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(10/14/11 2:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For the past several weeks, a man in Mario costume has stood outside Ballantine Hall and on Kirkwood, blasting the Super Mario theme song and dancing around with a can.The man in the costume is Logan Good, a fifth-year senior in his final semester at IU and a brother in Phi Kappa Sigma. He’s raising money for Big Man on Campus.“I’ve been out there from 9 to 5, dancing and collecting donations,” Good said. Good said he joined BMOC to make his final semester special but also because of personal connections to the cause. At 7 p.m. Friday at the IU Auditorium, one man will be crowned with this title, and he’ll carry it with him for the rest of the year. “It’s basically an all-male talent show with over 20 guys just from different campus organizations, I think mostly frats,” said Allison Schwartz, junior and co-philanthropy chair for Zeta Tau Alpha, the sorority that sponsors Big Man on Campus. It’s philanthropy to raise money to help battle breast cancer. The sorority collects money throughout the year at different philanthropy events, such as GlowFest in the spring. That money goes into the total announced at the end of BMOC. The winner of the competition is also announced.“The BMOC boys are judged on their talent and how much money they have raised for breast cancer research and awareness,” said Vanessa Cordova, senior and co-philanthropy chair as Zeta Tau Alpha, via email. Most of the fraternities on campus have chosen to be involved with this event.“Each frat picks one representative from their house that will perform the day of the show,” Schwartz said. These performances typically consist of singing or dancing, but tonight, Good’s Mario Party performance will break from the norm. His interest in the cause comes from his family. “I’m actually named after a family member who passed away from breast cancer,” he said. He’s named for Lois, his grandmother on his father’s side, he said. His grandfather, Sheldon Good, is visiting Bloomington for the event. Good’s mother was also affected by breast cancer. She was diagnosed at age 15. “My grandfather’s coming down from Chicago,” Good said. “My mother’s coming down from Chicago, so that’ll be really cool.”As a third connection to the cause, a graduated brother from Good’s fraternity is in the later stages of cancer, and Good is bringing that with him as inspiration.“I found out after the fact,” Good said. “But it’s still in the back of my mind.”Cordova has also been affected by the cause. “My aunt is an eight-year breast cancer survivor and has been my inspiration and motivation to work toward this cause,” Cordova said. In order to raise money, participants are selling tickets for $13, T-shirts for $10 or both for $20.This year, the ZTA girls hope to surpass $200,000. “I’m super excited for the total to be read at the end,” Schwartz said. “I think this year, we got it down.”
(10/10/11 1:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sororities and fraternities are known for philanthropy events, but they rarely do them together. On Saturday, six greek organizations came together at Willkie Auditorium to perform in a step show benefitting St. Jude Children’s Hospital.“I think the fact that different greek councils collaborated to put on such a fun and entertaining event that benefited such a good cause was the coolest part,” sophomore Theta Phi Alpha member Ali Farr said.This idea of coming together inspired the fraternities to create the show.“We wanted to do somewhat of a cultural event that incorporates everyone,” said Keaton Gachaw, junior and Kappa Alpha Psi member, one of the fraternities that led the collaboration.The groups that participated in the step show were fraternities Kappa Alpha Psi and Lambda Upsilon Lambda and sororities Alpha Chi Omega, Kappa Delta, Sigma Lambda Gamma and Theta Nu Xi.“The overall theme of the show is to assimilate the hard times of kids at St. Jude’s,” Gachaw said.He said the chapters would incorporate the struggles and emotions of kids at St. Jude’s into the routines through the dance steps.Each chapter had its own routine of about 10 minutes. The show as a whole ran for just less than an hour.The fraternities were already familiar with stepping, so their members were in charge of teaching the sororities how to do their steps.“They just contacted us about it and asked us if we wanted to be a part of it,” Erica Pride, a Theta Nu Xi member, said.“We came up with the idea, and we’re just teaching them the steps,” Gachaw said.Pride said she had never done stepping before this event. While some of the sisters in her and other sororities picked it up right away, others took extra time to catch on.“I’m one of the ones he has to go over it with a few times,” Pride said. “But I love it.”Gachaw said teaching the other sororities was interesting, and that a good amount of patience was key.“People learn at different speeds,” he said.Gachaw said the group practiced for about a month prior to the show.“It takes practice,” he said.Before the event, some of the girls who were new to step were nervous.“I don’t know how many people are going to be there,” Pride said. “I hope it turns out well.”All of the groups received claps and cheers for their efforts.There were all also several “guest performances,” where smaller groups of fraternities performed special routines to even greater applause.The sound of the stepping echoed off the walls in the auditorium to a backdrop of blaring rap music.Farr said she heard about the event through her sorority and decided to attend with a number of her sisters.“I loved just seeing all of the stepping in general,” she said. “I’ve never seen it done before, so it was really cool to watch, and everyone did so great.”The event was free, but donations were accepted. Farr said she donated, and saw many others doing the same. Altogether, the group raised $524 for St. Jude’s.“Anything helps,” Pride said.Although the event was meant to help children, Gachaw said one of the best parts was having the opportunity to work with other houses.“It’s a good experience getting to know other organizations,” he said.
(10/06/11 3:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Dale McNees, head cook for the fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha, drives a Mustang to work. “He drives a Shelby GT 300,” said Eric Stoner, sophomore and house manager for Lambda Chi. “White, with blue stripes.”It’s the first thing house members mention about Stoner. After this comes talk not of their cook’s food, but of his personality.“He’s pretty down to earth,” sophomore Lamda Chi member Ryan Thie said. “Pretty friendly.”Stoner said McNees is part of the community of their house.“He’s a fun guy who always tries to remember everyone’s name and ask how they’re doing every day,” Stoner said.Luke Beasley, executive chef for the sorority Alpha Delta Pi, is not known for driving a Mustang to work, but his choice — or rather, lack of — hairstyle. “We all know him,” sophomore Ilana Heisler said about their cook. “We nicknamed him ‘Bald Luke’.”At many greek houses on campus, live-in members know who their chefs are. Beyond that, many of them know the chefs personally.“I’m kind of their dad away from home, eight months a year,” McNees said. He started working at Lambda Chi this year but previously spent 16 years working at the sorority Alpha Chi Omega on campus. Throughout the years he said he’s helped students with car troubles and personal issues, not just with making sure they’re fed.“You do whatever you can,” he said. “You don’t want to leave anyone stranded.” It’s also Beasley’s first year cooking for his greek house ADPi.“It’s the easiest job I’ve ever had,” he said. “I’ve cooked for 1,200 people before. Things are really slow. You’re only cooking for 110 girls.” McNees has an even lighter load. However, he’s feeding boys. “We’ve got 60 live-ins,” he said, “so I feed 95 people.”He said for meals such as hamburgers he always plans on twice as much as he normally would. “Basically, the meat is going to be double than a sorority,” he said.So to make hamburgers for 60 boys, that’s about 20 pounds of hamburger meat for one meal. Heisler said Beasley goes out of his way to make meals the girls in her sorority want.“Yesterday he made us chicken noodle soup, because a few of us didn’t feel well,” she said. The girls simply write what they’d like to eat on a white board in their kitchen, and then Beasley sees what he can do to make that dish happen.McNees said his favorite part of his job is seeing them enjoy the food.“To see the food disappear,” McNees said. “There’s nothing worse than making a meal and no one showing up.” Beasley pointed out another perk. “When you guys are in school, I don’t have to work, and I still get paid,” Beasley said with a grin. McNees noted this as well.“Where else can you get a gift like that?” he said. He said when his kids were growing up, one of the nicest things about his job was getting breaks and summer vacations off. Regardless of perks, the greek students are appreciative of the food, which they say is fantastic.“We never have the same meal twice,” Stoner said. Heisler said she likes her chef’s food.“What I like most is once a month we have Thanksgiving dinner,” Heisler said. “It’s delicious.”McNees said he pulls recipes from everywhere, including from his mother’s cookbook. He said he has enjoyed his time at Lambda Chi so far and plans to stay. “It’s been a nice, fresh start,” he said. With a look at McNees, Stoner said, “Dale is the favorite part of my morning.” McNees also said he loves his job and it’s not difficult. “Cooking’s not hard, as long as you care,” he said.
(10/05/11 3:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Dance Marathon will experience several changes this year. For the first time, dancers will be allowed to dance for 19 hours rather than the previously required 36 hours.Second, due to the fire at IUDM’s usual location at the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, IUDM will be at the IU Tennis Center. “I think it’s a great opportunity to get more students involved,” said Kristen Munoz, senior and executive director of public relations for IUDM. Megan Marshall, senior and vice president of internal affairs for IUDM, agreed.“Our goal is to recruit probably 400 new dancers,” Marshall said. On average, IUDM draws about 1,500 participants each year, Marshall said.This year’s theme is “traditions” to mark the 21st anniversary of IUDM. The two leaders insist this year is still in line with the theme despite the changes. “The purpose behind it is to stand for those who can’t,” Marshall said. And that has not changed, she said.The 50 students who raise the most money from each of eight groups will still have the option to dance for 36 hours. This is to avoid having everyone dance for that amount of time. “Most people came out saying it was worth it at the end, after a few days’ rest,” Munoz said. Marshall and Munoz also said they hope the changes will draw repeat dancers from year to year.“Traditional dancing has become kind of a one-year experience,” Marshall said. “There’s no reason someone shouldn’t want to dance for four years now.” Munoz agreed, saying students now can’t use the time commitment as an excuse not to participate. “Now, why not join us?” she said.
(10/03/11 2:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a two year hiatus, the fraternity Alpha Tau Omega is coming back to campus, and its members are reclaiming their old house on Third Street from the fraternity Delta Chi.In 2010, ATO lost its housing charter and was ushered off campus amidst rumors of hazing, drug use and alcohol violations. Eighty-five percent of the members were kicked out, leaving only 26 students in the fraternity. “They just had too many infractions stacked up against them over a small amount of time,” said Josh Vollmer, vice president of communications for the Interfraternity Council.At that point, Delta Chi moved into the former ATO house.“We were pretty insulted at first,” said junior Michael Brocious, former ATO president and current social chairman. “But we got over it. We just came to reality with the circumstances and accepted.”But now the members of ATO are making plans to return to campus in fall 2012, and they said they hope to bring a new image into their old house. Brocious spearheaded the efforts to get their house back.“I improved our relationship with the housing board — forced the housing board to trust us again” he said.Brocious approached IFC Vice President of Risk Management Corbin Frye, who is in the process of working with ATO to update its risk management policy. Frye worked with them while they were an off-campus fraternity as well. Frye also said this involves different security measures. For example, there’s no “back door or sign-in sheet” at parties, he said.“They took a lot of initiative that a lot of off-campus chapters don’t have to take,” Frye said. As for Delta Chi, it may soon be in ATO’s position from this past year — living off campus. The fraternity has yet to find a new house. “We are currently exploring several different options for housing next year, both on and off campus,” Delta Chi President Willy Hernandez said via email. “Our No. 1 goal continues to be living in a fraternity house on campus next year.” Brocious said his ATO brothers and he are excited to reclaim the house. And Hernandez said Delta Chi will miss the house. “This house changing hands is the end of one chapter in IU Delta Chi’s history, but it also signifies the beginning of a new beginning for us,” he said. For the past year, Brocious has been living with fraternity brothers in an apartment off campus, but he plans to move into ATO’s house on Third Street for the 2012 school year.“If everything works out, I’ll be there,” he said. “It’ll be a good senior year. Hopefully not as crazy. I don’t want to go back to the same situation as my freshman year.”
(09/26/11 3:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In an effort to change the greek system’s image, Gamma Phi Omega had a Dunn Meadow movie night, hoping to attract students looking for something besides keggers or wild parties.Four best friends — and the four members of the Latina sorority Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority Incorporated — said they knew this was the type of event they wanted to put on as a sorority. Friday, they sponsored Movie in the Park in Dunn Meadow, where students could enjoy the fall weather, a picnic and see the movie “Hitch.”“There’s only four of us,” said Cristal Cisneros, senior and president of Gamma Phi Omega. “So putting on an event like this is kind of a hoorah for us.”To pull off an event like the sorority wanted, Cisneros turned to Union Board for help.“She wanted to do an outdoor film,” said Graham Davis, junior and director of films for Union Board. “It was a good alternative to drinking.”That was one of the driving factors behind the movie — providing a fun way for students to enjoy their Friday nights without having to party. “Events that we sponsor are one kind of an alternative to drinking,” Cisneros said. “We don’t have the pairing. We don’t do the Little 5 ‘let’s get crazy’ stuff.”Sophomore Devyn Manschot said she heard about the event through her job as a freshmen liaison. “It’s a little cold, but outdoor movies are a lot more fun than traditional movies,” she said with a laugh.Davis said they were expecting about 80 people to attend the event. “I hope that people come out to kind of enjoy the first day of fall. I hope people bring picnic stuff — that’s kind of what I wanted to see.” Cisneros said she had a loftier goal in mind — attempting to re-brand greeks. “We really hope to get our name out and let the community know that fraternities and sororities aren’t just about partying,” she said.
(09/23/11 3:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Ever since it was constructed in 2007, the IU “Light Totem” tower outside the art museum has drawn students at night from all over campus. “People are attracted to light,” said Linda Baden, IU Art Museum project supervisor. “They can’t help themselves.”Baden said she did not anticipate the strong reaction students have had to the display. While she thought students might stop to enjoy it while walking by, she didn’t expect them to take the time to stop there on the pavement, lie down and look up. “We didn’t think the students would lie on their backs with their feet on the wall and just bathe in it,” Baden said. “We really didn’t know how they would respond.”Junior Jordan Jalles is one of these bathers. During his freshman year, a teacher introduced him to the “Light Totem.” He is still a frequent visitor.“I like the whole concept of making nighttime buildings more interesting, and I like the effect it has when you lay at the bottom of the wall,” Jalles said. The student response to the lights took “Light Totem” designer and professor of lighting design Robert Shakespeare by surprise, as well. But it gave him an idea. “Our campus is not very interesting at night,” Shakespeare said. “Part of my promise was to first of all bring the architecture of the art museum to life at nighttime.” Shakespeare took note of this student ritual, and he adjusted accordingly. Now, two of the five shows on the “Light Totem” are actually interactive — a change that was completed several weeks ago. “What’s different with this is he added some motion detectors,” Baden said. “So now, if you step into the pool of light, it turns on.” The lights are also directed more downward, so light falls on the students who are “light bathing” rather than just on the wall of the museum. Shakespeare said if one stands on certain sections of the pavement and moves around, the light show might just change in response to that movement.However, he wouldn’t tell any of the specifics. “I’m interested in seeing how long it takes for students to find a new position,” Shakespeare said.Baden thinks the new features help lighten the mood. “It’s kind of a playful interaction between people playing in the light and the light itself,” Baden said. Several of the shows are set to silent music. Shakespeare said one might be set in rhythm to the Indiana Fight Song. Some have figured that out on their own. “We have videos online,” Baden said. “People have put it to music.”The “Light Totem” has drawn so much attention that it has become a meeting spot.“I took someone on a date there once,” Jalles said. “We had food delivered, and it was a lot of fun.”Even though Shakespeare didn’t anticipate such a strong student response to his lights, he’s trying to run with it. “My hope is over the next while to increase that interaction,” Shakespeare said. Jalles will likely continue to make trips to the art museum to soak in the lights. He wants to find out the parts of the landscape that make the tower interactive. He also expressed hopes that the display will grow. “I want more towers all over campus, spreading the colors,” Jalles said.