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Black Student Union makes a contribution to promoting campus diversity

Campus diversity is much more than a symbolic feature at Indiana University South Bend. It is embraced and valued by all the people who are committed to the academic success of each student. Many factors hold together to promote our campus diversity, among them are race, ethnicity, culture, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, and religion. There are also many different student groups devoted to promoting diversity on campus. Among more than 50 student organizations at IU South Bend, one of them is the Black Student Union.

Founded in 2005, the Black Student Union is still a young group with only 20 members. However, this organization keeps recruiting new members on campus in order to provide a chance for students to get involved, and meet other students who share their professional, athletic, academic, and community-service interests.

“The Black Student Union offers opportunities for socialization and connection between minority group students at IUSB,” explained Pauline Jarvis-Ward, who is the advisor of this organization. “We encourage academic excellence in our students, and also help our minority group students realize the ways to enhance their leadership through various activities such as food drives, civil rights workshops, and social work in the community.” She added.

As Jarvis-Ward said, the Black Student Union’s job is to help college students, especially those whose are from minority groups, to adjust to their new life and build their confidence. The organization will designate mentors to help incoming students to overcome fears and concerns about studying or living in a new environment. For academic aid, it provides study circles for members to study together not only from class but also from life and history.

There are a lot of events coming out in this group every semester. In the rest of this semester, there will be a group activity featuring African-American history on February 1. In the middle of February, there will be a program about how music can have a message. On February 19, there will be a great chance for students to showcase their creative skills in the Talent Showcase program. “The purpose of maintaining this organization,” Pauline stressed, “is to encourage our students to get involved in the events, to learn more, and to go to the community.”

The Black Student Union is not merely limited to African American students; every student is welcome. It also has some interactive activities with other minority student organizations such as the Latino Students Union and the Feminist Student Union. Through these activities, the organizations hope that students from minority groups will feel less lonely, and get more chances to learn from other cultures.

The end of racism

By Jake Jones

Preacher Moss came to IU South Bend a seasoned veteran of his art, having been a writer for Damon Wayans, SNL’s Darrell Hammond, Nickelodeon, and George Lopez, and also being the founder of the “Allah  Made Me Funny,” the official Muslim Comedy Tour. Moss has performed his End of Racism comedy lecture for many years at more than 500 colleges across the United States and he made the most of his hour long standup bit. 

Moss began his presentation by introducing his comedy lecture as not being a lecture at all, given that it “didn’t have any charts, graphs, or boredom.” After introducing this unique concept he stepped into the jokes.

 

His show encompassed many stories and anecdotes from his life, combining his early experience as a public school teacher attempting to quell a race war between fourth graders, to his investigation of the KKK via chat rooms, and most compelling of all, standing in line at a Subway with a room full of older women.

Preacher Moss’s main points were: “Racism affects everyone; racism is why you never see black people in tanning commercials. Racism affects white people too. It is why white people don’t have their own month.” Moss stressed that everyone has been sitting at the back of the bus and passed an unfair judgment on someone they did not know. To stress a unity in differences, Moss picked people out of the audience and asked them what “hyphen American” they were, and everyone gave a different answer inlcuding German, Irish, and African. Moss has made it his job with the End of Racism comedy lecture to confront issues of racism, diversity, and tolerance, and to make people aware of their differences.

For more information about Preacher Moss, visit  preachermoss.com. 

The Dating Game: The Honeymoon’s Over

By Brandi Miller 

Most relationships go through a “honeymoon period.” This is the time when you don’t see the negative personality traits in your new love; you think the way he or she acts is “so cute” and cannot imagine how anything he or she does could possibly annoy you. It’s also the time when you are both on your best behavior, and wouldn’t want to do anything selfish or annoying to your new partner. This is why friends have always told us that you don’t truly know someone until you have been together for three months. Where this rule of thumb began, I don’t have a clue, but when you hit that three month mark, it does seem that you see the real person you are dating.

 

As time goes by (and from experience it isn’t anywhere near enough time) you both start to get comfortable being around each other, you test the waters, see what you can get away with and maybe don’t really care so much about what you can’t – you’re going to do it anyway. This seems to be when most relationships end, and when the people involved realize they weren’t compatible to begin with. If you think about it, how many boyfriends or girlfriends have you gone out with for a few months, only to find out he or she was a complete idiot? The honeymoon period has ended and you woke up from your Cinderella/Prince Charming dream and saw the person was really a troll instead.

 

After this period ends, if you’re lucky, you find that you really do want to be with this person. Sure, you have problems. You have probably had a few arguments at this point, some apologies, some good makeup sex, but no relationship is without its problems. There is no perfect fairytale romance where you agree on every subject, never fight, and have sunshine and roses all the time. That would be pretty boring. This is the time when you form a routine, when you can stop wearing sexy lingerie to bed and wear your very unsexy sweatshirt and pajama pants.

 

It is important, though, to maintain some impulsiveness. Do new things together, and don’t stop doing the things you did in the beginning, like watching old movies in bed with a big bowl of popcorn. Try to surprise your mate with something you know they will like, be creative, don’t take him or her for granted because you think they aren’t going anywhere. And most importantly of all, make sure you talk about problems instead of bottling them.

 

Usually the things that attracted you to that person in the first place are still there; it’s just that you know more about him or her now and sometimes that might cloud those traits you found so endearing. Keep those traits in mind and try to build on them to make a really great relationship. In marriage sometimes people go on a second honeymoon—no one said that the same idea cannot be applied to dating.

Michiana Dance for the Homeless

By Jake Jones

Everything is coming together for the first annual Michiana Dance for the Homeless (MDH), which will be held on Saturday, April 19, at noon until noon on Sunday in the Student Activities Center (SAC) at the IU South Bend campus. The dance is an event for IUSB students, as well as the whole community.

The executive team in charge of putting the event together consists of Executive Chair Aleah Wilburn who is a Senator of the IU South Bend Student Government Association (SGA), Ivan Blount, President of the Student Body, Teresa Santos, Secretary of the SGA, Jacqueline Kronk, Director of Development and PR at the Center for the Homeless, Whitney Nickle, Events Coordinator at Center for the Homeless, and Anne McGraw, Director of Development at IU South Bend. All of whom overlook the 10 planning committees, which consist of members of the SGA, the Center for the Homeless and students at IU South Bend.

During the dance the participants must be on their feet for 24 hours doing one of the many activities planned, including listening to the live band, learning new dances from a dance team, participating in the talent show, playing basketball among other activities that have not yet been finalized. All food and drinks for the participants will be provided during the dance.

In order to participate in the Michiana Dance for the Homeless, it is necessary to raise money for the Center for the Homeless through pledges or donations. College students need to raise $250 in order to participate and members of the community as well as high school students must raise $100 to participate. All donations must be done through the fundraising committee, specifics for which can be found at www.danceforthehomeless.com. The Center for the Homeless relies on private donors and fundraising events like the Michiana Dance for the Homeless for 85% of their funding.

The event will be advertised, sponsored and covered by multiple Federated Media radio stations such as 103.9 The Bear, 95.3 WAOR, B100 100.7, and Power 95.7. Advertising is scheduled to begin in February. Regarding the Michiana Dance for the Homeless and her involvement Aleah Wilburn said, “I have a passion for doing charity events. I am focusing my energy on trying to establish an opportunity for students to come together where they can experience student life.” Wilburn urges the student body to get involved with the Michiana Dance for the Homeless in order to ensure that it is a huge success for the community and IU South Bend.

Further information and updates can be found at www.danceforthehomeless.com.

Vince Bauters, Analecta, 2008, editor

By Eric Gingerich

 Instead of the standard article, we would like to give the stage to Vince Bauters, editor of this year’s Analecta. He recently organized an open mic night on campus to provide student writers a platform for their art and to give them the opportunity to submit their work. This is Vince on the creative writing scene at IU South Bend, and the future of the creative arts in the South Bend area.

E.G.: From your perspective, what is the current state of the creative writing scene at IU South Bend?

V.B.: It’s exploding, but with intelligence. Exploding implies a certain degree of chaos or randomness, the creative writing scene certainly has the impulse and the magnitude of an explosion, but it’s not out of control. I see writers communicating, and that’s by far the best thing. They are all in touch with each other, rooting for one another, encouraging and editing their creative work. It’s really becoming a family. It has the dynamics of a family, concern and pride. And that’s really quite a beautiful thing.

E.G.: What can be done to increase the visibility of the creative writing scene?

V.B.: I think events like the open mic are an excellent start. You have to allow people to show their interest. You have to believe that people care about creative writing. When people come to read poetry, then that concern has been acknowledged and fostered. But I think the English Dept. is on the right track. By inviting authors to come to campus and read their writing, you allow for a creative environment to exist. You fuel creativity. I think you need a mix of open mics, or ways for students to get involved, and then opportunities for students to see or hear other successful writers. At the same time, there has to be more creative writing courses. I think we’re doing better with that (having more classes). But you need the classes, because that’s what gives focus to writers’ inspiration.

E.G.: Is there a fundamental problem on this campus and/or in this community that would suggest the lack of involvement in creative arts? Or is there a lack of involvement to begin with?

V.B.: Some people might feel this way. But the truth is that people are meeting and getting together, sharing thoughts and ideas. The fact that we can have an open mic shows that there are people willing to be involved. You have to ask yourself how much involvement do you want. How many people do you want involved until you feel content? Half the campus population? Everyone? And you also need to keep in mind, that creative writing is kind of an after thought to many people. It’s something to do when you have the free time. But for the true creative writers, its something you do. A lifestyle. Not a hobby. I don’t think it’s a fundamental problem. I think its human nature. It’s survival. Many people don’t think we need poetry to survive. We need to show that we do. Not to make them all become poets. But to believe in the power of creative arts. And maybe to make them believe in themselves.

E.G.: What can you say about the work of the writers who read during the open mic?

V.B.: Incredible quality. I loved the range of style. From very Oscar Wilde-esque fiction, with writing that pays critical attention to color and lines and light and space and people, to poems that were almost like odes to the American Midwest, with characters trying to find happiness in baseball or liquor. The open mic was a testament to the creative prowess of our students. These people are pushing their writing to the boundary. They are utilizing everything around them to make what they’re saying as powerful and concentrated as possible. You can tell that these are very reflective and observant writers. They are very aware of themselves and the world they live in. And, above all, they seem to believe in the beauty of this world. There is always a saving grace found in these creative works. There is always a chance for hope. And I think that’s important. The chance for beauty is important. Not because we’re all fools and think everything will always be okay. But because we believe in the world. And we know it’s not ending any time soon.

E.G.: Can you make a guess as to the future of the Analecta or to the “South Bend creative writers”—those people who live locally and are actively writing / pursuing their art? Put another way, what would you like to see happen to the creative writing scene on campus and in the South Bend area?

V.B.: Well, they’re not going away. I think we’re all apart of this place, for better or for worse. I think more people are curious and interested in writing, or at least being apart of something that is bigger than themselves. These writers are giving fulfillment to their audience through their writing. They are doing something special and magical, and I think that kind of magic catches on. People are a little lost, because of technology. We want something human, something organic. And maybe now more than, say, in the last 20 years. Some of the thrill of technology has scared us away. People want to be around other people. They want to talk about their feelings. And they want to be brought back to the real world. So, with that said, the South Bend writers are only going to keep gaining momentum. I don’t think we have an objective or hidden priority. We are just writing, and because of that sincerity, people will join us. I’d like to see people fight off being content. I’d like to see us believe in ourselves and the world. I’d like to see this sort of amity and passion survive.

All in

By Jake Jones

 

The IUSB poker tournament has been a huge success on campus, drawing players of all different experience levels into the SAC for a night of Texas hold’em.

Friday night, the tournament started at 6:15 and took place in the SAC. The winner of the tournament received a prize of $100 and received points toward their overall standing in the campus Poker Club rankings.

The 16 highest ranking players at the end of four tournaments get invited to a fifth tournament where they will compete for the title of Poker Champion as well as a bracelet showing their status. Earning points in the tournament requires that the player be among the last half of the players standing. For instance, if there are 20 players at a tournament, then only the top 10 would get points. The points for the top ten players are determined by the order in which they are eliminated, so the first person out would get one point and the last person standing would get 10.

The ranking system is meant for those hardcore players and this is not a tournament for the poker elite. Since the tournament was free and offered a prize of $100 there were many people present who were beginners.

Bringing in new players is actually encouraged at the tournament. Anyone who brings in a new player that has not been registered with the poker tournament gets an extra blue chip (worth 50) to play with. Each table is outfitted with the rules of the game, as well as all the chip values in order to ease beginners into the experience.

After registration for the tournament closes, all the names of the players are put into a computer which randomly places them at numbered tables. The poker playing then starts and throughout the night players are being eliminated and shuffled around while imagined fortunes are won and lost.

Andrew Wearingen started the drive for a Poker Club that focused on tournament and game theory. Wearingen started two years ago but never got off the ground because of all the red tape. Finally they were able to begin the club, and the tournaments draw an average of 75 people each night with 250 people on the mailing list. Having a Poker Club is actually a new experience on college campuses and only a few other institutions have them available. Harvard has actually contacted IUSB Poker Club President Michael Renfrow and has shown interest in turning poker into a study and even a campus vs. campus competition.

However, in order to move forward with more events and future goals the club needs more involvement from club members. The poker club website is www.iusbpokerclub.com and questions can be emailed to pokerclb@iusb.edu. The tournaments are free and open to everyone who wishes to participate.

21st Century Scholars

By Jake Jones 

Getting through college is often difficult enough, but when students also have to carry the burden of financial restrictions sometimes the prospect of even attending college becomes an impossibility.

The 21^st Century Scholars program was created to change this by giving low-income students the opportunity to go to college if they fulfill certain criteria that revolves around their life choices and their academic careers during high school.

Students enroll in the program between 6^th and 8^th grade and they must sign a pledge stating that they will maintain a 2.0 GPA and abstain from drugs, alcohol, and violence.

The scholarship would apply to Indiana colleges or trade schools for two or four year public institutions. The scholarship would guarantee eight semesters of college.

If a student participates in any negative behavior such as drugs, alcohol or crime then they will forfeit the benefits of the scholarship. Pauline Jarvis-Ward of Academic Support Services said “When kids have something to look forward to, it allows them to overcome a negative environment”.  The extra support from the program has helped maintain an 85.3% retention rate among participants who now attend IU South Bend.

Overall the program helps to increase enrollment and give local students the skills they need to join the workforce after graduation. When asked for some final thoughts on the program Jarvid-Ward said, “I think it’s a win-win situation all the way around… it is a great opportunity and I would encourage all who are eligible to take advantage of it.”

For more information on the program contact the Academic Support Services office in AI 148.  

The Empty Suitcase: at an airport

By Naoko Fujimoto 

On the way back to America with two extremely heavy suitcases, a backpack, paper bag, and a certain-sized plastic bag for toiletries, I took an eleven hour plane ride from Japan.  At Customs, I carried luggage more than my weight—instant miso soups, my mother’s handmade beans, favorite chocolate sweets, green tea, new clothes, and tons of Japanese novels—I seemed to live in a jungle using a microwave and reading books. 

At the entrance of America, I took off my jacket, shoes, belt, hat, and other accessories.  I felt a wanting for music and a pole but I had never shown the feeling on my face.  A security officer took my toothpaste from my plastic bag.  I explained to her that it was Japanese toothpaste, and she said, “I know what it is.”  My nearly empty toothpaste completed its mission by diving into the trashcan for the sake of the world peace. 

I wished that the officer took my hand-cream instead.  The toothpaste was nearly empty but I could have used it for more than 5 days.  My budget for new toothpaste was planned in late January.  But, it was not only about my budget.  The toothpaste was perfect—fluoride, some blue beads, and fresh mint flavor—it was for my mouth’s happiness; perhaps, halitosis.  I must have the toothpaste.  When I arrived at the airport in South Bend, I might have had greeting kisses on the cheek or a romantic moment between my non-brushed teeth and the final destination. 

At the Detroit International Airport, there is a long, magical tunnel between the main building of the international flights and domestic flights.  The tunnel is decorated with colorful fluorescent lights.  The background music is like that of a romantic comedy movie—a young woman, who has her first business trip, coincidentally bumps into a young entrepreneur.  Of course, her documents fly out her briefcase and his coffee is spilled on her shirt.  In their eyes, passion sparks but she has to leave for her connecting flight.  He keeps her lost article, a nice fountain pen, and walks in a different direction of hers.  Somehow a manager at the airport helps them to meet again—this kind of background music is always in the tunnel.  I walk through the tunnel every winter break; however, I had not bumped into a young entrepreneur, but my backpack wheels always get stuck on the escalator in the tunnel. 

In this trip, a young man was in hot pursuit after me through the tunnel before I brushed my teeth.  When I walked on the electrical esplanade, he screamed, “Hey, you! Wait, young lady!”  I guessed that the young lady was supposed to mean myself but I usually try not to talk to strangers who scream.  In addition, I did not want to talk anyone until I got my new toothpaste.  But he kept running toward me.  I felt insecure and frightened. 

If I had lost my confidence, I might have been dangerously in trouble, so I quickly walked through the tunnel in the bright lights.  There were a few people in the tunnel.  They just looked forward to their destinations, so they did not care about others.  My heart beat quickened and I sweated.  When I thought that the security booth was close, the guy grabbed my shoulder. I was caught. 

He did not ask for my phone number or name, but we walked together to the gate for South Bend, and his gate was close by.  “Don’t lose your belt,” said the guy when we waved each other farewell.  After the security point stripped my belongings, I probably did not wear my belt properly.  I lost the belt at some point in the tunnel, and the guy was chasing me with the perfect romantic comedy music and the belt. 

I did not know if there was a manager who would be a cupid between the guy and me.  If I had my toothpaste, I would have had more confidence to ask for his name.  Perhaps, my confiscated toothpaste was the cupid, but it had a mission for saving world peace, not for my romance.  My first purchase in America was dentist recommended toothpaste, I would have had more confidence to ask for his name.  Perhaps, my confiscated toothpaste was the cupid, but it had a mission for saving world peace, not for my romance.  My first purchase in America was dentist recommended toothpaste.   

The Dating Game: The Balancing Act

By Brandi Miller

The most important relationship in your life is not the romantic one or the relationship you have with your family. It isn’t with co-workers, or a mentor. In life it’s often hard to find a friend that you can tell anything to, things that others cannot understand or things that most people will judge you for. If you are lucky, you will find a best friend sometime in your life who you can tell all of this to, one who you can call night or day, and know that he or she will be there for you, no matter what.

Best friends are there for you and you for them, through all the good and bad. They’re the ones that hold your hand when you are down, give you their last beer (or for the ladies- tampon), watch your back when you say too much in the wrong place, or dry your tears when your own relationship does the inevitable crash and burn. They will sit up with you all night dissecting the entire span of your “doomed from the beginning” love affair and agree with you that none of it was your fault, it was all the other person’s and you are much better off without them.

When you meet a new person and become a couple you want to spend as much time together as possible. You can’t seem to get enough of that new guy or girl and think about them constantly. It often seems to those around you that you put everyone else in your life on hold. This is fine to do as long as it is a temporary hold and not a hold that stretches over months and months because some resentment may begin to build up and sour your friendship which may cause irreparable damage.

Friends rely on each other for support and companionship and they need at least a little attention in this beautiful and awe inspiring time of your life (you know, the time you have with a new love before finding out all of the annoying little habits that they hid while in the wooing stage?). Yes, of course your friends are happy for you, but if you neglect them for too long, those old friendships will begin to wither and die like that houseplant you forgot to water for weeks on end.

 It’s very important to find a balance between a new romantic relationship and the friendships you cherish. Don’t take it for granted that those friends will automatically be there for you after you repeatedly break plans with them, or stop answering the phone when they call because you are with your new squeeze (even though you answer each and every time he or she calls when you are with your friends). Always make time for your friends; do the things you have always done with them because they need you as much as you need them and that friendship was as important to them as it was to you. If you don’t keep up with them who will be there for you when that new guy or girl you thought was so perfect ended up being the worst mistake of your life and you need a shoulder to cry on? Friends and houseplants can both be replaced with fake ones, but the real ones are the best kind and sometimes a truly good one is hard to find.