Volume 41 Issue 28 by The Communicator

Are you a Shopaholic? PAGE 4

Student Experiences Studying Abroad PAGE 5

E Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tennis PAGE 10

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Vol. 41 Issue 28

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Late Night Latte

The Communicator | April 27, 2011

news Coffee for College

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Peace Frog plans to be open later than most Kelly McLendon

For Valeen Tout and Blake Branning, owners of Peace Frog Coffeehouse on West Main, opening their own business was something they have “always wanted” to do. “We were both working in New York and decided we wanted to do something that was a change. We both always wanted to open our own businesses,” Tout said. The coffeehouse, with its bright blue sign and historic building might even be part of a revitalization for entertainment for students. It will be open until 2:00 a.m. on the weekends. Branning says the coffeehouse has gotten “positive responses from younger people,” and those who “don’t feel like going to a bar,” or might be too young to gain admittance into one. Peace Frog will serve food, in addition to regular menu items, like mochas and macchiatos. Food selections include onion rings, loaded curly fries and the “Magical Mystery Tour,” which includes items like “mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and curly fries.” Their coffee roaster is Crazy Sisters and Branning says the process of how Peace Frog makes a cup is something that sets them apart. “We grind it [the coffee] right when we make it,” he said, adding that they want to make sure a cup if totally fresh, because some coffeehouse’s grind their beans an entire week before they actual make the coffee for a customer. The business will also host special themed nights, such as Wednesday Vinyl Night, where, “we just play records the whole night,” Branning said. Also featured on the walls will be the works of local artists.

When asked why he picked West Main for the location, Branning said, “It took us months. We knew exactly what we wanted as far as the decor-the vintage, shabby chic look. We looked at tons of locations in strip malls and plazas.” But finally, they decided that a historic house from the 1800s would make a fine spot for their dream business. “The big thing is that we just didn’t want to put it in a strip mall,” Branning said. “New York is just so saturated with these cool places and Fort Wayne doesn’t have anything like this.” Tout and Branning met in New York and “used to frequent places like this [Peace Frog]. Once we decided we were going to go for it, we figured it would be better to do it out here [Fort Wayne], because there weren’t as many places.” In the end, the pair set up Peace Frog, with its cobalt blue walls, to meet a need they thought they saw for a cozy, vintage coffeehouse that stays open way after most of the Fort Wayne shops have shut down for the night. The Peace Frog Coffeehouse is located at 1522 W. Main Street.

Indiana Education to Receive $28.2 Billion

Senate budget plan allocates $7.3 billion to K-12 education spending in 2012 and $7.4 billion in 2013 Form IDS News While past Indiana state budgets have cut about $300 million from public education in the past two years, forcing teacher layoffs and program cuts, Indiana’s new state budget might help restore education funding. In February, the Indiana Senate unveiled a $28.2 billion two-year spending plan that would keep most funding flat, including the state’s education funding. But last week, after discovering that Indiana will collect an additional $762 million more than previous projections, the Senate presented its new two-year budget proposal. The new budget will add $150 million for K-12 tuition support, full-day kindergarten and performance-based pay raises for classroom teachers. Here’s how the money breaks down: Tuition support — $76.2 million By the end of the biennium, Indiana Republicans said they are hoping to increase the average per-pupil spending to $6,334. The money will be distributed to all school corporations through the funding formula. Michelle Sokol

Full-day kindergarten — about $37 million Gov. Mitch Daniels said at a press conference that only 75 percent of 5-year-olds have access to full-day kindergarten programs, and the new budget aims to change that. The additional money will be provided to schools districts without the option in hopes to expand the program. Teacher merit pay — between $5 million and $10 million School districts will craft their own plans on how to provide teachers with pay based on performance, but Daniels said he estimated that thousands of teachers will be affected, depending on how the districts structure the criteria and how many teachers qualify. Other expenses While the money has not yet been distributed, Daniels said he hopes the increase will help provide start-up funding for new public charter schools and non-English speaking programs. Complete budget amount In all, the Senate budget plan allocates $7.3 billion to K-12 education spending in 2012 and $7.4 billion in 2013.

“By the end of the biennium, Indiana Republicans said they are hoping to increase the average per-pupil spending to $6,334...”

The Communicator | April 27, 2011

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news&politics

weather

rundown

Wednesday 63° / 42°

Thursday 48° / 39°

Friday 56° / 45°

Saturday 72° / 54°

Sunday 69° / 47°

Monday 56° / 43°

Tuesday 59° /45°

Campus News Students Evaluate Kelly McLendon

-Professor Suzanne LaVere of the History Department was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship from the University of Notre Dame. “Only one such award is given each year. Competition is from across the United States and Canada,” said Barb Blauvelt of the History Department. - Angela Centurioni was named the 2011 IPFW Student Employee of the Year.

- United Sexualities sponsored the Day of Silence on April 21. “On the National Day of Silence, hundreds of thousands of students nationwide take a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT namecalling, bullying and harassment in their schools,” said Wesley Haffenden, a member of United Sexualities. - April 25 to April 29 is “Bike to School” Week.

Professor Evaluations

Colin McCallister

IPFW Student Received George C. Marshall Award Katy Anderson

IPFW senior Kenny Lahman, a cadet in the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) program, received the George C. Marshall Award for his academics, leadership and community involvement. The award is given to the top 200 of the 4,000 cadets across the nation. Lahman is majoring in psychology and has been doing the ROTC for four years. “My family is kind of a military family,” Lahman said. “It just seemed like a good opportunity.” Recipients of the award attended

a ceremony held in Lexington, VA., at the Virginia Military Institute between April 17 and 20. At the ceremony, cadets had the opportunity to meet with high-ranking military officials, including secretary of the army. Leaders from the army and Department of Defense also spoke to cadets on current national security policies and challenges they will encounter as new leaders in the army. Lahman plans on finishing his pre-med requisites and to later go into active duty in the army when he is finished with school. Photo by unk.edu

The end of the semester is usually known for its stress. After all, the final exams count toward a major part of your final grade, and if you don’t study well for them, you cannot expect to do well. The end of the semester is also known for its ritual of having students fill out professor evaluations. While working on studying for finals, writing doubledigit papers and prepping for 20-minute long presentations, it’s easy to have feelings of animosity toward the very people who dumped all that work and stress on you in the first place: professors. Those who are overcome with the stress of an enormous workload tend to fill out negative evaluations. However, it’s not just the workload aspect but also how the professor chooses to teach his/her class that students have to evaluate as well. Sometimes students don’t always say what’s really on their minds when it comes to how they really feel toward their professors. “I don’t really think [evaluations] make much of a difference. [I give] a slap on the wrist for the bad profs and a pat on the back for the good ones,” sophomore Austin Barron said.

According to the academic journal, College Teaching, “Tough Love,” confrontation is needed in more places than in interpersonal counseling,” author Eugene Tram wrote. “A lack of candor in our classrooms is undermining the rigorous training of our nation’s future business and technical leaders, and we need to be concerned about it.” The failure to write your suggestions as to how these kinds of professors can improve could hurt the class after you. Then again, sometimes the evaluations don’t ask the right questions. “Each course is different and thus the professor teaches differently,” sophomore Kim Gregory said. There is also no guarantee the professors who have room for improvement will heed the advice of their students. “I think most teachers stick to what they always do for two reasons: One, because that’s how they’ve done it for a while, and two, they know you won’t pick them again as a professor for a different class,” Gregory said. Evaluations are used to help the college improve in the areas that need it and the very people that can help them achieve that goal are the students.

The Communicator | April 27, 2011

student issues

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Eric Doden Visits Campus Devin Middleton

IN THE MIND OF A

SHOPAHOLIC bags, and shirts, and

dresses, and accessories Selena Jankulonska

When Sophie Kinsella’s Confessions of a Shopaholic first came out, her chic-lit fans didn’t realize just how close to home she hit with the musings of one Rebecca Bloomwood, shopaholic extraordinaire. What makes this book so good is the fact that it’s true on so many levels, to the point where it stops being funny and starts being scary. Finally I knew I wasn’t the only one who’s heart began racing when standing in front of my favorite store and a seeing a big sign that says ’50% off’! And let’s face it, we are all guilty for at least once using the excuse “But I will wear this so many times that, if I divide the price by the times I wear it, it will in fact be really cheap!” Although, I have to admit, I did think I was one of the rare ones who called a new Polo sweater ‘an investment’. So, how can we define a shopaholic? Can you outline a list of symptoms of shopaholism? Let’s look at what is happening inside the head of a shopaholic when the little voices are telling him/her to shop. Other than the abovementioned wear-on-average excuse, its-aninvestment reasoning, and heartracing as indicator, see if you suffer from any of these other symptoms: Walking into a mall makes you happy. Walking into a store makes you happier. You would describe the space as filled with positive energy. Two things happen when

you near the cash register; a small, evil voice in your head is telling you to feel guilty for spending so much money. Then another, louder voice, shushes it with one of the very logical explanations-- it’s a bargain, you look fab in it, you will wear it forever, the quality is totally worth the money, or it’s therapeutic. And speaking of therapeutic… When the word shopping starts making you feel guilty, it turns into retail therapy-- for when you feel down, sad, or even just blah. Or the other extreme, it’s a way to reward yourself for accomplishing something. Another symptom is if you use word love in the context of shoes. And bags, and shirts, and dresses, and accessories. The words “I fell in love” have come out of your mouth or have gone through your mind when seeing something in a store shelf that made everything else around it positively fade. In fact, I think that a Calvin Klein watch doesn’t just make everything fade, but it might even glow. Just a little. Just enough to make me want to buy it. Right now. If you aren’t yet convinced you have a problem --or you need confirmation-- You know that photo in your phone of the really gorgeous BCBG Max Azria summer dress that you really shouldn’t be considering buying? And the shoes you saw in Macy’s that were simply perfect? Yep, the first step is to admit you have a problem. The second is to get (retail) therapy.

him his ideas. Around campus student During election week at IPFW, Fort Wayne Republican mayoral engagement with elections wasn’t as candidate Eric Doden stopped by to high as some had hoped. While many walk around campus with student candidates have put flyers up, held Jamal Robinson. Doden has been question-and-answer forums and busy on the campaign trail since he had started going out and speaking announced his candidacy in early to students directly, many students still did not J a n u a r y, seem to catch talking and the campaign listening “The students and young to as many people in Fort Wayne can - and bug. This lack of interest is Fort Wayne should - be our city’s future.” something residents as Doden hopes possible. to reverse. Indeed, “I would Doden said it’s incredibly important to him to really like to see more young, “engage with the young people” in talented, aggressive future leaders Fort Wayne and share with them his in our community,” he said. One of Doden’s goals is to vision for the city. “The students and young people promote Fort Wayne on a national in Fort Wayne can - and should - be scale and make Fort Wayne more our city’s future. We need to help than a great place to raise a family, make Fort Wayne a great place to but also the best place to start and live again, because we want those grow a business. “It is important that we pursue graduating from our city’s colleges and universities to stay, work and excellence as a community,” he said. “We should not settle for anything live here,” Doden said. Similar to IPFW student less.” Doden thinks the entrepreneurship candidates, he said it’s just as important to hear what others want and determination of IPFW’s students is something that can push for their city as it is to share with out community to the next level.

The Communicator | April 27, 2011

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opinion The Benefits of Studying Abroad

After completing the fall and spring semesters in Aix-en-Provence, France, Patterson has this to say about her experience: “I have never learned so much in my life. I will not die with curious eyes.” Patterson says her adventure changed the way she views the world. “I feel bad for people who come to the U.S. and don’t know English … when you butcher a language you sound foolish and I just wanted to let people know that I was worth their time. You are on a rollercoaster; you don’t fit in to this new, big world some days,” she says. Although, she says her encounter with a different language and culture made her feel thankful. Former students, Jen Hancock and Nathan Gatchell both traveled to Spain before they graduated from IPFW. Hancock traveled to Salamanca in summer 2008 and Gatchell spend a year in Madrid during 2007-2008. Both feel their travels were beneficial. “It helped expand my cultural horizons a bit further beyond what one might encounter in the Midwest,” says Gatchell. Both attribute cultural immersion as a major aid in learning the Spanish language. Hancock even bemoans, “While my skills did improve, it would’ve been much more beneficial to stay there longer.” There are numerous gains with respect to the job market that study abroad Photo Courtesy of Lyndsy Patterson may afford. Angela Mapes Turner, a graduate of Franklin College, says the benefits Spending any length of time in this city, you may find yourself wondering from her trip to Madrid in 2004 have helped her career immensely. “… is this it?” If you dream about exotic locations beyond the four walls of “I’m a newspaper reporter, and when my job sends me into an unfamiliar Fort Wayne, consider this an invitation to take action. Wherever your heart yearns to lead you, know that getting there may be within reach thanks to place or situation, I think ‘Of course I can handle this. I made it through Spain on my own when I was 20 years old.’ It also helped my Spanish, IPFW’s Office of International Education. Current student and world traveler Lyndsy Patterson’s journey of a which helped me get hired in the first place,” she says. lifetime will be coming to an end as she returns home this May from a yearSTUDY ABROAD: Page 11 long study abroad program. Alysen Wade

IPFW Student Elections A 2011 Popularity Contest

Katy Anderson

Imagine a small group of students being in charge of allocating over one million dollars of your money. These students are elected by other students not based on their qualifications, but on who they know. According to the IndianaPurdue Student Government Association’s Web site, “IndianaPurdue Student Government Association (IPSGA) is granted funding from IPFW to support student activities on campus, travel and funding request[s] for organizations, and a chance for students to become involved in [and] receive work-life experience while attending school.” Every year, students select a student body president and three vice presidents in charge of legislation, finance and student activities. A trend for student government candidates over the past few years has been to run

on a “straight ticket,” or in other words, running with a group of three other candidates. This trend picked up in 2008, and each year all the candidates who were selected were from the same ticket. Like in years past, this strategy appeared to influence many of the voters, such as IPFW freshman Abbey Crowell. “They [candidates] were asking people to vote for them,” Crowell said. “They were the only people who had honestly talked to me about it so I voted for them.” Crowell was also given a post card featuring all the candidates on the straight ticket so she could remember who to vote for. This year however, voters appeared to be somewhat more nuanced in their voting. Between April 11 and 15, IPFW held its student body elections. Despite the utter lack of financial transparency in this year’s student government, Terel Lynn was re-elected as Student Body

President, but by a small margin of less than 60 votes. However, the rest of his ticket, who of which were incumbents, failed to win reelection. With Lynn not having the rest of his ticket elected with him, he is sure to be more accountable to the executive branch and the student body. Kody Tinnel was elected as Vice President of Finance after defeating incumbent Eric Smith by more than 60 percent of the vote. Tinnel has previously held positions as Student Body President and Vice President of Legislation. His experience and knowledge of the student government workings will help bring more legitimacy to the office. Joe Magistri was overwhelmingly elected as Vice President of Legislation, as he received 52 percent of the vote in a three-way race. Magistri was active in student government this year and became well-known

for his knowledge of the IPSGA Constitution and challenging those who he felt were violating its rules. Wesley Haffenden was elected as Vice President of Student Programming. Haffenden offers experience in his involvement with the Judicial Court. Tinnel, Magistri and Haffenden will all serve as much-needed watchdogs of the IPFW student government. Though student government in general has a reputation for being nothing more than a popularity contest, responsible and accountable leaders must be elected. A million dollars is a lot of money. One fact that is interesting to note is that there was a lower turnout this year than in years prior. In the 2006-2007 election, only 336 students voted. In 20082009, that number skyrocketed to 1,700. This year, however, only 1,416 students voted, which is roughly 10 percent of the student population.

Arts&Entertainment

Music Movies

The Communicator | April 27, 2011

6-7

Theater

Scream 4 is a Scream Jon Garner

The lights go down and a phone rings. Usually not something you want to hear while sitting in a movie theater, but the call was coming from on screen. Phone calls are a common niche in Wes Craven’s “Scream” franchise and have become anticipated by the audience. When someone gets a call in a Craven film, something bad usually follows. The story of “Scream 4” doesn’t stray too far from the original films. Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is still trying to piece her life back together after the events of the original Woodsboro murders and everything else that followed. She has written a book and is visiting Woodsboro as her “last stop on her book tour, and first stop on the rest of her life.” However, unbeknownst to her, the Ghostface Killer has

also returned and wants revenge on Sidney for leaving Woodsboro. Once Ghostface announces his arrival

back to Woodsboro, heads begin to roll. “Scream 4” really benefits from the return of the original three

actors: Campbell, David Arquette and Courtney Cox. The young cast is hip, cool and sexy much like the original. Cameos by actors such as Anthony Anderson, Adam Brody, Anna Paquin and Kristen Bell were hilarious and perfectly used. The only gripe one might have is the question of where the “Scream” franchise will go from here. Craven has said he wants to do another trilogy with a new cast but this most recent installment leaves the audience wondering how he will do that. That small issue aside, “Scream 4” is a perfect addition to the “Scream” family. It stays loyal to the original and to quote the latest one, “the first rule of a remake is to never mess with the original.” The movie makes fun of itself and the horror genre in general which is something that hasn’t been done since the original.

Devin Middleton

Lady Gaga - Judas Lady Gaga delivers biblical references over a pulsating synth beat. She sings the chorus in opera fashion just to add even more unique qualities to the single. The lyrics may stir some controversy, but her metaphors are clear pop culture references that say a lot more about society than most dance, pop acts.

The Wilderness of Manitoba - Orono Park This is some very fine folk music. Listening to this makes me want to climb a mountain and wear sandals. The vocals are beautiful, being handled by both a male and female, while the music follows a basic guitar and piano lead, with drums coming in partially throughout. Just plain beautiful.

Oh My - Run This Town This will probably become a ladies’ night anthem. The verses are delivered in a nonchalant fashion, while a bit more emphasis is made in the choruses. The beat is pretty basic - it stays minimal, with a simple drum beat and a few guitar chords until a light synth lead comes into play. Stalley - Lincoln Way Nights ft Rick Ross Violins haunt the song, as Stalley and Ross take turns speaking on their impression of what life has offered them so far. Stalley uses lowered vocals to darken his verses even more. This is the perfect song to have a late night drive to.

Freaks and Losers: Local Band Gears Up for Battle of the Bands Lindsay Sprunger

As most bands, Miles High had came from rough beginnings - band mates quitting, fallings out, new directions, new venues, etc. Finally, band members Miles Boyd, Andy Murfield, Ryano Moreno, Tyler Meehan and John McKnight seem to have struck a working order of things. Their CD, “Freaks and Losers,” is funk/rock/ reggae with a hip hop feel; however the band is constantly changing and trying new things. “Now it’s a bit different,” said Boyd, lead singer and guitarist. “We call it skanky southern funk.” Influence and inspiration comes from a whole slew of artists that seem a little out of the ordinary when grouped together - groups like Red Hot Chili Peppers, ACDC, Dave Matthews, Rage Against the Machine, Sublime and Kings of Leon. Still, the out-of-the-box style seems to be working for Miles High. The sound is solid and chilled-out, featuring saxophone and moving back-and-forth between song and rap. It’s a welcome soundtrack for a party or bar atmosphere, or even for some music to listen to while studying. It’s hard not to bob your head while listening to the grungy, dirty-funk title track of “Freaks and Losers.” The main venues Miles High typically plays are bars, particularly Mad Anthony’s in Auburn or Traxside in Garrett. However, they’re branching out and looking for new opportunities, including a possible tour of the Midwest by this summer.

May 5, the band will kick off Columbia Street West’s Battle of the Bands with a 20 minute set - a great

way to get exposure in Fort Wayne. Only two bands from that night will make it to the next round, so audience support is important. Final winners will be invited to lay

down some tracks at a Sweetwater studio and will be given a cash prize. Having a successful band where most of the members hold multiple jobs and must balance school is extremely challenging. Often, they play until 3:30 a.m. and once all is torn down and everyone is home, the time is close to 5 a.m. Working around everyone’s schedules for practices and gigs is a heavy task too. However, the drive to keep it up is strong. “I truthfully feel … that we can make it as far as we are willing to work for it,” said Boyd. “I hope our band is world famous, just like anyone else, but not just for our music. The message we hope to display is that rock and roll still exists. “[Bands] take originality, teamwork and friendship to become legends … and music is more than a sound or a catchy groove. It’s pure emotion and soul.” Overall, Miles High is a bit of fresh air in the local music arena. They provide a sound that is familiar enough to be easily-liked, yet unique enough not to fall through the cracks. To check out Miles High’s music, check out their Facebook page. Samples of their music and information on CD sales can be found at reverb nation.com/mileshigh2010. Photo from the Miles High Band

The Weekend - The Pary & The After Party This song is very long. It’s actually two separate songs put together. The first part is slow but still club-friendly with its underlying synth. The second part switches to a bluesy guitar melody. The lyrics reflect each mood, going from fun lyrics about meeting women to the more personal lyrics about the special one he finds. cx

Theophilus London - Why Even Try ft Sara Quin

Theophilus has always reminded me of Kid Cudi if he were born in the 1980s. Catchy choruses and a sparkly beat. He rhymes with charisma and sings in a smooth tone. Sara Quin gives the perfect touch of loveliness to the already warm melody.

Toro Y Moi - Still Sound Just what the hipsters ordered: new age disco music with a beat you can’t help but dance to. APPLICANTS MUST BE WILLING TO SHOW EXAMPLES OF WORK AND BE FLUENT IN ADOBE PHOTOSHOP, ILLUSTRATOR AND INDESIGN.

www.ipfwcommunicator.org

Arts&Entertainment

Music Movies

The Communicator | April 27, 2011

6-7

Theater

Scream 4 is a Scream Jon Garner

also returned and wants revenge on Sidney for leaving Woodsboro. Once Ghostface announces his arrival

back to Woodsboro, heads begin to roll. “Scream 4” really benefits from the return of the original three

Devin Middleton

Freaks and Losers: Local Band Gears Up for Battle of the Bands Lindsay Sprunger

May 5, the band will kick off Columbia Street West’s Battle of the Bands with a 20 minute set - a great

way to get exposure in Fort Wayne. Only two bands from that night will make it to the next round, so audience support is important. Final winners will be invited to lay

Theophilus London - Why Even Try ft Sara Quin

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The Communicator | April 27, 2011

www.ipfwcommunicator.org

student issues

Preston Plays Mortal Kombat and Portal 2

Flawless Victory “Mortal Kombat” is back to its true form after years of franchise mismanagement. The reboot of the 1990s fighting game was the choice for many teenagers crammed into dark musky arcades. Now, players can experience the game from the comfort of their own homes. “Mortal Kombat” centers around two groups of fighters who are engaged in a tournament for the fate of Earth. The story mode is the best the series has had in years. The player takes the role of multiple characters on the roster for three fights of two rounds. Beyond the occasional lame line of dialogue, the only flow in story mode was that it didn’t allow for the game’s signature fatalities. However, fatalities do play a role in the multiplayer modes. Online multiplayer appeared to be pretty solid but I had put more time in the game’s newer or revised modes. There is a cool feature where the player’s avatar attached to their online account watches two other players fight while they wait their turn. One of the modes that has been revamped is the challenge tower where the player utilizes different fighters to accomplish a series of tasks to reach an end goal. There are a few other modes like “Test Your Might” and “Test Your Luck” which allow players to Preston Patillo

take part in other scenarios. As for game play, it pleasantly has a plethora of options for new users as well as veterans. There are training modes and five different levels of difficulty to allow players to hone their skills. The nuances, com-

bos and fatalities will take some time for new players to learn but will definitely pay off. The game is the best looking fighting game on the market. The new X-ray mode allows players to see the internal damage they are inflicting on their opponent - it really adds to the visceral experience.

Overcoming the Fear of Presentations

The words “public” and “speaking” put together tend to elicit feelings of overwhelming fear in many people. And in anticipation of the end of the school year, many find themselves counting the seconds until those daunting five minutes when it will be their turn to stand up in front of the class and do a speech, presentation or report. Here are a few things that will help to get through the difficult time before and during a presentation: Practice. Practice in front of friends and ask them to give an honest, constructive critique of the presentation. Pay attention to “ums.” Often when we speak, we don’t realize just how many times we say “um” or “uh,” but in a speech those tend to jump up and poke someone’s eye out. Minimize them by keeping calm and not losing your train of thought. Don’t try to memorize everything. After each practice, try and remove the fluff from notes. Keep doing this until only basic ideas are on the notes. You just need trigger words to remember what you want to talk about. Don’t try to remember exactly what you want to say, only what you want to talk about. Breathe. Don’t stress to the point where you’re struggling to breathe and giving your heart a workout. Presentations can seem scary, but practice makes perfect. Know what you want to talk about, take a few deep breaths and face the audience without expecting them to expect anything from you. When nervous about facing your audience: Imagine the skinny tall kid in the green shirt is celery, and the redhead in the back is a tomato. Or choose a different topic - the zoo for example. You can even convince yourself the guy in the black hoodie looks like a Death Eater. Find what works - concentrating on something as trivial and silly as finding resemblance between the people in front of you and your grandmother’s garden will make you at least chuckle and will definitely take your mind off anxiety. Selena Jankulovska

Fatalities return, the finishing moves at the end of matches are inventive and gory, but it’s the backgrounds of the arenas that really demonstrate how far the series has come. Overall, “Mortal Kombat” is spectacular and a lot of fun for veterans and newcomers alike. Hopefully the game will have a healthy stream of downloadable content to allow the game to maintain its freshness. 5 out of 5 Huge Success “Portal 2” is the sequel to Valve’s critically acclaimed “Portal,” a physics-based puzzle game that was packaged into 2007’s “The Orange Box,” the console port of “HalfLife 2,” the two expansions to that game and the multiplayer only “Team Fortress 2.” At that time, “Portal” was just a bonus to an already great deal, but turned out to be the flagship title on the disc. A stand-alone downloadable expansion wasn’t enough Photo Courtesy of to completely tell the story. As mentioned, the game is based around physics-based puzzles that the player must solve utilizing a “portal” gun that allows the environment to be manipulated. While the single player experience is where the game picks up from the first, the co-op is what the fans have really been waiting for and where the game

really shines. It takes place right after the end of the single player game. There is a lot of joy that players can get from working together to solve these puzzles. While the puzzles in both parts of the game can be difficult at time, it doesn’t require a Mensa International membership to complete. The game play is very intuitive and I’d recommend this as a starting game for newcomers to the form. Graphically, Valve games have never been very impressive, but “Portal 2” is probably the best. Overall, “Portal 2” is a game I’d recommend to virtually everyone. It’s a great title to get people who want to start playing into it without motion gaming. The only downside to the whole game is its length as once it’s over you’ll want more. 4 out of 5

The Communicator | April 27, 2011

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student issues

Guitar Therapy

Guitars and amplifiers line a dimly lit room. Posters of bands and music charts cover the walls and music equipment obscures the floor. Sitting on a stool in the middle of this makeshift studio, a guitarist practices his passion, music. This scene is commonplace here. Every day, 19-year-old Michael Mote practices guitar for hours. Running through musical scales and chords, his goal, to learn all there is to know about the guitar. For any musician, practice is the key. During the course of each day, hours of playing is required to master their instrument. While this may be a burden for some, Mote has found it to be therapy. This guitarist wants to be known as a musician, not as a victim. On Dec. 18, 2009, Mote’s life was forever changed. At about 12:30 a.m., he was awakened by police at his bedroom door. Immediately he was told that his father, Kevin Mote, was dead and his mother, Norma Jean Mote, was in custody. According to the police report, Norma Jean waited until Kevin was asleep. Once he was, she grabbed an axe and struck him with it, killing him in his sleep. The motive is still not known. Michael Butler

which Mote said hasn’t gone away. When he listens to music, Mote says he becomes absorbed. The structure and techniques used in music fascinate him. This fascination has led him to pursue a degree in music technology, “It was just another day,” Mote said of which will enable him to work in stuthe day leading up to the murder. “[My dios as both a musician and engineer. Parents] seemed fine with each other.” Mote wants to produce his own music Mote’s next couple of days were and get his name out there as a musician. filled with questions of what happened Mote has been able to put his and why from police, social workers, passion to work by playing in a band. reporters, family and friends. These The band, Sever, is made up of his best questions, like Mote, had very few friends and what he calls “his family.” answers. Two of The only his band thing clear mates, “I played it as soon as I got it,” was that K a l Mote’s fa- Mote said. “I played for hours. dian and ther was Brandon dead and It felt the same. Playing gui- R o g e r s , his mother tar feels the same as always...” have bewas recome his sponsible. “unof ficially W h e n adopted” Mote was finally able to stop answer- brothers. The Rogers’ parents, Miing questions, he got to do the one thing chelle and DeWayne Rogers, have that made him feel better, play guitar. taken the role of surrogate parents. “I played it as soon as I That December night in 2009 got it,” Mote said. “I played for was the last time that Mote felt like hours. It felt the same. Playing a teenager. With both of his parents guitar feels the same as always.” gone, he had to assume the adult role. From that moment on, Mote’s His parents’ estate went under his coninterest in guitar and music in general trol, along with the responsibilities that developed into what he described as came with it. Bills needed to be paid an obsession. He said that hours and and decisions had to be made about entire days were spent playing guitar. the house, the cars and other family His appetite for music was insatiable, belongings. One decision that Mote

was thankful he didn’t have to make was what to do with the family’s van. Like the house, the van wasn’t paid off and he didn’t have the means to pay for it. To his surprise, an anonymous person paid off the van. Although he is not sure how much was owed, the gift was very generous. Unfortunately, Mote didn’t have the money to make the house payments, so the bank seized it. The solemn task of removing the family’s belongings was his. With the loss of the house, he had to say goodbye to his home of more than 10 years. Mote has found a new home at the Rogers’ house. This works well for him because their garage also serves as the make-shift studio where Mote and his band practice. Since his father’s death, Mote said he’s found comfort with the Rogers. Over the year and a half that has passed since Mote’s father was murdered, Michelle Rogers’ relationship with Mote has grown. Her admiration for him has as well. “Mike is the kind of person that has a knack for turning something negative into something positive,” Michelle said. “Watching him play puts me in awe because he is so good after playing for such a short time.” Mote’s musical journey began three years ago when he went to a concert featuring his favorite bands at the time. For more of this story visit www.ipfwcommunicator.org.

Campus Police to Boost Student Housing Security Next fall, the IPFW student housing community will see a new resident: a police substation in the Cole Commons building. The substation will serve as a miniature police department for the surrounding student housing area and will be a secondary station for the campus police. “It’s for the safety of our housing residents,” said IPFW Police Chief Jeff Davis. Right now, the substation is being wired to accommodate police files and information resources. “We just have to get the connections from the city,” said Davis. The substation will be wired with fiber optics instead of T1 lines, which should allow information to be processed more quickly. Then, the location will be inspected by representatives from the Indiana State Police Department to make sure everything is done according to regulation. Only after everything has passed inspection will the substation be able to open as a part of the IPFW police department. At this time, there are campus police officers assigned to the individual student housing buildings. Each officer also meets frequently with the Resident Assistants. Louisa Danielson

There are also new gates, which can be closed across the Trier Road entrance to the student housing parking lots. “We’re more worried about who comes into the community than who goes out,” noted Davis. The policy for visitors to the student housing area is that visitors must register as guests by 8 p.m. Any unregistered visiting guests will be expected to leave by 11 p.m. Registered guests are recorded on an official data base by the student housing administrators and if a suspicious character is seen and isn’t listed on the guest registry, police may ask that person to leave. Further, campus police are receiving updated insignias and jackets. The new insignias, which display the police label and a simplified Indiana state seal, are designed to increase the visibility of campus officers. “We brand as police officers,” said Davis. “We want people to know we have full police powers.” “Our employees are dedicated to this department and this university,” Davis continued. “We want to make this campus as safe as possible.”

Drawing courtesy of Campus Police

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sports

The Communicator April 27, 2011

Women’s Tennis on the way to NCAA tournament

The IPFW women’s tennis team is on their way to the NCAA tournament. For the second year in a row, the Dons have made it into the Tourney. The team earned their ticket into the tournament by defeating the No. 3 seed, the Kangaroos of UMCK. As coach Burns said, "We are so excited to represent our school and conference in the NCAA tournament.” The game took place last Saturday at Fort Wayne’s Pine Ridge Racquet and Fitness Club. The Dons crushed UMKC 4-0. In the double matches spot, No.1 ended up unfinished as UMKC’s Eva Dalvai and Chelsea Horner Courtenay Dibble

battled IPFW’s Amy Recht and Ingrid Ballus, 7-3. IPFW won Spot No.2, as Dons Caterina Kiefer and Alex Forsyth overcame Kangaroos Laura Bouet and Suzan Lisenby, 8-4. Finally in spot No.3 Yuka Kobayashi and teammate Raquel Vescovi crushed Gabby Pintos and Jilian Yakominich, 8-2. In the single match, the Dons kept up the momentum in order to reach their season goal. Spot No. 1 was unfinished as UMKC’s Dalvai played Dons Recht, 6-3, 4-3. Spot No.2 was also unfinished as IPFW’s Ballus took on Bouet, 6-3, 2-1. Spot No. 3 was a victory for IPFW as Vescovi creamed Horner, 6-0, 6-2. In spot No.4 Dons Kiefer crushed

UMKC’s Lisenby, 6-3, 6-0. IPFW’s tennis player Kobayashi overcame Kangaroos Yakominich, 6-1, 6-1, in spot No.5. The last spot No.6 was unfinished as Dons Forsyth played Pintos, 6-2, 4-1. The IPFW tennis Dons will try to do better this year in the Tourney. Last year they made it to the 1st round. Unfortunately , the team fell 4-0 to No.5 seed, Notre Dame. The women’s tennis team will find out their opponent to this year’s NCAA tournament on May 3. Live coverage of the NCAA Selection Show will be aired at NCAA.com starting at 5:00 p.m.

IPFW Athletic Director Tommy Bell. Bell first acknowledged the large crowd by calling it “a special occasion.” Bell also wished nothing but the best to Dane Fife and his wife Blaire, who were not at the press conference. Bell’s final statement before introducing the new head coach seemed to have a little more emphasis than his others, saying “Our basketball program was never broken, and it did not

going to make him wear the head gear next season, Peckinpaugh simply laughed saying, “I hope not, that one is up to the doctors.” Jasick took the podium as Head Coach for the first time to a standing ovation from incoming players, current players, former players, friends and family. Jasick was humbled by the large welcoming and cracked the first joke of his head coaching career by telling the players, “take it easy, you’ll all get to play!” The crowd settled and Jasick opened by saying “it’s a great day to be at IPFW.” He followed later saying “I think we have the players now and recruits coming in that will take us to the next level.” “When you’re in the coaching profession, there’s not a lot of these opportunitites out there. There will obviously be some changes (in style of play) based on our roster, you know, our roster is going to look a little different than it did last year, which means we have to have some flexibility on how we play.” When asking Jasick what the students should be excited about, he made it plain and simple. ”We are going to continue to grow with the students. Our students are the biggest key in this whole deal. We have to turn the Coliseum into the toughest place to play in the league, and they’ve been great, its grown every year. The students need to know that I am their biggest fan and I look forward to seeing them out at the Coliseum getting after people.”

Both photos from www.gomastodons.com

Jasick named new coach

One week ago, it was confirmed that Dane Fife, IPFW Men’s Basketball Head Coach, was leaving the university to accept an assistant coaching position at Michigan State University. Taking his place is Fife’s assistant, Tony Jasick. Jasick was an assistant head coach under Fife for each of the six seasons Fife was Head Coach, playing a big role in the successful progress of the program. This past season IPFW posted an 18-12 record, a best for the program. Announcing the move for the University was Logan Pea

need to be fixed.” Zach Plackemeier, former IPFW guard under Fife says, “he’s gotta do what is best for him, I think it’s a good move.” Current player, and a key item in next years’ season, John Peckinpaaugh acknowledged his former coach by saying, “you know, coach Fife gave me a great opportunity to come here and play for three years, and I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for me. Coach Jasick has helped me with my game a lot and i’m really excited to play for him next year!” When asked if Coach Jasick was

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The Communicator | April 27, 2011

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor, A publication of Indiana-Purdue Student Newpapers, Inc.

I just finished reading Kelly McLendon’s opinion from April 20,2011 (“Why College Feels Like a Scam”) and feel compelled to respond with a few words from a professor’s perspective. Kelly, although you may feel like you are entitled to a job, nobody is, especially one that is both local and of high quality. You claimed that “everybody always says if you go to college and get a degree,” then a “job will be waiting.” Certainly, earning a degree from an accredited university will help you land a good job, but I do not know of anyone who would guarantee that it would lead to the job of your dreams, especially in this economy. College helps you improve your skill set, hone your ability to communicate, and increase your critical thinking. After college, it is up to you to market yourself and find a job. Along those lines, allow me to make a few suggestions. First, be willing to leave Fort Wayne. Most of my colleagues at IPFW moved here from outside the area simply for the job. If you want that dream job, then you must be willing to relocate. Second, unless you plan on going into comedy or talk radio, it is best to avoid hyperbole. You wrote that “everybody always say” that a college degree would lead to a job. No, everybody does not always say that. Furthermore, you implied that only “one percent” of graduates get good jobs. This is also untrue. You are clearly frustrated, but this is no reason to exaggerate in an open letter that will be read by hundreds of other people. Lastly, quit whining and take some personal responsibility. In your letter you blamed your teachers, your guidance counselors, and your parents, but nowhere in the letter did you assume any responsibility for your current joblessness. A stronger, more reflective letter would have identified ways in which you could have strengthened your resume while a student, by studying abroad for instance, or participating in more internships, becoming proficient in another language, or working harder to raise your GPA. Instead, you chose to complain and blame others--and what employer would want to hire someone who resorts to that? David G. Schuster, Department of History

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EDITORIAL POLICY Editorials are the opinion of The Communicator. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IPFW, its employees or its student body. A column is solely the opinion of its author. The Communicator welcomes responses. Letters to the Editor must be signed, dated and accompanied by a current address, telephone number and class standing/major or title (if applicable). Letters not meeting these requirements will not be considered for publication. All submissions made via e-mail will be verified by telephone or in person. Addresses and telephone numbers will not be published. Submissions must be typed and no more than 700 words. The editorial board of The Communicator reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, style, and clarity. Letters deemed potentially libelous by the editorial board will not be published under any circumstances.

STUDY ABROAD

From Page 05

No doubt there can be obstacles while studying in other countries. Joseph Brennan, an IU graduate who studied in Greece in summer 2002, describes his frustrations when some of his credits wouldn’t transfer: “Bureaucracy was the greatest impediment to my realizing the full potential of my stay. I was jealous of other students who got to do Study Travel … or take other courses in other parts of Greece that were off-limits to me because I was affiliated with IU.” As a result, Brennan recommends self-guided travel as a viable means of independent study: “You can get a lot of information online, from guidebooks and through connections you may already have who live or have traveled in Europe. You don’t need bureaucrats.” One of the biggest deterrents for students interested in study abroad programs is cost. Most of the students interviewed admonished that scholarship opportunities and loans were needed to cover their budgets, and that living expenses were great. Gatchell estimates an extra $1,000 per month just to pay for the cost of living. Though, financial aid does apply,

and all of the students agreed the expense was well worth the experience. Ashley Simmons, International Programs Assistant Director, says her job is to help students expand their global opportunities. She desires to help IPFW students “make their mark on the world,” but she does advise that “not everyone is ready to go overseas.” Having experience with academicallyfocused travels in seven countries, Simmons describes the ideal candidate as being flexible and able to exercise common sense and good judgment. Her main focus is helping students find classes that will transfer back, as well as locating scholarship opportunities. Next time you find yourself wondering what life might be like on the other side of the globe, look no further than the Office of International Education, Kettler 269, and be among the 25 students who are already scheduled to travel to countries all over the world. Take the advice of Lyndsy Patterson: “I never thought that this would be something that I would get to do … but life throws itself at you sometimes - you just gotta hop on board.”

The Communicator | April 27, 2011

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King Lear April 22 - May 1, 2011

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Shakespeare’s tragedy about the relationship between parents and offspring is woven with deceit, greed, grief and joyfulness and shows how quickly we can become blinded by fear and killed with love. By William Shakespeare

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