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(01/24/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU President Michael McRobbie withdrew the University from the American Studies Association, which calls itself “the nation’s oldest and largest association devoted to the interdisciplinary study of American culture and history.” McRobbie withdrew the University in response to the ASA’s endorsement of a boycott of Israeli institutions. Participants in the boycott are protesting Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, focusing especially on their academic and political oppression by the State of Israel. President McRobbie went on to explain that he believes the boycott is “ill-conceived” and would limit academic freedom.The Editorial Board disagrees and categorically condemns IU’s withdrawal from the American Studies Association. The idea that the ASA boycott is “ill-conceived” is itself inaccurate. The boycott is, in fact, part of a global human rights movement to protest Israel’s shameful treatment of Palestinians. To say that supporting this boycott is in effect supporting a limit on academic freedom is absurd. According to the ASA’s website, the resolution in favor of the boycott “is in solidarity with scholars and students deprived of their academic freedom and it aspires to enlarge that freedom for all, including Palestinians.” The Editorial Board is not protesting the fact that President McRobbie spoke against this boycott on behalf of all members of the IU community . In fact, as president of the university, it’s his job to act as a voice for the unified campus. Yes, we lament the fact that McRobbie rejected the ASA’s boycott. But more importantly, we condemn the president’s further step to leave the ASA altogether. Only five other institutions withdrew from the ASA as a result of the boycott, out of about 4,000 total members.Perhaps IU’s president rejects the idea of boycotting altogether. Or perhaps the administration is afraid to call out Israel for its atrocious violations of Palestinians’ human rights. Regardless, the Editorial Board joins the voices of those that suspect the backlash against the ASA is happening because it is one of the few groups willing to touch an issue so toxic that many refuse to even discuss it. We believe that just because it is politically sensitive to shine a spotlight on what has been occurring in the Middle East for more than half a century does not merit IU’s withdrawal from a prestigious American institution. Instead of joining that discussion, IU has in effect run away from it. Herman B Wells built an iconic legacy on acceptance, inclusion and the protection of academic freedom. Unfortunately the University’s recent decision runs counter to all of that. If President McRobbie is genuinely concerned about preserving academic freedom and free speech, he would not have closed IU’s doors to a group that is one the few actively working to preserve it, Palestinians included.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(01/23/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Six feet of marijuana plant is difficult to hide, that much is clear. Less clear are the implications from a drug bust on campus that later found itself in court. Those who live in the IU dormitories are subject to all the rules and regulations in the A to Z Guide to Residence Hall & Furnished Apartment Living, provided to each of us living on campus at the beginning of the year.But some of the implications from Medlock v. Trustees of Indiana University, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals case, may have chilling consequences.Medlock lived in Willkie during spring 2011. As part of a health and safetyinspection conducted by the Resident Leadership Specialists in Willkie, the inspectors discovered marijuana related paraphernalia lying in plain view.This is especially puzzling as Medlock had a full week’s notice to dispose of theincriminating evidence.The specialists contacted IUPD. Officer Christopher King responded to the summons and positively identified the cannabis paraphernalia. Further inspection by the specialists revealed a six-foot marijuana plant, upon which Officer King again concurred in their judgment.Based on this evidence, a warrant was issued for Medlock’s arrest.Medlock was suspended from the University for one year, after which he could reapply. He did, and was readmitted. However, he sought expungement of the arrest and expulsion from his record.He claimed his Fourth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment rights had been violated, as he was supposedly subject to an unreasonable search and was not given a hearing before he was expelled.The U.S. Seventh District Court of Appeals wound up with the case and issued a decision on Dec. 31, 2013.Judge Posner claimed the magnitude of the violations were so large IU was justified in taking “immediate remedial action if its commitment to its rules ... was not to be questioned.”In other words, IU had to suspend Medlock immediately if the University wanted to maintain its reputable standing.Medlock’s Fourth Amendment claim is also rather shocking in its boldness,arguing the search itself was unconstitutional. But as he agreed to live in a dormitory, he accepted the right of IU to search his room given the terms as listed in the A to Z Guide. Thus, Judge Posner contended, IU simply held Medlock to his contract.The Editorial Board holds this is a fair argument, but the more troubling issue at hand is Judge Posner’s view of the Fourth Amendment, and Title 42 of the U.S. Code Section 1983.Also known as the Exclusionary Rule, it states evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment can be used in noncriminal proceedings.This could set a troubling precedent, for those who are busted under evidence found not in accordance with the A to Z Guide or with the Fourth Amendment could be expelled.Independently, the case also serves as reminder of the disruptive nature of outdated marijuana policy, and more importantly, its consequences on the students of IU.With its power to conduct warrantless searches in campus housing reaffirmed, the University should continue to articulate the strict perimeters of when it will use this authority.And though the scope of the violation in Medlock leaves little room for interpretation, the ability of IU’s judicial system to punish may serve as a harbinger for those who may be on the fence with their violations. — opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter@IDS_Opinion.
(01/21/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As college students, most of us can agree that getting a college degree is important. Most of us can also agree that getting more people through college should be a major goal of United States policy. After all, the world’s most advanced countries — including Japan, Korea and Israel — have more college graduates than the U.S.In 2008, President Obama was elected, openly telling the American people that he would make America the world leader in college graduates. Five years later, we’ve slipped from 12th to 14th in the world. For the past three years, Obama has been forced to play defense, having to stop the Republican-controlled House of Representatives from slashing student aid or raising loan rates. From halting bills in the Senate to passing executive orders, Obama’s done everything possible to maintain the status quo. Unfortunately, the status quo is nothing short of dismal. Since Obama can’t get a comprehensive education bill through the House, he called upon the nation’s universities to open more opportunities for low-income students. Unfortunately, the President’s request has no political or legal bite.It’s an empty request. Since no policy is in place, Obama is depending on universities to let more poor students attend college for cheap or for free. The Editorial Board believes expensive college costs are a substantial part of the quagmire that’s pulling low-income Americans even further down. We also believe the politicians in Washington, D.C., could do more for their constituents than ask for a favor really, really nicely. Currently, we face a national deficit — a lack of jobs, both for college graduates and for non-graduates. And at this point, many of us have to ask if a college degree is even worth the time or money. The best way to make college degrees worth anything is to create sustainable jobs that allow citizens of any income to better themselves. The President can ask universities to allow anyone and everyone to attend all he wants, but that’s not going to make college degrees worth anything. The Editorial Board wants the government to work to get low-income students into universities where they can study degree-demanding fields, such as chemistry, engineering or economics. We also want the government to work with states to create long-lasting, sustainable apprenticeships and job training programs. Instead of condemning people born into unfortunate circumstances to squander time away at a minimum wage job at a fast-food restaurant, we can offer them something better. Phlebotomists, construction workers and pharmaceutical assistants are all examples of jobs that are possible through job training programs. We understand that the President’s gesture was well-intended. He and his wife’s journey to Ivy League degrees is both impressive and powerful.But there isn’t a point to getting students to college if our country can’t provide them a career after the journey.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board on Twitter @IDS_Opinion
(01/17/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>During the holiday season, an estimated 70 million credit and debit cards were compromised when Target databases were hacked.The numbers, expiration dates, customer names, pins and embed codes were stolen. Target attempted to mitigate the damage with a 10 percent discount the weekend before Christmas.Not surprisingly, the company still reported its fourth quarter sales down 2.5 percent instead of the previously predicted flat sales.The exposure was far-reaching. IU students reported problems up and down the holiday season. Some are even having trouble paying tuition with frozen accounts and backed up cards. Really, this could not have come at a worse time.Many banks, rather than choosing to wait, just issued new cards regardless of whether or not the card information was vulnerable.That’s how bad it was.It speaks, again, to the fact that the consumer must be the smart one. Information, no matter how secure, is easily leaked if the hacker is smart enough.It also speaks to the known but largely unappreciated fact that massive industries do not have time to cater to individuals.The customer must be the smart one. And even though companies should protect the security of their clientele, each consumer is still a monetary number valued by his or her participation in the economic survival of the store.But this isn’t just exclusive to massive, conglomerate chains.Some Bloomington stores have had trouble keeping their servers secure, and student information was leaked.Even though we can generally trust where we shop or drink, we can not afford to be careless. And something must be done to protect the consumer. With the amount of identity and credit theft in America, it seems that banks are more stockpiles for hackers than they are secure places to save money.And it’s especially important that students be aware of these issues.Students tend to be big shoppers, despite the stereotype that they are poor, eat ramen and only drink cheap vodka.They use Target’s grocery section and frequently go shopping on Kirkwood.Sorority sisters buy outfits for formals, and independents outfit their houses for parties.Students are active members of the Bloomington economy, though many remain largely unaware of the unexpected dangers of shopping.We once were a society that ran entirely on cash that could easily be stolen, but it seems the plastic in our wallets is just the same. Except now it’s not a stickup in a dark alley — it’s the massive hacking of our information from the stores we love to frequent. Let’s hope this will all boil down to one big lesson on the pitfalls of a digital market and no one will suffer serious consequences.But there are pitfalls, and as students leave Bloomington and enter the global market and global economy, they most definitely need to be aware of them.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion
(01/16/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Most people have probably never heard of Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL), but recently he’s been receiving both love and contempt from the gay community and the liberal media. Before we begin, the Editorial Board must get a few things straight.Schock, who represents the 18th Congressional District of Illinois, is gorgeous. We’re talking about a ripped body that was featured on the cover of Men’s Health magazine. And with perfectly combed hair and a fashion sense that makes J.Crew models jealous, we can’t ignore Schock’s genetic talent.Unfortunately, Congressman Schock has one glaring flaw — he’s one of the most homophobic Representatives in the U.S. House. Schock has voted against the repeal of the military’s “don’t ask don’t tell” policy, doesn’t support the overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act and has advocated for a federal ban on gay marriage. Recently, the Congressman has faced a particularly large influx of rumors about his sexuality. Schock, who is not married and not currently dating anyone, has become a target of openly gay journalist Itay Hod. Hod claims that Schock was caught showering with his male friend. Yet these claims have not been confirmed at this time. We at the Editorial Board hold our field in a very high regard. And we feel it’s the duty of journalists to make claims that they can back up with evidence. These unsubstantiated claims discredit journalists and journalism as a profession. Still, Hod’s claims have reignited a debate in the gay community on the ethical perimeters of outing closeted conservative politicians, especially when they hold such anti-gay voting records such as the one Congressman Schock holds.In 2011 Indiana state Representative Phil Hinkle, a conservative anti-gay politician who voted in favor of Indiana’s proposed ban on same-sex marriage, ended his own career when it was revealed Hinkle had solicited a young man on Craigslist and offered him up to $140 if the young man showed Hinkle “a really good time.” The revelation was supported by emails obtained by the Indianapolis Star. And just like that, a hypocritical politician that did his part to deny people like him their rights was ousted from the Statehouse. We don’t know if Congressman Schock is gay or straight. We don’t know if he showers with his friends for fun or to conserve water. And, unfortunately, Hod has not presented any concrete evidence to prove anything. Instead, Hod has used arguably offensive stereotypes about gay men to back up his claims about Schock’s sexual orientation. If Schock is in fact gay and continues his despicable voting record against the LGBT community, then Congressman Shock deserves whatever public shaming may come from denying rights to a group he may actually belong to. But until a smoking gun, such as the one that ended Hinkle’s career, can be presented, rumors will be just that — rumors. We believe that Congressman Schock, gay or straight, should be able to expect that journalists will use facts when accusing him of something. Hod has not done that. But when someone does, the media will no doubt be ready. Because no one likes a hypocrite, even if they look impeccable. — Follow the Editorial Board on Twitter @IDS_Opinion.
(01/15/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For students who live on campus past freshman year, finding a roommate can be stressful. Many of your friends are moving off campus and, oftentimes, you’re forced to go random because you aren’t allowed to room with your friend of the opposite sex. And, let’s be honest, going random is about as fun as playing Russian Roulette. Thankfully, IU, in collaboration with the student-led Residence Halls Association, is taking a tremendous leap to fixing this problem by allowing upperclassmen to room with people of the opposite sex. The new policy will only affect those who specifically request an opposite sex roommate and who live in Union Street Center, Willkie Quad or Collins Center Hillcrest Apartments. The Editorial Board feels this is a step in the right direction to fix a problem that the University has struggled with for several years. Just last semester, Campus Pride, a nonprofit organization, dropped IU from its list of Top 25 LGBT-Friendly Schools. Campus Pride said the University had been lacking in helping transgender students. The Residence Halls Association, a body made up of the presidents and representatives from each on-campus residence center, has pushed for this change for three years. The issue, they say, wasn’t due to the personal feelings or convictions of the faculty, but because of logistical issues. We believe this change will better the college experience for all students, but especially for LGBT individuals. It’s understandable that gay, lesbian or transgender students would feel uncomfortable rooming with somebody of the same sex. Straight or cisgender individuals will benefit from the change as well.They will receive the option of rooming with friends, regardless of their gender. In dorms such as Union Street Center, the demand for gender-blind housing has been particularly high due to the apartment-style layout of the rooms. IU is moving forward in what has become a national trend. The Harvard College Democrats released a statement in support of gender-blind housing at Harvard.“The proper role of the college is not to determine with whom students may or may not live, but rather to empower its students to make their own decisions responsibly,” the statement said. Other universities, such as Ohio University, Brown University, the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania and Oberlin College allow gender-neutral living arrangements on their campuses.There are three things Hoosiers brag about more than anything — our basketball team, our beautiful campus and our progressive and accepting atmosphere. Until now, the University has made transgender students, among other groups, choose between staying on campus and being uncomfortable or moving off campus to feel accepted. We feel the University was right to open gender-blind housing. The Residence Halls Association and IU faculty have done a great thing on behalf of the students of this University. And it’s about damn time. — opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Editorial Board at @IDS_Opinion
(01/13/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Colorado and Washington may have legal marijuana today, but getting blazed on campus will still land students in trouble.Universities in both states have opted to leave their drug policies unchanged after the new law. Organizations that receive federal funding have to comply with federal law, and most college students are still too young to legally use marijuana under the new law anyway.But for many students, the restrictions don’t stop there. Colorado College students aren’t allowed to use marijuana no matter where they are, on or off campus. Jill Tiefenthaler, president of the small, private school in Colorado Springs said the use of marijuana conflicts with the school’s mission to provide “the finest liberal arts education in the country.”Ignoring for a moment that someone just claimed marijuana and words like “liberal” and “arts” are incompatible, we don’t think this is all that bad.Colleges and universities put restrictions on what we’re allowed to do while we’re here all the time, even when those things are legal under state and federal law. In addition to drugs, use of cigarettes, alcohol — even technically “indecent” behavior — are all subject to certain restrictions and disciplinary actions by the university should those restrictions be ignored. The Indiana University Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities prohibits drug use both on and off campus. Students with certain types of financial aid can also lose it if caught using drugs.Other universities in the state, like Anderson University, have broad codes of conduct that prohibit drug use and apply to students’ behavior no matter where they are until they no longer attend that university. Students who choose to enroll at universities like Anderson or Colorado College probably know how restrictive these schools’ drug policies are when they do so. There’s a difference between the force of a policy’s rhetoric and its force in action.Alcohol isn’t allowed in IU dorm rooms, and that policy has obviously not prevented instances of bunk bed inebriation.The bottom line is most college students in states like Colorado and Washington that legalize recreational use of marijuana are too young to legally possess it anyway. Many will probably still smoke on campus or off, breaking all kinds of rules. Most of them will probably still get away with it.But for the students who don’t, the repercussions of outdated, punitive policy will still be felt and will likely and unnecessarily disrupt their college careers. Colleges pride themselves as institutions always on the vanguard of society. With the victories in Washington and Colorado, it’s clear society’s attitude about cannabis are quickly changing. It’s time for colleges to get with the times as well. — opinion@idsnews.com
(01/10/14 3:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While most of campus is still hazily coming back to life, one group of IU students has hit the ground running — potential new members of IU sororities. Today marks the kickoff of formal recruitment for the sororities of IU’s Panhellenic Council. Sunday Tollefson, a consultant specializing on sorority rush, describes recruitment as “speed dating meets interviewing meets beauty pageant meets upscale academic summer camp, complete with a counselor.”Social clubs are selective by nature. But admittance into IU’s sorority system in particular isn’t just selective, it’s cutthroat. In 2011, about half of the 1,718 women that went through rush received bids in existing chapters.As they stand today, sororities provide an unmatched social network and an emphasis on giving back that seek to produce better women. Unfortunately within both pop culture and in today’s greek system, the role of a sorority woman has been defined in narrow terms.As a natural remnant of its historical origins, greek life is a heavily gendered system. Women have been relegated to a position of keeping in mind at all times how their choices might affect their relations with fraternities.Much like in the rest of society, women in sororities are taught to be competitors for the attention of men. The Editorial Board believes sororities have the potential to change that. Sororities are in a compelling position — despite the historical disadvantage to women, as institutions today they hold significant influence on our campus and the greek system. Despite the heavy sexism in greek life, men in fraternities still aim to be in the good graces of female greeks since anything else defeats the social aspect of men’s social fraternities. Sororities can and should use this sway to change the status quo by systematically stamping out corrosive attitudes in the greek system instead of being accessories to it. Fraternities that disrespect, demean or otherwise create a toxic environment for women should be stigmatized and held accountable through one of the more forceful means: peer rejection. Even more importantly, sororities should encourage an environment where ambition and vocal independence of thought is encouraged. For too long the public consciousness derided sororities as breeding grounds for anti-intellectualism and in short the bimbo stereotype some are all too willing to embrace. Poise, femininity, intellectualism and outspokenness are not mutually exclusive. The best traits that sororities demonstrate — sensitivity, charity, unity and sisterhood — should be used to empower women in a society that is increasingly hostile towards them. It’s time for sorority women to become aware of and exercise all the potential they have to make the University and the greek system a better place. Because after all, why just be put on a pedestal when you can sit on a throne?
(12/12/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Notre Dame has filed a lawsuit, along with several other institutions, opposing portions of the new health care laws that require them to provide health insurance that covers birth control.At first this seems harsh. Yet another tantrum by a big and influential religious sect — entirely unnecessary and only a means of stopping progress.But Notre Dame is a private, Catholic institution. They are not associated with anything other than the Church and have only themselves to answer to. They have different priorities than public organizations.From the beginning, the Catholic Church stated that if Obamacare and the new health care laws forced them to provide health insurance covering birth control and abortions, they would shut down their facilities. This is not just about women’s rights or sexual repression and oppression. It’s about the morality of the new healthcare law.For the Church, birth control and abortions are sinful because they terminate potential human life. In providing health insurance that covers these medications and procedures, the Church is placing itself in a state of mortal sin.This is about protecting their own. Quite literally, they do not want to endanger the immortal souls of their Catholic workers.The Church will not impose these doctrines on any other institution, but its hand is an influential one in our society.If the Church shuts down its programs, more than just Notre Dame will be lost.St. Francis and St. Vincent hospitals, Catholic adoptive services, charities, homeless shelters, schools — all gone.Thought this is not nearly as extreme, it’s a step in this direction. And they gave fair warning.Still, a large percentage of Catholics wish that the Church would waver. It will not.However, the Church and many Catholics do agree the health reforms are charitable and helpful. Many Catholics support Obamacare because they believe it will bring much needed change and aid.Many Catholics also wish this would stop being such a big deal. It’s just one hang-up. But it’s a major, philosophical one. There needs to be a compromise, and soon. The Catholic Church is a major institution; if it is forced to comply with regulations that go directly against its doctrines it will withdraw affected programs from the public sphere.Notre Dame’s lawsuit is only the first of many. And the consequences could be much worse. For the Church, this is not a political or civil argument. This is a moral one. And it needs to be addressed. — opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(12/09/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Graduation is approaching, and most seniors are thinking, “What am I going to do with my future?”People have been wondering the same thing about the city of Indianapolis for decades.While the city does not have the same hit-and-miss advisors we have, a new strategic plan called Velocity makes improvements in amenities as well as commercial and residential life attainable.Many of us saw the city go from Indianapolis to Indianapol-Oz for Super Bowl XLVI, but that progress is not the endzone by any means.Especially in the past 30 years, Indianapolis has improved downtown livability and increased job opportunities, and these efforts culminated in last week’s ranking as the nation’s best downtown by Livability.com.With Velocity, the city has goals varying in length from 18 months to five years, which makes the plan all the more realistic.Eighteen-month goals include enhancing programming in public spaces, creating free Wi-Fi zones and initiating a two-week Indianapolis Arts festival.Long-term goals to be completed in the next five years include improving bike-infrastructure, creating greenways to connect neighborhoods and IU-Purdue University Indianapolis with downtown, and creating a micro-grant fund for innovative start-ups.Passage of the panhandling ordinance is another goal of the plan, and though we have been critical of Indianapolis’ methods of dealing with homelessness in the past, we are glad to see this point is balanced by an increase in availability and improvements to public housing.Such wide-ranging goals in this horizontal approach to improve Indianapolis give the Editorial Board a rare opportunity to actually praise something happening in our state.Most of these tactics, short-term and long-term, share the theme of attracting millennials to the area and actively fighting the “Brain Drain” Indiana public officials so often bemoan.Currently, our generation makes up about 36 percent of the workforce across the country, but this should increase to 50 percent by the end of the decade.If Indianapolis wants sustainable businesses to come to the area, then this is exactly the target market it should attract.Funding specifics have not yet been released by Downtown Indianapolis Inc., but seeing as the plan includes input from leaders in city government, local business, community organizations, neighborhood groups and more than 3,000 individuals, it is likely that these goals will have plenty of local support.Attaining these goals will bolster Indianapolis’ already-healthy resume in attracting millennials. The six square miles of the city’s downtown district already support more than 200 retail shops as well as hundreds of restaurants, movie theaters, sports venues, museums and parks.If you’re graduating soon with no idea what to do, check out Indianapolis. This city certainly knows how to make progress.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(12/05/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Editorial Board has received some alarming news.It’s the kind of news that makes your hope for the future, if not your faith in humanity, decline drastically. The cinnamon challenge, where someone tries to swallow a spoonful of cinnamon in fewer than 60 seconds, is still a thing.At least that’s what Carmel Clay Schools seems to think. To battle this horrific trend of spice abuse, the school system has finally decided to let parents in the loop.Because it’s not like this has been going on for almost two years now.Carmel staged a meeting for parents to learn about current trends and slang popular among children nowadays. Jim Ginder, health education specialist for the Hamilton County Health Department, was present at the meeting.He shared with parents the potential dangers of some trends ranging from the cinnamon challenge to zombie cucumbers, which is a code name for a hallucinogen.Now we’re all learning together.Carmel isn’t the only school system looking to educate on more than just academic topics.Ten miles away, Noblesville West Middle School is trying to raise awareness of bullying. Through the “Majority” program, they encourage bystanders to become “upstanders” by standing up for bullied children.But where most programs focus on preventing bullying, Noblesville is concentrating on intervention.Brandie Oliver, assistant professor at Butler University, has developed a program for a student after he or she has been “identified” as a bully or victim.So what is the key to intervening with bullying? Changing the terminology. Instead of calling a bullied child a “victim,” he or she is referred to as a “target.”And those who bully aren’t a “bully” but a “bullier,” or “a student who has exhibited bullying behavior.”That’s an unnecessary mouthful, but if it works, it works.Our big question is why aren’t the parents being included in this campaign? Why not create just one big Introduction to Anti-Bulling and Teen Trends for Parents and Guardians 101? It seems that if you’re going to bring parents in to teach them about Jimson Weed, then you could at least mention efforts to curb bullying. Studies find that a child’s home environment influences his or her behavior as a bully.If parents are included in these efforts to stop the act, the programs could become more successful.And in the long run, they’d make middle and high school much less miserable.Both school corporations are doing good through their efforts.It would simply be more effective if all school systems, not just Carmel and Noblesville, combined efforts to protect kids in all aspects. And someone should tell the parents about Urban Dictionary.It may traumatize them at first, but anything to keep the children safe. — opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(12/03/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sixty percent of students don’t bother working with their academic advisers, according to the National Survey of Student Engagement. But after reflecting on our own advising experiences, we can’t really blame the students who went to one awful advising appointment and decided never to do that again.Though 75 percent of students reported their adviser was readily available, and they were happy with the services they received, bad advising experiences still offer a valid excuse not to go. Some students are welcomed by a knowledgeable adviser who has taken the time to find out what the student is truly interested in and actively helps the student find the best plan for his or her upcoming semester and future.Unfortunately, other students find themselves more confused after talking with an adviser that is inexperienced, apathetic, overloaded by more than one major or just simply incompetent.Advisers should be experts in their field who can guide students through the University bureaucracy toward great classes, possible internships and what to do after graduation.This can be difficult when advisers are tasked with helping students from three totally unrelated fields, a situation that currently exists at IU.Furthermore, if a student becomes uninterested in his or her major, an adviser is really their only resource for finding a new area of study. The risk could be far greater if you don’t attend any advising appointment at all — unless you regularly attend appointments with an incompetent adviser who neglects to tell you until your last semester that you actually need a few more classes to graduate.We’ve all heard countless horror stories of students who had to attend college longer and pay for another semester just because they were unaware of a specific requirement or didn’t take a certain course.Some of them actually had regular advising appointments. Luckily, IU understands that sometimes making it to an advising appointment just isn’t doable or desirable.The University provides tools through OneStart’s Student Center, like the Academic Planner and the Academic Advising Report, which allow you to plan by your selected major(s) requirements and determine which you have yet to fulfill.But these tools are sometimes out of date or wrong for certain majors, so even the most self-sufficient students can be led astray.Personal preparation and competent academic advising are needed in concert to successfully navigate college.Students and advisers should both work on improving the experience.Advisers should be willing and capable to learn about the student and his or her specific needs.Students should do some research before their appointment and have at least a vague idea of some classes or a direction they want to head. Some people do struggle with their advisers, but the overwhelming majority reported positive experiences.Don’t let the horror stories deter you.You might have to try out a few advisers before you find the best one for you or you might spend a little more time hashing out all your qualms with one that doesn’t quite grasp what it is you want, but in the end, these meetings are worth it.Advisers are there to hold our hands and make sure we get through our college requirements as unscathed as possible.The advising system needs changes, but until that’s accomplished on both sides of the advising spectrum, the adviser and the student need to work together to ensure success.— opinion@indiana.eduFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(12/02/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Thanksgiving isn’t the sexiest holiday — overeating tends to lead to post-meal naps more than post-meal nookie.The holiday break is known for the decidedly unsexy “Turkey dump” phenomenon, in which college freshmen break up with their high school sweethearts. Our condolences and congratulations to the newly single among you. But in light of a recent Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction study, we couldn’t be more thankful for the decidedly tame nature of the Thanksgiving holiday.According to the study, people are using condoms, but they’re not using them correctly.Men and women reported the following problems: putting the condom on backward and having to flip it over, putting the condom on after starting sex, not leaving space at the tip of the condom, using a condom without lubricant, taking the condom off before finishing, having different kinds of sex using the same condom, having the condom slip off or having the condom break.All in all, it wasn’t an impressive showing, as most respondents in the study participated in some type of ill-advised condom behavior.Just so everyone knows, every box of condoms includes instructions on how to put on a condom. It will tell you to pinch the tip of the condom and roll it down to the base of the penis. There should be an air pocket at the tip, which will prevent breaking.If you put the condom on upside down, do not flip it and act like everything is fine. It is not fine. You have just put anything that was on your penis — including STDs and pre-ejaculate — on the outside of the condom, which will touch your partner’s orifices. Get a new condom.You should also get a new condom in between different sex acts. Just think about it for too long. If you are still in the mood, use a new condom.Finally, the condom only works if you use it the whole time.Other safe sex myths: “Just the tip” isn’t real. No, you’re just having weird, unprotected sex.Perfect execution of the pull-out method still carries a 4-percent risk of pregnancy, it is almost impossible to ensure you do it correctly every time and it doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections. Use a different, better method.Birth control pills work only if you take them every day. Forgetting and then taking three in a day is not how baby making is prevented.She can still get pregnant if she was on top, if she was on her period or if you were in a hot tub. Stop it.If you’re having sex with someone who has the same parts as you, don’t hop off the safe sex train. Even though no one’s going to get pregnant, STIs still exist. Everyone should get tested regularly, especially if you have multiple partners. Planned Parenthood, Positive Link and the IU Health Center all offer STI testing.Condoms can be confusing, which is why the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is currently funding research on how to make a thinner, stronger, easier-to-put-on, better fitting condom.The future will be better — but for now, we have to learn how to work with what we’ve got.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(11/21/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s a scenario with which many of us are familiar.You go to college because that’s how you get a job. But hundreds of thousands of dollars and half a degree later, you’re told no, to get a job you have to go to college and get an internship. All the internships you can find are unpaid. If you need the internship to count for college credit, you’re actually paying to work. That is if you can afford it on top of existing college loans.So if you can’t afford to pay to work in college, you’re deemed undeserving of work after you graduate.That is the catch-22 many college students find themselves in, and it’s the reason interns across the country have been suing for pay. Internships are actually invaluable for job training. Colleges don’t do it. Unless you’re in the business school, it’s likely you’ve only taken one “career development” class, which focused on how to get a job, not how to keep one.And since employees no longer stay with one company for 50 years and then retire, employers are reluctant to invest in training programs. Why should they when you’ll take what you learned to a competitor in five years? So unpaid internships emerged as a sort of happy medium — college students get job training, and employers get free labor.Everyone wins — except those students not privileged enough to be able to work for free. In the current system, valuing internship experience in the hiring process often means valuing privilege. Students who can afford to work for free have relevant experience and connections, while students who can’t afford it have a résumé full of food services and retail jobs that don’t seem to carry quite as much weight.It seems unreasonable to expect low-income students to shoulder more debt and more responsibilities to get half as far as those who can rely on mom and dad to foot the bill.Colleges and universities aren’t completely blameless.Requiring more professional skills classes could help those who can’t afford internships get the training they need.There are some scholarships available for students who otherwise couldn’t intern.Expanding these, especially those offered through the University, would make graduates more impressive and improve the school’s reputation.But employers must make changes, too.The solution is simple: if a company can’t afford to pay its interns, or at least subsidize their living costs, that company can’t afford to have an internship program. Paying interns will probably save companies money in the long run if the trend of unpaid interns suing their employers continues.The legal fees and ill repute aren’t worth it. Interns are working. You should pay them for it. After all, there’s a word for unpaid labor.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(11/19/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IDS Editorial Board and multiple columnists have dedicated their space on this page to gun rights and gun control.While none of us are qualified to suggest or enact real solutions to the issue of gun violence, we’ve all asked for legislators and those with the answers to bring attention to this problem. Unfortunately, somebody handing out free shotguns to citizens in violent Indianapolis neighborhoods is not the resolution we were hoping for.Kyle Coplen — a Rochester, Ind., native and Ball State University graduate — has developed a thesis that having firearms in high-violence areas can prevent crime.He plans to test this theory in Houston before he rolls out his plan in Indianapolis. Coplen plans to distribute free pump-action shotguns to citizens who pass a background check and complete tactical training provided by Coplen’s group, the Armed Citizen’s Project.We applaud the fact that somebody wants to do something about violence in our state’s capital.We’re terrified that Coplen wants to basically pull an Oprah and give deadly firearms to anyone who jumps through a few minor hoops.Last year, there were 275 homicides in Indiana. Nearly 75 percent of those homicides involved a firearm. It’s no surprise that having a gun in a household increases the danger of death or injury. From 2003 to 2007, nearly 700 people were unintentionally killed by a firearm. Two-thirds of the accidental gun deaths occur in the home, and half of those victims were younger than 25. Having a gun under your roof significantly increases the chances of injury and death, whether or not your intention of owning a gun is to protect your family. This is why American children between ages 5 and 14 are 11 times more likely to be accidentally killed by a gun than correspondingly aged children in other developed countries. Coplen argues that the mere idea of a gun in the home will make criminals think twice before breaking and entering or committing any array of crimes.This idea of criminals playing Russian roulette with their crimes sounds like a noble argument, but we’re talking about the possibility of a gun versus a physical firearm in a home where it poses more of a threat to a home’s inhabitants than to criminals.Besides, we’d rather deal with a B&E than a dead criminal in our homes — but that’s just us.We’re happy to see the gun control debate continue and to have people offer their ideas as to how we can prevent crime in Indiana.Arbitrarily arming Hoosiers with free shotguns is not the solution we need. — opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(11/18/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In government, there are hard things, and there are easy things.Hard things include making the choice to send troops into dangerous situations, deciding the appropriate balance between privacy and security or carefully crafting enormous pieces of legislation.Making a functional website is one of the easy things.But here we are.Between Oct. 1 and Nov. 2, 701 Indiana residents were able to sign up for a health plan under the new federal exchange. That’s 701 people out of the 16,000 who applied. That’s 701 out of the 500,000 eligible for coverage.So, here in the Hoosier state, Obamacare’s operating at about 0.14 percent efficiency. We’re not OK with that for many reasons.First, Hoosiers need health care. Twenty percent of Indiana adults lack insurance coverage. Indiana lags behind the rest of the nation in many key health indicators, especially those concerning nutrition and preventable death.One ranking named Indiana the 41st healthiest state. Obamacare, when you can’t get the easy stuff right — like designing a website that people can use — then you really are shooting yourself in the foot politically. The Democrats’ entire system of governance requires that people trust their government to get things right. Americans are notoriously anti-government, so this is hard enough to achieve.But high-profile failures like HealthCare.gov make future Democrats have to work harder and harder to do smaller and smaller things. It’s hard to imagine Franklin D. Roosevelt getting the New Deal through Congress if he had just had an Obamacare website-sized screw-up.It’s no secret that the IDS Editorial Board is dominated by liberals, so it’s not like Obamacare is the last of the Democratic policies we want to see. America has many battles left to fight in which we need Democrats to carry the weight: overcrowded prisons, total equality across gender and orientation, welfare and education reform, and marijuana legalization.The list goes on and on, but it gets harder and harder when the government can’t even make a functional website. Wasn’t President Barack Obama supposed to be the “tech president”?In the short term, it’s politically killing Obama, whose approval rating is sinking to new lows. As RealClearPolitics points out, that’s dangerous for Democrats in the upcoming midterms. Obamacare’s failure will translate to Democratic losses, which means Obama will have to continue to work with a Republican House, which means that Congress is going to keep doing everything it can to ruin his life.Independent of Congressional intransigence, the Obamacare website debacle still ruins Obama’s second term. He had many plans: immigration reform, first and foremost, but also climate change, education reform and tax reform. His presidency had the potential to be transformative.Now, though, he’s fighting to keep it from being a failure. Instead of spending his political capital fixing America, he’s spending it fixing a website. Because, if the website gets fixed and if Obamacare survives, that’s his legacy. He’s fighting for his legacy.All because his government couldn’t get the easy stuff right. That’s why he’s reportedly furious. And why we should be, too. — opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(11/14/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>ABBA isn’t the only reason we love Sweden.Four movie cinemas in Sweden are implementing a feminist movie-rating system. The rating system works on a grade scale, with an A awarded to films considered the most feminist.These feminist ratings are based on the Bechdel test, which requires two named female characters to talk to each other about something other than a man.Any film where two named female characters don’t speak to each other or only speak to each other about a man would fail the Bechdel test, and therefore would receive a poor rating.Though the test isn’t flawless, it is a great way to fight gender inequality in the media and get the word out about strong female characters in film.It’s easy for many of us to assume we’re perpetuating media that represents the sexes well.We’ve got so many female stars — so many spunky young actresses that our children can look up to.But the Bechdel test puts everything into perspective.Both “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” fail the test. Other films in the series squeak by.One of the most influential film series of our generation severely lacks strong female interactions.And this should be publicized, just as Sweden is doing.The system is catching on. The state-funded Swedish Film Institute supports the initiative, and Scandinavian cable television channel Viasat Film is planning a day where the network will only show A-rated films.The Editorial Board’s only concern with the system — why do the ladies get all the support?In a sense, the rating system opens a can of worms. Why don’t we have a test for black characters? Queer characters? Or more accurately represented Asian characters?The Bechdel test leaves us wanting more exposure to media that has always fallen through the cracks. It’s not like the female voice is the only underrepresented one out there.We may think we’re progressive when it comes to film — sure, we’ve got “A Single Man” and “The Kids Are All Right” — but that doesn’t mean we’re truly serving queer media.The same thing could be said with black, Latino and basically any other minority-based film.It’s easy to be blinded by the big screen. Natalie Portman looks great in “Thor: The Dark World,” and a bunch of people are watching her kick ass — totally a feminist film, right?Thankfully, Sweden is helping us see the light.Here’s hoping their idea spreads to the States.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(11/11/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In a newspaper article featured on the front page of the Indiana Daily Student last week, Traditionalist Youth Network received coverage for its activities on campus, including chalking to try to spread their ideologies. Trad Youth is a white supremacy group that also hates gays, feminists and Jews. Some critics contended that by making Trad Youth a front page story the newspaper was legitimizing the student group.The role of a newspaper, though, is to report on and cover news. As soon as Trad Youth began to make statements on campus, the IDS newspaper staff was obligated to bring that activity to light and do the best it could to report the facts of the situation.These are students holding meetings on our campus, conducting protests in our community and writing their message on our sidewalks. The IDS has an obligation to inform IU and Bloomington what is happening here. That is the role a responsible news organization must fill, and it is the role the IDS filled in publishing the story. By choosing to write about the group, the IDS was appealing to its readership and attempting to engage readers with the issue on a more significant level. Now that more people are aware of Trad Youth, contextualized in Indiana’s history of racism as a loving home for the KKK in the 1920s and the broader boom of hate groups nationwide, more can be done to discuss and rout the kind of extremism these groups represent. Trad Youth is a part of Indiana’s legacy of racism. We have a responsibility to know about and confront them.But we must confront them in a measured fashion. We should not compromise our morals because we ardently disagree with theirs. The ideas Trad Youth represent may be contrary to those of the “normal” student at IU, but that does not invalidate their right to speak about their views. Voltaire is often credited with saying, “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” Although their speech may be uncomfortable for most, they are well within their rights to say it. As a matter of fact, it is vitally important that they have the ability to say these things. It demonstrates the incredible freedoms we have to speak, regardless of how contradictory the ideas may be to public opinion.This makes people even more uncomfortable, though. How do we rationalize the fact that we actually support someone’s ability to speak out, even when that speech is hateful to the very essence of who we are? Though Trad Youth is an inexcusable hate group, its members should be able to speak their views publicly. And when they do speak, it is the obligation of the press to be there to hear it.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(11/07/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>College isn’t the real world.At least, the legal systems aren’t real. Earlier this year, Gov. Pat McCrory, R-N.C., signed a law allowing university students to be “represented by an attorney or non-attorney advocate” in campus courts. In North Carolina, as well as many other states throughout the United States, students in universities are often tried for crimes such as theft, harassment or rape in campus courts. Sometimes the campus court system can be confusing for students.It is structured differently from what we see on “Law and Order,” with students handling some cases and faculty handling others. Sometimes a mix of the two are present.The burden of proof can also vary.Usually it’s easier to be convicted in a campus court than a traditional criminal court.For these reasons, we welcome the allowance of lawyers into the campus court system.As long as campus courts continue, Indiana should consider making similar changes.But we’re not sure that campus courts should remain in their current form.It isn’t appropriate to hold trials for crimes like rape within the school system.Campus courts contribute to a norm in which students aren’t treated as real adults. Students learn best when there are consequences for their actions.Often, however, high school students have more real-life implications than we face at IU.If you’re in high school and of a sufficient age to go to prison, you will more often than not.The administrators will call the police, and you’ll be escorted out for being drunk, violent, crazy or whatever. In college, the system is different.Students who break laws on campus, such as drinking, drug use and more serious crimes like rape, are often referred to campus courts instead of the traditional court system.Campus courts require a lower burden of proof than criminal courts, but they also dole out less severe sentences.Often students are expelled or suspended for crimes that might require jail time if they were committed by someone other than a student.This is a roundabout way to protect students privileged enough to attend an expensive university.There are countless college-age students across the country who aren’t fortunate enough to attend institutions of higher education, and these free passes only contribute to inequality in the U.S. If students are caught breaking the law, they’re given a slap on the wrist and some sort of educational activity to carry out, such as attending a class or making a bulletin board.There’s something inherently wrong with this system. While the law in North Carolina is the first of its kind in the country, it’s representative of the culture we’ve bred in universities — a culture where you can break the law without any real, tangible, foreseeable consequences. And if these larger crimes such as theft or rape fall under the same “legal” category within university systems, that’s only enhancing the problem. Students are adults attending a university and should be treated as such.If you break the law, we feel you shouldn’t need a campus attorney. You should be charged as an adult in an adult world. — opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion.
(11/04/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Billboards regarding missing student Lauren Spierer were taken down last week to mixed reviews and feelings.Many want the signs to remain in place.A Facebook page was created in protest.People want the signs to stay up, per the Spierer family request.However, the Editorial Board believes if there was ever a good time to take down the signs, now would be the most appropriate.The problem with taking them down is just as Mayor Mark Kruzan said in a statement released last week.“For those who believe they should remain in place, there was no right time to remove them,” he said.They’ve become symbols.Symbols of hope that we believe Bloomington can play its part in the search. That we believe there’s a chance she could still return home safely. They’ve also become warnings.Every new student that drives here sees her signs — a cautionary tale of the consequences of reckless and common student behavior. The nature of the beast is that Lauren is probably no longer in Bloomington or Monroe County. Signs for Lauren can and will still be displayed in businesses and stores.Bloomington will not forget her. But all signs on public property will be moved or replaced.After two years, it’s time not to forget, but to move on.It’s time for the University to take more serious action with current students: programs about safety, seminars about drinking and drugs, etc. That’s the best way we can continue to remember Lauren — by making sure not another student on this campus is harmed.As complicated, sticky and awful as the situation is, the bare fact of the matter is it’s time.Students and faculty need to adopt a new strategy.Instead of the shock-and-awe method of telling Lauren’s story, this new strategy needs to be educational and preventative.Lauren Spierer’s disappearance was preventable — incredibly so.And even though we’ve lost her, there are students like her on this campus who we can save before their signs replace hers.It’s time to mourn her loss, and it’s time to move on.If anyone has any information regarding Lauren Spierer, please contact the Bloomington Police Department’s 24-hour tip line at 812-339-4477 or your local police department.— opinion@idsnews.comFollow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion.