Students lead the way to solving sustainability problems

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Leslie Wells

Students and leaders from the IUPUI Office of Sustainability attending the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education conference in 2018.

From the moment Dylan Patterson and Amber Greaney stepped foot onto IUPUI’s campus, they started living out O’Neill’s motto to Major in Making a Difference. The two students—both majoring in sustainability management and policy—knew there was work to be done.

“I took environmental science in high school and realized there were a lot of problems in this world,” Greaney says. “Someone’s got to solve them. Why not me?”

Patterson echoes that sentiment. Like many O’Neill students, they were drawn toward making the world a better place and improving their community.

“I realized one day that I didn’t want to spend every single day helping just one person, but rather I wanted to work toward something that would have a bigger impact,” Patterson says.

It’s passion they follow, not a paycheck.

“None of us are here to make a fortune,” he adds. “We’re getting these degrees because we want to advance society and help the current situation.”

(more…)

Marion County has third-highest eviction rate in Indiana

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Leslie Wells

a young caucasian man with his hands in his head concerned because has just received an eviction notice

Read the full report at this link.

Marion County accounts for 40 percent of evictions in Indiana and has the third-highest eviction rate in the state. In its latest policy brief, the Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy (CRISP) at the Indiana University Public Policy Institute takes a closer look at eviction trends in Marion County, the impact of those trends, and recommendations to address the issue.

(more…)

Hudnut Scholarship provides “golden ticket” for O’Neill students

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Leslie Wells

Jared McDonald stands outside IUPUI with government center behind him.

Jared McDonald didn’t pursue many scholarships before he began his college career. He only applied for a handful prior to his freshman year with the O’Neill School as a Civic Leadership major.

“I thought I probably didn’t meet the requirements,” he recalls.

It was a nudge from faculty that would make him take another look at the Hudnut Scholarship in Public Leadership. The scholarship provides $1,000 for undergraduate Public Affairs majors to intern with the city of Indianapolis. To qualify, students must show they are capable of making an impact on the city. McDonald’s instructors gave him the push he needed to take the next step.

(more…)

CRISP research team finds Marion County renters struggle with affordability

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Leslie Wells

READ THE FULL REPORT ON RENTAL TRENDS AT THIS LINK

Stagnant incomes and increasing rental costs are creating unstable and unaffordable living situations for many renters in Marion County. Data analysts with the Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy at the IU Public Policy Institute examined trends from the 2017 U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, paying close attention to the relationships between location, income, and race during the past five years.

What they found is a reality that many Hoosiers struggle with every day: high rent costs, a lack of affordable rental housing, and low income levels that leave families struggling to make ends meet and keep a roof over their heads.

“Affordability is a predictor of homelessness, especially among renters,” says Breanca Merritt, founding director of CRISP. “Our work shows that renters in Marion County need more opportunities for better-paying jobs and more affordable rental units to ease the financial burden and have a more secure living situation.”

(more…)

Discussing antisemitism in the classroom

Posted on September 30, 2019 by Leslie Wells

O'Neill Assistant Professor Jamie Levine Daniel stands in hallway — O’Neill Assistant Professor Jamie Levine Daniel

On October 27, 2018, a gunman took the lives of 11 people worshipping inside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. It was the deadliest attack on the American Jewish community. It was also the latest in a series of antisemetic events and growing antisemtic sentiment around the country and the world.

Antisemitism is similar to other forms of hate and prejudice, but key differences lie in the perceptions of power and ability. The Tree of Life murders—and other recent anti-Jewish crimes—spurred O’Neill Assistant Professor Jamie Levine Daniel to action.

“We talk a lot about social equity, inclusion, and anti-racism but antisemitism is largely overlooked in many fields, including public affairs,” she says.

As a Jewish faculty member at a public affairs school, Levine Daniel wanted to know how she could make an impact and equip her students to better address these issues in the future.

“Antisemitism can affect how people deliver public and nonprofit goods and services, and how those services are consumed,” Levine Daniel adds. “Without understanding this relationship, we’re doing a disservice in training our students to be leaders in diverse societies.”

(more…)