IUPD arrests IDS multimedia director

The Indiana Daily Student’s multimedia director was arrested Saturday for public intoxication and illegal consumption.

Ben Phelps, 20, was seen heading east by the south entrance of the Indiana Memorial Union, said IU Police Department Capt. Jerry Minger, reading from a police report.

Phelps is a member of the five-person IDS management team.

An IUPD officer was standing outside the IMU by the green awning, across from Maxwell Hall, and noticed Phelps stumbling and told him to stop, Minger said.

The officer helped Phelps stand up after falling down once but he proceeded to fall down again, Minger said.

Phelps smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, Minger said.
The officer placed Phelps in handcuffs and took him to Monroe County Jail.

“I made a mistake,” Phelps said. “Like a lot of students in college, I got carried away with partying, and I regret my decision. I sincerely apologize to my family and my colleagues at the IDS for my actions.

“I think the measure of a man is not in the mistakes he makes but in how he learns and grows from them.”

IU Director of Student Media Ron Johnson said the IDS is taking steps to address the situation.

“The first thing, the most important thing, is for the editor-in-chief to learn as much as possible about the event and to visit the affected employee,” Johnson said.

After this happens, the editor usually asks for advice and makes a decision on how to report it and what penalty or probation to apply.  

“Obviously it’s distressing when any student of ours gets in trouble,” Johnson said. “We’re extremely concerned for the student and saddened by the illegal activity.”