263 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(10/12/06 3:50am)
More than 150 people were packed wall-to-wall in the Greenleaf Room of Forest Quad on Wednesday night, participating in the Muslim Student Union's annual Fast-a-thon. The program, which involves participants voluntarily fasting for one day and then eating a large meal after dark, is held during the holy month of Ramadan.\nThe event centers around a major facet of Ramadan: refraining from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk for 30 days. The Fast-a-thon also raises money for the Community Kitchen of Monroe County since local businesses donated money for each participant who signed up.\nJunior Khalid Ali, the group's publicity chair and event co-coordinator, said he was excited by the dinner's attendance. The group's goal was to raise $1,000. Going into the night, they already had more than $850, so members were confident they'd reach their goal.\n"We're pretty happy with the turnout," Ali said. "It was actually pretty packed -- the side (of the Greenleaf Room) that we intended to fill up. ... It was a good turnout."\nJunior Myeda Hussain, public relations coordinator for the Muslim Student Union and event co-coordinator, said she was delighted by the number of people who came to the dinner.\n"It's a really, really amazing feeling," Hussain said. "It just warms your heart to see how many people actually came out here for the event."\nThe purpose of the fasting is not purely physical, said guest speaker Louay Safi of the Islamic Society of North America.\n"Fasting, on the surface, appears as deprivation," Safi said in his speech. "The essence of fasting, I would like to argue, is spiritual renewal."\nSafi said fasting exemplifies the Five Pillars of Islam. Fasting teaches purity and self-control and encourages people to be charitable towards people who go through the day without food because they cannot afford a meal.\n"Fasting comes as a way to train ourselves to commit ourselves to uphold the values of Islam," Safi said. "Through experience, the meanings of fasting become apparent to us."\nSenior Dustin Holland said participating showed him a different perspective on other religions.\n"I'm Catholic, and there's really no religious holiday that calls for (fasting), so I kind of got to see what Jews and Muslims do (during religious holidays)," Holland said. "I definitely felt like it took a lot of self-control."\nThe program opened with remarks by Muslim Student Union President Khalil AbuGharbieh, and a Quranic recitation by El-Amin Sharif. Then Safi and Tim Clougher, director of the Community Kitchen, spoke before everyone broke the fast.\nAli said the Muslim Student Union tried to get "an eclectic mix" of food options for participants. He said dinner included Arab, Moroccan and Italian food, with pizza also provided.\nSafi said the mental and spiritual effects of fasting were beneficial.\n"It is not the rituals; it is what we get out of them," Safi said. "We hope that by the end of the 30 days, we can grow closer to God."\nHussain said she believed dinner went smoothly that she was pleased with the entire event.\n"I would say that it was a great success," Hussain said. "And we couldn't have done it without all of our participants, so thank you to all of them"
(10/11/06 4:26am)
It's not often a person is given the opportunity to put themselves in someone else's shoes and learn a little bit about another culture through their own eyes. \nThe IU Muslim Student Union is offering students and community members just such a chance, with the added incentive of raising money for a good cause.\nThe Muslim Student Union is holding its annual Fast-a-thon, in which non-Muslim students are encouraged to sign up and fast for one day during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Several Bloomington businesses have agreed to donate money to the Community Kitchen of Monroe County for each student participant, a news release said.\nMuslim Student Union President and senior Khalil AbuGharbieh said he hopes participants learn more about Islam and themselves during their fast.\n"Our goal is to teach people about Islam," AbuGharbieh said. "I think that they can learn about themselves, too, because it's also an experiment in self-discipline."\nThe fast will start at first light Wednesday, which will occur at about 7 a.m. and will end at dusk, at about 7 p.m. To break the fast, participants will gather for a dinner at the Forest Greenleaf Cafeteria. After the fasting is completed, a speaker will be featured who AbuGharbieh said will help explain to non-Muslims what Ramadan is and what fasting means to Muslims.\nThe slogan for this year's Fast-a-thon is "Go hungry for a day so someone else won't have to," the news release said. AbuGharbieh said 100 percent of all money and food donations will be given to the Community Kitchen, a nonprofit cafeteria in Bloomington. \nEvent co-coordinator and the group's publicity chair Khalid Ali, a junior, said the event isn't just about Ramadan and said the Muslim Student Union wants the Fast-a-thon to bring more awareness to the importance of the Community Kitchen.\n"(We want) to kind of provide for the community kitchen here because they already do so much," Ali said. \nJunior Myeda Hussain, public relations officer for the Muslim Student Union and a coordinator of the event, said it took between a month and six weeks to plan as the event, as the union contacted several businesses, primarily restaurants, requesting donations. \nHussain said 600 to 700 people have signed up for the fast. Between 200 and 300 people are expected at the dinner at Forest.\nHussain said the fast echoes the basic idea of Ramadan.\n"The whole event ties into the spirit of Ramadan," Hussain said. "With people fasting, it humbles people to make them think about people that don't have a choice about eating ... the whole event embodies all the aspects of Ramadan."\nRamadan is a month-long holiday in which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk each day. AbuGharbieh said Ramadan is a time of spirituality and self-discipline. \n"The month is about spiritual rededication because you set aside this month of the year where you do things that remind you more of God," he said. \nAbuGharbieh went on to say the month isn't just about fasting, especially within the IU community. He said people are encouraged to read the Quran more often and join in communal activities like dinners.\nAli said he hopes the event will show people a different side of Ramadan.\n"(The fast is) pretty much just to educate ... to kind of spread the word about what Muslims are required to do during Ramadan," Ali said. "It's not so much a physical effort; it's more mental."\nAbuGharbieh said he hopes the event will show the IU and Bloomington communities that the Muslim Student Union wants to be involved. \n"I hope that the community sees that the Bloomington Muslim community is a participant and cares about the broader community and also learns about something that's really important to us," AbuGharbieh said.
(10/10/06 3:41am)
Indiana's high-speed fiber optic Internet network, known as I-Light, will soon be canvassing southern Indiana. The network, which originally connected IU, IU-Purdue University Indianapolis and Purdue, already arcs across northern Indiana. \nI-Light is planned to be used to connect colleges across the state for the purpose of increasing the speed and efficiency of sharing and collecting research data. Though IU has been connected to the system for several years, officials said they are excited about the increased scope of the network, which will now reach additional Indiana colleges by the end of the year. \nScott Ksander, executive director for networking at Purdue, said the northern system was activated a little less than a month ago. The system connects cities all across northern Indiana, including IU satellite campuses in South Bend, Gary, Kokomo and Fort Wayne. \nMark Bruhn, associate vice president for information technology for University Information Technology Services, said the size of the network makes it unique.\n"When the entire network is active, it will equal almost 1,000 miles of fiber ... more per capita than any other network of its kind in the U.S.," Bruhn said in an e-mail. \nKsander said what excites him most about the I-Light network is the potential and opportunity it would provide in the future. He said he believes it presents another area where Indiana can serve as a technological leader. \n"I think the opportunity is really the exciting part right now," Ksander said. "I think this really is setting Indiana apart. This views technology as a state-wide opportunity. You can participate from all areas of the state at equal bandwidth and equal technology." \nKsander said he believes IU and Purdue finishing the network together was an important part of the project.\n"I think it's absolutely critical (because) it takes advantage of the unique character of both institutions," Ksander said. "This is a chance for each institution to bring its unique character and its unique ability to this project." \nKsander added the network would facilitate further sharing of research because larger amounts of data could be transferred across the state quickly.\n"The opportunity for massive amounts of data to be shared amongst collaborators is really the promise of this," Ksander said. \nKsander pointed out several technological strengths Purdue and IU could share. He used IU's recently activated supercomputer, "Big Red," as an example. \nBruhn said the project could not only share research data, but bring more research grants and technological innovations to Indiana.\n"The project is about connecting all of Indiana's universities and colleges, and not a lot about IU and Purdue," Bruhn said. "The more campuses in Indiana we can get connected to a high-speed network, the more attractive Indiana higher education is to students, faculty and researchers."\nBruhn said he was encouraged by the speed at which the project was finished.\n"I am extremely pleased at what has been done to this point, especially considering that we had to catch up quite a bit from a two-year delay of the project before it was assigned to us," he said. \nKsander said his excitement has only increased as the networking and activation process comes to a close. \n"I remember watching them bore the fiber in the ground, thinking, 'What have we started?'" Ksander said. "Ten years from now I-Light is going to be so much a part of our lives in ways we cannot even fathom"
(10/04/06 4:18am)
A new study co-authored by an IU professor reports crime directed toward abortion clinics in the United States has not dwindled. \nThough such criminal activity has fallen from national headlines, the study claims workers at abortion clinics often confront "vandalism and harassment." \nAccording to the press release, 361 abortion clinics across 48 states responded to the survey. The figures they provided said 7 percent of clinics and 9 percent of their staff were victims of "major or minor violence." In addition, 7 percent reported minor acts of violence, 27 percent said they had dealt with minor vandalism and 44 percent reported they had been harassed. \nIU criminal justice professor William Pridemore said the study is part of an arching study of the "right-wing social movement." \nPridemore worked with professor Joshua Freilich of the City University of New York. Pridemore said Freilich's area of expertise is such social movement, and the two have teamed for similar studies and projects since meeting in graduate school. \nPridemore said the study fit well into Freilich's research. He also said he and Freilich had only been able to find one similar study, and it did not go into as much depth. \n"This is just kind of one of those areas that fall under that larger umbrella of research," Pridemore said. "There'd only been one study in the past conducted about crimes against clinics."\nThe study was conducted by the Feminist Majority Foundation. Pridemore said he and Freilich took the data and fit it into the larger study.\nPridemore said all surveys were answered anonymously for safety purposes. \n"We don't have exact information about any of the clinics, and that's just for normal anonymity purposes," Pridemore said. "This is a very sensitive political issue, and so there can't be any identifying information about any specific clinic."\nThe study did not find a correlation between state laws protecting abortion clinics and reduced violence. The study found that states with stringent anti-abortion violence laws were no less likely to experience some form of criminal activity targeting abortion clinics, according to the press release. The study found neither a backlash against such legislation nor a drastic reduction in violence and vandalism. \nBoth scenarios were hypothesized right after a wave of such legislation was passed at the beginning of the last decade, according to the report. Pridemore said testing both hypotheses was more for informational purposes than to try and establish trends. \n"That to me was the motivating factor ... just the interest in testing these hypotheses and seeing which one is correct," Pridemore said. "Essentially what we found is that ... neither one is correct.\nPridemore said they found serious criminal activity was down from the late 1990s. He said it still happened, but people didn't pay as much attention to it since it had been pushed from the headlines.\n"Sometimes they're very serious acts, you know, like a bomb or rarely a murder or a very violent assault," Pridemore said. "We thought (the data) needed to be seen."\nPridemore said both he and Freilich thought the information was important to release because people tend to overlook this particular brand of terrorism.\n"We certainly think domestic terrorism is an overlooked issue," Pridemore said. "I would think that any serious attack against an abortion clinic ... would fit under that"
(09/29/06 3:33am)
Do you know the significance of the Battle of Yorktown or what federalism is? If you're a college student, chances are you don't, according to a recent study by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. The report claims that American college students are coming up short in what the study calls "civil literacy," according to an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education.\nThe survey asked college students to identify or explain lesser-known American historical facts. The study showed a high percent of students struggled to identify the Battle of Yorktown as the last battle of the American Revolution and could not adequately explain the purpose of the Monroe Doctrine. \nThe article went on to say scores were only 1.5 percent higher for college seniors than for freshman. Seniors scored an average of 53.2 percent, which amounts to failing the "test."\nThere were instances, including some at Ivy League universities, where freshmen outscored seniors. \nIU political science professor Eileen Braman said she wasn't surprised that seniors did not do exceptionally better than freshmen because the younger students have that information fresh out of high school. She said she often takes class time to talk about history, at least in the context of the class. "I don't really do it because I'm frustrated with what students come knowing and what they don't know," Braman said. "I do it because, you know, I think it's important, even if you know it, to kind of think about it in this new context."\nPolitical science professor Christine Barbour said she believed the problem with civic education is not founded in curriculum gaps in college but in high school. She said many students in her classes had been taught only a brief course on civics.\n"You know, I see students who are taking American government in college who haven't had (well-taught civics)," Barbour said. "I think that it's really smart to require it. I think it's an important and essential part of being an effective citizen."\nSophomore political science major Lindi Shane said civics was a required course at her high school. She believed colleges shouldn't have to educate students on civics because such learning should take place in high school.\n"College could do more but shouldn't have to," Shane said. "Basic civics should be learned in high school because it is information that every American should know and understand."\nBarbour said she thought this seeming lack of political and civic awareness stems from a disinterest in government among youth today. She said she believed a combination of media coverage and the fact that government doesn't seem to affect students' lives were possible causes.\n"I think there's a lot of cynicism about it ... You have to perceive that you have a stake in what happens," Barbour said. "Unfortunately, the kinds of things that changed (awareness) for my generation were the draft and Vietnam." \nShane said she was astounded at some of the people she saw who didn't know what she thought were basic concepts. She took one class where the teacher had to explain basic information about Congress.\n"I was just floored that people wouldn't know how Congress was elected and split up," Shane said.\nBraman said she believed the lack of civic knowledge could be because students know best what they need to know to function day to day.\n"In reality, people have other things that they do, other things that they're concerned with," Braman said.\nHowever, Braman said she believed it is especially important for students to be involved. She said organizations exist to encourage students to be more concerned about politics, but it is ultimately the students' responsibility. \n"There are really good campus efforts to try to get students involved and motivated," Braman said. "But we could certainly do more. It would be nice to see students feel more a part of the political system and act more a part of the political system"
(09/21/06 3:30am)
An increase in funding for IU Child Care Services will allow raises for staffers and extra space for almost 40 infants and toddlers, according to an IU press release. The service currently only has room for 18 children, with a waiting list of between 75 and 100, according to Tim Dunnuck, coordinator of Child Care Services at IUB.\nThe increase, approved by Interim Provost Michael McRobbie, added around $190,000 to what the news release calls "base funding." Additionally, a little more than $132,000 is earmarked for staff raises. \nMcRobbie said the increase, aided by money from the Provost's Fund, was important to the administration.\n"The Provost's Fund is used for critical needs on the Bloomington campus and campus child care services was selected -- and supported by deans and others -- as a priority for this year," McRobbie said in an e-mail. \nDunnuck said the University has been supportive of the service.\n"Over the years, starting with Chancellor (Ken) Gros Louis, the Bloomington campus has been very supportive of its campus child care," Dunnuck said in an e-mail. "This additional funding increases the annual campus financial support to over $527,000." \nDunnuck also pointed out how far the program had come in the last decade. \n"In 1997, we were near the bottom of the Big Ten in campus funding for child care," Dunnuck said. "We are now near the top in the Big Ten."\nChristin Smith, director of the Campus Children's Center, said she believed the raises were crucial for keeping qualified staff members. She said the raise would make starting salaries "more competitive" with other day care services. \nThe extra funds will push teachers' starting salaries from $22,900 to $26,900, according to Smith. \n"At Campus Children's Center these raises are essential for retention of our teachers as each teacher has at least a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, elementary education or a related field," Smith said in an e-mail. \nBarry King, coach of the women's water polo team, uses the child care service and said he believed staff continuity made the service valuable to families. \n"The biggest plus in particular is the staff -- they're terrific," King said. "The teachers there are top-notch, and the campus child care center in particular has done an extremely good job of keeping their staff fairly intact."\nChild Care Services operates five different programs across campus. Three are run solely by child care personnel, while the other two involve parents in what the organization calls a "cooperative" role. \nThe service offers programs for children ages 6 weeks old through 6 years old. Faculty, staff and students are all eligible to use the program. \nMcRobbie said he believed having the service was not just a convenience, but rather a valuable resource for IU faculty and staff.\n"Quality child care ... is not only an important recruitment tool for bringing faculty and staff to campus, but obviously it is an important service for many faculty and staff on campus," McRobbie said. "By providing quality child care, faculty and staff can focus their professional efforts on their work at IUB and feel confident about the care that is available for their children while they are doing that work."\nSmith said she believes the greatest benefit of the various programs Child Care Services offers is the peace of mind it gives parents. \n"The greatest benefit by far in offering quality child care services is that when you know that your child is in a nurturing, safe, environment that positively facilitates his or her development," Smith said. "I speak this from the perspective of a director of a child care center as well as a parent."\nKing echoed Smith, saying he would recommend the service to anyone who was looking into day care for their child. \n"I would relay (to other parents) our extreme pleasure with our experience of both of our children coming out of there," King said. "I would again highlight the stability of the staff. ... I don't think that I can emphasize that enough. That's a huge burden off a parent's mind"
(09/19/06 4:18am)
A town hall meeting discussing checks on presidential power took place in the Grand Hall of the Neal-Marshall Black Cultural Center Monday night. The meeting, held in celebration of Constitution Day, was sponsored by the IU Dean of Faculties office and moderated by education professor Terrance Mason.\nThe program opened with remarks from Interim Provost Michael McRobbie. The discussion centered on the issue of domestic spying, specifically with regards to its constitutionality.\nThe panel included Fred Cate, a distinguished professor in the law school, Norman Furniss, an IU political science professor, and Sallyann Murphey, coordinator of the First Amendment Program at Harmony High School in Bloomington.\nMcRobbie commented that the meeting itself served as a tribute to Constitution Day because it was held in a town hall style.\nMason said he was looking forward to the meeting, although he said he would try his best to serve only as a moderator. He said he hoped the program drew attention to the document and its relevance not only in history, but in everyday life as well.\n"I think the topic for (Monday night) is focused on that (relevance)," Mason said. "I think it's just a time for people to hear some perspectives on how the Constitution is still an important force in our lives."\nEach panelist opened with opinions about the current state of domestic spying, including quotes from the likes of Benjamin Franklin in their remarks. Each spoke about privacy issues and offered varying opinions about the state of privacy in the country.\nFurniss pointed out that "threats to privacy come not just from the government" in his speech. He also emphasized the difference between anonymity, which he classified as the government simply knowing who a person is, and more specific issues regarding privacy. \nMurphey, a social studies teacher, said she encouraged her students not to be overcome by the fear created by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and their subsequent effects on privacy. Rather, she pushed them to study the fallout, and learn from the reactions, both short- and long-term. \nShe also encouraged several attending students studying to become teachers to try to get students to open up about their personal opinions in the classroom.\n"I think you have to have honest debate," Murphey said. "I know that's very hard."\nCate touched on the legal implications of the surveillance actions taken by the federal government during the war on terror. He echoed the other panelists when he pointed out that the issues of the meeting were very grand. \n"We're taking very complicated issues and trying to make them simple," Cate said during the discussion. \nCate also pointed out that the Bush administration, often accused of loading courts and ignoring legal precedent, was currently losing several civil liberties cases regarding detaining and questioning terrorists. \nAll three panelists emphasized that the best way for citizens to change what they found unfair or harmful to their privacy was to speak up. Cate commented that he found an alarming number of Americans are willing to trade freedom for safety. \nConstitution Day was first celebrated in 2004, honoring the day on which the U.S. Constitution was ratified, Sept. 17, 1787. The day was formerly known at Citizenship Day.
(09/19/06 4:16am)
A recent survey of 7,600 Indiana college students reported that 45 percent of those questioned said they participated in binge drinking while in college, which the report defined as consuming five or more drinks for a male and four or more drinks for a female in a two-hour period. \nThis number is 2 percent below the national average but is still too high, according to a report by the Indiana Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking.\nThe study comes on the heels of a Welcome Week at IU that saw several students hospitalized with dangerously high blood alcohol levels. Fourteen students were hospitalized between Aug. 23 and 27, according to an Aug. 28, 2006, Indiana Daily Student article.\nIU Dean of Students Richard McKaig said this trend, which was reinforced by the study, was troubling. McKaig said that he was concerned not just with the consumption of alcohol on campus, but also with the health consequences of such activities. \n"(The incidents) really are a concern because I think our primary concern ought to be the health and safety of college students," McKaig said. \nThe study offered supporting evidence to McKaig's concerns about the consequences of drinking. The study reported that 35 percent of students said the abuse of drugs or alcohol led to some kind of public misconduct, and 24 percent admitted to driving under the influence. \nThe study also reported that 25 percent of responders experienced emotional problems as a result of their drinking. Another 36 percent said they did something they later wished they had not done. \nMcKaig said he believed the problem wasn't just the lack of awareness about the consequences of drinking. He felt like students came to the University with plenty of education on the subject but felt that they didn't know how to handle the increased level of freedom college offers them.\n"Certainly information plays a role at some point in the process of helping people to make good decisions about alcohol ... (but) we really think it's more than education that's missing," McKaig said. \nFreshman Avi Zimmerman said he didn't receive a lot of alcohol and drug education in school outside of health class and driver education. However, he also said he believed it would be hard for the University to run mandatory awareness classes.\n"They can offer it, but ... I know I hardly ever went to any program by the University," Zimmerman said. "I feel like it would take a lot of work to try and force that on students, and if you made it optional, nobody would show up."\nIU Police Department Captain Jerry Minger also said he didn't think IU students were more or less educated about alcohol and drug awareness coming to college. Minger pointed out that the incidents should not be used to generalize the behavior the entire student body,\n"I don't think they're becoming less aware," Minger said. "I would hate to say that the general student population has become any specific way."\nMinger also said "several" students arrested or hospitalized during Welcome Week were not first-time offenders.\nMinger described the increase in "critical incidents," or incidents where students had to be hospitalized, as a "spike." However, Minger said he believed the rise in hospitalizations did not signify a major trend. Rather, he said he thought this year was more of an aberration and pointed out that arrests for alcohol related incidents were down from previous years. \nBoth McKaig and Minger said many of the incidents in which students had to be taken to the hospital involved drinking games where several shots were taken over short periods of time. McKaig said he felt the prevalence of binge-drinking activities, such as drinking games, is supported by their own observations and study's conclusions. \nAdditionally, McKaig and Minger both agreed they did not think more education would actively deter more critical incidents. Instead, McKaig said he believed awareness and acting responsibly could solve the issue more effectively. \nHe asked friends to watch out for one another and exercise responsibility.\n"Clearly one of the things that I wanted to emphasize ... (is) friends watching out for friends," McKaig said. "Friends can also help people stop when they are drinking at dangerous levels"
(09/15/06 4:02am)
The United Way of Monroe County held a kick-off luncheon for its fall fundraising campaign Thursday, announcing its goal to secure $1.5 million between September and November.\nThe event, held at the DeVault Alumni Center, featured a keynote speech by IU women's basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack. \nThe event was organized by IU graduate student Kristen Schwendinger, who worked through the summer to bring together IU's contribution to the campaign. \nIU School of Law Dean Lauren Robel and Jacobs School of Music Dean Gwyn Richards served as faculty campaign co-chairs. \nRobel said she believed it was important for IU to be involved in the United Way campaign because IU is such a big part of Monroe County. \n"Yes, we want to hit our goal, and we've got an ambitious goal this year," Robel said. "But, what we really care about is that everybody in the IU community makes the gift that demonstrates that they care about our larger community. That's what matters to us." \nIU Director of Community Relations Kirk White agreed with Robel's sentiments. He said that holding the kick-off luncheon on campus displayed IU's support for United Way's efforts throughout Monroe County. \n"It shows clearly that the University wants to take a leadership role in building bridges between the campus and the community," White said.\nBarry Lessow, executive director of the Monroe County United Way, said having a strong start was essential to the success of the campaign.\n"We try to have a nice kick-off event to get everybody fired up and all excited about the campaign," Lessow said. "Our goal is just to help them understand the importance of the money they're raising, the importance of the work they're going to be doing for us and how that's going to translate into an improved community over the next few years."\nLessow went on to praise IU's contribution to the campaign, singling out Schwendinger, Richards and Robel for their dedication. \nSchwendinger said the luncheon was not just meant to bang the drum for support of the coming campaign. She also said the event helped to show people what initiatives United Way had been carrying out in the past year and to celebrate the organization's 50th anniversary. \n"We organized this event to be the first kick-off to get everyone excited about the campaign and let them know what's been going on with United Way in the past year," Schwendinger said. "Part of what we're going to highlight is that there's been 50 years of progress made." \nThe United Way raises money and disperses its funds to several different community organizations. The Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army are three of several organizations that receive support from the United Way, according to the organization's Web site. \nLessow said every organization must pass a rigorous set of tests to ensure they would put such support to good use. He also encouraged anyone interested to contact the United Way or any of its partner organizations to volunteer. \nRobel encouraged students to become involved in the fall campaign and the United Way as a whole. She asked them not just to consider what they would be doing, but what it actually means to volunteer. \n"(Their) gift means that people eat. It means they have a place to sleep," Robel said. "It means that kids don't go off to school in the morning without clothes and hungry. That's what United Way does. It provides that kind of basic social services safety net for our community"
(09/12/06 4:12am)
Though University Information Technology Services has brought podcasts to IU students and faculty, going to class will not become a thing of the past. Not all classes will use them, and they are not meant to supplant lectures, said Podcast Project Manager Martin Wagner and several professors.\nUITS is creating and providing podcasts for a fee as part of continuing efforts to keep IU up-to-date on new technologies, Wagner said in an e-mail. Interested users can subscribe to class podcasts by going to Oncourse and copying a feed into music programs like iTunes and GarageBand. Podcasts will then download through that program and be available for transfer onto an iPod.\nWagner emphasized that no one intends for these podcasts to replace actual class lectures. Instead, he said, they exist "to add value to the course."\nAlan Dennis, Kelley School of Business professor and John T. Chambers Chair in Internet Systems, said in an e-mail that he began using podcasts in one class last semester. He said several students in his data communications class told him they found the podcasts useful and encouraged him to continue using them.\nHowever, Dennis said he only used the podcasts to support his lectures and did not replace class time with podcasted material.\n"I view podcasting as a supplement to the class," Dennis said. "I just record the audio from every class and post it in the Oncourse podcast section."\nWagner also pointed out that podcasts are not automatically used in every class. He said few academic podcasts would be available to students not enrolled in the class in which they are used.\n"The access to the podcasts is decided by the professor and the dean of the school," Wagner said. "A podcast is an additional course material provided to the students ... (deans) can choose to limit access with Oncourse, or make it public."\nIU School of Journalism professor Claude Cookman, who teaches visual communication, said he does not believe these podcasts could effectively replace classroom lectures. He said he believes hands-on learning and student interaction are too important to learning, especially in creative classes.\n"Podcasts wouldn't really work in a class like (visual communication) because we try to do a lot of active learning in class, where we're doing buzz groups, we're doing discussion," Cookman said. "If you just ... heard a recording, as a student, you wouldn't get anything out of it."\nCookman said he believes learning is a "social activity." He said he believes using podcasts in place of lectures would not be beneficial to students' understanding of subject matter.\n"There needs to be a direct exchange between student and teacher, and between student and student, and you don't get that in a podcast," Cookman said. \nDennis agreed and encouraged students to really try to "absorb" the material contained in his podcasts.\n"I don't think podcasts should replace classes, at least not the way I teach," Dennis said. "It's not the same as sitting in class actively participating." \nJunior Rachel Adelman said she thought podcasts could replace lectures, but she didn't think it would actually happen. She said she didn't think it would be beneficial to students.\n"I don't think anything you could get from a podcast would be as valuable as actually being in class where you can ask questions and be involved in a discussion," Adelman said. "I don't think you can learn as much from a podcast as you would from class lectures."\nBut Adelman said she thought having podcasts to complement lectures would be a good study tool.\n"I would probably use them as an extra way to study," Adelman said. "They would be really good because sometimes you can't get everything into your notes, so if there is another way to get the information you need for class, it could help you learn the information better."\nWagner pointed out that students and student organizations can create their own podcasts. UITS will provide software to those who wish to create the programs on their own.\nHe also said UITS offers to create these programs for a fee and does not limit its service simply to professors or for class lectures. He said the UITS Support Center is available for help in subscribing to the podcasts and technical help in downloading them.\nWagner said he believes bringing podcasts to IU is another part of the University's continuing initiative to bring new technologies to campus.\n"Indiana University is known for taking the lead in information technology, research and development, life sciences and the arts," Wagner said. "Podcasts are one way Indiana University is maintaining its lead in information technology"
(09/11/06 3:08am)
The harsh reality of cancer respects no age boundaries. Its painful effects reach everyone it touches, and children are no exception. In order to provide support to children dealing with the effects of cancer, a committed group of IU students has been working to provide a cost-free camp held one week each summer for children whose parents have or had cancer. \nCoordinators and counselors for IU's Camp Kesem will be holding call-out meetings at 8 p.m. today and Tuesday in the Kelley School of Business Room 304. \nJunior Meghan Sweet, a coordinator and second-year counselor, said she was first attracted to Camp Kesem because she wanted to get involved and help kids. \nHowever, Sweet said she never knew how much the organization would give her. She said the campers make the whole adventure worthwhile, recalling in particular one girl's smile during a magician's show.\n"All the volunteers are also getting something in return," Sweet said. "The things that you receive by helping these children is absolutely amazing."\nCounselor and senior Rob Cantor said he believed in Camp Kesem's value because of what he saw the campers get out of it every day. \n"I think it gives them a sense of connection ... it gives them a feeling of respect because I think that by the end of the week, they learn that these kids in a sense are role models for us counselors," Cantor said. "It almost makes them feel like they belong (and that) cancer in their families doesn't have to be something of a tragedy every day of their life."\nCantor went on to say he believed the value of the camp is what he called the its "benevolence." He said being surrounded by campers who had dealt with so much in their short lives gave him "so much in return." \nThe camp, run entirely by students, finished its second summer in early August. Thirty-eight children from the Bloomington and Indianapolis areas attended the week-long program, doubling last year's total of 19 campers.\nSenior and camp coordinator Leslie Abrams said having more campers in each age group this year made it easier for the children to befriend one another. \n"This year's camp was great," Abrams said. "The fact that we had that many more campers really gave other campers more people to relate to."\nSweet said she felt students planning and running the camp benefits the campers' general experience. \n"It is really unique," Sweet said. "I think that since we're not all adults ... we still remember what it's like to be kids."\nCantor encouraged anyone interested to come to either of the call-out meetings. He said he was unsure at first if he would be able to relate to the children, but said one day at camp changed his whole perspective. \n"All you have to do is meet one of these kids, that's really all it comes down to," Cantor said. "It's so much more than a camp about cancer ... It's about trust, and it's about friendship, self-confidence and connections"
(09/05/06 4:43am)
Last week IU Campus Bus Service experienced a "record-setting" increase in ridership, a continuation of a trend that began last year when buses became free to all students, campus bus service officials said. \nThe system reached a new record high in passenger usage Aug. 29, carrying 22,816 people, according to a news release. This number eclipsed the old record of 22,492 passengers, set just one day earlier.\nThe rise in usage continues an increase that began last year, said Kent McDaniel, IU assistant director of transportation services. \nMcDaniel said the bus service saw a usage increase of approximately 59 percent last year when all campus buses became free for student use. McDaniel said the trend continued this year, as usage has increased about 28 percent from where it was at this time last year.\nThe service, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year, also served its 80 millionth passenger this fall, a milestone McDaniel said "snuck up" on it.\nJunior Dan Trope said he has noticed a rise in bus usage since his first year, when the service was not free. \n"Once they got rid of the transportation fare, it seems like the buses are a lot more crowded than they were my freshman year," Trope said. \nMcDaniel said he could think of various reasons why usage was on the rise, including high gas prices and a larger freshman class. However, he said he believes the increase has occurred because of the convenience of the bus service and the dedication of bus service employees.\n"When I think about it, to me it's just a tribute to all the people who have worked there," McDaniel said. "It's quite an accomplishment."\nPerry Maull, operations manager of campus bus service, offered a different explanation for the usage increase. Maull, an IU graduate, said changes he has noticed since returning to campus in July might account for the rise.\n"I think, first of all, it meets their needs," Maull said. "My impression is there's a lot more cars on campus. ... (Students) are choosing to take the bus because it's more convenient."\nMcDaniel said the bus service is always looking for ways to be more efficient and helpful to passengers. He said it was doubtful the service can add any more buses, but he said campus bus service is always looking for schedule and route changes that can make it more useful to students.\nThough statistics show an increase in use of the free transportation, some students said they have not encountered major problems with crowded buses. Trope said he hasn't noticed more crowds or problems with the system.\nSophomore Andrew Ferry said he hasn't yet noticed an increase in usage of the campus bus service either. However, he said the system as a whole, in his opinion, works well.\n"I think it's a good thing," Ferry said. "It's a good way for people to get from off-campus or McNutt or Briscoe to the classroom buildings."\nBut that level of convenience might change. Maull said he expects current ridership to stay the same through the fall but expects more riders as temperatures grow colder.\n"I'm thinking we're going to get more ridership as the weather worsens," Maull said.
(09/01/06 3:27am)
Moving away from home to go to college is often tough on students, especially when home is thousands of miles away. In order to help ease adjustment fears, the International Friendship Association, a student group at IU, offers a helping hand to foreign students coming to Bloomington. \nThe group will play host to a "Welcome Party" from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday in the Willkie Auditorium. The program is open to students, faculty and anyone else wishing to attend. \nSophomore and association President Omar Memon said the party is meant to serve as a "peer-to-peer networking event."\n"The Welcome Party is a campus-wide event and part of IFA's efforts to bring together international and domestic students under one roof," Memon said in an e-mail. "At the party, there will be more information available about IFA."\nMemon also said other international student organizations would have information tables and representatives at the party.\nThe group, formed to connect foreign students to the IU and Bloomington communities, seeks to ease exchange students' transitions to college life. Run by students, the association is governed by a board of students from Burma, South America, Pakistan, Japan and America, according to its Web site. \nStudents formed the association with the intention of easing foreign students into life on an American college campus. The organization helps prepare students before they come to IU, connects those students to the IU community and educates the students to feel more welcome, according to the Web site. \n"The International Friendship Association aims at uniting all students on the Bloomington campus by promoting racial, cultural, ethnic and religous diversity," Memon said in an e-mail.\nMemon said his groups work begins when a student contacts a member of the association's Executive Committee, usually by e-mail. That contact sets up a buddy system whereby committee members stay in contact with students, preparing them for life at IU with experience and advice. \nThe organization also answers any questions incoming students might have about life on campus or in America. It also tries its hardest to provide rides from the airport to campus if the international students do not have transportation, Memon said.\nThe group's staff advisor Sandra Britton said she feels the accomplishments of the association are something to be proud of, and she feels privileged to be a part of the organization. \n"The beauty of being an association's adviser is that it allows me to share in the successes of the group as the board members grow and develop as leaders while having fun and working together," Britton said in an e-mail. \nMemon said he hopes to see further student involvement in the group, both on campus and perhaps elsewhere.\n"As the academic year progresses, I hope to see more student organizations sending their representatives to IFA," Memon said in an em-ail. "Over the next couple of years I would like to see IFA spread through other college campuses across Indiana."\nBritton echoed those feelings, as she said she wants see the program grow further. \nShe said she hopes "that it continues to grow as an organization and be able to maintain its purpose as it aims to support and unite students from all nations"
(08/30/06 5:17am)
The Corporation for National and Community Service has granted $1.3 million to the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at IU to be primarily used to document oral tales and recollections of disabled war veterans in the state of Indiana.\nDisabled students ages 14 to 21 will be involved in both planning and carrying out the program. \nStudents will interview disabled war veterans in Indiana, Vermont and Maryland, said Sandi Cole, the director for the Center on Education and Lifelong Learning. \nCole said Sen. Richard Lugar has been active in the program, which is run through the Library of Congress, for several years. \nTeresa Grossi, the IIDC director of Center on Community Living and Careers, said the benefits of the program for the students were plentiful.\n"Youth will learn how to participate in collaborative partnerships, improve their work-related skills, increase their self-determination and self-advocacy skills, improve their communication and other critical life skills," Grossi said in an e-mail. \nBoth Cole and Grossi said they hoped the veterans and students could build connections and form "a reciprocal relationship."\n"(One benefit) will be the relationships that we hope to build, it will be providing students with disabilities to advocate for themselves," Cole said. "We also hope that (the program) can begin to make connections for students with disabilities for them to make the transition into adult life."\n"This program supports the mission of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community ... to foster communities that welcome, value and support the participation and contributions of people of all ages and abilities through research, education and service," Grossi said in an email. \nThe program is not limited to recording veterans' histories. It also helps to connect the students to other community service opportunities they are interested in pursuing. \nCole said this project would not be the only focus of the grant. She said the IIDC is always looking for new opportunities to involve disabled students in service projects, especially in high school. \n"What we'll probably do is connect to (other) service and learning activities that already exist in these states," Cole said. \nGrossi said her hope is that this and other similar programs would help students involved prepare to enter the world later in life.\n"(Students) will also have the opportunity to build relationships with people who have dealt with similar issues that they face as they finish school and enter the work force or further their education," Grossi said.
(08/23/06 3:53am)
IU faculty and visiting guests participated in the grand opening Tuesday of the IU's new supercomputer at the Wrubel Computing Center. \nThe computer, the fastest academic supercomputer in the country, possesses the capability to do functions in five minutes that previously took an entire day.\nIU President Adam Herbert, who helped cut the ceremonial ribbon and ran the first program on the new computer, said the computer would also be made available to IU faculty and students statewide. Herbert said he was excited about the new avenues the computer opened to IU researchers.\n"This is going to significantly enhance our capacity to engage in even more significant research, and also it will provide incredible opportunities for our students to have access to computing power of this significance," Herbert said. \nFunds for the computer were secured primarily through the Indiana Metabolomics and Cytomics Initiative. METACyt grew from a $53 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., to "advance life sciences research at IU Bloomington and in Indiana," a media release said. \nThe computer was made by IBM, which Interim Provost Michael McRobbie called "a superb partner" in his speech at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. \nMcRobbie said the supercomputer would be crucial in life science research and would bring new medical advancements to IU and the state of Indiana in general. \nAccording to the press release, a Battelle Memorial Institute report ranked Indiana in the top four among states with the "highest concentration of life sciences-related jobs."\nAcquisition of the supercomputer was made public in April 2006. In addition to life science initiatives, the computer will also be used in weather forecasting and physics experimentation.\nAll speakers hailed the attainment of the supercomputer as a fine achievement for IU. Bruce Cole, a former distinguished professor at IU and the current chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, called it "a real achievement in the acquisition of storage" in his speech.\nHerbert pointed out that data storage is a key in life sciences research, and the new computer brings that kind of memory.\n"One of the things that is clear is that in the life sciences, the data storage needs are incredible. ... Not only do you need the speed to analyze data, but also it's just essential to have massive storage capacity," Herbert said.\nAssistant Informatics Professor David J. Wild said the biggest advantage of the supercomputer is its speed and efficiency.\n"The really exciting thing for us is we can take our really complicated life science techniques, which do advanced data mining, and suddenly we can make them available in real time to scientists ... much in the same way as you can search Google and get some results back really quickly," Wild said.\nWild went on to say that the storage capabilities of the computer were just as beneficial, especially in terms of scientific research. The added space gives scientists a wealth of literature on biomedicine and life sciences stored in the computer. \nHerbert added to that in his speech, saying the new supercomputer continued former President Herman B Wells' principle to "dream no small dreams for Indiana University."\nHerbert said the supercomputer tied into an initiative to put IU at the forefront of the new wave of technology.\n"There's no question that Indiana University is at the cutting edges with regard to information technology," Herbert said. "We have established as a goal to be not just a national but an international leader in (information technology), and I think this project demonstrates that we're accomplishing that goal"
(05/05/06 5:37am)
To many seniors, commencement is a very important ceremony that will provide an experience they won't soon forget. Many seniors expressed that they want a commencement speaker who will provide memorable quotes and sound advice as they prepare for their entry into the real world.\nWhen Michael Uslan, former IU student and famed Hollywood producer of movies including the Batman series, was named as the speaker for this year's graduation, reactions on campus were mixed. Most seniors were unsure how to feel about the former law school graduate.\nSenior Abby Kerr said she was unfamiliar with Uslan, but didn't expect any real surprises in his message. \n"I do not know much about Michael Uslan," Kerr said. "I think he was a fine choice and would imagine that it would be difficult for any commencement speaker because coming up with a speech that is clever and unique to the ones in the past would be a challenge since graduation speeches pretty much always have the same theme."\nThere is little doubt amongst the administration that Uslan is qualified. In an April 17 press release announcing his appointment as the keynote speaker, IU President Adam Herbert gave Uslan resounding praise.\n"Former IU President Herman B Wells once said that our 'alumni's achievements represent the fruits of the University's efforts in teaching and learning,'" Herbert said in the press release. "Michael Uslan has earned three degrees from IU and proves the truth of this statement."\nUslan, the producer of several noted films, attended IU in the 1970s, earning a bachelor's degree, master's degree and doctorate from the University. He also developed the nation's first accredited college course on comic books and was a member of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. \nMany students expressed that Uslan is a qualified IU alumnus whose achievements in and after college make him an able candidate to speak at commencement. But with so many student opinions about who should have been selected as the commencement speaker, some felt less optimistic about his selection as the keynote speaker. \nSenior Maya Frederick said she would have preferred someone more like comedian and TV personality Jon Stewart, but thought Uslan "could be really interesting."\nOthers still said they were looking forward to hearing what the accomplished producer has to say. \nSenior Adam Brand said he was happy to hear that Uslan had been tapped to speak on the May 6 ceremony.\n"I think that is very cool," Brand said. "Maybe, I will get to talk to him, and he will cast me as a Gotham City criminal in the next movie."\nUslan said in an April interview that he hoped to bring a message of inspiration and encouragement to the graduates. He said he wanted to show them where hard work and determination could get them in the world.\nSenior Shana Frankel said she was thrilled when she found out Uslan had been chosen.\n"I think that is an awesome choice," Frankel said. "I am excited to hear what he has to say."
(04/26/06 2:27pm)
These are all familiar toys to college students. Yesterday's technological innovations have become the desktop staples of dorm rooms all over the country. But such advancements have also become the newest tools for cheaters looking to find an easy way to get ahead of the curve.\nCheating is a problem that college administrations grapple with all the time, said Richard McKaig, dean of students. \n"I do think it's a major issue in the sense that it strikes at the core of the academic integrity of the institution," McKaig said. \nMcKaig said the general rules regarding cheating are applied everywhere in the IU system. That policy is spelled out in the IU Student Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct.\nThe Code, updated in January 2005, also explicitly mentions new technologies like laptops and handheld devices. In part two, section G-1, the code states that "calculators, computers and wireless information devices" may not be used during exams.\nMcKaig said the use of new technology was addressed in the revision of the code of conduct. University administration felt the use of such technology needed to be dealt with, even if only in a general manner. \nOne of the concerns of many faculty is the use of text messaging and wireless Internet technology to access test information.\n"Those were issues that did get addressed in broad ways," McKaig said. \nIU freshman Andrew Ferry said he knew of times students cheated using text or picture messaging on cell phones but said it didn't bother him that much because he thought it happened so often. He also said that he thought cheating wasn't a major issue here, and said it was unlikely he would turn in a student he saw cheating.\n"It's kind of a common thing," Ferry said. "I don't really personally care very much."\nSophomore Clayton Johnson, who is familiar with iPods, said it would be easy for someone to cheat using such a device. He said students could upload text files into the iPod and then call them up and read them whenever they are needed. However, Johnson said teachers usually keep a close eye on such methods of cheating and that he is rarely allowed to even have access to his cell phone or iPod during tests.\n"I assume it could (help someone cheat), but it would be the same thing as having a piece of paper beside you unless the teacher was oblivious to that fact that you could do that with an iPod," Johnson said. "It may make it easier but only if the teacher was oblivious."\nMcKaig agreed that teachers play the biggest role in stopping any kind of cheating.\n"Realistically, it goes down to the faculty in the classroom and the supervision of the classroom during test-taking," he said.\nDespite continuing innovation in technology and increased student use of such equipment, McKaig said he didn't think cheating was on the rise. He did suggest that cheating was perhaps made easier by such technology but said he did not believe it was necessarily more frequent. \n"I would tend to believe, same story, different chapter," McKaig said. "This is a new way to go about it." \nFerry agrees with McKaig that cheating is not a major problem at IU. He admits that it can hurt any institution but said he doesn't see it as a major or growing problem at IU.\n"I don't think (it's a problem) any more so than other universities," Ferry said. "Obviously, if someone cheats their way through all of college that's a problem, but in terms of whether IU has more (cheating) than other universities, I think it's probably about the same"
(04/24/06 6:57am)
Arrests, citations and overall incident reports were down this year from previous Little 500s, according to IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger. Nineteen arrests had been made as of Sunday morning, most of which involved alcohol or drug possession.\nMinger said he didn't know whether or not the weekend was statistically less eventful than past races, but he said both the men's and women's races went off without incident. Only one person was arrested for public intoxication, and the worst injury suffered at either event came when a young boy hit his head on bleacher scaffolding.\n"It doesn't seem like there really were any critical incidents," Minger said. "(The race was) very festive, very social, there was only one person that I could think of that was actually arrested."\nMinger said the week went off smoothly, and that he was pleased with the way students and campus police alike handled the race.\nHe didn't know why it seemed the amount of illegal activity IUPD dealt with seemed to shrink, but offered a few suggestions. Minger, himself a former IU student, said he believed that a combination of poor weather early in the week and more overall awareness on the part of students on campus might have contributed to a calmer weekend. \nMinger said he believed that the festivity of the weekend affected the entire Bloomington community, and that the relative maturity of the IU student body was a positive reflection on the University. \n"It did go off smoothly, there's no doubt about that," Minger said. "Maybe press and education just sort of pushed (partygoers) to be more responsible."\nMinger also said he believed the lack of any major event on campus outside of the races might have contributed to the smooth week. In past years, he noted, outdoor concerts and similar events drew significant police attention. Minger pointed out that people were more likely to be caught doing things illegally if they were in public at such events. \nMinger, who has experienced Little 500 for more than 30 years, said that the race week now is much more festive and less destructive than it used to be. The longtime IUPD lieutenant said it seemed like "things have gotten much more civil." \nHe pointed out struggles in past years, when North Jordan Avenue had to be blocked off from traffic, and parties would spill over into the city, causing damage. \nMinger said many times that the campus and the community deserved the most praise for the week. He said he believed Little 500 week to be a great college tradition, and that he wanted nothing more than to facilitate good, clean fun.\n"As an IU community at large, (Little 500 week) was successful," Minger said. "The community should look good in getting praise"
(04/24/06 6:53am)
IU police officers made at least two arrests in connection with a fight that broke out at a dance at the University Gym Saturday night, said Lt. Jerry Minger, reading from a police report.\nOfficers responded to the fight, which scattered dance guests away from the altercation and out of the gym. Pepper spray was used to break up the fight, Minger said.\nJerome Ector, Jr. was arrested and several other people were handcuffed in connection with the fight. IUPUI student Ramayel Cain was arrested after the fight for disorderly conduct. Cain was asked to leave several times as police tried to disperse the crowd outside the gym before being arrested and taken to the Monroe County Jail, according to the report.\nAccording to the report, Ector was verbally abusive to both officers and ambulance personnel who were attempting to treat minor injuries he suffered in the fight. Ector also spit in one officer's eye, and the officer received treatment from the ambulance personnel, Minger said. \nMinger said the dance is held every year during Little 500 weekend and was sponsored by the IU chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. More details about the event were not available Sunday night.
(04/18/06 6:18am)
Michael Uslan, IU alumnus and noted Hollywood producer, will be the featured speaker at IU's commencement ceremony. Uslan, whose work includes producing the 2005 blockbuster "Batman Begins," will speak to IU-Bloomington graduates May 6 in Assembly Hall. \nUslan was recommended by IU Alumni Association President Ken Beckley. IU President Adam Herbert said he believed Uslan set a good example for graduates to follow.\n"Michael Uslan has earned three degrees from IU and proves the truth of this statement," Herbert said in a press release. "His career offers clear evidence of the fact that IU prepares students to follow their passion in imaginative ways."\nUslan graduated from IU with a bachelor's degree in history. He later garnered a master's degree from the School of Education in 1975 and a doctorate from the School of Law in 1976. Uslan has received several awards from the University, including the 2001 Distinguished Hoosier Award and the 2002 President's Circle Award.\nOn April 7, Uslan was inducted into the Academy of Law Alumni Fellows "for his outstanding achievements in the legal world and in the community at large," according to a press release. \nBeckley said the search committee recommended Uslan partially based upon his achievements while at IU, but mainly for the work he did after college. \n"Primary among (the criteria) is that the speaker be someone who would be of interest to the students, someone who has a national reputation and, most importantly, be someone who we believe will deliver a message of motivation, inspiration and challenge to the graduates," he said. \nBeckley went on to say he believes Uslan is a good choice for a speaker because his career after leaving IU was something graduates in the class of 2006 could emulate.\n"He's a model of what a graduate of our University can do after receiving his or her degrees from IU," Beckley said. \nUslan said he hoped to bring a message of encouragement to this year's graduates and show them how determination can help overcome any obstacle. He said he hoped to speak to graduates more personally, being an IU graduate who has been in their exact position before. \n"I was empowered by IU -- they gave me the tools I needed to achieve my goals, to succeed, to see my dreams come true," Uslan said. "When they slam the door in your face, you either go home and cry ... or you dust yourself off and go knocking again."\nUslan, a member of the class of 1973, is most noted for his role as executive producer of the movie "Batman," starring Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger and Jack Nicholson. He served the same role for subsequent movies in the series, including the latest installment, "Batman Begins." \nA committee tasked with finding a speaker for graduation reviewed and recommended Uslan. Comprised of students, faculty and staff, the committee made its recommendation to President Herbert, who then contacted Uslan about appearing at \ncommencement. \nUslan said he was "absolutely thrilled" when approached about speaking at commencement.\n"I love coming back (to IU)," he said. "I come back as often as I can. This is just a spectacular opportunity and honor they've given me"