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(03/30/05 5:14am)
With Qualifications out of the way and the field of 33 set, it's time for Little 500 riders to have some fun, beginning with the official start of the Spring Series Events -- Individual Time Trials. The event will begin at 4 p.m. at Bill Armstrong Stadium and will go well into the evening, alternating between men's and women's teams.\nFor veteran riders, ITTs are a chance to improve on their success from previous years and to have fun on the track. It's also a great source of motivation, said senior Phi Gamma Delta rider Matt Davis.\nDavis placed second in ITTs last year behind graduated Cutters rider Chris Vargo. Davis said the three other riders in his heat -- senior Dodds House rider Craig Luekens, Alpha Tau Omega rider senior Hans Arnesen and sophomore Cutters rider Sasha Land -- only increase his drive. \n"(Being in a heat with them) adds pressure, but it motivates me as well," Davis said. "I know they are going to be fast, so I know I have to be fast as well."\nWhile some riders don't put too much bearing on ITTs, others judge some of what happens during the event on what will happen on race day. Luekens, who placed third in last year's ITTs, said although it's meant to be enjoyable, ITTs is also a good measure of talent.\n"It's an individual event, so you can tell a lot about one rider," Luekens said. "This is the biggest indicator; this will tell you who will go four laps hard. But the series events are where the fun happens. You're in the race now, so hopefully it's just a fun time."\nITTs is the first of three series events, which tests a rider's individual strength. Four riders, each at a different corner of the track, begin from a dead stop and race four laps for the fastest time. At the end of evening the fastest time wins. Scoring for the Spring Series Events works in reverse of conventional scoring -- one point is awarded to winners, two for second and so on. Each event is scored and at the end the team with the least amount of points will be declared the winner and be awarded white jerseys to wear on race day.\nFor a handful of rookie riders the first series event may be nerve-racking for some and for others less stressful. Cutters rider freshman Alex Bishop and Cinzano rider freshman Shane Whittington both said they are calm and ready for the event with help from their teammates and their coaches. \n"I think, with the team I'm on, it's really prepared me for the future and what's going to happen," Bishop said. "I'm not too nervous. I know I have to go out there and do it."\nBishop has the upper hand as a rookie on the returning 2004 Little 500 Championship team, but for Whittington being a rookie on an all-rookie team can be a little harder. Luckily, Whittington said her coach has prepared Cinzano well, and the team is nothing but confident.\n"As a rookie I want to stand out so people can recognize the name Cinzano again," Whittington said. "I'm nervous because I want to get a good time. I guess it goes with experience."\n-- Contact Senior Writer\nKatie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(03/30/05 5:13am)
OK, I'll admit I asked my boyfriend and best friend and neither would go see "Ice Princess" with me over spring break. Lucky for me my cousin Maggie, who is in kindergarten, was free on a particularly dull Friday night and attended the opening of the latest Disney movie with me. I didn't have to twist Maggie's arm to go see what I thought would be another one of those ultra-girlie movies full of montages including skating, girls running around frantically and maybe a love interest. To my delight the movie was everything I had hoped; think "The Cutting Edge" meets "Center Stage." Excellent!\nThe movie focuses on brainy Casey, who is on the fast track to Harvard thanks to her overbearing mother, played by an unpleasantly unquirky Joan Cusack. While working on a school project, Casey slips into the competitive world of U.S. National figure skating and learns she has more natural talent than the three elite skaters she's been watching. Casey soon gets the chance to train with a former skating champion, played by Kim Cattrall. While Cattrall's teaching triple toe loops, all I could think was the last time I saw her she was having triple orgasms; she's come a long way from her "Sex and the City" days. \nTraining and balancing school isn't all smooth skating for Casey, and she's soon on thin ice (pun intended) with her mom when she has to decide between an academic life at Harvard and her fantasies of competing at the national level of figure skating. Without giving the end away, let's just say it wouldn't be a Disney movie if Casey didn't follow her dreams to a "happily ever after." \nWhile Disney has long escaped most of your vocabulary along with curfew, string beans and jump rope, I suggest giving this movie a chance -- at least when it hits video. "Ice Princess" is super-cute and has lots of laughs, plus it's a great chance to relive childhood for a quick hour and a half. And if not, it's always a good chance to see Kim Cattrall in a role that's not "Samantha" -- which is always a sight to see.
(03/28/05 5:57am)
Saturday had all the makings of a traditional Little 500 qualifications afternoon; the weather was gloomy and cool, crowds of fans sporadically showed up to Bill Armstrong Stadium to cheer on their favorite team and the usual suspects -- Alpha Tau Omega, Cutters and Phi Gamma Delta -- all finished in the top five. \nBut it was the unusual that surprised the remaining spectators and supporters when the final men's team to qualify -- Phi Kappa Psi -- took the track at 4:35 p.m. Phi Psi, who finished 16th in 2004, beat out the previous No. 1 time set by Briscoe (2:18.11) and recorded a final time of 2:17.82. \nDespite being disappointed about drawing the final qualifying time of the day, Phi Psi rider sophomore Erik Styacich said the team saw advantages to coming into quals late in the day, other than the obvious advantage of being able to sleep in. \n"We knew what we had to do," Styacich said. "And knew we needed 2:18 or better to get the pole."\nThe team did just that, scoring the fastest qualification time since Sigma Alpha Epsilon's time of 2:15.578 in 1997. \nAfter chanting "Phi Kappa Psi" after the stellar performance, Phi Psi fraternity members showed they weren't as surprised as others that the team came out of virtually nowhere. In 2003 the team barely made the cut as the 33rd team and finished the race in 31st place. Last year it made a huge leap, qualifying seventh and finishing 16th. Styacich said coming out of spring break training in San Diego he knew a high position would be doable, especially with a fast track on Saturday. The team has "amped" training coming from their coach, who is based out of San Diego, and each rider has added a year of experience from last year's Little 500. \nAlthough Phi Kappa Psi cracked the top position, there are always crowd favorites like ATO, Fiji and Cutters, who seem to be in the top ten each year. Of those vintage teams, Fiji took the pole position early, qualifying at 8:10 a.m. with a time of 2:19.44. The team held tight at the top until midday when ATO knocked them to second with a time of 2:19.35. But ATO didn't have long to enjoy their time at the top, as Briscoe qualified at 1 p.m. with a time of 2:18.11 and took the top place. \nAt the time it looked like that would be it, the majority of the competitive teams had already ridden and scored their times, so Briscoe, who placed fifth in the 2004 Little 500 looked to be in a safe place with the pole position. \n"Fiji and ATO already went, Team Major Taylor messed up and they are our biggest rivals, so people will be hard pressed to beat (our time)," Briscoe veteran rider senior Tim Smith said moments after the team's qualifying ride. \nAnd teams were hard-pressed to beat the time. Dodds House took sixth place with a time of 2:21.04 and Cutters, who qualified at 4:10 p.m. slid in right behind Briscoe with a time of 2:18.80. \nAnother surprise of the afternoon came when Team Major Taylor, who qualified first in 2004, failed on their first two attempts. The team returned later in the afternoon to try for their final attempt to make the race. They successfully made their final attempt with a time of 2:30.19 and 22nd place. TMT rider junior Steven Ballinger said the team attributes miscommunications to the problems they had. Ballinger confidently said TMT will have no problems come race day. \n"All of us know how to race and we've been in races where there are more people than (in Little 500), so we'll be able to move up," Ballinger said. "It is what it is. Quals isn't the dictator of the race, if it was (Phi Psi) would be the winner, so we aren't worried about it."\nFor Phi Psi, worrying will also be minimal with the top position come race day. Styacich said the team's hard work and training paid off Saturday with its near perfect run. \n"To get the pole, everything has to come together perfectly and so many other teams had such great runs," Styacich said. "We're just happy everything came together for us like it did."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(03/25/05 5:04am)
The first test for Little 500 riders begins Saturday. Qualifications -- the most exclusive and most important of the Spring Series Events -- is the first of four events that tests rider's skills individually and as a team. The real exclusivity of qualifications comes when there are more teams than spots to fill. This year 35 men's teams will take to the track with racing hopes, but as Little 500 tradition will have it, only 33 teams will make the cut.\nPutting together a good qualification ride is essential for a team -- the place a team receives at qualifications sets the stage for the actual race on April 16. To qualify, each team, usually made up of four riders, has three chances to make a clean ride. Each rider completes a lap and then exchanges their bike with the next rider without fault. The final results line up each team in rows of three; the team that places first in qualifications will have the pole position. \nSince spring break, teams have been preparing for their first racing situation of the season. Alpha Tau Omega, who qualified fourth in 2004 with a time of 2:24.63, along with Kappa Delta, traveled to Georgia to compete in competitive races and then on to Florida for training during their week off. The teams trained on a high school running track and practiced exchanges in the infield. After last year's training, senior ATO rider and Riders Council member Hans Arnesen said the team has seen a difference in its overall time, which is promising for a good qualifications performance.\n"We're pretty confident this year, actually amazed that our time this year on spring break was three seconds faster than our fastest last year," Arnesen said. "So if all goes well we could be getting a better quals time this year than we did last year. Actually it's pretty exciting to see that a lot of our times from last year's spring break are faster this year."\nOther teams didn't travel to sunny weather over spring break but are relying on their traditional training schedules as a winning formula for a successful qualifications run. Sigma Nu, which placed second with a time of 2:23.50, has been sticking to its same training of sprints, short intervals and speed training. \nJunior Sigma Nu rider Matthew Ryan said with the winning combination the team had last year at qualifications and a good performance at the race -- Sigma Nu placed 11th -- they haven't drifted far from the familiar.\n"I have real confidence in our team this year," Ryan said. "We haven't strayed from what we were doing last year, the training that we were doing last year and what we have been doing this year. There's no point in changing things if we did well last year at quals."\nVeteran riders like Arnesen and Ryan aren't too nervous about qualifications, but for rookie riders, the first time out on the track can be scary. Freshman Dodds House rider Daniel Houchens said Saturday will be a mixture of excitement and nerves.\nHouchens will ride alongside three teammates who are veteran riders and placed 13th at qualifications last year with a time of 2:28.48 and 10th place in the race. Although Houchens said he's getting nervous for his first official Little 500 event, he said his teammates couldn't be more prepared. \n"They are all excited," Houchens said. "I'm scared to death."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(03/03/05 5:51am)
While many students are bundling up in the 30-degree weather and thinking of spring break, others are outside for hours on bikes, riding at fast speeds and thinking only about training. It might seem crazy, but come April 15 and 16, the ones who roughed it the most, trained the hardest and braved the cold could possibly call themselves Little 500 Champions. \nBeginning today, Little 500 veteran riders will take to the track for the first time this season. Although rookie riders usually have the luxury of riding on the track the week before it opens for everyone else, this year's newbies haven't been as lucky; snow during the first week of March has kept them off the track for the first two days of training. \n"I don't think it's affected them at all," said Cycledelics rider and women's Riders Council President senior Laura Horvath. "The rookies we have this year have been amazing. I think they have caught on a lot faster then people in the past, so they would have been bored if we would have had practice the last few days."\nThe cold weather isn't making any of the veteran riders nervous either; they say they're ready to start riding somewhere other than inside and to get things started for the season. While Alpha Tau Omega riders have a sizable amount of base miles and a weeklong trip to Tucson for training under their belts, senior ATO rider and Riders Council member Hans Arnesen said the team is looking forward to getting on the track together. \n"It's a time where we can get all our teammates out on the track; get a feel for it again, turning to your left and doing a lot of circles," Arnesen said. "Obviously the weather hinders training because it's not as nice to ride for hours outside when it's so cold, but if it's in the thirties and not wet, we can get out -- as long as you wear enough clothes."\nATO, which placed second in the 2004 men's race, and other teams, such as women's champion Kappa Kappa Gamma, are gearing up for a successful repeat season. Kappa Kappa Gamma rider Jess Sapp said her team has also been training in warmer climates to get a leg up on competition and using rollers and weight training to stay in shape before the track opens. Once the season officially begins, Sapp said the track opening is a chance to work as a team, be together and enjoy Little 500. \n"It's the time when obviously it's been a year since we have done pack riding and exchanges, so we really use this time to re-familiarize ourselves with the track," Sapp said. "But also to be together as a team; during the semester it's easy to have different schedules, so this is the chance to get together and work as a team."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(03/02/05 6:18am)
Things are beginning to change for the IU athletics department. \nThe Bloomington Faculty Council passed a proposal Tuesday by The Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics that outlines academic recommendations to NCAA bylaws and a proposal by the Budgetary Affairs Committee to mandate the participation of the athletics department in the annual budgeting process.\nWhile not directly linked or proposed, the two topics go hand in hand -- the proposal by the COIA calls for more campus involvement with athletics, which the BAC proposal begins to accomplish. \nThe COIA proposal has been on the table for the BFC since Feb. 2 but was passed unanimously Tuesday. The proposal, "Academic Integrity in Intercollegiate Athletics: Principles, Proposed Rules, and Guidelines," outlines recommended changes to NCAA bylaws in five areas: admission of athletes, awarding of scholarships, curricular integrity, time commitments of athletes and academic advising for players. The COIA, an alliance of 45 faculty representatives from Division I-A schools, drafted the proposal in January. IU professor Bob Eno is the co-chair of the committee. Amelia Noel-Elkins, IU associate athletics director for student services, also worked on the proposal.\nThe COIA proposal makes considerable strides in the form of academic support for athletes, which Eno said directs campuses to solutions to adopt appropriate practices for academic advising and to avoid NCAA sanctions. \n"This is really important stuff that has an effect on every campus if it's put in place," Eno said. "If we adopt (the proposal) campus by campus the news will be good."\nThe BAC proposal calls for the athletics department to begin to participate in the annual budgetary process. The department receives up to an estimated $1.8 million from the IU-Bloomington budget for the athletics advising program and utilities, use of campus athletic facilities and a waiver of administrative charge. \nBFC member Theodore Miller, a professor of public and environmental affairs, lobbied for more campus involvement with athletics. The new proposal taking affect will inevitably change how academic advising works for athletes.\n"In the face of these changes it just seems reasonable to me for the campus to have more oversight then they have had in the past," Miller said. "In the end I think we've made a step forward if (the BAC proposal adoption) happens."\nBFC President David Daleke said the COIA will continue to collect e-mail votes until April from faculty councils at other NCAA colleges in favor or against the proposal. If passed it will be proposed to the NCAA.\n"The key players now will be the NCAA, university presidents and faculty senates; people will be making big decisions." Daleke said. "The point is to have the consensus of the whole."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(02/21/05 6:14am)
He is described as charismatic, marvelous and optimistic. \nHe served in World War II, received degrees from Purdue University and IU, spent 24 years as a professor of education at IU and was a father of five. \nDonald Cullen Manlove, IU professor emeritus, died Feb. 12 in Indianapolis. He was 86 years old.\n"His greatest attribute, was that he had a great outlook on life," said Manlove's son, Kim Manlove, assistant dean of faculty at IUPUI. "He lived everyday to its fullest, always saw the richness of each day and that to me, me personally, is his greatest legacy." \nManlove spent much of his life as an educator in Indiana after first serving as a bomber pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Kim Manlove said his father was shot down over what is now Croatia and always said the island was put there for a reason. \nAfter his time with the U.S. Army Air Corps, Manlove spent eight years as a high school teacher and another eight years as a senior high school principal before moving to Bloomington to become a professor of education. During his stint as a senior high school principal Manlove even served as principal to his oldest son, Larry.\n"We won't go into that, but he did hand me my high school diploma," Larry Manlove said of his high school days. \nWhile at IU, Manlove worked very hard to make significant strides to Indiana's education process, which his son Larry Manlove attributed to be some of his greatest accomplishments. Manlove served as the executive director of the Indiana State Committee of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Secondary School Principals and executive director of the National Study of School Evaluation. During his 24 years at IU he also worked as a consultant to schools in different parts of the United States, Mexico, Central America, England, Scotland, Germany, Italy, Finland and the former Soviet Union, according to The Indianapolis Star.\nOne of Manlove's closest work and travel partners was IU Professor Emeritus Vernon Pace. When Manlove stepped down as chairman of the Indiana State Committee of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Pace took his place, but their work and friendship didn't stop there. Pace said the two worked closely for 25 years and traveled all across the United States together. \n"He was very instrumental in getting me to IU," Pace said. "I owe him a lot."\nAmong his other accomplishments, in 1978 Manlove was named as the first Senior Fulbright Lecturer to the Ministry of Education in the Soviet Union. \nManlove enjoyed poetry and performing, which Kim Manlove attributes to Manlove's father, who was a Chautauqua performer. Manlove wrote and/or edited more than 40 professional books and articles and published one book for the Indiana University Press, which was a collection of poetry by one of his favorite poets, James Whitcomb Riley. \nManlove is survived by his five children and their spouses and by numerous friends and colleagues, who said again and again they would truly miss this amazing person. \n"He was wonderful and marvelous man," Pace said. "We worked together so much it was like working with a brother. It was real sad for me to get the message that he had passed away. There will never be anyone like him. It was all a joy. It will always be a precious memory to me."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(02/14/05 6:08am)
For 10 hours more than 3,000 IU students and Bloomington residents tested their poker skills while playing Texas hold 'em, challenged gravity while rock climbing, tangled themselves together during Twister and enjoyed the night during Recreational Sport's 29th annual Spirit of Sport. Proceeds from the event benefitted Special Olympics Indiana. The all-nighter was held Friday from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
(02/14/05 4:08am)
With 15.5 seconds left in the basketball game and a score tied at 38, this game was a nail biter. \nAnd like any other game, both teams on the court committed fouls, looked to their coaches for support and had a crowd of fans on the sidelines cheering them on throughout the 30 minutes of play. \nBut this wasn't any other basketball game. It was the Special Olympics basketball game, sponsored by Spirit of Sport. Proceeds raised during the annual event benefit Special Olympics Indiana and give athletes the chance to participate in the national games each year. Currently SOS is the longest-running fund-raiser for Special Olympics Indiana, and since its beginning in 1976 has raised more than $310,000. \n"They love it. They wait for this night for weeks," said Special Olympics Outreach committee member sophomore Christine Acker. "They appreciate this night on such a higher level."\nThe game Friday night was no exception. A crowd had formed around Wildermuth Gym's Court No. 1 to watch a close game between the Monroe County Cutters and the Bartholomew County Bulldogs. These teams have played before; they know each other and both teams desperately wanted to win. The Bulldogs coach, Darryl Sutton, said he and coach Susie Fox try to give all players on the team equal playing time, but when a game gets tight, it's hard. Like anyone, the players want to win. \n"We've come here for four years in a row," Fox said. "This is a fantastic opportunity, not only for the athletes, but for what the IU students do too."\nWith the minutes ticking down and the best players from each team in the game, the crowd screamed "defense" and "basket" from the sidelines and held up homemade posters for their respective teams and players. The crowd, made up of sorority and fraternity members, IU football players, the IU Student Association and other organizations were there as Hoosier Partners. Hoosier Partners donate $50 to be paired with a Special Olympics athlete and support them during their basketball game. \nThe crowd fell silent for a second as a Cutters player grabbed the ball in the final moments of the game and took a shot. The ball sailed through the air and -- basket! The crowd erupted in cheers and screams of excitement and disappointment. The Cutters won the game 40 to 38. \nThe teams and their Hoosier Partners flooded the court to celebrate the end of the game as more Spirit of Sport participants migrated over to the court to see what the commotion was over at Court No. 1. With such a nail biting and suspenseful ending everyone wanted to know about the outcome of the game. \nBulldog player Brad Kiel, 26, shrugged off his team's two-point loss; he said he knew the Bulldogs were the better team on the court and even though he didn't win, he has the best coach ever.\n"I like my coach, she's the best coach I've met," he said pointing to Fox. "I love playing on my team."\nNext year will be the Bulldog's year, Kiel said. He's already looking forward to coming back to Spirit of Sport to play in the Special Olympics basketball game next year, but the Cutters will have to watch out for the Bulldogs. \n"(We're going to) come back next year and (play) again," he said. "And beat that team next year."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(02/11/05 5:29am)
Right hand blue. Left foot red.\nEverything from Twister to a Gladiator Challenge to a couple of reality TV stars will be at Spirit of Sport tonight in Wildermuth Gym at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. The event begins at 5 p.m. and carries on until 3 a.m. Saturday morning, but it's more than just an excuse to stay up all night to play. \nProceeds raised during the annual all-nighter benefit Special Olympics Indiana. Currently SOS is the longest running fund-raiser for Special Olympics Indiana, and since its beginning in 1976 more than $300,000 has been raised. \nWhile SOS offers numerous activities throughout the night for IU students and Bloomington residents, Joanne Orrange, RecSports assistant director of special events, said the most rewarding event of the evening is watching Special Olympics athletes participate in the annual basketball game. \n"For those that take the time and come and watch the Special Olympics athletes play, I think that sets a tone for the type of a night we're going to have," Orrange said. "So the more people who are there that can see that pure love, that love for just playing and that thrill for just giving it your all regardless; the more people see that the more they'll be enthralled in that. You just pick it up and you're more like that throughout the night."\nSenior Liz Wiggins, vice president of fund raising for Spirit of Sport, said the money collected during SOS fund raising will give the Special Olympics athletes a chance to go on to the national games and give the athletes a chance to do something they don't normally get to do.\nAnother big fund-raiser for SOS is the third-annual Polar Bear Plunge, which will feature two reality TV stars and a few "local celebrities." Randy Barry from MTV's "Real World San Diego" and IU graduate student Liz Terzo, who competed in "Bachelor 3," will take "the plunge" with IUPD Lt. John Butler and IU Parking Operations Manager Doug Porter.\nSOS is an alternative to a night out at the bars or partying, and most of the activities don't cost a thing, said junior Andrea Hill, promotions director for Spirit of Sport. \n"It's a great event to help benefit Special Olympics and a good night for students," Hill said. "There are tons of activities and prizes offered and it's an all-around fun event. It's an alternative to going out and doing other things on a Friday night because I think (SOS) demonstrates all the activities that go on on-campus; it's a highlight of all of them."\nStudents don't have to be varsity athletes or have tons of money to participate. While some tournament sports require a team and a $5 to $10 participation fee, the bulk of the activities are first-come first-served, free and large groups aren't required to participate. \n"We're trying to provide some activities for those that aren't super sporty, but those are games that you kinda played as kids in the playground. We're trying to bring those back," Orrange said.\nSome of the playground games, such as kickball, capture the flag and dodgeball, will likely take students back to childhood. This year's prizes include Big Ten Tournament tickets, an iPod, reversible IU warm-ups, prize packs and the coveted "Champion" T-shirts. \nOther than the prizes and a few celebrity sightings, Orrange said the best reason for coming to SOS is the extreme energy the night offers. \n"The energy in there is very high, it's very catching," Orrange said. "It's just one of those things that we just want to promote having fun." \n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(02/09/05 6:10am)
It's the middle of February, and the weather report says it's going to be in the mid 40s Friday. While these might not be the makings of a great weekend to spend outadoors, it is the perfect weekend for Spirit of Sport's Third Annual Polar Bear Plunge.\nParticipants, including Randy Barry from MTV's "Real World San Diego," IUPD Lt. John Butler, IU Parking Operations Manager Doug Porter and numerous students do what many say is crazy: They raise money to have the chance to plunge into an icy portable pool outside of Wildermuth Gym. The real reason for taking the plunge, said RecSports Assistant Director of Special Events Joanne Orrange is deeper than being daring or just plain crazy. The proceeds go to the local chapters of Special Olympics Indiana, which help Olympians participate in tournaments and go to the games every year.\n"Special Olympics Indiana is an organization that provides individuals with intellectual disabilities the resources and opportunities to participate in different sporting events," Orrange said. "Spirit of Sport is a way that students can give back to their community with little effort and they will have a great time doing so."\nThis year will be more exciting with a celebrity participating. STA Travel will sponsor the appearance of Randy Barry, who has appeared on MTV's "Real World San Diego" and "Battle of the Sexes." Barry has agreed to brave the icy waters if students can raise $500 by Friday, the day of SOS. \nEven though Barry has completed some tough challenges on "Battle of the Sexes," he said he's still a little worried about the plunge. \n"I've been warned it is freezing and not too much fun, but I am looking forward to the challenge," Barry said in a statement. "I am really excited I have been asked to support such a great cause." \nIn previous years "local celebrities" have participated, including Dean of Students Richard McKaig. Though McKaig won't be plunging again this year, students can look for two equally satisfying plunges in Butler and Porter.\nPorter said because this is his second year participating, there is less anxiety about the cold weather mixed with the icy water. The pay off, he said, is raising money for a good cause and getting a big crowd. \n"It's definitely for a good cause and a long standing tradition on campus," Porter said. "Students will get some enjoyment out of (the plunge). I don't know if it was just that there was an administrator out there, but they seemed to like it. They might have been paying customers or upset about their parking tickets."\nAdditions to this year's plunge will be a full parade of participants that will be decked out in costumes. Not only will they jump into freezing February waters, but participants will also be judged on their costumes and one lucky winner will be awarded "the golden plunger," an actual plunger painted gold. \nSenior Liz Wiggins, vice president of fund raising for Spirit of Sport, said the antics and camaraderie during the Polar Bear Plunge and Spirit of Sport is something everyone should experience firsthand. \n"You're having a laugh and realizing that people are doing this for a worth while cause," Wiggins said. "It's just amazing." \n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(02/03/05 5:39am)
One-hundred pennies, 20 nickels, 10 dimes, four quarters. \nNo matter how you add it up; a dollar is a dollar and these days and it doesn't buy much. \nIn Bloomington, with restaurants and stores on every corner it's hard not to spend a buck or $20 on a daily basis. With a perceived sliding economy and prices rising faster than paychecks can be saved, thrifty buying is becoming harder these days. Nothing, it seems, can be bought for $1 anymore. \nFor example, a "tall" cup of coffee at Starbucks costs $1.59, plus tax.\nEven without the designer name, a cup at Mac's Convenient Store is only 43 cents cheaper, putting it at $1.16. You can't find a dollar price tag there. \nIf you want a bagel with your coffee you can't get one cheaper than $1 -- Bloomington Bagel Company charges $1.29 without the $.06 Indiana sales tax. Again, no dollar price tag. \nCooking at home generally proves to be cost efficient, and Kroger can sometimes be a poor college student's dream with the "Kroger Plus Card" and the store's newest "Dollar Days" promotions. Each item chosen to be sold during "Dollar Days" retails for $1 -- plus sales tax. It's not a true $1 price tag, but pretty close.\nThe alternative is shopping at a store full of items retailing for only a dollar, such as Dollar Tree, 2614 E. Third St. Loaded with everything from dish towels to Little Debbie Snacks to VO5 Shampoo, dollar stores have nearly everything -- for cheap. \n"You can get so many things for so cheap," said Dollar Tree Assistant Manager Katie Carr. "There are a lot of good deals if you keep your eyes open. Everything's a good deal, there's nothing that's better than anything else I don't think. Everything's a steal."\nAnd for students on a budget, dollar stores and other bargain shops can be a place to shop while trying to split pennies between bursar bills, rent, utilities and other college expenses. \nSophomore Jennifer Seidel said she shops at Dollar Tree for cards and decorations for friends' birthdays, while still sticking to a budget. \n"I pay my own way through everything so I'm definitely a bargain shopper," Seidel said of her trip to Dollar Tree. "The dollar store is the place to be, it's just more economical." \nEconomics professor James Self said purchasing things for a dollar price tag doesn't always mean you are getting the best deal. \n"Ask these questions," he said. "'Is this product worth a dollar to me?' and 'Am I willing to spend a dollar to obtain this product?'" \nIf the consumer can answer yes to these questions then the product is worth purchasing; if the answer is no -- it's not worth even the dollar price tag. \n"Think long or less depending on what type of budget you have," Self said. "The judgments you make are tradeoffs to the budgets."\nBut for some thrifty student shoppers, a great product and a low dollar price tag can be the only thing needed to make a mad dash to the cash register. \n"I don't think you can get stuff like this anywhere else for a dollar," said junior Ashley Browning. "Like this stationary, it's a dollar! You can't find that anywhere else for a dollar."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(02/02/05 6:11am)
The Bloomington Faculty Council heard a proposal Tuesday that could have drastically affected intercollegiate athletics in the coming years if approved.\nThe proposal, "Academic Integrity in Intercollegiate Athletics: Principles, Proposed Rules, and Guidelines," outlines recommended changes to NCAA bylaws in five areas: admission of athletes, awarding of scholarships, curricular integrity, time commitments of athletes and academic advising for players. It was drafted by The Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics, an alliance of faculty representatives, which is co-chaired by IU professor Bob Eno. \nThe BFC did not vote on the proposal Tuesday, but it won't be the last time the committee hears of it, said Council President David Daleke. BFC members will have until Feb. 15 to review the proposal and formulate questions before an official vote.\n"I anticipate the faculty will have plenty of questions," said Daleke, an associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology. "But I also anticipate the council will be ready to vote by the next meeting. IU (athletics) follows a lot of the guidelines that are presented in the proposal, so we have a large benefit already."\nCouncil members who have reviewed the proposal praised it for what it could do for intercollegiate athletics.\n"I enthusiastically and unanimously urge the BFC to vote on this," said Bruce Jaffee, professor of business economics and the IU faculty athletic representative, after Daleke presented the proposal to the group. \nOthers had questions ranging from academic advising at IU to curricular integrity, much of which will be expanded in the next meeting.\nDespite the questions Jaffee said he couldn't imagine the BFC not agreeing with the proposal in two weeks. \n"I'll be shocked if it's not endorsed for three reasons," Jaffee said. "One, it's a positive document; two, it talks a lot about the best practices in athletics, it sets a standard, and three, it's a document of pride of authorship. It's authored mainly by people at IU, not by people in the SEC or other schools, but by people right here at IU."\nIf the proposal is approved at the next BFC meeting, it will continue on to The Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics. The coalition plans to vote via e-mail on the same proposal at the end of the month and upon approval, bring these ideas in front of the NCAA.
(02/02/05 3:30am)
The face of intercollegiate athletics could change with an approved proposal today by The Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics, which is made up of an alliance of faculty representatives, including IU professor Bob Eno. The coalition is proposing a draft that outlines three changes to the NCAA bylaws in five areas; admission of athletes, awarding of scholarships, curricular integrity, time commitments of athletes and academic advising for players. \nWhile the changes won't happen overnight, they will be proposed today by Eno, who is the coalition's co-chair and an IU professor of East Asian Languages & Cultures. Eno will present the proposal to the Bloomington Faculty Council this afternoon.\nAlthough major changes could be proposed to NCAA bylaws in the future, Eno said IU athletes and sports fans shouldn't worry about a sudden change if approved.\n"A lot of what we do at IU is already in conformity with the ideas that the coalition is proposing," he said. "IU doesn't have a history of problems in regard to campus athletic governance or academic integrity. Even if we adopted all the new procedures that came out of the 'Academic Integrity' document you would find very little change with what happened on campus because a lot of that stuff is stuff we already do."\nIn reality IU is one of only two Big Ten schools that has kept a clean slate over the last four decades, said Bruce Jaffee, professor of business economics and the IU faculty athletic representative. \n"I think we are in compliance in specific and general terms," Jaffee said. "I think we have a good program here. We have not had major violations or penalties in 40 years. Penn State and IU are the only Big Ten schools in 40 years that haven't had any violations. We are always interested in reform."\nFormed in 2002, The Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics is made up of representatives from 45 colleges or universities out of the 117 included in Division I-A. The coalition's purpose is to become "a faculty voice in the national debate over the future of college sports," according to the coalition's Web site.\n"Basically what the coalition is about is trying to change is the national context of which we of all compete, which would reward programs that already have best practices who are often at a disadvantage competitively with programs that skip around the best practices, that cut corners and gain an advantage on the field by allowing their athletes to focus more simply on athletics rather than academics," Eno said.\nJaffee said the coalition's plans have become ones to which schools begin to model their athletic programs after, but to be cynical much is modeled after IU and there are still questions to be answered. With a presentation before the BFC today the coalition will begin to see what faculties think of plans to reform athletics and take a bigger step in the direction of academics.\n"I think why the coalition is important is that it gets the faculty up to the table in terms of reforming athletics," Jaffee said. "We are a player and we are a stake holder. But the main question here right now is how much (the faculty) will affect (it) is still a question."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(01/28/05 7:22am)
Big things are happening at the IU Main Library -- $80 million worth of big things. \nWhile the finishing touches are being put into place for the unveiling of the Information Commons 2 next month, University officials are at the state capital requesting $28 million, enough to begin phase one of renovations on the Main Library. But phase one is a small part of the Main Library master plan that is slated to take nearly 10 years and $80 million to complete. \n"It's about an $80 million renovation because the building is such a large building -- the largest building in the University," said Dean of University Libraries Suzanne Thorin. \nBeing the largest building on campus, it provides services to hundreds of undergraduates, graduates and faculty daily, but surprisingly has never been renovated. With Thorin and University Architect Bob Meadows' plan, the library will become more than just a place for students to study. \nThe initial blueprints include plans for expanding the Jordan Avenue entrance, which means ripping out the current stairs outside that lead to the second floor. In its place will be an entrance on the bottom floor, including the current Information Commons, new book checkout, copy center, common area and coffee shop. In addition, a book drop and pick-up will be constructed through a new circle drive that will overlook a new yard and plaza. The circle drive, housed under a glass canopy, will also serve as a drop-off for students coming and going to and from the library. The second and third floors will begin to serve as smaller areas intended for research needs of graduates and faculty. The fourth floor will house an auditorium and also bridge the two towers, undergraduate and graduate together with a walkway. The fifth floor will mainly serve as an extension of the fourth. \nOther plans include a skylight on the undergraduate side and working to get the building up to code with a sprinkler system, which the building currently lacks.\nWhile plans sound extravagant, with glass canopy and skylight, IU-Bloomington Interim Chancellor Ken Gros Louis said portions of the renovations are definitely a necessity. \n"The library is in pretty bad condition," Gros Louis said. "It's thirty-five years old, it hasn't had any major renovations; it has no sprinkler system, obviously it doesn't have what it should have. I don't think these things should be luxurious, but on the other hand I don't want the building to look (bad) either." \nVisiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Spanish & Portuguese John Slater said he believes the project should be about the quality of the books inside rather than the look of the library. \nIn an e-mail to the Indiana Daily Student, Slater wrote about his concerns regarding turning the library into a technology hub rather than a place for books.\n"The library formerly existed to support teaching and research missions and responded to the requirements of those who actually did the teaching and research, new technological changes, such as the IC2, are not in response to the requirements of faculty," he wrote. "I have never, for example, heard a colleague lament that there were too many books and not enough computers in the library, complain that their students lacked space to complete collaborative assignments, or celebrate the fact that their students can now watch a flat-screen television in the library."\nThorin said although many professors had the same concern, they should not worry. Years ago, the Bloomington Faculty Council Library Committee decided the 1.5 million books for which the library was originally designed would always remain in the library, in addition to the books held in auxiliary locations.\n"We have been concentrating on student services with the Information Commons and other services, but there are two entire floors which expand what is now the east and west tower that are to be designed for research services for faculty and graduate students," Thorin said.\nBut before any construction can begin, the plans need approval from the state and the IU Board of Trustees. The plans will be presented to the trustees in their March meeting and Meadows said they are hoping for approval from the state in May. \nBut don't expect bulldozers and dump trucks to be moving onto campus anytime soon. If funding is approved and plans stay on schedule, construction still won't begin until 2006. \nThough given a ten-year timeline, Meadows said construction will be done in phases in order to get funding from the state sporadically and to not inconvenience students. Meadows said sections of the library will be closed off during the construction, but not the whole library at a time.\n"(Our goal is) to make it a library of the twenty-first century, in everything that that means," Thorin said. "The library has always been the intellectual core of the University and with all the changes in teaching and learning we want to keep it as the core and provide the services to faculty and students need."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(01/27/05 5:00am)
While students begin planning sunny vacations for that magical week in March, others are still embracing the winter months with North Face jackets, scarves and Ugg boots. Considering Bloomington's unfortunate geographical location, embracing winter has to be limited to accessories and not much action. The occasional winter weekend trip is out of the question, snow-tipped mountains are only a reality in a Geology textbook and The Rocky Mountains is the place where Coors is brewed, not a place to ski. But a weekend trip doesn't have to be so out of reach. \nEven though Indiana isn't the pinnacle of skiing and snowboarding, a few places fake it well. Paoli Peaks, located in Paoli, Ind., is only 42 miles from Bloomington and has everything Aspen and Vail do, except a Colorado zip code. \n"We have something for everyone. Whether you are a beginner or someone that has skied or snowboarded before, there are slopes for everyone's skill levels," said Brandy Ream, director of sales and marketing for Paoli Peaks. "We have two-terrain parks here, a gentle terrain to a steeper terrain and we're also a great place to practice up if you're heading out west for spring break."\nSurprisingly, there is another ski resort close enough to drive from Bloomington. Perfect North, located in Lawrenceburg, Ind., is about two and a half hours from Bloomington. The resort is a family-owned and run business and just celebrated its 25th anniversary this ski season, so they know their stuff. \nPerfect North isn't just a ski resort; it also offers snow tubing, late night skiing until 9:30 p.m. each night and weekend skiing until 3 a.m. The next few months will be busy as they kick off celebrations for the anniversary with different events and deals. \nIt isn't necessary to be an ace or buy hundreds of dollars in equipment to enjoy a weekend on the slopes. Renting can be the name of the game and, for a college student on a tight budget, renting is sometimes a magical word. \n"We have rental equipment, skis or snowboards and we also have clothing rental, which is unique to us because we do cater to the beginner," Ream said of Paoli Peaks. "That way you aren't going to have to go out and purchase clothing and everything just to be able to try and come learn to ski or snowboard for a couple of days."\nMeteorologists are now calling for more snow and frigid temperatures and the calendar shows there are more than 50 days until the first day of spring, so it's safe to say there's plenty of time left for winter fun before breaking out the bathing suits, sunscreen and beach ball. Ream says a quick winter trip could be just the thing students need to beat the winter blues or de-stress and get outside.\n"There's not a lot of physical activity you can really do in the wintertime outdoors. This is a great way to get you up off the couch and out of the dorm to work off the beer, work off all of the food and (have) a lot of fun," Ream said.\nIndiana's corn fields may not seem like they would be so ski-friendly, but Perfect North and Paoli Peaks make their own snow and even groom it themselves. The snow-making begins in a state-of-the-art fan gun system that can produce 12 inches of snow in 24 hours. Translation: even if Mother Nature doesn't give Indiana the perfect winter weather for a good ski and snowboard weekend, these places can make it happen and do so with soft snow and a non-icy feel. Their average base of snow is between 24 and 50 inches and the slopes have mounds for tricks on different terrains between 30 and 40 feet high. \nThe man-made snow mixed with some complements of Mother Nature completes Paoli Peaks' and Perfect North's hills and trails and makes it possible for skiing to exist in the middle of Indiana. For some experienced skiers who have actually skied in states known for skiing and not basketball, their first trip to Paoli Peaks this season was surprisingly pleasant. \n"I've been to a couple really huge resorts in New England and I've also been to a couple smaller ones and I really have to say that the snow conditions are great (here)," said graduate student Mya Frumkin. "You go to some amazing resorts in Vermont and New Hampshire and it's just pure ice, so here it's been a good way to hone your skiing skills because it's a friendly mountain."\nFrumkin and fellow graduate student Krista Ariail took advantage of not having classes on Friday to enjoy the slopes at Paoli Peaks for the day. Ariail said she had been a little skeptical about skiing in Indiana: No large hills and lack of snow posed a problem in her eyes. \n"I've never been skiing in Indiana. I didn't know there was such a thing," Ariail said. "So, I wanted to come and check it out. I wasn't really sure what to expect. I guess I'm more impressed than I thought I would be because I didn't know there were any big enough hills in Indiana to ski on. I have a lot of experience with ski resorts out west, so I'm kind of spoiled in that way that I know good skiing. (Paoli) is good, just for being an hour south of Bloomington. It's good, fun skiing, nothing challenging."\nBut nothing challenging might be just the right medicine. After the syllabi are handed out in class and professors start dishing out the real assignments, Ream says getting out of Bloomington for a day is the perfect way to blow off some steam and that's where skiing can come in. With both Paoli and Perfect North's seasons ending in mid-March there's plenty of time to still hit the slopes as an unconventional way to release tension. \n"I definitely think it provides a benefit for students," Ream said. "It just provides that escape. Even if you just come for a few hours and then you're back at it, back to studying, back to classes. It does take the edge off."\nAnd for Frumkin and Ariail, two busy graduate students, taking a break and getting out is always a treat. Ariail says skiing brings an unconventional allure to exercise and entertainment. Anyone can have a night out at the bars, but a day of skiing is something unique. \n"I think it's good for students because it is only an hour away, it is really convenient, it's an easy drive (to Paoli) and it's something different," Ariail said. "It's out of the norm. It's $60 or so, but that's for the whole day of fun"
(01/26/05 5:09am)
While students begin planning sunny vacations for that magical week in March, others are still embracing the winter months with North Face jackets, scarves and Ugg boots. Considering Bloomington's unfortunate geographical location, embracing winter has to be limited to accessories and not much action. The occasional winter weekend trip is out of the question, snow-tipped mountains are only a reality in a Geology textbook and The Rocky Mountains is the place where Coors is brewed, not a place to ski. But a weekend trip doesn't have to be so out of reach. \nEven though Indiana isn't the pinnacle of skiing and snowboarding, a few places fake it well. Paoli Peaks, located in Paoli, Ind., is only 42 miles from Bloomington and has everything Aspen and Vail do, except a Colorado zip code. \n"We have something for everyone. Whether you are a beginner or someone that has skied or snowboarded before, there are slopes for everyone's skill levels," said Brandy Ream, director of sales and marketing for Paoli Peaks. "We have two-terrain parks here, a gentle terrain to a steeper terrain and we're also a great place to practice up if you're heading out west for spring break."\nSurprisingly, there is another ski resort close enough to drive from Bloomington. Perfect North, located in Lawrenceburg, Ind., is about two and a half hours from Bloomington. The resort is a family-owned and run business and just celebrated its 25th anniversary this ski season, so they know their stuff. \nPerfect North isn't just a ski resort; it also offers snow tubing, late night skiing until 9:30 p.m. each night and weekend skiing until 3 a.m. The next few months will be busy as they kick off celebrations for the anniversary with different events and deals. \nIt isn't necessary to be an ace or buy hundreds of dollars in equipment to enjoy a weekend on the slopes. Renting can be the name of the game and, for a college student on a tight budget, renting is sometimes a magical word. \n"We have rental equipment, skis or snowboards and we also have clothing rental, which is unique to us because we do cater to the beginner," Ream said of Paoli Peaks. "That way you aren't going to have to go out and purchase clothing and everything just to be able to try and come learn to ski or snowboard for a couple of days."\nMeteorologists are now calling for more snow and frigid temperatures and the calendar shows there are more than 50 days until the first day of spring, so it's safe to say there's plenty of time left for winter fun before breaking out the bathing suits, sunscreen and beach ball. Ream says a quick winter trip could be just the thing students need to beat the winter blues or de-stress and get outside.\n"There's not a lot of physical activity you can really do in the wintertime outdoors. This is a great way to get you up off the couch and out of the dorm to work off the beer, work off all of the food and (have) a lot of fun," Ream said.\nIndiana's corn fields may not seem like they would be so ski-friendly, but Perfect North and Paoli Peaks make their own snow and even groom it themselves. The snow-making begins in a state-of-the-art fan gun system that can produce 12 inches of snow in 24 hours. Translation: even if Mother Nature doesn't give Indiana the perfect winter weather for a good ski and snowboard weekend, these places can make it happen and do so with soft snow and a non-icy feel. Their average base of snow is between 24 and 50 inches and the slopes have mounds for tricks on different terrains between 30 and 40 feet high. \nThe man-made snow mixed with some complements of Mother Nature completes Paoli Peaks' and Perfect North's hills and trails and makes it possible for skiing to exist in the middle of Indiana. For some experienced skiers who have actually skied in states known for skiing and not basketball, their first trip to Paoli Peaks this season was surprisingly pleasant. \n"I've been to a couple really huge resorts in New England and I've also been to a couple smaller ones and I really have to say that the snow conditions are great (here)," said graduate student Mya Frumkin. "You go to some amazing resorts in Vermont and New Hampshire and it's just pure ice, so here it's been a good way to hone your skiing skills because it's a friendly mountain."\nFrumkin and fellow graduate student Krista Ariail took advantage of not having classes on Friday to enjoy the slopes at Paoli Peaks for the day. Ariail said she had been a little skeptical about skiing in Indiana: No large hills and lack of snow posed a problem in her eyes. \n"I've never been skiing in Indiana. I didn't know there was such a thing," Ariail said. "So, I wanted to come and check it out. I wasn't really sure what to expect. I guess I'm more impressed than I thought I would be because I didn't know there were any big enough hills in Indiana to ski on. I have a lot of experience with ski resorts out west, so I'm kind of spoiled in that way that I know good skiing. (Paoli) is good, just for being an hour south of Bloomington. It's good, fun skiing, nothing challenging."\nBut nothing challenging might be just the right medicine. After the syllabi are handed out in class and professors start dishing out the real assignments, Ream says getting out of Bloomington for a day is the perfect way to blow off some steam and that's where skiing can come in. With both Paoli and Perfect North's seasons ending in mid-March there's plenty of time to still hit the slopes as an unconventional way to release tension. \n"I definitely think it provides a benefit for students," Ream said. "It just provides that escape. Even if you just come for a few hours and then you're back at it, back to studying, back to classes. It does take the edge off."\nAnd for Frumkin and Ariail, two busy graduate students, taking a break and getting out is always a treat. Ariail says skiing brings an unconventional allure to exercise and entertainment. Anyone can have a night out at the bars, but a day of skiing is something unique. \n"I think it's good for students because it is only an hour away, it is really convenient, it's an easy drive (to Paoli) and it's something different," Ariail said. "It's out of the norm. It's $60 or so, but that's for the whole day of fun"
(01/20/05 6:22am)
Last academic year, Main Library users logged on to computers a total of 609,545 times and printed 4,930,767 pages. It's safe to say demand is high for work space at the library. \nAs demand grows, so does the library with renovations underway on the new Information Commons 2 -- a compliment to the current Information Commons, which saw visits from 82 percent of undergraduate students last academic year. \nThe new Information Commons 2, or IC2, began construction in December after approval from the board of trustees. Final renovations are expected to be finished this February, including plush couches and other study luxuries for students.\n"We're trying to make the library a central work, study and collaboration place for students," Dean of University Libraries Suzanne Thorin said. "More collaborative work is going on in the classroom and we want the library to be the place where students come first."\nAnd slowly that's becoming a reality. New couches replaced old wooden desks and a functioning coffee bar has been added; the IC2 is making studying more and more comfortable and inviting for hard-working students. When finished, the IC2 will occupy nearly 9,700 square feet on the second floor of the west tower, directly above the current Information Commons. Additionally, the IC2 has 68 new workstations, which totals seating for 180, all that will overlook the grass and tree tops of the arboretum.\n"This began to provide students places to gather and study comfortably," said Eric Bartheld, IU Libraries associate director of Office of External Relations and Development. "We want to meet the needs of students in order for them to excel academically."\nBartheld said renovations have been steady on the IC2 and other portions of the library. Wednesday, 19 tables were installed outside the north and south entrances of the library and other additions were completed in the main lobby, where couches replaced the wooden desks. \nFunding for the renovations came from the IUB Libraries and University Information Technology Services. Other renovations and additional funding for the library is currently awaiting approval, Thorin said. \nThorin said students have begun to generate excitement about the new study areas. One student in particular, IUSA president senior Tyson Chastain, previewed the IC2 and future plans for the library and said students would only benefit from what's there and what's to come.\n"Being a student myself I'm really excited about the new renovations that are going on," Chastain said. "The administration is really taking the time with this to do things for students and make it right for us. (The future expected features) of the library sound amazing. It'll be a really awesome thing."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.
(01/18/05 4:40pm)
Sam thinks he was brave. Shaina thinks he was a good person who fought for civil rights. Dahnovyn thinks he was a man who taught people about God. Davyana thinks he led people to freedom.\nAll these opinions, black and white, young and old, combine to describe one person -- Martin Luther King Jr. \nWhereas traditional holiday celebrations include impersonal lectures and museum visits, the School of Education held its second annual Martin Luther King Jr. Activity Day with help from the Bloomington community.\n"(King) was a good person because he wanted black people to be as good as white people. They are. The movie and (the Activity Day) showed everyone that today," said activity day participant Shaina. \nChildren from the Banneker Center and Girls Inc. who were interested in making Monday "A Day On Not a Day Off" completed five activities sponsored by the School of Education and the Mathers Museum. The children, ranging from first to fifth grade at Fairview Elementary, made tambourines, were silenced by mathematical equations, heard King stories and sat for an emotional rap and poetry session. The sound of handmade tambourines made of pie tins, paper clips, ribbon and buttons filled the School of Education hallways.\n"I'm hoping they take what they learn here today into their daily lives," said junior Daniel Eliot, president of the School of Education Dean's Advisory Council. "We have fun activities, but we are also teaching them something here today. These kids are young and impressionable, so hopefully they will learn as much as possible."\nEach participating child, clad in an orange T-shirt that read "Striving To Keep The Dream Alive" on the back, entered the auditorium to watch a movie dedicated to King. Images flashed on the screen: a young King unable to play with his white friends, Ku Klux Klan members, King's famous "I Have A Dream" speech and his assassination in Memphis. \nThe children gasped in a questioning response to the pictures flashing before them. \n"How can black and white kids sit next to each other now, but then they couldn't even drink from the same water fountain or go to the same school?" a child asked.\nThe children broke into small groups with IU students and adult leaders after the film to dispel rumors about what they had seen and to talk about the breakthroughs King had made.\nAs the children filed from the auditorium, they were greeted with new school supplies, books about King, prizes and cake, but the real treat was the new knowledge about King with which each child left the School of Education.\n"He was a man that believed everyone should have peace and be free," said Davyana, a participating child. "He did lead people to freedom. My favorite part of today was that we got to know what Martin did and what he's been through. I'm thankful."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu
(10/22/04 6:19am)
It's said that while in college much of the learning goes on outside of the classroom. Thursday night it went on inside the Bloomington Convention Center. The learning might not have been conventional, but for beer lovers and anyone over 21, Big Red Liquors' 12th annual BeerFest was an amazing learning experience. \n"This is the best drinking experience I've ever had in college," said senior Steve Farbstein. "I've been standing here all night. I paid $25 to try every beer I've ever wanted to try. I've seen half a room full of beer I've never seen; 50 or 60 types of beer I would have never gotten to try. Tonight I get to experience the unknown."\nAnd experience the unknown he and others did.\nWith more than 200 beers being sampled on Thursday and again tonight, Big Red Liquors is offering unlimited single ounces of beer to anyone who can shell out $25 for admission and the chance to become a beer connoisseur, or at the very least expand their knowledge about beer. \n"We want people to come out and sample beers and know what they like," said Rob Williamson, director of promotions for Big Red Liquors -- favorite beer: Spaten Oktoberfest. "People come in (to Big Red) and look at a six-pack of $10 beer and say 'Why should I buy $10 beer?' This way, they know what they like and are educated on all types of beer."\nThe lessons learned inside the Convention Center didn't begin and end with which beer to buy on a Friday night, but expanded to geography. \nThe geography lesson came from the far side of the room, which was stacked with international breweries. Every exotic beer import was represented -- many from England and Germany. \nEscaping into the unknown names of obscure beers, such as Westmalle (from Belgian), Rogue, Sprecher, Summitt and Moosehead (from Canada), made it comfortable for some to be able to return to their old favorites on the other side of the room. While many of the offerings were exotic and unfamiliar to some, the usual suspects were in attendance: Budweiser, Miller, Samuel Adams, Bass, Corona and Pabst Blue Ribbon. \nThe geography lesson and the chance to pour beer all night was one of the reasons Big Red employee Ramzi Furman -- favorite beer: Barley Island Bourbon Finish Stout -- came out to the event. \n"I love the fact they can try the beers," Furman said. "You can get things here you can't get anywhere. For me, it's remarkable. It's definitely worth it."\nEven if the learning was over for some, the company of other beer lovers and some food samples was enough. Senior Mark Lazarus -- favorite beer: Fullers London Pride -- brews his own beer at home for friends. Fuller said even though he would have liked to see a better international representation at the event, he still learned more than he thought he would have coming in. \n"I like how this is bringing people out," Lazarus said. "Beer is so similar to wine in that people collect wine, they taste wine, they learn about wine, and beer can be the same: People taste beer, they get a better understanding and learn what they like. This has been very educational."\n-- Contact managing editor Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.