Longform

'Les Miserables' stunning

Opening in the dark prisons of France, "Les Miserables" stunningly sweeps the audience into the tale of Jean Valjean, paroled prisoner with a purpose in life. With the low growl of prisoners the first sound after opening curtain, the tone of struggle and despair is set.

Badgers intent on postseason success

There are only two tournament teams in Division I women's basketball that ended their season the way they wanted - with a win. First is Connecticut and its legendary march to the NCAA championship. The second team is Wisconsin.

Let the bidding begin

Bidding on baseball's free agents started last week, and the end result of all the offers and negotiations is likely to produce the highest-paid player in the history of the sport.

IUPD Blotter

Coach tries out for pro league

Women's soccer assistant coach and former IU standout, Wendy Dillinger, is about to receive a rebirth in the sport she loves. Dillinger was one of 200 nationwide invitees to try out for the Women's United Soccer Association in December.

Hoosiers prepare for Purdue, Brees

How does a defense go about stopping Drew Brees? For that matter, can a defense stop Drew Brees? Purdue's senior quarterback, who is winding down his campaign for the Heisman Trophy, has shown that might not be possible. A defense can only hope to slow him down.

Great American Smoke Out a day for smokers to quit

Sophomore Allan Henderson digs through his bag for his cigarettes while sitting on the steps of Ballantine Hall. With 10 minutes to spare before class, Henderson makes time for one last smoke. He began smoking after he graduated from high school and now smokes daily.

Lions overpower Hoosiers

An IU volleyball fan stood just feet from the court opposite the Hoosier bench Wednesday night, dropping to push-up position after each Hoosier point. His-push-up-after-every-point approach did help a crowd of 397 hop to its feet, but had Amanda Welter's wish been granted, the fan might have left University Gym strong enough to bench press a couple of cars in the parking lot.

Judge's order in St. Louis was unfair

Circuit Court Judge Evelyn Baker issued an order Election Day to keep the polls open in St. Louis an additional three hours than the rest of Missouri, an order in effect for only 45 minutes before a state appellate court overruled her. She issued the order, she said, because long lines at the voting machines, caused by technical difficulties, had deprived some residents of the right to cast votes.

A crazed turkey tradition

The picture is an angry-looking turkey. I'm still not sure what possessed me to draw the thing, but the turkey just looks really ticked off. Maybe he's about to be eaten, or maybe he's just mad about being overweight. But the turkey looks like he's about to chew the leg off some unsuspecting farmer.

Fun with internships

\"Laura! It's been too long... we've missed you so!" And I, darling readers, have missed you. After all, you are the collective sunshine of my existence.

Former Miss Arizona speaks on perfectionism, eating disorders

What could possess a woman who has won beauty pageants her whole life to despise her body and demean her own self image?

Democrats fight like Republicans

I've been called cynical for so long that I'd begun to believe it. But this year's election campaign made me realize how naive I really am. Something in me (the inner child who once believed in John F. Kennedy?) still expects liberal Democrats to be more rational than conservative Republicans. Another illusion bites the dust.

Bennett couldn't escape the lure of coaching

Coach Kathi Bennett was on a different career path in the mid-1980s. Believe it or not, Bennett had no plans of being a coach. In fact, she did not want to roam the sidelines piling up the headaches and heartaches that came with the job. Through her dad, she'd already had enough of that.

University finishes plan, replaces faculty computers

The future of the University was the recurring theme Tuesday at the University Faculty Council meeting, as members discussed everything from a new computer turnover system to the effect of the community college program on IU.

Election still in air as courts deliberate

Chads. Butterfly ballots. Palm Beach County. Two weeks ago, these words were hardly commonplace in dinnertime discussion. But with the presidency hanging in the balance because of voting errors in the Southern Flordia County, many people cannot stop talking about them.

Davis wins first game as head coach

IU's 80-68 victory was a historic game for IU basketball for two reasons: The Hoosiers advance to the second round of the National Invitational Tournament in their first win since coach Bob Knight was fired, and Mike Davis won his first game as IU's head coach.

Sweet Revenge

Interim head coach Mike Davis said he couldn't feel his legs when he walked on the court Tuesday before IU's game against Pepperdine in the first round of the NIT tournament in Assembly Hall. He said he was nervous and was afraid that he would trip over one of the television cables.

Fire guts downtown building

Bloomington firefighters were called to a two-story stone building in Bloomington's downtown at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to extinguish a fire that consumed most of that building and endangered nearby businesses.

Loving the unknown

Inevitably, when people ask me questions about HIV, they are simple questions -- how, when and who. They are questions asked to fill in newspaper responses, quick and to the point. They focus both on how I live now, and how, as I lived before, HIV happened to me.