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Around The Campus

Center on Congress receives grant for Internet program The Center on Congress has received a two-year, $200,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. The money will go toward improving public understanding of the U.S. Congress through a new interactive, Web-based program.

Employees honored for saving life

The American Heart Association honored two campus employees Tuesday for their work in saving a student's life last semester.

IUSA elections commissioner: SCUM ticket ineligible to run

The race to win control of the IU Student Association became one ticket smaller this week after an IUSA declaration. The elections commissioner declared the Students Concerned with University Matters (SCUM) ticket ineligible Monday. The group has decided to remain involved in the election under the auspices of the Optimistic New Energy (ONE) ticket. IUSA declared SCUM ineligible because a congressional candidate was needed to complete the ticket, according to an e-mail sent by the IUSA elections commissioner.

Symphony orchestra to perform at MAC

Going into a symphony orchestra performance, one wouldn't normally expect music that can be described as "weird," "grotesque" or "unusual." But when the IU Symphony Orchestra takes the stage at 8 p.m. today at the Musical Arts Center, the music will be just that, at least according to the people who will be playing it.

House votes to lower legal blood-alcohol level

After a decade, it appears likely that Indiana will lower its legal drinking limit. Monday, the house overwhelmingly voted -- 89-6 -- to bring the legal blood-alcohol level down from .10 to .08. Under the bill, no further evidence of impairment would be required for a drunk driving conviction. "We're not going after the social drinkers or even the heavy drinkers," said state Rep. Peggy Welch, D-Bloomington, who sponsored the legislation. "But you should not be driving, if you're impaired. At 0.08, you're impaired."

Medicinal useful enough to be legalized

My dad is a psychiatrist. He is 54 years old. And he believes in the legalization of marijuana. If you saw him, you'd never believe it. He sports the gray-turning-white beard, and every time I do anything, he is quick to remind me why, psychologically, I must have done it. But the man, a lifelong Presbyterian and elder, believes marijuana should be legal. He doesn't smoke it, but he sure doesn't knock it.

Marriage doesn't define my relationship

The gay drug of choice isn't Ecstasy, it's equality, and lots of it. This choice has been confirmed in the last couple of years with the battle over marriage rights. I missed my mailing from Queer headquarters, lost somewhere among the HH Gregg advertisements and the weekly offer of platinum credit cards. The one that said, "We must be married! Now!"

A return to the simpler days

Sitting there in the barber's chair, I couldn't help but notice the gray hair on the apron that was draped over my shoulders. OK, so the gray hair wasn't actually there, at least not yet. But as I looked at myself in the mirror across from the red vinyl chair I was relaxing in, I couldn't help but imagine what I will look like as an old man and wonder, how many haircuts do I have left?

Special Olympians

Sounds of flailing and gasping awoke Ron McGovern, 59, in the dead of the night 15 years ago. Waking his wife Diana, 57, he rushed to the room next door to find their 22-year-old son Billy in the throes of a major seizure. Billy's head was twisted to the side and pounded against his pillow. His muscles convulsed as he lay unconscious on the upper deck of the bunk bed he shared with his younger brother, Steve. Billy, 37, and Steve, 35, suffer from the fragile X syndrome, a condition that leaves them both mildly mentally handicapped. Epilepsy also plagues their lives. Despite their disabilities, Billy and Steve live their lives to the fullest, whether at home, at work or in the Special Olympics arena.

Around The Arts

Kilroy's bachelor auction to raise money for RileyKilroy's Sports Bar, 319 N. Walnut St., will sponsor a bachelor auction tonight to raise money for Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis. Bachelors will include former soccer player and alumnus Dennis Fadeski, Interfraternity Council President senior Ben Schmidt and B97 General Manager Arthur Angotti Jr. The preliminary round begins at 8 p.m., and bidding will begin at 9. Cover charge is $1.

Religious aid inappropriate

President George W. Bush has only been in office for two weeks and already has created a stir. His latest plan, a faith-based initiative that would support many religious philanthropy groups, has turned Democratic and Republican heads. Distributing federal funds to religious groups is inappropriate and begins to blur the lines separating church and state.

Middle East nations discuss terms for peace

They have been fighting for more than 50 years. Since Israel gained independence in 1948, the Middle East has been a region of turmoil, each side hoping for peace. "It's a tough neighborhood," said Mark Regev, a counselor at the Israeli Embassy in Washington. Israel made peace with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 after years of war. To the north, in the lush Galilee bordered by Israel and Lebanon, fighting continues.

Alumna authors book, teaches belly dancing

Belly dancing gave IU grad Donna Carlton a new career. "I was working at a desk job, and I was really unhappy," Carlton said. " So a friend got me interested in Middle Eastern dance." Carlton now teaches a Middle Eastern dance class at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation building and has written a book called "Looking for Little Egypt."

School of Music honors late professor

The School of Music paid tribute to the late Walter Cassel, a singer and music professor for 20 years, Sunday in Auer Hall. Musicians from IU and Cassel's former students from across the country joined in remembering the legend. Although he was best known as a musical actor, he was also a photographer and an award-winning athlete.

Chocolate confections

My grumpy, cynical side longs to dismiss Valentine's Day as the Madison Avenue-produced frenzy of fluff I know it to be. But the strength of my testy convictions is curiously and invariably out-muscled each Feb. 14 by my softer, squishier side. After all, how could a winter's day dedicated to the sanctioned consumption of chocolate be all bad?

Hoosiers dominate first road trip match

After Saturday's match at Marquette, the Hoosiers remain perfect for the season.

Ask the Sexpert

Unusual quirks jump-start XFL

Here we go. Vince McMahon's answer to the NFL burst into the national spotlight Saturday when the Las Vegas Outlaws were hosts to the New York/New Jersey Hitmen and the Chicago Enforcers went on the road to face the Orlando Rage.

Haston helps save squandered lead

For the third time this season, junior center Kirk Haston has been named Big Ten Player of the Week. Haston led IU (14-9, 5-4 Big Ten) to a pair of road wins, the first time IU has won back-to-back Big Ten road games since 1995-96.

Another lead blown ... almost