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HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
Universities Encourage Students To Get Vaccinated Amid Criticism
By Alexa Shrake
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—Facing criticism from Republican state legislators, Indiana University has scaled back its COVID-19 vaccine mandate to students and staff.
IU is still requiring vaccinations for students and employees but is no longer requiring documentation of it.
Nineteen Republican representatives signed a letter to Gov. Eric Holcomb urging him to stop IU from mandating its students to get the vaccine before fall semester. Last week, 35 Republican senators also signed a letter to IU’s president urging him to rescind the vaccine policy.
“We are specifically reaching out to you today and asking you to reconsider and rescind this mandate requiring a vaccine that does not have full FDA approval. As an alternative, we invite you to consider the multiple collaborative examples set forth by other universities across the great state of Indiana.†the senators’ letter stated.
Holcomb has said he is not going to stop the requirement. But after the backlash, IU is looking into the verifying process, which originally required students to show their vaccine cards.
The Indiana Democratic Party believes the Republican Party is using IU for “partisan benefit.â€
“This civil war skirmish has more implications because it reveals once again how the Indiana Republican Party finds Governor Eric Holcomb as an obstacle to their dangerous objectives, all of which are meant to appease the former U.S. president,†the Indiana Democratic Party said in a statement referencing former U.S. president Donald Trump.
During the start of the pandemic, many universities felt financial and admissions repercussionsafter sending students home to learn online and in some cases reimbursing room and board. State universities get funding for buildings and other instructional needs from the state, which is decided by lawmakers when creating the state budget.
Following are state universities’ plans for fall semester:
Indiana University
IU’s vaccine mandate covers its Bloomington, IUPUI, South Bend, Northwest, Kokomo, East and Southeast locations
“Requiring the COVID-19 vaccine among our students, faculty and staff continues to extend the university’s comprehensive and thoughtful approach to managing and mitigating the pandemic on our campuses and brings us one step closer to making a ‘return to normal’ a reality,†IU President Michael McRobbie said in a statement.
There are exemptions for those with medical and religious reasons.
Purdue University
Purdue University is highly encouraging but not requiring its students to get the vaccine. Students who get vaccinated by July 15 will be entered to win a year’s worth of tuition. Ten students will be selected by July 29.
“We have strongly encouraged everyone in our campus community to get vaccinated against COVID-19,†Dr. Esteban Ramirez, chief medical officer of the Protect Purdue Health Center, said in a statement. “The more people who choose to get vaccinated and register their status, the more decisions we can make and the more normal our operations can be in the days, weeks and months ahead.â€
Indiana State UniversityÂ
ISU has not announced its plans for fall semester at this time. It is not requiring those who are fully vaccinated to wear a mask on campus.
“Indiana State University has not determined whether to mandate vaccines for students and employees. We continue to strongly encourage individuals to follow CDC guidelines, including getting vaccinated,†ISU said in a statement to TheStatehouseFile.com.
Ivy TechÂ
Ivy Tech plans to continue face masks for everyone, reporting positive cases and social distancing.
“Ivy Tech is not requiring the vaccine for students, faculty and staff. We encourage all who are able to get the vaccine to do so when it becomes available to them,†it states on its website.
Ball State UniversityÂ
BSU has not announced its plans for fall semester.
“We are developing plans to incentivize all faculty, staff and students to be vaccinated before the beginning of the fall 2021 semester,†BSU President Geoffrey Mearns said in a statement.
University of Southern Indiana
USI is not requiring its students to get vaccinated but is highly encouraging it.
“The more people who are vaccinated, the greater our chance of returning to a more normal semester this fall,†USI President Ronald Rochon said in a statement. “Vaccinations will be key to our ability to return to in-person classes, events, campus housing and community involvement.
Vincennes UniversityÂ
Vincennes University is not requiring students to get vaccinated but is encouraging it. Those who are fully vaccinated do not have to wear a mask on campus anymore.
“If you haven’t yet done so, I encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as you are able to,†VU President Chuck Johnson said in a statement.
Alexa Shrake is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Southwest Indiana AHEC honors Rural Health Partners
A vibrant rural health care system requires not only an ongoing commitment to education of current employees and the future healthcare workforce, but also to creating reciprocal partnerships across the region to improve health care for all. Southwest Indiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) recognizes the efforts of two teams of health care providers that are helping achieve this mission.
2021 Partnership Matters Award
Southwest Indiana AHEC’s 2021 Partnership Matters Award is presented to the Collaborative Interprofessional Education Team at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana. “Although the team consists of other members, Angela Shick, Andrea Goodman and Jenny Shrum have been invaluable resources for Southwest Indiana AHEC in the placement of students for clinical experiences,†said Jane Friona, Executive Director of Southwest Indiana AHEC. “They routinely provide assistance in connecting with preceptors, ensuring students are set-up and oriented for placements, providing housing when needed and making students feel welcome. They have also been great partners in situations when clinical placements maybe didn’t work out entirely as expected, and their understanding has been appreciated.â€
In addition to their work on clinical placements, the Collaborative Interprofessional Education Team has engaged with AHEC’s regional Clinical Collaboration Team, providing expertise, insight and experience on a variety of topics to other regional organizations and professional colleagues across southwest Indiana. They coordinate the Simulation Consortium and are active members of the University of Southern Indiana’s Strengthening the Healthcare Team conference planning committee. This team is also involved in community education activities that positively impact health and safety for all.
2021 Outstanding Preceptor Awards
Southwest Indiana AHEC presented its inaugural Outstanding Preceptor Awards to Dr. Stephen Cullen and Dr. Amy Archer of Cullen Medical Professionals in Washington, Indiana.
“These two physicians have committed themselves and their practice to helping ensure a strong pipeline of future health professionals in southwest Indiana,†said Friona. “They precept about 24 students annually, providing clinical experiences to medical students from both IU and Marian University, physician assistant students and nurse practitioner students.â€
Friona said their willingness to provide family medicine and behavioral health clinical experiences to future health professionals across a variety of disciplines creates a breadth of understanding and strengthens the interprofessional healthcare team. “Students consistently provide positive feedback on the tremendous learning experience provided by these preceptors,†she said.
Cullen graduated from University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri, completed five years of active duty in the United States Army Medical Corps, and has been providing primary care in rural southern Indiana since 1983. He holds certificates of added achievement in sports medicine and geriatric medicine, in addition to his board certification in Family Practice.
Archer has been providing primary care in rural Indiana for over 12 years. She graduated from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences – College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at the Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and shares her knowledge of eating disorder prevention and treatment through public speaking and counseling.
Southwest Indiana AHEC began as a regional center in 2008 and is hosted by the University of Southern Indiana in the College of Nursing and Health Professions. SWI-AHEC is part of a national network with a mission to improve health by leading the nation in the recruitment, training and retention of a diverse health workforce for underserved communities.
Logan Baumann Elevated To Associate Head Coach At UE
Baumann Begins Fourth Season With UE Program
 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville head men’s basketball coach Todd Lickliter has announced the promotion of Logan Baumann to Associate Head Coach for the Purple Aces program.
Baumann is entering his fourth season at Evansville, having joined the program in April of 2018 as the Associate Athletic Director for Men’s Basketball Operations. In 2019, Baumann was elevated to Assistant Coach and has worked in that capacity for the last two seasons.
“It is a pleasure to offer Logan the title of Associate Head Coach as it more clearly reflects his role within our program. Logan is a selfless teammate who positively impacts all aspects of our program,†Lickliter said. “In addition, due to the influence of two highly successful mentors in Rick Pitino and Trent Johnson, he is experienced beyond his years. Our players and program are benefitted beyond measure with the knowledge he has acquired and shares through those relationships.â€
“We are very thankful for Logan’s many contributions and know he will continue to excel in his role as Associate Head Coach,†Lickliter added.
The impact Baumann has made on the program has been immense. The 2020-21 season saw the squad stage one of the largest turnarounds in Missouri Valley Conference history while improving its league win total by seven games. UE also made the jump into the top five in the final conference standings for the first time since 2016.
“I am extremely grateful to Coach Lickliter and our UE administration for the opportunity and responsibility of Associate Head Coach,†Baumann exclaimed. “Our staff has terrific organizational chemistry, and we are excited to pursue the next step in our upward trajectory under Coach Lickliter’s leadership.â€
In his time as a student at the University of Louisville, Baumann worked as a student manager before walking on to the team during the Cardinals’ 2013 NCAA Championship run. Following graduation, Baumann remained with the program for three seasons, finishing as the Senior Director of Video Operations.
Baumann spent his high school career playing at Ohio County HS in Hartford, Ky. where he was the 3rdRegion Player of the Year and graduated with valedictorian honors.
Board of School Trustees of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation Meeting
The Board of School Trustees of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) will hold a Town Hall at 5:00 P.M. on Monday, June 7, 2021.
The purpose of the Town Hall is for residents to speak directly with Board members and district administrators about issues involving EVSC schools. The Town Hall will be the process utilized to receive Public Comment. The Town Hall will be held in the Technology and Innovation Center located at 951 Walnut Street, Evansville, IN.
Following the Town Hall, the Board of School Trustees of the EVSC will meet at 5:30 PM for its regularly scheduled Board meeting in the EVSC Board Room, same address.
In accordance with orders from the Governor, seating will be limited to allow for appropriate social distancing.
HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE
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Otters best the rain and Crushers on Wednesday evening
Following a 45-minute rain delay before the ballgame, the Evansville Otters bested the Lake Erie Crushers in a thrilling return to Bosse Field Wednesday night by a score of 10-6.
The high-scoring affair got rolling in the bottom of the first inning, when Bryce Denton drove home Andy DeJesus from third on an RBI groundout, notching his seventh RBI of the season.
The Crushers answered in a big way in the top of the second, as Karl Ellison launched a grand slam to left field, giving the Crushers a 4-1 lead.
Otters’ starter Anthony Arias settled down after that, retiring the following three Crushers batters while finishing his performance with two scoreless innings in the third and fourth.
The Otters never gave up, chipping into the deficit in the bottom of the third to score two runs: one on an RBI single by DeJesus, and another on a Riley Krane sacrifice fly, logging his seventh RBI.
The Otters would take the lead in the bottom of the fourth, after Dakota Phillips tied the game with an RBI single and Miles Gordon hit a sacrifice fly to center.
Denver McQuary came out of the Otters’ bullpen to face the minimum over two innings of relief, issuing a walk in the sixth but rolling a double play ball to end the inning.
The Otters extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth to two runs, after DeJesus drove in his second RBI of the game, this time with two outs.
The Crushers battled back in the seventh, however, and managed to score two runs to tie the game off of Justin Lewis. Bryan DeLaRosa walked with the bases loaded, and Dylan Jones hit a sac fly to centerfield.
The Otters stormed back following the seventh inning stretch, as Dakota Phillips hit a go-ahead RBI single — his second lead-changing hit of the game — before Christopher Pujols, Gordon, and DeJesus would extend the Otters’ lead with a sac fly, a two-out RBI double, and a two-out RBI single, respectively.
Tyler Spring worked around two, two-out hits to pitch a scoreless eighth, before Reid Bukowski came on in the ninth to finish the game with a 1-2-3 inning in his Otters debut.
DeJesus finished the night going 4-5 with 3 RBIs. Gordon and Phillips also logged multi-hit performances, each driving in multiple runs.
The Otters conclude their three-game series against the Crushers with a doubleheader Thursday night. First pitch is at 5:05 p.m.
Thursday will be the first Thirsty Thursday of the 2021 season, featuring discounted drafts at 16 and 32 oz.
Trooper Charged for Striking his K-9 during Training Session
Dubois County – A criminal investigation conducted by the Indiana State Police has resulted in the Dubois County Prosecutor’s Office issuing a summons to appear in court for Trooper Dustan Rubenacker, 29, for the charge of Striking a Law Enforcement Animal, a Class A Misdemeanor.
Indiana State Police initiated a criminal investigation after Rubenacker allegedly struck his police K-9 during a March 17th training session in Jasper. Several Indiana State Police K-9 teams were present when the alleged incident occurred. During the training session, Rubenacker and his K-9, Odin, were participating in an exercise and Odin was not properly focusing on the correct target. Rubenacker allegedly used unreasonable discipline toward Odin, which resulted in an injury. Odin was taken to a veterinarian clinic where it was determined Odin had a serious fracture to his right rear leg. Odin underwent surgery to repair his leg, but it is not known at this time if Odin will return to work. Odin is a five-year-old Belgian Malinois and has been a member of the Indiana State Police for approximately four years. Rubenacker is a six-year veteran of the Indiana State Police.
The summons for Rubenacker was served this afternoon. Rubenacker is scheduled to appear in Dubois Circuit Court on July 6 at 10:30 a.m.
Rubenacker is currently on administrative leave with pay. An internal investigation is on-going.