IUSA

The Tripods are coming -- to your TV

By Alyson Brodsy and John Barnett · Thursday, Dec. 1,2005 12 a.m.

No more cute and cuddly extra-terrestrials for Steven Spielberg. His latest take on visitors from space, based on H.G. Wells' 1898 sci-fi novel, finds "E.T." and the "Close Encounters" aliens taking a back seat to a race of invaders bent on vaporizing every human on Earth and fueling themselves with our blood. Roy Neary and Elliott beware. From a technical standpoint, "War of the Worlds" is Spielberg's most accomplished film since "Saving Private Ryan" (narrowly surpassing "Minority Report").

From stage to screen

By Alyson Brodsy and Mary Hansell · Thursday, Dec. 1,2005 12 a.m.

After filling my belly with a load of mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, I took myself to the movies! Admittedly, I entered the theater with a bit of hesitation. This was one of my favorite musicals being brought to the big screen. I own the original cast recording, had seen the show live and have been known to randomly burst into "One Song Glory." I love film, and I love theater, but that does not mean I think they should always get together.

Broadway sound on screen

By Alyson Brodsy and Larry Walters · Thursday, Dec. 1,2005 12 a.m.

Nearly ten years have passed since the original "RENT" debuted on Broadway, and now, it's gathering momentum as an old and new favorite among many people. A soon-to-be, if not already, beloved musical, "RENT" was written by Jonathan Larson and in 1996, it went to Broadway. If you begin listening to the soundtrack and expect it to sound something along the lines of "Chicago" or "Les Mis," you'll be greatly surprised. "RENT" is a rock opera, and Larson's lyrics amplify the theme of love. Based on Puccini's "La Bohème," the musical, movie, and lyrics are about love and making it through life with the most miniscule resources.

'Hoffmann' marries opera and cinema

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Thursday, Dec. 1,2005 12 a.m.

Directing duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's love affair with cinema and the stage knows no bounds, especially when it came to conducting Jacques Offenbach's opera "The Tales of Hoffmann" for the screen in 1951. Captured in vivid Technicolor with a cast of epic proportions, "Hoffmann" is yet another high point in the careers of two of England's finest filmmakers. Dreamer Hoffmann (Robert Rounseville) is surrounded by drunken bar mates as he waxes poetic about a fantasy trip across Europe in search of love as told in three acts.

Harry Potter -- all grown up

By -Kehla West and Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Dec. 1,2005 12 a.m.

The charm of the "Harry Potter" series is that they bring to life what so many have read. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is certainly no exception, but as the fourth movie in the series had to pack 734 pages of story into a little more than two and a half hours of film, imagination takes a back seat to sheer plot-driven action. The first 200 pages of the book go by in the first 10 minutes of the film.

75 Years Young

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Thursday, Dec. 1,2005 12 a.m.

For nearly 50 years, French director Jean-Luc Godard has changed the way we look at cinema. From his early beginnings as a film critic for Cahiers du Cinéma, it was only a matter of time before Godard and fellow critics such as François Truffaut ("The 400 Blows"), Eric Rohmer ("My Night at Maud's"), Jacques Rivette ("Paris is Ours") and Claude Chabrol ("Le Beau Serge") all entered the world of filmmaking, ultimately trumpeting the arrival of the French New Wave.

Arrested development, indeed

By Alyson Brodsy and John Barnett · Thursday, Dec. 1,2005 12 a.m.

It's official. The best sitcom on television has been cancelled, and "Family Guy" is still littering the airwaves. The third season of "Arrested Development has been cut short from 22 to 13 episodes by the Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox network, and "Yes, Dear" and "According to Jim" are still thriving. Yes, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Kelly Ripa still have sitcoms, but David Cross, Jeffrey Tambor and Will Arnett are about to be out of their jobs. I lament.

The Man in Black is back

By Tony Sams · Thursday, Dec. 1,2005 12 a.m.

Artists rarely get the biographical films they deserve. Ed Harris splattered the story of Jackson Pollock; Christine Jeffs' attempt at Sylvia Plath's career was suicidal; and while Jamie Foxx shone as Ray Charles, the faltering film "Ray" couldn't find its way out from its star's spotlight. Fortunately, music legend Johnny Cash gets his due in "Walk the Line." On the surface, it's a simple tale of the artist known as the Man in Black. But a surface film this is not; rather, it's a deeply lyrical and finely crafted film from director James Mangold.

The next best thing to a concert

By -Sam Johnston and Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Dec. 1,2005 12 a.m.

Are you a Basket Case? Does the word "Dookie" excite you? Have you ever classified yourself as an "American Idiot"? If any or all of these words mean something to you, then you should be all already familiar with the crazy antics of Green Day.

IUSA votes in favor of higher standards

By Hannah Lodge · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 8:06 p.m.

In its last meeting of the semester, the IU Student Association Congress voted unanimously to support the Bloomington Faculty Council to increase admission standards at IU. Sophomore Matt Fortman, sponsor of the resolution, said if standards are raised, they would only be increased enough to keep the University competitive. "If this is passed by the BFC, it's not going to raise them a whole lot," he said. "You probably won't even notice a difference. It's really just to keep up with other schools in the Big Ten." IUSA President Alex Shortle said it was important for Congress to make a statement regarding admission standards.

Student World AIDS Day to light up town

By Michelle Manchir · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 8:06 p.m.

Five people die of AIDS every minute around the world, according to www.worldaidsday.org. To increase public knowledge of the global crisis by sharing these types of facts, the National Institutes of Health will recognize Thursday, Dec. 1 as World AIDS Day. Just as in years past, the IU Student Global AIDS Campaign is doing its part this week to create awareness regarding the disease among both the IU and Bloomington communities.

School of Music donor dies after giving $40 million

By Peter Stevenson · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 8:06 p.m.

Barbara B. Jacobs died Tuesday morning just 12 days after giving a record $40.6 million to the IU School of Music. Jacobs, a 1948 IU graduate, died of cancer at age 79 in Cleveland. Gwyn Richards, dean of the Jacobs School of Music, announced Jacobs' death in an e-mail to faculty, staff and students Tuesday. "Thanks to her legacy, the Jacobs School of Music will forever inspire and assist thousands of young musicians as they pursue a life in music," Richards said in the e-mail.

Herbert review passes with 2/3 IUB faculty vote

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 8:05 p.m.

Members of the IU-Bloomington faculty voted in favor a resolution recommending a special review of IU President Adam Herbert by more than a three-to-one margin in an online ballot that concluded Friday. The official results of the vote were announced to the Bloomington faculty Tuesday. The resolution is one of two that will be sent to the IU board of trustees. The final vote count for the resolution asking for a review of Herbert was 754 votes in favor, 229 not in favor, and 75 abstaining.

Here we go again

By Brian Janosch · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 8:04 p.m.

The last embrace between IU coach Mike Davis and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski occurred on March 21, 2002 at centercourt of Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. Davis extended his hand to shake Krzyzewski's just moments after raising it above his head in a frenzied celebration. The Hoosiers had just upset the No. 1 Blue Devils, throwing Davis and the Hoosiers onto the national stage -- a place Coach K was long accustomed to.

Rugby club cleared of wrongdoing

By Chip Cutter · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 8:04 p.m.

The IU women's rugby club is in compliance with University alcohol policies, according to results from a recent investigation from the Department of Recreational Sports. Following a Sept. 14 article published in the Indiana Daily Student, "Team throws down competition, brews," the investigation found that members of the club -- called the Red Storm -- did not drink as a team during club-sponsored activities, although recreational sports officials declined to provide further details.

Reporters get first peak of panda cub at National Zoo

By Alyson Brodsy and Jacob Adelman · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 8:03 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Tai Shan, the giant panda cub, showed Tuesday that he is a quick study, prancing about in his den and otherwise mugging for hordes of camera crews in this city that's a veritable fishbowl for celebrities.

Double-OT loss in finals prevents victory for IU

By Josh Sacks · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 8:03 p.m.

While the IU student body took a break from school, ate leftovers and watched football, the IU hockey team stuffed itself with a full plate of hockey. During last week's break, IU took home second place in the Hoosier Thanksgiving Classic held in Carmel, Ind. With three familiar Division I teams competing, including Liberty University, Ohio State and Illinois, IU felt good about its chances coming into the tournament. The Hoosiers were able to win their first-round matchup against the Fighting Illini 6-1, but lost a heartbreaker in the championship to Ohio State 4-3 in double overtime.

Virginia governor spares life of inmate

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 8:02 p.m.

RICHMOND, Va. -- Gov. Mark R. Warner on Tuesday spared the life of a convicted killer who would have been the 1,000th person executed in the United States since the Supreme Court allowed capital punishment to resume in 1976. The governor commuted Robin Lovitt's death sentence to life in prison without parole.

Vatican defends ban on priests

By Alyson Brodsy and Victor L. Simpson · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 8:02 p.m.

VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican defended a policy statement designed to keep men with "deep-seated" homosexual tendencies from becoming priests, but said there would be no crackdown on gays who are already ordained.

Monroe to lead team effort in stopping Redick

By Andy Romey · Wednesday, Nov. 30,2005 8:01 p.m.

For all of last season, senior guard Lewis Monroe sat on the bench in street clothes watching his team play. But despite sitting out, the Auburn transfer got some experience that would eventually prepare him for tonight's daunting task -- guarding Duke guard J.J. Redick. Monroe's defensive assignment in practice was often former IU swingman Bracey Wright, whom he chased around screens and pressured up the floor during scrimmages.