medication
MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK
DISORDER illnesses memories
flashbacks
stress
LIFE
abuse
negative
emotional
exhausted alcohol
difficulty
thinking
OCTOBER 5 - 11
drugs
feeling
DEATH
RISK
family
horror
psychological
page 9
thoughts
SUICIDE: I Survived
ANXIETY drug addiction AVOIDANCE medication suicide worry
drug addiction
CRAZY
violence
grief
page 14
FEAR symptoms horror
flashbacks
depressed
trauma accidents
suffering
burden
LIFE assault
OCTOBER 6, 2014 | ISSUE 4
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RAISING AWARENESS: Mental Health Series
mental health problems event
STUDENT VETERANS LIVING WITH PTSD
HATE empty
ISLAM: Beyond the myths page 18
Q & A: The US and ISIL page 20
A Week Without Coffee page 6
TABLE OF CONTENTS Life without coffee 6-7
Staff writer Marisa Gartland goes a week without coffee and other caffeinated beverages.
Tech updates 16 Charging stations, IU Print Mobile and more.
Mental health talks 9
Part of an ongoing series discussing mental health with assistant professor of biology, Beth Rueschhoff.
PTSD
17
An new app that lets students communicate anonymously.
10-14
Former and current student veterans share their experiences coping with PTSD.
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Anonymous app Yik Yak
Breaking misconceptions about Islam 18-19
IU Southeast chancellor Ray Wallace took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Oct. 1, along with Joe Glover, athletic director, and Seuth Chaleunphonh, dean of Student Life. The Student Government Association raised nearly $180 and got the honor of dumping the ice water on the chancellor.
Watch the full video at iushorizon.com!
Addressing the stigmas and myths surrounding Islam and the Middle East.
Uber and Lyft vs. Taxis 24
A look at the differences in regulations for taxi cabs and private ride-sharing companies.
IN EVERY ISSUE Nitty Gritty 4 Events 5 Diversions 22
Women’s Volleyball
SCOREBOARD Women’s Tennis
9/30 at Indiana University Kokomo | Loss (19-25,25-18,25-17,25-14) 10/2 at Home vs. Spalding University | Win (20-25,25-18,25-21,25-23)
9/22 at Home vs. Asbury University | Win (7-2) 9/26 at Home vs. Alice Lloyd College | Win (9-0) 10/5 noon University of Southern Indiana 10/7 4 p.m. Bellarmine University
10/7 7 p.m. Ashbury University (H) 10/11 2 p.m. Lindesy Wilson (A)
EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION IU Southeast 4201 Grant Line Road New Albany, IN 47150 Editor-in-Chief: Aprile Rickert Print Managing Editor: Jims Porter Digital Managing Editor: Joel Stinnett News Editor: Ashley Sizemore Features Editor: Zak Kerr Sports Editor: Eli Lossner General Assignment Editor: Taylor Ferguson Design Chief: Bekah White Advisers: Adam Maksl Kendra Ulrich
Staff: Lynn Bailey Marisa Gartland Mary Kate Hailer Parker Henes Elizabeth Hohenstein Rain Hopkins Laura Hubrich Erin Mann Josh Medlock Allison Nail Secoy Richey Ethan Smith Blake Stewart Paige Thompson Haley Warwick
(812) 941-2253 horizon@ius.edu
edit for brevity, grammar and style, and may limit frequent letter writers.
The Horizon is partially funded by Student Activity Fees. The Horizon is a student-produced newspaper, published weekly during the fall and spring semsters. Editors must be enrolled in at least three credit hours and some are paid.
The Horizon welcomes contributions on all subjects. The Horizon is not an offical publication of Indiana University Southeast, and therefore does not necessarily reflect its views.
To report a story idea or obtain information, call or email the Horizon. Letters to the editors must be signed, include student’s major and class standing and be fewer than 300 words. The Horizon reserves the right to
Your first Issue of the Horizon is free. All subsequent copies cost $2 each. The Horizon is a member of the Indiana Collegiate Press Association, Hoosier State Press Association, and the Associated Collegiate Press.
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THE NITTY GRITTY
POLICE
BLOTTER September 30 at 9:36 a.m.
An officer was dispatched to University Center South on a report of two individuals exhibiting an inappropriate display of affection. When the officer arrived, no one was there.
September 26 at 4:00 p.m.
An officer responed to a call from a TARC bus driver, who knocked down a pole while trying to avoid hitting a student. The officer advised that there was no damage to the bus and a report was taken.
September 27 at 12:03 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Woodland Lodge on a report of students drinking alcohol. Several students were found drinking, and the matter has been handed over to Residence Life and Housing for disciplinary action.
October 1 at 4 p.m.
An officer was sent to Hillside Hall to investigate a report of two students in a verbal altercation. A report was taken.
September 30 at 10:29 p.m.
Officers were dispatched to advise a student about lights being left on in a vehicle. The officers noticed a strong odor of marijuana within the vehicle, and found paraphernalia and small traces of marijuana. No arrest was made, and disciplinary action will be handled administratively.
September 20 at 2:02 a.m.
An officer responded to a report of domestic violence toward a student by her ex-boyfriend, who is not a student. The subject was not located, and an affidavit was filed.
September 24 at 4:09 p.m.
An officer was dispatched on a report of two men stealing scrap metal from behind the Observatory. The officer reported that the subjects were found, will be turning in the stolen metal and will be issued a Trespass citation. Report to follow.
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Photo by Zak Kerr Amanda Stonecipher, director of Residence Life and Housing, decorates the IU Southeast Harvest Homecoming float. Chancellor Ray Wallace and others represtened IU Southeast in The Harvest Homecoming parade Oct. 4 in New Albany.
CAMPUS BRIEFS
NATIONAL BRIEFS
IU Southeast held its own ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on Oct. 3, in The Commons. Those who took this challenge? Chancellor Ray Wallace, Athletic Director Joe Glover and Dean of Student Life Seuth Chaleunphonh. Those doing the dumping were members of the Student Government Association, the TKE fraternity, and the Grenadiers softball team. According to forbes.com, so far the Ice Bucket Challenge has raised around $100 million.
The unemployment rate in the U.S. has dropped to 5.9 percent, according to the latest nonfarm payroll released on Oct. 3 by the Labor Department. That is the lowest it has been since President Obama took office in 2008. The U.S. also added 248,000 new jobs in September, which was about 30,000 more than economists, surveyed by Dow Jones, expected.
IU Southeast joins the Ice Bucket Challenge
Watch the full video at iushorizon.com
LOCAL BRIEFS
Suspect arrested in Louisville high school shooting
A 16-year-old was arrested Sept. 30, after allegedly shooting a 15-yearold student earlier that day at Fern Creek High School in Louisville, WLKY reported. The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The suspect has been charged with assault, wanton endagerment, unlawful possession of a weapon on school property, tampering with evidence and carrying a concealed weapon.
Arrest made in stabbing death of homeless boy at Cherokee Park
According to the Courier Journal, Joseph Cambron, 21, was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with murder and tampering with evidence in connection to the death of a 12-year-old boy, whose body was found in Louisville’s Cherokee Park on Sept. 30. Both Cambron and the victim were homeless and, according to the arrest report, had gotten into a fight earlier that day which resulted in the victim being stabbed with a knife. The victim’s parents, who are also homeless, reported the boy missing five hours after the body was discovered.
National unemployment rate drops
First case of Ebola lands in Dallas
The U.S. faced its first known case of the deadly Ebola virus that has claimed the lives of at least 3,000 people in West Africa, according to the World Health Organization. According to the Dallas News, Thomas Eric Duncan, 42, a citizen of Liberia, made the trip to the U.S. to visit his son and his son’s mother in Dallas on Sept. 19. Four of Duncan’s family members are being held in a Dallas apartment and monitored for symptoms. Health officials are reaching out to as many as 100 people that may have come into contact with Duncan, a spokesperson with the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a statement.
WORLD BRIEFS Pro-Democracy protests break out in Hong Kong
Students in Hong Kong have been at the forefront of major protests this past week, which some are referring to as the “Umbrella Protest.” Hong Kong, which has traditionally been largely autonomous from China, has been preparing for its first direct elections that were scheduled for 2017. According to USA Today, protests began when Beijing announced in August that all candidates would have to be approved by China’s Communist Party leadership.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Harvest Homecoming Downtown New Albany Oct. 9 - 12 All Day
Oct. 6
Oct. 7
Comedian: Dustin Ybara
Wares of the World
Noon - 1 p.m. The Commons
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hoosier Room East
Coheed and Cambria 8 p.m. - 11:59 p.m. Mercury Ballroom Louisville
Oct. 12 Bill Cosby
7:30 p.m. Louisville Palace Tickets $71.50
Susan G. Komen Louisville Race for the Cure 8 a.m. - 11: 30 a.m. Festival Plaza Road Louisville
Volleyball
Steamboat Days Festival
Oksoberfest
Jeffersonville Riverfront Oct. 17 - 19 All Day
Oct. 8
Women’s Tennis versus St. Catherine 4 p.m. - 7p.m. Activities Building
University Commons Oct. 13 - 16; Noon - 1 p.m.
Oct. 10
Oct. 11
Bogarting Hogart Art Batman: Movie and Talk Show Reception Back w/Lee Meriwether 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Library Art Gallery
Presented by Alpha Phi Omega 6:30 p.m. Hoosier Room East Admission: $8
Ecuador Study Abroad Program 2015 Info
Caufield’s Halloween Parade 7p.m. - Midnight Baxter Ave. Louisville, Ky
7:30 p.m. - 11 p.m. New Albany Ampitheater
Oct. 14
Oct. 15
Oct. 17
Oct. 18
State of the University Address Broadcast
Health and Wellness Series: Prevention and Treatment
Night Out New Albany
Louisville Crashers
versus Asbury 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Activities Building
1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Hine Hall, IUPUI
Old 97’s 8 p.m. - 11:59 p.m. Headliners Music Hall Admission: $20
4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Hausfeldt Building
7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. University Center 127
5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Various Locations Downtown New Albany
Brewfest
4 p.m. - 10 p.m. Louisville Slugger Field Admission: $5
Mad Taxpayers
8:30 p.m. Jeffersonville River Stage
Secrets of Louisville Chefs 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Bourbon Barrel Foods Story Avenue, Louisville
A WEEK OFF THE BEAN
MY EXPERIENCES OF ABSTAINING FROM COFFEE By MARISA GARTLAND Staff mtgartla@ius.edu
Tomorrow, my journey begins. I’m not riding the Great Wall of China on my motorcycle, hitch-hiking across the U.S., or starting a rigorous, life-changing workout routine. No, I’m doing something much more treacherous: for the next week, I’ll be abstaining from all caffeine. A little insight on my caffeine habits: while I’m not a multi-cup-a-day coffee drinker, I religiously start my day with a double shot of espresso, and not much else. The high amount of caffeine in a double shot first thing in the morning floors my little 105 pound body into go-mode all day. It’s been this way since I worked in a coffee shop a good three years ago – around the same time that my college career began and my free time vanished. Why would I ever put myself through such horror, you ask? For science…! Or for a grade, or really, to just see if I can and to study the effects on my body as I experience caffeine withdrawal first hand.
Day 1
Nine a.m.: time to get up. The snooze button and I are good buddies, and I give him a few pats and snooze away my getting-ready time in ten minute intervals. This is so habitual I don’t even think about it. In fact, I incorporate snooze button time, and almost always go over–mainly because I know all I have to do
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is punch the power button on my espresso machine on my groggy, half-zombied slump to the bathroom, and by the time I’m out, another quick press of a button brews me a freshly ground two ounces of rich, black gold. Within seconds, the rush will straighten my posture, increase my pace (and heart rate,) and I’ll be chipper as a summer rose, ready to go and face the day head on. …But, not today. Today, I sleep through my snooze alarms. I wake up (only by the intense force of my bladder) two hours later, feeling like the sun outside is playing a trick on me, as my internal clock feels like it’s still 6 a.m.. What the hell have I gotten myself into? At least today is my day off.
Days 2 & 3 Have you ever tried to find a solution to an algorithmic problem while simultaneously trying to break through a concrete wall with your forehead? Probably (hopefully) not, but only these choice words can cast light onto how my head is feeling on days two and three. On day one, I’d like to think my brain was still processing the idea of a caffeine-free week. By the second and third day, with a cold, heavy hand, reality came knocking at my door. Not only does my head feel like a beat up old punching bag, my whole body aches, too. Muscles in my body twitch and suffer like I just finished my last day of Insanity or P90X, but I’ve hardly moved further than the length between my bed and my car door. And the irritability–may this be a public apology to anyone’s head that was bitten off by yours truly during these dark and challenging times. Grumpy is an understatement, and God help you if you called me
that during days two and three, as I probably chewed you up and spit you out like old gum. I know I’m just an old slob desperate for the sweet high from a cup of coffee, a cherry coke, a hot A hot tea—but today, your demeanor, shirt, pants, even your face irritates me, and I’m going to tell you all about it. (Did I mention I’m sorry?)
Days 4 & 5 Days four and five seemed like a real life Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde experience. Day four is heavily strapped down with responsibilities—wake up early, study for my Spanish exam, complete the assignments due the day of, do the dishes, mop the floors, straighten up, and then head to work, where I’ll be expected to be perky and bright as a waitress for about eight hours. My demeanor and motivation are shot. My coworkers ask if I’m sick, and many offer me condolences when I tell them of my little experiment/ torture session. Day five, however—the day that should have easily been the most butt-kicking—was my first day of enlightenment. After a hellacious Friday, I’d come home and done some digging to discover some natural forms of energy. Saturdays are twelve hour work days for me, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., typically with no break longer than 20 minutes somewhere in the middle to inhale some food without even tasting it. I knew if I went into this day without any pre-planning, someone may be burying me by the end of it (or at the very least, carrying me to bed.)
The night before, I’d pulled back all my black-out curtains, so that when the sun started climbing the sky in the wee hours, it’d be smacking me square in the face. Something like this would typically irritate my cranky old “where’s-my-coffee” self, but your body actually perceives light as a signal as it being time to wake up, just as it perceives darkness as bedtime. Instead of high-fiving my snooze button for an hour, I actually woke up before my alarm went off. I opted to spend my morning making a healthy breakfast, followed by meditation in the sun and some made-up yoga and stretching techniques.
Today is different. The class has my attention, but I sit still and calmly. The clock doesn’t demand my attention, and I can actually notice a difference in my breathing. I’m way less on edge, and the last five minutes of class don’t drag on in agony. I chew minty gum to keep my senses alert, and that little bit of test anxiety everyone gets beforehand, while not extinguished, is comparably smaller.
After
Day 6 & 7 By day six, which is a Sunday and the last day of my work week, coworkers are asking if I’d given up. I’m happy to deny such accusations, and tell of the techniques I’d again replicated this Sunday morning. My last shift seemed to be smoother than the first one by ten-fold. However, going seven- to- eight hours on little to no grub was killing me–something I didn’t notice as much at work because the caffeine always curbed my appetite until I actually had time to eat. Day seven is the final day, Monday, and my first day of classes for the week. First responsibility of the day is that Spanish exam, the first of the semester. A week ago you could find me in the same classroom tapping my feet, twiddling my fingers, and glaring at the clock every couple of minutes, unable to sit still and feeling like time had slowed after I’d downed my routine double shot just moments before the class.
Photos by Marisa Gartland
I know the big question you’re all asking as you inch near the end of this read: did I continue to abstain from caffeine after my experiment was over? In a perfect fairy tale, I gave it up forever, ran off with my caffeine-free prince and lived happily decaffeinated ever after. But, let’s be real. Not only do I enjoy and benefit from the caffeine buzz, lots of my favorite beverages and foods include caffeine – like chocolate, which without, I will shrivel up and die, no experiment needed. What I can say is how much I learned on the overall effect of caffeine on my body, especially its ability to hush my body when it’s trying to send me important signals like “feed me!” or “why have you been awake for 20 hours? This isn’t normal!” While I haven’t completely kicked caffeine to the curb, I think I’ll be more likely to try out more natural forms of energy-gain, and reach for a protein drink every now and then in place of my go-to double shot.
WARES OF THE WORLD
An International Market with handcrafted items from Africa, Asia, and Latin America
Level Ground Trading’s mission is to trade producers in developing countries fairly and directly with small-scale, offering customers ethical choices.
Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit organization with a long history of helping artisans all over the world by giving them a fair trade market in which they can sell their handicrafts.
October 7 & 8 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Hoosier East 10% of sales go to the Artisans and to IUS International scholarships! Come visit us in Hoosier East (near the cafeteria) to get unique hand-crafted goods!
A note from The Horizon about mental illness awareness Most of us care about our health. We regularly go to the doctor, watch our weight, try to eat right and even sometimes exercise. Often the last thing on our minds, ironically, is our mental health. This week, Oct. 5-11, is Mental Illness Awareness Week across the nation. Mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is “a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning.” This includes schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. College students are particularly at risk for developing some of these illnesses. According to NAMI, one in four college students have been diagnosed or treated by a professional for a mental health condition within the last 12 months. More than 10 percent reported being diagnosed or treated for depression and more than 80 percent say they feel overwhelmed by the workload that college requires. Most concerning is that these conditions may not end with graduation, as 75 percent of lifetime cases of mental health conditions begin by the age of 24. One of the fastest growing mental illnesses is PTSD. Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars
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have begun coming home in the past year and, according to the PTSD Foundation of America, one in three are being diagnosed with PTSD symptoms. Less than 40 percent seek help for their illness. Some attempt suicide, but most go back to work, school and their families, choosing to suffer in silence. A small sample survey in 2012 found that about 6.3 percent of the IU Southeast student population has had some sort of military background. But you don’t have to have been in a warzone to experience PTSD. Natural disasters, sudden emotional loss, serious accidents, and sexual or physical assault or abuse can all trigger symptoms of PTSD. What all of this means is that it is almost certain that you, or one of your classmates, is or has suffered from a mental illness. In honor of Mental Illness Awareness Week, The Horizon has dedicated a special section of our coverage in this issue and on our website to exploring the causes, symptoms and struggles of mental illness, in particular PTSD. By telling our fellow students’ stories, and our own, we hope to create a dialogue that will enable others to gain a better understanding of the challenges of mental illness and possibly allow those who are suffering in the shadows to seek the help they deserve.
RAISING AWARENESS The death of Robin Williams has sparked a national conversation about mental health. But how do we deal with mental health on a local level, or even a personal one? These are the questions Beth Rueschhoff, assistant professor of biology at IU Southeast, is raising in her ongoing series on mental health. By ETHAN SMITH Staff etlsmith@ius.edu
Rueschhoff designed the talks to appeal to Amanda Stonecipher, director of residence some of the schools on campus such as nursing, life and housing and local police, also spoke at psychology and sociology. The most recent talk the event discussing what students should do held on Oct. 1 in the Hoosier Room tackled the when faced with emergency situations such as question of community response. Michael Day, school shootings or suicide. But Day stressed psychiatrist and that the stigma director of personal that all mentally counseling at IU ill people are Southeast, was the dangerous and main speaker at the should be avoided event. is one that needs “Tonight’s to be addressed. presentation is called “First of all, ‘The Community we need to know Response Side’. and be aware of Hopefully it will shed your own biases a little light on how and stereotypes, we can understand and try to counter Beth Rueschhoff, assistant mental health those,” Day said. professor of biology and wellness in a “So that our own more accurate and anxiety and our supportive manner. And how we can intervene own nervousness doesn’t get in the way. And the in the lives of our friends, family or even second thing would be to have a conversation, ourselves in ways that could be more effective start talking to somebody.” and supportive,” Day said. Rueschhoff said that she hopes these This means looking out for warning signs talks will dispel some of these stigmas in our such as the four D’s: dysfunction, distress, community. And by raising awareness she deviance and danger. And practicing QPR which hopes to make students and others feel more stands for question, persuade and refer. Day comfortable seeking help. describes QPR as the mental version of CPR, “I would hope people would come away with because it allows you to help someone until an awareness of the people around them and professional help can intervene. any issues they are having,” Rueschhoff said. “So often in our society we won’t ask “And how to help those people instead of shying those questions, we’re scared to death to ask away from the issue or just leaving it alone. We someone, ‘how you’re doing?’” Day said. “We can help support everyone in our community.” don’t ask, we don’t talk about it, we shut up, we The next talk is titled “The Prevention & turn around and let things go and later we feel Treatment Side” and will be held on Oct. 15 awful. Whether it leads to suicide or some other from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in University Center problematic behavior.” North, Room 127.
...there’s no discourse on campus or in our community about mental health or illness, or anything pertaining to
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By ETHAN SMITH Staff etlsmith@ius.edu
I could be in a classroom here and somebody would walk past and drop a book. Well, that’s a loud ‘pop’ sound in an echoing hallway, and I’m set off for the rest of the day. I’m looking around. I’m nervous. Richard Weaver, IUS alumnus and former U.S. Navy medic
Two student veterans share PTSD struggles Scan your sector. Is that a piece of trash on the side of the road or an I.E.D.? Scan your sector. Is this just a narrow hallway or a killzone? Scan your sector. Fellow student or suicide bomber? Scan your sector. Friend or foe? Scan your sector. School or warzone? This is what life is like for student veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), working to transition out of hypervigilant “scan your sector” mindset they experienced on deployments. “I could be in a classroom here and somebody would walk past and drop a book,” said Richard Weaver, an IUS alumnus who served two tours in Iraq as a Navy medic. “Well, that’s a loud ‘pop’ sound in an echoing hallway, and I’m set off for the rest of the day. I’m looking around. I’m nervous, I’m sitting in the back of the room thinking, ‘Shit, what if somebody comes through that door?’” For Weaver, the experiences that create these reactions not only come from the battlefield but also from his time as an EMT and police officer. One incident
was a shootout with a mentally ill woman. In another, Weaver fought for his life with someone wielding a knife in a Meijer parking lot. To this day, just being in a grocery store parking lot triggers Weaver’s PTSD. “One of my biggest triggers is Target. When I get to the front of Target, I don’t know if it’s all the red, I don’t know what it is. But I get heart palpitations. I get really anxious, and I just have to get out of there,” he said. Weaver’s PTSD may stem from violent events, but they don’t lead him to violence. He said PTSD is misunderstood: People think those who suffer from it are psychotic and one step away from shooting everyone. But when Weaver’s PTSD kicks in, he wants to remove himself from the situation. That’s a common reaction, say many professionals who treat those with PTSD. Another misconception is that PTSD comes only due to military combat. But PTSD can develop from any traumatic event, such as sexual assault or growing up in an abusive household. “I know guys that were not on the frontlines, but they were digging up mass graves, where they were finding hundreds of people buried on top of each other, women and children,” Weaver said. “And that’s what traumatized them.” Logan Walsh, a fine arts senior who deployed twice to Iraq as a military policeman, said seeing wounded children in the aftermath of firefights brought on his PTSD. “Seeing this one little girl and knowing there isn’t anything I could do as a Marine because it’s not in my mission,” Walsh said. “And calling for medivac is not going to happen.”
“But for that to be my trigger means I’m not just some hopeless killing machine that goes through cities preying on targets. I am bothered by the aftereffects of combat engagements.”
So What Exactly is PTSD?
Michael Day, director of Personal Counseling Services and a clinical psychologist at IU Southeast, explains that PTSD is an anxiety disorder. It can be caused by a single traumatic event, multiple traumatic events or even just prolonged time under stress. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 61 percent of all men and 51 percent of all women will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives. Day said that many of us already exhibit some of the same symptoms found in those who have PTSD, only on a lesser scale. In fact, 52 percent of the students who seek counseling at IU Southeast do so because of anxiety, stress or depression, all of which are symptoms of PTSD. But Day said that while many people are able to overcome their feelings of anxiety or depression, people with PTSD can have a harder time. When someone with PTSD experiences a trigger, Day said, the brain reverts to the fight-or-flight instinct. “Your muscles tighten, your heart’s going faster, your breathing is more shallow,” Day said. “It is an automatic process. You can’t shut it off simply by thinking about it.” In that situation, PTSD sufferers go into survival mode, when the logical part of the brain shuts down. “It works when you’re in a situation where survival is what’s needed,” Day said. “But that part of your brain grows like your muscles grow, and so people with PTSD have overworked that muscle. And it’s the part that
doesn’t recognize the difference between a test and a gun.” But PTSD isn’t experienced the same by all those who suffer from it. Every trauma, every trigger and even the way someone perceives the trauma is unique to that individual. That also means that treatments must be personalized. Day recalls working with two brothers in Louisville who both grew up abused. But because the younger brother had ADHD and the older brother was very protective, the younger brother was less traumatized. Many people may experience the same event, but not everyone will develop PTSD, and some may be affected more than others. That’s something Weaver said he has witnessed himself during his time in the military. “I know (Navy) SEALs, and I’ve heard horror stories,” he said. “But no signs, no symptoms of PTSD whatsoever. They loved it. They would do it again in a heartbeat – doesn’t bother them. They don’t miss a day of sleep.” This discrepancy between those witnessing the trauma and those affected has led many to believe there are certain biological and social predispositions for PTSD. Some of the people more likely to develop PTSD include women, those with childhood trauma, psychiatric problems, less education, lower socioeconomic status, and racial minorities, said Cynthia Ramminger, PTSD program coordinator at the Louisville VA Medical Center. Ramminger and Nicole Luddington, a VA psychiatrist, said these predisposing factors aren’t the only reason people get PTSD. Repeated military deployments or even the way one handles stress increase the chances. “Psychology definitely plays a role,” Luddington said. “Your own self esteem, what we would call your ego strength, whatever defense mechanisms you have and your support system going in. All those will play a role in how you react when you’re exposed to a trauma.” Luddington says that while we have come very far in
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to track their symptoms. Despite its flaws, Ramminger said, the staff is doing its best. If “going to medical” was a thing to be avoided, some “Veterans utilize the skills that we teach them in veterans with PTSD turn to self-medication. therapy. We can’t take away the memories. We can’t “For me it started being like six o’clock in the morning. remove those, and there may always be sadness about I’m up, the alarm’s off and I’m not even getting in the some of the traumatic events,” she said. “But we give shower yet. I’m going for the first beer in the fridge, them the tools, moving forward.” because I just don’t want to deal with the day,” Walsh said. “And then I’m coming to campus just completely inebriated, just hammered to get through a class.” According to the VA, one out of every three veterans seeking treatment for substance abuse disorders also has PTSD. The combination of avoidance and self-medication is one of the many issues driving an alarming number of veteran suicides. A 2012 VA study showed that veterans were committing suicide at a rate of 18 to 22 per day.
Self Medication
our understanding of PTSD, there is still a lot we don’t understand about the biological side of the disorder. And that means limitations in treatment and prevention. “I don’t think there is any way to prepare some of our combat troops for what they’re about to see,” Luddington said. “You might be able to take them out and say this is what it sounds like when bullets are flying all around you. But preparing them for seeing a burned body, or watching their fellow soldier get shot and killed right next to them? I don’t think there’s any preparation for that.” Both Weaver and Walsh said that the training they received was vital for survival during combat, but that it is undoubtedly, and maybe for good reason, extreme. “I mean the first thing they do in boot camp is they break you down, they mentally change who you are,” Weaver said.
Avoidance
Seeking help
Ramminger said that a mission-oriented mindset can also lead to the number one issue with treatment – avoidance. “They are more trained to keep going,” Ramminger said. “That there’s no reaction, that you continue to fight for safety…. That’s what interferes with treatment the most, that desire to avoid. We have people who start the treatments, and that avoidance may interfere. And they don’t come back in. That is probably the biggest challenge that we face.” Walsh said many in the military attach a negative connotation to seeking medical attention. “No one wants to go to medical, regardless,” he said. “Because medical in the military is not necessarily a friendly environment. Because the rule of the job is to get you rehabilitated, recapacitated and put you back out in that position.” After his first deployment to Iraq, Walsh said he was asked to fill out a medical questionnaire about his mental state. When he arrived at the question “Do you think this deployment will have any adverse affects on you or your family?” he said he put “yes.” “Because to think that this deployment is not going to have any adverse effects would be crazy,” Walsh said. “So when I circled “yes” and turned it into the lieutenant commander, he looked at it and said you can initial this box, cross it out, and circle ‘no.’” Walsh said the officer explained that if he circled “yes,” he would have to stay in Iraq to receive medical attention, but if he circled “no,” he could go back home where he would be free to pursue medical help on his own. “So I’m one day away from getting on a flight and going home or one box away from staying for another three weeks on medical hold, in a country that I hate,” Walsh said. “And three weeks is a lot, so I crossed that box out and I put ‘no.’” In 10 days, Walsh was back home. And six months later, Walsh and his unit were deployed to Iraq for a second tour of duty.
It often takes a spouse, friend or even law enforcement to recognize the problem and get help for a veteran with PTSD. For Walsh, it was just an uneasy feeling. He simply went into the Louisville VA Medical Center and sat down in the waiting area. “Luckily, one of the ladies behind the counter was an old staff sergeant from the Marine Corps,” he said. “She walked over and said, ‘Why are you here?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know.’ Before he walked out of the door that day, he had two prescriptions for his symptoms and an appointment for another consultation. Walsh is now currently on six prescriptions. But Ramminger said the VA offers more than just prescriptions to battle PTSD. It uses three different evidence-based treatments. And to really make progress, she said, medication and therapy are both necessary. “The medication has really helped with nightmares, depression and anxiety,” she said. “But these treatments actually treat the illness. … And we have research to show that people maintain progress.” Both Walsh and Weaver go to the VA for treatment, but Weaver wants the VA to offer more. “As a psychology major, I know that for therapy to work you need to be talking to your therapist at least once every two weeks. We prefer like once a week,” Weaver said, “At the VA, you’re lucky if you get an appointment once every eight to 10 weeks. That’s not therapy; that’s not helping PTSD victims. That’s basically making sure they’re not about to off themselves.” Nationally, the VA has caught flak for being unable to assist the increasing number of veterans seeking help. Ramminger said her department treats 30 to 40 people a day. The Louisville VA Medical Center is building a larger facility and using technologies that allow doctors to conduct therapy over the internet. It also provides services like the PTSD Coach app, which allows patients Photo illustration by Bekah White
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By JIMS PORTER Managing Editor jrporter@ius.edu
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I still remember the words of a friend who was by my side in the ER after I attempted suicide. It was seeing me there, he later told me, my mouth still black with charcoal and my eyes raw and red with tears, that he realized everything he had done to take care of me in my darkest hour still wasn’t enough to stop me from hurting myself. Truth be told, he was exactly right: There is no single cure-all for depression. Treatment for mental illness requires more than empathy and support. Even the most loving friends and family lose loved ones to mental illness, and even the best therapists lose patients to suicide. In 2012, President Obama challenged Congress to reform the national mental health care system. More than two years later, nothing has been done. The death of Robin Williams reignited, if only momentarily, conversations around mental health reform. I was surprised in the days following his death by the remarks I saw and heard, even from my own friends. “If only he knew how loved he was. If only he’d reached out for help.” I struggle to understand how people can’t see that mental illness isn’t something you can just will away. Being sick is not selfish, and knowing you’re loved, even reaching out for help, isn’t always enough. I know, because I’ve lived it. Before moving to Louisville, I attended Brigham Young University. BYU, respectfully, didn’t offer me an environment for positive personal growth. Admittedly, it took me too long to realize that. BYU is a private Mormon college, and I hold the value of its education in high regard. But as my 22-year-old self struggled to make sense of a confusing collision of religion and sexual identity, the weight of my depression, paired with a series of toxic relationships, became too much to bear. I knew I was loved and I sought out help. And even though I was going to therapy and taking my medication, I couldn’t get out of bed. I called out of work and skipped my classes. I couldn’t eat, but still went on seven, eight, sometimes nine mile runs at 4 in the morning, just to prove to myself that I still maintained some control. My deteriorating emotional and mental state seeped into every facet of my life: falling behind in classes, losing credibility at work, extreme weight loss. I had friends, some of whom I have since lost, who were the most generous, patient and understanding people I have ever met. Friends who would lie with me night after night, sometimes without exchanging a word, just so I knew I wasn’t alone. In spite of a strong support system and access to
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take only out-of-pocket patients. This limits access to mental health care to the wealthy, effectively neglecting some of the most vulnerable of our population. The need for mental health care reform is real. We can help foster this change by having open conversations and breaking down the stigmas that surround mental illness and seeking help. This is why I have chosen to share my story. Eventually, my depression got the best of me. I saw no hope for happiness. I was blinded to the beauty and opportunity in the world around me. I had lost my will to fight, and to no fault of my own or anyone of those who were so desperately trying to save me. In the days, months and eventual years that ensued, I continued to battle the feelings of insecurity and inadequacy that accompanied my depression. I made progress and sometimes encountered setbacks. But I fought every day to break the harmful thought patterns and physical rituals I had become addicted to. That is something I have learned about depression: Even when we learn how to cope with mental illness in healthy ways, our brains never forget how to be depressed. Even with all the right tools, we can still fall back into old habits. This is why inclusive mental health care reform is so important. Just as diseases like diabetes require constant monitoring, those suffering from mental illness also deserve access to effective, holistic treatment. Chronic mental illness requires individualized medical attention, with access to affordable resources. Four years have passed since I attempted suicide. And though I still struggle to forgive myself and accept forgiveness from those hurt by that experience, I never want to go back to the dark place depression led me. I no longer feel guilty and flawed for being sick. I no longer believe that the more I hate myself, the more room it makes to be loved by someone else. I no longer surround myself with people who exacerbate my insecurities and uncertainties. But these realizations didn’t come overnight. It wasn’t one friend, one session with my therapist or one dose of my medication that inevitably saved my life. It was a combination of all these things. I recognize the role each played in helping me recover and am fortunate to have had access to them. We can catalyze action now initiating conversations about our experiences, successes and failures, and breaking down the stigmas. IU Southeast has organized a Mental Health and Wellness series this year to help to do this. We should be participating in these conversations. Finally, with midterm elections approaching, we can help fulfill President Obama’s challenge by electing candidates who will work to create reform now, rather than waiting for the next tragedy to take action.
Americans suffer from mental illness
Americans die by suicide each year
90%
of those have at least one mental disorder
I WAS ALMOST ONE OF THEM resources to help me recover, things weren’t getting better. In fact, I only got worse. Though we can’t know exactly why some see suicide as their only option, we do know that mental illness is taking the lives of too many people: too many brothers and sisters, parents, children and lovers. We also know that access to mental health care is getting harder, not easier. For some, the Affordable Care Act has helped bridge this gap. A provision allowing parents to keep children on their health-insurance plans has aided millions of young people to seek treatment. Many others, however, remain uninsured for a number of legitimate reasons. Even those who carry coverage for mental health care struggle to find the help they need. As reimbursement rates continue to drop even further, many therapists are forced to
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WIRED By ERIN MANN Staff erimann@umail.iu.edu
University Information Technology Services (UITS) has made many improvements to the technology on campus. These upgrades and additions will make things easier and better for students on campus. UITS has finished rewiring the network in some buildings on campus by creating wire closets that increase the network capacity. “These increase the network capacity by 10 times and more data is allowed through,” Lee Staton, UITS manager of Communications and Special Projects, said. By increasing the network capacity, this means more students will be able to use the network at a faster speed. Knobview Hall, the Ogle Center, Physical Sciences
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University Information Technology Services makes tech improvements across campus
Building, Athletics Building and the Physical Plant have been rewired. Life Sciences Building, the Children’s Center, Crestview Hall and Hillside Hall are the next buildings that will be worked on. In addition, UITS has been redesigning open study spaces. They want to make them comfortable spaces to bring computers. “Power outlets have been added to walls and tables. There are also collaboration tables for groups,” Staton said. New furniture and technology will be added to the Knobview mezzanine. The study area in Hillside Hall is already redone, and Life Science and Physical Science Buildings will be completely redone after winter break. UITS has also developed charging stations. These charging stations allow students to charge their phones and other electronic devices. It senses what kind of phone you have and charges it as efficiently as possible. There are eight cables on the charging stations. There will be five charging stations placed across campus. The Commons and Hillside Hall already have them.
“Charging stations are a good idea. I think the money being used towards them could go to better things, but it will make students happy,” Erin Legg, communications junior, said. UITS has also developed IU Print Mobile. IU Print Mobile works on your phone, laptop, tablet and desktop. This gives students another option when it comes to printing on campus. “I think I would still prefer using the computer and printing from there because my phone does not always connect to the school’s Wi-Fi. I do not typically open up any school work on my phone,” Haley Little, psychology senior, said. It is as simple as attaching a document from your IU Southeast e-mail to a specific email for black and white printing and color printing. The black and white printing e-mail is rcbw@iu.edu and the color printing e-mail is rccolor@iu.edu. The document will print out on any printer on campus. To learn more about the technology updates and additions at IU Southeast, visit the University Information Technology Services website at ius.edu/IT.
Photo by Joel Stinnett
University Information Technology Services has developed charging stations that allow students to charge their phones and other electronic devices.
YIK YAK app lets students anonymously yap By RAIN HOPKINS Staff rghopkin@ius.edu That thing you’ve always wanted to say but never had the guts to can now be shared with the world (totally anonymously) thanks to the latest social media trend-- Yik Yak. Yik Yak is the app that allows users over the age of 17 to write posts (called yaks) on a feed consisting of other users in the area. This will most often link you to a college-based feed, but can sometimes revolve around a music festival or other big event. Once your yak is posted, other users can “upvote” or “downvote” your yak. This is similar to “liking” a Facebook post, except your yak can receive negative “Yakarma” points. Jessica Pilkerton, secondary education sophomore, downloaded Yik Yak last weekend. Pilkerton said she doesn’t often use the app, but will check out IU Southeast’s feed when campus is especially crowded. After just a week with the app, Pilkerton said she can already see that there is a good side and a bad side to Yik Yak. “Say you’re an organization on campus and you’re trying to get the word out. It’s another app where you could advertise. But, it’s also pretty much an anonymous way to bully people,” Pilkerton said. Pilkerton said that she sees a lot of unnecessary drama, mainly among different fraternities. Other than that, she said, IU Southeast’s feed can be pretty uneventful. “Geese, food, and Greek life. That’s about as much as you’ll see pop up the news feed,” Pilkerton said. Aside from the frat drama, Yik Yak has caused more serious problems at other colleges. According to Huffington Post, the president at Norwich University in Vermont blocked the app from use on the campus, saying it was being used to cyber-bully students. And though the app is not intended for use by those below the age of 17, high schools around Alabama and Chicago have already faced bullying issues stemming from Yik Yak. Even with all of its negative repercussions, there are still people who thoroughly enjoy using Yik Yak. Mechanical engineering junior, Wes Clark, said he checks Yik Yak between
classes for some prime entertainment. “I think it’s cool. You really get to know what people are actually thinking around you,” Clark said. Eastern Asian international studies sophomore, Rebeccah Nesbitt, doesn’t have Yik Yak but said she is considering downloading it. “It might be worth it, for advice and questions, or even just for meeting people,” Nesbitt said. “But when it turns to cyber-bullying, that’s ridiculous.” Co-founders Tyler Droll and Brooks Buffington created Yik Yak with intent to, “create conversations and build communities without prerequisites such as prior relationships,”said Yik Yak media relations representative, Zachary Nola. But as with any social network, problems arise. Clark said Yik Yak can feature what most would consider some pretty crude and unfiltered posts. The app, however, does allow users to report inappropriate yaks. Nola said the company continues to build its technology to limit negative interactions. But Pilkerton doesn’t see censorship as the solution. “I think the whole point of the app is to get your opinion across. As long as it isn’t violent, it’s fine,” Pilkerton said. But for the most part, said Nola, yakkers learn responsibility on their own. “As more users sign up and start using the app, each community begins to self-regulate,” Nola said. The future of the Yak is apparently looking bright. Nola said that the company has plans to go on a tour that will stop at 32 college campuses along the West Coast, in hopes of establishing themselves at each. “It’ll be a lot of fun and include a huge tour bus, yak mascots, bicycle rickshaws, and a customized mechanical yak so that people can literally “Ride the Yak”,” Nola said. Whether the Yak will climb the ladder to social media success or crash and burn is something fellow yakkers are eager to see. Nesbitt said she predicts success in the app’s future, because regardless of positive or negative feedback, it’s being talked about. “I think it’ll keep growing just by word of mouth. Already I’m interested in it. I’m actually probably gonna go download it after this,” Nesbitt said.
More Service, Less Politics
Islam is our enemy, and other myths
Source of info: Pew Research Center, 2012
According to a 2012 Pew Research Study, a majority of the world’s Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region. The Middle East makes up only 19.8 percent of the world’s total Muslim population.
By JOSH MEDLOCK Staff jrmedloc@indiana.edu
Fawaz Almutairi, political science senior who moved from Kuwait in 2008, was leaving a Louisville sports bar after a night out with friends when a man shouted at him from across the road, “Fuck off, you Muslim!” This wasn’t the first time Almutairi, a former Muslim, had been judged for his Middle Eastern heritage.
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“Sometimes I face racism issues,” Almutairi said. “Some people generalize. They think since [Osama] Bin Laden was a Muslim, every Muslim is like him.” John Bowen, a professor in arts and sciences sociocultural anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis, said that American misconceptions of Islam and Muslims are common. On Sept. 5, as airstrikes from a U.S.-led coalition rained down on Islamic State militants in Syria, Bowen visited the University of Louisville campus to discuss some of the misunderstandings of Islam. Bowen said many of these misconceptions come from, as Almutairi said, generalizing Muslims. “That sort of block thinking, where ‘they’ all think alike and differently than we do, is something that,
of course, is going to perpetuate prejudices against people who are different than we are,” Bowen said.
Myth: Islam Encourages terrorism Jean Abshire, associate professor of political science, said it is important to differentiate between terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State and the actual religion of Islam. “I’ve seen some people liken it to the Westboro Baptist Church being the poster child for Christianity,” Abshire said. “[The Islamic State] can call themselves Islamic, but it doesn’t mean their beliefs align at all with mainstream Islam.” Abshire said the common misconception of
Guidelines • Entrants must have a connection with IU Southeast
Renée Petrina Tower Locks in the Bell
Kristin Cox Indigenous Community of Ecuador
• Photos will be on display in the library Nov. 17-21 • Anyone can vote for the People’s Choice Winners • Entrants must have taken photo outside of the U.S. • The contest applications are available at http://tinyurl.com/IUSphotocontest14 • Any questions, contact Melanie Hughes (mehughes@ius.edu)
Muslims being pro-terrorism primarily comes from the average U.S. citizen not knowing any Muslims. If a person hears of Islam only through the violent headlines from the media, it could lead to a skewed perception, she said. Bowen said the media, and citizens across the world, have a duty to depict Islam as accurately as possible. “Ideas have consequences,” said Bowen. “Publicly proclaiming false ideas about Muslims and Islam reinforce existing fears and can produce hatred.”
Myth: Most Muslims are from the Middle East American culture often seems to associate Muslims with the Middle East, but data shows this idea is not accurate. According to a 2010 Pew Research study, most Muslims live in Asia and the Pacific (61.7 percent of the total Muslim population,) with Indonesia containing the largest number in one country. The Middle East and North Africa make up less than 20 percent of the world’s population of Muslims. Iran, the country with the largest Muslim population in the Middle East, contains just 4.6 percent of the total Muslim population. Both Bowen and Abshire also emphasized that not all Muslims speak Arabic, which they believe to be a common misconception of Islam.
Trey Taurman Barb Wire
Myth: Islam Oppresses Women The image of Middle Eastern women silently donning all-black coverings from head-to-toe like a ghost is often seen in movies and in the news. Abshire said that while Islam does call for women to dress modestly, this female garment, known as a burqa, isn’t required by Islam and isn’t necessarily forced upon them. “Women wearing head coverings is not only a Muslim thing,” Abshire said. “I would definitely call it much more of a cultural thing than a religious thing.” In Turkey, a country that is 99.8 percent Muslim according to the World Factbook, many women wear veils because they freely choose to—even while the government has actively discouraged it, Abshire said.
Myth: Muslims want a violent jihad against America Jihad is a term often tossed around in the media to describe a religious war Muslims are waging against America and other western nations. Abshire said jihad is generally not understood by most Muslims to mean violence or an assault on America. “Islam teaches against murder, teaches against violence,” Abshire said. “What jihad means for most Muslims is a struggle to live life according to the faith – it’s an internal struggle with the weaker self.” Abshire also said Americans are not the only
Aaron Setter d Dunluce Cas ahl tle Rainbow
population to suffer from the atrocious acts of Muslim extremists like the Islamic State. Other Muslims are killed by these terrorist groups far more often than Americans are, and the extremists also hurt the moderate Muslim population in a non-physical way, she said. “They have the offense at what is happening to fellow human beings and then the added offense of having it done in the name of their faith,” Abshire said.
Myth: Things will Never Change Abshire, Bowen and Almutairi said stereotyping Muslims has caused numerous problems for the peaceful Muslims both in the United States and across the globe. Bowen said citizens must combat these stereotypes and misconceptions about Islam with education and understanding. “I think the challenge for all of us,” Bowen said, “is to resist the temptation to follow some of our elected officials and blame Islam for the misdeeds of the few who proclaim to act in the name of Islam.” Almutairi, who lives with the consequences of Muslim misconceptions daily, mirrored Bowen’s belief that Islam education is crucial. “I think people should view Islam as just another religion,” Almutairi said. “Be informed on Islam in general. Don’t make something from nothing.”
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THE US AND THE ISLAMIC STATE By JIMS PORTER Managing Editor jrporter@ius.edu
The Islamic State, or ISIL, is a terrorist group that has gained prominence this summer. It declared a new caliphate, taking over parts of Iraq and Syria, and beheaded two American journalists. When the United States pulled out of Iraq, the new government was structured to be inclusive of three ethnic groups: the Kurds, the Sunnis and the Shia. The Shia, the dominant group, eventually established a Shia-led government. Cliff Staten, professor of political science and international studies, researches U.S. foreign
policy decision making and terrorism. He described ISIL as an amalgamation of groups that rose in opposition to both the Syrian government and the new government in Iraq. In both cases, they did not have any way of participating in the political system. In September, President Obama announced the United States would join with a broad coalition of allies to take action against ISIL in the Middle East. Staten sat down with the Horizon to talk about the implications of U.S. intervention.
in Iraq that consists of Sunni, Shia and Kurds, there is at least a minimal check on Iranian power. But if Iraq splits, then southern Iraq becomes totally Shia and they bolster the Iranian threat. I see that as the biggest risk in the region.
Cliff Staten Professor of political science and international studies
Q) What is at the heart of the United States taking action against ISIL? A) I think the immediate reason was a result of a large drum beat by the members of Congress — hawks in both parties — that said we have to do something immediately. And the videos [of beheadings] certainly enraged Americans. In some ways, I think Obama would have rather not intervened, but I think that he was pushed into doing so in this situation. Now if you look strategically, if this group remains, Iraq will split into three countries. To me, the big threat to the region and those living there is Iran. It always has been … By having a government
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Q) The United States has said they intend to do this with a “broad coalition” of allies in the Middle East. Who does this coalition consist of? A) The main allies are the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan. These country’s social structures are very clannish, so they have ties to groups in this area to begin with. So one thing we are doing is using them for intelligence reasons because they have such close ties to this group, something we really lack in this area.
we won’t have special advisers there? They’re already there. If there’s an opportunity to send in Special Forces to assassinate and kill key leaders, I think we’ll do that. Does that mean large numbers of troops on the ground? I don’t think this president will do that. I would be surprised. But never say never. Q) In his address, President Obama also said that he will “degrade and destroy” ISIL. Do you think that’s realistic? A) Degrade, yes. Destroy? I don’t know what that means. As I’ve said many times, you rarely defeat a terrorist group militarily. So if that’s what he means, then I don’t think that’s going to happen. Even if in the next four or five years we run ISIL out of Iraq, they’re still going to exist, as long as people believe in that narrative that they have.
You’re narrative is all wrong. Sunniism and Islam does not preach this.
Q) In his September address from the White House, President Obama said he was not interested in putting boots on the ground. How likely do you think it is that the United States won’t have to resort to that? A) I think he’s going to hold his ground on that. Now, does that mean
Q) With your understanding of terrorism, what do you consider the best method to combat ISIL, if not militarily? A) Well, sometimes you have to use military. But ultimately it’s a war of
ideas. To me, one thing [President Obama] has done correctly is recruiting the Saudis, a fundamentalist brand of Sunni Islam, and they’re condemning what ISIL has done… This is a group of Sunnis saying, “You’re narrative is all wrong. Sunniism and Islam does not preach this.” The people in the Middle East are not going to listen to us. But they’ll listen to the Sunnis from Saudi Arabia and [the United Arab Emirates] who are condemning what ISIL is doing because of the common language and because they are all Muslim. Q) How effective do you think the plan President Obama has presented will be? A) Well, a lot of that remains to be seen, doesn’t it? A lot will depend on how the new Iraqi government responds to all this. Are there truly going to keep a multiethnic country with Kurds, Sunni and Shia? Are they going to reintegrate the military? Will the military then carry this out? I argue that you do not defeat [terrorist] groups like this on the ground militarily. Even if we put boots on the group, you’re not going to defeat them. You’re not going to defeat them until they themselves look at the narrative of their political reasons for existence and come to the conclusion that it doesn’t make sense anymore. Only then will this group go out of existence.
IU Southeast advertising program regains strength after losses, makes plans to hire new faculty By SECOY RICHEY Staff vsrichey@ius.edu
Michael Abernethy, senior lecturer of communication studies, took a crash course this summer to educate himself about the field of advertising. Since there were no advertising faculty members to fill the position of coordinator, Abernethy stepped up to the plate to keep the program alive. The advertising program at IU Southeast was started in 1994, by Vijay Reddy, who was described by students as a passionate and caring man. Reddy passed away last fall after a terminal illness. After the passing of Reddy, the department then lost their second professor, Tae Baek, who moved to the University of Kentucky to teach the Media Graduate Program. The students of the advertising program were left shocked, heartbroken and wondering what was next. “I can’t believe it’s been a year since he’s [Reddy] been gone; he has touched all of our lives in a way that incoming students will never experience and I really wish they could see how much of an impact he had on our program,” Tommy Thompson, account executive officer for Ad Club, said. Abernethy said that he could not, in good conscience, let this program fade away, especially after all the hard work Reddy put in. He said his goal is to do it for the students. “When I got the call in late summer 2013, that said Vijay [Reddy] wasn’t in the position to return, my immediate thought was the students and the program and what a void that was going to leave,” Tammy Voigt, visiting professor of advertising said. “When Baek left last spring, that left me as the only faculty member that was actually on campus teaching.” However, Voigt said she is a visiting professor, operating on a year-by-year contract. Voigt said she was in the position to know what the students needed, what kind of support the
faculty needed to provide and understood the role the faculty played in an ad student’s life. She said her immediate priority was the students; someone had to step in to take care of the them.
When I got the call in late summer 2013, that said Vijay [Reddy] wasn’t in the position to return, my immediate thought was the students and the program and what a void that was going to leave, Tammy Voigt, visiting professor of advertising
She said no one was more of a champion than Vijay, and it was in that spirit that she accepted to position to come back and visit this year. Abernethy said the advertising program here has about 60 students who have declared it as their major, and more than 30 students who have shown interest. Abernethy said he is very excited and hopeful for this program and its future. Abernethy said that some proposals have been developed for the program to give students a more in-depth ability to learn what the advertising world entails. He said they have been visiting agencies and asking them what they look for when they hire so he can prepare students, as well as, feel confident they are ready to take on such positions after graduation. The first goal Abernethy has set for the program is to fill the two positions Reddy and Baek left behind. Currently, Tammy Voigt is the visiting professor who he says the department is lucky to have. If all goes
well he is hoping to have the first position filled this year. The second goal is to get a degree plan that really caters to students and getting jobs. The third is to make sure every student leaves with a portfolio, and the fourth is to keep getting students into internships. “The job placement rate for the students in the program is very high, that is something we want to continue,” Abernethy said. “Most students get internships, impress the employers and then get offered jobs.” An advertising club was started last spring for students to engage and prepare themselves for the future. The club meets once a week on campus and is always accepting new members. “The Ad Club was started in remembrance of Vijay for his dedication to cultivating success in his student careers,” Andrew Dangler said, executive officer for Ad Club, said. “Our goal is to help students prepare for the real world through networking, resume building, internship opportunities and guest speakers.” Ad Club can offer students ways to be involved, both on and off campus. “We’ve shifted Ad Club to not just be all about advertising but rather incorporating all majors in communication,” Kathryn Fisher, advertising senior and media executive for Ad Club, said. “We want to give everyone an opportunity to be part of a club thats sole focus is networking and gaining experience in their field of choice.” Abernethy said the advertising department isn’t going anywhere even after the transitional year it’s had. He said students who are interested should attend at least one meeting to get an idea of what is offered through the program. “The advertising program is moving in the right direction and I’m really excited about the potential faculty and the program we can build,” Abernathy said. “Any who are thinking about it, come on board; we have a great future ahead of us.”
War on Wheels By LYNN BAILEY Staff lfbailey@ius.edu
Illustrastion by Bekah White
Uber
Lyft
Base Fare: $2.50
Base Charge: $2.25
Crazy, pink, and fuzzy mustaches have become a reality on the roads today. These mustaches are used by Lyft to distinguish their vehicles from traditional taxis.
Per Minute: $0.30
Per Minute: $0.30
Per Mile: $1.40
Per Mile:
2005 Car or Newer
Cancel Penalty: $5.00
The pink mustaches aren’t the only distinguishable difference between these private ridesharing companies and the yellow taxi cabs that we’ve become familiar with. Uber and Lyft drivers aren’t required to have commercial car insurance on their vehicles, whereas taxis are required to by law. Uber and Lyft are also not required to have the same permits that taxi cabs need from the city to be approved by the state. According to Bryan Bowls, secretary of Councilman Yates office, for the potential safety of Kentucky residents, regulations have been addressed for both Uber and Lyft in the Kentucky courts from the city to the state. Wayne Oaks, general manager of Green Orange Cab of Louisville, spoke about the difference in regulations between these private ride-sharing companies and taxicabs. “It’s unfair trade practices and I don’t believe that they abide by the law,” Oaks said. “Since Uber and Lyft don’t have commercial insurance, that’s why they can charge lower rates for transportation services. Their insurance is no better than anyone’s personal insurance.” These private ride-sharing companies are both operated by a downloadable app. The apps allow the consumer to
Option to Leave Feedback
Minimum:
pay for their ride via smartphone with their debit card, instead of having to pay with cash for a taxi. Each app is downloadable for iPhone, Android and Windows phone. To request a ride through Uber or Lyft the consumer must let the app find its location via GPS. Then, the consumer can set the location and select their driver and desired car. With Uber, a consumer can also request a ride for a friend, but only one ride at a time can be requested. Both apps also allow riders to track their drivers route and estimated time of arrival within the app, or Lyft riders can just look for the pink mustaches. Morgan Szabo, international relations senior, spoke about how she’s used both private ride-sharing companies. “They have been very convenient and affordable,” Szabo said. “Every time I have ordered one or the other, the driver arrives almost immediately in comparison to a taxi.” Szabo also spoke about other features with Uber and Lyft that taxis don’t have. “I also like the fact that the app provides a photo of the driver as well as the number,” Szabo said. To find out more information about requesting a ride through Uber of Lyft go to https://www.uber.com/ or https:// www.lyft.com/
Source: Uber, Lyft & Green Orange Cab
Split Your Fare: if your friend opts in, both credit cards will be charged equally
$1.25
$5.00
First Ride is Free
Taxi Cab Flag Pull (entry of the taxi: $ 2.45 Each Additional Mile: $ 2.25 Wait Time per Minute: $0.33 Wait Time per Hour: $25.00
See a Photo: your driver Per Person Above Four: and their car $3.00
Rate: passengers and Passengers Over 60: Get a Fare Quote: within drivers rate each other. If receive a 10 percent the app you rate someone three discount stars or below, you’ll Track Driver’s Route never be matched with Military Passengers: and Estimated Time of them again receive a 10% discount Arrival Securley Charges Payment: from your saved credit card after the ride has ended Choose Your Ride: from UberX, UberTaxi, UberBlack, UberSUV and UberLux
Lyft Plus: six passenger App Available for Booking car via iPhone and Google Play Store Track Driver’s Route and Estimated Time of Use App to Track Taxi’s Arrival Arrival Securley Charges Payment: from your saved credit card after the ride has ended
Will Match Any Quote from Uber or Lyft
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