Last modified: Thursday, December 9, 2010
IU News Round-up
December 9, 2010
IU trustees to hear projections on health care increases at quarterly meeting
The Bloomington Herald-Times, Dec. 9 --Last update: 12/9 @ 10:50 a.m. Sobering projections on increases in health care costs will be among the agenda items before the Indiana University Board of Trustees when it meets Thursday and Friday at IU East in Richmond. The trustees will meet in a lengthy executive session Thursday morning. Thursday afternoon, President Michael A. McRobbie will lead the trustees in a discussion of his Principles of Excellence strategic plan initiative. Full story.
Vandalism mars Hanukkah in Ind. college town
USA Today, ksdk.com, Dec. 9 -- When Indiana University student Carl Corenblum found a rock and shattered window at the Chabad House Jewish Center near campus, he never thought about the possibility that it could have been a hate crime. But in the days since, authorities have recorded several other incidents of vandalism aimed at the city's Jewish community, including someone taking Hebrew books from two libraries -- one at the university and one off-campus -- and placing them in toilets and urinating on them. Full story. Full story 2.
University Pursuing New Degree
InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report, Dec. 8 -- Health care industry leaders say there is a growing demand for physical therapists, but only three schools in Indiana - Indiana University, University of Indianapolis and the University of Evansville - are accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the physical therapy field is expected to grow much faster than average and job opportunities should be good. Full story.
Why Chinese students ahead of U.S.
CNN.com/video, Dec. 9 -- Jonathan Plucker, Indiana University, talks about China's reading, science and math scores compared to America's. Video.
Some Skeptical Ahead Of City EMS Merger
Theindychannel.com, Dec. 8 -- Some lawmakers said they're still skeptical about changes coming to Indianapolis-area ambulance service Jan. 1. The new Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services Department will be a partnership between the Indianapolis Fire Department, Wishard Memorial Hospital, Indiana University School of Medicine and the Health and Hospital Corporation. The way it essentially works is I'm on loan from the (Indiana University) School of Medicine," Timothy McGuire said. "It's really time out of the emergency department that the school absorbs and that the city absorbs." Full story.
Use of lubricants during sex linked to higher levels of satisfaction, pleasure
Sify.com, Dec. 9 -- Women who used lubricant during sex reported significantly higher levels of satisfaction and pleasure in a new study by sexual health researchers at Indiana University. "In spite of the widespread availability of lubricants in stores and on the Internet, it is striking how little research addresses basic questions of how personal lubricants contribute to the sexual experience," said Debby Herbenick, associate director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion.
Full story.
For chimps, dominance is a double-edged sword
Oneindia.in, Dec. 9 -- Michael Muehlenbein from Indiana University and David Watts from Yale University, USA, carried out the study in 22 male animals at Kibale National Park, Uganda. According to Muehlenbein, "Acquisition and maintenance of high dominance rank often involves frequent aggression, and testosterone has been considered the quintessential physiological moderator of such behavior. However, testosterone also causes suppression of the immune system." Full story.
IU voices in the news
Santa Says: Lip Balms, Sunscreens Make Ideal Stocking Stuffers
Healthcanal.com, Dec. 7 -- Lawrence A. Mark, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the Indiana University School of Medicine and a researcher with the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, said these make ideal gifts because people often forget to protect their skin and lips during the winter when the sun's rays aren't as direct. Full story.
Indiana Republicans seeks to enact abortion restrictions
The Indianapolis Star, Dec. 9 -- Margaret Ferguson, a political science professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, said she isn't surprised that Republicans are pursuing social issues, given their big election wins in November. "When you're newly empowered and in the majority, there's always this temptation to pursue these policies that really speak to your base," she said. Full story.
From the Chronicle
What's Next for Private Universities? Accountability
A potential crisis for the private, nonprofit university is looming. Congress has just regulated for-profit colleges as never before; most observers believe that even more regulation -- this time of private nonprofit higher education -- is coming. Will it be our own 1933? That was the year Congress passed landmark securities legislation to correct a corporate culture that had inflamed the crash of 1929 and then the Great Depression. Are we -- should we be -- on the verge of a legal revolution in accountability? The answer: Most likely, and soon. Full story.
Community-College Association Turns to Old Pro at Crucial Juncture
Two-year colleges have gained new prominence under President Obama, who held the first White House summit on the sector in October. But the sector's momentum has stalled, as the president's $12-billion plan to improve community colleges collapsed during the legislative process. Mr. Bumphus will need to find a way to move the sector's ambitious college-completion agenda forward despite that setback. He will work to refocus attention on two-year institutions as key to the country's prosperity. The Washington-based association's first black leader, he has led groups through crucial moments before. Full story.
Colleges Are Urged to Play a Greater Role in Regional Development Efforts
Colleges must play a greater, and more deliberate, role in helping regions innovate and thrive in an increasingly competitive and globalized economy, speakers urged this week at a conference on higher education and economic development. Economic development is "no longer about attracting businesses," said Sam M. Cordes, co-director of the Purdue Center for Regional Development. "It's about attracting people, about attracting talent." Full story.
Trends
Lawmakers And Universities Cut Sabbaticals To Trim Costs
AP via The Boston Globe, Dec. 8 -- Under pressure to cut costs, state universities and lawmakers across the nation are going after one of the oldest traditions in the academic world: the professor's cherished sabbatical. Professors often use the paid breaks from teaching to write books, develop new courses, or collaborate with colleagues around the world. But the practice is increasingly being questioned by critics who say it offers little more than a paid vacation at a time when other public employees are being furloughed or laid off. Full story.
State Dept Denies Warning Columbia University Students Away From WikiLeaks
AP via The Chicago Tribune, Dec. 8 -- The State Department on Tuesday denied that it has warned students not to link to or post online comments about leaked diplomatic cables released by the WikiLeaks website. Spokesman P.J. Crowley said Tuesday the department had not issued any guidelines to private citizens on how to deal with the documents, which are still considered classified. He said department employees have been told not to download the material to their classified computer systems. He said that would create security concerns. Full story.
Arabic, Korean And Chinese Deemed Fastest-Growing Language Courses At U.S. Colleges
Los Angeles Times, Dec. 9 -- Student enrollment in Arabic, Korean and Chinese classes is showing the fastest growth among foreign language courses at U.S. colleges, even though Spanish remains the most popular by a huge margin, a new study shows. The survey of more than 2,500 colleges and universities by the Modern Language Assn., or MLA, found that enrollment in Arabic surged by 46% between 2006 and 2009. More U.S. college students are studying Arabic than Russian, a change that officials say reflects a shift of interest from Cold War concerns to current issues involving the Middle East and terrorism. Full story.
IU News Round-up is distributed to faculty and staff at IU, and it contains a short review of media coverage relating to IU administrative and student news, federal and state legislative policy, and trends and issues in higher education. Prepared by the IU Office of, University Communications, the Daily IU News Round-up is not an all-inclusive gathering of news featuring IU faculty and staff. To subscribe to the Daily IU News Round-up list or to have your name removed, please contact Susan Williams, Office of University Communications, sulwilli@indiana.edu.
