Jordan River Forum

I was pleased to see Matthew Cinkoske's recent column about domestic violence at IU — "Is IU mishandling student domestic violence?" June 14, 2015.

I would like to bring to the attention of the IDS the fact that harassment of disabled students occurs regularly at IU Bloomington. I personally know of physically impaired students who have been harassed in Ballantine Hall for taking the elevator up or down one floor.  And they aren’t just harassed by fellow students; faculty and staff are guilty, too.  Just because someone looks healthy, doesn’t mean that they are.  Invisible disabilities are any of a number of chronic conditions that significantly impair normal activities of daily living while showing no outward signs of the illness. I also know of a physically impaired student who was made fun of recently for riding a scooter in Forest Residence Center.  This is a student who can barely walk—and only for short distances—and only when feeling physically up to it. This same student was also harassed in the Forest parking lot by someone who didn’t think a handicap parking space should be used by a disabled student, even though the appropriate IU parking permit was displayed in the car.  Harassment may be reported to the IU Incident Teams at  (812) 855-8188 or incident@indiana.edu. I mention these incidents because they happened to students I know.  And if they can happen to them, they can happen to anyone.  I ask the entire campus community: How would you feel if someone you cared about was ridiculed or harassed because they had a disability?  How does it feel to learn that members of the campus community, whether you know them or not, have to deal with harassment at IU Bloomington on a daily basis? I urge us all to think before speaking, show some Hoosier compassion, and offer to help instead of contributing to an intolerant environment.  I also urge the IDS to investigate and report on the harassment of disabled students on this campus. As an IU alumna, IU employee, and IU parent, I hate to think of Indiana University’s reputation being tarnished by charges of harassment of any kind. Melissa Thorne Bloomington

I am glad you chose to publish an article on the Bloomington Planned Parenthood. Let me explain why. I am a survivor of childhood and adolescent sexual abuse, and I have personally experienced an abortion more than once.

Ferguson, Missouri is – pardon the unintended pun – a moving target. Events keep taking erratic directions, superseding comment as fast as it’s written.

Over the past week, eyes around the world have been on Ferguson, Mo., and police action being taken in the town. 

I was extremely disappointed and angered upon reading the column “Opera is a white man’s game.”

We have experienced bullying from our landlord. And we’ve had enough.

Sometimes in journalism, just as in politics, it’s easiest to go for the lowest-hanging fruit.

About 80 percent of the substantiated acts of child abuse and neglect in Indiana are committed by parents or family members.

You can’t expect a bunch of faculty to agree about much, but the main goal on which we concur is the renewal of an intellectually rich culture of governance.

We don’t go around shaming people for wearing tight shirts, so we shouldn’t  go around shaming them for tight pants.

Being that I am a female who attended a public middle school and am now a freshman in college, I completely understand the reason for this change in the dress code. At that age, bodies are changing into their more adult shapes, and boys and girls are discovering their sexuality.

Letters to the editor

Columnist Matt Straw recently wrote an article in support of former Green Jobs “czar” Van Jones. Straw mentioned that the main reason why some in the media pressured Van Jones to resign: He called Republicans “assholes.” But that was only one of many controversial comments Van Jones has made.

I have been fan of all Hoosier sports for four years now. I am a senior and have attended nearly every football and basketball game, and I can honestly say I love this University. I do have one big concern regarding football.

I’m loving IU, but this place is a far cry from Nappanee, Ind.

It was nice to be reminded of how important Kelley students are while watching one of the wealthiest and most influential Americans on Friday.

On Friday President Obama announced that his administration would be imposing 35 percent tariffs on imported Chinese tires.

OMG, IDS, thanks big time! No really, shut up, really! At first I was all like “what the hell” when I was reading Joanna Borns and her Facebook confession of the crush she has – I mean, whatever, right? Then I’m like, I totally get it. That was bitchin’ clever to write yet another column that’s supposed to be about something but is really all about you and how clever you are!

As soon as I read the headline for Brian Stewart’s column (“Once more unto the breach,” April 24) and the quotation at the beginning (“I am going into the army. . . .”), I thought for sure he had decided to walk the walk he’s been talking all this time and enlist in the Army. But, no. He’s an all-talk chicken-hawk after all, and when his children ask “What did you do in the war on terrorism, Daddy?” he’ll have to tell them “I wrote a column in a college newspaper.” Betty Rose Nagle Associate professor