Monday, Sept. 24, 2018 | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com
IU’s Full Frontal celebrates 25 years
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By Ellen Hine emhine@indiana.edu | @ellenmhine
Full Frontal Comedy, IU’s longest running improv group, is entering its 25th year. Founded in 1994, the group practices long-form, “Chicagostyle” improvisational comedy, as well as short games and sketches. According to its Facebook page, FFC has free performances every Friday night in a variety of venues, from residence halls to the Indiana Memorial Union. “Full Frontal is older than I am,” current member Calvin Badger said. Badger, a senior studying advertising, said he found FFC as a freshman at the student involvement fair. While he didn’t think he would get in, he auditioned anyway because he thought it would be fun. “Coming into college, though, I wasn’t like, ‘I’m going to do comedy,’” Badger said. “I think I just like to perform and be the center of attention.” IU alumna Emily Chervony said she found FFC her freshman year after attending a show with friends. She said doing improv helped her managed her generalized anxiety disorder during college. “It’s 100 percent changed so much for me,” Chervony said. She said her improv experience has made her a confident public speaker and quick decision maker. While she started taking improv classes after she moved to Chicago, she said graduate school has kept her from taking more. Several members of FFC have gone on to pursue comedy full time, such as founders Jill Benjamin and Derek Miller. Benjamin wrote and starred in an award-winning show “Playing Dumb with Jill Benjamin” and SEE COMEDY, PAGE 5
Activists protest SCOTUS nominee By Joe Schroeder joemschr@iu.edu | @joemschroeder
Activists hung a banner on the walls of the Monroe County Courthouse encouraging people to call their senators and to urge them to vote no for the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. The protest was organized by students and local activist groups, and featured speakers discussing Kavanaugh’s views on health care and women’s rights. Later, protesters passed out buttons, flyers and signs with sayings like “Why we say KavaNOPE” and “Protect Health Care” on Kirkwood Avenue. The protest comes after the Senate postponed their vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination following Christine Blasey Ford’s allegation that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her at a house party when he was 17. Kavanaugh denied the allegation. The Senate’s meeting to vote on Kavanaugh was scheduled for Thursday but was postponed amid the allegation. The Senate Judiciary Committee said it will hold a public hearing with Kavanaugh about the allegations next week. Blasey Ford is currently in negotiations to speak before the committee. Students on campus are concerned about the allegation and what it could mean in the future, College Democrats at IU President Raegan Davis said. “We are trying to draw the connection between how he treats women outside the courtroom and how he would treat them in the courtroom,” Davis said. In addition to women’s rights, protesters said they are concerned with Kavanaugh’s views on health care. Protester Bryce Greene spoke to the crowd of around 30 people on how Kavanaugh’s appointment could affect health care. In the past, Kavanaugh has received criticism from abortion-rights activists for calling SEE KAVANAUGH, PAGE 6
PHOTOS BY MATT BEGALA | IDS
IU student football manager Matt Stauder, an IU senior, shakes hands with benefit attendees Sept. 20 in the parking lot of Wagon Wheel Custom Meats. The local business was location of the benefit for Stauder, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in April.
Stauder strong Bloomington community rallies behind football manager after cancer diagnosis By Cameron Drummond cpdrummo@iu.edu | @cdrummond97
Matt Stauder was pulled in all directions Thursday night. He was constantly engaged in conversation as he navigated the perimeter of a white event tent pitched in the parking lot of Smith’s Shoe Center and Wagon Wheel Custom Meats at 1915 S. Walnut St. His conversation partners varied, from friends within the IU football program to Bloomington residents who just wanted to wish him well and even IU Coach Tom Allen. They were all there for Stauder, a selfless, soft-spoken IU senior and longtime student equipment manager for the IU football team, who has been undergoing treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma since May. “I wanted to remind him that don’t ever hesitate,” Allen said. “Whatever you need, we’ll find a way to make it happen for you. I just put my arm around him, told him I loved him.” Thursday’s benefit for Stauder featured about 100 people gathered in and around the tent to offer emotional and financial support to Stauder, support that has showered him since his diagnosis in April. The event was sponsored by three Bloomington businesses and featured food and live music from local country music singer Reece Phillips. According to a press release, all proceeds were to go toward Stauder’s medical expenses, but Stauder also received an additional $5,000 during the event from Carl Lamb, a Bloomington attorney who presented the donation via the Hope for Hoosiers Foundation. These are only the latest examples of the Bloomington community rallying around Stauder. First, IU senior running back Ricky Brookins created a GoFundMe page to help pay for Stauder’s medical expenses. Created eight days before Stauder’s first chemotherapy treatment, the page has raised more than $31,000 from more than 400 donations as of Sept. 23. In his duties as an IU football manager, Stauder works closely with the running
Matt Stauder, IU football student manager, right, shakes hands with Attorney Carl Lamb on Sept. 20 in the parking lot of Wagon Wheel Custom Meats after receiving a check for $5,000 to help with his medical expenses. Stauder was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in April.
backs. He brings over the heavy balls and bags, as well as sets up drills for assistant head coach and running backs coach Mike Hart. Stauder, who is from Westfield, Indiana, said he and Brookins were friends, but not super close friends last season. Since Stauder’s cancer diagnosis though, the two have formed a tight relationship and are neighbors. “When I got back down to Bloomington, he just wanted to hang out a lot more,” Stauder said. “That just means so much to me. One of the people that I see and work with everyday shows appreciation and supports me like that.” Those hangouts with Brookins feature the usual activity of any college-aged male — the video game Fortnite, which Stauder says he has the advantage in. Spending time away from the football field with Brookins is significant, if for no other reason than the amount of time Stauder still dedicates to the Hoosier program. Stauder has been to all IU games this season, arrives at Memorial Stadium around 6 a.m. each day and said he’s only missed five practices since managers reported to the team July 31.
“I don’t think I’m really struggling right now. I’m just trying to act like a normal kid, and that’s what I’ve been doing all throughout treatment is try to live as normal of a life as I can.” Matt Stauder, IU football student manager and senior
He hasn’t informed any of his IU professors of his situation either. A sports management and marketing major, Stauder has only one class in person this semester while the rest are online. “I don’t think I’m really struggling right now,” Stauder said. “I’m just trying to act like a normal kid and that’s what I’ve been doing all throughout treatment is try to live as normal of a life as I can.” SEE STAUDER, PAGE 5
Campus farm grows sustainable crops By Lilly St. Angelo lstangel@iu.edu | @lilly_st_ang
Wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt, black rubber boots and a sun hat, Erin Carman-Sweeney, IU Campus Farm manager and educator, stood next to long rows of plants ranging from tiny seedlings to sprawling, leafy butternut squash. “I had prepared for the squash to take up the equivalent of four beds, the way my other ones are, but they’ve ended up taking up more than that,” 28-year-old Carman-Sweeney said. “Closer to six.” He pointed out beets, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, spinach, cilantro, kale, beans, lettuce, dill, bell peppers, parsley, flowers, radishes and the unruly butternut squash. It’s only about a fifth of the land the IU Campus Farm at Hinkle-Garton to grow food on, but it’s a start. The IU Campus Farm is in its first season of growing food and welcoming students, staff and faculty to its grounds. The 10-acre farm uses and teaches sustainable, organic farming practices, provides opportunities for research and offers people a chance to connect with their food through hands-on work. The farm was rooted in an idea cultivated by IU Campus Farm co-directors James Farmer and Lea Woodard and IU staff and faculty members. Farmer and Woodard wrote a grant proposal
LILLY ST. ANGELO | IDS
Erin Carman-Sweeney, IU Campus Farm manager and educator, shows a geology class different types of plants being grown Sept. 19 on the campus farm. The farm is in its first season of growing food for campus dining halls and local charities.
more than a year ago to fund their dream project of having a campus farm. Now, it’s a reality. Right now, 90 percent of the food grown on the campus farm goes to dining halls, primarily the Indiana Memorial Union and Wright Food Court. The other 10 percent goes to local food pantries, such as Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard and the Crimson Cupboard food pantry, CarmanSweeney said. “Your average meal item on
your plate has traveled over 1,800 miles to get to you,” CarmanSweeney said. “Our food travels a mile or two.” Woodard, who also manages Hilltop Garden and Nature Center, said the process of growing food, getting it ready for sale and selling it in different contexts will be one of the learning opportunities students will have on the farm, setting it apart from Hilltop. “IU doesn’t have an agriculture department, so we’re kind of
coming at this from a little bit of a different angle and perspective,” Carman-Sweeney said. Farmer, also an associate professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, has been on the faculty end of organizing the farm. Some of Farmer’s fellow SPEA faculty members are planning soil science research projects and have classes based around SEE FARM, PAGE 5