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(10/29/04 5:49am)
Sixteen months of visiting Hoosiers around the state ended Monday for Republican gubernatorial candidate Mitch Daniels. The journey began July 7, 2003, in the parking lot of Butler University's Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis with a promise by Daniels to visit all 92 counties in the state in 100 days. He did it in the first 91 days. \nDaniels traveled the state in an RV, nicknamed RV1, that was lent to him by a family friend. He journeyed non-stop for almost two years, visiting almost every county in Indiana four times. Now, RV1 can be seen with thousands upon thousands of signatures scrawled on every facet of the vehicle.\nWith over 75,000 miles on the odometer, the RV campaign for governor ended in West Baden, Ind., on the last trip in his home away from home.\nDaniels said in a statement that he enjoyed his journey through Indiana and all the people he met along the way. He added that it's going to be hard to stop saying he will be back to check up on everyone.\n"I think it hit me somewhere between Salem and West Baden on (Oct. 18): I have to stop saying, 'I'll be back.' Daniels said. "Those have been my parting words everywhere for 16 months with total confidence that in fact we would be back, but suddenly I realize that, with the days dwindling, in most places, we're visiting for the last time. Or, I should say, 'for the last time as a candidate."\nRV1 has had a busy 16 months. It has visited all 92 counties in Indiana at least three times and has visited Lake, St. Joseph and Vanderburgh Counties more than 15 times. \nEllen Whitt, deputy campaign manager for the Daniels campaign, worked on the first lap of the Daniels' tour and said working on the campaign at that early stage was a learning experience. \n"I think we learned a lot in those first days," Whitt said. "Essentially Mitch wanted to be on the road five to six days a week, and he wanted (to) stay overnight several days a week and not stay in a hotel (but) stay in family homes. (He) also said he was going to hit 92 in 100 days, and actually he did it in 91 days and exceeded his goal."\nWhitt also said the first place Daniels wanted to go was Scottsburg.\n"Initially there were just a few people on staff headed to Scottsburg because Mitch heard from someone that no candidate ever came there, and he wanted to make sure that was the first place he visited," Whitt said. \nWhitt said if Daniels wins the election, he still plans to travel throughout Indiana and talk to Hoosiers, but RV1 probably won't be his mode of transportation.\nWhitt said many people are asking about post-election plans for RV1. She said there have been many ideas thrown out about what to do, but right now, no definite plans have been made. \n"I don't know yet. People have talked about all kinds of things," Whitt said. "There's a possibility of donating it to an RV museum if Mitch wins or the possibility of putting it into a state museum. I don't know. I think the guy who loaned it to us probably won't want it back since it's pretty beat up."\nIU freshman Maggie Daniels, Mitch Daniels' daughter, said RV1 has been her dad's second home for the last 16 months.\n"The RV has turned into my dad's home away from home, and in a way, the whole family's," Maggie Daniels said. "I personally thoroughly enjoy it. It's so interesting meeting all the Hoosiers around the state and learning about their lifestyles."\nMaggie Daniels said she isn't sure what is in store for RV1 after the election but could see her family keeping it or giving it to a museum.\n"After the election, if we win, some museums might want it, but I could see us hanging onto it. After the election, if we win, that does not mean (by any means) that the traveling stops there," Maggie Daniels said. "If we won on Nov. 2, that would just be the beginning of our journey. The thing is ... if we won, we would not only be responsible for the people who voted for us, but for every single Hoosier." \nRV1 has symbolized Daniels' commitment to visiting not only every county in the state, but trying to meet as many Hoosiers as possible. In a statement on the first anniversary of RV1 traveling through Indiana, Mitch Daniels emphasized the importance of touring the state.\n"The main purpose of our travel is to prepare myself to be the best governor I can be to six million Hoosiers," Daniels said. "My travels have taken me to places no candidate for governor has visited in many years. But wherever we go, people of every background share our conviction that, with a fresh start and a new direction, Indiana can come back strong."\n-- Contact senior writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.
(10/27/04 5:04am)
Participants in the second-annual Ramadan Fast-a-thon gathered in the Forest Greenleaf Cafeteria Tuesday to break their one-day fast with a plate of date fruits and a dinner of traditional Middle Eastern dishes. \nThe IU Muslim Student Union organized the event, and with the help of about 200 non-Muslim students and numerous sponsors, they raised $550 for the Bloomington Community Kitchen, a local agency that provides warm meals six days-a-week to the hungry. \nThe event was held during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims all over the world don't eat or drink from sunrise to sunset. \nImad Rahman, president of the Bloomington Islamic Center, said this event not only gave students the experience of fasting, but also the opportunity to understand the feelings of the impoverished. \n"If you've not eaten for a few hours, things are really put into perspective," Rahman said. "You never stop and appreciate what a blessing a dry piece of bread or a glass of water is. You'll never look at it like that if your stomach is full."\nVicki Pierce, Community Kitchen's executive director, said she was pleased with the outcome and that the money would be nearly enough to provide a day's worth of meals at the kitchen's two local sites. \nShe said she always thinks it's good when there is an opportunity to educate people about hunger in the community, since Monroe County has the highest poverty rate in the sate. She also feels it is especially for students, who may not be aware of the magnitude of the problem.\n"Sometimes ... we can get isolated and not realize the poverty that exists in this community," Pierce said. "I know because I was an undergraduate here. A whole lot of people are interested in helping doing something to alleviate hunger in our community once they realize it exists. So by educating them, this tends to happen more and more."\nRahman said in the U.S., approximately 33 million people live with the daily reality of hunger. Pierce said 12 percent of the children in Monroe County live at or below the poverty level, which is why it is so important to educate and mobilize people to fight hunger. \nSome local sponsors who made donations to the Community Kitchen include Turquaz Café, Runcible Spoon, Bombay House as well as individual professors' contributions. \nSenior Rafael Davis said he learned about the Fast-a-Thon from a friend and wanted to participate because he heard the proceeds would go to those living in poverty. \n"You fast, and it helps you understand how people in poverty feel," Davis said. "I understand that struggle."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Lyon at lrlyon@indiana.edu.
(10/26/04 4:39am)
A journalist found himself in a tough position when he got a phone call. On the other line, an FBI agent told him he and two other reporters would be put behind bars if they failed to hand over 12 hours of interview tapes with a key witness to a terrorism trial. Weeks later, a U.S. District Judge issued the official order saying that by 9:30 the next morning the tapes must be given up. So he did what he felt was right. \nAbdon Pallasch told his two young sons he might be going to jail.\nPallasch, a Legal Affairs reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, was greeted by a wave of applause as he stood before a room of J300 students Monday at Ernie Pyle Hall. \nHe was invited to speak to Anthony Fargo's Communications Law class about two instances in which he was asked to give up information he acquired while writing controversial stories. Pallasch has become one of a number of journalists involved in what seems to be a legal trend against reporter's privilege, or the right journalists often declare they have to keep all information they acquire in the newsgathering process confidential, including notes, tapes, photographs and the identities of their sources.\nLike Pallasch, other reporters have threats of jail sentences looming over their heads currently. Judith Miller, a New York Times reporter, was found in contempt of court Oct. 8 for refusing to divulge information to a grand jury that would aid in the investigation of the leak of a CIA agent's identity to the media, and faces up to 18 months in jail. \n"I'll go to jail before I give up my source, and I mean that," Pallasch said. "People are afraid of the press and they shouldn't be. We as journalists should be able to interview, click to record the information, and a source should trust it's not going to be used against them."\nWhile many states like Illinois have written reporter's privilege into law, federal law does not recognize this privilege. Judges look to the 1972 Supreme Court case Branzburg v. Hayes when ruling on these issues, in which the majority reasoned that journalists have the same duties as all citizens to appear when called to give evidence. \nHowever, Justice Potter Stewart recognized that journalists should have a "qualified privilege," meaning the government cannot just swoop down and take their information without good reason because it would interfere with the free flow of information to the public.\nJournalism professor Anthony Fargo said he does not think a law protecting journalist's privilege will be passed anytime soon.\n"I'm not optimistic," Fargo said. "Do I think they'll be proposed, yes, but passed, I'm not so sure. I think for some reason the government has come to the conclusion that it's ok to make reporters into investigators for the government."\nPallasch and Sun-Times colleague Robert Herguth wrote a series of stories about David Rupert, an American trucker whom the FBI recruited to infiltrate the Irish Republican Army, a terrorist group thought to be responsible for the 1998 Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland that killed 29 people. \nPallasch and Herguth linked up with Chicago Tribune reporter Flynn McRoberts, and with the cooperation of Rupert, who was and still is in the witness protection program, they taped hours of Rupert's account of his experience. Rupert discussed his relationship with Mickey McKevitt, the alleged head of the IRA. McKevitt was facing a sentence of up to 20 years in prison after the Irish government charged him with "directing terrorism." Rupert was the main witness against him. \nWhen McKevitt's attorney learned of their interview with Rupert, he insisted the judge give the three reporters an official order to give up their tapes which were key components to the cross examination of Rupert. \nAfter much thought and persuasion from their lawyers, Pallasch and his colleagues gave up the tapes. They realized if they appealed to the Supreme Court, it would probably be overturned and they would be doing more harm to the cause than good, Pallasch said, because then an opinion would be written that could hamper journalist's privilege in all 50 states.\n"I really hated giving up those tapes, but we'd still be in jail, and the law would be just as bad," Pallasch said. \nIn one such other case, Pallasch and Sun-Times rock critic, Jim DeRogatis, broke the news that singer songwriter, R. Kelly, had been having sexual relations with girls as young as 15. They had the tape to prove it. They were issued a subpoena to hand the tape over to the Chicago Police Department, which they did because it was a crucial piece of evidence in the investigation.\n"We possessed evidence of a felony," Pallasch said. "We concluded we had a legal obligation to turn it over."\nJunior Rebecca Taxman, a student in Fargo's class, said that if she were in Pallasch's shoes she would have done what he did. However, she said she finds it troublesome as an aspiring journalist that the government is trying to control the press.\n"If journalists keep having to give up their sources then people aren't going to want to give up information because they will feel threatened," Taxman said. "If you don't have reporters reporting the facts, then it's going to cause a breakdown in our system."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Lyon at lrlyon@indiana.edu.
(10/22/04 6:14am)
Students interested in finding new ways to promote diversity in Bloomington focused on strengthening the relationship between the Jewish and black communities on campus in a discussion Thursday. To this end, the members of the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center and the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center met for the second annual Diversity in Bloomington dinner and discussion. \n"This program was set up to be a round-table discussion about how individual groups on campus can help each other meet their goals," said senior Laura Siegel, the student coordinator of the event. \nSiegel said the two groups need to work together through cooperative programming to target the Bloomington community at large rather than specific audiences. \nRepresentatives of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center expressed their frustrations when they have offered events to promote leadership, inviting people of all races and religions to attend, but still mostly blacks show up. This might be due to the misconceptions students have of the exclusiveness of various cultural centers on campus, participants said. \n"The venue has to change," said senior Jennifer Gubitz. \nGubitz suggested offering programs at the Indiana Memorial Union, a neutral building, so students would not feel uncomfortable about attending events. \n "I'm Jewish. I wear it on my sleeve," Gubitz said. "Everyone in this room is proud of who they are and from where they've come. But what do we do about those people who don't feel a connection to other people?"\nThe best way to promote diversity, Gubitz said, is to have a common ground like a philanthropical organization. This organization would not be based on religion or race; it would just be a group of people helping those in need. \nRabbi Sue Shifron, Hillel director, said she was pleased with the discussion's turnout, but she hopes to see even more students attend future events.\n"I think there are more people who would be happy to do something if there was a comfortable way to do things. It is up to us to get people comfortable and used to doing things."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Lyon at lrlyon@indiana.edu
(10/18/04 4:59am)
The findings of a recent study left educators across the nation vexed over why millions of undergraduates failed to apply for financial aid they likely would have received.\nThe American Council on Education, an association which represents colleges and universities, released the study last week. It said that in the 1999-2000 academic year about 8 million students who attended schools with federal student aid programs never completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. \nJacqueline King, the author of the study and the director of ACE's Center for Policy Analysis, said she believes there are three primary reasons students don't apply. \n"One, is there are students who simply aren't aware about financial aid, they don't know programs exist and are really in the dark," King said. "Then I think there is a group of students who are misinformed about eligibility and deadlines, and don't apply because they assume they wouldn't get anything. But I think there are also students who are really put off by the bureaucracy of having to fill out these financial forms." \nKing said her biggest concern is that 1.7 million of those who didn't file for aid came from low to moderate-income backgrounds and would likely have received aid if they had just completed the FAFSA. Approximately 850,000 of those students could have been awarded Pell Grants, an esteemed federal grant for students of low income.\nSome are skeptical of the study's findings. Bill Ehrich, associate director for Client Services at IU's Office of Student Financial Assistance, said he attributes these high numbers to the fact that more students are applying for aid online. \n"They begin the process and don't finish," Ehrich said. "When everyone completed a paper application, there was no way to tell who started but didn't finish."\nEhrich said he also questioned the study's high estimates of the number of students not applying. \n"We have to remember that there are people out there who do not, under any circumstances, want to put personal financial information onto documents that are read by others," Ehrich said. "Distrust of government is a reason why many people don't complete forms like the FAFSA. If someone does not wish to divulge certain information to be able to qualify for federal, state or university aid, that is there decision and I must respect it."\nThirty years ago, Ehrich said, the FAFSA was extremely complex and hard to navigate. He said the FASFA has been simplified and is now a breeze to complete online.\nThe study also said many don't complete the FAFSA because they have found other ways to fund their education. If they had filled out the form though, King said they could have received more aid.\nWhen sophomore Margie Michna looked into financial aid she decided a deal from her bank was a better option. \n"I didn't apply because I wouldn't have gotten much to begin with because of what my parents make, and it would have all been in the form of loans," Michna said. "The interest I would have had to pay back was greater through financial aid than just taking out loans at the bank."\nKing said she encourages students to apply for aid even if they have doubts.\n"It doesn't make sense to make any assumptions about what financial aid you may receive," King said. "Filling out the form is going to take you an hour or two, but there may be a significant payoff. The only way to find out if you would be eligible is to go ahead and fill out the form."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Lyon at lrlyon@indiana.edu.
(10/14/04 5:06am)
As students finished their meals in Wright food court Wednesday night, they rushed to dump their leftovers in trash bins and hardly noticed the banner on the wall that asked, "How much do you waste?" Each of the bins had been labeled either, "Compost," "Trash" or "Recycle," but most paid them no attention and threw their waste into the closest bin.\n"We're doing research for INPIRG," senior Vanessa Caruso said "if you could just separate your trash."\nCaruso snapped on a pair of rubber gloves and reached into the compost bin to pull out wrappers and pizza boxes, throwing them in the trash herself. Members of the Indiana Public Research Group hosted a Food Weigh Event at Wright to bring awareness to IU students about recycling and the reduction of waste on the campus. \n"It's difficult because students are so used to walking up and throwing out their trash," Caruso said. "When they get here and you say, wait a second, they look at you funny. It's just foreign to them."\nJunior Danny Atlas, the Sustainability Research Coordinator for INPIRG, said the event was an experiment of sorts to see if students would be open to recycling and separating their uneaten food from their wrappers. INPIRG volunteers would then weigh the contents of the three different bins to try and measure in pounds just how much waste is produced. \nFrom this data, Atlas said, INPIRG volunteers hope to find a way to reduce waste which would in turn reduce trash consumption and ultimately save IU money.\n"I don't like the education students get from eating in food courts on campus," Atlas said. "They are taught to wait in line, buy their food and throw it away. Once it's in the trash can it's out of their consciousness. They don't have to think about what it will do to the earth or the environment."\nAtlas said when he lived in Foster as a freshman, he was disgusted by how much he had to throw away, but he never did anything about it because he didn't think there was anything he could do. As a sophomore, he took a class at IU that opened his eyes to the interconnectedness of waste and its im pact on the environment. "Everything is thrown away," Atlas said. "Landfills are filling up; if we can figure out how we can reduce waste at Wright, then we can help reduce waste on campus." \nAtlas also learned about how difficult it can be to have successful recycle programs at universities like IU, when a bin designated for plastics can quickly become contaminated by a bag of chips, for instance, and custodians are not allowed to reach into the bin and remove the item.\nGraham Shepfer, Special Services manager for Residential Programs and Services, is also the director for all residence dining halls on campus. Shepfer said he is interested to see the results of the weigh in because he would like food courts to be more environmentally friendly and thinks reducing waste would have financial benefits for the University. \n"We pay out of our budget to haul all that trash away," Shepfer said. "Anything we could do would cut expenses."\nIn order for waste to be reduced, Shepfer said, students must be willing to cooperate because there is only so much the staff can do. \n"I think in order to get recycling to function, we need to have more students work with us to sort everything out," Shepfer said. "We need to get the bulk of students to not contaminate the bins by throwing random stuff in them."\nFreshman Daniel Eilon opted not to be a part of the weigh in, and threw the remains of his dinner in the trash.\n"I wasn't sure what was going on," Eilon said. "I don't really believe in recycling. More energy is used in the process of recycling and this outweighs the benefits of reusing. But I think it's noble they're doing something they believe in."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Lyon at lrlyon@indiana.edu .
(10/13/04 5:03am)
With just one swipe of a plastic ID card, students can buy snacks in dorms, purchase books and supplies, hit the tanning bed, or pay for laundry without having to scrounge up a handful of quarters.\nThis year, more businesses have been added to the list of nearly 40 locations off campus that allow students to pay with their CampusAccess cards. \nDonatos Pizza on Third Street began accepting CampusAccess cards last month to boost business. \n"We wanted to increase our campus marketing and bring in more business from IU students, not just from residents," said Ross Savage, a shift manager at Donatos. \nSavage said the amount of pizza deliveries has increased with this new service because all students have to do when they call is read off the numbers on their Access cards, like they would if they were paying with credit or debit cards.\nAside from Donatos, students can now use their cards at places like the Encore Café, Malibu Grill, Bucceto's Smiling Teeth, Texas Roadhouse, T.I.S. College Bookstore and Sol Spa Tanning. \nTeresa Ray, manager of the Campus Card Services offices, said she hopes to add 10 more businesses within the next year. Usually businesses are the ones who request adding this service, Ray said, because they want more students to frequent their establishments.\n"It makes things simpler for the students," Ray said. "They don't have to carry cash or change, and most of them have their cards on them all the time. It's faster than paying with cash when they go through the lines and is more convenient for students and staff."\nCampus Card Services made it possible to manage accounts online a few years ago, Ray said, giving students and parents an added convenience. Once online, students can view their past transactions, suspend their cards if they are lost or stolen, and, with a credit card, they can directly deposit money into their account.\nFreshman Mallory Deckard said her Access card has been useful this year.\n"It's more convenient because I don't have to use my own spending money," Deckard said. "My parents put money on my card as I need it, and they don't have to worry about meeting up with me to give me cash."\nOther students agree that the card makes laundry more convenient, but freshman Lauren Marshall rarely uses her card to go to restaurants off campus because she said she's still spending money whether it's on the card or in cash.\n"You still have to put money on the card," Marshall said. "It's my money and using it for food and stuff is still spending my own money."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Lyon at lrlyon@indiana.edu.
(10/07/04 6:19am)
The six-month controversy concerning the existence of an outpatient facility in Bloomington was clarified Wednesday night when the Bloomington City Council amended the municipal code to alter definitions concerning the words 'hospital' and 'outpatient care facilities.' The debate began in February of this year when a for-profit specialty hospital was proposed by Dr. Kamal Tiwari. The debate sparked many within the Bloomington community to voice concerns about competition between the Bloomington Hospital and a new facility. Mark Moore, president and CEO of Bloomington Hospital, said he opposed the option of building a new hospital and maintained another hospital would have had a negative impact and not provide the best possible care to its patients.\nLocal attorney Mike Ellis said Bloomington Hospital lacks proof that the specialty hospital will be harmful.\n"We are proposing to offer patients and doctors healthcare choices that they currently don't have," Ellis said. "What has been missing from the hospital is evidence showing that revenue will be taken from the hospital or ambulance services will be gone."\nThe debate ended in a straw vote against the plan, in which five of the nine members voted against the petition, finding no need for another hospital in Bloomington. Four of the council members passed on the vote, wanting more time to go through information for next week's meeting.\nThe council then heard more arguments the following week of Feb. 17 when a packed audience listened as both sides discussed the pros and cons of having a specialty hospital in Bloomington. \n"We do not oppose a new medical complex being built," said Moore, in a \nstatement, "but we do oppose the possibility of a new hospital being built with inpatient, overnight beds that does not share our mission of serving all patients," Moore said.\nCreating a specialty hospital will create more jobs, and competition between the two hospitals will decrease patient costs, said David Goodman, executive director of Allied Employer Healthcare Coalition.\n"Having a specialty hospital will create a convenience of access," Goodman said. "A large general hospital is mandated by special interests, they have, by necessity diversification. A specialty clinic can develop overhead."\nThe Bloomington City Council unanimously denied a petition for the creation of a for-profit specialty hospital at the request of both the petitioner and the Bloomington Hospital at Wednesday night's meeting Feb. 26.\nIn a surprising announcement, the petitioner representing the physician trying to build a specialty hospital in Bloomington asked the City Council Wednesday night to deny the petition, citing a lack of support and the use of the word "inpatient" in the petition.\n"We had hoped to handle this differently. We understand that several groups are opposed to this petition, and we formally request that city council deny this request so that we can work to accommodate the city council," Ubecker said. "We ask the city council to give clear directions, and we ask the Planning Commission to give clear intent."\nThe controversy surrounding a new for-profit specialty hospital has divided the community for the last several months. \nMoore urged the council to deny the petition and thanked the public and fellow physicians for their support on the issue.\n"We oppose the use of inpatient care. If this is removed and the petition is firm, we will not oppose a future petition," Moore said. "Bloomington Hospital will continue to work with the city and county to make sure that anything regarding an inpatient hospital will go through city comment."\nDistrict V Rep. David Sabbagh was pleased with the outcome for now, but would like a clear definition of "outpatient."\n"I'm happy to see that the 'inpatient' is being removed from the petition," Sabbagh said. "I also want a good definition of 'outpatient,' consistent with current community standards."\nOn April 28, Dr. Tiwari announced his plans to move the hospital outside city limits and into the jurisdiction of Monroe County. His change of plans comes after the Bloomington City Plan Commission failed to give a recommendation to the Bloomington City Council.\n"City Council will not approve the zoning for my project," Tiwari said. "Bloomington Hospital has political influence over the City Council, and I didn't have enough votes. I only had four, they had five, and (the City Council) politically outmaneuvered me. So I decided to go somewhere else. The county was available and welcomed me."\nTiwari said the county approached him about moving his hospital even before the City Council had made its decision, but Tiwari waited until the final vote.\n"I wanted to give City Council the opportunity, and I did not respond to the county's invitation. So it was natural for me to look to other locations after my plan was rejected," he said.\nThe new full hospital will be located at Indiana State Road 37 and Fullerton Pike -- outside city boundaries.\nNow that the proposed hospital is out of city limits, the county only needs to review the proposal. The land is already pre-zoned, so the county will not need to accept or reject the plan.\n-- Contact senior writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.
(10/06/04 5:19am)
When students arrived at the IU Auditorium Tuesday morning to buy tickets to the Nov. 7 Incubus concert, they were prepared to wait in line. Instead, they were handed a blue ticket with a number on it.\nAll were informed by Auditorium employees that a lottery would determine where they would stand line. Some students had arrived as early as 6 a.m. only to later find out that people who had walked in at 9:45 a.m. could possibly get better seats than they did.\nWith the lottery system, a number was randomly selected and those holding the tickets with the following 10 numbers could then purchase tickets. Then they would draw a new number and progress through the 10 numbers. The lottery started at 758; the first person who arrived at the Auditorium had number 641. \nMany students who had been waiting were not happy with Ticketmaster or the lottery policy.\nSenior Kirsten Washburn and sophomore Ashley Washburn were at the Auditorium at 8 a.m. to get tickets and didn't know there would be a lottery until they got there. "We've been here since a little after 8 a.m. this morning," said Ashley Washburn. "There were about 20 people that were here before us, and we thought that we would be the first ones there. And we weren't. I think the lottery system really sucks. What if you were here at 6 a.m. and you're last in line? That's horrible."\nThe Washburns were not the only upset people waiting in the lobby.\nSophomore Jason Alexander said he had found out about the lottery when he went to the Auditorium to buy tickets to another event. \n"I found out that the tickets were going to be given out by a lottery ... and I asked them why, and they said it was a Ticketmaster policy. They said they don't want people to loiter and get here early, like the night before, and that it leads to security problems," Alexander said. "But take a look around, we're all loitering right now. It doesn't make sense. It's not right for the people who walk in 5 minutes before tickets go on sale and get tickets before the people who have been waiting. It's not fair."\nJunior Brian Kelley was the first person to arrive at the Auditorium, and he ended up being in the second half of the line to get tickets.\n"I've been here since about 6:30 (a.m.), I was the very first person to be here to get tickets," Kelley said. "How do you justify people getting here at 9:59 (a.m.) when I've been here for 3 1/2 hours and get ahead of me? I don't think you should punish loyal fans. It doesn't make sense."\nDoug Booher, director of the IU Auditorium, said the Auditorium has no control over the policy of how tickets are distributed and that is left up to Ticketmaster.\n"The lottery is an industry standard; it's Ticketmaster's policy," Booher said. "The lottery system is used for two reasons: The first is to ensure fairness, and secondly to prevent people from camping out. With fairness, if you have an 8 o'clock class and you want to attend, and you send in a buddy at 6 (a.m.) to wait in line for you, then you finish your class and jump in line, that's not fair since you were not in line at 6 (a.m.) and other people have been waiting."\nBooher maintained a lottery system is the only true way to eliminate biases in buying tickets.\n"There is nothing more fair than a lottery system, it's the only way to ensure random bias," he said. "So far, I haven't seen anyone disappointed with their seats."\nBooher also said Incubus is excited to come to IU and hopes students look forward to a good show.\n"Students are in for a great night. Make sure to bring your IDs and definitely prepare to have an awesome time," Booher said. "I know that Incubus is fired up to be coming to IU, and this is a place that they wanted to play at."\nDespite the ticket buyers frustrated with the lottery system, half of the seating was sold in two hours.\nUnion Board Concert Committee Director Jeffrey Hasson said the 3,200 seat Auditorium venue had sold 1,600 by noon.\nHasson helped to get Incubus to play at IU and had been working on this project since this summer.\n"Some committee members heard this summer that Incubus was playing at smaller venues this fall, so we have been talking to them for the last four months trying to get them to come here," Hasson said. "I think I found out the third week of school that they were finally coming here."\nHasson also said the band was coming through the area, playing a concert at University of Illinois in Champaign Nov. 9, so playing in Bloomington was a logical choice.\n"It just made sense for the band to play at IU, and they were coming through Indiana on their way to Illinois," he said. "We wanted to have the student body have a really good rock show.\nRegardless of the Incubus fans' discontent with the lottery system, they were not discouraged from buying tickets to see the band in concert.\nFreshman David Sokoloff has seen Incubus several times and thinks their ability to adapt makes them worth seeing again. \n"I've seen them four times, and this will be my fifth," Sokoloff said. "I'm from San Diego, and I saw them over the summer, and they played a two-hour show. It was awesome. I really think they are a cross-over band. They have such a unique sound -- that's I why I like them so much."\nMany students also agreed getting such a big band to play at IU will only help increase their support.\n"I think Incubus coming to IU only increases their fan base," Sokoloff said. "I don't buy CDs, but I will pay to see them in concert."\nAshley Washburn agreed, saying Incubus can usually be found on tour, keeping their fans happy.\n"I think it's really good that Incubus is coming to IU. They are always on the road. This summer I think they were on an overseas tour, and now they are back in the states," Washburn said. "I don't think they ever stop touring, and that just keeps the fans wanting more."\n-- Contact senior writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.
(10/05/04 5:31am)
Monroe County candidates debated issues such as health care, the homeless situation and overcrowded jails at a public forum Monday evening at the United Methodist Church of Bloomington. Candidates for commissioner, county council, auditor and judges spoke in front of the public and discussed important issues. \nThe question was raised about expanding a program for those in Bloomington who cannot afford healthcare instead of seeking primary care from the emergency room at Bloomington Hospital. \nAt-large candidates unanimously responded that funding is the biggest concern when looking at important issues such as healthcare.\nRepublican Andy Dodds said more research is needed before making a decision.\n"I will have to dig into and find out where we spend our money now," Dodds said. "Healthcare is a huge issue and it's one of a number of issues that affects the unemployed and the elderly. Bottom line, we as tax payers have to be able to fund this program and provide highest quality health care we can."\nDemocrat Michael Woods, a current IU law student running for council at-large, said he supports a program to expand care but he proposed using grants to fund it.\n"I support this absolutely. The question is how to fund this," he said. "I think we need to find grants to support this."\nDemocratic candidate for County Commissioner Jeff Ellington also agreed with council candidates, asserting that people must find preventative measures for health care.\n"I'm a believer in preventative measures, and we need to have true emergencies occurring in the emergency room," he said. "In order to do that we need to increase our funding."\nOvernight shelters, or a lack thereof, was also an issue raised at the forum.\nMany candidates were surprised by the absence of such a shelter and said the need for funding and support was necessary.\nDistrict 2 Republican candidate for Commissioner Joyce Poling said Martha's House, a Bloomington shelter, is currently the best solution. \n"Martha's House is working to try and open a family shelter. Any way we can help them, we should," Poling said. "The Salvation Army is also giving wonderful opportunities, but right now, the best possible future on our horizon is Martha's House."\nDistrict 3 Democratic candidate Iris Kiesling said a coalition is needed to raise funds.\n"Funding is the biggest part of the problem," she said. "We need to make this a community effort."\nBoth candidates for judge in the 7th Circuit Court were present and discussed why they would be the best man for the job.\nRepublican Jeff Chalfant said he wants to help those who cannot help themselves.\n"I want to be a judge because I can help a lot of people," Chalfant said. "The legal system can be difficult, even for some attorneys, to understand. I would like to help you one person, one case at a time."\nChalfant also said he would like to tackle the overcrowded jails in Monroe County.\n"I think there is a problem with the crowded jails and crowded court dockets," he said. "I think I can use case management to overcome these problems and (pursue) justice administration."\nChalfant's opponent, Democrat Stephen Galvin, said he would be fair and impartial and that his 23 years of experience as a public defender make him the best person for the job.\n"When I look at social issues, I look from the ground up," Galvin said. "You want a judge based on experience and who can see both sides, and you want somebody who will render justice fairly, I am that person. I promise to render justice fairly and impartially."\n-- Contact senior writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu .
(10/01/04 6:23am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- Thousands of Butler University students lined the main road through campus Thursday to say goodbye to a member of the Butler family one last time. A somber week at Butler ended with the funeral procession of Butler Police Officer James Davis through campus. Students gathered as helicopters flew overhead and over 300 police cars rode in the funeral procession to show their respect to a fellow officer. \nDavis, a 1995 graduate of IU, was killed in the line of duty last Friday when he responded to a call that a suspicious man had been watching the women's basketball team practice at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The suspect, Khadir Al-Khattab, 26, shot Davis and then took his gun, fleeing on foot into the Butler neighborhood. Al-Khattab was later shot by officers after a three-hour manhunt. Al-Khattab was pronounced dead later that evening.\nStudents began filling the streets as early as noon for the procession, which began at 2 p.m. Students, faculty and staff wearing black ribbons stood huddled in silent groups to pay tribute to the fallen officer. The 17-minute long funeral procession through Butler stopped in front of a BUPD squad car covered in flowers, and stuffed with Butler Bulldogs and signs. \nBUPD Communications Officer Maurice Woolfolk made one announcement signing Davis off from the force over the police scanners and speakers on Butler's campus.\n"There is no greater love than a police officer who would give his life for another man. Butler Police Officer Davis is 10-42, and he is going home for the final time."\nStudents commented the mood on campus was quiet, and it was noticeable something was different. \nFreshman Kassy Hostetler said the atmosphere on campus changed this week.\n"You can definitely tell that something has happened on campus," Hostetler said. "Everybody here is more aware, especially at nights. We've realized things go on outside our school, and we're not immune to things like this happening to us."\nFreshman Johnanna Marvin said more BUPD officers have been out on campus since Friday.\n"I've noticed some things that have been different since Friday, like I've seen less people walking alone at night," Marvin said. "I've also noticed the BUPD (officers) out much more; there are definitely more cops around."\nThe outpouring of support for Davis on Thursday overwhelmed some who were present on Hampton Drive as the procession went by.\n"I think it's a great outpouring of support for Davis," said Maggie McGlynn, staff member for the Media & Art Department. "This just shows the appreciation and respect for the job the BUPD do for us."\nMarvin was also taken aback by the crowd on hand Thursday. \n"I was surprised at the amount of people out here showing support," she said. "I didn't think there would be this many people. No one is in the hallways of the dorms, everyone is out here. This is pretty amazing. I'm surprised and happy. I think this tragedy woke us all up, unfortunately."\nAllan also said that a representative from National City Bank was on hand Wednesday to collect money for a trust fund for Officer Davis' three children and collected over $10,000. \nMarc Allan, associate director of University Relations at Butler said the amount of students, faculty and staff members who came was tremendous. \n"It was overwhelming. I've been working at Butler for a month, (and) I've just been really amazed, proud and pleased at what they have rallied to do," Allan said. "It was phenomenal to see everyone lined up 2, 3 and 4 deep. It just made you feel good. They always say the Butler family really comes through when it matters, and they certainly did."\nDavis' children are also being awarded full tuition scholarships to attend Butler University.\n"The children will be given full tuition and fees," Allan said. "That is given to all Butler employees, the only requirement is you have to be able to get in Butler."\nAllan said Butler President Bobby Fong told Davis' 8-year-old son, Josiah, about his scholarship to Butler. \nAllan said Davis' son was upset because he didn't want to leave his current school. \nFong told Davis' son "It's OK, Butler will wait for you."\n-- Contact senior writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.
(10/01/04 6:23am)
After a long day of classes, junior Scott Ferguson and sophomore Jacob Mazer are hungry. At 5:15 p.m. the two friends, both vegans, scan the dinner menu posted on the wall at the entrance of Collins' Edmundson Dining Hall and turn up their noses.\n"We've been thrown to the wolves," Ferguson jokes. \nThe two opt for wraps in the deli line, like they now do most nights, instead of eating a hot meal in the traditional buffet line.\nFor years, students like Ferguson have chosen to live in Collins Living Learning Center because they know it caters to vegetarians and vegans. This is especially important to vegans who maintain a strict diet of no animal products or by-products. That means no meat, dairy or eggs. \n"I'm vegan for animal rights purposes," Ferguson said. "I heard about Collins before I came to IU. I was vegan and was told this was the place to come." \nThis year, things have changed.\nJim Beeson, longtime vegan chef and manager of dining services at Collins, resigned in the spring, taking with him all his recipes and leaving many students unhappy. \nThe new manager, Cheryl Gucinski, has been faced with many complaints. On Wednesday evening, nearly 40 residents gathered in the Edmundson Former Lounge to voice their concerns to Gucinski and other members of the dining hall staff. Also present were Resident Halls Association President John Palmer and Pat Connor, the executive director of Residential Programs and Services. \n"My biggest problem is the lack of vegan food," said freshman Luke Shumard, a Collins resident. "Everyday it's not a problem, but on Sundays, soup is usually the main entrée and that's about it."\nAmong the other complaints were the lack of a hot breakfast, the loss of cereal dispensers and waffle machines, the mislabeling of vegan items, the absence of vegan deserts and the planning of meals in general. Many vegans were also concerned about the lack of protein in their diet because tofu is rarely offered. \n"I like to have good combinations of food when I eat," freshman Elizabeth McConville said. "Sometimes when you eat, everything on your plate is the same color, and that's just wrong."\nNot much has changed this year, Gucinski said. All the forecasting for meals is based on last year's records. \n"We pretty well have gone with the same menu," Gucinski said. "We've added a few homemade cream soups, but basically that's the only thing we've changed. I do know when we prepare strictly vegan items, very few are taken."\nAs for the waffle iron, Gucinski said it was removed because it had not been properly maintained. When it was used, she said, it wasn't kept under a sneeze guard, which presents the danger of cross-contamination.\n"It was left filthy over the summer," Gucinski said. "The grease and gunk had caked and baked all summer, so it was discontinued."\nGucinski is not new to the job. She started working for RPS in 1985 and has worked as either manager or assistant manager of the McNutt, Gresham, Willkie, Forest, Eigenmann and Read dining halls. She said there are always problems in new situations but that this is the first time she has ever been attacked before even knowing there was a problem. Usually students bring her their complaints through Community Council, she said. \nResidents have organized a food committee that will meet once every two weeks to discuss new issues and consult with Gucinsky, who said what she needs is new ideas and that she welcomes recipes, especially for vegan items. Gucinsky is also given a budget by RPS and must stay within that budget.\nSophomore Yasmina Bersbach, Collins resident and former Edmundson employee, said that more than just food has changed. Bersbach worked for Beeson last year and said that for Beeson, his job was his life. At 7 p.m. each night, she recalled Beeson would sing the "Last Call," usually a song he made up to let students know the dining hall would be closing in 15 minutes. \n"To Jim, it was personal. He made an effort to get to know students, and he was a part of Collins," Berbasch said. "I feel like Cheryl's detached and just here to do her job."\nWith time, Gucinsky said, these issues will be worked out. She noted that the menus were just changed to be more vegan friendly. She also plans to hire more staff. \n"Obviously I want to make the business grow, and I want students to be happy," Gucinski said. "My role is to provide quality food, service and a good atmosphere. Collins is a wonderful community. There are very few buildings on campus where people sit and have dinner together."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Lyon at
(09/28/04 5:07am)
Of the 3,000 reasons you've been told to brush your teeth, one more should be added -- it could save your life.\nDr. Michael Kowolik, professor of periodontics at IU's School of Dentistry, located in Indianapolis, just received a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study whether dental plaque build-up may be a potential risk factor for heart disease.\n"It's very gratifying that a prestigious body sees the study as an exciting model with potential to be developed," Kowolik said, in a thick English accent. "Right now we are getting all our ducks in order."\nIn January, Kowolik and a crew of researchers will begin the two-year study. They are in the process of recruiting healthy non-smokers between the ages of 18 and 30, half of whom will be male, and the other half female. Within this group, Kowolik said, half the participants will be black and the other half Caucasian. \n"We are not aware of anyone in the world who has ever run this model in African American individuals," Kowolik said. "Genetics may also play a role."\nKowolik said each group of subjects will be committed for 11 weeks, and then a new group of subjects will be tested. There are three phases of the experiment. First, a group of healthy subjects will have their mouths cleaned professionally until all the plaque is removed, and they will be given one of the nine required blood tests to count their white blood cells among other things. For the next 21 days, they won't be allowed to brush their teeth; as the plaque accumulates and their gums inflame, Kowolik and his team will take more blood samples. After the three week period of poor hygiene, Kowolik said the subjects will have their teeth cleaned and their blood tested again, after all plaque has been removed.\n"We are not looking for heart disease in our subjects," said Sherie Dowsett, an associate professor at the dentistry school, who co-wrote the grant proposal with Kowolik. "It's an indirect study. We are looking for the response to plaque in the subject. We are testing a lot of different areas like white blood cells and proteins released in the blood when you get inflammation to see if some of the products produced as a result of dental plaque could be risk factors for heart disease." \nKowolik studied the relationship between plaque accumulation and white blood cells in 2001. He worked with the knowledge cardiologists gained in the 1980s, when they noticed people with higher white blood cell counts had an increased risk of heart attack.\nWhite blood cells respond to bodily infections. Everyday, it's absolutely normal for these cells to pour out of a healthy person's bone marrow in billions, Kowolik said.\nWhen confronted with a bacterial infection, this number can multiply to several more billion. In his previous study, Kowolik examined and quantified how white blood cells increased in people who let plaque accumulate on their teeth for 21 days without brushing. \n"What we find is when you see plaque on teeth, which is not a horrendous acute infection but still a bacteria, it is sufficient enough to cause a significant increase in the number of those defense cells," Kowolik said.\nThe primary difference between Kowolik's previous and current study is scale -- this is a much larger study, Kowolik said, with more statistical power. In light of his research, Kowolik suggests people take more time when brushing their teeth so they don't leave plaque behind. There's a chance, he said, that over time enough plaque could build up to tip that balance and put an otherwise healthy person at greater risk for coronary complications. \nFreshman Brian Stutsman remains skeptical of the possibility. \n"I think eventually everything's going to kill you, so it doesn't really matter," Stutsman said. "Brush your teeth and you'll be fine."\nOthers, like Kowolik and Dowsett, hope the study will change the face of dentistry, proving that dentists are useful for more than cleaning teeth and mouths. \n"It's not seeing the mouth as just an isolated part to keep clean," Dowsett said. "The mouth can really play a role in your general health. You shouldn't just be keeping your teeth clean so they look healthy. Cleaning your teeth keeps your whole body healthy."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Lyon at lrlyon@indiana.edu.
(09/27/04 4:58am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- There are unanswered questions at Butler University after two people, including a police officer, were fatally shot Friday in Indianapolis.\nPolice say Officer James Davis responded to a call of a suspicious person inside the Hinkle Fieldhouse, where Khadir Al-Khattab, 26, had been watching the women's basketball team practice. \nIndianapolis police Sgt. Steve Staletovich said Al-Khattab was already outside when Davis arrived. Witnesses say they heard a single gunshot, saw the suspect pick up a gun -- later identified as Davis'gun -- and run away.\nThe search for Al-Khattab continued for three hours in Indianapolis. Meanwhile, all surrounding schools, including Butler, were placed on lockdown.\nA man who matched Al-Khattab's description was later identified on the 4400 block of N. Illinois St. When Indianapolis police responded to the scene, Al-Khattab instigated an exchange of gunfire that left him fatally wounded, said Capt. Phil Burton, spokesman for the Marion County Sheriff's Department. He was pronounced dead later that evening at Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis.\nStudents continued to visit the site all day Friday. A ring of candles marked the spot where Davis was fatally shot outside Hinkle. Davis' BUPD squad car was moved to the entrance of Butler along 46th Street. The car became barely visible, as passerbys adorned it with dozens of flowers and balloons. Even during the late hours, students were seen quietly remembering one of their own, paying tribute past midnight Friday.\nQuestions are still being asked as to what prompted Al-Khattab to fire at Davis in the first place. An autopsy later this week will reveal whether Davis was shot with his own gun.\nMeanwhile, Butler students remained on lockdown and were not allowed to go on campus until it was deemed safe.\nJordan Hall, one of the main buildings on Butler's campus, is where a majority of students were attending Friday morning classes.\nFreshman Matt Mishler was leaving Jordan Hall to go back to his dorm, Ross Hall, when an administrator would not let him leave.\n"She told me we had to stay there until further notice," Mishler said. "And we just sat in the halls for three hours."\nMishler said no one knew the reason for the lockdown until Butler President Bobby Fong came to Jordan to explain the situation to students.\n"About a half-hour into the lockdown, Fong came out and said there had been an officer shot, and we were on lockdown until it was known that it was safe to be on campus," he said.\nMishler also said the campus had been very quiet this past weekend, with most of the student body going home.\n"Even this weekend, I've heard half the campus went home and parties were cancelled, so it was really quiet," Mishler said.\nSenior Jared King, who was also in Jordan Hall during the lockdown, said he went to the computer lab to find out what had happened.\n"I had just finished class, and they wouldn't let us out," King said. "I had heard something before class, and in the middle of class, the director of student services was making announcements in the hallways."\nKing said the students were on lockdown in Jordan until 1:30 p.m. He also said that students around him were complaining about the lack of information being provided.\n"There were people in the computer lab that were complaining about the news coverage," King said. "They were mad that they didn't know what was going on."\nKing also speculated changes will be made on campus in light of Friday's events.\n"My friends and I have been talking and expect that security will be increased," he said. "Now, we'll probably have to show student IDs at events and to get into certain places."\nBUPD Sergeant Shawn Barks said the investigation of Officer Davis's death will be under the direction of the Indianapolis Police Department. Barks spoke of Officer Davis, who had only been with Butler since January 2003, as an exceptional officer. \n"He was an outstanding officer," Barks said. "I am in charge of scheduling, and he was always first to volunteer. He was an outstanding person and a pleasure to work with."\nFuneral services for Davis will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday. Fong has canceled Thursday classes. He is urging students, faculty, staff and community members to line the street from 46th Street and Sunset Avenue to Crown Hill Cemetery, where Officer Davis will be buried, in tribute to the fallen BUPD officer. The funeral procession will pass through the Butler campus on the way to the cemetery, according to Butler's Web site.\nThe Associated Press contributed to this story. \n-- Contact senior writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.
(09/27/04 4:42am)
Adventurous students who have considered careers in outdoor leadership and instruction might want to spend their spring semester participating in the Conservation and Outdoor Recreation/Education program. Applications for CORE can be turned in as early as this week, but no later than Oct. 22. \nCORE is a semester long intensive outdoor program open to undergraduate students for 17 credits and graduate students for 12. Only 18 students will be accepted this year. Any student can apply, but priority is given to juniors and seniors majoring in outdoor recreation and resource management. \n"I think CORE is a really neat opportunity and is something unique to IU," said Jill Overholt, the program's coordinator and a former CORE participant. "There are few other programs like it in the country. It offers students a chance to get out of the classroom and learn job related skills hands on."\nStudents accepted into the program attend an orientation in November where they receive equipment lists, calendars of planned events and tips on how to get in shape. Their semester is split between classes and field experience. Students spend the first two months preparing for a three week final expedition by attending classes at the Hilltop Garden and Nature Center and going on five small weekend trips to places like Bradford Woods, Hoosier National Forest and local caves. At the end of the semester they spend 20 days beginning in the Henry Mountains in Boulder, Colorado and ending in the Dirty Devil Canyon in Utah. \n"The beauty of the area is we can park our vehicle, then hike up into the mountains, summit Mount Ellen, then hike down into the desert and into the canyons without ever having to get into a vehicle," Overholt said.\nJoel Meier, a professor and Chair of the Department of Recreation and Park Administration at IU, first started CORE at the University of Montana. In 1994 he brought the CORE concept to IU.\n"I knew how this kind of program could change people in a positive direction, enhance students' leadership skills and blend academic classroom learning and the experiential approach," Meier said. \nThe program has since been under the leadership of Alan Ewert, a professor in the department of recreation and park administration, who has provided students with more learning opportunities. \nThanks to Ewert, students now have more opportunities to develop their technical outdoor skills while also working to achieve various designations including SOLO wilderness First Responder certification, Search and Rescue Training and Wilderness Education Association Outdoor Leader Certification. \nSenior Kristin Pothier participated in CORE last semester and said that although she will now be graduating a semester behind, her experience was worth it. Pothier said she knows she may not be able to use the technical skills she learned in her future job, like how to rock climb and mountaineer, but through CORE she said she learned about herself and a variety of leadership styles that will enable her to help the people she plans to work with someday.\n"CORE is not a program you can just halfway commit yourself to," Pothier said. "CORE will be your life that whole semester. However, it is a rewarding experience and is well worth all of your time and energy."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Lyon at lrlyon@indiana.edu.
(09/22/04 4:38am)
Freshman Joseph Loy stood in line for more than five hours to get his copy of the "Star Wars" trilogy. \nLoy joined more than 200 people gathered before midnight on Monday to wait in line at Best Buy for their copy of the "Star Wars" Trilogy on DVD. \nEmployees dressed as Storm Troopers, Imperial Guards and Darth Vader greeted "Star Wars" fans at the doors.\n"Technically I was here at 6:30," Loy said. "I've been a 'Star Wars' fan since birth ... really. I first saw the movies when I was three, and it was just awesome."\nBest Buy manager Scott Bush said the idea to open at midnight was brought to him by a local "Star Wars" group.\n"We were approached by the local group, the Hoosier Alliance, a 'Star Wars' group that wanted to have a midnight opening here," Bush said. "All we did was call corporate Best Buy and asked them, and they said yes."\nThe Bloomington Best Buy was one of nine Best Buy stores in the nation that were open Monday night for the DVD release. Other cities with midnight releases included, Chicago, Riverside, Calif., Westwood, Calif., Los Angeles, Sterling, Va., White Marsh, Md., Richfield, Minn., Plano, Texas, and Westbury, Ny.\nBush also said this was the first time the Best Buy in Bloomington had held a midnight event since the store opened in 2003. \n"We've never done this before," Bush said. "It's always a learning experience, but it was pretty well planned. And we had a good response, and everyone chipped in and helped out."\nLoy said one of the things he first liked about the movies was the bright shiny objects used throughout the films. \n"I loved, like, light sabers," he said. "As a kid, you love anything shiny."\nLoy said he would be buying multiple copies of the movie.\n"I am buying two of everything," he said.\nThe Hoosier Alliance was in full force Monday night. Hoosier Alliance member and Bloomington resident Eric Stuckey got the ball rolling for the event by approaching Best Buy with his suggestion for the midnight release party.\n"I came in at the end of March and approached Best Buy about having this event here," he said. "Best Buy didn't do that good with 'Lord of the Rings' because Wal-Mart was open and they weren't. I told the managers that they should stay open."\nDedication helped to assure Stuckey saw the big event come to pass, as he went to the store on a bi-weekly basis to talk to Best Buy staff. \n"Basically I came in every other week since March," Stuckey said.\nStuckey also said because his group has been founded in March, this has been its biggest event. The next meeting is at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9. All are welcome to monthly meetings at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 2813 E. Third St.\nAnd there is only one requirement, Stuckey said: "We're open to everyone and anyone who has a passion for 'Star Wars.'"\n-- Contact senior writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.
(09/21/04 6:23am)
After five days of looking for a man who robbed a Total Tan at gunpoint Thursday, authorities have no new leads.\nJunior Lisa Aigner was working behind the counter of the store, located on 2544 E. Third St., with another co-worker when a man ran into the tanning salon with a cloth over his face demanding money.\n"It was a normal night," Aigner said. "There were five people tanning, and I see this man run into the store with a cloth he was holding over his face. He said, 'Get down, this is a robbery,' and we didn't know if he was serious."\nAigner also said that he pushed her and her coworker on the ground, then attempted to open a broken cash register.\n"Then he said, 'No, I said get down' and pushed us down," she said. "We have two registers. One of them doesn't work and he was by the one that doesn't work. I got up and he put a gun in front of me, and I got the money out and got back down on the ground."\nThe robber then took off down the hall and went out the back door. Meanwhile, employees called 911 and alerted police.\nRyan Chandler, owner of Total Tan, said he can't understand why anyone would want to rob a tanning salon.\n"Pretty much I don't know why they did it," he said. "I don't know what they thought they were going to go get. We charge people to tan for $2.95. I'm dumbfounded why anyone would do this."\nChandler said this is the first robbery Total Tan has ever had. He said video cameras were installed this year, but doesn't plan for any additional security measures.\n"There's really nothing more we can do -- he walked in the front door," Chandler said. "This is beyond my imagination that someone would do this. I couldn't believe it."\nAigner described the robber as a Caucasian, about 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 6 inches, in his early to mid 20s. He was wearing a blue baseball hat and had short, dark hair and a medium build.\nBloomington Police Department Sgt. Joseph Sanders said the BPD has no leads and is still looking for the suspect.\n"(The robber) had a T-shirt tucked under his baseball cap, so it's really hard to see his face on the video surveillance," Sanders said. "The only thing that can be made out are his eyes."\nSanders said the only evidence the BPD currently has is the video from the night of the robbery. He was also not optimistic about making a positive identification.\n"We probably won't make out an exact (identification)," he said. "With the info we have we can go through known people in the area with a criminal background that match the description we have."\nSanders said the BPD will be asking other businesses for their videos from Thursday night to search for additional evidence. If not, Sanders said he believes the suspect will be turned in by the community.\n"This is one of those cases where it will more than likely be solved by someone from the public coming in and saying they know who did this," he said.\nAuthorities and Total Tan refused to say how much money was stolen.\nAnyone with information regarding the robbery should contact Sanders at 339-3321.\n-- Contact senior writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.
(09/21/04 5:23am)
There is a club on IU's campus that allows students to talk to anyone in the world -- for free. The IU Amateur Radio Club has been around for more than 25 years, and its members include students, Bloomington residents, faculty and staff. \n"Amateur radio is a lot of fun, and it's a hobby that people can do," senior Mark Hermsdorfer said. "We help to direct communication during an emergency. You've got to have fun with it, but know (how to) handle yourself when there is an actual emergency."\nTo be able to talk and signal on amateur radio, you must take a test to be licensed. The test consists of multiple choice questions and a basic understanding of etiquette when operating over the airways. There are also three levels at which you can operate -- the higher the level, the more places you can contact. The Tech level is the most basic; the middle level is General; and the highest level is called Extra.\nJunior A.J. Ragusa was rooming with Hermsdorfer during their freshman year when they both joined and got their amateur radio licenses. Now both students have Tech positions.\n"(Hermsdorfer) and I have known each other for two years, and we were friends before we joined. I got into amateur radio when my friend from home, their dad was into amateur radio," Ragusa said.\nRagusa also described several of the advantages of being a part of this particular club.\n"I can spend as much or as little time as I want to. Sometimes I am really busy and other times I don't have as much going on, so it's not as demanding as other things on campus are," he said. "There is also a wealth of knowledge from participating in amateur radio, as well. I get to talk to people that I wouldn't normally get a chance to talk with, so that's a plus."\nThe radios can be built and operated from just about anywhere.\nSenior Bryan Jaffe, president of the Amateur Radio club, said he operates a radio from his car.\n"You can also build your own equipment and operate from anywhere: I have one set up in my truck."\nThe club also has drawn members that are not the typical student with a computer science major.\nPeggy Kelley is a senior elementary education major who joined to help teach her future students about geography and science.\n"I'm an education major, so I think this will help when I am teaching science to my kids," Kelley said. "We will be able to talk on the radio, and there are so many projects that I will be able to do. For example, we could communicate with space stations and talk to other schools in other areas."\nKelley is not yet licensed to talk on the radio but plans to receive her license in October.\nThe Amateur Radio Club participated in a contest Sunday to see how many other stations they could contact throughout the day. The club was able to contact 103 stations, and a majority of those stations were located on the West Coast.\nJaffe said this was the first year for the contest and the club already has plans for upcoming contests.\n"We got through to the West Coast really easily," Jaffe said. "We also talked to some IU alumni that just happened to be on the air. I hope to participate in contests in the fall where we contact worldwide stations."\nKelley said the biggest reward of being a part of the club is being able to talk to others in different parts of the county.\n"It's fun to actually talk to someone and not be remotely in the area," she said. "It's really open ended."\n-- Contact senior writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.
(09/20/04 5:39am)
With the loss of many seniors to graduation this year, members of In-Motion are seeking new additions to their intimate dance company. Many hopefuls trickled into a dance studio at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation building Sunday to audition to be part of the student-run company.\nIn 1993, two dance majors started In-Motion for their senior projects and it has evolved into a dance company for undergraduate students wanting to pursue their passion for dance while going to school. \n"We are hoping for some guys to join this year to add more variety to the group," said sophomore Ruthie Reichard, one of the 17 members of the current company. "We are shooting for about five new members. However, if there is an overwhelming amount of talent, then we will take as many as desired."\nMany students who aren't able to make time for dance in school have found a place in the group.\n"I joined the company because with my major, I wasn't able to minor in dance so In-Motion gives me the chance to continue dancing through my college years," said junior Adrienne West, who this year heads the company along with senior Jillian Kahn. \nWhat sets In-Motion apart from other dance companies on campus is that it is entirely student run said junior Lauren Henderson. \n"We do everything ourselves, from leading the practices, choreographing all the pieces and booking any events we are going to participate in," Henderson said. The group is funded through voluntary donations and independent advertising.\nMost members have been dancing all their lives, like Reichard, who joined In-Motion last year. \n"I wouldn't say that there is a specific age I started dancing. A good way to put it is, I don't remember when I wasn't dancing," Reichard said. "My mom was a baton twirler and a dancer for the University of Illinois so she would always be making up routines and dancing around the house. I have dance in my blood." \nIn-Motion members practice many styles of dance like jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, tap and modern. They have performed at different events on campus like Spirit of Sport, Night at the Apollo and Dance Marathon. \nThis year West said they hope to enter a contest held in Indianapolis. Also, they are working to incorporate salsa and other Latin styles of dance into the big company piece they will perform in April for their annual spring show. West said the group is always open to dancing at other organized events.\nAccording to Reichard, this year's activities will be a little different. In past years, every Sunday night the entire company would practice together for two hours. During the week, the group would break down and members would practice their individual pieces for two hours. \nReichard said they hope to have more full company practices to allow for more unity and togetherness as a group. They also would like to collaborate with other dance groups and musicians on campus to enrich their performances. \n"I love dancing because it allows me to express myself in a different dimension than words allow me to do," Reichard said. "It frees me of the concerns of everyday life and allows me to become alive again."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Lyon at lrlyon@indiana.edu.
(09/17/04 6:05am)
With local city leaders surrounding him, Mayor Mark Kruzan announced arrangements for a new $60,000 Downtown Plan for Bloomington with the help of an alliance including a nationally recognized consulting firm based in Boulder, Colo.\nBoth Mayor Kruzan and City Council President Mike Diekhoff addressed concerns about fiscal issues in Bloomington and the implementation a $60,000 plan.\n"This is the time to invest in downtown, even with fiscal issues present," Kruzan said. "What we do now will affect downtown in 20 years."\nThe city will be working with Winter & Company, a Colorado-based consulting firm, to develop the downtown plan. Winter & Company has a record of substantial experience in downtown planning, making it the best choice for the job, Kruzan said.\n"We've contracted an expert -- this consulting firm is a perfect match for Bloomington," he said.\nTom Micuda, Bloomington planning director, said Winter & Company offered the best ideas of all the companies interviewed.\n"We interviewed several candidates in the process, and this one made the best presentation," Micuda said.\nThe planning process will take about nine months to finish, Kruzan said. The firm and city will be conducting focus groups, meetings and interviews with local merchants and business owners to better understand the needs of downtown Bloomington.\n"It will be up to each of us in the community to get involved in this citizen-driven process and help envision Bloomington's future," City Councilman Chris Sturbaum said in a statement. "Engaging Nore Winter, a nationally renowned urban planner, should help us gain insights for our downtown from other communities' successful experiences."\nThe city and Winter & Company will be holding public meetings to hear the community's perspective. The first of these meetings will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Bloomington Convention Center.\nDiekhoff said the city council has had the downtown plan on its priority list.\n"Funding this was always a council priority," Diekhoff said. "We have a great downtown and want to make it better."\nRon Walker, economic development director, said that to bring money into Bloomington, jobs must be created. Micuda said the only way to create jobs is to attract employers to the downtown area.\n"(It) never ceases to amaze me how downtown can grow. Job growth is a high priority of mine, and that cannot happen if employers don't exist in the downtown area," Walker said. "This plan keeps adding to the needs of the downtown businesses, both large and small."\nThe plan for downtown Bloomington will not just be passed and enacted. It first must go through a series of steps so changes can be made if necessary. \nKruzan said a steering committee will be appointed consisting of city leaders, officials, University members, city council members and business owners to complete the plan. Once the plan is finished, it will be adopted as a formal amendment to Bloomington's Growth Policies Plan.\n"I believe we are doing something truly important for our community," Sturbaum said. "What Bloomington will be like in 10 or 20 years can be forever changed for the better by the Downtown Planning Initiative."
