The Butler Collegian—Dec. 11, 2013

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Arts, Etc.: Downtown Indianapolis is offering a number of free opportunities to get in on the holiday season.

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VOL. 128 ISSUE 13 ESTABLISHED 1886 INDIANAPOLIS

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BUTLER UNIVERSITY | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013 | WWW.THEBUTLERCOLLEGIAN.COM

POSSIBLE MODEL UNITED NATIONS CLUB

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

Butler receives nearly $1 million for new program COLIN LIKAS CLIKAS@BUTLER.EDU EDITOR IN CHIEF

Photo by Marais Jacon-Duffy Butler’s International Studies program allows students entolled in IS-390 to travel to Model United Nations competitions in Montreal and Boston. The above photo was shot at Harvard University and is currently displayed on the International Studies board in Jordan Hall.

Potential club creates concern, disagreement MARAIS JACON-DUFFY AND EMILY WILLIAMS COLLEGIAN@BUTLER.EDU

NEWS EDITOR AND STAFF REPORTER

Freshman Michael Andrews is on a mission to start a club. Should he succeed in creating a model United Nations club, the structure of model United Nations program as it exists on Butler’s campus would change significantly.

At this point, Andrews’ vision of a model U.N. club has been endorsed by the Student Government Association but not officially approved by Student Affairs or P.u.L.S.E. office.

“My vision is for a club, not a class. I really want to stress that,” Andrews said. “You wouldn’t need experience to join, and it’s not run through any academic department, so there’s no grade at stake. It’s just students trying to get together to become a more peaceful society.”

Currently, to be a part of Butler’s model United Nations team, students must enroll in IS-390, an international studies class taught by visiting assistant

professor of international studies Robert Oprisko.

“That course allows us to know that those who pass have successfully been introduced to the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and have a practical, working knowledge of parliamentary procedure,” Oprisko said.

Butler’s International Studies department sponsors one team to attend either Harvard’s model U.N. competition or McGill’s model U.N. competition.

The department also sponsors teams for the Midwest Regional Model Arab League at Miami University and the Midwest Regional Model European Union.

Andrews said he wanted to provide students with the option to participate in model U.N. activities without having to take the class.

“The class is a 300 level international studies course that you have to commit a lot of time to,” Andrews said. “The club would be like an intramural team.

The class is like Butler basketball where it is top notch and they go and compete. Anyone would be able to join the club at any skill level, but they are not required to compete which means there won’t be a lot of pressure (for club members).”

Oprisko also compared the class to a club sports team in relation to the international studies course and model U.N. team already in place.

“The club seems like it would be what a club team is in relation to a varsity sports team,” Oprisko said. “But I think it is very clear that International Studies would need to play a lead role in the operation of this club.”

Andrews said collaboration with the international studies department has not gone well so far.

“The IS department seems pretty bitter about this because they think that model U.N. is their territory exclusively because they already have something like this,” see CLUB page 2

A program to help Butler University students—primarily Liberal Arts and Sciences majors—is expected to be launched in summer 2015 thanks to a grant from Lilly Endowment, Incorporated.

The university received a nearly $1-million grant from Lilly Endowment, according to a Butler press release on Thursday.

Lilly Endowment is an Indianapolis-based philanthropic organization that provides funding to Indiana colleges and universities for educational-, community developmentand religionbased projects, according to the organization’s website.

The grant will be used to launch Butler Advance, which will “offer career management, creative problem-solving and communication skills” to Butler students, according to the press release.

Jay Howard, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences dean, said Butler filed an application for the program with Lilly Endowment after the latter expressed interest in supporting programs that would help keep Indiana college graduates in Indiana and prepare them to meet the needs of Indiana employers. “(Lilly Endowment’s) interest is in stemming the brain drain, or creating a brain gain,” Howard said. “I just think we’re fortunate to be able to partner with the Lilly Endowment because they’re interested in making sure students have every opportunity when they graduate.”

Ronni Kloth, Lilly Endowment communications director, said preparing Indiana college graduates who are entering the workforce and trying to keep them in Indiana is something the endowment “has cared about for a long time.”

Kloth said the grant is the culmination of a three-part initiative that began in 2003.

Butler’s application for the grant stemmed directly from a planning grant Lilly Endowment gave the university in 2012.

“We thought this planning

period helped (colleges submitting applications for a grant) put together promising grant applications,” Kloth said. “With Butler specifically, the focus on helping students who are studying the liberal arts was compelling.”

Any Butler student will be able to participate in Butler Advance, but the program will be primarily tailored toward LAS students.

Howard said he could also see College of Communication and Jordan College of the Arts students being interested in participating.

A key component of Butler Advance will be a four-week summer certificate program.

Howard said the certificate program’s main focus will be providing students exposure to foundational business terminology and business practices.

To achieve these goals, students in Butler Advance will complete a group project during the certificate program. Howard said students will put skills learned and developed during their education to use when completing the project.

Some of these skills include verbal and written communication skills, teamwork and independent work skills, and critical thinking skills, Howard said.

“Often, arts and sciences majors have trouble articulating (those skills to potential employers),” Howard said. “In the arts and sciences, you learn a skill set that will enable you to do almost anything.

And sometimes, almost anything is completely overwhelming to students.”

Kloth said Butler’s focus on what students do after graduation and what makes them attractive to employers is a reason Lilly Endowment awarded the university a grant.

“I think the fact that the university was really thinking how to help liberal arts majors have career preparation and real world skills that are attractive to businesses (is why Butler was chosen),” Kloth said. “(Butler’s application) echoed some of what we’ve seen in the data and heard from employers.” see GRANT page 4

Freshman Caucus making impact on campus NATALIE SMITH NMSMITH1@BUTLER.EDU

STAFF REPORTER

Hundreds of little white flags covered the lawn in front of Starbucks last week.

The Freshman Caucus used the white flags as a visual representation of its latest freshman service fundraiser for Gleaners Food Bank.

Students could purchase a flag for $1 and that dollar would buy four meals for people in need of food assistance in Indianapolis.

Freshman Caucus is a group dedicated to unifying the freshman class through class spirit, service and involvement, according to Butler University’s website.

Freshman Caucus Vice President Connie Frank said caucus purchased the flags from its own account to ensure all money raised would go directly to Gleaners.

“It’s an important part of the experience at Butler to be aware

of your surrounding community,” Frank said. “We’re all in a lucky position to be going to a school like Butler. Giving back to the community is the Butler way.”

Frank said the fundraiser’s end date has been postponed due to the winter weather advisory from last week. The caucus’ goal, however, is to sell its 1,000 flags and fund 4,000 meals for Gleaners. Sales figures at this point are unclear.

The caucus promoted this fundraiser and other events this year with social media. They have access to the class of 2017’s Facebook and Twitter accounts and also send out a listserv to keep freshmen updated about events.

“We’ve really embraced social media this year,” Frank said. “We want to get the word out there that we exist and bring our class together.”

Through social media, the caucus advertised its other events this

year. The caucus sold class of 2017 T-shirts and also helped to co-host a Late Night at the HRC. Freshman Emily Chamberlain attended the Late Night and said she enjoyed seeing her peers be so involved.

“It was a fun to see members of the class of 2017 working together,” Chamberlain said. “I thought it was good that a lot of people came to support them and their event.”

Even with the success of these events, this group is currently focused on working out new ideas for freshman involvement during the spring semester.

“We’re planning a bunch of things in different areas,” Frank said. “We want to have fun events in all areas so people with different interests can get involved and know what we’re doing.”

Sally Click, dean of student services, said unifying freshman can be harder during the second

Photo by Maddie Koss

A poster on the gazebo outside Starbucks asks Butler community members to help Freshman Caucus in its support of Gleaners Food Bank. semester.

“Second semester is when students go through Greek recruitment and are already in their own groups,” Click said.

SPORTS 5 | ARTS, ETC. 8 | OPINION 10 | VOLUNTEERISM 12

In 2008, the student body president at the time decided see CAUCUS page 4

PAGE 2 | THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013

Wheelchair, scooter access an issue for some KAYLIE RICKS KRICKS@BUTLER.EDU

CONTRIBUTING REPORTER

For students living in Apartment Village on Butler University’s campus, walking to class can be timeconsuming.

For Tammy Nguyen, a junior strategic communications major, getting to class takes even more time because, like eight other students on campus, she uses a wheelchair to get around.

Schools around the world try to make their campuses wheelchair and scooter accessible. At Butler, all academic buildings are wheelchair accessible, with ramps on the outside. The academic buildings also have elevators, allowing students to get to classes that aren’t on the main floor.

Nguyen, who was born with spina bifida, has used a wheelchair her entire life.

She said Butler is accessible for her. The toughest areas, she said, are the hill going down to Holcomb Gardens and the ramps and hills by AV. “It could always be worse,” Nguyen said. “My first choice for school was

Florida State, which is a public school.”

Students with disabilities generally give Butler’s academic buildings and most of the campus good marks for accessibility.

“The overall feedback I receive from students and visitors with mobility impairments is that our campus is quite accessible to wheelchair/scooter users,” Michele Atterson, director of student disability services, said. “There are always areas that can use improvement, so we allot resources annually to continually upgrade physical access at Butler.”

Gia Landi, a senior communication sciences and disorders major who lives with cerebral palsy, thinks Butler can do a few things to improve its accessibility.

She said it is hard for a student who uses a wheelchair to get around when Butler constantly has construction on its campus.

It doesn’t help that these construction projects take so much time to get finished.

Landi uses a scooter to help her get around. Last year, she had a class in the Pharmacy and Health Sciences Building.

The

elevator wasn’t working, which resulted in her missing “four or five classes.”

“When an elevator breaks down, Student Disability Services is quickly notified about this by Operations,” Atterson said. “SDS then notifies students with mobility impairments. If the elevator issue results in a student missing class, SDS is available to work with the professor and student regarding the missed classwork.”

Landi was able to Skype with her teacher during the class time. Even though she wasn’t physically present in the classroom, she was still able to see what was going on. However, the elevator took time to be repaired.

As a senior, Landi said one thing that bothers her is that she has never entered a fraternity house. Along with that, she never went through recruitment because many of the sorority houses cannot accommodate her needs.

Becky Druetzler, director of Greek life, said all chapter houses were constructed in different decades under different code requirements.

Nguyen said she thought about going through

recruitment but backed out both times. She is considering trying again this year.

“A lot of houses don’t seem wheelchair accessible from the front,” she said, “but the majority of the houses have a side or back door. People don’t think about that.”

However, houses that look accessible from the outside may not necessarily be easy to get around in inside.

“It’s complicated,” Druetzler said. “Some of the houses, like Lambda Chi Alpha, are completely accessible, but there isn’t a student room on the first floor.”

Alpha Chi Omega just did a renovation and built a ramp. Delta Tau Delta has plans to do a major building

addition. A ramp will also be added to their house.

Greek housing on campus, however, is not owned by Butler and therefore is not allotted resources by the university.

“With any new construction, they are going to be required to follow the new codes,” Druetzler said.

“Any builder is going to question the accessibility when they are planning.”

Landi said she went over to meals at some of the sorority houses.

“Some of the houses have stairs going into the kitchen, and that would be a daily struggle for me,” she said.

“They would have to make the changes for my scooter.

It’s true the academic buildings are accessible,

CLUB: CONCERNS ARISE FROM INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FROM PAGE ONE

Photo courtesy of Levester Johnson

Levester Johnson, vice president of student affairs (right), and Board of Trustees member Jay Anshu (third from left) pose with Butler students during the annual Board of Trustees dinner Friday.

Annual Board of Trustees dinner sparks conversation, collaboration COLIN LIKAS CLIKAS@BUTLER.EDU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Conversation flowed from the Johnson Room in Robertson Hall Friday, as Butler University’s Board of Trustees and the Student Government Association hosted an annual dinner.

The event gave student leaders around campus the opportunity to speak and share their work with board members and school administrators.

This year marked the sixth consecutive year the dinner has been held. Board of Trustees president Craig Fenneman and board member Howard Schrott both said the dinner was their favorite event of the school year because of the interaction it allowed them to have with students.

Students from various campus organizations—including SGA—shared time with Butler Board of Trustees members and administrators during an approximately oneand-a-half hour dinner.

Butler President James Danko and his wife, Bethanie, attended the event. Danko said via email the event has “consistently been one of the more successful and meaningful board events” for Butler’s trustees.

“They truly enjoy the opportunity to interact with students, especially as our board is quite cognizant of the fact that the overarching work of the university is about educating Butler students,” Danko said. “I heard many positive stories from our trustees about their discussions with students. A consistent theme was how impressed the trustees were with

our students and their accomplishments.”

Close to 100 people were in attendance for the event, which was kicked off by Fenneman and SGA president Craig Fisher.

“The annual dinner is a tradition that brings together Butler students and trustees for an evening of shared purpose,” Fisher said via email. “Our trustees invest so much in us students, so to personally share with them some of the great things our students are doing is rewarding.”

Fenneman briefly discussed the duties of Butler’s board, saying many students likely think of it as a “group of old people.”

Fenneman also asked each board member in attendance to stand and share his or her graduation year and line of work to show that the board is composed of everyday people who have been “moderately successful” in some line of work.

Following the dinner, Fisher invited three student leaders to speak about the work they do on campus.

Junior Alex Petersen, student director of Butler’s Volunteer Center, spoke about the work the center has done this semester. Junior Becky Pokrandt, president of College Mentors for Kids, then followed with an explanation of her program and what it means to those involved.

The third speaker was junior Eric Day, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2010.

He talked about the Stay Positive campaign that spawned from his interactions with a sixyear-old child during cancer treatment.

The campaign has resulted in Stay Positive bracelets and a newly-created on-campus organization.

Photo by Maddie Koss

Some of the Greek houses on Butler’s campus are not wheelchair or scooter accessible.

Andrews said. “It has been a huge miscommunication this whole time.”

Oprisko said he thinks the club was not created or planned in the proper way.

“I think that, in this situation, a student began running before he was walking,” Oprisko said. “He did what he wanted to and not what he could do. He tried to jump right into things rather than go through a transformative or evolutionary process.”

Oprisko said, overall, he thinks the interest in model U.N. will be a positive thing for Butler’s campus.

“I think that having a greater interest in model U.N. is a great thing,” Oprisko said.

“Generating publicity for this is going to be something I support whole heartedly. I hope that the passionate students out there are going to be able to work with sources and funding and don’t allow egos to get in the way.”

Delaney Barr, international studies major, said the club’s creation has been a large topic of conversation amongst international studies students and faculty.

“I think it’s a really good idea, but the student didn’t go the proper way about planning this,” Barr said. “He didn’t run it through the international studies department, which he should have.”

Andrews has rallied students from different majors, international studies included, who want to be a part of the creation of the club.

“We have reached out to students and had a callout meeting,” Andrews said. “Twentytwo people have joined the club at this point.

I talked to some interested pharmacy, biology and chemistry majors, and they work and don’t have time to put into the class.”

Senior Brittanie Redd took the model U.N. class and is now working with Andrews on the creation of the club.

“I have had a class with Professor Oprisko.

He sparked my interest in foreign affairs,” Redd said. “I thought he was an amazing

but Greek houses need to change.”

Last year, some of the chapters had incoming pledge classes of more than 50 girls. Not all sorority and fraternity houses can house everyone in the pledge classes.

“With the growth in our chapters, living in the chapter house is not an absolute anymore,” Druetzler said. “Students who use wheelchairs could always choose to join the membership, but not necessarily live in the house.

“It’s always something you have to think about,” she said. “Even if it’s only a small number of students, you need to be open to accommodating everyone.”

teacher and he really challenged me in a lot of ways even before I had class with him. I had an interest it since my major was already international studies. Having class with him helped me to realize I want to pursue this as a career and possible humanitarian efforts abroad.”

The club’s creators are in the process of negotiations for funding. The students involved in getting support have reached out to SGA and Indiana World Affairs.

“Our long-term goal is to host a college meet, but that is going to require a lot more preparation and interest,” Andrews said.

“The high school meet would be achievable for 2014 because we do have interest from the Indianapolis region. By the time I am a junior or senior, hopefully we’ll have it figured out to host a college meet.”

SGA President Craig Fisher said the club has shown legitimate student interest, student need, leadership and potential to be sustainable. The model U.N. club was not endorsed by SGA after its first presentation, but had gathered the proper information and interest by its second meeting with SGA. “This club seemed to fit a need that is not fit by the class,” Fisher said. “This club looks like it would promote more community engagement rather than just collegiate engagement.”

Fisher said the club would still need to go through the Office of Student Life and P.u.L.S.E. to become officially recognized by the university and would need to be officially recognized before it could apply for SGA grants.

“Whenever there is an opportunity that exists to bring something new to campus, SGA has the means to help make it happen,” Fisher said.

Redd said the club’s goal is to educate students, not to overstep the boundaries of the class already in place.

“Overall, our goal is to help people become more aware about the world,” Redd said. “We get too complacent with what is around us that we kind of miss out on the fact that there are so many things going on.

We think they won’t affect us, but we are global citizens. We should care and should take part in different efforts.”

Logo courtesey of Michael Andrews

The logo of the potential model U.N. club, headed by freshman Michael Andrews.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013

THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN | PAGE 3

E-LEARNING

Online, hybrid courses spur debate at Butler ROBYN JUTSUM RJUTSUM@BUTLER.EDU

CONTRIBUTING REPORTER

In today’s world of higher education, the desire for online courses and the integration of new technology may clash with the tradition and quality institutions strive to maintain.

The situation is no different at Butler University, where more classes are now making their way into the digital realm.

Online courses are offered for at least nine subjects, and hybrid courses are offered for seven subjects, according to Butler’s website.

Hybrid learning provides a mix between classroom and online instruction in an attempt to give students the best of both sides.

Butler faculty has taken note of digital classes becoming more prevalent at Butler, and faculty members say they are aware of both benefits and drawbacks.

Allison O’Malley, assistant psychology professor, said she sees obvious benefits to online learning.

“There’s the flexibility,” O’Malley said. “Time is at such a premium for some of these students, and to progress through the material, (online courses) can be really desirable. If you have a really motivated student, potentially, they could do all the work for a class in much less time.”

O’Malley said, while flexibility is a selling point for online learning, putting together and developing a class for an online or hybrid platform is no small task.

Institutions such as Butler need to

be smart in how they approach it.

“Butler realizes it needs time to roll out the technology and maybe do a bit of a culture shift,” O’Malley said. “I think that, when you’re diverting your resources to the technology and where the money goes to hire new faculty, new expertise, that sort of thing, there’s some tension there that we must navigate carefully. We must maintain open tracks of communication.”

Collaboration among the students as well as instructor becomes more difficult in an online or hybrid class, O’Malley said.

“It certainly can be done, and when the expectations are clear and students know how to use the technology, you can simulate discussions and things like that,” O’Malley said. “But it’s not the same as in the classroom, and there’s not the immediate reinforcement for the instructor.”

Julianne Miranda, director of online learning in Butler’s Center for Academic Technology, said Butler has exhibited patience in the process of moving toward the availability of online classes.

“It can take up to six months to develop a course, and that is a lot of time to develop a new course,” Miranda said.

Part of the reason Butler is being careful about how it goes about developing an online curriculum is that those involved want to ensure they stay true to the quality of a traditional college experience, Miranda said.

“The institution and leadership is phenomenal, and the resources (Butler has) provided in my area

Collegian file photo

Butler University students now have more options for online and hybrid-style courses, which are becoming more common at colleges and universitites across the nation. to support this investigation have been wonderful,” Miranda said. “I also think we’re going at the right pace for Butler.”

Butler really began testing the online and hybrid course waters over the summer when it hosted an online pilot during the university’s summer classes.

Miranda said the data from the pilot shows students at Butler performed equally in the online and face-to-face environments, based on raw grade point average.

The findings also shed light on the appeal of hybrid classes, a happy medium between the traditional classroom and a fully online curriculum.

“Hybrid pedagogy is very strong pedagogy because, if you think about what hybrid learning is, it’s one day less of me talking to you, and one day more of investigation with yourself and your peers,” Miranda said.

“So what we’re finding is that hybrid pedagogy engages every

aspect of how you could critically think. It’s multi-modal learning.”

Amanda Starkel, information commons and eLearning librarian at Butler, said she is also in support of the hybrid model.

“Data nationally and data on campus from student evaluations and from faculty feedback is pretty unanimously in support of hybrid classes,” Starkel said.

EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit organization that works to strengthen higher education through information technology and data. EDUCAUSE’s website said the organization believes the application of concepts through technology provides a more collaborative experience, which offers more of the social component a student and teacher get from the traditional classroom.

“There is a concomitant change in the role of students, many of whom are used to being cast as passive participants in the education process, where

instruction is served to them,” according to EDUCAUSE’s website.

Starkel said online-only courses are more of a “maybe situation.”

“I think there are some things that are lost if we are dealing entirely in the electronic format,” Starkel said. “Sometimes if that’s all that is being utilized, it might miss a social component or the face-to-face component that you usually would get in the classroom.”

When it comes to technology, especially the incorporation of tablets and e-readers, Starkel said she sees distraction and the intention to be the biggest dangers.

“If you have a good teacher— someone who recognizes that technology has its place but doesn’t use technology for technology’s sake—if they use it with intention for learning outcomes, I think that can take away a lot of the dangers,” see eLEARNING page 4

Hours Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 10:30 am - 1:00 am Thursday 10:30 am - 3:00 am Friday & Saturday 10:30 am - 4:00 am Sunday 10:30 am - 12:00 am

PAGE 4 | THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013

Stress Less Week aims to ease student final woes KATIE GOODRICH KGOODRICH@BUTLER.EDU STAFF REPORTER

“Stress Less Week” is a collaboration of several organizations and offices coordinated by Peers Advocating Wellness for Students helps students cope with the stresses associated with finals week.

The goal of Stress Less Week is to help students find strategies to manage their stress during a particularly stressful time of year, said Sarah Barnes Diaz, Office of Health Education coordinator and Outreach Programs advisor.

The different events are sponsored by the Department of Recreation, Learning Resource Center, Dining Services, and Counseling and Consultation Services, according to the Health Education page on Butler’s website.

PAWS has been working since the beginning of the semester to be able to finalize all of the week’s events to make them a success.

Stress Less Week has held on Butler’s campus for many years. Diaz said she remembers the activity each semester of the seven years she has been at Butler. “(Stress Less Week) is something students look forward to each year,” said Elizabeth Davis, co-president of PAWS. “They know some great programming is going

to be happening, and that they’ve got some fun study breaks to plan for.”

Diaz said she is excited that offices and departments are reaching out to PAWS for ideas in Stress Less Week.

Davis said she thinks the week of events has hit the “sweet spot” of programming.

“We’ve really listened to students and found out what they like, and that’s what we’re planning to put on,” Davis said.

Both Diaz and Davis said they believe Stress Less Week is beneficial for the students on Butler’s campus.

“From a student perspective, all you hear about finals is that they are terrible, you’re not going to sleep, you’re not going to shower, and good luck wearing anything but sweatpants,” Davis said. “(What) Stress Less Week says is that, yeah, finals are tough, but here’s what you can do. Here is your plan to make it through the week.”

Butler students have a variety of resources to utilize if they are feeling stressed about their exams, papers and projects. The Learning Resource Center provides academic support for students during the school year. The Health and Recreation Complex uses its social media to provide wellness tips and tricks throughout the year.

eLEARNING: OPPORTUNITIES FORM AT BUTLER FROM PAGE THREE

Starkel said.

Arthur Hochman, a professor in Butler’s College of Education, said, while technology and the application of an online platform is appealing and has its benefits, Butler should be careful to make sure it is used with legitimate intentions.

“Teachers often use technology to make their lives easier, but I always think about how the tool can be used to help the students learn,” Hochman said.

When it comes to Butler moving toward future options for eLearning, Hochman said it is important to look at how it may be defined.

“Butler is just now moving

“On campus, we always have our Counseling and Consultation Services for students who are having a tough time,” Diaz said.

“Students can get the help they need in a more private manner.”

The Learning Resource Center, the Resident Assistants on Life Skills Committee, and Counseling and Consultation Services hosted an event called “Finals…Have a Plan” on Dec. 4.

Noelle Rich, a resident assistant in Ross Hall, was on a panel that answered questions about finals week and preparation.

“We had an R.A. panel of experienced R.A.’s from different colleges of the university speak about their best finals tips and answer questions about finals, or any other common questions first-year students have before taking their first set of finals,” Rich said.

Everybody has a different way to de-stress, which is the reason there are a variety of activities and events planned and coordinated by PAWS during Stress Less Week, Diaz said. Everyone has a favorite event.

Davis said Brain Food Breakfast is her favorite event, where a table is set up with healthy snacks in Jordan Hall before morning classes begin.

“I’m like a zombie at that

to that kind of instruction and is trying to create an architecture to do so,” Hochman said.

Technology and online learning are synonymous with one another, said Gary Edgerton, College of Communication dean.

“Most classes can be adapted online in different ways,” Edgerton said.

The College of Communication is in the process of developing a fully-online graduate degree program in strategic communication.

Edgerton said he feels the field of communication lends itself to an online platform.

He added that he believes, as a whole, higher education is heading in the direction of eLearning.

“This is simply because society and culture is moving that way,” Edgerton said. “It’s also generational with the amount of time millennials spend online,

Photos by Marais Jacon-Duffy

PAWS organized a free chair massage event with aromatherapy bars and herbal tea on Tuesday, December 10. time normally, so I love this event,” Davis said.

“It’s so fun to see tired grumpy students come by and grab a healthy snack, and you can just see them perk up with this act of kindness and healthy food.”

Rich said she liked Doodle at Dinner because of the convenience and distraction it offers.

“You’re already going to dinner,” Rich said. “You might as well color and have fun. Last year, I wasn’t talking about how stressed I was about finals. I was having fun at dinner.”

Diaz said she enjoys seeing students before and after the massage and aromatherapy event, but she is also looking forward to a new event.

Freshly Brewed, a women’s a cappella group, will provide live music during a yoga class.

Diaz also said the puppies from the Indiana Canine Assistance Network will be back for the spring semester.

how comfortable they are communicating in all sorts of ways, from texting to all social media. There isn’t an institution in American culture now that isn’t touched one way or another by technology.”

Miranda stressed the value of being open-minded no matter what one’s take on the role of online learning in higher education is.

“Online learning isn’t for everyone,” Miranda said. “It’s not for every Butler student, and it’s not for every Butler faculty member. So I think we have to be really careful to make sure that it’s not seen as ‘this is better.’ It’s also not worse. It’s just different.”

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Students had the opportunity to color and do Sudoko puzzles to de-stress.

GRANT: LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES BENEFIT FROM PAGE ONE

Howard said Butler Advance will prepare students looking for jobs not only in the for-profit field, but also in the non-profit and government sectors.

“These graduates will be ready to hit the ground running as flexible, innovate, teamwork-oriented employees,” said Butler President James Danko in the press release.

“Helping students to refine and augment skills developed in the liberal arts curriculum to meet the needs of Indiana businesses and organizations will improve the placement rate for all majors within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.”

Butler Advance’s second goal is to help LAS students and faculty with internship and career advising.

Howard said helping students navigate the job market is especially important in a down economy.

“We want to be as much help as we possibly can to our majors and graduates who are heading directly into the job market, and not just those who are heading on to higher education,” Howard said.

Howard said many LAS faculty are not as comfortable offering students career and career placement advice as they are offering academic advice.

Butler Advance will increase

CAUCUS: FRESHMEN GAIN SGA EXPERIENCE FROM PAGE ONE

he wanted the perspectives and opinions of Butler freshmen, so he introduced the idea for a freshman caucus as a solution.

The previous form of freshman government was comparable to a normal class officer-style leadership team. The freshmen would vote for whom they wanted into office within the first couple weeks of school. Click said this way of running the freshman class was not as successful as it could be.

“It was flawed because we were having them vote on people that they didn’t even know yet,” Click said.

interaction between LAS faculty and Butler’s Internship and Career Services program in hopes of changing those feelings.

An additional goal of Butler Advance, according to the press release, is to have a 98-percent job placement rate for LAS graduates.

The specifics of Butler Advance’s budget have not yet been determined. Howard said someone will need to be hired to coordinate the summer certificate program, and faculty from within and outside LAS will be recruited to help run the program.

Scholarship funds might also be made available to participating students to offset the cost of the summer certificate program.

Howard said the grant and what it will go toward are beneficial to LAS’ goals.

“We want to make sure students have every opportunity when they graduate,” Howard said. “We’re simply trying to work harder on behalf of Butler students.”

BY THE NUMBERS $999,952

Grant amount given to Butler

98 percent

Target job placement rate for LAS students in Butler Advance

125

Target enrollment for summer certificate program

The current caucus has been in place since 2009 and is advertised at the beginning of the year for all freshmen. Once the freshmen are given a chance to get to know each other, leadership positions are voted on by the members.

The Freshman Caucus was put in place for students to practice in student government at a university and be more prepared to be a class officer the following year.

“It’s a mini SGA directed at freshmen to help us learn the ropes,” Frank said.

Click said a student doesn’t have to be a member of the caucus to be a sophomore class officer. There is only one sophomore class officer who was on the Freshman Caucus last year.

Meetings are open to all freshmen and are on Mondays at 5 p.m. in Atherton Union 201.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013

SPORTS

PAGE 5

OVERTIME

Where are you, Butler fans?

Photo courtesy of Dylan Cozad

Butler Ski and Snowboard Club President Andrew Gudac takes to the air at Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Ind., last winter. The club is in its second year after being founded in Oct. 2012.

Ski and Snowboard Club hits the slopes BEN SIECK

BSIECK@BUTLER.EDU ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

When Butler woke up to a fresh coat of snow Friday morning, no one on campus was more excited than the members of Butler’s Ski and Snowboard Club.

“We get really excited about it,” said sophomore Jesse Warner, the club’s treasurer. “It’s pretty much what we wait for all fall. It means we can be taking trips soon.”

Butler’s Ski and Snowboard Club is a relatively new organization on campus. The club celebrated its first birthday this October.

The club started when sophomore Andrew Gudac noticed there was not anything like it at the annual block party his freshman year.

Gudac, who now serves as the club’s president, immediately began researching online how he could bring a ski and snowboard club to Butler’s campus.

Gudac said he quickly found some like-minded students through talking to people in his dorm and posts on Facebook.

After writing a group constitution, Gudac and others presented it to the Student Government Association. It was approved, and the group soon received an email saying it was an official campus club.

For Gudac, he said founding the club was about more than just his love for snowboarding, which he

said he got into during high school.

“I started the club because I would like to ski cheaper and provide that for everyone else on campus,” Gudac said.

Sophomore Daniel Oepkes serves as the club’s vice president and is originally from San Diego, Calif.

He said the University of Southern California’s ski club served as inspiration for Butler’s club.

“One of the things I wanted to do when I went to college was skiing and snowboarding,” Oepkes said. “When I found there were mountains out here I could go on and there were other people interested, it made me want to start the club.”

Gudac said the club went on two trips to Perfect North Slopes, a ski area in southeastern Indiana, last year. He said the club will return there this year, but it is also planning an overnight trip to Pennsylvania during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

Gudac said the club’s biggest goal is to make a trip out West.

“We’d like to go to either Colorado or Utah,” Gudac said.

“This year, we’ve taken a step in that direction by going out East.”

One of the obstacles to making that trip is the club’s financial situation. Oepkes said the club can only receive $3,000 per year in grant money from the SGA.

The club does what it can to raise extra funds. Each member of the club pays $30 in dues and receives a long-sleeved shirt in return.

The club has also sought out sponsorships and recently held a give-back night at Noodles & Company.

As the club works toward organizing a trip out West, its current executive team is also looking for fresh faces to get involved.

“Everyone on exec was founders of it, so we’re now sophomores, and we have a couple upperclassmen as well,” Warner said. “We are hoping this year to get some new blood in there and (to) try to get some freshmen involved.”

Warner said anyone interested in getting involved with the club should reach out to one of the executive members via email.

Dylan Cozad, the club’s secretary and another founding member, said the club is open to all who are interested, not just experienced skiers and snowboarders.

“If you have skied or haven’t skied before, it doesn’t matter,” Cozad said. “We just want to make skiing and snowboarding as cheap as possible and promote it as a fun winter sport.

“For those who haven’t skied or snowboarded, we’d like to give them the opportunity to try it for a cheap price.”

There’s no denying it. Butler is best known for its basketball program. So naturally, that’s what students pay most attention to.

But did you know that Butler had quite the fall sports season?

Last year, for the most part, Butler performed better than it was supposed to in the school’s first and only year in the Atlantic 10.

This year was supposed to be even tougher, and even rougher.

But this year, all of the fall season teams finished higher than they were pegged to in preseason Big East coaches’ polls.

The women’s soccer team was projected to finish seventh, missing the Big East Tournament. They finished fifth and lost to St. John’s 3-2 in a close quarterfinal game.

The men’s soccer team was pegged for an eighth place finish, but finished sixth with a spot in the conference tournament. Their season came to an end in a 1-0 overtime loss against Marquette in the semifinals.

The volleyball team, forecasted two spots out of a conference tournament berth, finished fourth before losing to Marquette, who finished ranked No. 8 in the country.

The cross country teams had quite the showing as well. The men’s team took third in the Big East, known as a perennial cross country powerhouse, and also took sixth at the Great Lakes Regional out of 31 teams.

The women’s team soared to new heights, finishing third in the conference, second at the regional, and third at the national meet, the highest finish in school history.

It’s common to hear on Butler’s campus “Oh, I wish this was a Big Ten school and football mattered,” or “I wish we were good at football.”

Well, football does matter, and the football team was pretty darn good this year.

The football team won a share of the PFL title for the second straight year and third time in five years. But it didn’t end there.

It earned the school’s first Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth, and was also the first PFL team to do the same.

While it ended in a 31-0 shutout against Tennessee State that was much more competitive than the score shows, the Bulldogs showed that they belong on the gridiron.

All the fall sports teams had successful seasons, but where were the rest of the students during all of this?

It would be nice to see more of a following at these games. The soccer game against IU was great.

Now only if there could be crowds like that at football games. Sure,

KYLE BEERY

the games aren’t like IU or Purdue, so the student section isn’t big and rowdy like theirs.

But why not? Why can’t we as students decide to change that? It could be a lot of fun to get up early on Saturdays and tailgate, then actually go to the games and stand as a student body and cheer on a team deserving of a good fan base.

And staying on the topic of student sections, the support could even be better at men’s basketball games. If the program is so coveted, why not embrace it even more than we do, and why not strive to be known as one of the best student sections in the Big East?

This is a new beginning for Butler, and if the students don’t take advantage of the opportunity now, Butler could become known as the school with a pretty good basketball team and a lackluster student following.

Other small schools have great student sections. Take Duke for example. They’ve only got 6 or 7 thousand students, but they are frequently referred to as the best student section in the country. Their basketball team is good – great – year after year after year, and it all begins with a hostile Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Granted it is Duke, and we are not trying to be Duke (for good reason – cite 2010 National Championship Game). But Butler could start that tradition now. Butler students should be standing and cheering and being loud the whole game. Not just the Dawg Pound. The students in the sections above the north basket should be doing the same.

So, as we hope the success of the fall teams carries over to the winter and spring teams debuting in the Big East, let’s also hope the student support is a little bit better. It’s not an overnight thing, it’s a process.

But that process needs to begin now. Let’s see a good student section throughout the year, and let’s get loud and make Hinkle hostile.

And while we’re at it, let’s get out and support all the other spring sports teams. Take pride in our athletic teams, and let’s help them put Butler on the map for more than just a few Final Four runs a few years ago.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Bulldogs spend Thanksgiving in “The Happiest Place On Earth” at the Old Spice Classic The Butler men’s basketball team won its Nov. 28 quarterfinal matchup against Washington State, 76-69. The Bulldogs then fell, 69-67, to No. 5 Oklahoma State in the semifinals the following day. LSU took Butler to overtime in the third-place game Dec. 1 and prevailed, 70-68.

ON THE WEB

Visit www.thebutlercollegian. com to see more photos from the Old Spice Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Photos by Marko Tomich

Sophomore guard Kellen Dunham scored a career-high 32 points against Washington State in the Old Spice Classic quarterfinals Nov. 28 and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Senior forward Khyle Marshall (right) also scored a career-high in points against Washington State, netting 30 points in the 76-69 win over the Cougars.

PAGE 6 | THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Bulldogs cruise against Manchester MATTHEW VANTRYON

MVANTRYO@BUTLER.EDU STAFF REPORTER

Butler showed no signs of fatigue when they played their second game in three days, this one against Division III Manchester Monday night. The Bulldogs (7-2) dominated from the start and coasted to a 10041 win.

Butler had four players in doublefigure scoring. Sophomore guard Kellen Dunham led the way with 15 points, while senior forward Khyle Marshall had 14. Freshman guard Rene Castro and junior forward Kameron Woods contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Butler had one of its best offensive nights of the season, shooting 63 percent from the floor and 52 percent from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs held Manchester to 26 percent field goal shooting.

Butler scored at will in the first half and forced Manchester into turnovers. The Bulldogs scored 22 points off 13 Manchester miscues in the opening period, and forced 17 in the contest. Butler finished the half on an 11-0 to take a 48-24 lead into the locker room.

A 12-0 Butler run to begin the

second half cemented its lead even further. Butler went on a 23-0 from the end of the first half to just under four minutes into the second half.

The visiting Spartans (1-8) struggled in the second half, shooting just 14 percent. Butler’s lead stretched to as many as 61 with just over a minute to play.

Freshman guard Michael Volovic hit both ends of a one-and-one with 1:19 left to stretch Butler’s point total into triple digits.

Butler coach Brandon Miller said the scoreboard did not dictate the way he coached his players.

“From the start of the game to the end of the game, we’re coaching what we normally coach in practice,” Miller said. “We’re coaching habits that we’re trying to build on both ends of the floor, and we’re trying to do the right thing on every possession more times than we did in the previous game and more than we did at the beginning of the year.

That’s how we coached tonight and that’s how we played tonight, and I thought we stayed true to this game more than any other.”

Miller said he was pleased with his team’s ability to put together a strong effort for 40 minutes.

“I thought our guys played Butler basketball from start to finish, especially when we settled into the game,” Miller said. “We talked about playing to the standard and playing the way we wanted to play from the start of the game to the end of the game. Our guys took pride in that and we did that.”

Butler excelled at the free throw line, shooting 86 percent.

Butler’s bench had an opportunity to showcase its abilities in the contest, scoring 48 points.

“It was good to see a lot of different guys play,” Miller said. “We saw a lot of different combinations in terms of guys playing together.

When you can do that when the lights are on and the officials are blowing whistles, it’s a little bit different than practice.”

Butler’s 59-point win was its largest margin of victory in the modern era. The Bulldogs had previously defeated Indiana University South Bend by 54 in 2008.

Butler faces Purdue next in the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse Saturday. The game will follow a matchup between Indiana University and Notre Dame. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL The Butler women’s basketball team (3-5) suffered another defeat Saturday, dropping a close 62-57 contest in the final minutes of play to the Illinois-Chicago Flames (6-2) at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Senior forward Daress McClung led the attack for the Bulldogs on both sides of the court, hitting 8 of 19 shots for 23 points. McClung cooled down the Flames’ offensive front with two blocks and three steals on defense.

Senior guard Mandy McDivitt added 10 points and two assists while playing all 40 minutes.

Butler came back from an early 10-point deficit after the first eight minutes of play, narrowing UIC’s lead to 2423 by the end of the first half.

The Bulldogs continued to keep it close in the second half. Butler tied the game up at 54-54 on a free throw by junior guard Taylor Schippers with 3:21 left.

Following a subsequent timeout by UIC, the Flames’ Rachel Story broke the tie with a quick jumper. Several miscues by Butler in the final minutes put the game just out of the Bulldogs’ grasp.

Following the loss, head coach Beth Couture noted

Photo by Rachel Opperman

Sophomore guard Kellen Dunham drives against the Manchester defense.

Dunham had a team-high 15 points.

TRACK AND FIELD the strong performance of her opponent.

“You have to give UIC a lot of credit,” Couture said.

“They came in with a fivegame winning streak and they wanted to beat us. We put it on them a little bit last year so they came in today and were ready.”

The Bulldogs will look to get back on track Friday when they hit the road to take on the Valparaiso Crusaders.

Tip off is slated for 8:05 p.m. EDT at the AthleticsRecreation Center in Valparaiso, Ind. -John Yeley

The Butler track and field team opened its indoor season at the non-scoring Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodon Opener in Fort Wayne, Ind., Saturday.

In the men’s mile, the Bulldogs claimed the top four spots.

Junior Tom Anderson posted a time of 4:14.00 for the win. Freshman Erik Peterson and junior Harry Ellis came in second and third, respectively, with times of 4:15.71 and 4:16.67.

Sophomore James Martin was fourth with a time of 4:25.91.

In the men’s 3,000-meter

run, Butler again took three of the top four spots.

Freshman Chris Kelsey finished with a time of 8:48.71 for the win.

Junior Billy Klimczak finished third with a time of 8:53.72, and freshman Keigan Culler finished fourth with a time of 8:55.41.

Freshman Luke Zygmunt finished as the winner in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:57.66.

Junior Alex Berry finished third in the 600-meter run with a time of 1:21.10. Berry’s schoolrecord time beat out the

previous time of 1:22.1, set

by Nathan Dosanjh in 2001.

In the women’s mile, sophomore Erica Carlson placed second with a time of 5:17.02 and freshman Alex Van Hoof finished third with a time of 5:19.85.

In the women’s 3,000-meter run, freshman Stephanie Hanagan came in second with a time of 10:49.43 and freshman Maddie Westerhoff finished fifth with a time of 11:03.13.

Butler continues its indoor season at the Hoosier Open Friday and Saturday.

-Clayton Young

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013

THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN | PAGE 7

CROSS COUNTRY

TRACK AND FIELD

Butler places third at national meet MATTHEW VANTRYON

MVANTRYO@BUTLER.EDU STAFF REPORTER

They aren’t showy and flashy.

They don’t make headlines like some other Butler athletic teams.

Yet, the athletes on Butler’s women’s cross country team turned in one of the best seasons in Butler athletics history this fall.

The Bulldogs finished their season two weeks ago with a thirdplace finish at the NCAA Division I National Championship meet.

The team finished with 200 points, three points behind runnerup University of Arizona. Fellow Big East member Providence finished first with 141 points.

The finish is the third highest for any Butler team in a national event. Only the men’s basketball team finished higher with its backto-back runner-up appearances in 2010 and 2011.

It was a cold and blustery day in Terre Haute, Ind., for the national cross country meet, but the conditions would not get in the way of Butler’s success.

Consistency was the key to the Bulldogs’ success all season long, senior Katie Clark said. The same proved true in the national championship meet.

“We’d been having such solid runs all season, so we just had to trust in our training and trust in each other that we were fit, strong and could really do some things,” Clark said. “And (we) had to be excited rather than nervous. I

thought we executed really well.”

Junior Mara Olson led the Bulldogs en route to finishing the best season of her collegiate career.

Olson finished in 26th place with a time of 20:37.7, earning her AllAmerican recognition.

Olson’s consistency was evident all season. She led the team at the Roy Griak Invitational with a fourth-place overall finish and finished eighth overall at the Big East Championships.

Roe said Olson was poised for a breakthrough, and it finally came together at the national meet.

“She really broke through this fall and ran at a national level and really punctuated her season with an outstanding race at nationals,” Roe said.

Clark and fellow senior Kirsty Legg ended their collegiate careers on a high note. Legg earned AllAmerican honors, and Clark missed earning the honor for the second consecutive year by one second.

Clark finished with a time of 20:46.9, which put her in 41st place.

Legg and Clark are part of Roe’s first recruiting class to have completed its time at Butler. Roe said the program is better because of the seniors’ involvement.

“Its really a big inspiration for me, personally, to see my first class have such success and improve every year and finish on such a strong note, and really put the program in a position where it can continue to grow and get better,”

Roe said. “We owe a huge debt to Kirsty and Katie for what they have contributed to the program.”

Clark said she saw growth in herself and the program over the course of her career.

“The character of the team has grown, and we all get along so well,” Clark said. “I’ve certainly grown as a person, and being a part of a college team has certainly facilitated that for me.

“Sometimes, I think back to what my life might look like if I had chosen not to come to America and not join the cross country team. And I am so glad that I did, because things are going so well right now, and I can’t imagine it any other way.”

Junior Tom Curr participated in the national meet for the Butler men’s squad. Curr finished 41st with a time of 30:46.4. Curr missed the All-American honor by one spot.

Sustainable success in athletics is hard to come by, but Roe said the team has built a successful foundation.

“It’s going to be a challenge to sustain that, but fortunately we have five of our top seven girls back next year, and we expect with improvement of the program that we can continue to move forward and recruit at a high level and remain at an elite Division I level, a national level,” Roe said. “That’s certainly our objective, and I think we’re well on our way to making that a reality.”

Photo courtesy of Mike Freeman

The cross country team poses with its third-place trophy at the National Championship meet in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 23.

Photo courtesy of Butler Sports Information

Senior Katie Clark will be a leader of the track and field team this season, coming off a strong finish at the cross country National Championship meet.

Track team making strides in preparation for Big East

BRENDAN KING BAKING@BUTLER.EDU STAFF REPORTER

The Butler track and field team is ready to begin a new season.

Butler will rely on upperclassmen to help reach its goals. With the team beginning its first year in the Big East Conference, a transition from the Atlantic 10 Conference will be required for many.

But senior distance runner Katie Clark is confident in Butler’s ability to adapt.

“With us being in a new conference again, it’s hard to predict how the team will do,” Clark said. “I will say, however, that there are a number of strong individuals this year, and that coach (Matt) Roe will very likely be taking a group of athletes to the NCAA championships this coming year.”

Clark was a key contributor to the women’s cross country team’s third-place finish in the national championship meet. Clark finished in 41st place with a time of 20:46.9.

Clark said she is hoping the momentum the track team’s distance runners gained through that national finish will translate to the track and field season.

“There is a different kind of energy and excitement for track, perhaps because the crowd is contained within a smaller space,” Clark said. “I know that a lot of us are excited about the track season.”

For the men on the team, a leader will be junior Tom Curr. He is a middle-distance runner from Stroud, England. He was a qualifier for this year’s cross country national meet.

He said he is looking to avoid injuries for what he hopes will be a

bounce-back season.

“After a tough year last year with mono, this cross country season has reinvigorated me and reminded me of how good I can be,” Curr said.

“If I can take this confidence onto the track, run without fear and race to win every race I’m in, I will do well.”

Battling injuries can be tough for any athlete. Curr said he has high expectations for himself to have a bounce back season.

“I have high hopes for myself this year,” Curr said. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself and I don’t want to be disrespectful to the competition out there, but I’ll certainly be looking to make nationals individually either in the 3K or the mile.”

Curr said joining the Big East Conference will feature a large step up in competition for Butler.

“It’s going to be tough, no doubt,” Curr said. “We’re all fully aware of that. But if we can go in with some confidence from our early season races and the distance guys can carry through that belief we gained following our third-place finish at the cross country conference, then I think we can surprise some people, take some titles, and hopefully post some marks that will help individually and relay teams progress to nationals.”

Confidence will be key for the Bulldogs this season. As long as they continue to believe that they can compete with other Big East schools, they can surprise many people, Curr said.

“I really see no reason why I should not challenge for the top places,” Curr said. “It only takes a good run on the right day, and a bit of luck.”

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Bulldogs and Boilermakers rekindle intrastate rivalry ARI KASLE AKASLE@BUTLER.EDU

STAFF REPORTER

Photo by Marko Tomich

Junior guard Alex Barlow looks for a path to the basket during Butler’s 69-67 loss to Oklahoma State in the Old Spice Classic at HP Field House in Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 29.

The Crossroads Classic has only been going on for two years, but the Butler men’s basketball team has already created plenty of memorable moments in the event.

The Bulldogs will look to create a few more this season in a rematch of the team’s 2011 contest against Purdue.

Coming off wins against North Dakota and Manchester, Butler (72) will face a Purdue (8-2) squad that has won three straight.

In the inaugural Crossroads Classic, Butler was coming in on a three-game losing streak, while Purdue boasted a 9-2 record.

The Bulldogs, at one point down by 15 points, came back and beat Purdue on a last second tip in by center Andrew Smith.

The next year, the Bulldogs upset then-No. 1 Indiana University in an overtime thriller.

The Crossroads Classic brings together four Indiana universities

with successful basketball programs. The four schools involved—Butler, Purdue, Indiana and Notre Dame—will participate in an annual doubleheader game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The matchups rotate each year, although Purdue and Indiana cannot meet in the event due to a Big Ten regulation.

“It’s always fun to get to play top teams like Indiana, Purdue and Notre Dame,” junior guard Alex Barlow said. “There is a little bit of an in-state rivalry going on.

Everyone wants to be the best in the state, so it’s cool to get a chance to play it out and see what happens.”

Last year, Barlow became a household name after knocking down a floater in the final seconds of overtime to push Butler past Indiana. It will be his and the team’s first time returning to Bankers Life Fieldhouse since that game.

“It’s going to be cool to be back,” Barlow said. “Our team obviously

has a lot of good memories from this event, especially last year.

“But at the same time, all of that is in the past. We are really only focusing on this game, because it’s a big game and we need to win to boost our non-conference resume.”

Butler is the only of the four teams to have never lost at the event. This year, the Bulldogs face Purdue in a rematch of their 2011 Crossroads Classic game.

The Boilermakers are led in scoring by brothers Terone and Ronnie Johnson, who are averaging 12.8 and 11.9 points per game this season, respectively.

Another Boilermaker to watch is sophomore A.J. Hammons. Listed at 7-0 and 251 pounds, Hammons is considered to be a National Basketball Association prospect and is averaging eight points and seven rebounds this season.

Butler and Purdue tip off at 6 p.m. Saturday, immediately following the opening game between Notre Dame and Indiana at 3:15 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, december 11, 2013

Arts, etc.

page 8

Do Downtown this December 12 cool venues 12 free events 12 days of Indy As an Indy-style “12 Days of Christmas,” downtown venues open their doors and host free events for the public­—one a day for 12 days—starting later this month.

13 On the first day in Indy, the thing that will be free, the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library.

The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library is a collection of his personal items and artwork.

You may also grab a book and read in the library.

340 N Senate Ave. — 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

14 On the second day in Indy, the thing that will be free, an ice skating trip for the family.

The Indiana State Museum is opening its doors for free so everyone can enjoy the L.S. Ayres Santa Claus Express train, along with many other exhibits.

650 W Washington Ave. — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Pan Am Pavilion will be open for free ice skating during the afternoon and evening.

201 S Capitol Ave. — 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The IMA is hosting its annual Winter Solstice.

There will be shopping, decorating ideas and music.

4000 Michigan Rd. — 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

22 On the 10th day in Indy, the thing that will be free, the Presidential house of Benji.

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site features Victorian holiday decorations. The house was restored to look as it did in 1875.

1230 N Delaware St. — 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is offering free rides to the top observation deck for a breathtaking view of the city from its center.

1 Monument Circle — 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

18

17 On the fifth day in Indy, the thing that will be free, the James Whitcomb Riley Museum.

On the sixth day in Indy, the thing that will be free, the Morris-Butler house, from noon to three.

This museum brings visitors back to the beginning of the 20th century, the time when Riley wrote his poetry.

528 Lockerbie St. — 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This home has been restored from when it was built in 1865. Besides the beauty of the home itself, 19th-century artifacts are inside from all over the world.

1204 N Park Ave. — 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

21

20

19 On the seventh day in Indy, the thing that will be free, a place to get ideas for your tree.

15

On the third day in Indy, the thing that will be free, an elevator ride to see the city.

16 On the fourth day in Indy, the thing that will be free, the Indiana State Museum to sightsee.

Photo by Jaclyn McConnell

On the eighth day in Indy, the thing that will be free, the Speedway honors Parnelli.

On the ninth day in Indy, the thing that will be free, a peek inside Indiana history.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum has a display of 75 vehicles and an exhibit honoring Parnelli Jones, the winner of the 1963 Indy 500.

4790 W 16th — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Explore the Indiana History Center and participate in holiday craft-making.

450 W Ohio St. — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

23 On the 11th day in Indy, the thing that will be free, a chance to work off extra calories.

To attend group classes or use a variety of their machines, the National Institute for Fitness and Sport is offering free admission.

250 University Blvd. — 5:15 a.m. to 10 p.m.

24 On the 12th day in Indy, the thing that will be free, a museum, especially for the kiddies.

Have fun exploring the nation’s largest Children’s Museum, which can entertain people of all ages.

3000 N Meridian St. — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013

THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN | PAGE 9

REJOICE!

Photos courtesy of Greg Sanders

The annual “Rejoice!” concert features many Butler University choirs, including the Butler Chorale.

HANNAH HARTZELL HHARTZEL@BUTLER.EDU

STAFF REPORTER

With the arrival of the holiday season, there is a particularly hurried pace that comes with festivities.

Next week, however, the Indianapolis community has the opportunity to take a step back from the chaos and attend the annual Butler University Chorale Christmas concert, Rejoice!

“Rejoice! is the Butler Music Department’s annual gift to Indianapolis,” said Greg Sanders, the concert’s producer. “We don’t charge admission, and we give the community a chance to come into Clowes and celebrate the holiday with us as an important part of our Butler community.”

This is the first year that Sanders, a Butler graduate, will be conducting the Butler Chorale.

Daniel Blosser will be conducting the University Choir, said senior Butler Chorale member Alaina Bartkowiak.

The musicians started preparing music for the six ensembles in October, but the concert programming began last summer.

The concert will feature traditional holiday carols as well as contemporary Christmas tunes, giving the audience a chance to sing along with the music.

Rejoice! includes performances from all six of Butler’s vocal ensembles: The Butler Chorale, the University Choir, the Chamber Choir, Jordan Jazz, Freshly Brewed and Out of the Dawghouse.

Sanders said the Arthur Jordan Saxophone Quartet will be playing before and during the concert. A festival brass ensemble from the wind ensemble will also be playing during the concert, he said.

In addition, Bartkowiak said there will be many featured soloists and a wide range of musical styles for the audience. “[Audience members] will be seeing Butler’s toptier musical ensembles performing holiday pieces, some familiar and some brand new,” Bartkowiak said.

The choirs will be performing pieces by Samuel Barber and Benjamin Britton, as well as more contemporary work, like that of John Rutter.

“There really is a really good mix of repertoire in the music,” Sanders said.

There will also be a “fun and interesting” mash up of the pop song “The Rose” with “Lo, how the rose e’er blooming” that will give even more of a modern twist to the concert.

“For the community, it’s a concert featuring Butler’s top musicians and holiday favorites,” said Bartowiak. “It is a fun way to kick off the home stretch of the holiday season.”

Rejoice! will be Dec. 13-14 in Clowes Memorial Hall. Admission is free but tickets are required. The box office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

“The most exciting part is seeing everything come together on the stage this week,” Sanders said. “It really helps students get into the Christmas season and look forward to the end of the semester.”

Scores of Butler University singers ring in the season with the Jordan College of the Arts’ annual “Rejoice!” concert — and you’re invited!

DANCE DEPARTMENT PROFILE

Marek Cholewa: A father figure with high standards ROBYN JUTSUM

COLLEGIAN@BUTLER.EDU CONTRIBUTING REPORTER

Marek Cholewa, a Butler University dance professor, strives to share the historical and pedagogical culture of dance in Poland and Russia with his Butler students.

Cholewa began his training at the National School of Ballet in Poznan, Poland, and from there was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of Poland to work at the Mariinsky Theatre and the Rimsky-Korsakov Music Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia.

He said that due to the Polish political climate, it was not favorable to return to Poland long-term after completing his studies.

While in St. Petersburg he met his wife, and together they were invited to Panama by renowned ballerina Margot Fonteyn to work with the National Central American Ballet.

They remained in Central America until 1988 when he was offered his current position at Butler.

“I never thought I would be at Butler so long,” Cholewa said. “I kind of thought a few years would be a good statement and a good way to start working here in the U.S.” He said the opportunity to work with the students and international opportunities for choreographic projects has kept him connected to the university. “(Professors) are definitely touching (students’) lives by not only doing exercises daily, but having contact with them and discussing on the different levels if they come to seek advice,” Cholewa said.

Cholewa said he was surprised by the lack of historical preservation in the U.S. “In Europe, you are always preserving the history,” Cholewa said. “We (in the U.S.) are always moving, stepping to the new.”

Despite this difference, Cholewa said he likes being in Indianapolis and at Butler.

Cholewa said the university has been supportive of his international endeavors, which is why he is able to offer the dancers a chance to travel to Poland and St. Petersburg for a three- to four-week study abroad trip at the end of the spring semester.

“The major benefits of the trip are to see other dancers, see how they work, see performances, learn about other cultures, and see a part of the world that is not yet as easily accessible as Western Europe,” Cholewa said.

Susan McGuire, another dance professor at

He’s very good about keeping us on our game, keeping us honest about the work.

ZACHARY TUAZON JUNIOR DANCE MAJOR Butler, said the trip is a tremendous opportunity for students to be in a different country as well as to see the level of work that is obtained there.

“The students come back with so much more than just a dance experience, so much more than just the culture. It’s all of it. They’re different when they come back. It’s a life-changer,” McGuire said.

The dancers are also excited for the trip.

Senior dance pedagogy major Carly Hambridge went to Poland and St. Petersburg at the end of her freshman year.

“I think the fact that we can study abroad while here being a dance major is really important because we don’t really have that opportunity any other time in college,” Hambridge said.

She said Cholewa is a great tour guide because he knows so much about everywhere they go.

Zachary Tuazon, a junior in the program, said the trip offers experience and valuable resources.

“It is also helpful, too, if only to understand our teacher and understand where he comes from,” Tuazon said.

Cholewa said he thinks that traveling is the best way to learn.

“Meeting people constantly and learning from their experiences teaches me a lot of things,” Cholewa said.

“It teaches you not only as an artist but as a human being, and I feel the learning of their tradition and learning, of course, their language is and always will be very important to me.”

Cholewa said he feels that being a professor is a big responsibility.

McGuire said Cholewa is aware of what it takes to be a dancer of a high caliber, so his expectations are high for students in the department.

McGuire said she thinks students sometimes have difficulty meeting that challenge, but he will not lower his standards.

“For a student who is willing to meet that challenge, there

Photo from smhall.org

Marek Cholewa has been teaching at Butler since 1988.

is so much they can get from his coaching and teaching,” McGuire said.

His high expectations have lent him the reputation of being tough and stern if need be.

Hambridge said he is a father figure to Butler Ballet.

“He doesn’t always give you the ‘good job’ because he wants you to do better and better and there’s always more,” Hambridge said.

“He’s like a dad, very set in his ways, and doesn’t really change that necessarily.”

Tuazon said Cholewa demands respect where it’s deserved.

“He’s very good about keeping us on our game, keeping us honest about the work,” Tuazon said.

While Cholewa sets the bar high, Tuazon said people generally have a positive impression of him.

“He really tries to understand the students, and he is very understanding of injuries and if people have outside life problems,” Tuazon said.

Although his work corresponds directly with training the next generation of professional dancers, his knowledge can extend to areas outside the realm of dance.

“The better way to talk about his importance to the department, I think, would be to think about the department without him,” said Larry Attaway, chair of the dance department.

“There would be a huge void.”

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013

PAGE 10

Hypocritical Holidays

People should remember the real reason for the holiday spirit

Photo by Maria Porter

Photo by Maddie Koss

Hours after millions of Americans peacefully eat a large Thanksgiving meal with family and friends— a meal that is supposed to symbolize what each individual is thankful for— they become an angry mob.

Every year, the news, first hand stories, YouTube videos and Twitter trends spread the most infamous stories of Black Friday. Anually, hordes of overly obsessed shoppers scratch and gnaw in order to get their hands on a prized item that has been marked down.

RHYAN HENSON

This year, an estimated 97 million people shopped on Black Friday, according to ABC.com. Of that lot, there was one death and 15 injuries reported according to blackfridaydeathcount.com, a website set up to track the deaths and injuries that occur during the opening day of the holiday season.

Based on the stories heard and seen, there could have been another thousand who suffered injuries that were just

DOUBLE TAKE on political paranoia

Political correctness is an important part of being respectful of other people and their walks of life.

It’s not about constantly walking on eggshells to make sure you don’t offend anyone. If someone goes through his or her life without offending a single person, he or she must not have said very much at all.

However, it is about respect, acceptance and understanding.

People should not just say anything they want to anyone they want, because other people’s feelings matter.

Being politically correct is about respecting the fact that we might not understand everyone else’s backgrounds. Offending someone with offhand language is unnecessary and often can be easily fixed.

It’s easy to dismiss political correctness as being superfluous or ridiculous because there can be so many different phrases and actions to think about.

America has a history of excluding people who seem to differ from the “norm.”

Racism, xenophobia, and ignorance have played a part in many aspects of America’s past.

The next generation is in a position to be the change we need. Children do not benefit from growing up in an environment where they are taught words that do not really matter. Words hurt more than anything.

Some people take political correctness too far. The law shouldn’t be involved when it comes to politically correct language and actions.

Freedom of speech is one of the fundamental aspects of this country. Suing over

MAGGIE MONSON

these things is a waste of the court’s time.

However, there is no doubt that the world is still mired in ignorance and hatred, two things political correctness fights.

Nina Davuluri was crowned Miss America Sept. 15. Davuluri is of Indian descent, according to a September article on today.com.

Immediately following her victory in the competition, Twitter exploded with racist comments.

Twitter users connected Davuluri with terrorist groups, called her a foreigner and insulted her heritage.

One user tweeted, “9/11 was 4 days ago and she gets Miss America?”

The color of her skin has nothing to do with whether she is American.

The multitudes of offensive and inaccurate tweets, which have since gone viral, show the hatred and bigotry that still exist in America. These people clearly do not understand cultural sensitivity.

Even though their opinions might not reflect those of the majority of the country, the fact that people still think this way shows the necessity of politically correct language.

Until the world can accept people have a variety of skin tones, religions, sexualities and beliefs, we need to be cautious in the way we speak.

Another example of the insensitivity of our culture

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is the words “gay” and “retarded.” They have very clear meanings in today’s society, despite their meanings in the past.

“Gay” means homosexual today. “Retarded” implies a mentally handicapped person. These words cannot escape those connotations any time soon.

Althought the intent might not be cruel, these words are insulting.

There are significant groups of people who are hurt by the culture of the indifference these words create and reinforce.

There is no way to not offend everyone with words and actions.

However, simple things like avoiding cruel words or wishing someone “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” shows a willingness to accept other people and their lifestyles.

Contact copy editor Maggie Monson at mmonson@butler.edu.

I have never been one to be on the side of being politically correct. Not that I endorse hurtful words or stereotypes, but I feel that sometimes, in the interest of sparing feelings and controversy, we allow this idea of being politically correct to take control of everything.

This holiday season reminds me of Christmas 2006. One afternoon while at work, I was listening to the radio and a troubling news story came on.

Back in the state of Washington, a rabbi by the name of Elazar Bogomilsky threatened to sue SeattleTacoma International Airport if it did not include a menorah along with the Christmas trees that it had set up for the season. For more than 25 years, the airport had set up Christmas trees for the holiday and now had to remove them all to avoid this lawsuit. The rabbi felt the airport was showing an overt support of Christianity and ignoring the Jewish faith.

The Christmas tree is about as much of a religious symbol

Cartoon by Melissa Iannuzzi

TONY ESPINAL

as Frosty the Snow Man or Rudolph.

We are surrounded by debates of what is and is not appropriate anymore. In September, a family in Boston fought to change the Pledge of Allegiance by removing the phrase “under God” because it claimed it violates equal rights and is discriminatory.

Creationists are calling for the theory of evolution to be banned from schools, and there has been a fight raging for some time to force the Washington Redskins to change their team name because it is insensitive. As recently as October of this year, a parent of a Texas high school football player filed a bullying complaint against the coaching staff of Aledo High School when Aledo defeated her son’s Western Hills team 91-0.

Seriously, where do we draw the line?

I believe the issue of unneccessary political correctness is a slippery slope, and while some people may disagree with me, instances of this occur every day across the country. That is not to say there is not validity to some of the mentioned claims.

Though there may not be validity to every claim. we have allowed ourselves to become so fixated on the issue that we have created a proverbial “Frankenstein’s monster” out of it.

Imagine the following scenario. The nation starts by forcing the Redskins to change their team name, and then it bans the use of words that can be found offensive and hurtful, such as “gay” or

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name of the season they would volunteer their time, money or both toward helping people who does not have the luxury to give.

In 2012, the average shopper spent $423 on holiday gifts during the holiday season. If every one of those 247 million shoppers donated the change in their pocket to a charitble cause, those less fortunate could benefit greatly from it.

The holiday season is a season of giving. Giving others something more than a black eye as one sprints to the best deal would show a true meaning of what this time of year is about.

Contact Opinion editor Rhyan Henson at rhenson@butler.edu.

Is political correctness taken too seriously, or is it not respected enough?

FALL 2013 EDITORIAL STAFF

the butler

The Butler watchdog and voice for BU students

not reported.

It is disgraceful how easily people can be transformed from loving family members to animals willing to do anything just so they can get the best bargain. Watching and hearing some of the most egregious stories, I am amazed that more people are not injured.

How can the aspects of thankfulness and generosity be so easily be forgotten?

247 million shoppers visited stores during the opening weekend of the holiday season in 2012, according to the Huffington Post. Instead of storming the gates of popular stores, people should stop and think to use compassion and generosity. After all, it is the season of giving. If people really wanted to live up to the

Adviser

“retarded.”

While that solves one issue, it has just opened a Pandora’s Box for others.

A person now has precedence to demand that the word “short” be banned because he or she feels that the word is derogatory to those who are not as tall as others.

If the Redskins’ name is deemed offensive, does that mean the Braves, Blackhawks and Indians are next?

It is time we stop relying on government, school boards and courts to resolve these issues for us.

Yes, words have the power to hurt people, but it is people who give words power.

For example, at one time the word “gay” meant “happy.”

It was us who allowed “gay” to be turned into a derogatory word. Even though we call the community the “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer community,” some still find the term itself to be offensive.

People who did not believe in Christianity can opt out of saying the phrase “under God” during the pledge, rather than attacking religion.

As the future leaders of this world, we have to teach other students, coworkers and children to think before they speak, and understand the importance of contextual use.

We must work together to understand and respect differences, not throw temper tantrums when we do not agree with a certain point of view.

Show respect to all faiths and creeds. The courts should be a last resort.

Most importantly, take time to hear an opponent’s point of view. You may find that you can reach a compromise or even an agreement on some level.

Contact columnist Tony Espinal at tespinal@butler.edu.

The Butler Collegian is published weekly on Wednesdays with a controlled circulation of 1,600.

The Collegian editorial staff determines the editorial policies; the opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of The Collegian or Butler University, but of the writers clearly labeled.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013

THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN | PAGE 11

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Student questions Rev. Allan Bosesak’s past

Cartoon by Audrey Meyer

‘Tis the season to not complain Christmas’ commercialization is not a matter to worry or complain about It seems every year Christmas rolls around a tad earlier than the last.

It is not uncommon to see a Christmas car commercial with one of those 30-pound red bows before making it to Thanksgiving.

This understandably turns off a lot of people who feel constant marketing ruins the so-called “spirit of Christmas,” but frankly I do not mind having Christmas jammed down my throat. ‘Tis the season after all.

I don’t mean this in a negative way. Christmas is by far the most commercialized holiday, but justifiably so.

According to Statista, a leading statistics portal and website, Americans spent around three trillion dollars during the holidays last year alone.

To put that in perspective, holiday spending made up about 19.3 percent of American retailers’ total sales for 2012.

If retailers know the average American spends a hefty sum a year, why shouldn’t they market their products accordingly when expecting almost a quarter of their business over a two-month period?

But these subjects of consumerism and commercialism only come up around the holidays, and frankly I have had enough of it.

Materialism is not just a Christmas issue—it is just how we do it in America.

We live in a nation that spent more than 310 million dollars on Halloween pet costumes last year, yet some still worry about losing touch with the spirit of Christmas.

What exactly is the spirit of Christmas?

Is it the notion that, for four

MITCH RIPORTELLA

weeks out of the year, we should make our yearly trip to church and give money to charity?

Why do we only try to be good people during the holidays?

Is having Christmas spirit simply acting like a person who suddenly cares about things outside of their lives for one season of the year?

That does not make sense, and you shouldn’t need an excuse to care for others. I feel like this spirit is an act, and everything we do loses its legitimacy.

We tell ourselves it is better to give than it is to receive only during the holidays, but why?

Does anyone else notice how selfish this implication can be?

Do we really give Christmas gifts out of selflessness? Or, do we give gifts to feel good about ourselves, and to more easily convince ourselves we are good people?

The cultural focus on presents is not preventing our families from having a fulfilling Christmas, so let us as a society quit complaining about it.

Christmas is ultimately what we make of it.

Regardless of whether one makes it about the objects or the emotions, it is an excuse to get the family together and blow all of our money on things we do not truly need.

People should stop making a big deal of how commercialized the season is, because it is not going to change.

So eat a lot of food with your loved ones and play with your new Xbox, because Christmas is just fine the way it is.

Contact columnist Mitch Riportella at mriporte@butler.edu

While the university was enthralled with the upcoming vote on HJR6 in the next session of Indiana’s General Assembly, I was pleased to see Mr. Lovelace’s article highlighting Rev. Allan Boesak and The Desmond Tutu Center in the Nov. 20 issue of The Collegian.

I became aware of Boesak last year during his semester tenure at Butler and listened to his recollections of the days of apartheid in South Africa in the Ford Salon.

I was very impressed with him until I looked into his history in South Africa and realized he had been convicted of fraud of a charitable organization.

I thought that his time be up soon enough and Butler would be moving on from the apparent risk of association with him.

To say the least, I was not happy to hear about his continuing relationship with Butler as the director of the new Desmond Tutu Center.

Now, of course, Mr. Boesak and his supporters blame the conviction on apartheid judges. Yet the conviction occurred under the new government of South Africa led by (then-president Nelson) Mandela.

With that, I can hardly say his pardon was without tarnish, being that the same man who ordered the pardon, Thabo Mbeki, is the one Boesak followed out of the African National Congress for political reasons. The man says he got out of politics, but his positions now, and in the past, seem to be all politically fueled.

Don’t get me wrong,

Mr. Boesak’s actions in helping dismantle apartheid in South Africa are commendable.

What I am calling to attention is his storied past in finances and his appointment to the new directorship of The Desmond Tutu Center.

On the subject of the center and Boesak, I saw an interesting correlation between a comment from Boesak comparing the apartheid to Nazi Germany and a goal of the Center to address “America’s ‘unequivocal support of Israel’ in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.”

For one thing, both Nazism and Apartheid were both racially and ethnically fueled, but nothing compares to over 11 million people systematically killed.

Six million of those people who died at the

hands of Nazism belong to the same group as the ones fighting for their right to their land in Israel, the Jewish People.

Does America unequivocally support Israel? Yes, and we should continue for years to come.

The old Palestine Liberation Organization of the past and now Hamas are great examples of why America should not support Palestinian aggression toward Israel.

Even with my reservations about Mr. Boesak and the Center, I wish them the best and hope both provide great contributions not only to the Butler community, but Indianapolis and abroad as well.

I’ll just be holding my breath for a while.

Asa Sipe, sophomore Pre-pharmacy

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dawg Pound is unanimated and unengaged at events Going into my third winter in Indianapolis, I had never been to a Butler basketball game, even after all the times I had enjoyed watching them on television—especially during their two runs to the NCAA Championship.

I love seeing a small college team in my home state kicking the butt of some big college.

When one of my roommates, a graduate student at Butler, invited me to the game against Princeton on Nov. 16, I decided it was time for my initiation.

I had poked around Hinkle Fieldhouse a couple times and relished being in a basketball cathedral made immortal by the movie “Hoosiers,” but I had not attended a college basketball game in years.

As soon as I walked into that gym and heard the pep band playing as the cheerleaders and players did their pre-game routines, I knew that I would love being at this game.

The experience only got better, too.

There were ancient, hard wooden bench seats, brick walls, trough urinals and overpriced popcorn.

What more could I want from a

sporting event?

All fawning aside, considering the success of the basketball program, I was appalled by the lethargic energy displayed by the Butler students.

Let me be clear that I am not referring to the student “superfans” on the floor that stand the entire game. Those folks did a wonderful job representing their school and supporting the most successful small college team in the land.

I am referring to the sorryexcuse-for-college-student fans that sit in the upper deck in that section labeled the “Dawg Pound.”

You know, the frat bros and sorority girls messing around on cell phones that have no clue a Butler guard just hit a go-ahead three-pointer with two minutes left in the game.

Was everybody forced to attend the game by their fraternity or something?

Does attendance at the game count towards the Dean’s List?

Worst of all, I did not see any of these healthy and free young adults taking advantage of the opportunity to flirt with members of the opposite sex. There were

hundreds of your peers there right next to you! You’re in the prime of your life! It’s Saturday night! See if she wants to party tonight! Awful.

Just awful.

So, for any Butler students reading this that sit in the upper deck, I want you to know that outspoken community members like myself see you as an embarrassment to your college basketball program.

I have attended games at Purdue, Indiana University, Notre Dame and Valparaiso, and their students all put you to shame.

And with all the resources those schools have (except Valparaiso), their programs do not deliver like Butler.

But Butler students in that upper deck are a joke.

I still recommend attending a Butler basketball game for the excitement, the history and the tradition.

The non-student fans are more engaged than almost any game at the college or professional level that I have ever attended.

Go Dawgs!

Daniel Watts Butler Bulldogs fan

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Washington Redskins’ team name should not change This letter was sent to Opinion editor Rhyan Henson via email.

I am a sophomore and a reader of The Collegian.

I read your article this week about the Washington Redskins, and I disagree with your position of favoring the movement to change the name of this NFL team.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell claimed, “If one person is offended, we have to listen.”

This statement by

Goodell is both oblivious and emotional.

If we conducted ourselves in an environment where we agreed not to offend a single person, the world would be nearly silent.

In the words of Dr. Benjamin Carson, “I have discovered, however, in recent years that it’s very difficult to speak to a large group of people these days and not offend someone.”

We should not change a team’s name because some people take offense to it—

unless we have reasons to believe that a sufficient number of people are meaningfully hurt by the name.

President Obama stepped back slightly from Goodell’s hypersensitive position by saying that a name that offends a significant number of people should be evaluated.

I agree – if a significant number of people take offense to the name, this debate should take place.

However, the justification

for this debate is not sound.

Regarding the 2004 poll that you cited, a very strong majority of Native Americans do not take offense to the term Redskin.

There are reasons to be skeptical of this poll, and more research should be conducted. Assuming for now the correctness of the poll, 10 percent of Native Americans does not meet President Obama’s test for “significant.”

Very strong majorities of Americans, NFL fans and

Redskins fans support the Redskins’ name.

Changing the name of the team would alter the culture of the NFL and may offend majorities of people who have watched football and rooted for the Redskins for decades.

These debates about political correctness were primarily created to craft division among our people.

When our society alters its culture in order to be more politically correct, free speech is harmed in some

PAWPRINTS

LET US KNOW.

What is your favorite part about winter?

Bailey Mann Senior Middle/secondary educations and Biology

Daniel Karr Actuarial science and music

Do you agree?

Did we miss the point?

Have a story idea?

by Erin Marsh| Photographer | emmarsh@butler.edu

“I love sledding.”

way.

In short, our country should not weaken our rights to free speech and expression in order to satisfy the viewpoints of a few.

Free speech allows for the open debate of ideas, and the Washington Redskins should not change their name unless a much more sufficient proportion of Native Americans are truly damaged by the name.

“I just like to be outside and be in the midst of it all.”

“I like to stay inside. I’m not a huge fan of the snow.”

Claire Cunningham Freshman Exploratory Studies

Duncan Ricci Freshman Spanish

Letters to the Editor Policy The Collegian accepts letters to the editor no later than noon on the Sunday before publication.

Letters to the editor must be emailed to collegian@butler.edu and contain a phone number at which you can be reached. Letters can also be mailed to the Collegian office.

The Collegian reserves the right to edit letters for spelling, style, clarity and length. Letters must be kept to a length of 450 words. Contact The Collegian for questions. Exceptions to these policies may be made at the editorial board’s discretion.

Volunteering fun and worthwhile, at home and elsewhere Butler students learn and thrive while volunteering in New Orleans during break A group of more than 40 Butler students traveled to New Orleans over Thanksgiving break in order to help the Hurricane Katrina rebuild effort, tour the city and celebrate diversity.

Butler’s Diversity Center, located in Atherton 004, sponsored the 2013 Volunteer-Study Tour for a randomly selected group of students—a mix of international, Diversity Center organization members, Greek and various other Butler students.

Throughout the trip, students participated in a haunted history tour, alligator tour, went to a Hurricane Katrina museum and much more.

The trip was not only educational, but also rewarding and fun.

Students also had the chance to experience the diverse and lively Bourbon Street area and immerse themselves in the culture of the city at the annual Po Boy Festival.

On the final day of the tour,

TAYLOR POWELL

students split into three groups.

Each group traveled to a different home in the ninth ward to help finish houses so the owners could move back in before the holidays.

Valerie Davidson and Bobbie Gibson, director and assistant director of the Diversity Center, respectively, served as advisors on the trip.

Gibson said her favorite part, other than the volunteering, was the bus ride home. During it, there was more chatter between students who may not have spoken to each other on the ride down.

“There are students who walk across campus every day that don’t speak to one another, don’t know each other,” Gibson said. “And I think what this trip does is it brings people together, people who ordinarily would not have anything

in common.”

When I transferred to Butler University, the Diversity Center played a pivotal role in my efforts to make friends and locate campus resources.

This was not because I am a minority, but because the center is welcoming to all students.

That being said, students from different years in school, different majors and different parts of campus were able to provide me with assistance in areas a pamphlet or website would otherwise not be able to.

This trip was just another advantage of having such an excellent Diversity Center.

The cost was only $130, making it quite affordable.

However, raising the trip cost to this year’s price was hard for the Diversity Center directors, Gibson said.

Her hope is that the trip continues to grow, and for a possible spring trip in the coming years.

“We can do anything we want if we have the money,” Gibson said. “Part of it is that we want it accessible to students… We can’t

Photo courtesy of Cristina McNeiley

Bourbon Street and many other areas of New Orleans were greatly affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and they are still attempting to recover. make it a $500 or $600 trip. That’s ludicrous.”

Butler should recognize the importance of the annual Volunteer-Study Tour, and take into consideration more funding for a second yearly trip.

Seeing the smile on my team’s homeowner’s face was worth

the bus breakdown, rain and cold weather. She was genuinely thankful for our help.

Nothing brings people together more than making change.

Contact assistant Opinion editor Taylor Powell at tjpowell@butler.edu.

PROVIDING A HELPING HAND

Photo courtesy of Bobbie Gibson

Freshman Olivia Dean flashes a smile while painting a house in New Orleans during Thanksgiving break.

Junior Arnetta Shade paints siding during a service project in New Orleans.

Photo courtesy of Bobbie Gibson

Photo courtesy of Cristina McNeiley

A group of Butler students takes a break from service work for quick photo in New Orleans’ French Quarter in front of the Saint Louis Cathedral.

Photo by Taylor Powell

Valerie Davidson (left) poses for a photo with Bridget Burke, 57, a New Orleans homeowner whose family home of three generations was worked on by Butler students during Thanksgiving break.