Alumni faculty live the college dream

Many IU students wish they could stay in college forever. The freedom, early afternoon siestas and parties can make college seem like a student's paradise. Unfortunately, most current IU students will be gone in a few years, trying to make their way in the real world. But what happens when a student falls in love with IU and refuses to leave? Easy: They work here. \nThis love for IU has led many ambitious graduates to find careers within the Sample Gates. Professors, vice presidents and even the IU spokesman now represent IU with the same level of excellence they did when they were students. Bill Stephan, Christine Barbour and Steve Smith are part of this elite tradition of graduates who followed their passions, and were led straight back to their alma mater. \n"The opportunity to work at Indiana University was unique because it's not just a place of higher education," IU spokesman Bill Stephan said. "It's involved in so many aspects of public life."\nWith his bachelor's degree in hand, Bill Stephan entered IU's law school over twenty years ago. Four years later he graduated with a law degree and ambitions to enter the public sector. Among other positions, he served as the juvenile court magistrate in Indianapolis where he worked for various developments. Since his second arrival at IU in 2001, Stephan has used those experiences in his new position as the vice president for public affairs and government relations. \nUnlike Stephan, Professor Christine Barbour has been at IU since she enrolled as an undergraduate in 1976. After finishing both her undergraduate and graduate studies at IU, she began teaching her passion, political science. In addition to teaching, Barbour has also recently written a book with her husband called Keeping the Republic: America. Barbour said she loves Bloomington and still appreciates the college experience she first found on the Bloomington campus as a student. Barbour could only recall a few drawbacks from never leaving the comfort-zone of IU.\n"If you choose to go to grad school or work with the people 'who knew you when' they tend to keep thinking of you the way you were," Barbour said. "It's kind of like living with your parents forever."\nVisiting journalism professor Steve Smith first came to IU to study because he wanted to get away from his parents and home in Michigan. After graduating in 1970 with a degree in broadcast journalism, he began a 35-year-career in television broadcasting. Throughout that time, he stayed involved in IU through scholarships and discussions with former professors. Then in 2001, Smith decided to return to his alma mater to teach on a temporary basis. Already a favorite in the journalism school after three semesters, Smith will leave many touched students when he returns to the broadcasting field this summer. \n"I like the kids," Smith said. "I like the interaction between professors and students because all you want to do is learn and all we want to do is teach you"