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(02/11/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Bloomington wants some inspiration for new shops downtown. Here’s what would make B-Town shopping heavenly.Trader Joe’sLet’s be real, Trade Joe’s is a necessity. Sure, we’ve got our organic, tofu, flaxseed and soy protein fixes covered with Bloomingfoods, but it’s just not the same. Trader Joe’s is a friendly, coy, nautically-themed grocery store that’s too good to pass up. It’s subtle about being organic — their food doesn’t try to taste like twigs. We’re caught between Indianapolis and Louisville for the closest TJ’s. Come on, B-Town, we’ve got to get in on this.CostcoYou think you don’t need a 10-gallon jar of pickles in your life, but you do. True, Bloomington already has a Sam’s Club. But imagine a big, picturesque Costco right on Kirkwood — it would be a thing of beauty. Costco is convenient, but most of all, it embodies the United States. You can enter a Costco with a handful of money and come out with Jay Gatsby’s life. The store sells bulk food, furniture, jewelry, electronics and more all for prices that will have you filling up their giant shopping carts in a heartbeat. Don’t tell us you’re not sold.Williams-SonomaNow most of these have been pretty damn bougie, but Williams-Sonoma is straight up bourgeoisie. It’s classy, beautiful, exhilarating and all about cooking good food. You can get pans that make bundts from castles to Stars of David, and they have Star Wars cookie cutters. We need this in our lives. Bloomington is foodie-central and a GLBTQ haven, so we know a Williams Sonoma would do well right on the square.J. CrewIt just isn’t fair that Bloomington residents have to drive all the way to Edinburgh to shop at the nearest J. Crew store, and that’s only a factory outlet. How else are we supposed to buy our high-priced plaid button ups and colored chinos? There isn’t another place in Hoosier Nation to purchase vaguely nautical-inspired sweater cardigans or pastel country party dresses. So we implore you, Bloomington. Grant us a wood-paneled, overpriced J. Crew. We’re aching to explore the children’s section, imagining how we’re going to dress our future, upper-middle-class offspring. Whole Foods MarketIs anyone else just sick of shopping at Kroger? I mean, sure we have Bloomingfoods. But their stores tend to be cramped, and they are hardly known for their variety. Whole Foods is like a regular-sized grocery store, but, you know, beautifully organic and full of free sample stations. Plus, they don’t allow any artificial flavors, artificial colorings or high fructose corn syrup in the products they carry. IKEAYou can imagine the killing an IKEA would make in a college town like Bloomington. The hordes of freshmen moving here would flock to the gloriously inexpensive Swedish furniture store to furnish their dorms. Not to mention the upperclassmen looking to fill their homes and apartments. IKEA is Hoosiers’ only hope of making our living quarters as modern and space efficient as possible. Not to mention the endless fun that would come from spending an otherwise boring Sunday trouncing around the mock kitchen and living rooms. — opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter @ids_opinion
(02/10/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Running for office takes ideas.Ultimately, however, it is up to voters to decide what ideas they believe in and want to see implemented by voting for those with the best ones into office. Or so we’d like to think.Recently the IU Student Association seemed to finally do something right.Last week this publication reported that IUSA proposed amendments to the Indiana Lifeline Law on Jan. 22 that expand the language to apply to victims of sexual assault and other crimes, as well as situations involving underage drinking.The Editorial Board genuinely welcomes this legislative push to afford more protection to students, especially those that might be victims of sexual assault while under the influence of alcohol.Still, this new push also raises several questions.During last year’s election, the other major executive ticket — Hoosiers 4 Solutions — had this very same proposed amendment to the Lifeline Law as one of its central promises in its campaign platform. Meanwhile YOUniversity, the ticket in office now, dismissed efforts to lobby the legislature for this amendment, instead opting for action at the University level, with such pressing issues as bringing handles back to tailgates and the proposed “pub” in the Union — both of which have failed to materialize. Long after the election, Sen. Jim Merritt independently proposed expanding the Lifeline Law to cover medical emergencies around October 2013. Missing, however, was any mention of coverage for victims of sexual assault.During this time the original architect of the Hoosiers 4 Solutions platform contacted Merritt’s office to suggest the inclusion of the amendment in his proposed legislation, which the senator seemingly acted upon and had included by Jan. 12. IUSA contacted Merritt about the issue back in March despite deeming it a waste of the time during the election season. IUSA, however, did not officially introduce the amendments to the Lifeline Law until Jan. 22, after the amendment was already included in the proposed legislation. Though we celebrate the additions to the Lifeline as a significant and overdue step in increasing student safety on our campus, the Editorial Board cannot overlook this last minute change of heart by IUSA at a time when it has accomplished so little and its time in office rapidly continues to dwindle.As tuition payers, we must keep our student government accountable and demand results. We currently pay IUSA’s top executives $3,000 each in salaries.Most importantly, if we’re paying student leaders such a substantial amount of Student Fee funds, we should expect ideas and proposals from those elected — not from the defeated ticket that offered to enact those same proposals at no cost to the student body.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(02/10/14 2:18am)
Will Royal | IDS
(02/07/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When the Seahawks beat the 49ers and secured their place in the Super Bowl line-up, cornerback Richard Sherman made headlines during an on-field post-game interview with Erin Andrews when he hollered into the camera.According to social media, television and radio, Sherman “acted like a thug.” It’s important to note that Sherman is black.And it is the perfect example of how we need to always be wary of the mainstream media.He was asked later about his behavior during an interview on ESPN. Not surprisingly, he said that he was excited — and for all intents and purposes called the reporters out on their racist implications of his background and demeanor. Yes, Sherman is huge, as are most football players. He stands a head taller than Andrews, his biceps are covered in tattoos and he has dreadlocks.Out of context, someone could assume he was from the streets, mean and a brute.But Sherman is a Stanford-educated man from Compton who has had an extremely successful career in the NFL. Now, he’s famous for “being unruly” after a game. We don’t want to say it’s racist, but we’re going to say it’s racist.It’s ridiculous that even after all the progress we’ve made, Americans are still scared of a black man acting “uppity,” as one reporter put it, with all the backwards implications therein.He’d just won a ticket to the Superbowl. He’s allowed to be excited about it. And, as Jon Stewart said, there are bigger fish to fry.The same news outlets that accused Sherman of violence spun around and called Rob Ford, the controversial mayor of Toronto who is currently under investigation, the man we all love.We don’t love Rob Ford. He’s accused of violent felonies, mismanagement and cover ups. But because he’s a white mayor who makes tongue-in-cheek statements about his sex life and his position in politics, he is allowed a pass. Meanwhile, the black football player who intelligently defended himself and apologized for any inappropriate behavior is burned at the stake.We can argue back and forth all day about semantics and motivations, but at the end of the day one thing does not change — Sherman is black, and that was the thing the media could not get past.The irresponsibility is appalling. The implied racism, and acceptance of racism, is more so.We must always be wary of what the media says and how it portrays people. It’s a shame, but it’s true.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(02/06/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Being a college athlete is hard. Intense workouts, long road trips and high pressure to perform are just a few of the things student-athletes are forced to deal with in addition to their studies. Some argue that because college athletes work so hard and bring in revenue for their school, they should be paid for their work. But it isn’t work. Athletics are an extracurricular activity as part of school. Although being an athlete may seem like a job, it isn’t until someone reaches the professional level — something that is not at all guaranteed to happen.Which brings up another point. Many universities are failing their student-athletes academically by letting them coast through GPA-boosting but academically unbeneficial coursework. Sometimes these classes aren’t even real. A CNN article revealed student-athletes at the University of North Carolina were taking fake college classes to stay eligible.CNN began its investigation when UNC researcher Mary Willingham found some student-athletes were reading at an elementary school level and “could not even read well enough to follow news coverage about themselves,” the article said.It should be noted most of these student-athletes at UNC played football or basketball, the two most revenue-generating college sports. This isn’t a coincidence. These athletes are valued most because of the obscene amount of money they bring in for their universities. With this in mind, let’s return to the argument about college basketball and football players being paid.Student-athletes are paid, in a way, for all the money they make for their school. This isn’t true for all college sports. But in the case of popular ones like football and basketball, many of these players receive full-ride scholarships. The ones that are not granted full-rides are still given scholarships, and these are quite substantial. A college education is arguably the greatest payment. It should provide security for the future. But in the case of student-athletes, this is not necessarily true. Student-athletes taking cushy — or in the case of UNC, fake — classes are not being prepared for the world after sports like they deserve to be. A person whom cannot even read at a middle school level upon graduating college is not prepared for the real world. Many of these student-athletes expect to have a career in the pros, where a quality education is not required. But this isn’t likely to happen.According to one study by Business Insider, 1.7 percent of college football players make it to the NFL, and only 1.2 percent of college men’s basketball players make it to the NBA.IU recently conducted a study that revealed playing Division I athletics could have an adverse effect on someone’s mental and physical health later in life, according to an article in the Herald-Times.The most important argument here is not about paying or not paying college athletes. It’s about colleges failing the athletes they supposedly value so much. The Editorial Board calls for a reevaluation of college athletics. College sports are not jobs, so universities need to stop treating them like jobs. An education comes first. Ironically, the institutions that are supposed to educate us receive much of their funding from the very student-athletes they are not educating sufficiently. Follow the Editorial Board on Twitter @IDS_Opinion.
(02/04/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Homelessness in Bloomington continues to be a serious problem. After winter break, an IU student discovered a member of Bloomington’s homeless population had been living in her home.This person, likely having no place to go and facing the extreme cold temperatures of the winter vortex, found shelter in one of the city’s many houses that sit alone while we enjoyed the holiday with our families in warm homes.This break-in isn’t the first, and it likely won’t be the last of its kind. Still, the break-in to the student’s residence is a situation none of us would want to deal with, and likely a scary one at that.The incident is another symptom in chronic illness that is homelessness in Bloomington.Many of us have become desensitized to those most in need. Walking down Kirkwood Avenue and seeing panhandlers asking for money can be an eye-sore for the picture-perfect college town that is our city.But these are real people. It’s a reality. And it’s one few have addressed, and even fewer know how to potentially solve.The city is home to several shelters and a significant volunteer base. Yet we find these resources are sometimes not helping those who need them the most.To be allowed to stay in some of these shelters, those seeking refuge must have no prior convictions nor a history of alcohol or drug abuse.Unfortunately, due to the nature of living and surviving in the streets, many do have a history of run ins with the law. Many also suffer from substance abuse problems.With these barriers in place, it’s no wonder some members of the homeless population resort to squatting during the winter months in unoccupied housing.The Editorial Board highly recommends these restrictions be revisited.More importantly, Indiana — in conjunction with Bloomington — needs to provide more accessible assistance to the homeless.This means not just providing them a place to avoid the cold for a night, but also offering help with addiction and mental illness. We encourage service-oriented and philanthropic organizations on our campus to look at homelessness in our city as a major issue in need of their immediate assistance.If we want to help others, starting in our own backyard would be a great start. So far — despite discussing this issue year after year — the problem continues and likely won’t going away any time soon. It is dangerous to allow the issue to fester.In the instance reported, squatting hurt no one.Let’s not wait until it does.Follow the Editorial Board on Twitter@ids_opinion.
(02/03/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Greek life at IU generally draws two opinions from the student population — you love it, or you hate it.With men’s spring recruitment kicking off today, those viewpoints are likely to be cemented once the process concludes for greek hopefuls. More than 5,000 students are involved in 65 different greek-related organizations. It’s pretty unavoidable around campus. Most students form an opinion on the system one way or another, and usually the viewpoints are pretty black and white. If you’re in it, you support it. If you’re not, well, you don’t.The non-greek population on campus has less than positive things to say about fraternities in particular. Although there are many instances in which judgments are made off of cold hard facts and personal experiences, many of the stories spread about the greek system can be pinned to a small percentage of fraternities and sororities, making the criticism a blanket judgment.Yes, fraternities get a bad rap for supporting an “eat, sleep, drink” lifestyle. But it’s also important to keep in mind IU’s greek system presents more than that. Students involved in a fraternity or sorority consistently earn higher GPAs than non-greek undergraduate students. In 2011, the average sorority and fraternity GPA was a 3.2, compared to a non-greek undergraduate average GPA of a 3.1. In addition to scholarship, the greek system at IU focuses on involvement in philanthropy and volunteer work. Thousands of dollars are raised annually by the sororities and fraternities on IU’s campus to support charitable causes. Zeta Tau Alpha in particular raises almost $200,000 each year for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s an honest evaluation of what is commonly overlooked when analyzing fraternities. However, while fraternities do plenty of good, some also display severe issues in their culture that can’t be overlooked by how much money is raised at IU’s Dance Marathon. Hazing, cultural insensitivity, increased risk of sexual assault, sexism, a tacit belligerence toward progressive ideology, homophobia and a childish contempt for the larger non-greek population are all reasons many have a negative view of fraternities, even if it’s just a small pool that actually has a hand in this.Though some may say it is questionable to use any sort of all-encompassing criticism of greek life — since so much varies from chapter to chapter — the fact is that these things do happen in at least one chapter on our campus. And one chapter is one too much. If the greek system itself can’t or won’t keep them accountable, we will. Becoming a part of greek life is a personal choice, and deciding either way isn’t right or wrong. But being greek is a privilege, not a right. Any group that hampers progress on our campus will continue to hear from the Editorial Board.Still, we must keep in mind that even though there are unpleasant frat boys and rude sorority girls, there are also unpleasant and rude people across campus who don’t wear greek letters. Most importantly, there are fraternities and sororities that are actively leading the way in making the greek system a safer and more inclusive space. And they should know they have the Editorial Board’s unilateral and continuing support in doing so. — opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(01/31/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The National Football League, like any other billion dollar industry, should not be exempt from taxes. When most people think of a nonprofit organization, organizations such as the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity or other groups that work in the name of the public interest come to mind. What usually doesn’t is America’s football league. But unbeknownst to most people, the National Football League is indeed considered a nonprofit. The logic behind this is that the NFL promotes the benefit of football. The NFL takes its revenue and divides it among the teams in the league, therefore technically not making a profit. Even so, there are major problems with the NFL’s nonprofit status. For starters, it grants the league immunity from taxes on the money that it brings in. This exemption is despite the fact that the NFL brought in more than $9 billion in revenue last year, according to Forbes magazine. But the main issue isn’t that the league is making an insane amount of money. It’s the fact they are using their status to take advantage of taxpayers. Even people who are not fans of football have contributed tax dollars toward the construction of new stadiums for this “nonprofit” organization. Cities like Indianapolis have bent over backward to pander to the NFL in the name of increasing business. Recently, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., proposed a bill called the PRO Sports Act, which would take away the tax exemption from professional sports leagues. It would also take away their ability to use taxpayers’ money for obscene new facilities built on the backs of taxpayers. The Editorial Board absolutely endorses the proposal.More importantly, this new bill wouldn’t be the death sentence for the NFL that many of the bill’s opponents are preaching. For example, the Major League Baseball declined its own nonprofit status but is still going strong because of support from its fans that continues to translate into dollars. Right now, the NFL’s fan base is so loyal that they are willing to pay taxes to supply their favorite teams with fancy stadiums. If the NFL was required to pay taxes, teams might have to raise ticket prices. But if fans are willing to give tax money to the league, the Editorial Board believes fans would be willing to pay for the increase in price. It’s also important to remember the NFL is not the only stakeholder in this matter. It affects communities. Under the current conditions, tax money that isn’t being raised because of the league’s nonprofit status could be providing critical services to some of its biggest supporters in the community that need assistance the most. What this boils down to is also the increasingly visible face of corporate greed. The league could easily carry on as a successful organization without taking taxpayer money, and even more so, it could and should give back to the fans that have supported it so passionately for decades. In recent years, many have come to unjustly demonize those most in need in our country. They’ve been labeled leeches on our society that shouldn’t be helped if they can’t help themselves. Ironically enough, the biggest leeches of all may be those you watch on Sunday making millions while still asking for help from taxpayers. — opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(01/29/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>People find many different ways to honor Martin Luther King every January. Some choose to volunteer all day, or various other acts of good will.Arizona State University’s Fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon chose to celebrate by throwing an “MLK Blackout” party, complete with party favors mocking African American stereotypes including watermelon cups and oversized basketball jerseys. Once Anderson Cooper and other people in the news media got hold of Instagram pictures documenting the event, the backlash was wild.Such willful ignorance should not still be so rampant in our society. Punishment should be doled out for those insensitive and immature enough to participate.As for rampant ignorance, IU doesn’t have much room to talk.Last year one of IU’s own sororities was also caught on camera attending anoffensive homeless-themed party.ASU’s offense is worse considering the timing. It takes a special kind of ignorance to throw a party that is supposedly in honor of a great humanitarian, and at the same time make that party so completely insulting to him and his message.You just can’t compress an entire race and culture into a theme without being offensive.You will always end up stereotyping.Even if, consciously, the person with the watermelon cup in their hand knows that they aren’t giving a fair and true depiction of the race they are impersonating, face it: they are still holding a watermelon cup.They, at the very least, thought it was an honest enough representation that people would recognize it and laugh — and that is racist.Racism is a bigger and more complex problem than just making people see that one race is not the sum of its stereotypes.This is why we chose to believe this fraternity is more ignorant than evil.We believe the fraternity did mean to celebrate MLK Day — the problem is that they failed to understand that dressing up in everything short of blackface demeans an entire race and culture and dehumanizes them.By doing so, you objectify and offend the very group you think you are celebrating.It is this dehumanization and representation of African Americans that Martin Luther King Jr. fought so hard against.The Editorial Board believes stopping future embarrassments like this depends solely on our ability to address this ignorance.We need to be more aware of the extent that racism still exists, even where we least expect it, and learn how to recognize it before we have theme parties about it.This brings us to our second concern: punishment.Obviously, the only way to stop this from happening in the future is through education.This is why kicking them out of school is probably not the best option.Perhaps enrollment in some classes focused on diversity in society will help them debunk their misconceptions about a group of people they clearly don’t understand.Their true punishment, however, will be the media demerit that will follow them for the rest of the Internet’s life.Because of the media saturated society we live in these pictures, and the news attention they received, are going to haunt these kids — from when they look for jobs, to when their blind date tries to Google them.That punishment is probably the most effective way they will learn.opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(01/28/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Thomas Reilly Jr., chairman of the IU Board of Trustees, is a super funny guy.When two student leaders came before him expressing concern, claiming that student members of committees don’t have enough time to familiarize themselves with the committee’s work and affect change before their term ends, his response was to crack a joke.“That’s part of our strategy to deal with you,” he said. Reilly’s board might be chuckling. The Editorial Board is not.The fact it occurs to Reilly to make such a comment — joke or otherwise — is the perfect example of what’s so wrong at this University.Reilly went on, like any good paternalist speaking to his disenfranchised charges, to admit the trustees “exist to educate students,” and therefore, need strong sources of student input.He’s wrong.Reilly was first appointed to the Board of Trustees by Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2005. In total, six of IU’s nine trustees are appointed by the state’s governor, including one student trustee. The other three are elected by alumni. Current students never vote for a trustee. Not once.The IU Board of Trustees does not exist to educate students under its current structure. It exists to satisfy the governor and the alumni. The extent to which the board exists to educate students is only the extent to which those otherwise-occupied constituencies demand it.That’s why student input on committees, the kind Reilly shrugged off with a joke, is so vital to our existence as members of this community.It’s why IU Student Association President Jose Mitjavila’s administration’s initial failure to fill seven of those positions is so egregious.The student affairs subcommittee of the Bloomington Faculty Council went more than two months without a single student member. The responsibility to fill that position was Mitjavila’s. Unlike the Graduate and Professional Student Organization, which opens committee appointment to all its constituents, IUSA precedent is to appoint only members of the current administration’s staff to committees. That means no matter how you voted in the last IUSA election, only the winning executive ticket will ever have any meaningful interaction with University issues.Provost Lauren Robel said in Friday’s IDS investigation article this isn’t a problem she or Dean of Students Harold Goldsmith or the Trustees should be responsible for solving. This is just another case of the epidemic of disdain for the average student at this University. Its chief academic officer and the dean charged with student welfare don’t feel responsible for ensuring that students have any seat at the table, let alone a seat representative of the fact that this University exists mainly for their benefit.That’s your student government’s responsibility, and if your student government is systematically hobbled by the very process it’s supposed to be participating in, well, that’s just part of their strategy to deal with it.This University’s function is to educate students, even Reilly and his trustees ostensibly agree to that fact. But if that’s the case, why are students and student governors scrambling to keep up with an administration that is working on a schedule and pace so harshly dissonant from their own? If student input is so valuable and important, shouldn’t it be the other way around? It should be the administration and trustees bending over backwards to ensure students are able to attend committee meetings. They should be developing orientation programs designed to make student committee members effective contributors as quickly as possible.Pairing new student appointees with a veteran committee member would be a start.This year, demand real, tangible change from your student government. Demand that committee positions be filled quickly with students genuinely interested in the issues the committees deal with. Make it a major campaign issue.The provost, the deans, the trustees — they’ve already made it clear they’re not going to listen to our voices unless we work for it, unless you push for it, unless you make your voice so loud and important they can’t function without listening to it. They say there’s a student government system in place for you to be heard. That system is broken. The problem is they have no incentive to fix it.Force that to change. Because our apathy and inertia are a part of their strategy to deal with us.It’s time we developed a strategy to deal with them.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(01/27/14 5:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The shooting at Purdue University once again brought the discussion of school safety and gun control into the public sphere. So far in 2014, there have been seven school shootings in the United States, in Tennessee, Connecticut, New Mexico, Indiana, South Carolina and two in Pennsylvania. With this shocking number of school shootings in one month alone, IU students are reassessing just how safe we feel on our own campus. During the shooting at Purdue, professors were reported to have joked about the incident or ignored it completely. Some professors propped doors open instead of shutting doors like they’re supposed to do. Meanwhile, Purdue ALERT, the West Lafayette school’s equivalent to IU Notify, told students to resume normal daily operations only an hour after the shooting had occurred. At this point, the shooter had been arrested, but police scanners were still reporting more shooters may have been involved. The Editorial Board is concerned that the problems with Purdue ALERT could potentially happen at IU, with equal or greater effect. We feel it’s pertinent for the administration to learn from the aftermath of the Purdue shooting and do everything within its power to continue building tangible, effective safety protocols. This academic year at IU, we’ve had three incidents considered major enough to warrant the use of IU Notify — the stabbing at Tulip Tree, the Polar Vortex and the robbery at the IU Credit Union. Some of us on the Editorial Board don’t see IU Notify as operating at its optimal performance. Notifications about a stabbing in Tulip Tree are wanted and needed, but are ultimately useless if you receive them up to an hour after the incident has been solved. The administration has articulated that IU Notify isn’t as prepared to handle a large-scale emergency as it should be. During the bank robbery at the IU Credit Union earlier this month, the system crashed, failing to alert thousands of students and faculty about the situation. Since the Tulip Tree stabbing in October, the administration has admitted the system has been flawed. They hired programmers to fix the problem in December, two months after the problem was discovered. A staggering four months after the problem was discovered, it still isn’t fixed and won’t be for another three months. IU Notify must be fixed, constantly monitored and updated as soon as possible. The consequences of a severe incident happening at the hands of a person like Ryder Pickens — the IU student recently arrested for allegedly attempting to create a bomb — and the system failing at the same time could be catastrophic. The last thing we need during the confusion and chaos of a campus emergency is to have students receiving alerts and warnings late or not receiving notifications at all. Students and faculty want to feel safe here on campus. And the University owes it to us to make that happen.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(01/24/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU President Michael McRobbie withdrew the University from the American Studies Association, which calls itself “the nation’s oldest and largest association devoted to the interdisciplinary study of American culture and history.” McRobbie withdrew the University in response to the ASA’s endorsement of a boycott of Israeli institutions. Participants in the boycott are protesting Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, focusing especially on their academic and political oppression by the State of Israel. President McRobbie went on to explain that he believes the boycott is “ill-conceived” and would limit academic freedom.The Editorial Board disagrees and categorically condemns IU’s withdrawal from the American Studies Association. The idea that the ASA boycott is “ill-conceived” is itself inaccurate. The boycott is, in fact, part of a global human rights movement to protest Israel’s shameful treatment of Palestinians. To say that supporting this boycott is in effect supporting a limit on academic freedom is absurd. According to the ASA’s website, the resolution in favor of the boycott “is in solidarity with scholars and students deprived of their academic freedom and it aspires to enlarge that freedom for all, including Palestinians.” The Editorial Board is not protesting the fact that President McRobbie spoke against this boycott on behalf of all members of the IU community . In fact, as president of the university, it’s his job to act as a voice for the unified campus. Yes, we lament the fact that McRobbie rejected the ASA’s boycott. But more importantly, we condemn the president’s further step to leave the ASA altogether. Only five other institutions withdrew from the ASA as a result of the boycott, out of about 4,000 total members.Perhaps IU’s president rejects the idea of boycotting altogether. Or perhaps the administration is afraid to call out Israel for its atrocious violations of Palestinians’ human rights. Regardless, the Editorial Board joins the voices of those that suspect the backlash against the ASA is happening because it is one of the few groups willing to touch an issue so toxic that many refuse to even discuss it. We believe that just because it is politically sensitive to shine a spotlight on what has been occurring in the Middle East for more than half a century does not merit IU’s withdrawal from a prestigious American institution. Instead of joining that discussion, IU has in effect run away from it. Herman B Wells built an iconic legacy on acceptance, inclusion and the protection of academic freedom. Unfortunately the University’s recent decision runs counter to all of that. If President McRobbie is genuinely concerned about preserving academic freedom and free speech, he would not have closed IU’s doors to a group that is one the few actively working to preserve it, Palestinians included.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(01/24/14 12:01am)
Illustrated by Aldea Sullivan
(01/23/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Six feet of marijuana plant is difficult to hide, that much is clear. Less clear are the implications from a drug bust on campus that later found itself in court. Those who live in the IU dormitories are subject to all the rules and regulations in the A to Z Guide to Residence Hall & Furnished Apartment Living, provided to each of us living on campus at the beginning of the year.But some of the implications from Medlock v. Trustees of Indiana University, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals case, may have chilling consequences.Medlock lived in Willkie during spring 2011. As part of a health and safetyinspection conducted by the Resident Leadership Specialists in Willkie, the inspectors discovered marijuana related paraphernalia lying in plain view.This is especially puzzling as Medlock had a full week’s notice to dispose of theincriminating evidence.The specialists contacted IUPD. Officer Christopher King responded to the summons and positively identified the cannabis paraphernalia. Further inspection by the specialists revealed a six-foot marijuana plant, upon which Officer King again concurred in their judgment.Based on this evidence, a warrant was issued for Medlock’s arrest.Medlock was suspended from the University for one year, after which he could reapply. He did, and was readmitted. However, he sought expungement of the arrest and expulsion from his record.He claimed his Fourth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment rights had been violated, as he was supposedly subject to an unreasonable search and was not given a hearing before he was expelled.The U.S. Seventh District Court of Appeals wound up with the case and issued a decision on Dec. 31, 2013.Judge Posner claimed the magnitude of the violations were so large IU was justified in taking “immediate remedial action if its commitment to its rules ... was not to be questioned.”In other words, IU had to suspend Medlock immediately if the University wanted to maintain its reputable standing.Medlock’s Fourth Amendment claim is also rather shocking in its boldness,arguing the search itself was unconstitutional. But as he agreed to live in a dormitory, he accepted the right of IU to search his room given the terms as listed in the A to Z Guide. Thus, Judge Posner contended, IU simply held Medlock to his contract.The Editorial Board holds this is a fair argument, but the more troubling issue at hand is Judge Posner’s view of the Fourth Amendment, and Title 42 of the U.S. Code Section 1983.Also known as the Exclusionary Rule, it states evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment can be used in noncriminal proceedings.This could set a troubling precedent, for those who are busted under evidence found not in accordance with the A to Z Guide or with the Fourth Amendment could be expelled.Independently, the case also serves as reminder of the disruptive nature of outdated marijuana policy, and more importantly, its consequences on the students of IU.With its power to conduct warrantless searches in campus housing reaffirmed, the University should continue to articulate the strict perimeters of when it will use this authority.And though the scope of the violation in Medlock leaves little room for interpretation, the ability of IU’s judicial system to punish may serve as a harbinger for those who may be on the fence with their violations. — opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter@IDS_Opinion.
(01/21/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As college students, most of us can agree that getting a college degree is important. Most of us can also agree that getting more people through college should be a major goal of United States policy. After all, the world’s most advanced countries — including Japan, Korea and Israel — have more college graduates than the U.S.In 2008, President Obama was elected, openly telling the American people that he would make America the world leader in college graduates. Five years later, we’ve slipped from 12th to 14th in the world. For the past three years, Obama has been forced to play defense, having to stop the Republican-controlled House of Representatives from slashing student aid or raising loan rates. From halting bills in the Senate to passing executive orders, Obama’s done everything possible to maintain the status quo. Unfortunately, the status quo is nothing short of dismal. Since Obama can’t get a comprehensive education bill through the House, he called upon the nation’s universities to open more opportunities for low-income students. Unfortunately, the President’s request has no political or legal bite.It’s an empty request. Since no policy is in place, Obama is depending on universities to let more poor students attend college for cheap or for free. The Editorial Board believes expensive college costs are a substantial part of the quagmire that’s pulling low-income Americans even further down. We also believe the politicians in Washington, D.C., could do more for their constituents than ask for a favor really, really nicely. Currently, we face a national deficit — a lack of jobs, both for college graduates and for non-graduates. And at this point, many of us have to ask if a college degree is even worth the time or money. The best way to make college degrees worth anything is to create sustainable jobs that allow citizens of any income to better themselves. The President can ask universities to allow anyone and everyone to attend all he wants, but that’s not going to make college degrees worth anything. The Editorial Board wants the government to work to get low-income students into universities where they can study degree-demanding fields, such as chemistry, engineering or economics. We also want the government to work with states to create long-lasting, sustainable apprenticeships and job training programs. Instead of condemning people born into unfortunate circumstances to squander time away at a minimum wage job at a fast-food restaurant, we can offer them something better. Phlebotomists, construction workers and pharmaceutical assistants are all examples of jobs that are possible through job training programs. We understand that the President’s gesture was well-intended. He and his wife’s journey to Ivy League degrees is both impressive and powerful.But there isn’t a point to getting students to college if our country can’t provide them a career after the journey.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter @IDS_Opinion
(01/21/14 2:55am)
Illustration by Rose Harding
(01/17/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>During the holiday season, an estimated 70 million credit and debit cards were compromised when Target databases were hacked.The numbers, expiration dates, customer names, pins and embed codes were stolen. Target attempted to mitigate the damage with a 10 percent discount the weekend before Christmas.Not surprisingly, the company still reported its fourth quarter sales down 2.5 percent instead of the previously predicted flat sales.The exposure was far-reaching. IU students reported problems up and down the holiday season. Some are even having trouble paying tuition with frozen accounts and backed up cards. Really, this could not have come at a worse time.Many banks, rather than choosing to wait, just issued new cards regardless of whether or not the card information was vulnerable.That’s how bad it was.It speaks, again, to the fact that the consumer must be the smart one. Information, no matter how secure, is easily leaked if the hacker is smart enough.It also speaks to the known but largely unappreciated fact that massive industries do not have time to cater to individuals.The customer must be the smart one. And even though companies should protect the security of their clientele, each consumer is still a monetary number valued by his or her participation in the economic survival of the store.But this isn’t just exclusive to massive, conglomerate chains.Some Bloomington stores have had trouble keeping their servers secure, and student information was leaked.Even though we can generally trust where we shop or drink, we can not afford to be careless. And something must be done to protect the consumer. With the amount of identity and credit theft in America, it seems that banks are more stockpiles for hackers than they are secure places to save money.And it’s especially important that students be aware of these issues.Students tend to be big shoppers, despite the stereotype that they are poor, eat ramen and only drink cheap vodka.They use Target’s grocery section and frequently go shopping on Kirkwood.Sorority sisters buy outfits for formals, and independents outfit their houses for parties.Students are active members of the Bloomington economy, though many remain largely unaware of the unexpected dangers of shopping.We once were a society that ran entirely on cash that could easily be stolen, but it seems the plastic in our wallets is just the same. Except now it’s not a stickup in a dark alley — it’s the massive hacking of our information from the stores we love to frequent. Let’s hope this will all boil down to one big lesson on the pitfalls of a digital market and no one will suffer serious consequences.But there are pitfalls, and as students leave Bloomington and enter the global market and global economy, they most definitely need to be aware of them.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion
(01/16/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Most people have probably never heard of Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL), but recently he’s been receiving both love and contempt from the gay community and the liberal media. Before we begin, the Editorial Board must get a few things straight.Schock, who represents the 18th Congressional District of Illinois, is gorgeous. We’re talking about a ripped body that was featured on the cover of Men’s Health magazine. And with perfectly combed hair and a fashion sense that makes J.Crew models jealous, we can’t ignore Schock’s genetic talent.Unfortunately, Congressman Schock has one glaring flaw — he’s one of the most homophobic Representatives in the U.S. House. Schock has voted against the repeal of the military’s “don’t ask don’t tell” policy, doesn’t support the overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act and has advocated for a federal ban on gay marriage. Recently, the Congressman has faced a particularly large influx of rumors about his sexuality. Schock, who is not married and not currently dating anyone, has become a target of openly gay journalist Itay Hod. Hod claims that Schock was caught showering with his male friend. Yet these claims have not been confirmed at this time. We at the Editorial Board hold our field in a very high regard. And we feel it’s the duty of journalists to make claims that they can back up with evidence. These unsubstantiated claims discredit journalists and journalism as a profession. Still, Hod’s claims have reignited a debate in the gay community on the ethical perimeters of outing closeted conservative politicians, especially when they hold such anti-gay voting records such as the one Congressman Schock holds.In 2011 Indiana state Representative Phil Hinkle, a conservative anti-gay politician who voted in favor of Indiana’s proposed ban on same-sex marriage, ended his own career when it was revealed Hinkle had solicited a young man on Craigslist and offered him up to $140 if the young man showed Hinkle “a really good time.” The revelation was supported by emails obtained by the Indianapolis Star. And just like that, a hypocritical politician that did his part to deny people like him their rights was ousted from the Statehouse. We don’t know if Congressman Schock is gay or straight. We don’t know if he showers with his friends for fun or to conserve water. And, unfortunately, Hod has not presented any concrete evidence to prove anything. Instead, Hod has used arguably offensive stereotypes about gay men to back up his claims about Schock’s sexual orientation. If Schock is in fact gay and continues his despicable voting record against the LGBT community, then Congressman Shock deserves whatever public shaming may come from denying rights to a group he may actually belong to. But until a smoking gun, such as the one that ended Hinkle’s career, can be presented, rumors will be just that — rumors. We believe that Congressman Schock, gay or straight, should be able to expect that journalists will use facts when accusing him of something. Hod has not done that. But when someone does, the media will no doubt be ready. Because no one likes a hypocrite, even if they look impeccable. — Follow the Editorial Board on Twitter @IDS_Opinion.
(01/15/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For students who live on campus past freshman year, finding a roommate can be stressful. Many of your friends are moving off campus and, oftentimes, you’re forced to go random because you aren’t allowed to room with your friend of the opposite sex. And, let’s be honest, going random is about as fun as playing Russian Roulette. Thankfully, IU, in collaboration with the student-led Residence Halls Association, is taking a tremendous leap to fixing this problem by allowing upperclassmen to room with people of the opposite sex. The new policy will only affect those who specifically request an opposite sex roommate and who live in Union Street Center, Willkie Quad or Collins Center Hillcrest Apartments. The Editorial Board feels this is a step in the right direction to fix a problem that the University has struggled with for several years. Just last semester, Campus Pride, a nonprofit organization, dropped IU from its list of Top 25 LGBT-Friendly Schools. Campus Pride said the University had been lacking in helping transgender students. The Residence Halls Association, a body made up of the presidents and representatives from each on-campus residence center, has pushed for this change for three years. The issue, they say, wasn’t due to the personal feelings or convictions of the faculty, but because of logistical issues. We believe this change will better the college experience for all students, but especially for LGBT individuals. It’s understandable that gay, lesbian or transgender students would feel uncomfortable rooming with somebody of the same sex. Straight or cisgender individuals will benefit from the change as well.They will receive the option of rooming with friends, regardless of their gender. In dorms such as Union Street Center, the demand for gender-blind housing has been particularly high due to the apartment-style layout of the rooms. IU is moving forward in what has become a national trend. The Harvard College Democrats released a statement in support of gender-blind housing at Harvard.“The proper role of the college is not to determine with whom students may or may not live, but rather to empower its students to make their own decisions responsibly,” the statement said. Other universities, such as Ohio University, Brown University, the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania and Oberlin College allow gender-neutral living arrangements on their campuses.There are three things Hoosiers brag about more than anything — our basketball team, our beautiful campus and our progressive and accepting atmosphere. Until now, the University has made transgender students, among other groups, choose between staying on campus and being uncomfortable or moving off campus to feel accepted. We feel the University was right to open gender-blind housing. The Residence Halls Association and IU faculty have done a great thing on behalf of the students of this University. And it’s about damn time. — opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board at @IDS_Opinion
(01/13/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Colorado and Washington may have legal marijuana today, but getting blazed on campus will still land students in trouble.Universities in both states have opted to leave their drug policies unchanged after the new law. Organizations that receive federal funding have to comply with federal law, and most college students are still too young to legally use marijuana under the new law anyway.But for many students, the restrictions don’t stop there. Colorado College students aren’t allowed to use marijuana no matter where they are, on or off campus. Jill Tiefenthaler, president of the small, private school in Colorado Springs said the use of marijuana conflicts with the school’s mission to provide “the finest liberal arts education in the country.”Ignoring for a moment that someone just claimed marijuana and words like “liberal” and “arts” are incompatible, we don’t think this is all that bad.Colleges and universities put restrictions on what we’re allowed to do while we’re here all the time, even when those things are legal under state and federal law. In addition to drugs, use of cigarettes, alcohol — even technically “indecent” behavior — are all subject to certain restrictions and disciplinary actions by the university should those restrictions be ignored. The Indiana University Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities prohibits drug use both on and off campus. Students with certain types of financial aid can also lose it if caught using drugs.Other universities in the state, like Anderson University, have broad codes of conduct that prohibit drug use and apply to students’ behavior no matter where they are until they no longer attend that university. Students who choose to enroll at universities like Anderson or Colorado College probably know how restrictive these schools’ drug policies are when they do so. There’s a difference between the force of a policy’s rhetoric and its force in action.Alcohol isn’t allowed in IU dorm rooms, and that policy has obviously not prevented instances of bunk bed inebriation.The bottom line is most college students in states like Colorado and Washington that legalize recreational use of marijuana are too young to legally possess it anyway. Many will probably still smoke on campus or off, breaking all kinds of rules. Most of them will probably still get away with it.But for the students who don’t, the repercussions of outdated, punitive policy will still be felt and will likely and unnecessarily disrupt their college careers. Colleges pride themselves as institutions always on the vanguard of society. With the victories in Washington and Colorado, it’s clear society’s attitude about cannabis are quickly changing. It’s time for colleges to get with the times as well. — opinion@idsnews.com
