Longform

Fantasy football, week 2

In case you missed the big news out of the New England-Kansas City game, quarterback Brodie Croyle will be missing some time after separating his shoulder against the Pats.

Big Ten has bigger problems than Pizza Express

No decision yet on redshirt for Willis, other freshmen

The first and second teams, including quarterbacks Kellen Lewis and Ben Chappell, respectively, continued taking equal snaps in the Hoosiers’ practice on Tuesday. The only thing different from past weeks’ practices was that the players were in shells – shoulder pads, helmets and shorts.

IU, pop culture, government have changed since IU freshmen were born

The year 1990 ushered in the beginning of the last decade of the 20th century. It was the year that brought us Polly Pocket, Vanilla Ice and “The Simpsons.” And, it was also the year many students in the class of 2012 were born. While the names and faces are different, some parts of college never change.

Commission wants more 4-year grads from state schools

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education released a plan Monday to increase the number of full-time students who graduate – especially in four years – at Indiana’s public universities.

Campus food prices might still increase

When grocery prices increase, campus food prices are no exception.And with food prices expected to rise as much as 6 percent just this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, students are paying significantly more for food on campus than they were last year. More increases could still be coming midyear.

4-star recruit commits to IU Tuesday night

High school senior Christian Watford, one of the best small forwards in the country, has committed to play for the IU men’s basketball team starting next season.

IUPD still searching for a suspect in assault case

The IU Police Department is still looking for the man they believe is responsible for attacking three students early Saturday morning.

Wrong priorities

When I was in Cairo last semester, one of my Egyptian classmates told me she thought American higher education was fair and non-problematic. I asked her what she meant, and she told me about the Thanaweya Amma, an exam that Egyptian students graduating high school must take and score at a certain level to get into a decent university. In her opinion, shared by many Egyptians, the exam isn’t really fair due to the sub-standard state of public schools in Egypt and the advantages given to students whose parents can afford elite private schools and special tutoring prior to the exam.

Let’s tax energy

Mike Sodrel, the Republican candidate for the Indiana 9th Congressional District (which includes Bloomington), recently took a trip to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. What was Mike doing all the way up in Alaska? He has been doing what plenty of Republicans have been trying to do this election season: make energy an issue that actually help’s the GOP.

Sit down, young people

I was watching Sarah Palin’s magnificent speech at the Republican National Convention last Wednesday night with one of my liberal friends. (Yes, I do have a few of those – don’t worry, I’m working on them.) The camera focused on some members of the audience who were, to put it gently, past their prime. My friend remarked, “Man, it seems like this whole election is the youth vote versus the older generation!”

Redefining educational success

Throughout our young lives, we’re all told we can do anything. And usually that road to our dreams runs through college. But American Enterprise Institute scholar Charles Murray feels much different. In his new book, Murray delves into why he believes some of us shouldn’t even be in college, because our brains aren’t capable of dealing with the rigors of college-based education.

A conservative flip-flop

It is fitting that Justin P. Hill is the chairman of Students for John McCain. He, just like Senator John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, totally switches his positions and expects nobody to notice. Last year Hill wrote an entire column in the Indiana Daily Student criticizing McCain for being a liberal. Hill wrote, “McCain only votes conservative on abortion and the military.” Hill even wrote that if McCain was the Republican nominee running against Barack Obama that Obama would win the presidency. So apparently the chairman of the Students for John McCain group doesn’t even think that John McCain will beat Barack Obama.

Bhutto’s widower sworn in as Pakistan’s new president

Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of assassinated former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto, began his term as Pakistan’s new president Tuesday by declaring the war on terrorism a chance for the country to overcome its economic problems.

School of Informatics not afraid of national outsourcing trends

The IU School of Informatics says students have nothing to worry about after a recent study done by New York University Stern School of Business and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania found that 8 percent of information technology workers surveyed have experienced offshore-related displacement.

Law school’s Class of 2011 breaks admissions records

The IU School of Law welcomed one of the smartest classes in its 166-year legacy to campus last week. Deeming IU’s class the most qualified class in history involves looking at it from a quantitative perspective, said Dani Weatherford, director of recruitment for the IU School of Law. It takes into account two factors: LSAT scores and GPA. The LSAT is scored between 120 and 180, meaning the 2011 class’ median score of 164 puts it in the top 9 percent of the country.

IUSA leaders outline goals for new school year

Starting off the year in full force, IU Student Association President Luke Fields and IUSA Vice President Dan Sloat are back in action. After a complicated election last year, both are ready to move on and focus on the promises they made to the IU student body as well as working to improve student life.

Lifelong Learning Coalition offers classes all week

It is Lifelong Learning Week in Bloomington, and the coalition that coordinates its events is offering a variety of free classes to the Bloomington community. Class topics vary from a career exploration workshop to American Fiddle Music in Serbia.

Noise, vandalism addressed at meeting

BPD is trying to make itself more noticeable and get more input from citizens on how it can better serve them through meetings like this and iniatives such as Cops in Schools Expansion, which assigns officers to middle and high schools around the area to form trusted relationships with the students.

Libertarian congressional candidate speaks in Bloomington

Eric Schansberg, Libertarian candidate for Indiana’s 9th Congressional District seat, held a town hall meeting Tuesday night to address potential voters.