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(02/16/04 4:18am)
Though Dunn Cemetery existed six years before IU's first buildings, its history is narrower than the plot of land where it lies. While the cemetery is located within campus grounds, IU does not own it, nor do many people know much about it.\nSituated on the east side of the Indiana Memorial Union, students pass the cemetery on a daily basis. Except for the occasional tale told close to Halloween, the cemetery rarely becomes the subject of conversation. \nLast week, however, several students noticed some workers digging on the cemetery grounds. While the sight might have sparked the curiosity of several passersby, this was not an out-of-season Halloween story. \nOn the afternoon of Feb. 10, Marilyn Seward Warden was buried during a private service held at the Dunn Cemetery. Warden, a descendent of one of Bloomington's founding families, attended IU as both an undergraduate and a graduate student. Her four children are also all IU graduates. Throughout her life, she has served many of Bloomington's community organizations, including the IU Foundation and Psi Iota Xi. \nSince IU does not own the cemetery, it was not involved in the burial. In fact, Dave Hurst, director of grounds services at IU, said the University is not responsible for any of the cemetery's upkeep. \n"All we do is keep it clean of leaves and trash," Hurst said.\nHurst has worked for IU's ground services for 12 years. Since he has been at IU, there have been only three burials. Everything he knows about the cemetery he learned from a couple of people who are now buried there before they passed away. \nHe said information about the cemetery gets harder and harder to find as the descendants who are eligible to be buried in it pass away. The extent of his knowledge to date about the cemetery is collected in a thin file he keeps in his office. Along with some handwritten notes, the file contains a couple of newspaper clippings, some drawings of the cemetery plot, a few obituaries and a copy of the deed.\nAccording to the deed to the cemetery, George G. Dunn has granted these private burial grounds to descendants of Eleanor Dunn, Nancy Alexander and Jane Irwin. The cemetery is also reserved for anyone with whom the descendants intermarry. In the deed, Dunn grants never-ending access to these private burial grounds.\nWhen the University bought parts of the Dunn family's farmland, it was required to build around the cemetery.\nThe oldest grave still stands, belonging to 17-year-old Jennet Steward, who was buried in 1814 -- two years before Indiana became a state. Yet despite the cemetery's old age, a centralized collection of information about it does not exist. Most of what is known about the cemetery is a combination of legends and facts. \nLinda Degh, distinguished professor emeritus with the Department of Folklore, said some students have seen footprints around the graves or watched as the inscriptions on the graves light up in the dark. She said she is unaware of any detailed stories about this cemetery.\n"Legends are being created all the time," Degh said. "People make legends about things they do not know about. It's soothing." \nAs the information gets passed from generation to generation, the cemetery's past gets harder to find. But Degh is confident legends will be created to fill in the missing pieces.\n-- Contact staff writer Vanessa Caruso at vcaruso@indiana.edu.
(02/13/04 4:52am)
Every year, many students in the IU Theater and Drama and Music departments journey to New York in the hopes they'll make it big on the stage. The competition is stiff, and the odds are tremendous. But now and then, things fall into place for a few lucky individuals. \nAnyone who doesn't believe it just has to ask Steve Morgan, John R. Armstrong and Charlie Mechling. The three met as students at IU and since then, they've kept in touch with one another through auditions, traveling, big breaks and let downs.\nThis weekend, they'll return to Bloomington together as cast members in "Seussical The Musical." The show is based on the works of Dr. Seuss -- Theodore Seuss Geisel -- and focuses mainly on "Horton Hears a Hoo", "Gertrude McFuzz"and "The Cat In The Hat". Mechling, Armstrong and Morgan play the trouble-making trio, the Wickersham Brothers. Though they deny causing any trouble offstage, they make this statement with an audible wink in their voices. The singers have worked together on previous sets. They attribute past experiences together to the ease with which they blend their talents. \n"We auditioned at different times, but we ended up together. It's a pretty rare occasion to be cast as a trio with people you know," Armstrong said. "It's very comfortable being on stage among friends. Whatever we do, it's going to work out because we're on the same wavelength." \nThough Morgan and Mechling graduated in the class of 1999 and Armstrong graduated in the class of 2002, they have kept in touch. The three performers have been roommates and co-workers, and though life has taken them in different directions, they keep tabs with each other. The men have strong ties to IU and Bloomington that keep them coming back. \n"We can't get away from it and wouldn't want to," Mechling said. "It's an awfully small world ... our paths will cross again." \nThe actors have received a great deal of support from the cast and directors and feel fortunate that they have granted them the freedom to develop their roles. \n"It's the comfort level. We're never afraid to try something new," Mechling said. "With our rapport, it allows us to really grow." \nThe Wickersham Brothers are very active characters, and the trio often has to rise to the challenge. \n"We have some of the most physically demanding roles, especially energy wise." Mechling said. "We're constantly jumping around ... there's a lot of athleticism."\nThe "Seussical" performance is the first tour for Morgan and Armstrong, and they have learned a lot The biggest challenge has been keeping the play fresh after so many performances and keeping it away from what Armstrong calls "the dark side," where it becomes stale and lifeless. \n"We rehearse for two weeks and perform for six months," Mechling said. "It's hard to keep your mind active and to grow in your role." \nThe show travels the country with two tractor-trailers, millions of dollars of equipment and the original costumes from the Broadway production. The most exciting part for the actors, though, is bringing it all to audiences. \n"We're getting paid to do what we love, to have fun, sing and dance," Morgan said. "It's the most rewarding thing on earth."\nThough Dr. Seuss usually appeals to children, the three actors feel it can be appreciated by all ages. \n"It's not just a kids show ... it applies to all ages. Dr. Seuss really talked about a lot of issues ... There are lessons for everyone," Armstrong said. "You take away something you can apply to your life."\nThe performers said they are looking forward to coming back and being in the IU Auditorium. In honor of the occasion, they say they will incorporate a small IU cheer into the show: "We'll find a way."\n-- Contact staff writer Meredith Hahn at mshahn@indiana.edu.
(02/12/04 4:42am)
Hannah Edgerton used to enjoy coming to Bloomington for Christmas and summer vacations to play checkers and listen to the stories from her grandfather, William B. Edgerton. Edgerton, who was a retired professor and former chair of the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, died Sunday at 89 years old, leaving behind stories of a life as a prominent international figure and a personable raconteur among his friends and colleagues. \n"I remember sitting around the dinner table as a little girl feeling really excited about coming to listen to Grandad and these heroic stories," said Hannah Edgerton, who is now a graduate student at IU studying art history and photography. "He used to tell just amazing stories about his experiences traveling around the world and doing relief work in Egypt, Poland and Germany around the time of the second world war."\nShelley Scott, an administrative assistant in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, only met Edgerton three years ago. Still, that was plenty of time to grow fond of his exciting stories. \n"He just had this wonderful little sparkle in his eye," Scott said. "He'd pick up his mail, and he would talk about when he was in Europe dealing with children, that he'd be picked up and detained by authorities for being a spy. And he just had this sweet smile, and he'd say 'They never held me for long!' You could tell what he did. It was reflected in his life."\nBefore coming to IU in 1958, Edgerton was a relief worker for the Society of Friends during World War II. Scott said Edgerton would often talk about that time in his life, when he is credited with discovering evidence of thousands of children forcibly relocated by the Nazis and starting a large-scale program to identify and return them to their families. \nIn 1954, Edgerton, was one of the first Americans to visit the Soviet Union as a member of a delegation of religious members invited by the state department. \nAfter receiving his Ph.D. in Russian Literature from Columbia University, Edgerton taught at Penn State, Michigan and Columbia. Once here, Edgerton founded and became the first president of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies. \nRonald F. Feldstein, chair of the Slavic Languages and Literatures department, said Edgerton made a number of key contributions to the field at IU. \n"He was a real combination of excellence in many ways," said Feldstein, who met Edgerton in 1976. "He was one of the major people to organize the Russian and Slavic field. He got started right after the war in the late 40s and 50s. He was a pioneer, a real pioneer."\nThere will be a memorial service for Edgerton 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bloomington Friends Meeting House, 3820 E. Moores Pike.
(02/02/04 5:48am)
Folk music played softly in the background as the audience stared at a blank screen awaiting the beginning of the show. "PRIDE: In Several Short Cinematic Acts," took the screen at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Saturday afternoon and evening with 600 people in attendance. \nPRIDE is an organization which works to improve awareness and create a community for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons and those who support them. \nThis film festival was the first in Bloomington to focus primarily on issues concerning the GLBT community. \n"A film festival like this one opens a space for gay and lesbian films," said Joan Hawkins, a professor in the communication and culture department. "But not only that … it offers the opportunity to see visually stimulating productions that we would normally never see."\nThe festival began in September as the inspiration of Kevin Hudson and Sara Beanblossom, both graduate students in the Arts Administration Program. Since then, the planning committee has grown to include four graduate students and several volunteers. \nBecause the festival covered such a broad range of topics, most people were able to find something they could identify with. \n"The films pertain to everyone, not just members of the GLBT community," Jean Kerley, marketing coordinator for PRIDE said. "Everyone can relate to at least one of the films in some way."\nSupporters wanted to bring these films to Indiana to increase awareness of GLBT issues and to create a sense of unified community where all people could go. \n"You hear so many negative voices about the gay and lesbian community," said Jeff Bennett, a doctoral candidate in the communication and culture department. "Festivals like this one give us a chance to show a lot of the positive sides to GLBT life that aren't represented through mainstream media."\nSupporters believe events like this weekend's festival are important in the Bloomington community. "Gay and lesbian culture is often invisible," Hawkins said. "Often when something is invisible, we want to forget about it, but this is as much a part of our lives as anything else." \nFeatured at the festival were ten short, independent films from across the globe.\nThe first was titled "Looking for Mr. Right." It follows a gay 'everyman' as he visits a dance bar searching for his next husband. This film is seen through his mind's eye as he approaches a potential Mr. Right and receives a shocking surprise. \nIn the second film, "Crush," the audience is introduced to Tina, a 12-year-old growing up in southern Illinois. She meets the new boy in town, Robbie, and instantly develops a crush on the newcomer. Tina later realizes the object of her desire is not interested in her at all, but rather the boy across the way. \n "'Crush' was one of my favorites of the films," said Meghan Mackrell, a recent gradate of the information science department. "Everyone, even if they weren't gay, could relate to something in the storyline."\nThe third film, "Daddy-O", presents a father on a weekend getaway as he reflects on his feelings about fishing, fatherhood and his gay daughter.\n"Losing Lois", the fourth film in the series, reveals the legal difficulties faced by the surviving partner of a murdered Tampa policewoman because their partnership is not recognized by state law. \nIn the fifth film, "Gaydar", an office full of men and women ponder over their hunky co-worker, Jack, and whether he is straight or gay. Randy, one of the men in the office, buys a gaydar gun at a yard sale, which claims to detect "gayness." Randy decides to give the device a try, upon which it appears to work. He then elects to try it out on hunky Jack from the office. \nThe sixth film, "You2," follows a young Surinamese woman who is struggling to come to terms with her sexuality, as well as convince her mother to do the same. \n"No Dumb Questions," the seventh film in the series, introduces the audience to a family, specifically three young girls, trying to cope with their Uncle Bill becoming Aunt Barbara.\n"It was my favorite of the films because the little girls told the truth," said Bloomington resident Cathy Davis. "They asked the questions that most adults are afraid to ask in that situation." \nIn the eighth film, "Ritchie's Itch," a construction worker, Ritchie, describes a dream to his co-worker who hounds him the rest of the day. \n"Sea In the Blood," the ninth film, is a narrative of love, loss and living close to illness. It traces the relationship of the artist to thalassemia in his sister, Nan, and AIDS in his partner, Tim. \nThe last in the series, "Straight Sex," features two old friends -- a gay man and a lesbian -- who decide to conceive a child the "old-fashioned way."\nThose attending were pleased with the films themselves and that such a festival exists. \n"People just keep saying, 'Thank you for doing this," Beanblossom said. "To me, that means what we are doing is very important to people." \nThe festival will become an annual event. Goals for next year include featuring a film by an Indiana film maker as well as incorporating a local artist whose artwork coincides with the theme of the festival into the art gallery at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.\n"We are already looking forward to choosing films for next year," Kerley said. "We had over 30 entries this year, even on short notice." \nOrganizers wanted people to take something away from the festival.\n"Ideally, people will gain something from attending the festival," Bennett said. "Hopefully they can take something away with them … something that they didn't have before, but as a result of events, such as this, they now have the ability to conceive." \n-- Contact staff writer Lynndi Lockenour at llockeno@indiana.edu.
(01/29/04 4:49am)
Community organizations battling Bloomington's unemployment issues received a much-needed boost two weeks ago. \nIn his State of the State address, Gov. Joe Kernan announced the creation of the Indiana@Work initiative as part of his commitment to jumpstart Indiana's economy. The plan provides further funding to help local agencies seek out employment and provide training for unemployed or under-employed citizens.\n"Unemployment is a problem everywhere," said Susan Stein, a supervisor for South Central Indiana WorkOne center. "There are groups in the community who are very forward-thinking and are working on the problem."\nWorkOne is a combination of several different programs which help unemployed workers identify and train for better jobs in vocations ranging from advanced manufacturing to information technology, said Richard Rampley, program director for the South Central Indiana WorkOne center. The organization will also be the chief venue for application of the new Indiana@Work funds.\nThe program has already enjoyed success in South Bend, Evansville and Lafayette, and should bolster Bloomington's economy, as well, Rampley said.\n"It's an excellent message for moving the workforce ahead and helping businesses identify their needs," Rampley said. "So, many times, individual workers cannot identify what skills they have for a particular job. And we've seen this layoff after layoff."\nIn addition to combating existing unemployment, Indiana@Work will attempt a proactive approach to the problem. The South Bend office works with local high schools to seek out jobs for non-college bound graduates, Rampley said. \nEven employed workers can look to the program to help optimize their performance, Rampley added.\n"I think it can help any business that wants to better identify their workers' skills, which should allow them to be more productive," Rampley said. "It helps the workers, too, because they know what skills they have. Then they can be that much more competitive in getting their first job."\nEldon Hojem is the county coordinator for South Central Workforce Development, a sister organization of WorkOne concentrating on job training. Hojem said additional funding could make a large impact.\n"One of the things I would like to see, is if they could produce more short-term schools that could put people back in the workforce quicker," he said. "That would be extremely beneficial."\nSince WorkOne has relied on state funding for about 35 years, it is a free service available to all citizens. Hojem said he hopes Indiana@Work will help create more jobs for WorkOne to fill.\nIndiana@Work requires no legislative approval because it is an administrative action, so WorkOne agencies statewide can expect to see funding immediately.\nKernan will draw the $10 million in funding from the existing state budget for the Department of Commerce's Skills Enhancement Fund, Rampley said.\n"Our goal is to give every Hoosier the opportunity to get a job or get training for a better job," Kernan said in a statement.\nMore information on Indiana@Work can be found at http://www.in.gov/gov/pdfs/Indiana@Work_1-12-04.pdf.
(01/27/04 4:57am)
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- Eager to ride the high-tech tide, Andrew Zhou double-majored in computer science and finance when he arrived at Rutgers University in 2000.\nAs graduation approaches, Zhou is pinning his hopes on finance and dropping the idea he once had that computer know-how guaranteed him a job.\n"Four years ago, it seemed like an awesome major," Zhou said as he waited to speak with a recruiter for a telecommunications management firm at Rutgers' annual career day.\n"Now, nobody wants to get in because all the jobs are going to India."\nWhile there are hopeful signs outside the technology sector, outsourcing of computer programming and customer service jobs to China, India and other countries with cheaper labor costs have dimmed prospects for seniors like Zhou, said Richard White, director of career services at Rutgers.\nA recent report from Forrester Research projected that as many as 3.3 million American white collar tech jobs will go to overseas workers by 2015.\n"Jobs that used to be available for U.S. citizens are being diverted overseas where the quality is equal or better at a fraction of the cost," White said.\nThe fallout from outsourcing and stagnant U.S. technology market means that seniors at San Jose State University -- in the heart of Silicon Valley -- face yet another "very tight" job market, said career center director Cheryl Allmen-Vinnedge.\n"The entry level positions just aren't out there now," agreed Halbert Wilson.\nA January graduate with a degree in information technology from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Wilson is counting on contacts made during an internship with a pharmaceutical company to help him get a job.\nExperts say the best sectors for seniors to find employment are in finance, health care, advertising and government. And a jump in the number of campus recruiters visiting some campuses is giving students reason for hope.\nAt the University of Mississippi, recruiting coordinator Gina Starnes said career center interview rooms are booked solid by corporate representatives during February.\nAfter two consecutive years of little or no growth, the National Association of Colleges and Employers is forecasting a 12.7 percent jump in hiring this year.\nNACE spokeswoman Camille Luckenbaugh warned that while 51 percent of the employers surveyed by the group said they would increase recruitment of college graduates this year, another 28 percent indicated they would curtail hiring on campuses.\nA leading Internet source for college students seeking entry-level jobs said listings in the accounting and retail fields have both jumped by over 50 percent compared with last year.\nJob opportunities in the financial, health care and advertising sectors also have increased, said Michelle Forker, vice president of MonsterTRAK, a subsidiary of Monster.com, the online job service.\nAnd the Partnership for Public Service is predicting that the federal government will fill 73,000 jobs in the next six months.\nInternal Revenue Service recruiter Doug Fuller was besieged at the Rutgers' career day.\n"The economy has perhaps changed the mind-set of this generation," he said, "Where they think more about jobs with greater stability than you could encounter in the private sector"
(01/27/04 4:46am)
Coffee houses address greater concerns
It is interesting that in an article about Bloomington's coffee houses ("The Simple Pleasures" Jan. 22) staff writer Jenica Schultz failed to mention a huge issue many coffee consumers are concerned with -- fair trade -- coffee that has been fairly traded with the producer, assuring that no matter what the current market value of coffee, the farmers will be fairly compensated to maintain a living wage.
(01/20/04 4:35am)
Gelato not new to Bloomington\nRegarding the article "Gelato comes to College Mall" (IDS, Jan. 14), I think it is about time that IDS reporters widen their views in their very own neighborhood. Unlike it says in the article, The Gelato Shop in College Mall is not unique in Indiana. There has been a cafe right here in Bloomington that has served gelato for a few years now. The cafe started with the name "Colpa Dolce," but the ownership change renamed it Neannie's cafe. It is located, not so far from IU Press, on Sixth and Madison.\nTei Laine\nGraduate Student
(01/09/04 6:08am)
The IU School of Optometry lost one of its first members over winter break. \nMerrill J. Allen, who co-founded the school in 1952 and also held patents for a number of inventions, died Dec. 28 at 85.\nAllen's research focused on visual training and therapy and is credited with inventing more highly-placed brake lights and daytime headlights on cars. He wrote extensively on vision and highway safety, publishing more than 236 research papers and two textbooks.\nIU Professor of Optometry Dr. David A. Goss met Allen as a graduate student in 1976 and again when he joined the faculty in 1992. Goss said Allen was constantly developing new ideas and inventions. \n"He was a real gadgeteer, you might say," Goss said. "He made a lot of gadgets mostly for use in vision training or vision therapy, to encourage the use of the two eyes together. He was a very hard worker. He'd be at school all day and if you ever went back in evening he was there then too."\nGoss said Allen's impact on the field of optometry at IU is significant. \n"He would have taught hundreds of optometrists," Goss said. "I know a lot of people saw him as inspiration to enter the field."\nOne of those people is Dr. Mary Van Hoy, who now works at the Indiana Vision Improvement Center in Indianapolis after meeting Allen as a student in 1968. Van Hoy said she remembers most Allen's enthusiasm for his work and the people he taught. \n"He was very dedicated to students, very personable, not distant at all," Van Hoy said. "I think he's kind of an icon. He won every award there was in optometry and was dedicated to the profession. And not just in the books, he was a real people person."\nAllen, who was born in San Antonio, Tex., went to school at Ohio State and later worked for the National Research Council in World War II. During his career, he received the Apollo Award from the American Optometric Association's in 1973, the highest honor in optometry, Goss said.\nMerrill Allen's son, Jim Allen, said he is reminded of his father's contributions in everyday life.\n"Every time you see a headlight on in the daytime on a vehicle, that is the result of research Dad did," he said. "And every time you come up to a railroad crossing and notice how bright red the lights are, that is the result of his research."\nSteven Hitzeman, director of clinics at the IU School of Optometry, worked beside Allen as a student in the mid- 70s. Hitzeman said his fondest memory was he and Allen working together to help a visually impaired child in one of their projects. \n"He was a classic academic," Hitzeman said. "He would immerse himself in a project. I wouldn't call him absent-minded, but he was sometimes so engrossed in a project he would forget basic things that he would need, like going to dinner or a faculty meeting. \n"But it was because his mind was so active. He was always trying to invent something or make things better," he said. "He was a special person. He gave everything he could to everything he was doing."\nMemorial contributions can be made in Allen's name to the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Indiana in Indianapolis or the Hospice of Bloomington. \n-- The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact campus editor Gavin Lesnick at glesnick@indiana.edu.
(11/26/03 7:06pm)
Area businesses are looking forward to the return of alumni this weekend for Homecoming, and not just because they mean extra sales.\nEd Dyer, bartender at Nick's Old English Hut, said seeing old friends and regulars always makes Homecoming special.\n"I like this week because a lot of people I went to school with come into town," he said.\nHomecoming Weekend is Nick's third-busiest weekend of the year, after Little 500 and graduation, Dyer said. Though the football team is struggling, Dyer said the bar should be full after the 11 a.m. game against Northwestern. \n"It's one of the few games we have a chance to win, so it should be pretty packed," Dyer said.\nAt Kilroy's Sports, Homecoming festivities include guest appearances by alumni bartenders. \nOwner Linda Prall said the former bartenders as well as the regular bartenders have a great time catching up.\nSales for Kilroy's Sports on Homecoming Weekend are double compared to a typical weekend, she said. Extra security will be present to keep the lines organized.\n"It's huge," Prall said. "You basically hold on and get through it."\nOther businesses are making adjustments this week to make sure they are ready for the expected crowds.\nScholar's Inn is trimming down its menu for the weekend, so the kitchen doesn't get overwhelmed, said manager Alex Tachtiris. \nHe said reservations for large parties are no longer being taken. \n"We get a lot of alumni in, and we love to see them," Tachtiris said.\nSteve and Barry's on Kirkwood Avenue is hiring more workers for the weekend, manager Amanda Way said. She said they plan to open the store early and close late Friday and Saturday. \nShe said the alumni who come in want to talk about how IU has changed. Inevitably, she will have to give directions to those who haven't been around in a while, she said. \n"For many people, IU has changed so much," she said. "You end up giving a lot of directions."\nGreg Marshall, manager of Trojan Horse, said he expects lines out the door. This is the first Homecoming where the smoking ordinance has been in effect, and it's the first thing on Marshall's mind.\nHe said he thinks alumni will be less likely to stay longer if they can't smoke.\n"We'll still be busy, but it may not be as busy as in the past," he said. "(The ordinance) might affect us in that alumni won't hang around and smoke a cigarette and have that extra drink."\n-- Contact staff writer Adam Van Osdol at avanosdo@indiana.edu.
(11/20/03 5:40am)
Junior Carrie Krack laughs when she thinks of describing her mother's job to a politically-correct society. \n"I always say she's a homemaker," Krack said. "I know it's kind of looked down upon."\nBy now, Krack knows to expect mixed reactions. \n"I honestly think that (raising children) is the most important job even though it doesn't pay," she said.\nAfter she graduates with a degree in secondary education, Krack says she hopes to follow her mother's example. She, too, wants to stay at home, despite receiving a degree from IU. Krack says she would rather start a family and stay home with her kids than work. Krack's stay-at-home plan isn't a long-term career, but she doesn't want her kids to consider day care their permanent home.\nWith a pair of tennis shoes tucked under her, Krack might not symbolize June Cleaver. But between chugs on her water bottle, Krack explains her vision of a modern, stay-at-home mom, much different than Cleaver's role in "Leave it to Beaver."\n"A lot of women feel they can have part-time jobs and stay at home," Krack said, acknowledging the success of door-to-door Mary Kay cosmetics. \nWhile the number of full-time women workers has decreased, the number of part-time workers has increased, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.\nHer hair tied up in a wispy ponytail after a Friday morning jog, Krack talks about society's evolving perception of women.\n"It seems like it always comes back to that idea of money," Krack said. "Am I going to be able to (stay home) financially?"\nThough she can't begin to explain why, Krack said she's noticed a shift in society's perception of stay-at-home moms.\nWithin less than a decade, the number of children raised by stay-at-home moms has increased by 13 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Ivy League-educated women are rebelling against the work force. Highly qualified women are rejecting fame and fortune for the comforts of family life. They're choosing kids instead of career. \nFifty years after women swarmed the work force, they're going back home, leaving experts to question if the feminist fad is out of fashion. Social scientists are trying to discover if the increasing number of stay-at-home moms is a retroactive revolution or some sort of new-age feminist movement.\nA women's world\nSome, like New York Times Magazine reporter Lisa Belkin, are trying to offer their own explanations. In Belkin's "The Opt-Out Revolution," she explains the decision to stay at home as more than a flippant desire to leave the work force. \n"Why don't women run the world?" she asked. "Maybe it's because they don't want to."\nWhile three out of every five women are working, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more educated women who have the freedom to stay home are avoiding the work force. \nFeminists from the 1970s might have expected women to soar to positions of power with the destruction of legal barriers, but they haven't. \nBelkin traces the story of Ivy League graduates. In Stanford's class of '81, 25 percent of women stayed home for at least three years. \nHarvard's Business School reported less successful statistics. A survey of 1981, 1985 and 1991 graduates showed 38 percent as full-time employees.
(11/14/03 2:20pm)
Friends and family of Frank McCloskey will gather this weekend to celebrate his life. \nThe former mayor of Bloomington and U.S. Congressman died Nov. 2 after battling bladder cancer since September 2002. He was 64.\nA remembrance, open to the public, will be held at 1 p.m. at St. Paul 's Catholic Center, 1413 E. 17th Street, Saturday. Following the mass, supporters, friends and staff will congregate at 3 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater to "celebrate the life of Frank McCloskey." \nDuring the celebration, a documentary film on Frank McCloskey, "Recounting the Years," will be shown. Speakers include former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson, and highlights of McCloskey's career will be presented by friends and staff. \nThe documentary video and event should be humorous and lively, said Matt Weber, McCloskey's former co-worker with the Monroe County Democratic Party. \n"Oddly enough (the celebration) will be more upbeat than one might expect," he said.\nBorn in 1939 in Pennsylvania, McCloskey served as a newspaper reporter from 1961 to 1968, when he graduated from IU. He obtained his law degree from the IU Law School in 1971, and then held the mayoral office in Bloomington from 1972 to 1982. During that time, he implemented an ambulance service, a mass transportation service, civil rights service and a housing inspection program. Also during his time in office, McCloskey lobbied for federal funding to rehabilitate sub-standard housing. Elected in 1983 to Congress, McCloskey continued his fight to help and educate Americans until 1995.\nCity council member-at-large Anthony Pizzo said he has known McCloskey for almost 30 years. \n"When he was elected mayor he became the leader of the Democratic Party," he said. "He fought for the traditional kind of working man, and he is the reason why I am a Democrat."\nCity Clerk Regina Moore, a long time friend of McCloskey's, said she worked with him for years. Moore said McCloskey was the one who encouraged her to run for public office. \n"When he was here, he was just Frank, your friend," she said. \n-- Contact staff writer Mike Malik at mjmalik@indiana.edu.
(11/12/03 5:43am)
IU President Adam Herbert outlined his plan for aiding Indiana's economic and educational transformation at the Economic Club of Indianapolis Monday. His plan includes building a new Clarian hospital, improving P-12 education and furthering medical research.\nRoughly 1,000 people listened to Herbert's strategy to harness IU's information technology and the life sciences to further job growth.\nHerbert delegated this task to a University economic development task force shortly after the start of his tenure.\n"An educated workforce with great diversity, quality and depth is the single most important factor in attracting new businesses," Herbert said in his address. "In such an environment, universities become crucial."\nHerbert announced his intent to assist the state in improving education from preschool to college, as well as emphasized the importance of concentrating on low-income and minority demographics. \nTo achieve this goal, IU has worked closely with the Indiana Commission on Higher Education, said Bill Stephan, vice president for public affairs and government relations.\n"IU has a great deal of expertise in technological areas," Stephan said. "(Herbert) is very interested in ways IU can provide technical assistance … for urban schools or low-income families."\nHerbert stressed the importance of education in attracting the new business vital for jump-starting the state's economy.\n"If the state of Indiana is to compete successfully in the new economy and halt the 'brain drain' … we must improve the quality of education, preschool through college," Herbert said. "Failure to do so means that we lack qualified workers to fill the new positions."\nHerbert said he hopes to garner prestige and employment opportunities by pushing for more research programs, particularly in the IU School of Medicine. In conjunction with Clarian Health Partners, the school hopes to become a leader in the field of cancer research and treatment. \n"We have plans to build a new cancer treatment hospital in partnership with Clarian," Herbert said. "Our goal is to become one of the top five cancer research centers in America and the best in the Midwest within the next five years."\nClarian Health is an "umbrella identity" for Methodist Health Group, IU Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children, according to www.clarian.org. \nJohn Walda, chairman of the board of Clarian Health Partners and IU vice president of governmental affairs, said he believes the new facility will benefit IU as well as the state.\n"It will provide a state-of-the-art facility for the School of Medicine faculty and private doctors engaged in cancer treatment to practice in," Walda said.\nBy providing quality practitioners and facilities, the hospital will boost IU's reputation as a medical school, Walda said.\nAnother key initiative by which IU hopes to serve the economy is fostering an entrepreneurial culture, Herbert said. The Advanced Research and Technology Institute, founded by the IU Emerging Technologies Center, was the first step toward this.\n"Just this year, (ARTI) assisted faculty members in patenting more than twice as many of their discoveries as in 1996, the year ARTI was established," Herbert said.\nDue to the success of the IUETC, Herbert said plans for another incubator for graduated companies are in the works.\nAbout 84 percent of incubator companies stay in the state said Mark Long, president and chief executive officer for ARTI. He said he hopes they will continue to grow and employ more graduates.\n"If I could create the next Eli Lilly, that would be a great economic boost for Indy," Long said laughing.\nHerbert spoke optimistically about Indiana's economic outlook and the role IU will play in developing it.\n"Through vision, strategic actions, teamwork and Hoosier resolve, we will build an Indiana as good as its promise," he said. "We can look to a future in which we struggle not to find jobs for workers, but to find enough workers for all the new jobs."\n-- Contact staff writer Mike McElroy at mmcelroy@indiana.edu.
(11/11/03 5:32am)
Over the past month, several articles have been printed expressing the downside of having assistant instructors teach undergraduates. The AI/student system is designed to create smaller class sizes and more chances for one-on-one instruction with students as well as letting graduate students have the opportunity to gain valuable teaching skills. Unfortunately, these articles have been extremely biased, facilitating the needs of below-average undergraduates to place blame for their poor performance and understanding on their AIs. I am an AI that teaches Introduction to Biology Lab in the biology department and feel that it is time that the AIs are heard.\nBecause I have never been taught by an assistant instructor, I cannot speculate on the students'\nperspective. However, my experience as an AI gives me the opportunity to debate the notion that all AIs are "green-faced graduate students trying to gain a better understanding of the material." I teach a lab course that addresses a wide spectrum of topics in biology. The fact that I and my co-workers have been given the opportunity to teach shows that we have already proven ourselves to be sufficiently knowledgeable in the subject areas to be covered. Although not always the case, AIs, for the most part, have a better understanding of the subject matter than the students.\nThe statement that AIs are "green-faced" (although I gather it is intended as an insult) just conveys the fact that AIs are often new to teaching. If the argument that no new AIs should be hired is true, then no one would get a chance to teach to begin with and the entire education system would fall apart.\nAlthough I am in favor of having AIs teach, I sympathize with students' frustrations at having AIs\nfrequently make mistakes. Like students, AIs are more knowledgeable in some areas than others. For instance, I can discuss photosynthesis processes better than I can genetic inheritance mechanisms, but I am still required to cover the latter material. However, assuming that replacing AIs with credited professors will eliminate confusion in the classroom is a mistake in itself. From experience, many tenured professors have confused issues just as much, if not more than, some student teachers.\nNo matter the opinions expressed by the students of their AIs, the roles of the debating sides remains the same as that of a student/professor system. The AIs provide a means by which students can learn material that they have not been introduced to before or do not understand entirely. The students are still required to come to class, ask questions and communicate with their AIs to let them know how well they understand the material covered in class. In turn, the students' understanding and effort put into the work is shown through the grades they make.\nAfter nearly two semesters teaching as an AI, I have found that the majority of complaints come from\nstudents who do not seek help and carry the "test-be-damned" attitude as their motto or those who\nfeel they deserve an A just because they wish to get into medical school. I feel it is time to hear from those students who appreciate what their AIs do for them instead of focusing on the ideas of undergraduates who attend too many parties and do not fulfill their roles as students.
(11/10/03 5:38am)
MUNCIE -- A 21-year-old Ball State University student from Bedford, Ind., was shot and killed by university police early Saturday morning.\nJunior Michael S. McKinney was banging on the back door and window of an off-campus house when the police were called around 3 a.m., Ball State spokesperson Heather Shupp said. \nThe Indianapolis Star reported that Ball State Police Officer Robert Duplain, 24, arrived at the scene and asked the student to come down from the back porch. From there, the student lunged off the porch toward the officer, when Duplain shot and killed McKinney with four shots to the torso.\n"It is a terrible tragedy for the university and community," Shupp said. "Our focus is on the family and getting support for them and any friends of the student's. We are also making sure that the officer and his co-workers receive all the support they need as well."\nThe university had several counselors on duty over the weekend to provide the help they needed. \nMcKinney had been a member of the Delta Chi fraternity, whose house had closed down last year due to financial troubles. The university was not aware of McKinney's current residence.\nDuplain has been on the Ball State police force for just seven months, and had completed his basic firearms and law course from the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board, which allowed him to carry a weapon while on duty, The Indianapolis Star reported. \nHe had also completed 14 weeks of field training with the university and is scheduled to train at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in January 2004. Duplain is currently on administrative leave awaiting an investigation of the shooting, The Indianapolis Star reported.\n"Case law in Indiana says a jury has to determine what was in the officer's mind at the time of the shooting," said Marc Lansky, an IU graduate and former Allen County prosecutor. "If the officer has hollered at someone and the guy charges him, the officer has to assume in a second or two whether or not the guy has a weapon."\nTwo IU Police Department administrators, including Lt. Jerry Minger, said they cannot remember a time in the last 30 years where an officer fired his weapon on campus. \nLansky said Indiana police officers have the right to use any appropriate force to make an arrest or stop a crime, which includes deadly force if the officer feels it necessary.\nMany Ball State students were already aware of the death just one day after the shooting, and several students questioned the the officer's decision.\n"I just think that (the officer) shouldn't have shot him so quick," Ball State Student Ryan Dye said. "They didn't even know if he was armed. I don't see any reason why they thought he was going to be violent. Or they also didn't have to shoot him four times, they could have just shot him in the leg or something so he couldn't attack them."\nThe Indianapolis Star reported McKinney had been previously charged with public intoxication, possession of stolen property and criminal mischief in May 2002 when he and other members of his fraternity were caught stealing street signs. Information has not yet been released as to whether or not McKinney was intoxicated at the time of his death.\n-- Contact staff writer Brian Janosch at bjanosch@indiana.edu. Staff writer Brandon Morley contributed to this report.
(11/05/03 7:17am)
Penisten, a member of the 3rd Armored Cavalry from Fort Carson in Colorado, had enlisted in the Army three years ago and was scheduled to be discharged next year, said his father, John Penisten.\n"He was finishing the service in July next year," he said. "It was devastating."\nLoia's father, John Loia, said his daughter had talked with Penisten on Saturday, just before he was to leave Iraq. He had been headed to a debriefing before returning to the United States.\n"It's horrible," John Loia said. "It just ruined two people's lives."\nPenisten has a 4-year-old son, Trevor, who lives with his mother in Fort Wayne. In a recent card to his son, Penisten wrote, "I'm coming home soon," the family said.\nAt the Roman Catholic high school Penisten attended in Fort Wayne, the soldier was to be memorialized Thursday at a regular Mass.\nThe service was expected to draw Bishop Dwenger High's entire student body of more than 1,000 as well as members of the public, school Principal Fred Tone said.\nPenisten graduated in 1993 from Dwenger, where he was talented but hardly seemed to be military material.\n"He questioned everything," Tone, Penisten's former wrestling coach, recalled Tuesday. "He didn't take anything at face value. He would ask why."\n"We had a dress code, and he would say, 'Why is that rule there? Why do we have to tuck our shirts in?'" Tone said.\nIn the last of his four years on the school's wrestling team, Penisten advanced to the state tournament and compiled a 35-2 record.\n"He was one of the hardest workers on the mat we had," said Andy Johns, the school's athletic director. "He was a small guy, and he wrestled at 135 pounds his senior year. He was really a good student and a unique individual. He was fun to be around."\nAfter graduation, Penisten worked as a mechanic in Fort Wayne, studied at Indiana University but did not complete a degree, and even considered starting a rock band.\nHe eventually found his place in the Army, which led to an assignment in Iraq.\n"His parents dropped off his address last month, and were excited to see he was doing well," said Tone, who kept in touch with Penisten after graduation. "I sent him a note, and thanked him for serving his country."\nPenisten is the 15th person from Indiana who has died while serving in the Mideast during the war with Iraq. Nine of them have died since President Bush declared May 1 that major combat operations in Iraq had ended.
(11/03/03 6:05am)
FORT WAYNE, IND. -- Former South Bend residents Cynthia and Derrick Wozniak are young and highly educated -- just the kind of people a state suffering from a prolonged "brain drain" cannot afford to lose.\nThe couple joined that exodus when they left for Sarasota, Fla., trading harsh northern winters for a home 20 minutes from the balmy Gulf Coast.\n"I taught in Indiana for four years, and a lot of it was the winter weather -- getting up in the morning and scraping ice off the window," said Cynthia Wozniak, 33.\nTheir story is just one of thousands that have given Indiana the nation's worst record in keeping well-educated 25- to 34-year-olds from moving out-of-state, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau figures prepared by The Journal Gazette.\nFor a variety of reasons -- including higher-paying jobs and warmer climates -- Indiana is losing some of its best-educated residents.\nAccording to the results of the analysis the newspaper published Sunday, one out of three people born in Indiana lived out of state in 2000.\nThat ratio has changed little for two decades, but it conceals a more sobering fact -- the people who have left the state represent 60 percent of native Hoosiers with incomes of $100,000 or more.\nLikewise, transplants from other states make up a third of Indiana's population but represent nearly half of those in the state with incomes of $100,000 or more.\nYoung and highly educated, the former Hoosiers represent a coveted segment of the population, and Indiana is losing more of them than any other state.\nMore people in that group -- those with at least a bachelor's degree -- left the state than entered between 1995 and 2000, for an estimated net loss of 17,000, according to census data.\nOf those who left, a large number -- more than one in three -- were native Hoosiers. Many others, state census analysts say, presumably came from other states to attend Indiana colleges and left after graduation.\nPeople in the 25- to-34-year-old age group have been described as important because of their spending power. They are raising families, shopping for homes and "driving the new hi-tech economy," according to Market Research.com, which compiles demographic and other research.\nAs for higher education, only 46 percent of native Hoosiers with at least a bachelor's degree live in Indiana.\nThat is not unusual. Two-thirds of the states have less than 50 percent retention. Texas, with a 69 percent retention rate tops the list, followed by California, with 67 percent retention.\nStill, native Hoosiers living outside the state are more likely to be company chief executives, and those who stay put are more likely to be blue collar workers.\nCraig A. Baker, a Columbia City computer applications developer, Purdue University graduate and Fort Wayne native considered a move to North Carolina's famous science park.\n"I thought about going to Research Triangle a couple of times," he said. "I could have gone to New York or something like that. But I decided it wasn't for me.\nWhat holds Brown and Baker to the state has no apparent pull on many others.\nMichael McNees, 48, left Indiana for a job coaching track in Louisiana after graduating from Indiana University in 1977. He moved to Florida in 1980 with a national gas distribution company and now runs the city of Sarasota as its city manager. His father still lives in Brownsburg.\nMcNees said it's coincidental that only recently did he question the implications of his leaving Indiana.\n"I moved to opportunities I had," he said. "I never made a conscious decision to move away from Indiana. Did I ever consider looking for a job in Indiana? The answer is no, I never did."\nFor transplanted Hoosiers, Florida is the most popular state with about 240,000 Indiana-born residents. The highest concentrations are on the Gulf Coast, in cities such as Sarasota, Bradenton and Naples, and many of them are retirees.\nIllinois is second most popular with 201,000 native Hoosiers, followed by California with 160,000.
(10/30/03 6:36am)
You're walking to class, enjoying IU's colorful fall foliage, when out of nowhere a cluster of acorns falls from above.\nA furry tail flickers as it jets down the tree trunk and a frantic brown fox squirrel begins to dig for more seeds and nuts beneath a blanket of fallen leaves.\nThis scene is commonplace on IU's wooded campus, where many squirrels make their home.\nMichele Risinger, a first-year graduate student, said she has experienced this situation before.\n"The squirrels seem tame here with so many people around who usually don't bother them while they're hunting for food," Risinger said. "There have been several instances where I have almost been hit by acorns while walking near Kirkwood Avenue, but I'm not sure if the squirrels themselves are to blame."\nWhile some enjoy stopping to watch squirrels perform their acrobatic maneuvers as they scale tall branches and trees, one IU staff member has a unique connection with one squirrel scampering around campus.\nMary Ann Miller, an academic adviser in the biology department, helped nurse a squirrel back to health in the spring after finding out the animal had a skin disease known as mange.\nThe squirrel, nicknamed "E.T." by one of Miller's co-workers, was almost bald with several sores on its wrinkled body, only distinguishable by her fluffy tail.\n"She looked so helpless, it was so sad to see her suffering," Miller said. "I had to help not only because I love animals, but I can't stand to see an animal that is hurting or in trouble."\nAfter a recommendation to treat the squirrel with kitten flea powder, Miller began to notice the squirrel's dramatic improvement. \n"Within three weeks, she had all of her hair back and her sores were gone," Miller said. "I know which one she is now because of her long fingers and small spot near her tail where a patch of hair never grew back."\nMiller has a bird feeder attached to the outside of her office window and stocks it with seed for birds, chipmunks and squirrels to nibble on. She also lines a thick trail of seed along the end of the cement bench near the feeder.\n"Once when E.T. was still sick, I sat there one day feeding her under an umbrella when it was pouring down rain," Miller said. "I bet people thought I was nuts, but (E.T.) trusted me and knew I wanted to help her."\nSix months and several seeds later, the now-healthy squirrel frequents the grassy area outside Miller's office window, sometimes waiting for Miller to refill the seed near the bird feeder and along the end of Jordan Hall's long cement bench.\n"I've seen her in the morning for the past couple days," Miller said. "I think it's because she's hidden all of her nuts for the winter." \nWhen Miller originally found E.T., she called Jan Turner, a volunteer at Bloomington's WildCare center, a non-profit organization that rehabilitates animals from around the state.\nTurner is the team leader for the squirrel team and for the large rabies vector species team, which includes foxes, coyotes and raccoons.\nSince joining WildCare six years ago, Turner has rehabilitated hundreds of squirrels and other animals brought in to the organization.\n"Many of the squirrels brought in have been injured from vehicles, larger animals or from storms that blow baby squirrels out of the trees," said Turner, who also works in the dean's office at IU's School of Law. "There are also hunters who shoot the moms and her babies are orphaned."\nTurner said in E.T.'s case, Miller did the right thing by calling her and doing the proper research while finding out how to help the squirrel. \n"Many people who find orphaned, injured or sick wildlife want to help, but unfortunately they ultimately cause more damage to the animal because of a lack of knowledge," Turner said. "But (Miller) took the time to research treatment options and to ensure her own safety as well as the squirrel's. Because she cared, this story had a happy ending."\nWhile trudging through IU's snowy campus in the upcoming months, one will still see squirrels out and about digging for food, since tree squirrels don't hibernate in the winter.\n"Their bodies don't allow storage of sufficient fat resources for true hibernation," said Clara Cotten, a zoology professor in the biology department. "During cold weather, fox squirrels will become dormant for a few days at a time where they remain curled up in their nests."\nCotten said the plentiful amount of squirrels on IU's campus is mainly attributed to the squirrels' two mating seasons.\n"There never seems to be a shortage of squirrels around here because there are two breeding seasons each year," Cotten said. "One in late spring and one in early-to-mid winter."\nFor Miller, an abundance of the bushy-tailed animals adds a special element to IU, as she is happy to see squirrels -- especially E.T. -- visit the seed pile near her office window. \n"Squirrels are sweet little creatures and they add a lot to our campus," Miller said. "They make it really homey."\n-- Contact senior writer Maura Halpern at mhalpern@indiana.edu.
(10/23/03 5:22am)
If there's any chance you'll ever graduate, pay close attention: mid-size cities want you to know that, contrary to popular belief, they're super-cool and you should do them a teeny-tiny favor and move your entire life into one of them after college.\nReally. It's all part of this new multi-million dollar campaign profiled in the Oct. 10 USA Today. It was launched by second-tier American cities like Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Memphis, Baton Rouge, St. Louis and Tampa to become "more hip."\nI'm elated, because now I can anticipate an Oct. 10, 2007, USA Today with this headline: "After four years, mid-size cities trash 'get hip' plan. Says one mayor: 'Setting fire to our money might have been a better investment.'" \nThe notion of cities getting hip begins with academic author Richard Florida and his recent book, "The Rise of the Creative Class." In the interest of fairness, I should disclose I haven't technically read this book, but I can report with 100 percent journalistic accuracy that a reviewer on Amazon.com called it "massive."\nAnd here are some of the "massive numbers" USA Today points out: 78 million baby boomers, aged 40 to 60, are out there. Forty million people aged 25 to 34 (23 million of which are college educated) will take those retired baby boomer jobs (that is, more jobs vacated than people to fill them). According to the most recent Census, two-thirds of the 50 largest American cities reported fewer young adults in 2000 than 1990.\nIt's noteworthy that populations fell in two-thirds of the cities and presumably stayed the same or rose in the other third. Florida (the writer, not the state) says this is mostly because the "creative class" is a new breed of workers: very picky ones. \nThey're choosing their homes cautiously. They want fun neighborhoods, diversity and tolerance. They love art galleries, coffeehouses and active nightlives. They like companies that give same-sex partner benefits, even if they're not gay themselves.\nWell, it seems we young people are finding those perks in the cities that are actually cool -- places like New York City, Boston, D.C., Seattle and San Francisco.\nThe rest of boring America wants to cash in on the young professional phenomenon, and they'll do absolutely anything to make themselves look cool. They have Web sites, glitzy advertising, arts and music festivals, aquariums, museums, sports stadiums, etc.\nThat's the crux of the "We're not boring!" campaign of which I'm skeptical. You might be, too. You might be asking yourself, "Can a city actually become cool overnight, or in a year, or even a decade?" \nThe simple answer is: no. Just look at Cincinnati, a city that has been trying to be cool for years. I visited for the vast majority of one day last summer, and saw the new "hip" Contemporary Arts Center building. \nThe museum was nice and undeniably part of the "Get hip!" campaign, but I didn't feel like I'd want to live there.\nThe point is, second-tier cities can do all they want to try to persuade us to live in them. But I'm predicting the whole thing will be a flop, based on two simple flaws in their campaign.\nFirst, they can try to add all the appeal they want, but they can't transplant another city's aura; that's something it acquires on its own. A city like New York has been influenced over many decades. These cities have incorrectly judged that appeal is something immediately attainable. \nAnd secondly, cities that have to use the word "hip?" Well, they usually aren't. Come on, young people. You know that. And if you don't, just ask your parents.
(10/22/03 6:05am)
Friends and colleagues of former Bloomington mayor Frank McCloskey congregated Wednesday night at St. Paul Catholic Church to pray and share stories of their beloved friend and former co-worker.\nMcCloskey has been battling bladder cancer for a year and is currently at the Bloomington Hospital. Everyone at the vigil echoed similar sentiments about him, mentioning his caring personality, dedication, courage and commitment to issues and constituents.\nMcCloskey's first deputy mayor, John Irvine, stood up and shared two of his favorite memories of McCloskey, both of which, he said, captured McCloskey's spirit.\nIrvine knew McCloskey since their years together as undergrads at IU. For Irvine, one of his favorite memories of his friend and co-worker happened late one night at the office 35 years ago.\n"We were working real late at night, maybe 2 or 3 in the morning, just he and I. Frank looked over at me, out of the blue -- well, darkness I should say -- and said, 'You know, John, death is nature's way of letting you know something has gone awry.' And we went back to work. I'll never forget that," he said.\nThe second story showed how McCloskey made split-second, compassionate decisions that never hurt anyone.\n"It was my job to hire the first female police officer. After I did, the wives of the officers on the force who she road with got mad. They started to boycott! I went to Frank and said, 'Frank, what do I do about this?' He responded, 'You hire more female officers.' We did the same thing with the fire department."\nBorn in 1939 in Pennsylvania, McCloskey served as a newspaper reporter from 1961 to 1968, when he graduated from IU. He obtained his law degree from IU in 1971, then held the mayoral office from 1972 to 1982. During that time, he implemented an ambulance service, a mass transportation service, civil rights service and a housing inspection program. Also during his time in office, McCloskey lobbied for federal funding to rehabilitate sub-standard housing. Elected in 1983 to Congress, McCloskey continued his fight to help and educate people until 1995.\nTrudy Marsisckty, a lay minister at St. Paul's, is also a friend and former co-worker of McCloskey's, working on many of his election campaigns. She described him as a people person who loves everyone.\nMarsisckty remembered McCloskey's visits to town during his time as a Congressman. He would take her, as well as some of her campaign co-workers, out to breakfast to find out what was going on in Bloomington.\n"I'm here tonight, as is everyone else, because there are people who want to pray for Frank," she said. "We want to make his way as easy as possible. The people want to help him."\nRegina Moore, a "friend of Frank's" told those gathered for the vigil she had seen Frank a few hours before and told him about what was happening that night. She said he was choked up and humbled at the idea of everyone wanting to be there to pray for him. He told Moore to tell the people, "I love them all and I hope to see you all soon."\nCheri Darriau, another friend, shared with the crowd an anecdote demonstrating Frank's sense of humor.\nShe told the crowd about the night McCloskey's family called the ambulance to come to his house to take him to the hospital because of his failing health. When the paramedics arrived, they entered his home and asked who he was. McCloskey's wife, Roberta, told them he was the former mayor of Bloomington. They proceeded to help him and give him oxygen. After he got some of his energy back, McCloskey told the paramedics, "I'm one of the founders of this ambulance service and I've never ridden in one before!"\nMcCloskey's family includes his wife, Roberta, his daughter, Helen, and son, Mark.\n-- Contact staff writer Julia Balnford at jblanfor@indiana.edu.
