Region

Pacers gaining notoriety

By Dan Gelston · Tuesday, Feb. 11,2003 12:21 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana's resurgence as one of the NBA's elite teams has drawn considerable attention, but not always for the right reasons. Everything from Indiana's physical play to bizarre antics has earned the Pacers a reputation as one of the league's toughest -- and most combustible -- teams. "We're just stepping onto the national stage," coach Isiah Thomas said.

Louisville home for dynasty, Pitino

By Chris Duncan · Tuesday, Feb. 11,2003 12:20 a.m.

LOUISVILLE, Ky -- Rick Pitino listens to the laughter, and it reminds him how much he has changed. Like so many basketball coaches, he has made one stop after another, always ready for the next job. Now at Louisville, he takes time to look around.

Does anybody care anymore?

By Alex Hickey · Tuesday, Feb. 11,2003 12:19 a.m.

This Wednesday, I want you to do something that you may have never done before. When the Hoosiers step onto the floor at Assembly Hall, I want you to boo. Boo them hard. Boo harder than you ever have in your life. Boo them like five Luke Reckers have walked onto the floor. Boo until you are hoarse. Boo them so that they are confused about whether they are playing Michigan at home or on the road.

Softball Hoosiers to open season

Tuesday, Feb. 11,2003 12:17 a.m.

Softball Hoosiers to open season Softball Hoosiers to open season Friday When the 2003 campaign begins there will be a different face in the dugout for the IU softball team. The girls have a new coach in Sara Hayes, who has replaced 15-year veteran coach Diane Stephenson.

Heads kept above water after losses

By Alex Witteveld · Tuesday, Feb. 11,2003 12:14 a.m.

The women's water polo team returned home from the Stanford Invitational this weekend with mixed emotions. Although the Hoosiers lost three games while winning just one they felt as if it was a positive experience. And it will help them in their future games.

Seniors look to freshmen

By Jeff Fuldauer · Tuesday, Feb. 11,2003 12:13 a.m.

At last weekend's dual meet with Kentucky, the seniors took the spotlight for the final home meet of their careers. But also making waves in the Hoosier's campaign for a Big Ten Championship has been the performance of a spectacular freshman class.

Injuries begin to add up

By Natalie A. Trout · Tuesday, Feb. 11,2003 12:09 a.m.

The women's basketball team's season took an unexpected turn on Nov. 9. Junior guard LeeAnn Stephenson stepped up for a lay-up during practice and tore her ACL. It was almost a month later on Dec.17 when freshman guard Kali Kullberg tore her ACL as well. To this day coach Kathi Bennett grimaces at the thought of losing the two players. "You can always tell when they go down and what their reaction is," Bennett said. Kullberg remembers the day clearly and said it started out like any other practice. She wasn't even at full speed when she was running the drill. Kullberg was dribbling to the top of the key to make a pass and stepped forward. She said nothing felt weird and didn't land weird. Kullberg also had no idea how serious the injury was. Stephenson's story isn't much different than Kullberg's. It was the first drill of practice, a little one-on-one, she said. She went to make a lay-up and heard something pop.

Snow, cardboard and glue

By Lori Geller · Tuesday, Feb. 11,2003 12:08 a.m.

While this winter's heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures confined many people to indoor warmth, others reveled in the perfect conditions for the third annual Snow Box Derby.

It's not too early to search

By Lindsey Jancek and Lindsay Jancek · Tuesday, Feb. 11,2003 12:07 a.m.

As many college students begin to ponder their future jobs and careers this semester, good news might not be waiting for them. With rising unemployment and low optimism, a difficult path lies ahead for job hopefuls.

Energy costs soar with Iraq threat

By H. Josef Hebert · Tuesday, Feb. 11,2003 12:05 a.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Prices for heating oil and gasoline are soaring and likely to keep rising as energy markets cope with a colder than expected winter, the loss of Venezuela's production and worries about war with Iraq.

Investing toward future financial freedom

By Dan Lines and Daniel Lines · Tuesday, Feb. 11,2003 12:04 a.m.

College students have many concerns, and preparing for retirement generally isn't one of them. But long-term investments, whether they are in the form of a retirement fund, a mutual fund or the open market, can provide advantages for people who start investing at an early age.

Roommates aren't forever

By Brandon Tucke · Monday, Feb. 10,2003 11:58 p.m.

For most students, this time of the year means finding a place to live for next year and figuring out who to live with. But as many students are beginning to discover, deciding where to live is just the first step. Choosing your roommates may be the most important decision you will have to make.

A learning opportunity is at hand

By Charlie Nelms · Monday, Feb. 10,2003 11:58 p.m.

Anger, insult, outrage, disgust and disappointment are just a few of the emotions that I experienced upon seeing the caricature of the black person in the affirmative action comic in the Feb. 5, 2003 issue of the IDS. The comic was reminiscent of an earlier era in America in which cartoonists depicted blacks in some of the most negative and stereotypical images imaginable. At worst, the depiction was racist and, at best, the decision to run it reflected a high level of racial insensitivity on the part of IDS staff.

Unity strives for change

By Jake Rossman · Monday, Feb. 10,2003 11:56 p.m.

"We're going to play a little game called IU ups and downs," Aaron Radez said to the crowded room of Residence Hall Association floor governors at Collins Learning center Sunday. "When I do this," he said, putting his thumbs up in the air, "you say 'up,' and when I do this (putting thumbs down), you say 'down.' Ready?"

Color of money: Crimson

By Alyson Brodsy and Drew Buser · Monday, Feb. 10,2003 11:55 p.m.

In the last year, IU tuition has increased by 9 percent. This year's current freshmen were hit with another $1,000 fee to help IU's "commitment to excellence." If you haven't felt the squeeze, I'm sure your parents have. The increases are partly due to a budget crisis, and also to finance "groundbreaking" projects. Even without tuition funding, IU Athletics wasted $136,000 on a marketing campaign that a junior high student could have made with Microsoft Paintbrush.

Jordan River Forum

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Feb. 10,2003 11:54 p.m.

Sedia's music reviews lack knowledge Iraqi situation not as simple as money for the poor Legislators need to be educated about standardized testing Changes to Student Code have strong Orwellian feel Greek 'Party Patrol' seems oxymoronic Joe Grace's columns a welcome break for college students Money makes more of an issue for those who lack it Who cares what celebrities think? America should not stand in defiance of World Court

Hands in the federal pocketbook

By Alyson Brodsy and Tony Sams · Monday, Feb. 10,2003 11:54 p.m.

The federal budget is boring. I mean, really boring. You might think it's boring hearing or reading about it, but I'm actually writing about it, so think about how boring it is for me. Then think about how well I slept afterward. But it's an important topic very worthy of discussion because it's relevant to everyone. The problem: how does one approach discussing a thing like this? The last thing I want to do while I'm sitting in class, completely bored, is look down to read an article that's so much more boring that it makes me want to pay attention to the class.

Double-standardized tests

By Elisha Sauers · Monday, Feb. 10,2003 11:52 p.m.

If you tote your cell phone to class, make sure it's only for the sake of staying connected to gossip and booty calls. Some University of Maryland students decided to use their phones for a more academic-oriented reason, and now they suffer the consequences of automatic failing grades and permanent notations on their transcripts indicating that they cheated.

Tradition put to the side

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Feb. 10,2003 11:51 p.m.

Forty-eight years of tradition has been thrown to the wayside by the IU Student Foundation. Citing a decline in spectator interest, worn-down tricycles and a hope that the new Little Fifty relay running race will fill the void, IUSF cancelled the annual Mini 500 tricycle race, ending the Mini 500's 48-year run as a highlight of Little 500 week. We feel that IUSF's decision to cancel the race was made hastily, without considering alternative solutions.

Dissident given life in prison

By Audra Ang · Monday, Feb. 10,2003 11:49 p.m.

BEIJING -- A U.S.-based Chinese dissident was convicted Monday and sentenced to life in prison on charges of spying and terrorism, ending a bizarre saga that involved allegations of cross-border kidnapping and hostages found tied up in a temple. Outraged activists rejected the charges against Wang Bingzhang as false and politically motivated.