Region

Wildermuth name to stay

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:37 p.m.

Even while students were resting at home this winter break, IU’s All University Committee on Names reaffirmed its previous recommendation to keep “Wildermuth” in the name of the intramural center. Retaining the name of the prominent IU board member and avowed racist caused controversy, even when the name of IU’s first black basketball player, William L. Garrett, was proposed to be added along with Wildermuth’s.

Making a splash in Washington

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:35 p.m.

When President-elect Barack Obama announced several appointments to his administration’s Justice Department last week, the nomination of IU law professor Dawn Johnsen was among the most highly praised. Salon columnist Glenn Greenwald heralded Johnsen’s appointment to head the Office of Legal Counsel, a Department of Justice subsidiary, saying her appo intment “may be Obama’s best yet, perhaps by far.”

The politics of race

By Christian Hines · Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:34 p.m.

Over our winter break, in the midst of a political scandal that has engulfed the state of Illinois, embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris to Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat. If seated, Burris would become the only black senator in the chamber.

We don’t have it that bad

By Tyler Chernesky · Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:33 p.m.

Already? That went by fast. I guess between the dollops of cheeseball, the gifts and returns, the coffeehouse reunions and the joyous ringing in of ’09, my winter break ticked away. Classes start today. And though the wait for spring break will be long and cold, I can’t help but think: What a great time to be a college student.

A new year, a new you

By Amanda Cochara · Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:29 p.m.

Two words: popcorn shirts.No, don’t worry. Those bubbly, one-size-fits-all blouses from the late 90s are not back in style. I am sure you remember that so-called “fashion statement,” which had a starting size fit for a doll, yet had limitless stretch.

Future Chinese execs encouraged to seek inner chickens

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:28 p.m.

Amena Schlaijker makes her students cluck like chickens, mimic a toothbrush, jump up and down or pretend to die an agonizing death.

Joe trades wrench for reporter’s notepad in Israel

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:27 p.m.

Joe the Plumber has set aside his wrenches to become a rookie war correspondent, covering Israel’s side of its two-week-old military offensive in Gaza.

Ex-pro dancer teaches Bloomington ballroom dance moves

By Amanda Lowry · Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:27 p.m.

Feeling awkward on the dance floor comes about as naturally for most people as getting sweaty palms in front of someone they like. But if there’s one time-tested method for overcoming shyness both on the dance floor and in romance, it’s learning ballroom dancing.Dance instructor Margot Scholz teaches one-hour classes in ballroom dancing from 4 to 10 p.m. Mondays at the John Waldron Arts Center and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays at the Bloomington Adult Community Center.

Israel protest targets U.S. consulate in Pakistan

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:26 p.m.

Security forces used tear gas and batons to repel anti-Israel protesters who tried to attack a U.S. consulate in Pakistan on Sunday, as tens of thousands in cities across Europe, the Middle East and Asia demonstrated against Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Illusionist BJ Harris levitates a table Saturday afternoon at the Buskirk Chumley Theater. Harris wowed the audience with tricks to entertain, as well as some classics to amaze.

Audience is left ‘Senseless’

By Brent Williamson · Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:24 p.m.

Magic was in the air Saturday night as illusionist BJ Harris performed his faith-based show “Senseless” at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. As part of the North Central Church of Christ’s Youth Conference, he entertained the audience with a display of mind tricks, sleight of hand and escape acts, giving a short speech before the finale about his philosophy of life and magic.

Salmonella prompts King Nut peanut butter recall

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:24 p.m.

An Ohio distributor says it has recalled two brands of its peanut butter after an open container tested positive for salmonella bacteria.

IU freshman Daniel Moore (3) pancakes Illinois' Trent Meacham (1) as he dives for a loose ball in the second half of a 76-45 IU loss in Champaign, Ill. The defeat was the Hoosiers' sixth consecutive and eighth in their last nine games.

Hoosiers stumble at Illinois to 6th straight loss

By Matt Dollinger · Saturday, Jan. 10,2009 7:08 p.m.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Last year’s infamous chest bump pales in comparison to the in-game beat down the Fighting Illini laid on the Hoosiers Saturday.After holding their own but losing in their first two conference games, IU coach Tom Crean and his team got the kind of Big Ten welcome many had been bracing for all season.A 31-point thrashing marked the biggest loss by the Hoosiers in the rivalry’s 161-game series.IU’s orange rivals to the west opened the game on a 21-2 run and never relaxed their grip of the lead. The Illini led by 25 at the half and continued to humiliate the traditionally proud basketball school in the second half, brushing off the Hoosiers 76-45 and handing their longest losing streak – at six – since 2004.

Police: 16-year-old involved in shooting called 911 himself

Saturday, Jan. 10,2009 12:49 p.m.

Police said Friday that the 16-year-old who was shot by Bloomington Police made the 911 call himself. After an investigation, the cell phone number of the individual matches the number captured by dispatch when the call was placed, according to a BPD press release.

Details released on police shooting

Friday, Jan. 9,2009 4:58 p.m.

Officers John Coleman and George Connolly were the two policemen involved in the shooting of a 16-year-old Bloomington North High School student. A preliminary investigation revealed no police misconduct.

Illinois House impeaches Blagojevich

Friday, Jan. 9,2009 11:53 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois House has voted to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich, an unprecedented step in state history.

Robin Williams to perform new set at IU Auditorium

Friday, Jan. 9,2009 11:02 a.m.

Robin Williams, famous comedian and actor, will hit the IU Auditorium stage March 26 at 8 p.m., the University announced Friday morning.

McRobbie orders $4.9M cut in budget

By Haley Adams · Friday, Jan. 9,2009 12:16 a.m.

IU took a direct hit Wednesday from the state of Indiana’s economy. IU President Michael McRobbie announced a reduction of $4.9 million in the operating budget for all IU campuses. However, IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said students should not feel its effects. “Hopefully it will have fairly minimal impact,” MacIntyre said.

James Cooper (left) and Edward Vasquez (right), two organizers for a demonstration on the conflict in Gaza, stood at the courthouse.

Conflict hits home for IU student in Israel

By Savannah Worley · Friday, Jan. 9,2009 12:11 a.m.

For an IU student studying abroad in Israel and many others with ties to the region, the ongoing violence is a reminder of the country's instability. Some blame Hamas for the recent violence, while others say Israel shares the blame for its ongoing occupation of Gaza.

A hard wind’s a-gonna blow

By Zachary Osterman · Friday, Jan. 9,2009 12 a.m.

Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends. It’s been far too long since we caught up. How is the new year? Get any good holiday loot? I think I speak for all of us when I say I’m just so excited for classes to fire back up that I can hardly tie my shoes. OK, that’s done, thankfully.

Freshman guard Verdell Jones goes for a baket as Michigan's DeShawn Sims attempts a block Wednesday at Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers face Illinois on the road this Saturday.

Weber: ‘Indiana will suck’

By Tom Kirby · Friday, Jan. 9,2009 12 a.m.

Last time IU traveled to Champaign to take on Illinois, the game was one of the most highly anticipated matches of the year. Led by then-coach Kelvin Sampson and freshman star Eric Gordon, the Hoosiers played in front of a volatile Illini crowd. When IU won, it boosted its record to 19-3 while Illinois dropped to 2-9 in conference play. Just 11 months later, things have dramatically changed, but the bitterness across the border remains. Although Sampson has been exiled from college basketball and Gordon has moved on to the NBA, Illinois coach Bruce Weber continues to add fuel to the rivalry between IU and U of I.