Bloomington teen dies in motorcycle accident
(08/04/08 12:57am)
A 17-year-old Bloomington High School North student was killed in a motorcycle accident early Sunday morning on East Anderson Road.
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BHSN student dies in crash
(08/03/08 5:48pm)
A 17-year-old Bloomington High School North student was killed in a motorcycle accident early Sunday morning on Anderson Road.
Police offer tips for students to stay safe
(06/05/08 8:34pm)
When going to college, it is easy to get swept up in the numerous pizza and fast-food places that line the food courts and streets of Bloomington. Going away from home allows students to try new things, experience new environments and interact with other cultures.
CultureFest celebrates diversity on campus
(06/05/08 8:16pm)
At IU, it’s all about celebrating who you are. To encourage students to celebrate the similarities and differences of others, the University will be holding its ninth annual CultureFest during Welcome Week.
New IUSA leaders vow to restore students’ voice
(06/05/08 7:28pm)
For the new IU Student Association executives, the time to start is now, not September.Despite an extra month of elections, the executives are ready to sink their teeth into the upcoming year.
New IUSA leaders vow to restore students’ voice
(06/03/08 9:26pm)
For the new IU Student Association executives, the time to start is now, not September.
Going greek: Is it right for me?
(05/24/08 12:47am)
To go greek or not to go greek, that is the question. But it’s a question I can’t really answer. I did not go greek, and I’m sure for some going greek is one of the most important aspects of college life. And although I’m not sure why students devote so much of their time worrying about rush and other aspects of greek life, I do know that thinking about going greek is not an option that should be taken lightly.
New IUSA board outlines plans for the future
(05/07/08 4:00am)
For the newly inaugurated IU Student Association executives, the time to start is now, not September.\nDespite an extra month of elections, President Luke Fields and the rest of the IUSA executives are ready to sink their teeth into the upcoming year.\n“We’re just going to do it,” Fields said. “We’re going to move forward; we finally get to go.”\nFollowing more than a month of appeals and hearings over IUSA elections code violations, the Big Red ticket was inaugurated April 28. Despite the controversy, for Fields it was never about winning the elections; it was about defending the rights of students.\n“All of us were very committed – we’re making certain we exhausted our resources to make certain that we gave justice the best chance to happen,” Fields said. “The bottom line that I want everybody to recognize from our commitment is that it isn’t that we’re whiny or sore losers ... What I think is true is that everyone on campus has recognized, or should recognize, that this is a group of executives specifically and a ticket-wide group of individuals that is committed to doing what’s right no matter the cost.”\nThe executives have already hit the ground running by starting to accomplish their platform goals of 100 percent meal-point rollover, health care on weekends, tax-free textbooks and a student section in Assembly Hall – all while trying to restore the organization’s legitimacy. Although restoring legitimacy will be no easy task, Fields said he believes the best way is just to get to work.\n“The best way for IUSA to become legitimate is to be legitimate – by going out and fighting for the things we told students we wanted to fight for,” he said.
Sections of IUSA code ruled unconstitutional
(05/07/08 4:00am)
After a turbulent IU Student Association election, the IUSA Supreme Court ruled three sections of the IUSA elections code unconstitutional - something the new executives look forward to rewriting.
Big Red ticket inaugurated
(05/02/08 2:26am)
All eyes are on Big Red.\nDuring its inauguration Monday evening, Luke Fields, IU Student Association president-elect, said high expectations have been set for the Big Red ticket in the upcoming year – expectations he said have been set by the Indiana Daily Student, former association executives, the IUSA Supreme Court and the entire student body.\n“It will not be by our words that we are remembered, nor that we find ourselves effective agents of change here on campus,” he said. “Indeed, it will be through what we do.”\nThe incoming executives include vice president Dan Sloat, vice president of congress Andrew Hahn, treasurer Robin Featherston and chief of staff Billy Bennett.\nFollowing more than a month of turbulent times for IUSA, Fields hopes to restore legitimacy to the organization.\n“I find it summarily necessary that we not dwell on the past, successes and difficulties,” Fields said, “but instead shift our focus forward and find what it is exactly we desire this association become.”\nThe inauguration came a little more than a week after the IUSA Supreme Court disqualified the election-winning Kirkwood ticket.\nThe IUSA Supreme Court found Kirkwood in violation of six different election codes. Only three violations were needed for disqualification, said Kate FitzGerald, IUSA Supreme Court chief justice.\nDuring the inauguration, FitzGerald swore in each member of the Big Red ticket, reminding them that there is a “great charge upon them to do an excellent job next year.”\n“Don’t forget all those people that you represent,” she said.\nFields reiterated to the audience that, as a ticket, Big Red has not lost sight of its original goals.\n“A transparent dedicated executive must first be committed to his fellow students,” he said, “then perhaps to himself.”\nFields said as a ticket, Big Red still believes 100 percent of students’ meal points should rollover from year to year, health care should be available on campus during the weekends, there should be a fall break forstudents, tax-free textbooks should be fought for and there should be a student section at Assembly Hall.\n“A commitment to seeing these goals to completion will go a long, long way towards restoring legitimacy to this Association and regaining the trust of the student body,” he said.\nDean of Students Dick McKaig said throughout his time at IU he has developed an appreciation for students who do their best with the opportunities they’re given to improve the University. Although students and organizations are quick to accuse student government of not doing anything, McKaig said he can only ask the incoming executives to lead the student body, not follow them.\n“I ask you to help the student body,” he said. “I ask you to resolve some complexities that existed during this election so we don’t go through that opportunity again. I would ask you to do your best to stay enthusiastic.”\nJoe DeJean, former vice president of IUSA, reminded Fields and the rest of the Big Red ticket to never forget that the student body is who they really represent.\n“No matter how deep you get into the administration and the faculty decisions and all the things you’re going to be involved in next year,” he said, “make sure to never lose sight of who you are and who you really represent.”
Gunfire leaves 4 wounded
(04/30/08 8:21pm)
The Bloomington Police Department is currently investigating two shootings that occurred Friday and Saturday, leaving four people wounded from gunshots.\nAt about 3:30 p.m. Friday, officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of East Longview Avenue, where they found a man with two gunshot wounds to his abdominal area, according to a BPD press release. The man was transported to Bloomington Hospital, where he underwent surgery. The victim was unable to provide any information detailing the shooting.\nA second victim arrived at Bloomington Hospital with gunshot wounds to his right knee, according to the press release. He underwent surgery and will be interviewed at a later time.\nThrough witness accounts, BPD learned there were about four to five shots fired during the incident. Shell casings and other evidence were recovered from the apartment, according to the press release. Witnesses told officers they saw two men in their late teens or early 20s running from the apartment and fleeing in a maroon vehicle, according to the press release.\nThe case is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Bloomington Police Department at 339-4477.\nThe second shooting occurred Saturday morning at Roosters, a bar located at 3000 S. Walnut St., and left two women wounded after an altercation between two men went awry.\nDuring the fight, one man produced a .40-caliber Glock handgun and a struggle ensued for control of the weapon, according to a BPD press release. During the struggle, the men discharged two to three rounds and the women were struck in the legs by debris or fragments from the bullets.\nOne of the men gained control of the gun, but Rooster’s security personnel pursued him. The man surrendered the weapon but fled on foot. He later arrived at Bloomington Hospital, where he was treated for broken teeth, a head injury and abrasions to his arms, legs and back.\nBPD is still looking for the second man involved in the altercation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Rob Shrake at 349-3352.
Big Red ticket inaugurated
(04/29/08 3:31pm)
Following more than a month of turbulent times for the IU Student Association, president-elect Luke Fields hopes to restore legitimacy to the organization.\n“I find it summarily necessary that we not dwell on the past successes and difficulties,” Fields said, “but instead shift our focus forward and find what it is exactly we desire this Association become.”\nThe Big Red ticket was inaugurated as the new IUSA executives Monday evening at the Indiana Memorial Union Solarium.\nThe inauguration came a little more than a week after the IUSA Supreme Court disqualified the election-winning Kirkwood ticket from the elections. The IUSA Supreme Court found Kirkwood in violation of six different election codes. Only three violations were needed for disqualification.\nJoe DeJean, former IUSA vice president, reminded Fields and the rest of the Big Red ticket to never forget who they truly represent.\n“No matter how deep you get into the administration and the faculty decisions and all the things you’re going to be involved in next year,” he said, “make sure to never lose sight of who you are and who you really represent.”\nFields reiterated to the audience that as a ticket they have not lost sight of their goals and dedication to and for the student body.\n“A transparent dedicated executive must first be committed to his fellow students,” he said, “then perhaps to himself.”
Students discover archeological site
(04/23/08 4:38am)
Bloomington’s own Rogers Street may be home to a prehistoric campsite. \nWading through the fickle weather this weekend, a group of about 20 students from an IU anthropology class searched for archeological artifacts in Bloomington, finding evidence of a prehistoric campsite, said Cheryl Munson, an assistant scientist in the IU Anthropology Department.\nMunson said there was an archeological survey which unearthed archeological artifacts in the area of Rogers Street and the B-Line Trail. She said there is construction going on in the area for a water retention facility for storm water. \nAlthough there was a lot of disturbance from the construction of the railroad, they were still able to complete the survey promptly, she said.\n“We thought the area may well contain archaeological sites, and that was confirmed by our work,” Munson said.\nThe students, who are part of a graduate course in the department, were at the site Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Munson said they dug a hole 57 meters deep at the least-disturbed part of the construction site.\nAfter sifting through soil, the group found several artifacts, linking the construction area to a prehistoric camp site, Munson said. The students will clean and identify the different artifacts they found.\nThe class, ANTH-P 401 Cultural Resource Management, is for students to understand how archeology is practiced in the real world, said Susan Alt, assistant professor of the class.\n“The idea of the class is for students to get hands-on experience,” she said. “Instead of just sitting in class and going out, they got to actually do it.”\nOverall, she believes archeology is not something students can learn out of a book.\n“I think archeology is something you can think about and think you understand, but it’s doing the archeology that teaches it,” she said.\nMunson said the project this weekend was something the city needed to get done and was not mocked for the sake of a school project. The project’s necessity, Alt said, added value for the students.\n“I think this type of service we’re learning is a good example of helping the city of Bloomington ... and benefiting the students as well,” Munson said.
Tickets file more complaints
(04/11/08 9:26pm)
Amidst the current IU Student Association election controversy, the Kirkwood ticket has now filed five formal complaints against the Big Red ticket.\n“Our main goal is to really ensure the elections were carried out and finalized in a fair manner,” said president-elect Joe Weis. “We just want to make sure everything is done the right way.”\nThe complaints filed by the Kirkwood ticket allege that Big Red committed five violations during their campaign for the IUSA elections. There are now more than 7 complaints under consideration between the two tickets – each side alleging the other is guilty \nof misconduct.\nThe Kirkwood ticket alleges that during the elections on March 26, both tickets had reserved an area in the Wright Quad. The Big Red ticket had the area until 8 p.m. and the Kirkwood ticket had the area until 10 p.m. The Kirkwood ticket alleges that after the Big Red ticket found out that Kirkwood was staying later, Big Red stayed. The complaint states that the Big Red ticket refused to show documentation stating that they were allowed to be there. The Kirkwood ticket stated they felt that the Big Red ticket was attempting to keep Kirkwood from receiving votes.\nThe Kirkwood ticket also alleges that a University Division Constituency for the Big Red ticket sent out a mass e-mail, breaking IUSA election codes by not placing the multiple recipients on the “blind carbon copy” line of the e-mail. The Kirkwood ticket states in the complaint that “it is also a possibility that this e-mail was the fault of the Big Red ticket’s executive directors.”\nThe last three complaints include Big Red’s using “goods” to persuade students to vote for them, directly linking the IUSA Web site from their own campaign Web site and campaigning within 50 feet of a University computer lab.\nKirkwood alleges that Big Red sent out a mass text message, offering free bread sticks from Pizza Express if students voted for Big Red.\nIn response to these allegations, Luke Fields, the presidential candidate for the Big Red ticket, said in a written statement that Big Red has responded to the claims made against them.\n“We are confident that the Elections Commission will ensure a fair and judicious process to all parties involved,” he said in the statement.\nTwo days before the IUSA election polls were to open, a complaint filed against the Kirkwood ticket by the Big Red ticket became public. The complaint alleged that a member of the Kirkwood ticket, Adam Pozza, had illegally accessed Fields’ computer and sent e-mails from Fields’ e-mail account to an IU Finance Club e-mail account and the Gmail account of Eric J. Gibson, chief of external for the Kirkwood ticket.\nIn response to the original allegations, the Kirkwood ticket asked the IUSA Elections Commission to remove Pozza’s name from the ballot. Weis said Pozza’s actions were of his own doing and not of entire ticket.\nAfter Kirkwood was elected, the Big Red ticket filed a complaint against the Kirkwood ticket to ensure a fair trial process. After an examination by University Information Technology Services, the Student Body Supreme Court of IU released a document Sunday stating Pozza forwarded the e-mails from Fields’ account to Weis. He declined to comment on that situation. \nThe Student Body Supreme Court document also states that Kirkwood will have to pay a 20 percent fine of its financial expenses.\nThe hearing for the original complaint is scheduled for April 16.\nSteve Veldkamp, director of student activities and assistant dean of students, said after scanning through some of the complaints filed by the tickets, he believes most of them stem from the original complaint filed. Veldkamp said because of the timing of the situation - after spring break but before Little 500 - the elections commission will have to move faster and work through everything.\nVeldkamp said with being a part of IUSA, there are challenges each ticket has to face.\n“I’ve watched them work hard year in and year out,” he said. “Not only with their campaign goals, but the issues that are thrust upon them by the University.”\nVeldkamp said the elected ticket will face challenges after the recent election.\n“I think once the election commissions decides or confirms who the next IUSA executives are,” he said, “they will have a challenge to regain that (student) momentum that might’ve been lost.”
Tickets issue new complaints
(04/08/08 7:22am)
Less than two weeks after the Kirkwood ticket clinched the IU Student Association elections, new information regarding the complaint filed by the Big Red ticket has been released.\nThe Student Body Supreme Court of IU released a decision Sunday evening stating that Adam Pozza, a former congressional candidate on the Kirkwood ticket, will have to pay a fine totaling 20 percent of the Kirkwood ticket’s final campaign expenses. Kirkwood officials had asked the court to fine Pozza 75 percent of their costs.\nThe Student Body Supreme Court document also states that after an examination by University Information Technology Services, Pozza forwarded two of Big Red Presidential Candidate Luke Fields’ campaign e-mails from Pozza’s Gmail account to both the IU Webmail account of president-elect Joe Weis and the Gmail account of Eric J. Gibson, chief external for the Kirkwood ticket.\nPozza said he would not comment on the situation. Weis also declined comment.\nAlison Howard, external affairs chair of the IUSA Supreme Court, said the case is going back to the elections commission because of the new evidence against the Kirkwood ticket.\nHoward said she didn’t know the specific ramifications of Kirkwood’s alleged actions, but she did say both the INdiana ticket and the Big Red ticket have filed additional complaints.\n“If the Kirkwood ticket has at least three violations,” she said, “they could potentially be disqualified.”\nHoward said the hearing is scheduled for April 16.\nIn the original complaint the Big Red ticket filed in early March, Fields alleged that Pozza, a former member of the Kirkwood ticket, accessed Fields’ computer and forwarded e-mails regarding Big Red’s campaign to members of the Kirkwood ticket.\nAccording to the complaint, Fields returned to his Willkie apartment after spending the night in Indianapolis to find six months’ worth of e-mails deleted. After restoring the missing files, he noticed several campaign-related e-mails forwarded to other e-mail addresses.\nThe complaint states the e-mails were forwarded to an address Fields presumed to belong to the IU Undergraduate Finance Club and Gibson, chief of external for the Kirkwood ticket. \nIn response to the original allegations, Weis said Pozza did not act on behalf of the Kirkwood ticket.
Former President to visit IU
(04/01/08 5:59am)
It really is a family affair.\nJust nine days after Chelsea Clinton made an appearance at the IU Auditorium, former President Bill Clinton will be in Bloomington Wednesday to stump for his wife, presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton.\nClinton’s speech is slated to kick off at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Assembly Hall. Clinton will visit Columbus, Seymour and Bedford before arriving in Bloomington. Clinton’s visit is sponsored by the fundraising group Hoosiers for Hillary.\nThe former president previously campaigned through Indiana earlier this month for his wife, making stops in Lawrenceburg, Richmond and Fort Wayne. Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton made an appearance at the IU Auditorium last Monday with actor Sean Astin. \nAnnElyse Gibbons, sophomore and president of IU Students for Hillary Clinton, said the event attendance will be capped at 4,000 people. Gibbons said the student organization expects the line to start early and Hillary Clinton groups from around the state will be traveling to Bloomington to attend the event.\nGibbons said she believes Bill Clinton’s appearance at IU will encourage youth voting in the state.\n“I saw an improvement after the Chelsea event,” she said. “We saw our group membership spike and people get more active.”\nSophomore Jaime Ness said she thinks it’s good that students are getting excited about the election, but believes all of the campaigning is getting out of hand with so many celebrities endorsing candidates.\nShe said she also believes Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton are campaigning too much for Hillary Clinton.\n“She needs to do her job herself,” Ness said.\nJunior Chris Hollins said members of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity plan on attending. Hollins said he thinks that because Bill Clinton was in the White House, he can help Hillary Clinton gain support.\n“She wants to show a woman can run the White House,” he said. “I don’t think she’s ready.” \nHollins echoed Ness and said he believes the campaign for the Democratic nomination is getting out of control. Hollins said if candidates really stand for the right cause, they wouldn’t get others to do the job for them.\nIndiana’s May 6 primary, with 84 delegates at stake, could be the last battleground in a long Democratic primary season.\nClinton and her opponent for the nomination, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., are running tight, with 1,498 and 1,617 pledged delegates, respectively, according to The Associated Press. Both are well shy of the 2,024 delegates needed to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination.
Former Kirkwood candidate apologizes for forwarding emails
(03/25/08 7:34am)
After allegations became public regarding IU Student Association and University code misconduct, the accused Kirkwood ticket congressional candidate has publicly apologized.\nLuke Fields, presidential candidate with the Big Red ticket, accused Adam Pozza, a congressional candidate for the Kirkwood ticket, of accessing Fields’ computer and forwarding e-mails regarding Big Red’s campaign to members of the Kirkwood ticket, according to the complaint. On Monday, Pozza said in a written statement that he was sorry and regretted his personal error in judgment.\n“The error is not the fault of the Kirkwood ticket,” he wrote in the statement. “The Kirkwood ticket and its candidates did not suggest or request in any way that any e-mails be reviewed or forwarded.”\nThe IUSA Elections Committee will meet Wednesday night to decide if Pozza’s actions should disqualify the Kirkwood ticket.\nIn response to the allegations, the Kirkwood ticket asked the IUSA Elections Commission to remove Pozza’s name from the ballot.\n“I just want to reiterate the fact that ... his actions are his own doing,” said Joe Weis, Kirkwood ticket presidential candidate.\nWeis said he is confident the Elections Commission will not hold the Kirkwood ticket responsible for Pozza’s actions.\n“I feel toward the end of this, it’s becoming more of a race on personal attacks than the issues at hand,” Weis said. “All three tickets, it’s our role as candidates to bring up the issues students care about rather than attacking personally to gain an advantage. I think, unfortunately, that’s what it’s resulted in these past couple of weeks.”\nOn Friday, the Big Red ticket filed a formal complaint against the Kirkwood ticket after Fields, the Big Red presidential candidate, discovered campaign e-mails were deleted from his outbox.\nAccording to the complaint, Fields’ returned to his Willkie apartment after spending the night in Indianapolis to find six months’ worth of e-mails deleted. After restoring the missing files, he noticed several campaign-related e-mails forwarded to other e-mail addresses.\nThe complaint states the e-mails were forwarded to IU Undergraduate Finance Club and to Eric J. Gibson, chief of external for the Kirkwood ticket. Pozza is currently the vice president of the IU Finance Club.\nAccording to the evidence submitted with the complaint, five e-mails were sent out from Fields’ account between 3:55 a.m. and 4:17 a.m.\nPozza lived with Fields and Big Red ticket vice presidential candidate Dan Sloat, but as of March 21, had moved out of the apartment.\nPozza said in his written statement that he had been at odds with Sloat and Fields since the beginning of the year.\n“Although not an excuse,” he said, “this happened in the context of personal and political conflicts.”\nPozza states in his written statement that “contrary to any suggestion in the allegations and Indiana Daily Student article, the e-mails were not forwarded to the Undergraduate Finance Club.”\nTimothy Williams, president of the finance club, said in a written statement that despite the information in the IUSA complaint, the e-mail address didn’t belong to the club. \nWilliams said the Big Red representatives involved in writing and signing the report made the assumption that the e-mail was of a student organization. There is no official e-mail listed for the finance club, according to it’s Web site.\n“Because of their lack of research,” Williams said, “my entire organization and I have been put in a position that makes it very difficult to try and save our reputation.”\nBut Fields said the complaint was not meant to harm the club’s reputation or insinuate that the club got involved in the election.\n“The complaint filed by the Big Red Ticket was against the Kirkwood ticket and members of the Kirkwood ticket and not against the IU Finance Club,” Fields said in response to Williams’ statement.\nWilliams said he does not condone Pozza’s actions and was not involved in any way. As of Monday, the Undergraduate Finance Club is in discussions on Pozza’s future rule with the club.\nIUSA president W.T. Wright said the Kirkwood ticket had no knowledge of Pozza’s actions and Pozza’s involvement with the Kirkwood ticket was “minimal.”\n“I don’t want to involve (Pozza) with IUSA,” Wright said.\nSpecial projects editor Brian Spegele contributed to this report.
Kirkwood ticket member admits stealing Big Red campaign e-mails
(03/24/08 6:10am)
Days before the IU Student Association elections, the Big Red ticket has filed a formal complaint against a member of the Kirkwood ticket for allegedly violating IUSA election and University codes.\nLuke Fields, presidential candidate with the Big Red ticket, alleges that Adam Pozza, a member of the Kirkwood ticket, accessed Fields’ computer and forwarded e-mails regarding Big Red’s campaign to members of the Kirkwood ticket, according to the complaint. \nSarah McDonough, IUSA elections commissioner, said because of Pozza’s actions, there is a “definite possibility” that the Kirkwood ticket may be disqualified from the election. The commission will hold a hearing Wednesday night in response to the allegations. \nIn response to the allegations, members of the Kirkwood ticket called an emergency meeting Sunday night in the Redbud room of the Indiana Memorial Union.. Kirkwood ticket’s presidential candidate, Joe Weis, said in a question and answer session that Pozza admitted he sent the e-mails from Fields’ account. They asked the IUSA Elections Commission Sunday evening to remove Pozza’s name from the election ballots.\nThe allegations include that e-mails were forwarded from Fields’ account to the IU Finance Club and Eric J. Gibson, chief of external for the Kirkwood ticket. Pozza is currently the vice president of the IU Finance Club.\nFields said the e-mails were sent March 2, while he was spending the night in Indianapolis. Pozza, who is running for Congress on the Kirkwood ticket, lived with Fields and Big Red ticket vice presidential candidate Dan Sloat, but as of March 21, had moved out of the apartment.\nFields said he came home from Indianapolis and was checking on an e-mail he had sent to a potential employer in regard to an internship interview. When he accessed his e-mail, however, he noticed every e-mail he had sent during the last six months had been deleted. Fields was able to recover the deleted e-mails through IU E-mail Exchange, a service that backs up e-mails for a certain period of time. He said during the recovery he realized the e-mails had been sent out and then attempted to be hidden.\n“We weren’t exactly sure what to do about this,” Fields said. “This pretty much goes against everything we stand for as a ticket.”\nFields said he wants the student body to be informed about what’s been going on when they go to the polls on Tuesday and Wednesday. \nFields said there is “no smearing, no mud-slinging” between the tickets. He said Big Red is demanding a fair process and its emphasis has always been on doing what’s right and positive.\nAndrew Hahn, vice presidential candidate for the Big Red ticket, said after Fields noticed the missing e-mails, they contacted the IU Office of Student Ethics and filed a judicial complaint against Pozza “immediately.” \nHahn said because of spring break, the student ethics committee’s judicial hearing would not have been held before March 28. Because of this, there was a possibility a judicial resolution would not have been reached before the deadline for filing an IUSA elections complaint. As a result, Hahn said they filed a complaint with the IUSA elections committee Friday. \n“We filed this complaint because we feel this is not something IUSA stands for,” Hahn said.\nThe complaint alleges that Pozza broke IUSA election codes, University Information Technology Services policy, IU Code of Student Rights and possible “applicable laws.”\nDuring the Kirkwood ticket’s press conference, Weis presented attendees with a written statement about the issue. Weis did not formally address the complaint. He did, however, reiterate the ticket’s platform, and encouraged the Big Red and INdiana tickets to “re-evalute their platforms.”\nIn the written statement, Weis said Pozza did not act on behalf of the Kirkwood ticket.\n“We want to assure you we had no knowledge of Adam Pozza’s action,” said Nancy Kazarinova, treasurer candidate for the Kirkwood ticket, during the press conference.\nShe said she welcomed an investigation by the IUSA Elections Commission and said the ticket plans on going into the election with “full force.”\nMcDonough said the complaint hearing will be 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Distinguished Alumni Room of the IMU. The hearing is open to the public.
IUPUI student/employee accused of racial harassment, seeks apology
(03/22/08 7:23am)
Keith J. Sampson just wanted to read. But last November, reading a book checked out from the IU library system got him in serious trouble with the University.\nSampson, a student and janitor at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis, was taking his break from work last fall when he began reading “Notre Dame vs. the Klan: How the Fighting Irish Defeated the Ku Klux Klan” by Todd Tucker. The book recounts two days in May 1924, when a group of Notre Dame students got into a street fight with members of the KKK. The book cover depicts Klansmen burning two crosses.\nSampson, who was reading the anti-Klan book in front of black co-workers, received a letter on Nov. 25, 2007, from the IUPUI Affirmative Action Office. Lillian Charleston, the affirmative action officer, wrote in her letter that after investigating the situation, Sampson’s “repeatedly reading the book” in front of his co-workers “constitutes racial harassment.”\n“One cannot commit racial harassment by reading an anti-Klan history that is in the IU Library system,” Sampson said in an e-mail interview.\nIn the letter, Charleston said Sampson used “extremely poor judgment by insisting on openly reading the book related to a historically and racially abhorrent subject.”\nSampson said he felt the racial harassment allegations against him portrayed him as an “Indiana Klansman,” a title which he resents.\n“I detest the Klan,” he said in an e-mail. “So the (Affirmative Action Office) made a big mistake in taking me for a Klansman.”\nIn early February, Sampson received another letter from the Affirmative Action Office, stating the Nov. 25, 2007, letter was not meant to put a limit on his ability to read books \nduring break times.\nCharleston wrote in the letter that the previous letter was to only address the concerns raised by Sampson’s co-workers that he was creating a hostile atmosphere of antagonism.\n“I am unable to draw any final conclusion concerning what was intended by the conduct,” Charleston wrote. “... No such adverse disciplinary action has been or will be taken in connection with the circumstances at hand.”\nCharleston and Joseph M. Scodro, IUPUI’s lawyer, could not be reached by press time.\nSampson said before he was able to go public with the issue, he felt isolated because he didn’t want to be judged as someone who committed racial harassment.\n“I am a very open-minded person on the issue of race,” he said in an e-mail.
Forever young
(02/29/08 5:56am)
Today, sophomore Caitlin Moloney will be turning 5-years-old.\nBecause of leap years, she’s been alive for 20 years but will only be celebrating her fifth birthday Friday.\nMoloney said people tend to pity her because her birthday only falls once every four years. She said her teachers used to ask her to explain why her birthday was only every so often.\n“It was depressing,” she said.\nShe explained that during the last 20 years of her life, she’s had multiple awkward encounters as a leap year baby.\n“The bank won’t accept my birthday,” Moloney said. “I’m born on February 28 to them.”\nMoloney said people are constantly asking her if she is allowed to drive – because she hasn’t had 16 birthdays.\n“People say, ‘No, you’re four,’” she said. \nWhen she was born, her father begged the doctor to change her birthday on her birth certificate to March 1 because she was born less than an hour before midnight. But her father was unable to convince the doctor to change it.\nDespite only having four “real” birthdays in the last 20 years, Moloney said there’s only one way to celebrate today.\n“Whatever, I’m getting a princess birthday,” she said.\nMoloney isn’t the only IU student who has to deal with friendly ridicule on her birthday. Actually, 25 students currently enrolled at IU have leap-year birthdays, according to a representative from the Office of the Registrar.\nSophomore Derek Finley, who is also turning five this year, said he is used to getting made fun of about his birthday.\n“I get teased by my friends,” Finley said. “(They) tell me I’ll be 84 before I can legally drink.”\nEven though his friends have picked on him, they’re not the only ones who have embarrassed him. For his last birthday, Finley’s mother sent out birthday invitations for his party. The invitations said the birthday party was for a 4-year-old, except his mother never clarified that Finley was actually turning 16. \n“I got baby clothes, pacifiers, little Tonka trucks,” he said. “Nothing I could use.”\nIn a strikingly similar situation, graduate student Alicia Keebaugh had a fourth birthday when she turned 16-years-old. She received sidewalk chalk and Barbie dolls as gifts, most of which she gave to charity. Now that she’s turning six, leap years are no longer an embarrassment.\nBut that doesn’t mean she hasn’t had her share of problems with having a birthday that comes every four years.\n“I can’t apply at Borders. I tried to do that, and it told me my birthday wasn’t valid,” she said. “Microsoft Office would not accept (Feb. 29) as a valid day.”\nBut the history of embarrassment goes back much further than fourth and sixth birthdays.\nSophomore Quinn Cosgrove only really remembers his first birthday – turning 4-years-old. His mother sent out birthday invitations that read, “Leaping Lizards!” Despite the humiliation, he said he still likes leap years.\n“I think it’s pretty cool,” Cosgrove said. “I’m 19, going to be five.”\nLike Cosgrove, Keebaugh has learned to embrace and make the most of a birthday that is only every so often. Keebaugh is a part of The Honor Society of Leap Day Babies. The society is dedicated to making Feb. 29 “Leap Day,” a day for all of the people who have leap year birthdays. \nOn the off years, Keebaugh usually celebrates her birthday on Feb. 28, which she said sometimes “sucks.”\n“On my 21st birthday, I went out on Feb. 28, and they wouldn’t let me drink until March 1,” Keebaugh said. “I was pretty angry.”\nEven though some students recall being embarrassed on their birthdays, others treat their leap-year birthday as they would any other normal day.\n“People will always make fun of you,” sophomore Andrew Kim said, quoting comments such as, “Oh, you’re big for your age!” \nBut Kim said having a leap-year birthday is “all right” because he gets to celebrate on both Feb. 28 and March 1 on the off years.\n“It’s not a big deal,” he said. “There were three other high school students who had leap-year birthdays.”\nJust like Kim, sophomore Valerie Painter had no embarrassing leap-year birthday stories. She said she doesn’t receive special presents on leap years and usually her birthday rituals are the same every year.\n“I’ll probably go somewhere and party,” Painter said.\nAlthough Feb. 29 may seem like an annoyance to some and a technicality to others, without it, the calendar would be out of sync, said Haldan Cohn, IU astronomy professor. Because the earth takes 365.25 days to orbit the sun, calendars include the extra day every four years to make up the difference.\n“Without leap year, spring would start earlier,” Cohn said. “You wouldn’t notice it right away, but every 100 years, the seasons would start 25 days earlier.” \nSo to those 25 IU students born today, have four times the fun because Feb. 29 won’t come again for another four trips around the sun.
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