Longform

Ryder Film Festival brings 1st of 12 movies in series

By Risha Kohli · Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 11:37 p.m.

Nashville, Tenn., filmmaker Jon Russell Cring is taking his films on the road, and Bloomington will be one of his stops. He’s bringing his independent movie, “Bernee,” his first film in a series of 12, to the Ryder Film Series on Sunday.

Beading Bee allows students to ‘meet and learn from each other’

By Lindsay Davis · Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 11:36 p.m.

The Beading Bee is a series of workshops designed to teach students about Native American culture through bead work. Becca Riall, chair of the Native American Graduate Student Association, teamed up with Deeksha Nagar, curator of education for the Mathers Museum, to make these events available throughout the semester.

A performer for the The Dark Side Tribal Belly Dance Goup performs in front of a crowd of attentive spectators on Thursday night at the Starlight Drive In Theatre. The audience hissed and hawed in appreciation as the group snaped and claped to the beat.

Dark Carnival to frighten, entertain

By Alexandra Brown · Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 11:35 p.m.

Nowhere else is there a place one can see a demon leaning against a car and sipping a beer as a bearded woman saunters throughout a crowd of people.

Dear Bush: Bail me out

By Mitchell Blatt · Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 10:57 p.m.

Sorry if I appear ignorant about economics, but I just don’t understand how a government operating at a deficit of more than $400 billion can purchase a financial firm that lost more than $26 billion this year for $85 billion. I guess that seemed like a good investment in our government’s eyes. I mean, the firm they purchased, A.I.G., is not losing anywhere near as much as the government.

Improving campus security solid choice

Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 10:52 p.m.

Campus safety might be on students’ minds lately. Besides recent national tragedies such as the Virginia Tech and the Northern Illinois University shootings, IU students recently experienced a test of the IU-Notify system and a reported incident with an unidentified slasher. Campuses have been under a lot of pressure to improve safety, but recently Congress decided that measures need to be taken to ensure that every school at least makes minimum preparations. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a measure to require college institutions to have emergency-response plans for their campuses.

True Life: I’m Pregnant!

By Shane Springer · Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 10:51 p.m.

Am I the only one who finds this absurd? At a time when we are seeking to elect a new leader to run our country the foremost and pressing issue seems to be which trimester Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s 17-year-old daughter is in. On one side of the ring stands the Democrats, bruised and bloodied, who are using the matter to somehow raise concerns that the governor of Alaska is hypocritical in her stance that the preaching of sexual abstinence should be the only way to educate young adults. Maybe safe-sex education is the answer?

Man arrested for possession of cocaine, OxyContin

By Elvia Malagon · Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 10:50 p.m.

Bloomington police arrested a man Wednesday afternoon after they say they found cocaine inside a popcorn box in his home.

Panel discusses effectiveness of abstinence-only sex education

By Rorye O'Connor · Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 10:48 p.m.

Kindergarteners in the Monroe County Community School Corporation learn that AIDS is transmitted through body fluids. Members of the League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe County learned this, and how sex education is taught throughout MCCSC students’ entire education, at a panel discussion Wednesday in the Monroe County Public Library auditorium. League members and attendees also discovered the ways various organizations in Monroe County offer a chance for teens and adults to learn how to protect their bodies from sexually transmitted infections.

God-given rights

Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 10:48 p.m.

In response to Sarah Palin’s hope that people in every country can enjoy “God-given” rights including “life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness” Nick Wallace remarks, “Can we really elect a leader who defines what is right for her country only by the voices she hears in her head?” (IDS, Sept. 17). A little history lesson might be in order.

West Nile virus discovered in Monroe County

Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 10:47 p.m.

The first sign of the West Nile virus this year was announced today by Monroe County health officials.

BPD to hold open house Saturday

By Elvia Malagon · Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 10:46 p.m.

The department’s open house will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the BPD headquarters located on 220 E. Third St. The open house is part of the department’s 109th anniversary, said Danny Lopez, communications director for the City of Bloomington.

Taking responsibility

By Kristi Lafree · Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 10:45 p.m.

We’ve all heard it at least once by now. A professor asks his class for opinions about Sarah Palin and her quick rise in the political sphere as John McCain’s vice-presidential pick. If you’re lucky, you’ll get one or two educated answers about Palin’s policies or experience.

Ready for anything

By Julia Boriss · Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 10:42 p.m.

IU’s new emergency alert system is filling up my voice mail and inbox like a needy ex-lover. On Sept. 5, the IU-Notify system was tested in the form of loud sirens, cryptic e-mails and a voice mail message left on my phone and yours from IU Police Department Capt. Jerry Minger. (I don’t remember giving this dude my number or permission to call me during class, so that kind of feels threatening in its own way).

Mexico suspects powerful gang behind attack

Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 9:29 p.m.

Mexican investigators are looking at the powerful La Familia drug gang as a suspect in the deadly Independence Day grenade attack.

Heli crash kills 7 U.S. soldiers

Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 9:28 p.m.

Seven American soldiers were killed in southern Iraq early Thursday when their helicopter crashed as it flew into Iraq from Kuwait. Military officials said they suspect a mechanical problem was to blame after ruling out hostile fire.

4 dead after formula scandal

Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 9:25 p.m.

Thousands of parents anxious about tainted baby milk powder rushed their infants to hospitals for health checks on Thursday as the government said that a fourth child had died in the scandal that has engulfed one-fifth of the nation’s formula makers.

Gates: U.S. reviewing its Afghanistan war strategy

Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 9:24 p.m.

In an echo of a time when things were going from bad to worse in Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday the Bush administration is reviewing its war strategy in Afghanistan amid spreading insurgent violence, rising U.S. and allied military deaths and doubts about winning.

IU commits $1 million to diversity initiative

Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 2:43 p.m.

IU is committing $1 million to increasing diversity, President Michael McRobbie announced today.

IU track and fields names new assistant coach

Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 2:14 p.m.

IU track and field coach Ron Helmer announced Abbie Stechshulte as a new assistant coach.

We’re all journalists

By Cory Barker · Thursday, Sept. 18,2008 12:38 p.m.

“Entertainment.” “Oh, so you mean like celebrities, Britney Spears and Hollywood stuff?” That’s basically the gist of many conversations I’ve had throughout the past year since I began writing as a columnist here at the Indiana Daily Student. It really takes too much time for me to explain to people that when I say I cover “entertainment” stories, I don’t mean celebrities. And thus, my problem.