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(03/26/03 5:57am)
The potential healing effects of human cloning could provide improvements in preventive health care, but the surrounding moral and ethical issues could prove to be equally devastating to society. This topic and other issues concerning cloning were debated by faculty members from the Department of Religious Studies during a panel discussion entitled "Playing God: Cloning a New World."\nTuesday night's panel was composed of IU professors David Smith, Jenny Girod, and Ann Mongoven. Brianne Williams, a senior member of the Undergraduate Religious Studies Association, organized the event, which was held at the Whittenberger Auditorium in the Indiana Memorial Union.\n"I brought up the idea of having this discussion at an URSA meeting last year," Williams said. "We wanted the chance to provide people with some education on the issues and ethics involved with cloning." \nSmith commenced the discussion with a brief speech about the difference between reproductive and therapeutic cloning. Smith said therapeutic cloning seeks to reproduce cells of a specific type, while the objective of reproductive cloning is to recreate another person. While Smith said both forms have been met with opposition, therapeutic cloning is the more evenly debated of the two.\n"Some feel that we have the obligation to preserve life, and that we must use available science to help heal people," Smith said. "But many others still feel that it demonstrates an unjustified killing of human life." \nAlthough the panel seemed to be in agreement in opposing the humanity of reproductive cloning, Smith said that many believe therapeutic cloning is just as inhumane.\n"There are many who feel that the cloned embryos involved with therapeutic cloning is as much a human being as a grown adult," he said. "But it's very unclear whether or not the embryo is an individual human being."\nAfter Smith finished, Mongoven took the microphone and shared her views on a person's desire to clone dead friends or family members. At the heart of her speech, Mongoven delivered a fictional scenario about a sterile man who was the only Holocaust survivor in his family and wanted to be cloned so that his family's name could continue after his death.\nBut after presenting the audience with this scenario, Mongoven was quick to express that cloning the dead cannot morally succeed in the case of this person or anyone else for that matter.\n"This cloned person may look like his forbearers, but he will be nothing like them because he never knew his family," Mongoven said. "Looking genetically like someone does not mean that they will be the same person, just look at identical twins."\nMongoven said that even if a person was aware of the impossibility of reproducing the dead, he or she would still find cloning as an appealing alternative to grieving.\n"Cloning is easier than grieving," Mongoven said. "But we should not clone the dead. We should grieve for our dead and thus love our dead."\nGirod, who was the last panelist to speak, discussed the impact cloning would have in society if it was permitted. She mentioned the beneficial potential cloning could have by improving the treatment of spinal cord injuries and other diseases. But Girod also discussed some of the societal setbacks cloning could ignite, such as the high expense of cloning research and the possibility of society immunity to suffering.\n"Cloning could have the potential to cure everything," Girod said. "And that could be harmful to society because we need to live in a society where people care about the suffering and well-being of others."\nAmong the near 100-member audience at the panel discussion was junior Zach Richer, who said he came to learn more about the controversial topic. Richer said he was especially compelled by Mongoven's scenario involving the Holocaust survivor.\n"I found her talk to be really interesting," Richer said. "I thought the scenarios in her speech really brought out the subtle humanitarian issues involved with cloning."\nThe panel members were all in agreement concerning the future of cloning. Towards the end of a question and answer session with the audience, each faculty member shared the belief that human cloning will eventually exist.\n"It's inevitable," Girod said. "The technology is out there and people are already claiming to have succeeded. It may take a long time, but it's going to happen"
(03/12/03 5:19am)
There was no common thread in terms of race, religion or age among the 100 or so audience members who gathered in the Neal-Marshall Grand Hall Tuesday night.\nWhat everyone did share was a strong concern about the potential war in Iraq and racism within the U.S. military.\nThey expressed their concerns through poetry, essays and music.\n"The Color of War" was put together to allow students and professors to creatively discuss the role race plays in war and the military.\nSophomore Mzilikazi Ashaki Kone, a member of the Coalition to Oppose War in Iraq, helped organize the event. The event was designed to give people the chance to have an open discussion about race, Kone said.\n"We didn't want to just have one person give a speech without any chance for discussion," Kone said. "We wanted this to be an open atmosphere where people could express their feelings about the issue. We can learn a lot more that way." \nThe event was organized by the Latinos Undios, the Student Coalition, Students for Justice in Palestine, the Coalition to Oppose War in Iraq, No Sweat and the Hip-Hop Congress.\nDietrich Willke, president of the Student Coalition, said one of the ideas behind the event was to present important political issues on a creative level that a wide range of students could relate to.\n"We thought we could get more students interested if we incorporated a lot of creativity in the event," Willke said. "We hoped students would feel more included and more willing to voice their feelings through expression."\nIU junior Sarah Graub was the first artist to take the stage. Incorporating imagery of American culture, Graub delivered a lyrical narrative poem about racism's involvement in society and the military. Graub said poetry is an alternative approach to talking about conflicts.\n"I want people to find creative ways of dealing with conflict," Graub said. "Resolutions don't always work, and I think it's important that people come together and talk about issues in a creative environment."\nGraduate student Amer Ahmed spoke about the way Americans look down upon Muslim-Americans in his hip-hop poem, "Resist." Ahmed said he wanted people to have the chance to hear from the discriminated perspective of a Muslim-American. Ahmed, a member of the Hip-Hop Congress, said using hip-hop culture is an effective way to get through to the younger generation. \n"Artistic expression reaches people in a way that a lecture can't," Ahmed said. "It has a youthful energy that a simple lecture doesn't have, and I think younger people really respond to that energy better."\nMany students in attendance found the event to be a refreshing change from the formal lectures usually held when societal matters are at hand.\n"I have a really strong interest in issues that involve race and the military," freshman Goodrich Gevaart said, "and I think art is an effective and unique way to convey information, especially politics."\nOne of the highlights of the evening was a speech from Keri Washington, the United Nations coordinator for the Indianapolis Peace and Justice center. Washington spoke about the "lack of black faces in high places" and the absurdity of violence.\n"Soldiers are just foolish," Washington said. "They march around wearing a uniform and carrying a gun, and they look like little kids. But that's exactly what they are."\nIn one of his closing remarks, Washington urged the students in the crowd to abandon the notion that violence is the best way to ameliorate crises -- a notion his generation feels victim to, he said.\n"You all must change the current human paradigm that consists of instinctive violence and racism," he said. "Conflict is a part of our human nature, but we can get past it without killing people"
(03/07/03 3:17pm)
The recent low temperatures have caused a high increase in heating bills, forcing some students to rethink their budgets.\nCompared to last year's winter, temperatures in Indiana this year have decreased by as much as 60 percent, causing a large demand for natural gas from energy companies. \nThe intense demand from customers has caused energy companies to replenish their natural gas supply at high prices. Consequently, residential heating rates have gone up significantly since last year and are expected to increase even further in March.\nCustomers of Vectren Energy Delivery can expect an increase of 46 percent from the average March gas rate. Vectren services over 500,000 customers in central Indiana.\n"The low temperature we have had this winter have created such a high demand that the market price of natural gas has really gone up," said Mike Roeder, a spokesman for Vectren. \nSince last winter, the average monthly heating bill has increased by about $40 to $50. But a rise in heating prices is not the only increase energy companies have noticed this winter. Customer complaints over the price increase have become an everyday occurrence at Vectren, Roeder said. \nCities like Bloomington, where many large and old houses line the streets, are already at a disadvantage when heating efficiency is a concern, he said. More often than not, older buildings have poor insulation and are consequently more expensive to sufficiently heat. \nRecently, junior Mark Hoffman and his roommates were greeted with a $320 heating bill -- $40 dollars more than their two previous heating bills. Hoffman said the high cost of heating has forced him to reorganize his monthly budget.\n"Normally, I'd expect to pay a little more than $100 for all of our utilities," Hoffman said. "But in the past few months, I have had to pay that much money just for heating alone. I've even had to cut back on money that I used to spend on food and other stuff."\nDespite the towering natural gas rates, energy companies are not out to make a profit. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission prohibits energy companies from the ability to make a profit on the sale of natural gas.\nAccording to Vectren's Web site, the company purchases as much natural gas as they can hold during warmer months when prices are down, and therefore benefiting customers with lower rates. When their supply begins to run thin during the demanding winter months, Vectren begins to purchase the higher priced gas on as-needed basis, causing gas bills to increase. But if the IURC believes an energy company's price increase is too high, it can force the energy company to refund their customers with a check or credit on the customers' account.\nDespite the imminent high-priced heating bill that will financially hurt many Indiana residents, Roeder said residents could reduce their heating rates by more efficiently maintaining the energy used in their homes.\nNonetheless, Hoffman cannot help but wonder if the demand for natural gas is allowing the electric company to take advantage of him and his roommates.\n"We never have the thermostat higher than 65 degrees, and we still can't get away with a heating bill below $280," he said. "I can't help but feel that they're trying to pull something over on us"
(03/04/03 6:21am)
Former presidential adviser and economic analyst Laurence Kotlikoff will deliver two Patten Foundation lectures on the "Coming Generational Storm" at IU this week.\nMary Tilton, executive director of the Patten Committee, said Kotlikoff will discuss issues concerning the fiscal crises facing the United States and its major trading partners once the baby boom generation retires.\nThis evening's lecture will focus on the economic pressures younger generations will endure in supporting the baby boomer's retirement. On Thursday, Kotlikoff will lecture on the lessons the United States can take from the generational inconsistencies of Argentina. \nKotlikoff's invitation to IU came thanks to nominations from IU economic professors, Gerhard Glomm and Michael Kaganovich, who said they feel it is important for the public to become aware of the potentially problematic implications of "generational accounting" -- a term Kotlikoff coined. It is commonly used to identify economic problems that affect both older and younger generations. \n"It's important for people to realize that the change of demographics along with decreasing birth rates can lead to economic problems in developed countries like the United States," Kaganovich said.\nCurrently, Kotlikoff is an economics professor at Boston University and a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. Kotlikoff, who has testified regularly before a congressional committee, has published over 100 articles and nine books, including his latest book "Generational Policy: The Case of Argentina."\nKotlikoff's visit to IU marks the second installment in a series of four guest speakers the Patten Foundation has invited to present lectures in the 2002-2003 season. \nDespite Kotlikoff's focus on economical issues, Tilton said the lectures are intended to be enjoyed by a general and educated audience.\n"You won't have to be an economist to enjoy and understand his lectures," Tilton said. "It's our hope that all audience members find his lectures enlightening and thought provoking"
(02/24/03 5:57am)
The IU real estate office is seeking approval from the board of trustees to exercise statutory authority to acquire the empty Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house on the corner of Third Street and Faculty Avenue.\nThe board of trustees will decide on the approval at a meeting at the end of the week. If approved, IU will automatically acquire the property at an appraised value. \nThe fraternity house went on sale Jan. 8 for an asking price of $1.1 million. According to Lynn Coyne, assistant vice-president of University Real Estate and Economic Development, previous offers IU made in purchasing the property were turned down due to disagreements about price.\nAfter the University's failed attempts at buying negotiations, Coyne said IU is now in a position to formally acquire the property through statutory authority.\n"First we have to make attempts at voluntary negotiations," Coyne said. "We made offers to the owner, which were all turned down. Now statutory authority is the second approach we take in acquiring the land."\nPublic institutions, like IU, have the legal power to acquire real estate for an appraised value when the property is needed for the institution's own purposes, Coyne said.\nIf the board of trustees approves the University's request, either a licensed appraiser or a court appointed official will inspect the property and calculate an appraisal cost. In many cases the appraised cost is less than the original asking price of the property, Coyne said.\nCoyne said the University plans to turn the fraternity house into additional office space.\nUnlike IU, John Seeber, a private real-estate investor, was successful at negotiating a deal in purchasing the fraternity house. On Feb. 3, Bank One agreed to an offer from Seeber, who agreed to purchase the fraternity house at the asking price. \nAccording to Dunn Real Estate agent Dee Burris, Bank One has accepted a buying offer, but no final sale has taken place.\n"At this point no sale closure has taken place," Burris said. "Even though we have accepted a buying offer, we are still showing the house and would consider offers from other interested clients." \nInitially, tentative renovation plans were established to convert the fraternity house into the Millennium Project, a center for humanities that would provide shelter and tuition money for less fortunate individuals. But Donovan Roger Berlin, the service director for the Millennium Project, said the final location for the project center is still unknown.\n"We're hopeful that we'll move into the fraternity house, but currently we're still evaluating the University's acceptance to the project," Berlin said. "When we brought the idea of the Millennium Project to Bloomington we were met with some conflict with students and IU officials, and conflict (from IU) is the last thing we want to bring to the project."\nDespite Seeber and Bank One's deal and Berlin's hopes for the Millennium Project, Coyne seems confident that IU will acquire the property.\n"If our bid for an approval goes through, and I cannot think of many reasons why it wouldn't be, the property is pretty much ours," Coyne said.
(02/21/03 5:49am)
When the IU Police Department arrived on the scene, Allen Clouthier was a body, nothing more. His heart had stopped. He had no pulse. He was not breathing. \nBut prepared for the worst, the officers revived Clouthier's heart -- and life -- with an Automated External Defibrillator. \nOn Feb. 7, IUPD officers Chris Dutton, Michael Antonelli and Chad Werner answered a call from the IU Physical Plant where Clouthier, an employee at the plant, lay unconscious after suffering a heart attack. \n"When Chad and I arrived, (Clouthier) was lying on the floor, underneath a table and he had a large laceration on his forehead, which hit the corner of table as he fell down," Antonelli said. "He wasn't breathing and he had no heartbeat, so we started administering CPR."\nSeconds later, Dutton arrived at the scene with an AED and began preparations to revive Clouthier's heart.\n"The AED detected that he had no pulse, so it prompted a shock, which revived his heart," Dutton said. "After that we continued on with CPR until the ambulance came and transported him to the hospital."\nClouthier's life was saved. \nAn AED is a portable device that IUPD officers use to revive an individual's heart rate with an electric shock. When in use, an AED coaches the operator through the procedure by providing audible instructions as to whether or not the person needs a shock, how to apply the pads and when to deliver the shock.\nIUPD officers have been equipped with an AED in each squad car since last February when the IU Foundation purchased six AEDs for the department. IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said without the foundation's generosity, IUPD could not have gathered the funding to afford the AEDs, which cost around $2,500 each.\n"We're really fortunate to have (the AEDs) in the department," Minger said, "especially in instances like these where someone's life is in danger."\nIUPD Sgt. David Rhodes said the simplicity in using an AED benefits the officer by eliminating some of the chaos and nervousness that exist during incidents where a person is unconscious.\n"The AEDs walk you through every step of the procedure with easy-to-follow instructions," Rhodes said. "That can help the officer a lot in an instance where the situation may be a little stressful."\nDutton said along with his police training, the easy use of the AED helped him remain calm during the incident. \n"Whenever you show up at a scene where someone isn't breathing or they're unconscious, it's a very tense situation," Dutton said. "But I never really felt rushed. The AED is really easy to use, and it helped us save his life."\nA patient's chances of survival decrease by 7 to 10 percent with each minute that passes without defibrillation, according to the American Heart Association. Rhodes said he doubts Clouthier would have survived if he had gone unattended until the ambulance arrived.\n"(Clouthier) is alive today because we arrived on scene quickly enough, and we had the necessary training and equipment to save him," Rhodes said.\nYet even after saving Clouthier's life, the officers still remain humble about their work.\n"It's obviously good feeling for us," Antonelli said, "but at the same time, helping people is what we're supposed to do. Any other officer in the department who was in the same situation would have acted in the same way"
(02/20/03 7:06pm)
Few individuals have made a more powerful impact on the academic environment of IU than Herman Hudson, founder of IU's Department of Afro-American Studies, who passed away Monday in his home in Southfield, Mich.\nHudson had just turned 80 Sunday. The official cause and time of death have not yet been determined.\nWilliam Wiggins, the active chair of the Department of Afro-American Studies, said the impact of Hudson's death is similar to the deaths of Herman B Wells and Bill Armstrong.\n"This is a major loss for IU and it's a time for us to reflect on the contributions and improvements he made to the University," Wiggins said.\nBorn in 1923 in Birmingham, Ala., Hudson came from a family where education was strongly valued. Hudson received his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Michigan, and later arrived at IU in 1968 after teaching at Florida A&M University, the University of Puerto Rico and Kabul University in Afghanistan. But Hudson's success was not easily achieved. \nHudson suffered from meningitis since he was child and was legally blind for much of his life. Hudson's youngest sister, Dr. Vivian H. Ross, said her brother's handicap made his achievements even more impressive. \n"One thing that made our family so proud of Herman was the fact that he achieved so much with such little vision," Ross said. "He set out to pursue a career, and he achieved it with great success."\nHudson's oldest daughter, Brendon Marie, said her father's success came as a result of his relentless determination.\n"My father was a steadfast warrior who fought for his principles from beginning to end," Hudson said. "IU really profited from his determination."\nIn addition to founding the Dept. of Afro-American studies, Hudson also played a significant role in starting programs that showcase the performing arts of African culture at IU. Hudson established the Soul Revue, the Choral Ensemble and the African-American Dance Company -- all part of IU's African-American Arts Institute. Hudson also helped form race relations within the community by founding the National Council of Black Studies.\n"The list of (Hudson's) contributions (goes) on and on," Wiggins said. "It was under his vision that IU really took a giant step forward in the teaching and curriculum of African-American studies and the performance of the cultural arts."\nWhen Charles Nelms, vice-president of diversity, came to IU in 1970, he said he remembers the warm generosity with which Hudson welcomed him.\n"When I came to IU, Dr. Hudson was the only African-American leader on campus," Nelms said. "It was very encouraging to me to be in the presence of such a caring and generous man."\nNelms said he hopes people will focus on the lasting benefits of Hudson's life at IU.\n"His physical presence will be missed greatly," Nelms said, "but I would like people to really appreciate how his life and legacy still impact the University. He is the reason most of the diversity programs at IU exist today."\nWiggins said plans to commemorate Hudson's life by the Dept. of Afro-American Studies are underway.\n"Currently the department is making plans to hold a memorial service for Dr. Hudson on campus," Wiggins said. "And I'm certain that we will eventually award students with an honor, like a scholarship, in his name."\nAlong with his countless contributions to IU, Hudson is survived by his wife Yvonne and three daughters, Brendon Marie, Margaret and Karen. \n"He was a very caring and loving father," Brendon Marie Hudson said. "And he also loved IU with a deep passion. He gave the best years of his life -- mind, body and soul -- into making IU a better place"
(02/20/03 6:24am)
The IU Police Department arrested nearly twice as many students for alcohol violations last year than in 2001, according to the IUPD.\nIn 2002, the year IU was heralded by Princeton Review as the No. 1 party school, criminal arrests for liquor law violations totaled 814. In 2001, 479 individuals were arrested.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said the rise in arrests does not suggest underage drinking has become more widespread among students. He attributes the increase to a rise in police enforcement.\n"Relatively the same amount of people have lived (in Bloomington) for years," Minger said. "So the numbers don't really indicate that more people are drinking, it's just that now there is more focused enforcement in specific areas."\nIllegal situations involving alcohol on campus are either reported to IUPD or the dean of students. The number of alcohol related incidents reported to the Dean dropped from 1079 in 2001 to 829 in 2002. \nDean of Students Richard McKaig said the change in numbers reflects the change in alcohol enforcement at IU over the past year.\n"In recent years alcohol abuse has been a serious problem at IU," McKaig said. "In the last year and a half, we've tried to control that problem by writing more liquor citations rather than arresting students. Citations allow us to enforce regulations in a more efficient manner because officers do not have transport victims to county jail after each incident." \nMinger said the high number of dean referrals in 2001 triggered the need for stronger involvement from IUPD. Realigning patrol hours is one way IUPD has managed to enforce liquor laws. \n"We've readjusted the peak hours when many of the liquor calls were coming in, so that we had more officers working when the majority of the calls were coming in," Minger said.\nMinger also said that many of the alcohol arrests are added charges in instances of disorderly conduct. In most cases involving illegal activities, the perpetrator is usually under the influence, he said.\n"What people don't see is that 80 percent of all our statistics for assault, rape, vandalism and disorderly conduct involve people who are intoxicated," Minger said. "And a majority of the people we arrest on campus are under 21."\nWhen viewed in respect to the large student population, McKaig said the arrest numbers at IU do not differ much from other schools.\n"Many people have a tendency to look only at the numbers and not the population those numbers reflect," McKaig said. "I think if you compare percentages, IU would not be too different from most universities."\nThe drastic increase of liquor law arrests has Minger concerned with the way in which some people will judge the operations of IUPD. \n"A lot of people look negatively at the police department because they think all we're doing is stopping students and checking to see if they've been drinking," Minger said. "But that's definitely not the case. Most often the people we pull over draw attention to themselves by doing something illegal and stupid."\nMinger said people fail to recognize the leniency IUPD officers show in respect to drinking violations.\n"People never notice the fact that our officers could have jailed all the students they arrested for illegal consumption," Minger said. "But they didn't. They just wrote the students citations and made sure they got home safely"
(02/20/03 6:24am)
The countless contributions Herman Hudson made to IU do not end with advancements in African arts or strides in diversity. Some of Hudson's most valuable treasures are the distinguished African-American professors he recruited at a time when positions for black educators were few and far between.\nWilliam Wiggins, professor of African and African-American Diaspora Studies, was one of Hudson's first hires and became the first associate professor in the Afro-American studies department. Wiggins recalls the creativity and innovation Herman Hudson demonstrated as a teacher.\n"Dr. Hudson used to teach a course on African-American political activism," Wiggins said. "And occasionally he would bring in black elected officials from all office levels as guest speakers. Or in his African American aesthetic class he always invited black writers and actors from Chicago to come visit with us. His teaching style was so innovative. He really inspired me."\nPortia Maultsby remembers Hudson's relentless determination in achieving his vision.\n"Dr. Hudson began recruiting me when I was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin," Maultsby, a professor of ethnomusicology, said. \n"When he sent me a teaching contract I didn't respond right away. Well, after about one week, Dr. Hudson began calling me every day at eight in the morning and encouraged me to come to IU. It worked. I became a faculty member in 1974."\nA day after Hudson's death, Wiggins said a great sense of loss was felt among faculty members.\n"There was a great feeling of sadness within the department today," Wiggins said. "Even though Dr. Hudson was retired, we still thought of him as a member of the faculty, and he is still connected to all of us."\nWiggins even noticed that some of his students were aware of the University's loss.\n"Many of the students were definitely of our loss," Wiggins said. "They recognized that a major figure at IU was gone even though they never knew him. That's how important he was."\nMany of the achievements Hudson made in the advancement of the African cultural arts remain as some of his most important contributions to IU.\n"My father could always recognize great talent, and he strongly appreciated all of the black arts," said Hudson's oldest daughter, Brendon Marie. "The cultural arts were very important to him."\nHowever, Hudson's interest in the arts did not come without its criticism. Maultsby admires the strength Hudson demonstrated in his interest for the arts at a time when others felt politics were more important. \n"(Hudson) took a lot of criticism for developing the department curriculum around the arts instead of politics," Maultsby said. "But he supported the arts because he knew the department wouldn't always have the necessary funding to finance a curriculum in the arts. That was his vision at work."\nHudson was also strongly devoted to students. Maultsby said Hudson always wanted students to have a central gathering place where they could all meet and share ideas. This idea influenced Hudson to establish the Black Cultural Center.\n"(Hudson) had a strong interest in students and he knew they needed a place where they could gather and work together," Maultsby said. "He wanted to extend his goals to all students." \nHudson realized his vision would not stop at his retirement. The faculty members he recruited in the 1970's held the potential to continue his vision and develop the academic and cultural richness of IU, Maultsby said. \n"Dr. Hudson was very supportive of us and a strong mentor," Maultsby said. "He saw us as the next generation of black educators. He had faith in us and believed that we would make an educational impact and continue his vision for IU"
(02/14/03 5:58am)
On Wednesday nights, the living room inside Alpha Chi Omega is the most crowded spot in the house. \nSome of the girls have tests the next day. Others have plans to go out for the evening. But when 9 p.m. rolls around, no one is too busy to watch and cheer as Trista Rhen, an IU alumna and their sorority sister in legacy, shines as the desired star of ABC's reality series "The Bachelorette."\n"We drop everything for Trista," said junior Kelly Mercer. "We wouldn't miss her for anything."\nTrista Rhen graduated from IU in 1996, where she majored in exercise science and was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. Rhen's composite pictures still hang inside the halls of the sorority house where one can catch an earlier glimpse of Rhen before she became a "blonde" reality TV star -- a '90s Hoosier with long bangs and brown, curly hair.\nRhen's first role in reality TV came last year in the reality series, "The Bachelor," where one man had the heavy task of wining and dining 25 women before selecting one to be his wife. On the last episode, after only two women were left, Rhen was left out in the cold as the last person eliminated. But this season, ABC reversed the gender roles with "The Bachelorette," and now Rhen's the one breaking hearts.\nWith only two bachelors left, this past Wednesday's episode gave the men who Rhen previously eliminated a chance to tell their sides of the story. The episode's theme was "Men Tell All," and the girls of Alpha Chi Omega listened with open ears.\nAs the show begins, any side conversations are quickly hushed, but once Rhen hits the screen for the first time, the silence is broken with proud cheers.\n"We love to watch (Trista) pick which guys she's going to hold onto each week," said junior Julie Harrison. "It's a lot of fun to watch a girl who was in our house on TV each week."\nThe time between commercials provides valuable breaks for the girls to chat about their thoughts on the show. During Wednesday's episode, Bob, who was eliminated after the third episode, was the center of attention. His laid-back personality and sense of humor has made him a house favorite.\n"(Bob's) personality is unbelievable," said junior Jamie Bender. "His ex-wife just has to be kicking herself when she sees what a great guy she let go."\nBut with Bob out of the picture, and only two guys left, Rhen's big decision is less than one week away, and the girls left Wednesday's episode guessing with anticipation as to who would get the last rose -- Ryan or Charlie.\n"We're all definitely pulling for Ryan," said junior Mollie Nussbaum. "He's good looking, sensitive and just seems like a great guy. He and Trista would be perfect together."\nWhile Ryan is unquestionably the house favorite, sophomore Jordan Thompson thinks Rhen will choose Charlie.\n"Ryan's cuter and seems more sensitive, but Charlie has the total package," Thompson said. "He's better off financially than Ryan, and I think Trista wants someone who she knows can support a family." \nNussbaum was quick to add that Ryan's home in Colorado may hurt his chances as well.\n"He lives in Colorado, and she doesn't like the winter," Nussbaum said. "Trista's pretty high maintenance, and I don't think she'll want to live where it's so cold." \nRegardless of whoever gets the final rose next Wednesday, the living room inside Alpha Chi Omega will be packed to the walls with Rhen's sorority sisters, all eager and nervous to see who will be the last man standing.\n"I'm so nervous," Harrison said after seeing clips from the final episode. "I wish I knew who she picked right now"
(02/12/03 5:36am)
A computer file containing child pornography was found on a campus computer Sunday. \nThe IU Police Department said a student reported the incident after opening the file from the CFS scratch disk system, computer space that is open to all students on campus. \nAccording to a police report, the computer file's label gave no indication that it contained lewd content. The student who reported the incident would only give his first name, police said.\nLt. Jerry Minger of IUPD said little information concerning the reported incident is known thus far.\n"At this point in the investigation not much is known aside from what is written in the police report," Minger said. "But we have started an investigation with technological assistance from (University Information Technology Systems.)"\nDeputy Information Technology Policy Officer, Merri Beth Lavagnino, said when UITS is brought into a police investigation they try to pinpoint the original location of the computer file.\n"(UITS) most often starts investigations by searching various log data files for connection information concerning the network address of the accessor, date and time of the alleged activity," Lavagnino said.\nUITS spokesman Mark Bruhn said it is not necessarily a guarantee that UITS will be able to locate the computer where the pornographic file originated.\n"Generally, it is technologically possible to track down the spot where a computer file started," Bruhn said. "But right now, for this particular case, we're not yet sure whether or not we're going to be able to do that."\nWhile UITS does not have a specific policy for child pornography, Lavagnino said the person or persons responsible for the reported material would still be violating user policies.\n"The User's Privileges and Responsibilities document states that computing network and resources may not be used for illegal purposes," Lavagnino said. "So, of course, if the material was found to be child pornography, the person would definitely be in violation of (UITS) policy"
(02/06/03 7:16pm)
IU police officers begin their weekend nightshift lounging and joking with one another inside the police department, waiting for their assignments. \nAs Mirantha Wilson gets ready for her shift, Scott Dunning motions a sign of the cross and asks for mercy on the unlucky students who will have to answer to her, while Joe Amandola gripes about his assigned district for the night, asking the other officers if they want to trade. \nNo one takes his offer. \nThe chatting and laughing goes on for a few minutes, until one by one the officers leave and get into their cars for a night of driving, questioning and breathalyzing.\nWorking an exhausting shift from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m., the IU police officers on the nightshift outlast even the most die-hard party animals on a weekend night. \nDuring the course of the night, four to six IU police officers patrol the streets around campus, looking for anything that might pose harm to the students or campus.\nDespite the long hours, Wilson said she enjoys the weekend action.\n"It usually takes me a lot of caffeine, but I really enjoy the work we get on the weekends," Wilson said. "They're usually pretty busy because the students are more apt to socialize than do homework, and you never know what kind of call you're going to get."\nThe enjoyment IU police officers take from their work also lightens the hour load, and a strong friendship between the officers on the nightshift is visible. At stop signs, they stop and check up on one another. When an officer pulls a vehicle over, backup is always quick to arrive, even if it was not requested. \n"There's a strong camaraderie between us, and we have a lot of fun together," Wilson said. "We may tease each other, but it's all in fun. We really try to help each other out anytime we can."\nWhen calls are not coming in from the radio and the students are behaving, Wilson admits the work can be a little slow, but it just forces her to work harder, she said.\n"You can always find something to do," Wilson said. "There's always something out there, sometimes you just have to look a little closer."\nLuckily for Wilson, the night was just about to get interesting. \nAfter a missed opportunity in catching a student who ran once he noticed he was being followed by a police car, Wilson called his description over the police radio as a "male in a blue shirt and jeans."\nWhen Amandola heard the description he just happened to spot someone who fit the description. Once again, the student started running when the cops arrived, even though he wasn't the guy Wilson was after.\n"I was just going to hold the kid until (Wilson) could come and see if he was the same guy that ran from her," Amandola said. "But as soon as I told him to stop he started running like an idiot. If he'd just stopped nothing would've happened to him, but since he started running I charged him with resisting arrest."\nRunning from the scene is the worst decision a student can make, Wilson said.\n"A lot of time people aren't doing anything wrong," Wilson said. "but when they've been drinking they get paranoid as soon as they see us, and they usually start to run. But it's always to your benefit if you just stop and be compliant with us."\nThe biggest call of the night came about 20 minutes later when Officer Nick Ojeda pulled over sophomore Nick Svarczkopf on the corner of 17th and Dunn streets. \n"He wasn't speeding, but he drove into the curb twice," Ojeda said, "so I pulled him over thinking he may have been drinking."\nAfter the pullover and a series of dexterity tests, Svarczkopf found himself with a Breathalyzer tube to his mouth. After Wilson told him the disappointing results of the test, the busted look on Svarczkopf's face put a quick end to his night. Svarczkopf was arrested for illegal consumption and false information, police said.\nDuring the time Svarzkopf was being arrested, sophomore Lindsay Smarker waited inside his car. But once Svarzkopf was handcuffed, Smarker decided to see what was going on. \nSmarker stepped out of the car holding a brown teddy bear and wearing red pajamas and "SpongeBob SquarePants" slippers.\n"I must have told her a thousand times to be quiet, but she just wouldn't listen to a word I was saying," Wilson said. "It was clear she had been drinking, and when I asked her to take a Breathalyzer, she refused."\nWilson tried to handcuff her, but Smarker refused to let go of her teddy bear. After several failed attempts made by Wilson to place Smarker in cuffs, Ojeda was called over to help. Her teddy bear was tossed on the sidewalk and she was cuffed. \nWhen placed in the back of the police car, Smarker managed to wiggle her skinny wrists through the handcuffs. Exhausted and frustrated, Wilson and Ojeda held Smarker down until a vehicle arrived to transport her and Svarczkopf to the Monroe County Jail.\nAn incident that started as a simple pullover for questionable driving, ended with five charges of arrest, eight police cars, one tow truck and two new visitors at the county jail.\nIncidents as hectic as these do not come too often on the IUPD night shift, but Amandola said he doesn't expect the action to let up on this night.\n"It's been a busy weekend already, and it's not even two in the morning yet," Amandola said. "I made two arrests last night and one so far tonight, and I bet you I'll have one more before the shift's over. I might not even eat tonight"
(02/04/03 5:38am)
The empty Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house on the corner of Third Street and Faculty Avenue was purchased Sunday by a private real-estate investor in Bloomington who plans to renovate the house into an upscale homeless shelter. \nDunn Real Estate agent Dee Burris said that Bank One -- the current owner of the property -- accepted an offer from John Seeber in which he agreed to pay the asking price of $1.1 million.\nSeeber said he plans to rent it to the social service group, Millennium Project, a privately and locally funded homeless shelter.\n"I wanted to combine my personal interest in real-estate with the needs of the community," Seeber said, "and renting the property to the Millennium Project is the perfect solution in meeting these desires. I'm able to pursue my interests, while members of the Millennium Project can provide a valuable service to the community."\nThe Pike house drew significant attention from potential buyers almost immediately after the for sale sign was posted on Jan. 24, Burris said.\nIU tried to purchase the vacant house, but University spokesperson Jane Jankowski said all offers were declined. \n"The University was interested in purchasing the property as potential office space, but all of the offers we made were not accepted," Jankowski said. \nInterfraternity Council president Evan Waldman said that attempts in purchasing the land by other greek houses were also unsuccessful.\n"There were some houses that had shown some interest in the property," Waldman said. "But the asking price was either too high or the logistics involved just didn't work for out for them."\nMillennium Project Director Rudi Yogananda said organizational plans for renovation of the Pike house will begin next week, and the shelter is expected to open in the middle of summer.\nThe Millennium Project is a highly selective shelter where only individuals and families who have received counseling in the past and people who have the chance to succeed are admitted, Yogananda said. \n"We won't take a couple of drunk guys that come in off a street corner," Yogananda said. "We try to mainstream people who have the chance of living successful lives back into reality, so that when they leave the shelter they'll be able to go on and live normally and succeed."\nWhen construction is completed, the shelter will have room for 80 individuals, and the atmosphere will resemble that of a fine hotel. Additionally, the residents will be provided with drug education, therapy, new clothing and, in some cases, tuition money.\n"It's almost like shock therapy for the residents because the shelter is an entirely different lifestyle from the one they're used to," Yogananda said. "Our residents are given better clothing, an education and a place to live with some of the finest facilities available. We try to eliminate every possibility of failure"
(02/04/03 5:38am)
"On the Road" makes its first stop in Bloomington today.\nAn exhibit of the original manuscript for Jack Kerouac's definitive Beat novel "On the Road" begins today at the Lilly Library and will remain on display until May 10. The Lilly Library is the manuscript's first stop in a five-year, nationwide tour.\n"We're extremely happy to have (the manuscript) here and to be the first stop," said Breon Mitchell, director of the Lilly Library. "We expect to probably have more people visit this exhibit than anything else we've displayed in recent years."\nChris Harter, curator of the Beat exhibit at the library, said Kerouac's masterpiece has continued to attract a wide reader base since its publication in 1957.\n"Even though (the book) was written in the 1950s, it never stuck within that period," Harter said. "The feelings and emotions and spontaneity of the novel still go on and on to following generations." \nSince its publication, "On the Road" has sold over 3 million copies and has long been considered the bible of the Beat Generation in American literature. Kerouac composed the manuscript for the novel on several 12-foot scrolls of paper, allowing the paper to feed continually into his typewriter without interrupting the flow of his narrative. Known as a lightning typist, Kerouac completed the manuscript for "On the Road" in a 20-day marathon of writing, helping to develop the style of writing that is known as stream of consciousness prose. The entire manuscript extends over 119 feet in single-spaced typing and without any paragraph breaks. \n"Since the manuscript is so long, we don't have the room to display the entire piece at one time," Mitchell said. "But we're going to rotate the displayed sections of the manuscript, so that by the time the three month exhibit is over, people will have had the chance to see the entire piece."\nThe preservation of the manuscript was led by Jim Canary, head of special collections conservation at the Lilly Library. After Indianapolis Colts owner James Irsay purchased the manuscript for $2.2 million, Canary was approached to help with the handling and preservation of the manuscript.\n"The (preservation) process took a long time because the piece is so fragile, but I still enjoyed the work," Canary said. "I repaired the tears and then went through the piece, inch by inch, and identified the state of condition it was in."\nKerouac's manuscript is the centerpiece for several other Beat exhibits currently on display in the Lilly Library. In addition to other Kerouac manuscripts, the exhibit displays the works from other Beat writers, such as Allen Ginsberg and LeRoi Jones.\nCanary said he hopes students will take advantage of this valuable opportunity to observe such a significant work of American literature.\n"There are some really interesting differences between the manuscript and the novel," Canary said, "This is a unique opportunity for students to come in and compare their editions to the original manuscript and to appreciate an important piece of literature"
(02/03/03 5:24am)
When IU Police Department cadet Brian Chomer answered a residential alarm call over the radio, the last thing he said he expected was to be attacked by an angry lady, three times his age, armed with a wooden club. But that's exactly what happened when Chomer failed to react quickly enough with his pepper spray.\nFortunately, this time Chomer was lucky enough to come away from the incident unscathed. Being attacked by an old lady is just one of the hundreds of mock-situations IUPD Training Lt. Greg Butler has put police cadets through with help from the FireArm Training System. \n"(FATS) is a great way to introduce the cadets to situations they've never encountered without putting them in any real danger," IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said. "It makes the cadets more familiar with the firearms, and they get the training and tools they'll need in order to deal with these situations in real life."\nFATS is a computer-operated training program that offers IUPD cadets valuable experience in operating firearms and handling potentially dangerous situations. Video recorded crime scenarios, identical to those which police officers encounter daily, are projected onto a large screen, and the cadets are expected to handle the incident appropriately, according to their police training. Then, based on how well the cadets manage the situation, Butler controls how the persons on screen will react from a computer.\n"There are a lot of different ways I can change around the scenarios," Butler said. "(The cadets) can go through the same scenario a dozen times and each time the outcome will be different. If I wanted to, I could've made that old lady draw a gun instead of a club."\nDuring the week-long training, cadets are armed with pepper spray and an authentic Glock 17 pistol, each of which is modified with acute lasers. To further enhance the reality of the situation, the guns are connected to a compressed air cartridge, causing a realistic recoil action after each fire.\n"The guns are just about as realistic as you can get in a classroom without everybody in the room going deaf," said IUPD cadet Michael Cundiff.\nIf the simulated incident becomes dangerous at any point, the cadets can then fire either weapon at the individuals on screen. When hit, the actors instantly react to the weapon in a highly realistic manner. Depending on the weapon fired, they could fall to the ground in tears if sprayed with mace or could even die when shot with a gun.\nFATS is not just about improving the cadets' marksmanship skills, Butler said.\n"We want them to develop solid police tactics and judgment," Butler said. "A lot of these scenarios are non-shoot situations. They require the cadets to talk with people and to make a hostile situation calm."\nThe lessons cadets take from FATS are designed to prepare them for their summer training at IU Police Academy, one of seven academies in Indiana. Before cadets can become certified police officers they must first exhibit a strong knowledge in law enforcement and demonstrate proficiency in firearms, which at times even includes getting a taste of their own medicine.\n"One of the lessons each cadet goes through in weapon training is getting sprayed with mace," Butler said. "We want them to know how it feels to be sprayed so they know what to expect when they'll eventually have to use the spray."\nBut 20 minutes of burning, tear-filled eyes helps prepare IUPD cadets for professional experience after graduation. \n"When they graduate, not only will they have their degree, but they'll also have their law enforcement certification," Butler said. "And that gives them a leg up on the other students who don't have academy training or job experience."\nBloomington Police Department recruiting officer Tristy Walters, who graduated from the IU Police Academy in 1998, said IUPD recruits are among the best prepared officers in Indiana.\n"Since they've already had the necessary training, they save (BPD) a lot of time and money because we don't have to immediately send them away to an academy," Walters said.\nBut until Cadet Chomer earns his badge and firearm, he'll stick with FATS and continue his preparation training for the academy.\n"FATS really helps you think on your feet," Chomer said. "And for someone like me who has never fired a gun, the training helps you get used to handling the pistol and mace."\nAnd next time when Chomer's attacked by an old lady with a wooden club, his mace will be handy.
(01/28/03 5:43am)
Loud speakers echoed "Amazing Grace" during a moment of remembrance for sophomore Jon Luebbehusen at Monday's vigil. But above the strident sound were heard the cries and tears from Luebbehusen's fraternity brothers and friends. \nLuebbehusen was found dead in his Varsity Villa apartment Jan. 19. Luebbehusen, who was diabetic, appears to have died of natural causes, police told the IDS Jan. 21.\nThe ceremony, held outside the Sigma Pi fraternity house, brought together over 200 students from the greek community. Sigma Pi president, Johnny Sladek, said he was proud of the amount of students who attended.\n"We weren't sure whether or not we should keep the grieving within the house," Sladek said. "But the support from everyone has been so overwhelming that we wanted to open the ceremony to the entire community."\nJay Stratton, a fraternity brother and close friend of Luebbehusen, delivered a warm and thoughtful speech of remembrance during Monday's vigil in which he shared his memories of "Luebb's" (the nickname by which Jon's friends knew him) caring personality and contagious laugh.\n"There isn't one word that could describe the type of person Luebb was," Stratton said. "He was a loyal friend, and he always took the time to help anyone he could. I'm thankful that I knew him, and I'm sorry for those who never had the chance to meet him."\nSince Luebbehusen's death on Jan. 19, the greek community has showered both Sigma Pi and the Luebbehusen family with support. Interfraternity Council president Evan Waldman said he has been extremely impressed with the manner in which the community has united in response to the tragedy.\n"The greek community has really come together in the past week in an impressive way," Waldman said. "The support the other houses have demonstrated to Sigma Pi and the Luebbehusens has been amazing."\nRenee Toosley, a Gamma Phi Beta senior, was among the hundreds of students who showed their support Monday night. \n"I really didn't expect such a big turnout," Toosley said, "but tonight just goes to show you that when something bad happens in the community, we all come together to help."\nDespite the difficult circumstances of last night, Stratton was nonetheless touched with the community's participation and support.\n"It meant a lot to me to see the unity that was present tonight," Stratton said. "You know, (the fraternities) joke with one another about being rivals and everything, but we're all the same when you get right down to it. We all experience pain in the same way, and we all need support when we're down. Tonight just shows you how much alike we all are"
(01/21/03 6:00am)
A day after his death, friends of sophomore Jonathan Luebbehusen remember the leadership and enthusiasm he brought to those closest to him. \nAccording to the Bloomington Police Department, Luebbehusen died early Sunday morning inside his apartment at the Varsity Villas.\nLuebbehusen, a diabetic, appeared to have died from natural causes, police said. But Monroe County Coroner Dave Toumey said the final results of Luebbehusen's autopsy will not be available until later this week.\nLuebbehusen was a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity. Sigma Pi president Johnny Sladek remembers Luebbehusen as the quiet leader of the fraternity.\n"It's usually hard for live-outs to contribute to a house," Sladek said. "But Jon was always with us so we never really felt like he was separate from the house. He always made a conscious effort to help in any way he could, and he did the little things that make a house work. Jon was a special brother to us all. He was part of the family."\nThe greek community at IU has illustrated a strong sense of empathy for Sigma Pi since Sunday.\n"So far people around campus have been really supportive," Sladek said. "A lot of the presidents from the houses on campus have called us and offered their condolences, and a lot of the flags (in front of the houses) on Jordan (Avenue) were lowered to half-mast."\nThe University is also remembering Luebbehusen following his death this weekend. \nDean of Students Richard McKaig said the administration has reached out to his family and has offered counseling for those close to Luebbehusen.\n"I talked with the family yesterday just to express the University's condolences on their loss," McKaig said.\nAlthough he didn't have a chance to meet him, McKaig said it was a tragedy to lose Luebbehusen.\n"Most folks in this age group don't expect their friends to die," he said.
(01/13/03 4:58am)
A newly established community service program is allowing graduate students in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs to demonstrate their classroom knowledge in the Bloomington community.\nIn conjunction with the United Way, SPEA launched the Student Service Corps this fall. The two-yearlong program assigns 10 graduate students to work at one of five local United Way agencies -- Amethyst House, Shelter, Inc., Middle Way House, Hoosier Hills Food Bank and the Area 10 Agency on Aging.\nService Corps Director Karen Danielson said SPEA hand-picked the participating students from those who are enrolled in the department's not-for-profit concentration.\n"We're looking for people with experience," Danielson said. "So the students placed (in the agencies) can hit the ground running and contribute to that agency and ultimately to our community right away."\nEach week the students spend 10 hours working at their assigned United Way agency where they assist in administrative duties such as fund development, direct service and needs assessment. Corps members are also required to meet with one another twice each month to discuss and share their experiences in the service program. \nCarla Seeger, SPEA graduate student and Community Coordinator, said the experience the students gain from the Service Corps will enhance their knowledge and skill in the non-profit environment, which could prove beneficial to their careers after graduation.\n"Since most of our students are non-profit concentrators, they're gaining valuable knowledge by working at the agencies that will help them later on," Seeger said.\nIn establishing the Student Service Corps, Danielson said SPEA wanted to be innovative from other universities' community service programs.\nThe program's unusually long length of two years will give the students the potential to assume greater responsibilities within their agency, therefore allowing them to become more involved and leave a more lasting impression on the community.\n"As the students begin to take on additional responsibility, they will become much more aware of the overall community and of the synergy that can happen between agencies," Danielson said.\nDanielson and Seeger agree that the Service Corps has already made significant progress after just one semester. \nKerry Crowley is a Service Corps participant at the Amethyst House. \n"I've really enjoyed the work. It's been a great way for us to get involved in Bloomington and give something back to the community," she said. "Plus, I think (the students) get back just as much satisfaction from helping with the clients."\nLinda Calloway, clinical director at the Amethyst House, has also been overwhelmed with the students' abilities. \n"I'm very impressed with their ability to problem solve on their own, and they look at the global picture at work rather than just the clinical aspect," Calloway said.\nWith the early success of the Student Service Corps, expansion plans for next year should come easily. Seeger said that in addition to doubling the amount of students in the program, SPEA hopes to expand the number of participating non-profit agencies. \n"We've already had non-participating agencies contact us, requesting to be included in the program next year," Seeger said.
(11/19/02 5:14am)
All Zack Stephenson needed to catch was a two-pound bass. A two-pound bass would thicken his wallet with $2,500. A two-pound bass would pay a year's rent or year's worth of car insurance. A two-pound bass could buy Zack a car; it could help finance his education; T-bone steaks would replace ramen noodles for dinner. All this if he could just catch a two-pound fish.\nHe'd better stock up on ramen noodles.\n"All I caught was a one small crappie," Stephenson said. A rookie member of the IU Bass Club, Stephenson, a sophomore, competed in an Indiana bass fishing tournament this fall with little success thanks to poor conditions. "Out of 70 boats, only 18 (fishermen) caught fish big enough to weigh in. And of those 18, the biggest bass was 1.78 pounds. That fish won $2,500."\nTournaments like these serve as warm-ups for the IU Bass Club. The 17-year-old club competes twice a year and participates in various non-fishing events throughout the season. \nThe Big Ten trophy moved back to West Lafayette from Bloomington this year as IU suffered a sound defeat in the Big Ten Classic held on the Salamonie Reservoir, near Fort Wayne. Bass Club president Danny Blandford said the loss diminished the Hoosiers' hopes of the school's first back-to-back bass titles after winning the conference in 2001. \n"The past two Big Ten tournaments have been really tough as far as fishing conditions go," Blandford said. "Nobody really caught a lot of fish in either tournament; however, we caught one (bass) last year that was big enough to win the whole tourney by itself -- luck I guess. This year we just didn't get the bites that we needed." \nThe Hoosiers finished forth overall in the Big Ten, weighing in only two fish that combined for five pounds. \nBetween tournaments, in the fall and winter, the Bass Club partakes in projects to help raise team funds. In addition to the $1,000 of University funding, the club benefits from raffle drawings and donations in order to cover out-of-town expenses and tournament fees. Blandford said club members usually go through the season without spending more than $30.\nIn addition to fund-raising, the club also volunteers in the community, participating in events like the Spirit of Sports, benefiting the Special Olympics, and an Adopt-a-Highway program where the club maintains a mile stretch of the highway alongside Lake Monroe. \n"It's a nasty spot to clean, but it's still a lot of fun though, about as much fun as you can have when you're not fishing," said Bass Club sports representative Brett Hackman. \nThe non-fishing events, like the roadside cleanup, also allow club members with opportunities to earn fishing points. The fishermen chosen for each tournament -- ten for the Big Ten, twenty for the Minnow Bucket -- are selected based upon a point system to ensure fairness to those members who put in the most time. \n"We don't just pick who we think are the best anglers," Blandford said. "We pick the guys who have the most points; the guys that pay their dues, attend meetings, and help with the community service events."\nJust as Purdue and IU football players battle for the Old Oaken Bucket on the field, the rivalry carries over to the water when the two schools fish for ownership of the Old Minnow Bucket, a non-conference bass duel between Purdue and IU held each spring on the home waters of the hosting team. \nIn last year's Bucket brawl the Hoosiers were again denied a repeat victory as Purdue regained the trophy on IU waters. The victory didn't come easy for Purdue though, as IU sophomore fisherman Dan Lawson made the Boilermakers earn first place, weighing in two fish, one of which was the biggest caught all day. \n"One (bass) was just over the legal size limit of 14 inches, and the other weighed around 4.06 pounds," Lawson said. "I placed second in total weight with 5.48 pounds, and won the biggest bass award."\nPurdue, this year's hosting club, comes into the tournament as the favorite, currently holding both the Big Ten and Minnow Bucket titles. But the victory-hungry Hoosiers are up for the challenge. \n"We're all looking forward to the upcoming Minnow Bucket with Purdue. Nobody on our squad is intimidated," Blandford said. "If anything, our loss to them has helped serve as a motivator for the spring tourney."\nIn the past ten years, bass fishing acquired a large following in the United States, specifically in the midwest, Texas and Florida. The growing audience caught the attention of media as dozens of magazines now cover the sport, while television stations continue to devote more airtime to major tournaments, including the 2001 Minnow Bucket which will air this January on ESPN2. The young sport has also begun to accumulate a high degree of marketability, luring big-name companies, such as Wal-Mart, into sponsoring professional tournaments that now boast high prize purses comparable to those of major golf events.\nSimilar to the professional level, collegiate bass fishing is on the rise. Nine Big Ten schools now have bass clubs and compete in the Classic. Blandford said he would ultimately like to see the college sport advance to a national level of competition and reach the point where collegiate fishing becomes the minor leagues for professional bass fishing. \n"Eventually I'd like to see some of the major companies coming to us, wanting to know who our top anglers are," Blandford said. "Guys who could represent their company in a professional and intelligent manner and show people that bass anglers aren't the dumb hillbillies we're seen as by other people"
