63 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(01/11/10 3:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Some rap for money, attractive mates or street credibility.Others lend rhymes to benefit more charitable causes.On Dec. 19, IU-Purdue University Indianapolis alumnus Matthew Markoff, better known on hip-hop billboards as rapper M-Eighty, raised more than $10,000 to build a new educational facility for underprivileged students in Bodo, Nigeria.He said his fundraising goals were simple, though ambitious: help others while attaining worldwide recognition and respect.After nine hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds of rhyming over bass-heavy beats, the Indianapolis native broke the Guinness World Record for longest freestyle rap, previously set at eight hours, 45 minutes by Canadian emcee D.O. in 2003.“I almost choked in the first hour, literally,” Markoff said, laughing. “I was using a spray water bottle to refresh my throat, and at one point, the water went down the wrong pipe. But I wouldn’t allow myself to stop.”Friends and fans visited IUPUI’s Campus Center throughout the day, showing support for M-Eighty’s continuous, lyrical flow and donating money to the Timmy Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides resources to sustainable health projects in developing countries.Indianapolis DJ Rusty Redenbacher, Markoff’s close friend and hip-hop colleague, produced, mixed and played music throughout the event using what he estimated was more than 400 songs.“It’s a real testament to dedication, what he accomplished,” Redenbacher said. “When he came to me for music, I was like, ‘Bro, you’ve got to be kidding me. Nobody would do this.’”As Redenbacher mixed beats and changed the musical tempo with each passing hour, Markoff rapped about whatever came to mind, drawing inspiration from his surroundings.A dry erase board, inspired by the prop tactics of freestyle rapper Supernatural, served as a forum for audience members to scrawl ideas.“That way, if someone wrote ‘rap about my hat,’ I’d have something to work with,” Markoff said.Among the crowd was IUPUI professor Scott Pegg, who led the African politics senior seminar class that Markoff took in 2003. He told his students about aiding communities in Nigeria, which left a lasting impact on the rapper.Markoff contacted Pegg in the summer of 2009 to inquire about raising money to help build a new middle school. “It was very gratifying to know he remembered me and the service work we discussed in class,” Pegg said. “It was a pleasant surprise, something I wasn’t anticipating.” Now, a little less than $20,000 remains to be raised to complete Markoff and Pegg’s mission.Markoff, who has been actively freestyle rapping since age 13, said he’s still waiting for donations from IUPUI alumni and Eli Lilly and Company, but plans to perform and inspire until the new school can be fully financed. And with a new, double-disc album “Speak of the Angel” to be released in February and a nationwide tour scheduled to begin this month, Markoff said he’ll have plenty of chances to do so.“One reason I love rapping is a certain feeling when you know people appreciate you, are inspired by you, are influenced by you,” he said.
(12/11/09 4:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The African American Dance Company mixed bongos, genre-bending music and various styles of dance at its annual Studio Concert at Willkie Auditorium Thursday.Ensemble Director Iris Rosa said the evening focused on more than cool moves and aesthetic beauty.“As a director, you have to be a multi-tasker,” she said. “You have to engage in other art forms and be informed about history, culture, art and music.”Rosa, who started teaching at IU in 1974, said she seeks to express raw human emotion and experience in her choreography.“I like to put things together on stage that speak to the human condition,” she said.Rosa’s daughter, Claudia Rosa-Artis, videotaped the figures leaping and twirling across the stage from the back of the auditorium. Performers were barefoot and gleaming with perspiration, despite the 17 degree weather outdoors.“Everything’s so different,” Rosa-Artis said. “I love how dancers adapt to the music. Most of the dances have stories behind them, and that’s what makes African Diaspora style so special.”The evening’s first performance featured Rosa’s A221, Dance in the African Dispora class moving in unison to bass-heavy pop music.“This dance was created in celebration of Ghana gaining independence,” Rosa said.Junior Jonathan Tarver, dressed all in black to match fellow dancers on stage, said he was excited to show off what he learned in class. “When I joined the program I thought it’d be pretty cool to learn about the history of dance and pick up some moves at the same time,” he said. Although it was his first performance with the company, Tarver said he wasn’t nervous.“It’s not too intense,” he said. “I just need to get used to the lights.”Following Tarver and classmates were collaborative performances, featuring groups of three and four dancers. One group moved to entirely a capella tunes and sounds of blowing wind, while another collaboration featured four dancers showcasing different styles separately but twirling harmoniously in the end.A third collaboration interpreted song lyrics literally as three performers tumbled to the stage floor during a song titled “Let Go.”“All of the dancers come from different dance backgrounds and different dance experiences,” Rosa said. “We had to find a way to tie it all together.”Graduate student Deara Ball said she has known Rosa since childhood and loves her showcase concerts.“It’s really exciting to perform for people after we’ve been working really hard in the studio,” Ball said. “It’s unexpected. We’re an African American dance company and we do everything, so many styles. Most people don’t know that.”
(12/04/09 5:09am)
A small, black sign propped amid second floor walking traffic turned
heads and sparked interest at the Indiana Memorial Union on Thursday.
“Live fair, make fair, trade fair, buy fair,” one student read to her
friend. The two turned right into the Christmas light-illuminated
Frangipani Room, where the fifth annual International Fair Trade Market
was in full swing.
(12/03/09 1:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Though holiday shopping often breaks bank accounts, perusing exotic gifts today at the Indiana Memorial Union will benefit global communities.Fair Trade Bloomington, a nonprofit organization created by IU’s Students in Free Enterprise organization, will offer items from more than 30 countries at its fifth annual International Fair Trade Market in the Frangipani Room. Shoppers are invited to browse the artisan-made goods from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.“Fair trade sales help funnel money to artisans in developing countries,” Elana Borchers, vice president of SIFE project sustainability, said. “It has the ability to lift people out of poverty and give them a career that they might never have gotten the chance for otherwise.”Borchers said men and women from countries as far as Kenya could improve their standards of life with fair trade sales.“It’s important that we support the artisans in these countries and their desire to work hard for a fair wage,” she said. “When we purchase these goods the money from the sales goes back to them, their production costs, environmental sustainability and sound working conditions.”Mary Embry, IU professor of apparel merchandising and interior design, said the International Fair Trade Market in Bloomington started five years ago with a goal.“We were working toward opening a fair trade store here and knew we’d have to expose people to fair trade in order to do so,” she said.In August, successful efforts led to the opening of Global Gifts, a fair trade shop on North Walnut Street. Now, Embry said Bloomington shoppers can acquire cultural knowledge as they swipe credit cards.“Besides this being a great way to spend your money, the products are really cool,” she said. “Gifts have a strong meaning behind them. They tend to be culturally descriptive.”The International Fair Trade Market will feature items ranging from African carvings, Nepalese ponchos, Bolivian winter gear and more.Sophomore Katie Montgomery attended last year’s Market, where she purchased a soft, orange scarf from Kenya.“It was cool because we learned in class where the different things come from and what a lot of them mean,” she said.Montgomery, an apparel merchandising student, said she enjoyed benefitting others through her shopping endeavors.“One of my passions is fashion,” she said. “Why not help out while doing something I love?”
(12/01/09 4:46am)
The Strategic National Arts Alumni Project, referred to as SNAAP by Center for Postsecondary Research employees inhabiting the fourth floor offices, uses math and logic to benefit the arts.
(11/30/09 9:38pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Hidden within the homes of demure, conservative and reserved women everywhere, something dangerously erotic lurks.Shakira sheds moonlight on the subject in her latest album, seducing and warning with her trademark, sensuously saucy vocals and an empowering, intimidating revelation: There’s a she wolf in the closet.Though “She Wolf” contains all the hip-shaking, booty-moving elements of Shakira’s previous efforts, the 16-song effort emits a bold attitude uniquely its own. Hip hop powerhouses Lil Wayne, Kid Cudi and Wyclef Jean pump mainstream appeal into the Latina artist’s sound and elevate the album’s overall danceability with clever verses and pounding beats.The title track layers a base-heavy backdrop with borderline predatory lyrics: “Sitting across the bar / Staring right at her prey / It’s going well so far / She’s gonna get her way.” Listeners beware: the feel good jam packs enough inspirational power to make even the most timid pounce.The attack continues in “Mon Amour.” Brazen, jealous Shakira sings of competitive instincts and another primitive, animalistic desire: “And every night I pray that you don’t knock her up / ‘Cause I still want to be the mother of your child.”Though strong female listeners could appreciate the album’s predominant theme of girl power, “She Wolf” is too contradictory to be cohesive. When Shakira isn’t vocalizing her feminine wiles, songs of desperation and malcontent arise in awkward contrast.The juxtaposition of optimistic vs. pessimistic tunes may be a little much but that doesn’t mean power singles shouldn’t be used to embrace your inner beast.
(11/23/09 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A mess of glitter, lace and nipple tassels surrounded Lola Von Ella as she perfected her blonde up-do and shouted orders between sips of white wine.“Get rid of that pottery,” she told fellow burlesque performers backstage at Space 101/The Lodge. “All of that delicate art sitting out there, I’m terrified someone will ruin it.”The night before, Von Ella and her high-heeled, corset-clad colleagues sang, strutted and stripped at a show in Columbus, Ohio. Fifteen hours and several bottles of hairspray later, the group arrived Saturday in Bloomington for the Hoochie Coo Burlesque Party, an event that filled The Lodge from brick wall to brick wall.“We had no idea it’d be so packed,” said Katrina Dohl, member of international pole-dancing duo Gravity Plays Favorites.Dohl and partner Michelle Mynx, outfitted in red and black fringe-lined lingerie, were one of many acts to turn heads and provoke gasps with erotic flair and gymnastic athleticism.Similar to Von Ella, the pair performs about 42 times a year. They were recently named the Most Scandalous Burlesque Performers at the 2009 Golden Pastie awards in New York.“It’s such a rush, but I enjoy most what comes after shows,” Dohl said. “I can talk to people and drink without worrying about turning upside down.”The evening commenced with pleading from event coordinator Jada Barbry.“Please everyone, clear the center so the performers can make it on stage,” she said. “They can fly, but not like that.”After the crowd made way, Von Ella emerged in a glittering evening gown and serenaded the crowd with her rendition of “Fever.” Multiple stripteases accompanied by live jazz followed, receiving whoops and cheers from guests sitting on the floor, standing against walls and dining at tables.But the acts weren’t limited to female performers.Chris Lemon, a circus performer from Lacore Valmon Cirque in Gosport, Ind., glided onto the performance floor as stagehands traded a shiny silver pole for a contraption with a large hook positioned at ceiling level.“I’m a fifth-generation circus performer, and my act was originated by my mother several years ago in Mexico,” he said. “I’m the only one in my family who can do it since.”Lemon, announced as “the man with wire hair” by Barbry, removed his hat to reveal a steel hook embedded in his ponytail. Other performers lifted his body to the hook above, where he attached himself by his hair and proceeded to dangle mid-air while spinning, juggling and throwing glitter into the audience.“I have to concentrate,” he said. “When I’m doing my tricks, I don’t have time to feel pain.”After Lemon and other acts, including numbers from Bloomington’s own Burlesque Brigade, Von Ella reappeared on stage and began to slowly remove a glittering, white corset.“I love nudity,” she said before the show. “And nudity with sparkles and rhinestones on top is even better.”Von Ella said that dancing is a religious experience for her, and the stage is her place of worship.“It’s like the church of sexy fabulousness,” she said. “I love the carnival kind of pageantry, the rush of adrenaline. It’s my favorite drug.”Audience members gasped and clapped as men and women contorted their bodies on poles and clothing articles collected on the floor.“I was incredibly impressed by the strength of the women,” said Tim McLaughlin, a sophomore at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis.McLaughlin, who had traveled from Indianapolis to sip beer at the event, said burlesque dancing is infinitely more classy than late-night acts at a strip club.“The overall show was very impressive and just unbelievable,” he said. “Everything was done with taste and elegance.”
(11/20/09 4:16am)
From Princeton to Paris, Dr. Sally Shafto has spread her love for film as a student, professor and translator. On Thursday, she brought the same passion to Bloomington as the fourth
candidate to compete for the new IU Cinema director position.
(11/18/09 8:52pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Thanksgiving doesn’t have to force multi-patterned, turkey sweaters out of storage.Oftentimes, the dressing on our bodies is just as important as the dressing on our plates. Follow these simple guidelines to transform your dinner table apparel from pilgrim bleak to runway chic:For the girls:ROCK: Fitted sweater dresses add sassy to classy. Look to nature for color inspiration: deep maroons, burnt oranges and warm browns will complement falling leaves. Pair cashmere or wool finds with thick, dark tights and weather-appropriate boots. And don’t forget simple, shiny necklaces, earrings or bracelets to match your aunt’s antique silverware.AVOID: Low plunging necklaces or anything unnecessarily tight. Expect your waist size to temporarily increase, and remember: Grandma doesn’t want a visual journey down your cleavage.TRY: Charlotte Russe’s Nordic collection for sweater dresses under $30. Kirkwood vendors like Cactus Flower and Cha Cha also carry adorable dresses, tights and boots, but at a higher cost.For the guys:ROCK: Soft, V-neck sweaters add an air of sophistication and approachability. Plus, stomachs bulging with that third helping of turkey won’t be so constricted. Button-up plaids are still easy finds that will keep you toasty and can be appropriately worn in both casual and dressy environments.AVOID: Stiff, over-sized dress shirts you don every family holiday. They’re not so flattering, and undeniably uncomfortable. Also, please don’t pair khakis with white sneakers. They’re an atrocity of an eyesore. TRY: Express carries a large selection of affordable V-necks (and if your girlfriend won’t drag you in, your mother will). Urban Outfitters offers quality plaids for those willing to splurge.
(11/17/09 2:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU’s search for a new cinema director continued Monday in the Indiana Memorial Union’s State Room East.Jon Vickers, currently the managing director of University of Notre Dame’s performing arts center, presented his vision for the upcoming cinema before a group of students and faculty members.He was the third candidate to speak and undergo a series of meetings and interviews in Bloomington.“I love to watch films, and I love to exhibit films for others to watch,” Vickers said.But what he said makes him stand out from other movie-loving candidates is his administrative experience and ability.“I feel that this position is 30 to 40 percent programming, and the rest is administration,” he said.Vickers said he began his film career 14 years ago when he and his wife opened a small cinema in Michigan. Vickers later transferred his film programming expertise to Notre Dame’s Browning Cinema, where he also managed production budgets.He added that the IU Cinema would provide high-quality resources for a flexible range of film screenings and festivals. “Prerequisites,” a program suggested by Vickers would allow viewers to watch movies in related pairs.“Before you see Tim Burton’s ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ you need to see Jan Svankmajer’s ‘Alice,’” he said.Vickers also said he’d like to draw films from international film festivals, or devote an IU festival to French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville, who he said is “hailed as the father of French gangster films.”Julie Bobay, an IU librarian and associate dean for collection development and scholarly communications, said she wished she’d brought a pen and paper to Vicker’s presentation.“I thought it was very fun,” she said. “I would like to watch what he suggested for ‘Prerequisites’.”Bobay, who has worked at IU for more than 20 years, said she and the film collection department are excited to collaborate with the new director.“I’d like to see someone with knowledge and love for film, good fund raising ability and who frequently interacts with and includes students.”Sophomore Carys Tanner, a film student, said she can’t wait to attend cinema events.“I want to see programs that appeal to lots of people and a director who can make that happen,” she said. “I’d like to see someone enthusiastic, someone who has enough experience, but is willing to try new things as well.”
(11/15/09 7:01pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Round two of the search for an IU Cinema director continued Friday in the Indiana Memorial Union’s Solarium.Guests enjoyed complementary hot cider, various fruits and Brie cheese as Greg Waller, professor of communications and culture, introduced the second candidate in a series of four to speak.“This is part of the exciting process of getting the IU cinema up and running,” he said.Tom Yoshikami, a student from the University of Wisconsin-Madison pursuing a doctorate degree in film studies, said he’d bring passion and enthusiasm to the leadership position.“This is an amazing opportunity,” he said. “I really think this cinema is unique. Having visited many other cinemas, I can say nothing is like it.”Yoshikami said student involvement in Cinema festivities would be a good way to fund raise and draw interest from community youth.“We want to get the word out there, and what better way to do than getting involved with as many groups on campus as possible?” he said.Yoshikami, who has helped to put several film festivals together, said different departments could become involved in cinema events such as Jacobs School of Music faculty members could provide live music for silent films, the German department could offer explanatory panels following linguistically related film screenings.The possibilities are endless, Yoshikami said.Freshman Mandy Rattazzi, a film student, attended Yoshikami’s speech to learn more about the Cinema director position.“I was very impressed by his knowledge of Bloomington,” she said. “He seems to have a good idea about what he wants to do, and a lot of experience.”Jane Jorgensen, head of the new IU Cinema fund-raising committee, said she was also pleased with Yoshikami’s presentation and contagious enthusiasm.“The whole time I was listening to him speaking, I was imagining what it’d be like meeting with him in his office,” she said. “I could imagine myself not wanting to leave.”Jorgensen, an avid film lover, said she wants a director who’d dedicate time and energy to producing exciting events at the Cinema.“I’m looking for passion, enthusiasm,” she said. “We want to see student film premieres, red carpet, the works.”
(11/13/09 5:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After reviewing resumes from around the world, IU officials have narrowed the search for IU Cinema’s new director to four candidates. But before a final decision is made, the finalists must win public approval with presentations during the next two weeks.Greg Waller, professor of communication and culture, said a search committee appointed by Provost Karen Hanson released an international advertisement for the position in August. The director will be in charge of programming, management, student relations and fundraising for the new Cinema, which will be completed and open in fall 2010.“It’s a high-level position,” Waller said. “We solicit opinions from everyone who comes to listen to the candidates and present the information to the provost who makes the decision.”Speeches began Thursday at the Indiana Memorial Union. Julia Gibbs, who is currently assistant director of the University of Chicago’s Film Studies Center, unveiled potential plans for the IU Cinema before a crowd of students, faculty members and film lovers in the Indiana Memorial Union State Room East.“I feel honored to be part of this important and distinctive development on your campus,” she said.Gibbs said that the Cinema could house a wide range of film festivities, from an evening dedicated to French filmmakers to a Coen brothers showcase festival.“One of my childhood dreams was to run a cinema,” she said. “I’m increasingly interested in programming, which means discerning huge amounts of film content today, thinking about messages in the works and delivering them in a way that makes sense to viewers.”Following her 15-minute presentation, Gibbs answered audience inquiries concerning international film use, fundraising, generating student interest and promotional tactics.“I like that the theater department is trying to stimulate interest,” graduate student Josh Coonrad said of the director selection process. “I’m going to watch the presentations, see what people have to offer and go from there. They’re being very active in asking for our feedback.”Waller said the director will be selected after the last candidate’s presentation.“We’re delighted to be in this stage,” he said. “This is an extraordinary project that gets more exciting with each step.”
(11/11/09 5:00am)
Spike Lee-directed film screens in Indiana Memorial Union today.
(11/10/09 5:39am)
Used clothing store organizes "Monday Night Fashion."
(11/10/09 5:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Accio, “Harry Potter” fans.This week, Collins Living-Learning Center residents trade human ways for wizard wands in celebration of magic, literature and friendship.The fourth-annual “A Week at Hogwarts” features activities inspired by J.K. Rowling’s best-selling book series. Wizardry is free and open to all students.Senior Lisa Runion, a Collins event coordinator, said the week is designed to cast a bonding spell on participants.“We really wanted to create a series of events that would bring the residents together,” she said. “I started planning this summer, picking out events and calling graduate students and professors to teach classes.”From wand-making workshops to seminars on “Muggle Studies,” students will have opportunities to delve into a fantastical realm of topics. “It’s a very unique experience on IU’s campus,” said sophomore Alex Lahmeyer, director of the Collins’ board of programmers. “A lot of people say that Collins looks like Hogwarts.”Lahmeyer said competitions similar to fictional quests in Rowling’s novels are taken seriously throughout the week. Residents can compete for a “House Cup” to earn honor for their buildings, which have been assigned different colors and magical animals.Banners depicting unicorns, dragons and lions hang from windows to promote team camaraderie.“People get really into it,” he said.Runion said competitive spirit hits its peak during the traditional Quidditch match on Sunday. The sport, played in mid-air on brooms in the “Harry Potter” series, is reformatted for realistic play by teams of students.“We’ve adapted the rules into a combination of Frisbee, dodgeball and hide-and-go-seek,” Runion said. “Last year was ridiculous. It was quite the ungovernable mob of people.”Runion said musical performances have also drawn crowds in past Hogwarts Weeks.“We have wizard rock bands give a concert,” she said. “It’s a newer genre of music. They’re rock bands, but they sing about things related to ‘Harry Potter.’”Collins employee Leigh Davis, a founding member of the magical festivities, said energy is a consistent component at every event. Although the festivities are made for students living in Collins, the rest of the student body is encouraged to attend.The opening ceremony, which occured in the Collins dining hall on Sunday, attracted multiple enthusiastic Harrys, Rons and Hermiones.“People take it upon themselves to dress as the books’ characters,” Davis said. “It’s an excuse to break out those Halloween costumes again.”Davis, who has attended every Hogwarts week since 2005, said she met some of her best friends at previous events.“You meet people with the same interests and get involved at the same time,” she said. “It’s a fun, relaxing way to get a taste of Collins and the ‘Harry Potter’ world.”
(11/06/09 6:06am)
From Munich to Chicago, from Boston to Bloomington, Jacobs School of
Music professor Carl Lenthe has graced ears with his trombone and
baritone horn expertise.
Now, he can be heard everywhere on two new CDs.
(11/03/09 9:30pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Two years after “The Con” delighted ears, sister act Tegan and Sara deliver another dose of heady, unadulterated emotion that, like sunlight, both warms and sears.“Sainthood” might have sprung from the tear-stained pages of an angsty teen’s diary: touching, melodramatic and composed with an inhibition that can only be fostered by a small, metallic lock and carefully hidden key. With unique vocals in harmony, the guitar-toting twins create a sound track for raw, human feelings. Harsh, discordant chords back frustration and longing. Quick, quirky notes emphasize hope and optimism. Fear and anxiety are adorably packaged in clever wordplay and catchy choruses. The album commences with “Arrow” – a song sung slowly to choppy notes and robotic rhythm. “I take my aim. You feel me coming close,” belt the twins in a petulant yet profound manner. Clever metaphors are intertwined with catchy, vocal repetitions, as heard previously in many of the twins’ melodies. The song ends abruptly, like a mood swing abated – another Tegan and Sara signature move.Relationship issues and inner doubt manifest as central issues as the album progresses. Though Tegan and Sara are nearly 30, lyrics are frequently tender and childish. “Go steady with me / I know it turns you off when I get talking like a teen,” they plead in “On Directing.” Obvious euphemisms and simplified statements soften angry edge in “The Cure”: “I know the world’s been mean to you / I’ve got a cure, hold tight.” “Sentimental Tune” gives listeners a taste of the band’s classic, entertaining wit: “With a bit of friction, I’ll be under your clothes / With a bit of focus, I’ll be under your skin.”Although musically sound, “Sainthood” is predictably similar to the duo’s previous efforts. Tracks like “The Ocean” and “Red Belt” could serve as a continuation to 2004’s “So Jealous,” as though the band is still stuck in the same difficult relationship.But Madonna-esque evolution isn’t necessary for rockin’ tunes. If fixation on dysfunction works, why change it? Tegan and Sara give beauty to the dramatic, endearment to the sad. “Sainthood” is a poetic plea, quip, argument and challenge sparked by one prominent desire: Love me.
(11/03/09 5:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Daniel Cohen doesn’t consider himself sexy.Typical life for the self-described “late bloomer” is spent within the confines of the Kelley School of Business, striving toward a master’s degree in information systems. Mornings start early, and getting ready is a quick, painless process. With the exception of clasping a small, silver star of David necklace around his neck, Cohen doesn’t spend much time grooming in the mirror.Then one day, a call from New York injected glamour into normalcy.“I was at work when I got the phone call,” he said. “This nice voice comes on and says, ‘Hi, this is Nikki from Cosmo.’”Cohen was shocked to learn he’d been selected as Cosmopolitan’s featured “Indiana Bachelor” after his brother’s girlfriend nominated him last spring.“I was definitely flattered,” he said. “After the initial surprise wore off, I was excited about what was happening next.”Following notification of his date-worthy title, Cohen and 50 other eligible bachelors flew to New York for a Hamptons photo shoot. Smiling and shirtless, 25-year-old Cohen represented Indiana in front of what photographers hoped would resemble a cornfield.“They did a good job taking the stereotype of where everyone came from,” he said. “The pictures were taken at private homes. I know it looks like I’m standing by corn on the Web site, but it was really tall stalks covering a shower for privacy.”After hours of flexing behind camera lenses, the bachelors answered a series of provocative questions. Cohen said Cosmo reporters sought revealing details of his personal life, including “Where’s the best place you’ve gotten it on?” and “Do the ladies back home have any nicknames for you?”“I was kind of embarrassed with the quotes they published, especially with my grandparents seeing it,” he said. “I guess my chances for running for public office have been minimized.”Perks for the bachelors didn’t stop there.The group was sent back to New York in October to celebrate the “Cosmo Bachelors 2009” issue hitting stands nationwide. Cohen and fellow bachelors followed Cosmo reporters from Times Square to modeling agencies to television shows, removing their black Cosmo T-shirts upon hearing the command: “Cosmo, tops off!”“I’ve been to New York several times, but it’s not every time you get to be featured on the Today Show,” he said.Despite having tired eyes from flashing lights, Cohen stayed up that night dancing, mingling and strutting down the Cosmo runway at a celebratory bash. He returned to Bloomington for class the next morning, slightly disoriented.But the spotlight continued.“The magazine posted an e-mail address for me,” he said. “I’ve gotten e-mails and friend requests from across the country. Prisoners have contacted me. One woman invited me to a school dance at Butler. Another told me, ‘I want to tackle you in that cornfield.’”Cohen said he usually finds humor in the messages. “I’ll respond if they’re sincere or make me laugh,” he said.But sometimes, the joke’s on him.“One of my professors blew up a huge picture of me and put it on the projection screen,” he said. “I was so embarrassed.”Dark-eyed and equipped with a pearly, boyish grin, Cohen is not the only one attracting attention from his Cosmo fame.“It’s funny how my family has gotten more out of this than I have,” he said. “My mom got free desserts when celebrating with her girlfriends. My dad told me that I can thank him for the good looks.”Sophomore Alex Cohen, Daniel’s sister, said girls continuously ask about her brother’s new celebrity status.“I’ve been getting calls and texts from my friends around the country telling me, ‘I saw your brother,’” she said. “I actually saw the magazine a couple of days ago, and it just hit me that my brother is in Cosmopolitan. I got a pretty hard time about it at first. Daniel says I get more attention over it than he does.”Though his physical features were described in Cosmopolitans’s November issue as “smokin’ hot,” the single Cohen said he’s not looking for a supermodel woman.“I like a girl who’s comfortable being herself, someone who I could have serious conversations with,” he said.Cohen, who spent a year in the Israeli military after graduating from IU in 2007, said he’d like to meet someone more concerned with overseas happenings than happening new fashions. And when he finds her, intimate evenings of sushi and light drinks will ensue.“It’s hard to categorize my type because every girl is different,” he said. “I just want someone who makes me laugh, and maybe laughs at my stupid jokes.”
(10/29/09 4:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Spirted shouts of “Go, fight win!” filled Assembly Hall on Wednesday as the Marching Hundred performed its annual showcase concert.Hoosier fans cheered as the cream and crimson clad musicians played songs featured during football games including “Hail to Old IU,” “Hot, Hot, Hot” and “Dirty Little Secret.”Marching Hundred director David Woodley said the show was a display of the band’s musical flexibility.“The showcase has always been developed to be a re-cap of the entire season,” he said. “Very little rehearsal was involved.”Performing with the band were the Redsteppers, a dance squad that choreographs routines to live band music.“We learn a new dance each week,” said Janis Parker, the Redsteppers choreographer. “It can range from country to jazz to ’80s rock. We adapt a variety of dance styles depending on what the band plays.”Throughout the showcase, the Redsteppers jumped, kicked and twirled in front of the band, changing outfits between each number.Sophomore Kati Detty, a second-year Redstepper, applied crimson lipstick to match her IU cowgirl boots.“I enjoy the rush that comes with performing,” she said before the show. “I feel adrenaline coursing through my veins.”As trumpets, trombones and other metallic instruments blasted songs in harmony, the drumline kept rhythm from behind the band. But musicians weren’t the only performers featured.Attired head to toe in game day gear, freshmen football players Griffin Dahlstrom, Dimitrius Carr-Watson, Aaron Price and Javon Cornley greeted each other on the court with chest bumps. Four drumline members proceeded to use their helmets and shoulder pads as percussion surfaces for a performance titled “Chaumpin’.”Green and enraged, an Incredible Hulk played by Parker also joined the Marching Hundred for “Set Me Free.”“It’s always good energy with this group,” said Sherri Quintero, mother of sophomore clarinet player Allison Quintero. “We love to watch the band. We’ve attended the football games and shows for the past two years.”Freshman Kyle Murray, a tenor saxophone player, said performing with the Marching Hundred is an experience unlike any other.“I learned all of the songs for tonight in about a month,” he said. “I love playing music, and I like the people. Playing in front of crowds gets me pumped.”Despite hard work and long hours of practice, Murray said he plans to stay with the band for the rest of his college career.“I feed off the pressure,” he said. “I’m here for the long haul.”
(10/28/09 4:41am)
Halloween makeup can create scary, realistic faces to match your costume.