Region

Women look to defend titles

First the women's basketball team wants to enjoy itself tonight at Midnight Madness, then it's down to the task at hand, which is to improve from last season, when the Hoosiers finished 20-11 and earned a post-season berth to the National Invitational Tournament. "It's kind of like a party, then it's business right away," senior forward Erin McGinnis said. "Our expectations are very high. We want to come out and make the tournament, and be competitors for the Big Ten championship."

Men's squad starts anew

It has been more than six months since the Hoosiers suffered their first round loss to Kent State in the NCAA Tournament. But Mike Davis has just gotten over the loss. "I'm over it now. It took a long time," he said. "We should have won that game. That was probably one of the poorest teams we played all season. "The Kent State (loss) was an embarrassment."

Be wary of plastic power

I got my first one when I still had meal points. Only weeks after arrival on campus, I stupidly and irreversibly filled out one of those easy applications. The only question I stumbled on was mother's maiden name, as I generously listed my yearly income (figuring in parent's generosity above all else.) Mine is red with a photo of the Sample Gates. Issued by MBNA of America, one of the largest credit issuers, according to the Wall Street Journal. This piece of plastic sin has caused countless fights with parents and harassing phone calls from creditors at all hours of the early morning.

That whole 'bin Laden' thing

Earlier this week, I contemplated writing my column about the whole Osama bin Laden thing. I figured I had put it off long enough, and I was starting to feel goofy because practically every other IDS columnist had already written about how war is good, or war is bad, or Afghanistan stinks, or the United States is cool. But I decided not to babble about my opinion, mainly because I know I really don\'t have anything to add to the debate. Everything has already been said, and other columnists have already looked like either heartless, hawkish, ethnocentric goons who want to bomb the bejeezus out of Afghanistan or wimpy, idealistic, pacifist whiners who\'ve smoked way too much pot.

Afghan opposition awaits orders

MAHMUD-E-RAQI, Afghanistan -- Afghan opposition commanders are waiting for the order to move on the capital, but exiled Afghan leaders and a Pakistani official say the northern alliance has agreed not to seize Kabul until major factions can establish a government to replace the ruling Taliban. The agreement was reached during a meeting between the exiled Afghan King Mohammad Zaher Shah and northern alliance leaders in Rome, said an aide to the monarch.

Willie Nelson comes to auditorium

Willie Nelson is not what you would call a traditional country music star -- he's an outlaw. Since his beginnings as a struggling songwriter in Nashville, Tenn., he has been fighting against the constraints of the country music genre. At 68, Nelson shows no signs of slowing down after a 40-year career and 100 albums. He will perform at the IU Auditorium at 8 p.m. Saturday for the Homecoming concert. Tickets cost from $26 to $46 ($16 to $26 for IU-Bloomington students) and are still available.

Canadian anthrax threat low

OTTAWA -- Health Minister Allan Rock said Tuesday that Canadians shouldn't fear the "remote" possibility of an outbreak of anthrax disease. A man died in Florida last Friday after inhaling the bacterium, a rare way of contracting the disease. Concerns were heightened after anthrax was found in the nostrils of a second man who is a co-worker.

White House cautions about al-Qaeda tapes

WASHINGTON -- Suspicious that Osama bin Laden is using American TV to send coded messages, the White House asked the networks Wednesday to think twice before airing his terrorist organization's videotaped messages.

Student takes break to spend time with family

Sophomore Jessie Moskal is taking the semester off from IU. She is at home in Brecksville, Ohio, spending time with her family, and has kept in touch with friends using her dad's e-mail address. But Moskal hasn't heard from her father, William, since the attacks on the World Trade Center Sept. 11. He was attending a meeting at the headquarters of his employer, Marsh USA Inc., on the 100th floor of the north tower.

Chemical attack at IU unlikely

Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, and the U.S.-led retaliation, the renewed threat of terrorist action has caused concern across the country.

IUPD Blotter

GAP display returns

In response to the Genocide Awareness Project display set to take place inside the Sample Gates Oct. 17-19, Bloomington React to GAP, a new coalition that opposes GAP's methods, plans to set up an area across the street from the display or in Dunn Meadow to provide a place where students can gather information or talk to members about abortion issues.

'Yell Like Hell' starts off homecoming

Homecoming is a time when IU transforms from the studious, quiet college it is known to be into a loud, spirit-rousing source of excitement. Or, at least, that is what the members of the Student Athletic Board and Student Alumni Association hope will happen. "Yell Like Hell increases the spirit on campus toward the football team and IU athletics in general." said senior Cory Acree, an SAB member. Homecoming festivities start off with some noise this weekend as Yell Like Hell takes place at 7:30 p.m. today at Willkie Quad. The event is a student spirit competition and consists of students and organizations performing skits for three minutes each.

DJs should vow to please crowds

The best and the worst

Suzanne Vega

King of Yesterday

Ryan Adams

Handsome Devil

Reel to Reel