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(04/11/06 5:20am)
When IU student Ashley Crouse died in a car crash last year, both friends and strangers joined hands and crowded the streets in remembrance of her life. Classmates of Crouse showed their respect by collecting funds and starting a scholarship in her name. Freshman Monica Ozaeta is the first student to receive the $500 Ashley Crouse Memorial Scholarship, and will study abroad in Cuernavaca, Mexico, just like Crouse did two summers ago. \nOzaeta is double majoring in biochemistry and Spanish, and wishes to one day pursue a career in medical research. Though she is half Mexican, Ozaeta was raised in an English-speaking home and began taking Spanish classes in high school as a way to learn more about her own culture. \n"I've always wanted to get in touch with that part of my background," she said. \nOzaeta knew in her first semester that she wanted to study abroad in Mexico, and applied for the program offered in Cuernavaca. When she asked her instructor, associate instructor of Spanish Sarah Adams, to write a letter of recommendation for her to study abroad, Adams encouraged Ozaeta to apply for the Crouse \nscholarship. \nAdams wrote in her recommendation that Ozaeta was one of the brightest students she had ever taught. Adams also said she feels confident about Ozaeta's ability to adjust to her experience overseas, since she has already demonstrated her ability to adjust to the college workload. One of Adams' instructors, Professor Kimberly Geeslin, created the scholarship with some of Ashley Crouse's classmates soon after Crouse died. Geeslin was a member of the selection committee, and she and her students wanted to award the scholarship to the student most like Crouse.\n"The class wanted to remember Ashley in a positive way, and turn it into positive energy," she said. "It was important that it didn't become a Spanish scholarship. We wanted it to be about (Ashley)." \nGeeslin and her class first had the task of collecting funds for the scholarship. Collection cups and cans were set up at the library and the bookstore among other locations, and small donations were also accepted. The Copper Cup donated a day's worth of tips to support the scholarship. Geeslin's classmates also contributed in any way they knew how. \n"Everyone who lived in residence halls hit up their friends and families," Geeslin said. \nBecause Crouse majored in political science and Spanish, and was a student in the LAMP program, the selection committee wanted the recipient of the $500 award to be a double major like Crouse, interested in studying in Cuernavaca and to possess a leadership role with campus activities. In addition to the application for the study abroad program, Ozaeta had to write a statement of interest for the scholarship, and have one of her peer's review her. Geeslin said Ozaeta's peer letter was very positive, and was impressed that Ozaeta was involved with Latinos Unidos as a freshman. \nThe Crouse scholarship selection committee consists of faculty, graduate students and an undergraduate student representative. Junior Sarah Kamel was selected for the committee, and immediately saw similarities of background and goals between Ozaeta and Crouse. Kamel took Hispanic Linguistics with Crouse, and was a part of the class that started the scholarship in her honor.
(04/04/06 5:24am)
Many freshmen find it difficult sifting through all the opportunities available to them once they step foot on campus, but one student took little time finding her niche with television at IU. \nA freshman, Kaylyn Easton recently was named executive director for IU's television station. She currently works as an office assistant, reporter for the news team and weekly anchor for IU Student Television. She will begin work as the executive director next fall. Easton said on paper her current office assistant position requires between 10 and 12 hours each week. With that and her other responsibilities at the station, she said she spends between 20 and 30 hours per week at the station.\n"I get to spend hours each day doing what I love," she said. "It's a big passion of mine." \nShe said she knew she wanted to get involved with media on campus when she first arrived. She noticed the flyers on campus during Welcome Week inviting students to get involved with various organizations and was interested in joining IUSTV. \n"I attended the very first callout meeting of the fall semester," she said. "I was involved from day one, I guess you could say." \nShe said within weeks, everyone at the station knew her name. To apply for the executive director position, Easton was required to begin speaking with the individual she sought to replace and answer essay questions about her future plans for IUSTV. The executive board interviewed Easton and recently notified her that she would be the new executive director beginning next fall. She said she was confident when she applied because of what she learned about the station through her contributions. \n"Being the office assistant, I had seen so much of the inner workings. I got to see how the station was run," she said. "I had been around IUSTV for most of the year and had become familiar and sociable with everybody."\nEaston's previous experience in media include reading the daily announcements in middle school and taking a broadcasting class at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Ind. Easton tried out for the class as an eighth grader and cannot remember a freshman ever being allowed into the class in the years preceding. She learned how to write her own stories and became a leader well before her senior year.\n"My background in high school helped me, but you don't have to be involved to come to (IUSTV) and get familiar with the equipment and the people," she said. "A lot of people who join don't have that." \nAnthony Leong is IUSTV's current executive director and will be replaced by Easton. He wrote in an e-mail that although she is fairly young and new to the station, she has shown a lot of dedication and passion for IUSTV.\nThe IUSTV Web site describes the television station as "completely student-created and student-run." Viewable on campus channel two, IUSTV shows are created, edited, produced and maintained by students.\nNews director Jenny Messmer said Easton is a great asset to the station, but her most admirable trait is her dedication to IUSTV.\n"She is more than willing to help out doing anything that needs to be done whether it be picking up an extra story or running the teleprompter," Messmer said. "When she originally joined IUSTV, she auditioned to be an anchor, but when she didn't get those positions she continued working hard as a reporter doing a story every week. She proved her work ethic and eventually was given the opportunity to anchor for the Dailies. She knew that being an anchor was her goal and she worked hard to reach it." \nEaston said she thinks the most challenging aspect of leading the station will be creating and maintaining working relationships with her coworkers. She also wants to take advantage of IUSTV's recent move to cable, since the station's audience will likely grow.\n"It's going to be about coming together and working as a team and creating leadership and continuing with the vision of the founders of IU and expanding the station," she said. \nEaston is double majoring in journalism and history, is involved with Teter's student government, and leads bible study through Sherwood Oaks Christian Church. She would like to have a career in broadcast as a network anchor.
(03/29/06 4:25am)
The third annual Relay for Life cancer benefit will run Saturday and Sunday with the goal of remembering and honoring those who have lost their lives to cancer and celebrating those who have survived. For some, a walk around the track means supporting a mother or an uncle, but to others the event means much more. \nSophomore Tom Morse is a volunteer with Relay for Life. Morse became involved with Relay after his aunt lost her battle with cancer, but he became a more active participant when cancer crept even closer to home. \n"I just had skin cancer. I don't personally feel like that's the end of the world," he said. \nMorse was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma last year. One of three types of skin cancer, squamous cell is the second rarest and can spread to the lymph nodes. Basal cell is the most common, while melanoma is the rarest but the most dangerous. \nMorse recalled having a raised scab on his right shoulder that "sprouted" into what he called a "pea-size bump." The bump was scabbed over on top and wouldn't heal. Because he didn't remember being injured there, Morse went in to see a doctor after two weeks. \nThe doctor said it was probably a spider bite. \nAfter taking the medication for a week with no signs of improvement, doctors had to biopsy, or remove, Morse's sore. After waiting "a long five to 10 business days" for the results, Morse received the news and has been educating himself about cancer in an effort to educate others. \nOriginally from Seattle, Morse never got sun burnt as a child, has no direct relatives with cancer and no history of skin cancer. Morse now uses sunscreen every time he knows he will be exposed to the sun for any length of time and must see the doctor for biannual checkups for the next five years. After that, he will visit the doctor yearly for the rest of his life. At the beginning of the semester, Morse went in for his six-month follow-up to his biopsy and the test showed he had was cancer-free. \nMorse is a member of Relay for Life's Survivorship Committee, a group of about 10 individuals who plan activities for cancer survivors to participate in during the event. \n"One of the coolest projects we're working on is making a quilt where all the survivors are going to get their own square and it will spell out 'hope,'" he said. "We're donating it to an oncology unit. I'm pretty excited about that." \nIn addition to working with Relay for Life, Morse is senior vice president of Eigenmann Hall's student government and president of the IU Judo Club. Morse is majoring in East Asian studies and anthropology. He said the members of the Judo Club have been really supportive and understanding, and teachers have understood his inability to attend classes on occasion. \nMorse advises people to know their bodies enough to notice any changes in the color, shape or size of moles. He said many people have naïve beliefs about skin cancer.\n"I don't think people realize that skin cancer is just like any other cancer," he said. "People think it's just a quick cut with the scalpel, but it's a lot, and it's nerve-wracking every time." \nSponsored by the American Cancer Society, the Relay for Life benefit will run from noon Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday on the Hayes Track at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex.
(02/28/06 5:14am)
Graduate student Katherine Goliver knows that more goes into the performing arts than meets the eye. \nGoliver is interning at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. \nThe Kennedy Center is known internationally for being a leader in performing arts and arts education. As host for more than 3,000 performances each year, the center seeks to showcase the talent of national and international artists as well as to provide opportunities for budding artists and performers, according to the Kennedy Center's Web site. Interns within the Kennedy Institute for Arts Management -- like Goliver -- do not work to improve performance skills but receive hands-on experience as managers of the arts.\nAs a student at Columbus College of Arts and Design in Ohio, Goliver became interested in arts management while taking a class in London that focused on museum studies. \nGoliver said she enjoys the idea of arts management because it allows her to contribute to art education. \n"It's an important function to bring arts to everyone," she said. \nGoliver learned about the opportunity to intern at the Kennedy Center in her first semester at IU. She said IU adequately prepared her for the internship. In a fundraising class, Goliver said she learned a "strong basis on how the development field actually functions." \nAs a requirement for a master's degree in Arts Administration, she had to seek out an internship related to her field. Goliver said she thought the internship at the Kennedy Center provided great opportunities for her and would best conclude her education. \n"They care about making it an interesting opportunity for students," she said. \nAs an intern, Goliver works with Major Gifts Development, which secures gifts of more than $25,000 each year. She is responsible for several projects, including the research of people who would be interested in giving to the center and individuals who have mentioned the Kennedy Center in their will. \nThe adjustment to Washington, D.C. was a smooth one for Goliver, and she said she has enjoyed working with the other interns and the senior staff. \n"It's a nice little community here," she said. \nDoug Booher, the director of the IU Auditorium, was Goliver's professor in Performing Arts \nCenter Management last semester. He said Goliver's "dry sense of humor" worked well to create group cohesion in the classroom and with the organizations in which she served. Booher said in an e-mail that Goliver "has the skills, education and personality to be a world class administrator." \nGoliver said she plans to stay in Washington, D.C., and has already applied for jobs in the area. \n"I'm just very happy and fortunate to be here," she said. \nThe Kennedy Center is accepting applications until March 1 for its internship program. Interested students can visit the Web site http://www.kennedy-center.org/ for more information.
(02/21/06 5:22am)
Assistant professor in both chemistry and the School of Informatics, Mu-Hyun Baik is one of five teachers to receive the 2005-2006 Outstanding Junior Faculty Award. \nGiven annually to junior faculty members who have made substantial contributions to IU research and teaching, the award allots $14,500 for the recipient to further his or her research. Baik, known by colleagues and students as "Mookie," plans to use much of the award to fund summer research opportunities for high school and undergraduate students. \nBorn in South Korea, Baik earned his high school and undergraduate education in Germany before receiving his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After his stay at Columbia University, where he earned his postdoctoral associate degree in 2003, Baik became an IU faculty member, concentrating on computational chemistry. \n"(Computational chemistry) is the use of computers to make models of chemical reactions," Baik said. \nChemistry and computer science became interests for Baik at a young age. At age 12, he recalls receiving his first chemistry set, and he can remember using his first computer at 13. Although Baik knew early on that he would love to teach one day, he said that for a while, he was torn between becoming a chemist or a computer scientist. He has since combined both loves into computational chemistry, a subject to which he has dedicated much of his time and energy. Baik teaches a 500-level combined chemistry and informatics course for graduate students, where students learn how to create computer models of chemical reactions using real computer simulations. \nBaik has organized a research group, which includes two postdoctoral associate students, seven graduate students and five undergraduates. Funded partly by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Chemistry and the School of Informatics, the research done by Baik and his group involves the use of quantum chemical models. The group uses computers to study how and why chemicals react in an effort to propose better designs for certain catalysts and anti-cancer drugs.\n"I'm very passionate about research at the lower level," Baik said. \nSibo Lin is an undergraduate researcher in Baik's group and has been a member since January 2005. Lin uses molecular modeling to research how certain reactions work. He describes Baik as a "driven researcher." \n"Professor Baik is unbelievably knowledgeable -- not just in computational chemistry, but chemistry as a whole," Lin said via e-mail. "If an interesting result arises in my research, he can explain why my results make sense chemically."\nBaik said he enjoys teaching science because with it, one only needs "scientific curiosity" as a driving force. Unlike grants that require individuals to generate results, Baik describes the award as "particularly nice" because he is able to use his award to explore new ideas. \n"The award allows me to be bold and take risks," Baik said. \nHe plans to use a large portion of the award to help students who are unable to afford the opportunity to conduct summer research at IU, which Baik calls "one of the best universities in the United States to do research in computational sciences"
(02/14/06 6:25am)
Valentine's Day cards may be an overlooked expression of affection, but one of the Lilly Library's online exhibits attempts to show the time and consideration committed to the creation of cards in the Victorian era. \n"They are authentic 19th century cards," said Erika Dowell, public services librarian and author and designer of the online exhibit. \nThe exhibit, "A Flowering of Affection: Victorian Valentine Cards at the Lilly Library," features cards selected to illustrate the themes and stages of development in Victorian Valentine's Day cards. Unlike the cards that line the aisles of local retail stores today, these cards were personalized and impressive. \nA part of the Lilly Library collection, the cards that were scanned for the exhibit were handmade and "long involved the exchange of some token or small gift with one's valentine," according to the Web site. Feathers, beads, flowers and seeds were used to create these cards. Instead of a card format, valentines of 18th and 19th century England were often constructed on decorative paper or dyed lace. The exhibit notes that love was the common theme for the cards, but elements of humor and even insults often surfaced. Some cards were 3-D as well, displaying pictorial "pop-ups" or moveable "hidden messages of love and affection." \nDowell noticed a change in the cards as time passed. She explained that in the early 1840s Victorian cards were plain and used little color, relying on the decorative or lace paper to make them appealing. Closer to the 19th century, however, cards used color images with detail. Although she suspects everyone was able to exchange valentines, Dowell said she believes many of the valentine cards were exchanged by those in the middle class. \nThe lack of time to make handmade cards is what Dowell blames on the dying phenomenon. Many people simply purchase cards in stores today, leaving the creation, design and somewhat personalized message to Hallmark. \nDowell advises students wishing to make handmade cards to go to Pygmalion's Art Supplies downtown to pick up the desired paper and markers. She said the creation of the cards need not cause stress though, because the cards are simply meant to recognize the holiday while showing sentiment for family, friends or that special someone. \n"Use your imagination and the people who love you will like it no matter what," Dowell said. \n"A Flowering of Affection: Victorian Valentine Cards at the Lilly Library" is viewable at http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/valentines/valentine.html, and students have the option of sending electronic cards featuring the Victorian cards on exhibit to others.
(02/14/06 4:55am)
Sentimental Valentine's Day cards, large bouquets of flowers, oversized teddy bears and red heart-shaped containers of chocolates have taken over the shelves of department stores and malls across the country. With television advertisements encouraging the purchase of expensive jewelry or other gifts, some may find it impossible to remain sane during the holiday frenzy. But before consumers rush to buy that necklace on sale or that overpriced bottle of perfume for a girlfriend or crush, one IU professor stresses the importance of finding more creative ways to spend the day.\n"(Valentine's Day) gets worse and worse each year," said Robert Billingham, an associate professor of human development and family studies in the Department of Applied Health Science in the School of HPER. \nDuring his time at IU, Billingham has become interested in the ways young adults -- primarily college students -- form relationships and select mates. According to Billingham, these selections have often led to unrealistic expectations within a couple, making holidays like Valentine's Day a hassle. \nBillingham said he believes that because Valentine's Day is an invented holiday and inevitably has been mass-marketed to the public, the media pressure couples to purchase expensive gifts to express interest in one another. According to Billingham, television advertisements that show couples exchanging gifts send the wrong message. He said jewelry commercials focus on committed relationships and relate gift giving to the depth of the person's love. Purchasing expensive gifts may not be the best approach for individuals in newer relationships, however, and in this instance, splurging on one's significant or even insignificant other can sometimes do more harm than good, he said. \nIn relationships that are in the awkward stage of setting boundaries, Billingham has seen negative and sometimes violent results when a person invests money into a gift the other person might not appreciate. For instance, if the man is attached to the woman when the woman is not quite sure of her feelings, Billingham said the woman may feel uncomfortable or even put off when made the recipient of an expensive gift. Some men feel that expensive gifts should be repaid with sex or affection from the woman, which can also have negative results if the woman feels differently. Instead of worrying about scaring your date away, Billingham suggests more subtle approaches to acknowledging the holiday. \n"I think they should maybe get some Chinese takeout," he said. \nWith the economy more affluent than days past, Billingham said Americans today are more willing to spend money on frivolous gifts instead of saving for the future. He encourages couples to save money and avoid the stress by spending a couple of hours watching a sunset or simply getting away. \n"Put everything on hold and be together," he said.
(02/08/06 5:32am)
For two IU students, a desire to showcase local talent might be their ticket to Hollywood. \nJunior Michael Diamond created "Student Spotlight" with the help of junior Andrew Gant last spring. The show airs on IU Student Television and showcases the shortened narratives of films submitted by locals, as well as profiles of the students who submit their work. Diamond described the show as an "open forum," since many of the students stay in contact with one another to network. Though Diamond is responsible for much of the production of the show, he said much of his time is spent advertising.\n"I accumulate as many student short films as possible," he said.\nA telecommunications and business major, and a member of Phi Kappa Psi, Diamond uses word-of-mouth advertisement and his connections with friends to encourage more students to submit their films. He said he enjoys giving students the opportunity to show works that otherwise would not have been seen. In addition to profiling the individuals, Diamond and Gant once produced vignettes to complement the shorts. The lack of time and resources, however, made that task a burden. \n"It just got too crazy, it was just the two of us," Diamond said. \nInspired by film directors Woody Allen, Oliver Stone, Martin Scorsese and Milos Forman, Diamond said working on "Student Spotlight" equipped him with the skills necessary to work elsewhere in the industry. Last summer, Diamond assisted the producer of the film "Capote" with post-production activities. Diamond said working on the film helped him "narrow his focus" and pursue a career in directing. \nGant is responsible for the editing of "Student Spotlight" and said he and Diamond often bicker when working on the show. Gant said that although he and Diamond are completely different people, they feed off each other well and make a great team. \n"He has good ideas, and so do I," Gant said. "Michael is more creative." \nThrough working on the show, Gant acquired the skills to land an internship with Greenestreet Films. Gant said the films he and Diamond receive are very advanced works, which might discourage other students from submitting. Gant said he would like to see a wide variety of films on the show, and originally intended to feature "anything entertaining," including the films of students who might not intend to pursue a career in the industry. \nWhen it comes to film and television, both Diamond and Gant said IU is not well-known. Still, Diamond said he does believe he has the tools to succeed in the industry. \n"If you're aggressive enough early on in the industry, you can definitely find your place and be ready to succeed after you graduate," he said.
(01/31/06 5:18am)
Ann Marie Thomson, an adjunct professor for the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, has committed much of her time and energy encouraging others to become "virtuous citizens." \nCo-authors of the book, "Civic Service: What Difference Does It Make?," Thomson and Associate Dean of SPEA at IUPUI James L. Perry outline the effects of civic service programs in America and the qualities programs must have in order to be successful. By researching 139 studies, which included 115 publications of reports, evaluations and case studies, Thomson and Perry noticed patterns in the results. \n"Since the 20th century, we have seen civic service become a way to respond to circumstances," Thomson said. \nAlthough planting trees, building national parks and the creating of literacy programs are ways to respond to problems in educational practices or the environment in the United States, Thomson observed that much of the success for some programs relied heavily on a functioning government. \nBorn in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to missionary parents, Thomson understands the difficulty of creating programs to improve communities in African nations where the government and economy function minimally. Thomson described the Congo as having an "extractive economy," which she explained as having all of the nation's wealth profit the people and businesses of outside countries. Despite the resources of diamonds, gold, uranium and some oil in the Congo, ordinary Congolese make approximately $25 annually, Thomson said. \n"The Congo has been bleeding for years," she said. \nTo help the Congolese, a people to which she remains loyal, Thomson co-founded a nonprofit organization called Giving Back Africa with her husband in 2003. Last January, Thomson traveled to the Congo to assess the needs of the communities, conduct interviews with the people and gauge interest in GBA. \nThis April, Thomson plans to return with a proposal to the Protestant University of the Congo. She said the GBA plans to create a program at PUC which will allow promising Congolese students to attend the university for free, much like the Wells Scholars program at IU.\nMany Congolese students wish to learn, but cannot afford to. To attend school is a luxury that many students take for granted, Thomson said. \n"The longing to go to school is something we've lost in America," she said. \nThe program would be highly selective and would require students to sign a contract stating that upon graduation, the students would commit two years of service to a rural community in the Congo. Thomson said she believes the Congolese must help themselves in order to change their circumstances. \nIn their book, Thomson and Perry stress that successful civic service programs require not only that the program is offered, but that certain mediating factors must be present between the server and the outcome. Thomson said she noticed that in programs with on-the-job training, the rate of success was much higher with a leader present to give immediate feedback, as opposed to a program with one mandatory training session before the service began. Though Thomson said she believes the Congolese have the responsibility of helping themselves out of their poor economic circumstances, she understands the importance of outside assistance. Thomson encourages IU students to take service-learning courses and to "learn about the root causes of why issues exist" in other countries. \nHelping others as a way to help one's self feel better is an incentive many people neglect, Thomson said. \n"Even though Congo is half-way around the world, we are intimately connected to one another," she said.
(01/24/06 5:07am)
For one IU student, a passion for civic engagement and public service has turned into an academic honor only three other Hoosiers have received. \nSenior Katie Claussen is one of 12 students nationwide to receive the 2006-2007 George J. Mitchell Scholarship. A product of the U.S.-Ireland Alliance, the award began in 1998 and is named after former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, known for his contributions to peace efforts in Northern Ireland. Awarded to individuals who demonstrate the highest level of achievement and academic promise, the Mitchell Scholarship will cover the cost of housing and tuition for Claussen, an Indiana Daily Student staff member, to attend graduate school in Ireland. \nBorn in Bloomington, Claussen entered IU as a 2002-2003 Wells Scholar, then living in Bethlehem, Penn. Both of Claussen's parents had worked for IU for more than 25 years, so returning to Bloomington for school was a "natural choice." Claussen approached her freshman year with an open mind, availing herself to all the opportunities of travel and networking through the Wells program and allowing her involvements to shift with her interests. \n"I came in as a chemistry major, so things have definitely changed," Claussen said. \nNow a senior with a double major in comparative social policy and ideology in the Individualized Major Program and Spanish, Claussen's experiences with overseas travel have created a passion for international affairs. After spending a semester in Denmark the fall of her junior year, Claussen "fell in love with Europe." This past summer, Claussen interned at the British Parliament in Brussels. Less than one month ago, Claussen worked with the U.S. Embassy in Trinidad as an assistant to the political chief, working on a human rights report. She allowed her interests to shift to civic engagement and public service on both local and international levels.\nCharlene Brown, associate director of the Wells Scholars program, has been described as "instrumental" by Claussen, regarding Claussen's success at IU. Brown, who has worked closely with Claussen, said she admired Claussen's ability to pull her interests together, while using the ability to use interactive technology to connect the University with leaders elsewhere. \n"I'm amazed by what she can accomplish," Brown said. \nAlthough Claussen is involved with many organizations on campus and has had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica, Mexico, Austria and many other places to conduct research or study Spanish, the project Claussen is most proud of is Conversations about Service and Engagement. CASE is a series of interactive video conferences connecting IU students with students around the world. Students discuss issues such as global citizenship and public service. \n"We need to be more interactive with our peers around the world," Claussen said. "We can learn a lot from international exchange." \nThis February, Americans for Informed Democracy, an organization for which Claussen is regional coordinator, will be holding a Global Citizenship Conference. Students from Africa and Europe will meet with Claussen and other IU students to speak on the topic of global citizenship. AID will host a speaker from the United Nations as well. \nAlthough Claussen describes herself as spoiled when it comes to the opportunities she has had and the type of support she has received from family members and mentors, she urges students to become engaged citizens in their local communities, especially on the Bloomington campus. \n"Every minute of every day something is happening here," she said. "If you just sit in your room, you're going to miss it." \nClaussen will attend Queen's University in Belfast, Ireland, to pursue a degree in international politics as it concerns European citizenship. She plans to become an international judge.
(01/17/06 5:44am)
During childhood, playing video games usually amounts to nothing more than sore thumbs and sweaty palms. \nFor freshman Chris Roberts, his deep-rooted devotion to gaming and technology was rewarded with an all-expenses-paid trip to Microsoft's Xbox 360 launch party in the Mojave Desert last fall. Roberts entered Microsoft's "Hex 168" contest with a group of five other students. The contest required applicants to submit a short video "expressing the unusual." \n"The gist of the video was that there was a role reversal between sled dogs and people," Roberts said. \nThe group chose IU's Arboretum as its filming location. After two weeks of planning and filming, the submission of the group's 30-second video, "Company Under-Dogs," won them VIP tickets for the 30-hour invitation-only event in California called "Zero Hour." Although the trip interfered with his marching band schedule and classes, Roberts said it was well worth it. Hotel accommodations, airfare and transportation were all provided by Microsoft.\n"It was the VIPs. The contest winners like us that got the special treatment," he said. \nRoberts also received the premium package of the Microsoft Xbox 360 console one week prior to its Nov. 22, 2005, launch date. A one-year gold membership of Xbox LIVE and three of Xbox's most popular titles, "Perfect Dark Zero," "Project Gotham Racing" and "Kameo: Elements of Power" were also given as prizes to Roberts' group. \nRoberts shouldered the responsibility of rallying local support for the video. Many IU students voted for the video online, but because of complications with IP addresses, only one vote per building on campus counted. Microsoft's online voting system became host to many other frustrations of groups nationwide.\n"Entrants were artificially raising their scores," Roberts said. \nMuch to Roberts' satisfaction, Microsoft decided to end the voting system. According to the "Hex 168" Web site, a panel of judges based their decision on the video's originality, "best expression of the unusual among the mundane," entertainment value and production quality. One of Roberts' group members received a call from Microsoft notifying him they were finalists in the competition. \n"I thought luck was a certain factor but I also thought that we were putting together a quality product," Roberts said. "The video editing was very good." \nThis contest was not the first Roberts entered and won big as a result. In August 2004, Roberts submitted an essay for a contest sponsored by Samsung Electronics of America. \nRoberts' essay won Bloomington High School South $20,000 worth of electronics through Microsoft, including a 42-inch plasma television and Samsung cameras and printers.\n"I'd like to say that I'm a hard worker, but I'm not. I won't lie," he said. "I think I've been extremely lucky these last two years." \nRoberts still marks his luckiest moment -- meeting his best friend -- as one totally unrelated to the world of gaming and technology.\n"I feel incredibly lucky to have met her," he said.\nA member of the IU Gaming Club and IU Marching Hundred, Roberts plans to declare a major in the biology field with plans to become a pediatrician.