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(04/27/18 3:23pm)
It’s almost the end of another spring semester at IUPUI, and what better way to celebrate than a carnival?
The IUPUI Traditions Board is hosting the 6th annual Jagapalooza carnival on Friday, April 27 from 5 p.m. to midnight at the North Hall Parking Lot (Lot 71), across the street from the North Hall dormitory.
“Jagapalooza is usually held on the last day of classes,” said Emily Singer, the Graduate Assistant for Student Activities.
Jagapalooza is the grand finale of a week filled with activities on campus for students to relax before the dreaded finals week that follows. Some of the activities included tie-dying t-shirts, breakfast for dinner, and free ice cream at Taylor Courtyard.
“Leading up to Jagapalooza, the most popular activity has been the T-shirt event,” a former director-who wishes to remain anonymous- of Jagapalooza said. “It has changed over the years but the common theme, free t-shirts, remains the same.
The carnival is free for all IUPUI students to attend as long as they bring their Jagtag or CrimsonCard. If students do not have an ID, they can also use their student email address.
According to the Division of Student Affairs website, there will be eight different amusement rides, carnival games, concession stands and food trucks for students that students can purchase delicious carnival fare, a giant slide and even a zip line across the lot.
“We will have carnival concessions including elephant ears, lemon shake ups, funnel cake, popcorn and cotton candy,” said Singer. “Additionally, we will have two food trucks: Izzy Dizzy’s food truck (grilled cheeses and warm sandwiches) and Kona Ice (shaved ice).”
If students aren’t particularly interested in carnival rides, there will be other forms of entertainment for them to experience at Jagapalooza.
“There will be henna artists, caricature artists and face painters,” said Singer. “All of these activities are free of charge for attendees. Cash will be required for all the carnival games and concessions. Attendees are strongly encouraged to bring cash with them to the event. If they do not, there is an ATM available on the second floor of the Campus Center.”
Students aren’t the only ones who can come enjoy Jagapalooza. IUPUI staff and faculty are also invited to the end of the year event.
Students are allowed to bring a friend that does not attend IUPUI as long as they accompany the IUPUI student, faculty, or staff.
“There is no limit to the amount of guests someone can bring,” said Singer.
The students and staff who organize the event put in hard work to bring the carnival to the IUPUI campus every year.
“Planning an event this size is really a year long process,” a former director said. “Several vendors are used year after year, but there are still copious amounts of paperwork and permits needed to run an event this size. Like every other student organization and large scale event like Regatta and Jagathon, a strong and dedicated planning committee is vital to the success of the events.”
Unfortunately, last year’s end of the semester event was met with less than appealing weather, but event organizers are optimistic about this year’s turnout.
“We are expecting anywhere from 3000 to 4000 event attendees at Jagapalooza this year,” said Singer.
“The best part of Jagapalooza is see ing everyone excited to come to the event,” the former director said. “A lot of hard work is put into planning and running then event so it’s rewarding to hear students and faculty talking about it and seeing them participate in the week of events leading up to it. It’s really fun and unique event to have running on our campus.”
Jagapalooza is a way that students can relax and celebrate the hard work they’ve put in throughout the school year, as well as a pretty good way to kick off the summer season.
For more information or for questions about Jagapalooza, visit the Division of Student Affairs’ website here.
(04/20/18 3:11pm)
Vinyl collectors all over the world will join together this Saturday to celebrate their passion of music and records.
According to the official Record Store Day website, “There are Record Store Day participating stores on every continent except Antarctica.”
In Indiana, many local businesses that sell vinyl records will be celebrating Record Store Day on April 21. One of those is The Exchange. The record store chain has over 30 different locations nationwide. There are two different locations in the Indianapolis area, one in Castleton at 5975 East 82nd Street, the other in the heart of Broad Ripple at 912 Broad Ripple Avenue.
“In its 11th year, this is a day set aside at participating retailers to celebrate the vinyl format of pre-recorded music,” said Jerry Micco, the music buyer for The Exchange, in an email interview. “Record labels release very special (and very often very limited) releases encompassing great artists and music both by contemporary artists and by artists who have made iconic recordings in years past.”
“Record Store Day is a a universal day that independent record stores around the country celebrate music and records with the release of special items, have sales and even have concerts to celebrate,” said Indianapolis Exchange owner Bobby Dubovec in an email interview.
Stores around the world celebrate National Record Store Day with store specials, special vinyl and CD releases, artist meet and greets, performances, parades, cookouts and more.
Both of the Indianapolis Exchange locations will celebrate National Record Store Day, mostly with special deals and bargains for their customers, as well as exclusive releases.
“Since the event has grown steadily in popularity over the decade it has been in existence, we find that the best ‘event’ is to open our doors and let music fans seek out the music,” said Micco.
“We spread our Record Store Day product out between the 30 different stores so it allows people at every store a chance to find one of the gems they are looking for,” said Dubovec. “We have good sales going on that day that helps show that our customers are the reason we love what we do and enjoy hearing what they have to say and the stories they tell.”
Vinyl lovers and collectors have a chance to find not only special deals on select items, but some unique, limited editions ones as well.
“There are very special releases, in many cases limited to less than 1,500 copies nationally,” said Micco. “Record Store Day has strict pricing guidelines and as such, our pricing falls in line with their policy of providing the titles without ‘gouging’ our customers.”
“We go out of our way to help customers any way we can that day to locate and get the items they are wanting,” said Dubovec..
For the record stores that participate in the event, it can be one of the biggest selling days of the year.
“The stores are filled with shoppers for most of the day,” said Micco. “It is easily the single biggest business day in our 30 store chain.”
“If you have our ‘EXPERIENCE’ card which is free to sign up for, you are eligible for lots of great deals not only on Record Store Day, but throughout the whole year,” said Dubovec.
National Record Store Day is for customers, the artists and independent record store owners around the world to come together for one day to share their love for all things vinyl and embrace their culture of music
For more information about The Exchange stores in Indianapolis or other locations, visit their website.
If you’d like to learn more about National Record Store Day, or to find a list of participating stores near you, visit the official Record Store Day website.
(04/20/18 1:22am)
Vinyl collectors all over the world will join together this Saturday to celebrate their passion of music and records.
According to the official Record Store Day website, “there are Record Store Day participating stores on every continent except Antarctica.”
In Indiana, many local businesses that sell vinyl records will be celebrating Record Store Day on April 21. One of those is The Exchange. The Exchange has over 30 different locations nationwide. There are two different locations in the Indianapolis area, one in Castleton at 5975 East 82nd Street, the other in the heart of Broad Ripple at 912 Broad Ripple Avenue.
“In its 11th year, this is a day set aside at participating retailers to celebrate the vinyl format of pre-recorded music,” said Jerry Micco, the music buyer for The Exchange. “Record labels release very special (and very often very limited) releases encompassing great artists and music both by contemporary artists and by artists who have made iconic recordings in years past.”
“Record store day is a a universal day that independent record stores around the country celebrate music and records with the release of special items, have sales, and even have concerts to celebrate,” said Indianapolis Exchange owner Bobby Dubovec.
Stores around the world celebrate National Record Store Day with store specials, special vinyl and CD releases, artist meet and greets, performances, parades, cookouts, and more.
Both of the Indianapolis Exchange locations will celebrate National Record Store Day, mostly with special deals and bargains for their customers, as well as exclusive releases.
“Since the event has grown steadily in popularity over the decade it has been in existence, we find that the best ‘event’ is to open our doors and let music fans seek out the music,” said Micco.
“We spread our record store day product out between the 30 different stores so it allows people at every store a chance to find one of the gems they are looking for,” said Dubovec. “We have good sales going on that day that helps show that our customers are the reason we love what we do and enjoy hearing what they have to say and the stories they tell.”
Vinyl lovers and collectors have a chance to find not only special deals on select items, but some unique, limited editions ones as well.
“There are very special releases, in many cases limited to less than 1500 copies nationally,” said Micco. “Record Store Day has strict pricing guidelines and as such, our pricing falls in line with their policy of providing the titles without ‘gouging’ our customers.”
“We go out of our way to help customers any way we can that day to locate and get the items they are wanting,” said Dubovec..
For the record stores that participate in the event, it can be one of the biggest selling days of the year.
“The stores are filled with shoppers for most of the day,” said Micco. “It is easily the single biggest business day in our 30 store chain.”
“If you have our ‘EXPERIENCE’ card which is free to sign up for, you are eligible for lots of great deals not only on Record Store Day, but throughout the whole year,” said Dubovec.
National Record Store Day is for customers, the artists and independent record store owners around the world to come together for one day to share their love for all things vinyl and embrace their culture of music
For more information about The Exchange stores in Indianapolis or other locations, visit their website.
If you’d like to learn more about National Record Store Day, or to find a list of participating stores near you, visit the official Record Store Day website.
(04/13/18 3:52pm)
A small eastside community is getting people ready to experience an event for craft beer lovers of all types, from the pale ales lovers to the stout connoisseurs.
The Irvington Community Council (ICC) is hosting its first Beastside Brewfest on Saturday, April 28 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes School, located at 5333 E. Washington Street in Indianapolis.
“The inspiration for the event came from a desire to do a spring event to come together, get people excited for the festival, as well as raise money for our Legacy Project,” Irvington Council Member Charles Miller said. “Celebrating all the great breweries opening up in our historic neighborhoods was a nice bonus.”
So how does it work?
The event will feature nine different breweries, such as Black Acre, Taxman, Flat 12 Bierwerks and Sun King, each giving out different samples of their crafted beers for attendees to taste and enjoy.
"I'm excited about going to the Beastside Brewfest," Irvington resident Victoria Fuller said. "I'm most looking forward to trying some more local breweries. I am familiar with some of the local breweries like Centerpoint and Black Acre."
The breweries will also be fighting for votes from the attendees and others to be the winner of the event.
“This is a judged event, and certified beer judges will be tasting the beers and picking their favorite, which will be awarded the Beastside Trophy,” Miller said. “I know some breweries are planning on bringing newer beers or ones they have created for the event.”
Sampling at the event is unlimited, which gives guest a chance to try everything that each brewery has to offer (until they run out.) Once guests have narrowed down their favorite brews, they can fill up their 16 ounce “beast buckets” with the drink of choice for $5. The pint-sized buckets will feature the event mascot “Beast” on them.
“Beastside is a play on Eastside, and the fact that we would make a great mascot with a name like that sealed the deal,” said Miller. “Daric Kindle drew up the Beast, and everyone who saw it knew right away that was our mascot!” Miller said.
Aside from sampling tasty craft beverages, the brewfest will also feature food and entertainment.
“We will have a food truck provided by Irvington's own Beach Bum BBQ, and entertainment from the stage by the rockabilly band Bigger than Elvis,” Miller said.
Proceeds from the event will go towards the historic Benton House in Irvington.
The Benton House is a home built in 1873 that is preserved and maintained by Irvington Landmarks,” Miller said. “It is the former home of a Butler President, and is an excellent example of Second Empire architecture. It is currently used for meetings, weddings, and other events, and is open to the public for tours.”
Like most historic houses, The Benton House is in need of some renovations.
The house is preserved with period furnishings. It is an Irvington treasure, and as you can imagine from its age, in need of some repairs,” said Miller. “Every year, the Halloween Festival picks an Irvington treasure to benefit from a significant portion of the proceeds of the Halloween Festival and its related event (Beastside Brewfest), and this year we choose the Benton House.”
Tickets for the Beastside Brewfest are available on the event website. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Guests must be 21 or older to attend.
“Beastside Brewfest starts off our Summer Music Series,” said Miller. “That will take us through the summer into the fall, when our neighborhood becomes all about Halloween!”
For more information about the Irvington Community Council and other events in Irvington, visit their website.
“Seeing small craft brewing becoming big is something that I am personally into," Fuller said. "I hope that the Eastside Brewfest will return next year and that this year's turnout will make it even better in the years to come."
(04/06/18 4:09pm)
Last weekend, over 40,000 people attended the 5th annual Indiana Comic Con at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, and they were not disappointed.
“There was just so much to do,” Indiana Comic Con frequenter Casey Carson said.
This year, Indiana Comic Con spanned over 400,000 square feet of the Indiana Convention Center. The main hall, named the Exhibitor Hall, was home to 150 booths filled with comics, cosplay, toys, artwork, video games and more.
The immersion began as soon as you walked in. As attendees entered the Exhibitor Hall they were greeted by an enormous semi-truck, styled by a fan as Optimus Prime from the Transformer series.
“There was such a variety of art and merchandise that could be purchased,” Carson said. “It gives us (attendees) a chance to meet and interact with some local, and not so local, artists.”
Aside from the abundance of exhibition booths, attendees had the chance to pay and meet some of their favorite celebrities and voice-actors from their favorite television shows and movies. Some of the celebrities at Comic Con this weekend were David Harbour from “Stranger Things”, Oliver & James Phelps from the “Harry Potter” series, Steve Cardenas’ from the “Power Rangers” series, Veronica Taylor from “Pokemon”, Rodger Bumpass from “Spongebob” and more.
“My favorite part of the event was getting to meet the Phelps twins,” first time attendee Kayla Fish said.
“My favorite thing that I bought was Steve Cardenas’ autograph.” Carson said. “He was one of my idols as a child, and it was amazing to get to meet him and shake his hand.”
If you didn’t want to pay the extra fees to meet your favorite person, attendees had a chance to catch their favorites during scheduled panels throughout the weekend. The people attending the panels could get in line and ask a question to one of the attending celebrities or voice actors.
Some of the popular celebrity panels were the Jess Harnell Q&A, the Matthew Lewis Q&A, and Voice Acting: Everything You Want to Know, hosted by voice actors Jess Harnell, Veronica Taylor, Nolan North, Rodger Bumpass, Charlie Adler and Carlos Alazraqui.
“I liked how the hosts were so expressive in their answers,” Carson said. “They were quick to throw out the voices they used which was awesome to hear live.”
Comic Con attendees could also take part in a variety of other activities. Aside from the celebrity panels, there were a variety of other entertaining panels that guests could attend, such as Improv 101, Tea Time with Draco Malfoy, and Villains Who Suck. Since Sunday was Easter this year, guests could even get pictures with the Easter bunny at different times of the day.
The final, but certainly far from last, hall that guests could explore was the Gaming Hall. There, attendees could buy different games, or even bring their own, and play them with others, whether total strangers they just met at Indiana Comic Con or friends they’ve known for a lifetime.
Also inside the game room, Indy Lightsaber Academy was teaching guests how to use lightsabers from Star Wars, and even held tournaments throughout the event. In the back of the hall, Global Archery hosted games of archery tag that anyone could join.
This year, Indiana Comic Con had something for everyone who attended the event. Whether guests had attended the event years prior, or this was their first year at the annual event, Indiana Comic Con made sure that pop-culture, cosplay and comic book fans had something epic to do to hold them over until next year’s event.
“I liked the ease of the event,” Fish said. “Nothing was difficult to access as far as parking, tickets, food, and merchandise. It was very well organized.”
“I’ll definitely be attending cons in the future,” Carson said.
The 6th annual Indiana Comic Con returns to Indianapolis on Friday, August 30, 2019.
For more information, and for updates on next year’s event, be sure to visit their website, or check out the official Indiana Comic Con Facebook page.
(03/30/18 4:48pm)
Comic book fans, pop-culture lovers and wearers of cosplay, rejoice! The Indianapolis Comic Con is back this weekend, March 30 through April 1, at the Indiana Convention Center, located at 100 S. Capitol Avenue.
Last year, over 40,000 people attended the event. This year, Indiana Comic Con is expecting even more.
“Indiana Comic Con is Indianapolis’ largest, true comic con,” public relations representative Jaimie Kautzmann said. “Featured are exhibitors that cater to a wide spectrum of interests, including comic books, magazines, toys, games, Star Wars, anime, and more.”
Attendees can find the main event at the exhibitor hall, where they browse different booths and tables, hosted by multiple exhibitors like Arcadia Comics, Sewer Lair Toys, Yaya Han, and more. These exhibitors will have toys, cosplay, graphic novels, memorabilia, artwork and, of course, comic books on display and potential sale.
Not only does Comic Con play host to many different exhibitions, but offers plenty of other entertainment options as well, including panels such as “The Lightsaber Academy,” where participants can learn how to use a lightsaber and take part in a tournament, or “The 90s Were All That,” which discusses all things 90s related.
“Freestyle Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) is another popular panel,” Kautzmann said. “You get to participate in a quick, live DnD session with audience participation.”
“My favorite thing about Comic Con has to be Artist Alley,” said Indianapolis Native Jonas Firman. “There are so many great artists that put up their prints for sale at an amazing price. It’s also pretty awesome to see my friends in cosplay.”
Indiana Comic Con also brings celebrities, guest speakers and popular voice actors to the convention. Attendees have the option of seeing some of their favorite people during panels, or they have the option of paying to meet them and get their autographs.
“Of course our celebrity panels are always filled,” Kautzmann said. “There are people able to have an open floor Q&A with our guests!”
Some of the celebrities attending Indiana Comic Con this year include David Harbour from Stranger Things, James and Oliver Phelps from the Harry Potter movies, Rodger Bumpass from Spongebob, and Veronica Taylor from the Pokemon series.
If you want to dress up as your favorite character, Indiana Comic Con also hosts a costume contest. “The Cosplay Contest is one of our most anticipated events during Indiana Comic Con,” Kautzmann said. “There, you will get to see the contestants show off their hard work, and it’s all boiled into different categories.”
Indiana Comic Con also offers different food and drink options for their guests outside of the Indiana Convention Center.
“There will be a number of food trucks parked on Georgia Street for your lunch and snack-time needs,” Kautzmann said. “They open at 11 a.m. and will stay until 3 p.m. They will be there all three days of the event.”
Tickets for the three-day event are still on sale. You can buy a weekend pass for $60, or you can buy single day tickets. The prices and times of the event are as follows:
Friday: tickets are $30 each. The event runs from noon to midnight.
Saturday: tickets are $40 each. The event runs from 10 a.m. to midnight.
Sunday: tickets are $30 each. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The exhibition hall closes on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Kids ages 12 and under are free. You can buy tickets and find more information on their website.
iPhone and Android users can download the official Indiana Comic Con app for a complete list of times and schedule for panels, exhibitions, and celebrity guests information.
“There’s always something new, you just have to find it!” Kautzmann said. “Try going to a panel that you didn’t see last year. Sign up and participate in the Cosplay Contest. Watch some of the Indiana Comic Con Film Festival and vote for your favorite film. Join Nerdy Speed Dating and see if you can find your soulmate. There’s so much to do.”
(03/02/18 6:02pm)
Jags, lace up your dancing shoes. It’s time to get your feet moving and do some good for your community.
The 16th annual Jagathon: Dance Marathon returns to IUPUI on Saturday, March 3 at noon and continues through Sunday, March 4 at 3 a.m. at the IUPUI Campus Center.
“Jagathon is the largest student run organization at IUPUI,” said Darian Benson, a member of the Jagathon Morale Committee. “It is a dance marathon for Children’s Miracle Hospitals.”
The money raised at Jagathon goes to Riley Hospital for Children for pediatric research and to help patients and their families with emotional and financial needs.
“We are a quick growing dance marathon,” said Catherine Baran, Chair of Tabling for the Recruitment Committee. “My first year of participating in Jagathon (2016) we raised $140,049.94. In 2017, we raised $341,430.22.”
According to the Jagathon website, the event has raised more than $760,000 dollars over the last fifteen years. More than half of that has been earned within the last two years, increasing with attendance of the event.
“1340 students are registered for Jagathon 2018,” said Jagathon President Ali Emswiller. “This is a record participant registration number for Jagathon. This is exciting because it demonstrates that so many IUPUI students are coming together for a meaningful cause much bigger than any one of us.”
Jagathon takes place over the course of 15 hours. Some participants may think that they have to dance for the entire time, but there are other activities and events that they can do.
“A huge misconception about Jagathon is that it is 15 hours of dancing,” Baran said. “While there is definitely dancing, we have lots of games and activities throughout the evening, three meals, and we listen to Riley kids and their families share their personal stories.”
“Halfway throughout the event, the IUPUI Division of Student Affairs has sponsored a ‘Run to Riley’ where all 1340 participants run from the IUPUI Campus Center to Riley Hospital for Children (just down the street), to see the hospital they are supporting,” Emswiller said.
“These kids are some of the strongest kids you will ever meet,” Benson said. “We honor them by giving up sitting for a little bit.”
Jagathon has a recurring acronym that appears during their fundraising events, on their apparel, and even on social media, “FTK”, which stands for “for the kids.”
“It’s a constant reminder of why we do what we do--the meetings, the fundraising, the dancing, the standing, etc.” said Baran. “It is our reminder that we are putting in the time and effort because it benefits the children treated at Riley Hospital for Children.”
Jagathon may host its main event during the first weekend of March, but the fundraising efforts occur throughout the course of the year.
“Jagathon hosts multiple events throughout the year, including Battleships, Mr. and Mrs. Jagathon Pageant, Dancing with the Stars, and Dine to Donates at restaurants around campus,” said Carter. “Our goal is to provide memorial events throughout the year that will keep the attention and interests of our dancers, sponsors, and committee members.”
If you missed the deadline for registration, be sure to look out for the other events that Jagathon hosts on campus.
If you’d like to participate in the 2019 Jagathon: Dance Marathon, registration for the event opens Wednesday, April 18th, 2018.
For more information or questions about Jagathon, visit www.jagathon.iupui.edu.
“You get to experience miracles happen multiple times throughout the event,” Carter said. “You leave our event knowing you made a difference, knowing you changed a life.”
(02/16/18 5:46pm)
As a public college in an urban setting, IUPUI has over 20,000 students, each with different diversities and cultures. According to the 2016 IUPUI diversity report, 10 percent of students are African American, 4 percent are Asian American, 6 percent are Hispanic or Latinx and 4 percent are international students.
What better way to celebrate IUPUI’s diversity than an annual festival?
The IUPUI International Festival is a part of IUPUI International Week, which runs this year from Sunday, Feb. 11th to Saturday, Feb.17th. The festival took place on Wednesday, Feb. 14th from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Campus Center.
During International Week, the Campus Center gets a makeover with the 195 flags of the United Nations displayed throughout the building for everyone to see.
The festival has been one of campuses longest running events.
“I believe this is the 14th year,” Office of International Affairs Specialist Jhoselyn Hneich said. “Next year is going to be the big 15.”
According to the Office of International Affairs’ website, “This year there are more than 50 student organizations, university departments, nonprofits, and vendors will join us to share their global opportunities.”
Some of the different organizations and departments during this year’s International Festival included International Club at IUPUI, Asian Student Union at IUPUI (ASU), Egyptian Student Organization, Immigrant Welcome Center, German Club at IUPUI, Spanish Club at IUPUI, and the Confucius Institute in Indianapolis.
“There are a lot of Eastern European countries [represented at IUPUI],” Hneich said. “I know Romania is here. We have the Asian Student Union that represents a bunch of other countries. I know we have a lot of students from the Philippines, Taiwan and some Japan.”
The festival lets IUPUI students experience different cultures from around the world. There are multiple performances by different student organizations, including musicians, performers, and more.
“The 40+ exhibitor booths allow attendees to learn about global learning opportunities, whether it’s a study abroad program, a new major program, or volunteer or internship opportunity with a local organization,” said Mandy Bray, Manager of International Information and Communications.
If entertainment isn’t your forte, fear not, because students also get a chance to taste cuisines from all over the world, made by different on-campus organizations and chefs.This year, students had a chance to try food like paneer masala from India, horchata from Central America, beshbarmak from Kazakhstan, chakalata from South America, Mexican Hot Chocolate and kookoo sibzamini from Iran.
Each food location offers a pamphlet with the recipe and step-by-step directions so that students can learn how to make it for themselves.
The International Festival has something for everyone.
“Not only can they [students] talk to our organizations, we also bring in speakers,” Hneich said. “We try to include intercultural activities and other performances as well.”
This year, this Department of World Languages and Cultures held an International Lecture Series. Some of the lectures included “Delivering Education, Healthcare, and Nutrition in Rivers State, Nigeria” by Tijen Demirel-Pegg of the Political Science and International Studies department and “Cultural Awareness Through Authentic Experience: Preparing for German Citizenship” by Karen Roesch of the German department.
The festival, held on Valentine’s Day this year, took its own spin on the holiday as the Department of World Languages and Cultures presented a multilingual poetry reading called “Love Makes the World Go Round,” where IUPUI students from different cultures read poetry from around the world.
The IUPUI International Festival is an event where students can celebrate who they are in an inviting environment filled with food, entertainment, and culture.
“Above all, it helps people to see a small taste of another person’s culture and to appreciate our humanity, no matter our differences,” Bray said.
(02/09/18 4:58pm)
(01/26/18 4:26pm)
It’s that time of year again: the temperatures are dropping, the snowflakes are falling and all student eyes are on IUPUI’s social media to see if campus has been cancelled.
Winter has arrived in Indianapolis.
IUPUI, unlike our sister school in Bloomington, is considered a commuter campus. What does that mean? Even with the addition of North Hall in 2016, most students at IUPUI live off campus. According to USNews, “Indiana University-Purdue University: Indianapolis has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,748. At this school, 12 percent of the students live in college-owned, operated, or affiliated housing, and 88 percent of students live off campus.” (2016)
Unfortunately, that means that many students must brave the elements to get to class, which includes sleet, snow, and freezing rain.
How can students stay safe traveling to and attending classes during the winter season? Protect.IU.edu has some ideas.
According to the website, there are a number of things that students can do to prepare for winter weather. “Dress appropriately for cold weather any time you go anywhere, with multiple layers of clothing underneath a water-resistant coat: protect your amenities with a hat, gloves or mittens, and waterproof shoes with good traction; and protect your face and lungs with a scarf.”
The website also says you should allow more time for travel, check for local weather conditions and travel advisories before leaving, and have an emergency kit at home or in your car filled with food, water, and any other supplies you might need.
Students should also fully charge their cell phones before traveling to campus in case of an emergency and keep it charged throughout the day.
Getting around campus can be tricky to navigate in certain conditions as well. One student offered some advice about getting around during winter weather.
“Become very familiar with the tubes and the tunnels,” graduate student Dara Hardesty said.
According to the Student Affairs website, “Gerbil tubes at IUPUI are overhead, enclosed crosswalks connecting several buildings and parking garages across campus. They’re heavily used to avoid snow, rain, and cold, and to avoid dodging traffic on busy streets.”
IUPUI recently released a video on it’s social media pages about using the gerbil tubes to get from the Science and Engineering Laboratory Building (SELB) to the Natatorium.
Another popular way to get around campus is by riding the shuttle buses. According to IUPUI Parking Services, “there are four shuttle lines with more than 20 stops, so getting to and from your office or classroom is quick and easy, and it’s free to anyone in the university community!”
IUPUI also has advice on what not to do during winter weather.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6Br4RUH1Ps
Protect.iu.edu says “you shouldn’t go anywhere underdressed--your warm car may break down, your destination may be without power, so plan for the worst.”
Make sure that you stock up on essential supplies, such as toilet paper, food and water before the weather arrives, particularly a few days prior.
You should never travel during a winter storm unless it is absolutely necessary. However, according to IUPUI’s policy on adverse weather, “It is the policy of the university to operate at all times.”
To stay up to date on the latest school closings and weather alerts, follow IU Emergency Management on Twitter @IUEMC, @ProtectIU, and @IUPUI.
To get notifications sent to your cell phone about campus safety updates, students can sign up for alerts from IU-Notify. According to Protect.iu.edu, “The messages can be sent to cell phones (voice and text) and landline phones, email, digital signs and some desktop computers.”
You can sign up for IU-Notify through logging in to One.IU, searching for IU-Notify, and answering the prompts that follow.
With these tips, staying safe and warm on campus should be easy. Be sure to bundle up; we still have over 40 days until spring break.