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(08/23/11 1:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The beginning of the new academic year always brings new student-run organizations. This year is no exception. Bringing Environmental Affairs To Students, more simply known as B.E.A.T.S., kicks off this fall.Co-founders Paul Luhrsen and Paul Larkin, both juniors, were inspired by the aesthetic of IU’s campus. “Walking to class each day, it’s nearly impossible to ignore the natural beauty of our Bloomington campus,” said Luhrsen, a SPEA student who will act as president for the group this school year. B.E.A.T.S. will focus on raising environmental awareness through activism and community service while striving to keep Bloomington beautiful for years to come.The club started during the summer with Luhrsen, Larkin and a group of their friends, and Luhrsen said he is confident they will be able to act on their passion for environmental issues and effectively make a difference by pooling the ambitions and resources they have.Already in the works is a plan to save discarded plastic bottles within the greek community. Luhrsen, who is a member of Sigma Nu, said the recycled bottles can be used to sterilize unsafe drinking water. He said it’s a small act that can “make a big difference in the lives of many.”Luhrsen said B.E.A.T.S. also wants to organize an effort to lobby the IU governing body to lower sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions from campus buildings. He said the final goal is to phase out all coal-based energy sources within campus limits. While Luhrsen and Larkin plan on having multiple call-out meetings in the near future, the exact dates are yet to be determined. The club is registered on IU’s myINvolvement website, where students can find more information on getting involved with B.E.A.T.S. in the coming year.
(07/31/11 11:05pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Minutes before the Different Drummer Belly Dancers of Bloomington were scheduled to perform at the 2005 Allerton Belly Dance Festival, one thought ran through the mind of the troupe’s founder and director Margaret Lion, “Oh my God, what if everyone’s going to be offended?”The troupe had decided to perform their signature number, a belly dance version of Sir-Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back.”There was usually no cause for worry since their routine audience was Bloomington. But in the middle of rural Allerton, Ill., Lion and her troupe were concerned the song choice may not have been wholesome enough for the small-town. The troupe, made up of Lion and three of her dancing buddies, took the stage. The dancers were dressed in the traditional layered outfit that complimented the troupe’s American Tribal belly dance style — cropped shirts underneath bras with coins and tassels, and jingling hip wraps over floor-length skirts. “How many of you think your butt is too big?” she asked the crowd. All the women in the audience raised a hand. “How many of you love belly dancing? Because it doesn’t matter how big, or small, or what shape you are, or color, size or age,” Lion said to the audience. “You all look good belly dancing! Well, this is our ode to the backside.” In 2003, Lion organized a group of herself and three friends out of her initial desire to combine her love of belly dance with her love of rock ‘n’ roll. The women rehearsed in Lion’s living room. A performance opportunity arose in the fall of that year, and Lion ran with it. “I thought, ‘I really want to perform at this venue, and I want to do something fun, but I don’t really want to perform by myself. I want a troupe there with me,’” Lion said.Though originally organized as a one-time gig, the troupe continued to dance together. Even though the members have changed since that first performance (and many times since), the idea behind the troupe is the same now as it was eight years ago — expression through the art of belly dance. “If there’s a style we like, we do it. If there’s a move we like, we do it. . . my troupe is not limited,” Lion said.A challenge of having a belly dance troupe in a college town is the constant flow of people in and out of a group of performers. Lion, however, said she is optimistic about the frequent turnover. She said change is what fuels the overall flow of creativity. The newest member is Irina Shishova, a Moscow native rounding out the first year of her MBA program with the Kelley School of Business. She stumbled upon Lion’s troupe after a drawing class in 2005 and has been dancing ever since.Jeana Jorgensen is an IU folklore and gender studies doctoral candidate. Having grown up in California, she began belly dancing in high school and joined Different Drummer upon moving to Bloomington six years ago. “I was always a tomboy growing up,” Jorgensen said. “I was stick thin, and then when I went through puberty, I got hips, and I hated it. I hated my body and there was no way for me to feel good about who I was.“I took a belly dance class on a whim when I was 16. It made me feel good to have hips because you used hips a lot in belly dance.”But while the troupe has a positive self-image attitude toward belly dancing, a stigma still exists: It’s too sexy. Belly dancers are aware of the stereotypes, and the members of Different Drummer are no exception. Jorgensen, who completed her undergraduate studies in California before she moved to Indiana, decided to deal with these misconceptions constructively.“I had this problem when I was coming out to Indiana. My professor back at Berkley, who had done his graduate work at Indiana, he was like, ‘Well, don’t tell them you belly dance. That’s a little too risqué,” Jorgensen said. “But I‘m ‘out’ as a belly dancer.” “I try to be very open about it because hopefully it will teach someone something new either about Middle Eastern culture or the way the dance is practiced here.” Bloomington has at least five troupes and many solo dancers. Different Drummer Dancers set themselves apart by taking belly dancing, using innovative music and making certain choreography choices, to make a foreign dance form more accessible to a Midwestern audience. For these women, belly dance is about being inclusive. As Jorgensen described it, “It’s something that is family-friendly and that anyone can enjoy and anyone can learn.”Different Drummer, as the name suggests, has never been a troupe to abide by conventional Middle Eastern music, which focuses much more on rhythmic complexity than Western music. “We don’t dance to a lot of straight-up Middle Eastern music,” Jorgensen said. “I think it’s some of the most beautiful music in the world, but one of the things we do in the troupe is try to connect with our audience, and a lot of Americans just don’t know how to relate to Middle Eastern music.”
(06/13/11 2:49pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Things don’t always go according to plan. Grade-point averages miss the mark, parking tickets wind up on windshields and students make bad decisions. In high school, you were always there to bail your students out. Now, they’re away from home and have to figure out solutions on their own.Luckily, we’ve provided the answers to a few common college dilemmas. So, when you receive a phone call from your student asking for advice, whip out this article and help point them in the right direction. Academic ProblemsProblem: Your son gets his first mid-term grade back in economics, and he’s failing. Or maybe he finds out the first week of school the class that sounded so awesome over the summer isn’t so awesome after all. Solution: Instruct your son to make an appointment with his adviser (which can be done online at https://starnet.indiana.edu). Dropping classes can then be done online via OneStart. Dropping a class during the first week of classes won’t show up on the transcript, but a fee will be charged to the Bursar. Classes dropped after the first week, however, will result in a W for withdrawal on the transcript. Problem: Your daughter realizes that the standard five-paragraph essay that got her through high school might not cut it in college.Solution: Send her to Writing Tutorial Services, which can provide her with a free 50-minute session with a peer tutor. She can call 812-855-6738 to make an appointment.Housing ProblemsProblem: Your freshman calls home after the first week. She is convinced that if she continues living with her current roommate, it’s going to be a very long year.Solution: Your student should go to her Resident Assistant first. If the conflict still cannot be solved, students can request a roommate change after the second week of school. To get the process started, students can go to their residence hall’s center desk and fill out a roommate change request form.Legal ProblemsProblem: Your student received a court summons (we won’t speculate why).Solution: IU Student Legal Services, located across from Dunn Meadow, offers students who have paid the Student Activity Fee complimentary legal advice and if necessary, legal representation with their staff of four full-time, licensed attorneys and about 25 second- and third-year IU law students. Have your student call 812-855-7867. Health ProblemsProblem: Your student wakes up with a fever of 104 degrees or breaks a finger playing intramural volleyball.Solution: The Health Center, located on the corner of 10th Street and Jordan Avenue, staffs nurse practitioners who can help. For more serious situations, the Bloomington Hospital Emergency Department, located at 601 W. Second St., can be reached at 812-353-5252.Problem: You can’t quite put your finger on it, but your student hasn’t been himself lately. You’re concerned he might be depressed. Solution: Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is located within the Health Center and provides counseling as well as psychiatric consultation and treatment. Encourage your student to make an appointment by calling 812-855-5711 or stopping by for a walk-in appointment.Emergency ContactsAlthough we hope your student never has to use them, it is always helpful to have local emergency contact information on hand. If students find themselves needing one of the following phone numbers, here’s what to tell them.Indiana University Police Department: Available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 812-855-4111, or dial 911 for emergencies. Located at 1469 E. 17th St.Bloomington Police Department: Located at 220 E. Third St. It can be reached at 812-339-4477 or 911 for emergenciesBloomington Fire Department: Located at 300 E. Fourth St. It can be reached at 812-332-9763 or 911 for emergencies.
(06/13/11 2:43pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Your student is all settled into his or her dorm, and you’re driving home in an unloaded minivan. All you can think about is when you’ll get to see your new college student again. Don’t worry. It’s not too early to start planning your next visit. Here are some suggestions to get you started.WHERE TO STAYBiddle Hotel and Conference CenterWant to be in the center of all the IU action? The Biddle Hotel and Conference Center is located on-campus inside the Indiana Memorial Union. The 189 guest accommodations are an easy walk from the IU Auditorium, Kirkwood Avenue and more. 900 E. Seventh St.800-209-8145Holiday Inn BloomingtonLess than a five minute drive from Memorial Stadium and Assembly Hall (without game-day traffic), this is a great place to stay when you’re in Bloomington for the big game. It offers guests an outdoor pool, an exercise facility, a full service restaurant and more.1710 N. Kinser Pike812-334-3252. Grant Street InnA welcoming bed and breakfast in close proximity to all that Bloomington has to offer, Grant Street Inn is just a 10-minute walk to the Fourth Street restaurants or the IU campus. All rooms come with a private bath and wireless Internet, and breakfast is included.310 N. Grant St.812-334-2353WHERE TO EATMother Bear’s PizzaIf you have to choose one, pizza place, make it Mother Bear’s. Named “One of America’s Top Nine Pizzerias” by People Magazine, diners can choose from 15 gourmet pizzas or create one of their own. Salads, wings, pasta and subs are also available.1428 E. Third St.812-332-4495Fourth StreetFeeling adventurous? If international cuisine is your thing, Fourth Street is your go-to location. We suggest Anyetsang’s Little Tibet, a colorful little eatery that specializes in Tibetan, Thai and Indian cuisines. Not sure what to try? Go for one of the mo-mo dishes.415 E. Fourth St.812-331-0122Nick’s English HutWith its distinct cottage-like exterior, this pub and eatery has been a Bloomington tradition since 1927. Nick’s offers a wide selection of burgers, salads, pizza, stromboli and more, and it is sure to be packed after home games.423 E. Kirkwood Ave.812-332-4040 Runcible Spoon Café and RestaurantThe warm and inviting Runcible Spoon is just a stone’s throw away from Kirkwood and has been a Bloomington favorite for more than 30 years. Vegan dishes are available, as is all-day breakfast and coffee roasted on-site. 412 E. Sixth St.812-334-3997 FARMbloomingtonWith a menu that changes with the seasons, FARM’s dishes showcase fresh, local ingredients that cater to every palate. Stop by for brunch on the weekends. You can even make a reservation.108 E. Kirkwood Ave.812-323-0002Jiffy TreetThose with a sweet tooth won’t be able to resist this locally-owned ice cream joint. With many different flavors of homemade soft-serve, there is plenty to choose from. 223 S. Pete Ellis Dr. Suite 3A812-339-9981
(05/31/11 4:14pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There’s so much to worry about going into your freshman year: getting lost, making friends, and the dreaded “Freshman 15.”Fortunately, IU makes it easy for students to get fit and stay in shape with its two recreational facilities. With tuition, every student pays a mandatory Student Activity Fee, which, among other things, grants every IU student access to workout facilities such as indoor swimming pools, weight rooms, cardio equipment and free group exercise classes with the flash of a student ID. HEALTH PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND RECREATION (HPER)The Health Physical Education and Recreation building, affectionately known as the HPER (pronounced “hyper”), is located on Seventh Street across from the Indiana Memorial Union. The HPER is quite expansive, offering students 12 racquetball/wallyball courts, 10 basketball/volleyball courts, squash courts, an indoor pool with a diving well, an indoor running track and more. The adjacent Woodlawn Tennis Courts are also a part of the HPER facility, as is Woodlawn Field, where students play soccer or lacrosse on a nice day.The oldest section of the HPER building dates back to 1917, with its newest addition being built in 1961. The HPER is undergoing renovations during the summer, which is tentatively scheduled to be complete by the beginning of the fall semester.“Down in the basement is what I enjoy the most because I do a lot of strength training. They revamped that whole basement area where the weights are,” Nick Hipskind, the Facilities and Equipment chairman of IU’s Campus Recreational Sports Board, said. “They also redid the women’s locker room and the men’s locker room.”STUDENT RECREATIONAL SPORTS CENTER (SRSC) The Student Recreational Sports Center, or SRSC, is the other workout facility on campus. Its location, within a 10 minute walk of the greek houses on North Jordan and most of the dorms in the central neighborhood, makes it a popular workout destination for many students. While the SRSC offers many of the same features as the HPER, including nine racquetball/wallyball courts, five basketball/volleyball courts, an indoor track, an Olympic-sized pool and more, many students prefer the SRSC for the condition of its facilities.Junior Michael Bromell said he enjoys playing basketball on the SRSC’s courts and running laps on the indoor track. “I like it more than the HPER because I just like how new it is,” Bromell said. “I feel like when I play basketball there, I’m able to get games going easier than at the HPER, and the SRSC seems cleaner. Overall, it’s just nicer all the way around.”HOW TO FIT FITNESS INTO YOUR SCHEDULEPerhaps the biggest obstacle for freshmen trying to stay fit is trying to maintain focus while surrounded by so many collegiate distractions. After all, it’s much easier after a long day of classes to lounge in your dorm eating junk food than it is to find the motivation to hit the gym. Both a music and pre-med student, junior Madhura Sundararajan manages to find time to exercise while juggling homework, music practice and her social life.“You just have to make time for it,” she said. “It can be really difficult with the workload, but you have to make time to take care of yourself.”FREE GROUP EXERCISE CLASSESOne way to get motivated and hold yourself accountable is to take advantage of the free group exercise classes available throughout the week at both the SRSC and the HPER. Heather Hamilton has been a group exercise leader for the past four years, leading classes like Step, Cardio Core, Trekking and Circuit Strength. While the names may sound daunting to the gym novice, Hamilton said there’s no need to worry. “All of the classes, with the exception of Step II and III, are good for beginners, and leaders will give you modification options if you are just starting out and need to take it slow,” Hamilton said.Some group exercise classes, such as yoga and pilates, are available to students at an additional cost. With classes like Cardio Kickboxing, Strength Core and Zumba (a workout disguised as a dance party), there’s something for everyone. Schedules of group exercise classes are available on the IU Campus Recreational Sports website at http://www.iurecsports.org/grp_exercise.