Longform

Holiday magic comes alive

By Jessica Dalsing · Monday, Dec. 15,2003 12:14 a.m.

Twelve soldiers emerge from the depth of a life-sized present and begin to dance in unison about the stage. The red sequins of their hats and the metallic sounds of the taps hitting the floor keep the time of the music as the audience struggles to take in every element of the scene.

Personalizing holiday gifts

By Cecelia Wolford · Monday, Dec. 15,2003 12:12 a.m.

So you think gift wrap is just the pesky intermediary between you and what you want? Think again! With a little creativity, you can make a gift something really special for the person receiving it.

Concert to honor senior killed in car crash

By -Jenny Kobiela · Monday, Dec. 15,2003 12:08 a.m.

Uncle Fester's House of Blooze, 430 E. Kirkwood Avenue, will host a memorial party at 10 p.m. Wednesday for Jon Fillippo, an IU senior killed in a car accident Nov. 28. The party will feature hip-hop music by area DJs, including Top Speed, Cypher Devine, the Devastator and Tom Slick. "Jon enjoyed hip hop," his roommate Justin Hart said. "He mainly listened to hip hop or rap … it's fitting to play hip hop (at the party)."

Musicians educate audience

By Josh Hamm and Joshua Hamm · Monday, Dec. 15,2003 12:08 a.m.

A Samulnori ensemble performed at the Mathers Museum of World Cultures Thursday. Samulnori is a traditional Korean musical style that uses percussion instruments. The ensemble is a group of four IU students each playing a different instrument. Samulnori is made up of two root words: samul which signifies "four things" and nori which means "to play." Thus, Samulnori suggests four people play instruments in the performance.

Look out, he's the hat man

By Alyson Brodsy and Jack Silverstein · Sunday, Dec. 14,2003 11:32 p.m.

During the summer before my freshman year at IU, I went out to buy a new hat. Now, for some people, this may not be a huge purchase. But for me, hats are like temporary tattoos that last five years. On the drive to the store, I was considering either an IU hat or a Northwestern hat, but when I got there, I remembered that I hadn't worn a Bears hat since the 7th grade. Decision, done.

National champions!

By IDS staff and Adrian Sainz · Sunday, Dec. 14,2003 4:52 p.m.

The IU men's soccer team couldn't have created a better ending for legendary coach Jerry Yeagley. The team scored two first half goals and hung on amid a snowstorm to win 2-1 and give Yeagley his sixth NCAA Championship in 31 years.

Saddam captured

By Abdullah AlShihri and John Solomon · Sunday, Dec. 14,2003 10:10 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. raiders were not certain at first they had their man when they pulled a bearded man from a hole in a Iraq cellar, but soon were able to determine it was Saddam Hussein. The Associated Press was shown documentary evidence that the person captured is Saddam Hussein. The evidence depicted Saddam as disheveled and wearing a long beard. Further evidence depicted Saddam with his trademark mustache but otherwise clean shaven.

President got first heads-up of capture Saturday afternoon

By Abdullah AlShihri and Jennifer Loven · Sunday, Dec. 14,2003 8:47 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush first learned that Saddam Hussein may have been captured on Saturday afternoon, and was given confirmation of the most sought-after prize in the Iraq war early Sunday, a senior administration official said. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called the president, who was spending part of the weekend at his Camp David retreat in Maryland, around midday Saturday to deliver the news of the raid's possible success.

Ball State to alter police policy

By Andrea Minarcek · Sunday, Dec. 14,2003 6:53 a.m.

Ball State University is changing its university police officer training program and boosting efforts to respond to student alcohol abuse, said BSU President Blaine Brownell during a news conference Thursday.

Hoosiers headed to championship

By Tim Street · Saturday, Dec. 13,2003 12:40 a.m.

On a bitter cold night in Columbus, Ohio, the Hoosiers earned Jerry Yeagley his 543rd career victory -- and the chance to get one more. Pat Yates broke a scoreless tie in the fourth minute of the second overtime when he took a lob from midfielder Brian Plotkin six yards out and headed it past Santa Clara keeper Kent Harkness into the top left corner of the goal.

'It's all in God's hands'

By Emily Hendricks · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 11:04 p.m.

William Snapp has written to governors and senators. He has reached out to nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C. He spreads his message to anyone he thinks can help -- all in hopes that his dream will come true.

Pettitte spurns Yankees, signs with Astros

By Alyson Brodsy and Ronald Blum · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:50 a.m.

NEW YORK -- Andy Pettitte chose home over history, agreeing Thursday to sign with the Houston Astros and leave the New York Yankees. New York wasted little time in trying to land a replacement, closing in on a trade with Los Angeles that would send Kevin Brown to the Yankees for Jeff Weaver in a swap of starters, said a baseball official on the condition of anonymity.

IU ready for Tigers

By Colin Burns · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:49 a.m.

The No. 23 Hoosier wrestling team faces a tough chore this weekend, competing in two matches against high quality opponents. First, IU travels Saturday to the No. 5 Missouri Tigers to wrestle in a dual meet and then returns home Sunday to battle Eastern Illinois, Gardner Webb and Wabash in a four-team match.

Heisman to be handed out Saturday

By Alyson Brodsy and Josh Dubow · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:48 a.m.

NEW YORK -- Jason White appeared to be a lock to win the Heisman Trophy until he flamed out in the Big 12 title game. Luckily for Oklahoma's quarterback, he was not alone. Three of the four finalists for college football's most prestigious award had their worst games of the season with conference championships on the line. In a sport where late losses often count much more than early ones in the rankings, White, Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning hope the same doesn't hold true when the Heisman is awarded Saturday night.

Cowboys look to rebound against 'Skins

By Alyson Brodsy and Joseph White · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:46 a.m.

LANDOVER, Md. -- How does 8-5 feel? Not good at all when the last two games were lost by a combined 45 points. And when the coach is Bill Parcells, it feels downright miserable. "It makes for a loooooooong week," safety Darren Woodson said. "You can't wait until they blow that whistle for the Washington game. That's the kind of week this is ... a lot of yelling, a lot of screaming. Nothing's going to be right no matter what it is. He's a sore loser, and I think that's what he wants us all to be, sore losers.

Team comes home after 19 days away from IU

By Ryan Cost and Ryan J. Cost · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:45 a.m.

The IU women's basketball team (4-2) will finally get to see some action on its home hardwood when it faces Maine (4-2) at 7 p.m. tonight in Assembly Hall. The game will end a 19-day absence for the Hoosiers from their home court. "It feels good," junior guard Jenny DeMuth said. "We have been on the road for a long time, and the traveling just gets to you. We're just happy to be back home."

Hoosiers ready for tough foe

By Natalie A. Trout · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:45 a.m.

Two very different teams with the same 3-3 record will fight for their fourth win of the season Saturday at Assembly Hall. IU will host Butler in a contest that historically shows IU as the favorite. The Hoosiers lead the series 34-12. Sophomore guard Marshall Strickland said the team's confidence is high after their 66-63 road win at Notre Dame on Wednesday night but adds they aren't taking the Butler game lightly. "We went into Notre Dame thinking we could win it," Strickland said.

We've got a winner

By Alex Hickey · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:43 a.m.

Last week, I complained about the lack of a winning team at IU. But that was before the discovery of Ryan Tapak. And I also managed to neglect the IU men's soccer team. I admit, I grew up a soccer-hater. I thought soccer players were just pansies that couldn't handle a real tackle and it was a game for them durn furinurs anyway.

on the SIDELINES

By Alyson Brodsy · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:41 a.m.

LSU's Nick Saban wins AP Coach of the Year award NEW YORK -- This is one honor LSU coach Nick Saban won't have to share. Saban's steady leadership helped earn him The Associated Press Coach of the Year award Thursday, beating Pete Carroll of Southern California. "Even though I'm accepting the honor, it's for all of the players and coaches and support staff, also," Saban said. "They all had as big a part in it as I did. I'm very flattered and honored."

Area clinic to close

By Lindsey Jancek and Lindsay Jancek · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:05 a.m.

After 20 years of business, the Martinsville Planned Parenthood of Greater Indiana will close its doors Dec. 15. The Martinsville clinic is one of three clinics scheduled to close this year, with others closing in Salem and New Castle. A statement released last month from Planned Parenthood of Greater Indiana, said after a demographic evaluation, the clinic was said to be unnecessary.