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(04/18/11 3:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU students are one step closer to being a part of the heat for the 2012 presidential election. The University has submitted an application to sponsor a presidential debate on campus, making it one of 12 schools to apply for the debate. If chosen, IU may be host to either a presidential or vice presidential debate in the IU Auditorium.Officials from the Presidential Debate Student Coalition and IU Student Association, including Union Board and the Residence Halls Association, were leaders in submitting the application. Leaders said IU students will be able to learn from the debates and be a bigger part of the political process.“Hosting a presidential debate means hosting the eyes of the entire country on Indiana University,” said Riley Voss, director of debates and issues for Union Board. “For students, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of the election process in a way that stretches so much further than casting a vote at the polls ... They’ll have the opportunity to participate in academic programming initiatives leading up to the debate that will better construct the political foundations of many first-time voters.”Voss said a mix of encouragement and passion for politics is what got him on board.“I came to realize how monumental something like this would be to not only the students but the historical outlook of Bloomington and the University itself, and that really sparked the creativity and drive that has been carried out by the rest of the student coalition,” Voss said. IU Auditorium Director Doug Booher said he agreed that bringing a presidential debate to Bloomington would be an incredible educational opportunity for students, faculty and the entire community.“From internships with media, political and planning organizations to specially designed course curriculum focused on the political process, the debate experience will extend to every boundary of our University and beyond,” Booher said.Voss said IU is the perfect location for a presidential debate.“IU has one of the most diverse populations of students from very broad backgrounds. We’re exactly the type of community a presidential candidate is looking to reach out to,” Voss said.Booher also said bringing the debate would be a wonderful economic opportunity.Voss said the committee hopes to have better luck for 2012 after they submitted an application in 2008.“It’s an opportunity that no student, faculty member or administrator will ever forget,” Voss said.Freshman Zach Russo said having a presidential debate on campus would be an effective way to get students involved.“Students are going to feel more connected to the candidates and be more involved if they are at the debate,” Russo said. “Students will be able to focus solely on what the candidates are saying without any distractions. It’s not very often that you have the opportunity to see a debate like that.”The Commission on Presidential Debates will send officials to visit the sites during summer 2011. Four sites will be chosen and announced in the fall, along with two backup locations.Students are encouraged to get involved and join the efforts in sponsoring the debate. Anyone interested in getting involved is encouraged to email Voss at rpvoss@indiana.edu or debates@indiana.edu.
(04/07/11 2:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Hungry from a long day of fasting, more than 70 students gathered in the Forest Quad dining hall to celebrate the end of the Fast-A-Thon that took place Tuesday as a part of Islam Awareness Week.The Fast-A-Thon, put on by the Muslim Student Union, was created to raise awareness about Islam and its customs and to support the homeless community in Bloomington through donations to the Community Kitchen of Monroe County. Fast-A-Thon in previous years has been during the month of Ramadan, but this year, the MSU decided to have it during Islam Awareness Week.“This is our real big event of the year. It gives students a chance to understand a spiritual Islamic custom, and it raises humanitarian awareness of the insanely high poverty levels in Monroe County,” said Taufik Chhotani, vice president for the Muslim Student Union.After a brief introduction, Hassan Lachheb, an associate professor in the religious studies department, led attendees in a hymn prayer and spoke on the importance of fasting in Islam.“Fasting is a spiritual practice. When we fast, we eliminate our bodily needs and have our spirituality strengthened. It allows us to see the world clearly and see how we can contribute to the goodness of the world,” Lachheb said. “When more than 40 million kids in North America are underfed, you cannot fathom that feeling unless you put yourself in that situation. Fasting raises awareness that we have to do something for the people around us.”The Muslim Student Union hoped to reach out to non-Muslim IU students and help them experience fasting, one of the five pillars of Islam.“This is the number one opportunity for us to invite non-Muslims to get to know us and experience what fasting feels like,” said sophomore and MSU member Minahil Tariq. “It means a lot to us that others are interested and want to know more about Islam and give back to the community.”After a representative from the Community Kitchen thanked participants for their efforts, a prayer service was held before participants enjoyed a feast that included food from numerous sponsoring restaurants in Bloomington.Junior Keelan Armstrong fasted and said he experienced the Islamic tradition and felt more connected to those facing hunger. “It was interesting to understand what Muslims go through for Ramadan or addressing the hunger issues within Bloomington,” Armstrong said. “It really does put it in perspective that it wasn’t even a full day we experienced but it was still so difficult. So for a person with no means to food, it’s a completely different world and spectrum of hunger.”The Fast-A-Thon proceeds will go to the Community Kitchen to help with programming efforts, renovations and expansion. Students were encouraged to volunteer and advocate to help stop hunger in Bloomington. The Fast-A-Thon was one of several events for Islam Awareness Week that will continue through Saturday.
(03/30/11 3:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Brought together through the Israelpaloozah events this week, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Student Supportive Services and Hoosiers coordinated a discussion group that explored Israel’s connection to the GLBT community. About 10 community members gathered at La Casa Latino Cultural Center to share their knowledge and opinions and learn about how Israel’s democracy treats the GLBT community.“Because Israel is a religious state, most people don’t know about how they are with the GLBT community,” said Arielle Wiesenfeld, volunteer coordinator for the GLBT SSS.“Every country has their issues and political problems, but in a country that is so religiously affiliated, Israel is one of the most progressive countries in the Middle East, seen with their openness with GLBT rights, and it is very eye-opening.”Participants at the discussion openly spoke about how the nation of Israel and its history has made Israel more accepting to groups facing discrimination. Attendees learned about how the religious values that are a part of the Israeli government still can conflict with the liberal community while also discussing the ways in which Israel’s relationship with the GLBT is admirable for other countries not open to the GLBT community.“The U.S. is not that advanced in some of our structuring of GLBT rights, and that is something we could learn from Israel,” said Matt Lowther, co-leader of Hot Topic discussions.“Israel is setting a good example for what is needed for GLBT. They might not offer everything, but they are offering a lot more than most countries do.”
(03/28/11 2:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Attracted to the bright paint colors, ethnic foods and music, students gathered in Dunn Meadow on Friday afternoon to celebrate the Indian festival Holi and get a taste of Indian culture.Holi, the Indian festival of colors, is a traditional holiday that symbolizes the arrival of spring and blessings to bring in a good harvest for the season. The holiday is celebrated with dancing, cultural foods and a custom of throwing paint powder and water balloons, all of which IU students experienced Friday.“The powder is called gulal, which means rose. It’s actually rose petals ground up into powder with color added, so it smells nice and spring-like,” said Priyanka Dube, the head organizer of the Holi festival.“Most people walking by Dunn Meadow on Friday afternoon will not know why people are throwing colored powder and water balloons at each other but will be curious to find out,” she said.The free event included cuisine from several local restaurants, including Taste of India and others, giving students a chance to experience Indian culture firsthand. Students were able to learn about Indian culture and customs.Along with the color fight and the water balloon throwing, Henna tattoos were available, and traditional games were set up across the field.Many attendees, including junior Brittany Carlsen, said they enjoyed the Indian music that was played.“I loved the music. I thought it was awesome. It was different than what I usually listen to, but I want to download this,” Carlsen said.Carlsen said the Holi festival was unlike anything she had experienced from a different culture, and she said she was pleasantly surprised by the Indian celebration that was made available to her.“I thought it was so interesting,” Carlsen said. “I have never been to an event that involved a culture different than my own, and I was so shocked to see how there was such a mixture of IU students. I think these events give students who are sheltered the ability to branch out and experience different events and different ethnicities. They are a really great idea.”In honor of the recent tragedies in Japan, speakers told students about relief activities occurring at IU. Events can be found through the events calendar and include a teach-in and benefit event 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Whittenberger Auditorium in the Indiana Memorial Union.
(03/23/11 4:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Tanning does more than bronze skin, and the side effects aren’t pretty.Research done at the IU School of Medicine Department of Dermatology recently highlighted the danger in using tanning beds, especially when self-treating rashes. Regardless, local tanning beds stay crowded.“Using tanning beds to ‘self-treat’ skin eruptions is just a bad idea,” said Jeffrey Travers, M.D. and professor of dermatology, pharmacology and toxicology.Travers, the senior author of the study, Archives of Dermatology, was researching the effects of UV lightened skin cells on inflaming proteins when different drugs are combined.The study followed a patient who had an allergic reaction after using ibuprofen and had heard that tanning bed exposure could be a beneficial self-treatment for the rash. The UV light exposure on the rash quickly became a life-threatening condition called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis. Attacking the skin, TEN can lead to heart failure, problems with vision and can negatively affect the digestive tract. The mortality rate following organ failure is more than 20 percent, Travers said.Skin cells exposed to UV light lead to high levels of protein that cause cell death and serious inflammation.“The subject in our study went in with a rash caused by ibuprofen and ended up in the burn unit with severe blistering of the skin because of the combination effect,” Travers said.Regardless of the negative reports and statistics from the Skin Cancer Foundation stating that indoor tanners are 74 percent more likely to develop deadly melanomas, tanning is part of many students’ daily routine, said Kim Danforth, an employee at Sol Spa Tanning in Bloomington.“On an average day at the campus store we get three to four hundred students, and that’s when we aren’t busy,” Danforth said. “In a busy week, we are seeing about six hundred a day at one store.”Danforth said there is a noticeable increase in the number of male and middle-aged customers.“Recently we have been getting a lot more guys. They come in groups and sometimes try to creep in so no one sees them.”Danforth also noted that when campus events are coming up, such as sorority and fraternity formals, a lot of sporadic customers come in to get a little extra glow.The harmful effects of tanning do not take a toll on business at Sol Spa Tan. About 50 regulars visit the spa almost every day and a lot of customers come two to three times a week, Danforth said. State law requires that tanners only use the tanning bed once a day, she said. But beyond one day it is a tanner’s responsibility to take care of themselves.When asked what college students should consider before tanning, Travers responded that it is best to stay away.“You don’t see it in college, but chronic tanning can predispose you to skin cancer,” Travers said.Sophomore Taryn Rosenberg said she recognizes the risks of tanning but understands why others make a habit of tanning.“Though I would never tan, I think people take the risk because they feel better about themselves when they look tan. It’s an expectation that’s been learned,” Rosenberg said.Senior Lauren Rochman said she has noticed that tanning has become more socially acceptable among men.“I am not surprised that so many males are tanning because men are becoming more conscious of their appearance and it is acceptable for them to care about how they look. That used to not be OK for guys to do.”Junior Becky Jacobson said students focus on the immediate reward and ignore future consequences.“It’s all about looking your best,” Jacobson said. “The tan skin appears immediately, but side effects sometimes take years to appear. This delay makes the dangers of tanning almost unreal to students.”
(03/04/11 3:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Members of ROTC programs across the Midwest had the opportunity to earn the German Armed Forces Badge For Military Proficiency at a weekend-long event last weekend. More than 250 cadets from 27 schools competed in the weekend’s events, which the IU ROTC senior class took the lead in planning.Sgt. Major Zindel, a German soldier, joined competitors as a representative from the German Armor Liason Organization to oversee the competition.“Sergeant Major Zindel attended to ensure all standards are set as prescribed by the German Army. Foreign skill badges are rare in the military and even more so in ROTC,” said Jim Gordon, IU’s ROTC Army’s cadet battalion commander. “That is why this past weekend was really something special.”Gordon was one of IU’s ROTC Army contributors that helped put on the event that included a 200-meter swim, a 5k run, a first aid test, a 9 mm pistol qualification, track and field events and a 12k road march. This event has been in the works since December by the IU ROTC’s senior class, Gordon said. “We planned the logistics, transportation, billeting, grade tracking system and each event itself of the entire weekend,” Gordon said. “Once the weekend began, IU ROTC cadets were in charge of running events, grading competitors and keeping track of scores. Despite the daunting numbers, the weekend went off without any glitches or mistakes.”From the 250 cadets that attended, about 180 were awarded with the badge. The chance to earn a foreign badge is a special honor for any soldier, especially those in ROTC, Gordon said. American soldiers add the badge to their Class A Uniform and wear it for the rest of their career in the military. The opportunity attracted competing cadets from schools as far as Michigan and Knoxville, Tenn.Eight IU ROTC members were participants in the weekend’s competition. Seven received a gold badge and one received a bronze badge. “We woke up at 6 a.m. to train every day for a month and a half for this,” said John Brogan, IU ROTC senior and captain of the event, in an e-mail. “The team of IU cadets that completed the event all agreed that it was difficult to do the amount of events, but the badge gave them a sense of achievement that they will be able to take with them throughout their Army career.”Brogan said he was honored to get the badge but he took more from the weekend then just the medal. The successful event left him feeling closer with his ROTC community.“The camaraderie and friendship built with the other competitors during training for the event is worth more than the badge to me,” he said.Leaving with eight badges awarded to IU students made the weekend a success, Gordon said.“With the incredibly successful outcome of the weekend, IU students can know that their Army ROTC program is one of the best in the nation,” Gordon said.
(02/24/11 3:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Commemorating the 93rd anniversary of the Estonian declaration of independence, IU and Bloomington community members gathered Monday in the Indiana Memorial Union to celebrate and experience Estonian culture.Among the guests was the Ambassador of Estonia to the United States, Väino Reinart, who was delighted to be celebrating on IU’s campus.“It is a privilege, knowing the Estonian independence day has been celebrated in this room for over 40 years,” Reinart said.Although the declaration was signed in 1918, Estonia spent decades occupied by the Soviet Union, which kept Estonians from being able to celebrate their independence day at home.Only in 1991 was the state of Estonia restored. Reinart was happy that although Estonians did not experience freedom at home during the years of occupation, Hoosiers at IU were able to commemorate the holiday in hopes of achieving freedom again.“Thank you for celebrating the Estonian independence throughout many years, in fact more years then we could celebrate the days back in Estonia,” he said.Reinart mentioned Estonia’s commitment to helping other nations achieve independence in the future.“Today our soldiers are fighting next to American soldiers to make freedom flourish. We are very grateful to the American people who have made it possible to keep the Estonian studies and culture here alive,” Reinart said.Attendees enjoyed a real taste of Estonian culture through food, traditional music and art.Today marks the date that the declaration of independence was first signed in Estonia. Fortunately, Estonians are able to celebrate their independence and their progress back at home this year.Professor for Central Eurasian Studies Toivo Raun made remarks on Estonia’s growth.“By its progress in various important areas, including a democratic political system, a well-functioning market economy and strong achievements in education, Estonia has demonstrated that it fully belongs as an equal member of the international community,” Raun said.Photographs taken by renowned Estonian photographer Arne Maasik were put on display for the event.IU community members shared Estonian poetry, and the ceremony included several musical groups.Siilikesed, a student chorus comprised of members from the Baltic and Finnish Student Association, performed traditional and popular songs. An instrumental group shared several Estonian folk tunes, using traditional instruments that were 2,000 years old, including kannels, a plucked string instrument and bagpipes.After singing the Estonian national anthem, guests enjoyed a traditional Estonian feast.Students, including master’s student Cody Behles, enjoyed getting a taste of Estonian culture.“I came to gain Estonian cultural exposure, and I am always impressed with the events that the Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center puts on,” Behles said.By recognizing Estonia’s independence day in a place as far away as Bloomington, IU continued its tradition of commemorating international affairs.“This celebration reflects and reinforces IUB’s commitment to international studies more broadly,” Raun said. “It certainly honors the memory and vision of our great president, Herman B Wells.”
(02/23/11 4:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU’s Commission on Multicultural Understanding mounted artist Thomas Hart Benton’s famous Indiana Murals last week outside of Woodburn Hall 100 with the hopes of educating and sparking the interests of students, faculty and campus visitors.The 22 murals on display are accompanied by descriptions of the history behind Benton’s work, the murals’ tie to IU and a description of one of the controversial panels.Benton was asked to paint the large murals in 1932 for the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago. He was asked to illustrate Indiana’s history of culture and industrial transformation. In six short months, Benton, an expert on American history, constructed the 22 murals to symbolize Indiana’s role in American history. Benton received national recognition, including an appearance on the cover of Time magazine in 1934.After the Exposition closed, Herman B Wells was able to convince then Gov. M. Clifford Townsend to dedicate the murals to IU’s auditorium. Although the canvas had to be slightly altered to fit the auditorium, the murals found their new permanent home in the Auditorium and IU Cinema.“The murals provide an invaluable opportunity for renewed dialogue about our collective past and its relevance to issues in the present and future,” said Karen Hanson, provost and executive vice president. “They remind us of the University’s deep connections with the history and culture of the state. They will help students understand the murals and their complex and important legacy.”One of Benton’s panels, titled “Parks, the Circus, the Klan, the Press” has been considered controversial for its content depicting the Ku Klux Klan burning a cross. When state officials were allegedly unhappy with Benton’s depiction of Indiana’s ties to the KKK, Benton was able to convince them that his work was an honest representation of the state’s history. Although it is controversial, Benton used the philosophy that to move forward, we must learn from the past.Particularly because the images of the Klan can be offensive and disturbing, the Commission of Multicultural Understanding took caution in approving the display.“We understand that this image can evoke painful feelings for some students. Through much discussion and reflection over the years, our campus has consistently concluded that education is the best response to the controversy — that students gain the most if they are well informed about the murals and why we value them,” said Pamela Freeman, associate dean of students and director of the Office of Student Ethics and Anti Harassment Programs.A number of students who observed the murals feel that although the Klan can be seen as an offensive representation of Indiana’s history, it is still a part of Indiana and should be included in the murals.Hilary Kahn, associate director of the Center for the Study of Global Change, said she hopes the murals will inspire students to engage in conversation and get the information necessary to understand the meaning behind the murals.
(02/10/11 3:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Students are taking a wide variety of trips this upcoming spring break, from tropical getaways to department-led study trips.Many students, including sophomore Lisa Wagner, are traveling with friends to get a break from the Bloomington weather. “We are going on a cruise to Puerto Rico, St. Maarten and St. Kitts,” Wagner said. “I decided it was worth it because St. Maarten is somewhere that I’ve always wanted to go and never gotten the chance. I couldn’t say no.”The costs of college can make the expenses of a tropical trip a little problematic for some students. Senior Kristin Baxter is planning to stay in Bloomington this break, unlike her friend, senior Caty Natt, who is part of a group trip.“Eight of us are going to the Outer Banks in North Carolina,” Natt said. “We decided we needed a group trip, and it’s off season so the beach house was heavily discounted for a big group.”Sophomore Jessie Melowsky used traveling to her advantage.“I am traveling from Cincinnati to New Jersey, two of the most expensive airports in the country,” Melowsky said. “But my dad found that I had enough sky miles to pay for the trip.”Senior Leslie Gubitz decided to ditch a cruise to New Orleans for a trip organized by the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center. “I wanted to spend my time helping others, rebuilding, checking out the jazz scene and definitely get to know Bourbon Street,” Gubitz said. Although it’s a service trip, Gubitz said she is excited to enjoy the New Orleans scene as well. “Everyone talks about how saucy and sassy New Orleans is and I can’t wait to live it up,” Gubitz said. Students are also participating in club sport trips. Sophomore Kye Butler is traveling to St. Augustine, Fla., with his ultimate frisbee team. The group’s size made the trip more affordable and Butler said he is excited to get away.“It’s the first real time away from classes in the second semester,” Butler said. “You don’t have to go home, it’s warm, you have little to no supervision and it just kind of snowballs from there.” Some students, especially underclassmen, are still interested in traveling home. Freshman Sydney Davis said she is anxious to spend time with her family at home. “I’ve heard about people going to warm, beachy places over spring break and basically going out all day and night long,” Davis said. “Being a freshman, it sounds fun but I would just rather go home and go shopping.”For underage students like sophomore Glen Boden, home is where the heart will stay for spring break. “Since I’m under 21, I feel like the spring break experience becomes kind of limited,” Boden said. “I figured I’d go home and hang out with some friends and go somewhere fun my junior and senior years.”
(02/10/11 3:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A panel of students shared its religious similarities and differences Monday for the second event of One Love Week. “Where Is The Love” was presented by Theta Nu Xi, IU’s multicultural sorority.The panel was comprised of students from Impact Movement, the Helene G. Simon Hillel House and the Muslim Student Union. One representative from each of these groups sat at the panel and answered various questions about religion and the challenges faced as a student at IU.The goal of the panel was to close the gaps that keep students of different religious backgrounds apart, as well as to bring light to the similarities between them.President of Theta Nu Xi and junior Cameray Boyden said she was glad to bring everyone together to spread the love, the goal of all the week’s One Love events.“We want to get a discussion going to bring together different religious groups and inspire people to speak up about their faith and feel comfortable,” Boyden said.Theta Nu Xi, the only multicultural-based sorority on campus, is excited to put on One Love week for the first time, Boyden said. About 20 IU students gathered to hear the panel discussion.“Religion is something you really cannot talk about in our culture in the U.S,” Eric Love, adviser of Theta Nu Xi, said.The goal of the program was to get students to open up and get their questions out on the table without feeling ashamed. “I’m here to inspire people to speak up on their faith and what they believe in, and I want people to feel open enough to share,” Boyden said.With help from the audience, Boyden led the panel with discussion questions. Audience members were given the option of texting uncomfortable questions to the panel in hopes of getting anyone to speak up.The panel discussed questions concerning each group’s mission as a campus organization, its viewpoints on the media’s take on the various religions and even each group’s religious outlook on homosexuality, a question which was asked via text.Students shared personal stories regarding times they faced prejudice based on their religious identities.“We all have a duty to research on our own and turn on our TVs to see what is actually happening,” said Sohaib Sajjad, representing the Muslim Student Association. “There are tons of misconceptions, and the Western media often does a bad job of portraying the norms.”Hillel House representative Seth Lerman emphasized Hillel’s role in establishing a safe, tolerant community.“Everyone should feel welcomed, and everyone should be accepted into the community,” Lerman said.
(02/03/11 3:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Anyone who likes to drink a lot who is single or divorced may have an answer for the lack of a love life.In marriage, alcoholics are twice as likely to separate compared to non-alcoholics, according to a study published by Mary Waldron, an assistant professor in the School of Education. The study examined the relationship between alcoholism and marital survival.“We believe that our study is one of the first to examine marital timing across the lifespan as a function of alcohol dependence,” Waldron said. Researchers looked at alcohol’s physical and psychological effects in users, including the time subjects became dependent, and then tracked the history of their marriage.Not only is separation twice as likely for spouses who are addicted to alcohol, but alcohol dependence also showed a decrease in the likelihood of getting married by 36 percent in men and 23 percent in women.“It’s just another striking example of the social consequences of alcoholism, that alcoholism impacts not only the alcoholic,” Waldron said.One of the authors of “Alcoholic Marriage: Later Start, Sooner End,” Waldron has written about the impact that alcohol abuse has on families and societies. She said she is interested in the effects alcohol has on the children of users.“When you look at children of alcoholics, you really need to pay attention to marital variables. Not only separation, which we know is highly correlated with alcoholism, but also when their parents are getting married.”The study has a potential impact on young adults who hope to get married one day, Waldron said. The study showed the percent decrease in likelihood of marrying with those who use alcohol. Waldron suggested that if alcoholism continues to grow, the number of lasting marriages would decrease dramatically.After analyzing the effects of the study, Waldron explained that the effects of alcohol can be a great threat to successful relationships.“Really, the consequences of alcoholism for relationships begin even before the relationship starts,” Waldron said.The full study is available online and was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute of Childhood Health and Human Development and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
(01/31/11 3:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Friday was Data Privacy Day, an internationally recognized day meant to “celebrate the dignity of the individual expressed through personal information,” according to the Privacy Project’s website. In today’s world where powerful technology and communication devices are meant to enhance lives, there is still a lot of worry about how much private information is easily leaked and shared.“In this networked world in which we are thoroughly digitized with our identities stored as so many bits and bytes, we have to ask — who is collecting all of this?” the event’s website says. “Most of all, individuals are asking, ‘How can I protect my information from being misused?’” In 2009, the U.S. House and Senate recognized Jan. 28 as National Data Privacy Day. Since then, educational presentations, demonstrations and discussions representing all ages have attempted to increase the privacy of consumer information.On www.dataprivacyday.org, readers can find events, information and links to helpful resources on how to protect personal information, ways to get involved and more. The website caters to everyone from young kids to businesses to corporations.Young adults are advised to take all precautions needed to make their information on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter safe from being distributed to other websites. Many publications are available on the website that give readers an idea of just how far Facebook can go in distributing users’ information without a user’s awareness.In a technological world where sharing happens before users even realize it, students are highly encouraged to make their protection a number-one priority in order to avoid identity theft, a communication crisis or violation of personal rights.
(01/28/11 5:09am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>National Geographic photojournalist Alexandra Avakian took her audience on a “journey of the Muslim world”, sharing her photographs and stories Thursday night at Ernie Pyle Hall.Students, faculty and Bloomington community members packed the lecture hall to hear Avakian speak of her 20 years of experience photographing Muslims across the world and visiting numerous countries documenting war, conflict, culture and beauty.After an introduction by professor Steve Raymer, who called Avakian “a faithful witness and humanitarian who puts down the camera to help save a life,” listeners heard pieces of Avakian’s travels and personal experiences in Bosnia, Iran, the West Bank, Somalia and many other countries.Avakian spoke on time spent in Yasser Arafat’s plane, covering Hamas riots, traveling with body guards during war, photographing children in genocide and times that she was beaten when caught in violent scenes.“It was a dream story for a person like me,” Avakian said of her time in Hezbollah.“My stories took a lot of patience and faith,” Avakian said, sharing everything from violent war photographs to scenes at parties and beaches. “My job was to do everything I could to make a picture of their lives.”Avakian said her family’s work in the arts and interest in her own roots inspired her to photograph Muslims and travel to very dangerous and beautiful places.“It was of the upmost important to me to express the stories of people under pressure and in trouble,” Avakian said. Avakin also showed pictures taken in Somalia during famine.“It was a service type of journalism where you are smelling death,” she said.After Avakian’s award-winning photographs were published in many American and European publications including Time and Life, she shared why she has also written her books including “Windows of the Soul: My Journeys in the Muslim World.” When certain photographs were cut from publication, Avakian said she still felt an obligation to share them.“These pictures haunted me for years when they weren’t published because I had the opportunity to share what they went through,” she said. “I’ve just been really fortunate that these people shared their lives and their deaths with me; and here are some moments of people and places that I’ll never forget.”At the end of her lecture, Avakian took questions from listeners, encouraging students to take pride in their pictures. “If you believe in your pictures, other people will; they will feel it.”“I came in not knowing what to expect, and I was blown away by her collection of work and really moved by her experiences and details,” senior Lauryn Gray said after the lecture.Pictura Gallery in Bloomington will close its gallery of Avakian’s work Friday after she signs copies of her book “Windows of the Soul: My Journeys in the Muslim World” at 6 p.m.
(01/28/11 5:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Eighteen students rehearsed together in the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center recreational room Monday night as Hooshir Director John Zadlo led the a cappella group in their warm ups.Hooshir one of IU’s a cappella ensembles, made up of undergraduate students who share a passion for musical performance, rehearse twice a week, perform regularly in Bloomington and tour the country.The name Hooshir, meaning “he who sings” in Hebrew, was given to the group when it was established in 2006. The International Hillel Organization requested that a Jewish singing group perform for then-President George W. Bush at the White House for a Hanukkah party. “Today it has become something a little different,” said John Zadlo, junior and musical director. “About half of our members are Jewish, and our repertoire consists of 30 percent Jewish and Israeli pop music, and the other 70 percent is contemporary pop music.” The group worked on a song titled “Al Hanisim” on Monday night and also covered artists such as Lady Gaga and Beyoncé .Zadlo said the balance between fun and productivity is an important one to achieve.“It’s a balance between being a leader and being a friend,” Zadlo said. “I have to put together a good show, knowing that the group gets something out of it, so if I put all that work forth so that we all have fun, it’s okay with me.”The group has performed several times in the past months, including a packed Hanukkah performance at Hillel, a radio broadcast for The Smiley Show, an appearance at the Kenya Dance Competition and a show at the Carmel Community Playhouse.The group has toured Chicago, Los Angeles and New York and plans on going to Boston this March.“We are basically just trying to get our name out there because we have talent like Straight No Chaser and Ladies First, but we are newer,” said Julie Wolmack, Hooshir president and member. “When I started it was really small, and I brought in five or six of my closest friends to audition, and it has grown into a big close-knit group where we don’t just perform but we hang out every day and are all best friends.” Group members joked around and gave each other constructive criticism about working on improving their sound.“They are pretty incredible for a group of college kids,” said Ilana Nadel, Hillel program director. “They are a group of college students who take initiative to practice as much as they can and they are great to listen to. I felt like a proud parent standing in the back at their radio show. It was awesome.”After all the hard work and long hours of practicing, Wolmack said a successful performance justifies the effort.“The satisfaction of performing a song to the best of your abilities and having an effect on people’s life musically is amazing,” Wolmack said.Hooshir is having auditions for this semester 5 p.m. Sunday at the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center.
(01/21/11 5:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The holiday cheer has ended, and campus is hidden under a cold cloud of darkness. Professor of psychiatry Alan Schmetzer said this can cause the blues.Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that is caused during the fall and winter when there is a decreased amount of sunlight. Schmetzer said although SAD stands as a theory, he believes it is a proven disorder.“Bloomington is located in a zone that would be considered at ‘moderate risk,’” Schmetzer said. “Roughly 1,500 students are at risk in any given year.”SAD symptoms include a decrease in energy, withdrawal from social settings, less interest in things that used to be of high interest and moodiness, he said.“The biggest risk, as with any mood disorder, is the potential for suicide,” Schmetzer said. “Anyone can feel down or blue for a few days due to the everyday stresses of school, deadlines, tests, etc., or just as part of normal mood variation, but if these feelings last beyond two weeks, the student should go to see his or her family doctor or the Student Health Center.”Those who suffer from SAD can feel a drop in serotonin levels that can negatively affect a person’s mood. The shorter days can also disrupt a person’s natural melatonin cycle, making it harder for them to get enough sleep.For those who suffer from lack of sunlight, Schmetzer recommended light treatment. This involves sitting about a foot from a light box, specifically designed for SAD treatment, for 30 to 60 minutes a day.
(01/21/11 4:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>New and old members of the First Nations Educational and Cultural Center came together to celebrate culture for the first time this semester for Craft Night on Thursday.Twenty FNECC members excitedly greeted one another, enjoyed a free dinner and listened to Native American music before starting the craft activity.Dr. Brian Gilley, FNECC director and associate professor of anthropology, said he was very pleased to see the returning faces.“Our goal is to put culture first and build a community from culture. That’s why we have Craft Night,” Gilley said.Gilley said he has worked hard to make the cultural center in Weatherly Hall a welcoming environment where Native American students can feel at home and experience culture.“We want a place where students can come catch a TV show between classes, eat lunch, feel at home and have a sense of community,” Gilley said. The FNECC tries to reach out to any student looking to connect to his culture or learn more about Native American traditions. “If you are from a reservation or community, you are going to come to Craft Night and recognize the smells, sounds, the interactions, the practices — but anyone who wants to come and learn respectively is welcome,” Gilley said. “The key element is, of course, respect.”Students, IU community members and Bloomington community members that attended the Craft Night learned how to make customary shawls that would be used at a Pow Wow or celebration. The program was led by Dr. Sonya Atalay, an assistant professor of anthropology and FNECC member. “We are going to learn how to make a shawl tonight and learn about a Native American woman’s role in her family and in her community,” Atalay said to the Craft Night attendees.She said she hopes to teach the group how to put together a whole Regalia — a traditional wardrobe — through her workshops.“I’ve been trying to keep things moving, recruit students and teach traditions,” Atalay said in between practicing cultural chants with children attending the event.She continued to share how much events like this mean to her.“I just love being around these people. This is our IU family, and we can’t always go home and be at ceremonies, so having people around and having this community for me and my kids is something I always look forward to,” Atalay said.The FNECC regularly has activities, bringing students together through culture and the arts. Their educational events include speakers, movie nights and many workshops such as basket weaving, beading and other crafts.Since about four years ago, FNECC has been able to reach out to students who want to experience Native American culture.“I was looking for a native community where I could learn about my culture as a Native American in the Ojibway tribe, and I found it at FNECC,” said Nathen Steininger, a senior at IU who regularly attends FNECC events. “It is the sense of community that keeps me coming back. I fit in here, I feel like I belong here, and I feel connected to a part of my identity.”
(01/18/11 8:45pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s time to wipe away the tears to win a man. A new study proposed that the scent of a woman’s tears carries a chemical message that decreases sexual arousal in men.Cognitive neuroscientist Noam Sobel conducted a study at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. Researchers collected women’s tears in a tube after they watched a sad movie scene and then asked men to sniff vials of tears and vials of saline. Although men reported no difference in the smell of the actual tears and the saline, they rated pictures of women’s faces differently depending on what they smelled.The amount of testosterone found in the men’s saliva stayed the same when men smelled the saline solution, but dropped by 13 percent after they smelled the actual tears.According to National Geographic news reporter Christine Dell’Amore, a study using magnetic resonance imaging of the men’s brains also found that there was less brain activity linked to sexual excitation after men smelled real tear chemicals. These findings suggested that although tears are often linked to feelings of empathy, the women’s tears created a chemosignal that had a substantial effect in reducing a man’s arousal.Researchers are unsure which chemicals in tears are responsible for decreasing a man’s arousal.“Women may influence men by chemosignals in addition to and not in place of spoken language, facial expressions or body language,” said Sagit Shushan, co-author of the study at the Weisman Institute. Sobel suggested in the study published in Science that tears send messages that reduce aggression. Sobel’s team plans to study tears of all humans and the effects of the chemical communication before coming to any conclusions.
(01/18/11 4:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From IDS ReportsIt’s time to wipe away the tears to win a man. A new study proposed that the scent of a woman’s tears carries a chemical message that decreases sexual arousal in men.Cognitive neuroscientist Noam Sobel conducted a study at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. Researchers collected women’s tears in a tube after they watched a sad movie scene and then asked men to sniff vials of tears and vials of saline. Although men reported no difference in the smell of the actual tears and the saline, they rated pictures of women’s faces differently depending on what they smelled.The amount of testosterone found in the men’s saliva stayed the same when men smelled the saline solution, but dropped by 13 percent after they smelled the actual tears.According to National Geographic news reporter Christine Dell’Amore, a study using magnetic resonance imaging of the men’s brains also found that there was less brain activity linked to sexual excitation after men smelled real tear chemicals. These findings suggested that although tears are often linked to feelings of empathy, the women’s tears created a chemosignal that had a substantial effect in reducing a man’s arousal.Researchers are unsure which chemicals in tears are responsible for decreasing a man’s arousal.“Women may influence men by chemosignals in addition to and not in place of spoken language, facial expressions or body language,” said Sagit Shushan, co-author of the study at the Weisman Institute. Sobel suggested in the study published in Science that tears send messages that reduce aggression. Sobel’s team plans to study tears of all humans and the effects of the chemical communication before coming to any conclusions.— Eshley Spitzer
(01/14/11 5:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Chatting excitedly with fresh pizza, about 20 students attended the first meeting for the Russian Music Circle on Wednesday. The circle was coordinated by Mark Trotter and is directed by local musician Yelena Polyanskaya.The Russian and East European Institute and the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures sponsor the circle, hoping to expose students to an environment where they can learn Russian and celebrate Russian culture and history through music.Polyanskaya, who successfully directed a Russian kruzhok (circle) during the summer and teaches Russian, plans to arrange all music and teach the group members using only Russian.“Mark found me when I was working on my own arrangements, and I thought it would be exciting to lead the group,” Polyanskaya said. “The purpose is to increase knowledge of the Russian language and music as a part of the culture and to develop musical history that started in the 17th century. You don’t need to talk — you just need to sing.”Bloomington’s Russian community was another reason why a group that embraced Russian culture and music was so attractive to students.“I got an e-mail over break and immediately signed up,” graduate student Jenn Strayer said. “I have a background in musicology and I have a little bit of Russian, so I’m here to improve my Russian skills, learn more about music and hopefully meet some new people. I think that through humanities and culture we really begin to understand other people, and the rest comes later.” Students who attended the first meeting ranged in skill from beginning to intermediate to fluent in the Russian language, and many are music students at IU.The group members hope to have performances in the future and look forward to working with other culture groups on campus, including a Ukrainian and Bulgarian group.“We are not limited to one language, and we can all learn languages,” Polyanskaya said. “The Russian community in Bloomington is quite big, so to pull students out from their warm nest to hear songs close to the heart that they recognize is a good idea.”
(12/07/10 2:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>What is worse? Driving after a night of drinking or driving after pulling an all nighter?
According to a 2010 data survey taken by the AAA Foundation for Traffic
Safety, 16.5 percent of fatal car accidents involve drowsy driving.
More than one-in-four drivers admitted to driving while they were “so
sleepy that they had a hard time keeping their eyes open.”
Findings from this study suggest that drivers ages 16 to 24 are nearly
twice as likely to be involved in a crash involving drowsy driving than
drivers age 40 to 59.
And sleep deprivation can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence.
Data from the National Sleep Foundation suggests that operating a
vehicle after being awake for 20 hours is equivalent to having a BAC of
.08 percent.
The previous crash analysis taken in 2008 estimated that 2.4 percent of
crashes involved drowsy driving, making the jump to 17 percent
surprising.
“All researchers think that numbers were truly higher than 2.4 percent
and expected a greater impact, but they weren’t expecting it to be this
high,” said Dan Bleier, the communications coordinator at the AAA
Foundation.
The question remains, is the effect of drowsy driving as devastating as the effect of driving drunk?
“Granted, the number for DUI fatalities are higher, but drowsy driving
is still a significant problem that has been kept under the radar. When
you look at the symptoms of drowsy driving, just like alcohol, it can
impair a driver’s reaction time, their judgment and their general
awareness on the road,” Bleier said.
Records from the IU Police Department do not match the results of the AAA
Foundation’s study.
Lt. Craig Munroe said there have been three accidents in Bloomington
since January 2008 that have been caused by students drowsy driving.
One accident included a student who had pulled an all nighter and was
driving at about 5 a.m. after having just completed a paper run. The
student said she does not remember how her car struck a tree after
drifting off the road but believes that it was due to fatigue.
The mismatching figures between the IUPD records and the AAA
Foundation’s study may be due to the small area that the IUPD is
responsible for
covering.
“Here people are not driving very far on campus, we cover a small area
and most students aren’t going a long distance,” Munroe said.
Even though accidents due to alcohol impairment are more prevalent on
the IU campus, Bleier advised students to get proper sleep before
operating a vehicle and to be especially careful when taking long car
trips home for winter break.
“It’s one thing to pull an all nighter for an exam, but it’s another thing to drive from 7
a.m. to 7 p.m.,” Bleier said. “Falling asleep for your exam may lead to a
bad grade but falling asleep while driving could end up with somebody
loosing their life.”