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(11/30/07 7:06pm)
Following a controversial anti-torture resolution passed by the American Psychological Association last summer, concerned faculty and students will have a chance to discuss the policy Friday with the association’s president, IU psychology professor Sharon Brehm. \nBrehm, who was elected leader of the association in 2006, has been criticized by many of her constituents for not doing enough to end the psychological torture of foreign terror suspects, specifically the presence of psychologists during the detainees’ interrogations.\nWhile the 2007 resolution reaffirms the organization’s stance against all types of torture – something many psychologists have called a step in the right direction – it did not include a proposal to suspend psychologists’ involvement in interrogations at U.S. prisons for foreign detainees. The Progressive Faculty Coalition, the Bloomington branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and the IU chapter of Amnesty International will sponsor the discussion. It will begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the Psychology Building, Room 128. \nBrehm has been depicted in human-rights circles as a barrier to ending prisoner torture. But professor Cynthia Hoffman, a member of the Progressive Faculty Coalition, said the discussion will not focus on Brehm’s personal beliefs, but instead aims to examine her organization’s torture policy. Hoffman disagreed with the American Psychological Association’s current torture policy of not removing the association’s psychologists from U.S. interrogations of foreign prisoners.\n“I think that we as citizens need to have a lot of information about what has happened, how often and who has been involved,” Hoffman said.\nAlready, the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association have passed similar provisions to the one the American Psychological Association rejected last summer.\nDespite the scrutiny she is under, Brehm has maintained her belief in the importance of psychologists’ presence at government interrogations.\n“Our members have a responsibility to intervene to stop acts of abuse wherever they occur and to report such incidents to the appropriate authorities,” Brehm wrote in a January 2007 letter to Washington Monthly magazine. \nThe American Psychological Association’s 2007 resolution is largely modeled off a similar 2006 enactment. And while this year’s resolution did not provide for the removal of psychologists from interrogation sites like many had hoped, it lays out a set of specific ethical guidelines for psychologists working with government interrogators.\nFriday’s meeting will be a focus on policy, not personality, Hoffman said. The discussion will follow an open-floor model where Brehm will have the opportunity to explain her organization’s resolution. The public are invited to attend and take part in the discussion. \n“My expectation is that (Brehm) will listen to our concerns,” Hoffman said.
(11/26/07 4:26am)
The presidential debates next year will not be held at IU, though the University was considered to host an event, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced last week.\nIU and the City of Bloomington submitted a proposal to bring one of the debates to Bloomington during the spring semester. The Commission toured IU in July and approved the University as a potential host.\nUniversities in Tennessee, Mississippi and New York were selected instead. Bloomington was not chosen as a back-up site for the events either.\nThe Commission chose Belmont University, Hofstra University and the University of Mississippi to host the three presidential debates next year, while Washington University in St. Louis will host a vice-presidential debate.\n“While we are disappointed, we know that the extensive effort that went into our proposal to host one of the debates was not wasted,” IU President Michael McRobbie said in a news release. “This was a tremendous learning experience for our students, who took the lead in developing and carrying out this initiative.”\nStudent leaders, including former IU Student Association President Betsy Henke, led an effort last spring to bring the debates to IU. University and city officials, including McRobbie and Mayor Mark Kruzan, supported the effort as well.\n“What I was most pleased with was that it started with a student initiative and the whole campus bought into it,” said Bruce Jacobs, a leading administrative voice for the proposal and IU vice chancellor for auxiliary services and programs.\nBut despite continued optimism by IUSA leaders that Bloomington could be selected as a host city for the event, others speculated IU would not be chosen because Indiana has not typically been classified as a swing state.\n“We had submitted a competitive bid,” said Jeff Fraser, IUSA debate director. “Apparently something was not up to par.”\nNot so, said Janet Brown, executive director for the Commission. While she expressed appreciation for IU’s proposal, she said a state’s political leanings did not play into selecting debate venues.\n“The unfortunate part of this business is in many years you have more good sites than debates,” Brown said.\nLast Monday’s announcement marks the end of what has been a months-long joint effort by IU and Bloomington to help get the University selected for a debate. Prior to the announcement, organizers lauded the potential debate as one of the biggest events that would ever to occur at IU.
(11/20/07 9:18pm)
The presidential debates next year will not be held at IU, though the University was considered to host an event, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced Monday.\nIU and the city of Bloomington submitted a proposal to bring one of the debates to Bloomington, and the Commission on Presidential Debates toured IU in July and approved the University as a potential host.\nThe Commission selected universities in Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri and New York instead. In addition, Bloomington was not chosen as a back-up site for the events either. \nThe Commission selected Belmont University, Hofstra University and the University of Tennessee to host the three Presidential debates next year, while Washington University in St. Louis will host a Vice Presidential debate.\n"While we are disappointed, we know that the extensive effort that went into our proposal to host one of the debates was not wasted," IU President Michael McRobbie said in a news release. "This was a tremendous learning experience for our students, who took the lead in developing and carrying out this initiative."\nStudent leaders including IU Student Association President Betsy Henke had originally led an effort to bring the debates to IU last spring. University and Bloomington officials including McRobbie and Mayor Mark Kruzan had both supported the effort as well.\n"What I was most pleased with was that it started with a student initiative and the whole campus bought into it," said Bruce Jacobs, a leading administrative voice for the proposal and IU vice chancellor for auxiliary services and programs.\nBut despite continued optimism by IUSA leaders that Bloomington could likely be selected as a host city for the event, others speculated IU would not be chosen because Indiana has not typically been classified as a swing state.\n"We had submitted a competitive bid," said Jeff Fraser, IUSA debate director. "Apparently something was not up to par."\nNot so, said Janet Brown, executive director for the Commission. While she expressed appreciation for IU's proposal, she said a state's political leanings did not play into selecting debate venues.\n"The unfortunate part of this business is in many years you have more good sites than debates," Brown said.\nMonday's announcement marks the end of what has been a months-long joint effort by IU and Bloomington to help get the University selected. Organizers had lauded the potential for the debate as one of the biggest events ever to occur at IU.
(10/29/07 7:43pm)
IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre would not confirm reports Monday that Rob Senderoff will resign as assistant IU men’s basketball coach.\nMacIntyre said he did not know whether Senderoff is currently a University employee, and he said he was not informed of any pending resignation. \nHowever, MacIntyre said reports by Fox Sports that sources close to IU athletics said Senderoff would resign today were off the mark.\n“I think that reporter does not know what he is talking about,” MacIntyre said. \nSenderoff has been in the middle of the recent controversy surrounding basketball coach Kelvin Sampson. Sampson admitted on Oct. 14 that members of his coaching staff made illegal phone calls throughout the past year to recruits.\nThe IU Athletics Department contracted legal firm Ice Miller to conduct an investigation into the matter. Their findings are still being compiled in a report, which will soon be submitted to the NCAA, MacIntyre said. \nThat report, he believes, will clarify many rumors that Senderoff will resign as a result of the violations. If the report is not already finished, it soon will be, MacIntyre said, although he would not provide a time frame for when it will be made public. \nThe University intends to release the findings as soon as possible, he said.
(10/25/07 4:00am)
While Christian teachings in large part focus on the intangible, Bob Keller, pastor at St. Paul's Catholic Center, describes the idea of Halloween ghosts as something altogether different from the spirits discussed in Catholic teaching. \nThe topic of ghosts wasn't one that was examined often during his theological studies, he said, and it is still one that in many aspects remains undecided in the seemingly all-encompassing Catholic Church. Even though spirits play a central role to that faith, he said a belief in ghosts is more central to religions where science plays a less central role. \n"It's not really our idea," Keller said. \nUnlike some other Christian denominations, Catholicism takes questions of science and philosophy more seriously, he said. \n"What are the phenomena they are trying to figure out?" Keller said. \nSimply, he described humans' belief in ghosts as part of their inability to explain naturally occurring events. \nAnd a colorful imagination never hurts. \nKeller said ghosts always come with stories: a murder, a tragic car accident, a stabbing. As a boy, Keller said his imagination could sometimes play tricks, causing him to question what he now sees as naturally occurring events.\n"I didn't need Harry Potter or something like that to create some creature," he said. \nLooking at cultures that tended to believe in ghosts, Keller said, there were often elaborate attempts conduct a "proper burial" in hopes of appeasing the dead. There's a sense of something unfinished or inexplicable, Keller said -- it's that question of religion versus natural science.
(10/19/07 4:20am)
Serving as a climax to what has been a four-month-long welcoming party, IU President Michael McRobbie’s inauguration Thursday might well have also signaled the end of a transition period that University officials described as essential for the leader’s future success. \nMcRobbie’s work so far has focused primarily on filling vacant administrator positions and laying the groundwork for what he hopes to achieve during the next few years.\nIn his inaugural address Thursday, McRobbie unveiled plans for IU to renew a focus on two areas he said should remain at the core of an institution: research and education.\nThis has been encouraging news for faculty members who have vied for greater research capabilities. McRobbie has been praised for these ambitions by both colleagues and student leaders. They hope these projects can bring IU to the forefront of national research institutions.\n“We’ve got the champion sitting in the chair right now,” said IU Student Association President W.T. Wright, describing the president’s potential for expanding these diverse studies. \nUniversity officials have carefully ensured that McRobbie’s transition into the limelight smoothed over bumps left behind by his predecessor’s controversy. It is an idea University trustees have set forth from the start: nurture McRobbie and allow him chances for success that former President Adam Herbert might never have had, University officials – including former President Adam Herbert himself – have said.\nAlready, McRobbie seems to have secured popularity among the constituencies who might later influence the president’s effectiveness as a leader. Even before McRobbie’s tenure unofficially began July 1, many faculty members praised new research opportunities and described the president as a man who, most simply, produced tangible results.\nAnd while concerns have risen about McRobbie’s dedication to students – especially undergraduates – several of his initiatives over the past few months have helped dissolve that image. Speaking directly on educating students, McRobbie suggested he would follow in the footsteps of legendary IU President Herman B Wells in beginning a “pursuit of academic excellence in teaching, discovery and creative activity.”\nDuring his inauguration speech, McRobbie seemed confident in his vision for the University. His steady transition to president the past summer may have provided him the opportunity to get acclimated to his new position. In contrast to the challenges Herbert faced as an outsider attempting to learn IU’s culture, McRobbie has been at IU for more than a decade. \n“I’ve been here 11 years,” McRobbie said. “I know the place pretty thoroughly.” By keeping many of the same personal staff he had as interim provost, the president said their consistency helped make the transition easier. \nWith some student leaders initially hesitant of a new administration, McRobbie’s apparent focus on student needs has caused many organizers to sing praise. He has instituted weekly walk-in office hours – a move that Wright said was “one of the best things that could have happened.”\nAlong with creating office hours, the student VOICE initiative has been another way McRobbie has attempted to open lines of communication between administrators and students. VOICE aims to open a dialogue between the student body and administrators. Wright said he is excited about the group and that the group is already meeting regularly to create a report of student needs for McRobbie.\nWith some students hesitant about the new administration’s capability to address student needs, it’s ultimately McRobbie’s ability to turn words into actions that will determine student approval, Wright said.\n“How he deals with this could be a testament to his administration,” he said.
(10/17/07 1:18pm)
Just weeks before his Bloomington visit, the Dalai Lama became trapped in the middle of another international political firestorm Tuesday – straining relations between the United States and China. \nThe religious leader met with President Bush at the White House Tuesday afternoon, despite objections from Chinese officials. The private meeting came one day before the Dalai Lama is scheduled to receive the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal. That honor has repeatedly been denounced by Chinese officials, who have described the move as America meddling in China’s domestic policies. \n“We solemnly demand that the U.S. cancel the extremely wrong arrangements,” said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Beijing, according to the Associated Press. “It seriously violates the norm of international relations and seriously wounded the feelings of the Chinese people and interfered with China’s internal affairs.”\nBut despite claims by White House officials that the leader’s meeting with Bush was not politically motivated, Scott Kennedy, associate professor and U.S.-Chinese relations specialist, said U.S. officials saw this as an opportunity to elevate the Dalai Lama’s status, while Chinese leaders viewed resurging respect as a threat to their current grip on the embattled region.\n“I don’t think the President thought there was a heck of a lot to lose,” Kennedy said. \nWhile in the short run the situation could bruise U.S.-China relations, the professor said, it still does not signal a significant U.S. foreign policy swing. \n“In a few weeks time, these events will be history, unless something very unexpected occurs,” Kennedy said, describing both sides’ current actions as a showcase of “political theater.”\nAnd if tensions between the nations cool soon, it could likely be just in time for the spiritual leader’s Bloomington visit at the end of October.\nRegardless of the political row, the respected leader’s Bloomington trip remains an exciting prospect for Arjia Rinpoche, director of Bloomington’s Tibetan Culture Center. Event planners were already engaged in “lots of preparations,” he said. Those plans, he said, would be unaffected by any ongoing political controversy.\n“I am a religious person,” he said. “I don’t know about the political side.”\nRep. Baron Hill, D-9th District, voted for the Congressional award and said it represents a “lifetime of humanitarian work and his selfless dedication to men and women all over the world,” according to a statement. \nA 1989 Noble Peace Prize laureate, the Dalai Lama has become a symbol for Tibetan struggles against Chinese rule. The leader has based his resistance movement in India since a failed 1959 uprising forced him to flee his homeland.\nAnd even while the communist-led Chinese government has strived to demonize the figure, the Dalai Lama’s international popularity has soared in recent years. Rather than continuing calls for total Tibetan independence, the leader now demands increased autonomy for the region as an alternative to sovereignty. Those efforts have not yet moved Chinese government officials, who have only tightened their grip on the region recently.\nBloomington is a city the Dalai Lama has frequently visited since becoming a global icon a few decades ago. His brother, Thubten Norbu, is a retired IU professor and still lives in Bloomington. The leader will give a public speech Oct. 27 at Assembly Hall titled, “Compassion: The Source of Peace.”
(10/16/07 9:02pm)
Ahead of his Bloomington visit next month, the Dalai Lama became trapped in the middle of another international political firestorm Tuesday – straining relations between the United States and China. \nThe religious leader will meet with President Bush Tuesday afternoon before receiving the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday. That honor has repeatedly been denounced by Chinese officials who have described the move as American meddling in China’s domestic politics.\n“We solemnly demand that the U.S. cancel the extremely wrong arrangements,” said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Beijing, according to The Associated Press. “It seriously violates the norm of international relations and seriously wounded the feelings of the Chinese people and interfered with China’s internal affairs.” \nStill, Bush Administration spokesman Tony Fratto denied discussions between the Dalai Lama and Bush were politically motivated. He described the President’s meeting Tuesday as one with a religious leader, not a head of state. \nArjia Rinpoche, director of Bloomington’s Tibetan Culture Center, said the spiritual leader’s visit remains thrilling, despite the political controversy. He said event planners were already participating in “lots of preparations” for the visit, describing the anticipating of the events as “very exciting.” Those preparations, he said, would continue to be unaffected by any ongoing political controversy. \n“I am a religious person,” he said. “I don’t know about the political side.”\nThis is the fourth time the Dalai Lama and Bush have met since the President took office. Bush had no reason not to meet with the religious leader again, the spokesman said. \nA 1989 Noble Peace Prize laureate, the Dalai Lama has become a symbol for Tibetan struggle against Chinese rule. The leader has based his resistance movement in India since a failed uprising in 1959 forced him to flee his homeland. \nAnd even while the communist-led Chinese government has strived to demonize the figure, the Dalai Lama’s international popularity has soared in recent years. \nThe leader will give a public speech at the IU Auditorium on Oct. 27, titled “Compassion: The Source of Peace.” Bloomington is a city the Dalai Lama has frequently in the past decades.
(10/04/07 4:58am)
The leaves had not even begun to change color when IU President William Lowe Bryan proposed to University trustees in June 1922 that his longtime friend, the lauded painter Theodore Clement Steele, be offered a position at the University. Steele was Indiana’s preeminent artist.\nWhen the aging painter arrived in Bloomington, few would have guessed the young town was destined to become one of Indiana’s artistic hotbeds. Of course there was theater and music, but Bloomington was a place still lacking an artist’s scene, said Sherry Rouse, IU curator of campus art. Unlike today, where art galleries continue to speck the cityscape, pre-Steele Bloomington was a different place – one that was destined to change.\nThis October marks 100 years since a friendship between the beloved Hoosier artist and a forward-thinking IU president began. The century that has passed witnessed a University’s maturing. From a small religious-focused school to a modern institution embracing the arts, that friendship built the framework for what the University was about to become. In fact, today more Bloomington-area artists receive state grants than the artists in population-centered Indianapolis, said Bobbie Garver of the Indiana Arts Commission.
(10/04/07 4:57am)
Although trustees approved recommendations for student fee increases last spring, several student services such as the Indiana Memorial Union and the IU Health Center have been left short of cash –\nforcing reform upon the widely used programs. \nIt’s a familiar situation for some of these departments, caused by a trustee directive to keep tuition low and continually vanishing state funding.
(10/01/07 5:02am)
Allegations of an abuse of power by Graduate and Professional Student Organization Moderator Paul Rohwer crumbled Friday during impeachment hearings as representatives overwhelmingly voted their confidence in the leader – raising significant questions about the group's future. \nRepresentatives voted 30-9 in favor of keeping Rohwer. The moderator had been charged by his fellow executive committee members with abusing his power in several instances over the past month. Rohwer maintained that his actions did not constitute an abuse of power and said during the meeting that regardless of the members' votes, he "will be happy." \nDelegates expressed deeper concerns for the group's structure and future path during the meeting, trivializing several of the executive committee's charges against the current leader. They had previously accused him of acting unprofessionally and demeaning toward fellow group members. Additionally, he had been charged with mismanagement of the organization's finances along with supposedly spouting "increasingly abusive and aggressive comments," according to a copy of the executive committee's resolution. \nAlthough many voting members expressed concern at some of these charges, they concluded none of Rohwer's actions were reason to impeach the multi-term leader. \nMembers of the executive committee who expressed their desire to expel Rohwer from his position were visibly dejected following the meeting. How the group responds to this certain setback and their ability to mend damaged relationships will likely determine their effectiveness in serving graduate students as a student government and administrative voice. \n"What will happen in part is up to all the people involved, said Jeremy Engle, the GPSO's assistant moderator.\n"We'll have to see," he said.
(10/01/07 4:58am)
Patrick Baker, defense attorney for the man convicted of killing IU sophomore Jill Behrman in 2000, filed an appeal Sept. 21 – a move his mother and lawyers expect will result in a new trial. \nJohn Myers II was convicted last October of the murder. He has maintained his innocence since. In the appeal, his defense has called foul against the trial’s proceedings – specifically allegations of juror misconduct and a denial for a change of venue, said his mother, Jodie Myers.\nThe appeal is the latest effort in an already months-long attempt to prove John Myers’ innocence. A decision could be reached by the beginning of March, Jodie Myers said. \nThe state might choose one of three different avenues when rendering a decision, Jodie Myers said. First, they could overturn the ruling altogether. While Jodie Myers said this decision is unlikely, it is much more likely the state will call for new trial, she said. The court might also reject the defense’s appeal altogether.The 75-page appeal focused on several different aspects of the trial for appeals judges to consider, Jodie Myers said. Specifically, along with claims of juror misconduct and the trial judges’ refusal to grant a change of venue, Myers said the appeal discusses the validity of a testimony made by John Myers’ grandmother. That testimony was largely believed to be a crushing blow to John Myers’ defense during the original trial. In it, the grandmother recalled a conversation with John Myers, which would later work to incriminate him.\nJodie Myers said the statement was largely based on hearsay and therefore should be expelled. The prosecutor from the case has 30 days to submit a rebuttal to the defense’s appeal, but will likely receive extensions for up to 90 days, Jodie Myers said.
(10/01/07 4:55am)
An impeachment attempt by members of the executive committee of the Graduate and Professional Student Organization against Moderator Paul Rohwer fell flat Friday. Allegations of power abuse crumbled when representatives overwhelmingly voted in favor of keeping their leader. \nThe failed ousting raises serious questions about the group’s future and its ability to maintain respect among University administrators, whom they have consistently lobbied for greater graduate student services over the past several years, members said. In addition, Rohwer has indicated those who have politicked against him will be asked to resign or face their own impeachment hearings for what he described as dishonesty.\n“Integrity is really important to me, and I have known for a few weeks that I wasn’t in control and was being lied to,” Rohwer said. \nRepresentatives voted 30-9 in favor of keeping Rohwer. The moderator had been charged by his fellow executive committee members with abusing his power in several instances over the past month. Specifically, they cited him with three instances of wrongdoing in September. Executive committee members charged Rohwer with becoming verbally abusive and demeaning toward GPSO Liaison John Scott during a Sept. 6 executive committee meeting. Additionally, he was charged with mismanagement of the organization’s finances along with expressing toward GPSO representatives “increasingly abusive and aggressive comments,” according to a copy of the executive committee’s resolution.\nRohwer maintained during the meeting that his actions did not break any of the organization’s bylaws and were simply done with the group’s greater interests in mind. GPSO representatives questioned Rohwer on his alleged aggressive behavior toward members. Those allegations spawned in large part from a letter sent by Rohwer to the GPSO in his absence at a September meeting.\nIn it, the group’s leader wrote he mistrusted many of the organization’s members and warned representatives in his letter that those working toward “ulterior motives” would result in “brutish” treatment from Rohwer. \nThis seeming intimidation was simply an indicator of Rohwer’s leadership style, he said in defense. Although group members might not always agree with his aggression, as many expressed during the meeting, Rohwer maintained this was not an impeachable wrongdoing. It was a way for him to gauge representatives’ intentions for the graduate community at large, he said. \nExecutive committee members also questioned Rohwer’s mental health, depicting a radical change in the leader’s behavior since the term began. Rohwer acknowledged people’s concerns for him, but said it was a situation he was handling. When the executive committee planned a meeting with Rohwer last Monday to request his resignation, the committee members requested a police presence. Rohwer seemed offended by this move and described it as unnecessary. Several representatives also denounced this action and saw it as an effort to vilify Rohwer.GPSO Representative Shana Bergen has known the moderator for two years and described him as a leader who has consistently battled for graduate students, developing personal relationships with administrators to better lobby for their needs. She acknowledged, however, this work faces a setback as the organization’s credibility would be questioned as more administrators learn of tensions among the group’s top leaders. \nAlong with surviving charges of intimidation, Rohwer escaped allegations of mishandling the group’s finances. In planning a September event to promote University diversity, Rohwer left $1,000 in alcohol charges unaccounted for. Rohwer acknowledged he fronted the money for the wine knowing that he could not buy alcohol with GPSO funds. He planned to raise money from other sources, but said that he was willing to take a loss on his investment if the outside fundraising didn’t add up to the $1,000 total.\n“I dropped my card…so I took the risk here and I disagree that you should pay me back,” Rohwer said. \nHe acknowledged that chance was part of serving as an effective leader. \n“When you do event planning you are going to lose money occasionally,” he said\nStill, executive committee members characterized his unilateral spending as irresponsible and against the GPSO’s constitution.\n“I respect Paul’s willingness to pay for something on his own, but as an organization we cannot run like that,” said Jeremy Engle, the GPSO’s assistant moderator.\nAlthough some representatives expressed concern for this type of solo spending, many acknowledged that while it was a mistake and could have been avoided, it was not done maliciously. Representatives voted to again take up the issue during meetings next week to decide if Rohwer should receive a censure for the incident. \nMembers of the executive committee who expressed their desire to expel Rohwer from his position were visibly dejected following the meeting. How the group responds to this will likely determine its effectiveness in serving graduate students as a student government and administrative voice. \n“What will happen in part is up to all the people involved,” Engle said. “We’ll have to see.”
(09/29/07 8:38pm)
Graduate and Professional Student Organization Moderator Paul Rohwer faces impeachment hearings Friday, where representatives of his organization will decide whether the leader’s actions over the past month have constituted an abuse of power. \nThe GPSO’s five-person executive committee, not including Rohwer, passed a resolution seeking to impeach the multi-term leader after he refused to resign from his post in a meeting earlier this week. GPSO representatives will hold the impeachment hearing at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the Indiana Memorial Union, Room M088. \n“His behavior reached a point that the executive committee could not stand by any longer,” said Jeremy Engle, the organization’s assistant moderator. The situation was not one they wanted to go through with, he said, but Rohwer’s behavior dictated the decision.\nThe GPSO serves as a voice for graduate students in University administrative matters and offers networking and other services for these students. The moderator acts as the principal executive of the organization. \nOn Monday, the executive committee met with Rohwer and pleaded that he give up his seat. Rohwer maintained that was simply not an option and declined their request – much to the chagrin of the committee members, who said they had hoped to keep the potentially damaging situation under wraps.\n“I won’t go out without a fight,” Rohwer said. \nRohwer was cited in three instances by members of the executive committee – all allegedly occurring in September – for violating multiple sections of the organization’s constitution. Specifically, executive committee members allege he became verbally abusive and demeaning toward GPSO Liaison John Scott during a Sept. 6 executive committee meeting. Additionally, he has been charged with mismanagement of the organization’s finances along with spouting “increasingly abusive and aggressive comments,” according to a copy of the executive committee’s resolution. \nHis fate will be determined by all present assembly members in a secret ballot during the meeting. A two-thirds majority is required to impeach the current moderator, according to the GPSO’s constitution. \nRohwer traveled to New York in mid-September and addressed representatives for the organization in a letter. In it, he wrote that “student government gets no respect and truth be told we are rarely a student government because the idea that we, everyone involved in the meeting today, can dictate any change is incredibly naive.”\nFurther in the letter, he wrote there remained very few people within the organization he continued to trust. The message was a declaration of sorts, where Rohwer projected a philosophy to his fellow assembly members.\n“I want to be a (sic) independent and original thinker,” he wrote. “I deeply respect people who have Integrity, Intelligence, and Energy.”\nFor many of this year’s representatives, deciding whether to impeach their recently re-elected leader will be one of the first issues facing them. Because most of the new representatives have not yet met Rohwer, he said having the entire executive committee working against him will pose a challenge in defending his position. \n“I’ve got nothing to lose,” Rohwer said, describing himself as someone who took a risk for what he believed in, but invariably had that risk backfire.\nMuch of the tension between Rohwer and the rest of the GPSO stems from a sour relationship between the moderator and Scott. Rohwer said he disliked Scott both on professional and personal levels and had attempted to force Scott’s resignation earlier this semester during the Sept. 6 executive committee meeting.\nMembers of the committee have since condemned Rohwer’s actions, describing them as persistent and unprofessional, according to the written statement.\nEven as the current moderator questioned the validity of student governments in his recent letter to the GPSO, Engle said the circumstances would not cause the organization embarrassment, though it was not ideal.\nIf Rohwer is impeached Friday he must immediately relinquish his position and will lose his seat on several University committees including the Bloomington Faculty Council, Engle said. Regardless, Engle said the situation would not affect any of Rohwer’s financial assistance from the University.
(09/27/07 8:56pm)
Moderator of the Graduate and Professional Student Organization Paul Rohwer will face impeachment hearings Friday, where representatives of his organization will decide whether the leader's actions over the past month have constituted an abuse of power. \nThe GPSO's five-person executive committee, not including Rohwer, passed a resolution seeking to impeach the multi-term leader after he refused to resign from his post in a meeting earlier this week. GSPO representatives will hold impeachment hearings Friday at 3:30 in IMU M088. \nRohwer was cited in three instances by members of the executive committee – all allegedly taking place in September – to have violated multiple sections of the GPSO Constitution. Specifically, executive committee members allege he became verbally abusive and demeaning toward GPSO Liason John Scott during a Sept. 6 executive committee meeting. Additionally, he has been charged with mismanagement of the organization's finances along with spouting "increasingly abusive and aggressive comments," according to a copy of the executive committee's resolution.
(09/27/07 4:00am)
1. Iron and Wine -- The Shepherd's Dog\n2. Minus the Bear -- Planet Of Ice\n3. John Vanderslice -- Emerald City\n4. New Pornographers -- Challengers\n5. Rilo Kiley -- Under The Blacklight
(09/13/07 4:23am)
The IU College Democrats kicked off their year in style Wednesday evening, as about 80 students flocked to question Rep. Baron Hill, D-9th, and to learn more about the group planning to jump start itself in the lead up to the 2008 elections. \nHill spent more than a half-hour taking questions from students, largely echoing the words of his fellow democrats in Washington on issues such as the ongoing war in Iraq, health care and energy independence. \nStill, his tone was not nearly as optimistic as during the highly contested political season last November. Hill defeated then-incumbent Mike Sodrell to win the 9th District seat in one of the country’s most-watched races. Acknowledging the tightness of that race, Hill said his victory was in large part a result of grassroots efforts by groups such as the IU College Democrats. \n“My race became a symbol for everything the American people wanted to have happen,” Hill said, reflecting on the weeks before the Congressional elections. Democrats uplifted themselves as champions for change. The party won races across the country, taking control of both the Senate and House of Representatives.\nThe politician’s tone in responding to questions was oddly familiar. Rather than cheering the successes of his fellow Congressional democrats, he again promoted the potential change that the next round of elections could bring. On several issues, he said no progress can be made until President Bush leaves office in January 2009. For example, he was pessimistic that any real change could be seen in Iraq until after elections next year. \n“(Bush) can’t come to terms that he has been a failure in Iraq,” Hill said. “And he has been.” \nHill acknowledged the political stalemate over the war was caused by democrats current inability to override a Presidential veto and said he saw no real hope for significantly decreasing troop levels until a democratic president takes office.\nPotential IU College Democrat members did not seem overly concerned, however, with Hill acknowledging a lack of Congressional progress on hot-button issues since the elections almost a year ago. Recent IU graduate Neville Batiwalla said he was impressed when Hill did not seem to dodge particularly tough questions. Batiwalla, a native of India, said Hill’s remarks Wednesday were much what he expected. \nThe College Democrats will begin the year focusing on generating support for Mayor Mark Kruzan as he battles to retain his post. Following the elections, the organization will turn its focus to the already anticipated presidential elections, said sophomore Andrew Hahn, the group’s vice president for politics.
(09/13/07 4:00am)
Listening to the new Kanye record is like cruising around shotgun with Yeezy in Doc's time-traveling DeLorean. Just sit back and let Ye' play the dual role of driver and tour guide as you journey through his reality: Past, present and future.\n"Good Morning" kicks off the 13-track album with some of Graduation's most simplistic production and lyrically sets the tone for the rest of the album with Kanye's assertion: "I'm like the fly Malcom X/ Buy any jeans necessary."\nThe first single "Stronger" cleverly samples Daft Punk to make the track feel like it was produced in 2001 and 2051 simultaneously. Kanye's lyrics are admittedly empty ("You know how long I've been on ya?/ Since Prince was on Apollonia"), but who cares? It's infectious, fun, something new and is the highlight of the album. \nThe second single, "Can't Tell me Nothing," is only slightly less ambitious, but is West's best vocal performance on the album. The lyrics "I feel the pressure/ Under more scrutiny/ And what do I do?/ Act more stupidly" are delivered genuinely by West and is a break in the album's self-indulgent lyrics and braggadocio.\nWest uses his DeLorean to go back in time with "Everything I Am" and "Champion" (the songs sounds similar to previous Kanye hits "Family Business" and "Touch the Sky," respectively). Kanye pioneered the sped up sample formula of "Touch the Sky," and it still sounds better than any rap/R&B on the radio. \nGraduation is not without its flaws, though. "Drunk and Hot Girls" is easily the worst song in the Kanye West catalogue and squanders a great Mos Def appearance. With lyrics like "Stop running up my tab because these drinks is not free/ You drunk and hot girl," the usually socially conscious West takes a stab at misogyny and, thankfully, misses. It's not a complete tragedy, though. Just make good use of your iPod's skip button.\nStill, West's third album has everything a mainstream rap record should have: Great and inspired production, engaging lyrics and worthwhile guest appearances (see the genre-bending Chris Martin collaboration "Homecoming"). Some say Kanye's braggadocio is too over the top here, but honestly, is that not why we love Kanye? Would these same people tell MC Lyte to be more "ladylike" or tell LL Cool J to put his shirt on? Egocentricity is a hip-hop staple, and Kanye West is working hard to keep it that way.\nGrade: B+
(09/06/07 4:00am)
Recording an album can be a long and nasty process. Maybe that's why blues guitar expert Ben Harper tried a new approach on his ninth album, Lifeline. Harper and his band, the Innocent Criminals, recorded the album in only seven days in Paris. They took basically one take for each song, recording onto analog tape with only a few overdubs and no computers or aid. This in part showcases the great musicianship of the Innocent Criminals. It also showcases the spirit of the band's live performance, since the album was basically recorded live. What results is a very classic rock experience, since this is a recording process used much more in the past. Like usual, the album shows the many sides of Harper, but strays away from his heavier and more bluesy material, which makes it slightly more narrow in scope. Lifeline is one of Harper's more focused records, but also one of his most mundane. \nLifeline is more on the bright side, containing some great grooves, resulting in a very feel-good record. Harper has always been someone who wears his influences on his sleeve, and this comes out perhaps the most on the opening track, "Fight Outta You," in which Harper's band sounds more like the Heartbreakers than the Innocent Criminals. Other tracks, such as "Put It On Me," ring of early Van Morrison. The album's ballads are a point of weakness, as songs like "Having Wings" and "Younger Than Today" are nowhere close to the quality ballads he has produced in the past. \nHarper sounds best in his soul guise, on songs such as "Say You Will" and "Put It On Me," which both include female vocals that greatly compliment Harper's soulful voice. The album closes up with Harper's token instrumental blues guitar track, "Paris Sunrise #7," which runs a little long, but eventually leads quite nicely into the gentle strum of the title track, "Lifeline." \nLyrically, Lifeline tends to be very safe, not pushing much into the political or spiritual boundaries he usually enters. Ultimately, it proves as a weaker album than his previous, Both Sides Of The Gun. You can tell these songs were written and recorded quickly while on the road, and many of the songs sound like B-sides off of 2003's Diamonds On The Inside. Ultimately, the basic lyrics and lack of memorable melodies take away from any longevity this album may have offered. After a few rather pleasant listens, Lifeline begins to lose its life support.
(09/06/07 4:00am)
Discovering the truth about marijuana simply isn't simple.\nMarijuana's use and possession is against the law. Usually. In most places. And smoking it is unhealthy, unethical, unchristian and uncouth. Depending on whom you ask. Sometimes.\nFor much of last week, I caroused the portals of the information age -- imploring the Internet God's direction. It was a definitive answer I sought -- logical reasoning for an issue that simply isn't simple.\nFrom flaming liberals in San Francisco to neo-conservatives in the Oval Office, everyone seems to have an opinion. Each of them remains steadfastly dedicated, unwilling to budge an inch, incessantly terrified of lost footing on a pendulum of power that continues to teeter in courthouses and legislatures nationwide. \nPot's legalization is an international issue, really. Yet, most mainstream American politicians avoid this debate like the Avian Flu. Both God-fearing republicans and left-leaning democrats worry their morality will be brought into question.\nEven presidential hopeful Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, seems to go mum on the issue. Kucinich, who has already been condemned as too liberal for "The West Wing," ignores the issue on his Web site. The super progressive, who realistically has as much chance of winning the presidency as an illegal immigrant becoming governor of Texas, parallels his fellow democratic and republican contenders' silence about pot.