Longform

Sprinter competed at Millrose Games

By Steve Slivka · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:46 p.m.

An All-American the past two seasons in the outdoor 4 x 100-meter relay, IU junior sprinter Ara Towns traveled to New York City to compete in the prestigious Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden. Towns was one of seven collegiate athletes invited to run in the 60-meter dash.

Bills stall in committee

By Alyson Brodsy and Deanna Wrenn · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:41 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- A bill that would require people to use seat belts in pick-up trucks and a proposal prohibiting open containers of alcohol in vehicles both stalled in a House committee meeting Monday.

Family group challenges Speaker

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:40 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- A family advocacy group has taken out a full-page advertisement in a South Bend newspaper challenging House Speaker Patrick Bauer to give a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage a hearing in his chamber.

Twin towers energize team

By Dan Patrick · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:37 p.m.

The stellar play of junior Jenny DeMuth and sophomore Cyndi Valentin allow the 6-foot-3 sophomore Angela Hawkins and 6-foot-7 freshman Sarah McKay to sli "under" the radar. What the duo lacks in high scoring averages, with both players scoring 6.2 points per game, the two make up for in defensive prowess and energy.

Next stop, election day

By Alyson Brodsy and Jake Rossman · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:33 p.m.

Imagine the University as a freight train. Adam Herbert is the conductor, there are passenger cars for the trustees, chancellors and prestigious alumni, and students are the freight -- the coal, the fuel that drives the machine.

Public officials to address life sciences industry

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:30 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ind. -- Public officials and business leaders from across southern Indiana have been invited to attend a forum on a state economic development campaign to promote the life sciences industry.

French Gypsy band stirs audience

By Jane Charney · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:30 p.m.

Despite its reputation as the sound of wanderers, gypsy music proved the music of unity Saturday night. By the time "Les Yeux Noirs" got to the second song in their two-and-a-half-hour set, more people -- children, college students and older adults -- were dancing in the pit of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater than sitting in the seats.

AIs make list most underpaid positions

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:29 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Many Americans complain they're not paid enough, but most of us are nowhere near as shortchanged as the country's severely underpaid workers. The degree to which someone is underpaid isn't just a matter of how much money he or she earns. Two of the 10 jobs below pay more than the U.S. median of $37,500 a year. Rather, it's a function of how valuable -- or loathsome -- the work is relative to the earnings.

Consumer economic optimism reverses

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:27 p.m.

NEW YORK -- Consumer attitudes about the economy turned sour in the first half of February, reversing a trend toward greater optimism after the U.S. economy posted stellar growth in 2003. The University of Michigan's mid-month report on consumer sentiment for February dropped to 93.1 from 103.8 in January, according to people in the market who have seen the report. It is released only to subscribers.

Silicon Valley tech company probed for theft

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:26 p.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The investigation into the illegal disclosure of blueprints for some versions of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows software has turned to a small technology company in Silicon Valley that works closely with Microsoft.

Priorities beyond economics

By Alyson Brodsy and Brian Matzke · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:25 p.m.

The "Ballad of Baby Doe" played these past two weekends at the Musical Arts Center. Written in English and depicting life in 19th century Colorado, it is a far cry from most people's archetypal conception of an opera. Rather, it is a story steeped in the tradition of Americana, exalting the entrepreneurial spirit and focusing on what Americans traditionally do best -- talk politics.

Lawmakers to investigate Brazilian president

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:24 p.m.

BRASILIA, Brazil -- Opposition lawmakers called for a congressional investigation Monday into allegations that an aide to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio da Silva had solicited illegal campaign contributions, the first major scandal to hit his administration.

Keep America funny

By Alyson Brodsy and Bonnie Real · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:24 p.m.

The following is an advisory from the National Institute of Not Funny. It has come to our attention that a certain tidbit of observational humor has now become so unashamedly overused we have no choice but to take immediate action. In the interest of the tired joke, its many variations and the victims of its use, we are hereby declaring its retirement from American society.

Bremer aims to prevent theocracy

By Alyson Brodsy and Robert H. Reid · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:23 p.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's U.S. administrator suggested Monday he would block any move by Iraqi leaders to make Islamic law the backbone of an interim constitution, which women's groups fear could threaten their rights. Roadside bombs killed two more American soldiers, Monday.

Poop on this!

By Alyson Brodsy and Phil Kijak · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:22 p.m.

If you were to ask me who my hero was, I really don't know if I could give you a definitive answer. But one thing is for certain -- Triumph the Insult Comic Dog would probably be the front-runner. The creation of comedic genius Robert Smigel, Triumph (best known for his catch-phrase, "for me to poop on!") is in some hot water after his recent comments on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," which was taped in Toronto all last week.

A cap on open containers

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:19 p.m.

The Indiana State Senate recently introduced a bill to amend the current open-container law, removing the requirement that the driver of the vehicle have a minimum blood alcohol concentration.

The sentiments of a culture

By Joelle Petrus · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:18 p.m.

If you have a fetish for old churches like I do, France is an absolute haven. I don't practice a religion personally, but I still have to say the French know how to build a house of God.

Boiled Over

By Natalie A. Trout · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 1:09 a.m.

WEST LAFAYETTE -- If the IU men's basketball team was looking for love on Valentine's Day, West Lafayette was the last place they were going to find it. A game in which the Hoosiers picked up 26 fouls compared to the Boilermaker's 11, ended in Purdue's favor, 71-56. Purdue coach Gene Keady said he told his team it would be their biggest game of the year to see how they would handle the pressure. Sure enough, Purdue handled the pressure just like Keady wanted them to. They played with effort, and three different Boilermakers scored 17 points a piece.

Parents bear with school costs

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 12:58 a.m.

FORT WAYNE -- Anne Marie Lett was stunned by the phone call. A Carroll High School staff member told her if she didn't pay her son's student fees, the school would have to turn her account over for collection. As she leafed through four pages of financial statements, she still didn't know how she was going to pay more than $500 in fees for her four children: $30 for preschool, $107.69 for kindergarten, $161.85 for sixth grade, $222.18 for ninth grade. It's a real-life example of how public school fees can add up but a situation local officials said parents can get help for when faced with the cost of their children's education.

'Seussical' for everyone

By Meredith Hahn · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 12:57 a.m.

Seussical The Musical" broke the mold in its debut at the IU Auditorium this weekend. Though "family show" is a term that generally brings to mind sappy stories, screaming brats and unrefined musical scores, the show based on the works of Dr. Seuss entertained children of all ages. From the rhyming request for patrons to turn off their cell phones, to the green eggs and ham finale, "Seussical" had a level of energy and humor that made it stand out from its genre. The opening number assured that "this ain't Mother Goose," and indeed it wasn't. It maintained its childhood sense of wonder without being childish, as it whirled through the tales of Horton the Elephant, the town of Whoville and Gertrude McFuzz.