See 'Trashion' pg. 5
Thursday, July 29, 2021
IDS Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com
IU adds ethical vaccine exemption
Western wildfires affect people in Indiana
By Luke Christopher Norton lcnorton@iu.edu | @ByLCNorton
IU added an ethical exemption to the list of exemptions for its COVID-19 vaccine mandate policy, according to IU’s website. The ethical exemption was added July 19 to bring the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in line with past IU vaccine mandates, such as last year’s flu vaccine mandate, IU spokesperson Chuck Carney said in an email. “We encourage all of our students, faculty, and staff to report their vaccination or request an exemption before the beginning of the Fall Semester,” Carney said. Carney added that while the university is weeks away from knowing final vaccination rates ahead of the Fall 2021 semester, rates are approaching 85% of all students, staff and faculty who have received at least one dose. “This is an exceptionally high rate of immunization, and we’re working to increase it even further,” Carney said. Other exemptions to IU’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate include medical exemptions requiring documentation showing an allergy to a COVID-19 vaccine or any components in the vaccine, religious exemptions, medical deferrals and an online program exemption for students in a 100% online program, which doesn’t count students taking solely online courses.
President Whitten positive for COVID-19 By Luke Christopher Norton lcnorton@iu.edu | @ByLCNorton
IU President Pamela Whitten announced in an email Thursday that she has tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing “mild cold symptoms” Thursday morning. “Gratefully, my symptoms are mild, and I will continue to work and lead the university during this time from my home office,” Whitten wrote in the email. Whitten said in the email that she is fully vaccinated, and isolated herself when she began experiencing symptoms. Whitten also stated that she is grateful to be protected from more serious symptoms as a result of the vaccine while encouraging others to get vaccinated. “I look forward to being back in the office soon and to seeing all of you on campus for the fall semester,” Whitten wrote.
New mask guidelines suggested by the CDC By Phyllis Cha cha1@iu.edu @phyllischa
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Tuesday that fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors in areas with high transmission rates as COVID-19 cases in the United States continue to rise. The CDC also recommended vaccinated individuals living with vulnerable people, such as young children or those who are immunocompromised, wear masks in indoor public settings, according to the Washington Post. The agency also recommended teachers, faculty and students wear masks in K-12 schools regardless of vaccination status. In an email, IU Spokesperson SEE MASKS, PAGE 4
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
Fire crews from the state, forest service, local and British Columbia are ungoing prescribed fire training in the area above Roslyn to learn how to use fire to revive a forest's health. Smoke from wildfires on the West Coast is causing red, fiery sunsets and air quality issues in Bloomington, according to the IDEM. By Laura Gerber laurgerb@iu.edu | @lauragerber00
Smoke from wildfires on the West Coast is causing red, fiery sunsets and air quality issues in Bloomington, according to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. There are 85 large active fires currently burning throughout the Western half of the United States, according to National Interagency Fire Center. As of July 26th, they have burned over 1.5 million acres. In Canada, there are 263 uncontrolled, active fires as of July 21, according to Natural Resources Canada. This fire season is already severe, and it is still early in the season Lester Wadzinksi, a retired employee from the U.S. Forest Service, said. Peak fire season often doesn’t happen until late summer and early fall. The Western United States has
been dealing with a prolonged drought and unprecedented heat waves. These weather patterns are caused by climate change and worsen wildfires, Wadzinksi said. The IDEM issued a state-wide Air Quality Action Day July 21 and 22 because of the wildfire smoke, according to a press release from July 21. It is unusual to have air quality alerts caused by fires thousands of miles away, Wadzinksi said. The wildfires inject massive amounts of smoke into the atmosphere, IU Associate Professor of Chemistry Jonathan Raff said. Smoke and particles from the fires are carried into the air currents, and the jet stream takes it East, which includes Bloomington. The fires generate soot, also known as particulate matter. Some of the particulate matter caused by the fires is PM 2.5, which is particulate matter that is 2.5 microns. These particles are a
fraction of the size of human hair, Raff said. PM 2.5 are so small that they can easily stay suspended in the air and scatter the blue light from the sun. The particles scatter blue light but don’t scatter yellow, orange and red light, so these colors shine through. This is what gives the sunsets and moon a red tint, Raff said. High concentrations of PM 2.5 can also cause health issues. The small size of the particles allows them to penetrate a person’s lungs and enter the bloodstream, according to National Geographic. People with cardiovascular problems or asthma are especially susceptible to health risks, Raff said. Long-term exposure to PM 2.5 is linked to cancer and reduced life expectancy for everyone. “We’re probably going to see more and more air quality issues in Bloomington, especially as cli-
mate change worsens,” Raff said. This year, air quality issues in Bloomington will likely persist until November, Raff said, but it also depends on the intensity of the fires and weather patterns. Hazy sunsets indicate that there are pollutants in the air and should warn people that air quality might be poor in their area, Section Chief at IDEM, Office of Air Quality Mark Derf said. Derf said the Canadian wildfires are a significant contributor to particulate matter in Indiana. He said he hadn’t seen this level of smoke in the area from wildfires in past years. Individuals can check the IDEM SmogWatch and sign up to get alerts about air quality forecasts, according to their website. “The less exposure to polluted air, the less particles you’ll inhale into your lungs,” Derf said. “Everybody may want to limit their outdoor exposure.”
Penix speaks at Big Ten Media Days By Evan Gerike egerike@iu.edu | @EvanGerike
Big Ten Media Days returned to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Friday, bringing along IU football junior quarterback Michael Penix Jr., senior wide receiver Ty Fryfogle, senior linebacker and head coach Tom Allen. The Hoosiers talked about Penix’s health, Name, Image and Likeness deals and returning to Lucas Oil Stadium for the Big Ten Championship. Here’s what you should know: Penix: “Sept. 4 I’ll be ready 100 percent” Penix said he’d be fully recovered from his ACL tear last season by the opener against Iowa on Sept. 4 in Iowa City. When asked for what percentage he's currently at, Penix said he's right where he needs to be heading into fall camp where he added that he will be doing everything except live reps. Fryfogle said with Penix back, IU is locked in to the first game. “Mike looks awesome,” Fryfogle said. “He’s been attacking his rehab. He’s the first guy in there and the last guy to leave.” With Penix healthy, IU has SEE PENIX, PAGE 4
COURTESY PHOTO
Junior quarterback Michael Penix Jr speaks on July 23 during Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis.
Big 10 announces Taliaferro Fellowship By Patrick Felts patfelts@iu.edu | @patrickjfelts
Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren announced the creation of the George and Viola Taliaferro Fellowship on Thursday afternoon at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis, named for the former IU football star who died in 2018.
The fellowship will provide opportunities for individuals in historically marginalized groups to obtain access to conference leadership positions, including in the Office of the Commissioner. Taliaferro, who played running back, quarterback, defensive back and kicker for IU from 1945 through 1948, helped lead
the Hoosiers to the 1945 Big Ten championship and was a threetime All-American. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981. In 1949, Taliaferro was selected in the 13th round of the NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, becoming the first African American player drafted into the NFL. In the NFL,
he was a three-time Pro Bowler. IU dedicated the George Taliaferro Plaza and statue outside the north end zone of Memorial Stadium in November 2019. His daughters served as honorary captains and the team wore No. 44 on their helmets in his honor during that week’s game against Northwestern.