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(02/14/10 10:07pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The war to make everything faster, more compact and more convenient rages on, and this time bookstores are marked for the next technology invasion.With the inception of e-books and the rising popularity of digital readers like Amazon’s Kindle and Apple’s iPad, bookstores will disappear into the sands of time, like cassette tapes and floppy disks. How on earth am I supposed to have a “Beauty and the Beast” library (complete with sliding ladders) if there is no such thing as a physical book? Oh, you want to borrow my copy of “The Da Vinci Code”? Sure, let me just virtually slide it off my virtual bookshelf and virtually hand it to you.The laziness of modern society astounds me. It is not going to break your back to carry a paperback book weighing a few ounces. The constant discourse on the importance of exercise is even more baffling: People are joining gyms left and right and struggling to find a free hour in the day to get their hearts pumping, but they continue to eliminate every last bit of physical exertion from their daily lives.And why all the outrage over paying $14.99 for the written word but no protests over $10 movie tickets? For the past several years, movies have not even been original works of art. The majority of them are adapted screenplays that butcher the author’s creation, rake in millions and discourage people from picking up the actual book since watching a movie is quicker and easier than reading.One digital publishing executive argues that digital readers will encourage people to read more once they can purchase e-books for a lower price than paper books. Frankly, people who only pick up books to fulfill required reading for classes would not be getting hooked on phonics even if books were free. Oh, wait, they are — at a place called the library.Prices and weights of books are not the reason some people refuse to read; the reason is the mental strain involved in reading. Why exercise your brain and attempt to learn something when you can watch people getting drunk and punching each other on MTV?In the case of those who read regularly, some are seething at the thought of paying bookstore prices for digital books since publishers do not have to pay to print the actual book. Adding a new player who will distribute the e-books, such as Google or Apple, takes the place of publishing costs. Currently, they are set to receive a 30 percent cut of every book sold.New York Times best-selling author Douglas Preston summarized my sentiment exactly when he said, “The sense of entitlement of the American consumer is absolutely astonishing. It’s the Walmart mentality ... It’s this notion of not wanting to pay the real price of something.”E-books are just another step in the corporate giants’ plan to exploit consumerism and make electrical sockets the new crack-cocaine. And the most depressing part about it is that all I can do to stop it is rant for 500 words.E-mail: pkansal@indiana.edu
(02/10/10 5:45pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When the trailers and overpriced nachos are the best part, it’s safe to say that the movie won’t be in the running for an Oscar. For “Dear John,” a Razzie is the most realistic goal.Based on the book by Nicholas Sparks, “Dear John” tells the story of Savannah (Amanda Seyfried) and a solider named John (Channing Tatum) who fall in love in just two weeks. It explores the obstacles of their relationship as John is re-deployed in the war while Savannah attempts to achieve her dreams back home.The second half of the movie seems completely disconnected from the characters and relationships developed in the first half, almost as if a new set of writers finished the script. The end didn’t reveal a logical explanation for the bizarre events in the second half. It was the rotten cherry on top of the melted sundae, made no sense and left the audience hanging.Surprisingly, Seyfried and Tatum have spectacular chemistry, and it’s evident that Tatum has polished his acting skills since “Step Up.” However, the compelling leads don’t compensate for such an abominable script.
(02/08/10 10:48pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>To all the so-called unhappily single students out there, spare me the drama. Stop moaning about your pathetic love life – or lack thereof – because college is the one place where being single is accepted, even celebrated. The singles culture is everything that college represents: floor-mances during freshman year, drunken hook-ups at house parties, spontaneous plans with friends on a Friday night. When it’s 10:45 p.m. and my girlfriends decide to hit up a party they just heard about, I’m probably already at a movie with my boyfriend. Days later, when my friends are still recounting the hilarious memories of that night, the only thing I can contribute is a laugh.When I do participate in a girls’ night out, it isn’t exactly the time of my life. For someone in a Cory-and-Topanga-esque relationship, it’s just another instance of my status as an outsider. My friends are off meeting new boys and collecting juicy stories for the next morning’s gossip session while I wander around aimlessly.Relationships aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. The countless minutes of arguing over phone calls and texting could be dedicated to sleeping or raising my subpar grade-point average. The numerous hours I spend sitting through mindless action movies could be spent on baking, reading or doing another activity of my choice, and I would save a few bucks in the process.The constant threat of separation when we were deciding on colleges was no walk in the park, either. Even two years later, the classic relationship hurdle of being long-distance looms over my head like a black cloud whenever I consider studying abroad or taking an internship across the country. You would think Valentine’s Day is the highlight of my year, seeing as how I’ve been dating someone for four-and-a-half years. Alas, it’s nothing more than yet another reminder of how atrocious I am at getting my boyfriend gifts. It goes something like this: He orders me a custom-made painting from Hawaii, and I buy him socks and a saucepan and forget the card.But he never makes me feel like the ultimate failure I am when it comes to special occasions. He won’t even make me feel bad after reading this article, which will undoubtedly offend him. Instead, he’ll carefully cut it out and tape it into a scrapbook filled with everything I’ve ever written. And at the end of the day, I’d rather have a best friend, boyfriend and super fan rolled into one than a textbook college experience.
(02/07/10 11:38pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The topic of Anderson Cooper, the anchor of CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” always evokes the words “hot” or “gay” (even though the latter has little-to-no evidence of being true). As a self-proclaimed news junky, I find it frustrating that others have such a superficial view of someone who inspires me and influences so many aspects of my life.I suppose that Cooper’s silver fox qualities factor into my fascination with him, but his sex appeal doesn’t trivialize his heroism. His eye candy status really isn’t his fault, and he definitely doesn’t fish for compliments. Every time a woman, usually Kelly Ripa or Kathy Griffin, tries to praise him, Cooper steers the conversation back to current events. Cooper’s posh upbringing only makes me respect his humble lifestyle even more. It’s more difficult to spend several weeks per year in developing countries after growing up in an opulent home in Manhattan than it is to continue living a modest lifestyle after having never known anything different. As much as I wish I could do that, I know that it would be a challenge for me to go from driving a luxury car to trekking up sand dunes in the Middle East. And as much as I want to expose the world’s atrocities, I can’t say I would sacrifice my safety and family life to do so. Yet, Cooper continues to jet around the world (and not in a private plane – he flies commercial), putting his life on the line. He knows full well that he could be blown to smithereens in Afghanistan or tortured by drug lords in Mexico, so why does he continue to do it? Because Cooper is the superhero for news junkies all around the globe. He, like Superman and Spiderman, feels the burden of public service. After jumping on a flight to Haiti and spending a week informing the rest of the world about the tragedy, he chose to stay an extra week in the “hell on Earth” after his professional obligation was fulfilled.And, contrary to popular belief, Cooper never exploited his Vanderbilt lineage to rise up the ranks of broadcast journalism. He graduated early from high school and spent the second semester of what had been his senior year traveling with ancient tribes in Africa. After graduating from Yale University, he didn’t turn to his famous mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, to pull a few strings and secure him a job. He began freelancing from the war-torn regions of Bosnia, Somalia, Myanmar and Rwanda, putting his safety in serious jeopardy, even though there was no guarantee that news networks would use his tapes.All I know is that if the Mayan calendar’s prediction of the 2012 apocalypse turns out to be right, I’m not going to be waiting around for Superman to zoom to our rescue – I’ll be flipping on CNN to get instructions from my real-life hero.
(02/04/10 12:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Cooking doesn’t have to be messy or time-consuming. With the right ingredients and a little time management, eating at home can be part of college culture.“People get into the habit of eating out, but it’s not hard to make your own diet from the grocery store,” sophomore Shaina Ohm said. “There are no mystery substances, and you save a lot of money.”Ohm, who eats at home twice a day, suggests playing music, watching TV or chopping vegetables to beat boredom while pots are on the stove.For students who share their apartment or home with others, cooking can be a roommate bonding activity. Ohm said she has dinner with her roommates almost every night. Accompanying the main meal is a large salad, and the ingredients vary from day to day. Apples, oranges, celery, green peppers and tomatoes often find their way into the salad, but the type of lettuce is non-negotiable. “We use green lettuce, like spinach, not iceberg, and we’re into light dressings like balsamic vinaigrette,” Ohm said.Sophomore Jacob Gerber also makes an effort to eat healthy by snacking on blueberries and almonds between classes and drinking plenty of water.“Sometimes your body mistakes thirst for hunger,” Gerber said, “and almonds are supposed to be really good for your heart.”Although Gerber lives in a residence hall, he heads over to a friend’s apartment to cook up a storm three to four times a week. Enchiladas, quesadillas, grilled cheese and pasta are some of the dishes he cooks most often.Ethnic food can make quick and easy meals. Yukari Shinagawa, a first-year Ph.D. student, often makes Japanese stir fry with cabbage, onions, carrots, beef, salt and pepper. To mix things up, Shinagawa occasionally adds scrambled eggs.When Gerber does not have access to a kitchen or residence hall food court, he enjoys Amy’s brand organic frozen meals.Web sites about cooking can be a useful tool when looking for innovative ways to dress up an ordinary vegetable.“When one of my roommate’s moms came into town, she gave us an acorn squash,” said Ohm. “We didn’t know what to do with it, so we just got on the Internet and picked the best recipe.”When it comes to getting rid of odds and ends in the fridge, Ohm said she and her roommates often toss ingredients, usually beef, into a slow cooker and let it sit for a day. When Ohm and her roommates are tempted to eat out more than their budget allows, they recreate their fast-food favorites at home. Using Taco Bell and McDonald’s as inspiration, Ohm said she makes tacos and burgers at home. Pita sandwiches of all types are also a favorite with Ohm and her roommates.Instead of spending money to order a pizza, Ohm said she and her roommates toss a frozen pizza in the microwave and sprinkle on toppings of their choice, like bacon or onions.Another way to cut costs is to cook meals in bulk. Students who are cooking just for one can save leftovers for later. Gerber said he makes several enchiladas at one time, freezing the leftovers for quick meals over the next few days. “If there are any cute girls who want me to cook for them, I’m in.”Healthy bacon, egg and cheese sandwich1 egg2-3 strips of turkey bacon1 slice of cheese1 whole wheat English muffinMayonnaise (optional)Pam cooking sprayChicken enchiladas1 package tortillas1 boneless chicken breast1 can of enchilada sauce (low-sodium)1/2 green pepper1/2 red pepper chile peppers
(02/01/10 12:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It holds onto your clothing for dear life, penetrating every layer of your North Face. It clings to your hair like a barnacle, only releasing its death grip with the aid of globs of shampoo. It’s a persistent smell, the smell of ... curry? Not exactly.As a first-generation Indian-American, I have substantial experience with Indian cuisine, but I felt completely out of the loop when it gained popularity and started being referred to as “curry.” Was I less cultured than I thought? Had my mother failed to cook this trendy dish at home?I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that “curry” is a misnomer, and I hadn’t spent 20 years in oblivion. Apparently, “curry” is “a pungent dish of vegetables, onions, meat or fish, etc., flavored with various spices or curry powder, and often eaten with rice.”If you’ve ever visited the various states of India, or even one state of India, you know the diversity of dishes can be startling. The assortment of rice and bread and the combinations of vegetables and gravies would probably make your head spin.To dump most of India’s dishes into one category is a vague and oversimplified survey of Indian cuisine. “Curry” is only one part of the quintessential Indian meal, the other parts most often being flat bread, yogurt, a combination of two or three cooked vegetables, raw vegetables (to cool the effects of chili peppers) and rice.Most of the time, “curry” is not even eaten with rice but with a type of flat bread. Rice is often the item used to finish off the last few spoonfuls of “curry,” kind of like the second-best friend to whom you give your other concert ticket when your real best friend is away on vacation.Other times, “curry” is eaten with an accompaniment radically different from flat bread or rice. For example, in south India, one type of “curry” is eaten with small cakes made of fermented black lentils.“Curry” is such a narrow and non-descriptive term that it gives outsiders a foggy view of Indian cuisine. “Curry” can consist of cheese, vegetables, chickpeas or just plain lentils. Its gravy, which is left out of its definition entirely, comes in varying consistencies and is, therefore, eaten in different manners.Perhaps part of the “curry” phenomenon is the rise of curry powder, yet another misconception about Indian cooking. It’s a commercially manufactured blend of spices and a naïve attempt to master a cuisine that can be rather complicated. Every Indian recipe calls for its own unique set of spices and ingredients, so the correct flavor can’t be achieved with a one-size-fits-all spice mix.The term “curry” simply doesn’t do Indian cuisine justice and neither does the westernized concoction of curry powder. So the next time you leave an Indian restaurant reeking of spices and fried delicacies, refrain from describing it as “curry.” Keep it simple, stupid, and just say “Indian food.”E-mail: pkansal@indiana.edu
(01/25/10 6:13am)
Political science professor Marjorie Hershey discusses the future of the current health care debate.
(01/25/10 12:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>He might have won the Nobel Peace Prize, but even Barack Obama can’t restart peace talks between Palestine and Israel.In spite of efforts by Obama-appointed envoy George Mitchell, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to continue negotiating with Israel until it halts all construction of new settlements.While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a 10-month freeze on settlement in the West Bank, construction on 692 housing units in East Jerusalem is underway. There are already over 2,200 units in predominantly Arab areas. Although East Jerusalem doesn’t technically belong to the Palestinians, it’s the portion of Jerusalem that Palestine has designated for its potential nation. Netanyahu, however, has declared the splitting of Jerusalem to be off-limits. Pointing fingers at Palestine for boycotting peace talks while encroaching on Palestinian territory is counterproductive. It only perpetuates the blame game that commenced at Israel’s creation. It’s also a feeble attempt to mask Netanyahu’s disregard for the issue at hand. Israel hasn’t been complying with international mandates to hold the construction of settlements for the time being. Palestine dropping out of the negotiations is understandable. Why pour time and energy into peace talks when you’re clearly not being heard?Ironically, halting peace talks was probably the most effective way for Palestine’s point of view to be seen. Palestine gained support, while Israel received pressure from the United States to freeze all construction.Netanyahu has also prohibited Palestinian refugees from returning to Israel. It’s overwhelmingly hypocritical for Israelis to spill into Arab areas while keeping Palestinian refugees away from their home.With all of Netanyahu’s pre-set restrictions, an effective peace talk seems unlikely. Discussions are fruitless unless both sides are willing to compromise.Netanyahu has made it clear that his stance on major issues is non-negotiable, yet he blamed Palestine for the breakdown in peace talks in December 2008. Abbas, on the other hand, has agreed to accommodate some Israeli settlements by trading pieces of land.While Netanyahu is the first Israeli president to comply with a construction freeze, the effort needs to be stronger. Bulldozing into Arab territory and then blaming Palestine for dropping out of negotiations is the last way for Israel and Palestine to finally be on good terms.The obvious and fair solution is for Netanyahu to freeze all construction, not just some, until relations between the two parties have progressed. Although that’s only one step on the exhausting road ahead for Israel and Palestine, it’s one that needs to be taken if either country wants to move forward.
(11/22/09 8:48pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“New Moon” takes on the classic love triangle and revamps it by adding a werewolf and a vampire, but that’s not enough to keep the audience awake for two hours. Edward (Robert Pattinson) leaves town suddenly, leaving Bella (Kristen Stewart) depressed and alone. She finds comfort in Jacob (Taylor Lautner) but realizes she must eventually choose him or Edward. The film, which is based on the novel of the same name by Stephanie Meyer, is the second installment in a series of four.Stewart’s heavy breathing and hair swinging in slow motion dominate the film, leaving little room for dialogue or an actual storyline. The paper-thin plot teases the audience, as it seems to be building toward an explosive climax that’s never delivered. It’s hard to take such a dramatic story seriously when the script is chock-full of cheesy cliches that would make anyone cringe. Pattinson’s ambiguous acting doesn’t help, either: It’s nearly impossible to tell whether he is about to burst into laughter or tears. The only cast member with any acting chops is Anna Kendrick, who plays Bella’s (sort of) friend Jessica. Her ditzy, yet fiercely confident nature is a welcome distraction from the actual plot of the movie. Unfortunately, no cast member besides Stewart and Lautner sees more than two minutes of screen time. The action scenes and special effects provide some entertainment, but the chilly backdrop of Forks, Wash., is what really helps to evoke the emotions the film is trying to convey.Werewolves and vampires are not nearly as frightening as the prospect of watching this movie for 130 minutes. So, if blood and love is what you crave, stick to “True Blood.”
(11/12/09 4:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Colorful booths, crowds of people and a red rickshaw transformed the Indiana Memorial Union’s Alumni Hall into an international bazaar Wednesday.The IU World’s Fare featured booths from 19 international student associations and eight cultural performances. Each booth represented its culture through decorations and a native dish.Street signs pointing in different directions and a cardboard building decorated the Asian American Student Association. The Hong Kong Students’ Association continued the urban theme and hung a brightly lit Hong Kong sign above its table.“Hong Kong was the best,” said junior Matt De Leon, who tried a hush puppy-like dish. “It had a spicy aftertaste and each bite was a new explosion of flavor.”The African Students Association served Jollof rice, which was a stew-like mixture of chicken, rice and tomatoes with a hint of cinnamon. The Turkish Student Association offered Hunkar Begendi, or Sultan’s Delight, which was a combination of lamb, eggplant, onions and tomatoes.Sweets also had a place at the fare. The Singapore Student Association served banana fritters, and the Thai Student Association presented a Thai pumpkin dish.Some booths featured activities for the attendees including the Thai booth, which translated people’s names into Thai, and the India booth drew henna tattoos.“I think the art is really beautiful, and it feels cool,” said sophomore Jen Yu, who had a henna tattoo on her wrist.The international organizations taught fare-goers more about their culture through brief performances featuring dance and song.Upbeat music, swaying hips and shimmying shoulders represented Latin America, while drums and singing gave the audience a taste of Japan.Others immersed themselves in foreign cultures before they arrived at the event.Freshman Katheryn Purcell wore a sari, which is a traditional Indian dress. Purcell, who is involved with Association for India’s Development and the Indian Student Association, had a friend lend her the sari and drape it for her.“It forces you to be dainty while walking,” Purcell said.With two performances, India was a prominent part of the evening. Four women in glittering outfits performed a graceful dance with pots, while the IU Raas team bounded across the stage in a flurry of brightly colored skirts and wooden sticks.“I liked their costumes and animated faces because it was entertaining,” junior Elise Coffman said.After the MC got a drum roll from the audience, the winners were announced. The Hong Kong booth took first place in the cultural display category, while China and Malaysia came in second and third, respectively.The Indian Student Association earned first place in the performance category, while Association for India’s Development and the Filipino Student Association came in second and third, respectively.
(11/12/09 12:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Kevin Eldridge, a first-year creative writing graduate student, doesn’t look at attending school for writing as a financial investment. But after writing a short story in third grade titled “Godzilla” and receiving positive feedback from his classmates, Eldridge realized his passion for writing, and for poetry in particular. “I think that writing poems is a lot like a prayer or meditation,” Eldridge said. “It sounds like a ‘pretentious writer’ thing to say, but it’s kind of like I’ve connected with something that I didn’t realize before I wrote the poem.”Although Eldridge said he didn’t read poetry growing up, he strongly feels that reading is important to developing as a writer. He said he hunts for the perfect books to give as gifts to friends in hopes of encouraging literacy. “I think it’s depressing how little people read – part of us isn’t engaging anymore because we don’t read very much,” Eldridge said.IU English professor Alyce Miller supports fellow writers by purchasing books at independent bookstores, such as Boxcar Books. “I avoid Borders because it’s a corporate bookstore,” Miller said. “I like to go into bookstores where workers actually know who writers are.” And instead of focusing on literary works, IU English professor Tony Ardizzone said he’s noticed that companies increasingly seem to promote the film version of a story that was originally a book by displaying a photo of the lead actors on the cover. Ardizzone said that watching a film before reading the book can take away from the experience, but he doesn’t feel that authors who sign contracts with movie producers are selling out.“I would try to protect certain things,” Ardizzone said. “I don’t write so that I can sell a movie, but if someone came to me and said they would like to make a movie on one of my books, I would sit down and talk about it.”Because of the modest salary most writers make, Eldridge plans to move out of the United States and live in a country that is less expensive. “I’ve known for years that being a writer isn’t a viable career, but I’m just studying what interests me,” Eldridge said. Miller said she wants the government to spend more money on state-funded art programs because she feels that there aren’t enough opportunities in the arts and that people don’t give them enough attention. She said she wishes writers could make more money, especially poets who tend not to make anything.“If you have a writer friend, one of the nicest things you can do is buy his or her book,” Miller said.
(11/11/09 4:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Students can circle the globe in three hours at the Indiana Memorial Union. The IU World’s Fare kicks off International Education Week today. Union Board and the Leo R. Dowling International Center teamed up to bring back the cultural event for its third year.Sandra Britton, director of the Leo R. Dowling International Center, said 19 international student organizations will be represented, ranging from Latin America to Asia, including Australia for the first time. Each group is required to have its own booth that features a cultural display, including an ethnic dish, Britton said.“It is an extraordinary program that hits on most of the international groups on campus,” said junior Jasmine Starks, director of the Union Board’s international & cultural events committee. “They can have anything on the table they want that represents their culture.”In the past, singing and African dancing were some of the featured acts, and Starks expects to see other dance and song performances this year.“Henna tattoos, which were a big hit, were also offered during the previous World’s Fares,” Starks said. Each group submitted three recipes representative of its country, from which the IMU food service department chose one to cook, Britton said.Britton said all of the recipes will be in a complimentary cookbook given to the first 450 attendees.The show will open with an hour of musical numbers by the IU Steel Pan Ensemble and the Afro Cuban Ensemble. After a brief intermission, eight groups will have about six minutes each to put on a cultural performance. Monetary prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third- place performances, Britton said. Members of the Bloomington community who are involved in travel and the arts will be evaluating the groups, with three judges for performances and three for cultural displays, Britton said.“Seeing them perform definitely educates the campus and increases the acceptance, not just the tolerance, of other organizations and people on this campus,” Starks said.
(10/29/09 12:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Halloween is creeping around the corner, and fascination with ghosts and goblins hits its peak. But what do lovers of the paranormal do during the other 364 days of the year?Caroline Milligan, co-founder of the Indiana Society of Paranormal Research, has been investigating paranormal activity for 11 years. She shared her supernatural experiences and views on the paranormal with WEEKEND contributor Pooja Kansal. PK: What inspired you to study paranormal activity?CM: Living in a house that was haunted. I’ve always been fascinated by ghosts. My belief is that if you believe in God, you’re putting your faith into something you’ve never seen before, so isn’t that paranormal? It sure isn’t normal. If the big guy had a problem with what I was doing, he would’ve let me know.PK: What equipment do you use during investigations?CM: We have IR [infrared]cameras, and they can see in the dark, so they pick up everything. We have static night-shot cameras and Sony HD [high definition] cameras that can film and take shots at the same time. We have wireless audio systems that we can put anywhere in the room, and they pick up every noise. Thermal imaging cameras show heat and cold signatures. A laser control handheld thermometer gets the ambient temperature.PK: How do your peers, family and friends react to your interest in the paranormal?CM: Most of my friends are fascinated. I do meet the occasional skeptic. Some guys have tried to use it as a really bad pick-up line. PK: What paranormal experiences have you had? CM: I lived in a haunted house for 13 years. One day, my baby had just gone down for a nap so I was resting my eyes for a second, and I felt someone poking my cheek. Another time I was sitting at the table talking to my friends, and one of them asked, “Who’s the cute cat?” It was a black cat that I had never seen before, but it was just a tail of a cat.PK: Do you believe that evil spirits come out on Halloween, or it’s just another Hallmark holiday?CM: I think there might be some credence that the veil is thin between the two worlds. The energy goes out, and it’s a collective mindset. I think the Christmas season can do the same thing because the brain is energized differently, so it’s a time of miracles. Some things feed on that, and some things feed on fear.PK: What exactly do you think paranormal activity is caused by?CM: There’s residual haunting, which is like a tape recorder on repeat. The best example of that is the Biograph Theater in Chicago, where John Dillinger was killed. People used to report seeing him there, but now there are just a few sounds of footsteps and gunshots. It’s like a recording that’s been played too many times – it’s getting ready to break. Then there’s intelligent haunting that thinks you’ve intruded. They’re curious about what you do; they turn on the stereo and TV. A poltergeist is a noisy ghost that slams doors and makes sounds of footsteps. PK: How much of your daily life is affected by the study of paranormal activity?CM: You have to compartmentalize; you can’t let it take over your life. We don’t take ourselves 100 percent seriously. The pursuit of paranormal activity is to take away fear of the afterlife. If you realize from Day One that you’re going to die at some point, then you can live a pretty good life.
(10/20/09 4:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU undergraduate education might be revamped if proposed changes are approved.A report released on Oct. 1 by a task force detailed several recommendations for IU, ranging from better instructor reviews to more challenging degree requirements. IU Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson created the task force of students and faculty in December 2008 to analyze ways to improve undergraduate education.Included on the committee’s recommendations list are improving developmental advising and teacher evaluations and keeping upperclassmen academically challenged.The task force suggested that academic advisers help students beyond formulating a class schedule and provide more guidance on matters outside the classroom.“Students have said repeatedly that they would like more mentoring and advising on co-curricular issues like internships and career planning,” Hanson said.The reports recommend different ways to make and review end-of-semester instructor evaluations, such as possibly putting them online, Hanson said.“Students can access those evaluations to guide their own choices,” Hanson said. “They can learn about the pedagogical style and how it fits with their learning style.”Finding a way to keep students motivated and challenged is another one of the task force recommendations.This initiative applies mainly to upperclassmen that sometimes complete all of their required courses during freshman and sophomore years and fill their remaining two years with a light schedule.“The faculty part of it is making sure students stay engaged in co-curricular activities,” Hanson said.“It’s not a matter of partying but of strengthening skills and talents, and, frankly, a resume.”Hanson said she believes students can take away even more from their years at IU than they currently are by utilizing academic road maps.Junior Matthew Burkhart agrees.Burkhart, one of three students on the task force, finds it a necessary tool based on his own experiences.“From a student’s perspective, it’s difficult to make a plan coming in as a freshman,” he said. “You have to get information from a lot of sources, and a road map would make it a lot easier.”The undergraduate report states that these road maps should be “easy to find, easy to use,” described in the report as “an intellectual equivalent to the OneStart system with its single portal for campus services.”Other notable recommendations made by the committee are improving the quality of large classes and restructuring majors to make them more demanding, lessening the need for students to pick up a second or even third major.Recommendations regarding the strengthening of majors might be controversial, Hanson said.Some schools might reject the idea of requiring more credit hours for a major, she said.The task force began its work on improving undergraduate education in early 2009.It met once a week to study student voice reports that were published last year, discuss educational improvements and write the actual report, Burkhart said.The committee’s recommendations don’t require an official pass/fail stamp by any governing body of the University.It does, however, need the support of faculty in order to implement the changes within classrooms.“It just requires our interest and energy,” Hanson said. “Things we can encourage and approach from the student voice reports all converge on connecting undergraduate with the ideas we have.”
(10/14/09 3:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For some students, an unexpected consequence of a bad economy is leftovers. Lots and lots of leftovers.“My roommate and I buy things in bulk and split the tab because we find that it saves more money,” sophomore Marisa Mule said.She said she and her roommate buy a lot of food because it’s cheaper and wind up with leftovers. Mule said that she purchases generic products and rarely shops for clothing, with the exception of the occasional sale.While students still crowd the areas of Kirkwood Avenue and Fourth Street at lunchtime every day, some are making an effort to save their cash by cooking more meals at home. “I don’t buy expensive health foods from Bloomingfoods anymore because I just can’t afford it,” said junior Athina Morris, who has also made coupon cutting a weekly habit.Senior Brittany Moore said she cooks plenty of pasta because it is a cheap and easy-to-make dinner. In addition, she said she drives less, takes advantage of the Five Buck Club at the movie theater and, instead of renting from Blockbuster, she frequents Redbox, the one dollar movie vending machine outside grocery stores, fast food restaurants and other places.Beside changing what they buy, some students are changing what they do, spending more time volunteering now than before the downturn in the economy.“Anything to buff up my resume is rewarding,” Morris said.Morris, a telecommunications major, is hoping to land a job soon after graduating, but widespread unemployment may force her to attend graduate school, though she doesn’t want to.Students are showing an elevated interest in applying to graduate school, as well as a need to complete undergraduate studies in the conventional four years, said Anna Bednarski, undergraduate biology advisor, Bednarski said she has not noticed a decrease in the number of students who find jobs or a desire to switch majors and career paths in order to ensure an income after finishing school. Bednarski said that she has not felt that students are experiencing an increased difficulty in paying for tuition. “I’ve seen students who are very happy about the new grants for academic progress,” Bednarski said. Starting next fall, IU offers $300 grants to in-state students who had a grade-point average of 3.0 or above for fall and spring semesters this year.The recession is also not preventing students from gaining other educational experiences, such as studying abroad.“IU has a very strong commitment to providing support to students who go abroad,” Bednarski said.
(10/05/09 2:25am)
Local artist David Hassell displays work.
(09/24/09 3:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Five hundred soon-to-be freshmen flocked to campus last spring in hopes of being named Kelley Scholars in IU’s Kelley School of Business.After a rigorous weekend filled with group and individual interviews, faculty luncheons and activities, the students returned home where they waited for “the call.”The nine Kelley Scholars receive full tuition and a stipend for living costs for four years, as well as the opportunity to study abroad for free. They endured months of filling out applications, resumes, letters of recommendation and essays, and then two days of constant observation.Ashley Yu said she was shocked when her parents informed her of the good news.“I had called my parents during the interview weekend, saying, ‘There is no way I am getting this scholarship,’ because I was so intimidated,” she said. Although some of the new scholars said the chance to interact with professors and other potential Kelley Scholars was rewarding, it was not exactly a relaxing weekend away from home.“You didn’t know anybody yet, but at the same time, you knew everybody was judging you. You felt like if you tripped, there goes your chance of getting the scholarship,” freshman scholar Molly Pearson said. In addition to the financial awards, the scholars have mentors and academic advisers within the business school. The students had the option to be together in the same Honors Business Presentations class, which they all accepted. The new scholars also gained access to older Kelley Scholars through a social where the freshmen could mingle and receive advice. Through bonding sessions such as a two-day trip to Bradford Woods in Martinsville, Ind., the group of nine forged a strong friendship, said freshman scholar Jeff Carlson. When the scholars are not helping each other study for tests, they communicate through text messages during the week and meet for brunch every Sunday, Pearson said. However, the description of being a Kelley Scholar goes beyond a free ride to college. The students are required to keep a GPA of at least 3.5, as well as major in something in the Kelley School. It is mandatory for the scholars to take the honors version of a class if it is offered.They are also expected to be active in community service by joining Civic Leadership Development through the Kelley School. Fundraising programs and alternative spring breaks are among the projects the organization offers.“It’s not technically required to participate in CLD, but you’re encouraged to do it because they’re giving you so much,” Carlson said.