IUSA

Ivan rainfall spurs flooding, evacuations

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Sept. 20,2004 1:15 a.m.

WHEELING, W.Va. -- Hundreds of people evacuated their homes Sunday in parts of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania as rivers and small streams were swollen beyond their banks by the torrential rain dumped by remnants of Hurricane Ivan.

Israeli helicopter missile destroys car in Gaza City

By Alyson Brodsy and Ibrahim Barzak · Monday, Sept. 20,2004 12:51 a.m.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- An Israeli helicopter fired a missile at a car in Gaza City late Sunday, residents said, killing a senior Hamas militant leader. This was the latest Israeli attack in the territory it plans to leave next year.

Militants behead 3 Iraqi Kurds, threaten to execute more hostages

By Alyson Brodsy and Mariam Fam · Monday, Sept. 20,2004 12:50 a.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Militants beheaded three hostages said to be Iraqi Kurd militiamen, showing their deaths in a video posted on a Web site Sunday and denouncing Kurdish political parties for cooperating with Americans in Iraq. In a separate incident, a group claimed to have kidnapped 18 members of the Iraqi National Guard, according to the Arabic station Al-Jazeera, which said the soldiers were threatened with death unless a detained Shiite leader is freed within 48 hours.

This is real, really

By Waddel Hamer and Waddell Hamer · Monday, Sept. 20,2004 12:29 a.m.

Yesterday while I was reading the paper, I came across something that really caught my eye. The headline was from The Washington Post and it was entitled "The $50,000 Question."

Why, mommy, why?

By Joanna Borns · Monday, Sept. 20,2004 12:29 a.m.

It's likely that my future unborn children will resent me for the rest of their not-yet-existent lives. But I'm OK with that because they are going to be child prodigies. I am going to live vicariously through them and they are going to like it. My mother once speculated that maybe I would be smarter if I hadn't fallen down the stairs when I was a small child. My parents seemed satisfied when I developed motor skills, but I think I should've been handed a musical instrument as soon as I emerged from the womb, if not sooner.

Growing out the dress code

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Sept. 20,2004 12:28 a.m.

South Texas high school student Gerardo Garcia Jr., wants to grow a 10-inch mane then donate it to the Florida-based group Locks of Love. Locks of Love fashions wigs from the donated strands and provides the hairpieces to children who have lost hair as a result of chemotherapy.

Caveat voter

By Jonathan Blanks · Monday, Sept. 20,2004 12:09 a.m.

This summer, I met a politician who, when asked why he was a Republican, replied, "I just am." I pressed him to give a better answer, but he refused to say anything about fiscal spending, taxation, foreign policy, personal freedom or even something as simplistic as "Democrats suck." Instead, he seemed to believe that Republicanism is a state of being rather than a voluntary party affiliation. Given the partisan and ideological absolutism many Americans display in modern political discourse, maybe he's right.

lotus festival 2004

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Sept. 20,2004 12:04 a.m.

This weekend, Bloomington's downtown area came alive with the unique international sounds of Lotus World Music and Arts Festival. The 11th annual multicultural event featured more than 30 artists from around the world, playing their own cultural tunes.

Perfect performance

By Tony Sams · Monday, Sept. 20,2004 12:03 a.m.

The nuances of music elude me. Putting words, not notes, together is my forte. I have an immense admiration for musicians, and I have tried to understand their trade, but I concede defeat.

Whirling Dervishes demonstrate Turkish tradition

By Melissa Harrold · Monday, Sept. 20,2004 12:02 a.m.

Saturday night, the Whirling Dervishes of Rumi performed the revolving Sema ritual to a packed house at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater as part of the Lotus Festival, the international music festival that drew a numerous spectators and world renowned artists to Bloomington this weekend.

IU hosts conference on India studies programs

By Hina Alam · Friday, Sept. 17,2004 2:08 a.m.

IU-Bloomington played host to the first-ever two-day India studies conference on the state of India Studies in the United States Wednesday and Thursday. The program was held in the Maple Room of the Indiana Memorial Union and saw some of the leading American and Indian academics and scholars.

Hoosiers kick off Big Ten season tonight

By John Fischer · Friday, Sept. 17,2004 2:06 a.m.

Some college athletes and coaches claim that a new season begins when the conference season starts. Whether this is true or not, the IU women's soccer team begins the 2004 Big Ten season this weekend.

Weapons ban expires

By Lindsey Jancek and Lindsay Jancek · Friday, Sept. 17,2004 2:05 a.m.

The 10-year national assault weapon ban expired Monday, making more than a dozen formerly illegal assault rifles once again accessible to the public. The ban, which was introduced in 1994 in response to assault weapons-related shootings, led to sweeping nationwide legislation that restricted the distribution of specific models of military-style assault weapons and weapons with certain combinations of features specifically designed for military use.

9-11, Iraq war spark interest in Arabic language

By Daniel Wells · Friday, Sept. 17,2004 2:05 a.m.

Following a national trend, enrollment in Arabic language classes at IU has more than doubled since the 9-11 terrorist attacks three years ago. Seventy-four students were enrolled in Arabic classes in the fall of 2001 compared with 171 students this fall. Chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures John Walbridge credits this jump in enrollment to the increased awareness of the Middle East stemming from 9-11 and the war in Iraq. He said many students now see Arabic language skills as an asset to career advancement.

Kruzan names plan team

By Lindsay Jancek · Friday, Sept. 17,2004 2:05 a.m.

With local city leaders surrounding him, Mayor Mark Kruzan announced arrangements for a new $60,000 Downtown Plan for Bloomington with the help of an alliance including a nationally recognized consulting firm based in Boulder, Colo. Both Mayor Kruzan and City Council President Mike Diekhoff addressed concerns about fiscal issues in Bloomington and the implementation a $60,000 plan.

IMU increases parking prices

By David A. Nosko · Friday, Sept. 17,2004 2:05 a.m.

Convenient and inexpensive student parking is hard to find in the heart of campus. As a result, many students have discovered the luxury of parking in the Indiana Memorial Union lot. A few students pay the full price of $19; most students pay a discounted rate thanks to parking validations; and dozens of students each day pay nothing at all by keeping their cars in the lot until the attendant leaves at midnight.

Libertarian VP candidate speaks to local constituency

By David A. Nosko · Friday, Sept. 17,2004 1:47 a.m.

Libertarian vice presidential candidate Richard Campagna spoke to a roomful of hopeful voters Thursday night at the MCL Cafeteria in Bloomington, voicing his vision of America guided by American principles and libertarian values. Resembling the fireside chats of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Campagna encouraged the crowd to vote with their hearts and conscience in mind after dining amongst the public.

Tough opponents await IU out west

By Brian Janosch · Friday, Sept. 17,2004 1:45 a.m.

The IU men's soccer team will take its undefeated record out West to New Mexico this weekend for the adidas/Crescent Financial Solutions Classic. The event will mark the final two games before conference play begins for the No. 1-ranked and defending champion Hoosiers.

Team hopes strong top 5 will help them to another victory

By Andy Romey · Friday, Sept. 17,2004 1:43 a.m.

The IU women's cross country team will be competing in the 66th annual Indiana Intercollegiate meet Friday, hoping to get a second consecutive win in the meet and some additional race experience.

Golfers look to recover at Central Regional

By Charlie Cunningham and Charlie Gillingham · Friday, Sept. 17,2004 1:42 a.m.

Sloppy play doomed the Hoosiers at last weekend's Michigan/Radrick Farms Invitational. After finishing ninth in a field of 14 at the season-opening tournament, the IU men's golf team will look to bounce back at the Central Regional Preview at Notre Dame starting today. The Hoosiers would like to make a strong showing, but they know the 15-team field will not make things easy for them.