Longform

Local volunteers link Bloomington to Cuba

By Ashley Brown · Monday, Feb. 7,2005 12:06 a.m.

Friendship, or amistad in Spanish, is not a word commonly used to explain the relationship between the United States and Cuba, but one Bloomington organization is trying to help change this notion. CUBAmistad is a local group of volunteers who maintain the Sister City relationship between Bloomington and Santa Clara, Cuba. They have also helped to create a formal partnership between IU and a Santa Clara university. CUBAmistad held a celebration of the signing of "The Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation between Indiana University and Universidad Central de Las Villas" Saturday at the IU International Center.

A tangled Web

By Brain J. McFillen · Sunday, Feb. 6,2005 11:50 p.m.

I think I received the following e-mail by mistake. I'm not sure what to make of it. To: The Grand High Council of the Illuminati From: Agent 237, Washington D.C. Branch Subject: Progress Report on Latest Efforts at World Domination Most Excellent Illuminated Ones, I am pleased to report that our latest undertaking is proceeding well, despite its accidental exposure Jan. 28 by C/Net www.news.com.. In the U.S. Congress, the bipartisan Joint Committee on Taxation has suggested that the government consider imposing a three percent tax on "'all data communications services to end users,' including broadband; dial-up; fiber; cable modems; cellular; and DSL links." Thanks to our congressional operatives' diabolical genius, this tax on the Internet would be an extension of an over 100-year-old "luxury" tax on telephones, originally created to pay for the Spanish American War. Ha! At last, our vengeance for the loss of Guam!

Nicaragua portrayed in photo exhibit

By Christine Lunde · Sunday, Feb. 6,2005 11:44 p.m.

Lillian Casillas welcomes people into La Casa, or "the house" in Spanish, as though it is a home. Every academic year, about 8,000 people step foot into Casillas' "house," but only about 800 Hispanic students attend IU, making it a home not just for students of Hispanic background, but also for people interested in the culture.

Plain English of 'Bacchai' boosts its appeal

By -Jenny Kobiela · Sunday, Feb. 6,2005 11:43 p.m.

"Bacchai" by Euripides, is a famous play by an old dead Greek guy. But your drama teacher's Greek tragedy this is not. "Bacchai," presented by the IU Theater and Drama department, mixes the old with the new in Irish playwright Colin Teevan's brand-new translation of Euripides's classic drama to create an intriguing and understandable production.

Bigger fest compels chocoholics to eat more

By Janice Neaveil and Janice Neaveill · Sunday, Feb. 6,2005 11:39 p.m.

A family with children walked out to their car Saturday evening. "We ate all the chocolate in the world, chocolate in the world, chocolate in the world..." they sang as their parents led them across the parking lot and away from the eighth annual Chocolate Fest.

First for a reason

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, Feb. 6,2005 11:39 p.m.

Protesters gathered at the Sample Gates the day after elections in Iraq; many against the war and others for it. The words weren't pretty or pleasant, but no one got hurt. The First Amendment of the Constitution gives citizens an avenue to disagree peacefully. In the United States we can speak our minds without fear of being silenced by the government or our fellow citizens. Elections have taken place overseas in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and Ukraine, and more people have a voice. Every person has something to say, but not every government allows its people to speak. In the United States, we can speak against our government or each other, a freedom that would not exist without the Constitution's First Amendment. We must guard that right vigilantly.

Fact, faith and fiction

By Evan Ross · Sunday, Feb. 6,2005 11:14 p.m.

Listen up, you damn dirty apes. Two weeks ago, a lawmaker introduced into Georgia's statehouse a law to prevent the teaching of evolution in Georgia schools. In November of 2004, a school district in Atlanta ordered that a sticker calling evolution a "theory, not a fact" be placed on science books. And last month, the school board of Dover, Pa., voted to make teachers discuss "flaws" in the work of Charles Darwin. It seems some of us aren't as evolved as others.

Taking remote control

By Melanie Sims · Sunday, Feb. 6,2005 11:10 p.m.

An educated Negro is a dangerous Negro, or so the saying goes -- which is probably why TV program execs keep feeding grown-up black folks mind-numbing sitcoms and reality TV shows. While black kids encounter an inquisitive and inspiring little animated brother by the name of Little Bill, Bill Cosby's educational-cartoon creation, networks offer older black audiences shows featuring loudmouth baby mamas, sex-driven male gigolos, hoes and "stepnfetchit" funny folks. Just spend a day watching BET's video countdowns, the reality show "College Hill" or syndicated episodes of "The Parkers," and see the stereotypes in action.

2 more charged, one arrested for murder of Crothersville girl

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, Feb. 6,2005 11:08 p.m.

BROWNSTOWN, Ind. -- Police on Friday charged two people with providing false information to officers investigating the abduction and murder of a 10-year-old girl, the same day another man from the small southern Indiana town was in court to face a murder charge.

Museum displays history of underwear

By Catherine Hageman · Sunday, Feb. 6,2005 11:06 p.m.

All Allison Lendman has seen for the past few weeks are corsets, slips and nightgowns. And none of them even belong to her.

Rumsfeld: Iraq needs time to build forces

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, Feb. 6,2005 11:06 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Iraq will need time to build up forces sufficient to handle a potential threat from its neighbors -- specifically Iran -- even after Baghdad proves capable of overcoming the insurgency at home, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Sunday.

Bush releases $2.5 trillion budget plan

By Alyson Brodsy and Martin Crutsinger · Sunday, Feb. 6,2005 11:04 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush's $2.5 trillion budget is shaping up as his most austere, trying to restrain spending across a wide swath of government from popular farm subsidies to poor people's health programs.

Looking at Bush's speech through global eyes

By Ambrosia Borowski · Sunday, Feb. 6,2005 11:03 p.m.

The Bush administration has a great impact on not only Americans, but also on citizens of the world. President Bush's State of the Union address on Feb. 2 may have been directed toward United States citizens, but its implications were global. It is important to recognize that the U.S. exerts an influence around the globe through the president's words.

Rice: Israel has to face 'hard decisions'

By Alyson Brodsy and Anne Gearan · Sunday, Feb. 6,2005 11:02 p.m.

JERUSALEM -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday that Israel has some "hard decisions" to make as it moves toward peace with the Palestinians and the creation of a neighboring democracy.

Bus plan not needed, grad students say

By Adam Van Osdol and Adam VanOsdol · Friday, Feb. 4,2005 1:15 a.m.

The universal bus plan might soon hit a pothole. Graduate students in several departments said they are unlikely to endorse the plan when it comes up for a vote today at a meeting of the Graduate and Professional Student Organization. The plan calls for extending unlimited bus access from the Bloomington Transit, Stadium Express and Midnight Shuttle to all campus buses and increasing the transportation fee to $50.

Eagles, Pats fans brace for Super Bowl showdown

By Gavin Lesnick · Friday, Feb. 4,2005 1:15 a.m.

When freshman Whitney Moore's New England Patriots do something wrong, her boyfriend slowly scoots away from her side.

Hackers invade IU Foundation site

By Lori Geller · Friday, Feb. 4,2005 1:15 a.m.

IU Foundation employees were advised to change their computer passwords and to contact their banks because a computer hacker might have accessed their personal information Friday.

Coffee and Tea to serve beer, wine

By Gavin Lesnick · Friday, Feb. 4,2005 1:15 a.m.

City Coffee and Tea, located on the street level of the Smallwood Plaza, will likely be serving premium beer and wines alongside its cappuccinos and lattes.

THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM

By Eboni Gatlin · Friday, Feb. 4,2005 1:15 a.m.

Some sounded the drum for peace. Others sounded it for love. No matter what their prayers, IU students and faculty gathered at the "Sound the Drum and Family Fest" Thursday night at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month at IU.

Hoosier season ends at Purdue; Big Ten next

By Alyson Brodsy · Friday, Feb. 4,2005 1:11 a.m.

The dual meet season comes to a close Saturday for Hoosier swimmers and divers as No. 15 Purdue hosts the Crimson and Gold Cup in West Lafayette. The No. 13 ranked IU men's swimming and diving team hopes to claim its 10th dual meet victory of the season. In doing so, the Hoosiers would capture their first 10-win dual meet season in 20 years.