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(05/19/08 3:13pm)
More than 700 runners, walkers and cyclists gathered at Bill Armstrong Stadium on Saturday morning to show their support in fighting cancer at the first annual Coach Hep Indiana Cancer Challenge. The Challenge included a 5K run, 40K cycle, 100K cycle and 40K cycle/5K run event for those who wanted a more competitive experience. A 2K walk was also held for those who simply wanted to honor their loved ones.\nThe idea for the Coach Hep Cancer Challenge came about when local physician Rick Schilling decided he wanted to create an event to help fight cancer. Schilling, an avid bike rider, lost his father-in-law and a close family friend to cancer.\nHe began tossing around ideas for an event that would be in the same vein as the IU Dance Marathon and the IU Relay for Life. Schilling said he met with Jane Hoeppner, the wife of the late IU football coach Terry Hoeppner, in November 2006 and the two began sharing ideas.\n“Jane’s been great,” he said. “The whole process has really been a great thing.”\nSchilling said there was a long process that goes into planning an event like the Challenge. First, they had to determine what kind of event they would put on. He said they ultimately wanted everyone to be able to come honor their loved ones and make a difference while participating in a fun event. With that, the idea to make the Coach Hep Challenge a mix of cycling, running and walking was born.\n“We wanted to create an IU and Bloomington community family event destination,” he said. “With this kind of event, you want to have something for everyone.”\nSchilling and the volunteer committee had to do a great deal of planning to put on a cycling, running and walking event. He said there are many issues involved in planning this kind of event including safety, making and marking the route, traffic control, obtaining city permits and posting signs and maps.\nThe event had more than 60 volunteers, designated by Challenge volunteer T-shirts, who helped register participants and ensure the event went smoothly. The IU Police Department also volunteered its services for the event.\nAt the conclusion of the 5K run, participants enjoyed a catered barbecue and live music from Illinois band Dan Hubbard and the Humadors.\n“We wanted to make sure it was a fun event but also one that’s inspirational,” Schilling said.\nBy registering for the event, participants were able to set their own pledge amount for their fund-raising goal and were awarded with prizes for reaching various donation amounts. The money raised from the event will be donated to the IU Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis and the Olcott Center for Cancer Education in Bloomington to help in cancer research and education, Schilling said.\nSeveral members of IU Athletics were at the Challenge to show their support for Coach Hep and the fight against cancer. Many IU football players were in attendance wearing their jerseys in support. Most players talked to participants – one even played football with the younger children at the event. IU football coach Bill Lynch, Jane Hoeppner and IU basketball coach Tom Crean were also in attendance. \nEric Boger and John Henne made the trip from Indianapolis to participate in the Challenge. Boger and Henne, who are Kelley School of Business alumni, said they wanted to show their support for the cause. \n“We support IU and support the coach,” Henne said. “And it’s a great reason to come back to Bloomington and enjoy a great day.”\nSchilling said because this was the inaugural year for the Coach Hep Cancer Challenge, the biggest goal was name recognition and getting people excited about the event.\n“The goal was to present a professional, well put-on event,” he said. “I think we did that. Overall, it was a great day.”\nSchilling wants to build on the success of this year’s Challenge by making it an annual event. He said he plans on meeting with the committee within the next week to evaluate this year’s event and begin goal setting and planning for next year’s Challenge. Schilling said he would like to see more student participation in next year’s event, which is scheduled for next May.\n“A big goal for next year is to get more students involved in the event,” he said. “So we are definitely making plans to market more towards students.”
(05/05/08 2:17am)
When viewed in context, the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini- Marathon is quite a paradox. According to the 500 Festival Web site, “the mission of the 500 Festival is to produce events and programs that celebrate the success of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.” \nFor anyone who has made their way to Speedway, Ind., on Memorial Day weekend, they know the Greatest Spectacle in Racing is also one of the Greatest Spectacles in Partying: a weekend full of beer drinking, grilling out, cornhole and cutoff-jeans shorts. So a fitness event like the Indianapolis Mini Marathon, which draws more than 35,000 health-conscious runners and walkers, seems like an odd choice to “celebrate” a weekend of debauchery.\nBut as a true Indianapolis native, this 21-year-old, somewhat-active college student decided to participate in both events for the second year in a row. Here’s a mile-by-mile breakdown of this year’s Mini from a runner’s perspective.\n6:50 a.m.: I arrive in downtown Indianapolis. “I should have gotten more sleep,” I think as I slowly step out of the car.\n7:06 a.m.: I make my way to my designated start area. Through the crowd I can see a Subway. “I wonder if Jared’s here.” (After the race, I find out he was.) Beach balls are floating over the crowd.\n7:31 a.m.: The walk to the starting line begins. I cross the line more than 5 minutes after the front of the pack. Runners range from eight to 80. \nMile 1: As the race starts, we pass Victory Field, the NCAA Hall of Champions and the Indianapolis Zoo. A bagpiper plays as I watch unregistered runners jump into the pack.\nMile 2: Another thing about the Mini are the many music acts lining the streets. Were there this many bands last year? I keep a count: 18 so far. A 10-year-old passes me.\nMile 3: My legs are tight. I spill my first cup of Gatorade all over me. Ten more miles. \nMile 4: I haven’t run this long in a while. Maybe I should slow down a bit. A large, seemingly out-of-shape bald man passes me. I keep my pace. \nMile 5: As a Christian rap group cheers on runners in the middle of the road, I spot two guys dressed as Superman and Spiderman. Those suits must be hot.\nMile 6: We approach the Motor Speedway. The last time I went down 16th street into the track, I was carrying a cooler. \nMile 7: A big screen at the track shows the finishers cross the line in just more than 1 hour and 2 minutes. I approach the front stretch of the track. I spot my usual race-day seats. \nMile 8: The musical acts have been replaced by grade-school cheerleaders. If a group of 13-year-old cheerleaders tell me I can do it, then I can do it. I start to get my second wind.\nMile 9: Who here is 50? a man in front of me yells. He receives a few cheers in response from the mass of runners. I’m 47, another man yells. Close enough. I speed up.\nMile 10: Band No. 54 is the second group to play Tom Petty’s “Last Dance with Mary Jane.” I count a Scandinavian polka band as No. 55. \nMile 11: I get my third wind as a Colonel Sanders look-alike watches on from the side of the road. I’m legitimately creeped out. A table is handing out small cups of beer. I think about it, but it’s Keystone Light.\nMile 12: I started to kick up the pace, partly from adrenaline but mostly from wanting to be done. Soon I can stop. \nFINISH: I’m in a full sprint for the last .1 mile, or as fast as a sprint can be after 13 miles. The road is lined with tons of people cheering. I dodge a guy who stops before the finish line. It’s over. Three weeks till the 500.
(03/22/07 4:00am)
Neil Young deserves every credit he has received over the years. A versatile artist, Young is a true musical chameleon; playing with Buffalo Springfield in the '60s, becoming a folk star as a solo artist in the '70s and earning the title of "the godfather of grunge" with his backing band Crazy Horse.\nLive at Massey Hall, the second official release from Neil Young's Archives Performance Series, is the purest example of the singer/songwriter side of Young. The album, which captures the second show of a two-night performance at Toronto's legendary Massey Hall, was recorded in February of 1971 -- sandwiched between Young's 1970's After The Gold Rush and 1972's Harvest.\nThe bulk of the songs on the album were brand new at the time, including five songs that would eventually find their way on to "Harvest" a year later.\n"I'm gonna sing mostly new songs tonight," Young said to a cheering crowd. "Maybe only a couple more old ones. But I have written so many new ones that I can't think of anything else to do with 'em other than sing 'em."\nThe album as a whole has a truly natural feeling, stripped down to the songwriter and his guitar and piano. Hearing Young in this setting proves his skilled abilities as a songwriter.\nYoung starts off the show with "Tell Me Why" and an early version of "Old Man," where he shows his abilities as a singer with an outstanding vocal performance during the chorus. "A Man Needs a Maid/ Heart of Gold Suite" is a unique listen for any Neil Young fan, in which Young, accompanied solely by his piano, combines both future Harvest cuts into one seamless song.\nYoung has the Toronto crowd cheering in delight during two hometown callouts during "Journey Through The Past" and "Helpless," which sounds quite different without the backing vocals found on the album version.\nAs good as the album is, the CD/DVD combo does have its drawbacks. The concert DVD itself has very little concert footage and uses old photos and random Young footage to fill the gaps. However, the album, with its intimate sound, is worth the purchase as it shows one of the best singer/songwriters in his prime.
(02/01/07 5:00am)
Built in 1941, the Cow Palace, originally known as the California State Livestock Pavilion, functioned as a home for cattle before becoming a popular indoor arena. The venue has seen numerous legendary musical acts, including The Beatles, The Doors, Pink Floyd and Nirvana, and developed a lustrous history for hosting legendary shows. (Neil Young's 1978 Live Rust album was recorded at the Cow Palace). \nRhino Records' official release of the Grateful Dead's 1976 performance at the Cow Palace shows the Dead playing one of the best New Year's shows of their career. \nAfter a short introduction by KSAN DJ Glenn Lambert, the pre-midnight show kicks off in typical Dead fashion with a solid version of Chuck Berry's "Promised Land." The first set lasts about an hour and contains several Dead staples, including "Deal," "Bertha" and a particularly long (23:12) and driving performance of "Playing In The Band."\nThe second set starts with the countdown to 1977, before the Dead ring in the new year with a lively "Sugar Magnolia." From here on, the Dead are truly running on all cylinders; playing a faster "Eyes of the World," a rousing "Good Lovin'" and a funky "Scarlet Begonias." An emotional "Morning Dew" rounds out the second set, but a three-song encore -- "One More Saturday Night," "Uncle John's Band" and "We Bid You Goodnight" -- keeps the music playing for almost 20 more minutes.\nThe album is mixed from the original 16-track master tapes and was co-produced by James Austin and David Lemieux, who has acted as the "gatekeeper" of the Grateful Dead vault for the past eight years. Lemieux also wrote a forward that appears in the liner notes. Lambert, who co-hosted the live broadcast of the original concert for KSAN, contributed to the liner notes as well. Both men provide interesting personal takes on this epic show.\nThe only thing that isn't special about this phenomenal three-disc set is the $30 price tag, but you definitely get what you pay for in this release. The sound quality is excellent, especially for Deadheads accustomed to crowd-taped shows. Garcia and company are clearly on their game at this incredible show. Cow Palace holds its own with some of the previous official releases such as 1991's One From the Vault and 2004's Rockin' the Rhein with the Grateful Dead. It's a solid pickup for anyone looking for a high-quality Dead recording.
(02/01/07 3:09am)
Built in 1941, the Cow Palace, originally known as the California State Livestock Pavilion, functioned as a home for cattle before becoming a popular indoor arena. The venue has seen numerous legendary musical acts, including The Beatles, The Doors, Pink Floyd and Nirvana, and developed a lustrous history for hosting legendary shows. (Neil Young's 1978 Live Rust album was recorded at the Cow Palace). \nRhino Records' official release of the Grateful Dead's 1976 performance at the Cow Palace shows the Dead playing one of the best New Year's shows of their career. \nAfter a short introduction by KSAN DJ Glenn Lambert, the pre-midnight show kicks off in typical Dead fashion with a solid version of Chuck Berry's "Promised Land." The first set lasts about an hour and contains several Dead staples, including "Deal," "Bertha" and a particularly long (23:12) and driving performance of "Playing In The Band."\nThe second set starts with the countdown to 1977, before the Dead ring in the new year with a lively "Sugar Magnolia." From here on, the Dead are truly running on all cylinders; playing a faster "Eyes of the World," a rousing "Good Lovin'" and a funky "Scarlet Begonias." An emotional "Morning Dew" rounds out the second set, but a three-song encore -- "One More Saturday Night," "Uncle John's Band" and "We Bid You Goodnight" -- keeps the music playing for almost 20 more minutes.\nThe album is mixed from the original 16-track master tapes and was co-produced by James Austin and David Lemieux, who has acted as the "gatekeeper" of the Grateful Dead vault for the past eight years. Lemieux also wrote a forward that appears in the liner notes. Lambert, who co-hosted the live broadcast of the original concert for KSAN, contributed to the liner notes as well. Both men provide interesting personal takes on this epic show.\nThe only thing that isn't special about this phenomenal three-disc set is the $30 price tag, but you definitely get what you pay for in this release. The sound quality is excellent, especially for Deadheads accustomed to crowd-taped shows. Garcia and company are clearly on their game at this incredible show. Cow Palace holds its own with some of the previous official releases such as 1991's One From the Vault and 2004's Rockin' the Rhein with the Grateful Dead. It's a solid pickup for anyone looking for a high-quality Dead recording.
(01/25/07 5:40am)
The deadline for applications to serve as the next student trustee is coming -- and so far only one person has applied. \nSo far, the board of trustees' office has only received one application. However, Robin Gress, secretary of the board of trustees, said she expects the majority of the applications to be turned in on the day of the deadline.\n"In the last several searches we've had between 20 and 35 applications per search," she said, "and most of them have come in on the Friday due date."\nFriday marks the last day students can turn in their application to replace outgoing Casey Cox on the IU board of trustees. \nCox, a third-year law student, will end his term this spring, and the next student trustee will begin his or her term July 1.\nThe student trustee holds the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as any other trustee. The trustees are IU's governing board, legal owner and final authority, according to the trustees' Web site. The selected student trustee must participate in nine board meetings a year, serve on board committees, act in various University engagements and ceremonies, and work on any assigned tasks for a two-year term, according to a IU news release.\nThe application process is governed by state law, which mandates that a committee made up of student representatives from each of IU's eight campuses and a representative from the governor's office review the applications and select 10 individuals. They pass those 10 people on to the governor, who makes the final decision, according to the Web site. \nTerra Haute attorney James Bopp Jr., who worked on the 2005 IU Student Trustee Search and Screen Committee, will serve as the governor's representative in the 2007 search.\nAny student, undergraduate or graduate, enrolled at an IU campus may apply for the student position on the nine-person board. The individual must be a full-time student for the duration of his or her term.\nGress said the committee will look for leadership experience, campus experience, community involvement and a candidate's ability to work with teams and colleagues in collaborative efforts. Past student trustees have exemplified many of these qualities, she said.\n"The students, who apply for the position and go through the whole process, really are outstanding students," Gress said. "They're oftentimes leaders on their campuses and in their communities, and they all bring really superb qualifications, and they all have done a terrific job and are really outstanding student leaders."\nAlthough there is only one student on the board of nine trustees, Gress said the student trustee serves an equal role in the group. In the past, other trustees have held the student representatives in high regard.\nGress said the student-trustee position is a great chance for individuals to become acquainted with legislation, budget setting and university-wide policy. She said the position is fitting for those students interested in getting involved with university decisions. \n"I think it's a fabulous opportunity (for students) to work with the entire university, not just their campus, but the entire university, to begin to get a sense of what it takes to run an institution with a $2 billion dollar budget and roughly 100,000 students over eight campuses in the state," she said. "It's a great opportunity."\nCox told the Indiana Daily Student in October 2006 that he holds his time as a student trustee in high regard and said it has been the greatest leadership experience of his life.\n"To be in such a position as a student, to participate in such a high level of governance and to help drive the agenda at this institution, is very special," he said\nApplications are still available online at www.indiana.edu/~trustees and in several locations on each IU campuses, including the IUSA and board of trustees offices in the Indiana Memorial Union.
(01/11/07 5:37am)
The number of international students studying at U.S. universities is on the rise, and IU is no exception. \nSince fall 2005, IU has seen a 10 percent increase in foreign students, according to recent data from the International Student & Scholar Statistical Reports released by IU's Office of International Services. The number of international doctoral and MBA students is on the rise as well, with increases in the past year of 1.5 percent and 8.6 percent, respectively. \nJenny Bowen, assistant director for student services at the Office of International Services, said the University is pleased with the growing number of international students on IU's campus. Bowen said since 1999, the University has seen a 32 percent increase in international students, which is significantly higher than the national average of 9.7 percent. \nThere are currently 3,540 international students enrolled at IU, according to the report.\n"We are seeing increases in the number of international students on the Bloomington campus and IU is definitely ahead of the national curve," she said. "We are just thrilled."\nBowen said bringing international students to IU helps expose American students to other cultures while at the same time giving foreign students the chance to have a unique educational experience. Bowen said international students help enrich the campus in many ways and cited the large number of foreign students working as assistant instructors and teachers' assistants.\n"International students bring a great deal of talent and outside-the-box thinking to the University," she said.\nIU was ranked 17th on the list of Top 20 U.S. Institutions with the Largest Number of International Students. IU ranks below fellow Big Ten schools Purdue University, No. 3; University of Illinois, No. 6; University of Michigan, No. 7 and Ohio State University, No. 9, according to the Institute of International Education report. The University of Southern California ranked first on the list with 6,881 international students. \nBowen said it was former IU President Herman B Wells who initially started the idea of "bringing the world to Indiana." However, until a couple years ago, the University relied mainly on word of mouth to attract foreign students to IU, she said. \nThe number of international students enrolled at IU dropped for two years after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks because of concerns about travel safety, but began to rise again at the start of the fall 2003 semester, according to a Sept. 29, 2005 Indiana Daily Student article. \nToday IU has an international recruiter, Candice Progler, who helps attract international students to campus. Progler was unable to respond before press time.
(01/05/07 4:27am)
Construction has begun at the site of a new University garage that IU officials hope will alleviate the growing parking problem on campus. \nThe parking garage, which is being constructed on the corner of Henderson Street and Atwater Avenue, will add more than 400 new parking spots on the southwest side of campus. The 4 1/2 level garage will also house offices for IU Parking Operations.\nThe stretch of Fess Street between Third Street and Atwater Avenue is closed to traffic and will remain closed for the duration of the project, which University architect Robert Meadows said will last until August. The garage is scheduled to be open in time for the fall semester. \nThe location was chosen based on a study conducted by IU Parking Operations. The study compared the number of employees in each area of campus with the number of parking spots available, said Maggie Whitlow, director of IU Transportation Services. The southwest quadrant had the greatest lack of parking on campus with about 600 parking spots needed, she said.\nMeadows said the opening of the Simon Hall Life Sciences Building is also a big reason for the garage. Simon Hall, which will be turned over to the University by the general contractor in May, will add around 400 new employees to the already highly populated area. \nThe garage is to be used mainly for employees and will require an A permit to park in the building. Whitlow said that there has been talk of making the garage available for pay parking in addition to the A-permit parking, but the official decision has not yet been made.\nBecause the garage will be the first thing people see on IU's campus when traveling east on Atwater Avenue, the University wanted to make sure the new building will be a pleasant addition to the campus, Meadows said. \n"This is the most thought-out parking garage on campus," he said.\nThe building will be constructed with a limestone exterior and is designed to match the collegiate Gothic style of the rest of the campus buildings. \n"If you can call a parking garage handsome, this is definitely a handsome building," Meadows said. "A lot of effort and concern went into the design of this building."\nRobert Clift, a graduate student at IU who lives on Atwater just east of Fess Street, said he was unaware that the construction across the street was for a new parking garage. Clift said if IU needs that much parking then the University should work on better means of transportation for employees. Creating alternative ways to get employees to and from campus would reduce the need for additional parking instead of constructing a large parking garage which will block the view of residents in the surrounding neighborhood, he said.\n"I haven't seen the plans for it yet but it's probably going to be an eyesore," he said. "It's a shame that the people who chose to live in walking distance to campus are the ones having to suffer with looking at an eyesore everyday"
(12/08/06 4:48am)
A group of Purdue students, with support from IU's No Sweat! and others, is attempting to persuade the University to stop using what they call sweatshop labor to make Boilermaker apparel.\nToday marks the 21st day of the hunger strike led by 17 Purdue students in an attempt to get Purdue President Martin Jischke to sign the Designated Suppliers Program, which will ensure that Purdue logo apparel is made in factories where workers are free to join unions, earn a living wage and where the established code of conduct is followed.\nThe Purdue students have said that their strike will continue until the university signs the Designated Suppliers Program, according to a news release from the group. \n"The idea behind the hunger strike is that this issue is pressing enough that action needs to be taken now," said Mark Franciose, a member of Purdue Organization for Labor Equality who is taking part in the fast. "The hunger strike is a way of showing the urgency of the situation."\nRepresentatives from the group met with Jischke on Thursday, when they presented him with petitions signed by people who support the Designated Suppliers Program. Jischke said that he will make a decision within a week's time, Franciose said. The group is optimistic that Jischke will make his decision sooner.\n"We hope he considers all the support that has been shown by the community and the student body," Fransciose said.\nIU's labor rights group, No Sweat! showed its support for the Purdue hunger strikers by protesting at the Purdue University Extension Service office at 119 W. Seventh St. in Bloomington on Nov. 29. 25 members of the group also participated in a one-day solidarity fast that day, according to a press release from the group.\nNo Sweat! member Jacob Mazer said the solidarity fast was a way to show the students at Purdue they are not alone in their mission. \n"We have worked with the Purdue Organization for Labor Equality a lot," he said. "They are people that we know very well, not just politically but also personally."\nThe Designated Supplier Program became an issue last fall on the IU campus when No Sweat began campaigning for the University to move in the direction of labor rights in the production of University merchandise, Mazer said. The program was passed by IU President Adam Herbert last spring and right now is still in the process of implementation.\nMazer said No Sweat! played a major role in making the Designated Supplier Program a reality at IU. \n"We did a variety of actions to help raise awareness about the Designated Supplier Program," he said. "But mostly it was just about going out and talking to people and letting them know about the issues that were going on."\nMazer said he has a personal interest in human rights and especially workers' rights and said No Sweat is a worthwhile and influential student group on campus.\n"It is really important because we have a lot of power as students," Mazer said. "Our individual buying powers don't amount to much, but the schools we go to, and that we pay for, tend to have huge contracts with apparel manufacturers, and, as students, we have a lot of leverage to negotiate how our university does business."\nFranciose said the hunger strike is similar to most fasts of its kind. Participants are refraining from eating solid food and are augmenting their diets with liquids such as juice and water. In addition, some individuals are taking multivitamins as supplements.\nPurdue students have been quite responsive to the hunger strike, Franciose said. As of Wednesday, the group has obtained more than 1,600 physical petition signatures in addition to the 1,200 signatures the group received online at its Web site, www.purduehungerstrike.org.\nNot everyone is as sympathetic to the issue Franciose and his friends are promoting, he said. While several individuals have shown support by bringing supplies such as juice and water, some are more negative toward the campaign. He said his group has had some critics express their disapproval with one group of students even resorting to throwing Taco Bell food at the hunger strike participants.\n"I think the campus as a whole has been pretty receptive to our mission," Franciose said. "There are hecklers, of course"
(11/20/06 3:58am)
Purdue might have snatched the Oaken Bucket out of IU's grasp at the football game Saturday, but the Hoosiers didn't leave West Lafayette empty-handed. \nIU won the annual Indiana vs. Purdue Blood Donor Challenge for the second year in a row. \nIU alumni, students and fans donated 4,700 units of blood, topping the 3,895 units donated by Purdue supporters, according to an IU press release. The total of 8,595 units donated is a record for the competition, surpassing the previous record of 7,669 set last year. \nThe Blood Donor Challenge began in 1997 in Indianapolis when the Central Indiana chapter of the IU Alumni Association and the Purdue Alumni Association teamed up with the Indiana Blood Center for a competitive blood drive, said Bridget E. Sutton, director of programs for IUAA. The challenge started off small but has grown little by little each year and now covers the entire state, she said. \nThis marks the 10th year the rival schools have faced off in the blood drive. Purdue leads the series 6-4. \nThis year's challenge kicked off Sept. 18. Participants could donate blood in the name of either university at Indiana Blood Centers, the American Red Cross or at several other locations throughout the state, according to the press release. The challenge ended Nov. 10. \nJane Hoeppner, wife of IU football coach Terry Hoeppner, and Arnette Tiller, wife of Purdue football coach Joe Tiller, acted as honorary chairwomen for the 2006 Blood Donor Challenge. Hoeppner and Tiller presented the traveling trophy -- a replica of the Old Oaken Bucket -- to IU at halftime of Saturday's game. Stan Fox, chairman of the IU Alumni Association, and Sutton accepted the trophy on behalf of the IUAA. \nBoth schools will be honored with a silver medal for "Best Collaborative Program" at the annual conference of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The award honoring the success of the Blood Donor Challenge will be presented at the organization's conference Dec. 10-12 in Chicago.\nSophomore Angela Battafarano said she wishes she could have participated in the drive but was unable to because she doesn't meet the minimum weight requirement of 110 pounds to give blood. She said blood donations are extremely important and she appreciates those who donate. \n"The blood drive is a good cause because it helps people who really need it," Battafarano said. "My mom had to have a blood transfusion, and if it wouldn't have been for people donating blood, she could have died"
(11/16/06 3:48am)
A program sponsored by the IU Alumni Association will give students the chance to sharpen their leadership skills and to network with others during a six-day leadership institute. \nIU's campus session of the LeaderShape Institute will be held Jan. 2 to 7 at the Waycross Camp and Conference Center in Morgantown, Ind. \nThe highly acclaimed LeaderShape Institute is a learning experience that works to shape college students into skilled leaders, according to the group's Web site. Since 1986, more than 20,000 participants from around the world, including more than 18,000 students from more than 500 colleges and universities across the United States, have graduated from the program. \nSondra Inman, IU Alumni Association director of student programs and program coordinator for the upcoming IU campus session of the LeaderShape Institute, said IU first offered the session in 2000. She said student leaders of the Student Alumni Association had previously attended national sessions of the program, and their positive experience led to a movement to bring the program to IU. This will be the sixth time a session has been held exclusively for IU students, Inman said. \nInman's personal experiences and the reactions she has heard from students who have graduated from the program reflect a positive outlook on the LeaderShape Institute. \n"I have been involved with the program since 2005 and only know of students who have had an amazing experience," Inman said in an e-mail. "I participated as a member of the facilitator team in the summer of 2005, and that week stands out as the single most powerful and life-affirming time of my life."\nJunior Kristen King, president of the Student Alumni Association, said she applied to the institute early in her college career to get more involved on campus. \n"I wanted to get more involved and be more active on campus," King said. "The institute is free, and I wanted to take full advantage of the opportunity." \nInman said the cost for the six-day program, about $1,450 per person, is covered by IU through sponsors including the IU Alumni Association, Procter & Gamble, the Office of the President, the IU Foundation, IU Student Association and Residential Programs and Services. \nKing said the program is designed around a variety of self-assessment, leadership and team activities that participants complete. During the week, she said, participants are separated into small groups called "family clusters" that consist of 10 to 12 individuals. \n"There are a lot of personality tests and a variety of leadership and team-building activities during the six days," King said, "but everything is geared around the same concept of creating a visions statement of how you want to impact your life, school or the organizations you're involved in." \nKing pointed out memorable events during the activities, such as skits and a team-building rope course she completed. \nKing said since the institute cuts into winter break, some people might be turned off from attending the program but said she still feels it is worth attending. \nSenior Sean Cork, vice president of leadership development for the Student Alumni Association, said he has been working to raise awareness about the LeaderShape Institute and the benefits students can receive by attending. So far, Cork has spoken to about 30 different student groups on campus. He also said he has asked several faculty members, who have shown great leadership, to attend the event as team facilitators. \nCork has attended the LeaderShape Institute in the past as well and said the program does a great job of teaching important leadership skills as well as long-term goal planning and networking. \nApplications for the LeaderShape Institute are due Friday. Students can apply online at www.alumni.indiana.edu/saa. Faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate students for the program by contacting Inman at seinman@indiana.edu.
(11/13/06 3:53am)
Even though he is bound to his wheelchair, Keith Cavill, one of the stars of the award-winning documentary "Murderball," maintains he is not restricted to it. \nSpeaking to an audience of more than 50 people in the Whittenberger Auditorium Friday, Cavill shared his story about being a quadriplegic rugby player. \nThe event, hosted by the Union Board, featured a question-and-answer session with Cavill following a screening of the film. \nCavill, a 25-year-old New Jersey native, suffered a broken neck after a motocross accident in 2003. His rehabilitation process and adjustment to life in a wheel chair is documented throughout the film. \nAfter the screening, Cavill spoke candidly about his life as a quadriplegic and his experiences with quad rugby. He also talked in depth about how he became involved in the filming of "Murderball." \n"I think things happen for a reason," Cavill said. "They (directors Henry-Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro) wanted to show someone who was going through the rehabilitation process, and I guess I had a decent enough attitude, but I wasn't sugar-coating anything." \nCavill said every quadriplegic and paraplegic goes through a step-by-step process of learning how to cope with the outside world. He said that after he left rehabilitation, he was shocked at how much he had to adjust to his new way of life. \n"You start to realize the little things that people take for granted or don't even think about," Cavill said.\nCavill said his status as a celebrity has been bittersweet, as he said it helped him spread the word about spinal cord injuries while disproving some stereotypes about people with disabilities. However, he said the status also exposed him to many disingenuous people. \n"You meet a lot of fake people, and you meet a lot of real people," Cavill said. "It definitely has had its ups and downs. I have just geared myself to spreading the word (about the disability)." \nCavill began his quadriplegic rugby career after the filming of "Murderball" and now plays for his local team, the New York Jets. Cavill said playing quad rugby has helped him deal with his injury and given him a chance to talk with others like him. \n"Quad rugby became my outlet," Cavill said. "I wasn't alone in my injury anymore." \nCavill said some of his teammates joked about him being in the film and that his team even nicknamed him "Hollywood" because of his role in the movie. He said although there are people of all different skill levels and physical abilities on the team, everyone still treats each other the same because of the bond they share through their disabilities. \n"We're all equals out there, and when you get on the court, you don't think about all the things you can and cannot do," he said. \nDuring the question-and-answer session, Cavill introduced his best friend and teammate from the Jets, Matt Castelluccio, who helped answer questions and give another perspective about the disability. \nCastelluccio said IU was the third stop on a six-campus tour this fall. He and Cavill are speaking at colleges to help raise awareness about quadriplegics and help erase stereotypes about people with disabilities, Castelluccio said. He said the tour has been going great and so far their audiences have been quite receptive to their message. \n"I think people truly walk away with a new opinion about disabilities," Castelluccio said. \nSenior Laura Burke attended the event Friday because she wanted to see the movie and hear about quadriplegics from someone with the disability. Burke, a therapeutic recreation major, has an internship in a spinal cord injury unit in San Diego this summer and said she learned a lot hearing Cavill and Castelluccio talk about their lives as quadriplegics. \n"I really wanted to see the movie, and working with spinal cord injury patients is what I really want to do, so I want to learn as much as I can," Burke said.
(11/02/06 6:15am)
A new public affairs fellowship program named in honor of IU President Emeritus John W. Ryan aims to attract the most gifted graduate students from across the globe to IU's School of Public and Environmental Affairs. \nThe John W. Ryan Fellowships will provide four annual fellowship awards to graduate students working on a SPEA degree. As part of the program, each award recipient will get the chance to work with state or local government agencies in Indiana or with a nonprofit organization to examine key issues and recommend solutions for the surrounding community, according to an IU press release. \nThe idea for a fellowship program came about when SPEA approached the IU Foundation about creating a program in honor of Ryan. Ryan was the president of IU when SPEA was founded. At the time, it was the first new school on campus in more than 30 years, said Curt Simic, president of the IU Foundation. The school would not have been established if it weren't for Ryan's influential work with the board of trustees and state legislature, he said. \nThere has yet to be a final decision on how the fellowships will be awarded to students, but the first awards are expected to be given out next school year, said Jennifer Cohen, manager of media relations for SPEA. \n"At this point, we're still in the fund-raising stages for the fellowship and haven't awarded any of the money to students yet," Cohen said in an e-mail. \nThe fellowship program is being funded strictly through private gifts donated by alumni and close friends of Ryan, Simic said. The original fund-raising goal, set at $1 million, has already been surpassed, but the fund is still open, and additional gifts are welcome, he said. \nSimic said the generous amount of donations shows how much people care about Ryan and what he has done for IU. \n"There is a lot of admiration for him and his leadership over the 16 years he was IU's president," he said.\nAstrid Merget, dean of SPEA, said the fellowship program is a way to honor Ryan's contributions to IU. \n"John (Ryan) believed that it was the responsibility of Indiana University to serve the state, the nation and the world," Merget said. "This is a tribute and a thank you to a great man for his vision and leadership"
(10/24/06 6:22am)
A unique leadership opportunity for IU students begins as IU starts the process of finding the next student to serve on the board of trustees.\nThird-year law student and current student trustee Casey B. Cox's two-year term ends this spring, and applications to fill the student representative position are now available.\nAccording to the trustees' Web site, the student trustee holds the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as any other member of the board of trustees -- which is IU's governing board, legal owner and final authority. The selected student trustee must participate in nine board meetings a year, serve on board committees, act in various University engagements and ceremonies and work on any assigned tasks for a two-year term, according to a press release from IU. \nAll trustees receive a $50 daily stipend for each University appointment they attend, including board meetings.\nThe application process is governed by state law, which mandates that a committee comprised of student representatives from each of IU's campuses and a representative from the governor's office review the applications and select 10 individuals who they will pass on to the governor to make the final decision. Attorney James Bopp Jr., who worked on the 2005 IU Student Trustee Search and Screen Committee, will serve as the governor's representative in the 2007 search. \nAlthough 14 of the past 16 student trustees have been graduate students, any full-time student who will remain at IU for the duration of his or her term is eligible for the position. Robin Gress, secretary of the board of trustees, said prior experience in student groups and University organizations is important for a potential student trustee. She added that it is the graduate students that more often have the experience needed.\n"It's not so much about being a graduate student, but what the committee and the governor look for is maturity," Gress said.\nGress said she has worked with the last three or four student trustees and added that each individual has a unique opportunity to shape University policy. She said the student trustee is a full member of the board and past students have always felt valued by other trustee members.\n"I have talked to Casey (Cox), and he has said that he has always been treated with absolute respect from the other board members," she said. \nCox said his responsibilities basically equaled working a full-time job but said the time requirements amount to however much the student wants to put into it. \nIU trustee Sue Talbot said the student trustee acts as a voice for students on the board and at \nvarious forums and meetings with University organizations. She said the student trustee's input is highly valued among the other trustees. \n"All board members have been (a) student of IU at one time, but the student trustee gives us a student prospective that is current," Talbot said. "It's really a privilege for us to have a student on the board."\nTalbot said Cox has been an outstanding student trustee and said his involvement with student government helped him develop relationships with several trustees prior to being selected for his current position. His time as IU Student Association student body president was an excellent opportunity to learn how to collaborate and arrive at informed decisions, Talbot said.\nSince the student trustee is selected through a well-structured search process, each of the past student representatives has been extremely competent, Talbot said. The ability to listen and build relationships with board members are skills she said a student trustee must have. She also said leadership skills and previous participation in University functions as a student leader will help the selected individual make a smooth transition into the trustee role.\n"With so many veteran trustees on the board, it can be quite intimidating for a student to work on the board, so any experience working with trustees and University officials prior to holding the student trustee position would be beneficial," Talbot said. \nGress said she encourages anybody who is interested to apply but also said the trustee position might not be the right opportunity for a student who has not been involved in University affairs in some way in the past. \n"It is an excellent way to learn about the University from a unique perspective," she said. "It is an opportunity to set important policies for the University, and the new student trustee will be coming into office at the same time as the new president of the University, so I think it is a tremendous opportunity."\nCox's term ends when the next elected student begins his or her term July 1, 2007. He said he holds his time as a student trustee in high regard and said it has been the greatest leadership experience of his life.\n"To be in such a position as a student, to participate in such a high level of governance and to help drive the agenda at this institution is very special," he said. \nApplications are available online at www.indiana.edu/~trustees and in the several offices and locations on each of IU's campuses, including the IUSA and board of trustees offices in the Indiana Memorial Union.
(10/10/06 3:40am)
In an effort to expand relations with some of the world's leading universities, IU interim Provost Michael McRobbie embarked Saturday on an eight-day trip to Tokyo to visit three of Japan's top higher-education institutions. \nMcRobbie will meet with administrators and faculty members at Rikkyo University, Waseda University and the University of Tokyo -- three schools that make up half of the Tokyo institutions often referred to as Japan's elite colleges. The goal of the trip is to expand the exchange of faculty and students, increase collaborative research endeavors and improve language programs and internships by building strong ties between the universities, according to a press release.\n"These universities will all play leading roles in Japan's academic future," McRobbie said in a statement. "Establishing strong ties with them will open many doors of opportunity to IU students as well as improve our access to Japan's top graduate students." \nLarry MacIntyre, director of IU Media Relations, said the University is looking to strengthen its international involvement by building relationships with top institutions from around the globe. He said it is important to have ties with the leading schools in Japan because Asia has a dynamic, growing economy and is becoming increasingly vital in world trade. \n"It is clear in the 21st century that places like Japan, China and Korea will be huge players in the world's economy, and Americans have to be ready for this," MacIntyre said. "As a University, we feel we have an obligation to provide our students with a very good international experience." \nStrengthening ties with universities from around the world will give students more opportunities through increased student exchange programs. These programs will help students meet international requirements as part of the new undergraduate general education curriculum the Bloomington Faculty Council approved last week, MacIntyre said.\n"This new curriculum is requiring us to expand our relations with institutions overseas, especially those with the highest academic standards," McRobbie said. \nMcRobbie's eight-day trip is also aimed at attracting the best and brightest graduate students in Japan to come to IU.\nMcRobbie's agenda also included meetings with five organizations with which IU already has or wishes to begin relationships, according to a press release. These companies and groups are the National Institute of Informatics, the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, the Japan Foundation, the Toshiba International Foundation and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.\nMcRobbie is scheduled to return to Bloomington on Sunday.
(10/04/06 4:17am)
IU's Relay For Life is looking for volunteers and team members to participate in its annual walk against cancer this spring. \nThe group will be hosting a call-out meeting at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Woodburn Hall, room 120, to discuss team development and volunteer opportunities for the fourth annual IU Relay For Life, a fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. \nThis year's Relay is still in the early stages of planning, and no specifics have been set, said senior Cindy Morse, president of the IU Relay For Life. The group is planning to host the event inside and is trying to increase the number of interactive team events, she said. The tentative date for the event is the weekend of March 31 through April 1, 2007. \nThe group has set many goals for this year's Relay, including having at least 60 teams and 45 cancer survivors involved in the event, as well plans to raise between $75,000 to $80,000, said senior Milissa Eley. Last year's Relay raised more than $50,000 for the American Cancer Society, according to the organization's Web site.\n"We also hope to do more community outreach events to advocate cancer prevention and educate the student body on all cancers and their risks," Morse said. \nThe Relay is about more than just raising money for the American Cancer Society, Eley said. \n"This event allows students to interact will survivors, individuals currently battling and those who have lost loved ones to cancer," said Eley. "Relay for Life is an event where individuals can celebrate and honor the lives of cancer patients." \nBoth Morse and Eley said the Relay is an event everyone should attend because cancer affects so many people. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and all proceeds from the Relay go to the American Cancer Society, who in turn uses the money for cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services, Morse said. \n"Relay is a way for those who have lost the ones they love or watched the battle or been in the battle themselves to do something," Eley said. \nStudents can volunteer by starting a team to participate in activities at the event, raising funds, or event planning. \nRelay for Life is an overnight event in which members from various teams walk or run laps to raise money for cancer research. The event is called a relay because members take turns running laps and at least one member from each team should be walking or running at all times, according to the American Cancer Society's Web site. \nMorse and Eley said anyone that would like to learn more can attend the call-out meeting Wednesday or e-mail camorse@indiana.edu or maeley@indiana.edu.
(09/28/06 3:51am)
A new program at IU will give students the opportunity to interact with hundreds of students from more than 100 countries in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, this February. \nEducation Without Borders is an international organization that holds student conferences every two years in the United Arab Emirates. The organization helps build networks and bring people from across the globe together to discuss and create solutions to some of the world's greatest social problems, according to the group's Web site. \nThe IU branch's coordinator, sophomore Paul Commons, first heard about the group after one of his professors forwarded him an e-mail about the program. Commons is currently the president of the student advisory board for the One Here ... One There organization, a group that helps aid sub-Saharan African students by encouraging college students around the country to donate $20 through their bursar bill. \nAfter reading more about Education Without Borders, Commons became interested in getting IU involved with the program. \n"As I researched more, I realized that EWB would also be a great way to represent IU by getting other students on campus involved in a great cause," Commons said. \nAs the campus coordinator for the new group, Commons is in charge of organizing the promotion of the program at IU. Commons met with Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Richard McKaig earlier this week and is searching for a professor to sponsor students. The professor will be in charge of grading the abstracts and research papers that students must submit to be chosen to attend the conference. \nTo be considered as a possible student representative at the conference, an individual must submit a two- to three-page abstract, a research paper and a personal essay. \nTwo to four students will be chosen by the professor to represent IU at the conference Feb. 25 to 27 in Abu Dhabi. The students chosen will receive free accommodations but will be asked to pay for airfare. \nThe conference is open to students from any of the schools on campus, Commons said. \n"Anyone who gets chosen to attend the conference can learn and apply their experiences at EWB to their everyday lives, regardless of their intended major," he said. \nSophomore Kaitlin Riley said she is excited about the program and plans to participate. Although it might seem a bit time consuming, the growth and experience outweighs the amount of work involved, she said.\n"Doing a 10-page research paper may seem like a lot of work, but it is part of the whole learning experience," Riley said. "It's not just about going to a different country -- it is about the growth from the research that you do."\nCommons is optimistic about student participation and said he thinks the conference is an excellent opportunity for students. \n"It is a great chance to meet all kinds of people from around the world, hear incredible speakers and see how others are trying to make a difference in the world," he said. "Attending the conference can definitely change your perspective on the world around you." \nFor more information, visit the group's Web site at www.ewb2007.com or contact Commons at pcommons@indiana.edu.
(09/21/06 3:29am)
Thanks to almost $600,000 in grants from the provost's office and the College of Arts and Sciences, staff at WTIU and telecommunications students will enjoy the ability to broadcast in high-definition. \nWith partial funding from the IU Provost's Fund, the University's public television station is currently in the process of purchasing a high-definition field package. Expected to cost about $133,350, it will include a high-definition camera as well as disc space storage and a new editing system designed for high-definition footage, said Phil Meyer, WTIU station manager. \nThe provost fund will pay for half the cost of the high-definition field package with WTIU paying the rest. The College of Arts and Sciences has also awarded $500,000 to the Department of Telecommunications to help pay for high-definition video production equipment for its studio, he said. \nLarry MacIntyre, director of media relations for IU, said the University is providing the funding to WTIU to make certain that the appropriate technology is available. \n"As Bloomington's chief academic officer, it is (interim) Provost (Michael) McRobbie's responsibility to ensure that all our academic programs are technologically up-to-date," MacIntyre said. \nThe whole process of switching to high-definition is in response to a congressional mandate that requires all television broadcasters to be fully converted to high-definition by Feb. 27, 2009. \n"This is a necessary step, but it is also one that will allow us to have better quality picture and sound," Meyer said. "It will allow us to do a better job." \nWTIU has been airing Public Broadcasting Service shows in high-definition on its station since March 2003. However, with the new camera, WTIU will be able to shoot local coverage as well as produce local documentaries in high-definition, Meyer said. \nThere is no set date as to when the station will actually purchase the equipment and begin shooting, but they are in the process of negotiation with different sellers, he said. WTIU hopes to begin using the new equipment in early 2007. The first project WTIU will shoot with the new camera has yet to be decided. \nMeyer said there will be some training involved to help crew members using the camera adjust to the changes that come with shooting in high-definition. Crew members shooting with the camera will have to get used to a different aspect ratio because the proportion of the screen in high-definition is more horizontal than a typical analog camera, he said. The new package will also require some training in incorporating graphics and working with the new editing system. \n"It's a conversion that will take place over the next three to four years," Meyer said. \nMacIntyre said the University recognizes the need to aid WTIU in making the transition. \n"The University really has no choice but to find financial resources to make that conversion," MacIntyre said. "The Provost's Fund is one of those sources." \nBut the upgrade to high definition is more than just a step to meet the congressional mandate; it is also a way of ensuring that IU students have the technology they need to excel, MacIntyre said.\n"We all want WTIU and radio television to be state of the art so our students can be confident that they are getting the best educational experience possible," MacIntyre said.
(09/18/06 3:16am)
The football rivalry between IU and Purdue might have begun with the introduction of the Old Oaken Bucket in 1925, but a more recent tradition between the schools has created a rivalry that truly runs in the veins of fans.\nToday marks the beginning of the 10th annual IU vs. Purdue Blood Donor Challenge, a friendly contest between the rival schools that gives Indiana residents a chance to give back to their communities by donating blood.\nThis year's challenge has 25 participating blood donor centers across the state where participants can give their donation in the name of either school. Some of the locations include Bloomington, Carmel, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Lafayette, South Bend and Terre Haute, according to a press release. There will be several mobile donation centers going through both campuses as well, said Bridget E. Sutton, programs director for the IU Alumni Association.\nAccording to the IU Alumni Association's Web site, more than 32,000 donors have participated in the blood drive since the annual donor challenge began in 1997. Last year's contest had a record 7,669 participants, with IU taking the crown. Purdue currently leads the challenge 6-3.\nThe Blood Donor Challenge began in 1997 in Indianapolis when the Central Indiana chapter of the IU Alumni Association and the Purdue Alumni Association teamed up with the Indiana Blood Center for a competitive blood drive, Sutton said. The challenge started off small but has grown little by little each year and now covers the entire state, she said.\nJane Hoeppner, wife of IU football coach Terry Hoeppner, and Arnette Tiller, wife of Purdue coach Joe Tiller, will act as honorary chairwomen for the 2006 Blood Donor Challenge.\nSutton said the Blood Donor Challenge is a great program because it saves lives and encourages everyone to participate by giving blood. \n"It is a simple way to really give back," she said. "One donation can save up to three people's lives." \nThe challenge starts today and will last through Nov. 10. The winning school will be recognized Nov. 18 at the Old Oaken Bucket football game in West Lafayette. \nFor more information on the challenge and to find the nearest participating blood donor center, visit www.alumni.indiana.edu/events/challenge.
(09/14/06 4:04am)
IU's School of Library and Information Science has recently been named the nation's top library and information studies program in terms of faculty and program productivity for the second time in a row.\nThe ranking comes after the school was tied for seventh in this year's U.S. News and World Report list of the top overall library and information studies graduate programs in the country. \nThe most recent ranking is the result of an extensive study by researchers Denice Adkins and John Budd of the University of Missouri that placed the school ahead of second place Rutgers in a cumulative ranking of programs. The study was based on publication and citation data for the years 1999 to 2004, according to a press release.\nThe study, "Scholarly productivity of U.S. LIS faculty," will appear in an upcoming issue of Library & Information Science Research and will express the scholarly output and academic influence of IU's SLIS faculty. According to a press release, two of the top 10 most widely published and most frequently cited faculty members in the current study are affiliated with IU -- SLIS Dean Blaise Cronin and Charles R. McClure.\nIn a similar study conducted by Budd in 2000, the IU SLIS also received a No. 1 ranking based on publication data from 1993 to 1998, edging out runner-up University of Illinois.\nDebora Shaw, associate dean and professor of library and information science, said the school is proud of the ranking. She said the school does indeed have a very strong and active research faculty and the recognition by researchers across the country reflects this. \nA strong ranking in faculty research and productivity is good news for students at the SLIS, she said. \n"For students it means that the faculty and professors of the school are active and engaging in academic research on a national level," she said. "This allows faculty to better prepare students for the changes that occur in the field." \nThe SLIS has recently hired two new faculty members. Professor John Walsh will specialize in digital libraries and will work with University Information Technology Services and campus libraries to build this area of the program. Professor Hamid Ekbia, a specialist in human-computer interaction and social informatics, will add his expertise when he joins the SLIS faculty in the spring.\nShaw said the addition of Walsh and Ekbia and their specialty fields will help the SLIS continue as a strong research facility in future.\n"These are both areas that are important for students to study while they are in the graduate program," she said.