UNITE CubeSat marks second anniversary in orbit
The UNITE CubeSat, designed and built by a team of University of Southern Indiana undergraduates, marked its second anniversary in orbit on Sunday, January 31.
The satellite, the first orbiting satellite designed by students at an Indiana public university, continues to broadcast information at a steady rate.
According to Dr. Glen Kissel, Associate Professor of Engineering and lead advisor to the UNITE CubeSat team, UNITE was the first functional CubeSat in orbit to have been made as part of NASA’s Undergraduate Student Instrument Project, which provided funding for the design and construction of satellites across several institutions.
“It was kind of an overwhelming feeling seeing it ejected out of the ISS [International Space Station]. It’s almost too hard to put into words,†said Ryan Loehrlein ’20, who worked on the design and construction of the UNITE CubeSat. “Most undergraduate students never even get an experience like this, so being able to come to a public institution in Indiana, it’s phenomenal that USI has this opportunity.â€
In all, 12 students have worked on the project over the past four and a half years, starting with the design of the satellite through its delivery for launch and data collection. New members joined the team as others graduated and moved on to careers, some in the aerospace industry.
The mission of the CubeSat is to measure plasma levels in the lower ionosphere, record its own internal and exterior temperatures and measure its orbital decay as it reenters the Earth’s atmosphere at the end of its mission. Kissel says it will require more than a year before UNITE is in position to begin taking these measurements. This critical phase of the project will present new opportunities for students to be involved with the ongoing mission.
“While UNITE still has well over a year before it will be at a proper altitude to begin its core mission, it is very encouraging that it has survived quite a stressful 24 months,†said Kissel. “Congratulations again to the University of Southern Indiana UNITE team students for all of their efforts these past years.â€
Holcomb Statement on $12.5 Million Opioid Settlement
INDIANAPOLIS — Governor Eric J. Holcomb gave the following statement regarding today’s announcement of Indiana’s $12.5 million settlement with McKinsey & Company, resolving investigations into the company’s role in profiting from the opioid epidemic:
“From the first day of my administration, I made combatting the drug epidemic a top priority, and that includes holding accountable those who created and fueled this crisis. I want to thank the Attorney General and his office for their work on this settlement that will help fund prevention, education and treatment efforts. No amount of money can undo the devastating toll inflicted by the opioid epide
HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
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Fleeing Suspect Flips Vehicle then Fights with Deputies
Shortly before 11 PM yesterday evening a Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a silver Nissan Altima in the area of Diamond Avenue and Saint Joseph Avenue because the driver had run off the edge of the roadway a few times. Rather than stopping, the driver, later identified as Brad Cole of Evansville, led the Sheriff’s Office on a pursuit before losing control and completely flipping his vehicle. Cole was not wearing a seatbelt at the time and as a result was ejected from the driver seat into the rear passenger seat of his car. Determined to avoid arrest Cole then climbed out of the window in an attempt to run; however the deputy gave chase.
The pursuing deputy deployed his Taser against the suspect as he was reaching into his waistband, but the Taser proved ineffective. The chase continued until another deputy joined in to help subdue Cole as he fought them. While Cole was being taken into custody deputies located suspected methamphetamine and marijuana. Cole was transported to a local hospital due injuries sustained when his vehicle crashed, and will be arrested for the following charges upon his release: resisting law enforcement, battery on law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended license.
Arrested Brad Cole, 39, of Evansville
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
THE FAMILY FOUNDATION CALLS SLOTS BILL A “ALICE IN WONDERLAND” POLITICAL MOVE
Sullivan’s Bill Paves Way For Personal Delivery Robots Passes Out Of The House
The Indiana House of Representatives voted 95-0 to advance State Rep. Holli Sullivan’s (R-Evansville) legislation that would pave the way for local governments to begin partnering with companies to utilize autonomous delivery robots in communities throughout the state.
According to FedEx, on average, more than 60 percent of small businesses’ consumers live within three miles of a store location and expect more products to be delivered to their home. To support the use of this growing technology, Sullivan’s bill would set up guidelines for device regulations, acceptable roadway routes and local government involvement.
“The pandemic highlighted the importance of businesses thinking outside the box to get their products to Hoosiers’ doorsteps,” Sullivan said. “This bill sets up a framework to help local cities and towns partner with businesses, like FedEx and Amazon, to decide if this new delivery technology is the right fit and how best to deploy it.”
Sullivan said a personal delivery device is a robot that delivers goods to consumers through contactless methods. She said each device has different specifications depending on its service provider and types of goods it’s meant to carry. FedEx’s robot, named Roxo, stands approximately four feet tall, is able to carry up to 100 pounds, travels within a five-mile radius and can climb steps and curbs to deliver packages. In comparison, Amazon’s electronic robot, called the Amazon Scout, is smaller and drives best along sidewalks in neighborhoods. Hoosiers could order takeout, groceries or receive small or large packages. Sullivan said even before COVID-19, there was a growing need for on-demand, hyper-local delivery services, but now the pandemic has highlighted the importance of alternative ways for Hoosiers to receive online purchases.
According to Sullivan, House Bill 1072 would also include safeguards, allowing neighborhoods to voice their support or concern if a program were to start in their community and establishing requirements for devices to have such as cameras, headlights, turn signals, accessibility and more.
By implementing these devices, Sullivan said she also expects it to generate more jobs as people would be needed to maintain or repair each device, analyze data and monitor the devices’ operation.
“Indiana invests a large amount of money in K-12 STEM education, and we are nationally known for some amazing higher education institutions,” Sullivan said. “Having this kind of innovation would create job opportunities for those students, and encourage them to continue living and working in Indiana.”
UE Faculty Senate Releases Results of Faculty Poll on Realignment
UE Faculty Senate Releases Results of Faculty Poll on Realignment
Daniel Byrne, Secretary-Treasurer UE AAUP
Evansville— 2/3/21 —The University of Evansville (UE) Faculty Senate has released the results of a faculty poll on the university’s ongoing realignment process. The poll was conducted between Wednesday, January 27th and Sunday, January 31st. Seventy faculty members participated in the poll.
Of the seventy respondents, twenty-three (33%) said that they had met with a senior administrator todiscuss the draft academic realignment plan. Four of those twenty-three (17%) reported that the President had been present at one or more of those meetings. When asked whether they would characterize the meetings they attended as “meaningful and productive,†seven of the twenty-three (30%) responded affirmatively and sixteen responded negatively. The seven who found their meetings to be “meaningful and productive†praised EVPAA Dr. Michael Austin for his interest in their proposals.
Of the sixteen faculty members who felt otherwise, a number commented that their questions went unanswered at their meetings.
The poll also asked the faculty if they approve of the draft academic realignment plan. Sixty-eight faculty members answered this question and sixty-two (91%) said that they do not approve of that plan. Among the negative responses, the most oft-cited problems with the plan were the incompleteness of the data from which the plan was constructed and the lack of faculty involvement in the construction of the plan.
Of the six positive responses, a number noted the need for the university to achieve financial stability.
The next question asked faculty members if they are concerned about the future of tenure at the University of Evansville. Sixty of the sixty-nine respondents (87%) said that they are. Many of those sixty expressed worries regarding the attitudes of the President and the Board of Trustees towards tenure.
Among the nine who are not concerned about the future of tenure at the university, there was little consensus, but some did point to the fiscal challenges being faced by the President and the Board.
The last question in the poll asked, “How do you believe the faculty should respond to the realignment plan going forward?†This question elicited a wide range of responses. The common themes within themajority of the responses were the need for the faculty to continue to push back against the President’s plan, the importance of public action, and support for the university’s AAUP chapter.
We, the UE chapter of the AAUP, thank the Senate for conducting this extremely helpful poll. We would also like to thank each and every faculty member who took the time to participate in the poll. The results offered a variety of perspectives on the realignment process and all were helpful and valuable.
As the realignment process moves forward, we hope that more such polls will be conducted.
To learn more:
• Visit our website at saveue.com • Follow us on Facebook at Save UE
• Follow us on Twitter at @Save_UE • Follow us on Instagram at save.ue
• E-mail us at ueaaup@gmail.com