Longform

Breasts don't leave ocular scar tissue

By Cameron Thibos · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 11:26 p.m.

Houston, we have a wardrobe malfunction." And now, CBS has a problem. MTV has a problem. The National Football League has a problem. The Federal Communications Commission has a problem. And of course, the American Family Association has a problem. The logic is simple. Premise: There was a breast on network television. Conclusion: The world is going to hell. Frankly, I think the worst we can expect is a 10-day stint in limbo for this one.

Program aids Spanish speakers with taxes

By Jessica Levco · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 11:25 p.m.

What if you had to do your income taxes in a foreign language? Some Spanish speakers in Bloomington struggle with this problem. But with the help of the Bilingual Tax Assistant service at the Monroe Public Library, more than 200 people are receiving tax support.

Financing through football

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 11:24 p.m.

Last week, Athletic Director Terry Clapacs addressed concerns that a $2 million structural deficit continues to leave the athletic department in the red. Clapacs cited the struggling football program as a reason for lacking revenue. Overcoming the deficit is a complex endeavor that will not easily be solved. Short-term solutions may lead to temporary relief, but real progress will require a change that can lead to an increase over time.

Festival to reap 'sweet' rewards

By Amber Nicholas · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 11:23 p.m.

Chocolate, wine tasting and live entertainment will all be a part of the seventh annual Chocolate Fest. The event is sponsored by Options for Better Living, a non-profit profit organization that helps mentally, emotionally and physically disabled people and their families.

'Chicano' exhibit opens in Indianapolis

By Hannah Schroder · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 11:22 p.m.

"Chicano," the first exhibit of its kind ever to travel to the Midwest, opened Saturday at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. The five-year, 15-city national tour will remain on exhibit in Indiana through May 5.

Dean faces must-win in Wisc.

By Alyson Brodsy and Nedra Pickler · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 10:46 p.m.

Howard Dean told supporters Thursday he will be out of the race for the Democratic nomination for president if he fails to win the Wisconsin primary, declaring "all that you have worked for these past months is on the line on a single day, in a single state."

Around The World

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 10:37 p.m.

Iraqi militant group confesses to Irbil suicide bombings TIKRIT, Iraq -- An Iraqi militant group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombings in Irbil, and a senior U.S. commander blamed recent attacks on insurgents seeking to sabotage a future independent Iraqi government.

37 dead in stampede at Chinese Lunar New Year celebration

By Alyson Brodsy and Audra Ang · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 10:34 p.m.

BEIJING -- At least 37 people were killed and 15 others injured Thursday when a crowd stampeded during a holiday gathering outside the Chinese capital on the final day of the country's Lunar New Year celebrations, the government said.

Hunting Hauntings

By Ryan Heath · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 12:35 p.m.

Out the car window, I can't see much more than moonlight as it flashes between the treetops. The crescent moon is veiled in clouds, creating an eerie, silver glow around it that does little to illuminate the pitch-dark night. We have been driving through the woods for the past 15 minutes, and the road in front of us seems to snake endlessly onward into the dark. It is a storybook night for a ghost hunt.

Long live the 'King'

By Craig Shank and John Barnett · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 2:55 a.m.

'm the first to admit to being a sucker for award shows. No matter how hokey, silly or self-serving they may be, something about them draws me in, and I end up watching, stunned, like a deer in headlights.

Tuition cap bill dies in State Senate

By Adam Aasen · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 1:04 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- A bill which would have put limits on tuition increases for public universities died in the General Assembly Wednesday. The bill was not called to vote in the Senate during its last day in session and will have to be resubmitted during the next legislative session in 10 months. Senate Bill 262 would have required universities to announce by Dec. 1 of each year the tuition rate for the school's next freshman class. That rate would remain fixed for the class for the next four years, aside from a cost-of-living increase of as much as 4 percent annually.

Full-day kindergarten plan defeated

By Mike Malik · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 1 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- In a contestable vote causing chaos in the House, Democrats did not pass Gov. Joe Kernan's plan for full-day kindergarten because of a controversial voting procedure. State Rep. Thomas Kromkowski, D-South Bend, voted via satellite as he was recovering from surgery. The hook-up was used because Republicans wouldn't support the bill, and Democrats did not have the 51 votes needed to pass it. House Speaker and State Rep. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, declared the bill passed 51-47 until the Democrats admitted the satellite hook-up did not meet the House voting requirements. Procedures state a member must physically be present in the chamber to vote.

Students stuff bears for sick children in Israel

By Mallory Simon · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 1 a.m.

Students sewed, stuffed and decorated bears for children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses Wednesday night at the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center. "Build-a-Dov" -- Dov, meaning bear in Hebrew -- was a social-action program, co-sponsored by Hillel, Mitzvah Corps, Rosh Chodesh and Hoosiers for Israel. After putting the bears together, students wrote get-well notes in Hebrew and tied a Hershey's kiss around the bears' necks. The bears will be sent to Camp Simcha, a supervised, medically-staffed camp in New York, to be distributed to the sick children, and eventually make their way to Israel. Many of the children will leave their hospital beds to attend the camp and take part in different activities, such as music, dancing and swimming, in hopes of lifting their spirits.

Cornel West to speak on race tonight at Auditorium

By Daniel Wells · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 1 a.m.

Cornel West, a renowned intellectual, best-selling author, recording artist and "Matrix" actor, will speak at 7 p.m. tonight in the IU Auditorium. Admission to West's lecture, "Race and Democracy," is free and open to the entire Bloomington community. Vice Chancellor of Multicultural Affairs Gloria Gibson, whose office partnered with Union Board to bring West to campus, said judging from the number of phone calls her office has received, interest in the lecture is high. "Cornel West is one of the leading scholars in our country and one of the foremost thinkers of our time," Gibson said. "His work covers a multitude of disciplines including African-American studies, philosophy, religion and politics. I'm certain he'll challenge us to think about issues in a new way and that lecture will be challenging as well as inspiring."

Last all-women dorm to close this semester

By Stephanie Susman · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 12:54 a.m.

At the end of this semester, the last free-standing, all-women dorm will close. Ashton-Stempel will transform to house students over 21, both male and female. Currently, Ashton-Stempel provides single rooms for women only, while Ashton-Weatherly provides single rooms for students age 21 and older. The University plans to tear down Weatherly in coming years. Last semester, the community councils of each residence hall discussed changes that could be made in their halls for the coming year. One suggestion was moving the Weatherly living arrangement to Stempel.

Thrower pushes through pain

By Rob DeWitte and Rob eWitte · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 12:48 a.m.

When it comes to injuries, athletes will tell you the same thing: there are few more devastating than knee injuries, and the bigger the athlete, the more crippling the injury. Junior shot thrower Ryan Ketchum knows this all too well. He spent the summer battling back from two incapacitating knee injuries -- a torn ACL and meniscus. He knew a complete recovery would not be enough; he would also have to make changes to prevent re-injury. "This summer, I focused a lot on losing extra pounds and getting quicker through rehab, which really improved my speed in the ring" said Ketchum.

Von Lee decision held again

By Mike McElroy · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 12:45 a.m.

A tense group of citizens filed into the Monroe County Courthouse Wednesday, eager to finally put to rest an issue which had divided a community for months. The group received no resolution. The Alcoholic Beverages Board delayed its decision about the Von Lee alcohol permit for the second time and will reconvene to make a decision March 3. The board cited a mounting pile of statistical evidence as reason to take additional time to reflect upon the more developed arguments on either side of the case.

Hoosiers face top opponents in 2004

By Jeff Fuldauer · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 12:44 a.m.

Imagine playing a spring schedule which includes six teams ranked among the top 25 in the nation. Now imagine four of the six will be played in hostile road environments. This is the schedule facing IU coach, Lin Loring, and the IU women's tennis team. Only this is just the pre-conference schedule. The Hoosiers play 15 ranked opponents with over half of the matches to be played away from the IU Tennis Center. Duke, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arizona State, Notre Dame and Texas A&M are among the heavy hitters IU meets on their way to the Big Ten Championships. Annual match-ups against Northwestern, Illinois, Michigan and Purdue add to create a stretch of matches where a weak team cannot be found. But the Hoosiers say the scheduling -- however tough -- will be nothing but beneficial when Big Ten play rolls around.

Team hungry for win vs. Lions four games

By Dan Patrick · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 12:42 a.m.

After suffering three straight losses at the hands of Big Ten opponents, the IU women's basketball team said they are hungry -- hungry for lion. The No. 5 Penn State Lady Lions will prowl into Assembly Hall to take on the Hoosiers at 8 p.m. tonight. The Lady Lions come into the game with an undefeated 9-0 conference record and a 17-3 overall record while the Hoosiers stand at 3-6 in the conference and 10-10 overall. PSU is led by senior Kelly Mazzante, who comes into the game at second in the Big Ten in scoring with a 21.5 average. Mazzante also adds 4.1 rebounds per game and shoots at a .415 clip despite taking 175 shots from behind the arc.

Help me, Harlan!

By Dan Cohen and Daniel Cohen · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 12:40 a.m.

Dear Harlan, I am 22 years old, single and very desperate. Well, I've only been looking since the Super Bowl, but I plan to continue to look for something exciting in sports until March Madness begins. See, from the conclusion of the Super Bowl until the madness, nothing exciting is taking place in sports. Every major sport is either in its dreadful middle-of-the-season stretch, or simply in the offseason. I apologize Harlan, but my boredom since the conclusion of the Super Bowl has me watching re-runs of "Full House" on Nick at Nite.