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(04/11/03 5:34am)
Fifteen minutes before 11 a.m. Friday morning, Deb Hutton, program coordinator for International Studies for Indiana Schools, tests the TV connection in the basement of the International Programs building, a small structure often neglected by its conspicuous neighbor, the Roach Motel. \nToday's teacher, Mimi Lee, a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Education, stands within the confines of her makeshift studio/classroom miles apart from the seventh grade students in a distant rural community. Blue sheets from Kohl's disguise Lee's desk; a grayish-blue slice of carpeting prevents unnecessary echoing; and a map of the world offers the ample amount of an international perspective for today's lesson, "Daily Life in South Korea," the fourth in a six-part series.\nThrough ISIS, long-distance learning has zipped through the airwaves of eccentric sci-fi fantasy and been transformed into the realm of modern reality.\nChallenging conventional education since its inception in 1995, ISIS uses sophisticated technology to allow communication between professors and students via two-way interactive video. \nAn award-winning program for K-12 students and community groups, ISIS offers students in homogeneous rural communities the resources and expertise of international students, professors and other global specialists. \nDespite technical difficulties with the camera's zoom button, Lee's students remained relatively attentive, raising their hands in excitement to guess South Koreans' favorite dish. \n"Stuff we eat and like, you will think is weird," Lee said. \nShe wrestled with the inevitably touchy, yet necessary issue of dog-eating customs in Asia. \n"It's a philosophy of a small group of Asians," Lee said as she explained additional medicinal and cultural reasons for the custom.\nDenise Gardiner, the outreach coordinator for the Russian and East European Institute, said the program's frequency depends on the number of requests from teachers.\n"If something happens in Russia, you get more requests because teachers are dealing with something they don't know a lot about and want more current info than they can get from textbooks," Gardiner said.\nHutton said world-shattering events, such as Sept. 11 or Operation Iraqi Freedom, peak student-teacher interest. Teachers want to help students understand current events, she said.\nZainab Istrabadi, the associate director of the Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies program, was in the ISIS studio as often as three times a week leading discussions in the months prior to the attack on Iraq.\nIstrabadi, a native Iraqi, said she is the first Arab many students have ever seen. \nHowever, young children's open-mindedness and willingness to surrender preconceived notions has surprised Istrabadi.\n"I don't feel when I'm with kids that I'm simply teaching," Istrabadi said. "I'm actually also learning from them."\nHutton said she strives to keep the programs interactive and strays away from monotonous monologues. \nWhen Istrabadi spoke to a group of students at Columbus North High School, she presented a five-minute introduction. The remainder of the program rested on the students' willingness to ask questions.\n"The best thing about helping your kids learn about different cultures is to have them touch it," Hutton said. Since taking kids to a culture is not always viable, the next best thing teachers can do is bring the culture to the school via video and unscripted, real interaction, she said.\nMusic school professor Mary Goetze coordinated a program in which the Hungarian folk singer who composed the song her students were singing communicated with them via ISIS.\n"Line by line, note by note, the composer taught students how to sing the song as it was intended … with that particular perfect sound," Hutton said. "Imagine Beethoven teaching his music to a symphony here"
(04/07/03 6:12am)
Cielle Amundson couldn't wait to see 500 Asian-Americans gather on IU's campus. Amundson, IU's Asian American Association programming chair, got her wish this past weekend when for the first time since 1996, IU hosted the annual Midwest Asian American Student Union Conference.\nThrough a mix of entertainment and educational workshops, the weekend offered Asian students the opportunity to regain a sense of cultural character.\n"I think it's really interesting to see so many Asians get together and talk about their identity," freshman I-Shan Cheng said. \nStifled within the stereotypical cult of pre-med students, Asian-Americans today are struggling to redefine themselves.\nMAASU co-chair Cecille Domingo said she hopes the event helped create a better cultural understanding amongst Asian-Americans.\n"There's a lack of understanding, not only by others but by ourselves," Domingo said.\nFocusing on instilling positive change within the Asian-American community, MAASU's theme this year was "Innovate: Culture in Motion."\nMAASU wanted a theme that reflected the current Asian-American status in the U.S., event social chair Amundson said.\n"Asian-Americans are trying to define themselves by never-before used labels."\nIn conjunction with MAASU, AAA presented its annual Taste of Asia Friday night in Alumni Hall. Performances by a hip-hop group, a guitar duo and Lambda Alpha Phi, the Asian fraternity, offered guests a glimpse into Asian culture. \nFreshman Josh Kim, the night's emcee, improvised on his guitar between acts.\n"I'd like to welcome you to Taste of Asia/ I thought there would be food, but now I know the stinkin' truth," he sang. \nMany guests shared Kim's disillusionment, but the performances hushed their restlessness.\nStudents roared with laughter and erupted into cheers as Stir-Friday Night, Chicago's premier Asian sketch comedy troop, mocked Asian stereotypes. \nRoger Fan, an actor from MTV's "Better Luck Tomorrow," a movie about Asian-Americans, gave guests a sneak preview of the film, opening in select cities Friday.\nThe movie offers the Asian-American community a rare opportunity to thrust into the Hollywood scene. \nFan compared being an Asian-American in Hollywood to selling a long, sexy boat in the desert. It doesn't matter how nice the boat is or how good it looks. There's no need for it.\n "It (MAASU) is about our culture," Domingo said. "It's not a cause, it's who we are."\nSaturday, MAASU held workshops throughout the day and a banquet at the Bloomington Convention Center in the evening. Pierre Wuu, an IU alum and former editor of aMagazine, the largest selling Asian-American magazine in the country, spoke at the banquet.\nFreshman Cheng didn't go to a lot of the workshops, but she managed to catch one called, "What do you see when you look in the mirror? APA (Asian Pacific American) women, beauty, and body image."\nSince April 2002, when IU was determined as the host school for MAASU, a group of eight core people and 25 volunteers worked to organize the massive event.
(04/02/03 6:08am)
While he conducted research for an essay in high school, IU sophomore David Johnson uncovered the often-forgotten anti-miscegenation laws. Until the Supreme Court case Loving vs. Virginia overturned the laws in 1967, blacks and whites in 17 states couldn't marry.\n"Universities didn't allow interracial dating," said Johnson, who is black.\n"I didn't know about it," said freshman Stephany Juneau, his girlfriend at the time. Juneau is white. "I'm glad I grew up in this time when it's OK to do stuff like this."\nAlthough Johnson and Juneau's relationship was legal, the court of public opinion still had to accept it. Johnson said he was worried about telling his old-fashioned mother about the relationship, and Juneau said her grandfather would have a "heart attack" if he knew Johnson was black. The couple split up last week after four months because of personal reasons.\nDuring the last few decades, the United States has witnessed a gradual shift in tolerance toward interracial relationships. The progressive attitudes of younger generations is partially responsible for the growing tolerance, according to a 1999 survey by The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.\nDespite increasing in popularity, interracial relationships still constitute a miniscule percentage of the general population. The 2000 Census showed interracial marriages made up about 3 percent of all marriages, compared to less than 0.5 percent in 1960.\nSociologists have struggled to explain trends in the interracial dating scene. Inexplicable patterns, such as the greater number of white women than white men dating minorities and the larger number of white-Asian relationships than white-black couples, remain a mystery because of insufficient research.\nEven with increased acceptance, some interracial couples continue to face problems as they strive to dissolve other people's deep-rooted stereotypes. Some have to deal with racial slurs and derogatory remarks. Others worry how their families will react. \nGraduate student Maggy Mendoza grew up with many Chinese and white friends in Pasadena, Calif. Her Colombian parents weren't ecstatic, but they supported her when she started dating a Chinese friend from a small, southern Indiana town.\nMendoza said she never thought ethnic differences could dictate relationships, but they created an unimaginable amount of tension.\n"It's not necessarily cultural clashes, but the things that resulted from us being different cultures," Mendoza said.\nThe distinction between their professions and ideals, for example, created stress. While Mendoza is working to earn a master's degree in elementary education, her ex-boyfriend is attending medical school to become a doctor. During their four-year relationship, she spoke to her ex-boyfriend's parents once. They repeatedly tried to break the couple up, she said. \nSociology professor David James said race continues to negatively affect relationships, although not to the extent it did 40 years ago. Since 1967, the number of blacks marrying other races has increased, leading to a similar trend among other racial groups, he said.\nJames said social scientists consider interracial marriages the most accurate indicator of social boundaries between groups. Sociologists also have studied why one gender more than the other might date a certain race.\nFor example, more white women date minority men than vice versa, according to Princeton University's Committee on Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Explanations for this phenomenon range from the archaic superiority status of whites to the changing concept of beauty.\n"Since the status of 'white' is higher than 'black' and 'male' higher than 'female,' African-American men with higher educations will be more likely to marry white women with lower educations than if the education levels were reversed," James said. \nWhile James looks at the social statuses of interracial couples, others take a more historical perspective. Some sociologists attribute the small number of black-white relationships to the historical struggle of slavery.\n"Years ago, it was both unthinkable and almost suicidal for blacks and whites, male or female, to date," said Akwasi Assensoh, a professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies. \nBut Martin Luther King Jr.'s work and effects of the civil rights movement allowed black-white relationships to grow, Assensoh said. Once blacks and whites were able to share accommodations, they could more openly date, he said.\nComplementing cultures\nWhile sophomore David Johnson and freshman Stephany Juneau were surprised to learn several states didn't allow blacks and whites to date three decades ago, other dating regulations and expectations were eased in recent history. Three years ago, Bob Jones University in South Carolina lifted its ban on interracial dating.\nYet to this day, some couples continue to endure the effects of discrimination.\nSenior Jazz Bagga, an Indian-American Sikh, worked with IU graduate Melissa Pavolka at Village Deli for nearly three weeks before he mustered up the courage to talk to her. The two finally met at a party for a co-worker.\nAlthough Pavolka said she hadn't dated someone outside of her race before, race was never an issue in her relationship with Bagga.\n"There's a certain amount of questioning that wouldn't have come up had I been dating a white guy -- like how to say his name, where he's from, his religion," said Pavolka, who is white. \nBagga, who said his parents are open-minded about him dating outside of his race, went out with a white woman for two years before Pavolka.\nAlthough people have directed racist comments at Bagga, even likening him to terrorists, the couple hasn't faced direct discrimination. Bagga said his dark complexion and black beard have led people to compare him to Osama bin Laden. \nOnce, the two were in a hospital waiting room when a man, who was trying to read letters on an eye chart, started complaining he couldn't see because "Osama over there was in his way," Bagga recalled. Initially, anger and frustration welled up inside Pavolka, causing her to feel helpless, she said. \nBut cultural differences haven't hindered the relationship. Pavolka's mother, a devout Lutheran, has accepted Bagga, but Pavolka said her mother probably would like her to date someone Christian.\nDeep down, Bagga said, his parents likely also want him to marry a traditional, Sikh Indian girl. But because both Bagga and Pavolka do not consider themselves religious, faith hasn't affected the relationship.\nBagga, who was born in Bombay, India, compares his relationship to that of the protagonist of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." In the movie, a Greek Orthodox woman starts dating a non-Greek man, much to the chagrin of her traditional family.\nUnlike the parents in the movie, both Bagga's and Pavolka's families have been immediately accepting of the relationship. But their differences in cultures relate to the movie's wittiness. \nWhile Pavolka's family speaks English, Bagga's parents speak Punjabi, a Hindi dialect. Pavolka said Bagga's mom slipped into Punjabi once around her, but she couldn't understand a word.\nEnvironment affects racial \nperceptions\nSophomore Kenny General is still a Filipino citizen. He moved to the United States 10 years ago, but never took the time to receive his American citizenship.\nNevertheless, General has never gone out with a Filipino woman. He has spent most of his life between U.S. naval bases and white suburbia. His white stepfather worked for the U.S. Navy in the Philippines. He has a biracial younger sister, and his older sister is engaged to a white man.\n"I guess I'm oblivious to (race)," General said. "She's very conscious of it," he joked, gesturing toward his white girlfriend, junior Michelle Henning.\n"I never know I'm in an interracial relationship until she brings it up," he said.\nAsian-Americans are more involved in interracial relationships than blacks. According to the 1990 Census, 36 percent of Asian-American women and 45 percent of Asian-American men had white spouses. Four percent of black women had white husbands, compared to 8 percent of black men having white wives.\nNeither General nor Henning consider race a significant factor in the relationship. They both grew up in similar suburban environments. \nData from preliminary studies on interracial marriages support the idea that social class affects interracial relationships, but the idea remains only a theory, according to the Princeton study. Whites tend to date minorities of the same or higher social class.\nBefore Henning came to IU, she had an infatuation with Asian men, she said. General rolled his eyes at his girlfriend's explanation. \n"The first six months, she referred to me as 'the Asian,'" General said.\nHenning, her white skin and reddish-brown hair a stark contrast to General's deep olive skin and black hair, said their ability to joke about race implies its insignificance in their relationship. Henning leaned toward General, teasing him about his laziness in applying for citizenship. \n"You're just with me so you can stay in the country," Henning said with a giggle. "I knew it."\nBefore General knew Henning had an Asian fetish, he was nervous about Henning's reaction to dating an Asian man. Henning said she wouldn't have stayed with General for 17 months if he had turned out to be a jerk.\nFriends and family members have supported the couple's relationship.\n"When I told my mom, she probably thought (Henning) was white," General said.\n'Betrayal of the brothers'\nFreshman Amber McKee grew up in Danville, Ind., where no blacks and one Hispanic attended her high school. Living in Ashton, she met freshman Randyn Payne, and the two began dating. \nPayne graduated from Carmel High School as one of a handful of black students in a school crammed with white people. He said he didn't date a lot, but was always attracted to white women.\nA surge of black men have begun looking outside their race for women, according to the January 2003 issue of Ebony magazine. Some refer to this trend as the "betrayal of the brothers."\nIn fact, about 66 percent of black-white married couples were composed of black men and white women, according to the U.S. Census Bureau in 1992.\nPayne said interracial couples have always intrigued him, but he didn't consciously seek out McKee because she was white.\n"If I had grown up in a different environment, predominantly blacks and dating black girls, then maybe in college (dating a white girl) would have been a new experience," Payne said.\nPayne said he doesn't understand the negativity about black men dating white women. \n"Maybe it's hard to have a black guy that's good," Payne said. \n"That's a stupid excuse," he said, correcting himself. "I really don't know why."\nHe added that people's characters overshadow their race, and forming a connection in a relationship can surpass any racial barrier.\n"I was a little worried at first about what my parents would think," McKee said. \nBut after her family overlooked Payne's race, McKee said she hasn't reconsidered the issue.
(03/31/03 5:33am)
On a liberal campus, the political incorrectness of racial profiling supercedes any genuine debate. Following Sept. 11, talk of targeting innocent people of Middle Eastern descent surfaced. Despite the talk, Muslim Student Union President Mohamed Yusuf said he hasn't felt the effects of racial profiling on campus.\nThe anxiety surrounding Operation Iraqi Freedom, the FBI surveillance plane flying over Bloomington and U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft's "Patriot Act II," which could deport legal noncitizens if they are believed to pose a threat to national security, have rekindled old fears amidst Muslims. This concern led the Council on Islamic-American Relations, the nation's largest Islamic civil liberties group, to release a Community Safety Kit earlier this month. The guide warns people to know their rights when dealing with the FBI and offers suggestions to combat discrimination.\nIn an attempt to distance itself from claims of anti-Americanism, earlier this month, on March 5, the Bloomington Islamic Center released a statement in response to the FBI surveillance. According to the statement, "We (Muslims) are deeply concerned that this very public FBI surveillance will increase fear among Bloomington's residents of the entire Muslim community. This fear will be a victory for the terrorists by damaging the fabric that holds our ethnically and religiously diverse community together."\nThough concrete examples of racial profiling are difficult to detect, fear continues to govern the lives of some students. Nationwide victimization, such as the burning of a Muslim businessman in Indianapolis last week, has instilled an overgeneralized sense of panic amidst the Islamic community.\nYusuf said he worried about saying anything that might sound anti-American. \n"Since I am an international student (from India), I need to be careful about my status," Yusuf said. "I have heard about a lot of Muslims not being able to return back to the U.S. when they visit their home countries. I don't want to be one of them."\nThus far, beyond random FBI interviews, few have dealt with any specific incidences in which Muslims being targeted as terrorists. \n"I've heard of a few things," Yusuf said. "But I'm not certain of those things. I don't want to speculate."\nLooking at the history of Muslims in Bloomington, Yusuf said he cannot understand any justification for racial profiling.\nSince Sept. 11, Yusuf said the Bloomington Muslim community has tried to reflect a theme of peace and justice through vigils and other interfaith events, such as Islam Awareness Month, that promote dialogue. \n"The University administration has been excellent in making sure this (racial profiling) doesn't happen," Yusuf said.\nIn addition to the political incorrectness of racial profiling, some, like Amr Sabry, president of the Bloomington Islamic Center, said he cannot comprehend the logic behind random racially motivated searches. There is no predetermined set of physical characteristics that would identify a Muslim from a non-Muslim, Sabry said. Therefore, he said racially profiling the 5 billion Muslims in the world in an effort to find 20 would be impracticable, if not impossible. \n"Some guy with blue eyes may be more of a radical Muslim than a guy with a long beard from Egypt," said Sabry, who is Egyptian. "And there's an infinitesimal chance that either one would have something to do (with terrorism)."\nSabry said he might be able to understand the idea of racial profiling if it made sense statistically, but said it doesn't. \n"The whole thing (FBI interviews) doesn't add any confidence or respect to what's going on, it's just random intimidation," Sabry said.\nPolitical science professor Christine Barbour said she understands the difficulty in trying to protect civil liberties while maintaining national security. Barbour co-taught a course called "September 11: Before and After."\n"We could make this country perfectly secure if we just locked it down," Barbour said. "But without the freedoms we value, it is not clear how much there would be worth protecting."\nWith war talk dictating debate, Ashcroft is pushing for the acceptance of the "Patriot Act II" that would place further restrictions on civil liberties.\n"There has been a lot of legislation since Sept. 11 that is positively scary when you think of the potential for changing the American way of life in the name of making us safer," Barbour said.\nGraduate student Mike Wagner, who teaches a political science course about media bias and the war on terror, said he is not an expert on racial profiling, but the argument becomes muddier when the government claims to have legitimate reasons for targeting people. Wagner said people who protect us are forced to try and balance national security with civil rights, a difficult task to manage.
(02/26/03 6:26am)
IU submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court Wednesday in support of the University of Michigan's law school admissions policies.\nBut over a month earlier, IU law professor Robert Heidt collaborated with other professors across the nation to write a separate brief in favor of the petitioner, opposing the University of Michigan admissions procedures. Heidt, a self-proclaimed opponent of affirmative action policies, said it was natural for him to submit a brief in the University of Michigan case, called Barbara Grutter v. Lee Bollinger.\n"I've been lobbying for a decade in the law school for us to abandon our admissions and go to a color blind system," Heidt said. "We really are extreme compared to other law schools in our willingness to go down to meet, what I believe, is a de facto quota."\nIU's amicus brief sharply refutes Heidt's quota theory. \nAccording to the brief, "Consistent minority enrollment, standing alone, does not constitute or prove the use of de facto quota."\nLaw professor Kevin Brown also opposed Heidt's opinions.\nHe said Heidt's claim the law school would knowingly violate the law was not well-accepted in the community. For a law school to break the law contradicts the purpose of its teachings. \nBrown said he did not know if Heidt's strong opposition to affirmative action played a role in IU's decision to submit a brief.\nLauren Robel, dean of the IU School of Law, said the IU board of trustees decided to submit a brief, and alumni at the law firm of Arnold and Porter were contacted to write it.\nHowever, the trustees had to be convinced of IU's interest in the case. Vice Chancellor for Academic Support and Diversity Charlie Nelms was the leading figure in convincing the trustees to approve the idea of an amicus brief, Brown said.\n"I thought sending the brief was a strong statement by IU that it supports affirmative action," Brown said.\nAccording to the 29 page brief, the IU School of Law follows the guidelines established in University of California v. Bakke. The Bakke precedent allows schools to consider race in admissions but declares quotas unconstitutional. \nAccording to the brief, "Any blanket prohibition on race-sensitive admissions would frustrate a time-tested process built in reliance upon the flexibility permitted by Bakke, and replace it with a blind judicial ideal detached from the realities of the law school environment." \nSuch inflexibility would counteract the school's intentions of creating a diverse student body, the brief reads.\n"The notion that they are anything about diversity is a euphemism for what they're doing," Heidt said. "It's all race-based admissions."\nHeidt said he knew many petitioners had been evading the sensitive subject. In a drastic turn, Heidt's brief requests all universities to consider complete colorblind admissions procedures. \nAccording to IU's amicus brief, if the court strikes down Bakke, University officials would not have the power to disobey the law and student diversity would suffer. IU School of Law's consideration of race extends only as far as needed in ensuring diversity, the brief reads. The time when IU can ignore race and still maintain its mission to diversity has not arrived.\nAccording to Heidt's brief, "'Diversity' is a race-balancing interest that would, by its own terms, require race discrimination for eternity."\nThus far, the Supreme Court has received over 60 amicus briefs, from institutions of higher education and corporations, such as Microsoft.\nThe Supreme Court plans to hear Barbara Grutter v. Lee Bollinger, April 1.
(02/26/03 5:44am)
Dov-Ber Kerler, professor of Germanic and Jewish Studies, had heard dozens of heart wrenching, Holocaust survivor stories. But he said nothing prepared him for the reality of listening to a firsthand, Yiddish account of a Ukrainian woman crawling to freedom from the depths of a mass grave. \nIn an effort to preserve the stories of World War II survivors, Jewish folklore and most importantly, the pure Yiddish language, Kerler traveled to Ukraine for 15 days last summer with history professor Jeffrey Veidlinger. \nThe professors' preliminary trip, consisting of 45 interviews and more than 60 hours of digital tape cassettes, marked the beginning of an ongoing study in which they hope to save the endangered culture of the "last" Yiddish speakers.\n"This way it will stay forever, or at least we hope so," Kerler said, putting a mini videocassette into the camera. \n"Nothing is forever," he said, correcting himself before pushing the "play" button. \nFootage from a synagogue filled the screen as a 72-year-old Jewish man's smile overtook the monitor.\nOn their last trip, Kerler and Veidlinger joined with Dovid Katz, a leading Yiddish expert, according to the February 2003 edition of REEIfication, the Russian and East European Institute (REEI) newsletter. They traveled through southwestern Ukraine in an attempt to find Jews who were willing to discuss their pre-World War II lives. \nThe Soviet Union's draconian laws "Russified" Jews, driving vernacular Yiddish toward extinction. Yiddish, though not a national language, was spoken by millions of Jews all over the world. In Bratslav, a city where Jews comprised 90 percent of the population prior to World War II, the team found only two families on its last expedition, Kerler said. \n"The last Yiddish-speakers are in their eighties and nineties, so we cannot wait for much longer," Veidlinger said in an e-mail. "Ultimately, we would like to collect five hundred videotaped interviews from what was once the heartland of Jewish life in Ukraine."\nThe professors would like to complete the study in the next five to seven years. \nOnce all the information has been compiled, Kerler and Veidlinger hope to organize a central video and audio archive at IU. \n"IU would be a good place for this because of the importance of folklore (studies on this campus)," Kerler said.\nREEI helped sponsor Kerler and Veidlinger's overseas work last summer. However, in order to continue with the study, the team needed to find additional financial support. \n"You can cut as many corners as possible, and you're still looking at $1,000 a day," Kerler said.\nNevertheless, he remained optimistic about finding funding. He began laughing after pulling out a photocopy of a Scripps-Howard article that describes how three professors recently received a $4.3 million grant for experiments to determine if stress can cause mice to drink. If studies on drunken mice could acquire financial aid, Kerler said he was convinced efforts to preserve Yiddish culture could obtain adequate funding.\nHis conviction proved correct. The professors' project, "The Last in situ Yiddish-speakers of Ukraine: Language, Culture and History," was recently awarded next year's IU President's Arts and Humanities Research Grant. \nWith the funding, Kerler and Veidlinger now have enough money to travel overseas for a month this coming summer.\nKerler said both he and Veidlinger are extremely delighted with the tremendous support they have received.\n"What else can I say?" Kerler asked. "It's a very nice University. It supports its own faculty"
(02/18/03 5:14am)
In the spirit of Black History Month, IU will host a day-long celebration of diversity with its first annual Africana festival on Wednesday. \nFrom 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., students are invited to rejoice in the eclectic culture of the African Diaspora. Daytime festivities at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center include a dance lecture/demonstration, drum workshop, storytelling session and panel discussion, all free to the public. In addition to the numerous activities, over 20 ethnic vendors will have booths set up in the cultural center. \nPart two of the day-long festival, which includes a fashion show and soul food dinner at Alumni Hall from 5 to 8 p.m., requires tickets. \nBefore coming to IU, Oyibo Afoaku, director of the Neal-Marshall Culture Center, helped organize the annual Africana Night at the University of Northern Colorado. Her extensive experience led to the coordination of a large-scale, day-long festival here at IU. Since last spring, a committee has been meeting to plan this year's event. \n"The financial and moral support we received has been overwhelming," Afoaku said. "Over a dozen sponsors have helped contribute to the festival." \nCommittee coordinators hope the Africana festival will introduce students to the culture of the African Diaspora. \n"Anyone who comes to this event will go home with more knowledge," Afoaku said.\n"Africana" refers to all people of African descent -- African-Americans, African-Carribeans, and Africans from within the continent, Afoaku, a Nigerian native, said. \n"We're bringing all this together and celebrating the heritage of African people all over the world."\nA variety of events are planned for the day. History professor Marhsall Clough from the University of Northern Colorado will present the keynote address in a speech entitled "Sharing the Struggle: African-Americans and the Independence of Kenyans." \nA panel discussion, composed of students from IU, Ivy Tech and the Monroe County School Corporation will talk about the "Africana Student Experience in Bloomington."\nAt 11:30 a.m. the African-American dance company, which began in 1974 under the leadership of current director Iris Rosa, will host a dance lecture/demonstration.\nThe company does not perform within the confines of African-American dance styles or traditional African dances either. \n"We do a lot of fusion, fusing movements from different cultures to make a new choreographed movement," Rosa said.\nAt the Africana festival, the company will to try to convey the dance experience to viewers. \n"People see the end products and do not understand the process," Rosa said, her hands gesturing to a silent rhythm with the ease of a dancer's gracefulness. People must understand the process or they will misunderstand what the dance discipline illustrates she said, her deep brown eyes beaming from behind the shadow of her glasses. In the evening, IU Soul Revue, International Vocal Ensemble and God's Progress (an African-American choral ensemble) will provide entertainment as people enjoy typical southern black cuisine. \nThe fashion show that evening will exhibit both traditional African clothing and modern hip-hop styles from Urban Stylz, Inc. and Doi La-Kotour Fashions.\nAfoaku said the festival offers a little bit of everything -- education, food and entertainment. \n"This is an inclusive event. We hope to promote diversity through friendliness."\nGibson, who will deliver welcoming remarks at the soul food dinner, said the festival will give students a chance to explore diverse cultures. She said the celebration caters to various constituencies, not just African-Americans but does not believe diversity events should be limited to a specific month. \n"It's important for students to recognize and celebrate various cultures throughout the year, not just in February," she said.
(02/10/03 7:42pm)
On the wall behind Jorge Chapa's desk hangs an autographed poster of Mel Casa's painting "Barrio Dog." \n"You can tell it's a barrio-dog," said Chapa, the director of the Latino Studies Department, turning around to inspect the print. "Bow-Guau," he said, reading off the picture. "It's barking half in Spanish, half in English."\nCasa's witty painting illustrates a great truth behind the Latino-American experience. Hispanics have long struggled to maintain their dual-cultured lifestyle. \nAfter Jan. 21, when the U.S. Census Bureau released statistics claiming Hispanics, as an ethnicity, not a race, had become the largest minority in the U.S., the community continues to face increasing challenges. \nMany Hispanic Hoosiers, such as Chapa, have said this new title will result in a multitude of effects for the Hispanic community. But few students said the Hispanic community's minority status will create instantaneous changes.\n"Slowly it will somehow change something," said freshman Alonso Mejia.\nChapa recognizes the budding possibilities for Hispanics in the U.S., but he refuses to remain content with the current prospects. Hispanics represent 45 percent of California's college-age population, yet they only constitute 4 percent of college students, Chapa said.\n"The Latino population is growing at a much faster rate than the rate at which opportunities are growing," he said.\nAt IU, Hispanics comprise roughly only 2 percent of the student body, less than the number of African-American and Asian-American students on campus. Despite national trends, IU's Hispanic population rose by only 45 students in the past year from 759 to 804, according to statistics released by the Office of the Registrar. \nThough a small percentage, Hispanics have attempted to create a solid community in Bloomington through La Casa, the Latino Cultural Center. \nIn addition to sponsoring the cultural club Latinos Unidos and two sororities, one of which was founded at IU, La Casa offers students the chance to bond with other Latinos. \nJunior Zelideh Martinez, former LUIU President, began working at La Casa her freshman year. Martinez grew up in Fort Wayne after having immigrated to Indiana from Mexico, so she was accustomed to being a slim minority. But the cultural center helped maintain her solid Latina identity.\n"There's always something going on at La Casa," she said. "It's kind of your home away from home, always people to talk to."\nIn order to combat the relatively small number of Hispanics at IU, Martinez said recruitment efforts targeting the group must be made.\n"A lot of people have called us the sleeping giant because there's so many of us (nationally)," she said. "There's power in numbers, and we're not using that. I firmly believe that we definitely need to get up there in terms of recruiting people."\nCo-adviser of LUIU Leticia Gonzalez said the matter is even more pressing now because Hispanics have become the largest minority in the United States. \nGonzalez said recruiters also need to understand the Latino situation. \n"Most of these kids are first generation kids on campus," she said. "We need positive reinforcement."\nGonzalez attended IU around the time La Casa was founded and never took advantage of the programs it offered. \n"There's a lot of students like me who don't know La Casa exists," she said. \nChapa, one of three Hispanics, attended the University of Chicago amidst ethnic isolation in the '70s. \n"Ignorance is very persistent," he said. "People here and across the U.S. are happy not to think about the Hispanic population." \nThis new-found recognition also carries the potential of improving the Hispanic identity, he said. \n"The world, the country is not black and white," Chapa said. "Hispanics are a significant part of our changing world view."\nThe possible downfall of all these benefits though is how the Hispanic community reacts to its new position.\n"I would hate to hear people (Hispanics) say we're better than other groups," Chapa said.
(01/30/03 5:36am)
Walking the slim tightrope between political correctness and diverse academies, the University of Michigan caught itself in a jumble with its irregular affirmative action policies. The school's two cases, currently in the hands of the Supreme Court, carry national significance and could possibly alter IU's affirmative action principles. \nThough race does not influence IU's undergraduate admission process, IU Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm said it can affect students nominated for the Groups program, which focuses on first-generation college students. \nUnlike Michigan and other competitive colleges, IU's undergraduate school does not analyze individual applications. Students, regardless of gender, race or ethnicity are admitted based on meeting academic requirements. \n"What's not obvious to some people is we're different," Mark Bryson, IU diversity educator said. "We don't have so many applicants we're turning people down in droves."\nHowever, IU still has an Office of Affirmative Action and continues to set annual plans. These policies affect diversity programs, graduate school admissions and staff employment. The IU School of Law, in particular, has recently been targeted for allowing affirmative action policies to dictate admissions.\nIn a letter to The Indianapolis Star, Jeffrey Stake, chair of the law school's admissions committee, cast illumination on the often misunderstood process of using diversity as an admissions factor.\n"In addition to our primary concerns for academic qualifications and integrity of character, the admissions committee strives to bring in a diverse class," Stake wrote. "Consistent with the Bakke decision, race is one of many diversity factors we consider."\nIn the 1978 case, regents of the University of California v. Bakke, admissions quotas were declared illegal, but race was allowed to be used as a plus factor. The case is currently the precedent.\nWhen the Supreme Court rules on the Michigan cases, the tension surrounding this procedure will heighten and changes may have to be made in accordance with the law.\nHowever, at the present time, the law school continues to abide within the legal guidelines of fostering a diverse environment.\nThe Supreme Court's upcoming decision carries the powerful potential to revolutionize affirmative action programs nation-wide. \n"The result of the Michigan case will have a result on everybody: public institutions, private institutions and scholarship programs," Julie Knost, IU director of affirmative action said. \nThe Michigan case, as a public institution, holds specific, direct consequences for IU.\n"That's why everyone's anxiously awaiting where the case is coming down," Knost said. "It will probably provide the guidance on how we develop programs for the future." \nBrehm differed with Knost on the pervasive consequences of the case. \n"Regardless of the outcome, our undergraduate admissions process would not be affected," she said. "In terms of graduate admissions, any possible effect would depend on the exact decision of the court." \nMost graduate school programs at IU individually examine each applicant, Knost said, often including race as a factor. However, admission policies are up to the discretion of each individual school.\nJames Wimbush, chair of the MBA program, said the business school reviews a range of criteria when admitting students. \n"We try to find individuals with the skills necessary to be successful in the program," he said. \nThe business school is part of a consortium whose goal is to attract more minorities to graduate school. \n"We want diversity, so these factors (race, gender, ethnicity) are important to us," he said.\nHowever, GMAT scores, undergraduate GPAs and work experience are the prime factors. \nIn spite of the Supreme Court's decision, Bryson said schools with virtuous intentions will find alternatives. He said companies, such as Microsoft and GM prefer students coming from diverse backgrounds and have therefore sent amicus curare briefs to the Supreme Court. \n"Organizations that want to continue preparing qualified students will find ways," Bryson said.\nConservatives often paint affirmative action in a negative light, Bryson said, purposely focusing on race because of its divisive nature. Despite all the controversy surrounding the University of Michigan cases, he said the school's minorities continue to be underrepresented. \nBryson said he did not understand how a positive procedure had been branded as a political manipulation tool. \n"For some reason, (affirmative action) has been framed as a program that helps racial minorities, especially American blacks," Bryson said. "I think that's an injustice. White women have been the greatest beneficiaries of affirmative action, it's been their strongest tool." \nIn order to combat the media's cynical portrayal of affirmative action policies, Bryson encourages students to think for themselves. He said students should research issues rather than passively absorb media information. \nStudents on campus carry a variety of opinions on the controversial issue. Some, such as freshman Amy VanGoey, said IU's lack of diversity creates an awkward environment. \n"Part of college is a diverse atmosphere," VanGoey said.\nWith even stricter affirmative action guidelines, she said she doesn't know how IU could become more diverse. \n"If you look around campus, all it is, is a bunch of white kids. I think that says something about IU," she said gesturing frantically.\nCarolyn Randolph, political action chair for the Black Student Union, agreed. She said IU should take greater measures in the recruitment and retention of minority students. \n"Affirmative action goes beyond getting into schools, it's getting attention to students," she said. "There's still a great disparity in our society."\nRandolph, currently organizing a town hall meeting regarding affirmative action, said many students are misinformed about the policies. At the meeting, planned for the middle to the end of February, students will have an opportunity to sign a petition that will be sent to the Supreme Court.
(01/28/03 5:44am)
Graduate student Jaume Padilla from Barcelona, Spain, lingered around the Leo R. Dowling International Center, eating and chatting with various people as he waited for fellow graduate student Brian Kovak to arrive. Padilla and Kovak had only met twice before. \nBut as soon as Kovak strolled in the doors of the International Center, the two acquaintances promptly began talking like old friends. Their hands burst with energy in flashes of excitement, their heads nodded together in moments of enlightenment, and their shoulders shrugged in instances of indecision. \nThrough the efforts of the International Center, global friendships in a rural southern Indiana town, like Padilla and Kovak's, no longer seem impossible. \nAssistant Director of International Services Bruno Isidro said the International Center hosts a variety of programs open to both American and International students in the hopes of fostering world-wide friendships and cultural understanding. \nKovak and Padilla came to IU from distinct continents and diverse cultures. Kovak grew up in New York, while Padilla lived in Spain. Yet they both wandered into the Leo R. Dowling International Center at the same time on the same day searching for the same program. \nThey discovered a striking similarity within each other. And the two were matched then and there as partners in the conversation program. \nThe basic idea of the program, Isidro said, is to offer Americans the opportunity to improve their ability in a foreign language and vice versa.\nThus far, Isidro said the program has worked amazingly well.\n"Sometimes we have over 100 students that get matched up," he said.\nKovak and Padilla said they like the program for a range of reasons. Kovak said he enjoys looking at life from a different perspective. Padilla said Europeans often carry a negative impression of Americans, and so he thought it would be important to meet people from the U.S. himself. Both said they enjoy the multiple educational and social benefits of the program. \nRight then, Kovak invited Padilla to a Super Bowl party. \nBut Padilla couldn't comprehend the meaning of "Super Bowl."\n"It's very American, the World Cup of American football," Kovak said.\nThe explanation of "Super Bowl" infatuated the two for over 10 minutes. Padilla asked Kovak countless questions. And Kovak attempted to answer them. \nPadilla rested his hands on the bottom of his chin like an ancient Greek statue pondering the perplexing meaning of an unknown word as Kovak pulled out a dictionary and found the precise Spanish word for "bowl."\nKovak took Spanish for five years in high school and a recent refresher course last semester. However, Padilla only started learning English six months ago.\n"Using it in real life is very different than using it in the classroom," Kovak said. "More often, we'll know we're saying something wrong but not know how to correct it," Kovak said, agreeing.\nIn addition to the conversation partners program, the International Center provides a sports work-out partner program, weekly conversation clubs, large Friday afternoon social receptions, English tutorials and trips to nearby cities, such as Chicago or St. Louis.\nThe center advertises the sports work-out program but does not actually coordinate the partnership as it does in the conversation program. \n"Many international students go to the SRSC and HPER to play sports and would like partners but don't know so many people," Isidro said. "There are people out there who have similar interests but don't know this."\nSome programs, such as the English tutoring services on Saturdays at noon require no pre-registration. Isidro said American volunteers willing to help international students learn English are welcome to stop by the center.
(01/21/03 5:33am)
Senior Quiana Stone, undergraduate student advisor for the Black Student Union, has sat in Woodburn Hall 100 for six different classes. She has often questioned why the Thomas Hart Benton Mural, which depicts Ku Klux Klan members burning a cross, adorns the wall of a classroom environment. But until the beginning of last year, she never saw the educational video addressing the controversial panel, "Parks, the Circus, the Klan, the Press."\n"I wanted to know why these scenes were here, what I was supposed to walk away with," she said. \nAfter controversy arose last March about removing the mural entirely from Woodburn 100 because of students' complaints, IUB Chancellor Sharon Brehm enacted a set of initiatives. Rather than removing the mural from the classroom, which could result in damage to the building, the administration decided to create diversity education programs. The video, now mandatory for all students with classes in Woodburn 100 to watch, has attempted to tackle student concerns regarding the Benton mural. \nEven before Brehm's initiatives, teachers were recommended to show a video tape but often neglected this responsibility because of time constraints. However, since the beginning of the school year, in addition to showing the 9-minute video, discussion leaders have encouraged diversity dialogue. \nDuring the 25-minute educational sessions, the Benton Mural Education Committee gave students index cards on which they could write down their personal reactions to the mural. Under the administration of Dr. Valerie Grim of the African-American and African Diaspora Studies department, the committee studied hundreds of student comments. \nDean of Faculties Moya Andrews, chair of the committee that produced the video, said she hopes to continue receiving feedback.\n"We'll see how it needs to be changed according to the reactions every semester," Andrews said.\nThe committee made one change after last semester's results. It will now ask students a set of identical questions to provide consistency in feedback. \n"It seemed the format we used has been working for the moment," she said. "We're going to keep fine-tuning as we get more experienced." \nAndrews said student feedback has been relatively positive concerning the video. However, BSU president Gerald Mitchell disagrees.\n"Students had very mixed reactions to the video," Mitchell said. "Although the questions of its location have been answered, the issues surrounding the mural still exist."\nBrehm agreed, saying she continues to hear complaints about the mural. \n"It's still controversial," Brehm said. "However, by teaching the controversy we are hoping to encourage people to think carefully about racism in our country, its history, and the importance of increasing diversity on campus," she said.\nAfter one semester of implementation, the new program has received a barrage of scrutiny. Students and faculty expressed a variety of reactions to the administration's efforts in combating frustration with diversity education. \nOn the first day of class, freshman Kelly Reinhold walked into Woodburn 100 and sat down in her seat, oblivious to the Benton Mural hanging on the wall. \n"It wasn't until it was pointed out to me with the video that I actually looked at the painting," she said. Reinhold said she thinks Benton intended for the mural to act as an accurate depiction of Indiana history, not a battleground for racial tension. \n"I can sit in the classroom and it doesn't bother me, but I can see how it could bother some other people," she said. \nReinhold saw the video this semester and last semester in criminal justice lecture classes. In total, she has seen the video four times. \n"I think it has a good point behind it," Reinhold said. \nSome teachers, such as political science professor Christine Barbour, have improvised lesson plans by linking the video to class discussions. \n"In the past when I have shown the older version of the video I have had excellent, provocative discussions," Barbour said.\nIn fact, in the new edition of the textbook she wrote for her class, Barbour included a section about the murals and will use that as a base for discussion.\nBrehm said the University has taken a number of steps in response to the Benton Mural controversy. "We've done a lot. Have we done enough?" asked Brehm. "Of course not; diversity is a long-term issue and we must commit ourselves to a sustained effort to develop a campus environment that welcomes diversity and that benefits from its educational impact"
(01/15/03 5:15am)
Freshman Kari Stevenson moved to Indiana in 1996, but she refuses to consider herself a Hoosier. In her mind, the word conjures up countless negative images. \n"A Hoosier implies a low level of education, perhaps not even completion of high school, let alone college," Stevenson said. "I would be insulted to be referred to as a Hoosier."\nAlthough some people like Stevenson despise the negative connotations of "Hoosier," since the 1830s Indiana residents have adopted the nickname for themselves.\nAs IU's nickname/pseudo-mascot, "Hoosier" has stirred up numerous debates throughout history. The word holds the key to both aggravation and enthrallment. \nA myriad of myths surround the origin of the bizarre word. From legends to linguistics, historians have struggled to decipher the expression.\n"I'm fascinated by the term, less for where it came from than for its power in describing a fiercely independent state spirit," said Eric Sandweiss, IU history professor and editor of Indiana Magazine of History. \nAlthough many of the "Hoosier" theories have transformed into interesting folk tales rather than reliable historical explanations, they continue to fascinate -- and frustrate -- people across the United States.\n"I must say Indiana really got the shaft when it comes to naming its residents," sophomore Brian Matzke said. "We're not like Ohioans or New Yorkers, who can just modify the name of their state, and we don't have a cool mascot. Somehow we got stuck with this dumb-sounding non-word. Because the word is just so stupid sounding, I think it usually conjures up the lowest images conceivable that are associated with Indiana: ultra-conservative, gun-toting, ultra-Christian, bigoted and ignorant."\nOften lauded as one of the most distinct, yet ambiguous state nicknames, "Hoosier" carries nearly as much name recognition as "Yankee," according to the Indiana Historical Bureau. \nWhile some neighboring states boast concrete nicknames, such as Ohio's "Buckeye," the notorious "Hoosier" continues to remain popular.
(12/16/02 4:42pm)
Serving as the largest of 220 organizations involved in the annual Monroe County United Way campaign, IU provides over 40 percent of all community donations. \n"If you take away that 40 percent, I can't imagine what would go unfunded in this community," IU UW liaison Matthew Pontius said. \nThis year, for the first time in three years, IU is $31,000 short of making its $600,000 goal.\nCapitalizing on strong leadership from co-chair Dan Dalton, dean of the Kelley School of Business, and the Lilly Endowment's procedure of matching funds, IU's campaign has proven to be particularly successful this year. \nThe Lilly Endowment agreed to match money donated by every new vanguard giver, a person who donates $1,000 or more. It will also match money donated by a prior vanguard giver who increases his donation by 25 percent. \n"Dean Dalton almost single-handedly contacted potential vanguards in the middle of running the business school," Pontius said. "He has put in a lot of effort."\nUW works to combat the continuing crisis of community neglect by coordinating efforts with 24 member agencies. UW campaign coordinator Heather Allen demonstrates the importance of distributing resources according to community need through a unique problem solving drill.\nShe takes 30 sheets of paper, with a different community concern written on each, and spreads them across a table. Allen then asks everyone in the room to put a sticker on the most important issues. The result of her little exercise is that many important problems remain abandoned. \n"So many issues have a need," Pontius said. "When people focus on one issue or another, so many agencies are underfunded. Focusing on one agency leaves some out in the dark." \nIn addition to supporting a network of services, UW offers payroll deductions. The payroll deduction program takes a pre-determined amount of money out of donors paychecks. \n"We're one of the only companies that allow payroll deductions," Allen said. "It may be easier than writing a $50 check."\n"A dollar may not seem like a lot, but spread it across a campus," Pontius said.\nUnited Way capitalizes upon Pontius' dollar philosophy in its informational pamphlets by explaining the various gifts $1 per week can provide, from four nights of shelter to six hours of home repair for an elderly person. \nBloomington is in one of its worst economic states in decades, Pontius said. \n"Unemployment and giving community-wide is down and the need for services is very high," he said.\nIn order to combat this problem, the IU campaign led a rigorous fight against community poverty. The IU campaign was divided into 16 teams, which were subdivided into units. \n"Another big thing they (the IU campaign coordinators) did was really try to engage the student population," Allen said. "Student contribution to charities has grown astronomically, but to UW it has decreased."\nBut senior Erin Ransford, one of five captains for the sole student team on campus, voiced her concern in student involvement. Ransford, president of the National Residence Hall Honorary, led a residence hall-wide Penny War which only raised $54.\n"It is frustrating as a Student Campaign Co-Chair to be the only one of the five co-chairs that has ever been to a meeting, especially because the student organization which I represent is relatively small," she said.\nPontius said it's not too late for student organizations to have a Lilly match for philanthropic events scheduled before Jan. 1. \nPontius was drawn to an ad he saw on campus seeking a graduate student interested in working for a non-for-profit campaign. Now entangled in a nest of volunteers and a wealth of community support for UW, he cannot stop thanking donors for their generosity. He also points out to anyone who is interested in donating that it's not too late. \n"With tax time drawing near, a lot of people are looking for deductions," Pontius said. "And any money given to UW is tax deductible"
(12/11/02 3:56am)
Nearly 20 years ago at the University of Washington in Seattle, psychology professor Dr. Amy Holtzworth-Munroe learned the Behavior Couples Therapy theory from her adviser who had helped develop it. Now, as an expert in marital relationships, she is guiding IU psychology Ph.D. students in this same behavioral approach. \nUnder the supervision of Holtzworth-Munroe, students in the clinical Ph.D. program are offering couples therapy for people in and around the Bloomington community. Open to married, dating, heterosexual and homosexual people, the therapy aims at improving relationships by teaching two crucial relationship skills: communication and problem-solving.\nPh.D. student and therapist Uzma Rehman worked in the clinic two years ago. She said the basic premise of the Behavior Couples Therapy theory is to help couples acquire skills to solve conflicts and prevent escalation. \n"We're not doing this for money," Rehman said. "I don't think most people would find this quality of therapy for this price."\nEach session costs $5. \n"Some therapists will charge up to $90 per session," Holtzworth-Munroe said. "We're probably the cheapest place (students) can get therapy."\nIn addition to the cost-efficiency of the therapy, Holzworth-Munroe and Rehman said, the theory being used has been proven effective through a tremendous amount of research. \n"You're being helped using a model that research has shown to be effective," Rehman said. "Overall, marital satisfaction improves for over two-thirds of the couples in therapy." \nAlthough Ph.D. student and therapist Nicole Merritt hasn't performed therapy before, she has been studying the methods behind the theory. \n"It's a very empirically based approach," Merritt said. "It's not something we just came up with. It's shown to have beneficial effects." \nThrough Behavior Couples Therapy, people learn helpful relationship skills. Holtzworth-Munroe said the cause of most problems in a relationship are communication and interaction difficulties, not problems with the individual. \n"If you think you're going be in a relationship and never disagree, you're disillusioned," Holztworth-Munroe said. She said it's more a matter of learning to resolve problems in a healthy manner. \nWith six therapists, each seeing about two to four cases per semester, Holtzworth-Munroe said the therapy sessions give the Ph.D. students a hands-on approach with a theory proven effective through nearly 30 studies. \nIn a study in which couples who weren't having any difficulties went through therapy, Holtzworth-Munroe said results showed divorce rates were much lower.\n"We teach couples how to problem solve and focus on remembering to do positive things," Holtzworth-Munroe said. \nMerritt said the skills she learns through these therapy sessions, are quite portable. "It's something you can keep updating with new research. Its structure is particularly strong."\nDuring the first session, couples meet together with a therapist. The second session, they meet with the therapist individually. Until the third session, they don't have to commit to the program. The total number of therapy sessions ranges from 8 to 30. \n"We're not bringing couples in here and telling them what's wrong," Holtzworth-Munroe said. "We don't impose our values upon them."\nStudents interested in attending couples therapy sessions can contact the Psychology Clinic at 855-2311.
(12/02/02 3:05pm)
Under the banner of the World AIDS Campaign slogan "Live and let live," thousands worldwide joined forces Sunday in concerts, rallies and memorial services to raise awareness about the AIDS epidemic.\nOn campus, Outreach Kenya Development Volunteers and members of the Student Global AIDS Campaign decided to do their share in this massive global campaign by hosting a variety of events throughout the week. \nCo-Director of OKDV Diana Hochman said many students are unaware of the AIDS prevention organizations on campus, and therefore this weeklong service should help students broaden their horizons. \n"Awareness is the first step in ending the ignorance in the fight against AIDS," Hochman said. "I know there are a lot of students who are interested in the fight against AIDS and prevention but truly are not aware of all the various organizations and resources that are within the Bloomington community."\nTo combat this problem, members of SGAC and OKDV distributed pamphlets at the AIDS Memorial Service and Celebration of Hope held Sunday at Trinity Church. \nContinuing this awareness effort, tonight SGAC and OKDV will hold a candlelight vigil, placing luminaries in Dunn Meadow, the Square and along Indiana Avenue in remembrance of AIDS victims. SGAC co-director Manika Bhateja said students will meet at around 5 p.m. outside the Sample Gates. \nToday through Friday, SGAC and OKDV will distribute AIDS information packets, red ribbons and condoms at the Commons desk of the IMU.\n"Many people have not had thorough AIDS education in their high schools," Hochman said. "Having it on a college campus from peers makes it more real, easier to understand."\nAt 8 p.m. Thursday, musicians and dancers will perform in "A Dance of Love" at the John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut St.\nServing as a fundraiser for POSITIVE LINK, a community organization that assists HIV Positive individuals, "A Dance of Love," Bhateja said, is one of the major events surrounding World AIDS Day. \nTo culminate the week OKDV will host an informational coffee hour Friday at the Leo R. Dowling International Center in which members will provide a global AIDS perspective. \n"Not enough IUB students realize the full extent of the epidemic in Africa," Kunal Desai, co-director of OKDV, said. \nLast year 2.2 million people in the sub-Sahara African continent died of AIDS, Desai said.\n"If students get involved they can make a difference," Desai said. "Basically, OKDV wants students to stop for a minute and reflect on something that seems too alien from their lives."\nBhateja said the weeks' events will increase understanding of this seemingly foreign problem. "Hopefully, students will realize the gravity of the situation," she said. "Most people know that\nAIDS kills millions of people in Africa, but they don't know that thousands of people in the United States are infected with AIDS every year"
(11/25/02 5:29am)
Jean Robinson had occupied the position of Dean of the Office of Women's Affairs for only a year when she realized the necessity of conducting the first comprehensive report on the status of women at IU Bloomington. \nFor two and a half years, beginning in 1999, Robinson led a group of people through uncharted waters in the hopes of finding scientific evidence that would legitimately describe the status of women on campus. Her research has identified some specific problems and offered suggestions for improvement.\n"There were conflicting perceptions amidst women. There was no benchmark, no way to measure improvements," Robinson said. "I was uncomfortable going with just anecdotal evidence."\nThe final report, which was released this fall, included a cover letter written by Chancellor Sharon Brehm emphasizing the significance of the report. \n"I hope it will call attention to the status of women on campus and highlight some of the issues we need to address," Brehm said.\nIn addition to identifying specific gender problems, the report carries a number of suggestions to better the campus community. The study focused on the most fundamental issues of gender inequity, such as the shortage of women in the math and sciences, the difficulty for women faculty to balance both a career and family and the lack of safety women feel on campus. \nRobinson said a number of subjects still need to be researched. \n"I don't think this is just one report, and it's never going to happen again," she said. \nShe said certain problem areas in the report, such as salary inequity among the different genders, would be better addressed if there were continuous studies.\nRobinson and the Office for Women's Affairs have been working on implementing a number of the report's recommended initiatives. They were recently granted funds from the federal Department of Justice for new programming to prevent sexual assaults on campus. \nThe office also applied for a $4 million grant from the National Science Foundation to help with survey studies to increase women and minority participation in the math and science fields.\nBrehm, who said she has been a feminist since her pre-college days, has also looked into a variety of the report's findings.\nProgress is already under way in certain areas, such as the development of "family friendly" programs to combat the dual career difficulties of women. \n"There's been a huge change for women during my lifetime," Brehm said. "I think things are a lot better now. However, it's still not a level playing field; it's not parity."\nThroughout the study, though IUB staff, faculty and students were helpful, Robinson faced a\nchallenge in compiling a massive amount of seemingly unrelated data. \n"Everyone was very supportive," Robinson said. "But lots of departments on campus keep records, they're not all integrated, not all computerized. If the data existed, in almost every case, they were willing to share it."\nPrior to the study, Robinson tried to understand the varying perspectives of women on campus. Though faculty women seemed to bemoan their daily difficulties and staff women seemed to be enclosed within a glass ceiling, students possessed a relatively apathetic attitude toward the status of women on campus.\nFreshman Rose Wongsarnpigoon said beyond the immediate threat of sexual assault she doesn't experience much gender inequity on campus. \n"You never know who is just out to take advantage of a freshman girl," she said. "As a student, (though) I feel like I am treated really well."\nWongsarnpigoon, an education major, has noticed a lot of her classes, especially her gender studies course, are predominantly female.\nAssistant to the Dean for Women's Affairs Carol McCord said students don't realize the full significance of gender inequity because on the IUB campus the population is more than half women. \n"Students don't see the problems," Robinson said. "Adults see the problems -- they live in a world not as equitable as the college campus"
(11/21/02 5:12am)
Joe Ehlers, president of the IU Ballroom Dance Club, sat on the floor of HPER 169 brushing the bottom of his suede shoes. His dance partner looks on, waited for him to get ready so the two could practice for their upcoming competition.\n"Either you go to clubs, stand on the side and watch thinking that 'person can really move,' or you're that person who's the center-of-attention," said Ehler, adding that ballroom dancing helps students learn how to dance so they won't remain sidelined at parties.\nWhether it's to partake in an enjoyable exercise or just for pure passion, various forms of dancing have become a popular outlet for students. Dancing caters to students in search of a hobby or an exercise routine.\nIn various cultures and traditions throughout history, people have used dance as a form of expression. With a multitude of cultural dances to choose from, the generic and archaic definition of dancing has been replaced by more of an eclectic one. From folk dancing to hip hop, each dancing style provides people the opportunity to let their bodies move to the music.\n"(Dancing) is very different than anything else I do -- studying, physics problems; it's a change of pace," said freshman Kari Stevenson, a contra and swing dancer. "It's a different kind of thinking -- you stop analytically thinking."\nSwingers\nSince she was three, Ph.D. student Patricia Hardwick's fresh feet displayed a flair for dancing. At a young age, she learned to twirl, tap and jazz to the rhythm of the music. So when a friend suggested taking swing dancing classes, Hardwick readily agreed. \nEight years later and hundreds of miles from her California introduction to swing dancing, Hardwick continues to find herself ready to jump and jive as a member of the IU Swing Dance Club. She said she enjoys the personal freedom and improvisational qualities of swing dancing. \n"It's fun," Hardwick said with a smile, as she demonstrated a dance move. "I get overstressed so I like to let go and forget. It's a release for me."\nWith about 125 members, the IU Swing Club has attracted many community members, from professors and undergrads. \n"A lot of people see swingers in movies like 'Swing Kids' and think that's cool," said Debi Hanuscin, IU Swing Club officer. "People like swing dancing because they like the music. A lot of it has to do with the popularity of jazz."\nFilled with twirls, dips and lifts, swing dancing's lively nature creates a nostalgic atmosphere as well as an aerobic workout. \n"I couldn't bring myself to go to the SRSC, but I could go to swing dancing," Hanuscin said.\nAlthough swing dancing requires a partner, the club's Web site says you can find several at the meetings.\n"It's a real easy way to meet people of the opposite sex in a non-threatening way," Hanuscin added.\nEvery Monday from 8 to 9 p.m., the club offers lessons then holds an open dance session from 9 to 11 p.m.\nStrictly Ballroom\nSophomore Carrie Capone had always been intrigued by the elegant figures she saw gliding across movie screens, but not until her freshman year of college did she act upon this desire to dance. Just a year later, she's developed a passion for ballroom dancing, Capone said.\n"I can't get enough of it. I'll find myself coming to practice, dancing for three hours and never growing tired of it," Capone said. \nIn addition to teaching standard ballroom dances, such as the waltz or foxtrot, the club practices a variety of Latin and night club dances.\nThe IU Ballroom Dance Club meets from 9 to 11 p.m. every Wednesday. The club holds an open practice session for club members. Guests are allowed and are usually directly instructed by an experienced peer. \nFolk Festivities\nAlthough folk dancing has usually appealed to an older audience, the dance has begun to spark student interest.\n"I love the fact that there are so many different dances, all with different steps," freshman Emily McFarlin said. \nMcFarlin began folk dancing in Oklahoma when she was four because of her mother's interest in the dance. \nIn folk dancing, dancers join hands, then hop, tap and bang their feet to the traditional music of countries like Greece or Armenia.\n"They don't teach every dance," freshman Sarah Phillips said. "You get in a circle and watch other people's feet." \nIn other dances the gender ratio can often present a problem, but in folk dancing a partner is not necessary. \n"It doesn't matter if there's enough guys or girls," Phillips said. "It's not a partner dance so if I mess up it doesn't throw someone else off." \nThe folk dance club meets in the Union every Friday from 9 to 11 p.m. to learn and practice new folk dances.\nHip shakin'\nBeyond Shakira's belly dancing imitations and random television clips, graduate student Heidi Tebbe said she had no experience with exotic Middle Eastern dance. She saw the class listed in the group exercise schedule at the SRSC and thought it sounded interesting. \nTebbe said it was a "looser dance form" that includes moves such as belly rolls that emphasize the importance of having a belly and hips.\n"I think my stomach's definitely more toned," Tebbe said. "I could be my imagination, but I think it is."\nAt 7:30 p.m. every Thursday, a group of women meet to sway their arms, swivel their hips and play finger cymbals to complement the rhythm of the music. The women enviously watch their instructor's hips roll effortlessly while the women simultaneously try to emulate her movements but also concentrate on their own. Many of them are smiling as they concentrate on the movements of the dance and on mastering the art of hip-shaking. \nHip hop hooray\nSwiveling their hips, hands in the air, yelling "hey, ho," students follow the command of their instructor as he leads a room full of dancers to the music's upbeat rhythm. Trendy and untraditional, hip hop dancing has swarmed onto the exercise scene.\n"It makes me work out," freshman Abby Coe said. "I tend to get real lazy if I don't have a class that meets that I can go to." \nIn addition to keeping in shape, dancers learn a variety of dance steps, including Michael Jackson moves and choreography from music videos.\n"It's the only class I leave not feeling tired," freshman Jordan Berg said. "I'm put in a good mood. It's exercise, but it's so much fun it doesn't feel like exercise."\nHip hop classes are offered Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the SRSC.\nGet your groove on\nVarious styles of dancing fulfill students' desires for different reasons like exercise, learning experience and a hobby.\n"How many little girls took dance lessons growing up but are not pursuing it as their major?" Hanuscin asked. \nIn addition to satisfying former dancers, dance classes and clubs on campus present a learning environment for inexperienced dancers. \n"The steps are kind of tricky, but how they teach it is really easy," Berg said. "The average person with no dance experience can pick it up. It's not really about the steps. It's about how you feel. You let your emotions take over."\nBelly dancing instructor Katya Faris agreed. In this art form, she said people express a tremendous amount of emotion, and that belly dancing "stimulates the mind and body."\nThough some students enjoy dancing in clubs and classes, others, like freshman Laura Lindquist, don't. While Phillips enjoyed the extemporaneous aspect of folk dancing, Lindquist, her roommate, was discouraged by the complexity. \n"I get so frustrated I can't try anymore," Lindquist said. Lindquist admits she has always had difficulty with dancing. She's quit every dance class she's taken. \nThough Lindquist doesn't enjoy taking dance classes, she understands the raison d'être for most dancers' devotion: "I like to dance alone in my room when no one's watching!" she said.
(11/12/02 4:24am)
Freshman Steven Mitchell was arrested for battery Sunday morning for instigating a fight on the third floor of Eigenmann Hall, according to the IU Police Department.\nIUPD Sgt. Tim Lewis said witnesses said Mitchell was in another room when he saw a female student writing on his dry-erase board. He told her to stop writing on the board, but she continued. Mitchell, who was intoxicated at the time, began to verbally abuse the student. He then walked across the room, grabbed her and pushed her to the ground. \nAnother person pulled Mitchell off the victim. The two continued to fight in the hallway until people separated them. \nThe investigation is basically closed, Lewis said. \n"There was enough evidence to arrest him at the scene," Lewis said. He said the victims still want to pursue charges.\nMitchell will have to face a court appearance and a trial date with final charges being left to the prosecutors' discretion.\nStudents living near Mitchell heard yelling but didn't understand why. "I heard shouting, went out, thought it was over and went back into my room," junior Chad Larimore said. "Not even a minute later, I heard scuffling on the floor, paper tearing. When I got out there, three guys were holding this guy (Mitchell) down."\nAccording to Mitchell's neighbor senior Shane Knapp, Mitchell was talking in a normal tone when all of sudden his mood shifted and he began yelling.\nSince all the students on the third floor are 21 or older, drinking is allowed. \nKnapp and Larimore agreed that the third floor is generally a quiet environment. "Even on weekends, it's not loud. There's no party atmosphere," Larimore said.\nAlthough Larimore felt uneasy at the time, he doesn't think the fight carried any long-term effects. "I don't fear for my life," Larimore said. "I was talking to some guys after it happened. We were just joking about it, couldn't believe it happened." \nAll three of the people involved in the altercation had injuries, but no one was sent to the hospital. Mitchell had a broken bone in his hand and cuts on his chin and lips. One victim had red marks on her shoulders, as if from being grabbed. The other person had a bump on the side of his head. \nAlthough Mitchell was charged with a misdemeanor, his fate on campus remains undecided.\nDean of Students Richard McKaig said he was unaware of the scuffle. He meets with campus police every Wednesday and is informed of any arrests made the previous week. \nMcKaig said he is not allowed to discuss individual student's disciplinary behavior because of federal law, but he said as a general rule, students arrested on campus will face charges for violating the student conduct laws. \n"You can't violate state law on campus," McKaig said. \nBob Weith, Director of Residential Programs and Services said his staff is still attempting to gather information about the incident.\n"Once we have the information, I'm sure there will be judicial proceedings," Weith said.\nAccording to Lewis, since Jan. 1, IUPD has made 18 assault arrests on campus.\n"It's usually a disturbance that turns into a fight," Lewis said. "Can't say it's (the ) the worst case, can't say it's not."\nKnapp said he hasn't seen Mitchell since the day of the fight. As of Monday night, Mitchell was still in the Monroe County Jail.
(10/16/02 11:03pm)
Amidst a tropical atmosphere with papaya-mango colored walls, friendly staff and 23 clean, comfortable beds, "tanorexics" have found it difficult to resist the temptations of the tanning craze. \nSenior Terri Levitz has been tanning since she was 10. Both her grandmother and mother owned salons in the early '90s. Now Levitz works at SOL Spa, yet she's never been sunburned. \n"There's no possible way you can die from tanning," Levitz said. "It's not harmful, per say…it doesn't penetrate into your internal organs." \n"Yeah, it won't fry your liver," co-worker Mandy Hall agreed.\nSOL Spa, a Smart Tan certified salon, follows certain safety precautions. Indiana, as a regulated tanning state, must follow specific guidelines set by the Food and Drug Administration. \nSOL Spa owner Jeff Mills said his salon strictly abides by these rules, and that plenty of people can achieve a healthy glow from "safe" tanning bed use.\n"It's moronic to say there's no such thing as a safe tan," Mills said. \nSenior Mary Beth Edmiston would beg to differ.\nDANGEROUS OBSESSION\nWhen Edmiston went to her dermatologist last February, she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma.\nEdmiston said she was out in the sun a lot when she was little, and that she went tanning about three times a week during high school.\nThe doctor told her the cancer was a direct result from tanning because it's the worst kind of exposure a person can get. He also said it takes a couple years to develop, which means all damage was inflicted before she turned 18.\n"I regret doing it (tanning)," Edmiston said. "I was naïve. I didn't think it would happen to me, and if it did I thought it would happen later in life -- in my 30s or 40s, not at 21."\nEdmiston said she's doing fine now and has learned a lot; particularly that no one's invincible.\n"My friends have cut down," she said. "I've made an impact at least on my friends. It's hard to impact the whole industry unless it hits them on a personal level."\nEdmiston advised that if people are going to tan anyway, then they do it in moderation and not go "overboard."\nEven in moderation, tanning can have temporary adverse effects on people.\nLast year, junior Jennifer Van Goey experienced a startling revelation when she looked at a photograph of herself and saw a pale girl staring back at her. For years, she was adamantly against tanning. Her parents never allowed her to go to tanning beds because she received enough natural sunlight from growing up in California.\n"I still feel like it's a big waste of money," Van Goey said, "But I'm willing to spend money to make myself look better." \nVan Goey tans once or twice a week for a maximum of 20 minutes at Rags t' Riches, despite the warning signs stating "Avoid overexposure." Repeated exposure may cause skin cancer or chronic sun damage characterized by wrinkling, dryness, fragility, and bruising of the skin." \nVan Goey said she tries not to think about the risks. A "moderate tanner," Van Goey said she never goes to a tanning extreme. \n"Some of my friends go (tanning) every day, and I figure they're gonna have so many more wrinkles by the time they're 25," Van Goey said.\nEN VOGUE\nVan Goey doesn't stand alone in her beauty psychology. In fact, a large portion of the tanning industry relies on our perception of beauty and achieving that "healthy glow." \nDerek Reckley, an employee at Rags t' Riches, said his employers make him go tanning because it will "look better for the customers if I'm tan."\nToday, according to www.lookingfit.com, there are an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 tanning salons nationwide, in addition to another 30,000 locations that are combined with laundromats, drug stores or other merchandise markets. \nTanning has turned into more than just an industry, but a fashion craze. But who determines what is beautiful?\nHalfway across the world, in the Indian subcontinent, girls try to maintain fair complexions. Where Americans are accustomed to finding tanning creams, drug store aisles in India are lined with bleaching creams.\nAlthough beauty is one of the primary influences in why people choose to go tanning, some said that beyond the aesthetic reasons, tanning acts as a stress reliever. \n"You listen to music, close your eyes and fall asleep," Hall said. "Warmth always makes me fall asleep and not think about the bills I have to pay."\nTHE CASE FOR MODERATE TANNING\nCoined by the tanning industry, "moderate tanning" has become the ever-popular outlet for achieving a healthy glow without the side effects of cancer. \nMills said tanning is a relatively benign activity from which many people benefit, as long as they are responsible and use common sense. \n"Some of the crazy rumors are pretty hard to understand," Mills said. "I wouldn't be in the business if I didn't feel it was safe."\nAlthough Mills is convinced of the harmlessness of moderate tanning, the American Cancer Society disagrees. \nAccording to ACS, tanning beds have been studied with conflicting results because the same people who use indoor tanning also tend to get a lot of natural sunlight, but it finds little legitimacy behind the claims of a "safe tan."\nA few weeks ago, sophomore Megan Gerber went to Total Tan. Gerber, who doesn't tan on a weekly basis and has never burned before, was directed toward the $5 new beds. Unaware of the strength of new bulbs, she took a 20-minute session, only to awake the next morning feeling dreadfully sick and cold. \nAt first Gerber thought she had sun poisoning, but when she went to the health center the doctor told her she had second-degree burns.\nGerber said she isn't the only one to have suffered burns from Total Tan -- the girl she came with had blisters, too.\nTotal Tan owner Larry Burton was never notified of Gerber's situation, but in response to her tanning reaction, Burton claimed it is difficult to receive second-degree burns from a tanning bed. \n"We definitely want to help someone out who got overexposure, but tanning is much the same as eating," Burton said. "It's all about moderation." \nBurton and Mills both agree the best way to receive the darkest, richest tan is to follow the suggested guidelines. \n"Inch your way up to the 20-minute session because overexposure to anything isn't good for you," Burton said.\nGerber's tale might exhibit an abnormally harsh tanning reaction, but the potential dangers of tanning continue to be debated. \nGerber, who flatly refuses to go tanning again, said she has tried to warn many people of the dangers of tanning. But her friends continue anyway, insisting they'll solve the problem by tanning at a different salon or for less time.\nTODAY'S TANNING TREND\nDespite the controversy over indoor tanning, people continue to flock to tanning beds. One million people visit tanning salons daily -- about 10 percent of Americans, the American Academy of Dermatology estimated. \nThe newest alternative to tanning, Mist-On Tan, was patented a year ago by Dr. Tom Laughlin. It provides the safety of self-tanner while avoiding the streaky, uneven coloring application.\nCustomers stand in a booth where sunless tanner is sprayed onto them from all directions, giving them a week-long tan in less than a minute. Sessions cost $15 to $25.\nThere are currently only a few Mist-On salons around the country, one of which is in Indiana. \nWith safe alternatives to tanning available, 53-year-old Myrna Trump doesn't understand why a new generation that knows the potentially harmful effects generated by both natural sunlight and fake n' bakes would still be irresponsible about exposure.\nTrump, who was diagnosed with melanoma in 1997, said she spent the majority of her childhood swimming in her family's pool, unaware of what the sun was doing to her.\nEven when studies came out saying overexposure to UV rays was dangerous, it didn't stop her from spending time outdoors. \n"Like everyone else, I thought I was exempt from having something like (cancer) happen to me," Trump said. "Plus I never thought I fit the profile because I don't have a light complexion."\nIf she had known then what she knows now, Trump said she would never have gone out in the sun nearly as much or without sunscreen. \n"I can't tell you what I felt like when the doctor told me I had cancer, and that they didn't know how bad it was," Trump said. "I had to wait two weeks to have the tumor removed, and it was the scariest two weeks of my life. That's a moment in my life I will never forget."\nTrump has hit the five-year mark for remission, but doctors say she isn't in the clear until after eight years. They said if the cancer comes back, it will return to an organ instead of her skin. \nWhile acknowledging not everyone is genetically predisposed to get skin cancer, Trump said that doesn't excuse them from taking safety precautions. \n"If you're going to get tan, get a tan with natural sunlight or self-tanner and wear sunscreen," Trump said. "It's worth it, and it's not that hard"
(10/15/02 4:29am)
Nearly 40 years after his death, Roy W. Howard remains revered as a hero by the IU School of Journalism. Rows of guests packed the lobby of the journalism school Monday afternoon attentively listening to the praise of a man who made impressive strides in the field of newspaper journalism. \nGuests stood up and sat down on command as IU president Myles Brand officially dedicated the Scripps Howard Foundation Suite, the Roy W. Howard Archive and the Scripps Howard Foundation Digital Imaging Lab. \n"He undoubtedly changed our ways of thinking about journalism," Brand said.\nEulogizing Howard as a "great man" a man from whom we can learn, Chancellor Sharon Brehm, President Brand and Dean of the School of Journalism Trevor Brown, praised Howard and his journalistic achievements. \n"We're trying to master and keep up with change, and it would do us well to reflect on the leadership of Roy W. Howard, who lived in an even greater time of change," Brown said at the ceremony.\nThe Scripps Howard Foundation and Roy W. Howard's family donated funds to renovate certain areas of the journalism school. The ceremony officially acknowledged the efforts of these benefactors, Brown said.\nHoward's granddaughter, Pam Howard, who was at the dedication, said Howard always considered himself a Hoosier even though he wasn't able to attend IU because of financial reasons. \nSince 1984, when Howard's letters were donated to the school to create an archive, the Howard family has maintained a strong relationship with IU. \n"It's very inspiring to be here. It's a great place to be," Pam Howard said.\nBrehm also acknowledged the University's relationship with the Howard family. "We're fortunate not to have to depend on the kindness of strangers," Brehm said regarding the Howard family's donations.\nBreaking from tradition, IU decided to bestow the Thomas Hart Benton Mural Medallion awards for the first time on a family and a foundation. IU Foundation President Curtis Simic acknowledged the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Roy W. Howard family, and Dan Thomasson, a liaison between the journalism school and the Scripps Howard Foundation. He also thanked Roy W. Howard himself.\n"We're very grateful to you, Roy Howard," Simic said. \nThomasson and Pam Howard will continue to work on projects to benefit the journalism school.\nThomasson attended IU and then went on to work for the Scripps Howard Foundation. "Some of the best years of my life were spent here," Thomasson said. \nHe said he enjoys giving back to the community, primarily IU, because of the significant role it plays in the field of journalism. \n"You don't go into these things thinking about the dedication ceremony, you think of improving things for students," Thomasson said.\nWinners of the national Roy W. Howard 2002 writing competition were also in attendance. Brehm recognized the winners and talked of the necessary recipe in creating great journalists, which in turn creates and promotes democracy.