The spark that turned into an Olympic flame

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Leslie Wells

Scott Teal stands in the middle of a desert, wearing a red shirt. With his back to the camera, he holds us the Olympic Torch he will carry during the Law Enforcement Torch Run. — O’Neill alum Scott Teal volunteers with the Special Olympics and was chosen to run in the Law Enforcement Torch Run in the 2020 Special Olympic World Games in Abu Dhabi.

It’s been one year since Scott Teal (MPA’96, BSPA’90) traveled 7,300 miles and a world away from his home in Central Indiana. At the time, he stood in a desert in the United Arab Emirates, holding the torch for the Special Olympics World Games. And there was nowhere else he’d rather be.

“It was just so incredible to be a part of something like this and to understand the power of its mission,” he says. “Words can’t describe that experience. It humbles you and teaches you about grace.”

On a normal day, Teal would be working as a senior special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). But for two weeks in March 2019, he represented the United States in the Law Enforcement Torch Run’s Final Leg. Teal joined hundreds of other law enforcement officers and athletes from around the globe to carry the Flame of Hope across the UAE to open the event in Abu Dhabi.

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IU mourns passing of Paul O’Neill, former Secretary of the U.S. Treasury

Posted on April 18, 2020 by Michael L. Jackson

Former Secretary of the U.S. Treasury and IU alumnus, Paul H. O’Neill, who demonstrated extraordinary leadership across the public, private and non-profit sectors, died Saturday (April 18) in Pittsburgh at the age of 84.

O’Neill was known for his unflinching integrity, his data-driven approach to decision making, and his strong commitment to public service. His distinguished career in government and industry represented a remarkable combination of business acumen and devotion to the greater good.

O’Neill came to Indiana University as part of the federal government program that sent promising mid-career federal employees to universities for advanced studies. (more…)

Student Employee Appreciation Week: A thank you to the O’Neill Student Success Staff

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Leslie Wells

O’Neill student staff members are often in the O’Neill office before anyone else. They’re making sure everything is ready for a successful day for both the students and staff who enter BS 3025.

When visitors walk into the O’Neill office, their first encounter will be with Katie Boynton, Jessie Silguero, Abby Klippel, Kelsey Weaver, Ariel Mason, Adison Stone, and Libby Toweson. These are the students that help answer student questions, talk to them about O’Neill services, and schedule appointments with O’Neill advisors.

Boynton and Silguero also serve as peer advisors for students who need a drop-in advising appointment. In light of the campus changes due to COVID-19, the peer advising team has had to pivot to providing virtual appointments for their fellow students.

“It’s been an adjustment for everyone, but we want to make sure we’re still here supporting O’Neill students and staff however we can,” Silguero says. “This is a tricky time and there’s some confusion about what’s coming next. This is another way we can give back to help.”

For both Silguero and Bonyton, the campus changes also mean an unexpected ending to their final year with the O’Neill student staff. Silguero joined the team in 2018 and Boynton in 2017. Both were set to graduate in May.

“I’ve stayed with O’Neill for almost three years because of the staff and faculty,” Boynton says. “Everyone who works in O’Neill, whether it is faculty or staff, is incredibly passionate about what they do and how they can best assist students. It truly feels like you’re a part of the O’Neill family, and I cannot imagine feeling this connected to another office environment. Our students have amazing opportunities because how dedicated the staff members are, and I love being able to see these experiences happen up close. Being a part of the O’Neill family has been such a monumental experience for which I will be forever grateful.”

Boynton, Silguero, and Klippel were also part of the team that earned IUPUI’s Student Employee Team of the Year Recognition Award in 2019.

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New research finds more domestic violence calls, fewer traffic stops in COVID-19 era

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Leslie Wells

When the COVID-19 crisis reached Indiana, closures, stay-at-home orders, and health information began flooding into inboxes around the state. Amid the pandemic, the faculty at the O’Neill School at IUPUI began making their own changes. Many looked at their research agendas to determine how they could also respond to the ongoing pandemic.

As COVID-19 spread across the country, governments began taking steps to address the ongoing pandemic and, hopefully, reduce the spread of the virus.

Jeremy Carter—the school’s director of research, director of criminal justice and public safety, and associate professor—teamed up with George Mohler from the Purdue School of Science at IUPUI and other colleagues from around the country to examine the impact social distancing has on various types of crime in Indianapolis.

Carter and Mohler suspected social distancing and stay-at-home orders could have a far-reaching effect on how much crime was happening in Indianapolis. The pair set out to examine police calls that came in to IMPD after schools began closing and once the state’s stay-at-home order went into effect. They compared these calls with those from January 1 through March 16, 2020.

“Despite the social distancing regulations, what we found was that school and business closures and stay-at-home orders didn’t have as wide-reaching of an impact as might be expected,” Carter says. “Instead, the impact on crime was very specific to the type of crime.”

“Crimes such as residential burglary may be lower because of increased vigilance over personal space and property,” Mohler adds. “But we may see increases in crimes like domestic violence because people are at home together for longer periods of time.”

They compared three different periods of time: January 2 through March 16, when schools, restaurants, and bars closed; March 16 through March 23, when the state’s stay-at-home order was announced; and March 23 through April 1.

The results of their study showed the following:

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Top 100: Honoring three exceptional O’Neill students

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Leslie Wells

headshots of three students — (L-R) Blaire Viehweg, Alexander Clausius, and Cassidy Caudill were honored with IUPUI’s Top 100 Award.

The spring semester looks much different now than it has in years past. Classrooms that once hosted engaging discussions now sit empty—the conversations have been moved online in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic.

Yet while most students may no longer be on campus, their hard work continues. IUPUI is recognizing some of those students through its annual Top 100 Awards. Each year, the IUPUI Office of Alumni Relations honors 100 outstanding undergraduate students who demonstrate excellence in three categories—academics, campus leadership, and community engagement.

That includes O’Neill students Cassidy Caudill, Alexander Clausius, and Blaire Viehweg. The trio found out they had been selected for IUPUI’s Top 100 in February. All three say the selection is a humbling yet exciting experience for them.

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