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(09/04/06 3:11am)
This semester has unofficially been named the semester of pantslessness. It seems that just as Lance Bass came out of the closet, Wranglers and Levi's are being tossed back in.\nAfter five long days of classes, I have not seen one pair of pants. Not a khaki cargo or denim capri in sight because, apparently, leggings have joined forces with Pinky and the Brain to try and take over the world. Isn't this crossing some new casual/skanky border? What's next? Are boy-short undies that say "I love to cuddle" going to be appropriate for statistics class? Are a G-string and a wifebeater now perfect for your professor's office hours? And where the hell is Levi Strauss?\nDon't get me wrong here, folks, I'm a hard-core leggings fan. I sport them everywhere. I doodle "Teri + Leggings" all over my notebook and hide it whenever leggings come near. I eat leggings with toast and Smucker's for breakfast. \nStill, if you'll notice, under "Relationship Status," my Facebook profile says, "It's Complicated" with "Leggings." Here's my problem: Leggings are not pants. Leggings are extraneous -- like pepper or KY Jelly. You'll manage without them, but they're nice to keep around. So ... leggings with a denim mini? Great. Leggings with an extra-long sweater and a belted waist? Adorable. Leggings with a Gary Coleman-sized LaCoste polo? I'm throwing up in my mouth a little. I don't want to see all you've got to offer before the first date, lady.\nAnd what goes with that great pair of nondescript leggings but a Fruit of the Loom T-shirt you bought at Dollar Tree? I understand the need for bland simplicity in a wardrobe; I can shop at The Gap. But come on. You're not James Dean -- or, more appropriately, Jane Dean. I'm betting you white-shirted gals out there don't even get that reference and you're Facebooking Jane Dean as we speak. You're wondering, "Who is this chick? Do you think I can borrow that Hanes Her Way V-neck she's wearing in her pic?"\nInstead, let's pair those bad boys with a long flowered tank and some oversized jewelry. Give those leggings more love than a T-shirt you bought pre-wrapped in cheap plastic and cardboard. They're crying out to you.\nSadly, there's one more piece to add to this trifecta of unfortunate fashion. You've all seen it before, adorning necks and wrists alike with its charm-ing goodness. It makes that wonderful statement: "My boyfriend loves me so much that he bought me the one of the cheapest pieces of garbage that Tiffany & Co.'s sells to make me happy." \nSorry to break the news to you like this, but your ugly Tiffany's chain does not bring all the jealous girls to the yard. I'd be more fulfilled if my boyfriend bought me a pack of wide-ruled loose-leaf notebook paper and a broken dildo. And nobody over the age of 6 likes wide-ruled notebook paper.\nIt's not like your boyfriend knew to buy that ridiculous necklace; we all know you told him to. Straight guys don't know Tiffany's from Scotty's. And don't act like you didn't like the gift, like that time he bought you that singing bass for your anniversary. \nLet's clear one thing up: I'm not trying to tell you what to wear. It's more of a TLC "What Not to Wear" sort of deal. But the honest truth is just that Levi Strauss and I are, well, intimate. We've got a hot thing going on, and I just miss him a whole lot. Him and Baby Suri. \nLet's bring pants back.
(08/28/06 2:48am)
Before I begin offending the masses with my pretentious (but awe-inspiring!) fashion perspective, I should let you in on my fashion philosophy. \nSo, do I have a fashion philosophy? I couldn't tell you, but I sure as hell like to pre-game before a good kegger and cut holes in whatever I'm wearing out that night. And that is usually followed by long moments of satisfied gazing in my full-length mirror, repeating things like "Daaaamn" and "I'm Awesome." Sometimes I even bust a move.\nMy fashion philosophy also runs by rules, such as one of the more important ones: I refuse to wear sweatpants to class. I'll let all of you Kappa Alpha Cotton-wearers take care of that for me. But, please, keep it up! Reading words on a girl's ass while I'm trekking to the Indiana Memorial Union always puts a smile on my face. Oh, what does your ass say? Does your ass say 'Hoosiers'? Well that is just crazy because I actually have a few friends who go to IU. (Insert "It's a Small World After All" theme music here.) \nAnyway, I'm not really sure if scissor abuse and "scorns elastic waists" count as a philosophy, but I just enjoy making an effort. Otherwise, how is that one perpetually tan guy with the popped collar going to distinguish that one chick in gauchos and oversized sunglasses from that other chick in gauchos and oversized sunglasses? I'm just trying to make things easier for everyone involved here (especially for those who dwell in Smallwood).\nDon't get me wrong, though. It's not like I'm sporting Prada shirt dresses and Manolo Blahniks to class or anything. (Well, I'm not really sporting Prada or Manolos anywhere because I would have to sell my feet on craigslist to afford those bad boys.) Still, sometimes I do think that immobilization is a sacrifice I'm willing to make. \nBut for now, almost everything I own is "vintage" — a euphemistic term used to illustrate things I paid 30 cents for at a dirty thrift store in Gary — and Forever 21. Laugh if you must, but if you dig around in that overstocked, well-lit cloth asylum long enough, you will find that well-patterned babydoll dress among those dreadful camouflage minis (and all during the chorus of a poorly-executed Christina Aguilera remix.) And nothing there costs more than $3.80, I swear. \nHere's the thing: it's not that I'm that cheap, I'm just that broke. Broke-ity broke. So broke that I just said "broke-ity broke" to demonstrate how broke I actually am -- I can't even afford good humor, but I think that just adds to my flare. Paris Hilton is never on the best-dressed list, and do you know why? She's never turned one of her mom's old skirts into a shawl because she couldn't afford to purchase the one she saw at Urban Outfitters. Marc Jacobs just gave one to her. That's not creativity, that's just rich as hell.\nSo, that's me: broke, ambitious and abounding in things to make fun of. Love me or hate me, but, most importantly, stop buying those godforsaken Ugg boots!
(04/21/06 3:47am)
This Saturday at 2 p.m., the Jacobs School of Music will host its biannual computer music concert. The event will take place at Sweeney Hall in the Simon Music Building.\nThe concert will feature the work of nine students and the work of assistant director of the Center for Electronic and Computer Music John Gibson. The concert will consist mostly of students playing pre-recorded compositions for the audience.\n"It's about listening, and maybe shutting your eyes," said Jeff Hass, the Director of the CECM.\nOne piece featured in the show will be interactive. Hass said this means that a performer will play an instrument live and a laptop will respond to the music being played. This portion is not pre-recorded.\n"We compose music using technology," Hass said. "We use computers to shape sound, and we record things and manipulate them." \nAlso, Gibson will show a video for his piece. As part of a collaboration with a professor in the art department, Gibson created the sound for the video.\nFor most of the students involved, this concert is similar to an art student's gallery show.\n"Most of them have started work on this since the beginning of the semester," Hass said. "So this is sort of the culmination of their semester's work." \nHass said the students often just think of ideas for a piece and then record certain sounds. For example, one of the pre-recorded pieces in the concert features someone dropping pebbles onto a wooden floor, although it may not sound exactly like that. Through technology, the sounds are often stretched, mutated or layered to create music.\n"We have a wonderful facility," Hass said. "The School of Music has supported us very well \n financially."\nThe CECM has been in place since 1965. However, computer music has only been offered as a major for the past four years. The degree is offered at the graduate level, and most undergraduate students are music composition majors.\n"I proposed (the major) and it has been a popular area," Hass said.\nAs for students unfamiliar to this genre of music, Gibson said that today's society is constantly surrounded by music that is made electronically.\n"It's a more experimental approach to sound," Gibson said. "I can pretty much guarantee that this is something you haven't heard \nbefore"
(02/13/06 5:19am)
With only a couple of hours to go before the Miss IU pageant, the setup is typical. With curlers in their hair and mascara wands in their hands, the girls hover in front of the mirrors. The atmosphere is one of nervous excitement. The picture is what some might predict from a beauty pageant, apart from one element: food. \n"It's food time!" one contestant said, as she simultaneously applied her makeup. "Let's do this."\nThe room empties and eventually fills back up with multiple plates of pasta and salad, and the girls gobble them down at unexpected rates.\nThe 12 contestants arrived at 9:30 a.m. at Alumni Hall, more than eight hours before the start of the Miss IU pageant. After nearly three hours of competition, graduate student Betsy Uschkrat was crowned the first Miss IU in 37 years. \n"(I'm) excited and looking forward to the future," Uschkrat said between photo shoots and hugs after the competition.\nEmcee Jean-Paul Etienne said he was glad the competition's long hiatus was over. \n"We are very excited to bring this tradition back to IU," he said.\nThe Miss IU Pageant is one of many small Indiana pageants, with the first-place winners of each competition advancing to the Miss Indiana pageant in June. The winner of the Miss Indiana competition will then go on to compete at the Miss America pageant.\nSecond and third runner-ups were junior Erin Parks and senior Lisa Hennessy.\nThe girls' long day consisted of private interviews, worth one-fourth of the final score, as well as a dress \nrehearsal.\nThe incentives for competing in the pageant include a $3,500 cash scholarship, among other prizes. \n"I got into it for the scholarship money ... and, of course, the title," Ortman said. \nIn order to compete, contestants must be full-time students at IU between the ages of 17 and 24. \nBut Hennessy said more is required of those who enter.\n"You have to make sure you stay up on current events," Hennessy said. "You have to know the background of Indiana University."\nPrior to the pageant, protesters outside Alumni Hall quietly held signs expressing their disagreement with the event.\nExecutive director of the pageant, Lindsay Shipps Etienne, briefly commented on the protesters during the competition. \n"There's nothing old-fashioned about winning money for school," she said.\nThe event consisted of four separate competitions: casual wear, swimsuit, talent and evening wear. The casual wear portion also featured an onstage question about each contestant's platform. The girls each picked a humanitarian platform for the competition.\n"It's what you support," Ortman said. "It's something close to your heart that you care about."\n"As far as I'm concerned, Miss Indiana is a formality," Shipps Etienne said as she gave Uschkrat a congratulatory hug. "We're going to Miss America"
(02/07/06 5:47am)
If students could get paid for sitting in a cozy chair, listening to music and doing homework for an hour or two, they would, right?\nBioLife Plasma Services in Bloomington is a center devoted entirely to plasma donation. It offers donors $20 for one donation in a seven-day period, and $30 for the second donation in that period. There is a limit of two donations per week, with at least one day in between each of those visits. There must be at least 48 hours between donations, but the body replaces plasma removed during the donation process quickly, according to the BioLife Web site.\n"The reason why they're willing to pay so much for (plasma) is because there's so much of a human need for it," said Omar Faiz, the manager of BioLife. "It's vital for life for some people."\nAccording to the BioLife Web site, "plasma is the pale yellow liquid portion of your blood that can be easily replaced by the body. It consists mainly of water and proteins, which help your body control bleeding and infection."\nPlasma is necessary for various medical purposes, such as treating hemophilia patients, burn victims and children with \nprimary immunodeficiency disorders, Faiz said.\n"There's no good way to make plasma," Faiz said. "The only way you can get it is from people donating."\nFaiz said about 50 percent of donors are students. As other students learn of this opportunity for quick cash, more and more donate. During the past six months, the number of donors increased 25 percent.\nFaiz also said that many students begin donating to earn money for spring break. \nSophomore Jon Ramos recently started donating after he heard of the idea from a friend.\n"I needed money to pay for my trip to Australia this summer," Ramos said.\nFor students, donating might be a good idea academically. While donating, they can read or catch up on homework.\n"I read for my classes and get some of that out of the way while I'm there," Ramos said. "If I don't feel like reading, I'll just throw on some headphones."\nThe process of donating takes about 60 to 75 minutes once one reaches the donor floor. According to the BioLife Web site, plasma is collected by a process called "plasmapheresis." In this process, the system alternates between collection and replacement until a certain amount of plasma, based on weight, is acquired.\n"It's similar to donating blood," Faiz said, "but you don't actually lose any blood in the process."\nSenior Ben Bussell started donating plasma to earn extra money. He said the donation process "stings at first," but that the pain doesn't last.\n"Plenty of things happen everyday that hurt more than this," Bussell said.\nCertain eligibility guidelines exist that prevent some students from donating. Faiz said tattoos must be 12 months old before donating. Anyone who donates blood must wait eight weeks before donating plasma. Also, according to the Biolife Web site, some piercings might prevent plasma donation, depending on the type of procedure used. Every donation includes a screening of medical history questions for extra precaution.\n"It's an extremely clean and sterile environment," Faiz said. "We go through a list of precautions to make sure your safety is upheld at all times."\nFor some students, donating plasma is a great way to earn extra cash and help a worthy cause.\n"It's easy cash and it goes to good use," Ramos said. "Anyone that's not afraid of needles should go donate"
(01/23/06 5:15am)
If you've ever wondered what it would be like to visit an adult theater during the 1960s, this could be your chance to find out. \nOn Thursday, The Kinsey Institute, in Morrison Hall 313, will open its new exhibit, "Sex in the Cinema." This exhibit takes a peek into history to view the many ways the film industry has used sex as an advertising scheme.\n"We're just trying to show how sex has been used to sell movies from the beginning," said Catherine Johnson-Roehr, curator of arts, artifacts and photographs at the Kinsey Institute.\nThe exhibit's opening reception will be held in conjunction with this weekend's PRIDE Film Festival at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. The display features posters and artifacts from homosexual and transgender films.\nA large portion of the exhibit features movie posters of the past that depict sexual images and messages.\nAccording to the Kinsey Institute Web site, the posters represent genres from the 1930s through mainstream X-rated films from the 1970s. \n"The advertising and the graphic design are wonderful examples of pop culture," Johnson-Roehr said. "Basically, they used this over-the-top sensationalism to bring people in to buy tickets. Most were not very good films."\nIn addition to posters, the exhibit also showcases donated press material, publications and film stills.\nJohnson-Roehr said because of the controversial nature of these films, promoters would often state that the film had educational value.\n"If you wanted to show something about sex and not be bothered by the authorities, you would claim that the film contained serious information," Johnson-Roehr said. \nJohnson-Roehr said that although the small exhibit is jam-packed with artifacts, it displays only a small portion of the collection. \n"We've tried to select a nice range so that visitors can get a good idea of the scope of our collection," Johnson-Roehr said.\nThe exhibit will open this Thursday with a free reception being held at Morrison Hall at 5 p.m.\nThere will be a short talk given by guest curator Brian Woodman at 6 p.m. The reception will also include a small display on the 2004 film, "Kinsey," and a screening of adult movie trailers from the 1940s.\nThe Kinsey Institute Gallery will extend its hours this weekend because of the PRIDE Film Festival. It will be open from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday. After this week, the exhibit can be seen by appointment only. The exhibit will remain open until April 7 and hours are available on the Kinsey Institute's Web site, www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/.\nJohnson-Roehr said that the exhibit is a good opportunity to not only see how sex and advertising worked in previous eras, but also to learn about past generations.\n"It doesn't matter if they were good movies," Johnson-Roehr said. "The posters and other promotional materials tell us something about the people who made these films and the audiences who went to see them"
(01/12/06 8:06pm)
As the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. draws near, opportunities around Bloomington and the campus abound, especially with regards to the arts. Students can participate and attend, sometimes for free, a variety of events and performances in the coming week. Engaging in the arts can enhance one's consideration of King's impact and influence on society today.\n"Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was about doing things that would inspire people, doing things that would bring people together and doing things that would break down barriers," said Charles E. Sykes, African American Arts Institute Director. "What better way to bring people together than to use the arts?"
(01/27/05 5:28am)
World-renowned guitar performer Denis Azabagic will travel to Bloomington for an anxiously awaited performance Saturday. The guitarist has played in various countries and received international accolades. His performance was a short-notice collaboration with the Bloomington Area Arts Council and Bloomington Classical Guitar Society. \nAzabagic's upcoming show replaces guitarist Atanas Tzvetkov's scheduled appearance, according to a John Waldron Arts Center press release. The show is part of the Performance Series at the Waldron, and in addition to Saturday night's concert, Azabagic has agreed to hold a Master Class at 11 a.m. Sunday at the John Waldron Arts Center Auditorium.\nAzabagic is originally from Bosnia, where he was exposed to music at a very young age. He said he thought playing music was a challenge and that is what fueled his fire.\n"My parents enrolled me in a music school when I was five years old," Azabagic said.\nWhile growing up, he never imagined where his love of music would eventually take him. He enjoyed practicing and worked very hard at his instrument, but he never thought he would be doing what he is doing now, he said. \n"I thought I would play guitar in a rock band or something," he said.\nWar broke out in Bosnia in 1991, and Azabagic left his home country and moved to the Netherlands. There he met his wife, Eugenia Moliner, an established flautist.\nIn 1993 Azabagic became the youngest winner of the esteemed International Guitar Competitions in Madrid, Spain, which he feels had a major influence on his later career, he said. In 1998, the Guitar Foundation of America granted Azabagic a 60-concert tour of the United States and Canada, which he said also proved to be instrumental in his success.\n"This helped me to establish a name for myself in a new continent," he said. \nIn addition to winning a number of prestigious awards, Azabagic has also recorded six CDs for various international labels including "Opera Tres," "Printemps de la guitarre and Naxos" and a video for Mel Bay Company, a company focused on creating new concepts in guitar and acoustic instrument performance and instruction since 1947.\nWhen Azabagic and his wife first moved to America, they settled in Bloomington for a short time. They later moved to Chicago where they now reside with their month-old child, Alexander.\nIn addition to his solo career, Azabagic and his wife began performing as the Cavatina Duo. The couple thrives together because of the uniqueness of a flute/guitar duo, Azabagic said. One of their good friends, Sergio Assad, thinks very highly of their combined sound. \n"In my opinion, they are the best flute/guitar duo in the world," Assad said. "They are very special." \nAssad and Azabagic met long ago at a concert in Chicago, but Assad recognized Azabagic's work prior to their meeting. \n"He has built a reputation as a solid musician in the guitar world," Assad said.\nThe two men are now colleagues and both members of the guitar faculty at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. \n"(Azabagic) is actually responsible for most of the students in the program," Assad said.\nAssad also discussed Azabagic's skills from more than just a musical standpoint. \n"He is a very good teacher as well as musician," he said. "He is always very positive with his students." \nAzabagic looks forward to his upcoming show at IU because of his love of performing. \n"Wherever I am invited to play, I go and play," he said. "It's what I do."\nFor ticket information, call 334-3100 ext. 102 or visit www.artlives.org.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Teri Rosenbaum at terosenb@indiana.edu.
(12/09/04 5:24am)
All around Bloomington, groups devoted to knitting have been popping up. They are united through a recently revived trend with one important conclusion: knitting is no longer just fun for grandma. \nAmong other groups, including the IU Knitting Librarians, the Bloomington "Stitch 'n' Bitch" meets weekly to sew and rant about the week's events. Brought together through an online journal community, Stitch 'n' Bitch's fitting name is one that's shared with others nationwide. Attendance varies, but five to 20 people show up any given week.\nSenior Carolyn Kibbey has been sewing most of her life and was happy to find people with the same enthusiasm for it in Bloomington. \n"I had learned how to crochet and knit from my mom when I was little," Kibbey said.\nOn the contrary, IU Alumna Dara Allen only recently picked up the activity.\n"One of my friends said I needed a hobby," Allen said. "So here I am."\nJennifer Cohen, an IU alumna and devoted group member, said Stitch 'n' Bitch is not exclusive to knitters only, but opens its doors to other skills as well, such as crocheting and cross-stitching. \n"The Stitch 'n' Bitch is open to all crafts," Cohen said. "We have always tried to make it so it wasn't just for knitters." \nAs for purchasing materials, various options exist, depending on price and quality of the yarn.\n"When I want really nice yarn I go to Yarn Unlimited," Kibbey said. "For cheaper materials I usually go to Hobby Lobby or Michael's." \nAlso, Cohen recommended searching online for a greater variety and perhaps a better price.\nThe group tends to stick to smaller items when knitting, in effort to avoid the tediousness of more long-term projects.\n"We typically knit little things like socks, hats and scarves," Kibbey said.\nGroup members tend to give away their work, often presenting the small craft pieces as gifts to friends and family or to other local organizations.\n"The hat that I am making right now is going to charity because I don't know any infants to give it to," Cohen said.\nThe group prefers knitting to other hobbies because of its ease and tranquility.\n"Knitting is very soothing," Cohen said. "It's the two hours a week when it's guaranteed to be peaceful."\nAlong with all of the "bitching" that goes on, talking is not always a necessary part of the process. This adds to the laidback characteristic of knitting.\n"Sometimes we talk and sometimes we don't have to talk at all," Cohen said.\nFor solitary sewers, the group encourages assembling with others in public once in a while. It creates a different environment than sewing alone and helps developing skills.\n"Knitting with other people is a lot different than knitting alone," Kibbey said. "Sometimes I need to knit with other people; sometimes I just need to knit by myself."\nMeetings are consistently held from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday afternoons at the Bazaar Café. Current members encourage people of all ages and skill levels to come and try it out.\n"We've taught a whole bunch of beginners how to knit," Kibbey said. "We encourage beginners to join us." \n-- Contact staff writer Teri Rosenbaum at terosenb@indiana edu.
(11/19/04 4:18am)
In a recent study done by the National Jurist, a popular student-oriented law magazine, IU's School of Law Library was ranked as No. 1 in the country. Tied with the University of Iowa, IU "outlibraried" 181 other accredited universities.\nInstituted in 1842, the library accommodates 735,000 volumes and boasts the title of 15th-largest academic law library in the nation, said Colleen Pauwels, the library's director.\nAccording to the article, law libraries nationwide were ranked by scores in various categories: number of volumes; titles and serial subscriptions; ratio of library study capacity and professional librarians to student enrollment; and number of hours open per week.\nSince the magazine is student-oriented, it focuses more on students' preferences and academic requirements.\n"The National Jurist puts emphasis on how libraries respond to law students," Pauwels said.\nShe admits to trying to cater to law students and their needs here at IU with a helpful staff and a good environment.\n"We're always trying to be more service-oriented," she said. "We want students to feel welcome and be able to use this library successfully."\nThe library was built to assist law students in finding necessary information for classes, as well to give them an environment conducive to studying law.\n"Law students really use the library as a base of operation," Pauwels said. "They spend hours and hours here each week." \nAlthough the library is mostly utilized by law students, some non-law school students could find information here very beneficial as well.\n"There are a lot of courses outside of the law school that require the use of this library," Pauwels said.\nSecond-year law student Jennifer Rich admits to daily use of the law library.\n"I'm here basically all day in-between classes," she said. "It adds up to at least 12 hours a week." \nDoug Skelley, another second-year law student, finds himself continually satisfied with the resources available to him at the library.\n"I always feel like whenever I need something, it's here," Skelley said. "I don't need to go all over the place to find the information I am looking for." \nThe library boasts 10 professional librarians, each skilled and supportive of students' needs.\n"The librarians here are amazingly helpful," Skelley said. "They always point you in the right direction." \nAlso, many law students find themselves struggling to study and complete their hectic workload at home with so many distractions, and the library is a good alternative.\n"It's a better place to study than at home," Skelley said. "It's also a good environment to be able to ask other students questions if I need help."\nPauwels added that there is a helpful Web site available to students in addition to the law library itself.\n"A library is more than just a room of books," Pauwels said.\n-- Contact staff writer Teri Rosenbaum at terosenb@indiana.edu.
(11/09/04 5:36am)
A reincarnation of jazz has recently hit the IU campus, pervading local radio stations and hoping for a more modern group of enthusiasts. \nDavid Johnson, a former IU student, hosts a weekly radio show for WFIU titled "Night Lights." WFIU is an IU affiliated radio station run by full-time employees as well as students. The station's Web site describes the program as a comprehensive jazz show for all ages.\n"Night Lights" focuses on 1950s and 1960s artists such as Charles Mingus, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jackie McLean and Nina Simone, in addition to jazz from 1970 to the present that has a late-night sensibility. \nJohnson started his career at WFIU as a guest-host for Joe Bourne, who also hosts a weekly jazz program. \n"The people that worked there were very supportive and I had really wanted to start doing my own show, but it's a tight schedule over there," Johnson said. "They rarely drop or add shows."\nHowever, a slot finally opened and Johnson was offered his dream job as a weekly host. \n"I wanted it to be classic jazz with a twist of 'This American Life,' an NPR show geared towards college students," Johnson said.\nAs a college student, Johnson admits to only having listened to mainstream jazz artists, among other genres of music. However, once he gave the music a shot, his fanaticism was obvious.\n"The rhythm of your life changes around your mid 20s," he said.\nSince then, he has been tuning in to countless jazz albums and experimenting with the history of jazz from 1945 to 1965. \n"I think that was just an incredible time for American culture -- both for history and the arts," Johnson said.\nThe program follows a particular theme each week. Frequently, Johnson features themes that appeal to the interests of college students.\n"I'm going to do a show called 'Jazz Cameos' with pop rock songs featuring jazz performers. Also, I plan on running a show featuring jazz songs about coffee for finals week," he said.\nOne of Johnson's goals is to achieve a following of college-age listeners.\n"If I can pull some younger listeners to WFIU, that would be great. I'd like students to tune in on Saturday nights when they're traveling from party to party," Johnson said.\nHowever, Johnson's goals reach far beyond Bloomington. \n"Another one of my ambitions is for the program to meet the challenge of being in the age of internet radio," he said. "I'm simply trying to reach people around the world who like jazz."\nJohnson's aspirations for the show are on the road to success, as some of his goals are being met in unexpected ways.\n"The show's getting a good response and a large following," he said. "There's a lawyer in Jerusalem who runs an online jazz forum and posts 'Night Lights' every week. Also, there's a jazz loving priest in L.A. who listens while he does his office work."\nJohnson's program airs for one hour every Saturday night, beginning at 11:10 p.m. He encourages everyone to tune in, whether or not they are a hard-core jazz enthusiast.\n"I'm trying to have it be interesting on different levels -- whether someone has five jazz records or 3,000 in their collection," he said.\n-- Contact staff writer Teri \nRosenbaum at terosenb@indiana.edu.
(10/29/04 6:08am)
For Deanna Wooley, visiting a foreign country for her dissertation research was imperative.\n"For a historian or any researcher working in a country outside of their own, it's essential to go there to do your research," she said. \nThat's why Wooley, a fourth-year graduate student, applied for a Fulbright grant, which provides full travel and living stipends for one year. She and 12 other IU students were awarded the prestigious grant for the 2004-05 school year, IU announced Tuesday. Two faculty members, Political Science Professor Jack Bielasiak and Professor Emeritus of English Kenneth Johnston, also received grants. \nWooley, who is currently studying contemporary history in the Czech Republic as a Fulbright scholar, found the IU Office of International Programs to be a very beneficial resource in her grant search.\n"Our goal is to give Fulbright grants to as many IU students as possible," said Rose Vondrasek, the IU Fulbright Program adviser. "It reflects IU's academic excellence in international areas."\nRose Vondrasek, who serves as a liaison between students interested in the grants and the program itself, manages the entire application process for IU, including the organization of on-campus meetings.\nThe naming of 10 IU scholars tied IU-Bloomington for 11th place in total number of awards among all U.S. research universities and fifth place among Midwestern colleges and universities, according to an IU press release. Only 1,000 grants are awarded nationally each year. \n"Fulbright grants are available to a full spectrum of students," Vondrasek said. "You can be a professional, an artist or a graduate student in any field, practically."\nAlso, graduate students utilize their grants to do research for their dissertation that cannot be done in the U.S. The grueling application begins in October and typically lasts up to late spring.\nSenior Angela Bredehoeft, who is presently working in Germany as an English teaching assistant, discussed her steps while applying for the grant.\n"There's an initial application consisting of three letters of recommendation, a proposed statement of research and (a statement about yourself)," Bredehoeft said. \nThe proposed statement of research is simply to give the administration an idea of the applicant's plans.\n"It could be for study, research or a combination of both," Vondrasek said. "They need to convince the organization that it's a feasible proposal."\nAfter the opening application process, the students' proposals are sent to the National Screening Committee in New York City. The committee receives about 7,000 applications.\nAs a final step in the procedure, the proposals are sent overseas to the specific country of interest for approval.\n"You're pretty much guaranteed the grant at that point," Bredehoeft said.\nFor those interested in applying, Vondrasek advised obtaining a copy of an annually-published book on the Fulbright Program.\n"The book lists the grants available in each country for each year," Vondrasek said. "There are very specific requirements for each country."\nFor example, certain countries require fluency in a language to be eligible and others do not. Also, only certain fields of study are permitted in different countries. Bredehoeft also warned the original plan might not be the outcome.\n"It's completely different than what I expected," she said. "I thought I would be helping the teacher, but I'm actually teaching here."\n-- Contact staff writer Teri Rosenbaum at terosenb@indiana.edu.
(10/26/04 4:31am)
Though Bloomington has a reputation for a variety of creative outlets, Ladi Terry felt compelled to establish a breeding ground for creativity in the city. To this end, she has started the first Indiana chapter of the American Creativity Association. The group will hold its first meeting tonight. \nThe local chapter of the ACA resulted from a vision of a place where other artists would help nurture the creativity of their fledgling peers. The ACA is a Philadelphia-based international organization used to bring creative people together locally. \n"The American Creativity Association is the national organization of professionals in the field of creativity," the organization's mission statement reads. "Through its programs and services, it offers individuals and organizations opportunities for learning, professional development and networking. It is dedicated to enhancing the use of creativity throughout our society for the betterment of the human condition."\nTerry said the local chapter of the ACA has a specific goal unique to Bloomington. \n"The goal of the ACA is to help people using breakthrough thinking tools and techniques. We use them to help people get where they need to go," Terry said. "It is the only professional association to bring together practitioners and professionals in the field."\nAccording to the ACA Web site, the ACA membership is represented by four multidisciplinary societies: Business & Industry, Communications & the Arts, Education & Training and Science & Technology. To achieve its vision, the ACA provides forums to exchange ideas, fellowships and networking.\nThe association explores teaching the various steps of the creative problem-solving process. First, Terry said, one must identify the real problem at hand. Secondly, a surplus of ideas must be generated using various techniques. Terry addresses the act of brainstorming as the most mainstream method in society but acknowledges that there are many other constructive approaches. \n"Brainstorming is just one tool," she said. "There are tons of other useful methods."\nAfter selecting the best idea, Terry suggests questioning the method's potential success and identifying the impending obstacles.\n"When you are in the middle of a challenge, you must look at it from all angles," she said.\nIn addition to brainstorming, or "divergent thinking," the ACA emphasizes convergent thinking. This idea pulls various ideas together to analyze and solve problems in a more creative fashion, as opposed to more mathematical or scientific approaches.\nTerry encourages all types of people to explore the ACA, from students to professionals.\n"You don't have to be a Rembrandt," she said. "We don't all have the same amount of creativity, but we all have the ability to use it."\nThe group will be available to those 18 and older. Terry encourages college students to explore their options as members of the ACA.\n"If students want to start a student chapter, that would be wonderful," she said.\nThe first meeting will be held tonight at the Terry household, located at 515 W. Kirkwood Ave. \n"This is an invitation to all people who are interested and want more information," Terry said.\nOnce the chapter is on its feet, the plan is to meet about once a month with speakers and colleagues as an open forum to discuss creativity.\n-- Contact staff writer Teri \nRosenbaum at terosenb@indiana.edu.
(10/20/04 4:54am)
When a disaster strikes, particularly those of colossal proportions, the lives of those immediately affected rest in the hands of generous communities and organizations nationwide. \nThe American Red Cross, a volunteer organization that depends on donations, played a huge role in helping with the aftermath of the disastrous hurricanes that struck Florida and surrounding areas in the past couple of months. Some Bloomington residents made the trip south as part of the national organization.\n"We've had a total of seven volunteers from the Bloomington area to help the victims in Florida," said Maria Carrasquillo, director of emergency services for the Monroe County Chapter of the American Red Cross. "We've had a great response from the community in terms of new volunteers, and people are being trained right now not only to respond to situations, such as the hurricane response in Florida, but also to respond to incidents that occur locally."\nTracy Young, an IU staff member, recently returned from volunteering in Florida. Although she has spent 3-1/2 years with the Red Cross, she had never dealt with a situation of such magnitude. \n"This was my first national disaster, so I had no idea what to expect," Young said.\nShe described the appearance upon her arrival as unbelievable and disastrous. \n"We would see a house and it just looked like it was standing in the middle of a lake. You really can't imagine the destruction. It was amazing," Young said.\nOne unforeseen roadblock was the lack of housing for the Red Cross volunteers. \n"A lot of times the Red Cross will stay in hotels, but all the hotels were either destroyed by the hurricane or filled with insurance agents," she said. "We ended up driving two hours each way every day."\nOriginally, Young traveled south to help with the damage produced by Hurricane Frances. However, near the end of her two-week trip, Hurricane Ivan made an unexpected appearance to add to the trip's surprises. \n"The hurricane was coming right at us," Young said. \nIn addition to the training she received to deal with the hurricane's effects, she also learned how to deal with actual hurricanes.\nAfter surviving the hurricane, Tracy's group drove for two hours in one direction and saw absolutely no electrical power. The coast was not the only location affected, Young said.\nBuilding on the theory that disaster brings people together, Tracy grew very close to her group in Florida. \n"It was almost like we were a family," she said.\nAfter going into the situation unaware of what could be expected, Young admits her biggest surprise was how much she experienced personally, and her willingness to stay in Florida after Hurricane Ivan. \n"I didn't want to go home. I knew there was still more work for me there," she said.\nBloomington residents can still contribute to affected hurricane victims without travelling to the state. \n"Right now the best thing that people can do is give a financial contribution, which can help benefit not only the residents in Florida, but also victims of disasters nationwide," Carrasquillo said.\nYoung also said generosity does not go unrewarded. \n"You never know, you could be the one needing help next time."\nTo contact the Monroe County Red Cross, visit http://www.monroe-redcross.org/ or call 332-7292.\n-- Contact staff writer Teri Rosenbaum at terosenb@indiana.edu.
(10/05/04 5:08am)
Many students, particularly upperclassmen, choose to enhance their college experience with internships to further their career. However, the question of taking a paid or unpaid internship often arises.\nKris Mathes, a promotions intern for Emmis Communications' WNOU 93.1 in Indianapolis, felt his unpaid internship was beneficial for his future career.\n"I feel it was worth my time simply because I now have my foot in the door of a major communications company," he said. "I've met so many people and networking will be critical when looking for a job when I graduate. Some of the people I met have numerous connections in other cities and with other companies, so I'm hoping they will recommend me based on the work I did for them this past summer."\nInternships allow for experiences unable to occur in the classroom, giving hands-on practice for students in their field of interest.\n"I definitely learned the promotions field in a sort of behind-the-scenes way," Mathes said. I saw promotion requests from beginning to end and learned how each department of the company works together to form the final result," he said.\nThe most important aspect of internships is the opportunity to gain experience and develop skills, Mark Brostoff, assistant director of undergraduate career services at the Kelley School of Business said.\nThe matter of undertaking a paid or unpaid internship also depends on the quality of the internship, said Marcia Debnam, internship and career director for the School of Journalism.\nThere are various reasons a company would not pay their interns, Debnam said. For example, some companies simply do not have the budget for it. Their operations rely on interns for productivity, as opposed to larger companies with much larger resources seeking to help the student, more than their company.\nFor those students leaning toward an unpaid internship, but worrying about \nfinances, Debnam suggests a part-time job to ease the financial strain of college life.\nSenior Kate Pardo, who interned for the U.S. Army Public Affairs as an assistant in Washington, D.C., found a way to reduce her financial stress. \n"My parents helped me financially, and I spent money that I had already saved for my entertainment and extraneous expenses," she said.\nTypically, certain fields offer certain types of internships, such as business internships, which -- more often than not -- pay their interns, Brostoff said. However, fields like broadcast news or print journalism often do not offer monetary compensation.\nBrostoff said there are psychological differences from the employer's standpoint when the intern is not receiving pay. It is more difficult to request longer hours or demand more from someone without paying the student, he said.\n"If anything, having an unpaid internship will prove to a potential employer the tremendous self-motivation it takes to not get paid for four months and how driven you are, rather than getting paid for your internship possibly because money was the motivator," Brostoff said.\nWhether paid or unpaid, Pardo feels the internships are necessary to a career.\n"I do think that they will look down upon applicants who do not have internship experience," she said.\n-- Contact staff writer Teri Rosenbaum at terosenb@indiana.edu.
(10/04/04 4:45am)
Some are experienced dancers complete with black, single-strapped Mary Janes. Others, perhaps less experienced, learn the steps wearing their old, ratty sneakers. But all of them gather for one reason: to swing dance.\nThe IU Swing Club, which has been an official part of IU since 1998, opens its doors to people of all ages, from students to older community members. Neither a partner nor previous swing experience is required, and the cost is very minimal.\n"We encourage anyone who's interested to come," said Katherine Mero, club treasurer. "We just love to dance."\nSenior Kristin Kolodziej, said the club isn't limited to just students. It's a good way to meet people in the Bloomington community.\nEvery Monday night the club holds an hour-long beginner session, an hour-long intermediate session and two hours of open dancing. The beginners learn swing styles like East Coast Swing style and Lindy Hop, while the intermediates learn more complicated styles like the Charleston. \n"Most of the styles that we do are Savoy style, which originated in New York," Mero said. "It's more of a social type of dancing."\nThe club will be dancing at 8 p.m. tonight in the Frangipani Room of the Indiana Memorial Union. A schedule of club meetings is available at www.indiana.edu/~iuswing.\nKolodziej emphasizes that the social dancing creates a friendly environment and helps people come together. \n"During lessons, you rotate partners about every five minutes or so, so you end up dancing with everyone there by the end of the semester," she said. \nAnother reason to come, if not for the dancing, is for the music. \n"We play the authentic original stuff from the '30s and '40s," Mero said. "There's also a lot of swing bands in the Indianapolis area; we like to play them a lot."\nEvery November, the club sponsors a charity event called "Will Dance For Food." The admission for the dance is one can of food (or any other non-perishable item) and all the donations are given to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank. \nAlso, the club holds an annual Spring Swing Dance in the Frangipani Room at the IMU. \n"We bring in a live band again and it's just a blast -- three to four hours of swing dancing," Kolodziej said.\nIn addition to the club's sponsored events, Kolodziej mentioned Friday nights at the Indianapolis Fountain Square Theater. \n"There's a live band and an hour-long dance lesson before the three-hour actual dance starts, so you don't need to go into it knowing how to dance," she said. "Also, it's fun because everyone gets all 'dolled up.' There are 1940s style dresses and hairstyles and some of the guys have old Navy uniforms. It's just a fun atmosphere in general."\nDianne Shewmaker, a Bloomington resident and member of the club, said she believes swing dance is a beneficial activity for everyone. \n"Swing dancing gives you a positive attitude, keeps you healthy and fights depression better than any medicine," she said.\n-- Contact staff writer Teri Rosenbaum at terosen@indiana.edu.