IUSA writes letter of complaint about parking fine increase

IU Student Association President Casey Cox has sent a letter to IU Parking Operations Director Doug Porter urging a reconsideration of the recent increase in parking fines.\nTickets for on-campus parking violations have increased from $35 to $40 for violators without a parking pass and from $30 to $35 for violators with a pass.\nCox's letter, which reflects the position of IUSA, argues that "such a system has not only no hope of further preventing offenders from parking illegally, it penalizes freshmen, new drivers and one or two-time (minimal) offenders." \nCox and IUSA suggested that IU Parking Operations "look more seriously into habitual offenders and develop a system of aggregated fines, rather than increasing fines for all students."\nCox said he and Porter previously spoke about the issue.\nPorter said the increase was not imposed to create more funding for the department.\n"We just want people to park legally," Porter said in a story Sept. 8. "Hopefully with a higher fine in place, people who would have parked illegally won't do it anymore."\nIU Parking Operations generates more than half of its $5 million annual revenue through parking fines.\nCox said he believes that these fines are an important student advocacy issue.\n"Parking has always been a sensitive issue because of the beauty on campus, and there is no quick fix," he said. "Any issue where students are penalized by circumstances out of their control needs to be opposed. This latest fines increase is a step in the wrong direction."\nMany students complain every year about the system of on-campus parking violations. \nSenior Jeff Braun said he believes he has unfairly received parking tickets on several occasions.\n"I got a ticket for parking at the dorms one time when I had to drop off a suit," he said. "First I looked around Foster for a parking meter, but they were all filled, of course. I knew I was running the risk of getting a ticket, so I put my blinkers on and ran in and out as fast as I could. It took less than two minutes, but there was the lady writing me a ticket when I came out."\nBraun recalled another occasion when he parked his car at the Parking Operations building to exchange his E pass for a D pass and had a ticket waiting for him when he came out.\nBraun, who considers himself a minimal parking offender, said he likes the idea of an aggregated system of parking fines.\n"There should be some kind of record on how many tickets people are getting," he said. "Just imagine how many fewer people would violate parking if suddenly on your third or fourth ticket the fine just skyrockets."\nIUSA has begun to address the parking problem on other fronts, as well, with plans to create a drop box at the Main Library, where students are often ticketed when turning in their library books.\nStill, Cox said he believes that cooperation is needed from IU Parking Operations to solve problems down the road.\n"They have a noble goal in mind, but they are doing it at the expense of student pocketbooks."\n-- Contact staff writer Jake Rossman at jrossman@indiana.edu.

Matrix plugs in at IMU

Sophomore Matt Crawford spent $58 on his favorite new movie during five trips to the theater this summer. And that doesn't include what he spent at the concession stands. The theater was Kerasotes, the food was popcorn, and the movie was "Matrix: Reloaded."\n"I dressed up in a coat and sunglasses," said Crawford, a recent transfer to IU. "But I had to take (the glasses) off so I could see the screen."\nFreshman Kyle Brown was ecstatic to learn that "Matrix: Reloaded," the sequel to the popular classic, "The Matrix," would be playing in the Whittenberger Auditorium in the Indiana Memorial Union this weekend. Students were even more excited to learn that the showings, scheduled for 8 and 11 p.m., Sept. 11 to 13, are free to IU students.\n"I saw the sign for it when I was studying one day," Brown said. "The flier was way across the room, but I was like, 'Boom, that's the Matrix.' It was one of the most exciting moments I've had here. It's definitely a must-see."\nCrawford said the film will be the highlight of his weekend.\n"I might miss a party tomorrow night to go see it, or I'll at least leave early with some of my fraternity brothers," he said.\nCrawford and Brown are just two of the many that are expected to turn out for the showings of "Matrix: Reloaded," which grossed over $270 million domestically. \nWhile few students can match their enthusiasm, others, like senior Mike Raney, plan to turn out just to catch a glimpse of a good summer blockbuster.\n"I like 'The Matrix' because it draws a lot from real scientific and philosophical problems," Raney said. "It's a good sci-fi plot, and doesn't insult the intelligence, but I still don't like Keanu Reeves as Neo. He looks the part, but even after all the posturing and special effects, it's still just that guy from 'Bill and Ted' in a black overcoat and shades."\nThis weekend's screenings, presented by the Union Board, are part of the country's longest-running collegiate film series, started at IU in 1914. A different film is scheduled to show at the IMU each week of the school year. \n"We have a really great film base in Bloomington," Union Board Films Committee Director Ryan O'Connell said. "It's great because these are free films." \nO'Connell, a senior, said the Union Board movies average about 750 people per week. This weekend's presentation of the, "Matrix: Reloaded," is expected to draw more than the average number, O'Connell said.\n"The first 'Matrix' movie was a cult classic as soon as it was released on DVD, so the next two sequels will be highly anticipated," he said.\nThis weekend could be a case when students are turned away from a completely packed Whittenberger Auditorium, which seats 432 people, a situation faced last year when "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and the sneak previews of "Old School" and "Red Dragon" were shown.\n"We're expecting maximum capacity," O'Connell said. "People should probably come early to guarantee a seat."\nBrown is prepared to do just that.\n"I'll try to make it for four of the showings," he said. "I've cleared my schedule, and I'll be sure to get there at least an hour early or two."\n-- Contact staff writer Jake Rossman at jrossman@indiana.edu.

IUSA puts promises in motion

In their campaign, they promised us "Beer and Books." Now they plan on acting on their promises.\nIU Student Association president Casey Cox and his staff are entering the fall semester with enthusiasm after a summer of planning out ideas such as a bus for drunk students, an online book exchange and scholarships available at football games.\nIUSA does not stop working when school lets out in the spring. Over the summer, the student government started fulfilling campaign promises made in last spring's election.\nSpearheading late-night safety concerns, IUSA has submitted proposals to expand the night bussing program, also called the "Midnight Special."\n"With the 'drunk buses' we want to decrease the number of students walking on campus after dark and especially keep them from drinking and driving," IUSA Congressional Secretary Alan Grant said. "Hopefully anyone out late at night will want to take the buses, drunk or not."\nThe proposal included an increase in the number of night buses and their running hours and a new route that runs east to apartments near College Mall. \nIU-Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm has endorsed the "Midnight Special" plan, as well as several organizations, including the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association, the IU Police Department, the Bloomington Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff's Department.\nStudents looking for the drunk buses should search for the Midnight Special logo at regular bus stops.\nA new Web site has been launched offering IU students a chance to buy, sell and trade their textbooks. \n"This is the first comprehensive student book exchange at IU," Cox said. "We wanted to crack down on the monopoly TIS and the IU Bookstore have on campus."\nThe site, www.buyiu.com, is a free service. In addition to the book exchange, the site features course guides and a campus forum.\nIn addition, IUSA is making efforts to increase support and enhance the experience of students at IU athletic events. They will be co-hosting a tailgate at two yet-to-be-determined games and giving away a $500 scholarship at every home football game this year, with the exception of Indiana vs. Illinois on Nov. 8.\n"We want to create incentives for students to go to football games and enjoy themselves," Cox said.\nThe scholarships will be raffled off during the games to students who bring their valid student ID and fill out a registration card at the booths by the gates outside the stadium.\nLater this year IUSA plans on addressing student seating at assembly hall.\nTo increase convenience around campus and ease parking fines, IUSA also plans to advocate for drop boxes to be installed outside the main library. \n"We will not stop until the student voice is heard in the form of a drop box," Student Body Vice President Grant McFann said.\nIUSA has planned a meeting for students interested in participating in student government for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, in their offices on the third floor of the student activities tower of the Indiana Memorial Union.\nMcFann said he thinks students will actually benefit from the ideas generated by IUSA.\n"This year we're going to make things more fun, more safe and more convenient for IU students," McFann said.\nContact staff writer Jake Rossman at jrossman@indiana.edu

Freshman dorm policy enacted

This year's freshman class must deal with one more rule than those of years past: All first-year students are now required to live in dormitories and other on-campus housing. \nChancellor Sharon Brehm suggested the change in policy last year. She presented a proposal to the IU board of trustees, who approved the new policy in September for the incoming class of 2003.\nBrehm said her proposal was based on "very strong evidence that living on-campus enhances student retention." Students are more likely to stay in school and graduate, interact with faculty and peers and participate in extracurricular and social events. \nResidential Programs and Services Executive Director Patrick Connor said he does not believe the new rule will cause more overcrowding in the dorms. \n"Last year's opening with students in lounges was a direct result of one of the largest incoming classes in IU history," he said. "(This year) we were able to place all students who wanted space in permanent room assignment by the start of the contract period."\nAlthough the policy affects the entire freshman class, Brehm's research indicated that only about 400 more students would be living on campus as a direct result.\nNeither Brehm, who has worked at other universities with similar policies, nor the IU Student Association, said they expect much opposition to the new rule.\n"The biggest issue was that of student choice," Brehm said. "I'm very sensitive to this issue … however, the evidence of the positive effects of living on campus is so strong that I believe we have an obligation to require it for our first-year students."\nIUSA vice president Grant McFann said college isn't just about classes; it's more about the life experience.\n"Living in a dorm makes the change easier and is an important part of the college experience," he said.\nMcFann added that while IUSA has no official position on the issue, "should a massive protest arise, we will argue for revision of the policy," he said.\nThe University will waive the mandate for certain students who apply for a waiver, including students whose local residence is within 25 miles of the University, most transfer students, part-time students or those over 21 years old. Exceptions for other reasons will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

IUSA adds late night transportation for students

As the first official action of their term, the new IU Student Association administration will be providing students with rides Friday evening from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. The initiative was proposed as a way to promote safety and curb student arrests linked with alcohol consumption during Little 500 weekend while promoting the issue of night busing, one of the new IUSA administration's principal concerns. \n"It's a big issue," Student Body President Casey Cox said. "Anytime we have promoted making the campus and students safer, all the feedback we have received has been positive. That's why we have become very concerned about safety, and we will support any effort to curb drinking and driving while helping students to avoid unnecessary arrests."\nStudents in need of a ride Friday evening should look for white transportation vans driving on Walnut Street and Kirkwood and Jordan Avenues. The buses will drive students to locations both on and off campus.\n"Students celebrating Little 500 should not be penalized for walking home," IUSA Health and Safety Director Jonathan Deck said in a statement. "That's why we are stepping in to provide safe late-night transportation."\nNight busing, termed the "drunk buses" by Cox, has existed on campus sporadically for a number of semesters. However, he said students would benefit from increased exposure to night busing.\n"Most students don't know about the drunk buses, but it could be immensely popular," he said.\nIUSA Congressional Secretary Alan Grant is leading the initiative to change the night busing system. Along with increasing promotions about night busing, he hopes to make a number of changes to the current system, he said. \n"The whole intent of giving rides on Friday is to make students aware that they have this service available to them," Grant said. "There's simply not enough late night transportation on campus. We need better routes, more buses and increased awareness for alternatives to walking or driving drunk."\nIncluded in their summer expansion plans are an increase in the number of vehicles, the utilization of the large IU buses in addition to the smaller Bloomington shuttles and providing a broader range of transportation to off-campus locations.\n"I would like to see at least a double in the number of rides given by drunk buses by this time next year," Grant said.\nCox and Grant have already started their efforts to change night busing. In addition to contacting the Bloomington motor pool to discuss the availability of transportation, they have had discussions with the IU and Bloomington police departments and IU administration officials to enlist their support.\n"We're just doing everything we can to keep students safe and keep them out of jail," Cox said.

Graduation speaker chosen

This year's graduation ceremonies will feature a distinguished Hoosier the University has been after for years.\nIndiana Sen. Richard Lugar will act as commencement speaker for the Class of 2003 on May 10 at Assembly Hall.\nThough the University has invited Lugar to speak at graduation before, this year's address will be his first.\n"Lugar has also expressed interest, but his schedule has not permitted it." IU spokesman Bill Stephan said. "He has a number of strong relationships among the administration and faculty at IU. This year everything came together."\nStephan said the University looks for commencement speakers who have distinguished themselves in their fields and made contributions to humanity. Also, ties to Indiana and IU are looked for but not required.\n"When you look for individuals who meet those criteria, Senator Lugar is someone who is near the top of that list," he said.\nIndiana elected Lugar to a state record fifth consecutive senate term in 2000. Currently the chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he has served on the committees of Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry since his first term in 1976.\nThough he gained fame for his many endeavors, including a 1996 presidential bid, the senator is perhaps best known for his peace-making policies. A committed Republican, Lugar was one of few members of his party who did not fully support President Bush's war policy in Iraq.\n"In this time of turmoil in the Middle East and uncertainty in the world, we are honored that Senator Lugar will join us in Bloomington to address our graduates," IU interim president Gerald Bepko said in a press release. "He is a stalwart state, national and international leader, and his comments will be pertinent to our students."\nThe senator has a history of involvement with Bloomington. In addition to giving past speeches on campus, in the summer of 2002 Lugar opened the IU International Studies Summer Institutes and the International Agricultural Education Summer Institute. \n"We have previously presented the senator with an honorary degree, and we are pleased he will return as an honorary alumnus for another important commencement message," Bepko said.\nThough not all IU seniors fall on Lugar's side of the political spectrum, most hold the senator in a position of respect and are looking forward to his address.\n"Being politically minded, I think it would be nice to have a speaker coming from a less conservative standpoint," said senior Jeff Wurzburg, a political science major. "It's still great to have someone so renowned speaking to us at graduation -- especially a well-respected senator."\nSenior Matt Nykiel, a pre-medicine major, agreed.\n"I think it's impressive that we have a U.S. senator who is so concerned about college graduates and the future of our country's young minds," he said.\nLugar will be the keynote speaker at both the 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. commencement sessions.

New IUSA student government takes power today

The changing of the guard has occurred. At midnight Tuesday, executive members of the Crimson ticket stood ready on the third floor of the Student Activities Tower of the Indiana Memorial Union, ready to relieve the Kirkwood executives of their year-long service to the student body.\nTheir first issue was to physically rearrange the offices to accommodate a working environment. For IUSA president Casey Cox, this meant moving his couch into a nearly empty presidential cubicle, hanging framed copies of the U.S. Constitution and the Crimson slogan on the walls, and filling the empty desk space with his IUSA mug, the quill pen his girlfriend gave to commemorate the election victory and masses of papers that would soon need his attention. \nIUSA vice president Grant McFann faced an altogether different challenge.\n"I just have a different working style then the last VP," he said while clearing stacks of disheveled file folders and papers out of the vice president's office, pouring them into an already overflowing garbage can.\nTheir next, and more difficult task, was to assume the responsibilities and relationships of the previous administration.\n"Anytime you bring in new people to IUSA, the (IU) administration wants to know if they are for real or just pretending," Cox said. "We wanted to establish our sincerity right away. We hope to bring fresh life into some of our old relationships. Kirkwood kept a good balance, and we hope to keep that trend alive."\nCox said he has been discussing many of Crimson's platform ideas with administrators, including the extension of drunk busing and adding new blue emergency lights on campus.\nIn conjunction with the Crimson takeover of the IUSA offices, the swearing in of the new executives and Congress was the first order of business at Tuesday's IUSA meeting. \n"That's when it feels official," said sophomore SPEA representative Exton Cordingley, a newly elected member of the Crimson ticket. "Once that was out of the way, we felt legitimate in trying to get things accomplished for IU students."\nIndeed, Tuesday's meeting included the passing of a resolution to recommend a study on the functionality and effectiveness of the blue campus emergency stations.\nDespite the smoothness of the transition of office from Kirkwood to Crimson, the new IUSA administration would have been hard pressed to enter office without the guidance of the outgoing executives.\n"(The Kirkwood executives) warned us that we have to be committed," McFann said. "You work really hard to run for something you believe in, but once you're in, you have to work even harder to accomplish your goals"

IUSA Supreme Court Chief Justice Brian Clifford swears in Crimson executives Anne Eichengreen, Grant McFann, and Casey Cox at the first official meeting Tuesday.

IUSA gives SRSC $2,500

This spring, a new cardiovascular exercise room will be added to the Student Recreational Sports Center. \nThe Student Recreational Sports Association and IU Recreational Sports headed the renovation, and the IU Student Association donated $2,500 towards SRSC expansion as part of its "Get Hard" plan.\nSRSA president Brooke Albright said the new exercise room will be aimed at beginners and light exercisers and hopefully alleviate traffic problems at the SRSC.\n"The people using the machines complained of waiting in long lines," she said. "With our budget, we had a difficult choice to make between adding more space and machines or in keeping the facility open more hours. By adding the new room and equipment, we've basically killed two birds with one stone."\nIUSA's "Get Hard" initiative aims to "make students aware of the benefits of exercising your body as well as your mind while in Bloomington," according to a March 30 press release. \n"As an intramural sports enthusiast, I am for anything that improves the physical fitness of the Student Body," IUSA President Bill Gray said.\nIn addition to the SRSC donation, IUSA in conjunction with SRSA will work to promote student fitness around campus. \n"As president of SRSA, I know that one of the students' primary concerns was removal of equipment without replacement," Albright said. "IUSA's 'Get Hard' Campaign has helped us give the students what they want."\nAfter the opening of the new SRSC equipment room, Albright will push for a change in funding for the maintenance and replacement of exercise equipment. She supports a "phase-in" method that would make equipment maintenance a regular part of student fees.\n"We are trying now to keep equipment in the building until we replace them, but they wear down and break over time," Albright said. "If we don't phase in with maintenance fees, one huge replacement cost will be laid on a future generation of students even though other generations contributed to the deterioration of the machines."\nIn the meantime, the new cardio room should be ready for use by the end of this semester, Albright said.\n"I hope this initiative leads to a more beautiful and healthy student body," said IUSA Vice President Judd Arnold.

AIDS conference focuses on prevention in rural areas

Health educators, AIDS prevention specialists and government representatives gathered in Bloomington this weekend for the third annual National Conference for HIV and STD prevention in rural communities.\nFriday through Sunday, more than 200 participants from over 30 states attended the conference, sponsored by the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention and the National Rural Health Center, at the Indiana Memorial Union to discuss broad topics concerning AIDS prevention and education in rural areas.\nRCAP Senior Director Bill Yarber said this is the only AIDS/STD organization to focus on the problems facing rural areas, which accounted for 7.3 percent of all AIDS cases in 2000, according to RCAP research.\n"The goal of this conference is to showcase model rural AIDS/STD prevention education programs and lessons learned," said NRHA Executive Director Stephen Wilhide in a letter to conference participants. "We … have key players in rural AIDS/STD prevention come together to share information, provide hands-on skills and form partnerships and collaborate with each other …"\nYarber, who wrote the country's first school-based STD prevention curriculum, founded the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention in 1984 under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since 2000, RCAP has been funded by the Center for Disease Control.\nYarber said the conference helped participants share their experiences in prevention education and learn about programs that work.\n"The people that come really appreciate it," he said. "When they go to the big AIDS conferences, the focus is almost always on the problems of large urban areas."\nPart of the conference consisted of workshops in several IMU rooms. The packed sessions showcased speakers on broad-ranging topics and power-point presentations while participants of all ages and races took notes on the material presented.\nKeynote speeches to the whole conference addressed such subjects as HIV prevention for rural migrant workers, American Indian men, gays and bisexuals and other demographics.\n"Rural areas are not immune to AIDS," Yarber said. "They have their own unique problems that are just as serious."\nMore than their urban counterparts, rural HIV and AIDS patients may face serious prejudices from their communities. Rural ignorance and homophobia can lead them to a sense of isolation and despair. Also, lack of resources and expertise in AIDS treatment and prevention can affect the health of patients in rural areas.\n"People who become infected in rural areas often face greater problems," Yarber said. "The rates of depression and suicide are much higher, and isolation is a key factor"

Crimson claims IUSA election

The Crimson ticket was declared the winner of this year's IU Student Association elections following the dismissal of charges brought against them by the Action ticket. \nThe election results, confirmed by the IUSA Supreme Court following its dismissal of the Action complaint, showed Crimson taking 50.7 percent of the 6224 votes cast, followed by Action with 29.9 percent and Unity with 18.6 percent.\n"We're happy that the voice of the students has finally been heard," IUSA president-elect Casey Cox said.\nFollowing a public hearing Monday, the IUSA Supreme Court upheld the elections commission decision to deny Action complaints filed against the Crimson and Unity tickets after an Action appeal. Action's complaint contained technical errors in conflict with the IUSA elections code. Among them, the complaint was not double-spaced, lacked one-inch margins and failed to specifically link alleged Crimson and Unity violations to the IUSA elections code.\n"What Action was asking was something we didn't have the power to do," IUSA Supreme Court Chief Justice Brian Clifford said. "We agree with them that the elections code needs some major revision, but we could not overturn the elections commission in this case. There was no judicial way to usurp their decision."\nBecause the elections commission did not "clearly err" in its decision to turn down the Action complaint, the Supreme Court could not overturn its judgment, Clifford said.\nIUSA treasurer-elect Anne Eichengreen said she and her ticket are happy the turmoil is over.\n"It was a lot of hard work for us," she said. "We're grateful for the people who have helped us over the past months, and we are looking forward to rebuilding the credibility of IUSA. We're here to create a positive attitude."\nIn the wake of the last two elections, which were both appealed and decided by the Supreme Court, one of Crimson's main summer goals is to revamp the IUSA elections code, it said.\n"Changing the code will help the image of IUSA by streamlining the process," IUSA congressional secretary-elect Alan Grant said. "Tickets should not have to police each other, and access to voting should be easier for students. The hours for campaigning and voting also need to be improved"

Complaints heard by court

Action and Crimson representatives deliberated student rights and IU Student Association procedures during an IUSA Supreme Court public hearing, Monday. The court is expected to soon release its decision on whether to admit complaints filed against the Crimson and Unity parties for alleged campaign violations.\nThis and past years' election hearings are causing the integrity of IU student government to be questioned, Supreme Court Chief Justice Brian Clifford said.\n"The court is in a tough situation," he said. "There is a crisis of legitimacy in student government. In the past, students have believed IUSA to be a powerful voice for their interests. That has been thrown into question in recent years, and the controversy does not help."\nThe Action complaint was previously rejected by the IUSA elections commission because of technical inadequacies. Specifically, the elections code mandates that all complaints must be double-spaced and contain one-inch margins, link allegations of misconduct to specific code violations and be turned in on time. Action failed to meet any of these requirements, according to the elections commission decision.\nThe court now decides whether to admit the Action complaint and force the elections commission to review its contents. \nAction representative Jon Schurger acknowledged that the complaint failed to meet the requirements, but he argued that the students' interests should supercede the technical inadequacies. Schurger argued that a complaint filed by Willkie Quad students was heard by the elections commission that did not meet the requirements.\n"If the court holds people to a different standard or rules, it negates the rules entirely," Action treasurer candidate Eric Butterbaugh said.\nCrimson representative Derek Molter rebutted Action's position by arguing that the elections commission has the authority to determine which complaints it should and should not accept. Molter said the elections commission might have chosen to accept the flawed Willkie complaint because of the "average student's unfamiliarity with the elections system."\nIf the court decides to force the elections commission to review the complaint, the election results may not be available for several weeks. If it chooses to uphold the elections commission decision, the election results would be released almost simultaneously with the Supreme Court decision.\nStill, Clifford hopes IUSA will take a hard look at its elections code regardless of the court's decision, he said.\n"There are problems with it," he said. "There needs to be major changes. Until these issues are addressed there will continue to be these kinds of appeals"

IUSA refuses party's complaint

Insufficient margins, cumbersome font sizes and single line spacing are a few of the reasons the IU Student Association has refused to admit complaints filed by the Action ticket for review by the elections commission.\nThe Action complaints did not meet three requirements of the IUSA elections code, including the given deadline and complaint format.\nAccording to the code, tickets who wish to contest the election must turn in no more than eight pages for each complaint. Each document must have one-inch margins and be typewritten and double-spaced using a 12-point font. Complaints must contain specific allegations containing the dates when each offense occurred, names of the people involved and citations as to which part of the elections code each incident violated.\nComplaints are due to the IUSA elections commission before 5 p.m. the day following the election.\nThe elections commission ruled that the Action complaints conflicted with each of these requirements. The official unanimous opinion of the commission stated that Action failed to double-space and use one-inch margins or specifically allege Crimson and Unity violations. Also, several IUSA members witnessed Action turn in their complaints at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, 15 minutes past the deadline.\nIUSA elections coordinator Leah Silverthorn said the substantive requirements contained the complaint's most glaring errors.\n"Action gave us a list of violations and 30 pages of random e-mails," she said. "It didn't flow. A bunch of pictures and e-mails is not evidence to us."\nAction presidential candidate Laura Walda attributed the lateness and technical inaccuracies of the complaints to the unfair IUSA elections system. Because there is no organization, commission or department assigned to keep IUSA campaigns legitimate, the individual tickets are forced to police each other's actions, Walda said.\n"I can see the need to have an organized system to file complaints, but it is difficult for a party to put together a list of complaints during a campaign," she said. "The commission or some other committee needs to take a more active role. It should not be the job of the tickets to police the other tickets."\nAdding a new department or empowering an existing one to take on the responsibility of policing IUSA tickets would require a change in the elections code, Silverthorn said.\n"I would like to, but I don't think (the elections commission) has the authority to change the code right now," Silverthorn said. "It should not be the job of the tickets to police the other tickets. People are asking us to disregard the rules, but I am all for changing the code for next year."\nAction still has the opportunity to appeal the elections commission decision to the IUSA supreme court. If the decision is overturned and the complaints admitted, the court or the elections commission would hear, vote on and write an opinion for each violation.\n"If the supreme court rules to allow Action's (contestations), it could be weeks before we release the results," IUSA vice president Judd Arnold said. "If they do not appeal, the election results could be out as early as Tuesday."\nAction has until 5:30 p.m. today to appeal the elections commission decision.\n"Right now we are unhappy," Walda said. "We felt we played the game very fairly. There is a bit of a split in our party to see whether to appeal it further"

Action ticket files complaint

The 2003 IU Student Association elections ended at midnight Wednesday, but the results may be withheld for some time. On Thursday, the Action ticket filed complaints against the other two tickets, Crimson and Unity.\nAction charged the tickets with violating the campaigning guidelines in the IUSA elections code. Action said Crimson and Unity illegally campaigned in residence halls and sent unsolicited e-mails to IU students. They also said Crimson is guilty of damaging Action campaign materials and campaigning within 50 ft. of polling sites.\n"I want the student body to know these tickets cheated," said Action presidential candidate Laura Walda said. "When I run a completely clean election by the elections code, I think it is unfair to the student body to cheat like that."\nThe Crimson e-mails start by informing students that the writer is part of the Crimson campaign. They go on to ask the recipient for his support in the election, providing a link to the Crimson Web site. Each letter ends with the sender's name.\nCrimson presidential candidate Casey Cox said the e-mails were sent individually to people who had a connection to the sender.\n"We did not break any UITS policies," he said. "We sent mails to friends, acquaintances and peer groups. Every mail we sent was personalized and sent individually."\nWalda produced several e-mails from students who said they received Crimson e-mails but had no relationship to the sender. Such contact from an IUSA ticket is a violation of the elections code, Action vice presidential candidate Liz Weikes said.\n"I got e-mails from people who were really pissed off," she said. "Even people on my executive ticket got them."\nIUSA has already faced the problem of unsolicited e-mails from campaign tickets. In last year's election, complaints were filed against Kirkwood for sending thousands of unsolicited mails to the student body. The elections code was quickly changed to outlaw such e-mails. Kirkwood was fined but still won the election.\nCox said he didn't think a comparison should be drawn between Crimson and Kirkwood.\n"Last year's campaigns were terrible," he said. "There is no doubt that this year the tickets have stayed within the rules. We don't want to see last year's contestations repeated, but now we may have to."\nAction also filed for damages against their campaign materials. \nIn the complaint, Walda produced an e-mail alleging an Action banner hanging at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity was torn down by a Crimson member in the same house. \nCrimson vice presidential candidate Grant McFann said the incident should not be an election issue.\n"At this point it is an in-house matter, not an election battle," he said. "It has nothing to do with the election, and it should have no bearing on the results. When you live in a fraternity, these things happen."\nIUSA elections commissioner Leah Silverthorn said the elections commission will soon decide whether to hold hearings on the Action complaints.\n"This could draw to a close by this week, but it could drag out like it did last year," she said.\nShould the commission dismiss the complaints, Walda said Action will follow the decision.\n"If they do hold a hearing, we simply want to know if they are guilty or not," she said. "If the elections commission finds we have a faulty basis, we will adhere to that"

A midnight push

All week, campaigning ticket members could be seen handing out flyers, dressing in animal suits, driving banner-flying convertibles or doing just about anything to get the attention of students yet to vote in the IUSA elections, which ended Wednesday at midnight.\n"We've e-mailed thousands of friends, our commercials have picked up and we've had 20 people out campaigning about 20 hours a day," Unity presidential candidate Aaron Radez said. "In the end, it just comes down to going out and talking to people."\nOver the past two days, IUSA campaigns have spawned many creative initiatives to gain the attention of the student body. Action representatives dressed in dinosaur costumes and paraded across crowded campus areas wearing their ticket T-shirts. After Tuesday's men's basketball game, Crimson set up a stand with large speakers blaring music and a root beer keg for thirsty patrons leaving Assembly Hall. Unity candidates handed out pamphlets at bus stops and attended Wednesday's war protest in Bloomington's town square. Each ticket went to dormitories, apartments, greek houses and living complexes to inform students of how and why they should vote.\nAfter three days of solid campaigning, every ticket welcomed a much deserved rest. \n"We've gone to so many places and talked to so many people in the last few days, when we were done we just wanted to sit down and die," said Action presidential candidate Laura Walda, who slept for four hours Tuesday night and one-and-a-half the night before. "We're so tired, but we played it fair and really worked hard."\nCrimson presidential candidate Casey Cox hopes his last minute initiative, a chain-mail campaign, will help win votes. Crimson candidates sent e-mails to their five best friends at IU, asking them to vote. Those five then forwarded the e-mail to their five best friends and so on.\n"By the last few hours, 95 percent of the people who are going to vote have done so," Cox said. "Any votes we got in the last hours are definitely a bonus."\nRadez said his party engaged in a similar campaign. Unity candidates were encouraged to call all of their friends until the election ended.\n"Our grassroots initiative was major," Radez said. "We were even pulling out our photos of old prom dates, making sure they vote for us. You would be surprised how people will help their friends. A lot of tickets slow down in the waning moments of the election, but we believe the last five hours are what separates the winners and losers. We didn't stop until 12:01 on Thursday."\nAlthough most of their plans went well, the IUSA tickets faced problems with off-campus and Greek students, many of whom were not connected to the IU network and were unable to vote online. Cox decided to focus on this problem.\n"We wanted to bump up our off-campus and greek numbers," he said. "We went door-to-door off-campus and to a lot of fraternities and sororities who do not have the IU network connection."\nAlso, despite their best efforts to inform the campus of their platform issues, many students refuse or forget to vote, Walda said.\n"You think you have hit everywhere, then on a day like today you find out there are still so many people who do not know what IUSA is or why they should vote," she said. "It's fun, but it can be a frustrating experience at times."\nAfter the final initiatives in their lengthy campaigns, ticket candidates look forward to reflecting on the memorable moments of the last three days. Radez will never forget the standing ovation he received from Unity party members when he hobbled into the Wright Quad cafeteria after injuring his ankle in the middle of the election.\nFor Cox, the memory of this year's campaign will not be measured in votes.\n"We were up late at the Union one night," Cox said. "We were kicked out at 2 a.m. and walked to Eigenmann. There were 7 of us walking down 7th at 3 a.m. The street was completely empty. It just says everything about our campaign. Even if we lose, we will take away a lot of memorable experiences and a lot of good friends"

Student elections start today

With each passing season, the IU Athletic Department has given students more to complain about. Unsatisfying ticket packages and unfavorable seating assignments have caused many students to become frustrated with their experiences at IU basketball and football games.\nIt comes as no surprise that athletic ticketing has become a major issue for the candidates in this week's IU Student Association elections. Although Action, Crimson and Unity all want to improve the student athletic experience, each hopes to accomplish this goal in its own way.\nCrimson presidential candidate Casey Cox said his ticket will take its lead from the student body.\n"Crimson wants to reach students through books, beer and basketball," he said. "We love IU athletics. It is a big part of this college."\nCrimson proposes a survey to find what athletic issues students are most dissatisfied with. If students were to overwhelmingly ask for an official student seating section nearer to the floor, the ticket would push that issue to the athletic department, Cox said.\n"We have to go to the students first," he said.\nThe Action ticket has already been working to combine the voice of IUSA with the Student Athletic Board. \nAction presidential candidate Laura Walda, who has already spoken with soon-to-be SAB President Mike Puck about student ticketing, also said student support is the key to success. \n"We want to get more student input into the system," she said. "We won't start with an antagonistic approach, but if the athletic department ignores our suggestions, we will raise quite a stink about it." \nWalda said she hopes IUSA, SAB and students will work together to end questionable athletic department practices. When the athletic department sold this season's basketball tickets past its own deadline, it refunded part of each student's ticket package fee instead of rescinding the packages of late applicants. In doing so, it kept a small handling fee from each refunded package.\n"What the athletic department thought was best was not what the students thought was best," Walda said. "They said they wanted every student to be able to see a game. The handling fee was not much, only about $5, but that much from each student is a lot of money."\nUnity also plans to create a dialogue with students and the athletic department. In addition to adjusting where students are seated at games, it hopes to add to the total number of seats allotted to students.\n"(The students) are IU's number one fans, and they are demanding greater access to the games," said Unity presidential candidate Aaron Radez.\nCurrently, most of the best basketball seating is reserved for alumni. With a finite amount of seating in Assembly Hall, an arena that sells out every game, adding student seating could decrease the availability of alumni and general admission seats.\n"That's not a problem for us," Radez said. "If there are more seats for students, then there has to be less for alumni. Students want more seats, and Unity is going to make sure they get what they deserve."\nWalda was less enthusiastic about the chances of eliminating alumni seats.\n"They contribute a lot of money to the University," she said. "It's silly to say that we can kick the alumni out of their seats."\nStill, Walda said she knows of the importance of student athletic support.\n"Students are the ones standing and cheering every play of every game, painting their bodies, wearing silly hats, yelling chants. The alumni just sit there"

Action ticket proposes landlord review

Bloomington students have been at the mercy of landlords ever since the first student decided to live off-campus. Action, a ticket in Tuesday and Wednesday's IU Student Association election, hopes to make next year different.\nThrough the implementation of a landlord review available for all IU students, Action's goal is to educate potential renters on the process of renting and rate Bloomington landlords on whether they treat their tenants respectfully. \n"Everywhere in Bloomington, landlords take advantage of students, plain and simple," said junior Liz Weikes, Action vice presidential candidate. "For what students pay, the landlords owe it to them to maintain upkeep to the houses and provide a good living experience."\nWeikes and the rest of the Action ticket have talked to many student renters. Many of their tales involving landlord negligence resemble each other, according to Laura Walda, presidential candidate for Action.\n"I"ve heard horror stories," she said. "I know the basement of one girl on our ticket has flooded twice, and the landlord still has not done anything."\nCurrently, many landlords provide students with short tours and vague floor plans before having them sign leases. Many students, thinking they have thoroughly researched the property, will unwittingly sign unfair leases, Walda said.\n"Too many students go into their contracts blind," she said. "Some might look at their contracts and say, 'Hey, this looks great,' but if a parent or lawyer were to look at it, they would find it unfair."\nOther aspects to be covered by the review in addition to peer reviews of landlords include liability information, maintenance responsibility and joint and several liability. Action congressional secretary candidate Sam Patel said understanding these issues will help students be aware of their rights as tenants. His own understanding of tenant rights has helped him in the past.\n"I have a washer and dryer in our house, but the landlord refuses to pay it," Patel said. "Because we take care of them, they're technically in our possession. We can take them when we leave even though they were here before we moved in."\nTo inform students, Action plans to gear the information toward the first-time renter, ultimately providing quick online access to lawyer advice and a solid base of student reviews of landlords.\n"It's about educating the students so they will know what they are getting," Weikes said. "We want to be as comprehensive as possible, so a lot of research will be involved."\nThe review will be a compilation of hundreds of student interviews. An IUSA task force, led by a director, will be appointed to ask students for their testimonials regarding the quality of their landlord's service.\n"I hope the landlords who continually screw over the students have no one sign with them next semester," Walda said. "Hopefully, they will be forced to change."\nIn the review, the landlords would be given a chance to respond to student critiques, a system that will reveal as much about the landlords as the student reviews, Walda said.\n"I'd like to hear what they have to say for themselves," she said. "Because some of the things I've seen landlords force students to live with are just ridiculous."\nIn addition to identifying questionable landlords, the Action plan would also seek out and identify the best landlords, possibly inviting them to campus to speak to students about renting.\nIf implemented, the landlord review will help all students, even those living in dorms or in greek houses for four years as its renting advice could benefit those students after graduation, Walda said.\nAction ultimately hopes to spread enough landlord information that young people entering leases for the first time will be as knowledgeable as experienced renters.\n"I think the students will make better choices on where to live," Weikes said. "Landlords will be stunned when they talk to students who are as knowledgeable as we hope to make them."\nThere are a few sites currently critiquing the Bloomington rental market, but few students provide reviews. The Action plan would be a large step forward -- a step that, according to Weikes, should be given heed no matter what the election results later this week.\n"I hope this will be implemented no matter which administration takes office on April 15," she said. "This is something much needed in Bloomington. It will benefit all students whether they use the knowledge we give them while in college or after they graduate"

IUSA debates greek issues

With the future of the greek system in jeopardy, all three tickets in the upcoming IU Student Association elections have radically different strategies for increasing greek representation on campus.\nBoth the Action and Crimson tickets have made greek relations a main platform issue. Crimson wants to create two new departments in IUSA -- one to aid the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association, the two governing bodies of the greek system, and the other to work with the Residence Halls Association.\n"The new departments will be a second voice for IFC, Panhel and RHA," said junior Alan Grant, Crimson candidate for congressional secretary. "All three are excellent organizations, but four organizations together as opposed to just one would make for a much louder voice."\nIncreasing the influence of these organizations is the goal of the Action ticket, as well. However, Action said they see the creation of the new departments as a step backward.\n"The problem we see is that IUSA would be stepping on the toes of the greek community and RHA," said junior Liz Weikes, Action vice-presidential candidate. "They have their own governing bodies who represent their interests well."\nWeikes said the departments of greek and RHA affairs would interfere with the operations of their respective governing bodies.\nBoth tickets said the relationship between IUSA, greeks and RHA suffers from a lack of communication.\n"Right now there is no relationship," Weikes said. "As speaker of the house for IUSA, I've had no contact with them whatsoever."\nAlthough the Unity party did not include greek affairs in their platform issues, presidential candidate Aaron Radez said IUSA, greeks and RHA should share a close working relationship to create a unified voice for all students.\n"These groups are very strong, and we want to work hand-in-hand," he said. "A liaison is very important. It should be someone both organizations are comfortable with. There are 38,903 voices on campus. All of them are important, but none is more important than another."\nAction said "it is IUSA's duty to cooperate when necessary and provide assistance if requested," according to a statement. Weikes said Action is concerned that creating new departments connected with the three governing bodies would overextend IUSA's power. \n"IUSA is the student government," she said. "Adding departments that impose on greeks and RHA would create a monopoly at this University. It will create more rules and regulations for greeks. That's the last thing they need. It shouldn't be like that."\nGrant disagrees.\n"The students are the ones who feel they have too many regulations," he said. "IUSA represents all students. We would never try to do the jobs of IFC or RHA for them. Crimson is not trying to be completely greek or RHA, but each group will be better represented if IUSA has departments to keep their interests in mind."\nWith the recent pitfalls fraternities have faced on campus, both Action and Crimson said IUSA needs to back greeks more than in the past. As a member of the former IU chapter of Delta Chi fraternity, junior Casey Cox, Crimson candidate for student body president, associated his and other fraternities' expulsions from campus to the lack of communication with their representative groups.\n"We had no one to go to, so we didn't file an appeal," he said. "With six houses kicked off campus in the last three years, many greeks feel their voices are not being heard."\nIf the departments are created, it would mark the first time IUSA was required to keep an official connection to RHA and the greek community. In the past, IUSA has used liaisons to communicate with the organizations, a practice that Weikes said should continue.\n"We want someone to work tightly with IFC, Panhel and RHA," she said. The ideal liaison should be a strong leader in the greek community who acts at a director, but with no department, Weikes said.\nIn contrast, Crimson said the liaison system has become ineffective.\n"A liaison would have no effect," Grant said. "It's just not a big enough step. They would have no involvement."\nPast IFC and RHA liaisons have disappeared or become unreliable over time, Cox said. The creation of the new departments would require the business of greeks and RHA to become IUSA's concern.\n"We don't know what would happen with another liaison," Cox said. "Relations with other student governments should be a permanent position."\nAction treasurer candidate Eric Butterbaugh, also the 2002 Greek Man of the Year, acknowledged the problems with past liaisons, attributing the failure to a lack of guidelines for the position.\n"The duties of our liaison would be formalized, but not to the extent that it interferes with greek and RHA affairs," he said. "We want to create a formal goal. Any efforts would be strictly complimentary. If there is something IFC or RHA wants our help with, we would be all for that."\nThe future of greek and RHA relations with IUSA will still be in question after the elections March 4 and 5. Although the departments of greek and RHA affairs may be created, their clear functions are yet to be determined.\n"We don't know exactly how it will pan out in the end, but we promise there will be great new lines of communication where there currently is none," Grant said.\nAction insists greeks and dorm residents' governing bodies are adequate, but that IUSA needs to take the necessary steps to be able to assist them in times of need.\n"There is a division now because it is a necessary division," Butterbaugh said. "Do not forget, 82 percent of the people at IU are not greek. We are appealing to their interests, too."\nFor more information, visit the campaign Web sites at www.actionforiusa.com, www.votecrimson.com and www.myiu.com.

IUSA debate draws small crowd, causing one ticket to walk out

Seeing under 50 people in attendance at this year's IU Student Association debate prompted the Unity party to leave the event just as it was beginning. Unity presidential candidate Aaron Radez used his five minute introduction to explain why he and his party were leaving.\n"Most students are not here tonight," he said to the sparsely populated room. "We are going to bring the fight to them."\nRadez then extended an open lunch invitation to anyone in the auditorium not affiliated with IUSA or a campaign ticket.\n"Unity is about the power of 'U'," Radez said. "Unfortunately, 'you' are not here tonight."\nRadez, Unity executives and ticket members left to talk to students at Wright, Teter and Ashton about what changes they would like to see in the next year.\nUnity's departure is part of a historical attendance problem at the IUSA debates. Less than ten students in attendance were unaffiliated Monday. \nThe annual debate features the executive candidates on each ticket, who answer questions asked by a panel. Afterwards, the floor is opened for questions from the audience. After Unity departed, leaving only the Action and Crimson tickets to answer questions, the debate focused on several issues involving student involvement on campus.\nParalleling the attendance problems of the debate itself, candidates answered questions about the lack of student interest in IUSA.\n"We all know that students don't get excited about student government," junior Casey Cox, presidential candidate for Crimson said. "When I was a freshman, many people didn't even know what IUSA was, and things haven't changed. Our ticket will be laid back and welcome students whenever they needed help."\nJunior Liz Weikes, Action candidate for vice-president, said disinterest in IUSA has left many students feeling alienated from their representative body.\n"The lack of openness in the IUSA office has caused students to feel uncomfortable coming to visit us," she said. "I don't know how many times I've met students who didn't know where the IUSA office was or even what IUSA is. Next year will be different. We are planning to add couches and refreshments to our offices. When people say 'I'll meet you at the IUSA office,' they will know where to go."\nBudget concerns are a major focus of the IUSA tickets this year. Since the IUSA budget is created from student fees, every IU student pays for the initiatives. In revamping the IUSA budget in the coming year, Action has planned to set aside $25,000 to create 10 new IUSA scholarships. \n"I think anyone would be hard-pressed to say that providing scholarships is not a service," Eric Butterbaugh, Action candidate for treasurer said. "It might not help IUSA as a whole, but the lives of 10 families will be better because of it."\nHowever, Crimson saw the creation of new scholarships to be the administration's responsibility.\n"When you give out 10 scholarships, that helps families, but that should not be the job of student government," Grant McFann, Crimson candidate for vice-president said. "We are supposed to be the voice of the students, and the student body is not saying, 'Give us 10 new scholarships,' it's saying, 'give us a ride home from the bars at 3 a.m. on a cold night."\nThough they disagreed on scholarships, both tickets were concerned about increasing tuition costs. To alleviate the rising trend, both parties present indicated a desire to increase relations with the state legislature.\n"Tuition is rising, and it's a big problem," Cox said. "We should use our grassroots network of 30,000 students to lobby the state legislature. They are, of course, in a budget crisis right now, but they still listen closely when ideas come directly from students rather than a lobbyist."\nTo accomplish these goals, Cox recommended a student-based letter writing campaign and more IUSA trips to Indianapolis. \nJunior Laura Walda, presidential candidate for Action, agreed that more measures must be taken to lobby the state government.\n"In order to get legislative assistance, they need to hear us the whole year," she said. "We won't just visit in February. We will talk to our legislative contacts all the time"

Candidate debate set for tonight

The IU Student Association presidential debate is designed to aid students in their decision to vote. Unfortunately, few students unaffiliated with the tickets ever watch it, making the annual event more of a mass rally for IUSA members and ticket candidates than a political event.\n"The more students that participate, the more excited this campus will be for student government campaigns," said junior Casey Cox, presidential candidate for the Crimson ticket. "Unfortunately, not many undecided voters attend."\nThe IUSA candidate debate is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. tonight at the Wittenburger Auditorium in the Indiana Memorial Union. \nAttendance problems at the debate showed clearly during last year's campaigns, according to the Action presidential candidate, junior Laura Walda.\n"The only people that went were on the tickets," she said. "Last year was just a flood of Synergy, Steel and Kirkwood T-shirts."\nJunior Aaron Radez, presidential candidate for Unity, said the lack of turnout encumbers the electoral process. Like Walda, he was disenchanted in recalling the atmosphere at last year's debate.\n"I can only remember one 'real' student in attendance," Radez said. "It's part of a larger problem. Students don't vote. They feel disenfranchised with IUSA."\nStill, Radez said the debate is the best place for students who want to compare the candidates.\n"It provides a common opportunity," he said. "The one real student at last year's debate asked a good question; she had some situation and wanted to know what IUSA could do about it. It's maybe one of the only times students can have complete and open exposure to the candidates. Students will be able to ask us exactly what we will do for them."\nCox agrees with that sentiment.\n"Obviously, student government can have a major impact," he said. "Our goal is to let people know that. The debate allows students to compare different stances on the issues."\nHosting the event is a panel that asks questions of the three candidates. Last year's debate, led by Chancellor Sharon Brehm, centered on greek and alcohol issues.\nAll the tickets have main platforms they want to push yet are prepared to answer any questions directed at them.\n"With our three-part platform -- academic, social, and campus -- Crimson has a well-rounded ticket," Cox said. "We are prepared to address any issues raised at the debate."\nRadez said he would like to see questions about the IUSA budget, which should be revamped because only 24 percent of the revenue goes back to students, he said.\n"We're the only campaign that addresses the 76-24 issue," he said. "I would be very interested to hear what the other candidates say about that. There is no reason to have a student government that wastes so much money."\nAlthough the atmosphere at the debate will be heated, no ticket plans to directly attack another or its platform.\n"We're not going to attack the other tickets," Walda said. "That would be silly. We want to show why we're the best. When it's over, it should be obvious."\nRadez agreed.\n"All the candidates work hard for the issues they believe in, and no one can knock them for that," he said. "We will have responses to some of their key points, but we won't attack their platform. It's not like they're promising to buy a Corvette, so I'm not worried yet."\nThe candidates are all hoping to see a better showing from unaffiliated students.\n"There's over $140,000 of student money at stake," Walda said. "Clearly students should vote for the ticket that would best handle it. I hope everyone comes out."\nFor more information about the IUSA candidates and platforms, visit their Web sites: Action -- www.ActionforIUSA.com; Crimson -- www.votecrimson.com; Unity -- www.MyIU.com.