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(04/09/02 6:06am)
With unemployment reaching ten-year highs and the economy continuing on its downward slide, the job searches for this year's graduating class are turning into frustrating tasks. This year over 7,000 students are set to graduate from IU Bloomington, but fewer and fewer of them have employment lined up for after graduation. \n"I interviewed with Owens Corning, Kimberly Clark, Ford Motor Company and Kraft," senior Jade Gentry said. "Interviewing was five times as hard this year. With the economy as it is companies are interviewing for between three and seven slots, compared to 20 or more in previous years. The economy is in a slump, and that is definitely showing in searching for a job."\nUnemployment rose to over 5.7 percent in March, with higher unemployment expected in the future. Despite the disheartening employment figures, economists believe a recovery is imminent. Unemployment is a lagging indicator, meaning unemployment may continue to rise after the economy starts to recover.\nAlso affected by the recent economic slump are sophomores and juniors searching for internships to build job experience.\n"I interviewed for several internship positions," sophomore Rebekah Rankin said. "But since the economy is awful companies are only taking seniors or maybe juniors."\nPlacement offices on campus have been working overtime to help students get employment, but fewer positions are available for interviewing.\n"Recruiting is down about twenty percent," said Randy Powell, director of business placement for the Kelley School of Business. "But a high percentage of students graduating took interviews. It is turning out to be a slower, but not necessarily a bad year for the Kelley graduates that we serve."\nMarcia Debnam, in the School of Journalism placement office, suggested job hunters to examine every option.\n"Cast your net widely," she said. "Be willing to go wherever the job is if that is all that is possible. Have the best possible resume, cover letter and portfolio you can. Follow up on all contacts. Be patient. Be politely persistent. Be willing to take a job that is not your dream job."\nHarriet Castrataro, academic and career advisor for the department of applied health science, offered similar advice.\n"Polish your interview skills any way you can," she said. "Broaden your job search to include Web sites, newspapers, faculty and advisor mentors. Above all, communicate your goals to everyone you meet"
(04/09/02 4:29am)
IU visitors consistently remark on the beauty of campus as one of the University's main selling points. But, often this beauty is marred with unsightly trash and litter. To combat this, the Residence Halls Association and Residential Programs and Services sponsored a spring cleaning event Saturday morning.\nVolunteers met at the center desks of Read Center and Teter and McNutt quads at noon, where they were instructed on how to handle the litter. They were told not to pick up needles, medical supplies or broken glass. The volunteers then cleaned the three residential neighborhoods for two hours and met at Teter for pizza -- a reward for a job well done.\nRHA environmental director Ryan Amtmann, a senior, said the project was a great way for RHA to clean the campus while enjoying the weather.\n"We're trying to clean the areas of campus that may be missed, like the bushes close to the buildings," he said. "This campus is so beautiful, it shouldn't be marred with trash."\nRHA philanthropy director Cassie Cook said the project has been in the works for months.\n"We began thinking about this project in January," she said. "This is a type of a trial run. We want to see what works and what doesn't so the next time we sponsor an event like this it runs more smoothly."\nCook said all residence halls were cleaned, with the exception of Foster Quad.\n"Foster was sponsoring Fosterstock today, so there was no way we would have been able to clean around the people watching the bands," she said.\nBending over to remove a candy bar wrapper from a bush, junior Tony Bontrager said he was happy to help out.\n"I am an RA, so I wanted to help clean up where I live," he said. "Also, my fraternity, Kappa Delta Rho, wanted to help with this project, so some of the brothers are here today too. Our house is involved with community service, and what better community to serve than the students"
(04/08/02 6:30am)
Between 5 p.m. Monday, April 1, and 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 2, a valuable statue was stolen from the courtyard behind the Indiana Memorial Union. The bronze work, entitled "Soul," was donated to the University and has been located in the courtyard for the past ten years. It is worth an estimated $25,000.\n"Soul" is a four-and-a-half foot statue of a man in a loincloth reaching toward the sky. It was stolen from its marble base in a courtyard outside a lounge on the mezzanine level, near the tree suites. The area around the IMU was searched, but the statue was not recovered. \nIU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger said IUPD is publicizing the loss of the statue in hopes of recovering it. \n"We are mainly concerned with recovering the property," he said. "The monetary value of the statue is secondary to the aesthetic value."\nMinger said he suspects students stole the statue as a memento of the final NCAA game of the season. He added that statue thefts have occurred in the past, including the fish statues in Showalter Fountain. \n"This year we had the Physical Plant remove the fish from Showalter Fountain," he said. "But we can't remove every statue on campus."\nMinger said he believes the statue was removed by a group of students.\n"This work is of considerable weight and difficult to conceal," he said. "It would have taken at least two or three men to remove it, and they would have had to stop and rest."\nFreshman Eldred Stubbs said the theft is unnecessary.\n"It's really messed up that students are stealing school property," he said. \nGraduate student John Randall also expressed concern about the motivation of the theft.\n"I understand that people were upset about losing the basketball game," he said. "But stealing school property is really unnecessary. All it does is increase the cost of attending school."\nGraduate student David Zimmer remains hopeful that IUPD will recover the statue. \n"I hope they are able to erect the statue again," he said. "The artwork here is meant for all students to enjoy."\nAnyone who believes they were a witness to this crime or believes they may have information that would assist in the investigation is asked to contact the Investigations Section of the IU Police Department at (812) 855-4292 or send an e-mail to Detective Richard Seifers at rseifers@indiana.edu.
(03/29/02 4:09am)
This fall the sidewalks on 10th Street and Fee Lane will be clear of debris, fencing and construction materials. The covered walkway will be gone, and with it, the heavy machinery. These eyesores, a constant since construction of the Kelley School of Business Graduate and Executive Education Center began, will be eliminated with the opening of the state-of-the-art facility in August. \nThe project, which has been under construction for almost two years, will be completed for the next academic year. Paul Robbins, director of special programs and projects for the Kelley School of Business, said construction is behind schedule, but the building will open in time.\n"The project is currently three weeks behind schedule," he said. "We expect to be moving in early June 2002, and we will hold class in the facility in August."\nThe new center came with a hefty price tag of $34 million, most of which was privately funded. Robbins said $13.5 million was contributed by the state, and $30.5 million was raised from private funding. Some funds were used to renovate existing classrooms in the Kelley School of Business. Robbins said the project is currently on budget.\nThe new facility is necessary because of crowding in the business school, Robbins said. \n"The current building is operating at full capacity, forcing us to use off-campus facilities," Robbins said. "The new building will permit us to reunify operations and permit us to grow our graduate programs."\nBoth faculty and students are excited about the new facilities. Senior Kristen VanderVelde, who has been admitted to the MBA program, said she is impressed with the new home of the graduate programs.\n"We went on a tour, and it is so impressive," she said. "There are thousands of ethernet ports and other technological advantages. I am thrilled to be able to use such wonderful facilities."\nBruce Jaffe, professor of business economics and public policy in the Kelley School of Business Graduate Programs, said he anticipates the move.\n"We are all anxiously awaiting moving in to what nobody but me calls the West Wing of the business school," Jaffe said.
(03/18/02 5:14am)
Students stream by the desk where members of Alpha Phi Alpha sit, some stopping to listen. Behind the fraternity members in the Indiana Memorial Union is a bulletin board littered with posters from past events and current charity efforts.\nThe project these men are raising money for, however, is different than most.\nThey aren't raising money for a local charity; they're sitting behind desks at the IMU to raise money for something timeless and awe-inspiring to them, they said, something created by their fraternity and placed in the nation's capitol.\nThe men of Alpha Phi Alpha are attempting to raise money for the Martin Luther King Memorial, which is to be built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.\nAlpha Phi Alpha has made the memorial to Dr. King a national project, involving chapters across the nation. \nJunior Dominic Paicely said Alpha Phi Alpha has been involved with the memorial project since its conception.\n"The Dr. Martin Luther King Project is about 18 years in the making, with the memorial project's proposal taking place in 1984," he said. \nThe monument, which will be constructed on a four-acre site on the Tidal Basin, sits within sight of the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. It will be the only monument in Washington D.C. to honor an African American and the final monument to be constructed on the Mall.\nThe design for the memorial was chosen from more than 900 entries from world-renowned artists, architects and sculptors. \nIn a statement, design panel juror Karen Phillips, president and CEO of Abyssinian Development Corporation, said the design selected most closely mirrors the goals of the project.\n"The selected design addressed the physical context, site conditions and philosophical symbolism of the location while ensuring that the program elements -- 'The Man, The Message, The Movement' -- were incorporated into a memorial respectful of Dr. King's legacy," she said.\nSenior Alvoy Lewis Bryan said Alpha Phi Alpha is spearheading the project because Dr. King was a member of the fraternity's Boston University chapter.\nPaicely said the fraternity is trying to raise funds for the project by next year. The national fraternity has had the authority to raise funds since November 1996 and may continue to fundraise until November 2003. The IU chapter's goal is $5,000.\n"During our week, we reserved space in the IMU literature booths," Paicely said. "We also took donations at all of our events and held a raffle during our party, where we were able to raise additional funds. With that being over with, we are now in the process of planning a formal informational presentation."\nThe chapter also plans on throwing a social fundraiser later this semester.\nDespite the efforts of Alpha Phi Alphas nationwide, the goal of $100 million is going to be difficult to achieve, Paicely said.\n"With a national goal of $100 million and the deadline only 20 months away, we can only ask for everyone's support and remain optimistic that the national goal will be reached before its due date," he said. "Every member of Alpha Phi Alpha's Gamma Eta chapter has worked to the best of his ability to make this a success"
(03/07/02 6:26am)
After deliberating for hours last night, the IUSA elections commission delivered its decision concerning election disputes. In a two page decision released early this morning, the commission cleared the Steel and Synergy tickets of all charges levied against them. The Kirkwood ticket was found to be in violation of two sections of the elections code, thus requiring members of the executive slate to complete twenty hours of community service.\nKirkwood was found guilty of violating elections code section 603, improper use of e-mail, because of the mass e-mails sent out by the Kirkwood ticket. The commission stated the penalty was imposed because the ticket did not blind carbon copy the e-mail, allowing students to respond to the entire mailing list and disrupting the University's e-mail systems. \nThe commission fined Kirkwood $231.75, nine percent of their total budget.\nKirkwood was not found guilty of voter fraud under section 602, but was censured for the language of a letter to pledges in fraternities. The commission found Kirkwood guilty under section 601, stating the ticket intimidated pledges. \nThe decision states: "Kirkwood's stated use of a non-existent Vote Tracker system to track the effectiveness of individual pledges was misleading and intimidation thinly veiled. Considering the nature of the male greek system and its pledge practices, the commission finds it highly improbable that some form of intimidation and coercion was not meant to be exerted on pledges."\nFor this offense Kirkwood was fined $463.50, 18 percent of their total budget.\nKirkwood does not plan on appealing the decision, but expressed concern over the decision of the committee. In a statement, the ticket said that while they do not agree with the decision, they "wholeheartedly accept" the ruling as it stands.\n"While we are very concerned by the ruling of the commission, as it is clear that outside perceptions and pre-determined stereotypes had a large impact on the ruling, we will not be appealing the decision," Kirkwood said in the statement.\nSteel was absolved of the complaint alleging unescorted campaigning activity in Forest Quad.\nSophomore Jeff Wuslich, Steel presidential candidate, said he is pleased his ticket was cleared of all wrongdoing.\n"I am glad that the committee cleared the ticket," he said. "We did our best to run a fair, clean campaign, and that came through. We are sorry that we had a misunderstanding with Mr. Starks, and we apologize again for waking him up."\nHowever, Steel may file an appeal searching for stronger penalties against the Kirkwood ticket. They have until 5 p.m. today to do so.\n"Right now we are in the process of deciding whether or not we will appeal," Wuslich said. "It depends on what the members of my ticket want to do."\nSynergy was also absolved of all charges. The ticket was found innocent of voter fraud, breaking and entering, defacing campus and illegally obtaining a key to Briscoe Quad.\nJunior Brian Daviduke, Synergy presidential candidate, said he agrees completely with the commission's decisions.\n"The charges filed against my ticket were ridiculous and retaliatory in nature," he said. "We filed our complaints because the members of my ticket were forced to campaign against unfair practices."\nSynergy does not plan on appealing the decisions of the commission.\nElections commissioner Joe Walterman said the decisions reached by the commission were appropriate.\nIf appealed, all contestments will be heard by the IUSA Supreme Court.
(03/06/02 6:32am)
Put in your earplugs Bloomington, and pray that you get some sleep. Bloomington, often thought to be a sleepy college town, has been named to the "Noisy Dozen" this month by Noise Free America. Bloomington is the fifth city to receive this title.\nThis dubious distinction has been bestowed upon Bloomington because of noise pollution. Ted Rueter, the executive director and founder of Noise Free America, defines noise as unwanted sound.\n"Sound becomes noise when it is unwanted and uncontrolled," he said. "And any sound over 80 decibels is noise. At that level it becomes physically and psychologically harmful."\nThe Noise Free America Web site lists common sources of city noise, including cars with loud stereos, leaf blowers, boom boxes, rock concerts and nightclubs.\nNoise Free America believes that Bloomington residents are assaulted with a barrage of unwanted noise every day, which lowers the quality of living in the town.\nRueter said one thing Bloomington could do to cut back on the noise is to outlaw boom cars -- cars with extremely loud sound systems. \n"The federal government regulates every aspect of automobiles but the sound system," he said. "That doesn't make sense, and it presents a major safety concern. With the system turned up the driver cannot hear police or fire sirens."\nRueter added that boom cars are often associated with gang activity, which is why Chicago has outlawed them.\n"Chicago has enacted an ordinance that prohibits boom cars," he said. "If a car can be heard from 75 feet away the car is confiscated and the owner is charged a $610 fine to get it back. Because of these measures, boom car sales have dropped by one third and two boom car shops have closed."\nRueter adds that even though two shops have closed the measure has done more good than bad.\n"This measure has put regard for the public welfare first," he said.\nThaddeus McCortland, founder of Noise Free Indiana, said that Bloomington has sound ordinances but enforcement is lax.\n"City and state have noise ordinances, but enforcement is problematic," he said in a press release. "There is de facto no enforcement of motor vehicle noise laws by County Sheriff (Steve) Sharp. The Bloomington police do better, but Mayor (John) Fernandez and the Common Council seem to lack the political will to stamp out noise terrorism."\nDoris Sims, the director of the Housing and Neighborhood Development committee, said the "Quiet Nights" initiative, which has been in place for two years, was designed to raise awareness in Bloomington.\n"We are making residents aware that noises affect everybody," she said. "We are spreading the word of "Quiet Nights" through advertising. This initative supports civility between neighbors."\nBloomington Police Captain Mike Diekhoff said there has been greater enforcement of the "Quiet Nights" ordinances enacted by the city, but the number of complaints is still high.\n"It all depends on who you ask, but I am of the opinion that the noise ordinances of Bloomington are productive," he said. "When responding to a noise complaint, an officer has three choices. He can either write a $50 ticket for violating the city noise ordinance, arrest the owner/leasee of the residence for disorderly conduct, or do nothing. We allow the officers to decide, on the severity of the infraction, what to do."\nDiekhoff added he believes the punishments for infractions are an effective deterrent. \n"I know I wouldn't want a ticket or to be arrested and spend a night in jail because my stereo was turned up too loud," he said.\nSims said "Quiet Nights" does not apply to students living on campus. Bloomington police can only enforce noise infractions that occur off campus, leaving on campus infractions to the IUPD.
(03/05/02 4:47am)
The sounds of change echoed through the Moot Court Room yesterday afternoon. In an address to students and the public, the commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, Kathleen Q. Abernathy, outlined broad policy statements that affect every phone-using, television-viewing American. \nAbernathy, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in May 2001, outlined the guiding principles of her role during a time of rapid and important policy changes regarding broadband, as well as TV station and newspaper ownership. She also defined what the FCC's mission is and how it will exercise its power.\nAbernathy's address precedes the publication of an article stating her principles on on many issues in the Federal Communications Law Journal. The March issue of the journal, which is published at IU, will be released in a week.\nKaren Klein, a second year associate with the Journal, said Abernathy's speech is part of the tradition of FCC commissioners speaking at IU. Last year, FCC Commissioner Harold Furchgott-Roth spoke at IU.\n"Abernathy is here to orally present her policy statement, 'My View from the Doorstep of FCC Change,' in the Journal," Klein said. "It's concerned with the major issues with telecommunications." \nThe FCC has vast regulatory powers over modes of communication, including wireless communication, telecommunication, broadcast networks, and media ownership.\nTom Brummett, editor in chief of the FCLJ, said Abernathy's policies have far-reaching implications.\n"Her policies can have millions of dollars in impact," he said.\nAbernathy, in her address, said what she believed were the principles on which the FCC should operate. She asserts Congress sets the priorities of the FCC, and the agency has the responsibility to follow those priorities. Abernathy also said a free market makes better choices for the public than FCC regulatory action.\n"Policy should only correct market failures," she said. \nAbernathy stated the FCC should have fewer and more streamlined regulations that are rigorously enforced.\n"Consumers are better served by the government when there are fewer rules and greater enforcement than prescriptive regulations," she said. "My goal is to assure that FCC regulations are streamlined and clear, with consistent enforcement."\nAbernathy also said the FCC can never achieve the knowledge base of the rapid changes that impact the firms it regulates. The FCC should be "humble about what it knows" and reluctant to intervene in emerging markets.\nShe believes the government should not regulate markets that it does not understand, pointing to the example of wireless communications.\n"It is extremely difficult to predict the twists and turns of the market," she said. "The FCC sold PCS (alternative to cellular) rights divided into 493 regions. We did not anticipate the growth of national providers."\nCurrently an issue plaguing the FCC is cross-ownership of both broadcasting stations and newspapers. \nCurrent FCC policy prohibits any corporation from owning more than 35 percent of the television stations in any market. It also prevents common ownership of a daily newspaper and a broadcast station in the same market.\nAbernathy said she wishes to see the market determine who owns the stations. However, Abernathy said the FCC is examining whether corporate conglomeration will decrease the number of differing opinions in the media. \n"The question is whether diversity of opinions is harmed," Abernathy said. "If we don't have hard evidence to back up that claim then there is no reason to prevent cross-ownership."\nIf hard evidence does prove that diversity of ideas is limited, the agency may reinstate ownership caps. \nBrummett said that Abernathy's policies will have wide-ranging implications in the media industry. However, the changes will mostly affect urban markets such as Detroit, Chicago, New York and Dallas.\n"This removes one of the few roadblocks that are left preventing massive conglomeration," he said. "Pretty soon everything will be owned by two or three companies."\nThe issue is currently being debated in the Senate and the courts. A Feb. 25 federal appeals court decision struck down ownership caps that limit the amount of people one broadcast company can reach within a given area.
(03/01/02 5:17am)
Cold weather and slick roads have delayed the first annual Jill Behrman Unity Ride, sponsored by Delta Upsilon. The ride, which was to take place this Saturday, has been postponed to March 30 in hopes of better weather.\nThe noncompetitive ride follows a course through southern Bloomington, a favorite riding area of Jill's. Starting at Jackson Street Middle School, the ride makes an 11-mile loop and ends back at the school. Brian Behrman, Jill's brother and Delta Upsilon alumnus, said the course will take riders where his sister loved to ride.\n"The south end of town is where my sister loved to ride," he said. "In fact, the first mile or so of the route is probably where she was riding that morning (she disappeared)."\nBiking was a favorite pastime of Jill, who disappeared May 31, 2000, while riding before work. Her bike was found June 5, 2000, but there has been no further trace of her.\nThe event is a fundraiser for Jill's House, a nonprofit organization that, once complete, will provide lodging for patients undergoing outpatient therapy for cancer at the IU Proton Therapy facility. Aaron Pitzele, Delta Upsilon event coordinator, said the center will provide much-needed assistance for those suffering from cancer.\n"(Jill's House) is a project that will provide a home-like residence for patients at the Proton Therapy facility," he said.\nPitzele said the event has seen positive responses from the campus and the community.\n"Many of the houses on campus are participating, and the ones that are not had prior commitments," he said. "We are hoping for 150 participants."\nMatt Weisseg, Delta Upsilon vice-president of public relations, said the event has been planned for a long time.\n"We've wanted to do something since Jill disappeared," he said. "DU wants to show our support for Brian and his entire family. This specific event was conceived about seven months ago, and we have been working hard to make it happen."\nPitzele said Jill became a fixture at DU while her brother lived in the house.\n"Jill visited often when her brother was living in the house," he said. "She became friends with many of the guys."\nBehrman agreed. He said Jill became "one of the guys."\n"She came over a lot and became friends with a lot of the brothers," he said. "She even went on her spring break vacation with the DU guys."\nBehrman also said he is touched by the effort his brothers have put towards this event.\n"I'm so glad that they are putting forth this much effort, and that they're doing this for my family," he said. "It's great because many of these guys don't know me, but they're still giving their time and effort to help a brother that they don't know."\nApplications for the Jill Behrman Unity Ride are available at http://www.indiana.edu/~duwebpg/rideforjill.html. The cost is $15 if pre-registered and $18 at the ride.
(02/28/02 4:44am)
Independence is the goal of the Graduate and Professional Student Organization, and the organization is rapidly approaching its achievement. A constitution proposed in December, which establishes the GPSO as an independent organization and breaks it away from the IU Student Association, has been ratified by several academic departments.\nEmily Nagoski, GPSO director of public relations, said the process to get the constitution ratified is in the hands of the students it will affect.\n"Currently we are in the process of ratifying a new constitution that clearly asserts (the GPSO's) status as the sole governing body for professional and graduate students," she said. "Because these actions are driven by the voices of our constituents and not the agenda of the organization leaders, this constitution will not be valid unless ratified by the majority of graduate and professional student body."\nThe move for independence had a mixed reception by the students it would affect.\n"While the original vote for independence was not unanimous, we had a clear majority," Nagoski said. "That vote happened over a year ago, and the sentiment among graduate students has grown more and more positive. As we move towards independence, graduate students are becoming more and more aware of the important work we do, and that only increases their positive view of our independence."\nSeveral departments have already ratified the new constitution, with many more to vote before spring break. Craig Ortsey, graduate government committee chair, said the departments to vote will most likely vote in favor of the independence. \n"Those departments with active GPSO reps should be conducting their votes before spring break, and we are in the process of contacting those departments without active representation," he said. "My department has already unanimously ratified the constitution, and more should as soon as we approach the spring break deadline."\nGPSO astronomy representative Heidi Tebbe said the response in her department has been positive.\n"The graduate students in my department have responded positively to this new constitution," she said. "I think ratification will be successful. Separating the two governments is in the best interest of all students, and I think most people will see that."\nRachel Anderson, GPSO moderator, said she expects an independent GPSO to work closely with the IUSA, regardless of the outcome of the elections. Kirkwood and Synergy tickets support the GPSO bid for independence, while Steel maintains that graduates should be represented through IUSA.\n"We hope to work with those elected in an amicable way that fosters cooperation and the mutual furtherance of our goals," Anderson said. "We hope that a spirit of cooperation can continue, no matter who wins."\nBy gaining independence the GPSO hopes to more effectively represent the concerns of graduate students.\nElizabeth Rytting, GPSO secretary, said the split will make the organization more efficient and helpful to graduates.\n"We hope that being recognized as an independent government will help us get more regular, systematic access to the trustees to make them aware of the needs of graduate and professional students which will work for the long-term benefit of graduate and professional students," she said. "We also believe that having a separate governing body will allow graduate student views to be consulted more when changes that affect the entire student body are considered"
(02/26/02 6:39am)
At exactly 12 a.m., the heated race for the victory in IU Student Association elections began. Online voting, which will continue until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, will decide which executive ticket and congress members will take charge of IUSA for the next school year.\nJunior Chuck Kuntz, a current member of IUSA, said elections in the past have not seen a high voter turnout.\n"Traditionally, only 12 to 16 percent of the student body votes," he said.\nHowever, the vigorous campaigning of the Kirkwood, Steel and Synergy tickets has piqued student interest, encouraging more students to vote for their ticket of choice.\nIssues addressed by the three tickets include the alcohol policy, the greek system, housing reforms, fees charged by the university and the proposed independence of the Graduate and Professional Student Organization. \nVoting in the IUSA elections is essential, said junior Ian Snyder. \n"The students are casting votes for the people that will represent them and their concerns," he said. "They're determining which students will voice the issues they feel are important, and nothing is more essential then that."\nMany students see the elections as their opportunity to change things on campus. Sophomore Jamie Petersen said one reason she will vote is because the outcome of the election will affect her.\n"I think that everyone should vote in the IUSA election because the outcome affects us as students," she said. "How can any of us complain about IU's policies if we don't take an active part in trying to change them?"\nFreshman Leslie Smith agrees.\n"You can't complain about the outcome of the election if you didn't influence who was put into office," she said. "If you don't vote you can't complain about how this school is being run."\nFreshman Kristen Michalek believes that IUSA is one of the few student channels to the administration.\n"There are few other ways to make our voices heard on campus," she said. "These elections will create an opportunity for us to promote the changes that we feel are necessary for our campus."\nFreshman Erica Swier said voting will make the goals of IUSA more representative of the student body.\n"How can IUSA be representative of the student body if the student body doesn't vote?" she said. "It really can't." \nJunior Laura Walda, a current IUSA member, cautions that the elections are not to be taken lightly, as student participation as well as the outcome send a message. \n"IUSA is the student vote, and this is the way that students can send a message to administration," she said. "If hardly any students vote it shows that we don't feel strongly about issues. Every vote is going to count; this year will be a really tight race."\nWalda added that there is no reason not to vote.\n"Voting is incredibly easy, and should only take a minute or two," she said. "All it takes is to go to a ticket's Web site or to the IUSA home page to cast a vote."\nStudents who believe that IUSA does not affect policy are mistaken, Walda said.\n"Regardless of what students think, the three tickets have very different platforms," she said. "There will be a sharp contrast as to what the tickets would do once in power"
(02/26/02 6:35am)
Drawing gasps and chuckles from a crowd in the fine arts building last night, John Bancroft, director of the Kinsey Institute, delivered his thoughts on the correlation of humor and sex. His lecture, entitled "What's so Funny About Sex?" touched upon the humor in sexual acts, nakedness and human genitalia.\nBancroft began the lecture with a disclaimer, stating that he was going to change opinions about sexual acts and humor. \n"As an emerging sexologist I faced a dilemma," he said. "Most sexual humor was disparaging or to cover embarrassment over a very human act."\nKeeping the tone light, he kept the audience laughing throughout the discussion while touching upon serious topics concerning sex and humor.\nBeginning his presentation with a photo of rhinoceros copulating, Bancroft asked the audience if the photo was funny; the chuckles from the audience served as a reply. The next photo was of a human couple copulating in the same position. Again, Bancroft asked if the photo was funny; this time there was a stunned silence from the crowd.\nThe taboo that humans place on sexual acts was the main focus of the discussion. Bancroft said the taboo is because copulation makes humans vulnerable.\n"Sex is quintessentially funny," he said. "Sexual activity makes humans vulnerable, which is unfamiliar."\nThe discussion drifted to the topic of nakedness, illustrated with several images that caused a hubbub in the audience.\nThe most involved portion of the lecture concerned genitalia, both male and female. Bancroft illuminated his points with drawings and jokes, many at the expense of the male genitalia. \n"The male body is a thing of great beauty, and then what is this?" he said, pointing at a photo of a man with an erect penis. "Is it a pump handle? An early version of a cell phone? It's ridiculous!"\nBancroft also discussed the popularity of the Vagina Monologues, which was recently performed at IU for the third time.\n"The Vagina Monologues deconstructs social prejudices concerning female genitalia," he said. "It comments on the absurdity of pretending that female genitalia does not exist, that women don't know what their vaginas look like or feel like."\nEnding on a serious note, Bancroft said the reason humans create humor about sex is to cover up embarrassment about what is perceived as an undignified act.\n"Sex challenges the idea that we are above such 'base' activities," he said. "We are but one of God's creatures, and sexual activity is part of that."\nThe lecture coincided with the Kinsey Institute exhibit of the same name, currently on display in the School of Fine Arts gallery.\nCatherine Johnson, curator of the Kinsey Institute, said the exhibit and lecture was the high point of Arts Week for the Kinsey Institute.\n"The exhibit has been open for two weeks, and the lecture is the culmination of Arts Week for us," she said. "This exhibit was John's idea. He's always seen the connection of humor and sex."\nBetsy Stirratt, the director of the SOFA gallery, said the exhibit has been a success thus far.\n"We have had great attendance over the past two weeks," she said. "We sent press releases to the local papers and art magazines, so we have seen many visitors from off campus."\nStirratt added that the controversial content of the exhibit has not been a problem.\n"While some of the pieces are graphic, there has not been a problem with the content," she said. "SoFA mainly displays modern art, which is often controversial, disturbing or graphic."\nAll 150 pieces in the exhibit, with the exception of a work by Judy Chicago, are part of the Kinsey collection. The Kinsey collection is contains over 75,000 photos and 7,000 artifacts, with the oldest dating back to 3,200 B.C.
(02/22/02 4:48am)
While most students are focused on getting an internship or job by the end of the semester, senior Beth Rosender has a different goal. She plans on participating in the Michigan Avon Breast Cancer Three-Day, a fundraising and breast cancer awareness event. \nThe cancer walk, which takes place from May 31 to June 2, will take Rosender from the picturesque community of Ann Arbor to Detroit, the town that Ford built. Walking 20 miles a day, traveling a total of 60 miles in three days, Rosender and 3,000 other participants will use their journey to raise funds for breast cancer research and prevention. \nRosender said the reason she plans to participate is because breast cancer has struck very close to home. Her mother, Karen Rosender, was diagnosed with the deadly disease about one year ago.\n"I was diagnosed with breast cancer one day before we left for Hawaii for spring break," Karen said. "I didn't want to spoil our trip, so I told Beth the day before she left to go back to school. It was very hard to tell her, with lots of tears."\nThe Orchard Lake, Mich., native was dum'bstruck with her mother's news.\n"The first thing I thought was that my mother was going to die," Beth said. "I did not know a lot about breast cancer at the time and only focused on the word cancer. Everybody I knew who had cancer had passed away from it, but after talking to my mom and some of my friends who went through the same things, I realized that you can beat breast cancer, which is what my mom did."\nKaren said her form of cancer was invasive, but it was caught early, saving her painful treatments.\n"All of my lymph nodes were clear," she said. "I had a lumpectomy and radiation treatments, which lasted for seven weeks."\nBeth said that is was difficult to remain at school while her mom was battling for her life.\n"When (my mom) had her treatments I was here at school," she said. "I talked with her a lot on the phone, but I was really bothered that I couldn't be there for her."\nNow in remission for six months, Rosender looked into participating in the Michigan Avon Breast Cancer Three-Day but did not feel physically up to it.\n"I thought I might be able to walk 10 miles a day," she said. "But 20 miles would be too much for me."\nBeth decided to participate after reading an advertisement for the walk in a Shape magazine. She is participating in the inaugural year for the Michigan walk. There are other Avon Breast Cancer Three-Days across the nation, from Washington, D.C., to Seattle, Wash.\nParticipants in the walk must raise $1,900 to participate, which must be collected by May 3. Beth is working hard to raise the donation in time.\n"I am sending letters to my family and friends," she said. "I have also sent letters to all of the fraternities and sororities, and I am in the process of giving letters to my professors and people in my classes."\nKaren is also helping, supplying Beth with addresses and contacts in Michigan.\nBeth said the primary reason she is participating is to show support for her mom. But Beth is not walking alone. A friend from home has also opted to raise the funds and walk along side Beth.\n"There have been a couple of people close to me that have been affected by cancer," Beth said. "A family friend was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer. I am walking for my mom, that family, and everyone else I know who has been affected by cancer in general."\nMost who walk in the Avon Three-Days have been personally affected by the deadly disease.\n"I am doing the Avon Three-Days for every woman and man who has breast cancer," said Rosalind Harper, a walker. "And especially for those caught up in so much fear, like my friend and my aunt. And maybe for myself one day. I do it because I can, to see how much compassion there is inside of me"
(02/22/02 4:46am)
With elections rapidly approaching, an emergency congress of the IU Student Association scrambled Wednesday night to ratify a new constitution for the student body to vote upon. \nMeeting after the basketball game for about an hour, IUSA congress put the finishing touches on a constitution that will be included on the ballot as a referendum vote. A majority of the students who vote must approve the constitution for it to be enacted.\nThe fundamental difference between the proposed constitution and the existing one is mainly concerning the inner workings of IUSA. Junior Paul Musgrave, IUSA deputy director of student rights and original author of the proposed constitution, said the changes are mainly internal but there are added benefits for students who are not part of IUSA.\n"The biggest change is that this constitution respects separation of powers," he said. "Also, it is easier to read, allowing for greater understanding of IUSA."\nMusgrave said another change benefitting IUSA is how seats in congress are not specifically appropriated.\n"The apportionment of seats not being specific makes this document more flexible," he said. "New schools are created, and this constitution allows for more flexibility if that happens. It easily accommodates changes."\nGraduate students are still included in the new constitution, but the focus on schools will help graduate concerns be voiced.\nSenior James Motter, chair of the constitutional committee, said the proposed constitution gives power to the schools and students.\n"This constitution views IUSA through the school perspective," he said. "Each degree-granting unit is given a seat in congress so no school's interests are hurt."\nMotter added that the proposed guidelines give IUSA a stronger voice.\n"It doesn't make IUSA stronger in comparison to other student groups," he said. "However, it does give us more power relative to administration. It makes administration easier to access and lobby for change."\nJunior Charles Kuntz, IUSA College of Arts and Sciences representative, said the new constitution is needed but shouldn't be hurried.\n"I disagree with the constitution being rushed through so it can be put on the ballot for this election," he said. "If what it takes is another year to perfect it, then that is what we should take."\nAlthough he disagreed with the pace that the new constitution was passed through IUSA, Kuntz is confident the students will ratify the guidelines.\n"I anticipate the students to vote for the new constitution," he said. "Traditionally, only 12 to 16 percent of the student body votes, and those who do are familiar with IUSA and the tickets. They will approve the new constitution because of the benefits that IUSA will receive."\nThe constitution was passed with no debate and by well more than the two-thirds majority needed.\n"Even though there was no debate (last night), there has been a months-long informal process and a month-long process to debate (the new constitution)," Musgrave said. "The new constitution isn't perfect -- no document is -- but it comes a good deal closer to perfection than any other constitution in the Big Ten, and incredibly closer than the current document, which is virtually unreadable"
(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"
(02/08/02 4:39am)
Enrollment is at an all-time high for the spring semester at all branches of Indiana University, with 90,670 students taking 1,000,493 credit hours. This is the first time more than one million hours have been taught in a spring semester at Indiana University, according to a University statement.\nThe official enrollment figures released Feb. 1 show a 3.7-percent growth in the number of students and a 4 percent growth in the number of credit hours registered. IU Bloomington has seen growth, setting record levels in student head count and credit hours taken.\nThe IU Bloomington campus has seen the student population rise 3.4 percent from spring 2001, with credit hours rising 3.5 percent.\nThe Office of Communications and Marketing's James Tinney said these numbers at IU are unprecedented. Spring enrollment is down from the fall, from 37,963 students to 35,474, but most of the decrease is because of attrition. \n"We don't bring in the large number of students in the spring as we do in the fall," he said. "There is always some drop off in the number of students from fall to spring semester."\nVice Chancellor for Enrollment Services Don Hossler said part of the reason enrollment is high is that there are increasing amounts of students wanting to attend Indiana University. \n"During the past five to six years, we have seen increases every year in the number of applications," he said. "However, a recent university taskforce has decided that IUB is at capacity at the undergraduate level, so we are making every effort to make sure enrollments do not increase to any significant degree in the future."\nThe task force, which delivered its report Aug. 15, 2001, was chaired by David Zaret, executive associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The report states that IUB has reached capacity on the undergraduate level and is approaching capacity in graduate studies. \nIU President Myles Brand said he accepts the commission's findings. \n"I fully accept the task force's conclusion that our undergraduate enrollment at the Bloomington campus is at capacity," he said. "Having reached this level of enrollment, we can now focus even more directly on raising the quality of our entering classes."\nZaret believes that the expanding numbers during the spring semester are not a precursor of larger enrollment in the fall. \n"Enrollment this spring is larger than last spring because of increases in prior years, and also because the retention rate has been gradually increasing," he said. \nWhile enrollment is high, Tinney said the number of credit hours is not increasing per student and that the undergraduate credit hour rate has remained around 14.5 per student for several years.\nBrand said he was pleased to see the record levels of enrollment on all eight campuses.\n"We are pleased at the continued strong enrollment," he said. "At a time when a college degree has never been more valuable, it is good news that Indiana University is meeting the diverse educational needs of so many students on our eight campuses"