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Published: July 15, 2008 07:24 pm
Readers' Forum: July 15, 2008
Lab equipment improved by former ISU chair
In his research on the use of ISU student laboratory fees in a department that he was not a member of, Dr. Jim Hughes found purchases that he considered inappropriate, and castigated the former chairperson (in a letter published July 10). Is his letter a balanced review of the use of student lab fees under Dr. Charles Amlaner? Hardly. Let me instead focus on the ways biology lab experiences were improved by Dr. Amlaner’s efforts.
Each fall I teach a laboratory in ecology and evolution required of biology majors, with about 35 students in two sections. In this course I emphasize field experiments and observations in natural areas near Terre Haute, including university properties and county parks. Twice a week we drive two or three vehicles to field sites, and a truck comes in handy. Thanks to Charlie’s constant encouragement to think big about materials that would enhance lab experiences, I developed the habit of jotting down ideas and being prepared for the annual lab supply requests.
As a result, to cite a few examples, each student in a lab section now has a good pair of binoculars for bird behavior labs. Three digital cameras are used to photograph and identify butterfly species in a biodiversity lab. Sets of skull casts are available to study primate evolution. Most recently, we acquired five dissecting microscopes with fiber-optic lighting and two compound microscopes to replace a collection of antiquated microscopes. These purchases bring microscope equipment for upper-division students to a level comparable to the freshman introductory labs, which had been better supplied. I can’t wait to see the students’ pleasure at seeing, in clear detail, pollen grains on flower-visiting insects, and many other things. Of course, all these items are shared with other lab courses.
Surprisingly, many faculty members, including myself, tend to be conservative about spending money and asking for better supplies and equipment. It’s one more thing on the long list of things to do. Thus, it’s easy for a laboratory course to begin to go downhill and become a less-than-inspiring experience for students. Dr. Amlaner helped keep this from happening by reminding faculty that it was OK to spend money and that physical equipment was important.
— Peter Scott, assoc. professor
Provisional Department of Biology
Indiana State University
An ironic Page 1 juxtaposition
On the front page of the Tribune-Star July 9 edition, two stories appear side by side. Whether this was deliberate or coincidental, the juxtaposition urges comment.
One story presents the features of the employment contract of Indiana State University’s new president. In addition to an annual salary of $265,000, he will receive many amenities — a house to live in for free with “the cost of the utilities, property insurance, housekeeping, maintenance and upkeep, furnishing and other operating costs” also paid for by the university.
The university will provide him with an automobile, pay for his moving expenses, reimburse him for annual physical exams, and provide him with vacation, group insurance, and retirement benefits.
Most importantly and most essentially, ISU will pay the initiation fees and monthly dues for its new president to join the Terre Haute Country Club and either the Skyline Club or the Columbia Club in Indianapolis.
The other story pertains to a woman and her two daughters who are living in Hawthorn Park in a camper because their home was damaged in the flood June 7. Her husband isn’t with them because he is stationed in Iraq.
The woman has received $3,000 in aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency but no amenities. Her only country club benefit is getting to shower in the campground’s bathroom facilities along with other flood victims.
As the Trib reports: “Assistance from the American Red Cross has been denied four times, she said.” Perhaps the local Red Cross chapter should provide for the public a listing of how disaster relief money it received from area contributors has been allocated.
So what’s my point? Well, I suppose I could offer opinionated viewpoints about how life is unfair for some people or how some people have and others have not, criticize inept government agencies, discuss misplaced priorities, or ask what is important to society and how important society is.
But instead I will state what is unarguable. There is a stark difference between the current lifestyle of a woman and her family who have lost their home in a flood and the future lifestyle of a new president of a university.
— John P. Torphy
Terre Haute
Thanks to person who found purse
This letter is a big thank you to the person who found my purse that I had absentmindedly left in the cart at Page’s Store. I was in such a hurry to get home so my daughter could get to soccer practice at North High School and I spaced it.
Luckily for me I had an honest person looking out for me. Thanks also to Page’s and their fast-thinking employee for taking the time to call me right away. I think when people do a good deed they should be commended.
— Jerri Laubert
Terre Haute
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