IUSA

Faculty committee urges Brand, trustees to examine low rankings

Four faculty members sent a letter to President Myles Brand and the board of trustees Friday urging them to take action to improve IU's "excellence and reputation" in light of low rankings by U.S. News and World Report and the Florida Center. In the letter, the faculty members suggest establishing an outside committee to look into ways IU can improve. "We need some independent evaluation of the directions we are taking," said Peter Bondanella, one of the drafters of the letter and a professor of West European Studies. "A blue-ribbon committee composed of outside citizens, scholars and government officials might well be able to ascertain where we need to change direction."

IU Opera's 'Elixir' to open at MAC

Classic "bel canto" (good singing) is what some would call IU Opera Theater's first production of the 2000-2001 season. Although Gaetano Donizetti, the composer of "The Elixir of Love," is most known for his dramatic works "Don Pasquale" and "Lucia Di Lammermoor," his lighter fare is also highly popular and contains some of his most beloved music.

Vida highlights vocalists at Lotus Fest tonight

This year, more so than ever before, the Lotus Music Festival has managed to attract a high number of world class vocalists. Among the list of vocalists at this year's festival is the group Vida. While many people might not find this name familiar, Vida is a group that has established itself as a force in the world of vocal music. The group will highlight its skills at 9 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 219 E. Fourth St.

Web site finds jobs

Graduate Business program ranked No. 20

Queerstory shows history of gay cinema

Asian Culture Center discusses racial profiling 'Over a Cup of Tea'

'Sylvia' offers light, comedic fare

To finalize this summer's Brown County Playhouse season, the Summer Stock Theatre of more than half a century has chosen to go out laughing. Using two of its former graduate students, a community actress of much repute and a current IU faculty member, IU and the BCP are looking to end its season with fervor and fun.

More people watching Olympics on the Web

Graduate student Madhusudhan Govindaraju watches the Olympics without a television. He wants to see the event which happens once in four years instantly. "I check out the results on the Web, as I believe in finding out results live," he said.

The new me and other lies

Don't go a week without us

What do you do at least 300 times a year? There is a very short list of things. In fact, most things one does often are considered necessities, such as sleeping, eating or showering. At Union Board we plan over 300 events each year for IU students, and although I don't expect you to attend all 300, I would urge you to make Union Board part of your weekly routine. Much like the ritual of watching your favorite prime time television show or reading the Sunday paper, if you let a week slip by without going to a Union Board event, you have missed out.

Indiana, we're still for you

My family is very much rooted in Bloomington. The first one in Bloomington was probably my great, great uncle Ely back in the 1920s when he came here to earn his degree after World War I. He started a progression of family members to Old IU: my great uncle got his master's degree in the '30s, another great uncle, class of '35, and his brother (my grandfather), class of '39. My father, his cousins and my mother earned their undergraduate degrees here in the late '60s and early '70s. My aunt earned her master's degree in speech and hearing sciences in the '70s, and my uncle taught here in the early '80s. Now, I am here studying.

Food industry confusing customers

In free market mythology, the entrepreneur humbly offers his or her product to the customer, who might or might not buy it, for whatever reason. The reasons don't have to be rational -- advertising often appeals to the irrational ("Drink Bigbutt Beer and skinny blondes in tiny bikinis will fight over you!") That's the theory, anyway: consumer choice.

Not with a whimper, but a bang

Let voters decide

The Congressional Budget Office has projected a $4.6 trillion surplus for the next decade. With the upcoming November election, it comes as no surprise that candidates have made proposals on what to do with the money.

Lotus Music Festival features world music

The best in the world come together every year at the Lotus Music Festival for a celebration in social, cultural, and musical diversity. This year's festival began Wednesday with a kick-off concert at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., and will continue through Sunday.

Receivers dedicated to improve from last season

Randle El has connected with just three wide receivers in the early stages of the season: Gaddis, Graham and Dorsey. But every day in practice a battle wages between IU's three established receivers and less established players such as junior college transfer Henry Frazier, redshirt freshman L.J. Parker and sophomore Glenn Johnson.

'Bait' suprisingly hooks an audience

What would happen if some random editor decided to splice pieces of "Beverly Hills Cop," "Blue Streak," "Bad Boys" and "48 Hours" together in hopes of having a substantial, worthwhile film on their hands? Viewers would either wind up with a nonsensical clip reel or something similar to the newly released and surprisingly entertaining flick "Bait."

BPD steps up bike patrols

The Bloomington Police Department is sending out officers to control the use of bicycles on streets and sidewalks. Special enforcement units have been patrolling on mountain bikes from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight, for the first two months of classes to uphold bicycle operation laws and encourage safe, responsible riding.

Staff shortage causes early closings of food courts

Students living in the residence halls have noticed changes in the two food courts on campus: The Wright Place and Foster Gresham food court. Many of these students have complained that these food courts have not had enough food to satisfy their needs by the end of the evening.