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(03/26/03 5:42am)
Tracking software used to keep watch on international students to maintain national security is reportedly experiencing massive difficulties, including glitches and strict restrictions which might mean fewer international students and for some, deportation.\nAssociate Dean of International Programs Christopher Viers gave a presentation before the Bloomington Faculty Council Tuesday in which he spelled out some of the troubles with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System that IU should be aware of.\nSEVIS, the Internet-based system that will link colleges to Immigration and Naturalization Services, has experienced considerable problems in the past, Viers said. IU had only three weeks from the time the requirements were decided to integrate SEVIS into its system. IU was certified for SEVIS by Jan. 21, more than a week before the deadline.\nViers said the Office of International Services is now finding there are problems, both immediate and long term.\nReporting requirements will be far stricter for OIS. If international students drop below a full course load for their college for more than one semester, it is now a deportable offense. \nViers said this policy is a response to the nation's concern for national security, but he said it is irrational.\n"This policy has an underlying tone that if you are an international student and you are not in school full time, then you are up to no good," he said.\nConversely, SEVIS will also stop many international students from being in too many classes. Any dependents of foreign students may pursue only part-time study and only for "avocational or recreational purposes." As part of this policy, if a course fulfills any degree requirements, then it is not considered recreational.\nThe only exceptions to these course requirements are injury, illness, closure of the institution, natural disaster or circumstances beyond the student's control. The student also may take a reduced class load in their final year, but Viers said due to the strict enforcement, students must graduate when expected.\n"If you aren't taking a full course load because it's your last year, then it better be your last year, or else," Viers said.\nIn addition, some students may find themselves in trouble with the INS simply because of computer error. Viers said the technology currently in use "simply is not ready."\nHe said when students send their information online, the information has in some cases been accidentally sent to the wrong university, causing increased troubles.\n"One student here tried to print out his very important visa information and out printed documents from Oklahoma," Viers said. "So, if these problems aren't noticed and fixed, students could be deported because of a simple technological failure."\nIn one incident attracting national attention, a student from Thailand attending Southeastern University in Washington was arrested March 12 by federal agents after computer glitches made it appear as if he dropped out of school.\nViers said SEVIS could also have possible long term ramifications such the ability to recruit and retain international students because of the restrictions and the overall attitude of these policies.\n"It's not really a welcoming, friendly environment," Viers said. "Students don't like 'Mother SEVIS' watching their every move."\nViers said it's this growing opinion that keeps international students from applying.\n"In the international community, it is widely thought that the doors for higher education in the U.S. aren't just closing, they're slamming shut," he said.\nMembers of the BFC showed concern about the possibility of a decrease in international students.\nIUB Chancellor Sharon Brehm said she feels it could seriously affect many departments, but does not know what to do about it.\n"This is a very political issue," Brehm said. "This is seen as part of the war on terrorism and it's difficult to oppose any program that supports the war."\nShe said these programs will specifically hurt students in mathematics, science and engineering, which she said is counterproductive to their desired effect.\n"This program is actually a threat to national security because it will seriously hurt our sciences, which is an effective tool in security," she said.\nBusiness professor Eric Rasmusen said he feels there should be some effort between universities, such as Big Ten schools, to create amicus briefs to unite against these policies.\nBFC members also disagreed with the policy on a political level, saying these policies create a double standard for international students.\n"If all students had to follow these guidelines, only about half would remain," telecommunications professor Erik Bucy said. "It just seems against the American philosophy of priding ourselves on being a melting pot of cultures."\nOverall, Viers said he was unhappy about SEVIS, saying he does not want to limit the number of international students.\n"Honestly, this is not what I signed up for," he said. "I do not want to an agent of the INS"
(03/25/03 5:38am)
Many IU students talk about how their professors or the administration should do things differently. Few students actually receive the opportunity to make the changes.\nFormer IU law school student, Val Nolan law professor and law school Interim Dean Lauren K. Robel will be given that chance. \nShe has been named dean of the IU School of Law at Bloomington, pending approval by the board of trustees at its monthly meeting.\nRobel will be the 15th dean of the law school and the first female one. She succeeds Fred Aman, who was dean from 1991 to 2002. She has been acting as interim dean since Aman left.\n"It is a real honor to be able to continue to serve the school as dean," Robel said in a statement. "I look forward especially to continuing to work with the outstanding faculty and students at the law school, and to the support of our wonderful alumni both in Indiana and around the world."\nAfter receiving her undergraduate degree from Auburn University, Robel attended IU, where she studied under the same professors who she will now preside over.\nLaw professor Terry Bethel, who taught Robel in a summer contracts law class, said he is impressed with Robel and has fond memories of her. \n"I always say that was one of the best classes I've ever had," he said. "I talked to one of the students from that class the other day, who is a prominent lawyer now, and told them that Lauren is the new law school dean, and they were excited. Everyone has been."\nBethel said it is terrific Robel received the job. He said it is unique that a former student of his is now in the leadership position.\n"I think it's a little unusual," he says. "It feels weird to see a former student of mine behind the desk as the dean because it's hard to imagine. But she is great for the job, and I know she will do an excellent job."\nIUB Chancellor Sharon Brehm said Robel's experience as a student will help her relate to IU law students and network with alumni.\n"She will work with alumni a lot, so it's great that she is an alum herself," she said. "During alumni meetings when she is asking for support from them, she can say, 'Hey so, and so, remember when we were in that class together?' and that is a great way to work with them."\nBrehm added that Robel's experience as a professor also provided her with skills for her new dean position.\n"It's also important that she is not only an alum but a professor as well," she said. "She has filled all of the roles and understands all aspects of the school."\nRobel, who teaches courses in civil procedure, federal jurisdiction and constitutional law, understands how to communicate with faculty, having worked with them for years.\n"I think she will be a wonderful dean," law professor J. Alexander Tanford said. "There is nobody else who has proven themself as much as she has. The professors love her, and she has a great connection with them."\nBrehm also noted that Robel's historic barrier-breaking adds to the excitement of the occasion.\n"I think it's very exciting to have our first woman as a dean," she said. "We did an extensive search, and Lauren was the best person for the job."\nLaw professor Julia Lamber said she applauds the administration for choosing a female dean, saying, "I think it's about time."\nThe other two finalists for the position were University of Pennsylvania law school professor Charles W. Mooney, Jr., who has recently served as interim dean there and University of Illinois law professor Thomas S. Ulen, who serves as the director of the Master of Arts in Public Administration Program at Illinois.\nFor her work as a law professor, Robel has received the law school's Gavel Award, the Wallace Teaching Award and the Indiana Bar Association's Pro Bono Publico Award.\nRobel could not be reached for comment at press time.
(03/25/03 5:38am)
Moving into one's own apartment can be a special time for most college students. Many students say they feel excitement about living independently and getting as far as they can from the dorms. Still, this excitement can cloud students' judgment, says one local official. \nCity Council member Tim Mayer said many students don't have the necessary experience to decide what they want in a rental unit or to make the proper decisions when choosing a home.\nDespite a progressive housing code that requires all rental property in Bloomington to be registered and inspected every few years, many students unfortunately get stuck with damaged living quarters. \nInterim Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development Sue Johnson said that in 2002, HAND received 3,156 complaints about rental properties, ranging from leaky roofs to overflowing toilets. \nDirector of Student Legal Services John Irvine said it is because of these continuing problems that he has proposed amendments to the Bloomington Housing Code, which will receive their first reading before the city council on April 2. \nHe said one reason students often get stuck with damaged properties is because many of the homes close to campus are older than the other rental properties and go through the most use. \nSenior Zach Weiner, claims insect infestation was a problem associated with one of his former properties.\n"After numerous complaints about a serious spider infestation, we were refused any sort of spray or pesticide," Weiner said. \nAnother renter, senior Priscilla Cherry, spoke out about a different infestation problem when a family of birds began living in her heating ducts. \n"When I told the management, they told me to wait out the nesting period," Cherry said. "Meanwhile, there are dead birds rotting in my ventilation."\nCherry said the Bloomington Health Department eventually told her leasing company they were in violation of health codes, and the problem was solved. \nThese violations are not only inconveniences to residents but can be health problems in many cases.\nDoctoral student Alexandre Eisenberg experienced one common result of older properties -- mold.\n"There was a lot of mold in the larger room's closet, and this was a very difficult thing to deal with because my wife has a lot of allergies," he said. "The health insurance would always return the money we spent on medical bills, but the hours that are spent at the health center are not worth it." \nEisenberg said maintenance discovered the problem was greater than expected, but it still was not corrected. \n"Then they went there and removed the carpet and found a huge colony of fungus beneath the carpet that was making the horrible odor," Eisenberg said. "So, they brought bleach and they cleaned all of it and put the carpet back and a month later all of it was back again." \nEisenberg's odoriferous problems did not stop at mold. At another property, he experienced additional health problems when cigarette smoke wafted into his home.\n"The apartment was so badly insulated that we would get all of the smoke from the neighbor beneath us would come into our apartment," he said. "We had to keep all of the windows open when it was freezing outside just so we could breathe."\nIn order to correct the problem, he contacted HAND to report the poor ventilation. To his dismay, he discovered such problems are not mentioned in the housing code.\n"I was very surprised that the woman who came to help me said they could do nothing," he said. "The woman was very impolite. She said there was no way to help us about it. I thought that if it is a health problem then there would be some provision in the local laws, but it looks like there isn't, so there would be no way to make them fix it."\nDue to the problem, his wife suffered many nose bleeds, causing her go to the Health Center often, Eisenberg said.\nJunior Lauren Felder said she had the same problems with cigarette smoke seeping through her neighbor's walls into her home.\n"My next door neighbor smoked and it was so heavy and I would get headaches," she said. "I'm a non-smoker. I've always been a non-smoker, and I'm very sensitive to cigarette smoke. Well, I have friends come over and ask me, 'Did you start smoking?'"\nOther problems can compromise residents' safety.\nCherry claimed her fire alarm did not function properly and was not remedied by management until quite some time. Weiner also noted his request for a fire extinguisher was denied.\nCedarview admits to experiencing some of these problems, but claims they have been corrected. \n"The fire extinguishers were to be recharged prior to releasing of the premises," Cedarview Legal Representative Michael Carmin said. "A temporary maintenance man was employed to prepare properties for occupancy by new tenants. Apparently the fire extinguisher was not recharged as was intended. The temporary maintenance man is no longer employed by Cedarview Management."\nToni Ott, who graduated this winter, said her window's lock was broken for months at her property, causing her to question her security.\n"I had to just put a long stick in the window because they never fixed the lock on it," she said.\nThroughout all these problems, there are ways for students to react to damaged property. \nAccording to the Student Legal Services Web site, students should keep a journal of the problems and their attempts at getting them repaired.\nJohnson suggests contacting management first, and then if requests are not being answered, to file a complaint with HAND.\nStill, with tricky leases and omissions in the housing code, such as ventilation, many of these problems seem impossible to rectify for many students.\n"In my country (Brazil), the law favors tenants," Eisenberg said. "Unfortunately, the laws aren't the same everywhere here in America."\nCheck out Wednesday's IDS for part two of the three-part series, in which landlord relations will be examined.
(03/25/03 5:38am)
After contacting more than 200 candidates nominated for the job of president of IU and receiving the dossiers of those interested in the position, the presidential search committee is now giving out grades. The 17-member committee is evaluating the candidates on an "A, B, C" grading scale to facilitate discussion on who should be interviewed by the committee at its executive session meeting in Bloomington, today, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.\n"With everyone using a standard sheet to make their comments, it will give us an indication on how the group feels about the candidates," presidential search committee chair and vice president of the board of trustees Steve Ferguson said.\nEach member of the committee is recording his or her findings in individual notebooks labeled with his or her name. They will be used to distinguish which candidates stand out against others. \nFerguson said the uniform grading system, which includes such qualities as leadership, experience and academic credentials, will keep candidates thinking about the qualifications decided during the University's campus interviews. Some variety in opinion will occur, Ferguson said, and such differences in opinions are beneficial to the discussion.\n"That is why you have a committee of such diverse people," he said. "Some people are good judges of academic credentials, other are strong judges of leadership."\nAlthough different committee members will look at different things, they all are focused on the quality they previously decided was most important, the capability to run a large state university.\n"The candidates must be familiar with running a large, complex organization similar to a public university," IU spokesperson Bill Stephan said.\nThe discussions will be fairly informal. Any committee member can suggest to look at any of the candidates' dossiers to discuss their qualifications. \nFerguson said he hopes to decide on most of the ten to 15 candidates the committee wishes to interview. He does not know when the interviews will take place.\n"It will depend on the availability of both the candidates on the committee," he said. "Plus, it depends on how the meetings go, so it is hard to say."\nAfter the committee interviews the candidates, it will discuss them again and then select five to seven nominees for the board of trustees to interview in April. The trustees will then vote on the replacement and will announce it tentatively by July 1. \nWith time running out, the committee feels confident but knows it has a lot of work ahead.\n"I expect we will use all five hours," Ferguson said. "It will be a long meeting."
(03/24/03 6:04am)
Following an extensive search of the Morgan County site where Jill Behrman's remains were found last week, investigators packed up March 18, and moved along to the next steps in the process, including analysis of evidence.\nSkeletal remains discovered by hunters weeks ago were identified as those of Behrman, an IU student missing since May 2000.\nIndiana State Police Sgt. Dave Bursten said 22 recruits from the ISP Academy found additional bones along Duckworth Road shortly before noon March 18. \nHe said his crew of investigators exhausted the site and now must move on to other steps in the process.\nMorgan County Coroner Dan Downing is leading the analysis of the remains in order to gain any pertinent information for the investigation. \nDowning said he is currently working with Dr. Steve Nawrocki, forensic anthropologist at the University of Indianapolis. Nawrocki is reassembling the skeletal remains and will identify if any injuries were sustained during death. \nDowning said his office has received the majority of the remains so far. \nHe said the process has gone well, but a completion date for their portion of the investigation is uncertain. \n"It depends on the investigation," he said. "It's hard to say when it will be complete. We want to work as quickly as possible, but we must maintain the dignity of the search."\nIn addition, Morgan County Prosecutor Steve Sonnega said he will increase communication with Monroe County Prosecutor Carl Salzmann to share facts to hopefully arrest and convict someone for the incident. \nThe Behrman family themselves is also participating in the process. Jill's father Eric Behrman said he's cooperating with police to assist the investigation.\n"The police investigation is still continuing, and our family looks forward to assisting in any way possible," he said in a statement to the public.\nEric Behrman added that his family will not speak to media from now on, but will announce final plans for a memorial service once they are decided.\n"We appreciate your concern and ask that you respect our family's wishes at this most difficult time," he said.\nThe recent news has also increased community support for the Behrman family and the organizations set up in Jill's honor.\nPeg Howard, president of Jill's House, a foundation set up to raise funds to create a 20 bedroom home for cancer patients, said she expressed her support for the entire family.\n"We will continue to work to produce some good of out this tragedy," she said.\nHoward said her organization has reached only $500,000 of their $5 million goal to fund the patient's home, but hopes that the community support in connection with the recent developments will translate into increased service to the community.
(03/13/03 5:27am)
In 1976, IU trustee Patrick Shoulders was a second year IU-Purdue University Indianapolis Law School student who preferred playing euchre with his fellow students in the lounge over attending his commercial law course. On occasion, when he was dealing cards instead of taking notes, he would look up and see his professor staring back at him. \nLittle did he know that years later he would work side by side with that professor when he voted in Gerald Bepko as IU's interim president.\nBefore he was chancellor of IUPUI and later IU's top leader, Bepko was a law professor at IUPUI who, despite large class sizes, made an effort to reach students individually, a job Bepko looks forward to returning to following his retirement this year.\n"I used to get pictures of all my students and put them with the roster so I would recognize their faces," Bepko said. "I tried to get to know as many students as possible. I'm glad I got to know Pat Shoulders."\nUpon taking a teaching position at IUPUI in 1973, Bepko was immediately popular on campus, Shoulders said.\nDuring his first year of law school Shoulders attended Bepko's contracts law class, a two semester course.\n"It was a class that terrifies first year law students," Shoulders said. "It was a tough class, but his style just immediately stuck with me. He had a great sense of humor. He was very patient. He would never just call on students to embarrass them like some professors did."\nShoulders said at the end of his first year at law school, Bepko composed a poem that talked about humorous comments students made throughout the year in class.\nYears later, Shoulders would set up his own law practice, Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders, work as the IU Alumni Association National Chairman, serve on the IU Foundation Board of Directors and be named the president of the Evansville Bar Association. \nEventually, in 2002, Shoulders was named by Gov. Frank O'Bannon as a member of the IU board of trustees.\nBepko said he is pleased one of his former students now serves as his boss.\n"I am extremely proud of him," Bepko said. "I love to see my students become successful individuals, and he certainly has done that."\nAs a trustee, Shoulders was given the honor of voting for Bepko as interim president. Bepko took office on Jan. 1.\n"It was great to be able to vote for him," Shoulders said. "He was obviously the most qualified candidate. Chancellor is the second highest position, and he was retiring anyway, so it worked out perfectly."\nNow that they work side by side, Bepko and Shoulders have gotten to know each other much better.\n"We joke an awful lot," Bepko said. "He reminds me all of the time that he earned an 'A' in my class."\nShoulders said Bepko's teaching style has carried over to the administrative side well. He said that Bepko's ability to describe facts in a understandable way is a positive trait for a president.\nOther IU officials agree.\n"He is an amazing teacher," trustee Sue Talbot said. "His academic side truly benefits IU during his stay as interim president."\nSoon enough, when a new president takes over, Bepko will be able to return to teaching and someday influence more students that might lead IU in the future.\n"I really enjoy teaching," Bepko said. "I love watching students grow into fine people, and I look forward to returning to teaching. It's a rewarding experience"
(03/13/03 5:09am)
Alfred Kinsey was a man who enjoyed the simple things in life.\nKinsey's oldest daughter, Anne Call, 79, said Kinsey loved fresh air, the sound of birds and hiking, whether he was camping in the Smoky Mountains, Mexico or the hills of Bloomington. And during his walks, he had his three children at his side.\nHelen D'Amico, Kinsey's secretary, said it seems peculiar a man who was so dedicated to family life could be accused of pedophilia, a scandal that has rocked Kinsey's friends, family and followers for years.\nFifty years after Kinsey published the groundbreaking book "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female" and 46 years after his death, the IU zoologist and sex researcher is still generating attention.\nA film that will portray Kinsey's life is in the works. Actor Liam Neeson, of such films as "Schindler's List" and "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace," will portray Kinsey. At IU, the Kinsey Institute has been celebrating the 50th anniversary of "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female" with events such as lectures and film viewings.\nBut not all the publicity Kinsey spawns is positive. Dr. Judith Reisman, author of such anti-Kinsey literature as "Kinsey: Crimes and Consequences" and "Kinsey, Sex and Fraud," and syndicated radio therapist Dr. Laura Schlessinger have proposed a boycott of the film about Kinsey. They claim Kinsey committed criminal acts such as child molestation while obtaining research for his sexual studies. \nProtesting the unfinished film\nThe Kinsey Institute claims Kinsey interviewed pedophiles to gather data about child sexuality for his books, but Reisman contests that in addition to reporting pedophiles' activities, Kinsey acted out similar behavior himself.\n"As a matter of fact, all you need to do is to look at copies of his data and ask the question, 'How did they know the 2-month (old) baby did or did not have an orgasm?'" Reisman said. "Or that the 4-year-old had 26 orgasms in 24 hours, saying they used 'stop watches' and calling that 'science.' The rapist is called a 'scientist' by Kinsey."\nReisman also accused Kinsey of conspiring with former Nazis and rapists and "enabling violent sexual criminals to proceed in their acts."\nKinsey made sexual abuse seem as if it were a normal part of development, Reisman said.\n"The 'Female' book is the one that compares a child being molested 'or even more serious contacts' to having been frightened by a spider," Reisman said. "And that says his 'data' prove incest is really O.K. because, he says, the kids generally seek it out."\nReisman is not the only person enraged about Kinsey's work. In 1998, Indiana state Rep. Woody Burton (R-Greenwood) sponsored a bill attempting to close the Kinsey Institute because of allegations about Kinsey's sexuality. The same year, British filmmaker Tim Tate's documentary, "Kinsey's Paedophiles," depicted Kinsey as an accomplice in the abuse of thousands of children.\nThe debate was recently revived when Reisman appeared Feb. 11 on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" to debate Rev. Ted McIlvenna, director of The Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco. The institute has the only graduate school in the United States approved to train sexologists and owns the largest collection of pornography. (The Kinsey Institute has the second-largest collection).\nConcerned about the children in Kinsey's studies, McIlvenna chaired a committee several decades ago to investigate the Kinsey Institute for proof that wrongdoings had occurred.\n"After almost two months of investigation, we found no improprieties at the Kinsey Institute," McIlvenna said. \nDiscounts of allegations\nLater on, McIlvenna hired Kinsey's confidant, Dr. Wardell Pomeroy, as his academic dean. After developing trust with Pomeroy, McIlvenna was made privy to private information.\n"Pomeroy said to me, 'There (are) going to be a lot of bad things said about this guy, so I want you to know the truth,'" McIlvenna said. "So he shared all of Kinsey's research and documents with me. I was the only other person Pomeroy showed his collection to, and I went over it for about year and I haven't seen any evidence to prove Reisman's accusations."\nJennifer Bass, head of information services at the Kinsey Institute, said all of Reisman's and others' claims about Kinsey committing criminal acts are fraudulent and unfounded. \n"If you look at Dr. Judith Reisman's books, she twists things to make them appear wrong," Bass said. "For example, that famous picture of Kinsey talking to a child: Reisman could show that photo in a book and say, 'Look, he's trying to molest children.' But the fact of the matter is, that woman, who was the little girl in the picture, came into the institute and told us Kinsey was just one of the nicest men ever and was angered that anyone would accuse such atrocities of him."\nBass also defended the value of Kinsey's research, one topic talk show host Bill O'Reilly and Reisman brought up on "The O'Reilly Factor."\n"Mothers call us up to ask if it is normal for her child to play with his penis; does this mean he has been abused?" Bass said. "We have the research to attempt to answer these questions and calm parents' fears."\nDespite its support of Kinsey, the Kinsey Institute has made few attempts to publicly defend itself, also declining to appear on "The O'Reilly Factor."\n"When you look at all of the allegations floating around, I always expected IU and Kinsey to battle these accusers, but they haven't," McIlvenna said. "Actually I don't think much of the institute. I think they are a bunch of chicken shits. I would have sued all of these activists for printing untrue accusations."\nKinsey Institute officials said they feel defending the institute is not worth their efforts.\n"It's very difficult to debate people in the spectrum of 'The O'Reilly Factor,'" Bass said. "People let their emotions carry them away instead of debating the merits academically."\nThe personal side\nKinsey's oldest daughter, Call, who lives in Bloomington, said how people misrepresent her father bothers her. \n"Other newspapers are bordering yellow journalism," Call said. "For example, my father never gardened in his underwear or his jock strap. He did have really short shorts, since it was hot in Bloomington in the summer, but that just goes to show how journalists don't verify their facts."\nCall said she and her siblings dealt with the controversy in different ways. \nShe said when people asked her if she was related to Kinsey, she would claim relation to the owners of the popular Kinsey Whiskey produced at the time.\n"It was just easier than dealing with the controversy," Call said. "Actually, the company found out and sent me a case of whiskey."\nCall said people who could not tolerate Kinsey's findings spur the controversy.\n"If those statistics didn't fit into your moral code, then they discredit the messenger," Call said. \nD'Amico, who knew Kinsey personally when she worked as his secretary, said she is amazed people would accuse Kinsey of sexual crimes.\n"He was really conservative," D'Amico said. "He wasn't at all the wild-man hedonist that people make him out to be. He was focused on his research and his family."\nCall said her family was one of the most conservative at her high school.\n"I was one of the only girls who had to be in by 12:30 after school dances that ended at midnight," Call said. "He was a fairly old-fashioned guy, but he was very open to new ideas. He was always pretty serious."\nD'Amico said Kinsey's interest in sex was purely scientific, and he would have had no time to pursue alleged homosexual, extramarital affairs because he was too busy with research. \n"I think Kinsey was perfect to study sex at that time because he was actually kind of asexual, so he looked at it objectively, from a scientific point of view," D'Amico said.\nMcIlvenna echoed those sentiments, saying when others indulged in sexual acts, Kinsey would relax with music -- his other love.\n"Kinsey loved music above everything else," McIlvenna said. "He would spend hours at his Hi-Fi. Pomeroy hated music. So when the staff would go up and talk about sex, Kinsey would just stay and listen to music. And there were sexual acts going on among the staff in private. I know some of the married women experimented with each other. There were a lot of things going on at the institute, sexual but not illegal, but Kinsey never got involved in any of it. He wasn't a very sexually active person." \nKinsey Institute officials said they would not comment about the personal lives of employees.\nAlthough Reisman is boycotting the film about Kinsey and others are expressing concern about Kinsey's work, Myriad Pictures, which is producing the Kinsey movie, declined to comment on the controversy.\nMany people on both sides of the debate said they worry the film will inaccurately portray Kinsey. \n"(Producer Francis Ford) Coppola is just as inaccurate as Reisman," McIlvenna said. "I know more about Kinsey than anybody else and nobody has contacted me. But I guess Hollywood doesn't have to be accurate. It just has to sell."\nOthers feel the film will unjustly glorify Kinsey. \n"It's interesting that Liam Neeson played a Nazi who changes his perspective in 'Schindler's List,' and now he is going to play a man who collaborated with Nazis to contribute to the abuse of children," Reisman said.\nBass denied Kinsey collaborated with Nazis.\nRegardless of how a film or critics portray Kinsey, those who personally knew him say they remember a man who loved hiking and listening to his Hi-Fi.\n"I just don't see the controversy," D'Amico said. "To me, he was just a wonderful man"
(03/13/03 4:47am)
Complete Copy of Speech\nNearly a year after students protested a controversial Benton mural panel, IUB Chancellor Sharon Brehm reported Tuesday on the problems and successes in diversity as part of the campus's first annual "State of Diversity" address.\nThe main focus of Brehm's speech was the tension over the mural in Woodburn Hall 100, which depicts Ku Klux Klan members burning a cross in the background. The painting, by Thomas Hart Benton, is one of a series on the history of Indiana. Brehm reiterated her decision to keep the mural, citing that "commitment to diversity and commitment to freedom of expression are interdependent."\nBrehm said IU will also promote more educational programs to provide a context for the mural. Dean of Faculties Moya Andrews created new videos about the mural which are mandated for freshmen orientation and the first day of classes for sections in the classroom.\nBrehm also noted she would support more art on campus -- especially multicultural art.\n"Actually, the Benton mural controversy helped us recognize an opportunity," Brehm said. "To put Bloomington on the national and international map as a place where multicultural art flourishes in the midst of a campus widely recognized for its cultural and artistic resources."\nOne of the multicultural paintings already obtained is a portrait of recently deceased IU African-American studies leader Herman Hudson, placed in Woodburn Hall 100 near the controversial mural panel.\nBrehm noted that IU already has many positive multicultural arts programs such as IU Soul Revue, African-American Dance Ensemble and the Black Film Center/Archive.\nAt the opening for Arts Week last January, Brehm unveiled her One for Diversity Fund, which set a goal raising $500,000 over the next three years. In order to raise the funds, one program called "A Dollar for Diversity" is collecting small donations from student organizations for this cause.\nBrehm said a large number of student participation will also aid in cohesion among cultures.\n"By the number who participate, as well by the amount of money we raise, we can send a very strong message about the campus commitment to diversity as to the arts," she said.\nIn the next part of her presentation, Brehm displayed statistics which reflected the problems and successes regarding diversity at IU.\nIn terms of faculty, Brehm said IU made many positive changes, such as increasing tenured minority faculty by four percent since 1993.\nSome of the statistics Brehm presented showed little change or increased problems. Minorities only make up six percent of the IUB staff, only a one percent increase since 1996. New undergraduates are 88 percent white and the percentage of black students in Bloomington has decreased from 5.3 percent in 1993 to 3.7 percent in 2002. \nMany students showed concern at these revelations.\n"The statistics were extremely disappointing," Black Student Union member Keeyon Tate said. "There is still so little diversity on campus. When I look around and there are just white faces in all of my classes there is a problem."\nStill, others felt they showed a direction in which IU must continue to strive.\n"I was pleased that she presented a lot of valuable information," said Charlie Nelms, vice president for student development and diversity. "It is important to look at all the facts and see what the campus can improve on."\nFaculty members also said they felt it was important to communicate with the public.\n"I think she has done an excellent job on identifying the problems we are working towards correcting," said Portia Maultsby, IU professor of ethnomusicology.\nBSU President Gerald Mitchell, who protested the Benton mural last spring, said he feels more can be done than a simple speech.\n"I guess she did exactly what she was supposed to do," Mitchell said. "She presented the problems, but there is still much to do."\nAt the end of the meeting, as the audience stood up to exit, the IU Coalition of Black Student Organizations and Programs announced to the crowd that it was unsatisfied with the state of diversity on campus.\n"Diversity is a nonchalant term that is thrown around," junior Carolyn Randolph said, demanding action on campus.\nAfter the meeting, the Coalition passed out fliers which outlined issues it wishes would be addressed. Among these is making one African-American Studies literature course equivalent to W131, the mandatory intensive writing course. The Coalition also wanted to increase the number of diverse professors outside of African-American Studies and Latino Studies departments, extending hours for the Black Culture Center Library, and making "Conversations on Race" a mandatory course for graduation.\nDespite these complaints by students, Brehm said following the speech that she hopes to focus on the campus's positive progress.\n"I think it's very important to not overlook the successes the campus has had," Brehm said. "They provide hope and a positive way to attack these issues"
(03/11/03 6:08am)
Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm will give the campus' first "State of Diversity" address today in what will be an annual report on race relations in Bloomington.\nThe report comes almost a year after Brehm's decision to keep on display the Thomas Hart Benton mural panel called "Parks, the Circus, the Klan, the Press," which depicts Klu Klux Klan members burning a cross in the background.\nThe speech will be given in Woodburn Hall 100, the same room that houses the controversial painting, at 4 p.m.\nBrehm said IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis has a state of diversity address and decided when the controversy arose regarding the mural that a similar speech would benefit IU-Bloomington. \n"When I gave my speech on my decision to keep the mural where it is I promised to have a 'State of Diversity' address," Brehm said, "so this will update people on what has been done so far regarding the mural."\nBrehm said she originally planned to have the meeting in the fall, but needed more time to collect data and pushed it back into the spring. Brehm said it is actually better to have it in the spring since it is closer to the anniversary of the decision. She said debates on affirmative action have made the event become more timely for the campus.\nBrehm's speech will use statistics, graphs, charts and videos to report on the work already being done in the field of diversity and issues to improve in the future.\nPresident of the Black Student Union junior Gerald Mitchell said his student organization has still not accepted the presence of the mural in a classroom and feels it is offensive and distracting for some students.\nMitchell said he appreciates Brehm's effort but said more needs to be done to improve diversity on campus.\n"The 'State of Diversity' address is just a speech," he said. "Actions speak louder than words. It will not solve the problems of diversity on campus, but I don't think it intends to. Just like the 'State of the Union' address, it doesn't fix the nation's problems but communicates them to the American public."\nIn her speech, Brehm will also discuss the success of videos shown during freshman orientation and for the first day of some classes in Woodburn 100 to educate students about the video.\n"I actually sat in on some of the discussions following the showing of the video, and I was pleased with students engaging in conversations about the mural," Brehm said.\nSenior Amanda Tenbarge, who has a class in Woodburn 100, said she felt the video was very helpful and now understands the significance of the mural.\n"It's just a part of Indiana's history," she said. "The video they showed really was helpful to talk all about it and why it's there"
(03/11/03 6:05am)
Red and blue lights from fire trucks lit up the otherwise dark background as power suddenly cut off from several of the residences halls Monday night. Students rushed from buildings to huddle around each other for warmth and pulled out their cell phones to vent panic and inquire about the circumstances. \nAt 8:30 p.m. lights flickered and went out at Ashton, Teter, Wright, Willkie, Read and Forest residence halls and other academic buildings after power surges were caused by an electrical substation malfunction.\nFollowing the power failures, thousands of students were evacuated to the Main Library and Student Recreational Sports Center due to a lack of visibility, IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger said. \nBloomington Police Department Sgt. John Hayes said the fire department was alerted when someone smelled smoke and students were evacuated because of the possibility of a fire.\nMinger, however, said there were no reports of fires. \nDue to the confusion, students stormed out of buildings, flooding streets and walkways. \nResidential Assistants escorted students from dorms to move away from the buildings and move along to SRSC and the Main Library since power was functioning there. University workers restored power and slowly escorted students back into the dorms after verifying students' safety.\nTeter resident senior Michelle Noyer said she was studying for a test when she was told her room was above the boiler room and that she needed to evacuate. \n"They told me the rooms were getting extremely hot and that I needed to move everything away from the heating ducts and get out," she said.\nNoier also noted that she smelled smoke wafting throughout her hallway as she exited.\nFreshman Shawndrika Butler said she was frightened by the evacuation.\n"I called my mama because I didn't know what was going to happen," Butler said as she clutched her Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animal outside Forest Quad.\nMinger said these rumors caused widespread panic by students asked to leave their dorms. \n"There were a lot of rumors going around," Minger said. "We had news stations saying it was a terrorist attack. People are freaked out lately because of the war with Iraq and Sept. 11, and everyone thought things were worse than they were."\nOther issues that caused concern were flashing lights outside, which Minger said prompted many to panic needlessly. \nIn order to dispel any rumors, Minger immediately reacted by reporting on the Internet and to anyone who called that students would be allowed back in dorms and power was restored. \n"Our main concern was to calm people," Minger said. "We put information on the Web to help quell parents' fears since many parents probably couldn't get ahold of their children."\nBecause of a lack of visibility all of the dorms which had power failures should have been evacuated by Residential Programs and Services, Minger said, but several halls such as Read and Willkie said students were not forced to leave.\nRPS director of residential operations Bob Weith would not comment on the situation. \nMinger said there was no crime or disturbance reported as a result of the disruption. \nStill, many students' plans were altered due to the confusion.\n"I was planning to organize a Bible study with friends when the power just went out," freshman Steve Hage said. "So much for that idea."\nSome made the best of the incident by taking advantage of the time to play frisbee outside Teter Quad, exercise at the SRSC and play card games in other open areas such as the Main Library and the School of Education.\nOthers were in more inconvenient situations.\n"I was just getting out of the shower when this all happened," Wright resident freshman Erin Schutte said. "Luckily, I had a flashlight nearby"
(03/07/03 3:06pm)
The U.S. Office for Civil Rights has written letters to several colleges, including IU, accusing them of violating federal civil rights laws by operating certain race-exclusive programs.\nDorothy Frapwell, legal representative for IU, will make a formal response today to accusations that IU's Summer Minority Research Fellowship, offered through the IU Cancer Center, violates these civil rights laws. \n"Generally, programs that use race or national origin as sole eligibility criteria are extremely difficult to defend," according to an Office for Civil Rights statement.\nMore than 12 colleges have received letters, asking for a legal response by March 7 or formal complaints will be filed and legal actions taken. \nFor IU, the program in question is a summer fellowship only available for minority students at the IU Cancer Center in Indianapolis, which according to the application, "strives to increase the number of students from underrepresented populations who are pursuing careers in biomedical and behavioral sciences."\nDirector of the IU Cancer Center Steve Williams said he has heard few concerns regarding the program given that last summer was its inaugural year. Still, he said whatever complaints the Office for Civil Rights has regarding the program are not the fault of the University, but rather the federal government that funds these programs. \n"If there is any question about the requirements of the program, then they should contact the National Cancer Institute, not complain to the University," Williams said.\nWilliams said the NCI and the National Institutes of Health fund the program and decided the qualifications for the program. IU spokesperson Jane Jankowski said the University is currently conversing with these organizations to develop an appropriate response. Both organizations could not be reached for comment. \nIU spokesperson Bill Stephan said the University's main concern when developing a response is examining the legalities of the program in question. \n"Our position foremost is that we intend to follow the law," Stephan said. "We will investigate to see if our programs are lawful and we certainly don't want to do anything illegal, but that is yet to be determined."\nStephan said although the University has not decided on the legality of this issue, the principle of promoting diversity is one IU must keep in mind. \n"We cannot compromise our commitment to diversity," Stephan said. "We feel it is an important value of IU and we must provide equal opportunity to all students, which includes minorities."\nVice President for Diversity Charlie Nelms said although he is not informed on the specific issue at hand, the University should continue to support its minority programs.\n"I just don't understand why there are so many people who want to deprive underrepresented minorities of opportunities," Nelms said.\nDiversity educator Mark Bryson echoed these sentiments, saying affirmative action and many other special programs take gender into account as often as race. \nThe Summer Minority Fellowship was the only program mentioned in the letter to IU. Stephan said it was unknown whether other programs could fall under the same scrutiny, but would be taken care of on an individual basis. \n"We would look at other programs on a case-by-case basis," Stephan said. "Some of these programs are unique in certain aspects and we cannot make a blanket judgement for all minority programs."\nFrapwell said the University's response, which she will author, will be made public upon its completion.\nOther colleges such as Carnegie Mellon have already responded by saying their programs are perfectly legal. The Office for Civil Rights would not release all of the colleges in question, but other universities mentioned include Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Iowa State and St. Louis Universities, and the University of Missouri at Columbia.
(03/05/03 6:30am)
All of the more than 200 nominees for the job of IU's next president have been contacted by IU's presidential search committee and the search firm Baker-Parker and Associates, Committee Chair Steve Ferguson said. Now the committee must proceed with the daunting task of narrowing down the choices. \nThe committee met at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis Tuesday, to discuss the candidates who have responded to the search and which candidates should be among the 10 to 15 to be interviewed by the committee. \nFerguson said although the task seems endless, the field has already been narrowed down. Some potential candidates who were contacted about their interest in the position turned down the offer.\n"A large number said 'No, thank you. I'm already happy with my job,'" Ferguson said. "But I think those who showed interest are very qualified."\nFerguson said the narrowing down of candidates has not decreased the quality of the applicants. He said that even though the number of candidates that have responded is "considerably less than 200, they are considerably well qualified."\nIn addition, Ferguson said the candidates that have responded by submitting their dossiers, are not just from a few backgrounds but come from different countries, races and experiences. \n"There is a good diversity in the candidates, too," Ferguson said. "A nice number of minorities, non-traditional candidates and good number of female representation as well."\nJerry Baker of Baker-Parker said the international pool of candidates brings a wealth of diversity.\n"Our candidates literally come from around the world," Baker said.\nIn order to narrow down the candidates, Ferguson said the committee will consider the candidates' ability to run a large institution such as a public university, leadership qualities and commitment to academic excellence. \n"The candidates must be ... familiar with running a large, complex organization similar to a public university," IU spokesperson Bill Stephan said.\nFerguson was quick to note that not all the candidates have responded yet and additional nominations will continue to be accepted later on in the process. \nThe committee will select its 10 to 15 nominees to interview at its March 15 meeting in Bloomington and then will set up times to meet with the candidates individually. Interviews will be conducted in April, and the committee will vote to select five to seven candidates to be presented to the entire board of trustees. The trustees will then have until July 1 to make final interviews and vote on the next leader of the University.\nFor more information on the search for the next president, log on to www.indiana.edu/~nextpres.
(03/04/03 6:29am)
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. this morning and running through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, students will be able to vote in the IU Student Association elections. The election will determine the next leaders of the student body. Unfortunately, because of a lack of awareness or plain apathy, many students choose not to exercise this right, a problem IUSA is working to correct, IUSA election commissioner Leah Silverthorn said.\nSilverthorn noted that last year's election's turnout was impressive compared to previous, but efforts are being made to keep it that way. \nPart of increasing voter turnout is by making it easier for students to vote by making it online, Silverthorn said.\nStudents can voice their opinions by logging on to www.indiana.edu/~iusa/ and clicking the election link to vote for the presidential ticket of their choice -- Action, Crimson or Unity.\nStill many students have no idea how to vote.\n"I don't even know where to vote," freshman Jennifer Giancola said. "So, I'm not going to vote, since I don't know anything about it."\nIUSA Treasurer Blair Greenberg said voting may be complicated. For students living off campus, they must log on to IU's virtual private network before voting. University Information Technology Services changed the voting procedures as a method of increasing security for the University. In order to sign on to the VPN students must log on to www.kb.indiana.edu/ and then search for the virtual private network to find instructions for signing on with your computing system.\nGreenberg said this may cause a decrease in voter turnout, but "not so much as to decide the winner."\nSome students say they haven't heard anything about the candidates, despite televised commercials, fliers scattered throughout campus and candidates hitting the streets to get the vote out.\n"I haven't even heard anything about the candidates or what they're about," freshman Julie Halm said. \nIn order to increase awareness, IUSA ran advertisements in the Indiana Daily Student, but Silverthorn said most of the responsibility falls on the candidates to educate the student body.\nThose that do know about the election said they did not find out about it through fliers or advertising, but from simple word of mouth. \n"I heard a little on the campaign from people in my classes," senior Malachi Waples said. "I heard mostly about the candidates just from student to student interaction."\nStill many students choose not to vote because they feel that none of the candidates they can choose from will accurately represent them.\n"I don't feel like it really affects me," senior Andrew Cook said. "Most of the IUSA members are from the greek community and they don't really care about anything else but fraternities."\nCook said he feels IUSA should handle issues more pertinent to the entire student body.\n"I wish they would care about issues that are more important than which parties will be busted, such as their stance on the war and issues like that," Cook said.\nYet, some students still choose to vote, even if they don't agree with IUSA, in order to enact change.\n"I think people should vote because it gives students the opportunity to have a say in how they are represented in student government and what kinds of things are accomplished," Waples said.\nSilverthorn said she feels that although not every student participates in IUSA elections, those that are aware of the event, seem to be generally enthusiastic.\n"The people I've talked to are really excited about it," she said. "It's just a great way for students to come together to discuss what they would like to see done."\nStudents may also vote for their party of choice on each ticket's Web site, www.actionforiusa.com, www.votecrimson.com, and www.myiu.com.
(03/03/03 5:58am)
Indiana's Commissioner for Higher Education Stan Jones addressed the IU board of trustees Thursday to discuss the state of higher education in Indiana, both its successes and the problems it faces. \nJones began the presentation positively, noting the growth in students Indiana has received. \n"We have had a really steady trend in higher education upward," Jones said. "We have hit a peak of over 300,000 students in higher education. It is really remarkable."\nJones also noted that in 1986, Indiana used to rank 40th in the U.S. in the percentage of high school students going on to postsecondary education. Indiana now ranks 17th, showing growth that isn't occurring everywhere else. \n"Some other states in the Midwest have not grown," he said. "Indiana has continued to grow."\nAnother success Jones shared was more high school students are becoming better prepared for the challenge of college classes. Academic honors diplomas among graduates increased from 8 percent in 1990 to 26 percent in 2001.\nIn addition, college education is no longer unattainable for many students from underprivileged schools, Jones said.\n"When we sent 37 percent of our seniors to college we were only sending our A and B students," Jones said. "Now that we are sending 60 percent to college, more B and C students are making it to college."\nAnother issue the commission is watching is the "brain drain" problem Indiana faces, in which the most profitable college students leave the state after graduation. \n"Even though we are very productive in recruiting young people to college and graduating them, we aren't as successful at keeping them in the state," Jones said. "In order to boost our economic productivity we need to retain these graduates."\nJones said the problem lies in IU-Bloomington and Purdue University in West Lafayette, where 70 percent of all the lost students graduate. Jones said this is a growing problem. With only 20 percent of Indiana residents receiving college degrees, it is imperative to retain as many as possible.\nJones cites a lack of economic opportunities as the main cause of the "brain drain."\n"We did a survey and the No. 1 reason students left is because of jobs," Jones said. "It wasn't beaches or mountains, but it was a lack of jobs in Indiana."\nTrustee Steve Ferguson suggested promoting internships and job fairs in order to assist students in finding employment in Indiana. \n"I think one step is the Alumni Association doing more job postings," Ferguson said. "By promoting the Life Sciences Initiative and elements like that we can have an impact on job availability over a period of time."\nFerguson said much of the problem is due to the false mentality that Indiana's economy is too weak to support more jobs. \n"A lot of people just don't know about the availability of jobs," Ferguson said. "We need to dispel the myth that there aren't any opportunities by raising awareness of industries in Indiana."\nAnother issue Jones said IU should take note of is rising tuition costs. With Indiana colleges raising tuition at an average 14.2 percent and IU raising tuition 12 percent last year, it may make higher education more difficult for many families.\n"Affordability is a key concern of the commission," Jones said. "Tuition has generally risen at twice the rate of inflation."\nMany trustees wonder how to keep tuition low without slashing academic programs. \n"We are put in a real difficult position when it comes to tuition," trustee Stephen Backer said. "We aren't receiving any more funding from the state, and we don't want to raise tuition, but at the same time we want to maintain the same level of quality of education."\nJones suggested administrative cuts and expressing greater need to the state.\n"I am suggesting we look at tightening our belts more or if we are already tightened enough, we need to express that more to the (Indiana) General Assembly," Jones said. "Because they don't think we are tightening our belts enough."\nInterim President Gerald Bepko added that IU has made significant strides in reducing costs thus far.\n"There's been a lot of talk about reducing costs, and I think we should be vigilant to take every opportunity to reduce costs," Bepko said. "But IU and Purdue, when compared to their peers in the Big Ten, have the lowest amount of state appropriations."\nBepko also said his former workplace, IU-Purdue University Indianapolis has created 42 new degree programs without state funding, saying how other universities can follow this example to make due with the resources they have. \n"We must continue to be vigilant on costs," Bepko said. "But we need to present to the General Assembly how much progress we have already made"
(03/03/03 4:44am)
I came into this show with an open mind. At first, I expected, as a cynical male, that I would be grossed out, alienated and overall made to feel awkward by what I thought was going to be a vulgar celebration of women's genitalia. \nLuckily, I tried my best to have a mature attitude, because I thoroughly enjoyed "The Vagina Monologues," which were performed Thursday at the Willkie Auditorium for $7 (for IU students) as a part of V-Day, a movement to eliminate violence against women through raising awareness.\n"The Vagina Monologues" is not a show that people should see, rather it is a show that people need to see, because it attacks issues rarely dealt with by men or women. Playwright Eve Ensler examines why women are so afraid of their bodies. Ensler points out in her show that most women have never even looked at their vaginas, out of fear. The show analyzes different attitudes taken toward female sexuality, but overall supports the notion that women should be comfortable with their sexual side. Also, the show takes a look at the growing problem of violence against women, through the new monologues written by cast members for the V-Day movement and through other dramatic selections previously created by Ensler.\nThe show is organized into monologues by different types of women, all compiled from actual interviews with women.\nBloomington resdient Diane Kondrat gives what was probably the best performance of the evening with her scene, "The Flood" in which she plays an elderly woman who is afraid of her vagina because of her experiences with flooding. She compares her vagina to an old basement, "You just don't go down there." Using incredible voice and gestures, Kondrat does an excellent job of immediately building a character that is believable and likeable. \nFreshman Sarah Yeazel forced the audience to burst out in laughter with her uproarious piece, "My Angry Vagina." In her scene, she lashes out against tampons, scented douches and other female products in a monologue that is both empowering and hilarious.\nAlongside Bloomington resident Sarah Hahn's monologue on moaning, "The Women Who Liked to Make Vaginas Happy," graduate student Gina Senarighi inspired laughter in the audience through her different renditions of female moans including the "northern moan," which sounds like one of the cast members of the movie "Fargo" having an orgasm.\nJunior Tiffani Jones also broke up much of the humor with a very chilling portrayal of a woman subjet to violence in Afghanistan. She recreated a rape scene where soldiers shoved barrels of guns in her vagina until parts of it ripped off. Jones used appropriate pauses to strick a chord with the audience. \nSophomore director Megan Anderson and master's student producer Debby Herbenick (who both gave excellent performances in the show) did an excellent job of developing interesting characters with their cast. It is also fortunate that they found so many talented actresses, because the fact that no woman plays more than one character adds to the effect, because with their well-defined characters, it would be difficult to suddenly switch gears and see them as somebody else. \nMy only complaints about the show would have to be in the selections that were written specifically for V-Day by the cast.\nIn the new scenes, three men, Bloomington residents Ben Barone, Patrick Kinsman, and junior Clinton Wolfe, attempt to provide a different view on female violence, from the perspective of the men who love these women. Although I appreciate the different angle and the writing in this piece is fairly moving, the performances were lackluster. All three males sit lifelessly in chairs with very few gestures, sometimes monotone voices and a complete lack of emotional levels or climaxes. One would think with a script they wrote themselves from their own experiences, that they would perform it exceptionally, or at least have their parts memorized and not read their lines off note cards (I wouldn't even notice these note cards if they didn't stare at them when not speaking and even gesture with them once or twice). Also, because I only saw the overly sappy sensitive side on stage, I had a hard time seeing any of these guys as abusive sexual predators.\nOn the other hand, the female V-Day monologue was well written, empowering and energetic. Although it did go on a little too long and sometimes brought up issues that dealt nothing with female violence, such as not supporting "power from oil" in respect with the potential war with Iraq, it was a very fine end to an entertaining evening. \nOverall, if these performances could make someone like me, who usually leaves the room in disgust when feminine hygiene is brought up, break out in laughter and be touched by dramatic points, then the cast is obviously doing something right.
(02/28/03 5:14am)
Surrounded by trays of h'ors d'oevres and walls adorned with oil paintings, the IU board of trustees held a warm reception for Interim President Gerald Bepko at the IU Art Museum Thursday to officially welcome the new leader to campus.\nPresident of the board of trustees Fred Eichhorn, who hosted the event with his wife Judy, spoke of Bepko's contributions to IU beyond serving as interim president.\n"Bepko has served IU with unswerving commitment, unshakable integrity, and real love since 1972," Eichhorn said. "He brings a wealth of experience to his responsibilities as an interim president. He is and was an outstanding faculty member, a law school dean and a chancellor since 1988."\nEichhorn also noted that Bepko is very familiar with many of the main priorities of IU, including the Life Sciences Initiative and improving graduation rates. \n"Not only is he an outstanding academic administrator that is familiar with our strategic initiatives that are crucial to IU, especially the importance of making sure that an IU education is available to as many Indiana residents as possible," he said.\nEichhorn also noted that despite the fact Bepko has worked primarily for IU Purdue University-Indianapolis for the past four decades, his transition to leading all eight regional campuses has been smooth. \n"Although he was the chancellor for IUPUI for 15 years, he has always embraced the crucial role that IU Bloomington and the other campuses play to the state, the nation and the world," Eichhorn said.\nHe also described Bepko as a man who is always working for the University, even in his free time. \n"Beneath that mild-mannered demeanor, there is a man that never stops," Eichhorn said. "He once told me that he prefers to travel by car so he can return phone calls and work without interruption." \nBepko was also acclaimed for his recent success with the Indiana General Assembly, having successfully lobbied to restore IU's budget to its amount before last session's budget cuts.\nIndiana's Commissioner for Higher Education Stan Jones said part of the success with Indiana's congress has been due to Bepko's involvement with the committees. \n"President Bepko was the only president (of Indiana colleges) in attendance at today's meeting before the Senate Finance Committee," Jones said. "This shows commitment on the part of President Bepko and really helped to inform the congressmen about the needs of higher education."\nVice President for Student Development and Diversity Charlie Nelms added that one of Bepko's other achievements is his commitment to diversity, including his e-mail he sent to all IU students to inform them on IU's support of the University of Michigan's affirmative action policy. \n"I think President Bepko's willingness to follow up with an amicus brief and to e-mail all of the students with his decision, shows a strong commitment to excellence in diversity and communication among students," Nelms said.\nBepko replied to all of these compliments by showing his gratitude and reaffirming his love for the University. \n"We loved every moment we've spent at Indiana University because of its relentless pursuit of excellence, because of the commitment to intellectual rigor, to intellectual honesty and to the core values of collegiality," Bepko said.\nBepko also replied to one of Eichhorn's praise of IU, with one of his own. \n"You said that IU was one of the best universities in the world," Bepko said. "I think it is the best University in the world."\nDespite his new position, to his friends, Bepko is just a regular guy who loves IU, Eichhorn said.\n"Off the record, I can tell you Jerry Bepko is a man who loves golf and chocolate almost as much as he loves IU," Eichhorn said.
(02/27/03 7:34pm)
The IU board of trustees will hold its monthly meeting today and Friday in Bloomington to address issues such as the proposed faculty trustee bill and funding for higher education.\nThe trustees will also hold a reception for Interim President Gerald Bepko today to welcome him to Bloomington.\nGovernmental Relations\nOne of the major issues to be discussed at the board meeting will be the role of Indiana's government in promoting higher education.\nStan Jones, Indiana's Commissioner for Higher Education, will speak to the entire board first thing today about improving relations between the University and legislature, and raising standards for K-12 education to prepare high school students for college.\nBoard of Trustee Vice President Steve Ferguson, who previously served for the Commission on Higher Education, said standards need to be increased as more students attend four-year universities.\n"Statistics have shown that if students have a Core 40 degree or better, they will have more success in college," Ferguson said. "Furthermore, as more and more students go on to higher education, there is a continual need to have a Core 40 or more for college preparation."\nIn addition, during the External Relations Committee Friday, state representatives Peggy Welch (D-Bloomington) and Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) will address the committee on funding from the General Assembly.\nPierce and Welch are also co-authors of the bill to make a faculty trustee position at Indiana public universities. The bill has already been passed by the Indiana House of Representatives. \n"Just like the student trustee, which the state began appointing over 20 years ago, faculty should have a say as well," Pierce said.\nTrustee and External Relations Committee Chair Sue Talbot said the representatives will take questions and most likely will address the issue of the new position. \nBoard of Trustee President Fred Eichhorn said the faculty position would create a "conflict of interest" because the faculty trustee would be deciding personnel issues.\nTalbot said she expects many faculty members to support the board's position at the meeting.\n"Bob Eno has said that relationships between faculty and the board of trustees are better than most public universities," Talbot said.\nReception for Bepko\nThe trustees won't be spending all of their time dealing with controversial issues and University problems. Eichhorn and his wife Judy will host a reception open to the general public for Interim President Gerald Bepko from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. today at the IU Art Museum.\n"I think IU is very lucky right now to have such fine leadership," Talbot said. "President Bepko is very knowledgeable and has an incredible way with people. We are very lucky to have him as our interim president."\nOne of Bepko's successes is with the General Assembly, which has proposed a slight increase in IU's budget, despite Gov. O'Bannon's State of the State recommendation that state educational funding be flatlined. Eichhorn said these accomplishments have led many to ask Bepko to continue his career with IU. \n"People have encouraged him to apply for the job of the presidency permanently," Eichhorn said. "He will stay as a law professor, but he has served here for over 30 years, and it is understandable that he wants to retire"
(02/27/03 5:00am)
His father built technology for NASA that has made it to the moon. He builds goofy props that make people laugh.\nIt is still a mystery about what happened to Carrot Top, who performs at the IU Auditorium on Sunday at 7 p.m.\n"I think people are always shocked when they hear my dad worked for NASA," he says. "My brother goes to the naval academy. It's like 'Where did they go wrong with me?'"\nBut, despite the fact that he builds objects such as a tin-can phone with a built in three-way feature, and his dad builds lunar devices, Carrot Top still uses creativity and engineering in his work. \n"They never understood why I wanted to be a comic," he says. "But after my dad saw some of my shows, he would help me build some of the props. He loves building things and he enjoyed seeing me on TV and saying, 'I helped build that.'"\nMeet Scott Thompson, (no, not the guy from "Kids in the Hall"), more famously known by his fiery-haired alter-ego Carrot Top, a prop comic who grew up in Cocoa Beach, Fla., in a family of scientists and eventually attended Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, which he calls the "Harvard of Florida."\n"It was the most fun I ever had," he says. "Of course, my parents didn't pay my tuition, so I had to get four jobs to work my way through. But that's where I found out I loved comedy and really got to experiment with prop comedy."\nIn addition to "graduating with a 4.0 blood-alcohol level," Thompson also developed his unique style of comedy, characterized by physical humor.\n"Everybody was doing the same thing in comedy it seemed," Thompson says. "I had a couple of props that I thought were appropriate so I used them and it caught on pretty quickly."\nHe says many of his sight-gag jokes, such as a dinner plate with a toilet attached for bulimics, add a different angle to stand-up comedy.\n"I love doing it because it gives me a chance to think visually with my comedy," Thompson says. "Instead of just telling you a joke, I show it to you."\nFor many years Carrot Top was criticized for his brand of visual comedy. Comedian Albert Brooks once commented on the Tonight Show, "It must be tough for Carrot Top. If American Airlines loses his luggage, he has no act." Many comedians saw his new props and scoffed at his brand of humor, yet Thompson argues that comedy has its roots in visual humor.\n"Vaudeville got it all started with props in comedy," Thompson says. "Then in the 1980s, it was all stand-up. I mean there were people like Gallagher, but I don't know why there aren't more prop comics. Probably because of all the props you have to haul around. People always ask me how I carry that all around, but it's just the same as a band setting up for a show."\nHis act has caught on. He now is best known as the guy with the outrageous mop of curly crimson hair hitting on girls at the beach for 1-800-CALL-ATT commercials, an incident he says doesn't occur day to day.\n"Yeah, (the girls) love me until they say 'Cut,'" he says. "It doesn't really happen to me in real life."\nThompson also had his mug plastered on the hood of Ken Schrader's NASCAR vehicle, which was recently damaged when Ryan Newman's Alltel Dodge slammed into it. \n"It's amazing to have my picture on a NASCAR vehicle," he says. "It's so cool to see it all crashed and crushed. It's also great to tell women that I have my picture on a NASCAR."\nStill, it wasn't the only time Thompson's image has been tarnished. Countless comedians have taken cheap shots at Carrot Top. Norm MacDonald asked if his movie "Chairman of the Board" was spelled "B-O-R-E-D."\n"I guess I'm an easy target," he says. "But most of the people who make jokes about me are friends of mine, so it doesn't bother me. It comes with the territory."\nOne of the most surprising aspects of Thompson is that he is a pretty laid back guy. Despite the fact that he drinks endless cups of coffee, he isn't always hyperactive like some would expect.\n"People always tell me that they expected me to be more energetic," he says. "One reporter told me that I was so serious. But, I guess you get a different perspective of someone on TV and in real life. I once met Steve Martin and he was the most quiet guy I'd ever met."\nPeople may think he is always a wacky, colorful guy from his distinct hairstyle, but despite the fact that people stereotype him and mock him because of his mop-top, he says he'll never cut it.\n"I've gotten pretty used to it," he says. "I could teased about it in school and so it's no problem for me. I'd never cut it off. Not for a million dollars."\nFuture plans for Thompson include a possible variety show and a cartoon developed by Disney.\n"I don't know what I'd do for a cartoon," he says. "I guess I'm already pretty animated. We could call it 'The Adventures of Carrot Top' and I'd fight crime with props, kind of like a cartoon MacGyver."\nThompson says cartoons are right up his alley, now that his 1-800-CALL-ATT commercials have broadened his appeal to a much wider audience. \n"Most comedy is pretty raunchy nowadays," he says. "I try to be down the center. I don't think I personally have to use profanity to be funny, but I have no problem with people like Chris Rock using it. People come up to me and say, 'It was so great that I could bring my kids.' So I think it's cool that I can appeal to all ages."\nDirector of the IU Auditorium Doug Booher says he expects an impressive turnout for Thompson's show. \n"When Clear Channel Entertainment booked the show here at IU, they expected a strong showing from both the students and the community," Booher says. "At Carrot Top's last performance in Bloomington, nearly 1,000 people attended his show. His brand of humor has certainly proven to be appealing to people of all ages, so Clear Channel is expecting a successful event." \nStill, there are many IU students who feel his comedic style just isn't for them. \n"He overplays stupidity and isn't that witty," says Rebecca McCasland, a junior. "His physical humor gets real old."\nNevertheless, Thompson says he is looking forward to coming back to perform for a college town, noting that \ncollege life is something he misses. \n"I didn't have any responsibilities," he says. "Now, I
(02/26/03 10:06pm)
His father built technology for NASA that has made it to the moon. He builds goofy props that make people laugh.\nIt is still a mystery about what happened to Carrot Top, who performs at the IU Auditorium on Sunday at 7 p.m.\n"I think people are always shocked when they hear my dad worked for NASA," he says. "My brother goes to the naval academy. It's like 'Where did they go wrong with me?'"\nBut, despite the fact that he builds objects such as a tin-can phone with a built in three-way feature, and his dad builds lunar devices, Carrot Top still uses creativity and engineering in his work. \n"They never understood why I wanted to be a comic," he says. "But after my dad saw some of my shows, he would help me build some of the props. He loves building things and he enjoyed seeing me on TV and saying, 'I helped build that.'"\nMeet Scott Thompson, (no, not the guy from "Kids in the Hall"), more famously known by his fiery-haired alter-ego Carrot Top, a prop comic who grew up in Cocoa Beach, Fla., in a family of scientists and eventually attended Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, which he calls the "Harvard of Florida."\n"It was the most fun I ever had," he says. "Of course, my parents didn't pay my tuition, so I had to get four jobs to work my way through. But that's where I found out I loved comedy and really got to experiment with prop comedy."\nIn addition to "graduating with a 4.0 blood-alcohol level," Thompson also developed his unique style of comedy, characterized by physical humor.\n"Everybody was doing the same thing in comedy it seemed," Thompson says. "I had a couple of props that I thought were appropriate so I used them and it caught on pretty quickly."\nHe says many of his sight-gag jokes, such as a dinner plate with a toilet attached for bulimics, add a different angle to stand-up comedy.\n"I love doing it because it gives me a chance to think visually with my comedy," Thompson says. "Instead of just telling you a joke, I show it to you."\nFor many years Carrot Top was criticized for his brand of visual comedy. Comedian Albert Brooks once commented on the Tonight Show, "It must be tough for Carrot Top. If American Airlines loses his luggage, he has no act." Many comedians saw his new props and scoffed at his brand of humor, yet Thompson argues that comedy has its roots in visual humor.\n"Vaudeville got it all started with props in comedy," Thompson says. "Then in the 1980s, it was all stand-up. I mean there were people like Gallagher, but I don't know why there aren't more prop comics. Probably because of all the props you have to haul around. People always ask me how I carry that all around, but it's just the same as a band setting up for a show."\nHis act has caught on. He now is best known as the guy with the outrageous mop of curly crimson hair hitting on girls at the beach for 1-800-CALL-ATT commercials, an incident he says doesn't occur day to day.\n"Yeah, (the girls) love me until they say 'Cut,'" he says. "It doesn't really happen to me in real life."\nThompson also had his mug plastered on the hood of Ken Schrader's NASCAR vehicle, which was recently damaged when Ryan Newman's Alltel Dodge slammed into it. \n"It's amazing to have my picture on a NASCAR vehicle," he says. "It's so cool to see it all crashed and crushed. It's also great to tell women that I have my picture on a NASCAR."\nStill, it wasn't the only time Thompson's image has been tarnished. Countless comedians have taken cheap shots at Carrot Top. Norm MacDonald asked if his movie "Chairman of the Board" was spelled "B-O-R-E-D."\n"I guess I'm an easy target," he says. "But most of the people who make jokes about me are friends of mine, so it doesn't bother me. It comes with the territory."\nOne of the most surprising aspects of Thompson is that he is a pretty laid back guy. Despite the fact that he drinks endless cups of coffee, he isn't always hyperactive like some would expect.\n"People always tell me that they expected me to be more energetic," he says. "One reporter told me that I was so serious. But, I guess you get a different perspective of someone on TV and in real life. I once met Steve Martin and he was the most quiet guy I'd ever met."\nPeople may think he is always a wacky, colorful guy from his distinct hairstyle, but despite the fact that people stereotype him and mock him because of his mop-top, he says he'll never cut it.\n"I've gotten pretty used to it," he says. "I could teased about it in school and so it's no problem for me. I'd never cut it off. Not for a million dollars."\nFuture plans for Thompson include a possible variety show and a cartoon developed by Disney.\n"I don't know what I'd do for a cartoon," he says. "I guess I'm already pretty animated. We could call it 'The Adventures of Carrot Top' and I'd fight crime with props, kind of like a cartoon MacGyver."\nThompson says cartoons are right up his alley, now that his 1-800-CALL-ATT commercials have broadened his appeal to a much wider audience. \n"Most comedy is pretty raunchy nowadays," he says. "I try to be down the center. I don't think I personally have to use profanity to be funny, but I have no problem with people like Chris Rock using it. People come up to me and say, 'It was so great that I could bring my kids.' So I think it's cool that I can appeal to all ages."\nDirector of the IU Auditorium Doug Booher says he expects an impressive turnout for Thompson's show. \n"When Clear Channel Entertainment booked the show here at IU, they expected a strong showing from both the students and the community," Booher says. "At Carrot Top's last performance in Bloomington, nearly 1,000 people attended his show. His brand of humor has certainly proven to be appealing to people of all ages, so Clear Channel is expecting a successful event." \nStill, there are many IU students who feel his comedic style just isn't for them. \n"He overplays stupidity and isn't that witty," says Rebecca McCasland, a junior. "His physical humor gets real old."\nNevertheless, Thompson says he is looking forward to coming back to perform for a college town, noting that \ncollege life is something he misses. \n"I didn't have any responsibilities," he says. "Now, I
(02/26/03 6:26am)
After seven years of lobbying by IU Student Legal Services, amendments to Bloomington housing code to put more responsibility on landlords will soon be considered by the city council. \nJohn Irvine, the director of SLS, said these amendments would put a stop to many problems with landlords, such as unfair charges for repairs that fall under the duties of the landlord.\n"One of the major things we are trying to accomplish to make it clear what maintenance duties a landlord has to perform and which ones are the responsibility of the tenants," Irvine said.\nIrvine said in many cases tenants are being charged for what is normal wear and tear.\nOne such example is the re-painting of walls. Irvine said many residents are being charged for or forced to repaint walls that are only slightly damaged.\n"Tenants should only be responsible if they do something like kick the wall and knock a hole in it," Irvine said. "If you get little scuff marks on the wall, it's normal, but at a lot of places tenants are getting charged for that. I don't think you can have a couch against the wall and not get scuffmarks."\nIn addition, Irvine said there are a tremendous number of landlords in town who charge tenants for replacing light bulbs. In all of these residences, the leases say the landlord is responsible for normal wear and tear. \n"When does a normal light bulb exceed normal wear and tear?" Irvine said. "I suppose if you smashed the light bulbs with a baseball bat, then it would be the tenant's responsibility, but I don't think many people do that."\nIrvine added that many of these places charge up to $5 to replace a simple light bulb. \nOther damages he said tenants are unfairly charged for are Venetian blinds broke by simply pulling it up and down and shampooing the carpet even when it does not have any stains or burns. \nIrvine also said that in many cases these damages are not corrected by landlords because not all of the tenants move out. \n"If you have five tenants living in a house and three move out, a lot of times the landlords don't come in a bring the house up to code standards," Irvine said. "If you go through two or three years of that, the house can get really run down."\nIrvine adds that he is trying to build a penalty into the housing code that would penalize landlords for the failure of inspection and repair for each change of occupancy.\nMany members of the city council agree that there needs to be amendments to the housing code because it has been so long since it has been updated. \n"We are working on amendments to the housing code, because we need to add certain requirements to relationship between landlords and tenants," City Council member Tim Mayer said. "It currently sits with City Council attorney (Daniel Sherman). It is inching forward and we are starting to look at it informally." \nStill, not every member feels these changes are necessary. \n"The city of Bloomington already has a very detailed maintenance code, that includes all these provisions," City council member Jason Banach said. "We have cyclical inspections every five years. We are one of only three communities in entire state that have provisions for rental inspection policy."\nIrvine said he still feels more should be done to place responsibility back on the landlords.\n"It's not a tenant's job to live in a place and then bring it back to restoration standards," Irvine said. "That's the landlord's job."\nFor more information how to protect yourself when choosing a residency, check out http://www.indiana.edu/~sls/llt.html.