Women's Golf

Grad students hold sit-in to protest insurance cuts

By Peter Stevenson · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:57 p.m.

Gone are the chanting and marching of last spring. Now, IU graduate-student employees are settling in for the long haul in their fight to get dental insurance and lower-cost health-insurance benefits. Members of the Graduate Employees Organization held a sit-in protest Wednesday inside Bryan Hall, just a few feet away from the offices of the administrators whose attention they are seeking. "It's an ongoing problem, not something that can be resolved quickly," said graduate student Adrianne Wadewitz. "We're the only school in the Big Ten without dental coverage, and that's unfair." While the University does provide basic insurance for graduate employees, premiums for spouses and children are prohibitively expensive, they said. According to several signs the protesters were holding, a graduate instructor who teaches a class earns about $12,000 an academic year, while coverage for a spouse and one child costs up to $6,000.

Microsoft to release new operating system in 2007

By Andrea Knapp · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:55 p.m.

Microsoft is scheduled to release an entirely new operating system in early 2007. Windows Vista, the successor to Windows XP, has better functionality in multimedia, communication, and security, according to the University Information Technology Services's online Knowledge Base. "The most obvious improvement is the look and feel," said UITS Vice President Mark Lynch. "It's much more three-dimensional -- more like Apple OS X than older versions of Windows -- and has new handy tools such as gadgets and search." Some features included in Vista are an improved start menu with Instant Search; document explorers to help with the organization of files; Windows Aero, to provide clarity and an improved visual sophistication, such as see-through glass-interface elements; and live Taskbar thumbnails to show the content of a window, according to the Microsoft Web site. IU computers will have the new operating system for students to use and departments will get the program as well. If students with their own computers want to buy Vista, it must be bought at a bookstore. Students will get their own key number to register and install Vista onto their computer. Microsoft Windows Vista requires a DVD drive for installation and more video resources than older versions of Windows demanded.

Kelley school follows trend, suffers low female enrollment

By Amy Carol Wolff and Amy Wolff · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:54 p.m.

Over the past 10 years, there has been a drop in female enrollment in U.S. business schools. While women make up 44 percent of enrollment at law and medical schools, only 30 percent of students enrolled in business programs are female, according to the Wall Street Journal's career Web site, www.careerjournal.com. And the same trend holds for IU's Kelley School of Business -- at about 33 percent female. Carolyn Wiethoff, director of the Women Initiative at Kelley, said there are multiple reasons for the low enrollment. "Women have no role models in the business world," she said. "We have Oprah or Martha Stewart but no CEOs or management examples to follow." Only nine females are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. Women make up just 13.6 percent of boards of directors, and only 5.2 percent of the top earners in the United States are women, according to the Forte Foundation, a women's leadership institute. Wiethoff said women tend to be more sensitive to unethical practices when they occur.

UPS in IMU collecting toys

By Joanna Barnett · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:53 p.m.

The UPS Store in the Indiana Memorial Union is taking part in a national effort by The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. to benefit the Toys for Tots charity. Until Dec. 23, the shipper will collect new and unwrapped toys in a drop box located inside the store. Customers can also purchase $1 pledge cards as a donation to Toys for Tots. A charitable organization run by the U.S. Marine Corps, Toys for Tots provides gifts for children up to the age of 15 during October, November and December. The charity donates toys during the holiday months to spread a "message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders," according to the charity's Web site. Since 1991, the charity has collected and delivered 64.5 million toys valued at about $344 million, according to its Web site. Last year, it collected 18 million toys that went to more than 7 million children in the United States and Puerto Rico. "It is rewarding to know our efforts will bring a smile to a local child's face through the gift of a new toy," Meeyoung Lee, owner of the UPS Store in the Union, said in an e-mail interview. "With many of our Marines deployed overseas, we felt it was more important than ever to support this 59-year holiday tradition." The toys and money collected will benefit local children who otherwise would not be receiving any presents this Christmas. "It's nice to know we're helping a local kid get a present who normally wouldn't get one," said Amy Grourke, an employee at the store. Toys for Tots prefers toys that can stand alone as gifts and that cost about $12 to $15, according to a press release. Toys for Tots usually runs short of toys for children ages eight to fifteen.

Survey: recruiters use social networking sites like MySpace to filter job candidates

By Shannon Dahmer · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:53 p.m.

Drunken Facebook wall posts seem like a good idea at the time, but some students are finding out those decisions could cost them when looking for jobs. According to an October survey of more than 1,150 hiring managers nationwide by CareerBuilder.com, one quarter of hiring managers reported using Internet search engines to screen job candidates. One in 10 said they have used social networking sites, including Facebook or MySpace. The survey also said that more than half of hiring managers have chosen not to hire an applicant after viewing their profiles on such Web sites. Why? Managers said the sites have divulged some candidates' poor communication skills, links to criminal behavior, unprofessional screen names and lies about qualifications. Employers are not just looking at professional profiles but personal profiles, pictures, screen names and online correspondence. Employers don't use everything they find against potential employees -- some say what they find on the Internet can actually help a candidate get the job. "While sharing information online can have a potentially negative impact on your job search or career plans, it can also be leveraged as a tool to differentiate yourself to employers," Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder.com said in a statement. "Highlighting professional and personal accomplishments and showcasing your creativity can help a candidate make a positive, lasting impression on employers and validate why he (or) she is the right person for the job." Reasons for this also varied among employers. A majority said they hired the candidate because her background information supported her professional qualifications for the job. The managers on CareerBuilder.com are not the only ones using the Internet. The National Association of Colleges and Employers conducted the same survey with many of the same results. ExecuNet, a business social networking site, released a survey that indicated 77 percent of recruiters search candidates using the Web, and 35 percent said they've eliminated a candidate based on the information they uncovered.

IU Art Museum studies controversial ownership history of paintings

By Shannon McEnerney · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:52 p.m.

Going once, going twice -- halt? On Nov. 8, despite a favorable verdict from U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, Christie's auction house in London stopped the auction of the Picasso painting, "Portrait de Angel Fernandez de Soto," that was expected to sell for $40 million to $60 million. In a news release, the judge said he needed to decide whether the Nazis forced the painting's former Jewish owner to sell it during World War II. Though he found no evidence to support the claim, the case caused much controversy and the sale was halted. This issue of ownership affects almost every facet of the art world, and the topic is being explored on campus at the IU Art Museum with its "provenance project."

Jordan River Forum

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:45 p.m.

I was going to write a lengthy letter to the editor detailing the fact that not only has the IDS opinion page never been worse in my four year college career than it is now, but that the blurb of an editorial "Grounds for Debate" (Dec. 5) is possibly a new low for the IDS. But then I guess in the face of all the controversy, misinformation, hatred, war, peace, political banter, government corruption, human-rights violations all over the world and laziness amongst the IDS opinions staff, I got fed up and decided to take a coffee break. Forty-two word blurbs should be reserved for bus plunge stories, not staff editorials.

Group urges more intense diplomatic efforts leading to troop withdrawals

By Alyson Brodsy and Anne Plummer Flaherty · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:41 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush's policy in Iraq "is not working," a high-level commission said Wednesday in a blunt, bleak assessment that called for an urgent diplomatic attempt to stabilize the country and allow withdrawal of most U.S. combat troops by early 2008. After nearly four years of war and the deaths of more than 2,900 U.S. troops, the situation is "grave and deteriorating," the bipartisan panel said. It also warned, "The ability of the United States to influence events within Iraq is diminishing." It recommended the United States reduce political, military or economic support for Iraq if the government in Baghdad cannot make substantial progress toward providing for its own security. The report said Bush should put aside misgivings and engage Syria, Iran and the leaders of insurgent forces in negotiations on Iraq's future, to begin by year's end. It urged him to revive efforts at a broader Middle East peace. Barring a significant change, it warned of a slide toward chaos.

France says Iran will face U.N. sanctions over its nuclear program

By Alyson Brodsy and John Leicester · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:40 p.m.

PARIS -- France's foreign minister said Wednesday that Iran will face U.N. sanctions for refusing to halt its nuclear program, but major world powers remain divided over exactly how far punishment should go. French Foriegn Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said on RTL radio that the measures would fall under a part of the U.N. Charter -- Article 41 of Chapter 7 -- that authorizes the Security Council to impose nonmilitary sanctions, such as severing or limiting diplomatic and economic relations, transportation and communications links.

Deeper diversity

By Johnathan P. Rossing and Jonathan P. Rossing · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:39 p.m.

The Mathers Museum of World Cultures and the Native American Graduate Students Association hosted the annual Celebrating Kids and Culture event last Sunday. I'm sure it was a fun day for the kids, one that taught them extremely valuable lessons, such as how "Dances With Wolves" does not represent all American Indians. Or even better, Rebecca Riall, co-chairwoman of the Native American Graduate Students Association, said: "We want people to see us as humans that are still alive. We're modern people that can have a good time, and you can be around us without being scalped."

ONLINE ONLY: Frosty Faux-Pas

By Ayesha Awan · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:38 p.m.

As a high school senior trying to make a decision about which college to attend, I made the horrendously boring four-hour car drive from Chicago to Bloomington.

The white flag

By Colin Dugdale · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:29 p.m.

A grenade, pulled from the padded bra of a transvestite, is lobbed toward an army of heterosexuals. It soars towards a straight guy, who attempts to block it with a copy of the Bible. Does it work?

Lazy Sunday

By Peter Chen · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:20 p.m.

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France -- As a commercial culture, France closes on Sunday. Supermarkets, pharmacies, convenience stores, department stores -- on Sunday, all their doors are closed. What's even more disconcerting for an American coming from the land of 24-hour stores, sometimes these closings extend to Monday, too. And good luck shopping on national public holidays.

Highway of discontent

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 10:12 p.m.

IU bus drivers have taken on their biggest challenge yet: the free-market economy. On a daily basis, drivers are somehow able to accomplish extraordinary traffic-related feats, including maneuvering under the tight 10th Street underpass and avoiding the emboldened pedestrians who seem to enjoy playing in traffic. Still, even given these impressive skills, their latest battle -- to stall the Campus Bus Service's campaign to hire student bus drivers -- might be one that current employees can't win.

Cafe's closing brings end to cook's 49-year career

By Kasey Hawrysz · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 1:03 a.m.

On Sunday, Ladyman's Cafe cook Jack Covert will rise at 4:30 a.m. and head to work. He will arrive at the restaurant by 5 a.m. and light the stove, heat up the sausage gravy and prepare what he will need for the breakfast rush, the same way he has for years. But when Covert's shift ends at 1:30 p.m., he will hang up his apron for good after 49 years in the Ladyman's kitchen. Now 72, Covert has worked at Ladyman's, a Bloomington landmark, since it first opened in 1957. On Dec. 10, a little less than a year after Walnut Street Development purchased the building housing the restaurant, Ladyman's Cafe will close for good. Ladyman's building will be torn down next spring to make way for Finelight Strategic Marketing Communications offices. And Covert, for the first time in nearly 50 years, will be out of a job. "I'm going to be fighting for unemployment," he said. "They tell me I should have no problem, but I don't know." A part-time job is not out of the question, Covert said, but at this point, he wants to stay home and take care of his ailing wife, Pat. "I don't like to go into places I don't know," he said. "I'd have to learn a new routine and new people. I'm too old to go through that again." Covert says he is not much of a talker, gesturing with a long, serrated knife he used to cut up ham for ham salad. Most of the customers know the man by his food, not his face.

Final crisis: A cautionary tale

By Jessica Simendinger · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 12:45 a.m.

It was Monday of finals week, and I had no tests until my Spanish exam Wednesday. So I got up, enjoyed a leisurely morning and began my normal routine of checking my e-mail and Facebook account and the away messages of everyone I know.

Bolton resigns as U.S. Ambassador to U.N.

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 12:42 a.m.

Listen to critics of U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton and you hear the same stock opinions repeated and regurgitated. Like "a bull in a China shop," he has practiced abrasive diplomacy toward dangerous, dictatorial, outspoken leaders who seek to bring a new world disorder.

Newly-formed group to perform at White House

By Michael Reschke · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 12:35 a.m.

When the Jewish a cappella group Hooshir formed this semester, it had only one date on its concert schedule -- its Dec. 18 performance for the President of the United States.

Alumnus will try a world record on for size at IMU

By Peter Stevenson · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 12:33 a.m.

Aaron Waltke will take the idea of layering for the winter to a new extreme Saturday when he tries to wear a record-breaking 160 T-shirts at once. Waltke, who graduated from IU in May, will attempt to set a new world record for "the most T-shirts worn at one time by a single human being" by breaking the old record of 155 shirts. He will attempt to put the shirts on at a comedy show at 9 p.m. Saturday in the Frangipani Room in the Indiana Memorial Union.

Research to help U.S. military with bomb detection

By Brian Spegele · Wednesday, Dec. 6,2006 12:33 a.m.

Few outside of the IU Department of Chemistry know the government has contracted the University to develop technologies that could reliably detect roadside explosives and airborne biological threats.