November 16, 2015
ISSUE 7
FIFTEEN YEARS OF SERVICE Officer Ruben Borrego retires from his position at IUS.
Sexual Assault Prevention, education Read more on page 8-10
Officer Borrego Retires Read more on page 12-14.
Faculty Mentors
Read more on page 20-21.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Athlete Heath & Training
Retiring from the Force
IUS athletic trainers help to keep student athletes from getting injured.
Officer Ruben is retiring from the force and his position at IU Southeast.
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12-14
Volunteering
Mental Illness
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16-18
Two students who spend their time volunteering share their experiences.
Demand for personal counseling has raised on campus, and Personal Couseling Services is working to meet that demand.
Sexual Assault 8-10
An overview of information and prevention of sexual assault.
You’ve Got a Friend in Me 20-21
Better performance can result from professional relationships between student and faculty.
Noises Off 24
A review of the play now showing in the Ogle Center.
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IN EVERY ISSUE
JALEN BRASHER Forward, #22
Faces of IUS 4 Events 5 Diversions 22
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
UPCOMING GAMES
SCORECARD Men’s Basketball
Men’s Basketball
Volleyball
Women’s Basketball
11/3 IUS vs. Univ. of the Cumberlands 70-85 11/6 IUS vs. Lindwood University 101-100 11/7 IUS vs. Point University 82-72 10/31 IUS vs. Spalding University 11/5 IUS vs. Cincinnati Christian
3-1 1-3
EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION IU Southeast 4201 Grant Line Road New Albany, IN 47150 Editor-in-Chief: Zak Kerr Managing Editor: Paige Thompson News Editor: Chelsey Carr Features Editor: Joseph Kauffman Sports Editor: Blake Stewart Photography Editor: Marisa Gartland Director of Student Media/Adviser: Adam Maksl
Staff: Enrique Bryan Kaitlin Casper Olivia Cook Kate Harrison Hannah Foreman Parker Henes Kristin Kennedy Latach’ Payne Somolia Pumphrey Paul Robey Ty Simpson Joel Stinnett Daniel Vance Jordan Williams
11/28 1 p.m. Miami-Middletown (H) 11/30 8 p.m. Campbellsville (A) 11/17 6 p.m. Kentucky Christian (A) 11/20 8 p.m. Huntington University (A)
(812) 941-2253 horizon@ius.edu
edit for brevity, grammar and style, and may limit frequent letter writers.
The Horizon is partially funded by Student Activity Fees. The Horizon is a student-produced newspaper, published weekly during the fall and spring semesters. Editors must be enrolled in at least three credit hours and some are paid.
The Horizon welcomes contributions on all subjects. The Horizon is not an offical publication of Indiana University Southeast, and therefore does not necessarily reflect its views.
To report a story idea or obtain information, call or email the Horizon.
Your first Issue of the Horizon is free. All subsequent copies cost $2 each.
Letters to the editors must be signed, include student’s major and class standing and be fewer than 500 words. The Horizon reserves the right to
The Horizon is a member of the Indiana Collegiate Press Association, Hoosier State Press Association, and the Associated Collegiate Press.
POLICE
BLOTTER Oct. 30 at 9:14 p.m.
Officer to assist FCSD on a report of juveniles disturbing the neighborhood. Officers advise the subjects are on a scavenger hunt and the subjects check OK.
FACES OF IUS - photos by Marisa Gartland -
Nov. 2 at 10:27 p.m.
Officer dispatched on a report of a glass door shattering. Maintenance called. Officer reports no evidence of vandalism.
Nov. 3 at 10:18 a.m.
Officers dispatched to check on a suspicious person in Central parking lot. It was an individual delivering phone books. Successful.
Nov. 3 at 11:27 a.m.
Officer taking a property damage report. A television in University Center was hit while an employee was moving tables. Estimated value of television, $500.
Nov. 5 at 10:55 a.m.
Officer taking an injury report for a campus visitor. A high school student visiting campus ran into a pole and hit her head. Report taken.
Nov. 5 at 7:49 p.m.
Officer stopped a vehicle for driving erratically. Officer requests an ambulance as the driver states he fell off a deck and has severely injured his back. Subject to be transported to Floyd Memorial Hosptial.
Nov. 6 at 8:54 p.m.
Officer dispatched on a report of a black van on campus selling drugs. Officer unable to locate.
Nov. 11 at 12:13 p.m.
Officers dispatched to a domestic disturbance outside Meadow Lodge. The caller had stated he and his girlfriend broke up and she was refusing to give him his belongings. Officers responded. No violence occurred. Report taken and will be handled administratively.
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IZZY NOLAN
psychology/sociology junior
Izzy was heading out of campus to see Sufjan Stevens perform. “This is my third time seeing him play this year. I just love him. His newest album made me cry.”
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LIZ HUNTON
business/marketing senior
Liz was collaborating with other students to finish an audit for a marketing strategies class. “I really enjoy my marketing classes. They give me more room to be creative.”
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
New Albany Farmer’s Market
Bourbon & Burgers
Every Tue/Wed/Sat at 202 E Market St
Nov. 17
Devin The Dude Zanzabar; $15 Hip hop artist native to Houston, Texas, Devin the Dude, will light up Zanzabar with the funky tunes. Play some pinball while you listen to the jams.
Nov. 17
November 20 @ Bourbon Raw; $15
Nov. 18
Nov. 19
Nov. 19
May The Health Be Dining Out for Life The Price is Right Dodgeball Tournament The Louisville Palace; $35 Multiple Locations With You Silver Street Park; $20 per The Hoosier Room
A Star Wars themed health The House of Ruth is hosting fair takes place campus a benefit in which 25 percent wide. There will be free of your bill will benefit HIV/ information, services, AIDs research and support. screenings and giveaways with Participating restaurants are over 25 vendors, as well as located on Dining Out For Life’s complimentary food. website.
Nov. 20
Nov. 21
The Bard’s Town
The Ogle Center; $10 for Students
Mercury Ballroom; $50
Former owner of Groucho’s Karaoke Bar in Louisville, Groucho takes over The Bard’s Town to bring you the best free karaoke in Louisville.
The Louisville Orchestra is expanding its venues into Southern Indiana and will be giving a performance at the Ogle Center. It will feature conductor Bob Bernhardt.
Singer, producer and actress Monica will take the stage at the Mercury Ballroom to pump out some smooth R&B tunes.
Groucho’s Karaoke Louisville Orchestra: Serenades
Nov. 23 Monica
If you’ve ever been a fan of the TV show, now’s your chance to get an up close and personal perspective of one of TV’s greatest and longest running gameshows.
10-person team
The SAA will host a dodgeball tournament benefiting Shop with a Cop. Unleash the dodgeball champion within you!
Nov. 24
Nov. 27
Actor’s Theatre; $25-$125
KFC Yum! Center - $50-$65
Let’s face it, the Holidays are here! Get into the season by checking out the annual performance of “A Christmas Carol” presented by Fifth Third. Running through December 23.
Cedric The Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, D.L. Hughley, George Lopez and Charlie Murphy will take the stage together in a once in a lifetime performance to see five star comedians work together and light up the stage.
A Christmas Carol The Comedy Get Down
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IU Southeast students volunteer in their community Hannah Foreman Staff Reporter haforema@ius.edu Sitting on your couch, watching the same episode of Criminal Minds for the fifth time, you think to yourself, “Isn’t there something more productive I could be doing? Something that isn’t homework? I already know how this one ends.” If you’re interested in getting more involved in your community, you should look into volunteering. Lissa Gamsky, international business junior, is currently doing an internship at Preservation Louisville, a non-profit dedicated to working with local, state and national organizations to promote the preservation of Louisville’s historic resources through education and advocacy. While looking for internships, Gamsky met with the executive director of Preservation Louisville,
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Photo Courtesy of Lissa Gamsky Lissa Gamsky, International Business Junior, at the Preservation Louisville Booth at the Nulu Festival
IU Southeast has a high caliber of students and she represents the type of student that is dedicated to excellence in what she does. Marianne Zickuhr Director, Preservation of Louisville
Marianne Zickuhr, and was inspired by the passion Zickuhr has for her job. “I was interested in learning about non-profits
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and what goes on behind the scenes and I loved how passionate Marianne was about what she does,” Gamsky said. Zickuhr had just graduated from IU Southeast when The Brennan House Historic Home, a house museum, was looking to find a new mission. She believed that with over 30,000 historic buildings in the city of Louisville, an advocate was needed for historic preservation. “I began to develop a new business plan and rebranded the organization to be what it is todayPreservation Louisville,” Zickuhr said. Gamsky’s favorite thing about volunteering is getting to go to festivals and tell other people about the organization. “We had a booth at the St. James festival. It’s cool to get different perspectives from the people that come up to us and try to figure out what we do,” Gamsky said. Since joining Preservation Louisville, Zickuhr
Something Gamsky wants other people to know about volunteering is that it’s a great way to get involved and learn about things you normally wouldn’t get the opportunity to. “Interning for Preservation Louisville has helped me become better at talking to people and telling them about my organization and promoting it so more people will want to get into volunteering as well,” Gamsky said. Jake Holland, nursing senior, also volunteers. However, got an early start. Holland currently participates in a food drive for In Heaven’s Eyes, which is run through Holy Family, where Holland went to grade school. Every Saturday they prepare brown bag lunches and take them to the New Albany housing authority to provide the people who live there with some free food. “This all started when I was in sixth grade. I was only 13 years old and I was going and seeing other kids who really needed food and other stuff that I took for granted and it really inspired me,” Holland said. “I’ve always loved helping people and that’s one of the big reasons I’m becoming a
Photo courtesy of Lissa Gamsky
believes Gamsky has brought a lot to the table by being younger than most of the interns and having the best attitude. “Lissa is a great learner and is easy to mentor because of that good attitude. She understands that she is a part of the team and we all work together well,” Zickuhr said. “I like to think, especially since I am an alumni, that IU Southeast has a high caliber of students and she represents the type of student that is dedicated to excellence in what she does.” In terms of her future career, Gamsky believes that her internship will be helpful when trying to find a job later on. She hopes to get into the non-profit area of work and says this gives her experience working with that type of outlook. Zickuhr is proud of how far Gamsky has come since starting her internship with Preservation Louisville. “She has much more confidence and is very well spoken when representing my organization. I am truly impressed by how she has progressed and who she has become since being here,” Zickuhr said.
Volunteering is very important to me and it will definitely be helpful for my career Bobby Holland Volunteer
nurse.” Jake’s father, Bobby Holland, said volunteering has always been in his son’s nature. “Jake was always the first to volunteer to help. It just seemed to come naturally to him to help others. Not only those less fortunate than him, but anyone who needed help. Through his volunteer work Jake has been able to see the needs that are out there and more importantly that he can make a meaningful difference. His passion for helping others and making the world a better place is a big factor in him choosing a career in nursing,” Bobby Holland said. Holland said his favorite thing about volunteering is seeing the smiles and how much he can change someone’s life by giving an hour of his time. “Volunteering is very important to me and it will definitely be helpful for my career. As a nurse you do a lot of volunteer work outside of your hospital hours or whatever you choose to go into for your
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Photo courtesy of Jake Holland
profession. A lot of nursing in general is helping the community with both your college and medical knowledge,” Holland said. Something Holland wants prospective volunteers to know about volunteering is that it doesn’t take as much time as they might at first think. “It generally only takes me about an hour and a half to do the entire food drive for that weekend,” Holland said. “That’s even counting the time it takes to drive there and back and I live pretty far out. So it takes very little time compared to the big difference you’re helping make in someone’s life.” IU Southeast has created a program to help reward and track students participation in the community called the Volunteer Incentive Program. By signing up, students will gain access to resources and become eligible or various incentives. Students enroll and report their hours online and awards are presented each spring at the annual Campus Commitment to Student Learning awards ceremony.
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SEXUAL ASSAULT: BYSTANDER PREVENTION, EDUCATION AND CHANGING THE SOCIAL NARRATIVE System wide changes By Paige Thompson Managing Editor thompaig@ius.edu On Wednesday, Nov. 11, Audra Dowling, Assistant Director of Residence Life, asked passing students to make a pledge against sexual violence by signing their name and what made them “IUStrong,” as a part of week of action for the It’s On Us campaign. Dowling said that one of the main goals of the organization is to create a better culture on campus and making sure students are aware of the resources available to them. Stop Sexual Violence at Indiana University is a system-wide initiative to decrease the amount of sexual assaults on IU campuses. Through this initiative, students can report incidents, get help and support and find out what resources are available to them both on and off campus.
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Associate Professor of History, Kelly Ryan, said that changes are being made to improve the safety, resources and support of sexual assault victims within the IU system. “Last year, President Obama pushed colleges to start taking sexual assaults on campus seriously,” Ryan said. After this call to action, a committee in which Ryan sat in on provided IU President Michael McRobbie with scholarly supported and tested best practices to enact on campus. “The university sees this not only as a safe space issue, but it’s a retention issue. If people don’t feel safe, if they feel that the university is not hearing them, then we don’t keep students,” she said. Ryan said that some of these practices that the IU system could enact would include annual surveys of students. “Since each campus is so unique, with separate problems, we need to have annual surveys sent out so we can figure out what students concerns [are],”
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Ryan said. The second practice is the creation of a life skills course for students. “What that involves is a couple of things. One is about positive healthy sexual education,” she said. Lastly, community engagement, oversight and prevention strategies for fraternities and sororities. “They [Greek life] are a great space to spread a message about safe sex and it’s also often an issue within those spaces,” Ryan said. Once the committee submitted the report to McRobbie, Ryan said, IU Statewide Sexual Assault Education and Prevention Specialist, Mahri Irvine, was hired to work on strategy and prevention programs within the IU system. “She wants to hear from students about what they see on campus and what they need to feel safe,” Ryan said. Irvine said that one of her goals is to understand the underserved and marginalized groups within the IU system to find out who is being left out when it comes to prevention of sexual assault. “I work with people at regional campuses to do in-depth needs assessments on each campus,” Irvine said. Another part of Irvine’s job is to make sure employees are properly trained in the field of handling sexual assaults. “[We do] training on false rape reports, making sure people are well trained to identify them. Response and victim support training and putting more time and effort into prevention,” she said.
Changing the social narrative
Bystander intervention Irvine also discussed the importance of teaching bystander intervention, which is something that Ryan said a life skills course would include. “Empowering individuals to take part in preventing assault, both men and women,” Ryan said. “A reminder doesn’t hurt. What the evidence shows is that the more repeatedly you’re reminded of this information, the more likely you are to take it in.” Irvine said campuses can get students to participate in the prevention of sexual assaults by getting them involved in discussion groups and empowering them to step in when they see something wrong. Bystander intervention, according to Dean of Student Life, Seuth Chaleunphonh, is one of the most important ways to prevent sexual assaults from happening. “If someone is standing by, [and] they see that someone else doesn’t have the capacity to say or do anything that requires a little bit of judgement. Certainly that person can try to help the student that is in the more incapacitated state get some help,” Chaleunphonh said. Both Chaleunphonh and Day said using a checkin or buddy system can be beneficial for students when they go to parties or bars. “A lot of the cases are alcohol related. There are a couple of things that I’ve heard students do, if they’re in a group. Students are watching out for one another, leaving with the same people they came with and checking in,” Chaleunphonh said.
It takes two people to be in those situations, it only takes one to take advantage. Seuth Chaleunphonh Dean of Student Life
By treating each charge perpetrators face with consistency, Irvine said, we may be able to change the behavior of potential serial rapists. It is important, she said, to not only change the cultural values and think critically about sexual assault, but to promote certain types of positive messages as a society, something that Day also said is important to change the discussion about sexual assault. “We need to change the common social understanding and myths about sex and sexuality. We need to do more to hold those who assault others responsible, we need to stop the humor associated with sexual assault and change the social narrative,” Day said. According to Chaleunphonh, lack of respect is one way in which society contributes to the problems surrounding sexual assault. “If you start out being respectful in your language that should affect how respectful you are with your interactions with people. That’s resting on the thought that sexual assault comes from not respecting others,” Chaleunphonh said. Another way society can change the narrative surrounding sexual assault is to avoid being divisive when it comes to discussions. “One of the things that I think discussions about sexual assault do is split us into two. They talk about men versus women, gay versus straight, but it’s a societal problem,” Ryan said. According to Stop Sexual Violence, college-age women are four times more likely to be sexually assaulted. “Women have historically been blamed and ridiculed for sexual behavior, while men are venerated and celebrated for sexual behavior. It is not just women who feel guilt when victimized, men do too,” Day said. Ryan said that many of the people who commit sexual assault are proven to be repeat offenders and by changing the narrative when it comes to sexual violence, this could be avoided. “It’s important that we stop them from the get-go, that they face charges the first time. It’s a small group of people that commit sexual assault, but they commit it. We need people to see that behavior, stop them and to interfere on behalf of the victim, man or woman,” Ryan said. Another way Chaleunphonh said IU Southeast is raising awareness about sexual assault is by helping students become aware of the resources available to them.
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Stop Sexual Violence has informational flyers posted on the back of bathroom stalls across campus as a resource to students who may have experienced sexual violence. Chaleunphonh said that these seem to have made a positive impact. “Our reporting has probably increased by 50 percent or more,” he said. “I think people are more aware.” Chaleunphonh, Day and Ryan all said that it is important to change the way both universities and society handles sexual assaults because there are so many myths surrounding them. “There [are] a lot of myths about sexual assault. Sexual assault happens by someone you know, it’s not stranger danger. It’s at a party with their friends. It’s not walking down the street to your car at night, even though that’s what you hear,” Ryan said. Chaleunphonh said that one major part of prevention is making sure students are aware
How to Reduce Your Risk of Sexual Assault Be aware of your surroundings. Listen to your intuition. If you feel like something is wrong, it probably is. Don’t be afraid to make a scene and yell, scream, or run for protection. Remember, alcohol and drugs can impair your perceptions and reactions. Watch your beverage at all times. Pay attention while your drink is being prepared, don’t set it down, & don’t take drinks from someone you don’t know or trust. Go with a group of friends when you go out to a party or to the bars, and look out for each other. Speak up or call authorities if you see someone who could be in trouble. Information from Stop Sexual Violence
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that they need to be realistic about acquaintances. “I think you just have to be careful and cautious when you put yourself in that situation,” he said. “Ultimately, it takes two. It takes two people to be in those situations, it only takes one to take advantage.” How victims can deal with sexual assault has evolved since first being identified as a problem. “Now it’s particularly political and really taken to heart in ways that it hasn’t been in many years,” Ryan said. “I hope that in light of that, these victims see justice, feel safe on campus and we do all that we can to offer them support services and access to a campus resolution to this problem that satisfies them.”
Reporting an incident Chaleunphonh, said that any student who is sexually assaulted should start by sharing with a friend or confidant for emotional support. “People respond differently to traumatic experiences,” Chaleunphonh said. “Someone could present us with ‘I think everything is going fine,’ one moment and then a couple of days later it hits them and they’re having a hard time dealing with it.” Michael Day, director of Personal Counseling Services, said that it is important to allow the victim to talk about the situation at their own pace. “Be patient and listen. Invite the person to share, but do not force them to do so,” Day said. “Do not offer advice or try to rush the person to feeling better. Try not to say that you understand, as you likely don’t. Rather, say that you care and that their feelings are understandable.” When it comes to a report being taken on campus, there are several steps that a victim can take. Chaleunphonh said that they should consider going with a friend to the police within a week or a month of the incident where they will conduct an interview and refer them to the emergency room to get a physical exam. “We treat each case individually, so depending on the circumstances we’ll figure out how to reach out to this person,” he said. “[We] follow up to make sure both parties know how they would be treated [and discuss] their options: witnesses, reviewing the report, their rights to not speak or to speak, to have supporters or not have supporters, to be present at the hearings, possible sanctions and consequences and ultimately for them to be well informed.” Chaleunphonh said that it is also important for victims to know what resources are available to them. “We constantly offer counseling and see how they’re doing. The message we want to really
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say is that it’s a myth that when someone takes advantage of them it’s their fault,” he said. “Don’t feel like you have to take responsibility when someone violates who you are and makes you do something you don’t want to do. The blame is on the wrong person.” Before being put into a vulnerable situation, Chaleunphonh said, by trying their best to keep themselves safe the best that they can by trying to figure a way out of a situation. “We’re here to help support whatever ramifications that are needed,” he said. “It’s like a lot of things, if you can prevent the incident, there’s less support and repair needed to help them through. A lot of the time it’s his word against her word or his recollection against her recollection.” Chaleunphonh also said that all parties involved require support and follow up.
Be patient and listen. Invite the person to share, but do not force them to do so. Michael Day Director of Personal Counseling
“It’s probably one of the worst things to ever happen to them and they’re going to remember it, so we can’t treat them as numbers,” he said. Day said that it’s also important to talk about what happened with a counselor, confidant or someone trained to deal with sexual assault situations. Not talking about it, he said, often makes the emotional toll worse on the victim. According to Chaleunphonh, it is a sensitive situation that needs to be treated with sensitivity and respect. “A lot of times no one really likes other people getting into their business, so that’s why sometimes I think the situation is very sensitive,” he said. “Treating people with respect and dignity is required. It’s one of those situations where you are processing very sensitive and intimate memories and making a judgement about one aspect of it.” One important way to avoid sexual assault besides prevention and education, Chaleunphonh said, is to have a plan B. “Let someone know where you’re going to be if you should veer off of your agenda or plans.” For more information visit stopsexualviolence. iu.edu.
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RESOURCES: IU Southeast Personal Counseling: 812-941-2244 (UC South Room 243)
Dean of Student Life Office: 812-941-2316 (UC South Room 010)
IU Southeast Police: 812-941-2400
New Albany Police Department: 812-948-5300 or 911
Floyd County Sheriff’s Office: 812-948-5400 or 911
Center for Women and Families: 877-803-7577 (www.thecenteronline.org)
Floyd Memorial Hospital: 1850 State Street, New Albany 812-944-7701
Title IX Deputy Coordinator: Darlene Young (Director of Staff Equity & Diversity) 812-941-2306
University Title IX Coordinator: Julie Knost (University Director of Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity) 812-941-2306
Protection Orders: 311 Hauss Square Ste 235, New Albany 812-948-5411
Interim Measures: Divison of Enrollment Mangement & Student Affairs 812-941-2306 Information from Stop Sexual Violence
Athletic trainers offer watchful eye over student athletes By Parker Henes Staff Reporter pathenes@ius.edu Two athletic trainers protect IUS athletes from terrible muscle tears to the always dangerous concussions. Tiffany Hammond, head athletic trainer, and Megan Graf, assistant athletic trainer, have worked downstairs in the Activities Building Training Room for more than five years. Every home game, Hammond and Graf are courtside waiting to take care of some type of injury. They take shifts to make sure all the athletes make it through practices without any problems. Hammond has been the head of the IUS athletic training program for 14 years. She started with Kentucky Orthopedic Rehabilitation Team, KORT, as a graduate assistant at Spalding University in 2002. “[KORT] hired me the following year as the head athletic trainer here at IUS,” Hammond said. IUS athletes go to a KORT therapy center for most of their rehabilitation sessions. Centers are in Southern Indiana and Kentucky, but IUS athletes use the location off Grant Line Road. “KORT is very important to the IU Southeast sports community,” Graf said. KORT has been around for 28 years and provides physical therapy for high school, college and professional sports teams.The IUS men’s basketball team experienced injuries early in the season. Five players sat out or were limited when they visited Harris-Stowe State University. Junior forward Cody Young sat the game out because he tore his meniscus during practice, ending his season early. This wasn’t the first sports injury for Young.“I tore my ACL my senior year of high school,“ Young said. Having had two major injuries, Young said he has been in and out of the KORT facilities. Young also meets with the trainers at IU Southeast. According to Graf, it is important for an athlete to always stay in shape, even when not injured. “You lose your fitness faster than you gain it,” Graf said. “So, if you want to stay competitive you can’t afford to let that slip.” Graf said an in-shape athlete doing strengthening exercises and conditioning all the time is less likely to become injured. The postseason is about recovery and the offseason is when you want to look to be bigger, faster and stronger, Graf said. “Strength and conditioning should be done
in periods or cycles, mixing in a few weeks of building with a week of recovery before building again,” Graf said. Young said the toughest part of an injury is mental. “Your mind automatically thinks, ‘Hey, I don’t want to injure this again.’ And that’s what gets you hurt again,” Young said. According to Graf, concussions are one of the most serious injuries. Studies have shown that Photo by Parker Henes concussions Megan Graf, assistant athletic trainer, stretches out a player before the IUS women’s cause harmful and long basketball team’s game on Thursday, Nov. 12. Graf has been working for the IUS lasting effects, especially athletic department for six years. for those with multiple concussions. with phones, computers, and tablets, and often Hammond said she has seen the need for proper modify their class activities,” Hammond said. awareness and education for athletes, ranging The management plan includes removing a from professionals to youths. player with a suspected concussion from play and She said it is important athletes know what a referring the player to the team neurologist. concussion is, the symptoms they may experience, Hammond said concussions tend to necessitate proper diagnosis and treatment. time away from class or additional time to complete “We need to make sure athletes understand coursework. the life-altering affects a concussion can have,” The IUS trainers work with the academic Hammond said. advisers and professors to make sure they receive Part of KORT’s concussion management the proper information about the student athlete plan, put together by Hammond and other team from the physicians. physicians, includes having student athletes “We have been working with Indiana University perform baseline neurocognitive testing called on what is called a Return to Learn protocol for all ImPact. IU campuses,” Hammond said. When a concussion occurs, Hammond said Concussions are tricky, Graf said. There is their physicians can use this as a tool to assess an never a good time table for an athlete to get back athlete’s cognitive function. into action. Through KORT’s services, this testing is “If a student athlete sprains an ankle, I could provided to all student athletes. give an approximate timeline,” Hammond said. After diagnosing a concussion, Hammond said “Concussions are very individualized. A high it is important for student athletes to have proper percentage return in 10 to 14 days, but there are physical and mental rest. cases in which the athlete cannot return for the “We encourage our players to limit screen time season.”
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Clocking out
Veteran officer to retire after 15 years of service
Katie Casper Staff Reporter kacasper@ius.edu Whether it’s a friendly smile, a quick wave or an upbeat ‘hello,’ the presence of Ruben Borrego has been felt throughout the IU Southeast campus. Now, after 15 years, his service to the campus and its students is coming to an end. On Nov. 20, Borrego will celebrate his retirement from being an IUS police officer with a celebration held in the University Breezeway from 1-3 PM. Before becoming a police officer at IU Southeast, Borrego was in the Marine Corps for 21 years. During this time, he worked in law enforcement and corrections while traveling around the world to places such as Japan, California, Virginia, and North Carolina. When Borrego retired from the Marine Corps, he
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got a job with the phone company Ameritech, now known as AT&T. While working for Ameritech, Borrego was approached by Steve Cotton who was working for the IUS police department as a dispatcher. Borrego said Cotton encouraged him to apply for a position with the IUS police department. Beginning in August of 2000, Borrego attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy for 12 weeks. IU Southeast sponsored Borrego’s attendance and, after he completed it, hired him as an officer in October of 2000. Now, a decade and a half later, Borrego said it is time for him to move on to the next part of his life. “I’m ready to retire and go on to different things, but I’m going to miss this place at the same time. I’m going to miss the people,” Borrego said. After his retirement, Borrego is moving to Texas where he will be able to spend more time with his
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parents. “I have not been with my father since 1975,” Borrego said. “I have visited but not to where I’ve been able to drive up and see my mom and dad and not have to worry about ‘I’m only here for a couple of days.’” Even though Borrego said he is ready to be back with his family, he said he will miss the humor and time he spent working with his fellow officers. “You never know what’s going to come out of their mouths or what they are going to say,” Borrego said.. Travis Huntley has worked as a fellow officer with Borrego for four years now. He said Borrego is fun to be around, a practical joker and dedicated to fellow workers. “I think it is good he is retiring because, after 21 years in the Marines Corps and working at IU Southeast for 15, he can now spend time with his
family and quit working,” Huntley said. Deven Estes, Criminal Justice Senior and fellow IU Southeast part-time police officer, has worked with Borrego for one and a half years. Estes said he is going to miss Borrego but is glad Borrego will get to spend time with his family. “Ruben is very caring. He goes out of his way to teach me things and always lets me tag along with him. I got a lot of experience and learned a lot from Ruben when I started working as a cadet,” Estes said. Estes chuckled as he told a story of a time when he was tagging along with Borrego. It was a cold winter day and they went to check and empty the money from the parking permit kiosks. Borrego told Estes the task would be simple, easy and quick. However, the kiosks were metal and had frozen shut. It ended up taking over 15 minutes in the freezing cold for them to open the kiosks. “Opening the kiosks went from being the easiest task to the hardest. It is not a hard job and Ruben does a great job. The cold, frozen metal just made it difficult,” Estes said. “When Ruben leaves I’m going to stay away from the kiosk when they assign jobs.” Christine Thompson, Office Services Assistant Senior, said she is sad Borrego is retiring but happy for him. She said Borrego is always dependable, and can always be counted on. “Ruben is always ready to help people, I appreciate that about him,” Thompson said. “He will check in with the working dispatchers for bathroom breaks, coffee, and just to see how their day is going.” IUS Chief of Police, Charles Edelen, has worked with Borrego for six years. “He is very dedicated. If asked to do something he will get it done and get it done early,” Edelen said. “He’s done anything I have ever asked. He comes in early, stays late, picks up holidays, and if it snows, he is the first to come in.” ” Edelen said everyone seems to know Borrego ewhen he walks down the hallways. He said that is a very admirable attribute for a police officer. e Borrego said he has experienced a lot of good and bad memories while working at IU Southeast. One kof his favorites includes working the graduations. r “I love graduation. I love watching the adults .graduate and go on to become more successful,” tBorrego said. ” Though there are many good memories, there are some less pleasant ones as well. Borrego rsaid one of the hardest things to do is arresting ostudents. d “Having to arrest students, in general, is one of the hardest things to do, and it has happened. rYou arrest students not because you want to but Ubecause of what they did,” Borrego said. “They ssometimes ruin their career depending on what
the arrest was for. They could lose a lot of things.” Reuben Borrego, one of Borrego’s sons, studied Computer Science at IU Southeast and graduated in spring 2012. In December, he will have worked for the IU Southeast IT department for two years. Reuben said he is proud of his father’s retirement. He said Borrego has worked at IU Southeast for quite some time now, and it still amazes Reuben how well-known and respected his father is across the campus. “Without my old man I wouldn’t have the work ethic I do today. He pushed me as a boy to always strive for success, and I’m proud to say his encouragement worked,” Reuben said. “My father’s a great man with a big heart. I’m sure I speak for everyone here on campus when I say he’ll be sorely missed.” Phillip Borrego, a senior who is majoring in Geology and Geographic Information Systems, said he has enjoyed the opportunity to see his father at work while attending IU Southeast. “[My father] is a very important person in my life.” Phillip said. “He was always there for me for
when I needed him. He is a hero to me.” Phillip, nicknamed ‘Mijo’ by Borrego, said having a father who’s a police officer leads to a lot of unique memories. Phillip spoke of rides in the cop car where his father made him sit in the back. Borrego would also help Phillip when dealing with tickets, paperwork and car problems. When Phillip got into a car accident, he decided not to notify his father. He thought it would be best if he waited until the following day to share the news with Borrego. Phillip said his father used a very stern voice when he learned Phillip had not informed him of the accident. Borrego told his son he could have helped Phillip in more ways than just as a police officer. Even with a move down south in his near future, Borrego said he plans on returning to IU Southeast to see his son Phillip graduate in May. “I’m happy he is retiring and moving closer to his family to help, but it sucks because I want to see him as often as possible,” Phillip said. Tanya Borrego, one of Borrego’s daughters,
Photo by Marisa Gartland Officer Ruben sits at his desk in his office on campus.
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Photo by Marisa Gartland Officer Ruben checks for traffic before merging into the street to check for parking passes on campus.
graduated from IU Southeast in May 2008 with a B.A. in Communications Studies. She is currently attending IU Southeast for a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science. “I always loved it when I was in class and someone would see our name, Borrego,” Tanya said. “If they knew my dad, the next question would usually be, “Are you related to Ruben?” I’d smile and tell them Ruben is my dad.” Tanya said she has always been proud of her father’s position as an IUS police officer. “So many people around campus have told me how much they love him,” Tanya said. “He spent years at IUS helping students and teachers.” Tanya said her father has worked for a very long time, and he deserves the small break retirement will allow. On Nov. 28, Borrego and his wife, Wanda, are moving to Texas where he was born and raised. They have
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not yet found a house but will live close to his parents. “It’s time for me to go back home and be around my family for a while,” Borrego said. “My parents are getting older, and I want to be there with them and spend more quality time with my parents rather than just a week here or a week there.” Though Borrego is retiring, he has an interview set up on Nov. 30 with the Child Protective Services in San Antonio. He said there are children in need of help and that his retirement will give him an opportunity to help them. Even with his sights set on retirement, Borrego said he remains appreciative of the campus and people he is leaving behind. “IUS to me is a big family. I’m going to miss the employees, and I’m going to miss the students,” Borrego said. “To me it’s a big family. I enjoy everybody.”
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Mental health concerns on campus
Photo by Kristin Kennedy Personal Counseling Services is located in University Center South, room 243. Students interested in making an appointment can call 812-941-2244, e-mail Michael Day, director of Personal Counseling Services, at micaday@ius. edu or e-mail the department at sepersco@ius.edu.
Kristin Kennedy Social Media Coordinator krikenne@umail.iu.edu A 22-year-old senior lived with her parents, and she was on track to graduate. However, her parents told her she had to find somewhere else to live. In addition to figuring out where to live, the student had to determine how she would pay her bills, how she would eat and how she would finish school. When the student lived with her parents, they expected her to wash dishes and complete other tasks for them each night. But the student had a problem: She had to study and complete homework for an average of four hours every night, so she did not have time for housework. Karen Richie, counselor and care manager in Personal Counseling Services at IU Southeast, said this was a fictional scenario, but some students she’s helped have been in similar situations. Richie said several situations can put emotional stress on
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top of academic stress. As a result, mental health concerns, such as anxiety, sadness, depression and others can develop. Michael Day, director of Personal Counseling Services, said the number of IUS students with mental health concerns has been increasing over the last couple of years, creating an increased demand for services. According to the department’s 2014-15 year-end report, the department served 255 students during the 2014-15 academic year, up from 243 students during the 2013-14 academic year. Day said he believes Personal Counseling Services may be seeing more students with mental health concerns because some students’ lives have been becoming more complicated and stressful, due to various academic and personal situations in their lives. He also said anxiety and stress are the main mental health concerns the counselors see in students. As a result of the increased demand, the department has responded by providing new services such as outreach and education programs that expand its capabilities, Day said. “If we can get the information out to people about how to be healthy, as opposed to waiting until they get to where they have a problem, that’s probably a better extension of our effort,” he said. Day said promoting the outreach and education programs has also helped Personal Counseling Services serve a larger number of students, and they have helped some students feel more comfortable going to counseling. According to the department’s 2014-15 year-end report, 1,326 people attended the 2014-15 sessions, compared to 899 people in 2013-14. Additionally, 35 outreach and education sessions occurred that year, compared to 25 in the 2013-14 academic year. Day said Beth Rueschhoff, assistant professor of biology, contacted him and Meghan Kahn, assistant professor of psychology, in 2014 and suggested that IU Southeast should hold a series of talks about mental health and invite the campus community. This became the Mental Health and Wellness Series, which consisted of events related to mental
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health awareness, suicide prevention, safe zone training, post-traumatic stress disorder and other topics. Earlier in 2015, Day, Rueschhoff and Kahn won the Campus Commitment Award for Innovation from Campus Life as a result of this series. Rueschhoff said she had seen several people, including IUS students, who have struggled with mental health issues, but she believed they were fearful of talking about those issues in public. As a result, she decided to suggest the idea to Day and Kahn. “I decided I was tired of the situation,” Rueschhoff said. “With so many people who struggle with mental illness, it was time to open up a dialogue.”
I decided I was tired of the situation. With so many people who struggle with mental illness, it was time to start a dialogue Beth Reuschhoff Assistant Professor of Biology
Kahn said when Rueschhoff contacted her about the idea, she believed it could enable students studying areas besides psychology, and the rest of the IUS community to discuss mental health concerns and learn about mental illness. “Mental illness is not specific to students of specific majors, so it is important that students, faculty and staff from all areas of campus understand mental illness,” Kahn said. “I felt this series would help students, faculty and staff see that obtaining treatment for a mental illness is not shameful, but is actually beneficial. I also felt that it was important for students to understand that a person does not choose to have a mental illness and that those who suffer from mental illnesses are not weak, in order for students, faculty, and staff to be compassionate to the situations that other people experience.” Richie said it’s important for students and others to learn to distinguish between mental health concerns and mental illnesses, and the
event. The event was held on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Mann said she received more than just extra credit, because she learned about the importance of being aware of others’ mental health statuses and the importance of talking to others about mental health without making them uncomfortable. “Someone can put on a front but there could always be signs,” Mann said. “Just because someone looks like they’re happy doesn’t mean they are.” Mann said she recommends that students attend Mental Health and Wellness Series events to learn about various mental health problems. “A lot of people are blind Photo by Kristin Kennedy to what’s around them,” she Karen Richie, counselor and care manager in Personal Counseling Services, looks at her scheduled appointments. Richie performs counseling and said. “Especially if they’re not a specializes in helping students access local resources to meet food, clothing, psychology major.” shelter, transportation, medical and mental health needs. While expanding services, Personal Counseling Services has Mental Health and Wellness series can help them expanded its staff. In January, the department hired Richie, who performs counseling and specializes learn the differences. “If we don’t spend time taking good care of our in helping students access local resources to meet mental health, then sometimes it can fall into food, clothing, shelter, transportation, medical this unhealthy version of it,” Richie said. “So at and mental health needs. Richie also manages the any given time, any one of us can be affected by emergency food pantry, which provides breakfast a mental health concern. And if somebody has a items, lunch and dinner items, and quick snacks mental health concern and come see Personal that students, faculty and staff in temporary need Counseling, they’re not automatically given a of food can eat. diagnosis of a mental illness. Because a lot of times Richie, along with Day, provides students with access to resources related to mental health in there are adjustments to transitions.” Day said while the Mental Health and Wellness New Albany and surrounding areas, including Series focuses on mental illness and other issues, Lifespring, The Center for Women and Families, they help students and members of the campus Our Place and private counselors. Richie said informing students about resources community learn how to keep themselves mentally healthy by taking suggested actions, including is important because the difficulties those students breathing deeply, exercising, getting enough sleep, face can impact academic aspects and other aspects talking to others and finding balance in their lives. of their lives. Besides Day and Ritchie, their are five graduate “Just like we do with exercising and eating right, there are things we can do for mental health students, from University of Louisville and Spalding University, working to provide counseling as well,” Day said. Besides Personal Counseling Services, sponsors services to IUS students. Louisa Peyronnin, psychology graduate student of the Mental Health and Wellness Series include the Pre-Med Society, Psi Chi, the Biology Club, the at Spalding University, serves as an individual Psychology Club, the School of Natural Sciences counselor in Personal Counseling Services. Peyronnin said she mainly provides individual and the School of Social Sciences. Day said these organizations and schools help get counseling, and working as a personal counselor the word out among their members and students, enables her to practice counseling techniques she helping each Mental Health and Wellness Series has learned in the classroom, including examining students’ thoughts and beliefs from other event draw between 30 and 65 people. Sarah Mann, psychology sophomore, learned perspectives and creating a safe environment for that her Psychology 102 professor was offering those students. “We’ll always just listen to what they’re saying extra credit to students attending Mental Health 101, the first Mental Health and Wellness Series and try to validate their experiences that they’re
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going through, things that are tough for them or whatever they’ve come to therapy for,” Peyronnin said. “Because a lot of times, people just don’t have someone they can talk to who can be an impartial person.” The services Personal Counseling Services provides are confidential, adhering to the American Psychological Association guidelines, Indiana laws, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). “We’re not going to tell your teachers, we’re not going to tell your parents, we’re not going to tell anybody what you talked about,” Day said. “It would be against the law. We’re all licensed and we’re not going to violate our license. So hopefully that helps people to feel comfortable and confident.” Day said Personal Counseling Services wants to increase its services even more. He said the department wants to find more ways to help students in short-term financial need, and it wants
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to start more outreach education programs. In the meantime, Day said Personal Counseling Services will continue to provide its long-running, free services, including individual counseling, family counseling, couples’ counseling, referrals to local resources and crisis intervention.
I hope people who are thinking about coming to Personal Counseling will make the decision to try to come, because it has the potential to be a really helpful avenue for them for change
Mental Health and Wellness Series • The next Mental Health and Wellness Series event, Substance Use and Risk for HIV, HepC, local experts will explain how to manage and avoid substance abuse-related risks, and they will describe how HIV and hepatitis C can impact physical and mental health. The event is being held on Nov. 17 in University Center North, room 127 from 5 to 7 p.m. • In addition to the Mental Health and Wellness Series, Personal Counseling Services holds other outreach and education sessions. For example, the department holds suicide prevention training sessions called QPR (Question Persuade Refer). • Also, the department began holding Out of the Darkness Walks on campus this year to raise awareness for suicide prevention. The first walk was held on Thursday, April 9, and another walk was held on Saturday, Sept. 26. • Richie said the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, as well as a former student, contacted Personal Counseling Services about holding the first Out of the Darkness Walk on campus. Richie also said she and Day believed the walk could help more people talk about mental health issues and suicidal thoughts.
Louisa Peyronnin Psychology Graduate Student at Spalding University
Day said each student who visits a counselor in Personal Counseling Services receives one-onone attention and is in control of topics that are discussed. He also said most students who visit Personal Counseling Services come for three to five 50 minutes sessions, but students can have more or less sessions if needed. According to the 2014-15 IU Southeast Personal Counseling Services client satisfaction survey, 91 percent of students who had appointments with counselors in the department found the counseling services helpful, and 90 percent of students who completed five or more sessions ended up having less symptoms of mental health issues or other issues than when they decided to go to counseling. Peyronnin said Personal Counseling Services can change several aspects of students’ lives. “I hope people who are thinking about coming to Personal Counseling will make the decision to try to come, because it has the potential to be a really helpful avenue for them for change,” she said.
Personal Counseling Services is located in University Center South, room 243 Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Students interested in making an appointment can call 812-941-2244 Or e-mail Day at micaday@ius.edu Or the Personal Counseling Services at sepersco@ius.edu.
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Photo by Kristin Kennedy Personal Counseling Services started an emergency food pantry this semester to help students, faculty and staff in temporary need of food. Students, faculty and staff who sign up to receive donations receive a food box with breakfast items, lunch and dinner items and quick snacks.
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Faculty Mentors How getting to know your professors can help you succeed in the academic and professional worlds. By Jordan Williams Staff Reporter jormwill@ius.edu The course instructor enters the classroom and routinely greets the students scattered before them. Preliminary discussion points for the day are scribbled on the whiteboard with a fading marker and the only sounds to be heard are the rhythmic clicks of ballpoint pens accompanied by the faint hum of the fluorescent bulbs glowing overhead. As ill-prepared dialogue is initiated by the instructor, the anticipatory melody of pen clicking turns passively aggressive and the droning hum of the ceiling lights begins to sound reminiscent of a prolonged shout. This is the exact moment that each student faces the realization that for the next seventy-five minutes, this invasively lit classroom will house their damnation. From an academic standpoint, this is hell. The dramatization above isn’t just an effort in fiction, as classrooms similar to the aforementioned do indeed haunt the corridors of IU Southeast. Certain faculty members have taken note of the trend and have made the decision to bring change to the ways in which students see the likelihood of establishing a connection between themselves and their instructors. Meghan Kahn, assistant professor of psychology, is one of the IU Southeast faculty members who believe in the importance of establishing a relationship with her students. “Establishing some sort of connection with instructors is extremely important,” Kahn said. “It gives you someone trusted to go to when you’ve encountered any setbacks or challenges.” Kahn may not be part of any formal mentoring organization, but this has never acted as a hindrance when it comes to creating a connection with students interested in such a relationship. Since she began teaching, Kahn has never been a part of the mentoring staff, however, this has never stopped her from doing some informal mentoring with students.
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Being in the psychology department, she understands the importance of establishing connections with her classes and often times these connections have a tendency of happening organically. For Kahn, much of her time spent participating in informal mentoring revolves around discussion relating to academia.
Establishing some sort of connection with instructors is extremely important. Meghan Kahn Assistant Professor of Psychology
But as time and these relationships move forward the conversations have proved to become more personalized in their nature as Kahn is able to discuss with students what is going on in their lives outside of an academic setting. “We end up doing a lot of talking about things like educational goals, career goals, how classes are going and how life is going,” said Kahn. For some students, developing a relationship with their instructors may be essential to their success, but Kahn points out that any sort of connection with faculty and staff can lead to the necessary know-how that is sought after. “I think that it is also important to establish social connection on campus through some type of faculty members so students can work to create a network here,” she said. “For a lot of the students at IU Southeast they encounter difficulty in knowing where to go when it comes to seeking a mentor, but I’ve been here long enough where I can either help them or point them in the direction that they need to go.” Kahn believes that the role of the instructor is to not only inform, but to help, which is why
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she is welcoming to the idea of students seeking assistance both inside and outside the classroom. For Kahn, she wants students to feel comfortable when it comes to seeking advice or assistance. “When I’m in my office, I keep my door open, always. I want students to know that I am available,” she said. While students can benefit from establishing a connection with a mentor, the benefits aren’t strictly for the peers of these willing instructors. “I think that it is one of the most rewarding things that I end up doing because some of those students that I end up mentoring I am able to see their path and see them change and develop over the years,” Kahn said. “It’s really exciting.” Across campus, in the Arts and Letters department, senior lecturer in English, Teresa Reynolds, shares Kahn’s passion for engaging with her students and providing an outlet for an informal mentorship. Reynolds believes that all course instructors are mentors in some variation or another, whether or not they proactively make an effort to establish some sort of connection with their students. “As instructors, we don’t always call ourselves ‘mentors,’ but that’s exactly what we are,” Reynolds said. “Everybody learns better when they feel connected to the people that they are learning from.” Throughout the years, Reynolds has helped students in a wide variety of ways in the classroom, but hasn’t let the passing of time stand in the way of maintaining her relationship with certain students as she stays in contact with them during their professional endeavors post-graduation. “There are students who stay in touch with me and remind me that I have influenced the decisions that they have made, so I really think that it does help having a mentor,” Reynolds said. “There is also a readiness factor in learning, meaning that you will learn from somebody if you are ready to and if you are open, which is why having a mentor can be such a good thing.” She suggests that the widespread importance of a student-mentor relationship is something at the forefront of the minds of each faculty member on campus, but knows for certain that in the English department this connection is often times essential for higher learning. “The Arts and Letters department really understands the importance of the connection between faculty and students because in a
e
,
g
g e discussion based course it is very important to feel rcomfortable,” Reynolds said. Reynolds recalls her time as an undergraduate student and acknowledges that without a mentor, aher enrollment in higher education may have turned out differently. “I absolutely remember having a mentor. In fact, I don’t know that I could have gotten through eundergraduate or graduate school for that matter rwithout one,” she said. h For Reynolds, all it took for the connection between herself and her instructor to take form swas a small note scribbled onto an assignment ”that she had turned in. “He wrote something on my paper that mentioned meeting and discussing my future and g with that it just seemed instant, and he ended up dbeing my mentor all through my undergraduate ,years,” she said. The connection made between Reynolds and her nundergraduate mentor wasn’t just a relationship gthat propelled forward her interests in English studies. “I think that he is the reason that I’m here, I sreally do,” Reynolds said. “He stayed with me through it all and helped me with anything in the academic world.” June Huggins, director of the IU Southeast Center for Mentoring, is one of the major supporters of a more formal means of mentoring because she sees it as a more dedicated and direct outlet for students seeking leadership through a ementor relationship, though she doesn’t discourage nstudents who have more success through the hinformal route. l The Center for Mentoring exists to ensure that students hoping to have a mentor in their college ycareers can certainly do so. n “The department is very successful,” Huggins said. “Student coming through the program are
more than twice as likely to graduate.” The center utilizes faculty, staff and alumni to assist students with any help at they might need. The mentors sign up knowing that they are likely to work with students from the time students sign up for the program until they graduate. In addition, students who register for the Access to Success program are presented with a one-year plan that begins in the summer and serves as a bridging program for better preparing students upon fall semester enrollment. “Students coming through our program are more likely to graduate; our graduation rate is currently at 59 percent, while the university graduation rate is at 27 percent,” Huggins said. According to the center’s data, students who participate in the program, which includes 21st Century Scholars, minority students, first generation students and notraditional students, show a 10.4 percent higher success rate compared to all freshmen. Students involved in the program were more likely to enrolled in the following year than those who were not. “If all students on campus were enrolled in the Access to Success program, then the university would benefit by retaining 100 more students per year,” Huggins said. “The increase is quite
As instructors, we don’t always call ourselves ‘mentors,’ but that’s exactly what we are. Teresa Reynolds Senior Lecturer in English
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significant, so it’s safe to say that the program is working.” Huggins said that students who cmoplete the summer program receive first year seminar credit. The importance of participating in some variety of mentorship, whether it be formal or informal, isn’t only specific to the teaching faculty and those directly involved in mentoring programs. McCrickard shares the very same mindset as Kahn, Reynolds, and Huggins when it comes to mentoring. “I think that having a mentor provides direction for students and helps ensure that they stay focused. A mentor is someone who can celebrate your accomplishments with you, but is also someone who helps you when you aren’t doing as well. It has both benefits,” McCrickard said. McCrickard acknowledges that both formal and informal mentorships have their separate benefits, each of which cater to students with different mindsets when it comes to the means in these relationships are established. “If students are a bit more timid than others, it would probably be best to go about seeking a mentorship through the formal route,” McCrickard said. “Talking to the mentoring program directly will help make that connection automatic.” She believes that while formal mentoring is beneficial, seeking a mentor through more informal means can be just as impactful to students. For McCrickard, the main takeaway that students should get from a discussion surrounding a mentorship is how beneficial having someone who offers some variation of leadership can be.
For more information on the mentoring program at IU Southeast, call the Center for Mentoring at 812-941-2516.
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Jordan Williams Staff Reporter jormwil@ius.edu
Photo by Jordan Williams As the director of “Nothing On,” Lloyd Dallas, played by Wesley Seiderman, directs his cast and crew members during some on-set turmoil in “Noises Off.”
This past Sunday, audience members huddled together in the IU Southeast Robinson Theatre and witnessed the delightful melodrama of the production efforts involved in making a play come to life in the campus production of Michael Frayn’s 1982 original, “Noises Off.” The play, directed by IU Southeast associate professor of theater, Jim Hesselman, explores the unintentional theatrics happening behind the scenes in the meta-fictional production of “Nothing On.” For Hesselman, part of the appeal behind choosing to produce a play like “Noises Off” lies in the unique voice it offers. “People are just not writing three act plays anymore,” Hesselman said. “The playwright wrote this play after seeing another play he had written from the backstage perspective at a point when everything was going wrong.” The backstage mishaps Hesselman references are largely why “Noises Off” is able to stand out as a production, but he acknowledges that to be able to pull off such a concept, Frayn needed to make all of the behind-the-scenes drama seem justified.
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“In order to do this he had to get the audience familiar with one act of a farce called “Nothing On,” and so there is a lot of repetition so that the audience can know what is supposed to happen, by the time disaster strikes,” Hesselman said. While the comedic, situational drama of “Nothing On” was intentional, the stress-ridden anxieties of piecing it together proved to be a concrete source of entertainment. Theatre goers watched as the fictional cast and crew members ran about the stage, trying to cater to the escalating demands of a frustrated director. The off set relationships and impatient means of directing were grounds for chaos and also a great source of entertainment. In theory, the meta humor surrounding the idea of a play within a play may fall flat. However, the near riotous laughter that swelled throughout the auditorium and the upbeat chatter between audience members during the show’s intermission were indications of widespread acclaim for the show. John Robert, a senior in film production at IU Bloomington, attended the play. “The play wasn’t exactly what I expected and I am really happy to see it doing things that other
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plays haven’t really tried,” Robert said. Robert is familiar with the on-set chaos that can occur and disrupt the rhythm of things, which is why he found himself relating with the aggravation of the director throughout. “In film, it’s way too easy for things to just fall apart and I think that this applies to stage plays as well, so I found myself relating with the director for the majority of the first act,” Robert said. With the first weekend’s showing wrapping up, “Noises Off” received standing ovations every night. According to Hesselman, he and his cast and crew members are very pleased but are hoping for a bit more for show’s final performances. Hesselman is hoping attendance spikes for these showings because it is the last chance for the IU Southeast community to catch a showing of the production. “I would love to see a couple full houses because the actors, and crew have worked so hard for three months and only get 8 times to perform this incredibly difficult piece for an audience,” Hesselman said. For ticket details, contact the Ogle Center front office at 812-941-2525 this week between the hours of 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM.