Oct. 9, 2013 | The Reflector

Page 1

CMYK

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS

‘PRIVATE LIVES’ PREVIEW > See Page 6

VOL.

92

I S S UE 3

reflector.uindy.edu

OCTOBER 9, 2013

Many first generation students call UIndy home By Leeann Doerflein FEATURE EDITOR

“I’m one of six—the fifth child and one of the youngest—and I’m the first one going off to college,” said freshman nursing major Brandi Baker. For students like Baker, the University of Indianapolis has been a place to take the next step and be the first in their families to attend college. For years, UIndy has been perceived as a first-generation university, and ac-

cording to data from Vice President of Institutional Planning and Research Patrick Alles, this perception is well-founded

High numbers, slowly falling

This fall, 41.5 percent of freshmen and transfer students were first generation college students, meaning that they were the first person in their families to pursue a post-secondary degree. However, this number is slightly less than in the past. Since the fall of 2011, the first-generation population has hovered between 41.5 and 42 percent.This is a decline from

earlier years for which data are available. The highest recent spike in first generation enrollment was in 2010, when that population was 48.4 percent. Alles said that the recent decline in first-generation students could be a function of the economic downturn and many parents themselves having sought higher education in order to make ends meet. “There is nothing we are doing differently to target a different group. Admissions isn’t looking for different students,” Alles said. “... These numbers are a reflection of the economy. I think you have the

effect that some people have been forced to go back to college to get a credential, a certificate, or maybe had some college and wanted to finish their degree. And a lot of that shows up here.”

Differing rates of success

When students have a parent who has gone through college, that can influence whether the students return to UIndy year after year. According to data provided by Alles, 78 percent of second-generation students from the class starting in fall 2012 returned to UIndy in the spring,

but only 66 percent of first-generation students returned. “It is an important phenomenon when you’re looking at enrollment, admissions, even graduation rates, because the boost or the impact of your parent having been through college is measurable and significant,” Alles said. Another fairly significant difference between first- and second-generation students is that first-generation students have a considerably lower on-time graduation rate than second-generation students.

> See FIRST on page 3

Vision 2030 discusses renovations to library By Mia Lin STAFF WRITER

Photos by Zefeng Zhang

The University of Indianapolis Crimsonettes lead the charge onto the field in Key Stadium for the Homecoming football game against Missouri S & T on Oct. 5. (Below) The Greyhounds defeated their opponents 34-3 at the game, which finished off the Homecoming Week series of events.

HOUNDS COME HOME By Allison Gallagher ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Greyhounds rallied together for the Homecoming football game on Oct. 5, with the week leading up to it filled with many activities to get students and faculty into school spirit. Homecoming Week officially started on Monday, Sept. 30, with the Homecoming Pep Rally in the Schwitzer Student Center Atrium and the homecoming movie that evening. The rest of the week’s activities included the Hounds through the Decades fashion show, UIndy Family Feud, the Eric Hutchinson concert on Thursday and a 1950s themed dinner. The week ended with the football game against Missouri S & T on Saturday evening, which the Greyhounds won 34-3. Homecoming queen Addelyn Ratcliff, a senior music performance major, said that she enjoyed many different events during Homecoming Week, but especially getting to wear the crown.

ONLINE THIS WEEK at reflector.uindy.edu Statesmen speak at symposium

Former Sen. Richard Lugar and Former Rep. Lee Hamilton discussed U.S. foreign policy, specifically the situation in Syria, with other experts on Oct. 8.

UIndy reels in new fishing club

University of Indianapolis students started the Sportsmen Fishing Club for those interested in learning about fishing and wanting to fish competitively. Senior accounting major Cody Clarke, president of the group, started the club in the spring of this year after hearing about fishing clubs at other colleges.

Sex, Drugs & Alcohol speech

“When does use become abuse?” asked Julia Garcia, founder and CEO of the motivational group TRU. She spoke about the dangers of sex, drugs and alcohol the night of Sept. 24 in UIndy Hall A.

OPINION 2

“My favorite thing would [have to] be running for queen,” she said. “I love all of the other candidates, and it’s been a lot of fun getting to attend everything together. We even made a music video for a remixed version of ‘Royals’ by Lorde. It was so much fun.” According to Ratcliff, the overall atmosphere was a great thing to experience. “I’ve also met a lot of people through attending the events,” she said. “And it’s just so awesome to see everyone so energetic and spirited.” Homecoming itself is a large event to organize and takes a year to plan, according to Student Activities Coordinator Stephanie Barry. “I’m already thinking of next year now,” Barry said. “It takes a year, and unfortunately we don’t have the dates yet for next year’s Homecoming. You kind of have to strike when the iron’s hot.” Barry also said that during Homecoming Week, she starts recruiting students to serve on the next year’s Homecoming Committee. By the end of the first

semester, the student group is decided upon and everyone convenes in January to begin planning. “That’s when we begin sitting down, picking a theme, trying to figure out what kind of events we have,” she said. “We have room reservations put in for the year ahead, so everything is done a year in advance—if not more than a year—to plan a homecoming.”

> See HOUNDS on page 7

University administrators hosted another Vision 2030 strategic planning session on Sept. 24 in UIndy Hall A to talk about how to improve Krannert Memorial Library. Vision 2030 started last year under the leadership of University of Indianapolis President Robert Manuel to allow the entire campus community to talk about what the university should be, look like and do by that year. “Communities should not only use facilities but also help others at the same time,” Manuel said. Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli said that unlike last year, when the campus community discussed the university in broad terms, this year’s discussions will be more specific. “We will spend this year talking about the library construction and design, and the construction may begin next summer. It just depends on how quickly things are able to be planned,” Vitangeli said. According to Manuel, the university did not consider students’opinions before building KML, so this time the administrators want to get as much input as possible. Most of the students suggested three main ideas for the library—more space, a patio and a student café. “We will figure out how to make good use of the space and try hard to make it more functional,” Manuel said. “The most important thing is to get students’ opinions to put into practice.” After 15 minutes for students to design and discuss some ideas for the library, Manuel began a conversation with students. A few students thought that the library needs better lighting, so that it makes people feel more comfortable there. “I expect it can be a place, which is more comfortable, more creative and easier to have new relationships with people. I hope the library will be like a warm and inviting community, and make people feel like home,” said freshman psychology major Carlyn Reber.“Besides, I think better sitting places should be the first thing that the school library needs

Photo by Mia Lin

University of Indianapolis President Robert Manuel talks about Krannert Memorial Library at a recent Vision 2030 strategic planning session.

to work on, because they [current spaces] are too singular and scattered.” Some students said that the library is too small, too hot and too outdated. Others thought the technology ought to be updated or renewed, because doing design assignments there is inconvenient. Still, others said that the environment needs to be cozier, and that the basement especially needs improvements. Sophomore psychology and pre-OT major Michaela Thomas said that she was excited to be part of making the library a more usable space, because she hardly studied there last year. “I’m glad it will have more spots for group work,” Thomas said. “I am looking forward to the rebuilt library. It is definitely going to be a more welcoming environment.” Vitangeli said that this was only the first of the Vision 2030 sessions this school year, so there will be more chances for the campus community to get involved. “We will continue to have discussions about the library and will be holding more sessions for students, faculty and staff to express their desires for the library design,” Vitangeli said. “We hope that everyone will come to the sessions to give input.”

Super Saturday exceeds expected numbers By Taylor Richardson STAFF WRITER

About 800 University of Indianapolis students filed onto buses and headed to 26 different sites throughout the community at 8 a.m. on Sept. 28 to kick off Indianapolis Student Government’s annual Super Saturday of Service event. The goal of the event was to serve the community in accordance with the university’s motto—Education for Service. “Indianapolis Student Government just wants to show that our university stands for the motto ‘Education for Service,’ and we just want to go out into the community and make it better,” said ISG member and junior psychology major Alexis Macon. Super Saturday offered UIndy students the opportunity to earn volunteer hours, and for some students attending the service event was mandatory for their New Student Experience or First Year Seminar classes. The event exceeded expectations for

SPORTS 4

ENTERTAINMENT 6

volunteer hours and doubled the number of hours from past Super Saturday events. Students volunteered for more than four hours and received a free lunch and t-shirt. Buses carried students to the sites, which included Brookside Park, projects with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, the St. Elizabeth Coleman Center, Montessori Garden, Global Peace Initiative’s farming and education center and Indianapolis Fellowship Church, among others. For freshman athletic training major Lauren Dybwad, it was her New Student Experience course that brought her to the IFC to help tidy up the church and its 23 acres. “I felt like Super Saturday was a good opportunity to help out in the community. And it makes me happy to know that I can help out around the community,” Dybwad said. The tasks of the sites varied from setting up tables for the Indianapolis AIDS Walk, cleaning chairs for an upcoming wedding at the Indianapolis Fellowship Church, tidying up the Indianapolis

FEATURE 9

Photo by Stephanie Kirkling

Elizabeth Moore trims bushes at Indianapolis Fellowship Church during the university’s annual Super Saturday of Service event. About 800 students participated, doubling volunteer hours of previous years. Cultural Trail and planting trees and shrubbery in Brookside Park. As for the IFC site where Dybwad helped out, Eric Sheets, an IFC member and UIndy father, said that he was more than grateful to have other UIndy students there to help in any way possible. Sheets

Greyhound soccer

> See Page 5

chatted with volunteering students and photographed their progress. “We [IFC] just feel honored and blessed to have a bunch of college kids on their Saturday come out here and help us out,” Sheets said. “We are very, very grateful.”

Alumni-run writing company

> See Page 9


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.