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(07/25/02 8:23pm)
According to University code, each IU student, when accused of academic misconduct, is guaranteed the right to a fair and speedy trial. Unfortunately, for some students, the latter does not apply.\nIn the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct, when a student is accused by a professor of academic misconduct, that professor must submit a report of misconduct in writing to the Dean of Students within seven calendar days. From there, the University's judicial boards take over.\nBut some students are being held in judicial limbo by professors that are not reporting student misconduct to the dean within the time limit.\n"If the faculty member does not report the matter within seven calendar days, the student isn't officially told the sanction, and isn't officially given the information necessary to appeal the case," said senior Justin Barnes, director of the IU Student Association's Student Rights Committee.\n"In other words, the case is held in limbo, the student is held in suspense, and the system is held in a standstill," he said.\nBarnes and IUSA have been working to correct the problem since early last year.\n"The deadlines are not being followed," Barnes said. "There have (been) instances in the Student Rights Records of delays ranging from two weeks past the deadline to two months past the end of the semester."\nLast semester, Barnes met with Dean of Students Moya Andrews on how to fix the problem. They agreed to write a letter to the faculty informing them of their obligations and procedures on academic misconduct.\nThe letter was written and Andrews' committees discussed the rules, wrote the regulations, and hired administrators to enforce the code. But this wasn't enough to help the situation.\nBarnes went to Andrews again, writing a letter urging her to make sure administrators enforce these guidelines.\nAccording to Barnes' letter, "A system of justice is unjust unless those charged with administering it do so according to a fair system of rules and procedures.\n"The situation has not changed since last semester. Faculty members still ignore the Code's requirements, causing students undue hardship."\nBecause of repeated IUSA demands, Dean of Students Richard McKaig is now planning to meet with Andrews to discuss and put to rest IUSA's complaints about the judicial system.\n"I'm not sure now what the solution will be, but it's definitely something we're looking into," McKaig said. \nMcKaig said he thinks the problem may simply be professors not knowing or understanding the timeline.\n"I don't know many people that know the code backwards and forwards," McKaig said.\nMcKaig said he also believes there may not be enough time for professors to report misconduct to the University.\nBut extending the deadline may only make things worse.\n"I don't think that would be the best solution," said senior Paul Musgrave, consultant to the Department of Student Judicial Program. "That's why we have a timeline, to make sure these things don't drag on for weeks and weeks."\nMusgrave said he believes the best solution would be better administration of the current policy, rather than changing it, a change that would require a vote from the Board of Trustees.\n"I can understand why this is happening," Musgrave said. "They're having more and more cases. The system itself is probably overworked."\nBarnes agreed with Musgrave, hoping the University would simply enforce the current policy.\n"The solution to this situation is simple, direct and fairly easy to accomplish; enforce the rules," Barnes said. "Only through an eye toward fairness and a firm belief in justice can any society grow and change, including our campus and our University"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
In a letter sent last Monday to Mayor John Fernandez by the IU Student Association and Bloomington's City Council, IUSA expressed its concern over a controversial zoning ordinance issue they feel is unfairly stereotyping IU's students.\n"As active members of the Bloomington community, we are overwhelmed by the current events concerning renting regulations for related versus non-related housemates," the letter said. \nThose renting regulations refer to a zoning ordinance, which allowed no more than three unrelated people to live together under the same roof. That ordinance has since been deemed unconstitutional and the city is planning to file a petition to the Indiana Supreme Court today.\nIn the letter sent to the city, IUSA said the ordinance unfairly targets students.\n"Non-related renters deserve to be treated equally in the Bloomington community," the letter said. "They contribute to the growth and prosperity of Bloomington and their personal growth and well-being should not be marginalized by a ludicrous ordinance."\nThe city of West Lafayette decided Sunday to join Bloomington in fighting the court of appeals decision deeming the ordinance unconstitutional. Bob Bauman, a West Lafayette attorney, said the city plans to file a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Bloomington's position on the ordinance.\nIUSA was also concerned by comments made in the the June 6th edition of the IDS by Bill Hayden, president of the Bryan Park Neighborhood Association, referring to drunk undergraduate students moving into residential areas and disturbing the peace.\n"We find it unacceptable to stereotype 19,000 students as vulgar drunks," the letter continued. "Such an uncouth comment is unbecoming of a community leader, and sets a terrible example for the 37,000 students at Indiana University."\nPhil Worthington, president of the Garden Hills Neighborhood Association, doesn't agree some community members are stereotyping IU's students.\n"Students stereotype themselves," Worthington said. "It's unfortunate that everyone pays the price for the actions of the few. We can't have a special ordinance for those who don't follow the rules."\nLydia Roll, director of IUSA's legislative relations office, said IUSA wanted to let the community know another side of the story.\n"We feel that's unfair to target a specific group of people," Roll said. "We just wanted to make our opinion known to them."\nIn the same edition of the IDS, Hayden called for mandatory residency on campus for all freshmen and sophomores, a policy Roll believes is unfeasible.\n"The dorms are already at capacity," Roll said. "You have all these students, and they have to live somewhere."\nJudd Arnold, IUSA student body vice president of administration, said he agreed building more dormitories would not be the best solution because the University is already $100 million short from the state.\nMichael Flory, a city assistant attorney, will be filing the petition to the Indiana Supreme Court today to hear the case. Flory said he was under the impression IUSA supported the ordinance in 1985, when it was first approved. Arnold said that would be irrelevant now.\nRoll, who said she will be closely watching the court's decision, hopes this issue will be resolved soon.\n"I think this problem can be curtailed easily," Roll said. "I'm interested to see if the Supreme Court takes the case."\nThe Associated Press contributed to this story.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
According to a report conducted by the Indiana Education Policy Center, the difficulty accessing financial assistance for college is being partially overlooked by the U.S. Department of Education, particularly a widening of the gap between low and high-income students.\nThe report, entitled "The Access Challenge: Rethinking the Causes of the New Inequality," accuses the department of not placing enough emphasis on the growing inefficiency of federal Pell Grants.\n"What happened is that nationally, prices (for college) have increased a great deal and financial grants have gone down," said Edward St. John, professor of educational leadership and policy studies, who authored the report.\nThe report debates studies conducted on the accessibility of college by the National Center for Education Statistics saying the department "failed to even consider the possibility that financial aid influenced college enrollment."\nThis influence refers to federal Pell Grants given to students based on academic standing and financial need.\nAccording to the report, since 1980, the purchasing power of Pell Grants has decreased considerably. Pell Grants have increased monetarily over the years, but have failed to keep up with the nation's economy, causing a gap between low and high income students.\nThis gap has caused a hardship on low-income students who are unable to pay for college and financial aid is not helping them out as it should, while high-income students are too rich to apply for federal or state need, said St. John.\nThe report also argues that the number of students aided by federal grants has expanded and the number of Pell Grants has actually increased, but the grants itself are worth less compared to the nation's inflation rates.\nSt. John said he places part of the blame on the federal government focusing more on federal loans rather than free money from the government, a process that started during former President Ronald Reagan's administration.\nBill Ehrich, associate director of the Office of Student Financial Aid, said he agrees with St. John, noting that during 1980-81, 80 percent of student assistance are grants and scholarships, while today, 80 percent are loans. \nCollege tuitions have also increased, placing a heavier burden on the student to pay his or her way.\nFor the 2001-02 school year, 4,642 students used the federal grant at IU. The average amount each grant provided was almost $2,400.\nEhrich said he believes IU is a minority when dealing with Pell Grants because IU tends to be a wealthier student body when compared to community colleges, where most Pell Grants are used.\nAlthough federal assistance is not what it used to be, state assistance seems to keep pace with the nation's economy, St. John said.\n"Indiana, surprisingly, has been doing a marvelous job overall as far as state grants," St. John said.\nOver 3,000 students used state grants last year, with an average of $2,473 per grant. \nMost states only provide grants for the amount of the most expensive in-state public school, not taking into account the state's private schools, which are generally more expensive than public schools.\nIndiana, on the other hand, gives far beyond the amount of the highest tuition at a public school, with only California giving out more money in state financial aid.\nDavid Perlini, executive director of the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana, said Governor Frank O'Bannon protected all of the state's student financial aid from budget cuts this year, but the assistance may not be protected after next year.\n"Indiana was actually faring better and helping our students far better than most states," Perlini said. "The concern is that we will more than likely not be able to maintain that unless we have extraordinary increases (in state funds)."\nDespite concerns in the future for student aid, St. John agreed Indiana is serving as a role model on how to distribute financial aid.\n"A number of states are beginning to look at Indiana as a model to build their state grant programs," he said.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
The IU Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $1,000 fee Friday for all incoming undergraduates at IU Bloomington starting in the fall of 2003. The fee comes after approval of a nine percent increase in tuition earlier this year. \nThe fee, which will be assessed at the beginning of each academic year, intends to improve the academic excellence of the University by recruiting and retaining faculty, decreasing the student-faculty ratio and providing more money in financial aid to students in need. The money will be specifically set aside to improve these areas.\n"We are challenged evermore to demonstrate our competitiveness and our excellence not only to a statewide audience, but really to students from other countries and to the world," University Vice President Bill Stephan said. "We also recognize that while we've grown accustom to excellence and of great accomplishment, we're doing that at a time when there are significant costs associated with these areas."\nIncoming undergraduates attending IU-Purdue University in Indianapolis will be assessed $800 per year while each satellite campus will be charged $500.\nIU currently remains near the bottom of the Big Ten in receiving money from the state for student tuition as well as tuition charged to in-state students. \n"We will be redoubling our efforts to make higher education accessible to all students," Stephan said. "Particularly low or lower-middle income families will be targeted."\nThe five-year plan for IU Bloomington, as opposed to a seven-year plan for the rest of the IU campuses, will generate close to $4 million in financial aid and a 20 percent increase in funds for undergraduate scholarships. The money is also expected to hire 100 new faculty members at the end of the five years.\n"We know full well the importance of a college degree," said interim president of the board Frederick Eichorn in a press release. "It enhances an individual's life, and increased numbers of college graduates help build a stronger economy in Indiana. We must keep that goal within reach."\nThe fee will not affect incoming undergraduates for fall 2002 or students that are currently enrolled, and will not be a part of the normal tuition fee.\n"We want to give students and their families the benefit of a full year before they apply," IU President Myles Brand said.\nIU is following in the footsteps of universities around the country that have imposed similar fees, including Purdue University, Ohio State University and the University of Illinois.\nBut the IU Student Association disagrees with the proposal and is troubled by the trend of increases in the cost of higher education by IU and other universities across the nation.\n"Public universities exist to ensure that all of us have an equal opportunity to succeed in our pursuit of life, liberty and happiness," IUSA said in a statement released Friday. "It is unfortunate that the new admissions criteria at IU requires not only a commendable academic record, but also that a prospective student hails from an affluent family."\nBut Brand said he believes this proposal will help protect those with financial need.\n"We will seek to make sure that all who qualify can attend an Indiana University campus," Brand said. "In the end we have to ask ourselves, do we want a great University"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
As of Saturday, Jamie Belanger, fiscal analyst for the Iams Company, will be the youngest member on the IU Board of Trustees. Belanger will also be the first trustee to serve while living outside of Indiana.\nA 2000 graduate of IU, Belanger was elected by the IU Alumni Association to serve a three-year term.\n"Obviously, people felt like it was time for a little youth and a change," Belanger said.\nBelanger served as the president of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and graduated from IU Bloomington with a bachelor of science in finance from the Kelley School of Business.\nBack in May, Belanger placed the spotlight on the trustee race by accusing supporters of John Nash, who placed second in the elections, of sending out unsolicited mass e-mails. A supporter of Nash, C. Randall Powell, sent out mass e-mails through Powell's address book, a list that Belanger believed was not provided to everyone.\nBelanger fills the vacancy left by former president of the board James Morris.\nBelanger received 7,111 votes out of the 28,308 valid votes that were cast by the alumni. His closest rival, Nash, received 4,996 votes.\nBill Riley, who placed fifth in the election, said he believed Belanger will bring much needed youth to the board.\n"I sent Jamie an e-mail last night congratulating him on his victory," Riley said. "It might be nice to have a little youth on the board."\nBelanger ran most of his campaign platform based on his age and close ties to IU, only being away from the University for two years.\nAccording to Belanger's Web site, "Almost 81 percent of IU alumni are under the age of 55."\nYet only two of the nine current trustees, one being the student representative, are younger than 55."\nRiley said he was disappointed by the voter turnout for the elections, calling the elections "dismal."\nRay Richardson, former member of the board, placed third in the elections and said he agreed the election turnout was less than desirable.\nThe ballots handed out to each alumni provide a 300-word statement from each candidate.\nRichardson said he blamed part of the low voter turnout to very few candidates taking a stand on issues, but rather providing biographical information on the ballots.\nHe also blamed the turnout on the lack of women and minorities running for this year's seat on the board.\nRichardson said he doesn't believe the e-mail controversy had an effect on the outcome of the race, but the board felt they needed a younger perspective.\n"The alumni bought into (Belanger's) idea that there should be some younger trustees," Richardson said. "Jamie obviously knows what's going on better from the school perspective."\nThe normal voter turnout of the more than 435,000 alumni is generally between 32,000 and 34,000, Richardson said.\nVice President Bill Stephan said he and the board are looking forward to working with Belanger.\n"I think the board will welcome his perspective," Stephan said. "I think it provides another opportunity for us to remain close to the students."\nBelanger said he was surprised with the win.\n"Obviously, with a one in eight chance of winning, I don't think you can go in expecting to win, especially against other candidates who were running with exceptional backgrounds," Belanger said. "I can't tell you how fortunate I feel to have been given this opportunity."\nThe Associated Press contributed to this story.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
An IU analyst accused of charges of child pornography and battery pled not guilty Friday. Kevin Sochocki, a programmer analyst for the Kelley School of Business, will be placed on administrative leave with pay from the school today, Associate Dean John Hill said.\nSochocki was arraigned Friday on four charges of vicarious sexual gratification, one class C and three class D felonies; four charges of child exploitation, all class D felonies; and one count of battery, a class A misdemeanor.\nSochocki was arrested June 21 by the Bloomington Police Department but posted bail and was released, BPD Capt. Joe Qualters said.\nAccording to the probable cause affidavit, Sochocki allowed three juveniles to watch pornographic movies on his computer. He recorded the boys masturbating in front of his computer without the knowledge of the three boys.\nOne of the boys found the recorded images on Sochocki's computer. Sochocki learned that one of the boys was on his computer and slapped and punched the boy the affidavit said.\nSochocki's home was searched by BPD along with Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Gary Dunn on June 21. When he was taken into custody for the battery charge, Sochocki admitted to agent Dunn that he did take photographs of the boys on his computer for purposes of later use.\nSochocki's computer has been taken as evidence to be further analyzed by a forensic specialist at either the FBI's office in Indianapolis or at a local police department.\nProsecutor Carl Salzmann is currently in charge of the case against Sochocki.\n"Right now, we're planning on going forward unless the federal authorities decide to take it," Salzmann said. "And that's still an option."\nThe case could be taken under the federal jurisdiction of the district attorney in the Southern District of Indiana.\n"It depends on the investigation as it proceeds," Salzmann said.\nSochocki could face up to eight years in jail for the class C felony, three years for each of the seven class D felonies and one year for the class A misdemeanor.\nCurrently, Sochocki is placed on a "no-contact" order from the state, meaning he cannot have social interaction with persons under the age of 18. Sochocki could be charged with contempt of court if he violates the court's policy.\nSalzmann was not sure when Sochocki's trial will take place, depending on whether federal authorities decide to take over the case.\nAlthough Sochocki is currently on administrative leave, associate dean Hill is unsure if Sochocki will ever come back to work for the business school.\n"I don't know how long it will take him to get this resolved," Hill said.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
For almost a year, graduate student Lisa Yu from Indian Head Park, Ill., has been rubbing elbows with international leaders, traveling Europe's countryside and gaining a new perspective on the world around her thanks to her selection as one of twelve 2001 George Mitchell Scholarship winners from around the country.\n"It hasn't been about the academic experience as much as it's been about the personal, mind-broadening experience from meeting different parts of the world," Yu said.\nYu has been studying in Ireland and exploring Europe for the past nine months, traveling as far as Sweden, Italy and the Czech Republic.\n"That's really the highlight of my year, being able to do a lot of traveling," Yu said.\nThe scholarship gave Yu the opportunity to attend Queens University in Belfast, Ireland for an entire year, where she lived in Queens' University housing, which is typically much different than a normal dormitories in America.\n"You have your own room," Yu said. "There's a kitchen as well."\nIn only its third year, the Mitchell Scholarship committee picks 12 scholars each year from across the country to study in Ireland. The scholarship pays for tuition and room and board overseas for the entire year.\nAfter receiving the scholarship in 2001, Yu left her home in the states on Sept. 16 and flew to Ireland, flying directly over New York City, only five days after the World Trade Center attacks.\n"The pilot was noticeably nervous," Yu said. "It was five days later, and you could still see the cloud of dust. Everyone clapped when we landed safely."\nStudying in what she believes has been a less-structured system than America's, Yu will receive her masters degree in comparative ethnic conflict.\n"You aren't challenged as much as I would be back home," Yu said. "The teachers -- they lecture, and the students just kind of listen."\nAlong with a new perspective on education, Yu has been meeting with political activists, national celebrities and world leaders.\nRecently, Yu attended the International Academy of Achievement, a gathering of close to 200 of the brightest American scholars. The scholars were joined by former President Bill Clinton, U2's Bono, former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev and current interim president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai.\n"It was to give students the opportunity to listen to people of expertise," Yu said.\nGraduate student Emily Mark, a 2002 Mitchell Scholarship winner from Los Angeles, Calif., will be following in the footsteps of Yu this fall, when she leaves for Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.\nMark, who has worked at the African-American Arts Institute, along with interning at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will pursue a master of literature in the history of art in Dublin.\n"Eventually, I'd like to become a museum curator," Mark said.\nThe nationwide scholarship has already claimed two IU students in only three years it has been available.\n"I think it's a tribute to the university," said director of Mitchell scholarships, Dell Pendergrast. "Two years in a row we've had two Indiana University scholars."\nYu plans to attend law school when she arrives back in America. While at Queens, Yu has been a courtroom observer, learning how legal systems run in different countries.\n"Last semester, I was doing observing for human rights," Yu said, thinking of possibly attending law school at Notre Dame or New York University.\nAfter her experience overseas, Yu said she hopes Mark can find the time to travel the European countryside.\n"She should try to see as much of Ireland as possible because that's something that I haven't done yet, and I really regret it," Yu said. "I'm going to try to see Ireland this summer."\nBut Yu isn't ready to leave Europe just yet. After her tenure is complete in Belfast, she's planning on going to work in the Philippines for a year, and then attending law school in the fall of 2003.\n"I'm fortunate to be around people that are interested and open-minded," Yu said. "It has been great, and I can't think of a better word to describe it than that"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
A group of three IU mathematics professors in the School of Education will head a national program to improve mathematics education throughout the country thanks to a $1.3 million grant given to the school by the National Science Foundation.\nThe grant will fund the interpretation and analysis of data by the National Assessment of Educational Progress and producing material to aid math teachers around the country.\n"We will have people from the University and all over the United States looking at different pieces of the data," said IU professor of mathematics education Pete Kloosterman. "Over the three years, we're going to produce two books which talk about what the data says about teaching. The books will be available to people all over the country."\nKloosterman, a co-principal investigator on the project, will be joined by Cathy Brown and Frank Lester, both associate deans for research and development in the School of Education.\nThe data from the NAEP was collected from 1990 to 2000 and is based on national samples of close to 43,000 students from grades four, eight, and 12.\nThe data focuses partly on students' performances on open-ended questions where students must show how they arrived at an answer. \nFocusing on how students find mathematical answers can help teachers abilities to see where students go wrong and how they can help.\n"We will have a lot of examples of explanations students usually give," Kloosterman said. "In particular, the type of errors students usually make."\nKloosterman said he believes most mathematics taught in this country focus entirely too much on solving easy, repetitive math problems.\n"We need to get kids to focus more on solving complex problems," Kloosterman said.\nThe group will team with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics along with teams from Missouri, Georgia, Michigan State and others.\n"It was good for IU to be the lead institution," Kloosterman said.\nBrown will help Kloosterman in producing the materials for the nation's math teachers.\n"The part I'll be working on most is developing materials for teachers to work with," Brown said. Those materials will generally be available online.\nJack Cummins, the executive associate dean of the School of Education, believes the choice for IU to head the project shows the expertise the school possesses.\n"I think it recognizes the leadership we have among the faculty in the mass education area," Cummins said.\nConsistently ranked in the top twenty each year among schools of education, Kloosterman believes this project only maintains the School of Education's experience.\n"This is a very highly visible project that reinforces the notion that we are one of the top twenty in the country," Kloosterman said.\nKloosterman said the three-year project will more than likely reduce the amount of time he could be teaching, but is looking forward to tackling the problem of mathematics education in the country.\n"It fits right in with all the things that I teach, so it'll be nice in that respect," Kloosterman said.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
IU victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will forever be memorialized in three scholarships established by the IU Student Foundation thanks to more than $100,000 raised from the 2002 Little 500 and individual donors.\nThe scholarships, announced on Wednesday, will be awarded during a memorial service on the first anniversary of the attacks.\n"The idea really was first formulated pretty soon after the attacks," IU Student Foundation director Jonathan Purvis said. "It took us awhile to figure out what was appropriate."\nThe foundation finally decided to dedicate the 2002 Little 500 race to creating the new scholarships.\nThe race raised almost $50,000, coming close the the foundation's goal of $60,000.\nBut after the race, donors unexpectedly began donating towards the fund, raising the amount of the scholarships to over $100,000.\nOne of those donors, Betty Behr, president of the S.W. Frankenthal Memorial Foundation in Atlanta, Ga., donated through her foundation.\n"When 9-11 hit, we wanted to do something, but we didn't know what," Behr said.\nBehr and her family are close to one of the IU students who lost their father in the attacks.\n"(The scholarships) fit with our purposes as well as recognizing the loss of 9-11 and the support of IU," Behr said.\nAnother donor, Lawrence Glaubinger, from New York and a 1949 IU graduate, matched the almost $50,000 raised by the 2002 Little 500.\n"I happened to be in New York City at the time of the attack and felt that it was a very appropriate way to express my feelings," Glaubinger said in a recent press release.\nThe funds raised will funnel into an endowment, raising interest each year. The interest raised will go towards the three scholarships, leaving the $100,000 untouched.\nThe foundation will award three $1,500 scholarships each year to IU undergraduates. The first scholarship is designed for prospective business students and is based on financial need and grade point averages.\nThe second will require an essay describing the importance of family, as well as being based on financial need and G.P.A.\nThe third will be for students who have given community and campus service and will also be based on financial need and G.P.A.\nThe applications are currently available on the IU Student Foundation's Web site and are due Aug. 23.\nThe criteria for the scholarships was established by three IU students who each lost their father in the attacks.\nNext year, the 2003 Little 500 proceeds will return to helping IU's 34 other scholarships given to IU students every year.\n"In awarding these scholarships, Indiana University expresses its deep sympathy to the families of the innocent victims who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001," said Chancellor Sharon Brehm in a recent press release. "I know that all the recipients of these scholarships will feel deeply honored to receive them."\nBehr said she hopes the three scholarships can give students opportunities they wouldn't have otherwise.\n"Anytime you can make life a little easier for students, then that serves all of us," Behr said.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Last spring, the road to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship trophy sparked riots and destructive behavior not only at IU and Bloomington, but across the nation.\nThe University of Maryland witnessed some of the worst post-game festivities after beating IU in the championship game. The riots caused damage across Maryland's campus and now the university has put into effect policies ordering expulsion as the main punishment for students who participate in post-game rioting across any of the University of Maryland's 13 campuses, causing some universities to look at how they punish their partyers.\nAccording to the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, the University may punish students for personal misconduct off of University property, such as arson or participation in group violence, similar to what happened on Kirkwood Avenue during IU's run to the championship game last March and April.\nThe University may also punish students for misconduct on University property, but cannot expel a student for personal misconduct such as rioting, on or off University property.\nDean Richard McKaig said he believes the University has never expelled a student for misconduct on or off-campus following an athletic event, but some have been suspended because of arrests made by the city and other charges.\n"I think there are students who are suspended from the University as a result of events they engaged in after games this spring," McKaig said. \nMcKaig said the University only uses expulsion as a last resort for any act of misconduct regarding IU students, and the University treats expulsion as permanent.\nIn the University of Maryland's new policy, approved by the university's Board of Regents, students may reapply into the school after one year, but the university does not have to readmit the student.\n"I feel like we've made incredible progress," said the University of Maryland's Vice-President of Student Affairs, Linda Clement.\n"I think the Board of Regents has sent a message that this kind of destructive behavior will not be tolerated."\nSenior Justin Barnes, IU Student Association's director of Student Rights, said he thinks Maryland's new policy is inherently unfair.\n"I don't think we should follow the Maryland decision," Barnes said. "Rushing to judgment always leads to bad decisions."\n"The minute you expel a student, you basically say 'We give up,'" Barnes said.\nBarnes said he believes the IU Student Association and the University will discuss changes in the Code of Student Rights next year, as well as punishments for personal misconduct on and off-campus.\n"I think there has to be changes," Barnes said. "I think we need a code to embody the mission of Indiana University."\nBut if the Code is to be changed, it could take more than a year for it to take effect, having to go through a maze of approval from IUSA, the Dean of Student's office, the IU Board of Trustees, and others.\n"You're looking at at least a year if not more," Barnes said. "(Changing the code) is a long drawn-out process"
(06/27/02 3:18am)
A current employee of IU's Kelley School of Business was arrested for child pornography and misdemeanor battery and is currently out on bail awaiting further investigation.\nKevin Sochocki, programmer analyst for the business school, was initially arrested by the Bloomington Police Department Friday, but has not been formally charged with the crimes.\nCarl Salzmann, Monroe County Prosecutor, said the investigation is on-going, with the formal charges being made either today or Friday.\nSochocki had no comment when contacted by phone. \nSochocki was initially arrested on counts of vicarious sexual gratification, a misdemeanor battery charge, and possession of child pornography. He has been accused of possessing electronic photos of teenage boys masturbating in front of his computer.\nCapt. Joe Qualters said the misdemeanor charge was a result of one of the children in Sochocki's pornographic pictures finding out he had been photographed.\n"(Sochocki) got upset and battered one of the kids," Qualters said.\nSochocki was placed in the Monroe County jail around 3:30 p.m. Friday, but then posted bail and was released.\nSochocki was on vacation from the business school when the charges were brought against him. The business school has placed him on administrative leave pending further charges and investigation.\n"If he actually committed these felonies, then most assuredly Sochocki's employment would be terminated," said John Hill, associate dean of the business school. "We have to wait and see what evidence is brought up."\nHill was unsure if Sochocki ever used University computers in connection with the accusations.\n"Mr. Sochocki's access to IU computer systems and networks have been suspended pending further developments," Hill said.\nHill said Sochocki has not been charged by the University at this point and is unsure if he will be.\n"All we can do is wait and see what happens," Hill said.\nSalzmann was unsure of the type or number of charges that could be brought against Sochocki, pending investigation of the charges and probable cause affidavits.\nFBI Special Agent Gary Dunn is helping conduct the investigation and to decide whether the charges will be state or federal, but was unavailable for comment.
(06/10/02 7:00pm)
Neil Theobald, professor of educational finance, has been named as the new vice chancellor for budget and administration, replacing Maynard Thompson after his 12-year tenure heading the University's budget.\nEffective July 1, Theobald will be responsible for developing and implementing IU's budget, administering campus-specific activities and policies, working with the heads of 26 academic and administrative responsibility centers and supervising the offices of the bursar and of space management. Theobald describes replacing Thompson in the new position as daunting.\n"(Maynard) has just done a wonderful job in that office," Theobald said. "I teach educational finance, and now I'll be responsible for educational finance on this campus. All the stuff I write about I'll actually get to try."\nPrior to his employment at IU, Theobald was a professor of educational finance at the University of Washington. He then moved to Bloomington in 1993, where he has taught educational finance for the last nine years. \nWhile in Bloomington, Theobald has worked closely with the Indiana General Assembly dealing with budget issues concerning K-12 education in the state, along with co-chairing the campus Budgetary Affairs Committee and the 1999-2000 Responsibility-Centered Management Review.\n"Dr. Theobald is very knowledgeable on financial matters," IUB Chancellor Sharon Brehm said. "He knows the current budget system and he knows it very well."\nBrehm selected Theobald following a national search by an 18-member search committee. The committee screened all of the candidates and Brehm investigated the finalists, selecting Theobald to replace Thompson, a role Brehm described as irreplaceable.\n"He's been a towering figure," Brehm said.\nThompson, forced to retire because of the University's policy of mandatory retirement at age 65, will now return to the Department of Mathematics as a faculty member.\nChief financial officer, Judith Palmer, will work closely with Theobald in his new position preparing fiscal analysis reports, budget projections, dealing with payroll and other financial operational services.\n"Neil will be in the process of learning and building upon the steps that Maynard has taken in the past years to enhance the financial management of the campus," Palmer said. "I have had the opportunity to work directly with Neil in his capacity as chair of the Bloomington Budgetary Affairs Committee. \n"I think he will be an excellent vice-chancellor for the campus."\nTheobald will begin his tenure at the start of a new fiscal year for the University, beginning administration of the new budget, recently approved by IU's Board of Trustees.\n"This is also the year that IU will make its request to the 2003 General Assembly for funding for the next biennium," Palmer said.\nTheobald will also work with current budget cuts by the state because of economic problems throughout the country.\n"It obviously adds a difficult responsibility," Palmer said. "It adds additional challenges for the campus."\nVice president and chief administrative officer, Terry Clapacs, agreed that Theobald will face additional problems with the budget because of state cuts.\n"We have more students to serve and yet finances will be very, very tight," Clapacs said. "That all comes at a time when the University wants to continue to grow."\nClapacs will also work with Theobald on budget issues concerning IU's physical plant.\n"The budget for the physical plant comes from the Bloomington campus," Clapacs said. "I think he's well-prepared for this position. Being a part of the academic environment will give him a unique insight."\nTheobald understands the constraints he'll have to face in the next few years concerning IU's budget.\n"There are many more demands placed on the state budget than there is to fund them," Theobald said. "There won't be as much money as people would like to go around. I think we need to be aware of that to operate as efficiently as possible"
(05/23/02 4:16am)
At the start of the annual election for the IU Board of Trustees, controversy has arisen over a mass e-mail sent by a supporter of John Nash, a candidate for the board and the current president of Irwin Financial Corporation.\nJamie Belanger, a financial analyst for Proctor and Gamble, and a fellow candidate for the board, received two mass e-mails from C. Randall Powell, assistant dean and director of placement for the business school, asking the recipients, all of whom were recent IU graduates, to vote for Nash.\nBelanger, whose e-mail address was in the list, is upset that Powell could use an e-mail list that is not available to everyone. He believes it's a violation of policy of the University's information technology resources.\n"I really think the election is turning into a contest to see which candidate has more friends," Belanger said.\nNash asked Powell to send the e-mails, as well as letters supporting him.\n"I don't think Randy felt like he was violating any rules," Nash said.\nPowell's mass e-mail, sent to nearly 700 IU graduates, were all from his address book, not a list supplied by the business school, Powell said.\n"In my opinion at the time, I thought it was appropriate," Powell said. Powell didn't believe he was violating university policy when he sent out the e-mails.\n"I've now been advised that that was not the best judgement," Powell said.\nThe Alumni Association, however, isn't taking action because the policy being violated isn't its policy.\n"They're almost condoning this," Belanger said.\nKen Beckley, the president of the Alumni Association, believes it's not the association's duty to watch over campaigning issues in trustee elections.\n"How could we as an association put ourselves into an association of what constitutes campaigning and what doesn't constitute campaigning?" Beckley said. \nAbout five years ago, the Alumni Association had guidelines in place to govern campaigning but got rid of the policy because of legal issues that could arise.\n"The University Council at the time advised us that the association was putting itself in some kind of legal jeopardy," Beckley said. \nCurrently, there are only three guidelines that govern the trustee race -- one of those being alumni labels and lists, which would include e-mail lists -- may not be released to candidates or their supporters by the alumni association.\n"How they obtain lists, whether they are U.S. mail addresses or email addresses, that's totally up to the ingenuity of the candidates and its supporters," Beckley said. "There are some candidates that are going to be far more aggressive."\nAlthough the use of mass e-mail lists may not be a violation of University policy, using the indiana.edu address for campaigning purposes may be a violation.\n"I believe this is probably not incidental personal use," IU legal counsel, Dorothy Frapwell said. "It was inappropriate to use the indiana.edu e-mail address."\nBut Belanger's problem with the mass e-mails is not necessarily the use of the indiana.edu e-mail address, but the number of e-mail addresses Powell had at his disposal.\n"Even though I think Mr. Powell should have used another e-mail account to send this message, I don't think that is the larger issue," Belanger said.\nBut Frapwell disagrees that this was a problem, arguing anyone can get a list of e-mail addresses.\n"My understanding is that this was a list that he put together," Frapwell said.\nBelanger is not planning on taking legal action or to even take it to the University.\n"I think the damage is already done," Belanger said.\nNash believes that the issue is a gray area that needs looked at by the University.\n"I think it's a learning experience for everyone involved in the campaign," Nash said. He believes the University needs to find "an appropriate way to approach this when they're trying to support candidates for the trustee election."\nBelanger and Nash are two of eight candidates running for this year's position on the board of trustees.\nThe six other candidates are Robert B. Cummins, senior vice president of Robert Bosch Co.; Raymond W. Nicholson, director emeritus for St. Mary's Medical Center; C. Duane O'Neal, attorney; Ray Richardson, attorney; Bill Riley, fiscal policy analysis for Indiana Department of Education; and David D. Welker, chief executive officer and president of Walker Enterprises, LLC.\nEach year, a position on the board becomes vacant. There are a total of nine trustees, six appointed by the governor, one of those being a student, and the remaining three being voted on by the University's alumni.\nThis year, almost 435,000 ballots will be mailed out to all living graduates, with probably 10 percent filled out and sent back, Beckley said.\nThe process begins early in the year where each candidate must obtain 100 signatures of IU graduates and submit those signatures to the University librarian by April 1 of the year the election is being held.\nOnce the signatures are verified and counted, the ballots are sent out to the IU alumni.\n"That's where we're at right now," said Harold Shaffer, the coordinator of the trustee election. "The ballots are being sent out by the mailing service in Indianapolis."\nAll of the ballots must be filled out and sent back by June 29 of this year, the day the votes are tallied.\nOnce the votes are counted, the winner is announced in the lobby of the main library.\n"The public is welcome to come in and witness," Shaffer said.
(05/20/02 2:13am)
Charlie Nelms, IU's vice-president for student involvement and diversity, was the frontrunner for Florida A&M University's presidency, but withdrew from consideration for the position early Friday. \nNelms, according to The Tallahassee Democrat, was the only candidate who appeared to have met the expectations of the association and the search committee. He withdrew from consideration Friday, prompting the board of trustees to choose Tallahassee native Fred J. Gainous as the university's ninth president.\n"He didn't want to be considered anymore," said Mike Wilkerson, communications coordinator for the office of diversity. "He basically felt that what there is to do at IU is more important than what there is to do down there."\nNelms notified the university's board of trustees Friday morning, shortly before making their final decision; a decision that was over a year in the making.\nNelms was one of the final five candidates for the position, having to participate in a series of interviews with Florida A&M students and faculty, with one final interview in front of the board of trustees Friday.\n"He was always a leading candidate," Wilkerson said. Wilkerson said although each final candidate had a doctoral degree, Nelms had been a chancellor at two different universities and was the only candidate with Chief Executive Officer experience.\n"I think it was clear, that if he would've stayed in it, there would have been discussions that would've involved him," Wilkerson said.\nNelms has been key in being an effective advocate for IU's diversity, including IU's 20/20 report, a review of IU's programs and services that are designed to recruit and retain IU's underrepresented student groups.\n"His values and ideas about what need to be done are so clear and he states them so well," Wilkerson said. "You always know where he is, and it's always a compelling vision."\nJames Tinney, vice president for public affairs, agrees with Wilkerson.\n"We think he's doing a great job for us," Tinney said. "We would not want to see him go."\nIU President Myles Brand is extremely pleased that Nelms will be staying at IU.\n"He has done an outstanding job for the university, and there is still more that he can accomplish here," Brand said. "I greatly value Charlie's contributions to IU; his combination of experience, energy and insight would be difficult to replace."\nNelms was unavailable for comment at press time.
(05/09/02 2:59am)
After an explosion at Sims Poultry, Inc. early Friday morning, the poultry plant is still up in arms about what really happened and what the plant's next move will be.\nRichard Dunbar, owner of Sims Poultry, Inc., can't explain the explosion -- one which appears to have been deliberate.\n"I don't know if I actually know what happened," Dunbar said. \nAround 4 a.m. Friday, a poultry truck parked at the plant exploded, startling a nearby neighbor.\nThe explosion woke Cathy Haggerty, a resident of the area, who said the neighborhood is generally noisy.\n"I got up to see if a transformer had blown," Haggerty said, "but I didn't see anything."\nHaggerty laid back down, but was woken again by popping and cracking, which he said, sounded like "something was hot."\n"I looked out and saw smoke," she said. \nHaggerty immediately called 911.\nJugs, which appear to have been full of gasoline, where also placed under the other poultry trucks. \n"There was a device that appeared to be set with a timer," Dunbar said. "But if it went off, it didn't do what it intended."\nWhether the timer went off or the jugs were filled with gasoline, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), now in charge of the investigation, will determine the cause. \nPenny Sims, communications director for the mayor, said the city and plant are forced to wait on a verdict from the ATF of what actually happened and who may be behind the explosion.\n"As long as it's an ATF investigation, they handle all elements of the investigation," Sims said, leaving the Bloomington Police Department without jurisdiction over the case.\n"They haven't asked assistance (from the BPD)," Sims said.\nSpecial agent Jeff Groh of the ATF is currently in charge of the investigation. Groh was unavailable for comment on Wednesday.\nAs the ATF investigates the explosion, the poultry plant is looking to get back to normal.\n"We didn't have a whole lot of damage," Dunbar said. "We didn't suffer a lot of physical damage, but it could've been much worse."\nAs for the motive behind the explosion, Dunbar doesn't know why his plant was targeted.\n"We don't kill chickens here," Dunbar said. "We don't do anymore than the local supermarkets."\nThe poultry plant doesn't do the actual processing and acts as a middle man between processors and suppliers.\n"For some reason, we're targeted," Dunbar said. \nIn 1993, animal rights groups targeted the plant, painting graffiti on the poultry trucks.\nDunbar doesn't think the attacker is a disgruntled employee due to the size of the company and the turnover rate the plant has had.\nThe plant is now looking at new ways to protect its property and workers. Dunbar has been researching prices on security fences and cameras.\n"It'd give us more of a sense of security," Dunbar said.
(05/03/02 5:07am)
It's been three years since distinguished alumnus Dick Enberg has stepped foot onto Bloomington's campus. \nTomorrow, he'll address and attempt to inspire IU's outgoing seniors in two separate commencement addresses at 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., both of which are in Assembly Hall.\nIn his address entitled "A dare to be great is a dare to be good," Enberg will share his vast life experiences with the graduates.\n"My feeling is that the essential ingredient for greatness is goodness," said Enberg. "I just do not think great people can be bad."\nEnberg's last visit to Bloomington was in 1999, when Enberg was honored with the dedication of the Dick Enberg studio, a state-of-the-art broadcasting studio, in the school of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.\n"I wanted to desperately give something back to the University for what they've given me," said Enberg.\nA Michigan native, Enberg came to IU in 1957 to earn his masters and doctorate degrees in health education. Enberg to share advice with graduates.\n"My roots are very humble," he said. "I had no expectations. \nThis nobody did get a chance to be a somebody."\nPrior to IU, he received his undergraduate degree at Central Michigan University, where he first became involved with broadcasting. \n"There was an opening for a janitor," recalled Enberg. The job, which only paid $1 an hour, was in the University's broadcasting studio. \nOne of the people who worked in the studio needed someone to read a five minute news story, so he asked Enberg to fill in. \nA few weeks later, Enberg received a phone call from the studio, telling him that he got the job as their new weekend disc jockey, still only paying $1 an hour. \nAfter Central Michigan, Enberg arrived at IU, where he met up with Tony Mobley, the current dean of HPER.\n"He came to IU before I did," said Mobley. "Then I came in '60. That's when we first met."\nBeing graduate students in the HPER together, Mobley and Enberg became close, keeping in touch for the last 42 years.\n"What most people don't know about him in the popular press, because they know him as a sportscaster, is his academic career, because he was a very good student," said Mobley.\nMobley recalled a doctoral student of an upper-level statistics class becoming ill and Enberg helping to substitute.\n"He picked up the course and taught it," said Mobley.\nWhile Enberg was studying health education at IU, he became friends with Dick Yoakam, a journalism professor at the time and the advisor of the IU radio sports network. \nMobley recalls Enberg's audition for the network.\n"Some of them came in and read pieces and some of them did imitation games," he said. When Enberg's turn came up, "...it was over. Everybody else just left. Everybody knew who his selection was going to be."\nAfter receiving the job, Enberg called the first ever play-by-play of an IU football game.\nAfter graduating from IU, Enberg became an assistant professor and an assistant baseball coach at California State University Northridge. \n"He basically wanted to be a professor, was a professor at Cal. State, and he feels like he's still teaching about a sporting event," said Mobley. "It's just a larger classroom as he says."\n"I feel my broadcasts can be an educational experience," said Enberg. "My teaching experience is my strongest ally at broadcasting." \nSince his academic days, Enberg has worked for NBC-TV and is currently with CBS-TV. He has also broadcasted such events as the Superbowl, the Rose Bowl, Wimbledon, the NBA playoffs, and the U.S. Open Golf Championships. He has also won 13 Emmys, one of which is on display in the Enberg studio, and is the only person to ever win an Emmy as a writer, producer and sportscaster.\n"His experiences here have really enabled him to achieve a level of distinction in his field," said vice-president Bill Stephan. "What he brings is probably more than 40 years of real world experience in his career that certainly would be beneficial to students at commencement as they embark on their own careers."\nToday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Enberg will attend a book signing at the Indiana Memorial Union Bookstore where he will autograph "Humorous Quotes for all Occasions," a book of speaking tips and one-liners.\n"It's just a terrific book for someone, a table book that you read occasionally," said Enberg.
(04/16/02 4:16am)
For the past five years, ARTI, IU's Advanced Research Technology Institute, has been developing, licensing and patenting products developed by IU researchers. The University is finally enjoying the fruits of their labor.\nIU's licensing income for the past five years has grown steadily since the establishment of ARTI in 1997, reaching a peak in 2001 of over $4 million, while the licensing revenue increased by approximately $2 million between 1999 and 2001.\n"We've had a pretty good track record of increasing the revenue strength," said Judy Johncox, vice-president of ARTI. "We have some significantly important technologies that have been licensed that are now beginning to generate a revenue."\nBecause ARTI was established in 1997, the Institute is now witnessing those significant technologies generate a revenue for the University. \nOne of those technologies recently developed was invented by Jim Reilly, a professor in the department of chemistry. Reilly developed a new approach to improving the resolution of a mass spectrometer, an instrument used in measuring the mass of a molecule.\nReilly approached ARTI about receiving a patent in September 1994. \n"By the end of October we submitted a patent application," Reilly said.\nThe patent on Reilly's spectrometer took about three years to receive. He is now one of 135 patent-holders at IU. \nThat process is a complicated maze of further improvements on the product and convincing the patent examiner to license the product, which can take up to five years.\n"When it leaves the University lab, it's not a product," Johncox said. "It's the additional development needed to create a product from a university technology that takes three to five years."\nDifferent products may take a longer time to receive a patent than others.\n"If it's software, it may take six months to a year," Johncox said. Medicines typically take longer, but the revenue from medicine has also continued to grow.\n"There's a lot of people in the medical school that are making advances," Reilly said.\nAmong those advances made by IU researchers is a device called "The Closer," which helps improve the cardiac catheterization procedure -- a procedure that is used on hundreds of thousands of heart patients everyday. "The Closer" helps cardiac patients return home sooner and recuperate with less pain. \nIU researchers have even developed a new tartar control for pets and zoo animals. The new coating was developed by the IU School of Dentistry and has been licensed to Heinz Pet Products, Harper Leather, and Purina Mills.\nReilly said the growth and success of ARTI was a key to the revenue boom.\n"I think there's increasing recognition within the University and particularly within ARTI," Reilly said.\nARTI was developed to be separate from the University and is a non-profit organization. Possible budget cuts on IU's technology because of the state's recent economic problems will not affect ARTI because it is not covered under the University's budget, said Judy Palmer, vice-president and chief financial officer of the University's budget.\n"ARTI is a separate corporation and therefore not part of the regular University budget process," Palmer said. "Unlike campuses, ARTI is not directly supported by state appropriation and student fee income."\nARTI's increasing revenue goes back to IU students indirectly, Palmer said.\n"The revenues generated by the trademark licenses support student scholarships on the campuses," Palmer said. "The licensing and patent revenue is distributed to the University in accordance with the intellectual property policy."\nJohncox is not surprised by the recent revenue boom within ARTI.\n"ARTI has been licensing things all along," Johncox said. "Now you're seeing more products move into the market."\nProducts from all of IU's campuses are creating the revenue boom, but the technologies from the Bloomington and the IUPUI campuses are generating hundreds of thousands of dollars, Johncox said. \n"The revenue being generated off University technologies will continue," Johncox said.
(04/05/02 4:15am)
Lauren Robel clearly loves this university.\nRobel, who received her law degree from IU in 1983, was invited back to her alma mater two years later as a faculty member and then later became associate dean of the law school, has now been appointed as interim dean of the School of Law for the 2002-03 academic year. And she couldn't be happier.\n"It's something that I am honored to be able to do," Robel said.\nAppointed by Chancellor Sharon Brehm, Robel will become interim dean effective July 1. She will replace Alfred Aman, the current dean of the law school.\nRobel began her education at Auburn University, where she took classes with her own father.\n"My father retired and decided to go to college, so we both went to college together at Auburn," Robel said.\nAfter graduating from Auburn, she came to IU to study law, thinking all along she would someday become a lawyer.\n"I really came to law school thinking I'd be practicing law and had every intention of doing that," Robel said. \nAfter graduating from the School of Law in 1983, some of the professors wanted her back as part of the faculty, which made her think twice about her career.\n"I just had some wonderful teachers and some of them invited me to come back and interview for a position here," Robel said.\nOne of those teachers was James Tanford, professor of litigation in the law school.\n"She was originally a student here, one of the most outstanding students we've ever had," Tanford said. "It is unusual for an academic unit to hire one of their own graduates back as a faculty member. We did it in part because she was such an outstanding student."\nFor the past 11 years, Professor Robel has served as associate dean of academic affairs for the law school and says she probably would not have stayed as long as she did if it had not been for the outgoing dean, Dean Aman.\n"I've been very lucky to work with Dean Aman very closely," Robel said. "He does everything that faculty members do." This includes writing and publishing books, teaching law classes and even working the clubs as a local jazz drummer in Bloomington.\n"He's an all-around guy," Robel said. "He's an inspiration for all of us in terms of what an academic leader should be. He inspires faculty to be the very best they can be at their job."\nAman, who was replaced once before by Robel when he was on a semester-long sabbatical, believes Robel will do an excellent job as interim dean.\n"She will be superb," Aman said. "Lauren knows the school extremely well. She knows all the programs. She is extremely well-versed in the budget and she is highly respected by her colleagues. She is an excellent teacher, a superb scholar and a gifted administrator."\nAman is leaving for Princeton University for a year, but plans on coming back to IU.\n"I have a book contract with NYU press," Aman said "When I come back, I will look forward to teaching again."\nDuring Robel's one-year term as dean, the law school will be searching for a permanent dean to replace Aman, as he will return to teach, not to continue on as dean.\nWhile Robel prepares to help lead the law school for the next year, she never thought she would end up in this position.\n"It never occurred to me that I would ever be serving as dean at my alma mater, that's for sure," Robel said.
(03/29/02 4:11am)
Although IU professor of anthropology Wesley Thomas currently lives in Bloomington, he said he will never be able to call it home.\n"Every place I go to is just a place I reside, but it never is home," Thomas said.\nFor Thomas, home is New Mexico Navajo Indian reservation, where he was born.\n"Home is very much based on family," he said. "Everyone of my family members is there."\nThomas moved from the reservation 24 years ago to Seattle to receive his doctorate in cultural anthropology from the University of Washington. From there he went to work at Idaho State University as a professor. Thomas currently teaches Native American culture and society at IU -- and says he's "quite impressed with the students."\nThis Thursday, Friday and Saturday, First Nations, a Native American group on campus, is sponsoring a Native American lecture series and pow wow, both of which Thomas organized.\n"It was normal for me to do it here," Thomas said.\nWhile in Idaho and Seattle, Thomas organized pow wows like the one scheduled for this weekend. Holding an event like the pow wow was different there than it is in Bloomington.\n"Here, it's not part of the community," Thomas said. "So this is new territory for me in organizing a pow wow where it's not common."\nThomas had to import drum groups from outside the state for the upcoming pow wow.\nBecause of his Native American heritage, Thomas believes he teaches his courses differently.\n"When I first taught the freshmen, I thought I was going to save some reading time, so I provided firsthand information about Native American cultures," Thomas said.\nThomas thought the students didn't quite get the hands-on experience and would have rather read about Native American culture from textbooks.\n"I think I have to remove myself because my identity got in the way," Thomas said.\nThis semester Thomas is teaching an American Indian religions course along with a Native American culture class focusing on Native American art.\nThomas, who has been a weaver for close to 30 years, has had his own art displayed in the National Museum of American Indians in New York, as well as the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.\nSam Cronk, the manager of the digital archives for American Indian studies, is one of Thomas' colleagues. \n"He's an extremely dynamic individual," Cronk said. "He's an artist as well as a scholar."\nCronk believes through Thomas's work, IU will attract more diversity to campus.\n"I think he's going to really attract attention in terms of cultural anthropology but also attract a more diverse student body," Cronk said.\nThe fact that Thomas personally knows many scholars within the Native American community convinces Cronk that the professor can be very helpful to IU.\n"He knows Native American artists and scholars," Cronk said. "That's an incredible asset."\nLinda Cumberland, a former teaching assistant who worked with Thomas, agreed.\n"He has a very extensive network of friends within the Native American communities across the country," Cumberland said. "The four speakers that he's invited for the lecture series are all outstanding and well-known in their own right." \nCumberland believes that because of his background, Thomas intertwined his own experiences with his course curriculum.\n"Certainly there was an emphasis throughout his course on Navajo culture, not only because it is his own background, but it is the focus of his own studies," Cumberland said. "It's normal for any professor to draw on his or her own expertise."\nPart of Thomas' work on this campus has included efforts to create a community for Native Americans.\n"This year, he's made it a point to create community among the Native American faculty, staff and students," said Yolanda Trevino, an assistant dean for the research and university graduate school. "What I've seen him do very early on was try to create a community, a place where students didn't have to feel like they're the only ones."\nAs only one of two Native American professors at IU, Thomas is trying to bring Native American culture to the forefront of debate on campus one step at a time.\n"There's a conversation that has to take place along people of color and people who are members of diversity," Thomas said. "I always say we know how to spell diversity, but we don't really know what it means"
(03/29/02 4:10am)
In celebration of Native American culture and tradition, First Nations of IU will present the first annual Native American Pow Wow this Friday and Saturday in the IU Fieldhouse. Organized by Wesley Thomas, a professor of anthropology, the pow wow is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Friday.\nAlong with the pow wow, a lecture series is also being held. It started yesterday afternoon and is scheduled to run through today.\n"The pow wow is an event of not only celebration, but of remembrance, renewal, and also it is a statement of survival," Thomas said.\nThe pow wow will have six different Indian drum groups from Ohio, Nebraska, Minnesota and within Indiana. The event will also feature approximately 50 Native American dancers and 40 vendors of authentic arts, crafts and handiworks.\nA typical pow wow can have up to 400 or 500 dancers, but because this is the first year for the event here, it will be scaled down.\nSam Cronk, manager of the digital archives for American Indian studies, said the event will be very authentic.\n"It's sort of a traditional pow wow in a way," Cronk said. "It's not competitional this year, because we don't have any prize money."\nCronk, who has helped organize the pow wow, believes this year will set a precedent.\n"That's really what this first year is about -- getting people's attention," Cronk said.\nYolanda Trevino, the assistant dean of the research and university graduate school, said this kind of event will help bring in more diverse groups of students to IU. \n"We're going to have an information table that's going to talk about graduate school and undergraduate admissions opportunities," Trevino said. "So we're using that as a recruiting tool for students to consider Indiana University as a place to come and study."\nFor the 2001-02 school year, the Office of the Registrar reported only 60 Native American undergraduate students, 19 Native American graduate students and two Native American professors.\n"I know that we have University students coming from Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio and from all around Indiana," Trevino said.\nPaul Tamburro, one of the few Native American students at IU, will participate in this weekend's pow wow.\n"I'm really, really curious in how it's going to be received," Tamburro said. \nTamburro is a Native American from the Shawnee-Abenaki tribe, which is located in Indiana but is not recognized by the state.\n"Indiana does not recognize any Indian tribes. Every state has the right to recognize any individuals they want to," Tamburro said. "Basically, the state ignores us."\nThomas is curious as to how the administration will react to the pow wow.\n"(The pow wow) is something new for them, so they really don't know how to react to it," Thomas said.\nThere will be two speakers in the lecture series today at 10 a.m. in the Fine Arts Building, Room 015, and at 1 p.m. in Whittenberger Auditorium in the Indiana Memorial Union. Both the lectures and the pow wow are free and open to the public.\nThomas hopes students, faculty and members of the community are able to come and participate.\n"This will let them know this is a part of the world that they haven't seen," Thomas said.