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(10/24/12 4:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indiana cannot refuse funding to Planned Parenthood because abortions are among the organization’s services, the United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.The issue began in 2011, when Gov. Mitch Daniels passed a law prohibiting state agencies from entering contracts with entities performing abortions or maintaining and operating facilities where abortions are performed. The law also prohibited these facilities from receiving state grants. Planned Parenthood of Indiana, along with some of its patients, sued the Indiana State Department of Health, claiming the law violated the Medicaid Act and was unconstitutional.In Planned Parenthood of Indiana, Inc. v. Commissioner of the Indiana State Department of Health, the appeals court in Chicago reached a decision, upholding part of Planned Parenthood’s claim and reversing another part. They affirmed that the state of Indiana does not have the right to exclude providers from its Medicaid program for any reason. However, the court reversed the lower court’s ruling from last year, giving Indiana the authority to cease the funding for Planned Parenthood’s federal grants from the Disease Intervention Services program.The statements may sound contradictory, but they merely address different aspects of the issue. Though Indiana does not have the authority to refuse funding for Planned Parenthood and its affiliates completely, it is not unconstitutional for the government to refuse to subsidize abortion, as long as it does not directly affect the woman’s abortion right.“Although the injunction concerning Medicaid funding was not lifted, we note that the 7th Circuit found the State has the legal authority to decide how federal block-grant dollars — which are tax dollars — will be distributed,” Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said in a press release. “We will review this opinion more thoroughly with our clients before deciding how best to continue to defend the Indiana law.”The full documentation of the case is available on the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals website at ca7.uscourts.gov/.
(10/24/12 3:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When Sylvia Plath was 12 years old, she had a crush on a boy named William Moore.Such a random, intimate fact about Plath’s childhood is recorded in one of her many diaries. Before she wrote “The Bell Jar” and her published collections of poetry, she wrote lists of the boys she liked.The Lilly Library boasts one of the largest collections of Plath’s original workwhich is why IU is organizing the Sylvia Plath Symposium.It will be a four-day program from Oct. 24-27 commemorating the 50th anniversary of Plath’s “Ariel” collection and celebrating Oct. 27, which would have been her 80th birthday, symposium co-director Christoph Irmscher said. Plath scholars and panelists are coming from all over the world — including the United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, Oman, Australia, Turkey, South Africa and more — to discuss Plath’s work and influences and to celebrate her as a poet. There will be literary panels and discussions throughout the week, as well as Plath exhibits at the IU Art Museum and the Lilly Library. Friday will feature a film gala at the IU Cinema, including the world premiere of an original music composition of Plath’s poem “Morning Song.” Local Bloomington composer Lauren Bernofsky arranged the three part piece, which incorporates violin, cello and vocals. Irmscher is an English professor at IU and teaches Plath’s work in his classes. He has taken students to the Lilly Library to hold what Plath has written in their hands. The library has drafts of Plath’s manuscripts both handwritten and typewritten, as well as her journals from when she was younger. The folder containing her working manuscript of “The Colossus and Other Poems” also contained a rejection letter from the Yale University Press.Irmscher said he recommends students attend the poetry readings at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Monroe County Public Library.“(Plath’s poems) are never boring,” Irmscher said. “They are very intense, and people respond to that.”He said what he likes about looking at Plath’s process overall is the contrast between the finished product and what goes into it.“The poems become more than letters on a page,” he said. “They come alive.”Kathleen Connors, a Plath scholar and one of the symposium co-directors, decided to plan her first Plath symposium after seeing the collection in the Lilly Library. This is her third and final symposium.“I’ve worked on the Plath project for 20 years and I’ve enjoyed every minutes of it, but three is enough,” she said. Rather than Plath’s personal work, Connors said she was more interested in Plath’s creative development from an early age.“It gives a clear indication of how she became who she was ... the juvenilia, the artwork,” Connors said. “The archival materials can inform scholars about her entire creative process and put it in a cultural context.”
(10/23/12 5:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Upon entering the new Oliver Winery downtown location, Bloomington resident Chris Kroll said he felt like Harry Potter.As he walked into the new establishment, he recalled a scene from “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” in which Harry goes into a seemingly simple wizard’s tent and discovers a vast room of unexpected offerings. Kroll was in awe.He was there for Oliver Winery downtown’s soft opening with his wife, Lisa. Celebrating 40 years of Oliver wine, the winery invited friends to the new location Monday night to commemorate what Kathleen Oliver calls “just another generation” of the winery’s process of moving forward. Her husband, Bill Oliver, Jr., took control of the winery in 1983 from his father, an IU law professor, and has maintained ownership since. Tucked amidst the line of eateries on North College Avenue, Oliver Winery Downtown, an extension of the Oliver Winery at 8024 Indiana State Road 37, is not particularly eye catching. Once inside, however, the culture of the establishment becomes clear. Brightly colored photographs of the Creekbend Vineyard adorn the walls surrounding quaint tables for four, and the room extends to include shelf after shelf of wine: vidal blanc, zinfandel, shiraz and more. There is a wine bar with a photograph of two Oliver Winery hot air balloons in the background and a large refrigerator to keep wine cold for anyone who wants it chilled and on the go. The atmosphere breathes sophistication.The downtown addition is considerably different from the Oliver Winery tasting room, manager Drew Kincius said. The main tasting room is more educational.“This is more about urban nightlife and making wine a part of your life,” Kincius said.Oliver Winery’s downtown location, which opens to the public Wednesday, offers a selection of cheeses and accompaniments of in-house jams and jellies. They also make original desserts. Both the cheese plates and the desserts come with recommendations of various Oliver Wine. The winery has both homegrown wine from the Creekbend Vineyard and imported wine from across the country.The culture can be traced back to the Olivers themselves, who attended the soft opening with their 7-year-old son Danshel. When Bill took control of the winery, he focused on three points: making the winery pretty, improving the quality of the wine and emphasizing customer service. He and Kathleen were both earning degrees at IU when they met, and she joined the winery as general manager in 1993. They married a few years later. In his spare time, Bill earned a pilot’s license so he could fly hot air balloons, the same balloons depicted in the photo behind the wine bar.“The whole winery exists to pay for my hot air balloon habit,” Bill joked.In seriousness, he has a passion for the profession of winemaking.“We go from the earth to the bottle, which is wonderful creative expression,” he said. “It’s art. It makes people happy.”Bill does not have a favorite wine. He is constantly looking to try whatever is new.Many of the Olivers’ friends attended, sharing stories of their experience with the winery and each drinking a different style.The Krolls have a long relationship with the Olivers. Chris grew up across the street from Bill. They were excited for what Chris said will be a great addition to downtown. They were both drinking shiraz.Jon and Anne Dilts, who have lived in Bloomington for 30 years, have been to the tasting room many times. They acknowledged that the downtown addition is very different, but not at all in a bad way.“This is a wonderful environment, and they’ve done a great job with it,” Jon said. He had a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, while Anne was adventurous and tried the Creekbend Traminette, though Riesling is her favorite.Susan Dabkowski had a different experience with the winery. She and her friends have taken several balloon rides with Bill over the years. Dabkowski attested to the generosity of the winery. She has worked with several nonprofits in the town and said the winery frequently gives back to the community.This aspect of Oliver Winery’s relationship with the city is not surprising considering the family’s history in Bloomington. Bill was raised here, and has seen it change during the years along with his business.“To watch the city and private enterprise work together to make downtown so incredibly vibrant... it’s remarkable, and we’re delighted to be a part of it,” he said.
(10/22/12 4:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A group of people experiencing homelessness stood in line with backpacks outside the doors of Trinity Episcopal Church at about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday.They were waiting for the church to open so they could have a warm place to sleep for the night.Trinity Episcopal is one of four sites that comprise the Interfaith Winter Shelter, which has provided shelter and hot food for people experiencing homelessness since 2009. It opens every year in October, when the Genesis House Summer Shelter closes, and remains open until April. This year, the Genesis House Summer Shelter closed its doors permanently.Though the shelter had limited resources, it had given those experiencing homelessness an option for a place to sleep since 2010. Ultimately, the lack of volunteers and funding forced Genesis Church to shut down, Genesis House Director Alyssa Jones said.The people waiting in line outside Trinity Episcopal expressed complaints about the cleanliness and spaciousness of the Genesis House facility. They requested to remain anonymous to avoid being labeled as “homeless people.”A woman in a black jacket acknowledged that the Genesis House tried their best, and some murmured in agreement.“I think we’re all just blessed to have a place to sleep at night,” a man in a blue-and-white-striped polo said.The Genesis House offered beds and basic snacks. They used to offer meals when they opened but discontinued that practice when they realized individuals could get meals elsewhere, Jones said.“It (was) just a picnic shelter that someone enclosed,” Jones said. “Facility-wise, we just provided a place to sleep.”The Genesis House Summer Shelter Facebook page displays several posts asking for volunteers since the page was created in April, but there are few comments with responses.Interfaith Winter Shelter pulls volunteers from First United Church, First United Methodist Church and First Christian Church in addition to Trinity Episcopal, which Jones said might be a reason they do not struggle as much for volunteers.“Word gets around,” Rev. Connie Peppler of Trinity Church said.The Genesis House faced a greater challenge, with only a set number of volunteers during a six-month period.“It was spreading people pretty thin,” Jones said.Since Genesis House was never open in the winter, the concern for summer shelter is not immediate. Regardless, one woman in a beige jacket expressed strong opinions about the general treatment of people experiencing homelessness.“We shouldn’t be getting run off church grounds,” she said. “By law, the churches should be our sanctuary. If there is something more important in a church than a human life, get rid of it.”The Genesis House will not re-open, but members of the Genesis Church volunteer at other places, such as the Shalom Community Center.“One of the reasons we wanted to open was to draw attention to the homelessness problems in the city,” Jones said. “We have a done a lot, and we will continue to do a lot.”Peppler said she believes the former Genesis and current Interfaith guests appreciate Genesis’s efforts. “I think people are thankful for what they did,” Peppler said. “They just ran out of volunteers. We hated to see it happen. The guests are survivors. They’ll find places to sleep. We all feel sad, but we understand.”
(10/22/12 4:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sitting on a black leather couch in a cozy Bloomington home, 7-year-old Will Hanlon waited quietly for his cue to speak into the microphone. As part of the Homelessness Marathon, an annual national broadcast to share the stories of people experiencing homelessness, Hanlon’s voice would broadcast to nearly 200 radio stations across the country.Hanlon is not experiencing homelessness, but he has already taken steps to aid those who are. He and his mother, Cosima, collected clothes, food, toilet paper and other essential items to give to homeless shelters in Bloomington. “I don’t like to have people being homeless,” Hanlon said on the broadcast.The hour-long program was sponsored by Bloomington’s community radio station, WFHB, live from the New Hope Family Shelter, a year-old homeless shelter specifically for parents experiencing homelessness with their children. The house was transformed into a makeshift radio station with microphones, headphones, soundboards and computers spread around the living area. WFHB News Director Alycin Bektesh led the broadcast and featured New Hope Director Elaine Guinn and Stepping Stones Independent Living Coach Stephanie McGee on the panel.The group had technical difficulties that prevented it from taking calls and forced the broadcast to be cut short. Still, their message was just as clearly communicated in 30 minutes.“I think the key thing to realize is we are the answer,” Guinn said. “The community has to take action.”WFHB was in charge of focusing on a specific thing for the Homelessness Marathon and chose New Hope because they wanted to highlight something unique, Bektesh said.New Hope is the only organization that allows families the option of staying together in a shelter. Other shelters separate men from women and children. New Hope also has a broader definition of family, including single parents and same-sex couples. Even couples who have been in a long-term relationships and have children qualify, Guinn said on the broadcast.She described New Hope’s process and history of helping the homeless and shared her personal experience of living in a camper for six months as a child. She urged people to remember that even if someone is addicted and living on the street, they have a family, and that family might have tried to help them. Guinn said the families at New Hope build relationships and network with volunteers and with each other. The shelter’s focus is on keeping families together.McGee discussed the issues of children who are experiencing homelessness and struggle in school as a result. She also talked about how the stress of homelessness can affect brain development in young children.The show ended with Hanlon, who talked about his project to help the homeless and expressed his desire to one day open a restaurant called “Feed the Homeless.”Though New Hope consists of only one house, a second one is being built, and the goal is to expand further, Guinn said. The current house proudly displays a colorful “I Spy” quilt by Holocaust survivor Ruth Rives. Guinn said Rives makes sure every child who comes through New Hope has a birthday party.The shelter has a kitchen, and the Campus Kitchens group gives guests cooking lessons. Families are encouraged to eat together as it keeps their spirits up, Guinn said.New Hope’s research found that Bloomington has the highest poverty rate in Indiana, Guinn said.“We do not have affordable housing, and there just aren’t jobs here,” she said. “It’s impossible to keep up.”Still, she exhibits New Hope’s facilities, from bedroom to compost heap, with pride.“I love to show these things, so people can see what working together can do,” she said.After the broadcast, Bektesh said she was glad for the opportunity to highlight what is going on in Bloomington.“Hopefully, it helps people who haven’t taken that step between being aware and being active,” she said.
(10/22/12 4:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For longtime Bloomington residents Tom Roznowski and Trisha Bracken, the Monroe County Courthouse has never been just a courthouse.Roznowski and Bracken have performed plenty of the necessary, typical government-related tasks at the historic building, which has been a Bloomington staple for just more than 100 years. The couple voted at the courthouse for years and paid their property taxes there.But they also remember the courthouse as the place where Bracken’s brother got married roughly 20 years ago. They remember when Roznowski, an accomplished musician, played his original songs at an event to celebrate the courthouse. They remember listening to distinguished IU English professor emeritus and published author Scott Russell Sanders read aloud his work. They remember when the courthouse was almost demolished in 1984 and how relieved they were that it wasn’t.“It’s a beautiful piece of work,” Roznowski said. “(We’re) so glad they saved it.”Rather than be torn down, the courthouse was restored in 1984 and received yet another renovation this year to correct structural problems in the building. Additional steel beams have been added beneath the floors for support. There is a new chiller and a hot water boiler, along with other improvements.The courthouse was closed for a year during the renovation. It reopened Oct. 9, later than expected. The courthouse was originally scheduled to reopen in August. The Recorder, Assessor, Auditor, Treasurer, Legal, Commissioners, Council and Human Resources county offices returned to the space. The Planning, Building and Technical Services county offices remained at the North Showers Building on North Morton Street, joined by the office for Bloomington Parks and Recreation.While it serves several important government functions, the courthouse is more than just a place for people to get married, divorced and calculate child support. It is a Bloomington monument, designed in the Beau Arts style and enduring for decades. The renovations of many years have changed the building and improved it, and Roznowski and Bracken said they look forward to seeing the recent developments.“It’s a great building,” Roznowski said. “It’s great to have a downtown with this much integrity.”Bracken agreed. “It’s a special town, so it’s a special courthouse,” she said.
(10/22/12 3:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama’s commanding voices rang throughout the Wells-Metz Theatre as they bashed each other’s policies.The presidential hopefuls sparred on a television screen above the three-story set of IU Theatre and Drama’s “Richard III.” Leading up to Saturday’s performance, Romney and Obama’s attack ads played back-to-back, putting the play’s events in current political context.One of Shakespeare’s earlier plays, “Richard III” is based on historical events and depicts the murderous rise to power of King Richard III of England, followed by his downfall. The plot was familiar, but director Gavin Cameron-Webb and the members of IU Theatre took the classic in a new direction.Rather than donning medieval duds, the players in the Bard’s tale were decked in biker gear.Costumes were complete with tattoos, chains, combat boots and leather jackets. Vests were embroidered with characters’ names. The idea was for the biker gangs to represent the opposing forces for the throne, according to the program. Though they appeared better fit for Harley-Davidsons than horses, the actors spoke Shakespeare’s original language.However, the production was also critical of Shakespeare. When the show began, the political ads disappeared and were replaced with a fact checker. For every event in the play based on actual events, the screen flashed the true account, providing the audience with both versions. An example was Richard himself.During the play, he limped around on a splinted leg, hunchbacked, with a mangled hand concealed in a glove. The fact checker revealed the real Richard had no such deformities.The TV screen didn’t quite relate to the rest of the grunge theme, but the set adhered closely to the “metaphorical style” of the biker world, Cameron-Webb wrote in the program.Richard’s throne looked like it came from a junk yard, complete with old tires and metal pipes. Much of the play showed Richard’s ruthless betrayals and killings both before and during his rule.The final battle scene was a flurry of faux stabbing and choreographed somersaults. Strobe lights, fog and heavy metal music gave the fight a more modern and seizure-inducing aura.While some gang members brandished large knives in the fight scenes, others used switchblades. Although the adaptation might have changed the experience, the play itself was the same. The re-imagined “Richard III” sat well with some audience members and not as well with others.“The biker aspect was interesting,” Ph.D. candidate James McKenzie said. “It was different, but seemed to work out. It seemed true to the original play, but a different visualization.”McKenzie said the fact checker was neat but felt out of place and didn’t tie into the action.Senior Alex Nelson said he didn’t love the biker theme.“I though it lost some of its depth,” he said. “I understand trying to make it relevant, but I still prefer the classical form.”Regardless, Nelson said he enjoyed the production.“I was quite enraptured,” he said. “I thought it was really great.”
(10/19/12 3:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Lively opera and infidelity go together like wine and cheese.Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár’s comedic operetta “The Merry Widow” premiered Thursday night at the Musical Arts Center. Performers treated the audience to a production that was sophisticated in style but playful in concept.Originally premiering in Vienna in 1905, the show received a 1920s makeover with Parisian Art Deco elements.“The Merry Widow” centers about the drama surrounding the title character, wealthy widow Hanna Glawari of Pontevedro. At a ball at the Parisian embassy, ambassador Baron Zeta tries to ensure Glawari’s fortune remains in the country by getting her to marry another Pontevedrin. He enlists Count Danilo Danilovich to woo her, not knowing that Danilovich and Glawari were once in love long ago. Meanwhile, the Baron’s wife, Valencienne, cheats on him with Frenchman Camille de Rosillon. Rosillon desperately wants to be with Valencienne, but she insists that she is “a respectable wife” and encourages him to court Glawari as well. “The Merry Widow” is not a love triangle, but an adultery octagon. It offered subtle commentary on the institution of marriage while lightening the air with humor and dramatic irony. Actors exchanged elaborate ball gowns and long-tailed tuxedos in Act 1 for traditional Parisian garb in Act 2. The set in each act was extravagant.Though the dialogue was translated to English, original German music remained. English subtitles were displayed on a screen above the stage. While the songs were in a foreign language, the passion and emotion transcended the words.The opera was double-cast and mostly starred Jacobs School of Music graduate students. Thursday night’s cast sang about love, danced the waltz, and cracked jokes in various accents. Sophomore Kate Schutte attended the opera to see some of her friends who were in the production. Knowing how busy the members of the cast were outside of rehearsal made the show even more impressive, she said.“I love it. I think it’s funny and I can’t stop laughing,” she said during the second intermission. “I’m just impressed by how well it’s all put together.”Schutte was not the only one who appreciated the production as a whole.“It’s well balanced. The voices, the dancing, it all comes together really well,” audience member Elke Kowal said. She and her husband Krzysztoff Kowal come to the IU operas often.Costume designer Linda Pisano’s family was also in the audience. Her husband Paul came with their sons, Massimo, 13, and Liam, 8. Paul Pisano said he prefers more serious operas but the lightheartedness of “The Merry Widow” had its perks.“It’s a lot of fun to have something I can take the boys to,” he said.
(10/17/12 4:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Vaudevillian dancers gracefully straddled each other as “Chicago” captured the audience’s attention Tuesday night at the IU Auditorium.The audience watched as Broadway veterans Tracy Shayne and Terra C. MacLeod sang their sorrows as Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, respectively.“Chicago,” the longest-running American musical in Broadway history, told the story of guilty murderesses Hart and Kelly fighting for acquittals and the front page with the help of slick lawyer Billy Flynn.The band, elevated in stands, took up the majority of the stage. The conductor occasionally interjected for comedic effect. As a result, most of the signature sensual dancing occurred along the front of the stage, limiting the dancers to simpler moves. With little room left for set pieces, shadows and spotlights signified set changes.Songs such as the opening number “All That Jazz” and “Funny Honey” were juxtaposed with lighting as acted scenes occurred at the same time.During “Cell Block Tango”, six lights dropped down to illuminate “the six merry murderesses of the Cook County jail.”.Led by Kelly, the ladies confessed their sordid crimes. Many dancers doubled as detectives and reporters, though they remained scantily clad in the style of the show.The crowd cheered loudly for Matron “Mama” Morton’s rendition of “When You’re Good To Mama.” “We Both Reached For The Gun” featured Flynn pulling the strings with Hart as his puppet amidst a swarm of reporters. Kelly danced her way through what was formerly the double act she performed with her sister in “I Can’t Do It Alone,” pleading with Hart to team up and form a new duo.Accompanied by a chorus of muscular men, Hart sang her self-titled number, “Roxie.”She defined the musical’s theme with a singular line — “Who says that murder’s not an art?”The second act of “Chicago” welcomed songs such as “I Know A Girl,” “Me and My Baby” and “Class,” all lesser-known numbers that didn’t make the cut for the Oscar-winning 2002 film adaptation.In “Razzle Dazzle,” performers broke out the acrobatics.Confetti rained down on the stage amidst the gymnasts and a singing Flynn.The number transitioned into a dramatic court scene with the lowering of a large American flag. Flynn cautioned the crowd that things are not always what they seem as the character Mary Sunshine revealed herself to be a man. The audience gasped in shock. Sunshine sang in impressive operatic style and hit some of the highest notes in the show.A backdrop of gold streamers descended for the finale, “Hot Honey Rag.” The cast received a standing ovation.“The costumes were really cool, and it was overall an awesome production,” freshman Sammy Hanzel said.Jan Pennington and Kathy Sanders came from Bedford, Ind., to see the show. It was their first time seeing “Chicago.”“I think it was very well rounded with the dancing, the music and the plot,” Pennington said. “It was very entertaining.”However, not everyone who enjoyed “Chicago” was unfamiliar with the show. Sophomore Nat Zegree had seen the movie, and though he acknowledged the two were very different, he said the production blew him away.“I absolutely loved it, and I’m a musical theater major, so I’m highly critical,” he said. “This was all about the message, and I got it completely. It was everything I hoped it would be.”
(10/10/12 3:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If every Indiana resident under government jurisdiction found $5,700 worth of loose change under their couch cushions and gave it to the state, Indiana’s debt would be paid, according to a recent study released by State Budget Solutions.The study reported Indiana has the third-lowest per capita debt in the country, meaning it would take about $5,700 from each resident to get the state out of debt.The number is less than half the national average of about $13,400.The figures come from State Budget Solutions’ state debt report for 2012, combined with annual estimates of the resident population from the United States Census Bureau to calculate the debt per capita.A project of the nonprofit organization Sunshine Review, State Budget Solutions is an organization advocating fundamental reform.The organization draws its numbers from the “Ratio of outstanding debt by type” section of each state’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the most recent fiscal year.In the website’s description, State Budget Solutions says it is non-partisan.As for other facts about where Indiana’s economy stands, at the end of the 2012 fiscal year, Indiana had $2.155 billion in reserves, according to a press release from Gov. Mitch Daniels’ office.Daniels announced Thursday $360 million of the surplus from the state reserves will be divided among five employee pension offices. During the Daniels administration, Indiana has repaid more than $750 million of its debt owed to schools, universities and local governments, according to the release.This low per capita debt shows Daniels’ efforts throughout the last few years, President of State Budget Solutions Bob Williams said.“One of the things (Daniels) pointed out is that money doesn’t solve the problem, it’s how the money is being spent,” Williams said. He said the tendency of many states is to push the debt off to future generations instead of making necessary cuts.“We cite Indiana as being one of the leaders in best budget practices for other states to follow,” Williams said.
(10/09/12 4:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The smell of gunpowder filled the chilly air as blasts from an assortment of firearms penetrated the wax earplugs given for protection. To the right, at Atterbury Shooting Range in Edinburgh, Ind., seasoned shooters practiced with military-style rifles and handguns. To the left, participants in the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Hunt, Fish, Eat program practiced with shotguns, some taking aim for the very first time.Spearheaded by Division of Fish and Wildlife Restoration biologist Scott Salmon and Hoosier Outdoor Heritage Coordinator Amanda Wuestefeld, the program was a four-session course designed to teach anyone 18 or older to hunt whitetail deer. It taught everything from shooting a gun or bow to the basics of removing the deer’s internal organs. The four sessions spanned Sept. 20 to last Thursday and covered information about hunting seasons, safety, equipment and obtaining hunting licenses.Hunting education courses are required for anyone born after 1986 who wants a hunting license, so the event was geared toward people looking for a broader introduction to the sport before obtaining a license, Salmon said.Wuestefeld, who has worked for the DNR for 16 years, planned the activities for the program and arranged for the speakers and facilities. Three of the sessions took place at the Monroe County Fairgrounds with one session at Atterbury. Speakers included a conservation officer, a state deer biologist and a waterfowl research biologist.“It’s not something where you go to the store, go buy a gun and go out and get a deer,” Wuestefeld said. “It’s all about practice.”The main value she wants participants to take away from the program is the camaraderie. People hunt for food and entertainment, but it’s a social thing, she said.After the first two sessions at the fairgrounds, which covered archery, safety and licenses, the group met at Atterbury to practice with firearms. They were given 20-gauge pump shotguns and were warned to always treat the guns as if they were loaded.Each participant paired with a more experienced range officer and shot at targets 50 yards away. Chief Range Safety Officer Cary “Buzz” Arney patrolled the range, announcing a 10-minute ceasefire after every 20 minutes of shooting.Arney was a door gunner on a helicopter that was shot down in Vietnam. He has a Distinguished Flying Cross and a Purple Heart. After the war, he worked at the Indiana Bell Telephone Company for 33 years and is now “retired and just having fun.”The program attracted people from different backgrounds with different levels of hunting experience. Self-proclaimed computer geek Bob Stockton of Ladoga, Ind., started hunting to spend time with his children. He had been hunting for a couple years but never had any actual training.“A lot of guys go hunting to try and get a big rack on the wall,” he said. “I’m very much out for the food.”Though Stockton hunts for sustenance, what he wants people to get out of the course is that guns aren’t bad.“Guns aren’t bad. People are bad,” Stockton said. “Guns are amoral.” He carries a Glock 23 pistol at all times.Meg Nickless, an IU graduate student, took the course with her husband as part of their quest to find sustainable food sources. Nickless heard about the class from the DNR Facebook page.“I started thinking that hunting is something that people have been doing to provide for their families for years,” she said. “Maybe I can do that.”Nickless said she feels hunters are misrepresented as cruel and uncaring of animals.“All the hunters I’ve ever met eat the meat they take, and if it’s too much, they donate it to a meat locker or to families in need,” she said. Sports and bragging rights become part of it as people try to become better hunters, Nickless said, but that’s a good thing.“You want to learn a clean shot so the animals don’t suffer,” she said. “If you can’t kill it, you shouldn’t take the shot.”Following the practice at the shooting range, the program concluded with one last session at the fairgrounds, during which Salmon and Wuestefeld led an exercise that taught participants to track blood to find a deer that has been shot.They broke into groups of three and followed different trails, ultimately succeeding in finding the “buck,” a dollar bill tucked in a plastic bag in the woods.After the exercise, they returned to the fairgrounds community building for a presentation on field dressing, which included a video of a boy removing the organs of an elk.Wuestefeld rewarded participants with freshly cooked venison steaks. During the previous sessions, she treated them to venison jerky, venison meatballs and corned venison, all of which she prepared from her family’s deer.Waterfowl biologist Adam Phelps spoke to the group about the field dressing process and other procedures for processing deer. He advised people to wear orange clothes head to toe when hunting.“There’s not a deer out there that’s worth getting killed over,” Phelps said.At the end of the final session, once the plates of venison steaks and A.1. Steak Sauce had been thrown away, participants were given a survey about the program and a mentor matching form.The program will not be the last of its kind, nor will the learning end here, Salmon said. Now that they have completed Hunt, Fish, Eat, participants have the option to participate in a hunt with an experienced hunter.“This is not a one-hit wonder by any means,” Salmon said. “We want to work with them more.”
(10/08/12 3:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Five-year-old Becca Johnson, her face painted like a butterfly, squirmed as her father, Kaj, pulled a large “Buddy Walk” T-shirt over her pink jacket and colorful dress.“You’re going to look like a linebacker,” Kaj said, referring to Becca’s many layers.“Linebacker Boo!” her grandmother Rebecca Robertson cheered.Becca’s family calls her Becca Boo to distinguish between Becca and her grandmother, for whom she is named. Becca has Down syndrome, a genetic condition in which an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21, which alters development, according to the National Down Syndrome Society. One in 691 children are born with it, making it the most common chromosomal condition.The NDSS began the National Buddy Walk program in 1995 to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month each October. There are now more than 250 Buddy Walks across the country.At the fifth annual Bloomington Buddy Walk on Sunday in Bryan Park, Becca’s team of buddies included her parents, grandparents, aunt, cousins, therapist, dance instructor and more. Kaj is a professor of geological sciences at IU, where Becca attends speech and hearing therapy. Becca’s mother, Cyndi, was one of the founders of Down Syndrome Family Connection, the nonprofit Down syndrome support organization that sponsors the Buddy Walk in Bloomington. She said some Down syndrome babies are born without any medical issues. They might have cognitive deficiencies but are healthy otherwise. Becca is not so lucky. She has bilateral hearing loss and poor vision as well as heart and colon problems. But the Johnsons are coping. Becca’s had several procedures to manage her issues and is learning sign language. Cyndi said Becca has already learned between 300 and 400 signs.Kaj and Cyndi have two other children, Aidan, 7, and Leah, 2. Becca is the only child in the family with Down syndrome.“It’s a joy and a challenge, just like all parenting,” Cyndi said. “First and foremost, she’s a kid. She just happened to have what I like to call the bonus chromosome.”Cyndi said she spends most of her days trying to determine how to best meet Becca’s needs. Cyndi’s goal is to help Becca be as independent as possible.Becca does gymnastics and takes tap and ballet lessons at The Dance Center, where she is the only child with Down syndrome in her class. She has performed on the Buskirk-Chumley stage. Mary Sue Hosey, Becca’s dance instructor, said Becca is limber and can do perfect splits and somersaults.“I had never worked with a Down syndrome child before,” Hosey said. “She’s wonderful.”Robertson said Becca loves to read and play hide and seek. Becca is one of Robertson’s nine grandchildren. Robertson lives in Scottsburg, Ind., but visits Becca and her siblings once a week. Becca calls her grandmother “Gammy.”“I’m a professional grandma,” Robertson said. “That’s what I do.”Before and during the Buddy Walk, Robertson had her hands full keeping track of the children. Bryan Park was buzzing with activity. The event featured two bounce houses, carnival games, a live band and refreshments. Becca played games and went in one of the bounce houses.Becca’s occupational therapist, Ashleigh Cummings, attended the event with her daughter. Cummings has worked with Becca since the girl was two months old. They work on her fine motor skills, self-care skills and other skills such as writing her name and cutting with scissors.Cummings said she loves working with the children, though it is challenging.“They don’t always do what you want them to do,” she said. “Sometimes it takes a long time, but it’s very rewarding.”The walk began at 3 p.m., and the band played Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” as the crowd of hundreds made their way toward the Bryan Park arches to follow the roughly one mile path. The Bachelor Middle School and Bloomington High School South cheerleading squads performed special Buddy Walk routines on the sidelines, cheering for the crowd.Cyndi lifted Becca and walked with her little girl on her shoulders at the beginning. Becca gave out high fives and fist bumps from her perch atop her mother. From time to time, Becca climbed down and walked by herself, holding hands with her grandmother, her aunt or her dad. She strayed from the path occasionally to play in the grass with her siblings and cousins. As she walked, her team cheered, “Go Boo!”And whenever she got tired and didn’t want to walk anymore, her family was there to carry her.
(10/08/12 3:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The sold-out crowd was silent Friday night in Auer Hall as the Singing Hoosiers sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” opening their Fall Preview Concert on a patriotic note. IU’s ambassadors of song soon changed tack, busting out the fast-paced “Keep Movin’” and pumping up the audience for an energetic show.Claps and cheers from the audience replaced the silence.The Singing Hoosiers smoothly transitioned to Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia on my Mind,” swapping their hip-hop dance moves for snapping and swaying. Director Steve Zegree, in his debut performance with the group, greeted the crowd and encouraged them to shout “Wooo!” during the solos.“This is not a symphony orchestra concert,” he said. “You can make noise.”After a rendition of Charles Calhoun’s “Smack Dab in the Middle,” special guest Tim Noble took the stage. Noble is a distinguished professor in the Jacobs School of Music and a former associate instructor for the Singing Hoosiers.“You have no idea how lucky I am to still be awake at this hour,” he said to the audience. When they laughed, he added, “You think I’m kidding.”Noble and Zegree bantered before and after each of Noble’s songs, telling the audience the story of how they met and came to work together. The guest performer sang “Gonna Build a Mountain,” then surprised the audience with “Sorrento,” which was not listed in the program. He concluded his set with “Ya Got Trouble” from The Music Man, the show that earned him a Grammy nomination. The students sang backup.The concert continued with “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and the overture to “The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart. Zegree paused occasionally to chat with the audience and acknowledge two eighth graders in the crowd who had come all the way from Crawfordsville, Ind., for the concert. The pair was extremely vocal during the performance, and Zegree played off their enthusiasm.Ly Wilder, assistant to the Singing Hoosiers, guest conducted “Stand Up and Make a Change,” a song she composed with Greg Jasperse. The group also performed “Jingle Bell Fantasy” as a plug for their upcoming Chimes of Christmas Holiday Concert at the IU Auditorium.“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” concluded the show. The Singing Hoosiers received a standing ovation from the house. Eighth graders Olivia Grady and Madison Reagan said they loved the show.“It sounded like angels singing,” Grady said.Junior Singing Hoosiers member Kiotta Marshall said she was happy with the performance.“I’m very proud of us,” Marshall said. “We put in a lot of hard work, and the show showed that off.”
(10/08/12 1:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Comedian Lily Tomlin and philosopher Aristotle shared the spotlight last Friday night.Michael Metzger, professor emeritus in the Kelley School of Business, lectured at the Henry Radford Hope School of Fine Arts prior to the opening reception for “Embracing Nature,” an exhibit by former fine arts professor Barry Gealt. He featured Tomlin and Aristotle in his PowerPoint presentation.Metzger’s talk mainly focused on the psychology behind virtue, though he balanced the information with frequent wisecracks, receiving chuckles from the audience. “Good art in the service of bad ideas is a terrible thing,” he said.Metzger explained concepts such as confirmation bias and the false uniqueness effect among others. He used quotes by Tomlin, Aristotle, Socrates, Yogi Berra and more to support his arguments. He said people acquire virtue by doing virtuous things until they have acquired the height of virtuous action. “How should we live and think and teach?” Metzger asked the audience. “Who, what should we be?”He ended the talk by thanking Gealt for “the example of a life lived virtuously.”After the lecture, the crowd moved from the fine arts building to the IU Art Museum for the opening reception. Some ate tomato and basil crostinis and tiramisu bites in the atrium while others went into the special exhibitions gallery to observe Gealt’s work.Anthony Moravec, chairman of the National Advisory Board for the Art Museum, attended both Metzger’s lecture and the reception. A friend and collector of Gealt’s, Moravec said he was surprised by the topic of the lecture.“I didn’t expect to see a lecture of such deep and thoughtful consideration,” he said.Moravec’s quadruplet daughters were also at the reception. Though not all of them made it to the lecture, his daughter Katherine did.“I really thought it was refreshing because it was insightful and entertaining,” she said.Gealt was present along with his wife, Heidi Gealt, director of the IU Art Museum. He said the main thing he wants people to take away from his exhibit is that the land is important. Barry Gealt said he loved the different angle of Metzger’s talk.“He did exactly what I wanted for IU,” Barry Gealt said. “He gave everyone a talk about how to think about ideas and life.”
(10/05/12 2:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>At first glance, the students packed into Music Addition 404 look like an average group of college kids.They wore hoodies, T-shirts and jeans, even a baseball cap or two. This weekend, the Singing Hoosiers will exchange their casual clothing for concert attire.The Singing Hoosiers will perform their Fall Preview Concert at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Auer Hall.Tickets were available for free at the Musical Arts Center box office, but have sold out.Music filled the room Tuesday as the singers readied themselves to perform Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia on My Mind.”Steve Zegree, professor of music at IU and the new director of the Singing Hoosiers, shouted instructions and encouragement over the chorus.He frequently stopped the students mid-verse and made them start over. “More mature,” Zegree called out. “Not more loud, just more mature.”Zegree conducted with vigor as the Singing Hoosiers performed their “riser choreography,” dance moves accompanying each song that are performed within the small space each student has on the stands.The show marks Zegree’s debut with the group and kicks off its 2012-13 season.The Singing Hoosiers were formed in 1950 and perform annual Christmas and spring concerts at the IU Auditorium.Zegree was previously the Bobby McFerrin Distinguished Professor of Music at Western Michigan University, and DownBeat Magazine recently inducted him into its Jazz Education Hall of Fame.He said he has been very lucky in the success he has enjoyed, and he hopes to pay it forward by working with the next generation of performers.Zegree said things will be different with the new director. However, he plans to continue the Singing Hoosiers’ tradition of celebrating the Great American Songbook and contemporary vocal music. “Even our Mozart is going to be hip,” he said.The concert will feature a guest performance by Timothy Noble, distinguished professor of voice at the Jacobs School of Music. Zegree said the Singing Hoosiers are honored that Noble agreed to perform. “He’s one of the best singers on the planet,” Zegree said. “That’s what they are going to remember. They might not remember that class freshman year, but they will remember being on stage with Tim Noble.”Noble said he is looking forward to performing with the Singing Hoosiers. He said he does not sing very often anymore, and he loves working with students. “I think it’s what keeps me going,” Noble said. “It keeps me young.”In 1977, Zegree convinced Noble to study at IU. Noble said they have been best friends ever since.“I can’t reiterate enough how lucky IU is to have Steve Zegree,” Noble said. “He is the best there is.”Noble will be singing “Sorrento,” a piece he first sang in Sorrento, Italy, to his wife. She will be in attendance on Friday.Junior member Elizabeth Rodgers said the fall preview will feature a completely new set of music with a lot of variety. Rodgers said she is “beyond elated” to perform with Noble. “His voice is unlike anything I’ve ever heard,” she said. “I hope I remember my words.”Freshman Jacob Lindley said Zegree uses strategies that make the ensemble amazing.Zegree said he wants the performances to be fun, but not at the expense of musical excellence. “We want to establish the highest artistic standards in popular choral music, and we are doing everything we can to meet those standards,” Zegree said.
(10/05/12 2:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Anyone who has had trouble booking a hotel in Bloomington could soon find a solution to the problem.The Bloomington Plan Commission partially approved a proposal for a new Hyatt Place Hotel developed by REI Investments Real Estate Services on West Kirkwood Avenue at a Sept. 10 hearing, City of Bloomington Planning Director Tom Micuda said. Micuda said he is looking forward to the next planning commission meeting coming up next Monday. Jeremy Stephenson, vice president of development for REI, said the new hotel would be seven stories high with 168 rooms and a 150-car parking garage. It would have a meeting space, an internal fitness center, a pool and a small restaurant. Both Stephenson and Larry Jacobs, manager of government relations for the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, said they do not think the hotel’s restaurant would threaten local restaurants.He said downtown Bloomington is set up perfectly with food establishments, and he said he anticipates hotel guests would explore local eateries during their stay.Before the proposal can be passed, there are two more public hearings to review the site plan followed by further hearings in November. The city council has to vacate Right-of-Way, the alley of land owned by the city that runs through the middle of the property, prior to construction. The hotel would be built on the south side of Kirkwood Avenue, just east of the B-Line Trail. Stephenson said he believes the project will meet Bloomington’s need for additional hotel space from a tourism standpoint and as a destination for meetings and conventions. “Bloomington is well situated to capitalize on some of the natural amenities it has,” he said. He said the hotel will create 40 to 50 jobs within the hotel, plus a number of construction jobs.IU School of Journalism adjunct lecturer Scott Burgins, a member of the plan commission, said he thinks the hotel would be a good use of the space. Though Burgins said he was slightly surprised at the timing of the hotel proposal, he said he guesses those in charge of the market have run the numbers and determined the city’s need. “It’s not a particularly big hotel, so I guess they are going to build to a number they think can keep a maximum occupancy,” he said.As for its effects on IU, Burgins doubts there would be a direct impact. Still, “what’s good for downtown is good for the university,” he said.Nikolaus Kern, the Indiana Memorial Union’s Biddle Hotel Manager, said he thinks the new Hyatt hotel would boost tourism in Bloomington. He said he is not worried about the competition. “I’m pretty confident that we’ll be able to maintain our current occupancy,” he said. Executive director of Visit Bloomington Mike McAfee said there would be millions of dollars of impact on the area, and he said he has faith in Bloomington’s ability to thrive thanks to the University. “IU is the most recession-proof institution in Indiana,” he said. “Bloomington is more resilient than a lot of areas because of the University.”As a result of this growth, Bloomington is tight for hotel rooms, and there is a need for more space. The Hyatt is not the only hotel being reviewed. In February, the planning commission reviewed a pitch for a slightly smaller hotel, a Springhill Suites by Marriott with 155 rooms and a built-in parking garage. The commission passed the proposal, but it still needs to go through the city council. Jacobs said he does not foresee a problem with either plan, as he has not witnessed any opposition to them thus far. “Believe me, we’d hear if people didn’t like it,” he said.Micuda also said there has been no major opposition to the Hyatt project. However, he acknowledged that some plan commission members had concerns about the architectural variety of the building’s structure and the look of the building from Fourth Street at the Sept. 10 meeting, and members said they would prefer to have some retail store space. These issues have not yet been resolved and will be discussed at the Mondaymeeting.Regardless, barring another major recession, Jacobs said both projects stand a 95 percent chance of starting next year.“We see this as a good resource and a good fit for downtown Bloomington,” he said. “I think the timing is perfect.”
(10/05/12 2:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Anyone who has had trouble booking a hotel in Bloomington could soon find a solution to the problem.The Bloomington Plan Commission partially approved a proposal for a new Hyatt Place Hotel developed by REI Investments Real Estate Services on West Kirkwood Avenue at a Sept. 10 hearing, City of Bloomington Planning Director Tom Micuda said. Micuda said he is looking forward to the next planning commission meeting coming up next Monday. Jeremy Stephenson, vice president of development for REI, said the new hotel would be seven stories high with 168 rooms and a 150-car parking garage. It would have a meeting space, an internal fitness center, a pool and a small restaurant. Both Stephenson and Larry Jacobs, manager of government relations for the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, said they do not think the hotel’s restaurant would threaten local restaurants.He said downtown Bloomington is set up perfectly with food establishments, and he said he anticipates hotel guests would explore local eateries during their stay.Before the proposal can be passed, there are two more public hearings to review the site plan followed by further hearings in November. The city council has to vacate Right-of-Way, the alley of land owned by the city that runs through the middle of the property, prior to construction. The hotel would be built on the south side of Kirkwood Avenue, just east of the B-Line Trail. Stephenson said he believes the project will meet Bloomington’s need for additional hotel space from a tourism standpoint and as a destination for meetings and conventions. “Bloomington is well situated to capitalize on some of the natural amenities it has,” he said. He said the hotel will create 40 to 50 jobs within the hotel, plus a number of construction jobs.IU School of Journalism adjunct lecturer Scott Burgins, a member of the plan commission, said he thinks the hotel would be a good use of the space. Though Burgins said he was slightly surprised at the timing of the hotel proposal, he said he guesses those in charge of the market have run the numbers and determined the city’s need. “It’s not a particularly big hotel, so I guess they are going to build to a number they think can keep a maximum occupancy,” he said.As for its effects on IU, Burgins doubts there would be a direct impact. Still, “what’s good for downtown is good for the university,” he said.Nikolaus Kern, the Indiana Memorial Union’s Biddle Hotel Manager, said he thinks the new Hyatt hotel would boost tourism in Bloomington. He said he is not worried about the competition. “I’m pretty confident that we’ll be able to maintain our current occupancy,” he said. Executive director of Visit Bloomington Mike McAfee said there would be millions of dollars of impact on the area, and he said he has faith in Bloomington’s ability to thrive thanks to the University. “IU is the most recession-proof institution in Indiana,” he said. “Bloomington is more resilient than a lot of areas because of the University.”As a result of this growth, Bloomington is tight for hotel rooms, and there is a need for more space. The Hyatt is not the only hotel being reviewed. In February, the planning commission reviewed a pitch for a slightly smaller hotel, a Springhill Suites by Marriott with 155 rooms and a built-in parking garage. The commission passed the proposal, but it still needs to go through the city council. Jacobs said he does not foresee a problem with either plan, as he has not witnessed any opposition to them thus far. “Believe me, we’d hear if people didn’t like it,” he said.Micuda also said there has been no major opposition to the Hyatt project. However, he acknowledged that some plan commission members had concerns about the architectural variety of the building’s structure and the look of the building from Fourth Street at the Sept. 10 meeting, and members said they would prefer to have some retail store space. These issues have not yet been resolved and will be discussed at the Mondaymeeting.Regardless, barring another major recession, Jacobs said both projects stand a 95 percent chance of starting next year.“We see this as a good resource and a good fit for downtown Bloomington,” he said. “I think the timing is perfect.”
(10/04/12 4:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Singing, dancing, free bite-size Jimmy John’s sandwiches — at the second annual IU’s Got Talent on Wednesday, anything was possible.The showcase at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater was part of 2012 Homecoming Week, embodying this year’s theme of “Lights, Camera, Action.”Last year’s show was featured at Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union. Though there were considerably more seats to fill at the Buskirk-Chumley, the theater was packed and the crowd was raucous.This year’s lineup featured 14 competing musical acts plus three guest performances by InMotion Dance Company, Ladies First and Another Round, formerly IU’s Straight No Chaser. Before, after and even during each performance, audience members hooted and hollered, occasionally shouting words of encouragement to the artists they supported. The crowd went wild when emcees Neil Johnson and Nikki Labaschin announced IU Essence, IU’s Got Talent’s first all-black hip-hop group. The performers entered the stage wearing chrome facemasks and were dressed in gray clothing with colorful decoration on the front resembling a control panel. The hip-hop robots pulsed with energy and received some standing ovation. IU Essence won the top prize of $325, as well as the Audience Choice Award of an additional $100.Brandon Broadus, a freshman member of IU Essence, said it was surreal to win after practicing for three hours a day for two weeks straight. “I thought it was a great production,” he said. “I didn’t know IU had this much talent.”Other performers included Melanie Zdanowicz, a freshman who sang an original tune she wrote with a friend, The Promised Band, a group of three singing a medley of Israeli songs in Hebrew and JMUSE Productionz, a step team. Assorted bands and solo singers performed covers of popular songs, such as Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and Aloe Blacc’s “I Need a Dollar,” as well as songs they had written themselves.The Andrew Simmerman Trio, a band with six members, performed a jazzed-up version of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” with a saxophone and trumpet.Each act seemed to have its own fan club, most notably the duet of Josephine Kim, a resident assistant in Teter, and Sung Won Chung. Fans of Kim were there to cheer her on, bearing large red signs that said, “Go Jo!” and “#1!”Junior Robert Gilbert demonstrated his spirit throughout the show, standing and clapping whenever a singer would hit a high note.“I think the crowd here was energized, and that really helped the performers,” he said.Brother-sister duo Annette and Luke Offerle took the third-place prize of $100 for their performance of “Breakeven (Falling to Pieces)” by The Script. At the end of the song, Luke kissed his guitar pick and threw it into the audience.Nick Caputo won the $225 second-place prize for his acoustic remix of Flo Rida’s “Whistle.” Before he played, he told the audience there would be a surprise in store, and sure enough, he interrupted “Whistle” with a verse from 3 Doors Down’s song “Kryptonite,” turning it into a mashup.Sophomore Sharissa Guerrero, one of the dancers for Hip Hop Connxion, said she loved how the show was revamped in the Buskirk-Chumley.“It was way better than last year,” she said. “I thought the show was fantastic.”
(10/04/12 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There is more to IU Homecoming week than getting nearly naked.Though the Nearly Naked Mile, now in its fifth year, has become a popular tradition, the IU Student Alumni Association wants to remind everyone that homecoming festivities have plenty more to offer. This year brings an unexpected change, since the IU Alumni Association decided not to have the homecoming parade, opting to put on a free concert instead. The 2012 theme “Lights, Camera, Action!” ushers in three new events and four alumni from the entertainment industry.“We want to up the wow factor to the events,” said Kara Brooner, IUSAA vice president of Homecoming. Brooner and her team of directors have been working since spring to put together this year’s lineup, organizing everything from the Nearly Naked Mile after-party to the number of trashcans needed on Seventh Street during the concert.By channeling the glamorous theme, IUSAA’s goal is to increase Homecoming awareness and maintain consistent interest in all events, not just the better-known ones, she said. “A lot of people think the Nearly Naked Mile is its own entity, but it’s kind of the kickoff to Homecoming week,” Brooner said. “We want to continue that spirit throughout the week.”This initiative began with “Paint the Town Crimson” on Sept. 30, a new event in which participating student organizations went to 15 local businesses to paint windows and decorate the town.The IUSAA wants to involve more student organizations in homecoming in the future, hoping to raise spirit through collaboration. Victoria Culver, graduate adviser for the IUSAA, served as the director for the event. She encouraged residence halls and fraternity and sorority houses to decorate their windows as well.Following “Paint the Town,” the Nearly Naked Mile took place on Oct. 1. This fundraiser for United Way featured DJ Unique playing tunes before the race with laser lighting provided by Herm Productions.After the mile, participants received special deals at Kilroy’s Bar N’ Grill, BuffaLouie’s, Campus Candy and Jimmy John’s.Oct. 2 was Spirit Day, which underwent a minor makeover from last year. IUSAA members drove around on golf carts handing out IU swag as usual, but they also set up spirit stations outside Ballantine Hall, the Arboretum and the Neal-Marshall Education Center. “We’re just hoping to get people excited for Homecoming and hoping to build off the energy from the Nearly Naked Mile,” Spirit Day Director Carlin Way said. Way was also in charge of the Spirit Day Blood Drive, another Oct. 2 event. To make it more convenient for donors, the blood drive added a mobile unit outside Ballantine Hall in addition to its main location at the DeVault Alumni Center, offering multiple opportunities for students to literally bleed crimson.The day’s events wrapped up with another new event called Ultimate Hoosier. This scavenger hunt began in Dunn Meadow and was presented by the IU Student Foundation. Students formed teams of five members and paid a $50 registration fee. Half of the proceeds went to IU scholarships and the other half to the winning team for the charity of their choice. George Thomas, a member of IUSF’s philanthropy steering committee, believes the cause will motivate people to get involved. “It’s so student-focused,” he said. “We give it back to the students.”Oct. 3 featured IU’s Got Talent, a tradition that began last year in place of Yell Like Hell. The showcase used to be more focused on spirit and skits but has transformed into a much broader mix of performances.Kate Swanson, one of the event’s directors, played a key role in making the show more worthy of this year’s theme. Previously performed in Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union, IU’s Got Talent is now in the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. “We have a real venue with a stage and tech crew,” Swanson said prior to the event. “It’s gonna be completely the bomb.”The heart of the “Lights, Camera, Action!” theme took place on Oct. 3., when four alumni spoke to students about their experiences in showbiz at an alumni panel. Actress Angelique Cabral, Jace Lipstein of the Grungy Gentleman online company, Vice President of New Line Cinema David Neustadter and Big Ten Network Correspondent Larra Overton were on the panel. Finally, Oct. 5 shakes things up with a concert presenting South Jordan, a band originally from Bloomington.Faced with the challenge of finding a suitable replacement for the Homecoming parade, Brooner and Mike Hammersley, director of the concert, aimed to make this event more of a homecoming festival. Along with the concert, IUSAA is having food trucks and vendors along Seventh Street during the show. Though IUAA says there might still be a parade in the future, Brooner is open to the idea of a Friday night concert next year, perhaps with a major artist. Hammersley acknowledged that South Jordan “isn’t glitzy” like the theme. “We’re bringing back more traditional stuff because they’re from Bloomington,” he said.Homecoming week comes to a close with a familiar tradition, the IUAA-sponsored tailgate before the IU vs. Michigan State football game. While the tailgate and the Nearly Naked Mile anchor both ends of the week, Brooner and company hope students and alumni don’t forget what’s in between. Homecoming 2012 might recall some old favorites, but there are changes and fresh opportunities for the IU community to show its spirit.“Homecoming brings people together,” Hammersley said. “I think it’s a great thing for our campus.”