Published: November 02, 2009 12:34 am         

Readers' Forum: Nov. 2, 2009

Swope director helps students discover art

Recently, the sixth-grade art classes at West Vigo Middle School traveled to the Indianapolis Museum of Art for a field trip to discover art. This trip was special, as Brian Whisenhunt, director of the Swope Art Museum joined our group to help launch a “junior docent” program.

Our sixth graders were first treated to a tour of “Sacred Spain,” led by the IMA docents. History and art from the 1700s became alive, as we saw fabulous paintings depicting religious events and golden artifacts, including a crown dripping with hundreds of emeralds.

After taking a break for lunch, four of our newly trained junior docents from West Vigo High School led their groups on a tour of the Contemporary Art floor of the IMA. The high school students were Talon McClara, Shelby Behringer, Katelynn Neidlinger and Allison Walters. Mr. Whisenhunt helped prepare our high school guides with interesting questions to toss back to the sixth graders as they explored the various galleries. Students were once again awestruck with the power of art.

Mr. Whisenhunt has only been in Terre Haute a little over a year, but his educational impact has been significant. An art director in our midst that’s willing to pack a lunch and ride on a school bus along with 40 students to share his insight is phenomenal. Our community is very fortunate to have someone of his energy.

Our deepest thanks goes out to Mr. Whisenhunt and the Swope Art Museum for supporting our students at West Vigo Middle School. We would also like to thank our Principal Tim Vislosky, West Vigo High School Principal Thomas Balitewicz, Gail Artis of the Vigo County School Corp., Sara Laughlin, West Vigo High School art teacher, Wendy Wilkerson, Indianapolis Museum of Art tour director and, last but not least, Superintendent Daniel Tanoos for his continued support of our students and the arts.

— Anna Lee Chalos-McAleese

Terre Haute



Goldman Sachs knows how to game the system

I quote from an article by author and blogger Case Wagenvoord and follow it with questions:

“Take Goldman Sachs, for example. Goldman has been racking up obscene profits with their computerized front running.

“Front running is an illegal activity that works like this: Let’s say I call my broker and tell him that I was to purchase $100 million worth of stock in ABC Corp. My broker knows that as soon as I place the order, the price of the stock is going to go up. So, he sets my $100 million aside and places an order for $100 million with his money. The price of the stock goes up one or two cents per share. Then he places another order with my money, and the price goes up again, whereupon he sells his $100 million and makes a nice little profit.

“Goldman has taken this process and automated it using powerful computers and sophisticated programs that can detect a large order and place their order nanoseconds before the original order is placed. The computers, conveniently located next to the NYSE, have poured billions into Goldman’s coffers.”

Goldman Sachs posted a record third quarter profit of $3.19 billion. I gave part of the seed money. How much prison time should I do?

Since this bailout will be paid by our children and grandchildren, they will be born with Original Sin. What will be their sentence? And the computers?

Somehow, we know CEOs and programmers will be immune. Where do I get that vaccine?

— Ed Gluck

Terre Haute