it was just some really great throws and catches from the (first string) and the (second string)."

University Athletic Club's men's and women's teams take top spots in Little 50

By Michelle Manchir · Monday, April 17,2006 12:35 a.m.

Dozens of crunched Dixie cups, once full of cold water, lay strewn in front of the bleachers at Robert Haugh Track & Field Complex Saturday afternoon following the fourth annual Little 50 men's and women's running races, the kick-off events to Little 500 week. The high of 83 degrees and ever-present sun demanded that the four runners on each of the 22 women's teams and 25 men's teams that competed stay hydrated. University Athletic Club's men's and women's teams, both named Cream, must have done so effectively, as they scored the top spots in their respective 13-mile races. Both teams led the pack for nearly the entire 50 laps.