Around The Campus

French and Italian graduate student conference to occur\nThe graduate students of the Department of French and Italian will host the 10th annual graduate student conference April 6-8 in Ballantine Hall. The conference will include presentations on French, Francophone and Italian literature, French linguistics, cultural studies and instructional technology.\nKeynote speakers are University of London Professor Edward Hughes, a fellow at IU's Institute for Advanced Study, and Yale University Professor Paolo Valesio. The conference is free and open to the public. \nHughes will open the conference with a lecture on "The Betrayal of Occident? Cultural Difference, Illusion and Self-Definition in Modern French Literature" at 4 p.m. April 6 in Ballantine Hall 005. Valesio will speak at 2:30 p.m. April 8 in Ballantine Hall 005 with a lecture, "The Theory and Practice of Literary Exiles: Episodes from the 'Primo Novecento' in Italy." \nFor more information on the conference, visit www.indiana.edu/~fritconf/ or contact fritconf@indiana.edu. \nRecreation and Park Administration \nprofessor honored\nRecreation and Park Administration Professor Joel Meier has been awarded the Luther Halsey Gulick Medal, the highest award given by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. \nThe award is given in recognition of long and distinguished service by noteworthy leaders whose contributions inspire youth to live vigorously, courageously and freely as citizens of a free society. \n"This is the most prestigious honor that I have received," Meier said in a press release. "I accept this award with humility, knowing that the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and my colleagues have given me so much more than I could ever return."\nDuring the Alliance's March 29 convention, Meier was also inducted as president-elect of the American Leisure Academy. The Academy serves as a forum for the promotion and advancement of the quality of life of Americans through creative and meaningful leisure and recreation.\nMeier is a professor and former chairman of the Department of Recreation and Park Administration. Before coming to IU, Meier served as associate dean of the School of Forestry at the University of Montana. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Nebraska, and his doctoral degree in Recreation and Park Administration from IU.\nMedical school application date postponed \nStudents applying to medical schools through the American Medical College Application Service for the entering class of 2002 will not be able to submit applications until June 18, rather than the usual June 1 date. \nBeginning with the June 2001 application cycle, the Association will start using exclusively a Web-based application. Before this year, students interested in applying to 115 of the 125 U.S. medical schools could select to complete either a paper or electronic application.\nWhile students cannot begin submitting applications until June 18, the application can be viewed starting as early as April 16 through the Association's Web site at www.aamc.org/students/amcas/keysteps.htm.\nSAA accepting applications for LeaderShape IU \nThe Student Alumni Association is accepting applications for its annual LeaderShape IU conference, which takes place each summer. Sixty students from IU will participate in the six-day-long leadership institute at Bradford Woods outdoor education center in Martinsville.\nAbout half of the participants will come from pre-allocated spots given to student groups represented on the Dean's Advisory Board and representatives of the regional campuses. Other participants will be chosen by an open application process. Students selected by the Association must demonstrate a willingness to become a leader and contribute to the IU community.\nFor more information, visit www.indiana.edu/~saa/leadershape.shtml.\nJournalist to speak on issues concerning Asian Americans\nJournalist Helen Zia will speak at 4 p.m. April 11 in the Ernie Pyle Hall Pulliam Auditorium. \nShe will speak on "Crossing Boundaries: Collaborating for Social Change in the New Millennium."\nZia, who is known for her civil rights work, recently wrote a new book, "Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People," which surveys the history of Asian Americans, the rapid development of their political force and the unique issues they face.\nA reception will follow at the Asian Culture Center, 807 E. 10th St.