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(02/25/10 12:09am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Seniors Katherine Rampley and David Gould are Bucceto’s Smiling Teeth regulars.Without even thinking about it, they go there for dates about once every two weeks.“It’s never planned, we’re just like ‘we should go get food,’ and Bucceto’s is always an option,” Gould said.On this particular Saturday afternoon, Gould ordered a Sweet Lil’ Razorback pizza and Rampley had a salad.“Many pigs had to die to make this pizza, but it was really good,” Gould said.Aside from the food, Gould and Rampley enjoy the Bucceto’s atmosphere.“It’s relaxed but not loud,” Rampley said.And the couple finds the prices to be within the right range, and Gould said the food is even better than that of the more expensive restaurants in town. “It’s cheaper than a lot of places you would go on a date,” he said. General Manager Kieran Cooper said he thinks one of the main reasons people come to Bucceto’s for dates is specifically for that reason: the cost. “It’s not like your cheap date, but you can go out and enjoy yourself,” Cooper said. “But you still have room in the budget for other things.”Cooper also said the atmosphere is one of the reasons customers keep coming back.“It has a lot to do with the atmosphere, and I think that has to do with the pace we do things around here,” Cooper said. “We get a lot of smaller groups. ... There is not a lot of hustle and bustle around you. You can relax, eat and enjoy yourself a little bit.”Cooper describes Bucceto’s as having an “old Italian restaurant vibe.” There is bright, colorful artwork along its walls, and the lighting is not too bright or too dim. Patrons can order pizza, pasta and calzones.To get the true Bucceto’s date experience, Cooper suggests ordering the spinach artichoke dip as an appetizer because “it is one of the best around.” For the main course, he suggests ordering one of the pasta dishes, such as the diavolo and alfredo plates. If you are 21 or older, you can also split a bottle of wine with your significant other. And to top it off with dessert, you can order a Carnegie Deli cheesecake.But you don’t need to come to Bucceto’s to taste its delectable dishes. The restaurant also does carry-out.“So if you want to be cozy at home, you can also do that,” Cooper said.
(02/23/10 3:39am)
Benny Christmas Lights
(02/23/10 3:37am)
Give it a story
(02/23/10 3:32am)
Pick a name you won’t hate in 5 years.
(02/17/10 3:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Spoken word is more than a hobby for senior Chris Tabron — it’s a way of life.Tabron began performing spoken word when he started forming a more personal relationship with God. Tabron said he uses spoken word to speak with God and to help send God’s message to others.“I take life situations and connect them to the Bible,” Tabron said. “I like to give a message with it. Not only do I say the situation, but I give the solutions.”Spoken word is a form of poetry intended to be performed instead of read.“Spoken word is poetry, but it’s basically a song without music,” said IU alumnus Branden Scott. “Spoken word has more feeling. It’s like giving a speech. Poetry is reading from a book; it’s not emotional. Spoken word is a conversation meant to sway you.”This art form has been making its way through campus and the Bloomington community for several years.Along with Scott, Eric Love, director of the Office of Diversity Education, started Open Mic Nights at IU two-and-a-half years ago, and they have since been growing in popularity.MATRIX, a not-for-profit organization, which provides public forums for literary and visual artists in Bloomington, has poetry slams about once a month. The next poetry slam will be at 7 p.m. today at Rachael’s Café.The organization which began hosting poetry slams in 2001, is the oldest outlet in Indiana for these spoken-word competitions, said Tony Brewer, “slam master” and senior editor for the organization.Poetry slams are competitions specifically made for spoken word. The rules might differ, Brewer said, but typically there are three rounds in which each performer has three minutes to perform their piece. Judges provide scores, and those with the lowest score are eliminated during each round. The person who ends up with the highest score wins.Some poetry slams are themed for a specific style, such as haikus, sonnets or specific poets. Those who do the best in the competition tend to be the performers who get the audience involved.“The ones that score the best get the crowd excited either because they have interesting content or a unique take,” Brewer said. “Or their performance is more dramatic. ... It’s more about theaudience than the poet.”Delivery is a key element of spoken word, Brewer said. Performers should have their emotions connect to the audience members.To practice, junior Shawn Major-Winston said he goes on YouTube and watches videos of poetry slam performances. He impersonates the performers and observes how they “spit out” their emotion and drama. From there, Major-Winston said he works to deliver his own work, practicing how to locate which words to emphasize and which ones to rush over.But when performing your own work, Major-Winston said, you should not copy others.“It’s your work, your story, your interpretation of history so write and deliver like its meant to be heard,” Major-Winston said.For most, writing and performing spoken word is a personal experience.Major-Winston became invested in spoken word after he took African-American and African Diaspora Studies courses. He was troubled by the readings, learning about the injustices African-Americans have faced throughout history.Inspired by African-American poets such as Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou, Major-Winston said he holds nothing back.“Through learning history, it let my emotions spill out,” Major-Winston said.Sophomore Toyia Maxey said she utilizes spoken word to bring attention to controversial issues that are typically overlooked and that she hopes her work catalyzes change.Maxey performed her spoken-word poem, titled “Misinformed,” at the most recent IU Miss Black and Gold pageant last December. “Misinformed” is about the inequalities women face, internal struggles of the African-American community and what it’s like to be a Muslim in America.For Maxey, this piece was personal because she is female, African-American and a Muslim. At the pageant, the audience cheered during her performance, which she said gave her the confidence she needed to continue spoken word.Although spoken word can be performed by anyone, males reign as the most prominent performers, Maxey said.“Maybe it’s because spoken word is so raw,” Maxey said. “Women are not looked at to be as raw. Poetry is soft, and this is why it is equated to women. This is the issue — people aren’t ready to hear from women.”Scott said spoken word requires opening up to strangers.“When performing spoken word, you are sharing a story with the public that is not meant to be shared with other people,” he said.
(02/12/10 3:55pm)
See the top 5 tips for making a band when Inside hits stands February 23.
(02/12/10 3:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Joel Washington is one of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet — but you probably already knew that.Washington, a local artist and Indiana Memorial Union custodian, can’t seem to go more than two steps without someone tapping him on the shoulder.“There is always somebody I know, somewhere,” Washington said.He has become a local celebrity. You don’t have to look far to see his 1960s-inspired “pop art” paintings and portraits. You can pass his artwork while making your daily stroll through the Union.His works are not only featured throughout Bloomington and on IU’s campus but also in the Indiana State Museum and the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. This month, the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District is showcasing his artwork at the City Hall Atrium in honor of his 50th birthday. A reception celebrating his birthday will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Atrium.“The exhibit features brightly colored pieces, which is just what we need for the drab winter months,” said Miah Michaelsen, assistant economic development director for the arts for the City of Bloomington. “It’s an explosion of color. That’s what Joel’s work is.” The exhibit, titled “The Birthday Show: 50,” showcases 50 pieces — each representing a year of his life. Washington had a little less than a year to create more than 25 new pieces for the gallery. Washington filled the rest of the 50 spots with artwork he had previously completed.If his recent endeavors are any indication, his next 50 years show no signs of slowing down. Washington said he is seeking an art agent, wants to have his pieces displayed at major galleries in New York and Chicago, hopes to travel the globe and visit the various countries’ art galleries, plans to finish his film and aspires to become an illustrator for music magazines. “I’ve always felt like my art was going to do something and go somewhere,” Washington said. “Not to be boasting or anything like that, but sometimes you just feel something. And a lot of that comes from how hard you work on it and you get to a point, personally, where you feel like there is no turning back because you have worked too hard or come too far to let anything stand in the way of it.”Washington began working at IU in 1987 as a food service worker but switched to custodial work in 1989. He said many people do not associate his job as a janitor with his art, but his occupation has parlayed much of his success.“As far as being an artist, it has to do with being at the right place at the right time, and this is where I personally feel I got my first break as an artist,” Washington said. “I sold my third painting here ... Being humble to what I do has always had an end result of something really good. And you know, if I wasn’t working here, doing what I do, I wouldn’t have the work in IU’s permanent gallery.”Although Washington likes his job, he sees himself being a full-time artist in the near future. “I’m humble to do any job that keeps a roof over my head, but at the same time art is where I see myself making a living,” Washington said. “I enjoy working here, but my artwork is my calling.” He also said he is humbled by all the attention he receives. Just last week, while Washington was in line at a movie theater, the employee taking his ticket recognized him and said, “You’re the artist I’ve read all about.” Several IU students have made Washington their muse for course assignments. During the fall semester, three photojournalists used Washington as the subject for their final project. “It’s a privilege to have people that want to do something like that for me,” Washington said. “I think it’s kind of them.” Washington said every compliment he receives means something to him and makes him happy, but he has gotten some of the greatest compliments for his Wes Montgomery portrait. “They tell me that when they see my art, they hear music,” Washington said.
(02/10/10 11:05pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Stating that sophomore Sarah Kintzel does not have the best Valentine’s Day plans would be an understatement. Her boyfriend of three years left her a month ago – and she is 33 weeks pregnant. But Valentine’s Day remains her favorite holiday.“It’s really cliche, but since I’ve been a little girl I’ve been obsessed with the idea of love,” sophomore Sarah Kintzel said. “I love that people feel that.”So instead of sitting in her room crying, she has decided she does not need a boyfriend to make her Valentine’s Day complete. All she needs is a girls’ day out – complete with seeing the upcoming movie “Valentine’s Day,” watching “ridiculous rom-coms” and eating lots of chocolate. The 10 or so friends getting together don’t make the typical group you’d expect to see celebrating Valentine’s Day: One was dumped two weeks ago, one is in a long-distance relationship and one is single.Kintzel said for her the holiday is not about having a boyfriend. Her family always gives flowers and gifts to each other.“We embrace all kinds of love, not necessarily just those with boys,” Kintzel said. Like Kintzel, most people who can’t wait to celebrate Valentine’s Day have always loved doing so. But can someone reform from being the Grinch of Valentine’s Day to being a self-described moderate? Andrew Libby, assistant director of the Office of Service-Learning, used to wear black on Valentine’s Day, but since marrying his wife of seven years he has become a bigger fan of the Hallmark holiday and now wears brown instead.“When I got married I found someone I really loved,” Libby said. “On one level, it is clearly a corporate holiday commodified with presents and getting stuff, but being in love has softened my critique.”Libby said he enjoys getting his wife gifts such as flowers and chocolate to show his appreciation for all that she does. “It has something to do with material gifts,” Libby said. “But the real point is about being with someone you love.”Gender also has an impact on what is expected of each partner. Typically the men are expected to express their affection more than the women, said Sharon Brehm, a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. In order to enjoy Valentine’s Day more, Brehm suggests forgetting about the gender expectations.“Males typically feel more pressure,” Brehm said. “Both guys and girls should do something they enjoy, like give a little kiss. Gifts do not have to be a burden.”Valentine’s Day could be good or bad depending on the state of the relationship, Brehm said.“If you are really in love, Valentine’s Day can be a way to communicate it to that person,” Brehm said. “Or maybe the relationship is not getting along so well and it is used as a way to repair it. It could be a way to exacerbate problems.”Sophomore Taylor Brown and freshman Alyson Wiggs have been in an on-and-off relationship for four years. Brown likes to show his affection more openly while Wiggs doesn’t like “all that mushy stuff.” “I like to treat her to things she deserves,” Brown said.Because Wiggs is not a huge fan of the holiday, Brown must refrain from doing anything too extravagant. “I like Valentine’s Day more for my feelings for her,” Brown said. No matter how much someone enjoys giving or receiving gifts, one’s relationship should always be the top priority of the holiday.
(02/08/10 2:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Club Rotation, the potential new dance club in town, wants to “reinvent the way Bloomington parties.”Rotation is the brainchild of IU seniors Ryne Shadday and Solomon Hursey. The two said they saw a need for a dance club in Bloomington and hoped to set it up in about a year.Bullwinkle’s is the last true dance club in Bloomington, and the dancing now involves having a shoe stuck to the floor, Hursey said.“The bars are not set up for dancing,” he said.Hursey said he was inspired by dance clubs he saw while in Europe. He sent Shadday a Facebook message asking him if he still wanted to open the club.Currently, they are looking for a space in the downtown area and for someone to invest in their idea.“Investors are not willing to just give money to poor college students,” Shadday said.Shadday said they’ve been talking to lawyers and local business owners for advice.The idea behind Rotation is that the themes will rotate about every two to three months, Shadday said.“Rotation is not completely unpredictable, but it won’t be repetitive,” Hursey said. “It will be new and fresh.”Recently they had a dance party called “HEAT!” at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater to raise money for the club. The preopening dance parties will help determine what will work for the club and give Shadday and Hursey a chance to see how the audience will receive the disc jockey, Shadday said.
(02/08/10 1:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Club Rotation, the potential new dance club in town, wants to “reinvent the way Bloomington parties.”Rotation is the brainchild of IU seniors Ryne Shadday and Solomon Hursey. The two said they saw a need for a dance club in Bloomington and hoped to set it up in about a year.Bullwinkle’s is the last true dance club in Bloomington, and the dancing now involves having a shoe stuck to the floor, Hursey said.“The bars are not set up for dancing,” he said.Hursey said he was inspired by dance clubs he saw while in Europe. He sent Shadday a Facebook message asking him if he still wanted to open the club.Currently, they are looking for a space in the downtown area and for someone to invest in their idea.“Investors are not willing to just give money to poor college students,” Shadday said.Shadday said they’ve been talking to lawyers and local business owners for advice.The idea behind Rotation is that the themes will rotate about every two to three months, Shadday said.“Rotation is not completely unpredictable, but it won’t be repetitive,” Hursey said. “It will be new and fresh.”Recently they had a dance party called “HEAT!” at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater to raise money for the club. The preopening dance parties will help determine what will work for the club and give Shadday and Hursey a chance to see how the audience will receive the disc jockey, Shadday said.
(02/04/10 1:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU students are required to live in the residence halls for their freshman year, and for many students that is one too many. But for others, it's only the beginning.For many upperclassmen, such as senior and Residence Halls Association president Jessica Schul, being active on campus is one of the reasons why they choose to live in the residence halls. Schul came to IU as a transfer student and chose to live in the dorms so that she could get to know the campus better and meet new people. While living in Eigenmann Hall, Schul said she found her niche in student government and was Eigenmann president for two years. Although Schul said she got little privacy, she still enjoyed many aspects of communal living. One of her best college memories was hosting a movie night for RHA members and people on her floor. “I’ve had a lot of great memories and experiences that I don’t think I could get while living in an apartment,” Schul said. However, there are some negative aspects of communal living. All of the upperclassmen interviewed disliked the communal bathrooms. Many residents also dislike the watchful eyes of the resident assistants and residence halls' rules and regulations, such as no alcohol possession. “I don’t mind the rules,” junior and Teter Quad resident Maurice Evans said. “I don’t really drink. I’m 22 so I don’t need to do it in my room.” Evans said all of his RAs have been influential in his success in college. “All of my RAs have been great and have encouraged me to be active and stay involved,” Evans said.Because of his positive interactions with his RAs, Evans hopes to be one next year.Many upperclassmen choose to live in the residence halls so they don’t have to make the schlep to campus. Junior Michael Coleman, Willkie Quad resident and vice president internal for RHA, said it is more convenient living in the residence halls because you can go to campus events easily and get back to your room if you forget something. Junior Brittany Mooney, Teter Quad resident, does not have a car on campus and thought off-campus housing would be too much of a hassle. “Sometimes I feel like I’m missing out on not having an apartment, but I still have time to live in an apartment when I graduate,” Mooney said. “I won’t have the option to live in a dorm my whole life.”As an upperclassman living in the residence halls, residents must be okay with living with freshmen unless they apply for housing specifically made for upperclassmen. “It kind of bothers me,” Evans said of living with underclassmen. “You never know who you are going to get on your floor.”Upperclassmen have the option of living in residence halls that offer apartment-style housing.“I’m 23,” Schul said. “I’ve outgrown communal living.”Schul said she likes that there are only floor presidents in Willkie, not RAs. “Upperclassmen don’t need that extra attention that some freshmen need from their RA,” Schul said. Junior Julie Otis, Ashton Center student historian and a member of RHA, lived off-campus her first year when she arrived to IU as a transfer student.“I didn’t meet anyone, and I felt like an outsider to the campus,” Ortis said. Ortis said that students should decide what they value more: being surrounded by people or having greater freedom. “Meeting people was more important to me than having more freedom,” Ortis said.
(01/28/10 5:06pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>How to be the worst in four easy stepsDylan Germick, who graduated in 2007, knows how to make a band stand out in the worst (or best) possible way. Dylan Germick, along with his brothers Nathan and Ryan, formed the band Germart and are the masterminds behind the album cover “Planet Booty.” The Chicago Tribune gave the cover the distinction of being one of the “50 worst album covers of all time” this past summer. Here, Dylan gives you tips on how to make your band the worst it can be, or in his mind, the most "awesome" it can be.1. Be outrageous. Brainstorm ideas, but don't decide on one until you discover something completely ridiculous.2. Get inspired. The album cover for "Planet Booty" was inspired by a poster of Prince wearing a g-string while being crucified. "When you look at the album cover, 'Planet Booty,' the face causes a stirring inside of you," Dylan says, referring to a translucent blue face staring at a man in blue suspenders. "It makes me giggle. It's hilarious."3. Be selfish. "Don't have your audience in mind," Dylan says. "The only thing that should be on your mind is glory."4. Strive for awesomeness and glory. "Take a look at what you're making and ask yourself, 'How can I make this way more awesome?'" Dylan says. "Once you can no longer make it more awesome, it can't be worse."
(01/21/10 4:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Senior Jeremy Grover has never felt so violated.During winter break, someone broke into his Campus Walk apartment, stealing $7,300 worth of materials, including his Panasonic Viera 42-inch LED television, his Macbook Pro laptop and his entire video game collection.“Things were taken from me that will never be able to be replaced,” Grover said. Grover’s apartment, along with at least three others, was broken into and burglarized. A three-foot crowbar was used to force open the apartment doors and was left in Grover’s apartment. Campus Walk contacted all of the residents who were robbed. But the date that the break-ins occurred is unknown, and there were no witnesses.“I can’t even look at it the same,” Grover said of his apartment. “It is spoiled, and it can’t be cleaned.” The break-in has caused Grover a great deal of distress, which has spun into a depression. He is speaking with a counselor at the IU Health Center’s Counseling and Psychological Services to work through his unease. Grover has reason to be paranoid. His locks were replaced but not changed. His roommate received a new pair of keys from Campus Walk management, but when Grover saw them he realized they were identical to the keys he already had. He unlocked his apartment door with his old keys.In addition, a pair of keys were taken from his apartment during the break-in, meaning that the thieves could come back and get into his apartment without any struggle. “We are just as vulnerable as we were,” Grover said.Campus Walk has six units per building and is composed of two apartments on each floor. The complex is laid out in identical side-by-side buildings, and although each apartment door has a lock, the entrance is always open, even during breaks. Noises can easily be heard outside each door. “There is some updating that needs to be done,” Grover said. “We are in 2010, and if we need to invest $20,000, then that is what needs to be done. Video surveillance is fairly inexpensive technology. ... Why the hell would someone want to live in a place like this when they have so many things that are expensive and can be taken? They shouldn’t have to worry.”Grover said he spoke with Campus Walk management, whose members told him that if the building front doors were locked, it would be more difficult for paramedics and police to respond to situations as quickly. “This is not a legitimate reason,” Grover said of their response.Campus Walk management declined to comment.Thwarting theft Smallwood Plaza, another off-campus apartment complex, had no break-ins during winter vacation.Courtesy officers are on the property whenever the property manager decides to schedule them, and Smallwood has a prevention-controlled access system, said Denise Y. Haggard, senior property manager of Smallwood. There are no metal keys used at Smallwood; everyone has to swipe in. Unlike Campus Walk apartments, Smallwood visitors cannot get past the lobby. To get to someone’s floor, they have to punch in the person’s apartment number and get rung up in order to access the elevator, Haggard said.“It is a high priority of ours that this is a nice place to live,” Haggard said. Because of the privatization of Smallwood, solicitors do not have access to apartments.There have been incredible amounts of solicitation this past semester at Campus Walk, Grover said. He said he thinks solicitors have been coming to see what residents have and to get a feel for the layout of the apartments.Last semester, a solicitor questioned Grover about video games in his apartment. “We are not safe here, which is sad to say,” Grover said. Sophomores Kyle Mandarino and Sarah Bomher had their Campus Walk apartment broken into as well. They said that outdated video games and valuable jewelry were stolen. Purses were rummaged through, too. The thieves tried to pull the two gaming systems from the wall, but they did not succeed and must have been running out of time, Mandarino said. “I’m creeped out and scared of the door getting broken into,” Mandarino said. “It is causing me anxiety.”When Bomher and Mandarino spoke with Campus Walk management, their worries were not subdued. Campus Walk management told them that the issue of break-ins hasn’t been a problem for the last 40 years, Mandarino said. Although Mandarino and Bomher’s locks were changed, they are putting in a security system in order to feel safer. “What could have happened if we were here?” Mandarino said.Because of the break-in, Grover is looking into obtaining a weapon owner’s permit in Bloomington as opposed to one back home in Ohio.Campus dorms free from break-insThe residence halls did not experience any break-ins; however, there was an individual case in which a resident reported something missing, said Bob Weith, director for residential operations of Residential Programs and Services. Throughout winter break, and even while school is in session, RPS staff and the IU Police Department patrol the residence halls, Weith said.Weith said the key card system helps keep unwanted visitors out of the residence halls. During break Sara Ivey Lucas, residence manager for RPS, and her staff made sure that the residents who stayed in the on-campus housing facilities were able to access the buildings with their student identification, Weith said. Student housing ‘buffet for crooks’IU Student Legal Services deals with students whose homes have been broken into regularly. Students’ relaxed attitudes toward strangers, combined with their accumulation of state-of-the-art technology, are breeding grounds for burglars, said Randall Frykberg, director of IU Student Legal Services.“During the weeks from Christmas to New Year’s, it’s like a buffet for small-town crooks,” Frykberg said.Faulty locks and old windows in Bloomington are ideal for burglars, Frykberg said. Students also have a unique position in the community because they often have parties, offer alcohol and allow strangers free reign of their home.“Security is an issue in a college town because landlords are interested in getting students to pay rent and getting as much for their properties,” he said.IDS investigative reporters Alex Benson, Sarah Brubeck, Molly Johnson and Mickey Woods contributed to this story.
(01/21/10 2:37am)
If you’ve never heard a bassoon quartet, you might want to perk up.
Four Jacobs School of Music graduate students play the double reed instrument in the No Repeats Bassoon Quartet.
(01/14/10 3:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Don’t let Jacqueline Brecheen’s sweet appearance fool you. Her youthful and innocent appeal comes with a big voice. “She has a full, lyric soprano voice with coloratura that carries with ease in a big hall,” said Costanza Cuccaro-Penhorwood, chancellor’s professor of voice at the Jacobs School of Music. Brecheen, a first-year doctoral student, competed in the Indiana District Auditions for the annual Metropolitan Opera National Council on Jan. 9. The annual auditions are designed to discover up-and-coming opera singers.On Saturday, Brecheen, along with other winners from Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, will compete in the Tri-State Regional Auditions in Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis. IDS: How frequently do you audition?Brecheen: Last semester, I did 15 auditions, maybe more. I traveled to New York twice, Chicago three times, Cincinnati, Santa Barbara, Ohio and a couple in Bloomington. IDS: How did you discover your love of opera?Brecheen: I didn’t even know I could sing until high school. My best friend was going to audition for choir in school, so I tagged along.IDS: Are you excited about the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions?Brecheen: I am so excited, I’ve never done Met auditions before. I always chickened out or got sick. IDS: How did you get started into music?Brecheen: I took lessons with Scharmal Schrock every few weeks and dilly-dallied with it. I was in a band in high school and early on in college. I sang top-40 songs, like Guns and Roses and Sheryl Crow. I never growled in rock songs and I sang with a clear tone. It wasn’t that hard to transition into classical style, it came more or less natural to me.IDS: What is a typical day for you? How do you practice? How frequently?Brecheen: I wake up in the morning and I try not to sing too early. Usually, I try to hum around the house a while. By lunch I try to do some scales and some arpeggios. My teacher gives a new exercise every week, I have a little book of exercises and I try to run through all my exercises every day. I practice every day by myself for a total of an hour to an hour and a half. IDS: What is your favorite aria to sing?Brecheen: Right now my favorite to sing is “Oh! quante volte” from “I Capuleti e i Montecchi”, which means ‘Oh! how many times.’ Basically it is sung by Juliet and she is supposed to get married. She is looking for Romeo. It goes on for eight minutes.IDS: How do you prepare for an opera role compared to an opera recital?Brecheen: It’s different. You have to become that person, basically, and it is very detailed. You go through all the lines and there are very specific words that make up the character you are. You have a personality and emotions that come across in the music.IDS: How costly is your profession? Brecheen: It’s an absolute money pit. A school teacher is included in your tuition. You have to buy the musical score (the book of the opera all music and all the lines), regular textbooks, dresses ... an accompanist any time I want to sing with one and application fees. Going to auditions is very expensive. I easily spent $2,000 this year just going to auditions.IDS: What do you say to people who say opera is not their type of music? Brecheen: When people say, ‘Opera is not my thing,’ I ask them how many operas they’ve seen. They usually say none. When I see people go to the opera for first time they say that it was amazing, they wonder why they haven’t been doing this the whole time.IDS: What is your ultimate career goal? Brecheen: To run a children’s singing school. I love to teach children to sing. They are like little sponges and do the cutest, funniest things. They are willing to try anything.IDS: Do you ever get overwhelmed with your work load?Brecheen: I haven’t done competitions since I’ve been here. The academic load is so heavy, auditions are so crazy. I’d rather get a job then a get a 100 bucks. Different singers push themselves in different directions, they push for everything that comes along and they get tired and aren’t performing at their best.
(12/07/09 5:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The bar for the Miss Black and Gold Pageant is set high.The scores are based on poise, community service, grade point average, fundraising and talent.“We look for distinguished females who do service and are involved in school,” said junior Veldez Joshua, coordinator of the pageant and president of the Gamma Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, which sponsored the event. “They are good role models. This pageant is not based on beauty, but merit and qualities.”As a former Miss Black and Gold winner, judge Virginia LeBlanc knows firsthand that the winner of the pageant must represent the chapter organization in further competitions. The winner will go on to a district competition in February and possibly regional and national competitions.“This evening, Miss Black and Gold Pageant will be showcasing 11 of the most graceful and sophisticated women on Indiana University’s campus,” pageant host and senior D’Juan Wilcher said before the contestants entered the stage.First, each participant introduced herself and explained her aspirations. The women who participated in the pageant had goals ranging from attending Harvard Law School to becoming a dentist.The women in the pageant all had various reasons for why they wished to give back to their community.“I feel that I have been very blessed in my life, so I have an internal pride to work hard and be a positive and productive member of my community,” contestant Alex Williams said. Williams received first place in the competition.Participants then completed a private interview, introductions, talent competition, evening gown competition and a question-and-answer session.Two pageant participants shared their inspirational stories through spoken word.Contestant Jasmine Starks’s personal spoken word was titled “Strong.” She said her mother is her inspiration and strength for her hard work and dedication, which includes being an Indiana Memorial Union Board director and president of the Tau chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha.“Mommy, I want to be you,” Starks said with tears in her eyes. “I strive to be like you.”Starks’s spoken word fit with the message of the pageant, which is to uplift women.“For every story not written, I want to write you strong,” Starks said.Contestant Toyia Maxey gave a performance of spoken word in a piece called “Misinformed.” She gave her perspective of how people are ignorant of prejudices toward women, African Americans and Muslims. She is a member of all three communities.The women who competed in the Miss Black and Gold Pageant sought not only to represent their communities and themselves, but also IU’s Alpha Phi Alpha chapter.“You are not just representing yourself, you are representing your chapter’s organization,” LeBlanc said. “It’s not about you. Beauty is superficial – it’s about substance.”
(12/04/09 4:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Gender is not always as clear as male and female.At Willkie Quad’s “Lost in Transition” program, issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression were discussed by students, Barry MaGee, the assistant director for diversity educator for Residential Programs and Services and Rachael Jones, a transwoman who owns Bloomington’s Rachael’s Café.At the program, participants watched segments of “Transamerica,” a movie about a male-to-female transsexual who takes a roadtrip with her son. After watching the clips they discussed the issues pertinent in the movie. Both Jones and MaGee shared their personal experiences. MaGee talked about being a homosexual male and Jones spoke of being a transgendered woman.Jones has not gone through hormone therapy and does not consider herself as “passable.” She goes back and forth between Rachael and Eric for the sake of her children.“I am not as good of an Eric because of Rachael and I am not as good of a Rachael because of Eric,” Jones said.Jones struggled with her gender since a young age. She was brought up in a religious Christian background where it was clear that she had to suppress her desires to be female. When she was a little boy, she put on a dress and when she got teased for that it was clear to her that such things were not accepted.At the program, religion, sexual orientation and gender were addressed. Many people use the Bible as a way of saying being transgendered and being a homosexual is a sin.Having come from such a religious background, Jones said, “How is it that we pick and choose from the Bible? I don’t think Jesus would diss me for being different.”Jones has struggled with her identity and accepting the way she was.“I felt embarrassed dressing the way I dressed,” Jones said. “I know I’m not fooling somebody when I talk in falsetto. ... I wouldn’t choose this.”Although Jones came from a small town, her parents were accepting and said they had suspected her desire to be female.“My dad said, ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s all small stuff,’” Jones said.MaGee also shared his personal “coming out” story. Although MaGee “came out” at a young age, he suppressed his homosexual identity for awhile and said, “the thought of suicide occurred every moment.” Finally, he told his mother he had to talk to her while they were preparing dinner in the kitchen. Although, his mother accepted it she struggled with it for two months.MaGee’s “coming out” experience had positive results. “Stress was lifted off my shoulders in one day,” MaGee said. “One day made a world of difference.”However, MaGee said that “coming out” is not something that is done just one time. “Coming out” is something that is done every day.“You choose who you come out to,” MaGee said. “You choose to say if you are gay and if that even matters or not.” Students such as junior and a Willkie floor president, Corbin Santo, said they learned more about the topics of sexual orientation and gender from this event.“It gives a lot of perspective as to what I know now and it’s not from a text book,” Santo said. “It takes a certain person to be so open and shows a lot about how much they care about students by giving us this information.”
(12/03/09 5:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Members of IU student organizations put the principles of Kwanzaa into action by making a positive difference in the community.Organization members showcased their programs and events at Wednesday’s Pre-Kwanzaa celebration hosted at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center.The organizations African American Diaspora Studies Graduate Society, Asian American Association, Neal-Marshall Student Group, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Voices of Hope all had to plan and develop a program or event that would represent one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility – or to help your neighbor, collective economics – to support community businesses, purpose, creativity and faith. Each group presented their program or event in front of a panel of judges and determined what group fulfilled the mission of “Kwanzaa-in-Action” best.The winning team, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, received $500 from the Neal-Marshall Center to continue on their good work.Every fall semester Phi Beta Sigma does Sigma Strolls for AIDS, where members of the fraternity, as well as other greek community members, do a dance technique known as “strolling” for more than a mile around campus. This fall they raised $154 for AIDS research.Phi Beta Sigma’s program was primarily focused on the principle of creativity. Though Phi Beta Sigma president Walter Ballard was inspired by Dance Marathon, he wanted to do something that was uniquely African-American. Phi Beta Sigma also hosts the event Sigmas Sleep Out during the fall semester, in which they raise money for the Bloomington homeless community.The Sigmas got a chance to experience what it was like to be homeless for one night.“How can we help someone if we do not know what they are going through?” Ballard said. Second-place winner, the Neal-Marshall Student Group, worked with three young, homeless women from the organization Stepping Stones.This student organization focused on the principle of building unity. Lynette Anigbo, president of the Neal-Marshall Student Group, said they chose unity because it is at the center of all endeavors.Members of the Neal-Marshall Student Group wanted to have a personal conversation with these 18- and 19-year-old girls who were complete strangers to them. The group’s hope was to build a community, break down any walls and have an open dialogue about their struggles, Anigbo said.Other activities included baking and eating cookies, making shirts and creating a mission statement of what they hope to achieve in their lives.The mission statements were written on a poster and were personal.One of the women from Stepping Stones, Deshona, shared this in her mission statement: “I commit to myself that I will never give up and only succeed to the best of my ability. That others opinions, good or bad, will not determine how I see myself. That my childhood does not put a limit of how inspiring, loving, fun and happy I can be.”Fourth-place winners, Voices of Hope, worked with the organization Circles Initiative and delivered 15 food baskets to 15 needy families in Bloomington. The main principle of their event was collective work and responsibility.In the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center’s Grand-Hall, members of Voices of Hope and the families they helped broke bread together.The families they helped thanked them for the meal and food baskets.“Being here with you guys made me feel at home like I was with my own family,” a person who attended the dinner told senior Ramone Singfield, contact person for Voice of Hope. The experience was also fulfilling for those who gave.“To be a part of giving to someone was more of a delight,” Singfield said
(12/01/09 4:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sigma Phi Beta has gained momentum on campus.The national fraternity that provides a social and educational environment for gay, straight, bisexual and transgender men within the traditional greek system became a colony through the Interfraternity Council at IU on Nov. 13. A colony is a step up from an interest group, which means it is closer to becoming an actual chapter, said sophomore Joshua A. Thomas, one of the founders of Sigma Phi Beta at IU.IU’s Sigma Phi Beta is only considered a colony at IU but not on the national level because the paper work has not been filled out, said senior Ryne Shadday, one of the founders of Sigma Phi Beta at IU. As of Jan. 1, the fraternity will have a year to set up their fraternity according to Interfraternity Council regulations and “set up the pieces of the puzzle to get everything in place,” said Colin Nabity, IFC president at IU.Sigma Phi Beta must have active alumni involvement, set up a new member program and create an internal standards board to monitor members, Nabity said. Nabity said that although the IFC is open to diversity and it has bylaws specifically about the topic, he hopes that with the onset of Sigma Phi Beta those who are skeptical of joining a fraternity based on their race and sexual orientation will feel even more welcomed. “I hope it gives people a second chance to find something to get involved in,” Nabity said. Five men wanted to begin a chapter of Sigma Phi Beta on IU’s campus. The fraternity was founded in 2003 at Arizona State University. If the fraternity came to IU, that would be its second established chapter. About 50 men from around campus have become interested in joining Sigma Phi Beta, Thomas said. By January 2011, Sigma Phi Beta should be considered a chapter at the national and campus level. However, getting a house will take time, Thomas said. Sigma Phi Beta members want to be a part of the traditional greek system, but their mission is to bring attention to GLBT issues.“We want to be able to use our philanthropy events for our community,” Thomas said. “Typically events now in the greek community are based on, I wouldn’t say they are straight type things, but we could use our events for the GLBT community.” “We want to have the same traditions. We want it to be a traditional greek frat, with, I guess, kind of different theme to it,” Thomas said. “If they were to go to a frat that is here now, we want to give them the same opportunities that they would have if they were in that other one.” Even though IU has a GLBT Student Support Services Office and organizations such as OUT GLBT Student Union, the greek system adds another dimension to Bloomington’s GLBT community and provides even more opportunities to make positive changes, Shadday said.“The greek system is so broad in general and it can do so much if it is utilized appropriately,” Shadday said. “And I think this can be utilized appropriately especially with the group of people who are starting it, and if our goals are met we can do a lot, and we can accomplish a lot, and that’s why I got involved in doing that.” However, the gay members of the greek community have expressed opposition to Sigma Phi Beta, Shadday said. “It’s kind of disappointing, but it’s to be expected,” Shadday said. “I want to think that it’s integrated enough that we shouldn’t have to separate ourselves and do these things. ... I think that they would be more open to it if they understood, but I don’t think they understood what we are actually trying to do.” Another issue members of the greek community have voiced is that Sigma Phi Beta might cause segregation, Thomas said. “People that are against it and gay think that we are trying to throw a bunch of gays into one house where it’s a big everybody-dating-everybody type thing,” Thomas said. “And that’s not the goal at all. That’s where everyone is taking this ... There are a lot of rules to try to keep that stuff from not going on, and it’s pretty much one strike and you are out.” Thomas said that there are set ground rules on dating between brothers and pledges to prevent such matters from occurring. Sigma Phi Beta members hope to keep the traditional elements of a fraternity within their alternative organization. “Every frat is going to have their certain type of person, but this one will focus on brotherhood, education and philanthropy,” Thomas said.
(12/01/09 12:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Megan Watson, second-year graduate student in Library Science and Musicology, is a reference/technical associate at the Herman B Wells Library. She recorded the number of steps she took during her work day. Her grand total was 2,456 steps. About 1,800 steps occurred from 9 a.m. to noon. Her tasks included walking up and down the stairs to refill the department’s paper and toner supplies. From noon until 2 p.m., she was at the reference desk, which limited her movements to getting books from directly behind the desk and walking between reference desk computers. From 2 to 3 p.m. she sat at her desk. Kelley School of Business I-Core student Aaron Davis, a junior from Long Island, N.Y., walked 3,575 steps one day. Items on the day’s agenda included a walk to the bus stop from his Smallwood apartment, a walk back to Smallwood from the business school, and a walk to the Girl Talk concert at the now-repaired Dunn Meadow. Three days later, on a crisp Sunday morning, IU cross country runner Andy Bayer completed more than 16,500 steps throughout his team’s 10-mile morning run. The remainder of his Sunday proved less intense. He traveled to Target in the early afternoon and St. Paul Catholic Center later in the day, bringing his day’s total up to 20,000 steps.