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(05/31/07 12:30am)
After summer orientation, all incoming freshman students will be required to take an online class called AlcoholEdu. \nIU received a $331,076 grant May 22 that will help finance the online class for two years. Dick McKaig, dean of students, said only a portion of the grant is going toward the alcohol education class. \n“The grant funds not only the program but funds a faculty-oriented research program,” McKaig said. \nMcKaig said Ruth Gassman, the executive director of the Indiana Prevention Resource Center, will be heading the faculty that will be doing an evaluation to see whether or not the program is effective in changing abusive alcoholic behavior on campus. \n“There’s no sense in spending money if it’s not making a difference,” McKaig said. “You gotta go with something harder than data. Do a check on issues you can document: blood alcohol content, property damage in residence halls. Check on them before and after, and see if it makes a difference.” \nBrandon Busteed, CEO and founder of AlcoholEdu, explained that after he graduated from Duke University, he became frustrated that alcohol played a big part in social life at school. \n“(Alcohol was) limiting the potential of bright people,” Busteed said. \nBusteed said he wanted to give students the benefit of the doubt, and that’s why he started the online class. \nBusteed explained that IU students will have to log in to access AlcoholEdu. The program will have a series of questions that will personalize the experience for the student, asking them about personal alcohol consumption and awareness. \n“It will be realistic,” Busteed said. “It’s not a program that’s going to change a student in a black or white way.” \nMcKaig explained that students will hear about the program during orientation and will be required to complete it prior to returning to campus for the fall semester. Although the University hasn’t decided what the final punishment for not completing the course will be, McKaig said other universities have barred students from registering for second semester classes until the course is completed.\nIUPD Capt. Jerry Minger explained that it is hard to say whether or not the program will be beneficial because it has never been used at IU. At other universities, it has caused statistics related to alcohol abuse to go down. \n“Educational aspects seem to be beneficial to the incoming population,” Minger said. \nAccording to the reports on the IUPD Web site, in 2006 IU made 391 arrests and 999 disciplinary referrals on campus for public intoxication, illegal consumption and false identification. \n“(AlcoholEdu) will guarantee all incoming freshman have a common, base understanding about alcohol and alcohol terminology, and we can build on that with our programming in the fall,” McKaig said. \nMcKaig said that there have been recent instances of freshmen registering dramatically high on BAC tests, and he hopes to see this decrease.\nBusteed added that AlcoholEdu will have new features, such as a social networking site for students who don’t drink and are not interested in partying. \n“Connecting people who aren’t in the alcohol scene could be a very valuable plan,” McKaig said.
(05/25/07 2:01am)
On May 18, The Bloomington Faculty Council announced Lisa Pratt as its new president for the term of 2007-2009. \nPublic affairs professor Ted Miller has been the president of BFC for the last two years and will be retiring once his presidential term is completed. \nAccording to the BFC home page, the council began in 1975 and is a representative body of elected members from the Bloomington campus. \nNewly elected Agenda Committee members are Julie Bobay of the libraries department, Laura Ginger of business, Kevin Hunt of anthropology, Alex Tanford of law and Herb Terry of telecommunications. \nPratt, a professor of geological sciences, is the first woman to hold the office in almost 20 years.\nKelly Kish, chief of staff of the BFC, explained that the last female who held the council’s presidency was Myrtle Scott from the School of Education during the 1990-1991 term. \nKish said three other women held office before Scott, and including Pratt, there have been five women total during the last 30 years. \n“There hasn’t been a woman elected in the last few years because there hasn’t been a woman’s name on the ballot,” Kish said. \n Kish said the council is in a transition phase right now, with Pratt working alongside Miller before she officially assumes the role.\n“Usually we elect presidents earlier,” Kish said. “We had some delays in the election, and usually it’s a stable transition.” \nPratt said it is too early to say what she plans to do in the future, but there will be a number of continuing items that the BFC will pick up. \n“One of the items we’ll be monitoring will be the general education requirements,” Pratt said. \nIn October 2006, the BFC approved a set of general education requirements for all Bloomington students that will eventually be incorporated into all degree programs. \nPratt added that, with new President-elect Michael McRobbie and a new provost on the way, the BFC will have to see what matters they plan to address, and from there they will prioritize in what order they want to address them.
(05/25/07 1:58am)
IU security guard Bryan E. Kern, 39, was arrested May 11 for a misdemeanor battery charge and impersonating a law enforcer.\nOn May 8 at 2:22 a.m., Bloomington Police DepartmentBloomington Police Department Officer Walter Harris was dispatched on a call for an assault. Harris was told two suspects in a silver Jeep were leaving Steak ‘n Shake, 1919 N. College Ave., going southbound on northbound College Avenue.\nHarris stopped the Jeep at 17th and College. IUPD Officer Brian Oliger informed Harris that both suspects in the silver Jeep were IU security guards. Oliger stated Kern was wearing a black uniform with the security patch on shoulder, a black duty belt and a shoulder microphone.\nAccording to police reports, Kern stated he pulled into the drive-through at Steak 'n Shake and asked the employee at the window for two separate orders. The employee explained company policy allows only one order per vehicle. Kern stated he pulled up to the window where they talked again, and when he refused to make an order, she slammed the window closed.\nKern then parked his vehicle and walked into the restaurant, where he walked up to the employee and asked her why she had an attitude.\nKern said that while speaking with her, another employee intervened and she began bumping him with his body. After she told him to leave the serving line, Kern said she pushed him and he left the establishment.\nHarris went to Steak 'n Shake to speak with the employees who were there. The employee who had been at the drive-through window said Kern refused to place an order and came into the establishment, pointing his finger in her face.\nThe victim said another employee intervened and told Kern to leave the service area, and if he didn’t, she was going to call the police. Kern reportedly replied, “I am a police officer.”\nAfter Kern stated he was a police officer, he put his hands on her chest and pushed her away.\nA witness stated she saw Kern come into the restaurant and place his finger in the victim’s face, saying he was a police officer and she should never be rude to him.\nThe witness also said Kern yelled at the employee who intervened and he did shove her.\nIUPD Capt. Jerry Minger said Kern was suspended immediately with no pay.
(05/24/07 12:57am)
A man exposed himself on 10th Street and Indiana Avenue on May 19 at approximately 10:47 p.m, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report. The complainant was walking east on 10th Street going toward Indiana Avenue when a man pulled down his shorts and began to dance in front of her, Canada said.\nShe screamed, and he ran behind Yogi’s Bar and Grill. Police officers did not locate anyone afterward.\nThe man was described as being in his mid-40s, 5 feet 7 inches tall, extremely skinny with a light-colored beard, short blonde hair on the side of his head and balding.
(05/24/07 12:50am)
The American Red Cross of Bloomington, 1600 W. Third St., canceled its blood drive for the second time and has yet to reschedule it. \nOriginally, the blood drive was scheduled for May 19 at the Army Reserve Center, 520 S. Woodcrest Dr. Once that drive was cancelled, it was rescheduled for this Saturday at College Mall, 2894 E. Third St. \nDon Creek, donor representative at the American Red Cross of Bloomington, said the last time they had a blood drive at the mall, only three donors showed up. \nCreek also added that the organization has no control over signage in the mall parking lots and that it might have been difficult for potential donors to find the correct location. \n“They wouldn’t let us have yard signs to let people know,” Creek said. \nAccording to http://www.givebloodnow.org, the American Red Cross in the River Valley Region, of which Bloomington is a part, has an overall blood supply of 1.18 days, an amount that is considered low. The blood types that are critically low are O+ and O-. The organization updates http://www.givebloodnow.org daily with overall blood supply. \nIn a May 17 Indiana Daily Student article, Creek said the Red Cross needs 650 to 700 units of blood every day during the work week. He also said that throughout the weekend, they need 200 to 250 units of blood. According to the article, there were more than 50 blood drives on campus last school year, during which about one-third of students gave blood.\nHowever, in the community as a whole, not enough people are giving blood. \n“The demand for blood is increasing, and only 5 percent of the population is donating,” Creek said in the article. “We accept responsibility for that – for not reminding people.”\nCreek said the problem with low donor turnout is that this generation has not had a proper education program to make them aware of the need for blood.\n“We’re losing a generation of donors,” Creek said. “And we haven’t had enough education to teach the younger generation.” \nHe said he would like to hold the largest blood drive in Indiana as part of an IU versus Purdue challenge and that, after the drive, IU would never lose to Purdue again. Creek also said in the article that he hoped he could set up a competition between all of the Big 10 schools.\nFrom 1-6 p.m on May 29, AMVETS, 5227 W. Airport Rd., will host another blood drive.\nAccording to Red Cross’s Web site, the three basic requirements for donating blood include being at least 17 years old, weighing at least 110 pounds and being generally healthy. To donate blood to the American Red Cross of Bloomington, call (812) 331-1300.
(05/24/07 12:03am)
Senior Michael Richardson studied abroad last summer for six weeks in Dublin, Ireland, and he doesn’t regret the decision. \n“(Studying abroad) is an opportunity to get new perspectives and attitudes,” Richardson said. “They definitely aren’t the same (as IU).” \nAccording to IU’s Overseas Study Web site, http://www.indiana.edu/~overseas, during the 2004-2005 school year, 2,082 students from eight IU campuses enrolled in year-long, semester-long and summer study abroad programs. \nKendra Nelson, assistant director at the office of overseas, explained that there are about 500 students who study abroad in the summer. The most popular places to go abroad in the summer are England, Ireland, Wales, Spain and Italy. \nSenior Katie Mis, another student who went abroad to Dublin, said that she initially decided to go because she has family there whom she never met. \nAside from meeting her family, Mis explained that going to Dublin was one of the greatest experiences she’s had. \n“On the weekends, myself and others from my program would go to different parts of Ireland and Scotland,” Mis said. “That was awesome exploring the entire country.” \nMis and Richardson both agreed that visiting Northern Ireland was one of the best educational experiences they’ve ever had. Richardson explained that he learned about the problems that Northern Ireland had, and he actually witnessed them first hand when he went. \nNelson explained that there are different requirements for different programs that IU offers. She also explained that prices for summer programs vary between how many credits you’re taking and where you’re going. \n“That’s the thing for summer programs even though it would cost less to do a summer program,” Nelson said. “When you look at time spent and number of credits, it’s usually more cost-effective to do a longer program.” \nNelson explained that when students come in to discuss studying abroad, they want to push students to spend as much time as possible in another country. \n“We always encourage students,” Nelson said. “If they’re thinking about a summer, they should think about a semester. If they’re thinking about a semester, they should think about a year.” \nRichardson explained that studying abroad is an incredible experience because not everyone in Europe has the same views and you get a broader perspective on things. \n“(Ireland) is relaxed socially,” Richardson said. “They didn’t worry about trivial matters that IU stresses over.”
(05/23/07 11:25pm)
Fifteen artists gathered around an L-shaped table Tuesday night in the John Waldron Arts Center as Kelley School of Business professor Carolyn Wiethoff asked them about their business goals. Weithoff encouraged the artists to develop a marketing plan for future business endeavors. \n“This session is about thinking in a very program-planned way about marketing your work,” Wiethoff said. “And so come thinking strategically how you’re going to place and promote your work becomes kind of important.”\nThe meeting was part of a monthly program held at the center called “Artists After Hours,” said Jonna Risher, director of arts at the John Waldron Arts Center. Risher explained that “Artists After Hours” is a program that was developed for the different art organizations and artists around Bloomington to promote their works.\nAfter learning that most of the artists were interested in finding a way to get their businesses or goals off the ground, Wiethoff gave a mini-lecture based on the “four P’s of marketing”: price, production, place and promotion.\nWiethoff started with an example about how to market water. Wiethoff explained that if you’re going to market water, you’re not marketing the water itself, but the need that water is filling.\n“What need are you reaching?” Wiethoff asked. “Usually with art, it’s emotional. What feeling am I trying to sell?”\nWiethoff explained that product definition drives everything else you’re looking for. All of the other “P’s” fall into place once you know what need it is.\nWood artist Velma McGlothin recently relocated to Monroe County from Artists Switzerland County, Ind. She explained that her work with wood art over the past six years has only been a hobby, but now she wants to get serious about it.\n“I want to learn how to go step-by-step without trying to get to the top and then falling flat on your face,” McGlothin said.\nMcGlothin owns Two Pond Ridge Wood Art, located on Kent Road. She will have two original design articles in the August 2007 issue of Creative Woodworks & Crafts Magazine.\nSusie T. Seligman began working as a textile designer after graduating college. She spent the last six to seven years developing a furniture line and currently owns a furniture company called Tesoro Mio.\nShe explained that she began working on prototypes when her daughter was in high school. She brought them to companies to get them produced in quantities. She \nis currently working with Best Chair Company and Jasper Seating Company.\n“It feels like we took a quantum leap in my development and in the development of my company,” Seligman said. “We got out production people, we got some designs, we have our wholesale fabric sources. Now we’re down to marketing.”\nSeligman explained that. although her work has received great feedback at art shows, she wanted to create a company. With the \nguidance of the organization “Artists After Hours,” that’s what she \nis doing. \n“For the first time this year, I can say everything has just come together after eight years of very long work,” she said.\nWiethoff said the only problem with small businesses is that people remember the work but they don’t remember who did it. Wiethoff suggested making postcards, so the name of the artist or art organization would be there with a visual. \n“This kind of program, the reason I do it is because it just makes Bloomington a better place to live,” Wiethoff said. “We just have more out there, more art opportunities. It’s just one of those things, I think, where the whole culture of the city benefits when the artists are successful.”
(05/21/07 1:46pm)
Each year the IU Foundation awards one of the largest merit-based student scholarships. This year, as the 2007 scholars await announcement, the 2006 scholars offer their experiences with the scholarship that pays for 75 percent of the student’s total school expenses. \nLolita Christopher, an employee of the IU Foundation, said that the Cox Scholarship began when Jesse and Beulah Cox gave a $15 million endowment to start the program. \nChristopher added that both Jesse and Beulah wanted to invest in students. \n“They really believed it would build a sense of character and achievement,” Christopher said. \nWhile the Cox Scholarship pays for 75 percent of the student’s total expenses, the students must work to pay for the other 25 percent. The winners for the 2007 school year will be announced in the fall, but for the past year, the 2006 winners have been working to maintain this scholarship.\nSenior Julianne Martin, a 2006 Cox Scholarship winner, left for Italy on May 18 to study abroad. She said she worked during the school year to pay for half of her trip and for some spending money. \nAlong with the Cox Scholarship, Julianne Martin receives other scholarships that help her with school expenses. \n“(During the academic school year) I work two different jobs,” Julianne Martin said. “I’m a Latin tutor at the academic support center in the dorms and I work at the Hoosier Café.” \nJulianne Martin added that, during the summer, she also holds various other jobs. \n“I’m really happy to be a Cox Scholar,” she said. “I was surprised. It’s a really good program.” \nThe scholarship has specific eligibility requirements. Each student who applies for the scholarship must maintain a 3.0 GPA and must be enrolled as a full-time student working toward their first undergraduate degree. \nEach applicant must also be an Indiana state resident, and they must be working to contribute around $4,000-$4,500 to their education. The Cox Scholarship is available to students on the Bloomington campus and the IUPUI campus. \nSenior Kathryn Martin, no relation to Julianne Martin, said that, when she found out she won the scholarship, she was surprised. \n“I didn’t think I was going to get it,” Kathryn Martin said. “I was not confident.” \nKathryn Martin said she received the Cox Scholarship just last year. Her first job was at Macy’s, but she quit to work at the psychology department with the Wellman lab with professors Cara Wellman and Jo Anne Tracy. \n“Researching neuroscience didn’t bring as much income in,” she said. “But (it was) better for my career.” \nKathryn Martin plans on attending graduate school for neuroscience diseases, but she has not yet ruled out medical school. \nChristopher added that the Cox Scholars program awards 21 scholarships annually. About one-third of them are awarded to students at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis and two-thirds of them are awarded to students at IU-Bloomington. \nThe award is renewable for three years and is fairly competitive. \n“We have a great pool to choose from,” Christopher said.
(05/21/07 1:45pm)
Sophomore Ty Giddens and juniors Francis Bearsch and Brad Acree all have one thing in common: their passion for kayaking. This time they’re doing it to raise money for the March of Dimes. \nMarch of Dimes is a not-for-profit organization that strives to improve the health of babies by preventing premature births, birth defects and infant mortality.\nGiddens, Bearsch and Acree are planning on kayaking from Huntington, Ind., to the Ohio River, a trip that will take them about three weeks. \n“At first it was funny,” Acree said. “We were doing it to say we could. But we became serious about it.”\nAcree added that if they were really going to do it, they might as well do it for a reason. He explained that he has a nephew who was born three months premature. \n“Not many people (donate to the) March of Dimes,” Giddens said. “We want all charities to have an equal amount of awareness.”\nGiddens explained that they have been training for a little more than two weeks. They began training early in the summer because they plan on leaving for their trip at the beginning of August.\nTheir training includes going to Lake Griffy for a few laps every morning, rain or shine. Bearsch added that they plan on going out to Lake Monroe in a few weeks. \n“We’re really positive that it’ll be a good trip,” Giddens said. \nAcree said they haven’t really looked into how to raise money for March of Dimes, but their main goal is to just spread awareness. One of the options they are considering is making bracelets similar to the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s “Livestrong” bracelets, but they would say “March of Dimes” on them. \nGiddens has been rafting for a little more than five years, while Bearsch has been kayaking since he was a sophomore in high school. \n“I’ve been kayaking on and off,” Bearsch said. “My dad kayaks a lot; that’s how I got into it.”\nAcree is the least experienced kayaker in the group, having started earlier in the summer. He began kayaking to go on this trip but has found it very enjoyable. \nGiddens and Acree both said that, as a group, they are planning on bringing a water purifier, protein bars, freeze-dried food and a little bit of money with them. They plan on sleeping on islands and sandbars, which they mapped out on Google Earth. \nAcree added that the trip is approximately 411 miles. Giddens said they plan on kayaking six to eight hours, or about 20 miles, a day. \nKimberly Jewell, the division director of the South Central Division of the Indiana chapter of the March of Dimes, said the charity group just raised $65,000 from their WalkAmerica event in Bloomington on May 6.\nRegarding the kayaking trip, Jewell said the best way for the kayakers to raise money is through supporters’ donations. \n“I’m very excited and proud of them,” Jewell said. “They seem to have a personal identification with March of Dimes.”
(05/17/07 1:33pm)
The American Red Cross of Bloomington, 1600 W. Third St., will be holding a blood drive Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at College Mall, 2894 E. Third St. \nThe blood drive was originally supposed to be held at the Army Reserve Center, 520 S. Woodscrest Dr. on May 19. Tammy Myers, a representative at the Army Reserve Center, said they are trying to schedule another blood drive for their center. \n“A mission came up and all our people are going to be gone,” Myers said in regard to the cancellation. \nDon Creek, donor representative at the American Red Cross in Bloomington, said the mall would not let them set up inside, but there will be a table inside hoping to direct pedestrian traffic to the drive.\n“(I’m) working on making this a successful blood drive,” Creek said \nAccording to www.givebloodnow.org, the American Red Cross in the River Valley Region has an overall blood supply of 1.56 days, which is considered low. The blood types that are critically low are O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative. The “give blood now” Web site is updated daily with overall blood supply. \nCreek said the American Red Cross needs 650 to 700 units of blood every working day. Throughout the weekend, they need 200 to 250 units of blood. \nCreek added that last year about one-third of students on campus donated blood. There were more than 50 blood drives on campus alone last school year, said Creek.\n“I’m trying to get this program started up to get (student participation) up to half or better,” Creek said. \nCreek’s program hopes to work with the education program to teach the community about the necessity of donating blood. \n“The demand for blood is increasing, and only 5 percent of the population is donating,” Creek said. \nCreek said he wants to get students involved in one- to two-day blood drives. \n“I would like to have the biggest blood drive in Indiana on IU’s campus,” Creek said.\nHe hopes the blood drive will be part of an IU versus Purdue challenge and hopes that, with the drive, IU will never lose to Purdue again. Creek also hopes he can set up a competition between all of the Big 10 schools.\nAccording to Red Cross’s Web site, there are three basic requirements for donating blood, which include being at least 17 years old, weighing at least 110 pounds and being generally healthy. To donate blood to the American Red Cross in Bloomington, contact them at (812) 331-1300.
(05/17/07 1:28pm)
At 12:24 a.m, a Papa John’s pizza delivery driver was robbed on the 3500 block of East John Hinkle Place. \nThe incident was originally reported as a fight. BPD Lt. Jimmy Ratcliff was the first to arrive at the scene and quickly learned that it was not a fight. \nThe victim was delivering a pizza on the block. When he turned to go back to his car, he was confronted by a male, 5’11” with a mask and muscular build, BPD Detective Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report. \nThe subject pulled a gun and told the driver to give him all of his money. After the driver gave him all of his money, the suspect told him to run away. The driver ran to a nearby apartment and called the police.
(05/17/07 1:28pm)
A woman, 28, was domestically abused Tuesday morning at around 9:25 a.m. by her boyfriend, Adonis M. Adviento, 504 N. Lincoln St., said BPD Det. Sergeant Jeff Canada, reading from a police report. \nAdviento’s girlfriend was cleaning the apartment they lived in when Adviento, 41, came home after being out all night, Canada said, reading from a police report. When Adviento walked into the house, he immediately slapped her on the face and threw his hat \nat her. \nShe attempted to leave the apartment when he tried to get her to stay. He then picked up a recliner and threw it at her. She was not harmed beyond the pain to her face where she was slapped. \nBPD Officer Chris Ryan found Adviento on a bike near the intersection of 6th Avenue and Lincoln Street. Adviento would not speak with the officers. He was transported to jail for the misdemeanor.
(05/17/07 1:27pm)
A man reported to the BPD he was scammed on eBay.com. The man found a 2005 Toyota Tacoma for $9,000 on the eBay Web site, BPD Det. Sergeant Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report.\nThe man tried to buy the car on eBay and was told to contact the seller directly. The seller told him to send the money to his name to an address in Portugal. The man sent the money to the seller and still has yet to receive his truck, Canada said.
(05/17/07 1:26pm)
On May 13 at around 2:15 a.m., officers were dispatched to the Speedway gas station, 3939 W. Third St., in response to a disturbance call. \nBPD Officer Matt Gilmore arrived at the scene where he located a black truck and a white vehicle, BPD Sgt. Mick Williams said, reading from a police report.\nWhen he arrived, a female was holding back a male. According to the police reports, the two vehicles pulled into the gas station and there were words exchanged. A racial epithet was used that upset one of the males. An altercation occurred, but neither of the males wanted to pursue charges against the other. \nTerrell Tatum, 20, of 906 N. Lindbergh Drive, and Kayla Campbell, 19, of 6623 W. Megans Way, were both cited for illegal consumption.
(05/17/07 1:25pm)
Antwaun L. Hopkins, 21, of 1019 N. Summit St., was arrested May 13 on charges of criminal recklessness, a Class-D felony, said Sgt. Mick Williams of the Bloomington Police Department, reading from a police report. \nWilliams was conducting a routine traffic stop on the 2000 block of North Walnut when he heard several loud pops that sounded like gunfire. \nA man came running toward Williams and began to say, “They’re shooting up there, they’re shooting up there,” while pointing north. \nWilliams called for more cars and went to the Citgo Gas Station on North Walnut. When the officers arrived at the gas station, they found several shell casings from handguns in the lot and an abandoned bronze Chevy Monte Carlo. \nOfficers searched the area and located the subjects who were potentially involved. The victims, the man who ran up to the police car and another man, were relocated.\nWilliams said there seemed to be prior history between the subjects and the two victims. The subjects arrived in a car as the victims exited the gas station. They were confronted by Hopkins, and he then knocked the victim to the ground with his body.\nSeveral witnesses said all of the subjects pulled out handguns and started firing rounds at the victims. Victims identified Hopkins as a subject who was firing rounds.\nHopkins was the only one arrested, but other charges may still be pending. The case is still being investigated.
(05/14/07 1:41am)
While most high school students are content to relax over the summer, others decide to continue their learning experience through summer camps. \nThe School of Informatics is hosting a summer camp from June 10 to June 15 for high school students. \nJoe Stuteville, the Coordinator of Media Relations at the School of Informatics, explained that the camp will have an active schedule that includes hands-on learning. Stuteville added that Dennis Groth, an assistant professor at the School of Informatics, will be directing the camp. \n“He is the driving force behind the camp,” Stuteville said. \nDuring their first year, the camp enrolled 10 students, which increased to 16 students the next year. Their third year was their strongest, with an enrollment of 32 students. Groth hopes to have around 30 students this summer.\nDespite its implication of learning informatics, Groth insists that it’s still a laidback camp. \n“(Its) purpose is to show how informatics is used in all types of disciplines,” Groth said. “There is bowling and swimming, though.” \nThroughout the week, Groth brings in different faculty members and graduate students from the School of Informatics to help teach the different activities. Some of the activities included in the camp are basic computing technology, computer graphics, bioinformatics and computer system design.\n“(We) would hope (they would) go on to college and (we’d) like them to choose informatics,” Groth said. “(But we) show them that they can combine their passion with techniques from informatics.” \nGroth said that the students are mostly from the Indiana area, but in the past they’ve had students from other states such as North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Hawaii. \nDuring their stay here on campus, the students stay in a campus dorm, but the dorm for this year has yet to be decided. \nGroth said that the cost for the entire week of camp is $300. Financial aid, partial and full, is available for students who need it. Half of the students who attend the summer camp usually receive aid, Groth said. \nAlthough the deadline for applications is coming up soon, Groth said that they will continue accepting them through the end of the month. \n“(The camp is) welcome to anyone interested in information technology,” Groth said.
(05/11/07 6:14pm)
Bloomington Transit and Rural Transit mass transportation services will soon see a funding increase of approximately 20 percent after the approval of a state sales tax initiative.\nThe Indiana Transportation Association passed an increase in state funding for public transit operators on April 29.\nKent McDaniel, the executive director of the Indiana Transportation Association, said the increase will affect Bloomington Transit and Rural Transit, but not the IU Campus Bus Service. \n“The IU Campus Bus Service gets no federal, state or local funding,” McDaniel said. \nMcDaniel said he hopes the extra funding will go toward a number of things such as later and more frequent bus service. McDaniel added that the funding might go towards excessive fuel cost and health care for employees.\n“We’re not sure exactly what the extra funding will go to,” McDaniel said. \nAccording to McDaniel, the increase in funding comes from sales tax revenue that goes to the Public Mass Transportation Fund. The sales tax revenue increased from 0.635 percent to 0.76 percent. \nCompetition for funds between transit systems is based on performance indicators such as number of passengers, total vehicle miles and locally derived income. \nJewel Echelbarger, an executive director of Rural Transit, explained that the increase in funding does not mean Rural Transit gets the money directly. \n“The money goes towards expenses,” Echelbarger said. “We need it but we can hardly argue with that.” \nEchelbarger said Rural Transit links public transportation between Lawrence, Owen and Monroe counties. \n“The goal is to maximize transportation for people,” Echelbarger said. “It helps people to go out, get what they need and go back home.” \nLew May, Bloomington Transit general manager, said the increase in percentage of sales tax revenue that goes towards the Public Mass Transit Fund will be effective January 1, 2008.\nMay added that, since the cost of gasoline has increased, the dependency of public transportation has increased. He hopes the extra funding will further enhance their transit service.\n“Hopefully it will generate thousands of extra dollars for Bloomington Transit,” May said. “We can use that to improve (our) transit service.” \nMcDaniel said the increase in funding is an important step, because the Indiana Transportation Association has been trying for years to get more numbers in public transportation. \n“We’ve had enormous growth (in usage) in rural areas around the state,” McDaniel said.
(05/10/07 12:15am)
While most students go home for the summer, others opt to stay in Bloomington. As summer sessions start up and allergy season kicks in, the IU Health Center stays active.\nDr. Hugh Jessop, executive director and chief financial officer at the IU Health Center, said that even though spring semester is over, the health center still gets a lot of student traffic. \n“During the summer we’re at 35 percent of the norm,” Jessop said. “If we’re seeing 350 patients during the semester, we’re seeing 120 to 125 during the summer.” \nThe counseling service at the IU Health Center sees about half of what it sees during the semester. Jessop said that’s because it doesn’t have the same capacity as the medical clinic. \nDuring the summer, the IU Health Center reduces its staff by at least 60 people. \n“We don’t give (the staff) vacations during semesters except for breaks,” Jessop said. \nJessop explained that the staff members need to take their vacations between graduation and the beginning of fall semester. Jessop said that a full staff is essential to operating the IU Health Center. \n“We can’t operate the place without everybody here,” Jessop said. “It’s nice that it works out that way.” \nJayne Dillman, a nurse’s assistant at the IU Health Center, said working in the summer is more relaxed than in the fall and spring semesters. \n“We get our cleaning jobs done,” Dillman said. “It’s not as crazy.” \nJessop added that when students register for summer classes, they are charged a health fee. The health fee is only assessed if the student is registered for more than six credits. Any student who is registered for fewer than six credits will not have to pay the initial fee, but will have to pay more for each individual health service he or she uses. \n“There are problems for others who don’t realize the cost is less when the fee is assessed,” Jessop said. \nThe IU Health Center’s Health and Wellness department provides a massaging service to students during both fall and spring semesters, as well as during the summer. \n“It’s all part of our stress program,” Jessop said. “We recognize that not every student gets ill, so if there’s a service we can provide for less money, let’s do it.” \nJessop said that the Health and Wellness Education program has been giving massages for the last 12 years, but the “cat just recently was let out of the bag.” \nAshley Breedlove, an employee at the Health and Wellness Education program at the Health Center, explained that they serve not only Health Center patients and students, but also members of the community. \nIn the past, Health and Wellness Education employees have gone to classes and dorms to talk about safe sex, fitness and nutrition and tobacco-related issues. \n“I would definitely recommend coming in for fitness and nutrition guidance,” Breedlove said. \nIndiana has one of the highest percentages of obese people in the nation, she said.\nJessop said the IU Health Center uses a team-based approach toward its patients because of the various services it offers. \n“The critical piece is that everything here is all integrated,” Jessop said.
(05/04/07 4:00am)
As the spring semester comes to a close and summer approaches, local pizza shops in Bloomington will have to face staff downsizing and slower sales.\nPizza Express, which opened in 1982, has four locations throughout Bloomington and is only a carry-out and delivery service.\nJohn Ruedy, a manager of Pizza Express, 1791 E. 10th St., said that when the summer begins they will have to start cutting staff and drivers.\n“All employees are aware that when they get hired that in the summer there won’t be shifts available,” Ruedy said. \nSara Sheikh, the communications manager for Pizza Express, said the sales in the summer are 75 to 80 percent less than what they are during the school year.\n“It’s all relative,” Sheikh said. “Ordering (supplies) drops by how much our sales drop.”\nDuring the summer, Sheikh said it would be great if the 10th Street campus location breaks even, but it usually loses money.\nThroughout the school year, Pizza Express sells an average of 2500 to 2800 pizzas a week. Last summer, Sheikh said, the campus location sold about 700-800 pizzas a week.\nSheikh said that in the summer, the campus location is looking to expand their delivery area since the residential locations all close earlier. Sheikh hopes if the delivery area is increased by a couple of miles in each direction, sales can increase.\nMother Bear’s Pizza, 1428 E. 3rd St., another locally owned restaurant, experiences the same summer sales trend as Pizza Express.\nMark Hajduk, manager at Mother Bear’s, said that during the summer they usually need to cut shifts because it is not as busy.\nHajduk said Mother Bear’s is more of a walk-in restaurant than a carry-out or delivery restaurant and their busiest month is April.\n“I can speak for the staff when I say they’re happy that they can finally take a break,” Hajduk said.\nRay McConn, owner of Mother Bear’s, said during the first summer session last year sales dropped 50 percent from what they were over the school year. During the second summer session, sales were only down 30 to 35 percent.\n“It’s all directly proportional,” McConn said. “The slower sales, the less hours we have for staff and the less supplies we have to order.”\nMcConn said that over the years factors such as IU tourism and people coming to Bloomington for conventions have been attracting customers to Mother Bear’s over the summer.\n“We’re profiting all year,” McConn said.
(05/04/07 4:00am)
On April 25, senior Drew Evans went about his day as he normally would. He woke up, brushed his teeth and washed his face. He grabbed his backpack and made his way to the stadium white lot to catch a bus. The only difference was that this time he was met by Dean of Students Dick McKaig, Kent McDaniel, executive director of transportation services for IU and Perry Maull, operations manager of the IU Campus Bus service, and received $100 on his CampusAccess card for being the campus bus service’s 3 millionth rider. \n“I don’t (normally) ride the bus at that time,” Evans said. “The class I have before that was finished and I had a meeting around that time.” \nEvans said that at first he thought the event was for candid camera and was surprised by it. Evans ended up spending the $100 on food for himself and his roommates. \nMcKaig said that, since students pay a transportation fee every year for the bus service, he wanted to send a message to show how important the service is. \n“It’s important so we’re aware of how many people rely on the bus system daily,” McKaig said. \nMcKaig explained that he knew a couple of weeks prior that they were coming up on the 3 million rider mark. McKaig then made a note of it with McDaniel and they calculated where the rider would be and when. McKaig also handed out chocolate no-bake cookies from the Indiana Memorial Union snack shop Sugar and Spice to other students getting on the bus. \n“We suggested to recognize that person,” McKaig said. “And give something to everyone.” \nMcDaniel said that reaching 3 million riders was no more important than 2,999,999, but instead it was a landmark for the bus systems. \n“People don’t realize the quality of the bus service,” McDaniel said. \nMcDaniel explained that, during the fall and spring semesters, campus bus gets about 300,000 passengers a month, but the ridership levels begin to drop in May. By June, there are only 30,000 passengers monthly. \nThe campus bus service plans on adding more routes in the future. McDaniel said they have a proposal for the U-Route, which will run straight from the stadium white lot across 10th Street to the Jordan extension. \nMcDaniel hopes the U-Route will open up more driving positions so more drivers will move into appointed position with benefits. \n“It’s hard to keep good people without benefits,” McDaniel said.