Lafayette Online » West Lafayette

Purdue West Lafayette to limit smoking to specific areas

Carolyn Shelby — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:01:21 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus will become smoke free except in limited areas beginning July 1, 2009.

The new policy will confine smoking to limited designated campus areas and will prohibit smoking in all vehicles owned or leased by Purdue. Until the new policy takes effect, smoking on the West Lafayette campus will be allowed outdoors at a distance of at least 30 feet from university facilities and in designated areas within the Union Club Hotel.

The Purdue West Lafayette campus will become smoke free except in limited areas beginning July 1, 2009.

The campus-wide smoking policy was announced Thursday (Nov 19) – coinciding with the 33rd annual Great American Smokeout – following input from faculty, staff and students.

“Following feedback from a campus-wide survey as well as meetings with several campus groups, we modified the proposed policy from one that called for a total ban to one that will allow smoking in a few areas,” said Al Diaz, executive vice president for business and finance, treasurer. The responsibility for choosing those areas will fall to Diaz.

A number of health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and respiratory problems, have been linked to smoking as well as to secondhand smoke. Smoking by faculty and staff also leads to increased medical costs, higher insurance rates, maintenance expenses, lower productivity and higher absenteeism, Diaz said.

“We set the start date as July 1 to give everyone ample opportunity to take advantage of our smoking cessation programs,” Diaz said.

The programs are available through the Student Wellness Office and WorkLife Programs.

“We are counting on cooperation from our smokers,” Diaz said. “Initially, we hope that peer-to-peer reminders will be effective. The new policy will be enforced in the same way as other university rules, and violators can be subject to appropriate discipline by supervisors and the Office of the Dean of Students. Individuals can report violations using the Smoke Free Campus Concern Form that will be provided on the Web.

More than 300 universities nationwide are smoke free. All Purdue regional campuses have non-smoking policies. Details for each are set by administrators at those locations.

Purdue to host winter commencement ceremonies in West Lafayette, Merrillville

Carolyn Shelby — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:00:40 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University will award degrees at its West Lafayette campus on Dec. 20 and at its Calumet campus on Dec. 15.

Ceremonies for the West Lafayette campus are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in Elliott Hall of Music. The Calumet campus ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. in the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, Ind.

Purdue President France A. Córdova will address graduates during the West Lafayette ceremonies, while Chancellor Howard Cohen will do the honors at the Calumet ceremony.

There are 2,803 students who are candidates for degrees at the West Lafayette campus, including 1,901 undergraduates, 440 doctoral students, 458 master’s students, one education specialist and three professional degree-seekers. At the Calumet campus, an estimated 505 students are candidates for degrees, with 145 set to receive master’s degrees and 360 receiving bachelor’s degrees.

The morning ceremony at West Lafayette will be for students in the colleges of Agriculture, Education, Engineering and Liberal Arts. The afternoon event will be for students in the colleges of Consumer and Family Sciences; Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences; Technology; and Science; and the schools of Management and Veterinary Medicine.

Robert B. Teall of Bristol, Ind., who will receive a bachelor’s degree from the College of Education, will provide the student response during the morning ceremony. Jessica A. Mensah of Indianapolis, who is to receive a bachelor’s degree from the School of Management, will give the student response at the afternoon ceremony.

At the West Lafayette ceremonies, two large video screens above the stage will show a close-up image of the graduates as they receive their diplomas. The event will be aired live on Comcast Channel 5 and Boiler TV. It also will be shown live via Webcast at mms://video.dis.purdue.edu/graduation. Windows Media Player, which can be downloaded for free, is required for viewing the Webcast.

Commencement videos will be available at $30 per DVD. Order forms can be obtained at the Loeb Playhouse Box Office, online at http://www.purdue.edu/registrar/pdf/DVD_Form.pdf or by calling 765-494-3933. Forms may be submitted both before and after the ceremony within two weeks of the event.

Tickets are required for admission. Doors will open 90 minutes before each ceremony.

Candidates requiring special assistance to participate in the West Lafayette commencement exercise should contact Christine DeHahn Pass, assistant registrar, at 765-494-6163, dehahn@purdue.edu

For more information, call 765-494-6157 or e-mail commencement@purdue.edu

West Lafayette Halloween Guidelines

Carolyn Shelby — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:16:18 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — While West Lafayette does not have a set of strict rules for trick or treating, they are offering guidelines that the West Lafayette Police Department encourages the public to observe this Halloween (Saturday, Oct 31).

Children under the age of 12 should be accompanied by an adult.
Carry a flashlight
Cross the street with care
Consider wearing reflective clothing
Complete trick or treating prior to 9pm.
No one should be out after dark alone.

Drivers should be cautious, especially in residential areas and at dusk when visibility is diminished. Remember, in the excitement (and sugar rush) of the moment, children often forget to hold hands or look both ways before crossing the street.

For further questions contact the West Lafayette Police at 765-775-5200.

4th annual Art on the Wabash to feature 35 local artists

Carolyn Shelby — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:33:34 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Paintings, glass work, jewelry, photography and pottery by 35 artists from eight counties will fill West Lafayette’s Tapawingo Park on Sunday, September 20, from 10:00a to 4:00p for the fourth annual “Art on the Wabash, a Local Artists’ Fair.”

Kathleen Kitch, who works primarily with kiln-formed (fused) glass, is one of the Greater Lafayette artists whose work will be featured at Art on the Wabash.

The public is invited and admission is free, with free parking available in the Wabash Landing parking garage for those attending the fair. The artists will be on hand to talk about their art; some will demonstrate their work.

Purdue University Galleries will bring its ArtCart, offering free, hands-on art activities to those attending.

“This fair showcases the unique creativity and diverse talents of artists from this area, and gives residents and visitors an opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind artwork,” said Beverly Shaw, Art on the Wabash committee chair. “It’s also inspiring and interesting to browse the art and enjoy a day in the park.”

Artists from a 15-county area were invited to apply for the fair. Those who will participate were chosen in a juried process by Indiana artist Kathleen Dugan of Noblesville, an assistant professor of art and design at Anderson University. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University’s School of Fine Arts and master’s of fine arts from Yale University.

The 4th annual Art on the Wabash will be held at West Lafayette’s Tapawingo Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, September 20, 2009.

Participating artists include:

Glass: Kathleen Kitch, Sharon Owens, Beverly Skinner
Jewelry: Carolyn Cason, Linda Elmore, Caroline Erdahl, Cheryl Hart, Lisa Hopkins, Rebecca Minniear-Schneidt, Joanne Kuhn Titolo, Lisa Walsh
Mixed Media: Thomas Billeaux, Terri Duncan, CJ Fang, Sara Vanderkleed
Painting: Michael Altman, Rebecca Brody, Rena Brouwer, Shirley Chapman, Kathryn Clark, Sandra Daniel, Alice Harpel, LaDonna Vohar
Pottery: Lynne Corrigan, Mary Thomas Firestone, Scott Frankenberger, Christine Heisler, Gail Johnston, Linda LeMar, Rachael Schatko, Roberta Schonemann
Other: Philip Conlon, boxes; Al Knight, photography; Rhonda Mitchell, pen-and-ink; Deb Remsburg, gourd art

The fair is presented by the City of West Lafayette and West Lafayette Parks & Recreation Department with assistance from Tippecanoe Arts Federation and sponsorship funding from KitchenArt, The Store for Cooks.

Hydrant flushing in West Lafayette over next several weeks

Carolyn Shelby — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:49:37 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Indiana American Water employees will be conducting hydrant flushing in portions of the West Lafayette area over the next several weeks as part of the process for bringing two new water treatment facilities online. The affected are is generally located north of Meridian Street/Kingston Drive and to the north and west of Purdue University. The flushing is being done to clean out water lines and to replace the unfiltered water with filtered water from the recently completed treatment facilities.

Crews will open and flush fire hydrants from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 15 through July 3, 2009. The company conducts this program to maintain water quality and to ensure hydrants are working as they should. By opening fire hydrants under controlled conditions, sediments are flushed from the system, resulting in cleaner pipes, better water quality, and improved capacity. The program also helps to make sure fire hydrants are in good working order and that any needed repairs are made. Flushing is part of a regular maintenance program for water distribution system.

Customers may experience a slight drop in water pressure or a temporary discoloration of their water while this program is underway. Customers should refrain from doing laundry while flushing is taking place. If discoloration should occur, Indiana-American recommends allowing several cold-water faucets to run for a short time until the water runs clear. Customers who have questions regarding hydrant flushing may call our customer service center at 800-492-8373.

West Lafayette ranked 6th smartest small town in America

Carolyn Shelby — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:53:05 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — West Lafayette is ranked the sixth smartest small town in America in a survey out this week by Forbes magazine.

Of West Lafayette, the magazine said in its story: “Purdue University draws top science minds to this west Indiana town with its high-ranking engineering program. High-paying science and tech jobs in Purdue Research Park – from employers like Nissan Chemical, Nanovis and Butler International – keep them there.”

Bethesda, Md., is rated the most-educated small town on the Forbes list. Ranking second through fifth are Wellesley, Mass.; Palo Alto, Calif.; McLean, Va.; and Los Altos, Calif.

The view westward up State Street from the corner of State and Northwestern in Chauncey Village.

West Lafayette is the only Indiana town on the list and is the highest-ranking city in the Midwest, ahead of Wilmette, Ill., near Chicago, which is 13th.

To come up with the most-educated small towns, the magazine used data from the U.S. Census 2005-2007 American Community Survey, which surveyed more than 2,500 regions with 20,000 to 65,000 residents about their education. The number of graduate degrees – including master’s degrees, doctorate degrees, professional degrees, bachelor’s degrees and associate degrees – were each divided by the population of the town over age 25 and then weighted to give a final average for each location.

According to the magazine, 46.9 percent of West Lafayette’s population of 27,664 residents hold advanced degrees, 30.3 percent have bachelor’s degrees and 3.3 percent have associate degrees.

“There is no question that well-paying jobs offered by high-tech companies in the research park, in addition to the university itself, play a big part in attracting well-educated people to West Lafayette,” said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and chief operating officer of the Purdue Research Foundation, which oversees the Purdue Research Park.

To read the story in Forbes, go to http://www.forbes.com/realestate/2009/01/02/educated-small-towns-forbeslife-cx_jd_0105realestate.html. For the top 20 listing in Forbes, go to http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/02/educated-small-towns-forbeslife-cx_jd_0105realestate_slide_2.html?thisspeed=15000

Traffic disruptions: South end of Discovery Park

Carolyn Shelby — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:38:40 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University West Lafayette has issued an updated list of traffic disruptions for this week.

Several streets will be affected this week by the Harrison Street Aerial Line Relocation Project. Plans call for closure of South Martin Jischke Drive at Harrison Street until Saturday, such that southbound vehicles will not be able to reach that intersection. East-west traffic on Harrison/Nimitz Drive will continue to have rerouted lanes. At times, Gates Road may be blocked and flag workers will direct traffic. Also, plans call for positioning of a crane at the southeast corner of Gates Road and Nimitz Drive at 10 a.m. Tuesday for installation of electrical material for the aerial line project; traffic is likely to blocked during that work. A general pattern of disruptions for construction of Discovery Learning Center and Hockmeyer Hall of Structural Biology, each just north of Harrison Street on either side of South Martin Jischke Drive, will continue through summer 2009.

In other traffic matters:

– The area north of Harrison Hall, and south of Hillenbrand Hall, is now a plaza and unavailable for parking or through traffic.

– South Russell Drive, south of Harrison Street, is expected to close July 7 for reconstruction. During the closure, access to the south service area of campus will be from South River Road via Ahlers Road. http://www.purdue.edu/physicalfacilities/travel/pdf/S.Russell_RR.pdf.

– Closure of Stadium Avenue along the intramural fields is expected July 7. The Tippecanoe County Highway Department plans to replace a small bridge on Stadium Avenue just west of David Ross Road. http://www.purdue.edu/physicalfacilities/travel/pdf/Tippi_Bridge_Stadium.pdf.

– Numerous other summer projects call for caution by motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. The High Voltage Project continues in several areas: http://www.purdue.edu/physicalfacilities/HVP. Masonry work is under way on Hicks Undergraduate Library, Stanley Coulter Hall, the Civil Engineering Building, and Lynn Hall.

Purdue employees, students can receive discount from AT&T

Carolyn Shelby — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:45:03 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University has partnered with AT&T to provide discount phone services to university students and employees.

AT&T will offer a 20 percent discount on regular basic plans for cellular phones and personal digital assistants, including Blackberries. The discounts will be available to those at the West Lafayette campus and Purdue’s Calumet, Fort Wayne and North Central campuses. The discounts do not apply to upgrades and cannot be used with other offers, but Purdue students and employees with existing AT&T accounts may be eligible.

“We are always looking for ways to benefit not only our students but also our faculty and staff, and this is one way we found that we can help,” said Gerry McCartney, Purdue’s vice president for information technology and chief information officer. “Every little bit helps, especially for the students, so we hope a lot of them use this.”

Purdue students and employees can register for the discount through the ITaP Shopping Web page, http://www.itap.purdue.edu/shopping/ATT. Those who wish to order also can visit AT&T stores in their areas, which are listed on that Web site. Those receiving the discount must have a valid Purdue e-mail address and the appropriate Foundation Account Number. For students, that is 2523574. For employees, it is 2016767.

To find a local, authorized AT&T store, go to http://www.wireless.att.com/find-a-store/

Purdue police seek suspect in attempted fraternity house burglary

Carolyn Shelby — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:55:51 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police are seeking a man in connection with a Thursday (June 12) morning attempted burglary at the Zeta Psi fraternity house, 950 David Ross Road.

The attempt is the second such incident reported in the last two days. Police investigated a burglary reported about 8:45 a.m. Wednesday (June 11) at the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity house at 417 Waldron St.

PUPD composite sketch of suspect

A man was confronted in the houses in both incidents, said Purdue Police Lt. Fred Davis. However, the suspect descriptions vary slightly.

In Thursday’s attempted burglary, a resident was preparing to leave for work around 5:30 a.m. and met a stranger in the hallway, according to a police report. The resident told police the man said he was looking for someone in the house. The man left the building through the front door, and the resident followed him and noticed a large blue duffel bag at the top of the stairs.

“The bag contained tools that the resident believes belong to the fraternity,” Davis said. “The resident looked around the house and didn’t notice anything else missing.”

PUPD composite sketch of suspect in attempted burglary at Alpha Kappa Lamda

The suspect is described as a bald white male in his late 20s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 210-220 pounds. He was wearing a gray T-shirt and jean shorts, and drove away in a gray or light blue, possibly early 1990s, mid-sized van with two windows on the passenger side and double doors in the back, Davis said.

In Wednesday’s burglary at the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity house, a witness reported seeing an unknown man in the house around 8:40 a.m. Sometime after the man left, residents noticed several items – including a camera, a watch and a jar of change – were missing from their rooms. The suspect was described as a white, balding male with a goatee, 30-40 years old, about 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 200 pounds. He was wearing a blue button-up, collared shirt and khaki shorts and left in a blue woodgrain-patterned truck, Davis said.

Anyone with information about these cases or who has seen suspicious activity in the area is asked to contact the Purdue Police Department at (765) 494-8221 or the anonymous tip line at (765) 496-3784.

Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette announces new grant opportunities

Carolyn Shelby — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:40:11 +0000

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Grant proposals that address needs in the areas of children’s music education, children’s needs, and community beautification are being accepted at The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette from now until noon on Tuesday September 2, 2008. Not-for-profits serving the Tippecanoe County area are encouraged to apply. For information, go to www.cfglaf.org or call (765) 742-9078.

For projects benefiting “Music Education for Disadvantaged Youth”, $8,500 is available for grants in 2008. In 2007, grant awards from the Louisa Lee France Endowment funded $1,400 in music lesson scholarships (Children’s Music Foundation, Inc.) and $2,000 for piano tuning and repair (also at Children’s Music Foundation, Inc.)

For projects benefiting or addressing “Children’s Needs” a total of $7,500 is available for grants in 2008. 2007 grant awards from the Fund for Children’s Needs were awarded to:

$350, spring break theatre classes, Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette.
$2,100, membership fees, uniform pieces, and troop start-up money for 100 Hispanic girls as well as funds for participation in a Piñata Party and Fiesta Camp, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana.
$5,000, Systems of Care flex fund for small, one-time expenses impacting seriously emotionally disturbed children, Wabash Valley Hospital Department of Child & Adolescent Services.

A total of $2,300 is available for the 2008 grant cycle for “Community Beautification”.

This is the first year for grant awards from the Virginia B. Huth Fund and the George and Betty DeVault Fund.

The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette is a nonprofit public charity established in 1970 to inspire, nurture, and practice philanthropy, stewardship, and leadership in the communities we serve. Additional grant opportunities are also available through The Community Foundation. For further information or to access a grant proposal application, visit www.cfglaf.org, call (765) 742-9078 or e-mail to info@cfglaf.org.

Lafayette Online » West Lafayette

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