THE MAGAZINE OF INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
ANOTHER SHADE OF BLUE.
4FALL 2014
Features
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DREAM JOURNEY
Former U.S. ambassador is an advocate for international study.
26
STRIKING GOLD
A geology grad gave up his teaching job for treasure hunting.
30
CAMPUS HAUNTING
Folklorists and students alike take an interest in the things going bump in the night.
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departments 03 THE NEW NORMAL 04 THE BIG QUESTION 12 THE BIG IDEA 20 FOUNDATION NEWS 34 CLASS NOTES 36 THEN & NOW 40 EDITOR’S NOTE
New STATE Magazine was four years in the making.
BEHIND THE COVER
Momentum on campus hits a fever pitch.
Is peace possible? We ask on-campus experts about the state of U.S. diplomacy.
Sycamores’ trip to Cuba provides insight into this forbidden country.
Entrepreneur’s success started with a restaurant tray and a flower pot.
Catch up with your classmates’ latest news.
From typewriters and chalk to big-screen digital displays.
THE MAGAZINE OF INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
4FALL 2014
ANOTHER SHADE OF BLUE.
Indiana State is known for its scenic campus. Jim Jensen, ’89, GR ’94, is one of many people behind that distinction — as well as our cover model. As facilities operations and maintenance director, Jensen leads the team who cares for the campus. The photo illustration by Tony Campbell and Stephen Turgi shows a changing of the guard from the old alumni magazine to the reinvented STATE, premiering with this edition.
STATEMAGAZINE.COM
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND COMMUNICATIONS John E. Beacon, GR ’74 ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING Santhana Naidu, ’01 EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lisa Moore EDITOR Libby Roerig DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES Ted Wilson ART DIRECTOR Stephen Turgi CONTRIBUTORS Amy Bouman, Web Services Tony Campbell, Photographer Hilary Duncan, Alumni Association, ‘10 Teresa Exline, Chief of Staff Tracy Ford, Videographer, ‘88, GR ‘05 Jason Hiddle, Web Services Ace Hunt, Athletics Jim Jensen, ’89, GR ’94 Rex Kendall, Alumni Association, ’88, GR ‘91 Rachel Keyes, Photographer, ‘12 Kim Kunz, Indiana State Foundation, GR ‘10 John Sherman, Athletics, ‘88 Betsy Simon, Media Relations Dave Taylor, Media Relations
STATE is published in print biannually in the spring and fall by the Indiana State University Office of Communications and Marketing. Digital editions are published on the off-months during the rest of the year. Opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by Indiana State University, the publishers, or the editors. © 2014. MAGAZINE CORRESPONDENCE: STATE Magazine Indiana State University Office of Communications and Marketing 102 Gillum Hall, Terre Haute, IN 47809 isu-magazine@mail.indstate.edu
EXPAND YOUR WORLD
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY Speakers Series 2014-2015 FEATURED GUESTS
Henry Winkler Actor, Author, Producer, and Director September 9, 2014
Rebecca Skloot Author: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks October 20, 2014
Steven Chu United States Secretary of Energy (’09-’13) Nobel Prize Winning Physicist and Professor November 5, 2014
David Axelrod Political Strategist, Respected Journalist, and Award-Winning Ad-Maker February 5, 2015
Star Parker Founder and President of CURE Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education March 25, 2015
Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Legend, Successful Entrepreneur, and Author April 7, 2015
812-237-3773 TO JOIN THE INDIANA STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: 30 N. Fifth St., Terre Haute, IN 47809
All events are held at 7 p.m. in Tilson Auditorium and are free and open to the public.
alumni@indstatefoundation.org
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812-514-8400 STATEMAGAZINE.COM FALL 2014
indstate.edu/speaker
:: EDITOR’S NOTE ::
WELCOME
to the new-and-improved STATE Magazine!
I
WE’RE FOR FRIENDS. @Indianastate @indianaSTATEmag
indianastateuniversity
Indiana State University The Magazine of Indiana State University
IndianaStateU
isuphoto.smugmug.com
ISU Mobile
Libby Roerig, Editor
PHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
t’s been four years since Indiana State printed a university magazine, and much has changed during that time — both on campus and around the world. In Terre Haute, enrollment is at the highest rate in more than 40 years, and construction projects, working to meet the needs of these young minds and future students, punctuate the campus’ skyline. In our worldwide community, challenges arise and opportunities evolve almost daily. Indiana State is engaged in those global discussions and discoveries; our campus’ experts are frequently called upon to share their wisdom and research in ways that matter most: national safety, environmental and wildlife preservation, protecting babies. When we started the process to recreate and reimagine STATE Magazine about a year ago, we tapped experts to help us produce a high-impact publication that would appeal to audiences of all generations and interests. After all, Sycamores are a delightfully diverse group of people. Catching up with our alumni is an important part of what we’ll continue to do, but we also want to start important conversations about worldly issues and show how Indiana State’s students, faculty and staff are making the world a better place. We know Sycamores are also busy folks. Inside this magazine you’ll also find many methods of storytelling — long-form narratives, image-driven articles and news briefs — all designed to make the most of your limited time. We hope you enjoy this publication cover-to-cover. Afterwards, we’re sure when you think of Indiana State, you’ll stand a little taller and be a little prouder to be a Sycamore. These stories are ones we’ll never finish telling, and we need your help. After all, we’re publishing 10 times a year online (statemagazine.com) and twice a year in print (fall and spring). Send us your feedback, story ideas or any suggestions about how we can be a better representation of Indiana State. “There’s more to Blue.” And lots to say about it!
From left, Ben Wilcox, Tyler Chappell, Eric Hughes, Josh Cox, Bart Stucker, Rodney Lockman, Tommy Lynch, Sean Washington. Jumping: Drew Garnes.
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The
PHOTO CREDIT
New Normal
The townhouse-style Reeve Hall, which is home to nearly 400 sorority members, is the campus’ first new student housing facility to be built since 1969.
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BUILDING A BETTER ‘BLUE’
Unprecedented growth at Indiana State can be seen everywhere — construction projects, community alliances and of course, a growing student body. BY NANCY MAYFIELD, ’88
W
hen Indiana State unveiled an ambitious strategic plan five years ago, it launched an era of progress that is transforming the university, its students and the Terre
PHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
Haute community. The list is impressive: the highest enrollment since 1972, a No. 1 ranking in the nation for community engagement two years in a row, the restoration of historic buildings, the upgrade of student housing and several revitalization projects focused on downtown. The momentum is obvious from every corner of campus. The clamor of heavy equipment signals new construction projects and major renovations. Recently refurbished buildings are buzzing with activity. The difference is perhaps most obvious on the south side of campus, where Indiana State meets downtown Terre Haute. Indiana State has served as a catalyst for business district revitalization, said Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett, noting that Cherry Street historically was like a wall that separated campus from downtown. The opening of the Barnes & Noble/Indiana State University Foundation building on the south side of Cherry Street between Fourth and Fifth streets in spring 2011 changed that fact. “The door opened,” Bennett said. “There is no longer that divide.” The blurring of the campus/city lines continued with the renovation of the former Federal Building at Seventh and Cherry streets into a state-of-the-art home for the Scott College of Business. Now known as Federal Hall, it opened in fall 2012, bringing more than 1,150 students, faculty and staff to the downtown area. “Town-and-gown relations have always been an area of focus” for the university, said David Nichols, a professor of Early American History who has done research on Terre Haute’s storied past. Inclusive programs are part of the effort by Indiana State to reach out.
For example, under the auspices of The Community Semester each spring, academic departments or units within the College of Arts and Sciences host some 40 events, ranging from panel discussions on fracking to theatrical performances. Outreach is a way for the university to showcase what it does best and to encourage faculty and students to share with the community what they are learning. It is also a way to bring innovative ideas in science, the humanities, liberal and creative arts to the area — and boost the city’s quality of life. “Terre Haute has become a much more livable city for its residents in the past 10 years. The downtown area is much more vibrant, and the cultural life of the city has become richer,” Nichols said. The university’s reach is also extending west with the construction of the $4.3 million Gibson Track and Field complex on the Wabash Riverfront. Located at 400 N. First St., it will be Indiana State’s first new intercollegiate athletic venue since 1989 and the first project of Terre Haute’s Riverscape development area. Bennett said he expects the project will be a catalyst for transforming the banks of the Wabash. The next step in downtown revitalization is a student housing and retail complex on Wabash Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets, set to open by fall 2015, said Indiana State President Dan Bradley. “Our thinking is if you get people living and working in downtown, it will have an impact on the kinds of businesses and services that are there,” he said, noting that part of Indiana State’s strategic plan is to play a key part in the revival the city has undergone in the past decade. It’s an association Bennett values. “Indiana State is a huge economic engine for the city. It plays such an important role,” he said, adding that faculty, staff and students also add value as volunteers with many local organizations.
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The
New Normal
noting he has interns and volunteers from many disciplines, including psychology, technology, criminology and nursing, among others. Indiana State faculty and staff also donate time. Their efforts, Edwards said, have tangible results and have helped the youth center triple in size and expand its reach over the years. “Indiana State provides students so many opportunities to serve,” said Sarah Fedder, a marketing major and recreation management and youth leadership minor from South Bend who will graduate next spring. During her time on campus, she’s volunteered at Happiness Bag, participated in the annual Polar Plunge, filled backpacks with school supplies for local children, written letters to soldiers overseas, and the list goes on. She also is a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, the Panhellenic Association and the Student Government Association. “One thing I love about Indiana State is it gives a typical student the chance to get involved,” said Fedder. She said she appreciates the physical upgrades on campus. This fall she’s living in Reeve Hall, the first new residence hall to open in more than 40 years. Indiana State has clearly become a destination for students from Indiana and beyond who seek a quality education and unique experiences. Since the implementation of the strategic plan in 2009, enrollment has increased about 20 percent. The original plan called for enrolling 12,000 full-time Indiana State was recognized by Washington Monthly for the second students by fall 2014. That goal year in a row for the university’s was surpassed two years early with commitment to community service. 12,114 students on the roster in classroom in local settings,” Bradley said. “It also helps 2012. This fall, enrollment reached 13,183, the highest improve the community, and it keeps the faculty engaged level in more than 40 years. “This fall will be the fifth consecutive year of the largest in the community.” Jim Edwards, ’94, is the director of Ryves Youth Center five (new freshman) classes since records have been kept at Etling Hall, at 14th and Locust streets. Since the center at the university,” noted John Beacon, vice president of opened in 1982, he has welcomed hundreds of volunteers Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications. A focus on customer service, improved retention, from Indiana State. “The Indiana State relationship is so important. From the addition of several graduate-level programs in health the very beginning, I knew what type of opportunities and care and more aggressive recruiting in the Chicago area all assistance the university could provide us,” Edwards said, contributed to the increase.
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Indiana State’s partnership with Terre Haute has deep roots in community service, a cornerstone of the Center for Community Engagement. The center connects the university with the Wabash Valley, yielding impressive results. Every academic program has a community engagement component, and in both 2012-13 and 2013-14, Indiana State students contributed more than one million hours of service. Indiana State was ranked first among 281 national universities in the 2013 and 2014 Washington Monthly College Guide in the category of community service participation and hours worked. In the level of university support for service learning, Indiana State ranked second in the nation in 2013. “Community engagement is a major thrust of our strategic plan. It gives our students the opportunity to put their skills to work for the betterment of the community. They can practice what they learn in the
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ADMISSION BY THE NUMBERS AS ENROLLMENT HAS increased, so has the quality of students.
12,000
The initial goal for university enrollment, set for fall 2014. It was surpassed in fall 2012 with 12,114 students. The current goal is 14,000 students by 2017.
13,183
Enrollment for 20142015 — the biggest number in more than 40 years.
2,302
The largest enrollment of fall-semester graduate students.
91 of 92 counties
“It comes down to treating people the way you want to be treated,” Beacon said. That philosophy extends from how the university communicates with prospective students and their parents to the capital investments it has made to provide better service. Two examples are the John W. Moore Welcome Center that opened in 2012 and the current renovation of Normal Hall, the campus’ oldest academic building, into a Center for Student Success. That center will house an array
of programs, such as tutoring and student support services and University College, which offers first-year students high-quality advising and instruction. “I think what students are really looking for is a connection,” Bradley said. “Their ability to engage in things is important. It shows them the impact they can make.” And the progress Indiana State has made over the past decade in community service, improved amenities and overall experience is giving them that opportunity.
51.2 percent
Of Freshman class who have 3.0 GPA or higher in high school.
1,449
Free laptops awarded to incoming freshmen as part of a scholarship initiative. In 2006, the university awarded 677 laptops.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
Clockwise from top: An artist’s rendering of the under-construction Gibson Track and Field complex; the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service; Mary Howard-Hamilton in the community garden at Indiana State’s Institute for Community Sustainability; Donaghy Day.
Indiana State is truly a state university, with students from every county except one.
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RENOVATION PROJECTS
R
PHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
ecent capital projects include the historic renovations of well-loved buildings that are key to Indiana State’s legacy: University Hall — The rich history of the Laboratory School, built in 1936, is alive and well, thanks to a $29.8 million restoration. Completed in 2009, it houses the Bayh College of Education, and the building features high-tech classrooms, a 475-seat auditorium, an enclosed atrium and a comprehensive clinic. Historical features include artifacts from the Lab School. 1. John W. Moore Welcome Center — Located in the former Family and Consumer Sciences Building at the heart of Indiana State’s campus, the center serves as the “front door” of the university. Opened in 2012, the building’s main 22,000-square-foot area is designed as a living room and features 11 interactive transparent touch screens
students and visitors can use to learn about the university’s history, academic programs and services. The center also houses several student service programs. 2. Federal Hall — The $20-million renovation of the former federal building, constructed in 1935, shifted the layout of campus. Home to the Scott College of Business, it is the first academic building south of Cherry Street. Many of the original traditional art deco elements were preserved and combined with state-of-the-art touches, including a technology corridor and a trading room. 3. Normal Hall — The campus’ oldest academic building, built in 1910, will serve as the Center for Student Success. The $16 million project, which began in the spring, includes the restoration of a grand staircase and stain-glassed dome in the atrium of the neo-classical building, as well as new classrooms, mentoring and tutoring areas. It is scheduled for completion in summer 2015.
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A place to call home
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Exterior Perspective 500 WABASH - TERRE HAUTE, IN SCHEMATIC DESIGN
Among the projects: 4. Reeve Hall — The first new residence hall on campus in more than 40 years was completed in time for students to move in this fall. Located south of Lincoln Quad and
2014 RATIO Architects, Inc.
Jan. 24th, 2014
just north of Hulman Memorial Student Union, the $25-million complex features eight small-group housing units, each with its own entrance and living space, for 360 students. The space is ideal for sororities and other small groups, such as student organizations and living learning communities. 5. Mills Hall — The first of the four Sycamore Towers is being refurbished this year. Work on Blumberg, Cromwell and Rhoads is expected to follow. The upgrades will include air conditioning and additional bathrooms. 6. 500 Wabash Ave. building — Set to open in July 2015, this 126,500-square-foot space will house of mix of shops, restaurants and offices on the first floor. The top four floors will provide apartments for upper classmen. Thompson Thrift Development is building the estimated $18.7 million complex. — Nancy Mayfield, ’88
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Of all the exciting capital developments going on at Indiana State, the big ticket project is a strategic revitalization of campus housing, said President Dan Bradley. New construction and renovations are providing students with comfortable accommodations, equipped to handle their technological needs, at a variety of price levels. “By the end of this year, about three-fourths of our housing will have been redone,” Bradley said. In about five years, the job should be complete. Indiana State grew a lot in the 1960s, and most of the housing on campus was built during that time period, he noted.
C
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New
NURSING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION RAISES $80K
W Scott College of Business to mark golden anniversary
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THE SCOTT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS WILL CELEBRATE its 50th anniversary on April 10, but its history of molding future business leaders started decades earlier. “We’ve had a lot of history as a college and have impacted a lot of people in 50 years — including students, faculty and staff,” said Bruce McLaren, associate dean. “Celebrating 50 years as a college is a nice reminder why we’ll keep doing what we do.” Started in 1918, the Department of Commerce began at Indiana State Normal School. Several name changes followed, including the Department of Business in 1956-57 and then the Division of Business in 1963-64, which served as a precursor for the School of Business that would become the College of Business in 2004. Today, the Donald W. Scott College of Business, named after Donald and Susan Scott who made a significant contribution to help pay for the renovation of Federal Hall, includes more than 1,350 students, three departments and 11 majors. “This anniversary is a chance for us to stop and look back,” McLaren said. “We’ve accomplished a lot in 50 years and it’s nice to collectively be able to see how many people we’ve helped and congratulate ourselves on a job well done.” For more information about the anniversary celebration, call 812-237-2000. — Betsy Simon
April 10, 2015, 5-8 p.m. Sycamore Banquet Center, Indiana State University More info at www.indstate.edu/business/Scott50
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hen Jack Turman Jr. came to Indiana State University last fall and learned the nursing program was marking its 50th anniversary, he set a simple goal: The newly named dean of the College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services came up with a “50/50 campaign.” The idea was to ask faculty, staff, alumni and partners of the nursing program to contribute $50 each to endow a $50,000 student scholarship fund. When Turman took the podium for a golden anniversary celebration at the Country Club of Terre Haute on April 11, he announced the goal had been shattered and $81,000 had been raised. “This was a very generous outpouring in support of this event and the development of the nursing scholarship program,” he said. “These resources will allow students to engage in research with our faculty and in community outreach with our hospital and clinical partners. This helps grow their resumes, producing stellar graduates who are very competitive with nursing graduates across the nation.” Turman told the audience of more than 200 at the Country Club of Terre Haute he was revising the goal to $100,000. People interested in contributing to the scholarship fund may contact Christian Shuck, Indiana State University Foundation development officer, at cshuck@indstatefoundation.org. — Dave Taylor ON THE WEB: To watch a video, go to youtube.com/
user/IndianaStateU and search for “Nursing Anniversary.”
HOW LONG WILL IT LAST? EGGS + 3-4 weeks CEREAL, OPENED + 4-6 months APPLES 1-2 months in the fridge MILK + 5-7 days
DECODING FOOD WASTE BY EMILY STURGESS, ’15
Although intended for consumer safety, sell-by dates on food products can often be misleading, as many food products can last days, weeks or even months past the date stamped on the label. Americans throw away 40 percent of edible food, and the Environmental Protection Agency estimates unused food makes up 21 percent of landfill waste. Here’s how to get the most from your groceries.
What are sell-by dates?
dietician, B.S., dietetics, ’03
Fight hunger
“Here in America, one in six Americans face hunger…. So we are faced with a paradox, on one end we throw away good food and on the other
PEANUT BUTTER, UNOPENED +1 year
we have fellow Americans who don’t know where their next meal is coming from.” — Carlene Tuttle, founder/president
CORN 1-2 days in refrigerator, 8 months in the freezer
of Food Recovery Network, athletic
POTATOES 3-5 weeks in the pantry
training major
”Economically, societally and environmentally, food waste is a huge problem. About 40 percent of edible food in the U.S. is wasted. Imagine if that 40 percent of food we were throwing away — literally trillions of calories each year — went to people who needed them!” — Caroline Savage, interim executive director, Institute for Community Sustainability
What you can do
Portion-size control: Ask for smaller portions at restaurants, or take home the leftovers. When you are at home, fill your plate with smaller portions and then go back for seconds if you are still hungry. Buy fresh produce: Not only can you better gauge the food’s freshness, but you also avoid preservatives and sodium found in canned foods. Fresh produce can last up to one week. Freeze the leftovers: If you realize that you have cooked too much for the week, freeze what is leftover to eat at a
LETTUCE 1 week
later time. Go to the grocery store with a plan: Think about how many times you are going to cook that week and the ingredients needed for those meals. Do not shop on an empty stomach or else you might be tempted to buy extra, unneeded food. Donate leftovers: If you have food you know is going to go unused in your household, donate it to your local foodbank. Start a compost pile: Compost can add nutrients to your backyard garden. If you do not have a yard where you can start a compost pile, reach out to local universities and gardening organizations to find out where you can take your compost.
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“The sell-by date tells the store or grocer how long to keep the product on the shelves. This date indicates the last day the item is at its highest level of quality, but it is still edible after this date expires …. The food dating system is terribly confusing and consumers are throwing away perfectly good food.” — Sarah James, registered
CHEESE + 1 month
( source: Caroline Savage and Carlene Tuttle)
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big QUESTION THE ? IS PEACE POSSIBLE? BY LIBBY ROERIG
T
he daily headlines are filled with news of violence and conflict in the Middle East, Russia and China: “A caliphate emerges in Iraq.” “Ukraine and Russia strengthen positions on Crimean border.” “China tensions choke off tourism to Vietnam.” Among these news stories are the underlying concerns about diplomacy — the effectiveness of it, when to abandon diplomatic efforts and use force, and how the use of sanctions might complement diplomacy. The United States often takes a lead in these conversations. But it’s another country — one in our proverbial backyard — that could benefit the most from improved diplomatic relations with the United States. That country is Mexico, says Anne Foster, associate professor of history at Indiana State University. “It’s not very glamorous, but it’s probably what we citizens living in the U.S. would notice the most,” said Foster, who is also co-editor of “Diplomatic History,” a “first-tier journal with a terrific and international reputation,” according to Indiana State history department chair Christopher Olsen.
Anne Foster, associate professor of history
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“Not that the relationship (between the U.S. and Mexico) is necessarily bad, but there are issues with immigration and the drug and arms trafficking that are hugely and tragically affecting Mexico,” Foster said. In the past year, more than 52,000 unaccompanied minors from Central America have crossed into America illegally. Immigration legislation, once hailed as “once-ina-generation reform” and championed by Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake and his colleagues in the bipartisan Group of Eight, is dead. “If the world is a city and you live in a gated enclave, and the rest of the city is poor, that’s probably going to affect you eventually. They will find their way into our country; we have porous borders,” she said. If you’ve boarded a commercial plane in the past 10 years, you’re familiar with the screening procedures that have developed because of terrorism threats. The problems in Mexico, however, are more immediately dangerous to Americans than terrorist activity abroad, Foster said. “The effects are so stark. Drug gangs (in Mexico) are much more a risk to everyday Americans than terrorists … and they’re getting more and more armed,” she said. Part of the problem with fixing the problems in Mexico, Foster says, is not everyone sees the daily affects. Texas feels the repercussions immediately. Terre Haute? Not so much. “For people who approach it from the standpoint of talking about drug violence, this may become a way to sell it to Americans,” she said. “Americans tend to not want to recognize their role in it. The drug violence is there, because Americans are buying the drugs.”
‘No babies at the table’
ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX NABAUM/PHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
The political capital of foreign policies can be expensive, Foster says. Most presidents tackle these issues in their second term, because voters typically don’t react in positive ways to the efforts. “No one would say, ‘Oh I’m going to vote for the Democrats because of that.’ For most Americans, they don’t feel the impact of all of these issues directly,” compared to local issues, such as bad roads between Bloomington and Terre Haute or the closing of a factory, Foster said. A country’s diplomatic efforts are examined from three categories — national interests, ideology and economics. For example, “the U.S. has perceived part of its national interest is to promote certain ideologies — democracy and capitalism. Germany’s, on the other hand, is to protect its borders,” Foster said. However, what “democracy” and “capitalism” mean to other countries, how they’re implemented and whether they’re compatible with another culture are critical semantics. “We have a notion of what ‘democracy’ means — human rights, equality for women, free foreign investments,” Foster said. But these definitions “don’t line up with how other countries view it. There’s always a conflict. The devil is in the details, right?” Despite our founding fathers’ warnings against “entangling alliances,” the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization following World War II formed the United States’ first permanent alliances — and our “core besties,” Foster said. Again, even an organization such as NATO is perceived differently, depending on the country. “We don’t think of NATO as threatening, but Russia does. If you ask someone in Washington, NATO is a defensive alliance, but that’s not how it looks in Moscow,” Foster said. Indeed, one of NATO’s biggest roles nowadays is protecting former Sovietbloc countries from Russia, she added. So, why do we get along with countries such as China, but not Cuba or North Korea? “Historians and political scientists will talk about the national interest,” she said.
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big QUESTION THE ? “In one sense, there are one billion people in China, and they’re strategically located. On the other hand, China wants the relationship with us.” She added: “The country that is the most important to have a careful relationship is with China. China clearly has ambitions to be a super power.” In Foster’s class, she explains diplomacy to her students by using this scenario: A family sits down to have a “tasty dinner,” but the definition of what dishes that meal consists of differs between parents and their children and, therein, can create conflict. In diplomatic relations, “there are no babies at the table. Everyone gets to express their desires and put food in their mouth,” she said. It’s no surprise that the countries the United States has been most politically aligned with for the longest — England, Canada, France — are those whose ideologies are most similar. Journalist Thomas L. Friedman wrote in his book, “The Lexus and the Olive Tree,” that no two countries with a McDonald’s would go to war. While the statement is meant to be tongue-in-cheek and isn’t entirely accurate, it does present a valid point. “It’s easier for countries to get along if they can agree on what’s important. That’s why the McDonald’s example seems to fit,” Foster said. Economic interdependence, therefore, fosters a two-way street of playing nice. “We buy and sell a lot of things in the world, and if the world is not friendly with us, that process won’t go as well,” she said.
Foggy Bottom
So, is peace possible? “At some level, the immediate response is no. It’s like any relationship — there isn’t any end point. They’re constantly evolving,” Foster said. “There’s no peace in the sense of having a perfectly happy relationship. It is possible, though, to move from a tense relationship to a more
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peaceful relationship with a country.” But that’s not to say we aren’t making progress. For example, we have fewer international conflicts, which previously occurred every generation and killed millions and millions of people, Foster said. Before nuclear weapons, a country would simply obliterate another until that country caved; now with nuclear weapons, that scenario isn’t as likely. “So now we have to be diplomats and come to the best decision possible,” Foster said. The international community cares more about human rights nowadays, too, Foster said. Prior to World War II, sex trafficking existed, but governments weren’t talking about it. Now, they are. Awareness of agricultural and environmental issues is higher, as are efforts
to improve international public health, education and women’s rights. “There’s still a lot to be done, but every girl who gets to go to school is one who may not have gotten to go to school before,” Foster said. “It’s a hard sell for Americans. We have to keep trying something that’s really hard, sometimes expensive and will never be truly resolved.”
‘A moveable feast’
Tomorrow’s leaders, scholars and diplomats are at Indiana State today. And through the university’s focus on experiential learning and community engagement, these students are being taught there are multiple approaches to problem solving and different ways to see the world. “What we can do at Indiana State University is issue an appealing invitation to
FRIEND OR FOE? all alone.” The experience also broke down many preconceived notions he had. “The students I had, the friends I made, the people I got to know in my village, the same thing was happening for them on a lesser scale (since they weren’t able to come to the States). All of a sudden, in this village — it’s pretty isolated — there’s an American there who only speaks Arabic. It probably busted a lot of stereotypes for them,” he said. “I was very well-liked and respected in my village.” Thirty years later, Bunnett is relishing the opportunity to share his professional expertise with Indiana State’s sister school, Hassan I University in Settat. As you might expect, Morocco has a special place in Bunnett’s heart. “Sometimes we’d go hiking around in the mountains — as many as eight of us — and we’d see somebody, a shepherd perhaps. ‘Oh come have tea at my house, all of you,’ he would say to us. He might live in a hut but would do anything for his guests. He’d deny himself to provide for his guests, even if he’d just met them,” Bunnett said of his time in the Peace Corps. Bunnett said a quote from Ernest Hemingway’s “A Moveable Feast” still resonates with him: “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” That sentiment is how Bunnett said he views international travel as a whole, not just Paris. The experience is with you forever. McGrew agrees: “As much money as the country spends on weapons systems, I’d like to see what would happen if we spent 10 percent on study abroad scholarships.” Who knows what the long-term effect would be? Perhaps during a time of conflict or discord, McGrew mused, someone might say, “ ‘We can’t attack them — we just had our Indiana State reunion!’ ”
New Zealand
The United States and New Zealand work together on a range of scientific areas, especially research in the Antarctic, and have close military, political, economic and social ties.
North Korea
The U.S. has called on North Korea to take concrete, irreversible steps toward denuclearization, cease provocative behaviors and improve relations with its neighbors.
Portugal
Among the first countries to recognize the United States following the revolutionary war, Portugal remains a partner for peace, prosperity and security.
Uruguay
The relationship between the United States and Uruguay is strong, as the two countries share important core values.
Venezuela
While relations have been traditionally beneficial in regards to trade and combating the illegal drug trade, tensions mounted after President Hugo Chávez assumed office in 1999. ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX NABAUM
engage with the world,” said Chris McGrew, director of the university’s Center for Global Engagement. Cross-cultural opportunities come in many forms — be it a faculty-lead trip, a semester studying abroad or taking a minor in International Studies, a curriculum designed to complement traditional majors in almost any academic field. Ideally, the connection for these cultural experiences would come through the student’s major, McGrew said, because it offers the opportunity for the experience to be more lasting. For instance, if a mechanical engineering technology student studies abroad at a technical school in Germany, he or she will learn about that country’s standards and processes and be able to compare them to those in the States. The student could also make professional contacts or experience personal development there that could last a lifetime, McGrew said. Such was the case for Brian Bunnett, public services chair at Indiana State’s Cunningham Memorial Library. After graduating from Austin College in the early 1980s, he was driven by the desire to see the world in a deeper way than being a tourist and joined the Peace Corps. “It was a defining experience for me. Everything that has happened subsequently to me, I see through that lens that the trip created,” he said. Bunnett taught welding to teens, who were on a vocational education track, in a Moroccan village with 5,000 people and 13 phones, located about 30 miles from Marrakesh. “I’d never been out of the country before. The first time I went to the village, I pretty much spent all day looking for a place to live,” he said. “Nobody spoke English, and I couldn’t speak French back then. The only lingua franca we had — or the only language we had in common — was Arabic, and my Arabic wasn’t that good then. I remember how exhausted I was fending for myself,
Zimbabwe
The U.S. has imposed targeted sanctions against individuals and entities that have undermined democratic processes or institutions in the African country. — U.S. State Department
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big QUESTION THE ? DIPLOMATIC CHANGES AFOOT IN MIDDLE EAST
C
ontinued and growing unrest in Iraq is underscoring the need for the United States to reevaluate its diplomatic relations in the Middle East. Three years after Osama bin Laden’s death, fighting in Iraq rages between government troops and Sunni insurgents known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, with ISIS claiming in July territory from western Syria to the suburbs of Baghdad. Historically, American diplomats have looked to Saudi Arabia as an ally in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia’s government has pro-Western tendencies, and the two countries have been active trade partners. “Even though the U.S.’ interests in the Middle East haven’t changed that much, the actions of the actors have changed so much that they’re not reinforcing those original objectives,” said Bassam Yousif, associate professor of economics at Indiana State. “The U.S. needs to figure out who are its friends, what are its interests.” With the instability in Iraq, it’s Iran who is emerging as a country with more aligned interests than the U.S.’ old ally. “Ironically, Iraq might bring the U.S. and Iran closer together,” said Yousif, who grew up in Iraq until he emigrated to the United Kingdom when he was 14. “This won’t help them with their nuclear (discussions), but it might bring them together diplomatically. There is this commonality of interests.” The biggest point of contention between the U.S. and Iran is nuclear weapons. “If you take away that nuclear issue, someone from Mars couldn’t tell who is a U.S. ally
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Bassam Yousif, associate professor of economics
and who isn’t, because it looks like U.S. allies aren’t acting in a way to benefit U.S. interests,” Yousif said. Growing sectarianism is feeding the region’s discord, with Saudi Arabia — a conservative Sunni government — funding radical groups, including ISIS, Yousif said. “Where does that instability come from? Saudi Arabia is a huge part of that instability,” Yousif said. “(ISIS) is actually looked at with alarm by Saudi Arabia, but its their tiger that they let out of the cage. They let that tiger out a long time ago when they started funding radical Sunnis back in the 1970s to get the Soviets out of Afghanistan.” Iran’s Shiite majority could offer stability in Iraq, according to Yousif. “A stable democratic system in Iraq
means a Shiite government there, because they’re the majority party. So, there’s going to be Iranian influence, whether you like it or not,” Yousif said. “Ironically, it’s America’s enemy, Iran, whose interests in Iraq are parallel to America’s. They do want a stable Iraq; they do not want an unstable Iraq on their border.” So what’s the diplomatic future for the region? “I don’t see it resolving itself. Regardless of whether ISIS is defeated quickly or not, I don’t see the whole antagonism getting any better,” Yousif said. “If you ask your average person (in the Middle East), ‘What is your beef with the other side?’ They could not tell you. You don’t have to be very religious to be very sectarian-minded. So, this is being fueled by politics.” Today’s escalating war of words is fueled by anyone with access to the Internet or social media. “In the past 15 years, there has been this greater antagonism — deadly antagonism between sects and that wasn’t there before,” Yousif said. “People are looking at this like it’s the old Sunni-Shiite antagonism; nothing could be further from the truth. This is not normal. There has been SunniShiite antagonism for thousands of years, and there have been riots and people have been killed — this is true. But whether there were riots or whether people got killed or not depended a lot on politics. It depends on political actors and what they’re doing to overcome that crisis or to aggravate that crisis. Feed the fire or put it out — politics are key.” — Libby Roerig
HOW DO SANCTIONS WORK?
E
Russia’s politics. I think the prospect for sanctions to reverse Russia’s actions in the Crimea is bleak.” Russia has been using its own economic leverage through natural gas price discrimination, and in June, the Russian gas giant OAO Gazprom suspended natural gas deliveries to Ukraine. “The rate for E.U. member countries is about 50 percent more than what is charged to former Soviet republics that are supportive of the Putin administration, like Belarus,” Lotspeich said. “For Ukraine, however, the rate proposed is double that charged to those republics — and double what Ukraine used to pay, which puts that price for natural gas about 30 percent higher than what Germany and Italy pay.” The overall diplomatic uncertainty surrounding Russia is affecting investment decisions there. “Some potential foreign investment projects into Russia have been delayed or even cancelled. Capital flight from Russia has increased dramatically,” Lotspeich said. “These private reactions indeed may have substantial impact on the Russian economy in the near and medium terms. I think the willingness of the E.U. and the U.S. to act even in this limited fashion has influenced those investment decisions.” Perhaps the less popular option of nationbuilding for the remaining part of Ukraine could offer stabilization. “We need to look to the long term and do what we can to keep the rest of Ukraine healthy — or healthier than it is — with long-term aid and promotion of democratic values,” Lotspeich said. “It should be a long-term project. It shouldn’t just be America; it should be the European Union, as well. To some degree, we missed the boat by not doing this early on.” — Libby Roerig
HOW THE WORLD PERCEIVES America and its actions on the international stage can undermine diplomatic efforts. Post-World War II, the United States has seen itself as a beacon of human rights and has cut off international relations with other countries after their humanitarian crimes. However, America’s legacy of waterboarding in the early 2000s and missteps at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib continue to haunt us, said Mark Hamm, terrorism expert and professor of criminology at Indiana State. “I’ve seen firsthand how those incidents play out and have been asked, ‘On what basis do you have to make any recommendations, given how your country has acted?’” Hamm said. The United States’ treatment of some prisoners has become a recruiting tool for radicalism. In countries such as Somalia, Yemen and Pakistan, “they crank (terrorists) out like a factory,” Hamm said. The definition of terrorist, too, can be up for debate. “As the old saying goes, ‘One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter,’” Hamm said. Irish nationalist Bobby Sands, for example, was elected to the British Parliament while imprisoned. His death during a prison hunger strike prompted a surge of recruitment and activity by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), and some city streets are still named in Sands’ honor. — Libby Roerig
PHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
conomic sanctions are commonly offered as a diplomatic response when trying to adjust another nation’s actions without the use of military force. However, implementing sanctions can be a tricky proposition. Take, for instance, the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Using economic levers was a popular choice among many American politicians and pundits, and limited sanctions against Russia were imposed by the European Union and United States. The outcome, however, is yet to be seen. The economies of the European Union — especially Germany — are heavily intertwined with Russia’s economy, said Richard Lotspeich, professor of economics at Indiana State. “If we sanction Russia and hurt their oil and gas industry, we hurt Europe at the same time. The act of sanctions cuts both ways,” Lotspeich said. First, coordination of the efforts is necessary for sanctions to be effective, and it is difficult to coordinate European countries that have varying degrees of pain as a result of the sanctions against Russia. For example, pressure has mounted against France to scrap plans to sell two warships to Russia, especially after Russian separatists were blamed in the crash of a Malaysian passenger jet in Ukraine. But without a way to compensate Paris for the loss of a multibillion dollar deal, there’s little incentive for the French to comply, Lotspeich said. Secondly, “The way sanctions are supposed to work is you put pressure on some groups in the society, and they put pressure on political leadership to change the political action,” Lotspeich said. “That’s an unlikely prospect … especially with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s quite successful shift in
Terrorism: Diplomacy with no illusions
Richard Lotspeich
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TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO PREPARE FOR A DREAM TO COME TRUE. But 1967 graduate Cynthia Norton Shepard Perry knew her vision of becoming a U.S. ambassador would happen and advised every employer that her time with them was temporary. BY BETSY SIMON
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hile it caused some people to snicker, Perry never gave up her dream and served three White House administrations: President Ronald Reagan appointed her ambassador to Sierra Leone (1986-89); President George H.W. Bush appointed her ambassador to Burundi (1989-93). Following President Bill Clinton’s election in 1992, Perry returned to Houston. From 1995-2001, she joined FCA Corp, a private investment firm that established development projects, monitored the growth and quality of stock exchanges and other profitable ventures and investment activities across Africa. In 2001, Perry, who has a bachelor’s degree in political science and education from Indiana State and a doctorate in international education from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, returned to Washington, D.C., to accept an appointment by President George W. Bush to be U.S. executive director of the African Development Bank in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. In 2007, she retired at the age of 79. Following the death of her husband, James O. Perry, she returned to Houston and serves as Honorary Consul General of Rwanda.
“These are my calling cards,” said Perry, gesturing toward the university diplomas, honorary degrees, certificates of excellence, plaques and photos with past U.S. presidents, world leaders and popes that seemingly cover every square inch of wall space in her home office in Manvel, Texas. Perry’s résumé also includes serving for four years as chief of the Education and Human Resources Division for Africa, 1982-1986, at USAID in Washington, D.C. From 1971-1982, she held faculty and senior staff positions at Texas Southern University in Houston, intermittently with her diplomatic service, including director of Teacher Corps/Peace Corps for Africa, dean of international student affairs, professor of education and honorary consul for Senegal. She took leave from TSU to become in-country trainer for Peace Corps Kenya (1973) and advisor to USIS in Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia (1974-76). She was staff development officer for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before returning to TSU (1976-78). As an active member of the Baha’i Faith for more than 45 years, Perry believes passionately in the capacity of nations to function as one world. The words, “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens,” are etched on her headstone in Lost Creek Cemetery, in the greater Terre Haute area where she plans to be buried next to her late husband. Her beliefs date back to early childhood to the teachings of her father, George Norton, who was a soldier in World War I. “His world experience during that time changed his whole perspective and approach to life,” Perry said. “It was my father who taught me how the world came together during and after World War I. The armistice ending the war symbolized to him an end to human aggression, nation against nation, proving the capacity
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETSY SIMON
of humankind to act as responsible citizens of the world if they so choose.” Following graduation in 1946 from Otter Creek High School in North Terre Haute, Perry enrolled at Indiana State, majoring in art. But as one of nine children with a limited income, she decided to marry after completing her first semester. Ten years and three children later, she re-enrolled at Indiana State with a scholarship for part-time study and changed her major to political science. “I had the vision and fortitude to make my dream of being an ambassador come true, no matter how long it would take. But needing professional guidance, I consulted my former principal at Otter Creek High School, Herb Lamb,” said Perry, who graduated from Indiana State nearly 21 years after she first started. Impressed by Perry’s determination to succeed, Lamb helped her map out a 25-year plan. “All things being equal, he said I could make it,” said Perry, who focused on Lamb’s guidance with the 25-year plan in her memoir, “All Things Being Equal,” published in 2001. “When I reached the 25th year of the plan, I was down in Johannesburg on a USAID mission. President Reagan personally telephoned me, asking me to serve as his ambassador to Sierra Leone. I replied, ‘Yes, of course, Mr. President,’ and to the amazement of my hosts, I dropped the phone and in triumphal tears, danced the holy dance.” Reminders of Africa are never far from Perry, thanks to her lifelong passion for art. The walls of her home are framed by large canvases she handpainted to depict African landscapes, waterfalls, mountains, skies and faces. African artifacts, including bronze, ivory and wood carvings, large books and colorful fabrics from around the world can also be found in every room. Finding no beauty in wooden fences surrounding her home garden, Perry painted the surfaces with bright murals depicting northern Africa landscapes — the Mediterranean Sea with blue Tunisian doors and gates and multicolored birds of the region. While not yet complete, Perry still enjoys sitting in her garden drinking her morning coffee while communicating with the birds. “I started painting when I was 6 years old … but not well. It’s something I’ve been doing for a lot of years, even while I was an ambassador,” Perry said, who is quick to drop a paintbrush, though, if requested to speak on world affairs. “When I get a call to deliver a speech, sometimes for the U.N. or the Department of Treasury or the city of Houston, without hesitation I say, ‘Yes, I’ll be there’,” said Perry, the 85-year-old mother of six and grandmother to 20 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. “If I were accustomed in life to lying around on a beach somewhere, I probably would be doing that now, but I am conditioned to serve. There is so much yet to be done, and I’ve never in life had time to lie around.”
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THE big IDEA SYCAMORES LEARN MEANING OF BEING A ‘GLOBAL CITIZEN’ IN CUBA BY LIBBY ROERIG
O
nce-in-a-lifetime. That’s how Indiana State University students described their Spring Break trip to Cuba. It’s an appropriate superlative, considering the United States’ trade embargo against Cuba has existed since 1960, a year after Fidel Castro seized power. American tourism to the island country is forbidden, and travel is allowed under only a few specific exceptions, including academic study. Indeed, it’s likely the lure of forbidden fruit that piqued students’ interest in the trip, said Michael Erisman, professor emeritus of political science; however, what these seven students saw, learned and discovered — about Cuba and themselves — will stay with them forever. “We’ve kind of developed our own stereotypes about Cuba. Being there really broke down all those barriers for me,” said Hanna Brant of Frankfurt. “I was focusing on women’s issues and rights in Cuba. A lot of time when you hear about a developing country, you think women are treated poorly and there’s no health care or it’s very hard to get to, there’s no education or it’s a terrible education. Cuba really defies all those stereotypes that we put on developing countries.” “(The experience) really shows you what it means to be a global citizen — and not just a citizen of the United States — to acknowledge everyone’s perspective and to take it for what it’s worth,” said Nathan
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Walker of Plainfield. “Cuba is a really beautiful place with friendly people. Going into the trip, my prior knowledge had me a little nervous to interact with individuals, and I almost expected guards breathing down my neck the entire time. However, everything was relaxed, and the people were happy,” said Katherine Runge of Brownstown. In addition to Brant, Walker and Runge, political science students Madeline Nelson, Jerry Cooper, Shan Patel and Tatianna Wilkes also made the trip south. The days started with a lecture at the University of Havana, and in the afternoon, students ventured out for hands-on experiences reflective of the morning lesson. For instance, if their classroom session was about Cuban history, they might visit a Museum of the Revolution that afternoon. A lesson about the economy might lead them to a farmers’ cooperative or — the group’s favorite — a tour of a tobacco farm where someone demonstrated how world-famous Cuban cigars are rolled. “I think I had two cigars a day — at least. Some days, I had more,” Walker said. Evenings brought cultural experiences. Students tasted both traditional and nouveau Cuban cuisine and took in the local art scene. Artists across all cultures have a long history of challenging the establishment, and with the Cuban government scaling back patronage in recent years, the country’s artists are beginning to express their grievances.
Clockwise from top: Vintage cars; artwork; Madeline Nelson, Nathan Walker, Gaston Fernandez, Shan Patel, Hanna Brant, Tatianna Wilkes, Jerry Cooper, Katherine Runge; steps to the University of Havana; touring Havana; scenic overlook; military artifacts; handrolling a cigar; artwork. Background: Tobacco leaves drying.
PHOTOS BY KATHERINE RUNGE, ’15
“(The artists) dress in funky ways, and they talk very freely. Their music is quite challenging at times, [addressing] things they don’t like about contemporary Cuba. It’s really a happening scene,” said political science professor Gaston Fernandez, who accompanied the students. “There clearly are limits, but part of what’s interesting to observe is what those limits are. Through the music, through the art, through different forms of individual expression, one begins to see those boundaries and where those boundaries are being tested.” The students’ perceptions of the world and U.S. relations were challenged by a different version of history, one colored by the Cubans’ way of thinking and ideology. “To hear Cubans’ perspectives on Americans and American foreign policy was really awesome,” Brant said. “It really gave me the ability to step out of how I normally view political relations and see it through a different perspective. I thought that was really important as a political science major.” In this real-life classroom, Fernandez was their guide to help them navigate through the contrasting perspectives. “Dr. Fernandez did a phenomenal job coordinating this trip. We’re so lucky to have him, and he truly gave us all the fullest experience we could have had while in Cuba,” Brant said. After returning from the trip, Walker was still processing his experiences abroad weeks later. “Even now that I’ve been there, I have to continue to read. And it kind of takes me back. If you can’t go to Cuba, read about Cuba,” Walker said. Indiana State’s academic exchange agreement with the University of Havana — known as the “Harvard of Cuba” — will allow Sycamore faculty to undertake collaborative research in Cuba, as well as providing Indiana State departments the opportunity to host visiting University of Havana scholars. It was negotiated in record time; what has taken some universities three years to settle, took Erisman and Fernandez just six months.
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The
New Normal
ORE M A C Y S SPORTS
A WILD RIDE
Jake Odum, who signed with Greek pro team PAOK Tessalonki, led the Sycamores to the most success they’ve seen in 30 years
I
BY ACE HUNT
ndiana State guard Jake Odum wrapped up his Sycamore career by taking the Sycamores into the postseason for the fourth and final time in his career. In fact, it has been more than 30 years since the program has enjoyed as much success as Odum did alongside fellow four-year senior Lucas Eitel. Odum, well known for being cool and collected in high-pressure situations, said it best as he walked off the floor for the final time after falling to Arkansas in the NIT, “Well, it had to end sometime.” Odum was correct: All things must come to an end. But for Jake, the journey to get to the end of his Sycamore career proved to be memorable. Additionally, his final game in a Sycamore uniform has since led him on a whirlwind tour of signing with a professional agent, visiting with executives and coaches of nearly half the teams in the NBA, participating in the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational and spending his summer playing with the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings in the NBA Summer League. Jake Odum burst onto the scene with a third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference race as a freshman during the 2010-11 campaign. Individually, he took home All-MVC, MVC All-Defensive, MVC All-Freshman and MVC All-Newcomer honors. His most coveted award that season was the MVC Championship trophy earned at Arch Madness, which came with a trip to the NCAA Tournament — the first for the Indiana State basketball program since 2001. Along the way, Odum gained league-wide and at times national recognition for his leadership skills and on-the-court ability. Odum would lead the Sycamore program to four victories over nationally ranked opponents during his time in the program — tying him with Larry Bird for the school record. During the 2013-14 season, Odum climbed the ladder in several statistical categories, eventually breaking Bird’s career made-free-throws record, finishing with 590. More importantly, Odum led the Sycamores to a 23-11 overall record in his final season, including a 12-6 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference and a second place finish in the league. ON THE WEB: For the latest on Odum’s professional career, go to
GoSycamores.com or follow @IndianaStateMBB on Twitter.
THE TICKER
Former Indiana State basketball standout Jake Odum spent the summer playing in the NBA Summer League for the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings.
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The Sycamore football season continues on Oct. 25, when they travel to Southern Illinois. There are still two home games to catch this season at Memorial Stadium (Nov. 1
vs. Missouri State and Nov. 8 against South Dakota State). The Indiana State basketball team will play its first regular season game inside Hulman Center on Nov. 18 against St. Louis.
The Sycamore women’s basketball team will open its season at home against St. Louis on Nov. 14. The Indiana State soccer team will play its final home game on Oct. 30, when they
CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL Indiana State will host the 11th NCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Cross Country National Championships on Nov. 22, and will host the event again in 2016.
Soccer team makes its mark on Morocco
host Drake inside Memorial Stadium. The Sycamores will look for their first-ever MVC Tournament Championship and berth into the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 7-9, in Normal, Ill. The Indiana State volleyball
2nd place, 800-meter run; Aubrie Musselman, 2nd place, 1-mile run; were honored at the tournament’s festive, music- and dance-filled closing ceremonies. Their athletic obligations fulfilled, the Sycamores repacked their suitcases, boarded their buses and headed to Marrakesh. The students toured historic landmarks and shopped at a traditional Berber market before departing for some much-needed downtime in the coastal cities Essaouira and El Jadida. They rode camels and horses on the beach, learned to wind surf or shopped in the old medinas. “Their culture, to me, seems really fascinating — just how polite everyone has been, especially at the banquet we went to, how they enjoy dancing and having a good time and making everyone feel welcome,” Welch said. ON THE WEB: To read more about and watch videos from the Indiana State soccer team’s trip to Morocco, go to indstate.edu/morocco.
team will wrap up its 2014 schedule at home on Nov. 21, against Wichita State and Nov. 22, versus Missouri State. The Sycamores will compete in the MVC Tournament at Northern Iowa Nov. 27-29.
Follow the Sycamore basketball team to beautiful Las Vegas for the 2014 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational on Thanksgiving weekend from the Orleans Arena.
The LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center is the nation’s premier cross country facility and has also been awarded a NCAA Regional in 2017. The Sycamores have hosted the NCAA Championships in 2002, 2004-2011 and 2013, as well as four years as a regional host in 1998-1999, 2001 and 2003.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
THE INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY women’s soccer team participated in the fifth annual Sous le Haut Patronage de Sa Majeste le Roi Mohammed VI tournament, organized by Indiana State’s sister school, Hassan I University in Settat, Morocco. The Sycamores hammered out wins against Casablanca teams Raja and Wydad, both 2-1. The team overcame language barriers, undesirable field conditions and questionable calls by officials. “It was definitely a challenge. That is something you don’t do every day in the coaching world,” said head coach Erika True. “In any situation, we try to adapt, so we have success. And we do. We did. We have two wins here in Morocco. That’s a good feeling. It’s a good showing for us.” The next two days, the Sycamores participated in a mini-Olympics-like event featuring individual competitions. The team and individual winners, including Kayla Welch, 1st place, 100-meter dash; Sydney Loesing, 1st place, long jump; Brittany San Roman, 2nd place, shot put; Maddie Orf,
The Sycamores will have hosted 12 NCAA Championships by 2016, which is second all-time to Michigan State University who hosted 26 times from the 1930s to the 1960s.
For the latest news, scores, stats and ticket information, go to GoSycamores.com.
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R
BY ACE HUNT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
oyce Waltman, head coach of the Indiana State basketball program from 1997 to 2007, died on April 9, in Indianapolis after battling a lengthy illness with the same determination he displayed with the Sycamores and at other stops along his storied coaching career. Coach Waltman’s family held a Memorial Service at St. Luke’s Memorial Church on April 12, and it was a who’s who of college basketball. In particular, more than 40 former Sycamore basketball players came to pay their respects for coach Waltman, as did many former Indiana State assistant coaches who now lead their own programs at other institutions. Waltman recorded 124 victories as head coach of the Sycamores and is still the only coach in school history with more victories and seasons coached other than Duane Klueh, with 182 wins in 12 seasons. He was known for hiring talented young assistant coaches who have gone on to lead their own programs successfully. Among those are current Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing, Clemson head coach Brad Brownell, Mississippi State head coach Rick Ray and Kansas City head coach Kareem Richardson. “Simply put, Coach Waltman basically saved me twice … no one has ever done more for another person in this crazy profession,” Lansing said. “He’s the most intelligent guy I’ve ever been around on and off the floor. His intensity is unmatched. He did so much for so many of us on and off the court, touched so many lives. There has never been a tougher, more competitive guy in my opinion. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Carole and
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the family. Anyone that knew Coach knows how much he loved naps, he can now rest in peace in the ultimate one. We lost one of the best there ever was.” Under Waltman’s guidance, the Sycamores ended a 17-year span without a winning season and returned Indiana State to the NCAA Tournament in both 2000 and 2001. In fact, he was the architect of a four-year span of winning seasons from 1997-2001, which was the longest such streak of success for the program since the late 1970s. He led the Sycamores to the 2000 Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season Championship and an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament in 2000, the school’s first appearance in the Big Dance since Larry Bird and the 1979 Indiana State team reached the NCAA Final. In 2001, Waltman’s Sycamores won the MVC Tournament for just the second time in the history of the program to earn his second NCAA Tournament appearance. Once on college basketball’s biggest stage, the Sycamores defeated No. 13 Oklahoma in the first round in Memphis. Prior to his time in Terre Haute, he was a head coach at the University of Indianapolis and DePauw and returned to Indianapolis following his time at the helm of the Sycamore program. Additionally, Waltman spent many seasons as an assistant coach for Bobby Knight at Indiana University, including the 1987 campaign, which saw the Hoosiers win the national championship. Most recently, Waltman served as the color analyst for the Indiana University Basketball radio broadcasts until he took a leave of absence in December 2013. Waltman is survived by his wife, Carole, their children Suzanne and Kevin as well as several grandchildren.
Kyla Eubank, Geonna Peden, Rassan Ridley
Student-designed wallet debuts at national event A CONTEST ENTRY CATAPULTED students in a beginning clothing class into the spotlight. The wallet, the collaborative effort of 15 students, was unveiled by Fort Waynebased Natril Gear at the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C., on March 3. “This conference attracts some of the biggest names in bicycling and some of the most progressive riders in the industry,” said April Reinhard, owner of Natril Gear LLC.
“I cannot think of a more exciting place to debut the Clothing I Class’ wallet and wristlet!” The entry, which was named runner-up in the company’s first design contest, stood out because of the thoughtfulness of their design and its craftsmanship. “Natril Gear is an outdoor company specializing in bicycle accessories, and the students’ wallet design had several unique elements. We were very impressed,”
Reinhard said. “We did make a few adjustments, but we made sure the students were okay with all of our design changes before we put the wallet into production. It was truly a team effort!” The wallet uses leftover material from the two types of backpack-like bags the company produces. Indiana State’s design includes several features that would be appealing to cyclists, such as a four-way closure system ensuring the secure storage of the wallet’s contents. “We are extremely proud of this women’s wallet and wristlet design and all of the designers that were a part of its creation,” Reinhard said. Geonna Peden, a fashion merchandising student from Gary, said the real-life experience was a great way to begin her studies. “I didn’t think I’d accomplish something like this until I got out of school,” she said. “To accomplish this as a freshman was awesome!” — Indiana State University ON THE WEB: The wallets are available for purchase on the Natril Gear website, http://natrilgear.com.
Technology students test software for National Science Foundation and a manufacturing system. “We’re teaching students to think from the get-go, not to utilize a checklist or to automatically replace parts,” said professor George Maughan. Industry partners have assisted in verifying the accuracy of the content. “Both Duke Energy and Bemis Corporation have been extremely helpful in
providing technical information to ensure the accuracy of our instructional cases,” Maughan said. The testing gives juniors and seniors a chance to diagnose the issue before showing them what a professional would do in the real-life situation. — Indiana State University
PHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
IN MARCH, COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY students participated in a National Science Foundation-funded research project testing interactive computer-based learning modules. “The project is in response to the need to improve technicians’ ability to solve problems,” said Tad Foster, a professor in the college whose emphasis is on training. “This project focuses on problem solving and critical thinking. We are attempting to use conceptual mapping to force students to slow down and engage in thinking before taking any action.” The interactive training modules provided instruction on using conceptual mapping to understand systems and develop a process for diagnosing technical problems. Exercises gave mechanical engineering technology students an opportunity to diagnose faults in multiple technical systems, including an electrical power grid
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CAREER HAS SYCAMORE STRIKING GOLD
Brian Wrightsman, ’07, gave up his day job as a science teacher to work for the world’s largest gold mining company BY BETSY SIMON
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or the past two years, Brian Wrightsman, a 2007 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in geology and science education, has worked as a gold mine geologist for Barrick Gold Corp. — the world’s largest gold mining company, operating on five continents. He is responsible for ensuring the right amount of gold is available and that it is pulled up efficiently from the ground before operations move forward at the mine, located on the eastern side of the Osgood Mountains in Winnemucca, Nev. Wrightsman decided to pursue a new career path as a gold mine geologist in The Silver State after having worked as a biology and earth science teacher at North Central High School in Farmersburg since graduation. “When teaching was no longer conducive for my growing family, I got in touch with an Indiana State alumnus in Nevada who passed my resume around, and I came out here,” he said. “I never expected that I would be gold mining in the middle of Nevada while I was a student in college, but I’m qualified to work with any mineral out there. Gold just happens to be where I landed.” Having been equipped with a strong geology background while a student at Indiana State, Wrightsman said the on-site
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job training helped to familiarize him with the mine, where work goes on around the clock for Barrick Gold America, which deals with production of mines and precious metals, especially gold. “Underground work is a different world and there are a lot of safety measures that have to be taken,” he said. “You have to learn how to get around the mine, but it helps that it is typically warm down there year-round, with temperatures between 90 and 100 degrees normally.” Wrightsman, who is a native of Terre Haute and father of three, donated samples of the “beautiful, rare crystals” he works with everyday to Indiana State’s geology department, which afforded him the opportunity as a student to apply his education in settings from Costa Rica to Alaska and California. “I have always been fascinated with things in the natural world, so I took a course in college with Tony Rathburn and worked in his lab. He eventually got me to take up geology as a major,” Wrightsman said. “(Rathburn) saw potential in me, and I saw that there was a lot I could accomplish if I pursued a major in geology.” Wrightsman has continued to stay in contact with his former Indiana State geology professor, and last year, he returned to his alma mater to help reconstruct the Science Building’s aquarium and terrarium.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BRIAN WRIGHTSMAN
“Brian is a very talented individual with a natural curiosity about the world around him, and his love for the outdoors and his desire to learn how the biological and physical world works made him a likely candidate for a major in geology,” Rathburn said. Add that to Wrightsman’s interest in oceanography and his practical nature, and Rathburn said it all pointed to a career in geology. “Brian’s inquisitive mind and his broad array of interests, including biology, marine science and science education, make him very well-suited for a career in geology,” Rathburn said. “I had every confidence that a geoscience major would be a good fit for Brian, and that Indiana State could offer him the skills, experiential learning and training opportunities that would provide him with the background to achieve his career goals.” Indiana State geology professor and the department’s undergraduate advisor, Sandy Brake, said all areas of geology are actively employing Indiana State graduates. While it is not uncommon for graduates to seek positions in mining and petroleum industries, she said most Sycamores opt for careers in environmental fields. No matter what career path a student may choose to pursue in the future, Wrightsman said a major in geology can be worth its weight in gold. “Back when I was in college, I always figured I would be a teacher. When I graduated, I got a job almost immediately, but five years into it, I decided I needed a change and I’m happy I made the move,” he said. “There are always things you can pull out of ground that are in high demand, which makes geology a great field to go into. It was a good decision for me for sure, and I’m happy I did it.”
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C
NEW PROGRAM HELPS ADDRESS SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL PROVIDERS
hristen Schmidt, ’08, GR ’13, is part of a new breed of health care providers. One month after graduating with Indiana State University’s first class of physician assistant studies students, Schmidt began practicing medicine at Providence Medical Center. Schmidt also holds a bachelor’s degree in business and a minor in biology from Indiana State and said her business background helped her prepare to practice medicine in an era of health care reform. “It helps me better understand all of the changes going on and respect some of the changes,” she said. Schmidt said Indiana State prepared her and her fellow students very well. “I had a lot of real world scenarios during training, including at the Simulation Center at Union Hospital,” she said.
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“Clinically, they prepared us via multiple tests, including practice test to see if there were certain areas we weren’t prepared for.” Students also benefitted from a variety of workshops, including one presented by Providence Medical Center Staff on the often complicated issue of medical billing. As a Terre Haute native, Schmidt is proud to help friends and acquaintances through an illness or injury. “About once a day, I treat somebody that I know. It feels good to have that connection,” she said. More than 50 graduates have completed the program in its first two years and Russell Coutinho, MD, the program’s director, said demand remains strong. “With the new health care law and the expanding number of people having insurance, there will be a need for a large number of practitioners,” Coutinho said.
“Physician assistants will fill this role in looking after these patients, together with their collaborating physician.” Christopher Roman, assistant professor in the department of applied medicine and rehabilitation, expects continued success. “We have been fortunate to have very bright, motivated students come to Terre Haute to train, and we are confident that they’ll move on to do great things in their careers,” he said. — Dave Taylor
INDIANA STATE RESEARCH SHEDS LIGHT ON ‘NEWBORN FALLS’
PHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
ecent research that has received national attention had its origins in a Vermont hospital, where a maternity nurse worked prior to enrolling in an Indiana State University graduate program. Tara Matteson, GR ’12, was shocked and saddened to learn that, during a 2½-year period, five newborns had fallen to the floor at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington. At least one infant who had fallen suffered multiple skull fractures. “This prompted me to start wondering what was going on,” said Matteson, now a nurse educator for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and adjunct instructor at Indiana State. “It was the first time I had ever heard about this happening.” A review of hospital records showed that five newborns had fallen from their parents’ arms while in bed in 2½ years, a period in which the hospital recorded about
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5,000 births. The hospital eliminated such incidents after expanding parental education. When Matteson enrolled at Indiana State to become a nurse educator, she was required to develop an evidence-based manuscript. She recalled finding only one published report on the topic of “newborn falls” at the time of the Vermont incidents and set out with Jessica Nelson, then assistant professor of advanced practice nursing, to determine just how widespread the problem was.
“What we found was that there (still) wasn’t a whole lot on it,” said Nelson, noting only three articles were published and one article was from a 1948 issue of the journal Pediatrics. “So, it’s a problem now; it was a problem way back in 1948, but there wasn’t a lot of research because no one wants to talk about it, either in the hospital setting or in home,” she said. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing recently published an eight-page paper by Matteson, Audrey Henderson-Williams, GR ’12, clinical coordinator at DeKalb Medical Center in Georgia, and Nelson that was recognized by the National Institutes of Health as a “premier article.” “We hope the national attention our research has received will prompt hospitals across the country to examine this little reported, but serious problem and take steps to address it,” Matteson said. — Dave Taylor
The
New Normal 1.
The major contributor to fungi growth is the packaging Capri Sun uses, which can easily be punctured, allowing oxygen, a component needed for fungi growth, Dannelly says.
A GROWING ISSUE BY SADIE ALL, ’14 More than two years ago, Kathleen Dannelly and then Indiana State student Leah Horn, ’13, found five different kinds of nontoxic fungi growing in packages of Capri Sun — and the research made headlines around the world. The associate professor of biology didn’t stop there, though. Since then, she and associate professor of biology Riley Sutherlin, ’14, have found a total of 40 different types of fungi in the different drink flavors.
2. Capri Sun representatives say there is no harm ingesting the fungi, because it is a common food mold, also found in bread and fruit. Dannelly clarifies that it could be dangerous for people with compromised immunities to consume the beverage, especially when the fungus has grown to high numbers.
3. The Kraft Corporation, manufacturer of Capri Sun, says they’ve invested millions of dollars in
packaging, quality and manufacturing processes to make the pouches “even stronger and more resistant to leaks.”
4. Although Dannelly says a fruit juice drink with no preservatives is naturally going to have microbes
in it, the biggest shock to many consumers is the product is not sterile.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY CAMPBELL/INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES PHOTO CREDIT
5.
One visible change is the use of a clear bottom of the drink pouch, which advertisements state it’s for moms who “wanted to see the goodness inside.”
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TALES FROM THE CAMPUS CRYPT BY DAVE MALONE, GR ’94
She asked again. Then stood up and peered into the neighboring office. She gazed down the hallway. Finally, she walked to the kitchen, where she found her colleague. “Did you just return back to your office?” “No.” They were the only two people in the house at the time. Unexplained footsteps on the stairs in the Condit House were so frequently heard, the clerks took the unknown visitor for granted. They wondered if the recurring spirit belonged to Helen Condit, who died in the 1960s and bequeathed the house to the university. Or perhaps the infant twins, Helen’s siblings, who passed away in the house, never really left? Could the incident be normal, abnormal or even paranormal? You may not believe in ghosts or spirits or things that go bump in the night. If you don’t, you might be
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RACHEL KEYES/INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
I
f asked, two administrative clerks will likely tell you. It wasn’t normal. But it happened. It happened on the Indiana State campus in a two-story brick, Italianate-style house where a reverend and his wife lost infant twins around 1860. One hundred years later, the Victorian-era home was bequeathed to the university. For 15 years up until 2008, the stately Condit House served as the office for the university president. In separate rooms, two female administrative assistants worked on the ground floor. One called out, “I’m going back to the kitchen.” Not long after, a shadow of a woman slipped by. The other assistant hollered, “You back already?” Nothing.
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Portrait of Charlotte Burford
PHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
surprised to discover about half of your friends and colleagues do, according to a 2012 Huffington Post poll that found 45 percent of adults believe in apparitions. An older Gallup Poll (2005) determined three out of four Americans believe in the paranormal. Folklorists believe human beings have just cause to hold a fascination with apparitions. “We need ghosts, because they meet a variety of cultural concerns, including the reality that everyday life is full of uncertainties and mysteries. Ghost stories excel at speaking to and capturing these mysteries and uncertainties. They remind us that our everyday worlds are not entirely knowable,” said Jeannie Thomas, a former Indiana State professor. What better setting for the intersection of the knowable and the unknowable than a college campus, with buildings dating back to the 19th century? According to Nan McEntire, folklorist and associate
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professor emerita of English and women’s studies at Indiana State, “Campuses are places of exploration, transformation and initiation. It makes sense that stories about the supernatural find welcome homes in the historic buildings, the dormitories and the pastoral settings of colleges throughout the world.” Indiana State is certainly no exception. Before retiring, McEntire created a campus ghost tour for students, and they’re still held each year during Sycamore Scare Week, which occurs around Halloween. Many versions of the Sycamores’ tales paint moral imperatives: Study hard, be wary in love and choose good friends. Students live in residence halls … and perhaps so do other, non-tuition-paying, beings. Nestled among residence hall towers in Sycamore Plaza, a tall, thin structure reaches into the sky with an Icarus-type yearning. Since the early 1990s, several accounts of a spirit that haunts room 1221
Butterfly garden
of Cromwell Hall have been told. Stressed during finals’ week, a male student jumped to his death — but not before he painted a white cross under a 12th-floor window on the exterior of the building. Many say the maintenance crews have removed the cross from the exterior of Cromwell Hall, only to find the cross mysteriously repainted. A heartbroken student is said to have tied bed sheets around her neck and hanged herself. Traumatized students stood around her mangled body. Some believe the victim was pushed. In the late 1960s, in the residential six-story low-rise Burford Hall, female students would lie awake all night petrified. They slept behind locked doors and shoved furniture against them for extra protection. This ghost was easily heard: She laughed, vomited and then kindly flushed the toilet. By morning, somehow the young women’s doors would be unlocked. “Barfing Barb,” as she is known, is not the lone spirit in Burford Hall. Accounts gathered by folklorists speak of others, such as the
evil-eye stare of the matronly picture of Mrs. Burford. Rumors have been spread that “Old Lady Burford” committed suicide there. (She did not.) In 1910, Mrs. Charlotte Burford became the college’s second dean of women and served until 1946. Today, on a visit to Burford Hall’s first floor, you will find the picture of an older, stern woman with a plaque that documents her service. Charlotte survived a patriarchal culture and thrived as the dean of women, a job of power. For cynics of ghosts and the supernatural, it is helpful to turn to science. On campus, Investigation: Supernatural Unit’s (I:SU) budding scientists strive to verify claims with facts to prove the existence of ghosts and paranormal activity. Founded in 2012 by alumnus Sean Green, ’13, I:SU claims “Paranormal is our normal.” Now led by president Emily Rigdon, the student organization is dedicated to discovering if locations are haunted by collecting evidence on film and audio. They labor to discover EVP — Electronic Voice Phenomena. They attempt to record ghost chatter and seek documented proof. As with the famous and compelling 1936 photograph snapped of a ghostly female form in a residence in Norfolk, England, I:SU is always up against skeptics. Some argue photographic and audio evidence, while compelling, can be faked. Some believe, some don’t. But ghost stories and haunted places aren’t likely to leave Indiana State, other college campuses or beyond, given that cultures have been fascinated with the spirit world and apparitions for centuries. For Sycamores, whether or not they want to delve into paranormal science or ghost-busting, they tend to appreciate the ability to ace tests. Supposedly, prior to any exam, this can be done by placing hands on a campus plaque with a grammatical error. Touch the error. Be error-free.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
Condit House
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News Alumni
RICK PETERS, ’84 BY HILARY DUNCAN, ’10
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY CAMPBELL/INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
oday, Rick Peters, ’84, is a successful entrepreneur, focused on helping athletes of all types compete at their optimum levels. He has dedicated his career to developing superior ankle brace technology and has founded two successful athletic-focused ankle brace companies (Active Ankle in 1989 and Ultra Athlete LLC in 1999) and holds 18 ankle brace patents. As an Indiana State University student, Peters was not certain of his course of study, let alone his future career path. His interest in athletic training didn’t peak until an Indiana State football game when a group of student athletic trainers ran on to the field to assist injured players. Peters remembers being fascinated with what they were doing. “From that experience, I got into the athletic training program and became a student athletic trainer for the football team,” Peters said. His success in the ankle brace industry started while he was a Sycamore. He crafted his first ankle brace out of training room supplies, a McDonald’s tray and flower pot — a creation he still has in a trophy case in his office — and applied for his first patent. “It [athletic training] became a passion for me and I was on the Dean’s List all of the time,” said Peters.
Bracing for success 1984: Peters invents and applies for his first ankle brace patent as a student at Indiana State. With help from his college roommates, he crafts his first ankle brace out of a McDonald’s tray, football
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pad and flower pot. The ankle brace later becomes the model for what is known today as the Active Ankle®. 1984: Peters graduates from Indiana State University with an un-
dergraduate degree in athletic training. 1986: Peters founds his first ankle brace technology company, Active Innovations Inc. 1989: Peters sells Active Innovations to a newly
formed company he helped create, Active Ankle® Systems. 1996: As president, Peters retires from Active Ankle® Systems, licensing his technology to the company.
1999: Peters co-founds Ultra Athlete® LLC and starts on a mission of developing the next generation of ankle bracing technology under the Ultra Ankle® brand.
WHICH OF THESE INDIANA STATE FALL TRADITIONS TAKES PLACE DURING HOMECOMING?
GET SOCIAL WITH THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
We asked the question, and alumni responded: Who was the most influential person you met at Indiana State?
A. Cheri Bradley’s Lemonade Stand
C. Donaghy Day
B. Sycamore Tricycle Derby
D. March Through the Arch
Whitney Nord, ’10
Della Thacker was always there — as a professor and as a friend. She always went the extra mile to help with class work, as well as life’s many challenges. She is a caring person with a huge heart. She truly was my biggest cheerleader during my time at ISU, inside and outside of the classroom. Thank you!!
Answer: B. Sycamore Tricycle Derby Lesley Hunte Roberts, ’92
2013: Ultra Athlete® LLC surpasses more than one million Ultra Ankle® braces sold to the medical, retail and team markets. Ultra Ankle® braces are worn by high school, collegiate and professional athletes worldwide.
2013: Peyton Manning wears the Ultra CTS®, an Ultra Ankle® product used specifically to treat his acute high ankle injury. 2014: Peters holds 18 patents and is responsible for developing the first
hinged ankle brace, the first hinged-cuff ankle brace, the first soft shell ankle brace and the first detachable shell ankle brace.
Dr. Keith Byerman in the English department. I majored in English (19881992), and he helped me discover my love of good literature and writing. I just finished my doctorate, and the writing was my favorite part. I loved his classes and took as many as I could.
35 STATEMAGAZINE.COM
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1936-1984 GLADYS HOOD JOHNSON, ’36, celebrated her 100th birthday on July 17 in Gary, Ind. Hood Johnson is the oldest living person born in Gary, Ind. LAVERNE WILLIAMS, GR ’65, a fine arts alumnus, had her artwork exhibited at the Larimer Arts Center in Palatka, Fla. BOB KOMARA, ’69, GR ’72, began his 46th season as a football coach. This season, he is coaching at Andrean High School in Merrillville, Ind. BILL LANSAW, ’73, was named the new vice president of transportation for LeSaint Logistics. DARLA BENT, ’74, retired after 30 years working at Bloomfield School in Bloomfield, Ind. CATHIE REYNOLDS, ’74, GR ’96, retired from Coles County Health Department after 35 years of service. JOHN ROEDER, ’76, joined Sibcy Cline Real Estate as a realtor. STEVE ROBERTSON, ’77, retired from the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility after 32 years of service.
FOUR DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI TO BE HONORED AT HOMECOMING BY HILARY DUNCAN, ’10
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he Indiana State University Alumni Association has named four alumni as Distinguished Alumni Award recipients: Tom Bareford, ’64; Debbie Bareford, ’64, GR ’68; Charles Brown, ’76, GR ’93; and Krishna Pendyala, GR, ’86. The 2014 class of recipients will be presented with the award at a special ceremony on Oct. 11 during homecoming. The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor presented. Rooted in the core values of the university, this prestigious award recognizes the professional accomplishments as well as community and service contributions of alumni. Since 1957, the Indiana State Alumni Association has recognized 280 alumni with the Distinguished Alumni Award.
RICHARD BUCY, ’79, was named the fixed operations director for Fuson Buick Cadillac and GMC in Terre Haute, Ind. GARY WALLYN, ’80, will be the feature soloist at this year’s Big Night Out. CRAIG CARLISLE, ’84, won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program for his work on the show “Arthur.” CONNIE ORMISTON, ’84, created Rachel’s Red Barn in Paris, Ill., with several family members and friends. The small business bakes cookies and creates greeting cards.
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Tom, ’64, and Debbie, ’64, GR ’68 Bareford
Tom and Debbie Bareford are most notably known at Indiana State for co-founding Sycamore Tricycle Derby along with their counterpart, Michael Simmons, ’64. Started more than 50 years ago, this event is one of the most well-known traditions among alumni
and current Indiana State students. While attending Indiana State, Tom was involved in Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, Blue Key National Honor Society and Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity. Debbie was an active member of Delta Gamma sorority, served as sophomore class treasurer, and participated in numerous student activities. The couple was introduced at a social event by Simmons. After graduating, the couple moved to Indianapolis and married on July 4, 1964. Tom began his banking career and Debbie began her education career. In 2005, Tom retired from Chase Bank as vice president in the Large Corporate Banking Group. Debbie retired after 44 years of teaching business math, business and computer science in Indianapolis. Today, the couple dedicates much of their time to volunteering for Indiana State in various capacities. Debbie has served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and as the chair for the Indianapolis Alumni Club. Tom currently serves on the Indiana State University Foundation Board of Directors. Tom and Debbie are members of the Alumni Association’s Blue Card Club, the University’s President’s Society, Book and Torch Society, 1865 Society and are recipients of the March On! Philanthropy Award. Charles Brown graduated from Indiana State in 1976 with a bachelor of science degree in English. After earning his undergraduate degree,
Brown began his professional career working as the assistant director of the university’s Upward Bound program. In 1979, he became the director of the African American Cultural Center on campus and served in that role for more than 30 years. Upon his retirement in 2010, the center was renamed as the Charles E. Brown African American Cultural Center and an endowment for the center was created in his honor.
Charles E. Brown, ’76, GR ’93
Brown dedicated his career to ensuring that Indiana State minority students had desirable opportunities for campus involvement that were meaningful to their African-American heritage. During his tenure as the director, Brown increased the center’s library and art collections, guided the Ebony Majestic Choir and was responsible for ongoing programs such as the Martin Luther King Jr. dinner, Miss Ebony Pageant and the Black Leadership Conference. In addition to his role with the center, Brown served as the faculty advisor to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Angels, Indiana State Soul Revue and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. He was also the founder and advisor to the Black Student Organization and the Indiana State University Black Greek Council. Brown earned his master’s degree in public administration from Indiana State in 1993. Brown married Scotia, ’79, GR ’03, and they have three children: Charles, ’04, Camille, ’07, and Channon, ’11.
A life coach, author, workshop leader and social entrepreneur, Krishna Pendyala graduated from Indiana State in 1986 with a master of science degree in educational media. Originally from India, Pendyala moved to the U.S. in 1984 to further his education. Through his passion for teaching and learning, he founded two multimedia companies and currently serves as the chief empowerment officer at Tetra Advisors, a talent-engagement firm. Pendyala is also deeply passionate about helping people make more mindful choices in life. He serves as president of the Mindful Nation Foundation, a national network inspired by Congressman Tim Ryan that nurtures and supports the incorporation of scientifically supported contemplative practices to help Americans overcome stress and lead more fulfilling lives. Pendyala is a blogger for mindfulchoices.org and is the author of “Beyond the PIG and the APE: Realizing Success and true Happiness.” As a member of TiE Pittsburgh, the National Association for Self-Esteem and organizer of Pittsburgh NOW and Discover YOU Meetup groups, Pendyala is committed to volunteering both at a national level and in his Pittsburgh community.
19862005 LYNN HOBBS, ’86, GR ’91, retired after 31 years of teaching in the White River Valley School District. KENT UTT, ’88, was named president of the Knox County Development Corporation. TIM PITTMAN, GR ’93, was named manager of labor and environmental standards for Great Dane. BIONCA GAMBILL, ’94, was sworn in as the representative for Indiana House District 45. RENÉ HANKINS, ’96, GR ’08, was named executive director of outreach for Ivy Tech Community College in the newly merged Wabash Valley and Southwest regions. TOM MCQUEARY, ’96, was named chief estimator for CDI Inc. BRANDI NUGENT, ’97, was named the relationship manager in the employee benefits department at Forrest Sherer Insurance. PAIGE MCNULTY, GR ’98, was named the assistant superintendent for the Kane County Regional Office of Education in Geneva, Ill. MIRIAM WARRICK, ’01, was named vice president of Old National Bank. SUSAN TURNER, ’02, was named director of advancement and alumni relations at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. TODD GOWEN, GR ’03, was selected as the vice principal of South Putnam High School. PHILIP CORNELIUS, ’04, was named the assistant director of parks and recreation for the city of Greencastle, Ind.
Krishna Pendyala, GR ’86
In addition to his master’s degree from Indiana State, he earned his bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and has attended executive management programs at Carnegie Mellon University and Harvard University.
ALLISON ENSLEIN, ’04, joined the AIM Academy as the head of Lower School in Conshohocken, Pa. JENNIFER KERSEY, ’04, was named the wellness and sports marketing coordinator for the new Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center at Saint Mary-of-theWoods College. SCOTT FEE, PH.D. ’05, was named dean of university extended education at Minnesota State University Mankato.
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2005-2014 JAMIE POORMAN, ’05, was named the head librarian of Marshall Public Library. JA’MARCUS HAMPTON, ’06, was named associate athletic director for advancement at the University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, Mass. KEVIN MYERS, PH.D. ’06, was named superintendent of Mundelein High School in Mundelein, Ill. JESSICA BESTE, ’07, was promoted to assistant vice president and relationship banker at iAB Financial Bank. JOCELYN POLLARD, ’07, received the Compensation Management Specialist designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit plans. NICK ROMAN, ’09, was named an estimator at Garmong Construction. RYAN HARTLEROAD, ’12, was sworn in as a deputy for the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department. NICK LIZANICH II, GR ’12, joined Forrest Sherer Insurance as a commercial producer. TYLER BROWNING, ’13, was named the director of academic advising and recruitment at Lincoln Trail College. JESSICA WEESNER, ’14, who is the reigning Miss Indiana State University, was presented a bronze medal for her participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
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PHILANTHROPISTS HONORED WITH MARCH ON! AWARDS THE INDIANA STATE FOUNDATION presented three Indiana State University philanthropists, Herbert Simon, Mary Alice and Duane Klueh and Siemens PLM Software, with the March On! Award on July 26. As the university’s highest philanthropy-based honor, the award recognized the 2014 recipients for their support of Indiana State’s growth and success. Simon received the award in the individual category for his contributions to significant Indiana State alumni legacy projects. His personal and corporate gifts helped make the Bayh Legacy Wall in the Bayh College of Education and the Larry Bird Scholarship endowment for the Men’s Basketball Team possible. Simon’s support of these projects was instrumental in honoring alumni who have had a profound impact at the university.
The faculty, staff and emeriti March On! Award was given to the Kluehs. The couple has been longtime supporters of the university, including through the establishment of the Duane and Mary Alice Klueh Scholarship endowment. Their recent planned gift will help to expand the endowment and provide additional scholarship support for Sycamore student-athletes. Siemens PLM Software received the corporate and foundation category award in recognition of their in-kind gift worth more than $9.7 million. By providing Indiana State with their company’s Teamcenter portfolio software, students in the College of Technology and Scott College of Business are able to experience the same design and supply chain technology as professionals working in the industry. — Kim Kunz, GR ’10
Top: Indiana State University Foundation President Ron Carpenter, left, presents the 2014 March On! Corporate and Foundation Award to Tom Rocklin, manager of Midwest communications for Siemens PLC. Bottom: Indiana State President Dan Bradley, left, and Carpenter, right, pose with Paul Klueh, Katherine Klueh Risacher and Shannon Riscacher, children and granddaughter of Duane and Mary Alice Klueh, recipients of the 2014 March ON! Award Faculty, Staff and Emeriti Award.
PLAN AHEAD: FALL ALUMNI EVENTS THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WILL WELCOME BACK thousands of Sycamores and friends to campus for the 2014 Homecoming celebration Oct. 10-11. The 52nd running of the Sycamore Tricycle Derby will take place on Friday, Oct. 10. The race will start at 4 p.m. at the Michael Simmons Student Activity Center located at Ninth and Sycamore streets. On Saturday, Oct. 11, the annual Blue and White Parade will begin at 9 a.m. As the longestrunning student-organized parade in the nation, it will wind through downtown Terre Haute starting at Ninth and Cherry streets. The other popular Homecoming tradition, Tent City, will take place at Memorial Stadium at 11 a.m. This massive tailgate atmosphere is full of food, giveaways and fun leading up to kick-off of the Homecoming football game. Coach Mike Sanford’s Sycamores will take on the Redbirds of Illinois State University at 3 p.m. For additional alumni activities and details, go to www.indstate.edu/homecoming
or call 812-514-8400 or 800-258-6478. AFTER HOMECOMING, ALUMNI CAN CONNECT WITH Indiana State through events across the state and nation. The Alumni Association, along with Indiana State President Dan Bradley and First Lady Cheri Bradley, will be traveling throughout Indiana, including Evansville, Indianapolis, Jasper, Washington and Fort Wayne as a part of the official Fall Alumni Tour. The Alumni Association is also partnering with the Sycamore Athletic Fund to host alumni and fan experience events in conjunction with several Sycamore Basketball non-conference games. These road trips destinations include to Las Vegas, for the 14th Annual Las Vegas Invitational Nov. 27-28 and New Rochelle, N.Y., for the Indiana State vs. Iona men’s basketball game Dec. 13. For more information about these and other fall happenings, go to indstate.edu/alumni or call 812-514-8400 or 800-258-6478. — Kim Kunz, GR ’10
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Typing class, 1939 Students work on their speed and accuracy in a typing class in the Old North Hall Wing of the Administration Building. (Martin Photo Collection, courtesy of University Archives)
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Trading room, 2014 The Scott College of Business’ financial trading room, which is housed on the first floor of Federal Hall opened in 2007, features multiple stock tickers, three video data walls and 24 student work stations with dual monitors. Photography by Indiana State University Photography Services
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