The Communicator | August 31, 2011
www.ipfwcommunicator.org
opinion
Letter to the Editor:
The debate over the debt ceiling seemed to quickly narrow into four main groups: Those who thought that the debt ceiling should not be raised unless “entitlements” were cut, those who thought there needed to be a “balanced approach” by raising taxes and cutting entitlements, those who didn’t want the debt ceiling to be raised at all and those apart of 14th Amendment crew who thought the debt ceiling could be raised automatically, without the game of chicken. What’s missing from this debate is the majority of Americans. When presented with the opportunity, a majority wanted military cuts, taxes on the wealthy and close corporate loopholes in the tax code. Most Americans, when asked, also wanted to keep Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid intact. The majority of Americans supported the aforementioned approach but that was of no consequence to the people whose opinions supposedly matter: Elite media and Washington insiders who trade principles for access to power, every day. Most of the positions represented here, aside from the “don’t raise the debt ceiling at all crowd,” wanted to avoid what was referred to by some as “Economic Armageddon” which would surely mean a double dip recession, coupled with a downgrade in the American credit rating, thereby lowering confidence in America’s ability as a nation to pay its creditors – China, Federal Reserve, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and You: Joe and Jane six pack. So what happened? President Obama as well as most Democrats and Republicans got pretty much what they wanted. They all got the entitlement cuts. Yes, it was Obama who proposed cutting Social Security first along with
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Medicare and Medicaid, not the GOP. No millionaires, excuse me, “job creators” suffered any tax increases. However, Congress did allow for a super committee, or super congress, to be created that will repeat the same process; except they’ll pass even deeper cuts in entitlements and programs for the poor, sick and old. America will also continue with battlefield Earth and continue to spend more than the rest of the world combined on our privatized military. S&P is an agency who’s economic prowess and genius gave AAA ratings to the same derivatives and double default swapped mortgages traded on Wall Street. We were downgraded anyway, and the last time I checked those so called “job creators” weren’t creating any new jobs. Percentages may vary but rest assured it’s worse than the rigged employment statistics you’ve seen printed. At a time when the global economic model is in crisis and people need to be working with decent wages, to stimulate demand, why on earth would we cut spending from the programs that help the poor, sick and old stay afloat? Why would we decrease people’s ability to spend and thus decrease demand? Why don’t we have a jobs program that’ll spur more demand? Why do we give money to rich people and expect that they’ll save us? Students getting ready to graduate better get ready to move back home to ma and pa’s house and defer those loans a couple more times because with no or low wage jobs and rising food prices, things are gonna get rough. So what if Standard and Poor downgraded our national credit score? We are now facing a depression because America’s new standard is poor.
Robert K. Haddad 2010 IPFW Alum
Putting the You in University
Get out there and join or create something you’ll love... But after signing up for the initial informational emails, many students choose not to become involved. For some, this choice is made in part to allow them to adjust to the life of a university student. For others, balancing a job and school takes up a lot of time. But studies show that if you have the time, investing it in campus organizations and clubs may improve the quality of your college experience. Departmental and professional organizations on campus provide networking capabilities and look good on resumes. Senior Adam Harrison said his only interest in campus involvement deals with his accounting major and the career benefits of belonging to a departmental organization. Having a large number of students participating in clubs also fosters a sense of community which can be vital to commuter campuses like IPFW and to students who come from out of town. A 2006 survey by the National Survey of Student Engagement Institute showed that students who get involved with campus activities are more likely to stay in school and to continue
their education at the same school. Also available at many schools, including IPFW, are student interest organizations. These clubs allow students to find a like-minded group of individuals, something that is often key to freshmen. And for students who attended Freshman Fest and didn’t find a club that interested them, the student life office is willing to assist any student who wishes to create their own club. Katie Krueger, a sophomore who is in the beginning stages of starting her own campus club, believes that her participation in both professional and organizational clubs on campus has helped
her feel more connected with her fellow students. IPFW offers all of the above mentioned types of organizations and clubs, including athletics, intramurals and student government associations, meaning there is a potential activity for everyone on campus. Being involved in 20 different organizations isn’t necessary to get the whole college experience, but no college is complete without the active students that make up its unique cultural community. Get out there and join or create something you’ll love, and you might just get a little more out of college than you paid for.
CORNER
CAREER
IPFW exists to educate and faciltate students in any way they want to grow. So, students, why not take advantage of this opportunity to get the most out of your time here? Freshmen and upperclassman alike agree that before coming to school, it’s hard to think of what extra- or co-curricular activities to get involved in for the simple fact that they haven’t been introduced yet. Freshman Fest is the first big event that allows students to get a feel for IPFW’s campus life. Staff Editorial
Choosing a major and career can be overwhelming. Industries are constantly changing with technology or the economy. Although many students recognize that going to college can help them land a better career, many experience frustration at going through the motions at college without truly understanding why they’re here. With all this uncertainty and pressure, how are students supposed to make the right choice? What about taking a unique and fun elective course? My name is Christina Mosteller Hall. I’m a career counselor and the current instructor of EDUC X210 Career Planning. It’s a 2-credit class that can aid you in assessing what you’re good at, what you like, and what’s important to you in your future career. In this class, students
hone their decision- Christina making skills, take career Mosteller Hall assessments and talk to professionals in various industries in the greater Fort Wayne community. The format is primarily group interactions, guest speakers and experiential activities. Teaching X210 is a part of my job that I look forward to all year. I really enjoy the relationships I’m able to develop with students. It is so rewarding to watch a student go from being unsure about their future to finding a career that they are passionate about. Some of our students have even secured jobs or internships while networking with employers or attending career fairs for class credit. For more information stop by the Career Services Office in Kettler 109 or call 481-0689.
Arts&Entertainme
Music Movies
Theater
IPFW
The o List To-D
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Rent a laptop and DVD from He Library and watch a movie in on lmke remote corners of an upper floor e of the — quietly. Free.
s and il a r t e h t e et. Hik County Park, y r e v o ’t n is d • Summeer pond at Fox Isla. n$ Rd swim in th 7324 Yohne
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Head to 1936 W. Main St. for the Historic West Main Street Farmers Market. Crafts and fresh produce, galore. Fridays, 3-8 p.m. $-$$
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Drop-in g? in nc a d a ls a S y tr t Why no llowed by fo ., .m p 0 3 8: 8 m ro f s group lesson aturday S y er ev . .m p 10 l ti un social dancing e. $ at 816 Pint & Slic
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• There’s a Marshmallow Festival—no joke. Main Street, Ligonier, IN. Sept. 2-5. Road trip anyone? $-$$
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Celebrate L picnic. Sepabor Day with a p t 5, 11 a.m roper Headwate. . t o 4 p.m. rs Park do wntown. Freaet .
Grab a late-night caffeinated beverage — or decaf if you plan on sleeping — with pals at The Peace Frog Coffeehouse, 1522 W. Main St. Cash only. $
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$ indicates price range: $ 5-10 $ $ 10-20
Radio Statio Alysen Wade
Sitting atop Kettler Hall is IPFW’s radio tower — a forgotten relic. Yes, IPFW has a radio tower, and, at one time, even a radio station. According to IPFW’s University Archives, 89.1FM WIPU was located in the basement of Helmke Library. 89.1FM WIPU signed on Thursday, June 15, 1978 at 5 p.m. from the library basement. In October 1981, the University claimed that it was no longer able to pay for the radio station; as a result more than $50,000 was raised in a fund drive established by the new station's president and board members. The radio station was shut down anyway and on Jan. 15, 1982 the license was officially transferred to Public Broadcasting of Northeast Indiana that later changed to 89.1FM WBOI.
College radio came into popularity in the 1960s and gained momentum through the 70s. As a facet of the communities in which they were imbedded, many served as creative programming by promoting bands that were not being played on mainstream radio. They Ca also became an important media outlet for the would community at large. happe resour Today college radio is struggling to survive. happe According to a recent Detroit MetroTimes article by Benjamin Solis, titled “What Next for College Radio,” he lamented, “…with shrunken audiences, and with college administrations that sometimes try to dismantle them, college stations are fighting for their lives with the same enterprising spirit that gave them independent influence in the first place.”
He from admin propo
Er that h small freque Dr. Steven Carr, Director of Graduate it will Studies in the Department of Communication so. at IPFW, explained that having an on-campus radio station tends to “inspire a lot of interest.” Mö suppo Carr noted that, "IPFW truly supports [low that h power FM] in the community ... this benefits key to all of us and not just students." He said that the prospect has been met with enthusiasm in As the past: “Five or six years ago there was a big worke push to start a low power station." “W But nothing came to pass, and it seems to who m be difficult finding anyone who remembers organizing for the cause. He out ho The imprtant thing, according to Carr, is to comm make it clear to students that wanting a radio studen station and knowing how to ask for it requires a significant amount of follow through. Lik about "If the students want a radio station, then could administration should show support for it in terms of real dollars so that there are people Gr who can staff the station 24 hours, provide may n support when something goes wrong and have in sch appropriate technology on hand," he said. Möllb
ent
The Communicator | August 31, 2011
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W Signing Off:
on Unused for 29 Years
arr did point out that student involvement d be key: "If a campus radio station ens it’s going to be because a group of really rceful, really energetic students make it en.”
ke Carr, Möllberg is optimistic, yet realistic the prospect of getting students on air: “It be two or three years,” he said.
ranted, students attending classes now not have their own radio show while still hool, but taking an active role in what berg calls the preliminary “nuts and bolts”
CAMPUS
CATWALK If we spot you dressed in your best around campus, we'll snap a shot and feature your personal style here. Strike a pose, the campus is your catwalk!
is an opportunity “to create something bigger than yourself for the good of the community … It won’t just be for the time you are on campus, but for future students,” Möllberg said.
s of now, there are still many items to be Finally, would the chancellor allow a radio ed out with respect to logistics. station if enough students supported it?
e would like to set up focus groups to figure ow a radio station would best benefit the munity. His main question: “What do the nts want?”
260.755.5559 1836 S. Calhoun St. Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Heather Simerman
Möllberg said he has not yet received e said the best way to get a commitment feedback from students about the project. He the university is by presenting the hopes that interested parties will contact him nistration "with a well-thought through via email: emollberg@acpl.info osal," and continuing to press for action. “A lot of it is providing the network to get ik Möllberg of Access Fort Wayne agreed people linked up — figuring out whose engaged having a community radio station is no and who can do what,” he said. task. Although hopeful that a low power ency radio station could get off the ground, Although having a future radio station on l take the support of the community to do campus could be a possibility, there are some unanswered questions shrouding the past: Why was the radio station shut down in the 80s, öllberg has been committed to asking for even though a significant amount of money was ort from the local community, and he said raised to keep it going? Did a group of students having the student population on board is come close to getting a radio station going, and o the project. where did they leave off ?
We have to figure out how it operates and manages it,” Möllberg said.
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Find out the answer to these questions in the follow-up story next week.
Name Megan Edwards
Location Outside of VCD building
Major Graphic Design
Inspiration Nylon Magazine
Shop Forever 21, Charlotte Russe
Tips Choose something that goes well with your skin tone. If you see something new that you like, try it out And always try things on before you buy!
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The Communicator | August 31, 2011
www.ipfwcommunicator.org
sports
Alysen
Wade
Hardcourt Bike Polo probably isn’t offered at the local country club, and unlike the horseback jockeys of traditional polo, its players are among a different breed. These players have ditched the magnificent stallions and opted instead for bicycles. They modify their own steeds, construct their own mallets and turn asphalt lots into playing courts. The game itself dates back to the 1800s. According to legend, it derived from stable boys with bicycles who were not allowed to play regular polo with the royalty. Modern incarnations of the sport have seen an upsurge in cities all across the globe. Now there is a league in Fort Wayne. IPFW student Stas Malykhin is responsible for the bike polo revival right here at home. In March 2010, Malykhin recruited players, formed a league and organized the first pickup game. “When it started we had seven people, then through the summer it went up to 25,” Malykhin said. Learning the rudiments of the sport from atte nd i ng tour naments and watching ot he r pl aye rs , Ma ly k hin te ame d up w it h f r i e nd and fel l ow bi ke ent husi ast R ob G o o d i n . T he y b e gan using items such as gol f club s , sk i p oles and PVC pip es to cr af t c ustom ma l lets. Malykhin first witnessed Hardcourt Bike Polo in 2009 after spending time in Denver. There he played regular pickup games and fell in love with the sport. He describes bike polo as “addictive,” and hopes to share his adoration and garner new players to increase the league’s size. The process for getting a bike ready re qu i re s st r ippi ng an old mount ain bi ke,
Original photo by Armand Trevino
gett ing it to one sp e e d and putt ing t he bra ke on t he n o n - d o m i n a n t h a n d . B u t M a l y k h i n and Goodin are eager to get new players on the court even if they don’t have their own gear. “Anyone can play. We have everything. You just need a bike and a helmet,” said Malykhin. Goodin has even transformed his garage into a full-fledged bike/welding shop. “We have the history of Fort Wayne bike polo in my garage — the evolution of all the different t hings we’ve us e d to pl ay,” G o o din s aid. Make no mistake; Hardcourt Bike Polo is a sport to be reckoned with. Players often engage in full contact, colliding and hitting the pavement. Malykhin said it is fast paced and dangerous. Game play is intense and requires a signif ic ant amount of dexterity. “People get hit in the head a lot. That’s why we wear helmets.” Malykhin said the sport is “getting huge.” He described the scene from his most recent tournament in Bloomington where leagues throughout the Midwest could register: “48 spots filled up in 50 seconds.”
Currently, the league is preparing to build a court that will provide them with a permanent home. The space was a donation from the city and will be located on Covington and Brooklyn at the old Study tennis courts. Although the process is slow due to funding, Malykhin hopes to have it finished in the near future. For now pickup games are played at a place called “The Church” on Barr St. and E. Lewis downtown across from Anthis Career Center whenever team members can coordinate their schedules. To stay active with the Fort Wayne Bike Polo League’s latest updates Malykhin recommends getting on the blog, fortwaynebikepolo.blogspot.com, or contacting him to keep in touch via text message. Hardcourt Bike Polo is no band of Ralph Lauren-wearing lightweights. The sport requires toughness and a healthy dose of bad-assery. Malykhin said: “If you play, you’re there because you want to be there.” No doubt, these players don’t want to be anywhere else than on two wheels, with a homemade mallet in hand.