Thurs., Apr. 10, 2014

Page 1

GAME OF HRONES vs. MADMEN

IDS THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014

ILLUSTRATIONS BY GRIFFIN LEEDS | IDS

INDIANA DAILY STUDENT | IDSNEWS.COM

Oncourse to be replaced with new program BY AMANDA MARINO ammarino@indiana.edu @amandanmarino

Oncourse will soon be replaced by an entirely new website, Canvas. Currently used by more than 100,000 students and faculty to check and post grades, submit and grade assignments, and send and

receive messages, Oncourse has served IU for almost a decade. But Canvas will take the reins in two years. Trials have shown the replacement, Canvas, is not only accepted, but preferred by some students and faculty. “The news has been very well received, very positive,” said Anastasia Morrone, associate vice

president for learning technologies. Faculty can try Canvas next fall, Morrone said. She said if they wish to use it with their students, they can begin using it then. She did point out that Oncourse has a variety of robust tools they want to keep. Announcements and resources are the most commonly used

tools by faculty members, Morrone said, while the gradebook seems to be the most important aspect to students. “Students really want to be able to get to their grades,” she said. Morrone also said Oncourse’s message center is vital to students and faculty so communication is open and easily accessible.

Despite these virtues of the site, Morrone and her colleagues began to look into new management systems that might have more to offer. She said they started researching during summer 2012. Through this process, sites such as Canvas, Blackboard and Desire to SEE ONCOURSE, PAGE 6

“Griffy Lake Nature Preserve faces a serious and emminent threat to its existence as a healthy and vital ecosystem. To put it bluntly, Griffy Woods is dying, and we need your help to try to save it.”

Sliding to 7

Dave Rollo, council member

Strong batting leads to another win for baseball team

Council nears vote on deer, discourse at meeting BY KATE STARR kastarr@indiana.edu

Senior Dustin DeMuth dives back to first base to avoid a pick-off during IU's game against Indiana State on Wednesday at Bart Kaufman Field.

BY ANDREW VAILLIENCOURT availlie@indiana.edu

The Hoosiers’ bats powered the baseball team to its seventhstraight win Wednesday, knocking off Indiana State 8-4. Junior outfielder Brad Hartong led the way for IU with two hits — one was his second home run of the season — and four RBIs. Hartong has played in 21 of the 29 games this season, with

yesterday’s game marking only his 14th start. “He went first pitch slider to me, so I knew I’d probably see it,” Hartong said. “I got another one in the at-bat, and he left it up and I put a good swing on it.” IU Coach Tracy Smith said Hartong helps the Hoosier lineup, saying his athleticism helps the team on the field. “He was the difference and kind of set the tone,” Smith said.

BEN MIKESELL | IDS

“He had a big hit for us Sunday at Iowa and it’s nice to see him carry that momentum and that confidence into this game.” Junior first baseman Sam Travis hit a three-run home run, his third of the season, to break the game open in the sixth inning. Junior outfielder Will Nolden got the other IU RBI with a double in the second that scored Hartong. SEE BASEBALL, PAGE 6

Sklar Brothers to perform at Comedy Attic BY BRANDON COOK brancook@indiana.edu

With appearances on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Entourage” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” professional comedy duo the Sklar Brothers boast a broad and varied résumé. Starting tonight and running through Saturday, Randy and Jason Sklar will return to the Comedy Attic for the first time in two years. Performances will take place at 8 p.m. tonight, Friday and

Saturday, with additional shows at 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets range from $14 to $18 and may be purchased on the Comedy Attic’s website. “The Sklars are the gold standard duo,” said Jared Thompson, owner of the Comedy Attic. “The connection they have leads the way they perform comedy to be that much better.” The brothers’ features as conjoined twins in an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” and as feuding managers in “Entourage” have earned them critical acclaim.

Writing in regard to their “Entourage” appearance, Entertainment Weekly TV critic Paul Katz said, “In the hands of comedic masters, the Sklar Brothers, they made it soar.” Despite this praise, the brothers do not let the fact of their being twins define their style. “Their comedy accepts the reality of being twins but does not use it as a crutch,” wrote Neil Strausse in the New York Times. “They work with their physical and mental SEE SKLAR, PAGE 6

SKLAR BROTHERS 8 p.m. at the Comedy Attic

COURTESY PHOTO

The Bloomington City Council further discussed the sharp shooting ordinance, which elicited strong support and disapproval from the public in addition to the already publicized opposition from the Humane Society of the United States. As of midnight Wednesday, the council had not yet reached a vote. Midnight is the Indiana Daily Student’s press deadline. Council members Dave Rollo and Andy Ruff ’s concern is that deer overpopulation is starting to negatively impact other animal and plant species. Sharpshooting is the best option, Rollo said, because it is effective and humane. Rollo began his presentation with a letter he received from the Board of Park Commissioners asking him to make “necessary decisions” to deal with deer overabundance in Griffy Lake Nature Preserve. “Griffy Lake Nature Preserve faces a serious and eminent threat to its existence as a healthy and vital ecosystem. To put it bluntly, Griffy woods is dying and we need your help to try to save it,” Rollo read from the letter. He then explained there is an abundance of evidence supporting that deer are having “severe and profound effects” on Griffy. Rollo concluded his presentation by warning that Griffy may become an “alternate stable state” severely lacking in biodiversity. If Bloomington fails to act quickly, this shift may be irreversible. However, a number of Bloomington locals disagree with Rollo, and opposition to the ordinance is on the rise. Sandra Shapshay, assistant professor in the IU Department of Psychology, wrote a letter to the council giving a number of reasons the ordinance should not pass — not only for humane purposes, but also for economic reasons. In the letter, Shapshay criticized Rollo for using a study conducted by Dr. Angela Shelton to suggest the situation in Griffy SEE DEER, PAGE 6


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