october 31, 2012

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Wednesday, October 31, 2012 Indiana State University www.indianastatesman.com Volume 120 Issue 28 RISING COSTS Editorial: We give kudos to student activism PAGE 7 Features: Junior Kyla Eubank crowned 2013 Miss ISU PAGE 8 HONORS Members of ISU women’ s soccer and football teams honored by the conference A study ranks Indiana public four-year institutions 11th in the nation for college student debt. Indiana State University is working to make college more affordable with taskforces. According to research conducted by Project on Student Debt, the average debt for the Hoosier state is $27, 500. In 2011, two-thirds of college graduates averaged a loan debt of $26,600 per person. Senior defender Kourtney Vassar earned MVC Player of the Week (Photo courtesy of ISU Athletic Media Relations). PAGE 4 Photo by Jamie Nichols. Study says Indiana college graduates are 11th in student loan debt; ISU continues to work to make college more affordable PAGE 13 ERNEST ROLLINS Editor-in-Chief

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Indiana Statesman Volume 120 Issue 28

TRANSCRIPT

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Indiana State Universitywww.indianastatesman.com

Volume 120 Issue 28

RISING COSTS

Editorial: We give kudos to student activism

PAGE 7

Features: Junior Kyla Eubank crowned 2013 Miss ISU

PAGE 8

HONORSMembers of ISU women’ s soccer and football teams

honored by the conference

Editorial:student activism

A study ranks Indiana public four-year institutions 11th in the nation for college student debt. Indiana State University is working to make college more a� ordable with taskforces.

According to research conducted by Project on Student Debt, the

average debt for the Hoosier state is $27, 500. In 2011, two-thirds of college graduates averaged a loan debt of $26,600 per person.

Senior defender Kourtney Vassar earned MVC Player of the Week (Photo courtesy of ISU Athletic Media Relations).

PAGE 4

Photo by Jamie Nichols.

Study says Indiana college graduates are 11th in student loan debt; ISU continues to work to make college more a� ordable

PAGE 13

ERNEST ROLLINS Editor-in-Chief

Page 2 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012 www.indianastatesman.com

News

[email protected]

HMSU 143 - 550 Chestnut St.Terre Haute, IN 47809

P: (812) 237: 3025 F: (812) 237-7629

Ernest Rollins Editor-in-Chief, [email protected]

Jamie Nichols Photo Editor, [email protected]

Gabi Roach Student Advertising Manager, [email protected]

The Indiana Statesman is published Mon-days, Wednesdays and Fridays, except during exam periods and university breaks, and is published three times during the summer. The Indiana Statesman was founded May 16, 1929, the same year that Indiana State Normal School became Indiana State Teachers College. The newspaper began in December 1879 as the State Normal News. In November 1895, the paper was first issued as the Normal Advance. Members of the ISU community are welcome to take a single copy of each issue of this news-paper. The unauthorized taking of multiple copies, however, may constitute theft, which is a crime, even with free publications. Thefts will be reported to the campus police for pos-sible prosecution and/or for other disciplinary actions.The Indiana Statesman exists for four main reasons: to provide the ISU community with news and information, to serve the campus as a public forum for student and reader, to of-fer student staff members chances to apply their skills in different aspects of a news publication, and to give students leadership opportunities.

The number of early voters has increased across Indiana due to efforts of political campaigns this presidential election season.

Early voting begins 29 days before Election Day in Indiana. According to the Vigo County Clerk office, approximately 200 to 300 early voters have cast absentee ballots each day since early voting for the presidential election has begun in Vigo County.

“It’s easy to see how people could drive up to the voting facility, see a line stretching outside the door and maybe expect that line to be maybe an hour before they could vote and turn around and go back home,” Matthew Bergbower, assistant professor of political science, said. “People have jobs and families and can’t always commit to politics for an hour or two on a Tuesday afternoon.”

The Republican Party of Indiana has set up a dozen campaign “victory” centers, which were created to help draw Republicans to polls for Election Day, and has made more than 1.2 million calls to encourage early voting and absentee-by-mail voting. The Democrat Party has made more than 1 million calls from over two dozen offices across Indiana, as well.

“Campaigns at the presidential level are encouraging early voting,” Bergbower said. “There is an effort on the campaigns themselves to get people to the polls early to take advantage of this early voting phenomenon.”

Allison Fierst, junior speech pathology major, is one of many ISU students who are choosing to vote early because of the convenience of absentee voting.

“I’m voting absentee for my county because I’m not registered in Terre Haute,” Fierst said. “Personally, I didn’t know where to vote. Even to get my absentee ballot, I had to call around. I feel like most students might not care enough to call or put the extra effort in. They might be discouraged.”

Students may also visit their voting precinct in their hometown to vote for their presidential candidate of choice.

“I’m hoping to vote when I get back home,” Sara Cox, English Education major, said. “I feel like some students go back home to vote because they don’t want to vote in Terre Haute.”

Regulations of early voting differ within

each state, but Indiana citizens can perform early voting in-person or by mail. Voters who vote absentee-by-mail are not required to provide a photo ID.

“It’s a cost to go to the polls on Election Day, such as time and knowing where it is at. If we did early voting, you know where you need to go,” Bergbower said. “People feel an obligation that they should turn out to vote and people want to do it in a way that is convenient.”

Statistics show that older people vote more than younger people, Bergbower said. Because younger people may be less familiar with the candidates and life experience, they may have a bit more apathy toward the system.

The Harvard Institute of Politics’ issued

a national survey of 18-29-year-olds found that 55 percent of young voters would vote for President Barack Obama, 36 percent would vote for Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Only 48 percent said they planned to vote on Election Day.

The survey also found in voters aged 18-29, Romney voters are more likely to turnout than Obama voters. Sixty-five percent of Romney voters say they will “definitely” vote this November.

“I have been watching the debates, and the media has influenced me,” Fierst said. “I think [the presidential candidates] have pushed issues that college kids might be interested in, like abortion and birth control.”

HannaH MicHaels Reporter

Early voting in swing for presidential election

(Illustration by Jamie Nichols)

www.indianastatesman.com Page 3 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012

Wound care expert Joel Beam will discuss community associated MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, in conjunction with the University Speakers Series on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in Indiana State University’s Hulman Memorial Student Union, Dede I.

MRSA has been making headlines for the last decade in professional athletics, collegiate and high school teams, as well as in the community, where perceived epidemics have required CDC evaluation and clean-up to stop the spread of the condition. Infections are spread through close skin-to-skin contact, skin wounds, such as cuts and scrapes, crowded living conditions and poor hygiene.

Beam’s presentation is in conjunction with the Department of Applied Medicine and Rehabilitation Speaker Series. Beam earned his bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University, a Master of Education degree from Clemson University and a doctorate in education from the University of North Florida.

He was a graduate assistant athletic trainer at the University of Florida and Clemson University prior to becoming an assistant athletic trainer and adjunct instructor at the University of Miami. Beam then served as the head athletic trainer and adjunct instructor at the University of North Florida.

He is currently an associate professor

and director of the Athletic Training Education Program at the University of North Florida.

He is a reviewer for numerous publishers, journals and grant programs and serves as an expert peer referee with the Cochrane Collaboration Wounds Group.

He has authored publications at the national and international levels and the textbook “Orthopedic Taping, Wrapping, Bracing, and Padding.” Beam’s primary area of research is the effectiveness of semi-occlusive and occlusive dressings on healing rates of abrasions.

Wound care expert to discuss

community-associated MRSA Nov. 8

Paula Meyer ISU Communications and Marketing

Joel Beam (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and Marketing).

Page 4 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012 www.indianastatesman.com

John Beacon, vice president for enrollment management marketing and communications, said the national average loan debt for colleges continues to grow with averages moving from $23,349 in 2007 to $26, 682 in 2010.

With tuition increasing and state aid, many students turn to financial aid. Beacon said 79 percent of full-time undergraduates at ISU receive some form of aid.

Beacon said students tend to opt for private loans which are not always the best option. For 2011-12, 40 percent of ISU freshman took out private loans averaging $6,625. He added that students need to understand that interest for private student loans are higher, nine percent, compared to other financial aid options such as PLUS loans [7.9 percent] and Stafford loans [6.8 percent].

“I think that students, think for whatever the reason, ‘if I take out a loan I don’t have to deal with it right now’ and they don’t think about … what the interest rate is, how soon they have to begin paying it back and there are a lot of these private lenders out there contacting students and saying ‘easy as pie, you need a loan come and see us; we’ll help you out’,” Beacon said.

Despite this, Indiana State University remains one of the lowest when it comes to college costs. Beacon said that the average student debt for ISU students is $18,877. According to Project on Student Debt the university is second-lowest in the state in student debt beaten only by the University of Southern Indiana.

Nonetheless, ISU continues to seek out ways to be more affordable. Jack Maynard, vice president of academic affairs and provost, said the university appointed various affordability taskforces to look into college costs. University officials investigate ways to save students money in areas such as textbooks, housing and dining and faster degree completion.

“The taskforce on affordability is not to figure out how to give students more money,” Beacon said. “[It is] making through seminars, through websites, through any number of different ways of connecting to students telling them what the cost of attendance is and how they can afford to be here. And in some cases telling students they can’t afford to be here. We can’t always make everybody happy.”

Maynard said areas such as textbooks and housing all contribute to the overall cost of college.

Beacon said areas such as housing are direct expenses to

students. One consideration was a practice done at Berea University, Ky. Students would work off costs by doing work for the university, however, Beacon said the feasibility of such a method at ISU has to be assessed thoroughly before implemented.

Even with the university trying to keep costs low, Maynard said state funding continues to be one major challenge to affordability. Maynard said higher education funding dropped by nearly 10 percent over the last 12 years.

Indiana State University relies heavily on state funding. Money from the state accounts for approximately 46 percent of the current operating budget for the university. Recent budget cuts recommended by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education will reduce state funding by 5 percent over the next two years, President Daniel J. Bradley said at his 2012 fall address.

Despite the reduction in funding ISU has been able to, compared to other institutions, keep tuition costs low. According to a report from College Board, tuition costs increased by 15 percent at public institutions in Indiana. At ISU, the increases in tuition has been much slower, approximately nine percent.

Beacon said what has helped ISU control costs was the previous three years of increased enrollment. By increasing the numbers the university brings in more revenue, that goes

back into aiding students.“It’s like flying an airplane half-empty or full,” Beacon said.

“The plane still flies. [It] costs so much gas to get from here to there. If the plane is full some of that is profit, if it flies with five people in it it probably cost more to fly than they made on it. So you always want full seats, full capacity and you’re making money...when you are doing that you are able to keep the costs down.”

Another method that keeps costs down is “cut everything you can that is not important”, Maynard said. Areas that can be impacted include support staff and technology. In addition, wages being the largest expense of the university, faculty will have to take on larger course loads. Maynard said the faculty-student ratio at ISU is expected to increase from 12:1 to 20:1 by 2015.

Nonetheless, Beacon said educating students and parents about college costs and affordability is part of the university’s duty. He added that the university financial page website was created to be easy to read and be informative.

“It’s all there,” Beacon said. “If people would look for it. But strangely enough, students at Indiana State University don’t want to read it they want to be told.”

However, controlling university costs can grow to be more complex.

“There is no one simple solution,” Beacon said.

(Illustration by Jamie Nichols).

CONTINUED frOm PAGE 1

“It’s like flying a plane half-empty or full. The plane still flies ... So you

always want full seats, full capacity and you’re making money ... when you are doing that you are able to keep costs

down.”

John Beacon, vice president for enrollment management, marketing and

communications

www.indianastatesman.com Page 5 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012

An Indiana Senate candidate’s comment on rape is leaving the Republican Party, nation and ISU students divided.

Mourdock has been in the midst of a close Senate election this year. During a debate last Tuesday evening, Republican Richard Mourdock was asked whether abortion is permissible as the result of rape or incest.

“I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God. And, I think, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen,” Mourdock said.

This isn’t the first time a Republican Senate candidate’s words have caused controversy. In August, Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin said women’s bodies prevent pregnancy during instances of “legitimate rape.”

“I think it’s pretty ridiculous [Mourdock] was so careless after the whole Todd Akin thing,” Michael Bell, a junior theater major, said.

Mourdock stated at news conference Wednesday his words were misconstrued, adding that he didn’t believe God caused people to rape or that a higher

power would condone it. On Monday, he said that he couldn’t take back his comment and wanted the public to move forward.

“You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube, you can’t unring the bell,” Mourdock said. “I apologize to anyone who might have been offended by it personally, and we’ve moved on and are talking about what people are talking about.”

The Republican Party is split over Mourdock’s comment. New Hampshire Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte has since distanced herself from Mourdock, recently canceling plans to campaign with him.

ISU students, such as senior exercise major Siona Taft, are also on the fence about Mourdock’s thoughts.

“I believe all things happens for a reason,” Taft said. “It’s a touchy subject, though. No one will understand it unless it’s happening to them.”

Romney has yet to specify whether he’s for or against Mourdock’s views, but Andrea Saul, a spokeswoman for Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney, said last Wednesday that Romney will continue to support Mourdock. It’s a move that could hurt Romney’s campaign.

“I think Romney is really trying to please the right-wing voters at this point, and that demographic probably wasn’t phased as much by it,” Bell said. “I don’t see how he didn’t already have those votes in the bag before that. So it probably wasn’t the best move.”

Mourdock is running against Democrat Joe Donnelly this election. Both parties released poll numbers Friday, with conflicting results. The Democratic poll shows that Donnelly is slightly leading, 47 to 40 percent. Mourdock’s polls, however, indicate a tie.

Brianne Hofmann Assistant News Editor

Senator candidate’s ‘rape’ comment splits politicians and students

“I think it’s pretty ridiculous [Richard Mourdock] was so

careless after the whole Todd Akin thing.”

Michael Bell, junior theater major

Page 6 •Wednesday , October 31, 2012 www.indianastatesman.com

News

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Opinions

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Aaron Abel

Contact Us Make your opinion heard by

submitting letters to the editor of the Indiana Statesman.

Letters must be fewer than 350 words and include year in school, major and phone

number for verification. Letters will be published with the

author’s name, year in school and major. The Statesman

editorial board reserves the right to edit letters for length,

libel, clarity and vulgarity.

Opinions PolicyThe Indiana Statesman

opinions page is an opportunity for the Indiana

State University community to express its views. The opinions,

individual and collective, expressed in the Statesman and the student staff ’s selection or arrangement of content do not necessarily reflect the attitudes

of Indiana State University, its Board of Trustees,

administration, faculty or student body. The Statesman

editorial board writes staff editorials and makes final

decisions about news content.

Statesman editorialStudents say, “You screwed up,

and that’s not okay.”The Indiana Statesman’s front page story

on Monday covered a petition started by students. The petition called on the university’s administration to raise the academic dismissal GPA from .85 back to 1.0, where it was just over a year ago. Three conclusions should be drawn from this news.

This event shows that the press still has power, that written words can still affect change. Many of you may recall a Statesman editorial that ran on Sep. 10 titled, “I screwed up, but that’s okay,” which discussed this very issue. Members of the group responsible for the petition admit to receiving inspiration and awareness from that editorial, as well as previous ones discussing this same issue. As an editorial staff, that is delightful.

Secondly, this news shows that students and others associated with the university do genuinely care about the direction of

their school, as well as the values of their degrees. The fact that these students are willing to take the time and energy to bring awareness and a call for change to this problem shows that apathy isn’t and doesn’t have to be the norm.

Lastly, this news illustrates the fact that there is a problem and it needs to be addressed. It is one thing for students to be

concerned with an issue and be willing to sign a petition, as they have little to lose. But when professors and other faculty members put their necks on the line by signing this same petition—as they have—this indicates a true

collective passion for change.As an editorial staff, we would like to

tip our hats to the groups of students who started this petition, as well as to all of those who have placed their signatures on the still-growing list.

Our position on the matter hasn’t

changed: .85 is below a ‘D’ average and those unwilling or unable to achieve a higher academic performance do not belong here. By maintaining such a low standard the prestige of our university suffers.

It is the view of our staff that the reasons for this lowering may be the result of rushed or sloppy administrative practices. And we will therefore commit ourselves to exploring and exposing these motives to our readers. For now we believe the administration needs to put a concerted effort into researching the effects of these lowered standards and into serious deliberation on the possibility of raising them to where they once were.

For now we encourage anyone concerned with our university’s prestige and the value of its diploma to voice your concerns to the administration and sign the academic dismissal GPA petition. You can do this by either contacting Teresa Williams at [email protected] or by waiting until the student group posts a Facebook page allowing electronic signatures, which we will direct you to upon its creation.

Simply put, politics is the everlasting struggle over who gets control. That definition can be further broken down into how much? When do they get it, where and for how long? Political processes affect each of us in our daily lives and the ultimate goal of these processes is to secure “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

One would assume that in the pursuit of happiness, there would be a communitarian effort. No single party or person

could attempt to claim that they have the interests of the country at heart over any other person; rather the entire community would be invested in figuring out how to best build and support the country. Unfortunately, that is a utopian dream that does not have any basis in the current American political system.

During this election, many have asked how and when did politics become so volatile. With candidates for every office spending millions on negative campaign attack ads that are directed

against their opponents, American citizens becoming more partisan each year, and with a Congress refusing to collaborate

on any issue, it seems as if our own political system is working against us, slowly bringing the gears of democracy to an absolute halt. Partisan politics is truly beginning to be revealed as a detriment to our democracy but with the advent of hurricane Sandy, I

am reminded as to what politics should look like and must one day become.

Julian WindbornProgress for Progress’ Sake

Bipartisanship: A tool of democracy

“But when professors and other faculty put their necks

on the line by signing this same petition —as they

have—this indicates a true collective passion for change.”

“...and with a Congress refusing to collaborate on any

issue, it seems as if our own political system is working against us, slowly bringing

the gears of democracy to an absolute halt.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Are affirmative action regulations still relevant in the United States today? When affirmative action was first put into place in 1961 by former President John F. Kennedy, the U.S. was very segregated and there were numerous people who were racist, sexist or both. Affirmative action was a definite must.

Today, we as Americans take pride in our ability to embrace diversity and accept everyone regardless of demographics. For

example, I have not heard a single instance of anyone mentioning that they believe President Barack Obama should or shouldn’t be re-elected based on his race. This was a large issue last election and it was a shame that it was ever brought up because race does not have any effect on how great of a leader anyone can be. I believe that this is huge for America because this shows that we are truly assessing the candidates on the premise of merit and not irrelevant demographics.

There are also many powerful women in the world in the U.S. today. Nancy Pelosi was a former speaker of the House of Representatives, Sarah Palin was a former vice presidential candidate and the current Secretary of State. When affirmative action was put into place in 1961 women would have never had a chance at attaining any of these positions but today this is commonplace.

Affirmative action was greatly needed in 1961 and was put into place to give minorities and females a chance in a racist and sexist society. Minorities were being unfairly discriminated against simply because they did not fit into the demographic of the majority. This executive order required employers and universities to hire, admit and provide programs to help minorities and females reach an equal playing field. This action paved the way for many successful minorities and females and was the perfect executive order in the era that it was implemented in.

The only downside with this regulation is that now over 50 years later, this executive order may actually be

hurting more than it helps. Today, there are many lawsuits filed by “majorities” that state that they are victims of reverse discrimination. The people filing these lawsuits feel that they are either not being admitted by universities or being advanced in their career because the university or career is practicing affirmative action and giving preference to minorities and women. Because of affirmative action these people are being discriminated against simply because they do not fit into the demographic of a minority.

With this information, aren’t we to the point in society yet where we can do away with affirmative action? Is affirmative action still fulfilling the purpose that it was originally supposed to serve? Would we become a better society if we hired and admitted the most qualified, hardest-working and best students, workers and citizens independent of any

demographics? If we want to be known as a society that truly embraces diversity, isn’t it time to take off the training wheels?

www.indianastatesman.com Page 7 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012

AndrewJonesBeneaththeSurface

Republican Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey has been an incredibly fierce critic of President Barack Obama, calling the president “arrogant” and saying, “…What the hell is he doing asking for another four years?”

However, with the devastation inflicted upon the east coast by hurricane Sandy, the president and Governor Christie have been committed to working together to restore the lives of thousands who were seriously afflicted by the storm. On Tuesday Morning with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, Governor Christie praised the president saying, “It’s been very good working with the president. He and his administration have been coordinating with us. It’s been wonderful.”

The collaboration between the president and

Governor Christie in the wake of disaster is a sobering reminder of what is truly important. In September, Indiana Democrat Congressman Lee Hamilton spoke on campus and during his speech he addressed partisanship by saying, “What are you going to do when the next Katrina strikes? When 9/11 happens? Are you going to give a speech on liberal and conservative philosophy? No. People are in need and are hurting.” Congressman Hamilton continued to express that philosophy and explained that the true essence of politics is to help people. The politician is first and foremost a public servant. Contemporary political parties seem to have stripped many politicians of their public servant title and replaced it with “party servant” because many politicians would rather cater to their

party rather than their constituency. It seems that George Washington was correct during his farewell address when he said, “[Political parties] may now and then answer popular ends. They are likely in the course of time and things to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”

I believe Washington would agree in saying that the pursuit of national harmony through the divisivenature of parties is a self-defeating concept.

Is affirmative action an outdated concept?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

Cartoon by Emily Qualls.

“...aren’t we to the point in society yet where we can do away with

affirmative action? Is affirmative action still fulfilling the purpose that it was originally supposed to serve?”

Page 8 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012 www.indianastatesman.com

News

[email protected]

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Features

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Richelle Kimble The University Hall Theater was deathly quiet as Al Perone, the master of ceremonies and co-director of the Miss ISU Pageant, read the name of the winner of the 2013 Miss ISU title.

“The winner of a five hundred dollar Barnes and Noble Bookstore Scholarship, a one thousand dollar ISU Foundation Scholarship and the title of Miss ISU 2013 goes to Kyla Eubank,” Perone said with a booming voice.

Eubank, a junior Indiana State University education major, was given a bouquet of flowers and sat on stage in disbelief as she received her crown from the previous Miss ISU title holder, Ayanna Sykes. Eubank said it was an unexpected win.

“The first thing that went through my head when my name was called was, ‘Holy crap I just won.’ Throughout the pageant I was thinking that I wouldn’t get it,” Eubank said.

Each contestant received a score in every category of the program. The categories included an interview with the pageant judges, fitness and healthy lifestyle in swimwear, talent, evening gown and an onstage question.

In the weeks leading up to the pageant, Eubank said she practiced her talent, playing Ludwig Van Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” on the piano, for a few hours every day. She did not own a piano so she practiced in the basement of the Fine Arts Building. Each contestant had 90 seconds to perform a talent of her own choice. The talents ranged from a belly dancing to singing.

“I hadn’t taken piano lessons since I was ten, but I had wanted to get back into it and I felt like this was the perfect opportunity to do so. I would say my strongest moment in the pageant was playing the piano; I was extremely nervous but I pulled through it nicely,” Eubank said.

During the health and fitness portion of the pageant, the ladies had to strut their stuff across the stage in swimsuits and high heels.

“I was terrified during the swimwear part of the pageant because I thought I was going to slip and fall, but it turned out ok,” Eubank said with a chuckle.

Along with her scholarships and Miss ISU 2013 title, Eubank will also have the chance to compete in the Miss Indiana Pageant in Zionsville, Ind. in June. Frank Ricketts, co-director of the Miss Indiana Pageant, said the program celebrates well-rounded

confident young women.“The Miss Indiana Pageant equips

these young ladies with skills that they will use throughout their lifetimes. This is not a beauty pageant; we want young ladies who have put in community service hours and who are confident,” Ricketts said.

Sykes, a sophomore psychology major said she had the time of her life as the Miss ISU 2012 titleholder.

“It was a thrill and it was full excitement; I was never really involved in anything on campus before the pageant, so this just opened up the door of so many opportunities to help out within the community,” Sykes said.

Eubank moves on to Miss Indiana

Pageant

Kyla Eubank was crowned Miss ISU 2013. She will now advance to the Miss Indiana Pageant (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and Marketing).

Stephanie RobinSon Reporter

Upcoming Events

WednesdaySugar Skulls WorkshopLibrary 02810 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Nightfall with Edgar Allan PoeNew Theater7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

ThursdayShowcase of the Day of the DeadOutside of Cunningham Memorial Library6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Nightfall with Edgar Allan PoeNew Theatre7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Chris Wilson and Planet EarthDede III8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Competitiors for the 2013 Miss ISU Pageant danced during the competition as a group (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and Marketing).

www.indianastatesman.com Page 9 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012

Page 10 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012 www.indianastatesman.com

“The Miss Indiana Pageant equips these

young ladies with skills that they will

use throughout their lifetimes. This is not a beauty pageant. We

want young ladies who have put in community service hours and who

are confident.”

Frank Ricketts, co-director of the Miss Indiana

Pageant

Sykes went on to become a semi-finalist in the Miss Indiana Pageant. Sykes was full of different emotions since her time as Miss ISU was up.

“I’m feeling joy, relief and excitement. At first before the show I had a bittersweet feeling, but after meeting all of the young women I knew that I was going to be fine with handing over the crown to either one of them,” Sykes said.

During the months leading up to the Miss Indiana Pageant, Eubank will be busy going to community events and preparing for the pageant. Freda Luers, the co-director of the Miss ISU pageant said that she would make sure Eubank has what she needs in order to be a strong competitor in the Miss Indiana Pageant.

“We provide her with a personal trainer from the ISU Rec Center who will work with her to make sure she is in shape and healthy for the pageant. There will also be mock interviews set-up for her to make sure she is ready for any question from the judges,” Luers said.

Three other contestants in the Miss ISU Pageant also won various scholarships. The first runner up was Ashley Clarke, second runner up was Ashley Dickens and the third runner up was Cache Ellis.

“I just wish Kyla luck; I know she will be a great role model for the university just as I was. She’s going to have so much fun,” Sykes said.

Ayanna Sykes reflected on her time as Miss ISU and congratulated Kyla Eubank on her achievement (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and Marketing).

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

www.indianastatesman.com Page 11 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012

On a cool and breezy Saturday morning, students in Environment 110 classes at Indiana State University loaded onto two coach buses for a drive that ended on a gravel road a short distance from ISU’s campus at Wabashiki State Fish and Wildlife Area.

As they got off the busses the wind created ripples in the water and caused trees to sway. On this day, the wildlife sanctuary provided students with a 43-thousand-acre classroom along the west bank of the Wabash River.

“The fact that we have such a large, contiguous, natural area just a few miles from campus is often ignored by Sycamores, and the class field trip helps students connect their local environment and the community in a different way,” said Stephen Aldrich, assistant professor of earth and environmental systems.

Students split into groups and collected data from soil and trees, mapped invasive species and checked water quality.

“We are taking soil samples around the preservation and we are trying to prove our hypothesis, which is soil fertility decreases as depth increases,” said Henry Kroll, a sophomore business major from Munster, Ind.

Blake Byers, a senior in operational supply chain management from Bloomfield, Ind., explained that the students were testing the soil’s texture, acid level and the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

“I get educated on things that I don’t really know about,” Byers said,

“The Environment 110 field trip can help students learn that collecting scientific data can be very involved, complicated, difficult and yet fun simultaneously,” said Aldrich. “The field trip helps students realize that a big hurdle that a scientist faces in addressing big problems like climate change or overfishing is a lack of good data, and the difficulty in getting good data. The other thing the field trip helps students learn is that even a heavily used environment, like the Wabashiki, has plenty to offer in terms of habitat for animals, ecosystem services and even recreation opportunities.”

The outdoor classroom experience plays a role in how students can tie in class concepts to experiences had at Wabashiki.

“Actually coming out here, I feel like you remember a lot more than just doing a procedure in class,” said Lindsey Meyer a sophomore art education major from Brazil, Ind.

Wabashiki wetlands becomes outdoor classroomSarina Bayer ISU Communications and Marketing

Jeffery Stone, assistant professor of environmental geosciences, demonstrates how to use a water collector to students (Photo courtesty of ISU Communications and Marketing).

Page 12 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012 www.indianastatesman.com

Sports

[email protected]

Thomas BeelerWhile the Indiana State vs. Illinois State football game

on Saturday, November 3 will be a key battle for both programs in the Missouri Valley Football Conference Championship Race and the stretch run towards a FCS Playoff berth, each university is mindful of the struggles many are facing in the Northeastern portion of the United States in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

In response to Hurricane Sandy, the Indiana State Athletics Department will be hosting several opportunities for fans to both donate to the relief efforts and also enjoy this battle of nationally-ranked football teams at Memorial Stadium for free. Kickoff against the Redbirds is set for 2:05 p.m. (ET) on Saturday.

The Sycamores are ranked No. 14/17 nationally while the Redbirds check in at No. 15/17.

To help out the local community as well as those affected by Hurricane Sandy, Terre Haute Catholic Charities will be collecting items at the game on Saturday. Fans who donate at least five pounds of items will receive a free ticket to the Sycamores vs. Indiana State game. Donation and ticket pickup locations will be located at each entrance to Memorial Stadium on game day.

Likewise, the American Red Cross will be accepting monetary donations towards Hurricane Sandy relief at Memorial Stadium as well. A monetary donation will also get each fan a free ticket to the game as well.

Donations to either Catholic Charities or the American Red Cross are also being accepted this week at the Hulman Center Ticket Office and the complimentary tickets can be picked up when the donations are made during the week.

Additionally, local businesses, other groups or interested fans are encouraged to stop by the Hulman Center Ticket Office this week to purchase tickets for the Illinois State game at the cost of just $5 per ticket. The minimum purchase to receive this special discounted group rate is $10.

The Hulman Center Ticket Office will be open all week during normal business hours as well as during the basketball exhibition contest on Thursday, November 1 against Lewis at 7:05 p.m. (ET) and the women’s basketball exhibition against Bellarmine on Friday, November 2 at 7:05 p.m. (ET).

Additionally, regularly priced tickets to the game can be purchased on the phone by calling 1-877-ISU-TIXS or online at Ticketmaster.com.

Ace Hunt ISU Athletic Media Relations

ISU Athletics accepting donations for Hurricane Sandy

Top: American Red Cross Logo Bottom: Junior Demory Lawshe and junior Austen Wozniak about to walk on to the field (Photo courtesy of Wiki Commons and ISU Communications and Marketing ).

Upcoming Events

Men’s BasketballThursdayat Hulman Center vs. Lewis (Ex) at 7:05 p.m.

Women’s VolleyballFridayat ISU Arena vs. Wichita State at 7 p.m.

Saturdayat ISU Arena vs. Missouri State at 7 p.m.

Football

Saturdayat Memorial Stadium vs. Illinois State at 2:05 p.m.

Cross Country

Saturdayat Bloomington, Ind. for the Hoosier Invitational at 3:30 p.m.

www.indianastatesman.com Page 13 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012

Indiana State senior defender Kourtney Vassar and freshman goalkeeper Erin Mitchell both earned Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week honors after ISU’s soccer matches against Missouri State and Northern Iowa last week.

Vassar was named MVC Defensive Player of the Week after playing on the field for 208 minutes during both MSU and UNI games.

Thursday, against MSU, Vassar was a part of the game-winning point sending a free kick 35 yards out into the center of the penalty box. Junior Taylor Reed would clean up and win the game for the Sycamores. Vassar also assisted in turning away 11 second–half shots from the Bears. During ISU’s quarter final game against UNI, Vassar played 110 minutes. She also won the game for the Sycamores 1-0

off of another penalty kick, advancing the Sycamores to the semifinal round of the MVC tournament.

Mitchell got the Goalkeeper of the Week making ten saves over the two game week. Mitchell made seven saves with six of them in the second half against MSU. Sunday, against UNI, the freshman goalkeeper followed up with three more saves and stopped the first two during a shootout, helping the Sycamores to the semi-final round.

Vassar and Mitchell along with the rest of the team will be continuing tournament play Friday against top-seeded and regular season champion Evansville in Omaha, Neb. with the game kicking off at 4:30 p.m. (ET) and 3:30 p.m. locally.

Two members of ISU’s soccer team honored as Player of the Week

Indiana State junior cornerback Calvin Burnett has earned this week’s Missouri Valley Football Conference “Special Forces” Player of the Week following Saturday’s game against South Dakota. He was able to average 30 yards per return. Burnett’s first return was during the first quarter he ran for 47 yards. His second return put the Sycamores at the 42-yard line running 28 yards.

As cornerback, Burnett posted five total tackles with a pass break.

With Burnett’s contribution, the Sycamores are 7-2 for the regular season and ISU at first

place in the MVFC with a conference record of 5-1. This is the first time in school history that the Sycamores have been at the top of the league in November and is also the first time ISU has ever won five MVFC games in one season.

Saturday, ISU will celebrate their senior players and try to earn their sixth consecutive win against Illinois State to close out the regular season. If the Sycamores win this will be only time ISU has won six games in a row since 1984. Kick-off begins at 2:05 p.m. (ET).

Calvin Burnett honored as a “Special Forces” Player of the Week

Brief

Page 14 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012 www.indianastatesman.com

Thomas Beeler Sports Editor The Indiana State track and field team celebrates

Halloween with a different approach. For the past four years the team has held a costume relay among the athletes to stir up competition within the team and have some fun as they gear up for their first meet in December.

“We tried to bring something fun into practice because running everyday gets kind of repetitive,” said women’s head track and field coach Angela Martin.

Martin said the coaches at the time decided to hold a 4X400 meter relay race because it traditionally ends every meet. It’s a good thing to practice what they finish the competition with.

Martin said there are awards to entice the athletes to dress-up in costumes as a team of four. They usually have a best theme award, then the scariest costume award and finally the winner of the race receives an award.

Coaches usually assign teams of four and each team would come up with a theme and coordinate costumes to match it. Also, since the track team is large in numbers, the relay race is a good way for the athlete to get to know one another better.

“This year will be a little different than in the past,” said senior runner and recreational therapy major Macey Black. “There are six girls on each team. Usually there are four.”

Martin said the coaches pair up different athletes in different events to give everyone a fair advantage. They wouldn’t pair the team’s actual 4X400 meter relay team because they are trained in that event. They want to mix the events.

“We get an easy day and dress up while we do it.” senior runner and communication major Stacia

Weatherford said, “We talk to athletes we haven’t talked to yet on the team. It’s sort of fun but my relay team never wins.”

Weatherford said her sophomore year her relay team were rappers and junior year she was a circus ringleader and the others were circus freaks. She said her relay team would always take a creative approach and had fun doing it.

“One of the teams dressed as nerds one year their costumes were pretty funny,” Black said.

Junior sprinter and exercise science major Devin Price said he I was a jabbawockee and a beach bum last year.

“Some of the other themes were superheroes, rappers, ninjas, nerds and some other really good ones,” Price said.

Price said one of the more creative costume themes was when a group of girls dressed up trees and a group of guys dressed up as “the sick and elderly.”

“I think the relays really help to increase the morale of the team,” Price said. “It can be hard on us as athletes due to the fact that our training and conditioning season is so long. It really does take a lot out of us, and can sometimes feel like its too much. But the Halloween relays really do help to pick the morale back up.”

Price said the relay is a way for the runners and jumpers of the team to have a little bit of fun during the training season, but they can also continue to work hard.

“I do like the relay race. I think it’s fun because you never know who’s going to be on your team,” Price said. “It’s a good way to challenge ourselves and to have fun at the same time.”

ISU Track and Field chasing the Halloween Spirit

Top: ISU alumnus Andrew Stull and junior Duane Brown dress as “nerds“ from the relay two years ago relay Bottom: Senior Brain Martin dressed as Batman finish the final stretch of the race (Photo by Richelle Kimble).

”We tried to bring something fun into practice because

running everyday gets kind of repetitive.”

Angela Martin, head women’s track and field coach

www.indianastatesman.com Page 15 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012

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Page 16 • Wednesday , October 31, 2012 www.indianastatesman.com

The Madden NFL franchise has held strong for over 20 years. Allowing anyone to play as his or her favorite NFL team or player and releasing a another installment with new features and roster updates each year, the series does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. But behind the thin layer of plastic on the case holds a dark curse many fans of the game and NFL players seem to believe in.

The Madden curse has been around as long as NFL players started to appear on the cover. The legend is the player on the cover will have a horrible season or non at all. Many NFL players try to defeat the curse but fall to it.

Many websites provide a full time lines of the Madden curse, explaining each player and how the curse has affected the season during their time on

the cover. The most recent victim was Madden NFL 2012 cover boy and Cleveland Browns safety Peyton Hillis. Hillis said he would beat the curse but suffered injuries throughout the entire 2011-2012 season.

This legend doesn’t always affect the athlete physicallly. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees felt the effect of the curse after the regular season. Brees had a strong season individually, but the Seattle Seahawks upset the Saints in the first round of playoffs in 2011.

The curse seems to only affect one player if two are on the cover. In 2010, the Pittsburgh Steeler’s safety Troy Polamalu joined Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on the Madden cover. Polamalu only played five games that season due to lingering knee injuries. The Steelers also missed making the play-offs after winning the Super Bowl the previous year. Fitzgerald missed the curse and he still had a strong season, collecting over 1,000 receiving yards and 13 tackles.

In 2005, NFL hype man and Baltimore Raven, Ray Lewis also broke down to the fate of the Madden curse. He was the defender to make the cover, but suffered a wrist injury and missed one game. Then sat out the next season due to a hamstring injury. After his return, he appeared in six consecutive Pro Bowls.

One of the biggest impacts is when Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick made his way onto the Madden cover in 2004 as an Atlanta Falcon.

After breaking his leg in the pre-season a day after the game was released , Vick missed 11 games that season. This started a wave of off-the field issues including his scandal with his dog fighting ring and jail time.

People are questioning if 2013 cover athlete, Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, will reverse the curse or fall to the same fate as many others.

Thomas Beeler Sports Editor

The legendary Madden curse could live on

Detroit Lions, Calvin Johnson testing the power of the curse (Photo by Jamie Nichols).