Longform

The fine print

By Chase Cooper · Tuesday, Sept. 25,2007 8:10 p.m.

It seems like everybody’s getting in trouble these days – not for their actions, but for their words. Have you noticed how many people out there are just sitting around waiting to be offended by the things that other people say? Just about every other day some politician, religious leader or media personality makes an apology for something he said that caught a bunch of flak. I’ve never understood why someone would go to the trouble to say something provocative and then turn around and apologize when people are provoked! If it needs to be apologized for, don’t say it in the first place; if it doesn’t need to be apologized for, stand your ground. In this column, I plan on saying what I mean and meaning what I say. If I get something wrong I’ll correct myself, but I’m not going to apologize for taking unpopular positions.

Boycotting boycotts

By Ayesha Awan · Tuesday, Sept. 25,2007 8:05 p.m.

On Sunday, I watched an interview with a lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union about how he defends the rights of groups he disagrees with, such as the Ku Klux Klan. He has no regrets about defending these groups’ rights to free speech because he staunchly believes in everyone’s right to constitutional liberties, whether or not he agrees with them.

Home schooling

Tuesday, Sept. 25,2007 8:02 p.m.

I am 9 years old and this is my mom; her name is Betty, and this is my other mom; her name is Kim.” This statement, uttered by a girl featured in a New Jersey public school system diversity education video, while it seems harmless enough, has been part of a major controversy. New Jersey law mandates teaching fourth grade students a diversity education curriculum, which includes the half-hour video, “That’s a Family!”

'Take Back the Night' postponed

Tuesday, Sept. 25,2007 7:31 p.m.

"Take Back the Night" has been postponed because of the weather. Idsnews.com will post the new date as soon as it is rescheduled.

Student treated for disease that fewer than 5 contract per year

By Sophie Pappas · Tuesday, Sept. 25,2007 4:06 p.m.

On Thursday, junior Tony Berger had a severe sore throat. On Friday, he had a sore throat and a fever. On Saturday, he was hospitalized and informed that he could be suffering from diphtheria, a rare infectious disease.

The new face of activism

By Michael Reschke · Tuesday, Sept. 25,2007 12:49 a.m.

The forum for political activism on college campuses has moved away from the streets to networking Web sites on the Internet.

Immigration bill targets ‘sanctuary cities and states’

By Brandi Baldwin · Tuesday, Sept. 25,2007 12:46 a.m.

An Indiana congressional representative introduced a new way to curb the perceived immigration problem last week.

More Bloomington drivers buckle up

By Vicky Nasteva and Viktoria Nasteva · Tuesday, Sept. 25,2007 12:45 a.m.

Not willing to risk a ticket or their lives, more Bloomington drivers are buckling up this year.

IU’s ‘master plan’ announced

By Michael Reschke · Tuesday, Sept. 25,2007 12:40 a.m.

A new “master plan” for the IU-Bloomington and IU-Purdue University Indianapolis campuses is in the works today.

Bayh announces support of Clinton’s candidacy

By Alexandra R. Moses · Tuesday, Sept. 25,2007 12:37 a.m.

WASHINGTON – Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, who once aspired to be the Democrats’ presidential nominee, on Monday endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton’s bid for the White House.

Casino heads, Gary officials clash

Tuesday, Sept. 25,2007 12:04 a.m.

GARY, Ind. – When casino-owner Don Barden added the Trump Casino to his existing Majestic Star in a November 2005 deal for $253 million, he announced plans to build an entertainment center, a convention space and a hotel along Lake Michigan. He said at the time the buyout would benefit the region because one leader, not two, would advance casino-related decisions. Gary officials are still waiting.

UAW launches national strike

Tuesday, Sept. 25,2007 12:02 a.m.

DETROIT – Thousands of United Auto Workers walked off the job at General Motors plants around the country Monday in the first nationwide strike against the U.S. auto industry since 1976.

Fasting ain’t fast

By Mike Abrams · Monday, Sept. 24,2007 11:57 p.m.

For one day a year, Starbucks’ sales take a huge hit. That one day is Yom Kippur, the Jewish holiday where practicing Jews fast (no food and water) from sun-down to sun-down. Having now fasted for the past seven years, I figured it’s time to give a running diary of what goes through my head during this difficult holiday. Here’s what transpired:

Curses!

By Peter Chen · Monday, Sept. 24,2007 11:55 p.m.

The Rocky Mountain Collegian, a free, student-produced newspaper at Colorado State University, published a two-word editorial on Friday, stating: “FUCK BUSH.” In the ensuing uproar, the newspaper has already lost $30,000 in advertising, prompting 10 percent employee pay cuts across the board. How DARE they? How dare they deliberately attack “The Commander Guy” during a time of war with such crude profanity? As we know, only the president and his cronies are allowed to swear in public: “There’s Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times.”

Hippie Catholics

By Grace Low · Monday, Sept. 24,2007 11:55 p.m.

Today, I’m proud to be a Catholic. While the governments of the world are busy pointing fingers and charlatans like Al Gore are imploring everyone else to save the world, the Vatican is putting its money where its mouth is in the fight against environmental degradation. Plans are already in motion for it to become the word’s first carbon-neutral state by developing a 37-acre climate forest in Hungary, calculated and designed to directly offset the Vatican’s carbon emissions. The development of a climate forest is largely a symbolic move, as the Vatican is a tiny state whose contribution to the global carbon crisis is minimal. In the long run, it would take major industrialized states following the Vatican’s example to honestly help undo all the hurt we’ve caused to our planet.

Tailgate nation

By Scott Leadingham · Monday, Sept. 24,2007 11:54 p.m.

What makes us Americans? Freedom-hating liberals might say it’s our insatiable appetite for nation building and global hegemony, while crazed, gun-toting conservatives may believe it’s that sense of patriotism we all get while watching Dale Earnhardt Jr. circle the track. Lee Greenwood, on the other hand, likely thinks being an American means actually liking his song “God Bless the USA.”

Hundreds of roses are individually sewn onto the traditional Garland of the Roses each year.

Examining the art of massage

By Ben Homrig · Monday, Sept. 24,2007 11:53 p.m.

After a long day in classes, working on that ever-present paper or studying for the next day’s exam, students need to relax. For many IU students, a massage is the ideal remedy for the grind of a stressful college lifestyle.

‘Don’t Tase me, bro’

Monday, Sept. 24,2007 11:52 p.m.

If you’ve seen the YouTube video of Andrew Meyer’s arrest at a University of Florida forum featuring John Kerry, in which Meyer squirmed and yelled as he was escorted out, you’ve heard the question he keeps asking. It’s not the one he asks John Kerry that’s important, but rather the one he asks police. During the arrest, he repeatedly demands, “What did I do? What did I do?”

Does the ‘chocoholic’ exist?

By Emily Pickett · Monday, Sept. 24,2007 11:43 p.m.

Few indulgences have had such universal historical appeal as chocolate, which spans cultural boundaries and exists in all varieties to match each individual’s tastes and budget. The average Joe can grab a Mars Bar out of the nearest vending machine for less than a dollar, while connoisseurs seeking a more refined taste can travel to Knipschildt Chocolatier in Norwalk, Conn. and buy a single dark truffle for $250.

Optometry open house set for Saturday

By Heather Haemker · Monday, Sept. 24,2007 11:41 p.m.

The IU School of Optometry will hold its annual open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the school’s building at 800 E. Atwater Ave. The event will allow prospective students to take tours of the school and talk to staff members about the field.