Longform

Power grab

The country appears ready to reward a Democratic Congress with record-low approval ratings with a landslide that could alter the course of our country for years to come. On the one hand, I’m sort of glad to see the Democrats take control. The Republicans (with few exceptions) were admittedly awful during the years they controlled Congress and the presidency. And while the Democrats will no doubt embark on a full-speed sprint toward bringing our country to ruin, rather than the slower-but-steady jog of recent Republicans, at least the Democrats will be the ones responsible.

Third parties matter

INside forgot about something in its last issue. On this campus, we have groups for the Libertarian candidate Bob Barr and Independent candidate Ralph Nader. I’d talk about other third parties, but they do not have student groups at IU. I personally am a member of the Nader group. We had somebody work on that campaign during the summer. We have a group president. We like politics. Why are the respective leaders of these student organizations not featured and interviewed while leaders from the two major parties are? 

Congressional debate offers up more of the same

Ninth District Republican Party Chairman Larry Shickles had proposed hooking the candidates up to lie detectors for their debate Tuesday night. Republican Mike Sodrel’s campaign said he also would agree to the proposal. We guess running against someone in four consecutive elections doesn’t breed trust. The debate took place in two parts. The candidates were first questioned individually by a panel made up of Vincennes-Jasper student Erin Hochgesang and two journalists. The second part involved all the candidates answering questions from the audience. Only the first part was televised and addressed in this editorial. Democrat Baron Hill went first and said some disappointing things about trade policy. He points out that the North American Free Trade Agreement caused jobs to leave the country as though trade is a zero-sum game and expressed concern about future trade deals that did not have sufficient labor and environmental standards.

In our backyard

Think about what you can buy with $10. It might seem like a miniscule amount to you. I know that most of the time, it seems that way to me. I get paid $10 for filling this column space once a week. I spent $10 on a book at Barnes & Noble. I spent $10 on a pizza Saturday.

Fifth Third Bank robbed Tuesday

Police say Fifth Third Bank, 3200 E. Third St., was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash Tuesday afternoon.

Man charged with biting 9-year-old

MUNCIE – A self-proclaimed white supremacist who allegedly made threatening “black magic” phone calls to a high school this summer now faces charges that he repeatedly bit a 9-year-old boy.

Parties await judge’s ruling on early voting sites

CROWN POINT, Ind. – A judge weighing whether to close down early voting sites in Lake County’s Democratic strongholds questioned local officials about the absentee voting process during visits to the disputed sites.

Dem. Long Thompson ends TV ad drought Tuesday

INDIANAPOLIS – Democrat Jill Long Thompson will begin airing her first general election TV ad in weeks on Tuesday in her campaign to oust Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels.

‘Sexploration’ inspires baby-makin’ music

It’s “Sexploration” week at IU, and we should celebrate. How, do you ask? By having sex, of course. 

3rd annual Dia de los Muertos altarpiece celebrates lives of the dead

Instead of celebrating Halloween by watching scary movies and eating obscene amounts of candy, Jaime Sweany, owner of Wandering Turtle Art Gallery & Gifts, has created an altarpiece to celebrate the traditional Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which celebrates the spirits of the dead rather than fears.

Provost delivers 'State of the Campus' address

IU Provost Karen Hanson delivered her second "State of the Campus" speech Tuesday, in front of members of the Bloomington Faculty Council at the Indiana Memorial Union. Hanson stuck with the current administration's talking points – research, admissions and the hiring of top-level faculty – and put forward the idea of making 10th street a "research corridor" that would centralize research space.

Hanson urges research focus in State of the Campus speech

IU Provost Karen Hanson delivered her second “State of the Campus” speech Tuesday, in front of members of the Bloomington Faculty Council at the Indiana Memorial Union.Hanson stuck with the current administration’s talking points – research, admissions and the hiring of top-level faculty – and put forward the idea of making 10th street a “research corridor” that would centralize research space.

Hanson urges research focus in State of the Campus speech

Fifth Third Bank robbed

Police say Fifth Third Bank, 3200 E. Third St., was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash Tuesday afternoon.

Wildermuth name change decision will take more time

The Wildermuth name change decision will not be resolved until at least Oct. 27, said Terry Clapacs, head of the All University Committee on Names and IU’s vice president and chief administrative officer. That is, unless committee members need more time to do research or think about the issue, he said. In an interview Oct. 8, Clapacs said the decision would come within two weeks – or by this Wednesday.

Volunteers help send books to prisoners across the country

Most book lovers cringe at the thought of ripping the cover off a book. But for the Midwest Pages to Prisoners Project, the act is a common occurrence. The group fills requests from prisoners across the Midwest, Arizona and Florida in an attempt to promote self-education and improvement in the nation’s correctional facilities.

IU could increase tuition because of economic troubles

Ambitious plans and a sputtering economy might put pressure on IU trustees to find other ways to balance their budget, such as increasing tuition and cutting back on employee pay, IU officials said.

AEPi’s future in jeopardy after BMOC performance

The future of a campus fraternity is in question after it participated in “Big Man On Campus” using its name, though it was kicked off campus in January.PODCAST: Hoosier Headlines

Field slimmed in search for AD

The search for IU’s next athletics director has been narrowed to at most five people, IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said Monday. But it could be some time until IU President Michael McRobbie picks Rick Greenspan’s successor.“There’s no timetable,” MacIntyre said.

Shed that old skin

This fall is the perfect time to let your wild side loose while still looking polished and sophisticated.