Thursday, June 16, 2016

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Thursday, June 16, 2016 | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com

IDS

Robert Liu remembered as intelligent, generous By Suzanne Grossman spgrossm@indiana.edu | @suzannepaige6

COURTESY PHOTO

Robert Liu, pictured above, died June 7 in New York. While at IU, Liu studied finance at the Kelley School of Business.

Robert Liu competed in three to four business case competitions a year and his friend, Jake Castell, can’t remember him losing one. “Anything he didn’t win, it’s because they didn’t want him to win again,” Castell said. “I can’t remember if he ever lost one, but if he did he still would get an award for best presenter or something.” But his friends saw more in him than just a smart brain. They

said they saw an immensely generous friend who was loyal to the end. Liu died June 7 in an NYU dorm he was staying at while interning in the city. Even though Liu was competitive, he would often be found assisting other teams or anyone who needed help. “He never sacrificed the opportunity to help someone for his own benefit and he didn’t need to,” Castell said. “If anyone wanted help they always got it.” He is remembered by many as the smartest person they’ve ever

gofundme.com/robliu Donations are accepted to help Liu’s family fund funeral costs. met and as someone who, no matter what he chose to do in life, would succeed. Castell transferred to IU wanting to get into the investment banking workshop and was Liu’s next-door neighbor. Liu happened to be the president of the investment banking club and is the reason Castell made it into the workshop and has the job he SEE LIU, PAGE 5

SHIQI ZHANG | IDS

Victoria Brown, left, and Lily Regina comfort each other during the vigil Tuesday evening at Bloomington City Hall.

Standing in solidarity By Grace Palmieri gpalmier@indiana.edu | @grace_palmieri

Before dozens of LGBT people were shot and killed inside an Orlando nightclub, they celebrated. The LGBT community celebrated love. It celebrated pride. It celebrated each individual. Two years ago, couples young and old rushed to the Bloomington courthouse when “same-sex” marriage became just “marriage” in the state of Indiana. And again, the next summer, when same-sex marriage was legalized across the country. Those same feelings — of conviction, pride and love — brought the community together again Tuesday night. Blocks away from where they celebrated, more than a thousand LGBT members came together — this time to mourn. Gathered in front of City Hall, they passed light from one candle to the next, remembering the 49 victims of the biggest mass

“I marvel at just how wonderfully and painfully beautiful we can be together.” Kyle Hayes, Bloomington PRIDE board member

shooting in American history. “Orlando strong, Orlando love,” they chanted. “Bloomington strong, Bloomington love. Love and beauty, wins all.” Rainbow flags, umbrellas, headbands and ribbons adorned the crowd. Two little kids, wearing matching rainbow-colored suspenders with angel wings, played together in a red wagon. Ella, 4, and Gavin, 5, were too young to understand what happened. Their dad, Steven Naldi, told them they were going to a parade, with warning that they might see some people crying. Steven and his husband, Ray, were married

More Orlando reaction, pages 2 and 4 The Back Door, Bloomington’s only LGBT bar, played host to a letter writing event. The Editorial Board also believes the media should recognize the prejudice to blame for the shooting.

almost 12 years ago when it first became legal in Massachusetts. As soon as he heard the news Sunday morning, Steven was worried for a friend in Orlando. He’s no stranger to tragedy as he grew up near Newtown, Connecticut, where 27 children were fatally shot at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. Even in a community as LGBT-friendly as Bloomington, incidents like these make Steven wary of his, and his family’s, safety. SEE VIGIL, PAGE 5

Harp competition taking place at Jacobs By Allen Laman alaman@umail.iu.edu | @allen_laman

Between performances, a man wearing black gloves wheels a dolly across the stage and slides the harps off to the left. The judges sit at the front of the audience in Merrill Hall, scribbling down their final comments as another set of strings rolls out. On the walls to their sides are the busts of famous classical composers — Mozart, Wagner and Tchaikovsky, among others — omnisciently gazing forward as the next performer takes the stage. “It’s like the Olympics,” said Erin Brooker-Miller, the competition’s program director. “The people who win this competition go on to be the professionals of the harp world.” The 10th USA International Harp Competition is taking place at various Jacobs School of Music buildings. The first stage began June 8, and the competition’s finals will play out June 18. “On that final day, someone’s life is going to change,” said competition volunteer Andy Miller, Brooker-Miller’s husband. “You’re propelled to international fame in

“It’s like the Olympics. The people who win this competition go on to be the professionals of the harp world.”

From IDS reports

Erin Brooker-Miller, program director

the harp world, and it’s like a welldeserved career being given to you.” Forty harpists from 16 different countries comprise the triennial competition, which debuted in 1989. The first place prize package includes a debut recital in Chicago, a CD recording and a Lyon & Healy concert grand harp worth up to $55,000. The winner will also receive a five-city concert tour in China and $5,000. Natalie Hoffman is the competition coordinator, and she explained all the competitors select songs from the same repertoire of music, but the performances often sound distinctly different. “You’ll hear a pop singer, and then you’ll hear many different SEE HARPS, PAGE 5

GE announces closure of local plant, 300 workers to lose their jobs

SHIQI ZHANG | IDS

Yuying Chen, the 2015 first prize winner of the 19th Israel International Harp Contest, performs during the 10th USA International Harp Competition on Sunday afternoon at IU Jacobs School of Music.

The Bloomington GE plant is closing, which will cost 329 Hoosiers their jobs, according to a company press release. The refrigeration plant is closing due to a sharply decreased consumer demand in the area, according to the release, and the plant was only scheduled to run for about 22 weeks this year. Demand for Bloomingtonmanufactured refrigerators has declined 76 percent since 2008. Ninety-four percent of the employees at Bloomington Production Operations LLC will be eligible for retirement if the proposal becomes final. For those who aren’t, the GE company plans to provide severance pay, retraining assistance, job placement assistance, preferential hire rights at other GE plants and medical benefits through SEE GE, PAGE 5


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