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(09/26/00 5:30am)
University apartments -- the name evokes images of older graduate students. Students with families and adults going back to school. The stereotype might be changing.\nFollowing an increase in dorm retention and increasing housing options outside of the University, Residential Programs and Services has opened campus apartments to underclassmen age 19 or older.\nThe move is a response to a lack of space in traditional campus housing and increasing options in Bloomington for families and married or graduate students. \n"Our goal is to strike a balance of meeting the needs of that set of students -- international students, students with families, married students, graduate and undergraduate students -- who want to live in an on-campus apartment setting," said Patrick Connor, executive director of RPS. Connor said he lived in Campus View Apartments this summer. \nLast year, 50 apartments were opened to underclassmen in an unpublicized experiment. Last spring, the Campus Housing Advisory Committee decided to allow RPS to rent to students age 19 or older, but it missed the January period for recontracting. This year, with more openings, they publicized very little. Next year RPS plans to fully market the openings, putting 360-degree views of apartment rooms online. \n"What we're seing is a few more upperclass students stay on campus and in the residence halls," said Pamela Sprong, RPS assistant director. "We had some empty apartments. It opens up more space for a larger freshman class."\nTo reside in the apartments, a person must be a registered IU student, faculty member, full-time staff member or be an approved Ivy Tech State College student. In addition, they must have lived on campus for two semesters.\nAbout 190 undergraduate students live in campus apartments. There are 89 vacant apartments. Some are out of service for maintenance. IU offers about 1,200 apartment units for rent. The rooms range from one-bedroom efficiencies to three-bedroom apartments.\nStudents in campus apartments have benefits like ethernet connections, proximity to campus and the ability to live on campus without having to purchase a meal plan.\nStudents living in campus apartments see the apartments' advantages and disadvantages.\n"You've got your own room, your own place, like home," Sarah Scott, a sophomore, said. "And you don't have to walk five miles down to the bathroom."\nBut Scott said in some ways she misses dorm life. "It's not like the dorms. It's more private," she said. "You don't have the same interaction on the floor."\nCampus apartments were not the first choice of sophomore Mark Shollenberger, who lives in Campus View.\n"We waited too long to find more appealing housing, and this was cheap, so it was the obvious choice," he said. "If we would've had a good start and a fat wallet we probably would've lived somewhere else."\nBut he said the experience hasn't been completely negative. Schollenberger said being close to campus and not having to pay utilities are advantages.\nHis roommate, sophomore William Platt, said he won't return to campus apartments next year. It hasn't been an entirely bad experience, he said, but he's surprised to be living next to families with small children. \n"I was told it was regular student housing," Platt said. "The school bus stops here."\nIf students are interested in a campus apartment, they should contact RPS assignments. Space is available.
(09/18/00 6:00am)
IU's high-speed connection to the Internet is at full capacity again because of programs like Scour, a software tool used to download multimedia files, University officials said.\nUnlike the University's unpopular ban of Napster last year, University Information Technology Services hopes to allow students to continue to access Scour -- under certain conditions.\nThe problem is too much traffic on IU's network.\n"Outbound traffic from the University to the Internet is completely consuming the outbound-capacity...," said Terry Usrey, UITS director of telecommunications data and video. Scour accounts for half of that outbound traffic, Usrey said.\nThe only way the University can keep from banning Scour as well as Napster is with help from students.\nUITS is requesting that students not use Scour or any other program that makes their computer into a server, or at least not share their files with the Scour community.\nIf they do use such a program, students should limits use to very late evening and very early morning hours, UITS said. Third, students should close the program completely. \nThe problem of an overcrowded Internet connection is not a new one at IU.\nNapster was blocked last year because its use was consuming 53 percent of the IU connection and a lawsuit was filed against the University by the band Metallica.\nControversy ensued as students complained that no compromise was offered to them.\n"In retrospect, that wasn't the best move," Usrey said. "It wasn't an irresponsible move, but maybe not the best move."\nIn February, Bruhn said action would be taken against any Web site that takes up that much space.\n"Even with the upgrades to the network, the use of Scour by Residence Halls students is now consuming nearly as much as Napster was when it was blocked last Spring," Mark Bruhn, IU information technology policy officer, said.\nBut with Scour, UITS is taking a different approach.\nThat's why the first of many options being pursued by UITS is to ask for the cooperation of students.\nSenior Wayne Phaup, president of Computer Information Systems Club agrees with the approach.\n"It makes much more sense to give a trial period, so if they must shut it down, at least it's justified," Phaup said.\nUsrey said, "If everyone does as we ask them to do, we can solve the problem."\nUITS plans to get the word out through the Residence Halls Association. Individual e-mail messages will be sent and posters will be put up in residence halls.\n"If (UITS) can explain the issue to the students and the downside of using it during peak times and sharing files, students would try to limit their use," Phaup said. "Students probably aren't fully aware that it's tying up the network."\nThere are several reasons why UITS doesn't wish to block Scour.\n"Blocking or technically limiting applications is difficult, takes staff time to implement and manage, slows down the remaining network traffic and just isn't keeping with our academic culture," Bruhn said. "We don't want to block Scour for all of those reasons."\nConsumption of Internet connection by file-sharing programs is especially prevalent on college campuses, because of high-speed connections.\n"It's not obvious with these programs that you're serving out to the Internet," said Usrey. But, he said, that's the way the programs are designed.\nPending legal issues concerning Scour do not come into play in this matter, Usrey said.\n"We have a technical problem of resource utilization," he said. "UITS is not directly addressing legal issues at this point."\nUITS has a method of monitoring campus Internet usage.\n"We monitor use of the Internet," Usrey said. "We don't watch content. We watch capacity utilization."\nThe top 100 users, with respect to connection volume, will be sent e-mail requests to limit their usage of resources. On the third warning, which Usrey said rarely occurs, the dean of students is contacted.
(09/15/00 5:43am)
Philosophy professor Peggy Brand, wife of University President Myles Brand, told reporters in the gardens of Bryan House Thursday she's afraid ' afraid to live in her house and to teach.\n"Life for the past five days hasn't felt normal. I haven't felt safe," Brand said. "I've been forced to teach my class with a policeman."\nShe said she was moved to speak Thursday after talking with her students. They told her they were afraid of other students and of being attacked like freshman Kent Harvey.\nBrand called for "an end to the hostile environment in our community." She asked for students to take down "inflammatory" signs on fraternities and dorm windows and called for an end to threatening e-mail and phone calls to her and other administrators. She called on students and Karen Knight, wife of former basketball coach Bob Knight, to join her in "restoring calm and civility" to campus.\nBrand said she and her husband have received thousands of e-mail threats and letters in the last several days.\n"My friends and people I love are being individually singled out and targeted in a malicious way," she said in a statement.\nShe also defended the University administration, a response to criticism by Knight at Tuesday's student forum.\n"(The administration) is not a building. It's a group of people that works every day for the students," Brand said. "We are not faceless."\nShe said Knight has a "tactical way of targeting people."\nBut when asked directly about Knight's comments Wednesday, she wouldn't respond.\nShe also expressed concern for the campus image. \n"Look at the media coverage today," she said. "We are being portrayed all over the country as a campus out of control. I am here to tell you that we are not out of control. This is a University devoted to the love of learning, the free exchange of ideas and respect for all opinions."\nChristopher Simpson, vice president for public affairs and government relations, said Brand's comments were made at a particularly appropriate time. \n"Regardless of how you feel about this issue, six-and-a-half-days after it began, no one is advocating continued threats or hostility," he said.
(09/11/00 8:21am)
Freshman Nic Alexander has a plaque in his kitchen that reads, "The Lord is my shepherd but Bobby Knight is my coach."\nHe was among a group of 10 family members and friends who absorbed news of Knight's termination together Sunday at The Gables Restaurant, 114 S. Indiana Ave. They shared dinner, company and the news that a man they admire had lost his job.\nParticularly at IU "institutions" such as the Gables and Nick's English Hut, 423 E. Kirkwood Ave, the community of Knight's most ardent supporters expressed outrage while his critics found justice in the decision.\nWhile IU President Myles Brand spoke during the afternoon press conference, the family members lunching at The Gables shook their heads silently.\nHadley Siamoas, 16, cried as the announcement was made. \n"For as long as I can remember, he's been my idol," the Indianapolis native said. \nHadley's father, Harry Siamoas, a member of the class of '72, believed that, sooner or later, the zero-tolerance rules would get the coach in trouble.\n"I really feel like the University set him up to fail. It was an impossible situation for the coach," he said. "I think it was unfair to coach Knight to set up this policy." \nHe also blames the media for bringing down Knight, saying the University and administration could no longer deal with the media attention.\nAt Nick's English Hut, decorated from floor to ceiling with years of IU paraphernalia, the scene was the same.\nAfter hearing the news, Roger Bowlen felt numb. A third generation Bloomington resident, Bowlen grew up watching IU basketball. He remembered screaming himself into a migraine after the Hoosiers beat Syracuse, hugging fraternity members outside Kilroy's on Kirkwood after a victory and plastering his walls with IU memorabilia. \n"I will never buy a stinking bit of IU merchandise again in my life," Bowlen said Sunday at Nick's. "I considered dumping it all and burning it on the Assembly Hall lawn."\nSitting nearby, Chicago resident Brian Potrafka was pleased to be in town for what he considered a historical event. Potrafka was surprised but satisfied with Brand's decision. \n"Based on what Myles Brand says, (Knight) seems to flagrantly say, 'Screw you, I'll do what I want,'" he said. "I give the administration a ton of credit. This makes you feel good ' that the white frat boy clique will not rule the universe."\nJeffrey Willsey, a city councilman for District 4, said the decision was more than a sports issue -- it was an educational and cultural one.\n"I thought Brand handled himself well. He set the issues very clearly and he represented the University's interests. I hope (Knight) still remains in Bloomington and continues to be a happy contributing citizen." \nThough most community members had a strong opinion one way or another, Bloomington resident Ben Duncan was somewhat ambivalent.\n"All those years, people made him a folk hero because of what he was," he said. "I think it's a little unfair to ask a person to change after 30 years." \nStaff writers Aline Mendelsohn and Gina Czark contributed to this report.
(09/07/00 4:17am)
Whether they're studying along the Jordan River, enjoying a picnic at Dunn Meadow, laying on a blanket near the Arboretum pond or admiring the colorful flower beds as they drive by, thousands of people enjoy IU's beautiful campus.\nThe campus was recognized as one of the five most beautiful campuses nationwide in Thomas A. Gaines' "The Campus as a Work of Art."\nFor many students, the picturesque campus is the selling point of IU. Chancellor Kenneth Gros Louis said he has heard from the admissions office that two out of three students who visit the campus later decide to attend.\n"I've seen all the Big Ten campuses. This is by far the most beautiful," Gros Louis said.\nPreserving the Beauty\nThe campus is the result of years of vision, preservation and pride. It's also the result of continued improvement and day-to-day maintenance.\nThat responsibility falls to a staff of 45 employees and five supervisors. The campus division of the Department of the Physical Plant is responsible for grounds maintenance, nursery operation and outdoor construction. They maintain flower beds and mow and trim grass all over campus. Installation of landscape materials for construction projects and operation of the campus nursery also fall under their duties. They are also responsible for seasonal chores, such as leaf and snow removal and cleaning up fallen limbs or trees. \nTo make the size of the campus more manageable, the campus is divided into five sections, each of which is assigned a crew, which becomes basically self-sufficient.\nBut it is not an easy job. \n"Look at it as a city of 40,000 people," David Hurst, manager of the campus division, said. "We're trying to take care of that 2,000 acre city, just like any other town of that size … fortunately, mine's only the outdoor part."\nThe very mission of the campus division is also one of the greatest perks of their job. \n"We can see what we do," Hurst said. "That's probably what my employees like the most."\nHurst said he even keeps a file of thank you letters from people who comment on the picturesque campus. \nThe Student Environmental Action Coalition, a group dedicated to environmental issues both national and local, also supports the mission of keeping the campus beautiful. \n"The campus gives us a constant reminder of the natural environment around us, that we might forget about as we walk from class to class," said junior Ryan Amtmann, SEAC recycling coordinator.\n"The beauty of it is that it reminds us of what we're trying to protect. To us, it's what we work for."\nNot just landscaping\nIn addition to day-to-day maintenance and seasonal chores, the campus division takes on some outdoor construction projects. They built Jacob's Plaza near the School of Music. They also participated in the construction of the Arboretum next to the Main Library, on the site of what used to be the old football stadium. They also preserve Dunn Woods by only intervening with it when fallen trees block paths or threaten buildings. \nThese days, they're working on two major projects. They are renovating the grounds on the west side of the Indiana Memorial Union by installing brick paths around the hill and meadow. A memorial is also being created for the late University Chancellor, Herman B Wells between Maxwell and Wylie halls in the old academic quad, southwest of the IMU.\nWhen dedicated at this year's Homecoming, Herman B Wells Plaza will be a tribute to the University figure, who was a great leader in shaping IU's history and supporting the preservation and expansion of the campus' natural beauty.\nWells, in a 1962 address to alumni, explained why preservation was important. \n"I hope our alumni will always insist upon retention of our precious islands of green and serenity ' our most important physical asset, transcending even classrooms, libraries and laboratories in their ability to inspire students to dream long dreams of future usefulness and achievement ' dreams that are an important part of undergraduate college experience," he said.\nPlanting Cycle\nEvery year, 60,000 annual plants are grown in the University's greenhouses. More than 300 flower beds are maintained and changed twice a year. \nLater this month, the flowers will be changed for the last time before winter. Annual flowers will be removed and replaced by mums, which have been growing in the nursery since May. The mums will remain until after the first frost-weather permitting until after Homecoming-then taken out.\nAround Thanksgiving, tulip bulbs will be planted. The bulbs will be genetically set to appear at varying times, so they remain until graduation (the first weekend in May). Young annual flowers will be planted around the stadium the week of commencement. It will take three or four weeks to plant the rest of the campus with next year's new annuals.\nWhen the new annuals are planted, the soil is tilled, so the tulip bulbs can be reused. The free tulip bulbs have become quite popular with staff members and the community. \n"Many people will bring a bucket to work and pick up tulip bulbs," Hurst said. \nThe campus division gets calls every spring from people who want to know when the flower beds will be tilled.\nBut the campus division grows more than flowers; they plant hundreds of trees every year, many of them dedicated in memory of someone. \n"We actually plant more trees than we take down," Hurst said.\nWhile the division takes great pride in their work, it also comes with great responsibility. \n"People who know how pretty the University usually is, call us when they see otherwise," Hurst said.\nBut workers at the campus division find they are often their own worst critics. \n"Every weekend, when I'm not on the clock, I try to drive through part of campus, and appreciate it for what it is ' a beautiful college campus ' and not be so critical of what still needs to be done," Hurst said.
