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(10/19/12 3:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A new Indiana license plate will be available to drivers this year, commemorating the state’s bicentennial celebration in 2016.The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles approached the Bicentennial Commission, which is co-chaired by Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and former congressman Lee Hamilton, with the idea for the new license plate, said Tyler Stock, Skillman’s press secretary.The bicentennial plate will replace the “blue torch” plate design as a standard option for the next five years. The “In God We Trust” plate will continue to be offered as a second option. Both plates are free of additional charges to drivers, unlike specialty plates. The license plate includes a graphic of the state of Indiana with the number 200 on the left-hand side. A ring of 19 stars, one of them gold, will be wrapped around the state map, representing Indiana’s placement as the 19th state in the nation, Stock said. Across the bottom, a gold banner displays the words “Bicentennial 1816-2016.”The plate, which was designed by the BMV and the Indiana State Museum, was unveiled by the Bicentennial Commission on Oct. 11 at the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis, Hamilton said. Stock said the plate will serve as free marketing for the coming bicentennial, since an estimated 2 million drivers will display the license plate on their vehicles. “It will be a traveling billboard, if you will, to alert people to 2016,” said Hamilton, who is also the director of the IU Center on Congress. “It will be a reminder that a big celebration is coming to our state. We hope it will create enthusiasm.”The plate will become available to drivers starting Dec. 27. All Indiana drivers will need to upgrade their license plates during the coming year as part of the standard five-year cycle, Stock said. Each driver will be assigned a specific month to carry out the upgrade, designated alphabetically by last name. The timing for the plate design is ideal because its cycle will overlap with the bicentennial celebration, Stock said. The plate is one of many initiatives planned by the Bicentennial Commission to prepare for the 2016 celebration, Hamilton said. The commission was appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels at his final State of the State Address in January. Hamilton said the group has had four meetings so far and has begun discussing projects related to the celebration. “We have received scores of ideas and are beginning to sort through them now,” Hamilton said. Hamilton said the commission has considered ideas from the centennial celebration in 1916 during its brainstorming process. According to the Indiana Magazine of History, several ceremonies and pageants were held in counties across the state during that year, under the direction of former Gov. Samuel Ralston. One memorable ceremony took place on Oct. 12, 1916, at the state fairgrounds. President Woodrow Wilson gave a speech on the importance of a highway system, providing encouragement for the completion of the Dixie Highway in Indiana. “We’ve discussed the possibility of a major event,” Hamilton said.The centennial also marked the establishment of Indiana’s state parks system, Hamilton said. He said the commission will almost certainly develop land trusts in honor of the bicentennial, possibly even creating a new state park. “We want the celebration to be forward-looking as well as historical,” Hamilton said. Hamilton said the commission hopes to plan an inclusive celebration encouraging all Hoosiers to get their towns and counties involved. “We want the celebration to come from the people themselves,” he said.
(10/15/12 3:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Bloomington resident Mitzi Toner and her sister, Danielle Toner, began the walk at the back of the crowd, their six dogs’ leashes tangling as they made their way down Seventh Street. Danielle walked with her white mixed-breed Labrador, Kali, who has been deaf since birth. “Her litter mate died this summer,” Danielle said. “She’s kind of lost because she depended on her to show her the way.”The two sisters said they heard about the Monroe County Humane Association’s 2012 Run for the Animals through their friend, Suzi Worsham. Worsham came to help walk two of the sisters’ six dogs. “I saw it on a billboard,” Worsham said. “My niece is also running in it.”The walk took place Sunday morning at Dunn Meadow. It started with a timed 5K run followed by an untimed walk for all registered participants and their dogs. The 5K route began on Seventh Street, looped up Union Street and down North Jordan Avenue and wound back by Ballantine Hall, according to the route map. The Monroe County Humane Association has sponsored the fundraiser for 15 years, CEO Sarah Hays said.“It raised $32,000 last year,” Hayes said. This year they hoped to meet that same total, she said. “For the run, we had more registrants this year,” she said. “I think we had over 300.”Hayes said event organizers planned to follow the 5K run and walk with a festival in Dunn Meadow complete with dog shows, costume contests and other activities for families and their dogs. Due to the potential of storms in the forecast, the group decided to cancel the festival portion, which usually brings in $3,500 to $4,000 in funds. Without the festival funds, Hayes said it would be difficult to reach their goal. The humane association is an animal welfare nonprofit funded completely through donations. It works closely with the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter, Hayes said. The association provides several programs related to Bloomington animal rights and welfare, including legislative work, disaster rescue response programs and safety net programs that provide spay and neuter assistance to low-income pet owners. “Last year alone, we provided $30,000 in spay and neuter assistance to the community,” Hayes said. After the race, there was an awards ceremony, withtrophies were awarded to the top three runners in male and female categories. There was a youth category for runners younger than 14. Several other age category winners were announced, each receiving a $20 gift certificate for the Indiana Running Company. There was a raffle with prizes including gift packages from the Magnificent 7 Road Race Series. The top prize was tickets to an IU basketball game, Hayes said. Bloomington resident Karl Eagleman was the overall race winner, finishing in 19 minutes and 41 seconds. “I’m excited about winning but even more excited about supporting the cause,” he said. His wife, Andrea Eagleman, also ran the race. Andrea said the couple purchased a cat through the animal shelter, a black and white calico named DC. She’s run the race the last two years.“I’m very thankful that we have our cat,” Andrea said. “This is an important race for me.”
(10/15/12 3:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____> group of Bloomington residents ranging from young IU graduates to retired business owners met in the City Council Chambers Thursday. The meeting served as the final class of a nine-week program called the Citizens’ Academy, an interactive program allowing Bloomington residents an opportunity to learn about the services, responsibilities and challenges of local government, program manager Vickie Provine said. The meeting began with Beverly Calendar Anderson, director of the Safe and Civil City program, speaking about the different commissions and responsibilities of the Community and Family Resources Department. She was followed by presentations from City Council President Tim Mayer and Councilman Darryl Neher, as well as a presentation from City Clerk Regina Moore. Following the presentations, participants who had attended the class six out of the nine weeks were given a certificate of completion. Thirty applicants are selected for the free program, which took place every Thursday night from Aug. 16 through last Thursday, according to the application. Preference for the program is given to Bloomington residents, Provine said. Each week, the group is provided with presentations and reading materials from city leaders and department representatives, including four of 11 elected city officials, Moore said. Aside from presentations in City Hall, the group attends several off-site meetings and tours, Provine said. This year, the group’s field trips included tours of the police and fire departments and a walking tour of several parks and neighborhoods. They also planted a tree at Third Street Park, she said. This is the 14th year of the program, Provine said. When the program began, Provine said she received phone calls from around the country and even from Europe on behalf of communities seeking to model Bloomington’s program. “I have lived in several cities, and I have not lived in a city that has this kind of program,” Anderson said. The group was initiated by the Housing and Neighborhood Development department in 1999 as a way to educate neighborhood leaders about city hall operations, Provine said. “It evolved into something no one expected,” Provine said. Program participation has expanded to include candidates running for office, social services workers and college professors, she said. Participants Mohammed Mahdi and Anthony Duncan, who graduated from IU in 2006 and 2011, respectively, said they believe the program is a great way for IU students to learn about job opportunities. “We just started a small business, so we wanted to learn more about Bloomington and what programs were available,” Duncan said. Mahdi and Duncan recently signed a lease in the City Technology Park for their small soap-making business. Moore said she has realized that the further away students are from downtown, the more isolated they become from the Bloomington community. Provine said she hopes participants take away the understanding that any resident can become invested in the local government process. “We’re all attuned to state and national news, but this is what affects you the most,” Provine said.
(10/15/12 12:21am)
City Council President Tim Mayer speaks to the Citizens' Academy class Thursday in the City Council Chambers. The class graduated from a nine-week interactive program in which they learned about the programs and responsibilities of local government.
(10/15/12 12:21am)
Director of the Safe and Civil City Program Beverly Calendar Anderson speaks to the Citizens' Academy class Thursday in the City Council Chambers. The class graduated from a nine-week interactive program in which they learned about the programs and responsibilities of local government.
(10/11/12 4:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The City of Bloomington invited community members to participate in planning workshops Tuesday to gain feedback on redevelopment plans for recently acquired downtown property. Stakeholders, homeowners and city employees alike walked around the old warehouse where the workshops took place, studying diagrams and posters for the project and leaving comments on Post-it notes when they saw fit. “This has been a vision that has been designated since 2005,” Bloomington Economic and Sustainability Director Danise Alano-Martin said. Alano-Martin has spearheaded the process on behalf of the city. A team of architects, engineers, developers and marketing experts has been hired to plan the project. The property for the project was acquired through the state’s Certified Technology Parks program, said Craig Gossman. Gossman is the principal of MKSK, the design firm leading the consultant team. The program aims to develop the real estate into a technology-focused industrial and residential region that is well-integrated into downtown, Gossman said. He also said redeveloping this property is important for three reasons, the first of which focuses on historic preservation.About 100 years ago, the property was part of the Showers Brothers Furniture manufacturing facility, considered the largest furniture factory in the world at the time, Gossman said. When it went out of business in the mid-1950s, the space became vacant and was eventually acquired by IU for several services, including printing and food services. IU decided to sell the real estate to the city and relocate its services. “These buildings represent an industrial milestone,” he said.Alano-Martin said the project would also aim to provide employment for skilled workers, encouraging IU graduates to stay in the city. “It’s a great opportunity for business and research going on at IU to transfer over to Bloomington,” she said. Gossman said the most important benefit would be shining national attention on Bloomington as a college town focused on technology. The plans outlined at the workshops could take 20 to 30 years to actualize, he said. John West, a redevelopment commission member, said the plans should be ready for city approval by February. “If the consultants get done in February, it will take months to get it through the city council,” he said. But because of market research and community feedback the team has gathered, West said he believes city approval could be quickened. Bloomington resident Lucy Schaich said she attended the workshop to learn about how the plans could affect her neighborhood. “I would like to see more green space,” she said. “I’d like to see it stay publicly accessible.”Alano-Martin said she was pleased with the workshop turnout. About 60 people attended the first session and about 20 attended the second. “People are excited to see the plans,” she said. “Getting feedback from them is vital for us going forward.”
(10/10/12 3:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A variety of Monroe County community leaders ranging from school administrators to prosecutors gathered Wednesday at 400 W. Seventh St. to discuss prescription drug abuse in the county. State Rep. Peggy Welch, D-60th District, directed the roundtable conference. Welch was appointed to the newly established Prescription Prevention Task Force by Attorney General Greg Zoeller, according to a press release.The force consists of a team of about 40 to 50 people focused on addressing the problem of prescription drug abuse through education, law enforcement and treatment.“I want us to educate the public for them to understand this is a serious epidemic, not only for the nation but also for the state of Indiana,” Welch said. Welch said the goals of the initiative consist of reducing prescription drug abuse and reducing the number of deaths from accidental overdose. “In 10 years, there has been a 500 percent increase in accidental poisoning, and that’s very scary,” Welch said. Welch said Indiana is second in the nation in terms of teenagers experimenting with drugs. Welch said one in nine Hoosiers ages 12 to 24 admit to using prescription drugs for non-medical reasons. One of the largest challenges is getting people to understand the serious nature of the substances and their potential to develop an addiction, she said. Monroe County Prosecutor Chris Gaal said another cause of prescription drug abuse is the accessibility in most homes. Gaal said about 70 percent of abusers receive their prescription drugs from family and friends.Monroe County is addressing this problem through its new Pharmaceutical Safe Disposal Program. As part of the pilot program, the county has placed disposal boxes in two different locations in Bloomington, encouraging residents to dispose of their unused or unwanted pharmaceuticals. The boxes are located at 3400 S. Walnut St. and 601 W. Second St. The program has collected 1,441 pounds of medications so far at these locations, Gaal said. Gaal said this is a disposal alternative that is both safe and accessible to residents all year-round. “We want to encourage people to remove the incentive for these types of crimes,” Gaal said.
(10/10/12 3:28am)
The
Supreme Court of the United States will revisit the debate about
affirmative action today during the official hearing of Fisher v.
University of Texas.
(10/08/12 3:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indiana Department of Transportation has awarded a construction contract for about four miles of Interstate 69 between Harmony Road and a branch of Clear Creek, the first section of the highway entirely in Monroe County. The winning bid of $57.5 million, belonging to E.S. Wagner Company from Toledo, Ohio, was 16 percent lower than the engineer’s cost estimate, according to a press release. Seven different companies competed for the bid. INDOT spokeswoman Cher Elliott said several other bids fell below the cost estimate, but the winning bid was the lowest. Elliot attributed the low bids to the competitive market for construction contracting in the state. “All of our projects statewide have this trend, with the economy the way it is,” Elliot said. This specific stretch of the highway corresponds to Segment 8 of Section 4 of the 142-mile corridor expected to connect Evansville to Indianapolis, according to the press release. 65 miles between Evansville and the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center are currently under construction and expected to open at the end of 2012. The construction has been a debated issue for about two decades. It was approved by the Federal Highway Administration in March 2004 after the release of the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Study. Both Section 4 and Section 5 of the interstate will fall in Monroe County, said Josh Desmond, director of the Bloomington/Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization. Section 4, which consists of 27 miles between Crane and State Road 37, should be open to traffic at the end of 2014. The next portion of Section 4, Segment 9, opened for bid Sunday, Elliot said. Desmond estimates the plans and environmental documents for Section 5, which extends north to Martinsville, will be completed by the middle of next year. I-69 construction is funded through a mix of federal and state dollars as well as proceeds from the lease of the Indiana Toll Road, Desmond said. “There was $700 million set aside to do Sections 1, 2 and 3,” Elliot said. Due to lower contract bids, $100 million was not spent on the first three sections and was transferred to Section 4 funding. Remaining Section 4 funds are generated through federal and state gas tax revenue. Elliot said INDOT believes the state will benefit from increased mobility and safety. “It is proven through business studies that industries migrate to states with interstate functionality,” Elliot said. “Time is money, and it’s very important that we have that accessibility.”Bill Williams, director of Monroe County Highway Engineering, said the new highway will be a major safety improvement for people traveling north from Evansville. “The roads are very curvy, and there’s a lot of truck traffic,” Williams said. Desmond said Bloomington residents are currently more concerned about the negative effects than the benefits. Opponents have addressed concerns regarding environmental damage, increased volume of traffic and the acquisition of homes in affected areas. The whole southwest region of the county contains large quantities of underground limestone formations called karst. “They are very sensitive, and running roads over them could be really harmful,” Desmond said. Elliot said INDOT makes it a priority to address environmental concerns and shift highway alignment as much as possible to minimize the impact of the construction on the surrounding area. Several bridges with self-contained drainage networks are being built to avoid wetlands and other wildlife. Segment 8 will be constructed on completely new terrain, Elliot said. The connection to State Road 37 in Segment 9 will create the most significant impact to daily traffic. Desmond said construction will put stress on local roads as people travel to the interchanges.“The investment the state makes will have to cause (Bloomington) to make investments to support the local traffic that will result,” Desmond said. Regarding the properties that have been acquired for the construction, Elliot said INDOT’s standard practice is to assign two separate property appraisals for each home. If the owner refuses the offer, the state will have to proceed to a condemnation process. Elliot said INDOT does not at any point want to resort to condemnation. “We want to do the best we can to minimize those problems,” Elliot said. “We’re not just out there building a road at all costs.”
(10/04/12 4:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Hoosier Lottery announced Wednesday it will outsource management of its services to GTECH Corporation to boost revenue by a projected $2.1 billion during the next 15 years. The privatization will consist of outsourcing its marketing, sales and distribution, thus increasing contracted services from 88 to 95 percent, according to a press release. “As an agency operating within the structure of state government, it is impossible to maintain the continuity of management and continuity of strategy that is needed to maximize the potential value of the lottery operation,” said Al Larsen, Hoosier Lottery public relations manager.The Indiana State Lottery Commission approved the contract with GTECH, a leading global gaming technology and services company based in Providence, R.I.The commission was faced with deciding between GTECH and New York-based corporation Scientific Games. GTECH provided the highest bid of projected revenue and the most detailed business plan, the commission determined, according to the release.Hoosier Lottery proceeds benefit pension funds for retired teachers as well as pension and disability funds for retired police officers and firefighters, Larsen said. “Every extra dollar that is generated is one more dollar for the state’s general fund,” Hoosier Lottery Executive Director Karl Browning said in the release. The lottery funds represent a small percentage of pension funds for retired firefighters in Bloomington, said Robert Loviscek, president of the Bloomington Local 586 Union of Professional Firefighters. With current funds, 93 percent of Bloomington firefighters will be able to retire with pension, Loviscek said. “We are hoping our actuaries will be well over 100 percent again,” he said.Teacher pension actuaries are currently at lower levels than the firefighter pensions, Loviscek said. Jeff Hutson, chief communication officer for the Indiana Public Retirement System, said the decision will not influence how much is directed toward pensions. “Thirty million dollars per year goes into the Pension Stabilization Fund of the Indiana State Teachers’ Retirement Fund,” Hutson said. An additional $30 million will benefit the police officers’ and firefighters’ pension and disability funds. Indiana is the second state in the nation to outsource management of its lottery. In Indiana, the state will compensate GTECH through both a management fee and a bonus for exceeding projected income, Larsen said. “GTECH can also be penalized by the lottery if they fail to reach the level of income they committed to provide us,” Larsen said. The lottery commission aimed to learn from Illinois to maximize their outcome. “We studied the Illinois process and their results, and looked at the strengths and weaknesses of their program, but didn’t limit our research to that,” Larsen said. Gov. Mitch Daniels said in a press release Wednesday that this decision might have been the most obvious the state has had to make during the last eight years. “Our lottery revenues lag far behind most states. ... This step will make the nation’s most solid state fiscal position that much stronger,” Daniels said.
(09/28/12 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Four monks sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed. Dressed in red robes and gold crescent-shaped hats, they chanted low, long drones that became increasingly higher in pitch. The monks, who belong to the Drepung Gomang Monastery in southern India, performed at the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center on Thursday evening.An audience of about 100 people watched, some beginning to meditate. The hour-long performance began with a ceremony honoring the 14th Dalai Lama, acknowledging his spiritual presence in the space. Six monks chanted as a shawl was placed in front of a framed photograph of His Holiness. The meditative chant then transitioned into a lively dance, complete with beating drums and cymbals. A monk wearing a white feathered mask and embroidered dress danced around the room, whirling a colorful baton. Later in the performance, the faces of the children in the audience lit up as a life-size, black yak, the national animal of Tibet, danced and wagged its tail. The monks have been in Bloomington for about a week, center Director Lisa Morrison said. The group travels from India to Louisville, Ky., most years before visiting cities and universities across the country.Geshe Jinpa, leader of the monks, said through an interpreter, the group hopes to accomplish three main goals during their visit.“Our main purpose is to promote peace, harmony and unity by sharing our sacred message of the Lord Buddha,” Jinpa said. The second goal consists of informing the public about the situation in Tibet. “Inside Tibet, they have no free religion,” Jinpa said. “People are not even allowed to have a picture of His Holiness.” The monks also hope to raise funds for their refugee monastery in southern India, Jinpa said.Mary Pattinson, the center director’s secretary, said about 60 monks lived at the 42-acre facility when the monastery was originally built. Currently, almost 2,000 monks live in the monastery. Most of the monks moved to the monastery after fleeing persecution from communism in Tibet, Pattinson said.When the monastery was based in Tibet, Pattinson said it received substantial financial support from the community. “The monks are now in a Hindu society and have no one to support them so they are totally dependent on donations,” she said. In the monastery, the monks study Buddhist philosophy, taking 22 to 23 years to complete 16 courses, Jinpa said. They also study western sciences, such as biology and psychology. The monks then take an additional six years for examinations. “They then receive a Geshe degree, which is the equivalent of a doctoral degree,” Pattinson said. Once they are finished with their studies, the monks spend their days praying, taking care of the settlement and teaching younger monks. “They are very sophisticated in training the mind,” Pattinson said. “They are about 1,500 years ahead of us.”Jinpa said he hopes to inspire peace, harmony and unity between different people and religions.“I think it’s a really rare and wonderful experience for the community to learn about this ancient culture in a fun and creative way,” Morrison said.
(09/24/12 4:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU juniors Kawtar Elbekhty and Caleb Colbert each took home a free cat on Friday afternoon. The cats are yet to be named, Elbekhty said, but the names Blake and Karl from the TV show “Workaholics” are strong contenders. “We’ve been coming in all week trying to find animals that fit us,” Elbekhty said.The couple returned to the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter to participate in its daily special, “Free Feline Fridays,” as part of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ $100K Challenge.Since Aug. 1, the shelter has been competing against 49 shelters across the nation to increase adoptions and improve community involvement. The ASPCA has partnered with Rachael Ray for the third year as hosts for the challenge, which runs through Oct. 31. The shelter that achieves the largest increase in adoptions during the three-month period when compared to its previous year’s total will be awarded the grand prize of $100,000. Several other awards are offered, including an automatic $500 to all shelters that improve their adoptions by a minimum of 300. “You’re competing against yourself in addition to competing against the other shelters,” said Bloomington Animal Shelter Director Laurie Ringquist. During the same three months in 2011, the Bloomington shelter made 757 adoptions. The shelter aims to double this amount for a total of 1,500 adoptions. It must achieve 1,057 adoptions by Oct. 31 to win the minimum award. The shelter had 143 more adoptions during the month of August than during the same month last year. Ringquist said that with students going back to school, the number of adoptions in September has only increased by 20. Ringquist said she is nervous about meeting the minimum. “We’re working so hard,” she said. “It’d be disappointing not to make that. But over the long run, if we improve our relationships in the community and increase our adoptions, that’s a win.”One of the highest awards available in the challenge is the ASPCA Community Engagement Award, which comes with a $25,000 grant.“I think that’s the one we have the best chance at winning,” Ringquist said. An online voting competition will take place between Oct. 17 and Oct. 31. The three shelters with the highest number of votes will be judged by a panel which reviews how well the shelter used events, media coverage and other forms of outreach to involve the community. In the initial online voting round to apply for the competition last March, the shelter won second place. “We know our supporters know how to vote,” Ringquist said. She said their shelter is the only one in Indiana competing in the challenge.“There’s a statewide impact to what we’re doing,” she said. “We’ve been transferring animals in from other shelters. It really helps them, too.” The shelter has been a host for several publicity events around Bloomington to encourage residents to adopt a pet. The shelter will bringing about 20 dogs to an “Adopt-a-Thon” from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 30 at Bryan Park. If the shelter were to win a monetary prizes, Ringquist said she hopes to use the money for several renovations. “The concrete is crumbling and the ventilation system is from the 1960s,” she explained.Rinquist would like to renovate the stray cat area and create a location to isolate sick animals, which they do not currently have. Shirley Davies, an adoption counselor at the animal shelter, said the shelter often allows IU students to make adoptions if the student confirms that their home and lifestyle allows them to make the commitment. “If they will have this cat for the next 20 years, will they really want to take on this responsibility?” Davies said. Students like Elbekhty fit Davies’ criteria. She is currently living in her family home in Bloomington and has previously adopted from the shelter. “I think the challenge is great, especially for college kids who can’t justify spending $75 for a cat,” Elbekhty said. Elbekhty said she prefers adopting cats from shelters rather than purchasing them from advertisements on websites such as Craigslist. In shelters, she said, cats interact with volunteers and different visitors every day. “They’re more social and have more of a personality,” she said. The animals in the shelter have also received all necessary veterinarian care, Ringquist said. Purchasing a pet from an advertisement usually requires additional medical examinations, costing two to three times more than shelter fees, she said. “For the people that place ads in the paper, their motivation is to sell an animal,” Ringquist said. “Our motivation is to place an animal in a lifelong home.”
(09/19/12 4:04am)
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(04/12/12 4:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The spring energy challenge kicked off last week, and the IU Office of Sustainability has issued a campus-wide challenge to cut back water and electricity usage. The residence halls, fraternities, sororities and apartments are now all in competition during the month of April.Freshman Erin Davidson, a resident of Teter Quad, said he has noticed a large amount of signs and banners around the property compared to last semester. Teter is the current leader in water conservation, while Ashton Center is leading in electricity conservation, among the residence halls. “I always try to conserve energy, so I’m not really doing anything different for the energy challenge,” Davidson said. “I think it is pointless to waste energy. Growing up, my family emphasized being careful about usage, and I guess that stuck with me.”Each week, the buildings’ standings are recorded and compared. The Office of Sustainability provided students with tips about how to decrease their adverse environmental impact while on campus. The tips are as simple as turning the lights off when leaving a room, unplugging unnecessary wires and turning off the water faucet. On the other hand, some tactics require a noticeable effort, such as washing dishes in the sink, air-drying clothes and studying outside instead of using the indoor lighting. “I don’t think people realize how much they use because they don’t take the time to think about it or know enough,” Davidson said. “Here (at IU), we don’t see any kind of energy bill.”This semester, instead of promotional programs that deal with saving energy, the challenge is centered on the educational impact. Students are getting hit with the facts. Graduate student Kelly Grab is the advisor for the Gone Green Committee at Forest Quad. “Our goal this semester is to help people realize that living sustainably doesn’t require a ton of extra work,” Grab said. “Small lifestyle changes do make a difference. Let’s face it, it’s cheaper to make waste, but I think we all need to do our part even in an economic environment that is not conducive or supportive of sustainable business practices.”
(03/19/12 1:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In honor of Youth Art Month, the IU Art Museum is displaying artwork from students in the Monroe County Community School Corporation. The exhibit is located on the second floor in the Thomas T. Solley Atrium, outside the museum’s café, and includes artwork from students in kindergarten through sixth grade. IU graduate student Yizhi Luo was one of multiple volunteers to assist in constructing the displays. “The artworks with different subject matters and various display forms gave me an insight into the world from a kid’s eye,” Luo said. “It’s wonderful to be reminded of the purest emotions and thoughts existing in the world. I really appreciated the exhibit.”The Art Museum has partnered with local schools for 15 years for a collaboration that includes workshops and field trips allowing students to tour the museum. Education Curator Ed Maxedon works closely with the schools to coordinate the Youth Art Month event.“The works are selected and matted by the teachers and then sent over to me,” Maxedon said. “With the help of volunteers, we label each piece with the name of the student and the school and then go through about a three-hour process of hanging and organizing the exhibit.”The annual event allows each Monroe County school to submit nine to 10 pieces. The final exhibit is comprised of 122 pieces of culturally and historically diverse artwork, ranging from paintings of Abraham Lincoln to mosaics of famous architecture. An art teacher at Rogers Elementary School for 15 years, Jan Barnes chooses her school’s pieces without knowing the names of the students to make unbiased decisions. Barnes waits until well into second semester to choose the artwork because she said she has found the students produce their best work once they have learned to be disciplined in the classroom. “When I’m choosing, I look for a picture that has a clear idea, one that is large, has lots of color and, most importantly, one that is completely finished,” Barnes said. “Students create artwork all the time outside of the classroom, but in here we are working toward a complete project.”As part of the partnership between MCCSC and the Art Museum, an elementary curriculum was created that allows students to see real examples of art in the museum and then apply what they saw to their own work in the classroom.“The education program at the Art Museum is excellent,” Barnes said. “The IU team is very approachable, and if we have an idea, they make it happen.”To unveil the exhibit, there was a reception for all of the teachers, students and their families on March 3. Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan was in attendance and, as is tradition, presented all students with awards.“This is easily one of the most popular exhibits that we host all year,” Maxedon said. “I am always impressed by what is submitted. The kids do some phenomenal work.”
(12/06/11 4:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jewelry can be valuable sentimentally and monetarily. People carry signs of their religion, relationships, relationship status and mood through scraps of fabric, pieces of metal and shiny stones. They use their accessories for more than just tying an outfit together.Jewelry has a sentimental value because it is like a little window into our lives. It is not like a shirt or pair of pants that come and go from our closets every few years. Jewelry can become so much more than an accessory. ArmbandsArmbands aren’t something you’ll wear for years, but they do show small things we wear can have a large impact on our lives.In December 1965, three students in Iowa, in high school and junior high school, wore black armbands in protest of the Vietnam War. Their schools suspended them until they stopped wearing the armbands, which they did only after the protest had been scheduled to end on Jan. 1, 1966. Their court case, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, became a very important case that still determines the First Amendment rights students in public schools have.This shows the power a simple piece of fabric can have.PinsPins and pin buttons are other types of fashionable advertising. I consider them jewelry because they are used in a decorative fashion just like earrings or necklaces, but they are normally used to make a point.Faces of presidential candidates have been plastered to round pieces of metal for advertising purposes; small American flags are pinned to lapels during speeches to show patriotic spirit; fraternities and sororities wear their letters with pride, and every St. Patrick’s Day, you know you’ll see a huge “Kiss me, I’m Irish” button.These small images provide insight into a person’s interests.RingsRings can be purely decorative or have a special meaning.They’re an accessory you might wear for a most of your life.Is the person you’re talking to wearing a band on the ring finger of his or her left hand? This person is more than likely spoken for. I wear a spoon ring, a ring that is made from a piece of metal that resembles the shape of a spoon being bent into a circle. I wear it when I feel out of my element, such as when I meet new people. It’s small enough to where people normally don’t see me spinning it around my thumb, which, for some reason, calms my nerves.Whether it’s purely for comfort or to signify a promise, rings are used in many different ways and many parts of life.Necklaces Necklaces are a very easy way to display your wealth since they rest on the center of your body, but they can also be emotional.Among my collection of necklaces are a heart-shaped one of my mom’s, a long chain with various objects hanging on it and a cross.These accessories are a part of my life, which I share with the world through the quiet statement of just putting them on.That’s what accessories are for. These little glimpses are a chance for other people to learn about you without the need to shout your stories from the rooftops. — samkirby@indiana.edu
(11/29/11 2:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It seems every year there is a story dedicated to why leggings shouldn’t be worn as pants. While I agree with this sentiment, I can’t help but feel like the other side isn’t represented.There are reasons why leggings shouldn’t be utilized this way, but could the real culprit be the way people utilize this fashion in general?After all, the Huffington Post recently ran an article about Pippa Middleton wearing leggings as pants, along with photos as proof. She looked great.So, what are the faux pas of this fashion statement that just won’t die?Thickness or non-thicknessLeggings are normally thick enough to not be see-through, but some girls don’t consider this. My piece of advice is to walk outside and check if the sunlight changes the transparency of your leggings. This will happen because the leggings might be thin, made of a certain fabric or even woven a certain way. Don’t let this happen, ladies. No one wants to see your underwear as they’re walking to class.Mistaken identityI saw one young lady walking to class a few weeks ago, and she was definitely wearing pantyhose instead of leggings. And yes, I do mean pantyhose. Tights are thicker than pantyhose and can be made from nylon, cotton or lycra. The nylon hose are usually very thin, and in this application, it is sheer.Neither pantyhose nor tights are leggings, and both have a higher chance of becoming transparent in certain lights. Lumps and bumpsLeggings don’t hide anything. If you have a voluminous rear end or twig legs, leggings accentuate these parts of your body.I like to think that my rear is somewhat shapely, and I enhance this characteristic with jeans. But leggings don’t lift and tighten your curves like pants do. And leggings can potentially cause the dreaded camel toe, as well.No one likes that look; if they did, it wouldn’t be associated with the foot of a dirty, smelly, spitting animal. In fact, I can’t even come up with a nice name for a camel toe.Topping it offA good reason to wear leggings is if you have a very short dress or a long top. I wore leggings with a long black sweater last week, mostly because I had burned my thigh and couldn’t wear pants at that time. Now I really like the outfit.If a shirt is long enough, I believe leggings are fine. My rule is the shirt needs to cover the whole butt. That way, if there’s any transparency to the leggings, you still won’t see underwear.A statisticIf I see someone wearing a North Face coat, leggings and Ugg boots, I almost instantly categorize them as a sorority girl. That’s bad on my part because I know it’s not nice to categorize people like that. There’s nothing wrong with sororities. They have some very appealing characteristics, but fashions such as the one described above perpetuate the belief that all sorority girls dress the same.But really, the look is monotonous in that it doesn’t let you stand out. As a fashion statement, I call leggings a dud.Wear your leggings all you want. Use them as leggings, pants or for extra warmth this winter. Just give a bit of thought to what you’re showing before you leave for class.— samkirby@indiana.edu
(11/15/11 3:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It comes and awakens the imagination and creativity of IU students every year. Well, mostly Collins Center students.What am I speaking of? Why, Hogwarts Week, of course.If you go by Collins this week, or eat at its dining hall, you might just see something a bit odd about the fashion. Funky hats, Gryffindor robes and ties of Slytherin green will be easily spotted on many residents. Heck, for Halloween I saw one girl wearing a homemade papier-mache lion’s head reminiscent of one Luna Lovegood. Maybe she’ll break it out again?With these fashions, Collinsites are reinforcing a stereotype that makes other IU students call the residence hall Hogwarts. We don’t care. This week is a time to go outside of our comfort zone. To delve into the world of J.K. Rowling’s design. To have fun and not care about what others think.While I’ve never participated, mostly because I just don’t have the time or interest to make a wand or brew soap, Hogwarts Week has always kept me entertained. I’ve lived in Collins since freshman year, and I’ve always loved seeing the creativity that the students here use in their day-to-day fashions. Changing hair colors, bohemian skirts and a developing fashion called “steampunk” can all be found here along with the fashion trends more prevalent at IU.“What is ‘steampunk?’” you might ask. I define it as a mixture of old Victorian style, with lace, dark colors and mechanical-designed accessories. Wikipedia says, “Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc.” Do you understand why I love watching the fashion trends around Collins?It’s not just Hogwarts Week that brings about creativity among Collinsites. We use creativity in their everyday styles. We express ourselves.Others might find how we express ourselves as odd, but I don’t believe anyone at Collins really cares. More people should look at fashion this way.Fashion should make you feel good; it shouldn’t be just to fit the styles that are dominant on campus. It should be a reflection of you.—samkirby@indiana.edu
(11/08/11 2:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Everyone has that one shirt they bought thinking it would look amazing on them. They thought it would accentuate their closet and make everyone gush about their fashion sense. Ultimately, it was left in the corner of the closet or in the deep recesses of a drawer. I have one of these shirts. It’s a filmy swath of purple and tan spirals and flows like a fairytale gown, or at least that’s what I thought when I first saw it.Now, every time I try it on, I just have to change into something else.What do we do with these items of past longing?You could take the too-small shirt, the odd-lengthed skirt, platform go-go boots or rhinestone-studded jacket to Plato’s Closet and make some extra spending money. These items more than likely will just be lumps of color taking up space in your room until your mom throws a yard sale, so why not try to get some dough to put towards a new outfit?Or you could always give the clothing to others.Giving clothes to charities such as Goodwill or United Way are great options. With it being this close to the holiday season, I’m sure someone would love to be able to either give or receive the looked-over items in our closets. If you don’t know where to donate, go online and look at various websites for charities like these. Goodwill’s site says it sells the items to help people with disabilities or employment challenges through training or community-based programs. The United Way of Central Indiana’s site says its goal is to help “sustain vital human services for those who need help most while reducing such needs for future generations.”Fashion isn’t just about making you look good; your clothing can help another person in a time of need.So, as we transition into the cooler months of the year, give your closets a good look-through. Everyone has clothes they don’t wear anymore, and no one needs a piece of fabric that’s just taking up space.— samkirby@indiana.edu
(11/01/11 2:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Now that October is gone, winter is coming.The next few months are going to be full of biting winds, red noses, lumpy jackets and serious debates on the merits of skipping class because of the cold.No one really likes to be cold. It makes you shiver, chafes at the skin and is just uncomfortable. People should start preparing their closets before the weather gets nasty. Unlike other seasons, it is more difficult to combat the cold by altering clothes you already have.So, a good idea for any college student is to start looking for coats, boots and sweaters for layering.I have two coats that I use for the upcoming months. One is a pea coat that I use for chilly days, and some of the first biting cold days. The other is a thick coat with no shape, but is it warm.Yes, my coat is poofy and a little shapeless, but no one cares at that point in the year. You can wear your pretty shirts under the coat. Just don’t be silly and freeze for fashion.But even more important than a good coat are suitable shoes. Boots are more than necessary in Indiana when it snows. While sneakers are comfortable, they also have holes in them. These holes are there to let your feet have some air, but they also let in the snow and slush. Likewise, heels make your legs longer, but they also aren’t good to walk on ice.When selecting boots for any other season, my guidelines are comfort and style.But when selecting boots for winter, my guidelines change a little bit. In addition to comfort and style, warmth, slide-proof and waterproof are tacked onto the list.People think wearing socks helps keeps them warm, but they don’t help you from slipping on ice. So things to check on boots before making your purchase: bottoms for good grip, lining for warmth and waterproofness. People don’t normally care what you’re wearing during this upcoming season because they’re usually concerned on whether they really want to tread through the cold to get to class. In the upcoming cold months, be prepared ahead of time so you can be comfortable all of the time.— samkirby@indiana.edu
