The IDS will resume publishing with the Welcome Back Edition on Aug 14. Visit idsnews.com for updates Thursday, July 25, 2019
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Things to do before summer ends page 5
$6 million IU center to study social media misinformation By Ellen Hine emhine@iu.edu | @ellenmhine
Social media transformed how humans communicate with each other, with billions of pieces of information sent everyday. Now IU scientists will study the effects of social media in a new $6 million center. IU’s Observatory on Social Media is a collaboration between the IU Network Science Institute, the Media School and School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, according to a press release. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, a nonprofit that supports journalism and the arts across the United States, donated $3 million to the center. The center is part of the Knight Foundation’s $50 million investment into projects that research the role of technology in democracies. According to the release, the center will research how information and misinformation are spread online as well as provide students, journalists and citizens TY VINSON | IDS
SEE SOCIAL MEDIA, PAGE 4
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR What a summer. This is supposed to be a quiet, relatively calm time to cover IU and the Bloomington community, but things have certainly been interesting the past few months. Here’s a little recap. We covered the death of 12-yearold Eduardo Posso, and the subsequent court appearances of his father and stepmother charged with his murder by neglect and abuse. We covered the alleged white supremacists at the farmers’ market, and we were the publication who’s story was referenced when it was picked up by a national outlet. Later that month, then a tornado hit Monroe County and devastated homes there, we walked through the debris and spoke to those affected. We published an in-depth piece on the 1999 murder of IU graduate student Won-Joon Yoon, who was murdered by a white supremacist. Swastika tile removals. Board of Trustees election results. A stabbing on campus during a Jacobs School of Music summer camp. A burlesque show. D-Day. Struggling farmers. You get the gist. I want to let you in on a little notso-secret. Summers at the Indiana Daily Student are famously shortstaffed, but this summer was particularly skeletal. Our stellar photo editor was pretty much our only photographer, people had to edit multiple desks and work in multiple roles. We’ve all had to stretch and strain ourselves for the last couple months, but it’s been worth it to tell these stories and serve this community. We’re a small but dedicated team, and your support means the world to us. We’ve done our best. We’re not perfect — because who’s perfect at 20 years old? — and we know there have been times we fell short. We welcome your critiques and comments wholeheartedly, because without them we would never get better. Personally, this summer has been maybe the most fulfilling one of my life so far. Summer’s end is always bittersweet, but this one is particularly so: I’m so grateful to have been given the opporunity to lead the IDS. I just wish I had more time. Side note: To the reader who emailed me simply to say “get a clue,” I promise you that I’m trying. Thanks for reading this summer, and we hope you’ll keep reading in the fall semester. Without you, this would be pointless.
Annie Aguiar Editor-in-Chief
Ellen Hine Managing editor
A range of puppies and cats are for sale at Delilah’s, a local pet store in Bloomington. The Animal Control Commission introduced a policy proposal that would only allow pet stores to get their animals from shelters or rescue organizations in an effort to eliminate puppy mill usage.
Can’t teach an old shop new rules New city pet store policy proposal causes dispute over animal sourcing By Claire Peters clapete@iu.edu | @claire_peterss
For a bunch of dog lovers, the discourse surrounding pet protective policies has gotten ruff. The Animal Control Commission of Bloomington introduced a policy proposal in early July that would only allow pet stores to get their animals from shelters or rescue organizations in an effort to eliminate puppy mill usage. “The goal is to move animal care forward, and we believe our community does not want animals come up from puppy mills,” said Rebecca Warren, the head of the commission and executive director of the Monroe County Humane Association. While the proposal was passed unanimously by the commission, it is still in the early stages of development. The commission has done similar work in the past, such as providing policy recommendations to keep dogs out of hot cars and to not allow pets to be outside in inclement weather.
The proposal has been sent to the mayor’s office to be reviewed, and Warren said the commission is reaching out to local pet stores to get feedback.
“I’m hoping through conversation we can find better sourcing for animals in our community.” Rebecca Warren, the head of the Animal Control Commission of Bloomington and executive director of the Monroe County Humane Association
“It’s a direct impact to their business,” Warren said. “I’m hoping through conversation we can find better sourcing for animals in our community.” One Bloomington pet store, Delilah’sPet Shop, has not taken the proposal well. Previous owner and founder Karen Kidwell said the proposal could cause them to not sell animals anymore. “Shelter dogs aren’t for everyone,”
Kidwell said. Kidwell said it was important for families to buy dogs that are socialized when they are puppies. Shelter dogs that were abused could cause harm to new families that buy them, she said. “They never forget anything,” Kidwell said. “They’re going to be wary of that group.” Delilah’s recently received public scrutiny when Facebook users accused the store’s employees of keeping puppies in inhumane conditions in the basement, saying they left the dogs there to die. Many of the Facebook comments alleging the abuse have since been deleted. Kidwell said she received hateful messages, including one telling her she “should have a bullet put between her eyes.” Kidwell said a puppy had a disease that staff members did not want to spread to the other animals. A veterinarian recommended brief isolation, so SEE PET STORES, PAGE 4
Health department discusses ethics, budget By Avery Williams avefwill@iu.edu | @Avery_faye
The Monroe County Health Department wants to become an accredited public health institution recognized by the Public Health Accreditation Board. But before that can happen, the department has to show it can appropriately discuss ethical dilemmas. A new ethics board was discussed at the Monroe County Board of Health meeting Tuesday night as well as disease demographics, art and more. The board meets quarterly to discuss disease prevention and public health. Some board members were unsure about the creation of a separate ethics committee. Suggested ideas included a small number of board members serving on an ethics committee in addition to the board and involving a member outside of the medical community, as well as a lawyer, on the hypothetical committee. “This is not a decision-making body, it doesn’t say yes or no,” chairperson Mark Norrell said. “It’s a deliberating committee.” The board is waiting for additional information on accreditation requirements before making a decision. IU Health licensed practical nurse Sally Hudson came to
ALEX DERYN | IDS
Monroe County Health Department administrator Penny Caudill speaks July 23 in the Monroe County Health Department. The meeting discussed an ethics board and disease intervention.
the meeting to read the Monroe County Public Health Clinic’s report. Hudson said there have been 54 new cases of hepatitis A in Monroe County since an outbreak was declared November 2017. The clinic has organized 33 hepatitis A vaccination clinics and 14 back-to-school shot clinics for 5th graders, Hudson said. It is planning to organize additional clinics. Hudson also addressed another Bloomington outbreak:
mumps. She said the outbreak, which started this spring at IU, is over, and a significant percentage of the 53 people infected had been vaccinated for mumps twice. Hudson said someone who has undergone the two recommended vaccinations for mumps still has a 12% change of obtaining the disease. Norrell said men made up about two-thirds of those infected in the Bloomington outbreak. A large number of mumps cases originated at an IU fraternity, but
not everyone affected was an IU student. Monroe County Health Department administrator Penny Caudill spoke about the health department and Indiana Recovery Alliance’s weekly community clean-up walks. Volunteers search for abandoned syringes on the walks. Caudill said one way they choose walking sites is by using data from phone calls requesting disposal in a specific area. “They’ve come back with more trash than they have syringes,” Caudill said. Norrell asked if the walks could become a community service opportunity. Caudill said she would look into seeing if it were possible. Finally, Caudill said the Monroe County Health Department will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for the reveal of the “Ramp Up Awareness” mural on Aug 2. The mural intends to promote awareness of public health services such as the public health clinic and Futures Family Planning Clinic. Small changes were made to the 2020 budget with a unanimous vote. The health department will seek approval on its budget from the Monroe County Council. The tentative date for the next Board of Health meeting is Oct. 1.