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(10/02/09 4:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Mary Norman spent her summer vacation at her parents’ home waiting for the fall semester to begin. As the new school year neared, the same nerves kicked in right before classes started.Norman is starting her junior year at IU. “Every time I walk into a classroom, the students sit up because they think I’m the professor,” she said. “And I sit down and they are like ‘I can’t figure out, who is she?’”Norman, a 54-year-old longtime Bloomington resident, is a continuing studies student. Although she has been taking classes at the University since fall 2006, she still feels nervous at times because she is a normal student that looks so different from her peers.The continuing studies program started out in the 1970s and has its roots in the non-credit Mini University, a week-long summer learning vacation for adults interested in broadening their horizons, said Kyla Cox, director for communications and outreach for Bloomington Continuing Studies.Out of that came the general studies degree, which was created to help adults complete a degree or go back to school if they never had the opportunity.Norman had never formally attended college before 2006 but she did move around multiple careers. “Not understanding that I was thirsty for knowledge, I became a master gardener, I became a licensed esthetician and I got my license in real estate. ... I was taking classes but not realizing that this is what I was looking for.” She said the things she got involved with hinted that she had a longing to go back to school.She decided to come to IU because of its traditional appeal. She knew she was going to be different and wouldn’t be as “tech-savvy” as the younger students.Still, she knew she wanted the experience.Norman started taking one class in the fall of 2006 and eventually started a general studies degree. After quitting her job, she became a full-time student and is now on the road toward an arts management certificate through the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.This semester she is taking a wide range of classes such as arts marketing, women’s health and African dance.Having adult responsibilities, such as paying bills, has made Norman appreciate the opportunity that lies within her education.“I pay attention because I don’t have time to do this again,” she said.Norman said the resources that the continuing studies program has provided her with have helped her succeed at IU.“It’s when I have those moments where I think I’m alone on campus and I’ll get an e-mail from my adviser or I’ll get invited by someone in general studies to speak to other non-traditionals or to attend something that is recognizing non-traditional students,” she said. “And then I think I’m not alone.”Norman said her adviser, Angie Gast, patiently goes through every class with her and explains why she should or shouldn’t take it and what it will count toward.Gast said she tries to have a strong focus on what students will be able to do with their degree once they are out of college.“There really is no limit as to what you can do with a general studies degree and it varies from student to student depending on what they’re interested in,” Gast said.The program has also created a Facebook group, “IU Bloomington Adult Student Resources,” to let them know about opportunities for them around campus.Norman said going back to school is a possibility for anyone that wants to do it.Today, Norman is supplied with resources from the program, has gadgets for electronic note-taking and even has a Facebook.“I have friends that say ‘Mary, you are so brave,’” she said. “But I don’t see it as bravery. I just see that anything worth having is worth working for.”
(08/09/09 9:46pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Maurer School of Law is aiming to strengthen its environmental law program through its newly appointed director.Carolyn Waldron was selected last week as the first director of the program.As director, she will strengthen the program’s ties with groups such as the Conservation Law Clinic to give law students more opportunities.“Our goal is to really develop a series of vibrant opportunities for students working for conservation,” Waldron said.She said another aspect of the position that attracted her was the program’s outreach initiative to help nonprofit conservation groups within the state.Conservation Law Clinic Director William Weeks said in an e-mail that Waldron has many connections that will help the program grow.“Her energy, organizing ability and passion for the cause will help connect incredible intellectual resources in conservation and environmental law at the law school to Indiana organizations and people,” Weeks said in an e-mail.Second- and third-year law students work in the clinic as legal interns and help give legal services to nonprofit organizations, the government and any other clients supporting natural resource conservation, according to the Conservation Law Clinic’s Web site.Waldron said, in addition to working with conservation groups, she plans to help with programs that connect the Maurer School of Law and the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs.Robert Fischman, professor of law and of public and environmental affairs, was part of the committee that appointed Waldron to the position. He said Waldron stood out from all the other candidates.“She has been involved in the private and nonprofit sector,” Fischman said. “She has led really important environmental groups.”Waldron was vice president of the National Wildlife Federation – a 4 million-member private conservation advocacy organization – and helped create the Hoosier Environmental Council, according to an IU press release.Fischman said the program dates back about 40 years, when a class about environmental law was started at IU.The position as director of the environmental law program is funded by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.Waldron said she would like to see the program help Indiana with conservation issues in the future.“Over the long term, we intend to conduct a variety of programs where we can have a vibrant exchange with faculty and students and NGO (non-governmental organization) sectors collaborating on sustainability and energy policy and natural resources,” she said.
(08/06/09 12:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU will continue with its plan to distribute up to $500 per person to faculty and staff making less than $30,000 a year despite a meeting between IU officials and union leaders July 31.On July 31, leaders from the Communications Workers of America Local 4730 and IU officials met to discuss the bonuses that will be distributed in December. The union wanted everyone to receive the bonuses, not just employees making less than $30,000 a year.Peter Kaczmarczyk, president of CWA Local 4730, said IU officials turned down all three of the union’s proposals. The alternative to the bonuses for some workers included giving everyone a bonus of $215 or including the bonus in workers’ base pay.“The University was uninterested in any kind of negotiations,” Kaczmarczyk said. “Nothing really changed.”He said the University did not talk about any counterproposals during the meeting.CWA Local 4730 represents support staff from the Bloomington campus and clerical/technical staff from the IU-Northwest Gary campus.The IU trustees approved the bonuses after IU President Michael McRobbie came up with the idea while working on the budget. McRobbie first announced a salary freeze in December during a board of trustees meeting. This past month, the board of trustees approved the salary freeze that includes faculty and staff.“When he realized he would not be able to give a general salary increase next year, he wanted to find a way to help those on the lower end of the salary,” IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said. The bonuses can amount to as much as $500 per person, but eligible employees could receive less than $500 depending on their annual income, MacIntyre said. The bonus should not alter any eligible employees’ annual income to exceed $30,000.Across all eight IU campuses, about 2,800 workers are slated to receive the bonuses.Fewer than half of CWA Local 4730 members will receive the bonus.Kaczmarczyk said the union is asking its members eligible for the bonuses to donate a portion of or their entire bonus to charity.He said the union will continue to lobby against the freezing of all of IU employees’ wages.“We are very much trying to make clear that the current budget is unsustainable,” he said. “We don’t see how the business of the University can continue with the staffing levels dropping the way they are.”
(08/02/09 11:31pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indiana teaching licenses might get a makeover, but not before changes go under scrutiny.Last week the Indiana Professional Standards Board was given the proposed changes that were made by Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett. The board decided to delay making any decisions until its next meeting.Higher education board member Carrie Cate-Clements said she felt like she needed more time to look over the 54-page document because some of the changes included in the package were significant.She said the board was given a revised document of the changes upon arrival to the board meeting July 29 and didn’t have enough time to see what exactly was revised.“There are so many changes,” Cate-Clements said. “(We) need to look at making these changes significant so that schools will benefit.”Some of the proposed changes include increasing the number of content courses prospective teachers have to take at the collegiate level. Those intending to teach grades 5-12 would have to earn a bachelor’s degree with a major in the subject they plan to teach and a minor in education.Other changes include replacing teacher’s portfolio and mentor requirements with a beginning teacher residency program.The proposed changes also would reduce the requirements for being eligible to become a principal or superintendent.Indiana Department of Education Spokesman Cam Savage said the changes are intended to increase the content knowledge of teachers and to increase professional development.The state hopes the changes to teaching licenses will increase students’ standardized test scores.One proposed change includes principals choosing professional development conferences or classes that teachers can take for credit, which could replace the requirement of taking classes every five years, Savage said.“It will best meet the interest of the students,” Savage said. “I think that is an important step they can make for teachers.”Not everyone approves of the suggested changes.Tim Niggle, director of student and information management services at the IU School of Education, said a lot of the content knowledge the reforms identify are already part of programs.But, Niggle said he is concerned that not enough time will be given to how teachers will be delivering information to students.“It’s naive to say that teaching is all about content,” Niggle said. “A lot of what we do is the business of education.”Some of the proposed changes are so different that he said he is concerned that other states will not accept Indiana teaching licenses.“A lot of students don’t stay in the state to teach,” Niggle said. “Most states have pretty much similar programs, so to make a radical departure from that, then other states are going to have some trouble with that.”Cate-Clements said she is also concerned that other states might question the quality of teachers Indiana produces if all the changes are implemented.The reforms are still at the beginning of the process and will take time to be finalized.If all the changes are passed, they will be implemented as early as July 2010, according to the Indiana Department of Education Web site.“People shouldn’t get too alarmed about this because it’s just a discussion,” Niggle said. “They are going to talk about it a lot.”
(07/30/09 12:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Communications Workers of America union will meet with IU officials Friday to discuss $500 bonuses that will be distributed to workers making less than $30,000 a year.Peter Kaczmarczyk, president of CWA Local 4730, said all the support staff should be given bonuses, not just those making less than $30,000. The union represents support staff from the Bloomington campus and clerical/technical staff from the IU-Northwest Gary campus.The IU trustees approved the bonus, which will be distributed in December, after IU President Michael McRobbie came up with the idea while working on the budget.“When he realized he would not be able to give a general salary increase next year, he wanted to find a way to help those on the lower end of the salary,” said IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre.The bonuses can amount to as much as $500, but eligible employees could receive less than $500 depending on their annual income, MacIntyre said. The bonus should not alter any eligible employees’ annual income to exceed $30,000.Across all eight IU campuses, about 2,800 workers are slated to receive the bonuses.However, Kaczmarczyk said that isn’t enough.“Not giving everyone the bonuses is a slap in the face to long-term employees,” Kaczmarczyk said. “People making $30,000 or more are also having a hard time making ends meet.”Ideally, the union would like to see all employees receive the bonus and have it distributed as part of employees’ base pay, Kaczmarczyk said. This would mean a slight wage increase.He said he would like to see this added to base pay because salary determines many things, such as retirement.Of the employees the union represents, Kaczmarczyk said about fewer than half will be eligible to receive the bonuses.MacIntyre said the bonuses were created to intentionally alleviate employees at the lower end of the pay scale because McRobbie felt those workers would be most affected by the salary freeze.“He wanted to find some way to cushion that,” MacIntyre said.McRobbie first announced the salary freeze in December during a board of trustees meeting. This past month, the IU board of trustees approved the salary freeze, which includes faculty and staff.The discussion of bonuses between the union and IU officials was originally slated for July 24. However, the meeting was changed to Friday after one of the union’s employees died.“We are hoping that they will be open to fair and reasonable discussions,” Kaczmarczyk said.
(07/30/09 12:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This year’s freshman class is smaller than last year’s, but it will encounter the temporary housing problems that freshmen faced last year.The number of freshmen slated to attend IU decreased this year to about 7,100 students. Last year, 7,564 freshmen enrolled at IU, the largest first-year student class IU has ever had. The 2007-08 freshman class was made up of 7,197 students.Despite this year’s class being smaller, Residential Programs and Services expects to see about 100 students living in temporary housing this fall.Sara Ivey Lucas, assistant director for housing assignments, said there are 250 more students returning to the residence halls than there were last year.“We will guarantee housing for first-year students,” Ivey Lucas said. “We are really happy that our returning numbers are so high.”This fall will be the third consecutive year students will have to sleep in lounges instead of rooms until permanent housing is found for them. The majority of students who were faced with temporary housing last year were international and graduate students, according to an Oct. 6, 2008, Indiana Daily Student article.Ivey Lucas said RPS is still receiving late housing applications, so the number of students who will live in residence halls changes every day.About 6,500 freshmen and 800 transfer students already went through the orientation program, said Melanie Payne, director of new student orientation. Orientation sessions will continue in August.“Some students for a variety of reasons couldn’t make it to IU,” Payne said.She said many international students usually attend orientation in August because of the distance between their home and IU.IU is no longer admitting freshmen for the upcoming year, said David Johnson, associate vice provost for enrollment management. The number of expected students includes those who have paid the deposit and have reserved or attended orientation.Johnson said one reason why the number of freshmen decreased could be because of the economy.Thirty-three percent of this year’s freshmen class is out-of-state students, Johnson said. Sixty-seven percent of freshmen are in-state students.“It’s a good-size class,” Johnson said. “We were wanting to have a smaller class but also needed to meet a class of 7,000. That is what is expected for our campus in terms of freshman class enrollment.”
(07/09/09 12:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Amid a presidential coup in Honduras, one IU student is just trying to do research for his dissertation.Doctoral student Kevin Coleman has been doing research in Honduras for his dissertation during the past couple of months. But he didn’t realize he was going to end up being in the middle of a coup.Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was ousted from the country June 28. Since then, thousands of protesters in support of Zelaya and in support of the interim government have organized protests.Coleman said the coup was a surprise for everyone including himself, but there had been tension building up for a long time.“No one thought that they could actually overthrow him,” he said.Zelaya had been trying to have a nonbinding referendum that would change the constitution. Although the Supreme Court ruled the referendum illegal, Zelaya continued to push for it.Coleman said the coup has both helped and set back his research.“My research feels a little more important now than it did before,” Coleman said. “But it also has interrupted the research. Archives have been closed. I was able to go yesterday for the first time.”A curfew has also been imposed in Honduras, which Coleman said has affected his daily life. Local businesses have also been affected by the coup; many are choosing to stay closed.Coleman said many people seem scared more than anything else.In an article written by Coleman and published on the History News Network Web site, he said the coup is different than others in the past because it isn’t a division between political parties. Instead, the coup has created division among social classes.“The population is incredibly divided right now,” he said. “Both the ousted president and the coup president are hugely flawed, and so either one of them is going to have a hard time governing.”Coleman said he plans to continue his stay in Honduras until his scheduled departure in September.IU has not released any warning for IU students in Honduras.Coleman said his adviser has been in contact with him to make sure he is doing fine.Associate Vice President for Overseas Study Kathleen Sideli said only a few IU medical students are currently in Honduras.“We have been in touch with the students – they are all fine,” she said.Of them, some of them have decided to come home earlier than planned; others will continue to stay in Honduras until they are scheduled to leave.Costa Rica’s president is supposed to act as a mediator between Zelaya and interim president Roberto Micheletti.“We will be here until the country calms down,” Micheletti told a news conference. “We are the authentic representatives of the people.”Until a solution between both leaders comes about, Coleman, like the rest of Honduras, will just have to wait. – The Associated Press contributed to this report
(07/09/09 12:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Students and faculty at all of IU campuses will continue to drink Coca-Cola products for the next five years.On July 1, IU renewed its exclusive contract with Coca-Cola, said IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre. The soft drink company will pay IU $1.6 million per year.IU’s Anti-Sweatshop Advisory Committee had been discussing recommendations with IU Vice President for Engagement Bill Stephan for months. The committee started to question the contract’s renewal because of concerns about the company’s alleged groundwater draining activity in India and Colombia.In 2006, Coca-Cola issued a statement in responses to the allegations and said that its employees work in a union-friendly environment.Big Ten schools such as the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan have ended their contracts with Coke since the allegations surfaced.MacIntyre said a human rights clause has been added to the contract. The clause states that the parities are “committed to protecting the human rights of workers and to protecting the environment throughout the world.”In addition, the clause states Coca-Cola will follow its Code of Business Conduct and its Code of Business Conduct Procedural Guidelines throughout the world. Recent IU graduate and member of No Sweat! Cole Wehrle said the clause is important because it now serves as a legal way for everyone to play watchdog against the company.Wehrle was also part of the Anti-Sweatshop Advisory Committee that helped make the recommendation.He said the committee looked at the issue of renewing the contract thoroughly and had a lot of mixed feelings about it, but the decision was a University initiative.The decision is a bittersweet victory for No Sweat!, which is made up of IU undergraduate and graduate students.“We’re disappointed at IU’s failure to be more firm with Coca-Cola,” he said. “The campaign did achieve success in investigating the things and, through our contacts, really lobbied to have ethical clauses.”Wehrle said he believes one of the reasons the contract was renewed was because of Coca-Cola’s willingness to look at the company’s problems and fix them. He also said the new clauses in the contract make this contract better than the last.“These ethical clauses are a victory within itself,” he said.
(07/05/09 11:16pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>LONDON – As my eight weeks in London was approaching an end, I knew I couldn’t leave the country without having afternoon tea. I’m not sure why afternoon tea is so popular in the UK, but for some reason it is a must-do. About the 18th century, afternoon tea was introduced as another meal in the UK. The British take afternoon tea seriously. Prices range from about five to 50 pounds (about $8 to $80). I could have gone for the best of the best, but who am I kidding? I’m on a student budget. Thanks to my cheesy London guidebook, I found one of the best prices in town.I went for one of the cheaper afternoon teas at Sotheby’s Cafe. Though the prices were low, this antique gallery and restaurant is far from that. The place screamed posh, but luckily a small tea only cost about 6.50 pounds (about $11). This included a serving of toasted teacakes with orange and cinnamon butter, two scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam and an unlimited supply of the cafe’s tea. My friend and I were probably the youngest people in the cafe for afternoon tea that day, but that didn’t mean the service suffered because of it. The service was some of the best I had seen in London; our waitress was very attentive to our needs – like when we ran out of tea. The toasted teacakes tasted a bit like bagels. The spread was the best part because the orange and cinnamon butter gave it a kick. The scones weren’t your traditional treats Americans might be thinking of. Scones in the UK look and taste more like a biscuit. The scones were small but delightful, especially if you put the butter and strawberry jam spread over them.Although the afternoon tea didn’t have as many scones as I would have liked (I really liked them), I’ve learned afternoon tea is more than just eating and drinking tea. Like many things in London, the experience was what it was really about. It was about taking time from your busy life to just enjoy a simple thing like tea over good conversation with your friends. I can only hope that one day afternoon tea will come to America.
(07/01/09 10:57pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>PARIS – Ordering food in France is a job within itself. I recently took a weekend trip to Paris and was excited to indulge in all the great food that I had heard about. The options were endless when it came to the variety of pastries and crepes. But no one ever talks about how hard it is to order food when you don’t know any French. My first rendezvous with food happened within hours of arriving in France. Panic quickly set in when my friend and I realized the menus weren’t translated into English. The world looked a bit different once I realized it does not revolve around English speakers.We did what any American would do – we walked into a restaurant that had a huge Coca-Cola bottle painted outside of it. Walking in, we were optimistic. We got a slap of reality when our waiter did not speak any English. We suddenly became mute. After studying the menu for what seemed like hours, I still didn’t know what anything meant. The waiter came back looking annoyed at the fact that we hadn’t found a way to communicate with him. In a moment of panic, I ordered a random item on the menu and a Coca-Cola. When the food came out, I was proud of my selection. It turned out to be some kind of meat that tasted like chicken and french fries. But my satisfaction quickly went sour, realizing a lot of meat tastes like chicken. Luckily, things got better after my first food experience. Eventually we managed to find places that had translated menus. I learned that french fries are a must when it comes to a meal, even if it is dinner. At one restaurant, I ate roasted chicken with fries for dinner. But my frustration didn’t end. A day into the trip, all I could manage to say in French was merci (thank you) and fromage (cheese). Although the meals were an upgrade from London’s cuisine, I found comfort in the sweets. Paris has been established as the capital of crepes in my book. Vendors selling the soft pancake-like treat filled with Nutella were on every corner. My first crepe was from a vendor near the Eiffel Tower. It was filled with Nutella and bananas. The divine treat was even sweeter when I discovered that it only set me back a few euros. One crepe just wasn’t enough. I got the second one during my last day on the trip. This time I opted for a Nutella-only crepe, and although it didn’t have any fruit, it was still just as delicious. I also tried a millefeuille pastry, which has many layers of fillings, from a local bakery. I was surprised how cheap this piece of art they called a pastry was. It was a great experience until half of it fell onto the dirty concrete floor. My last food experience was at a deli where I attempted to perform the simple task of buying a sandwich. One worker finally asked me if I knew English. I eagerly replied yes and proceed to tell him my order in English. Unfortunately, his English was limited, and ordering was a disaster. If Paris has taught me anything, it’s that I need to learn how to speak more languages, and that I can never go wrong with any kind of crepe.
(06/21/09 10:58pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>LONDON – What does a girl have to do to get a decent Mexican meal in London? I’m still trying to figure that out. Mexican food isn’t just one of my favorite foods. It is in my blood. I have never lived in Mexico, but I grew up with my mother making the dishes her family taught her to make and so on.Needless to say, my expectations for Mexican food are high. Within a few weeks of being in London, I started to crave anything that resembled the spice blends I was used to eating at home. Unfortunately, I once talked myself into thinking I was participating in the feminist movement by not learning how to cook, which clearly worked out. Thus, I was stuck with the option of cooking a foolproof quesadilla. This held me over for a while, but I knew I needed to seek professionals. I started to do some research on the Mexican community in London, and my research wasn’t going well. Luckily, I stumbled upon Mexican food while at Camden Lock Market, a large open-air market near my flat. The neon Mexican food sign drew me in, and for a second I didn’t care what I had to pay – I just wanted to eat. That feeling died once I tasted the food and learned that the people behind the “Mexican food” stand weren’t from anywhere near Mexico. I’m not sure what I ate that day, but it wasn’t Mexican food. The rice tasted like a bad attempt at making any kind of rice, and the chicken tasted like it had been reheated in the microwave a couple of times. I ended up throwing most of the food in a Dumpster. But I found hope in a restaurant that had an interesting “About Me” section on its Web site. It seemed like the owners had been living and breathing Mexican food in Southern California and Mexico.I was really excited to try it out. But the day I was going to eat, they were just about to close and I could not order. My friend who came along with me pointed out we had already eaten there before. A few weeks back, we had eaten at this burrito place called Tortilla that seemed a few steps behind the burrito chains in the United States. This was the same restaurant. This wasn’t the Mexican food I was looking for. Feeling defeated and still missing Mexican flavor, I decided to stick to my homemade quesadillas. Maybe when I get home I’ll finally get around to asking my mom how to cook real Mexican food.
(06/17/09 11:43pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>LONDON – I have been in London for five weeks, and my memory of lunch has already been filled with an array of sandwiches.On one of the first grocery store experiences I had here, I remember thinking that I should pick up essentials to hold me over: ham and cheese.That was easier said than done. I’ve learned that just because a label said it’s “cheddar” doesn’t mean it’s true. That ended my at-home sandwich-making experiments. With it looking like I couldn’t make my own to satisfy my taste buds, I decided to begin exploring store-bought sandwiches. At first I tried out chains that seemed like safe and reasonable places to eat sandwiches. One of the first places that I went to was Pret A Manger, a chain that has been serving London since 1986. Pret doesn’t sell your ordinary sandwiches. I purchased two, Italian prosciutto on artisan bread and another with goat cheese and vegetable. Although I like to think of myself as an open-minded individual, I like to stick to the norm when it comes to food. So I was intimidated by the exotic sandwiches. However, once I got past the names of the ingredients I normally stay away from, the store-bought sandwich was a pretty decent meal. Although it isn’t the cheapest sandwich, getting a smaller portion saved me money.I knew I couldn’t rely on these expensive sandwiches for my entire trip. I decided to go to a local grocery store to see what kind of sandwich deals I could find. At one of the local grocery stores, there was a deal that included chips and a drink, which I thought was perfect. However, the sandwiches were less than ideal. Though they were bigger portions, the taste was horrible. The sandwich was soggy, and it seems like they had made obvious sacrifices in the ingredients. What does a girl have to do to get a good sandwich in this city? My answer came in the name of ECCo: Express Coffee Co. It is a small restaurant that is ideal for take-out and specializes in pizzas. Luckily for me, they also sell sandwiches that are served on fresh bread with tasty ingredients. There are a variety of sandwiches that you can choose from, but I decided to go for one that had cheese and basil in it. It was delicious. I also tried a spicy sandwich that included hot peppers and pepperoni. I might not find the classic ham-and-cheese sandwich while I am in London, but I’ve learned to appreciate the substitutes.
(06/07/09 11:04pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>LONDON – For weeks, Belgian waffle vendors teased me with the lure of their delicious dessert. But the timing was never right. I had either just eaten or was in a hurry. Belgian waffles aren’t Britain’s national dessert, but they might as well be. Vendors can be found in every busy area within London.I couldn’t resist the allure of a soft Belgian waffle with a drizzle of chocolate over strawberries for too long.I ate my first waffle in Camden Lock Market, an arts and crafts market that draws more than 150,000 people a week.I was a bit confused about how to order, and the line of people behind me didn’t exactly help. I ended up getting a waffle with strawberries and chocolate. I upgraded my waffle after discovering that ice cream could be added for 50 pence.Within minutes, for 3.50 pounds I found myself indulging in the dessert that seems to keep the streets of London together. But the dessert wasn’t flawless. The waffle itself was hard and difficult to cut. My plastic fork eventually shattered because of how difficult it was to cut through the waffle itself. Although the waffle with strawberries, chocolate and ice cream wasn’t that bad, I knew I couldn’t have a broken fork as my only memory of this dessert. After some online research to find the best waffle in London, I found Belgian Food Company and decided to stop by one day after dinner. The Belgian Food Company is a small restaurant that specializes in waffles and also sells coffee and ice cream. It only has a few seating options and is ideal for carry-out. The location wasn’t the only thing different about this waffle experience. This time around, the waffle was a lot softer, and they drizzled it with what tasted like syrup.My waffle cost me 3.50 pounds, but this time it was just for the waffle and caramel ice cream. Although I didn’t stretch my pound as much as I should have, I thought the quality of the waffle was worth it. In the end I paid more than $5 for each waffle. There are Belgian waffles back home, but I’m only in London once. Because, as the saying should go, “When in London, eat Belgian waffles as the Britons do.”
(05/31/09 10:18pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>LONDON – Each city has a history of a certain type of ethnic cuisine that seems to oddly fit in.Restaurants such as Anyetsang’s Little Tibet are an integral part of Bloomington’s Tibetan culture. In London, Brick Lane has helped establish curry as one of the city’s best-known dishes. On May 22, I visited Brick Lane to get a taste of what everyone always boasts about. The street is known for its diverse curry houses.I decided to stop into Aladin, a restaurant known to get rave remarks from Prince Charles. I figured if the restaurant was good enough for a prince, it was good enough for me. Before even walking in the restaurant, patrons were greeted by a photo of Prince Charles.The restaurant fuses together Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cuisine. While there are many options of different meals, I knew I had to go for the curry. I chose a vegetable curry that cost 4.10 pounds (about $6.15), but I had to pay for the rice separately, which cost 1.85 pounds (about $2.70). My history in curry is brief and consists of the Tibetan curry that is served along Bloomington’s ethnic Fourth Street. Still, this doesn’t mean that I don’t know a good curry when I taste one. The portion was perfect for one person, and the curry tasted different than what I had tasted before.The curry wasn’t exactly sweet or spicy. It was the perfect mixture of both. Aladins doesn’t need to work on improving its curry, but it would help if it had a better explanation of the dishes, because not everyone is an expert in curries. I couldn’t stay away from the delicious dish for too long. A couple days later, I found myself back at the restaurant. This time I made it on time for the lunch special that consisted of a vegetable samosa, vegetable curry and lemon rice for 6.50 pounds, which is not bad considering the dent London has made on my wallet so far. A vegetable samosa is a fried dumpling filled with vegetables. Although going out to eat at Aladin is a bit more expensive than staying in my apartment and trying to make something to eat, the latter isn’t half as good. After two successful trips to Brick Lane, I am now convinced that whenever I get tired of microwavable meals, I won’t starve, because a savory curry is only a few train stops away.
(05/20/09 11:09pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>LONDON – Britain’s powerful Speaker of the House of Commons resigned Tuesday after a backlash over excessive expense claims by lawmakers, but some British residents aren’t sure if that will solve the problem.Though Michael Martin wasn’t caught up in recent revelations about lawmakers’ expenses – reimbursement claims for chandeliers, moat cleaning and mortgage payments outraged taxpayers – he was blamed for creating a climate in which such excesses were allowed.Martin said Tuesday he would resign June 21.U.K. resident Luisa Borg-Myatt said she doesn’t think the resignation will solve the real problem. “I’m indifferent to all of it,” Borg-Myatt said. “I’m more concerned about the MPs (Members of Parliament) and what they are doing with tax money.”On Monday, 15 lawmakers made a rare step in tabling a motion calling on Martin to quit, a virtually unheard of step in Britain’s parliament, in which the Speaker of the House of Commons traditionally enjoys wide support and retires when he – rather than the House – chooses. “Please allow me to say to the men and women of the U.K. that we have let you down very badly indeed,” Martin said in the Commons on Monday. “We must all accept the blame, and to the extent that I have contributed to the situation, I am profoundly sorry.”Martin became the first Speaker forced out of office since John Trevor was deposed in 1695 for accepting a bribe. As Speaker, Martin keeps order during debates, decides which lawmakers are called on to speak and represents the chamber in discussions with Queen Elizabeth II and the House of Lords.London resident Andrew Kettle said he is indifferent to Martin’s resignation because he doesn’t believe the Speaker was the source of the problem.Instead, Kettle said he thinks the problem will be solved through a reform of the system, but he isn’t sure if that will happen. London resident Simon Hayes agrees.“I don’t think it has any big effect,” Hayes said. “We are left with wondering what is next.”Britain’s main opposition leader, David Cameron, said he will ask citizens to sign a petition urging Prime Minister Gordon Brown to call an election as soon as possible, offering voters a chance to kick out lawmakers who have abused expenses. The final decision on an election rests with Brown, who must call an election by mid-2010 and is expected to wait until the last possible moment, hoping for the economy to revive.“I’m not sure it will change anything until the next general election,” he said.– The Associated Press contributed to this story
(05/17/09 11:09pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>LONDON – If you hate grocery shopping on a weekly basis, you would hate living in London.I haven’t kept exact count on how many trips I have made so far, but let’s just say that I’m getting to know Sainsbury’s, a London grocery store, just as well as my apartment. My first trip there, after I arrived in London on May 10, I felt like I was literally running in circles. I figured I needed some basic food items, such as bread, cheese, ham and cereal to hold me over when I didn’t go out to eat.I never found the ham or cheese, but I did find some cereal and peanut butter and jelly. The peanut butter doesn’t seem to have the same taste as American peanut butter and jelly, but it’s manageable. I spent a lot of time in the grocery store, but I realized after about a day or two that I needed to get real food that I could eat for dinner. This time I visited a Sainsbury’s that was closer to where my internship is located, which is bigger and offers more variety than the one close to the apartment. I managed to find some good things such as frozen dinners that I could eat. I was especially proud of finding the store’s version of ramen noodles. I figured I was set to go no matter what my wallet was telling me. The joke was on me when I tried to make the soup and realized boxes of these soups were only 60 pence, about 90 cents, because they only contained about three noodles in each package. I quickly realized the price might be right, but I shouldn’t always follow it. Despite all these trips, I still have to go to the grocery store daily. An outsider might suggest making one big trip to avoid all of these visits. They don’t understand my complications.You have to shop little by little when you are in my shoes and have five roommates. Also, I only have two hands and this is a city, which means I rely heavily on public transportation. Who knew shopping could be so complicated? Plus, I have to figure out all of these things on top of working out my budget. I try to avoid converting the pound to the dollar so that I won’t realize how much I am actually spending on food.Until I figure out an alternative to these daily trips, grocery stores will become my new best friends in London.
(05/07/09 9:41pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Since my freshman year of college, one critical aspect of my daily life has shaped each semester: lunch time.
As I planned my classes, I didn’t think of what would be the best time
to take a certain class or if I should take it with a certain
professor. Instead, I thought about how long I would have to eat lunch
and if I would have enough time to grab a bite to eat before or after.
Naturally, when thinking about studying abroad in London this summer,
my biggest worry is not if the swine flu will spread to my flat.
Instead, I ask myself, “What will I eat for lunch every day?”
During my program’s orientation, we were shown the typical meal a Londoner eats. This was when my panic set in.
All I thought about during the rest of the session were “What color was that?” and “How do I eat that?”
Don’t get me wrong, from time to time, I like to be adventurous and eat
something from Fourth Street, but I always do this with great
hesitation.
A couple Internet searches for English food turns out fish and chips, black pudding and dishes such as toad-in-the-hole.
At first, I thought black pudding would be fun to eat because I figured
it had to be some kind of dark chocolate concoction. Upon further
research, I discovered there was no chocolate in this pudding. Instead,
it is made of dried pig’s blood and fat.
Where are the tea and scones? Those are things I can handle.
The only hope that I have for not staving to death while on this trip
is Indian food. Oddly enough, London is known for its excellent and
decently priced Indian cuisine.
Although I am no expert when it comes to Indian food, I have a strong
feeling that I can stomach up curry better than black pudding.
Getting over the names and what is in the food is one hurdle I have to
face. The next one is learning to stretch my pound (the currency used
in Britain).
Unfortunately, the pound is worth more than the dollar. Give or take a few cents, $1.50 is about 1 pound.
Not only will I be picky about the food they are serving, but I will also have to keep a close, frugal eye on each menu.
For example, chicken curry can be priced at about 6.45 pounds, which translates to about $9.67. And this is only dinner.
But as my trip nears, I have to remember that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Sure, I will have to brave a new world full of foods that I don’t understand completely, but I might as well have fun doing it.
(04/15/09 4:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Australian Justice Michael Kirby, a longtime human rights advocate and former law school professor, will present this year’s commencement address for the 180th IU graduation ceremony, University officials announced Tuesday.Kirby is an expert on human rights and was a long-serving judge in Australia until he retired in February. Most recently, he served in the High Court of Australia, the equivalent of the U.S. Supreme Court.IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said Kirby has a long-standing relationship with IU and close ties to IU President Michael McRobbie.“He has been involved in the University in a number of capacities,” MacIntyre said. “He has given a number of lectures and has an international reputation as a champion of human rights.”Maurer School of Law Dean Lauren Robel nominated Kirby to give the address. She said Kirby has been strongly involved in the law school and the Kinsey Institute.“I’ve known Justice Kirby for a long time,” she said. “I’m pleased and honored that he will give the address.”Despite Kirby’s accomplishments in Australia, some graduating seniors are not excited about the decision.“I’m disappointed since I doubt anyone is going to know him at all,” senior Ryan Smith said.He said he wished President Barack Obama was giving the speech and said it was unfair because he will give the commencement speech for the University of Notre Dame.Senior Claire Breen also said she would have liked IU to pick a more well-known speaker. However, she said the popularity of the speaker is a small portion of commencement.“It has potential to be big, but it’s not going to ruin graduation,” Breen said.Known as Australia’s “Great Dissenter,” Kirby served as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 1983 to 1984, the New South Wales Court from 1964 to 1996 in the Australian High Court until this year. He is the longest-serving judge in Australia.“Throughout his career, Justice Kirby has demonstrated a thoughtful and analytical approach to the law, as well as great personal courage,” McRobbie said in the release.“He has also been a great friend to Indiana University. We are honored that he will be the commencement speaker for IU-Bloomington.”Robel said Kirby has championed for the rights of aboriginal people of Australia and also for those with an alternative sexual orientation. She said she has heard him speak many times.“I expect an eloquent and thoughtful speech,” she said. “I’m pleased and honored that he will speak.”IU Student Association President Luke Fields, a senior, said the commencement speaker is an important part of the graduation ceremony and said he’s glad the speaker will emphasize the international perspective McRobbie and the board of trustees have tried to incorporate at IU.“I was really excited to see the speaker,” Fields said. “I’m just looking for a capstone to my time – one final moment (and) something to hold on to.”
(03/03/09 1:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Customers of Tutto Bene were first attracted to the restaurant’s food and ambience.But after it closed its doors Saturday, patrons said they will most miss the family behind the wine cafe.The 5-year-old restaurant buzzed with customers on its last day. The family-owned restaurant decided not to renew its lease due to economic troubles and inability to find a buyer.“Even though this is sad, I think that I’m in a celebratory mood,” said co-owner Marci Widen. “And I think we all are in a way. Even though it’s sad, we are really proud of what this has become and that people are sad to see us go.”Tiffany Pfeiffer, 26, worked at the cafe from 2004 to 2007 while she attended IU. She said she came back to the restaurant to volunteer for the night and said Tutto Bene became more than just a job. “I can say personally a lot of happiness in my life here in Bloomington is because of this restaurant, everything that I’ve gained from it,” Pfeiffer said.Although customers said the art gallery, tapas portions and classiness of the restaurant were all unique, the relationships the Widens built with customers is what would keep them coming back.Bloomington resident Greg Hanek said he appreciated the “openness” of the family. Hanek said he has been going to the “Cheers-like” restaurant since 2006 and said he would like to see it stay open.“I’d like to see a partner come in,” he said. “I’d hope to see Tutto Bene move some place else.”Widen said she usually knew at least one person from each table by name because it was easy for her to connect with her customers.“I look out at our customers and I really don’t see them as just customers, I see them as friends,” she said. “I might not see them all the time, but I’ve gotten to know them by name.“Widen said the family is continuing to talk to potential buyers but nothing has been signed because they are still in negotiations. About six buyers have expressed interest, but only two are in serious talks with the restaurant, she said.For now, she said she is following the process of closing the restaurant, such as returning unsold artwork to the artists.Amanda Kohl, 24, is one of the 13 Tutto Bene workers who will face the challenge of finding a new job in a dismal economy. Widen said 10 of those are part-time workers and three are full-time. Kohl has been working at the restaurant while earning her master’s degree at IU. She said she is unsure about her future but thinks the restaurant will come back one day.“I think that because it’s a popular place, I can’t imagine it not coming back,” Kohl said.Although Widen, who is 60, isn’t ruling out opening a new business in the future, for now she said she plans to stay active in the arts community and “mellow out.”“I think we leave being a successful business because we created something that was different and unique,” Widen said. “We have many people that come to us and tell us that, ‘Oh, you’re so different, it’s like New York.’ No, I think this is like Bloomington. Bloomington is a unique place and we want to say that this is a Bloomington kind of place. It’s sad for us all, but it’s just the way it is.”
(02/24/09 3:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Unless local wine cafe and bar Tutto Bene finds a buyer by Saturday, that will be the 5-year-old restaurant’s last day.Tutto Bene, 213 S. Rogers St., will close its doors because it will not renew its lease that expires Saturday, said Marci Widen, creative director and co-owner of the restaurant.Widen said the restaurant wanted to expand its culinary capabilities and make improvements to its kitchen. She said that couldn’t be done without an investment or a working partner.Widen said they have received offers for a buyer, but nothing has been signed. They are continuing to look.“Those negotiations have not borne fruit,” Tutto Bene representatives said in a press release. “In consideration of our inability to improve on the product we provide, we have elected to close the cafe.”The economy has also had an effect on the restaurant’s clientele, Widen said.“Our customer base on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays have slowed up a bit,” she said. “We always did a lot of special events. Those have been pretty good, but you need your customer base, too.”Tutto Bene is a Bloomington-based restaurant that has been open for five years, Widen said. Most of the menu items include appetizers and different wine options. Live music has also been a staple of the restaurant.Once the restaurant closes, about 12 workers will have to look for new jobs, Widen said. Most of the workers are part-time and are IU students.For IU professor of political science and leader of the Post Modern Jazz Quartet Jeffrey Isaac, Tutto Bene is more than just a restaurant. Isaac said his band was the only band to play at the restaurant on a regular basis – twice a month for the last three years.“First of all, I would say the Widens, the family that owns it, they are completely committed to supporting local artists and musicians,” Isaac said. “They try to cater to a clientele of people who love music and art.”Isaac said the “‘Cheers’-like” atmosphere was one of the reasons why he loved playing and going there.“I would like to underscore that Tutto Bene has been a huge culture vitality to Bloomington,” Isaac said, who will play there for the last time Wednesday. “I hope in some form it can continue because it’s a very important part of the community.”Penny Thompson, co-owner of nearby Thompson’s State Beauty Supply, said the restaurant’s closing is “unfortunate.”Thompson’s store is around the corner from the restaurant, and she said customers from Tutto Bene often overflow into her store’s parking spaces. She said the area had just started revitalizing, and she said she was surprised by the restaurant’s closing because it often appears busy.Widen said the restaurant will celebrate its last week by having a “Customer Appreciation Week,” which will include food and wine specials and discounts on merchandise.“I think our space is unique and eccentric spot,” Widen said. “We are lucky that we have had five years to be part of this community. That’s the most important thing, and it’s sad for us that we are not going to be in here anymore.”