Feb. 10, 2014

Ohio River Chemical Spill, p. 8 | Snow Days, p. 10-11 | Professor finds heart in Egypt, p. 16-17

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Feb. 10, 2014| TABLE

OF CONTENTS |

In The Horizon

Pages 16 & 17

Page 20 IN EVERY ISSUE

FEATURES

Grades vs. Connections.....................................Page 5 Students and faculty examine the importance of grades and networking in opening doors.

Education Standards.......................................Page 13 Indiana adopts new education standards, met with some opposition.

Chemical spill....................................................Page 8 The recent Ohio River chemical spill raises questions about local water quality. An IUS professor discusses effects of waste in tap water.

Professor Profile.....................................Pages 16 & 17 William White, adjunct lecturer of Spanish, moved to Egypt after graduate school, a decision that changed the course of his life.

Snow Days.............................................Pages 10 & 11 Winter weather interrupts first month of classes.

Students and teachers make adjustments, while administrators make decisions on campus closures.

Greenhouses....................................................Page 20 While the rest of the campus is iced over, campus greenhouses are 70 degrees and full of life.

Editorial & Production Editor-in-Chief Gail Faustyn Aprile Rickert Managing Editor Jims Porter Print Platform Editor Nic Britton

Online Platform Editor Joel Stinnett Video Platform Editor Adam Taylor

Staff Emily Aschbacher Hannah Ash Alphonzo Bridgeman Duncan Cooper Kimberly Crowe Erica Farley Taylor Ferguson Marisa Gartland Angrestasia Grover Zachary Kerr Elijah Lossner Erin Mann Thomas McAndrews Joshua Medlock

Tina Reed Secoy Richey Kali Schmuckie Ashley Sizemore Ethan Smith Kayla Smith Melissa Spaide Paige Thompson Lori Wyne Advisers Adam Maksl Kendra Ulrich

Nitty Gritty........................................................Page 3 Scorecard...........................................................Page 4 Events.........................................................Page 6 & 7 Opinion.................................................Pages 14 & 15 Diversions..............................................Pages 18 & 19

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Feb. 10, 2014 | NEWS |

The Nitty Gritty

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Briefs and links to news from campus and beyond Local Briefs

Jan. 30 at 11:17 a.m.

Officers responded to a report of a person stuck in an elevator on the third floor of Knobview Hall. When the officers arrived, the person had already been freed. The elevator is being examined by the maintenance department.

Jan. 31 at 9:25 a.m.

An officer was dispatched to take a report from a custodian that someone had been urinating in a garbage can in the IUS Library twice in a week.

A report was taken.

Feb. 3 at 2:10 p.m.

Officers responded to a report that a student was looking up guns in the Crestview Hall computer lab. The officers spoke to the student, who said he was shopping for personal use.

Jan. 11 at 11:00 a.m.

An officer took a report of vandalism at Meadow Lodge after graffiti was discovered on the overhang. Video surveillance led officers to search an apartment in Meadow Lodge, where evidence linking Jacob L. Schultheis to the vandalism was found. An Affidavit for Probable Cause on a Criminal Mischief charge was filed at the Floyd County Prosecutor’s Office.

Cherokee Park suicide A suspected bank robber died from a self-inflicted gunshot during a confrontation with the police in Louisville’s Cherokee Park. Lucas Ohnimus, 21, shot himself after a failed escape attempt. The other two suspects surrendered to police upon being found.

First brandy distillery in Louisville set to open A brandy distillery is set to open in the Butchertown district of Louisville, and will be the first of its kind in the city. Joe Heron, distillery owner, said he expects operations to start in March, with public tours beginning in April.

National briefs Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman found dead Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead Sunday, Feb. 2. He had prominent roles in films such as “The Master,” “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” and “Capote.” Private funeral services were held Friday, Feb. 7.

White House lockdown The White House was locked down Friday, Feb. 7, after a suspect attempted to jump the fence while carrying a pair of bags. A Secret Service official said that nothing dangerous was found in the bags during their initial screening.

World briefs Winter Olympics begin The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia began

Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/MCT (Used with permission)

Visitors watch fireworks explode outside Fisht Olympic Stadium after the Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014. on Friday, Feb. 7, and will continue through Feb. 23.

Events include snowboarding, luge, figure skating and the six disciplines of skiing.

Attempted plane hijacking thwarted A passenger on a plane en route to Istanbul, Turkey staged an attempted hijacking Friday, Feb. 7. He was detained by security officials after the plane landed in Istanbul. The hijacker attempted to redirect the flight to Sochi, Russia, the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

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Feb. 10, 2014| SPORTS |

IU Southeast Scorecard

Women’s Basketball January 27 Kentucky Christian IUS 66 @ 84 February 1 Alice Lloyd IUS 83 VS 61 February 6 IUS Brescia @ 97 63

Men’s Basketball

January 28 Asbury University IUS 70 93 @ February 1 Alice Lloyd IUS 76 92 VS

Feb. 10, 2014 | FEATURES |

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Making the grade: The benefits of networking while still in college

By KIMBERLY CROWE Staff kncrowe@ius.edu Faculty and IUS alumni have said college students believe they needed high grade point averages in order to get a job after graduation. However, after entering the job market, they said they quickly realized who they know could be just as important. They have also said it is good for students to have a well-rounded education and good networking skills.

Whitney Myers, IUS alumnus, received a degree in marketing. She is now a media assistant at Creative Alliance. She said at her current job she works with Long John Silver’s by placing

media orders and helping with television commercials.

While in college, she said she maintained a high GPA and networked, both of which helped her to get her current job.

Trey Lewis, director of the Career Development Center, said he could not stress enough the importance of networking when looking for a job.

“Networking is just as critical as grades, if not more,” Lewis said.

Lewis said having a high academic standing shows that students know how to retain the information for the classroom, while networking gives students an opportunity to show they know how to use everything they are learning within the classroom and apply it to real-life situations.

“You need to get social and pipe into a

professional sandbox,” Lewis said Lewis said it is important for students to learn who to talk to in order to make professional connections, and that LinkedIn is helpful in this regard.

He also said another great resource for students is the Career Development Center’s website, www.ius.edu/career.

The website has tutorials and webinars to help students set up their own professional LinkedIn account. He said the center also offers to take a professional picture for each student’s LinkedIn account.

“The people you already have access to can keep an eye out on possible job opportunities for you,” Lewis said.

Myers said she was never good at networking because she was nervous to talk to people she did not know, but she said in her case, networking helped her get the job. She also said family friends or co-workers can be helpful in finding a job.

“You never know what is going to come out of networking,” Myers said.

Donna Ulrich, business academic adviser, said working with others is a great way to network and show reliability. She also said grades are important because they get students an advanced degree, get them into their job field and can help them to get into companies. Networking , she said, will get students interviews for jobs. When it comes down to two people, the employer could look at each person’s grades, and the person with the better grades will most likely get the job.

“It is like a seesaw,” Ulrich said. “Grades carry more weight.”

Ulrich said good academics will help students land jobs at the beginning of their careers, but after students work in their fields and gain experience, networking will become more important. No matter what you do while you’re a student, Ulrich said, you always have a chance to network.

“Grades will frequently open doors for opportunities,” Ulrich said.

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Feb. 10, 2014| EVENTS |

TOP EVENTS Week of Feb. 10

Week of Feb. 10

Week of Feb. 10

Homecoming

Film Festival

Student VS. Staff

Where: Activities Building When: Thursday, Feb. 13, 2 - 7 p.m.

The Men’s and Women’s basketball teams will tip off this season on Saturday for homecoming. The men will play IU East and the women play Berea.

This event is free.

Where: Ogle Center When: Feb. 13 - 16, 7 p.m.

The department of modern languages is presenting the 15th annual international film festival. Each film will be from a different country. Event is free and open to the public.

Where: Activities Building When: Thursday, Feb. 13 5:15 - 5:45 p.m.

The second Student vs. Staff basketball game will be held at the Activites Building. Students are welcome to come and compete against faculty members for bragging rights.

Week of Feb. 10 MONDAY

Feb. 10

HeLa Cells

Vinyl Night

12:20 - 1:10 p.m.

Third floor, IUS Library As part of the Common Experience series, this beginner’s lecture will focus on what these cells are used for, and their importance in biological and medical research.

THURSDAY Softball

1 p.m.

Koetter Sports Complex, IU Southeast This is the first softball match of the season. Come down to the ole’ ball field and cheer on the Grenadiers as they take on Georgetown College.

8 - midnight Haymarket Whiskey Bar, Louisville Described as a “neighborhood mix tape,” Monday Vinyl Night encourages guests to bring in their favorite vinyl records. They can also choose which side to play: A or B.

Feb. 13

Basketball

7 - 9 p.m.

Activities Building, IU Southeast The men’s basketball team will be taking on Berea. IU Southeast currently stands at number one in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic conference, having won 11 games.

TUESDAY SGA

12:15 - 12:45 p.m.

University Center, room 128 The Student Government Association is hosting an open session to all students to explain what it is they do. Light refreshments will be served.

Come and voice your concerns.

FRIDAY Alcohol

9 - 10:30 a.m.

Hillside Hall, room 106 Before making some bad choices during the weekend, learn about some positive alternatives. This free session will explain the holistic effects of alcohol use.

Feb. 11

Jim Cramer

7 - 8:15 p.m.

University Center, room 122 The National Society of Leadership and Success is hosting a broadcast session with Jim Cramer. Cramer is the host of “Mad Money” and founder of The Street, Inc.

Feb. 14

Love Sux

5 p.m. - 3:30 a.m.

Howl at the Moon, Louisville Come celebrate Anti-Valentine’s day. Singles and couples are welcome. Drink specials and Love Sux games with $500 in cash prizes. First drink is on the band.

WEDNESDAY Reception

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

University Center, room 127 This is a Get to Know You lunch for all the mentors and mentees on campus. For more information on this event or the mentoring program e-mail mentorin@ius.edu.

WEEKEND Winter Pops

noon-1:30 p.m.

Ogle Center, Sunday The IU Southeast Concert Band and the Music Department are hosting a Winter Pops concert. Tickets for adults are $8, for students and seniors $5.

Feb. 12 Kristen Chenoweth

7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Kentucky Center, Louisville Emmy winner Kristen Chenoweth will be performing at the Kentucky Center’s Whitney Hall. Tickets start at $35, and meet-and-greet packages are available as well.

Feb. 15-16

CPR Training

7 - 8:30 p.m.

University Center, Sunday Alpha Phi is hosting a free CPR training session. Open to all students and staff. The event will take place in the Hoosier Room. Call 812-941-2675 for more information.

Feb. 10, 2014 | EVENTS |

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Week of Feb. 17 TUESDAY Interview Tips

12:15 - 1 p.m.

University Center, room 122 Students are encouraged to attend this short workshop, which includes tips and techniques on preparing for interviews in the professional world.

THURSDAY God of Carnage

8 - 10:30 p.m.

Ogle Center, Robinson Theatre Come to the opening of God of Carnage. The play will be shown throughout the weekend. Faculty and student tickets are $6.

Feb. 18

Drink Wine Day

4 - 11 p.m.

Eddie Merlots, Louisville The steakhouse will be offering half-off glasses of the restaurant’s branded vintages in honor of National Wine Day. There will be speical promotions for guests.

Feb. 20

Luminox

10 p.m.

Diamond Pub, Louisville Up and coming trapstlye artist “Luminox” will be performing at the Diamond Pub concert hall. You must be 18 years old. Tickets on sale now.

WEDNESDAY Blood Drive

12 - 5 p.m.

University Cener, Hoosier Room Give the “Gift of Life” during the Alpha Phi sponsored blood drive. Every two minutes, a patient in the United States needs blood. This is opened to the puiblic.

WEEKEND Magic Night

6 - 10 p.m.

University Center, room 127 Friday The Gamers’ Society hosts a night of Magic the Gathering trading card game. Come learn how to play magic with fellow students and friends.

Feb. 19 Winter Wednesday

7:30 p.m. - ?

Clifton Center, Louisville WFPK Winter Wednesday presents Bob Schneider and the Watson Twins. They are collecting canned goods at the door for Dare to Care Food Bank.

Feb. 21- 23 College Goal Sunday

2 - 4 p.m.

Library, Sunday Filling out college paperwork is complicated and time-consuming. Come get help completing your FAFSA from financial aid experts.

Game on, Grenadiers!

Photo by Alphonzo Bridgemen

Kevin (1) and Cameron (22) Mitchell, senior guards, and Vernon Payne (23), senior forward center, return to the game after a pep talk from men’s head coach Wiley Brown.

Feb. 10, 2014| Features | 8 January chemical spill raises questions about local water quality

By GAIL FAUSTYN Co-Editor-in-Chief gfaustyn@ius.edu On Jan. 9, a chemical used in coal processing leaked from a plant into the Elk River in Charleston, W.Va. The Elk River feeds into the Ohio River. Nearly 300,000 people in Charleston and the surrounding area were left without water, and 122 of those people sought treatment for ailments caused from the contamination.

Neighboring cities, like Cincinnati, took precautions to shut down the city’s intake valves for nearly an entire day, leaving the city to run on reserves that had not been treated for the appropriate amount of time.

While the leak was essentially harmless to the Southern Indiana and Kentucky region, it startled Louisville and New Albany residents. Nothing was done to prevent the chemical leak from reaching Louisville and Southern Indiana, leaving the residents to wonder exactly what is in the water they consume daily.

Patty Ranaivo, assistant professor of chemistry, came to the southern Indiana region to study just that.

“Water is my passion and this is a great location for research,” Ranaivo said. “The Southern Indiana and Louisville area have extremely different chemical makeups in their ways of treating water.”

She said she believes that the chemical leak was bad, but the biggest challenge will be people gaining trust in the water-treating plants again.

“It’s hard to build confidence after a spill,” Ranaivo said. “Especially one that was preventable.”

She said what worried her most about the spill was that it showed how ill-equipped the water treatment plants are, in regard to different kinds of chemical compounds they are not already testing for.

“It was the consumer that realized something was wrong,” she said. “It is not our job to do that.”

In order to understand what is going on with the local water, each regional district annually releases a water quality report to the public. The report reveals simple facts about where the water in the cities is coming from and what is in it. The reports are easily accessible and can be found online at www.louisville. gov and www.in.gov.

According to the water quality report for Southern Indiana, most of the tap water comes from 19 wells. Ranaivo said that’s not a lot considering the

size of the region. These wells serve Jeffersonville, Clarksville, New Albany and other surrounding communities.

The water in the Louisville Metro area comes directly from the Ohio River and is treated by two local Louisville water plants, according to the city’s water quality report.

In addition to breaking down exactly where drinking water comes from, the report also gives a very detailed list of certain chemicals that have been found in the water supply.

Some of the chemicals listed include Haloacetic Acids [HAA5] and Total Trihalomethanes [TTHM].

In the reports from 2012 and 2013, both regions have a higher rate of these specific chemicals. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, these chemicals are used to disinfect the water.

“The water plants are not fully equipped to identify every kind of chemical compound,” Ranaivo said. “They are also not obligated to list everything they find, only certain chemicals.”

Ranaivo came to IU Southeast from Memphis, Tenn., where she had also studied water. She said the levels for these same chemicals in Memphis were much lower.

While they are still within the normal range in Louisville, they are becoming more and more prevalent as time goes on.

Indiana, on a scale of 80 parts per million, is recorded as having 30.3 ppm of TTHM and 12.5 ppm of HAA5. Ranaivo said that the level for these specific chemi-

cals were, or near, zero ppm when she studied the water in Memphis.

Ranaivo teaches a chemistry class in which she and her students will be studying the water in the surrounding area. She said she is not exactly sure what she will find, but she said she is confident that they will discover a chemical byproduct that has not yet been revealed on the water quality report.

In addition to recommending that students read these reports, Ranaivo strongly encouraged students to call the actual water treatment plants and ask questions if concerned.

“Everyone is busy, but if something looks odd, call the water treatment plant,” she said. “They are there to help you and to make sure you understand the information they hand out to you.”

Ranaivo said that there is no simple answer when treating water at home. The amount of chemicals put into the water is an outcome of natural human daily activity.

“No one just put the chemicals in to the water,” Ranaivo said. “The amount of waste is the disease and the entire problem we are facing now.”

In order to keep the water as clean as possible, Ranaivo said she suggested that everyone monitor the amount of waste they put out into the environment.

She said by simply watching what you use and can re-use, not only will the water quality improve, but the environment will as well.

“Waste is a disease,” Ranaivo said. “You want to treat the disease and not the symptom. We need to promote a certain sense of responsibility and accountability because we will never cure this problem if we don’t start from home.”

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Feb. 10, 2014| FEATURES |

Semester off to icy start

According to the Administrative Affairs Policies and Procedures, the process starts with the chief of police. The sergeant or senior officer will notify the chief when snow begins to accumulate before campus opens.

The chief and officer-in-charge together determine whether the conditions will affect faculty, staff, and students. If they think it will, they then There are two magical words that send children into a frenzy, and notify the vice chancellor of academic affairs. In this case, that person is perhaps even ignite a similar feeling in adults as well: “snow day.”

Dufrene.

IU Southeast has had to cancel classes twice, release students earDufrene said he then begins to gather information He said he gets ly once, and delay classes three times. Six interruptions in just the first information from the Physical Plant regarding conditions on campus and month of classes has placed pressure on faculty and students to come up seeks input from IU East about conditions in that region. He said he also with creative ways to keep up and not fall behind. listens to dispatch reports of accidents in the area and information from Uric Dufrene, vice chancellor for academic affairs, said the adminis- the National Weather Service. He then has a conference call with some of tration is not necessarily pressuring professors to ease the workload on these sources before deciding what to do. students or be more forgiving. He said they want faculty to be aware that Once he has decided to delay or cancel classes, he gets final approval some students will be affected more, but ultimately it is up to the profes- from the chancellor. Once that is given, he notifies the local media and sor to handle students on a case-by-case basis. the IUS Police. The IUS Police then notify the switchboard and within Rhonda Wrzenski, associate professor of political science, said the ad- minutes, students’ phones are telling them to sleep in. ministration trusts the teachers with their classes.

Wrzenski said she does not want students to feel frustrated and fall “The administration kind of sees this as our terrain,” Wrzenski said. behind.

“Only we really know what’s going on in the class, and therefore we “I think it’s about staying positive and trying to say, ‘Look, we are all probably know the best strategy on how to deal with it.” in this together,’” Wrzenski said. “Let’s try and come up with a solution Dufrene said he does not make the decision to delay or cancel classes that is going to work well for everyone.” alone, but relies on information from a variety of sources.

While all students have had to find ways to adjust, the challenge for some students might extend beyond campus closings alone.

Ashley Neal, sociology senior, has a one-year-old and said her daycare has been shut down six times in the last three weeks. For that reason, she has missed class in addition to the time off for snow.

Neal said she does not feel behind, but she admits that some professors are more forgiving than others.

“In one class my professor has pushed back an exam and is helping students with a detailed study guide,” Neal said. “And in another class, students who miss that day are still held responsible for the information that was covered.”

Other students living farther away face similar challenges. Noah Hewitt, criminal justice junior, said he commutes from Madison, Ind., and missed his morning classes for the first time last Wednesday.

“If you live closer to IUS, then I don’t think it’s a problem,” Hewitt said. “I know that some of the kids in the classes I missed this morning, who live farther away, weren’t there either.”

Hewitt said that despite these challenges, he has been able to make up all of his work. He said he attributes some of this to being a junior, and that he believes his experience allows him to better cope with Photo by Erin Mann the obstacles. He also said that his professors have “If you live closer to IUS, then I don’t think it’s a problem,” Noah Hewitt, criminal justice junior, said. “I know been a big help. that some of the kids in the classes I missed this morning, who live farther away, weren’t there either.”

“The teachers have been easy to get along with,” Hewitt said.

Tips to keep your car from getting the chills

By ELIJAH LOSSNER Staff elossner@imail.iu.edu

By SECOY RICHEY Staff vsrichey@ius.edu

Photo by Jims Porter

Facebook photo contest winner

Kimberly Pelle Coordinator for Non-traditional Student Programs

On Feb. 2 groundhog Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of freezing temperatures, blinding snow storms and icy roads.

Some IUS students have their own tricks to keep their cars from going into hibernation during the winter.

“Never let your gas tank get low, or the pipes could freeze. I always try to start my car at least 15 minutes before I leave so it has time to defrost and get warm,” Bryan Bary, general studies senior, said.

“Leave your windshield wipers up at night so they don’t stick to the windshield in the morning,” Tyler Santos, pre-biology sophomore, said. “Also, check to see what temperature your coolant is good for. Or just park in the garage.”

David Brooks, certified technician for Valvoline, said he had several safety tips to help ensure your car will not break down this winter.

battery if needed. It is harder for the car to start with a low battery.

4.

Get your serpentine belt replaced - this drive belt keeps your vehicle system, including the alternator, power steering, and water pump, running. If it breaks, you will not go anywhere.

5.

Rotating your tires helps maximize traction and the life of your tires.

6.

Tire tread and pressure should be maintained daily. Tire pressure drops 2 pounds during winter.

Keeping the right amount of air will prevent flats or blowouts.

By following these helpful tips, you might not find yourself broke down and freezing on Interstate 65 one day after class. But in case this does happen to you, be sure to pack a blanket to keep warm while waiting for AAA.

1.

Make sure all lights inside and out are working efficiently. If they are not working properly, get them replaced so you can see well under snowy conditions.

2.

Check your wiper blades to help increase visibility and safety. Dull blades make it hard to get ice and snow off windshields.

3.

Replace the Graphic by Secoy Richey

IU SOUTHEAST

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL Enjoy Live Music, Dance & A DELICIOUS DINNER BUFFET from around the World! $5 for students/seniors and $7 for non-students. Tickets available at the door.

This event sponsored by IUS International Programs and the Student Government Association with assistance from student programming funds.

If you require reasonable accommodations due to a disability to participate in this event, please call 812.941.2365

Tuesday March 4, 2014, From 5-8 p.m.

Hoosier Room, University Center

Feb. 10, 2014| FEATURES |

MAKING THE GRADE:

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Indiana schools put to the test

By JOSH MEDLOCK Staff jrmedloc@indiana.edu

A student sits nervously at his desk, wringing his sweaty hands together. The teacher walks through the narrow rows handing out tests. He has prepared for this exam for weeks, but at this moment, he is not sure he prepared enough.

This scene is playing out more and more in classrooms across Indiana, but the fear of receiving an F is no longer limited to students. When Indiana’s system for measuring school accountability, Public Law 221, changed in 2010, school corporations began receiving A-F letter grades instead of generic titles that ranged When it comes to from “Exemplary Progress” to “Academic Probation (high priority).” setting standards Every year, these letfor schools... ter grades are attributed to every public, private and Indiana’s will be charter school across the state of Indiana. According uncommonly high. to the Indiana Department of Education website, these Governor Mike Pence grades are primarily based off both the percentage of students who pass the state-mandated exams and the improvement of students on these exams from year to year.

The 2013 accountability letter grades were released by the Department of Education on Jan. 15. In Floyd County, New Albany Senior High received a C for 2013, and Floyd Central High School received an A. This system may be benefitting Indiana schools, as 134 more schools received an A in 2013 than in the year before. The new A-F system, however, has received criticism from teachers, legislators and parents since its creation. In 2012, Tony Bennett, the Superintendent of Education who implemented the system, lost his re-election to Glenda Ritz, an outspoken opponent of the A-F grades.

In her victory speech, Ritz said, “[Hoosiers] don’t want their teaching and learning environments to be about teaching to the test, resulting in grading of our

schools with the flawed A to F accountability model.”

Lane Hewitt, an English teacher at Salem High School, said the controversy not only surrounds how the state calculates the grades but also the public perception of the results.

“Anyone who has ever been to school knows what an ‘F’ means, and no school wants to be labeled a failure,” Hewitt said.

With Indiana schools facing more test-based evaluations, how has this system affected the teaching profession? Hewitt argues that this higher focus on tests is changing the way educators manage their classrooms.

“More testing means that teachers will have to spend more time on test prep, which is not the kind of engaging work that motivates students to come to school and try their best,” Hewitt said.

Loriann Wessel, a teacher at Salem High School who specializes in various social studies subjects, said

teachers in the social studies department, where there is no mandated state test, have to come up with their own ways to measure student growth.

“Assessments such as essays, simulations, projects and anything hands-on have taken a back seat to the newly required student growth assessments,” Wessel said.

These changes from the statehouse not only affect current teachers, but also college students who plan on becoming teachers in the future.

“If the state is requiring more testing, I think it would affect the way I plan to run my classroom because I like to see students in action to evaluate their knowledge. Tests aren’t always accurate,”Angela Hollen, elementary education junior, said.

Education majors and current teachers should not become too comfortable with the current system, however. According to a bill passed by the Indiana General Assembly in 2013, the House Enrolled Act 1427, parts of the A-F grading scale will be reviewed and rewritten.

Also in this bill, the state legislature ordered a review of the Common Core standards, which were the federal math and reading standards adopted by Indiana in 2010.

In Governor Mike Pence’s State of the State address delivered on January 14th, he said, “When it comes to setting standards for schools, I can assure you, Indiana's will be uncommonly high. They will be written

by Hoosiers, for Hoosiers and will be among the best in the nation.”

Wessel said these frequent shifts coming from the state legislature are important to know and understand.

“It is very important for teachers currently in the field and for future teachers to keep up with these changes because as we are seeing with the Common Core Standards, the measuring stick is constantly moving and changing,” Wessel said.

Hewitt said keeping up with the state changes is especially important for education students.

“Soon-to-be teachers need to be aware of the realities of the profession, Hewitt said. “Teachers must be willing to compromise and adapt to ever-changing state policy in order to survive.”

The full list of accountability grades can be found at www.doe.in.gov.

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Feb 10, 2014| OPINION |

It’s not just about the end game anymore

By ADAM TAYLOR Video Platform Editor adamtayl@ius.edu “Life is too short…”

Bullshit.

We’ve all had that person in our lives who says that life is too short and to spend your time appropriately. Whether it be an older person whose time is coming to an end, or a misguided youth who hasn’t yet learned to cope with the passing of time and tells you to go partying every night, the overarching concept is the same.

The initial impression of being cheesy or trite is also the same, or it was to me.

“Life is too short.” Life is the longest thing you do, how can you say it’s too short?

I think I might finally understand. It actually makes sense when it finally hits close to home.

I’ve always been a person of many interests and many passions, but I’ve been wrapped up with what I want to be, not what I want to do. The end-game, not the questing. The final destination, not the journey. What good is the pot of gold if you don’t stop and enjoy the double rainbow?

The past year or so has finally made me appreciate the journey itself and actually take that saying to heart. Life really does end.

During the spring semester of 2013, my great grandmother (on my dad’s side) passed away.

This past Thursday, my grandmother, her daughter, was buried. During the time between those two, two of my three dogs died.

I like to pretend, to put up an facade that none of this has affected me. When I get thinking

Life is even shorter if we keep looking at the end instead of soaking in the scenic paths we take.

the right way, I know it has. and goals I had before are still there, but following the On top of those, my mom has gone passions is more important. to quite a few funerals for more disNow, I get to look back at all the videos I’ve made— tant (to me) relatives just since Hal- the fun my fiancee and I had making videos togethloween. All this death really gets one er—and truly appreciate the journey I’m on. It doesn’t thinking. matter if I don’t meet my goal as long as I continue If we’re honest, none of us truly having a blast trying to reach it. know when our expiration date will So sure, life is too short. But only if you go about come up. And from my perspective, life in the wrong way. If you go through life seeing none of us know what awaits us when nothing but the goals you chase, life will fly by. Too that time comes. I’ve really started to much of my life has flown by this way. However if look at things differently. The end re- you live life to enjoy it, to make yourself happy and sult isn’t going to matter if I can’t be appreciate the journey that each day provides, life is happy with where I’ve landed at the very long and quite fulfilling. That is the kind of life I end of each day. If I died tomorrow, want to lead. would I be successful enough for myLife is too short. Life is even shorter if we keep self? looking at the end instead of soaking in the scenic Before this revelation, that answer paths we take. Thankfully, a simple change in mindset would have been “no.” can fix that.

I’ve been so focused on where I As my original inspirations for my passions, Adam want to be later, that I haven’t stopped “Seananners” Montoya, puts it: and enjoyed myself as I get there. A “Life is definitely a process. You’re always going to big goal of mine is to be self-employed try and do your best, and you know what? You’re nevdoing freelance and video work, much er going to be perfect. I think that pursuit of that perlike I currently do with my YouTube channel and web- fection is more important than the perfection itself.” site. That will be great once I get there, but what about now?

Until now I’ve never fully appreciated the enjoyment I’ve gotten from making the videos and working with the people that I do. My work means nothing if I don’t thoroughly enjoy the process of creating it.

While I’ve never agreed with the concept of “life is too short” before, recent events have made it clear to me.

When speak of the deceased—at funerals or when coping—we often have pretty similar talks about celebrating the life and the journey of the deceased.

Sure, they can feel pretty cookie-cutter and generic, but it’s that way because that’s what people feel and connect with. You’re remembered for who you were throughout your life, not right before it ended. Why not enjoy your time living as much as you can?

That’s what I’m aiming to do now.

Photo by Adam Taylor I was misaligned for a little bit, only seeing the end goals I wanted out of life and not how I wanted to enjoy it, but I’m Adam Taylor, video platform editor, and his fiancee, Cara Young, getting back on track. Those passions pyschology sophomore. The two like to live life to the fullest.

Feb. 10, 2014| OPINION |

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Tax dollars flood into creationist’s Ark Park

By Joel Stinnett Online platform editor joelstin@ius.edu

— right to regard the Bible as a literal account of how the world came into existence, no matter the evidence to the contrary.

Ham’s museum teaches that the world was created in exactly six days a little more than 6,000 years ago.

God decided to flood the earth and instructed Noah to build an ark to house two of each animal in existence—including dinosaurs. No, seriously. The museum displays a miniature ark with longneck dinosaurs following giraffes, two by two, up a boat ramp. (See photo below.)

That brings me to Ham’s latest ambition: a 160-acre religious theme park with a “full-sized” replica of Noah’s Ark. The park will feature live animal shows, a children’s interactive play area, a Middle Eastern village and a replica of the Tower of Babel. It will also be paid for, in part, by Kentucky taxpayers.

Gov. Steve Beshear and the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority have approved a $43 million tax incentive for the park, as well as $11 million to improve the interstate system leading to the Ark Park.

Beshear awarded this tax money in 2010. Meanwhile in Louisville, Kentucky Kingdom, the amusement park which was a major source of summer jobs for teens, was rotting away.

One of Nye’s goals in debating Ham was to raise awareness that, if we allow creationism in public education, our country’s young people will not be able to compete with the rest of the world in areas such as

There is a large sector of American society that wants you to embrace the F-word. They want the F-word in schools, in the government and in our homes. Some of these people even name their children after the F-word.

Don’t believe me? President Obama said the F-word at least twice in his State of the Union address. There are plenty of athletes, priests and educators who will tell you the F-word is at the center of everything they do. The F-word is also what Ken Ham, founder of The Creation Museum, is trying to promote and protect.

The F-word I am referring to is, of course, “faith.”

Before you accuse me of blasphemy, let me say that I respect and defend anyone’s right to believe whatever they wish. I was raised Catholic, attended Catholic schools and was taught from an early age that freedom of religion is one of the core values that sets the U.S. apart from the rest of the world.

The problem I have with Mr. Ham and his museum is that he is trying to disguise religious faith as science. And he’s cutting into local tax revenue to do it.

The 70,000 square foot Creation Museum sits next door to Cincinnati’s airport in the small town of Petersburg, Ky., about a two hour drive from IU Southeast. It gained national recognition last week when popular children’s T.V. host Bill Nye (the Science Guy) debated the merits of creationism vs evolution with Ham. More than half a million people watched the debate live.

I visited the museum complex last week ahead of the debate, and while I agreed with absolutely Photo by Joel Stinnett nothing I saw in the exhibits, it is well Gov. Steve Beshear and the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority within Mr. Ham’s — have approved a $43 million tax incentive to build an Ark Park—complete with or any other Christian’s dinosaurs.

math and science.

But there’s already a problem in Kentucky. According to census data, Kentucky ranked 47th in the nation in percentage of high school graduates in 2009.

“Most students are presented only with the evolutionary belief system in their schools, and they are censored from hearing challenges to it,” Ham wrote in a blog post the day before the debate. “Let our young people understand science correctly and hear both sides of the origins issue and then evaluate them.”

What attracts many young people to hear Ham’s “side” of the origins issue are the dinosaurs that are featured prominently on the Creation Museum’s website and ads. It is what piqued my interest. Who wouldn’t be intrigued by the thought of humans living with dinosaurs? Most children would love their own pre-historic pet. Although, in Ham’s view, of course, they wouldn’t be pre-historic.

Once inside the museum, however, it is more fire and brimstone than Fred Flintstone. Exhibits warn of the breakdown of the traditional family, world famines and even war, all because creationism is not taught in public schools.

“If you believe in a universe that was created by accident, then there is ultimately no meaning and purpose in life,” Ham wrote in his blog the day before the debate.

The issue with teaching a Christian faith concept in our country’s schools — aside from the scientific evidence that contradicts it — is that not everyone is a Christian. Studies have found more than 300 different religions in the United States. A 2012 analysis by the Pew Research Center found that 20 percent of Americans do not identify with any religious group. One third of those people are under 30. Ham’s proposal is truly a testament to an old way of thinking.

Faith is an important part of our society and provides answers for millions of people. But when it comes to religion influencing our tax dollars and public schools, it is time for the F-word to go the way of the dinosaur.

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Feb. 10, 2014 | profiles|

Instructor takes chances, finds heart in Egypt Zak Kerr Staff zakerr@ius.edu Living in a foreign country for two years of one’s life is a daunting task in and of itself. Knowing next to no one, not being completely fluent in the local language and getting used to the customs of a foreign country can all add to the strain of being so far away from home. Combined with the stress of getting married and having a child, the situation can seem unmanageable.

This is what William White, adjunct lecturer of Spanish, lived through when he spent two years teaching in Egypt during the Arab Spring.

White said he has had a passion for language since he started learning Spanish in high school.

“I’d always try to teach myself,” White said. “I’ve taught myself enough French that I could get by, not confidently, but I could make myself understood.”

White’s studies in the Spanish lanWilliam White guage have taken IU Southeast professor him to many differof spanish ent countries over the years. As an undergraduate student at the University of Louisville, he got the opportunity to study abroad in both Mexico and Spain.

“Mexico was a really interesting experience because, while Spain was an organized study abroad, my experience in Mexico was, what was called at the time, a Muhammad Ali Peacebuilder Program,” White said. “I was the only American student there, the only foreign student that I could find.”

When he moved on to graduate school at U of L, he was encouraged by his professors to study a second language while working towards his master’s degree in Spanish. Initially, White said he was going to study another romance language, but none of the French or Italian classes would fit into his schedule, and Arabic

“I didn’t have a lot of experience living in a country that was falling apart or having some sort of collapse of regime.

Courtesy Photos

William White and one of his students outside the Dover American International School, Al Shorouk City, Cairo.

was the only class that could work.

Once his classes started, White said he became very interested in the Arab world and decided he would have to go to the Middle East one way or another.

“I happened to meet Egyptians in my time as a graduate at U of L,” White said. “One was a friend and the other was the one I eventually married. You can guess which one was the stronger motivating factor.”

His wife, Shereen, is from Egypt and was a Fulbright participant at U of L. She taught intro to Arabic classes at the university for two semesters. They shared an office together and met weekly so White could practice his Arabic with a native speaker.

“I was just starting to learn Arabic, had just come back from Morocco and wanted to practice my Arabic,” White said. “That’s just kind of where it started.

We kind of just developed a relationship and one thing led to another and I showed up in Egypt and we got married a few months after that.”

After he had finished graduate school, White said he took on as many jobs as he could and started saving his money to make the move to the Middle East.

He was considering moving there without getting a job beforehand and just applying to as many places as

possible, but he was able to find a job.

“All of the sudden, I found a connection in Egypt and the guy hired me on the phone,” he said. “Like in two minutes. ‘Why do you want to come to Egypt?’

‘I’d like to come to Egyp–’ ‘OK, OK I’ll hire you!’”

He was hired on as a teacher at Dover American International School in Al Shorouk City, Cairo. It is an American and international college preparatory school that follows American school curriculum and teaches its subjects in English.

He made the move to Egypt in Aug. 2010 and got married to Shereen four months later.

“I had spent a month in Morocco, so the culture was somewhat familiar, but when I got there, I was getting used to settling in and after a few months, the Egyptian revolution happened,” White said. “The Arab Spring. I had been married for about a month and my wife was pregnant. I got married in December and that happened in January.”

White said that it was overwhelming at first. He said that they had no means of knowing what was going on in the country.

“I didn’t have a lot of experience living in a country that was falling apart or having some sort of collapse of a regime,” White said. “The hardest part in the beginning was that the government cut off cell phones, cut off the internet. They kind of cut off everything.”

White said that the biggest lesson he learned from the experience was what fear can do to people. He said there were nights where he stood outside his house with a baseball bat because there were rumors of thieves in his neighborhood. People were telling him not to let anyone know he was American, but he said he never felt like he had to worry about that.

“I never felt that I was looked at differently; I just never felt like an outsider,” he said. “I felt more Egyptian, even though I’m clearly not.”

He spent some nights patrolling, baseball bats in hand, with other Egyptians to make sure no thieves came into their neighborhood. No one thought anything of him being American.

“Ended up that none of that was happening,” White said of the rumors of thieves. “It was scary in the beginning and then it calmed down. Order was kind of restored. But it was always a bit unstable throughout the whole thing.”

White had only intended to stay in Egypt for a year, but once the revolution started it was almost impossible for his wife to get out of the country. She was an Egyptian and did not have a visa to leave the country.

“The American Embassy was constantly being shut

“The Embassy was attacked a week before our interview, so they closed it for months.”

While Shereen could not travel, she wanted him to travel to Europe. During the first two weeks of the revolution, they were unsure of how severe the situation was going to become, but White said he never felt like leaving was an option, as he could not leave his wife.

White said during the start of the revolution, Dover American International cancelled school often and that many of the teachers had left to go back to their home countries. Once they figured out that Egypt was not going to completely fall apart, however, White said that classes were back in session.

At Dover American International, White was teaching elementary school students. When he took the job, he said he had

Feb. 10, 2014 | FEATURES | no idea that he was going to be teaching 10-year-olds.

“They didn’t tell me that,” White said. “I thought I was just going to teach just ESL [English as Second Language] students, I had no idea what I was doing.”

White had taught Spanish at U of L during his graduate studies, but he said teaching college students had not prepared him for the stress of teaching elementary school students.

“It required a crazy amount of work and stress here and there,” White said, “but I ended up forming relationships with some of these students and they still Facebook me and send me messages about what they’re studying. It’s really cool.”

While White said he enjoyed his time teaching the young

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students in Egypt, he said he cannot see himself taking another elementary teaching job in the future.

“I prefer teaching adults at this point,” White said.

Chris Brody, psychology junior, had his first Spanish class with White last semester. He said White’s passion for language made him a great teacher.

“He is seriously the best teacher I’ve ever had,” Brody said. “He’s real down to earth and really understanding, and his teaching reflects that.”

Brody said he could tell White’s passion for language because of how it was part of his everyday life.

“He’s lived in different countries, he’s taken the time to learn multiple languages, and he teaches one of the languages here and at U of L,” Brody said.

“It’s just his life.”

Brody said that White’s ability to break down the grammar and structure of the Spanish language has helped him immensely.

“He is always encouraging you and he could tell when I was feeling discouraged about Spanish,” Brody said. “He’s like my foreign language mentor.”

Since having a class with White and hearing of his travels, Brody said he is inspired to study abroad, possibly next summer.

White said he would encourage anyone to take the opportunity to study abroad. He said a lot of people think that traveling abroad requires a huge amount of money or that it’s a scary thing. While that can be true, he said there is a different way to look at it.

“My father passed away when I was two, so I was raised by my mom,” White said. “I mean that was it, we weren’t rich or anything. Where did the money come from? It came from just taking advantage of opportunities.”

He said people would be surprised how little they have to pay if they just look for the opportunities and scholarships for travel.

“We shouldn’t view the United States as this bubble that we live in and these other places are so far away, because they’re actually not,” White said. “You could get on a plane in an hour from now and by tomorrow morning you’ll show up in the Middle East or South America, you could be anywhere in a very short amount of time. I think we have to take advantage of that.”

Study Abroad with Indiana University Southeast

Costa Rica: Field Study in Latin American Geography Summer II, 2014 Application deadline: February 26, 2014

Students Registered for the Costa Rica: Field Study in Latin American Geography Program: • Will receive up to 3 credits in G323, Geography of Latin America or independent study.

• Must obtain a valid passport for travel between July 7 and July 18, 2014.

• Can expect to pay approximately $2,600, which includes airfare, ground transportation, admission fees, lodging and two meals per day.

Financial aid and scholarships may be used to defray some or most of the expenses.

For more information or application materials, please contact: Peter Galvin Department of Geosciences Indiana University Southeast pgalvin@ius.edu

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Feb. 10, 2014 | SPORTS |

Little piece of paradise

By ANGRESTASIA GROVER staff ajgrover@ius.edu

College students often need an escape.

For Corey Schaeffer, biology senior, this comes from an unlikely place: the campus greenhouse.

“It’s really relaxing to work and I feel like it’s really rewarding to watch things grow,” Schaeffer said. “A lot of these plants in here I’ve taken care of for about three years now.”

These plants must be watered and upheld regularly to ensure that growing processes are prosperous. Schaeffer helps maintain the plants inside of the campus greenhouses.

In August 2011, he said, he began as a biology-lab assistant who was interested in plant life and was given access to the greenhouses.

Schaeffer said the greenhouses are environments for rare and exotic plants to grow. After they have been developed fully, Schaeffer said that most plants are used for science students to study and observe.

“A lot of these plants get used for our biology courses, botany and plant development. They use these life specimens to experiment on,” Schaeffer said.

David Taylor, professor of biology, said he oversees the campus greenhouses.

There are two greenhouses, which Taylor said have separate roles. The larger of the two is used to grow plants and the other for research.

Taylor said the IU Southeast campus has had a greenhouse since it moved to Grant Line Road during the 1970s. The smaller one, he said, has been a part of the campus for about six or seven years.

When the Life Sciences Building was remodeled fourteen years ago, Taylor said the campus greenhouse was rebuilt with greater insulation to create a better environment for the plants.

Winter is not considered the ideal time for growing

Courtesy Photo

Corey Schaeffer, biology senior, said that he really enjoys working in the greenhouse located next life science. “It’s really relaxing to work and I feel like it’s rewarding to watch things grow.” and preserving plants due to cold weather and little sunlight. However, Taylor said the greenhouses are an exception to that rule. With the help of supplemental lighting, he said the plants are able to cultivate as well as they would during spring and summer.

Despite the weather that IU Southeast has been exposed to recently, Taylor said he believes students would be surprised to know that the IUS greenhouses have an entirely different atmosphere.

“If you go in the greenhouse, it’s a nice and warm 70 degrees. We have plants that grow very successfully such as tropical plants and a variety of temperate plants,” Taylor said.

Though Schaeffer said he has been busy this past fall semester, he feels that he does not spend enough time in the greenhouse. He said he gets a sense of peace when he is in the company of life that he helped create.

Schaeffer said he often encourages people to stop by the greenhouse and see the plants inside. However, he believes few students are interested in knowing what these plants have to offer to the IUS campus and everyday life.

“A lot of people walk in here and think ‘alright, whatever’ and leave,” Schaeffer said. “There’s a lot that gets ignored with the plants; a lot of people really take them for granted, I think.”