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(10/26/00 3:09am)
Appearing under the benefaction of the Departments of French, Italian and West European Studies, French ambassador Bujon de l'Estang will deliver a lecture detailing issues facing the French presidency and its role in the transitional European Union tonight. The lecture, entitled "The State of the European Union and the Priorities of the French Presidency," begins at 5 p.m. in the Moot Court Room of the Law School.\nAccording to the Department of Western European Studies, Bujon de l'Estang, first appointed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1966 after completing graduate work in business at Harvard, has devoted his career to civil service and atomic energy research. He began his tenure with the French government as special adviser to the staff of President Charles de Gaulle, after which he accepted the appointment of senior adviser for diplomatic affairs under Jacques Chirac, a post he held until 1988. In 1995, he began his term as French diplomat to the U.S. He has additionally served as president and CEO of COGEMA's U.S. Operations.\nChief among the concepts the ambassador will address is the current transitional state of the European Union under French leadership. As negotiations concerning the fate of the ever-expanding Union ensue, France must play a pivotal role in ensuring a smooth transition in modernizing political institutions and establishing the economically fundamental common currency, said Amanda Ciccarelli of the West European Studies Department. The ambassador is expected to address these issues while providing personal insights into the future of the EU.\nFollowing his remarks, de l'Estang will give the Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Palmes Academiques, France's highest-ranking academic award, to Albert Valdman, Rudy Professor of French, Italian and Linguistics.\nThe award, created in 1808 by Napoleon Bonaparte as recognition of fine scholarship, research and teaching endeavors, will be given to Valdman. Valdman will then hold the highest rank in the order, that of Commandeur, according to a press release.\nHolding degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University, Valdman, a native of Paris, has served as chair of the Department of Linguistics and also established IU's Creole Institute. He currently serves as chair of the Committee for Research and Development in Language Instruction and director of the Beginning French Program, as well as editor of the self-founded Studies in Second Language Acquisition.\nValdman said the lecture marks the first occasion of its kind in 30 years or more. His enthusiasm was echoed throughout the sponsoring departments. \n"It's a really big deal to have the French ambassador present on campus, and we're really encouraging all faculty and students to attend this event," said French department visiting lecturer Daria Roche.
(10/23/00 6:28am)
An audience of about 100 people came together at 1:30 p.m. Friday to celebrate the rededication of the IU Foundation's home, Showalter House and sat captivated by the clear soprano melody filling the air.\nAs IU alumnus Cynthia Watters breathed life to composer Leonard Bernstein's "Dream with Me," the audience paid homage to the many dreams realized in the name of IU's philanthropic endeavors.\nThe dedication ceremony marked the culmination of several years of careful design and construction by Bloomington architect William A. Browne and Worster Construction. Originally built in 1974 to honor 23 years of service by Grace Montgomery Showalter, the foundation's first woman to sit on its board of directors, Showalter House has since expanded to almost double its original size, according to a press release.\nThe release said that private giving to the Foundation exceeds $100 million a year and that it receives money from more than 100,000 donors.\nWith IU President Myles Brand presiding, ceremonies began with an invocation by IU Student Foundation vice president and senior Gayle Wolski. Formal remarks by Brand followed, in which the IU Foundation was touted as the "bedrock of Hoosier values" upon which IU's legacy of excellence rests.\nBrand then detailed IU's long history of private giving, beginning in 1829 with its first President Andrew Wylie's appeal for books to increase the fledgling Main Library's collection. Former Chancellor Herman B Wells was also cited, as was Bryan's call to continue the "glorious fight for the cause forever." This appeal was indeed realized by the Foundation's close partnership with the University in ensuring continued support for professorships and endowed chairs. Because of this continued commitment to philanthropic excellence, Brand said we may "look to the future with great confidence."\nBrand then introduced Foundation president Curtis Simic who, for the past 12 years, has "reaffirmed the partnership" between IU Foundation and the University. Citing the staff of the Foundation as "dedicated, loyal and effective fund-raisers," Simic referred to the incredible success of the foundation's income matching program, which swept the University's philanthropic success status from near the bottom of Big Ten schools to its present position.\nAfter Simic's remarks was a special presentation by Alan Gilman, vice chairman of the IU Foundation board of directors. Announcing "A building comes alive only because of the people who inhabit it," Gilman extended personal recognition to the foundation's staff, presenting a plaque on behalf of the board of directors to be displayed in the new building. Gilman also accepted the honorary key to the building on the board's behalf from William A. Browne, president of Ratio Architects.\nBrowne said the new building "reflects the importance and stature sympathetic of university architecture." Studying such architecturally eminent institutions as the University of Wisconsin and the University of Illinois, Browne said the design team sought to exceed the benchmark of excellence established by those fixtures. Keeping the original landscape intact, Browne said the new extension features a curving center court representing the arms of the Foundation, "embracing the alumni." The arch and entryway lead to a reception hall providing views to the rear terrace; offices extend on either side.\nSimic said local materials were also used in construction to ensure the architectural consistency across campus.\n"The use of local limestone and the look of the building are designed to bring it into harmony with the architecture of the campus," Simic said. "The additional space enables us to bring most of our Bloomington staff back together, which makes us more efficient and effective in our operations"
(10/23/00 5:04am)
This weekend, members of historically black and Latino organizations past and present converged on campus to celebrate their groups' contributions to IU's institutions in the annual "Old School Reunion." \nSpearheaded by St. John's University Area Coordinator for Judicial Affairs Ruben Flores and attorney Patrice Russell, the reunion spanned the weekend, beginning Friday with participation in the Homecoming parade and culminating Sunday with a brunch.\n"The purpose of the reunion is to provide an opportunity for alumni to gather on the Bloomington campus in the spirit of renewing old friendships and our very special ties to Indiana University," Flores said.\nWorking in close collaboration with such historically diverse organizations as the Latino Unidos of IU, the Black Student Union, Diversity Advocates and numerous fraternities and sororities, the reunion committee continues to maintain close ties with IU cultural groups, Flores said. An e-mail list of more than 300 alumni allows this close relationship to continue, Flores said.\nAfter the parade at 7 p.m. Friday, reunion participants were invited to a "Meet and Greet" at Kilroy's Sports Bar on Walnut Street. A concert by the IU Soul Revue, directed by Tyron Cooper, commenced afterward in Alumni Hall of the Indiana Memorial Union.\nSaturday's events began at 7:30 a.m. with an Alumni Breakfast at the Kelley School of Business, followed by a Black Faculty and Staff Homecoming Tailgate Picnic on 17th Street. Organized by IU faculty members David Hummons and Clarence Boone, the tailgate party served as a way to enjoy the friendship of fellow alumni, Hummons said. \n "I wasn't aware this sort of thing existed on campus," said freshman tailgater Jermaine Miles. "It's a great opportunity to meet alums and learn about these groups' histories."\n Saturday's chief event was the Old School Renunion Convocation, commencing at 12:30 p.m. in Whittenberger Auditorium in the Union. The event began with a devotion led by guest speaker Sonya Roberts, followed by the presentation of a reunion video. Contemporary gospel groups under the auspices of the African American Choral Ensemble, led by James Mumford of the African American Arts Institute, also performed.\nLeukemia Foundation representatives also addressed the crowd, offering memorial tributes for deceased members of historically African-American sororities and fraternities. A social in Dunn Meadow and celebration at the Bloomington Convention Center rounded out the evening's activities.
(10/20/00 5:58am)
This is part four of a four-part series profiling student spirit organization preparing for Homecoming.\n
(10/16/00 4:04am)
More than 150 students and faculty gathered Friday evening at the International Center to celebrate African Unity Night. The free event, sponsored by the African Languages Program, included skits, poetry reading and African pop music by local group AfroHoosier International. \nSamuel Obeng, African languages coordinator and associate professor of linguistics, pioneered the program -- the first of its kind promoting African studies -- in hopes of generating interest in the department. While the International Center sponsors many cultural gatherings throughout the year, Friday's event was the first to feature African culture. \nThe program opened with a brief introduction by Obeng. Skits performed in the East African language Swahili and Twi, a tongue native to the Ivory Coast, followed. The first skit concentrated primarily on the need to concentrate on education -- evading the tendency to relax and guarding against idleness. The latter was excerpted from Obeng's book, "Rumor Mongering," and warned against the evils of excessive litigation. \nAdditional performances were delivered in Hausa and Xhosa, west and south African languages, respectively. The Hausa skit centered on the notion of self-reliance and the need to work hard, while the Xhosa poem praised politics and power.\nAfroHoosier International interspersed performances with the sounds of contemporary African pop. Mike Gasser, associate professor of linguistics and computer science, said the group has expanded substantially since its inception two years ago.\nInitially composed of three IU faculty members, the group has since grown to nine. AfroHoosier International performs regularly throughout Bloomington in restaurants, weddings and community gatherings.\nSophomore David Mattick attended the program as an extension of his Swahili course. He said he views the program as helpful to his understanding of African culture, enabling one to "assess differences in African and American civilizations."\nObeng said he was "pleasantly surprised" at Friday's turnout, which included Director of African Studies Professor John Hanson and visiting faculty from Africa and Korea. Currently about 110 IU students are enrolled in an African Studies course. Friday's program served as a hopeful precursor to increased African cultural events in the future, as well as a tool with which to attract interested students, Obeng said.\n"We are grateful to the African Student Association and the African-American Association for contributing to the success of this event," Obeng said.
(09/13/00 4:54am)
It's 3:55 a.m. on a Saturday morning, and Julie Thomas should be sleeping. \nInstead, the visiting lecturer joins Bloomington Police Department investigators at the home of a domestic abuse victim, offering solace and comfort. \nThomas is part of the Onscene Advocate Program, an organization in which perpetually on-call volunteers assist the IU and Bloomington police departments in rape and domestic crisis counseling. Established under the umbrella of Bloomington's Middle Way House, services run the gamut from manning a 24-hour rape hotline to meeting victims at the hospital or in their homes. \n"These women are in dire need of assistance, and many incidents go unreported because of cultural stigma," said Thomas, a doctoral candidate in gender studies.\nNeither this program nor the numerous others that Middle Way sponsors, ranging from legal advocacy activities to transitional housing and womens' activities, could be efficient without manpower, said Amy Woods, Crisis Intervention Services Coordinator. IU students and professors account for nearly 70 percent of volunteer service, said Woods.\nIn fact, it's an experience that convinced fifth-year senior anthropology/religious studies major Charity Haines to pursue an additional degree in non-profit management.\nHaines, who began serving Middle Way House as a volunteer nearly two years ago, cites her personal interaction with rape victims as "hard on (my) emotions," but also notes the personal recompense stemming from helping women reclaim their dignity.\nBut Middle Way House is not the only organization to which students can donate their time. Many other programs exist throughout Bloomington offering several similar opportunities.