Current Initiatives

The following are current projects on which the executive staff has been working diligently in order to better the lives of students at Indiana University:

SRSC SUSTAINABILITY

IUSA hosted a demonstration on February 11 to promote three PlugOut “CycleFit” bikes in the SRSC. These bikes are versatile in terms of workout options and generate electricity that returns directly into the building’s power grid via three-prong power. These bikes will ultimately lower energy costs for the SRSC and better promote sustainability on campus. IUSA seeks to demo these bikes as a competition between bike teams on campus to show students just how much electricity students can generate simply by working out.

HOOSIER P.A.C.T.

Hoosier P.A.C.T (Proactive Alcohol Care Treatment) is a procedure that not only enhances student safety, but also saves lives. It allows Indiana University students, both on and off campus, to proactively seek medical assistance in times of need. As a gentle reminder, always CALL 911 in the event of any medical emergency. Below are the basic stipulations of the policy:

Individual: In an alcohol-related and/or substance emergency, a student requiring medical attention may only be subject to University educationally-based sanctions under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Dean of Students. Reoccurring offenses will be subject to the discretion of the Office of the Dean of Students.

Caller: An individual seeking emergency assistance on behalf of a student in an alcohol and/or substance related emergency may only be subject to University educationally-based sanctions in relation to the incident provided the caller stays with the individual until medical assistance arrives.

Organization: A Student Organization that seeks alcohol and/or substance-related medical assistance for a member or guest may only be subject to University educationally-based sanctions. Educational programs and/or organizational improvement strategies will be determined at the discretion of the Office of the Dean of Students. Student Organizations that fail to seek immediate medical assistance for members or guests in an alcohol-related medical emergency may be subject to more severe disciplinary sanctions.

Hoosier P.A.C.T. is not intended to shield organizations who are repeat offenders to The Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct. In cases where repeated violations occur, the Office of the Dean of Students reserves the right to determine disciplinary sanctions on a case by case basis. This proposal strongly recommends the “Enhancement Plan” methodology, which is often utilized in the Student Organization Ethics Board process. In cases of repeated violations, seeking medical assistance will be viewed as a mitigating factor in the Student Organization Ethics Board Process.

Indiana University Student Association has worked for the adoption of Hoosier P.A.C.T in effort to align University policy with the mission of fostering a community-wide “Culture of Care.” In an effort to promote this iniative at the state level, IUSA has partnered with student governments at Purdue and ISU to help pass this policy state-wide in State Bill 274 (the Indiana Lifeline Law). Learn more here.

APP FOR CAMPUS MAPPING

The application will help students better know how to navigate campus on their personal smartphones. Mapping applications have previously only shown major roads and buildings around campus; now, through collaboration with Google, the campus mapping application will show a more detailed depiction of campus – including accurate walkways, paths, and buildings. Students will be able to determine the fastest and most efficient routes to any location on campus.

REFORM OF BUDGET

IUSA continues to work diligently to reduce costs and direct more available funds to initiatives that directly affect the student body. With this, the executives have proudly declined their annual salary and designated those funds to assist in the fulfillment of IUSA initiatives. They also reduced overhead operational expenses to 30% of the budget, a striking reduction from previous years.

TAX-FREE TEXTBOOKS

The “Tax-Free Textbooks” initiative seeks to designate two weekends per year – one during the fall semester and one during the spring semester – in which students may purchase textbooks without paying tax. This will greatly reduce the total cost of textbooks for students. IUSA has partnered with Hoosier Youth Advocacy (HYA) to develop and execute a plan to lobby this initiative at the state level.

WEBSITE REDESIGN

The IUSA website has been completely renewed during fall 2011. The technology and web committees have worked hard on redesigning the website to be more functional for students. With the new site, students are able to attain particular information that was previously not accessible. IUSA has been in collaboration with students from the School of Informatics to ensure that the new website will contain the similar look of IU’s current websites including cream and crimson colors and the incorporation of images from campus. The website is now a useful source of information for all students and will be consistently updated with future events and procedures made through the IUSA office.

DIGITAL SIGNAGE

IUSA has partnered with the Wells Library to implement two digital signs in the lobby of Wells. Digital Signage is an IU-wide initiative to have T.V. monitors throughout campus buildings that will display pertinent information to students, faculty, staff and guests. IUSA and the Wells library collectively have purchased two signs. One sign will be a touch screen where a person will be able to interact with a campus map, the bus-tracking system etc. The other sign will display information like weather, computer availability, bus information, events on campus and much more! We are looking to have the signs fully functional by the beginning of the spring semester.

SUSTAINABILITY CASE COMPETITION

IUSA in co-operation with University Information Technology Service (UITS) and Indiana University Office of Sustainability (IUOS) would like to introduce the campus wide sustainability Case Competition! The goal of the Case Competition is to bring students, undergraduate and graduate alike, from all backgrounds of university life together to design and apply a tool, system, or practice that addresses one of the issues below regarding sustainable computing.

Reducing the environmental impact of IT at IU (print and paper reduction; energy reduction)
Leveraging IT for campus-wide sustainability gains.
Capturing and presenting metrics on Sustainable Computing and sustainability in general

The competition begins Monday September 26th in the Georgian room of the IMU with an information session open to all who are interested. The Case Competition will conclude November the 11th with an awards ceremony, and the 1st place team will win $2,000.

VISION OF THE IDEAL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE (VOICE) REPORT

The Vision of the Ideal College Environment (VOICE) Report was commissioned by President Michael McRobbie in order to identify “what students think about the present campus environment and how they would make it better.” It is aimed to provide the student’s perspective on Indiana University in both its current and ideal states, and the measures the students, faculty, administrators, and city can take to bridge the gap between where the University is and where it could – and should – be. The report will examine all aspects of life at Indiana University, and when complete, will provide a framework of improvements to IU to be utilized by administration, faculty, and student leaders alike. The finished report will be an extensive – though not comprehensive – list of findings and recommendations regarding the ways in which students and administration can improve the college experience at Indiana University.

ECO-CELL

IUSA participated in a week-long initiative to collect used cell phones for Ecocell, a company that gives cash in exchange for used phone parts. Chief of Sustainability Ellen Spurgeon worked with the planning committee of the Student Involvement Fair to encourage students across campus to drop off their used phones either at the event or the week of the event at the IUSA office. All proceeds from Ecocell were donated immediately to the IU Tree Fund. IUSA members will participate in planting the trees on Fall Tree Planting Day.

IUSA READERSHIP PROGRAM

As part of the annual budget, IUSA funds the campus-wide Readership Program that gives students free daily access to the New York Times and USA Today. These newspapers are available in more than eighteen locations across campus, including two locations in Wells Library, the Kelley School of Business, Ballantine Hall, the Indiana Memorial Union, and various residence halls.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Shine for Lauren
IUSA was a proud sponsor of the Shine 4 Lauren Concert that occurred on September 22nd. The event was aimed towards student awareness about our missing Hoosier, Lauren Spierer. IUSA worked with all student organizations on campus, to ensure that this event would be successful and informational for all students. With continuous efforts from the IU student body, the concert truly shed light on the disappearance of Lauren and reassured the Spierer family that the students were here to assist them in their search. IUSA hopes to bring Lauren home soon, and any and all information regarding her disappearance should be shared with the Bloomington Police Department. For more information, please visit FindLauren.com.

IU Ceo Forum
IUSA is partnering with USA Today and the Kelley School of Business to bring a top CEO to our campus. IUSA has been working diligently with Kelley faculty and administrators as well as staff at USA Today to make this CEO Forum a reality. The CEO will participate in an in-depth interview with a prominent USA Today reporter followed by questioning by IU students. The event will be held during the spring semester of 2012.