Longform

Borrowed money, borrowed time

By Chase Cooper · Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 11:29 p.m.

When economist John Maynard Keynes, highly regarded among modern liberals, famously summarized the notion that it’s often better to improve immediate circumstances than to constantly plan for the future. “In the long run,” he quipped, “we’re all dead.” As it turns out, “the long run” might just be 2008.

The suspect of Monday's bank robbery, pictured here from security camera footage from the west branch of the Monroe Bank, left the location with an undisclosed amount of cash. The Bloomington Police Department is still searching for the suspect.

West branch of Monroe Bank robbed Monday

By Elvia Malagon · Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 11:28 p.m.

Police say the west side branch of Monroe Bank was robbed Monday afternoon. At about 4 p.m. a male entered the bank, located at 4191 W. Third St., and presented a note to the bank teller demanding an undisclosed amount of money, said Bloomington Police Department Capt. Joe Qualters, reading from a police report.

The Harold effect

By Ayesha Awan · Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 11:27 p.m.

Unless you’ve spent the last year sedated, you have probably noticed that this year’s presidential election has been charged with talk of racism toward Sen. Barack Obama, starting right at the primaries. In 2008, many Americans would like to think that we, as a nation, have moved beyond racism. Of those who know we haven’t, many acknowledge that at the very minimum, it is no longer socially acceptable to voice racist views.

Stonewalling the people

By Thomas Wachtel · Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 11:24 p.m.

The nation’s economy stands on the brink of collapse – literally. Last week on Good Morning America, Sen. Chris Dodd said leaders were told “that we’re literally maybe days away from a complete meltdown of our financial system.” There is conflict over how best to prevent that collapse.

MCCSC adds activity fee, cuts summer school

By Elvia Malagon · Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 11:11 p.m.

Beginning this year Monroe County Community School Corporation students will have to pay more to get involved in sports or extra curricular activities. Parents of high school students received letters dated Sept. 18 informing them of the new $20 fee that students are required to pay for each sport or activity they are involved in, said Teresa Grossi, president of the board of trustees. Instructions for paying a $20 activity/season fee will be sent to MCCSC students currently involved in a sport or extra curricular activity, according to the letter.

Children interviewed after raid on Arkansas religious compound

Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 4:19 p.m.

State and federal authorities are investigating the possible sexual abuse of minors at a 15-acre evangelical compound run by a convicted tax evader whom critics describe as a cult leader.

Change in plans reportedly saved Pakistani leaders

Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 4:18 p.m.

Pakistan’s top leaders were to dine at the Marriott devastated by a truck bombing over the weekend, but changed the venue at the last minute, a senior official said Monday.

Big Ten Preview: IU near bottom of conference in recent championship success

By Matt Dollinger · Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 2:18 p.m.

Tom Crean likes to characterize IU’s tradition with a simple phrase: “It’s Indiana.” Why did the new men’s basketball coach take a turmoil-ridden job with IU? Because it’s Indiana. How are you going to sell recruits on becoming Hoosiers? Well, it’s Indiana.But does ‘Indiana’ mean what it used to?

Recycling available to off-campus students

By Samuel Leffers · Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 12:29 a.m.

Most environmentally conscious students would agree that recycling is a win-win situation. Doing it helps the environment and, because it’s free in Bloomington, saves money on trash pickup.

Professor Mary Jo Kane talks with Former Senator Birch Bayh during the Title IX panel discussion in 2004 at IU. Bayh will speak today on campus.

Sen. Birch Bayh to speak Thursday at IU

Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 12:27 a.m.

Former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, an IU Law School alumnus, will be speaking Thursday at IU. Bayh, father of Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., will speak from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. about the separation of church and state in the Moot Court Room at the IU School of Law. John Schlafer, law student and president of the IU chapter of the American Constitution Society, said the group expects a full house.

COMMENTARY: When football becomes just a game

By Bryan Payton · Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 12:26 a.m.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Bryan Payton is a national sports columnist for the Indiana Daily Student and a running back for the IU football team. This column is his reaction to a career-ending injury sustained by Ball State wide receiver Dante Love in the Hoosiers' game Saturday against Ball State. Going into this past weekend, I planned to write about the Tampa Bay Rays or maybe how politics affects the world of sports, or maybe even the week in football. But after Saturday night, I quickly changed my mind.

Ball State players gather to pray while the medical staff helps teammate Dante Love on Saturday night in Memorial Stadium. Love was motionless on the ground after getting hit by an IU defender and was taken off the field on a stretcher.

Ball State says career over for injured player

Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 12:22 a.m.

Ball State announced Monday that senior wide receiver Dante Love is expected to lead a healthy life after extensive rehabilitation from a cervical spine fracture and spinal cord injury suffered Saturday night during his team’s 42-20 win against IU. But he is never expected to play football again, according to a Ball State news release. “His football career is expected to be over,” Ball State coach Brady Hoke told The Associated Press. “He has touched a lot of lives, and he will continue to do so.”For senior tight end Darius Hill, Monday’s news came as a relief.“It’s been pretty tough knowing he’s not going to be with us, but he’s always going to be a part of this team,” he told the AP. “It definitely takes a lot (of the concern) off, knowing that he’s going to be all right down the road.”

New ‘green’ cemetery to open in Monroe County

By Jessica Anderson · Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 12:20 a.m.

Funeral director Nathan Butler expects to finalize paperwork this October on the new Evergreen Forest Cemetery, which won’t have matching headstones in neat, evenly spaced rows. Rather, he pictures “a forest preserve.” “A green cemetery isn’t going to look like a park,” said the Kelley School of Business alumnus.

IU recruit enjoys visit, looks for doctor’s release to play

By Jordan Cohen · Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 12:02 a.m.

IU recruit Derek Elston hasn’t played basketball in more than four months. The senior forward from Tipton, Ind., suffered a torn meniscus at an AAU event on May 17 and underwent surgery just four days later to repair his knee.

Junior golfer Martin ties for 1st in Illinois

By Jeremy Rosenthal · Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 12 a.m.

Last week at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate, junior Alex Martin didn’t even crack the top 25, falling in the final round to tie for 28th overall and third-best among Hoosier golfers. What a difference a week makes.

The glory of old IU?

By Matt Dollinger · Tuesday, Sept. 23,2008 12 a.m.

Hoosiers like to consider their athletics department among the Big Ten’s elite. But Big Ten title times have been tough in Bloomington lately.

Fasting takes a toll during Ramadan

By Sam Leffers · Monday, Sept. 22,2008 11:51 p.m.

This month, IU Muslim students are fasting in observance of Ramadan, a time of spiritual reflection and self-sacrifice observed during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The fasting, which includes abstinence from water as well as food, begins at sunrise and ends at sundown with prayer and a meal called iftar.But some say fasting is difficult in college because students have to balance so many responsibilities.

Academia and the arcade

By Megan Meyer · Monday, Sept. 22,2008 11:50 p.m.

Could a new hit video game be the next step in teaching evolution? Will Wright, the game designer behind The Sims, spent years creating "Spore," a new video game that is supposed to simulate the process of evolution. But, local specialists in both biology and learning sciences say that Spore is a fun game and nothing more.

Junior Alex Kocher teaches a zumba class Saturday morning at the YMCA. Zumba is an exercise program based on latin dance, and is derived from the Columbina word to mave fast and have fun.

Fitness buffs go crazy for ‘Zumba’

By Shannon Burruss · Monday, Sept. 22,2008 11:45 p.m.

Combine Latin music and salsa dancing with resistance training, and you have the recipe for “Zumba,” the new exercise dance craze that’s trying to make working out fun again.

A financial system in FREE FALL

By Greg Rosenstein · Monday, Sept. 22,2008 11:44 p.m.

The financial crisis that took place on Wall Street last week can be summed up in one word: chaos. Lehman Brothers, one of the top investment banks in America, filed the largest bankruptcy claim in U.S. history after going $613 billion in debt. One of Lehman’s main rivals, Merrill Lynch, nearly suffered the same fate before being bought out by Bank of America. And in the largest government bailout ever, insurer AIG was given an $85 billion loan from the Federal Reserve after plummeting share prices and credit downgrades caused investors to sell shares. Now, President Bush is requesting that U.S. lawmakers pass a $700 billion bailout plan to help financial institutions holding large amounts of bad mortgage debt. The turmoil leaves students with plenty of questions.