Region

'Double Dragon' by way of the L.A. riots

Jordan River Forum

Far from weakening the student voice, the explicit separation of the Graduate and Professional Student Organization from the IU Student Association should strengthen the overall student position by making a clear distinction between constituencies with very different roles, goals and needs ("IUSA represents everyone," Feb. 25).

Dissent

IU is in a unique position among colleges and universities. IU President Myles Brand announced 13 months ago a plan called "Academics First" that would place new emphasis on making education the focus of IU and other schools across the country. The plan is a reasonable solution to a fundamental problem at institutions of higher education -- that athletics often overshadows academics.

Art tradition strong at IU

Arts Week -- featuring performances, lectures, displays and workshops held in various venues around Bloomington and on our campus -- clearly showed the strength of the arts in our campus community. What's just as impressive, however, is the range of activities that are available to us not just during a designated week, but all year round. Our role as a home for the arts is very much in keeping with our tradition as an arts and sciences institution. We celebrate that tradition proudly.

Just another vampire movie soundtrack

Strings and shadows:

Downtown property stirs controversy

The building that formally housed the ST Semiconductor factory sits on College Avenue, dilapidated and empty. Bloomington city representatives tried Monday to transfer ownership of the property from its current owner, Bloomington Investment Group, to a city-selected firm. The city wanted the firm to redevelop the Semicon site. Monroe County Circuit Judge Douglas Bridges, however, ruled to keep the Semicon site under its current ownership.

Faculty trustee approved

The Indiana House of Representatives passed House Bill 351, which increases the number of members of the IU Board of Trustees permitted to reside in Monroe County and adds a tenth, non-voting faculty representative to university governing boards around the state.

Greenspan cites signs of ending recession, recovery

WASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress Wednesday that he sees increasing signs the country's first recession in a decade is coming to an end. He cautioned the rebound this year is likely to be a subdued one.

Baseball postponed

Yesterday's baseball game against DePauw University was postponed until Thursday, March 21 because of snow. This is the fifth consecutive game to be cancelled for IU, which continues to look to improve its two-game winning streak.

All-Big Ten senior catcher pleased with career

Last year's lone IU softball player to make First Team All-Big Ten, senior catcher Brooke Monroe, is beginning her season with the work ethic that has gotten her recognition in her three prior seasons as a Hoosier.

Model senior closing career

Commitment to tennis, respect of the game, excellence and the belief that the human spirit can accomplish what they desire if they are willing to pay the price. This sentence on the men's tennis team's Web site explains the philosophy of coach Ken Hydinger, and it describes senior Ari Widlansky, too. Widlansky exemplifies the above qualities. He is a piece in the IU tennis program puzzle, and his attitude mirrors that of his coach.

Sharing title like sharing your girlfriend

IU and Ohio State are the most friendly teams in the Big Ten. Somebody give them a "golden star" -- their mommies taught them well. It would have been so easy for them just to play the type of basketball that positioned them to win the conference title outright, but they knew better. They've been spanked by their parents enough for being selfish, and they understand that the good people of Illinois and Wisconsin appreciate their generosity.

No depth no problem for divers

There are only three competing members of the men's diving team. But even with a small roster, the Hoosiers have big expectations for this weekend's Big Ten Championship. "Our attitude is just to be really focused on the things we really want to be doing," Coach Jeff Huber said. "We need to be ready to dive tough in competition, and I think we are. We don't have as many athletes in the event as the women's (team does), but the depth is still there."

Fight for NCAA berth starts with Big Ten tournament

Much hullabaloo has been made about the strength -- or maybe weakness -- of Big Ten men's basketball. But the women's conference could have nearly as much trouble qualifying more than three teams for the NCAA tournament, depending on which Big Ten coach you ask. IU coach Kathi Bennett said she thinks her fifth-place Hoosiers (14-13, 8-8 Big Ten) have a shot -- if they reach, but more likely if they win, the Big Ten tournament final at Conseco Fieldhouse Monday.

Around The Arts

NEW YORK -- Break out the bubbly. A major revival of Noel Coward's "Private Lives" is the latest entry in Broadway's crowded spring season, slipping into town just before the May 1 Tony nomination deadline. Lindsay Duncan and Alan Rickman play a formerly married couple who are now hitched to other people in this new incarnation of Coward's frothiest comedy. It's been a big hit in London, where it opened last September.

Jazz artist to perform at Bear's Place

Renowned jazz artist Michael Weiss will be gracing the stage of Bear's Place tonight. The Michael Weiss Group, in addition to Weiss on piano, is composed of IU's own Assistant Professor Tom Walsh on tenor sax, Jack Helsley on bass and Deno Sanders on drums.

Dance classes unite body and soul

"Zigli" is something you will hear Richard Gogoua say frequently if you spend any amount of time with him. Gogoua is an African dance instructor who has committed himself to teaching the art and history of African dance to members of the IU community. He is from the Ivory Coast, Africa, and said that the term "zigli", in his native dialect, refers to something sweet or good.

1 band, 2 distinct records.

Kid from the north country