>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," AS THE PROTESTS AT I.U.

AGAINST THE WAR IN GAZA STRETCHES INTO ITS THIRD WEEK, WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT EXACTLY THE PROTESTERS WANT FROM THE UNIVERSITY.

[ CROWD CHANTING ] THE PROTESTERS ALSO DEMAND THE RESIGNATION OF I.U.

PRESIDENT PAMELA WHITTEN AND TWO MEMBERS OF HER ADMINISTRATION.

AS UNIVERSITIES TURN THEIR FOCUS AND DOLLARS INTO STEM AND RESEARCH, DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS ARTS AND HUMANITIES ARE FEELING THE EFFECT.

>> IT IS A NATIONAL TREND AND WE JUST HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, FACE THAT FACT AND WORK WITH IT THE BEST WE CAN.

>> ENROLLMENT IN THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT AT I. U.

HAS DROPPED BY TWO-THIRDS OVER THE LAST DECADE.

>> AND WE TALK WITH A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR ABOUT TUESDAY'S PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FALL.

WE'LL HAVE THESE STORIES, PLUS THE LATEST NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STATE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

♪ >> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

U.S.

SENATOR MIKE BRAUN EASILY WON THE CROWDED REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR TUESDAY.

THAT'S EVEN AS BRAUN'S OPPONENTS WERE FORMIDABLEABLE GROUP, SOME OF WHOM SPENT MILLIONS IN A RACE THAT WENT NEGATIVE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

BRAUN SAYS SOME OF HIS OPPONENTS ALREADY REACHED OUT TO CONGRATULATE HIM.

>> YOU HAVE THICK SKIN TO GET THROUGH IT AND THEN YOU HAVE TO BE VERY FORGIVING AND DON'T HOLD ANY GRUDGES IF YOU ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING DONE.

>> NOW, PART OF BRAUN'S MESSAGE IS INFORMED BY HIS SERVICE IN THE U.S. SENATE WHERE HE RAILED AGAINST GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

>> UP TO THE STATES TO SHOW HOW WE GET THIS COUNTRY BACK TO WHERE THE FOUNDERS INTENDED IT TO BE.

FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY, THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> BRAUN WON WITH JUST UNDER 40% OF THE VOTE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SUZANNE CROUCH WAS SECOND WITH 22%.

AND BUSINESSMAN BRAD CHAMBERS WAS THIRD WITH 17%.

NOW, BRAUN WILL FACE OFF IN NOVEMBER AGAINST DEMOCRAT JENNIFER McCORMICK AND LIBERTARIAN DONALD RAINWATER.

INCUMBENT BRUCE BORDERS WILL BE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 45 AFTER WINNING A VERY CLOSE RACE.

BORDERS ENDED UP 38% OF VOTES, BEATING KNOX COUNTY COMMISSIONER KELLY STREETER BY LESS THAN 300 VOTES.

JEFF ELLINGTON RECEIVED 27% OF THE VOTE.

THE WIN GIVES BORDERS A CLEAR PATH TO AIL SECOND TERM.

INDIANA DEMOCRATS DIDN'T HOLD A PRIMARY FOR THE DISTRICT.

THAT COVERS ALL OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES, AS WELL AS PART OF KNOX, DAVIS AND VIGO COUNTIES.

>> IT'S A REALLY GOOD TIRED FEELING.

IT'S NOT JUST TONIGHT.

IT'S ALL OF THE NIGHTS THAT LED UP TO THIS, ALL THE MANY NIGHTS OF DOOR KNOCKING.

I'M GRATEFUL.

I DO PRAISE THE LORD FOR THIS AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO MY FAMILY, THE HELPERS.

>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, BORDERS SAID THAT HIS MAIN TASKS, ONCE HE MADE IT TO THE OFFICE WOULD BE WORKING ON INDIANA'S MEDICAID PROGRAM, FIXING HIGHWAY I-70 AND FOCUSING ON IMPROVING READING SCORES FOR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY LAURA MERRYFIELD-WILSON WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS.

WILL BE TO THE SHOW PROFESSOR.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WILL BE BETWEEN MIKE BRAUN, JENNIFER McCORMICK.

INDIANA HASN'T HAD A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR IN TWO DECADES.

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS RACE PLAYING OUT?

>> THIS ONE WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH, BECAUSE JENNIFER McCORMICK HERSELF NOW IS A DEMOCRAT, BUT SHE WAS A REPUBLICAN BACK IN 2016 AND SHE ACTUALLY WON STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, AND THAT PARTICULAR ELECTION CYCLE.

NOW, OUR STATE DOES TEND TO BE VERY RED.

REPUBLICANS HAVE DOMINATED, AS YOU MENTIONED FOR QUITE SOMETIME.

WHAT I'M HOPING THAT WE'LL SEE IN THE TRANSITION NOW FROM THE PRIMARY TO THE GENERAL IS A FOCUS ON SOME OF THOSE BIG STATEWIDE ISSUES.

TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION, TALKING ABOUT RISING HEALTHCARE COSTS, TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT COME THROUGH THE STATE.

WE DIDN'T GET INTO MANY OF THOSE ISSUES IN TERMS OF PRIMARY ELECTION.

IN THIS COULD -- FOCUS BETWEEN BRAUN AND McCORMICK, WE CAN LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES AND WHAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE AND OFFER IF ELECTED TO THE OFFICE.

>> BRAUN'S U.S. SENATE SEAT IS OPEN.

REPUBLICAN JIM BANKS WAS UNOPPOSED IN THE PRIMARY.

IS IT A FORGONE CONCLUSION THAT HE WINS IN THE FALL?

>> WE DO KNOW THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE AN ADVANTAGE IN THIS STATE, CERTAINLY, BUT I THINK VALLEY Mc McCRAY IS AN INTERESTING CANDIDATE.

SHE WILL BE THE DEMOCRAT WHO BEAT MARC CARMICHAEL IN TUESDAY'S PRIMARY.

SHE WILL BE THE DEMOCRAT THAT FACES IN THIS CASE.

I THINK THE THING TO CONSIDER IS THE ROLE THAT MONEY PLAYS.

WHEN McCRAY WAS RUNNING IN THE PRIMARY, SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEND NEARLY AS MUCH MONEY.

I THINK THAT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE HERE.

BUT WHEN YOU THINK IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL ELECTORATE, PARTISANSHIP MATTERS A LOT AND THE CANDIDATES MATTER A LOT.

THE CAMPAIGNS WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE BIG ISSUES.

THERE'S BEEN A NATIONALIZATION IN POLITICS.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SENATE RACE, VOTERS WILL WANT TO SEE WHERE THE CANDIDATES STAND ON ISSUES LIKE IMMIGRATION AND ABORTION.

I THINK THAT CAN HELP IN THIS CASE ADVANTAGE THE DEMOCRAT McCRAY, BUT CERTAINLY REPUBLICANS DO HAVE A GENERAL ADVANTAGE IN THE ELECTION CYCLE.

SO THE QUESTION WILL REALLY BE CAN SHE FUND RAISE AND FOCUS ON THE ISSUES THAT THE HOOSIER CARE ABOUT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> OFF OF THAT, DO YOU THINK HAVING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET WILL HURT OR HELP THE GOP IN NOVEMBER?

>> I THINK IT HELPS IN INDIANA, BUT I WILL PUT IT THERE WITH THAT CAVEAT.

I DON'T KNOW NATIONALLY THAT IT HELPS IN EVERY SING SINGLE STATE.

IF YOU GO BACK IN TERMS OF 2020 AND 16, DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN VERY POPULAR IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

AND EVEN THAT SAID, NIKKI HALEY, WHO SUSPENDED HER CAMPAIGN MONTHS AGO GOT 21% OF THE VOTE ON TUESDAY'S PRIMARY.

TEMPERATURE DOESN'T MATTER IN TERMS OF CONSEQUENCE FOR THE ELECTION.

IT DOES SHOW, THERE'S AN UNDERCURRENT OF REPUBLICANS WHO DISLIKE DONALD TRUMP.

IN INDIANA, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A STRONG ENOUGH UNDERCURRENT TO MATTER IN TERMS OF THE ELECTIONS.

I THINK TRUMPING THE TOP OF THE TICKET FOR REPUBLICANS MIGHT DISADVANTAGE SOME OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES DOWN BALLOT.

>> LAURA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>>> ALL RIGHT.

AFTER FAILING TO PASS A SCHOOL REFERENDUM IN LAST YEAR'S ELECTION, BROWN COUNTY VOTERS PASSED ONE TUESDAY WITH 55% OF THE VOTE.

THE TAX INCREASE WILL BE USED TO RAISE TEACHER SALARIES, AS WELL AS RECRUITING NEW STAFF TO CONTINUE APRESENT SISSHIP -- APPRENTICESHIP AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS.

>> WE REALLY WORK HARD, RELENTLESSLY TO BE ABLE TO GROW THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND WE CAN ONLY DO THAT BY RECRUITING AND RETAINING THE BEST OF THE BEST EDUCATORS, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT THOSE WORLD-CLASS OPPORTUNITIES.

>> NOW, ON A PROPERTY ASSESSED AT $300,000, THE REFERENDUM IS EXPECTED TO ADD ABOUT $157 TO THE OWNERS' ANNUAL TAX BILL.

FREMONT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND PIKE TOWNSHIP ALSO PASSED REFERENDUMS BUT FOR BLUE RIVER VALLEY SCHOOLS HAD 17% SUPPORT.

PRO GADA PROTESTS AT I.U.

HAVE BEEN GOING -- PRO GAZA PROTESTS AT I. U.

HAVE BEEN GOING FOR TWO WEEKS AND DEMANDING THAT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CRANE NAVAL CENTER IS AT ISSUE.

>> PROTESTERS SAY THEY ARE PREPARED TO OCCUPY DUNN MEADOW UNTIL THEIR DEMANDS ARE MET.

THEY WANT I.U.

TO BREAK THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CRANE, THE SOUTHERN INDIANA NAVAL BASE DESIGNED AND DEPLOYS WEAPON SYSTEMS FOR THE MILITARY, INCLUDING SOME OF THE TYPES USED IN GAZA.

>> THEY WOULD HAVE TO EVALUATE THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OF THAT PARTNERSHIP, HOW MANY DIFFERENT PROJECTS, WHAT RESEARCH, WHAT RECRUITMENT IS HAPPENING.

AND THEN THEY NEED TO EVALUATE EACH OF THESE ALONG THE LINES OF WHETHER OR NOT IT CONTRIBUTES TO I.U.

'S MISSION.

>> I.U.

'S EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH CRANE GOES BACK TO 2015, UNDER PRESIDENT MICHAEL McROBBIE.

THE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED LAST OCTOBER THAT IT WOULD EXPAND THAT PARTNERSHIP AND INVEST $111 MILLION IN MICROELECTRONICS RESEARCH.

I.U.

SAID IN A PRESS RELEASE IT WOULD WORK WITH CRANE TO CREATE TECHNOLOGY WITH CIVILIAN AND DEFENSE APPLICATIONS.

>> CRANE'S GOT BILLIONS COMING THROUGH IT AS PARTS OF CHIPS AND SCIENCE AND SO PRESIDENT WHITTEN HAS INSTRUCTED US TO PLAY OFFENSE, PLAY OFFENSE, PLAY OFFENSE WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES COMING THROUGH CRANE.

>> WE REACHED OUT TO I.U.

LEADERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE STORY, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE.

DIRECT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CRANE AND THE WAR IN GAZA ARE HARD TO FIND BUT THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF APPARENT OVERLAP.

CRANE HANDLES AND REFURBISH FURBISHES THE SAME 200,000-POUND BOMBS THAT THE U.S. HAS SUPPLIED TO ISRAEL.

IT'S IN THE CLEAR WHETHER ANY CAME FROM CRANE DIRECTLY.

THE U.S. PAUSED SHIPMENTS OF THOSE BOMBS TO ISRAEL LAST WEEK OVER CONCERN THEY WOULD BE USED IN THE PALESTINIAN CITY CITY OF RAFA.

THEY POINTED TO A RESEARCH AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CRANE AND SMART SHOOTER WHICH DEVELOPED COMPUTER-ASSISTED SCOPES FOR GUNS.

ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT OBTAINED BY MULTIPLE NEWS OUTLETS, THE COMPANY SAYS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE U.S. NAVY WILL EVALUATE THE ABILITY TO SHOOT DOWN DRONES.

A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CRANE DECLINED TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT INVOLVEMENT WITH ISRAEL BUT HE SAYS I.U.

'S RESEARCH HAS BEEN ON A VERY BASIC LEVEL.

PROTESTERS ALSO WANT I.U.

TO BOYCOTT, DIVEST AND SANCTION THE STATE OF ISRAEL.

IT'S RELATED TO A GLOBAL MOVEMENT CALLED B.D.S.

AND GREEN SAYS IT BEGINS WITH A FULL ACCOUNTING OF I.U.

'S INVESTMENTS.

>> WE HOPE IF I.U.

IS SERIOUSLY COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY AND BEING A PLACE THAT REPRESENTS ITS STUDENTS AND FACULTY, WE WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

AND THEN WE CAN EVALUATE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AS THEY ARE DISCOVERED.

>> SOME INSTITUTIONS ARE ALREADY ACCEDING TO THESE DEMANDS.

EVERYGREEN COLLEGE IN WASHINGTON TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY DIVESTING.

SUPPORTERS OF THESE TACTICS COMPARE THEM TO BOYCOTTS AGAINST THE APARTHEID REGIME IN SOUTH AFRICA.

CRITICS SAY THEY ARE ANTI-SI MATTIC -- ANTI-SEMITIC AND ATTEMPTED TO DELEGITIMIZE ISRAEL.

THEY URGED COLLEAGUES IN AN OPEN LETTER TO KEEP IN MIND INDIANA'S ANTIB.D.S.

POLICY.

TECHNICALLY I.U.

DOESN'T HAVE ONE.

THE GROUP REFERS TO PRESIDENT MICHAEL McROBBIE'S 2013 DECISION TO WITHDRAW THEM FROM A STUDY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, INDIANA DOES HAVE AN ANTI-B.D.S.

LAW BUT ITS SCOPE IS PRETTY NARROW.

PASSED IN 2016, IT REQUIRES THE PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO DIVEST FROM BUSINESSES THAT BOYCOTT ISRAEL.

>> THE TEXT OF THE LAW SAYS NOTHING ABOUT APPLYING TO UNIVERSITIES.

IT ONLY NAMES THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT FUND AND ANOTHER TEACHER PENSION FUND AS I RECALL.

>> SETTING ASIDE ACADEMIC AND ECONOMIC BOYCOTTS SOME EXPERTS SAY THE DIVESTING WOULD BE MINIMAL AND MORAL STANCE.

>> ISRAEL WOULD GET THE FUNDING FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THEY WOULD GET IT -- IT'S FLUID.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ETHAN SANDWEISS.

>> PROTESTERS FINAL DEMAND IS THE RESIGNATION OF THREE I.U.

ADMINISTRATORS, PRESIDENT PAMELA WHITTEN, PROVOST RAHUL SHRIVASTAV AND VICE PROVOST KERRY DOCHERTY.

COMING UP NEXT, ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," ENROLLMENT IN THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES IS ON THE DECLINE AS UNIVERSITIES FUNNEL MORE MONEY INTO STEM AND RESEARCH.

AND IF YOUR BOXWOOD BUSHES ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF STRESS.

DON'T BE SO QUICK TO ASSUME THAT IT'S BECAUSE OF DISEASE.

THESE STORIES AND MORE, RIGHT HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

EDUCATORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE SPOKE OUT AGAINST A NEW LITERACY ENDORSEMENT AND REVISED GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WEDNESDAY.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S KIRSTEN ADEER REPORTS.

THEY SAY TRAINING FOR THE ENDORSEMENT IS BURDENSOME AND THE NEW GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS WON'T HELP STUDENTS BECOME WELL ROUNDED.

>> A NEW LAW REQUIRES EDUCATORS TO HAVE A LITERACY ENDORSEMENT IF THEY WORK IN PRE-K TO SIXTH GRADE BUT SOME SAY THEY DON'T TEACH READING AND WON'T USE IT.

JESSICA HURLEY, SHE PLANNED TO PURSUE HER MASTER'S DEGREE IN MATH EDUCATION.

>> I HAVE TAKEN A LITERACY TEACHER'S SPOT AS I'M SIGNED UP FOR TEACHING AND LITERACY.

>> OTHERS SAY THE TRAINING IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IT'S UNPAID AND TAKES 80 HOURS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL TO COMPLETE.

EDUCATORS COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A $1,200 STIPEND BUT SOME SAY IT DOESN'T COVER 80 HOURS OF CHILD CARE.

THEY SAY SUBJECTS SUCH AS MUSIC AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN REVISED GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, BECAUSE SCHOOLS COULD CUT THOSE AREAS IF STUDENTS AREN'T REQUIRED TO TAKE THEM.

>> I DO AGREE THAT WE SHOULD BEGIN FOCUSING ON WORK COMPETENCIES AND GETTING INDIANA STUDENTS BETTER SUITED TOWARDS THE WORKFORCE BUT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT.

YOU ARE ONLY RESTRICTING INDIANA STUDENTS.

>> I'M KIRSTEN ADAIR.

>> INDIANA UNIVERSITY HELD GRADUATION CEREMONIES ACROSS THE NINE CAMPUSES OVER THE LAST WEEK, BUT WHAT DEGREE STUDENTS ARE EARNING IS CHANGING.

HIGHER EDUCATION REPORTER AUBREY WRIGHT JOINS US FOR MORE.

>> HI, JOE.

INDIANA'S HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERS ARE INVESTING IN STEM AND RESEARCH AT UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BUT WITH MORE MONEY BEING FUNNELED INTO THOSE DEPARTMENTS, THE FUTURE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES REMAINS UNCERTAIN.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY JUNIOR LAURA WRONGS-DAY LOOKS -- WRONGS' DAY LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS SHE DANCING AND SINGING.

>> BUT B.F.A.

PROGRAMS TEND TO BE SMALLER THAN, YOU KNOW, LIKE, A BIOLOGY PROGRAM OR A BUSINESS PROGRAM ON A COLLEGE, BUT OURS IS EVEN SMALLER, I THINK IN, COMPARISON TO OTHER B.F.A.

PROGRAMS.

>> IT'S HARD TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THE ARTS BUT WRONG SAYS THE ARTS ARE ALIVE IN BLOOMINGTON.

>> THE STUDENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE ARTS HERE, THEY ARE VERY SCRAPPY.

THEY MAKE THINGS HAPPEN FOR THEMSELVES.

>> SHE HAS PERFORMED WITH I.U., BLOOMINGTON'S CONSTELLATION THEATER AND THE UNIVERSITY PLAYERS.

SHE SAYS SHE'S NEVER LOOKED OUT TO AN EMPTY AUDIENCE, AND SHE FEELS THE COMMUNITY'S SUPPORT.

>> I FEEL LIKE MY DEGREE IS VERY RESPECTED AND VALUED IN THE BLOOMINGTON AND I.U.

COMMUNITY.

>> INDIANA HIGHER ED LEADERS ARE INVESTING MILLIONS IN ENGINEERING, ELECTRONICS, MEDICINE AND RESEARCH, AND THEY ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO PURSUE HIGH-WAGE DEGREES THAT WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF A CHANGING WORKFORCE.

AT THE SAME TIME, ENROLLMENT IN THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES IS DOWN.

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT CHAIR MICHAEL ADAMS SAYS A COMMON MISCONCEPTION IS THAT THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES ARE A LUXURY THAT PEOPLE CAN NO LONGER INDULGE IN, BUT WITH THAT, HE SAYS UNIVERSITIES DECREASE THE KNOWLEDGE THEY SHARE.

>> WHY HAVE LESS KNOWLEDGE WHEN YOU CAN HAVE MORE?

WHY NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LIBERAL ARTS OPPORTUNITY?

WHY NOT INDULGE YOURSELF IN A DISCIPLINE THAT FASCINATES YOU?

>> ADAMS SAYS THE SITUATION AT I.U.

IS LIKE OTHER BIG TEN SCHOOLS.

ENROLLMENTS IN ENGLISH HAVE DECLINED BY ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OVER THE LAST DECADE.

>> IT IS A NATIONAL TREND.

WE JUST HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, FACE THAT FACT AND WORK WITH IT THE BEST WE CAN.

>> HE SAYS IT'S ALARMING BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS UPS AND DOWNS IN ENROLLMENT.

>> SO RIGHT NOW, I GUESS WE'RE EBBING A LITTLE BIT, BUT IN ANOTHER DECADE, WE MIGHT BE FLOWING PRETTY STRONGLY.

>> PROFESSOR DEBRA COHEN HAS SEEN THE DECLINE IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ENROLLMENT.

THE MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION REPORTED ENROLLMENTS WERE UP BEFORE THE RECESSION IN 2009, BUT BETWEEN 2016 AND 2021, COMMON LANGUAGES SAW STEEP DROPS.

>> ARABIC FELL BY 35%.

CHINESE BY ALMOST 25%.

FRENCH BY 37%.

GERMAN BY 44%.

JAPANESE BY 9%.

AND SPANISH BY 32%.

>> IN INDIANA HIGH SCHOOLS, A FOREIGN LANGUAGE MAY BE SWAPPED WITH FINE ARTS OR TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSE FOR A CORE 40 DIPLOMA.

MOST STUDENTS IN THE U.S. DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO STUDY LANGUAGES UNTIL MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL.

>> SO THAT HAMPERS THEIR ABILITY TO START AT A HIGHER LEVEL AND THEN TO PURSUE HIGH HIGHER LEVEL COURSES WHEN THEY ARE ACTUALLY IN COLLEGE.

>> AND THESE COLLEGE MAJORS ARE IMPORTANT TODAY.

>> THE NUMBER OF JOB POSTINGS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS SEEKING WORKERS WITH LANGUAGE SKILLS IS INCREASING.

BUT EMPLOYERS ARE FACING A SKILLS GAP.

>> COHEN SAYS LANGUAGE SKILLS ARE VITAL IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICINE WHERE SPEAKING A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH COULD REMOVE BARRIERS TO CARE AND PROVIDE CRUCIAL INFORMATION, IN INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC BUSINESSES, EMPLOYERS NEED LANGUAGE SKILLS TO COMPETE.

HIGH SCHOOLS NEED PEOPLE TO TEACH FOREIGN LANGUAGES.

IT'S KEY FOR NATIONAL SECURITY, BUT THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH FLUENT PEOPLE TO FILL ROLES OVERSEAS.

>> LANGUAGE IS NOT AN OPTIONAL.

LANGUAGE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN ADD ON ON TOP.

OF LANGUAGE IS FUNDAMENTAL TO US BEING ABLE TO FUNCTION AS A NATION.

>> ADAMS SAYS ENGLISH MAJORS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY CAN THRIVE IN ALL KINDS OF INDUSTRIES.

THOUGH IT MIGHT TAKE SOME TIME FOR GRADUATES TO LAND IN A SUCCESSFUL CAREER.

>> FRANKLY, ENGLISH MAJORS DO A LOT OF THOSE OTHER JOB JOBS AND I'M NOT ASHAMED OF THAT, I DON'T THINK THE ENGLISH GRADUATES OR MAJORS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THAT.

>> HE SAYS LEADERS WANT PEOPLE WHO THINK DIFFERENTLY ON THEIR PROJECTS AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES ARTS AND HUMANITIES GRADUATES VALUABLE.

>> THE ECONOMIES DON'T RUN ON ONE IDEA OR ONE SET OF SKILLS AND IT'S A MISTAKE TO THINK THAT THEY WILL.

>> WRONG SAYS HER ARTS EDUCATION IS WELL-ROUNDED AND PREPARES HER FOR MORE THAN JUST PERFORMANCE.

SHE SAYS THEATER STUDENTS HAVE A HIGHER UNDERSTANDING OF TEAM WORK.

>> WE KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE GOOD WORK.

WE KNOW IT DOESN'T JUST APPEAR OUT OF THIN AIR.

>> BUT EVEN IF THERE'S A DEMAND AND IMPORTANT SKILLS ARE BEING DEVELOPED, ENROLLMENT IS STILL FALLING AND FUNDING IS LARGELY DEPENDENT ON ENROLLMENT.

ADAMS SAYS THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT IS EVOLVING, WORKING HARD TO CONNECT STUDENTS TO CAREERS AND CONNECTING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO NEED THEIR EXPERTISE.

>> THE WAY FORWARD DOESN'T HAVE TO BE MORE MAJORS OR BUST.

>> SHE SAYS SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

I.U.

HAS A LONG HISTORY OF SUPPORTING FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY, BUT THERE'S PROGRESS IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND AT THE UNIVERSITY WITH THE HELP OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS.

SHE SAYS LANGUAGES HAVE VALUE BEYOND THE ECONOMY.

OF.

>> THEY OPEN DOORS, AND THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT TO US EACH INDIVIDUALLY, AND TO ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY.

>> SHE SAYS SOME PEOPLE IN THEATER WORK HARD FOR YEARS AND STILL FACE REJECTION, BUT SHE'LL PROBABLY NEVER LEAVE THE INDUSTRY THAT SHE LOVES.

>> AND THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE AND SO MANY OF US STILL CLASS TO PURSUE THIS INDUSTRY AND STILL STAY IN THIS INDUSTRY, REALLY I THINK IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR PERSEVERANCE.

>> MORE THAN 19,000 STUDENTS GRADUATED FROM INDIANA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM THIS YEAR.

BUSINESS AND NURSING WERE THE TWO MOST COMMON DEGREES.

>> ALL RIGHT, AUBREY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NOW, IF YOUR BOXWOOD BUSHES HAVE DRY LEAVES AND BRANCHES, IT'S EASY TO ASSUME THEY MIGHT HAVE A FUNGAL CONDITION CALLED BOXWOOD BLIGHT, THAT'S MOST LIKELY NOT TRUE.

ISABELLA VESPIRINI HAS THIS REPORT.

>> EXTREME COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM THE PAST COUPLE YEARS ARE PROBABLY CAUSING THE MAJORITY OF THE DAMAGE.

>> JUST LET 'EM GROW OUT OF IT.

YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR HASN'T BEEN TOO BAD.

OR I CAN SHOW THEM ANOTHER EVERGREEN, THEY MAY WANT TO TRY.

>> MAY'S GREEN HOUSE OFFERS INK BERRIES AND HOLLIES AS REPLACEMENTS.

NEWER VARIETIES OF BOXWOODS SUCH AS NEW GEN BOXWOODS ARE MORE DISEAD RESISTANT -- DISEASE RESISTANT.

>> STAY AWAY FROM THE OLDER VARIETIES OF BOXWOODS.

MOST OF MY SUPPLIERS HAVE DONE AWAY FROM THEM.

>> THEY HAVE SUFFERED SOME DAMAGE FROM THE COLD WEATHER THIS SPRING.

IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL HOW THEY WILL RESPOND TO OTHER POTENTIAL DISEASES.

>> KEEP THEM SPACED WHEN THEY ARE IRRIGATED AND MITIGATES A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

>> BOXWOOD BLIGHT PRODUCES DARK SPOT ON LEAVES AND NARROW BLACK STREETS ON THE STEMS.

FREEZING CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE SIMILAR CONDITIONS.

IT WAS REPORTED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE 1990s AND HAS SPREAD TO BOXWOODS AROUND THE WORLD AND IN APPROXIMATELY 20 STATES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE FIRST CASE OF BOXWOOD BLIGHT WAS FOUND IN INDIANA IN 2018.

THE BLIGHT CAN SPREAD IF YOUR CHRISTMAS WREATHS AND GARLANDS ARE MADE OF BOXWOOD AND CARRYING THE DISEASE.

>> HIGH HUMANITIES AND HIGH DUES -- HIGH HUMIDITY, AND HIGH DEWS THAT'S WHEN IT'S SPREAD FROM PLANT TO PLANT.

>> THERE'S SOME OTHER -- ANOTHER GROUP OF FUNGUS DISEASES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT ARE FAIRLY COMMON ON BOXWOODS.

WHAT DO THEY CAUSE?

BROWNING OF LEAVES, TIPPED DIEBACK, TWIG DIEBACK.

SO IT'S VERY HARD VISUALLY TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE EXACTLY THAT IT IS BOXWOOD BLIGHT.

>> SOME BOXWOODS MAY NOT SHOW SYMPTOMS OF BLIGHT IF THEY ARE WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

IF YOU THINK YOUR BOXWOOD BUSH HAS BLIGHT, YOU CAN APPLY FUNGICIDE OR REPLACE IT.

YOU SHOULDN'T REPLACE A POTENTIALLY SICK BOXWOOD WITH ANOTHER ONE, BECAUSE THE DISEASE CAN STILL LIVE AND SPREAD IN THE SOIL FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.

>> PRUNING OUT THE DISEASE AND DAMAGED PART, GETTING RID OF THAT, THAT INCLUDES ANY LEAF DROP THAT HAS TAKEN, SANITATION IS A KEY.

SO THOSE LEAVES ARE NOT THERE TO REINOCULATE THE PLANT AGAIN.

AVAILABLE REPLACEMENTS INCLUDE HOLLIES, CEDARS, EVERGREENS AND JUNIPERS.

BECKERTS RECOMMENDS THAT HOMEOWNERS WATER AND FERTILIZE THEIR LANDSCAPE TO KEEP IT HEALTHY.

>> DO YOU SEE INSECTS.

DO YOU SEE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SOMETHING STARTING TO GET A FOOTHOLD?

IT'S MUCH EASIER TO CONTROL ANY DISEASE, ANY INSECT PROBLEM BY GETTING AHOLD OF IT EARLY.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ISABELLA VESPIRINI.

>> NOW, IF YOU THINK YOUR BOXWOOD HAS CONTRACTED BLIGHT, YOU CAN SUBMIT A SAMPLE TO THE PURDUE PLANT AND PEST DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY.

>> AND IF YOU WANT TO GET ONE LAST MEAL AT THE IRISH LION, YOU WILL NEED TO GO SOON.

THE LONG-TIME DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON RESTAURANT AND BAR ANNOUNCED IT WILL BE GOING TO DELIVERY ONLY SERVICE ON OR BEFORE MAY 22nd.

THAT BUILDING DATES BACK TO THE LATE 1880s WHEN IT SERVED AS A PUB AND HOTEL.

THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE IRISH LION OPENED IN 1982.

>>> WELL, THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

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