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(09/10/04 5:39am)
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, left an incredible impact on the entire nation, and IU was no exception. When the smoke from the World Trade Center Towers cleared, three IU students had lost family members in the destruction. \n"After the attacks in September of 2001, lots of people were affected. However, it came to the administration's attention that three students on campus had lost their fathers," said Jonathan Purvis, director of the IU Student Foundation.\nIUSF made the decision in 2002 to devote the proceeds from the Little 500 bicycle race to a 9-11 Scholarship fund to honor the lost family members of the three IU students. Combined with donations from IU alumni and friends, IUSF raised over $100,00 for the scholarship fund. \nThe recipients this year are: \n• Raef Chenery, a sophomore majoring in business. He has received recognition on the Dean's List and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.\n• Lacey Voland, a junior majoring in education. She has earned Dean's List honors for the past four semesters. \n• Alane Summers, a senior majoring in elementary education and tourism management. She has served as vice president of the Panhellenic Association and Junior Greek Council.\nThe fund pays out three $1,500 scholarships each year. Each award is based on different criteria, as established by each of the aggrieved students. The scholarships are open to all current IU-Bloomington students. \n"The three students who lost their fathers were involved in developing the requirements for the scholarships," Purvis said. \nDean of Students Richard McKaig said the development of the award contributes well to IU.\n"I think the scholarships and the ceremony are important for campus, but even beyond campus," he said. "It's a chance for the University community to reflect and remember." \nSummers said she was honored to receive the scholarship. \n"I was an IU student when (9-11) occurred," she said. "I think that's a great way to honor those people lost lives and to make a tragic situation a little better." \n-- Contact nation & world editor Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu .
(08/30/04 5:18am)
Unlike many of their classmates, 11 freshmen are attending their first day of classes with a clear path laid out for them. These are the 2004 Kelley Scholars. \nEach of these freshmen intend to major in the Kelley School of Business and were directly admitted to the school. The recipients of the award enjoy payment of tuition and fees for four years as well as a stipend for living expenses, the annual value of which is $14,000 for Indiana residents and $20,000 for non-residents. \nThe Kelley Scholars Program is funded by the 1997 gift of $23 million from the E.W. Kelley family. IU named its business school for the Kelley family to recognize their gift.\nEach of these 11 students underwent a rigorous application and screening process to receive the award. \nKatie Paulin, associate director of undergraduate studies in the Kelley School of Business, said 150 applicants to IU were invited to apply for the scholarship.\n"Students initially had to fill out paper applications," she said.\nThis involved writing essays as well as submitting high school transcripts and personal references.\nPaulin said 22 candidates among the original 150 were selected to visit IU during a weekend in the spring for interviews. Their visit also included a campus tour and a special guest dinner.\nKelley Scholar freshman Victoria Stuart Overdorf said candidates participated in interviews with faculty in the business school, Kelley Scholars upperclassmen and members of the Kelley family.\n"Even at dinner, you could tell you were under surveillance," she said, "but it wasn't tense."\nFor many students, the Kelley Scholars award is the deciding factor for attending IU; for others, it's the icing on the cake. \nKelley Scholar freshman Ryan Michael Lubash said he had been accepted to the University of Pennsylvania for business but chose IU because of the money he received from the award.\n"Getting a full ride definitely influenced my decision to come to IU," he said.\nFor freshman Elise Pent the scholarship merely reinforced her desire to attend IU.\n"IU was where I really wanted to go," she said. \nKelley Scholars are also given more opportunities than most freshmen business students. They receive faculty advisers and are allowed to take honors business courses. \nFreshman Georgia Cavvouras said being a Kelley Scholar has allowed her to meet faculty members in the Business School.\n"I believe that being a Kelley Scholar and a direct admit opens a lot of doors for me," she said. "Networking on this campus just expands."\n-- Contact nation & world editor Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.
(08/27/04 5:42am)
If IU-Bloomington's problems with its new Student Information System are of the same magnitude as those at IU-Purdue University-Indianapolis, many students should prepare to be inconvenienced during the first week of classes.\nStudents at IUPUI have been waiting in long lines to get emergency financial aid because the new system delayed the processing of their financial aid checks, according to The Associated Press.\nBill Stephan, vice president for university relations and corporate partnerships, said the entire University is working through these issues and is moving forward with the implementation processes. \n"In some cases the transition has not been effective for some students, particularly as it applies to financial aid," he said.\nThough Stephan is unsure how much trouble the Bloomington campus will have, he remains optimistic about the situation. \n"At least at this point in time, we are not seeing signs that the problems will be as severe as at IUPUI, but we won't know until next week and the start of classes," Stephan said.\nStephan said though the transition may not be seamless, the University is working very hard to find solutions.\n"We are doing everything we can to make sure students are held harmless in this process," Stephan said. "We're making sure that there is more than adequate staffing around campus so that we can respond as quickly as possible and effectively as possible."\nHe said the previous SIS was antiquated and that updating it was a necessary step.\n"Our first computer systems were built in the late 1970s, and our technology no longer supports everything we need to do," Norma Holland, associate vice president for information technology said in a March statement. "Though our systems have served us well over the years, it has become increasingly difficult for us to keep our many applications running or to enhance them to provide the services that students, faculty and staff want." \nHolland declined to comment on the current computer problem.\nIU is not alone in upgrading its software, either. \nDon Hossler, associate vice president for Enrollment Services, said other public and private institutions have replaced their aging student information systems. \n"It's a complex process to do this because such an effort is labor-intensive and requires universities to re-examine their existing practices and policies," Hossler said in a statement.\nStudents and faculty access the new SIS, which was developed by PeopleSoft, through a program called OneStart. Most students' first encounter with the software was during the registration for fall classes last spring.\nStephan said students can protect themselves from potential inconveniences by making sure they speak to financial aid and other staff as soon as possible.\nA representative from PeopleSoft did not return phone calls seeking comment.\n-- Contact senior writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.
(08/27/04 5:42am)
At No. 71, IU and Michigan State University tied for the lowest academic ranking in the Big Ten, according to US News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2005," where they ranked 248 schools.\n"The news is not as bad as it sounds," said IU-Bloomington Interim Chancellor Ken Gros Louis. "And my office is preparing a detailed analysis of the various criteria, with points assigned to each one, and how we fared with the other Big Ten schools in all categories." \nDean of Students Richard McKaig also took an optimistic outlook on the situation. \n"The Big Ten is an excellent conference for academics, so coming in last in the conference isn't all that bad," he said.\nBut, David Zaret, executive associate dean for the College of Arts and Science, said the ranking doesn't mean the administration is satisfied with its standing, either.\n"No one is pleased with IUB's consistently low place in the US News and World Report ranking."\nZaret pointed out that IU may not deserve such a low ranking, as its departments, programs, and schools are ranked among the top 10 or 20 each year.\n"So, there is an odd disconnect between the presence of many very highly ranked programs at Bloomington, and the low overall ranking published in the US News and World Report," he said.\nMcKaig offered a possible explanation for this disparity. He said the survey puts a lot of emphasis on admissions standards and that IU's lower standards mean it ranks lower.\nBut, he said, IU has to balance its mission to accept Indiana students with adequate test scores and high school transcripts with the perceived prestige associated with having selective admissions. \nAccording the US News and World Report Web site, IU is the only university in the Big Ten which is rated as "selective." Each of the other ten universities in the conference, including Michigan State University, are either rated as "more selective" or "most selective."\nStandardized test scores of incoming students, acceptance rates and the percent of students at the top of their high school class determine 15 percent of a college ranking.\nThe survey uses other criteria to rank colleges and universities, including measuring the reputation of the school, assessing the retention rate, looking at faculty and financial resources and at alumni donations.\n"US News and World Report is something easy to quote and easy to look at," McKaig said. "But I don't often see it cited as a reason students came to IU or didn't."\n-- Contact senior writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.
(08/25/04 7:29am)
An IU employee was arrested in July by the Indiana State Police Methamphetamine Abuse Task Force on three felony drug charges at his Bloomington home, according to a statement Indiana State Police Trooper Jon Patrick gave in a Monroe County Court affidavit. \nJohn "Jack" Kenealy let police officers into his home July 29 where they found methcathinone and the means to make the drug in Kenealy's residence, according to Patrick's statement. The account detailed how Kenealy willingly showed the officers around his residence and how he made the drugs. \nIndiana State Police Detective Mark Parker said Kenealy claimed to be making the drug for personal use only.\nKenealy was then arrested and transported to the Monroe County Jail. \nAccording to Monroe County Court documents, Kenealy is charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a drug precursor. He entered a not guilty plea and his trial is slated for Dec. 7. Kenealy's bond was set at $500 with a $20,000 surety, which he posted.\nLeonard Butler, an electrician for IU, said Kenealy was a night operations supervisor at the time he was arrested. He said Kenealy was responsible for tasks like emergency maintenance on campus, addressing issues such as broken water mains or power outages.\nButler said Kenealy is still employed at IU, though he is now working on a day shift. \nAccording to the Indiana Prevention Resource center, methcathinone, also known as "cat" or "goob," is a relatively easy-to-manufacture controlled substance. It has similar effects as methamphetamine and crack cocaine, including stimulation of heart rate and respiration and a feeling of euphoria. Studies suggest it is as addictive as crack cocaine and that the addiction is as hard to break.\nThe Bloomington area has seen two fires resulting from clandestine methcathinone labs, both in 1995.\nIn January of 1995, the explosion and resulting fire of a lab killed one man, severely burned another and destroyed 11 condominium units valued at over $1 million.\nA fire in a public housing apartment in May of 1995 is alleged to have the same cause.
(08/25/04 7:29am)
If The Princeton Review is to be believed, the party at IU is beginning to die. \nIU fell to the No. 15 party school in the nation according to the publication's 2005 list of "The Best 357 Colleges," but did manage to land the No. 5 spot in the "Lots of Beer" ranking.\nIU received what administrators saw as negative national attention when the school was ranked the top party school in the country in 2002. In 2003, The Princeton Review ranked IU No. 3 for parties.\nSusan Williams, assistant director of IU Media Relations, said she was glad to see IU drop from the top ten party schools in the nation but questioned the validity of the ranking. \n"We're quite happy not to be in the top ten," she said, "but I'm not sure we should have been there in the first place."\nIU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger also raised concerns about The Princeton Review's rankings.\n"If you read how they put their data together, you realize that it's pretty much junk research, junk data," he said.\nDean of Students Richard McKaig said his department doesn't give much credence to the survey either.\n"We have a saying in the office, we take everything seriously about alcohol except The Princeton Review," he said.\nIU-Bloomington Interim Chancellor Ken Gros-Louis said he did not believe the drop in ranking was because of any efforts on the part of IU because the publication lacked credibility.\n"I've always been mystified by the methodology used by The Princeton Review, so I don't know the statistical significance of dropping from the top ten," he said.\nMcKaig said he agreed that the methodology is questionable. \n"Their methodology is so unclear that you cannot intentionally move yourself either way," he said. \nBut McKaig said there are new alcohol abuse-resistance programs in place that are helping to reduce the problem on campus. The most significant of which, he said, is the addition of Alcohol Counselor Walt Keller.\nWilliams said while IU does have drinking problems, it is not unique among universities in that regard.\nMcKaig said Keller meets with students who have been caught violating University alcohol policies, whether in the dorms or elsewhere. \n"This is more of a help to students than to just be punitive," he said. "There are huge drinking problems on every campus; it's not something that students should be proud of. It is, however, a small part of campus life." The Princeton Review is a publicly-traded company not affiliated with Princeton University. Though its party school ranking is one of the most famous aspects of its yearly publication "The Best 357 Colleges," the company ranks colleges on 64 issues, including academics, politics, quality of life and extracurricular activities.\nIU also ranked No. 16 for "Great College Newspaper." The State University of New York at Albany took IU's former spot as the No. 1 party school, while Washington and Lee University and University of Wisconsin at Madison took second and third, respectively.
(07/12/04 1:22am)
JERUSALEM -- Israelis and Palestinians were lining up support for a showdown at the United Nations over Israel's planned security barrier in the West Bank, while violence erupted in the Gaza Strip and four Palestinians were killed.\nPalestinians and the Arab world were elated by a nonbinding world court ruling Friday that declared the barrier illegal and said it should be dismantled.\nThe Palestinians have said they'll seek the support of the world body's members in the General Assembly, then go to the 15-nation Security Council, which can order action.\nIsrael said the International Court of Justice in The Hague had no right to make such a decision and it planned to continue building the 425-mile barrier of high concrete walls, razor-wire fences, trenches and watchtowers.\nIsraeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said he asked U.S. officials to prevent the adoption of any U.N. resolution aimed at enforcing the court's ruling.\nIn the Gaza Strip, an explosion Saturday killed four Palestinians in what Palestinian officials said was an Israeli tank attack on a car in al-Zahra, on the outskirts of Gaza City.\nThe army, which had helicopters and tanks in the general area of the blast, said it had not fired at any vehicles and that its soldiers were not in the immediate area of the explosion. Earlier, intense clashes broke out in the nearby Jewish settlement of Netzarim.\nPalestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia told European Union envoy Marc Otte Saturday that he hoped the Americans would not "sabotage our efforts" at the United Nations, meeting participants said.\n"It is the responsibility of the international community, it is the responsibility of the U.N., to put (in place) a mechanism to commit Israel to this decision," Qureia told reporters later.\nOtte made no commitment, though he noted past EU objections to the barrier, which dips deep into the West Bank in some areas, and has disrupted the lives of thousands of Palestinians.\nAbout a quarter of the barrier has been completed.\nWashington, which often has used its veto in the 15-nation Security Council to block resolutions critical of Israel, disagreed with the world court on the issue and said it believed no further U.N. action is necessary.\nShalom's spokesman Moshe Devi confirmed that the foreign minister had approached Washington in the matter last week, but said he also had asked the 25 EU nations for backing.\n"We hope that the Americans will help us, of course. But we are not counting on just the Americans," Devi said.\nIsrael and the United States were sticking to their positions -- that the world court should not interfere because the issue is political, not legal, and could disrupt Mideast peace efforts.\nIsrael says the barrier has prevented suicide bombings, pointing to a sharp drop in the number of casualties since construction began. Palestinians say the complex of fences, trenches and razor wire is a land grab.\nAlthough many in the Arab world welcomed the court ruling, some were skeptical about the possibility of U.N. action.\n"Americans will be waiting there with a ready veto," Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah guerrillas, said in Lebanon.\nIsraeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his government planned to meet Sunday with the attorney general to discuss implications of the court's advisory opinion.\nPalestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in a speech congratulating graduates of a security training program, called the decision a decision by "the world it is standing beside the Palestinian people against the apartheid wall."\nAhmed Qabah, a Palestinian farmer from the West Bank village of Turah al-Rabia, said Israel confiscated a quarter-acre of his land to build the fence.\n"I believe that the high court decision has exceeded all of the Palestinians expectations," Qabah, 40, said, but added that "Israel and the U.S. will not commit to the court's decision."\nIn the Gaza Strip, Palestinian residents said Israel has tightened its security crackdown -- now in its 12th day, leaving them short of water, milk and other essentials. The army operation, aimed at stopping rocket attacks, began after a June 28 strike near a nursery in the Israeli town of Sderot killed two people, including a 3-year-old.\nIn other violence Saturday, Palestinian residents and medical workers reported a 16-year-old girl was shot dead near the border with Egypt. The army said it had no information on the death of a teenager in Rafah.\nThree Palestinian women also were injured in Beit Hanoun, target of the Israeli siege aimed at ending rocket attacks.
(04/26/04 4:29am)
A large banner hung above a stage in Dunn Meadow Saturday proclaiming "Legalize Marijuana." This slogan represented the essence of the seventh annual CALMFest. The event, held by IU's chapter of the Citizen's Alliance for the Legalization of Marijuana, featured six bands, two solo artists and a poet. President of IU CALM and senior Amanda Barker said the event's primary purpose was to educate students about marijuana laws and provide an alternative to the Little 500 bicycle race.\n"We want to give people not only an option to Little 5 -- this is a big weekend because of Little 5 with a lot of alumni in town and people who came to see the race -- but we want to make people aware of the issues of marijuana policy reform," she said.\nMike Truelove, CALM founder and the current executive director of Indiana CALM, said marijuana legalization is a big issue because it affects so many people.\n"It's important because everyone knows someone who's been busted," he said. "It's one of those things that's touched a lot of people's lives."\nKunundrum, Rebecca Ronquest, Trio in Stereo, Rhombus, Chris Seleski, BLAMF!, Snake Drive and Blue Print all took the stage during the event. \nBut one of the main attractions at CALMFest was a poet from Los Angeles named Greg Mosley, who goes by the stage name "Elevate." Mosley, who agreed to come and perform for free at the event, spoke on marijuana laws.\n"We're not just a bunch of pot heads; we have more depth than that," he said. "And the issue has more depth than that."\nPrivate vendors set up tables at the event, as well as the Southern Indiana Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.\nBeth Solo, the director of Southern Indiana National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said CALMFest is a valuable event.\n"It gives people an opportunity to learn things they didn't know about, and it gives people an opportunity to meet other people involved with the issue," she said.\nFreshman Wes Bickford came to the event to learn more about marijuana laws but stayed because of the music.\n"I came to CALMFest to learn a little more about the issue, but I'm having a really great time," he said. "The music is rocking." \nNot all of the attendants at the event agreed with its premise.\nSenior Rita Nelson came to listen to the music but did not like the idea of legalizing marijuana.\n"It's a controversial issue," she said. "Personally, I don't really think it should be legalized. It is a drug, and drugs should be controlled by the government." \nDespite rain and the event taking place during the Men's Little 500, both Barker and Truelove estimated that about 200 people came to CALMFest.\n-- Contact staff writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.
(04/20/04 8:26pm)
From class work, to exams, to the college social-structure, students face a lot of stress at college. But they don't have to suffer through the stress alone. IU has many resources to help those struggling through depression, mental distress and the pressures of everyday life.\nThe IU Health Center's Counseling and Psychological Services, located on the fourth floor of the IU Health Center, offers two visits per semester to students at no cost if they pay the student health fee. Beyond the initial visits, each session is $14, and a billing plan can be arranged.\nAll employees of CaPS are licensed mental health professionals in the state of Indiana. At least one counselor is always on duty.\nThe Center for Human Growth in room 001 of the education building also offers on-campus support services for students, faculty and staff.\nIndividual counseling sessions are $15, although Gerrett Stenken, assistant director of the Center, said other payment options can be arranged.\nAccording to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 and 24, just behind unintentional injury and homicide. In 1999, more teenagers and young adults died from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke and chronic lung disease combined.\nBrian O'Donnell, associate professor of psychology, said suicide is usually linked to deep depression.\n"Most commonly, severe depression is associated with thoughts of committing suicide and also with successful suicide attempts," he said.\nO'Donnell said it is critical for people suffering from depression to get help as soon as possible, although the majority of sufferers will not seek help for themselves.\n"Sometimes it may even be necessary to coerce people with depression into getting help," he said.\nO'Donnell said most people who suffer from deep depression have a biological or genetic predisposition, making them more vulnerable to it after experiencing great stress. He said common stressors on college campuses include not meeting academic goals and turbulence in relationships -- especially break-ups.\nThe American Foundation of Suicide Prevention lists a number of warning signs people with suicidal tendencies may exhibit. They include changes in sleeping patterns, loss of interest in usual activities, fatigue or loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness, lack of concentration, isolation and indecisiveness.\nThe Foundation estimates that 15 million Americans suffer from depression, and 80 to 90 percent can be effectively treated. Although depression is classified as a treatable disease, more than two in five people believe it is a sign of personal weakness.\nDirector of CaPS Nancy Buckles said a free counseling session will be offered to anyone affected by Monday's suicide attempt at Ballantine Hall. Anyone who has difficulty sleeping, appetite changes, problems focusing and concentrating or feelings of fear, anxiety or depression as a result of the incident should see a counselor immediately, she said.\n"In the light of this unusual traumatic event, there will be no charges for services provided in relationship to the event that occurred," Buckles said. "The counselors are there to help people cope with events like this,"\nCaPS is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.\nThe Center for Human Growth holds regular hours from 1 to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Both facilities take scheduled appointments. \n"We want to be here so students can come and talk about how they are dealing with this," Stenken said. "We want to let them know that they don't have to be alone."\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu and staff writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.
(04/19/04 6:15am)
Lee Hamilton, the vice chair of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States discussed the panel looking into the 9-11 attacks following a speech on "conflict prevention" in international affairs at a district Rotary International meeting Friday in Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union. \nIn an interview after the speech, Hamilton, an IU School of Law graduate and director of IU's Center on Congress, spoke about his experience with the 9-11 Commission. He said the Bush administration has not been as forthcoming with information as he would have liked but the commission has not been significantly hindered by those inconveniences.\n"We've had restrictions put on access that have slowed our work," he said. "But overall, we have worked out agreements with the White House that have been satisfactory to them and satisfactory to us."\nHe also said the concessions the 9-11 Commission had to make in exchange for National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice's testimony did not present a great hindrance. \n"We are not precluded on the terms of the agreement from talking to any member of the administration again," he said. "We are precluded from having a public hearing of top White House aides only, but we didn't plan to have any more, so we're not being limited. We will go back again and talk to Dr. Rice, and I'm sure there are some others we'll go back to, so I'm sure we'll get all the information we want."\nHamilton also said the terms to which the commission agreed for Bush's testimony will not prevent it from getting the information it needs. He said initially the president would only testify before Hamilton and Commission Chair Thomas Kean. The final agreement for both the president and vice president to appear together did not represent an impasse, Hamilton said.\n"We'll be able to get the information we need, and we'll have all 10 commissioners, so it's a satisfactory arrangement from our standpoint," he said. "Why the White House did it that way, I don't know."\nHamilton was optimistic about the ability of the commission to produce an effective and meaningful report.\n"We have a major responsibility of making recommendations to the president and to the Congress on how to make the American people more secure," he said. "I think we'll be able to do that."\nHamilton, who served as a U.S. Congressman in Indiana's Ninth District for 34 years, discussed many international issues the U.S. currently faces, including the effects of the 9-11 attacks, the war in Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the U.S.' growing leadership roles abroad and increasing poverty, inequality and turmoil. \nBut the overarching theme of his discourse was "conflict prevention" and how Rotary International and other non-governmental organizations could help ameliorate strife abroad and stave off conflict.\n"Conflict prevention is now a major academic discipline," he said. "It's wonderful that all kinds of people are learning how to prevent conflict. I want you to know that I think highly of the kinds of people, like (Rotarians), who go out into the world and try to prevent conflict."\nJudy Witt, president of the Bloomington Rotary Club, said Hamilton was invited to the convention because of his knowledge of world affairs.\n"He certainly has a wealth of information to share and a wealth of experience to share with us," she said. "And we asked (former) Congressman Hamilton to speak about conflict prevention because that's a new area for rotary to be more directly involved with."\nSenior Jason Robbins, president of the IU Rotaract Club, an affiliate of Rotary International, said Hamilton's speech gave him an increased drive to help people through Rotaract and Rotary International.\n"He spoke with so much power and conviction," Robbins said, "that I want even more now to go out and work on behalf of Rotary to make things better for people."\n-- Contact staff writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.
(04/16/04 5:57am)
Hours after Adam W. Herbert was officially inaugurated as the 17th president of IU, another ceremony welcomed a new president on the Bloomington campus. Senior Tyson Chastain was inaugurated as the new student body president for the IU Student Association Thursday evening in the Oak Room of the Indiana Memorial Union. \nThe ceremony opened with a speech by Stevan Veldkamp, the assistant dean of students, director of student activities and IUSA adviser. He said it was rewarding to advise the administration.\n"For the past eight months, it has been my esteemed honor to work with IUSA and (IUSA President) Casey Cox," he said.\nNext, the keynote speaker, Kirk White, the 1983-84 president and current director of Hoosiers for Higher Education took the rostrum. He offered advice he gained from his year heading IUSA and also spoke on the importance of student leadership both to the students of IU and to the student leaders.\n"You've only got about six months to get things done," he said. "So don't try to change the moon and the stars, just pick a couple of important issues and stick to them."\nWhite also took this opportunity to give certificates of recognition to three students for furthering the cause of high education in government. The recipients were Cox, sophomore Jim Hoff and senior Katie McCauley. Hoff and McCauley are co-directors of legislative relations for IUSA. \nAfter White's remarks, Cox gave a parting speech filled with advice for the new administration. He reminisced about his year in office and the ground his presidency covered. He also offered some stern words for Chastain.\n"Go to class, go to class, go to class, go to class," Cox said. "Don't forget that first you are students and that you still have academics to keep up."\nChief Justice of the Student Body Supreme Court Brian Clifford then said Cox's administration had been an inspiration to work with and he hoped the next administration would be the same. Following that, Clifford asked the new IUSA officers to stand, and he then swore them into office. Finally, he called Chastain, juniors Jesse Laffen and Scott Norman and senior Gwen Hobley to the front of the room. He led them in reciting the IUSA oath of office, officially making them student body president, vice president of administration, vice president of operations and student body treasurer, respectively. \nFollowing his inauguration, Chastain gave a speech on his vision for IUSA in the coming year. He outlined two major issues on which he said he wanted to focus.\nChastain said he planned to reduce the cost of textbooks to students by establishing a book exchange service and to promote the "stability of transit" through $1 cab rides and restructuring the transportation system. \nDean of Students Richard McKaig said he thought the ceremony added credibility to IUSA and to Chastain and his administration.\n"I think it validates IUSA as an organization and gives it formality," he said.\nBut former Fusion IUSA presidential candidate and senior Dan Shapiro was a bit more skeptical.\n"The only thing that will make Crimson more legitimate is 'show me,'" he said. "They are going to have to work hard to prove they belong in office."\n-- Contact staff writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.
(04/15/04 5:15am)
The Feb. 26 IU Student Association elections were supposed to put an end to four parties' hard-fought campaigns. But after the winning party's disqualification, the Student Body Supreme Court named second-in-line Crimson the official winners. Now, after this controversial victory, the Crimson executives will finally take office.\nIUSA will host a farewell and inauguration ceremony at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Oak Room at the Indiana Memorial Union. The occasion will mark the official end of the administration of President Casey Cox and the beginning of Tyson Chastain's presidency. \nThe ceremony will open with remarks from Steve Veldkamp, the assistant dean of students, director of student activities and IUSA adviser. Hoosiers for Higher Education Director Kirk White, who served as IUSA president from 1983 to 1984, will be the keynote speaker, and will address the kinds of experience he had in student leadership positions. \nCox will then give a few farewell remarks on the highlights of his term and deliver advice for the incoming administration. Chief Justice of the Student Body Supreme Court Brian Clifford will swear in Chastain and the other Crimson executive members. The ceremony will end with Chastain's acceptance speech, in which he plans to outline some of his administration's goals. \nThis will be the first time a formal ceremony has served as an official transition of power in many years. Cox said the event will help to give IUSA more legitimacy as a student government body.\n"It brings formality back to the organization," he said. "It also adds visibility and credibility -- two things which are very important for IUSA."\nWhite said the ceremony will also allow the new IUSA administration to get a bearing of the road ahead.\n"It's an opportunity for IUSA to look at the progress for this year and set goals for the coming year," he said. "It allows the outgoing leaders to look back on their administration and allows the incoming leaders to get pumped up for what will be a challenging year."\nVeldkamp said he proposed the idea of a formal inauguration to Cox and his colleagues this past year, and "they just kind of ran with it." \nCox said part of the reason he pushed the idea of the ceremony is because other schools in the state and the Midwest have similar procedures.\n"I like to keep up on other Big Ten student governments and what other schools in Indiana do," he said. "They have ceremonies. I thought it was something we really needed to have, too."\nCox said he will miss being part of IUSA, but is pleased with how he is leaving it.\n"Walking away from something that dominated your life for a year is always hard," he said. "I'm proud IUSA has a new life and that there is a general interest in IUSA and student government."\nCox, who will be graduating in May, said he will likely go on to law school and would eventually like to go into university administration or public affairs -- an aspiration fueled by his past year in office.
(04/12/04 7:06am)
GREENCASTLE, Ind. -- Trevor Brown, dean of the IU School of Journalism, was inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame Saturday at a ceremony in the Walden Inn at the DePauw University campus.\nTom Davies, president of the Hall of Fame, said Brown and the other four inductees were admitted because they met the hall's requirements as "Hoosier journalists of the highest distinction." \nBrown said he was very flattered to be inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame, especially considering he is from South Africa.\n"I was tremendously honored to be chosen for this award, especially as a foreigner who has made his home in Indiana," he said. \nCraig Klugman, editor of The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, helped organize Brown's nomination and admittance. He said Brown deserved such honor for his work in promoting journalism education.\n"He means a lot to journalism, a lot to IU and a lot to students," he said. \nBrown came to IU as a faculty member in 1972. He has served as the dean of the School of Journalism for nearly 20 years, since 1985. In 1989, he helped to make the school independent from the College of Arts and Sciences. \nIU Journalism Professor Michael Evans said this award recognizes an entire life's work in journalism.\n"He has supported journalism in Indiana and beyond for his whole career," he said. "He is an excellent instructor and he continues to teach classes, but his main contribution has been as an administrator ... he has helped to educate literally thousands of students during his career."\nKlugman said he and others nominated Brown for induction this year to coincide with his June retirement from the School of Journalism. They had not foreseen that the search for a new dean would come up empty-handed and Brown would agree to stay on another year.\n"It seems," Klugman said, "that replacing Trevor has proved much harder than anyone thought."\nDavies said most nominees are scrutinized for several years before being inducted to the Hall of Fame. But Brown was accepted in his first year of nomination.\n"It's not rare for a candidate to be selected in his first year," he said. "But it's more the exception than the rule."\nHe said Brown was selected among more than a dozen Indiana journalists.\nAlso inducted were Steve Bell, a professor of telecommunications at Ball State University and former ABC News reporter; Henry Gill, a photojournalist who shot pictures of major events around the globe; Edward Spray, the president of Scripps Networks; and George P. Stewart, cofounder of The Indianapolis Recorder, one of the nation's premiere African-American news publications. These five men make up the 39th group inducted into the Hall of Fame, bringing the total membership to 197. \nThe Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame was established in 1966 by the Indiana Chapter of The Society of Professional Journalists. The Hall of Fame is housed in the East College of DePauw University in Greencastle, also the birthplace of the Society of Professional Journalists in 1909.\n-- Contact staff writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.
(04/05/04 4:28am)
Experts on Europe and the former Soviet Union met in Bloomington to attend a two-day conference on the eastward expansion of the European Union. \n"Public Opinion About the EU in Post-Communist Eastern Europe," an event sponsored by IU, the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation and the University of Oxford took place Friday and Saturday. Professor Robert Rohrschneider of IU and Professor Stephen Whitefield of Oxford organized the conference.\nIn 2004, 10 nations -- the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia -- will be added to the EU. The focus of this conference was on those nations, which were formerly members of the Soviet Union, particularly Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. \nSix panels each took a different issue for discussion. The first three panels were held Friday and titled "The EU Context of Accession," "The Party Context of Accession" and "What Explains Cross-National Variations in EU Support in Post-Communist Countries?" The final three discussions took place Saturday and concerned "Public Opinion about the EU in Post-Communist Europe" and "The Dynamics of Public Opinion about the EU in East-Central Europe, 1990-2004."\nAt each of the six panels, two to three professors presented papers they had either completed or were working on concerning the particular issue in question. All told, 13 bodies of research were presented at the conference. \nHenry Hale, IU professor of political science, said the University was an excellent venue for experts on these issues from around the world to gather.\n"The European Studies Institute plus the Russia and East European Institute … and with experts like Dr. Rohrschneider who are working directly on these issues, (IU) is kind of a center of gravity," he said.\nDespite lively disagreement on many of the works presented, everyone in attendance concurred that the topic of the EU expansion to former Soviet nations was an important issue that needed to be addressed.\nIU professor Jack Bielasiak said the new additions to the EU have consequences for the U.S.\n"The eastward expansion of the EU brings together two different parts of Europe," he said. "There are some differences between old Europe, such as Germany and France, which want to keep the U.S. apart from Europe and some countries like Poland which have been supportive of the US."\nProfessor Joshua Tucker of Princeton University, who presented a paper at the conference, said this issue is important to address because of its importance to the world.\n"We are seeing a fundamental political development in these nations," he said. "Their shift from communist to post-communist democracies, and now to EU members represents a crucial issue which we must study and follow."\n-- Contact staff writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.
(04/02/04 5:22am)
Two IU students took their places among the top science undergraduates in the country when they were named as recipients of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship March 26. \nJuniors Keith Turpin and Stephen Helms will both receive $7,500 for up to two years to apply toward their college expenses. The award, created to honor the memory of the late Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, is open to undergraduates majoring in the sciences, mathematics, engineering and related fields. Of the 1,113 national applicants, 310 were selected. \nJocelyn Bowie, director of communications and recruiting for the College of Arts and Sciences, said IU nominated four of the 13 applicants on the local level for the national award. \nBowie said the applicants were judged on the merits of their academics, lab work, research goals and an essay each wrote about their research. \nTurpin, a physics major, was both surprised and elated when he found out he won. \n"I was pretty shocked because I really didn't think I had much of a chance compared to the top science majors across the country," he said.\nTurpin thought he won largely because of his essay about research on the way ultrasonic waves travel. He plans to attend graduate school after he graduates and hopes to study experimental high-energy particle physics. \nHelms, a biology and biochemistry major, said he was very pleased when he learned he won the award. \n"I called my parents and sent e-mails to all my recommenders," he said.\nHelms said he thinks he won because he is focused on the future.\n"I am really prepared for grad school. I do research and teach for the biology department," he said. "I have focus and know where I am going with my life."\nHelms said he plans to attend graduate school for biochemistry when he graduates and hopes to study proteins to figure out how they work. \nBowie said the Goldwater Scholarship is a very impressive award.\n"Since it's for students who are still undergrads, this is one of the most prestigious undergraduate science awards in the country," she said. \nBowie said almost all past recipients have gone on to receive a Ph.D. Recent Goldwater Scholarship winners have later received Rhodes Scholarships, Marshall Awards and other distinguished fellowships.\nIn the past two years, she said IU has only had a single Goldwater recipient and is pleased to see more students win the award this year. \nSince its 1986 inception, the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation has awarded 4,272 scholarships worth approximately $42 million. The goal of the foundation is to help promote scientific and technological development. \n-- Contact staff writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.
(03/31/04 5:57am)
Many colleges have not yet adopted official policies to help prevent illegal file sharing on their networks, the Joint Committee of the Higher Education and Entertainment Communities reported Friday. \nThis statement, reported in The Chronicle of Higher Education Tuesday, comes after the Recording Industry Association of America announced last Wednesday it would file charges against 89 students connected to university networks, including five at IU. While it was not specifically mentioned by the report, IU does have an official file-sharing policy. The Web site www.filesharing.iu.edu details IU policies as well as provides information on copyright laws and legal file downloading. \nChief Information Technology Security and Policy Officer Mark Bruhn said IU devotes many resources to help educate students about illegal file sharing and copyright infringement.\n"We expend a good deal of effort to ensure IU students understand the issues and the consequences," he said.\nIU works in a variety of ways to curtail illegal file sharing. University Information Technology Services posts informational flyers and posters across campus and in dorms and computer labs where students are connected to the IU network. \nAll "cable bags," which are required for students to connect their personal computers to the IU network, include a flyer reminding the student that, by connecting to the IU network, they agree not to infringe on copyright laws. Also, when students connect to the IU network, they must register their computer and sign an online registration form which states: "I will not share copyrighted music, movies, and other media files if I do not have permission from the copyright owner."\nBruhn said because of these efforts and the extensive media coverage the issue receives, he thinks there are few students who don't understand the impacts of illegal file sharing.\nFreshman Stacy Lambert said she has been aware of IU's policy since before she came to the school.\n"I knew there was a policy on downloading at the University because they told us at orientation," she said.\nBut IU's position has not yet reached everyone. Freshman Allison Chandler, despite living on campus, said she had not yet heard IU has an official stance on file swapping.\nDespite these efforts to limit illegal file sharing on the IU network, Bruhn said he was not alarmed that IU students were named in the RIAA's latest lawsuits because so many students use the IU network, including 15,000 students who live on campus and use it as their primary Internet Service Provider.\n"Certainly, it isn't a surprise that some (IU) students are downloading and sharing large numbers of files," he said. "It isn't a surprise that these users eventually appeared on a list generated by the RIAA."\n-- Contact staff writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.
(03/30/04 6:34am)
Somewhere, five unlucky IU students are going about their day-to-day routines, ignorant of the fact that they're among the newest targets in the Recording Industry Association of America's war on illegal file-sharing. \nThe RIAA, which represents more than 350 record labels and other companies involved in producing music, announced last Wednesday it was filing 532 lawsuits against illegal file-sharers, including 89 university network users nationwide. \nBecause the RIAA identified the users in the lawsuits based on their IP addresses, none of the five IU students know they are the ones who will be charged. \nIU's Secretary for University Counsel, Anthony Warner, said Monday his office had not yet received the identities of the IU students against whom the RIAA is levying charges.\n"The notifications will either come to the legal office, the trustees' office or to Mark Bruhn's office," he said.\nOnly IU can match the IP addresses with a user's name. \nDespite the latest wave of lawsuits, few students seem nervous about being the RIAA's unwitting prey.\n"I file-share, but I'm not worried about being caught for two reasons," said sophomore David Gong. "First, if you play the odds, the chances of getting caught are small because there are so many students who share. And second, (the RIAA) never takes everything they can get."\nRIAA president Cary Sherman said in an interview Wednesday that although the law entitles the court to award $750 to $150,000 per copyrighted work shared, the RIAA has always settled out of court in the past. The average settlement has been $3,000.\nSenior Lee Brunjes, is also unworried by the lawsuits despite sharing copyrighted files.\n"There are a lot of things you can do to download files and not get into trouble," he said. "Once you download a file, move it out of your shared folder. There are also a lot of ways to hide your ID on the Internet."\nBut the primary reason Brunjes isn't worried is because he lives off campus. All five of the students soon to be accused of illegal file-sharing were connected to the University network at the time of the sharing. \nSince many off-campus students don't connect through the IU network on their home computers, the chances of a student living off campus being included as one of the five are slim.\nSome students blame the record industry's file-sharing woes on its own greed. Freshman Nicholas Hoff-Hvale said a major reason so many people pirate music is CDs are too expensive.\n"(The record industry) needs to find a way to reduce CD prices and make them more affordable," he said.\nBut Mark Bruhn, chief Information Technology security and policy officer for University Information Technology Services, said in an e-mail to the IDS the record industry has every right to pursue students who illegally share files.\n"Certainly, copyright owners have the right under the law to seek relief from infringement," he said. "It isn't as if this should be a surprise to the individuals being targeted. It has been widely covered in the media, we have publicized it as much as we can, and we have tried to educate our network users on issues related to copyright."\nBut these sentiments are not echoed by sophomore Daniel Desloover.\n"People should be able to experience art and culture and diversity without having a big checkbook," he said. "There is a slightly elevated probability that I will be one of the students named, but I'm willing to stick it to the man."\n-- Contact staff writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.
(03/29/04 5:05am)
A warm gyro is a wonderful thing. The heart of the gyro lies in its shaved slices of seasoned lamb and beef, sliced onions and a tzatziki cucumber sauce. All of this is then wrapped in a warm, soft pita. This Greek favorite, among others, is now available to dorm students at Gresham Food Court.\nThe manager of Gresham, Gina Brooks, said the still unnamed dining concept has been very popular since it opened March 22.\n"The first day, we sold 80 gyros in the first hour alone," said Brooks. "Tuesday, we sold over 500 gyros."\nShe said the idea to introduce the Greek dining concept came from Sandra Fowler, director of Residential Programs and Services dining services, and Ancil Drake, the executive chef for RPS. \nFowler said the new Greek restaurant replaced the "Pacific Rim" Chinese restaurant.\n"Basically, Pacific Rim wasn't getting used as much as the other concepts," she said.\nBrooks said Pacific Rim was not very popular with students and there have been few complaints about its removal. \nBoth Fowler and Brooks said they decided to go with a Greek restaurant because students were getting tired of the current set-up in Gresham. \n"(The Greek restaurant) was different than anything we had," Fowler said.\nBrooks said converting Pacific Rim to a Greek restaurant was easy and inexpensive. She also said though the restaurant ran out of pitas during the first night, the transition has been relatively smooth.\nSenior Ritesh Kalati said the new restaurant is a welcomed addition to the food court.\n"I've been eating gyros my whole life, and this one is pretty good," he said.\nSenior Zaheer Muscat said he also enjoyed the gyro restaurant.\n"I love it -- it's good, and it's new," he said. "I think they should change restaurants every year."\nFowler said a new Tex-Mex restaurant is slated to go into Wright Quad at the Wright Place today.\n-- Contact staff writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.
(03/25/04 5:56am)
The president of the Recording Industry Association of America, Cary Sherman, held an online press conference with college newspaper reporters Wednesday evening, declaring lawsuits filed Tuesday against 89 college students at 21 universities served to send a message that file-sharing is illegal and has serious consequences. \nSherman said the RIAA decided to pursue college students for illegal file-sharing because they are "obviously" a big part of the problem.\n"Statistics posted by universities about the usage of their networks confirms that 60 to 70 percent and more is being consumed by file-sharing," he said.\nHe said the RIAA filed the suits to "send a message to students across the country that this activity is illegal and that engaging it can have consequences."\nAn unidentified number of IU students are included in the lawsuits.\nThe affected IU students will soon receive notification from University Information Technology Services their identities have been subpoenaed in a litigation. \nThe RIAA chose the 89 students based on the "egregiousness of their infringing activities," Sherman said. The association is not targeting specific schools, he said. \n"We're filing cases in different jurisdictions around the country in a way that maximizes the efficiency of the litigation process," he said. "We will continue to broaden the number of jurisdictions in the future."\nA total of 539 lawsuits were filed Tuesday, but only 89 were against students using university networks. He said copyright law allows courts to award damages between $750 to $150,000 per shared file to the RIAA. But Sherman said all previous file-sharing suits have been settled out of court. The average settlement has been $3,000, though he said each case is considered on an individual basis.\nSherman said the goal is not to make money for the RIAA, but to remind people sharing copyrighted music is against the law. \n"This is not a revenue-generating exercise," he said. "We're trying to send a message that the activity is illegal and can have consequences."\nSherman said the defendants were caught sharing an average of 837 files.\n"Since it's an average, obviously some were in the low hundreds and some were in the thousands," he said.\nHe said the record industry has been damaged by illegal file-sharing, forcing them to crack down on individuals.\n"In 2000, the top 10 albums sold 60 million units," said Sherman. "In 2001, the top 10 sold 40 million units. In 2002, it was down to 34 million."\nUITS spokeswoman Christine Fitzpatrick refused to comment on any of the issues Sherman presented.\nSherman said a poll conducted by Peter Hart Associates indicated 50 percent of polled college students say they are "supportive and understanding" of the RIAA lawsuits.\nSophomore Mike McSherry said he does not think the newly-filed lawsuits will help to decrease illegal file-sharing.\n"Illegal file-sharing is too big to be brought down by lawsuits like these," he said. "It's here to stay."\nFreshman Blake Muntzinger said he also disagrees with the RIAA's tactics.\n"I think that if they want people to buy more CDs, lawsuits are not the right way to go," Muntzinger said.\nDespite disapproval from these students, Sherman said the lawsuits will continue beyond those recently filed.\n"This is an ongoing program," he said. "It won't end with the settlement of these cases"
(03/10/04 5:49am)
The Frangipani Room in the Indiana Memorial Union was filled with unusually strong words for two-and-a-half hours Tuesday night. \nRepresentatives from the IU College Democrats, the IU College Republicans and the Neo-Conservatives debated issues pertinent to the 2004 presidential elections in an event sponsored by the Mortar Board Senior Honor Society.\nSenior Darrin Nix, president of both the Mortar Board Senior Honor Society and the Parliamentary Debate team, planned, facilitated and moderated the debate. \n"I knew there was a lot of interest in the issues surrounding the coming presidential election in the IU community," Nix said. "I thought there would be even more interest if we hosted a debate on these issues."\nThe debate covered six issues likely to dominate the November 2004 presidential elections, including the economy, national security, health care, social security, civil rights and the environment. Nix said he was happy with the turnout and deemed it a success.\n"I expected to have about 25 people show up to watch," he said. "But, it looks like more than 50 came."\nSenior Mike Reiss and junior Morgan Tilleman, both members of the College Democrats, argued on behalf of the Democratic Party's platform. The representatives from the College Republicans were Graduate student Zach Wendling, sophomore Chase Downham and junior David White. A third ticket, the self-named Neo-Conservatives, was represented by brothers Ben and Brian Stewart. \nReiss, Wendling, Downham and both Stewart brothers agreed the most contentious issues of the night were the war on terrorism, the war in Iraq and other matters of national security. \nTilleman criticized the Bush administration's expenditures in Iraq, arguing it overestimated the cost of most projects. \n"National security was by far the hottest issue," Ben Stewart said. "It's been on everyone's minds since Sept. 11."\nDownham said the nation is "at war" and Bush's choice to invade Iraq was a just one.\n"George Bush decided to attack Iraq because he loves America and he wanted to stop weapons of mass destruction proliferation," Wendling said. \nBut Reiss, speaking for the Democrats, said Bush's attack on Iraq was unjustified because it was "unilateral," which the Republicans rebutted, citing 65 other nations involved in the war. \nOther hot topics discussed included gay marriage, universal health coverage and the Bush tax cut's effect on the national economy. \nMost of the debate participants and members of the audience agreed the debate was conducted professionally and presented useful information.\n"The debate was cordial and (the participants) seemed pretty well-informed on the issues at hand," said audience member Chad Shearer.\nBrian Stewart said his Neo-Conservative platform primarily consisted of "moralistic use of American military power abroad."\nThroughout the night, all three tickets weighed in on each of the six issues, each giving a three to five minute response to a question posed by Nix. The contending tickets then had a chance to give one to two minute rebuttals. \nBut the tickets all agreed on one thing.\n"Events likes these are important because they get people interested in politics and will hopefully motivate more students to get out and vote," Reiss said.\nNix said the Mortar Board is sponsoring a discussion on human rights that will feature a panel of North Korean exiles. It will be held at 7 p.m. April 6 in the Frangipani Room at the IMU.\n-- Contact staff writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.