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(09/02/04 4:23am)
Monday was my official last first day of school. That's right, in eight months, I will no longer be an IU student. I will be an IU alumna -- and that's scary. I should be happy to graduate and move to the next chapter of my life, but bidding goodbye to IU will probably be the hardest thing I'll ever have to do.\nI remember coming to IU as a freshman -- a "cool" freshman living in McNutt. Upon deciding on my courses, I signed up for all 8 a.m. classes because I thought that was the thing to do. But it didn't take me long to realize that class was not mandatory -- it was optional. After less than a week in college, I adjusted to a completely different lifestyle -- one without rules and limits. Pizza and cheesebread became midnight snacks, a healthy meal came out of a can and nap time was a necessity at least three times a day. \nI'll admit that between the excessive fun and partying, I've matured every year. In just four years, I've gone from an innocent little freshman to a confident senior.\nBut let's face it, college is the ultimate excuse to be lazy, broke and carefree. \nThat's part of the reason I want to be Van Wilder. \nI never want to grow up and be a "real person" with a "real job" living in the "real world."\nIt's really scary out there, and I'd much rather be doing a few victory laps at IU.\nBut I don't think that's possible (especially with my parents paying out-of-state tuition).\nDon't get me wrong: I worked hard, too. I busted my butt to get into the journalism school. I've made it through finite, economics and a creative writing poetry class that I took by mistake.\nTo quote Van Wilder himself, as he gave a fellow collegian some advice, "But you know what I've learned in my seven years here at Coolidge, Timmy? I've learned that you can't treat every situation as a life-and-death matter because you'll die a lot of times. Write that down."\nI am suddenly realizing that after May 7, 2005, I will have no more excuses to go out at 1 a.m. on a Tuesday night, sleep until 3 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon and sport pajamas the entire day.\nWhile I prepare for the next leg of the journey of my life, which will consist of numerous job applications and interviews, I am confident the education I have received and the memories I have made at IU will get me through the adjustment. \nI've never been a fan of change, but the change from high school to college was amazing. So who knows what the next chapter of my life will bring?\nI know I will come back to IU from time to time and check up on the place I called home for four years. I'll definitely go to a few basketball games and walk around campus. I'll miss it. Don't be surprised if I shed a river on May 7 -- it's the least I can do for IU.\nSo as cliche as it sounds, enjoy your time at IU. The best four years of your life will go by in the blink of an eye. Mine did. Write that down.
(08/27/04 5:02am)
John "Jack" Kenealy, an IU night operations supervisor who was arrested last month by the Indiana State Police Methamphetamine Abuse Task Force, is currently awaiting trial on three felony drug counts.\nHe was arrested in his Bloomington home July 29 after officers discovered methcathinone in his residence. \nAfter posting a $500 bond, he was released from the jail and is currently working a day shift that includes building repair and maintenance duties.\nDan Rives, associate vice president for Human Resources at IU, said Kenealy was reassigned to a day-shift position following his arrest.\nRon Chapman, Kenealy's attorney, said his client has done nothing that would cause him not to be able to keep his job.\n"He is still working at IU because there is more regarding his employment situation than just his arrest," Rives said. "There's more facts and circumstances than what was reported to the public.'\nKenealy appeared for a hearing Aug. 6 where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.\nAccording to Monroe County Court documents, Kenealy is charged with three counts: manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a drug precursor. The first count is considered a class B felony while the other two charges are class D felonies.\nAccording to Indiana State law, the minimum sentence for a class D felony is six months in jail. Class B felonies carry a six-year minimum sentence.\nChapman declined to comment on specifics in the case but said Kenealy has entered a not guilty plea on all three counts.\n"Just because someone was arrested doesn't mean they are guilty," Chapman said.\nRives said IU, like any other university, does not have a drug or substance testing policy for employees. \n"Indiana University would be very concerned if employees were engaged in any type of substance abuse during their work activity," Rives said.\nThe Indiana State Police Methamphetamine Abuse Task Force was established last year to review information and develop a long-range plan for combatting the abuse and manufacturing of methamphetamine.\n"Methamphetamine is Indiana's biggest drug problem," said Steve Hillman, Indiana State Police captain.\n"The task force brings a number of players together to put together a plan to talk about the problem and come up with solutions."\nHillman said methamphetamine is highly addictive and Indiana has seen a problem with the manufacturing of the drug because it is relatively easy to make.\n"It takes specially trained teams to go into meth labs and properly remove the chemicals," he said. "But despite our best efforts, we still see an increase in the number of meth labs that we take down. It's a real problem in our state."\nJim Fielder, Monroe County clerk, said documents indicate that Chapman filed a request for discovery and inspection Aug. 6.\nThe pretrial for Kenealy is scheduled for Oct. 14. The jury trial is slated for Dec. 7.\n-- Contact campus editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(06/07/04 1:34am)
On the first day of classes at Ball State University in August, campus police officers will be carrying new weapons under their belt. \nIn an effort to reduce crime on campus, BSU police have purchased 35 taser guns, four chemical propellant guns and three projectile launchers at a cost totaling $38,400.\n"This is a significant investment in our efforts to enhance the safety and security of the campus community," Gene Burton, university police chief, said in a statement. "This kind of equipment helps minimize the risk to our officers and those that are sworn to protect. This is a very positive step in the evolution of our department."\nThe new equipment comes in the wake of the death of student Michael McKinney in a shooting at BSU. McKinney was allegedly drunk and was killed by an officer on duty in November.\nHowever, campus police officials say the decision to arm the officers with the devices has nothing to do with last year's incident. Burton said the department was considering the purchase before McKinney's death.\nAccording to the Taser International Web site, the taser, shaped like a small gun, shoots 26 watts of electricity and comes complete with laser-sight features. When fired, the two quarter-inch darts in the gun temporarily paralyze the suspects by immobilizing their muscles with an electrical current that flows for five to 10 seconds. Police officers can shoot the taser from up to 21 feet away.\nAccording to the Web site, "Its pulsating electrical output interferes with communication between the brain and the muscular system, resulting in loss of control. Some will experience critical response amnesia and others will experience tingling sensations afterwards. The pulsating electrical output causes involuntary muscle contractions and a resulting sense of vertigo."\nThe chemical propellant guns and projectile launchers are designed for crowd control and fire a capsule containing a powdered chemical defensive agent, which is released upon contact. The projectile launchers can fire tear gas or beanbags.\nWhile law enforcement divisions insist the guns will enhance public safety, students and community members are becoming increasingly fearful.\nLast year, Bedford resident James L. Borden Sr. died in police custody at the Monroe County Jail after being shot with a taser gun three times for acting "uncooperative and combative." His family is currently seeking answers and campaigning for the ban of taser guns.\nSenior Meryl Alappattu said she has heard too many stories that make her question the real purpose of the tasers and is worried IUPD may begin to use them. \n"We are college students, not crazed animals or criminals that need to be shot at for something like public intoxication," Alappattu said. "And how exactly is a police officer going to decide when it's appropriate to use it? It just seems like a taser gun is not needed to reinforce laws. It's inhumane."\nIndiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne is the only other university in Indiana using tasers, and IU Police Department Lt. Laury Flint said it is unlikely IUPD will resort to the use of tasers.\n"We carry pepper spray as an alternative method, but the discussion of tasers has not come up at all for our department," Flint said.\nFlint said, in the past, the IUPD has carried stun guns, but for now, the pepper spray seems to be working.\n"We don't use the spray terribly often, and the situation dictates the use of the pepper spray based on a force continuum," Flint said. "I can assure that everything we carry involves training, and we have absolutely not even brought up the idea of using tasers."\n-- Contact staff writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(04/27/04 6:07am)
Friends of Michael Green gathered to mourn his death at a public vigil Monday night.\nAlthough Green was known to his friends as "Mean Green," they viewed him as the nicest person they had ever known.\n"He was such a sharp, well-rounded guy, with the biggest heart," said freshman Brady O'Malia, Green's best friend. "He had a really determined attitude toward life and school."\nCandles lined the entrance to the former Beta Theta Pi House as more than 250 friends and family gathered to mourn the freshman.\nNineteen-year-old Green was found dead early Sunday morning after falling from the ninth floor of Briscoe-Gucker. His death has not yet been classified as an accident or suicide, and police are still waiting for results from the coroner's office.\nThe vigil was organized by Beta Theta Pi, the fraternity Green was pledging.\nGreen transferred from Purdue University to IU at the beginning of this semester. He was in the University Division and began to explore interests in business entrepreneurship. Green was looking forward to working at Eli Lilly in Indianapolis this summer.\n"He just loved life," said freshman Kyle Webb, Greens' roommate. "He was the most cheerful guy you'd ever meet. He was so outgoing and would strike up a conversation with anyone."\nFreshman Mark Strugatch lived on Green's floor in Briscoe. He said in the three months he knew Green, his life was touched.\n"Mike instantly became one of my best friends," Strugatch said. "I feel like I've known him my whole life. He was the kind of guy that would give you the shirt off his back and would do anything for his friends."\nAmong the attendees at the vigil was Dean of Students Richard McKaig.\n"I'm here both out of respect for Michael and for Beta Theta Pi," McKaig said. "This vigil is an important part of healing for those that knew him, and I wanted to be here to show my support."\nAfter a short candlelight ceremony, friends and family of Greens' lined up to sign a white tablecloth with his picture on it. The fraternity will later present it as a gift to his family.\nStrugatch said Green's biggest passions were his family and friends, the Cincinnati Reds and collecting bobble-head dolls.\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(04/25/04 8:43pm)
After nine years as the director of the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, John Bancroft will pass his title to Julia Heiman, a prominent leader in the evolving field of sex research.\nHeiman currently serves as a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the School of Medicine at the University of Washington. She is also co-director of UW's Reproductive and Sexual Medicine Clinic.\nBancroft will officially retire April 30 and Kinsey Associate Director and Professor of Gender Studies Stephanie Sanders will serve as the interim director until Heiman takes over in June.\nWhen Heiman is appointed as director, she will also be a professor in the Department of Psychology at IU with a joint appointment in the Department of Psychiatry at the IU School of Medicine at IUPUI.\nSociology Professor J. Scott Long served as the head of the search committee to appoint a new director at the Kinsey Institute. He said the process began more than two years ago and consisted of identifying the top researchers in the country, narrowing the selection, interviewing, bringing candidates in, selecting and negotiating.\n"We started out with 50 to 100 applicants and gave detailed consideration to about 10," Long said. "Heiman has an outstanding research record, and we realized she would bring tremendous commitment, dedication and ideals to the Institute."\nJennifer Bass, head of information services at the Kinsey Institute, said the search proved to be a very grueling process.\n"To select among the excellent researchers someone who also has a vision for an interdisciplinary approach to the study of sex is quite a challenge," she said. \nBut Bass said Heiman's reputation made her stand out among all other candidates.\n"She is considered the top-notch researcher in the field of sex research, and she is a leader who, without a doubt, will be able to bring people in from around the country to work on projects," Bass said.\nHeiman said she was initially attracted to the position because of the new opportunities for interdisciplinary research and her top priorities will be to "maintain and grow" both the research program and the extensive collections.\nLong said a main factor in selecting Heiman was her approach and plans for the Kinsey Institute "fit very well," as she aims to develop a collection with an endowment in the Institute and eventually wants to put the collection online, making it more accessible to a variety of researchers.\nThe Kinsey Institute, whose mission is to promote interdisciplinary research and scholarship in the fields of human sexuality, gender and reproduction, was founded by former IU professor Alfred Kinsey in 1947.\nThe Institute carries out its mission through the development of specialized collections of resources for scholars, programs of research and publications, interdisciplinary conferences and seminars, provision of information services to researchers and graduate training. \nOver the years, the Kinsey Institute, its directors and staffs have received numerous grants and awards. \n"Julia is the ideal person to build on what John Bancroft had done as he led the Institute over the last decade," Long said. "She has a real commitment to the ideals and history of Kinsey Institute. We are very fortunate to have her."\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at .
(04/21/04 5:42am)
Junior Steve Zendel spent more than 30 minutes registering for fall semester classes -- double the time from past semesters. As a business major going into his last year of college, Zendel thought every aspect of senior year would be a breeze.\nThat was until he used OneStart -- IU's new, internally-designed Web portal and gateway to the registration process through the new Student Information System.\n"The system wouldn't let me register until I knew my course numbers and had them practically memorized," Zendel said.\nLike many other students, Zendel turned to the Office of the Registrar to address his complaints with the new system.\nMary Beth Myers, associate registrar and manager of enrollment services, said the new registration support telephone center receives approximately 150 calls per day. She said the most frequent problems employees hear are those dealing with scheduling-related component classes, such as pairing a lecture with a discussion or lab.\nFor example, if a class has one lecture and 10 discussions, only the discussion classes can be selected for enrollment. If a student tries to enter the class number of the 'non-enrollment' component, they receive an error message.\n"There is a level of frustration or anxiety because many things are very new," Myers said. "Once we walk a student through the process, it becomes clear. But since it is so different from RegWeb, (problems like these) are common stumbling blocks."\nBecause registration is just one portion of OneStart, other complaints about the system go directly to the University Information Technology Services Support Center.\nDespite the number of student complaints made to the Office of the Registrar, Deputy Communications Officer Christine Fitzpatrick said UITS data shows no significant increase in reported problems for OneStart in the last two weeks.\nDennis Gillespie, UITS support center manager, said the facility received 520 contacts, including phone calls, e-mails and walk-ins April 5, the first day of fall registration.\nGillespie attributed the slightly high volume of contacts to system defaults such as the Indiana timezone being set incorrectly to main workstations.\n"Students could not register during their specified time," Gillespie said. "Until the problem was fixed with diagnostic tools, we had a lot of troubleshooting." \nMyers said students can voice their problems with registration through self-service feedback by e-mailing, calling or visiting the Office of the Registrar in Franklin Hall, Room 101. \n"We have actually made several changes as a result of student feedback," Myers said. "One of the most recent is that there is now a version of the schedule of classes on our Registrar homepage that looks amazingly similar to the old INSITE version so that students may 'shop' more easily for classes."\nDuring the remainder of registration, Gillespie said he encourages students, faculty and staff to be patient with the new system. Students having trouble with registration are should call the registration helpline at 855-8200, and those having problems accessing or logging into the OneStart portal should contact the UITS Support Center at 855-6789.\n"Anytime you have a new system, it's going to take time for people to get accustomed to the features and overall operation," Gillespie said. "It's a learning process."\nThough Zendel is relieved to be registered for 15 credit hours in the fall, he said he is not looking forward to spring registration.\n"Insite and RegWeb were so much easier," Zendel said. "If so many students are having problems with OneStart, why doesn't the University just switch back?"\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(04/16/04 5:57am)
First it was Hoagy Carmichael in 1953. Then it was E. Branch McCraken in 1959, and Col. Ronald J. Webb in 1999. Now, IU Kelly School of Business alumnus Todd Wagner is doing IU more justice, as he was recently named "Kappa Sigma Fraternity Man of the Year."\nWagner will be honored at a reception and dinner program at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Indianapolis Artsgarden for receiving the prestigious national award.\n"I am humbled and honored," Wagner said in an e-mail. "I'm not sure I deserve the award, but I learned a long time ago that sometimes it's better to just shut up and say thank you."\nMitchell Wilson, executive director of the Kappa Sigma Headquarters, said Wager is more than deserving.\n"Wagner has achieved phenomenal business success attracting international acclaim, but the Kappa Sigma Board of Directors chose him as our 'Man of the Year' because of the way he has used his good fortune to help others," he said in a statement. "Through the establishment of his foundation, Todd has contributed millions of dollars, making an enormous difference in the lives of thousands of disadvantaged youth."\nWagner co-founded and served as the CEO of www.broadcast.com in a partnership with fellow business school alumnus Mark Cuban. In 1999, they sold the company to www.Yahoo.com for $5.7 billion. At the time of its sale, www.broadcast.com was the leading Internet destination for multimedia programming.\nWagner also began 2929 Entertainment, HD-Net Films, Magnolia Pictures and Landmark Theatres but recently turned his attention to philanthropy with the creation of the Todd Wagner Foundation, www.toddwagnerfoundation.org, an organization that brings innovative technology to after-school programs for inner-city school children in Dallas.\nWagner has delivered speeches at dozens of business and technology conferences, has appeared on CNBC, CNN and CSPAN and has been featured in leading publications, including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Forbes. In 2002, Forbes ranked Wagner the No. 313 richest man in the world, with a net worth of $750 million.\nKappa Sigma is one of the five largest fraternities, with over 200,000 initiates. According to the 2002 Fraternity Executives Association survey, Kappa Sigma ranks fourth in size for college fraternities based on the number of chapters.\nThe Kappa Sigma Fraternity Man of the Year Award was established in 1937 to honor a brother who has achieved fame in industry, arts, science, government or another professional field. \nJunior Lev Wismer, IU Kappa Sigma president, said the recipients of the award are nominated by a number of people, ranging from Kappa Sigma men to co-workers and family. Nominations for the award are determined by the Kappa Sigma Supreme Executive Committee. \n"The chapter is very happy and honored that Mr. Wagner's accomplishments and contributions to the Beta Theta chapter of Kappa Sigma are being awarded," Wismer said.\nWismer said Kappa Sigma is hosting an alumni open house Saturday evening in which the chapter will give a brief presentation in front of Wagner and nearly 200 other alumni.\n"Wagner is one of the most distinguished alumni, and the work he does just really represents the values that our fraternity and the University tries to instill," Wismer said.\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(04/13/04 6:17am)
For years, it was a Little 500 tradition for the Union Board Concert Committee to bring in various artists to play at the IU Auditorium, adding to the excitement of the world's greatest college weekend. Past performers have included Nelly, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.\nBut for the second year in a row, despite initiating the contracting procedure with five different bands, none of the bands have committed to Union Board to provide a Little 500 concert.\nJunior Jeffrey Hasson, co-director of the concert committee, is in charge of booking all music events. Hasson, who described the situation as a "let down," said the failure to schedule a Little 500 concert is not a reflection of his staff's labors.\n"It was definitely not due to a lack of effort," Hasson said. "The committee worked nonstop -- day and night -- looking through directories of artists and contacting their agents. It has become very tough for colleges to get access to artists."\nHasson said the concert industry is constantly changing, and it has become tougher in recent years to get access to artists.\n"Big-name artists don't want to take the time to come to college campuses," he said. "They really need incentive to come to a college campus when they can sell out an amphitheater. It's unfortunate because a lot of their fan base lies in college students." \nBut Purdue University held a John Mayer and Guster concert March 24, a Lonestar concert March 6 and a Toby Keith concert Oct. 9. Butler hosted Chris Rock Feb. 29.\nSophomore and concert committee member Lana Kleyman said the group is working hard and ahead of schedule for fall concert preparations.\n"Right now, we are still in the process of compiling ideas of who students would like to see perform," Kleyman said. "We made a huge list last week and in the coming weeks we will begin to contact bands and set dates."\nHasson said he is optimistic about the fall concert lineup, as his committee is currently exploring options from REM and The Darkness to Jack Johnson and Gavin DeGraw.\n"The beauty about the fall is that we have more time to plan and aren't constricted to only two show dates," Hasson said. "We are 100 percent more hopeful this time around."\nThe concert committee meets from 6 to 7 p.m. every Tuesday in the Union Board office located in the second floor activities tower in the Indiana Memorial Union. Hasson said he encourages students to stop in and pitch ideas or suggestions to the committee. \n"I want to see quality music in a variety of genres and I want to ensure that students are happy with the music coming to campus," Hasson said.\nThough disappointed the concert committee was unable to book an artist, senior Jon Harari said he is still looking forward to the fraternity-presented Little 500 concerts.\n"There were rumors flying around that John Mayer and Jason Mraz were going to come this year," Harari said. "It would have been awesome if they played here, but I will definitely see the other acts perform during the week."\nFraternities Phi Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Kappa Sigma and Zeta Beta Tau will kick off the Little 500 festivities with concert performances. Guster will play at 5 p.m. April 21 at Phi Delt, 1215 Jordan Ave. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Bone Thugs 'N' Harmony will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. at ZBT, 1640 North Jordan Ave. Tickets will be sold in advance for $15.\nHasson said it is important students remember Little 500 is not only about concerts -- during the week, the UB concert committee is to present a sold-out Dave Chappelle show and the second annual Little 5 Step Down, both at the IU Auditorium.\n"We hope students will enjoy these events," Hasson said. "(These concerts) are a guaranteed great time."\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(04/12/04 8:15pm)
The sun was shining its rays directly on the meadow between Ballantine and Woodburn Halls Friday as more than 50 mourners gathered to remember the life of former student Brandon Rotstein. \nThe memorial consisted of a tree planting and plaque presentation in the presence of Rotstein's family and friends.\nSenior Sarah Nedwick, a close friend of Rotstein's since high school, organized the event to honor his memory. \n"He was a loveable guy that touched everyone's life in a different way," she said. "He was always there to put a smile on your face no matter what he had to do. Brandon had a larger-than-life personality and lit up every room he set foot in."\nRotstein died from cardiac arrest and gastrointestinal complications last March while vacationing in Acapulco, Mexico during spring break. He passed away in the presence of his mother while being transported in a small plane to a Chicago hospital.\nBefore the ceremony, Rotstein's parents delivered speeches in honor of their son.\n"You light up the sky with color," Debbie Rotstein, Brandon's mother, said. "The legacy you left was so precious and your joyous spirit will live forever."\nMarvin Rotstein, Brandon's father, said he hopes to come back from time to time and visit the tree as it grows.\nRotstein was a finance major in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, a brother of Alpha Epsilon Pi, a member of IU Student Association, campus manager of Collegeboxes and was involved in numerous extracurricular activities and intramural sports.\n"If a tragic event like this happened to someone else, he would have been the one to organize it (the memorial)," Nedwick said.\nSenior Ross Samotny was Rotstein's fraternity brother and best friend for more than 15 years. Samotny said he keeps a picture of the two of them at his computer and often reminisces about their friendship.\n"I think the tree represents the legacy Brandon left at IU," Samotny said. "The turnout of people showed how much Brandon meant to everyone."\nThe plaque planted in the ground reads "Brandon Dann Rotstein: March 14, 1982 - March 19, 2003. His smile, love and laughter lit up the world."\nNedwick said she is sure Rotstein would be appreciative of his friends' efforts to keep his spirit alive.\n"To this day, Brandon left a huge mark on IU and on everyone he has ever come in contact with," Nedwick said. \nSenior Michael Zauberman, who met Rotstein during his freshman year, said the tree is symbolic of Rotstein's life.\n"As the tree grows, Brandon's life will continue," Zauberman said. "People who pass by will see it and as generations pass, they might not know who Brandon was, but his legacy will inevitably continue on."\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(03/30/04 6:34am)
Twenty-three out-of-state scholars are receiving a full ride to IU -- fees, tuition, books and room and board. And all of it is in thanks to an anonymous donor -- an alumni from the Kelley School of Business.\nCurt Simic, president of the IU Foundation, said 2003 was a record year for donations to IU, as the University received nearly $250 million in gifts and grants.\nThese donations contributed to IU's rank of seventh among private sector donations to public universities in the nation. Another $164.4 million in gifts and $85.6 million in research grants from donors and private-sector sources placed IU second in the Big Ten.\n"Donors and grant-makers believe in IU's academic excellence," IU President Adam Herbert said in a statement. "They know that IU makes, and will continue to make, significant contributions to the state in economic development, medical research, information technology, the arts and humanities and discovery of knowledge."\nIU donations are made through the IU Foundation, a non-profit corporation partnering with IU development staff on all eight campuses to raise gift funds. Each year, the foundation receives more than $100 million in contributions for IU from more than 100,000 donors, including individuals, corporations, foundations and other organizations. \nSimic said the IUF hit a record of 105,977 donors last year -- 6,000 more than the previous year.\n"We've been consistent in our giving and have done well for a long time," Simic said. "When things aren't good economically, we have proved to have enough positive momentum to carry us through the difficult times."\nSimic said 97 to 99 percent of donors specify where they want their gifts to go. He said the most popular areas to receive donation are athletics, The Kelley School of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences.\nSimic said nearly one out of every five dollars goes to the athletics department.\nIn the 2000 to 2001 fiscal period, IU was named the No. 1 public university for private-sector support with a $45 million gift from the Lilly Endowment Grant, Simic said. In the 2001-2002 year, IU was ranked ninth among private-sector support.\nThe rankings were compiled by the Council for Aid to Education, a national non-profit research organization that focuses on improving higher education quality and access.\nThe data was collected through CAE's annual survey, "Voluntary Support of Education." The council based its total on 954 participating institutions. The results encompassed the 2003 fiscal year from July 1, 2002, until June 30, of last year, and were released to the Chronicle of Higher Education March 11. \nHarvard University ranked first in private gifts and grants with $555.6 million, according to the survey. Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Arkansas followed.\n"Our objective is to always be in top 20 among all universities," Simic said. "We will go up and down, but we always have loyal people."\nSimic credited the success of IU's fundraising efforts to a long-term strategy including a comprehensive fundraising program, a series of major campaigns, committed volunteers and hard-working staff and faculty members.\n"It's simple," Simic said. "At IU, we overachieve in every aspect."\nIU graduates and Bloomington residents Bob and Sara LeBien have donated to IU for more than 14 years. They have served in various positions within IU and have given money to different academic departments and founded a number of endowment scholarships. Last November, they donated $5,000 to send the soccer pep band to UCLA to play the fight song live in the fourth round of the NCAA championships.\n"We want to give back to the University in any way possible," Bob LeBien said. "We know the University and have a great deal of confidence in them."\nSara LeBien said the IUF has provided a very positive outlet for private donations.\n"We have seen some tremendous opportunities to fulfill needs," Sara LeBien said. "We are very project-oriented, and we always love the satisfaction of helping the University out any way we can."\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(03/08/04 4:24am)
Last weekend, two IU students had their 15 minutes of fame in a live Fox News broadcast from New York City.\nSenior Lisa Berenholz and junior Jonathan Gibson were part of a pilot contest for producing a "fair and balanced" news story, organized by IU alumnus John Malkin, vice president of affiliate sales and marketing for Fox News. Malkin contacted the Department of Telecommunications last summer to find a professor who would be willing to participate in the partnership. Professor Ron Osgood agreed to participate in the competition with his T351 course, "Video Field Production." \n"I thought it was a great opportunity for students to apply what they were using in class to real-world activity," Osgood said.\nThe two students and two instructors received a tour of the Fox News studio and were interviewed during a live broadcast Saturday about their opinions on fair and balanced news reporting.\nOsgood incorporated the contest into the class syllabus, as the project made up 25 percent of the students' final grades. His two classes each divided into 13 teams of two or three students.\nJanis Bolling, associate instructor for the course, said the projects ranged from options after graduation to national smoking bans.\nBerenholz and Gibson did their assignment on file sharing, specifically focusing on small bands versus large record companies.\n"We talked to a local band out of Indianapolis and the executive vice president of a major record label," Berenholz said.\nBerenholz said although they experienced technical problems along the way, such as poor lighting and bad audio quality, they still managed to bring it together at the end.\nAfter nearly a month of shooting, interviewing, editing and producing the video, the students turned their projects over to a Fox News judging panel in New York. Osgood was contacted with the results in early December, and Berenholz and Gibson -- along with Osgood and Bolling -- were given the opportunity to travel on an all-expenses paid trip to New York to speak about fair and balanced news reporting during a live newscast.\n"We didn't expect to win," Berenholz said. "Our classmates' tapes were also very well done, but when we found out that we won, we called up everyone we knew."\nAlthough the trip was only a little over a day, Bolling said the journey was well worth it, as they all stayed in a hotel right across from Times Square, were given a tour of the newsroom and had the chance of a lifetime to be on national television.\n"Before the interview at Fox, we where pampered with foods and drinks and treated like stars," Gibson said.\nBolling watched in the background as Osgood, Berenholz and Gibson were introduced by an anchor and answered general questions about fair news reporting and specific questions about their project.\n"It was very interesting for me to watch the entire segment and see their hard work come to a conclusion," Bolling said.\nOsgood said he is already looking forward to participating in the competition next year.\n"I was really impressed with the results of my students' videos," Osgood said. "Overall, it was a great, positive experience we had working with Fox."\nBerenholz said the experience opened up her eyes to life in the news world.\n"I learned that there are always deadlines to be met," Berenholz said. "And that anything can go wrong at anytime. But I also realized that this is my calling in life."\nGibson said his time at Fox News influenced his future goals.\n"By going out there, I have made so many contacts and was able to talk to people in the profession doing what I want to do."\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(02/11/04 5:08am)
Full Frontal Comedy, a student improv troupe, will donate the proceeds from tomorrow's show to Habitat for Humanity. The event will take place at 9 p.m. in the School of Fine Arts, Room 015. Tickets are $4 for the general public and $2 for Habitat for Humanity members.\nThe event will consist of short skits and monologues with audience interaction. The show will benefit IU Habitat for Humanity, a campus chapter of the nationwide non-profit organization that builds affordable houses in lower-income counties in partnership with the community and other volunteer groups.\n"Every little bit of money we raise counts," Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County representative Laura Koenig said. "It will be a fun event, and the best part of it is that the money goes to a good cause."\nFull Frontal Comedy is a non-profit, student-run theater group that performs Chicago-style improv spiced up with short games, monologues and sketches. \nChicago improvisation comedy, which Full Frontal follows, consists of skits comedians and audience members make up as they go along. \nFFC performs free shows on Friday nights at the Indiana Memorial Union's Frangipani Room and at a variety of venues on and off campus, including residence halls, fraternities and sororities, Bear's Place and Roly Poly at the Gables.\nFreshman FFC member Zach Pollakoff said some of tomorrow's improv games will include freeze tag, entrances and exits and shift left, shift right. Pollakoff said all of the improv is based off audience suggestions and is completely spur-of-the-moment.\n"We're going to do one of our typical shows, which usually involves one sketch comedy, games and a little improv," Pollakoff said. "Usually, we do long form, which is a bunch of scenes put together to form a greater story."\nSenior Kate Rosswurm, co-president of IU's Habitat for Humanity chapter, said the group hosted a similar event last semester and had a great turnout.\n"We are also going to have the members of Full Frontal do a little speech about our organization before the event," Rosswurm said. "The event will definitely be fun, and we also want to get our message out there and encourage people to get involved with our organization."\nFFC was formed in 1994, when three students from Chicago decided IU was in dire need of an improv group. Over the past few years, the cast has gone through more than 20 lineup changes and has performed for audiences of up to 500 people. The comedy group still carries on the tradition of an all-student membership with the majority of members being theater majors.\nThe current troupe consists of four members, including Pollakoff, sophomore Joe Rogan, junior Kevin McKernan and senior Brandon Pusey. Pollakoff said the group typically practices twice a week for two hours. \n"At this event, we can almost guarantee a laughing crowd," Pollakoff said. "One of the best parts of our shows is that audience participation is so important. Plus, tomorrow, proceeds will support such a good cause."\nFor information about Full Frontal Comedy or the event, visit www.fullfrontalcomedy.com. For information about IU Habitat for Humanity, visit www.indiana.edu/~habitat.\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(02/10/04 10:44pm)
Red roses, heart-shaped chocolate boxes, tiny candy hearts with cheesy sayings on them -- thank God Valentine's Day, love and all the mushy gushy stuff that surrounds the pointless holiday will be over in 96 hours. \nI'm not bitter about the holiday. Really. But it's always been hard for me to come to terms with the fact that my love life has always come to halt on Feb. 14.\nEven in elementary school, I dreaded the class Valentine's Day parties where everyone would distribute candy hearts and drop little cartoon valentines in our homemade red shoeboxes. After school, I always rushed home to count my stash of Valentines and was let down numerous times. Even though we were forced to give Valentines to the entire class, I was probably the only first grader who analyzed her cards. Why did boys always send me cards with Tiger that said I'm "grrrrreat" when I really wanted the yellow jacket that said "beeeeee mine?"\nWhen middle school rolled around, I thought I was home free. Instead, we had those fundraisers where you could send flavored lip-shaped lollipops to someone's homeroom. I was the girl with about 15 lollipops because I sent them to myself. I didn't want to feel left out, so all of my lunch money went to stale, vanilla-flavored lollipops that sat in my locker for weeks. I'm not sure if people realized it was a little strange to have so many "secret admirers," but I felt better.\nValentine's Day in high school was just about the worst it could get because it fell on winter homecoming. Just "sending" myself a date was out of the question, and the whole thing was such a production. Find a guy. Hint around that you want to go. Find a dress. Find a couple to go with. Buy tickets. Make dinner reservations. Get your hair and makeup done. The worst case of this double whammy was my freshman year when the homecoming theme was "Court of Hearts." My date failed to get me a corsage -- the essential accessory for a romantic evening. But I handled it with the best of Valentine spirit. I chucked his beautiful white sweetheart rose boutonniere in the garbage disposal, right in front of his face. \nI guess my Valentine luck is the reason I never really get into the holiday spirit. I'll admit that when I had a boyfriend, I counted down the days until I received flowers and candy. But now, I've come to realize Feb. 14 is a painful reminder that you're alone, unattractive and probably won't have sex any time in the foreseeable future. \nThis is why I can relate to the many who have dubbed this holiday "Single's Awareness Day." Look very closely: the first letters spell SAD. Isn't that an appropriate acronym for such a holiday that brings so many people down? People act like they're joking when they say "Happy Single's Awareness Day," but they really do go celebrate -- at the bars, drinking their sorrows away. \n For everyone who loves Valentine's Day, there are probably 10 more people who hate it. The Internet is filled with anti-Valentine's Day Web sites, the bars are packed the entire weekend and everyone's away message ultimately reads "forget Valentine's Day!"\nSo this Single's Awareness Day, I suggest you avoid love and romanticism. You can accompany me on a bar crawl or spend the night out with your friends. Unless of course, you're a cute guy and want to buy me flowers and candy. Then I'll just have to change my plans.
(02/03/04 5:28am)
It may be a little more difficult than usual to study in the library today. \nThe normally quiet facility will host martial arts demonstrations, Hawaiian dancers, Persian folk songs, classical Indian dancers, folk music, Latin dancing, break dancing, Korean drummers, belly dancers and other ethnic performances throughout the day as part of the second annual Diversity Fair.\nThe all-day event in the main lobby, organized by the Library Diversity Committee, starts at 11 a.m and ends at 7 p.m. and features food, performing groups, information booths, movies and more. \nDuring the event, 30 booths from different cultural groups will be set up, providing guests with information on the organizations' histories and upcoming activities.\nKathy McCarnes, volunteer for the Library Diversity Committee, said various organizations jumped at the chance to participate in this year's event.\nAccording to the Office of Diversity, 9.2 percent of students are minorities and 12.27 percent of faculty members are black, Asian, Latino or Native American. McCarnes said the goal of the event is to make people aware of the diverse community on campus.\nAmong the participating groups are the Office of Affirmative Action, the Chinese Student and Scholar Association and the Russian and East European Center.\nIn addition, four tables of subject area librarians will feature their collections of literature from around the globe. \n"The day is about highlighting the diversity of campus so students understand we have a wealth of information," McCarnes said. "We also want to introduce them to the different diverse organizations around the campus and community." \nFitri Lamm, assistant at the Faculty and Staff for Student Excellence Mentoring Program, an organization that provides mentors to international incoming freshman, said the group will have an informational booth all day, displaying brochures, photos and applications for new mentors.\nFASE also participated in the event last year. \n"Like all of the other groups that will be there, we want to get our name out and let people know what we offer," Lamm said. "We also want to help celebrate this wonderful day of diversity."\nInternational food and drink from different regions of the world will also be provided so guests can get a taste of other nationalities.\n"It's an opportunity for students to try new and different things," McCarnes said. \nEntertainment will also be provided every half hour throughout the day. Kathy Marlett, a librarian who also serves on the diversity committee, said she is excited about this year's lineup.\n"We're hoping the entertainment will give guests a little bit of everything from around the world," Marlett said.\nMarlett said she encourages students to come and go as they please throughout the day. The last performance will begin at 6:30 p.m.\n"The event is guaranteed to be excellent as usual," Marlett said. "Even if guests only learn one thing about another culture, it's a chance to learn something new and different."\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(01/22/04 5:10am)
When Marlies Gerber came to IU in 1982 as an assistant professor, there was only one other woman in the mathematics department. \nNow, 22 years later, not much has changed. \nThe proportion of women in the department is still small -- out of 48 faculty members, only three are women. \nGerber's situation mirrors a recent study led by Dr. Donna Nelson, a chemistry professor at the University of Oklahoma.\nThe study revealed that women account for just a small proportion of scientists, mathematicians and engineers working at the nation's top research universities. In a report describing the study, the shortage of women at the nation's top institutions has been called a "grave national problem."\n"People have been aware of this problem for a long time," Nelson said in a statement. "But until now no one really knew what the figures were; no one had quantified it so we had a national picture." \nThe report found that only between 3 and 15 percent of full-time professors at top engineering, mathematics and science departments are women, although the percentage of women attaining doctorates during the last 20 years is substantially higher.\nNelson and her colleagues determined which institutions were at the top by looking at the highest research budget in each of 14 disciplines.\nThe study also revealed that in most of these fields, the proportion of bachelor's and doctoral degrees earned by women was higher than the proportion of women faculty members who actually teach the subject.\nGerber, associate professor of mathematics, said the math department is making a strong effort to hire more women.\n"For a long time I was the only woman in the math department in a tenured or tenure track position, but in recent years, two other women were hired and both received tenure," she said.\nDean of Women's Affairs Terry Dworkin said female graduate students and faculty members in science and math are underrepresented at IU as compared to other Big Ten schools.\n"This has been a continuing problem that has been specially addressed by a number of deans," Dworkin said. "We are trying to deal with it in a variety of ways from sponsoring groups of women scientists on campus to putting together a panel that looks at the challenges women face."\nGerber said although the progress is slow, she has noticed an influx of women being hired at top research universities.\n"Part of the problem is the fact that women are still burdened with more domestic responsibilities and give higher priority to their personal lives than men," Gerber said.\nSome research universities are making changes and taking a closer look at their own faculty statistics. In an effort to ensure both sexes are equally represented, some have even given a slight preference to women when it comes to hiring. Although Gerber has not seen such cases in the mathematics department, she said steps should be taken to hire more women.\n"The emphasis should be on developing the research abilities of women at the undergraduate and graduate levels, not on giving breaks to weaker job candidates," Gerber said.\nElite universities such as Duke and Princeton have already begun to correct the uneven distribution of women across disciplines. Both schools completed a year-long study and have requested funds to promote hiring and promotion of women.\n"It's time we take part in a study of this problem on our campus," Dworkin said. "It's long overdue"
(01/16/04 5:34am)
IU students are taking to Capitol Hill as part of the Washington Leadership Program sponsored by the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The program, now in its 18th year, offers 30 juniors and seniors a full-time internship in the nation's capital and the opportunity to live in Falls Church, Va., for an entire semester.\nBlanca Miller, SPEA assistant director of undergraduate career services, said the program gives students the opportunity to apply classroom theory to real-world activities. She said students can select their internship from over 70 sponsors ranging from congressional and governmental offices to military and environmental offices.\n"Students that participate in this program receive an insider's view on how our government operates," Miller said. "It is an excellent opportunity to gain first-hand experience and professional skills." \nIn addition to working four days a week at their internship, students take two upper-level seminar courses in public affairs and policy during the semester. The program gives students a total of 12 credits -- three for each of the required courses, and six for the internship. \nThere is no additional cost for the program, Miller said. Students will still pay IU tuition and are eligible for any scholarships or financial aid. However, they are also responsible for personal costs such as food, laundry, transportation and entertainment.\nSenior Katie Pumnea, a political science major, worked for Sen. Richard Lugar last semester. Her primary responsibilities included conducting legislative research, answering constituent letters and giving tours of the Capitol Building.\n"The job gave me a really good idea of what actually goes on in D.C. … how our government functions on a day-to-day basis," Pumnea said. \nPumnea said she encourages her peers to take advantage of the program. During her internship, she also had the opportunity to meet noted senators, congressmen and politicians.\n"It helped me gain perspective in what I want to do in the future," Pumnea said. "I loved the city and I plan to go back there someday."\nSenior and SPEA management major Elizabeth Breckenridge also participated in the WLP last semester, working directly for Sen. Evan Bayh. In addition to compiling media clips and scheduling White House tours, Breckenridge had the opportunity to meet many famous faces.\n"Hillary Clinton worked right down the hall from me," Breckenridge said. "I saw her and people such as Trent Lott and John McCain every day."\nThough Breckenridge often attended important meetings and met politicians from all over the world, she said she enjoyed the D.C. atmosphere above everything.\n"The best part of my experience was coming to work every morning," Breckenridge said. "When you're walking in, you get to see the Capitol Building. When your passion is politics and government, nothing can top that."\nSince 1985, more than 800 students from all eight IU campuses have participated in the program. Miller said she encourages all students -- no matter what their major -- to apply for the program.\n"The fall will be an especially exciting time to participate in the program and be in Washington D.C. because it's an election year," Miller said. \nThe application requires a resume, two faculty references, a personal essay and an interview by a selection committee -- consisting of a SPEA administrator, senior faculty member and an academic advisor. For more information on the Washington Leadership Program, visit www.indiana.edu/~speacare/leadership.html.\n"The feedback we have received from this program is tremendous," Miller said. "Many students have actually met the president and his cabinet members, and some have even attended fancy parties and presidential inaugurations."\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(01/15/04 5:45am)
Monroe County's "Trial of the Century" came to a conclusion Wednesday afternoon after a 7-hour jury deliberation when Scott Wells, county councilman, was sentenced to a total of 240 days in prison. \nThat sentence was later suspended by Special Judge Frank Nardi, who felt Wells didn't deserve jail time. In the meantime, Wells must pay hefty fines and go without a driver's license for 90 days beginning on the date determined by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The varying court costs for Wells total to $509.50 with an additional $20 a month for 12 months probation ending on Jan. 9, 2005.\nMonroe County Court reporter Denise Tavares said Wells was found in violation of count one -- operating a vehicle while intoxicated -- and count four -- disorderly conduct. Wells was also originally charged for misdemeanor battery and resisting law enforcement but was later acquitted on those two charges.\nSpecial Prosecutor Stan Levco said the sentence did not come as a surprise.\n"The jury proved he was guilty, and it's time (Wells) serves his punishment," Levco said. \nAccording to Indiana State Police reports, the incident began on Sept. 27, when Wells was stopped in downtown Bloomington by a state trooper who was investigating a drunken driving complaint made by Wells' political adversary Bud Bernitt. Bernitt said he had seen Wells in downtown Bloomington urinating in public and stumbling to his car. The message was relayed to the State Police post and two state troopers were dispatched to Sixth and Dunn Streets where they pulled Wells over.\nDuring his arrest, trooper Stacy Brown asked Wells to take a breathalyzer test. Wells refused a test when pulled over and insisted it be administered at the Monroe County Jail. Police reports show Wells blew a .075 on the Breathalyzer, just under the legal limit of .08. \nWells, a Democrat, has insisted that he was set up and assaulted by state policemen Stacy Brown and Travis Coryea in a character assassination plot. While the defense argued political overtones were too clear for a conviction, the prosecution insisted the trial focused on the facts and not politics.\n"It is important that he is paying a price for what he did," Levco said. "The sentence proved the police were telling the truth, and that means justice was served."\nWells said defense attorneys David Colman and Elizabeth Cure will appeal, although he could not comment on an exact timeline. It will be done within the state-mandated 30-day period, he said. Wells cited his poor health as a reason for a possible delay.\n"I'm not done yet, we just need to recover, regroup, reload and refire," Wells said. "People are going to be wishing they've never pulled this stunt, but I just need to recover. I will be back. I'll refire when I'm ready, but I can't do it right now. I'm spent."\nWells also said information regarding the Indiana Supreme Court's rulings in similar politically charged cases will weigh heavily in his defense. He also said the disparity of the juror pool may be a factor. Ultimately, he believes his case will be ruled in his favor. \n"Down the road, I'm going to come out on top, but I have to be patient," he said.\nColman, Wells' attorney, echoes his client's hopefulness.\n"We're very optimistic about the appeal on the disorderly conduct charge because there are serious First Amendment free speech issues that have not yet been addressed," Colman said. "I don't think anyone in the case doubts this is a political setup."\nThough Colman said there shouldn't be any sentence at all due to the nature of the circumstances, he said the defense feels victorious in the case.\n"As a criminal defense attorney, any time my clients get the minimum possible punishment, it's the best turnout," Colman said. "He could have gone to jail, but the jury sided with us."\nHe also said the defense will appeal the sentence and has 30 days to do so. If the appeal is successful and granted by the Indiana Court of Appeals, there is an opportunity for a new trial.\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu. City/State editor Kehla West contributed to this article.
(01/12/04 5:29am)
Indiana drivers who yap on the phone in their cars could face stiff fines as a result of the proposed legislation to ban mobile phone use while on the road. The proposed bill, Bill 131, was authored by Indiana State Senator Rose Ann Antich-Carr last week, who cited safety as the reason for her proposal.\n"I truly believe cell phones are one of the causes of major accidents," Antich-Carr said.\nThe proposal is in response to growing evidence that motorists' use of cell phones increases crash risk Antich-Carr said. \nIf it becomes law, the legislation would encourage drivers to anonymously report offenders to police using a land line. Violators of the ban would face a $1,000 fine for a Class B infraction. However, drivers would still be able to talk on their cell phones in an emergency situation or by using hands-free cell phone devices, including headsets and other attachments. \nDavid Puchalsky, a New York resident and IU junior said, "If people will be pulling over to make phone calls to the police, it could lead to more accidents as they try to make their way back onto the road." \n"The New England Journal of Medicine" recently reported that motorists who use cell phones are four times more likely to crash and equated their use with drunk driving.\nSimilar cell-phone bills have been introduced in the state legislature over the past three years but died before being voted on. The biggest state effort to ban the use of the mobile devices while driving came in 2001, when State Representative Jeff Thompson introduced Bill 1446, a legislative move to prohibit all mobile phone use by Indiana motorists.\nIn 2001, New York became the first state to ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Forty states have since then considered laws and adopted minor restrictions to cut cell phone use in cars, and three already have imposed minor restrictions on talking on a cell phone while driving. In addition, at least 23 countries, including England, Italy and Japan, have banned cell phone use while driving.\n"When I'm home, I always see people talking on their phones while they are driving," Puchalsky said. "Whether a ban is in place or not, people will continue to do what they want."\nA 2002 survey conducted by FOX 59 Indianapolis revealed that 76 percent of Hoosiers frequently talk on their cell phones while driving.\nPuchalsky said he doesn't understand the logic of banning cell phones while driving when cars come equipped with other distracting devices such as GPS systems and DVD players.\n"If they ban cell phones, they should ban everything," Puchalsky said. "Who knows, having a passenger in the car could be more distracting than using a cell phone."\nJunior Jon Sosnay said he supports the proposed legislation and uses his cell phone with hands-free capabilities when driving. \n"There are a significant number of car accidents due to people talking on their cell phones," Sosnay said. "The law in general has already made the roads safer in New York." \nAlthough it's not clear how many car accidents are related to cell phone use, Indiana accident report forms do list cell phone use as one of the possible contributing factors in a car crash, Sgt. Dave Hensen of the Indianapolis Police Department said.\n"Until we have any law banning mobile devices, we can't call cell phone usage a primary factor which is punishable by citation or arrest," Hensen said.\nThe next regular session of the Indiana legislature begins in mid-month, and members are expected to debate and vote on the issue.\nThe Associated Press contributed to this report.\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.
(06/12/03 12:45am)
Despite the summer heat, residents of Brown, Owen, Morgan and Monroe counties are staying cool this season with the help of the Summer Cooling Assistance Program. Run by South Central Community Action, Summer Cooling is also part of the Energy Assistance Program, which strives to offset the high cost of heating in the winter and cooling in the summer.\nSummer Cooling, which began June 1, will run through Sept. 30. The goal is to provide low-income households with box fans or a $50 credit on their electric bill. In extreme medical cases, Summer Cooling might also include the purchase of an air conditioner. Last year, the cooling program helped more than 1,600 households, EAP coordinator Christine Combs said.\n"The households that receive extra benefits are what we consider 'at-risk,'" Combs said. "They usually include the elderly, disabled or families with children under six years old." \nEAP serves income-eligible households by providing a direct payment to their utilities each season. In order to meet the criteria, a client's income must be at or below 125 percent of the poverty level set by the federal government. The program is funded through dollars received from the Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.\n"A lot of households that sign up come in with disconnect notices," Combs said. "We try to do the best we can with what we have."\nEAP state specialist Tom Scott said the need for services dictates the future of these programs.\n"The programs allow us to help with the stability of families and allow them to get through potentially dangerous situations," Scott said.\nScott said the Summer Cooling program was started in conjunction with the WRTV-Indianapolis fan club program, which requests donations of money or fans from Indiana residents.\n"In a sense, we developed our program to enhance the fan club," Scott said. "The donations they receive are distributed to action agencies around Indiana for the EAP programs."\nSouth Central Community Action Program is a non-profit organization designated by the Indiana Department of Human Services as the Community Action Agency for Monroe, Morgan, Owen and Brown counties. Since 1965, the purpose of SCCAP has been to reduce the extent and impact of poverty in this service area.\n"In light of the current economic situation, many people do not have the money to go out and purchase items for comfort," Combs said. "Some households have small children but can't afford to run their air conditioner. The program aims to help these people."\nThe EAP also coordinates a summer fill program which assists clients who use bulk fuel such as oil, propane and kerosene to heat their homes. The fuel can be saved until winter when the family will need it more. Because the price of fuel is generally lower in the summer months, the program enables clients to purchase fuel at a discount price.\nSally Carter, Owen County coordinator for the program, said that in one week the summer fill program has already served 46 households. Last year, Owen County provided services to 175 households in the same program.\n"The program gives our clients the opportunity to get their regular heating benefits at a much cheaper rate than November when the prices are high," Carter said.\nScott said because low income households pay 15 to 20 percent of their income to utility bills, the EAP program aims to correct this imbalance.\n"We want to keep everyone comfortable," Scott said. "Because of the popularity of the programs, our funding might even double next year."\nHoosiers wanting to apply for assistance should contact the community action agency in their county or apply online at www.state.in.us/fssa.
(06/05/03 1:34am)
On Wednesday evenings, community members can catch a glimpse at the sky from the recently renovated Kirkwood Observatory, located on the edge of campus between the woods and where Indiana Avenue meets Fourth Street.\nThe observatory has been closed to the public for three years. The dome, which opens in order to view the sky, was repaired little by little in a strong effort to improve its quality while maintaining historical value.\n"The telescope and dome are over 100 years old," said Kent Honeycutt, John W. Hill Professor of Astronomy. "Although the observatory had received regular low-level maintenance, accumulated problems, especially with the dome and roof, had become severe."\nRichard Durisen, chairman of the astronomy department, said the improvements made to the observatory were a challenge because the building is designated a historic site. \n"We had to preserve the style of its original architecture; and so we were not allowed to replace the wooden dome with a modern aluminum one," Durisen said. "The renovation was quite thorough and included a major facelift both inside and out."\nBeginning at dusk when the sky is dark and the weather is clear on Wednesday nights, the public can view planets, star clusters and the moon through the 12-inch refracting telescope for free and without reservations.\n"The solar telescope that we use to view the sun enables us to see details like sunspots and flares," said Catherine Pilachowski, Kirkwood Chair of Astronomy. "Studying the sun close up and personal helps students learn and relate the more complex phenomena that make the sun 'work' to their own experience."\nAstronomy has been part of the IU curriculum since 1856, and the observatory was constructed in 1900. The naming of the observatory came from Daniel Kirkwood, who lived and taught in Bloomington for 30 years. Kirkwood is credited with the discovery of the orbits of asteroids, also known as the "Kirkwood Gaps." From its early history until today, the Kirkwood Observatory has been used as a center for astronomy research, classes and stargazing.\n"Kirkwood is used for classes as well as for public nights," Pilachowski said. "Students in our astronomy classes relish a chance to look through the telescope to see the celestial objects we study in class, and really seeing the objects with our own eyes make them so much more real."\nDue to common inclement winter weather, these open houses will only be open during the warmer months of the year. However, Honeycutt said the viewings have been an IU tradition for years.\n"(The viewings) date back to at least the 1960s and probably earlier," Honeycutt said. "There may have even been public viewing nights at the observatory since 1902." \nAccording to a report issued by the Department of Astronomy, this summer is especially pleasant for sightings in the sky. By late August, Mars will be much closer to Earth than it has been in 15 years, and slightly closer than it has been in 50,000 years. Its distinctive red-orange color will double in brightness during the month, becoming equal to the brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere.\nJupiter will dominate the evening sky in the west after sunset and will appear lower each night as the month advances. Venus and Mercury will appear together near the east-northeast horizon before sunrise during June. By the second week this month, Saturn will disappear behind the sun.\n"Exploring the sky helps us answer the question of who we are, and how we got here," Pilachowski said. "It gives us a perspective much larger than ourselves. Of course, the sky is beautiful, too, and we all enjoy viewing the stars, moons, and planets."\nThe moon will be at first quarter on June 7, full on June 14, at third quarter on June 21 and new on June 29. \n"Those who visit within about plus or minus four days of the first quarter moon are able to see mountains and craters on the moon, a truly breathtaking sight," Durisen said. "On other nights during the summer, visitors may see double stars, star clusters, and star forming regions."\nDurisen said he urges students and community members to take advantage of the Wednesday night viewings at the new and improved Kirkwood Observatory.\n"It is extremely important for human beings to have some cosmic perspective, to be able to view their lives in the context of the larger world around them," Durisen said. "It can help us realize that whatever weighs us down in our daily lives may not be quite so important after all. When we do that, it helps us relax, eases stress, and allows us to be kinder to one another"
