Women's Golf

Indiana crops 'less than bountiful'

By Alexandra R. Moses · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 11:40 p.m.

After a growing season in which the rain never seemed to fall at the right time, Indiana farmers are finishing up a less-than-bountiful harvest. This year's corn crop is expected to decline 30 percent compared with last year's record harvest, with the soybean crop declining by 15 percent, the Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service said.

15-cent draft fun

By Natalie A. Trout · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 11:37 p.m.

Leia Pratapas, a junior, sits at a booth with three of her best friends on her 21st birthday. On her head is a blue construction helmet, which perfectly holds two 15-cent drafts on each side, with a tube that conveniently reaches her mouth. "I think it's leaking," Pratapas screams as she spills beer onto the table and giggles. Her friends down their own 15-cent drafts at the Bluebird on a Wednesday night. One of her friends knocks one over on the table and doesn't seem to mind she's lost a beer.

Death or democracy?

By Alyson Brodsy and Evan Ross · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 11:29 p.m.

After last week's midterm elections, I have the unmistakable feeling that the votes of common Americans like you and me just don't count. I know that seems heretical, especially in this time of "Go America!"-isms, but I just can't shake the feeling that it's true. Now, I'm not just whining because my team -- the liberal Democrats -- lost horribly, although it probably motivated me to write this.

X-Act DJ

By Jessica Palmer · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 11:28 p.m.

The survey says DJ X-Acto rocks. He also blends, cuts, scratches, spins and juggles -- beats. Meet the IU student who literally creates the party every time he steps behind the turntables. DJ X-Acto is Scott Rappaport, a junior. Rappaport thought of the name DJ X-Acto in high school, in reference to the precision involved in spinning. He studies telecommunications, business and music. Originally from Los Angeles, Rappaport has music in his blood. He says his father, a music lover and former radio personality in Chicago and L.A., has always been a source of motivation for him.

Boats disappear in tropical storm

By Abdullah AlShihri · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 11:14 p.m.

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh -- Nineteen boats disappeared in a fierce storm off Bangladesh on Wednesday, and officials and witnesses said about 200 fishermen were missing and feared dead.

Israelis sweep West Bank

By Abdullah AlShihri and Mohammed Daraghmeh · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 11:13 p.m.

NABLUS, West Bank -- In the biggest sweep in months, Israeli troops hunting for militants stormed dozens of homes in this Palestinian city Wednesday, ordering residents to line up in the dawn chill as tanks blocked roads and helicopters hovered above.

Coffee Comfort

By Brant Fechter · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 11:13 p.m.

It's hard to escape the hustle and bustle of school life around campus. Most students are busy reading, studying and trying to pass classes. But there is one place where students can go to feel secure in this time of demand, a place where they feel comfortable hunched over the books. At Starbucks, winner of the Best Place to Get Coffee, students relax as they fuel their minds with hot coffee to make that A or the next deadline. It is a haven for graduate students who need to feel at home when they haven't closed their books in days.

Sniper suspect back in court

By Abdullah AlShihri and Matthew Barakat · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 11:12 p.m.

MANASSAS, Va. -- Sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad on Wednesday made a second appearance in a Prince William County court, this time with a lawyer experienced in high-profile cases. During the 10-minute hearing, Judge Leroy Millette appointed a second attorney for Muhammad and set a Dec. 12 hearing to consider a trial date. He is entitled to a trial by April 7. When Muhammad made his initial court appearance in Virginia on Friday, he was by himself. He seemed confused that the public defender appointed to represent him on federal extortion charges was no longer representing him. Since then, attorney Peter Greenspun has been appointed to represent him, and on Wednesday, the judge also appointed Jonathan Shapiro to the defense team.

US officials call bin Laden recording authentic

By Abdullah AlShihri and John J. Lumpkin · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 11:11 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. counterterrorism officials believe a new audiotape attributed to Osama bin Laden is probably authentic and are treating it as evidence the long-absent terrorist leader is still alive, a U.S. official familiar with the tape said Wednesday. President Bush said he was taking the tape "very seriously," though he was awaiting official word from advisers on its authenticity.

Family feel sets Siam House apart

By Elizabeth Bahra · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 10:50 p.m.

"Think Bangkok, eat Bloomington," says Gary Cushinberry, CEO of Siam House on East Fourth Street. The small, yellow restaurant is a world of curry, Pad Thai and Tom Yum. Home to true Thai cuisine, Siam House has been voted Bloomington's Best Restaurant for Ethnic Cuisine. "It is a great feeling to be recognized in the IU community as being the best ethnic restaurant," Cushinberry says. "We look forward to serving our customers." Wim Pok, owner of the restaurant, says she tries to maintain authenticity in the preparation of Thai food. "We cook for the customer the way we eat," Pok says. "I don't cook for Americans. I maintain the Thai." Pok says Siam House's family feel is what sets it apart from other restaurants.

The Epic

By Jamieson Hawkins · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 10:50 p.m.

The people have spoken and The Epic's Kevin Cochran is this year's Best Male vocalist. At the same time, The Epic beat out a host of other bands to become this year's Best Local Band. Springing from Carmel, Ind., Cochran, now 22, has lived in Indiana all his life. A SPEA major and super senior, Cochran loves Bloomington so much he decided to stay here an extra semester after his December graduation.

Helmke at the helm

By Josh Sanburn · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 3:21 p.m.

The Board of Publications unanimously chose Kathryn Helmke as the spring 2003 editor in chief of the Indiana Daily Student Tuesday afternoon. Helmke will take over the IDS helm at the beginning of the spring semester.

I'll never trust squirrels again

By Joe Grace · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 3:17 p.m.

Imagine this if you will: You're Joe Student. You're walking around the IU campus without a care in the world. Let's say you're fluttering around campus. You see a cute little squirrel standing on its hind legs practically begging for a rodent hug. You flutter in for a closer look. Suddenly, the delightful ball of fur jumps on you and unleashes its fury upon your forehead. You can do nothing but spin around madly and curse the day you trusted a squirrel. You think this could never happen to you?

Congress, time to roll up the sleeves

By Cherry Blattert · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 3:17 p.m.

Elections in years past have seemed depressing with electors oftentimes having to choose between the lesser of two evils, candidates with no morals or those who only answer to money. But after witnessing last week's elections, it seems that many of the winning candidates are actually politicians with integrity. Disenchanted voters wanted honest leaders who don't promise handouts for votes, and it seems American people were victorious!

Bepko best choice for now

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 3:17 p.m.

Gerald Bepko, retiring chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, will be the interim president of IU until the presidential search committee decides on a permanent replacement. The trustees couldn't have made a better choice in the matter. Bepko has served IUPUI well for 16 years, and in that time, he has overseen the expansion of the IUPUI campus and the creation of a new University College. Enrollment at IUPUI is up 25 percent, and Bepko has helped to oversee the transition of IUPUI becoming an Internet 2-enabled campus, which is a high speed dedicated research Internet network.

Knight taking IU to court

By George Lyle IV · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 10:48 a.m.

Former IU men's basketball coach Bob Knight filed a lawsuit in the Monroe County Circuit Court Tuesday naming IU as the defendant in a civil suit for more than $2 million in damages. The suit, filed by the law firm of Voyles, Zahn, Paul, Hogan and Merriman in Indianapolis, claims IU breached a clause in Knight's contract stating that Knight could only be fired after being notified in writing of any such decision and after having the chance to mount a defense to his firing.

Press start for murder

By Rory Starks · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 10:44 a.m.

I must admit, I enjoy cruising through the downtown area running over old women and street bums while listening to the sweet tunes of Slayer and Judas Priest on the radio. Of course, this is in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. It's not real life. After mowing down about a nursing home's worth of the elderly, I have come to the realization that video games can be really scary, but at the same time, I find them disturbingly entertaining. Am I to blame for this or are video games?

Winning streaks collide at OSU

By Dan Cohen and Daniel Cohen · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 10:39 a.m.

In a rare mid-week matchup, IU takes its three game winning streak into Columbus, Ohio Wednesday night to face an even hotter Ohio State squad, winners of five games in a row. IU (18-8, 8-6) will be trying to inch even closer to earning an NCAA tournament automatic bid for the first time since the 1999 season. The team's 8-6 Big Ten mark is the Hoosiers' best conference start since 1995 and a win Wednesday night would give them their second four game win streak in the past month.

Lame-duck Senate may act

By Alan Fram and Becky Bartindale · Wednesday, Nov. 13,2002 10:37 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush said Tuesday the creation of a Homeland Security Department is the "single-most important business" before the lame-duck Congress, and summoned lawmakers to the White House for private arm-twisting sessions. As the House and Senate began what will be an abbreviated postelection session, some lawmakers were expected to join in the president's push to end a Senate stalemate over the proposed agency. Democrats, who will control the Senate for a little while longer, have fought Bush in connection with labor rights provisions of the bill.

Voice of the Hoosiers

By Zach Rocha · Tuesday, Nov. 12,2002 11:59 p.m.

One day in 1965, Don Fischer was sitting in the railroad depot he had worked at for over a year and a half, unhappy with what he was doing for a living. The 19-year-old high school graduate, who had bounced around from one odd job to the next, selling everything from insurance to magazine subscriptions, opened up a sports magazine seeking a moment of comfort and diversion during the work day.