IUSA

IU Alumna starts own online jewelry company

Beth Stevning had big dreams when she graduated from IU in 2002. Two years later, she made her dreams a reality by starting her own online business. She sells her personal creations off of her Web site,www.b-jewels.com. For Beth Stevning, making jewelry started out as a hobby. She had always made friendship bracelets with her sisters and bead bracelets at swim meets, but as she got older, her creativity matured and her skill at the craft blossomed. When she started making jewelry as gifts for her friends, people started asking about her wearable works of art.

Astros win Game 1; Yankees rally in 12

Astros 9, Braves 3 ATLANTA -- The Killer B's didn't have to go it alone. Roger Clemens and the powerful Houston lineup made sure the Astros got off to a good start in their quest to finally win a playoff series. While Clemens continually pitched out of trouble, Brad Ausmus, Lance Berkman, Carlos Beltran and Jason Lane hit homeruns for the Astros to lead a 9-3 rout of the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of their NL division series Wednesday. The Astros set a franchise record for runs in a postseason game. They twice scored seven while losing to Philadelphia in the 1980 National League Championship Series -- the first of their seven straight playoff series losses.

From behind quarterbacks to behind bars

Everybody makes mistakes and has mishaps from time to time. Not a single person on the planet can argue with that. I make them all the time with certain predictions in this very column and there's not a day that goes by I don't hear about them. For "normal" people like you and me who are not considered a celebrity, our mishaps and mistakes are essentially kept in silence.

Improvisational pianist to play at Waldron Center

Alumnus Hakan Ali Toker will perform at the John Waldron Arts Center Friday night, but he has no idea what he is going to play. Known for his one-of-a-kind combination of diverse musical styles, the Turkish-born pianist is a master of improvisation. Toker plans to take requests from the audience Friday and transform familiar pieces into something entirely unique.

The spiritual side of fashion

Rodney Dangerfield dies at 82

LOS ANGELES -- Rodney Dangerfield, the bug-eyed comic whose self-deprecating one-liners brought him stardom in clubs, television and movies and made his lament "I don't get no respect" a catchphrase, died Tuesday. He was 82. Dangerfield, who fell into a coma after undergoing heart surgery, died at 1:20 p.m., said publicist Kevin Sasaki. Dangerfield had a heart valve replaced Aug. 25 at the University of California Los Angeles Medical Center.

Art all around

IU is a treasure chest of great artwork. Art adorns the campus on almost every corner, greeting students as they enter academic buildings in the form of sculptures. Though the sculptures are unique to IU, many of them go unnoticed and unappreciated.

Site aims to keep graduates in Indiana

Many Indiana residents are familiar with the term brain drain -- the idea that thousands come to Indiana to receive degrees at highly-ranked colleges and universities, but then leave the state to find employment elsewhere.

Colts get passing grades on tough opening

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NFL schedule-makers sent Indianapolis an early message. Play well in the opening month, and it could lead to a better finish. Four weeks into the season, the Colts have done their part. They are 3-1 and hold a distinct advantage in the AFC South after wins at Tennessee and Jacksonville. But the players understand there's still more to do. "I don't really know what we've done yet," quarterback Peyton Manning said. "We're 3-1, but that means absolutely nothing now." Manning, last year's co-MVP, called the opening obstacle course the most challenging start of his seven-year NFL career.

Former teammates predict Williams retirement will last

DAVIE, Fla. -- With running back Ricky Williams ready to reverse directions and come out of retirement, his former Miami Dolphins' teammates were mixed in their reaction Wednesday. Defensive end David Bowens said he would like to see Williams rejoin the Dolphins, in part because they're 0-4. But Pro Bowl linebacker Zach Thomas said he doubted that help from Williams is on the way. "He will not be playing for the Dolphins," Thomas predicted. "He's got too many things with the fans and too much with the media, and that's the reason he ran from it in the first place. He wouldn't come back here." Thomas might be right. Gary Ostrow, an attorney who has represented Williams, said the 2002 NFL rushing champion hopes to receive clearance from the league to play again before the Oct. 19 trade deadline so he can be dealt by Miami.

Students seek future jobs at science career fair

The Biology Academic Advising Office and the Career Development Center sponsored a career fair for biology and chemistry students from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Jordan Hall Atrium. Representatives from prestigious pharmaceutical companies were on hand to meet students and discuss possible internships and career opportunities. "We have 15 companies here today," said Alice Eads, biology student services coordinator. "We've got the Peace Corps and then we've got Lilly. Most of the companies are looking for biology and chemistry majors."

Jordan River Forum

Everyone needs a good civics lesson There are a couple things that can be extracted from Dr. Arnold Shuster's letter in the Sept. 28 Indiana Daily Student ("Draft May Be Coming"). However, they are not what the writer intended. The first is that the liberal Democrats will stop at nothing to misrepresent facts to scare groups into voting for them that they could not otherwise convince. The second is that having a Ph.D. does not make you immune from intellectual dishonesty.

Working toward total net results

At about 7 a.m., sophomore Liz Davis wakes up and gets prepared for the day ahead of her. After getting dressed, brushing her teeth and all of the other morning rituals, Davis departs for her 8 a.m. class. Normally, she would have classes until noon and then wait until soccer practice later that afternoon. But instead, Davis now makes a detour to receive treatment for a stress fracture she developed during the preseason. Because of injury, Davis has decided to redshirt her sophomore season at IU. Davis already has experience on the field after playing in 12 games in 2003 and was looking forward to this year's competition. After being named the 2002 Indiana Girls High School Soccer Player of the Year while starting four years on North Central's varsity team, she arrived at IU with high goals -- on and off of the field.

Phelps leads USA into World Swimming Championships

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Phelps wants his shoulders to hurt. He's ready to put the weight of American swimming on his back, and carry it into the spotlight as a mainstream sport. "I want to be able to change the sport of swimming, in and out of the pool," Phelps said. After taking home eight medals -- six gold and two bronze -- in Athens, Greece last month, this weekend will be his chance to bring attention to American swimming.

Kentucky packs defense versus IU

When the Hoosier men's soccer team went to Lexington Wednesday night, the Wildcats played for a shutout and that's what they got. The University of Kentucky packed all but one player into the defense at times versus the Hoosiers, leading to an eventual 0-0 score after double overtime. IU was still able to muster up 15 shots, many of which were from 20 yards out. "Soccer is a hard enough game to score in," head coach Mike Freitag said. "But when a team packs in with nine players it's even more difficult. That was not a good game for college soccer." The Hoosiers were able to hold possession for much of the match, but the six defenders played by Kentucky were just too much for the two forward offense of IU.

Ducking democracy

What's an academic debate without controversial topics? The principal and superintendent of Fort Mill High School in South Carolina believe it's the only way. Principal David Damm originally approved the eight-topic debate, which included issues such as gay marriage, stem cell research and abortion. But according to a report by www.cnn.com , Damm and the school's Superintendent Thomas Dowling pulled those topics from the debate to coalesce with a South Carolina law that prohibits health class discussions of abortion and homosexual sexual activity, the report said.

MBAs gain real world experience

Osmocote may not be a household name, but if IU MBA students have anything to say about it, that might change one day. Bloomington Brands, the brainchild of IU alumnus Bob Stohler, offers MBA students the opportunity to manage the $12 million time-release fertilizer product Osmocote for lawn-and-garden giant Scotts Co. while still in grad school. Stohler, who is a retired vice president of Scotts, had been considering the idea for many years, and sees it as a way to give back to IU while working on a brand he believes has an "untapped potential." "I wanted to do something with students," Stohler said. "I like that age group, and it is a way to transfer some of my experiences to the next generation. I feel it's an obligation, and I've reached a stage in my life where I can do this." Now in its second year, Bloomington Brands puts students into real world situations by allowing them to manage a real product with real money.

Depression screenings available on campus

As more than two-thirds of the 17.5 million Americans suffering from some form of depression fail to seek treatment for it, according to information collected by the Washington University School of Medicine, the IU Health Center is here to help. Today is National Depression Awareness Day, and to recognize the date, the Health Center's Counseling and Psychological Services department has scheduled free and anonymous depression screenings on campus. Booths for screening will be located in the School of Education's atrium, Woodburn Hall and in the Foster-Gresham food court. Each table will be staffed with several professional staff members from the Health Center to conduct screenings, answer questions and give advice. "A big part of our objective is education," said Carolyn Lee, a psychologist who will be heading the table located at Woodburn. "We give feedback to everyone who is screened here."

Health officials urge voluntary flu vaccine rationing in face of nationwide shortage

WASHINGTON -- A top federal health official, lamenting "a very fragile vaccine production system," urged healthy people Wednesday to defer getting their influenza shots so medication will be available for those most at risk. "We really need a long-term solution so we don't end up in this year-to-year situation where we don't have a reliable supply," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, after the supply of vaccine to the United States was abruptly cut in half.

U.S. inspector finds no evidence Saddam made weapons after 1991

WASHINGTON -- Contradicting the main argument for a war that has cost more than 1,000 American lives, the top U.S. arms inspector reported Wednesday that he found no evidence that Iraq produced any weapons of mass destruction after 1991. The report also says Saddam Hussein's weapons capability weakened during a dozen years of U.N. sanctions before the U.S. invasion last year. Contrary to prewar statements by President George W. Bush and top administration officials, Saddam did not have chemical and biological stockpiles when the war began and his nuclear capabilities were deteriorating, not advancing, according to the report by Charles Duelfer, head of the Iraq Survey Group.