Welcome Mat Yanked from Indiana's Door - NOT!

According to the Associated Press, Indiana "could revoke business licenses of companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants under a contentious bill that cleared the House yesterday, but the details of the proposal will likely be hashed out in the final weeks of the legislative session.... The issue likely will go to a House-Senate conference committee where Republicans and Democrats will try to hammer out a compromise proposal before the legislative session ends March 14."

UPDATE:
No compromise was reached, so there's no new immigration legislation in Indiana this session.

Chinese Delegation Comes to Indianapolis

A delegation of national and local government officials from the People's Republic of China will visit Indiana on 6 March as part of a series of meetings aimed at learning about public management reform in the United States, according to the Indiana University News Bureau.

The visit, which will include sessions with Indiana state and Indianapolis city officials, is coordinated by IU's School of Public and Environmental Affairs and sponsored by the China Development Research Foundation.

The 18-member Chinese delegation visiting the U.S. is led by Dong Da-sheng, deputy auditor general of the Chinese government. It includes representatives from several government ministries and local officials from Wuxi, Harbin, Jiaozuo and Qingdao and Bayan County.

For more information, contact Alfred Ho, 317-278-4898, an associate professor, SPEA, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, who is helping coordinate the visit.

Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures

This fall, the University of Notre Dame in South Bend will open the Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures (CSLC), according to Inside INdiana Business. The CSLC will serve as a hub of foreign language learning and internationalism. Located in four renovated classrooms at DeBartolo Hall, it will include a multi-purpose classroom, language center and a home theater. Also this fall, a 14th option will be added to Notre Dame’s language line-up − Korean.

Russia, Romania...and Europe

Aurelian Craiutu will discuss “Dilemmas of Democracy: 1989 Echoes of the 1789 French Revolution” in his consideration of Russia, Romania and Europe at 7 p.m. Wednesday (27 February) in the Reilly Room of Atherton Union at Butler University in Indianapolis. Dr. Craiuti is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Exports Key to Growing Indiana’s Agricultural Economy

"Exports of farm products boost Indiana’s farm prices and income. Exports support approximately 24,200 jobs both on and off the farm in food processing, storage and transportation. Agricultural exports amounted to $2 billion and made an important contribution to Indiana’s farm cash receipts in 2006. In fact, nearly 30 percent of all output for Indiana’s major commodities, like corn and soybeans, is bound for an international market."

So says Andy Miller (pictured), Agriculture Director for the State of Indiana, in Inside INdiana Business. You can read the rest of the article here.

The Church and Immigration: What Would Jesus Do?

"For an idea of what Jesus would do about illegal immigration, just read the New Testament. Pretty doubtful he’d be talking about evicting the poor and vulnerable. Of course some might say it’s also doubtful Christ would be considered a Christian today. Maybe a diverse panel of religious and political leaders can help make sense of this puzzlement," says Provocate.org.

A community forum from 7-9 p.m. 26 February in Shelton Auditorium, Christian Theological Seminary, 1000 West 42nd Street, Indianapolis, will focus on Immigration policy in Indiana from a faith perspective.

According to Provocate, panel members invited and confirmed to attend include State Senator Mike Delph (R-Carmel); Allen Taylor, Director of Hoosiers for Secure Borders; Rev. Samuel Ruiz, Lutheran Multicultural Mission, Indianapolis, and Father Tom Fox, O.F.M., Hispanic Ministry, Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The panel discussion will be moderated by the Rev. Mmoja Ajabu (pictured), of Light of the World Christian Church, Indianapolis. (Yes, the same Mmoja Ajabu who was once upon a time leader of the Black Panther militia in Indy; how time flies!)

There will be time scheduled for questions and comments from the audience.

End Hunger in Our Time

The 2008 "Bread for the World – Indiana Conference" will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 29 March, in North United Methodist Church, 3808 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis. Cost is $20.

Titled "Advocacy to End Hunger in Our Time," the statewide conference hopes to bring together national and local anti-hunger leaders along with "people of faith who want to see hunger ended locally and globally: church members, pastors, food bank and community agency staff and volunteers, mission committee members, social justice advocates," according to organizers.

For more information, contact Roger Howard, 317:431-5071.

The Star Recognizes Immigration to Indiana!

There must have been something in the water at The Indianapolis Star over the weekend: three feature articles about Indy's immigrants in just two days!

The first, yesterday, was on the Chin (an ethnic group from Burma). Today, it's the Chinese (The Star's photo, at left) and the Brazilians!

Who knows what tomorrow will bring....

Chin Celebration Highlighted in The Indianapolis Star

The Indianapolis Star has posted a gallery of photos from yesterday's National Chin Day Celebration. Go to the paper's online front page, scroll down to the photo galleries, and select National Chin Day.

Prendergast to Speak at IU Bloomington

John Prendergast, an American human rights activist currently focusing his activities on genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, violence against women in eastern Congo and atrocities in Chad and northern Uganda, will speak at Indiana University Bloomington at noon on Tuesday (19 February). The presentation in the Oak Room, Indiana Memorial Union, 900 East Seventh Street, Bloomington, is open to the public at no charge.

Prendergast is a co-founder of the Enough Project, an initiative to end genocide and crimes against humanity that is a joint initiative of the International Crisis Group and the Center for American Progress. He is co-author of Not On Our Watch (pictured).

His presentation is sponsored by IU's African Studies Program, the Office of the President, Office of the Provost and the Office of the Vice President of International Affairs.

IU's Kelley School of Business Inks Agreement with Sungkyunkwan University

A "very selective program" connecting the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University with Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) in Seoul, South Korea, offers students a dual degree option.

Students from the global business undergraduate program at SKKU will take 75 credits at SKKU and finish at the Kelley School with 45 credits -- receiving degrees from both universities.

Also, a dual-degree MBA program has been established whereby students spend two semesters at SKKU's Graduate School of Business and then two semesters at Kelley, and receive two degrees.

Purdue and Ivy Tech Tackle Immigration Issues

An informational forum on immigration is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday (19 February) in Room 133 of Ivy Hall at Ivy Tech's Lafayette campus, 3101 South Creasy Lane, Lafayette. The event is sponsored by Purdue's College of Liberal Arts and Ivy Tech's School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The speakers and their topics are:

* Susan Curtis, Purdue professor of history and associate dean of interdisciplinary programs and engagement in the College of Liberal Arts, will moderate.

* Adriela Fernandez, associate dean for academic programs in Purdue's College of Liberal Arts. will talk about the economic and social aspects of recent immigration to the area.

* James McCann, Purdue professor of political science, will talk about the political impact of immigration to Indiana in the last three decades.

* David C. Berry, chair of School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and professor of history at Ivy Tech's Lafayette campus, will provide a historical context for the different waves of immigration in the state.

* Ivan Hernandez, director of admissions at Ivy Tech's Lafayette campus, will address immigration's impact on education, specifically on resources and needs.

A question-and-answer session will follow the panel presentation.

Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Exhibition

Purdue University will host a Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Exhibition and related presentations 18 February (Monday) through 1 March on the West Lafayette campus.

Sachiko Masuoka, an 85-year-old Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor and Chicago resident, will talk about her experience at 1 p.m. 23 February in Room 200 of Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry at Purdue. Yuki Miyamoto, an assistant professor of religious studies at DePaul University and a second-generation hibakusya ("atomic bomb survivor") will join her.

Thirty poster panels will be on display in the first-floor hallways of Stanley Coulter Hall at Purdue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through 1 March. There also will be an origami making station for senbazuru ("1,000 cranes") on the first floor of Stanley Coulter. The cranes will be sent to the Hiroshima Children Memorial (pictured) to be registered and displayed.

The movie Face of Jizo: Chichi to Kuraseba, a 2004 Japanese film with English subtitles, will be shown at 7 p.m. 22 February in Stanley Coulter, Room 239.

All events are free and open to the public. Purdue's Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Asian studies program, Peace studies program and College of Liberal Arts are sponsoring the events. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum also is a supporter. For more information, contact Kazumi Hatasa, 765:494-3846.

We've All Got a Dog in this Fight

A hearing about legislation that would penalize businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow before the House Committee on Public Policy in the House chamber at the Statehouse, according to The Indianapolis Business Journal.

The bill, authored by Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, has passed the Senate, and makes it a misdemeanor for transporting, shielding from detection, concealing or harboring an illegal alien for commercial or financial gain.

Businesses found to knowingly hire illegals get a warning following a first offense. A second offense within 10 years could result in a court suspending the business' license for 10 days, and a third offense could result in the court revoking the license. (The photo's from the Indiana Historical Society.)

Learn About German-Americans Three Ways!

Wednesday (13 February) has three stellar presentations on German ethnic heritage.

First up is "German-American Heritage Preservation in the 21st Century," a presentation by Dr. Hans Boas (right), University of Texas, Austin. He'll speak at 6:30 p.m. in the Max Kade Room, Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis. He's a candidate for the newly established Hoyt-Reichmann Chair in German American Studies at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis.

Then, two Wabash College students will present a pair of papers during the regularly scheduled meeting of the Indiana German Heritage Society, also in the Athenaeum. Matt Vest will discuss "German Catholics in Southern Indiana", and Steve Egan will talk about "The Amish of Indiana" (with a focus on the Parke County Amish). That presentation starts at 7:30 p.m. The students' projects are part of the 'Present Indiana Program' sponsored by Lilly Endowment, which provides summer internships to spend eight weeks researching various aspects of the Hoosier state.

For more information on Dr. Boas' presentation, contact Claudia Grossman. Giles Hoyt has more on the IGHS presenters.

Presentation on International Health

Otmar Kloiber M.D. (left), will speak on "Ethical Perspectives in Medicine, Health and Science" during a 3-4 p.m. presentation 26 February on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. Dr. Kloiber is Secretary General of the World Medical Association based in Geneva, Switzerland.

He will address a number of critical ethical and policy issues in international health and health research including: global efforts in TB resistance, health and human rights, and the next revisions to the Declaration of Helsinki. His presentation takes place in Conference Room 110 of the Health Information and Translational Sciences Building at 410 West 10th Street, Indianapolis.

For information and reservations, contact Eva Jackson, IU Center for Bioethics, 317:278-4034.

The World Medical Association is the independent confederation of national medical associations from more than 80 countries and represents more than eight million physicians. Acting on behalf of patients and physicians, the WMA endeavours to achieve the highest possible standards of medical care, ethics, education and health-related human rights for all people.

Why Did Ms. Erdogan Attend Indiana University?

According to The New York Times, one of the reasons a daughter of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended Indiana University is the Turkish government's ban on women wearing headscarves at university. She could attend university in Bloomington while covering her head -- but not in Ankara or Istanbul.

There's more on Esra Erdogan and IU here.

Huangshan Encounter at University of Indianapolis

Music is combined with art in "Huangshan Encounter: Joyful Gathering at Mount Huang". the innovative event is set for 7 p.m. 27 March in the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall of the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center at University of Indianapolis, 1400 East Hanna Avenue, Indianapolis.

In addition to Sesin Jong, an ink-brush painting artist who lives in New York City and Shanghai, China, there will be singers from the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble and musicians from Shanghai Normal University.

It's sponsored by Asian Programs at UIndy. Although admission is free, they'd like reservations. Contact Patricia Cabrera, 317:788-3288.

$5 Million Grant to Indiana University-Kenya Partnership

The National Institutes of Health has chosen the Indiana University-Kenya Partnership to join the Global Network for Women’s and Infant’s Health Research, according to I.U. News Bureau. The designation includes a five-year, $5 million grant to allow the Indiana University School of Medicine to study the feasibility and effectiveness of community-based health-care interventions. This five-year, $5 million grant will allow Indiana University School of Medicine and Moi University School of Medicine faculty to conduct research to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of simple, community-based health-care interventions such as protein supplementation for infants and training of traditional birth attendants in the proper care of obstetrical and neonatal emergencies. The Global Network, funded jointly by the NIH and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, conducts clinical research projects throughout the developing world. The IU-Moi University site in Eldoret, Kenya, is one of two network sites in Africa.

Zimmer Holdings Expands to Ireland

Zimmer Holdings is building a new plant in Ireland, reports Inside INdiana Business. Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer is a worldwide leader in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing orthopaedic reconstructive, spinal and trauma devices, dental implants, and related orthopaedic surgical products. Zimmer has operations in more than 25 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries.

The World of Ancient Egypt Comes to Indy

A bit of ancient Egypt arrives at the Indianapolis Museum of Art this summer. The IMA will be the first venue to host "To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum", which will be on view 13 July through 7 September. Featuring some 120 objects dating from 3600 BCE to 400 CE from the world-renowned Egyptian art collection of New York’s Brooklyn Museum, the exhibition will illustrate the range of strategies and preparations the ancient Egyptians developed to defeat death and to achieve success in the afterlife. After its debut at the IMA, To Live Forever will travel to the John and Mable Ringling Museum (Sarasota, FL); Columbus (Ohio) Museum of Art; Chrysler Museum of Art (Norfolk, VA); Norton Museum of Art (West Palm Beach, FLA), and Frist Center for Visual Arts (Nashville, TN).

Indiana Agribusiness Leaders Head to Mexico

A 26-member delegation of Indiana's top-level food and agribusiness leaders week will begin a trade mission to Mexico tomorrow, according to Inside INdiana Business. The group, which departs tomorrow and returns on Friday, will meet with officials from Mexico’s Department of Agriculture and tour sites in Mexico City, Hidalgo and Veracruz.

From French to Russian

Continuing Studies at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis offers a wide variety of foreign language classes in and around Indy this winter. Many courses -- including Spanish, French, German and Russian -- start next week. Check 'em out and sign up to expand your world (and your mind!).