With the weather at Butler University finally warming up, an influx of theft—particularly of bicycles—is occurring.

Five bicycles were reported stolen to Butler University Police Department between March 29 and April 3.

Most recently, a tire off a bicycle outside Ross Hall was stolen on April 12.

BUPD Detective Bruce Allee said despite bicycle theft becoming more common recently, he doesn’t think the number of thefts on campus—of bicycles or other personal items—is much different from the norm.

“We’ve had a couple spikes, and that has made it kind of high profile,” Allee said. “On average, I don’t think we’re that much above (where we normally are). We’ve had those clusters of thefts, which have prompted alerts on campus.”

In addition to the spur of recent bicycle thefts, Allee said electronics thefts at Gallahue Hall and the Pharmacy Building in February also boosted overall theft figures.

As it pertains to bicycles, a majority of the thefts are taking place not near academic buildings but on the north end of campus at Apartment Village and University Terrace.

Allee said BUPD is putting more focus on the area, especially at night. He also said he has basic descriptions of those who may be involved, adding that they do not live on campus and are “pretty active thieves throughout the county.”

It is important for students who have a bike stolen to know two crucial pieces of information if they hope to have it found.

“No serial number (and) no definite timeframe, there’s very little chance of the bike getting recovered,” Allee said.

Butler has not been immune to other thefts and types of crimes this spring, however.

A moped was reported stolen from a house on Berkley Street on April 10, and pocket change totaling less than $2 was stolen from a car the following day.

On April 12, a clarinet was taken from Atherton Union, and on April 14, a purse was snatched from a vehicle.

Additionally, a laptop and an iPhone were stolen from an off-campus residence on March 17, and a gas-powered blower was stolen from one of Butler’s facilities buildings on March 20.

Allee said Butler community members always need to be aware of where their personal belongings are, specifically electronic devices.

“If you wouldn’t leave money lying out, please don’t leave your electronics lying out,” Allee said, “because that’s quick cash for a thief. They have no remorse, (and) they don’t care who it belongs to.”

Theft was an issue at Butler early last spring as well.

According to the university’s crime logs, 21 thefts of varying nature were reported between March 20 and April 12 last year. Only two of those, however, were listed as bicycle thefts.

Allee said one thing that does have him baffled this year is the number of vandalism crimes occurring.

He said the most common vandalism crimes have been side mirrors being broken off cars, graffiti and building windows being broken.

“That one just goes right over my head,” Allee said. “I don’t understand the mentality there.”

Allee said that while Butler students can do certain things to prevent theft, BUPD must also do its part and educate the community.

“A lot of kids, especially who are living off campus, maybe (we can) prepare them better with the information,” Allee said. “That comes back to us. That’s our department.”

Photo by Reid Bruner

Already hailed as one of the most attractive campuses in the Midwest, Butler University recently added a garden on campus—four stories above ground.

But, this project’s purpose was not to beautify campus.

Instead, the installation of a green roof on campus is another example of the Butler community trying to make the university more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Student volunteers, faculty and staff helped assemble a green roof last Thursday on top of the old pharmacy building.

Guided by Pat Maloney of Eco-Roofs, a green roof professional, and Rich Michal, project engineer on campus, 650 trays, each weighing 40 pounds, were lifted by a crane to the top of the Pharmacy Building.

The project began in the fall when senior chemistry major Sarah Strobl wanted to do a green roof installation project for her honors thesis.

Though Strobl was not able to do this, she joined the Council on Presidential Affairs and began working in the Green Operations Committee.

After several months of working and talking with Butler staff, engineers and manufacturers, the old pharmacy building was targeted for the installation.

I could not be more excited that this project came to fruition, since I am very passionate about preventing environmental degradation and investing in clean energy.

Indiana is mainly powered by coal, which is a big air pollutant when burned, and the water ways in Indianapolis are also polluted due to an inefficient sewer system.

Installing a green roof is a great project to better the environment.

Strobl said that the biggest benefit of the garden is that it cuts down on heating and cooling costs, since the garden acts as insulation.

Therefore, Butler would not need to increase its electricity usage when heating and cooling the building.

Furthermore, when it rains, the water runoff that would have usually been drained into the river gets soaked up by the vegetation on the roof.

Though it is small, the first green roof on campus will hopefully lead to more installations, ultimately helping Butler have less of a footprint on the environment.

“I would like to see every building on campus with a green roof,” Strobl said.

The campus is filled with buildings that have flat roofs, and installing more green roofs on campus and covering larger areas will keep providing benefits for Butler.

Senior chemistry and biology major Eric Shoemaker was a student volunteer with the installation.

He said the roof project was a phenomenal project and that students need to get involved with these types of undertakings because it is our future we are protecting.

“We are the future voice of this generation after we graduate,” Shoemaker said.

Shoemaker went on to say that he also wants Butler to become more of a green university than it currently is.

The students, staff and faculty working to make this university sustainable must continue to receive help.

It was great that SGA funded this project and similar projects should continue to be installed in the short term.

Having a line-item every year in the SGA budget for sustainable projects is, in itself, not sustainable.

Along with the green roof, I hope that President Jim Danko signing the American College & University President’s Climate Commitment on April 16 will truly put Butler on the sustainable path the community wants.

When Sarah Strobl came to Butler University as a pharmacy student, her story and life plan changed after a two-week tropical biology class in Panama.

During the summer of 2010, the rainforest was Strobl’s classroom, and she said she was always lagging behind the group, completely in awe of everything.

As she gazed at the green of the trees and witnessed how connected the people were to nature, Strobl, now a biology and chemistry major, came to a startling conclusion.

“This is where I belong,” Strobl said, “playing in the dirt.”

Her passion for recycling and creating a green environment on Butler University’s campus has landed Strobl in a nationwide contest that honors the sustainability efforts of college students.

Photo by Rachel Anderson

Sponsored  by  SmartPower, the contest seeks to recognize outstanding students who make considerable efforts to decrease their campus’ carbon footprint.  Strobl is currently in 14th place for her campaign to install a green roof on the old part of the Pharmacy Building at the end of March.

Nathan Krout, Council on Presidential Affairs operations committee coordinator,  said that the roof would help insulate the building and divert rainwater away from buildings.

“This project is not only innovative for Butler but for the city of Indianapolis as well,” Krout said.

CPA chair Mike Tirman said Strobl is easy to work with.

“She’s a hard worker and dedicated,” Tirman said.

Strobl’s father, who was born in Germany, instilled the idea in her to use only what she needs.

“It was an innate thing for us,” Strobl said.

After her trip to Panama, Strobl returned to the states eager to learn more.

She spent a summer interning with the U.S. Geological Survey at Lake Michigan and even enjoyed getting up with the sun.

“We had to be there at 7:30, it was very early, but I never got tired,” Strobl said.

Consisting of days spent outside, hiking and taking plant samples, the internship taught Strobl the importance of understanding the complex relationship between natural and manmade environments.

This dichotomy between the natural and the manmade is something Strobl is seeking to understand through her internship at the Center for Urban Ecology.

Tim Carter, the center’s director, said that Strobl was the captain of the ship when it came to the green roof project, which stemmed from her honors thesis.

But her passion hasn’t always involved the outdoors.

As Strobl gingerly sips her hot Starbucks soy chai tea latte, she smiles at the memory of disliking watering plants in the garden as a child alongside her mom.

“I thought it was really stupid,” she said, “getting up so early in the summer.”

Now, Strobl is not afraid to get her hands dirty.

“She is driven, smart and confident,” Carter said.

These three characteristics, along with her dedicated studies and research, have landed Strobl an internship after she graduates with Bayer CropScience in Germany, a half an hour away from her grandmother’s home.

Today, Strobl considers those summers in the garden and her German heritage as part of her passion for sustainability and recycling.

Strobl said she isn’t quite sure what will happen if she wins the contest, but she does know one thing: At some point she wants to be a professor at an undergraduate institution.

“Big ideas come from undergrad students,” Strobl said.  “I very much appreciate my professors here, and I would like to give back.”

Vote for Strobl and her sustainable efforts, visit. Voting ends Feb. 24 at 5 p.m.