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(02/20/02 5:37am)
The past year has seen both successes and failures for the IU Student Association, but the executive staff said it feels that their tenure was a productive one. The Supernova administration has seen successes, achieving most of the goals laid out in their platform.\nSenior Jake Oakman, IUSA president, feels that his term was a triumph.\n"I believe our administration was a success," Oakman said. "We were able to restore some credibility to IUSA in the eyes of some students and the IU administration. Once we leave office, I think I can speak for my fellow executives when I say we have no regrets."\nAccomplishments of this year\'s administration include a campaigning successfully to reduce dining hall prices, bringing Bank One ATMs back to campus and donating more than $5,000 to Sept. 11 relief funds.\nIUSA also increased student voice on campus with the creation of an IUSA news show on WIUS and the Illuminator, a free advertising forum for student organizations. IUSA also brought the administration to the students through town hall meetings. Oakman said the increased use of these services helped ensure that students are heard. \n"We helped student groups increase their awareness by creating the Illuminator," he said. "We also brought the administration to the students by creating the IUSA Lecture Series, including a first-time town hall forum with IU president Myles Brand. We also created the student rights system."\nGraduate student Emily Kolles, student body treasurer, said she is especially pleased with the Illuminator.\n"The Illuminator is a great way for student groups to advertise their events in the Indiana Daily Student for no cost," she said. "Also, the Illuminator will be online in a few weeks, so there will be an online rolling database of campus events that can be accessed by all students."\nWith the end of their term approaching, the Supernova administration stresses that IUSA is an organization that all students can use to their advantage.\nOakman said he believes student input is the most influential ingredient in a successful student government.\n"Student government will have even more credibility if we can show the community that students are united behind an issue," he said. "Many students remain apathetic about the issues, and that needs to change"
(02/19/02 7:01am)
An idea conceived over two years ago is finally coming to reality for the Graduate and Professional Student Organization. A constitution, which is submitted for ratification by departments, will remove GPSO from the umbrella coverage of the IU Student Organization. \nThe split would grant graduate and professional students independence from IUSA. Currently the GPSO is merely an advocacy group for graduate students because IUSA claims to represent them, and all students.\nGraduate student Heidi Tebbe, the astronomy representative to GPSO, said this split has been in the works for a long time.\n"The idea for this split started before I joined, back in January of 2000," she said. "The decision to split was researched by the GPSO, and we found support from grad students from every department."\nRachel Anderson, the moderator of GPSO, has high hopes for the proposed constitution. She said that the split is a move for the better.\n"GPSO is already the de facto student government for students in graduate and professional programs," she said. "By separating we will be able to more clearly address issues that affect only graduate students."\nAnderson noted that the GPSO functions quite differently from the IUSA because it is based on the parliamentary model of governance, while IUSA is based on the federal. GPSO does not run on tickets, instead having each representative selected from within his department.\nTebbe said the GPSO will address issues that only affect graduate students, like associate instructor pay, general grievances in the department, and health care coverage.\nHowever, the GPSO has much to do before becoming an independent organization.\n"First the various departments have to ratify the constitution," Anderson said. "Then we will lobby administration to recognize us as the official representation for graduate students on campus."\nThe new constitution coincides with proposed constitutional changes for the IUSA. Elizabeth Rytting, secretary of the GSPO, said the proposed new IUSA constitution is leaving flexibility in case the graduate organization becomes independent. \n"The proposed constitution is leaving some flexibility," she said. "By not apportioning the seats it allows IUSA to reapportion graduate student seats without writing amendments to their constitution."\nShe added that two of the tickets support the split, but the current IUSA administration does not.\n"Based on comments that Jake Oakman (IUSA president) made during his candidacy, he does not support the split between IUSA and the GPSO," Rytting said. "But we have talked to representatives from the Synergy and Kirkwood tickets, and they both support our decision. Steel has not responded as of yet."\nOakman said he continues to disagree with a separate student government for graduate and professional students.\n"Having a separate government merely dilutes the student voice even more," he said. "We have 10 to 12 graduate seats in IUSA that they never fill. Graduate students should become active in the existing government before trying to create a new one."\nOne sticking point of the proposed constitution is who, exactly, should be included in the GPSO. Craig Ortsey, the chair of the Graduate Government Committee, said GPSO defines a department as a compartment of the University that has a graduate or professional degree-granting program.\nCurrently there are more than 60 departments participating in GPSO, but that number could balloon to over ninety, if more departments begin participating. \nAnderson said the new organization will better serve graduate students, but will still work closely with IUSA on key issues. Members hope to ratify the constitution by the end of the semester, pending administrative approval.
(02/18/02 4:56am)
With IU Student Association elections quickly approaching, students are beginning to think about what they want IUSA to do for them. From parking to alcohol, housing to dining, students see much room for improvement at IU.\nHousing is a major concern of students. Graduate student Theodore Hu, resident of Eigenmann Quad, said the policies of the Residential Housing Association need to be addressed, with more student input considered.\n"It is ridiculous how much we are being charged for room and board," he said. "I am charged an arm and a leg for a room that is very small, and I don't think that's fair."\nDining facilities and the food are also major concerns that students want to see addressed by IUSA. Freshman Adam Steer said the quality of food offered is a contributing factor for many students deciding whether or not to live on campus after their freshman year.\n"The quality of the food offered is atrocious," he said. "If IUSA were to impress upon RHA that the students will not accept the sub-standard fare that we are offered any longer, then more would choose to live on campus. I know that I can't eat this food for one more year, let alone three."\nFreshman Kim Curtis is also concerned with dining. She said she wants to see more options offered to students.\n"I would really like to see the Teter cafeteria opened again," she said. "I wish there were more dining options available on campus."\nAs many students with parking tickets can claim, the parking system at IU is a confusing system of zones, exemptions and tickets. Sophomore Jamie Petersen said she wants IUSA to approach the University with a more reasonable parking system.\n"I believe that IU should try to focus on people without permits illegally parking, rather than students with permits parking in the wrong zone," she said. "I got a ticket because I ran into a building for less than a minute to drop off an assignment. I also got a ticket for spending the night at my sorority because the lot behind the house is a C zone starting at 7 a.m. I paid my parking fees, so don't charge me any more for something that I don't feel is wrong."\nPetersen also has problems with how much the tickets cost students. This year IU is expected to make $1.9 million in parking tickets.\n"Thirty dollars for a parking ticket is a little ridiculous," she said. "Most city parking tickets are $10 to $15, and they're a lot easier to appeal. We're broke college students, and they are charging us a ton! I would love to see parking ticket costs lowered."\nThe IUPD blotter clearly shows that alcohol is a major issue to students. Freshman Kirk Mravinac said he would like to see the University adopt a reasonable alcohol policy.\n"I would like IU to be a semi-wet campus," he said. "If you're over 21 then you should be able to drink. Also, if you bring somebody to the hospital for drinking, you shouldn't get in trouble for being a responsible person."\nMany students in the greek system would like IUSA to encourage the administration to give the system more independence. Junior Maggie Brozio, member of Alpha Gamma Delta, views independence as a constructive way to improve the system from within.\n"I believe that the greek system should be self-governed to a greater degree," she said. "IUSA should emphasize to administration that we are adults and capable of governing ourselves."\nBrozio believes that increased independence is not an invitation to violate University policies. \n"I don't believe that this would be a free-for-all," she said. "It would be a constructive way for the greek system to improve itself at IU."\nStudents have a clear idea of where they want IUSA to lead the student body. The task is left to the Kirkwood, Steel and Synergy and tickets to address the student needs.\nStudents can vote Feb. 26 at www.indiana.edu/~iusa.
(02/13/02 5:37am)
Students at IU-Bloomington report the University has provided them with an ideal environment to grow academically and socially, according to a poll administered by the National Survey of Student Engagement. IUB excels at providing quality relationships for students with other students and faculty while providing a supportive campus environment, a University statement said.\nAccording to the survey, IU ranks higher than the national average in several categories. The NSSE polled over 155,000 first- and fourth-year students at over 470 four-year colleges and universities. More than 1,000 IUB students were included in the 16,000 students polled who attend major research universities.\nStudent responses ranked IU higher than average in all five categories of comparison, including level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, student interaction with faculty, enriching educational experiences and supportive campus environment. \nIU ranked highest in the supportive campus category, which includes quality of relationships with students and staff and providing an environment in which students can flourish. The programs IU offers considered in this category are the Freshmen Interest Groups and IUBeginnings trips. \nFIGs are groups of freshmen who live together and take two or three courses in an interest area such as sports marketing, business law or filmmaking; FIGs are designed to make the academic transition easier. The IUBeginnings trips are offered the week or weeks before Welcome Week and provide outdoor experience and bonding with new students. \nFreshman Kate Brunett said she believes going on such a trip made her transition to college much easier.\n"When I came to IU I didn't know anybody here," she said. "Through IUBeginnings I met my first friends here. I didn't have to be nervous about fitting in or meeting people because I did that on my trip. In fact, some of the people I met on my trip are now my best friends."\nFreshman Melissa Skolnick agreed that the trip helps freshmen create bonds before arriving on campus.\n"I wanted to meet some of the incoming freshmen before classes started," Skolnick said. "I was nervous about going to a huge university, and I thought the trip seemed like a great way to meet friends. The 10 of us who went on the trip bonded quickly. We were all in the wilderness tackling something new, and it was a great experience."\nSkolnick still keeps in touch with her fellow campers, and they continue to have mini-reunions frequently. She said she would definitely recommend the trip to an incoming freshman.\n"Any freshman who is apprehensive about meeting new people at a new school should really consider going on an IUBeginnings trip," Skolnick said. "It is an adventure and you get to meet a bunch of great new friends before any of the other new freshmen meet anybody. It's an advantage!"\nIU students also report that the University encourages diversity and understanding of different backgrounds and cultures.\n"IU definitely has programs to enable you to reach out," freshman Adam Betz said. "However, it is up to the student to actually participate and mingle."\nAnother category in which IU excelled in the poll was in enriching learning experiences. Compared to other major research universities, students at IU write more class papers. Seniors write an average amount of long and medium length papers but a considerable amount more of short (less than five pages) papers for class. This difference is even more marked with freshmen, with 61 percent of freshmen at IU writing 11 or more short papers for class, compared to only 35 percent at other institutions.\nFreshman Adam Steer recalls writing a good deal for W131, an intensive writing class many freshmen are required to take.\n"I wrote more papers than I cared to first semester," he said. "However, I feel that it made me a better writer. I am able to express myself much better through my writing now."\nPart of the enriched learning environment can be attributed to the level of technology on campus. Freshman Jason Wallace uses the resources available to communicate with his professors and fellow students.\nChancellor Sharon Brehm said she is pleased with the high marks that IU received on the NSSE poll.\n"We should be justly proud of the quality of learning experiences our students report," Brehm said. "NSSE is a valuable tool that can help us continue to enhance the learning and personal development opportunities that the Bloomington campus offers its undergraduates"
(02/12/02 6:20am)
Students going from table to table in the cafeteria of the Indiana Memorial Union on Monday afternoon exhorted fellow students to take a stand for workers' rights. Before they were finished spreading the message, the IMU director and representatives from the Student Activities Office asked them to leave. \nWhen Union officials halted the protest, which began about 11:30 a.m., members of NoSweat! continued to talk to students and explain their cause. \nWinston Shindell, director of the Indiana Memorial Union, said he had no problem with the cause the students are supporting, but they need to do it properly.\n"Our solicitation policy says that all solicitation should occur behind the desk in the commons area," he said. "This group has every right to reserve space there. The Union is public space and the students have a right to be left alone."\nDespite NoSweat! volunteer protests, the group was prematurely asked to leave the commons, but they did leave of their own free will. \n"We were not picketing the bookstore or IU," junior Megan Hise said. "We were just talking to students to raise awareness about the issues and to drum up student support for further disciplinary action by the University against New Era. NoSweat! believes that talking to students in the Union, while not disrupting classes or traffic, is a legitimate activity."\nNoSweat!, a student organization that fights for fair labor practices, ran the protest on the Mezzanine level of the Union, with about 10 volunteers distributing leaflets, sharing information and having students sign petitions and letters.\nThe members of NoSweat! were wearing home made shirts decrying the labor practices of New Era, a licensed supplier of IU apparel. Senior Hillary Anderson said that the organization was protesting IU carrying goods produced by New Era.\n"New Era has a factory in Derby, New York that is run with sweatshop-like conditions," she said. "The pay is low, there are lots of accidents, and it is an undesirable place to be employed. Many of the workers from that factory have been on strike for over seven months, and we are trying to call this situation to the attention of the University."\nSenior Jacob Hannan said all NoSweat! is asking for is that IU follow through on its promises. \n"IU has monitoring agencies that ensure that the suppliers practice fair labor processes," he said. "New Era refuses to engage the committee and allow them to inspect the labor conditions. We want the University to suspend doing any further business with the company until it complies with labor standards. All we ask is that IU make good on its promises to be ethical."\nNew Era officials could not be reached for comment.\nNoSweat! approached students eating lunch at the food court in the Union, asking them to sign letters to President Brand urging him to not renew the contract IU has with New Era. The group also had a petition that urged the Workers' Rights Committee to not support New Era for another contract.\nWith an armful of letters, sophomore Douglas Briney said that the way New Era treats the union on strike is deplorable.\n"The CWA local 14177 has been on strike, but New Era refuses to deal with them in good faith," he said. "Instead of bargaining with the workers here they are moving production to Bangladesh, where the working conditions are poor and wages low, raising New Era's profits."\nAbout 60 students signed letters to President Brand and the petition, showing that students do support the cause.\n"I was unaware that this was such a problem," sophomore Nick Zawodny said. "This opened up my eyes, and I highly advocate this cause"
(02/07/02 5:05am)
Mayor John Fernandez has brought change to Bloomington during his eight year tenure as mayor. He helped create more than 2,300 jobs, increased the police on the street, lowered taxes, increased resources for childhood care assistance and encouraged the expansion of Hoosier Healthwise -- Indiana's health insurance program for children.\nAccording to a press release, he plans to do more.\nHe is now looking to bring his unique brand of leadership to the state house, running as the Democratic candidate for secretary of state, the highest post up for election in 2002.\nThe secretary of state post is currently held by Republican Sue Anne Gilroy, who will vacate her post after her second term. Indiana law prohibits a person from serving as secretary of state for more than eight years in a 12-year period.\nAngela Belden, Fernandez's campaign manager, has been working with Fernandez since the early stages of his campaign. \n"I managed Peggy Welch's campaign when I was introduced to the mayor," she said. "He has done great things for Bloomington, and that will translate well on the state level."\nFernandez is now focusing on gaining statewide recognition.\n"Secretary of state requires a statewide campaign, and we are getting support everywhere," Belden said. "But John can use his success as mayor to bring innovation to the post. He is focused on economic growth and development, and that is what Indiana needs."\nFernandez, a graduate from the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs and School of Law, has been involved with Bloomington government for years, serving on the city council for five years and as its president in 1991. He has served as mayor since 1995.\nIf Fernandez is elected to the state post, a county caucus will select a replacement mayor to serve for the remainder of his term.\nFernandez is focusing on several issues for the campaign, including regional business problems and restructuring the way elections are conducted. He asserts that business problems specific to regions can be combatted constructively. \n"I have seen first hand how the troubled steel industry has affected communities," Fernandez said. "When Continental Steel closed its doors, my own father lost his job, and when Thompson Consumer Electronics closed in Bloomington, over 1,400 jobs were lost.\n"To combat the joblessness, Bloomington sponsored targeted retraining programs and attracted over $150 million in new investments. Those efforts created 2,300 new jobs for Bloomington."\nFernandez has no Democratic opponent for the Secretary of State post. Currently five Republicans are running, and only one will receive the nomination from the state convention. \n"I am encouraged by the support of Democrats and Hoosiers statewide," he said. "Not having a Democratic opponent has allowed me to focus on building my campaign for the November elections."\nGarnering support from the entire state is a key goal for Fernandez's campaign. \n"I have received support from young people across the state," he said. "The College Democrats have been providing the grassroots support that is necessary in a statewide campaign."\nTo spread his message across the state, Fernandez plans to travel the state discussing matters important to Hoosiers statewide.\n"I want to talk and share ideas with the people," he said. "I also want to share my plans for keeping elections fair and clean in Indiana"
(02/04/02 7:29am)
State lawmakers expressed concern over the possible passage of a bill that will evaluate the feasibility and need to establish IUPUI as an independent state university.\nAfter a second try last week, state Sen. Lawrence Borst, D-Greenwood, saw his Senate Bill 51 passed by the Senate Rules and Legislature Procedure Committee.\nThe bill, if passed by the senate, will create a commission composed of IUPUI alumni, IUPUI students and Marion County residents. They will investigate the delivery of education at IUPUI, the feasibility of establishing an independent, state-run university at IUPUI and the potential benefits IU and Purdue can reap from severing association with the Indianapolis campus.\nIf Senate Bill 51 is passed, the University of Central Indiana will be established in place of the satellite campus of IU and Purdue. The new university will be set up as a third major research university based in Indiana. \nAll of Purdue's programs based in Indianapolis will become part of UCI. IU will have most programs go to the new university, except the School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, School of Nursing and School of Law-Indianapolis. These programs would remain associated with IU.\nAccording to a Jan. 17 article in the Indianapolis Star, "Borst thinks IUPUI could better serve the community as a separate institution not affiliated with either Indiana or Purdue universities."\nMany in the state government see this bill as an unnecessary step. Mary Dieter, spokeswoman for Governor O'Bannon, said this bill would create problems for the state university system.\n"It's important to remember that this bill only creates a study commission," she said. "However, Indiana University and Purdue University have served the state well at all of the campuses statewide. If IUPUI becomes an independent university, it would lose many of the efficiencies that exist due to the cooperation of IU and Purdue. There is no need to create a third major research university in this state."\nState House Representative Peggy Welch, D-Bloomington said she is opposed to the bill for numerous reasons. \n"I am a huge supporter of Indiana University, and I don't want to see the school taken apart," she said.\nWelch adds that the proposed university would suffer major drawbacks if created.\n"IUPUI is its own school with a reputation now," she said. "If the name is changed all of the prestige associated with the school is lost. I have talked to professors who don't want to lose their association with IU or Purdue. They work for world-class institutions, and they don't want that to change."\nState Representative Mark Kruzan, D-Bloomington, also feels that the new university would harm IU and Purdue.\n"Changing the name would have a huge, negative impact on enrollment," he said. "Without the name many students may choose to attend other campuses of IU or Purdue, or attend other universities with more easily recognized names."\nThe continuing budget crisis at the state level makes creating the new university a financial impossibility, Kruzan said.\n"The new university would create a huge drain on the state budget," he said. "Since IUPUI is a mainly commuter campus, dormitories would have to be built, new programs would have to be funded, and all of this with less tuition coming in. UCI would just drain monies earmarked for IU or Purdue."\nKruzan emphasized how unlikely the passage of Senate Bill 51 is.\n"Senate Bill 51 has been proposed every year for 25 years," he said. "If it makes it to the House, it will fail. And it always fails for the same reason; it is a mistake"
(02/01/02 4:25am)
During the past five years the powers of Congress have been severely limited by the Supreme Court. It has struck down laws that create criminal penalties for having guns near schools, civil remedies for victims of sexual assaults, and protections from age and disability discrimination. The Supreme Court struck down these laws in the name of federalism, constitutional limits on Congressional powers and judicial supremacy.\nCongressional Power in the Shadow of the Rehnquist Court: Strategies for the Future, a symposium hosted by the IU School of Law will probe the issues presented by this string of unprecedented judicial action.\nThe symposium will host an array of scholars, practicing lawyers and former government workers. Some of the distinguished speakers include IU Law School Dean Alfred Aman, Solicitor General of New York Preeta Bensal, co-president of the Women\'s National Law Center Marsha Greenberger, professor of law from Yale Law Riva Sigel.\nLaw professors at IU are anxiously awaiting the symposium.\n"There is an impressive list of speakers," Professor of Law John Applegate said. "It really is an all-star lineup."\nThere will be several moderated debates concerning the implications of the Court's actions and how they will affect Congressional and presidential powers, as well as what the actions mean concerning other issues like environmental issues and civil rights.\nThe recent string of decisions created the need for a forum to discuss them, Professor of Law Charles Geyh said. Geyh organized the event with Associate Professor of Law Dawn Johnsen.\n"In the past five years the Supreme Court has issued a series of opinions significantly restricting Congressional powers," Geyh said. "This is arguably the most significant development in the constitutional law arena in the last quarter century."\nJohnsen agrees with the reasoning behind the symposium.\n"The Rehnquist court has narrowed the scope of Congress's powers in ways that interfere with Congress's ability to deal with important issues facing our nation, including the protection of civil rights and the environment," she said. "The Court's extraordinary string of cases striking down acts of Congress deserves greater public attention."\nThe symposium will be held in the law school Moot Court room 1 p.m. -- 6 p.m. Friday from 8:30 a.m. -- 11:45 a.m. Saturday. Friday's forums concern the implications that the Court's recent decisions will have on Congress and the presidency. There will be a reception following the discussions. Saturday focuses on important issues like the environment, civil rights, and federalism in the states.\nAll are welcome and encouraged to attend. There is no admission fee.
(01/25/02 5:34am)
Coat hangers dangling from trees, bushes, fences and trash cans told the story of a dark time for women's reproductive health and a plea to protect the reproductive rights of women everywhere.\nThe Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance hung coat hangers around campus Wednesday night to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion in all 50 states. \nThe anniversary was Tuesday, but the group celebrated the decision all week by informing the public on basic issues concerning the pro-choice movement. The hangers were placed all around campus, but the group focused on the areas around Woodburn and Ballantine halls. \nThe FMLA is a group that has only been on campus for three semesters but has been vociferously active. The chapter takes official stances on abortion, women's rights and other issues such as the environment. Earlier this year, the FMLA set up a table behind the Genocide Awareness Project's display on abortion at the Sample Gates to pass out fliers and console people upset by the graphic images.\nSophomore Amanda Stevens, vice president of FMLA, said it is essential to get the group's message to young women everywhere.\n"People our age don't realize how important the Roe v. Wade decision really is," she said. "Abortion has been legal for our entire lives, but we are precariously close to losing the basic rights over our own bodies. Women in college need to realize that this is a big problem."\nStevens expressed concern over the stance President George W. Bush has taken on abortion.\n"We have a president who is vocally anti-choice," Stevens said. "We need to fight back and let the government know that we will not let them control our bodies. This is about basic civil rights."\nStevens added that the arguments concerning abortion should not be considered moral since abortion is a human rights issue.\nSenior Emily Roth, president of FMLA, said the group hung the hangers to raise awareness of the important issues surrounding abortion and reproductive rights. \n"We used coat hangers to show what it was like before the Roe v. Wade decision," she said. "Women used to use coat hangers, knitting needles or other painful, unsanitary instruments to terminate pregnancies."\nBut junior Cherry Blattert, secretary of IU Students For Life, countered FMLA's comments.\n"Saying women were forced to use horrible instruments to kill their baby is not an accurate portrayal of circumstances," Blattert said. "There are other options."\nWomen who have the baby -- whether they keep it or put it up for adoption -- are very admirable, Blattert said.\n"(FMLA) have a right to express their opinion," Blattert said. "But I wish people would stop and consider the civil rights of everybody."\nThe hangers had fliers attached that contained different sayings and information, ranging from what happens to unwanted children to the number of women who died every year from botched illegal abortions before Roe v. Wade. \nSenior Matt Riley, who participated in the campaign, said the importance of this project cannot be emphasized enough.\nRiley, along with some members of FMLA, is also participating in the Million4Roe campaign circulating a petition to prevent the appointment of pro-life justices to the Supreme Court. The campaign will present the petition to various senators requesting a filibuster to prevent the confirmation of the pro-life judges. \nMillion4Roe will also present President Bush with 5,000 coat hangers to represent the 5,000 women who will die from botched illegal abortions in one year if abortion is outlawed.\n"I helped out with this campaign because I believe in basic civil rights," Riley said. "Abortion is a basic right that women should have over their body. I think it's important that we get the message out; these hangers remind everybody about an important issue, and the petition will help protect those rights women have fought so hard for"
(01/22/02 3:55am)
Walking through the shopping districts of Bloomington, bookstores are easy to find. Specialty shops, large chains and smaller local businesses all are purveyors of books. Bloomington's newest addition to the bookstore market looks to fill a very specific niche.\nBoxcar Books, 310A S. Washington St., seeks to fill a specialized role in Bloomington. When opened, it will be a nonprofit bookstore selling new and used books covering many topics, but focusing on social and welfare issues. Boxcar Books will also be participating in the Pages for Prisoners Project, a service program that sends books to prisoners free of charge.\nAli Haimson, general coordinator, said the program receives about 100 requests a week from prisoners for books on a wide variety of topics.\n"Mostly prisoners are requesting educational materials," Haimson said. "They are just trying to get themselves an education for when they are released."\nOther popular materials include fiction, how-to books and literature.\nBoxcar Books also provides a large variety of magazines, comics, graphic novels and newspapers. The store offers a meeting area for its clientele, with meeting times for Pages for Prisoners, graphic novel discussion groups and other literary groups. Other student or local organizations are welcome to use the area.\nBoxcar Books will be set up differently than other bookstores because of its nonprofit status. Matt Trisini, also a general coordinator, outlined those details.\n"Nobody is being paid to work here," he said. "We run on volunteer work and may only begin to pay people to work after we have been open a few years. We also don't have an owner, but rather a board of directors."\nHaimson also said Boxcar will be able to apply for grants to help support the enterprise.\nBoxcar Books is preparing for the grand opening 6-10 p.m. Feb. 1. Refreshments will be offered and discussions held, with all welcome. Haimson expects a large turnout.\nFreshman Julia Blanford said she thinks the bookstore is a good idea but is not sure if she will frequent the store or not.\n"I just wonder if they're going to have a good selection or not," she said. "I wouldn't mind going if I can find what I am looking for. It's always great to help out a good cause."\nBruce Jaffee, associate dean for academics of the Kelley School of Business, said Boxcar will need to find its niche in order to survive.\n"Bloomington has a very large market for books, but a very competitive one," he said. "The University and general education level of Bloomington mean that many are looking for books, but in recent years it has been marked by more failures than entrants."\nHe also added that the store's nonprofit status will not make staying open any easier.\n"The small local stores need to find a niche in order to survive," Jaffee said. "Stores can focus on product, service, location or specialty materials."\nDespite the daunting task ahead of them, Trisini and Haimson said they have high hopes for Boxcar Books.
(01/18/02 5:38am)
While many IU students will be enjoying an extra day off this weekend, a group of volunteers will spread the message of diversity while building a home with Habitat for Humanity's Diversity Build Saturday. Religious leaders representing the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist faiths, as well as international student groups, will be present at the build's opening ceremony. Chancellor Sharon Brehm, Associate Vice Chancellor for Multicultural Affairs Gloria Gibson and Director of the Monroe County Habitat chapter Kerry Thomson will speak.\n"We feel there is no better way to heal our local community than to bring people of all different faiths, traditions, and national origin together to focus on positive community that can be built through very simple acts," Thomson said. "We feel that it is especially appropriate for this event to occur at the time that our nation honors the memory of Dr. King."\nParticipating groups echoed Thomson's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of celebrating diversity.\n"I am particularly impressed by Dr. King's commitment to an inclusive world perspective," Brehm said. "Such a transcendent perspective can create cooperative interactions in which the benefits for individuals and communities are so much greater than a simple addition of the specific contributions being made."\n Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit Christian housing ministry, builds homes for low income households in the United States and abroad. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International has built over 100,000 homes and provided more than 500,000 people with safe, affordable shelter, according to www.habitat.org.\n Homes built by Habitat cost on average $46,600, to be paid by a no-interest mortgage. The homes are simple, and are constructed with locally available building materials. They are also built with volunteer labor, keeping costs down. Builds occur year-round, and housing is erected quickly and efficiently.\nBloomington Mayor John Fernandez agreed the work done makes the Bloomington community a better place.\n"The houses being built by Habitat for Humanity volunteers provide individuals and families with the opportunity to realize the dream of owning a home and the chance to become part of a neighborhood," Fernandez said. "Community service and volunteerism represent an essential part of Bloomington's character. Because of the service of Habitat for Humanity volunteers, Bloomington is a much better place for all of us."\nThe site of this weekend's build is 2415 S. Bryan St., near Broadview Elementary School. Volunteers will work from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday building a home for the Pete Morosa family. Pete, a single father who works as a custodian at the Monroe County Public Library, will aid in the construction of his new home.\nVolunteering organizations include Beth Shalom Temple, Cherry Hill Christian Center Church, Evangelical Community Church, First United Methodist Church, IU International Students, Quakers Society of Friends, St. Paul Catholic Center, Trinity Episcopal Church and Unitarian-Universalist Congregation. Plans are still being finalized with Hillel Jewish Student Center, the Islamic Mosque, and the Tibetan Community.
(01/09/02 4:34am)
Local retailers reported a better Christmas shopping season than predicted with record breaking sales defying the gloomy outlook for the fourth quarter -- the most important quarter for retail sales.\nJennifer Gray, manager of Urban Outfitters, 530 E. Kirkwood Ave., said the store did especially well this shopping season with a distinctive Christmas rush.\n"We have a very loyal customer base, consisting of both students and Bloomington residents," she said. Gray cited holiday spirit as a factor that overcame the downturn in the economy caused by the events of Sept. 11. Urban Outfitters emphasized comfort and security during the holiday season with comfortable clothing, lighting, and home accessories, she said.\n"I really felt like we hit our target market this season," Gray said. "It was a record year for us during the Christmas rush."\nAlso reporting a profitable fourth quarter is Beyond the Wall, 512 E. Kirkwood Ave. Store manager Brooke Yarbar said sales were up from last year. She attributed part of her store's success to students remaining on campus longer than in previous years.\n"I think more students stuck around for part of break," she said. "And those who stuck around were here for some great sales we had, like buy one get one half off and sales on frames. The star lamps we carry are also popular gifts, and we will have those in stock all year."\nYarbar said there was a decrease in sales after the attacks on Sept. 11, but said sales have picked up again. She attributes Beyond the Wall's success to the personal nature of the gifts for sale. \n"We have something for everybody here, making us a one stop shop," she said.\nGreetings, 429 E. Kirkwood Ave., experienced a strong fourth quarter as well, closing the month of December within six dollars of their budget. Store manager Matt Sater felt that two factors affected his store.\n"One thing that helped our store was the downturn in the economy," he said. "Now instead of buying a DVD player for a gift, a person bought smaller, more sentimental items." Greetings specializes in that area of merchandise which benefits the store. \n"As callous as it sounds stores like this benefit from bad economic times," Sater said. "With people focusing on family and friends the greeting card industry is doing very well."\nThe figures being observed by local businesses are not uncommon with most retailers posting surprisingly normal figures for the holiday season. \n"I think that people are trying to get back to normal," Gray said. "And what better time than Christmas"
(01/08/02 6:12am)
The language science community of IU suffered the loss of a world class scholar, writer, researcher and teacher over winter break. Distinguished professor Emeritus Thomas Sebeok passed away due to undisclosed causes Dec. 21 in his Bloomington home. He was 81 years old.\nProfessor Sebeok, a Budapest native, came to the United States in 1936 and joined the IU faculty in 1943. While at IU he chaired the University's Research Center for Language and Semiotic Studies. \nHis work began with the study of the structure of his native tongue, Hungarian. His interest then shifted to anthropological linguistics, delving into the connection between language and culture. Sebeok\'s research took him to Central and Eastern Europe. He also studied the Laguna Indians of New Mexico and Wisconsin's Winnebago Indians.\nIn the 1960s, Sebeok changed his field of research to human non-verbal communication and animal communication. His groundbreaking book "Speaking of Apes" cast doubt on studies claiming that apes can learn a language. He argued that because apes lack the necessary body parts for language and were picking up subconscious cues from trainers, the apes had learned a signal system less complex than language.\nProfessor Sebeok retired from teaching in 1991, but he continued to write and conduct research. His work was primarily in the field of semiotics, the study of the nature of signs in language. It applied to such diverse fields as anthropology, linguistics and animal communication.\nThough retired for a decade, Sebeok's influence was still felt in the Linguistics Studies department by the faculty that knew him well. Steven Franks, chair of the Linguistics Department, mourned the loss of his colleague and said Sebeok had several close friends in the department. \nPaul Newman, professor of linguistics, said that Professor Sebeok was not a typical professor.\n"In this era of academic specialization, Sebeok stood apart by virtue of his incredible intellectual breadth," Newman said. "He had wide-ranging interests, he had encyclopedic knowledge and he had close, personal contacts with innumerable scholars and creative writers around the globe."\nNewman also remembers Sebeok's "agile mind, engrossing personality, and interesting perspective."\n\"In lunches that I had with Sebeok over the years, there were times that I might disagree with what he said," Newman said. "But there was never a time when I was bored or when I didn't learn something." \nAlbert Valdman, Rudy Professor of French and Italian and linguistics, remembered the extensive scope of Sebeok's inquiries in the linguistic sciences. \nValdman said Sebeok extended the field of inquiry of semiotics far beyond its original boundaries to encompass all types of communication between humans and all living organisms alike.\n"Tom Sebeok is aptly defined as a bee-type scholar, because bees dart solitary from flower to flower, sipping nectar, gathering pollen, serendipitously fertilizing whatever they touch," Valdman said. "I am proud to view myself as a mentoree of the genial scholar and vibrant and warm human being that was Thomas Sebeok. He will be sadly missed, but remembered for a long time, by the language science community at IU"
(11/05/01 5:06am)
Cash registers ringing are as much a part of the holiday season as candles, snowmen and trees. But the piles of gifts may not be as high this year with consumer confidence hitting low levels in this retail quarter.\nSales in the fourth quarter are essential to retailers, who depend on holiday gift giving to make their profits for the year. In light of the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, some retailers said they are anxious, fearful that holiday sales will reflect the uncertainty that the country faces. \nAssociate economics professor Bill Witte said projections for the fourth quarter wern't looking great before the attacks.\n"With rising unemployment and a falling stock market, this Christmas season would probably have been weak before the terrorist attacks," Witte said. "However, the prospects of the season are now shot. Consumer confidence was negatively affected by the attacks. Also the layoffs directly related to the attacks have a negative effect on the level of spending this Christmas."\nConsumer confidence is the key indicator of how much consumers will be willing to spend at a given time. Already declining before Sept. 11, the consumer confidence levels have taken a nose dive in the wake of uncertainty that comes with America's new war.\n"I expect there to be a significant drop in spending this year," said Bruce Jaffee, associate dean for academics at the Kelley School of Business. "Consumers are uncertain about the future, so it is unlikely that they would be willing to spend money on big ticket items, such as cars, boats and homes. Besides, conspicuous spending at times like these is incredibly tacky, and most people will avoid it."\nSpending on travel and big-ticket items is most likely to decrease. Spending in other areas is more difficult to predict, experts said.\n"There may be a slight positive effect of the 'eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we shall die' variety, but I don't expect that to be true for most people," said Witte. "Most people will save their money and wait until the markets are more stable and their jobs are safe."\nEconomics professor Arlington Williams agrees. He said that there will most likely be less spending this year than in previous years.\n"I expect that most will curtail their spending this year," he said. "People will be taking a hunker down mentality, and riding out the uncertainty."\nBut Williams does predict that spending on entertainment will be up in the fourth quarter.\n"People will look to entertainment, such as books, movies and plays as a way to escape," he said. "People looked to motion pictures as a way to escape from the realities of life in the Great Depression, and I would expect a similar effect."\nWhile the economic forecast is not as grim as it was in the 1930s the effects of the bad economy are the same. Jaffee expects spending to go up in activities that a family can do together, such as seeing movies or going out to eat.\n"Now instead of going to three different movies when they go out, a family will chose one," he said. "Anything that encourages spending time as a group together will see consumption go up, but other spending is almost certain to decline."\nThe government is doing its best to bolster spending, with tax rebates and lower interest rates in the works. Witte said these may have a positive effect, but it is too early to make more concrete predictions.\nAlso, he said that predictions could change if there are more developments in the coming weeks, such as further terrorist incidents or new developments in the war.
(10/19/01 4:24am)
The presence of dead birds in several Indiana counties has led to warnings of the West Nile virus.\nThe Indiana State Department of Health reports that birds infected with the deadly virus have been found in Lake, Clark, Vanderburgh, Marion and Floyd counties. No cases of West Nile encephalitis in humans have been reported in Indiana.\nHealth officials fear that the wide distribution of cases marks the permanent entry of the virus into the state. \nThe West Nile virus, a flavavirus, is an organism that causes encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. It is related to St. Louis encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis and the Usutu virus.\nSymptoms of West Nile encephalitis include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes, according to a press release. More serious infections are marked by neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis and in rare instances, death.\nAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is a virus that primarily infects birds, only spreading to humans through infected mosquitoes. The CDC said mosquitoes which bite infected birds store the virus in their salivary glands, infecting the next organism they bite. \nFewer than 1 percent of mosquitoes in areas where the virus is present carry it. The West Nile virus can infect humans, horses, pigs, dogs, cats and birds.\nThe virus is new to the United States. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reports that the West Nile virus first spread to the Western Hemisphere in 1999, where it caused seven deaths and 62 illnesses in less than two months in the New York area.\nThe virus is most common on the Eastern seaboard, but is steadily moving west. The ISDH said cases have recently been reported in Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Louisiana and Ontario.\nWhile becoming more widespread, the virus is not an extreme health hazard. Although possibly deadly, the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease said the virus causes fatal illness in fewer that 1 percent of humans infected. Most at risk are the elderly, very young and those with compromised immune systems.\nUSAMRIID has joined efforts with the NIAID and pharmaceutical companies to develop a vaccine for the virus. No vaccine currently exists.\nThe CDC stresses that there should be no panic over the West Nile virus. It cannot be transmitted from an infected person to another, or from an infected bird to a human. Mosquitoes carrying the virus are the only threat.\nIn a press release, State Health Commissioner Greg Wilson, M.D., stressed the need for preventive measures.\n"Even in states where West Nile virus has been reported in humans, it has only affected a small number of people," said Wilson. "Human symptoms are generally mild, but this virus does have the capability of causing much more serious problems. Therefore, adequate precautions should be taken."\nTo prevent the spread of the virus the CDC advises that communities closely monitor virus activity in mosquitoes, birds, livestock and humans.\nThe ISDH asked local health departments to be on the lookout for dead bluejays, crows and raptors. These species of birds are the most likely to be infected with West Nile.\nTo date, the ISDH has tested 4,643 live birds from 33 counties and 8,410 mosquitoes from 13 counties. Infection rates have been low, but prevention is necessary.\n The ISDH recommends that Hoosiers avoid being outside at night, as the mosquitoes that carry the virus are primarily night feeding insects.\n Wearing repellent containing diethyl toluamide (DEET) as the primary ingredient is also suggested.\n "Whenever possible, repellent should be applied to clothing and not skin," said Michael Sinsko, senior medical entomologist at the ISDH. "In all cases, everyone should read the precautions on the labels of all repellent products before use."\n The CDC adds that the most effective repellents contain 35 percent DEET, and that vitamin B and ultrasonic devices are not effective at preventing bites. \nAnyone concerned that they are infected with the West Nile virus should see their physician, who will look at a patient's medical history to see if they are at risk. There is no specific therapy for West Nile, but intensive supportive therapy like intravenous fluids and airway management is common treatment.\nFor more information on West Nile virus, visit the CDC question and answer page, http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/q&a.htm
(10/16/01 5:17am)
Just more than one year ago, normalcy returned to Kirkwood Avenue after a summer that was anything but. Bloomington\'s "Big Dig" marked the summer of 2000 as one of the worst ever for businesses located on Kirkwood.\nThe repair work last summer replaced the 100-year-old culvert beneath Kirkwood and Dunn Street through which the Jordan River flows. The antiquated structure was on the verge of collapse. The repairs were a necessary, said Bloomington Mayor John Fernandez. \nStores located on Kirkwood began to feel the pinch caused by the construction. Traffic was diverted or stopped entirely, and customers had difficulty getting to businesses. \n"People had to go through a maze of alleys to get here that summer," said Dawna Petersen, co-owner of White Mountain Ice Creamery, 107 N. Dunn St. "Sales were down. To say business was bad that summer would be an understatement."\nJeff Green, owner of Cha Cha, 427 E. Kirkwood Ave., saw similar devastation with his store. \n"There was absolutely no business that summer," he said. "Sales were down over 75 percent. It was tough to keep going."\nFreshman and Bloomington resident Katie Martin understands why the businesses were affected so adversely. During that summer she would rarely venture down to Kirkwood, if ever.\n"It was a total mess," she said. "Unless I really, really needed something there, I wouldn\'t go."\nNow with Kirkwood repaired, businesses tell very different tales about how their enterprises were affected long term by the construction. Green believes that the project was beneficial in the long run, while Petersen maintains that it permanently crippled her business.\n"My customers changed their habits that summer," Petersen said. "It\'s very tough to get them back now."\nShe added that White Mountain is still looking for a new location.\nGreen sees the Kirkwood project as something that shouldn\'t affect businesses anymore.\n"Businesses should have recovered by now," he said. "I knew that there would be no long term effect. My only concern was how long the construction would last. Now that construction is complete, my store is doing better than ever. Traffic is back up and so are sales. If someone claims that their business is still affected by a project that has been complete for over a year they need to consider how well they would be doing even if there was no construction."\nGreen said he holds no grudges against the city, believing the project necessary. He said the city still needs to do some plantings, but the street looks exactly as promised otherwise. \nGreen also disagreed with people who claim the feel of old Kirkwood is gone.\n"Frankly, I don\'t even think about the difference in appearance anymore," he said. If people say that the feel is gone, they\'re too caught up in appearance, and don\'t notice the same atmosphere."\nNow that Kirkwood is repaired Martin feels free to bring her new friends down to enjoy the shopping and atmosphere. \n"Kirkwood is a great place to spend your Saturday afternoons," she said. "It's great taking people down here who haven\'t been to Bloomington before. There\'s such a wide variety of things to do. This is the culture of Bloomington"
(10/05/01 6:47am)
T-shirts gently flapping in the evening breeze told the terrifying story as the notes of harmony spread over Dunn Meadow. The warm glow of candles illuminated the faces of IU students and Bloomington residents as they stood together to remember victims of domestic and sexual abuse.\nTake Back the Night began its annual protest of violence against women Thursday night, with student a capella group Delusions of Grandeur kicking off the evening with melodies and a little humor. Performing fan favorites like "Alright" and "Still of the Night" was special, the group said.\n"It is an honor to be here and support these women" said sophomore member Jon Mulholland. "At a rally like this I feel that it is very important to show five men who are happy to support this cause."\nSpeaking to the gathered crowd of 200 were Suzanne Powells from Sexual Assault Crisis Service, Kelly McBride from Planned Parenthood and State Representative Linda Lawson. Each stressed the importance of awareness of abuse and statistics of rape and other forms of sexual assault.\n"Rallies like (Take Back the Night) are what force changes in the community," Lawson said. "Change starts on the grassroots level. These movements bring awareness to problems and force changes in the local laws."\nBloomington has heard the cry for change in the community, evident in Mayor John Fernandez's declaration of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.\nAfter the rally the assembled crowd began the march to "reclaim the streets." \nShouting "women unite, take back the night," the group marched from Dunn Meadow to Seventh Street, up Crescent Street to Third Street, where the shouting of the protesters drew cheers from sororities, silence from fraternities and honks from the angry motorists who were caught behind the crowd.\nThe march continued down Indiana Avenue to Kirkwood Avenue, concluding at the Monroe County Court House, where the speak out began. \nThe assembled crowd sat in rapt attention, many with tears in their eyes, listening to students and community members speak of their experiences with rape and sexual assault. Protests were made about the plight of women in Afghanistan, date rape and drugging of women at bars and parties. \nSophomore Stacey Haas and Bloomington resident Renee Miller shared their experiences with rape during the open mic at the speak out.\n"I know that people are here to heal and speak out about violence against women," Miller said. "This event lets us heal as a community."\nHaas emotionally recalled the process of reporting her rape during her freshman year. She said her case was delayed for months by the Office of Student Ethics and the other student involved essentially received no punishment.\n"I wouldn't tell people to not report assaults to the university," she said. "But if I can prevent one person from having to go through what I did, it makes telling my story worth it."\nSharing stories of trials and triumphs drew emotional responses from the speakers and crowd, and showed that everyone is affected by violence against women.\n"Events like this bring together the university and community," said senior Sarah Dodd, president of the Women's Student Association. "Sexual assault affects everybody, not just the school or town"
(09/26/01 5:45am)
Drivers in Bloomington got a shock after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.\nAs traffic inched by gas stations the Tuesday and Wednesday after the attack, cars blocked the entrances, jockeying to get in line to buy fuel.\nGas prices soared into the $3 and $4 range as consumer fears about fuel prices became justified. \nBut, the price spikes were unique to Bloomington, South Bend, Lafayette and Indianapolis. Gas prices in the rest of the state remained stable.\nStudents felt the pinch of the high gas prices on their wallets. Many students, already strapped for cash, were unable to pay to fill up their tanks.\n"It would have cost me 60 or 70 dollars to fill up my car," said sophomore Chris Murphy. "I can't afford that. I had to wait to fill up, and I needed to go home (that) weekend."\nProfessor of Economics Arlington Williams said the price spikes were not unusual or unexpected.\n"The sudden demand drove up the price of gasoline, and people kept buying in fear of even higher prices," he said. "This buying behavior caused an upward spiral in prices."\nSuch behavior of gas prices is typical. The sudden demand caused station owners to raise their prices in case their next shipment was more expensive or did not arrive at all. In a press release, the Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association said some major suppliers raised their wholesale prices and rationed fuel to stations, causing shortages or outages of some grades of fuel.\nThe disablement of an Illinois refinery Aug. 14 added to short supplies in the Midwest. The refinery was closed because of a fire. \nBritish Petroleum did not raise their wholesale prices, and said there are adequate stocks of fuel for the United States market. The buying pattern of gasoline has returned to normal, and any high prices should subside. BP has also brought extra trucks into the Midwest to help resupply stations short on fuel.\nThe high prices of gasoline subsided after the incident two weeks ago, but higher gas prices may be in the future. With President George W. Bush's vows on Thursday to stamp out terrorism, the price of petroleum might go up significantly. \nDRI-WEFA Energy Services, an energy consulting firm said major oil-exporting nations, especially Iraq, might take a war on terrorism as a war on Islam, causing cutbacks into exports to the United States. The oil dependent economy of the United States could not sustain itself with its own production, and any cutbacks in imports would cause crude oil prices to rise significantly. \nBut DRI-WEFA said "no major oil price spikes are likely without further political developments" in a recent report.\nPolitically motivated cutbacks are unlikely, because the Bush administration will be careful to avoid conflict with the member nations of Oil Producing and Exporting Countries and will clear all military actions that might affect them, said Jeffrey Hart, political science professor and chair. \n"Secretary of State [Colin] Powell has been doing a good job getting support from the Arab countries in the region," Hart said.\nThe only member of OPEC that is unpredictable in suppling the United States is Iraq, whose government views the administration as hostile and unpredictable.\n"Cutback of supplies from the members of OPEC are possible, but unlikely," said Bruce Jaffee, associate dean of academics of the Kelley School of Business. "Those nations still depend on the revenue developed from oil exports. Our money is still green"