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(11/12/04 6:12am)
Terry Tomlin remembers listening to John Mellencamp play at the Bluebird for $1.75. With hands clapping and the sounds of "Jack and Diane" blasting in the background, Tomlin joined Mellencamp fans from across several generations who came together at The City Grille Thursday night to hear their local hero rock out.\nWith all eyes fixated on the big screen TV's, loud eruptions of each chorus of "Jack and Diane" came from the crowd.\nSmiles grew as each song played like they were right alongside Mellencamp down the street at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, where a concert was being taped for A&E's "Live By Request" series.\n"I followed John in the early (1970s), and even though he doesn't know my name, I sure know his," Tomlin said. "His unrelentless thrust against the system is what I really like. He's just an all-around American guy, and he's never changed himself or his principles."\nThe show allowed viewers and fans from across the country, Canada, Mexico and Latin America to call and e-mail in their requests hoping to get a chance to speak to their favorite musician.\nExecutive producer of "Live by Request" Andy Kadison called Bloomington "Mellencamp central."\n"It was really important for us to do (the concert) in John's backyard and get the feeling of his artistry and songwriting relating to his inspirational background," he said. "I think that 'Live by Request' serves as a wonderful exclamation point for an artist to do bigger and better things." \nCallers from all over the country praised Mellencamp for his service to the musical world.\n"Oh my God. I am the biggest fan. Oh my god," the first caller screamed. "I'm so excited. You are the best songwriter in America. You make me proud to be an American."\nMellencamp, a native of Seymour, Ind., opened the show with "Small Town," a fitting and favorite song of many of the patrons at the restaurant. \n"John's pretty much a local homeboy," Tomlin said. "So sitting here and being able to watch him is going to be really cool."\nAs each song finished, applause and cheers from the crowd grew louder as people picked up cell phones to request their favorite songs.\nCindy Darnall, a resident of Jeffersonville, Ind., was hoping to get tickets to see Mellencamp live. Darnall, a fan since 1979 said she started liking Mellencamp after listening to his 1982 album American Fool and has been a fan ever since. Although she has never met Mellencamp personally, she knows people who have.\n"I, unfortunately, have never had a touch with greatness," she said. "I've got the seven degrees of John Mellencamp."\nMellencamp's followers spanned several decades, including a crowd of IU students who came together to watch one of their favorite musicians play.\nWhether it was his songwriting, music, memories from local concerts or boyish good looks, everyone who came to The City Grille praised Mellencamp's humble demeanor.\n"He's one of those guys you see on the street and you take a double-take," said senior Rachel Rivard. "He's a fun guy, and he's laid back just like anyone else you'd ever meet here. He truly is the small town hero."\nBloomington resident Tom Keough remembers seeing Mellencamp shoot the video for "I'm Not Running Anymore" on the steps of the Monroe County Courthouse.\n"It was freezing, everyone was bundled up there. It was so cold, and I was just walking by," he said. "They came out playing in regular street clothes. He's stayed so tight with the community and the University. I think he does a lot more than people know, and a lot of it goes unnoticed."\nAll of the people who packed into The City Grille came for a chance to see a local talent hit the stage.\n"This is just a really fun atmosphere," Rivard said, "and John Mellencamp playing here -- that makes it that much better."\nAmid the whistles and cheers across generation gaps, Mellencamp played a show that made local residents proud to call him a Hoosier.\n"He's a real personable guy; it's always been a beautiful thing," Keough said. "Everybody loves John. Come on, if you don't you've got to be a fool."\n-- Contact city & state editor Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(11/01/04 4:50am)
P. Diddy, Eminem and MTV might not be your normal political advocates, but they have all made significant efforts this year to try to make voting a mainstream fad.\nIt's come in the form of movements like "Choose or Lose," "Vote or Die," "Declare Yourself," "I Decide," Eminem's new music video "Mosh" and the national campaign encouraging young people to "Rock the Vote." \nAnd candidates have been taking notice.\nDuring this year's campaign, candidates have pushed harder than ever to secure the coveted youth vote. \n"It's not the first time people have gone out and targeted younger voters on a pretty focused level," said IU-Purdue University I Assistant Professor of Political Science Ellen Andersen. "The youth vote was considered extremely important in 1972, which was the first time people 18 to 21 could vote."\nExpectations are that there is going to be some uptake in youth voting this year, said IU Political Science Rudy Professor Edward Carmines.\n"It's been since the Vietnam war and anti-war movements since there was a lot of interest among youth people in politics," he said. "I think this year the movements will have some impact more than what we've seen in previous elections."\nBut it's not just the movements and push for the vote that has people paying attention, the stars supporting the movements have gotten just as much attention.\nIUPUI Political Science Associate Professor Bill Blomquist said he can't remember a time when as many celebrities played high-profile roles in elections as they have this year.\n"The parties and candidates have often tried to increase registration and turnout among younger voters," he said. "but the concert tours, 'Vote or Die' campaign, and other hoopla this year have been more visible and noisier than I can recall."\nBlomquist said a combination of the issues involved in this election and the push for youth votes has definitely made a difference.\n"Certainly among students here there seems to be more interest in this year's election and more openness about being registered and planning to vote," he said.\nBut whether the increase in registration numbers means college students will actually cast their vote is another story, Andersen said.\n"The time you get that answer is after the election to see if all the folks who registered come out and vote," she said. "If half the people who registered for "Rock the Vote" came out and voted it'd be great, but I suspect it'd be more like one-third or one-fourth."\nWhile there has been a large number of registered youth voters, the number of people who understand the issues and candidates they will vote for does not always match up.\nAndersen said in terms of her own classroom, about one-third really do have a clear understanding of issues, what's going on and who the candidates are.\n"There's about another third who want to understand what's going on but feel like they just don't get it -- they haven't built up the kind of knowledge of the basic things like what makes a liberal a liberal and a conservative a conservative," she said.\nAndersen said it's also hard for young voters to gauge political affiliation because they don't have significant prior knowledge or experiences on which to base their votes.\n"There are folks in my classrooms now who were born 18 years ago, during the Reagan presidency and they barely have a memory of Bush I," she said. "Their political memory starts with Clinton and that's not a lot of background to draw on."\nAndersen said there still is about one-third of her class who couldn't care less about what happens or understanding the issues.\n"For people their age this is like a trial run for them, their first steps in, their first political role, some of them really want to participate and others just don't" she said. "Those three groups probably mirrors pretty well what goes on in the larger world around them."\nAndersen said youths are interested this year largely because of the issues being debated.\n"So many incredible things have happened since the last election including 9-11 and the war in Iraq," she said. "In terms of thinking about the war in Iraq, I think it's the youth vote that has the most direct awareness of what going to war means because they'll be the ones fighting it."\nAnd in a year of close elections, young voters can especially make a large impact, Andersen said.\n"I think there's absolutely no question that if the youth came out and voted anywhere near in the numbers of people that exist and vote consistently in one director or another, I think it could change the election," Andersen said. "Any small group that comes out and votes in higher numbers than usual can sway an election. The youth vote for example in Ohio can have a great impact."\nSeveral factors have contributed to the surge in youth interest in the election, said IUPUI Professor of Political Science Brian Vargus.\n"It's not like we haven't tried civic engagement here before," he said. "I think this time the moon aligned with the planets right or something, it just all came together and got college students really interested. I think also a lot of people have husbands, wives or friends who are serving on active duty."\nVargus said when "Rock the Vote" came to do a voter registration drive at IUPUI, about 1,000 students turned out to the event.\nBut movements, groups and voter registration drives aren't the only way celebrities and groups are trying to target the youth vote. Grammy award winning rapper Eminem has made his political views clear in his new music video "Mosh" which targets Bush and his policies concerning the war in Iraq and has also attracted attention from younger voters.\nThe video, which gets significant playing time on MTV, shows headlines about the war in Iraq and shows animated soldiers and citizens angry with current national conditions getting together and rallying to vote to change policy and the president.\nAnd while the lyrics and video attacks President Bush, it also calls for younger voters to take the opportunity to vote regardless of who it's for.\nJust like all the other movements, professors and attempts to get youths to the polls, the song calls for young voters to go out, vote and let their voice be heard.\n"Let us beg to differ as we set aside our differences and assemble our own army to disarm this weapon of mass destruction," Eminem writes in his song. "That we call our President, for the present and mosh for the future of our next generation to speak and be heard. Mr. President, Mr. Senator do you guys hear us...hear us..."\n-- Contact City & State editor Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(10/27/04 5:47am)
At the busiest intersection on campus, a bicycle accident involving an IU B bus left a sophomore student hospitalized and in serious condition Tuesday, according to IU Police Department reports.\nJust before noon, Kohshiroh Harada collided with the campus bus, which was traveling eastbound on 10th Street approaching Jordan Avenue, said IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger.\n"The bus had a green light, and the bicyclist was traveling west as the bus turned into the intersection," Minger said. \nAs the bus began to make the turn, Harada rode into the side of the bus.\n"The bike struck the bus right at about the right front tire," Minger said.\nKohshiroh sustained multiple head injuries and had noticeable lacerations to his forehead, according to IUPD reports.\n"It's hard to give medical prognosis at the scene," Minger said, "but it did appear very serious."\nIt was not known whether Kohshiroh was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.\nKohshiroh was loaded onto a stretcher and transported to Bloomington Hospital amidst the crowd of witnesses and students who gathered following the accident.\nA hospital employee said Kohshiroh was in critical care in the early evening. No further information could be released.\n"When he was transported to the hospital, he was unconscious," Minger said. "The officers never saw him conscious."\nTalk of the accident circulated throughout campus as the day went on.\nSophomore Elisa Haskins heard about the accident from another student in her communications class Tuesday afternoon.\n"She said the biker and the bus were both going really fast and they just collided," Haskins said. "She said he had a huge gash on his forehead, and she thought the bus had the right of way."\nAfter the accident, IUPD officers surveyed the scene and inspected Kohshiroh's red bike, which was involved in the accident. The bike lay on the ground with a small pool of blood in the background, which was later washed off by responders at the scene.\nTuesday's accident marked the second collision this semester at the intersection of 10th Street and Jordan Avenue. Earlier in the semester a two-car accident left one car totaled and traffic stalled for more than an hour.\n-- Contact city & state editor Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(09/27/04 4:12am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- When Sean Malecha entered the IU Police Department cadet program in 1998, breaking down doors and serving warrants for the U.S. Marshals with a bulletproof vest and assault rifle strapped to his chest was only a dream.\nMalecha began training with IUPD in his sophomore year at IU and began providing unarmed security for campus events.\n"The IUPD police academy meets and exceeds the hours required," Malecha said. "I was able to ride with a full-time officer in the squad car and learn how to conduct traffic stops."\nMalecha also was part of the IUPD bike patrol before he graduated and moved on to work with the Hammond Police Department in Hammond, Ind.\n"I gained a lot of experience between the two," Malecha said. "The area in Hammond wasn't necessarily the best area, but I really learned a lot."\nNow, six years after he entered the IUPD force, Malecha has completed two years with the Southern District of Indiana U.S. Marshals.\nWhile he might be one of the youngest marshals in the department, his fellow marshals speak highly of him.\nSouthern District Chief Deputy Richard Burton, who graduated from the first IUPD cadet class in 1974, said Malecha's high energy makes him an integral part of their operation.\n"I enjoy having Sean here," Burton said. "He brings a lot of enthusiasm, and he has caused some others here to make sure their skills are just as sharp as Sean's are."\nArmed with an arsenal of weapons and technology, Malecha and the other marshals work to bring fugitives to justice and to protect judges and those in the witness protection agency.\nWhile he wakes up everyday not knowing what kinds of situations he will face, Malecha said the variety is one of the best parts of his job.\n"Every day is different -- there is no typical day," Malecha said. "We do warrant sweeps, kick in doors, court appearances ... travel providing security for judges, supply personnel for other districts and sit in on high threat trials."\nMalecha said being able to bring those who try to hide from the law to justice is one of the greatest satisfactions in his job.\n"There was a guy named Frederick Baer who was wanted for killing a mother and her daughter in LaPelle, Ind.," he said. "It was a brutal double homicide, and we were able to track him into Indianapolis and apprehend him without incident. It made me feel really good to know we took someone like that off the street."\nDeputy Marshal Christopher Barfield has been with the U.S. Marshals for six years and has spent three of those years in Indianapolis.\n"It's good to get new energy and fresh perspective into the office," Barfield said of Malecha.\nDespite the dangerous nature and the high level of stress the job entails, the Marshals have a sense of camaraderie and humor that echoes through their office.\nAt the end of the day, after doors have been kicked in, warrants have been served and fugitives have been brought to justice, each Marshal has made a difference.\n"You really do some high-profile things," Malecha said. "You go after some really dangerous people, but yet you're doing something that's central to our criminal justice system which is protect(ing) the judicial system."\nWhile the meaning behind the U.S. Marshals badge means something different to each individual, for Malecha, it's personal.\n"It means I've accomplished a major goal in my life by being part of an elite agency of law enforcement officers."\n-- Contact City & State editor Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(06/10/04 2:06am)
Throughout campus on any given day you can find a students wearing "Partying at the number one party school: PRICELESS" shirts. \nBut priceless it isn't.\nCampus police made 804 alcohol arrests and 313 drug arrests in 2002 ranking IU first in drug arrests and second in alcohol arrests, according to the U.S. Education Department but reported in The Chronicle of Higher Education.\nWhile the numbers and rankings are alarming to some, IU Dean of Students Richard McKaig and IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said the rankings are practical.\n"We happen to be one of the largest universities in terms of on-campus housing," McKaig said. "Other places like University of Minnesota and Ohio State have large universities, but may not have as many students living on campus."\nThe study compares campus police arrest numbers with each other, and McKaig said that makes it hard to compare schools.\n"Arrests might occur for those other schools, but within the city of Columbus or Minneapolis Police Departments," he said. "We have more students being subjected to campus police, so of course the arrest numbers are going to be higher. Because IU is one of the five largest residential campuses, it is probably always going to be within the top 10 unless we are totally ignoring these issues."\nStudents always have complained of stricter practices at IU in comparison to other schools.\n"I've been to Ball State or other schools where we can sit and drink outside and not be bothered," said freshman Ashley Stone. "I'd never even attempt that here because I know I'd get arrested."\nMinger said it is possible that higher numbers could reflect the strict enforcement by IUPD officers.\n"We aggressively enforce these types of violations," he said. "We also have the ability to write citations for illegal consumption and possession. In other counties the prosecutors and judicial systems may not even allow their officers to do that. You might either have to turn a blind eye or incarcerate completely, no matter what."\nThe process of writing citations is so quick and simple that the numbers at a party can add up fast, Minger said.\n"In Monroe County we can give a ticket, and you're done in a few minutes," Minger said. "We use citations frequently as an option because an officer gets a call to a party, and on entrance we can write 15 to 20 citations in less than five minutes, and so the numbers add up. In other places they may not want to take the time to have to fully incarcerate that many students, so they might turn the other way, causing lower arrest numbers."\nMcKaig said during 2002 there were many events that may have led to the increase in arrests.\n"In 2002 we had the run to the NCAA, so we know there were three weekends in a row where there were large gatherings of students in streets and at parties resulting in somewhat of 20 arrests a night," he said. "In 2003 numbers dropped by 200, so that shows a dramatic difference only a year later."\nMinger said health issues and smoking bans at the time in Bloomington might also have contributed to the high numbers.\n"There was a move towards no smoking in Bloomington, and people became more health conscience," Minger said. "There was no smoking in bars and restaurants, and the new chancellor instituted stricter guidelines on campus. You had more people calling in incidents not just because people were just smoking marijuana, but because they were more health conscience and didn't want anything being smoked in residence halls."\nMcKaig said he has doubt about enforcement at campuses that have extremely low numbers.\n"Every national study on drinking suggests there's relatively large usage by underage students," McKaig said. "Numbers that are particularly low suggest there isn't any enforcement going on."\nMinger said he agrees that while the numbers are high and people may read into them, they shouldn't necessarily send only negative messages.\n"I think they'll have to understand, of course, that we're going to have to be in the top five in these incidents because of our large residential numbers, but what I think it should tell them is we don't tolerate that kind of behavior," Minger said. "I think that the high numbers should show that we enforce violations of the law very strictly and try everything we can to curb unwanted and illegal behavior."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/28/04 6:04am)
Officers arrested junior Nitin Patel, 20, Monday on preliminary charges of dealing cocaine, maintaining a common nuisance and possession of paraphernalia, said IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger.\nThis marks the third cocaine arrest this month. Two Bloomington residents were arrested April 9 by the IU Police Department for the sale of crack cocaine. \nMinger said the case was initiated during the beginning of February, but there is no address for the initial buy.\n"It appears (officers) were buying powder cocaine from the subject," Minger said. "There were several other buys set up, and then they sent the (cocaine) to the lab and obtained a warrant."\nMinger said the arrest was made when Patel pulled in to the Dunnhill Apartments at 6 p.m.\n"As he was exiting (his car), Officer Hannum approached him and identified himself as a police officer," Minger said. "He placed him under arrest for two counts of dealing cocaine -- a class A felony -- and one count of maintaining a common nuisance -- a class D felony."\nMinger said the subject also had an object with residue that appeared to be used for smoking marijuana. \nDean of Students Richard McKaig said if a student is arrested by IUPD for certain criminal charges, it is considered campus-related.\n"We will definitely be receiving some information about the arrest," McKaig said. "Selling of drugs is a violation of the (Student) Code (of Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct), and so it's quite likely the University would need to review that, and it's quite likely some type of judicial process would proceed. Clearly it would be an issue of concern to the University."\nSection III, Part C of the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct outlines the actions the University can take when student misconduct occurs outside of the University campus.\nThe code states: "The University may discipline a student for acts of personal misconduct that are not committed on University property if the acts arise from University activities that are being conducted off the University campus, or if the misconduct undermines the security of the University community or the integrity of the educational process."\nMcKaig said it might take some time before the information or any University hearing takes place.\n"Especially when criminal charges are pending with the prosecutor, it is often the case that there is some delay in the University having access to any information," McKaig said. "It could be some time before the University is able to make that consideration, but certainly, (the University) is likely to proceed when it could."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/28/04 5:51am)
An IU student experienced feelings of anger, shock and disbelief as he learned exactly what it felt like to become the target of a hate crime. \nSometime between 7:30 and 10 p.m. Monday, his car was vandalized -- covered in red spray-painted swastikas and the word "Jew" splashed on the side.\nThe student, who is an active member of the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center, was advised by his roommate that someone had spray painted his car, and he later reported the incident to the Bloomington Police Department. The victim asked that his name be withheld. \n"My first thought was 'who would do such a thing,'" he said. "After thinking about what it actually symbolized and how I really felt, I was just pissed and angry that someone would be this distasteful and inhumane in their hatred. It's just sickening." \nThe student said the incident has left him and those he knows in shock.\n"The word that everyone uses is 'disgusting,'" he said. "People at Hillel, from what I understand, are beside themselves. My friends and peers are disgusted at this. There's no other reaction besides how horrific it is."\nThe student said he cannot understand the reasoning behind the hate. \n"You know it doesn't surprise me. There are some sick, sick individuals out there who need some serious help," he said. \nThe student said while events like this may happen frequently, he never believed it could happen to him.\n"This is the type of thing you see in a newspaper, Web site or TV and radio," he said. "This is not something that happens in Bloomington and especially not something that I thought happened to a regular Jewish kid from Maryland. I haven't done anything to deserve this."\nHillel Assistant Director Jessie Mallor said the incident might have been isolated but it has affected a wide variety of people.\n"I, personally, am shaken by the event, and I think we all feel shaken," Mallor said. "Everyone in the community feels affected because we know that it could have been any of us, and that's definitely a scary feeling."\nHillel is holding an event to decry the hate crime and promote solidarity today at 5:30 p.m.\nThe student said he has no understanding of why he became a targeted victim.\n"If someone has that big of a problem with me, confront me," he said. "Don't do something like this. Six million people didn't die for you to throw a swastika on my car." \nHillel Program Director Andy Gitelson said the incident might make students quite uneasy.\n"I think it makes some people in the Jewish community very nervous, but the bigger effect is on the campus community as a whole," Gitelson said. "I think more than anything, it's a sad commentary on the fact that there are still people out there that feel this is the way to get their beliefs across. I think it's sad that things like this are still happening today in the year 2004 -- post-Holocaust."\nAs word spread, members of the community offered their support to the IU Hillel Center as well as to the Bloomington Jewish community as a whole.\n"The incident is very upsetting, but to see the outpouring of community support, it definitely strengthens our community to have so many people who are standing up and saying this isn't right," said Hillel Director Rabbi Sue Shifron. "There was a statement from the religious leaders of support and a statement from the University as well. Everybody across the board was really concerned and really trying to voice their support for Jewish students, and it's been extremely appreciated."\nRabbi Shifron said though she has been in Bloomington for about 15 years, it has been a long time since she has seen an incident like this.\n"There have been occasional swastikas on campus," she said. "There has even been hate messages on bulletin boards, which are all horrible, but it's been a long time since this type of vicious targeted hate crime has occurred."\nMallor said she hopes, despite the impact of the incident, students remain strong.\n"I wouldn't want students to be scared," she said. "I understand the reaction, but that's exactly the type of reaction they want you to have -- they want you to be afraid. The best thing we can do as a community is show them that we will respond and they don't have to be afraid."\nShifron said she hopes to see a positive solution.\n"It's a horrible incident, but I think the outpouring of support shows there are many people in Bloomington that are good, willing supporters, friends, colleagues and who really understand," Shifron said. "We should take this as a real opportunity for people to build community out of a bad situation."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/27/04 6:07am)
With Little 500 regarded as one of "the greatest college weekends," many students expect to see a large police presence all weekend. This year was no exception.\nIU Police Department officers made a total of 125 arrests this weekend -- an increase of 211 percent from last year, and wrote 76 citations, an increase of 345 percent, said IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger.\nIndiana State Excise Police Lt. Tom Miles said 185 files were charged with the prosecutor's office this weekend. \nOne-hundred thirty-nine minors, between the ages of 18 to 20, were arrested Miles said. He said two were juveniles under 18, and 16 were adults over 21. \nMiles added the Village Pantry on 12th and Indiana was cited for selling alcoholic beverages to minors.\nMinger said while the number of arrests is up, the severity of the offenses has definitely decreased.\n"Back then, we had to block off and barricade Jordan Avenue off at Law Lane, all of the way out to the Bypass because it was like one huge party," Minger said. "We didn't have enough personnel to even control and contain what was going on. So many people were getting injured."\nMinger said the Little 500 parties used to spill out into apartment complexes when things especially got out of hand.\n"Probably the highest damage and potential for damage was at Varsity Villas where there were tipped over cars, and people were setting fire to them," Minger said. "Students were throwing beer bottles and water balloons, and the fire department had to be escorted in by police in riot gear."\nMinger said incidents such as these provoked efforts to control and reform violent activity during the popular annual event.\n"It was a collective effort on the part of apartment owners, bar owners, restaurant owners, University law enforcement officers and prosecuting offices," Minger said. "Everyone got together to see what we need to do to hold this activity to a minimum. It was very effective, as you can see -- things have gotten a lot better -- not without incident of course, but dramatically better."\nMinger said increased communication and implementation of extra police forces have helped control the behavior occurring during these weekends.\n"The apartment complexes hired security to restrict the number of people in the area," Minger said. "Owners put extra people on duty to control their patrons from becoming too drunk, as well as the amount of people coming in and out. Police have made efforts to have state police helicopters and extra reinforcements all over campus, and therefore we communicated much better in deploying our officers."\nBecause the number of arrests is characteristically high during Little 500 weekend, this is the one weekend where the courthouse is open Sunday morning, Minger said.\n"The local Court system has devised a special process to deal with people charged with alcohol offenses over the weekend of Little 500," according to the Student Legal Services Web site. "If you are cited over the weekend of Little Five for an alcohol offense, you will be ordered to appear for an initial hearing on Sunday, April 25 at 8:30 a.m." \nMany of the students arrested during this weekend were found doing road work Sunday morning across campus as part of the Pretrial Diversion Program. \nMinger said although the arrest numbers remain high, the enforcement is needed to ensure the safety of everyone in town for the weekend.\n"Consequently, I think it controls the situation, so it doesn't get out of hand," Minger said. "Quite frankly, we want everyone to have fun and for lots of people to come and enjoy the things Bloomington and IU has to offer."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/26/04 6:29am)
Freshman Michael L. Green was found dead on arrival early Sunday morning after falling from a ninth-floor window of Briscoe-Gucker, said IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger.\nStudents gathered Sunday night in memoriam and held a candlelight vigil for Green, a transfer student from Purdue.\nThe 19-year-old was spotted as IUPD Officer Randy Frye was on his way home after being on duty Saturday night.\n"Frye turned left from Fee Lane onto 17th when he noticed the male lying on the ground in front of Briscoe, the side facing Fee Lane," Minger said. "At this point, it appears there was no foul play involved. Nobody else was involved, and his last known contact was between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m."\nMinger said, so far, the case is not being classified as a suicide or an accident.\n"There will be no final determination until (the coroner's office) have completed their report, after we complete our investigation and determine what was the final cause," Minger said. "We still have to wait for the medical reports, toxicology analysis, and we'll talk to witnesses."\nEarlier that evening, Green had consumed alcohol and was given a citation by IUPD officers, Minger said.\n"He was cited for illegal consumption on the south side of the Sigma Pi fraternity," Minger said. "At the time, he was not so intoxicated that the officer had felt he needed to be arrested for public intoxication, so it was probably a relatively small amount of alcohol that he had."\nMinger said though Green had been issued the citation, he would not speculate as to whether alcohol played any role in the incident.\n"Who's to say what would tip the scales one way or the other?" Minger asked.\nStudents in both Briscoe-Gucker and Shoemaker had mandatory meetings with their Residence Assistants where they were told about the incident. Flyers were posted around the dorms with numbers and contacts for counseling service if students needed it.\nLast Monday, an IU student survived a jump from the eighth floor of Ballantine Hall in an apparent suicide attempt.\nDean of Students Richard McKaig said students undergoing stress should seek some of the counseling services IU offers. "We certainly want the word to be out to students that counseling and support services are available if students are feeling stressed," McKaig said. "I know that our RA's are doing the best they can do to be on the look-out and reach out to students who are stressed. I think this message is just a reminder for us all that, if indeed there are students who need assistance, we need to be there for them."\nMcKaig said while the approach of finals may cause some concern, the emphasis should remain on helping out those in need.\n"Clearly at the end of the semester, all kinds of additional pressures are placed on students, and so, in that sense, I think there's certainly heightened concern when you have any kind of a tragedy at the end of the semester," McKaig said. "In that sense, certainly there are additional concerns, additional reasons for people to seek out others if they feel themselves having stress and to be sensitive to our friends and those around us if they seem to be having difficulty dealing with some issues."\nWhile the investigation into Green's death continues, students gathered together to remember their friend for the way he lived. Nearly 40 students gathered outside the dorm where Green died to light candles and mourn.\nOne student played the guitar as others embraced each other and cried around the candlelight memorial the students had made. Hometown friends came together with new ones to remember Green. Some knelt before a cross and could only bow their heads in prayer.\nSome of Green's friends described him as "a saint" and a guy who would "give you the shirt off his back," while others were too upset to bring themselves to talk.\nEarlier, students spoke about their memories with Green and said he was "the type of guy who didn't want you to know he was hurting and always wanted to be seen with a smile."\nOne student said even though she wasn't best friends with him, she didn't have to be because he was the nicest guy to everyone.\nA hometown friend said the large gathering serves to show what type of a guy Green was.\n"We don't want him to be just another number," he said. "We don't want him to be remembered by the way that he died, but, rather, by the way that he lived."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/24/04 12:51am)
The president of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity will be meeting with Assistant Dean of Students Steve Veldkamp today after an IU Police Department officer shut down a party after finding alcohol bottles at the house late Wednesday night. \nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said Officer Scott Dunning was forced to stop in front of the Phi Kappa Sigma house around midnight because two taxi cabs were blocking off the street. Minger said Dunning was behind one of the cabs but couldn't go anywhere, and it was at that point that he saw 10 subjects coming from the house.\n"They were all carrying red cups out of the house," Minger said. "They started walking toward those cabs, and one of them said, 'It's a fucking cop -- dump the alcohol,' and they all threw their cups out of the way, except one female subject who was kind of standing there. Then one guy turns to her and knocks it over and says, 'Get rid of it before he catches you.'"\nWhile none of the fraternity members were arrested, one misdemeanor citation for illegal consumption of alcohol was issued to a student exiting the house. Although IUPD will not take any action against the fraternity, the case has been handed over to Dean of Students Richard McKaig to assess whether University regulations were violated.\nPolice spoke to house President Mike Freidman, as well as McKaig, about the situation, Minger said.\n"The president was cooperative with officers and allowed them into the house," Minger said. "Our officers went through the house where they saw several male subjects with mops and trash cans. They later located a 32-gallon trash can full of Rolling Rock beer bottles and a bottle of vodka."\nMinger said Friedman told officers they had not been serving alcohol. \nFriedman declined to comment on the situation until after today's meeting with Veldkamp.\nThe IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct states: "Student organizations that serve or permit possession of alcoholic beverages at student organization functions, on or off campus, may be disciplined if violations of alcoholic beverage laws or of University regulations occur. Individual students who plan, sponsor, or direct such functions also may be subject to discipline."\nMcKaig said the facts of the case must be examined before pointing fingers and that no case can be pre-judged.\n"Judicial boards or hearing officers have to hear the facts, and they have to see there is clear and convincing evidence that University regulations have been violated," McKaig said. "You'd start with the question: 'Is there reasonable evidence?' And then you would have the hearing."\nMcKaig said factors such as the citation issued outside the house and the bottles found would be specific examples of what needed to be examined.\n"We would have to listen to the fraternity's explanation," he said. "I won't receive the report until next Wednesday, and if it goes further, (the case will go to) the Office of Student Ethics the Wednesday after Little 500. Little 500 is a busy weekend, so it will probably go with several cases as opposed to being the only one -- that makes the process longer."\nMcKaig said when the hearing will occur really depends upon the caseload and whether the claims are deemed legitimate.\n"This is the kind of thing that could be a case that gets heard at the beginning of the next school year, or maybe after finals," McKaig said. "It could take a couple weeks to get things into the system."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/22/04 6:56am)
Credit, debit and ATM cards have become recent targets for fraud and theft on campus during the last month.\nSince April 1, nine reports, with one as recent as last Friday, have been filed with the IU Police Department regarding stolen cards, withdrawals made without the owners' consent or illegal use of the card for online purchases. \nAccording to the Federal Trade Commission, 28 percent of national identity theft victims are college-aged students ranging from 18 to 29 years old.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said because of the recent increase in thefts and unwarranted activity, the department plans to compile a list of steps people can take if they notice irregular activity on their cards.\n"Most of them are common sense items," Minger said. "You should always check your bills to make sure the items are legitimately purchased. If you feel any of your personal information, whether it's your credit card number or social security number, has been compromised, you should notify your credit card company as well as the major companies that monitor credit card applications."\nMinger said IUPD has worked with credit card companies in the past month to track down and solve where the purchases are being made. \n"When someone notices strange activity, we check with these companies to see how the cards are being used and where it's being used," Minger said. "Many times the institutions where the card is being used is equipped with cameras, and we can match up when the card was used with video to see who was in fact using the card, which can lead to an arrest."\nThese investigatory measures have resulted already in one arrest for fraud made by IUPD officers.\nAnother concern is ATMs are being illegally altered to allow criminals to steal IDs and PIN numbers. The University of Texas Police Department recently issued a report explaining the trend. \n"A team of organized criminals is installing equipment on legitimate bank ATMs in at least two regions to steal both the ATM card number and the PIN," the report states. "The team sits nearby in a car receiving the information transmitted wirelessly over weekends and evenings from equipment they install on the front of the ATM."\nThe report continues "a wireless camera is disguised as a leaflet holder and mounted in a position to view ATM PIN entries" and "the camera shown is installed and ready to capture your PINs by looking down on the keypad as you enter your PIN."\nMinger said he is not aware of these devices being used in Bloomington but feels as people increasingly use ATMs and Debit cards, this type of theft will no doubt become more prevalent.\nMinger said any students who feel they may have been a victim of any type of credit card fraud or theft should report their claim to IUPD.\nFor more information about credit card theft, how to report a claim to your credit card company and ways to identify this fraud, visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft.\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/21/04 5:42am)
With Little 500 approaching, IU Police Department officers, residence hall staff and University officials are taking precautions and instituting policies to promote safety during celebrations.\nThe past four weekends, IUPD officers made an average of 16 arrests while the weekend of April 16 through 19, officers made 39 arrests. \nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said the week leading up to the race and the Little 500 weekend itself, traditionally mark a high number of arrests. He said the large number of events occurring around Little 500 is the reason for the stepped up security.\n"People think there are more officers lurking (on campus) because there are more events that occur during Little 500 weekend," Minger said. "At those events, it's prescribed by the University that there is a certain number of people working security because of the mass amount of people at the venues. Consequently, it produces more personnel on campus."\nMinger said while IUPD doesn't hire any more officers for the weekend, there will be more police visible.\n"People will definitely see more officers around," Minger said. "They'll have to work longer hours in order to supply the personnel needed by the university and others who have functions during the week and weekend."\nMany of the officers use Little 500 as a chance to work more shifts and make extra money, Minger said. He said other sponsoring organizations hire IUPD officers to provide security for their own events.\n"Almost all of those officers aren't working their normal shift, they're working overtime," Minger said. "It's over and above their normal eight-hour shifts. Most of the time those officers are working they're also being paid and budgeted by those other organizations."\nDuring the bike races for example, the IU Foundation pays officers to provide security at Bill Armstrong Stadium.\nCertain residence hall staffs have also instituted their own policies for the weekend. Residents in halls such as McNutt and Ashton received a memo from Residential Programs and Services staff this weekend pertaining to guidelines for Little 500. \nThe memo indicated the RPS guest policy will be strictly enforced, and all guests must be registered with the resident's Residence Assistant. In addition, all guests must carry around a registration slip at all times.\n"If your guest is found without a registration slip, she or he will be asked to leave," the memo to McNutt residents states. "In addition, according to the University guidelines, no more than two guests of the same gender per resident are allowed per night. Overnight guests of the opposite sex are not permitted."\nIn addition to a harsher enforcement of the regular guest policy, McNutt staff will also be enforcing additional policies.\n"All buildings and their common areas will be locked from 4 p.m. Thursday, until 8 a.m. Sunday," the memo states. "This includes all floor lounges, hallway entrance doors and exterior doors."\nWhile the police and residence halls said their actions are aimed at providing extra safety, many students feel negatively about the step-up in police presence. Sophomore Dave Allen was acting as a designated driver for the Sigma Pi fraternity when he was pulled over and arrested by police last Thursday.\n"It seems there's a lot more police out on the streets and pulling people over more," Allen said. "Sober drivers usually never get pulled over, and it just seemed like they were out to get us."\nPolice efforts for the race will bring together many different agencies to coordinate safety efforts.\n"We'll have officers from Monroe County Sherrifs Auxiliary, Bloomington Hospital Ambulance Service, as well as Bloomington Police Department," Minger said. "The largest contingent of officers will be from IUPD. We've had meetings and will continue to have meetings all week with law enforcement agencies from the state police down to coordinate any efforts that we may need, should any events transpire during the week."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/20/04 6:22am)
Hundreds of students witnessed a 22-year-old male student jump from the eighth floor of Ballantine Hall just before noon Monday.\nThe student, a Merrilville, Ind., resident who lives in the dorms, survived the attempted suicide and was transported to Bloomington Hospital, according to IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger. Eyewitnesses said the man jumped and landed on the solid awning of the north side's first floor after breaking a window with a chair.\nMinger said seven IUPD officers, three IUPD detectives, the Bloomington Fire Department and Bloomington Hospital Ambulance Service responded to the call. IU Emergency Services also responded to the call.\nAssistant Professor of English Ivan Kreilkamp was walking over a bridge to Ballantine when the incident occurred.\n"I was worried that the chair was going to hit someone," Kreilkamp said. "The chair was thrown hard through the window. A second later, a man clambered out, kind of leaned over and let go."\nSenior and IU EMS volunteer Nate Polite was the first responder on the scene. Polite said he was leaving the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation when he heard several screams and ran toward Ballantine Hall. \n"When I got up (to the awning) there were two workers. One janitor was an EMT also," Polite said. "I was the only one who could slip through the window, so I took my sandals off and got down on the rocks. There was glass everywhere."\nPolite said the student was conscious and sitting up when he reached him.\n"He was talking to me, he definitely seemed disoriented, but he was conscious," Polite said. \nPolite said it was a good sign the student had feeling in his legs.\n"We were worried about femur fractures," Polite said. "He had some puncture wounds and some lacerations. In that situation, you have got to get him out of there as soon as you can, because there could be internal bleeding."\n Minger said IUPD received 10 emergency calls from witnesses. Amy Brummet, the Bloomington Police Department dispatch supervisor, said the BPD central emergency dispatch received 22 emergency calls in a span of about three minutes.\nSome students who witnessed the incident called friends on their cell phones, while others could only stare and try and piece together what had happened.\nPolite said his greatest relief was that he reached the scene and was able to try and help.\n"I was very surprised and very happy to see that he was sitting up," Polite said. "I was just very glad because I was afraid as soon as I heard that I was going to come to something that couldn't be worked -- a scene that didn't have hope."\nBloomington Hospital would not release the man's condition.\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/13/04 6:17am)
In two separate incidents, IU Police Department officers arrested two male Bloomington residents for the sale of cocaine Friday.\nJohn Hardin, 51, was arrested on two charges of dealing crack cocaine, which is a class A felony, as well as maintaining a common nuisance, a class D felony, said IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger.\nBrandon Goodman, 35, was arrested and also charged for dealing crack cocaine, a class A felony, Minger said. \nHardin was dealing out of his place of residence. \n"On Feb. 10, purchase of cocaine from the subject were made," said Minger. "The initial case was pretty straightforward. He started selling coke, and we have several cases of buying cocaine from him."\nMinger said the police tested the substance at the state police lab, and once the results yielded cocaine, they got a warrant for Hardin's arrest, and the case has been closed.\nMinger said the monitoring of Goodman's deals began March 10.\nHe said the deal took place in the parking lot at the 7-Eleven on West 11th Street.\nThe purchased substance from Goodman was also tested at the state lab, and a warrant for his arrest was issued when results returned positive for crack cocaine. \n"Cocaine is one of the most 'reinforcing' of all drugs," according to the Indiana Prevention Resource Center Web site. "People who use it experience a strong compulsion to continue taking additional doses. Crack cocaine is especially dangerous because of its high addiction potential. Because its vapors are inhaled and and go to the brain within seconds, the user experiences an intense euphoria, while at the same time receiving a very high dose of the drug."\nThe Web site also states under both federal and state law, any illegal distribution or use of cocaine is a felony. \nIt is a class A felony in Indiana to sell more than 3 grams of cocaine to adults or to sell any amount to a person under 18 years of age, according to the Web site. The usual sentence for a Class A felony is 30 years, which may range from 10 to 50 years, and carries a maximum $10,000 fine. Suspension of all or part of prison sentences normally is allowed under Indiana law, and judges are required to impose a minimum sentence that cannot be suspended on delivery of 3 grams or more of cocaine.\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/12/04 7:12am)
Beads of sweat dripped down senior Shannon Mickels' head and neck while his fast-flying footwork moved to the beat of the glowing blue and pink arrows below him. With the bass thumping and lights flashing, his eyes intently focus in on the arcade game screen. Twenty of his peers surround him, and he owns the game -- they all do. They've communed at Lazerlite, with sweaty shirts from practice, fancy footsteps of rehearsed routines and pre-made costumes -- and they're doing it all for charity.\nPeople ranging from junior-high to college age came together for the third "Dance Dance Revolution" charity event. Profits from the event went to the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Jim Halliday, vice president of information technology at the Music Library, has organized the event the past three times.\n"We've still got some additional T-shirt sales, but it looks like our total will be somewhere greater than $2,000," Halliday said. "We're just thrilled. I had two kids who were at Riley's and they were wonderful to us, so it just seemed like a natural choice."\nThe event took place Friday and Saturday, where for $10 anyone could play unlimited "DDR." Fanatics from Bloomington and IU flocked to Lazerlite at the chance to show off their skills, have a good time and support an excellent cause. The days featured a variety tournament where nine teams of three to five people competed.\nOther events included a freestyle event where people performed rehearsed routines and a technical tournament where players competed in the number of combinations and how well they did at the game.\n"I've come to two of the 'DDR' events and I've been playing for a year and a half," said senior Paul Quinby. "The event's gotten a lot of good hype, especially because people know Jim works hard to run his events well. I think it's really amazing they're doing it to raise money for Riley's."\n"DDR" enthusiasts battled each other throughout the day in practices before the tournaments. While scoping out their competition, some practiced on the side on their laptops. With headphones on, and in the zone, some used their keyboards to practice their timing before taking it to the game.\n"It was almost like a big party, the atmosphere was very laid back and friendly," said Halliday. "The "DDR" scene is very competitive, due to that nature and that we were raising money everyone was really excited. I even heard several people say 'I don't care if our team wins,' because they were having such a great time."\nAs some of the players sat at tables and watched their friends battle out with others, they could be found tapping along to the movements.\nAs 19-year-old Jason Rose stepped onto the "DDR" platform he cracked his neck from side to side and got ready to psych himself up. The game began and he racked up combination after combination. The sweat through his shirt began to show, and his intense expression lit up as his body moved effortlessly to the beat. When the game was over, he let a sigh from his fast-paced moves and smiled.\n"A lot of people call 'DDR' karaoke with your feet," he said. "It's timing with your feet. It's all about the timing -- lucky for me, you don't have to be able to dance to do well."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/12/04 5:12am)
As students returned to town from Easter weekend, a three-car accident temporarily shut down Indiana Highway 45/46 Sunday evening. Numerous police cars, ambulances and rescue trucks arrived at the scene of a car flipped on its side. The highway was blocked off from near North Martha Street to Dunn Street. \nAt press time, the accident report had not yet been released, but Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Alan Pointer said there were no serious injuries.\n"Nobody was hurt, not seriously anyway," Pointer said. "I know it involved three cars and it was a rear-end accident. One car was hit from behind and landed on its side."\nThe driver of the flipped car asked that his name be withheld, but said he didn't think he was doing anything wrong.\n"I really thought I had enough time to stop, but they told me I should've stopped," he said. "Nobody was hurt though."\nThe flipped car was turned back over and all three cars were removed from the scene of the accident. \nSenior Steve Brennan and his friend were driving when the accident occurred and walked to the Church of Christ parking lot to observe.\n"We were driving and saw the cars start to back up," Brennan said. "When we went to watch, we saw the cops show up and the car sitting on its side. I just hope nobody got hurt."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/07/04 5:42am)
For those running for editor in chief of the Indiana Daily Student and Arbutus, Tuesday featured an afternoon of questions, answers, application read-throughs, presentations and one final vote. Three hours later, three new editors in chief emerged from the Georgia Room at the Indiana Memorial Union. \nJuniors Joshua Weinfuss and Jane Charney and sophomore Theresa Schwartz were named editors in chief for the summer and fall semesters of the IDS and next year's Arbutus, respectively.\nAll three described the process as being nerve-wracking but very necessary.\n"That was definitely one of the hardest things I've had to do," Charney said. "Everything you say comes back to you, and people will always remember what you say and hold you up to your promises."\nSchwartz said although the process was long and rough, she sees a bright future next year for the Arbutus.\n"(At the College Media Advisers conference) in New York, when people saw the Arbutus, they took a step back in awe," she said. "I want to keep us in that same light, and I would just like to continue the tradition of the black-and-white photos and the overall success we've achieved. I can't wait to get started."\nDave Adams, the IDS and Arbutus publisher, said he was impressed with Schwartz's dedication.\n"Theresa has been on staff for two years and has been involved in yearbook since early-on in high school," Adams said. "She's one of those people that lives and breathes yearbook, and that enthusiasm excited the board."\nMillicent Martin, a member of the IDS Publications Board, is an arts & entertainment reporter at the Palladium-Item in Richmond, Ind., and wrote for the IDS and Arbutus when she attended IU.\n"The people chosen for editors in chief showed a lot of love for the IDS," Martin said. "They were both passionate about their jobs and the paper, and that's really important."\nWith the process over, these new leaders have their jobs cut out for them.\n"I'm excited and relieved all at the same time," Weinfuss said. "I'm excited to get going and to have the opportunity to be editor in chief of the IDS. It's an honor to be a leader of this paper, one of the most respected, if not the most respected, college paper in the nation. To lead it is a great honor."\nWeinfuss is currently the sports editor at the IDS and has worked as the women's Little 500 beat writer, men's golf beat writer and a senior writer in his six semesters at the IDS.\n"I want to continue covering Bloomington and IU without having people notice there is a break in the semesters -- that's my main goal," Weinfuss said. "One of the biggest issues over the summer is getting people involved, filling staff and getting people motivated. I hope to keep writers pumped and give young people the opportunity to do great things when there's so many tempting other options."\nAdams said Weinfuss is more than qualified for the position.\n"Josh had an excellent application, presentation and is very well-liked by his peers," Adams said. "He's been really involved in two major projects at the paper -- the Little 500 and Coach Yeagley specials. That's especially important for the summer because we do the Freshman Edition and The Orienter, so he seems ideally suited for the job."\nCharney, who will become editor in chief in the fall, is a managing editor this semester and has been arts editor, design chief, a writer and a designer. \n"I hope to keep up the great tradition that's been a part of the paper for the last 137 years," she said. "We also have to be committed to covering the city and state in addition to campus coverage. When you come to IU, you're also becoming a Bloomington resident, and it's important to recognize that."\nAdams said he has watched Charney grow from the time she was an arts editor and continues to watch her grow as a managing editor.\n"I think the Board was especially impressed with her professionalism -- it's part of who she is," he said. "A Board member told me, 'Dave Adams is very lucky to have her,' and I definitely agree."\nCharney said a major issue is to continue to motivate writers to not burn out.\n"If management can create an optimistic atmosphere in the newsroom and keep people wanting to work, we'll be continuing in the right direction," she said. "I also hope to continue localizing national stories and providing local angles on a lot of the big news."\nAt the end of her semester, Charney hopes her readers will look back and be pleased.\n"Mostly, I hope people will be satisfied that all of their questions have been answered," she said. "Also, I've been here with old staff, and now with the new staff, I'm sort of a bridge in between the two. I hope to infuse the new staff with the same love for the IDS that I have."\nLooking into the future of the Arbutus and IDS, Adams said he couldn't be more thrilled with the leaders chosen.\n"I am a lucky guy," he said. "To get to work with all of these great students, that's a great job."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/07/04 5:36am)
On any given day, students may return to their cars and find key scratches or return to their apartments and find a window broken. But, the likelihood of it happening has slowly but steadily decreased during the last four years at IU.\nBetween Aug. 1, 2000 and April 6, 2001, the number of reported vandalisms totaled 260, while the number stands at 163 for the same period this year. Each year in between, the number of reported vandalisms has slowly dropped. \nA USA Today article in 2002 reported "a new study shows people who live within a mile of a college campus are more than twice as likely as those living farther away to face public disturbances," with vandalism being one of them.\nWhile the number of overall incidents has decreased, the number occurring at Greek houses has remained steady and increased in proportion over the years. During the year, vandalisms on campus have ranged from destruction of street signs, smashing of windows, spray-painting on Greek houses and automobile vandalism, among others. \nIn recent weeks, Acacia fraternity saw an instance of public vandalism with "Fag" spray-painted on an engraved stone on the front lawn. \nIU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger said there are a lot of factors when dealing with vandalism and to attribute the decline to any cause would require more detailed research.\n"You would have to look at the different types of vandalisms," Minger said. "Then you would need to do an analysis, check out the different locations, time of day and type of neighborhood. It's hard to make a snap determination if you don't know exactly what you're looking at."\nMinger said the best way to combat against these instances of vandalism is for students to take note of the similarities in occurrences.\n"There's always safeguards, whether it be vandalism or protecting property against theft," he said. "You would have to look to see when those incidents were happening. For example, increase lighting if most of the incidents would happen at night."\nMinger said there are also socioeconomic factors that could effect the data.\n"Different types of people are coming to campus at different times," he said. "There was a time we had a lot of incidents where juveniles were tagging, and that caused an increase in vandalism cases. Also, in the summer, when school is out, there are more juveniles around. Factors like that can also effect those numbers."\nCampuses across the country are facing similar problems. In Nov. 2003, the Ball State Intrafraternity Council recognized the growing number of Greek vandalisms, making it the first time any IFC created legislation on the matter. In the same month, University of New Mexico Greek houses suffered nearly $5,000 worth of damage in an extreme ring of vandalism cases, according to University Wire articles.\nWhile public vandalism often occurs at Greek houses or happens to numerous cars, a large number of incidents occur in many of the residence halls.\nMcNutt Promoting Responsibility in Damage Elimination has hung signs throughout the dorms in the hope of deterring vandals and encourage residents to report any incidents they see. Projects such as these may have helped in contributing to the decrease. \n"Community responsibility means that you should turn in those who are making everyone's life hell. Don't be intimidated by bullies and report threats and intimidation along with damages," states one sign. "When someone asks, 'tell them you didn't see nothin' ... don't cover for those that are not worth covering, they wouldn't do it for you."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.
(04/06/04 6:12am)
While alcohol and drug arrests at IU have decreased in the last year, IU officials, police and store owners remain cautious about causes and implications of the decline.\nDean of Students Richard McKaig said he believes it would be a good idea to withhold judgment on these statistics for at least another year or two.\n"I'd like to think the arrests are down because students are drinking less," McKaig said. "But until we see lower numbers I wouldn't want to be premature in making assumptions. We experienced a hike when we were in the NCAA championships where there was a lot of extra partying. Now we're back down to the norm of what it was about two years ago."\nAlcohol arrests dropped to 614 in 2003 from 814 the previous year, and drug arrests fell to 276 from 338, according to IU Police Department reports.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said it's hard to determine the cause of the decline, or if the numbers are part of a bigger downward trend.\n"As far as the amount of incidents, they haven't declined that much," Minger said. "Our work force has been fairly stable, so it's just hard to say. We try to figure out what exactly may cause an escalation or fall, and really we can only come up with a variety of pressures. But even then, we can't be sure."\nMinger said factors such as the weather, how the sports teams are doing or even students learning how to draw less attention to themselves can be explanations for the decline.\n"Sometimes if students are watching a game on TV and drinking, if the weather is nice outside they may spill outside," he said. "If there's a big game, with a lot of students who spill outside, that right there could be 10 to 15 citations. If that happens a couple times a year, that's a significant increase. Sometimes small issues like that can make a difference in the year's arrest count."\nThe publicity about Indiana as a party school inspired a crackdown in 2002 resulting in an increase in arrests. This publicity also made students more aware of police, either deterring them from drinking, or making them more aware of how to draw less attention to themselves.\n"There was so much publicity at that time," Minger said. "People always thought they were going to be arrested, so it caused people to be much more cautious. Most of our arrests are incidents where someone is causing a fight or acting in a way that makes our officers suspicious. When students realize that, and concentrate on not standing out, it is possible the arrests could decrease"\nAssistant Manager of Big Red Liquor Store Nick Fleming said he believes the decrease may have resulted from students' awareness of the consequences and the crackdown against fake IDs.\n"We always are training our employees on looking for fakes," Fleming said. "We ask questions on IDs. We also don't sell to people that look to be drunk or smell to have alcohol on their breath, as well as those who have been in the store over one or two times in the same night."\nFleming said he believes liquor stores especially have been working harder to crackdown against underage buyers.\n"I think with liquor stores people are getting the hint and are finally realizing they aren't going to be getting away with going in with a fake ID -- not Big Red anyway," Fleming said. "Most people have come to know not to come into a Big Red store with a fake ID or we're going to catch you. We're either going to take it or you're going to have to deal with the law."\nSenior Rob Bonnell, who frequents the bars in Bloomington, said he often times sees police warn students to leave, rather than giving them a ticket, or arresting them.\n"I see the cops at Sports every weekend," Bonnell said. "I used to be afraid to walk down the street drunk because of their presence, but recently, I've seen police more interested in everyone's safety and would rather ask you to leave than write a ticket."\nBonnell said he believes the lax attitude lasts usually until some issue sparking the crackdown, similar to what happened when The Princeton Review named IU the No. 1 party school.\n"When someone fell down the stairs at Sports, they were a lot harder with checking IDs," Bonnell said. "I'm 22, and they gave me a lot of problems trying to get in after that happened."\nAlthough there remains no clear-cut answer as to why there was a decrease, administrators, police and owners remain hopeful the trend continues.\n"Certainly the University has done a lot to make sure students exercise responsibility and be careful if they are, in fact, drinking," McKaig said. "The midnight special is available so students don't have to be walking or driving, which might help reduce the number of arrests. However, it's just too early to predict. Give it another year."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(04/05/04 6:07am)
In a downtown Indianapolis hotel Friday, Officers Chris Dutton and Mike Antonelli were honored by the American Heart Association at American Heartsaver Day.\nThe event honors the heroes and members of the community who have provided life-saving care using CPR or an Automated External Defibrilator. \nThe two were "honored for (their) efforts in promoting and advocating healthier and safer communities," according to a letter from the AHA.\nAntonelli, who now works for the Indianapolis Police Department, and Dutton responded to an IU Police Department call Feb. 7, 2003, to the IU Physical Plant, where employee Allen Clouthier was not responsive. \nWhen the officers arrived at the scene, Clouthier was lying on the floor -- unconscious, not breathing and without a pulse, according to an IUPD incident report.\nAccording to the AHA Web site, "for every minute that passes without defibrillation, a victim's chances of survival decrease by 7 to 10 percent."\nWith CPR in progress, Dutton arrived with the AED. An AED is a portable device that walks the user through the process of checking and analyzing the heart's rhythm. The device specifies where and how to apply the pads, when and if a shock is needed and what steps to take to prepare to deliver a shock to the heart. \n"Once the machine prompted Officer Dutton to shock the patient, he did so," Antonelli wrote in his incident report. "The AED then showed a display that advised 'no shock.' At this point, we continued CPR. Officer Dutton conducted chest compressions while I administered the mouth-to-mouth breathing."\nDutton and Antonelli continued to deliver CPR until the Bloomington Fire Department and Bloomington Hospital Ambulance Service arrived.\nThe AED Dutton and Antonelli used to save Clouthier's life was one of six donated by the IU Foundation to IUPD in March 2001. IUPD squad cars are now all equipped with AEDs, and all officers are trained in using them along with the usual CPR training they receive. \nWhile CPR can circulate oxygen throughout the body, only the AED can actually restart the heart by shocking it.\nIn addition to the six located in squad cars, there are currently 17 other AEDs located on campus including those in the Health Center, the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, the Student Recreational Sports Center and Assembly Hall. \n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at .
