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(09/02/04 4:49am)
The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology will kick off another year of its toll-free math and science homework hot line Sunday.\nAt 7 p.m. the hot line, 1-877-ASK-ROSE, will start its 14th year of providing tutoring to Indiana's sixth through 12th graders.\nSusan Smith, the hot line's founder and director, said as math and science standards in schools increase, the hot line is trying to continues to provide assistance.\n"The reason I started the hot line was because Rose-Hulman was looking for a way to connect with the community," she said. "At the time, there was a need for student tutoring of math and science."\nThe area of expertise of the Terre Haute-based Rose-Hulman Institute is math and science.\nSmith said when the program began, everything ran smoothly, and the hot line has continued success ever since.\n"It started in 1991," she said. "It was not until 2002 that we started the statewide expansion."\nKathryn Rademacher-Smith, Assistant Director for the hot line, said all of the tutors are Rose-Hulman college students who go through an interview process.\n"The tutors are recommended by faculty and selected for their technical knowledge and their ability to communicate clearly," according to the hot line Web site. "Tutors complete a training program to learn how best to answer questions over the phone and how to use their experience to help younger students."\nThe program doesn't allow tutors to just give students answers; it aims to help students learn more about the subject and find the answers themselves.\n"Tutors guide students in learning more about a subject but do not do the work for them," the Web site states. "Tutors are trained to ask the right questions to help students analyze the problems and find their own solutions."\nRademacher-Smith said the program's success has grown continuously throughout the years.\n"We have seen a marked growth in our program usage," she said. "A program like this needs a lot of support."\nFunding for the hot line comes from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., 3M and the Rose-Hulman Institute, Rademacher-Smith said. \n"We have had positive comments from students, parents and educators," Smith said. "This past year, we conducted tutor focus groups. Many of the tutors said being with the hot line has helped with communication skills as well as problem-solving skills."\nSmith said the hot line has had more than 29,000 calls during its existence.\n"The hot line focuses its tutoring on different areas of the state each year," Smith said. "This year the focus is on the northwest part of the state in Lake, Howard, Tippecanoe and St. Joseph counties."\nTutors use current, state-adopted math and science textbooks and the Internet to help students, according to the Web site. \nThe free hot line asks students to provide the name of their school when they call.\nAccording to its Web site, the hot line operators are available from 7 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday from September through May. The hot line will be closed for Thanksgiving, the winter holidays and spring break.\nFor more information see www.askrose.org/info.shtml?calendar.\n-- Contact staff writer Karen Yancey at kaeyance@indiana.edu.
(08/27/04 4:04am)
A new Indiana state law requiring Ignition Interlock Devices, or Breathalyzers, to be installed in the vehicles of drivers who have been convicted of drunk driving was enacted this summer. Still, Monroe County currently doesn't have its own Vehicle Ignition Interlock Program.\nThis law, which is supposed to prevent repeat violations, affects only offenders who are driving with probationary licenses.\nIf the Interlock Device, which is connected into the ignition system, detects a trace of alcohol on the driver's breath it will not start the car. \nPublic Bill 76, written by Representatives Ryan Dvorak, Bob Bischoff and Dennie Oxley, was enacted July 1. \nAccording to the law, "a (judge) order requiring an Ignition Interlock Device must remain in effect for at least two years but not more than four years."\nLinda Brady, chief probation officer of Monroe County, said the county does not have a program in place yet because no vendors have given sales demonstrations to the county.\n"Ten years ago we had an Interlock Program and a vendor who sold and maintained the devices," Brady said. "You can't just have a policy. You also have to have a local vendor." \nThe law states judges cannot sentence offenders to installation of the Breathalyzer in counties that do not have an Ignition Interlock Program.\nAdditionally, it requires the offender to pay the cost of installation. Anyone who intentionally tampers with the device or disables it can be charged with a class C misdemeanor.\nJohn Schorg, spokesman for the Indiana House Democrats said drinking and driving incidents have become more of an issue in recent years.\n"One of the tools that has been effective in recent years has been the Ignition Interlock system," Schorg said. "I like to think that the new law is directed to encourage other counties to get involved with the Ignition Interlock system." \nSchorg said since the state law has only been in place a short while, it will take time to evaluate its impact.\n"Accountability is important in this law," he said. "Driving in Indiana is a privilege not a right. This law also addresses the fact that people need cars. This is a way to allow people to continue to use their cars to go to work and pick up their children while being monitored."\nFreshman Aaron Greenberg thinks the new law is an invasion of privacy.\n"I don't think the stipulation in the law that it is a misdemeanor to render the device inoperable will prevent people from tampering with the device. How would you know?"\nFreshman Andrew Ludwig said he supported the law. \n"If you keep drinking and driving, you will put others in danger," he said. "If you drink, do it in a safe place. I would like to see the Ignition Interlock Program in Monroe County. There are a lot of college students that can be protected from drunk drivers if these devices are installed."\n-- Contact staff writer Karen Yancey at kaeyance@indiana.edu
(08/12/04 4:28pm)
Uncle Fester's and the Jungle Room could face a fine or liquor license suspension for selling alcohol to minors according to the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission.\nThe prosecutor of the Indiana ATC may charge the Bloomington business today, said ATC Chairman Bart Herriman.\nThe Bloomington bar and grill has been under investigation since July 15 when Indiana State Excise Police entered the bar unexpectedly and issued 22 underage drinking citations.\nThe prosecutor will give Fester's an offer today and allow the bar to accept or reject the proposal.\n"If they reject it, the prosecutor will hold an administrative trial, which they must attend," Herriman said.\nThe Bloomington Police Department and the IU Police Department were present during the investigation to assist in crowd control and the orderly checking of identification.\n"This was the first time this summer when excise needed the manpower of the BPD and the IUPD to help with a raid," said BPD Sgt. Mick Williams, who assisted excise police the morning of July 15.\nWilliams, who filed the BPD's report on the raid, made two citations himself.\n"We try to let excise check the IDs as much as possible," Williams said. "I was the only person from my agency that cited anybody. The two people I cited were pointed out to me as having admitted they were underage."\nMost of the minors in the bar were given misdemeanor citations for possession of alcohol and were released.\n"Some individuals had two or three citations filed against them such as public intoxication and loitering," Bauer said.\nAccording to Indiana legal code, the illegal consumption of alcohol is a Class C Misdemeanor, which can result in imprisonment for no more than 60 days and a fine of no more than $500.\n"First offenders can have the option of a pretrial diversion program," Williams said. "They plead guilty of the crime and they usually have to go to an alcohol awareness class and pay some money. Then, they usually do community service. At the end of the year the charge is taken off their record."\nThe state excise police have the authority to check bars randomly without probable cause, but are frequently given tips concerning the location of underage drinkers.\n"We work 16 counties, and we are not targeting Bloomington in particular," Indiana State Excise Sgt. Terry Bauer said. "A lot of investigations come about because of complaints we receive."\nUnderage drinking is often linked to other crimes that happen later in the night such as vandalism and theft.\n"Often excise will get information about bars letting in underage drinkers from standard Bloomington Police reports where underage drinkers are cited," Williams said.\nEach year, the local ATC board considers renewing the liquor licenses of all the bars in the Bloomington area.\n"When the permit of Uncle Fester's and the Jungle Room comes up for renewal soon, the business will come before the local ATC board, at which point the board decides whether or not to recommend to the ATC in Indianapolis that the license be renewed," Herriman said.\nKenan Gillman, a managing partner of Uncle Fester's, would not comment on the July 15 excise investigation under advice of legal counsel.\nThe bar has, however, recently taken steps to prevent underage drinking in the establishment.\nBauer said the bar had an alcohol server-training program with a state excise police officer Thursday.\n"The training is an hour and a half and covers how to check identification, how to deal with the presence of minors in a bar, the legal responsibilities of dispensing alcohol and hours of operation," Bauer said.\nBars in Indiana are not required to conduct the free server-training classes unless the ATC orders them.\n"To my knowledge, Fester's had not been ordered to have one," Bauer said.\n-- Contact staff writer Karen Yancey at kaeyance@indiana.edu.
(08/09/04 1:53am)
Applications to the IU Kelley School of Business MBA program are down 30 percent this year, reflecting a national trend toward decreased interest in the MBA degree, said Terrill Cosgray, director of the MBA Program at the Kelley School of Business.\nA recent application trends survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council found that traditional full-time, two-year programs have seen the most declines in application volume. Seventy--eight percent of the programs reported a decline in application volume from last year. Only 48 percent of part-time programs had fewer applicants.\nThe business school has earned "the distinction of being one of the foremost graduate business schools in the nation," Director of Admissions and Financial Aid James Holmen said in a letter on the Kelley School of Business Web site.\nDespite this honor, the school was not immune to the national trend.\n"We knew going into this application cycle that it would be a difficult year," Cosgray said. "We heard about the declines in applications from business colleges at other schools."\nAfter extreme increases in applications a few years ago, Cosgray said the drop is not a surprise.\n"People are reluctant to leave jobs at a time when the U.S economy is experiencing shifts," Cosgray said. "Recently MBA students have been facing fewer job offers than in years before. A few years ago it was a job seeker's market. Students could get five or six offers before graduation. Now it is a job hunter's market. People are only getting one or two offers and they are coming at around graduation time."\nIU-Bloomington had about 1,300 applicants this year and accepted about 200.\nAt the program's high point in 2001, the number reached 2,300 applicants. Cosgray attributed the decline to the lengthy downturn in the U.S economy.\n"One of the great things about this bad news is that the quality of the applicants are actually better than last year," Cosgray said. "Quality is not being compromised despite the decrease in applications."\nAccording to the applications trends survey, applications among international students fell more sharply than applications among domestic students.\n"This is not just associated with the state of the U.S economy," Cosgray said. "There are other things in play. People are telling us that they don't see the U.S, given world politics at the moment, as a friendly place. Also, many people are saying they do not want to be associated with U.S politics. This is the first time in my experience that I have seen this sentiment come through."\nAccording to GMAC's Global MBA Graduate Survey of 2004, international MBA graduate students chose to study in the United States because they would have better career opportunities in another country, the quality of the education is better than in their own country, the value of the international degree is higher than one from their own country and international education would broaden their international and cultural experience.\nCosgray said it is possible that the better economic conditions in China and India are making more jobs available to potential international applicants from those countries.\nDespite the declines, Cosgray said the MBA program is not worried to the point of implementing new recruiting programs.\n"We have always had a very active admissions recruiting policy," Cosgray said. "We have a lot of personal contact with people. The most effective strategy is a one-on-one interaction. We do a lot of relationship building with respect to prospective students."\n-- Contact staff writer Karen Yancey at kaeyance@indiana.edu.
(08/05/04 1:56am)
Sitting in the lobby of the Indiana Memorial Union, Marvin Scott, eloquently spoke about the last few months on the campaign trail. Scott, who is the Republican Party candidate running for the Indiana Senatorial seat, is up against the Democratic incumbent Sen. Evan Bayh. \n"I have had life experiences that have prepared me for the Senate seat," Scott said. "I have been a consultant for Gulf Oil and I have traveled six of the world's seven continents. I have also traveled all over South America."\nScott has been to all 92 counties in Indiana in the last 17 months and has driven 74,000 miles in the last year. He has run for office unsuccessfully four previous times. He ran for the U.S House of Representatives in 1994 against Andy Jacobs and in 2000 against Julia Carson. In 1996 and 1998, his name was in the running at the state Republican convention but did not make the nomination.\nHe said his time spent as a university president required him to develop the flexibility to come up with new ideas. According to Scott's campaign Web site, Scott served as president of Saint Paul's College in Lawrenceville, Va., in the late 1980s.\nScott said Bayh does have a psychological advantage in the race because he has spent time in an elected office. \n"In any given day, an opponent can be defeated," Scott said.\nAccording to his campaign fliers, Scott opposes same-sex marriage and is against abortion.\n"Bayh does not represent the will of the people of Indiana on the issue of same-sex marriage," Scott said. "The Indianapolis Star did a poll two weeks ago saying 81 percent of the state was opposed to same-sex marriage, and 19 percent were in favor." \nScott went on to say Bayh recently voted in favor of it.\nWhen it comes to raising money for his campaign, Scott has mixed feelings on rules and regulations that limit the amount his campaign can take in.\n"The McCain-Feingold statutes have been a positive and a negative. I can get up to $2,000 in support for the primary and $2,000 in the general election. That is more than was allowed before," Scott said. "However, I cannot advertise with local candidates."\nAccording to the Hoover Institution's Campaign Finance Web site, the McCain-Feingold-Cochran Campaign Reform Bill prohibits all soft money contributions to national political parties from corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals. State parties permitted under state law to accept soft money cannot spend it on federal election campaigns. The bill was passed last year as a federal law.\nScott said that despite this stumbling block, the response to his campaign by people in the state has been warm.\n"We have raised $1.85 million for the campaign," Scott said.\nOn top of raising money for his own campaign, Scott has put an emphasis on Indiana's economy.\nRecently Indiana's Department of Commerce has been advancing the high-growth industries of advanced manufacturing, distribution, high-technology and life sciences within the state. \nScott said he was in favor of this goal.\n"I have been talking with some trucking firms, and I am closely allied with the Indiana rail system," Scott said. "Indiana is centrally located and can be a larger distribution area. Trucking is in peril. The Mexican drivers are now in this country. They are going to start taking loads that many Indiana drivers want, and the farmers will suffer. When free market gets in the way of insuring that Americans are able to afford a life, then we need to rethink some of what we do."\nWith President Bush's national tax cut legislation currently being considered for a permanent extension, Scott said he supports the president's outlook.\n"The president's tax decrease is the one stimulus in the state of Indiana that has kept the economy afloat," Scott said.\nScott currently works at Butler University in Indianapolis where he has spent the last 13 years as a sociology professor. Scott's campaign Web site claims he is a supporter of school choice education programs. \n"I am in favor of home-schooling and charter schools," Scott said. "We need more able-bodied instructors in the classroom, and we need to pay them more. The National Education Association, who supports democratic causes, is an abomination. They should be politically neutral and work only for the betterment of young people. If I were elected, I would propose to eliminate the gas tax in order to provide more funding to education."\nTodd Tolson, campaign manager for Scott's campaign, has been a consultant in Washington, D.C., for two and a half years. He said he became interested in helping with the Scott campaign when he found out more about Sen. Bayh and his opinions on the issues.\n"Bayh talks about the issues but does not follow through. When Scott talks the talk, he walks the walk," Tolson said. "We need people with real-world experience in government, especially people who understand budgets. Also, his experience as a teacher will help because teachers have to know how to deal with all types of people."\nHowever, Democratic Party members do not see Scott as a threat to their candidate. Dan Combs, chairperson of the Monroe County Democratic Party, said there is not much of a race.\n"Bayh has never lost an election in the state of Indiana," Combs said. "He possesses the biggest name in state politics, much like his father." \nMatt Weber, secretary of the Monroe County Democratic Party, said in an e-mail that Scott's core challenge is that Hoosiers are not familiar with his experience and background. \n"Given Bayh's long record of accomplishments, bipartisan support and high approval ratings, a win for Scott seems unlikely," Weber said.\nAccording to the Indiana Secretary of State's Web site, there are a little more than 4 million registered voters in the state, 304,267 people voted for Bayh in the state Democratic Primary, while 335,215 people voted for Scott in the state Republican primary.\nSenatorial elections will be held Nov. 2, the same day as the presidential election.\n-- Contact staff writer Karen Yancey at kaeyance@indiana.edu.
(08/04/04 11:42pm)
Rerun, a jazz band from New Jersey, takes its genre into the realm of wacky funk and electronic rock. With Joe Mariana jamming on guitar, John Fee playing bass, Eathan Janney working the keyboards and Andy Sapko beating the drums, this quartet claims to be the new face of fusion music. Rerun's self-titled CD was released in 2002, and the band will be recording a new album this August. The jazz enthusiasts' Bloomington debut will take place on Friday, Aug. 6 at Uncle Fester's. Weekend spoke with Fee at his home in New Jersey while the band was packing instruments for an evening gig across town.
(08/04/04 4:00am)
Rerun, a jazz band from New Jersey, takes its genre into the realm of wacky funk and electronic rock. With Joe Mariana jamming on guitar, John Fee playing bass, Eathan Janney working the keyboards and Andy Sapko beating the drums, this quartet claims to be the new face of fusion music. Rerun's self-titled CD was released in 2002, and the band will be recording a new album this August. The jazz enthusiasts' Bloomington debut will take place on Friday, Aug. 6 at Uncle Fester's. Weekend spoke with Fee at his home in New Jersey while the band was packing instruments for an evening gig across town.
(07/29/04 4:00am)
Are you ready for some danceable punk and tear-it-up rock 'n' roll? Breaker! Breaker! is a trio of punk rockers from Brooklyn that writes energetic songs with uncomplicated, un-textured sounds. This lo-fi art-punk band has produced two home-made demos and will present its debut alum, Where the Birds Yell, this week in Bloomington while opening for Modest Mouse at Axis on Friday, July 30. \nBreaker! Breaker! seems a greater band than the sum of its parts. Guitar player and singer Colin Cunningham, keyboardist and singer Duncan Gamble and drummer and singer Gina Marie Scardino share very few musical interests, yet they are all involved in songwriting and production. The band's songs include tricked-out three-part vocal harmonies and are backed with synthesized chords, guitar hooks and crisp drumming. The band avoids new wave sounds and instead creates songs from traditional punk structures. With 10 tracks played on its new album in just under 25 minutes, the group efficiently crams its CD full of raw, ranting punk-pop songs. Weekend recently caught up with Scardino via phone interview from her home in New York City.
(07/29/04 1:53am)
Are you ready for some danceable punk and tear-it-up rock 'n' roll? Breaker! Breaker! is a trio of punk rockers from Brooklyn that writes energetic songs with uncomplicated, un-textured sounds. This lo-fi art-punk band has produced two home-made demos and will present its debut alum, Where the Birds Yell, this week in Bloomington while opening for Modest Mouse at Axis on Friday, July 30. \nBreaker! Breaker! seems a greater band than the sum of its parts. Guitar player and singer Colin Cunningham, keyboardist and singer Duncan Gamble and drummer and singer Gina Marie Scardino share very few musical interests, yet they are all involved in songwriting and production. The band's songs include tricked-out three-part vocal harmonies and are backed with synthesized chords, guitar hooks and crisp drumming. The band avoids new wave sounds and instead creates songs from traditional punk structures. With 10 tracks played on its new album in just under 25 minutes, the group efficiently crams its CD full of raw, ranting punk-pop songs. Weekend recently caught up with Scardino via phone interview from her home in New York City.
(07/26/04 1:59am)
Summer orientation wrapped up last week with an estimated 6,500 participants coming from all around the country, Associate Director of Orientation Melanie Payne said.\n"Students did everything from take assessment tests to register for classes to attend sessions on student life," Payne said.\nEven though IU recently announced a decrease in enrollment, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services Don Hossler said he could not say how many students will be attending in the fall. \n"Students will also be coming to sessions in August, and we won't know those numbers until they literally show up," Hossler said.\nLate orientation begins Aug. 22 and will last about a day.\nPayne said although there were fewer attendees than in recent years, the reduced attendance rate did not change the program.\n"I know there were fewer (attendees) than we saw a year ago, but we still had a pretty full program," Payne said.\nShe said there were a few changes made to orientation in order to increase parent-student interaction.\n"We did some additional parent programming," Payne said. "This year, we started a parent orientation newsletter. It gives parents information on what the students are going through."\nEvery year, the orientation program has an interactive theater on safety called "For Students Only" that covers topics on alcohol and rape. "IU Unplugged" is an MTV-style video interactive session that covers topics on community and diversity.\n"The issues for new students haven't changed," Payne said. "It is our approach that is changing."\nThis year was the first year that freshmen orientation used an entirely online reservation system.\n"Last year we used it partially," Payne said. "Students had the option of signing up online or mail in a paper form. Most people used the online option and this year the system worked really well. We could even give confirmations online."\nBoth Hossler and Payne said they received unsolicited e-mails from attendees and their families commenting on the high quality of the program.\nEmily McCallister, a recent graduate, worked as a program assistant this summer. She communicated with students and their families and helped with check-in.\n"There were a lot of positive things from students about the programming," McCallister said. "Some of the freshmen and their families would remember their specific orientation leader and send in thank-you notes for making their experience enjoyable."\nThere were about 40 orientation student staff members including orientation leaders and office staff.\nSenior Tiffany Afseth worked as an office assistant.\n"I answered a lot of phone calls and was put in charge of mailing 6,000 pieces of information," Afseth said. "We got a lot of positive e-mails back about how quickly the office staff responded. We recently had an end of orientation banquet, and I got to speak with some of the orientation leaders. I think everyone had a positive feeling about how the summer went."\n-- Contact staff writer Karen Yancey at kaeyance@indiana.edu .
(07/22/04 4:00am)
Cex, with a blatant metaphorical name, is the band created by Rjyan Kidwell, known for his lengthy rants, naked dances and erratic behaviors on stage. A lanky, red-haired twentysomething from Baltimore, Kidwell is a prolific musician who has produced five full-length albums and stacks of vinyl singles while touring with bands such as Death Cab for Cutie, the Dismemberment Plan and Super Furry Animals. The wild man will tour through Bloomington on Friday, July 23 with a gig at the Second Story.\nBetween touring, Kidwell maintains a 480-plus page Web site full of sarcastic humor, with comments like, "I guess I could put a list of…songs with mp3.file excerpts, but if there's two things that are simply not tolerated on the Cex Web page, its redundancy and excess. So just go to the discovery page. And don't sigh like that, its not like you actually have to get up or walk anywhere."\nKidwell's unusual first name is the product of trying to be unique, which reflects throughout his music. "When I was in seventh grade, there were a lot of Ryans in my class," Kidwell told the Weekend during a recent phone interview. "I changed my name (to Rjyan), because I wanted to make sure people knew they were talking about me. It stuck with me after the end of the year."\nKidwell has a truly eclectic sound. "I can explore my interests because I am one person and not a group of four people with different lives," Kidwell says. "I want to exploit the advantages I have over a band. When I make a record I feel it is out of my system. I don't like the idea of settling into a niche."\nKidwell's 2003 release, Maryland Mansions, includes songs that range from electronica to hip-hop. Many of the songs have introspective lyrics with which teenagers would easily identify. "Drive off a Mountain" says "you call me, I'm not here" and in "Kill Me," he writes "things aren't getting any better, everything is only getting worse." Despite his gangsta aura in his hip-hop songs, Kidwell has a poetic way of crafting words. In "Stillnaut Rjyan," the lyrics, "I can't believe I once believed they once believed in me," are slipped between an energetic refrain. The track is a weird, intergalactic fantasy about an extraterrestrial mission gone awry with screeching beats and a rapid-fire call-and-response chorus.\n"The whole album is about leaving Baltimore, my home town," Kidwell says. "(Stillnaut Rjyan) is a metaphor for my experience of running away from home. I felt like an astronaut in space that was in a nightmarish situation and could not return home."\nIn "My Head," he sings about his experience in the entertainment industry with lyrics like, "There's a temporary sanity in this anorexic vanity business. Satisfaction can exist." Over a slow beat and hypnotic strings, he makes it clear that he wants to save himself from a life of stifling banality through music and, in the process, save music itself.\nMaryland Mansions is unusually full of lyrics, unlike many of the songs that can be downloaded from Kidwell's Web site, which are instrumentals with a distinct new age sound.\nKidwell's first album as Cex, Role Model, released in August 2000, has an almost industrial rock sound relying on mixed synthesizer chords, snare drum loops and vinyl scratching.\nEven Kidwell admits on his Web site that it he has an extremely varied sound. He writes, "If you're checking for something to give you any indication of 'what Cex sounds like'…Please let me know if you find out what it is." \nAaron Prellwitz helped mix the music, and Zach Hill drummed out the baseline in "Drive," "Pills" and "Maps." \nAccording to the Cex Web site, Kidwell started recording music with his friends at age 12 with his guitar, some drums and a one-track tape recorder with a condenser microphone. Two years later he was mixing tapes by himself using a computer and primitive Internet access through the public library. In keeping with Kidwell's balls-to-the-wall attitude, he credits help on his Maryland Mansions album, to "you know who you f**king are." Cex will perform at the Second Story with Make Believe and Sunday Night Cipher on Friday, July 23 at 10:30 p.m. Admission costs $4 for ages 21 and up.\n
(07/22/04 3:02am)
Cex, with a blatant metaphorical name, is the band created by Rjyan Kidwell, known for his lengthy rants, naked dances and erratic behaviors on stage. A lanky, red-haired twentysomething from Baltimore, Kidwell is a prolific musician who has produced five full-length albums and stacks of vinyl singles while touring with bands such as Death Cab for Cutie, the Dismemberment Plan and Super Furry Animals. The wild man will tour through Bloomington on Friday, July 23 with a gig at the Second Story.\nBetween touring, Kidwell maintains a 480-plus page Web site full of sarcastic humor, with comments like, "I guess I could put a list of…songs with mp3.file excerpts, but if there's two things that are simply not tolerated on the Cex Web page, its redundancy and excess. So just go to the discovery page. And don't sigh like that, its not like you actually have to get up or walk anywhere."\nKidwell's unusual first name is the product of trying to be unique, which reflects throughout his music. "When I was in seventh grade, there were a lot of Ryans in my class," Kidwell told the Weekend during a recent phone interview. "I changed my name (to Rjyan), because I wanted to make sure people knew they were talking about me. It stuck with me after the end of the year."\nKidwell has a truly eclectic sound. "I can explore my interests because I am one person and not a group of four people with different lives," Kidwell says. "I want to exploit the advantages I have over a band. When I make a record I feel it is out of my system. I don't like the idea of settling into a niche."\nKidwell's 2003 release, Maryland Mansions, includes songs that range from electronica to hip-hop. Many of the songs have introspective lyrics with which teenagers would easily identify. "Drive off a Mountain" says "you call me, I'm not here" and in "Kill Me," he writes "things aren't getting any better, everything is only getting worse." Despite his gangsta aura in his hip-hop songs, Kidwell has a poetic way of crafting words. In "Stillnaut Rjyan," the lyrics, "I can't believe I once believed they once believed in me," are slipped between an energetic refrain. The track is a weird, intergalactic fantasy about an extraterrestrial mission gone awry with screeching beats and a rapid-fire call-and-response chorus.\n"The whole album is about leaving Baltimore, my home town," Kidwell says. "(Stillnaut Rjyan) is a metaphor for my experience of running away from home. I felt like an astronaut in space that was in a nightmarish situation and could not return home."\nIn "My Head," he sings about his experience in the entertainment industry with lyrics like, "There's a temporary sanity in this anorexic vanity business. Satisfaction can exist." Over a slow beat and hypnotic strings, he makes it clear that he wants to save himself from a life of stifling banality through music and, in the process, save music itself.\nMaryland Mansions is unusually full of lyrics, unlike many of the songs that can be downloaded from Kidwell's Web site, which are instrumentals with a distinct new age sound.\nKidwell's first album as Cex, Role Model, released in August 2000, has an almost industrial rock sound relying on mixed synthesizer chords, snare drum loops and vinyl scratching.\nEven Kidwell admits on his Web site that it he has an extremely varied sound. He writes, "If you're checking for something to give you any indication of 'what Cex sounds like'…Please let me know if you find out what it is." \nAaron Prellwitz helped mix the music, and Zach Hill drummed out the baseline in "Drive," "Pills" and "Maps." \nAccording to the Cex Web site, Kidwell started recording music with his friends at age 12 with his guitar, some drums and a one-track tape recorder with a condenser microphone. Two years later he was mixing tapes by himself using a computer and primitive Internet access through the public library. In keeping with Kidwell's balls-to-the-wall attitude, he credits help on his Maryland Mansions album, to "you know who you f**king are." Cex will perform at the Second Story with Make Believe and Sunday Night Cipher on Friday, July 23 at 10:30 p.m. Admission costs $4 for ages 21 and up.\n
(07/08/04 1:39am)
Sterling University Glen Apartments will host three "Real World" and "Road Rules" cast members at a summer pool party tonight. Cyrus of "The Real World Boston," Brad of this past season's "The Real World San Diego" and Veronica of "Road Rules" will be available to talk with Bloomington residents from 2 to 6 p.m. at the apartment complex's clubhouse, 500 S. Park Ridge Rd. \nA hot body contest will be held, with the winner receiving $200 along with several raffles that range from DVD's to boomboxes. Smokin' Jacks Rib Shack will provide the catering and DJ Unique and DJ Jumpin' James from Kilroy's Sports will provide music.\nAssistant Property Manager Craig Sherwood said he expects many spectators at the event. \n"We estimate 300 people to come," Sherwood said. "The staff that was here for last year's 'Road Rules' summer pool party said the event was a lot of fun."\n"We are trying to reach the community to say we are a fun, young property. (The party) will be a blast and people will get to know who we are," said current property manager Eric Leimsieder. "We care about our image in the community." \nKilroy's Sports and Sterling University Glen worked together to create the event.\n"I am very appreciative of Sports for helping us bring about this party. I am hoping this event will kick off a partnership between us," Leimsieder said.\nJennifer Black, the events' coordinator, said she worked for two months putting together the pool party.\n"It has been a good opportunity for me to be involved with a large community like Sterling University Glen," Black said. "It has helped me to see all of my qualities."\nBlack, is a junior business marketing major at IU and started working as a community assistant for Sterling University Glen six months ago.\n"Jennifer took the ball and ran with it. She is going above and beyond to make the party successful," Leimsieder said. "This event provides a way for reality TV to become a reality at Sterling."\nThe three cast members will also be at an after party hosted at Kilroy's Sports Bar, 319 N. Walnut St., around 11 p.m.\n-- Contact staff writer Karen Yancey at kaeyance@indiana.edu.
(07/07/04 1:27pm)
Imagine yourself outdoors onstage in front of thousands of screaming fans dressed in tie-dye and hemp, waiting for your band to break into a psychedelic tune. That image became a reality for Vince Welnick, the former keyboardist of the now disbanded Grateful Dead. He played with the band from 1990 to 1995 and has since joined a New York-based trio named Gent Treadly to play at smaller venues. The blues and groove-based band features Greg Koerner on the bass, Tom Kaelin on drums and Mike Jaimes on guitar. \nWith an extensive, eclectic cover repertoire, Gent Treadly also performs creative, original songs. Koerner, who played in Dead cover bands as a teenager and did a stint in the Dark Star Orchestra, started jamming with Welnick and putting a new twist on some of Welnick's songs, which he created after his time with the Grateful Dead. Gent Treadly also performs a mix of Beatles classic-rock and songs from Welnick's earlier days performing with the Tubes. \nWeekend caught up with Welnick via phone interview while he was at his home in Forrestville, Calif., north of San Francisco.
(07/01/04 4:00am)
The car sped down the highway, music blared on the speakers and Chandan Bhatia and his friends yelled at the top of their lungs. Finals were over and they were on their way to spend a day relaxing at Paramount's Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio. \n"We were on the top of the world," says Bhatia, an accounting major at IU. \nIn a friend's classy convertible, Bhatia and his friends were bound for a day of fun riding every ride possible at Kings Island. He says they managed to catch every ride in Boomerang Bay and Kings Island's waterpark within about three hours. \n"My definition of chilling is going to an amusement park, staying the night and having a good road trip back," Bhatia says. \nMany IU students choose to travel to regional amusement parks when they need to unwind. There are several parks within a few hours drive from Bloomington that are rated highly by Amusement Today, a magazine devoted to amusement parks. \nThe park's spokesperson, Maureen Boothe, says Paramount's Kings Island contends every year for the honor of being named Amusement Today's "Best Amusement Park in the World" with another Ohio park, Cedar Point. \nParamount's Kings Island has over 80 rides, shows and attractions. Two well-known rollercoasters are the Beast and the Son of the Beast. \nBoothe says the Beast is the longest wooden roller coaster in the world, measuring 7,359 feet, and the Son of the Beast is the tallest, fastest and only looping wooden coaster on the planet. \nPicture this. You walk up to the rollercoaster entrance and all you see are coaster cars and tracks going off into the woods in both directions. The Beast lays hidden. All you can see is the station where the trains come to pick up passengers and its first hill. \n"It is like you're outside the park when you are riding it," Boothe says. \nBhatia says he bought a picture of him riding the Beast so he could have an memento of the experience. \n"The freefall on the Beast is just amazing. It is almost as tall as Eigenmann Hall," Bhatia says. \nFor all you freefall addicts, Kings Island has the Drop Zone, which is the tallest gyro drop in the world at 26 stories tall, according to their Web site. If loops are more your thing, Kings Island's Web site also boasts that the Vortex is the first coaster in the world to have six inversions. \nAccording to Bloomington resident Bob Robins, rollercoasters may be fun, but they should also be feared and respected. \n"You're there to have fun, but you must not do anything stupid," Robins says. "The bottom line is you are risking your life." \nAs long as you don't get out of your seat, people can safely ride these machines. Most coasters have two independent restraining systems. For example, the Raven at Holiday World in Indiana has seatbelts and a lap bar. \nThere are other types of thrill rides for the longtime coaster rider who is finding rollercoasters monotonous. Challenge Park, which is adjacent to Cedar Point, has the X-Treme Trampoline and the Ripcord Skycoaster. Paramount's Kings Island has Tomb Raider: The Ride where people are hurtled upsidedown through the darkness of a cave dodging lava pits and sharp stalactites. \nHowever, do not try to drive home after a day of amusement park fun. Mike Gaudzels, a business student at IU, says he started swerving on the road while he was driving back from a day at Paramount's Kings Island. \n"My friends and I were really tired … so we decided to stay the night at my friend's cousin's place," Gaudzels says. \nRobins says he and his friends were exhausted after their day at Cedar Point, so they stayed in a hotel. Robins also recommends camping. \n"Camping is especially fun if you have a lot of people. You can sit around the fire and play guitar," Robins says.\nParks draw students because they can get a day of thrills for a fairly low cost. Admission to most parks costs around $45. \n"It's like when you can't afford to go on a real (trip), you drive over with your friends for the day and you feel like you've been on a vacation," says Cinda Godwin, an elementary education major at IU. \nIU student Alexis Shields and Robins were on a road trip coming back from Boston when they visited Cedar Point in the town of Sandusky, Ohio. \n"My main interest is the roller coasters. I like loops," Robins says. "It's all about good times, taking it to the limit and pushing the G forces." \nHang on tight. Cedar Point has the Top Thrill Dragster, which is the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the world. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, this coaster is 420 feet high and speeds passengers along the track at 120 mph. It has a drag strip theme complete with a starting light, engine sound effects and elongated train cars that look like dragsters. \nDon't be shocked at the sticker prices when you get hungry. Shields says the prices at Cedar Point for food are high but the selection is great. \n"There were all kinds of carnival foods like cotton candy and caramel apples," Shields says. According to Shields, you can get $10 off admission coupons at gas stations in the town. \nRobins recommends bringing a lot of water because it can get hot in the afternoon. \nHowever, you don't have to worry about drinks at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Ind. At this amusement park, visitors get free drinks all day. People are not even required to purchase and carry around a cup, because the cost of this perk is part of the ticket price. Holiday World even offers free sun-screen and free inner-tube usage in its attached water park called Splashin' Safari. This part of the park has ZOOMbabwe, the world's largest enclosed waterslide at 102 feet tall and 887 feet long, according to the Holiday World Web site. \nDania Ng, a junior biology major at IU, says she has gone to Holiday World every year with her family since she was 12-years-old. \n"My favorite part is that (Splashin' Safari) is really clean. I haven't seen gross stuff floating in the water," Ng says. \nIf you don't like to wait in line and fight the crowds, Sundays are a good day to visit an amusement park. \nPaula Werne, director of public relations at Holiday World says July and August are traditionally busier times because of families going on summer vacations. She encourages people come to Holiday World during the week or on a Sunday, since Saturdays are their busiest day. \n"There are a lot of good tips on the Web site for how to avoid long lines at Holiday World and Splashin' Safari," Werne says. She says lines are short in the afternoon at Holiday World because many people don't go to the waterpark after lunch. \nIndiana Beach, the largest amusement resort in Indiana, is located along Lake Schafer about midway between Indianapolis and Chicago. In addition to beach and water-related activities, it has 27 amusement rides for adults and nine rides for kids.\nThe Hoosier Hurricane roller coaster is known for its spectacular view of the lake and its sudden drop under a suspension bridge. The Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain is a gravity-driven train that was built on the structure of the park's old mountain ride and has tight turns, steep drops and bunny hops.\nIndiana Beach is divided into the Boardwalk Funway, the Water Park and the Sand Beach Swimming Area, which is an enclosed 750,000 gallon swimming pool with a large sand beach along the lakefront.\nThe water park has six tube slides including the "Black Hole," in which people make a trip through darkness. The Aqua Theater on the Boardwalk Funway offers ski and water shows four times a day during the summer. Visitors can also take a ride on the Shafer Queen, Indiana's largest regularly scheduled paddle wheel vessel.
(07/01/04 4:00am)
Imagine yourself outdoors onstage in front of thousands of screaming fans dressed in tie-dye and hemp, waiting for your band to break into a psychedelic tune. That image became a reality for Vince Welnick, the former keyboardist of the now disbanded Grateful Dead. He played with the band from 1990 to 1995 and has since joined a New York-based trio named Gent Treadly to play at smaller venues. The blues and groove-based band features Greg Koerner on the bass, Tom Kaelin on drums and Mike Jaimes on guitar. \nWith an extensive, eclectic cover repertoire, Gent Treadly also performs creative, original songs. Koerner, who played in Dead cover bands as a teenager and did a stint in the Dark Star Orchestra, started jamming with Welnick and putting a new twist on some of Welnick's songs, which he created after his time with the Grateful Dead. Gent Treadly also performs a mix of Beatles classic-rock and songs from Welnick's earlier days performing with the Tubes. \nWeekend caught up with Welnick via phone interview while he was at his home in Forrestville, Calif., north of San Francisco.
(07/01/04 1:42am)
A new Community Revitalization Enhancement District planned for an area of downtown Bloomington comes at a time when the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported a growth of 1,600 new jobs in Indiana during May. \nAccording to a June 18 press release, Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan said that CRED will help with job creation and economic growth in Bloomington. \nThe CRED, which was named by the State Budget Agency, has boundaries that roughly follow west of Morton Street, east of Washington Street, south of Second street and north of 10th Street.\n"The applications for each CRED district are set up for different reasons," said Gov. Joe Kernan's Deputy Press Secretary Lisa Sirkin. In Bloomington's case, "it was set up to help with the downtown development," Sirkin said.\nSirkin said there are four main industries the Indiana Department of Commerce has targeted for advancement with CREDs. Advance manufacturing, distribution, high-tech and life science industries are all regarded as high growth industries for Indiana, Sirkin said.\nAccording to the Indiana Code CRED statues, any business that participates in a redevelopment effort by making certain investments such as purchasing new manufacturing equipment or improving infrastructure within a CRED can qualify for a tax credit of up to 25 percent of their investment.\nIn addition to a tax credit, the district's governing body can collect incremental state and local income taxes and sales tax that can be used to redevelop properties in the area.\nThe CRED statutes in the Indiana Code outline the standards by which a district is designated a CRED.\n"One of the Indiana Code statutes allows a second CRED in Bloomington to be developed in the future," said Dhiann Kinsworthy, an analyst in the State Budget Agency.\nKinsworthy said in an e-mail that a portion of the Indiana Code covers a subsequent CRED for first- and second-class cities. Bloomington is a second-class city, as determined by population. Indianapolis is the only Indiana city ranked as first-class. The required criteria to be met under this section revolves around the CRED providing an ability to promote growth of business or employment or retention of existing business, Kinsworthy said.\n"The CREDs help level the playing field for attracting business downtown," said Ron Walker, a spokesman for Mayor Mark Kruzan.\nDowntowns often lose opportunities because companies choose to build where land is cheaper rather than moving into downtown buildings where they face parking shortages and costly building renovations. For these reasons, and because the CRED will expire in 15 years, Bloomington is trying to make the most of its opportunity, Walker said. \n"Bloomington is making a push for technology and life science jobs. We are hoping the downtown CRED will attract those types of employers," he said.\nHelping market Bloomington as potential homes to companies, the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation has been an active member in promoting the city.\n"As more and more people begin to work in downtown, it becomes an attractive place to be," Walker said. "In time (the CREDs) will create more job growth and make downtown more valuable." \n-- Contact staff writer Karen Yancey at kaeyance@indiana.edu .
(07/01/04 12:08am)
The car sped down the highway, music blared on the speakers and Chandan Bhatia and his friends yelled at the top of their lungs. Finals were over and they were on their way to spend a day relaxing at Paramount's Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio. \n"We were on the top of the world," says Bhatia, an accounting major at IU. \nIn a friend's classy convertible, Bhatia and his friends were bound for a day of fun riding every ride possible at Kings Island. He says they managed to catch every ride in Boomerang Bay and Kings Island's waterpark within about three hours. \n"My definition of chilling is going to an amusement park, staying the night and having a good road trip back," Bhatia says. \nMany IU students choose to travel to regional amusement parks when they need to unwind. There are several parks within a few hours drive from Bloomington that are rated highly by Amusement Today, a magazine devoted to amusement parks. \nThe park's spokesperson, Maureen Boothe, says Paramount's Kings Island contends every year for the honor of being named Amusement Today's "Best Amusement Park in the World" with another Ohio park, Cedar Point. \nParamount's Kings Island has over 80 rides, shows and attractions. Two well-known rollercoasters are the Beast and the Son of the Beast. \nBoothe says the Beast is the longest wooden roller coaster in the world, measuring 7,359 feet, and the Son of the Beast is the tallest, fastest and only looping wooden coaster on the planet. \nPicture this. You walk up to the rollercoaster entrance and all you see are coaster cars and tracks going off into the woods in both directions. The Beast lays hidden. All you can see is the station where the trains come to pick up passengers and its first hill. \n"It is like you're outside the park when you are riding it," Boothe says. \nBhatia says he bought a picture of him riding the Beast so he could have an memento of the experience. \n"The freefall on the Beast is just amazing. It is almost as tall as Eigenmann Hall," Bhatia says. \nFor all you freefall addicts, Kings Island has the Drop Zone, which is the tallest gyro drop in the world at 26 stories tall, according to their Web site. If loops are more your thing, Kings Island's Web site also boasts that the Vortex is the first coaster in the world to have six inversions. \nAccording to Bloomington resident Bob Robins, rollercoasters may be fun, but they should also be feared and respected. \n"You're there to have fun, but you must not do anything stupid," Robins says. "The bottom line is you are risking your life." \nAs long as you don't get out of your seat, people can safely ride these machines. Most coasters have two independent restraining systems. For example, the Raven at Holiday World in Indiana has seatbelts and a lap bar. \nThere are other types of thrill rides for the longtime coaster rider who is finding rollercoasters monotonous. Challenge Park, which is adjacent to Cedar Point, has the X-Treme Trampoline and the Ripcord Skycoaster. Paramount's Kings Island has Tomb Raider: The Ride where people are hurtled upsidedown through the darkness of a cave dodging lava pits and sharp stalactites. \nHowever, do not try to drive home after a day of amusement park fun. Mike Gaudzels, a business student at IU, says he started swerving on the road while he was driving back from a day at Paramount's Kings Island. \n"My friends and I were really tired … so we decided to stay the night at my friend's cousin's place," Gaudzels says. \nRobins says he and his friends were exhausted after their day at Cedar Point, so they stayed in a hotel. Robins also recommends camping. \n"Camping is especially fun if you have a lot of people. You can sit around the fire and play guitar," Robins says.\nParks draw students because they can get a day of thrills for a fairly low cost. Admission to most parks costs around $45. \n"It's like when you can't afford to go on a real (trip), you drive over with your friends for the day and you feel like you've been on a vacation," says Cinda Godwin, an elementary education major at IU. \nIU student Alexis Shields and Robins were on a road trip coming back from Boston when they visited Cedar Point in the town of Sandusky, Ohio. \n"My main interest is the roller coasters. I like loops," Robins says. "It's all about good times, taking it to the limit and pushing the G forces." \nHang on tight. Cedar Point has the Top Thrill Dragster, which is the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the world. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, this coaster is 420 feet high and speeds passengers along the track at 120 mph. It has a drag strip theme complete with a starting light, engine sound effects and elongated train cars that look like dragsters. \nDon't be shocked at the sticker prices when you get hungry. Shields says the prices at Cedar Point for food are high but the selection is great. \n"There were all kinds of carnival foods like cotton candy and caramel apples," Shields says. According to Shields, you can get $10 off admission coupons at gas stations in the town. \nRobins recommends bringing a lot of water because it can get hot in the afternoon. \nHowever, you don't have to worry about drinks at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Ind. At this amusement park, visitors get free drinks all day. People are not even required to purchase and carry around a cup, because the cost of this perk is part of the ticket price. Holiday World even offers free sun-screen and free inner-tube usage in its attached water park called Splashin' Safari. This part of the park has ZOOMbabwe, the world's largest enclosed waterslide at 102 feet tall and 887 feet long, according to the Holiday World Web site. \nDania Ng, a junior biology major at IU, says she has gone to Holiday World every year with her family since she was 12-years-old. \n"My favorite part is that (Splashin' Safari) is really clean. I haven't seen gross stuff floating in the water," Ng says. \nIf you don't like to wait in line and fight the crowds, Sundays are a good day to visit an amusement park. \nPaula Werne, director of public relations at Holiday World says July and August are traditionally busier times because of families going on summer vacations. She encourages people come to Holiday World during the week or on a Sunday, since Saturdays are their busiest day. \n"There are a lot of good tips on the Web site for how to avoid long lines at Holiday World and Splashin' Safari," Werne says. She says lines are short in the afternoon at Holiday World because many people don't go to the waterpark after lunch. \nIndiana Beach, the largest amusement resort in Indiana, is located along Lake Schafer about midway between Indianapolis and Chicago. In addition to beach and water-related activities, it has 27 amusement rides for adults and nine rides for kids.\nThe Hoosier Hurricane roller coaster is known for its spectacular view of the lake and its sudden drop under a suspension bridge. The Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain is a gravity-driven train that was built on the structure of the park's old mountain ride and has tight turns, steep drops and bunny hops.\nIndiana Beach is divided into the Boardwalk Funway, the Water Park and the Sand Beach Swimming Area, which is an enclosed 750,000 gallon swimming pool with a large sand beach along the lakefront.\nThe water park has six tube slides including the "Black Hole," in which people make a trip through darkness. The Aqua Theater on the Boardwalk Funway offers ski and water shows four times a day during the summer. Visitors can also take a ride on the Shafer Queen, Indiana's largest regularly scheduled paddle wheel vessel.
(06/28/04 1:03am)
Former IU vice president of government relations and public affairs J Thomas Forbes was recently hired as IU's executive director of state relations.\nFor the last four years, Forbes has served as assistant vice president for university relations at Michigan State. \nFrom 1997 through 2001 Forbes worked as assistant vice president for public affairs and government relations at IU, and was a special assistant to the president and coordinator of federal relations for two more years. \nBeginning July 12, Forbes will leave MSU and begin working under Tom Healy, IU's vice president for government relations.\nHealy said he was impressed with Forbes's resume and has received positive feedback about the decision to hire Forbes.\n"JT. has had great experience working with the Indiana General Assembly and has broadened his background with his work at Michigan State University," Healy said. "He has the advantage of knowing many of the participants in the process and has matured to the point that I expect he will become a significant contributor to Indiana University's efforts in Indianapolis."\nForbes said when IU offered him the job, he was overjoyed because IU is a great American institution. He said the job is an important leadership position and describes himself as the quarterback for the state effort.\n"It is an exciting role," Forbes said. "It brings me closer to the front lines. I will be the point person for IU with the state legislature."\nForbes said the office he will be working in has a new team approach to state and government relations. He said it is the only way to win in the working environment, in which there is fierce competition from other universities for state funds.\n"I feel it will be really exciting to be part of a new government affairs office that has a team approach to government relations," Forbes said. "The team makes a holistic case. The state relations, federal relations and grass roots efforts all have to be working arm-in-arm."\nAssociate Director for State Relations Kathy Smith-Andrew, will be working with Forbes in his new position. Smith-Andrew said she worked with Forbes before while she was a senator and he was a policy analyst for the Indiana General Assembly.\n"We worked on child support, Aid to Families with Dependent Children and Medicaid reform legislation. He carefully followed each bill and he integrated many amendments into the legislation before the use of computers made that task a great deal easier," Smith-Andrews said. "He will be an asset to our team because he has legislative policy experience in Indianapolis, he knows the issues which face higher education and he is smart and dedicated."\nSmith-Andrew said this year is a budget year for Indiana. She said soon after Forbes takes his seat, IU's office of government relations will start working with IU President Adam Herbert in meeting with members of the general assembly and the governor's office to make a compelling case for IU's budget request for the next biennium.\nForbes, a former IU student body president from 1988-89, earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public affairs and philanthropic studies from IU.\nHe also worked in the legislative affairs office in student government.\n"I felt intimidated at first to be working with the executive director of state relations," Forbes said. "I think it is funny that after all these years I will now be that person."\n-- Contact staff writer Karen Yancey at kaeyance@indiana.edu.
(06/24/04 1:42am)
An excited group of Mini University participants improvised five original plays in an acting class taught by IU theater professor Murray McGibbon Monday.\nMcGibbon, who directed for 10 years in South Africa with the Playhouse Company, taught an hour and 45 minute class called, "What It's Like to Be an Actor."\nHe began with a relaxation exercise while participants lied down on the floor of the Frangipani room of the Indiana Memorial Union trying to focus their minds much like professional actors before they go on stage. He instructed participants to breathe rhythmically and imagine they were going on vacation.\nAfter 20 minutes of relaxation exercises that he said were intended to focus the mind, he talked about some of the guiding principles of actors.\n"There are three component parts to acting," McGibbon said. "Reason, reaction and resolution."\nHe said every piece of acting begins with a problem, progresses to a point where the characters react to it and at the end the problem is resolved.\nThe class was then divided into five groups and given 30 minutes to create a minute-long act with three randomly selected prompts per group. \nThere were three different prompts that had to be incorporated into the act. One was a quote such as "There is a bomb in the building." Another was a character such as a beautician. The last was an object like a candle.\nLater each group went onto a stage in the room to perform skits that varied in theme from a group of women incapacitating a burglar to a young couple winning the lottery.\n"It is a problem-solving task," McGibbon said. "The prompts help them be more creative when acting out a given situation."\nMcGibbon said acting is the most difficult action a human can do because it uses body, soul and spirit.\n"It is even harder to teach acting in an hour and three quarters," McGibbon said.\nJeane Hunt, a Chicago resident, said her group tried to create a serious skit. However, they kept laughing so much that it was easier to make it humorous, she said.\nHer group was given a book of matches, the character of a business executive and the quote, "The plane is going down."\n"This is far removed from what I am used to," Hunt said. "It is great fun and great fellowship."\nKaren Kroczek, a Munster resident who has been coming to Mini University for 12 years, said she enjoyed the activity. Kroczek participated in a humorous skit about three women who used a chair to defend themselves against a burglar.\n"It was really interesting because it gave me an understanding of the improvisational process and how actors play off each other," Kroczek said.\nEvan Boggs, a high school senior form Indianapolis, was the main character in a dramatic skit that used the quote, "Daffodils don't grow in August," a pair of sunglasses and the character of a difficult mother-in-law.\n"I heard about Mini University in the Indianapolis Monthly," Boggs said. "It is close and affordable and covers a large breadth of subjects. I can go to 15 classes in one week on subjects I wouldn't otherwise be exposed to."\nMcGibbon said this was his first year to teach at Mini University, which is a week-long "return to the classroom" open to adults of all ages and held at IU every year, according to the IU Web site.\n"It is wonderful to see people throwing themselves into the assignment and laughing while they are doing it," McGibbon said.\n-- Contact staff writer Karen Yancey at kaeyance@indiana.edu.