No hike
Tuition costs to remain same for next year

In a surprise move against national trends, Columbia’s undergraduate and graduate populations will not see an increase in next year’s tuition charges, college officials said Feb. 18. The college has raised its tuition every year for at least the past decade.
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Even though they aren’t cockroaches and probably won’t be around for very much longer, water beetles have set up camp in one of Columbia’s buildings.

For the past five years, some Columbia students and faculty in the 11th street campus building, at 72 E. 11th St., have had to share the makeup room and parts of the rest of the building with a troop of unwanted guests, they told The Chronicle.
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Breakfast with a twist in the South Loop
Former Columbia student opens second location of themed restaurant

Orange you glad there’s a new restaurant in the South Loop? The quirky brunch spot, Orange, owned by former Columbia student Matt Miller, has opened its second location at 75 W. Harrison St.

Orange offers customers the same unusual menu as the original restaurant. Dishes like green eggs and ham (scrambled eggs with basil pesto and italian bacon), jelly doughnut pancakes and French toast kabobs, are presented in fine-dining fashion. An extensive juice bar gives guests a chance to have freshly-squeezed juice any time of year.
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Same-sex marriage laws upset Chicago-area gays
Protest held in front of Catholic leader's home

Despite a recent upswing in activity, including a highly visible demonstration on Chicago’s Near North Side, Illinois still lags behind other states in the nation when it comes to the debate over same-sex marriages.
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In a perfect world, the government would provide for all of its citizens' needs and would create a society where everyone is equal.

In a perfect world, scholarships would be given to those students in need of financial help, regardless of their skin color.
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Editorial: Ashcroft should 'abort' his latest quest

It seems that bad news always hits close to home.

Last week, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced that he would subpoena the medical records of more than 40 patients who had received partial or late-term abortions at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. In addition to this audacious move against Cook County residents, Ashcroft is actively seeking patient records from University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers in Ann Arbor, Mich., Hahneman University Hospital in Philadelphia, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York and an unidentified San Francisco Bay area hospital; Ashcroft's vicious stroke would effectively leave almost 200 women's medical records open to scrutiny.
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Academy Awards 'lost in translation'
This year's Oscars snub worthy candidates, awards show remains unfair and predictable

If words such as recognition, achievement and reward didn't exist, there wouldn't be a point in handing out tiny gold statuettes and $1,000 gift baskets. Since they do, Hollywood has decided to annually celebrate the actors and actresses who exceed their typical $10 million performances to get all the press and acclaim they can get their hands on. Who's the center of attention at this year's Academy Awards? The Chronicle takes a look at some of the most interesting showdowns of 2004.
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'And now for something completely' ... original
Late Monty Python member Graham Chapman lives on in upcoming bio pic, 'Gin and Tonic'

Monty Python fans worldwide have been waiting years for this. Hippofilms, a Los Angeles-based film production company, has announced it will begin casting on March 20 for its new feature film, Gin and Tonic. The film is based on the life and memoirs of Graham Chapman, one of the founding members of the Monty Python group.
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