Indiana Statesman For ISU students. About ISU students. By ISU students.
Monday, Oct. 24, 2016
Indiana Statesman
@ISUstatesman
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Volume 124, Issue 25
ISU freshman dies at fraternity event Sigma Chi suspended pending university investigation; police inquiry continues Alex Modesitt Reporter
An Indiana State University student died Saturday night near Marshall, Illinois, during a Sigma Chi fraternity overnight social event, according to a statement released by ISU Sunday evening. Yiorgo Karnezis, a freshman from Munster, Indiana, died in what police said appeared to be a water-related death. The incident prompted ISU to suspend all operations of the Sigma Chi fraternity while university staff investigates. “The Indiana State University community is deeply saddened by the death of Yiorgo Karnezis. The death of a student
affects the entire Sycamore family, and we as a community extend our deepest and sincerest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time,” said Willie L. Banks Jr., vice president for student affairs. Grief counseling is available at the Indiana State Student Counseling Center, according to the ISU release. To make an appointment, call 812-237-3939 or visit the center on the second floor of Gillum Hall. University officials were told of Karnezis’ death by the Clark County Sheriff ’s Office who responded to the call and conducted the on-scene investigation of the incident, the ISU press release said. The sheriff ’s office stated on their Face-
book page that they responded early Sunday morning to a report of a person who had fallen from a small boat into a pond in rural Dennison, Illinois. The Marshall Fire Protection District reports on their Facebook page that Marshall Rescue along with Marshall Ambulance were dispatched at 1:58 a.m. The Paris, Illinois, Fire Department and Dive Team also responded. A short time later a 19-year-old male was recovered from the pond, transported to Regional Hospital in Terre Haute where he was pronounced dead, the Facebook post said. The Indiana Statesman contacted the Clark County Sheriff ’s Office Sunday
night. The officer who answered the phone said that it is still an open investigation and that all they could confirm was the information in the Facebook post. The suspension of fraternity operations is consistent with university protocol and will remain in effect while ISU staff investigate in accord with the ISU Student Code of Conduct, the university statement said. The ISU chapter of Sigma Chi was recently awarded the Peterson Significant Chapter Award, which is the highest honor the national fraternity bestows upon an undergraduate chapter, the ISU Fraternity and Sorority Life Facebook page reported Aug. 9.
Bucshon tours new program at ISU Tyler Davis News Editor
It is not every day that a congressman, and former openheart surgeon, can be found on the grounds of Indiana State University. Larry Bucshon, currently a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Indiana’s 8th Congressional District, visited ISU’s Science Building on Oct. 19 to catch a glimpse of the Genetics Counseling Program and its students. The two-year multidisciplinary program, certified by the Accreditation Council of Genetic Counseling, offers “…training in all aspects of medical genetics and basic psychological counseling,” as stated on the official ISU website. Currently, ISU provides one of the two available Genetics Counseling programs in Indiana, — the other being IUPUI — according to first year graduate student of the program’s inaugural class, Adam Stucky. Before engaging in discussion with graduate students, Bucshon was introduced to the program’s technology and capabilities by Rusty Gonser, director of the Center for Genomic Advocacy. “They (students) have the capability to scan for 400 different types of cancer, and 700 genetic disorders within four hours of sequencing a genome,” Gonser said. “The way this technology is different from the competitor is that we use repurposed com-
Monthly poetry competition available to ISU students Michaela Harrison Reporter
Marrissa Schmitter | Indiana Statesman
Larry Bucshon tours the genetics counseling program in the science building Wednesday, Oct. 19.
puter chips.” Gonser explained that students currently have ability to conduct genetic research thanks to advances made by ISU. “We were one of the first universities of our size to have genome sequencers; we got one of the first 100 ever made,” Gonser said. Through the inherent uniqueness of the operations carried out in the Genetics Counseling Program, ISU is able to set itself apart from other universities in
the state. “You can’t do this at IU… you wouldn’t even get into the IU laboratory because you could contaminate it,” Gonser said. “Our mission is for teaching, so we have all of our students do this for themselves.” Graduate students from the program were able to interact with Bucshon throughout his visit, explaining the research they were conducting. “This guy came in and now we’re behind,” Bucshon joked
with the students, mentioning that he would be sure not to “touch” their project. Bucshon, while discussing the genomic testing process, brought up the practical applications for testing. “I have a friend who had two brothers with cystic fibrosis; she made a decision to never have biological children because both of her brothers died from the disease,” Bucshon said. “With
SEE BUCSHON, PAGE 3
It is said that poetry and scholars go hand in hand. For as long as there has been poetry, there have been scholarly people to read, learn, analyze and write poetry. Poetry is universally loved literature and is read, studied and written by people of all varieties of backgrounds and placements in society, not just scholars. Indiana State Sycamores are keeping the poetic tradition alive, just as others have for thousands of years. Each month, thanks to the International Student Resource Center, students at Indiana State University have the opportunity to submit one of their poems online for a chance to become the Poet of the Month. After students submit their poem, they will fill out a short informational section that asks for the student’s name, if they would like to use their real name or a pseudonym, their Sycamore email and if they are interested in performing their piece at one of the designated Poetry Nights. Then they simply attach a word document and send it in and as easy as that, they are now in the running to be Indiana State University’s Poet of the Month. Poetry Nights are for students who have agreed to read their
SEE POETS, PAGE 3
Indian Global Night brings community together Adrienne Morris Reporter
This weekend, an event was hosted by the Indian Student Association that allowed students to share their own culture from their home country. Students from India were able to share their culture with the ISU community Saturday with the event known as Indian Global Night, which was held in the Dedes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Indian Global Night was an event that displayed multiple aspects of Indian culture including fashion, dances, food and music. The purpose of Indian Global Night was to encourage others to learn about the Indian culture. It is also an event in which students are able to show their culture in a way that is true to who they are. Cultural events, such as Indian Global Night, are deemed as important within the ISU community because they give outsiders an opportunity to learn about cultures that they might
not have known anything about. They are also an opportunity for international students to be able to share a part of who they are and what makes them unique. Indian Global Night began with a few words from the event’s host. President of Indiana State University, Dan Bradley, then quickly followed the opening words. President Bradley and First Lady Cheri were asked to demonstrate the “lighting of the lamp.” Indian Global Night focused much on dances inspired by the Indian film industry known as Bollywood. The dances captured the essence of Indian culture, making the audience react with whistles, screams, and applause. Music students of ISU were also featured in Indian Global Night by performing songs that paid tribute to Saint Mother Teresa and the Freedom Fighters of India. Fashion was also a large staple within the event. Many people
in the audience were dressed in traditional Indian attire. Indian Global Night featured a fashion show in which women’s and men’s clothing were displayed for all attendees to view. International students from all over the world, not just India, walked in the fashion show in an effort to focus on the inclusion of the Indian Student Association. The event’s hosts highlighted Indian Global Night with jokes, facts and stories. The laughs that erupted from the audience in response to the actions from the hosts kept the energy high and moving. Toward the ending of the event there were more performances and gift giveaways. Groups from various sports teams and students of ISU received gifts. The conclusion of the event was marked by traditional Indian food with many of the people who attended the performance aspect of Indian Global Night in attendance.
Kabrisha Bell | Indiana Statesman
The Indian orchestra played at Indian Global Night in HMSU on Saturday, Oct. 22