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(06/07/09 11:38pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Janet Rabinowitch joined the Indiana University Press and climbed her way up to the top.She started as an editorial director in 1975 and advanced to the head director in 2003, where she remains today, with more than 800 publications under her wing.With all of her work, Book Business Magazine honors Rabinowitch as one of 2009’s top 50 women in book publishing, and she said she is not stopping anytime soon.Rabinowitch supervises the entire press, including editorial, production, marketing, business offices and warehouses and works as an acquiring editor, sponsoring publications of studies involving Eastern European topics, the Jewish Holocaust and Russian Studies.She has also acquired and published works involving the United Nations Intellectual History Project, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the upcoming Indiana University Press Online. She finds interest in manuscripts that give a lot of input on various cultural backgrounds from publishing works, such as the 19th century Russian cookbooks and personal biographies of the Warsaw ghetto. Editorial Director Bob Sloan has been working with Rabinowitch since 1986 and describes her as meticulous, hard-working and caring.“She brings intelligence, good sense and a fabulous work ethic to her position,” Sloan said. “And she knows that by taking the extra care with her authors and manuscripts that become books, it will all become beneficial in the long term.”But like most women in the late 1960s, Rabinowitch had a hard time getting started in the publishing industry. After earning her doctorate in Russian history, she said it was difficult to work at the same institution as her spouse. However, while she was working on co-editing a book with her husband, the aspiring teacher discovered her immediate interest in editing. With her passion, her career took off from there.Rabinowitch also said she tries to lead the University Press in its main mission to publish scholarly and academic books used in teaching and to publish more popular books about the state and region. IU Press was founded in 1950 under the direction of former IU President Herman B Wells. Rabinowitch said she tries to follow Wells’ declaration that “the University Press should be the intellectual arm of the University that should make the scholarship of the University available to the outside world, and to publish books of the literature and culture of Indiana and of the Midwest.” “She’s certainly a source of stability for the Press,” Sloan said. “These are not the best economic times for book publishing, and she’s done a very good job in keeping everyone focused and concentrated on the job at hand with a strong faith that we will pull through this.” With technology in the online world growing at a rapid rate, Rabinowitch said the Internet serves as both an opportunity and a challenge. She also acknowledges the difficulties and struggles the print industry is having with the publication of books. But with the distribution of wireless reading devices such as the Sony Reader, IU Press is also making its way into the electronic field. It will start by publishing more than 29 journals that will be available electronically by subscription, along with electronic editions that customers will be able to download. Although online material might be easier to obtain, Rabinowitch said there are still some books, such as ones with heavy illustrations, that do not lend themselves to electronic publishing. “There’s something aesthetic about the layout of art in a book that is hard to replicate on a computer,” Rabinowitch said. In the future, Rabinowitch said she plans on writing a work of her family history telling the story of her Russian immigrant descendants, and regardless of the pressures facing the print industry, she plans on continuing her career in publishing. “I don’t think books are going to go away anytime soon,” Rabinowitch said.
(06/07/09 11:34pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Students come to IU for the numerous benefits of a large institution, receiving graduate degrees and learning from professionals and faculty. However, recent studies show that Hoosier students are now making major contributions to the economy of the state of Indiana. Vital statistics gathered by the Indiana Business Research Center at the Kelley School of Business show their impact. The research states that the total “economic footprint” that IU has on the state amounts to $4.6 billion annually, generating approximately $187 million in state and local taxes. A range of statistics were used to estimate IU’s total civic contribution of nearly $16 million, from spending patterns to volunteer and service-learning activities and charitable contributions. But to have accurate results with the IU Impact Study, the name of the research project, examinations were conducted involving the employment and economic significance of spending by the University, students and visitors. Timothy Slaper, economic analysis director of the Indiana Business Research Center, said the estimates also consider the percentage of IU alumni who remain in the state and the amount of money that is collected by these Hoosiers in state taxes. The research includes the contributions from the various regional campuses as well, including Kokomo and South Bend. “Those who may go off to research labs or fame and fortune take with them the ‘Hoosier’ brand,” Slaper said. “They’re a part of the Hoosier fabric here.” Jerry Conover, director of the Indiana Business Research Center, said economic impact studies are carried out to demonstrate where the government funding and tax dollars are being assigned and how the money is being spent on universities. They also show the returns the government and citizens are gaining from their investments.Conover said the research can now be used in legislative meetings when setting state budgets in the coming year and can show how universities are an “investment with more education and cultural impact.”“I think this particular study went beyond the typical university study in terms of methodological rigor,” Conover said. “We tried to express things as much as possible in dollars and cents.” Conover said exaggerations and inflation were avoided in a conservative matter through hard data and analyses. In particular, Conover mentioned the benefits of the life sciences degrees received, in terms of economic impact and income, and the large differences in students’ incomes changing from associate to bachelor’s degrees. With the extensive research conducted, Conover said the study “sets a benchmark for ethological rigor” among university studies, within the fairness of their examination.
(05/31/09 11:39pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Although current students might be relaxing by the pool or playing soccer in the fields, in a few weeks there will be new faces on campus with their red drawstring bags that scream one word: freshman. Another new face will also be among the pack, serving as the newest professional staff member of orientation: Assistant Director Dan Murphy.“I think I will be able to bring a fresh perspective,” said Murphy, who first stepped foot on IU’s campus just a few weeks ago, joining orientation. Orientation kicks off June 16 and lasts until July 23.Coming from James Madison University, Murphy completed his graduate degree in college student personnel administration, and he served as the interim assistant director of orientation and as the former coordinator of student staff. Director of New Student Orientation Melanie Payne said Murphy knows the orientation world.“The coolest thing is that he had a great reminder of what new students are going through,” Payne said. “Sometimes you just need to know how to get around to feel comfortable in order to listen to what the program is offering.” She described Murphy as creative, fun and dedicated to students and student development, while his biggest responsibility will be working with undergraduate staff and supervising parts of the program. “I think the student staff will really like having him as their supervisor and appreciate the time and energy he puts in to help them build a team,” Payne said. There will also be a few changes in the program, with more interaction between smaller groups to help students learn about the resources and opportunities on campus. An additional session for parents called “Family Finale: A year in the life of a college student” will allow parents to ask the IU staff questions.New students can still plan on group advising, placement tests and the featured student-directed musical and other activities during the evening in Wright Quad. Murphy said one of the program’s new focuses will be creating leadership development and helping students gain skills that last beyond their time at IU. He said he plans on working closely with orientation leaders and teaching them what it means to become a leader before entering the workforce.“My hope is that we will continue to provide opportunities to connect the institution with resources and opportunities and to create the atmosphere that makes students feel wonderful and comfortable,” Murphy said. “I’m just really excited to be here and be a part of the Indiana community.”
(05/20/09 11:31pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Antonio Santos came to IU all the way from Spain for two reasons: his passions for early music and opera, both of which he studies at the Early Music Institute in the Jacobs School of Music. “It’s the music that moves me the most,” Santos said. Santos is just one among many musicians with a love for music and culture from the 15th to 18th centuries. Some of these musicians play at the Bloomington Early Music Festival.The festival, now in its 16th year, started May 15 and will continue through Memorial Day, featuring soloists and ensembles that perform in concerts, operas and educational workshops for younger children. The performances take place at several local churches, the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, the auditorium of the Jacobs School of Music and even at Oliver Winery.The festival includes music from the Renaissance, early classical, medieval and baroque eras. Musicians play on authentic instruments of the period or reproductions of them, trying to re-create the sounds of past centuries, said Carol Huffman, executive director and administrative manager of the festival. Huffman, who is a retired music teacher and graduate of the Jacobs school, said the school has provided wonderful instruments for the festival, including fortepianos and keyboard instruments. Along with the performances and workshops, Huffman said a new feature at this year’s festival is a showing of the 1922 silent movie version of “Robin Hood” written by Douglas Fairbanks and accompanied by Hesperus, an ensemble of early music and medieval musicians from Washington, D.C. Christine Kyprianides, who serves on the board of directors for the festival and is the festival manager, said that they would like to see a younger audience and will continue to make the festival a family event with more workshops and concerts each year. Kyprianides, a cellist and early music specialist who received her doctorate from the Early Music Institute, performed at the festival along with competitive musicians from throughout the country. “I think we’ve had really good concerts and a lot of enthusiasm,” Kyprianides said. She also said that funds were cut back this year for the festival.“Even though we are on a smaller scale, we have not lost anything in terms of quality,” Kyprianides said. As volunteers and donors come together to hold this festival, Bloomington remains one of three cities in the country to be host to an early music festival, along with Boston and Berkeley, Calif.Huffman said that, nationwide, the people who come to these festivals are extremely dedicated and passionate about the musical styles of early music, and that there is always room for more people to attend the concerts. “I think that it’s really important that the Bloomington community realizes what a jewel the Bloomington Early Music Festival is,” Huffman said. “The concerts have been fabulous, just marvelous.”
(05/17/09 10:26pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From news feeds and bumper stickers to personal groups and University fan bases, there is no doubt Facebook has become a key social networking tool. IU’s Facebook page is among the top five most popular university pages in the country, along with Stanford University, Ohio State University, Texas A&M University and the University of Kansas, according to Inside Facebook, a Facebook tracking site for developers and marketers.IU is recognized with more than 32,000 fans and a constantly updated homepage. “I would really have to attribute it to the enthusiasm of the Hoosier fan base,” said Thom Atkinson, IU’s campus Web manager, who is to thank for the creation and upkeep of IU’s Facebook page. Atkinson said the page is constantly updating with Hoosiers events and news. Though a number of current students serve as fans to the page, a large percentage of the active fans consists of IU alumni. The page’s photography comes from the archives of the Office of University of Communications and is used to produce those “classic iconic scenes” the fans aim to see. Fans have the ability to upload videos and photos and add comments on the discussion boards, making suggestions on ways to update the page to reach an even larger fan base. Atkinson said the workers of the page take these comments to heart and try to accommodate the desires of the fan base by listening to each individual voice.For instance, Scott Richmer of Louisville, Ky., made a request for “a large list of notable alumni,” as he wrote, “people that we can all look to as examples or role models.” Although the list is extensive, the Web site masters think it would be a significant addition to the site and are working toward developing the list. But other fans use the page as a place to comment on IU campus life, such as Vickie Maris Schrader, from Memphis, Tenn., who wrote, “GREAT SCHOOL, FRIENDS, AND GOOD TIMES!” Although IU’s page has thousands of fans, the important aspect is to make sure people are participating and interacting through the database on the site. Atkinson said the key to maintaining a steady flow of participation is guiding the discussion to stay on related topics and keeping the page new and interactive. He said the number of fans has risen solely through the networking between friends and alumni. Web site designers have been putting most of their effort during the past two or three months into redesigning IU Bloomington’s homepage, which will be released Monday.After the IU Web site is up and running, Atkinson said he hopes to spend more time improving IU’s Facebook page, although it remains unofficial. “Our purpose is to give something back to the audience of fans who have put themselves out there and declared publicly their affection and loyalty to our institution,” Atkinson said. Through all of these new interactive creations, Gregory Rawlins, associate professor of computer science, said what lies ahead for the future of networking is unthinkable. “Early generations have a totally different notion of privacy,” Rawlins said. “An entire generation is growing up with new tools that are allowing them to show their lives with complete strangers.” With the rise in social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, Rawlins said there has never been anything like this before. “This will not be harming our nation – it will be changing our nation, that’s all,” Rawlins said. “I can’t tell you how, because no one knows, but it’s quite a large change because it’s happening in a short time.”
(05/13/09 11:34pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Obesity has been a major concern across the globe, and now Chinese President Hu Jintao wants to tackle this threat with the help of the United States by implementing a new directive called Sunny Sports China as an attempt to provide daily physical activity for China’s 270 million schoolchildren. This week, senior Chinese and U.S. government health, education and physical activity authorities and IU faculty will meet in Bloomington to draft the plans for the future programs. Lloyd Kolbe, the associate dean for global and community health of the School of Health Physical Education and Recreation, and HPER Dean Robert Goodman will be helping with the collaboration between the two countries in tackling the threats of obesity. They are both noted experts in health program implementation, and Goodman speaks Mandarin Chinese. “We will be drafting a program to include an extensive physical activity that will be enjoyable and help build character and skills for students to carry on throughout their lifetime,” Kolbe said. On Friday the draft will be finished, and the officials will present a conference outlining the future plans. “This really is a partnership of the Chinese government and Indiana University, so it’s being held so we collaboratively learn from each other,” Kolbe said.The plans will include documents used to train school administrators, teachers, physical educators and university professors and will urge involvement and support among families within the communities. Kolbe said they will measure the extent to which young people are getting increased physical activity and the extent to which those young people are physically fit. He said many factors might determine why some students are not physically fit, including how long they participate in activities and their genetic backgrounds. Kolbe cites scientific evidence that shows that by providing programs with physical involvement of at least 20 to 30 minutes in duration daily, risk of obesity will decrease, along with behavioral disruption. Kolbe said although China has a lower rate of obesity compared to the United States, it also has 1.6 million schools, compared to the 120,000 schools in the United States.“We think that building these schools of public health will be enormously important, and we anticipate that these efforts with the Chinese will be part of (IU President Michael) McRobbie’s interests with making IU a global university that we can work with other nations around the world,” Kolbe said. Jade Hart, who works in the school of HPER under Kolbe, said the experts were really trying to bring together the partnership of business and governmental work through a health and education perspective, and they will be determining the measures of success at the conference. They will also be implementing these programs through doctoral students in Beijing who will serve as representatives to the program. By using a “logic model,” Kolbe said they will be measuring the short- and long-term effects of the program by measuring how schools will be implementing the new programs and the outcomes of the increase of physical activity. He notes that the long-term effects will take about five to seven years to measure. “The children of the world are our children,” Kolbe said. “They are the future and the health of the humankind. If we develop a new ethic where all of us are looking across boundaries, then we might have a healthier country and indeed across the globe.”
(05/13/09 11:32pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Within 36 hours of receiving her diploma from IU, 2008 alumna Lindsay Clark set off to travel to Europe, Asia and Africa for seven months on what she called her “big journey.” From documenting her adventures through video blogs and photography, Clark will be recognized with the opportunity of a lifetime with the world’s largest youth travel agency, Student Travel Agency. The agency chose Clark out of 780 applicants for a job as its world-traveler intern this summer. Applicants were required to produce three-minute video applications, a resume and blog samples explaining why they would be the best candidates for the position, and Clark’s work was far from ordinary. After committing herself to four months of making a concept for her video, Clark went through 10 or 11 different drafts, using 330 different clips to form her concept of the perfect video that represented her personality and ambition. “This job, what you are asking someone to do, is what I do already, not because I have to, but because I can’t stop,” Clark wrote in her introduction for her video entry. Clark went with the concept that she has a vast amount of experience already in traveling and documenting her experiences with different cultures and that she was ready to take on the task at hand. “I approached it thinking, ‘What do I want them to walk away knowing?’” Clark said, answering her question, “That I had mad experience and that I was highly creative, and a lot of people didn’t approach it that way.”By scanning her iPod for ideas through her music, Clark was able to bring her entire work together. “No matter how wonderful your pictures are and how intriguing your voice is, sometimes that doesn’t pull you in,” Clark said. Although Clark has traveled throughout the world to countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Slovakia and Denmark, she said she is excited to go back and have new experiences in each country. Clark said she found a number of resources along the way that helped her get through the different countries on her own, from food along the side of the road to motorbike rides that were less than a dollar. As for planning out her trips, Clark said she let her instincts take her to where she wanted to go and made some decisions by tossing a coin. Patrick Evans, marketing communications coordinator at Student Travel Agency, said Clark was chosen, along with fellow Student Travel Agency world-traveler intern Chris Danner, because they were entertaining yet informative and engaging with their documenting techniques. Evans said the two interns will immerse themselves in the different cultures. They will produce blogs and photos that are geared for people who are interested in traveling to relate with when they plan trips with the Student Travel Agency Travel program, which targets students and young professionals in the field. Evans said Clark’s experience with going to more than 37 countries was “quite amazing for someone her age.” He said she had a personality many could relate to and that she would be able to handle the grueling trip, documenting experiences in 10 countries within 11 weeks. “We knew she would be able to go out into the field on her own and would really be able to stay professional and keep organized,” Evans said
(05/13/09 11:32pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>He performed on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham” and currently tours throughout the country, but this weekend, comedian Geoff Tate will be making his way back to Bloomington to perform some good old stand-up comedy at the Funny Bone. This will be Tate’s second appearance this year, Jared Thompson, Funny Bone owner, said.“He is one of those up-and-coming names to be reckoned with,” Thompson said. “He was really noticed a lot younger than most comedians.” With a majority of IU students off-campus for the summer, Thompson said Tate will probably appeal more to an older audience. Tate said he doesn’t see a difference between 18-year-olds and 30-year-olds like himself and believes that by treating every audience the same, he appeals to the college students even more. “Everyone’s an adult,” Tate said. “They just do different stuff during the day.” The Cincinnati native started off in 2003 doing stand-up comedy and said ideas for his work come “like magic” from his everyday experience. He also said he practices his work on stage every weekend and tweaks his jokes based on audience reactions. Tate said he uses his television and radio appearances to bring viewers to his live shows. He said he does his best work on stage with a microphone in hand.“Their excitement level raises my excitement level,” Tate said. Tate said the show will be almost entirely different from his January performance, with fellow Cincinnati comedian Alex Stone as his headliner. “He’s one of my favorite comics I’ve ever seen,” Tate said. Besides performances by Stone and Tate, there will also be a special feature before the show with IU sophomore Joshua Murphy, who won the weekly “Last Comic Standing” contest hosted by the Funny Bone. Murphy said he focuses on very personal stories that people can relate to when he performs, including his “failures with women.”“I knew since the first time I went on that this is what I want to do,” Murphy said.For hopeful comedians such as Murphy, Tate said persistence is key.“You just don’t quit,” Tate said. “Everyone’s path is different, but the only reason it happened to me is because I don’t quit. If you do it enough, eventually you won’t be terrible at it.”
(04/03/09 4:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As an economics major, sophomore Matt Sjoerdsma said he follows the economy daily in his classes and in the news. But when asked if he felt his fellow students were informed on these critical issues, he responded, “No, not at all.” Sjoerdsma said it is difficult to keep up with current events on campus with so little time left after studying and classes. He said there are too many news sources and ideas to which to turn. “With all of the 24-hour news channels we have, there’s too much information for students that aren’t actually interested in it to sit there and sort through it,” Sjoerdsma said. For this reason and others, the Department of Economics has decided to sponsor a forum of feature presentations by IU economists in an effort to educate the public, students, faculty and staff of the current economic conditions so they can form educated opinions. The event, titled “Worldwide Economic Crisis: Proximate Causes, Historical Perspective and Policy Responses,” features seven economists and a question-and-answer session from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday in Woodburn Hall room 100. The IU economists, finance faculty and alumni will provide their expertise in addressing certain misconceptions of the economy and the current recession that many citizens deem the “next Great Depression.”Each economist will feature a different focus, ranging from a discussion on the current conditions compared to previous historical epidemics, the rationale underlying the stimulus package and a forecast to where the economy is headed. Eric Leeper, professor of economics and organizer of the forum, said he thinks attendees will be able to get a better sense of how the government is responding to the current financial situation – especially those who lack an understanding of the economy and yet fear the future. “Fear often comes from ignorance, and hearing people who are experts in matters explain what’s going on can in itself be reassuring,” Leeper said, emphasizing that the presentation will be factual about the current economy, rather than ideological. As for fear of the “next Great Depression,” Bill Witte, professor emeritus of economics who will compare the current recession to post-World War II recessions, said this recession is already longer than any recession since World War II but is “significantly unlikely” to be comparable to the Great Depression. However, he said he finds the knowledge of the economy “not particularly high, with a lot of misconceptions” and hopes to address those misconceptions at the forum. “I think we as professional economists have a responsibility to spread our knowledge, whatever that is, to the general public,” Witte said.
(04/01/09 4:09am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The red and blue balloons are gone, voter registration stands have evaporated and the posters labeled “Vote for Change” are no longer plastered in every hallway corner. Though it’s been about two months since President Barack Obama entered office, groups both around the country and at IU have not stopped working for their respective democratic and republican causes.In February, Students for Barack Obama co-coordinator Kaitlin Addison, junior, said, “I think he’s already accomplished so much more than our last presidents (have) accomplished in that short of a time span.”Addison specifically addressed how Obama is working to build up his grassroots organization and his program, Organizing for America, an initiative to keep citizens involved with the government and future plans. “It’s really important for a successful president to be able to stay in touch with the people he’s representing,” Addison said. However, College Republicans President Justin P. Hill said he believes Obama has not followed the principles he promised to follow during candidacy. He said Obama promised and failed to retain earmarks on bills and keeping lobbyists out of his administration, while deeming the spending bailout bill “completely irresponsible in our free market principles.” For Students for Barack Obama, this means joining together with the IU College Democrats to work toward promoting state and local goals while also following plans under the direction of the national government.Addison said the group is sending postcards to Rep. Baron Hill because of his recent support of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program in Indiana, a bill Obama signed extending health care coverage to an additional 4 million underprivileged children. They are also working to get early voting passed on IU’s campus for 30 days, since IU had the highest increase of voter registrations on a college campus, with an increase of 28 percent.The group is also under the direction of the Democratic National Committee through “Organizing for America,” to gain support with Obama’s new budget proposal. Under this “Pledge Project,” each state has a leader in charge of conferences between Washington and the various supporters of the organization, connecting the local areas to the national plans.Students for Barack Obama is setting up phone banks, calling legislators and looking to set up stands in the Indiana Memorial Union. They are also going door-to-door to gain support. Addison remains the contact between the state director and IU students in gaining national-level support.The College Republicans are still focusing on fundraising to support future Republican candidates in hopes of raising $25,000 by November. The group is also outlining the seven principles of the American Republic, which include a free market economy and limited government, by holding presentations for each principle every Monday.With current goals keeping the Students for Barack Obama busy, long-term goals are also a concern.Senior Jim Snaza, former voter registration coordinator for the Students for Barack Obama, said he would like to see more infrastructure to help create more green jobs and to become more energy efficient with the use of wind and solar power.With critics on Wall Street preparing to blame Obama for a failed stimulus package, Addison said it may take about five years to determine the success of the bill.“I think we need to make sure that we hold President Obama to those values that he was elected by the people,” Addison said, “and I think sometimes President Bush forgot that.” With the Web site www.recovery.org, Americans can see how each dollar of the stimulus package is spent. Snaza said Americans will be able to argue the facts with the government, instead of theories of misrepresented ideas. Change.gov also allows citizens to send in their concerns and issues they have with the future plans for the government. “I’m not saying he’s going to change everything in Washington,” Snaza said, “but he’s going to change everything that’s happened in the last eight years.” But both Addison and Chelsea Kane, former president of IU College Republicans and current Indiana Daily Student opinion columnist, agree support is needed for the new president of the United States.“You still have to support the country and the president ...the face of our country,” Addison said. Kane said she feels Obama is under the most scrutiny and hopes for pragmatic spending among funds, while allowing him some time to grow into his role and figure out how to best suit the country.“I don’t have any interest in criticizing him at this point,” Kane said. “That’s just not my focus. I’m not going to bash the president of the United States.”
(02/24/09 2:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Audience members shouted, “Thank you Jesus,” as the singers stomped their feet and raised their hands up to the sky, swaying back and forth.This wasn’t a typical Sunday service, as dozens of people filled the Grand Hall of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center dressed in blazers and slacks, ready to praise the Lord.The groups SoulACE, Sojourner and God’s Progress brought smiles, finger snapping and audience participation that went beyond that of most choral performances. The performers called on the the audience to join in by shouting their praise and singing along.The songs dated back to the 1950s with musical styles like “Nearer My God to Thee” and “Your Steps are Ordered”.“Today’s about taking chances,” Sophomore Bruce Donnell said, welcoming the guests of the evening. The men in Soul ACE started off the night, followed by the harmonic belting from the ladies in Sojourner, who filled the venue by incoporating people dancing along the sides of the room. God’s Progress brought some slower tunes to stage, then did some choreography and improvisation with some quicker songs.“I’ve always enjoyed their energy,” said Jeanne Novotny, IU staff member in the education department. “You can sort of let go if you want to, when the music makes you want to move.” First year member of God’s Progress, Daysha Menefield, said the performance went better than she had anticipated.“Even if you’re not of this religion, you can still come praise with us to the uplifting music,” Menefield said.Fellow member Ramone Singfield Jr. said he likes to praise the Lord any way he can and gets meaning out of the songs he sings with the group.“If you listen to the words it will definitely get you through some hard and trying times,” Singfield said.McCutchen said that one of the goals the groups strive to work on is perfecting their stage presence. “We teach them how to develop the ability to look and feel natural in the midst of being under pressure,” McCutchen said. The natural chemistry between the performers can be seen on and off stage, as the group gathers for dinners, movie nights and other social gatherings.“It’s like we’re a family,” Donnell said. McCutchen said he encourages anyone who is interested to audition for the groups at the beginning of each semester.“There’s something for any type of voice without being too far out of your comfort zone,” McCutchen said,
(02/20/09 4:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While some might be on their hands and knees praying and listening to sermons in their places of worship, those inside the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center’s Grand Hall will likely be clapping their hands and stomping their feet to the sounds of gospel music.At 5 p.m. Sunday the African-American Arts Institute and African-American Choral Ensemble will present a free concert featuring three contemporary gospel groups, SoulACE, Sojourner and God’s Progress.The groups’ theme, “Pressing Forward – No Turning Back,” splits the concert into traditional gospel music from the 1950s and ’60s and recent music recorded by new artists, said executive director Charles E. Sykes.Instrumentalists performing with keyboards, guitars and drums will be featured, along with original works by alumni John Harris and Calvin Carrington.“The pieces are of a sacred nature,” Sykes said. “Each audience member will have a different kind of experience – some sacred and some musical.”The messages in the songs come from traditional Christianity, and there are many styles of gospel music that are from a larger historical tradition, Sykes said.“You want people to be able to at least have the opportunity to hear some of the things they don’t normally hear,” Sykes said.Sojourner is made up of all women, SoulACE is all men and God’s Progress has a combination of both men and women.About five to six participants make up each group. They range from having previously developed knowledge of gospel music to very little knowledge, while the styles vary greatly from traditional choral groups. “It’s not about being complicated, but it’s about the music,” senior Jason Jacobs said. “It’s about the important things.”This will be Jacobs’ first performance with the group SoulACE. He also sings for IU’s Straight No Chaser.“It’s something new for me, it’s a lot of soul,” Jacobs said. “Honestly, I’m a little Jewish boy from St. Louis, Missouri.” He said he learned to work with people in the group to achieve the new desired gospel sound, along with fellow member junior Bruce Donnell who said the best part of the experience was the friendships he made through the music.“Gospel music to me is just inspirational,” Donnell said. “Whenever something negative is going on, I think it’s an outlet for you.”While there is a traditional barrier between audience members and performers during concerts, that barrier does not exist with these gospel styles. Hand-clapping and feet-tapping are essential, Sykes said. “Anytime we can get the audience involved, it’s going to be a better show,” Jacobs said.
(02/17/09 5:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Solarium of the Indiana Memorial Union had rarely been so full as crowd members ranging from teens to elders brushed shoulders to take their seats. Extra chairs were brought in to fill the empty spaces as famed author Joyce Carol Oates took the podium.Andrea Ciccarelli, the director of the College Arts and Humanities Institute, introduced Oates, listing her works and accomplishments, from books and poems to literary criticisms and awards. After Ciccarelli finished the extensive list and described Oates as “extraordinarily prolific,” the crowd received her with loud applause.Ciccarelli asked Oates prepared questions regarding some of the themes and issues in her literary works including race, gender, class and historical subjects. “If you are drawn to stories and personalities, you’re not thinking necessarily about themes,” Oates said, explaining how William Shakespeare would probably not be able to take an exam about themes of his own plays.She said she addresses the aftermath of violence in her work, especially from a woman’s perspective. “Men cause violence, and without the violence there wouldn’t be novels to write,” Oates said, laughing and throwing up her hands. She went on to say, “It’s just a joke.” The crowd’s laughter was constant as she lectured and read from her novel “Wild Nights,” where a couple buys a replica version of Emily Dickinson that is powered by a computer. The replica has the soul of the real Dickinson and is programmed to work in a new environment. Oates also explained the tale behind her piece “On Boxing,” which reflected her past experiences as a young girl when her father would take her to the boxing rings. In her description, she took readers back into the time when boxing was “glamorous” and “challenged the culture” of the 1950s.Oates said she was skeptical about taking on a story based on the multi-million-dollar sport, which was originally pitched to her by an editor at The New York Times. She said she originally thought she was asked to write about boxing because she was a woman and would look like a fool, but by accepting the challenge she learned more about herself as a feminist writer.“If you take on a challenge or field that you can’t do, and make yourself do it ... it can turn into something wonderful and surprising,” Oates said.Through “On Boxing” and her experience writing about boxer Mike Tyson, Oates said she learned about the art and ballet of boxing and the voice writers give to athletes.“It takes a writer to really point out how good they are,” Oates said.Oates also addressed her faith as a writer. “Through our individual voices, through our regional voices, we speak to those who don’t know us,” she said.She ended the evening by answering questions about her thoughts on global warming, the stifling economy and dying literary culture.“It’s an extraordinary, revolutionary time and a great time to be alive,” Oates said. “We have a president who seems to actually be thinking.” She also said she had no trouble making the transition to the online world of literature, which she said has forced the literary culture to become more precise.The crowd was hesitant to leave at the end of the lecture, and dozens lined up to buy copies of select books such as “Black Girl White Girl” and “Expensive People.” “I thought she was stunning and mesmerizing as a storyteller,” Bloomington resident Julia DeBruicker said. “I was tickled to be in her presence.”
(02/17/09 4:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>February is often considered the month of love, flowers, chocolate-covered strawberries, candy – and condoms? While teenagers are engaging in activities of love and lust, Planned Parenthood of Indiana is spreading the word of safe-sex practices by recognizing February as Condom Awareness Month. The organization said it felt the need to designate a month for safe-sex practices because of current sex statistics for young people.One in every four teenage girls has a sexually transmitted disease, said Kate Shepherd, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Indiana. Planned Parenthood spreads condom awareness and has more than 35 health centers statewide that offer condoms for free or for a small fee. “Condom usage is one of the most effective ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unexpected pregnancies,” said Shepherd, pointing out that other contraceptives, such as birth control pills, do not prevent the spread of diseases. Communication between the partners is key, said Larisa Niles-Carnes, health educator for Planned Parenthood. Questions such as, “Were you tested recently?” and “Do you use condoms when you have sex?” are the most important. “Sometimes people feel like it can be a damper on the sexual mood,” Niles-Carnes said. “But it’s important to know that, because an STD is a damper on the sexual mood too.” The most likely diseases occur when condoms are not used at all among partners, Niles-Carnes said. This can lead to the spread of bacterial infections, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. While these infections are treatable and curable when caught early, viral infections such as human papillomavirus are incurable and can cause genital warts and lead to cervical cancer. The center recommends individuals in monogamous relationships get tested once a year. Women can get tested with their gynecologist and men through a simple urine test. However, testing can be done at the IU Health Center as well. Niles-Carnes also recommends testing after every partner change or after every six months for those who have more than one partner. A main concern is the high probability that many people do not know how to properly put on a condom, Niles-Carnes said. “Not everyone reads the instructions,” she said. While Niles-Carnes says the majority of condom breakage is human error, Planned Parenthood offers demonstrational videos on its Web site, www.ppin.org, as well as on its Facebook page and YouTube account, of how to properly put on a condom using life-like wooden models. “There are no stupid questions when it comes to sexual health,” said Katie Wilkinson, office and outreach coordinator for the Health and Wellness Education Department in the Health Center. “We try to provide all of the resources for students here on campus to try to protect themselves, and hope they make the right decisions for themselves,” Wilkinson said. The Health Center is always available for consultation about how to use condoms, where to get them and how to use the various forms of contraceptives, Wilkinson said.Students can also take up to four condoms a day from the basket inside the Health Center with no questions asked. She said members of the clinic would be happy to sit with patrons individually and teach them the proper ways of putting on a condom so that it is used correctly every time. The use of expired condoms, not noticing holes, putting them on the wrong way or waiting too long to take the condoms off can harm the effectiveness of the contraceptives, Wilkinson said. The center also provides information on lubricants, as some condoms are incompatible with certain lubricants. Programs are also available to residence assistants, dorms, and sororities and fraternities for more comfortable settings with smaller groups to ask more personal questions. Sherwood said the most common myths of sexually transmitted diseases are found among those who think they have to have multiple partners or that they are immune to getting such diseases. “Until you are both tested and given a clean bill of health, you don’t know for sure,” Sherwood said.
(02/11/09 6:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With online technology developing at a rapid rate, fake IDs are becoming easier to manufacture and obtain. Bloomington remains one of the top Indiana cities in fake ID use. Maj. Robin Poindexter of the Indiana State Excise Police said the force as a whole catches between 1,500 and 2,000 fake IDs a year, most commonly in college towns such as Bloomington, Muncie and West Lafayette. Poindexter said he thinks if students understood all of the repercussions of using a fake ID, they would be less likely to try. “I don’t think they realize they are risking losing their real driver’s license in addition to receiving a fine and a possible jail sentence for the false ID,” he said. But various Web sites and manufacturers provide ways for anyone to obtain a fake ID. For instance, an online search of “fake ID” generates thousands of sites offering places and ways to get “a novelty good fake ID,” along with YouTube videos demonstrating how to create your own. “With the technology and printers that exist now, with digital picture software on computers, the average person is able to make pretty decent-looking fake IDs,” Poindexter said. While some students are using IDs that are not government-issued, others are borrowing IDs from friends or using IDs from different states. But these days, bartenders and bouncers are getting smarter and making it harder for those trying to get into bars. Many people claim to have lost their ID, said Jessica Rang, a bartender at Hoosier Bar & Grill in Richland Plaza. There, a policy states absolutely no person is allowed to come into the bar area without an ID, not even someone who is 50 years old. Some bouncers and store clerks have developed clever ways to weed out fakes. “When you go to bars, you have to be on a different level of alertness,” said junior Kevin Fagan. Fagan said doormen ask individuals questions about high school mascots, astrological signs and even the streets they take home when patrons present their IDs. “You can tell when someone is inexperienced and when it is their first time in a bar,” Fagan said, explaining how confidence, older looks and multiple forms of ID will make an underage person appear much more mature and responsible. Even though fake IDs are rampant throughout the large college campus, students like sophomore Eve Servaas are still excited to be of legal age to drink alcohol. “At midnight when you turn 21, you are out there celebrating,” Servaas said. “It’s still huge. You have so many more privileges. It was just unreal going to a bar and being able to buy alcohol.” In order to maintain maturity at the bars, Servaas said she strongly believes the drinking age should stay at 21. But she added teens are going to drink no matter what the age limits are. Younger crowds must be aware of the extensive training excise officers take on, said Ron Stanhouse, manager of Crazy Horse, as he explained how excise police know how to spot fake IDs by using special tools involving comparisons, lights and books representing IDs from all 50 states. “As soon as you touch it, you can almost tell that it’s fake,” said John Munden, a bartender at Nick’s English Hut, describing how the lamination and photos of the fake IDs are distinctly different from real ones. In most circumstances, fake IDs in bars will be confiscated, and the underage individuals will be asked to leave the premises, Stanhouse said. In some extreme cases, bars have a right to notify the police if behaviors get out of hand. “You really have to ask yourself,” Stanhouse said, “‘Is it really worth the risk?’”
(02/04/09 4:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When junior A.J. Moir left a Microsoft promotional campaign at Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union this fall, he didn’t know he would soon be one of three across the United States to win the “Digital Dorm Room Makeover” sweepstakes and end up with a $5,000 entertainment system.And when Moir received an e-mail in October saying he was a winner, he never thought he would soon update his entire entertainment lifestyle, which was soon to include high-speed Internet access on his new Media Center PC with a TV tuner, Zune media player, Xbox 360 console and brand-new 42-inch 1080p LCD HDTV.“It’s pretty incredible,” Moir said, as he looked at his new entertainment system complete with surround sound. “I’m one of those guys that says, ‘Work hard, play hard.’”The contest was sponsored by Microsoft in a campaign titled “See for Yourself,” aimed at raising awareness of Microsoft’s products and services with Windows Media Player. At the campaigns, students engaged in Windows demonstrations, played Rock Band and received Best Buy giveaways. Moir was one of thousands who entered the sweepstakes offered at 14 universities.“The reason why we did this whole contest in the first place was because we really feel that Windows Media Center is really the coolest and best way to experience TV on a PC,” said Joel Berman, the marketing manager of Microsoft Windows Media.Windows Media Player allows Internet TV access on computers, Berman said. Xbox 360 allows users to convert recordings of pictures, music and television programs from computers to TVs.Berman said the device is similar to products like TiVo, but instead of paying a monthly fee, an inexpensive TV tuner can allow the user to play and record things right on the computer using the free software in Windows Media Center. Things like free TV episodes, Super Bowl content, music concerts, sports news and updates can also be used with the device.“I had TiVo before, but this system is much faster and easier,” Moir said.The other two winners of the “Digital Dorm Room Makeover” also received entertainment systems, but Microsoft worked with the winners to customize their systems based on their special needs and desires. Berman said he found it surprising that none of the winners actually lived in dorms. One winner lived in a communal house at the University of California-Berkeley, and the other, a student at North Shore Community College in Massachusetts, in an apartment with her family, . While the gaming system was important to Moir, the student who won in Boston, a commuter, preferred a laptop.Regardless of whether a student lives in an apartment or in the dorms, Berman said students anywhere can now save room and watch TV on their computer.“Someone like A.J. doesn’t need to win a contest to be able to take advantage of Windows Media Center,” Berman said.He said many students are unaware that if they have Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Ultimate, they already have the media center devices on their computers.Moir said he has an answer for people doubtful of sweepstakes.“Just remember that somebody has to win it,” Moir said.
(01/28/09 3:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Gov. Mitch Daniels and 19 other state officials were just finishing their last steps in an awareness-building competition of physical activity to fight childhood obesity when IU students headed back to school from winter break. The sponsor, Virgin Health Miles, asked governors and state officials nationwide to participate in the Capitol Steps Challenge and track the number of steps they took during a two-week period using GoZone pedometers. The 14 participating state teams had to log their steps, and the state with the most steps will win $50,000 toward childhood obesity prevention programs. The winners of the challenge will be announced at the National Governors Association meeting on Feb. 21 in Washington. “The governor and the first lady were very adamant about getting the Hoosiers to be more active and take better care of themselves, and they are leading by example,” said Brad Rateike, spokesperson for Gov. Mitch Daniel’s office, adding how Indiana has moved from the 10th to the 21st most obese state in the nation. Daniels and his team logged more than 4.2 million steps from Jan. 1 to 14, and several of Indiana’s state officials consistently logged more than 30,000 steps a day, including the governor’s wife, Cherri Daniels, and Indiana State Health Department Commissioner Dr. Judy Monroe.“As health commissioner, I believe you need to walk the talk,” Monroe said. She said she woke up at 4:30 a.m. daily to walk on a treadmill and log her steps to become one of the top participants. Monroe and several other state officials said they found that the competitiveness encouraged them to stay on track and stay active. “First off, you have state officials who are probably quite competitive anyway, and then you add a challenge to the whole thing and there is a lot of competition,” said Lori Torres, commissioner of the Department of Labor, who participated in Zumba aerobic classes and biking throughout the weeks. Cherri Daniels said she took walks two to three times a day to beat the male competitors in the office. “They were determined that they were going to beat me every day, and they failed miserably,” Daniels said.Although Gov. Daniels was an enthusiastic participant, taking daily runs, his wife beat him out in the competition. Kathy Wilson, spokesperson for Virgin Health Miles, said it was important for participants to engage in any type of physical activity they wanted for others to see fun and healthy ways to staying active. “Over the past decade, child obesity has tripled,” Wilson said. “We wanted to shed light on the issue of obesity prevention and have these state leaders really lead by example.” During the challenge the participants prioritized their schedules around preparations for the governor’s second inauguration, State of the State address and several other speeches. “It was a great lesson in setting a goal,” Monroe said.Monroe encourages children struggling with obesity to take simple steps in becoming healthy, like planning out meals with their parents and becoming more active in school programs.“Walk away from the television, walk away from the computer screen and get outside and play,” Monroe said.Monroe said if the Indiana team wins the prize, the money will be used to further current health initiatives, such as Daniels’ “INShape Indiana” plan. In the meantime, Monroe encourages students and adults to find creative ways to stay fit in their community.“The healthy choice should be the easy choice,” Monroe said. “We shouldn’t make it hard for people to live healthy.”
(01/27/09 3:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“Your kennel has parvo, and my dog is dead.” Those were the words of Beverly van Haaften in a 2006 telephone conversation with Tammy Gilchrist, the owner of Owen County puppy business Kritter Haven.After seeing local newspaper advertisements, van Haaften spoke with Gilchrist about purchasing a puppy but was told she had to pay in cash and was denied access to the store location.Van Haaften said she was suspicious of the situation but was assured that the puppy was healthy.“She basically tossed the puppy in my arm,” she said.The puppy became violently ill after drinking water the first night, and van Haaften immediately took it to a veterinarian. It was diagnosed with parvovirus, a disease that causes depression, suppression of white blood cells and diarrhea. The disease also can lead to heart problems for young puppies and sudden death, according to www.workingdogs.com.When confronted with the issue, Gilchrist claimed that the dog just had an anxiety disorder, van Haaften said. “It was still an admission that she knew that the dog was not healthy anyway,” she said. Beverly and her husband Trent van Haaften, Indiana State Representative for District 76, sued Gilchrist in the sudden death of their new puppy and won.“Maybe we were the beginning of the end for her,” van Haaften said. “Maybe we can do something good.”The van Haaftens were not the only ones who had problems with Gilchrist and her pet business. Various clients complained that Gilchrist was deceiving and providing sick dogs to customers. But Gilchrist has run into other problems with Indiana law. Recently, Gilchrist was permanently restrained from conducting business in Indiana for violating tax laws, with outstanding taxes of nearly $193,000.Chief Counsel Andrew Swain, who oversees the tax litigation division in the Attorney General’s office, said Gilchrist had numerous aliases and was operating under several different business names, such as Jailbirds.Swain explained that Jailbirds had been making sales in the state of Indiana since April 2007 and had not complied to the laws like other retailers in the state. While Gilchrist claimed that she was unaware of the outstanding taxes, Swain said, “Ignorance of the law is no defense.” After seeing the puppy store, he said he encountered dogs that were all very scared, cold and non-resistant. One of the puppies had to be euthanized, and 74 dogs and four horses were removed from her control. “It was great that this tax action got them out of her hands,” Swain said.Karene Kidwell, a registered veterinarian technician and owner of Delilah’s Pet Shop in Bloomington, said the conditions of the animals at Gilchrist’s store should have been checked out when complaints were first made.“I think it’s just a travesty of some of the things that go on and some of the things that pet shops do, but it is wrong to assume that all shops treat animals badly,” Kidwell said.Currently, Gilchrist is trying to have the charges for her consumer case dismissed, which involve fraudulent business practices and poor facility conditions. Her attorney withdrew from the case.
(12/15/08 2:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For most seniors, winter is the time to add finishing touches to resumes and establish portfolios to present to companies in hopes of obtaining careers toward their future dream job.But priorities are a bit different for seniors Jessica Keckhaver and Aaron Lifford. They aren’t looking to work for others, because they already work for themselves. These two seniors are co-founders of their own company, Prodigy Staffing Solutions, that specializes in “food services and hospitality staffing.” They have been working on developing the growth of their company since their sophomore year of college.Keckhaver, who serves as president – owning 51 percent of the company – handles all of the administrative work and has a full staff on call to work for businesses, such as hotels and catering companies, that need extra part-time staff for events.Working out of Bloomington through online databases and telephone appointments, the two entrepreneurs commute to Indianapolis every weekend to manage the company, taking on about 35 hours of work each week.Keckhaver’s primary responsibility lies in recruiting new members to the staff, researching new ways for future business development and running recruitment training.Lifford, co-founder and CEO, oversees the work of their full-time employee in Indianapolis, addresses clientele problems and is always looking for new ways to improve the efficiency of the business.Keckhaver and Lifford each bring different qualities to the table while also maintaining a relationship as high school sweethearts from Indianapolis. “I’m more of the risk taker and she’s more of the voice of reason,” Lifford said.Before tending to the chaos of running a business, the seniors found their inspiration from chatting with Lifford’s grandfather, who had worked in the staffing industry for more than 15 years. With only two years of college and $500 in the bank, a business was in the making.From free online posting and advertising to sending out fliers at career fairs, Prodigy Staffing Solutions took off, overcoming Keckhaver’s goal of earning $60,000 in revenue with a team of 75 staff members. They have made $150,000 in revenue and employed 140 people in the first year alone. The company now contributes its business services to well-known companies throughout the Indianapolis area, including companies like the Hilton Hotels, Oak Hill Mansion and Thomas Caterers of Distinction.Keckhaver not only surpassed her career goals, but did so while maintaining full-time college status. She plans to graduate from the Kelley School of Business with honors in May.But Keckhaver said there were some challenges to being young entrepreneurs. Their biggest obstacle was funding the operations. She and Lifford both contributed money earned from part-time jobs to build up the success of their business.The distance between Indianapolis and Bloomington also threatened their daily schedules as well, sometimes making it hard to balance classes with company appointments.Jessica’s father, David Keckhaver, who helped support the young entrepreneurs and worked with them on staffing events, said he was primarily concerned that school still remains their first priority.“Jessica is very diligent and driven to succeed in all aspects of her career and in her life,” he said. Combining their talents, both students said they were happy with the sacrifices they made for their company, providing them with many opportunities for the future.“I’m really excited to work for myself after I graduate,” Keckhaver said.From all the experience Keckhaver and Lifford gained over the past two years, they encourage young entrepreneurs to take time to develop a company and to take “calculated risks.”As for these seniors, their hearts remain in the food industry. As Keckhaver said, “People always have a good time around food.”
(12/04/08 5:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jennifer Liu, an associate professor of the East Asian Language Department, is transforming how Chinese is taught at IU and throughout the nation.The Taiwan native develops better methodologies for teaching Chinese at IU and spreads her findings to teachers throughout the world.The teaching of the Chinese language was never designed under one philosophy with a clear and articulate structure, Liu said. Because of the lack of well-developed ways of teaching, she set out to develop her own curriculum.As the director of the Chinese Pedagogy Institute, she began formulating methods for teachers to educate students with thorough language skills so they could become the top “global professionals,” bringing people from around the world to Bloomington to learn how to teach Chinese.“It’s rewarding to see how I was able to change those teachers when they had different perceptions after the teaching training programs,” Liu said.Through the Center for Chinese Language Pedagogy, Liu also received a $1 million federal grant for her IU Chinese Flagship Program, giving students the opportunity to develop a superior skill level in Mandarin Chinese. After reaching advanced proficiency with an equivalent of three years of intensive study, including summers, students are directly enrolled in Nanjing University, where they will study Chinese alongside native speakers.“She’s completely transformed our Chinese program,” said Robert Eno, chair of the East Asian Language department. “It’s been a great success.”Eno said the enrollment in Chinese courses has “undoubtedly increased” with about 165 students enrolled, compared to three years ago when the enrollment was between 70 and 80 students.“We work a step ahead of this national trend,” Liu said, explaining how students will be able to obtain teaching jobs at major universities. “It’s very, very touching to see how things have changed.”Liu’s goal is to try to make time for everyone who needs her help because she thinks every project is important, said Janet Donley, the administrator of Liu’s Center for Chinese Language Pedagogy.“She sees the interest of everybody’s project,” Donley said.Liu didn’t always know her future would lead her to formulating a Chinese teaching curriculum. She started off in a foreign languages and literature program, when she placed into one of the world’s top programs at the National Taiwan University through national entrance level exams.Always fascinated by languages and writing, Liu said she knew she would do something with words, as she was reading Chinese classics by fifth grade.At that time, everyone in her city spoke Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese, while English was left for the classroom, where it was studied and never spoken.“I rarely ran into anyone who spoke English,” Liu said. Liu said if she is able to receive a federal grant, she would like to develop a summer language program for high school students.“If I have the capacity to really make a difference or have an impact on students or teachers,” Liu said. “That’s where my heart will go.”