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(07/25/02 8:23pm)
With few exceptions, the United States has been relatively fortunate when it comes to terrorism. Until Tuesday.\nThe devastation that rocked New York and Washington Tuesday left Americans questioning their domestic safety and how an attack of such epic proportion could happen in such a secure nation.\nThis false sense of security, as Bill Head, IU criminal justice professor and former member of the New York City hostage negotiation unit put it, had "a numbing effect" on Americans.\nThe Federal Emergency Management Agency Web site states that most terrorist attacks have been bombing incidents that involve detonated and undetonated explosive devices. The effects of terrorism vary significantly, from the loss of life and personal injury to property damages and disruptions in public works services. \nNever has the U.S. felt such a disruption of services and loss of lives created by Tuesday's events. Local and national experts feel that the U.S. government cannot guarantee that terrorist attacks will not happen.\nAfter working with the International Criminal Police Organization, and being commissioned to investigate the Oklahoma City bombing by the FBI, John Walsh, host of "America's Most Wanted," said that the problem of terrorists was much larger than Washington has perceived.\n"The Bush administration now has to realize that this is a bigger problem than four or five guys from Israel in New Jersey with a bomb," Walsh said. \nHe was in Bloomington filming part of an episode of "America's Most Wanted" that includes a segment about missing IU student Jill Behrman. \nAnd while officials have certain procedures and methods that they go about in searching for certain criminals and offenders, solutions are not as simple as they may seem, said Robert White, associate dean of liberal arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. \n"We cannot guarantee that an airplane flying from New York to Los Angles will not be hijacked," White said.\nWhite, a specialist on the Irish Republican Army and published writer in the "Journal of Terrorism and Political Violence", felt it could be time to question U.S. policies.\n"At some point we have to start questioning policies," White said. "There could be certain governmental policies that could cause attacks." \nHistorically, the U.S. government has responded to terrorist activities with violence. White warns that we as a nation have to be restrained in our response. \n"What we don't want is any sentiment against any international Americans," White said.\nSince the the U.S. government has few leads as to whom the terrorists are, the most effective way to prevent such attacks is to harden the targets, Head said. \n"We've spent billions of dollars a year to make sure that a mode of transportation is safe, and clearly the thing that we think is the safest is not," Head said. \nNonetheless, American morale took a devastating blow Tuesday. With the senseless ending of hundreds upon thousands of lives, the American security blanket was removed. But Americans only received a small taste of what the rest of the world has seen in the past, Head said. \n"These types of attacks have been happening all around the world for more than 20 years," Head said. "Since we don't normally have to deal with such issues, we put them in the back of our minds until they hit home."\nStaff reporter Alexis Silas contributed to this story.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
According to statistics from the American Cancer Society, there is an 32 percent greater chance of death from cancer for a nonactive male who smokes than for those who don't. For females, the statistics are similar. Sources say lifetime cigarette use kills at least half of all smokers.\nSharing these and other stark facts about cancer, John Seffrin, executive director of the ACS, concluded the cancer education series sponsored by the Hoosiers OutRun Cancer Thursday night. \nSeffrin, former chairman of the Department of Applied Health Science and professor of heath education in the school of Health, Physical Education and Recreation for 13 years, has been on leave from the University for the past nine years. Seffrin has devoted much of his professional career to educating himself and others about the causes and cures of cancer.\n"More than 1,500 people each day die from cancer," Seffrin said. "Last year, there was a total of 553,400 cancer-related deaths, and there are 1.2 million new cases of cancer every year."\nSince 1991, cancer mortality rates have decreased, and today the United States has a 62 percentsurvival rate from cancer. \n"How cancer develops is no longer a mystery," Seffrin said quoting an article from "Scientific American" by Robert Weinber. "More than 30 percent of cancer related deaths come from tobacco."\nAnnouncing goals that the American Cancer Society has set for the year 2015, Seffrin said the Society would like to see a 50 percent reduction in the age-adjusted cancer mortality rate and a 25 percent reduction in the instances of cancer. \n"We just want to see a basic improvement in the quality of life for cancer survivors," Seffrin said.\nSeffrin's lecture was the seventh in a series of cancer education programs sponsored by Hoosiers OutRun Cancer. \nThis year was the trial run for the cancer education series. Carol Gillard and Debbie Sibbitt, co-chairs of the organizing committee for Hoosiers OutRun Cancer, feel the lecture series has made a positive impact in the organization's second year.\n"All of the lectures have been well attended and interesting," Gillard said. "We are pleased with the way each of the lectures turned out."\nThe Bloomington community can look forward to the lecture series for many more years to come, Sibbitt said.\nThe main events for Hoosiers OutRun Cancer begin Saturday morning with a 5K walk and run, accompanied by a one-mile family walk. Students wishing to participate can still register at the IU Gladstein Field House, east of Assembly Hall, from 4-7 p.m. today. \nHoosiers OutRun Cancer donates all of the money raised from the event to the Bloomington community, Sibbitt said.\nLast year Hoosiers OutRun Cancer raised more than $200,000 with 2300 participants and 300 volunteers.\nWith the help of organizations such as Hoosiers OutRun Cancer, Seffrin is convinced that cancer can be eradicated in the 21st century. \n"Seventy to 80 percent of all cancer-related deaths are avoidable," Seffrin said. "What we know today must be applied in the fight against cancer."\nAdditional information about Hoosiers OutRun Cancer and the American Cancer Society can be found at www.hoosiersoutruncancer.org and www.cancer.org.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
The Office of Admissions is filled with bright-eyed high school seniors every year. They wait nervously to go on tours and meet with admissions officers, but more importantly they wait to gain a sense if IU is the right place for them.\nThe hustle and bustle of the Office of Admissions has increased exponentially.\nThe number of high school seniors requesting information about IU went up 31 percent and the number of applications for admission for next year went up 22 percent in the last month, said Don Hossler, associate vice president of academic affairs for enrollment services. Attendance at IU recruiting events has doubled.\nThe cause: the Sept. 11 attacks. \nBecause of safety and economic concerns, parents and students are considering more schools outside metropolitan areas, Hossler said.\n"There may be a fair number of parents wanting to keep kids close to home because of security issues," Hossler said. \nHossler pointed to a recession in the economy as another possible cause for students choosing to stay closer to home.\n"Families may no longer have the financial means to send kids to more expensive, out-of-state schools," Hossler said. "If the economy takes a significant downturn, students may have to seriously debate going to an out-of-state school." \nIU tuition is $4,734 for in-state students and $14,468 for out-of-state students.\nEven as parents begin to keep their children closer to home for financial reasons and safety concerns, Hossler said there are still more out-of-state applicants.\n"IU provides a safe and economically sound alternative to metro area schools that parents may find unsafe and expensive," Hossler said.\nCampus visits have also increased in the last month, said Jane Gantz, senior associate director of admissions. Gantz's days are filled with tours, off-campus demonstrations and previews, individual counseling sessions and stacks of applications to review.\n"Not only have we seen an increased number of students visiting campus, but we have seen an increased attendance at previews across the country," Gantz said.\nWhile the popularity of the University is on the rise, the enrollment capacity has not changed. \n"We don't have a quota of students we accept from each state," Gantz said. "We accept the students who meet our set criteria and are academically competitive."\nHossler dismissed the notion of raising academic standards to complement the increase in popularity.\n"It's very hard to increase admission standards in the short run," Hossler said. "We have a commitment to high school guidance counselors and prospective students to hold to the standards we have set in the past."\nAn Oct. 5 article in The Wall Street Journal named IU a "hot school" since Sept. 11, because of its location and academic programs.\nElizabeth Bernstein, one of the article's authors and an IU alumnus, compared IU to the likes of Illinois Wesleyan University, Miami University of Ohio and the College of William & Mary, in terms of economic value, educational merit and overall appeal.\n"We spoke to a panel of guidance counselors and asked them which colleges high school seniors are now focusing on," Berstein said. "What we found was that smaller and more local universities are gaining more popularity with parents, but students don't seem to be worried about safety concerns.\n"IU is outside of the so-called terrorist area of big cities," she said. "Parents would feel safe if their kids were in Bloomington"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
In the last three years, two IU students have died after drinking alcohol at fraternity houses. When Joseph Bisanz, a fraternity member, died of asphyxiation Dec. 13, 1999, alcohol he had consumed at Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity was found in his body. \nFour months later, students and faculty gathered in Dunn Meadow for "Not Here ... Never Again," part of a national program advocating the prevention of alcohol abuse and alcohol-related deaths on campus.\nYet less than two years later, Seth Korona died Feb. 4, 2001 from a head injury he suffered after performing a keg stand at Theta Chi Fraternity.\nSenior Ben Schmidt, Interfraternity Council President, recalls how just four years ago, freshmen could walk down North Jordan Avenue and Third Street and attend any fraternity party they wanted.\nToday, he said, the greek system has changed dramatically.\n"Freshmen have stereotypes as to what greek life is all about," Schmidt said. "Our organizations contribute more to campus than just wild parties."\nWhile parties can still get out of hand, freshmen are no longer permitted inside fraternity houses before men's rush and parties have gotten much smaller, Schmidt said. \n"Chapters are being more responsible since there is greater liability over them when they make mistakes," Schmidt said. "Fraternities and sororities are finding new outlets for social interaction."\nIU administrators say they have also seen positive signs of change in the greek system.\n"What we have seen in the past is that we have a student culture that is not that supportive of campus policy," said Dean of Students Richard McKaig. "Over time, students start getting back to a 'business as usual' attitude, and the effects of a tragedy start to wear off."\nStudents, especially freshmen who might not have been exposed to the publicity surrounding each death, tend to take on the attitude that "it won't happen to me," McKaig said.\nMcKaig said IU has conducted surveys that show 80 percent of students consumed an alcoholic beverage in the last 30 days, but he acknowledged students seem to be behaving in a more responsible manner compared to year's past.\nIn the Bisanz and Korona cases, McKaig said that finding the responsible party is not as easy as it sounds.\n"There is a reality to what extreme you can regulate an individual's behavior," McKaig said. "We must always ask ourselves if we are making a reasonable effort to monitor the activities of our students."\nBut for some, IU officials do not put in enough effort to make sure students are safe and behaving in their best interest.\n"If (IU) was serious about making their campus safer, my son Joseph and his classmate Seth Korona would not be dead," Gary Bisanz, Joseph's father, told the IDS in September.\nIU spokesman Bill Stephan said he stands behind the University's attempts to promote alcohol education and awareness.\n"We work very closely with law enforcement, and we have taken a health and education approach," Stephan said. "Alcohol education begins before students arrive at IU."\nIncoming freshmen receive materials about the University's alcohol policies, and Stephan said he feels a number of opportunities exist on many different levels for students to increase awareness about the dangers of alcohol.\nRegardless of the University's current effort, there will always be room for improvement, Stephan said.\n"Educating students about alcohol is a continuing task, and we have a responsibility to work with the community in our efforts," he said.\nThe Bloomington community has also adopted a sense of heightened awareness after the deaths. \n"People no longer hesitate to contact law enforcement if they see someone stumbling out in front of a greek house," IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger said. "There have been multiple requests for increased alcohol education."\nIUPD's role in the greek system during the past few years has primarily been as a monitor but also as a conduit to the Dean's office.\n"We're more mobile than the Dean's office," Minger said. "We're out on the streets, and we know when problems arise."\nMinger has found that while the frequency of problems with alcohol and the greek system has declined, problems still exist.\n"With every kind of issue, it's a small percentage of the population causing the problems," Minger said. "Under no circumstance is the entire greek system to blame for the problems caused by a few."\nRegardless of their personal opinions, students and administrator alike admit the greek system is changing. \n"I think the changes have been very positive," Schmidt said. "Houses have adopted a more responsible approach to the way they conduct themselves and their chapters"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
With the endorsement of Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm, IU is poised to wage a new initiative against high-risk drinking on campus.\nImplementation teams have been assembled and students could feel the effects of stricter alcohol policies as early as Fall 2002, IU Dean of Students Richard McKaig said.\nIn May 2001, IU's Campus-Community Commission on Alcohol Abuse completed its recommendations to curb excessive use of alcohol by students. Brehm endorsed the plan before Thanksgiving break, calling for an increased level of student awareness and safety.\nIn the last three years, two IU students have died after consuming alcohol on campus. In the last year, three fraternity houses have had their charters revoked for alcohol-related issues. \nThe endorsed plan, which highlights several areas the commission found to be "high-risk," will be debated by subcommittees within the commission over the next few months.\n"We will merely be discussing what it would take to implement these policies over the next couple of months," Brehm said. "But changes in our policies surrounding student alcohol abuse are inevitable."\nIncreased involvement by law enforcement officials is an essential part of implementing the proposals of the commission, said Dee Owens, director of IU's Alcohol and Drug Information Center and head of the Campus-Community Commission on Alcohol Abuse.\n"Students must be aware that there are consequences for their actions," Owens said.\nOwens said the commission feels that, in general, IU has an alcohol problem.\n"We want to promote and see behavior that is acceptable," Owens said. "Our job is to now find out how we can implement these recommendations into effective policies."\nIU students could face increased numbers of Friday classes if all of the commission's proposals are fully implemented.\nAccording to the research by the commission, many students drink excessively Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.\nThe recommendation further states, "Individual schools should be encouraged to schedule more Friday and morning classes; in particular, core courses for popular majors."\nThe commission also proposed a requirement for freshmen to live in residence halls so they have increased "exposure to educational programs within the residence hall community."\nSince about 80 percent of all freshmen live in the residence halls already, the proposal would not be a drastic change, McKaig said.\n"But with if all of these policies are implemented our hope is that there will be less emphasis on alcohol in the student society," McKaig said. \nThe greek system will also be subject to several new requirements if the commission's plan is implemented. For instance, first semester freshmen would be prohibited from pledging and security fees would be assessed for every greek social event to pay for IUPD-sponsored security. \nBut Interfraternity Council President Ben Schmidt, a senior, said he thinks the commission offers the greek system no new realistic proposals to limiting the amounts of high-risk drinking.\n"Seventy percent of the proposals made by the commission we already do," Schmidt said. "And the idea of deferred recruitment will not solve problems with alcohol in the greek system."\nSchmidt feels campus alcohol policy will always be a sensitive topic, regardless of organizational affiliation.\nUnion Board President Vaughn Allen agrees, and said he feels the problem of excessive alcohol usage is a societal issue.\n"Alcohol abuse is not limited to (IU)," Allen, a senior, said. "The University has to be careful with the policies they implement."\nStudents want their freedom and if the policy is taken too far, students could develop a rebellious attitude and want to drink more, Allen said. \n"The University must encourage responsible drinking, not discourage drinking altogether," Allen said.\nThe commission has divided into subcommittees and plans to discuss the possibilities of implementing each policy recommendation.\nBut Brehm and McKaig promised a change in campus alcohol policy in the future.\n"The level of alcohol abuse across college campuses is worrisome," Brehm said. "We need to create a student culture where students feel okay saying 'no' or 'that's enough."
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
A group of 15 IU students huddled in a cluster trying to fight off cold winds tearing across the corner of Jordan Avenue and 10th Street Monday night. One held a sign with the words "Sigma's Waging War Against Cancer" written on it. \nEight hours into the twelve-hour "Couch-A-Thon," the men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and the women of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority were cold, but in high spirits.\nDonations from the "Couch-A-Thon" will go to the American Cancer Society.\n"Many students may not attend a seminar or lecture," senior Greg Watson, president of Phi Beta Sigma, said. "We thought that this would be the most effective way to raise money and awareness."\nWatson felt students would respond better to the "Couch-A-Thon."\nThe "Couch-A-Thon" was held from 10a.m.-10p.m. on the corner of 10th Street and Jordan Avenue.\n"By us being a younger minority population, we are doing something to raise cancer awareness," junior Kevonda Woods, Zeta Phi Beta member said. "A lot of young ladies are unaware of breast cancer."\nAlthough this is the first year for the "Couch-A-Thon," raising cancer awareness is a non-stop, year-round fund-raiser for Phi Beta Sigma on the national level, Watson said.\n"(Phi Beta Sigma) put the community first and ourselves second," Watson said. "Some of us have been very close to cancer and this is our way of raising awareness."\n"This is our way of giving back to the community," senior Richard Miller said. "Young people seem to be unaware of cancer."\nFor more information about the American Cancer Society go to "www.cancer.org" .
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Several Indiana institutions joined intellectual and financial forces to launch Indiana into national prominence in the life sciences industry. \nThe Central Indiana Life Sciences Initiative was formed by the combined efforts from IU, Purdue, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, the City of Indianapolis and the Indiana Health Industry Forum.\nCombined, the projects from this initiative will cost $1.5 billion for the advancement of academic and economic development.\nOf that $1.5 billion, IU will rack up a $500 million tab over the next three to five years.\nPart of IU's contribution -- $150 million -- will go toward building projects that include a Biomedical Research and Training Center, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute and a $75 million, 250,000 square-foot building dedicated to cancer research. These buildings will be part of the IU School of Medicine in Indianapolis. \nOther IU funds will flow from the Lilly Endowment, which allocates $105 million to support the Indiana Genomics Initiative founded in Dec. 2000. Fifty-$100 million in venture capital will be raised for life sciences in the region by several different partners, including IU. \nIU President Myles Brand stressed that this money does not come from tuition or other University funds.\n"None of this money is being taken away from the University," Brand said. "Investors invest through us. We compete for grants and through these grants comes the money used for research and project funding."\nBut as David Goodrich, president and CEO of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership put it, money is not only thing IU brings to the initiative.\n"Dollars are certainly very important, but the resources IU brings are amazing," Goodrich said. "The real asset of IU are the people and the bright minds, and if we can harness those bright minds then the possibilities would be endless."\nFor students the Initiative means a broader range of opportunities.\n"In Indiana, the average wages in the life sciences industry are two and a half times the average worker's wage," he said. "If we are successful, this will drive the economy for years." \nWhile other states may draw IU graduates away from Indiana because of mountains and oceans, Goodrich said if the initiative is successful, the graduates will stay for the better jobs.\n"We need to find a way to keep the graduates," Goodrich said. "With the jobs that will be created, we're going to keep the great minds here in Indiana."\nFor Dr. Craig Brater, dean of IU School of Medicine, the goals of the initiative are in total alignment with the goals of the medical school.\n"The biggest challenge for physicians, scientists and basically all people in the life sciences industry is coping with the enormous explosion of information and deciding how that should be incorporated into their daily activities. If they are immersed in an environment through their entire education and they are seeing these questions asked, analyzed and put into practice every day, then they will be better equipped to handle this information explosion in the real world," Brater said. "We hope the initiative is going to create a learning environment where we're not just teaching the medicine of today, we're defining the medicine of tomorrow." \nThe initiative comes as the inaugural effort in Indiana from two research universities, city government and private businesses. Without this collaboration, the Initiative would not have been possible, Brand said.\n"We couldn't have succeed if we tried to do this alone," Brand said. "Something this substantial requires a partnership." \nVirginia and California have already been very successful with models like this, and the cooperation is a breakthrough for the state of Indiana, Brand said.\nGoodrich agrees.\n"They're always been a good spirit of cooperation and getting things done," Goodrich said. "In Indiana, team efforts work. The coming together of these resources to generate a whole that is much greater than the sum of its parts is what the Initiative is all about"
(01/31/02 6:11am)
At 4:48 p.m. Wednesday, Bloomington Police Department officers responded to call at 2517 E. Fifth Street for a suicidal male with possible possession of gun.\nBloomington resident Eric Kinnard barricaded himself inside his house, clutching a .357 caliber handgun, and threatened suicide when his friend called police. \nBPD Lt. Mark Crouch was one of three responding officers to the scene.\n"The officers started to approach the house when a friend of the male approached them and told them that it would probably be better to keep back," Crouch said. "It's a good thing the friend was there. The officers would've walked up and walked into a potentially dangerous situation."\nThe officers attempted to call Kinnard to reason with him, but he disconnected the phone.\nIt was then that Crouch and the responding officers deemed the situation volatile and called in the the Critical Incident Response Team. \nBPD blocked off all surrounding blocks and immediate neighbors were asked to evacuate their homes while local residents were asked to stay inside their homes.\nBPD Capt. Michael Diekhoff described Kinnard as "despondent." He also said Kinnard had been drinking, although he was not sure how much. He did not threaten police or anyone else, but was threatening to commit suicide. \nThe negotiations were led by Sgt. Anthony Pope, and Kinnard was eventually coaxed out with the help of his lawyer, David Colman.\nAt 7:26 p.m., Kinnard voluntarily walked out of his house into the custody of police, and was transported to the Stress Care ward of Bloomington Hospital. \nIt is unsure if criminal charges will be filed.\n"(The situation) worked out really well," Diekhoff said. "Hopefully he can get his problems taken care of so something like this doesn't happen again."\nColman said he has been going through a rough time. \nAbout 11 months ago, Kinnard broke his ankle and had been unable to return to work. After recently receiving custody of his 4 year-old child, Colman said he had been in a tough spot financially. Colman does not believe this incident will have any bearing on the custody situation.\n"He called me in the midst and said there was police outside his house," Colman said. "He is in a very tough time, but I don't think this should affect his custody situation"
(01/18/02 5:47am)
Mary Frances Berry has been at the center of numerous controversies throughout her life. \nAs one of the founders for the Free South Africa movement, she launched protests in support of South African democracy, for which she was arrested and jailed many times. \nIn 1980, she was appointed by president Jimmy Carter as commissioner of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. But when Ronald Reagan took office, he fired Berry because she criticized his civil rights policies. Berry sued and won re-instatement from a federal judge.\nIn 1993, keeping with her presidential service, Bill Clinton designated her chairperson of the Civil Rights Commission.\nBerry has made appearances on "Nightline," "Crossfire," "Lead Story," "Face the Nation," "The Today Show," "Oprah," CNN and C-Span. \nAt 6 p.m. Monday in Whittenberger Auditorium, she will speak at IU. Berry is the headline event in the campus celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.\nIn Dec. 2001, Berry made her face familiar to many Americans as she chaired long hearings about the Florida elections, accepting testimony from many voters and questioning election officials about events in Nov. 2000. \n Last summer, she refused to swear in a Bush appointee to the commission, arguing the commissioner whom Bush sought to replace still had four years left in her term. \n The case is still unresolved. Berry has been a leader in a number of national civil rights initiatives and has received 28 honorary degrees and numerous awards for her public service according to release from the Office of Multicultural Affairs.\n "(Berry) will be lecturing on MLK's legacy and his attainment of his dreams," said Gloria Gibson, associate vice chancellor for multicultural affairs. \nBerry will also address the issue of total equality, Gibson said.\n"Civil rights opened the windows. When you open the windows, it does not mean that everyone will get through. We must create our own opportunities," Berry said in a statement. "When it comes to the cause of justice, I take no prisoners, and I don't believe in compromise"
(12/06/01 4:54am)
Midwestern university academics will meet in Bloomington today and Friday to discuss the new challenges of recruiting international students as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.\nThe Big Ten's academic arm and the University of Chicago, which comprise the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, hope to consider alternative strategies for international recruitment following the terrorist attacks.\n In the next two days, the committee will address factors that could deter international students from attending American universities.\n"We want to examine what effect the new visa requirement will have on the number of students that have been accepted that will actually be able to come," Kenneth Rogers, associate dean of international programs, said. \nThe committee will address three areas of concern, Rogers said, including those concerns that are immediate and ranging to those that could effect long-term recruitment.\nImmediate concerns include the anticipated effects of more restrictive practices, screening of students eligible for visas and changes in international application procedures and requirements, Rogers said.\nBut Rogers also noted that IU has not seen a decrease in the number of applications from international students. In fact, they have actually increased, he said.\n"I'd like to think that our reputation is the biggest factor," Rogers said. \nDuring the weeks following the attacks, the Leo R. Dowling International Center extended its hours for IU's international students to come study or seek counseling.\nSara Gibson, the center's language circle coordinator, said the center provides international students and international organizations a safe haven on campus.\nRogers also noted that the U.S. government must recognize the benefit of having international students study at U.S. colleges.\n"The U.S. has been drawing large numbers of students from other countries to its institutions for years," Rogers said. "$12 billion annually -- it makes international education a leading export service industry"
(12/03/01 4:33am)
In March of 1998, as IU students celebrated the first day of Spring Break by leaving campus for traditional destinations, Jared Fogle was poised to use the week off from classes to work at a local video store in Bloomington.
(11/30/01 5:03am)
The penalty for violators of campus alcohol policy could become more serious by Fall 2002.\nBut IU is not alone in their efforts to curb high-risk drinking on Midwestern college campuses. Big Ten schools like the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Michigan State University are locked in the fight against high-risk drinking -- they're just using different means. \nWhile "student safety" is a common goal for universities, the methods for creating an environment that is deemed safe and acceptable by administrators while retaining student appeal differ.\nWith the endorsement of Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm, the Campus-Community Commission on Alcohol Abuse's plan for stricter campus alcohol policies is a step closer to implementation.\nAmong other things, the full implementation of the commission's plan would require the University to "step up level of disciplinary sanctions so that all alcohol offenses are treated seriously."\nIU's number of alcohol-related arrests already position the University in the upper ranks of the 11 Big Ten schools, according to crime statistics reported through the U.S. Department of Education. The University arrested 409 people on campus in 2000, the third highest among Big Ten schools.\nIU Police Department reported 409 on-campus arrests for Indiana liquor law violations, including 13 arrests made by Indiana State Excise Police, IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said. Many of those arrested are also subject to sanctions from IU's Student Ethics and Anti-Harassment Program. This does not include the 810 liquor law violations that were referred by other enforcement sources to IU's Student Ethics and Anti-Harassment Programs for disciplinary actions, Minger said.\nThe University works closely with campus police to reprimand violators of Indiana and IU laws. \n"The University is not creating a double jeopardy situation," Minger said. "Students have just violated two sets of rules."\nThe University's view is that if students wish to belong to the IU community, they have to abide by the rules within our community, he said.\nMichigan State University Police Department Captain David Trexler said Michigan has one of the most stringent minor possession and consumption laws in the United States, helping to limit underage drinking to a degree.\nWhen the state of Michigan adopted a "zero tolerance" policy for minors, the university followed suit, Trexler said.\nThe state mandated laws require any individual that is under 21 who has been consuming alcohol or is in possession of alcohol be issued a citation.\nEven with this "zero tolerance" policy, MSUPD reported 852 arrests for on-campus liquor law violations in 2000, and 355 of these arrests were referred to the university for disciplinary actions. \nTrexler attributed the high level of campus arrests at MSU to an increased number of people visiting the campus during football season.\n"People love coming here for big games, especially if State is playing Notre Dame or Michigan," Trexler said. "The more people there are, the more cops there are making more arrests."\nMSU has taken a proactive role in the prevention of high-risk drinking situations on campus, Trexler said. \n"We do have a wet campus here. Students can drink on campus as long as they are 21," he said. "We do not allow any kegs or party balls in the dorms, though."\nMSUPD has taken a proactive role in educating students to the consequences of binge drinking, Trexler said. He feels that it is not feasible to try to stop kids from partying.\n"The heavier-type binge drinking has decreased from years ago," Trexler said. "But there's always going to be drinking."\nUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department Captain Dale Burke agreed, saying the university, community and students must work together to cooperatively find alternatives to high-risk drinking.\n"Solutions need to be a cooperation between the university and students with significant cooperation from the students," Burke said. "Some rules we have in place now only make criminals out of those would would not otherwise be criminals."\nBurke's police force was kept busy in 2000 by 671 arrests, both on and off-campus, he said. \n"Many arrests occur adjacent to campus," Burke said. "40-to-50 percent of these arrests are from non-Madison students."\nBurke and Trexler said they both found that students visiting friends at out of state colleges are unaware of state and university laws.\nTypical first-offense 17-20 year old minors in possession or consumption of alcohol land a $212 fine in Wisconsin, Burke said. First-offense minors attempting to buy alcohol are fined $396.50. \n"The tavern owners felt that if we could keep minors from buying alcohol, they could keep them out of their establishments," said Burke, adding it didn't work. \nBut monetary consequences do not work, Burke said. Additional rules and regulations won't help either. \n"Nothing will change overnight," he said. "We have to be satisfied with baby steps and small improvements. We need to be committed to long lasting solutions to the problem of binge drinking, not quick fixes"
(11/13/01 5:50am)
The Sept. 11 attacks have curbed many travel plans for the holiday season.\nThe airline industry has lost billions of dollars and laid off more than 200,000 workers since the terrorist attacks, while passenger travel has dropped by more than 30 percent.\nWith Monday's crash of American Airlines flight 587 passenger levels stand to drop even more, as the American Automobile Association is forecasting a six percent drop in the number of holiday travelers.\nOf those who plan to travel this year, 87 percent will go by car, the highest percentage AAA has ever recorded.\nAAA Spokesman Greg Seiter attributed the rise in the number of travelers by car to the decline in gas prices. \nSince mid-May, AAA has reported a drop in the price of gas by 50 cents from the record high national average of $1.72. \n"We feel that people who have already made plans to travel, will keep those plans," Seiter said.\nChris Gourley, president of Bloomington Shuttle Company, also reported a drop in the percentage of travelers, but is certain that it will be business as usual during the holiday season.\n"In October, we were down 10 percent from last year," Gourley said. "But most out-of-state students who are planning on going home will go home anyway," Gourley said.\nOverall, IU students' opinions about travel seem unaffected by Monday's crash. \nJunior Matthew Ewing, who will be flying from Indianapolis to Chicago, and later to Los Angles, finds comfort in the added precautions the government has imposed.\n"I think the administration is doing all they reasonably can to keep the airways safe," Ewing said. "It's obvious that accidents sometimes happen, but in general, I feel safe."\nBut some airports seem to "feel" safer than others.\nJunior Gina Koorsen lost her boarding pass before her flight out of Indianapolis International Airport. She was certain that with the increased security she would not be able to board her plane. But much to Koorsen's surprise, she found that it very easy to get another boarding pass.\n"Indianapolis seemed to be very relaxed with security," Koorsen said. "In Raleigh, North Carolina, I had to stand in line for two hours and guards with rifles were always around. It just felt safer."\nThe Associated Press contributed to this article.
(11/13/01 5:46am)
Approaching "Ground Zero" early Monday morning, Red Cross volunteers and IU students Chris Gilbert and Ryan Todd expected what has come to be another routine day. \nThe two are aiding New York fire and police units who are sifting through tons of metal that use to be World Trade Center.\nAs members of an Emergency Response Vehicle Team, their vehicle was loaded with water, particle masks, and first aid materials to bring to rescue workers. \nBoth IU students were deployed last Thursday as disaster volunteers from the Bloomington chapter of the American Red Cross, and thought the extent of the action they would see was at Ground Zero.\nAs they approached the smoldering rubble that was once the World Trade Centers, Gilbert, a senior, and Todd, a junior, received a call over their radio that they will never forget.\n"All the guys around us were shouting, 'Another plane's gone down, Another plane's gone down'," Todd said. "We all thought that it was another terrorist attack. Then all Hell broke loose."\nThe scene was utter chaos as Todd and Gilbert filtered through the congestion surrounding the crash site.\nThe streets were crowded with onlookers trying to catch a glimpse of what hear fly overhead, as police, firefighters and rescue workers tried to contain the crowd and the blaze.\nGetting out of the ERV at around 10 a.m., Todd and Gilbert found that they were of the first to be on the scene. \n"We were initially concerned with the possibility of survivors," Gilbert said.\nWhat they found were bodies, not survivors. \n"We were actually what I would call, in the wreckage," Todd said. "There were bodies everywhere. Stuck under the rubble, in the street … everywhere."\nBut as it has become true with firefighters, police and rescue workers over the past two months, volunteers from the Red Cross put all personal peril and anguish aside. Todd described the feeling as a sense of duty.\n"We just had to suck it up and go," he said. "I had a job to do and nothing was going to stop me from doing it."\nEd VandeSande, director of emergency services with the Monroe Co. chapter of the ARC, described the two as "true spirited, strong and motivated."\n"They are both representing our chapter, IU and our community very well," VandeSande said.\nGilbert, Todd and other volunteers for the Red Cross worked diligently throughout the day distributing water, particle masks and first aid supplies. Physical and mental exhaustion was quickly setting in.\n"At 4 p.m. we were sent back to headquarters," Gilbert said. "We knew we had to go, but we really didn't want to leave."\nFollowing orders, Gilbert and Todd returned to their hotel to rest, eat and mentally prepare for redeployment at the crash sight at 8 p.m. Monday night. Neither could sleep.\n"The images will always stay with me," Gilbert said. "No matter where I go, especially when I am in New York, the images from Ground Zero and the plane wreckage will always be in my mind."\nThe Bloomington chapter of the ARC has issued a Family Well Being Inquiry. Anyone who has persons missing from their family should contact Ed VandeSande at 332-7292.
(11/12/01 4:10am)
Residence Hall Association Student Services helped sponsor the IU Unity Walk Sunday, with proceeds benefitting the American Red Cross 9-11 National Disaster Relief Fund. The 5K walk began at 10 a.m. at the Mellencamp Pavilion.\nAimed at making people "feel better after the attacks while giving to a worthy cause," the event allowed those who participated to show support for campus unity and diversity, event co-coordinator Sarah Dilworth, a graduate student, said.\nThe event had expected to attract more than 2,000 participants, but event co-coordinator Brian Walker was disappointed with the turnout.\n"We had about 50 people show up today," Walker, a junior, said. "We made around $1,250 through sponsorship."\nWalker felt that the event should have attracted more members of the IU community.\n"We planned the event for exactly two months after the attacks to signify the importance of the cause," Walker said. "The whole cause was to help the people of New York and I am disappointed that participation was so low."\nBut the event proved to be a learning experience for a group of students that had little more in common than a will to do something for a worthy cause, Christine Geary, event adviser and Recreational sports staff member, said.\n"To put an event together like in such a short time is very challenging," Geary said. "The students learned what it takes to be involved in a community and plan a philanthropy event."\nWalker said T-shirts from the event are still available for $6, with proceeds going to the American Red Cross 9-11 National Disaster Relief Fund.
(10/25/01 5:39am)
Students, faculty and members of the Bloomington community braved Wednesday night's severe weather to hold an open discussion on the global security and the future of international foreign policy.\nThe discussion, "International Terrorism and Global Security," featured a panel of three professors assembled by graduate student Mike Craw. \nProfessors Dina Spechler and Mike McGinnis and Professor Emeritus Ilyia Harik contemplated pressing issues they felt were important for understanding where the United States will go from here.\nThe discussion was filled with speculation of possible U.S. allies, the future of American foreign policy and the possibility of an escalation in intensity of the conflict.\n"Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are two of the most crucial allies," McGinnis said. "But they are also two of the most unlikely to what we want them to do."\nWhen it comes to international relations, Harik said there are fewer friendships than there are conflicting interests.\nSince the end of World War II, Americans have been under the false premise that allies and alliances are permanent, Spechler said. Historically, alliances have been temporary solutions to a common enemy.\n"The relations we are building now in the Middle East are temporary and filled with tension," Spechler said.\nThe desired outcomes by the countries considering themselves allies throughout the past month are also conflicting.\n"The U.S. and Pakistan have very different ideas as to who replaces the Taliban," Spechler said. "The fact still remains that Russia and Uzbekistan are two of our closest allies."\nAs the U.S. continues its campaign in response to the attacks of Sept. 11, many Uzbekistanis and Russians, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, see the conflict as meeting their basic interests, Spechler said.\nAfter the deliberation of many facets of the war on terrorism, the panelists agreed upon the position of the various Muslim governments.\n"I'm sure the Muslim governments would rather side with the U.S., but it's not being made possible by their populations," Harik said.\nHarik said the assumption that all Muslims are terrorist was a major social flaw.\n"We must distinguish between groups that use violence as a political message," Harik said. "Muslims are not terrorists"
(10/25/01 5:39am)
Students, faculty and members of the Bloomington community braved Wednesday night's severe weather to hold an open discussion on the global security and the future of international foreign policy.\nThe discussion, "International Terrorism and Global Security," featured a panel of three professors assembled by graduate student Mike Craw. \nProfessors Dina Spechler and Mike McGinnis and Professor Emeritus Ilyia Harik contemplated pressing issues they felt were important for understanding where the United States will go from here.\nThe discussion was filled with speculation of possible U.S. allies, the future of American foreign policy and the possibility of an escalation in intensity of the conflict.\n"Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are two of the most crucial allies," McGinnis said. "But they are also two of the most unlikely to what we want them to do."\nWhen it comes to international relations, Harik said there are fewer friendships than there are conflicting interests.\nSince the end of World War II, Americans have been under the false premise that allies and alliances are permanent, Spechler said. Historically, alliances have been temporary solutions to a common enemy.\n"The relations we are building now in the Middle East are temporary and filled with tension," Spechler said.\nThe desired outcomes by the countries considering themselves allies throughout the past month are also conflicting.\n"The U.S. and Pakistan have very different ideas as to who replaces the Taliban," Spechler said. "The fact still remains that Russia and Uzbekistan are two of our closest allies."\nAs the U.S. continues its campaign in response to the attacks of Sept. 11, many Uzbekistanis and Russians, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, see the conflict as meeting their basic interests, Spechler said.\nAfter the deliberation of many facets of the war on terrorism, the panelists agreed upon the position of the various Muslim governments.\n"I'm sure the Muslim governments would rather side with the U.S., but it's not being made possible by their populations," Harik said.\nHarik said the assumption that all Muslims are terrorist was a major social flaw.\n"We must distinguish between groups that use violence as a political message," Harik said. "Muslims are not terrorists"
(10/24/01 5:22am)
The political science department will bring a frank discussion of the international implications of the Sept. 11 attacks to campus tonight. \nCalled "International Terrorism and Global Security," the discussion will be conducted in panel form, with three IU experts in international and comparative politics and American foreign policy. \nJunior Paul Musgrave, moderator of the event, said he hopes the audience comes for an open discussion with questions and a thirst for more insight about the future of American foreign policy.\n"The panel is an attempt to allow the public to ask specialist what the world will look like in the coming years," Musgrave said. "We want to see what issues the public is concerned with."\nBrought together by graduate student Mike Craw, the panel of experts consists of political science Professors Dina Spechler and Michael McGinnis and Professor Emeritus Iliya Harik.\nSpechler, who's area of expertise is in international politics and foreign policy, said she is looking forward to the interaction with the public.\n"My assumption is that it will be quite a lively interaction between the crowd and the panel," Spechler said.\nThe discussion will begin with initial questioning from Musgrave, but the questions will be left for the audience to ask.\nHarik, whose area of expertise is in Middle Eastern policy and comparative politics, said the public could benefit greatly from Wednesday's open discussion.\n"What I'd like to do is be a resource for the audience," Harik said. "I will be happy to answer any questions people might have."\nFORUM:"International Terrorism and Global Security" 7- 8:30 p.m. in Ballantine Hall room 310.
(10/23/01 5:40am)
With his political wit and humor, Mark Shields captivated a crowd of more than 100 people at Whittenberger Auditorium Monday night. \nShields, moderator of CNN's "The Capital Gang," was this year's Roy W. Howard lecturer at the National Reporting Convention at IU.\nEntitling his lecture "The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Shields," Shields addressed the state of American politics before and after the Sept. 11 attacks.\n"The 2000 election was a humdrum election," Shields said. "There was no passion about either candidate because people had grave doubts about both men."\nCalling the elections of 1980 and 1992 "change in direction elections," Shields compared the 2000 election as merely a change in leadership.\n"In 2000, the American people were tired of the leadership," Shields said. "They did not want to be embarrassed by the president any longer."\nBut pondering a "what if," Shields acknowledged the possibilities of a different election outcome had the attacks of Sept. 11 happen one year earlier.\n"If the attacks happened on Sept. 11, 2000, Al Gore would have won the election," Shields said. "But the attacks have managed to help President George W. Bush close the stature gap."\nIn other words Shields said, Bush is now president "hands down."\n"Anti-government rhetoric is gone and the presidency is now stronger," Shields said. "The presidency always gets stronger in times of crisis."\nBut nearing the end of his lecture, Shields crept away from his trademark wit that Americans know from his Washington Post column and his CNN talk show "The Capital Gang" and talked frankly about the near future of American politics.\n"We're going to see a bigger government, a more expensive government," Shields said.\nShields said the American government needs to have a free debate about what is involved in the war on terrorism. He warned that Americans must understand the costs of the conflict and should ask each other if they are willing to pay.\n"There is no question about it," Shields said. "There will be casualties -- both civilians and soldiers."\nThe shock of September's attacks has revived American patriotism, Sheilds said. He compared the morale of the U.S. to that of the country's attitude during World War II, noting people are feeling "total communal participation and support."\nNonetheless, Shields warned the American government cannot afford to venture into another conflict like Vietnam.\n"An army should never be sent to fight a war unless the nation supports it," Shields said. "An army doesn't fight a war -- a nation fights a war."\nThe Roy W. Howard lecture is the culmination of events from the annual National Reporting Competition.\nIU's School of Journalism houses the Roy W. Howard Archive, which contains about 14,000 letters and memorabilia on Howard -- an accomplished journalist, the general manager and president of United Press and chairman of Scripps Howard Newspapers.\nThe competition is sponsored by the Scripps Howard Foundation, which provides numerous contests, scholarships, and possibilities for aspiring journalists.\nTrevor Brown, dean of IU's School of Journalism, commended the competition for making a positive impact on future journalists.\n"Instead of having an awards ceremony, the students come to Bloomington and get to discuss their stories with the judges," Brown said. "It really creates a positive-impact mentoring system and promotes instructional exchanges."\nThe seminar with the judges was helpful to students, but the time with Shields was particularly enjoyable, said contestant Tim Higgins, a senior from the University of Missouri at Columbia.\n"He was just a down to earth and funny guy," Higgins said. "He was very grounded"
(10/18/01 5:42am)
Since the closing of the House side of the Capitol Wednesday, a dark cloud has descended upon the mood in Washington, D.C. \nA city where Americans are trying to mend from Sept. 11 is now consumed with the ever-present threat of more terror. Tension, stress, and apprehension of "what's next?" are governing factors in everyday moods and thoughts.\nNewly erected chain-link fencing surrounds the Capitol now. It is a necessary precaution, but nonetheless has dealt a definitive blow to the mood and moral of Washingtonians, Hoosiers and Americans alike.\nFormer U.S. Representative from Indiana, Lee Hamilton said the everyday reminders of the Sept. 11 tragedy are forever present. \n"Every day I drive by the Pentagon, and every day I am reminded of the loss of life and horror that can happen all too close to home," Hamilton said. \nHamilton, who now serves as director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, D.C. and as director of IU's Center on Congress, said 100 percent security doesn't exist. \n"Americans are obviously not as secure as they used to be," Hamilton said. "To close the Capitol is a depressing symbol of what can happen to even the strongest of nations."\nThroughout the course of American history, the Capitol building has been a symbolic representation of freedom and representation, Hamilton said. \nAs a delegate from southern Indiana, Hamilton was known for his constant availability to his constituents. \n"I cannot help but feel that the impact of all of this will be to limit the access to the Capitol," Hamilton said. \nNonetheless, he continues to support the actions of President George W. Bush and the administration.\n"I support the military action that has been taken," Hamilton said. "But we must also look to the development of economic and diplomatic sanctions as well."\nMark Lame is IU's resident faculty member in Washington, D.C. for the Washington Leadership Program through the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Currently in D.C., he is in charge of 35 IU students who went to participate in a leadership program involving students with various aspects of the government. \nLame describes the mood of the nation's capitol as grim and determined. \n"People just seem to be going about their business," Lame said. "They all seem to be apprehensive and worried, and it's to be expected."\nLame said he is taking this opportunity to revamp the moral of his students while also having them learn how government works in times of crisis.\nLame and the students are housed in a common apartment complex that is located four miles south of the Pentagon, so the constant thought of possible tragedy is always present.\n"On Sept. 11, it was my job to make certain that all of my students were safe, stayed safe, and that they called their family," Lame said.\nThroughout these times of crisis, Lame has found that he has developed a closer bond to the students.\n"I have spent many hours worrying," Lame said. "But I am glad to be here with these young people."\nThe Washington Leadership Conference ends in December, but SPEA is making alternative options available to both Lame and the students.\n"So far we have only had one student leave because of all of this," Lame said. "We want the students to make their own decisions and we are here for them in whatever they decide to do"