Longform

March Madness magical but needs some changes

The magical part of March Madness is that no matter what the NCAA does, the tournament will always be the most exciting sporting event of the year. That being said, there are a few things the NCAA should consider that would make the tournament a bit more fair and even a bit more exciting.

BFC considers resolution to push for open records

A resolution that was introduced Tuesday at the Bloomington Faculty Council meeting urged President Myles Brand and the IU administration to stop fighting the lawsuits brought against the University by The Indianapolis Star. The proposal specifically endorses open access to public records and the insurance that "no further University funds are expended in support of efforts to prevent the release of public documents."

Science Foundation donates $1.3 million

A group of three IU mathematics professors in the School of Education will head a national program to improve mathematics education throughout the country thanks to a $1.3 million grant given to the school by the National Science Foundation.

Commission approves youth justice center

The Bloomington Plan Commission approved a preliminary plan amendment to allow a new youth detention center and community corrections facility to be constructed just southwest of downtown Bloomington.

Taking to the skies

Senior Josh Wees has made the flight from Indianapolis to his home town of Omaha, Neb., more than a dozen times. But he said this year's challenge of booking a flight was more difficult. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, IU students traveling home for the semester's first break will encounter fewer flights to choose from, increased security and warnings from concerned parents.

Activists concerned over Bush's abortion stance

New president-elect of the National Organization for Women Kim Gandy announced last week that she would do everything in her power to put more women's rights supporters in political office and prevent "right-wing political extremists" from receiving federal court appointments. What concerns Gandy are possible vacancies on the Supreme Court that will be filled by justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade.

Food banks in need of more donations

Every day, workers at the Hoosier Hills Food Bank sort cans of food, plan food drives and distribute food to local charitable organizations. Every month, they feed 23,000 local hungry people.

Embracing native culture

Following the success of this weekend's inaugural First Nations at Indiana University American Indian pow wow, plans are currently in the air to bring the event back next year, making the pow wow an annual attempt to further the cultural awareness of the general public and dispel stereotypes concerning Native Americans.

Sooners' intensity will show Saturday

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Against No. 1 Duke, the Hoosiers relied on Jared Jeffries and Jarrad Odle in the paint to bring them back from 17 points to win, 74-73. Against Kent State in the South Regional final last Saturday, IU hit its first eight three-pointers to build a lead it would never relinquish. In Saturday night's first national semifinal against Oklahoma, the Hoosiers will see a defense that is better than both the Blue Devils' and the Golden Flashes.

Cleveland Rocks!

Drew Carey couldn't have said it better in the opening song to his television show -- Cleveland Rocks! As a die-hard Cubs fans, there will never be another stadium that can match up with the beauty and pure awesomeness of Wrigley Field -- but Jacobs Field, the home of the Cleveland Indians, sure isn't that far off. Ever since it was built in 1994, the Jake has been pulling in crowds of over 40,000 on a daily basis.

'Boy': Badly Drawn, Beautifully played

Stick with first plan

The captured al Qaeda fighters that are currently being held at the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are part of an international gang of terrorists. Their operations transcend political boundaries and are a threat to every nation in the world. They are, by their very nature, not protected by a convention designed to regulate international warfare between individual and clearly-defined states or governments.

Xoot's absence realized

People seem to vanish from life like steam from a cooking pot into the air. At one moment they are a potent substance, able to satisfy and invigorate like the aromas of a bakery or a Jewish mother's kitchen. Returning to IU for a fourth and final year is a sobering ritual from which I'm sure many of my fellow seniors are starting to feel effects. One day I woke up and realized that in nine months, hopefully, I'd have a bachelor's degree from IU. And then it's the real world, non-MTV style. I now take freshmen around the theatre department, where I show them the building I've known for three years that, in four months, will be vacated for newer facilities.

Team reinstated to race

Team Major Taylor said Wednesday in its arbitration hearing if it did not have freshman Joshua Weir as a teammate it would not ride at all. After weeks of controversy, an arbitration hearing and increased support from minority students, all four team members will ride.

Activist tells of 2 years spent living in tree

A barefoot Julia "Butterfly" Hill spoke Tuesday night to a packed Whittenberger Auditorium. Hill, an environmental activist, spent two years and eight days living in a tree to protect a community of ancient redwoods in California. As she spoke about her best friend, Luna, the tree she inhabited from 1997 to 1999, her experiences and passions, she called all the people in the room environmentalists, even if they didn't call themselves that. Piper Ingram, a junior in the audience, said that she attended the lecture out of curiosity, and that she felt "inspired to do something. She made me think that even my little contributions can make a difference, that we all can help."

Get out and live

Tomorrow I'm going to hop on my 2002 Cannondale road bike and venture out to New York City. Yes, I am crazy, and no, I'm not in as good a shape as I should be. But I'm still doing it.

Why do we still watch Tyson?

It would insult your intelligence if I told you that Mike Tyson is scum. Heck, it might even insult his intelligence.

Women's team falls in Big Dance

DURHAM, N.C. - The IU women's basketball team's gig as post-season Cinderella ended last night. A feisty horned frog wouldn't transform into a prince, preventing any further fairy tales for IU. The ninth-seeded Hoosiers (17-14) applied tight defense against eight-seeded Texas Christian (24-6) in IU's first NCAA tournament game since 1995. But the Hoosiers' offense didn't hold up its end of the bargain, shooting 23.5 percent from the field en route to a 55-45 first-round loss at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Lady Frogs face Duke, who defeated Norfolk State last night, in the second round Sunday.

11 killed in attack on bus in Algeria

Alleged Islamic militants opened fire on a bus in Algeria, killing 11 people, the North African nation's official news service said. Ten others were wounded.

Suicide prevention resources should be better promoted

There has been a great injustice to some members of our IU community recently. If you haven't heard about it, that's because they can't speak for themselves. The people I'm referring to are Jason Schwab and Bradley Henninger. You know the names and have read the stories. Many of you were their friends or acquaintances.