Indiana Statesman

News: Unbounded possibilites proposals released Page 2

Opinion:

Features:

ISU editorial takes a look at top 25 incomes at Indiana State Page 6

Student Spotlight: Natalie Smith gets involved with film Page 8

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 Indiana State University www.indianastatesman.com Volume 119 Issue 40

Majority of students oppose lab closing Lacey Brinegar Reporter

Despite an Indiana Statesman poll that found more than half of students surveyed opposed closing ISU’s 24 Hours Computer Lab, ISU officials said plans were still in place to close it. “This is concerning because we want to make sure we are addressing their concerns about the transition,� said Lisa Spence, associate vice president of academic affairs.

Out of the 200 students surveyed, nearly 55 percent thought closing was a terrible idea, and they utilize the lab three to five times a week. Slightly more than 25 percent of students wished the lab was not closing but said they would just start using their own computer more. A little more than 19 percent reported that the closing of the lab would not affect them since they do not use it.

LAB/2

Students, silenced Staff and students sign up for free meal, but at what cost?

FIND OUT ON PAGE 10

Photos by Mikaella dela Pena

IN

Page 2 • Wednesday, December 7, 2011

News

Nick Hedrick, Chris Sweeney 812-237-4102

ISU-statesmannews@ mail.indstate.edu

Underclassmen, have your say ISU underclassmen are invited to a town hall event Wednesday to share their thoughts on residential life-related issues.

The forum is scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Events Area of Cunningham Memorial Library.

Students will be asked to discuss residence hall visitation hours and campus food choices, based on the results of a survey conducted by a communication class.

Pizza, cookies and drinks will be served.

The event is sponsored by the library, SGA, Department of Communication and the University Honors program.

Report Study Week violations Complaints of Study Week violations should be sent to Sam Lewis of SGA: ISU-SGADAA@ mail.indstate.edu

www.indianastatesman.com

Proposals seek cross-disciplinary focus NICK HEDRICK News editor

Students will have the opportunity to take courses pooling resources across academic disciplines as part of a new initiative addressing global societal needs.

ISU officials selected eight proposals this week for the five-year, $5 million Unbounded Possibilities initiative. Over the past year, faculty, staff, students and outside academic professionals have reviewed and considered ideas for programs to align talents across disciplines.

“Universities have gotten very good at working in silos,” said Josh Powers, special assistant to the provost for academic affairs, adding that communication between different colleges and academic departments is often not adequate.

The proposed programs—which range from centers focusing on global engagement and international programs to an institute for community sustainability— encourage colleges and academic departments to work together to help solve community and global problems, Powers said.

Under one proposal, the Center for Health, Wellness and Life Enrichment could consider tackling Indiana’s obesity epidemic, he said. Working to determine why obesity is widespread throughout the state and educating Hoosiers to lead healthy lives requires contributions from life scientists, educators, social scientists and other related professionals.

“And those kind of people aren’t all in the College of Nursing, Health and Human Services,” Powers said.

Each of the proposals includes fiveyear plans for developing program goals and milestones. Throughout next spring and summer, officials will work to refine the projects and finalize budgetary needs.

Funding for the proposals came entirely from re-allocated money within the university, said ISU President Daniel J. Bradley. Bradley emphasized Unbounded Possibilities as key to Goal Four of ISU’s “Pathway to Success” strategic plan—developing programs of distinction and promise.

“A lot of energy at this university

will be as a result of these programs,” Bradley said.

Four proposals were ultimately not awarded funding, but Powers and Bradley said those ideas may be incorporated into the eight others.

They included proposals for owning a flight academy for aerospace students and cultural learning in education.

Officials—while praising the ideas—decided the proposals were not as interdisciplinary-minded and not self-sufficient enough to meet the goals of the initiative.

Bradley said it was important for the proposals to become financially self-supporting over time. Later on, he said state and federal dollars could be requested if necessary to help fund them.

Powers said the proposals could require a physical office location on campus or might be included within the overall goals of existing programs. He said some staffing needs might be required, such as project directors or administrative support.

UP proposals: For more information about the eight proposals and the Unbounded Possibilities initiative, visit www.indstate. edu/up Hiring could start as soon as late spring or in the summer, he said.

Powers said the eight proposals would require Academic Affairs to think differently about hiring faculty. Emphasis would be placed on “cluster-hiring” and use faculty to teach across several academic disciplines.

Increased interaction between colleges and departments is already underway, Powers said.

“People are talking across disciplines in ways they never have before,” he said.

LAB/FROM PAGE ONE Last month, ISU officials announced they would close the lab next May in favor of printing stations located throughout campus.

The plan to install a printing station in the Commons took place recently, and other locations for printing stations are in developmental stages.

A plan to incorporate the downtown area with campus has led to the idea of locating a station in the downtown residence hall.

“These stations will allow us to be more flexible with how we bring

technology to students,” Spence said.

The survey results were beneficial for those leading the change from labs to stations to see, Spence said. Availability of printing, power sources for laptops, software availability on laptops and places to go to work with others are focal points for the Student Computing Initiative.

“We want to eliminate gaps that would limit accessibility,” Spence said.

The initiative is concentrated on

alleviating the concerns of those who do use the lab. Not wanting to limit accessibility means that there will be several steps in this transition. Spence said it would be awhile before absolutely no computers are available for students on campus.

Implementing printing stations will be relatively simple when compared to making software available on laptops. The present software is old enough to be updated, and making it available on laptops will be a complicated process with a lot of

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pieces, Spence said.

The first meeting with the student advisory committee led to positive and helpful feedback. Deans and students are being queried regarding their views on the Student Computing Initiative. The Student Computing Initiative is planning to issue a survey of their own that will reach a broader student base to acquire more ideas and input.

“We are analyzing, getting input, identifying plans and moving forward,” Spence said.

The Indiana Statesman is published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, except during exam periods and university breaks, and is published three times during the summer. The Indiana Statesman was founded May 16, 1929, the same year that Indiana State Normal School became Indiana State Teachers College. The newspaper began in December 1879 as the State Normal News. In November 1895, the paper was first issued as the Normal Advance.

Members of the ISU community are welcome to take a single copy of each issue of this newspaper. The unauthorized taking of multiple copies, however, may constitute theft, which is a crime, even with free publications. Thefts will be reported to campus police for possible prosecution and/or for other disciplinary actions.

The Indiana Statesman exists for four main reasons: to provide the ISU community with news and information, to serve the campus as a public forum for student and reader comments, to offer student staff members chances to apply their skills in different aspects of a news publication, and to give students leadership opportunities.

www.indianastatesman.com

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 • Page 3

Police Blotter Dec. 2 At 5:14 p.m., a suicide threat was reported on campus.

At 8:04 p.m., a property damage accident was reported at Memorial Stadium.

At 11:37 p.m., theft was reported at Blumberg Hall.

Dec. 3

At 1:44 a.m., an injured person was reported at Lincoln Quad.

At 9:58 a.m., an ill person was reported at Lincoln Quad.

At 12:59 p.m., theft was reported off campus.

At 2:09 p.m., a found item was reported at the Student Rec Center.

At 3:26 p.m., a property damage accident was reported at the 800 block of Eagle Street.

At 4:15 p.m., theft was reported at the Student Rec Center.

At 5:47 p.m., theft was reported at Lincoln Quad.

At 8:26 p.m., an information report was conducted off campus.

Dec. 4

At 1:52 a.m., an information report was conducted off campus.

At 2:07 a.m., a property damage acci-

dent was reported at Lot 15.

At 11:50 a.m., harassment was reported at Alpha Tau Omega.

At 7:52 p.m., a property damage was reported at University Apartments.

At 8:37 p.m., an ill person was reported at the Fine Arts Building.

Dec. 5 At 7:38 a.m., found property was reported at the Public Safety department.

At 9:59 a.m., criminal mischief was reported at Mills Hall.

At 10:59 a.m., lost property was reported at Lot 14.

At 11:11 a.m., a recovered wallet was reported at the North Pay Lot. At 11:17 a.m., criminal mischief was reported at Lot A. At 1:03 p.m., a trespass warning was issued on campus.

At 2:09 p.m., a recovered wallet was reported at Lot A. At 5:12 p.m., harassment was reported at Cromwell Hall.

At 9:45 p.m., armed robbery was reported off campus.

Dec. 6 At 1:18 a.m., a suicide threat was reported at Lot Q.

National Guard partners with ISU Austin Arceo

ISU Communications and Marketing

The Indiana National Guard will share restricted airspace and other resources with the unmanned systems program at Indiana State University, officials announced Monday.

Indiana State President Daniel J. Bradley and Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard, signed two memorandums of understanding at ISU Monday while formally announcing the partnership. In the new agreement, Indiana State will be able to use the restricted air space, runway and other resources at the Camp Atterbury - Muscatatuck Center for Complex Operations, or CAMCCO, in southeastern Indiana. The announcement came shortly af-

ter the Center for Unmanned Systems Outreach and Human Capital Development, which includes unmanned vehicles initiatives, was named as a recipient of funding under ISU’s Strategic Plan, the Pathway to Success.

President Bradley mentioned the new initiative before telling Maj. Gen. Umbarger that “our partnership with you will be a big part of that moving forward.”

“The announcements today show the aviation department’s motivation to be leaders in Indiana and the region,” said Bradford Sims, dean of the College of Technology. “The hard work of the department to get to this point is well recognized, and many more opportunities will be available as a result of these announcements and partnerships.”

Page 4 • Wednesday, December 7, 2011

www.indianastatesman.com

Crimes and Consequences

Second robbery prompts extra precautions CHRIS SWEENEY News editor

Around 9:30 p.m., Monday night, When phase one of the suspect’s Matt Brown was sitting behind the scheme did not go as planned, the suscounter at the Party Cask Liquor Store pect implemented phase two: ordering when two lingering males poke their the student to the Jiffy Mart convenience heads through the door asking for an store. Located at 501 South Third Street, ATM machine. With no ATM to offer, the victim successfully withdrew $50 the males depart and from the ATM, said ISU police Brown continues vacuISU public safety chief Bill Mercier. uming, a closing shift Monday’s crime alert marks urges students normality. the second robbery notificato take extra Thirty minutes later, tion within the past two weeks, three Terre Haute poprecautions, such following an incident at the lice officers line the University Apartments on as not walking front of the building Nov. 25. alone at night, investigating a report A woman told Public Safety of a robbery, which informing friends that a black male operating a prompted ISU police moped pulled behind her veto urge students to of destinations and hicle near the Unit 4 parking refrain from walking walking in well lit lot while she was waiting to alone, especially after pick up her friends for a shopareas. dark. ping trip, said Joe Newport, THPD and camISU assistant police chief. pus police continue to search for a man The Terre Haute Police Department is wanted in connection to a robbery that in charge of both cases, but is being asoccurred Monday night on South Third sisted by ISUPD due to the involvement Street. of ISU students. “We have not found A male student, also a resident of the anything linking the cases together,” said University Apartments, reported to po- Mercier, “but we can’t rule anything out lice that a black male approached him until everything is further investigated.” outside the Subway restaurant on South ISU public safety urges students to Third Street. take extra precautions, such as not walkAfter the suspect demanded money ing alone at night, informing friends of and the victim revealed he didn’t have destinations and walking in well lit arany cash, the victim was then ordered to eas. ISUPD has also increased patrols, the Party Cask in an effort to obtain cash Newport said. back from a credit card sale.

Emergency Contact References Indiana State University Police Department 210 N. 6th Street Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN 47809

Emergency: 812-237-5555

Student Counseling Center 3rd Floor, Student Services Building 567 North 5th Street Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN 47809 812-237-3939

ISU Health Center UAP Clinic - ISU Health Center Student Services Building 567 North 5th Street Terre Haute, IN 47809 812-237-3883

Union Hospital 1606 N. 7th Street Terre Haute, IN 47804 812-238-7000

Terre Haute Regional Hospital 3901 South 7th Street Terre Haute, IN 47802 812-232-0021

Suspect’s description:

University Apartments Jiffy Mini Mart

Travel Lodge Party Cask Liquor Store

Sex: Male

Last seen wearing:

Height: 5’ 5”

Green Hoodie, jeans, black beanie hat and yellow/brown shoes.

Race: Black

www.indianastatesman.com

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 • Page 5

Forget pencils. Bayh College gives pupils iPads Jennifer Sicking

ISU Communications and Marketing

Danny Vega and Mia Speer bent their heads over the slim screen as their fingers touched numbers on the display. They entered the correct answer to the equation 10+2 x (9+8) before turning their attention to the word problem that next appeared on the screen.

For Vega and Speer, two fifth grade Sugar Grove Elementary School students who enjoy math, the opportunity to figure sums on an iPad made it more fun.

“It’s a lot faster than a computer. It’s a touch screen,” Vega said.

“It’s a new step in technology. It’s more fun to play with,” Speer said. “It teaches math in a fun way.”

That is part of the point of Indiana State University’s Bayh College of Education’s Center for Math Education providing 15 iPads to use in the gifted and talented class of fourth and fifth graders on Nov. 30.

“It’s always been for me about empowering ISU pre-service teachers and teachers with innovative resources to better education,” said Marylin Leinenbach, ISU associate professor of elementary education. “The students can stay engaged with inter-

active lessons. A classroom can truly come alive.”

That seemed to happen as Brandon Chambers, a senior elementary education major from Bloomington, passed out the iPads to the 29 students. Students’ hands shot into the air after their teacher Tiffany Scamihorn asked them “How can you use an iPad in class to help you with what you’re learning.”

Students immediately began responding with various math apps as well as a dictionary app and geography.

“Anything to help you with what you’re studying in class,” Scamihorn said as she opened an app that showed students the diagram of a cell.

“This to me is a teaching tool,” she said after the students left for lunch.

“This brings the world to your fingertips visually. They’re not just hearing a lesson, but seeing it and touching it.”

Chambers began talking to Leinenbach, his professor, on the second day of university math methods class about using iPads when he entered the Sugar Grove classroom as part of his Teachers of Tomorrow Advancing Learning (TOTAL)program. All of ISU’s elementary education students spend a semester before their student teaching semester working alongside veteran teachers to be immersed in the teaching experience as part of TOTAL.

Two fifth graders at Sugar Creek Elementary School solve a math problem on an iPad. The devices were provided by Bayh College of Education’s Center for Education. (Photo by ISU Communications and Marketing) For Chambers, the idea of using the iPad came from watching his two daughters play with the device.

“They are so wrapped up in iPads,” he said.

Leinenbach used funds from a U.S. Department of Education grant that had money allocated to ISU’s Center for Mathematics Education to buy the slim computer devices. As a pilot program for using them in the classroom, she turned to Sugar Grove and Chambers.

“He has become my teacher in this,” Leinenbach said.

For Gail Artis, Sugar Grove principal, the technology further strengthens the bond between the university and the school. While a few teachers have used their own iPads in their classrooms, the students haven’t had the opportunity to interact with them. Students need to use the latest technology, she said, and ISU provided it.

“It’s an extension of the core curriculum. It’s fundamentally important to have kids adept at technology,” she said. “It’s just like reading in that technology is important for all the other disciplines.”

Leinenbach and Artis plan to use the iPads throughout the school and in different grades to help the students with their learning across subjects.

On that Wednesday morning, after finishing working math problems, the students used the iPads to look up words such as emerge, charitable and shilling from their reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

“It’s fascinating to see their faces,” Chambers said as he watched the students work. “For an hour, they’ve had constant interaction with education ,and they don’t know it’s passing at all.”

Student organization aims for more diverse teachers Britany Dean

ISU Communications and Marketing

While sitting in class, Devante Stubbs noticed he was the only African-American student. In that moment, he decided to do something to change that.

Stubbs, along with other students and staff members at Indiana State University, took the initiative to create an organization dedicated to increasing diversity in education.

“When we have diversity in our classrooms, it prepares us for the real world that we have to face,” Stubbs said. “It also helps us become tolerant of people that are in a different race than us. I figured if there was an organization to support our minorities, then we could possibly keep them within the major.”

Stubbs developed the African American Student Educators (AASE) student organization to bring African-American students into the education field.

Brad Balch, dean of the Bayh College of Education, believes that AASE is a positive addition to the college.

“Continuing to diversify our education majors so they are rep-

resentative of the K-12 students they will serve is a laudable and important goal that is well-aligned with our mission’s recognition of a diverse and ever-changing world,” Balch said.

Chad Becker, faculty advisor of AASE, hopes the organization will be a “diversifying element” of the university. Becker was asked to be advisor by the Bayh College of Education dean’s office because of his interest in multi-cultural education.

“ISU needs more diversity in teaching in the education program,” Becker said. “We are attempting to recruit not only future teachers for the organization, but also African-American students with an interest in thinking more deeply about education issues.”

Students interested in education issues who are not education majors are still welcome to be a part of the organization.

“AASE helps contribute to a larger educational community on our campus,” Balch said. “The organization will provide essential supports for our African-American students.”

Students involved with the organization have had the chance to speak with high school students about transitioning into college, participate in a leadership retreat, volunteer with the Bayh College of Education and attend various campus programs to talk about

AASE. “The turnout for these events has been mind-blowing,” Stubbs said. “Every time we are seen out in the public, people are astonished by the work ethic of our organization and the values that we stand upon.”

Karla Foster, the organization’s graduate advisor, has recognized the growth of AASE in the past few months.

“We started with about seven dedicated students,” Foster said.

“That number has more than doubled now with approximately 15 to 20 regular members, and the numbers continue to grow.”

Foster says she is also benefiting from being a part of the organization.

“I get to see the growth of members, keep student aware of what is going on in their major and encourage camaraderie between the members,” Foster said. “I enjoy how being involved in AASE has strengthened my students’ character and deepened their passion for their major.”

“I have been pleased with how quickly Devante and Karla are moving with this organization,” Becker said. “They have got a lot done since AASE has been around.”

IN

Page 6 • Wednesday, December 7, 2011

opinions

Brianne Hofmann

812-237-3036

ISU-statesmanopinions@ mail.indstate.edu

www.indianastatesman.com

Statesman editorial In the top 25, it’s all about the Benjamin The Statesman recently reported the top 25 paid positions at ISU. Lloyd Benjamin, President Emeritus and art history professor, rests comfortably at the number three spot, raking in almost $200,000 a year.

Benjamin has defended his steep salary by stating that he “fulfill(s) multiple roles as a faculty member” and has even worked in Morocco, building relations between faculty and student exchange.

More intriguing, though, is the manner in which Benjamin’s salary was established. His salary was negotiated over a decade ago when he became president, guaranteeing him 70 percent of his original pay after he retired his duties. Further, he is still eligible for annual pay increases.

While it is completely acceptable for ISU Board of Trustees President Mike Alley, Provost Jack Maynard and the Board of Trustees to stick to an outdated system, President Daniel J. Bradley must follow a different procedure. Once Bradley steps down as president, his pay would adjust based on the market at the time. Alley has stated that the “compensation structure is the same used for previous presidents,” but it is apparent that Bradley is the exception to the rule.

The old saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” might work for certain situations, but it should never be applied to the state of someone’s pay. In the Occupy era, it is especially alarming that anyone would shrug off the idea of using a system birthed in an entirely separate economic period. Just as the economy evolves and fluctuates, so should the stipulations of an already negotiable contract.

Why hasn’t the Board of Trustees given Benjamin’s dusty agreement another look? What harm would have been done by reassessing this…structure…Alley speaks of? That isn’t to say that Benjamin should be singled out, but the bottom line is, there are faculty members teaching more sections and serving as unspoken ambassadors to our university who don’t even make half of what the administrators do.

And they certainly can’t accept other positions on campus while keeping 70 percent of their original pay.

If we’re going with the belief that income should match output, then there are a lot of dedicated, hard working employees who are being robbed.

So how does the Board of Trustees move forward? Perhaps they should start one outdated contract at a time.

“The old saying ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ might work for certain situations, but it should never be applied to the state of someone’s pay.”

Contact Us

SOPA threatens to destroy Internet

Make your opinion heard by submitting letters to the editor of the Indiana Statesman.

Letters must be fewer than 350 words and include year in school, major and phone number for verification. Letters will be published with the author’s name, year in school and major.

The Statesman editorial board reserves the right to edit letters for length, libel, clarity and vulgarity.

Opinions Policy The Indiana Statesman opinions page is an opportunity for the Indiana State University community to express its views. The opinions, individual and collective, expressed in the Statesman and the student staff ’s selection or arrangement of content do not necessarily reflect the attitudes of Indiana State University, its Board of Trustees, administration, faculty or student body. The Statesman editorial board writes staff editorials and makes final decisions about news content.

Michael Laub In the Democrat’s Corner

The Internet has everything that I could possibly want out a person or even a large group of people.

It entertains and educates me; it also provides means of communicating to other humans. I can order food from it, get money from it, pay my bills and get my mail. The way it seems technology is going you might be able to never have to move from one single spot.

So, I decided that this marvelous thing has to be destroyed for the sake of humanity, and I have come up with a foolproof plan to do that. One might consider some sort of terrorist act to dismantle the structure of the Internet. But he is thinking way too small and simple because things that are destroyed can just be rebuilt overtime, and the people will see him as a villain who would be quickly brought to justice before you can do anything. One needs to get more nefarious and complex in his thinking if he wants to put the Internet down like a dog with rabies. Instead of fighting the law to get what one wants, it is much easier and legal to just bend the law to his whim and make it work for him.

My plan will begin by going to major corporations and entertainment companies and telling them some things about filing sharing, people stealing their content and giving it out for free on the Internet. This will no doubt spark some sort of overreaction from the corporations, who instead of thinking of interesting and inspiring ways of fighting this new form of piracy will try to brutally end it at once. They would try to use codes to register items, file law suits against people who are stealing the

Daniel J. Bradley ISU President Parsons Hall 208 Terre Haute, IN 47809 (812) 237-4000

Carmen T. Tillery Dean of Students & VP for Student Affairs Parsons Hall 203 Terre Haute, IN 47809 (812) 237-8111

information or just make a complex and frustrating system that prevents piracy (but usually does more harm than good). This will no doubt fail, and this will force the corporations to make Congress do something about it.

With the job now pushed over to Congress, they will follow the same path as the corporations before them and just attempt to strong arm the Internet pirates with little consideration of the consequences it could have. Most of the legislative they attempt to pass will be found to be unconstitutional and be quickly dismissed from the mind.

Eventually, there would be a time where Congress will almost forget what the Bill of Rights are or even if there is a constitution and then present a bill that gives them power to shut down any website that has copyrighted material or has material they find obscene based on their feelings at the time. If, who I am kidding, WHEN the bill is passed in Congress, they will start shutting down those pirate websites and finally free those multibillion dollar corporations from losing any percentage of their profits. Then once the power gets to their heads, the government will go after anything that goes against what they want and go after the porn, YouTube, political blogs and other major websites they deem unworthy and show a good message. Before you know it, the entire Internet has just become a thing where the man gives you updates on the glorious war against Eastasia while you wait for your Newspeak dictionary to come in the mail.

There that is how you destroy the Internet. Wait, Congress is considering a bill called SOPA? And it does just what I described? Well then, that is doubleplusgood.

Contact your campus leaders

Nick Utterback SGA President HMSU 620 Terre Haute, IN 47809 (812) 237-3841

Lezlie Maslanka SGA Vice President HMSU 620 Terre Haute, IN 47809 (812) 237-3841

www.indianastatesman.com

Wednesday, December 7 , 2011 • Page 7

The Statesman cartoon

Read between the lines, Statehouse: cursive is old school Attention, everyone: I have tragic news. The Indiana Department of Education will no longer require cursive writing to be taught in all Indiana schools, starting next fall.

Wait, what? You don’t care about kids not learning to write in cursive?

Hey, me neither. Other than signing my name, I can’t even remember the last time I needed to write in cursive. My textbooks aren’t written in cursive. Assignments handed out by professors aren’t written in cursive. I’m willing to believe this trend of not seeing things in cursive extends to the workplace too.

Apparently, however, a couple of our Indiana Senators do not agree.

Terre Haute’s own Senator Tim Skinner (D), along with Senator Jean Leising (R) are planning to introduce legislation in this spring’s session to make the teaching of cursive writing mandatory in all Indiana schools, possibly even including schools which receive vouchers. Their arguments in favor of teaching cursive writing are laughable.

My favorite is that without knowing how to read and write cursive, students will be unable to read the original version of the Constitution. I’m sorry, have they read the original version of the Constitution? I’ve seen it, in all its cursive glory, but I’ve never read it because it’s quite difficult. Printed versions of the Constitution are not somehow less important or valid simply because they are printed.

The meaning is not lost.

Another argument is that cursive writing has been one of the few constants in the American education system. The argument that something should be done simply because it has

Aurora Dreyling The Pink Elephant

always been done, regardless of its usefulness, will never be any less ridiculous. Life changes, technology advances and old practices fall by the wayside. This is what we call progress.

Not to mention that schools are free to make local decisions on the subject and teach it or not teach it as they see fit. Finally, Senator Skinner actually goes so far as to say that teaching cursive is just as important as math or science. Nevermind that the United States falls behind other developed countries in terms of math and science, and that these fields are important not only for the education of our children, but for the development of our economy by having more workers trained in fields associated with high levels of math and science knowledge. Could these two senators be any more out of touch?

Contrast this with another technology related initiative to be proposed in the next session.

The Indiana General Assembly is looking at moving to iPads to cut down on the amount of paper wasted in the Statehouse. A recent study found that a single bill in the General Assembly generates as much as 11,400 pages of paper. Much of it gets recycled, but wouldn’t it be great if it was never used in the first place? Enter the iPad. Instead of printing all those bills and amendments, the proposal to go paperless and have all that information on an iPad is being considered for the General Assembly. A pilot program has been approved for the upcoming session, and legislators will test out iPads instead of having their copies of bills printed. Not only is it expected to save paper, but money too—printing so much paper actually costs more money for the state than purchasing iPads.

So let’s compare these two initiatives. One forces us to stay in the past instead of embracing technology and moving forward while the other embraces technology to save money and help the environment at the same time. One can only hope that other legislators at the Statehouse are not also stuck in the past.

Page 8 • Wednesday, December 7, 2011

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Student Spotlight

Natalie Smith dives into world of film

Mikaella dela Pena Shaleena Barker 812-237-4102

Upcoming Events Orthodox Christian Fellowship Wednesday 7 - 9 p.m.

HMSU Rm 508

Madrigal Dinner

Thursday 7 p.m.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

Generations Holiday Buffet Thursday 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Dede I

The Symphony Orchestra Concert Wednesday 1:30 - 3 p.m.

Westminister Village

Freshman communication and electronic media major Natalie Smith (above) participated in the production of Magic Orange, which won the award for best cinematography and 2nd runner up overall at the 2011 Indianapolis 48 Hour Film Project. The film portrays an exchange of magical events between a businessman and an ice cream monger (below). (Submitted photos)

Joshua Julian Reporter

The film industry can seem like an impossible world to break into. However, freshman communication and electronic media major Natalie Smith is looking to make her own way into it. Smith recently participated in making a short independent film that she heard about through a friend at church.

“A friend told me about a

48-hour video competition,” Smith said. “He was trying to get a team together and wondered if I would be interested, and, of course, I was.”

The film is a fantasy piece that centers on a lawyer who, through the help of magical ice cream, is able to escape the drudgery of everyday life at his job.

“I helped with the story line and helped storyboard the film. My official title was production assistant,” Smith said.

“Mostly I helped out wherever I was needed, like holding a green screen or moving props.”

The film, titled Magic Orange is available for viewing on YouTube.

Smith wants to become an independent filmmaker after her stint at Indiana State.

In addition to her Electronic Media classes, she participates in SycMedia, a campus-wide multimedia enterprise that includes a combination of text, audio, video, still images, animation, interactivity and any other content that is generated and distributed through computers, smart phones, tablets and the Internet. Unique opportunities such as this, as well as convenience, are what led Smith to come to ISU. “It is close enough that I can still live at home, and that saves a lot of money. I guess cost was a big factor. too,” Smith said.

In her free time, Smith likes photography as well as watching television and reading books in order to learn their storytelling methods.

“I also really like playing piano,” Smith said. “My favorite pianist is Ludovico Einaudi.”

Smith looks forward to getting the chance to help make as many more films as she can and hone her creativity to make sure her work is the best that it can be.

www.indianastatesman.com

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 • Page 9

Campus Happenings Generations will be hosting a holiday buffet. The event will take place in Dede I on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased in the Campus Cupboard. Cost of the event is $9.10.

Reservations for groups of eight or more are being accepted.

Those wishing to attend are suggested to plan early, as seating is limited.

Call 237-7655 for reservations.

Generations Restaurant & Express, located in the HMSU next to Einstein’s Bagels, has been closed for the fall semester due to construction of the new banquet facility. (Photo courtesy of ISU Communication and Marketing)

Union Board, Student Health Promotion and PHACT

Page 10 • Wednesday, December 7, 2011

www.indianastatesman.com

250 students, staff lose free speech Mikaella dela Pena Features editor

Students and staff lined up outside Dede I Monday afternoon for the First Amendment Free Food Festival and signed away their rights for a meal, organized by ISU Publications (below, left). Participants, including senior communication major Ernest Rollins, who were caught breaking the rules, were thrown in jail (above, left). Senior English teaching and language studies major Harold Bosstick acted as the jail guard (above, right). Students acting as officers, including freshman criminology major Christopher Sweeney arrested any protestors (below, right).

(Photos by Mikaella dela Pena)

Students symbolically signed their constitutional rights away for a free meal Monday.

The First Amendment Free Food Festival took place in Dede I from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., coinciding with the anniversary of the ratification of the First Amendment.

Upon entering the city of Treelandia, 250 students and staff who participated in the event were unable to speak freely, take photographs, participate in prayer and petition against the dictators.

Members of ISU Publications sported shield and baton props as they patroled the area. Those found breaking the rules were arrested and thrown in jail.

Other members acted as protestors, causing a scene, which showcased what the world would be like without the First Amendment rights in place. Some students unaffiliated with Student Publications followed suite and fought against the rules; while some gathered in prayer, others burst out in song and some students went as far as to steal the food provided at the event in protest.

Reporters from My Wabash Valley, WTHI, and The Tribune Star were present and covered the event.

Organizers hope to repeat the event in the following years.

www.indianastatesman.com

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 • Page 11

Spotlight Entertainment gets into holiday spirit Jessica Neff Reporter

In the Christmas spirit, Spotlight Entertainment and the Barnes and Noble ISU Bookstore hosted the ISU Holiday Bash.

It was held Tuesday night from 7-10 p.m. in Dede II. There were eight performers at the event, with acts ranging from comedy to singing to musical instruments.

“We had a great turnout for the event,” said Kyle True, freshman marketing major and comedian performer. “They had to add chairs to the front because the tables were full.”

André Brousseau, senior music business administration major, helped put on the event and was in charge of checking the performers in.

Elle Humbert, freshman communications major, said she was excited about the turnout of performers.

Other performers for the night included: Clarence Young, freshman accounting major, who sang and played guitar; Andrew Miller, sophomore nursing major, who also sang and played guitar; Shawn James, theatre major exchange student, singer; Alex Ragle, freshman electronics media major, guitar player; Hannah Lester, freshman speech language pathology major, singer and guitar player; Amanda Riffe, junior elementary and special education major, singer; and Brett Welch, freshman music business major, saxophone player.

Brooke Wardle, representative of the ISU bookstore, was in attendance, giving away ten dollar gift cards to Barnes and Noble.

The event also hosted an “ugly sweater contest” in which the winner would receive a gift card.

Freshman electronics media major Alex Ragle was one of eight performers at Spotlight Entertainment’s ISU Holiday Bash that took place Tuesday night in Dede II. (Photo by Alexa White)

“It is possible to store the mind with a million facts and still be entirely uneducated.”

– Alec Bourne

Rock Through the Ages 1963 - The Beatles appeared on the British TV show “Jukebox Jury.”

1984 - Michael Jackson testified in Chicago, IL, that he wrote the song “The Girl is Mine,” not an Illinois man. Jackson won the case.

1993 - Guns N’ Roses announced they would keep the tune written by Charles Manson “Look At Your Game, Girl” on their album, “The Spaghetti Incident?” The decision to keep the song came when the band learned that the royalties would go to the son of one of Manson’s victims.

Riddle of the Day

?

?

? ?

Mystery Christmas Carols

I am a word that is hardly there. Take away my start, and I am an herbal flair.

?

Turn to page 15 to find out what I am.

?

?

?

thanks to: dailysudoku.com

How to play:

Each row must contain numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

thanks to: puzzles.ca

Page 12 •Wednesday, December 7, 2011

www.indianastatesman.com

COBRA magazine recognizes Kiya James for her efforts on the court

Upcoming Events Men’s Basketball

Saturday at Hulman Center 1:05 p.m. vs.

Maryville (Mo.)

Women’s Basketball Saturday at Charleston Ill. 5 p.m. vs.

Eastern Illinois University Senior libero Kiya James dives for the ball during the ISU vs. Creighton game. (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and Marketing)

Track and Field

Friday at Charleston, Ill. Eastern Illinois Dual Indoor Track and Field

Kevin Jenison

ISU Athletic Media Relations

Indiana State senior libero Kiya James was named to the All-Midwest Region Honorable Mention team by COBRA Magazine.

The 5-foot-3 James played in 123 games and 440 sets during her four year career at Indiana State, recording 1,706 career digs which ranks third on the ISU all-time list. She averaged 3.88 digs per set which is second best all-time. She also had 68 career service aces, 79 career assists and six career kills.

She holds three of the top 10 single season dig records including 527 (third) in 2009, 502 (fifth) in 2011, and 496 (sixth) in 2010. She had a career high 32 digs against Evansville on Nov. 5, 2010.

James is joined on the honorable mention team by Michigan State freshman middle blocker Jazmine White, Northwestern freshman outside hitter Yewande Akanbi, Southern Illinois sophomore outside hitter Jessica Whitehead, Western Michigan sophomore outside hitter Gillian Asque and Wisconsin sophomore

middle blocker Dominique Thompson.

Cincinnati junior middle blocker Jordanne Scott was named the COBRA Magazine Midwest Region Player of the Year. She is joined on the All-Region team by Butler senior middle blocker Maureen Bamiro, Chicago senior outside hitter Isis Smalls, Iowa State sophomore right side hitter Tenisha Matlock, Marquette senior outside hitter Ciara Jones, Michigan State sophomore middle blocker Alexis Mathews and senior outside hitter Kyndra Abron, Notre Dame freshman right side Toni Alugbue, Ohio State freshman middle blocker Mariah Booth, Purdue freshman middle blocker Kierra Jones, St. Francis (Ill.) junior outside hitter Jazzmyne Robbins, Western Michigan senior middle blocker Ashley Turnage, junior middle blocker Jessica Brown, and sophomore libero Lena Oliver, and Wisconsin junior middle blocker Alexis Mitchell.

COBRA Magazine’s purpose is to celebrate the success of volleyball players of African, as well as Samoan and Tongan, descent in hopes of encouraging young girls of those ethnic groups across the country to pursue the sport.

www.indianastatesman.com

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 • Page 13

Rematch for National Championship game set The stage is set for the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship game. The game will be a rematch between the one loss Alabama Crimson Tide and the only team that beat them during the year in the Undefeated Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers. LSU will win this game because they have a more balanced offense and better special teams, they have defeated more quality opponents, and they won the first game when these teams faced each other.

LSU and Alabama both have tremendous defenses and are definitely two of the best in the country. I believe that since both teams are so great on defense, they pretty much cancel each other out. Therefore I am going to compare each team’s offense and special teams.

Alabama has arguably the best running back in the country in Heisman hopeful Trent Richardson. He is an outstanding running back, but is he their only option?

I believe he is. Alabama’s quarterback AJ McCarron has been less than stellar on Columnist year, and their receivers have not been that great either. Alabama also has not Final Score the been that great on their special teams; especially in the previous Alabama game.

LSU on the other hand has a much better and more balanced offense. LSU uses what seems like a million running backs and will sometimes utilize two quarterbacks. Since LSU has so many more options on offense, I believe that their offense is better than the offense of Alabama. I also believe that LSU has better special teams because cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is such a fantastic returner.

His nickname is “The Honey Badger,” and he has two special teams’ touchdown returns this season.

LSU has played some of the best competition in the country and has defeated them all. They defeated #3 Oregon in the first game of the season. In all, eight of their 13 victories were against ranked opponents, including Alabama themselves. They defeated three teams ranked within the top three in the nation and won the Southeastern Conference Championship.

Alabama only played five ranked teams throughout the year, and LSU was their only opponent ranked below #12. Therefore Alabama never defeated a team ranked lower than twelve throughout the year. LSU played a much tougher schedule and was more successful.

The BCS National Championship game will take place in New Orleans, La. LSU is located in Baton Rouge, La. The last time these teams faced each other, LSU defeated Alabama in Tuscaloosa (Home game for Alabama). If Alabama cannot even defeat LSU on their home field, how is it even plausible that they could beat LSU on a “neutral” site?

Alabama has a great team and has had a great team for the past four years. After this year’s game, Alabama will have played in three BCS Bowls, including two national championships. Alabama has not been this good for this amount of time since the great Paul “Bear” Bryant won six national

championships and eleven bowl victories in the 1960s and 1970s.

Alabama is good and has a good chance to win the National title, but I just don’t think they can handle this tremendous LSU team. I believe the game will be close, but I have to think that LSU is going to win it.

Andrew Jones

VS.

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If you are interested in learning more, please contact Dr. Colleen Davis at 237-2746 or email at colleendavis@indstate.edu.

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Page 14 •Wednesday, December 7, 2011

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Men’s Track and Field gear up for 2011-12 season Mel Loveall Reporter

The Indiana State University Men’s track and field team prepare for their first meet of the season on Friday.

“Can’t wait to get rolling on Friday,” Craig Padgett, senior distance runner said.

The Sycamores will be travelling to Eastern Illinois University for the Eastern Illinois State Dual Invitational. The competition will mark the official start of the men’s track and field indoor season for 2011-12.

ISU men’s track and field head coach John McNichols said the overall atmosphere of the team is excitement as many of the guys are anxious to see the progress they have made in the fall conditioning period. Senior distance runner Corey Hahn said the team wants to continue the success of last season and are eager for the start of this season.

The Eastern Illinois meet has been on the calendar for the team for a very long time. The meet precedes a month long winter break before the team returns to continue the season in 2012.

“The first meet is very important. We need to make sure we come out and make a statement

right off the bat to show people that we haven’t lost any talent from last year and also that we are going to be a better team,” Hahnsaid McNichols said thirty-two gentlemen are on the roster for this meet, which is about the same number of men entered in conference competition.

This will be the first indoor meet following last season’s historic performance in the 2010 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships where ISU secured its first ever indoor conference championship title.

“No matter what the result, though, the team will be looking to set the tone and show we our contending for another MVC Championship this March, and that all starts at Eastern Illinois Friday,” Padgett said.

Sophomore hurdlers Jonathan Jackson (left) and Max Tuttle (right) competing in the mens 110m hurdles at the 2011 Pacesetter meet. (Photo courtesy of ISU Communicationsa and Marketing

Women’s Track and Field season begins Friday Ernest Rollins Sports editor

The Indiana State University women’s track and field team is ready to compete in the upcoming season “I think we are all excited. Everybody seems pumped up to run this Friday,” senior sprinter Jaquelle Spencer said.

Senior hurdler Sarah Snapp said that the freshmen and newcomers have been questioning her constantly about the first meet. She said she believes that everyone is just itching to know how far they have come from the fall conditioning period that began in August.

The Sycamores will be traveling to Eastern Illinois University for the Eastern Illinois State Dual Invitational. The competition will mark the official start of the women’s track and field indoor season for 2011-12.

The Eastern Illinois meet has been on the calendar for the team for a very long time. The meet precedes a month long winter break before the team returns to continue the season in 2012.

“This is the first opportunity to let other competitors see you and know that you’re going to be tough to beat,” Nikki Snearly, senior jumper said.

The Sycamores will be looking to improve on their fourth place finishes in the 2010 Indoor and Outdoor Missouri Valley Conference Meets.

“All of these meets add up and build to our one common goal, and that is to win conference,” Snearly said.

“This is the first opportunity to let other competitors see you and know that you’re going to be tough to beat.”

Nikki Snearly, senior jumper

Senior jumper Nikki Snearly in her attempt at the high jump bar in the 2011 Pacesetter meet. (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and Marketing)

Page 16 • Wednesday, December 7, 2011

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Sycamores defeat Bulldogs; Mattox double-double MEL LOVEALL Reporter

The ISU women’s basketball Lady Sycamores defeated the Butler Bulldogs 49-46 Tuesday night at the Hulman Center.

The Lady Sycamores increased to a 5-3 record for the season, as the Bulldogs dropped to 1-7. This game marks the third consecutive win for the ISU women’s basketball team.

Senior Deja Mattox made her first career doubledouble, scoring 12 points and 10 rebounds. Mattox also secured 6 of 6 shots at the free-throw line. Alongside her, senior teammates Shannon Thomas and Brittany Schoen scored double digits in total points.

Sophomore guard Anna Munn sparked the scoredboard to life by making a 3-point shot within the

first two minutes of the game.

By 14:23 the Sycamores obtained an 8-1 lead over the Bulldogs. However, the Bulldogs closed the gap 13-12 with 9:15 left on the clock, but the Sycamores still held strong to the lead.

The first half ended with the Sycamores leading 27-26.

During the second half of the game, the teams both tied and changed the lead 6 times.

The Bulldogs maintained the lead over the Sycamores from 11:10 to 1:20 throughout the second half.

The Sycamores retook the lead when Mattox made 2 of 2 on the free-throw line. The remaining points from the Sycamores came from the free-throw line, as well, ending the game 49-46 ISU. ISU will be back in action Saturday as they battle against Eastern Illinois University. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.