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(01/25/08 5:47am)
As a fight breaks out at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, cadet Jill Spencer runs to the scene to break it up and call for reinforcements.\nSpencer is one of 25 cadets in this year’s IU Police Department academy. The cadets are not only officers-in-training with a work schedule between 12 to 20 hours a week, but they are also full-time students.\n“We’re the working student. Most of our shifts are at night,” Spencer said. “We have a lot of weekend overnight shifts. If you have to work, you have to pick that over your friends. Our work can become a profession after college.” \nSpencer started her training in August, first learning CPR and then how to use an automated external defibrillator and how to dispatch officers. She said she later learned how to answer emergency calls and was given defensive training.\n“A lot of it is adjusting to wearing a uniform in public,” Spencer said. “You see a friend, but you must act professional in the situation. A lot of cadets are underage and you have to think if there will be an illegal situation (when you go out).”\nThis week, IUPD will begin interviewing possible candidates for next year’s cadet program. All candidates must be full-time students with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.\n“They don’t have police powers, but when they’re taking a 911 call, they have to be able to respond,” said IUPD Lt. Greg Butler. “It’s definitely a responsible type of position. They get paid for their services, but not a lot. But when they graduate, they not only have their degree, they are very marketable.”\nThe cadets work security at athletic events, the library, recreational events and the dorms. Many of the cadets live in residence halls and can provide security for dorm residents.\nThere are 38,000 students on campus and only 44 full-time police officers, Butler said. IU hosts major Big Ten events that 35 part-time officers and 25 cadets help with. If IUPD didn’t have this program, the University would have to bring in outside help. Having IU students as cadets allows IUPD to understand the type of students on campus, Butler said. \nThe cadet program, which began in 1972, is the only one of its kind in the nation that trains full-time students to become officers, Butler said.\n“I actually thought it would be a lot more physical training,” Spencer said of her training so far. “It’s not as intense as it will be in academy.”\nEvery eight weeks, cadets must take a fitness test where they are expected to improve in all areas. To be accepted into the summer training academy, cadets must be able to do 45 sit-ups in a minute and 40 push-ups in a minute. They are also given a set time to run a mile in. Cadets are expected to work out on their own so they can improve at each fitness test.\n“I asked an officer what we should do to prepare for academy and he said be in the best shape of our lives so we won’t get our butts kicked,” Spencer said. “Its going to get more intense on our own. We want to be in perfect shape for academy.”\nThe academy is a 14-week-long intense training program during the summer. Cadets must also pass 15 written exams. Guests include representatives of the FBI who come to teach skills used against terrorism, and the cadets learn an array of other skills including defensive tactics and are also taught how to handle domestic violence. Once cadets successfully complete the academy, they are considered part-time officers with all the rights and responsibilities of being a fully-trained police officer.\n“It’s a critical part of our law enforcing staff,” said IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger. “Without the cadets we wouldn’t be able to supply near the amount of services we are asked to do.”
(01/25/08 4:24am)
Food and conversation will fill the Harmony School gymnasium for the next 10 Saturdays at the Bloomington Winter Farmers’ Market.\nAbout 24 vendors will offer a wide variety of naturally grown and local foods. \nThe winter market will be open from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the school, located at 909 E. Second St., and local musicians will provide live entertainment.\n“It gives consumers a way to buy directly from farmers in the winter months,” said Maggie Sullivan, director of the Local Growers Guild. “We think it’s really important for people to know where their food comes from and who made it.”\nBesides selling all types of fruits and vegetables, the market will feature chef demonstrations, coffee, baked goods and a place to eat breakfast.\n“It’s a little bit smaller than the summer market,” Sullivan said. “There are a large variety of products though. A lot of people think nothing grows in Indiana.”\nErika Yochum of Harvest Lodge has been attending the winter and summer Farmers’ Market for the past three years. They are known at the market for their nine different types of gourmet tamales, hummus, salsa, soup and baked goods that people can use to create their own meals.\n“Its really nice to be able to sell to local customers,” Yochum said. “You know what they like. You can relate to your customer in a way you can’t at the grocery store.”\nHarvest Lodge is made up of 80 acres used for growing garlic, asparagus, peppers and organic blueberry bushes. They also raise chickens for free-range eggs.\n“Its really great for me because I end up using a lot of food from other vendors when I make my food,” Yochum said. “Its exciting to see how big its getting and how people are supporting it.”\nHeartland Family Farm, operated by Teresa Birtles and her daughters, has participated in the market for nine years.\n“I originally started coming to the market because I love to grow fruits and vegetables,” Birtles said. “I was a single mom and I wanted a way to work and keep my children with me. I thought farming would be a good family job.”\nHeartland Family Farm hasn’t missed a market in years, Birtles said. They provide a variety of different onions, salad mix, herbs, winter squash, green beans tomatoes and a lot of European, non-hybrid varieties of food.\n“Everything we have is naturally-grown, no fertilizers,” Birtles said. “Our chickens are outside eating off the ground, not cooped up in a building.”\n“It allows local dollars to remain local than to buy things that are shipped hundreds of thousands of miles away,” Birtles said. “It gives an opportunity to interact and socialize with people who are interested in growing their own food. It builds community.”\nThe summer market, which generally includes about 90 vendors, will begin the first Saturday in April and last until November in Showers Common next to City Hall.
(01/24/08 5:24am)
The lights will dim and the people sitting in the 500 seats inside the Buskirk-Chumley Theater will grow quiet as the fifth-annual PRIDE Film Festival kicks off at 8 p.m. today.\nThis weekend, a mix of short films and full-length feature films from all across the globe will be shown to an expected crowd of 2,000 college students, community members and people from across the state.\n“The purpose of the PRIDE Film Festival is to create a space to celebrate the (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning) community, and to expand our knowledge and understanding of the diversity of our community,” said Danielle McClelland, executive director of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.\nAbout 30 films will be shown during the four-day festival. The films cover a variety of topics, touching on issues pertinent to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual people. The films are diverse, and they cover all walks of life from the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa and Israel.\n“We wanted each individual night to stand on its own so if you couldn’t come to the entire festival, you would have a wide range of films and diversity in that screening,” McClelland said.\nThe volunteer steering committee viewed about 200 films while choosing productions for the festival. The committee began previewing the films in July of last year and didn’t finish its search until October. Directors and producers sent their films through an application process as early as March of last year, but the committee also searched for films to present in the festival, said Mary Gray, chair of the volunteer steering committee.\n“We looked for films that were really popular in other festivals,” Gray said. “We wanted films about women, men, transsexuality and race issues. We wanted political issues that bring us together. We wanted people to see a different perspective they otherwise wouldn’t expect to see.”\nOne film the committee sought for the festival was the “Itty Bitty Titty Committee.” The film is about a young girl who has just graduated high school, but her girlfriend has just dumped her and she didn’t get accepted into college. During her journey in the film, she meets a radical feminist who helps her find herself politically.\n“It’s a gentle call out to women that we don’t have equal rights,” said Lisa Thrasher, the producer. “Our country is still not where it needs to be.”\n“The Itty Bitty Titty Committee” has been featured in more than 100 film festivals and has won eight awards, including Best Feature Film at the South-by-Southwest Film Festival. It was created by POWER UP, the only volunteer, non-profit, women’s queer film company in the country. POWER UP is also presenting “Billy’s Dad Is A Fudge Packer” at this year’s festival.\n“Our mission is to make films for women, by women and to try to make them be seen by as many people as possible,” Thrasher said.\nThere is an admission price for the major screenings, but free screenings and panel discussions are also open to the public. Two free screenings will be offered, one at 5 p.m. today at the Whittenberger Auditorium and one at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.\n“Seeing people’s reactions to these films and their reactions to each other is unlike any other experience I’ve ever had,” Gray said of her impressions following the free screening and discussion Tuesday night at Collins Cheshire Café. “There aren’t a lot of opportunities to watch a film and discuss it. It’s one thing to laugh or cry with people in a theater, it’s another to turn on the lights and discuss the films. It takes you to a whole other place.”\nSaturday evening’s screening will be followed by an after-party from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. The party will include a DJ, food, dancing, as well as beer and wine for the 21-and-older crowd. Erotic dress is encouraged to go with the carnival \ndecorations.\n“It’s an opportunity to see the Buskirk-Chumley Theater transformed into the most incredible dance floor you’ve ever seen,” McClelland said.\nTickets can be purchased at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater box office. Gray encourages anyone interested in purchasing tickets in advance because the Friday and Saturday screenings usually sell out, she said. \n“I’m ecstatic,” Gray said. “We have some of the most amazing films.”
(01/22/08 5:58am)
Local artist Mark Wallis started sculpting during his senior year in high school with a simple art class. Now, his work resides on campuses and businesses all across the country, including Ivy Tech’s Bloomington campus.\nNineteen of Wallis’s sculptures – most of which will remain on campus until Jan. 25 – are currently on display at Ivy Tech Bloomington, placed in locations the artist chose himself. The sculptures, which are made of steel and limestone, fit in well with the green spaces on campus, Wallis said. \n“My pieces work really well with the landscape,” Wallis said. “They bring a sense of joy, delight and amusement. They aren’t confrontational, they cause the viewer to look at it and view them.”\nWhen entering Ivy Tech’s campus, the largest of the 19 sculptures, made out of quarter-inch steel, stands on the right. It is titled “Standing Concert” and took Wallis a few months to construct, he said. \nThe sculptures are scattered around the main building and parking lot, sitting on limestone bases in grassy areas.\n“They look really good in garden spaces,” Wallis said. “They are very harmonic. That campus is really right to have sculptures. The contemporary buildings just seemed right for my work.”\nThree sculptures, titled “Family,” are grouped together on campus. The sculptures were created individually, but when they were finished Wallis felt they complemented each other.\n“I just thought they looked good together,” Wallis said. “I could see a male, female, offspring idea.”\nEach piece is made of brand-new steel and can take weeks, months or even years to create. After fabrication, the pieces are covered in an acid and left to rust for several weeks or longer. The piece is eventually scuffed to rid it of loose particles and to get a clean surface. At the end of the process, the piece is covered in a rich bronze finish.\n“I’ve had a piece sit in my studio for a year and one day I decide where I want to go with it,” Wallis said. “Each piece is a journey. In that journey there are pauses, time to play and experiment. There’s a lot of mental time. I have to decide how I want to compose it.”\nWallis also has sculptures displayed at Oliver Winery, the Harley-Davidson store of Bloomington and the CVS in Bloomington. In each location, the works are made of different-sized pieces of limestone. \nWith more than 90 percent of Ivy Tech graduates working and living in the Bloomington area, it’s important to pay attention to art and landscape, said Amanda Billings, director of marketing and communications at Ivy Tech Bloomington. \n“It is vital that those who will live and work in south central Indiana have knowledge and awareness of the world around them,” she said. \nThe sculptures were installed at the Ivy Tech campus on Jan. 5 and 6. “Standing in Concert” will be staying through March, but the rest will be taken down on Jan. 25. After that, Wallis plans to pack up his artwork and drive to Florida, where the sculptures will be displayed at a show.\n“This was really kind of a rushed deal,” Wallis said. “I wish I could have had them out longer, but I’m glad I did it.”
(01/14/08 3:39am)
After getting arrested and spending a hard night in a cold jail cell, students still have to go through a long judicial process.\n“A fairly common response I get from students is, ‘I didn’t realize the seriousness of the situation,’” said Dick McKaig, dean of students. “When suspension and expulsion are on the line, they realize it.”\nDuring the 2006-2007 school year, 10 percent of the student body went through the campus judicial system, many of them unaware of the consequences facing them, said Pam Freeman, assistant dean of students.\n“Once students have been through the campus judicial process, they would have to be very careless to let it happen again,” Freeman said.\nWhen students break an ethics code in the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, whether through an arrest or an academic violation, students are eligible for punishments ranging from a reprimand to an expulsion, Freeman said.\nWhen a student is arrested, the report is sent to the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office, said Chris Gaal, Monroe County prosecutor. The prosecutor then decides whether or not there is sufficient evidence to charge the suspect with a criminal offense.\nIllegal consumption and public intoxication are the most common offenses students commit, Gaal said. Students are also involved in other types of criminal events like battery and robbery.\nIf it is a student’s first offense for alcohol intoxication, he or she is eligible for a pre-trial diversion agreement through the prosecutor’s office. This agreement, which includes an alcohol education course, is meant to keep a criminal conviction off the student’s record. Students must pay a fee for the program and agree not to commit another criminal offense for a year. Drunk drivers are not eligible for this agreement because it’s a danger to the public, Gaal said.\n“A drinking ticket is nothing more than an arrest,” said IU Police Department Captain Jerry Minger. “It minimizes a crime by what people call it.”\nThe Office of Student Ethics and Anti-Harassment Programs also has an alternative alcohol intervention program, which is similar to the pretrial diversion agreement. \nWhen a student is arrested and breaks a student code of ethics, the Office of Student Ethics receives the police report. Students are then given a week’s notice before they must come in for a meeting with an academic counselor, Freeman said. A judicial conference is then scheduled, during which the student has a chance to present their side of the story.\n“What helps determine the sanction is if the student has done this before,” Freeman said. “Students’ attitudes can also make a difference. If a student comes in and says, ‘This is stupid and you can’t stop me,’ then the outcome will not go well.”\nFollowing the judicial conference, students may consent to the sanction made or they may request a judicial hearing in which they can provide witnesses to help them prove their case.\nIn most cases, students can be suspended when they have multiple offenses, violated alcohol codes, committed plagiarism or participated in a violent crime against someone else, such as shooting and stabbing. If a student is put on probation, it stays on his or her record for five years after graduation. Students can be expelled from IU for major drug cases, previous suspensions and falsified transcripts.\n“We expel students when we feel we don’t want someone like that to have a degree from IU,” McKaig said.\nTo see a full list of the student ethics codes, students may visit the Office of Ethics Web site at http://www.dsa.indiana.edu/ethics.html.
(01/10/08 5:51am)
In early December, a man was assaulted by an unidentified person who fled the scene. The victim ran to the nearest campus blue light for help and IUPD arrived at the scene afterward.\nAdministrators had such a scene in mind when the blue light safety posts were stationed around campus. But these days, the lights are more often used for prank calls, police say. \n“We receive hundreds of calls a year that are just bogus,” said IU Police Department Capt. Jerry Minger. Although blue lights call the IU Police Department – not 911 – directly, they were originally intended for emergency calls, Minger said. The blue lights also have a keypad so students can call whoever they want for help.\nCarol McCord, assistant dean of the Office for Women’s Affairs at IU, said she doesn’t believe the blue lights are a major tool for protecting students. \n “People should not think, ‘Wow, those are really saving people,’” she said\nShe explained that most of the lights are in areas where safety isn’t a major concern. She said people are more aware walking by themselves than they are when they go out to parties where there’s real danger.\n“I do worry a lot that it contributes to unnecessary worry at places where blue lights are,” McCord said. “It makes us more vulnerable when we are at risk, and we are more aware when we’re not at risk.”\nAnother major problem with the blue lights is police can’t determine whether the phone calls are actually being used for emergencies, McCord said.\nWhen a student uses a blue light, whether it’s a prank call or an actual emergency, someone must be sent to reset the light. There is a red button on the lights and if the red button is hit, IUPD is notified, Minger said. IUPD can contact the person on the other end but most of the time, there’s no one there. But whether someone is there or not, IUPD still reports to the scene.\nAlthough Minger believes the blue lights are a good safety precaution, he doesn’t want to encourage people to walk through dark, wooded areas, such as behind Woodburn and Ballantine halls.\n “After dark is when it’s a very unsafe place to be,” Minger said. “The thing to tell people is to stay out of it. It’s like telling people to stay out of traffic.”\nMinger said installing more blue lights would create a false sense of security. He said even though someone is five feet away from the phone, he or she might still be the victim of a crime. \nDespite some skepticism about adding more lighting throughout poorly-lit areas, the IU Student Association has contacted representatives on campus about adding more lighting in the woods around Ballantine Hall.\nThe general consensus of the administration, is that they don’t want students to walk through the woods at night, said W.T. Wright, IUSA student body president. Adding the lights might make students believe the area is safer than it really is.\n“Safety on campus is always a concern,” Wright said. “I definitely feel there’s a sense of security with the blue lights on campus. If there is ever a situation where it needs to be used, they are there.”
(01/08/08 5:55am)
As rho gammas went door to door to the dorm rooms of sorority hopefuls Monday, they brought cheers and tears to this year’s recruitment participants, some of whom received bids from their favorite chapters and others who didn’t. \nAfterward, about 900 women boarded buses to take them to their new homes, where they were greeted by cheers from their new sisters.\n“My friend and I got into the same sorority,” said freshman Meghan Frost, who received a bid from Alpha Omicron Pi. “We didn’t even know we’d want the same one. We saw each other on the last day and realized we both picked the same house. It’ll be nice having someone I already know.”\nIn October, about 1,600 women participated in 19 party, the first round of recruitment. Within the last week, recruits slowly discovered whether they would have the opportunity to live in the chapter of their choice.\n“It’s hard to watch when your friends don’t get in,” Frost said. “It’s nobody’s fault. It’s all who you talked to.”\nWomen who registered for the recruitment process cut their winter breaks short to come back Jan. 4 for 12 party. The women received lists of the chapters they would visit each round, and the number of chapters decreased with each subsequent round.\n“I’m so excited to live in Kappa Alpha Theta and to be in a house with a lot of girls that I will probably love,” said freshman Mary Deneen. “When I found out, I was ecstatic. I’m so happy that it’s over, though. It was so nerve-racking.”\nTwelve party was followed by six party and three party. After the women visited their final three chapters, they had to pick which one they liked best.\n“I was definitely most nervous for three party because it got really serious,” Deneen said. “I liked six party the most because I really liked looking at the slide shows and pictures of girls in the chapters. I felt I had a better connection with the girls.”\nIn Alpha Omicron Pi, 58 girls were given bids for this year’s pledge class, which was three more than last year.\n“There are so many great girls that it’s hard to narrow down from each round,” said junior Katie Tepool, the recruitment chair for Alpha Omicron Pi. “We were looking for a group of diverse girls. I know we were happy with all the girls who came through.”\nRecruits who didn’t get the house of their choice or didn’t participate in 19 party can also participate in informal recruitment, which starts today. As long as they didn’t accept a bid Monday, women can send their contact information to the Panhellenic Association, said Kelly Robertson, executive vice president of recruitment for IU’s Panhellenic Association.\nThe new sorority members will be expected to attend meetings and workshops with their pledge class throughout the semester before they can move into the house in fall 2008. The new members are also encouraged to participate in events the houses hold.\n“Alpha Omicron Pi was my favorite because the girls seemed really nice and easy to live with,” Frost said. “I’m just relieved that I don’t have to talk about where I live anymore or what my major is.”
(12/07/07 4:24am)
Animal lovers feeling the stress of finals will have the opportunity Sunday to relieve anxiety by playing with dogs.\nAbout eight dogs will play in the Briscoe Quad activity room from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Two Yorkshire terriers, a Scottish terrier, a flat-coated retriever mix and several huskies are expected to be available for any student who is willing to receive a slobbery kiss during the Furry Finals Fix.\nThe event is sponsored by Revitalizing Animal Well-Being, a program that began only a year and a half ago. Kara Kendall, the community outreach coordinator for the group, created the idea for the “Furry Finals Fix” near the end of last semester.\n“Having pets growing up, I really missed them at college,” Kendall said. “I wanted to do this because I think a lot of students can benefit from interacting with animals. I thought it would be a lot of fun for students, but also for the animals and their owners.”\nKendall said a number of recent studies have shown that animals help relieve stress by lowering blood pressure and heart rate. Programs have been done where children who have trouble learning to read can read to a dog. Children have an easier time reading to a dog than a person because they don’t feel like they are being judged, she said.\nDespite it being a fairly new program, officers of revitalizing have recruited more than 100 members.\n“RAW is an organization that is devoted to give animal advocacy a positive spin,” said Courtney Wennerstrom, co-president and co-founder of the group. “We are very inclusive in our aims. There wasn’t a single animal advocacy group when we started this. We’re not about picketing, it doesn’t work anymore.”\nOne of the group’s latest events, the Dirty Dirty Dog Wash-Off, took place over the summer. Group members washed about 50 dogs and raised $200 for local animal shelters.\nThe group plans to hold their first annual kissing marathon event titled Sealed with a Kiss in February where they plan to raise money to help prevent seal slaughter in Canada, Wennerstrom said.\n“Part of our larger projects are to show how humans and animals are intertwined,” Wennerstrom said. “Our connection with animals is really vital. They have a great impression on our psyches.”\nAlthough Kendall urges students and faculty members to bring their own pets to the Furry Finals Fix, pet owners must e-mail Kendall at klkendal@indiana.edu before the event.\n“The animals that are coming to the event enjoy people and they enjoy other animals,” Kendall said. “The dogs at last year’s event ate up all the attention. I think they’ll do it again this year.”
(11/30/07 5:22pm)
he Indiana War Memorial will now provide complimentary funeral services for any Indiana veteran in its 500-seat auditorium.\nThe funerals are available to all Indiana veterans of any war free of charge, said Brig. Gen. J. Stewart Goodwin, executive director of the Indiana War Memorial. The war memorial staff wanted to allow veterans’ families to have their loved one’s funerals in a place where veterans are already honored, he said. \n“Our job is to honor Hoosier veterans,” Goodwin said. “What better way to honor them?”\nAt the moment, no funerals have been held at the memorial, but Goodwin said it is open to funeral arrangements at any time.\nThe memorial staff has notified local funeral homes and veterans’ groups about the new arrangements, Goodwin said. But not everyone agrees the war memorial is the most appropriate place for a funeral.\n“I’m not so sure that’s the best place. Funerals should be done in a mortuary,” said Jon Brinkley, state service provider for the Indiana Veterans Affairs. “Any memorial throughout the country that I know of doesn’t allow funerals to be held there.”\nA representative of the National Parks Service said the government does not allow funerals to be held at any of the memorials or monuments in Washington, D.C. The government is much more strict on memorials if they are held on federal government property opposed to state government property, the representative said. The Indiana War Memorial was built on state property in 1927 and dedicated in 1933, Goodwin said.\nWhen families choose to hold a funeral at the memorial, they are responsible for making arrangements at the cemetery of their choice, Goodwin said. The Indiana War Memorial just provides the building for veterans.\nMore than 400 events a year are held at the memorial, including weddings, birthdays, parties and promotional events, Goodwin said.
(11/16/07 4:53am)
On Friday morning, 35 cyclists from IU and Purdue will depart West Lafayette for a two-day ride to Bloomington to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.\nThe cyclists will start at Ross-Ade Stadium and finish Saturday before kick-off at Memorial Stadium.\n“The purpose of the Bucket 100 is to raise awareness for Habitat for Humanity in Indiana,” said Doug Taylor, director of the Purdue Habitat for Humanity chapter. “It’s a combination of Purdue and IU’s Habitat for Humanity.”\nEach rider pays a $40 registration fee, and then it is their responsibility to solicit pledges. Each rider is required to earn at least $150 in pledges. Whichever University raises the most money receives the “dry wall” bucket. The dry wall represents materials used to build a Habitat for Humanity house. Last year, IU raised the most money – a little more than $1,000.\n“Hopefully this will get some publicity and let people know what Habitat for Humanity does in Indiana,” Taylor said. “We want to raise awareness that there are people who do need houses. We ride through small towns in Indiana and let them know what we are doing.”\nThe ride is 122 miles long, and after completing 70 miles the first day, the riders spend the night at Camp Camby in Plainfield, Ind.\n“There’s a lot of trash-talking between the riders,” Taylor said. “They usually ride together for the first mile, but then IU pulls ahead. The IU riders are always better than Purdue because of the Little 500.”\nThis is only the second year for the Bucket 100, and both groups admitted they did not raise as much money as they had hoped to last year. The money goes toward building a $50,000 house. This year, IU’s goal was to raise $2,500, and it has already surpassed that mark.\n“Every single penny we earn will go directly to the Monroe County Habitat for Humanity to help go to the $50,000 to build a house,” said Emily Clarke, the major events director for IU’s Habitat for Humanity.\nOnce the riders reach Bloomington, Habitat for Humanity will host a tailgate for the riders, which will include food and DJs.\n“Organizations in Bloomington are sponsoring the tailgate,” Clarke said. “We wanted to have a small celebration for all the work that has been done.”\nLast year, Purdue was involved in a ride called Cover Indiana, where cyclists rode for an entire week to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. This year, the event is from May 11 to 18, and Purdue and IU plan to be involved in the ride.\n“The Bucket 100 was a way to raise awareness,” Taylor said. “I used to be a cyclist, and I organized the first Cover Indiana and Bucket 100. I liked riding through the countryside of Indiana.”\nIU’s Habitat for Humanity will continue to raise money and take donations until the end of the semester for the house that will be built. If students are interested, donations can be made directly online by visiting www.iuhabitat.org.
(11/15/07 4:03am)
Drag queens are often perceived as only men dressing up as women for a show, but a program called “Viva la Viva: Identity or Art” will come to campus today to tell of an alternate meaning of what it means to be a drag queen.\nThe event, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Read Center Lounge, will showcase three drag queens who will perform and discuss various issues involving what they do.\n“Being a drag queen doesn’t mean you’re gay. It’s a way of art,” said senior Jhomar Marquez. “The audience will learn to differentiate between art \nand identity.”\nAfter the shows, the three drag queens, all of whom are former winners of the Miss Gay IU pageant, will explain why they perform, how long it takes to get ready and what it’s like to dress as a different gender.\n“I want to minimize the different stereotypes that are associated with drag queens and gay subcultures,” Marquez said. “Many people think they are all transsexual and that’s not true.”\nThe event will also have a contest in which students can dress in drag. First place will receive a $100 Visa gift card, second
(11/14/07 5:40am)
Today’s college students are more interested in politics than other young people, but they don’t know how to become involved, according to a study released earlier this month.\nThe study, “Millennials Talk Politics: A Study of College Student Political Engagement,” was conducted by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. The Harwood Group did a similar study in the early ’90s, and the idea was to compare results.\n“The results were not similar to the ’90s,” said Abby Kiesa, youth director for CIRCLE. “(Students) were saying they don’t like the partisanship of today. They do a lot of hands-on activities, and they don’t write off political studies like they did in the ’90s. They don’t necessarily know how to get involved, but they want to.”\nThe study found that many college students resort to community service because they are informed about politics and care about the issues, but aren’t sure how to become involved.\n“I think it will make people step back for a minute to ask ‘What is our campus doing to facilitate political engagement?’ or ‘What (are they) not doing?’” Kiesa said. “I also think this notion of college students being apathetic isn’t always true. Students want to get involved, but they don’t know how.”\nAbout 400 students participated in the study at 12 four-year universities. Researchers attempted to use many of the same schools used in the previous study.\n“We were really committed to the fact that every college has a different atmosphere,” Kiesa said. “We worked with a team of students and faculty at each school who helped us pick students.”\nResearchers held a total of 47 focus groups within the 12 universities between October 2006 and July 2007. At no point in the proposal were students told they would be discussing politics. The idea was to a find a diversity of students interested in incentives, not students necessarily interested in discussing politics.\n“Some things were striking,” Kiesa said. “Students talked a lot about bias in the media. It came up in almost every focus group spontaneously. We didn’t even ask about it. What we perceived was that students didn’t want a Republican versus Democratic debate, but an open discussion.”\nResearchers held three panel discussions following the release of the report.\n“Through the panel discussions, we got different perspectives on (the study),” said Peter Levine, director of CIRCLE. “We got viewpoints of what it means to people from youth and reporters. What the young people want is an opportunity for open discussion. Young people were crying out for opportunities to discuss political issues. They aren’t satisfied with how politicians are acting.”\nCIRCLE published the report on its Web site but also printed thousands of hard copies to pass out to universities.\nKarlo Marcelo, a research associate for CIRCLE, said the organization is next looking to go to college campuses and give reports to administrators to help them push for more programs to engage students.
(11/12/07 2:54am)
The packed audience Friday night at the IU Auditorium was on its feet screaming well before the Umphrey’s McGee concert began.\nAs the lights dimmed, the mixed crowd of college students, high school students and middle-aged fans chanted “Umphrey’s” as people left their seats to mesh into one seat in front of the stage. The band began by playing hard metal that eventually led to guitar solos, bongo playing and a few vocals now and then.\n“This is my 13th show,” said Mark Cottrell of Indianapolis. “I definitely like how they came out with the opener. The way they came out and went right into the show, there was no introduction; they just went right into it.”\nSome describe Umphrey’s McGee as an art-rock group. \n“I love the different styles they bring into their sets,” said senior Alan Werskey. “It’s a little bit of everything for everybody. They are unique because of the way they do construct their music. They provide so much more from the normal jam band.”\nMuch of the music was 1970s-inspired, with many instrumental pieces.\n“The expectation of them playing long jams drifting from one song to another is what I look for,” Werskey said. “The songs can go many different ways and everybody’s into it.”\nUnlike many bands of today, the concert was filled with instrumental sets and lyrics as a background notion. The long sets of music made it impossible to tell when one song ended and another one began. The band used its lyrics throughout the show, but it mainly focused on switching between various styles of music.\n“I like how they bring new things to the table every time I see them,” Cottrell said. “Whenever they play in the Midwest, I know it’s going to be good because that’s where they’re from. You know they’re going to bring it.”\nSince the band’s music is mostly focused on the instruments, all six band members received equal playing time. \n“They definitely showed musicianship by their transitions of songs,” Werskey said. “It was really solid. My favorite type of music is jam band. I like listening to lengthy songs that sound just as good at the start as the end.”\nAfter almost three hours of performing, Umphrey’s McGee was greeted by a standing ovation that lasted nearly five minutes. With the crowd still standing, the band came back out to perform an encore set.\n“I thought the performance was phenomenal,” stated Lindsay Walker, a senior at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis. “They all played their own solos. The venue was small (compared to outdoor venues), and there wasn’t much dancing room, but a lot of people meshed together and became friends.”
(11/09/07 3:02am)
While most IU students will sit through classes until Thanksgiving break, 49 Kelley School of Business students will travel to India for a week to see places such as the Taj Mahal and visit a member of India’s parliament.\n“IU has a network of alums in India and the youngest member of parliament in India is an IU alumni. It fit our needs and the ability to do things,” said business law professor Jamie Prenkert.\nThe students are set to leave Friday and will return on Nov. 19. The students are sophomores in the business school’s honors program and all take the same classes. As such, missing a week’s worth of classes is not an inconvenience.\n“The program has been nice because you get to know people in your classes,” said sophomore Ryan Stevens. “It almost reminded me of high school. I’ve enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t want to do it all four years.”\nApart from their coursework, the students have been preparing for this trip all semester. One of their classes this semester is titled Business and Culture in India, and prepares them for the challenges they will face in traveling overseas. They have discussed the process of international travel and what to pack, and have also had experience tasting Indian cuisine. Guest lecturers have also spoken to the classes, and students have discussed India as a whole and compared its business practices with those of the U.S.\n“One of the focuses is to have experience looking at business and marketing in emerging markets,” Prenkert said. “(India) is a national scene of business and productivity. It’s a site for business with the U.S.”\nWhile the students are in India, they will participate in a mix of government and business visits along with typical tourist activities. They will visit the cities of Delhi, Agra and Chennai.\n“I’m really excited about seeing the Taj Mahal. I’ve heard it’s the most amazing thing you’ll see in your life,” Stevens said.\nThe students have been doing research projects this year on different aspects of India including business practices in India, the history of the country, media, Bollywood and the current state of the country. The students will then report back to their classmates on what they learned about the subject matter when they return.\n“I hope to gain a greater awareness of things on a world scale, both in business and culturally,” said sophomore Melinda Hohler. “I hope to learn about the relations between Indians and Americans, how adapting they would be to western experiences. I hope to see the globalization of India and the U.S. and their ability to work together.”\nThe business school also has a program in which students can travel internationally over spring break. This year, they have the opportunity to visit China, Croatia, Brazil or Ghana.\n“I think they will bring back a real understanding of global business. It’s a rigorous program of five honors classes,” Prenkert said. “They’ve had exposure to business they wouldn’t usually have.”
(11/05/07 3:28am)
The smell of 14 different soups made by chefs from across Bloomington filled the air over Morton Street Saturday morning at the Farmer’s Market’s first soup-tasting.\nThe purpose of the soup tasting was to bring people to the Farmer’s Market and remind them that the market is still open through November, said Lori Appler, a senior and an AmeriCorps member who works with the \nFarmer’s Market.\nOrganizers encouraged the chefs to use local food from the farmers around Bloomington, much of which is sold at the market, Appler said.\nMany of the chefs also hold booths at the market.\n“We used stuff that people can obtain at the market, but we didn’t actually get it from there,” said Matt Tedesco, a cook at Upland Brewery. “They wanted people to take a look at our recipes and make their own interpretation \nof them.”\nEach cook had the recipe for his soup sitting out so visitors could take a copy of the ones\n they enjoyed. \nEverything from Guatamalan potato soup to pumpkin and apple spiced soup was available for tasting. Many new restaurants used the event as an opportunity to let residents know about their dishes. \n“Our restaurant is new to the community,” said chef Jeff Finch from Trulli Flatbread, 514 Kirkwood Ave. “We’ve only been here about six months. This lets people know who we are and sample our stuff. There’s a huge sense of community out there that will hopefully enjoy and support our restaurant.”\nThe soup-tasting had an unexpected turnout, Tedesco said. \n“My initial reaction was, ‘Wow, there’s a lot of people here,’” Tedesco said. “I think everyone ran out of soup\n in the end.”\nThe Farmer’s Market holds other tastings throughout the year to bring people in. \n“We want to encourage students who aren’t aware of us or feel it’s too early, that we’re open until 1 p.m. and encourage them to come down,”\nsaid Appler.\nThree more Saturday markets are scheduled for the year. The final Saturday is Nov. 24 and it’s a special holiday market. Besides having the normal food, many arts and crafts for the holidays are also available.\n“We are the only farmer’s market in Indiana to accept food stamps,” Appler said. “We just started that this year. We have different ethnic income levels and different ages and beliefs. Bloomington has a varied culture and we are gearing off the idea of Bloomington in general.”\nThe Farmer’s Market is located at 401 N. Morton St. in front of City Hall. For the rest of the month, the market will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to \n1 p.m.
(10/26/07 3:24am)
At 3 p.m. every Friday, cyclists from across IU’s campus meet at the Revolution Bike and Bean to participate in weekly group rides throughout the city. \nMany of them are part of the IU Cycling Club, a group of students that ride and compete together throughout the year. \n“We have group rides going all year round. There are people who are at the top of racing, but also entry level,” said junior Isaac Neff, president of the club. “That is one thing that really enhances the club.”\nThe club competes in races all over the Midwest, against big schools such as Ohio State University, but also smaller ones like DePauw University. \n“It’s been several years since (IU) held a race,” said senior Katie Haft, a member. “Once Little 5 gets started, participation dwindles.”\nThe club isn’t a part of Little 500, but many club racers participate in both the Little 500 and collegiate races.\n“I’m sure (the club) has helped me with Little 5, but my personal goal is collegiate nationals,” Neff said. “I’ve used collegiate races as training. You meet people who are better than you and it pushes you.” \nFor racing, the club is split into three different levels for men and two different levels for women. The top 10 men race in level A, the next 40 to 50 people race in level B and the rest of the racers race in level C. It’s the same for women, but without level C.\nWhen it comes to putting a team together for nationals, only 10 men and 10 women are allowed to participate.\nThe club provides workshops throughout the year so they can learn more about racing and maintaining their bikes. The workshops include such topics as mechanical work, staying “bike fit” and helping members set up a training schedule.\nNeff said the club has between 100 and 200 racers per year. They don’t all race, he said, but the group still works to include them.\n“This year we’re trying to have more club activities if they aren’t racing,” Neff said.\nTo join, students pay a $50 initial membership fee, which covers the cost of the workshops. Racers also receive discounts on cycling clothing. If a race is out of town, competitors must find a way to pay for gas and a place to stay.\n“It can be very time consuming,” Haft said. “I tend to ride six days a week anyway. It’s time consuming competing at other universities with the travel – a race is pretty much a whole weekend trip.” \nThe IU Cycling Club tries to organize group rides outside of the club, too, for riders who can’t make it to the weekly Friday rides. \n“They make it really easy to get involved in the races,” Haft said. “Even if you’ve never done any racing before, they are really supportive.”