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(09/04/17 8:35pm)
SIRI allows students to socialize and share their week’s experiences in a safe space.
By Paris Garnier
When Jake Desmond attended his freshman year at IUPUI, he did what many other students did: drink. By the time he finished his second semester, his GPA was a 2.3. Life wasn’t going the way it needed to. Something had to change.
Desmond realized IUPUI lacked space for students struggling with recovery and addiction to talk and support each other. So he built his own space: Students in Recovery of Indianapolis (SIRI) to fill a gap in his and other students’ lives.
SIRI began as a student organization, with Eric Teske, the assistant director of substance abuse prevention in Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), working as its faculty advisor. Desmond wrote the constitution himself, and on Oct. 9, 2014, it began.
SIRI is an addiction recovery support network that focuses almost entirely on social support between peers. The group functions without an overarching program or a religious core. Anyone interested is welcome to attend and be a part of the dialogue, including students who may not have substance abuse issues but want to be allies of recovery.
“We try not to overcomplicate it and make it into some program that has all these forms and barriers and memberships and levels and tiers,” Teske said. “It’s kind of freeform right now--maybe that’s because it’s new, maybe that’s because it works--but it’s a way to get connected and plugged in.”
The presence of allies can be a point of contention for some recovery groups, but not SIRI. Many members, including Teske and Desmond, are in favor of being open to everyone. It allows students who are susceptible to substance abuse as well as those who simply choose not to drink to socialize in an alternative setting.
One reason why collegiate groups tend to shy away from including allies is that they often give scholarships to recovering students. SIRI doesn’t have a scholarship program and receives funds strictly through grants.
SIRI avoids categorizing recovery, as it is a “spectrum” and often overlaps with mental health issues, like depression, bipolar disorder, and ADHD
“We’ve sort of blurred the lines between mental health recovery and addiction recovery in general,” Teske explained. “They can be in a supportive environment regardless.”
Each meeting is led by a Recovery Coach from Fairbanks Addiction Treatment Center. Their purpose is to guide and facilitate conversation, rather than enforce an agenda or topic. Students discuss how they’re feeling, what’s been challenging in the past week, and make friends. The goal is to talk, not to suggest students leave other groups they’re involved in, such as AA.
The first meeting of the semester will be Feb. 22 from 3-5 p.m. in CE 310. Because SIRI doesn’t require a formal membership and keeps attendees anonymous to outsiders, keeping track of involved students is difficult. Making time for everyone to attend on a weekly basis is even more challenging, which class scheduling compounds.
“It ebbs and flows,” Teske said. “This past semester, schedules were a big issue … it really put the brakes on how we were growing.”
Beyond weekly meetings, SIRI has sober events for participating students. Before he moved to Bloomington, Desmond loved the coffeehouse events with live music in University Tower. Shortly after enrolling at IU, he also developed the student recovery support group there.
First meetup of the semester is Wed, Feb 22 @ 3-5pm in CE 310. Students RSVP with recovery@iupui.edu so we can get your City BBQ order.
When Desmond developed SIRI, he had high hopes.
“I just really saw a vision of having students working together on a college campus all the way into recovery,” he explained. “I had really big visions at the start, like free scholarships, and big sporting events, and a dedicated room on campus, or like a large study space on campus.”
Although SIRI has stayed small and sometimes struggles, it has nevertheless impacted plenty of students. Since he stopped drinking, Desmond’s GPA has been a 3.8/3.9 and majors in both chemistry and exercise science. He’s delighted to have made friends through SIRI and its sister group and hopes his hard work will take him into medical school.
(09/04/17 8:26pm)
The story of the near west side, before IUPUI came to be.
by Paris Garnier
When Paula Brooks was 18 years old, she left her home in Ransom Place to attend college on the east coast. She returned home to care for her ailing mother eight years ago. Now 56, she discovered just how much her neighborhood, which her family had lived in since the ‘30s, had changed in her absence.
“I’m old enough to remember when it was a neighborhood from basically from White River all the way over to Capitol Street,” she said.
But the radical shift Brooks experienced is not the first time the near-west side of Indianapolis has changed. Many students wonder what came before IUPUI and are often surprised to learn that an almost century old, predominately black neighborhood occupied the area.
The near-west side of Indianapolis was rather empty until the mid-1800s when African Americans moved into the area. European immigrant families settled as well, but it was still primarily a black community. The IU medical center would come shortly after in the Civil War.
According to professor Paul Mullins, an anthropology teacher at IUPUI with a focus in race and material culture, residents built “modest, vernacular wooden homes” on small lots that went up to the street. New additions were built as necessary. A lack of running sewage and trash collection that continued into the 1950s meant backyards were occupied by privies or trash pits. Many tenants were renters.
Although the houses were hodgepodge, the community was strong. Churches, schools, and the Madame C.J. Walker Theatre allowed the neighborhood to develop and attract more African American residents from the South seeking work during the depression and second World War.
“There’s a community to come to, and at least a different sort of racist violence than many people of color had experienced in the South,” Mullins explained.
The houses themselves, however, began to decline as early as the ‘30s. But they remained unchanged and undisturbed by outsiders until the ‘50s, when urban reconstruction swept the nation. Using federal funds, Indianapolis followed the trend of “slum clearance” and started pushing residents out.
“[Slum clearance] almost always was code for moving out inner city predominantly black neighborhoods like this one,” Mullins said. “This happens in Chicago, this happens in Detroit, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, D.C., in somewhat different sorts of ways, but it's all cut from the same fabric.”
At the same time, Indiana University and Purdue University were developing plans for a downtown satellite campus. Cavanaugh, Taylor, and the lecture hall were built first. Land for parking and future projects was at a premium. There was a dissonance between residents and those attending school.
Then in 1962, city officials stopped taking federal clearance money, which prompted IUPUI to hire private contractors to purchase each individual house in the area. Landlords sold the property and the university paid fairly, but it was never enough to buy a better house elsewhere.
And one by one, residents left of their own volition. When someone decided to move, IUPUI lent a van and then demolished the property immediately afterward. The lot was often paved right up to the neighbor’s fencing, which would motivate them to leave. Many went into Haughville.
This trend continued into the ‘80s, when the last residents moved out. Some wonder how this particular neighborhood, with space available elsewhere, could have been displaced. The answer is simple: racism.
“It’s not a coincidence,” Mullins said. “The discussion was always focused on the west side and when the highway construction was being planned, lots of that discussion centered on predominately black communities, too.”
The legacy of the neighborhood can be found in Ransom Place today.
“If you wanted to see what this neighborhood looked like in the 1950s--at least in terms of architectural style, density of settlement, size of houses--Ransom Place is kind of the last surviving remnants,” Mullins said. “Those handful of blocks are basically all that survives of this neighborhood.”
But IUPUI continues to impact life in Ransom Place. Expanding student housing leads to apartments encroaching on historical property that cannot handle such additions. The remaining houses sit close to narrow streets with high-speed traffic.
“It’s changed drastically, and it’s even changed in the eight years since I’ve been back just with the university deciding that it wanted to become more of a campus-like university rather than a commuter school,” Brooks said. “You’re bringing in 200 more people but you’re not improving the infrastructure, so we have a serious issue with parking.”
Brooks has expressed a sense of reassurance in IUPUI’s Social Justice program and believes Ransom Place will not go unnoticed. Mullins said that while he champions IUPUI and his experiences here, the physical history of the land has to be addressed in a constructive way.
“We have hundreds of acres here that we acquired from people of color and leveraged through the power of the state,” he said. “We can’t ignore that.”
(09/04/17 6:40pm)
Alternative rock is known for being introspective, heavy in metaphor, and quirky. The breakout Los Angeles-based group Bad Suns fits that model to a T.
By Paris Garnier
Bad Suns got their start touring with artists like Halsey and The 1975. They made a name for themselves with the single “Cardiac Arrest” from their first album Language & Perspective, which peaked at 24 on the Billboard 200 in 2014. Their works is consistently mellow but upbeat and earworm-catchy.
Christo “Chris” Bowman, the vocalist for Bad Suns, follows his instincts as an artist.
Following the Sept. 2016 release of their second album Disappear Here, Bad Suns will soon begin their Heartbreaker tour across the U.S.
The Campus Citizen caught up with Bowman for a quick phone interview preceding Bad Suns’ concert at the Deluxe in the Old National Centre on March 4.
Have you played Indianapolis before?
We played there once at a show opening for another band--this was like maybe two, two and a half years ago--and it was the only time we had been to Indianapolis and I just remember it being one of the best shows in the entire tour and one of the best crowds. It was one of those places where we didn’t realize anybody would even be familiar with our music, so for whatever reason it’s--our agents just weren’t sending us out there. We were kind of pushing for it just because we remember this one show that we had, and now we’re going back to that same venue and we’re just really looking forward to it, especially now that some time has passed and we have us some more music. We’re really, really excited.
I noticed on your tour list you’re going to a lot of smaller cities, is there a reason for that?
Yeah, it’s kind of for that reason like I mentioned, we play the big cities all the time, especially when we’re doing tours supporting other artists. We had just gotten off a tour doing most of the major cities in the US in the fall, so we also really wanted to go play in these places where we knew there were people listening to the music and who wanted to come out and have a good time. Those are awesome--some of the most fun cities you end up playing in, so we didn’t want to ignore them, ‘cause I feel like a lot of bands do. We’re just really excited.
What’s the hardest part of touring?
The hardest part about touring, I’d say, is just adjusting to it and learning how to make that a lifestyle as opposed to like, summer vacation or something. When you start out, at the very beginning, your first tour is going to be like a month or so long, and you’re with your friends, you’re in a van or whatever it is, and you’re going around the country and you’re doing what it is that you love to do most and it’s just awesome. So it kind of feels like a summer vacation or something. But then eventually it becomes a part of your actual life. Learning to find that balance is probably the most difficult thing, but it’s also super rewarding once you are able to figure out how to balance being a normal human and doing this kind of abnormal daily lifestyle, so it's very rewarding.
You used to tour as an opening act for Halsey and other groups. How does it compare?
We really like both, we really enjoy every aspect of what we do. But the truth be told, going on your own headlining tour--when you’re sort of the one calling the shots and the night is about your music and this and that and the people who are coming are well aware of that--it’s just … very special in a sort of sense. I think any band will tell you that their own headline show is always gonna be the most magical ... but at the same doing a tour we go out and we get to play for another artist’s fans, that’s also really exciting for us because it puts us back into the position of having to try and win these people over who maybe aren’t familiar with your music. So that is a challenge in itself and it also kind of keeps us on our toes, and it’s fun. It’s sort of like, gladiatorial, in a sense. Doing festivals or doing shows where you’re opening for other acts, it pushes you to be at the top of your game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0kFqbg7VEw
What is the creative process for the lyrics like? What’s the collaboration like?
Well, I’m the band’s songwriter and then we all write music together, so that means oftentimes I’ll bring a song in and we’ll work out the music together or however it is. Sometimes an idea’s more fleshed out than others. Oftentimes one of the other guys will bring a musical idea to the table and from there I’ll kind of be given the task of like writing a song around that--writing lyrics and melodies and that kind of thing. We like to mix it up in that sense, so it’s always collaborative.
So, since this tour is the Heartbreaker tour, what’s the inspiration behind the song “Heartbreaker”?
I think the idea for that song was--first the way that song really came to be was i sort of just took my guitar outside and started playing something and there was just a certain feel that, whatever the part I was playing on the guitar, it had this energy to it, which I liked. And then, for whatever reason when I was coming up with vocal melodies--and you know it’s all kind of gibberish when you’re coming up with melodies, throwing random syllables and fake words out there--but the one phrase that I kept repeating was that “heartbreaker” line that’s in the chorus and the pre-chorus and stuff like that, so the song sort of had a title immediately, and based off of that premise I kind of wanted to give a song about heartbreak the kind of--to approach it from a lighter, more lighthearted point of view and sort of shed light on how sometimes ridiculous and childish those situations can be. I didn’t want to take it too seriously with the lyrics and I wanted it to almost kind of have a comic sense to it, which I think in certain places we’ve pulled off, so that's the idea. I wanted to make light of something that people often take very seriously in their own lives.
What’re you the most proud of with Bad Suns?
We don’t really spend too much time walking around being proud of what we’ve done or stuff like that. But one thing that I have to say is really nice is just kind of being a guy in your mid twenties and being able to come to work every day and it’s at like a rehearsal room or a writing room with the three guys that you like the most, and just writing music because that’s what you do. That’s probably the most rewarding thing.
Do have any big goals for your next album? I know you’ve only just released your second one, but do you have any big hopes for it?
You know, it never feels right to talk about the future. Especially when it’s still being determined. I’m not sure yet. All I can say--and I can say this confidently--is that we’re very, very excited about what there is to come next and to elaborate would simply be pointless. At this time.
What do you think you’d be doing right now if you weren’t a part of Bad Suns?
Well, music is the only thing I’m sort of half good at. I’m not sure. You know what, I’d probably be going to college.
A couple of days ago the Bad Suns twitter account made a tweet about buying shirts to support relief in Syria, is this something you feel strongly about?
We were contacted by the people at Alt Philanthropy and we had done some work with them in the past--raising some money for Planned Parenthood--and they approached us with this idea they had put together, they explained to us what they were going to do, and we were just entirely on board and happy to be involved.
Last question: in three words, how would you describe Bad Suns?
Not that bad.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
(09/04/17 6:33pm)
Spring has sprung early, but the USG elections are arriving on time. The tickets have now been announced.
By Paris Garnier
As with all things, the current undergraduate student government executive board has come to an end. But unlike last spring’s elections, this cycle is expected to have significantly fewer court hearings. The USG executive board election is about to begin with the election for president and vice president.
The tickets consist of Trent Bennett/Jacob Huls and Jonathon Hawkins/Albat Mulbah for president and vice president, respectively. The campaign was officially announced on Feb. 19.
All four candidates come from the senate. Bennett represents the Honors College, Huls is the Philosophy Club, Hawkins is Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Mulbah is the African Student Association.
Both sides are emphasizing advocacy for students, developing a campus identity, and improving the USG’s standing on campus. They want students to know that they can use USG to further their own goals for the campus.
Bennett and Huls want to focus on “student government centralization,” which means that USG would work more closely with organizations that handle typical student government duties, like SAPB for event planning. They also want to increase sporting event participation and strengthen the logical structure of USG legislation.
“I think both of us are optimistic about the progress USG can make, but at the same time we think we can provide the leadership to take USG to the next level of student governance,” Bennett said.
Hawkins and Mulbah are determined to develop a “Campus Day.” Hawkins explained that The Brain Trust at IUPUI came to him with the idea to have every student organization spread out across campus and have events once a month to promote “cooperation and unity on campus.” Student groups would be able to regularly table, host workshops, and raise money.
“I love promoting student organizations as it is, promoting their success on campus ... and I very much am active and vocal about making sure they have the proper support and I think an event like that would allow for that,” Hawkins said. Should his ticket win, they want to have the first Campus Day in fall 2017.
Because it is still early in the cycle, both tickets are still developing their platforms and are open to student suggestion, but have released social media profiles, which will be a primary resource. Augmenting the USG’s online presence is a goal that rolls over from the outgoing administration.
“If anything we’d like to go make the student government’s presence known, because quite frankly it’s embarrassing when you talk to students on this campus and they didn’t know they had an undergraduate student government,” Bennett said.
All four candidates have stated that should their ticket lose, they would continue their senatorial work and support the winner.
“You don’t have to win elections to make a change, to make a difference,” Mulbah said. “I would keep being a senator and help Trent and his running mate succeed in helping students have a voice and do things that will help students have a better career here at IUPUI.”
Response to the new election code was positive. In fact, the only concerns for the election was a possible repeat of last year’s allegations of voter fraud and the subsequent hearings. Both tickets explained that they had an “open and clear line of communication” and would speak to each other about violation concerns before anything else.
There was an overall lack of a political difference and animosity in the relationship between the tickets and reassurance that while each side considered themselves a better fit for presidency, there was nothing but respect for the other side.
“It’ll be a very constructive campaign for the organization and … there will definitely be a lot of debate and disagreement, but I think it will be a friendly campaign with a lot of construction and a lot of good things happening for USG,” Huls said.
Last year saw record voter turnout, which both sides want to expand upon. Hawkins and Mulbah mentioned plans to mobilize the potential voting base in both the Greek life community and the Multicultural Center. Both sides encouraged students to research the candidates and understand what each ticket represents before voting.
“Get out there and say ‘Hey, we don't stand for this, how do you stand?’” Hawkins said. “An important question voters need to ask this election is ‘Where do you really stand on the issues? What [are] your views?’”
The next election event will be a public debate on March 2 at 7 p.m. Voting will occur all day March 6 and 7; confirmation will be March 24.
(09/04/17 6:20pm)
The USG recently passed a resolution stating that it is in favor of IUPUI potentially becoming a sanctuary campus, but does not formally make IUPUI a sanctuary campus.
By Paris Garnier
It’s no secret that undocumented students attend IUPUI. But with the ever-shifting nature of the federal government, that fact has never felt quite so dangerous.
On Feb. 17, after three rounds on the senate floor, USG voted to approve the resolution that supports IUPUI being a sanctuary campus for undocumented students.
Umaymah Mohammad, the USG director of initiatives, and Delta Peeler, the LGBTQ Student Alliance representative, coauthored the resolution.
What began as an attempt to shed light on the mistreatment of Palestinian children and develop scholarships for refugees quickly snowballed into advocacy for marginalized groups with an emphasis on undocumented students. Mohammad started developing the “call to action” chunk last semester and shifted gears after the presidential election. Peeler initially asked for Mohammad for advice drafting legislation before the two started collaborating.
“If I’m in a place where I can change something and I'm not changing something, then why am i there?” Peeler said. “I saw that I had the ability to do something.”
Mohammad described “a lot of pushback from every single step,” starting when she brought the idea to the executive board. But she and Peeler finished the draft and pushed it into the senate.
For its first appearance, the draft was tabled because it hadn’t gone through the oversight committee properly and mechanical errors remained. It was again presented to be discussed, and one more time for its final vote, when it was approved.
But before the senate agreed, it was split.
The phrase “sanctuary campus” itself was a major point of contention, as it's hot-button nature caused concern. Some thought should have been replaced with another term, especially with Senate Bill 423looming overhead, which would prohibit all colleges in Indiana from being sanctuary campuses.
“That would take away the power of what this means--the power of using this terminology which stands for undocumented people,” Mohammad said. And the words “sanctuary campus” remained.
Other issues brought forth in the debates included confusion about the resolution being an official sanctuary campus statement, which it was not, and the potential danger undocumented students would face if they came forward because of the resolution.
“It was kind of a mess, but it got progressively less messy,” Peeler said.
Guadalupe Pimentel testified on behalf of the resolution, representing the Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance (IUYA). As an undocumented student attending IUPUI, she wanted to dispel the idea that the resolution put undocumented students in danger and defy the negative rhetoric surrounding immigrants.
“I think it’s important to put a face to a story because if people are consuming this information 24/7, that’s all you’ll think of when you hear this,” she said, specifically citing President Trump’s statements that Mexican immigrants are criminals and rapists.
Pimentel explained that even though the resolution is not an official sanctuary declaration, it is a comfort to students like her. She cited SB 423 and Mitt Romney’s “attrition through enforcement” (also called “self-deportation”) strategy as ways to force immigrants to leave on their own and that the student support mattered.
“Clearly, we’re not welcomed here,” she said. “It’s showing that [the USG], in a way, have our back. They support undocumented students, and that helps especially in such a climate.”
On the side against the resolution stand those like Michael Thompson, USG’s current vice president, who was not keen on the resolution’s creation. He said that because most of the points in the resolution already exist, like that IUPUI wouldn’t release students’ private information to the federal government anyway, it was simply a moral victory with excessive debate over language choice.
“I understand it was important for those it affected. The question that a few of us eventually coalesced was ‘Is there a way to get this moral victory without using the term sanctuary campus?’” he said. “That ended up being the brass tax of it all.”
Thompson explained that while he did not personally like the resolution, he would fulfill his duty as vice president and give his official support. He expressed concern that the resolution could impact the future of USG and IUPUI, citing the rapid movement of the Trump administration and previous threats to remove funding from public universities.
“I don’t trust this president to not do what he said he’s gonna do.”
But for Mohammad and Peeler, this resolution was about accountability and support for marginalized populations across campus.
“We kept trying to emphasize that this is just a statement of support for undocumented students,” Mohammad said. “What it’s supposed to do is hold us as a student body and as student representatives accountable for protecting people we’re supposed to be representing.”
As a satellite campus, IUPUI cannot independently declare sanctuary status. But Mohammad, Peeler, and their supporters do not plan on quitting anytime soon.
(09/04/17 6:15pm)
With bathroom bills making noise once again, some may wonder about IUPUI’s gender-neutral restrooms and policy.
By Paris Garnier
Not for the first time, restrooms are making headlines. North Carolina’s HB2 bill, better known as “the bathroom bill,” was repealed on Thursday amid concerns about the ongoing ban on local nondiscrimination legislation. From now until 2020, even towns and schools can’t extend legal protection for transgender people in restrooms and “single-sex spaces.”
In light of this, some may wonder about IUPUI’s restroom policy, and the situation surrounding the elusive all gender restroom in Cavanaugh Hall’s fifth floor.
Although it’s rare for universities to have explicit stances on gender identity, IU interprets Title IX to cover gender and restroom use. IUPUI uses the same nondiscrimination policy. Transgender students can use gender-affirming restrooms without fear of repercussion from the school; any attempt to deny students access to affirming restrooms would violate this policy.
There are those at IUPUI who are not concerned with school policy, but with individual behavior. Charmayne Champion-Shaw, the director for Native American and Indigenous studies, was distressed by the “attitude of empowerment” without immediate protection. She cited a scenario where a trans student may be harassed in a restroom in an area without faculty support, or even faculty who have received ally training and understand the situation.
“It’s one thing to empower students and tell everybody ‘You can use whatever bathroom’ ... but that protection piece is critical in making this a safe and welcoming place,” she said. She also lamented the lack of intersectional committees making decisions like gender-neutral restrooms.
These restrooms are scattered across campus and are available for everyone to use. The newest resides in Cavanaugh’s fifth floor and is a converted men’s restroom. After several requests to Tom Davis, the dean of liberal arts at IUPUI, the process began late last spring. Because Cavanaugh is a high traffic building with permanent faculty offices, it felt like a disservice to not make the effort.
“I was thinking of scenarios in which I could see it would be incredibly inconvenient to have to tell someone who wanted to take advantage of a gender-inclusive bathroom to say ‘Oh well there’s one if you’re willing to go over to this building or go over to that building,’” he said.
First came meeting with other deans and campus facility services. This particular restroom was selected because it met the single stall requirement and could be repurposed without major construction, which wasn’t feasible due to lack of funds. Orders for the new door lock and sign had to be approved by campus facility services, and it was several months between requests and installation.
The matter of signage has plagued this project since it began. Through the summer 2016 semester, the restroom had a new lock but the same men’s room sign. A paper replica of the all-gender sign was taped over it, only to be ripped down several times.
“By designating that one facility as gender inclusive, it doesn’t take away anything from anybody,” Davis said. “I mean, everyone’s still able to use that facility if they choose, so--personally, I just don’t understand why people would tear the sign down.”
A permanent sign came in the fall 2016 semester. Because the restroom is in a very secluded part of Cavanaugh’s fifth floor, there are hopes of installing other signs on lower floors for directions on how to find the bathrooms. Davis’s office sent emails to Cavanaugh residents in the summer and fall semesters detailing the change and how to find the restroom.
“Tell you the honest truth, even though it was a conversion of an existing bathroom, I worked here for, I worked in this building, for 25 years before I knew that bathroom was even there,” Davis said.
Davis also consulted Tristan Vaught, director of the LGBTQ+ Center, who was “thrilled to see this initiative in Cavanaugh and have been in full support since Dean Davis brought this plan up.”
Cavanaugh’s new bathroom has yet to be added to the list of gender-neutral restrooms on campus, which some students have issue with for being vague or redundant.
“Plus, they don't tell you where exactly the bathrooms are, which is especially important if they're all stuffed in weird corners of buildings. I have no clue where the IT all-gender restroom is, and I'm an informatics major,” Delta Peeler, the LGBTQ Student Alliance representative, said in an email.
Although the new bathroom is remote, Davis emphasized that this change was the only way to “most immediately address the need” of a gender-neutral restroom.
As the national debate on “bathroom bills” rages on, IUPUI continues to take steps forward to make all students as comfortable as possible.
(09/04/17 6:11pm)
By Paris Garnier
Putting trust in a stranger to watch a backpack or hold a place in line is a small risk that some never take. Asking a stranger for food, gas money, or a place to crash is another situation entirely. But Leon Logothetis of “The Kindness Diaries” fame has made a living on this very premise, and he’s coming to IUPUI to speak for Kindness Week on April 27.
Kindness Week is an upcoming series of events put on by the Writing Center that focus on forming connections and deep learning. Students can attend conversation hours and poetry jams as well as Logothetis’ keynote address. The week will stretch from April 24 to April 27.
If it sounds like Kindness Week is coming out of nowhere, that’s because it is. Kelin Hull, a graduate student and consultant at the Writing Center, came up with Kindness Week in the days before spring break.
Hull’s thesis studies how “deep learning,” which how students actively and confidently engage in their work, is impacted by personal connection, vulnerability, and empathy. How students connecting with themselves and others can impact their studies. She binge-watched Logothetis’ show on Netflix and read his first book in a matter of days.
“His journey is an actual allegorical representation of my research,” she said, laughing. “It’s called ‘The Kindness Diaries,’ but really he’s talking about connection just like on every page.”
Shortly after, she followed him on Facebook, and he announced his usual speech fees would be waived for colleges in his latest tour. Although she was intimidated by reaching out to a famous stranger, she sent him a private message within 30 minutes explaining her research and interest in his work.
Logothetis agreed and things coalesced quickly. As she started coordinating with Logothetis’ public relations manager, Hulls contacted Marilee Brooks-Gillies, the director of the Writing Center, and explained what she had done. Hull wanted to use Kindness Week as a way to explore her research in action and help students.
“How can we break out of this idea that the Writing Center is just this place where you come get your paper fixed? Because really, that is so secondary to what we actually do here. What we do is connect to students so they can feel confident and able to deep learn.”
By the time spring break was over, Hull had gotten approval from the Writing Center and signed Logothetis’ contact. The following week saw date and time negotiations. A team of about nine Writing Center consultants and students in training met with Hull last Friday to hash out the final event details.
Some events include the conversation hours (1-2 p.m.) and presentations (5-6 p.m.) on Monday and Tuesday, a poetry jam (1-2 p.m.) on Wednesday, and the open house following Logothetis’ speech (6-8 p.m.). The speech, “The Power of Human Connection,” is from 5-6 p.m. on Thursday, April 27.
Hull explained that she wasn’t concerned, but excited and “flabbergasted at how easy it’s all coming together.”
The most difficult part of Kindness Week’s development has been the expenses. Instead of the usual tour fees, IUPUI’s English department took up half the required $625 fee that would cover the 100 copies of Logothetis’ latest book, “Live, Love, Explore,” to be given away to students over the course of the week.
“Well, it wasn’t like the scariest number I’ve ever seen, but it was still like, ‘Oh, that’s a lot of money,” Brooks-Gillies said. But opposition has been low, and gratitude to the English department is very high.
“People in the Writing Center community are really excited about it and it’s really nice, kind of heartwarming, as the director to see people excited about something called Kindness Week, right, so, I’m thrilled with this.”
Logothetis’ career as a writer, producer, and motivational speaker began when he left his life as a London broker behind to travel the world relying on the help of strangers.
“The purpose of my speeches are to show people that kindness exists in the world, and although there are bad things that happen, more often than not, there are good things that happen and we tend to forget that.”
Logothetis is familiar with IUPUI and fond of Indianapolis, having visited several times. While hitchhiking from Times Square to the Hollywood sign, he met a woman from Chicago visiting Indianapolis for a wedding, and experienced “one of the greatest acts of kindness” in his journeys.
He was told, “if you can find your way to Chicago, here are my only set of keys, you can eat the chili from my fridge, you can sleep on my couch, and you can leave the keys in the flower pot the next morning.”
It appears making risky connections pays off quite well.
(08/20/17 12:50am)
August 14, 2017 Breanna Cooper
On Saturday, August 12, a “Unite the Right” protest in Charlo
Charlottesville, Va., took over mainstream news outlets. Adorned with swastikas and carrying torches, the protesters made their way to the University of Virginia, where they were met with counter protesters. While there were physical altercations throughout the night, the violence hit a peak when a 20-year-old man rammed his car through a group of counter protesters.
The attack left dozens injured and took the life of 32-year-old Heather Heyer.
On Sunday, vigils were organized around the country to remember the lives lost, as well as to call attention to the surprising lack of response from the White House. In Indianapolis, Monument Circle housed the Sit-in Vigil in Solidarity with Charlottesville.
As people gathered with signs promoting peace and candles to remember the victims in Charlottesville, the scene in Indianapolis was a stark contrast to the events that took place in Virginia. With no accidents reported and no counter protesters, the hour-long vigil went off without a hitch.
However, organizers and volunteers were prepared for just about anything. AJ Sinha, a member of Central Indiana’s Democratic Socialist chapter, as well as a medical professional, volunteered to be a safety captain. Upon arriving at the vigil, demonstrators were given a list of instructions about how to avoid and handle conflict.
Beyond that, leaders at Christ Church Cathedral, located on the Circle, were ready to help out if needed. Rev. Lee Curtis has seen the church’s involvement in community events several times throughout his two years with the church.
“We try to make ourselves as available as we can for the circle,” Curtis said. “The Circle is our backyard, and we feel a need to be that safe space for downtown, regardless of what it’s for.”
While cheers of “You can’t stop the revolution” echoed through the Circle, the members of the diverse crowd all had different reasons to be there.
For Natalie Pipkin, a mother of two, joining the vigil helped share a message of love and hope with her young sons.
“History has shown us that if we don’t stand, things fall apart,” Pipkin said. “They [her two sons] know history, and I want them to see that we’re not going to let it repeat itself, so that’s why it was important for me to come out here tonight. They asked me ‘Are we going back to the 1960s?’ and I said ‘No, not on mommy’s watch.’”
For Pipkin, hope for a brighter future is what keeps her fighting.
“Hope is the anchor of it all. If I didn’t have hope, I wouldn’t be here. And I tell my kids that even if they’re my age and still fighting, they still have to keep hope.”
Many at the vigil shared Pipkin’s hope for the future, as well as the belief that hope and love overpowers fear.
Mark Smith, a volunteer with the Marion County Democratic Party, hopes to send the message of love and tolerance across the nation.
“We’re here to show that love wins. We’re here for Heather [Heyer] and for each other,” Smith said. “For those who think hate will win, this is a reminder that, in the end, hate will not win. Love will always win.”
For Smith, one of the solutions to the rise in hate crimes and politically-motivated violence is for the Democratic Party to regain control of the House and Senate in 2018. While Smith volunteered with the Bernie Sanders campaign, he sees unity between centrist Democrats and the further left as being the key to winning elections in the future.
“We have to unite at some point, or we will continue to lose to the likes of Donald Trump,” Smith said. “We have to start acting like Democrats again. Some of us are too timid and don’t speak up like we should.”
“Of course, I don’t have that problem,” Smith added with a laugh.
While politics was a point of conversation throughout the night, Smith ended on a note of hope for the country.
“I’m hopeful that what happened in Charlottesville will wake a lot of people up that didn’t realize that we have this problem in our country. It’s been kind of behind the scenes, but it’s out in the open now. Trump has made bigotry, racism, and misogyny in vogue. We need equality and fairness, brotherhood and sisterhood. Those things have to win, and I think they will.”
For Maxine Wallace and Wendy Becher, two friends who joined the vigil together, open dialogue and events like the vigil are the key to making social change.
“This is what America is today, but it doesn’t have to be,” Wallace said. “We have to show the other half of America that we’re not going to take this. There are more of us than there is of them, and this is not a time to be afraid.
“There is no acceptable form of racism,” Wallace continued. Wallace urges anyone who overhears friends or coworkers making insensitive comments to speak up.
“When we stay silent, it sends the message that those comments are okay, and it normalizes racism and violence. There is a lot of power in our words, so having those conversations with our friends is important,” Wallace said.
“There is no time to be passive anymore,” Becher added. “I’m 55, and I’ll go down kicking and screaming if that’s what it takes to keep those around me safe.”
Despite the tragedy in Charlottesville, Wallace found hope in the crowd here in Indianapolis.
“Did you see everybody here? All of these people came together because we believe that fascism and racism are terrible things. As long as we can keep coming together for that, I have hope for the country.”
The vigil on Monument Circle came to an end with a chant of “We have nothing to lose but our chains.” As the candles were blown out and the crowd dispersed, Hoosiers left Monument Circle on the same note on which they entered: peacefully.
(08/20/17 12:42am)
October 15, 2016 Colton Bennett
The IUPUI men’s soccer team lost on Wednesday in their non-conference matchup against the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Jaguars let in an early goal and were never able to bounce back ultimately resulting in a 3-0 score line.The Jags had chances from the get go including five corner kicks in the first 20 minutes of action but were unable to capitalize on any of their chances.
“I think, unfortunately for us, on the night we never had (service and a finishing touch) come together on one individual set play,” said Coach Brian Barnett. “On one or the other there was always one key piece missing and we couldn’t get it done.”
The Jags best opportunity on the night came when forward Uriel Macias chipped a ball over the Bearcats’ backline to fellow forward Pape Ndiaye. Ndiaye’s volley drew an acrobatic save from the Bearcats keeper to keep the home team off the board.
On the night, the Jags were able to outshoot the Bearcats 9-7 but none were able to hit the back of the net. Many of the Jaguars’ chances came from shots well outside the box and did not cause much trouble for the away goalkeeper.
“One of the things they were able to do really well was to get anywhere from six to eight players just concentrated and compact right on top of each other in and around the penalty area,” Barnett said. “When we were able to combine and get in advance of them into those areas of the field, there was just so many bodies in the center protecting the goal that it was really tough to break through.”
One of the brightest spots of the match for the Jaguars was Sophomore Nick Anderson’s play in the center of the defensive line. Throughout the night, Anderson was able to win tackles and balls out of the air for the Jags including a sliding challenge in a one-on-one situation.
“He’s been a leader for the guys at the back line both vocally but then by example,” Barnett said. “Winning so many tackles and getting in and being able to turn the opponents over then taking our team in the other direction.”
Following the loss, the Jags are now 1-11 this season with six regular season games and the Summit League tournament still to play. Although it has been a tough season thus far, Barnett says there have still been positives to take away from games like these.
“If nothing else, I look out there at a team that competed 100 percent and gave their best effort from the opening whistle to the final whistle,” Barnett said. “At the end of the day that’s one of the number one things I’m going to ask from my team.”
The Jags next game will be a conference showdown against Oral Roberts in Tulsa Saturday Oct. 15 and their next home game will be Wednesday Oct. 19 beginning at 7 p.m.
(08/20/17 12:38am)
April 15, 2016 Ed Holdaway (@EdHoldaway) IUPUI Sports Information
INDIANAPOLIS - Four IUPUI programs were publicly acknowledged by the NCAA on Wednesday (Apr. 13) as being among the nation's elite for Academic Progress Rate (APR). The IUPUI men's golf, men's track, women's soccer and volleyball programs all ranked among the nation's top 10 percent in their respective sports for multi-year APR.
Head Coach Steve Payne's volleyball program was recognized for the fourth time overall and second straight year while Head Coach Chris Johnson's women's soccer program earned a third consecutive honor. Head Coach Chuck Koeppen's men's track team was recognized for the second straight year while Head Coach John Andrews' men's golf program was a first time honoree.
IUPUI's four awards were tops in The Summit League and set a new departmental record (previous was three in 2012-13). The four were also tied for third among the state of Indiana's 10 Division I programs, trailing only Notre Dame and Butler.
"We are committed to achieving academic excellence, and we are pleased to have four programs ranked nationally in the top 10 percent of their respective sports," IUPUI Director of Athletics Dr. Roderick Perry said. "I'm appreciative of the support and effort put forth by our faculty, academic advisors, coaches, staff and most importantly, our student-athletes on a daily basis."
Each year, the NCAA honors selected NCAA Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate. This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports.
The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance.
Multiyear APRs for all Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition, will be announced April 20.
This article was originally published on April 13, 2016 at IUPUIJags.com, the Official Site of IUPUI Athletics.
http://www.iupuijags.com/news/2016/4/12/general-four-iupui-programs-earn-ncaa-public-recognition.aspx
(08/20/17 12:30am)
May 19, 2017 Jared McMurry
Every year colleges and universities across the country seek out highly regarded individuals to speak at their graduation.
On Sunday IUPUI introduced a former Indy Fever star and Indianapolis icon at the 2017 Commencement.
Tamika Catchings.
After playing college basketball for Pat Summit at the University of Tennessee, Catchings was selected third overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2001 WNBA Draft.
She played her entire 15-year professional career with the Fever and led Indiana to the playoffs on numerous occasions, including three trips to the WNBA Finals and one championship in 2012. Catchings also won four Olympic Gold medals while representing the United States.
Other career accomplishments for Catchings include WNBA MVP in 2011, five-time defensive player of the year, and she currently holds the WNBA record for most rebounds and steals in a career.
While Catchings is known to many as one of the greatest female basketball players of all-time, it’s her actions off the court that gives her such high appreciation by fellow citizens of Indianapolis.
Growing up Catchings overcame a lot of adversity to get where she is today. She was born partially deaf and battled a speech impediment growing up. Catchings used that as a driving force to press through adversity, and today wants to give young children opportunities to do the same.
In 2004 she founded the Catch the Stars Foundation, a charitable organization that provides basketball camps and fitness clinics, as well as mentoring and literacy programs to help underprivileged children become successful in sports and academics.
After retiring from the WNBA in 2016, Catchings remained in Indianapolis, and to this day continues to be an intricate part in community service within the city. Most recently she took a front office job with the Indiana Pacers and Fever.
On Sunday, she addressed the IUPUI Class of 2017, but has been actively involved with the Jaguars for much of this spring.
Catchings received a Pacesetter Award from the IUPUI Office for Women at the office’s 20th Anniversary Celebration.
“This award honors women with a strong Indiana connection who exemplify initiative, courage, perseverance, and excellence in their chosen fields,” Assistant to the Chancellor for Communication, Becky Wood said.
Catchings has also been connected to the PHST P330 course – Celebrity Philanthropy, where students worked on proposals for promoting Catchings’ Catch the Stars Foundation.
Within the past couple of weeks, IUPUI Chancellor Nasser Paydar brought in Catchings as a special guest to speak to the IUPUI Women’s Basketball team for their accomplishments this season.
“She spoke at the reception and received her own IUPUI jersey, which she mentioned that she might wear at commencement,” Wood said.
As Catchings approached the stage Sunday, she proudly wore her Jag’s jersey, connecting her love for the sport of basketball with thousands of Hoosiers in attendance.
Chancellor Paydar has teamed up with Catchings to help promote IUPUI Commencement through social media and is honored to have the former basketball star as a guest speaker.
“Over the last few weeks, I have had the pleasure to see first-hand Tamika’s engagement with the IUPUI students and her genuine care for the community,” he said. “I am greatly looking forward to her inspiring presence at our Commencement Ceremony.”
IUPUI’s Commencement was held Sunday May 14 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Ms. Catchings could not be reached for an immediate comment.
(08/20/17 12:24am)
November 10, 2016 Ryan Gregory
On Nov. 3, IUPUI took on the South Dakota Coyotes in the Jungle. The Jaguars were defeated in straight sets. Going into the game, IUPUI had a 7-5 conference record, fourth best in the conference. South Dakota came into the game hot, posting a 22-5 overall record. In conference, the Coyotes were 10-2, tied for best in the conference. The Jaguars undoubtedly had their work cut out for them with this formidable opponent. The Jaguars refused to roll over against this conference power, however. The match was close in every set of the match. Twice the score surpassed 25 points before the set finally was punctuated by USD. The Jaguars played some gutsy volleyball, making things tough for the Coyotes.
The first set was a rollercoaster of scoring, there were highs and there were lows. It began with a high for South Dakota, jumping out to a quick 1-4 lead thanks to some early jitters from the Jaguars. IUPUI shook their nerves off in no time, and brought the game back to a 5-6 score. From there, the two teams traded kills, and in turn traded the lead. IUPUI managed to secure a lead in the latter half of the set. At match point, IUPUI led 24-23. South Dakota proceeded to score three in a row, stealing the set from the Jaguars by a score
of 26-24.
The Jaguars, undaunted by the unfortunate ending of the first set, came out firing in the second. Kori Waelbroeck and Gabby Fisher dominated the stat sheet in the second set, securing kill after kill on the Coyotes defense. This match was a battle through the first ten points. With the game knotted up at 10, South Dakota rattled off four points in a row. This would prove insurmountable for the Jaguars. Try as they might, they could not come back from the deficit. South Dakota won the second set 20-25. Despite the score, Jaguar outside hitter Gabby Fisher went off, scoring most of her 10 kills in the second set.
After the break, the third set began. IUPUI was visibly rattled from losing two close matches. They made mistakes that were absent through the first two sets. The Coyotes jumped out to a 4-10 lead early. Then IUPUI caught the fire reminiscent of the first two sets. They clawed their way back, tying the game at 15. The two teams traded a few points until IUPUI scored two in a row, making it a 21-19 lead. To answer, South Dakota scored three in a row to take a 21-22 lead. After a few long rallies with some outstanding digs by both teams, IUPUI tied the game at 24. Just as it looked as though the Jaguars would send the match to a fourth set, the Coyotes scored two unanswered points, effectively ending both the set and the match.
Statistical leaders for the evening were Kori Waelbroeck with 14 kills, Abby Boatman, Kori Waelbroeck, and Logan Walling each with three blocks, Alexis Mapes with 33 assists, and 14 digs by both Elizabeth Scott and Jessica Helms.
Looking forward to Nov. 5, the Jaguars will take on the North Dakota State Bison in their last home conference game. As it is the last home game, seniors Alexis Mapes, Logan Walling, and Abby Horn will be honored for senior night. North Dakota State enters the game with a 11-16 record. Their conference record is another story, however, an upper echelon 9-4. IUPUI sits at fifth in the conference currently. They are in desperate need of conference wins to secure their place in the Summit Tournament, as only the top six teams get in. NDSU enters the game on a hot four game winning streak. On the wrong end of a streak, IUPUI has dropped three straight. The Jaguars look to not only break this streak, but also that of their opponent.
(08/19/17 12:21pm)
(08/06/17 11:08pm)
September 18, 2015 Paris Garnier
Of all college students, freshmen have it the worst. Unfamiliar environments, faces, and scheduling can be overwhelming and finding a place to relax or hang out with friends can be difficult while underage. But never fear, college newbies: there are plenty of spots to study and chill around town and on campus that are happy to serve those under 21.
While the third floor of the library is the perfect place to study, the fourth floor has no noise restrictions and is the perfect place to relax and chat before class. But, it’s best to keep volume to a minimum and to be wary of couches, as there may be sleeping bodies.
The campus center is often crowded, especially at midday from Monday to Thursday, but the bustling atmosphere can be easy to blend into in the dining areas. For more secluded parts that were never shown at orientation, check the third and fourth floors. A small, closed-door quiet lounge is open to anyone on the top floor. The lower level has the game room, tables, cushioned benches, and easy chairs in front of the TV row--perfect for unwinding.
The great outdoors are free to everyone. Walk the canal or check out Military Park, White River State Park, or any of the campus courtyards. Take advantage of the waning summer and read in the shade of a tree instead of an overcrowded dorm. The Indiana State Museum has a student discount and the Children’s Museum has free admission on the first Thursday of every month.
Believe it or not, Eskenazi Hospital has much to offer. Although the Tuesday farmer’s market has ended, Duos vegetarian/omnivorous kitchen has a permanent lunchtime sandwich bar in front of the main entrance. Hop on the gray line, grab a bite to eat, and relax in the garden-fountain complex while supporting local business. It’s not Mickey-D’s cheap, but it’s still worth the splurge every once in awhile.
For those freshmen with cars or don’t mind walking, downtown Indy has a lot to offer.
Mo’Joe Coffeehouse sits just off campus at the corner of Michigan St. and Senate Ave,across the street from the new Marsh supermarket. Marsh has a sitting area upstairs and free wi-fi, a good backup plan if Mo’Joe is crowded. Indy City Market has dozens of options for food and ample seating upstairs; there is a bar, but it’s plenty nice to look at from a legal distance.
Monument Circle has cafes and restaurants like Pearings, Soupremacy, Bucca di Beppo, Giogrio’s Pizza, Starbucks and the South Bend Chocolate Company. Those green tables sitting between the library books and the curb are for public use.
Mass Ave is home to plenty of bars, but the entire strip can be a fun night out. Shell out some cash at Pizzology or Bru Burger and then check out the discounted and eclectic shelves of Indy Reads Books. There’s also Yats, YoguLatte, The Best Chocolate in Town, and Natural Born Juicers; Ralston’s Drafthouse allows people under 21 inside until 9 p.m., and after that the outside porch remains open. HomeSpun and Silver in the City have novelties and gifts that are just as nice to look at as they are to buy.
(08/06/17 11:04pm)
February 12, 2016 Shay Henderson
This past Sunday, Cats Haven hosted its free “Purr-fect Cup Cat Café” event where kitty enthusiast could sip on hot beverages, eat sweet treats, snuggle up with new furry friends, and even adopt one. Located on 2603 N. College Ave., Cats Haven is home to over 100 cats that are special needs, disabled, or seniors and that are in need of lots of love and new homes.
The haven was built 25 years ago when vet tech Barb Wills came upon a stray cat who was shot and severely injured. She realized there were no safe shelters for special needs or disabled cats. After nursing the kitty -who Wills ended up naming Phoenix- back to health, she began Cats Haven, the oldest no-kill cat sanctuary in central Indiana.
Volunteer Susan Hobbs spent Saturday setting up hot chocolate and earl grey tea in a fancy tea set and passing out brownies to all of the cat lovers visiting the Haven.
“We have a couple of paid staff, but over all we are volunteer based. We love our volunteers and we love to have new people in,” Hobbs said. “There is a form, come in and make sure it is a good match for you, and just start volunteering. We need people to do everything from helping with special events off site to just sitting and petting the kitties.”
Sindee Sutherland, a Cats Haven volunteer of four years, comes in every week to lend a hand. Her duties include but are not limited to scooping boxes, washing windows, and of course hanging out with all of her furry friends.
“I like all the cats. I call them my second cat family. When you come here on a regular basis, you get to know the cats and their stories and you kind of get to know their personalities” Sutherland said.
Her volunteer work also includes manning the Haven’s other yearly events, including their “Don’t Be a Sourpuss” lemonade and cuddles event and “Cool Cats and Hot Dogs,” their hotdog social.
Sutherland participates in events outside of the shelter as well. Cats Haven set up booths and promote at the Flower and Patio and the Gift and Hobby shows throughout the year.
“It's fun. You get to meet people and spread the word about Cats Haven,” Sutherland said. “We get a lot of people who come in and say they couldn’t have cats in their apartments, so I encourage them to come here and play with the cats and volunteer.”
If volunteering at the shelter doesn’t quite work out, there are other ways to help the cats at the haven. Adopting a cat from the shelter is a fairly simple process. Stop by the shelter, pick a cat that melts your heart, fill out a few forms, and take your cat home the same day.
For those who can’t have cats where they live, Cats Haven encourages people to sponsor a cat. Even five dollars a month is enough to provide food, cat litter, and medical care for a cat in need.
If you missed the “Purr-fect Cup Cat Café” make sure to like Cats Haven on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to stay up-to-date on their next event.
All photos by Matthew Keith
(08/06/17 11:02pm)
March 11, 2016 Emily Moore
Mental illness affects one in five people, while the other four know a friend or family member who suffers from this health issue. Mental disorders impact the way a person feels, thinks, behaves, and relates to others, all while trying to function on a daily basis.
Mental illness is not just one specific disease that can be treated. There are a wide variety of disorders with different symptoms that qualify as mental illnesses. Some of the most common disorders include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Many symptoms that overlap across the disorders are feelings of deep sadness, suicidal thoughts, excessive worry and hopelessness, high to low manic thoughts, and impulsiveness. People can grow out of a mental illness as well as develop one over time, but the exact cause of most mental illnesses is unknown. Reasons range from family and relationship troubles, academic problems, and other environmental factors to biological ones.
“Mental illness does not just affect the mind; it affects the body as well,” mental health clinician Veena Shah said. “It has negative connotations because some people don’t see mental illness as a sickness, but rather they believe it is all in their head. A sickness is exactly what it is, and it is okay to ask for help.”
Warning signs to watch for, particularly in young adults, are social withdrawal, irritability, strong feelings of sadness or anger, substance abuse, and dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits. Close friends and family members are going to be the first to notice these changes in someone with a mental health issue. One of the simplest things you can do is ask someone to rate how they are feeling on a scale from 1-10 that day.
“Mental illness mostly has to do with a chemical imbalance in the brain,” nurse practitioner Raime Atchison said. “As far as brain scans, there isn’t one that can be done to show you have a mental illness. They are doing research to figure all that out, but it is nothing concrete.”
Another thing you can simply do is ask how the person is doing. Be aware that while “I’m fine,” is one of the most common responses to this question, when a person is suffering from a mental illness, in reality they are not fine—they just don’t feel like they should burden their friends and family with their problems.
One IUPUI student shared her story of her own battle with mental illness. “I had struggled with suicidal thoughts since I was in high school, and last year that became a reality for me,” she said. “After a night of drinking I went home feeling lower than ever about myself. I believed that there was only one way out of these feelings.”
“It was like I was floating over my body watching myself as this stranger went into the kitchen and grabbed a knife, and did what I thought was best at the time,” she continued. “I just wanted all the pain to go away.”
“I woke up in mental institution with stitches in my wrists. I went through group counseling there and learned how to begin to re-love myself.”
“Suicide is a selfish decision; it would not have only affected me but the people who love and care about me,” she said. “The best advice I have to give is to be honest and tell people how you are feeling; their help can go a long way.”
If a student is suffering from a mental illness, and they feel like they cannot talk to their friends or family, IUPUI has a program that can help.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers multiple group and individual counseling sessions. The groups helps IUPUI students manage stress, form better relationships with themselves and others, and learn to cope with the demands of life. IUPUI also offers a 24-hour crisis hotline that students can call at (317) 251-7575.
(08/03/17 8:41pm)
February 6, 2017 Casey Kenworthy
Over 100 Hoosier breweries, both new and old, gathered together to give spectators a taste of their signature brews during Saturday’s ninth annual Winterfest.
Centerpoint Brewing, located in the Circle City Industrial Complex, was the newest of all the breweries present. Founded in October of 2016 (and celebrating theirgrand opening Feb. 11), Centerpoint took part in this year’s Winterfest as a way to deepen their connection with the Indiana craft beer movement.
Jon Robinson, owner of Centerpoint Brewing, explained the style of beers Centerpoint specializes in.
“We try to brew well balanced, easy drinking, clean ales and lagers,” he said.
When it comes to their brewing style, Robinson said Centerpoint avoids trying to make their beers “too hoppy” or “too malty.”
“We want to just be right down the middle,” he said. “That’s where our name [Centerpoint] comes from.”
Of all the beers Centerpoint offers, Robinson said their signature brew is the “Centerpoint Black”.
“It’s an American porter, and we serve that with a marshmallow and call it ‘King Arthur Style,’” he said. “It gives it a nice little vanilla flavor.”
Aside from newer breweries making first time appearances at Winterfest 2017, many veteran breweries made returning visits as well.
Broad Ripple Brewpub, a restaurant brewhouse located in Broad Ripple, has represented itself at every Winterfest since 2008. Known for being Indiana’s oldest operating brewery, the Brewpub prides itself on its English style ales.
Broad Ripple Brewpub's booth at Wintefest
Billy Hannan, the Broad Ripple Brewpub’s general manager, explained what sets aside an English style beer from that of an American style.
“Typically [English ales are] more naturally carbonated, and also [served at a] slightly warmer temperature than American style beer,” he said.
When asked what the most popular beer the Brewpub is known for, Hannan gestured towards a tap labeled “Ron Swanson’s Last Day of Camp.” Created in celebration of the Brewpub’s 25-year anniversary, this beer was made from a bourbon barrel mixture of 25 different grains contributed by other breweries.
“It’s an incredibly complex beer,” Hannan said. “People ask what style [it] is, and it really isn’t a style.”
Final Gravity's booth at Winterfest
While breweries use Winterfest as a chance to share their craft beer products with consumers, businesses like Final Gravity Homebrew Supply use the event to show beer drinkers that breweries aren’t necessarily needed to enjoy specialized craft beers.
Founded in 2015 on the south side of Indianapolis, Final Gravity sells home brewing equipment for making beer and wine, they also offering home brewing classes. If that’s not enough, they also make home equipment to make cheese and sausage.
While he was serving beer samples from Final Gravity equipment, employee Justin Kloer explained the details over what home brewing is like for individuals who take part in it.
“I started as a home brewer, most brewers have started as home brewers, they make whatever style they’re interested in,” he said. “This allows people to explore and experiment on their own with what they like.”
While it was their first year taking part in Winterfest, Kloer says Final Gravity hopes to show spectators that it’s possible for them to make and enjoy their own craft beer creations.
“We want get the word out, let people know there’s opportunities to learn how to do this on their own,” he said.
With more breweries than ever competing for Hoosier growlers it was clear that all participating breweries want to be active in the beer community, and to try beer from other breweries. The beer community in Indiana continues to grow. In 2008 there were only about 30 breweries in the state, now there are nearly 150 breweries to choose from.
(08/03/17 7:01pm)
What is TheCampusCitizen.com
TheCampusCitizen.com is IUPUI’s only student-run independent media outlet. Our focus is student life on campus and off. We are a website that focuses on the development of student journalist by being a host not just for news, but also for digital content of all types. We are an organization focused on the continued growth and advancement of student journalism at IUPUI. We provide content that informs and entertains.
What does it mean to be “independent” and why does it matter?
Being independent means that we fund ourselves. By creating our own revenue streams, we ensure that no individual or group can ever have influence over our work. We will never adjust editorial content in response to concerns about continued funding or business with an individual or organization.
We will take the site offline before we will change something to soothe a financial relationship. It may seem like a tough decision, but it is not. WE DO NOT CHANGE EDITORIAL CONTENT TO APPEASE ANYONE. WE CHANGE EDITORIAL CONTENT ONLY WHEN THE CONTENT IS INACCURATE AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE CHANGES WHEN WE MAKE THEM.
Our address is
Department of Journalism and Public Relations
The Campus Citizen
Cavanaugh Hall 341A
425 University Blvd.
Indianapolis, IN 46202
317-278-4017
thecampuscitizen@gmail.com
(08/03/17 5:42pm)
March 11, 2016 Jessica Goodman
The opportunity of a lifetime came out of nowhere three days before the Oscars for IUPUI student Kirat Sandhu – an onstage performance with Lady Gaga at the award show and an unequivocal platform to share her experience with sexual assault.
A solo by Gaga singing “Til It Happens to You” would have obliged a standing ovation. Couple that with fifty survivors surrounding her and it became one of the most-talked-about moments from the night. The spotlight has been shining down on Sandhu but it doesn’t make up for what happened to her.
Kirat Sandhu and Lady Gaga pose at the 88th Academy Awards.
“These 15 minutes of fame and meeting all these celebrities – if I could give it all back and not have what happened to me happen, then I would in a second,” she said.
Originally, the performance was to consist of only 12 survivors, all from the movie, “The Hunting Ground,” a documentary about sexual assault on college campuses. Then, the number jumped to 50. Some were known for being activists and were asked to attend. Sandhu was the only one asked by It’s On Us, a bystander intervention campaign on college campuses.
IUPUI was one of the first schools to sign onto the campaign in 2014, which meant committing itself to cultivating a community of awareness surrounding sexual assault. Undergraduate student body president Niki DaSilva explained the importance of sexual assault campaigns. This is more than a women’s issue. Education on how to protect ourselves and help others, whether through intervention or supplying resources, is a major step in the right direction.
“We can no longer be bystanders, we have to take action. It's On Us provides a catalyst for this,” DaSilva said.
Sandhu received the call from It’s On Us the Thursday before the Oscars. In the hope of not leaking the performance to the media, she was given few details but trusted the organization and hopped on a plane to Los Angeles that night. The group rehearsed and shared stories. Exactly three times during the interview, Sandhu reiterated how she valued meeting the other survivors more than anyone else.
For her, the night wasn’t about meeting celebrities.
Survivors on stage at the Dolby Theatre with Lady Gaga at the Oscars.
She wants her career to focus on sexual assault prevention. Much of what has been done in terms of sexual assault has been reactive, which is why it gets talked about a lot on college campuses. She said a lot of the proactive approaches are more about engaging boys in high school. This is problematic not only because this behavior often begins in the early stages of childhood, but men can be victims of sexual assault too.
“That’s my hope with our next generation … That we start earlier. That we don’t wait for the statistics to come in before we have to act,” she said.
But, she is all too aware of the importance of a proper reaction when sexual assault does occur.
Pressure existed from certain family members to push aside the harm her cousins caused when she was between five and seven years old. As a result, Sandhu admitted she’s felt liberated since the Oscar weekend. Now, she views the neutral attitude exhibited by her family members to be in line with the danger of silence.
“Nobody acted like they didn’t believe me. They acted like they couldn’t believe that I had the nerve to talk about it,” she said.
Sandhu also noted her insecurity with people calling her courageous for coming forward. She explained that some may never find themselves ready to speak out and that’s okay. Silence could be their way of compartmentalizing, but that doesn’t make them any less brave.
Her advice to someone who has been sexually assaulted is simple, “You’re not alone. Unfortunately, this happens to so many people.” While in college, Sandhu said sexual assault is as common as 1-in-5 women and 1-in-16 men.
Survivors' pose together after Lady Gaga's performance at the Oscars.
At IUPUI, the Office of Health and Wellness Promotion is planning a sexual assault awareness month in April. Sandhu and the student government are planning several It’s On Us action events to be on the lookout for.
Fifty survivors stood together, Twitter trends followed almost instantly, but in Sandhu’s words, “It was about so much more than that.”
(08/03/17 5:36pm)
October 9, 2015 Rachael Chatham
IUPUI Safewalk is a program that allows students the opportunity to be escorted from any location to their cars or any building within campus. In between the hours of 6 p.m. and midnight Monday through Friday, the parking services provide an escort upon request. All other times, the IUPD will escort students.
Aside from the opportunity for a safe escort to or from your car, students who utilize services on campus late at night such as the library or 24-hour laboratory could find the IUPUI Safewalk extremely useful. The IUPUI Safewalk eliminates the fear some students have about coming to or from campus after dark.
Some students feel safe enough that they do not need to use this service, but surprisingly most students simply do not know about it.
David Briggs, the public information officer at IUPUI, claimed that information packets about IUPUI Safewalk are given to students at orientation, and at safety presentations. Still, many students don’t know it exists.
“I didn’t even know it existed,” Natalie Harris, a sophomore at IUPUI, said while walking late at night, “I probably would have used it if I had heard of someone using it or knew more, or anything about it for that matter.”
“I’ve never found it necessary because I always had pepper spray and would carry my keys defensively, but sometimes during my freshman year I would have to walk across campus for night classes and I felt so much safer just knowing the option was available, even though I didn’t use it.” Kasen Welling, sophomore, said.
IUPUI just released its annual safety report for September 2014-2015. This past year, there were 29 reported cases of stalking, five reported cases of sexual assault, four reported cases of fondling, and two cases of aggravated assault. All were reported within campus limits.
It is estimated that roughly only six to nine people use IUPUI Safewalk within one night. There is no level of need in order to call either, so the number of on campus assaults should be diminishing.
Heather Plummer is a police officer for the IUPD. “Students shouldn't be afraid to call for a escort because the officers doing the escorts are their peers. We are all students just like you. No reason to be afraid.”
“If they feel unsafe, and want an escort, we will escort them anywhere on campus.” Briggs said. He continued to say that the escort service would not transport students to or from places off campus. “Anywhere within campus, we walk them from buildings to New York St., to Porte Alegre St., 10th St., West St., just within campus.”
Between the shuttle service offered during most hours on IUPUI’s campus, and the obvious notion to call 911 in a situation of severe danger, it is understandable that Safewalk isn’t heavy in student traffic. However, it is a great service to help prevent some of these crimes.
If students feel afraid, all they need to do to use the escort program is call 274-SAFE(7233). It is advised not to use the emergency call centers for the escort program, but some buildings have stationary phones if you do not have a cell phone.
“You basically just stay where you are until you are met and you will be escorted anywhere on the campus, for anything, if you’re scared, give us a call, 24/7.” Todd Hill, an IUPD officer said.
IUPUI Safewalk is available for those seeking extra safety at night, while on campus.