Longform

Just fine?

By Mike McElroy · Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 9 p.m.

It began as a way to help first-time offenders of misdemeanors keep their records clean. Now, the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office's Pretrial Diversion Program is big business. In 2003, each offender paid $304. In 2004, each paid $329. Last year it was $360, and now the Pretrial Diversion Program fetches at least $399 per customer. Cha-ching.

The pursuit of happiness

By Jacob Stewart and Jake Stewart · Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 8:23 p.m.

"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence." These are the words of Aristotle. One of the greatest thinkers in the history of the world came to this conclusion. It isn't some deeply philosophical end that drives men. The purpose is not success or wealth, honor or pride. Happiness is the end all, the telos of human existence.

Liberty for all

By Grace Low · Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 8:22 p.m.

The immigration reform debate rages on and since the conservative pundits and bigoted politicians have refused to desist, so have I. The negative backlash I received in response to last week's column was saddening but only convinced me more of the need for alternative voices in defense of the American way.

Plague-iarism

By Aparna Venkatraman · Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 8:21 p.m.

At first glance, there appears to be a rather unfortunate trend at IU. According to statistics from the Office of Student Ethics, plagiarism cases at IU have more than quadrupled in the last 10 years. In the 1995-1996 academic year there were 30 cases of plagiarism reported, the office said. In the 2005-2006 academic year there were 132 people reported for plagiarizing.

Expensive Harry Potter already online bestseller

By Hillel Italie · Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 8:21 p.m.

NEW YORK -- It's months away from being on bookshelves, but fans can't get enough of the seventh -- and final -- Harry Potter book, no matter the cost. Not only is "Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows" topping the charts of Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com, a deluxe edition, priced at $65, is No. 2, outselling the "You" diet book, Sen. Barack Obama's book and an Oprah Winfrey-endorsed memoir by Sidney Poitier.

Function over fashion: when the weather determines style

By Teri Rosenbaum · Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 8:19 p.m.

Last week, I seriously began wondering what kind of social detriment I would incur if I brought ski masks back to the campus.

IUAM hosts Valentine's-themed tour

By Kyle Meehan · Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 8:18 p.m.

The IU Art Museum offered a Valentine's Day-themed tour through its exhibits Saturday afternoon.

Jazzy 'Side Man' opens at center stage

By Kelsey Nash · Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 8:18 p.m.

Warren Leight's Tony Award-winning show "Side Man" is about jazz musician Gene Glimmer and as his last name suggests, "Side Man" shines. The play opened Friday night at the Wells-Metz Theatre to a full house.

Feminists, freaks and fairies: Boxcar photo exhibit takes back the language

By Michelle Manchir · Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 8:15 p.m.

Their faces are sincere and stoic -- distracted by nothing as they advocate for their cause. More than a dozen of IU alumna stef shuster's black and white photographs of these faces -- belonging to people participating in rallies and protests over the last six years -- came together Friday night for her exhibition "Feminists, Freaks, & Fairies" at Boxcar Books.

U.S. general to command NATO troops

By Jason Straziuso · Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 6:26 p.m.

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Gen. Dan McNeill, the highest ranking U.S. general to lead troops in Afghanistan, took command of 35,500 NATO-led soldiers on Sunday, putting an American face on the international mission after nine months of British command.

Venezuela's leader takes up green cause

By Ian James · Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 6:25 p.m.

CARACAS, Venezuela -- His ambitious social programs are built on Venezuela's petroleum wealth, but President Hugo Chavez is increasingly talking up environmental causes and urging the world to cut back on oil use to fight global warming.

Around the World

Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 6:24 p.m.

The bipartisan nonbinding resolution amounted to a demoralizing "vote of no confidence" in the U.S. military because it criticized Bush's plans to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq without offering concrete alternatives, said Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Explosion in makeshift mine leaves 32 dead in northeast Colombia

By Marko Alvarez · Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 6:23 p.m.

SARDINATA, Colombia -- An explosion tore through a makeshift coal mine in remote northeast Colombia on Saturday, killing 32 miners, a civil defense official said.

UPDATE: Hoosiers fall to Hawkeyes 81-75

Sunday, Feb. 4,2007 5:24 p.m.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The IU men's basketball team fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes 81-75 Saturday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Guard Adam Haluska led the Hawkeyes with 33 points on 5-for-11 3-point shooting.

UPDATE: Motor Pool outsourcing plan to cut 4 jobs, generate $3.6 million

By Michael Zennie · Friday, Feb. 2,2007 7:43 p.m.

The outsourcing plan for the IU Motor Pool will eliminate four jobs, generate a onetime $3.6 million in capital and allow all IU students 18 years of age and older to rent cars from Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

UPDATE: Herbert tells chancellors to ban smoking on all IU campuses

By Michael Zennie · Friday, Feb. 2,2007 5:36 p.m.

IU President Adam Herbert announced at the board of trustees meeting Friday he will instruct the head of each campus to submit a plan by Oct. 1 to prohibit smoking.

Black History Month kicks off with Sound the Drum event

By Sandra Arao Ameny · Friday, Feb. 2,2007 2:15 p.m.

Each rhythm, tap and rattle of the drum summoned the beginning of a celebration. One by one, they took turns beating the drum, saying a prayer of thanksgiving and blessings, much like their African ancestors past.

IU Black History Month event highlights:

Friday, Feb. 2,2007 1:38 p.m.

Starting Feb. 1, IU students will have plenty of opportunities to celebrate Black History Month around campus. From festivals to discussions, movies to performances, there's something for everyone who wants to delve into the chapters of black history.

Author speaks about women's advancement

By Jessica Anderson · Friday, Feb. 2,2007 1:37 p.m.

Women and men, undergraduate and graduate students were sitting in the aisles and waiting for spare chairs to hear the acclaimed professor and author of the book "Why So Slow? The Advancement of Women in Academia" speak.

Residence halls gear up for daylong events, parties

By Shannon McEnerney · Friday, Feb. 2,2007 12:26 a.m.

Graduate supervisor Vamsi Manne said he hopes about 500 people crowd into Teter Quad's game room this weekend. With this year's Super Bowl competition between local teams, Manne said he expects more people than the 200 to 300 who attended last year's showing.