Tuesday, March 21, 2017

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Tuesday, March 21 2017 | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com

Trump returns to KY Trump discusses health care, recent accomplishments at Louisville rally By Laurel Demkovich lfdemkov@umail.iu.edu | @LaurelDemkovich

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PHOTOS BY HANNAH BOUFFORD | IDS

Danya Sundh helps third grader Lily Halter space out intervals on a line to help explain how fractions work. Sundh taught in a special needs program for five years at Rockland and is now finishing her first year as a general education third grade teacher.

Graduate promotes IU values in classroom By Hannah Boufford hbouffor@umail.iu.edu | @hannahboufford

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. — Danya Sundh welcomed her third graders into the light blue, nautical-themed classroom. As the Rockland Elementary School students stripped off their snow gear and settled at their dry-erase desktops, some sang along to the Imagine Dragons song playing through the large smart board at the front of the room. Sundh was hired to work with special education students at Rockland, one of four District 70 elementary schools in Libertyville, Illinois. She graduated from IU in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and special education through the Teaching All Learners program in the School of Education. “I find it so rewarding to find different ways to reach kids and help them understand our world,” Sundh said. “The more that I can be involved in that process, the more exciting it is for me.” From the cozy library at the back of the room to the family-style area in the front corner, Sundh has transformed her classroom into a home for many of her students at Rockland. “I’m on top of the world, ‘ey,” her students sang while getting started on their morning work. Libertyville is a northern suburb of Chicago about 45 minutes outside the city. Growing up in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, a suburb about 20 minutes from Libertyville, Sundh said she knew she wanted to be a teacher from a very young age. She said she loves learning, and reaching out to others to help them learn has always been appealing to her. “It’s nice when what you do on a daily basis is what you want to be doing, rather than what you have to be doing,” she said. After a couple of years as a special education resource teacher, Sundh and the director of special education created a district-wide elementary instructional program, called EIP. The program brought students of all different needs and ages into a Rockland classroom taught by Sundh. “Even though they were from all

“I find it so rewarding to find different ways to reach kids and help them understand our world. The more that I can be involved in that process, the more exciting it is for me.” Danya Sundh, IU alumna

Top Danya Sundh teaches third graders at Rockland Elementary School in Libertyville, Illinois, about fractions. She graduated from the IU School of Education in 2009 and is certified in special education and general education. Bottom Danya Sundh helps third grader Lily Halter space out intervals on a line to help explain how fractions work. Sundh taught a special needs program for five years at Rockland and is now finishing her first year as a general education third grade teacher.

over the place, Sundh makes it feel like home for those kids and those parents,” Rockland principal Jeff Knapp said. When Sundh’s most recent EIP students graduated from fifth grade at Rockland to the local middle school at the end of last year, the program was moved out of Rockland and into a different elementary school. However, instead of following the program to the other school, Sundh chose to stay at Rockland because of her love for the school and desire to try to new things. Sundh said Rockland provides students and staff with a sense of community the moment they walk through the doors. She takes an active role in the school as a part of the school’s student council, the positive behavior committee and other committees. The Rockland value of reaching out to each and every student to meet their needs mirrored what she learned in the TAL program at IU, she said. “If you don’t know what to do, she’ll find easier ways to do it,” current student Lucas, 8, said. Sundh said the TAL program emphasized each student has their own story and teachers should guide their instruction based on their stories and needs. Sundh incorporates this standard from TAL and Rockland’s values of character, community and grit into her third grade classroom everyday. In her classroom, Sundh uses different games, activities, rotations and learning exercises created based on students’ needs and progress levels. “She teaches you in a fun way, so it’s not always boring,” Kate, 8, said. While helping students hit the academic goals for the day, she engages with the students to learn more about them as individuals. In just one day, students brought her all sorts of stories from home, with topics ranging from bugs to kickball games. Chloe, 8, agreed with Kate. Sundh was even able to make tests fun by SEE SUNDH, PAGE 6

LOUISVILLE, KY. — President Trump visited Kentucky on Monday for the first time since he took office. He talked about health care and his accomplishments thus far in his presidency but not without jokes about Kentucky’s college basketball teams and insults to the press. Standing in front of an American flag and two signs reading “PROMISES MADE” and “PROMISES KEPT,” Trump spoke to a packed Freedom Hall in Louisville. He talked about what he’s done since he took office in January, which included increasing jobs and starting on campaign plans to build a wall, but he made sure the crowd knew there was still more to come. “We inherited a mess,” Trump said. “It’s been 51 days. Give me a chance.” The speech came at the end of one of the most tumultuous days of Trump’s presidency thus far. Early Monday morning, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence met for the first public hearing on Russia’s efforts in the election. At the hearing, FBI Director James Comey confirmed an investigation into Russian election interference and the role of the president’s campaign in it. In reference to Trump’s recent claims on Twitter that there was a wiretap of Trump Tower, Comey said there is no evidence to back up the claim. Trump didn’t bring up the hearing or either claim at the rally. The Senate Judiciary Committee met Monday morning to begin its four-day hearing to confirm Republican judge Neil Gorsuch for the United States Supreme Court. At the rally, Trump complained about still not having his cabinet approved, so he urged the committee to approve his nomination swiftly in hopes that it will fix the court system. “We have a little problem with the courts not wanting to give us their decisions when we want them,” Trump said. Trump made no mention of his controversial travel bans. Instead, he focused on his plans to build a wall along the U.S.’s southern border. He said the wall will stop the drugs that are “pouring into our country and poisoning our youth.” During his campaign, Trump said he met with many families whose members were “viciously killed” by illegal immigrants. “One by one, they are being tracked down and thrown the hell out of our country,” Trump said in reference to the illegal immigrants. The crowd responded with “USA” chants. After recent criticism of his proposed budget and the Republican health care bill, Trump spent much of his speech discussing former President Barack Obama’s health care law. He repeatedly SEE TRUMP, PAGE 6

SWIMMING AND DIVING

SOFTBALL

Lilly King, coach Ray Looze again honored by Big Ten From IDS reports

Sophomore Lilly King was named Big Ten Swimmer of the Year for the second consecutive season Monday, and head swimming coach Ray Looze earned the Big Ten Women’s Coach of the Year Award. King becomes the eighth honoree in school history and the first person to win twice since Kate Fesenko in 2009-10. For Looze, the honor is his fifth on the women’s side and seventh overall. King’s award comes on the heels of her NCAA championships in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke. In the 200-yard breaststroke King set the American, NCAA, meet, U.S. Open, pool and school record with a 2:03.18, the best time in the history of the event. Prior to the NCAAs, King was named swimmer of the championships at the Big Ten

finale. At the championships, the Evansville, Indiana, native won titles in the 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard breaststroke and the 200yard individual medley. She also won medals in the 200- and 400yard medley relay. King was named first-team All-Big Ten for her performance. As for Looze, this marks the third straight year the Hoosiers were the top Big Ten team at the NCAA Championships. It was also the eighth top10 finish in school history and the first time they accomplished the feat since accomplishing the feat three times between 2008-10. Under Looze’s guidance this year the Hoosiers earned a total of 24 AllAmerican honors at the NCAAs and nine total medals at Big Tens, eight gold and one silver medal.

Change in lineup provides boost for IU softball’s Rebecca Blitz By Cameron Drummond cpdrummo@indiana.edu | @cdrummond97

By the midway point of nonconference tournament play this season, junior outfielder Rebecca Blitz had become accustomed to hitting in the leadoff spot for IU softball. Dating back to her freshman season in 2015, Blitz had hit leadoff for the Hoosiers in 105 out of a possible 124 games. The start of her junior year brought struggles for Blitz, though. She recorded just 11 hits through the first 15 games of 2017. Since batting first in the opening game of the Judi Garman Classic on March 3, Blitz has not hit in the lead-off spot for the last 13 games. Instead, she has made 11

Ben Portnoy

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SEE BLITZ, PAGE 6

IDS FILE PHOTO

Then-sophomore Rebecca Blitz runs during a game at Andy Mohr Field in 2016. Blitz has seen her production spike after moving to the second spot in the lineup.

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