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(09/08/06 3:25am)
If trekking all the way up the stairs of the Herman B Wells Library to return a book was difficult before, relief is in sight. The library is now offering three new book drops where students can return materials from any IU-Bloomington library on campus without even opening their car door. \nThe only problem is many students don't know the drop-offs are there. \n"We're (going to) try to get some signs so people will know they actually exist," said Pat Steele, Ruth Lilly interim dean of University Libraries. "This is just a first step." \nThe drop-offs will make it easier for students to return books and other media without having to find a parking space in a lot already crunched for space, Steele said. \nOne drop-off sits just south of the Wells library in the parking lot. Two more can be found nearly hidden in the landscaping north of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, where cars can pull in. Building manager Jim Champion said only four books have been deposited there so far.\nThe book drops, which are gray and about chest height, resemble giant mailboxes and have only a narrow slot to return materials.\nThe materials don't have to go to the library from where the books came, nor do books need separated from other materials, such as CDs and movies.\nMost students spending their early Thursday morning coffee break at the library had no knowledge of the book drops, which Steele said have been in place since Aug. 25. \nFreshman Tammy Marnell said the drop-offs would be a good idea if they were advertised and people knew about them. She suggested signs and flyers to promote them. \n"This is the first I've heard about it," said freshman Charles Corbin, who agreed that signs would help students know about the book drops.\nThe book drops themselves cost $21,000, with additional costs on preparing and implementing them. Each book drop can hold up to 500 books, Steele said. However, so far on an average day only about 100 books have been dropped off at the three book drops combined, said Eric Bartheld, associate director of development and external relations. \nBook drops have been put into service in the past, but not within the last decade, Steele said. Some of the problems with the old book drops will be eliminated with the new ones because of "design elements that soften the flight of the books," she said. \nFormer IU Student Association President and current student trustee Casey Cox said IUSA has been working for years to get the book drops in place. \n"Sometimes things take a little longer than they realize," Cox said. "You really have to credit the libraries and the last few IUSA organizations, including the current one." \nThe book drops help avoid costly parking fines and make students' lives a little more convenient, Cox said. \n"This is a step to make life easier," Steele said. "I hope it works out ... as people know about them"
(09/06/06 4:17am)
Some of the students living in dorm lounges received news this weekend that their stay might be extended \nconsiderably. \nResidential Programs and Services sent letters to some of the students informing them that they might not get a permanent room for up to a month later than anticipated.\nThe delay in finding rooms comes because RPS overestimated the number of students who didn't show up to IU for the first week of classes, said Pat Connor, executive director of RPS. \nBecause RPS booked more students than it had room for, the remaining students, most of whom transferred to IU from other schools, were placed in lounges until enough rooms could be found.\n"I thought they meant at the two-week period everyone was gonna be out, so I guess it's taking a little longer than they thought," said sophomore Greg Gier, one of the residents who received notification from the University.\nRPS issued the letter to prepare students for the fact that they might face temporary housing longer than they were initially told, Connor said. \n"Our hope is that we can do it quicker than that," he said. \nConnor said RPS has found about 30 vacancies, which will permanently relocate some of the approximately 60 students who have been living in lounges for two weeks. \nRoommates and sophomores Wissam Nour and Chris Lang share a Teter Quad lounge with two other students. They have two dressers and two racks for their clothes between the four of them. No desks are in the lounge, but they have one table. \nYet the sophomores said they do not mind living in the temporary housing for a few more weeks. \n"We're guys," Nour said. "We don't have eight boxes of clothes. There's more than enough room." \nLang said he wouldn't mind staying in the lounge for the rest of the semester, if he knew it would be permanent. He said the only real inconveniences are having less privacy and not knowing when he will be assigned to a permanent dorm room. \n"It's comfortable for now," Gier said. "I'd rather still have a permanent room than a temporary lounge ... At least they're trying to do something."\nHe and his roommates have not received word from the University as to how much longer they will remain in the lounge, he said. \nConnor said the inconvenience was a trade-off for having more space than most students.\nRPS is charging the students a discounted rate while they live in the lounges, though Connor was not able to recall how large the discount was.\nCheryl Dunn, whose son, freshman Kyle Biggs, is living in a Teter lounge, said she was disappointed in how the University was handling the situation. The small discount they received was not enough to compensate for the inconvenience, she said. \n"What are they doing about it?" Dunn asked. "He's adjusting to what was handed to him. But he would rather be in a room where he has privacy, wouldn't you?" \nConnor said he is confident RPS will find rooms for all of the displaced students soon.\n"We know more spaces will come open," Connor said. "There will be more students who will drop out by a certain time. We're just trying to evaluate what all the options are available to us"
(09/05/06 3:27am)
One of the best is getting even better.
The Jacobs School of Music, which already has 160 notable faculty members and a reputation as one of the best music schools in the world, welcomed 11 new faculty members to its ranks this fall.
(09/04/06 3:11am)
Men's recruitment activities this weekend aimed to keep potential pledges from making a 'rush' decision. \nAbout 900 men from across campus flooded Dunn Meadow Friday night, all vying for the attention of more than 25 fraternities on campus. The fraternities were not looking for potential members to make any immediate decisions, but to instead weigh all their options and choose the house and brothers that best fit them. \n"(The fraternities) look for just a comfort level, guys that they would hang out with," said Interfraternity Council Director of Recruitment Counselors Mike Piermont. \nDozens of tables representing the fraternities at IU outlined the meadow as brothers talked and played football with interested students. Using intramural and Little 500 bragging rights, fraternity members attempted to sway prospective recruits. Others went for a visual approach, displaying photos as they described their houses and amenities. \nDavid Weller, president of Phi Kappa Psi, said just because someone does not fit in with his fraternity, it does not mean he will not fit in with any of the fraternities. He said they encouraged potential pledges to look at all the choices available to them and be selective in their search process. \n"You're joining a chapter for the next four years of your life," IFC President Justin Sloan said. "You shouldn't hastily do it just because you met one really cool guy."\nSophomore Grant Gernhardt, who attended the event to examine his choices, said he could tell a difference between the chapters represented at the event. \n"The guys that are positive about their house but still positive about other houses are the ones that impress me the most," he said. \nMost of the men representing the fraternities were quick to point out that partying is not the number one thing they represent. \n"If you come to a party you've seen one-fourth of what we're about," said Josh Winer, president of Delta Upsilon. "The greek (grade point average) is higher than the non-greek GPA. A common misconception is that we're all about (partying)." \nHowever, Sloan said he admits some of the common views about the greek system at IU are correct. \n"Maybe (some people) fit (the stereotype) but that doesn't do justice for the 70 percent that don't," Sloan said.\nAfter the recruitment session Friday, prospective members visited fraternity houses during tour hours Saturday and Sunday. \nFreshman Michael Anda said he could tell which fraternities cared the most by seeing which ones took the time to give a good tour.\nThe men who completed the weekend events received a wristband which will get them into fraternities' social functions for the coming weeks, Sloan said. He said the wristbands let the chapters know who is serious and worth their time. \nFraternities will now keep in touch with potential members and hold events for the next three weeks until they reach the point of offering bids, Sloan said. \n"I hope each guy doesn't decide on the house but on the brotherhood," said Bobby McDonald, president of Sigma Nu. "You're looking for the guys who want to get to know the brothers. It's more about the brothers in the house than the house itself"
(09/01/06 2:21am)
Local organizations are offering college students an alternative to sleeping away Saturday morning.\nThe City of Bloomington Volunteer Network Volunteer Fair is 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Accompanying the Farmers Market at Shower Plaza, the fair will give devoted, enthusiastic locals a chance to get information from nonprofit organizations looking for volunteers.\nBet Savich, director of the city of Bloomington Volunteer Network, said the local nonprofit organizations will be set up to recruit volunteers on the spot.\n"It's a chance to learn about the many programs in Bloomington that really are able to do their work because so many people are willing to volunteer their time," Savich said.\nSavich wants volunteers to know they do not have to be willing to donate every day of their lives to help in a big way.\n"(Most of) the nonprofit agencies have a variety of commitment levels," she said. "And all of them are used to working with students and understand their schedule."\nOf the 100 organizations the Volunteer Network works with, more than 40 of them, such as Options for Better Living and Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, will be attending the volunteer fair. Attendees can get information, sign up and apply to volunteer at any of the organizations, all with different needs and time commitments.\nSavich said most organizations have a simple applications process followed by an orientation and training, but in some cases there are more screening requirements, such as police background checks.\nOrganizations like Middle Way House, a domestic violence program and rape crisis center, will be at the fair to give out contact information and take applications. Colleen Yeakle, crisis intervention services coordinator at Middle Way House, said volunteers outnumber its staff eight-to-one. \n"It's absolutely essential to our mission," Yeakle said. "We train 300 new volunteers every year."\nMiddle Way House is one organization that is more selective when choosing volunteers. \n"We really talk to the people to make sure they're in a good place to receive difficult information from our clients," Yeakle said. \nSavich said she is hoping for 300 to 400 people to come to the fair.\n"It's really an opportunity to figure out how to mesh one's personal interests with public need," Savich said.\nThe IU Volunteer Students Bureau will have a similar volunteer fair 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 27 in Alumni Hall of the Indiana Memorial Union. Students who can't make the community fair can also visit the Web site at www.bloomington.in.gov/volunteer.
(08/30/06 5:24am)
The sound of banging drums and cymbals reverberated through IU's nearly packed auditorium as six Korean musicians came through to the stage.\nThe crowd, composed mainly of freshmen, was there for CultureFest, IU's annual celebration of culture and diversity on campus. \nThe Korean Samulnori Drummers played sitting cross-legged while a Korean toddler danced and clapped with the dynamics of the music, making audience members in the first few rows laugh for much of the song.\n"They were so talented I didn't want them to stop," said sophomore transfer student Whitney Biber. \nA video that challenged students to be "the author of their own stories" at IU followed the drummers. \nKeynote speaker Momma Sandi, who grew up in African, Caribbean and Southern neighborhoods, almost never let her hands rest during her nearly 30-minute speech.\nSandi connected to her audience through a childlike story about a mouse that learned to understand others' differences.\n"I'm a storyteller, (but) not in the traditional sense," said barefooted Sandi, who wore bright orange from head to toe. Minutes later, she began singing and clapping to a song while inviting the audience to chime in with "oh yeah" when she pointed at it. \nSandi's tale described a mouse that learned to be unselfish by giving things it needed to other animals -- animals that were unlike the mouse.\nSandi said she likes engaging the audience with this style of speaking because it is "different than just preaching."\nHer bright personality did not allow her love for teaching to stay confined in a curriculum, so she combined it with her love for creativity, she said.\nFreshman Bo Leonard said he enjoyed being able to listen to the stories. \n"I felt like a little kid again," he said. \nFreshman Emily Pressler agreed that Sandi's speech was appropriate and fun. \n"She kind of put the message (out) to unify and be a team and help each other," she said.\nOther students said they felt Sandi's storytelling was fun and interactive but inappropriate for the college-aged. \n"It felt a little juvenile," senior Sam Laughlin said. "(It felt like) something she should be telling grade-schoolers."\nOnce students left the auditorium, they were welcomed at Showalter Fountain to free food from several culture centers on campus and local restaurants such as Dats and Qdoba.\nStudents moving through the crowded area stayed in small groups and aimed for a shady spot from the late afternoon heat.\nThose who were patient enough to linger in lines that were dozens of students deep to get the free food approved of the unique cuisine -- including chili cheese etouffee and vegan succotash.\nStudents were more frequently seen eating pizza and snow cones, however.\nMusic ranging from lively and upbeat to loud rock accompanied students as they made their way to several booths offering such activities as painting flowerpots and getting information about the cultural centers on campus.\nJunior Dee Wanapun, who was working at the Asian Cultural Center booth, was happy to get more information to students for fall events. \n"It really exposes freshmen to know more about diversity on campus," she said.
(08/30/06 5:23am)
The Princeton Review may have made IU notorious for being the No. 4 school where students (almost) never study, but Friday afternoon's job fair suggested that it might be because they are working.\nThe job fair drew 1,316 IU students in search of employment opportunities ranging from working with disabled students to working at Pizza Express.\nLou Ann Hanson, administrative systems manager at the Career Development Center, said about 85 percent of students who come to the fair get a job.\n"This is like one-stop shopping," Hanson said. "Employers can come and get over 1,000 students."\nSenior Ronnie Gemma said the fair allowed him to make great contacts for finding a job. Instead of having to go out to different places, the fair made it a lot easier, he said.\n"You know they're actually looking for people, so you're not wasting your time," he said.\nAs students gazed hungry-eyed at their prospective future employers, they got a chance to ask questions, pick up applications and relax at one of several student tables to fill them out.\n"I just realized that having a part-time job helps take care of extra expenses," junior Paula Covey said. \nCovey also looked at the fair's Web site prior to the event and e-mailed future employers to find out about the job so she could be more prepared.\nMost employers said they were simply handing out applications and answering questions and then making call-backs for interviews after the job fair.\nAmy Joslin, human resources director at Christole, Inc., which provides care for those with developmental disabilities, said they were selective and were only looking for four or five employees.\n"Because of the types of clients, we want people (who are) energetic, caring and in it for the right reasons and not just for the money," she said.\nKathleen Stedman, director of human resources for Wendy's of Bloomington, said she was hoping students would realize they had good jobs available, including customer service and management opportunities.\n"It's not just about flipping burgers," she said. "It's actually a very rewarding job. IU's fantastic. (You) get a broad pool of applicants."\nFreshman Ashley Kearney said unlike many of her peers who seek jobs for spending money, she will be using almost all of her earnings to pay for school.\n"(My parents) can't (help me), and I wouldn't expect them to," she said.\nSeeking to work 25 hours a week along with attending classes, Kearney said balancing the two would be a challenge.\n"You have to practice time management," she said. "I'm trying to figure out what'll work best with my schedule."\nA different job fair took place Friday morning to help students seeking work-study positions, Hanson said. \n"(Both job fairs) really help students get connections with employers," said Lilly Massa, graduate assistant at the Career Development Center. "I'm pretty sure it's a pretty effective service or else we wouldn't be doing it"
(08/29/06 3:43am)
Though most freshmen have spent a lifetime navigating only one building to go to class, they were given the challenge of navigating an entire campus when classes started yesterday. \nBut many freshmen who might have worried about sitting down in the wrong class on their first day of college were relieved to find out their day was not as bad as anticipated.\n"I was pretty relieved to not go in the wrong room," freshman Leslie Nix said. "I was pretty scared." \nNix, along with several other freshmen, got acquainted with the location of her classes prior to the first day.\nFreshman Nate Meyer said Welcome Week helped him get oriented with campus.\nNot all freshmen had days that went off without a hitch, though.\n"I was fine until I got my first assignment," said freshman Gina Krizman, who was assigned three reading assignments and a short paper by the next class period. "I was kind of surprised we had that big of an assignment for the first day."\nFreshman Dana Brej said one professor talked too quickly for her to understand. \n"I couldn't understand the teacher," she said. "He (talked) really, really fast. How are you supposed to learn?"\nMeyer's first day of classes took an unexpected turn when he found his Russian class meeting on the 10th floor of the Herman B Wells Library.\n"It's back in the middle of nowhere," he said of his experience. "It was so isolated ... I was surprised."\nTo smooth out the day, volunteer IU guides were located throughout campus from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to help direct confused students to classes, Orientation Services said. The guides will be available at the same times today.\nTerri Crouch of the Office of University Ceremonies said she enjoyed volunteering her time to meet students and help them out. Since she is often in charge of events like freshman induction and graduation, she said she likes to see students in between the two major events in their lives.\nCrouch said students have been friendly and optimistic about their first day and that the first day ran extremely smoothly.\n"I think that speaks well of the University," she said.\nBart Quinet, assistant registrar and manager of record services, said he heard of no problems or things out of the ordinary for the day.\n"It's really more about preparation," he said. "Business as usual today is what it seems like for us"
(08/28/06 4:15am)
A new IU Student Association proposal could bar freshmen from parking in dorm parking lots. \nIUSA Vice President Andrew Lauck voiced his support for a plan that would force freshmen to park only in the stadium lot at an Aug. 21 meeting of the President's Parking Commission.\nResidence Halls Association President Matt Jarson said limiting freshmen parking is something he thought RHA would be "totally opposed to."\nLauck said he thought eliminating freshmen spaces would allow for a lot of other people to use those spots, including graduate students and other student staff members.\nAndy Tellas, parking manager for Residential Programs and Services, said it is difficult to determine the number of freshmen who park in dorm parking lots because of the way the data is tracked.\nJarson said he's been told that about 7,000 of the approximately 9,000 students who park in dorm parking lots are freshmen. Lauck, on the other hand, said he was informed that the number of freshmen who park at those lots was "a handful." \nNeither student representative could give the exact number of freshmen who park in dorm parking lots.\nTellas said a majority of freshmen live in Briscoe, Foster and McNutt quads, whereas Read Center and Forest and Willkie quads have an overwhelming number of returning residents.\nBecause of this, the proposal would largely free up parking spots at Briscoe, Foster and McNutt since upperclassmen often "grab up" most of the spaces at other dorms, Tellas said.\n"I don't think it would work out as they're thinking it would," he said. "From my perspective, eliminating freshmen from parking on campus probably wouldn't really help the situation."\nLauck suggested examining the number of spots a residence hall needs and giving permits to upperclassmen and the rest to graduate student employees.\nLauck said he believes that the committee will look into the proposal further.\n"One of the nice things is we allow freshmen to bring cars to campus, and I think that's a great opportunity," Lauck said. "But at the same time there are other uses (for those parking spaces)."\nLauck said one big change is not going to solve the parking situation, but the committee needs to act on something by the end of the semester.\nJarson said he is not expecting a final decision on any parking issue until November.\nThe committee also addressed the raising of the price of A permits, the lowering of the price of E permits, the construction of a new parking garage near the law school and bus routes, Jarson said.\nThe next meeting for the President's Parking Commission is scheduled for Sept. 14.
(08/24/06 5:15am)
Freshman Amanda Faber unloaded her belongings onto a Gator Wednesday afternoon.\nBecause of construction blocking Ashton's old parking lot, Ashton residents like Faber had to use the utility vehicles to move in.\nBecause only six Gators were available, Faber had to wait about an hour to get her luggage moved. Despite the inconvenience, she and her mother were patient as they waited.\n"I've been through this before," her mother Donna Faber said. "We should have gotten here earlier. I think it's been organized. The construction is just bad timing." \nThe traditionally frantic move-in day came together thanks to 4,100 students who moved in early to alleviate much of the pressure Wednesday, said Bob Weith, Residential Programs and Services director of residential operations.\nThough the day went off without any major setbacks, the freshmen in each dorm shared stories of their first glimpse of independence.\nSonam Thadani had never been away from her parents for more than four or five days. After making the drive from Indianapolis late Wednesday afternoon, Thadani was the family's first daughter to leave home for college.\n"I'm nervous. I don't want her to go," said her father Kaman Thadani. "I'm a little excited she's going to college, and it's really good for her to get an education."\nAlthough her parents wanted her to go to school closer to home, Sonam Thadani is excited to live in a new place.\nMost parents suggested scheduling different times for each floor or part of each building to move in. \nBut, despite complaints, most parents were content with the organization of the day.\n"I'm really impressed," said Suzy Santangelo, a parent helping her student move in. "The people couldn't be friendlier."\nWeith said he was equally delighted with the smooth move-in as he worked at Collins Living-Learning Center, where music and bright decorations were set up to welcome the newcomers.\n"Lots of people are walking around with a smile on their face," Weith said. "It's a positive party atmosphere."\nIU Police Department Capt. Jerry Minger said the move-in could not have gone any better. Traffic was not even backed up as expected as he drove home at about 4 p.m., he said. \n"The efforts of pre-planning paid off, and it was pretty much flawless," he said. "We're all very happy as to how things turned out"
(08/23/06 9:38pm)
Today is the official annual -- and notoriously frenzied -- move-in day when thousands of students will pile their belongings into IU residence halls. Tuesday's early move-in day attracted approximately 3,500 students and conditions were already hectic, but approximately 4,500 students and their families will flood the halls today.\nDana Wilson, a freshman who moved in to Briscoe Quad on Tuesday afternoon, said her move-in experience was very stressful.\n"There were too many people to check in and (Tuesday's) not even the bad day," her father John said. \nBoth her parents said they thought the early move-in day would prove to alleviate stress but found it was not as easy as they expected.\nWith more than 4,000 students moving into residence halls within 24 hours, the IU Police Department and Residential Programs and Services are working around the clock to make the day run smoothly. And a smooth move-in will include approximately 50 extra IUPD officers on duty, IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said.\nMinger said that without IUPD, the campus would become gridlocked in a short time.\n"No one could move anywhere," he said. "If there was a critical incident ... (officials) probably couldn't (get through)."\nRPS Director of Residential Operations Bob Weith said he even recommended those moving in today to be in line at 6 or 7 a.m. in order to get in the door at 8 a.m. when the centers open. Ashton residents were also asked to arrive as early as Sunday because of demolition going on in Ashton.\n"We've got a bunch of Gator (utility vehicles) helping them move their stuff into the center because it's so torn up over there," he said. "It's not like they're climbing over debris, but it means they have to move things farther than they normally would move them."\nWeith said parents who try to stay involved with the move-in process eventually inhibit its ability to move along. His best advice to those moving in was to simply follow the directions given.\n"I think we've tried to post clear signs and give specific advice about parking and not staying in parking zones for more than 15 to 20 minutes," he said. "I'm not sure how you say, 'Please do what all these guiders around tell you to do.'"\nResident assistants from several dorms emphasized having patience while dealing with long lines.\n"There's nothing you can do to speed up several hundred people moving in," Foster RA Alex Hilt said. "We're working as fast as we can to get people through the line."\nEigenmann RA Jason Autry stressed the importance of effective communication during the chaotic process.\n"I think the big thing is clear:short communication so the residents don't come in confused," Autry said.\nThough two separate required move-in days for students could be an option, neither RPS nor the University are seriously pursuing the idea right now.\n"It's not solely an RPS decision; it's an institutional decision," Weith said. "In the event there was a recommendation by the University to try that, I think we'd be more than willing (to give it a look)"
(08/23/06 3:15am)
High school senior Justin Tait will have hands-on experience in a city or county clerk's office before he even graduates.\nTait was one of the students to fill the middle section of Bloomington High School North's auditorium Tuesday to hear Governor Mitch Daniels speak on everything from his own internships and college days to his beliefs about capital punishment. The high school juniors and seniors present for Daniels' speech were participating in a program that allows them to leave school for part of the day and extend their education beyond the classroom through community service, cadet teaching or a senior internship.\nDaniels encouraged the future leaders to take advantage of these opportunities to gain real-world experience while still in high school and reminded them that not all students have such chances. \nHe applauded the students for taking part in something they could have overlooked. \n"Sometimes you can learn as much from real world experience as you can in the classroom," he said.\nAside from service learning, Daniels also discussed the impact of alternative fuels on Indiana. \n"It'll have an enormous effect on this state, and it's (going to) put a lot of money in rural Indiana," Daniels said.\nWhen a student asked how he balanced his personal beliefs with the beliefs of Indiana residents, Daniels said capital punishment is one issue that has forced him to address this question.\n"I am very ambivalent about the state taking a life. ... I could never be comfortable with those decisions which I've now faced several times," he said. "I've really had to ask myself the same question: Where does my sense of right and wrong (come in), and when am I representing (those in Indiana)?"\nPrincipal Jeff Henderson said having the governor come allowed students to see the importance of being an informed citizen. \n"It's a wonderful opportunity for kids to speak to local government leaders," he said.\nDaniels said he was tired of seeing young people leave school because it was not a good enough place to reach their goals in life. \n"We've tried to make the changes we think will make this a better state," he said.\nDavid Pillar, co-director of the program, said this will give students a great chance to go out and be active in the community. He said it will also give them a real job shadowing experience as they will be doing it for an entire year instead of just one day.\nDaniels said afterwards that it's not just students that can learn a lot by leaving their desks and going out into the world.\n"I think I learn more from the students than they learn from me," he said. "I don't think you can ever learn enough without getting to know the citizens (of Indiana). You can't learn that sitting in an office"
(07/31/06 3:56am)
The café, 213 S. Rogers St., will be hosting its first murder mystery night at 8 p.m. Thursday. Staff members, as well as IU Jacobs School of Music students, will be participating in the event.\nGuests will be able to enjoy champagne, an appetizer buffet and entertainment for the evening. Several of the wait-staff from Tutto Bene will be acting as different characters in the plot as the guests who have made reservations must try to solve a murder mystery.\nCo-owner Marci Widen said Tutto Bene's guests will be attending a pseudo-retirement party for the general manager of the American Opera Theatre, a scenario written by staff member and senior Eric Anderson.\nAnderson explained staff members who are also IU music students would be playing the stars of the opera and at one point would perform for the guests. \n"During that part, the murder will take place," he said. "What (the guests) will have to do is talk to the characters, find out who they're talking to, how they might be connected and how they're involved. Hopefully at least one person will figure out who the murderer is."\nHe planned the story and performances based around the idea that several Tutto Bene staff members were music students as well. \n"This way we get to use the restaurant in a very unique way, (give) the vocalists on staff a chance to perform and it's just a good sort of innovative promotional opportunity for the restaurant in general," Anderson said.\nWiden agreed.\n"The whole idea is people are going to be mingling and up and around and asking questions," Widen said. "I'm hoping there'll be some interaction and moving around because that's what makes it fun."\nDavid Hale, soon-to-graduate with a Bachelor of Music, will sing for the performance along with Jacobs School of Music graduate voice students Rachael Lubbers, Jeremiah Johnson and Carrie Reading.\n"It's not just a murder mystery," Hale said. "In addition to the mystery there's going to be performances because that's the scenario around which the murder takes place. We kind of work that in as a chance to sing for everybody."\nAt the end of the evening all the guests who have figured out who the murderer is will be entered for a chance to win the grand prize: two tickets to IU Opera Theater's currently-running production, Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Mikado," dinner for two at Tutto Bene before the show, as well as transportation to and from the opera. Other winners will receive Tutto Bene gift cards.\nWiden emphasized Tutto Bene's unique atmosphere and ability to host events such as this.\n"We're sort of an artsy-creative crowd here so we like to do fun things," she said. "We want it to be a spontaneous interactive evening."\nWiden explained the "and more" part of the café's title was important. \n"We're not just a wine café," she said. "One of the reasons I wanted it to be called a café is sometimes people think a bar is only drinking. And we're much more than that."\nReservations for the evening must be made no later than Tuesday by calling Tutto Bene at 330-1060. Tickets are $35 a person for the event. Dress is semi-formal/black-tie optional.
(07/27/06 12:14am)
Pyro-kinetic artist Molly Block can belly dance while spinning fiery objects around her body. She can dance with a flaming sword and staff. She even does fire breathing. Although Block, known as Wyldfyre, has been practicing fire dancing for six years, she will be teaching the basic movement of a dance form known as poi, which she incorporates into her performance, at a workshop from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Banneker Community Center, 930 W. Seventh St.\nAnn Shaffer of Dark Side Tribal, a belly-dancing group sponsoring the workshop, described poi as having two balls on chains or strings that one spins around him or herself. Cost for the workshop is $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Attendees can bring their own poi equipment or purchase some at the workshop for $5 extra.\nShaffer said she and the other members of Dark Side Tribal would be learning poi along with everyone else at the workshop.\n"It's a really different kind of dance movement that people don't see too much around here," Shaffer said. "And Wyldfyre is a terrific performer and a great instructor so I think she'll make it really, really fun."\nAlthough when Block performs poi she uses fire, the workshop will simply teach the basic moves with different and safer equipment.\n"I think it's absolutely gorgeous even without the fire," Block said. "I have different equipment; I can use flappy tails and glowy things so I still have that flowy movement and it doesn't have that danger. All the fire really adds to it is 'Ooh is she gonna burn her hair off?'"\nBlock said there are different moves dancers can incorporate but the most basic moves will be taught at the workshop, including two known as the "butterfly" and the "weave," in which the two balls on the poi equipment follow one another and move in opposite directions, respectively.\nAs a fire performer and belly dancer, Block has performed and taught workshops throughout the Midwest. She is the manager of the Stinkee Beetle Tribe, a collective of fire performers out of Indianapolis. Poi is just one tool Block uses when performing with fire -- she incorporates belly dancing as well.\n"If the music moves me, I belly dance," she said. "It's just a part of my bones now. It just comes out." \nBlock finds that her dancing provides a plethora of benefits, even health-related.\n"I find it to be a highly aerobic form of dance when you get proficient with it," she said. "When you start out all that really gets accomplished is a raised heart rate and building muscle in the shoulders and arms. But once you get good at it, you can dance however you want with it."\nBlock encouraged anyone interested in attending the workshop to come, as she hopes for the tradition to perpetuate. She said her teaching style makes poi an attainable skill for everyone, as she doesn't move on in her instruction until she is sure everyone "gets it."\nMoreover, she ensures that people with different abilities can participate.\n"You can do it sitting down, I've taught people in wheelchairs," Block said. "You just have to be able to use your arms. It's very low impact."\nBlock will also be performing in conjunction with Dark Side Tribal at an event called "Axis of Evil," a monthly gothic night from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday night at Walnut Street Tap, 419 N. Walnut St. The event has a $5 cover charge and those attending must be 21 or older.\nDark Side Tribal, a group of three members, will be performing its style of American tribal style belly dancing. Block will perform a fire set with many different fire props, including a sword and claws, and will also belly dance with Dark Side Tribal.\nFor more information about the workshop or Dark Side Tribal, visit http://tribes.tribe.net/darksidetribal or e-mail darksidetribaldance@gmail.
(05/05/06 5:01am)
As seniors count down their last days at IU, many spend their time studying hard for finals. But one question that cracked an immediate smile to nearly all seniors this week was: "What's your favorite memory at IU?"\nWith countless memories to chose from, most graduating seniors took their time to assess the most memorable moment during their IU experience. While most reminisced about similar events, the stories themselves were unique for the students that told them. \nWithout surprise, one of IU's biggest traditions slid its way into many seniors' best memories of their four-year journey here. \n"(One of my favorite memories is) Little 5," said senior Catisha Coates. "All the fun and everything that goes with it: the partying, the race, just everything."\nLittle 500 for senior Jaimie Hewitt this year involved riding in the race on an independent team with her friends for the first time.\n"It was totally amazing, and it was something I'd wanted to do for three years. It was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made," she said. "I got to participate in one of the biggest IU traditions and partake in an event I've always wanted to do. Little 5 will always be a fond memory for me."\nParties during Little 500 weekend stood out as memories, no matter how blurry those recollections may have been.\n"You can't forget little 5," said senior Ryan Hart, as he took a break from studying in the Indiana Memorial Union Thursday afternoon. "This year at Little 5 we had a party at 12th and Grant, and at one point we had like 600 people within a square block," he said laughing.\nSenior Ryan Dumas reminisced about another party experience and immediately began laughing. \n"At Union Square (one year) there was a huge Halloween block party," he said. "It was just like a sea of people in costumes. That was a really fun party actually. I felt like it was Mardi Gras or something."\nSome seniors' recollections from their first year as undergraduates were memorable enough to jog their memories.\n"Teter (dormitory) came to fight Wright (dormitory, in a snowball fight) and everybody ran to Wright Quad and had a massive snowball fight," said senior John Demotte. "I think some kid broke his nose it was so intense."\nSenior Tiffany Jaynes also had a snow-related memory from her freshman year. She said that one of her favorite memories was meeting all her female friends freshman year that she still remains close to. She added that she remembers taking pictures in the snow after returning from a movie one night. \n"When I think of a snapshot from freshman year, I see us playing in the snow," Jaynes said. "We were dancing and listening to music from the car too."\nAs the class of 2006 moves on to new cities, jobs and lives, they said they realized some of things they will always love and miss about IU. Many outgoing seniors said one of the main things they will miss is just the everyday life at college, whether silly or serious.\n"(I'll miss) the Sunday after spring break because that's when all the girls come out in tank tops. That's by far my favorite part of IU," said senior Jordan Guse.\nHart agreed with Guse that girls were an added bonus to his college experience.\n"There's a lot of attractive girls," he said. "I'll miss the boy to girl ratio."\nSenior Megan Gilberts said the thing she will miss the most is spending time with her roommates. She added that some of her favorite times at IU were coming home and sharing her life with them and just sitting on her porch and talking. \nSenior Ed Yin summed up what makes it so hard for him to leave IU.\n"When you're at college you're still on an umbilical cord but free to roam," he said. "You have a kind of carefree life with only some responsibility. In the real world, you have more responsibility"
(05/01/06 5:01am)
Shouts of joy erupted from Kelley School of Business students Friday morning as they celebrated the announcement of the school's undergraduate program top-10 ranking in the nation by Business Week.\nThe program was ranked fourth among public schools in the country and 10th overall, according to a news release. \nThe first-ever ranking of the top 50 undergraduate business programs by Business Week was released via a Web chat late Thursday night.\nKelley Dean Dan Smith said he was not surprised to see IU in the top 10 and is hoping to see improvement in future rankings.\n"We have known for a long time that the Kelley School provides an extraordinary learning experience for our students and we provide exceptional graduates for the companies that hire them," Smith said. "Yeah, we're happy. But we are by no means content. I look for continued improvement over the years."\nAudrey Morgan, director of undergraduate programs, was quick to agree that the school could improve in the rankings.\n"We think we're even better than that, but we'll take top 10," she said.\nJunior Kelley student Christine Cash said she felt the ranking makes her degree and the program more credible.\n"I think as far as job options it helps down the road knowing I came from a credible institution," Cash said. "My parents were really excited about the rankings. They know how hard I'm working here, and it's nice to be recognized from an outside source."\nSmith agreed with Cash's assessment of the school's credibility. \n"I think in many ways this validates a lot of our internal metrics of our performance," he said.\nPrevious rankings by Business Week placed Kelley's MBA program in the top 20 seven of the eight times the magazine ranked MBA programs since 1988. \nBusiness Week compiles its rankings in part from surveys from more than 100,000 business students and 2,000 corporate recruiters, according to the news release. Starting salaries, the number of undergraduates who find their way to the top MBA programs, as well as faculty-student ratios and average SAT scores also contributed to Business Week's ranking.\nSmith said the Kelley school's ranking is contingent on two things. \n"No. 1, we have one of the most innovative core curricula of any school in the nation," he said. "And second is that our career services office provides exceptional preparation for our students for their job interviews, and they are extraordinarily responsive to the needs of companies that recruit here."\n"We are very proud of our balanced curriculum of liberal arts," said Undergraduate Program Chair M.A. Venkataramanan. "Our students are really satisfied with what we do. We do a great job of taking great citizens and transforming them."\nOther business schools in Indiana were ranked in the top 50 as well. Among them were Notre Dame at No. 3 and Purdue, which came in at 45.\nMore coverage on the ranking can be found on Business Week's Web site and in the May 8 issue, which became available on newsstands April 28.
(04/28/06 3:35am)
An award-winning film by an IU graduate was recently mentioned in Grammy magazine and on the 2006 Grammy ballot. The film will be shown at 7 p.m. in Ballantine 109.\nIU graduate Chris Sautter directed and produced the documentary titled, "So Glad I Made It: The Saga of Roger Salloom, America's Best Unknown Songwriter."\nThe screening is free and open to the public. \nSautter, who never studied film at IU, said the film follows the life of former IU student Roger Salloom struggling to make it in the music business after giving up on it for 20 years. \n"It's the story of a guy that was expected to make it, should have made it, had all the talent to make it, but didn't," Sautter said. "It addresses the question why some people make it in this world and others don't. And it often doesn't have anything to do with talent."\nSalloom, who attended IU in the mid-60s but did not graduate, played in his band Salloom, Sinclair and the Mother Bear at that time. Eventually, the Bloomington band drifted to San Francisco and played with the likes of Santana, Van Morrison and BB King, according to a bio on his Web site. \nSautter said that although the Grammy's have come and gone it was nice to be considered.\nThe film was on the Grammy ballot in nine categories in 2006 including "Best Music Film" and "Best Soundtrack for a Motion Picture." Salloom said last week Grammy magazine listed it as one of the top 15 films to see.\nThe National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, known as The Grammy Awards, has screened the film in New York City, Nashville, Tenn. and other major U.S. cities. \n"The film really seems to be taking on a life of its own," Salloom said. "It's like the little film that could."\nSalloom said Bloomington is where he first started to really get his music going. \n"A lot of my soul came alive in Bloomington," he said. "It's where I came alive as an artist."\nMost of the film was shot in 2002 in Salloom's hometown of North Hampton, Mass. A few scenes from the movie were also filmed in Bloomington. Flashbacks through photographs and interviews reveal Salloom's days at IU. \nSautter added that the film is not a commercial success but one he made about something he cared about. \n"I'm making films about things that are important to me," he said. "I'm operating it from my gut -- not what I think is some kind of commercial formula."\nAfter the screening, Sautter will hold a question and answer session and Salloom will be performing an acoustic concert.\nSalloom has continued his singing and songwriting for a substantial part of his life.\n"I'm writing and singing better than I ever did," he said. "I have no idea why that is happening."\nSalloom has been hailed as the next Bob Dylan, according to Sautter's Web site. According to a review from Worcester magazine on Salloom's Web site, it's the "kind of film you don't forget." Rolling Stone Magazine called the music "incredibly infectious," on Salloom's Web site as well.\nSautter said he is very interested in showing the film at IU and loves coming back to Bloomington.\n"There are people still in Bloomington that were in Bloomington when he performed in the late '60s that were fans and friends of his," Sautter said. "We're just hoping that those people and other people get a chance to see it." \nFor more information on the film and other Sautter films please visit www.sautterfilms.com \nor www.rogersalloom.com.
(04/27/06 4:08am)
Three days before their biggest performance of the semester, student dancers were just as excited about rehearsing as performing.\nDance major and sophomore Maureen Maryanski said Monday night at her practice in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation building that she loves coming to class everyday. \n"I genuinely love to dance," she said. "I'd be just as happy dancing in a room all by myself, just me."\nDancers rehearsed with student choreographers who have worked all semester for the culminating concert 7 p.m. tonight at the John Waldron Arts Center. The concert, titled "Hammer and Nail" is free and open to the public, with a short reception following the performance.\nTraditionally a music-only concert, the event has allowed student composers, choreographers and dancers to collaborate.\nLiz Shea, coordinator for the IU Contemporary Dance Program, said this is the first year in which graduate students from the Jacobs School of Music have composed original music to go with the choreography created by the seven dance students taking the Choreographic Performance Project class.\n"It's very hard work," Shea said. "(Choreographers) are working on their piece everyday and probably rehearsing twice a week with lots of preparation between rehearsals."\nAmy Bilodeau, one of the choreographers who planned a piece for the concert, said she's happy with the collaboration. "It was really exciting having my own composer."\nWith several choreographers all working on modern dance pieces, students might worry about having two pieces too similar. \n"Somebody famous once said 'Don't worry about being original, just worry about being authentic,'" Bilodeau said. "The whole piece is never going to be like anybody else."\nBilodeau worked with composer and graduate student Dan Sumner on the piece, who said this is the first time he's working in collaboration with dancers like this.\n"She came to the table with a concept, and I bought onto that and tried to fulfill what she wanted to express with her dance," Sumner said. "I think it fit really well together."\nDancers are in one to three pieces each and coordinated rehearsal times with each choreographer for the concert. \n"It's a challenge," said dance major and junior Lauren Weber. "In the end it gets done, and it's really amazing and miraculous how it does."\nSenior Ryan Burruss of the Student Composers Association organized much of the musical aspect of the concert. He said music would include electronically composed tracks as well as clarinet, cello, piano, saxophone and other strings.\n"We tried to turn around and do it different this year," Burruss said. "We wanted to get it outside of the music school. Instead of connecting people with performers, we've connected them with other performing arts."\nShea encourages all students, even those not affiliated with the student choreographers, to attend the show.\n"It's really cool that this concert is totally student-run, and the level of performance is astounding for students," Shea said about the talent that will be showcased. "I think a lot of their peers would be pretty amazed at what they created. If you're a lover of dance and music, you should definitely come because the quality is really good in both"
(04/26/06 6:01am)
The IU Student Association unanimously approved its $82,000 budget for 2006-07 at the first Congress meeting of the year Tuesday night. The budget, which relies heavily on student funds, had a $26,000 reduction from the previous year's budget. \n"We just want to be conservative because it's the students' money and we're not going to waste it," said IUSA Treasurer, junior Mary Kerschner. "There's been a lot of thought put in this to be conservative."\nRegardless of the overall reduction, students will be paying more per year on the new budget, up to $1.18 from $1.13 last year per student. However, last year's revenues were higher due to rollover funds totaling $19,000 from 2004-05 and credit card funds from the Chancellor totaling $10,000, both of which were absent from this year's budget.\nSignificant budget reductions were seen in various departments, including $10,950 off the total office budget, which includes items such as computers, rent and office supplies. Also, $3,500 was cut for the administration budget that provides funds for retreats and leadership training. Another large cut was seen in IUSA's Indiana Daily Student advertising contract budget, which dropped from $21,265 to $8,500. \nPart of the budget is also allocated for stipends to executive members working in Bloomington for the summer. Total stipend funds were raised by $500. However, $500 cuts taken by three members -- the president, vice president and vice president of congress -- offset this raise. IUSA President, junior Betsy Henke said in an April 18, 2006, Indiana Daily Student article that she would decline the traditional stipend money she would receive if she's not in Bloomington for the whole summer. \n"I don't plan on taking it unless I am here the entire summer," she said in the article. "It's just not right."\nAfter the meeting, junior Andrew Lauck, IUSA vice president, said every one included in the executive budget would be there for at least a portion of the summer, and he said stipends were cut down because they would be there only a portion of the summer. \n"Betsy and I are going to be here for a large portion of it," he said. "More than half (of the summer)."\nRepresentative and junior Curtis Griner discussed a resolution for obtaining a media downloading service for IU's student body. This would involve a downloading service being available to IU students for free. \nThe resolution passed, but senior Garrett Scharton, chief of external affairs, said IUSA's preliminary support of the idea does not mean IUSA will necessarily implement it; it simply means IUSA is simply interested in pursuing it.\nSophomore Congress member, sophomore Lauren Woods voiced her opinion on pursuing the download proposal.\n"While we were campaigning, this was one of the things we really pushed for. I think it's important to show we're not full of empty campaign promises. We should allow (Griner) to at least pursue this."\nVice President of Congress, junior Clark Kaericher said he was pleasantly surprised by the amount in attendance. Forty-six members were at the meeting of the 58 members. \n"They had issues in the past with attendance, and this (high numbered) attendance hasn't happened in awhile," Kaericher said.\nHe said at past meetings where IUSA selected administrative positions they had to reschedule because not enough members showed up. To approve resolutions, at least half of the Congress members must be present and vote.\nIn addition to the budget, Speaker of the House elections were held. Junior Jack Story was elected to the position, defeating three other candidates. Law student Meghan Dwyer was appointed the Chief Justice for next year. The appointment of six associate justices was approved, after they were selected from a pool of 60 applicants, Dwyer said. Executive Directors were also approved.
(04/20/06 3:45am)
Former Environmental Protection Agency Head Bill Ruckelshaus said he thinks we need to change the way we live. \n"How do you convince (people) that we all need to live somewhat differently?" he asked. "You've got to convince them that it's their idea." \nIn honor of the 35th anniversary of the EPA, Ruckelshaus spoke to the audience-packed Wells-Metz Theater Wednesday afternoon. \nThe lecture, sponsored by the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, was entitled "Sustaining Environmental Protection in the Face of Population and Economic Growth: Can We Do It?" \nIndiana Governor Mitch Daniels introduced Ruckelshaus after returning from Iraq.\n"I would travel halfway around the world to hear Bill Ruckelshaus speak," he said. "And in fact, I did." \nRuckelshaus started out the lecture lightheartedly, tossing out several jokes before getting to the heart of the matter. \nHe began by describing how Americans are losing trust in the government, resulting in a downward spiral. He discussed issues regarding how to restore that trust. \n"Hopefully we may observe an upward spiral that creates greater trust and makes government actions less necessary or easier to accomplish." \nSenior SPEA student Jennifer Campbell-Allison said in an e-mail, "Bill Ruckelshaus stressed the need for a government that citizens can and do trust," said senior SPEA student Jennifer Campbell-Allison in an e-mail. "During his tenure at EPA, the integrity of policy-makers was in question. Today the climate is different: the motives and mechanisms driving policies, not really the policy-makers, are most in question."\nIn addition, Ruckelshaus made the audience question habits in their own lives.\n"The most present threats seem not to lie with industrial sites but habits of ordinary Americans," Ruckelshaus said. "We like to generate a lot of waste, eat cheap food and live in big homes." \nHe pointed out that simply pushing environmental issues from the federal to state level was not a solution. \n"The game will not play in a smaller arena," he said. \nRuckelshaus discussed collaborative decision and problem-solving processes as well. At a media discussion prior to the lecture, he emphasized that fighting over the validity of certain issues, such as global warming, was harmful to solving them. \n"It's time to get serious about it and stop arguing about whether it's real or not," he said. "It is real."\nSPEA Dean Astrid E. Merget gave closing remarks. \n"What a wake up call to us citizens who care about the environment," she said. \nAt the discussion prior to the lecture, Ruckelshaus discussed some environmental concerns facing citizens, especially concerning global warming and the need for reducing carbon.\n"We're five to six percent of the population and generate about 25 percent of the energy," Ruckelshaus said. "If we don't take steps to reduce that impact it's unlikely that the rest of the world will either."\nRuckelshaus said in order to engage citizens, President Bush needs to put environmental issues higher on his agenda.\n"If he says it's important and we out to focus our attention on it, people do," he said. "(People) say they're concerned about it and then you ask them to change their habits and it's very hard to get them to do it. You really have to get people to focus on what their doing and their collective impact on the environment." \nCampbell-Allison said that "we live in a throw-away society," and citizens hold the responsibility for these environmental problems.\n"Can we fault the government?" she said. "It reflects the interests and priorities of America; it just so happens that the majority aren't willing to pay the extra $.20/gallon for cleaner petroleum." \nRuckelshaus, who has served as the first and fifth Agency Administrator of the EPA, was born in Indianapolis and is a former member of the Indiana House of Representatives. He has also served as Acting FBI Director and Assistant Attorney General.
