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(05/05/06 3:34am)
I vividly remember driving down to Bloomington from Indianapolis on move-in day my freshman year. All my belongings were packed in my family's minivan. My dad drove, my mom sat shotgun and I sat in the back, surrounded by what seemed like hundreds of boxes and bags. It should have been an exciting time for me, but I was apprehensive about becoming a college student. My dad must have noticed my forlorn expression in the rearview mirror and he asked me what was wrong.\n"What if it sucks?" I remember asking, not sure if I wanted to become part of a 36,000-member family.\nThree years and nine months later, I can look back and laugh at my question. IU didn't suck. In fact, coming here was the best decision I have made in my 21 years. It was single-handedly responsible for shaping what I believe in and who I am. \nI'm sure I'm not the only one who was hesitant about coming to IU and is sad to be leaving. \nI'll always remember the 11:30 p.m. ice cream breaks at the Read McDonald's. I'll always remember watching "elimiDATE" at two in the morning with people in my dorm. I'll always remember climbing up the seemingly endless stairs in Ballantine Hall and spending the first five minutes of class trying to catch my breath. \nI'll always remember how beautiful the campus was year-round. I'll always remember failing my first test (it was in economics -- sorry, Mom and Dad). I'll always remember having to buy textbooks I didn't always open, and I'll always remember Marco Killingsworth's dunk that put IU ahead of Duke and sent Assembly Hall into hysterics. \nAnd I won't soon forget what being a college student allows you to do. My friends and I can stumble into La Bamba at 3:30 a.m. after drinking on Kirkwood one night and it's perfectly acceptable. A year from now, doing that same thing could brand me as a pathetic loser trying to relive her college years. I can also eat frozen pizza four times a week and sleep in until 2 p.m. on the weekends without feeling an ounce of guilt. \nWhile these past four years are in the books, my short-term future is still TBA. (That's what happens when you have a near 40-hour-a-week job at the Indiana Daily Student). On Wednesday, I'll be flying down to Florida for a job interview. On my way there, I might have the same reservations about a possible future in Florida as I did about becoming an IU student. Will it suck possibly creating a life for myself hundreds of miles from home?\nIf it's anything like my time spent at IU, the answer will be a resounding no.
(04/28/06 3:41am)
About five miles north of the IU campus, tucked away among farms, acres of wooded land and winding roads, lies a building, just four years old. Its stone tower rises high above the entrance, and a small stone-encircled ring in which to do experiments sits about 100 yards away. \nWhile the building may be modern, inside, archaeologists at the Stone Age Institute devote their research to a time that is anything but. The Institute is a nonprofit research center dedicated to the history of human technological development and origin. Through archaeological fieldwork, researchers have unearthed stone tools and both human and animal fossils from hundreds of thousands to just over 1 million years ago. \nFour years ago, Kathy Schick and Nicholas Toth, both IU professors of anthropology, began planning for the Institute. Taking advice from Oliver Winery co-owner Bill Oliver, Schick and Toth built from scratch on 30 acres of mostly undeveloped rural land. \n"We wanted to make an architectural statement in stone," Toth said of the building. \nInside and out, the Institute is made up of more than 1 million pounds of stone, some of which is Bloomington limestone. Local architectural firm Kirkwood Design Studio, stone masons from Kentucky and Bloomington and co-directors Schick and Toth all collaborated to create the building that would become one of the world's first centers devoted to Stone Age research.\nThe Institute's two-story library boasts a collection donated from J. Desmond Clark, former professor of anthropology at the University of California-Berkeley. Several tables in the library were made from cherry and oak trees that were destroyed in the 2002 tornado that hit the area, Toth said. Casts of skulls spanning millions of years of human evolution, along with models of animal skulls from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles are displayed over the shelves of books, adding a museum-like element to the spacious room.\n"We decided to make this the centerpiece," Toth said of the library. "It's one of the best libraries for Stone Age research."\nThe Institute employs several IU faculty members and graduate students, most of whom are involved with IU's Center for Research into the Anthropological Foundations of Technology, which researches the origins and development of tool-making and the utilization of tools. \n"A lot of experimental (research) with apes and making tools is done here," said Toth, who co-directs CRAFT with Schick. \nThrough donations and grants, the Institute "mentors" archaeologists, allowing them to visit a field site for a few months out of the year, Schick said. Researchers have visited Algeria, Ethiopia, India and China, among other countries. Institute researcher and IU faculty member Sileshi Semaw recently led a group of researchers in Ethiopia in its finding of a nearly complete human cranium from 200,000 to 500,000 years ago. \nWhen researchers aren't doing field work, their time is typically spent analyzing their findings, applying for grants through IU and writing reports and professional papers at the Institute. Most of their research is then published in scientific journals.\n"To understand and interpret field research, you need experiments," Schick said. "(Researchers) bring their data here to analyze it. Our people don't bring back their findings, they bring back data."\nBut the Institute isn't just a haven for researchers who are finished in the field -- it plays a large role in reaching out to the community. Toth said the Institute frequently plays host to retreats for various University departments and meetings for Monroe County Community School Corp. board and administrative members. Faculty members from the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at both IU and IU-Purdue University Indianapolis have also used the Institute for events. \n"It's a great place to have a conference -- a very good way to build relations between researchers," Toth said.
(03/23/06 5:43am)
The inaugural Circle of Life Mini Marathon received a boost Wednesday when Evansville-based Old National Bank announced it would be the exclusive sponsor of the Sept. 9 race. \n"It is a privilege for Old National Bank to be a partner in this unique and inspiring initiative," said Old National President and CEO Bob Jones at a press conference. "To have a group of students with the vision and passion to orchestrate such an event to benefit cancer survivors is nothing less than extraordinary.\n"We are deeply committed to the event and the \norganization."\nJones declined to disclose the amount of the sponsorship.\nOld National's support will help fund the Bill Z. Littlefield Scholarship for Survivors, a scholarship that will be awarded to a cancer survivor to attend any IU campus. Littlefield was a senior lecturer in the Kelley School of Business who died of cancer last summer. Jones said Bill's daughter, Anna Littlefield, currently works for Old National. \n"This is something near and dear to our hearts," Jones said. "It's important to perpetuate the legacy of Bill Littlefield."\nJunior Kevin MacCauley, president and CEO of Circle of Life, said the organization approached several banks in regard to sponsoring the Mini Marathon. Last July, Circle of Life met with Joe Walker, regional president of the Old National Bank. MacCauley said the sponsorship is huge on a financial level.\n"We have the support of a corporation that's well-known in Indiana and the Midwest," he said.\nJones said he was impressed by the passion with which MacCauley came to Old National in search of a sponsorship and said the students involved are "extremely professional \nindividuals."\n"They did a wonderful job of making the cause real for us," he said.\nMyles Grote, Circle of Life's vice president of operations, said it's "phenomenal" that Old National Bank believed in the students who approached them about sponsoring the mini \nmarathon. \n"It really means more than words can tell by becoming the title sponsor for our race," he said.\nThe Mini Marathon is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9. It will be the first collegiate mini marathon in Indiana, according to the organization's Web site. MacCauley said since registration began more than five months ago, people have registered from all over the United States, as well as from 20 cities in Indiana. Pre-registration costs $25 for nonstudents and $20 for students. There is also a 5K run and walk the same day for which pre-registration is $15.\nOld National isn't the only entity lending its support to the race. Bloomington radio station 96.7-WBWB is the radio sponsor and will be playing songs during the race that runners specifically request. Cheeseburger in Paradise is sponsoring the Greek Challenge, for which greek houses can receive points by participating in the race.\nThe Circle of Life was founded in 2004 and is a nonprofit student organization that raises money for charities. For more information and to register for the race, go to \nwww.iumini.com.
(10/03/05 4:36am)
Mason, a 4-year-old English Sheepdog lying among bright green tennis balls, just couldn't bring himself to leave the wading pool on a warm October afternoon. \nBut at the 10th annual Walk for the Animals Sunday at Third Street Park, there were plenty of other activities in which Mason and other dogs could participate. Four-legged participants of all shapes and sizes led their owners around to various events, including an agility area where dogs could weave through poles, climb on a seesaw and jump over a hurdle, the "Doggie Dash" obstacle course and a walk to downtown Bloomington. \nSeveral local organizations set up informational booths for human participants. Leslie Ems, founder of Flying Paws Agility, opened her business just last month. She said she hoped to generate more awareness for Flying Paws and increase the regular class attendance to five or six dogs. \n"I'm doing it because I enjoy it," she said. "I'm trying to get more people involved."\nNathalie Demeyenburg staffed the table for EquiLibrium Sport and Therapy Massage. She said her business is for people, dogs and horses and focuses on the rehabilitation and injury prevention aspect of massage. \n"(Massage) has all the benefits for an animal as a human," she said. "Some people see it as a spa thing. The way I see it, it isn't."\nPeople and Animal Learning Services, a non-profit therapeutic horseback riding program for children with disabilities, was also represented at the event. Jan Gavin, a volunteer for PALS, said the organization was founded in 2000 and already there's a waiting list for those wanting to ride. She said PALS is also working on implementing a dog-assisted therapy program.\nMonroe County Humane Association intern Duncan Earle, perched atop a dunk tank, sat patiently waiting for participants to pay $1 for three chances at sending him into his own wading pool. \n"I'm a nice guy, just give them $1 and leave," a completely dry Earle said. "I'll jump in for $10."\nTwo throws later, Earle was wet.\nSarah Haynes, executive director of the Monroe County Humane Association, said the Walk for the Animals is the organization's biggest fund-raiser. Those who participated in the walk were asked to raise $100 toward the event goal of $15,000. \nHaynes said several events were new this year, including the Cheeseburger in Paradise food booth, the dunk tank, the wading pools that Mason and so many other dogs enjoyed, the Kids Zone with face painting and games, and the play area where dogs ran around sans leash. \nTopping off the day, participants lined up for a walk from the park to downtown Bloomington and back. From the looks of the post-walk panting tongues and wagging tails, this year's event was a success.
(03/03/05 4:20am)
Magistrate Maria Luz Corona spoke about what empowered her in life in her talk Wednesday night in the Moot Court Room at the IU School of Law. \nThe talk was one campus event in honor of National Women's History Month, a monthlong dedication to "make history more accurate through the active recognition and inclusion of a true accounting of women's contributions to society," said Terry Dworkin, dean of the IU Office of Women's Affairs.\nThis year's theme is "Women Change America," which Dworkin said recognizes the role of women in changing culture, history and politics in society.\n"I encourage everyone tonight to take a moment and think about the women who have made our world a better place, at the local, national and international level," she said.\nSophomore Anna Garcilazo, an employee at La Casa, was highly involved in organizing Corona's talk Wednesday. She said it was difficult to find someone to speak.\n"We wanted the speaker to feel they were really empowered," she said. "The fact that she's Latino and a magistrate, that's a real accomplishment. So we wanted her to come speak."\nCorona, the night's main speaker, received her Doctorate of \nJurisprudence from IU in 1981. She has worked as a secretary, teacher and social worker and is currently the magistrate for the Domestic Relations Court in Lake County in northern Indiana. \n"Did I ever feel empowered as a minority woman?" she said. "Looking back on my life, I did have chances to make changes."\nShe explained that while working as a secretary in a steel mill, she noticed job openings for electrical and mechanical positions, but minority men were unable to obtain those jobs. She said she encouraged Hispanic and black men to ask for applications for those positions, which would in turn allow them to provide better for their families.\nHer membership in the Hispanic Women's Forum, an organization of "all women from different walks of life" allows her to give scholarships to college students, something she said also empowers her. \nShe said she had to learn that her high status in the community obliged her to help whether she liked it or not. That realization led her to help out migrant workers in South Bend and to a position in the welfare department. Now her obligations aren't so widespread.\n"Sometimes you think you have to do everything for your community," she said. "Now I have to step back and see what organizations I want to be a part of. You can't spread yourself too thin. If you don't give to yourself, you'll never be any good to anybody else."\nShe said her movement from a secretary in a steel mill to a magistrate was the result of encouragement from people around her.\n"I was very fortunate in having Anglos who saw something in me," she said. "I had blacks who took me in and helped me. I always say God takes care of fools, babies and Luzi Corona. It was just people encouraging me, just the right people." \nCorona said life's challenges can only make one stronger.\n"Everybody has different challenges but every challenge is different," she said. "That challenge molds you into who you are."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.
(02/23/05 7:02am)
In 1969, a proposed fee increase of $135 sent IU students into action. Students arranged a two-day boycott of classes and burned an effigy of board of trustees member Frank McKinney in protest. To make their feelings known, about 130 students locked negotiators in Ballantine Hall for about three hours. The lock-in prompted a grand jury investigation as well as a rally to support the students involved. The two-day boycott extended to a nine-day boycott as students let administrators know how they felt about paying an additional $135.\nRetired professor of education Ellen Brantlinger remembers the lock-in.\n"My sense was that the paper treated it as big, big news," said Brantlinger, who came to IU in 1969 as a doctoral student. "I think they kind of admired the students, but implied this wasn't the way to go about (making changes)." \nIU students also made their voices heard about the Vietnam War. In October 1969, 3,500 students gathered at Showalter Fountain and marched to Dunn Meadow to hear anti-ROTC talks. That same month, demonstrators protested Dow Chemical Co. coming on campus to conduct job interviews because Dow manufactured napalm, a chemical used in Vietnam. Thirty-five protestors were arrested. \nThirty-six years later, IU students are facing similar issues. Tuition increases and additional student fees are constant issues, and the current war in Iraq has sparked its share of debates. But gone are the large demonstrations in Dunn Meadow, the sit-ins and the class boycotts. \nSophomore Andrew Lauck, chairman of the IU College Republicans, said he believes activism is declining on campus, something he attributes to the 2004 presidential election.\n"(Protests) picked up during the election period because of the campus's hatred of George W. Bush," he said. "His re-election has basically killed what was going on (at IU). It's a political shift. Now that we have a president, congressmen and a governor all from the same party, it's not really a high time for activism. People from both sides realize there's a Republican control over the legislature for at least the next two years. If you're a liberal, there's not really anything you can do in at least the next two years. There's not much to raise hell about now."\nSenior Jared Fallick, chairman of the IU College Democrats, said he thinks student activism is still present; it's just different from the protests of the '60s.\n"Activism today still goes on," he said. "Students are more involved in community issues than political problems. I wouldn't say activism is dead; it's taken on new forms. People are still out there doing things for the greater good."\nBrantlinger, Lauck and Fallick all offered their reasons for why protests are no longer popular ways of speaking out.\n"There's a limited segment that actually gets involved," Brantlinger said. "Some people just don't believe in protests, they don't believe it does any good. People who protest the war and get engaged with politics are seen as uniquely political. Those who sit at home and are couch potatoes endorse the status quo."\nLauck mentioned the liberal political structure in Bloomington affects student protests.\n"One, liberals already have control (in Bloomington) so they don't need to go out and raise hell. Two, conservatives know that (liberals have control), so they don't go out and raise hell," he said. "When one party has control, the tendency is for no one to step up, and if no one steps up, you're not going to see a change in activism."\nFallick said the main reasons for the difference in activism were the issues in the '60s, such as the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War. He said students were more outspoken about Vietnam because of the possibility of a draft. \n"'Draft' is the key that involved everyone," Fallick said.\nFallick also said the issues most prominent today, such as health care and Social Security, don't yet affect college students so they might not see a need to speak out. \n"Education costs and a draft potential are not really the hot-button issues of the day," he said. \nHowever, Lauck believes the difference lies in the general knowledge of the American public.\n"There's a major lack of understanding as to what's going on with (George W.) Bush's political agenda," he said. \nThe Persian Gulf War also drew demonstrations and protests on the IU campus. Jan. 15, 1991, about 1,000 protestors marched to the courthouse to protest a possible U.S.-Iraq war. Feb. 21 of that year, 125 protesters lay on floors and in hallways of Rawles Hall, protesting the ROTC on campus.\nBrantlinger said the earlier conflict in the Middle East attracted small groups of 30 to 60 protestors from the community.\n"Notions about the earlier war were not as widespread and intense," she said. "It seemed more legitimate to more people, so there were fewer protestors."\nWhatever the future holds for student activism, Lauck said a protest would need a considerable amount of student dissatisfaction.\n"It takes a hell of a lot of anger to make people our age get out and protest," he said.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.
(12/08/04 5:27am)
Students walking in front of the Lilly Library will soon no longer have to dodge yellow caution tape, walk around makeshift fences and avoid construction workers.\nThe construction, which began in early July, will be over "in the next few weeks," said Jim Champion, IU libraries' facilities operations and renovations officer.\nThe library will soon be handicapped-accessible with new ramps and an accessible restroom, according to the Library's Web site.\n"They're reconstructing the entrance with two wheelchair ramps, one to the right and one to the left," said Director of the Lilly Library Breon Mitchell. "They're also renovating the restroom on the main floor of exhibit galleries for wheelchair use."\nMitchell said in the past, visitors in wheelchairs who wanted to use the library had to enter through the back of the building and had to be brought upstairs via an elevator.\n"This gives them full access like everyone else through the front," he said. \nChampion said the construction has been delayed only a day or so at a time because of rain. \nWhile its Web site cautions the library might be closed some days due to the construction, Curator of Books Joel Silver said the library had not been closed at all because of the work and this was the time frame they had anticipated for the construction to be completed.\nMitchell noted the library was built in the 1960s, a time when most buildings on campus were not wheelchair-accessible.\n"This is a big step forward for us and for campus to make the Lilly more accessible for those in wheelchairs," he said.\n"It has long been a general consensus here at the library (to make it wheelchair accessible) and has been something that we've wanted to get done for a while," Silver added. "I'm glad this is finally getting done."\n-- Contact Weekend copy chief Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.
(12/03/04 5:12pm)
Computer programming languages are often confusing and complex, but Computer Science Professor Dan Friedman has made his career studying them. His work and research on programming languages will be the basis for "Daniel P. Friedman: A Celebration," an event held by the Department of Computer Science this weekend.\n"I'm obviously honored," Friedman said about the event. "Some really famous and wonderful people are going to be here for this."\nThe program will begin Friday morning and conclude Saturday night with a party at the Indiana Memorial Union. The majority of the event will consist of short talks about programming languages, Friedman's main area of interest. Twenty-one people are scheduled to speak, and not one of them is a stranger to Friedman.\n"I know every one of them," he said. "They're former students, colleagues and former or current co-authors on books."\nFriedman pointed out that computer scientists Jerry Sussman and Guy Steele will be attending this weekend's celebration. He called them the "superstars" of the event. He said he's worked directly with most of the other speakers on some level.\nSussman and Steele invented the Scheme programming language at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the late 1970s.\nFriedman moved from Texas to Bloomington in 1973, where his main work at IU has been researching programming languages and writing books.\nFriedman stressed his success isn't just his own doing.\n"I do think I've been very lucky," he said. "I've had amazing students and amazing colleagues to work with. I've been lucky to have people be as excited as I am about the things I work with. You get to work with people over time ... and you build a great relationship over the years."\nAlthough Friedman's work has influenced the computer science world, he said his main influence comes from his teaching.\n"No question, I thought I had an influence on my students," he said. "When they left here, they were doing amazing things. I knew I was responsible for teaching them those things. (Teaching) is a powerful, intellectual tool." \nKent Dybvig, a professor in the computer science department, has worked with Friedman for about 25 years. He will be speaking this weekend about one of Friedman's innovations in programming languages. Dybvig said this weekend's program was initiated by several researchers around the world and is a great way to bring attention to Friedman's work.\n"I think it's a great way to highlight Dan's accomplishments and the accomplishments of computer science department over the last 30 years," he said. \nDybvig also said one of Friedman's strong qualities is that he is "a great teacher, and he inspires people, makes them better."\nFriedman remains humble about the upcoming program in his honor.\n"I have friends who are very nice people who are willing to do this for me," he said. "I guess I've resonated with people. I'm just overwhelmed that this is taking place."\n-- Contact Weekend copy editor Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.
(11/18/04 5:00am)
The rain pours down, beating against the outside of a window on Woodburn Hall's second floor. A Miles Davis poster hangs on the wall, and piles of papers beckon from Jeff Isaac's desk and the square wooden table on which his foot is perched. Slightly slouched in his chair, a black lace-up shoe resting on the table, he pauses thoughtfully before describing himself in three words.\n"A man," he finally said with a sardonic smile. "A living man."\nUndoubtedly, his description is correct, but Isaac's contribution to IU, Bloomington and the local music scene goes beyond his mere physical presence. A political science professor, chair of the political science department and piano player for local blues band Code Blue, Isaac has certainly made a name for himself in music and academe since moving to Bloomington 17 years ago.\nHis interest in politics, Isaac said, came from his politically-minded family, as his father was active in the union movement and politics in general. But the main catalyst for his interest in politics stems from a national scandal during his teenage years.\n"The event that most shaped me politically was the Watergate crisis," Isaac said. "I was a little bit too young to fully experience the Vietnam War as a young adult. But the Watergate crisis … was a very big issue for me. It first got me interested in politics."\nAfter attending Queens College in his hometown of New York City and graduate school at Yale, Isaac moved with his wife to Bloomington in 1987 when he received a job offer from IU's political science department. Isaac has been the chair of the department for two years and is teaching a class on contemporary theories of democracy, which fits right in to his main area of political interest.\n"My area of specialty is political theory," Isaac said. "I'm interested in the history of political thought, the ways that ideas about government and political justice are debated. I'm very interested in ideas and ideologies, particularly democratic ideas."\nJames Russell, director of technology for the political science department, has worked with Isaac for many years.\n"I enjoy his openness; he's a good friend as well as a colleague," Russell said. "He's an artist, as well as an intellectual."\nIsaac's musical interest, the piano, also transpired when he was a child growing up in Queens. His parents gave him piano lessons when he was eight years old.\n"I hated practicing, but I loved playing," he said, hands folded across his short-sleeve blue shirt. "I've been playing ever since."\nDespite his love for music, Isaac's career in political science nearly trumped his desire to play.\n"When I became an academic, I pretty much gave up (playing) completely," Isaac said. "A few years back, my love for performing music was revived. But I've always loved playing piano; I've always been good at it."\nNearly forty years later, those childhood piano lessons have paid off, as Isaac is in his third year of playing piano and organ for Code Blue, whose sound he describes as "rocking yet sophisticated blues."\n"We are a very tight and rocking band," he said. "If you ever saw us perform, lots of people dance, and we often pack clubs and dance floors. Our music has a groove, it's exciting. We're exciting as performers."\n"We're also sophisticated," he continued. "I think there's a jazzy dimension to our sound, which I think is distinctive. There's a deep understanding of the blues (in our band), but also other genres of music."\nSeveral artists have influenced him musically, each for their talent of improvisational playing and each for their own distinct playing style. \n"I'm very influenced by jazz musicians in terms of general listening," he said, listing Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane as his three most influential musicians. "I'm also heavily influenced by several jazz pianists: Bill Evans, Red Garland and Lennie Tristano."\n"They're all great improvisers," Isaac explained. "And it's from listening to great improvisers that I've learned how to improvise, although I've always had a knack for improvisation." \n"There are certain things about rhythm, dynamics and block chords that Red Garland did as a piano player … that have influenced me very much. Lennie Tristano's way of breaking up rhythm and creating very complex improvisational structures has influenced me. As a pianist, no one has influenced me more than Bill Evans. There are just so many things about his style of playing, the way that he constructs chords, the relationship between his left hand and his right hand. I'm nowhere near as good a pianist as Bill Evans. But he was very foundational for me, and I continue to listen to him often."\nFor many artists, the worlds of politics and music have often collided with one another, but Isaac said his two interests balance out well.\n"Being a musician is in some ways very different from being a professor," he said, the bowl of chocolate espresso beans shaking slightly as he removes his foot from the table's edge. "It puts me in different places like clubs and bars, and it puts me in a much more expressive lifestyle, which is a really interesting contrast and complement to my academic life." \nBloomington residents have taken notice of Code Blue since its inception more than three years ago, awarding it with several reader's choice awards. It won a Best of Bloomington award in 2003 for being one of the top three cover bands, and a Best of Bloomington honor in 2002 for being a top blues band. Code Blue was named third best band in this year's Best of Bloomington, and its song "Monon Train" was featured on 2003's Live from Bloomington CD, a moment Isaac said was "an important moment in the history of the band." Code Blue's lead singer, Bobbie Lancaster, was named top female vocalist in Best of Bloomington 2003 and top solo performer in 2004.\nIsaac appreciates the recognition by local audiences. \n"It's very exciting, I think, for all of us," he said. "It's nice to be appreciated by a crowd. A lot of people that come to hear us know the blues, and so it's nice to be appreciated by people who know something about the type of music we play."\nLead guitarist David Baas believes Isaac is an integral part of Code Blue. \n"I think he has a lot of obvious musical talent," Baas said. "He's a very good keyboard player and a very good musician. He's a pretty driven person in the sense that he wants things to be the best they can be. He's good at helping the band attain that goal."\nCode Blue plays the second Friday of each month at Bear's Place and consists of Lancaster, Baas, bass player John Stith, drummer Mike Moody and harmonica player and the band's founder, Richard "Doc" Malone, a local pediatrician. Isaac sees a bright future with them, one that can take the band in different directions.\n"I think we'll grow in Bloomington," he said. "I think we'd like to record more. And then we'll have to see"\nIt's safe to say Isaac truly enjoys his position as Code Blue's piano and organ player.\n"There are many times after an engaging faculty meeting that it's a great pleasure to me to show up at Bear's Place and play some blues with my friends"
(11/18/04 1:11am)
The rain pours down, beating against the outside of a window on Woodburn Hall's second floor. A Miles Davis poster hangs on the wall, and piles of papers beckon from Jeff Isaac's desk and the square wooden table on which his foot is perched. Slightly slouched in his chair, a black lace-up shoe resting on the table, he pauses thoughtfully before describing himself in three words.\n"A man," he finally said with a sardonic smile. "A living man."\nUndoubtedly, his description is correct, but Isaac's contribution to IU, Bloomington and the local music scene goes beyond his mere physical presence. A political science professor, chair of the political science department and piano player for local blues band Code Blue, Isaac has certainly made a name for himself in music and academe since moving to Bloomington 17 years ago.\nHis interest in politics, Isaac said, came from his politically-minded family, as his father was active in the union movement and politics in general. But the main catalyst for his interest in politics stems from a national scandal during his teenage years.\n"The event that most shaped me politically was the Watergate crisis," Isaac said. "I was a little bit too young to fully experience the Vietnam War as a young adult. But the Watergate crisis … was a very big issue for me. It first got me interested in politics."\nAfter attending Queens College in his hometown of New York City and graduate school at Yale, Isaac moved with his wife to Bloomington in 1987 when he received a job offer from IU's political science department. Isaac has been the chair of the department for two years and is teaching a class on contemporary theories of democracy, which fits right in to his main area of political interest.\n"My area of specialty is political theory," Isaac said. "I'm interested in the history of political thought, the ways that ideas about government and political justice are debated. I'm very interested in ideas and ideologies, particularly democratic ideas."\nJames Russell, director of technology for the political science department, has worked with Isaac for many years.\n"I enjoy his openness; he's a good friend as well as a colleague," Russell said. "He's an artist, as well as an intellectual."\nIsaac's musical interest, the piano, also transpired when he was a child growing up in Queens. His parents gave him piano lessons when he was eight years old.\n"I hated practicing, but I loved playing," he said, hands folded across his short-sleeve blue shirt. "I've been playing ever since."\nDespite his love for music, Isaac's career in political science nearly trumped his desire to play.\n"When I became an academic, I pretty much gave up (playing) completely," Isaac said. "A few years back, my love for performing music was revived. But I've always loved playing piano; I've always been good at it."\nNearly forty years later, those childhood piano lessons have paid off, as Isaac is in his third year of playing piano and organ for Code Blue, whose sound he describes as "rocking yet sophisticated blues."\n"We are a very tight and rocking band," he said. "If you ever saw us perform, lots of people dance, and we often pack clubs and dance floors. Our music has a groove, it's exciting. We're exciting as performers."\n"We're also sophisticated," he continued. "I think there's a jazzy dimension to our sound, which I think is distinctive. There's a deep understanding of the blues (in our band), but also other genres of music."\nSeveral artists have influenced him musically, each for their talent of improvisational playing and each for their own distinct playing style. \n"I'm very influenced by jazz musicians in terms of general listening," he said, listing Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane as his three most influential musicians. "I'm also heavily influenced by several jazz pianists: Bill Evans, Red Garland and Lennie Tristano."\n"They're all great improvisers," Isaac explained. "And it's from listening to great improvisers that I've learned how to improvise, although I've always had a knack for improvisation." \n"There are certain things about rhythm, dynamics and block chords that Red Garland did as a piano player … that have influenced me very much. Lennie Tristano's way of breaking up rhythm and creating very complex improvisational structures has influenced me. As a pianist, no one has influenced me more than Bill Evans. There are just so many things about his style of playing, the way that he constructs chords, the relationship between his left hand and his right hand. I'm nowhere near as good a pianist as Bill Evans. But he was very foundational for me, and I continue to listen to him often."\nFor many artists, the worlds of politics and music have often collided with one another, but Isaac said his two interests balance out well.\n"Being a musician is in some ways very different from being a professor," he said, the bowl of chocolate espresso beans shaking slightly as he removes his foot from the table's edge. "It puts me in different places like clubs and bars, and it puts me in a much more expressive lifestyle, which is a really interesting contrast and complement to my academic life." \nBloomington residents have taken notice of Code Blue since its inception more than three years ago, awarding it with several reader's choice awards. It won a Best of Bloomington award in 2003 for being one of the top three cover bands, and a Best of Bloomington honor in 2002 for being a top blues band. Code Blue was named third best band in this year's Best of Bloomington, and its song "Monon Train" was featured on 2003's Live from Bloomington CD, a moment Isaac said was "an important moment in the history of the band." Code Blue's lead singer, Bobbie Lancaster, was named top female vocalist in Best of Bloomington 2003 and top solo performer in 2004.\nIsaac appreciates the recognition by local audiences. \n"It's very exciting, I think, for all of us," he said. "It's nice to be appreciated by a crowd. A lot of people that come to hear us know the blues, and so it's nice to be appreciated by people who know something about the type of music we play."\nLead guitarist David Baas believes Isaac is an integral part of Code Blue. \n"I think he has a lot of obvious musical talent," Baas said. "He's a very good keyboard player and a very good musician. He's a pretty driven person in the sense that he wants things to be the best they can be. He's good at helping the band attain that goal."\nCode Blue plays the second Friday of each month at Bear's Place and consists of Lancaster, Baas, bass player John Stith, drummer Mike Moody and harmonica player and the band's founder, Richard "Doc" Malone, a local pediatrician. Isaac sees a bright future with them, one that can take the band in different directions.\n"I think we'll grow in Bloomington," he said. "I think we'd like to record more. And then we'll have to see"\nIt's safe to say Isaac truly enjoys his position as Code Blue's piano and organ player.\n"There are many times after an engaging faculty meeting that it's a great pleasure to me to show up at Bear's Place and play some blues with my friends"
(10/29/04 6:05am)
Sophomore Lucas Elliott dislikes President George W. Bush, and he makes sure everyone who walks by his dorm in Ashton-Johnston knows it. Elliott is using his dorm door as a way of letting people know his political opinions this election year. \nHe doesn't know exactly how many anti-Bush bumper stickers are on his door, but there are "enough (stickers) that there is very little empty space on the door," he said.\nElliott said he hasn't had anyone tear his stickers down or try to vandalize his door. He has put up a survey on his dry erase board to gather people's opinions about his political display.\n"No one has flat-out said that they don't like it," Elliott said. "I put up a poll to see who likes it and who doesn't. I've definitely had some people say they like it." \nElliott said he thinks initially some people are taken aback by the number of stickers on his door.\n"I think at first they're kind of surprised because there are so many (bumper stickers)," he said. "I think people find it thought-provoking that someone went to so much trouble to cover their door with political propaganda." \nUnlike some other methods of making his opinion known, Elliott said, putting his opinion on his door allows for face-to-face discussion about his political opinion. Other ways, such as creating a Web site or hanging up flyers, don't allow for people to question his viewpoint, he said.\n"I think it's important to let people that know me personally ... know my views," he said. \nElliott's resident assistant, junior Nick Kimmel, doesn't see anything wrong with Elliott's door. Kimmel said neither the Resident Halls Association nor Residential Programs and Services have contacted him about regulating students' rights to political display. He said he's leaving it up to the residents to do what they want. \nLike Kimmel, RPS has not tried to control the use of dorms for expressing political views. \nRPS Director Bob Weith said his organization has not had any discussion this year of regulating the ways students communicate their political opinions. \n"I believe that (it) is a free speech issue," Weith said. \nHe said its concern is if students are hanging flammable items on their doors. As stated on the RPS Web site, "Room doors must be kept free of flammable materials, particularly loose paper. Doors should not be wrapped or covered with flammable materials."\nWeith said RPS prefers students use each dorm's public posting board, but mostly for information relevant to the dorm and its residents. Overall, Weith said he believes the underlying issue is free speech.\n"I think the First Amendment is real important," he said. "It doesn't surprise me that any sides are attempting to be assertive in their views." \nElliott expressed a similar position. \n"I think whether it's anti-Bush, anti-Kerry or anti-politics ... people should be allowed to do this on their personal space," he said. "I'm not trying to offend anyone; I just think it's important that we be allowed to do this." \n-- Contact Weekend copy editor Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.
(10/22/04 6:13am)
While most students and Bloomington residents walk around admiring fall foliage for its colors, the IU Biology Club will take a more scientific look at the changes in nature Saturday. Beginning at 10 a.m., a nature walk will take place near campus at the IU Research and Teaching Preserve at Griffy Lake. \nSenior Andrew Woolley, academic chair for the Biology Club, said the idea for the walk came about to fill a void in the club's October activities.\nWoolley said the walk might become an annual event; a walk during other seasons is also a possibility.\n"I hope everybody that participates has a good time," he said. "The goal is for people to meet and talk and have fun walking outside in nature and just enjoying the fall."\nThe board of trustees established the Research and Teaching Preserve in May 2001. Several departments and schools at IU use the preserve for more hands-on teaching, including the Departments of Biology, Geological Sciences and Geography, and the Schools of Public and Environmental Affairs, and Health, Physical Education and Recreation.\n"Around 25 different classes have used (the) preserve," said Keith Clay, director of the preserve. "In some cases, some are doing actual research. Other cases are more of an outdoor lecture and demonstration or just a different format for a class setting. It's an interesting approach to teaching."\nClay gave two reasons why the preserve is such a prime location for research and teaching. \n"There is a large variety of natural habitat and biodiversity," he said, giving upland, lowland, terrestrial and aquatic habitats as examples. \nHe also said the location of the preserve makes it convenient for both students and professors to get back and forth from campus easily. \nIn addition to the Griffy Woods site, the combined 1,000-acre preserve also includes sites at Moore's Creek along Lake Monroe and the Lilley-Dickey Woods in Brown County. \nClay said each site is unique in what it offers.\nHe said the Moore's Creek site is "quite rugged, with steep ridges and ravines, a creek running into the lake and a variety of rare plants."\n"It's close to the water intake station for the whole city's water supply," Clay said. "The preserve plays (an) important role in maintaining erosion control and helping the water intake station survive."\nMoore's Creek is also home to the trailing arbutus, IU's official flower, according to the preserve's Web site. \nThe preserve added the Lilley-Dickey Woods in Brown County in 2003. Clay said there are enormous trees that can rarely be seen in a natural forest situation. \n"It's a unique spot in the middle of Brown County," he said. "There are some of the biggest and oldest trees in areas left in Indiana." \nClay said the preserve is similar to a library, athletic facility or classroom, each with its own objectives, except the preserve provides "a natural environment for teaching and research at the University."\n"It's a library of nature," he said. "It's totally under the control of natural events."\nFor more information on the preserve, visit www.indiana.edu/~preserve/index.html.\n-- Contact Weekend copy chief Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu
(10/08/04 5:22am)
It strikes fear into the hearts of many high school juniors and seniors nationwide, but a new study revealed a student's SAT score may not be as important in college admissions as was once thought.\nThe study, regarding the SAT-optional admissions policy of Bates College, has found very little correlation between applicants who provide their SAT scores and those who do not. Between the two groups, academic performance and graduation rates at the Maine college were virtually the same. Bates College has made providing SAT scores on applications optional since 1984, attracting a more diverse pool of applicants, according to the study.\nDirector of Admissions for IU Mary Ellen Anderson said SAT scores are not weighed very heavily when considering a student for admission. \n"Standardized tests are set as a requirement as one of the admissions criteria we use," she said. "While scores are required, they will be the least important. We focus mostly on academic coursework and grades from high school."\nAnderson said the admissions office also looks at grade trends in academic courses and what classes a student is planning to complete as a senior. \nHowever, SAT scores are used for advising, course placement, and for direct admission to the Kelley School of Business, some majors in the College of Arts and Sciences and most majors in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.\n"We have never and will never make a decision to admit or not admit a student strictly on standardized test scores," she said.\nAlthough Bates College has made giving SAT scores optional, Anderson said she doesn't see IU doing the same.\n"I've heard nothing of SAT scores being eliminated," she said, adding that to change IU's admissions requirements would take a vote from the faculty and the board of trustees.\nFreshman Cameron Wolfe said it would not make a difference to him whether or not a school looked at SAT scores when admitting students. \n"I've never really had a problem with tests, and I've always scored really well," he said, adding if someone hadn't scored well on the SATs, he or she might be more willing to apply to a school where SAT scores were not required.\nFreshman Jesse Burroughs said schools should look at more than the SAT score when admitting a student. \n"(Admission) should be based more on extracurricular stuff and what someone does with their life," Burroughs said. "I think it's worthless to base everything on a test score."\nThe SAT has recently undergone a change in format, as the test now features a written essay component and higher-level math questions, according to the SAT's Web site.\nAnderson said the new SAT format, along with the addition of an optional writing component on the ACT, will require some time to get used to.\n"Because this will be a very new and different process, there will be a lot of confusion and anxiety on everyone's part -- students, high schools, colleges and universities," she said. "It will take some time to work through the new format until everyone figures it out."\n-- Contact Weekend copy editor Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.
(09/23/04 4:52am)
For the chance to win a $20,000 award and appear on national TV, broadcast journalism students can enter the Fox News College Challenge, a nationwide contest where groups of students research, write and produce an objective broadcast news story. \n"The mission of the competition is to recognize, encourage and support excellence among broadcast journalism students in America's colleges and universities," said John Malkin, vice president of affiliate sales and marketing for Fox News and an IU alumnus. \nGroups of two to four juniors and seniors can produce a short broadcast piece on a variety of topics, anything from televised executions to whether or not the draft should be reinstated. \n"The topics are hot today -- everyone in America is talking about them," Malkin said. "These are news topics that are topical and relevant today. They are topics that test students to really look at them, select the most interesting one, the one that most encourages them to cover both sides of the story."\nMalkin also stressed how important it is for broadcast students to get involved with such a contest.\n"It's an opportunity for (students) to get their work critiqued by the No. 1 cable news channel in the country and (have it) judged against other students' work across the country," he said. He also said the contest can teach students to look at news stories objectively and fairly in real life.\nIU is one of 102 colleges and universities participating in the contest. Last year's contest winners came from IU and were sponsored by Telecommunications Professor Ron Osgood.\nOsgood said the best part of winning the contest was seeing "the enthusiasm the students had to be able to participate in something where their completed work made a contribution to something, a real-world project."\nAlthough Osgood is not involved in this year's contest, he said it is helpful for broadcast students to be involved in the competition because of the importance of taking something from the classroom and applying it in a real-world situation. \n"You feel fulfillment, receive an intrinsic reward from completing (a tape) and knowing that someone could see it and benefit from it," he said. \nContest winners split a $10,000 scholarship, and the winning school receives a matching grant. The winners are also invited to appear live on the Fox News Channel to talk about their experience, according to the contest's press release. \nStudents may enter online until Oct. 15, and Malkin offered some words of advice for potential participants.\n"Be firm and confident in your reporting," he said. "Produce a clean copy of material, and report both sides of the story equally. That's what we're looking for." \n-- Contact Weekend copy chief Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.
(04/27/04 6:07am)
Judy O'Bannon, Indiana's former first lady, will be the 2004 commencement speaker at IU's two graduation ceremonies May 8 at Assembly Hall.\nJudy O'Bannon graduated from IU with a degree in social work, and at the ceremony she will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Judy O'Bannon met her husband, former Indiana governor, Frank O'Bannon, at IU.\nKen Beckley, chair of IU Bloomington's commencement speaker committee, said the committee chose Judy O'Bannon because "we feel that she's a wonderful role model" and "she's an alumna of our University who has a wonderful personality."\nBeckley said the committee looked at various aspects when selecting a commencement speaker.\n"We looked for persons who have achieved some level of success in profession or society," he said. "We looked for persons whose names are normally instantly recognizable," although, he said, that is not the main criterion. \nBeckley said the committee, comprised of students, faculty and staff, also looks for someone who can deliver a message of "inspiration, motivation and challenge." \nJane Jankowski, public communications director at IU, said the committee meets during the year to accept suggestions for people who would like to be considered speakers. The committee then explores the names by considering the candidates' "impact on national welfare, contributions to state of Indiana, how they may have distinguished themselves and public service they have provided."\n"(The committee) considers how a person brings a message that is meaningful to graduates, friends and family," she said. \nWhile Beckley expressed his delight at Judy O'Bannon's speech, senior Matt Haas was unsure of the decision.\n"It would be interesting to hear how she's handled (Frank O'Bannon's death) since then, but I'm not sure how Judy O'Bannon fits into the graduation theme," he said.\nBeckley said the committee will meet again during the month to recommend a speaker for next year's graduation. \n"Some candidates have strong national reputations and can book up quickly," he said. "To have an opportunity to get on their calendars, we need to act quickly."\n-- Contact staff writer Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.
(04/21/04 5:42am)
As the sun dipped behind clouds to give off a red-orange glow, participants in the candlelight vigil for awareness of eating disorders lit small, white tealight candles in pink Dixie cups to create a much smaller, man-made glow that illuminated Dunn Meadow Tuesday. But for those suffering from eating disorders, the resulting physical and mental problems are anything but small.\nThe National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders sponsored the nationwide candlelight vigil for eating disorder awareness and prevention, adopting the slogan "Accept Yourself ... Accept Others." Locally, junior Sara Kennedy organized IU's vigil. \nKennedy put together the vigil because "it's a good way for people to know this is a problem, and there is help available," she said. "Eating disorders are such a silent disease. If they can share their story, it helps them recover and get help."\nTwo IU students -- juniors Leanne Kelker and Jennifer Di Angelis, shared their personal stories with eating disorders. \n"Being a victim extinguishes our hopes," Di Angelis said. "We start to believe we're unloved and unwanted."\nShe told her story of her struggle with anorexia and compulsive overeating, which began her junior year of high school. It was at that time she turned to food "to temporarily fill the void of intimacy and love."\nDi Angelis said "food turned into an all-consuming battle," and she began to lose sight of who she was. To regain herself, she said she had to block out the media and rely on God alone."\n"God's given me an unconditional love that satisfies more than any food," she said.\nKelker also shared her personal story as a recovering bulimic and anorexic. Due to her disorder, she began losing weight, something that merited the compliments of others.\n"(Eating disorders are) like alcoholism and a drug addiction, but you don't get complimented on being drunk or being an addict," she said. \nKelker said "people with eating disorders aren't pretty," and they can become tired, depressed and have low self-esteem, along with suffering from other physical effects. According to ANAD's Web site, physical effects of anorexia and bulimia can be abnormal menstruation, hair loss, swollen salivary glands and tooth and gum erosion. \nKelker said during the time of her disorder, if she thought about food 24 hours a day, seven days a week, she believed other problems in her life would go away. She said she found her worth through God but also found support through her male friends her freshman year at IU. \n"Guys have the utmost power to tell their girlfriends and friends how wonderful they are," she said.\nKennedy also shared her story of her eating disorder struggle, saying her disease was her security blanket, her identity. \nThe vigil concluded with Kennedy and a friend reading the "Accept Yourself ... Accept Others" pledge and participants taking a moment of silence.\nFor the three IU students who shared their stories, eating disorders are all too real. This is also the case for millions of American women from all areas of society. According to ANAD, seven million U.S. women suffer from eating disorders, and 86 percent of victims said their disease came before the age of 20.\nWendi Tai, counselor at the Center for Human Growth, said it's important for eating-disorder victims to "be able to reach out and know that there is help." She said eating disorders involve a lot of intervention.\n"It's hard because you need treatment from doctors and counselors," she said.\nTai said she believes college women are most affected because of the community they are in. \n"It has a lot to do with the social norms of a campus," she said. Being thin is reinforced for college women, and what is desired is unrealistic, she said. \nThough these students have beaten their eating disorders, reminders of their past remain.\n"Everyday," Di Angelis said, "is a battle for me."\n-- Contact staff writer Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.
(04/15/04 6:14am)
Jazz fans of all ages gathered last night at the IU Auditorium to witness a concert in honor of IU President Adam Herbert. The concert kicked off the inauguration ceremonies for Herbert, who will be officially sworn in Friday.\nIU Director of Jazz Studies David Baker, who played the cello, and University of North Florida director of jazz studies Bunky Green, who played the saxophone, were the featured musicians at the concert. Both Baker and Green are friends of Herbert's. Bruce Bransby on the bass, Assistant Professor of Jazz and Classical Piano Luke Gillespie on the piano and Visiting Associate Professor Steve Houghton on the drums completed the quintet. \nThe concert began with the group playing "Wordsong." Each musician was given the chance to showcase his talents exclusively with little accompaniment, beginning with a long saxophone solo by Green. Baker, Gillespie and Bransby all followed Green, and each was met with audience applause.\nThe group's next song, which Baker said was mostly associated with Duke Ellington, was "Satin Doll." Slightly slower than the first song, "Satin Doll" allowed for each performer to display his talents with a cello standout by Baker, followed by Green, Bransby and Houghton all showcasing their skills on their instruments. \nGreen then addressed the audience about his relationship with Herbert, saying, "Your president is a very dear friend."\n"He was the man who caused me to start dreaming again," he said. "Dreams are the stuff reality is flashing from."\nHis personal tribute to Herbert came in "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," accompanied by Gillespie on the piano. All eyes were on Green and Gillespie as they were the only two performers on stage for the song.\nAll five performers reconvened for the songs "Blue Blossom" and "Anthropology."\nWhile the concert was in honor of Herbert, audience members had various reasons for attending the celebratory event.\nJunior Kelly Starewicz said the concert was a good idea because it showed students part of Herbert's personality.\nBloomington residents Jo and Gene Gilbertson said they attended the concert because "it's great talent," Gene said.\n"It's a nice way of formally welcoming the president here," Jo Gilbertson said. "It's nice to be part of the festivities."\nJo Gilbertson said she believed the concert was a "wonderful idea."\n"I really think jazz is a music that touches everybody," she said. "Jazz also makes people feel comfortable."\n-- Contact staff writer Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.
(04/13/04 4:52am)
Though students are planning to observe National Day of Silence Wednesday, it was anything but quiet Monday night in Willkie Auditorium. \nIU students, faculty and community members convened for the Unite against Silence forum, a preliminary event for the Day of Silence. Participants met to discuss common effects of silencing and to develop methods of action to combat silence and discrimination. \n"A small bit of oppression is a lot of oppression," said Jonathan Rossing, diversity education specialist with the CUE program.\nRossing said the Day of Silence began in 1996 as a protest of silencing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender voices at the University of Virginia. At IU, Wednesday's purpose is not only to acknowledge oppression of those in the GLBT community but to show other groups are silenced too, Rossing said.\nParticipants broke into small groups to intimately discuss their experiences with oppression, to hear the experiences of others and to share their ideas for fixing a long-lasting problem. \n"When we talk about oppression, it's a triple-edged sword," said graduate student Tahirah Akbar-Williams. "Education is the key. Reaching out to people is key."\nAkbar-Williams likened education to the domino effect, where one person can educate another about kinds of oppression, who can, in turn enlighten another. She said her initial response to oppression was to "educate as many people as I can."\n"Only if voices are heard do we reach that level of education," Rossing said.\nGraduate student Muzi Hadebe shared his experience with apartheid in South Africa. He said the oppression in that country was institutionalized by the state. Black women experienced double the injustice, due to silencing by the state, as well as their husbands.\nFellow South African and IU grad student Madeleine Gonin also shared her experience with oppression, although her position was different than Hadebe's. Gonin is from the Afrikaans community, people who she said were commonly viewed as the oppressors. Churches, schools and the media supported oppression and perpetuated the belief that anyone who isn't white is evil. Gonin said when she came to the United States, people asked if she was a racist because of her Afrikaans background. \nAs for the common lack of connection between different oppression of different groups, senior Carolyn Randolph said people like to set up boundaries against one another and think of ways to not like someone.\n"We operate on minimums, which keep us in competition," she said. \nRandolph's experience with oppression "started my consciousness about being African-American." She said it opened her mind to re-evaluating who she was after coming "face-to-face with humiliation."\nWhen the groups reconvened to share their discussions with everyone, they were asked to share their feelings from the encounters they had with oppression. Participants expressed they felt alone, sad, fearful and shocked, along with feeling motivated to make a change. \n"Feelings of isolation are similar," Rossing said. \nGroups also discussed ideas for ensuring no more voices are silenced. Randolph said she believes it starts at the personal level, where lots of things are internalized. She said people have "myths about others," which can be broken down by people understanding their own bias.\n"Validation makes words stronger," Akbar-Williams said. "If we stand up and say 'that was wrong,' we can do a lot more."\nParticipants also had thoughts on oppression at IU. Akbar-Williams said there are covert approaches to dealing with issues on campus. \n"People here are not used to facing issues," she said. "There's a very closeted approach to dealing with any kind of 'ism.'"\nAs for completely eradicating oppression, Hadebe believes people are making progress.\n"It will take ages for us to come together," he said. "On the other hand, we're getting there."\n-- Contact staff writer Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.
(04/02/04 5:25am)
The month of April brings warmer weather, blooming flowers and thoughts of the school year coming to an end. While these are enough to bring a smile to anyone's face, April also brings a month-long dedication to awareness of a serious issue. The month of April has been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month.\nAs an effort to raise awareness of sexual assault against women, the student volunteer group RAISE (Raising Awareness about Interactions in Sexual Encounters) is sponsoring "Thursday's in Black." This is the first year Thursday's in Black will be at IU, and participants are asked to wear black on Thursdays, along with a button showing their support. \n"We saw this as a very important, simple, visible campaign for any student to participate in," said Nigel Pizzini, the men's group coordinator for RAISE. "We can all show our concern and our care for women's safety."\nThursday's in Black originated in Argentina in the 1970s, Pizzini said. Many Argentinean women were being murdered or sexually assaulted. Women began to wear black as a sign of mourning and solidarity, which was a way for the local community to band together and make statements as a community. \nPizzini said Bosnia, Israel, Sudan, New Zealand and countries throughout Europe have picked up the Thursday's in Black campaign. More recently, communities and campuses in the United States have begun to support this movement for sexual assault awareness. At IU, the campaign is supported by the kinesiology department, Union Board, the Indiana Memorial Union and University Division, among others, said Nallely Galvan, RAISE coordinator.\nBoth Pizzini and Galvan emphasized the fact rape isn't perpetrated by someone who just "jumps out of the bushes." Most often, sexual assaults occur with either a boyfriend or an acquaintance, Pizzini said. \n"A lot of it is not physically violent. It's engaging in sexual activity against their will," he said. "Women are by far victims, men are by far the perpetrators."\nPizzini mentioned the fact IU, in contrast to other Indiana colleges, has no male groups dedicated to sexual assault education. As part of the initiative to involve more men with sexual assault programs, Pizzini said RAISE is attempting to recruit male volunteers to train for its programs and workshops. He said men are sought after because the bulk of sexual assaults are committed by men.\n"We want to facilitate the emergence of a male-driven, student, grassroots group that can really take a lead on educating the community and educating students about assault," he said. "We want interested (male) students to come forward and say, 'I care about women and this issue, and I'm ready to put time into making this campus safe.'"\nPizzini wishes to recruit men "to support women who are sexually assaulted, rather than blame them."\nAs part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, RAISE is sponsoring "Don't Speak my Mother's Name in Vain," an event by Reanae McNeal, an award-winning playwright, artist, vocalist and motivational speaker. The event will feature the stories of eight African-American women and their experiences with interpersonal violence. It will be held at 7 p.m. April 6 at the Willkie Auditorium.\nGalvan said McNeal was highly-recommended by other universities and has the ability to make a sensitive topic, such as rape, educational and informative by combining music, dance and storytelling.\n"She's well-known for her programs and has the ability to make them interesting," she said. "We felt a play would be a more effective and less threatening way of reaching students to inform them about sexual assault, as well to let people know about RAISE." \nPizzini expressed his excitement for McNeal's performance.\n"That's going to be awesome," Pizzini said of her show. \nIn addition to McNeal's performance, RAISE is also sponsoring a homeless walk Sunday, April 18 and a women's art show in the Indiana Memorial Union. Informational booths and volunteers will be at the Main Library next Wednesday afternoon, and a call-out meeting for anyone interested in volunteering for RAISE will be held April 29 to coincide with the end of Thursday's in Black. Pizzini urged men to attend the meeting and encouraged women to ask their male friends to attend.\n"Get all the men you know to go," he said. \n-- Contact staff writer Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.
(03/24/04 5:36am)
Dr. Lori Hart Ebert spoke about the differences in communication and stereotypes between men and women in her interactive lecture titled "Everything you always wanted to know about the Opposite Sex" Tuesday night in Assembly Hall. \n"We are here tonight because, first and foremost, I think men and women are truly different," Ebert said. "Men are simple creatures. Women, we are complicated, and that drives men crazy."\nShe began her lecture by giving the majority-female audience a series of numbers to add in their heads and instructed them to yell the sum outloud. Most yelled out the wrong final answer, which Ebert, who is director of alcohol education for Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, equated to being in a relationship and realizing you had the wrong "number" all along. \nTo perhaps clue in the male segment to its perplexing behavior, Ebert then asked the female portion of the audience what they believed was the most mind-boggling aspect of the opposite sex. Answers ranged from "lack of ambition" to the ever-puzzling question of why men don't ask for directions. \nEbert then turned the tables on the women by asking men what irked them about their female counterparts. One offered "women don't say what they really mean," while one male lamented on the indecisiveness of women choosing a place to eat.\nEbert gave the audience a quick lesson on sexual reproduction and biology, mentioning testosterone as the "I'll-kick-your-ass" gene in men. \nAgain opening the lecture for audience input, Ebert asked for the women to describe their fellow college men. Answers ranged from "bastards" to "stubborn, impulsive, lazy and cocky." When asked to describe college women, males in attendance illustrated them as "overbearing" and "scandalous." \nEbert also touched on the communication differences between men and women, which she said begin at a young age. Young boys want to be in charge of a large group, while young girls tend to stick with small groups, simply striving to be liked and accepted by their peers. Ebert said this way of communication does not change much as men and women get older and the need for girls to be socially accepted "tends to plague us as adults."\n"Women are taught to communicate by asking questions," she said. "Men communicate by being direct."\nEbert stressed the importance of communication in a relationship.\n"The most important thing in a healthy relationship is two people who get it, who know how to communicate," she said.\nWhen conflict arises in a relationship, Ebert said men tend to flee the situation and take the upperhand in the relationship. Women, on the other hand, "recreate drama longer than necessary" if they are unclear as to what their partner is saying.\n"Women tend to focus on everything but the problem," Ebert said. "(A woman's) job is to focus on what you want in the relationship."\nAudience members had various reasons for attending Ebert's lecture.\nSophomore Melissa Sanger said she decided to go because she heard Ebert speak in Chicago and thought she was "a really good speaker."\nFreshmen Lesa Allison and Natasha Hoang attended the event not only as a sorority obligation, but to uncover a mystery in their love lives.\n"(We want to) figure out why we're still single," they said.\n-- Contact staff writer Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.
