In response to France's protest of the United States' involvement with Iraq, "French" cuisine was banned on Capitol Hill.

Specifically, foods previously known as french fries and french toast now are known as freedom fries and freedom toast in the U.S. House of Representatives' office building cafeterias.

Many restaurants around the country have done similar protests, removing references to "French" foods. Some local businesses fear this may be extreme.

"We're taking it too far," said Evanthia Matavagas, manager of Lukulos Restaurant, 1101 W. Lincoln Highway.

Matavagas related the food protest to the protests within the United Nations.

"Just because someone won't help us, we shouldn't blow them off," Matavagas said. "It's just not fair."

Debbie Lekkas, also a manager at Lukulos, said that it is just food.

"I say french fries," Lekkas said.

"Changing the French dressing, I just think is silly," Pete Lutz, owner of Pita Pete's, said.

Lutz said France is protesting the United States' involvement because of France's oil ties with Iraq. If the United States was to go to war with Iraq and take over, then any previous deals that France has with Iraq would be tossed out, he said.

Lutz said he does not want to see war, but he knows that peace is difficult to obtain.

"War is dangerous and costly, but peace is costly, too," Lutz said.

A number of local restaurants were not aware of the protest on Capitol Hill and did not have comments.

On March 8, the NIU athletics department discovered that Huskie wrestler Bill Lowney had been arrested for criminal sexual assault.

Lowney allegedly assaulted a fellow student in November. The grand jury issued a warrant for his arrest on Feb. 27. He turned himself in to Kane County officials on March 4. Lowney then was transferred to DeKalb County Jail. He was released on a $20,000 bond.

Lowney remains free on the bond that allowed him to travel to Mt. Pleasant, Mich., for the MAC Championships and Wisconsin to visit his family.

About 10 minutes from Mt. Pleasant, Mich., Huskie coach Dave Grant received a phone call from Associate Athletic Director Robert Collins telling Grant that Lowney would not be able to hit the mat for the Huskies, Grant said.

Lowney, the defending MAC champion, declined to comment.

Lowney's teammate, senior sport management major Scott Owen said the wrestling team does not know the whole story.

"Hopefully [Lowney] will be OK, and everything will work out," Owen said.

Lowney had a 9-7 record this season, down from 22-11 last season, and was going to be the fourth seed in the MAC Championships.