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(10/16/09 4:42pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For many students, Monday nights are grudgingly filled with reading assignments, laundry and perhaps the latest episode of Gossip Girl. But for the women of Zeta Tau Alpha and 23 fraternity members, Oct. 5 was no trip down mundane lane. The Zeta house erupted with dance, music and laughs as the boisterous group practiced for last Friday’s Big Man on Campus. “We have so much fun doing it,” said Phi Kappa Psi member and senior John Smolen, a BMOC contestant and Mr. Congeniality from the competition. “I can’t imagine it not being fun to watch.” Big Man on Campus is Zeta’s annual philanthropy event and variety show. Twenty-three brothers from fraternities around campus sing, dance and entertain in hopes of being crowned the “Big Man on Campus.” The event raises money for breast cancer research. This year BMOC celebrated its 10th anniversary, and in commemoration, Zeta tried to lock in BMOC as a truly campus-wide event. The entire greek community participated in BMOC in some way this year, said junior Sarah McNerney, co-chair of philanthropy for Zeta. According to the Zeta Web site, BMOC has become the largest greek philanthropy in the nation. This year’s theme is “Teaming up to Tackle Breast Cancer,” which coincides with BMOC being the official kickoff to Homecoming this year.“The theme will be incorporated in the show itself, with each of the 23 guys playing something related to football,” McNerney said before Friday’s event. “Something quirky or fun, from a football player to a hotdog.” Though it may appear to be all “fun and games” when catching a glimpse of a rehearsal, preparing for BMOC is a demanding year-round process for many members of Zeta, specifically the philanthropy chairs McNerney and junior Emily Stern. Designing the T-shirt, setting the date, coordinating with the contestants and other logistics begin during the summer and get more time-consuming as the event approaches. “We spend so much time on BMOC,” McNerney said. “As a philanthropy chair, it starts the minute we get elected.” The event contestants also put in a great deal of time and energy selling T-shirts, raising money and perfecting their individual talents, as well as attending the tri-weekly dance rehearsals at the Zeta house. Smolen described Zeta as his second home these days. All the hard work eventually pays off – literally. Last year, Zeta members raised more than $175,000 for the cause, dispersing funds between the IU Medical Center, the Vera Bradley Foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the American Cancer Society, according to the BMOC Web site. This year Zeta hoped to reach similar heights, but had concerns about reaching a new record. Still, the women blew past their previous record and raised $190,000.A majority of fundraising is done through the ticket and T-shirt sales as well as pledge donations from the BMOC contestants. Smolen said he got his entire house involved in the fundraising aspect of the competition. He sent out e-mails to all the parents of his fraternity brothers informing them of the online donation opportunities. Making this year unique, a large portion of the funds raised through the event will be donated to Robert Goulet, medical director of the Breast Care & Research Center at the IU Simon Cancer Center, and his team at the Indianapolis center to fund the newly established Zeta Conference. The Zeta Conference will be an informational forum for big-name breast cancer researchers and benefactors to discuss progress in the field. Zeta will donate more than $100,000 in the next four years to this conference. “The IU Medical Center is really at the forefront of breast cancer research, and they are making so much progress,” senior member of Zeta Jen Sondhi said. “This way we can really see the direct impact of our fundraising.” “This is just such a great cause. One in eight women are affected by breast cancer, and I think that is why it’s so close to our hearts,” McNerney said. “BMOC will really help shed light on a cause that many people are ignoring at this stage in their lives.”
(10/14/09 4:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Senior Ryne Shadday says IU’s campus culture is changing.“We’re at a time in history where people are starting to view equality in a better light,” he said. “We are taking steps toward a more diverse IU.”By next fall, IU greeks will likely gain an atypical addition as students push for the formation of a gay-allied chapter of Sigma Phi Beta.“We’re putting it out there. It’s not going to be hidden,” sophomore Josh A. Thomas, IU’s interest group leader, said. “We are going to be a place where gay or gay-allied students can come, feel comfortable and be as active in greek life as any other male on campus.”The idea started with a group of five IU students who wanted to join the greek community but felt they would have to hide their real identity to do so, Thomas said. The success of Sigma Phi Beta at Arizona State University inspired them to take action.Previously, a group of students tried to bring Sigma Phi Beta to IU, but they did not receive enough support from the greek community to follow through, Shadday, a member of the IU interest group, said. Sigma Phi Beta is a national fraternity that provides a safe social outlet for gay, straight, bisexual and transgender men within the traditional greek system, according to the fraternity’s Web site. The fraternity was founded in 2003 at ASU and is the only established chapter.“We don’t have a lot of the benefits of a historically established fraternity,” said Sam Holdren, the national director of communications for Sigma Phi Beta. “Despite this, we have made a great deal of impact by breaking down stereotypes and building bridges.”The IU group began working to bring the fraternity to campus during the second week of this semester and has had great results thus far, Thomas said.Last week the students received “interest group” status after registering with the Sigma Phi Beta national headquarters, indicating their interest in establishing a chapter at IU.“This is Sigma Phi Beta’s first real prospect for expansion as an organization,” Holdren said. “We are really excited to hear from them, and we really hope they will be successful. We are doing what we can to make this happen.”The next step is for the group to become a colony within the IU greek system and within Sigma Phi Beta, which will involve the completion of several tasks, including recruiting potential members and forming an advisory board of IU staff and community members, Thomas said.“I think recruiting and getting people interested will definitely be a struggle,” Shadday said. “People look at it and want to do it, but that doesn’t mean they actually will.”Shadday shared his concerns about recruitment, saying that many gay or bisexual students will likely be nervous about coming out publicly or may already be resistant to greek life.The group’s strategy for recruitment includes using social networks, such as Facebook and Listserv, as well as talking to people face-to-face.Once the group becomes a colony, it can petition the national chapter for a campus charter. Thomas said he hopes this will happen by next fall.The interest group will meet with the Interfraternity Council of IU within the next two weeks to begin necessary negotiations.On IU’s campus, Sigma Phi Beta will be similar to traditional IFC fraternities, Thomas said. It will be a social fraternity with an emphasis on brotherhood and philanthropy.“It will be a social outlet for those who are very comfortable with themselves sexually, as well as a safe haven for those who are not yet,” Thomas said.Thomas said the fraternity will not likely have an established house on campus until after he graduates.Shadday said he hopes his optimism about furthering diversity at IU will stay strong as the group proceeds.“I hope there are enough people with open minds,” Thomas said. “There has not been much negativity thus far, but then again we are not very far into the process.”
(10/13/09 3:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Members of Sigma Pi said they hoped not much would change when they lost their house this fall, and though rumors spread as uncertainty grew, the fraternity said it is experiencing only minor setbacks.“This isn’t the worst thing that could happen,” Sigma Pi President Kyle Drennan said. “We’re going to move forward.”Sigma Pi was unable to move back into their house this fall because of disagreements with alumni over housing contracts, Drennan said.“Our housing contracts hadn’t been updated in a while so we had conference calls this summer to deal with that,” Drennan said. “There were a lot of people involved, and it took too long to get done.” These disagreements have spurred the creation of rumors about why Sigma Pi no longer has a house. Junior Andy Price, a member of Sigma Pi, described the rumors as exaggerated hearsay about alcohol and partying. “People see that we aren’t in a house and a lot of stories get out there,” Drennan said, “It really is not as big a deal as it was made out to be.”Without a house, fall rush became the fraternity’s most pressing challenge, Drennan said. Because of difficulties, Sigma Pi has now decided to postpone their rush for this semester and attempt recruitment in the spring. “We spoke to people that were interested in the fraternity, but ended up telling them to wait for spring rush,” Drennan said. More than 40 Sigma Pi members are currently living near 10th Street and College Avenue in attempts to rebound from their loss, Price said. “We moved our guys there because a lot of parents showed concern about living arrangements,” Drennan said. Members of Sigma Pi said they have spent a majority of their first months on campus in the dark, not knowing what was going to happen with the chapter’s housing in the future.“As an incoming pledge, I literally didn’t know what was going on,” sophomore John Poracky said. “I didn’t know where I was going to live and whether or not I was going to be initiated.” After lengthy meetings with alumni, all agreements are nearly finalized. Sigma Pi plans to move back into their house on Jordan Avenue in fall 2010, Drennan said. For this year, Sigma Pi will remain completely active on campus, assuming a role more like the other off-campus fraternities at IU. Members remain optimistic that everything will go back to normal.“We won Most Improved Chapter last year,” Price said. “We have gotten such great chapter reviews in the past. This should only be a small downfall for us.”
(10/09/09 4:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Zeta Tau Alpha kicks off IU Homecoming with singing, dancing men.“It’s a male talent show,” junior Jen Fulena of Zeta said. “The show is going to be really fun; the crowd will be really involved. We are really excited to see our hard work pay off.”The annual variety show, Big Man on Campus, will be at 7 p.m. Friday in the IU Auditorium. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at the Auditorium or Zeta. This year’s theme is “Teaming Up to Tackle Breast Cancer.” Twenty-three fraternity members will show off their talent to compete for the title of “Big Man on Campus.” The talent will range from vocal performances to magic shows, said senior John Smolen, a BMOC competitor from Phi Kappa Psi. The event is Zeta’s annual philanthropy and is celebrating its 10th year. All proceeds from the event benefit breast cancer research.Last year, Zeta members raised more $175,000, dispersing funds among breast cancer research at IU medical centers, the Vera Bradley Foundation, Susan G. Komen and the American Cancer Society, according to the BMOC Web site. “Our ultimate goal is to try to donate more than we did last year, but considering the economic situation, we just want to donate as much as we can,” Fulena said. This is a ground-breaking year for Zeta as they fund IU’s team of breast oncologists and the first-ever Zeta Conference, an informational forum for top breast cancer researchers and benefactors to discuss progress in the field. Zeta will donate more than $100,000 in the next four years to it.“With the conference, the money we raise will stay in the IU community,” junior Sarah McNerney said. “We are excited to be a part of that.” Addressing the audience for the second year will be Adrienne Harlow, a 21-year-old student from Purdue University who is a breast cancer survivor. Harlow will speak about her experiences and recovery, McNerney said. “She is definitely one of the highlights of the show,” McNerney said. “We are trying to focus on early detection this year and seeing a survivor who’s our age really hits home.” For women and men, BMOC is a fun way to raise funds for a serious issue.“We take this event very seriously,” Fulena said. “Not only is this a relevant issue for many people because they know someone who’s had breast cancer, but it is also something that could affect any of us.”
(10/07/09 4:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU studied up, so to speak, and this year they earned a little better environmental sustainability grade.The Sustainable Endowments Institute published its annual College Sustainability Report Card 2010, giving IU a B-, an improvement from last year’s C+. “A vast majority of schools scored between B- and B+. These are very solid and respectable scores,” said Susan Paykin, communications fellow for the Sustainable Endowment Institute. “IU has been doing some really great things in sustainability.” IU is among the 56 percent of universities nationwide that saw a grade increase this year, Paykin said. The grades are based on university commitments to sustainability in campus operations as well as endowment practices. The research process for the reports starts in June with a vast majority of the information coming from administrative surveys assessing university performance in nine categories, from food and recycling to green building. IU received a mix of grades, but can boast A’s in the Student Involvement and Investment Priorities categories, according to the grade report. “There are a number of signs that show IU’s increased commitment to sustainability,” said Michael Hamburger, co-chair of IU’s Sustainability Task Force and associate dean of facilities for Geological Sciences, Geophysics, Seismology, and Tectonics. “We are trying to catalyze homegrown efforts all over campus to try and improve.” The Sustainable Endowments Institute is a nonprofit organization and has been producing these grade reports since 2007, which include surveys from more than 300 universities across the nation. The purpose of the reports is ultimately to foster sustainability improvements on a national level, Paykin said. “The Institute is a one-stop shop for anyone interested in sustainability issues, but it is also a forum for university administrators and students to share ideas and adopt sustainable practices that work,” Paykin said. The recent recession, which, Paykin said, might be partly caused by an unsustainable economy, might provide even more impetus for the green revolution, she said. “Sustainability really is becoming a priority more and more in all institutions,” Paykin said. “This is especially true at universities where there are a lot of forward-thinking individuals.” Though IU, among other campuses, is making great strides, there is still room for vast improvement.“This is one of the grand challenges that our civilization is facing,” Hamburger said. “Our society has an opportunity to address these complex challenges and IU is particularly well positioned to play a leading role in these efforts.”
(10/05/09 3:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Greek Opportunities for Women started with a challenge. “I challenge all of you to learn what it means to join a chapter at IU,” Annie Raeder, president of the Panhellenic Association, said. “We are not Animal House or the TV show ‘Greek.’ We are about sisterhood.”Raeder addressed more than 1,200 women who flooded Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union on Sunday to learn details about fall recruitment. The PHA led the informational meeting, Greek Opportunities for Women, and emphasized the importance of rushing for a reason.“I am looking for a house that has some high academic standards,” freshman Jessica Povlinski said.Scholarship is one of the reasons to join a sorority, Anna Berg, vice president of recruitment for PHA, said. Others include leadership, philanthropy and sisterhood.“We want to encourage any women who can to go to the Greek Means series to learn more about what it means to be greek, especially if they are unsure,” Berg said.Greek Means is a series of informational panels focusing on scholarship, sisterhood, service and leadership, designed to educate potential new members.The meeting outlined the rush process, which began Sunday and ends on Bid Day in January. Women’s recruitment is a process of mutual selection, where potential new members and the individual chapters essentially end up picking each other, Berg said.Women’s rush is considered a formal process and tends to incite strong emotions in the thousand or so female students who plan to go through it.“I have heard it’s very intimidating,” sophomore Nicole Marcotte said. “I’m kind of just crossing my fingers and going in head first.”Confusion seemed to be a common emotion from the potential new members at the call-out meeting. Many were unsure of what to expect as well as what is expected of them.“We are looking for girls who want it for the right reasons,” said junior Robyn Gould, recruitment chair for Alpha Epsilon Phi, “Girls who want to take leadership roles and girls who have a positive attitude.”Berg pointed out that only 20 percent of the IU campus is greek and that those who decide greek life is not for them should not feel like all doors of opportunity will immediately slam shut.“Being greek is not everything,” Berg said. “There are plenty of opportunities for success outside the greek community.”THINKING ABOUT RUSHING?All women interested in recruitment must register on www.iubpha.com before Oct. 31.
(09/23/09 4:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Dean of Students Pete Goldsmith shared punch and cookies with students Tuesday night at his first official meeting with the campus greeks. Sorority and fraternity presidents shared their goals for their chapters, while Goldsmith shared his goals for the campus as a whole.The informal open house was in the Indiana Memorial Union at 8:30 p.m. and gave chapter presidents from all the fraternities and sororities within the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association the opportunity to get to know the new dean of students.The dean was well-received by greek leaders.“He seems like a really genuine guy,” said senior Natalie Layton, vice president of leadership development for the PHA. “I think it is really great that he’s here to get to know us. He clearly cares about the greek system and the community.”The meet and greet had no set agenda, aside from mingling for the presidents. As an added bonus, all greek leaders from the IFC and PHA got together as one community, which does not happen that often, said Katie Wickham, vice president of communications for the PHA.Goldsmith spent the first half of the meeting getting to know the greek presidents. Every leader had the opportunity to share upcoming events, ideas or service projects with the dean.“This is an opportunity for us to talk to Dean Goldsmith one-on-one and for him to be able to put a face to the greek system,” said Annie Raeder, president of the PHA.After, Goldsmith addressed the group and outlined his over-arching goals for the campus and the greek community.“I have three main goals for this year,” Goldsmith said. “To enhance the quality of the educational experience at IU, to give the University a richer, more dynamic environment and to help the greek community thrive.”He emphasized how important greek success was because of the size and influence IU’s greek community has on the campus.The IFC and PHA hope to work closely with Dean Goldsmith throughout the year.“We want to start of the year with good relations,” said senior Jen Gurnick, president of Alpha Phi. “Being a new presence in our school, he will probably want to make some changes or improvements. Hopefully these improvements will be positive, and hopefully we will be on board with them.”
(09/21/09 4:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“What’s a frat without tomatoes?”In Zeta Beta Tau member Ben Torchman’s opinion, “No fun, that’s what.”Lucky for Torchman, he got to experience the reality of that statement at the first Zeta Beta TomaTau.ZBT accomplished Sunday what no other IU fraternity has: an organized tomato festival where 10,000 fruits were ordered and dumped in the field across from the ZBT house to be used in the largest-ever tomato fight at IU.Hundreds of students came out to participate in tomato-adapted activities such as tomato volleyball, tomato Slip ’n Slide and tug-of-war over a pit of tomatoes.“I never thought I could have so much fun rolling around in tomato juice,” sophomore Molly Codner said. Codner is a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi and came to the event with other members of her sorority.The festival was aimed to mimic La Tomatina in Spain, where tens of thousands of people flood the streets of Valencia at the end of August each year to battle with one hundred metric tons of tomatoes, according to a Spanish travel Web site.“We wanted a remake of the Tomatina, and I think we got it,” ZBT President Matt Garden said.The idea for such an event was inspired by a group of ZBT members last year during breakfast.“We were like, ‘Let’s have a theme that rhymes with our name and that no one has ever done before,’” Garden said. “The next thing you know, we have a giant tomato fight.”T-shirts and tickets to participate were each sold for $10, with proceeds going to the Rory David Deutsch Foundation, which funds research for pediatric brain tumors.“We were definitely hoping to raise money and awareness for our philanthropy, but this is also about having fun,” said junior Jason Schechtman, philanthropy co-chair. “The tomatoes are the fun part.”
(09/21/09 3:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When asked why he likes performing at IU, Soulja Boy Tell ‘em’s response was short and sweet: “I can tell you guys like to party.” However, the party was in short supply on Saturday night. The Sprite Step Off qualifying round, held at a parking lot just north of Assembly Hall, drew a less-than-impressive crowd, with people coming and going throughout the day.The event was one of 30 qualifying rounds in 25 cities around the country this month. It was an all-day event, lasting from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. A majority of the day was devoted to the dance competition. Three fraternities and three sororities each performed a step routine, four of which were IU chapters.“We have been working on our step for three weeks,” Alpha Phi Alpha President Veldez Joshua said. “Now we have to get back to work to get ready for the next round.”IU’s Alpha Phi Alpha chapter was awarded second place and will move on to the regional semifinals Nov. 7 at Ohio State University.The second- and third-place finishers will attend the next round, while the two first-place winners will advance directly to the regional finals in Chicago. IU’s Alpha Kappa Alpha and Alpha Phi Alpha from Central State were the champions.“We have worked hard,” AKA member Jasmine Starks said. “But to win the national championship like we want to, we are going to put forth more tears, more sweat and more blood.”According to a Sprite press release, “College greek stepping is a mix of foot movements, handclaps and voice chants.” Steps are historically performed by African-American Greek letter organizations, but this form of cultural dancing has now extended to a variety of other multicultural fraternities, including Latino and Asian groups, according to the statement.After the competition and the awards, the event became a concert setting, and Soulja Boy took the stage. The concert was televised and was expected to have a high turn out. On the contrary, the crowd that formed for the concert portion of the event was barely larger than the crowd during the day.“They advertised for it so much on 96.3,” freshman Jennifer Stebbins said. “But I didn’t see it advertised once on campus. I’m not surprised there’s hardly anyone here.”Starks, who is the director of international and cultural events for the Union Board and also the organizer of the event, said publicity was the responsibility of Sprite.Though it may not have been the “party” Soulja Boy expected, he said it was still a good time.“The performance went well,” he said. “It wasn’t a very large crowd, but I got the response I wanted.”Sprite Step OffFirst-place teams in both categories advance to the regional finals, while second and third place must advance past the regional semifinals first.Fraternities1st: Alpha Phi Alpha (Central State)2nd: Alpha Phi Alpha (IU)3rd: Phi Beta Sigma (IU) Sororities1st: Alpha Kappa Alpha (IU)2nd: Zeta Phi Beta (IU)3rd: Zeta Phi Beta (Miami University)Future roundsCENTRAL QUALIFYING ROUNDWHEN SaturdayWHERE Ballpark Village Softball Field outside Busch Stadium, St. LouisREGIONAL SEMI-FINAL ROUNDSWHEN Oct. 3WHERE University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.WHEN Nov. 7WHERE Ohio State University, Columbus, OhioREGIONAL FINAL ROUNDWHEN Nov. 21WHERE The Regal Theater, Chicago
(09/18/09 2:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Though nearly 20 different greek organizations were present, divisions blurred Thursday in Dunn Meadow at the Meet the Greeks picnic, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between the groups.Members of the Multicultural Greek Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council promoted their individual organizations and celebrated inter-council unity at the picnic.“This is not about recruiting,” said Charlene Nortey, secretary of Alpha Kappa Alpha. “It really is just a meet and greet. It’s a chance for all of us to get together.”The event was a cook-out where interested students were invited to browse the different informational booths set up by the organizations, and join in on the mingling of the members.“This is more of an introduction to the campus to let people know the things we are trying to do for the campus and the community,” said graduate student Adrian Land of Omega Psi Phi.Omega cosponsored the event along side Sigma Lambda Upsilon.Many of the organizations were focused solely on promoting their philanthropies and different campus projects. Delta Phi Omega was raising awareness for their service event celebrating Global Gandhi Day on Oct. 3, while AKA was collecting donations for their Lupus fund.Lambda Upsilon Lambda spoke about their upcoming PATHE project. PATHE, which stands for Providing Access to Higher Education, will be a two-day event educating Latinos about college, said senior Pierre Perez, secretary of LUL.Students who attended Meet the Greeks were looking for a less traditional college experience. “I wanted to look at all the different sororities because I want to find more diversity in my campus life,” sophomore Nikita Menchaca said.Though the event was not focused on recruitment, both the Multicultural Greek Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council hope to encourage interested students to get involved.“It isn’t just the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association,” said senior Maritza Arredondo, president of SLU. “People don’t realize that there are two other councils and there are a lot of choices for everyone.”
(09/15/09 2:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“Hair gel, aviators and tank tops.”Alex Segal, member of Sigma Nu, joked about what his fraternity was looking for in potential recruits as other members of the fraternity laughed.Joking or not, every fraternity was seeking certain qualities as they searched the field for new brothers at the Dunn Meadow Fall Recruitment Kick-off. Men interested in greek life were given the opportunity Friday to meet members from every Interfraternity Council chapter, get their names on mass e-mail lists and begin making connections they hope will last.The e-mail lists are used to inform those interested in the houses about rush events, such as flag football games and other social gatherings.“It looks like a fun experience,” freshman Jesse Shukas said. “I’m here looking for a house that will have good parties, good brotherhood and decent living conditions.”While every potential new member was looking for something different, so were the individual chapters.Matching up those interests is the key to the whole process, said T.J. Blair, vice president of recruitment for the IFC.It seemed that most fraternities were interested in well-rounded men that have something distinctive to bring to the table. But each chapter is unique, and they will all receive a different type of personality, Blair said.“We want guys that are going to step up and take leadership roles,” Todd Rosenbaum, rush chair for Delta Chi, said. “We’re expanding and trying to get a house, so we need some guys that are going to take initiative.”Music blared as freshmen ate pizza and mingled with fraternity members to figure out the level of compatibility.“I like the guys that are really pushing the philanthropy stuff,” freshman Matt Michel said. “Also the ones that are about having a good time, which is what you’re looking for in college.”Some freshmen said that stereotypes and rumors would certainly sway their judgments of certain chapters.“You definitely hear some stuff about certain fraternities, which can really affect your opinion,” freshman Logan Guckien said. “If they have a reputation of being druggies or huge partiers, I probably won’t even check out their house.”Blair said at least 1,200 students came to the event, coming and going at their convenience. “This year we are definitely more organized,” Blair said. “When you’re trying to reach 1,200 to 1,500 kids, you have to be as organized as possible.”Some fraternities captured a majority of the limelight. For these houses, the lists of interested new members were off the charts. With all that attention comes certain setbacks, such as not being able to contact everyone that shows interest in the chapter.In these cases, the brothers rely on networking and legacies to aid in their selection process.“Networking is very important for us,” Patrick Kahn of Pi Kappa Phi said. “You really have to make an effort to stand out.”Recruitment will continue this month with informal social events and house tours. Blair offers some words of encouragement for rushees.“Don’t get discouraged with how your interactions were today,” Blair said. “Try and go to the house tours and really put yourself out there.”
(09/14/09 2:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“I can do it myself, Daddy!” These words from many years ago replay vividly in Michael King’s head as he assesses his daughter’s current recovery at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana.Since childhood, 2009 IU graduate Whitney King has been strong, driven and self-motivated, Michael King said.Years later, little has changed as the 22-year-old battles injuries incurred more than a month ago during a life-altering car accident. Road to recoveryOn the morning of July 30, Whitney King was on her way to work at Eagle Pointe Golf Resort in Bloomington when she lost control of her car and hit a telephone pole. Heavy rain at the time of the accident made Fairfax Road especially hazardous. She suffered a broken pelvis, broken jaw and severe head trauma. She was unresponsive and went into a coma.In six weeks, Whitney King has made considerable advances in her recovery, Michael King said. He defined her progress as steady, yet carefully monitored. “She’s doing well for a brain-injured patient,” Michael King said. “Whitney is progressing quickly, but we know so little about the brain and how it heals itself. She could plateau at any point.”Doctors have said that much of Whitney Kings’s success can be credited to her active, healthy lifestyle, Michael King said. While at IU, she danced with IU Essence and taught several aerobics classes through the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and the Student Recreational Sports Center.Currently, doctors and family remain hopeful that Whitney King will have a complete recovery, though her rehabilitation will likely take up to 18 more months, Michael King said. Because of her pelvic injury, she will not be able to bear any weight or walk for three to four months after her release.Strong turnout at golf benefitWhitney’s friends and colleagues at Eagle Pointe, where she worked for more than two years, organized a fundraiser Sunday in her honor. The Whitney King Golf Scramble and Charity Event began at 7:30 a.m. with the first round of golfers and continued with the second round at noon. The additional round was added because of strong interest in the event. Jacob King, the assistant general manager of Eagle Pointe, came up with the idea for the fundraiser. Jacob King is of no relation to Whitney King, but he said she is like family.“She’s been like a sister to us around here,” Jacob King said. “She’s absolutely one of those people who walks in the room and is bright, sunny and energetic. She has touched a lot of people’s lives around here. We wanted to do something.” Aside from golf, the event included a cookout, access to the pool, cornhole, live music by Jeff Day, a raffle and a silent auction, Jacob King said. It cost $50 to golf, but anyone could attend the other activities for $15 at the door.More than 200 golfers attended the event and as many as 300 other guests were present, Jacob King said. He said it was the largest gathering Eagle Pointe has had all year. “People did anything and everything they could to get here. That’s obvious,” Jacob King said. “This phenomenal response is because of her and how she has touched other peoples’ lives. This event is really a tribute to that.”Eagle Pointe will donate 15 percent of Sunday’s sales as well as 50 percent of the golf fees to Whitney King’s recovery. Procedures, tests and treatments as part of an extended hospital stay will leave Whitney King and her family with astronomical medical bills, Jacob King said. He and the other event planners hope to alleviate some of this burden. “Whitney is going to have these medical costs, and it’s so comforting to know she will have more help,” Michael King said. He went on to confirm that Whitney King plans to use her degree in broadcast journalism to pursue a career in sports journalism as soon as her rehabilitation is complete. Whitney’s IU legacyAt IU, Whitney King was an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta. The entire house was present at the event, said Katie Bates, a sorority sister who helped plan the fundraiser. Kappa Alpha Theta, along with much of the Bloomington community, has done a lot to help Whitney King and her family. “Theta provided meals and hotel rooms for her family, and girls from the house have been carpooling to Indy every week to visit,” Bates said.Whitney King’s best friend, Katy Wolff, said she spends four days every week at the hospital with Whitney King since she moved to Indianapolis. Michael King describes Wolff as his adopted daughter, and said that the response has been tremendous.“It’s been overwhelming,” he said. “I don’t mean to be trite, but it has kind of restored my faith in humanity. Whitney’s Web site has gotten thousands of hits, and the turnout today has been over-the-top.”As a result of the success of the event, Michael King and Jacob King hope to make the scramble an annual event to fund an IU scholarship in Whitney King’s name.“Maybe the scholarship will go to a journalism student who has had a setback like Whitney,” Michael King said.Jacob King expects the event to grow every year, especially once Whitney King recovers and is able to attend.Michael King said he thinks that if anyone can come back, it’s his daughter, the same girl that used to yell “I can do it myself, Daddy!”“I know Whitney is going to do her damndest to fight this,” he said. “If anyone can do it, it’s her.”
(09/02/09 4:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Potential fraternity members swarmed the Indiana Memorial Union on Tuesday, eager to get information on rushing a fraternity from the Men’s Greek Life Orientation meetings.The meetings were led by the executive board of the Interfraternity Council from 6 to 8 p.m. in Alumni Hall. They gave the attendees general information about rush and told them what to expect when pledging a fraternity.Rush begins Sept. 11 in Dunn Meadow where potential recruits will meet members from each fraternity before activities designed to connect people begin. President of the Interfraternity Council Colin Nabity compared this first meet-and-greet session to speed dating. The event is from 2 to 5 p.m. and is mandatory for those interested in joining men’s greek life.Vice president of recruitment for the IFC, T.J. Blair, said that during the month following Dunn Meadow’s kick-off, those going through rush will be invited to different events including flag football or poker nights. Prospective pledges are free to attend whichever events they choose to get to know the members of the houses and make connections. Official tours of the houses will be on Sept. 13 and 20 and rushees are required to go through several.Some of the attendees voiced concern about how much time rush would take up.“I don’t know what to expect but I am concerned about how time consuming it will be,” freshman Adam Friedman said. “I just want to be able to keep my studies up.”But, Nabity said potential pledges should not be worried because there are many events each night.“There really isn’t a time commitment at all,” Nabity said. “It’s go where you want, when you want as long as you get your name and face out there.”Blair went on to discuss the benefits of joining the greek community, such as meeting lifelong brothers, playing competitive intramurals and networking.In his experience Blair said he has benefitted greatly from networking.“Come graduation I will be working at a great accounting firm in Los Angeles because of the connections I made through the greek community,” Blair said.The meeting inspired both positive and negative reactions from those who attended.“I’m pretty excited about rushing,” freshman Matt Redmer said. “I know a bunch of people that have done it and I really want to meet new people.”Others expressed a few concerns, many of which dealt with hazing. The board attempted to ease their fears.“If you guys go through rush and experience hazing, contact us,” Nabity said. “The IFC is in charge of what goes on in the fraternities and we will take care of any problems.”Nabity said he expects more than 1,000 men to go through fall recruitment.The greek community makes up 18 to 20 percent of the student body, Nabity said. It’s enormity comes with a great deal of responsibility as far as campus influence and involvement, he said.Men who intend to rush need to register online through www.iubifc.com.“This is only a platform,” Nabity said. “Once you join, you’re going to be encouraged and pushed to get involved with other activities on campus and in the community.”
(09/01/09 5:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Fall recruitment starts today with men’s greek orientation in Alumni Hall of the Indiana Memorial Union.The call-out is open to any male student interested in rushing a fraternity and will be at 6 to 8 p.m. in the Indiana Memorial Union's Alumni Hall.“If you are remotely interested in greek life, it is important for you to attend,” Colin Nabity, president of the Interfraternity Council, said. “We will be giving out all the information for recruitment and explaining how the process works.”Men’s rush starts Sept. 11 at Dunn Meadow, where all the fraternities will be represented.Men’s recruitment runs until Oct. 11, said T.J. Blair, vice president of recruitment for the council. During this time interested students are able to visit any of the fraternity houses. The rush process is very informal, especially compared to women’s recruitment, and is almost completely in the hands of the individual fraternities, Blair said. During recruitment, those interested will spend time at the different houses to get to know members and find a match that fits.“There is something to offer everybody. That is the great thing about the greek system,” Blair said.The council anticipates 1,200 men for rush, Blair said. Of that number, he expects 1,000 to end up in a fraternity. Joining the greek community is a great way to get involved, especially for freshmen not sure where to begin on such a big campus, Nabity said. “There are so many of us that we can have our hands in many facets of campus life,” Nabity said. “We really are everywhere, and that gives members countless opportunities.”This year, the council plans to focus on education.“With the new dean, we are trying to better the greek system, and that begins with recruitment,” Blair said. “We are really trying to focus on grades. They come first.”Blair said this year the fraternities are requiring members to participate in study tables before they do any house activities. The council encourages all students to rush but also recognizes that it takes a certain type of person to thrive in the greek community, Blair said.“We are looking for someone who is a student first, likes to take on responsibilities, is dependable and clean,” Blair said. “You are going to be living with between 10 and 100 people.”The greek community can provide students with a number of benefits, including networking and leadership opportunities, Blair said. “Coming to IU, I didn’t really know how to communicate or deal with people well on a daily basis,” Blair said. “Being a part of the greek system has given me comfort in that area, which I know will help me in the real world. It helps you branch out from Day 1.”
(09/01/09 2:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Delta Phi Omega, a South-Asian interest sorority, has officially taken root on campus.“There wasn’t any organization on campus to bring together South-Asian girls,” senior Aakriti Bhargava, president of DPO, said. “Some girls wanted to join a traditional sorority but they didn’t really fit it, so we thought of this.” The idea started with just a few women who were inspired by the work of the DPO chapter at Purdue University, Bhargava said. They decided they wanted to bring the sorority to IU.“We wanted to start a chapter because all of us girls really wanted to make an impact on campus in a new way,” junior Ashley Narsinghani, vice president of DPO, said. Within two years the group received a bid from the national chapter. The exact process of receiving a bid cannot be disclosed. “We are always excited when we expand,” Hiral Bhatt, the national president of DPO, said. “The girls at IU worked very hard for a long time, so I am really excited for their success.” The sorority was officially established at IU in April.The founding members at IU hope to appeal to women who want something different from what traditional sororities have to offer. “Our sorority is obviously going to be different than other sororities because we focus on South-Asian interest,” Bhargava said. “We are going to be more cultural and service-based as well.” DPO’s national philanthropy is children’s education and literacy. The IU chapter plans to embrace this cause but wants to go even further in its service, Bhargava said. “We want to focus on service,” she said. “Not only will we support children’s literacy, but we will support a number of other service organizations such as UNICEF and Asha for Education, which helps children in India’s slums.” DPO currently has eight members, but during recruitment this year the organization plans to expand considerably. Recruitment for the sorority begins the week of Oct. 12 and will start with many informal meetings, Bhargava said. The first event DPO has planned is a back-to-school picnic, which will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 13 in Dunn Meadow. The picnic will be an outlet for students to get information about the new sorority, Bhargava said.DPO is busy making plans for the year. On Oct. 3, the group will hold a big service event in celebration of Global Ghandi Day. “Ghandi Day is huge at colleges all over, but nothing has ever been done at IU,” Narsinghani said. “We hope to change that and to get all IU students interested in South-Asian culture.”
(08/31/09 3:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Dean of Students Pete Goldsmith is preparing for his first year of work at IU, and high on his to-do list is to kick off communications with the greek system, an area where he will have considerable impact.Goldsmith said his main goals for the greek system include getting back to the ideals sororities and fraternities were founded on and defining what it means to be a greek in the 21st century.“All the pieces are in place,” Goldsmith said. “I think all the chapters and all the organizations have the right ideals at heart, but they may need to change how they think about them and how they present those ideals to members, nonmembers and the community.” Greek leaders remain optimistic about relations with Goldsmith and the future of the greek system. “We recognize the need to get back to all the values we were founded on,” Panhellenic Association President Annie Raeder said. “Sometimes those values get lost in a college setting, and we all may need a reminder.”It is unclear what lies ahead for the greek system, but Goldsmith assures all students that their individual well-being is a top priority. “I want the greeks to be successful, but above all I want individual students to be successful,” Goldsmith said. “I do think that the greek organizations can be a part of individual success.”The greek system at IU involves more than 5,000 students and 65 organizations, according to the University’s Web site. “We have large numbers, which gives us a lot of influence on the campus,” Interfraternity Council President Colin Nabity said. It will be Goldsmith’s responsibility to uphold the general welfare of IU’s students and oversee campus life. Goldsmith oversaw student affairs and enrollment management at Kent State University since 2003 and has experience with a greek system at a large university.“By its size, the greek system is going to play a very visible role on campus,” Goldsmith said. “I think it is very important for me to maintain successful communication with the greek leaders.”An advisory board consisting of presidents of select student organizations meets once a month with the dean of students to discuss upcoming events or issues, Nabity said.He then said that these meetings were instated by former Dean of Students Dick McKaig and have been instrumental in shaping campus life. McKaig retired this past summer.“As members of the advisory board, we worked very closely with Dean McKaig,” Nabity said. “He was incredibly accessible, and it was great to bounce ideas off of him.” Traditionally, the dean of students oversees how all the greek chapters are doing and has final say over many decisions, Raeder said.“I think it will be different because Dean Goldsmith is new, and it will take him some time to learn the lay of the land,” Raeder said. “I am sure there will be things he does differently that we will have to adjust to.” While Goldsmith said overseeing greek life is important to him, he does not have any set plans for change. “I am in intense listening and learning mode,” Goldsmith said. “I do not come in with an agenda.” The greek leaders plan to shape communications with the new dean of students much like they did with Goldsmith’s predecessor. “All of us who will work with Dean Goldsmith are waiting to see what his style is and what he does so we can react and adapt,” Nabity said. “We are going to go into this the same way we did with Dean McKaig.”
(08/28/09 3:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU plans to get an early start promoting campus and personal safety this year with its second-annual “Aftertaste: Sex, Drugs and Rock ’n’ Roll” awareness event. The event will highlight the dangers of binge drinking, drunk driving and sexual assault. “We want to get the risk factors out there early,” said Ann Skirvin, co-chairwoman and sexual assault counselor at the Sexual Assault Crisis Center.It is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Dunn Meadow, during the Taste of the Union.“The beginning of the year is important because classes haven’t started yet and students have free time to get involved with high-risk activities.”The Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternity Council are teaming up with the IU Health Center, the IU Police Department, the Sexual Assault Crisis Center and 12 other campus organizations to sponsor this event.This year, sponsors hope to dramatically increase attendance.“The Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternity Council were asked to help sponsor the event to make it more appealing and more student-oriented,” said Alyssa Heggen, vice president of personal development for the Panhellenic Association. “One of the ways we are doing this is by bringing the Buzz Kills.”The Buzz Kills will perform live music during the event. Skirvin added that there will also be food, prizes and interactive games. For example, IUPD will put on a golf-cart obstacle course where drivers must wear fatal-vision goggles to mimic inebriation.Heggen explained that each student organization will have a board educating students on safe social practices. “The Panhellenic Association’s display is called ‘Bloomington After Dark,’” Heggen said. “Our board will talk about different, dangerous things to look out for at parties such as ‘jungle juice.’” All students are encouraged to attend this event, but the sponsors hope to attract many freshmen, who might not know all of the risks associated with alcohol abuse. “Freshmen can be naive and very unaware when it comes to sex and drinking,” Skirvin said. “We want to help them make good choices so they do not experience something that makes their first college experience even harder.” Above all, the event’s focus is the well-being and safety of IU students. “Safety is something that we are all passionate about,” Heggen said. “We want to educate people and we want to make it fun before they learn it the hard way.”
(02/26/09 1:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington partnered with the South Central Community Action Program on Wednesday afternoon to hold a poverty simulation for Ivy Tech students and faculty. The three-hour simulation was put on as a part of Ivy Tech-Bloomington’s yearlong focus on poverty.The event, which involved about 100 volunteers on campus, was designed to simulate living in poverty for one month, with each week represented in 15-minute increments.Ivy Tech asked the Community Action Program to join this endeavor because the local nonprofit group has held poverty simulations in the past.A poverty simulation is a role–playing exercise in which volunteers act as a member of a poverty-stricken family. When volunteers arrived at the simulation, they each received a packet of written information that told them who their family members were and what they were like, what their job was and how much money they had.During the simulation, the volunteers take on the many obstacles people below the poverty line face everyday, said Bonnie Vesely, the South Central Community Action Program’s Circles coordinator.“When people live in crisis mode all the time, they are never able to think ahead or plan for the future,” Vesely said. “This is a problem for many in poverty; the tyranny of the moment. The poverty simulation mimics the panic associated with going from crisis to crisis with very limited resources and can be a real eye-opener.” To add to the role playing, the simulation also included booths of various organizations that provide services necessary for a family to access, such as a grocery store, hospital, bank, prison and school, Vesely said. She added that Ivy Tech volunteers – mostly made up of faculty members – staffed all the booths that represented the organizations.After the simulation, Todd Lare, the executive director of the South Central Community Action Program, led a follow-up discussion in which participants could reflect and share insights about their experiences.Ivy Tech-Bloomington’s poverty theme was inspired by this year’s Campus Common Reading project. This campus organization is responsible for choosing a book each year that is to be read campus-wide by students, faculty and staff to create a shared learning experience that extends beyond the classroom.The book “Nickel and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenreich, which offers a detailed memoir of a “real life” poverty simulation, was chosen for the 2008-2009 school year.“We chose this book and the overarching theme of poverty because it is always an issue in any community,” said Peg Nelson, chairperson for the Campus Common Reading project. “Certainly part of our service commitment on campus is to help the community by educating people and making them aware of issues.”Lare said many people are probably not aware of Bloomington’s poverty.“What a lot of people miss is the substantial poverty hidden in pockets of Bloomington,” said Lare. “If you’re just at the University, you tend to miss it.”
(02/20/09 3:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Boxcar Books and Community Center Inc. will be host to a fundraiser at 7 p.m. Saturday for recently released political prisoner Ali Khalid Abdullah.The event will feature two speakers, live acoustic music and complimentary appetizers and desserts.Abdullah will present his prison writings and discuss his experiences of the past 20 years.Released from prison this past August, Abdullah spent the last 19 years in Michigan prisons, convicted for his involvement in trying to shut down a major Detroit drug dealer.After becoming fed up with the Detroit police department’s lack of intervention, Abdullah and other community members decided to get involved. Numerous neighborhood crimes were associated with the local drug dealer, and Abdullah said the youth and elderly were afraid to leave their homes. The driving force that led Abdullah to take action was the sexual molestation of an 11-year-old girl that occurred to clear what the girl’s mother owed for drugs.Abdullah was later charged with assault and attempt to rob while armed but said he believes he was arrested because of his political beliefs and his possible associations with groups such as the Black Panther Party, the Black Liberation Army and the Progressive Labor Party.“I was imprisoned for my beliefs,” Abdullah said, “the belief that we have a right to determine our own destiny, have food, have health care and have our children safe.”Because of his experiences behind bars, Abdullah now considers himself a prison abolitionist.“Life in prison was horrible, depressing, vicious – and the officers did not care about any of us,” Abdullah said. “It doesn’t do anything but harden a person; it does not help.”Bryce Martin, a member of Decarcerate Monroe County, said Abdullah’s story drove him and other Decarcerate Monroe County members to organize the event.“Ever since we found out Ali was coming to town, we wanted to do whatever support work we could for him,” Martin said. “His story is so compelling.”Also speaking at the fundraiser will be prison abolitionist, community organizer and writer Anthony Rayson. Rayson is a resident of Chicagoland and runs the Anarchist Black Cross Network and a zine distro, a type of magazine, associated with the group. Rayson said in a statement that he works closely with many prisoners, like Abdullah, to publish their art and writing in his zines.“I wanted to work with the most brilliant minds,” Rayson said. “The more I learned, and the further I looked into it, I saw that the most brilliant minds were coming out of prisons.”The event is free, but those who attend are encouraged to make a donation to help Abdullah overcome his hardships including medical conditions that have resulted from his extended imprisonment.Abdullah’s writings, along with Rayson’s zines and other forms of prisoner artwork, will be available at the event.“People should be incredibly impressed by the artistic ability that is pouring out of the prisons,” Rayson said. “This fundraiser will sell art, offer free zines and provide an instant education on a genuine, underground media world.”
(01/30/09 5:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The first IU Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Alumni Association Homecoming will take place in Bloomington this weekend, in conjunction with the PRIDE LGBTQ Film Festival, an annual event that has a reputation for bringing large crowds to town. Between Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, the event will feature a full schedule of events, activities and social opportunities.The festivities kick off with a Homecoming Social at the Kinsey Institute Gallery on Friday evening and continue on Saturday with a silent auction and hors d’oeuvres at Grazie! Italian Eatery. The weekend will close on Sunday with brunch in the Tudor Room at the Indiana Memorial Union. “I expect that the silent auction and reception at Grazie! will be particularly successful,” said Rachael Crouch, director of Alumni Programs for the IU Alumni Association. “It’s on a Saturday night and should be tons of fun.”The board of the GLBTAA planned the homecoming to feed off of the PRIDE LGBTQ Film Festival and to turn the weekend into a must-attend event that will encourage GLBT alumni to come back to Bloomington and reconnect with their friends and allies. “The PRIDE festival has become a real draw to many people; the event is usually sold out,” said Doug Bauder, office coordinator of the GLBT Student Support Services. “We hope that the two events will piggyback off of each other this year and generate even more popularity.”Proceeds from the homecoming, particularly from the silent auction, will benefit the GLBTAA’s scholarship fund, which supports students who get cut off from financial and emotional aid for being honest with their parents about their sexual identity. This scholarship fund is a large part of what the GLBTAA does. “The organization is an advocacy group that supports GLBT students and works to foster relationships with GLBT folks and allies,” Bauder said. The association does this by planning social events, locally and globally, for people who care about GLBT issues. The purpose of the GLBTAA Homecoming is to create an event that will bring in a different sector of alumni than the traditional IU football homecoming does in the fall. “We want to give folks a reason to come back to Bloomington, and many GLBT members will probably benefit from an alternative to the traditional football weekend,” Crouch said. GLBT members and non-members alike are encouraged to attend this year’s GLBTAA Homecoming and support this advocacy group in its efforts to spread the word about gay rights. “This is going to be an encouraging year,” said Rob DeCleene, president of GLBTAA. “We have the first-ever GLBTAA Homecoming, and Bloomington was named the nation’s No. 1 small town for gays.”