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(09/12/11 2:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On a weekend filled with the memory of contemporary loss, IU Art Museum took a moment to look at loss of the past. A gallery talk Sunday at the museum explored the history and role of art in World War II.From “Degenerate Art” to “The Monuments Men: An Overview of Art in Nazi Germany,” the talk focused on the Nazi-driven looting of major works of modern art during the rise of the Third Reich.The talk was presented by Jenny McComas, class of 1949, the head of the museum’s Nazi-Era Provenance Research Project and the curator of Western Art after 1800. She said she began her investigation by conducting research into the European works in museum’s collection and determining their ownership histories.The main goal, she said, was to make sure the works had not been looted during World War II.“In our provenance of ownership research, we’ve uncovered a lot of interesting stories about the works in our collection,” McComas said.During the 45-minute gallery talk, she highlighted some of these histories and explained how art functioned within the Third Reich of Nazi Germany. McComas said it is estimated that by the end of the war in 1945, 20 percent of the art in Europe had been displaced by being looted, destroyed, or lost during bombings. In the last decade, museums have taken great interest in determining the provenance of their works.“I’m personally thrilled that the museum community is taking this task upon themselves,” McComas said. “I hope that by conducting our research, we can correct the wrongs that were perpetrated and deepen our understanding of the works in our own collection.”Bloomington resident Misti Shaw said she feels the gallery exhibit is an enriching art experience as it relates to history.“I think it’s important to study any art as it relates to its culture and politics,” Shaw said. “It puts art into a context that gives us a richer understanding of history.”Ph.D. student Luke Wood said he enjoyed the exhibit because World War II plays such a large role in the collective cultural memory.“Students are aware of the events and should therefore be interested,” Wood said.The gallery talk was one part of “The Spoils of War: Art in Nazi Germany,” sponsored by Themester 2011: Making War, Making Peace, a semester-long program that explores the uses of art in Nazi Germany.Themester 2011 also included a screening of the film “The Rape of Europa” at the IU Cinema Sunday to delve deeper into the history of the looting of art during the war.More related events will follow throughout the semester, including the self-guided tour of exhibits in the Gallery of the Art of the Western World, located on the first floor of the museum.The exhibit features 12 European paintings and sculptures with connections to World War II and includes a free gallery brochure that explains how the works survived the war and came to be part of the collection.Ph.D. student Erin Corker said she felt the “Art in Nazi Germany” exhibit is important for students because it’s a learning experience apart from school.“This is an important opportunity to learn outside the classroom or seminars,” Corker said. “It’s a part of learning outside of the University.”
(09/02/11 2:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Chef Erika Yochum, co-owner of Feast Bakery Cafe, spends her days creating dishes with fresh, local produce. “I just love food,” Yochum said. “I’ll dream up a whole meal and then try to make it.”Yochum’s love for cooking began during her childhood when she baked for her neighbors with her Easy-Bake Oven.When she was 19 she opened her first cafe, and she has experimented with different avenues and styles of cooking for years. In summer 2010, she opened Feast Bakery Cafe in Bloomington.Yochum said her greatest culinary inspiration is fresh produce. This week, that was fresh-picked basil and tomatoes brought to her by a local farmer.She has developed a relationship with many farmers and ranchers in the community by working with the Bloomington Farmers’ Market. She now supports them by incorporating their produce into Feast’s menu.Though Yochum has had no classical culinary training, she said she uses this to her advantage and isn’t constrained by the rules and traditions that formal training can create. Rather, she relies on her intuition to invent dishes.Yochum will put her culinary skills to the test Sunday in a competition with two other local chefs — Damian Esposito of the Indiana Memorial Union and Lake Hubbard of Uptown Café — to create a winning dish.The Fifth Annual Chefs’ Challenge will benefit the Community Kitchen of Monroe County, a nonprofit with a mission to eliminate hunger in Bloomington and its surrounding areas.The three participating chefs will have one hour to create a dish to be judged by three local culinary aficionados, including Chef David Tallent of Restaurant Tallent and winner of the competition for the last two years.A secret local ingredient will be announced at the beginning of the competition, and the chefs will have to incorporate it into their work. They are to produce a dish that will be judged on creativity, taste, presentation and, most importantly, how the surprise ingredient is used.Chef Tallent’s advice to the competitors this year is to work quickly and not to cook a dish they haven’t prepared before.“Keep it simple,” Tallent said. “And stay true to what you do.”Tim Clougher, assistant director of Community Kitchen of Monroe County, said he wants the competition to help people relate to the staff at the Community Kitchen as they prepare meals for the community.“Every day, our staff and volunteers come up with a meal for over 300 people based on what we have, and that’s the same as it is for a lot of families that are struggling with hunger,” Clougher said. “They may not have all the components in a pantry to make a certain dish, and they have to improvise and come up with what they can based on what they have.” As for Yochum, she said she hopes not only to take home the “Golden Spatula” but also to raise money for a good cause.“This is a great community fundraiser and Bloomington seems to be such a food-centered town,” Yochum said. “It’s a perfect event, and I just think it’s going to be really fun.”
(09/01/11 5:50pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Auditorium will kick off ticket sales for its 2011-12 season shows by waiving the usual $10 handling fee.The waiver will begin at 10 a.m. Friday and applies to individual tickets purchased online until 11:59 p.m.“What’s so great is that people can buy tickets from their home without the regular handling fee,” Auditorium Events Manager Maria Talbert said. “It’s a perk for people who want to purchase online.”Individual tickets are also available for purchase through the IU Auditorium box office, which never charges handling fees.The 2011-12 IU Auditorium season includes big-name performances by Jon Stewart of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” and Tony Award-Winning actress Bernadette Peters. Also on the lineup are numerous touring Broadway shows as well as classical and contemporary musical performances.Graduate student Aziz Burkhanov said that while he hadn’t thought about buying tickets to any of the shows, he will probably look into it.“I may buy tickets to certain shows that I’m interested in,” Burkhanov said. “If I do, I may purchase them online or at the box office.”Freshman Jill Sorg said she plans to purchase tickets online, especially since the handling fee will be waived.“I definitely plan on going to see Jon Stewart and maybe some others,” Sorg said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”For more information about tickets and performances, visit www.iuauditorium.com.
(09/01/11 2:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Auditorium will kick off ticket sales for its 2011-12 season shows by waiving the usual $10 handling fee.The waiver will begin at 10 a.m. Friday and applies to individual tickets purchased online until 11:59 p.m.“What’s so great is that people can buy tickets from their home without the regular handling fee,” Auditorium Events Manager Maria Talbert said. “It’s a perk for people who want to purchase online.”Individual tickets are also available for purchase through the IU Auditorium box office, which never charges handling fees.The 2011-12 IU Auditorium season includes big-name performances by Jon Stewart of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” and Tony Award-Winning actress Bernadette Peters. Also on the lineup are numerous touring Broadway shows as well as classical and contemporary musical performances.Graduate student Aziz Burkhanov said that while he hadn’t thought about buying tickets to any of the shows, he will probably look into it.“I may buy tickets to certain shows that I’m interested in,” Burkhanov said. “If I do, I may purchase them online or at the box office.”Freshman Jill Sorg said she plans to purchase tickets online, especially since the handling fee will be waived.“I definitely plan on going to see Jon Stewart and maybe some others,” Sorg said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”For more information about tickets and performances, visit www.iuauditorium.com.
(08/25/11 3:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As students return to campus, the IU Auditorium is preparing for its fall 2011 season by spreading the word around the IU community about upcoming shows. The season kicks off with Jon Stewart of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.” On Sept. 30, Stewart will perform a stand-up act that will touch on themes from his show while poking fun at the media and politicians. “It’s going to be a really special experience for those that attend because this is a very rare thing that he does,” Auditorium Event Manager Maria Talbert said. “He doesn’t do regular touring, and his appearances on stage are few and far in between.”Students are also anticipating Stewart’s upcoming performance. “Jon Stewart coming to IU will be awesome,” freshman Jim Agey said. “That’s something I’d definitely go see.”Adding to the eclectic lineup of shows this fall, the SFJAZZ Collective will be performing on Oct. 22 at the Auditorium. The eight-member ensemble will pay homage to Stevie Wonder by performing some of his works, including “Superstition.” SFJAZZ will also perform original compositions.Junior Zach Majors said SFJAZZ will likely be a great show.“It’s really neat that they’re going to be covering some hits as well as debuting some of their own compositions,” Majors said. “I think it’s important to do both.”Just in time for Halloween, master organist and IU alumnus Dennis James will perform “The Phantom of the Opera” on Oct. 27 as part of his annual silent film performance. In a switch from horror to light-hearted, “Shrek the Musical” will come to the stage Nov. 15-17. Based on the 2001 DreamWorks film “Shrek,” the musical is a parody of classic fairy tales. Sophomore Nathan Kiefer said he hadn’t heard about the fall shows yet. He said he would be interested in seeing “Shrek.”“‘Shrek’ sounds really cool and like something I’d take advantage of,” Kiefer said. “Really, the whole season sounds great. I’d like to go to all of the shows.”To complete the fall season, the Singing Hoosiers will perform Christmas favorites at “Chimes of Christmas” on Dec. 7.Talbert said the IU Auditorium is still in the process of confirming additional concerts and comedy shows to add to the lineup. They are also working with university departments and community groups to add their events on the calendar.Jon Stewart7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Sept. 30SFJAZZ Collective8 p.m., Oct. 22Dennis James Hosts Halloween7:30 p.m., Oct. 27Schola Cantorum de Venezuela8 p.m., Nov. 1Shrek the Musical7:30 p.m., Nov. 15 through 17 Chimes of Christmas7:30 p.m., Dec. 7
(04/14/11 2:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Team iCycle isn’t racing in Little 500. They’re transforming it. iCycle is a senior informatics capstone project that uses radio frequency identification, or RFID, technology during the Little 500 races to display a live leaderboard with team statistics on its website.During the races, riders will be able to access the iCycle website to instantaneously check their lap times and overall performance, iCycle team member Mitch Spicer said.Three small RFID tags will be placed on each rider’s helmet on race day. The tags will transmit a signal to the four receiver antennas tied to the starting pole. The receivers will then communicate riders’ times live to the iCycle website during the race.Riders will be able to view more accurate data about their lap times and overall performance during the race, instead relying on stopwatches, Spicer said.“iCycle is a resource that will give more accurate information about the rides,” Spicer said. “There will still be the person there with a stopwatch timing it, but this is just another way to have even more accurate data so that riders can track their progress and make improvements for the future.”The iCycle project was launched in 2006 by informatics students and has improved each year, Spicer said.In 2010, the live-streaming website was introduced, but there were several technical glitches and it wasn’t working properly during the race.This year, they made the website more user-friendly, ensuring it will stream successfully, Spicer said.Josh LaMar was part of the iCycle team as a senior in 2010 and returned to campus to consult with this year’s team and to help it with the technology.“I was excited to see the team’s ideas for a site redesign that made the information being displayed much more useful,” Lamar said. “Each year we are learning more and more about the potential RFID technology can offer, and I’m very excited for this year’s iCycle project.”For live-streaming coverage of the men’s and women’s races, visit icycle.informatics.indiana.edu.
(04/12/11 2:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The ongoing State Road 45/46 Bypass road construction is not only affecting traffic in Bloomington. It’s also expanding into the backyards of several greek houses on the Jordan Avenue extension.The construction project began in June after the Indiana Department of Transportation awarded $21 million to widen approximately two miles of the Bloomington Bypass. According the City of Bloomington website, the Bypass will increase to seven lanes in some places, resulting in the removal of some 500 trees. Junior Bill Kennedy, president of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, said construction markers come within eight feet of the fraternity’s back deck.Kennedy said the construction has impacted them most obviously because of how many trees have been cut down, changing the scenery and making 45/46 traffic noisier. “It came as a big surprise to us when we came back this summer and actually saw all the trees torn down and our privacy taken away,” Kennedy said.He said the fraternity was notified of the construction but did not expect its effects to be so drastic. “We’re just hoping they build something between the road and our house to keep us as safe as possible because if there are high speeds, there is that possibility of danger present,” Kennedy said.Marvin Jenkins, Indiana Department of Transportation’s Seymour District public information director, said much of the disruption is temporary. The construction markers represent where the limited access right of way line will be and the sides of the pavement will be, which will come within 19 feet of the north corner of the Pi Kappa Phi house.“The right of way won’t even be noticeable,” Jenkins said. “That just shows what we’re responsible to maintain as opposed to the property owner.”Junior Rosalie DeLarme, president of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, said they have always been one of the closest houses to the road and have not been affected much by the construction. “Because of the way our lot is shaped, we were lucky enough to retain the wooded area on our property,” DeLarme said. “There is the occasional noise from the construction, but that is to be expected and is not too bad.”Sophomore Sam Chortek, president of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, said the construction has impacted them greatly.He said before the construction, they had about 100 yards between the house and the Bypass, with a heavily wooded area that gave them privacy and deflected a lot of the noise.“We came back to school this year and every single tree had been cut down except for three, with about 15 yards or so separating our basketball court from where they had marked land for the construction of the road,” Chortek said.Chortek said the fraternity has improvised and installed 15-foot tarps across posts behind the house.“Our expansive beautiful backyard is now a sore to look at and gives us absolutely no protection from the highway,” Chortek said.
(04/08/11 2:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Students and members of the community will compete to win a 1991 Cadillac Deville on Saturday by literally kissing the car.Kiss Off is Delta Upsilon fraternity’s philanthropy event for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington, and all the proceeds will go directly to the organization.The Boys and Girls Clubs have donated the Cadillac that will be raffled off at the event.Sixteen people who purchased raffle tickets will be chosen today by 5 p.m. for the opportunity to participate in the Kiss Off. They will then choose four more participants at the beginning of the event Saturday.Competitors in Kiss Off will remain standing while only their lips touch the car, said senior Justin Faber, Kiss Off chair for Delta Upsilon and member of the IU student media marketing team. The last five competitors will then have to stand on one leg to speed along the process.The final contestant to have his or her lips touching the car will win the Cadillac.In addition to Kiss Off, there will be a slip-and-slide, burgers and hotdogs and pizza from Btown Menus, and radio station B97 will be broadcasting live from the event.Those who were not chosen for Kiss Off will be entered in a secondary raffle for prizes from local businesses, including two event passes for Little 500, courtesy of IU Student Foundation, a token for free wings at BuffaLouies and a gift card package to the Pourhouse Café.“Our hope is to raise money for the Boys and Girls Clubs so that they can better the resources available to the kids in Bloomington,” Faber said. The Kiss Off event starts at 11 a.m. on the Delta Upsilon lawn. Five raffle tickets can be purchased from any member of Delta Upsilon for $5.
(03/28/11 2:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In honor of former brother Taylor Trudeau, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity raised money for blood cancer research during a stationary cycling marathon Saturday.The Taylor Trudeau Cycle for Life was created in 2008 after Trudeau passed away after a yearlong battle with leukemia, said Brian Bolling, philanthropy chairman of Pi Kappa Alpha.The event was founded by Trudeau’s parents at the University of New Hampshire shortly after his death and has grown during the last few years.Currently, 28 Pi Kappa Alpha chapters across the country sponsored Cycle for Life events, and all of the proceeds benefit leukemia, lymphoma and melanoma research, Bolling said.This was the first year the IU chapter has sponsored the event, which was in the Student Recreational Sports Center CycleFit studio.Cyclists paid $10 for 30-minute sessions during the marathon, which lasted from noon to 8 p.m.Marcus Goldman, president of Pi Kappa Alpha, said he hopes Cycle for Life is something that continues to grow each year.“I hope that the Cycle for Life raises awareness for leukemia and other blood cancers and that we can get the word out for an even greater turnout next year,” Goldman said.Donations can be made directly to the Taylor Trudeau Foundation at www.taylorcycleforlife.org/donations.
(03/28/11 2:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon recreated the funeral procession of former brother Paddy Murphy on Friday in honor of his death.According to the legend, Murphy was a notorious gangster and bootlegger during the 1920s, said sophomore Scott Eisen, brotherhood chairman of SAE.During a deal between Murphy and Al Capone, a crime fighter named Eliot Ness rushed in and gunned Murphy down.As Murphy fell to the ground, he gave Ness the secret handshake that only the brothers of SAE know. Ness, also a member of SAE, realized that he had killed one of his own brothers and ordered that he have an honorary Irish burial.In recognition of their fallen brother, SAE chapters across the country dedicate a week to Murphy, including a recreation of his funeral procession complete with a coffin, Eisen said.“It’s a really great part of our history that connects all of the chapters,” Eisen said. “It’s not just an Indiana thing — it’s an entire country thing that’s been going on for a lot of years. It ties us back to our history and shows honor for a fallen brother.”This is the third year the processional has been celebrated at IU after the fraternity re-established its chapter in 2007, SAE President Nicholas Carder said.As the sounds from toy Tommy guns rang out across campus, the SAE brothers, dressed like 1920s gangsters, carried the coffin they constructed last year on their shoulders as a brotherhood bonding activity.They began at Beck Chapel and continued up Jordan Avenue and past the greek houses, ending at the SAE lot.Senior Fintan Blessinger said this was the third Paddy Murphy processional he has participated in and said each year it has grown.“It’s exciting to see how many people show up each year as our fraternity grows,” Blessinger said. “It’s a tradition that’s constantly evolving.”Senior Evan Rifkind has also participated in the processional all three times and said he thinks that it’s important that SAE carry on the tradition in the years to come.“It’s a solemn celebration of a great memory, and it’s just plain fun,” Rifkind said. “Where else can you dress up like a gangster and parade across campus?”
(03/24/11 3:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Multicultural Greek Council, one of four greek associations on campus, is less well-known than the rest, but its chapters are working to change that.MCGC is the general council that governs the nine off-campus multicultural greek chapters at IU, and its members have been working to add chairs and opportunities to the executive board, junior and MCGC President Kevin Zhang said.Zhang also said in the future, MCGC hopes to expand with more chapters and maybe houses on campus.Like all greek organizations, each of the nine chapters has its own philanthropies and events and also works closely with the different culture centers on campus, including the Asian Culture Center and La Casa Latino Cultural Center.There are currently multicultural, Asian, Indian and Latino-specific chapters, but Zhang emphasized that race should not be a determining factor in joining a multicultural chapter and that anyone can rush.“Even though each of our individual chapters has a stigma of a different race, and just because there’s a stigma or a false representation of a chapter doesn’t mean they’ll only recruit a certain kind of people,” Zhang said. Junior member of Sigma Lambda Upsilon Alma Figueroa said her sorority focuses on the Latino language and culture and serving the Latino community rather than race.“Because we’re Latino-based, we want to involve members who want to provide for the Latino community specifically because we go through the same things,” Figueroa said. “We’re passionate about their cause, so we want to help them more.”While each chapter has its own rush process, most chapters will not be recruiting new members until the fall.Zhang said MCGC has also been working with other greek councils, such as the Interfraternity Council, the Panhellenic Association and the National Panhellenic Conference, to develop and expand the multicultural community and create more consistency among the houses.“We work together with the other greek councils like IFC, Panhellenic and NPHC to improve the entire greek community and improve the environment on campus,” Zhang said.Some members said their chapters keep them linked to their homes.Sophomore and member of Lambda Upsilon Lambda Omar Gama, an international student from Mexico, said his experience with his chapter has helped him make more friends and get to know other international students on campus.“The chapter establishes brotherhood or sisterhood within the community,” Gama said.Junior and member of Gamma Phi Omega Andrea Zambrano is an international student from Columbia and said her sorority has become her family.“A lot of Latinos here at IU are first-generation college students or have parents that came to this country and have no idea what the American college experience is like,” Zambrano said. “So it’s coming into that environment without that experience or the guidance from your parents and trying to create that environment with your sisters or your brothers that you can relate to them and get that support.”WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR MCGC CHAPTER?“I think one of the things that I gained the most is professionalism. Not only am I growing up as a woman; I’m growing up on a professional level, and that’s something growing up at home in an underprivileged school, I wouldn’t have had that. I don’t have that connection back at home.”- Sigma Lambda Upsilon junior Alma Figueroa“Throughout my whole entire life, I went to really small schools, so it actually made IU a lot smaller for me. It was also an outlet for me to actually start doing community service again and start being more active in the community. It also gave me a home away from home. As an international student, it was really hard for me to move away from my parents. Because it’s such a small chapter, it creates a really strong bond. They’re your family. You’re always with them.”- Gamma Phi Omega junior Andrea Zambrano“Joining a chapter, I think, has given me a sense of belonging. On a 40,000-student campus, sometimes you want to feel like you belong to something. Just knowing that I can call or reach out to one of my brothers, it’s just a great experience and we have such a strong bond.”- Lambda Upsilon Lambda sophomore Omar Gama
(03/11/11 3:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For many greek houses, it’s tradition to go on spring break trips together, and this year is no different, said Josh Vollmer, vice president of communications for Interfraternity Council.For Kappa Delta sorority, it has been a long-standing tradition for its sophomore pledge class to go on a spring break trip together, said sophomore member Rachel Rapp.This year, 22 of the 40 women in her pledge class are going to Daytona Beach, Fla., she said.“It’s a tradition within the house for your sophomore year to go with your pledge class somewhere for spring break,” Rapp said. “It’s like a good time after midterms to just relax, especially as one of our last big things with our pledge class this year.”Vollmer said in previous years, many houses went to Acapulco, Mexico, because there was a company that worked closely with IU to get greek students party package deals.But this year, many students have changed their plans because of the travel advisory in Mexico, Vollmer said.“This year is unusual, and the majority of people seem to be going to Ft. Lauderdale as one collective group,” Vollmer said. “This probably has a lot to do with the violence in Mexico.”Delta Zeta is one of the houses going to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., for spring break. Junior member Meagan King said 12 women from her pledge class are going on the trip together.While the destination varies each year, King said it’s a tradition for women in the same pledge class to go on spring break trips together. “Every year they pick a place. Last year they went to Acapulco, and the juniors last year in our house went to Ft. Lauderdale,” King said. “I think it’s just kind of like when you’re a sophomore you go here, when you’re a junior you go here, and senior year you just kind of pick a place.”King also said the women from her pledge class will be taking a coach bus to Ft. Lauderdale as part of their travel package.“You could either just buy the package to stay in the hotel, or you could just buy the package to ride the coach bus down there and stay in the hotel, so all the people that are going that might not even be in our house will be riding the bus with us,” King said.As an alternative to a traditional spring break trip, 10 members of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity are going to Slidell, La., to build homes for Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West, junior member Jordan Fromm said.Fromm said the building site is just outside the city of New Orleans, where many homes were destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, so there are still a lot of recovery efforts.Eight members of the house went to the same building site last year as part of Habitat for Humanity’s “Collegiate Challenge” and wanted to return again this year.“We’re building a house with hundreds of people we’ve never met, and what’s really cool about it is that everybody leaves their mark,” Fromm said. “When you’re done, you get to write in some sort of part of the house about your group, so last year we wrote our letters and our names, and they’re still in the house.”Fromm also said each Habitat for Humanity house takes three to four months to build, and Lambda Chi men could be doing anything from installing insulation and plastering to painting, depending on how far along the house is when they arrive.“Now is the time to show this campus, our dean, ourselves, our families, our community that we can do something,” Fromm said. “We are, as a greek community, so strong and so important to this school. We need to show that we can do something outside of our home and outside the walls of our fraternity.”
(03/02/11 12:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The room was calm and meditative as the women glided seamlessly back and forth, barefoot and tranquil. IU Campus Recreational Sports recently purchased six new Pilates Reformers and is currently offering free trial classes at the Student Recreational Sports Center until spring break.The Pilates Reformer is a specialized piece of pilates equipment, usually taught in a smaller class setting, said Kim Gray, director of marketing and sponsorship for RS.The machine allows for controlled and focused yet low-impact exercise that is effective, but more relaxing and meditative than traditional exercise classes, Gray said.The Pilates Reformer classes focus on strength training and cardio but also teach muscle control to improve balance and posture.Pilates leader Emma Shansky said pilates was originally developed in internment camps and Joseph Pilates designed the exercises horizontally to assist in rehabilitating injured people.Shansky explained that the Pilates Reformers give resistance support the weight of the limbs, which can make the exercises more effective than traditional mat training.“The Pilates Reformers provide resistance training that the mat just can’t give you,” Shansky said.Joellan Muyskens-Chang, assistant director of fitness and wellness, said RS has been teaching mat pilates and yoga for more than a decade.She said they have wanted to purchase the Pilates Reformers for several years but they wanted to make sure that the classes weren’t just a fad.“We came to the realization that pilates is here to stay,” Muyskens-Chang said. “And it’s always been a dream of ours to be more like a pilates studio.”Most pilates studios would have many pieces of specialized equipment, Muyskens-Chang said, and RS decided that the Pilates Reformer is the most versatile and important piece for pilates exercise.Muyskens-Chang said she hopes students see the Pilates Reformer classes as an opportunity to do something different and as an alternative to traditional weight training.“I hope that the classes can offer an opportunity to students who may not have been captured yet by anything else we offer,” Muyskens-Chang said. “Pilates Reformers can do total-body strength training and are different than any other equipment we currently have.”The free trial classes are being offered until March 11, and a seven-week registration-based series will begin March 21.For more information or to reserve a spot in a free trial class, visit www.iurecsports.org.
(03/01/11 3:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A mural with the words “You are beautiful” hung in the Student Recreational Sports Center lobby last week, filled with hand-written reasons why students were inspired to love their bodies.Friday marked the end of “Celebrate EveryBODY Week,” a week-long celebration of body image at the SRSC, in collaboration with Counseling and Psychological Services.Kristen Malmstrom, graduate assistant of fitness/wellness, said the week was organized in conjunction with National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and students who suffer from body image disorders were encouraged to work with CAPS to find a resolution.“Celebrate EveryBODY Week is our body image awareness week,” Malmstrom said. “We want to celebrate the body for the positive things it does, rather than the bad perceptions.”During the week, the SRSC was decorated with boards that students could sign, pledging they would choose to appreciate their bodies.There were also encouraging messages written on the bathroom mirrors, and there were two TVs that played YouTube interviews of students describing why they were inspired to love their bodies.“When people walked into the building this week, they could tell something was different,” Malmstrom said.“Celebrate EveryBODY Week” also included “The Great Jeans Drive” where students, faculty and members of the community could donate jeans that will go to the Shalom Community Center.Kim Gray, director of marketing and sponsorship for Campus Recreational Sports, said 15 pairs of jeans were donated and she was pleased with the turnout this year.“The jean giveaway is a positive way people can give and give jeans that don’t make them feel comfortable,” said Andy Fry, assistant director of fitness/wellness. “The main purpose of the week is to make students feel comfortable in their own skin.”
(03/01/11 3:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Panhellenic Association, which governs IU’s 19 sororities, released the rankings of each chapter’s average grade-point averages. Kappa Alpha Theta earned the No. 1 spot. Theta has ranked first in scholarship among the houses for 10 of the last 11 semesters, said sophomore Sara Johnson, Theta’s scholarship chairwoman.This semester the average GPA in the house was 3.4954.Johnson said she thinks the main reason the sorority members consistently maintain a high GPA is their approach to academics. They don’t have study tables because they feel that different girls thrive in different study environments, Johnson said.“We tend to view (academics) based on each individual’s situation, and through taking this individualistic approach, we want to cater to all learning styles,” Johnson said.Johnson said in addition to small incentives to acknowledge academic success, they also make sure that women who are struggling academically work with the house scholarship adviser to improve grades.“If someone in the house is struggling academically we come up with an individualized, confidential improvement plan to support them because they are just as important as girls getting straight A’s,” Johnson said.The other houses in the top five are Phi Mu, Delta Gamma, Alpha Gamma Delta and Alpha Omicron Pi, said Ashley Clark, vice president of communications for PHA.AGD, which ranked fourth among the houses, had an average GPA of 3.4143. Junior Kiley Geist, vice president of scholarship for AGD, said she looks for women during rush who make it clear that they value academics.“If we want to be one of the top houses in GPA, then we want to recruit those girls that academics are really important to them,” Geist said. “Yeah, they have a good time and enjoy college, but they know that their homework and school is important, too — that’s the main reason they’re here.”Geist also said they use study tables and incentive programs such as the “Smartie Pants Award,” which is given to girls at chapter each week who have done well on tests and projects and helps motivate girls to keep their grades up.AOPi ranked fifth among the houses with an average GPA of 3.4022.Sophomore Ashley Sullivan, vice president of academics for AOPi, said in addition to weekly study tables, the sorority emphasizes teamwork and pairs women who have similar academic schedules so they can study and help each other.“We match up people in the house based on their majors and class schedules so that the newer pledge class can get help from the older women,”
(02/22/11 4:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From concerns about sexuality to academic stress, SPILL’s website encourages students to spill their guts and vent about any number of issues they’re facing.SPILL, which stands for Supporting Peers in Laidback Listening, is an anonymous peer-to-peer support system where students can go online to vent or ask for advice about their problems and concerns with which they are dealing.SPILL is a national organization that was brought to IU by the Delta Delta Delta sorority this year and is currently accessible at nine other universities across the country.Junior Jen Blass, president of SPILL at IU, said students will be connected with four to six other students on campus who have dealt with the same issue, and will receive a response to their post within 24 hours.“If something is on your mind, bothering you, or you just need to talk to someone or get something off your chest, SPILL gives you the chance to do just that and to receive some positive feedback from those that won’t be judging you in the process,” Blass said.Blass said the support system is available 24 hours a day, so someone is always there to provide comfort and support, completely confidentially.Even though SPILL was founded by members of the greek community, Blass said the service is open to all men and women who need advice or want to help their fellow students.“SPILL is not limited to greek involvement, or solely responsive to one gender or type of issue,” Blass said. “Whether you are struggling with roommate problems, romantic relationships, academic stress, body image issues, concerns about sexuality, etcetera, we are here to listen.”Senior Brea Jackson said she thinks SPILL could be beneficial to students, especially underclassmen.“I can understand where students would want advice from upperclassmen who could definitely have the potential to help them,” Jackson said. “Sorority life is attractive to a lot of women, and it would be nice to (get) advice from women who are already established in houses.”If nothing else, Blass said she wants students to go online and see what SPILL is about.“I really encourage girls and guys to take advantage of such a discrete and helpful opportunity,” Blass said.For student support or for more information visit www.studentspill.com.
(02/11/11 4:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Black History Month began as Negro History Week in February 1926 as a way to encourage people to learn more about black history, according to the Library of Congress website.In 1976, the celebration was expanded to a full month.Every year since then, February has been officially celebrated as Black History Month.1895Marcellus Neal earns a degree in mathematics as IU’s first black graduate. Preston Eagleson works to integrate IU sports by playing football in the 1893, 1894 and 1895 seasons.1896Plessy v. Ferguson establishes “separate but equal” status for African-Americans.1919Frances Elizabeth Marshall is IU’s first black female graduate. She graduates with a degree in English.1911Kappa Alpha Psi, Alpha chapter is chartered at IU as the first historically black fraternity on campus.1925Black students protest to have equal access to the Student Building dining area at IU.1926The first Negro History Week is celebrated nationally.1946The IU campus chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is formed.1947Jackie Robinson works to integrate baseball at IU.1947Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Gamma Eta chapter becomes the second historically black fraternity at IU. Omega Psi Phi, Zeta Epsilon chapter is founded as the third black fraternity. Delta Sigma Theta, Gamma Nu chapter is founded as the first historically black sorority at IU. 1948IU forward Bill Garrett becomes the first African-American to play Big Ten Basketball.1949IU All-American tailback George Taliaferro becomes the first African-American to play quarterback in pro football with the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference.1951Richard Johnson is the first black tenured faculty member.1954Brown v. Board of Education outlaws segregation in schools.1960Thomas Atkins becomes IU’s first black student body president.1963Martin Luther King Jr. gives his “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington.1965Malcom X is assassinated in New York.1967President Lyndon B. Johnson appoints Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court.1968Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated in Memphis.1970The IU Board of Trustees appoints education professor Herman Hudson as the University’s first Dean of Afro-American Affairs. In the same year, he founded and chaired the new Afro-American Studies Program.1971Sigma Gamma Rho, Epsilon Chi chapter is founded as the second historically black sorority at IU.1972The Afro-American Studies Program gains department status. Phi Beta Sigma, Epsilon Iota chapter is founded as the fourth black fraternity.1973The Black Culture Center is established on North Jordan Avenue. Zeta Phi Beta, Delta Epsilon chapter is founded as the third historically black sorority.1974Herman Hudson founds the African-American Arts Institute.1976Black History Week is expanded to the full month that is still celebrated each February.1981The IU Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center is first proposed.1983Denise Jackson is chosen for Athlete of the Year after leading the women’s basketball team to its first Big Ten championship.1995Iota Phi Theta fraternity, Gamma Delta chapter is founded as the eighth greek organization in the “Divine Nine” that make up the African-American greek-lettered organizations.2000Isiah Thomas, the IU graduate who led the Hoosiers to a national basketball championship in 1981, becomes the full-time coach to the Indiana Pacers.2001Mike Davis is IU’s first black head coach for men’s basketball. 2002The Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center opens and is now home to the center, a library, the African-American Arts Institute and Diversity Education.Nov. 4, 2008Barack Obama is elected the 44th president of the United States.
(02/11/11 4:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Black History Month began as Negro History Week in February 1926 as a way to encourage people to learn more about black history, according to the Library of Congress website.In 1976, the celebration was expanded to a full month.Every year since then, February has been officially celebrated as Black History Month.1895Marcellus Neal earns a degree in mathematics as IU’s first black graduate. Preston Eagleson works to integrate IU sports by playing football in the 1893, 1894 and 1895 seasons.1896Plessy v. Ferguson establishes “separate but equal” status for African-Americans.1919Frances Elizabeth Marshall is IU’s first black female graduate. She graduates with a degree in English.1911Kappa Alpha Psi, Alpha chapter is chartered at IU as the first historically black fraternity on campus.1925Black students protest to have equal access to the Student Building dining area at IU.1926The first Negro History Week is celebrated nationally.1946The IU campus chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is formed.1947Jackie Robinson works to integrate baseball at IU.1947Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Gamma Eta chapter becomes the second historically black fraternity at IU. Omega Psi Phi, Zeta Epsilon chapter is founded as the third black fraternity. Delta Sigma Theta, Gamma Nu chapter is founded as the first historically black sorority at IU. 1948IU forward Bill Garrett becomes the first African-American to play Big Ten Basketball.1949IU All-American tailback George Taliaferro becomes the first African-American to play quarterback in pro football with the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference.1951Richard Johnson is the first black tenured faculty member.1954Brown v. Board of Education outlaws segregation in schools.1960Thomas Atkins becomes IU’s first black student body president.1963Martin Luther King Jr. gives his “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington.1965Malcom X is assassinated in New York.1967President Lyndon B. Johnson appoints Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court.1968Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated in Memphis.1970The IU Board of Trustees appoints education professor Herman Hudson as the University’s first Dean of Afro-American Affairs. In the same year, he founded and chaired the new Afro-American Studies Program.1971Sigma Gamma Rho, Epsilon Chi chapter is founded as the second historically black sorority at IU.1972The Afro-American Studies Program gains department status. Phi Beta Sigma, Epsilon Iota chapter is founded as the fourth black fraternity.1973The Black Culture Center is established on North Jordan Avenue. Zeta Phi Beta, Delta Epsilon chapter is founded as the third historically black sorority.1974Herman Hudson founds the African-American Arts Institute.1976Black History Week is expanded to the full month that is still celebrated each February.1981The IU Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center is first proposed.1983Denise Jackson is chosen for Athlete of the Year after leading the women’s basketball team to its first Big Ten championship.1995Iota Phi Theta fraternity, Gamma Delta chapter is founded as the eighth greek organization in the “Divine Nine” that make up the African-American greek-lettered organizations.2000Isiah Thomas, the IU graduate who led the Hoosiers to a national basketball championship in 1981, becomes the full-time coach to the Indiana Pacers.2001Mike Davis is IU’s first black head coach for men’s basketball. 2002The Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center opens and is now home to the center, a library, the African-American Arts Institute and Diversity Education.Nov. 4, 2008Barack Obama is elected the 44th president of the United States.
(02/09/11 1:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Instead of singing and dancing together this February, women in sorority houses across campus are finding other ways to bond.Last March, IU Student Foundation, together with students, alumni and faculty, decided that it was time for IU Sing to come to an end.Dana Cummings, director of IUSF, said the decision to end IU Sing — a greek singing and dancing competition— was eight to 10 years in the making, and it had come to a natural end.“IU Sing was a wonderful event for all 78 years that involved thousands of students,” Cummings said.The decision to cancel IU Sing came after a slow decline of the event’s ability to make money, Cummings said. In 2009, IUSF implemented changes to ticket sales in hopes of reviving the event.With the changes, each act in the show was supposed to sell a certain number of tickets, and only three of the 20 acts made the quota.The event went on, but after board meetings in the following months, IUSF ultimately decided that it would be the last year for IU Sing.“It was a difficult decision, but I’m confident that it was the right decision,” Cummings said.IU Sing was more than just a singing competition for women in sorority houses. It gave their new pledge classes an opportunity to bond.Sophomore Emily Krauter, a new member educator for Alpha Omicron Pi, said the cancellation of IU Sing has forced them to scramble to find more activities for the women to do.“There are only so many ‘mani’ and ‘pedi’ and movie nights you can have,” Krauter said.Krauter said IU Sing was an important part of greek life because the women met for hour-long rehearsals every night in February to learn a dance together and to work as a team.“IU Sing was just a great way for the pledge class to bond and for them to meet guys on campus too,” Krauter said.Sophomore Kori Kelly pledged AOPi this January and said she had really looked forward to IU Sing when she joined the house.“I’m really bummed that they canceled it because I’m a dancer and I love events like that where you can perform and have fun,” Kelly said. “A lot of the girls in the house were saying it was one of the best bonding times and experiences for the new pledge class — that’s how everyone really started to get know each other’s personalities, and now we don’t have that.”Krauter said in place of IU Sing activities, members of AOPi planned a week of activities for the new pledge class that included ice skating, snow tubing at Paoli Peaks and a themed movie night. She said they’re also trying to plan a skit and dance night for the girls to perform for each other at the house.But the main problem, Krauter said, is many of the events they’ve had to plan to replace IU Sing cost money.“IU Sing didn’t cost any money for the new girls,” Krauter said. “It’s hard because we want to be able to provide them with events to do, but we don’t want to be like, ‘You have to pay money to hang out with your sisters.’”Cummings said IUSF hopes to come back with some sort of fall program similar to IU Sing within the next few years.“Hopefully in a few years we can come up with something that will appeal to students and rally support again,” Cummings said. “For now we’re going to assess and see what we can do in the future.”
(02/02/11 1:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Saturday marked the beginning of men’s spring rush, but some houses began preparations weeks before.Men were invited to the kick-off of rush in the Solarium Room of the Indiana Memorial Union to meet men from the 34 fraternities and get more information about each house.After the first meeting, the events for the rest of rush are left up to each individual house’s discretion because spring rush is much smaller and less formal than fall rush, said Steve Panah, vice president of recruitment for the Interfraternity Council.“We really like to leave it up to the fraternities,” Panah said. “It’s much better because they have more freedom to do what they want and decide who they want.”Sophomore Dylan Pure, vice president of recruitment for Pi Kappa Phi, said the pre-rush process starts weeks before the beginning of spring rush, when members of the house give names of men they would like to invite over.For two to three weeks after the official start of rush, Pure said members invite men to the house for tours, dinners and activities, like basketball, and hand out bids intermittently during the process.“I like to have guys over to watch sporting events — the Superbowl is a big day for it — to have them come over and meet the brothers,” Pure said. “I try to meet these guys and show them what it’s really like to be in a house because we always go play basketball together, we’re always watching games together.”Zach Eppers, recruitment chairman for Phi Delta Theta said while it’s not as common for a greek system to have two rushes during the year, he said he thinks it gives men an opportunity to work on their grades and get adjusted first semester.“If they decide not to rush in the fall, they have the chance rush in the spring after they have a feel for how school is going to be and can decide whether they want to be in a greek house or not,” Eppers said.