Front Page News at Indiana University

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IU Kelley School of Business economic forecast for 2010 looks better, relative to this year
McRobbie: IU's final IT 'problem' solved with dedication of new Data Center
Eligible IU Bloomington students, employees begin H1N1 vaccine reservations
New home for Pervasive Tech Institute, business start-ups to be dedicated Nov. 9
IU World's Fare set for Nov. 11
J.S. Bach's B Minor Mass to be performed in Bloomington and Indianapolis
WTIU receives a 2009 PBS Development Award for its efforts
IU Opera Theater presents 'wild' new production of Mozart's 'Die Zauberflote'
History, Education faculty improve teacher content knowledge through programs in two states
Thomas Atkins, IU's first African American student body president, being celebrated this weekend
IU student publications win awards from three national associations
21st annual Haitian Studies Association conference to take place at IU Bloomington
Law school mourns death of 30-year tenured professor Mary Harter Mitchell
IU Bloomington Scoreboard

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IU Kelley School of Business economic forecast for 2010 looks better, relative to this year -- Indiana University economists presenting their annual forecast Nov. 5 are confident that 2010 is going to be better than this year. Unfortunately, 2009 was "really, really awful." "Better is not necessarily good," said Bill Witte, associate professor emeritus of economics at IU and a member of the Kelley School of Business' annual Business Outlook Panel. "2010 is going to be acceptable, except for the fact that we're starting from extremely low levels. Things will be getting better, but they still won't be really good." Some have declared that the national recession is over. The Kelley School panel said any economic progress will continue to be weakened by the aftermath of a historically severe downturn. While output growth next year will be above 3 percent, "hangover from the financial crisis will hold the strength of the recovery below what would normally be expected following such a deep downturn." Read the complete story.

McRobbie: IU's final IT 'problem' solved with dedication of new Data Center -- Evoking Indiana University's late president Myles Brand as one of the first to "clearly see the emerging importance of information technology for higher education," IU President Michael McRobbie Nov. 5 formally dedicated IU's new $32.7 million Data Center. The low-slung, disaster-resistant facility is visually striking for physical attributes like the 12-foot-high earthen berm that surrounds the building, for the bunkered wall design created by 9,000 cubic yards of cast concrete and by the complete lack of exterior windows. Designed to withstand an F5 tornado and with just one story above ground level, the Data Center houses three machine rooms -- the Enterprise, Research, and Future Research pods -- sized at just over 11,000 square feet each, as well as a centralized war room and an operations center. Only about 4 percent of the building will normally be occupied by people. Read the complete story.

Eligible IU Bloomington students, employees begin H1N1 vaccine reservations -- A unique Web site for IU Bloomington students and employees to reserve a free H1N1 flu shot will be up and running Friday (Nov. 6). IU has yet to receive any H1N1 vaccine, but those making reservations will be the first to receive it. IU employees and students currently eligible to make reservations are pregnant women, households with children younger than six months of age, students and employees through age 24, health care and emergency medical services personnel, and people 25-64 with a chronic medical condition that creates a higher risk for complications. High risk complications include chronic pulmonary conditions (including asthma), cardiovascular conditions (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurological/neuromuscular, hemotologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus), and immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus). Read the complete story.

New home for Pervasive Tech Institute, business start-ups to be dedicated Nov. 9 -- The Indiana University Innovation Center, a new $10 million home to university researchers and private start-up companies, will be formally dedicated Monday, Nov. 9, by IU President Michael A. McRobbie. The facility is a key component of the president's Innovate Indiana initiative. The 40,000 square-foot center, located at 2719 E. 10th St., already houses the IU Pervasive Technology Institute (PTI) and will soon provide offices for the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation of the IU Kelley School of Business, the IU School of Informatics, and IU Research & Technology Corp. (IURTC) administrators and staff. Read the complete story.

IU World's Fare set for Nov. 11 -- Indiana University will celebrate its international breadth with the third annual IU World's Fare, featuring international food, song, dance, exhibits and conversation on Nov. 11 (Wednesday) at 5 p.m. in the Indiana Memorial Union's Alumni Hall. Faculty, staff, students and members of the Bloomington community are welcome to join the festivities. There is no admission fee for IU students who show their university-issued identification card. Others from the university and Bloomington communities who wish to attend can purchase a ticket at the door for $4. Read the complete story.

J.S. Bach's B Minor Mass to be performed in Bloomington and Indianapolis -- J.S. Bach's Mass in B Minor, BWV 232 -- widely considered one of the composer's most intriguing and monumental compositions -- is scheduled to be performed in Bloomington Nov. 11 and 14 and in Indianapolis Nov. 13 by the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Pro Arte Singers and Chamber Orchestra. Conducted by Professor William Jon Gray, the work has not been heard in Bloomington for more than 10 years. "One of the things that intrigues me about this extraordinary piece is that it was written in the last few years of Bach's life and, in many ways, represents his final thoughts on musical composition and what music meant to him," said Gray, "He took extraordinary care that the volume of scores that make up the work would be preserved and gave the manuscripts to his son, Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach." Read the complete story.

WTIU receives a 2009 PBS Development Award for its efforts -- WTIU, the public television station based at Indiana University Bloomington, has received a 2009 PBS Development Award for its efforts. "The passion, commitment and innovation demonstrated by the development teams have benefited their stations and their communities. We are pleased to recognize their accomplishments and share their stories," said Beth Suarez, vice president of development at PBS. The award to WTIU is one of three given nationwide and will be presented formally at an annual meeting in the spring. Read the complete story.

IU Opera Theater presents 'wild' new production of Mozart's 'Die Zauberflote' -- An expansive new production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, a co-production of Indiana University Opera Theater and The Atlanta Opera, will be premiered Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. at the Musical Arts Center in Bloomington. Additional performances in Bloomington are Nov. 14, 20 and 21. This completely new production, guest stage directed by Tomer Zvulun and guest conducted by Mark Gibson, with sets and costumes designed by Jacobs School of Music Professor C. David Higgins, is "not your average Magic Flute," said Higgins. Read the complete story.

History, Education faculty improve teacher content knowledge through programs in two states -- Faculty members from the Indiana University School of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences are beginning newly funded projects to enhance the teaching of U.S. history in schools, thanks to grants from the U.S. Department of Education. The grants are from the Teaching American History program, which the department describes as a program designed "to raise student achievement by improving teachers' knowledge and understanding of and appreciation for traditional U.S. history." The grants go directly to school districts around the country. Read the complete story.

Thomas Atkins, IU's first African American student body president, being celebrated this weekend -- The Atkins Living Learning Center Memorial Weekend will take place at Indiana University Bloomington this Friday through Sunday (Nov. 6-8). As part of the weekend, 37 elementary school students from the Bloomingdale School, a public school in Manhattan, will visit IU. The public is invited to the Thomas I. Atkins Celebration of Life and the Atkins Living Learning Center's 15th anniversary from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday in the Willkie Auditorium, 150 N. Rose Ave., on the IU Bloomington campus. Read the complete story.

IU student publications win awards from three national associations -- Indiana University Bloomington's student publications won more than 50 awards from three national associations this past week -- including national first places for IU's newspaper and magazine. This fall's Indiana Daily Student newspaper won first place among large dailies in Associated Collegiate Press' Best of Show competition on Oct. 31. The newspaper's section on IU Homecoming won a second place. Also winning a national first in Best of Show was this fall's INSIDE magazine, in just its fourth year of publication. Read the complete story.

21st annual Haitian Studies Association conference to take place at IU Bloomington -- The Haitian Studies Association's 21st annual conference will take place Nov. 12-14 at Indiana University Bloomington. The theme of the conference is "New Ecologies: Actualizing Global Contributions and Development in Haiti," and all sessions are free and open to the public. HSA is an interdisciplinary organization that promotes research on Haiti to foster a better understanding of Haitian culture and its social, economic and political conditions. In addition to scholars from around the world, many IU offices and schools will be represented at the HSA conference. Read the complete story.

Law school mourns death of 30-year tenured professor Mary Harter Mitchell -- It is with great sadness that the IU School of Law-Indianapolis has announced the untimely passing of Professor Mary Harter Mitchell who died Wednesday morning (Nov. 4, 2009.) Professor Mitchell, who was named the Alan H. Cohen Professor of Law in 2004, was well loved by everyone in the law school family. Mitchell, 56, joined the school's faculty in 1980 and taught contracts, as well as courses in elder law, law and religion, and prisoners' rights. Read the complete story.

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Indiana University Bloomington Scoreboard

Results from Tuesday, Nov. 3:
Women's Soccer: The Indiana women's soccer team closed out its home schedule with a tough 2-1 loss to No. 23 Purdue with just 21 seconds remaining in the second overtime session. Read the match notes.
Women's Golf: Thanks to a strong second and third round performance, the Indiana women's golf team capped its fall season with a fifth-place finish in the 21-team 2009 Challenge at Onion Creek in Austin, Texas. Read the tournament notes.

Results from Wednesday, Nov. 4:
Men's Basketball: Indiana had six players score in double figures and scored 20 second half points off of turnovers and 14 via the fastbreak in the final 20 minutes as the Hoosiers pulled away from NAIA power Grace (Indiana), 96-73, in front of 15,453 in Assembly Hall. Read the game notes.
Women's Volleyball: Despite arguably the best Hoosier serving performance of the season, Indiana fell short in a four-set (20-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-19) defeat to Purdue. Read the match notes.

Results from Thursday, Nov. 5:
Field Hockey: The No. 18 Indiana field hockey team used a strong offensive effort to beat sixth seed Northwestern, 4-2, in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament in East Lansing, Mich. Read the game notes.
Women's Basketball: Five Hoosiers reached double-digit points as the Indiana women's basketball team ended the exhibition slate with an 80-70 win over Grand Valley State. Read the game notes.

Schedule for Friday, Nov. 6:
Field Hockey: Penn State (Big Ten Championships), 2 p.m., East Lansing, Mich.
Men's Soccer: Penn State, 3 p.m., Bloomington, Ind.
Women's Soccer: Minnesota, 7 p.m., Minneapolis, Minn.
Women's Volleyball: Minnesota, 8 p.m., Minneapolis, Minn.
Men's Tennis: National Indoors, New Haven, Conn.
Women's Tennis: Western Michigan Super Challenge, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Schedule for Saturday, Nov. 7:
Football: Wisconsin, 12 p.m., Bloomington, Ind.
Men's Tennis: National Indoors, New Haven, Conn.
Women's Tennis: Western Michigan Super Challenge, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Schedule for Sunday, Nov. 8:
Field Hockey: Big Ten Championships, East Lansing, Mich.
Men's Tennis: National Indoors, New Haven, Conn.
Women's Tennis: Western Michigan Super Challenge, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Schedule for Monday, Nov. 9:
Men's Basketball: St. Joseph's Indiana Exhibition, 7 p.m., Bloomington, Ind.

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IU in the news

New gene therapy halts 2 boys' rare brain disease
Associated Press, Nov. 5 -- French scientists mixed gene therapy and bone marrow transplants in two boys to seemingly halt a brain disease that can kill by adolescence. The surprise ingredient: They disabled the HIV virus so it couldn't cause AIDS, and then used it to carry in the healthy new gene. The experiment marks the first time researchers have tried that long-contemplated step in people -- and the first effective gene therapy against a severe brain disease, said lead researcher Dr. Patrick Aubourg of the University Paris-Descartes. Although it's a small, first-step study, it has "exciting implications" for other blood and immune disorders that had been feared beyond gene therapy's reach, said Dr. Kenneth Cornetta, president of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy. "This study shows the power of combining gene therapy and cell therapy," added Cornetta, whose own lab at Indiana University has long researched how to safely develop gene delivery using lentiviruses, HIV's family. Full story.

Do digital diaries mess up your brain?
CNN, Nov. 3 -- The meal you ate the first day you started working. The first exam you aced in high school. The shoes you wore to the prom. These minute details of life often fade into the abyss of memory, which is not a perfect scrapbook of every experience. Over time, we forget details of events that happened long ago or even mis-remember them. But today's technology creates opportunities for greater, moment-by-moment record-keeping. Archives of your blog, Facebook or Twitter feed -- both in text and in pictures -- might reveal exactly what you ate on important occasions, the papers you were proud of and the outfits you wore. Being able to compress a lot of experiences and summarize them well is part of the very nature of human intelligence, said Douglas Hofstadter, professor of cognitive science at Indiana University, Bloomington, and author of "Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid." "It's about finding the essence of things," he said. "It's not about restoring everything. It's about reducing things in complexity until they're manageable and understandable." Full story.

Center to increase University research
Indiana Daily Student, Nov. 5 -- Indiana's largest data center, a $32.7 million facility that will serve as a safe house for IU's computer processing and data storage equipment, will be dedicated today. IU President Michael McRobbie will formally dedicate the center at 3:30 p.m. today in a ceremony at 10th Street and the Indiana 45/46 Bypass. Preceding the event will be a reception and tours of the new facility. "It will help students, especially graduate students because it will house current and future super computers which will help with research," IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said. The new facility will support increased research and enhanced administration and teaching on all of IU's campuses. The center houses critical networking, storage and computing equipment that will serve all IU campuses through I-Light, a high-speed fiber optic network. Full story.

Colleges Try 'Crowdsourcing' Help Desks to Save Money
Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov. 1 -- At Indiana University at Bloomington, good help is not hard to find, but it's pricey. Questions to the 24-hour tech-support help desk cost the institution about $11.41 per phone call and $9.39 per e-mail message -- and last year the help desk handled more than 150,000 inquiries. All that advice adds up, and at peak times some in need of it are left waiting. So, in a few weeks, the university will try something different: letting computer users answer one another's questions. Information-technology people call this "crowdsourcing," a buzzword that puts a positive spin on leaving the job of writing and editing to volunteers rather than hired experts. The idea is to open a Web site where students and professors can post their IT woes and share their solutions. College officials tell me they hope it will grow into a self-service support center for colleges nationwide -- a kind of Wikipedia for campus computer problems. Full story.

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