The Shield March 3, 2016

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T h u r s d a y, M a r c h 3 , 2 0 1 6 | U s i s h i e l d . c o m | v o l . 4 6 i s s u e 2 4

University signs partnership with Pollux by bobby shipman editor@usishield.com @ShieldsterBobby The university announced Wednesday it will partner with Pollux Systems, Inc. President Linda Bennett and Pollux CEO Paul McGowan signed a memorandum of understanding, which details a five-year, “multi-faceted partnership” that aims to

strengthen the Evansville region’s role in medical claims processing, the company’s primary function. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Business and Engineering Center. Bennett said with the new Strategic Plan, this partnership falls under the goal of university expansion. “In (USI’s history), part-

nerships have been core,” she said. “Potential outreach is inherent to the university.” Pollux focuses on integrating cutting-edge technology with advanced expertise to maximize physician return in a team environment. It works to develop medical coding systems, which are the methods in which physicians communicate patient information with insurance

companies. McGowan said Pollux will create curriculum for the university and provide “inclass and lab experiences.” Pollux will offer internships for both students and faculty. “In the simplest form, we’re creating a highly competent workforce,” McGowan said. “We will serve as a pipeline to jobs in Evansville.”

The company has since grown and extended its reach since its establishment in Paducah, Kentucky, including the opening of an Evansville office, which serves as its headquarters. Pollux eventually hopes to open a medical coding center in Evansville. McGowan said medical coding is often sent for processing overseas, but Pollux

‘ YOUTH CAN INFLUENCE THIS ELECTION’ Students voice opinions on presidential race 131, 144 125,736

votes

132,948 votes

votes

110,826 votes

105,017 votes

14%

15%

16%

17%

15%

Total votes cast in presidential election Percentage of voters 18-29

1996

2000

2004

2008

2012

infographic by Jessica Stallings | The Shield

Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, voters between the ages of 18-29 have steadily made up less than 20 percent of the total vote in the the past five presidential elections.

by sarah loesch, Gabi wy Special to The Shield An Online Journalism class asked seven students on campus to share their feelings and opinions about this year’s presidential election. Each student represents a different organization on campus, and their answers reflect that diversity. McKenzie McCormick said she feels “super informed” when it comes to political issues. However, the junior political science major said she finds people in the United States to be highly under informed. “There are a lot of people who don’t feel the importance of their vote or don’t think they need to be involved,” she said. However, Tanner Milazzo said this generation will have a higher voter turnout than ever before. “This generation is more aware of

the happenings of the world and are more informed than generations in the past,” he said. “(The) more people are informed, the more active they will be.” Mixed media To stay informed, Milazzo said he keeps up with the news daily despite a distaste for the current coverage. He said the media coverage is “hot garbage for everyone” beside Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders. Senior Aaron Gottman said he thinks the media coverage right now is unfair. He said the uniformed public “eats up” posts on Facebook that may not even show a glimpse of the truth. Gottman, a member of USI’s Activities Planning Board, said students often think their votes don’t matter. “College kids are (also) too uninformed,” he said. “They just don’t care enough to find the information that actually matters to the election.”

Eyeing the issues McCormick said she pays attention to where candidates fall on issues involving human rights. “I look a lot at the way their morals are viewed,” she said. “Not just their morals, but the way they view people and their view of human nature.” Milazzo prioritizes liberty and free speech in candidates’ campaigns.

pollux partnership, PAGE 3

Third rape reported by bobby shipman editor@usishield.com @ShieldsterBobby

A sex offense was reported on campus for the third time in four months. The incident, which was reported on the university crime log, occurred in campus housing at 5:14 p.m. Feb. 5. The offense was documented as a forcible rape. Central Dispatch said law enforcement was called at 5:32 p.m. and arrived on scene at the O’Daniel apartment building at 5:36 p.m. The Shield requested the public incident report from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office. Public Safety provided the incident number and told The Shield to fill out a formal request. Assistant Director of Public Safety Stephen Bequette confirmed the sex offense. Vanderburgh County Jail Booking said no arrest has been made as of Tuesday. The prior two offenses occurred Nov. 18 and Dec. 2., and were reported in the university crime log as well. Both were also documented as forcible rapes. In a previous interview with The Shield, Director of Public Safety Steve Woodall said once an individual reports an offense, they choose whether or not to involve law enforcement. No matter the investigation, the university is required to document the report in the crime log as well as the annual Clery Report. In a previous article by The Shield, Alix MacDonald, a victim support specialist with the Albion Fellows Bacon Center, said one reason USI’s Clery Report numbers have been so low in past years isn’t because the assaults aren’t happening, but because they aren’t being reported by students. There are various reasons why victims don’t report sexual assaults, she said, such as fearing the perpetrator, not wanting the stigma of becoming a victim, being overwhelmed by the system or a fear of victim blaming because of decisions they made before, during or after the assault — like whether they consumed drugs or alcohol.

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Housing addresses spider issue by gabi wy news@usishield.com @ShieldsterGabi Campus apartment resident Robin Paige Hamby posted on Facebook saying that anyone considering living at USI shouldn’t. “After finding (more than) 40 brown recluse spiders in our apartment last semester, we are still spotting them,” she wrote on Feb. 22. “When we brought the issue up to housing, they treated it as a minor issue.” The Shield reached out to Hamby and her roommates for comment, but they chose not to respond. As of Tuesday, 596 people have shared Hamby’s post. Hamby wrote in the comments of her post that she lives in McDonald East. “We were constantly paranoid last semester, on top of being stressed from school,” she wrote. “We have found spiders in the showers, in the beds, on clothes and every-

McCormick said social media is a huge outlet for her when it comes to keeping herself informed. She said it is the main place people discuss their thoughts on issues. Despite finding media a useful tool, McCormick stressed direct information. “I feel like watching the debates is really important. A lot of people can read the highlights CNN gives, but that’s really not right,” she said. “That’s not really hearing what the candidate is saying and the way they are supporting their platform.”

wants to bring that processing back to the United States. An Evansville medical coding center would be one of the first established in the U.S. Pollux plans to work with both the College of Nursing and Health Professions and Romain College of Business, the press release states.

Photo courtesy of Robin Paige Hamby

Campus resident Robin Paige Hamby posted on her Facebook Feb. 22, and wrote that she has found more than 40 brown recluse spiders in her apartment. Housing and Residence Life has offered Hamby and her roommates to move to a different apartment, but they declined.

where else. It’s a living nightmare.” Hamby wrote that Housing and Residence Life sent pest control to spray and dust her apartment every week, but the spiders kept coming.

“I do not want to live in a spider-infested environment, but nothing can be done about it,” she wrote. “It’s sickening to be paying a lot of money to live someplace I’m terrified to be.” Amy Price, interim director of Housing and Residence Life, and Marcia Kiessling, associate provost for Student Affairs, said they offered the girls a chance to move to a different apartment this semester. Price and Kiessling both confirmed that the girls declined to move. “One of the things I mentioned to the residents was if they would move, then I would be able to treat that apartment differently (for spiders) than if they are still occupying it,” Price said. “There’s more we can do for spiders, but I can’t when someone’s living there.” She said typical spraying treatment works to kill normal bugs and spiders, but brown recluses can “just walk over it.”

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Drivers talk new speed bump by nick leighty ndleighty@eagles.usi.edu

Ashley Harris, senior administrative assistant at Distance Learning, said the bump outside the Health Professions Center is too high. Despite her driving a standard Mitsubishi Sedan, she feels she is on the verge of bottoming out as she crosses it. Since the installation of the speed bump on Jan. 6, students have had varying Photo by alyssa smith | The Shield opinions about whether or not it is doing more harm A car bottoms out on a newly constructed speed bump to the campus Tuesday in front of the Health Professions Center. This was one of three cars in a than good. Harris arrives on campus 20-minute time span that bottomed out. early in the day and notices since they’ve put it in, and I easily noticeable and there is a traffic backup through the mean backed up to the next enough time to slow down. roundabout every morning. Junior computer informastop part of the circle.” “I think it’s more emShe said she understands tion systems major Jacob ployees when they come in the concern for speed, but Brame said one has to roll the morning, since you have she feels the bump in front of over the bump at a stop to such a high number all at the Health Profession Center feel safe going over it. one time because everybody Brame drives a Ford Fois much higher and more starts at 8 (a.m.),” Harris sudden than the one in front cus and said it is dangerous said. “I’ve seen it backed up to traverse the bump. of the Orr Center. at least two or three times But, she said, the bump is

Speed bump, PAGE 3


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