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(01/13/14 4:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Two of IU’s online degrees are the best American universities have to offer, according to the U.S. News and World Report.The
Kelley School of Business “Kelley Direct” program was ranked the best
online graduate business program, and the School of Education was ranked
second-best online graduate education program, according to the report
published this month. Both degrees maintain their ranks among
more than 200 other degree programs on their respective lists and were
selected based on student engagement, technological availability and
faculty participation and aid. “Kelley Direct has long been the
model other schools look to when developing their online graduate
programs, and it continues to evolve to meet today’s needs in the
business world,” Idalene Kesner, dean of the Kelley School, said in a
press release. To satisfy the demand for online degrees, the
Kelley Direct program offers a variety of opportunities to students both
on campus and online. “We add features that emulate
in-residence experiences, such as collaborative and personalized
learning projects for real-world organizations, leadership and career
training, and global leadership courses that include international
trips,” Kesner said in the release.Kelley established its online
programs in 2000, and Ash Soni, Kelley’s executive associate dean for
academic programs, said the past 14 years have been a lesson in web-wide
success.What began as a degree belonging to just a few
corporations grew only through word of mouth and later advertisements in
business journals, he said. Now, after more than a decade of
technological advances, it’s a global product.“What we’re delivering right now is a very top-rate program,” Soni said. Consistency between on-campus and online classrooms is maintained by keeping instructors involved in both.“We use the same faculty that teach in our residential and part-time programs,” Kesner said.Director
of the Office of Online Education Judith Halstead said IU’s strong
start in online education should continue into a long streak of success.“Our online programs are growing in numbers,” she said. She
said IU’s reputation for quality programs, expert faculty and access to
technology is what helped the business and education programs make the
top grade.“The quality exists across the board,” she said. Online enrollment is on a steep incline.In
fall 2013, 26,649 students were enrolled in online classes at IU.
Halstead said this was an 18 percent increase from fall 2012. While statistics from this semester’s enrollment are not yet available, Halstead said she expects the trend to continue.Gerardo
Gonzalez, dean of the School of Education, said the school offers a
variety of degrees, certificates and even a doctorate online, the first
online doctorate at IU. “It’s a rigorous program with high admission standards,” Gonzalez said.Like
Kelly Direct, the School of Education’s online program also began in
2000 and now has more than 90 full and part-time faculty members
affiliated with it, according to the U.S. News and World Report. “Technology is changing everything we do,” Gonzalez said. “It’s a different experience.”Despite
the different experience, Gonzalez said he believes the online school
is the same quality as the traditional education system offered on
campus. These standards, coupled with the convenience of online
education, will ensure growth for the program in coming years, he said. He
said he hopes the online degree will reach students who, for financial
or geographic reasons, cannot come to study on IU’s campus. “We
try to get the word out about the program,” Gonzalez said. “These are
allowing us to reach markets we have not reached before.”Follow reporter Amanda Marino on Twitter @amandanmarino.
(01/10/14 5:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>BY AMANDA MARINOammarino@indiana.eduFive IU faculty members just received the promotion of a lifetime.Last month they were each ranked distinguished professor, the highest academic appointment IU can award.This year’s recipients include Professor Olaf Sporns of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Professor Krishnan Raghavachari and Professor David Clemmer of the chemistry department, Professor Roger Temam of the mathematics department and Professor John Bodnar of the history department. According to a press release, the ranking of distinguished professors was created in 1967 by the IU Board of Trustees who, in collaboration with the president, choose candidates and present the title annually. Nominations can be made by students, faculty and alumni. According to the Office of University Ceremonies, the appointees reflect recognition of works pioneering or transforming their field. After being reviewed by the University Distinguished Ranks Committee, applications are sent to the president, who then forwards the names of the candidates to the trustees to finish the process. Along with this award, all five professors have received a variety of other high honors. “To earn the rank of distinguished professor at Indiana University, one must not only reflect an outstanding record of sustained, high-quality contributions to the areas of research, instruction and service, but to have also demonstrated the lasting and transformative impact of their work,” IU President Michael McRobbie said in the release. “These five faculty members have exceeded those expectations, reflecting upon the university and their fields the highest standards of academic leadership and integrity. They are to be commended, not only by all of us here at Indiana University but by their peers around the world.”Professor Raghavachari said the key to success as an instructor is student engagement, even when in a large lecture hall setting. In his larger classes, Raghavachari said that he asks the students multiple choice questions that they can answer electronically with clickers, creating a more interactive environment and telling him what he needs to explain further. Along with working with many undergraduate chemistry classes, Raghavachari said he spends a lot of time in the lab working with grad students on their specific projects and research. “I take it with the satisfaction that I worked really hard to get them interested in chemistry,” Raghavachari said. Professor Sporns said he spends a lot of time working with undergraduate students, trying to get them to look at the brain in a new and different way. Sporns, who will be teaching two courses this semester, said he doesn’t simply lecture students. He said he prefers to assign projects that allow the students to work in groups because it allows for more discussion and peer enrichment that can sometimes lead to even further research. “Many students get published with us and go on to grad school,” Sporns said. Sporns also said his work is enriched by his students because of the questions that they ask and the opinions that they bring forward. “Students definitely keep me on my toes,” Sporns said. Follow reporter Amanda Marino on Twitter @amandanmarino.
(12/11/13 3:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In lieu of a new digital age of media distribution, governments on a national and global level have been searching for the answers on how to address copyright laws and digital media availability. Kelley School of Business Professor of Business Law and Ethics Anjanette Raymond led a discussion at the Poynter Center Tuesday, during which the group addressed piracy in a digital age, personal privacy online and what actions could be taken in order to address these issues in the coming years. Poynter Center employee Emma Young said one of the main questions was how society defines ownership on a digital level. “It seems like part of the question is, what is the model of ownership that we are using for files?,” Young said. “A lot of ownership is actually the right to market something.” There is currently a gray area over whether ownership in the digital world is the same as in the physical world. In the physical world, the person who creates something gets paid for their product, but then the person who purchases it owns and can manipulate the product, Young said. Sophomore Ellie Bennett and other students in attendance said though most people are willing to purchase the media they are using, it is simply faster and easier to find something on the Internet than it is to find somewhere to purchase it.Bennett said it is more about the convenience of the technology than it is about the illegality of the act. Companies aren’t actually losing money to the Millenial Generation, Raymond said, because they are willing to pay full price for things. Along with the piracy debate, the group also questioned whether or not the privacy of Internet users would be infringed upon because of the need to monitor illegal activity. “As more and more people infringe on the piracy debate ... we are forcing providers to begin to monitor us at a higher level,” Raymond said. Sophomore Caley Mintz questioned how much privacy people have on the Internet, or if they actually waive their rights to privacy by using Internet services. Young questioned whether it is fair to surrender all privacy to use certain products. In efforts to shut down piracy websites, such as Megaupload.com, which was shut down on Jan. 19, 2012, governments ran into the issue of new websites replacing the old ones as they were taken down. There is no way for people to keep up with the new websites as they are created because they are so difficult to trace, Raymond said. “Where is this?” Raymond said. “It’s nowhere, it’s everywhere. It’s the cloud.”The original producer has a profit motive, sophomore Daniel Eads said. “Without the profit motive there, those services could go away,” he said. Video game companies have considered requiring games be installed to their consoles in order to play them instead of allowing them to be played online and potentially shared, ensuring that the games could not be shared, but the unpopularity of the idea kept it from being a part of latest editions such as the Xbox One. Companies have also threatened to release the names of those caught illegally downloading and sharing information. The group discussed how the next generation of employers would also come from a world where very few things are private. Therefore, they may very well be more lenient in that kind of a situation in the future.“There are bigger problems in our society today than illegally downloading things,” Mintz said. Students said with all the other issues that the government is forced to deal with, there is little time left to spend on things like illegal downloads.“We need to police the Internet ourselves,” Raymond said. He said individuals can do their part to prevent further government involvement online. “We need to get into the digital age,” Raymond said. “I’m with you.” Follow reporter Amanda Marino on Twitter @amandanmarino.
(12/10/13 3:09am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As final exams draw closer, organizations across campus will be offering ways for students to relieve stress throughout dead week. Residence halls and the resident assistants from individual floors are looking forward to planning events with their residents and are open to suggestions. Matthew Ruehling, a junior and resident assistant in Read Center, said his residents will be able to attend events such as pancake dinners and massage therapy sessions.“On my floor, we’re having an ice cream social on Saturday,” Ruehling said. “Another floor is doing Baked! cookies on Thursday.” Laura Housel, the office service assistant of Collins LLC, said Collins will also have a pancake dinner and a stress management clinic from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday. A representative from Counseling and Psychological Services will talk to students about managing stress during finals. Along with residence halls, other organizations will be hosting events to ease some of the studying stress bogging down students in the coming week. Program Services Assistant of Extracurricular Programming at Hutton Honors College Anna Duquaine said there will be finger painting for students in the Hutton Great Room from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.The Latino Cultural Center scheduled events from Monday until Thursday this week between 7 and 8 p.m., offering food and activities to students. “All week we have dinners, and during the dinners we do different kinds of things,” Director of La Casa Lillian Casillas said. “We make sure they get fed well.”While eating, students can play games and learn how to manage stress. On Tuesday, students can take part in a Zumba class, and Wednesday they can take a break in a free massage chair. For a more physical way to blow off steam, Chris Arvin, director of Fitness and Wellness, said the Student Recreational Sports Center will offer additional free sessions and classes for students to take a study break. “Tuesday at 4:45 and Wednesday at 6:00, we do have two special free yoga sessions for students with their IDs,” Arvin said. “Students always love yoga. It’s a great way to work through the stress of finals week.”When it comes time to study, a variety of locations, including Herman B Wells Library and the Indiana Memorial Union will be putting out study tables and opening up rooms where students can have quiet study breaks without the stresses of loud residence halls. IMU Marketing Manager Damen Morris said study rooms and conference rooms will be open for students throughout the IMU, mainly on the second floor. Schedules will be released for each room for each day, and space will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. University Information Technology Services developed an application that allows students to find empty seats in computer labs across campus, Chief Software Architect Brian McGough said. The application can be accessed over the web and on mobile phones with IU Mobile. It includes a map detailing the locations of available seats in real time. “What we intend to do is give you an indication of which rooms have seats available,” McGough said. Wells Library will have extended hours in the East Tower of the building, stretching the hours of operation from midnight to 2:00 a.m., said Diane Dallis , associate dean for Library Academic Services. The rest of the library will be open 24 hours a day. “Things get so intense around here,” Dallis said. Follow reporter Amanda Marino on Twitter @amandanmarino.
(12/04/13 3:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Handmade bags, colorful headbands and glass ornaments were displayed throughout State Room East in the Indiana Memorial Union Tuesday. Students and Bloomington residents browsed tables, admiring the artisan-produced goods and shopping for holiday gifts. The IU branch of Enactus, an international network of student entrepreneurs and business leaders, organized the ninth annual Fair Trade Bloomington sale and will continue the sale today from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Bloomington was incorporated into the fair trade community in 2007, and the event has become the largest fair trade sale in the city, according to a press release. Because of its efforts to promote fair trade principles, Bloomington was the 33rd city to be named a Fair Trade Town and the first in Indiana. Fair Trade Bloomington assures consumers that producers are paid fairly for their products and the labor that goes into creating them. Producers who have their work sold through Fair Trade are required to meet high standards that ensure environmental protection and economic sustainability and that create opportunities for education and poverty alleviation, according to a release.A variety of handmade artisan goods such as jewelry, textiles, ornaments and chocolates were available for purchase at the Fair Trade sale. Products featured at this event came from countries such as Guatemala, India and Ecuador, said Eric Hasty, co-vice president of chapter sustainability of Enactus IUB.While most of the goods featured were from around the world, the Stone Belt, an organization that works to support people with developmental disabilities, also has work displayed for sale that benefits more local individuals. “There are ways to promote providing a living wage for producers that are otherwise marginalized,” Hasty said. Senior Maranda Leigh, vice president of Enactus IUB, said Enactus works with Global Gifts, a fair trade store located in Bloomington. “We reach the students that don’t see Global Gifts,” Leigh said. Efforts to reach out to students are also part of Enactus IUB’s bigger goal. Enactus IUB is currently working to have IU declared a Fair Trade University, much like Bloomington is now a Fair Trade community.The products featured at the event come from Global Gifts, which networks around the globe and reaches artisans and craftsmen who might otherwise be cheated out of the money they earn from their labors. Cheap goods, such as those sold in major retail stores, are less expensive because the workers are either paid less or kept in worse conditions, Leigh said. What people spend their money on, she said, says a lot about the world.“You are paying for a change in the world,” Leigh said. Follow reporter Amanda Marino on Twitter @amandanmarino.
(12/03/13 4:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On her second day in South Korea, Provost Lauren Robel presented two newly created alumni awards to distinguished IU graduates in the East Asian nation. Jun Kwang-woo and Heejin Cho became the first two recipients of the awards, which were presented Sunday at the IU Korean Alumni Association’s winter dinner in Seoul, South Korea.Robel and her group traveled to Seoul on Saturday to strengthen partnerships with local universities and connect with IU’s Korean alumni base.She spent her first day at Sungkyunkwan University visiting with the South Korean Vice Minister of Education Na Seung-il.They discussed plans to lay the groundwork for programs in law, business and global economics. “A major focus on our return will be getting the word out to students about these opportunities,” said Elisabeth Andrews, communication specialist for the Office of the Provost.She presented both of the distinguished alumni awards at the dinner Sunday, which was attended by more than 250 IU alumni and their families. “I have never seen a more enthusiastic group of alumni,” Andrews said. “This group really is a model for how IU alumni can create supportive, effective networks.”The IU Korean Alumni chapter has more than 1,000 active members and was once led by Kwang-woo, Andrews said in her blog post about the trip. Kwang-woo received the first Distinguished International Alumni Award and Cho received the J. William Hicks Award for Distinguished International Alumni, according to a press release. Kwang-woo received his Ph.D. in economics and his masters of business administration from IU in 1981. He has since served as a finance professor, chief economist and director of international finance with the World Bank and special adviser to the deputy prime minister for finance and economy.Cho is the highest-ranked female prosecutor in South Korea and began her career at a time when female prosecutors were uncommon in South Korea. She received her postgraduate law degree from IU in 2000 and is currently the research commissioner of the Legal Research and Training Institute. As a featured speaker, Robel discussed many of the innovations that will effect academic departments at IU, such as the creation of the new Media School and the School of Global and International Studies. Along with the presentation of the awards, the dinner also featured performances by Jacobs School of Music alumni and a toast presented by School of Public and Environmental Affairs graduate Kim Dong-wan.“This is an opportunity for us to really show our appreciation for people who do tremendous things for IU,” said Mark Land, associate vice president of Public Affairs and Government Relations. Next, the provost will visit the Seoul Arts Center and Korean National University of the Arts.On Wednesday, the group plans to meet with Seoul National University to renew an agreement on behalf of SPEA. “We’ll be bringing a lot of ideas back for the alumni association and the campus,” Andrews said. Follow reporter Amanda Marino on Twitter @amandanmarino.
(11/21/13 4:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In response to the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan on Nov. 8, Bloomington’s Filipino community is urging people to give help and give it now. IU’s Asian Culture Center organized a panel of speakers for a forum and fundraiser Wednesday. Speakers representing organizations across campus encouraged students to consider many perspectives when looking at catastrophic events such as Super Typhoon Haiyan. A bayanihan in Filipino culture is a tradition of moving houses from dangerous locations to safety, said Cindy Berin, a member of the Bloomington Filipino community.“I am speaking on behalf of my family,” Berin said. “We are very, very lucky to hear from all of them.” Professor Michael Hamburger of the IU Department of Geological Sciences said the Philippines were vulnerable because of its geographic location. The string of more than 7,000 islands were barraged by the storm for more than 15 hours. Inland, much of the damage was caused by high winds, rain and flooding.“What is really needed now is immediate help from food, water and medical care,” Hamburger said. Professor Nick Cullather of the Department of History told stories of his time spent as a student in Leyte, a province in the Phillipines and the site of one of the largest naval battles in World War II, he said. Buildings that managed to survive the war were destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan. Stephanie DeBoer, a professor the Department of Communication and Culture said social media is being used as a tool to call humanity to act, and technology helps people get involved.“This is a tragedy as much as it is a TV spectacle,” DeBoer said.Professor Leslie Lenkowsky of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, discussed the most efficient and helpful ways to provide aid during a disaster.“It is not enough just to give, we must also give well,” Lenkowsky said. “What people give matters at least as much as how much.” Purdue professor Daniel Aldrich shared his experience as a survivor of Hurricane Katrina. Aldrich found that even when everything was destroyed, strong localized networks were the key to helping a community recover from the tragedy. Despite widespread media coverage, many people don’t know just how bad the situation is, said Patrick Santos, president of the Filipino Student Association.“Sometimes they don’t get as in-depth as they should,” Santos said. The Asian Culture Center planned the fundraiser, called “Bayanihan for Hayian,” with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dhar India Studies Program, SPEA, the Department of Geological Sciences and the Kelley School of Business, according to a press release. Following its Sunday night benefit concert, the Asian Culture Center raised more than $5,000 in jars set out at the event alone. James Wimbush, vice president for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs, said people realize who their friends are when they are in need.“Our students, faculty and friends are still wondering about their families back home,” he said. “We care.” Follow reporter Amanda Marino on Twiter @amandanmarino.
(11/18/13 3:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>People drove pedicabs through Bloomington and across the IU campus Friday, collecting plastic recyclables and promoting environmental awareness in celebration of America Recycles Day. The pedicabs, tricycles with cabs that served as human-powered mobile recycling bins, were part of the American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Make it Possible Campaign.“Plastics Make it Possible is a campaign that educates consumers about how plastics are sustainable,” said Jennifer Killinger, senior director of sustainability and public outreach for the American Chemistry Council.The campaign launched a total of 30 mobile recycling bins in six cities across the United States to raise awareness of America Recycles Day.“Access to recycling has expanded, and consumers can now recycle more types of plastic,” Killinger said. “Our goal is to increase awareness.” Killinger said there are two streams of plastic recycling. The first is the stream that most local programs accept. It includes rigid plastic containers like beverage bottles and shampoo containers.The other stream is for flexible plastics like wrappings for bulk snacks and napkins, as well as plastic bags from the grocery store.These flexible plastics belong in a separate recycling stream that is usually collected at grocery stores.Killinger said Bloomington was chosen to receive the pedicab promotion for two reasons.“We chose Bloomington not only for its great recycling program but also because of the college campus,” Killinger said. “It’s a fun way for students to interact.” Freshman Jay Rodgers said he knows it is important to recycle and reuse resources instead of just wasting them.“If I see a bin, I’ll use it,” Rodgers said.Laura Walter, administrative assistant at the Kelley School of Business, said it is important to be aware of the effect people can have on their environment.“At the Kelley School, our recycling bins are larger than our trash bins,” Walter said.Bloomington and Monroe County continue to increase resources to make recycling easier for residents.Elisa Pokral, media and education director for the Monroe County Indiana Solid Waste Management District, said the district has expanded its services since January. The district now offers free electronics recycling at all centers and has extended operation of its rural recycling centers to five days a week, Pokral said. “Monroe County is lucky to have the district,” Pokral said. “Many communities don’t have resources to offer these programs.”The district also offers safe recycling of hazardous materials at its South Walnut facility. “Hazardous materials like pharmaceuticals, paints and batteries shouldn’t be thrown in the trash because they can cause problems at landfills by seeping into the soil, water and air,” Pokral said.The district also collects items at its reuse center for non-profit organizations. The girl scouts, 4-H clubs and other community groups can get materials they can use for science projects and crafts at the reuse center, Pokral said“It’s up to the public to take advantage of the services available in Monroe County,” Pokral said. “It all starts with individuals who can teach their neighbors and lead by example.”
(11/13/13 4:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After almost two months of service, the Restaurant at Woodlands in the Forest Quad is still not fully operational. Chris Frank, the marketing manager of dining services for Residential Programs and Services, said business is going well, though everything is not perfect just yet.Of the nine restaurants available at Woodlands, only eight of the restaurants are open. The ninth, the Stone Grill, was closed after only half of a day because the ventilation system for the grill was not sufficient, Frank said. Employees are currently at work trying to get the Stone Grill up and running, but Frank said there is currently no set time frame. “We want that place to be open,” Frank said. “The biggest thing is that the customers, the students, are happy.”On Facebook and Twitter, students made positive comments about the Woodlands, saying they enjoy the food and the atmosphere. Freshman Jeff Israel said he took note of the new standard for RPS set by the Woodlands. “I am really excited for when it opens 100 percent,” Israel said. “The food is really high quality.”The food isn’t the only standard that RPS dining changed with the new dining hall. The atmosphere of the seating areas, especially the one in the Round, has received praise, Frank said.He said he was surprised at how long people were willing to wait in line, even though the restaurant is still not operating at full capacity. “It’s slower than we like,” Frank said.Despite this, changes have been made continually to the menu, hours and systems organized within the Woodlands to improve this situation. Even with the Stone Grill setback, both employees like Jo Ellen Gionet and patrons are happy with the Woodlands. “It is really fun to work at a new building,” Gionet said, “We can handle it better now.” Gionet is a cashier at the Woodlands, but said she also loves to eat there. As a local Bloomington resident, she also said she loves being able to work with students because they add life to the town. After all the congestion the Woodlands experienced when it first opened, Gionet said the stress and lines were alleviated by extending the hours of operation and adding employees. Changes such as this have helped RPS employees to continue to improve efficiency and service at Woodlands. Though the Woodlands have been open for a while, a grand opening ceremony is still in the works, Frank said. They plan to have the event when everything is fully open. As students wait for this grand opening, which Frank said should take place next semester, they can still be on the lookout for new additions to the menu. New flatbreads at the Round, smoothies and juices at Blooming Berry, and steak at A Cut Above have all been offered to the public recently. Frank said they do not publicize new menu items, but people can find them simply by looking around at what is being offered. People who frequent Woodlands tend to notice the additions first, he said. “It’s been great seeing how [the Woodlands] has been received so well,” Frank said.Follow reporter Amanda Marino on Twitter @amandanmarino.
(10/03/13 4:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When IU professor Jon Racek sees a playground, he sees the potential for growing and learning. Now, he is asking the community to help.Racek is the founder and executive director of Play360, a non-profit that trains organizations to build playgrounds and other learning resources in developing countries.The group will be raising awareness at the Taste of East Africa event, organized by Kilimanjaro Education Outreach, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Harmony School, 909 E. 2nd St. Proceeds will benefit educational projects throughout the world.Each group trained by Play360 is asked to build three schools in its area, benefiting about 600 children per group. Racek founded Play360 in 2008 after meeting a playground builder while living in Thailand. After working for a while at the border of Thailand and Burma, Racek returned to the United States and furthered his work. “We have an active board and a lot of volunteers,” Racek said. By building playgrounds in places like Guatemala, Tanzania and the Philippines, Racek said they are trying to fill the gap between teachers and students. Putting things in the kids’ hands, he said, allows them to improve the quality of student interaction. About two years ago, Play360 erected a playground in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Because of limited space, however, the group ended up constructing the playground on the roof of the school. Along with a variety of volunteers, Alwiya Omar, an IU clinical professor of linguistics who teaches Swahili, has helped to expand Play360. Omar found out about Play360 when Racek attended the Kilimanjaro Education Outreach program and spoke on behalf of Play360. She said she was able to collaborate with Racek and help him find connections in places like Zanzibar where more elementary schools have since received the playgrounds that Play360 is known for. “It’s amazing involving teachers and parents in the process,” Omar said. “I never thought about that.” Omar said one of several ways that people can help Play360 expand further is by donating not just time or money, but resources like tires. Later in the spring, Racek said Play360 is planning a Swing-A-Thon where people will be sponsored to swing on a playground swing. This money will benefit Play360’s next projected trips.The group is currently discussing traveling to China, Nepal and Guatemala this summer. Both Racek and Omar want students to know there is a variety of ways to get involved. Students can act as ambassadors, encouraging people to donate both money and goods to the project, and volunteers, actually traveling and working with Play360. “There are just so many things going on,” Racek said. “I draw a lot of resources across campus.”Though Omar has not personally gone out and volunteered with the construction, she said she was very pleased by what she has seen of Racek’s work so far. “I want to go and see the work,” Omar said. “It moved me, the sight of happy students and teachers.” Follow reporter Amanda Marino on Twitter @amandanmarino.
(09/16/13 2:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A ladder still leans against the side of The Round, one of the many new eateries inside the Restaurants at Woodland in Forest Quad. The dining hall, part of a larger renovation project in Forest Quad, was scheduled to open in late August, but now won’t open to the entire campus until a later, undetermined date, said Chris Frank, marketing manager of dining services for Residential Programs and Services.“We didn’t get to do it when we were hoping,” Frank said. A soft opening last Wednesday for Forest residents only gave some students a taste of the new establishment, but the event was exclusive to Forest residents only. Frank said the process was delayed because the building did not meet overall standards set by IU for such facilities.The building codes set by IU are actually stricter than those of Monroe County, Frank said. This discrepancy slows progress because more tasks had to be completed before the employees of the restaurants were allowed to begin working. These codes are monitored by the IU Environmental Health and Safety Department, which is tasked with ensuring campus facilities are up to code. Once these standards were met, the employees of the Restaurants at Woodland were allowed inside to start working with their new equipment and learning the specifics of the technology available for them in a process that was set to take about one to two months. This process is running behind by two and a half months, Frank said.“We thought we’d have control of the building by mid to late June,” Frank said. Despite this delay, the soft opening, a surprise to both students and staff, has been successful, Frank said. Janet Morgan, an employee at the Restaurants at Woodland, said workers only knew about the opening date a week in advance, and it was tentative up until the night before. “We don’t want to put students in danger with food,” Morgan said, in reference to why so many precautions were taken. Nothing relating to health or food safety was an issue during the process, Frank said. The food preparations at the Restaurants at Woodland are actually of a caliber far higher than most food services on the IU campus, Frank said. “Part of the excitement has to do with that it’s new,” Frank said. “Part of it, too, is that the variety of Woodland is broader and different from other things on campus.”Along with a well-trained culinary staff, chefs inside of the Restaurants at Woodland worked with the Culinary Institute of America to learn how to prepare local and international cuisines for nine different restaurants.Frank said this gives Woodland a different quality of food with a lot more culinary attention. He said the dining hall’s main attraction is its made-to-order steak and fish grill called A Cut Above. This kind of restaurant is not found anywhere else on campus. The Restaurants at Woodland are replacing both the Hoosier Café and Landes Dining Room at Read Center.Freshman Elliot Mark hadn’t even realized the restaurant was open when he walked in.“The fact that you can use meal points is such a plus,” Mark said. He wasn’t the only one surprised by the news of the soft opening. Freshman Simon Willard was shocked to find the Restaurants at Woodland had opened, thinking that things were continually being delayed. “It’s gorgeous,” freshman Robert Brown said. “I love it.” While there is still currently no set date for a grand opening, Frank advises people to keep an eye on the RPS Facebook page for information about such activities in the future. It is possible that the restaurants will be open to the public before a grand opening ceremony occurs to familiarize the staff with the new facility and prepare them for the influx of students. “We want to have a special event later on in the fall,” Frank said.Follow reporter Amanda Marino on Twitter @amandanmarino