Jordan River Forum

Curious about smoking\nI'd be curious to know who performed a study on campus smoking policies that resulted in the new ban that extends outside.\nI'd also like to know which, if any, of those individuals actually smokes. It would make sense to include representatives from that group when making rules that affect that group.\nIt just appears that the administration made these decisions based on nothing but political correctness in its attempt to appease a few who complain and to follow the liberal stance of the city of Bloomington in its efforts to make the whole city smoke-free while not considering the effects of such a ban on business. And they have conducted this effort behind closed doors.\nI think people down there have way too much time on their hands to sit and complain about someone smoking outside while they carry their unhealthy and overweight bodies over to disability services to obtain their handicap decal, so they don't have to walk so far. That's a real issue to tackle and it's abused on campus daily by employees. \nBloomington is becoming less appealing to many because of its inability to see what's reasonable and what's pseudo-science.\nGlad I'm gone ... What a freaky little city.\nRyan Marshall
Junior, IUPUI\nIDS Herbert editorial offensive to IU employee\nReferencing the staff editorial which appeared in the August 28 issue of the IDS, in the middle of what started out as a fairly positive review and suggestions for President Herbert as he begins his tenure at IU, quickly appeared the same morass this publication has previously found regarding the issue of race. The editorial recounted President Herbert's remark during his first press conference where he responded to a reporter's question about his appointment and the "diversity" element of it and his response of "being a Floridian in Indiana … " which elicited laughs and chuckles from most of those in the assembly that day. That was his answer and that is his prerogative to answer in such a fashion.\nHowever, in the next paragraph of the editorial, to espouse that one should subjugate, deny or "deflect" questions about their race as being a useful trait in Indiana is offensive and divisive. Race is not something one can choose to put on or take off on a whim or desire like clothing. Or is this one of the criteria for being president of IU or any other institution or enterprise perchance in your collective minds? I certainly hope not! Does anyone else have to deflect what and who they are in this state? Is this the year 2003 or are the youthful minds at the IDS in a late 1950s mindset? Further insult to the injury is the advice offered for President Herbert " … to acknowledge his race when appropriate, work around it when necessary and discount it when questioned." Then in the same paragraph, presumably after he has either (a) acknowledged, (b) worked around or (c) discounted in whatever context that might be -- because of his race he might have a double standard to overcome too. \nImagine that! Because of his race he might have higher expectations heaped on him ("than others would") and have to walk a tighter rope. The question that would be worth some journalistic ink would be, should be is "Why?"\nThis part of your editorial is offensive to me as an employee of IU and in giving faint praise to President Herbert you undermine whatever positives by playing the all too typical "race card" of de-racializing him. He deserves better than that and you should expect better of yourselves as collegiate journalists. Challenge the status quo, however defined.