Region

Ordinance defeated

At a well attended Bloomington City Council meeting Wednesday, Bloomington's skateboarders scored a victory when council members voted overwhelmingly against an ordinance that would prohibit use of skateboards in all municipal parking lots and garages, including the Showers Plaza.

Speakers address drug use, STDs

Rebekka Armstrong and Jason Farrell do not want to keep students from having a good time. They simply want students to know what they are doing and with whom. The former Playboy Model and businessman shared their perspectives on sexually transmitted diseases and drugs to more than 500 people Wednesday night at Assembly Hall. Both Armstrong and Farrell have had experience with drugs and STDs, and both experienced the effects firsthand.

Volleyball player provides inspiration, friendship

While cheering on her team from the sidelines, junior outside hitter Meghan Stout is constantly prepared. She knows she might be called to go into the game at any minute. There isn't a specific time or substitution that Stout enters at; it happens whenever the team needs her quickness or her serving ability.

Hoosier offense a work in progress

Football coach Cam Cameron uttered some bashful words about IU's offense after viewing film of the team's 44-point performance against Iowa.

Louisiana recruit gives verbal agreement to IU

Donald Perry, a 6-foot-2 point guard from Louisiana, verbally committed to IU Tuesday and said he will sign a letter of intent on the early decision date Nov. 8. Perry, a senior at Reuben McCall High School in Tallulah, La., averaged 25.5 points and eight assists last season. He shot 45 percent from three-point range and 84 percent from the free-throw line.

Midfielder comes to forefront

Pat Noonan carries himself like a veteran now, after one season with the men's soccer team. His demeanor reeks of leadership.

'Remember the Titans' scores, but barely

"Remember the Titans" takes, a strong look at racial equality, using football as the backdrop in Virginia in the early 1970s. Not only does director Boaz Yakin put the points of racial equality on the board, he runs up the score.

'Cecil B. DeMented' a few rewrites shy of great

John Waters has brought us many definitive cult classics such as "Pink Flamingos," "Hairspray" and "Polyester" -- films guaranteed to be extremely campy. While his latest, "Cecil B. DeMented," is unmistakably a John Waters film, it will likely be considered by most as an interesting failure made during the infamous auteur's transitional period.

Repossessed

It has been 25 years since a little girl named Regan was possessed by the devil. Now "The Exorcist" is back, and there are some things viewers haven't seen.

'Urban Legends - Final Cut' as bad as the original

Sequels are usually made because the first movie left the audience wanting more. "Urban Legends: Final Cut," must be the result of trying to get it right the next time around. So much for second chances.

IUPD Blotter

This week in music

This week's concerts.

Kristine W's talent needs to be 'Stronger'

When reviewing an album like Kristine W's Stronger, one must solely concentrate on lyrics and looks. The music, a disgusting blend of pop and dance beats, is a non-factor. Kristine W has a good voice going for her, but whatever DJ is mixing her music should be dragged out of the studio and beaten with a large blunt object.

Fuel's latest doesn't 'shimmer,' but solid

Following-up its platinum, hit-spawning debut, Sunburn, Pennsylvania-based Fuel returns to form with its new album, Something Like Human. Many listeners know little of Fuel, aside from the fact they churned out the heavily rotated hit "Shimmer," in addition to other radio friendly tunes such as, "Bittersweet" or "Jesus or a Gun."

Soundtrack unearths songs that are 'Almost Famous'

For those of us who didn't live through them, decades are often defined by songs from the era that are well-known enough to have stood the test of time on radio playlists and movie soundtracks. For example, "My Girl" by the Temptations represents the '60s, or "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees is the trademark of the '70s. But most people never think of songs that maybe have been on the radio every day during their decade but have since fallen into semi-obscurity.

Organization seeks to battle digital divide

Like computers? Like business? Like Tibet? Anyone who answered yes to those three questions has an open invitation from the national outreach organization Students For Change to join a new series of international technology development programs.

Habitat builds 1st house for handicapped

Monroe County Habitat for Humanity and IU Habitat for Humanity are building their first handicap-accessible house.

Group to tackle racial issues

This week marks the beginning of a group that will discuss an age-old problem. A discussion group labeled "Conversations on Race" will come together once a week for five weeks to confront and address racial ties on campus and problems people have faced with racial biases.

Withholding money hurts students

Last week IU alumnus and audio pioneer Mark Cuban told the IDS he offered to write an open-ended check to purchase the extra bandwidth the University would need to bring back Napster, the banned MP3 program, to IU computers.

A turn for the surreal

It has taken more than 21 years. Twenty-one years for me to realize one thing. I know almost nothing about anything. I apologize to anyone looking for insight in this column.