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(06/17/07 9:43pm)
In a capitalist age where the size of the wallet can trump the amount of knowledge in the brain, universities are unable to escape a continued need for revenue and funding in order to compete in the academic market. To this end, several universities across the nation have spent hours devising schemes and plans to increase the amount of money flowing into their campuses. As these schemes have developed, so too have the roles of several campus figures who must realign their concentration to foster the monetary needs of the university. Consider today’s unfortunate model of the university president.\nIncreasingly, the selection of university presidents concentrates more heavily on talent for raising funds than commitment to higher education and student livelihood. Take, for example, Purdue President Martin C. Jischke, who after holding the presidency from only 2000 to 2007 is stepping down. It was widely rumored that Jischke’s appointment was primarily the result of his ability to raise funds, which he did using a number of techniques, including increasing both tuition and student fees. Leaving the presidency vacant, Jischke will become Chairman of the Board at Wabash National, the Lafayette-based company that is one ofAmerica’s foremost manufacturers of semi-trailers. Examining Jischke’s tenure, he appears to more closely resemble a gun for hire in the world of increased revenue than a president committed to higher education. \nAdding to this image of the current-day university president is the search for the next person to hold the position at the University of Iowa. The university recently narrowed its search to two candidates: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Chancellor Charles R. Bantz and Purdue University Provost Sally Mason (both served in some capacity under Jischke). As one of the top qualifications listed for obtaining the presidency, the university lists resource development and discusses in its description of higher education the need for economic development.\nAre the days of long-serving and obviously committed presidents those of the past, forgotten by a fast-moving, money-loving society? There is no doubt funding is required in order to provide the students at institutions with the greatest possible resources for success. However, in today’s climate, where university presidents so easily come and go, the developing danger that students will be forgotten in the fundraising focus is prominent. \nTherefore, as IU prepares for the July transition to the presidency of Michael McRobbie, we can only hope that his continual claim concerning commitment to students is true. While it appears that one of the primary reasons for choosing McRobbie is his ability to develop the University as a research institution, perhaps his familiarity with the IU family, of which he has been a member since 1997, will help him remain committed to the school and not just its budget. With any luck, higher education and love of students has not been murdered by a world more concerned with money than people.
(06/14/07 4:00am)
"Ocean's 13" is not a movie -- it's a world. But in this world, the audience will forever be on the outside looking in. By no means does the film leave the viewer jealous of this cinematic world; for us, it's just fun to be along for the ride. The feel is, in a word, cool. \nThe movie begins with a shady business deal between casino czar Willie Bank (Pacino) and Reuben Tishkoff (Gould), Danny Ocean's financier, which causes Reuben to have a near-fatal heart attack. Ocean (Clooney) and the crew decide to rig Bank's casino so that for one night only, the house loses. Smuggling in Black Jack card shufflers that guarantee the table always gets 21 while the dealer busts and dispersing remote controled dice throughout the casino are only a few of their revenge-driven schemes.\n"Ocean's 13" pays homage to the 1960 original film. Both Bank and Tishkoff are "old school" guys who live by a code. They've even shaken hands with the Godfather of their world, Sinatra himself. To them, that's supposed to mean something. \nThe missteps of the second film (the worst of trilogy) were a painfully difficult-to-comprehend plot and the absence of a Vegas setting. This time, though, the boys are back in the desert, and the plot, at its core, is a simple revenge story which kept my attention the entire time. \nThe cinematography is brilliant, right on par with Soderbergh's previous two "Ocean's" and "Traffic." The set and costume design is such that a still from this movie could be put right into the pages of GQ. It's not just the clothes -- it's the never-panicked and super smooth attitudes of the characters that men want to emulate and women want to get with.\nAlso, Soderbergh uses creative editing techniques like freeze frames and wipes to weave the story together coherently and smoothly. In one seduction scene, the audience even gets to see exactly how pheromones are dispersed into the air.\nAl Pacino is a great addition to the elite, coolest-of-the-cool cast, but his performance is noticeably toned-down. It's refreshing to see Pacino in a supporting role, and it's nice to see that he doesn't mind being upstaged by a ensemble cast with the best on-screen chemistry in recent memory. \n"Ocean's 13" is a venue for the elite of Hollywood to flaunt their immense talent for the audience to eat up, but it's clear by watching them work that everyone involved is having fun. And you know what? As a viewer, I did too.
(06/11/07 12:11am)
For many college students across the nation, three words were pounded continually into their heads so that they would never forget them until they passed them on to their own children. School comes first. School comes first. School comes first. But for others, academics took a backseat to athletics. The field came before the classroom, the ball before the books. \nNow, as those students have entered college to play for some of the most storied programs in the history of college sports, some are struggling academically. Hence, NCAA president Myles Brand recently announced the formation of a team that will research and make recommendations for the current academic climate in men’s basketball, the sport which has the lowest academic prowess of all Division I athletics programs across the nation. \nBrand’s Division I Men’s Basketball Academic Enhancement Group, which will begin meeting in August, will no doubt have a positive affect on the lives of many student athletes as well as improve the image of major sport athletes. This is especially true at our own IU, where the men’s basketball team had one of the lowest ranking (277 of 325) on the NCAA’s Academic Progress Report, which measures the ability of colleges to retain academically eligible student athletes. If Brand’s group proposes reforms that improve such statistics, then he no doubt will deserve praise for its creation and his concern for the academic lives of student athletes. \nHowever, Brand’s announcement of this program in early June 2007 brings with it some inconsistencies with comments he made in a letter to Congress in November 2006. Why was the president of the NCAA writing to Congress? Just weeks before, then-chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Bill Thomas demanded that Brand justify the NCAA’s federal tax-exempt status on grounds that it has an educational purpose. A major question was the necessity of federal taxpayers to subsidize expenditures on things such as rising salaries for coaches and costly new athletics facilities. Brand responded with a 25-page letter defending the academic inclination of the NCAA, listing several reasons that the NCAA should remain tax-exempt, including scholarships provided for economically disadvantaged students and that lessons learned in the athletic arenas are just as important as those in the classroom. \nUnfortunately, given the professional atmosphere that is growing around major collegiate athletics and the recent admission that athletes in those sports are struggling academically (baseball was recently reviewed by a similar committee), it seems that the NCAA is failing in its academic duty. Brand’s committee will likely improve the academic status of major college athletes, but at the time he delivered his defense to Congress, the NCAA was sub-par academically. \nThe assertion that athletes are students first seems to lack much-needed support. Rather, the lights and fame that come with men’s basketball programs distract from the primary purpose of a student at a university. \nIt seems unfair, therefore, that the NCAA should receive federal tax-exempt status if it is failing in its professed goals. Such status should be stripped until such time as the NCAA can show a legitimate link between collegiate athletics and academic progress, independent of reform.
(06/10/07 11:03pm)
Every year, high school students across the nation celebrate their achievement of admission into IU. For many Indiana residents who throughout their childhood heard about our beloved school’s legacy and prestige, they find perhaps no greater thrill than the opportunity to attend college in Bloomington. But residents across the state are having greater difficulty making this dream a reality. As admissions standards begin to rise, Indiana public school systems seem to be lacking in preparatory methods.\nThe recently released categorization of Indiana high school academics required under the No Child Left Behind Act found that 75 percent are in the lowest two levels – “academic watch” and “academic probation.” More troubling still, 89 percent of high schools either stayed in the same bracket (57 percent) or dropped to a lower one (32 percent), despite those lower brackets having received more state aid.\nBecause high school academics are vital to preparing for college level classes, this trend threatens the quality of both IU and the state job market. With an increasing number of applications received by IU coming from Indiana residents, the University will be forced to admit more out-of-state students who attended better high schools or lower the quality of those it admits for under-performing Indiana residents. Some may argue the latter is one of the school’s primary duties, but that still seems unlikely considering IU’s constantly increasing admissions standards. \nThe state should make re-establishing education one of its primary goals. A starting place for improvement might be to have teachers measure their effectiveness by asking students’ opinions thereof, a task already being pursued here. IU’s annual High School Survey of Student Engagement found that 30 percent of the students polled – 81,000 students – cited lack of teacher interaction as a primary difficulty and 75 percent cited lack of interesting material as a key problem. \nBoth led to increased boredom of students. Only 52 percent of students said their teachers’ lectures were engaging. \nAll of these numbers shape a pretty poor perception of the Indiana public school system and seem to indicate a population uninterested in higher education. However, 75 percent of the same polled group expressed interest in attending college.\nThe danger for those students who have the above feelings is that, when the time comes for them to receive a college acceptance letter, their lack of preparation will find them at a disadvantage. With IU officials calling the incoming freshman class “the best academically prepared class in the history of IU,” many are already concerned that students are not being admitted who would have been in the past. \nThe lack of preparation of Hoosier high school students will have a greater effect on their lives than they might perceive. And so it is with a stern eye and newly reformed commitment to excellence by state legislators, high-school officials and educators across the state must improve. Otherwise, Indiana residents will find themselves left out of higher education more often.
(06/07/07 12:06am)
As a sports fan, I always find myself amazed when I sit down to admire the collegiate athletes I see on television, making big, clutch plays and causing droves of people to stand up and cheer. Athletes such as D.J. White and Kellen Lewis, who might one day find themselves being paid to play their respective games, hold the attention of thousands of fans around the world. Students and alumni measure success by comparing the current state of the major athletic programs to each storied history. Some may say that those players define the spirit of sport.\nBut the spirit extends far beyond the playing fields and arenas of IU. Although most Hoosiers stand in support of our nationally touted NCAA Division I athletics programs, the blood and sweat of those who will never see a huge contract or sign a Gatorade endorsement deal present a better example the true meaning of sports in Bloomington. Enter the IU ultimate frisbee club team, who placed 11th in their recent national tournament after a 12-year absence from championship competition. Or take the IU Figure Skating team, which finished fourth at national championships this year, repeating its performance of a year ago in April. And consider the women’s rugby team, who are intent on moving up divisions next season. These club teams have at least one thing in common: Their participants simply love their sports. Not for glory, fame or fortune – but for love of the game.\nThe beauty of recreational teams at IU might be found in some of the regulations pertaining to the 41 clubs. The rules, in the spirit of allowing as many as want to join teams to do so, say no team is allowed to hold tryouts or make cuts. The Division of Recreational Sports is dedicated to protecting the rights of all individuals involved in its programs, all-star athletes and occasional joggers alike, to pursue athletics as they see fit. The spirit of sports is not solely found among the few who make stadiums buzz, but among the many who play in our recreational programs. \nThe IU community should recognize the spirit of sport inherent at the University in these participants. IU is inundated with academic and career-related extracurricular programs, and many students sacrifice the fun of recreation for work. But those who take to the field, bat, ball or ping-pong paddle must have some inescapable need for sport.\nSo when an outsider asks what makes IU one of the greatest sports schools in this nation, take time to ponder whether the definition can be wholly encompassed by men slam-dunking balls on national television, undefeated records at Assembly Hall, the continued pursuit of a bowl game or a history that includes NCCA championships and thrown chairs. A look around campus will reveal that sports are much more than that in Bloomington. They hold the community together at the seams through participation as well as observation. And if a friend brings up the question on the way to a softball game, fencing match or a swing dance competition, answer it candidly. While pointing to the person beside you, say “They do.”
(06/06/07 11:08pm)
IU President Adam Herbert, in the waning days of his tenure, recently instituted a course-credit policy that will give Ivy Tech students easier access to the University. Herbert, along with Ivy Tech President Gerald Lamkin, signed what has been dubbed a “memorandum of understanding” that outlines more than 100 courses which will carry credits transferable to IU. Officials at the state community college and IU seem pleased with the outcome, which required a good deal of work from both parties over the past two years.\nThis new development presents an immediate concern, though, which many IU students might find troubling. The question at hand is whether or not an influx of transfer students from Ivy Tech, which has much lower admission standards than IU, will depreciate the value of an IU diploma. Some think that this would be the result, especially in light of the fact that Ivy Tech has no minimum SAT requirement for admittance. However, IU Director of Media Relations Larry MacIntyre denounced such views, saying that each course carrying transferable credit was thoroughly examined. All courses were found to be comparable to those at IU.\nThose who believe that IU degrees will be of less value after easier access is made possible are following a conceited notion. Rather than complain about “lesser” students being admitted, critics should acknowledge that the state is fulfilling its great responsibility to educate its populace. \nMore than 106,000 students attend Ivy Tech, many because of financial struggles rather than low test scores. In a job market that is becoming increasingly more educated, people are finding it necessary to be educated at the most accredited university possible. By allowing those less-advantaged students to transfer, IU is helping them build careers and become more competitive. Universities’ missions must inherently make it clear that they are dedicated to this end, and as a public university, IU must strive to do so for all state citizens. Affordability is a key for many who are considering attending college, and IU has taken a great step toward allowing this (though ever-increasing tuition costs might seem to contradict that idea).\nIn short, it is not necessarily the place of students who attend public universities such as IU to fear the depreciation of their degrees, since these institutions exist to serve all citizens. Nor does it seem in this case that the concern is legitimate seeing as how educators at IU have determined the transferable courses are up to par. IU will remain a prestigious name, and it is great that now many more Hoosiers will be able to benefit from it. It is unwarranted to worry that this will have significant effect on future IU graduates’ success in the job market. \nToday people are being faced with this decision: Go to college or work at McDonalds. With the signatures of Herbert and Lamkin, more Hoosiers will now be asking professors to explain advanced mathematics rather than asking out a drive-thru window, “Would you like ketchup with your fries?”
(05/21/07 12:00am)
Dear Purdue University,
(05/20/07 10:59pm)
Slightly over a month ago, the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings started a ripple through the nation that has led to increased fear about such isolated atrocities and intense discussion about reforms that might protect against them. The 33 left dead by the actions of Cho Seung Hui put the nation in a state of horror and wonder. Confused questions could be heard around every water cooler in the country: Why? Who could do such a thing? Where were the authorities? How can we prevent this from happening again?\nAfter the shootings, news reports outlined the warning signs and engendered fear of the perpetrator’s characteristics, and many citizens found themselves looking over their shoulders. Accounts from gun shop owners who said requests for hand gun peramits have increased since the shootings highlighted the anxiety. As always, we are looking for someone to blame.\nNow, in our home state, it is clear that fear perpetuated by the media can leave us open to exploitation. Last week, in Franklin, Ind., a school janitor named Shaun Starks reported hearing and witnessing the discharge of a weapon inside Franklin Community High School. The police evacuated the 200 people who had stayed in the building after school hours. After a 45-minute investigation, the police determined that the report was a hoax, arrested Starks and charged him with felony intimidation. Sentencing is expected to be heavy-handed.\nStarks exploited the community by anticipating its fears and playing a joke intended for his own amusement. The joke was a morbid one for the community, and it will serve to intensify the already extreme wariness of Indiana citizens and the need to place blame. It is unclear whether such catastrophes are the result of the “if it bleeds, it leads” mentality of the American news media, the extreme violence of our popular culture, the proliferation of hand guns in the U.S. or simply the isolated work of mentally deficient individuals. So rather than attempt to place blame, we should turn our heads toward the future. \nOur generation is taking its place as the leaders of tomorrow. We are charged with the handling of societal affairs in the nation that we will soon inherit. It is our duty to evaluate current protocol and practice, reworking both so that they achieve the greatest benefit for the community. Their desire to progress toward this end led a student group to hold the conference “Call to Action: Campaign to Stop Youth Violence” Saturday at IUPUI, where attendees expressed concern about violence across the state.\nBut Shaun Starks also provides us with an important example. He was able to make a school evacuate 200 people from its campus with only a phone call and a dark sense of humor. Imagine what a well-organized perpetrator could do with such control. If we have nothing to fear but fear itself, then the current terror with which we face future attacks might be our biggest weakness.
(05/14/07 12:03am)
The long summer months now plague IU and its sports fans, bringing a sense of boredom and a great many complaints about the professional sports world, which will enter the long and grueling MLB season after the NBA playoffs. Headlines dedicated to contract negotiations will cause some to reconsider the legitimacy of the pros, the conclusion of which will include vomiting. And we’ll sit around and wonder when-oh-when our college sports will return.\nBut have no fear, IU supporters, because believe it or not, those who keep a watchful eye on their school or alma mater might find some action that will hold their attention longer than a Gatorade commercial featuring Kevin Garnett. Here are some IU story lines that might warrant your attention this summer.\n1) Terry Hoeppner is “The Rock.” \nWhen Coach Hoeppner joined the IU football team in 2005, the expectations for the program went from being among the lowest of any school in the nation to the belief that a bowl game within the next few years could be a real possibility. Bringing with him a 3-ton piece of limestone and dubbing Memorial Stadium “The Rock,” Hoeppner’s focus on fan support is winning back a formerly disenchanted fan base that is now poised for a post-season berth. He is the current face of IU football, and as he continues his leave of absence due to medical reasons, the fans will eagerly and respectfully await the return of the anchor and wish him the best of luck.\n2) Assemble the construction workers.\n The IU board of trustees is considering either the replacement or refurbishment of Assembly Hall. Comments from the group and others, including IU President Adam Herbert and head men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson, have seemed to support the initiative and it appears that it will be approved. The logistics of this construction should be interesting to watch, even for non-sports fans. \n3) Will the Big Ten Network work?\nThe Big Ten Network is preparing to launch in August 2007, causing many to wonder whether it will be readily available and if it will even be a benefit to their sports-watching experience. Fans will have almost a month to see if the network can be an effective tool in future summers to make up for the lack of publicized sporting events before students return for fall classes August 27. Given the confidence the Big Ten has shown in its new television network and the apparent excitement of those responsible for its launching, its success seems likely. \nSo as fans sit and yawn after a long day of work with no evening basketball game or college sports commentary on the tube, it will be worthwhile to dig into some news sources and track these stories as they progress. With no game broadcast on the radio and the lack of screaming and swearing accompanying it, at least reading about the latest developments at IU will keep disgust at the capitalism of professional sports to a minimum. But if stories are slow to develop and no new ones replace them, we’ll just have to deal with reports about who put a needle in their arm so they could get paid more. Sorry.
(05/13/07 10:39pm)
Some communities have had enough. Enough of the moral bankruptcy, enough debauchery and enough violating the homey atmospheres that their communities portray.\nDale, Ind. will be working over the next few weeks to close the doors of an adult entertainment facility that refuses to shutdown, even after a Spencer County judge ordered it was in violation of city ordinance. The ordinance demands that establishments like The Adult Plaza not operate within 1,000 feet of churches, schools or homes. Advocates of the ordinance claim that the store does not adhere to the image and standards of a family-oriented community.\nA similar law is being challenged in Louisville that imposes strict regulations on adult entertainment facilities because of the assertion that they bring negative secondary effects such as drug use and violent crime. Opponents argue that the ordinance makes it financially impossible for such businesses in a market that is estimated to bring in a national revenue of four to $10 billion annually.\nMove now to our southwest Indiana home of Bloomington. The city and surrounding area contain several adult entertainment facilities that would be in thorough violation of Dale’s ordinance. From strip clubs to bookstores, if it’s adult entertainment you want, Bloomington’s got it. This situation raises the question, are college students in the 21st century morally bankrupt?\nThe driving force behind the restrictions in Dale and other cities comes from an adherence to perceived proper practices of raising a family. Much of the independent research having to do with pornography focuses on its effects on children. If those communities believe that the censorship of this sensitive material is necessary to achieve that end, their reason for protest is obvious. Though the First Amendment will protect the rights of The Adult Plaza and businesses like it, the voices calling the operations into question deserve to be heard. \nHowever, college students’ lack of morals is not the main cause for the high number of adult establishments in Bloomington. Rather the cause is that students, many of whom are single, are less likely to consider protecting their family to be a major concern. For them, academic or career-related issues are closer at hand. Another contributing factor is IU’s diversity, which has given birth to research facilities such as the Kinsey Institute, and likely correlates to more diverse forms of sexual expression. Students at IU either prioritize other issues or make a different judgment about the morality of sexual expression in those forms available.\nDale’s citizens believe the correct practice is to prevent the continued existence of The Adult Plaza. They face a serious battle with the First Amendment, no doubt. However, the IU community’s support of such shops (evidenced by the fact that they make enough revenue to remain in business) does not necessarily mean that its citizens are morally bereft. The communities merely view the establishments in different contexts.
(05/07/07 4:00am)
Athletics spending’s appearance as a priority at IU has not been uncommon recently. While the University does not outspend some of the nation’s larger athletics programs (Ohio State, for example), a pretty penny does go to benefiting its most prolific representatives on the national media stage. \nThe athletics department is working now to convince the IU board of trustees to allocate even more funding to its end. During the board’s meeting last week, athletics department representatives, including director Rick Greenspan, proposed that if a new arena is not constructed (a possibility that has not been ruled out), IU’s Assembly Hall will require upward of $100 million for improvements in order to remain up to date. Several trustees agreed that such improvements were necessary, and IU president Adam Herbert, who will leave office in July, expressed concern with the length of time that has passed since the facility was last renovated.\nAs an IU athletics fan very much hoping for the success of the IU men’s and women’s basketball teams, I welcome any improvement to our current arena. However, as an IU student pursuing academic success and a large salary in part due to the academic prestige of the alma mater, this proposal should be viewed with a certain amount of skepticism. Following the September approval of a $55 million athletics facility upgrade that includes construction of an Indiana Basketball Development Center, another large appropriation to the department for renovation might seem over the top to some who are students before fans.\nComparing IU athletics to some of the lower-tier programs in the Big Ten Conference reveals the difficulty with such renovations. For example, Northwestern University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams each finished last in Big Ten Conference play in 2007, both posting respective 2-14 records while playing in Welsh-Ryan Arena. The facility holds 8,117 spectators, a full 9,339 fewer than Assembly Hall, which holds 17,456. However, during the 2005 school year, graduating salaries for Northwestern students were either at or above the national average in the areas of consulting, engineering and information technology, finance and marketing and communications. While the results for IU’s nationally acclaimed Kelley School of Business are far superior to those of Northwestern’s business programs, other areas fall short of those whose diplomas say Northwestern.\nI am not showing these statistics as a means of berating Greenspan and the athletics department. They are merely doing their job, namely concentrating on the improvement and continued success of IU athletics. Rather, I am pointing them out in hope that the board of trustees will consider the student before the fan when they evaluate the amount to spend on Assembly Hall’s improvements, especially considering that lately the IU athletics department has at points been in a significant amount of debt. Are facility upgrades necessary for Assembly Hall? Tentatively, if IU needs to focus on the success of athletics and the exposure they can bring to the University, then the answer is likely yes. However, these improvements should not result in the decline of academic programs that might also benefit from funding. Either direction for funding has benefits and drawbacks. But the greatest good for the greatest number might leave Assembly Hall in its current state of disrepair.
(04/30/07 4:00am)
Entering the era of Michael McRobbie as IU president, the university’s eight campuses must be poised for transition. It will be a transition to make IU a research based university and to a focus on the spread of IU’s mission internationally, no doubt. But the most important, and most debated, transition that the university will be faced with is the incorporation of the multiple university campuses into the national and international conception of IU. This transition is the one that has been the impetus for an unfortunate debate. \nThe core of this discussion about the incorporation of other university campuses contains neither a legitimate concern for the degree quality of IU-Bloomington nor the fear that IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis will lead the university down a path too focused on research and less focused on education. Such assertions are merely justifications for the core belief that such a view perpetuates – IUB is the best and everyone else can rot for all we care.\nConsider for a moment that the request for general education funding at IUB for the 2006-07 academic year was $671,373,149. The total amount of the General Education fund requested by the University in its entirety was $1,351,041,810. The request for IUB makes up approximately 49.6 percent of the total amount of the General Education budget.. The IUPUI request was a significantly lower second at $477,791,379, though its estimated total expenditures were $64,036,232 more than those of IUB. The university’s third largest campus by enrollment, IU-South Bend, requested just $56,590,655. IU-Southeast New Albany, the fourth largest campus, requested $47,008,140.\nViewing these numbers makes it clear that, because of its large enrollment and flagship status, IUB is in fact viewed the top dog in the IU hierarchy. A challenge to that position is unlikely, and if it does happen, the “contender” will be IUPUI. IUB’s view that the Indianapolis campus is its adversary is counterproductive and it degrades the success of another member of the IU family.\nRather than be concerned about IUB remaining the flagship campus of IU, it would be beneficial to build up the other campuses around the state, so that all IU students can proudly and accurately call themselves Hoosiers. Funding projects that will prove beneficial to other campuses will only result in broader success for the University. For example, Gov. Mitch Daniels recently decided to back the construction of university apartments at IU South Bend and IU Southeast for approximately $40 million. At IU Southeast, the housing project is expected to help the school’s competition with surrounding universities such as the University of Louisville.\nIf calling IUB the flagship campus of IU will keep the opponents of progress at bay, then by all means, tout it as such from the highest mountain. But continuing a childish complaint about a collective partnership between all IU campuses will be detrimental to university progress. The enhancement of IU, with all its many campuses and students, should in fact be the mission pursued. I hope IU’s new president will continue in this regard and render IU the true state university in Indiana.
(04/23/07 4:00am)
Dead weak. During the fall semester the week before finals is filled with scrambling to pull grades up with extra credit, begging professors for paper extensions and nervously biting pencils as you cram for the last exams of the semester. But the looming summer alters the last 10 days of the spring semester. Rather than be too concerned with classes, students are busy considering internships, going home and returning to old friends and family or looking down the treacherous path that is the long-distance relationship.\nThere is no doubt that summer brings with it a certain ambiguity about life direction for many students. The majority that spent the full school year in the professed “bubble” that college students live in are again faced with the only contact with real life that they have experienced. Each will have to face that reality, at least for three short months (which can feel like a week or a year). And while we each face our own precipice, we will be thinking often, whether in longing or discontent, of the scholar strewn paths of our IU.\nBut the summer should not necessarily be taken as a disruption that will merely interrupt the current livelihood of students. Rather, the paths available should be cherished. As good friends trickle away, new friends will take their places. When the work is done, new tasks will become available to keep your mind sharp. Old loves of winter will give way to new loves blooming at the end of spring.\nFor those graduating, IU will move to the rear of their memories at least for a short time until one day remembrance turns to sentimentality, sentimentality turns to regret, regret turns to nostalgia and nostalgia turns to happiness. And around the corner from all of these feelings are the doors that have been unlocked as a result of the education received at their soon to be alma mater. \nThe point, ladies and gentlemen, is that if you listen, while the sound might be to faint to hear at times and at others thundering relentlessly, you will find that with every situation that we Hoosiers encounter, somewhere, opportunity knocks. Opportunities will take many forms for each of us – whether it be a business firm impressed with your resume resulting in an internship or job, the chance to travel the globe in an overseas study program, a career that takes you to exotic places, the opportunity to remain in direct contact with your best friend or the acceptance of a marriage proposal from your college sweetheart.\nSo as summer approaches and we prepare to confront whatever situation presented to us, thoughts should not be solely focused on the losses that we might incur. The chances given to IU students are exponential and we should enter them with the full weight of our IU educations (both inside and outside the classroom) behind us. The rapping of opportunity approaches. Remember to open the door.
(04/23/07 4:00am)
The weekend of Little 500 approached with sheer intensity in the air as it so often has over the race’s storied history. \nNot uncommon were the social gatherings, the support of the riders from their respective fans and the competitive spirit of the riders. Nor did the packed stands on race day come as a surprise. Rather, in a common path trod over generations, the theme of this season’s Little 500 was unity.\nThe unification associated with the “greatest college weekend” is broad and sweeping, encompassing the riders, the coaches, the media and the student body – generally the entire university. From April 16 to the early morning hours of April 22, the campus was concerned only with a bicycle race and its surrounding festivities. As I stood on the infield at Bill Armstrong Stadium, looking at the crowds for each race and listening to the creative chants of sorority sisters, fraternity brothers and random fans, unity was apparent.\nBut the unity involved with Little 500 goes deeper than superficial fan support – though it is no doubt appreciated – and ranges within various aspects of the race. \nTake, for example, that after 100 laps of competition, Kappa Delta claimed victory in the women’s race. The team members were mauled by the media, and, smiling while fighting back tears of joy, the Kappa Delta faithful rushed the track and broke into an uproar of its “OH … KD!” chant. \nCongratulations were passed around, and the excitement of the victory took over the crowd clad in powder blue. But a glance away from the excited winners testified to a greater unity surrounding the race. Some riders greeted others from opposing teams as friends and no longer competition. Other teams sat together with looks of disappointment on their faces, comforting tearful teammates. Such actions speak to the support that the riders of Little 500 will receive from others involved with the race for years to come. Just as every organization of any strength, Little 500 has at its core a bonding of people that is irreplaceable.\nIt would be a disservice not to mention the unity that accompanies the spirit of competition. The buzz in the crowd and in the infield was intoxicating when after the first 100 laps it became apparent that we were going to bear witness to something special. \nAnd as the 180th lap of the men’s race turned, five teams were locked in a battle for the championship. As the sprinters took control of their bikes and prepared for the 200th lap, the entire stadium shook with unabashed anticipation. And Alex Bishop proved as he had in Miss-n-Out that he was the best sprinter in the field, \ncrossing the finish line only slightly before the four teams in pursuit. The tension soon broke, and whether the team each individual was rooting for won or not, each exchanged guilty smiles. All had been caught up in the moment.\nWith the end of this year’s main event and anticipation of the interwoven context that will define next year’s race, it is apparent that IU has proven itself a unified community. Little 500 is yet another aspect of IU life that speaks to the greatness of being a Hoosier.
(04/20/07 4:00am)
Little 500 weighs heavily on the minds of many students, faculty and alumni as one of the biggest events of the year. \nCommentary from coaches, riders and fans has been sought extensively and found readily. Talk of tradition, strategy, victory and alcohol have been in the spotlight in such comments.\nBut no one asks Little 500 what it thinks of itself. Maybe Little 500 is annoyed by overcrowding and drunken fans. Does it actually favor one team over the other? Does it wonder why nobody ever rides the other way?\nI sat down with the 2007 Little 500 to get answers to these questions and more and found out some things you might not expect.\nJacob Stewart: Thanks for sitting down with us today. I know you’re busy and we’re happy you could get a few minutes. Let’s kick things off. The people surrounding you speak highly of tradition that you bring to IU. Is it something you’re considering during your running?\nLittle 500: Traditionally, I sleep most of the time that riders are on the track. I kind of wonder why I’m such a big deal. I am a big deal, by the way. Here’s what I don’t get. A bunch a people hop on bicycles and ride around and around. 20th Century Fox comes out, takes a few shots, chats with a few riders and produces a movie. Bam! I’m famous and Fox is rollin’ in the dough. I still haven’t seen that royalties check, by the way. You think you can help me with that?\nJS: I’ll see what I can do. Besides your tradition, you’re known for inciting an alcoholic frenzy at IU all during your week. What do you think about this phenomenon?\nL5: Well, Jake, what can I say? I’m just a baller. Everybody likes me and I’m a party animal. The fans think they can drink. Let me have that bottle of Everclear and I’ll show you how it’s done. FIJI’s come close, but they aren’t me. I know how to throw down. I’ve got a couple of hotties coming over later. Ever hear of a body shot?\nJS: Maybe. Anyway, back to the real story. Anything you’re anticipating about the outcome of the two races?\nL5: I’ve talked with both the track and the wind, and they know what to do. Suffice it to say I won’t make it easy on the riders to cross that finish line with all their skin intact. Expect a few wrecks if I can manage to set them up. And let me know what happens afterward. I’ll be asleep after all.\nJS: Pick up the IDS for race results. Or check us out online at idsnews.com. Blatant advertising plugs aside, and to wrap things up, what can we expect out of you in the future?\nL5: You can expect me to keep hangin’ around. You guys will beat me to death every year only to resurrect me the next. I hate the damn press. But I guess I’ll just keep it fresh and continue to throw in some new kinks every now and then. Hope you all enjoy.\nSo go the thoughts of Little 500. It seems a little bitter, doesn’t it? Oh well. Here’s to hoping your Little 500 experience fulfills all your fantasies!
(04/16/07 4:00am)
Ah, spring. The weather is gorgeous, the breeze is just enough to give cooling relief and the flowers are blooming. And what is that I smell… a scent of sweet perfume. Is it the giggle of girls I hear… Mmmm, my imagination is running wild…\nIt’s spring and like is in the air.\nNo, not love. Love can keep you warm in winter. Spring is fraught with like. I mean, “Nice skirt, let’s go have sex,” like. In spring, as a result of our society’s associating bright skies and pretty flowers with love, people all across the Midwest are probably susceptible to looser sexual discretion.\nAnd why not? A trip back through history reveals that myth has long taught that spring is the time when women and men have trouble controlling their libidos. Remember the Greek goddess of spring, Persephone? Hades couldn’t keep his hands off of her, kidnapped her, and proceeded to the stacks of the Herman B Wells Library. Okay, that last part is still widely debated, but you get the gist.\nA study conducted at Abington Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania found that in the four seasons, summer and spring revealed more births than winter and fall, evidencing that there is a seasonal affect on the number of unplanned pregnancies. Like has gotten you through spring and you, like many others, have avoided pregnancy. Congratulations. Now don’t press your luck into fall. As we creep toward the end of April and towards summer, you may want to consider the possibility that a little duplicate you could be running around this time next year. That would cut your college days a little short. Time to get a job and start providing for an unexpected family. But, hey, that’s what like is all about.\nSo if love is what you think you’re feeling for that girl or guy at your Little 500 grill out (a.k.a. drinkfest), put down the bottle of vodka and take off the beer goggles. Like all you want, but leave love for a little later when you’re a little more sober. Like leads to sex too, if that’s what you’re after. And saying love when you just mean like might lead to babies or STDs. Remember those hazards before confusing the two. People who like are probably safer with some sort of birth control. Like condoms.\nDon’t think that like is all there is, though. Love has a tendency to show up in late summer and take hold in the middle of fall, when a connection can be made. If love equals warmth we need it more in the winter and fall anyway. But this spring, that smell in the air is like, and it should be treated as such. And to all those partners out there who might be calling for a little like when you aren’t so interested, there’s always this explanation:\nLook, I like you – but I’m not in like with you.
(04/12/07 4:00am)
"Volver" is a Spanish word that literally means "to return" but is used here to mean "coming back." Indeed, this whole film is a kind of coming back for its makers; Pedro Almodovar returns to his roots as a man of La Mancha, and Penelope Cruz returns to the cinema of her origin where she is obviously most at home. \nAlmodovar's films are often lively, celebratory visions of the world. He is noted for his liberal use of the color red and his subtle object metaphors that give silent clues to the motivations of his characters. (Watch for Cruz's use of knives.) Perhaps most importantly, he is known for his deep, empathetic understanding of women.\nWith "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown," "All About My Mother," "Talk to Her," and now with "Volver," Almodovar has consistently written roles for strong, complex women who can often be as flawed as they are impeccable. Penelope Cruz's Raimunda, the main character of "Volver," is just such a woman.\nThe film revolves around Raimunda and the dramatic and sometimes ridiculous events that afflict her life over the course of just a few months. Early in the film, she comes home from work to find that her daughter has just killed her father for fear of being raped by him. Almost methodically, Raimunda cleans up the blood of her slain husband and stashes the body away. \nThough she is noticeably shaken, her instinct to protect her daughter is so strong that she feels she has no choice but to hide the body and move on with her life as if her husband has just left her. She caters for a restaurant, deals with the death of a beloved aunt and copes with rumors of her dead mother's ghost appearing in her home village. One of the funniest and best-written sequences in the film has the supposed ghost of Raimunda's mother, played by the incomparable Carmen Maura, stowing away in her daughter Sole's car and talking her into letting her dead mother hide out in her apartment. \nAlmodovar uses locations well, and the production design is beautiful. La Mancha, a flat expansive area of Spain, is the backdrop for much of the film. Almodovar was raised there and has said that he felt the villages produced so many artists because there is nothing to look at, so you can use the vast plains as a canvas, painting your fantasies and stories on the landscape between the land and the horizon. \nIn the audio commentary and an interview with Almodovar, the director discusses how that folklore and spirituality played a large role in his childhood. Besides the commentary with Almodovar and Cruz, the DVD features some good behind-the-scenes footage and in-depth interviews with the director and lead actresses. Take a look at the trailers as well; there are some films that are worth looking for. In addition, the DVD features photo and poster galleries that make it a cut above your average DVD release.
(04/12/07 4:00am)
Being the great son that I am, I headed back home last weekend to spend Easter with the fam, only to find out I'd be spending the weekend alone. Of all my friends from home, only one opted to make the trip back. And when I called her to see what she was doing, I was notified that she'd be spending her whole Friday night watching her recently purchased "The Complete First Season of Beverly Hills 90210." Sounded good enough to me, I had nothing else to do, but halfway through the night hanging out at the Peach Pit just wasn't cutting it for me. Maybe I couldn't handle that not one seemingly hot rich person didn't have some sort of hidden demons or those disgusting insanely patterned sweaters they loved so much or how awkward Tori Spelling looked back in her teens or how frustrated I got when Brenda couldn't locate Dylan at a hotel (come on, even Zack Morris had a cell phone). I took off early, but wasn't ready to call it a night. I knew there was no chance of any human contact, and suddenly it hit me -- a way to contact my celebrity friends I'd never even thought of before: MySpace. Everyone's on MySpace these days, surely my favorite celebrity friends would be, too. I put my pajamas on, pulled out my laptop and got in bed to have a slumber party with my friends.\nOne problem: I don't have a MySpace account. I'm a devout Facebook follower and have always viewed MySpace as the trashier version. But if I wanted to conduct my experiment, I'd have to cross over to the dark side and make an account. After going through the initial setup, I took out my camera, parted my hair slightly to the left over my eye, held my camera out in front of me, turned my head to the right and titled my chin slightly up to take the obligatory emo profile picture. \nWho would I friend first?! Since I'd been waiting in agony for the last week for the new "Entourage" episodes to start, I figured I'd start with Vinny, Drama, Turtle, E and Ari. Upon locating the "Entourage" page, my brilliant plan suddenly didn't seem so smart. The guys already had 67,586 friends. Clearly I wasn't the first person to have this idea. After adding the group as a friend, I was told I'd have to wait for their confirmation. What the hell? I felt so rejected. At least with Facebook an actual person has to check you out to see if they want to confirm the friendship; here I was trying to look good for a computer. So I moved on to Turtle's profile to find under his dislikes "I hate 'Viking Quest.'" I laughed about this for about five minutes and then noticed my friend request had been confirmed. Sweet.\nNext I decided to hit up Lindsay Lohan. Now Linds and I have hit a rough patch in the last few years, what with all her coke-whore partying, but back in her "Mean Girls" prime, I had quite the crush on La Lohan. No luck, all I could find was a bunch of fan Web sites. I settled for a made-up profile of Cady Heron, but clearly the 12 year-old girl who made this had no idea what she was doing.\nZach Braff's profile was exactly what I was looking for. Not only did he confirm he'd be back for a seventh season of "Scrubs" (YES!!!!!), but his blog was actually pretty funny and made me feel like I was having a conversation with the guy. Plus, he's friends with a bunch of super cool trendy indie musicians, most of whom were on the "Garden State" soundtrack, so I put on my square-rimmed glasses and clicked on one of their profiles. Being a huge Ben Folds fan, I opted for him.\nUnfortunately Ben's profile taught me what I would be learning for the next several hours from other people's profiles. Most celebs only use MySpace for PR purposes. They put up music clips, announce tour dates, offer merchandise, etc. My favorite comedian Sarah Silverman is still plugging her 2-year-old (but still amazing) movie, "Jesus is Magic," Kelly Clarkson offered no news of when we'll all be able to rock out to her new CD, and Britney Spears' profile is as blank as her scalp.\nMy MySpace adventure had clearly peaked. Most of the biggest celebrities (Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston, Will Ferrell) don't even have profiles, and only a few seem to actually have any involvement with their own site. But then I realized maybe I was shooting too high. For the ultimate MySpace experience, I should be stalking, er, checking up on celebs who scream the epitome of MySpace. I found all the hoochiness I'd been seeking on Fergie's profile. Paris Hilton would surely be dishing dirt on her site, although surprisingly she fell into the album promotion category, which upset me, a.) because it was a wasted opportunity for celeb trash talking and, b.) I completely forgot she released an album, which sucks, because, um, well, I kind of thought "Stars are Blind" was awesome. Teeny Boppers/"High School Musical" stars Vanessa Hudgens and Corbin Bleu were all about letting fans know how "deep," "grown-up," and "mature" they are. Fall Out Boy's site felt more like Postsecret.com than a band's Web site. Even K-Fed's still pushing for a career on his Web site. (But where's the look at me now, I'm better than Britney banner across the page?.\nAfter hours of scrolling and clicking, I decided to call it a night. I learned that MySpace is more of an outlet for celebs' publicists, and if I wanted to actually pretend to be their friends and learn things about them, I should stick to their appearances on Letterman and Conan and stay updated through Us Weekly.
(04/11/07 4:00am)
For those not aware, I did not begin my commentary career giving opinions on the sports world at IU, nor do I limit myself to this realm now. \nFor three semesters, I have been an opinion columnist for the IDS. In the tackling of topics that have been at times controversial, from politics to alcohol consumption, I have received personal e-mails and angry letters from people who disagree with my writings.\nBut for no topic area have I received more reaction than my ventures into the realm of athletics. From praise to death threats, it is clear that in the minds of many in the IU community, messing with their social and political views is one thing. But to disagree with them about their favorite teams or athletes is a death wish.\nAt IU, sports have been a part of our culture since the beginning of time, when Robert Montgomery Knight was hired as the men’s head basketball coach (doesn’t he have a basketball court named after him yet?). And who can blame the Hoosier faithful? With the hard-nosed competition that comes with playing sports in the Big Ten conference, a strong fan base is necessary to the success of the team.\nOr is it?\nProfessor Lynn Jamieson found that while athletes have effects on fans, fans have little effect on athletes. Supporting the team as the sixth man probably means little to helping the team win. Athletic support is for our own narcissistic gratification and social club.\nThat’s not to say we should stop doing it. I so often yell at the television during IU and professional sporting events that my throat is sore and my friends cower in the corner for fear that my flamboyant arm flailing will connect with their skulls.\nBut the threat of violence as a result of something that happens in sports? It might be time for us fans to take a step back and chill out. Keep in mind that a seemingly harmless joke (which I am guilty of cracking from time to time ... stupid Purdue fans) can have real-life implications. \nTake for example the 2000 death of Michael Costin, a Massachusetts man who was beaten to death by another father at his son’s hockey game. \nJamieson also claims that violence in regard to sports is reflective of the violent era in which we live. Talk about getting hit in the face with the evidence. \nIt’s quite fine to be passionate about sporting events. It’s one of the most exhilarating experiences to watch as a team, to watch your favorite team rally for victory over their opponent. But when that passion boils over into uncontrollable rage that leads to violent intent, then the wholesomeness of that is sport is gone (perhaps some of the reason there still isn’t a Robert Montgomery Knight Center).\nIU has a long tradition to protect, one that is full of great athletes and better fans. Please continue to be passionate about that tradition (though sacrificing the passion for issues with more direct influence on everyday life in light of sports seems a bit crazy to me) and represent IU with the utmost sportsmanship, whether it be in regard to intramural, collegiate or professional sports.
(04/09/07 4:00am)
I attended a party last weekend. With the number of people, the amount of alcohol and the volume of the music pouring from the speakers, one could predict what would happen next – the police would be joining us very soon. Sure enough, the long beam of a flashlight poured over the crowd of partygoers at about 1 a.m. and the race began. Underage drinkers fled in every direction, while I stood with an amused smile on my face. \n For my part, I gave the officer a nod, sat down my cup and walked out the back gate. After all, I’m a little old to be drinking underage. But I was left pondering, as so many often are, what the young consumers were doing that was detrimental to society. \nIdeas concerning the difficulties of underage drinking began to circulate when I stumbled across a Web site of the nonprofit organization “Choose Responsibility,” which was founded by former Middlebury College President John M. McCardell Jr. It advocates public discourse about underage drinking and the lowering of the legal drinking age. Of primary concern is the possibility of alcohol related traffic accidents for young people.\nAccording to the U.S. Department of Transportation, automobile accidents are the number one killer of teenagers. Attributes such as inexperience and an inclination toward reckless behavior – such as speeding and lack of safety belt use – are top reasons that fatality rates are so high in teenage drivers. Combine such characteristics with some Old No. 7 and you get a concoction for tragedy. But combining these statistics with the apparent phenomenon that (gasp) the 21-year-old age limit for alcohol consumption is not stopping minor consumption, re-evaluating the two together might give heed to progress. \nPerhaps the combination necessary to reduce alcohol-related teen traffic fatalities is one of lowering the drinking age while simultaneously raising the legal driving age, as in the case of some European countries, such as France and the Czech Republic (legal alcohol sale ages of 16 and 18 respectively, both have 18-year-old driving limits). Since a Department of Justice study found that 21 percent of American teens had been drunk within the past 30 days at the time of survey as opposed to only 13 percent of European teens, it would seem that lowering the drinking age would cut down on consumption. With the implication that those teens who are drunk would be less likely to get behind the wheel of a car and be even more reckless than usual, the proposition that law be changed in this manner seems like a winning combination.\nStemming alcohol abuse problems are best combated with good education. But returning the legal drinking age to one lower than 21 might have positive results in the battle as well. I, for one, have a few friends who would agree with me. But maybe they’re a little biased at the moment – staring at a minor consumption ticket that will cost them more than a pretty penny.