Nov. 16 Blog

Superintendant of IPS Dr. Eugene White has announced that the football programs at three member schools - Manual, Washington and Marshall - will be dropped next year due to lack of participation.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911110337

This decision has implications for several different groups on several different fronts.

1. The students going to these schools who want to participate in football will either have to transfer (which causes problems with IHSAA rules) or get transportation to the designated school where they would play (which causes logisitcal problems for impoverished families).

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911140357

2. For some, football is an avenue that keeps the students involved out of trouble.

3. For the communities and alumni, the football experience is something that helps define the high school experience.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009910250370

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911130353

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911150328

4. Planning has been underway to make adjustments to the IHSAA Football Tournament for the 2011 season. When Sectionals are realigned prior to that season, it has been believed that the number of schools playing football will exceed the number of available positions in the five class tournament, so a sixth class was being created and anticipated by many.

http://blogs.indystar.com/preps/archives/2009/11/footballs_class.html

With all of this being the case, do you think that Dr. White and IPS are making the right decision here? Do / should any of these concerns play into the decision, or at the end of the day should the leaders of IPS ultimately do what's right for IPS? Do the needs / wants / desires of the few (those currently working and studying in IPS schools) outweigh those of the many (the other groups mentioned in the above articles)? Should Dr. White reconsider this decision? (due 11/22)

Nov. 9 Blog

The Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League have decided to release running back Larry Johnson after deciding to suspend him after he "he posted on his Twitter account a gay slur, insulted followers and questioned the competence of head coach Todd Haley."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/11/09/chiefs.ap/index.html

Some say his dismissal was because it was what was best for the team. However, others believe that fans played a large role in the decision...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4622503

Which set of reasoning do you believe? Did the fans ultimately make the decision? Would listening to the fan base when making decisions like this be a positive thing or does it open the club up to potential problems in the future? Is it ultimately right that Larry Johnson was released for making candid comments? (due 11/15)

Nov. 2 Blog Assignment

The trial of Indianapolis resident Brian Reese has begun in the shooting of IMPD officer Jason Fishburn. Reese fled from police in July 2008 and after running between houses, shot officer Fishburn in the chest and head, injuries that he survived.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20091103/NEWS02/911030385/Brizzi++Fishburn+was+an+ambush+victim

The trial was moved to Porter County, specifically the city of Valparaiso because defense lawyers argued that Reese could not receive a fair trial in Indianapolis due to the exposure and family's reputation in the city. Do you think that it is right that a trial can be removed from the community that the crime occurred in? Should the citizen's of that city / town / community be the one's to decide the fate of an accused suspect, or should the practice of allowing trials to be moved to neutral areas be allowed? (due 11/8)

NEW BLOG REQUIREMENTS

In addition to your answer to the question for the next three weeks, all students must also post a response to two other people's posts. You can either agree or disagree, but you must provide reasons why you do so. These posts will now be due on Sunday to provide extra time for the additional requirement.

Oct. 25 Blog

On Thursday a propane tanker flipped over and exploded on I-465, damaging a bridge. This accident caused massive traffic problems because I-465 was closed between I-70 and U.S. 31 on the northeast side. It was reopened and deemed safe just three days later.

What's more important here... alleviating the heavy traffic patterns that developed in other areas because of I-465 traffic being diverted or taking extra time and rebuilding / reinforcing the bridge to ensure it's safety? (due 11/1)

Oct. 12 Blog

Last week, NASA fired a rocket at the moon that was intended to try and determine whether there is water located beneath the surface.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/10/08/MN0O1A1V0T.DTL

Considering the economic climate, is this an appropriate use of funds? Is it important to keep NASA working and reaching to discover new things, or is this a waste of taxpayer dollars? (due 10/16)

Oct. 5 Blog

In the past week or so, a lot of attention has been paid to the Indiana Fever and their quest for a championship / future as a professional sports franchise in Indianapolis. After rumors surfaced that this could very possibly be their last season unless attendance / revenue improved, the city seemed to pay little attention. However, after making it to the Eastern Conference Finals, Larry Bird giving away tickets, and making it to the WNBA Finals, they have been playing in front of sell-out crowds for the past three games and most likely a fourth on Wednesday as they try to win the championship.

While it appears as if the franchise has been saved for at least one more year, do you think this fan support will last? Are people in Indy finally turning on to the WNBA, or is this a whirlwind one-time thing? Will people return in full force to watch games next season, or is this sympathy-support? Does the fact that they are playing for a championship make a difference (would people be doing the same thing if they didn't make the playoffs and were threatened with extinction)? (due 10/9)