IU’s mold struggles, Bill Armstrong Stadium renovations, bicentennial plans and Title IX were major points of discussion during Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting.
IU Title IX update shows increase in reports of sexual misconduct
Reports of sexual misconduct on the Bloomington campus increased in the 2017-2018 school year.
Emily Springston, director of IU's Office of Institutional Equity, said there were 228 reports of sexual misconduct at IU Bloomington and half of those reports were categorized as sexual assault. In 2016-2017, there were only 164 reports of sexual misconduct, according to the Office of Student Welfare and Title IX annual report.
Springston told the trustees there may be a change coming to IU’s sexual assault procedures following the Department of Education’s proposed Title IX changes. A big change, she said, would be allowing attorneys to cross examine parties during the hearing process.
These changes have not yet been made final.
Full-Scale Renovations of Foster, McNutt quads
The IU Board of Trustees voted to accelerate the complete renovations of Foster and McNutt residence halls during their meeting Friday.
Both residence halls will be closed for the 2019-2020 academic year but expect to reopen for the 2020-2021 academic year.
The trustees previously approved the renovations for 2021-2022 and 2023-2024 school years in their February meeting as part of a multi-year plan. They voted Friday for the acceleration of the $56 million construction plans, which would begin May 2019.
Provost Lauren Robel said despite IU’s extensive efforts to remediate mold in these buildings, the only way to completely eliminate it is through a full-scale renovation.
Over winter break, all rooms in Teter Quad will be cleaned and air samples will be taken, said John Applegate, executive vice president for university academic affairs. There were a few reports of mold in this residence hall, although not as many as in Foster and McNutt.
These renovations are part of IU’s plan to invest a total of $300 million in student housing over the next six years.
Bill Armstrong Stadium to receive new north grandstand
A request to replace the north grandstands at Bill Armstrong Stadium was unanimously approved by the trustees.
The existing grandstand facility, which opened in 1983, will be demolished and replaced by a two-story structure for the IU Men’s and Women’s soccer teams and Little 500 bicycle race. The facility will have locker rooms, a lobby, a team room, a warm up room, coaches offices, bicycle support space, conference rooms and public restrooms.
Construction on the $7 million project will begin this summer and be completed by June 2020. The project will be funded through private gifts.
Bicentennial project updates
IU Bicentennial director Kelly Kish announced the creation of art projects for the bicentennial year, including murals in Wright Quad and President’s Hall.
The Wright Quad mural will be created by Caleb Weintraub, an associate professor of painting in the IU School of Art & Design. Kish said the new mural will depict the history of IU from 1998-2020, featuring the campus’ most significant historical moments.
The murals in Wright Quad currently depict IU’s history up to 1998.
Murals in Presidents Hall will be created by Bonnie Sklarski, a professor emerita in the IU School of Art & Design. The work will feature two paintings representing the IU motto, “Lux et Veritas,” meaning light and truth.
The next IU Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Jan. 31 to Feb. 1 in Columbus, Indiana.
