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(08/28/09 3:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The food and music of CultureFest is just the backdrop to a deeper message that has developed in the last 10 years of this Welcome Week tradition.CultureFest’s message is to promote diversity, knowledge and appreciation of all the different people at IU.“Just being here for 10 years in a college community says a lot,” said senior Solomon Hursey, GLBT Student Support Services program coordinator. “Celebrating diversity has not been the in thing to do for 10 years. This just showcases IU’s commitment to celebrating diversity.”The speaker, Marcus Engel, who described himself as a “small-town white boy from Missouri,” said personal story was an important aspect of CultureFest.Engel was blinded in a drunk driving accident. The incident opened him up to an entirely new culture. Engel said that he was the first blind person he had ever met.“I had never been exposed to people of that culture (blind culture),” Engel said. “I had to educate myself.”This message of awareness and appreciation of diversity has been around for the previous nine years of CultureFest, but each speaker has created his or her own adaptation and approach of that message, said Lillian Casillas, director of La Casa, IU’s Latino Culture Center. This year the speaker addressed disability.CultureFest is just one of the ways in which IU is intertwining diversity into campus culture.IU has improved in that area but there is still room for improvement, Casillas said.“Right now at the student level, my job is never done,” Casillas said. “As one class evolves I have a whole new class who needs to mature and open themselves to new experiences.”Diversity should not be a separate issue, but it should be intertwined into the university and in everything we do, Casillas said.CultureFest showcases the progress that IU has made in its effort to be more diverse.Sandra Britton, director of the Leo R. Dowling International Center, said that she has seen a greater amount of attention paid to international affairs and relations at IU in the past six years she has been affiliated with CultureFest.IU’s international programs have gotten better and more abundant, Britton said.“Not only are we more welcoming to international students, but we are also sending more students abroad,” Britton said. The culture centers reap the benefits of exposure, which includes the Leo R. Dowling International Center. All the culture centers have open houses and because of CultureFest, 60 to 70 U.S. American students who would have not known about the international center gain an interest in it every year, Britton said. American students are interested in becoming English tutors and want to know more about the various programs offered, Britton said.CultureFest does not do anything miraculous such as throw away stereotypes, said Joseph Stahlman, interim director for First Nations Educational and Cultural Center. Students stand at the station for 10 seconds to pick up free food, but it does create exposure and allows students to focus on matters outside of just school, Stahlman said.When the culture centers appear together at one spot such as CultureFest and work as a team, this type of togetherness mentality enriches IU’s campus.“The word ‘university’ represents a collection of people who work together,” said Father Robert Keller, O.P. Pastor at St. Paul Catholic Center. “Here we only have some interaction ... we are in juxtaposition of each other. During the year we work together in ventures to make IU broader.”
(08/28/09 3:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Many of IU’s cultural centers are opening their doors for interested students to meet each other and to check out opportunities to get involved. International CenterWHEN 12 to 2 p.m. FridayWHERE 111 S. Jordan Ave. Asian Culture CenterWHEN 12 to 2 p.m FridayWHERE 807 E. 10th St. GLBT Student Support Services WHEN 12 to 2 p.m. FridayWHERE 705 E. Seventh St.La CasaWHEN 12 to 2 p.m. FridayWHERE 715 E. Seventh St. Opening BBQWHEN 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday WHERE 730 E. Third St.MORE INFO Offers lots of food, games and chances to meet new friend and see old ones.First Nations Educational and Cultural CenterWHEN 12 to 2 p.m. FridayWHERE Ashton Weatherly Hall 203, 400 N. Sunrise Drive Neal-Marshall Black Culture CenterWHEN 4 to 6 p.m. Friday WHERE 275 N. Jordan Ave. St. Paul Catholic CenterWhen 5:30 p.m. mass SundayWhere 1413 E. 17th St.Leo R. Dowling Helene G. Simon Hillel CenterWHAT Freshman Shabbat WHEN 6:30 p.m. FridayWHERE 730 East Third St.MORE INFO Reform, conservative, orthodox and alternative religious services offered. After services, dinner will be offered at 7:30 p.m. Hillel staff will meet at 5:45 p.m. outside McNutt Quad, Teter Quad and Read Center for anyone who wants to walk over to Hillel together.
(08/27/09 4:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>CultureFest was created to foster a sense of diversity at IU, and 10 years later the tradition attracts about 4,000 students. CultureFest will boast two stages for performances, multiple food vendors and renowned speaker Marcus Engel.It started as a joint effort between what used to be the Office of Orientation Programs and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.“We wanted an event that had a kind of flavor of education and celebration,” said Melanie Payne, director of Summer Orientation and Welcome Week. “It is a celebration of the diversity of IU.”The purpose of the event is to represent the diversity on campus by bringing all the different culture centers and groups together, said Sandra Britton, director of the Leo R. Dowling International Center.There will be separate booths for each of the culture centers.“Absorb the message that there is a diverse population on campus,” Britton said. “Stay until the end, because there is so much to do. It’s one more additional thing for freshmen to do and the message gets lost, but this event has a deeper meaning.”Don’t leave CultureFest without...Melanie Payne, director of New Student Orientation, gives the top 5 things to do at CultureFest: 1. Hearing the speaker. This year’s speaker is Marcus Engel. Years ago, Engel was the victim of a drunk driving accident, which left him blind. “The accident changed his perception and his world,” Payne said. As an author and professional speaker, Engel is teaching and sharing the lessons he’s learned.2. Meeting someone who is different from you. “Freshmen should come with the mindset not just to be entertained,” Payne said. “It’s their first full day here. Meet and talk to people you’ve never met before. Be OK with interacting.”3. Tasting ethnic foods. Try one type of food you’ve never had before, Payne said. A variety of ethnic and American foods are served. The servings are meant to be sample sizes, she said.4. Listening and watching the outdoor performances. Some well-known performers include IU Soul Revue, a funk ensemble, Straight No Chaser and South Jordan, a pop-rock band. Other performances range from break dancing to Middle Eastern dance. 5. Caricatures and Henna tattoos. Stop by for free Henna tattoos and caricatures throughout the evening. Henna tattoos are temporary and come in various designs.
(08/25/09 2:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For five years IU lecturer Mary Embry has been a driving force behind the development of the first 100-percent fair trade store in Bloomington, which opens today.“She gave her life to the store,” said junior Eric Nelson, vice president of Students in Free Enterprise. “None of this would have happened without her.”Global Gifts provides people in third world countries who otherwise wouldn’t have access to markets a chance to sell their products.Embry, a lecturer in the Department of Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design, has not only overseen the project, but has also been very active for its five years in development.Several years ago Embry suggested the formation of a Global Gifts in Bloomington, but the executive decision was to expand to Indianapolis, said Sam Carpenter, general manager of Global Gifts.With this setback, Embry continued to pursue the fair trade movement in Bloomington.As sponsor of SIFE, Embry proposed the idea of a large fair trade project. The members of the group had sales for their project Fair Trade Bloomington, which benefitted the producers and assisted in fundraising money for the store. The sales created buzz about fair trade throughout the community.From the sales, word spread about the fair trade movement, helping the group receive community support, said Meghan Cutsumbis, past SIFE vice president and IU graduate.Different schools such as the Kelley School of Business and the School of Journalism provided classes that moved Fair Trade Bloomington along. The public relations writing class developed the name “Fair Trade Bloomington,” a project that became a non-for-profit organization in 2006.“Another element of the store is to touch, feel and get a sense of fair trade,” said Embry. “You can learn the artisans’ stories.”According to Global Gifts Web site, artisans are paid 50 percent in advance when an order is placed and the remaining half is given after the products leave the artisans’ country or continent. This provides a necessary income for materials and supplies for artisans who would not be able to fulfill orders.The store carries products from 35 different countries, which range from baskets to jewelry.Half of the store’s products are from Ten Thousand Villages, a large fair trade retailer. The other half of the stock is from a variety of vendors including Imani Workshops, affiliated with the IU-Kenya Partnership.The store is on 122 N. Walnut St. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. An underlying force behind the free trade movement is student volunteers. Interested volunteers are asked to commit to volunteering at least twice a month and can visit the store 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays to learn about work opportunities. The store partnered with the Office of Service-Learning and students can get involved with the store through their classes.“The fact it happened in four or five years never crossed my mind to even be possible,” Nelson said.
(06/04/09 12:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The band Germart didn’t set out to create one of the 50 worst album covers of all time.It just intended to share its music, like the song “Ride that Booty,” with lyrics like “subtract that junk and add your funk and spread the finest jam.”Dylan Germick, a 2007 IU graduate, and his brothers Nathan Germick and Ryan Germick formed the band Germart and are the masterminds behind the album cover “Planet Booty,” which was recently named as one of the “50 Worst Album Covers Of All Time” by the Chicago Tribune. Dylan Germick is the shirtless man featured on the album cover wearing blue ski pants and looking up toward a blue skull. He majored in theater, and his theatrical past indirectly influenced his album cover and music. “We were thinking theatrical-space-Hamlet thinking intensely,” Dylan Germick said. As for the award, Dylan Germick could not be more pleased. Germart produces works that are fun, entertaining, theatrical and comical, he said.“I’m happy to know we are the worst,” Dylan Germick said. “It’s like getting a zero on the SAT. You need to know the right answers to get the wrong answers. ... We’re also serious about not being serious. I think we hit the nail on the head.”The title of worst album cover shows that people are paying attention to them, both Nathan and Ryan Germick said. “I was proud to be part of something that got a reaction from strangers,” Ryan Germick said. “I think that signals success.”The brothers work well together mostly.“We collaborate pretty well except for when we don’t,” Nathan Germick said. “And then it gets ugly. Really ugly.”Within the content of the album, there are several songs about butts, such as “Ride that Booty,” “Smelly Crack” and the title track “Planet Booty.”The album’s content is intended to personify just how sexually charged the world is, especially for a young person, Dylan Germick said. He said his personal experiences and his experience at IU influenced the album. “Young people like to have a good time,” he said. “When you are walking to class, people are looking you. You are checking each other out. You want meet that special someone.”After two years, Dylan Germick said he was no longer “feeling the booty” at IU. He was also not “feeling” other aspects of college life. He said that he never really wanted to be a theater major, and he failed his first class at IU in directing. He also said he did not enjoy attending college in his home state of Indiana while his brothers were at out-of-state schools.“I felt like since I stayed home in Indiana, I failed,” Dylan said. “I was feeling that I needed to leave to succeed.”From 2004 to 2005, he went to New York and California and began work on “Planet Booty.” He teamed up with Ryan Germick in California and finished about half of the album. The entire album was recorded in the brothers’ backyard in Berkeley, Calif. The album features “booty songs, techno songs, dirty sex club tracks. ... The organization is all over the place by nature,” Dylan Germick said.He returned to IU in 2005 and came back to school with a new perspective.“College, it’s a golden magical playland with so many departments at your fingertips,” he said. “Once you get out of Bloomington, the real world is a vast, big place, and it can weigh on you, respectively. Bloomington is a beautiful place.”As for the band, Germart’s members have big plans for the future. “I’d like to see global superstardom,” Ryan Germick said. “Failing that, a really interesting local cable access show.”
(06/01/09 12:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indiana General Assembly’s indecisiveness to create a state budget has caused IU’s tuition rates to remain a mystery.After a revenue forecast Wednesday, Indiana will have $1 billion less in its budget, meaning budget cuts will occur.Gov. Mitch Daniels must bring the Indiana General Assembly together for a session no later than June 30.The set tuition rates will come at the end of June, IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said.“Lawmakers are going to tighten strings even more,” MacIntyre said.Daniels will unveil his recommended budget Tuesday.“Not knowing the state budget affects tuition rates,” MacIntyre said. “We do not know how much money we need to operate facilities.”IU runs on state and federal money, but most of the operating budget comes from tuition, MacIntyre said.MacIntyre said he understands that IU families and students are experiencing frustration of the unknown tuition rates.“Families are concerned, and we are not able to tell them anything,” MacIntyre said. “That is the frustration.” Every school and department is affected by this at IU, McIntyre said.Many departments, such as the Office of the Bursar, experience the inquiries of many IU families but are unable to provide them with any certain information. “The Office of the Bursar is receiving a large volume of phone calls and e-mails asking for the rates and/or when we will know the rates,” said Kim Kercheval, executive associate bursar. “This is hard for our service staff as we want to assist families with their inquiries, but we do not have information to provide.”The financial aid office said it has not experienced much of a difference in its conversations.“Our conversations with students haven’t really changed,” said Roy Durnal, senior associate director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance. “Students are still investigating all avenues of financial aid that could be used to pay for all educational costs they may have for 2009-2010.”Automatic scholarships were available for incoming freshmen for fall 2009, and the office of scholarships has committed to giving out automatic scholarships to the incoming freshmen of fall 2010, said Sarah Booher, director of scholarships.The rates for the automatic scholarships are re-assessed every year, and the amount for the scholarship will be revealed Monday on the office’s Web site.Money for automatic scholarships comes from the IU Foundation, financial aid and state money, MacIntyre said.The operating budget for the 2008-09 IU school year was $1.225 billion, and $228 million came from the state budget, MacIntyre said.Altogether, IU campuses received about $500 million from the state budget, MacIntyre said.According to the 2007-09 Operating Budget, with the cost of the 2008-09 school year, resident students have experienced a 6 percent increase in tuition rates while nonresident students have experienced an 11 percent increase in tuition rates.“President McRobbie is well-aware of the trouble of making ends meet in this global economic climate,” MacIntyre said. “Tuition increases will be moderate.”
(05/28/09 1:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign is gaining support and momentum. The Center for Inquiry of Indiana is supporting the Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign because it agrees with the message “You Can Be Good Without God.” The center donated $2,000 to the organization.“It will help when the South Bend ads come up, and it will help fund the campaign, assuming the American Civil Liberties Union prevails in the case,” said Charlie Sitzes, spokesperson for the Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign. The Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign recently signed a contract with South Bend’s public transportation system TRANSPO to display its advertisements on TRANSPO’s buses.The Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign has an advertisement on Chicago buses that states “In the beginning, man created God,” and the campaign had “absolutely no problems” getting the advertisements up and running, Sitzes said.The Center for Inquiry became interested in the Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign especially after the American Humanist Association and Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign filed a lawsuit, now pending, against Bloomington Transit with law support from the American Civil Liberties Union.“In agreement, our organization would not have initiated this campaign,” said Reba Boyd Wooden, the executive director of the Center for Inquiry of Indiana. “Before the lawsuit I was working with our international organization to see if they would allow us to take a stand. They wanted to make sure they were viable, and the group has proven they are.”In general, more people became interested in the campaign after the incident with Bloomington Transit. “It kicked in interest,” Sitzes said. “More donations came in.”The Center for Inquiry provides an “alternative to living without being religious” and promotes scientific reasoning and freedom of inquiry, Wooden said. In the lawsuit, Bloomington Transit is accused of having too broad of a advertising policy. Its policy states that the company will reject any advertisements that are too controversial. The federal lawsuit is a constitutional case in which Bloomington Transit has been accused of violating the Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign’s First and 14th Amendment rights.The Center for Inquiry strongly believes in the First Amendment, especially the second part, which guarantees freedom of speech, Wooden said.Anyone has the right to post whatever he or she would like whether it be atheist or religious, Wooden said, but he said there is “more flack for the billboard of atheist nature than the ones of religious nature.”
(05/14/09 12:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A federal lawsuit is pending against Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation in response to its rejection of an advertisement about atheism.The Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign’s ad states, “You Can Be Good Without God,” and has the Web site www.inatheistbus.org at the bottom of the ad, with a picture of a blue sky and grass as its background.The ad was rejected by Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation because, as its policy reads, “Statements of position in support of or in opposition to controversial public issues shall not be accepted.”“Controversial has no particular meaning,” said Paul Newman, the plaintiff’s attorney. “It’s totally subjective.”Lew May, Bloomington Transit general manager, said he couldn’t comment “because litigation is pending.”As a result of the lawsuit, the Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign and American Humanist Association ultimately wish to be granted the right to place their ads on the Bloomington buses, Newman said.The Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign and American Humanist Association are trying to prove that the Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation’s policy violates the First and 14th amendments. The First Amendment was created in part to protect unpopular viewpoints and, Newman said, “Atheists are not popular people in America.”The court, U.S. District Court – Southern District of Indiana Division, has “20 days to answer the case,” said Kenneth Falk, the plaintiff’s lawyer.The purpose of the campaign is to spread a positive image about atheists.“The goal is to start a thoughtful discussion of atheism, religion and morality and to reconsider what’s good,” said Charlie Sitzes, spokesperson for the Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign.Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign is raising money through its Web site and is trying to raise $50,000, which it along with the American Humanist Association will use to get the ads on as many buses in Indiana as possible, Sitzes said. The Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign and American Humanist Association are working with Transpo, the South Bend bus system, to place their advertisements on South Bend buses. The two organizations signed a contract with Burkhart Advertising, the advertising agency that works with Transpo.“No decision has been made at this time,” said Rick Brown, general manager of Transpo. “Nothing has been finalized.”Through the campaign, the group is hoping that people realize nonbelievers and believers are essentially the same. “Nonbelievers worry about the same thing as believers: taxes, the environment and global warming,” Sitzes said. Sitzes said he is surprised by how much controversy is surrounding this ad. “First of all, how can the truth be controversial?” Sitzes said. “I don’t understand how someone can be threatened if they have confidence in their religion.”The individuals having strong reactions surrounding the ad should re-evaluate their faith, Sitzes said. “My personal opinion is that if a simple truthful slogan, ‘You Can Be Good Without God,’ can shake a religious institution to its core, then perhaps its adherents might want to consider abandoning that system of faith for one that has a stronger footing,” Sitzes said.A second phone call to May and Bloomington Transit was not returned. Sitzes said atheists want to be respected and that is one of the purposes surrounding this campaign.“Atheists are at the low end of the totem poll, and we are fed up with it,” Sitzes said.
(05/07/09 11:55pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Some IU students will graduate Saturday with majors not available in any other IU department, including game design, costume design and social science of sexuality.Individualized Majors Program students said their time with IMP has been both challenging and worthwhile.Students in IMP must create their own curriculum, go through an admissions interview and, at the end of their senior year, do a project that culminates everything they have worked toward. “It has been a great experience overall, but it has not been easy,” said graduating senior Jennifer Queen, who majored in applied health and social science of sexuality. “I enjoyed the challenge it presented me with. I created the program start to finish, which is a daunting task for a sophomore, but I never had an experience like, ‘Oh, I have to take this class.’ I had the privilege of taking classes I want to take.”The seniors develop grandiose projects that seem overwhelming at first, but in the end get accomplished.Graduating senior Charles Hylor Ott V, a musical theater/fashion and costume design major, presented a fashion show as one of his senior projects. The fashion show was created to show how garments today can be traced back to earlier times and to show how trends resurface throughout time, Ott said.Ott designed historical costumes that were reminiscent of the Elizabethan, late Georgian, antebellum and late Victorian periods for both men and women. He then created male and female contemporary pieces inspired by each of these periods. Altogether, Ott created 27 ensembles.“He really exceeded expectations,” said Linda Pisano, Ott’s sponsor and assistant professor of costume design, theater and drama. “The artistry of his garments were really spectacular. It was hard for him, but he did very well.”Graduating senior David Klein, who majored in game design, created a break-dancing game for his final project.“This major was more helpful in getting jobs in video gaming because you need a portfolio,” Klein said. “The project gave me a head start at getting a job in the first place.”Klein also received a computer science major. But he said he found the game design major more helpful for his future career.“For the computer science major, you take a bunch of classes, but for game design you are independent, and you are doing real work,” Klein said.Many students and parents wonder how IMP will be useful when it comes to students’ futures, but most IMP participants find it particularly helpful for whatever they plan on pursuing.“It helps a good deal for someone who is interested in graduate school,” said Ray Hedin, IMP director. “The very fact that it is unusual makes someone stand out.”Many students form bonds with their sponsors, the IU faculty members who oversee one or more students throughout their IMP careers, and they develop close relationships throughout college.“I’m better from having the experience of working with them, and I hope to continue working with them in the future,” Ott said, of his sponsors.Pisano said it is difficult to say goodbye to students she has seen flourish academically throughout college.“You don’t want to see them go, but you want to see what they do,” Pisano said. “It’s like parenting – seeing them go out into the world is bittersweet. You still want to help, but you know they’re ready to go out there.”
(05/07/09 9:35pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Burlesque dancer, self-proclaimed exhibitionist and “derriere beyond compare” Lola Van Ella is coming to give IU students a crash course in being sexy, flirty and confident – all through the art of burlesque dancing.From 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Van Ella will be teaching two burlesque workshops at the McCalla School of Fine Arts, 525 E. Ninth St.The first workshop, “Burlesque Bump n’ Grind for Beginners,” costs $30 and the second, which requires completion of the first, is called “Tease Technique and Performance Polish” costs $50.“The first workshop is more of a 101 overview of burlesque history,” Van Ella said. “A lot of burlesque warm-ups, shimmies, bumps and grinds, easy ice breaks, boa work, chair glove peels. It’s an overview of feeling sexy.”The second workshop is more focused and will include a polished dance routine, Van Ella said. The workshops will be a no-pressure atmosphere where women of all different dance levels are welcome to attend.Van Ella will also be performing an uncensored burlesque performance at 9 p.m. Saturday at Rachael’s Cafe with acts Acoustic TLQ!, Jamasaurus Rox and Roller Polers for a $3 cover. All proceeds go to Verbal Terrorism Productions for future events. Van Ella was on campus in October for “Sexploration at IU” and performed a “Crimson Cabaret & Burlesque Revue” held by Verbal Terrorism Productions. Verbal Terrorism Productions is trying to bring different art forms that have never had a presence in Bloomington before, founder of Verbal Terrorism Productions and IU graduate Jada Barbry said.Barbry said Van Ella is one of the “brilliant up-and-comers in her field” and has a “burlesque persona of a good girl gone bad.” Van Ella has done a majority of her performances in St. Louis but has been all around the globe. She recently performed at the London Burlesque Festival, and she has taught a workshop in Nuremberg, Germany. Van Ella has taught workshops at Washington University in St. Louis and is eager to teach at IU. She said she enjoys teaching 18- to 22-year-olds because they “just want to let go and are coming into their own sexuality.”She has been performing burlesque professionally for five years now and “it has snowballed into my life,” she said. Always having been interested in musicals, theater and cabaret, she was in a sense performing burlesque in some of her cabaret performances but “didn’t even know it was burlesque” because it was not widespread in St. Louis. Van Ella received her tagline “the Derriere Beyond Compare” from a St. Louis critic in 2006 who gave her a rave review for her first burlesque performance that she produced. Lola Van Ella, her stage name, came from one of her signature songs, “Whatever Lola Wants.” The last part of her name, Van Ella, came from her German heritage, her fascination with Ella Fitzgerland and the way “Van Ella” sounds like vanilla.“I love vanilla and I love the irony,” Van Ella said. “I’m definitely not a vanilla girl even though I love the flavor.”When asked how she would describe burlesque, she said, “It is sexy, but cheeky. It is usually, but not always, a striptease. It is theatrical and often funny.” She said that burlesque is in a sense “female drag,” complete with sparkles, rhinestones and costumes. But in some sense, burlesque performers are more natural because they do not try to alter themselves by getting breast augmentation or going to the tanning salon. A lot, but not all, of the burlesque performers pay tribute to the retro culture by trying to emulate the ’50s pinup culture, the 1920s or the 1940s, Van Ella said.Burlesque is called a striptease because “most of the time you end up in pasties and g-strings,” Van Ella said.“Some days I feel fat like most women,” she said. “But most women are not getting as naked as me.”Van Ella has received little to no backlash from the outside community and her family is completely supportive of her. “My mom came to the first burlesque performance I produced and she hooted and hollered louder than anyone,” Van Ella said. With a career as burlesque, Van Ella calls herself a feminist. “This is the ultimate form of expression,” she said. “I feel empowered and I know I’m completely happy. I am 100 percent positive that I have no guilt about it. That is feminism.”
(04/23/09 3:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Greek houses and residence halls have given up modern conveniences since March 25 to conserve energy and water for the IU Energy Challenge. Dean of Students Dick McKaig announced the winners at Wednesday’s Field Day 2009.Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and Teter Quad are this year’s winners.“Everyone who was part of the challenge is a winner. The earth is the winner,” McKaig said.The second IU Energy Challenge began March 25 and ended Wednesday. Residence halls and greek houses were encouraged to compete to see who could conserve the most energy in four weeks.Teter Quad made an effort to make everyone more conscious of “going green” by organizing Teter Green Week, which was filled with activities like campus cleanup and recycling art supplies.“The RA staff has to put on a monthly program, and the energy challenge made for good programming,” said senior Tyler Duffey, Teter Quad resident assistant.Teter Quad turned unnecessary lights off and also organized blackout events to make students more aware of the sustainability effort.Some Teter Quad residents were not as enthusiastic about the energy challenge, but for the most part everyone was really cooperative with the program, Duffey said.“In the beginning many residents were pessimistic,” said Cedric Harris, Teter Quad residence manager. “Residents thought that they were just saving IU money, but then they caught on that it was good for the earth.”Sigma Alpha Mu said they took extreme measures in conserving energy and water.“We lived in the dark for three to four weeks,” said junior Jeff Safferman, Sigma Alpha Mu president. “It was a challenge at the time, but all the brothers got together to win the challenge, raise awareness and save as much energy as possible.”Sigma Alpha Mu received $900 and Teter Quad received $4,500. Teter Quad is having a cookout in honor of their work, and the money will be used to make both residences more eco-friendly.As compared to last year’s challenge, the dorms increased electricity savings by 59 percent and increased water savings by 83 percent.Mckenzie Beverage, IU Office of Sustainability intern and energy challenge coordinator, spearheaded this year’s energy challenge and tried to make her publicity and advertising as sustainable as possible by spreading awareness through e-mails and speaking at meetings.“I really believe in this and the message that we are spreading,” Beverage said.
(04/22/09 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Rainy conditions and cool weather plagued the outdoor Earth Week Celebration on Tuesday, but the message of sustainability and eco-friendliness could not be overshadowed.A group of six IU students created the event for an Event Planning and Program Development R367 class service-learning project, which included tree giveaways. The project was created with the help of Bloomington Parks and Recreation.The main purpose of the event was for lesser-known “green companies to promote themselves,” said senior Breanne Clark.Working with the “very hands-on” project from start to finish was nice, said senior Zachary Smith.Bloomington Parks and Recreation helped provide the location, tents and tables for the organizations, said Steve Cotter, the natural resources manager for the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department.Several types of businesses contributed to the event, but Smith said every bike shop in town got involved.Bloomington environmentalists who work with local organizations shared their knowledge and concern with attendees.The Environmental Management Association at IU gave out free trees, including black gums, flowering dogwoods and white oaks. Eighty to 100 trees were handed out to attendees by the association and Hoosier National Forest.The association had a table set up with a poster stating why trees were important for the environment. Their reasoning included that trees provide shade, which can save households up to $250 a year, purify the air and absorb pollutants and lower the amount of pollutants in sewer systems, saving saves communities millions of dollars in water treatment costs.The association was selling T-shirts and bags embroidered with the statement “Earth Day Every Day,” an overall theme of the event.The Local Growers Guild, a corporation of growers, retailers and commission members in southern Indiana, was promoting local organic foods.The Local Growers Guild promotes the message that it is easy to eat local, organic foods.“We are here to promote how people can access local foods throughout the year,” said Katie Zukof, assistant director of the Local Growers Guild.The Center of Sustainable Living promotes plausible and efficient efforts, such as Bloomington transportation initiatives and a community bike project, to support the reduction of wasting resources.The center is hoping to make campus, Bloomington and Indiana more sustainable.IU is “very much behind” in sustainability efforts considering the fact that IU just hired a sustainability director, said Lucille Bertuccio, president of the Center of Sustainable Living.“IU should have been working toward sustainability 20 to 30 years ago,” Bertuccio said.She said IU’s and Indiana’s improper use of substances such as coal and fertilizer harms the community and needs to be ceased immediately.“Nature knows the answers,” Bertuccio said. “It’s been here for 4.6 billion years.”General Motors was also at the event and showed two vehicles, a hybrid truck and hybrid Chevy Malibu.The company has received a lot of recognition, such as an award for reduction in energy from the Indiana government, for their eco-friendly vehicles, said Jeff Hummel, senior environmental engineer of GM out of Bedford.Many attendees were glad to see something happening for Earth Day.“There is a real need for people to understand how to save the environment,” Bloomington resident Nancy Wroblewski said.
(04/21/09 3:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Student Association Inauguration-Transition Farewell Ceremony Monday not only celebrated the incoming Btown administration and the outgoing Big Red administration, but also the organization’s 62-year history. After last year’s controversial IU Student Association election, former IUSA President Luke Fields and the Big Red administration were praised at the inauguration ceremony Monday for their efforts to restore IUSA’s name.In last year’s election, a member of an opposing ticket broke into Field’s personal computer and forwarded Big Red campaign e-mails to members of the other ticket. University Chancellor Kenneth Gros Louis was impressed with how Fields “went out of his way” to attend various student organization meetings and showed a strong interest in student concerns.“Luke was close to the ideal president,” Gros Louis said. Newly elected IUSA President Peter SerVaas said the Big Red administration legitimized IUSA.“The key to realize what they accomplished was turning around the image of IUSA,” SerVaas said.SerVaas said ever since Big Red came into office, top University officials think IUSA represents the student body well, which has restored their trust in IUSA.“By the end of the year, you realize how much work they’ve done when administrators such as Provost Karen Hanson, one of the highest officials of Indiana University, when students came to her with issues she simply told them, ‘I’m not going to deal with you, you have to go through IUSA,’” SerVaas said. “She has that respect for student government that all issues must go through them as the proper avenue. That shows that they did their job as they should.”Dean of Students Dick McKaig has witnessed 38 administrations go through IUSA and has seen it transform in its structure, legitimacy and pursuits.When McKaig began his tenure as dean of students in 1971, the student association all depended on geographic representation, but now also encompasses academic representation. IUSA did not always have a supreme court, but in more recent years added it to its government. McKaig said that as time went on, IUSA functioned more as a governmental model.When asked what initiatives he hopes the Btown administration works toward, McKaig said, “Everything I’ve seen considered shows that they will continue to carry on the legacy. For me, quite frankly, after 38 years the ‘what’ that they work is not as important as how they work on it.”McKaig also said IUSA will be instrumental in providing the new dean of students with the knowledge of what students want and need.“I would hope and assume that it will be the case that IUSA will, in some respects, be in the position to set the base expectations of what the Dean can expect from student government because they will be the first student government the dean will be with on this campus,” McKaig said, “to the extent they set the bar high, which I hope they will. It will be a great beginning.”The atmosphere of the ceremony was relaxed. Members of the old and new student governments playfully and casually spoke with current IU administrators, including Gros Louis, McKaig and Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Activities Steve Veldkamp.Some of the current IUSA executives had their parents come and share in the celebration.IUSA Vice President Jack McCarthy’s dad, Bill McCarthy, said Jack showed leadership qualities at a young age and emerged as a leader in high school, taking on positions such as the president of his school’s National Honor Society chapter.He said he was not surprised that Jack McCarthy would be heavily involved in extracurricular college activities, but was surprised he got involved in political office.Current IUSA executives SerVaas and McCarthy showed their parents around the IUSA office after the ceremony was over.SerVaas showed his parents, both IU alumni, the presidential desk drawer, in which past IUSA presidents signed the inside of the drawer and taped their presidential business cards.Their parents were intrigued by the IUSA office and its traditions.Peter’s mother, Marcia SerVaas, said her son possessed leadership qualities in high school.Peter SerVaas was student body president of his high school and “he really did change things in his school,” Marcia SerVaas said.“In some respects,” Marcia SerVaas said, “leadership is a natural extension of who he is.”
(04/21/09 3:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Huge business lecture classes will convert to a more intimate learning environment with the new Kelley Living-Learning Center.The Kelley LLC is a partnership between Residential Programs and Services and the Kelley School of Business. It will be located in the Northwest Neighbood in McNutt-Crone and will comprise 250 students.However, the Kelley LLC has a long-range plan in which it can expand to McNutt-Bryan in its second year of existence and to McNutt-Bordner in its third year.The staffs of RPS and Kelley, who have been working on this project, said they are in no hurry to expand the Kelley LLC after its first year.“We are taking it one step at a time,” said JoAnne Namy, director of undergraduate certification for Kelley. “We want to make sure we are doing it right with 250 kids. The larger it is, the harder it is to keep it a more personalized environment. Our faculty, staff and students only stretch so far. Once we see a visible difference in engagement and academic success as a part of the 250 (students) model, we will move forward.”The Kelley LLC will consist mostly of freshmen, and an application must be submitted to become a member. Students who register early will have a greater chance of becoming a resident.“We want to intentionally keep it at a level where only students who want to be a part of it are in (the LLC),” said John Summerlot, McNutt residence manager.Although the selection process is still underway, the Kelley LLC will be a diverse environment, organizers said. There will be students from about 35 states, and there will be an equal number of male and female students in the community, said Kathleen Robbins, director of undergraduate programs for Kelley.“It’s important to broaden horizons and work with students of different backgrounds,” Robbins said.The Kelley LLC is taking futuristic approaches to make it fit the transitional needs of freshmen as well as the academic needs of a demanding and ever-changing business environment.To help freshmen make the transition into the college environment, there will be a virtual community available when the residents are selected in May. The point of the virtual community is to get the uncomfortable aspect of going to college out of the way before stepping on campus, Summerlot said.There are additional rooms being added in McNutt, including three “break-out rooms” for group work and a third classroom built specifically for business communications.The classroom has the capability to communicate with conference classrooms across the globe, Namy said.“Students are going out to an environment where they can’t fly around the world for a meeting,” Namy said. “That’s not going to happen anymore.”Classes will be created specifically for Kelley LLC students. Many of the core courses that are usually huge lecture halls will be in a more intimate setting. Students will take classes in McNutt and in dorms right across the courtyard, said Namy.The ultimate goal of the Kelley LLC is to help students become more successful in their courses and make a smooth transition into college life.“It is our attempt to provide a smaller community in which we can bring in a lot of enrichment and get them engaged right off the bat,” Namy said.
(04/21/09 3:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As the Big Red IU Student Association executives leave their titles behind and graduate from IU, they are excited for the experiences that lie ahead and reminiscing on what they are leaving behind.Senior and Vice President Dan Sloat will enter the Air Force immediately after his graduation on May 9. Sloat will then be commissioned into the Air Force as an officer on May 10.“It is pretty exciting because appointing goes through the president of the U.S.,” Sloat said. “He will sign off that we will carry out his orders as commander-in -chief.”Sloat will enter active duty May 11 but will not begin the Air in Space Basic Course until May 18. The Air Force in Space Base will be at a base near Montgomery, Ala.Air in Space Basic Course is a “standardization course” in “which everyone learns how to conduct themselves as an officer,” Sloat said. The course is six weeks long, and Sloat will graduate on June 26.On June 27 he will go to Tyndall Air Force Base outside of Panama, Fla. At this location, Sloat will begin undergraduate Air Battle Management Training.Sloat is one of only 60 official candidates from the Air Force ROTC for Air Battle Management Training.Sloat will be at the Tyndall Air Force Base for about a year, during which he will attend Survival Evasion Resistance Escapes School.Sloat said he can go to one of five places for his new duty station: Japan, Alaska, Oklahoma, Georgia or Germany.“I’m excited to see different parts of the world,” Sloat said.As for the future, he hopes to make being an officer in the army his long-term career plan. Before attending IU, Sloat thought about attending the Air Force Academy, but “didn’t want to miss out on a traditional college experience, and the ROTC is the best of both worlds.”Sloat was in the ROTC for all four years of college and remembers his experiences favorably.“The ROTC was easily one of the best leadership developmental programs I’ve ever been a part of,” Sloat said.When asked if Sloat would miss IU, his face and stature appeared solemn.“IU has definitely opened its arms to me,” Sloat said. “I didn’t know anyone when I first got here. IU quickly became my second home where I felt that I belonged.”Former IUSA President Luke Fields said he plans to attend IU’s Maurer School of Law in the fall.IU’s law school is the best fit for what Fields is looking for, Fields said, adding he is glad to spend more time in Bloomington.“The end of our term has been a tremendous experience and one that I wouldn’t trade for anything,” Fields said. “And also one that I am very happy to give to somebody else because I know how much growth goes on in the year. ... It’s an experience you can’t get anywhere else.”
(04/16/09 4:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Today begins Btown’s reign as IU Student Association’s executive administration.Btown is in the stages of planning what they wish to accomplish during their time in office with some help from their predecessor, the Big Red administration.Btown plans to continue with a few of Big Red’s initiatives, such as fall break and tax-free textbooks. However, the Btown ticket will not push for a student section in Assembly Hall.After meeting with Athletic Director Fred Glass, members of the Btown ticket realized IU already has 7,500 student seats in Assembly Hall, and this number “rivals other Big Ten schools,” said junior Jack McCarthy, IUSA vice president.Senior Dan Sloat, former IUSA vice president, said when men’s basketball coach Tom Crean spoke at the Beta Theta Pi house, he seemed enthusiastic about basketball fans. He said this makes it time to push for a student section, but Btown does not feel the same.Btown plans on rewarding IU’s biggest sports fans with better seating rather than changing the structure of seating, McCarthy said.The new executives met with their predecessors to learn about their position, and the Big Red ticket gave Btown a lot of advice. McCarthy said the best advice Btown received is to make sure students know what they are working on and to have a strong presence on campus.With the state of the economy, there will be inevitable limitations to what the current administration can do.“With the down economy, resources are limited, but are not all bad,” Sloat said. “It puts people in the position to be innovative and effective with the resources they do have.”Btown has already begun thinking ahead about what it can do to strengthen its financial situation.“We are finding creative ways to maximize funds,” said junior Peter SerVaas, IUSA president.Within its budget, the Btown ticket cut $5,000 worth of phones in the IUSA office, McCarthy said. The only phone will be for the secretary.The tax-free textbook holiday initiative will have a better chance of passing the Indiana State Senate during a better financial time, SerVaas said.Reflecting on their administration, former IUSA President Luke Fields said Big Red receives a grade in the B+ to A- range.“I think for the circumstances we took office, we have made great strides to start turning IUSA around and restoring confidence in student government,” Fields said. “We did not get all of our platform issues accomplished, but we did great work in advancing them. We are getting to the point where we can hand the baton off to (Btown), and I couldn’t be happier about it.”Fields said the Btown administration should begin work as soon as possible.“Take advantage of the remaining semester,” Fields said. “I would encourage them to start meeting with administrators now and understand what platform issues they need to tackle and how they are going to do it.”
(04/13/09 4:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For Easter Sunday, Ballantine Hall room 013 was transformed into a church, complete with gospel songs and a sermon.Although many IU students went home for the holiday, some students stayed in Bloomington for Easter.Each Sunday, worshippers gather in Ballantine Hall for a service through the Anointed Harvest Fellowship Church. There are usually between 200 and 300 people, the majority being students, who attend services weekly, but not as many were in attendance because many went home for Easter Sunday, said William L. McCoy, bishop of the Anointed Harvest Fellowship Church.McCoy said because the church is composed largely of students, many aspects of the church’s operation are student-run, including media programming, singing and planning an Easter egg hunt for children.Choir members sang “Praise is What I Do” by Shekinah Glory Ministries.“It’s wonderful to see young people love the Lord,” McCoy said.Easter is a Christian holiday during which believers celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.Some IU students could not go home to celebrate Easter with their families because of transportation conflicts.Freshman Shakira Bell did not have a ride to her home in Merrillville, but she said she enjoys the tight-knit environment at the Anointed Harvest Fellowship Church service.“Everyone is so welcoming, and I love that type of atmosphere,” Bell said.Sophomore Rafael Ishman, from Gary, said even though students will always miss home, being at the service nearly filled that void.“It is a home away from home, and it is very family-oriented,” Ishman said.Freshman Kim Brown, from St. Louis, said she decided not to go home for Easter because the church is her “family away from home.”“I feel comfortable hearing the word of God here,” Brown said.At St. Paul Catholic Center, IU students took part in many Easter events including the Student Life Team’s showing of “The Passion of the Christ.” Students also reenacted Jesus’ last supper Thursday and had an Easter vigil Saturday and Easter mass Sunday.Many IU students were baptized or confirmed on Saturday’s Easter vigil.“We had 20 people enter the church last night, and 11 of them were also baptized,” Jillian Vandermarks, director of religious education at St. Paul Catholic Center, said in an e-mail. “Of the 20, 15 were IU students, some freshmen, most undergrads. Two others were spouses of grad students. They had been working toward entering the church since September.”Father Robert Keller said students attend the Easter vigil to “go back to the beginning” and gain a “sense of groundedness and centering.”Sophomore Morgan Beatty, a member of the Student Life Team, said the month leading up to Easter was a special time of reflection and understanding.“It is the season of getting better for Easter,” Beatty said.
(04/13/09 3:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Btown ticket is accepting applications for positions in its 2009-2010 IU Student Association administration.Students can get applications at the IUSA office in the Indiana Memorial Union room 387 or by visiting www.votebtown.com.Applicants should turn in paperwork by Friday and must attend a 10-minute interview with the Btown executives April 19 for the final selection process.Students applying for positions should be willing to commit to a year-long term beginning in the fall semester and ending next spring.This year, Btown is altering the way IUSA is structured and run.IUSA student positions will have three focuses: “properly represent all students on the IU committees such as Bloomington Faculty Council, five task forces assigned to accomplish initiatives and directorship for other IUSA projects,” said junior Peter SerVaas, IUSA president-elect.IUSA is focusing on these three needs so they will be able to attract the top students across campus, SerVaas said.Junior Jack McCarthy, IUSA vice president-elect said with this new structure IUSA will be able to accomplish more of its platform initiatives.“The executives this year handled platform issues by themselves,” McCarthy said. “They had some success, but it is hard to do that and manage staff.”Although students who were active in the Btown ticket’s campaign have an advantage in the selection process, all students who are active on campus are encouraged to apply for positions, SerVaas said.“We want people who are interested in everything we want to do in office,” McCarthy said. “We want people who have the interest to better IU.”Students should send their questions about IUSA positions to mccarthj@indiana.edu.
(04/10/09 4:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Residence halls and local nonprofits are teaming up this fall for students to get more involved in the Bloomington community.IU will launch Adopt-a-Nonprofit, a program in which each of the 11 residence halls will sponsor one nonprofit organization.Every nonprofit – from national organizations to local groups – is involved in combatting poverty, which is the theme of this year’s Adopt-a-Nonprofit, said junior Brittney Paulk, creator of the program.The residence halls will have a lot of control of their own programs, Paulk said, adding that the halls will still work with the nonprofits to ensure the success of their work.Students will also get to choose their level of involvement with the charitable organization.“Nonprofits need loyal and committed people,” Paulk said. “They need people who are loyal and committed and mostly need small amounts of volunteers but (ones) that will be with them throughout the year.”The theme is especially important given the United States’ current economic climate, said Bob Weith, director for residential operations of Residential Programs and Services.Adopt-a-Nonprofit will be introduced to students on Student Service Day, during Welcome Week and throughout the entire year, said Emily Arth, assistant director of the Office of First Year Experience Programs.The Residence Assistant Advisory Council chose the nonprofits with which the residence halls will work. The Residence Halls Association then assigned a nonprofit to each hall.The center government and residence hall staff will define the specific residence centers’ philanthropic initiatives, said senior Jessica Schul, RHA president.Paulk developed the idea because she wanted to find a simple, realistic way to engage students in community service.The program is “a concept that is so simple that will help so many people,” Paulk said. “People in the residence halls have a direct opportunity to start working in the community in Bloomington and start getting some community service in and leadership skills.”Organizers said they hope the program results in a better town-gown connection.“We are really progressive in our connections with the Bloomington community,” Paulk said. “One of the reasons I chose IU was because there was a big connection between the college and Bloomington, but it can always be strengthened, and that is what we are trying to do and what we are striving for.”RPS supports the program and plans on implementing it into the resident assistant and graduate training, Paulk said.Weith said the program will have a positive impact on all those involved.“Giving makes all of us feel ... more connected,” Weith said. “We are giving to people we know – people we do not need to identify.”
(04/08/09 4:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A plaque in honor of philanthropist William Fry will be hung in the Kelley School of Business so that all students have the opportunity to read about Fry’s “story of success and charitable giving,” said Daniel Smith, dean of the Kelley School of Business.Fry, a man described by others as a friend of the business school, died Sunday at age 72 from multiple myeloma, a form of bone cancer. He had been treated for this disease for years, Smith said.Recently, Fry donated $15 million to the business school. The money will go to talented students of underrepresented populations who might otherwise not be able to attend IU.Each year, six to 10 students will be selected to become “William Fry Scholars” and receive a four-year scholarship that will pay for the students’ tuition and room and board.Fry had said his vision was to make the business school into an inclusive “world-class institution” filled with students of all different backgrounds, said M.A. Venkatramanan, chair of the Kelley School of Business’ undergraduate program.Smith said Fry had given a substantial amount of money to causes affecting underprivileged children.However, no matter to what cause Fry was contributing, he never sought recognition.“He did not want a lot of publicity surrounding his charitable giving,” Smith said.Many faculty members of the business school have met Fry and have fond memories of the time they spent with him.Smith said the first time he and Fry had dinner, Fry spent a considerable time looking at the menu searching for the least expensive options available.“It was quite endearing of him,” Smith said. “I believe he was not wasteful and never lost sight of his humble roots in a small town from Indiana. He never forgot where he came from.”Richard Dupree, assistant dean of development and alumni relations for the Kelley School of Business, said in one of the occasions he spoke with Fry, Fry bombarded him with questions about every aspect of the business school. Fry loved learning and was inquisitive, Dupree said.“I can recall being exhausted after the questioning,” Dupree said.Dupree said he realized after meeting Fry just how humble Fry was.“He was the most unaffected person of wealth,” Dupree said, “one of the most unassuming, warm donors I have met in a long, long time.”Not only will Fry’s donation positively impact Kelley, but the legacy he left will continue to inspire others.“He has inspired us to dream big and give back to others,” Smith said.