News Stories
Last Friday, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) met to discuss ways to improve the student experience at IUPUI. These meetings are held every Friday from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. in Business/SPEA (BS) 2000 and are open to all IUPUI students. They discussed a number of ideas, from resolving food insecurity to installing pharmacy vending machines on campus.
Last Friday, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) held a Leadership Conference in the University Tower Ballroom from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Although the event was initially aimed at senate members of the USG, it was later opened to anyone on campus. “The leadership conference was aimed to help students engage more on campus,” according to the USG Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Clara Pineda.
Every college student knows the feeling of having one million things to do and never enough time to do all of them. Many turn to energy drinks, teas and coffees to give them an extra boost. However, many students likely do not know what they are consuming, or if it is even beneficial.
Associate Program Director of Student Support, Erika Thomison, and Executive Team Member Chair for Paw’s Pantry, Braxton Gray, spoke at the Nov. 11 meeting of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) about the needs of Paw’s Pantry and ways in which students can help support them. Paw’s Pantry is a food pantry on campus that is open to all students. It aims to help those with food insecurity meet their dietary needs.
IUPUI hosted their 15th annual Curtis Memorial Oratorical Contest (CMOC) on Dec. 6. This is a contest offered to students currently enrolled in R110. The Contest was founded by Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies, Richard Curtis, and his wife, Beth, to honor the memory of his brothers, Robert and Dana, both of whom were killed in war. This contest offers IUPUI undergraduate students the opportunity to give speeches focused on a commitment to peaceful resolution of conflict.
Here is a quick look at what events are taking place on campus to celebrate Valentine's Day. Students can attend these events solo, with their friends or with their sweetheart.
As part of a larger, statewide, movement to make Naloxone and training to use it more accessible, IUPUI hosted a free Narcan training in the Campus Center on Feb. 1. Naloxone is a medication used to reverse opioid overdose to be used in emergency situations and not as a long-term solution to opioid addiction or abuse. Narcan is the nasal spray device used to administer naloxone. With the rise of lethal drugs, such as fentanyl and xylazine, being laced into other substances, accessibility to proper overdose treatment has been an increasing concern for state officials.
The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) at IUPUI cites their mission as being, “committed to improving the student experience by representing the student body, supporting student-led organizations on campus, addressing student concerns." According to their site, USG provides a platform for student involvement, while providing education surrounding social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. While USG does provide support to students, their $85,000 budget for the 2022-2023 school year has been underutilized, diluting the impact the organization could be making at IUPUI. There is a fundamental disconnect between USG and the needs of organizations at IUPUI, one that USG acknowledges themselves.
IUPUI’s volleyball team starts the season with six wins and five losses thus far. Despite starting with a lead in their first few games, the Jags fell hard at the Coyote Classics losing 3-0 to South Florida, South Dakota and Drake. They made a comeback winning 3-1 to Southern Indiana and continued the streak beating Indiana State 3-1.
Halloween is the perfect opportunity to have an event where students are able to socialize and get involved in their local community. In light of this, IUPUI’s Office of Health and Wellness Promotion teamed up with the Prevention Peer Education Program (PPEP) to put on an “Ooky Spooky Halloween Ball” which was hosted on Oct. 26.
On Feb. 12, Latha Ramchand officially took her place as the inaugural chancellor of IU Indianapolis. She met with students, faculty and staff at a welcome reception, and had meetings with various groups on campus. Among her other activities, The Campus Citizen was invited to interview Ramchand on her first day in office.
On April 16, a vote of no confidence presented by Bloomington’s Faculty Council will be held against IU’s current president, Pamela Whitten, provost, Rahul Shrivastav and vice provost of faculty and academic affairs, Carrie Docherty. As IUPUI approaches a pivotal point in its history with the split, the unrest within leadership could disturb the continued cultivation of IUPUI’s campus.
On June 26, Indiana University’s Board of Trustees released a draft of a new “Expressive Activity” policy, which would apply to all those within the “IU Community.”
Bridge has existed since 2001 incorporating a variety of events, presentations and activities in order to help incoming freshmen acclimate to the college experience at IUI. While it originally only included a portion of freshmen students, it was later expanded in 2022 to include all incoming freshmen. This year’s Bridge on Aug. 19-23 was the first Bridge post IUPUI divorce incorporating new, and old, traditions into the experience.
On Oct. 3 and 4 Purdue’s Board of Trustees held their October executive meeting for the first time in Indianapolis. This meeting was held at the Indiana Historical Society in downtown Indianapolis. While the first session was closed to the public, the session on Oct. 4 was open to the public beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Purdue has officially established its own Indianapolis campus following the IUPUI split on July 1. Although the Purdue University in Indianapolis (PUI) campus is largely made up of leased classrooms, dorms and parking spaces from IU, there are plans in the works to establish more extensive Purdue facilities in the near future.
On Dec. 10, Indiana University President Pamela Whitten gave her 2024 State of the University address on the IU Indianapolis campus. This address was given in person but was also accessible via broadcast.
IU Indianapolis and Purdue in Indianapolis have both started many new construction projects in the last year. Most notably, the new Purdue in Indianapolis Academic Success building is being built across from the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering building, as well as the James T. Morris Arena behind Herron. Now, a new IU STEM Laboratory building is also being constructed on the main campus.
Earlier this year, schools across the country saw a steep increase in cuts to "DEI" programs by the Trump Administration. Now student programs are either being cut, relocated, or losing funding as a result of state and national funding cuts.