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(12/05/03 5:52am)
Doctors at the Krannert Institute of Cardiology in Indianapolis performed their first gene therapy treatment last week with hopes to use it as a new procedure to alleviate heart disease. \nGene therapy is a technique for correcting defective genes responsible for disease development. \nThe idea of gene therapy started in Europe about seven years ago. Doctors had been using it for back pain and other parts of the body, so they thought if they stimulated the spinal cord they could use it on patients with heart disease as well. \nDr. Douglas Zipes, who is the principal investigator of the national study and the director of cardiology at the IU Krannert Institute of Cardiology, said they first did an animal study in Indianapolis to investigate the details of the treatment.\nThe team at Krannert set up different studies at the various Krannert sites throughout Indianapolis.\nThe primary substance for the gene therapy treatment is the human protein, fibronectin.\nDavid Williams, another principal investigator and a member of the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research at the IU Medical Center, said the protein has adhesive characteristics, which help transfer genes into cells that are used in this procedure.\n"In essence, think of fibronectin as Velcro and retroviral particles and stem cells as balls. Envision that, like Velcro, the fibronectin allows attachment of the retroviral particles and stem cells, or balls, immediately adjacent to each other. This then permits genes to pass easily from the retroviral ball to the stem cell ball," Williams said in a statement.\nDr. Jeffrey Breall was the main force behind the surgery. \n"This is a gene product that stimulates the growth of blood vessels," Breall explained. "So, ultimately, preliminary studies have shown that people who do get this product feel better and are able to exercise longer."\nZipes said there are no serious side effects other than a small risk of infection or hemorrhage. "Patients should experience the results of the surgery almost immediately and they should only have to go through the treatment once," he said.\nThe first patient was John Schleicher, a 63-year-old resident of Indianapolis. Schleicher has dealt with heart disease and severe chest pains for years. A week after the surgery he felt no difference; however, the doctors who performed the surgery told him it may take up to four weeks to feel results. \n"The responses are pretty dramatic," Zipes said. "Once it is approved, I am confident that it will be a widely used procedure."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Kaplan at lkaplan@indiana.edu.
(11/11/03 5:44am)
Since IU boasts one of the highest ranked music schools in the country, it is no surprise that the creation of many local bands begins at IU. Sex Tiger and John Wilkes Booze represent two Bloomington-based bands aiming for entirely different goals. However, they both share the same overall objective of success.\nRuss Castillo, an IU telecommunications professor and the owner of Castle Creek Recording, Bloomington, sees many local bands struggling for a bigger name. \nCastillo said bands often have a minimal amount of revenue and are digging deep into their pockets when trying to produce a record. \n"If groups are as serious as I am, I am happy to work with them and take them down," he said. "Most students cannot afford to record and it is easier for me to produce because I have all the equipment." \nCastillo produced the 3 Minute Mile CD which gained a good amount of recognition, but he has also seen groups he's worked with fail. \n"Everyone is trying to make it one way or another and gain some kind of local or national recognition," he said. "Their hopes are high and if they really want it, they're going to succeed."\nEach band has its own definition of success. John Wilkes Booze is aiming for nationwide recognition and a tour-driven career path. \n"We were originally inspired by the punk, new wave scene that was prominent in Bloomington in the late 1970s," said Eric Weddle, who plays electronic saxophone and guitar for the band. "We come from the place where bands like The Gizmos, MX-80 Sound and the Dancing Cigarettes were born."\nSince its founding in 1999 the goal of "The Booze" has been to combine an interesting live show with a conceptual political show. The band originally played in local bars, where it still appears sporadically, but it did not take the group long to move to the larger music spectrum. \nJust over 2 years ago, Chris Barth and John Dawson, both members of Impossible Shapes, a mellow, psychedelic band also started in Bloomington, joined John Wilkes Booze. The two have managed to tour with both bands and work daytime jobs while they are in town.\n"It definitely gets hard touring with two bands," Barth said. "I'll be on the road with one band for a month and without a break I have to switch and be on tour again for another month." \nDuring the off times when he happens to be in Bloomington, Barth works part time delivering sandwiches on campus. \n"If they fired me when I got back, it wouldn't bother me. I have no aspirations to do anything but play music," Barth said. \nJohn Wilkes Booze is currently on a two-and-a-half week tour in New York City. The band members travel together with their equipment in a van they share with Impossible Shapes. This summer "The Booze" toured the entire western U.S. and plans on covering the East Coast this summer. \n"We have gotten a lot of national press (coverage) and support from our record label, so our name is already becoming more recognized throughout the nation," Wilkes said. \nSuch extensive touring has made the band members very conscientious of planning expenses for their tours. They book all of their own performances and make sure they have the money to travel before they commit to anything.\n"We all work day jobs so we have our own money individually and we use money that we make for gigs to pay for our gas and food when we are on the road," Wilkes said. \nAll the band members are IU graduates and said their attachment to Bloomington is still important to them. \n"Ultimately we are most interested in touring outside of Indiana, but we are still coming back to play for the time being," Barth said. \nSex Tiger's guitarist Kevin Clarke expresses quite different goals than those of John Wilkes Booze. \n"Our band is definitely more of a part-time activity right now," Clarke said. "We are really into writing songs and looking to improve ourselves, so we are not so much about money making thus far."\nThe band consists of five members, all from the original group, other than a bass player who quit last year. Their first performance was during the summer of 2001 in a house basement on 12th and Washington streets. They had virtually no start-up fees, because each member already owned their own equipment.\n"We usually play once or twice a month either at house parties or Bears Place," Clarke said. \nDuring the spring of 2002 Sex Tiger borrowed a van from a relative and toured for a week on the east coast. They played 5-6 shows scheduled through friends and bands that have come through Bloomington. \n"There is really a network of friends among bands, everyone tries to help each other out," he said.\nClarke is currently a full-time student at IU, and he makes his academic lifestyle his first priority. He hopes to continue touring and expanding the band after graduation and hopefully break through to a larger audience. The band has not yet signed with a record label, but it has recorded two demos.\nThere are many trials to starting a band and making it a success. Sex Tiger and John Wilkes Booze are a good representation of the varied size and success of Bloomington bands. Though it may be an economic drain, all bands are ultimately searching for success.\n-- Contact staff reporter Lindsey Kaplan at lkaplan@indiana.edu.
(11/04/03 5:23am)
With package names like "Exam cram," "Get well, be swell," "Early bird special" and "Munchy madness," young entrepreneurs Scott Lesht and Michael Eizenga are finding quick success with their online care package business, www.sendmesnacks.com. \nThe entrepreneurial spirit of Lesht and Eizenga led them to an opportunity to improve upon and go mainstream with the care packages that many students receive from their parents.\n"The care packages we had received in the past never had the kind of casual snacks we liked," Eizenga said. "We wanted to incorporate more mainstream candy and snacks and make it easy for parents to go online and order the package without the hassle of picking out snacks and shipping it themselves."\nThe two IU juniors met last year after they were assigned to the same group for a business class presentation. \n"We did really well on our project and we decided to apply what we had learned to formulate our own company," Lesht said. \nThe new friends casually exchanged ideas throughout the year and began to take action on their plan this past summer in their respective suburban Chicago homes. They spent the summer of 2002 commuting from each other's homes, evaluating and planning how to get their business off the ground.\n"It took us about three months time to actually prepare the Web site for orders," Eizenga said. "We made sure to file a limited liability partnership with the state of Indiana."\nLesht and Eizenga began promoting their business through friends and family, e-mail and fliers. Since they had no means of income, they viewed these channels as the most effective and inexpensive ways to get their name recognized. \n"We wanted to make sure processes and systems were working before we marketed it to a large audience," Lesht said.\nTheir first month was much more successful than they expected; however, the business has since become somewhat inconsistent. \n"It seems to come in seasonal spurts," Eizenga said. "In September we had a lot of back to school orders. October was more Halloween-based."\nThe men's newest marketing project is to form partnerships and set up fund-raising with other organizations. They hope by reaching out to a larger audience, they can donate a percentage of their new profits to the organization with which they worked. \n"We are looking to propose our ideas to organizations in the business school and fraternities and sororities," Eizenga said.\nAlthough they are currently targeting the IU and Bloomington community, Eizenga and Lesht are by no means confining themselves to this limited audience. They ship their packages anywhere in the nation, and they hope to eventually expand to partnerships outside of Indiana. \nThe most popular packages are the "sweet tooth" care package and the "health nut" package. The average cost of each is $45; however, some packages are as low as $21.99. \n"Sendmesnacks.com is one of the easiest care package Web sites to use," said IU student Nicole Greenbaum. "They're very specific with exactly what comes in the package, and their prices are affordable, even for a college student."\nThe partners are enthusiastic about the future growth of www.sendmesnacks.com after they graduate from IU.\n"It's all about volume," Eizenga said. "You have to sell a lot to make a lot, so we need to make bigger contact with bigger organizations." \nLesht agreed that he would definitely want to continue with the business if they expanded. \n"We are still a new company, but if we broaden our marketing base, I think we are on the right track."\nFor questions about sendmesnacks.com, contact Scott Lesht or Michael Eizenga at: scottlesht@sendmesnacks.com or michaeleizenga@sendmesnacks.com, or visit their home page at www.sendmesnacks.com. . \n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Kaplan at lkaplan@indiana.edu.
(10/23/03 5:14am)
Zeta Tau Alpha sorority raised more than $53,000 with its annual philanthropic event, Big Man on Campus, Friday at the IU Auditorium.\nThe amount was over $10,000 more than last year's donations, according to sorority members.\nThe event allows one chapter member from every fraternity on campus to perform a talent segment, give off a positive representation of their fraternity and sell tickets to the show to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. \nKyle Ericksen of Delta Upsilon was named the winner of the event. He raised a personal amount of $3,500, which results in 60 percent of his total score.\nEricksen took home around $13,000 of the profits for the fraternity, and the rest was donated to the foundation.\n"We host the show every year, and we were extremely pleased with the outcome on Friday," said philanthropy chair and junior Ashley Stetter. \nParticipants in the event said they had a great time.\n"It was definitely a big time commitment, but I would love to do it again if I had the chance," said Sigma Pi contestant and junior Matt McLellan. \nThe sorority raised money through T-shirt and ticket sales, a calendar of the contestants and donations from family members, friends and local businesses. \n"Being the philanthropy chair of my own chapter really makes me appreciate BMOC," McLellan said. "I love that it combines philanthropic efforts with entertainment and fun."\n"Bad Boys" was the theme of the show, which featured stints on celebrities, such as Eminem, Clint Eastwood and James Bond. More than 2,000 tickets were sold for the event.\nZTA chapter member and junior Kealy Christle said she could not believe the enthusiasm of the audience, and said she was proud to represent something of that proportion. \n"I would highly recommend going to the event if you missed it this year," she said. "I know all of the hard work that was put into it and I was extremely impressed."\nThe foundation was started by a relative of Susan G. Komen and ZTA has supported the cause since its inception. Several breast cancer survivors were invited to tell their own personal stories during the event as a reminder of the main reason ZTA hosted the show. The survivors also participated in a candlelight vigil ceremony.\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Kaplan at lkaplan@indiana.edu.
(10/21/03 6:29am)
When I was working as a journalist, I never really felt discriminated against as a woman except for one occurrence. I was working as a sports journalist in the mid-to-late 1980s and there were a lot of incidents with women in locker rooms, sexual harassment and male athletes having general hesitation when talking to female reporters."\nAmy Reynolds, an assistant professor in the School of Journalism since fall of 2000, has encountered many career environments over the past fifteen years. Before IU, she taught at two other universities and worked in broadcasting and newspaper reporting and editing. \nReynolds believes her experience in sports journalism may have been because of the time. \n"I don't know how much the issues I dealt with have changed, but I know there are many more competent female sports reporters on television today."\nMark Brostoff, associate director of the Kelley School of Business' undergraduate career services, typically does not see specific trends as far as gender preferences among businesses visiting IU. \n"We like to focus our attention on what our students' needs are," he said. "When businesses place inquiries with us, they have no preference gender wise and most are usually pretty equal in terms of number of students."\nJonathan Perlman, a loan officer for Advantage Investors Mortgage, Chicago. interviewed several impending graduates during the spring of 2003.\n"My company set up interviews directly through the Kelley School of Business and we gave no specific credentials," he said. "In our business you need to be professionally presentable and carry good communication skills. These are all things I examine during the interview process." \nOut of 1,200 seniors in the business school, 36 percent make up the female population with 64 percent being male; however, this does not damage the females' opportunities. Brostoff feels that although it is not always said outwardly, many businesses want to incorporate female employees.\n"In some fields, such as apparel merchandising and fashion, I see a larger focus on the female population," Brostoff said. "I do feel the reasoning is simply because there tends to be more females interested in these areas and it is not specifically because of gender."\nAccording to the Dingell-Maloney report, a survey conducted in 2002 by the U.S. General Accounting Office, only five out of 10 targeted industries had women holding a share of management jobs proportionate to their share of the industry. Thus, even if women are not being overlooked when hired, they are often unaccredited when it comes to promotions or wages. \nReynolds does not feel like she has ever been discriminated against because of her gender while working in academia. \n"IU holds a large amount of women in high positions," she said. "The associate dean of the journalism school and the (Bloomington) chancellor are both women."\nThe wage gap between men and women widened between 1995 and 2000 in seven out of 10 industries, according to the Dingell-Maloney report. The study found that essentially, the majority of women managers were worse off in 2000 than in 1995. \n"I do think a wage gap undeniably exists, perhaps it is even the most apparent difference between men and women in the workplace," Brostoff said. He also felt that there are specific areas in which women are more successful than men when it comes to payment.\n"Informatics, computer science and engineering receive outstanding offers from businesses; even higher than starting salaries for men," he said.\nReynolds agreed that women seem to hold more assistant positions than men and she would not be surprised if a man would make more than a woman with the same experience in an entry level position. \nAs far as students interested in following a career path at IU, "Most of the students that I encounter are looking for employment elsewhere but there are certainly plenty of job opportunities for alums if they so desire," she said.
(10/07/03 5:36am)
BrainOrbit, LLC was founded in spring 2002, by then 22-year-old MBA accounting student Justin Greis. The company was founded with the idea of helping clients with small-scale enterprise resource planning, creating CD-ROMs, Web sites, training and small business solutions. \nBut last spring, Greis and his four co-owners found themselves in quite a bind. The co-owners of BrainOrbit were about to graduate, which left Greis to manage the business on his own. He realized running a company and succeeding in school was an impossible task and needed to find a new staff in order to keep the company going.\nGreis began speaking to peers in his MBA class, hoping to find new team members that fit the mold of BrainOrbit. \nHe found exactly what he was looking for. \nIn April 2002, Greis selected a team of seven co-workers. Tom Coburn, chief financial officer, James Motter, chief operating officer, Mike Iwanski, chief marketing officer, Chris Hansen, chief web developer and Josh Simerman, chief technology officer joined Greis as co-workers to create new plans for BrainOrbit.\n"We started talking strategy this summer," Greis said. "I thought that BrainOrbit could be extremely beneficial to students a year below us if we formatted a plan to pass the company down each year." \nThe team began working with the plan this fall and they are still in the process of smoothing out wrinkles and finalizing ideas. So far they have made the executive decision to pass BrainOrbit on to younger peers, who they will train extensively in preparation for the co-owners' departure. \n"We started out with two information sessions targeting mostly MBA and Informatics students," Iwanski said. "Last week we had individual interviews with eight candidates in order to figure out whether or not they qualified for BrainOrbit, and if so, what position they would fill." \nThe team was highly impressed with the interviewees and added all eight to the associate group of BrainOrbit. \n"I'd like to start my own business one day, and BrainOrbit is a great place to get my feet wet and learn the reality of trying to be competitive in a market," said new associate Najeeb Ali.\nThe associate training will be very transitional as far as responsibility. The co-owners plan to gradually ease their new members in to the business so that they can run it on their own by the time graduation is upon them.\nThe co-owners also formed an advisory board for BrainOrbit consisting of three IU professors they selected.\n"The purpose of the advisory board is to keep our business going from year to year, to perpetuate business and job referrals and to just give us their experienced advice," Greis said. \nThe current advisers are Ramesh Venkataraman, chair of MSIS program, Anne Massey, chair of the Department of Information Systems and Dennis Groth, assistant professor of Informatics. \nBrainOrbit currently caters to 10 different clients, two that are extremely profitable. They provide service in Web design, custom Web applications, database construction and management, logo and graphic design, network installation and implementation, Intranet solutions and Web-based training.\nThe initial goal of the original BrainOrbit team was to maintain a short-term client relationship and get the job done as quickly as possible. \n"The ideal job no longer incorporates our original objectives," Greis said. "In the past, we couldn't make long-term contracts because we did not have continuity."\nBrainOrbit now upholds never-ending contracts that assure indefinite service to their clients.\n"If we build something for our clients, we'll be there no matter what," Greis said.\nIwanski focuses on obtaining clients and producing new ways to convince them to use BrainOrbit.\n"We target clients based on research that encompasses their particular needs," he said. "In the past, the clients were mostly referrals, but we are trying to move outward and target local, regional and surrounding business areas."\nThe participation of BrainOrbit alumni is still being finalized among the group. The co-workers know they want to be an accessible source to their partners, however, they are not quite sure of the extent of their involvement.\n"Normally in business, individuals are protective of their positions and try to push people down in order to work their way to the top," Motter said. "Here we're hoping they replace us."\nAs far as post-graduation plans, the co-workers gave different answers. Careers in IT consulting, public accounting, assurance services and even taking a year off were all mentioned. \n"I am so thankful to have had this opportunity," Kuebler said. "Being part of BrainOrbit was something I never imagined I would experience in college and I can't believe how much I have learned."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Kaplan at lkaplan@indiana.edu.
(09/30/03 5:24am)
When Aaron Steele opened Uncle Fester's House of Blooze, 430 E. Kirkwood Ave., in October 2000, there was no question spring break was a prominent thought in his mind. \n"It all started back in 1995 when I, along with four of my buddies, piled in to a 1978 Ford Bronco and set out for an unforgettable week of partying in Key West, Fla.," Steele said.\nHis inspiration came when they hit a traffic jam in Atlanta, Ga. As they began to pick up speed, they spotted a dog that had been hit by a car. They slowed down to glance at the monstrosity and one of his friends described the dogs head as "festered up." The word stuck as a way to describe their behavior from the crazy nights they encountered that week. \n"It was such a beautiful term, so we used it then and even today," Steele said. "It just seemed appropriate to name my bar after such a historic event." \nSteele attended Butler University in Indianapolis, receiving an undergraduate degree in political science, Spanish and international studies. After graduation in 1996, he decided to work as a bartender in Broad Ripple. He continued at several locations for the next five years, including a bartending job in Costa Rica.\nSteele said it was almost inevitable that he would ultimately own a bar; in fact, it's in his blood. His grandfather and uncle owned several bars in various parts of southern Indiana, and his aunt currently owns a bar in Key West. \nOn Oct. 13, 2000, the former BW-3 Bloomington, Inc., officially became Uncle Fester's House of Blooze, a place that would become the Kirkwood spot to listen to bands from all over the nation. \nAs the bar approaches its 3-year anniversary, Steele and his newfound partner and long-time cousin, Keenan Gill, are taking Festers to a whole new level. Within the next two weeks, Uncle Fester's Jungle Room Bar and Grill will officially take over the vacant spot next door that was once Panda Palace Chinese restaurant. \nThe restaurant will be attached to the House of Blooze, and the two spots will hopefully bring in a larger variety of clientele.\n"We are quadrupling our operating hours and square footage," Steele said. "Our hours will run from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. so we'll be serving lunch, happy hour, dinner and late night food around the clock." \nThe cousins planned the atmosphere and design of the restaurant entirely by themselves. Pool tables, arcade games and a variety of innovative art work will be displayed throughout both venues. \n"Aaron has been great with supporting local artists, everything from sculptures to photographs," Gill said. It will also feature four local beers on tap, wines from Oliver Winery and local produce wherever it is practicable. \n"We really try to make our business community-oriented because the local residents are our biggest supporters," Gill said. \nSteele and Gill have added 25 new employees to their staff of 12 in order to prepare for their expansion. They are making slight physical changes in the current bar, such as clearing out more seating and enlarging the dance floor in order to make the connection between the areas smooth and subtle. \n"Fester's caters to a completely different audience than any other bar on Kirkwood," Steele said. "We are the only place that brings in live music anywhere from national recording artists to local cover bands."\nSenior Sean Nightingale, who said he is an avid fan of jam bands, is a regular client at Uncle Fester's. \n"Unlike any other bar in Bloomington, Fester's has live music every night and the customers are actually there to see the bands," he said. "It is hands down my favorite music venue in Bloomington."\nSteele and Gill said they are anxiously anticipating the opening of the new addition and expect it to be a positive new hangout for current and potential clients. Gill, an IU graduate who practiced law in Indianapolis before joining his cousin, is embarking on a totally new experience. \n"Aaron and I work really well together and we are literally like night and day," he said. "I come open up in the morning and he stays late and closes."\nSteele said he believes the most important thing to remember when starting your own business is to see the big picture, work toward a goal and keep your chin up, even on the bad days.\n"My greatest pleasure comes when I see my customers having a good time," he said. "It is the most fulfilling reward to watch things that you worked for play in to action." \nFor more information and the full "Uncle Fester's" story visit www.festered.net
(09/23/03 5:22am)
When Dan Duncan entered IU as a freshman, he had big plans. \n"I declared a biochemistry major and was set on going to medical school after four years at IU," Duncan said. In his first year, Dan pledged and joined Delta Upsilon fraternity and began a side job as a greek party disc jockey three nights a week. Today, as the co-owner and founder of Vertigo night club, Duncan is a long way from medical school.\nAs a D.J., Duncan was given the opportunity to meet new people, have contact with most of the social chairmen on campus and make money at the same time. Chapters such as Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Delta Gamma and Theta Chi fraternities were all frequent customers, and Duncan was making an unexpected amount of money. \nFrom his experiences as a D.J., Duncan realized he had a natural ability with people skills, and he wanted to take them to a professional level. To test his ambitions he began taking business and entrepreneurship courses at the Kelley School of Business.\nJoe Denekamp, professor in the Kelley School of Business and faculty adviser for the Young Entrepreneurship Association, works with students who strive to go above and beyond the typical coursework to fulfill their career path. Duncan, a former student of Denekamp's and member of the organization, fit perfectly into this category. \n"What made Dan unusual was the extraordinary way he carried himself," Denekamp said. "He has accomplished so much at a young age because of his capacity to work with people."\nToward the end of his time at IU, Duncan noticed the parties that once drew over 1,000 people were dwindling to a mere 300. The greek system was adopting stricter policies, and it had become extremely difficult for a party to not be busted by campus security.\n"I realized that this was my opportunity," he said. "I wanted to give the greek system the scale of parties they wanted in a new setting." \nThus began his gateway into Vertigo. After receiving an unfortunate letter of denial from the Kelley School of Business in 2000, Duncan, he and his friend Nathan Dotzlaf withdrew from IU and embarked on an unforgettable project.\n"I was 21 years old and I had no assets and no equities," Duncan said. "Instead, I had a 50-page business plan and some enthusiasm." The two began working with commercial loan officer Dave Landis to give them a seal of approval. \n"I always knew I wanted to work for myself," Dotzlaf said. "I could succeed or mess up without worrying about answering to someone above me."\nAfter fine-tuning their plan, obtaining a variety of licenses from the state of Indiana and taking out a loan bigger than most people take out on their first home, Duncan and Dotzlaf were ready for business. \nDenekamp wrote several letters of recommendation for Duncan to back his plan and help him with acquiring the loan. "To obtain that much money and carry it off like Dan did is almost an impossibility for someone his age," Dotzlaf said.\nJune 2000 marked the opening of Vertigo. Since then, Duncan and Dotzlaf have not looked back. Duncan currently resides in Broad Ripple and Dotzlaf in Bloomington. Duncan commutes to Bloomington at least once a week and focuses on the financial aspects of the club while Dotzlaf runs the day-to-day factors that keep Vertigo up and running. "Since we work on opposite ends of the spectrum, we often have to agree to disagree," Dotzlaf said.\nThe partners recently signed a new lease for another seven-and-a-half years and they are looking to enhance the atmosphere of the club through a second phase of renovations. "We are looking to install a new draft system and possibly begin co-promoting with Axis," Duncan said. "A new development of apartments and shops will be built less than a block away from us by next August, so we are hoping this will be a new opportunity for Vertigo." \nDuncan and Dotzlaf have also begun working in the mortgage business where they plan to work with remodeling and refinancing homes. \nDuncan's advice to IU students with a desire to start their own business is to have a strong focus and motivation. He stresses the importance of negotiating skills and people skills in order to achieve success. \n"It is imperative to focus your thoughts on what you want to do and then put them together in a concrete form." he said. "There are 150 million baby steps in order to transform an idea in to a reality."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Kaplan at lkaplan@indiana.edu.
(09/16/03 6:03am)
It was not so long ago that Nick Martin was just another IU student majoring in marketing, hanging out regularly at Yogi's Bar & Grill and having a good time with his friends. Today, as a successful co-owner of Joyride snowboards and wakeboards, based in Evansville, Ind., Martin reflects upon his college days.\n"I have loved to snowboard and skateboard since I was a kid," Martin said. "I always knew I wanted to go into business, and my sophomore year in college was when I started from scratch and began tinkering out business plans." \nMartin's entrepreneurial tendencies led him to become involved in the entrepreneurship program offered in the Kelley School of Business. He later entered a business plan for the Joyride company in a competition during his junior year. Martin won the competition, which brought his plan for Joyride to a whole new level of feasibility.\nBefore graduation in 2001, a private "angel investor" that had confidence in Joyride provided Martin with an investment through finance banking. \n"Through networking I was able to present my idea to a group that liked it so much, they bought out another brand to start my business," he said. \nMartin runs Joyride with longtime friend and IU alumnus Jay Gardner. Through the private investor's funding, Martin has turned Joyride into a flourishing business venture. Joyride's products are now available in over 200 specialty stores across the United States as well as internationally in Canada, Japan, China, Australia, Sweden and Austria. \n"Joyride has excellent product development because they stay especially updated with the latest technology," said Matt Druschke, manager of Get Wet in Evansville, which carries snowboards and wakeboards. Druschke said the Joyride brand is recognizable to almost all of their clients. \n"Since the owners of Joyride are originally from Evansville and they now run their business here, they are very well known throughout the community and everyone wants to support them to continue their success," he said. Wakeboards range from $250 to $350 and snowboards typically run $350 to $450.\nOnline ordering is also available through their Web site www.joyride.com. Martin, however, tries not to promote online ordering because it competes with the retail shops. \n"The Web site's purpose is more or less to inform current and potential clients about our company and products and update them on our latest events and endeavors."\nThis past summer, Joyride hosted several wakeboarding competitions in order to endorse the variety of products. The company first paired up with Red Bull to host the Joyride Great Wake Series, an aggressive wakeboard competition that took place in various locations throughout the state of Michigan. Red Bull provided the team members and Joyride supplied the boards. \nThey also sponsored Thunder on the Ohio, a major national hydroplane race in Evansville, to promote wakeboarding. Joyride displayed the boards and other accessories in a large booth placed in the center of the event. \n"We introduced the sport to several thousand avid water sports enthusiasts over the course of one weekend," Martin said. "We want to help people understand the basics of wakeboarding and get them started because as we all know, once you get started, you're going to be a wake boarder for life." A large photo gallery of all the summer events is available on the Web site.\nMartin said he's thrilled with the current success of his business and he plans on fulfilling his future dreams the same way he did with Joyride. Although he is still passionate about his business, he has dozens of plans to start on. \n"I would love to build up my future business ideas, while continuing to expand Joyride and eventually sell out within 10 years," he said.\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Kaplan at lkaplan@indiana.edu.
(09/12/03 5:09am)
The IU School of Medicine announced on Thursday that they are testing a vaccination which may help prevent genital herpes.\nMary Hardin of the IU School of Medicine Media Relations announced that infectious disease physicians from the medical school are running the tests in several locations throughout Indiana for not only the herpes vaccine, but also a vaccine for hepatitis A. \nDr. Kenneth Fife, the main researcher of the trials, is looking to test women between the ages of 18 and 30 who are not infected with oral or genital herpes. The women will be chosen at random to receive either a hepatitis A vaccine or the herpes vaccine. Although the hepatitis A vaccine has already been approved by the Federal Drug Administration, the clinic is testing the strength of the drug, the number of doses needed and the number of injections needed. Through these tests, the research team hopes to improve the hepatitis A vaccine. \n"This is the third and most likely the last phase of the trials," Nurse Practioner Nancy Hobson said. "We have been doing trials on this vaccine for the last seven years." \nThe herpes virus can infect on two levels; herpes simplex 1, which typically comes in the form of cold sores or fever blisters and herpes simplex 2, genital herpes. If the vaccine is successful, both forms could be prevented. \nThe trial is being publicized all over Indiana college campuses, as well as through national advertising. The only minor side effect is a slight tenderness at the sight of the injection, which comes with almost any injection. Women are given $360 over a period of 20 months and of course, a free vaccination test.\n"The vaccine will not cure individuals already infected, but could have a huge effect on protecting women and their partners from this sexually transmitted disease," Fife said in a statement. "The trial is for individuals who have not contracted either form of herpes, which makes the screening process more difficult since many people are exposed to herpes through cold sores at an early age."\nSue Ford, the study coordinator of the vaccination testing, said 100 women have been screened on the IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis campus so far. Their intention is to screen 2,000 women in order to get 500 tests they can use. \n"One out of every four women tests positive for herpes simplex 1 or herpes simplex 2, and we can only use tests that are double negative," Ford said.\nIf the vaccine is approved by the FDA, women will be able to use it as a protection against the disease. Although the most serious symptom of the disease among adults tends to be general discomfort, it is currently preventable only through abstinence. If a woman is infected while she is pregnant, it can cause severe damage to her unborn child.\nInvestigators are apprehensive about the reaction of parents vaccinating their children if the drug is approved. Greg Zimet, Ph.D. and professor of pediatrics and clinical psychology said he is confident that this is not an issue to worry about.\n"Parents have exhibited an overwhelming willingness to have their children vaccinated," Zimet said. "There has been no difference in attitudes about vaccinations for non-sexually transmitted infections and those for STD protection."\nZimet ran a behavioral study among 300 adolescent-parent pairs who filled out a questionnaire regarding the issue. The typical response by the parents was to question the likelihood of their child becoming infected and what they could do to prevent it. \nThe trial will be held at 20 different locations throughout the United States and their goal is to enroll over 7,500 women.\nThe vaccination will continue to run until the clinics have fulfilled the amount of women they want to test. \n"One of the most common concerns with the test is that it will give you genital herpes," Ford said. "This is just a myth and entirely impossible."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Kaplan at lkaplan@indiana.edu.
(09/05/03 6:07am)
Every year, as IU students face the task of decorating their latest living environment, the IMU Leisure Programs department sponsors a 10-day poster sale with a variety of wall décor at prices less than $10.\nThe sale runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through today in the IMU Georgian Room, just outside the IU Bookstore. Most posters range from $6 to $8 and fall into one of seven categories.\nCashier Krista Zvanitajs said she sees people purchase all types of posters -- some that they may not be proud of.\n"One of the funniest things I see constantly is a customer buying a poster that they must think seems out of character for their appearance and telling me it's for someone else," Zvanitajs said. "I just want to tell them they don't need to give me an explanation. You can't imagine how many times I hear, 'It's for my sister.'"\nTour Director Karen Krinsky also observed the common occurrence of roommates who have just met trying to decorate their room together. \n"It's almost as if they get to know each other through the posters by learning each others taste," she said.\nShe can't help but laugh as the strangers try to be tactful with their opinions, careful not to show what they really think. \nAnother entertaining conversation piece is the infamous, "Official Guide to Mullets." Zvanitajs recommended this piece for an instant icebreaker between people stumped for conversation and a way to show off a great sense of humor. \nJunior Laura Frishberg, an avid Mickey Mouse fan, found a lot of colorful prints to make her room in Foster-Martin feel like home her freshman year. \n"The dorms have a huge amount of white wall space that screams insane asylum if you don't cover it up," she said. "My roommate loved Andy Warhol, so we coordinated both of our tastes to make our room cozy and much more pleasing to our eyes."\nThe works of a variety of well known artists such as Georgia O'Keefe, Mark Rothko and Pablo Picasso take up a good portion of the poster books. Krinsky confessed that they consistently sell all of their posters each year and usually place re-orders throughout the course of the sale. \n"I remember a few years ago when Leonardo DiCaprio was popular among the students," Krinsky said. "We could not keep enough of those posters in stock."\nA large array of posters are still available at the sale, so it is not too late to check it out between classes or after you buy your multiple bags of textbooks. Cash and checks are accepted and credit or debit cards can be used for sales over $20. \n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Kaplan at lkaplan@indiana.edu.
(09/03/03 5:55am)
Juliet Reichman has craved a career in advertising for as long as she can remember.\n"When I was seven years old I used to play ad agency with my friends," she said. "We didn't even know what advertising was, so I'm not exactly sure how the game went, but I remember having a lot of fun with it."\nReichman, a junior majoring in Telecommunications with a focus in industry and management, was given a chance to make her game of improvisation a reality this past summer. After a series of interviews over the phone and in-person, Reichman was offered a position as a paid intern at CourtTV in the Ad Sales Marketing department, where she eventually was able to produce a 30-minute television special that will be broadcasted on national television and on the CourtTV Web site.\nThe interns were given the task of producing a project to showcase their abilities in advertising. As a group they were allowed to choose any topic they wanted to represent themselves and eventually perform it at the close of their summer.\nWhen the interns began to work on their project, their first mission was choosing a theme.\nAs a group, they decided to do a spoof on the "Weekend Update" segment of "Saturday Night Live," which they called "CourtTV, After Hours."\nThe interns handled every aspect of the show, including writing, directing, editing, marketing, graphics, research and on-the-air talent. Reichman said working with all of these aspects gave her an incomparable experience that will help her in her career path.\nThe interns were split up into groups and given one of five segments to work on. \n"I worked on 'Top Stories', which made fun of the CourtTV cases that are sometimes extremely out of the ordinary," Reichman said.\nThe project was professionally polished and taped in the actual CourtTV studio and is available for viewing on the CourtTV Web site at www.courttv.com.\nAlthough it may be the most glamorous part of her internship, Reichman had other responsibilities during her internship which was from June through early August.\nReichman started out doing tedious task work. She spent a large amount of time in the "dub center," where she pulled specific tapes of CourtTV for clients, made copies of them and eventually sent them to the prospective business. \nAfter a few solid weeks of hard work, once she began to feel comfortable with her responsibilities, Reichman took on many of her boss's duties in the office.\n"The other CourtTV offices began to e-mail me for new premiums instead of my supervisor and I actually felt like I was working independently at a real job," she said. \nCourtTV boasts an extremely structured internship program. Each week, a head of a department spoke to all 35 interns at a meeting held specifically for them. To apply for a CourtTV internship, log on to www.courttv.com/about/careers/internships.html.\nReichman said she has learned so much about herself through the internship and she has confirmed her desire to pursue a career in advertising.\n"I felt the ad sales department received a lot of respect from the rest of the company," she said. "Since ad sales gains most of the revenue to support CourtTV, I really got to experience some of the most important aspects of the company."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Kaplan at lkaplan@indiana.edu.
(08/29/03 5:41pm)
Junior Andrew Yaffe could not help but breathe a sigh of relief when he took his trip to the IU Bookstore Wednesday.\n"I will never forget my first disastrous experience buying books," he said. "I was a freshman. I had no idea where I was going and when the store clerk asked me what my section number was, I thought he was referring to the location of my dorm."\nEvery year students must face the inevitable task of buying textbooks. Long lines, hot temperatures and costs big enough to wipe out your summer savings are just a few of the problems that often come along with the job. Luckily for Yaffe, there are a few ways to avoid some of these annoyances and make your book-buying experience slightly more enjoyable.\nThe IU Bookstore and T.I.S. College Bookstore Web sites offer the option of reserving books online, which can make the process a lot less stressful.\n"We have to start pulling books, which can become a pretty large task, so we have to stop the reservations in order to give ourselves some organization," said Paul Hazel, store director of the Indiana Memorial Union IU Bookstore.\nThe online reservation service allows students to bill their books to their Bursar account or pay when they purchase them, and online ordering offers additional options, including student school supply packs and study guides. Students can choose to pick up their books from either the IMU or Eigenmann Hall.\nHazel said the average cost of textbooks is between $325 and $350, however it varies depending on student standing, the student's major and the number of used or new books.\n"We do have a number of students who do not spend that much, but there are also some who spend quite a bit more," he said.\nHalf.com, a site started by eBay, recently introduced its first online textbook superstore that sells a large selection of books at discount prices. The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education reported that tuition and required fee charges have risen significantly since 2002 in many states, so students are looking for ways to cut academic expenses.\n"Buying and selling textbooks online is a growing trend among college students looking for ways to cut costs and avoid the hassles of visiting crowded college bookstores at the start of each semester," said Mike Aufricht, vice president of half.com and eBay's entertainment categories.\nOn average a used college textbook at a campus store costs $60.17, while a textbook at half.com is only $24.57.\n"Ordering books online is definitely becoming more popular," sophomore Lindsey Brown said. "The only pitfall is that you lose that much-needed book money by selling back your books at the end of the semester."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Kaplan at lkaplan@indiana.edu
(08/27/03 6:20am)
As freshman Dov Rhodes unpacked his belongings and threw away his trash, he looked around his room in Wright Quad -- his new home for the next nine months -- and said it felt weird to be in college. Rhodes said even as he loaded up his car and left his home in Wilmette, Ill., he felt a mixture of emotions about starting school.\n"Part of me was excited about getting away from my family," he said. "But I also was sad about leaving my friends and nervous about meeting new people."\nRhodes is not alone. Being away from home and in an unfamiliar setting can be quite overwhelming to many new students. It's the resident assistants' and orientation assistants' goal to make these new students feel at home.\n"In terms of basic comfort, resident assistants and orientation assistants decorate their floor bulletin boards and residence halls as well as make themselves readily available during move-in day to point newcomers in the right direction," said Bridget Stenger, assistant director for selection, retention and staff development. "The most important thing is to be really supportive and assure their floor members that it's OK to be nervous."\nFor eight to nine days prior to move-in, RAs go through an intensive training process in order to ensure they are thoroughly prepared for each and every responsibility their job entails. Training sessions educate RAs on policies regarding student disciplinary regulations, proper evacuation of a building and documenting situations within their residence hall. \nRAs also familiarize themselves with the Indiana promise, which is introduced at the Freshman Induction Ceremony. The promise, developed just last year, contains three elements that raise the question, "Who are you going to be at IU?"\nResidential Programs and Services Director Bob Weith said the RAs are trained to uphold the ideals of IU and to teach them to others. He said the training sessions stress the importance of "working in conjunction with student ethics."\nAside from becoming familiar with residence hall policies, the RAs are also taught the importance of enthusiasm toward the newcomers. \nRAs keep students up-to-date about the residence center activities held during the first week. \n"Each center has a different theme and they host an event pertaining to that theme, such as an ice cream social or a band concert," Stenger said.\nRAs spend time getting to know the members of their floor family for the year. Two floor meetings are held prior to the first day of class. Wednesday night, once everyone has settled in, the RA introduces the general rules and information pertaining to their floor. The meeting is also a way to become acquainted with floor mates and play introductory icebreaker games. Sunday night gives the residents a chance to follow up and ask any last minute questions before classes begin. \n"Throughout the week, they learn how to develop a community for their floor and the importance of connecting with the students," said Associate Director of Orientation Melanie Payne.\nOrientation assistants, however, go through a slightly different process. Unlike the RAs, they volunteer their time solely for Welcome Week and start preparing the residence halls for the new students in the early spring.\nPayne said because they don't have the responsibilities of the RAs, they are able to focus on getting students energized and excited about living in the dorms.\n"The OAs help out because of personal enthusiasm," she said. \nThey spend the last few days before move-in working with the RAs to finish building preparations, set up check-in and make sure everything runs smoothly. \n"Both groups are so excited for the new students to arrive and get things going," Payne said. "They have worked so hard to put the freshmen at ease and it is time for them to take credit for it."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Kaplan at lkaplan@indiana.edu.
(08/27/03 5:59am)
Unlike the first day of high school, freshmen discover that coming back to IU doesn't mean hitting the books right away. A week filled with fight songs, live music, outdoor movie screenings, henna tattoos and free food awaits the arrival of the students.\nUpon check-in at their assigned residence hall, students will receive a Welcome Week booklet providing information on the upcoming week's festivities.\n"The basic purpose of Welcome Week is to help students get connected," said Melanie Payne, director of Welcome Week programs. "We want them to feel like they are a part of something a little bit bigger than themselves."\nThe week is centered on three basic aspects: people, places and resources. Every event is planned in a different area of the campus to familiarize new students to IU.\nThe official commencement of the week begins with the traditional Freshman Induction Ceremony at 4:30 p.m. in Assembly Hall.\n"The kickoff event to Welcome Week is the official recognition of the new students being welcomed into the IU family," said Bill Elliot, director of university ceremonies. "It's just a nice way to formally greet them." \nThere are plenty of other opportunities throughout the week that provide students the chance to become acquainted with each other. The induction picnic, following the ceremony, offers free food and gives freshmen a chance to mingle with other newcomers. \n"I'm really looking forward to meeting so many new people," said incoming freshman Jori Weingarten, from South Bend. "I just spent a week at home after attending the Intensive Freshman Seminar program, and it feels great to be back."\nPayne touched on three events that are the most beneficial for new students to attend. \n"If you can't get to every Welcome Week function, the 'big three' to attend are the Induction Ceremony, CultureFest and Traditions and Spirit of IU," she said.\nCultureFest, which takes place at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, is a two-part event stressing the diversity at IU. The event opens in the IU Auditorium with several informative speakers specializing in the culture and history of the University. Students are then given vouchers for free food and other prizes for the second event in the Fine Arts Plaza, outside of the auditorium. Live music, ethnic food, and henna tattoos characterize the event.\nAssembly Hall opens its doors once again at 4:30 p.m. Friday for the Traditions and Spirit of IU. Students will learn the IU fight song, cheers and get a general feel for what sporting events -- particularly basketball games -- are all about.\nThroughout Welcome Week, several student organizations around campus will hold events to educate students on what they're about. The Union Board will host an outdoor screening of "Orange County," a comedy starring Jack Black and Colin Hanks, between Read Center and the Wright Education Building.\nPayne said the basic message at all these events is for students to understand that "when you ask for help at IU, you get it."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.
(06/23/03 1:01am)
It is almost hidden if you're not looking for it. Tucked behind a small sea of trees and a hill of concrete steps lies the William Hammond Mathers Museum of World Cultures. The building houses a charming collection of artifacts from cultures all over the world and is a great place to explore history and escape Bloomington without ever leaving.\nIU students, particularly those studying anthropology, history, folklore, art history or apparel merchandising, also can utilize the museum resourcefully. Work-study, research and volunteer opportunities are regularly available to students, as well as museum studies and practicum classes for students interested in careers involved with museums. \n"I took a class in the Mathers Museum last semester and I had never even heard of it," junior Lauren Abens said. "It was interesting to learn in an environment surrounded by all different kinds of cultures and history." \nThe Mathers Museum hosts many different scheduled activities throughout the year, including group tours, special children's activities and constantly changing exhibits. \nA compilation of black-and-white photographs, entitled, "A View of Bukhara," occupies the stark white wall as you enter the building. The pictures provide a visual tour of the daily life in this ancient city of Uzbekistan. \nThe central room on the main level illustrates the evolution of lifestyles in the Amazon estuary, specifically the community of Caboclos. Large, colorful maps complement bright green walls, and glass cubicles depict daily activities throughout the Amazon. Originally constructed wooden kayaks and fish nets show the popularity of fishing and shrimping, and a sample log cabin creates a typical bedroom and a statue of the activity of manioc, or gardening. The exhibit is known as "Forest Farmers of the Amazon Estuary." This exhibit is only temporary; the artifacts will be on display for another few years, then they will be stored to make way for other exhibits. However, the items in the exhibit will remain part of the permanent collections of the museum and will be available for research purposes.\nEdwardo Brondizio, a professor of anthropology, and his wife, Andrea Siqueira, a post-doctorate researcher, were the people who collected the artifacts for the exhibit, said Judy Kirk, assistant director of the Mathers Museum. \n"They collected the artifacts on an expedition in the summer of 2002, and they were instrumental in putting together the exhibit," she said.\nThe Virgil T. DeVault gallery, also located on the main level of the museum, presently focuses on cultures of the Pacific, particularly the Solomon Islands. Masks, sculptures, vases and other genuine pieces from this region occupy the slightly smaller exhibit room. \nThe lower level of the museum is not readily open to the public and generally requires an escort to provide explanations of a vast variety of even more artifacts. \n"The downstairs is filled with original baskets, African spears, dolls from Russia, China, Germany and Denmark -- I could keep listing forever," said Brooke Wilber, a practicum student in the anthropology department and employee of the museum. "We even have a collection of early Hoosier findings. You wouldn't believe the radios, pottery, wagon wheels and even historical Indiana University memorabilia."\nThe Museum Store sits directly off the main entrance and holds a cluttered assortment of authentic African masks, Turkish cards, writing pens from Chile, animals made of banana fibers and Native American jewelry. As an added bonus, all of the store's merchandise is 25 percent off for the entire month of June. \nThe Mathers Museum is located at 416 N. Indiana Ave. and is open year-round from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit the Mathers Museum Web site at www.indiana.edu/~mathers/.
(06/19/03 12:29am)
Hogwarts and wizards and frogs, oh my! It is no surprise that the release of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the fifth and latest edition in the Harry Potter series, will be a celebratory occasion for many adoring fans. \n"We are thrilled to announce the publication date. 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' is absolutely superb and will delight all J.K. Rowling's fans," said Barbara Marcus, president of Scholastic Children's Books. "She has written a brilliant and utterly compelling new adventure." \nThe book is due on shelves June 21 and many local booksellers already are planning exciting events.\nBarnes and Noble, 2813 E. 3rd St., will host a midnight madness party beginning at 7 p.m. June 20. "We will have several Harry Potter characters in attendance, passing out wands and capes," manager Alex Kornya said. "Potter lovers can also count on an activity involving the infamous sorting hat."\nHoward's Bookstore, 116 Fountain Square, plans on observing the release all day long. Howard's will be open from 9 a.m. until after midnight. The books will be sold at midnight, as the grand finale to the long celebration. Movie screenings of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone" as well as a day full of games and prizes are open to all Potter buffs. Mike Burns, an employee at Howard's, revealed that some of the prizes will include Harry Potter card games, stickers and chocolate frogs. \nBorders Books and Music, 2634 E. 3rd St., has a scheduled itinerary for their elaborate celebration. The kickoff begins at 6 p.m. June 20. Children are encouraged to wear Harry Potter costumes and come with enthusiasm. At 7 p.m., Katie Wolf of the John Waldron Art Center will host a craft activity, in which fans can use their creativity to construct all different kinds of Potter creatures.\nThe Harry Potter Trivia Contest begins at 9 p.m. Prizes such as lightning bolt tattoos, lemon drops, mini gummy frogs and hats will be awarded to those who answer correctly. The costume contest will start at 10 p.m., and more prizes will be handed out for the best costume. At midnight the official selling of the books will begin. \n"We have no real numbers for the quantity we're expecting to sell," said Matthew Monroe, inventory manager. "We do expect a big turn out and approximately an 80 percent pick up rate." As with almost all of their books, Borders took many special pre-orders for the newest edition of Harry Potter and gave customers who pre-ordered a 40 percent discount.\nSome bookstores, however, are taking a more informal approach to the latest edition. One independent bookstore manager commented, "Who's really going to stay awake to read at midnight? Most people are going to bed before it even comes out." \nLess enthusiastic fans may agree and save themselves the hassle of a night of sleep deprivation. \nScholastic Paperbacks, publisher of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," revealed that the book will be approximately one-third longer than the fourth book in the series, with a hefty 255,000 words compared to 191,000 in the fourth book. In the fifth out of seven books in the series, Harry will enter his fifth year at wizard school and will encounter more adventures, more fun and maybe even a new level of trust and respect in his friendships.
(06/09/03 1:25am)
Every year the joy of summer brings us back to lazy days, cookouts and, if you are very lucky, warm weather. There is nothing more exciting than the anticipation of months full of freedom and responsibility, and a possible road trip. \nDetroit, located just about 350 miles north of Bloomington, offers plenty of options for a variety of interests and a variety of budgets. Although the plan of a road trip will undoubtedly result in an odometer increase on your car, the excitement of the "Motor City" will prove to be well worth the sacrifice. \nDetroit is a city that takes pride in its history and has many museums to prove it. The Henry Ford museum, which calls itself "the history destination that brings the American Experience to life," is located in Dearborn, Mich., 20900 Oakwood Blvd., just a 15-minute drive from downtown Detroit.\nThe museum offers five different special attractions, including an IMAX theater, a Ford Rouge Factory Tour and their most famous exhibit, Greenfield Village, an innovative model of past American life. The Henry Ford is open every day from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Special ticket packages and exhibits are available throughout the summer.\nOther historic museums include: The Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, 100 Strand Drive and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, 315 E. Warren Ave. -- all located in the heart of Detroit.\nAfter spending a day inside, you might want to check out an outdoor activity. Comerica Park, 2100 Woodward Ave., is home to the Detroit Tigers baseball team, and is an action-packed venue even when the Tigers are hibernating. The grand opening in 2000 pronounced Comerica Park a combination ballpark, theme park and baseball museum. Complete with a ferris wheel, carousel, walk of fame and several restaurants and lounges, you can easily find a day has gone by after making the most of Comerica Park. General hours run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday. Times vary based on scheduled events. \nLooking to spend your hard earned cash? The Somerset Collection, 2800 W. Big Beaver Rd., provides the ultimate shopping experience. The two-sided mall, complete with an elevated indoor walkway, consists of four core department stores including Marshall Fields, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. \nThe southern side of Somerset typically caters to more high-end shoppers with stores like Gucci, Burberry and Tiffany and Co. The north side consists of more common, middle of the line stores, such as Gap, The Limited, Footlocker and Banana Republic. \nThe mall also encompasses several well-renowned restaurants such as P.F. Chang's, J. Alexander's and The Capital Grille. Beautifully adorned with large marble fountains, enormous skylights and seasonal décor within every department store, The Somerset Collection is truly not your average shopping mall. \nAlthough Bloomington has yet to please us with consistent warm weather, there is no reason to sit around and pout. Taking a mini road trip is the perfect way to take advantage of summer freedom and traveling to Detroit will help you achieve that goal.
(05/29/03 1:29am)
The IU School of Music received its second donation from the Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation last week, which will provide a three-year grant of $345,000 to further the development of the IU String Academy. \nThe School of Music consists of 140 well-renowned teachers and scholars who have undoubtedly provided the basis for IU's four-time ranking by U.S. News and World Report as the No. 1 music school in the nation. Admission to the school is particularly selective, with 1,400 students from the United States and 35 foreign countries studying at the school each year.\nThe previous donation of $1.5 million by the Starling Foundation was received in 1996 in order to launch the first chair in violin studies. Frank M. Starling began the foundation in 1969 in honor of his late wife Dorothy, a professional violinist. The goal of the organization is to give exceptional violin students a chance to take advantage of their capabilities and improve upon their skills. \nThe grant will be used to improve and advance the growth of the IU String Academy, which currently trains students in violin, viola, cello and double bass. Instructors encourage both individual and group sessions for children ages five to 18. Theory and master classes, chamber music and performance opportunities are also essential parts of the academy's curriculum, according to the department's Web site. \n"We are very grateful to the Starling Foundation for honoring the String Academy and recognizing the value of music instruction in a child's early development," said Mimi Zweig, director of the String Academy and IU viola and violin professor. Zweig has developed children's string programs throughout the United States since 1972. \n"(The donation) is absolutely wonderful," Director of Cello Susan Moses said. "Playing string instruments in the pre-college age is the best way to advance in musical ability."\nInstructors of the academy said they stand by their belief that the first years of practice are the most essential, because they set the standard of the performer's future abilities. Zweig, along with two of her fellow faculty members, Hidetaro Suzuki and Paul Roland, have created a curriculum that implements their own theories and methods of teaching to ensure a well-defined learning experience. Their precise techniques provide their students with technical ease and musical sensitivity. Students usually attend lessons weekly and parents are advised to encourage regular practice at home. \nStudents with exceptional abilities or a large drive to play professionally often express desire to be a member of the Violin Virtuosi, the most prestigious group of the IU String Academy. The group consists of 20 violinists between the ages of 10 and 18.\nMembers of the Violin Virtuosi have won many awards for their talent as an ensemble and individually. This summer, the Virtuosi will perform in "Kids Play for Kids," a benefit concert for a children's group of violinists in Harlem, New York, who are coping with financial issues from the aftermath of Sept. 11. \n"Our students wanted to do something to help string players in Harlem continue their instrumental studies and decided a difference could be made in the lives of these young people by performing a benefit concert," Zweig said. "It's our hope that whether a child develops into a professional musician or goes on to pursue another career, he or she will take with them a love and understanding of music developed over many years of study"