Jordan River Forum

Clarification from Congress Your recent article on H.R. 3077, the International Studies in Higher Education Act, caught my attention and I wanted to assure you that the concerns expressed by certain IU students and faculty are unfounded. As Chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, I worked with Representative Peter Hoekstra to introduce the legislation to reauthorize the international programs contained in the Higher Education Act. The House of Representatives approved this legislation by voice vote and without opposition in October. The proposal authorizes a variety of grants to institutions of higher education to enhance instruction in foreign language and area studies. These programs will continue to be an area of special priority due to concerns regarding terrorism arising from foreign regions which are infrequently studied in the United States. In addition the legislation creates a new International Education Advisory Board to increase accountability by providing advice, counsel and recommendations to Congress on international education issues for higher education. Section 6, in addition to creating the International Advisory Board, provides for the independence of the International Advisory Board. (b) INDEPENDENCE OF INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD -- In the exercise of its functions, powers, and duties, the International Advisory Board shall be independent of the Secretary and the other offices and officers of the Department. Except as provided in this subsection and subsection (f), the recommendations of the International Advisory Board shall not be subject to review or approval by any officer of the Federal Government. Nothing in this title shall be construed to authorize the International Advisory Board to mandate, direct, or control an institution of higher education's specific instructional content, curriculum, or program of instruction. The Board is authorized to study, monitor, apprise, and evaluate a sample of activities supported under this title in order to provide recommendations to the Secretary and the Congress for the improvement of programs under the title and to ensure programs meet the purposes of the title. The recommendations of the Board may address any area in need of improvement, except that any recommendation of specific legislation to Congress shall be made only if the President deems it necessary and expedient. I hope this information clears up any confusion or misinterpretation of the proposal. I look forward to learning of your views as the House of Representatives reauthorizes the Higher Education Act with the goals of making college more affordable, accessible and accountable for all students. Sincerely, John A. Boehner
Chairman House Education and the Workforce
Committee,
Washington, D.C. Salaries don't match seasons Why should the students have to pick up the $2 million dollar deficit? I think the students should know the truth. Every student should go to the Salary Database at https://fdrs.fms.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/Salary/Salary.pl and check out our awesome football coach's salary. That's right people, he made $232,847 this year. Why? When is the last time we had a winning season under him? When is the last time we won two games in a row? Dinardo can't even attract home-grown talent like Bloomington's own Rex Grossman. And why does Mike Davis make more than Bobby Knight? Even if you dislike Bobby Knight, he is an established winner. He is currently the seventh winningest all-time coach in NCAA history, but I am sure Mike Davis deserves more than Knight, right? Chad A. Marcum
Senior Stand up for beliefs I would like to commend Judd Arnold for his exposé on me and other "cause-ites." Still, I would like to comment on the way that he describes how "cause-ites" present their views. I would like to say that the bake sale in November was not a campaign to broadcast messages of hate, as Fred Phelps's anti-homosexual diatribes were. I would defend the right of anyone to hold a viewpoint and to campaign for that viewpoint, as long as the purpose of the campaign is not solely for the purpose of bringing violence upon the opposing viewpoint. Second, apathy is the cancer of our generation. As Thomas Jefferson said, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Similarly, our first amendment rights must be utilized from time to time to ensure their continued survival. Therefore, it is imperative that everyone stands up for what they believe in. Besides, if we were all apathetic as Mr. Arnold claims to be, the Indiana Daily Student would run out of things to write about. Stephan Jerabek
Sophomore Don't simplify Bible's message I agree wholeheartedly with Judd Arnold's statement in his column "Ode to the cause-ites" that people with a cause often alienate others from their belief systems through the way they promote them. As a Christian, I am appalled and ashamed at the method Pastor Fred Phelps has chosen for proclaiming his views on homosexuality. That being said, I was bothered by Arnold's facile dismissal of moral arguments based on the Bible. He mentions Phelps' use of the Bible to justify his belief that homosexuality is a sin. He then points out that the Bible commands animal sacrifice, implying that Christians are inconsistent if we don't also follow its teaching on this subject. One principle of Biblical interpretation used by scholars is "let Scripture interpret Scripture." It's important to examine the teaching of the whole Bible on any given subject because one part will often comment on another. Animal sacrifice is a case in point. Arnold correctly points out that the Bible commands it, in the Old Testament. But he fails to mention that the book of Hebrews in the New Testament also addresses this issue, explaining that animal sacrifices foreshadowed the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and that his death made them obsolete. This is why Christians do not perform animal sacrifices to take away sins. A look at the whole Bible's teaching on homosexuality reveals that the prohibition of homosexual behavior is nowhere qualified or negated. So as Christians, we have reason to justify our stance on this issue based on the Bible. The same principle applies to the fact that the Bible never questions prostitution or slavery. This is not the whole story. It never explicitly approves of them either. Look at the entire Bible's teaching, and you will find ample support for opposition to these practices. Pastor Phelps needs to consider Biblical teaching as a whole as well. I wonder if he realizes that pride and self-righteousness are condemned far more often in Scripture than homosexuality. If this says anything about God's priorities, it should be enough to make all of us Christians examine our hearts. Scott Lamanna
Graduate student Athletic newsletter not necessary Tuesday's staff editorial weighing in on the question of how to raise the money needed to bail out the athletics department chooses advertising as the least of five evils. I have nothing to say for or against that position. But (at the risk of pointing out the obvious) I hope that the University is not overlooking the one option that nobody seems to be mentioning: cutting costs. As an example of costs that the athletics department should cut, if they have not already, I offer the "Alpha-Beta." This newsletter, published by the athletics department, has turned up in my mailbox from time to time since I began teaching as an associate instructor. I assume that it is being sent to every other teacher on campus too because I don't know of any reason why the athletics department would send it to me in particular. It lists the names of all the student-athletes who got a 3.0 or higher during the previous semester. Occasionally, I see the name of a current or former student on this list, and then I experience a little momentary pleasure in their accomplishment. Still, the vast majority of the names in this newsletter are those of people I will never meet, and quite frankly, I don't care two pins about their grade point average. Now, I realize that the cost of printing the "Alpha-Beta" must be a drop in the bucket of a $2 million structural deficit. But even a drop is something I don't want to pay for. I hope the folks in control of the athletics department's budget have already cut out this item and anything else the department can do without. Actually, I hope that someone outside the athletics department has already gone over its budget in detail, looking for lower-priority costs to eliminate, before it comes sticking its hand into my wallet to make me pay for its mess. If this is the case -- if the athletics budget has already been trimmed down to the bone -- then let's have any of President Herbert's alternatives. I didn't come to this school for the athletics, and while I'm happy when we win, I don't really care what happens, as long as my bill for tuition and fees -- a bill that is already high and getting higher all the time -- doesn't go up for something totally unrelated to my schooling. Elizabeth Rytting
Graduate student Runners are people, too I would like to take this opportunity to remind area drivers to respect the traffic rights of pedestrians, specifically runners. While running on and around campus, I have been struck by three cars in the past two months. If you are insecure about your physical condition and choose to make derogatory comments or honk your horn at runners while you choke down your Bacon Double Cheeseburger and Frosty, go right ahead, it is your First Amendment right. Using your vehicle as a weapon against runners, however, is not an acceptable action. Two of these incidences occurred at clearly marked crosswalks, at which a red octagon-shaped sign marked "STOP" clearly indicated that traffic must stop to check for motorized or pedestrian traffic before continuing. If the word "crosswalk" is too complex for your level of intellect, I suggest that you break it down into its root words, "cross" and "walk." A crosswalk is defined as "A path marked off on a street to indicate where pedestrians should cross." The other incidence occurred when a certain vehicle (*cough Red Volkswagen Jetta*) struck me near the driveway of a certain Greek house (*cough AOPi*). In this case, the driver turned from the North Jordan Extension into her driveway without a bit of concern for sidewalk traffic. Luckily, I have sustained no serious injuries as a result of the careless actions of these drivers, simply bumps and bruises. It seems it is only a matter of time, however, before my bloody mangled body will be tossed on someone's windshield in a manner not unlike bird shit and bug guts find their way on to our vehicles. Please respect local runners, we are people too. Jimmy Grimes
Sophomore Child's death raises questions Felix Chen is the 6-year-old son of Lingling Chen, an associate professor of biology at IU. He suffered from renal tubule acidosis and cataract cloudiness, according to IndyStar.com. Felix required meticulous care and was quite difficult to raise. When his mother Lingling sought help from Family Solutions, what she received was her son taken away into a foster home amidst his critical sickness -- he died shortly after. Lingling told the caseworkers that sometimes she has to tie her son's hand with cotton bathrobe strip in order to prevent him from hurting himself out of pain. The caseworkers reported the hand-tying incident and little Felix was taken into a foster home. His mother was restricted to visit. Even when the boy lay dying at Bloomington Hospital, his mother tried to be by Felix's side, but was restricted from speaking Chinese to him. When she did speak to him in Chinese, he was taken away, which caused delay in treatment. What could any other parents have done that is a better alternative than what Lingling has done? If hand-tying is not the real reason behind this mother-child separation that has led to the child's death, then what is? The caseworkers are well-intentioned people, as IndyStar has emphasized repeatedly. They are well-intentioned people who thought that they could do better at "loving and protecting" little Felix. They thought that Lingling, with her thick Chinese accent, was acting barbaric and ignorant toward her child. With good intentions, they thought that Felix, regardless of his physical condition, would be better off within a white family's care. Can I say the forbidden R-word? Can I say that people in these critical positions are still acting out of racist judgement? Would it compromise the diverse reputation of Bloomington too much? Would it embarrass authority? Please help with your influence. Sincerely, Yinan Lan
Junior Where were the students? Friday's article by Rick Newkirk covering the inauguration of President Herbert ("IU welcomes Adam W. Herbert," April 16) did a fine job describing the festivities, with one exception. Mr. Newkirk noted that the ceremony filled the IU Auditorium to "near-capacity." From where I was sitting, this was certainly not the case. The processional began and the mezzanine was empty. By the time the program got underway, more community members trickled in, but one group remained sorely underrepresented. The lack of student turnout for the president's inauguration reflected poorly on us as a student body and for the University as an institution. As Mr. Newkirk pointed out, the inauguration of an IU president is a rare event; moreover, it is an impressive and important event in the life of the University. We should have packed the house! President Herbert presented us with his vision for our collective future. His words will guide us and the direction of our academics, sports teams, residential services and general well being. Comments from some that they didn't think the president's address would affect them are simply unfounded. The two-hour ceremony and the many distinguished guests made it clear to me that we are fortunate to have Dr. Herbert as our leader. It was an honor to attend such a special celebration. I look forward to working with the president in the future and hope more students will feel the same. Kathleen Claussen
Sophomore Yelling from cars Most people who walk to and from class down busy campus streets have probably never been ridiculed from passersby in cars. But I'm willing to say that at least some of you have, or at least know someone who has, or better yet, have been the person yelling from the speeding car. I used to be the guy hollering, "losers," at the people waiting outside the library on Friday night as I hung out the window of my friend's car. Or the guy shouting, "you better study, dumb ass," to the kid with a bulging backpack. But walking home today, I was finally on the receiving end. With my tie-dye shirt, Birkenstocks, messed up hair and headphones, I was officially a "fucking hippie." Then I started thinking. If I had a button-down Abercrombie dress shirt on, I would have been just as cool as the "frat guy" who pointed out my choice of clothing and its associated stereotype. So what about the people waiting for the bus in front of the library on Friday nights? Because they have the audacity to study while I get hammered with my friends, I chose to laugh at them. Well this is my way of giving back to the people I have harassed in the past. I know it doesn't take away the crappy feeling you had when I screamed at you, but this is the best I can do. And to all the people still driving around making judgments about how a person looks or what they are doing, get a life. Wes Kocher
Sophomore Brown County offers art opportunities My sincere thanks to IDS reports for the coverage of the annual Victorian Tea at The Brown County Art Gallery & Museum in Nashville, Ind. Many Bloomington residents, both students and townspeople, seem to think of Brown County solely in terms of its State Park, quaint shops and fried biscuits. But when visiting Brown County, I encourage guests to also encounter the many arts and cultural venues available. The artist studios, art galleries, and venues for musical and performing arts welcome visitors and can round out time spent shopping. The Art Museum at The Brown County Art Gallery, located on East Main Street just two blocks East of the courthouse, as well as the Museums at The Brown County Art Guild and The T.C. Steele State Memorial are available to the public at no charge. The best of Indiana contemporary art works can be viewed at the annual "Indiana Heritage Arts" state-wide competition every June, also held at The Brown County Art Gallery & Museum. If you are into the old, historical Brown County painters, you can view and purchase such works the second weekend in September at the annual Art Renaissance Festival weekend. Dr. Emanuel Klein
President of the Brown County
Gallery Foundation, Inc. Daniels will institute change With the Indiana primary just two weeks away, gubernatorial candidates take center stage campaigning throughout Indiana. Why should you care? Between celebrating Little Five week, cramming for finals and worrying about summer jobs, we all have a lot on our plates. But rest assured the upcoming primary and the future of our state affects you, whether Indiana is your home or just a short-term stop. The problem with Gov. Kernan's administration is it is content with operating at the status quo -- few changes and few ideas for the future. In sharp contrast, Republican candidate Mitch Daniels presents strategies for improving economic and environmental conditions in Indiana. The primary campaign issue that affects us as college students concerns the state of the economy. We all want jobs after graduation, some of us in Indiana. Currently, many of our best and brightest from IU and other Indiana schools feel they have to move to other states to secure high-quality, high-paying jobs. We've had the same administration running our state for the last 16 years … where are the job opportunities for college graduates in Indiana? Daniels recognizes state government has not advocated for Indiana businesses, but has rather discouraged them from investing in the economic development of our state. His plan, called Comeback 1.0, promotes businesses' growth and investment in the redevelopment of Indiana's economy. According to an April 19 IDS article, nearly one-third of Indiana counties failed EPA health standards. Daniels recently proposed the development of a new clean burning coal-fired power plant, a solution that is environmentally friendly and would create new jobs. The incumbent administration recognizes these environmental issues and is quick to criticize Daniels' ideas to clean up our polluted air. But where is its counter-proposals for improving the quality of life for Hoosiers? I'm voting for Mitch Daniels to institute change, because his ideas focus on rebuilding the damage that has occurred during the state administrations of the past 16 years. Rebecca Neale
Senior