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(10/02/03 6:01am)
Community members and students will gather tonight at Dunn Meadow at 6:30 p.m. to "Take Back the Night."\nThe event is a community-wide vigil and march to promote awareness of rape and domestic violence against women. Opening the annual event will be the Bloomington Feminist Choir. After the choir, three speakers will discuss topics ranging from protection against sexual assault to the perpetrators of these crimes. A candlelight vigil in memory of the women who have died as a result of domestic abuse will close the events in Dunn Meadow.\nSenior Liz Siantz, an event organizer, said the vigil is a crucial part of the night.\n"'Take Back the Night' is for the survivors," she said. "The women being memorialized in the vigil are not, and it's important for everyone to remember that not everyone is a survivor of these crimes."\nAfter the ceremony participants are encouraged to participate in a march from Dunn Meadow to the Monroe County Courthouse, where the "speak-out" will take place. It is a chance for participants to share the reasons they are involved in "Take Back the Night."\n"The speak-out is a time for survivors to find support with others who have shared their experiences," said senior Stacey McDaris, "Take Back the Night" coordinator. "Because violence against women is a serious issue that is often not treated as one, this is a chance for Bloomington residents to send the message that rape is a crime and when it happens, we want justice for the survivor."\nThis is the first year, in recent years, that "Take Back the Night" is a week-long series of events. An art show Tuesday night captured the emotions and feelings of survivors and artists, and Wednesday night showcased a film screening, open-mic and dance performance at Collins Living-Learning Center.\nWhile there are no concrete dates of the first "Take Back the Night" march, Julie Thomas, a speaker at this year's event, said most people involved believe it started with a single event in London in the 1970s and then spread through Europe and eventually to the United States, with the first march taking place in San Francisco in 1978. Thomas is a visiting lecturer in gender studies at IU, serves as the president of the board of directors for Middle Way House and volunteers at Middle Way House as an on-scene advocate.\nThomas's experiences as a coordinator for "Take Back the Night" and the Middle Way House have strengthened her views of Bloomington women.\n"I'm amazed and moved by the strength and courage of women in this community as survivors of violence," Thomas said. "We are all honored by their presence at the event -- while we are there to support them, they also inspire everyone at the event to renew their dedication to ending violence against women."\nMcDaris encourages everyone in the community and on campus to participate in tonight's events.\n"The public should be involved to show their support," she said. "It shows support for the people you know and the people you don't know. It's a time for the Bloomington community to get together, voice their concerns about rape and to learn about the extent of the problem in the community."\nThomas said the social response to relationship violence is a critical reason to come out to the event.\n"The way society typically responds to relationship violence is that it's a private matter, and we shouldn't interfere," she said. "We blame rape victims for what has happened rather than looking at the perpetrators of the crime. We should never ask 'why didn't she leave the abusive relationship?' or 'what was she wearing?' because we don't ask those questions when someone is the victim of a different crime. We don't ask the person hit by a drunk driver why they were out driving at that time of night."\n-Contact staff writer Julia Blanford at jblanfor@indiana.edu
(09/23/03 5:20am)
The United Way Family Services Association is celebrating its 40th year by offering a series of free lunch talks open to residents and students.\nFor the next three Fridays, the UWFSA will provide free speakers who will discuss and offer advice on issues such as divorce, problem solving within a family and the experience of growing up in a family with someone who was a substance-abuser or involved with other compulsive behavior. The talks will take place at the Fairview United Methodist Church, 600 W. Sixth St., from noon to 1 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lunches; free childcare will be provided. \nDr. Margaret Squires is a UWFSA volunteer assisting with the lunch talks. She provides counseling services for Oak Tree Counseling, one of the UWFSA agencies. She became involved in the organization because of the demand in the community for such assistance.\n"There are a lot of important services the community needs," Squires said. "Counseling is very important for people to restore their health and balance emotionally. UWFSA is a good agency that really cares about their clients."\nEarlier this month, the United Way Community Services of Monroe County also kicked off its "neighbors helping neighbors" fund-raising campaign. According to a press release, the UWCS chose Sept. 11 as the start date since the organization wished to honor the spirit of togetherness and resilience shown by Americans in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks two years ago.\nThis year's fund-raising goal is $1.6 million, down from the 2002 campaign goal of $1.78 million. The funds will be used to support numerous local organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club, Area 10 Agency on Aging and Hoosier Hills Food Bank.\n"The United Way wants to help those people who have experienced difficult times," said UW Executive Director Michael Reinke. "Across the country, more people have been laid off, so there are more people who are struggling to get by." \nReinke said they hope to raise all of the money through pledges, local fund-raisers and volunteers by November in order to have a definite total by January. Through all the fund-raisers and events, he said the organization wants to inform the public about the problems in Monroe County and encourage residents to donate to the cause.\n"Monroe County is a great place to have a family, but many of us are unaware of the people who might live next door who need help," Reinke said. "People don't realize how easy it is to help, so we try to educate and motivate people to provide that help."\nOpened in 1963, the UWFSA responded to community interest in a program offering family counseling both on a fee and free basis. Since then, the agency has expanded to include Oak Tree Counseling, Parent Outreach and Monroe County Court Appointed Special Advocate Program. All agencies encourage people from all income levels to use their services, since those services are available on a sliding fee scale based upon the client's financial situation.\nThe agencies have a diverse list of services, while focusing on different familial aspects. Oak Tree Counseling specializes in counseling individuals, couples, families and groups. Parent Outreach works to provide information for good parenting and to support parents in their efforts. One sector of Parent Outreach is Families in Transition, a program providing parent training and support to inmates while in jail. Finally, the Monroe County Court Appointed Special Advocate program offers trained volunteers to watch over and advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the legal system.\n-- Contact staff writer Julia Blanford at jblanfor@indiana.edu
(09/19/03 6:36am)
The Wall Street Journal has ranked IU's Kelley School of Business's MBA program 12th in the nation. The ranking, released Wednesday, is part of the publication's annual survey rating business schools across the country. This year's announcement moves the program up from 14th place in 2002 and 23rd in 2001.\nTerrill Cosgray, director of the Kelley School's MBA program, attributes the school's ascent to the increased marketing of Kelley graduates to recruiters.\n"When recruiters fill out the survey they are ranking a variety of things, and one is the rate of return on the investment in an employee," he said. "Our graduates have increasing value in the workplace. We have been marketing that to recruiters to help them realize that and to tell them about the value of our program."\nBetween November 2002 and May 2003, more than 2,100 MBA recruiters helped determine rankings by evaluating schools based on 26 aspects of school and student success. Categories varied from analytical and problem-solving skills to personal ethics and integrity.\nBesides garnering 12th place overall, the Kelley School earned recognition in multiple categories. Kelley was 4th among the top 10 public schools and 8th among the top large schools. The MBA program's consumer products discipline was 2nd to another Big Ten school, the University of Michigan. Kelley's marketing program received a 3rd place acknowledgment for Recognition of Academic Excellence.\nThe school nabbed the 8th spot in an article related to a business survey titled, "Hidden Gems: A look at schools that recruiters say don't get enough respect."\nMBA student Bryan Campbell said he agrees with "Hidden Gems." He said during his time at IU, he has seen some of the programs in the Kelley school not getting enough praise for their level of success.\n"We're recognized heavily as a great consumer products and great marketing school, but I think some of the other disciplines are overlooked, such as my concentration of finance and investment management," he said. "Kelley gets high praise for our programs, but the public doesn't know much information about the quality of students."\nThe article praised Kelley by saying the MBA students are some of the strongest in marketing and accounting. Indiana graduates received high marks for their teamwork skills, personal ethics and integrity and fit with the corporate culture. \nCampbell said he is not surprised The Wall Street Journal gave strong marks for ethics in the program.\n"I think it says a lot about the culture of the school and students that we are so strong in personal ethics," he said. "Kelley students are very unique students. They are more collaborative and competitive."\nRecommendations for the MBA program included attracting more women and minorities, as well as increasing international perspective and entrepreneurial skills.\nCosgray said the school will continue their efforts to pursue a more diverse student body. \n"During the past couple of years, we've stepped up efforts to recruit women and minorities by hosting recruiting events especially for women and minorities, as well as our letter writing campaign," he said.\nKelley's MBA program is the only one Cosgray knows of where current students write personalized notes to prospective students, discussing their experience as women or minority students in the program, as well as any concerns the recruits might have.\nThe Kelley School's undergraduate program has also recently received national attention. In August, the US News and World Report rated the program 10th in the nation for all public and private business schools.\n-- Contact staff writer Julia Blanford at jblanfor@indiana.edu.
(09/17/03 6:12am)
Jill Behrman's mother, Marilyn, is certain that if her daughter were here to celebrate her 23rd birthday today, she'd be doing so as a fifth-year senior.\n"She kept changing her major and a few of her friends are in the same position," Marilyn said. "But that would have been OK, as long as she was happy."\nToday marks the first birthday Jill's family and friends will celebrate after laying Jill to rest.\nJill disappeared on May 31, 2000, while riding her bike in Bloomington. On March 13, 2003, a hunter and his son found skeletal remains near Paragon, Ind., that were later identified as Jill. A ceremony in June allowed the public to say their final good-byes.\nSenior Mandy Madden wants everyone to remember her best friend.\nMadden describes Jill as "a girl who had a strong work ethic, was determined to succeed and had a heart for others. She had a love for life."\nLast year, Jill's parents attended a memorial service in remembrance of their daughter, but decided they didn't need a public event to celebrate Jill's life.\nThis year, they are going to take the day as it comes and quietly reminisce about their daughter.\n"Mostly, I think we'll remember Jill and wish she could be here with us," Marilyn said.\nMadden said the past few years have been hard, but now that Jill has had a proper burial, it has helped resolve questions about Jill's whereabouts for her family and friends.\n"Every birthday has been difficult, but having more closure now, knowing that she was found, fills the void that was there the past three years when we didn't know where she was," Madden said.\nJill's brother, Brian, said this year wasn't the hardest birthday to celebrate.\n"I still feel that the one that was the hardest was her 21st," he said. "As close as Jill and I were, I had always looked forward to taking her to Nick's to play 'Sink the Biz.' This is just another birthday, and another day that I will not get to see my sister."\nMadden will celebrate today by calling Brian and catching up with him.\nThis heartbreaking ordeal has reinforced the importance of life to Madden. \n"Jill's story has made me appreciate life more and not to take anything for granted," she said. "I have learned to focus more on the positive outcomes, such as Jill's House, the Jill Behrman Emerging Leader Scholarship and the Jill Behrman Run for the Endzone, that have helped heal, reward and provide awareness to the community, instead of focusing on the tragic aspects of her story."\nWhile family was always an essential part of his life, the loss of his sister has made family an even greater part of Brian's life.\n"Family has always been pretty important to me, but the thought that something could happen, and I might never see my family again, that helps me to remember that importance," he said. "When I see families that can't get along, I always think to myself how sad that is. Life is too short to be angry with your family. In my life, my family comes first before anything else."\nIndiana State Police Sergeant Dave Bursten said the investigation into Jill's death is on-going. Facing the reality of an on-going investigation is disheartening for Brian.\n"The loss of my sister is a reality that I have come to live with," he said. "The sad part is that there are still people out there who know what happened and can provide complete closure for our family, but they still choose to keep things a secret."\n-- Contact staff writer Julia Blanford at jblanfor@indiana.edu.
(09/16/03 6:14am)
A study released Friday by Harvard School of Public Health said lower-priced beer and alcohol near college campuses is linked to higher rates of heavy drinking among students.\nThe study attributed the availability of large volumes of alcohol, such as 30-can cases of beer and kegs, low sale prices and frequent advertising at local establishments to the rates of binge drinking around college campuses.\nOver 500 IU-Bloomington students participated in the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey in April 2002. The results showed 54% of student respondents said they have engaged in binge drinking in the last two weeks. Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of an average of five drinks in one sitting. The national average is 44%. \nDean of Students Richard McKaig attributed the campus's average to the types of students who attend IU.\n"It's true the Midwest is higher in binge drinking rates than the Southeast or Southwest. Only the Northeast is higher," he said. "The numbers are mostly reflective of the kind of students who attend IU, because they come from the East and Midwest. We might be on par with our true peers, but are indeed above the average."\nAccording to the Harvard study, alcohol specials, promotions and advertisements were prevalent in alcohol retailers near campuses, and three-fourths of establishments that served alcohol for in-house consumption close to campuses had weekend drink specials. Of the establishments that sold alcohol for off-premise consumption, 60% provided at least one type of beer promotion. The study found that the lower the price of beer in the surrounding community, the higher the rate of binge drinking at the college.\nCourtney Hall, Beer Manager at Big Red Liquors, 418 N. College Ave., said Big Red's sales go up every time a product's price is slashed.\n"When we run specials, quantity sold goes up. It happens all the time," Hall said. "Every month we have program specials where we try to give customers lower-priced products that are just as good."\nThe National Research Council and Institute of Medicine released recommendations on September 9 on revising the marketing and promoting of alcohol in formats with sizeable allure to the underage market. \nThe Council's main recommendation for alcohol advertising and commercial media is to "refrain from marketing practices that have substantial underage appeal and should take reasonable precautions in the time, place and manner of placement and promotion to reduce youthful exposure to other alcohol advertising and marketing activity."\nIU has taken a different approach to binge drinking by providing enforcement, education and alternative sources of activities without alcohol around campus.\n"The programs collectively address problems of alcohol use on campus, but we're not addressing a solution," McKaig said. "But hopefully, we're making a difference by showing everyone not all students binge drink and they can be responsible in their use of alcohol."\n-- Contact staff writer Julia Blanford at jblanford@indiana.edu.
(09/16/03 5:38am)
Found at house, apartment and fraternity parties everywhere, kegs are a staple of the college lifestyle. But now, area liquor stores like Big Red Liquors will be tracking keg-buyers in accordance with Indiana state law.\nPassed on July 1, Senate Bill 97 made it easier for those who buy kegs for underage drinkers to get caught. Under the new law, when a keg is sold, it is tracked by a sticker containing a registration number for the keg, the clerk's name who sold it and the name, address, date of birth and signature of the buyer.\nAfter the keg is taken home or to a party, the buyer, if caught by local police, will have to worry about the party being shut down or getting caught with underage drinkers. Bloomington Police Department Sergeant Joe Sanders said not only will the buyer have to face a $500 fine and a 60-day jail sentence, but multiple citations.\n"The way we handle underage drinking at parties is to locate the hosts, close the party down and then ID and cite everybody as necessary. Then we deal with the party holders," Sanders said.\nFinding out who the party holders and the alcohol supplier are will be much easier for the BPD with the new tracking system. \nMaking keg-buyers more accountable when they purchase alcoholic beverages is an added benefit, said Big Red Liquors Director of Promotions Rob Williamson.\n"It makes the person purchasing the keg more responsible for their actions, so people better think twice about purchasing a keg for minors or a party with underage drinkers," he said. "If the party is broken up and the keg is discovered, the buyer will be held liable."\nWhile the law will make it easier to identify who bought the alcohol, Dean of Students Richard McKaig says it will also make his job less stressful.\n"It should make my job easier. When there has been an incident where a student was involved, generally, no one can remember who bought the beer," McKaig said. "I'm not naïve, but this will clear everything up once and for all."\nCourtney Hall, Beer Manager at the Big Red Liquors at 418 N. College Avenue, said the keg registration will be more of an aggravation for purchasers than the store.\n"It's not really that big of a deal because it's a little more work for us. Getting the kegs out the door will be more of a hassle for the customers than us," he said.\nSome Big Red customers who thought the law was already in place have voiced their opinions and concerns to Hall.\n"They said they weren't going to buy any more kegs. They said they were going to stick with cases instead," he said. "We're not really sure how it is going to affect our business, but I think we'll sell a few less kegs."\nGoing from keg parties to case parties could be a likely turn of events, said senior Josh Ross.\n"If the law is enforced, even though I doubt it will be, I think you'll see a lot more cases of beer being sold instead of kegs of beer," he said. "Parties will go to Keystone Light or Natural Light can parties, rather than Bud Light keg parties."\nMcKaig agreed, but noted that studies have shown switching from kegs to cans actually decreases consumption.\nOverall, Ross said he thinks the law is a ridiculous move on behalf of the state government.\n"I think that the lawmakers need to find something better to do with their time," Ross said. "I think it is a law that won't be enforced like they say it will. Instead, it will pretty much be a burden on people who just want to get a buzz."\n-- Contact staff writer Julia Blanford at jblanford@indiana.edu.
(09/12/03 6:07am)
Like most Americans, members of the Bloomington Police Department and the Bloomington Fire Department were clustered around TVs and radios waiting for any new information on Sept. 11, 2001. They saw the smoke billowing from the twin towers and pictures of their comrades running into the buildings to save lives. Like everyone else, they saw the towers collapse.\nBPD Senior Police Officer Lloyd Hawkins was on duty that day, feeling only disbelief as he watched footage from ground zero.\n"I guess you feel helpless," Hawkins said. "It doesn't matter if you're a police officer, firefighter or anything else. You have the same feelings as everyone."\nIn the days after the attacks, feelings of disbelief turned into feelings of vulnerability and anticipation. BPD officers waited and wondered whether or not Bloomington could be a target, with all of its international students and community members, said BPD Capt. Joe Qualters.\nIt's been two years since America experienced the terrorist attacks. But nevertheless, memories of fallen comrades are a part of their daily lives.\nA sense of loss and mourning is felt anytime the firefighting community loses one member, but Sept. 11 left a gaping hole in many of the firefighter's hearts. BFD Sgt. Jimmie Dean Coffey said the men at Station 2 were on the edge of their seats awaiting news of their comrades. \n"We were like the rest of the country," he said. "We were glued to the TV and mourning the loss of brothers. Firefighters are a pretty tight brotherhood."\nThat tight brotherhood led to a department call-out, asking for men to sign up and prepare themselves to help their brethren in New York City.\nThe footage of members from the New York Police Department and Fire Department of New York gave BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada a sense of pride as he watched the heroic acts of his fellow officers.\n"When I watched the news, I saw the people's names and pictures," Canada said. "It's hard because you not only think about them, but what they did. They went into something that none of us had ever done and they tried to save people knowing the towers might collapse on them. These guys went in on a call to save lives and they lost their lives."\nOfficer Hawkins agreed with Canada about the severity of risks officers face everyday.\n"I'm sad like everybody else about those officers, but that's part of the risk you take as a police officer," he said. "You hope you never find yourself in a position like that. But if you do, you hope you do the right thing."\nThe loss of so many lives attached a greater amount of heroism and bravery associated with the police badge for Capt. Qualters.\n"You always take a great sense of pride from those who wear the badge and go to heroic efforts," Qualters said. "The actions fell onto the police officers and firemen who went up the stairwells, eventually to their death. You take great pride in those who did that in order to help others."\n"What is it about police officers that makes them try to get to a call as soon as possible?" Qualters asked. "I think it was the same for the World Trade Center as it is for all officers. You had people coming in from all over trying to get to work because that was what they are paid to do. They were driven to go to the site so they could help and some of them lost their lives trying to."\nToday, the fire department is trying to minimize the possibility of something like the trade center attacks happening in Bloomington.\n"The attacks have brought more training, education and money into the fire service that wasn't here. We're more prepared and a lot more aware of what could be happening in the area then we were before," said BFD Deputy Chief of Operations Roger Kerr. "The main thing is that everyone has, instead of been reactive, become more proactive. We're trying to prevent situations instead of dealing with them."\n-- Contact staff writer Julia Blanford at jblanfor@indiana.edu.
(09/04/03 6:08am)
Twenty-five protesters gathered on the steps of the Monroe County Courthouse Wednesday night to protest the government's use of depleted uranium in military weapons.\nStanding at the corner of Sixth Street and College, protesters held signs proclaiming "Start Seeing Iraqi Children" and "No New Nukes of Any Kind", as well as signs plastered with photos of bodies burned and vaporized by depleted uranium. \nDrivers of passing cars and even a man on a bicycle demonstrated their support for banning the toxic, radioactive metal residue, which has been designated as one of the causes behind Gulf War Syndrome.\nFreshman Jesse Homburg spent his evening at the Courthouse out of his concern for the public's lack of knowledge.\n"I feel there are issues in the world that a lot of us aren't conscious of," Homburg said. "It's important to have a presence so those issues become conscious in people's minds."\nSponsored by the Bloomington Peace Action Coalition, Wednesday's protest was held to inform Bloomington residents about the harmful effects of the war chemical. The metal is employed as armor plating to improve tank survivability, as well as tank and machine gun ammunition, increasing their destructiveness and lethal nature.\nAccording to BPAC literature, although DU contains low-levels of radiation, once it combusts it oxidizes and becomes a harmful carcinogen able to enter the body through inhalation, ingestion or contamination of wounds. Opponents of DU use claim it is a major contributing factor in the increase of cancers, leukemia, kidney and liver damage and genetic birth defects among civilians and military personnel exposed to DU fragments and ash during combat.\nIntroductory Psychology Professor Cindy Hoffman spoke at the event, emphasizing the short- and long-term effects of DU on the soldiers who served during conflicts when it was used, namely Gulf War I and the 2003 War in Iraq. In the 10 years since the Gulf War, 200,000 veterans -- one-third of the total military participants -- have filed for disability with the Veteran's Administration and 10,000 soldiers have allegedly died due to DU exposure.\n"At the moment, DU has the scariest long-term health effects," Hoffman said. "Ten years later, doctors can still measure DU in the urine and semen of the troops exposed to DU." \nTim Baer, part of BPAC, organized and spoke at the protest, concentrating on the effects of DU, as well as the government's denial of the harmful effects.\n"Despite the US government and military's lack of open acknowledgment of the LT effects of exposure to DU, military personnel are beginning to be aware and take their own protections," Baer said. "In some cases, soldiers have handed out warning leaflets and put up signs on vehicles hit by DU, both Iraqi and US vehicles hit by friendly fire."\nWhile the possible health consequences of DU usage are great, there are some that continue to support its use. \nLance Corporal Jared Farnsworth, a Marine reservist and a senior at IU, was activated for Operation Enduring Freedom and then supported Operation Iraqi Freedom. After seven months in Kuwait and Iraq, Farnsworth was deactivated and is back at IU finishing his senior year. During his time at war, Farnsworth knew he was exposed to burning DU, but said the government told him and the other military personnel before leaving the Middle East to declare all chemicals they thought they were exposed to.\n"The government told us during our medical briefing before we left to write down anything that might have been harmful to us, saying, 'If you were exposed to burning DU, then write it down. If we find out down the road it's dangerous, you stated it right then.' It's obvious that it's very dangerous material, but it's a very dangerous situation it's used for," he said.\nFarnsworth said for him the possible risks associated with DU exposure are worth the protection it provides. \n"(The protesters) have a point that DU is something nasty, but so is a round from an AK-47," he said. "If the US thought that our soldiers, marines and other people were going to have serious effects down the road, they would probably find a better alternative. War is a very nasty business, but if you haven't seen it, you can joke about it and imagine it. But when war happens, you have to take whatever advantage you have and use it to save lives on either side because killing is a nasty business."\n-- Contact staff writer Julia Blanford at jblanford@indiana.edu.
(09/02/03 5:13am)
Students attempting to forego a parking permit this year will face higher fines than last year after the city council approved a raise for common parking violations in July.\nThe Bloomington Common Council passed the ordinance at the July 30 meeting, raising the fines for common violations such as expired meters or parking without the correct permit in zoned areas. This increase is the first since three years ago when fines were doubled from $6 to $12.\nJack Davis, manager of Parking Enforcement for Bloomington, said the cost for a parking violation will rise to $17 within the next month. If the ticket isn't paid within seven calendar days, the fine escalates to $30. Currently, the cost of a ticket is $12 and it increases to $17 if not paid within the week.\nBloomington Deputy Mayor James McNamara expects to bring in an extra $130,000 per year, with the revenue going "toward parking-related expenses, such as lease purchase payments on new parking garages and parking enforcement operations."\nCity expenses have increased over the past few years with the construction of two parking garages along Sixth Street.\nLast December, the city also approved a measure to increase parking fees for meters and leased parking spots.\nWhile some will grumble at the higher fines, many will rejoice since more revenue through parking violations means less taxpayer dollars needed for the department.\n"It makes sense to use parking-related revenues for parking-related expenses," McNamara said.\nCouncil member Anthony Pizzo pointed out Bloomington's parking tickets are considerably lower in price than IU's.\n"We're following what the University does, but we don't charge as much as the University," Pizzo said. "We've been doing it that way for years."\nSome students said they felt the sudden increase in ticket fines to be unfair.\nSenior Dan Keeler said while the cost was cheaper than IU parking tickets, the rise in fines after one week is excessive.\n"Bloomington's are a lot more reasonable then the campus tickets, which are now $40 per ticket," Keeler said. "Nearly doubling the price of a parking ticket, from $17 to $30 is ludicrous." \nJunior Adam White agreed but said having one week to pay the initial ticket is not enough time.\n"It's kind of a large increase over a week," White said. "You should have at least a few weeks to pay the ticket. They should give more time since even with a traffic ticket, most of us don't get around to paying it within the first week"
(04/24/03 5:21am)
Under a clear blue sky, approximately 2,700 students swayed and danced to the sounds of Rusted Root and the night's opening band, Blue Moon Revue, at the second annual Little 500 kick-off charity concert at Kappa Sigma Tuesday night.\nPreliminary estimates show more than $3,000 will go to the Bloomington Boys and Girls Club as a result of the effort put forth by fraternity members.\nBlue Moon Revue lead singer Matt Marshall said the concert was another way their band could help a charity.\n"We try to do charity when we can," Marshall said. "We just did 'Live from Bloomington' and we've done a lot of things in the past … We try to help out anytime we can, to get people together and play some music."\nGray skies and cool winds throughout much of the day Tuesday created doubt in the mind of Kappa Sigma President Alan Hazzard on the turnout for the concert. Nevertheless, Mother Nature blessed concert goers with sunshine and warmer temperatures in the late afternoon and starry skies in the evening, creating a pleasant springtime concert experience.\n"We got really lucky with the weather since the forecast, said it was supposed to be colder than it really was," Hazzard said. "It was good to see everyone come out for the concert and have a good time. That was one of the points of the concert, to bring everyone together during Little 5."\nConcert goer Lindsey Eckstein said she enjoyed the concert because of the band and the purpose behind the kick-off.\n"I thought Rusted Root did a really good job for as long as they played without really taking any breaks," Eckstein said. "I think that Kappa Sigma did a really good job for raising a lot of money. This wasn't like a regular party; instead it was a really good reason to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club, to get us all together here and to kick-off Little 500 week."\nFellow concert goer Erica Seligman said she enjoyed Rusted Root's extended rendition of their hit song "Send Me On My Way."\n"Both bands played great sets, but 'Send Me On My Way' is one of my favorite songs. I was thrilled when they played it," Seligman said. "This was so much fun, especially since this year is my first Little 500."\nKappa Sigma member Jon Barefoot, head of security for the concert, said although Union Board decided to forego its annual concert this year, continuing the tradition of a week full of events was important.\n"We're disappointed UB decided to not have a concert this year," Barefoot said. "We liked the opportunity and atmosphere for students to have a week of fun and music, but we were happy our concert came out as a success."\nBarefoot also said one of the best parts about a successful event was watching it go from an initial idea to a performance.\n"It's nice to see something go from the planning stages six or seven months ago and then be at the concert and see 3,000 people there enjoying themselves," he said.\nWhile plans for next year's show have yet to begin, Hazzard said the fraternity is always open to ideas and suggestions of who should headline the next kick-off concert.
(04/10/03 5:40am)
"Stand up, we've had enough!" and "2-4-6-8, we don't want your police state!" echoed between buildings Wednesday evening as about 200 students and residents marched from the Bloomington Courthouse to the local FBI office.\nThe protest voiced citizens' apprehension concerning the first Uniting and Strengthening America Act, also known as the USA Patriot Act and a possible sequel, the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003, unofficially dubbed "Patriot Act II."\nPassed almost unanimously in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks, the USA Patriot Act gave law enforcement officials broader authority to conduct electronic surveillance and wiretaps and tightened the oversight of financial activities to prevent money laundering and "diminish bank secrecy in an effort to disrupt terrorist finances," according to the Center for Public Integrity.\nThe Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003, drafted by Attorney General John Ashcroft's staff, has not been officially released by the Department of Justice. It will allow the government to have broader power in order to increase "domestic intelligence-gathering, surveillance and law enforcement prerogatives and simultaneously decrease judicial review and public access to information."\nJeff Melton, a former Green Party candidate for Congress and member of the Peace Action Coalition, helped coordinate the street theater protest to express the severity of the issues. Street theater is a protest technique where members dress up in costume and act out a skit or situation. The protest's plot line portrayed various people who have been detained by or had rights violated by the FBI over the past few years.\n"These are very serious issues and attacks on our constitutional rights that have been going on since Sept. 11, 2001," Melton said. "We wanted to have a sense of humor about it, while at the same time making some very serious points about the way our liberties have been slowly taken away. We wanted to increase people's awareness of what actually is happening."\nBob Kendall, one of the initial organizers working on behalf of the Coalition for Civil Liberties, a coalition of several organizations, wanted to make people aware of what has happened on the home front while everyone has been concerned with the events unfolding overseas.\n"We all came together with the recognition that while we have been fighting the war in Iraq, our civil liberties have been stripped from us," Kendall said. "By the time the public wakes up, this war is over, and people are going to come around realizing that these laws have been enacted, and it's going to be far too late."\nKendall said speaking up about the Patriot Act is one way Americans can support the soldiers.\n"I feel that if the people in this country want to do justice to their friends over there ... they will stand up and make sure that the county that these people come back to is the country they left thinking they were fighting for," he said.
(04/10/03 5:04am)
A body found in a burning car Tuesday morning has been identified as Teresa L. Ferrell, 31, resident of Bedford.\nThe Monroe County Sheriff's Department arrested Michael L. Fultz, 26, resident of Ellettsville, Wednesday, in connection with what investigators suspect is a homicide.\nTuesday morning, the Monroe County Sheriff's Department received a call regarding a burning Pontiac Sunfire sitting on the side of Moon Road in Stinesville, Ind., located in northwest Monroe County.\nA resident had been driving near his property when he saw suspicious behavior near a maroon car, said Monroe County Sheriff's Det. Brad Swain. The man turned around to investigate and spotted a white male running away from a burning car with a gas can. The male then got into the passenger side of the maroon car and left with the property owner following in pursuit, police said. He later gave identifying information on the car to the Sheriff's department, resulting in Fultz's arrest.\nBy the time the Bean Blossom Township firefighters arrived at the scene, the Sunfire had been completely engulfed by flames. After extinguishing the burning vehicle, firefighters attempted to find the vehicle identification number or license plate number, but both had melted in the fire.\nBBFD Captain Richard Carter made the shocking discovery when he opened the car door to get into the glove box and found Ferrell's body in the passenger seat. He immediately notified the sheriff's department about the body and scene.\nCarter said the scene was startling.\n"This is the first case like this I've ever been across, and I've been in the service for five years now," Carter said. "I was pretty shocked, but I tried to stay calm."\nThe sheriff's department quickly taped off the crime scene and sent the remains to the IU Medical Center at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis for Dr. John Pless, professor of pathology.\nInvestigators said Wednesday that Ferrell and Fultz had been involved in a romantic relationship in the weeks prior to her death.\nThe sheriff's department is working to locate additional suspects and witnesses. Those with information should call the Monroe County Sheriff's Department Detective Division at 349-2727.
(04/09/03 5:30am)
Uriah Clouse, one of three main suspects in the Jill Behrman case, will be a free man Thursday morning.\nClouse was being held in Monroe County jail for charges stemming from a 2001 incident where he was accused of raping a Bloomington woman he knew. Clouse agreed to a plea bargain reducing his charge from felony rape if he pled guilty to misdemeanor battery. On March 26, a judge sentenced Clouse to one year in jail with a credit of time already served, which allowed the judge to schedule his release date for April 10. \nBehrman, an IU student, disappeared May 31, 2000, while riding her bike south of Bloomington. Investigators believed someone driving a truck under the influence of drugs or alcohol accidentally struck Behrman, then drove to Salt Creek to dump the body. Following information from another suspect in the case, investigators drained a 1.4 mile stretch of Salt Creek in September 2002 in hopes of finding Behrman's body. It wasn't until March 9 this year that investigators found Behrman's remains 22 miles north of Bloomington in Paragon, Ind.\nThe discovery threw many of the investigation's previous theories out and placed all suspects "back on the table," said Monroe County Prosecutor Carl Salzmann in a March 13 press conference.\nIndiana State Police spokesman Sergeant Dave Bursten said investigators have interviewed several people since March 9, but will not comment on the number or extent of the interviews.\n"We are continuing to advance the investigation, not saying who or the content," Bursten said. "Since this is an on-going investigation, it could compromise our ability to continue the investigation if we released such information."\nClouse has maintained his innocence each time investigators have interviewed him. Clouse's battery charge is the latest in a lengthy list of run-ins with the law.\nSince October 1993, Clouse's record boasts numerous charges, according to records obtained from the Monroe County Courthouse. His record includes a conviction of felony battery, a conviction of a rape charge, several dismissed public intoxication charges and invasion of privacy after violating a no-contact order with a former girlfriend.\nHe has pled guilty on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, operating a vehicle over the legal .10 Blood Alcohol Content level, resisting law enforcement and failing to carry insurance. \nBrown County Prosecutor Jim Oliver told the IDS for a April 2002 article that, "The (FBI) agent told me that his sources said Clouse was threatening to kill people involved in the Behrman investigation." At the time, Oliver had asked a Brown County Court judge to raise the amount of Clouse's bond in order to keep him in jail based on FBI evidence and Clouse's criminal history.\nThe most recent charge against Clouse occurred in October 2002 when a Brown County judge sentenced him to jail time for disorderly conduct and a battery charge against a fellow Brown County Jail inmate.
(04/07/03 5:28am)
The band Rusted Root will play April 22 at the Kappa Sigma fraternity in a Little 500 kick-off concert. Last year, the fraternity hosted Of A Revolution, which helped raise $3,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington. This year, Kappa Sigma said the fraternity hopes Rusted Root will bring in at least $4,000.\nThe gate opens at 4:30 p.m. with the opening band Blue Moon Revue starting its set at 5:30 p.m.\nFollowing the pattern of last year's show, both bands will perform in the Kappa Sigma parking lot. About 2,300 tickets have already been sold within the past few weeks. \nKappa Sigma President Alan Hazzard said some of the best things about the kick-off concerts are the price and the featured artists.\n"We're able to bring in a good name band that people enjoy seeing and give a relatively good price," Hazzard said. "It's a very low price, but at the same time it's enough for us to cover our costs and give money to the Boys and Girls Club."\nThe $3,000 raised from last year's concert went toward scholarships to the club's summer program, but this year's donations will be used to fund multiple interactive activities between the children and the volunteers.\nPlanning a charitable activity on such a large scale forced the fraternity to begin working on the 2003 concert during the few days directly after the 2002 O.A.R. concert.\nSenior Trey Smith, the Kappa Sigma Little 500 Kick-off Chair, began receiving input and ideas for the upcoming concert from his brothers last year.\n"A lot of the people in the house, right after the O.A.R. concert, were talking about who they wanted to have this year and Rusted Root was a name that kept coming up," Smith said. "Rusted Root's booking agent, Creative Artists, eventually accepted our offer and placed us on their tour."\nLocation played an important part in the booking, since Rusted Root will make a stop in Wisconsin before the Kappa Sigma show and plays the night after in Chicago.\nEven after selling-out last year's show, Hazzard said the fraternity did not want to change the venue or opt for a bigger band because of the intimate setting.\n"We like the feel of having it on our property, giving people the opportunity to come to our house, to experience the event and to have it outdoors," Hazzard said. "It's a great way to get the entire campus to the event since it's not too far away and provides some intimacy with our chapter and the rest of the campus."\nHazzard and Jon Barefoot, head of security for the concert, both said this event is a great way to show the positive things the greek community can do on a large scale.\n"I think it's helpful that it's not just a frat party with a band," Barefoot said. "We turn our house into a true concert venue. It's one of the few events the whole campus can go to, be involved with and be comfortable."\nHe also said the concert will be a dry event. \n"We will try to keep everybody safe and let everybody have a good time," Barefoot said.\nThe tickets are $15 before the event and $20 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at the Kappa Sigma house between 9 a.m. and midnight Monday through Thursday, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 4 to 8 p.m. Sundays. For more information, contact Trey Smith at 331-8047 or trey@little5.com. More information can be found on the Kappa Sigma Little 500 Kick-off Web site at www.little5.com.
(04/01/03 5:25am)
A confession led to the draining of a 1.4 mile stretch of Salt Creek in September to search for the body of missing IU student Jill Behrman, who disappeared May 31, 2000, while riding her bicycle. Now, the woman who gave the confession to investigators is recanting her statement.\nLast March, Wendy Owings told investigators she was riding with fellow passenger Alisha Sowders in a truck driven by Uriah Clouse in May of 2000. Owings said Clouse accidentally struck Behrman, wrapped her in plastic and bungee chords and took her out to Salt Creek. At Salt Creek, Clouse stabbed Behrman with a hunting knife and made Owings and Sowders do the same before throwing the body into the creek, Owings said.\nBut on March 9, a hunter and his son found skeletal remains that would later be identified as Behrman's near a wooded area in Paragon, Ind., 22 miles north of Bloomington.\nIn the days following the announcement, Owings contacted her lawyer, Public Defender Stuart Baggerly, saying she had an urgent matter to discuss with him. She then told Baggerly she wanted to retract the statement she gave to investigators in March 2002.\nOwings' story originally prompted the Salt Creek search, where investigators painstakingly looked for evidence or remains.\nAfter Owings alerted Baggerly about the retraction, he notified Monroe County Prosecutor Carl Salzmann and Deputy Prosecutor Mary Ellen Diekhoff.\nBaggerly is unsure of why his client retracted her statement.\n"Is she recanting because it never happened that way? Is she recanting since the remains are not where she said they were? Is it to better her position? Who knows? I honestly do not know," Baggerly said. "That was very surprising what she did. I've said on numerous occasions that I have faith in my clients. I believe what they tell me, and I do the best I can."\nIndiana State Police media spokesman Sergeant Dave Bursten said Owings' recant will not have an impact on the investigation.\nInvestigators are concentrating on the results from laboratory tests done by forensic anthropologists and scientists on Behrman's remains. They will not comment on the new findings because more people have come forward with information, Salzmann said.\n"We've gotten some new people to come forward that haven't talked to the police ever," Salzmann said. "Some of the information they had didn't seem to fit with what was in the popular press with how (the accident) supposedly occurred."\nAll theories pertaining to what might have happened to Behrman are back on the table, Salzmann said. Anyone with information regarding the investigation should call the Indiana State Police at 1-800-225-8576.\nReleasing information discovered from the tests may hamper the progress of the case, Bursten said. Forensic tests often reveal information only someone involved with the case would know, helping investigators to find people who have beneficial knowledge regarding the case.\nLast year, Baggerly wrote a letter to his client stating that if she was one of the people with beneficial knowledge about what happened to Behrman, she should come forward. The letter indicated prosecutors were interested in putting Owings in jail for an extended period of time because she had charges against her resulting from incidents occurring after Behrman disappeared. Baggerly said he was concerned for his client's bargaining power against charges if either of the other main suspects, Sowders and Clouse, came forward first. Owings came forward in March with her story, which Baggerly said must have concurred with information investigators already had.\n"Obviously she must have had something to say that lined up with something else in the files," Baggerly said. "If it didn't, we would have had that first meeting and been told 'thanks, but no thanks'. During the time we were going along with the investigation, it appeared that her information was checking out."\nOwings is currently in jail on charges unrelated to the Behrman investigation. Next month she will appear before the court regarding charges of robbery, theft, dealing in Oxycontin, dealing in Xanax and aiding in child molestation.\nJoseph Hoffmann, Harry Pratter Professor of Law at IU, said Owings' retraction may not help her when she goes to court in April for her outstanding charges.\n"This is not going to help her situation," Hoffmann said. "It's pretty obvious that this is not going to help her situation with the pending charges if she was hoping to gain leniency when she goes to court next month"
(03/28/03 5:24am)
A resolution the Bloomington City Council passed Wednesday that will ban smoking in the city's bars and restaurants has sparked mixed reactions.\nOne of the many establishments affected by the ban is Nick's English Hut, 423 E. Kirkwood Ave., a hot spot for students and alumni. Robert Schultz, a 10-year veteran night shift manager at Nick's, said the bar is one of only 35 in Bloomington which permits smoking inside. For alternatives to a smoking atmosphere, he said someone could visit one of the many other non-smoking restaurants and bars around the town.\n"There are already 136 non-smoking establishments and only 35 smoking ones in Bloomington. If you want to go somewhere that is non-smoking you have plenty of opportunities," Schultz said. "I have patrons who come in here who don't smoke and are against it."\nThe right to smoke is not the only issue some community members are worried about. Some are worried about the complications that may arise after the ban takes effect. \nAs she sat inside Nick's sipping on her beer and smoking a cigarette, Amy Stewart wondered who will be responsible for cleaning the possible extra debris left by Nick's patrons who exit the establishment to smoke. Stewart is an IU alumna and the manager of Pitaya, a clothing store down the street from Nick's.\nAmong her responsibilities as manager, Stewart has to arrive early every Saturday and Sunday morning to clean up beer bottles, cigarettes and other assorted trash left outside of her store by Nick's weekend patrons.\n"There going to be a lot of people from bars and they're going to be outside," Stewart said. "They're like, 60 or 70 people out front and when you add up all of them who are going outside to smoke, who's going to be responsible for them? Who's going to clean up after them? Who's going to make sure they don't get a citation for public intoxication when they go outside?"\nStepping outside of Nick's to smoke could possibly add more hassles to Schultz's nightly duties.\n"People are going to get up, go outside to smoke, and 'forget' to come back in to pay their tab, or what if they come out to smoke and give their ID to their buddy?" Schultz said. "We're going to have to triple card people every time that they go in and out of this place. It's just going to be bad."\nNot all of Bloomington's establishments are upset over the ban. Dave Kubiak, general manager of the Bluebird, 216 N. Walnut Ave., does not think it is going to be too hard to enforce the ordinance, since establishments that do not serve minors, like Nick's and the Bird, have until Jan. 1, 2005 to become smoke-free.\n"I feel the trend across the nation is that smoking is starting to become not socially acceptable, particularly in restaurants, maybe not as much in bars. With the no-smoking ordinances in California, New York City and major metro areas, you're seeing more non-smoking establishments," Kubiak said. "For instance, when they didn't allow smoking on airplanes, people thought, 'oh I can't go without smoking for three or four hours, but they do now."\nKubiak also said the ordinance opens the door for non-smokers who dislike being in smoking establishments. In the past, the Bird has held non-smoking concerts with attendance rivaling shows allowing smoking.\n"We have no-smoking shows now," Kubiak said. "There are some really big shows that are no-smoking that happen and people just go outside to smoke. You'd be surprised. It's not as big a deal. Size-wise, we didn't lose any crowds because of the no-smoking shows"
(03/14/03 6:26am)
With the discovery of bones belonging to missing IU student Jill Behrman, the investigation into her disappearance continues as strongly as before -- even taking a new direction.\n"There is information that has been garnered from the remains and is part of the investigative information," said Indiana State Police 1st Sergeant Dave Bursten. "The only people who know what injuries were sustained to Miss Behrman were the people responsible for it."\nIt will still be several weeks before results from forensics testing will be available for investigators to use.\nWith this additional evidence, investigators will be starting fresh, Bursten said. All of the information collected in the inquiry is still valid and knowledge gained from potential suspects will be reviewed.\nRetired FBI Agent Gary Dunn said none of the suspects will be eliminated.\n"We would leave no stone unturned nor have we left any stone unturned," Dunn said. "We're not going to eliminate anything. There have always been unanswered questions. We're certainly going to address those and get answers to everything."\nSince Behrman disappeared almost three years ago, dozens of searches in quarries, corn fields, houses and rural areas have been conducted throughout Monroe County and surrounding counties. \nAs the investigation moves forward, Morgan County Prosecutor Steve Sonnega said he is anticipating the opportunity of adding his services in the search for those responsible for Behrman's death.\n"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work with the Death Investigation Team, the Monroe County task force and Carl Salzmann, to arrest and convict the person or persons responsible for Jill's death," Sonnega said.\nLooking toward the future, Sonnega explained how the judicial proceedings would work since the murder involves two counties.\n"According to the law, we would not have to split the charges in two different counties," Sonnega said. "Both counties now have jurisdiction. That's a decision I hope we (Sonnega and Monroe County Prosecutor Carl Salzmann) get to make."\nSonnega also said he looks forward to giving his best to the investigation.\n"I don't have an ego in this (case), as I sit here, think of the Behrman family and how I would feel if that was my kid. If it was my kid, I would just want somebody to say, 'give it your best shot.' That's what I hope we get a chance to do -- give it our best shot"
(03/14/03 6:26am)
Human remains found Sunday in Paragon, Ind., near Martinsville, by a hunter and his son have been positively identified as those of missing IU student Jill Behrman. While news of the finding has been circulating news cycles for the last week, the bones were not publicly identified as Behrman's until Thursday evening.\nThe two men who discovered the bones originally believed they had found animal remains. After finding part of a skull, they called police to report their findings. \nAfter the Indiana State Police secured the scene, the Morgan County Death Investigation Team recovered portions of a cranium, a jawbone, vertebrae and extremity bones from the wooded area, as well as a few personal items, including an earring.\nDr. Stephen Nawrocki, a forensic anthropologist at the University of Indianapolis, arrived the next day with a team of anthropologists. He later took the remains back to U of I, where he requested X-rays so more information could be determined. \nDental records allowed Dr. Ted Parks, a forensic odontologist, to make the positive medical identification that the remains were Behrman's, said Indiana State Police Detective Rick Lang at a press conference Thursday afternoon. In an initial analysis of the scene, Nawrocki said the remains could have been placed in the wooded area as early as 2000 or as late as 2002, said Indiana State Police 1st Sergeant Dave Bursten. Behrman disappeared in May 2000.\nBloomington Police Department Detective Marty Deckard, retired FBI Agent Gary Dunn and Lt. Dennis Kuntz from the Department of Natural Resources met with Jill's parents, Eric and Marilyn Behrman at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, just hours after Parks made the identification.\n"It was a very emotional meeting," Dunn said. "Obviously, they were thankful that their daughter was found and thankful that she's going to be returned home. Of course that was the number one priority in the case -- to find her and bring her home. Thankfully that's going to be achieved in the next few weeks."\nIn a statement released by the Behrmans, the family thanked everyone working on the case, as well as the support everyone has given them since Jill disappeared.\n"At this time we do not have any answers to the obvious questions we are all asking. Our deepest appreciation goes out to the hundreds and thousands of people in Bloomington, statewide and nationally who have joined us in this 34-month ordeal and have kept Jill in their prayers," the family's statement said.
(03/12/03 5:09am)
The Bloomington City Council will hear public comment tonight on a new draft of the proposed smoking ban, which would now exclude private clubs. \nCity Councilman Anthony Pizzo is sponsoring the bill, which he says is a matter of public health. \n"As a councilman, I am responsible for the health of the community," Pizzo told the IDS last week. "We are just adding a single regulation to ensure the health of people who work, eat or drink in these locations."\nIf passed, Kilroy's on Kirkwood would be one of the establishments affected by the ban. Adam Hosey, Kilroy's manager, said about two-thirds of its patrons smoke. Polling done by Kilroy's has revealed that 75 percent of patrons are against the smoking ban overall.\n"It's anyone's right to smoke in a private business and if start limiting private businesses, it opens the door to other things," Hosey said.\nAnother city council member, Jason Banach, proposed three amendments to the ban, which would allow people to smoke in more areas.\nBanach's first amendment would allow not only smoking in private clubs, but also in private offices and outdoor areas. Banach said if the ban passed as it stands now, people would not be able to smoke at locations such as bus stops or public phones or in privately-owned office buildings. A private office is defined as a fully enclosed space, occupied by no more than one person, where smoke leaves the building through ventilation or other technology without entering any other part of the place of employment.\nDelaying the implementation of the smoking ban until August 1, 2003, is the second amendment Banach proposed.\n"This amendment would buy the business owners a little more time," Banach said. "The owners must have written smoking policies and inform the staff how to comply and enforce the ban. I don't know how the city thinks a business could do all of that overnight."\nUnder his third amendment, establishments where all of the employees and patrons are over the age of 18 would be exempted. At age 18, in the state of Indiana a person is considered a legal adult and the legal age to buy tobacco products.\nAllowing members to smoke in private clubs was the only measure in Banach's three amendments which the Mayor's office approved, leading to controversy. Non-profit fraternal organizations such as the Moose and Elk lodges or the Fraternal Order of Police would still be allowed to smoke within their establishments.\n"If this measure is going to protect worker health, it should also be for children's health. By exempting private clubs, we're not protecting worker health or children's health since these clubs are also organizations which hold family functions," Banach said. "We will exempt private clubs, but we won't exempt a bar where there are legal adults making legal adult decisions."\nHosey, from Kilroy's, was also concerned the ban could affect alumni returning to Bloomington and patronizing the establishment.\n"If the ban is passed, we would probably experience a drop in our business," Hosey said. "Especially when alumni come in for events like Little 500 and Homecoming, it would be hard to explain to them they can't smoke anywhere. Not at the bus stops, not at the bar, nowhere." \nCommunity members can voice their opinions tonight at the weekly city council meeting. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Showers Building, located at 401 North Morton.
(03/07/03 2:44pm)
Just days after the Supreme Court denied a hearing regarding Indiana's abortion law, a challenge was brought to the Indiana Supreme Court, briefly blocking the law's implementation.\nMarion County Supreme Court Judge David J. Dreyer granted a request made by abortion providers for a temporary restraining order. Under the law, women who choose to have an abortion are required to receive in-person counseling, giving them information about abortion and its alternatives.\nIn 1995, Indiana passed a law mandating that women must receive counseling concerning abortion procedures and alternatives at least 18 hours before the procedure at the chosen clinic. U.S. District Judge David Hamilton issued an injunction in March 2001 preventing the state from implementing the law's counseling provision. The case was then taken to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals where two of three judges on the panel declared the law constitutional. \nThe Indiana Civil Liberties Union filed a challenge to the law soon after saying the law placed "undue burdens" upon women who wish to have the procedure. The Supreme Court denied hearing the challenge Feb. 24.\nOriginally scheduled for March 11, the hearing for the lawsuit has been pushed back until April 30.\nSince the Supreme Court's decision last Monday, Theresa Browning, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of Greater Indiana, said the clinic has heard numerous complaints from women regarding the second state mandated visit for in-person counseling. But she said she is relieved at the hearing date's extension.\n"When we found out we were continued to provide the info by phone, we were glad we were able to tell our clients we could do that more for another week," Browning said. "It's just unfortunate that the courts aren't seeing and understanding this impact that it's having on women."\nCampus for Choice, a student pro-choice organization, agreed with Browning.\n"We feel the law is one step closer to making it one step harder to get an abortion," Lindsay Prater, Campus for Choice secretary, said. "The state is really limiting women's choices by creating a law like the one we have."\nOne organization supporting the original law is the Bloomington Crisis Pregnancy Center, a pro-life women's service center. Tina Tuley-Lampke, the BCPC's executive director, said the organization does not understand why the law's rivals would want to deny women information.\n"The primary issue is that this is a law that would enable women to seek quality medical information, and personally, I'm confused why those who claim to be women's rights advocates are fighting against a law that protects women," Tuley-Lampke said. "I can't think of any other procedure that should require a face-to-face consultation with a medical provider. Women deserve to be able to make an educated choice on something so serious that affects their health."\nAnother affect of requiring women to have face-to-face counseling is the cost. According to the law, women must receive counseling from a physician, physician's assistant or advanced practice nurse. For Planned Parenthood, this meant more medical staff dedicating more time to comply with the law. The Indiana clinics raised prices $50, making surgical procedures $400 and medical abortions $500.\nTo help defray costs, Planned Parenthood has an abortion fund from donations that is used for women who cannot afford abortions. With the cost increases, Browning said she expects more women will need help paying for the procedure, which will deplete the fund reserves faster. The organization receives 25 percent of its income from government funding, which is directed towards providing birth control and family services.\nJunior Erin O'Dea said she thought the state shouldn't be interfering with a woman's decision to have an abortion.\n"I don't think the law has any right to regulate what a woman has to do to get an abortion," O'Dea said. "So much goes into having an abortion that it seems stupid to make a woman set up an extra appointment. To deny a woman an abortion because she did not fulfill counseling requirements is ridiculous"
