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(01/24/14 4:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After someone offered to sell him a book at half price, Ilham Kabir had an idea.Kabir, a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago, created the website Felicks to help students buy textbooks from one another without additional fees.Since the website’s successful launch in August 2013, Felicks promoters, or ambassadors, have been hired at 12 campuses to help generate interest in Felicks.Sophomore Michael Stack serves as IU’s ambassador. He said the website has more than 3,000 users at UIC.“Although it’s new at IU, in the past six days there are 560 users on campus,” Stack said. “We will be at over 2,000 in the next two weeks.”Stack said he promotes Felicks by talking to students around campus.“I promoted our product in classrooms, the cafeteria — basically anywhere that students hang out,” Stack said. “I have a laptop, iPhone or iPad out with me all the time to show students how easy the site is.”Kabir said the idea for Felicks occurred when he struggled to buy a math book.“I ordered one on Amazon and it arrived in a terrible condition,” Kabir said. “I went to the bookstore to just buy it, and a girl said, ‘I used the book last semester. You can just buy mine.’”Kabir said students don’t have to worry about the condition of the book with Felicks, since only students on their campus can exchange. Freshman Kaundinya Pochampally said the website streamlines the process of trying to buy or sell a book on campus.“The website was created because trying to exchange books on Facebook or other sites was too disorganized,” Pochampally said. “Students need something not too time-consuming.” Kabir named the site Felicks after the Latin word “felix,” which means lucky or fortunate.“I felt as students, we could all use some extra hope in our lives,” Kabir said. “I changed the spelling from ‘felix’ to ‘Felicks’ because I thought it was something people would remember.”The website is intended to make it easier for students to either buy books or place books on the website. “In about 20-30 seconds, a student can post a book online,” Kabir said.When a student enters the site, he or she chooses to either buy or sell, and creates a profile. Unlike Amazon, eBay or Chegg, a student selling or buying through Felicks doesn’t have to worry about going to the post office to send the book.Instead, students exchange books with each other on campus.“Other websites charge shipping fees, selling fees and tax, which can become expensive for a student to sell a book,” Kabir said. “When a student is placing a book, the price is completely up to them.” Follow reporter Angela Hawkins on Twitter @angelalhawkins.
(01/21/14 4:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Music from the Jacobs School’s Kenari Quartet flowed through Alumni Hall Monday morning at the 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Leadership breakfast in the Indiana Memorial Union. Attendees filed in at 8 a.m., ready to claim their nametags and get in line for the breakfast buffet. The Leadership Breakfast honors King’s legacy, Vicki Roberts, associate vice president for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs, said.It’s a breakfast because, during his career, King could often only meet early in the morning to avoid trouble and danger.Shortly after the breakfast plates were cleared, the first speaker took the microphone.Martin McCrory, the vice provost for Educational Inclusion and Diversity, provided opening remarks for the speaker portion of the event. President McRobbie greeted the audience through a video, and Provost Lauren Robel addressed the audience. Later Mohammed Torabi, the dean of the School of Public Health, introduced doctors Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt and George Jenkins, a trio of motivational speakers known as “The Three Doctors.”Davis, Hunt and Jenkins all shared their backgrounds during their talks.When they were younger, the trio grew up in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Newark, N.J.One day they decided to skip their second period social science class in high school, Davis said.“We had it all planned out, we all knew how we were going to get out of class,” Davis said.Their plans were thwarted when, as they were making their way to the gym, a security guard blocked their path. The school principal stood at another entrance and they were trapped. “The library doors that were never open were open on this day,” Davis said. The boys saw their chance to escape.They made their way into the library, where a seminar was taking place. The subject was the new pre-med and dental program at Seton Hall University.And that day, they made a pact to become doctors.The focus of Davis’, Hunt’s and Jenkins’ speeches was the idea of “paying it forward,” which Davis said King did.“We want to leave a legacy for kids to see that they can become something other than what they see in the inner city,” Davis said.He said too many kids in poorer neighborhoods today give up on themselves in the fifth and sixth grades.“They think it is uncool to participate in school anymore,” Davis said. “Whenever I meet kids who seem to be lacking focus, I tell them, ‘They can call you ‘nerd’ today, but they will be calling you ‘boss’ tomorrow.’”All three doctors spoke about their stories and how they were inspired to “pay it forward” after special people in their lives did the same for them.They credited their success to Carla Dixon, their mentor at Seton Hall.“After she interviewed us, she did everything in her power to make sure we stayed together,” Hunt said.The pre-med/pre-dental program was new at Seton Hall the year they enrolled. There were only ten slots, Hunt said. “If Dixon chose us, then that meant three candidates came from the same high school,” Hunt said. “That couldn’t be practical, but Dixon did everything she could and got us all in.”Davis, Hunt and Jenkins said they all had people who wanted to see them become something more than what they were used to seeing in the inner city.Jenkins said his third grade teacher exposed him and his classmates to the world though field trips.Hunt’s inspiration was a teacher as well.“A teacher of mine early on taught me how to spell ‘hypothesis,’ and after I did she said I was the smartest boy she ever knew,” he said. “I held onto that.”Jenkins said the doctors held onto each other and the encouraging and inspiring words from others to get them through their education.Jenkins, a dentist, said he struggled more than Davis or Hunt.“When I had my weak days and would see these guys studying, that is what made me turn around and go study,” Jenkins said.Jenkins encouraged students at the breakfast to find a group, person or professor who believes in their dreams as much as they do.“Having these guys was just what I needed when I started to doubt myself on becoming a dentist and lowering my standards,” Jenkins said of Davis and Hunt. “Wanting to stay up with them, like in a race, was my motivation. If I could see their shoulders from the back, I had to run a little harder to catch up.”Hunt, who is an internist and internal medicine physician, turned his talk toward the faculty at the breakfast.He emphasized how much encouragement and inspiration — he called it “the E and I” — can mean to a student.The doctors have released three books — “The Pact,” “We Beat the Street” and “The Bond” — and gave the audience a book signing after the lecture event.Following the book signing, the doctors ate lunch with several IU student leaders.Jenkins left the crowd with food for thought.“The world has so much more to offer other than the living conditions where you grew up,” he said. “You just need one person to help you see this and you can have anything in the world.”
(01/17/14 4:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Emergency physician Dr. Sampson Davis grew up in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Newark, N.J., where he saw everything from hard drugs to crime.After a difficult childhood, Davis knew he wanted to make something of himself, and decided he wanted to be a doctor.Davis will be speaking at IU Monday, alongside friends Dr. Ramack Hunt and Dr. George Jenkins. The three men, co-authors of the autobiographical book “The Pact”, will speak at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Leadership Breakfast, beginning 8:30 a.m. in the Indiana Memorial Union Alumni Hall.Davis met Hunt and Jenkins in ninth grade. The men shared his goals of entering the field of medicine.The three remained close during their high school years, and in their junior year made a pact that they would make it through medical school together.The pact they made led them all to be accepted at Seton Hall University in South Orange Village, N.J.Upon graduation from Seton Hall, the trio gained entry to Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, N.J.Davis graduated with honors from both colleges, but he said it wasn’t an easy road.Davis said he had a difficult period in medical school, and went through a time when he needed something to inspire him. “The mantra I have is the three D’s: dedication, determination, and discipline,” Davis said. “I encourage everyone to come up with their own mantra. Anytime I got down on myself, I just said the three D’s, and they have stuck with me.”Davis said he chose to practice emergency medicine because it provides variety in his day-to-day work. He also chose it because it reminds him of the disorganized chaos he saw growing up in Newark, he said.“It keeps me busy and focused on different things at one time,” Davis said. “Like when I was growing up, I had so many influences coming all at once I just had to find a way to through it all. That is why I love emergency medicine.” In addition to his medical work, Davis works as an inspirational speaker for young people and adults.“I tell the kids you can make it out with your education,” Davis said. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be from athletics.”Davis said he draws from everything he has been through to inspire his audiences.“I try to touch some lives when I speak,” Davis said.When he arrives at IU on Monday, he said that he hopes to inspire students with his story.Davis knows what it’s like to be the student who is struggling and needs inspiration to drive them forward.“Remember your dream and what you did to get to where you are today,” he said.Follow reporter Angela Hawkins on Twitter @angelalhawkins.
(01/10/14 5:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Campus thefts during breaks are almost inevitable.Every year when students return home for break, thieves take advantage of the relatively empty campus to break into buildings, offices and dormitories. IU saw six cases of theft during winter break.Out of those six reports, police records show that only one resulted in an arrest. According to the reports, the thefts have occurred in several different academic buildings, including Sycamore Hall, the School of Public Health, Swain Hall and the Indiana Memorial Union.“The theft in Sycamore Hall involved an administrative staff’s checkbook being stolen and checks being written, so it is fraud as well,” IUPD Lieutenant Craig Munroe said.Munroe said some thefts happened when people just turned their backs or left the room. “The Ora L. Wildermuth Intramural Center thefts involved possessions that were left on the basketball court,” he said.When the thieves are caught, Munroe said they could face several different possibilities of punishments.“They could get anywhere from jail time to community service,” he said.To cut down on lifted items, students and staff are asked to take precautions prior to making departures for break.“IU is a big place and when the full time officers and supervisors are here, there are only six of us,” IUPD Captain Thomas Lee said. “We can’t be everywhere at the same time.” The thefts usually occur because students have left a valuable item either in their dorm or at the library, Lee said.He said IUPD is able to find if the offender was a staff member if the theft occurred in a dorm room, because they can tell who had the keys to the rooms at the time of a theft.IUPD patrols the entire campus during break, as well as covering fraternities and sororities if the houses ask them to, he said.“It ultimately comes down to students and staff taking precautions to protect their possessions while they are away,” Lee said.With so many thefts occurring in a short period of time, Lee said it is the owner of the stolen item that really gets punished. “Oftentimes it takes so long to locate and recover an item, the victim ultimately pays the price in the end,” Lee said. Follow reporter Angela Hawkins on Twitter @angelalhawkins.
(12/02/13 3:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Participation in this year’s fall Energy Challenge reduced energy use at IU by more than one billion kilowatts of electricity and more than one million gallons of water.Director of Sustainability William Brown said the challenge also saved IU more than $1.5 million.The Energy Challenge awards ceremony took place Nov. 13. Buildings that reduced energy use to below the baseline of their average were recognized at the ceremony. “Students at the ceremony reported they are turning off lights and taking shorter showers,” said Jessica Stavole, School of Public and Environmental Affairs graduate student.This fall’s challenge included 17 residence halls and apartment housing complexes, 15 lab, classroom or administrative buildings and 13 greek houses.This year’s winners received a water bottle refill station in their building, Brown said.When the challenge began in 2008 only 10 residence halls were included.In this fall’s challenge, the IU Office of Sustainability wanted to test how different buildings respond to changing weather conditions due to the distinct heating and cooling systems on campus, Brown said. “That helps us isolate savings due to behavior change versus savings due to changes in the weather,” he said.Brown said Stavole performed a comprehensive and complex weatherization and building analysis. He said her work will make all future Energy Challenges more accurate and meaningful. All buildings have meters for both water and energy. Buildings compete to save the most energy and water compared to their average use.“(The buildings) are really competing against themselves and their building’s history rather than against other buildings,” Brown said.In addition to the Energy Challenge, there is a Greenest Floor Challenge that coincides with the campus competition. Floors in residence halls compete to get the largest proportion of dorm rooms certified “Green” by Residential Programs and Services, IUOS and the Residence Hall Association.The number of certified rooms more than doubled this year. Five hundred twenty-five student rooms in IU residence halls met the criteria laid out by the Green Room Certification Program, up from 200 rooms during last year’s competition.To certify their rooms, students had to meet 20 of 47 criteria, including improving their recycling habits and using energy-efficient appliances.Greek houses submit $50 at the start of the challenge into a pool of money. At the end of the challenge, the house with the most energy saved wins the pool of money. This year, Delta Delta Delta sorority won the $600 prize, a first place banner and another $50. Junior Mary Roper said she thought the Greenest Floor Challenge was a fun way to save energy. In some dorms, students focused on specific criteria for the challenge. Roper said she and her floor mates in Ashton Center chose to reduce electricity use.“Our challenge was to see what rooms could remember to unplug electrical outlets,” she said. “If they stay plugged in but turned off, energy is still being used.”The Greenest Floor Challenge big winner was the sixth floor of Clark Wing in Read Residence Center, where 90.5 percent of students certified their rooms.The IUOS decided to add an Energy Challenge to the fall semester after noticing there was little change in behavior when the challenge was performed only in the spring semester. When they added the fall challenge they noticed the winning teams saved about 25 percent more energy. Brown said good habits practiced during the Energy Challenge continue when the challenge is over.“We did a study where we kept meter readings without telling anyone after the challenge was over, and we found that the behavior change was persistent,” Brown said. Follow reporter Angela Hawkins on Twitter @angelalhawkins.
(11/14/13 4:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Two new sites have been added to the IU Honors Program in Foreign Languages, giving high school students a chance to study abroad through IU.High school students enrolled in the program can now study in China and Chile for a summer.In 2014, new sites will be offered in Hangzhou, China and Viña del Mar, Chile, Managing director Stephanie Goetz said.The program immerses students in an environment in which they can take their foreign language skills to new level, she said. “It will be the launching of our first program in Asia, as well as our first program in South America,” Goetz said.Goetz taught IUHPFL courses in Ciudad Real, Spain for four summers. Since her arrival, the program has continued to grow.The program began in 1962 with sites in St. Brieuc, France; Trier, Germany and Oaxaca, Mexico, according to the program’s website.The only original site that remains is St. Brieuc, France, but, as of summer 2013, the program was in nine locations. Other sites include Krefeld, Germany; Valencia, Spain and Saumur, France, Goetz said.Goetz said in addition to improving students’ language skills, the program also provides students with a greater cross-cultural understanding.Students come away with newly developed friendships with host families and fellow participants.IU alum Wayne Parker went to St. Brieuc, France in 1963. “It was one of the most important experiences in my life,” he said. The new site in Hangzhou was chosen for its cultural diversity and strong collaboration between sister cities Indianapolis and Hangzhou.“Over the last five years since I’ve assumed directorship of the program, more and more schools in Indiana have added Chinese as a language offered to their students,” Goetz said.IUHPFL has been tracking program alumni’s enrollment at IU since 2008.About 27 percent of each class of high school students that participates enrolls at IU, she said.“It was time to expand into China and meet the needs of Chinese students across the state,” Goetz said.Follow reporter Angela Hawkins on Twitter @angelalhawkins.
(11/12/13 3:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Quad is a new app changing the way students connect with one another.The group texting app is similar to GroupMe but was created specifically for college students, Matthew Murphy, founder of the app and CEO of the California-based company, Appsurdity Inc., said.“Quad allows any person on campus to join a group by simply downloading the app,” Murphy said.The app is able to connect groups of 50 to 200 people in one group message, or “quad.” Facebook and other apps require students to know each other’s phone numbers before they connect, said IU sophomore and Quad ambassador Jennifer Vasko, but Quad does not. When the app is downloaded, a student signs in either through Facebook or creates an account. Users can find friends or groups either through searching or allowing the app to connect to their contacts.Each quad or user is given a pin to ensure privacy and keep the quad’s messages secure, Murphy said. Since the app launched Sept. 6, Quad quickly began catching buzz around multiple college campuses.Quad made its debut on the IU campus three weeks ago after Vasko decided to create a Quad for IU Dance Marathon, Quad marketing manager Shawn Matthew said.“I thought making a Quad for IUDM would be a good way for people to learn more about IUDM and Quad,” Vasko said.Shortly after Vasko got Quad started on campus for IUDM, she helped work with the company to launch a competition on Oct. 30 with Vasko’s lead, Murphy said.Quad representatives will be donating $4,000 to IUDM in the name of the top three groups who create quads and get the most points.The winning groups will receive funds to benefit IUDM and the Riley Hospital for Children.The winner will get a $2,500 donation, runner-up will receive $1,000 and third place will get $500 based on the contest website.“Launching the competition to IU was a great way to get the word out more about Quad and challenge campus organizations such as IUDM or greek houses to get as many votes as they can to win money for IUDM,” Murphy said.Today is the last day to vote in the competition.To vote students must register their organization’s quad by entering the quad pin number or searching for a pre-registered organization from the list, which includes several fraternities and sororities.Each new user vote is worth 10 points, Murphy said. “Quad is just adding to what they are already doing in support for a great cause,” Murphy said.In addition to helping raise funds, Quad also helps connect students for social and academic purposes. “This is an app that also helps students connect to one another from classes and provides an easier way to chat with other classmates about assignments,” Murphy said.Vasko said he is working to get the word out about Quad.“I am knocking on greek house doors and telling my classmates in class about it,” Vasko said.Junior ambassador Jeff Miley just joined the Quad team and said he is excited to tell others about the app.“I think this is a great app to help IU students connect to each other and organizations,” Miley said.Follow reporter Angela Hawkins on Twitter @angelalhawkins.
(11/06/13 3:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As the Big Ten Championship against No. 12 Michigan approaches at 2 p.m. this Saturday at Moose Grounds Field in Elkhart, Ind., the IU men’s rugby team is not letting its No. 9 rank get to its head.Heading into Saturday, the team has an overall record of 8-1 and is 6-0 in conference.The team beat No. 17 Ohio State last Saturday 37-0. “Our defense played a hell of a game, and we were able to move the ball around,” said Stephen Fairley, IU men’s rugby team president.Having defeated non-conference ranked opponent Ball State in exhibition 104-0 and ranked conference teams Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Iowa and Ohio State, IU’s strategy is not going to change for Michigan in the championship.“We’re just looking at it one game at a time,” Fairley said.Head Coach Sarasopa Enari said he has no doubt his team can handle Michigan, but he knows it will be a test. “They are much bigger than any other team we have seen this year. It’s not going to be an easy game,” he said.Being undefeated in conference is a goal the team set for itself in the beginning of the season.Enari, who coached the team for more than 10 years from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, returned to coach the team this year.“The first thing I did was talk to them, and we set the goals, and they wanted to win the Big Ten,” Enari said.It was not easy for the team to accept Enari at first, as the team was used to just showing up to play and not being serious in previous years, Fairley said.The adjustment of a new coaching staff and losing key players from last year has made this year a rebuilding year, Fairley said, which has been the biggest obstacle for the team.“Coach Enari coming in had a completely different mindset than any other coach the boys have had,” Fairley said. “But after we started winning ... it really made the guys trust in him and his coaching staff and everything we were moving toward.”The team has continued to work hard, which, Fairley said, is something Enari expects out of everyone on the team.The matchup last Saturday against Ohio State left some players “pretty banged up,” Fairley said.“We are going to see who shows up at practice and who is healthy on Saturday,” he said.Since the Wolverines are physically bigger players than the Hoosiers’ roster, Enari said all 15 guys on the team will need to work together and spread the ball evenly to get past Michigan and win the Big Ten.The team is led by senior eight-man and captain Issac Hall, Fairley said. “He has done a very good job on and off the field, just taking charge and adding to the hard-working attitude of the team,” Fairley said.Although its initial goal was to win the Big Ten, Enari said the team is starting to think even bigger now.“The boys want to take the whole thing and make Big Ten and Nationals,” Enari said.Follow reporter Angela Hawkins on Twitter @angelalhawkins.
(11/04/13 3:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A group of about 70 children and their families ran across the field at Memorial Stadium as the crowd cheered Saturday.The Riley Hospital for Children patients gathered for Riley at the Rock, an event organized by IU Athletics and IU Dance Marathon.The event, which is in its sixth year, took place during IU’s Homecoming football game against Minnesota.It gave children from Riley Hospital a chance to escape their realities, said junior Nick Kolar, IUDM director of public relations.Riley at the Rock served as precursor event for IUDM’s primary fundraiser, a 36-hour dance marathon Nov. 15-17. The money goes to Riley Hospital, which treats more than 80 percent of all new cancer diagnoses in Indiana children as well as provides other comprehensive pediatric care.IUDM collaborates with IU Athletics to plan Riley at the Rock, Kolar said. “IU Athletics picks a game for us to do it, and this year, out of luck, they chose Homecoming,” Kolar said.Before the game, the families met in the Hoosier Village for a tailgate.They passed the time tossing footballs, playing corn hole and watching a performance by the Marching Hundred.As kick-off time drew near, the children and IUDM representatives walked from Hoosier Village to the IU practice field.Once on the field, they continued to run around and play with their friends from Riley and IUDM.After a few photo sessions, the time had come for them to enter the stadium. Upon entering the tunnel to get to the Wilkinson Performance Center, the kids cheered, laughed and chanted “FTK,” or “for the kids.”Eli Delks, a Riley Hospital patient, attended the gathering with a friend and an IUDM representative. “I get to run on IU’s field for the first time ever,” Delks said.For other attendees it was not their first time, Carla Russell from Indianapolis said.Carla’s daughter, Natalie Russell, is in remission for an autoimmune disease.“We have been coming for four years,” Carla said. “I’m glad it continues, and I am glad it ever began.”As they waited in the Wilkinson Performance Center weight room, the kids expressed their anticipation to get onto the field. “I’m ready to run,” 2-year-old Nate Russell, Natalie’s brother, said.Finally, the moment all the kids, parents and IUDM staff waited for had arrived. Before the football players entered the field for kick-off, the Riley patients and families ran across the field, smiling and cheering. The Riley at the Rock event, along with the other IUDM events, encourages parents and kids to continue to be involved, Carla said.IUDM has provided funds to help her daughter recover.“I think it is great that college kids get together to do other things for the kids at Riley,” Russell said. “Without IU or IUDM Riley may have never had the knowledge to help my daughter get in remission from her autoimmune disease.”Parent Paul Ginrin of Plainfield said his son Gavin was treated for infant leukemia at Riley Hospital.“With Dance Marathon a lot of the proceeds go to Riley Hospital and help children like my son who have a diagnosis or life-threatening illness,” Ginrin said.Once they made it across the field, all of the kids stood and watched the IU football players make their entrance. Natalie said she enjoyed the day running around with her friends. “It’s just really fun,” she said. Follow reporter Angela Hawkins on Twitter @angelalhawkins.
(10/25/13 6:12pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU women’s rugby team is used to scoring and beating defenders to the ball.The team is 7-0 after winning 29-7 last Saturday against Ohio State. Head coach Vaughn Mitchell said the team’s defensive pressure and kicking game, including players Caroline Walters, Allison Hale and Masie Duncan, were keys to the victory.“Caroline’s kicking for field position put pressure on Ohio State, Allion’s tackling and Masie’s defensive pressure helped us win,” Mitchell said.The players said they play as though they are a family.“It’s one of the things I believe has helped our success,” Hale said. “(Mitchell) is really good at analyzing what we didn’t do well in a game, then he adjusts practice to improve in those areas.”Mitchell is always stressing defense and not allowing the other team to score, Hale said.The team said it has listened as it prepares to go into a game against Penn State Oct. 27 at home at Evan Williams Field.Losing to Penn State in the final four of the Big Ten tournament ended the Hoosiers' season early last year.IU women’s rugby has beat every opponent they have faced. The Penn State matchup this Sunday will be their biggest challenge.Mitchell said the team will focus on defensive pressure and kicking position against Penn State.”We struggled with their defensive pressure,” Mitchell said about the last Penn State matchup. “Our defensive organization was not very good.” Along with worrying about their weekly matches, the team struggles with finding funding for the club, Hale said.“We look for sponsors and park (cars) for basketball games, which brings in a lot of revenue,” Hale said.Despite the questions of funding, the Hoosiers say they will be ready to take on Penn State by Sunday.“Penn State is number one in the nation,” Hale Nguyen said. “We just want to beat them.”Follow reporter Angela Hawkins on Twitter at @angelalhawkins.
(10/22/13 3:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For the first time, freshmen will have reserved spots to play in an intramural basketball league specifically for first-year students. Campus Recreational Sports is offering the intramural basketball league as a way to help freshmen get used to campus and meet new people while playing the sport, Director of Recreational Sports Kathy Bayless said. Prior to this year, the Recreational Sports fall basketball league was offered only as a preseason league. It existed to prepare players for the all-ages, spring basketball intramural tournament, Bayless said. Senior Student Recreational Sports Association Vice President Devin Jacobs said the SRSA listened to student input and then decided to offer the league. “Intramurals are hard to get into for some freshmen,” Jacobs said. “We were approached by administration, freshmen and residence halls about implementing something for freshmen.”Basketball is Recreational Sports’ most popular intramural sport.The association decided this was the best sport to use as a pilot program or test for a freshmen intramural league, Jacobs said.McNutt Quad Residence Manager Jocelyn Maul said she has seen how hard it is for freshmen to get out and meet others.“It’s always a challenge to get them out of their warm comfort zone,” Maul said. “The best thing to get freshmen connected with other freshmen is through intramurals.”Freshman Kelsey Mills, who played basketball in high school, said she is excited about the league. “I am looking forward to meeting new people,” Mills said.Registration to play on the men’s, women’s or co-ed team began this week and will continue until Nov. 5. Teams and individuals can sign up at the WIC or the SRSC.Each team needs five to 10 players and a distinctive team name.Each team must also pay a $35 registration fee before playing in the intramural league.At least one team representative must attend a “captain’s meeting” on Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. in the School of Public Health.Individual players can register for $5 to be placed on a team.A number of freshmen have already chosen to participate in the league, Jacobs said. Freshmen will get the experience of playing on the hardwood at the Ora L. Wildermuth Intramural Center.“I believe the league will open up other opportunities for freshmen,” Mills said. Once the season comes to an end, teams with no forfeited games and a 3.0 sportsmanship rating will be eligible for the single elimination championship tournament, Bayless said.Teams will play a two game round robin, followed by a single elimination tournament.“I want the league to be the first step in getting students connected to the University,” Maul said.