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(04/08/11 2:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Just a month after winning the IU Student Association elections, Justin Kingsolver and other Big Ten executives will be sworn in Sunday at the IUSA 2011-2012 inauguration. “It’s a way to acknowledge and thank the past administration and look to the new administration and see what their ideas are and what they want to accomplish,” said current student body treasurer Sierra Hsieh. The inauguration, to be in the Faculty Room of the University Club in the Indiana Memorial Union, is by invitation only. Those present will include members of both the current and incoming administrations, their parents, administrators and IUSA advisers. Both current President Michael Coleman and President-elect Kingsolver will be given the chance to speak at the event.“It’s a way for us to respect each other and to say ‘good luck,’” Hsieh said. The event will kick off the last week of the iUnity administration’s time in office, the final transition period before Coleman’s last day in office April 15.
(04/01/11 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU School of Journalism played host to three alumni Thursday night as part of its Roy W. Howard Lecture on Media Leadership. Gerould Kern of the Chicago Tribune, BA ’71 On the current state of the industry:“There are going to be more challenges to come. We’re in the midst of a historic transformation ... it will never end. We have got the privilege of continuing to make these changes to keep this great thing alive.”On the future of print:Kern stressed that newspapers need to be more than just a physical paper and should focus on being really great at a few things that are worth paying more for. Newspapers should also “be the organization that draws the community together,” Kern said. Paul Tash of the St. Petersburg Times, BA ’76 Tash took a more optimistic view on the longevity of newspapers:“Its demise has been greatly exaggerated. I think that we would make a mistake to run away from it. That’s who we are.” On paying more for content:“I think the most powerful four letter word — starting with F — is free, and that expectation is very deeply ingrained.” On the future of journalism:Tash wants to give those “who seem impossibly young ... the same kind of chances when I seemed impossibly young to someone else.” Carrie Ritchie of The Indianapolis Star, BAJ ’08Ritchie moderated the event.
(03/29/11 3:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Homophobia. Immigration. Racism. These are just a few of the controversial issues the IU chapter of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship will tackle this week with its series “Jesus and the end of ... ”The five-day event, which began Monday will feature a themed interactive display at various locations throughout campus during the day and a discussion during the evening with a different guest speaker each night.Erika Sutton, senior and member of the InterVarsity leadership team, said the group has been working on the events since last May, adapting the speaker series from a similar Canadian InterVarsity program.“The overarching theme is that Christians should care about social issues. We hope bridges are built between Christians and student justice groups and that the campus has a better understanding of the ways faith can speak to modern-day issues,” Sutton said. The discussions will present a biblical perspective on the nightly topics, presenting a case for how Jesus would respond if he were living on IU’s campus today. Sutton said the best part of the series is the diversity and expertise of the speakers.“They’re really going to surprise people. Their responses won’t necessarily be what you would hear from mainstream churches,” she said. Though InterVarsity is a nondenominational Christian organization, the week’s events are open to all. “It targets Christians because it can provide them with a new perspective, as well as people who just care about these topics who didn’t exactly know Christians were involved with these issues,” Sutton said. “We expect our biggest day to be Monday because the topic is Jesus and the end of homophobia. It has already stirred lots of reactions on campus among faculty and students,” Sutton said. Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equality is partnering with InterVarsity for the inaugural programming. Both groups were outside of Ballantine Hall to facilitate the themed interactive display, which received students’ input on homophobia at IU. “There are a lot of burned bridges between the (GLBT) and Christian community, and there hasn’t been a lot of talk of reconciliation,” Sutton said. “You don’t really see the groups working together. Ultimately, we want to bridge some gaps.” InterVarsity has already met some opposition to its programming from Christians who believe the group is being too liberal and from others who are concerned about how the topics will be presented.“We’re dealing with controversial issues that the Christian community isn’t united on. The question is ‘How do we disagree well?’ or ‘What type of consensus can we make with a very diverse group of Christians?’” Sutton said. Despite the often racially conservative representatives of Christianity, Sutton said InterVarsity has no political agenda. “Our group is not conservative or liberal. We’re interested in looking at issues from a biblical perspective,” Sutton said. “We still feel we have an important message. It if takes some backlash, that’s okay.” The program is, in part, funded by the IU Student Association’s Funding Board. The board recently began allowing funding for religious organizations due to a change in U.S. court law. Danny Schuster, funding board director of funding, said the board must remain viewpoint neutral, free from discrimination on the basis of religious orientation against groups or events.“After reviewing the application and presentation, the board felt that the event will provide an open forum on relevant issues and would add value to campus life.”
(03/22/11 3:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A sizeable number of Americans are concerned about the growing power of China, according to results of a new national survey conducted by two IU School of Journalism professors. Professors Lars Willnat and Emily Metzgar conducted the representative online survey of 1,012 American adults between Jan. 25 and Feb. 4. “I would say that our findings are encouraging. While it is clear that most Americans fear China’s growing political and economic power, we also found that they have very positive perceptions of the Chinese,” Willnat said.The survey showed that 69 percent of respondents worry that China could pose a military threat to America, and 51 percent believe China will be the world’s leading economic power in 20 years. With that said, 48 percent of respondents have unfavorable views of China, according to the survey.However, despite the country’s history of human rights abuses and censorship, the survey revealed that respondents have a positive outlook on the people of China, with 82 percent of those surveyed saying they have a favorable view of the Chinese people.“A clear majority of Americans have favorable opinions of the Chinese, reflecting possibly their own interactions with Chinese friends and relatives here in the U.S. and abroad, or simply the recognition that the Chinese people are not responsible for what their authoritarian government is doing,” Willnat said. The study was sponsored by the IU Research Center for Chinese Politics & Business, led by Director Scott Kennedy. “There are a lot of studies on American popular opinion of China, but their study is unique in its focus on how people’s media usage affects their view of China. Also, they show that Americans distinguish between China the place and Chinese the people, having a far more positive view of the people than the country, likely because they associate the country with the government,” Kennedy said.Willnat, who has conducted research on Asia for more than 15 years, said he is interested in how media exposure to news and entertainment influences the perception of other nations.“Most Americans have not had the chance to travel to China, yet they hold fairly strong opinions about this country. Obviously, the media must play an important role in shaping these perceptions,” Willnat said. Americans also seem to desire news about China, as 75 percent of people surveyed are either “somewhat” or “very” interested in news about China.“We suspect that people with more exposure to news generally have more positive perceptions of China and the Chinese because those are very likely the people who know more about China and its people, which in turn should lower their fears,” Willnat said. Despite the public’s apparent desire for news about China, misconceptions abound, he said. “People know very little about China according to our findings,” Willnat said. The survey showed that three-quarters of respondents couldn’t identify China’s currency, 55 percent didn’t know China’s president and only 32 percent could name China’s capital.The biggest misconception, Willnat said, is the belief that China’s economy has already surpassed the United State’s, as 52 percent of the people surveyed thought that China’s economy is larger than the U.S. economy while in fact, it currently is about one-third the size of America’s. “We believe that this misperception is due to a lot of media coverage about China’s booming economy. We also believe that this misperception has inflated people’s fears about China, especially the fear that a booming economy in China will mean fewer jobs in the U.S.,” Willnat said.Willnat and Metzgar presented their findings at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, on March 14. “We got a lot of positive feedback from our Chinese colleagues,” Willnat said. “In fact, we learned that colleagues at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou are planning a similar survey on how Chinese see Americans.”
(03/09/11 5:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Neil Kelty, IU Student Association Chief of Staff, will keep his executive position for the remainder of the school year. Congress voted 31-0 to keep Kelty in public office after Resolution No. 10-11-27 was presented to the floor Tuesday. The resolution proposed Kelty’s impeachment, accusing him of violating IUSA bylaws by unethically handling IUSA finances and student funds. Twenty-nine Congress members voted against the resolution, while two abstained from voting. “I didn’t think that at any point I did anything wrong. I asked the people who were experts on the subject what the best course of action was and took every matter of precaution to ask and confirm. That was my process. I though that the facts and my character spoke that I had not attempted to do anything wrong,” Kelty said. Resolution 10.11.27 was the fourth resolution of the evening presented to Congress and was discussed for a total of 36 minutes. After the resolution was read aloud in full, both Kelty and petitioner, IUSA president-elect, Justin Kingsolver spoke to explain their case. Kelty was accused of using his personal business, Thrive44 Strategy Group, as a funnel for IUSA funds back in 2009, when he served in IUSA as executive director of new media and technology. Kelty supposedly requested that IUSA reimburse him through his Thrive44 account for the payment of then-IUSA President Peter SerVaas’ smartphone data package.During his statement, Kingsolver said he decided to pursue the issue, despite requests from IUSA executives and Congress members to stop, not because of personal motivations regarding last week’s elections, but rather in the pursuit of fairness. “We need to have justice stand today,” Kingsolver said. Kelty responded to the resolution, saying that his actions were signed off on by other members of the administration, as well as the SOA office. Debate between Congress members followed the questioning period, with congress member Leah Simons calling the resolution “insulting” and “moot.”“No one man shout be shot 30 days before leaving office,” Simons said.The resolution was then voted upon by roll call. Usual resolution passing requires only a simple majority of Congress members present to vote in favor of a resolution. Impeachment, however, requires the support of two-thirds majority of all Congress members, which is 32 out of the current 48 members said Jen Peterson, vice president of Congress.“I hope this is done with, and I can commence with making sure the transition happens,” Kelty said.
(03/08/11 5:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Student Association Congress will convene tonight to hear a resolution calling for the impeachment of current IUSA Chief of Staff Neil Kelty, as decided by IUSA’s Congressional Central Committee. Kelty is accused of using his personal business, Thrive44 Strategy Group, as a funnel for IUSA funds. The alleged incident occurred in 2009, when Kelty served in IUSA as executive director of new media and technology. Kelty supposedly requested that IUSA reimburse him through his Thrive44 account for the payment of then-IUSA President Peter SerVaas’ smartphone data package. If true, the use of a personal business to handle IUSA funds would constitute an “unethical use” of student finances, an impeachable offense in the IUSA bylaws, specifically article 15, section A, (5).Neil Kelty has said he used his personal business to conduct the transaction because, at the time, he didn’t have enough personal funds available. SerVaas has said he was unaware that Thrive44 was used as a channel of reimbursement. The CCC unanimously dissented from the opinion of the resolution that Kelty should be impeached. However, the committee decided to allow Congress to hear the resolution “in an effort to maintain full transparency,” according to the commission’s brief. Monday’s decision is only one in a continuing process. The call for investigation into Kelty’s actions began when IUSA President-elect Justin Kingsolver and sophomore Jarad Winget submitted a request for injunctive relief Feb. 24 to the IUSA Student Body Supreme Court, which pointed out the alleged conflict of interest. The request then went before the IUSA Supreme Court on Feb. 27, which issued a preliminary injunction against Kelty, essentially furthering the case. Thursday’s decision was the final step before the issue reached the floor of the IUSA Congress. Congress will hear the matter at 8 p.m. in Kelley School of Business 102. It is, as always, open to the public.
(03/07/11 3:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Student Association Election Commission has denied BtownUnited’s request calling for rival ticket Big Ten’s disqualification. However, the commission fined Big Ten $957.93 for six violations of the IUSA election code.The ruling came less than 24 hours after Thursday’s public hearing, during which both tickets presented the facts and personal statements to the commission. Big Ten was found guilty of committing six out of seven “clear and convincing” violations of the IUSA elections code. Only one accusation, voter fraud, was unanimously denied due to “insufficient” evidence. BtownUnited alleged that Big Ten solicited votes at the Herman B Wells Library bus stop, the alley between the art museum and the Ora L. Wildermuth Center, areas near the Hutton Honors College, outside of Foster Quad’s Gresham food court and at the Jordan Hall bus stop, according to photographs and statements in the BtownUnited complaint.BtownUnited’s Barrett Tenbarge and Neil Kelty stated these locations were not able to be reserved in accordance with the Student Activities Office policy.The commission voted unanimously that these five locations were in violation of section 304 of the elections code. The sixth violation came from a Big Ten volunteer soliciting votes within 50 feet of a 21-and-over establishment. The court came to the decision after BtownUnited submitted both a picture and eyewitness report of the Big Ten supporter’s action.Justin Kingsolver, Big Ten’s president-elect, responded to the complaints, saying his ticket did not knowingly violate any election codes and acted “in good faith” to rectify potential violations by having volunteers leave disputed locations and remove tables that were not at approved voting locations.Once at least three violations were determined, the commission had to assess if the violations were “materially contributory” to the election results, as stated in section 605 of the elections code. Though the commission determined Big Ten’s six violations were relevant to the election, they found them “not significant to the outcome of the election” as evidenced by the high margin of victory — almost 1,800 votes — and thus did not constitute grounds for disqualification, according to the commission ruling.The commission fined Big Ten penalties of 5 percent of total campaign expenditures for each violation, totaling 30 percent. These fines were applied to the entire Big Ten executive ticket and will be assessed to their IUSA budget.
(03/04/11 4:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Following its victory Wednesday night, the Big Ten ticket has been accused by BtownUnited of committing seven violations of the IUSA elections code, thus influencing the final outcome of the elections. BtownUnited is calling for disqualification of the Big Ten ticket, as it believes the charges against Big Ten are “materially contributory to the outcome of the election,” as stated in section 605 of the IUSA elections code. A public hearing was held before the IUSA elections commission Thursday at 6:30 p.m. to confirm the facts of the complaint and allow both sides to make statements. Five accusations were brought against president-elect Justin Kingsolver’s Big Ten ticket Wednesday, all of which centered around violation of section 304 of the IUSA election code, which states that “Tickets shall not set up tables for the purposes of collecting votes outside a legitimate, reserved outdoor location approved by the SAO.”BtownUnited has alleged that Big Ten solicited votes at the Wells Library bus stop, the alley between the art museum and the HPER, areas near the Hutton Honors college, outside of Foster’s Gresham food court and at the Jordan Hall bus stop, according to statements and photographs in the BtownUnited complaint. BtownUnited’s Neil Kelty and Barrett Tenbarge stated these locations were not able to be reserved in accordance with Student Activities Office policy. Justin Kingsolver responded to the complaints, saying that his ticket did not knowingly violate any election codes and acted “in good faith” to rectify potential violations by having volunteers leave disputed locations and remove tables that were not at approved voting locations. BtownUnited presented an updated accusation list Thursday at about 4 p.m., which included an additional accusation of illegal voter solicitation near Kilroy’s, as well as a charge that a Big Ten volunteer finished voting for a student after she left her ballot to catch a bus. Big Ten attested to the ethical character of the volunteer accused of voter fraud and stated that the photographic evidence supporting the Kilroy’s accusation shows “no verifiable evidence” that the subject in question is a Big Ten volunteer. “If that hadn’t happened, would the outcome have changed?” Kingsolver asked members of the elections commission.He believes not, citing Big Ten’s victory of close to 1800 votes. Tenbarge stated the number of violations shows Big Ten’s “pattern of disregard for the IUSA elections code,” and referred to the call for disqualification “a sad, but unavoidable result.”The elections commission will convene today at 1 p.m. to further discuss the case and will make a ruling during the afternoon or early evening.
(03/03/11 5:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Three hundred and fifty-seven days after he lost his first bid for IU Student Association student body president, Justin Kingsolver has led his Big Ten ticket to victory.Sitting in the formal lounge of his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Kingsolver learned of the ticket’s win. He was surrounded by approximately 100 supporters, including his parents, who drove from Indianapolis, and girlfriend, who came from Michigan.“We won with a pretty clear mandate. You don’t win by almost 2,000 votes with shoddy platforms and an administration that’s not solid,” Kingsolver said. “I really believe our ideas won.”Voting took place Tuesday and Wednesday at six nonpartisan polling locations, as well as various other sites around campus. IU students cast 9,071 ballots, with 4,811 supporting Big Ten, according to unofficial results released by IUSA Elections Coordinator James Still.The Big Ten ticket is composed of Kingsolver, Vice President for Administration Kevin Courtney, Vice President for Congress Stephanie Kohls and Treasurer Kyle Straub.“I was shooting for 5,000 votes, but I’ll take 4,811,” Kingsolver said with a chuckle.The Big Ten ticket officially launched its campaign Feb. 2 at a campaign kickoff event in the Indiana Memorial Union. Since then, Big Ten has spoken with more than 100 student organizations, received endorsements from the IU Graduate and Professional Student Organization and the Indiana Daily Student editorial board and garnered 554 Facebook supporters. As of Friday, the ticket brought in $3,470 and spent $2,608.Big Ten marketed itself with the slogan “save money, save time, save lives,” which referenced some of its six platforms, including its plan to lobby for a medical amnesty law, create a phone app for campus mapping and institute two sales-tax-free textbook weekends in Indiana. Big Ten also plans to tackle issues such as a men’s basketball student section, Student Recreational Sports Center sustainability and the reformation of the IUSA budget by cutting executive salaries.Kingsolver is eager to begin his term with his running mates in IUSA, he said.“IUSA is only as strong as its people. We’re looking forward to getting those people into office and ideas implemented,” Kingsolver said. BtownUnited received 3,056 votes. Neil Kelty, candidate for student body president, said he was disappointed with the results for his ticket, but pleased with total student turnout. “We’re proud of how hard everyone worked. It’s been absolutely 100 percent worth it. I’ve met and worked with so many great people. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything,” Kelty said. ReviveIU collected 1,204 votes. Danny Alexander, reviveIU’s candidate for student body president, called Kingsolver to congratulate him on his win.“The student body has spoken. We should unite behind our new president,” Alexander said. “I wish him the best of luck.”Official results are still pending formal review by the IUSA Supreme Court and the expiration of the complaint deadline is 4 p.m. today.
(03/02/11 4:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After weeks of campaigning for the IU Student Association elections, it all comes down to two days of voting. Supporters of the tickets tried to sway students on Tuesday around campus in hopes of gaining last-minute supporters.
(02/28/11 2:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Voting for the IU Student Association, the student government on campus, begins tomorrow at 10 a.m. Take a look at the three tickets’ platforms and learn all you need to know before voting.WHAT IS IUSA?IUSA has operated with that name since 1973. IUSA works throughout the year to achieve platforms, or goals and initiatives, promoted during the campaign season. These platforms aim to serve the student body and improve the student experience. Past examples of completed IUSA platforms include advocacy for fall break and the safety escort service.A small portion of IU student fees go to support IUSA. This means that by casting their vote, students can actively work to influence the spending of their money and the future of progress on campus.VOTINGWhere Six polling locations: IMU Lit Desk, outside of Ballantine Hall, Kelley School of Business lobby, Wright Quad Food Court, Foster Gresham food court and the Student Recreational Sports Center. Students can also vote online at chenet.iu.edu/IusaElection/.Members of various tickets will also be set up around campus at previously reserved locations.When 10 a.m. Tuesday through 10 p.m. Wednesday Who All IUB students are eligible to vote. How Students will log in using student IDs and usernames and cast their vote for the executive ticket, residential senator, academic representative and funding board. If a student is in the Hutton Honors College, they will have the option to vote for one honors candidate as well.Votes are tabulated by the online system, which the Elections Commission inputs into its records. Unofficial results will likely be released Wednesday night with certified results coming by Friday evening, pending final financial statements and the passing of the complaint deadline. CANDIDATES AND PLATFORMSBtownUnitedStudent Body President: Neil KeltyVP for Administration: Barrett TenbargeVP for Congress: Katie TetrickStudent Body Treasurer: Jeff Williams Platforms (Btown)- Basketball ticket loyalty programCreate a system where students scan their student ID at all athletics events to earn points toward improved men’s basketball tickets. Would aim to increase student support for all IU sports. -Textbook cost savings of $24 million per yearThe University would purchase books at a lower negotiated rates of 60 to 70 percent, saving students an average $600 annually. Texts would be accessible via Oncourse or could be professionally printed and bound for an additional minimal fee. - $1 discounted cab pride programWould allow students to use $1 cab rides after participating in on and off-campus social activities, making sure students arrive home safely. Corporate sponsorships would pay for the bulk of the program. - Web-based room reservationsMoves the room reservation process online, eliminating paperwork and building-to-building travel and allowing for increased flexibility. - Next United States presidential debate bidPlans to bring the 2012 presidential debate to Bloomington after a close 2008 bid. Big TenStudent Body President: Justin KingsolverVP for Administration: Kevin CourtneyVP for Congress: Stephanie KohlsStudent Body Treasurer: Kyle StraubPlatforms (Bsmart)- Basketball student sectionModeling the program after other Big Ten schools, the platform would bring a general admission student section to men’s basketball games, increasing team support and student seating choice. - SRSC sustainabilityWould make the SRSC more sustainable by installing elliptical machines and stationary bikes that harness human-produced energy.- Medical amnesty lawThrough lobbying the state legislature, the law would prevent student deaths by granting safe passage to hospitals for students who have consumed too much alcohol or drugs.- App for campus mappingWould create a smartphone app that would help students and faculty map out their classes on campus, increasing efficiency and helping freshmen find their way. - Reforming IUSA budgetPlans to cut the current budget by $40,000 by eliminating executive salaries, making the IUSA office paperless, merging IUSA offices into one main office, cutting cell phone stipends and limiting overhead spending to 25 percent of the IUSA budget. This money would go toward funding other platforms. - Tax-free textbooksWould lobby the state legislature to instate two sales-tax-free textbook weekends per year, saving IUB students $2.87 million yearly. reviveIUStudent Body President: Danny Alexander VP for Administration: Chris BabcockVP for Congress: Melody Mostow Student Body Treasurer: Ryan Kelleher Platforms- MicrograntsWould reallocate $50,000 in “wasteful spending” and apply it toward funding student group and organization projects that would create, innovate or unify the student body. - OpenClassroomThe two-part system would allow students to view class materials such as syllabi and presentations during registration and also would advocate for the use of open-source textbooks, professor-authored textbooks protected under Creative Commons licenses, which would be made available free to students.- EcoFontBy installing EcoFont, which adds tiny holes to fonts, to campus computers, IU could save up to 25 percent of total ink. This would help save the University money and increase campus sustainability. - Farmers’ marketWould bring a student-run farmers’ market to IU by working with local growers and green student groups to provide local, fresh and healthy food.- United student bodyUniting students through transparency and open dialogue, the platform would establish a student leadership council, an organization made up of student representatives from a variety of student organizations and groups. It also calls for a more accessible IUSA website.- Student rightsWould restore the advocacy role of IUSA, protecting all student rights by reaching out to specific student and minority rights groups. Includes the effort to bring the 2012 presidential debates to campus.IN THEIR WORDSCandidates speak in their own words about the main strength of their ticket and the weaknesses of the others.Barrett Tenbarge, BtownUnited Vice-presidential candidate for administrationBTownUnitedAfter a year in IUSA that our opponents have called “incredibly successful,” BtownUnited provides experience that has delivered great change for IU students and will continue to do so if elected.reviveIUWhile they are well-intentioned, it is important for executives to have demonstrated prior experience and commitment to IUSA. Their lack of knowledge about how IUSA works is a glaring weakness.Big TenRather than lobbying at the Statehouse on proposals that have repeatedly failed, IU is better served by an IUSA that works on realistic proposals that directly affect students, not playing politics.Danny Alexander, reviveIU Presidential candidatereviveIUPlatforms have been researched and deemed achievable. We are also giving up the executive stipends and parking passes to free up money in the budget to foster projects the student body may have. BtownUnited“Six for six” on platforms is questionable. Fall Break done by Bloomington Faculty Council. Sustainability Fund driven by Student Sustainability Fund. This is the ticket backed by nine corporate sponsors. Big TenPlatforms are infeasible: The SRSC Sustainability platform is nonexistent at the colleges the Big Ten ticket cites as inspiration. Two platforms also rely on lobbying to the state, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.
(02/23/11 5:22am)
Meet the top executives running for IUSA from Big Ten.
(02/22/11 5:36am)
Meet the top executives running for the reviveIU party.
(02/21/11 5:27am)
Meet the top executives running for the BtownUnited party.
(02/21/11 3:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>WHEN 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. today.WHERE School of Fine Arts 015WHO Members of all three tickets running for IUSA executive positions: BtownUnited, Big Ten and reviveIU. IUSTV will also be streaming the debate live, accessible at www.iustv.com/iusaliveDebate schedule:1. Opening Statements (Five minutes/ticket)2. Questions from the University Chancellor (Approximately 20 minutes)3. Questions from IUSTV representatives (Approximately 20 minutes)4. Closing Statements (Three minutes/ticket)Responses to questions will be limited to three minutes. Audience members must remain silent throughout the debate, as disruptions are a violation of debate protocol and will be subject to action by the Elections Commission.
(02/18/11 4:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Student Association Congress voted to pass a resolution affirming the support of a strong relationship between the United States and Israel on Feb. 8.The resolution “recognizes Israel’s right to exist and defend itself,” as well as “supports the peace process concerning Israel and its neighbors.”Voting on the resolution was done by individual roll call, as opposed to the more frequently used method of verbal yeas or nays, passing by a final margin of 26-5.Resolution author and sponsor Alexander Groysman, who also serves as vice chairman of the IUSA Student Rights Committee, said the resolution is not about Jewish people, but rather about the Jewish state of Israel. “It was a political issue, but we wanted to de-politicize it. This is not a private interest resolution. It’s a message to faculty, staff and politicians,” Groysman said. Groysman began working on the resolution last semester after hearing about the Global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement, which promotes a weaker U.S.-Israel relationship, according to its website. According to the resolution, Israel, as the only stable democracy in the Middle East, promotes innovation, entrepreneurship and freedom. The resolution also emphasizes Israel’s strong relationship with both the University and the state of Indiana and is part of a special, mutually beneficial relationship with the United States.IU organizations such as the Jewish Student Center, Hoosiers for Israel and College Democrats and Republicans were co-sponsors of the resolution, along with IUSA Student Body President Michael Coleman and Student Body Vice President Peter SerVaas. “It’s a great step for the student government to have a positive relationship with Israel,” Hillel program director Ilana Nadel said.
(02/17/11 6:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With $4,450 in campaign donations and $3,675.31 in campaign expenditures, BtownUnited leads ticket financial activity.All tickets are required to submit biweekly financial statements to the IU Student Association Election Commission. These statements include itemized documentation of total campaign donations and expenditures, provided with receipts. Those running on the election ballot cannot contribute more than $1,000 to their campaigns. All other, non-running donors can contribute no more than $250, according to the IUSA election code.Campaign donations for BtownUnited include nine corporate and seven individual donations. Three executive candidates, Neil Kelty, Barrett Tenbarge and Jeff Williams, have each donated $500 to the campaign. Corporate donations have come from organizations such as the MyEdu Corporation, PostGradApartments.com and Bloomington Shuttle Service.The reviveIU ticket lies on the other end of the spectrum taking in a collective $160 from the ticket’s chief of internal affairs Beth McManus and the financial overseer of the campaign Avi Coven.Falling somewhere in between is the Big Ten ticket. Total donations amount to $1,830, $775 of which comes from student body president candidate Justin Kingsolver himself. Other donors include chief of staff candidate Hannah Kinkead, Vice President for Congress Stephanie Kohls and members of the Kingsolver family.The IUSA election code also states that regardless of total campaign contributions, expenditures — defined as “any purchase or donation which is used for promoting any candidate or ticket” — cannot exceed $5,000.BtownUnited’s notable expenses include $136.59 on labels, just less than $2,600 on shirt printing and $257.71 on pens. The ticket’s current balance is $774.69.ReviveIU lists only two expenses: $110 on posters and $19.95 on a website URL, leaving the ticket with $30.05.With a balance of $1,813.25, Big Ten has spent the least of the tickets: $11.76 on staples and $4.99 for a domain name rental.The financial statements are public information and are available for viewing the Monday after the Friday due date.
(02/11/11 2:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A third ticket, reviveIU, joined the IU Student Association election Wednesday night with its first public appearance, announcing its platform and ticket executives.ReviveIU, headed by junior and candidate for student body president Danny Alexander, brands itself as a refreshing alternative to the other two tickets.“We decided to create this ticket because we wanted to have people from outside of IUSA hit refresh and do something new and something a little more innovative than just the same old rhetoric we’ve been hearing every single year,” Alexander said. ReviveIU initially announced its intention to run Sunday evening with the launch of its website and Facebook page. The late-in-the-season announcement was a strategic move, sophomore and Vice President of congress candidate Melody Mostow said. “It gave time for the other platforms and ticket options to sink in,” she said. “We felt that coming out as a surprise later in the game was strategic and would give people a third option that they didn’t know was available.”The ticket is not full of politicians, but rather public servants, Alexander said. “We’re not politics as usual,” he said. “That really goes with our tagline — create, innovate, unify — because we feel that student organizations, the student body and IUSA partnered together can really create new ideas and innovate new programs that unite the student body.”ReviveIU introduced its six platforms: creating microgrants that provide funding to students, introducing the class-preview program OpenClassroom, using the ink-saving EcoFont in campus printers, bringing a farmer’s market to campus, fostering a united student body and championing student rights. Kelsey Britt, a freshman anthropology major, attended the Wednesday work session. As a member of the ballroom dance team, the microgrant program that funds student initiatives intrigued Britt as her team struggles to find funding, she said.“I think they’re targeting specific needs at IU that need to be addressed,” Britt said. “They’re very open and seem very passionate about their causes.”The ticket is interested in strengthening the relationship between IUSA and students.“If we can make IUSA a partner instead of an organization, to work with other students and student organizations on campus who feel strongly about specific issues, then what better way is there to improve the student body?” Mostow said,Though the executive candidates have never previously worked in IUSA, the ticket feels prepared to lead the organization, Mostow said.“We’re from so many different backgrounds that we value any experience serving our University,” she said. “We would not mean to undermine people who have given time and effort into IUSA. We respect people that have done that. I think right now there’s the stereotype that IUSA is a lot of the same people year after year. We’re hoping to bring people who don’t currently know that IUSA is out there to help represent them and bring them into the picture.”
(02/10/11 3:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Three IU Student Association tickets are now competing for election on March 1 and 2. Here’s a look at the tickets’ academic platforms, addressing textbooks and class planning.Platform: Textbook cost reductionsTicket: BtownUnitedBtownUnited’s platform focuses on providing textbooks online through OnCourse. The University would directly buy textbooks, eliminating the middleman and negotiating lower prices. IU would not mandate the new model for all classes. Rather, faculty would determine whether their classes would opt into the system. Students would be able to access their textbooks online, or have a high-quality physical version printed, both at a reduced rate when compared with current textbook buying options.Five IU classes are currently piloting the model, with early signs of success, said Barrett Tenbarge, candidate for vice president for administration. Students in the classes prefer the new model to the current system by a 3-to-1 ratio. “This does not take anything off the table for students,” Tenbarge said. “It affects students in the pocketbook and in the classroom. It will decrease costs while increasing educational outcomes.”Tenbarge compared the new model to iTunes, as the online format will make books cheaper and easier to obtain, he said. IUSA will take a leading role in driving students’ demand for the new system, Tenbarge said.Platform: Tax-free textbooksTicket: Big TenThe Big Ten ticket would partner with interested student representatives to author a piece of legislation that would introduce one tax-free textbook sales day per semester. “Every single student on campus is buying textbooks,” said Augustin Ruta, candidate for chief of external relations. “There is a feasibility and wide reach to the program.” Modeled after a similar program in New York, the legislation has the potential to save IU-Bloomington students approximately $2,870,000 yearly, Ruta said. The ticket has already spoken with members of the Indiana Senate and House of Representatives and will use their approximately 20 state representative contacts to help pass the bill next year. The legislation would be proposed in September and would go to the floor of the Indiana Senate on Jan. 3, 2012. If passed, the first sales tax-free day would take place in the fall semester of 2012, Ruta said. Platform: OpenClassroom Ticket: reviveIUReviveIU’s academic platform is twofold. First, reviveIU would implement a new program called Course Preview, which would allow students registering for classes to preview a course by providing access to class materials such as syllabi, PowerPoints and worksheets.Ryan Kelleher, candidate for student body treasurer, said the program would use resources already at IU’s disposal and retrofit them to educate students on potential classes, mutually benefiting students and teachers by reducing the number of dropped classes. Course Preview would operate through OnCourse, allowing students to view a class’s OnCourse page from a previous semester. Restrictions to the program do exist. The preview would only be available after the professors that teach those courses allow the viewing of class materials. Also, viewable materials could not be downloaded or printed.ReviveIU’s second component concerns open source textbooks. Such textbooks would be made downloadable free to students if professors who write their own textbooks publish using Creative Commons licenses.
(02/08/11 3:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Four IU students are currently representing the University as spring semester White House interns. They serve the White House in various capacities, and for each student, the road to the White House was not a simple one. Junior Evan Kaufman, a finance major, has had the program on his radar since his freshman year of college after he spent the Fourth of July at the nation’s capitol, he said. After unsuccessfully applying for the internship last summer, Kaufman decided to try once more — this time with better results. He now interns at the National Economic Council, which deals with national and international economic policy.Interns at the NEC work with staff doing in-depth research and logistics, as well as help with scheduling requests, administrative support and memo-writing, Kaufman said.Kaufman said he arrived in Washington, D.C., for the internship eight days early to maximize his time and experience in the White House.“It is humbling and exciting,” Kaufman said. “Everyone I work with is extremely intelligent and motivated. As a business student, I hope to gain a unique perspective of how public policy influences the business arena.”Early in the fall semester, Drew Anderson, 2010 winter IU graduate in journalism and former Indiana Daily Student writer, was walking from Kilroy’s to the tailgating fields when a friend told him about the White House Internship Program, he said. Anderson quickly filled out the application when he learned it was due one week later.“I knew the selection process would be really competitive as I’ve heard stories about it from friends on campus,” Anderson said. “All the interviews were intense, and by the end of each one, I felt like I had done a terrible job. Luckily, this wasn’t the case, but it was the hardest internship I’ve ever applied for during my undergrad career.”A few months later in early December, after essays, letters of recommendation and four interviews, Anderson was selected to intern in the Office of the First Lady. The White House Internship Program aims to open the home of the president to future leaders and public servants, truly making it the “People’s House,” according to the White House website. For the current semester’s session, 142 students from across the nation were selected.“This program will mentor and cultivate young leaders of today and tomorrow, and I’m proud that they will have this opportunity to serve,” President Barack Obama said on the internship’s website. “I look forward to working with those that are selected to participate, and I want to commend all who apply for their desire to help through public service to forge a brighter future for our country.”Anderson has aided staff with the First Lady’s “Let’s Move!” and military families initiatives, as well as managed media interested in those efforts.“My tasks can be pretty intense, yet at the end of the day, it’s worth it,” Anderson said. “The internship so far has been great, and it’s a satisfying experience both professionally and emotionally.”Anderson said he sees his time in Washington, D.C., as permanent.“Ever since I lived here for the spring semester in ’09, I’ve never fallen out of love with this city,” Anderson said. “In fact, I graduated early just to get back here. This place is special, and it’s a place where I will always call home.”Third-year IU Maurer School of Law student Jennifer Ellis was notified of her initial selection via a White House voicemail on her phone after a three-hour law school exam. She now interns with the Domestic Policy Council and specifically works on Native American issues. Though she is preparing for an upcoming May graduation and a summer bar examination, Ellis said she is just enjoying the excitement and fast-paced environment of Washington, D.C. “I would definitely encourage people to apply for the White House internship,” Ellis said. “There are so many different positions and offices that cover such a broad range of topics and policy issues. There really is something for everyone.” Melissa Orizondo, a junior majoring in journalism and political science and currently interning in the Office of Media Affairs, found her way to the White House through IU’s Washington Leadership Program.The program, part of the larger IU in DC Programs, arranges housing during stays in Washington, D.C., and facilitates class shopping and acquisition of academic credit for students’ internships.Elizabeth Sandbothe, director of IU in DC Programs, said she believes IU students succeed in Washington internship pursuits for a reason.“It starts with IU’s curriculum that prepares students for the real world,” Sandbothe said. “IU in general has high expectations for all of their students, and that makes them more marketable.”Sandbothe said the White House Internship Program is prestigious and difficult with the sheer number of student applications and the finicky nature of selection.“Students don’t know exactly what the White House is looking for,” she said. “They look for a particular skill set.”Orizondo met those skill sets and said her experiences thus far with the White House have been fantastic. She said she hopes to gain a better understanding of how media relations function at the national level of government and forge lasting relationships with the many people she has met thus far in the internship.“Every morning when I walk to work, it is still hard to believe that I am here and get to do this for four months,” Orizondo said.