Region

Open letter to co-founders of the Neal-Marshall Black Alumni Club

A few weeks ago as the All University Committee on Names expressed its reluctance to interfere with IU’s traditions, I wrote a letter to the Indiana Daily Student suggesting that Wildermuth’s name remain on the Intramural Building and be used as an opportunity to teach the University community about the history of the University‘s racism. For too long racism and its impact on people of African descent in this state, as well as the entire country, has been hidden and denied. I believe it should be openly discussed.

Cell phone scapegoat

I was late for class on a recent Thursday. Though it was my fault and I should have taken responsibility for my tardiness, I cursed my cell phone. In hindsight, I realize the device was just an easy scapegoat. Lateness was my own fault. I never turned my phone back on its regular setting after keeping it on silent during my Wednesday classes. Silly me. So the alarm on my cell phone went off at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday as usual. The fact that it didn’t make any noise, however, reduced its effectiveness. What good is an alarm if it won’t even wake up a watchdog?

Their duty; our duty

A week ago, we observed Veterans Day. Keyword: observed. We recognized it was upon us, paid a brief tribute to those who have served and then promptly moved on.   But perhaps we missed something. While patriotic parades meandered down city streets across this country, we found it easy to forget the thousands of veterans who call those same streets home.

A bond like no other

The openings of James Bond movies are, for lack of a better word, ridiculous. In the expanse of about five minutes, Mr. Bond generally manages to survive disasters on the scope of nuclear explosions, freak Alpine landslides and horrific jet-ski accidents. Any normal human being would be toast about 30 seconds into the film. Because it’s clearly not the movies’ true-to-life sentiment or realism that drives our nation’s obsession with the character, what is it about Mr. Bond and his exploits that attracts us?

Good vs. Evil, Garrett vs. Wildermuth

In a highly anticipated and deliberated decision, the All University Committee on Names is recommending that the Ora L. Wildermuth Intramural Center be renamed the William L. Garrett/Ora L. Wildermuth Fieldhouse. Largely an exercise in semantics, the name proposal honors William Garrett, the first black basketball player at IU, while retaining recognition for Wildermuth, a former IU trustee who espoused segregationist views. The Committee’s recommendation to the Board of Trustees will also include the creation of an annual “signature series” lecture and a conference that focuses on the name change. Given the intense coverage generated by Wildermuth’s racist views, the Committee’s decision strikes us as an act of cowardice, an act that seeks to placate all sides without addressing the real concerns here. While administrators might have us believe that the juxtaposition of names serves as an educational opportunity, it only helps cheapen and degrade William Garrett’s legacy, one that deserves its own recognition.

Problems and puppies

Now that the presidential race is over and the nation knows who will be sitting in the White House come January, things seem a little less exciting. Browsing news sites and watching CNN, one notes a lot more pessimism hovering across the face of anchors now that the manifestation of change has become a reality, and everything has stayed the same. Or, in some cases, has just gotten a whole lot worse.

Bloomington residents protest California Proposition 8

Californians might have already voted to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, but Saturday about 250 Hoosiers came out to announce the fight was not over.The crowd gathered on the Bloomington Courthouse lawn for two hours Saturday afternoon to protest California’s recently passed Proposition 8, the amendment to the state’s constitution that eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry.

IUDM raises more than $1.3 million for Riley Hospital

After 36 hours of no sleep, IU Dance Marathon participants didn’t seem like they had the energy to burst into applause and cheers. That all changed at the announcement of the fundraiser’s total. IUDM raised $1,376,550.23, which beat last year’s total by more than $300,000. The money goes to the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center at Riley Hospital for Children.

IU topples Northwestern State

The Hoosiers emerged victorious in Tom Crean's regular season coaching debut, defeating Northwestern State 83-65 Saturday night.

Woman dies after fall from parking garage

A 20-year-old Bloomington resident died Saturday morning after jumping off a parking garage.

IU's lame second half leads to Penn State rout

STATE COLLEGE, PENN. – It was a different week for the IU football team, but it was the same story as had been reported after seven of their 10 games this season.

LIVE BLOGGING: IU vs Penn State

Join Indiana Daily Student reporters Ryan Gregg and Lee Hurwitz, and columnist Dave Leno in Happy Valley as they blog during the Hoosiers' game against Penn State.BLOG:  UNDER THE ROCK

Men's soccer takes Big Ten Tourney 1st round match

2 ranked teams on tap as volleyball looks to get back on track in conference play

Crean excited about ’09 recruiting class’ depth

Runners look ahead to Nationals

Women's basketball hosts 1st round of preseason WNIT Friday

Different day, different Hoosier star

What I know and what I think

Football wracked with injuries ahead of Penn State clash

Last week, both the IU and Penn State football teams had dreams dashed. IU lost its seventh game of the season, making it impossible for them to go to a bowl, while Penn State had its undefeated season busted, likely knocking the team  out of contention for the national championship.