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(02/04/11 3:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Just one week after challenger BtownUnited announced its intention to run, the Big Ten ticket, led by junior Justin Kingsolver, did the same Wednesday.Last year, he led the Kirkwood ticket. Though the bid proved unsuccessful, Kingsolver said running was a learning experience. “Last year, I really enjoyed my time, but I didn’t necessarily pick a diverse group of people,” he said. “I didn’t pick a group of people that really mirrored the University.”Chief of Staff candidate junior Hannah Kinkead said this year’s ticket is inclusive of many people of different backgrounds. “I think we really learned the value of different experiences,” Kinkead said. “Experience does count, but not just in IUSA. We want experienced leaders from across campus because again, IUSA is one part of it, but maybe 200, 300 students are really the core of that. Where are these other 40,000 students coming from?”The ticket intends to speak to 200 student organizations and students in the near future, Kinkead said.“We want to make sure our platforms are reaching out to students, and if they’re not, we’re gonna change them,” she said. “We’re going to make this be the ticket for the students, the voice of the students. We really want to make sure we are representing the students we claim to be representing.”The Big Ten platform is composed of six points: establishing a basketball student section, Student Recreational Sports Center sustainability program, medical amnesty law and a cell phone application for campus mapping; reforming the IUSA budget by limiting overhead spending by 25 percent and enacting a tax-free textbook weekend with the potential to save students $2.8 million annually. Freshman and political science major Daniel Cheesman attended both campaign rallies and noticed a difference in platforms, he said.“The Big Ten ticket has a more specifically targeted platform, and BtownUnited has a broad brush stroke platform,” Cheesman said. “I don’t know which will be a more desirable platform. It seems like it’s going to be a tight campaign.”Originally, Kingsolver intended not to run for a second time, but he changed his mind after he learned that 73 percent of IUSA budget is overhead spending.“Last year, after I lost, I bowed off IUSA,” Kingsolver said. “I said, ‘this is something I don’t think I can do again and put myself through again.’ It’s tough to campaign. But then the IDS ran a big story. That made me angry just as someone who is a taxpayer to IUSA.”
(01/28/11 4:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With 32 days left until IUSA elections, executive branch hopefuls running on the BtownUnited ticket publicly launched their campaign Wednesday night, emphasizing success through experience. Current IUSA Chief of Staff Neil Kelty, seeking the position of student body president, heads the ticket. He is joined by VP for Administration candidate Barrett Tenbarge, VP for Congress candidate Katie Tetrick, Chief of Staff candidate Jana Kovich and Student Body Treasurer candidate Jeff Williams. “I think experience is vitally important,” Kelty said. “I think it’s really a learning experience to figure out how this campus works. It’s a big learning curve, and I think it takes a couple of years in IUSA to really figure that out. So that’s where experience really helps out.”The ticket announced its five platforms: a basketball ticket loyalty program, a bulk textbook purchasing model aimed at saving students $600 on average, a discounted cab ride program, a web-based room reservation system and the intention to bring the 2012 presidential debates to the IU campus.“For all of our platforms we just wanted to make sure that we talked to administrators, talked to current IUSA members and talked to students and see what their problems are,” Kelty said.Sophomore Katie Diamond, an audience member, said she was intrigued by the $1 cab rides but wanted more information.“I would be interested in hearing more about their platform,” she said. “I also want to learn about other tickets when they surface.”Winning tickets of the past two years, Btown and IU Unity, helped to form the name of the current BtownUnited ticket. “It’s the continuation of the success of those two tickets,” Kelty said. “A large majority of us have served in both administrations. We just want to signify that we’re continuing on with the experience and the success that we’ve had in the past.”The ticket is also recognizable by its bright orange color scheme. “It’s very bright, very noticeable,” Barrett Tenbarge, vice president of administration hopeful, said. “We’ve found out that on a campus of 40,000 kids, it’s hard to try to get everybody’s attention, especially for something like student government. The brighter, and quite frankly, most obnoxious color, really is good because it will help draw attention.”Students can log onto Btownunited.com for more information.
(01/26/11 5:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>According to a recent report on campus safety released by the IU Student Association, a majority of students said they feel safe on campus. However, the report highlights issues such as campus lighting, problem intersections and night transportation inadequacies. The IUSA Campus Safety Task Force sampled 349 IU-Bloomington students at the end of last year on topics related to safety on campus. The results revealed that a 56 percent majority feel safe on campus at night, indicating that a sizeable minority does not feel so. As stated by the report, “There is substantial room for improving the safety environment at night.”The survey also showed a gender discrepancy on perception of campus safety at night, with 58 percent of women feeling “not safe or somewhat safe” compared to 22 percent of men. Another component to the survey explored the Safety Escort Service. Funded by the IU Parking Service and operated by students, SES provides free rides to students and staff from campus locations to on and off-campus housing, according to its website. Katherine Darden, director of IU safety escort, describes the service as an academic, proactive tool used by students wanting to return safely to their home. The service does not pick up students from commercial locations or from parties, she said.The survey pointed to a general lack of knowledge about the SES program, with 49 percent of students saying they had never heard of the service and 26 percent of non-users saying that lack of knowledge prevented them from taking advantage of the program. The gender divide appears again in these statistics, as 58 percent of men knew of the service as opposed to 42 percent of women. Junior Josh Martin said he only recently heard of the SES program from one of his professors.“They should do more advertising, especially in the dorms for freshmen,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen any advertising.”Furthermore, 96 percent of those surveyed said they have never used the service. The report also noted that 13 percent of students wanted a ride, yet did not know the contact information.“One thing we wish to accomplish with our campaign this year is to increase awareness such that safety escort will become general knowledge to the whole student body, and not just to those who have inquired about campus safety options,” Darden said. Darden emphasized the role of the Safety Escort Service as a part, not the crux, of nighttime transportation options. “Our service is only to compliment the buses and taxi cab service,” she said. “We are an alternate way home for those students who have been studying late on campus and have missed the bus or do not have cab fare. It is free to students so our capacity has limits.”IUSA explored pedestrian and traffic safety, identifying four key locations on campus that students identified as particularly dangerous intersections. All locations — 17th Street and Jordan Avenue, 10th and Union streets, Third Street and Jordan Avenue and 20th and Dunn streets — share in common heavy pedestrian use and unsafe crossing conditions.Under Indiana state law, vehicles only need to stop for pedestrians when control signals are in use. Otherwise, pedestrians do not have the right of way. The survey found that 67 percent of students did not understand this concept. Coupled with unsafe intersections, the misunderstanding could potentially lead to futureincidents.Despite the Provost’s Traffic Safety Committee’s “Get Street Smart” pedestrian safety campaign launched last August, only 7 percent of students surveyed remembered the initiative. Thus, details the report, a revamped campaign is necessary to educate students. Lighting on and off campus was also assessed in the report, with 61 percent of female students and 36 percent of male students responding they are “uncomfortable with the current levels of lighting” on campus. Junior Maddy Albright said she believes some spots on campus are not well lit, such as the areas behind Woodburn Hall and near Ballantine Hall, as well as the Arboretum. “I feel safe, but with the stories from last semester, it changed a little bit,” Albright said. “I used to walk alone at night a lot, but now I don’t do it as much. I try to avoid walking home alone.” The study found that students want more lighting in Dunn Woods and noted that there is currently no advertising of safe paths for students through campus. Attention is needed for off-campus lighting, which is uneven and in parts lacking, according to the report. Despite the negative aspects of campus safety in the study, it did conclude that the Night Owl buses are a generally effective transportation method, that students feel safe in their dorms and other heavily visited buildings on campus and that existing emergency phones, or blue lights, serve to make campus feel safer. To remedy lighting problems, the report suggests that student government work with IUPD and Bloomington government to locate the “serious deficiencies in off-campus lighting.”
(01/24/11 3:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Students will no longer have to click from site to site to plan their academic futures at IU. The IU Student Association has brought MyEdu, a course planning website servicing more than 750 colleges and universities, to Bloomington. According to MyEdu’s website, the service incorporates many facets of class scheduling, including course sequencing, degree timelines and textbook price shopping, all into one free online resource. “MyEdu reduces the uncertainty involved with planning and managing your time in college,” said Karen Holst, vice president of corporate marketing for MyEdu. “The program immediately benefits IU students and ultimately parents and the University itself.”It takes the average U.S. college student 5.3 years to earn a degree, and that number is only rising, Holst said. Moreover, Holst said, for IU students who began in the fall of 2003, 53 percent graduated within four years, jumping to 74 percent within six years. “Ultimately our goal is to provide a free academic service that provides IU students with accurate information to help plan and manage their college degree,” IUSA president Michael Coleman said in a press release. “In doing so we hope to increase the on-time graduation rate from 54 percent to 60 percent at IU.” IUSA was prompted to begin the partnership with MyEdu after the Indiana Commission for Higher Education suggested that performance-based funding was on the horizon, according to the press release. An increased graduation rate could potentially save students and their parents thousands in university tuition. “Time is money — especially in terms of college tuition,” Holst said. “Families can save more than $20,000 by reducing the number of semesters it takes to complete a degree. With the rate of tuition increasing by 50 percent in the past 10 years in Indiana, we are happy to help where we can.”While acknowledging MyEdu’s services and IUSA’s good intentions, academic adviser Anna Bednarski has concerns about the new resource. “The advantage of talking to an adviser is that advisers can give more nuanced advice than a website,” Bednarski said. She said that advisers can more aptly help students with tricky issues such as adding a new major or bouncing back academically from a challenging semester and can provide students with in-depth explanations and up-to-the-minute information.“Of course, not all student resources are perfect, including academic advising,” Bednarski said. “But it is my hope that students will not use MyEdu as a substitute for the resources that IU already offers.” Holst also described MyEdu not as a substitution for meeting with advisers but as an additional tool that allows students to do things like track credit requirements, understand courses common between degrees if they want to switch majors and know the workload of courses for balanced semesters.Holst also encourages students who take advantage of the service to print out sample schedules and plans and discuss them with their adviser.“I think that program would be great, especially for freshmen who don’t have the knowledge or are too intimidated to talk with upperclassmen about classes,” junior Samantha Duterville said. “It’s a way of having an adviser without someone physically checking up on you. Yet, the advisers are still there to advise on other things. I wish it had come earlier.”
(01/14/11 5:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Since its IU premiere almost nine months ago, the IU Student Association sponsored ride-sharing service, Zimride, has reached more than 2,000 active users, according to a press release Wednesday. Zimride allows IU-Bloomington students, faculty and staff to browse and post shared rides. The website, www.zimride.com, states that ride sharing is an effort to both decrease fuel costs and make travel more sustainable. Drivers can post specific times and dates of their travels, and riders can search through driver profiles in order to find the best price.The carpooling system can be used for a daily commute or for one-time events. Access to the site is free for all members through IUSA, and profiles can be linked to Facebook, according to www.zimride.com. “People who live as far away as Indianapolis are finding carpool partners because of Zimride,” IUSA transportation officer Devon Thomas said in a press release Wednesday. “Lots of people are finding commutes, and we expect students to find rides for one-time trips to basketball games, the airport or home for the weekend.”Kristen Bellisario, Zimride member and Jacobs School of Music adjunct lecturer, said she finds the service quite user-friendly and streamlined. Bellisario said she uses the site for her daily 1 1/2 hour commute from Indianapolis to Bloomington.“This system is far better than the old system,” Bellisario said. “Zimride has the potential to be a fantastic resource.”As of Friday, Zimride has saved IUB drivers 597,986 miles and prevented 464,038 pounds of potential carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, according to the service’s website. “I think it’s a really innovative idea,” freshman Melissa Showalter said. “It takes the traditional idea of carpooling to a new level that is more accessible to people, especially college students.”Showalter said she was surprised by the affordability and convenience of Zimride, which she said she believes could be cheaper than traditional public transportation methods. Thomas said he looks to the future and the continued success of Zimride. “As we near the end of the first full year of Zimride, we hope to see at least 3,000 registered users and would like to match tens of thousands of individual rides,” Thomas said. Visit www.zimride.com/iub for more information.
(12/08/10 3:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The typical battery caged hen — an egg-laying hen that is caged for industrial production — spends its life cramped in a space smaller than the size of a piece of paper, which disables the animal from natural behaviors. For the past two years, the IU student organization Revitalizing Animal Well-Being, or RAW, which aims to promote healthy lives for animals and reform animal advocacy practices, has petitioned for purchasing cage-free eggs for Residential Programs and Services dining halls. “IU gets some of their eggs from battery cages,” said RAW member and junior Cristina Talucci. “It’s inhumane because they can’t move around or see the light of day.”The U.S. Department of Agriculture currently has no strict standards for what constitutes cage-free eggs. In general, Talucci said these eggs come from hens that live free of individual cages. They also have access to an area outside of the housing facility that allows them to roam in the open air. However, the size of the outside space is at the discretion of the farmer, as is the number of hens that are housed in a single cage-free facility — which can lead to crowding situations. “Cage-free is not free-range,” Talucci said. “It’s not a chicken utopia, but it’s a step in the right direction.”Though studies have yielded mixed results on the improved nutritional content of cage-free eggs, most evidence shows these eggs exhibit a reduced risk of salmonella. Both California and Michigan have already passed laws requiring all eggs to be cage-free, while other states are considering following their lead.Beginning last year, after the petitioning of student groups, RPS began to serve cage-free eggs at Collins’s Edmondson Dining Room. Since then, cage-free eggs have expanded to Landes Dining Room in Read Center and Gresham Food Court in Foster Quad. The slow but steady introduction of cage-free eggs is part of RPS’s research phase, said Ancil Drake, executive chef for RPS. There are a number of factors weighing on the transition to cage-free, he said, including price, vendors and student interest. The average cost of a cage-free egg product is 51 percent higher than traditional eggs. However, advocates for cage-free eggs don’t see price as a drawback. “You can make anything cheaper by being unethical,” Talucci said. “It comes down to if you believe, if you believe that animals have the right to live and be happy.”The specific egg provider is also of concern for RPS, because the requirements for cage-free are so varied.“We want to know where our eggs come from,” Drake said. “We need to see these providers before we make any choice. What are the benefits or drawbacks? I’ve heard things on both sides. There are good and bad aspects of the cage-free system.”The biggest part of RPS’s response will depend on student involvement. “I would like to hear from RPS residents,” Drake said. “We haven’t really heard from them yet. If this is an issue with students, we want to respond.”Though RAW has been collecting student signatures both online and in paper form, RPS needs to see a more structured format of student response. “The petition doesn’t really say very much,” Drake said. “What I would like to have is a little student education out there and then see how they choose. I’m not sure if we have done a very good job at advertising our efforts.”After evaluating potential cage-free egg sources next semester, RPS will survey students regarding the issue, Drake said. Until then, Talucci said she encourages students who want to help to sign the online petition and have their friends do so as well or simply contact RPS and voice their concerns. For more information, visit www.rps.indiana.edu.
(11/17/10 11:16pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From the inception of the Harry Potter film franchise, source creator J.K. Rowling insisted that the principal cast be comprised of only British actors. Since then, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Robbie Coltrane, Gary Oldman, Julie Walters, Alan Rickman, Jason Isaacs and Ralph Fiennes among many others have lent their talents during the course of the last 10 years to the Harry Potter franchise. Though “Deathly Hallows” marks the end of the series, there are still a few fresh faces to explore. Here’s a quick breakdown: Hazel Douglas as Bathilda BagshotIn the film: Baghsot is the famous historian and author of “A History of Magic” who has recently gone a bit senile yet holds much valuable info regarding Dumbledore and the Hallows.What’s her story? Douglas is known for her many appearances in British made-for-TV movies.Where do you know her from? “Run, Fatboy, Run,” “Asylum” Bill Nighy as Rufus ScrimgeourIn the film: Though he appeared in previous books, this marks Scrimgeour’s first film appearance. Taking over for Cornelius Fudge as Minister of Magic, Scrimgeour attempts to quell the fears of the wizarding world as Voldemort ascends to full power.What’s his story? Active in acting since 1976, Nighy has worked in nearly all forms of performance media, from radio to film to television to theatre. He has previously worked with director David Yates three times. After his casting, Nighy stated, “I am no longer the only English actor not to be in Harry Potter and I am very pleased.”Where do you know him from? “Love Actually,” “Pirates of the Caribbean’s” Davy Jones, “Hot Fuzz”Rhys Ifans as Xenophilius LovegoodIn the film: The eccentric, idealistic father of everyone’s favorite giant-lion-head-wearing Luna Lovegood, Xenophilius is the publisher of The Quibbler and a firm believer in the Deathly Hallows.What’s his story? Ifans is not only an active British actor in film and theatre, but is also a member of two Welsh rock groups. Much like his character in “Deathly Hallows,” Ifans has been known to stir up controversy over his public comments.Where do you know him from? “Notting Hill,” “Greenberg” and the upcoming “Spider-Man” reboot. Peter Mullan as YaxleyIn the film: Yaxley is one of Voldemort’s leading Death Eaters. He runs the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in Voldemort’s puppet regime.What’s his story? A Scottish actor, Mullan won the 1998 Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Award.Where do you know him from? “Trainspotting,” “Children of Men” Domhnall Gleeson as Bill WeasleyIn the film: Wizard banker Bill is the oldest of the Weasley clan and finds himself marrying Triwizard champ Fleur Delacour at the opening of Part 1.What’s his story? Son of actor Brendan Gleeson, the Irish-born Gleeson is an actor, writer and director.Where do you know him from? “Deathly Hallows” is his first major gig, but look for him in the upcoming “True Grit.” Rade Serbedzija as GregorovitchIn the film: Gregorovitch serves as a counterpart to the wandmaker Ollivander. Gregorovitch is sought by Voldemort in his quest for the all-powerful Elder Wand.What’s his story? Born in what is today Croatia, Serbedzija is an actor of both screen and stage, acting in his homeland in the 1970s and 1980s before taking supporting roles in American films around the turn of the century.Where do you know him from? “Mission: Impossible II,” “Batman Begins,” “24” Jamie Campbell Bower as young Gellert GrindelwaldIn the film: Grindelwald, mentioned briefly in early Potter books as the 1940s version of Voldemort, is discovered to have a much deeper connection with Dumbledore.What’s his story? Bower is 21, a London-born singer, model and actor. Recently, he attended the London premiere of “Deathly Hallows” in a leg cast after a film stunt injury.Where do you know him from? “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” What? Are there still actors left in Britain? Hey, Defense Against the Dark Arts always needs a new teacher. Here are a few we would have loved to see in the Potter movies: Judi Dench, Ewan McGregor, Helen Mirren, Michael Caine, Julie Andrews, Emily Blunt, Ben Kingsley, Angela Lansbury, Kate Winslet, Vanessa Redgrave, Jude Law, Ian McKellen, and Ricky Gervais.
(11/04/10 4:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Hear something about a magic Coca-Cola machine? One that came to life and handed out T-shirts and cookies? No, you’re not in a post-Halloween-weekend haze. As part of it’s “Happiness Machine” project, Coca-Cola made a visit to Wright food court on Wednesday. Currently touring large colleges and universities across the central part of the country, the Happiness Machine encourages consumers to “open a Coke and share a little happiness,” according to a recent Coca-Cola news release. Created in 2009, it is a part Coca-Cola’s larger global integrated marketing campaign titled “Open Happiness.”“It is designed to bring a bit of happiness to everyone’s day,” said Coca Cola Campus Ambassador Claire Sullivan. Workers installed the machine early Wednesday morning before the breakfast-time rush and then left it to the masses. From the outside, the Happiness Machine looks like any other vending machine; however, this is no ordinary beverage experience. Patrons, after paying their dollar, do not receive their selected drink, but rather are given a prize via a gloved hand that reaches out from the drink receptacle below. Among the items given out were bagels, donuts, cookies, candy, Colts-ware, IU gear, bouquets of flowers, Twister board games and Coca-Cola products. Junior Emiel Kendrick was among the first to try out the Happiness Machine.“It’s definitely the coolest machine I’ve ever seen on campus,” Kendrick said. “I didn’t really know what to do with the 2 liter of Coke.”Kendrick and his friends grabbed some cups and sat down to drink their sod, and watch the smiling unfold. “Everyone here who participated, or even watching, is happy,” he said. “I’m happy. He’s happy. We’re all happy.“The machine was met with many laughs, grins and stares from food court visitors. Though not all tried the machine, many in the food court were entertained by the novelty. At other schools, the machine has received thank-you notes and even hugs, Sullivan said. “It’s really funny,” junior Tara Shiflet said. “It’s a good idea. You get to watch everyone have a good time and laugh. I could sit here all day and watch. It makes me feel good.”Though the machine does advertise Coca-Cola products, its message extends beyond sales or marketing, Coca-Cola representative Kim Croom said.“It centers around and connects us with the college atmosphere and engaging our audience,” Croom said. “It’s associated with making a memory and creating smiles and not just sales. It’s meant to evoke happy memories.”Now in its second week, the touring event, which began in Minnesota, has visited local schools such as Purdue University and IU-Purdue University Indianapolis and will wrap up its journey right before the Thanksgiving holidays. All the money collected from the machine will go to an undecided charity. Where it’s headed next is anyone’s guess.“Our slogan is ‘where will happiness strike next?'" Sullivan said. “It’s supposed to be a surprise, something completely random that creates spontaneous happiness.
(10/26/10 4:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>They don’t need no stinkin’ badges.The women of IU Campus Girl Scouts have more important things to do.Since its founding, IUCGS has tried to fulfill its duty to serve the “community, council and campus.” Last year, however, its mission became more challenging to achieve.At the end of the 2008-09 school year, IUCGS lost members of its executive board to graduation, leaving the group without student leadership. Additionally, on a national level, the Girl Scouts of the USA restructured. In the new system, Bloomington’s council was moved to Indianapolis, where it merged with others to form the title of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana. “It didn’t go quite as smoothly as I would have hoped,” Susan Sullivan, an IUCGS adviser, said. “It was a situation where the old council was gone, and the new one was not up and running.”Last school year, IUCGS participated in a few small activities; however, the structure was not present for the organization to be as active at it could have been, Sullivan said. Now, with the launching of a MyINvolvement page, a return to the Student Involvement Fair after a number of years absent and a recent executive board election, the organization is coming out of a year of rebuilding and is ready to start fresh. Chevroen Washington, newly elected president of IUCGS, is new to both the IU organization and to Girl Scouts as a whole. “Becoming president was a lot to take in considering the fact that I was never a Girl Scout,” Washington said. “It’s more of a ‘where do we go now’ type of feeling. We’re here, but where do we go?”Washington said most students are not aware of or misunderstand the goals of the organization.“Girl Scouts is more than just cookies,” Washington said. “It’s about serving your campus, serving your community, and it’s about putting others first. Other organizations cannot say their focus is helping others.”The organization is open to all IU students — both female and male — regardless of whether or not they have been in Girl Scouts in the past.Freshman scout Ingrid Feustel, who attended the group’s call out meeting last month, encouraged students to look into the organization. “It gives girls the opportunity to get out into the community,” Feustel said. “It lets you work with young girls and be a role model for younger kids.”Feustel said the smaller size of the group will not hurt its potential effect on the community. “At this point, the people that are there are extremely dedicated,” she said. “Their smaller numbers are equally as effective.”Washington said she hopes to increase campus awareness of the organization through use of social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter. “My vision for the club is for us to be known as a community service organization, not just as those Girl Scouts who don’t sell cookies,” Washington said. “I want to do at least one monthly event, whether that be on campus or with other troops, so after I’m gone we have an established schedule.”