Region

Iraqi general says VX nerve gas transfer 'ridiculous'

By Abdullah AlShihri and Charles J. Hanley · Friday, Dec. 13,2002 12:06 a.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A senior Iraqi general dismissed as "ridiculous" a U.S. report that an Iraqi chemical weapon was delivered to an Islamic extremist group affiliated with al Qaeda. "They know very well," Lt. Gen. Hossam Mohammed Amin said Thursday of the U.S. government, "we have no prohibited material or activities, and all the stockpile (of chemical weapons) have been destroyed."

Holiday program full of cheer

By Alyson Brodsy and Brandon Morley · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 11:59 p.m.

Another IU tradition played out Wednesday night as the Singing Hoosiers filled the IU Auditorium with the "Chimes of Christmas." But the holiday pageantry was in abundance even before the massive audience consisting of mostly Bloomington locals and University employees filled the seats. As we walked into the lobby, a Christmas tree stood tall garnered with ribbon with a musical score print running from bottom to top around the whole tree. And already the idea of delighting people's ears was in place as the IU Trombone Choir under Director Carl Lenthe made the sounds of Christmas classic like "Angels We Have Heard on High" with their wonderful brass.

12 animals, woman share makeshift home

By Sara Kugler · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 11:59 p.m.

NEW YORK -- Backstage at Radio City Music Hall, past the Rockettes' dressing rooms, three camels, six sheep, two donkeys and a horse keep a woman awake each night. But it's not the noise. Except for an occasional bleat from the sheep, the four-legged stars of the "Christmas Spectacular" sleep soundly. Their human handler, Bambi Brook, dozes fitfully in her makeshift apartment across from the donkey pen and below the stage, where she lives throughout the eight-week run of the show to take 24-hour care of her flock.

IU graduates set up troupe

By Kelli Long · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 11:57 p.m.

Bloomington Music Works is a local community theatrical troupe comprised of local artists and IU students. The troupe, which is currently in its fifth season, specializes in musical theater and produces three to four shows every year. Most of the shows are performed in the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. Brian Samarzea, a graduate of IU's School of Music and BMW's artistic director, founded the company along with other graduates of the School of Music after a theater group with which he was affiliated fizzled out.

Around The Campus

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 11:56 p.m.

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars will hold a holiday dinner and benefit at 7 p.m. tonight in Alumni Hall. The banquet will commemorate the donation of gifts to Toys for Tots and canned goods to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank.

New HPER major starts off strong

By Cere Shovers · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 11:54 p.m.

IU has responded to America's growing interest in physical fitness by creating a new major. The fitness specialist undergraduate program, offered through the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, has had a successful first semester.

Bombay House offers excellent Indian fare

By Katie Killebrew · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 11:52 p.m.

It's a Friday night and dinner is coming around. The Wright Place does not seem suitable to your taste buds -- especially since it's the weekend, and you've been to ChiChi's so many times that your stomach can't take any more of that corn cake mix served with the "el grande burrito." So where else is there to go? The Kirkwood area has a wide variety of different ethnic restaurants that I have enjoyed sampling my past three years at IU. From Thai to Indian to Greek, there are many delicious restaurants that definitely need to be visited.

Book released on history of Kelley School

By Laura Lacci · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 11:52 p.m.

Joseph Waldman came to IU as an M.B.A. student in 1956. Over the years, he worked as a faculty member and served as a chair of the Kelley School of Business. Now, after his 1999 retirement, Waldman has taken on the role of being an author.

Dunkin' Donuts replaced

By Benjy Ekhaus · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 11:50 p.m.

After a five year relationship, Residential Programs and Services and Dunkin' Donuts are cutting ties. Students will no longer be able to get the doughnuts, coffee, bagels and Coolatas from the familiar national chain currently housed on campus at both The Wright Place in Wright Quad and Gresham Food Court at Foster.

Homie dolls cause controversy across the nation

By Sonja Kuhnau · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 11:44 p.m.

Junior Dane Warren went to Marsh to buy groceries. On his way out, however, he was not only carrying his newly purchased food items, but also a small plastic Homie.

Change still needed

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 11:35 p.m.

Three recent IDS staff editorials have prompted me to offer a different perspective. "Watch Your Mouth" on Nov. 20 bemoaned the deterioration of free speech. "Let Tiger Play in Peace" on Nov. 22 argued that Tiger should not be asked to boycott the Masters to protest the exclusion of women from the membership of Augusta National. "Michigan Took the Easy Way" on Dec. 5 argued that Michigan is wrong to accept "lesser qualified minorities."

Affirming affirmative action

By Jim Harper · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 11:32 p.m.

It has been more than 40 years since the doors of U.S. schools were legally opened to people of all races. In these years, the U.S. educational system has been drastically reformed, but one remnant of our policy to rectify past wrongs remains. This critical remnant is affirmative action.

Tradition on the brink

By J.P. Benitez and JP Benitez · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 11:29 p.m.

Pride. It's a wonderful time to be an Indiana sports fan. The Colts and the Pacers are each holding their own, respected forces in their professional leagues. And of course, there's Mike Davis and his Hoosiers.

NCAA gets what University helped build

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 11:26 p.m.

No one believed Myles Brand was leaving Indiana University: not Chancellor Sharon Brehm; not the IU board of trustees; not the staff of the Indiana Daily Student.

'Scarlet's Walk' an easy journey

By Elizabeth R. Ross · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 1:03 a.m.

Scarlet's Walk is a simple, pleasant stroll on a paved path through smooth rolling hills. Amos' journey lacks the distinct changes in landscape that have defined her creative signature, which she established in 1992 with Little Earthquakes. That album's sectional compositions are characterized by abrupt shifts in sound and mood. Generally, Amos maintained creativity in her following albums, though the first disc of 1999's To Venus And Back ends with the radio-friendly ballad "1,000 Oceans."

Library begins project

By Adam Aasen · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12:47 a.m.

Following finals week, the lower undergraduate side of the Main Library will be closed as construction begins on a $1.5 million renovation that will add the Information Commons, a 27,000 sq. foot "hub of high technology."

Search to have broad focus

By Adam Van Osdol and Adam VanOsdol · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12:47 a.m.

IU's Presidential Search Committee, meeting for the first time Wednesday, declared that it would not limit its search to the academic world. Committee members said they would consider hiring business and government officials to lead IU.

Porno profits to pay tuition

By Mitch Blacher · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12:47 a.m.

Shane's World Enterprises has decided to give back to college students by donating some proceeds from the sales of a pornographic video filmed at IU to a college scholarship fund, a spokeswoman said.

A home with heart

By Ben Cunnighman and Ben Cunningham · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12:47 a.m.

Seven-year-old Cameron points to a calendar hanging above his bed, sounding out each day of the week. He reads slowly, trying not to mess up his lesson. "Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturd--" His mentor interrupts. "No, Cam. What comes after Wednesday?" "… Thursday, Friday, Saturday," he says, looking up at her with a smile. "And what happens on Saturday?" she asks. "I go home."

Sniffing glue, watching movies

By Mike D’Avria and Craig Shank · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12:45 a.m.

What did you do this year? It was a big year for a lot of things, but movies shined brightest in this year full of big blockbusters, sequels, prequels and even small independent flicks. It used to be a big deal when a film made $100 million. Nowadays it seems that if a film does not reach this mark, it is unsuccessful. Especially since if a film made $104 million this year, it still was only the 21st-highest-grossing film. That's right, 21 movies this year have already cracked triple-digits, and it's not over yet. Seven of the top 20 films are still in theaters, and there's still half a month left, which will be filled with other huge movies, like, say, "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers." But were all of these movies really worth seeing, and is it a good thing that "Scooby-Doo" grossed $151 million? It is good to see a lot of people enjoying movies, but are we really seeing good movies? To be honest, I have not seen eight of these 21 films, but that is because there is no need to see some of these flicks because I know right now that I will be wasting my money on some crappy acting and an even crappier plot.