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(11/12/10 5:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Fontaine Syer canceled her Friday afternoon class — but not because she had to.The associate professor of acting and directing said many of her students were planning to skip, all to wait in a standby line at 2:30 p.m. outside the IU Auditorium for “An Evening of Conversation with Jane Pauley and Meryl Streep.”“They will all be down there to be first in line,” Syer said. “I wish they had a smaller venue. I wish that Ms. Streep was coming to talk to my class.”Tickets for the 4:30 p.m. event, which were given out for free at the IU Auditorium box office Nov. 1, were gone the following day. The public may still possibly obtain a seat by waiting in the standby line the day of the event. If ticketholders are not in their seats by 4:15 p.m., the remaining seats will be filled by those waiting in the standby line between then and 4:30 p.m.Syer said the sellout of tickets was not surprising. Streep, she said, generates an unmatched excitement in the theater community and for her students.“She is a unique figure in the world of acting. She not only is a movie star, she is a remarkable actress,” Syer said. “She occasionally does stage work, and she is splendid in both.”Streep’s career began on stage in New York before moving to film. She received her bachelor’s degree from Vassar College and master’s degree from Yale and has garnered more nominations than any other actor in the history of both the Academy Awards and Golden Globes.Pauley, who was awarded the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2007, is a prominent journalist and former news anchor for both NBC’s “Today Show” and “Dateline NBC.”Friday’s event will feature an introduction by IU’s first lady Laurie Burns McRobbie and an informal discussion between the journalist and actor, as well as a question and answer session with audience-submitted questions.“I’m hoping she will talk about acting and her work and share some things about how she approaches her work,” Syer said. “But I can tell you, even if she and Jane just exchange recipes, the students will still be incredibly turned on.”The visit by Streep and Pauley is sponsored by the IU Foundation’s Kate Benns Sturgeon Fund, named for the 1928 graduate.Both Streep and Pauley boast IU connections — Pauley graduated from IU in 1972 with a degree in political science, while Streep’s husband, Don Gummer, studied at the IU-Purdue University Indianapolis Herron School of Art in the ’60s.Stephen Watt, associate dean for undergraduate education in the College of Arts and Sciences, said Pauley has shown strong dedication to IU as an alumna. This year, he said, Pauley and her husband donated $10,000 for the college’s sustainability themester.The money, Watt also said, was used to help more than 700 high school students see Cardinal Stage Company’s production of “The Grapes of Wrath” for free. The funds also helped the theater company create a 40-page student handbook to complement the Great Depression-era play.“Jane is someone who is giving back to her home state and school,” Watt said. “I think she sets a great example for everyone about loyalty to an institution that was, and still is, extremely important to her.”
(11/08/10 4:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Junior Jake Wright will be the Indiana Daily Student editor-in-chief for spring 2011.The IU Student Media Board appointed Wright on Friday to succeed senior Sarah Brubeck, the fall 2010 editor-in-chief.The board, which is made up of representatives from various areas of student media, interviews candidates each semester to select the next editor.Wright — from Robinson, Ill. — has had several positions on the IDS staff, including managing editor this fall and art director last summer. Wright is also a contributor to the Arbutus yearbook. During the summer, he also worked as a special projects intern for Indianapolis Monthly.“There will be changes with the way things are run,” Wright said of next semester. “The big thing is that I want to build off this semester by developing the web and taking risks. Some of it will be the same, but in some cases more developed.”The junior said his work this semester — helping to manage the paper on a day-to-day basis — will be the most beneficial to how he approaches the job come January.During the spring, the newspaper will also go through a change in size in coordination with the printer’s standards, and Wright will help make the ultimate decision on the new layout.“In the end, the final look is my call, but I’m not nervous because a lot of people are working on it — not just a management team,” he said. “There will be lots of opinions, and I think there will be enough discussion that it will be a well-represented look as to what our readers and staff want.”As a double major in journalism and apparel merchandising, Wright said he focuses on magazine writing and reporting at IU. After graduation, he said he will pursue a job or internship with a large newspaper or magazine.“If I could right out of graduation go to Chicago, that would be great, and build my way up to New York,” he said.All Student Media publications — including Arbutus and Inside magazine — have editorial independence granted by the IU Board of Trustees. The student editors are in charge and take responsibility for the content.
(11/03/10 5:23pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With no choice but to watch politics from afar, various members of the campus international community expressed mixed feelings about this year’s midterm elections. Acheick Ag Mohamed, a graduate student from Mali, said he has not followed the election as closely as he followed the presidential one. Two years ago, Mohamed had only been in the United States for about six months. He was new to the country and unable to vote, but he said the race felt more important to him.“I really like Obama,” Mohamed said. “I like where he comes from and what he represents — unity. So I paid attention to that election more.”Mohamed said he thought this year’s election was already decided beforehand and did not feel as compelled to follow it. He did, however, say he’s concerned about the outcome.“I feel that the President is going to lose control of the Congress,” he said. “He’s going to have a very difficult time with his agenda now. Very difficult.”Along with Mohamed, senior Aoun Jafarey said he has also not followed this election very closely.While Jafarey said it is important for international students to keep up with U.S politics, he questioned whether this election held any significance for him.“I don’t feel like it really affects me,” Jafarey said. “At this point — Republicans, Democrats — it doesn’t really make a difference.”Other international students expressed their interest in national politics, but a disinterest in Indiana politics specifically.Junior Peggy Li, a Chinese native who has lived in the U.S. for four years, said she is interested in America’s role on a global scale, but is unsure how local politics affect her.“I haven’t paid enough attention to this election to find any issue that’s important to me,” Li said. “Since I don’t have any voting rights, and in general I don’t really follow Indiana politics. ...don’t really know a issue that directly affects me.”Diana Kyllmann, a freshman from Bolivia, also said she finds the political process in America confusing. Kyllmann, who has only been in America since late August, said Bolivia has less elections and thus, each vote is seen as more important.“The U.S. is more complicated, because it is much bigger and has more elections,” Kyllmann said. “In my country we vote for the President and the governors for the departments and that’s it.”Danielle Patras and Charlotte Martin contributed to this story.
(10/27/10 4:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Tuesday morning, 20,103 text messages alerted students, faculty and staff about a tornado warning in Monroe County. But Director of Emergency Management and Continuity Debbi Fletcher said more can be done to prepare the University when such incidents occur.IU’s Office of Emergency Management and Continuity will investigate the delay in the text message system Tuesday. Fletcher said although the IU-Notify system successfully transmitted two separate messages — one at 9:40 a.m. and another at 10:10 a.m. — some students, faculty and staff only received one of the two, while others received the messages late. The delay problem, Fletcher said, is mostly likely tied to the size and complexity in the system and could also relate to users’ specific cell phone carriers.Fletcher said the campus reacted successfully Tuesday, and building managers helped professors and students find shelter. But she admitted not everyone on campus was ready.“We got calls from students asking if they should walk to class when the sirens went off,” Fletcher said.Students might be unaware and unprepared despite texts, she said, on what protocols to follow.“I feel like the text messages are an effective way of reaching everybody, but at the same time if I got a message saying there was a bomb threat I would have no idea what to do,” said senior Karen Michelson.Because staff and faculty fluctuate so often, Fletcher said, learning and following emergency protocols can be pushed aside. She also said all University officials, professors and dorm managers should address emergency preparedness at the beginning of each semester.“We’ve been trying to push it as hard as we can and expand awareness,” Fletcher said. “Students need to know what to do, and have basic preparedness skills.”In the future, Fletcher said she hopes more people sign up for IU-Notify and make sure their information is up-to-date. The Office of Emergency Management and Continuity is also looking into more ways to notify campus during an emergency through TV and computers. “My hope is to see a weather radio in every greek house, every dorm,” Fletcher said. “We need more training and to expand awareness. We are trying to build a culture of awareness, so all officials understand how they play a part.”The notification system is not only focused on weather-related issues. The University works with various emergency response teams to prepare and notify campus for explosions, fires, shooters, terrorist attacks and biohazards.John Applegate, vice president for University Regional Affairs, Planning and Policy, said specific details could not be divulged about IU’s response plans, but is confident IU is prepared for any incident.Last week, for example, a 17-year-old North Carolina teenager pleaded guilty to making fake bomb threats to college campuses across the country — including Purdue and IU-Purdue University Indianapolis. The possibility of such an event, Applegate said, is not something IU ignores.“The first responders have a very clear protocol for evaluating those kinds of threats to make sure the response is appropriate,” he said.
(10/11/10 2:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This year, IU has stolen the education limelight.Both the winner and runner-up for Indiana Teacher of the Year are IU School of Education alumni. The announcement was made Thursday by the Indiana Department of Education.Winner Stacy McCormack graduated from IU in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in science education. She is currently a physics teacher at Penn High School in Mishawaka, Ind. McCormack is now in the running for National Teacher of the Year — an award presented by the ING Foundation and a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers.Runner up Jamil Odom received his elementary education degree from IU in 2005.He now teaches at Mary Bryan Elementary in the Metropolitan School District of Perry Township.Eight of this year’s 10 finalists were IU alumni.“The IU School of Education has had a long history of preparing excellent teachers,” said IU School of Education Dean Gerardo Gonzalez in a press release. “We are very proud of our graduates and the difference they’re making in Indiana classrooms. McCormack and Odom richly deserve the Teacher of the Year honors for which they have been selected. I extend them my heartfelt congratulations.”
(10/11/10 2:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>President Michael McRobbie will become a U.S. citizen today, on his 60th birthday.IU Spokesman Larry MacIntyre said the Australian native, along with his children Josephine, Lucien and Arabella, will take the Oath of Citizenship in a private ceremony in the Bryan House on IU’s campus. McRobbie will take the Oath after living in Indiana for 14 years.The Oath will be conducted by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker. Following the ceremony, McRobbie will have dual citizenship in Australia and the U.S.“He’s concluded this is his home,” MacIntyre said. “His family, children have grown up here. He wants to stay here.”
(10/07/10 7:33pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Trojan recently released its fifth Sexual Health Report Card — a ranking of sexual health at American colleges and universities.This year, IU Bloomington received a 2.72 GPA, which puts it in 39th place out of 141 schools.The research and rankings are based on an independent study by the research firm Sperling’s BestPlaces. According to this year’s study, Columbia University scored highest for its consistent availability of on-site HIV testing, free condoms, anonymous advice capabilities and student peer groups. The top five schools also include the Big Ten’s Michigan State in second place, Ohio State University in third and the University of Michigan in fourth.For more information on the report, see Monday’s edition of the Indiana Daily Student or visit www.trojancondoms.com/Articles.aspx
(10/05/10 4:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Early in the morning of Sept. 4, five gravestones in Dunn Cemetery were knocked down by vandals. A month later, what University officials are calling the worst damage to the historic site to-date has yet to be fixed.While a police report was filed and those in charge of campus facility maintenance have begun restoration plans, the University’s responsibility for the graveyard is still under review.“Usually cemeteries have superintendents,” said Mia Williams, director of landscape architecture for the University Architect’s Office. “I honestly don’t know who’s in charge. Some have been repaired before. Campus Division has fixed them in the past.”Williams met with Campus Division — the office in charge of ground repair and upkeep — to discuss the restoration. Williams said she has contacted a local stone restoration firm, but no time-table has been set for the completion of repairs, and she is still waiting for the estimated cost. The firm, she said, must come to campus, assess the damage and begin on-site work.“It was vandalism of the worst kind,” she said. “It was defenseless.”But does the University have a legal obligation to fix the stones?Between 1855 and 1905, the IU Board of Trustees worked to secure farmland from the local Dunn family in order to create what is now a 1,933 acre campus.But the family provided provisions regarding the family’s burial grounds, which were included in the trustees’ purchases.The private land at both locations are for descendants of Eleanor Dunn, Nancy Alexander and Jane Irwin and is reserved for anyone with whom the descendants intermarry. The University was required to build around the cemeteries and not change or alter them in any way.Larry Stephens, director of IU’s Office of Risk Management — the office providing Williams with insurance funds to fix the stones — said the deed written by the Dunn family states the property was given and belongs to IU.The University, he said, has felt an obligation to keep the cemetery well-maintained, and that feeling has continued throughout time.“We intend to take responsibility,” Stephens said. “It’s on campus. We’re in a different situation than most because of its location.”Stephens said IU has no policy regarding contacting family to inform them of the vandalism or to request payment for the restoration. However, based on his past legal work with cemeteries, he said in many cases it would not be unusual for families to assume financial responsibility.“If it was off campus, it may be different,” Stephens said. “We could go back, try to contact families, because I’m not sure if we legally have responsibility to repair them. I honestly don’t have the answer. It’s my intent to pay for it.”Relatives of those buried in the cemetery are difficult to keep track of, Stephens said, and no real list has been maintained.The most recent Dunn Cemetery burial occurred in 2004, following the death of IU graduate Marilyn Seward Warden. Her tombstone went untouched last month, but her sister Doris Sewards’ did not.“It’s sad, really sad,” Warden’s daughter and Bloomington local Nancy Wrobleski said. “One of the graves knocked over was one of the older ones, over 100 years old. Those are harder to fix. At least my aunt’s is not as old.”Wrobleski said she received a call from her cousin, Kevin Kochery, several days after the vandalism and was unsure if the other living decedents eligible for burial in the cemetery were aware.After the restoration takes place, both Campus Division and Indiana Memorial Union officials said security for the area will also be reviewed.“I’d like to see cameras installed,” Williams said. “It’s hard to believe no one heard what happened that Saturday.”
(10/04/10 2:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Musicology Department in the Jacobs School of Music was recognized among the best in the United States in the Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs. The department ranks between first and eighth overall out of 63 academic programs in music. The rankings were made based on 21 measures of quality. The study, which released Sept. 28 by the National Research Council, examined more than 5,000 doctoral programs in 59 fields of study at 121 universities.The IU department is ranked well in various areas, including number of awards per faculty member, percentage of interdisciplinary faculty, number of publications per faculty member, percentage of students who complete the degree, percentage of Ph.D. graduates who obtain academic jobs and percentage of minority and women faculty.“We are very proud to receive this recognition for the quality of our musicology program,” said J. Peter Burkholder, distinguished professor and chairman of the department in a press release. “This testifies to the hard work of our devoted faculty and to the achievements of our students. We appreciate the strong support of the Jacobs School.”Data for the study was collected from public sources and through questionnaires administered in 2006. The complete rankings are available at www.chronicle.com/page/NRC-Rankings/321/#data.To learn more about the Jacobs School of Music, visit www.music.indiana.edu.
(09/29/10 4:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>During the State of the University address Tuesday on the IU-Purdue University Indianapolis campus, President Michael McRobbie said despite the financial recession, IU has been stable and will look forward to future progression.The President focused his address, titled “The Principles of Excellence,” on six core principle areas including education, faculty, research, international engagement, science and health, and economic development.Education“First, we must ensure that IU’s schools and programs provide an excellent education of the highest quality appropriate to their campus and school missions and are recognized for their excellence through national and international peer comparisons.”An excellent education, McRobbie said, includes attracting diverse and under-represented students from the local, national and international community. This semester, IU had the highest fall enrollment to date with 109,000 students — which included an increase of minorities.College completion and student quality of life must also remain a priority, he said.Faculty“I believe very strongly that more IU faculty — faculty who have gained national and international prominence in their fields — deserve to be elected to the nation’s and world’s most prestigious academies and societies, and that more must be done to nominate them for such honors.”McRobbie said he hopes to hire even through the recession while keeping salaries and benefits on a competitive field as well as retain faculty he has now. The President also recognized honors IU faculty received last year, including Distinguished Professor of Political Science Elinor Ostrom, the 2009 Nobel prize winner in economics.Research“The third principle is to ensure we maximize IU’s full capacity for research, scholarship and creative activity that is recognized as excellent through national and international peer comparisons.”In 2009-10, IU researchers received a record $603.9 million in grants and awards from external sources. Supporting research, he also said, will require more collaboration between campuses. The President said the University will soon announce a $1 millionIU Collaborative Research grants program.International Engagement“By any measure, Indiana University is one of America’s leading international universities.”Ten of IU’s international programs located in the College of Arts and Sciences and one in the Kelley School of Business, will receive nearly $20 million in funding over the next four years under the U.S. Department of Education’s Title VI program. However, McRobbie said the University must continue to increase the number of international and study abroad students, stemming from the President's belief that “the best university education instills an understanding of the world outside of the boundaries of the United States.”Health Sciences and Health Care“Over the next few years, we will expand in this area as we are working to establish two new schools of public health, one in IU Bloomington and one at IUPUI.”McRobbie said about 50 percent of Indiana’s physicians, 40 percent of nurses, 90 percent of dentists and 60 percent of optometrists are trained at IU. The health and clinical sciences, he said, are a large and essential part of IU. Working with Clarian Health Partners, McRobbie said, will keep this focus strong. In April, the Clarian Board voted unanimously to change its name, effective in 2011, to Indiana University Health. McRobbie said this will reinforce the companies partnership with IU and in particular the IU School of Medicine.Engagement and Economic Development“Many of our efforts in this area are focused through the IU Research and Technology Corporation, whose mission is to accelerate the transformation of the innovations and intellectual property developed by IU faculty, staff, and students into new products, services, and companies to improve Indiana’s economy and our national competitiveness.”Last year, IU obtained 154 invention disclosures, 228 patent applications filed, 11 patents issued and $14,126,964 in royalties, fees and milestone payments. McRobbie said the University will continue its work with the IU Research and Technology Corporation on these developments.
(09/27/10 2:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Student Foundation and IU Foundation are now accepting applications for the fall Metz Grant.The $50,000 grant will be given in two parts during the academic year — $25,000 each semester — to student organizations around campus doing philanthropic work.Organizations can apply for up to $5,000, and applicants will be chosen by a committee of IUSF members, staff and the IU Foundation’s Board of Associates.Applications are available on the IUSF website, www.iusf.indiana.edu. The deadline for all applications is 4 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Wilcox House, 1606 N. Fee Lane.There are five categories for which each applicant can register: IU campus diversity, local, state, national and international. This is the sixth year for the Metz Grant, which is funded by the Arthur R. Metz Philanthropic Opportunity Fund. Arthur R. Metz, an IU alumnus and philanthropist, originally created the grant to help medical students in 1948.
(09/27/10 2:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Junior Parth Patel stood on his feet for 24 hours Friday, starting at 3 a.m.But you won’t catch him complaining.“I did IU Dance Marathon. That was 36 hours,” Patel said. “I got like two hours of sleep before this.”Patel is treasurer of Building Tomorrow @ IU, a student organization raising money to promote education in Uganda. The group is one of 15 college chapters, all part of a national non-profit headquartered in Indianapolis.Patel stood Friday along with several other members as part of a national event titled StandOff. Those involved promised not to sit, sleep or lean during the 24-hour period.“I’ve had a couple lapses,” said junior and acting President Kim Long about her effort to stay standing. “It’s hard to remember sometimes when you’re in your home. I sat down at my desk and was like ‘Oh gosh’ and stood up.”Patel and his fellow Building Tomorrow @ IU members raised money during the StandOff by setting up a table from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the intersection of 10th Street and Fee Lane. For the remainder of the StandOff, the table was moved to Kirkwood Avenue to catch more pedestrian traffic.Neither Patel nor Long stood outside for the entire day. Students that chose to participate in the StandOff also went to class.“I had Spanish class in the morning,” Patel said. “They were pretty impressed.”Long also said both students got a round of applause in their endocrinology class.“We often take for granted the fact that we have chairs,” Long said. “A lot of these kids in Uganda don’t have desks, chairs. They walk incredible distances just to get to school.”This year, Building Tomorrow @ IU is working to raise $28,000 before the end of the school year — money that Patel said will fund a solely IU-sponsored school.“It’s our goal to raise the rest,” Patel said. “It would be spectacular.”Students who donated Friday were asked to help build a Lego-version of the future school, glued on a piece of construction board. One plastic brick, Patel said, represented $1, as well as 10 actual bricks that could be bought for the school in Uganda.Along with regular fundraising, both Long and Patel said the group’s biggest event, a bike-a-thon titled Bike to Uganda, will take place the week before Little 500 this spring. Participants in the event, Patel said, aim to cover the distance from Bloomington to Uganda — 7,710 miles. Last year, the group fell short of the goal.“Basically we ended up somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean,” he said. “But it can be a success this year. It’s a really unique event.”For more information about Building Tomorrow, visit www.buildingtomorrow.org.
(09/16/10 5:39pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Today marks the anniversary of Mexico’s independence. The revolution began before midnight on Sept. 15, 1810 and more than a decade later, Spanish imperial rule was abolished.IU will celebrate from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at Collins Living-Learning Center, Edmundson B01 with a roundtable discussion, titled “The Meanings of the Bicentennial in Latin America.”The event is sponsored by IU’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and will feature IU Latin American History professor Peter Guardino and Arlene Diaz.“Our focus will be ‘What is the cultural significance of the Bicentennial in Latin America?’” said Bradley Levinson, director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at IU, in a press release. “Students should become more aware of the Americas, and how significant celebrating 200 years of freedom is for the people. Their struggle for independence lasted longer than ours did.”For more information, visit www.indiana.edu/~clacs/.
(09/16/10 5:37pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which kicked off Wednesday, Vicki L. Ruiz, dean of the School of Humanities at the University of California Irvine, will speak about gender, labor, immigration and more in her lecture titled “Citizen Restaurant: American Imaginaries, American Communities.” The talk is 4 p.m. today in Ballantine Hall room 310, with a dinner reception at 6:30 p.m. at La Casa Latino Cultural Center, 715 E. Seventh St.For more information on National Hispanic Heritage Month in Bloomington and on campus, visit www.indiana.edu/~lacasa/.
(09/08/10 4:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Texas Rep. Ron Paul, R-14th District, will visit IU this October following aggressive petitioning by the student-run organization Young Americans for Liberty at IU.The talk will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at the IU Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.“He’d go to Arizona, Ohio State,” said junior Sam Spaiser, president of the group. “We wanted to know how they got him there. I started e-mailing the Young Americans for Liberty headquarters, asking ‘How did they get Ron Paul?’”Spaiser said the group obtained 700 signatures in the span of two months to petition for Paul’s visit, and after receiving 1,000, it was “locked up.”The lecture, Spaiser said, will focus on Paul’s main political platform and the group’s basic principles, including the Constitution, role of government and foreign policy.IU’s chapter of Young Americans for Liberty, Spaiser said, has grown considerably since Paul’s presidential run in 2008.“It used to be six, seven people,” he said. “Slowly it started to build up. Last fall at the call-out meeting we had at least 50 people. We’ve seen that momentum really hold up.”Paul said he has never been to Bloomington but is excited by the passion of the students who requested his visit.“Young people are starting to realize what they are inheriting is a mess,” Paul said. “I’ve been very pleased that so many college kids are interested. There is a lot more interest today because of the financial crisis.”The congressman, who has been in and out of political office since 1976, ran for president in 1988 and again in 2008. The longtime politician said students can be involved in government by staying informed and being active voters.“It’s important for students to get interested and deal with problems,” Paul said. “I encourage education. It’s an educational problem. I emphasize the understanding of economic policy, the Constitution, the role of government.”But his biggest piece of advicefor students? Be independent and productive, he said.“Take care of yourself, study, learn, be productive,” he said. “If you take care of yourself, you are never a burden — this will help everybody. Study economics, find out what is in your best interest.”Sophomore Chris Babcock, secretary for IU College Democrats, said while the congressman’s visit may not appeal to the “mainstream voter,” his group appreciates all views on campus.“At a public university, even far out views are welcome for discussion,” Babcock said. “As far as his son running for senator in Kentucky, I don’t know what his visit is in relation to that.”IU College Democrats, Babcock said, are also in works to bring speakers to IU’s campus and are organizing various debates for students to attend.Staying active in politics, he said, is never bad — whether in the democratic or republican parties.“Students should keep an open mind and look into different issues,” Babcock said. “Stay involved, be involved, whether that’s seeing Ron Paul or going to our debates. They are all great ways to get involved regardless of your views. Student engagement is important.”Spaiser said he believes the speech will attract people from far away and be pertinent to a wide range of people of different ages and backgrounds.“I think his message is spot on. Everything he talks about is geared toward students,” he said. “Anyone can come, even if they don’t believe in his policies.”
(08/31/10 4:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>No, there is not a shortcut to McNutt Quad.While this might have been sad news for new students, IUGuides — stationed on campus Monday and today — are working to deliver good news for the lost, confused and flustered during the first week of classes.“The guides are general resources on campus,” said Robert Rathbun, project manager for the Office of First Year Experience Programs. “They are definitely to help with navigation, but also some freshman can ask ‘Where can I get a bite to eat?’ They are a welcoming face.”Rathbun said the first-year office, who organized the guides, is also working to promote IUMobile, the mobile-friendly application with campus and bus service maps. Ben Monahan-Estes, a graduate student and orientation leader during the summer, stood outside the Music Annex on Monday to hand out maps and offer advice as a guide. He is just one of the 200 volunteers working at 12 locations in 600 shifts during the first two days of classes — from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.“I’ve had even professor-age ask for direction,” Monahan-Estes said. “Someone asked where the music building was. We have to ask them which music building they mean. There are people who fold up the map who don’t want us to know they have one.”But while Monahan-Estes and his fellow guide, junior Chelby Tarver, both said most questions have involved directions to campus buildings, they’ve had to use common sense to help more special inquiries.“If you think about it, people are new to campus, so who do you ask?” Monahan-Estes said. “You look official, so obviously they ask you. You’re wearing red, standing behind a table.”Tarver, a psychology and gender studies major, said she was asked where an elevator was in Sycamore Hall.“When I was a freshman, I was lost a lot, and I still do get lost, but I know better now,” Tarver said. “It’s my duty as an upperclassman to help out.”At about 11:30 a.m., a woman asked Monahan-Estes where she could get banking and financial help, while freshman Cameron Golman asked how far away his dorm was from his most recent class in the Lee Norvelle Theatre & Drama Center.“I just get pointed in the right direction, I go, and I will hit something,” Golman said. “I haven’t used a bus yet. I’ve been on the buses, I dunno. Walking? Why not. Campus is beautiful.”Golman said he was surprised to find how long it would take him to get back to McNutt — 15 minutes was Monahan-Estes’ guess.“I’m just going to walk aimlessly in this direction,” Golman said, pointing north before heading off.Despite the somewhat odd questions and the need to repeat information, alumnus Steve Dayton said volunteering as an IUGuide has been a great way to give back to the campus. Dayton, who returned from his home in Washington, Ind., to volunteer for the fourth time, brought his daughter to help near the Indiana Memorial Union.“It’s a great opportunity to come back on campus and help out,” Dayton said. “Hopefully we’ll keep coming back, and soon my daughter will be here.”
(08/27/10 3:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Although new IU ROTC cadets just settled into Bloomington and their dorms, each is keenly aware of the physical and educational training just around the corner.So before the work begins, 13 ROTC scholarship recipients — as well as 32 non-scholarship recipients — relaxed with family and seasoned cadets Thursday at an orientation barbecue outside the program’s headquarters.“I’m excited about the camaraderie of being around everybody and the experience that it’s going to give me,” said freshman Craig Kitchin while eating a freshly-grilled burger with his parents.The Shelbyville, Ind., native and Wright Quad resident is one of the new cadets who was awarded an ROTC Scholarship, which provides tuition, book allowance and a living stipend for his four years of college. High school students interested in ROTC apply for the scholarship online and choose up to 10 schools in which they are interested in attending.“These students demonstrated good leadership capacities,” said LTC Ralph Vargas, scholarship and enrollment officer and recruiting operations officer. “At ROTC we call it SAL. Scholars, athletes, leaders.”“SAL,” Vargas said, is like a tripod. “Without one leg, you’re on the ground.”Vargas also said this year’s scholarship recipients have an average SAT score of 1320 and a 3.7 GPA.But after being initially awarded, in order to stay a recipient and begin training, the students must meet more than just educational standards in the form of a physical fitness and medical test. The physical test will include push-ups, sit-ups and a two-mile run. The physical fitness test isn’t the end, either. Scholarship winners are required to attend 5 a.m. workouts three days a week during the school year. “I’m worried about it, yeah, but I’ll be fine,” Kitchin said.CDT Nicholas Schatko, a senior and second-year cadet, said it is rare for cadets to fail the tests.“They understand before applying for the scholarship that they will be part of the Army,” Schatko said. “I personally knew joining what it would mean physically.”And this year, freshmen are not the only newcomers to IU’s ROTC program. LTC Michael Ogden, professor of military science, returned from active duty in July and will help run the program for three years. Ogden, born and raised in Indiana, said he is glad to be back and impressed by the young cadets.“The graduation rate is well over 90 percent. The GPA is over 3.0,” Odgen said. “I look at the quality and professionalism. These are bright young men. It’s just obvious when you interact with them.”
(08/25/10 6:53pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IDS ReportsBecause of freshmen move-in to residence halls today, IU’s Campus Bus Service will not run campus buses. Traffic on roads such as Woodlawn Avenue, Sunrise Drive and Ninth Street have also been redirected to expedite the move-in process and cut down traffic. Because of these new traffic patterns and traffic inflow, check Bloomington Transit for city bus schedules on bloomingtontransit.com. City buses are running today on their summer schedule.Welcome Week bus schedules for campus buses are posted online at iubus.indiana.edu/campus_bus/index.html. Bus service will resume tomorrow.— Margaret Ely
(08/24/10 4:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU employees will see a little more money in their pockets come Nov. 1.A 3 percent overall pay increase was approved by the Board of Trustees and announced by President Michael McRobbie Aug. 20. Faculty and staff did not see a raise in 2009.“Last year we did not have adequate resources,” IU Spokesman Larry MacIntyre said. “For this fiscal year, there was enough money in the budget. This is about the maximum amount that he could come up with and still be responsible.”Seventeen million dollars will be needed, MacIntyre said, to fund the increase for this fiscal year, with another 12.5 million in savings required to keep the raise in effect.Neil Theobald, vice president and chief financial officer for IU, said in order to stay within that budget, the increase for employees will be based on performance. Some employees will see a 1.25 percent increase, while others will see up to 6 percent. “If someone has performed unsatisfactorily, they will not get a raise, but that is very uncommon,” Theobald said. “This is a really important thing for the University to do. All of the employees have done a remarkable job.”Theobald said even with the prospect of receiving no raise, feedback from University staff has been positive.Another way the school will work within its budget is by cutting costs and streamlining various departments.“The University has been discussing this for many months,” said Kathleen McNeely, associate vice president of finance. “I’ve been part of those global discussions.”Theobald has asked McNeely to spearhead the project, which will look specifically at operations and costs in the human resources and student services areas of IU. By working with colleagues at the University of Michigan — which is in the process of completing a similar project — McNeely said the quality of services will not be lost.The associate vice president of finance will present her plans at the next board meeting, with overall implantation done by December 2012.“This is student service activities over seven campuses and human resources,” McNeely said. “It isn’t something you’d want to change quickly without thoughtful analysis and discussion. We are at the stage of the analysis. Two years is a long time.”McNeely also said there should be no fears regarding job cuts in these departments.“People should stay up-to-date and thoughtful,” she said. “No one needs to have any immediate concerns.”—Katie Dawson contributed to this story.
(08/08/10 8:54pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I’ll drink it hot or cold, with or without sweetener, skim milk or soy, flavored or original. Pickiness goes out the window when it comes to my coffee. Give me a cup and I’ll make it work. I can’t live without it.I was never a fan of coffee early in high school. I took my first sip from my mother’s daily mug and spit it right back out. But time passed.With age came money — and social outings to Starbucks. I went from frappes to lattes to coffee and milk. If this is coffee evolution, I should be downing shots of espresso by now.Was I drawn to the drink by a desire for caffeine? Perhaps it was a desire to fit into a culture that embraces it. According to the 2010 National Coffee Drinking Report, “daily consumption of coffee beverages among consumers remained unchanged as compared to 2009, with 56 percent of adults partaking.”I’m surprised it’s not higher. Even now, when I meet someone who doesn’t like coffee, I get confused. It just doesn’t register.But the shock doesn’t stop there. The National Coffee Association of USA, which conducts the yearly study, also found that 84 percent of consumers have not changed their consumption habits despite the poor economy.Coffee is a huge industry with a lot of costumers who empty their wallets daily for the drink. It’s an expensive habit, just like alcohol and cigarettes.Recently, J.M. Smucker Co. raised the price of its Folgers, Dunkin’ Donuts, Millstone and Folgers Gourmet Selections coffees. Will the price increase affect sales? Perhaps, but I’ll bet we’re willing to fork over the extra cash for the drink.In America, we’re convinced there are things we just can’t live without. For me, the order goes: laptop, Blackberry, coffee. But this attitude costs each one of us a lot of money. The cell phone bill, the daily latte — it adds up.It’s time to rethink our coffee habits.Take this case study, conducted by a slightly less noted source than the National Coffee Association of USA: my sister. Although she was raised a Protestant, Sarah gave up coffee for Lent.I expected complaints of headaches and withdrawal, but she was fine. “It was all in my head,” she said happily. She now buys less coffee and still feels fine.I’m not refuting the raw science. Caffeine is a proven stimulant, and if you need a quick jolt for a night of studying, there’s no better wake up call. But cutting back on coffee can be a great small step toward cutting back on other unnecessary expenses in your life. So grab a glass of water, get an extra hour of sleep and save up for that new Blackberry you’ve always wanted.