17 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(06/10/10 3:46pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Dec. 8, 2008 – As the semester comes to an end, many students are busy finishing up finals and rearranging their schedule for the spring.But junior Kim Markowitz is preparing for her four-month internship in London.“It’s important to have an understanding of how other places in the world work,” said Markowitz, a communication and culture major. Even though she said she is nervous about the exchange rate, food differences and communication with family and friends, she is confident her time in London will open her eyes to the rest of the world.Office of Overseas Study Assistant Director Kendra Nelson agrees that experiences abroad can change a student’s perspective and major entirely. About 20 percent of all IU undergraduate students have some kind of international study experience.Nelson said she believes there are many advantages for studying abroad, such as living alone in an unfamiliar place, seeing things from a different perspective, developing new skills and obtaining first-hand experience through classes, internships and jobs.The Office of Overseas Study advises students to look at programs that best fit their academic needs and requirements. Nelson said the directors and peer counselors are in the office every weekday to help students decide what program is best for them based on length, classes, housing options and eligibility such as GPA and class standing.There is also an information session held at 4 p.m. every Wednesday in Franklin Hall 303 called Study Abroad 101, where advisers explain study abroad options to students and answer questions.Peer counselor and senior Katya Hooker suggests students read about the country they will be visiting before they leave so the culture shock is not so intense.After studying photography this past summer in Osaka, Japan, Hooker said she came back to the U.S. with more knowledge about Asian art and culture. However, after only six weeks abroad, she was still bowing when she said hello to people on campus.“Studying abroad in Japan was very humbling and educational at the same time,” Hooker said.Some students study abroad through non-IU programs because of options like location, grade requirements and housing choices. Nelson said there is nothing wrong with going through a different school as long as the student checks to make sure his or her credits will transfer correctly.Senior Eric Kramer, a marketing major, studied in Sydney, Australia, last spring.“People have a misconception about Australia before they actually go,” Kramer said. “After a semester of I-CORE, it was a nice break to be in constant nice weather. The no-worries mentality is life-changing, and Sydney is like the New York City of Australia.”Kramer said he’s able to refer back to his sales experience overseas at Build-A-Bear Workshop during job interviews this year.Financially, studying abroad is about the same when comparing in-state and out-of-state tuition and room and board rate, and Nelson encourages students to look into scholarships, financial aid and federal loans and grants to help bring down the cost.She said she encourages students to make choices for personal and educational reasons.“Different schools across the country are affected by the economy in different ways right now, but Indiana is at a pretty good place,” Nelson said.
(04/07/09 4:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU College Democrats group is working to clear confusion about President Barack Obama’s first 100 days of presidency.Tonight is the chance to hear from Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan, Congressman Baron Hill and Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker about the changes to come.The IU College Democrats organized a fundraising event open to the public at 6 p.m. today at FARMbloomington, 108 E. Kirkwood Ave.Sophomore Kelly Smith, who oversees external communications for the IU College Democrats, said the group is looking forward to an exciting and active future at IU. Because the group spent most of its budget on the Obama campaign this past year, Smith said, there is a $25 ticket fee for the general public and a $15 fee for students with valid student identification. “It’s a cool way to unite the Bloomington Democrats in the community,” Smith said. “Students will get the chance to mingle in a casual environment.”Tracey B. Walker, FARMbloomington event manager, said the restaurant has done a number of fundraisers throughout the political season. Walker said Daniel Orr, FARMbloomington’s owner and chef, will prepare interesting dishes based on his travels throughout the world including New York, Brazil and Belgium. Walker said FARMbloomington likes being a part of programs such as this because of the excitement. “We are all about local supporting local,” Walker said. “We embrace everybody.” Sophomore Shawn Walter, IU College Democrats president, said the group is expecting about 60 to 75 people to attend. He said the fundraiser is mainly reaching out to the community, but IU College Democrats members, volunteers from the campaign, faculty members and students who have never been involved are encouraged to attend. Walter said during the next two years the group plans to work with Organizing for America and Volunteers for Change, donating to local charities and create policy awareness.“FARM has a great area for people to mingle, and their food is great too,” Smith said. “It’s a way to bring students together outside of campus but still close to it.”
(03/04/09 3:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While many students fear a shrinking job market in the current economy, the health care field seems to be in need of more employees and volunteers. “The economy has declined in a lot of fields, but health care is a job field that has continued to see growth even in the last job quarter,” said Rachel Tolen, assistant director and pre-medical advisor at the Health Professions and Prelaw Center. “We have noticed an increased interest in students for health care.” The Health Programs Fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union. The fair is free and open to the public, and students are encouraged to stop by even if they are unsure about graduate or medical school, Tolen said. The fair provides the opportunity for students to speak one-on-one with admissions representatives from medical schools and other health profession programs such as nursing, dentistry, radiation therapy, physical and occupational therapy schools, Tolen said. More than 700 students are expected to attend the fair, which will represent health care organizations from all over the country.Tolen advises students to be aware that admission to educational health care programs is competitive, so it is important to plan early. She said it can take a little more time to complete science coursework to fulfill requirements, and volunteer experience is important. Representatives from different health care administrations and public-health services will also be present. Agencies such as Bloomington Hospital and Volunteers in Medicine Clinic will also be present, and Tolen encourages students to consider all the career possibilities available to them. IU School of Medicine Associate Director of Admission Karen Smartt expects to speak with about 150 students who come by her table with questions. “They usually range (from issues) regarding acceptance to medical school to issues with students, such as how to improve applications,” Smartt said. Smartt said this is an opportunity for students considering medical school to come prepared with questions so she can address them about job shadowing, the MCAT and the interview process. She will also suggest how to strengthen grade point averages and volunteer experience. Senior and dietetics major Jordan Hollander, who plans to attend graduate school in Chicago next year to become a physician’s assistant, said she found the fair helpful for her graduate school search last year.“There are so many different programs present, and so much information is available for you,” Hollander said. “It helped me narrow down some schools I was thinking about, and I talked to representatives about prerequisites.”
(02/25/09 3:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Cardiovascular disease is Indiana’s No. 1 killer. However, the state is still one of the few that has not created a statewide education program about heart disease. According to the American Heart Association Web site, Indiana is one of eight states that has not received funding from legislation to create a comprehensive statewide program to address heart disease education, early prevention and treatment. Sam Denton, grassroots advocacy director at the American Heart Association, said heart disease kills about 15,000 Hoosiers each year. “Our legislators don’t spend a single dollar to educate about the disease, even though it’s the No. 1 killer in Indiana,” Denton said. “Last week we held our annual Lobby Day at the Indiana State House to educate about the overall burden of the disease and to encourage legislators to fund and develop a statewide cardiovascular program.” Denton said Lobby Day was successful because it helped get the attention of lawmakers. He said he hopes the State Department of Health will create a program best suited for Indiana. “A lot of lawmakers do not realize heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the state of Indiana, and stroke being No. 4,” Denton said. “There are programs dedicated to other chronic diseases and programs, but not this specific one.” Susan Carter, manager of Cardiac Rehab at Bloomington Hospital, said she works a lot with patients, family members and the community to provide education so people are aware of the signs of heart disease.“Over the last four months, we have been focusing on women’s heart disease because the newest statistic is that one in three women will die from it,” Carter said.She advises young women to be aware of the symptoms such as chest discomfort, discomfort in arms, jaw and back or across shoulder blades, extreme fatigue, nausea or vomiting.“You need to be your own health care advocate,” Carter said. “Nobody knows our bodies better than we do.”Carter said students can raise heart disease awareness on campus by volunteering with the American Heart Association or participating in sorority and fraternity philanthropic events.Alpha Phi sorority’s national philanthropy mission is to raise money for women’s cardiac care and research. The money is sent directly to the American Heart Association, said sophomore and neuroscience major P.J. Allen.Allen is Alpha Phi’s current philanthropy chair and said her sorority holds two specific events during the academic school year: Cardiac Arrest and Alpha Phiesta. Cardiac Arrest involves “arresting” members of other greek houses to raise money for heart issues, and Alpha Phiesta is a new event that features an all-you-can eat late night Mexican dinner, Allen said.“I wanted to take on a leadership role that was going to have a big impact,” Allen said. “Last fall we raised roughly $3,000 from Cardiac Arrest, and we’re making changes to our spring philanthropy, Alpha Phiesta, to continue raising more.”
(01/28/09 4:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Most IU students spent their second week of school getting back into a routine and organized for classes. But more than a dozen spent it networking with high-end Hollywood profilers. The third annual Hollywood Hoosiers trip took place Jan. 19 to 23 and consisted of informational meetings between 15 students and executive contacts from studios, agencies, networks and production companies. Students from the Blooming Artists Agency and the Business Careers in Entertainment Club participated. Agency president and senior Jack Shannon said the student-run program is a formal way to help students get summer internships and future careers in the entertainment industry. Shannon said the Hollywood Hoosier Alumni Association acted as chaperones throughout the week. Shannon was in contact with the Hollywood Hoosier Alumni Association when he decided to form the Agency.“A handful of alumni put us up in their houses, and we slept in spare bedrooms or on their couches,” Shannon said. “The IU connection is so strong out in L.A., and there are so many people willing to help out.” Shannon said the students had a chance to meet with several IU alumni such as David Anspaugh, director of “Hoosiers” and “Rudy.” They also met Michael Uslan, producer of the Batman movies; Sue Naegle, president of HBO and Philip Murphy, vice president of operations for CBS Paramount Television. “The goal of the trip was designed to give students the opportunity to learn firsthand about the entertainment industry and to assist them with discovering what area interests them the most,” Shannon said. “The economy is definitely tough right now, but without this trip, I would never have gotten meetings with this high level of people.” IU alumna and Hollywood Hoosiers founder Jessica Petelle was very involved with organizing the trip. Petelle is currently the producer and partner for Drexel Box Productions, and she said IU alumni were excited to open their doors to students. “In this industry, you have to be here to really get involved. It’s like a lifestyle in a lot of ways,” Petelle said. “It was reinvigorating because we’ve been working to get Hollywood Hoosiers off the ground the past several years. We’re all in this together.” IU alumnus Dave Neustadter, creative executive for New Line Cinema, said he landed his dream job after working as an intern, a temp and a departmental assistant. Neustadter said he’s always looking to get more Hoosiers out to Los Angeles because he believes there aren’t enough. “Don’t come out here if you want to make a million dollars or just to go to the Hollywood clubs,” Neustadter said. “If you love movies and really enjoy what a film is, then you should be out here.”Junior Leila Marsh said she met Shannon through the IU Telecommunications Club and reserved a spot on the trip. Marsh said Shannon has been an inspiration to the group because he’s shown them how many people students can meet through networking. “Every single person we met said if you have the desire and passion, then you will succeed,” Marsh said. “You can do anything if you’re willing to put your time in and prove yourself because somebody will eventually notice your hard work.”
(01/27/09 3:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Students looking to volunteer this semester can learn how to make a “big” difference in the lives of Bloomington children.Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana is having an information session from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the organization’s Bloomington office at 418 S. Walnut St.Kathy Delaney Willett, director of outreach and enrollment, encourages anyone interested in volunteering to attend.“Most people interested get involved by volunteering with a child, but we have other ways to get involved, too,” Willett said. “We offer information sessions about once a month to give a general overview of the agency, the children we serve and how to volunteer.”Willett has worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters for about eight years, recruiting volunteers and marketing the agency. She said the agency has about 500 volunteers, ranging from pairing with kids in the community-based program, school-mentoring programs, club programs and people who do activities with kids on the wait list.“A lot of IU students are in our club or school-based program where they can meet with their ‘little’ one day a week,” Willett said. “The primary focus of Wednesday’s meeting will be to match people with ‘littles’ because there are over 100 kids waiting for a big brother or big sister.” Senior Anna Remenschneider said she got involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters after becoming a service-learning coordinator for the Advocates for Community Engagement. Remenschneider said her role is to facilitate service learning to students by being liaison to Big Brothers Big Sisters. She said she sees what the campus can provide for them and serves as an advocate to help get people involved with events and fundraisers. “I love working with non-profit groups because it’s great insight for how you can function better as a community, which translates anywhere you go,” Remenschneider said. IU Bowl for Kids Sake, in February, is another volunteer opportunity for Big Brothers Big Sisters.Senior Megan Cotton said this year marks the 21st anniversary of the IU Bowl. Cotton said she enjoys being part of one of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ largest fundraisers and that the IU Bowl alone raised $42,000 last year.“If people at IU think and work together, we can raise money to save a kid’s life,” Cotton said. “Big Brothers Big Sisters is a great place to learn how to adapt to a professional setting and really make a difference.”
(01/21/09 4:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Students and faculty of all ages, nationalities and political preferences came together in one of IU’s most familiar places to view the unfamiliar: President Barack Obama’s inauguration. The Indiana Memorial Union showed the live CNN broadcast of the swearing-in of the 44th President of the United States on Tuesday in the Frangipani Room. IMU Catering Supervisor Rachel Campbell said she believes the inauguration showing is one of the biggest events the IMU has hosted this year, estimating about 400 people in attendance. Refreshments were provided beginning at 10:30 a.m., but when Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., appeared on the big screen, everyone grew silent.Junior Delta Sigma Theta Sorority president Janis Crawford said she was excited to see so many people come together. Crawford has been working closely with the fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha to help co-sponsor the event.Sophomore Michael Coleman, public relations chair of Alpha Phi Alpha, said their chapter was excited to be a part of the event. “A lot of people have helped with the election, and we thought today would be a good chance to help out the campus and the community,” Johnson said.Debbie Sibbitt, director of Hoosiers for Higher Education at IU, said she is thrilled with the optimism Obama and his administration are bringing.“This is one of the most remarkable days in history,” Sibbitt said. “You will always remember where you were and what you were doing at this moment.”Sibbitt said she hopes to see change in our federal government leadership. “We are all in this together, and we have to give it more than our fair share,” Sibbitt said.Graduate student Colleen Haas said she thought the event seemed like a great way to see the University come together as a community. As a 40-year-old student and previous employee of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, Haas said she is curious to see if Obama can make some overall changes.“It’s so encouraging to see people willing to be engaged and involved,” Haas said. “In my generation, people have somewhat lost heart, but it’s good to see a shift occurring.”Students like sophomore Shawn Walter said they are still trying to recruit students to become more engaged with the election and the community.As vice president of the IU College Democrats, Walter helped manage more than 200 student volunteers for the Obama campaign this past semester and said it was a great opportunity to get involved.“The speech was fantastic,” said English Professor Christoph Irmscher. “It was everything I hoped for and more.”Irmscher said at least 10 of his students traveled to Washington to see the inauguration live, even though they had no tickets or money. “I would like to see the commitment stay and continue to change the campus,” Irmscher said. “I’m so grateful my children can also be part of the election. Everyone is watching. Even my 8-year-old son didn’t have school today.”
(01/20/09 4:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Some Americans might consider celebrities like Kanye West and Beyonce modern-day activists for equality. However, author and former Black Panther leader Elaine Brown said the real activists lie in our country’s history.Brown spoke on historical events that have changed our country today on Sunday at the Whittenberger Auditorium. Her topics included slavery, industrialization and the Jim Crow Laws, which led up to the main focus, Martin Luther King Jr.“We are here to celebrate the life of a freedom fighter,” Brown said. “We forget how this country came to be, and history is important to remember. We cannot turn the page until we write the page.”Timberly Baker, assistant coordinator for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs, introduced Brown and the theme of IU’s MLK Jr. Day celebration to the crowded auditorium.Baker said this is the 15th MLK Jr. Day the University has taken time off school to recognize the work of the civil rights leader.This year’s central theme was “The Power of One: Taking Action in a Time of Challenge and Controversy.”“Brown did an excellent job embracing the genre of action, challenge and controversy,” Baker said. “We need to focus on how we can take direct action as a community.”Brown asked the audience to look at where society is today and to remember that everyone lives in a global economy. She said 50 percent of the world is poor – and sub-Saharan African countries are the poorest.“We need to end hunger, poverty and war,” Brown said. “Coalitions are being formed with common-ground issues, and action is needed to be taken to get things done.”Brown also spoke on our country’s newly elected president, Barack Obama, and his plan for change in today’s society. She said even though Obama is equally black as he is white, he is still considered the first black president.“Our duty, as Americans, is to use what we know to address things,” Brown said.Brown’s lecture was followed with a question-and-answer session, where Brown acknowledged the importance of uniting the country as one in order to grow as a nation. She said she believes Americans should use technology such as the Internet, YouTube especially, to address important issues and connect as a whole.Jorge Wellman, a senior and member of the Office of Mentoring Leadership Development Services, had the opportunity to attend the leadership breakfast with Brown on Sunday.Wellman said Brown was an inspiration to him because he hopes to one day run for office.“I need to stop doubting myself as a young individual and start believing I can make a difference,” Wellman said.
(12/09/08 4:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As the semester comes to an end, many students are busy finishing up finals and rearranging their schedule for the spring.But junior Kim Markowitz is preparing for her four-month internship in London.“It’s important to have an understanding of how other places in the world work,” said Markowitz, a communication and culture major. Even though she said she is nervous about the exchange rate, food differences and communication with family and friends, she is confident her time in London will open her eyes to the rest of the world.The Office of Overseas Assistant Director Kendra Nelson agrees that experiences abroad can change a student’s perspective and major entirely. About 20 percent of all IU undergraduate students have some kind of international study experience, which Nelson would like to see increase.Nelson said she believes there are many advantages for studying abroad, such as living on your own in an unfamiliar place, seeing things from an entirely different perspective, developing new skills and obtaining first-hand experience through classes, internships and jobs.The Office of Overseas Study advises students to look at programs that best fit their academic needs and requirements. Nelson said the directors and peer counselors are in the office every weekday to help students decide what program is best for them based on length, classes, housing options and eligibility such as GPA and class standing.There is also an information session held at 4 p.m. every Wednesday in Franklin Hall 303 called Study Abroad 101 where advisers explain study abroad options to students and answer questions.Peer counselor and senior Katya Hooker suggests students read about the country they will be visiting before they leave so the culture shock is not so intense.After studying photography this past summer in Osaka, Japan, Hooker said she came back to the U.S. with more knowledge about Asian art and culture. However, after only six weeks abroad, she was still bowing when she said hello to people on campus.“Studying abroad in Japan was very humbling and educational at the same time,” Hooker said.Some students study abroad through non-IU programs because of options like location, grade requirements and housing choices. Nelson said there is nothing wrong with going through a different school as long as the student checks to make sure his or her credits will transfer correctly.Senior Eric Kramer, a marketing major, studied in Sydney, Australia, last spring.“People have a misconception about Australia before they actually go,” Kramer said. “After a semester of I-CORE, it was a nice break to be in constant nice weather. The no-worries mentality is life changing and Sydney is like the New York City of Australia.”Kramer said he’s able to refer back to his sales experience overseas at Build-A-Bear Workshop during job interviews this year.Financially, studying abroad is about the same when comparing in-state and out-of-state tuition and room and board rate, and Nelson encourages students to look into scholarships, financial aid and federal loans and grants to help bring down the cost.She said she encourages students to make choices for personal and educational reasons.“Different schools across the country are affected by the economy in different ways right now, but Indiana is at a pretty good place,” Nelson said.
(11/14/08 5:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The word “mambo” translates to “hello” in English. From what country does the word “mambo” originate?Students from Foster International Living Learning Center and the Global Village partnered Thursday night to test their knowledge and celebrate International Education Week.Foreign cuisine from countries such as China, Japan, Belgium and Germany were served along with an international music mix and global Jeopardy. “Our goal is to interact and get to know each other as one community,” said freshman June Park, the Foster International Liaison Chair. “Both residence halls have a lot of interest with international themes, and we thought to join them this past summer.” The celebration began with a variety of foreign munchies, such as Japanese trail mix, German pretzels, chips and salsa and an assortment of European cookies. There were about 45 students lined up to take from the buffet style of snacks.Global Jeopardy began halfway through the evening, and questions varied from categories such as culture, language, geography and politics. Park said both the committees wanted to help educate people on something they might not know about, and jeopardy prizes were an incentive to get students to participate.The event also helped celebrate the 25th anniversary of Foster’s Living Learning Center. The top five winners walked away with food prizes, but Park said everyone left more educated about many different countries. “Foster International is more culturally focused, and the Global Village is more language based,” said senior Victoria Clark, chair of the Liaison Committee. After living in the Global Village last year, Clark said she decided to stay because of her great experience. Clark said she’s learning a lot about management and has shopped at every international grocery story in Bloomington since she became the liaison chair. Freshman roommates Adrianna Pappas and Addy Bryan heard about the event through the Global Village. Pappas said she is majoring in non-profit management and Greek, and Bryan said she studies anthropology and Near Eastern languages and cultures. Both girls said they enjoy studying different countries and make an effort to participate in several international events. Pappas said she wanted to live with people who felt the same attraction to international studies, and a good way of meeting these people has been in her dorm through a mixture of ethnic food nights.“I try to go to as much as possible because they’re fun and have free food,” Pappas said.Bryan said she enjoys the international music constantly being played on their floor, and Hindi Bollywood is her current favorite.“Half of the music being played on our floor is not spoken English and that is true for just about everyone,” Bryan said.
(11/12/08 8:40pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With the diversity of bars in Bloomington, diversity of clientele is what makes Kilroy’s Sports Bar a local favorite.“Sports is like the melting pot of the bar scene,” said Liza Prall, the manager at Kilroy’s Sports Bar, known best as just “Sports.” “We strive to make everyone feel welcome by offering a variety of things.”Liza Prall has been a manager at Sports, 319 N. Walnut St., for eight years, and her sister Maggie Prall has served as the other manager for 12 years. She said the bar is accepting of all races, sexualities, ethnicities and genders, and all people should feel comfortable having a drink at Sports.In addition to cultivating an atmosphere of inclusion, the sisters’ goal is to offer a variety of entertainment, such as live music on Wednesdays and DJs both upstairs and downstairs Wednesday through Saturday. Sports has a total of five bars in its establishment, along with outside and rooftop patios, pool tables, live DJs and an upstairs club scene. Sports also serves lunch and dinner and has projector screens for sports nights. The patio is a great addition when the weather’s nice and there is a big renovation scheduled to be done just in time for Little 500 this spring, Liza Prall said. “Wednesday nights at Sports are my favorite because it’s always a very lively and diverse crowd,” said senior Brittany Goudie. “It gets monotonous in Bloomington sometimes because all of the nightlife is very similar.” She goes to Sports because the bar allows her to experience several different types of atmospheres in one night.Kilroy’s Sports Bar continues to stay popular because of its up-to-date changes, bartender Tabitha Tachik said. Two years ago, Sports added a new side bar. Since the expansion, there has been more room to socialize, dance and eat, and it’s much easier to get a drink, Tachik said. Goudie said she never feels cramped at Sports because it’s “big enough you have room to move, but it’s small enough you run into people you know.”“If you can’t get a drink within five minutes, there is a problem,” Tachik said.Tachik began working part-time as a shot girl three years ago and quickly worked her way up to bartender. She said people generally start by working the door or as a server before they move up.Each bar has a different feel because each one has its own kind of people and music, Tachik said. The low-key drinkers stay downstairs where the patio and pool tables are. If patrons want a more energetic night, they can go upstairs to find the dance floor and a live DJ spinning. Sports bar back and senior Lee Kinne said besides getting to work with laid-back customers and coworkers, Sports is great for him because the pay is good. Kinne has only been working at Sports for the past seven months but said he enjoys his job, which is making sure the bartenders have what they need throughout the night.It gets especially busy on the weekends, and Kinne’s theory is if patrons have time partying here, they might want to think about joining the “Sports” team.“You know it’s a good night when we walk away soaking in a lot of money,” Kinne said. “By soaking, I mean because we do a lot of dishes.”
(10/23/08 4:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Debbie Deig said she needed an excuse to see her daughter. So when she read there would be a campus-wide Cornhole tournament, she encouraged her daughter to enter because they used to play at family gatherings. She e-mailed her daughter Laura Deig newspaper articles about the event and even paid the $10 registration fee. So Wednesday, when Laura Deig and her teammate, Kameron Kolb, stepped up to make their first toss, Debbie Deig was sitting in a lawn chair just yards away. She drove the nearly three hours from Evansville to root on her daughter in the second annual Homecoming Cornhole Tournament, which benefits the United Way of Monroe County. “It’s a beautiful day, and I’m so glad to see her,” Debbie Deig said.The “Team Laura and Kameron” was one of 125 teams to compete in Wednesday’s tournament in Dunn Meadow.“A great relationship has been formed,” said Katie Harvey, an IU campus coordinator for the United Way of Monroe County. “It’s heartwarming to see so many people donating – it’s amazing.”The Student Alumni Association and United Way committee members began setting up at 6 a.m. for the 2 p.m. event, said sophomore Amanda Stahl, co-director of the Cornhole tournament. Food and music began around 5 p.m. followed by the Homecoming bonfire at 7 p.m. Stahl said it’s exciting to see people come back to claim their victory and said she is most excited to be partnered with Dean of Students Dick McKaig in the tournament. Teams had two chances to play because of the loser’s bracket and the championship rounds, Stahl said.Free food, live music and the bonfire helped create a successful Cornhole Tournament atmosphere and Homecoming spirit, Stahl said. She said United Way’s theme “Give. Advocate. Volunteer. Live United” has been great to encourage more students to get involved without necessarily donating money. Director of Student Programs for the IU Alumni Association Conor McIntyre said the Greek Strategic Planning Committee worked to get two representatives from each greek house involved in planning the week’s events. “We’ve been working with a phenomenal group of students,” McIntyre said. He said they supplied each greek house white sheets to make banners, red lights, cornstalks and an extra large cornhole boards to decorate their front lawn before judging Tuesday night.“There’s been a long history of greek lawn decorations, and we are planning to add more and more every year,” McIntyre said. He also added the cornhole boards and bag sets were hand-made by students involved with the SAA last year.Many students gathered to be involved with Homecoming week and compete for the free weekly Papa John’s pizza for a year and Herf Jones rings presented at the game against Northwestern on Saturday.Students, volunteers and even family members, like Debbie Deig, came out to cheer on teams.Unfortunately for her, “Team Laura and Kameron” lost its first match. “The first people they played were like Big Ten players,” Debbie Deig said.But even after the loss, Laura Deig said she still had hope of doing well in the loser’s bracket. “This is one of the first voluntary things I’ve chose to do for myself while at IU,” Deig said. “It’s been a lot of fun so far.”
(10/22/08 4:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“It’s not about pharmacy rights or state’s rights. It’s about sex,” Dr. Marty Klein said in his lecture to a large audience Tuesday night in the Indiana Memorial Union’s Alumni Hall.Klein was chosen by the IU Health Center’s Health & Wellness Department to speak on his most recent book, “America’s War on Sex: The Attack on Law, Lust and Liberty,” which focuses on America’s current outlook on public policy and sexuality. Not only is Klein an IU alumnus, he is a renowned sexologist, a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist who was the featured speaker of the “Sexploration at IU,” which runs the rest of the week. “‘America’s War on Sex’ was perfect because Election Day is next month,” said Katie Wilkinson, office and outreach coordinator for Health & Wellness Education.She said she thinks some of the sexual politics gets overlooked because of politics and the war on terror.Klein began his lecture with a PowerPoint presentation showing many images of men and women of all ages and races who have been charged with criminal acts associated with sex. He raised the question to the audience about how these issues are related and said each crime had an enormous range of punishment. “People that watch network news constantly say there’s more sex,” Klein said. American media are overstating the amount of sex, violence and sex danger, which results in a “sexpanic,” Klein said.Klein discussed many controversial topics such as abortion, the HPV vaccine, which can protect women from cervical cancer, birth control and sex education. “Condoms are a modern miracle,” Klein said. But he said America’s narrative on sexuality today is that it is dangerous and people need to be afraid of it. “There’s a desire for people to control sexuality,” Klein said. “We have a real political problem.”Klein discussed topics ranging from the politics of fear to Janet Jackson’s nipple exposure during the Super Bowl to the Declaration of Independence. Klein concluded his formal lecture with lessons about civics and discussed the U.S. Constitution. “Our constitution says that people have rights,” Klein said. He also said adults can do whatever they want because those are their rights, and no one wants those rights to be compromised.The lecture ended with a question-and-answer session lasting about half an hour, and Klein said people should not view opinions as right or left wing, but as factual and not factual.Americans need to learn how to frame the problem in order to come to a solution.Sophomore Hannah Meckes said she attended the event for her human sexuality class. “I really enjoyed it,” Meckes said. She said it gave her an overall different perspective and helped her to recognize there is a problem going on in America.“I was really surprised of the criminal acts associated with sex,” Meckes said. “I never realized they existed until now.”
(10/21/08 2:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Tradition. Spirit. Philanthropy.These will all be seen at the second annual Cornhole Tournament and bonfire at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Dunn Meadow. The cost is $10 per team, and all proceeds go to the United Way of Monroe County, which benefits more than 30 organizations such as American Red Cross and Hoosier Hills Food Bank.Students are encouraged to pre-register online at alumni.indiana.edu/saa/cornholetournament_form.shtml until late Tuesday night, and teams can also sign up beginning Wednesday morning for on-the-hour time slots between 2 and 6 p.m. Each team’s $10 donation is due at check-in, and cash or checks can be made payable to United Way of Monroe County.There are about 100 teams registered so far, and students will receive a free T-shirt when they check-in that reads, “Play United, Live United,” said graduate student Kim Kushner, advisor of the Student Alumni Association.“We would love to see 500 people there having a good time, and we’re combining tradition, spirit and philanthropy,” Kushner said. There will be free food with a corn theme, such as corndogs, popcorn and corn salsa, and live music will begin around 4:30 p.m. with performances by the David Campbell Trio and Mike & Joe, Kushner said.There will be prizes for those who make it to the Sweet Sixteen round, and the winning team will receive a free large pizza from Papa John’s every week for an entire year, Kushner said. The top winners will also be presented with engraved Herf Jones rings on the field during the homecoming football game against Northwestern on Saturday.There will also be a loser’s bracket to get people to stay around, Kushner said. The annual Homecoming bonfire will begin at dusk. Attendees can roast s’mores and watch the night light up after torching Willie, Northwestern’s mascot, Kushner said.Another aspect of the event is getting more fraternities and sororities involved, said senior Kelly Starcevich, co-director of the Greek Strategic Planning committee and member of Kappa Alpha Theta.“Every fraternity and sorority has a Homecoming pair,” Starcevich said. “We have representation from almost all the Greek houses, and we are hoping to have 10 cornhole teams for every two houses paired.”This is the first year there has been a philanthropy aspect to the cornhole tournament, and the planning committee is encouraging both non-greeks and greeks to sign up, Starcevich said.Delta Delta Delta member and sophomore Sarah Drummy said she is excited to play in the tournament because it’s a great way to get involved and relieve some stress from midterms.Planning has been important to get people invested in the tournament, Kushner said.In case of rain, the location will be moved to the DeVault Alumni Center – 1000 East 17th St. – and the call will be made Wednesday morning.“Cornhole has always been a family tradition, and I’ve been playing ever since I was five years old,” Drummy said. “I’m excited to have some fun and hopefully win.”
(10/16/08 4:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The average temperature in Indianapolis in 2007 was 2.7 degrees higher than the historical average, according to a new study released Wednesday by Greenpeace and Environment America.Many in Greenpeace hope this sends a message to candidates hoping to be elected in less than three weeks.Collectively, America’s average temperatures have increased in the past seven years, and many blame this increase on global warming.Greenpeace organizer Lisa Ramsden said the report, “Feeling the Heat: Global Warming and Rising Temperatures in the United States,” compares government temperature data for the years 2000-2007 with the “normal” temperature for the preceding 30 years, 1971-2000.“It’s clear that our energy isn’t just hurting us at the pump, but it’s also causing Hoosiers to feel the heat,” Ramsden said. “The good news is that people here are already acting, and now they’re looking to their candidates for Congress to step up and support real solutions.”Greenpeace states in its report that the next Congress and the next president must address a new solution for an energy policy that controls global warming.More than 150 members of Congress have endorsed strong principles for action on energy and global warming.“We urge congressional candidates Baron Hill and Mike Sodrel to support strong science-based legislation that would put the U.S. on track to solving global warming,” Ramsden said.Sodrel’s Campaign Manager Ryan Reger said he believes America must become energy independent because it is necessary to lower our trade and budget deficit. Baron Hill recently addressed global warming as his No. 2 concern behind the country’s economy, Ramsden said.Greenpeace is a world leader in international environmental organization.“We need to use our energy more efficiently,” Ramsden said. “We need to put a limit on how much global warming pollution gets dumped into the atmosphere and we need to start investing in clean energy like wind and solar instead of dangerous coal and nuclear plants.”Edyta Sitko, global warming field organizer for Greenpeace, said she is calling on candidates for Congress to be aware of the attention global warming is getting across the country and world.“Our nation’s three main problems revolve around the energy crisis, the economy crisis and the global crisis, and it’s very important to send a message out that these are all connected and interlinked,” Sitko said.Others agree that action is needed to solve the problem of global warming. 1Sky intern senior Brittany Kelly said she believes global warming is a multi-generational problem.“Science says we have to change what is happening,” she said.“I want to see an improvement for my kids and grandchildren, and right now I don’t see that happening,” Kelly said.1Sky has the same goal as Greenpeace, but it works for the national campaign. It puts pressure on presidential candidates more than congressional candidates.In the report, Greenpeace urged the United States to reduce its global warming emissions by at least 25 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050 and make energy efficiency improvements.The accelerated development of renewable energy is Greenpeace’s main focus for the presidential and congressional candidates.
(10/14/08 3:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A new student-run talent agency has arrived on IU’s campus, straight from Hollywood, and it’s encouraging all creative students to join.The Blooming Artists Agency, also known as BAA, will function like a real Hollywood talent production company where members can come to a student-run management team with a script, idea or concept.“The management team will then assist them in pre-production by gathering the cast, crew and resources needed for their specific project,” said Jack Shannon, president of BAA. Shannon is a senior majoring in finance with a minor in telecommunications and said the BAA’s goal is to create a liaison between students and alumni involving a variety of majors. Once a project is taken on, the agency will see it through production and assist its members by finding a gateway once their work is completed.The BAA will be a subsidiary of the Hollywood Hoosiers Alumni Association based out of Los Angeles.IU theatre and telecommunications alumna Jessica Patelle-Slagle said she founded the organization with the purpose of creating a social network, sharing information and establishing a variety of media contacts for IU alumni.“Over the last three years, it’s taken a lot of problem solving to best serve the alumni social networking atmosphere,” Slagle said. “We really wanted to do this as professionally as possible and give back to the University that has given us so much.”After working in Los Angeles as an intern for the head of MGM Studios, Shannon was inspired by Slagle’s concept of bringing IU alumni together from all over to work in the entertainment industry.Hollywood Hoosiers is also looking forward to a partnership with New York and Chicago to have a bigger production hut, Slagle said.“Our goal is to create a liaison between students and alumni involving a variety of majors,” Shannon said. “There has never been an organization to bring all majors with a career in the entertainment industry together.”People interested in becoming directors, actors, writers, producers, editors, lighting and sound technicians, musicians, photographers, costume designers, make-up artists, production managers, Web designers and game designers are strongly encouraged to get involved.Telecommunications professor Mark Deuze agreed to be the group’s academic adviser and works closely with Shannon.Vice President of Creative Affairs for BAA and senior Nick Wilson began talking to Shannon about starting the student-run talent agency on campus this summer. “For a creative professional, a reel is the visual resume that shows future employees your work and experience,” Wilson said.Telecommunications senior Kelsey Laesch spent her summer in Los Angeles interning for Valhalla Motion Pictures Film Production. After learning about Shannon’s and Wilson’s idea to start the BAA, she said she thought it was a great way for students to get real-world experience.“Students will have the opportunity to get internships from each other even if they aren’t a telecommunications major,” Laesch said. “It’s a great way to get involved with people in the media industry.”The BAA’s main purpose is to pool creative people under one organization and work together on projects its members want to pursue, Shannon said. It is a student connection – a liaison between media students and alumni involving a variety of majors.Senior David Moeller said he got involved because he felt disillusioned with corporate America and wanted something creative. “We don’t care what major you are, but if you want to go into a career in entertainment, this is the right place,” he said.Moeller is majoring in marketing and he said he dreams about accepting his first Oscar.“I’ve always wanted to do writing on the side, but now I want to make it the main dish,” Moeller said.
(10/01/08 3:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU is asking students from all eight campuses to come together and show their school spirit.The second annual student video contest asks IU students to express to the world why they love IU. Students must upload their 60-seconds-or-less video to YouTube no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 17. A panel of faculty and students from all IU campuses will pick the winning video. The cash prizes this year are $300 for first place, $200 for runner-up and $100 for third place.“The main thing we’re looking for is creativity and IU spirit,” said Keith Roach, IU Office of Creative Services writer-editor. As the project manager of the contest, Roach said he hopes to see students having fun in their videos. He said the contest is being promoted by spreading the word through administration at each campus along with faculty and student groups like the Student Alumni Association. “There are a lot of IU fans that won’t be able to make it to the events, and by putting it online more people are able to participate,” Roach said. The contest is in conjunction with IU’s “Celebrate IU” month, which is a celebration with events such as Homecoming festivities, IU President Michael McRobbie’s first State of the University address, art exhibits and philanthropy events.IU Student Trustee AD King said even though there aren’t many unifying aspects for the eight campuses, this will help create a unifying product. King said he hopes to see the IU Student Association get on board as well. He said he believes it’s important for taxpayers to see where their money goes, and this feel-good promotional activity shows what goes on in college from a positive view. Last year’s first-place winner, Zack Conyne-Rapin, a senior majoring in legal studies, came across the contest from an announcement on the “Celebrate IU” Web site.“I think people ought to consider what their IU experience means to them,” Conyne-Rapin said. “They should also stay true to the ‘Celebrate IU’ mentality.” Conyne-Rapin’s winning video featured the words “Tradition, Community, Discovery” while fading in and out of various pictures from the Bloomington campus. It concluded with a quote from Herman B Wells’ in 1962: “I love IU.” Last year’s runners-up, Heather Hontz and Megan Cotton, had another creative idea. They went out on campus and interviewed real-life students at different locations on the Bloomington campus. “It took a couple days with shooting footage and editing,” Hontz said. “People were pretty good about wanting to talk, but some people were in a rush to get to class.” The entire contest is focused on creativity, and Hontz advises other students to pick up a camera and go with whatever comes to mind. Roach said students should keep it clean. The panel will take down any inappropriate videos because they want people of all ages to enjoy them, Roach said.