Longform

School seeks federal help for racial tension

By Associated Press and Alexandra R. Moses · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 11:32 p.m.

FORT WAYNE – East Allen County Schools and a local branch of the NAACP both want to enlist the U.S. Justice Department to relieve racial tensions at a rural school, leaders say.

Trial starts for Indiana marine charged in Iraqi soldier’s death

By Alexandra R. Moses and Chelsea J. Carter · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 11:31 p.m.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Prosecutors claim Lance Cpl. Delano Holmes of Indianapolis murdered an Iraqi soldier while the two men stood guard together in Fallujah. But the 21-year-old Marine reservist says he acted in self-defense.

Duke Energy gets approval for S. Indiana coal plant

By Shannon Dahmer · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 11:30 p.m.

Opposition to Duke Energy’s planned coal plant continued to go up in smoke Nov. 20 as the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission gave the go-ahead to Duke Energy for the construction of a technologically advanced “clean coal” power plant in Edwardsport, Ind., about 50 miles south of Bloomington.

IU researchers to evaluate 21st Century Scholars Program

By Shannon Dahmer · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 11:23 p.m.

IU-based researchers will be given two years to conduct a study to determine the success of the 21st Century Scholars Program. The researchers have been awarded a grant of $497,000 to conduct the study.

Former naval officer gets medical school position

By Bertrand Teo · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 11:22 p.m.

A new captain is onboard the Indiana faculty. Retired naval officer, Dr. Peter A. S. Johnstone will be taking over the chairmanship duties at the Department of Radiation Oncology at the IU School of Medicine. Coming from Emory University School of Medicine, where he was professor of radiation oncology and hematology/oncology, Johnstone arms himself with a wealth of experience and a clear vision for his role at IU.

Fraternity to host dinner for Boys and Girls Club

By Lindsey Alexander · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 11:21 p.m.

Alpha Tau Omega will host a holiday dinner and celebration for children of the Boys and Girls Club tonight at 5 p.m. Each room in the fraternity house will be dedicated to one attending member Boys and Girls Club. The fraternity members in that room have purhcased gifts based on the child’s listed wants and needs, said Andrew Hubbarth, ATO vice president.

The great MBA debate

By Heather Haemker · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 9:57 p.m.

As students venture forth after graduation, furthering their education sometimes proves to be the ideal choice. Some choose graduate school, others, law school; others opt for a different degree: the MBA, or Master of Business Administration.

Around the world

By AP Reports and Arthur H. Rotstein · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 9:49 p.m.

A mass grave with the remains of 12 people was unearthed in an area long controlled by al-Qaida in Iraq

So you want to be a scientist

By Leigh Boerner · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 9:49 p.m.

Is science so much different than magic? The two disciplines do share a common root in alchemy. Like Hogwarts students, scientists have to study for seven years or more to obtain that qualification that makes them an expert: the Ph.D. And if there’s one thing J.K. Rowling, Ursula K. Le Guin and Diane Duane have taught us, it’s that magic requires great dedication, concentration and study, and certainly not everyone can do it.

Putin’s United Russia party sweeps seats in parliament

By Arthur H. Rotstein and Vladimir Isachenov · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 9:48 p.m.

MOSCOW – Foreign election observers and Russian opposition groups accused authorities Monday of manipulating a sweeping parliamentary victory for the party of President Vladimir Putin

High-stress jobs prove risk factors for depression

By Brandi Baldwin · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 9:46 p.m.

After six different jobs, Dody Crane finally found one she loves. Sitting behind her makeup stand at Merle Norman Cosmetics in the Fountain Square Mall, she sharpens lip pencils and waits for customers to come in for a makeup consultation or to buy eyeliner.

Military believes Afghani al-Qaida is resurging

By Arthur H. Rotstein and Lolita C. Baldor · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 9:46 p.m.

KABUL, Afghanistan – The U.S. military is seeing early signs that al-Qaida might be stepping up its activities in Afghanistan,

What dreams may come

By David Weisburd · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 9:41 p.m.

The average life expectancy for a person in the United States is 28,562 days. Considering the average person reading this column is roughly 7,300 days into his or her life, this is a relevant statistic.

Gordon leads Hoosiers to win in 1st road game

By Michael Sanserino · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 9:26 p.m.

CARBONDALE, Ill. – For more than an hour before opening tip, the Southern Illinois students sitting on each end of the basketball court screamed hellfire directed at freshman Eric Gordon and the rest of the IU men’s basketball team. Photo Gallery (12/01/2007)

Contemporary Dance Program shines

By Ashlee Green · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 9:01 p.m.

Dancers turned, jumped and contracted their bodies across the stage of the John Waldron Arts Center Auditorium Sunday during “On the Verge,” a concert presented by the IU Contemporary Dance Program. Produced wholly by students, the show featured the choreography of eight senior dancers who are soon to graduate.

Letters from Abroad

By Lindsey Landis · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 8:59 p.m.

BOLOGNA, Italy – You might have just finished a five-page thesis for your topics class. Or maybe you have spent countless hours preparing for your graphic design portfolio review or re-learning reagents and reviewing old synthesis problems for organic chemistry.

Far from Mayberry

By Rebecca Glasgow · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 8:58 p.m.

This place has that small-town feel, ambient whistling and is also a place where everyone knows everyone else’s names. It may sound like Mayberry – the perfect community – but as soon as the play begins, the audience soon realizes this town is full of secrets, cautious whispers and “incidents” that happen with every wrong move against a powerful resident.

Wishing ‘n’ wanting

By Scott Leadingham · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 8:36 p.m.

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth,” or so goes the old holiday jingle, covered by such renowned performers as Mariah Carey, George Strait and Alvin and the Chipmunks. Gosh, I love Christmas. There are few holidays around, religious or national, that have the ability to bring together groups as eclectic as Strait, Carey and the other performers mentioned above – furry and potentially rabid woodland creatures.

That’s my Bush!

By Peter Chen · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 8:35 p.m.

President Bush must be kind of lonely these days. His staff and aides are jumping ship like mad, and rather than embrace the incumbent’s legacy, the entire Republican field is invoking Reagan, not Bush. I hardly need to mention the torrents of criticism that Democrats are heaping upon Bush and his historically low approval ratings.

Until we meet again

By Grace Low · Monday, Dec. 3,2007 8:34 p.m.

It seems appropriate to me that the day I would write my final column would be a gloomy, rainy day in December because I am certainly gloomy and tearful now as I pen my goodbye. This position that I have cherished has been the defining pillar of my life during the last tumultuous year and a half, the constant that has kept me grounded in existential reality. No matter what personal disaster or health crisis or academic demands rattled up my world, no matter where in the world I found myself, I could always count on that same weekly deadline; it has been the one comforting constant. You, gentle readers, have provided me with that gift, and I am so thankful.