Longform

Indianapolis attorney Fred Glass, left, is introduced by IU President Michael McRobbie at a press conference announcing Glass as the new IU athletics director Tuesday at the DeVault Alumni Center. Glass, a partner at Baker & Daniels in Indianapolis, is an IU alumnus.

New A.D. an ‘Indiana Boy’

By Tom Kirby · Wednesday, Oct. 29,2008 12:09 a.m.

Being a two-degree alumnus from IU, as well as having a mother, wife and daughter with degrees from IU, left newly-named Director of Athletics Fred Glass describing himself as an “Indiana boy” Tuesday at his introductory press conference. Glass’ ties to the University ended up being a deciding factor in his landing the job. Bill Stephan, vice president for engagement and chair of the athletics director search committee, said while the IU ties weren’t the sole reason for the choice, they played a significant role in Glass’ selection.“I think that was important,” Stephan said. “Indiana’s a special place; it’s a unique place in many respects. Having someone who understands the history, the traditions, the aspirations not only of IU but of Hoosiers statewide; that was a very important factor.”

Republican vice-presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, flanked by country recording artist Hank Williams Jr. and husband Todd Palin, speaks to supporters during a campaign stop Saturday evening in Fort Wayne.

Palin to speak today in Jeffersonville

By Peter Stevenson · Wednesday, Oct. 29,2008 12:08 a.m.

With just less than a week to go until the Nov. 4 elections, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will make another stop in Indiana. After delivering an energy policy speech Oct. 22 in Toledo, Ohio, Palin will campaign through Ohio and Indiana, making a stop today in Jeffersonville, Ind. It will be Palin’s third visit to Indiana in October, highlighting the Republicans’ increasing unease in a state that has gone red in every presidential election since 1964.

Leonard Downie, executive editor of the Washington Post, speaks at on Tuesday evening at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Downie, the third speaker in the IU School of Journalism's Fall Speaker Series, discussed the importance of "accountable journalism" amidst today’s changing media atmosphere.

Former Washington Post executive editor speaks about Watergate scandal, elections

By Zina Kumok · Wednesday, Oct. 29,2008 12:01 a.m.

Leonard Downie spoke to students and Bloomington residents about the upcoming election and the various factors that could affect who voters select on Election Day. He pointed out key battleground states, such as Ohio, Florida and Indiana and debated possible reasons why either Barack Obama or John McCain could win.

IU School of Informatics receives $1.7M in grants

By Cheryl Thomas · Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 11:58 p.m.

If funding fuels research, a handful of IU scientists are about to enter a new field of discoveries with a full tank of resources. A bioinformatics group from the School of Informatics has received three grants totaling $1.7 million.

Collins-Brown’s haunted house banks on ‘definite scares’

By Kyle Dugger · Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 11:56 p.m.

Pedestrian traffic beware. Any students walking on North Woodlawn Avenue today might run into “Dr. Hart Chopin,” the murderous surgeon who haunts the lower levels of Collins-Brown. From 7 p.m. to midnight, tour directors will lead brave groups through the mad surgeon’s hospital, where strange experiments are alleged to be taking place.

New IU dual degree to combine culture with creative writing

By Ashlee Green · Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 11:54 p.m.

IU proclaimed the first joint Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and African-American and African Diaspora Studies in the nation on Oct. 14.

Connor Cadill of Students for John McCain, Aaron Hamlin of Hoosiers for Nader and Andrew Sharp of IU Students for Liberty debate Tuesday night at the Kelley School of Business. The debate covered key election issues with an emphasis on the economy.

IU students represent political parties in debate

By Elvia Malagon · Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 11:52 p.m.

Fair Vote, a non-partisan student organization, hosted a debate between Students for John McCain, Hoosiers for Nader and IU Students for Liberty representatives.

Rebuilding period

By Thomas Wachtel · Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 11:08 p.m.

Considering the media’s belief that the way in which the primaries ended would divide and fracture the Democratic Party, it’s only slightly ironic that the way in which the general election ends may end up doing the same thing to the Republican Party. It appears likely that it will actually happen to the Republicans, unlike the Democrats, but one similarity remains: it will end up better for both parties in the long run. The crux of the dispute is, shockingly enough, Sarah Palin. The Republican Party appears to be dividing into two factions – those who steadfastly support Palin, and those who do not. The latter group includes most of the intellectual core of the party, and the former is made up mostly of people like Rush Limbaugh.

Election 2016

By Ayesha Awan · Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 11:04 p.m.

I have written columns decrying apathy and ignorance, usually based off some dismal statistics. Freshman year, I wrote about how 22 percent of the 1,000 American adults surveyed by the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum could name all five members of the Simpson cartoon family, but only one person could name all five freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment. Junior year, I mentioned that 63 percent of Americans ages 18-24 couldn’t find Iraq on a map, despite the fact that our country is fighting a war there. Then there was the new low hit by the national SAT average in 2007, and the disturbing fact that one of five Americans can’t find the United States on a map of the world.

Obama’s most dangerous association

By Chase Cooper · Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 11:02 p.m.

There’s been a lot of talk this election season about shady associates and allies: William Ayers, Tony Rezko, Jim Johnson, Jeremiah Wright and Joe Biden. As significant and relevant as the questions and criticisms are in this regard, they’re not the most important consideration. The Democratic presidential candidate’s most dangerous association is with himself – the real Barack Obama, whom he’s been trying to keep hidden ever since his rise to national prominence. Obama is running as a center-left candidate who focuses more on emotional themes than on ideology or policy. When he does discuss policy, he often tries to convince us of what a centrist he is, spouting right-wing ideas like tax cuts, for example.

Long Thompson for governor

Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 10:59 p.m.

The race for the governor’s mansion has been, perhaps, the most difficult to decide. Unlike so many races in Indiana, voters have been presented with two competent candidates, both capable of executing the executive’s tasks. Moreover, it’s not clear either candidate would do much more than that. Mitch Daniels has not done a despicable job as governor. Most impressively, he has abolished the good-ol’ boy style of management that marked eight years of the Frank O’Bannon and Joseph Kernan administrations. In office, Daniels has professionally transformed more than $600 million of deficit into a substantial surplus. But neither Jill Long Thompson nor Daniels is running on a platform of serious change or upheaval. Rather, each takes a relatively moderate approach likely to appeal to traditional voters. In this hard time and in stagnant Indiana, we would like to hear braver, more ambitious rhetoric from both. While the candidates themselves stand out for their scholastic excellence and professional preparedness – Daniels graduated from Princeton and Georgetown and was an Eli Lilly executive while Long Thompson holds a Ph.D. from IU and served as undersecretary of agriculture in the Clinton administration – their lieutenant governor choices leave much to be desired.

What went right

By Nathan Dixon · Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 10:56 p.m.

John McCain proposed a $52 billion plan that included new tax cuts on capital gains, tax breaks for seniors and write-offs for stock losses. Barack Obama proposed $60 billion in tax cuts for middle-income and lower-income Americans, more tax breaks to create jobs and new spending for public works projects to create jobs. These were two plans the candidates proposed to deal with the current financial crisis. However, they sound more like the candidates’ old talking points, and these proposals don’t address the root cause of this crisis.

Concert Orchestra to perform today

Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 10:47 p.m.

The Concert Orchestra will perform at 8 p.m. today as part of the Live and Free at the MAC schedule.

This is Thriller! Halloween playlists set on repeat

Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 10:46 p.m.

The week before Halloween is upon us, and the scramble for a good costume begins. Fishnets will be sold out of every store, and Mars Inc. will be sitting pretty.

Fashion takes over Buskirk

Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 10:43 p.m.

If all the world’s a stage, downtown Bloomington is its tributary runway – at least according to event coordinators at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

Police investigating downtown bank robbery

By Elvia Malagon · Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 4:48 p.m.

The Bloomington Police Department is currently investigating a bank robbery that occurred downtown Tuesday afternoon.

Indiana University president Michael McRobbie congratulates Fred Glass on being named IU's next director of intercollegiate athletics Tuesday morning at the DeVault Alumni Center. Glass '81 is an IU alumnus and most recently served as an Indianapolis attorney and civic leader.

Fred Glass introduced as University's next athletics director

By Sean Morrison · Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 12:27 p.m.

IU President Michael McRobbie formally introduced Fred Glass as the next director of athletics at IU this morning at a press conference at the DeVault Alumni Center. Glass, presently an attorney with Indianapolis law firm Baker & Daniels, said he was excited about the new position and laid out a general direction for the future of IU athletics during his tenure. “I really think we need to have a vision,” Glass said. “It starts with comprehensive compliance. We’ve got to follow the rules, and we have to become known again for following the rules.Check out VIDEO from the press conference, including comments from Tom Crean and Bill Lynch, and AUDIO of the IDS' one-on-one with Glass Tuesday afternoon.

Michigan, Purdue match 2-6 records

By Associated Press · Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 12:27 a.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan appears headed for a dubious milestone, but its players and coaches aren’t throwing in the towel. Coach Rich Rodriguez and several players said Monday that their heads are high as the 2-6 Wolverines head into a make-or-break final stretch of games, starting this week at Purdue.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson is embraced by House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., during a campaign stop Monday evening outside of Bloomington City Hall.

Dems descend on Bloomington

By Lauren Clason · Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 12:27 a.m.

In a whirlwind tour of the state, a storm of politicians descended on Bloomington on Monday night for Congressman Baron Hill’s fundraiser at the Showers Plaza.Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson took her entourage on the road in her “Road to Change Tour,” which aims to hit 56 different communities in 10 days.“This is a very important county to any statewide election,” Long Thompson said. “I’m here to talk with voters and make sure that I’m doing everything I can to demonstrate how committed I am to rebuilding Indiana’s economy.”

Hoosiers haunt Hall

Tuesday, Oct. 28,2008 12:25 a.m.

Bringing the number of preseason public scrimmages to three, IU Athletics announced the IU basketball team will hold its first-ever “Haunted Hall of Hoops” at 7 p.m. Friday at Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers will open the event by passing out candy and signing autographs until 7:30 p.m. The team will then scrimmage with a costume parade for children at halftime.