Longform

Baker's Junction: Battling 'communism,' Bloomington zoning

Every morning when Beverly Deckard looked out her kitchen window, she was greeted with two signs of affection from her neighbors across the street. The first, a giant middle finger fashioned out of rusted sheet metal. The second, a huge billboard with the endearing love note: "Kiss my ass you commey-planning zoning. We have the right zoning and permits. I am not closing or moving, you commey-bastard neighbors can move."

Dissent

Delta Lambda Phi is "not exactly" a gay fraternity. "It is open to any males who want to be in it," said junior Jeff Alewine, secretary of the new fraternity, set to colonize on Jan. 19. It may not be a gay frat, but is that how it will be perceived? If that is how it is perceived, will that promote or inhibit diversity on campus?

Taliban planning comeback

PESHAWAR, Pakistan -- Protected by sympathetic clerics, up to 1,000 Taliban and al Qaeda leaders are hiding in Pakistan and planning a Taliban comeback in Afghanistan, according to Taliban members and others familiar with the Islamic movement.

TKE rebuilding for future

Tau Kappa Epsilon has long been the "homeless" fraternity. Bouncing from one place to another, the members of TKE never had a permanent place to display their letters. But now, the house that never had a home can call 1440 N. Jordan Ave. its new permanent address. TKE was established on campus in the late 1940s. Through the years, membership dwindled. By the mid 1990s, chapter membership was low and eventually disbanded. Nothing much was said of the fraternity until the spring of 2000, when a recruiter from the national organization came to initiate a new pledge class for the house and to help revive the long-standing chapter.

Weekend Happenings Calendar

Union Board Summer Concert Series presents Amy Stephens Group USA International Harp Competition World-Wide Sale; 30 percent off Peoples Park Kid City Lemonade Stand

Spacey spins a psycho story

Bike paths unveiled

City officials hope to reduce traffic congestion and lessen Bloomington residents' reliance on automobiles over the next decade. Friday, Bloomington Mayor John Fernandez unveiled the city's 10-year plan for alternative transportation routes and greenways. It calls for the construction of bike-pedestrian sidepaths on heavily traveled streets and a network of connected paths that loops the city's perimeter.

Tensions in Mideast hurting French Jews

CRETEIL, France -- The call came in the middle of the night. When Rahamim Oliel picked up the phone, he learned that the Ozar Hatorah school he directed -- the Jewish place of learning he had cherished for 28 years -- had been set ablaze. That same night, vandals tried to deface the only synagogue in Creteil, a grim suburb just south of Paris where the city blocks are studded with cheerless, socialist-style apartment complexes. Despondent, Oliel, a small man who wears the black hat and long beard associated with conservative Jews, said he realized then that a climate of open anti-Semitism had returned to France some six decades after the Nazi horror.

Aussies support Prime Mimister's refugee stance

CHRISTMAS ISLAND, Australia -- For nine days, Prime Minister John Howard faced a barrage of international criticism for refusing to let a boatload of refugees enter Australia. But opinion polls Tuesday showed Australians overwhelmingly supported his hard-line stance.

Students 'let the good times roll' for Homecoming

It's official: "Let the Good Times Roll." IU students will be rolling across campus today continuing the week-long homecoming celebration with a parade around Bloomington. The parade starts at 5:30 p.m. with entrants lining up in front of Willkie Quad, 150 N. Rose St. From there, the parade will follow south, turning west onto Third Street. Participants will then turn north onto Indiana Avenue, with the parade concluding at the Sample Gates.

Judge pushes back Kirby sentencing

MARTINSVILLE -- A Morgan County Superior Court Judge has reset Judy Kirby's sentencing from today to June 13. On March 25 last year, an allegedly suicidal Kirby sped the wrong way up Ind. 67 for 1.7 miles, plowing into Thomas Reel's minivan. Reel and his children, Jesica and Bradley, died in a crash that the police estimate occured at a combined speed between 159 and 177 miles per hour. The collision also claimed the lives of Kirby's children, Jordan, Joney and Jacob, and Jeremy Young, a nephew in her care.

Jordan River Forum

'Liberal' disorientation helps humanity IDS wording unfortunate Holding signs doesn't offer solutions

More walkouts threaten racism talks

DURBAN, South Africa -- Under threat of a devastating European walkout, the World Conference Against Racism held closed-door meetings Wednesday to try to find compromise language on the Israel-Palestinian conflict and reparations for slavery. France warned it and the European Union could follow the United States and Israel by quitting the U.N. meeting, which was meant to highlight discrimination around the world but has been marred by discord over efforts to condemn Israel for "racist policies." The conference, which began Aug. 31, is scheduled to end Friday.

Hoosiers head into four-game weekend

Heading into the Indiana Invitational this weekend, the IU softball team looks to hone its skills before getting too far into the spring season schedule and into Big Ten play. The Hoosiers gained vital game experience over spring break as they played 12 games in 11 days and moved their record to 6-10-1. IU's three games scheduled for this past Wednesday and Thursday were postponed because of inclement weather.

Brand, student to change roles

Students now have a unique opportunity to discover what goes into being the president of IU and to get a glimpse of the day-to-day workings of the University. The President for a Day contest, co-sponsored by the IU Student Foundation, IU Student Association and the IU Student Alumni Association, allows one winner to switch roles for a day with President Myles Brand. The student will attend meetings and speak with IU administrators, while Brand attends the student's classes and takes part in his or her other normal activities for that day.

IUSA to appoint director

The IU Student Association gets down to business for the fall semester with its first full meeting at 7 p.m. today in Ballantine Hall 103.

Eclectic band back at Buskirk

In 1991, in a smoke-filled basement of an Ohio bar, the jam began and ekoostik hookah was born. At 7:30 today, the band will bring its eclectic sound to the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., courtesy of Union Board. Despite falling into the jam band category, percussionist Johnny Polansky said he doesn't want ekoostik hookah to be glued to that label. "Every band jams," said Polansky. In general, he said he doesn't agree with the idea of labeling bands. "Someone may recommend a band and say they sound like this or that. And when you go check them out, you may think, 'What? I didn't hear that at all.'"

Fiji utilizes exchanges, excitement to qualify for pole position

Phi Gamma Delta survived cold temperatures and the exchange problems that plagued many teams to earn the pole position for the 51st Men's Little 500. Fiji earned the pole by recording a time of 2:30.00 Saturday at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Delta Chi and Sigma Phi Epsilon qualified second and third with times three seconds behind that of Fiji.

Colombia rebel leader convicted

BOGOTA, Colombia -- A Colombian rebel commander was convicted and sentenced in absentia on Monday to 40 years in prison for the 1999 murder of three American pro-Indian activists, the federal prosecutor's office said. The verdict came a day before Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Colombia. Washington broke off tentative peace contacts with Colombia's largest rebel faction following the killings of U.S. citizens Terence Freitas, Ingrid Washinawatok, and Leh'ena'e Gay.

Pageant entertains, excites crowd for hours