Beer Pong: Even When You Lose, You Win

Jason Overholt
Staff Witer

The honor, the glory, the vomit. This is Beer Pong, and if the ancient athletes of Greece could somehow look up through the ages, they would surely nod their heads in approval, oil up, and hold a celebratory wrestling match.
 
Ok, maybe not, but it’s still a great game. It’s also wildly popular. If you type “Beer Pong” into a search engine, you will find numerous associations devoted to the game. There are national tournaments, and local tournaments usually held in bars. Of course, there are also the house party games.
 
Any dingus can look it up on Wikipedia, but I decided to head out to a party to see it for myself (plus the Wikipedia entry is so long and uninteresting that by the end I really needed a drink).
 
I found a house that’s known for its weekend tournaments. The game itself was held in a crowded, dirty garage where some of the people sat in lawn chairs or squeezed themselves onto what was probably the ugliest couch I have ever seen. That’s not the point, though; the point is that most of the people were crowded around the table in the center of the room. A game was in progress.
 
Of course, out of a sense of journalistic integrity, I limited my drinking to somewhere between 2 and 18 beers, so I picked up on the rules fairly fast. There are many variations, but the basic idea stays the same: Each group faces off across a table in an attempt to plunk a table tennis ball into the opposing team’s formation of cups. That opposing team then has to drink the beer out of whatever cup the ball falls into. Run out of beer-filled cups and you lose.
 
Usually, a player tries to throw the ball straight into the cup, but in some versions it’s ok to bounce the ball before it goes in. This is harder, because it reduces the predictability of what the ball is going to do, but when bouncing is allowed it usually counts for more than a straight toss.
 
Did I mention that you can bounce the ball off of whatever you want? In one case, it was the other guy’s face, and for a second I thought I was going to come back with a better story than Beer Pong.
 
Actually, there is a certain amount of etiquette followed in the game. Before making a shot, it’s polite to wash the ball off in a cup filled with water. It’s a nice gesture, but my sanitary concerns will forever make me a sideline cheerleader. Plus, I don’t need to play a game to drink beer.
 
Which reminds me that no one really loses in Beer Pong. Losing just means that you had to drink all of the cups of alcohol on your side. Winners usually get to stay for the next game, and this repeats until they are defeated.
 
By the end of the night, aiming accuracy is mostly dictated by things like wind speed and seismic activity. It seemed like there were a lot of people by then who were so drunk they couldn’t hit the toilet, so questions of when to end seemed to resolve themselves. 
 
Eventually the house’s owner (who had spent the entire night either playing the game or circling around the group like some kind of Tyler Durden wannabe) decided that he would take a little nap on the floor. After he was put into the recovery position, the game ended, and everyone left. No one cleaned up.

Bulletin Board Creates Controversy

Kevin Butts
Staff Writer

The new IUSB bulletin board policy, while still in its planning phase, has created a stir among both students and organizations alike. The key issues deal with what can be posted, where, and who determines what can be censored from the boards.
 
“When this policy came out, there was speculation whether it had been implemented.  It is being implemented in the fall, but it is open suggestion until fall,” said Mphatso Jumbe of the Student Government Association.
 
Though the members of the SGA made it very clear that they are not the ones implementing the policy, it was implemented elsewhere in Student Life and they are now trying to deal with it.
 
The policy was actually written by Marvin Rasch, Director of Student Life. “From my standpoint, I knew there would be some issues, mainly because it’s new and a change. I anticipated there probably would be, but I was acting on request of the institution to make a policy,” Rasch said.
 
To combat the controversy circling the new policy, the SGA held a town hall meeting on Friday, February 24 to hear from students and groups about their concerns, questions, comments on the new policy.
 
One key issue with the new policy is where the new general boards will be, and if there be just one area or a set of boards that they are going to allocate for everyone to post to.
 
“It [policy] would significantly diminish student’s ability to communication,” said student Erkki KochKetola, and “we need clarification of where the boards will be, because it will cause a lot of people to miss posting if it is in one place.”
 
Not just students are concerned about how the new policy will affect them, but members of other clubs and organizations are worried about it as well. 
 
For instance, the International Student Organization is upset that if put into effect, the policy will require them to post in English.
 
“They want us to post in English only – if we’re trying to reach a Spanish-speaking population, why would we put it in English?,” said Felix Marquez, ISO President. “It should be left to the club’s discretion what is posted.”
 
The issues with the policy come directly from the wording of the policy, and its potential violation of freedom of speech and association. The policy states, “The Director of Student Life may withhold approval from any poster in violation of this policy or deemed to be obscene, lewd, or potentially offensive to a portion of the university community.”
 
So, then, who determines what is obscene, lewd, or potentially offensive? 
 
As college students, we learn to deal with many cultures and many points of view -  some that we may agree with, while others we may not. So, should that be afforded to us as our right as citizens; to post what we choose?
 
Many believe that it should be, and seek clarification of the policy. “I think having a clear policy is important… so you know exactly what the rules are and what you can and can’t do, since we are the ones dealing with them on a daily basis,” KochKetola said.
 
While no changes have been made yet, there are meetings in the works to get some of these changes made to the policy. If you are interested in finding out more about the issues, would like to voice your opinion, or want to learn more about the policy, please speak to the SGA in SAC 202.

A Single Woman’s Guide to Internet Dating

Brandi Miller
Staff Writer

A rather new and popular way to date is online dating. There are several sites online that singles can use to meet others in a relatively anonymous way. Most of the sites are free to build profiles and add pictures, but to communicate with other singles you must pay a monthly fee. The fees have a broad range in price, depending on the site you are on and the length of time (one month to one year) you wish to communicate on the site. Those out there who feel optimistic about finding someone quickly can opt for the most expensive single monthly cost.

I recently used one of the sites to attempt to jump back into the proverbial “dating pool” and thought it would be beneficial to give some tips to others who may be thinking of doing the same. There are some very important safety tips women need to keep in mind when meeting new people for the first time, and others that are just little things that could be useful when going out on a first date with a relative stranger.

The first and most important safety tip is to never give out your address or phone numbers until you are comfortable doing so. Email is a great tool for this very reason. You can still keep in touch that way with some sort of anonymity. Before you actually do go on a date, it’s a good idea to do a basic check through intellius.com to make sure you aren’t going out with a stalker or ex-con. There are a variety of searches you can do for minimal costs.

When you are ready to actually go on your first date, always drive yourself and meet them at the prearranged place. It’s always best to go somewhere crowded, such as a restaurant or coffee shop. Let a friend or relative know where you will be, and if possible, speak with them sometime during your date. If you have been on many dates you may discover as I have that men have really small bladders and go to the bathroom several times during the date. Weird, I know, but it seems to happen a lot! If you have a drink and you get up to go to the restroom yourself, try to time it when your drink is nearly empty or take it with you. The latter may seem strange to your date, but for safety’s sake; it is safest alternative. You could always accidentally spill your drink and have to get a new one – or just order a new one when you come back, whichever seems more fun! The reason for this is the possibility of being drugged. Paranoid you say? I’d rather be paranoid than kidnapped and raped.

There are also many just plain useful tips I have learned in my recent dating experiences. Men are just as bad as women in lying about things they aren’t comfortable with regarding their physical appearance. Pictures on dating sites do NOT represent the person you are actually going out with. Some people just aren’t photogenic, I get that. But the pictures of people who are 35 years old and it happens to be their high school graduation photo – now come on, get a camera and take some pics! Also, you may often find that the picture is 40 pounds ago. If a person has gained weight, fine, just admit it. If they could just be honest and represent themselves accurately things would go so much more smoothly all around.

The most important thing to remember when considering internet dating is to think safety. You can have fun with it. But you must always think about the fact that the people you are meeting are strangers to you. Using the right site and if you do it with an open mind, you may just find the man of your dreams.

Play Chosen for One Book One Campus

Peggy Trytko
Staff Writer

Votes are in for 2007-08 One Book One Campus reading and the winner is Henrik Ibsen’s play “An Enemy of the People.” The book was chosen from four finalists of 10 books that were nominated by faculty, staff, and students.

It tells the story of a town’s dilemma when a doctor discovers that a natural hot spring, which is the town’s livelihood, is polluted. The people of the town debate whether to keep the spring open or to close it and lose jobs.

The theme of the play supports next year’s campus theme of Sustainable Communities.

Julie Elliott, Assistant Librarian and Coordinator of One Book One Campus, said the choice lends itself to many different ways of exploring the work, which could include readings and stagings of the play, book discussions held on campus or at local bookstores, essays, and reviews posted to the One Book One Campus blog at iusb.edu/~libg/onebook.

Students are encouraged to contact her at 520-4410 or jmfelli@iusb.edu to set up an event. “Any ideas they have, I’d be really excited,” she said, and is willing to help.

She is also looking for students to form a One Book One Campus committee to facilitate events and to get involved in the nomination process for future One Book One Campus choices. “I’d love to get the word out,” Elliott said. “This is something they can have a voice in.”

Table talks and book discussion have taken place for the 2006-07 One Book One Campus selection “A Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. The book ties into the 2006-07 campus theme of “Diversity and Dialogue.”

It is a nonfiction work about an epileptic Hmong child, Lia Lee, and her family and chronicles their interaction with the American medical system. The book won a National Book Critics’ Circle Award, and is taught at universities and widely read by medical practitioners as an aid to bridge cultural divides.

Two physicians who cared for Lee, Drs. Neil Ernst and Peggy Philp, will speak at 7:30 p.m. in Northside 158 Monday, March 26.

Copies of “An Enemy of the People” are available at the Shurz library. It can be found in compilations of Ibsen’s work by searching IUCAT. Elliott said the library expects to get more copies this summer. The bookstore is also in the process of ordering the books and will have them in a few weeks.

Open Mic Night: Lune

 

Kevin Butts
Staff Writer

Music is an idea that many of us hold close to our hearts. It is an emotional release of our minds and of our souls, and is oftentimes taken for granted – except by the artists themselves who express it directly in their songwriting.
 
Nathaniel South and Josh Meert, a pair of local musicians from Elkhart, graced the SAC Lounge with their musical talents Wednesday night. 

The two have an electrifying presence together and seem to complement each other well musically. The two, who together form the band Lune, headlined Open Mic Night February 28 sponsored by Titan Productions.

“Opposites attract,” said Meert. “Me not willing to sing works out well between us because I can focus on instruments while Nathaniel carries us lyrically.”

That term, opposites attract, couldn’t be more truthful. If you were to glance at them, you would think they have nothing in common. However, musically, the two are a dynamic duo.

“For me, I see Josh as a blessing. He takes my raw ideas and finds things with them to make them better and fills in the holes,” South said.
 
South and Meert look at music as a way to speak about the problems of the world today and to try to make a difference, something that is rare in music these days.

“I have a deep-seeded belief that things aren’t alright. I look at the world and see a lot of things are messed up. I think music is a powerful tool to communicate and connect with people who feel the same,” said South.

In music, it is often said that you’re a musician or you can play. Distinguishing between the two is often tough, though. Is it a hobby, or is it a career? The choice can be difficult, though both men know what music means to them.

“It’s way more than a hobby for me,” South said, “and I want to give back to music what it has given to me. I want to influence and I want to leave my mark on music.” Meert, on the other hand, takes a more laid-back, easygoing approach to his music career. “Music for me doesn’t have to take me to a specific destination as long as it’s something that I’m always involved in.”

With guitars in hand, the two showed the small crowd in the lounge those ideas in music form. “Being an acoustic artist, most people expect our music to be sappy love songs, but it’s quite the opposite,” said South. “Music touches us. None of us know why music is what it is to us or why it touches us like it does, it just does… music is the most powerful tool to touch the human spirit.”

If you want to experience the duo’s music for yourself, you can find them online at myspace.com/lunetheband or take the opportunity to see them live at any number of local venues.

Rose Marie Hegesbach: Helping Others Help Others

Alma D. Gomez
Staff Writer

Every year, many great faculty members of IUSB retire, sometimes without even knowing who they really are. This year, Director of Student Scholarships Rose Marie Hegesbach will be retiring this month. Aside from being in charge of this department, Mrs. Hegesbach has had quite an interesting life which she has shared with us. This is her story.

For over 10 years, Mrs. Hegesbach has been a part of IUSB. She began her career as a student pursing her M.B.A. in Business. She attended college in Madison, WI, graduated with a B.A. in Education, and began teaching. Mrs. Hegesbach was a teacher in downtown Detroit in a Catholic school which she holds memories she greatly enjoys. Later, she became the Director of the YWCA where she started a shelter for battered women in a time she recalls as very exciting. It was then she realized the need for more experience in the field of business and enrolled as a business student at IUSB.

After graduation, Mrs. Hegesbach began working in Career and Placement and Financial Aid. After asking her how she came about to the scholarships department, she mentioned, “I love education; I know it made a difference to battered woman,” and “it gives you a new way of seeing yourself.” Mrs. Hegesbach wanted to be the catalyst between the people who needed the money and the people who had the money. For her, it all came together as simple as that and she knew that was where she needed to be. One of the great things she mentions is that all the donors’ part of our community who really cares and wants to help.

The most rewarding thing Mrs. Hegesbach mentions about being the Director or Student Scholarships has been making a difference, seeing the results, and being a catalyst. One of the most challenging things she mentioned is when there’s a situation when she’s not able to help. 

She will truly miss hearing the success stories of students and the faculty members. When asked for some words of wisdom for the next Director of Student Scholarships, Mrs. Hegesbach mentioned to “spend time listening to the students and the donors so that you can find the best matches.” As part of being the director, Mrs. Hegesbach has had to work with the different departments, faculty, students, and donors which truly entitles more than many have thought. Something she mentions many don’t know is that the scholarships are online at the IUSB websites and printable applications are available as well. 

Mrs. Hegesbach and her husband have planned to do a lot of traveling and spend time playing with their grandchildren after her retirement. They greatly look forward to traveling to Japan this summer with their eldest granddaughter which is very exciting for all of them. Mrs. Rose Marie Hegesbach was awarded “The Mike Wargo Distinguished SGA Alumni Award” on May 5 of 2006 “for her continued support to IUSB.” She will be greatly missed for her genuine care and everything she has accomplished at IUSB. We wish her a great summer and a great retirement.

Senior Day

Kevin Butts
Staff Writer

Saturday, February 24 was Senior Day, which means that it was the last chance for the Titans and Lady Titan Seniors to play at home in a regular season game against the St. Xavier University Cougars.
 
Before both games, ceremonies took place to commemorate the seniors who graduate this year. For the Lady Titans, Stacy Spurgeon was honored with her parents by her side. Spurgeon has played in 129 games for the Lady Titans and will finish 5th All-Time in Assists at IUSB. In addition to that, she was named to the 2nd team All-Conference for the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
 
“We couldn’t have survived without her,” said Head Coach Steve Bruce. “She is our most valuable presence. She brings so many things to our team. She has all the characteristics you would want her to have. She’s absolutely selfless.”
 
The women’s game was a close battle throughout the first half and ended in a 24-24 halftime tie. Though, the second half could have proved a better story. The Lady Titans eventually fell to the Cougars by a score of 68-54. 
 
“We played a really outstanding first half, but in the second we didn’t get stops when we need to and we didn’t make shots when we needed to,” said Bruce.
 
On Monday, another Lady Titan was honored. Jennifer VanderZanden was honored with a 1st team All-Conference selection.
 
For the men’s team, three seniors were honored before the game: Jeremy Herring, Hubert Gentry, and Travis Carrington. Herring and Gentry were both named 1st team All-Conference for the CCAC this year. 
 
Herring wrapped up his last home game with 19 points and six rebounds to add to his All-Time rebound record at IUSB, bringing his total to 729. Gentry, however, didn’t fare so well and didn’t get much playing time due to three early fouls. “Hubert got in trouble early with fouls, and that was unfortunate for his last game,” said Micah Shrewsberry, Men’s Head Basketball Coach.
 
“Jeremy and Hubert have both been here the entire time.  I have nothing but respect for both of them in the way they approached things this year. They never complained; they just went out and did their jobs,” said Shrewsberry.
 
In the men’s game, the Titans jumped out to an early 29-15 lead, but the Cougars battled back to bring the score to 35-31 at halftime. However, unlike the women’s game, the men took charge in the second half led by Dewey Brown with 28 points, to take the game 73-58. 

“It was the first time those seniors have beaten St. Xavier, and they were really excited about that,” said Shrewsberry. “We played with a lot of energy. I’d say it was the best all season. We played strong and as a team.  Everyone who came in played well, like George Tzanetatos who hit some key threes.”
 

SGA @ Work

Brandi Miller
Staff Writer

On Friday, the SGA accepted the resignation of Justice Joe Spencer. To replace Spencer, Marcus Vigil will be appointing Cole Belt. Voting by the Senate will take place at the next SGA meeting on March 23.

Michael McRobbie has been unanimously appointed by the IU Board of Trustees as the 18th president of IU. He will be at IUSB on Thursday to meet with campus administration and the SGA. McRobbie is replacing President Adam Herbert who announced last year that he will be stepping down.

The Accounting Association was unanimously approved to receive $506 for the annual networking dinner which will be held in April.

The Senate unanimously approved the appointment by the Search and Screen Committee of the four students chosen to fill the empty seats in the Senate. Jessica Jackson, Sieanna Giden, Kristina Miere, and Andres Paz Colina will now sit on the Senate of the SGA.

The next SGA meeting will be on March 23 at 4 p.m. in SAC 225.

IU Smoking Ban

Adam Gallippo
Student Life Editor

IU President Adam Herbert is asking for a proposal to be given to him that will ban smoking on all IU campuses. The proposal, to be received by October, is to be written by “branch officials.”

Physician and university trustee Phil Eskew called for the university-wide smoking ban during a recent committee meeting. President Herbert then announced the following day that he had already been considering the idea.

“The policy should be clear: that we will have smoke-free campuses,” said Herbert to the trustees.

Herbert then said an eight month timeline will give the campuses a chance to discuss possible approaches with students, faculty, and staff.

Last August, two IU campuses (Indianapolis and Richmond) banned smoking on their campuses. Not only were cigarettes banned, but so were cigars, snuff, and chewing tobacco. Students are allowed to smoke in their cars and on public sidewalks and streets.

Rumors continue to swirl around this topic; one of which says that the Governor is prepared to back this policy.

Rumors aside, the SGA here at IUSB has formed a Smoking Ban Survey Committee. The committee plans on surveying students about the proposed smoking ban and then writing a letter to Bloomington with the findings.

So whether you’re for or against the ban, keep an eye out for the surveys.

Not all trustees are in support of the proposed ban.

Trustees Pat Shoulders and Casey Cox said they were “leery of banning smoking at the Bloomington campus, where more than 10,000 students live in dorms and university apartments.” Cox said he would prefer to see better enforcement of the 2003 policy that bans smoking within 30 feet of entrances.

Style is more than hair, make-up, and clothes.

Eric Gingerich
Staff Writer

My friend, she tastes words. Now, I’ve never seen her do this. But I imagine it’s like enjoying a single strawberry for an hour. It must be that simple. I wonder, what do words like holla and peeps taste like? The words we use are so funny sometimes. Still, we should speak them as they appear; by no means should we hold back. After all, words are first tone, then voice, and finally, style. And everything, when you think about it, is reduced to style.

Listen to how people talk. I’ve spoken in the same tone as close friends. But this is not my voice, it’s theirs. Other friends speak in profanities. Yet they are some of the most convivial people I’ve ever met. Their tone make the words – words I don’t believe I can type here – arbitrary. This is style. In the same way, your word choice and tone expose a certain style. 

Thus, style originates from thoughts, and from there, it permeates your entire existence. The way you walk and dance; even the way you read the newspaper – all style. Your handshake is definitely style. If you grip that hand just firmly enough and if you end the exchange at the right moment, you take control of the entire room. Style, you see, moves us through life. 

Yet sometimes style is missing. You sit with no one at a party, sipping champagne, and at the end, when everyone else is drunk, you’re ready to dance. But your friends are incomprehensible. You finally dig out your style but it’s too late. If you’re lucky, this doesn’t happen and your style just flows; you think without hesitation, and those thoughts manifest as words – your words in your tone as your voice. This is the opposite of what happens on a nervous first date.

Like happiness and confidence, style must be self-generated and self-sustained. However, perhaps more ingrained than either, style is harder to fake. You can pretend to be happy, and you can fake confidence, but if style is truly born from our thoughts and projected by our voice, you ultimately cannot escape its honesty. More than anything else, the words we speak reveal us. You may have the year’s best handshake. You may salsa exceptionally well with the cute girl in class. But afterward, you will have to talk.

My friend, though she must use words, doesn’t have to talk. I taste words, she said, and the words are strawberries, each one red, juicy, delicious. Those three words, they talk for her.