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(08/21/13 2:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Freshmen international students Angelo Pereira and Jiaqi Mao sat in the living room of the Asian Culture Center, talking about their hometowns and their first experiences at IU, while others wrote names in different languages on a white board. First-year SPEA graduate student Milu Gao ate, drank and celebrated the end of her one and a half week long orientation. “It feels comfortable, like home here,” Gao said.More than 100 new international students gathered at the ACC Tuesday.The afternoon tea allowed students to learn about the center’s resources and role on campus.The event marked the beginning of the ACC’s Fall 2013 event calendar, which includes world culture celebration Culturefest, an open house and the IU Asian Fair and Welcome Reception.“IU students are very lucky to have these varying resources,” said ACC Director Melanie Castillo-Cullather. “Other colleges have folded their cultural centers together, limiting the support available.”The Leo R. Dowling International Center was repurposed last year as the Office of Overseas Study. The Office of International Services was combined with the International Admissions Office.The Asian Culture Center has promoted Asian culture on campus since 1998, according to its website.Gao said many people have misconceptions about the inclusiveness of the center. “It’s important to invite students that aren’t Asian to these events,” she said. “We want to emphasize the presence of our culture on campus without shutting others out.”Including everyone is a priority to Castillo-Cullather.She said some people assume the ACC is only open to people of Asian heritage, though it is open to all students. “Different cultural centers exist to highlight unique needs of different people in our community,” Castillo-Cullather said.The ACC hosts regular round-table discussions, English tutoring programs and weekly games from Asian culture such as Mah-Jong and Go.“Outside of here these students don’t know each other, but when they come they immediately connect,” Castillo-Cullather said.Laura Baumann is a freshman staff member at the ACC. During the afternoon tea she arranged tables offering sushi, tea and cookies.“It’s a very low-key atmosphere here,” said Baumann. “People can easily come and feel comfortable.” She said she felt accepted when she interned at the ACC her senior year of high school, so she joined the staff to help other IU students.According to its website the ACC helps students adapt to the changing local and international environment in which they learn.“We are making sure to let them know there is a place here students can call home,” Castillo-Cullather said.Castillo-Cullather said she believes bringing international and domestic students together better prepares them for working in the real world.She said the afternoon tea party allowed international students to connect in a supportive environment.“Everyone here has their own dream and the ambition to pursue it,” Mao said. “Having a place like this helps balance the huge difference between Asian and Western culture.”
(02/26/13 4:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After three years at IU, she was going to drop out. In May 2012, the end of her junior year, her parents said they weren’t paying for school anymore. They found out she had a girlfriend.The 21-year-old spent the summer figuring out how to support herself. “I met with a counselor who told me to drop out of school based on my financial situation,” she said. “I went to class those first few weeks without knowing if I was going to be able to pay for them.”Come August, unpaid bills began piling up. Her dream of getting into law school and becoming a child advocate would be just that — a dream.For the student who came out, the role of scholarship money was more than a financial boost. It was hope. To students paying their way through school, a scholarship can mean the difference between graduating and dropping out. The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Alumni Association’s Emergency Scholarship is given to students who lose financial support when they reveal their sexual orientation to their families. Major fundraising is in the process to strengthen the program for future recipients. Within the past two years, the scholarship awarded more than $6,000 to IU students, said Rachael McAfee, director of IU alumni programs.“Our goal is to never turn anyone away from this award that needs it,” McAfee said.The student ran into difficulties at the start of her search. She found options in a visit to the GLBT Student Support Services office. Many students in her situation turn to federal aid. She said counselors at the office helped her organize legal papers to file a dependency appeal form. Questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid determine whether a student is classified as self-supporting and thus entitled to financial aid from the government, according to the Office of Financial Assistance’s website.But her appeal never came through.The site says a parent’s unwillingness to pay tuition costs is not considered sufficient grounds alone to constitute a viable appeal.“They told me that the situation with my parents was just an argument,” she said. “That we were going to get over it.” The costs of tuition, room and board were impossible to handle alone, she said.She found support in the GLBT SSS office, ultimately leading to the financial aid she desperately needed.“It’s hard when your life falls apart like that,” she said. “You don’t want to reach out. I just wanted to be done with it.” She said without her girlfriend’s support she never would have found the money to stay in school.The scholarship paid for a portion of her tuition and books for the fall semester. She said this year the funds covered law school applications.To graduate on time, she juggles classes and a full-time job to pay for expenses that used to be covered by her parents.“If this scholarship didn’t exist I would not be in school right now,” the student said. “They saved me.”
(02/04/13 2:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The fifth annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Alumni Association (GLBTAA) Celebration Weekend brought students, faculty and alumni together in a display of communal strength and support. A small gathering Sunday morning in the GLBT Student Support Services office marked the end of the weekend’s festivities. While enjoying bagels and coffee, community members discussed the weekend’s highlights.Hana Horton, a student representative for the GLBT Alumni Association, said this year she aimed to get more undergraduates involved with the association. “The community here is a lot bigger than you think it is,” she said. “The connections and support network is valuable to being successful and happy when moving to new cities and looking for jobs.” Community members gathered in the Lilly Library Friday evening to kick off the Celebration Weekend. Attendees witnessed presentations of the organization’s Distinguished Alumni Award and the Spirit Awards, which are given to those who embody the strength, character and spirit of the GLBT office. In attendance were IU Foundation President Daniel Smith, and Provost Lauren Robel. Mike Shumate presided over the ceremony. Shumate, president of the GLBTAA and recipient of a Spirit Award, said the organization exists to provide community and scholarship to students on any of IU’s eight campuses. He said he accepted the award on behalf of all the heroes who have contributed to IU’s LGBT legacy. At a board meeting Saturday morning, plans for GLBTAA’s Emergency Scholarship were on the packed agenda. The scholarship aids IU students who are disowned and lose financial support after coming out to their families. Shumate also said the IU Foundation will partner with the GLBTAA to launch the first and only University-sanctioned LGBT scholarship campaign in the nation.“The LGBT student community has become even more vibrant and part of the fabric of IU, and that is beautiful,” alumni David Johnson said.Johnson said the existence of the GLBT SSS office drove him to attend IU.A silent auction and reception Saturday night raised money for GLBTAA scholarships and grants. More than 100 attendees packed into Grazie! Italian Eatery, where students and alumni networked.Eighteen years ago, a gay student personally spearheaded the formation of the GLBTAA. Today, the organization has more than 1,300 active members. “If you can dream it, it exists,” senior Shaily Hakimian said. “You can make the queer space that you’re looking for in this campus.” Both the film festival and the Alumni Association’s celebration result from student initiative, said Doug Bauder, coordinator of the GLBT SSS. “The entire PRIDE film festival and Celebration Weekend is a classic example of the power of one,” Bauder said. “It only takes one student to change campus life and leave their mark on the entire Bloomington community.”
(02/01/13 3:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Target and Wal-Mart were joined in holy matrimony Thursday afternoon.Members of the Indiana Public Interest Research Group at IU (INPIRG) began efforts to overturn the 2010 Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Elections Committee. Passed in 2010, the case established that the First Amendment prevents the government from restricting political expenditures by corporations and unions.The 3-hour event took place in Read Center’s center lounge.Elizabeth Himeles, INPIRG’s campus organizer, said the Citizens United cases gave corporations the right to spend money as if they were people.The political activists staged their corporate wedding to demonstrate how they thought the 2010 decision unfairly gave human rights to companies.“Events like this show how silly it is to say that corporations are people,” Himeles said. “They can’t get married, we can’t put them in jail, and they’re not individuals.” Donning hand-made costumes, the INPIRG team approached individuals and gathered signatures. By the end of the afternoon, members had 89 people sign their petition. At the end of this semester, INPIRG plans to send the petition to Rep. Todd Young, R-9th District, Himeles said. Freshman Taylor Hurt, the group’s outreach coordinator, said she passed out invitations across campus to inform students of the event. By incorporating the wedding component of the event, Hurt said students were likely to pay attention, since many aren’t interested in politics.According to the organization’s website, INPIRG’s efforts range from ending hunger and homelessness to registering students to vote.Thursday’s event was part of the group’s ongoing Democracy campaign.Iris Shen, a freshman volunteer, learned about INPIRG through a presentation in one of her classes.“I’m excited to wear the Wal-Mart costume and get more involved in the group, because I just joined,” Shen said.With more than 130 volunteers and 50 interns, INPIRG offers students passionate about politics opportunities to get involved and make a difference.Himeles said the corporate wedding was the first of many events this semester directed at overturning the Citizens United case.“Without stopping the flow of money in politics, Americans can’t vote in a way that allows our country to make progress on any issues,” Himeles said.
(01/25/13 4:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>College students can now use an alternative method of landing an internship. Start-up website internsushi.com’s slogan encourages applicants to “be picky” during their search. Founded in late 2011, the site now has 30,000 active accounts. Users customize their online profile and present it to employers in place of a traditional résumé.“Our digital profiles allow applicants to get in front of somebody even before an actual interview,” said Lauren Antonelli, internsushi.com’s vice president of user and content strategy said. The company’s name reflects its selective philosophy. According to the website, “The attributes of a great intern match the attributes of sushi. When you choose a sushi restaurant, you often consider quality, variety, presentation and innovation.”According to the website, “internsushi.com is a new way to present yourself to companies in the hardest-to-break-into industries like fashion, music, and film.” More than 5,000 companies across 17 industries currently have active profiles with more added each day, Antonelli said. “It’s incredibly competitive everywhere right now,” Antonelli said. “For every one position there are eight interns vying for it.” Junior Morgan Roach has an occupational therapy internship set up this summer in her hometown.“I think the site would be very helpful for people going through their (internship) search,” Roach said. “It helps students stay organized by keeping all the necessary information in one place.” By trashing the traditional paper résumé, aspiring interns apply directly online via their internsushi.com account. The site’s digital profiles allow aspiring interns to upload a one-minute video and personal portfolio. Many majors at IU require the completion of an internship for graduation. “If I didn’t have contacts through my family, I would have had a much harder time landing my internship,” Roach said.According to Antonelli, Companies like Billboard, NBC and funnyordie.com have hired interns using internsushi.com accounts.“Internships are no longer optional at this point,” Antonelli said. “They are today’s entry-level jobs.”
(01/14/13 4:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Secular Alliance at Indiana University members gathered Sunday for the year’s first meeting to discuss their beliefs.The organization’s website reads, “The Secular Alliance is a group of students, faculty, staff and other members of the Bloomington community who share a secular outlook or world-view.” Sunday’s meeting, titled Russell’s Tea Party, focused on discussing new religions and how they have marketed themselves. The group began by viewing a commercial sponsored by the Church of Scientology.The group then divided to facilitate conversation between members.“The discussions, sense of community and the people are why I love coming to SAIU,” IU freshman Courtney Crabtree said. Crabtree participated in various functions last semester and will continue her involvement with the group through this year, she said.SAIU President Jessika Griffin, a senior, has been involved since her sophomore year. “When I came to IU, I didn’t really know any other atheists, so it was great to finally find a community I could safely talk about my beliefs with,” Griffin said.Griffin was raised Catholic but solidified her identity as an atheist after joining SAIU.Along with Crabtree and Griffin, the other members discussed the secular community’s image within society. In addition to regular weekly meetings, the group plays host to atheist happy hour, movie nights and community service projects around Bloomington.SAIU has brought in various speakers, including author Richard Dawkins and constitutional lawyer Eddie Tabash, to join their conversations. Upcoming events include an annual blood drive and trip to the Creation Museum in Kentucky. “I’ve always been an atheist, and I always leave thinking really hard about everything we talk about in our meetings,” Crabtree said. “There was nothing like this at my high school back home.” Griffin said the group is a safe haven for atheists, freethinkers and skeptics to share their personal beliefs without judgement. SAIU strives to promote a positive public perception of secularism and exists to support the non-religious, as well as to educate people about secular beliefs, according to the website.
(01/09/13 4:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Any device with data from IU’s network, whether it is a personal laptop, tablet or smartphone, has the potential to be accessed by the University.With about 330,000 online accounts, the Privacy of Electronic Information and Information Technology Resources Policy states “legitimate reasons exist for persons other than an authorized account holder to access computers, electronic files or data related to use of the University network.”The policy outlines every reason a technician or administrator has to legally access someone’s IU email account. Sophomores Ellicia Clark and Collin Schmidt both use IU’s email service as their primary accounts. Though they were required to accept the policy’s terms and conditions when creating their accounts, both quickly clicked past the actual policy and were not aware of its contents.“It would make sense to access someone’s email if an administrator was suspicious of academic dishonesty or a related issue,” Schmidt said.Clark said her email should be kept private.“I keep my Facebook profile private, so that only people I allow can see my information,” Clark said. “My email should be the same way. But, I think it’s a good system for the University to uncover information about possible threats or illegal activity.” Schmidt said he accepts University access to email.“IU shouldn’t notify people about accessing their account because anyone who was smart would just delete anything suspicious,” he said. A technician or administrator may request authorization to access or permit access to specific electronic information for many reasons, including an internal audit, lawful demand, substantial University risks and even institutionally approved research.Jonathan Sweeny, IU’s incident response manager, receives the request. Then, a network of people working with the University Information Policy Office reviews the request and determines its validity.“One of the main reasons a student’s account is accessed is through a request from the Dean of Students,” Sweeny said in an email. According to Indiana’s open records law, personal emails are also subject to disclosure. This means an individual and administrator’s emails are subject to scrutiny because IU is a public institution.IU’s information policy respects students’ privacy but ensures email access is available when necessary. The policy is available online at policies.iu.edu/policies/categories/index.shtml along with the office’s contact information.
(12/06/12 5:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Fifty people sat in a large circle, with at least 20 scattered behind them on couches and chairs in the Indiana Memorial Union’s East Lounge. Attendees discussed problems facing the University community, including rising tuition and student debt. The also gathered to organize, plan and prepare for an upcoming strike in April protesting IU administration operation of campus. The assembly consisted of undergraduate students, faculty and staff members, and anyone else from the community who felt they had something worth offering to the strike’s organization. The group had no leader and only two moderators.The strike is set to take place on April 11-12, 2013, to coincide with the days of the next IU Board of Trustees meeting. Organizers of the movement developed a blog, iuonstrike.tumblr.com, where a published strike proposal is available for anyone to read or add to. The strike proposal on the blog highlights statistics detailing the sources of IU’s budget.“As of this year, students pay for 51% of IU’s budget,” read the post. “Only 18% percent of the current year’s budget funding comes from the state of Indiana, as compared to 50% in the early 1990s.”The mass assembly then sectioned off to give individuals a chance to voice their personal concerns with the University. A small group of eight gathered near one of the lounge’s corners. Last names of some attendees were requested to remain confidential. Chelsea, an IU student and RPS employee spoke about the University’s unfair treatment of employees injured at work. Peter, who recently dropped out of school, proposed that the strike target specific academic departments.Samantha Harrell, one of the discussion’s moderators, is a senior studying social work.“Because we’re relying more and more on the private sector to fund our education, it gives IU an incentive to meet the demands of those private corporations,” Harrell said. “So we have departments with agendas that aren’t necessarily representing what’s best for people. I want to get down to the basic principle of a public university.”In the upcoming five months, there will be more meetings intended to solidify a plan for the strike. The groups insisted throughout the discussion that public awareness needs to extend beyond sidewalk chalk messages and fliers. The assembly established that it needs a final goal, something to which IU administration will pay attention.After spending over two hours deliberating the question, “Why don’t we have a voice in the University that is equal to our contribution?” the group disbanded.“We understand the serious limitations and risks involved,” organizers concurred in their strike proposal, “but we are open to dialogue to develop methods that advance the interests of students, faculty and workers together.”
(12/06/12 1:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Portraits of Hoagy Carmichael and John Mellencamp, as well as other local celebrities, will line Bloomington City Hall throughout December.The Bloomington Boys and Girls Club’s fourth annual winter art show showcases young painters and serves as a fundraiser for the club’s art program. Funds generated from the show will go toward purchasing new art supplies for children at the Bloomington location as well as clubs in surrounding towns. The show will feature more than 100 works, all created by kids from the Bloomington club. Paint-splattered shelves of the club’s art room are full of artwork ready to be shown to the community. Out of 100 paintings, 12 will be for sale. The paintings will cost about $300.Club member Ayana Harlow said her favorite part of painting is blending the colors together and creating something beautiful. “I’m really nervous, what if nobody likes my painting?” Harlow said as she put finishing touches on her piece. Harlow said she has been working on a portrait of Mellencamp for the past three weeks and it is finally ready for the big show. Jenna Beasley, the club’s art director, spearheaded the showcase this year. After hours of preparing the artwork for presentation, Beasley said she hopes to raise $1,000 to $3,000 for the club’s art program. “The show is an opportunity that isn’t always open to the kids in public schools,” Beasley said. “It’s inspiring to see them work so hard for this and then getting to present at such an important place.”The official opening ceremony will take place Friday and feature performances by the Boys and Girls Club choir and IU’s Singing Hoosiers. “Having an artistic outlet helps the kids in every aspect of their life,” Beasley said. “The sense of accomplishment and pride in the kids inspires me as an artist and their teacher.”