BLACKFRIDAY

CANNEDGOODS

November 17, 2014 | Issue 7

ALSO:-New lab in School of Nursing-The benefits of the Honors Program

THANKSGIVING -Homeless for the Holidays -SNAP: Living on $4.15 a day -Black Friday & Retail -Fantasy Football: Students Compete

TABLE OF CONTENTSNew lab for

School of Nursing 7

A $500,000 hands-on lab was donated to the School of Nursing. The new lab

simulates real life situations for students who will one day be saving lives.

Beyond the Books8 - 9

The Honors Program isn’t just about academics. Find out how it offers

students a richer college experience.

Struggles of NTSU 10

Non-traditional students discuss challenges they face as they further

their education.

Homeless for the Holidays12 - 13

As the holidays approach so does the busy season for local homeless

shelters, and they need more than just food to serve their clients.

Affording food on SNAP 14 - 15

Could your stomach survive on $30 a week? Managing Print Editor Jims Porter took the SNAP Challenge to

find out what it is like to live on food stamps.

Black Friday 17

Stores are opening earlier and workers are missing quality time with family. What is more important: the

dinner or the deals?.

Persuasion to Buy18 - 19

Advertising at the register may have a bigger impact than what you think.

What can you do to stop buying needless things?

Get Involved 24

There’s more than academics at IU Southeast. Find out how you can be a

part of something different.

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(812) 941-2253horizon@ius.edu

The Horizon is partially funded by Student Activity Fees. The Horizon is a student-produced newspa-per, published weekly during the fall and spring semesters. Editors must be enrolled in at least three credit hours and some are paid.

To report a story idea or obtain information, call or email the Horizon.

Letters to the editors must be signed, include stu-dent’s major and class standing and be fewer than 300 words. The Horizon reserves the right to

edit for brevity, grammar and style, and may limit frequent letter writers.

The Horizon welcomes contributions on all sub-jects. The Horizon is not an official publication of Indiana University Southeast, and therefore does not necessarily reflect its views.

Your first Issue of the Horizon is free. All subse-quent copies cost $2 each.

The Horizon is a member of the Indiana Collegiate Press Association, Hoosier State Press Association, and the Associated Collegiate Press.

EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTIONStaff: Lynn Bailey Marisa GartlandMary Kate HailerParker HenesRain HopkinsLaura HubrichErin MannJosh MedlockAngel MeyerAllison NailSecoy RicheyEthan SmithBlake StewartPaige ThompsonHaley Warwick

Editor-in-Chief: Aprile RickertPrint Managing Editor: Jims PorterDigital Managing Editor: Joel StinnettNews Editor: Ashley SizemoreFeatures Editor: Zak KerrSports Editor: Eli LossnerGeneral Assignment Editor: Taylor FergusonDesign Chief: Bekah WhiteAdvisers: Adam Maksl Kendra Ulrich

IU Southeast4201 Grant Line Road New Albany, IN 47150

IN EVERY ISSUENitty GrittyEventsDiversions

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Men’s Basketball SCOREBOARD(Results)11/1 vs. KY Christian | Win (82-49)11/4 vs. St. Mary-of-the-Woods | Win (104-79)

(Upcoming)11/18 7 p.m. Kentucky Christian (A)11/21 6 p.m. Berea College (A)

(Results)11/5 vs. Cumberland Univ. | Win (92-80)11/11 vs. Ivy Tech-Columbus | Win (106-59)

(Upcoming)11/19 7:30 p.m. Kentucky State (A)11/25 7 p.m. Georgetown College (A)11/29 2 p.m. Univ. of the Cumberlands (H)

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Women’s Basketball

Oct 31 at 2:19 p.m.An officer took a report of an employee who was injured in Robinson Theater.

Nov 1 at 8:30 p.m.An officer was dispatched to Woodland Lodge on a report of someone potentially smoking. No one was found smoking.

Nov 3 at 3:20 p.m.Officers assisted the New Albany Police Department on a report of a vehicle in a pond. Officers advised that no one was in the vehicle and a tow truck was called.

Nov 3 at 8:14 p.m.An officer was dispatched on a report of possible marijuana use in Orchard Lodge. The officer was unable to locate the source of the odor.

Nov 5 at 11:34 amOfficers were dispatched on a report of a woman who passed out in her car in Evergreen East Parking Lot. The woman had a seizure and a report was taken.

Nov 6 at 5:02 p.m.An officer was dispatched to check on a student who fell down the steps in the Ogle Center and was complaining of leg pain. The student said the steps were wet from rain, and refused further medical attention.

Nov 9 at 12:34 a.m.An officer was dispatched to Forrest Lodge on a report of a break-in. Nothing was taken and a report was filed.

Nov 9 at 4:37 p.m.An officer received a call from the anonymous tip line about a disturbing post on a social media site. A report was taken and investigation ongoing.

THE NITTY GRITTY

CAMPUS BRIEFS

Brand new nursing lab opens in the Life Sciences buildingThe IU Southeast School of Nursing held a dedication ceremony and open house on Nov. 12, for the new nursing simulation lab. The Judge Carlton and Sue Sanders Laboratory for Nursing Education features three high-fidelity simulation rooms, an adult room where students perform complex procedures, a pediatric simulation room and a birthing simulation room. More on page 7.

LOCAL BRIEFS

Supreme court to hear Kentucky same-sex marriage case with national implicationsThe Associated press reported on Nov. 14, that same-sex couples are asking the Supreme Court to settle the issue of gay marriage nationwide. This followed the ruling of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, which upheld the anti-gay marriage laws in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. There are Currently 32 states that recognize same-sex marriage.

McConnell named U.S. Senate Majority leaderAccording to USA Today, on Thursday, Mitch McConnell was unanimously named majority leader by Senate Republicans. McConnell won his 6th term as a U.S. Senator by defeating challenger Allison Grimes. Polls showed Grimes and McConnell in a dead heat right up to two weeks left until the election, where McConnell began to pull away. Republicans took back control of the Senate and McConnell becomes the

second majority leader from Kentucky. The first was Henry Clay.

NATIONAL BRIEFS

President Obama to sign executive order on immigrationMajor news organizations from The New York Times to Fox News, are reporting that President Obama will sign an executive order as early as this week that will allow up to 5 million undocumented immigrants to avoid deportation. Congressional Republicans have warned that an executive order on immigration would poison negotiations on future legislation. Incoming Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell said it would be like, “waving a red flag in front of a bull.”

The Affordable Care Act faces a new challengeThe U.S. Supreme Court has decided to hear a new challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). According to CNN, President Obama’s signature health care law now faces new questions about tax credits that subsidize health coverage purchased on federal exchanges. The suit contends that the law only permits subsidies to be dispersed through state exchanges. Only 15 states, including Kentucky, run their own exchanges. If the court rules that the federal subsidies are illegal, it could effectively end the ACA.

World Briefs

United Nations releases report on “extreme” human rights violations by ISISAccording to a report by the United Nations, the terrorist group calling itself the Islamic State, has been using “extreme violence” against civilians. The report is based on testimony from 300 witness interviews. It describes the group cutting the fingers off of men caught smoking, the beheading of a female dentist who gave treatment to men and the raping, stoning and torture of civilians.

Photo by Elijah Lossner A simulation patient in the new nursing lab in the Life Sciences building. The School of Nursing held an open house event for the new lab on Nov. 12.

POLICE BLOTTER

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Nov. 17

Nov. 22

Nov. 21Nov. 18

Nov. 25 Nov. 30

Nov. 19

Nov. 28

Nov. 20

Nov. 29

Unlocking Secrets to a Happier Life

Dodge for Balls

TKE: St. Jude Give Thanks Walk

Webinar: Salary Negotiation

Thanksgiving Break Begins!

Women’s Basketball

Authors and Artists Reception

Jingle Walk New Albany

Glow Zumba

Werksgiving

Remix

StoneWheel Toys for Tots

Motorcycle Run

Health and Wellness Series Presents: The Biological Side

Run, Run Rudolph 5k

Clone of Wave 3

Rock for Kosair Charities

Tattoo’s Against CancerIUS Concert Band

Schubert & Mendelssohn

Hoosier Room West 6 - 8 p.m. Movie and discussion about find-

ing personal happiness

Activities Building 7 - 10 p.m. Student Alumni Associate hosts

dodge ball tournament fundraiser for testicular cancer.

Louisville Zoo 7:30 a.m. - Noon

Raise money and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

www.ius.edu/career/webinars 4 - 5 p.m.

Learn how to negotiate your value

Activities Building 1 p.m. Against Johnson & Wales

IUS Library Art Gallery 12:15 - 1:10 p.m.

Meet artists and discuss their works being presented

Downtown New Albany 1 - 8 p.m.

Shop and drink wine at local shops downtown

Sponsored by Phi Sigma Sigma Activities Building 7 - 9 p.m.

$3 entrance fee

Headliners, Louisville 9 p.m. - Midnight

The Werks perform live

Presented by The Adele and Leonard Art Series Speed Art Museum

Shelbyville Road, 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. Performing live at BBC St.

Matthews Begins at Riverport at 2 p.m. Ends at Papa Johns Stadium

University Center, Room 127 7:30 - 9 p.m.

Discussion of the biological side of mental illnesses.

Main Street Louisville 2 - 4 p.m.

Admission $10

KFC Yum Center’s Norton Healthcare Plaza

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Upcoming local artists perform

Phoenix Hill Tavern 7:30 p.m. - 3 a.m.

15 bands on 3 stages

Tattoo Charlie’s Louisville Noon - 8 p.m. $30 ribbon tattoo

First come, First serve

Stem Concert Hall 7:30 - 9 p.m. Admission: $10 adults, $8 seniors,

$5 students

Presented by Louisville OrchestraStem Concert Hall 7:30 - 9 p.m.

Admission $20 adults, $10 students

Light Up Louisville: 40 Nights of Lights

Downtown Louisville near 4th Street Live Nov. 25 - Dec. 23

Music, lights and ice skating

Lights Under Louisville Mega Cavern Louisville

Nov. 21 - Jan. 4 Travel 30 minutes in your car through

caverns under Louisville for $25 per car load

Louisville Orchestra presents Home for the Holidays

Stem Concert Hall Nov. 30 from 3 - 4:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20 adults and $10 students

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: REFLECTION ON 2014 MODEL UNITED NATIONS TRIP

Model U.N. was a profound experience that I will forever cherish as one of the favorite memories of my undergraduate career. The opportunity to assume the role of a country in the world arena and prepare an argument on that country’s behalf, while respecting the interests and foreign policy of that country, was quite a challenge. Knowing that your knowledge would be on full display for all of the other Model U.N. representatives to see was motivating to say the least.

I expected to become more familiar with the role of my country in the United Nations Security Council. I expected to have a better understanding of the diplomatic processes and procedures. What I didn’t expect was a full, rigorous exercising of my public speaking, writing, communicating and problem solving skills. I didn’t expect to connect on such a personal level with both domestic and international students of all different backgrounds, origins and beliefs. I certainly did not expect that nearly a week after the Model United Nations had finished, I would be making adjustments as to how I volunteer my time, how I see my future as a graduate student and how I contemplate my perspective career choices. All of these based on the things that I was able to draw from this experience.

The interactive environment in which we debate these pertinent, world issues with equally prepared and enthusiastic, multi-background-students is an unparalleled opportunity that I would recommend to any college student seeking to make the most of his or her college experience. This experience

provided me with an unprecedented arena in which to exercise my polemic, reasoning and communication skills.

I can not stress enough how influential and important a program like this can be. A positive, collective experience such as takes place at Model United Nations, where students can connect with similarly driven and goal oriented peers over crucial humanitarian and global issues is absolutely inspirational. The degree to which it is possible that The Model United Nations and programs like it can change young student’s lives, thus changing the world as we know it, cannot be overstated.

The future of our planet and of humanity is in the palms of the hands of the students of today. The experiences like those which take place at the Model United Nations will influence and impact the decisions of these students as they continue to grow into the future world leaders, actors and decision makers of tomorrow.

I would sincerely like to thank Indiana University Southeast for sponsoring such a fantastic educational opportunity. Without this financial support I know that many students, including myself, would not be able to participate in this event.

I would also like to thank Dr. Staten for his constant enthusiasm, guidance and support. I sincerely believe that level of commitment that Dr. Staten gives to the program is essential to its life and the profound effect that it has had on me.

Sincerely,

Ryan Cannon International relations senior

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We want to hear from you!The Horizon accepts Letters to the Editor from IUS students and staff. If you have thoughts, concerns or issues that are important to you that you would like to write about, letters can be sent to The Horizon at horizon@ius.edu. Submissions should include your name, major and class standing and be no longer than 300 words.

Set up with monitoring equipment beeping and medicines flowing, the new nursing simulation lab at IU Southeast gives students a way to practice diagnosing and treating simulation mannequins who can have the same ailments or complications nurses are confronted with after graduation. IU Southeast officials cut the ribbon Wednesday, Nov. 12, on the Judge Carlton and Sue Sanders Laboratory for Nursing Education. Built with a $500,000 gift from the Sanders, the lab allows the university to expand its nursing program to meet increased regional demand for healthcare. IU Southeast Chancellor Ray Wallace said these new facilities – with an updated 12-bed skills lab and pediatric, adult, and

birthing simulation labs – will put students in hands-on situations just as they will see after graduation. “Our nursing students will have the equipment and the facilities they need to graduate with the skills required to meet the serious demand for healthcare in our region and beyond,” said Wallace. Sara Hausz, nursing senior, said having almost double the beds and a much larger space with responsive simulation patients, challenges students to come to a diagnosis whether it is as simple as a cough or more complicated, like a kidney infection. She said that the simulation patients can even possibly flat-line, and students can get first-hand experience with this scenario. “It is nice to have a safe place to make mistakes like a real-life situation and learn from it,” said Hausz. She said simulation patients can talk and have full bodily functions, which are controlled by School of Nursing professors, who sit behind two-way mirrors observing the students’ work. April Wright, nursing senior, said that the new technology provides students with experiences like checking vital signs on patients, administering medicine and working on nursing teams just as they will do when they graduate. “We have the technology now for real-life experiences, like changing dressings or doing IVs,” said Wright. Wright said the birthing lab, is great

hands-on experience. “ [The simulation patient] will even give birth,” she said. Laura Mcilvoy, associate professor of nursing, said the new labs provide important real-life experiences. “We have state-of-the-art equipment now and room to use it,” Mcilvoy said. “It will be much better for students to have these lab simulations.” The Sanders’ gift was announced in March 2013, and the last year and a half has been spent renovating facilities. Sanders said when the award was announced that he recognized a need in the program that trains many nurses in the region. “We saw the duct tape, Scotch tape and Band-Aids on the equipment,” he told The Horizon in 2013. “We determined that, that would be a good place for it to go.” Sue Sanders said she and her husband decided that funding the renovations for the School of Nursing, would not only help the university but the community as well. “We both agreed since we’re not getting any younger, that quality nursing care is what we and the community will need going forward,” said Sanders.

Photo by: Haley Warwick Amanda Gideon and Brooke Rutledge, nursing seniors, at IU Southeast talk to students and their families about the new technology in the pediatric simulation

Photo by: Elijah Lossner Nursing students will be able to go through different scenarios and check vital signs of the simulations. Professors will be able to have the option to chose what happens while working with the patient.

$500K Hands-on Nursing Lab DonatedBy HALEY WARWICKStaffhwarwick@ius.edu

IU SOUTHEASTHONORS PROGRAM:

BEYOND THE BOOKSOver the summer, Amanda Coomer, special

education junior, took a yoga class at IU Southeast. Now, through the guidance of the Honors Program, she is researching how yoga can help autistic students and those with behavior disorders. Coomer said this information will be valuable to her once she graduates and becomes a special education teacher.

The Honors Program at IU Southeast offers students the opportunity to take specialized classes and be a part of a tight-knit community of like-minded individuals. It provides students with many direct benefits, such as scholarships, extra one-on-one academic help and opportunities to do research with faculty.

Coomer, who entered the Honors Program as a freshman, said, beyond the unique research opportunities, she also appreciates the social aspect of the organization.

“It’s a really nice, supportive community,” Coomer said. “Especially starting off as a freshman when I didn’t really know anybody. I’ve made a lot of friends through the Honors Program.”

Jenna Lacy, psychology senior, entered the Honors Program when she transferred to IU Southeast as a junior. Lacy said the community within the program has helped her both socially and academically.

“The social benefits are very rewarding,” Lacy said. “I’ve been surrounded by intellectually-curious people. I’m always learning something new when I’m around them.”

But the program provides more than academic and social benefits, said Angela Salas, director of Photo by: Josh Medlock

Honor Program is located at Knobview Hall 235.

By JOSH MEDLOCKStaff jrmedloc@indiana.edu

DECEMBER

CHECKLIST By MARISA GARTLAND

December for most students means planning for the spring, visiting families, and having a much needed break between the two semesters. However for some, December is the end of a long road, and time for graduation.

“Always plan ahead so you don’t get nervous at the end,” Brigette Adams, faculty secretary for the Social Sciences said. “Make sure to check that you’re on track for graduation as early on as possible so that there aren’t any surprises.”

Here are some December graduate reminders:

-File your application for graduation at least one month before graduation

-You must apply for a degree regardless of your participation in the commencement ceremony

-December graduates’ diplomas will be mailed in mid-February of 2015

-Diplomas are only mailed to those who are in no debt to the university

-Your diploma will include an official transcript at no cost

GRADthe Honors Program. Salas said students develop skills they will use beyond the classroom walls—not only day-to-day rules for life, but the reasons behind those rules.

“Students go to college because they want to get a good job, but also because they want to have good lives,” Salas said. “It’s not just about having a new car. It’s about getting up in the morning and knowing that there’s purpose to the work that you do.”

Salas said the smaller class sizes in the honors classes and the increased one-on-one meeting times give students the opportunity to reflect on these rules and life choices. It also allows them to formulate their life goals and develop what constitutes “a good life” to them.

“Stopping the car and getting a dog off the street could be more important than showing up on time,” said Salas. “If a good life to you means getting the dog off the road, then get the dog off the road.”

Salas said the Honors Program can act as a vehicle to guide students where they want to go in life. Through seminars and group activities, the program gives students the confidence to hold themselves accountable so they can achieve their goals, Salas said.

Lacy said being in a tight-knit group like the Honors Program gives her motivation to improve her own skills and allows her to help others reach their full potential.

“We hold each other accountable in a positive sense,” Lacy said. “We don’t measure ourselves against each other. It’s self-competitive. It’s always about how we can improve each other.”

Salas emphasized students shouldn’t be scared to apply to the Honors Program because they don’t think they’re academically good enough. No one is perfect within the program, Salas said, but it can help students grow and develop both academically and personally.

“If you hadn’t changed, even if you had a 4.0, wouldn’t that be a waste of four years and a waste of money,” Salas asked. “If someone hadn’t pushed you and made you rethink something, if it were just easy, it wouldn’t be worth it.”

Lacy said, with the specialized help of the Honors Program staff, she has grown tremendously during her two years in the program.

“Dr. Salas has moved mountains for me,” Lacy said. “She’s very much in tune with my strengths and my weaknesses and how we can improve both. You really do get a lot more than you expected when you joined.”

Any student, even upperclassmen, can apply to the Honors Program, said Salas. Current students who enter the program will take two 300-level seminar classes and complete a research project of their choosing.

Students who enter the program as freshmen will take two lower-level classes and can take the two upper-level classes as well. Coomer said the two freshman honors classes are especially useful because they often fulfill English and speech general education requirements.

Graduating as an Honors Program student—either fulfilling the lower-level class requirements, the upper-level requirements or both—will be noted on transcripts and could be used on resumes, Salas said.

To apply, current students must submit an application along with three letters of reference and an essay. Applications will then be considered by the Honors Council. There are no hard application deadlines, Salas said, because the Honors Program accepts students on a rolling basis.

To find more information on the IU Southeast Honors Program, as well as application materials, visit www.ius.edu/honors.

We hold each other accountable in a positive sense; we don’t compete against each other.

Jenna Lacy, psychology senior

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Being a father, working, owning a business and going to school part-time, is a lot to juggle for James Horsley, biology senior, and so many other non-traditional students like him, but

they aren’t alone. “I can only take one or two classes at a time because I have so many other things going on. I have to balance school and work,” Horsley said. “I also had to put my business on hold and I ended up losing a lot of it.” Katie Beachler, president of the Non-Traditional Student Union at IU Southeast, said the NTSU is a non-profit organization on campus that represents adult students attending the university. “NTSU strives to be a resource for non-traditional students and forms a sense of community for them while continuing to further their education,” Beachler said. Non-Traditional Student Week was celebrated November 3 - 7 at IU Southeast, and campuses across the nation. The annual event raises awareness and support for non-traditional students and their commitment to higher education. Beachler said the NTSU set up a table outside of the bookstore during the week to bring awareness to the organization and to the week itself. “We were doing a fundraiser and the proceeds were going toward a scholarship for non-traditional students,” Bleacher said. “We hope to have all the funds by 2016.”

Beachler said Non-Traditional Student Week is celebrated because the majority of college students are becoming non-traditional students. “The main factor encouraging them to pursue further education is the economy,” Beachler said. Kimberly Pelle, coordinator for non-traditional student programs, said the Adult Student Center, another resource for non-traditional students, is used by more than 900 students at IU Southeast. Pelle said it’s a multi-purpose facility that is open 24/7 that also has computers and work spaces available. The NTSU offers a variety of academic and family programs throughout the year, that Pelle said, helps the non-traditional students graduate and direct them to student resources. “It gives them a home, and a place that is warm and welcoming,” Pelle said.

The Adult Center is welcome enough for Horsley’s daughter too. “My daughter had to sleep here this morning while I was writing a paper. I like that I’m able to do that. Also, I dont have internet access at home so I come here to do my homework,” Horsley said. Charles Thinmes, mathematics and secondary education senior, who is also a non-traditional student, said he finds the center helpful to get projects for school done. “I can get my work done here because it is quiet. There are also essentials available here such as staplers and printers. It is also a great place to talk to people when you are having a bad day,” Thinmes said. Thinmes said that being a non-traditional student has caused him some troubles and that he is not alone in the struggle. “Staying organized and time-management is my biggest struggle,” Thinmes said. “I put a lot on hold because school is my priority. I also have financial struggles living paycheck to paycheck, but it is worth it.” While there are many struggles associated with being a non-traditional student, both Thinmes and Horsley won’t let anything stop them from getting an education. “I like learning and doing what I have to do to graduate,” Thinmes said. Added Horsley, “I look at things differently now that I am older. I want to learn and enjoy learning.” To get involved and learn more about the opportunities available for non-traditional students, there is a NTSU meeting in the Adult Student Center Nov.17 from 12:30-1:15 p.m. Also, you can contact Katie Beachler at khbeachl@ius.edu.

Breaking the Tradition27.8 percent of all students at IU Southeast are considered non-traditonal. The National Center for Education Statistics does not

have a precise definition for non-traditional student but suggest that part-time status and age are common elelments.

Photo by Erin MannJames Horsley, biology senior, does his homework in the Adult

Student Center.

Photo by Erin Mann The Adult Student Center, located in University Center South Room 206, is a multi-

purpose facility open 24/7.

Photo by Erin MannCharles Thinmes, mathematics and secondary education senior,

enjoys the resources the Adult Student Center has to offer.

By ERIN MANNStaff erimann@ius.edu

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By ETHAN SMITHStaff etlsmith7@ius.eduHOMELESS HOLIDAYS

It’s Thanksgiving night, and the homeless are thankful. Thankful they have something over their heads that isn’t a cold gray sky. Thankful they have turkey, stuffing and cornbread on their plates and not scraps from a dumpster. Thankful that for one night they have somewhere safe to sleep. But that’s just one night, out of the 365 nights in a year.

Every Thanksgiving the spotlight shines on charities that feed and house the homeless in Kentuckiana. Many of these organizations will host special dinners and give a bit of normalcy back to a population that has very little normalcy left. But when the spotlight goes away, the problem does not.

IU Southeast alumna Barbara Anderson is the executive director of Haven House Services Inc., a local homeless shelter in Jeffersonville. She said she is thankful for the influx of Thanksgiving donations, which will allow them to feed their residents up to six months.

“We are blessed, we are truly blessed at Haven House. The community has been so wonderfully supportive,”Anderson said. “But we need it all the time, because with 90 people we go through a lot of beans.”

And according to Anderson, the numbers keep rising. With a lack of affordable housing in the area as well as a shortage of living wage jobs many people are finding themselves living on the razor’s

edge between poverty and homelessness.“Our shelter is always full, St. Elizabeth’s

(another homeless shelter in New Albany) is always full,” said Anderson. “All the programs have a waiting list because there are more people than there are programs. Southern Indiana has a strong need for about 200 to 300 additional housing units.”

Anderson can relate to this struggle to find affordable housing. As a senior at IU Southeast she was forced to find work to pay for her schooling. At the time there weren’t residence halls so she also had to live off campus as well. That meant going entire winters without heat to make sure she had enough money to pay for both

Photo Courtsey ofDare to Care

Photo Courtesy ofDare to Care

Photo Courtesy ofDare to Care

her apartment and her college tuition.Michael Blunk, a chaplain at Wayside Christian

Mission, has heard similar stories from some of the 650 homeless people staying at Wayside shelters. He also said that the problem is only getting worse, with the organization planning on feeding over 2,000 homeless people this Thanksgiving.

“We don’t see the problem getting any better,” said Blunk. “We’re expanding our emergency shelters, and physically adding new floors. If the number of homeless were going down we would not be doing that.”

Blunk said he is grateful to the local community for the many food donations they have received, but people need more than food and shelter.

“You know Jesus would feed people from time to time, but he didn’t come down here to just open up a chain of Long John Silvers,” said Blunk.

Wayside owns a hotel located in downtown Louisville, aptly named Hotel Louisville. This 12-story hotel not only serves as a shelter for the homeless but also as a fully functioning hotel.

Blunk said this has allowed Wayside to provide shelter to more homeless people in the area,

but also provide them with a stable environment and a chance to improve their situation. Offering classes on a variety of subjects, as well as experience in the hospitality industry, that sometimes results in an actual job at the hotel itself.

But hunger is still the number one issue in the homeless community said Brian Riendeau, Executive Director of the Dare to Care Food Bank in Louisville.

“We’re looking at record levels of people needing food assistance,” said Riendeau. “There has never been a higher level of need in this community than there is right now.”

Riendeau said people tend to focus on the issue of hunger and homeless around the holidays because they are gathering with family and friends around a table overloaded with food. And it makes us think about the less fortunate and how we can help.

“If you feel moved to give and support us during the holidays thats great, but don’t forget that in January, and February, and March, and April, and May, and June we need support as well,” said Riendeau. “Because hunger doesn’t end just because the holidays are over.”

onthe

You just don’t realize how lost you become. You lose your sense of authenticity and you don’t know who you are. It is a lot of work figuring out who you are.

Katie Beachler, President of the Non-Traditional Student Union at IU Southeast

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By JIMS PORTERManaging Editor for Printjrporter@ius.edu

LIVING ON $4.15 A DAYI spent one week eating

only what I could buy with $29.05.

For the 46.5 million Americans who depend on food stamps, living on less than $5 a day isn’t just an experi-ment, but a reality.

I had moments of weakness. Like the Tuesday I got my feelings hurt and couldn’t stop myself from buying a $3 carton of ice cream from... Walgreens.

I wasn’t sure that I could live off $4.15 a day, and after doing it for one week, I’m still not.

Four dollars and fifteen cents. It’s the price of three songs on iTunes. It’s a little more than a tank of gas. It’s enough for a medium-sized salad in the cafeteria, if you leave off the cottage cheese.

Realistically, it’s less than I spend on coffee on an average day before noon.

But for some Americans, it’s their reality. The average person using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, receives $4.15 a day, or $1.38 per meal.

For me, $29.05 was able to purchase: a dozen eggs, one loaf of bread, one bag of lentils, a bag of black beans, a jar of peanut butter, seven apples, seven bananas, a bag of frozen veggies, some dry pasta, marinara sauce and a bag of baby carrots.

That is what I lived on for seven days. I’ll spare the riveting details of each day’s menu by summa-rizing what most of the week consisted of:

BREAKFAST: one egg (two if I was really hungry), one piece of fruitLUNCH: one peanut butter sandwich, one piece of fruitDINNER: some strange concoction of the

other things I bought, sometimes with a fried egg on top

Gone were my morning smoothies and my late-night glass of dark chocolate almond milk. Gone were the days of ordering take-out when I’m run-ning too late to pack a lunch. Gone was my daily triple shot of espresso, though I confess that I took full advantage of the bottomless drip coffee in my office break room.

I know that my experience does not replicate the unique challenges those living on an extremely tight budget experience every day.

For example, I had moments of weakness. Like the Tuesday I got my feelings hurt and couldn’t stop myself from buying a $3 carton of ice cream from the Walgreens by my bus stop. And the time I bought a pack of almonds out of a vending machine on my way to an interview for this piece.

These are luxuries that I realize not everyone depending on temporary government assistance have access to.

Even though Kentucky and Indiana have both reported a decline in the number of people using SNAP, those people who do continue to need the assistance still receive less than $30 a week per person.

That’s the reality for 823,000 people in Kentucky and 882,000 in Indiana, according to the state agencies that administer the programs.

Cher Assad, economic success and housing coun-

selor at The Center for Women and Families in Louisville, said many of their clients receive SNAP benefits.

“The amount of aid that most of my clients re-ceive is not realistically enough to provide nutri-

tious meals, and with recent cuts to SNAP benefits, it’s becoming even less of a reality,” said Assad.

At the end of the week, I didn’t feel particularly hungry, but I didn’t feel particularly healthy or energetic either. My body craved produce: fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens. I noticed a real dif-ference, especially in my ability to concentrate and focus.

Assad said that this is a real struggle for those depending on government programs like SNAP.

“More often than not, they’re opting for frozen meals, dried goods and boxed items that have a longer shelf life, as opposed to produce or other perishable meal items that might go bad before the month is over,” she said.

The reason, however, boils down to simple eco-nomics. Assad said her clients aren’t able to pur-chase produce because whenever they shop, they have to consider “how to get as much food possi-ble, food that will last the longest… on the small amount of benefits they are receiving.”

Approximately 20 percent of SNAP recipients have no form of income, according to the SNAP Challenge website. Assad said that some of her cli-ents have absolutely no income, so SNAP benefits are the only source of income they have to spend on groceries.

“For these people, budgeting their SNAP benefits could mean the difference between being able to eat and being hungry,” she said.

Often, people using SNAP depend on commu-nity ministries, food pantries and donations to supplement for what they are unable to purchase with their allowance. Assad said that there are a number of community ministries in the Louisville metro, typically at least one in each zip code.

These ministries are able to provide dry goods on a monthly or quarterly basis. Some of them even provide short-term assistance with small utility bills as well. Assad said programs like these are important and that there is a real need for their services.

Some IU campuses, like IUPUI, have food pantry services available on campus. IU Southeast has formed a committee to investigate options for open-ing a similar food pantry for its students.

Resources like these are important, Assad said, as they play an important role in helping people achieve economic self-sufficiency.

“I think it’s important for people to know that not everyone is trying to manipulate the system,” she said. “I have worked with clients from many racial, socioeconomic, religious and education-al backgrounds who have had their lives turned around by these temporary government assistance programs.”

For these people, budgeting their SNAP benefits could mean the difference between being able to eat and being hungry.

Cher Assad, economic success and housing counselor

15

16

Opinions...By: Joel StinnettOnline managing editorjoelstin@ius.edu

PRAY DURING CHRISTMAS

Christians around the world will

be reflecting and praying during the Christmas

season. Please stop by the mosque prayer room to

pick up a free 30-day prayer guide

and commit to pray for Christians locally and around

the world to know the prophet

Muhammad.

The ad to the left of this column is insensitive and unwarranted. It insults every Christian’s faith in Jesus during one of its holiest seasons. It should make a normal reader uncomfortable and would probably make Bill O’Reilly’s head pop off like a Pepsi bottle cap. The war on Christmas is real, my friends! Or so it seems. What arrogant group of individuals believe that they can convert millions of disciples of one religion to followers of another simply through prayer?

The answer is Southeast Christian Church. Or, more specifically, a nationwide group called

the 30-Days Prayer Network that placed an ad in the church’s print publication, called The Southeast Outlook.

The ad to the left is fake, the real ad reads as follows:

“Pray During Ramadan June 28-July 27. Muslims around the world will be fasting and praying during Ramadan. Please stop by the Welcome Center or the

Prayer Room at the Blankenbaker Campus to pick up a free 30-day prayer guide and commit to pray for Muslims locally and around the world to know Jesus.”

The ad is then marked with the Southeast Christian logo and its website.

The problem is not that Christians are praying for Muslims or even that they are doing it during Ramadan. The group’s prayer guide actually lists some admirable goals. It talks about fasting and praying during Islam’s holiest month in order to better identify with Muslims. It encourages prayer groups to learn about different aspects of Muslim cultures such as food, dress and music. The book has multiple pages of information about Islam, its teachings and customs. It even addresses how to communicate with Muslims without offending them.

The problem is that some Christians seem not to know what is considered offensive to Muslims, while being ultra-sensitive to Islamic criticisms.

On November 11, Maryland’s largest school district voted to remove all religious holidays from the calendar rather than add Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha to the schedule. Muslim parents had first asked for school to be closed on those days, but had hoped to compromise by simply having the holidays listed on the calendar. The school board opted to get rid of religious observances altogether than bring Muslim holidays into the district. O’Reilly, of course, was on the side of the school board. When faced with the proposition of closing school for an Islamic holiday, O’Reilly went O’Reilly on his Fox News show The O’Reilly Factor.

“I am not giving you (Muslims) off,” O’Reilly said. “Because if I give you off, I have to give Halloween to Wiccans (off).”

This coming from a man who thinks that if it doesn’t snow on December 25, that Mother Nature is declaring war on Christmas.

The 30-Days Prayer Network’s prayer guide is less abhorrent in its efforts.

The book features specific prayer requests that observers should focus on each day in hopes to penetrate Islamic hearts and souls. Most have to do with asking God to allow Muslims to acknowledge Jesus as their savior and Muhammad as simply a great man.

It all seems innocent enough. The ad was placed in a Christian paper and there are no calls to a violent jihad or Christian revolution. But in a country that is supposed to have freedom of religion, how do we move past our tense relationship with Islam that has existed since 9/11?

I would contend that instead of protesting mosques, ignoring holidays and creating publications with back-handed objectives like “praying for Muslims……to find Jesus,” religious leaders should pray for coexistence.

We all know the golden rule, and I doubt members of Southeast Christian Church like the thought of waking up Christmas morning and bowing to Mecca.

Black FridayBy PAIGE THOMPSONStaffthompaig@ius.edu

Long lines and crowds of people being herded like cattle in the evening on Thanksgiving will be the scene at many stores this year.

IU Southeast students weigh in on whether they will be participating in Black Friday festivities

or not, and express their opinions about stores opening their doors Thanksgiving evening

rather than Friday morning.

“Honestly, it makes no difference to me which day it starts. It will be the same chaos as if it were on a Friday. I only go out if I have someone to endure it

with me, and not for very long.”

“I work at Walgreen’s, and it is open 24 hours so it is a madhouse. It’s fun though and makes the day go

faster.”

“I think it’s awful to take people from their family to work on a holiday about ‘charity.’ I will not be

participating.”

“I don’t think that they should do it on Thanksgiving, but I’ll probably participate later that

night because stuff is really cheap.”

Black Friday, which used to begin first thing Friday morning, means different things for different people. For some, it may mean a fun night out with friends and family after a day full of turkey. For those who work retail, it can be an entirely different story.

Kristin Nichelson, communications senior, is going into her fourth Black Friday at Victoria’s Secret this year. For her, Black Friday starts at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving at the Green Tree Mall in Clarksville.

“We have a pep talk before, we’ll get our lanyards, we play music to get pumped up, we joke around and there’s food,” Nichelson said. “I kind of like the craziness. It’s fun, new and different every year. Something crazy always happens.”

When it comes to the craziness that surrounds Black Friday, shoplifters and rude people are two of Nichelson’s main concerns.

“I don’t like it when people get mad because they get there late and don’t get one of the [gift with purchase] bags. I don’t like it when people are rude, and shoplifters freak me out.”

Haley Hisle, communications junior, said she enjoys the craziness.

“I just like to people watch,” she said.Nichelson, who works mostly with stock in the

back area of the store, enjoys Black Friday because she gets paid more than usual.

“Honestly, I am the type of person that can be bought,” she said. “It’s easier because of the time-and-a-half.”

Jenna Kirk, business freshman, thinks that participating in Black Friday festivities can be a

fun tradition.“It’s always just fun to stay out all night. I don’t

like all of the crazies, but it’s fun,” she said.In Nichelson’s opinion, Black Friday is starting

even earlier every year because we live in such a consumer oriented society.

“There’s money to be made. The people in charge of the companies get to spend time with their families; they’re not the ones that have to actually work. But the money goes into their pockets,” she said.

“I feel like they’re just trying to make the deals last longer,” Kirk said.

Lauren Conklin, psychology sophomore, said she thinks that with Black Friday starting earlier each year, time is taken away from families.

“Material things are more important,” she said.

As far as actually going out into the madness that day, Nichelson said that she will most likely not be participating.

“It’s different behind the scenes,” she said. “It’s crazy. I would still shop it, but I’m usually too tired to go out after work.”

Mariah Bauer, psychology freshman, said she thinks that the issues surrounding this year’s Black Friday would be different if it started Friday at midnight instead of Thanksgiving evening.

“I can’t last that long because I like to sleep, but it’s a good opportunity for people who can’t normally afford to pay full price,” Bauer said.

17

I kind of like the craziness. It’s fun, new and different every year. Something crazy always happens.

Kristin Nichelson, communications senior

There’s money to be made.The people in charge of the companies get to spend time with their families; they’re not the ones that have to actually work. But the money goes into their pockets.

Jenna Kirk, business freshman

Jessica Spalding Nursing Sophomore

Chealsea IrelandSociology Freshman

Katie CasperCommunications Junior

Jessica BeckerNursing Freshman

18

By MARISA GARTLANDStaff mtgartla@ius.edu

Off of Spring St. in downtown New Albany, there’s a Shell gas station; however this isn’t your everyday fill station. The pumps now include a small monitor which appears to host a miniature newscast - Gas Station Television, or GSTV. There’s an anchor at a news desk, complete with lower-thirds, over-the-shoulder images, and other graphics that make the show appear like any other local news program station. However, with closer inspection, it is discovered that what isn’t news, is actually a string of advertisements.

In today’s fast-paced modern society, a consumer’s attention is much, much more expensive and harder to come by than it used to be. Spotify allows the volume to be turned down during an ad, Youtube allows skips usually after five seconds, plugging in an MP3 player into a car and listen-ing to personally chosen preloaded tunes is taking listeners off of the air, and streaming services like Netflix take away consumers that would tradi-tionally see advertisements on the television, usually for a fraction of the cost.

“When people realize it’s an ad, they kind of just want to turn off their brain and not listen to it,” Brad Cooper, advertising senior said.

Companies and advertising industries alike have to find new ways to sell their product – ways that make an advertisement not look so much like an advertisement at all. They’re doing it because of technology, professor Tammy Voigt said.

“Things like DVR, Tivo, Netflix, etc. have enabled consumers to by-pass traditional advertising messages that they deem to be intrusive in the entertainment experience.” Voigt continues, “If traditional methods [of advertising] are being circumvented, we have to find new ways to capture the consumer’s attention …. We as an industry have had to be creative in finding avenues of what we call subtle persuasion.”

However, could there be potential harm done with advertisements disguised as other things? In the instance of GSTV, the average consumer may not be able to differentiate between a normal newscast and the subtle persuasion being passed off as a newscast, potentially leading the consumer to be misinformed about what they may believe to be fact, since it came from the “news.”

“It depends on how they’re used. If they’re used to deceive or to pretend that the product is something that it isn’t, it can be a bad thing. Otherwise, I think subtle persuasion can be a good thing,” Cooper continued. “If it’s an ad for, say, a diet pill, and it pretends that it’s just this great testimony by this guy that’s supposed to be a doctor, and it’s portrayed to be actual in

formation and the consumer can’t tell that not an advertisement, this could be detrimental.”

Subtle persuasion is no new ball game, it’s just modernizing the playing field. Methods like product placement have been around for decades.

“The FCC has made it a law that there has to be a few seconds between a show and a commercial because a child cannot differentiate between a television program and what’s being marketed to them in an advertise-ment. When you use product placement, that separation vanishes because the product is embedded in the television show,” Voigt said.

“When Elliot drops the Reeses Pieces to lure ET out of the shed, com-panies started to really notice the power of product placement,” Voigt said.

However, this incorporation of product into entertainment could have consequences if the product doesn’t suit the target audience. For example, potential issue could come out of junk food product placement in chil-dren’s shows. Cooper mentioned several referenced to Pizza Hut in the new Ninja Turtles movie.

“A kid is watching this show and his heroes are eating junk food, the child has a hard time differentiating between an advertisement and the show,” Voigt said.“Ethics form by the time you’re six years old. When you’re five and watching these kinds of advertisements, it can form a huge impact on how you perceive yourself.”

Cat Hyle, advertising senior said, “In this situation, the subliminal messages in the advertising can be bad. A lot of your personality, ideas, and basic moral gender bias that makes girls think that they have to be a certain way, and that guys have to be really masculine and macho, when

THE ART OF PERSUASION

this isn’t the case.”Product placement doesn’t only appear in entertainment, but often on

entertainers. Celebrity product endorsement markets a product to a celeb-rity’s fans, who will buy them – not because of the extensive research, qual-ity and worthwhileness of the product, but instead because their favorite celebrity is sporting it.

Such tactics can potentially cloud the market, and instead of products being ranked by quality, will instead be ranked by popularity.

“I didn’t know I needed $400 headphones, but now I do, because 50 Cent is wearing them.” Hyle said.

Newer forms of subtle persuasion are in the works and on the rise. Facebook has begun to integrate their ads directly into a user’s newsfeed. Cooper believes that users often can’t tell a difference between what’s an advertisement and what’s an actual post.

“Facebook ads used to be along the side [of the newsfeed], and they had less than 1% of a click-thru rate,” Cooper said. “The new ads show direct-ly in your news feed, and they have likes and comments and even show if your friend has ‘liked’ the page.”

Facebook isn’t the only company out there incorporating this right-in-the-meat-of-the-sandwich method.

“I’ve noticed that Instagram has started to integrate sponsored ads di-rectly into my feed,” Hyle said.

Could this potentially harm the relation with these company’s con-sumers as what was once an aesthetically pleasing, easy-to-navigate collection of those they follow’s thoughts, images, and ideas becomes plagued with spotted advertisers trying to make an extra buck?

Viral videos are becoming vessels for subtle persuasion. An inter-esting, popular video, usually perceived to be made by an individual for no other reason than entertainment, can very quickly reach mil-lions of eyes if the target audience gets a hold of it, likes it, and shares it with their friends. It turns out that some of these viral videos are advertisements in disguise.

“You see things like viral videos getting big. The “first kiss” vid-eo that went viral turned out to be fake,” Cooper said. In the video, uploaded under an individual’s and not a company’s Youtube account, twenty ‘strangers’ are filmed kissing each other for the first time after just meeting. It was later found out that these were hired actors and actresses. “It was all just an ad for a fall fashion line,” Cooper said.

Levis is another brand who took a swing at the viral video ap-proach, and struck gold.

“People are going to enjoy it more because it’s not explicitly just an advertisement.” Evan Cooke, advertising junior said.

On what appears to be a Youtube account of some normal 20-something guys doing some not so normal stunts, there’s a video of some impressive backflipping into pairs of jeans. There is no text in this video, no voice actor, only men doing parkour into denim. How-ever, in almost every frame, the Levi’s tag or iconic back pocket stitch-

ing can be seen. Consumers never even realized. This situation was seen as brilliant ad campaigning, as it reached millions of viewers who never once realized they were watching an advertisement.

A seemingly surefire positive of subtle advertising is the tailoring of the advertisement to the consumer. Google ads as well as Facebook sponsored ads now track web search history and use the information to determine what kind of ads a consumer will see. If someone is shopping for couches and hair dryers, chances are they may see even the very items they were looking for in an advertisement on their Facebook feed.

“Advertising is becoming a lot more personalized, and because there’s so much information, I think we’re going to see a lot more personalization in the future,” Cooper said.

Subtle persuasion seems to almost have the element of a super power; it has the potential to be used for both good and evil, it’s just a matter of what kind of hands it falls into. Voigt believes this to be an age old debate. “Is it good? Is it bad? The world may never know.”

Joe Glover, the athletic director for IU Southeast, first realized he wanted to be involved in sports while in high school. Not on the court or on the

field, but in the press box. “I remember being a part of New Albany [High School’s] broadcasting for all four years I was there,” Glover said. “It really got my foot in the door in sports and cleared up all questions I had at the time about what I wanted to do with my life.” Glover was born and raised in New Albany. After

attending New Albany High School, Glover went on to graduate with distinction from IU Southeast in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing. Before starting his career in college athletics, Glover worked at several local radio stations including Louisville’s ESPN Radio1570-WSZ. Glover also spent time as a college basketball analyst for WVHF-TV, where he provided play-by-play and color commentary for local basketball games. Prior to venturing to IU Southeast, Glover worked at the University of Louisville in the athletic media relations department. Glover has since accrued many titles. He became a member of the National Administrative Council last June. Then, Oct. 10, Glover was named president of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) Executive Committee. And to top it all off, he is a husband to Melissa Glover. “I am very appreciative of everything that has happened to me,” Glover said. “But with more jobs come more responsibility, and I am more than ready to do everything to the best that I can.” During his first five years at IU Southeast, Glover served as assistant athletic director and sports information director. During that time, Glover’s redesign of the Grenadiers’ athletic website resulted in web traffic increases of more than 95 percent. In 2009, Glover also designed and managed a complete web overhaul of the athletic department website which included the transition to the new IUSAthletics.com. In 2010, the NAIA-SIDA presented Glover with

an award for his work on the IU Southeast website, which was named runner-up for the Best NAIA Athletic Website. Stephen Utz, Iu Southeast sports information director, works closely with Glover and knows the

path he has taken to athletic director. “When he first got hired on here at IUS, he was basically doing the exact same responsibilities as I do now,” Utz said. Just one year after that, Glover became one of the youngest athletic directors in the NAIA. As athletic director at IU Southeast, Glover is responsible for the overall guidance, direction and management of the athletic department, which includes intramurals and the campus fitness center. In the grand scheme of

things, he pretty much runs the Activities Building. Glover’s next goal as athletic director is to fill empty seats on game nights. He said he plans to make the attendance of IU Southeast sports events increase in the next five years, like it has in the past

five years. “Playing my first game here, there was no one in the stands,” Jake Simpson, basketball senior guard, said. “Each year, the games have more and more people.” Glover said he also wants to expand his domain. He said he feels that building a new Activities Building would allow the gym have more open gym hours and a better fitness center, thus giving students an easier way to workout. The plan is simple. The fitness center will go into its own building, along with some alternative courts for students. “It would also make it easier in our department,” Glover said. “It would give us more courts and space to have every team practice whenever they want, instead of having to take turns on just that one

court.” The main reason Glover loves his job, he said, is the connections he makes with students and meeting the new athletes. “There is no better feeling than helping out students get eligible so they can do something that they love to do,” Glover said. “It is also a good feeling watch the kids that you have helped make it and graduate.”

20

By PARKER HENESStaff pathenes@ius.edu

It really got my foot in the door in sports and cleared up all questions I had at the time about what I wanted to do with my life.

Joe Glover, athletic director

Joe Glover: From high school press box to college athletics director

Playing my first game here, there was no one in the stands. Since then, each year the games have more and more people.

Jake Simpson, senior mens basketball guard

A new league was created at the beginning of this football season. A fantasy football league that will either bring these students together, or tear their friendship apart.

Bryce Hickerson, general studies sophomore, Coby McKinley, English sophomore, and Bradley Jones, business sophomore, are battling it out during this year’s NFL season for the top spot in The League of Extraordinary Ballers. They will be playing for bragging rights and $200.

Hickerson took the initiative in starting this league. He said he has been involved in fantasy sports for a very long time.

“I feel like the reason fantasy sports has caught on so well is because it gives sports fans a chance to be an actual owner,” Hickerson said. “It also gives you that beautiful thing called competition, which sports fans love.”

Hickerson said he will be entering his eleventh season as a fantasy football league commissioner. He created this league on the Yahoo Fantasy site, just as the last preseason game was finishing up. Jones and McKinley have never played fantasy sports, so this experience will be new to them.

“Sometimes you just need to try new things and maybe it will become a yearly occurrence,” McKinley said.

“I remember my first team,” Hickerson said. “It was with my dad. I wasn’t allowed to have one by myself, so I co-owned a team with him.”

What exactly is a fantasy sport? According to CBS Sports, it is any sports competition with imaginary teams which the users own, manage, and coach. The scoring is based on the statistics generated by the real individual players or teams of a professional sport.

According to Sports on Earth, the concept of fantasy sports and running a contest, based on their year-to-date stats, has been around since shortly after World War II. A man named

Wilfred Winkenbach devised fantasy golf in the latter part of the 1950s.

The biggest development in fantasy sports came with the development of Rotisserie League Baseball, in 1980. This fantasy baseball league was said to be the first organized league.

It’s estimated by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association that 42 million people age 12 and above in the U.S. and Canada played fantasy sports in 2014. Participation has grown over the years, though participation in the U.S., for 2014, is consistent with the past few years.

“Fantasy sports football, especially this time of year, brings groups of people together who like the same thing, sports,” Jones said.

According to Hickerson, one problem that fantasy users have are rooting for players on their fantasy team that happen to be playing

against their favorite actual NFL team. “Sometimes it comes down to the choice of

your fantasy team winning or your favorite NFL team winning,” Hickerson said.

Hickerson is a diehard New Orleans Saints fan. This particular week, the quarterback for the Saints, Drew Brees, is playing against the defense of the Atlanta Falcons. Bryce knows that the Falcons defense is very good and has them on his fantasy team. Every time Drew Brees does anything productive on the field, it hurts Atlanta’s defense, causing them to lose points on the fantasy scoreboard. Now what does he do? Who does he root for?

“I have been put in that situation a lot already in this season,” Bryce said. “But when it comes to my Saints, my fantasy team becomes irrelevant.”

Fantasy Football Participation

0

10

20

30

40

1988 1994 2003 2006 2010 2014

41.5Million

32Million

18Million

15.2Million

3Million

1/2Million

Graphic by Joel Stinnett

Source: Fantasy Sports Trade Association

By PARKER HENES Staff pathenes@ius.edu

DREAM GAME: Fantasy football is everywhere, IU Southeast is no exception

21

GETTING INVOLVED: By RAIN HOPKINSStaff rghopkin@ius.edu

With colder weather often comes hibernation mode, when even getting to class may seem like a struggle. One option in beating the seasonal depression is to turn the winter months into a more productive time of year by getting involved on campus.

According to www.ius.edu/campuslife, IU Southeast has over 70 clubs and organizations, each of which are listed on the campus website. The organizations are divided into 10 categories: athletic, honors, greek, political, religious, academ-ic, performance, leadership, governance and “special.”

On the academic side, Linda Christiansen, professor of business, oversees the Beta Gamma Sigma organization. She said Beta Gamma Sigma is an interna-tional honor society specialized toward business programs. Christiansen said that the organization, which is invite-only and based on a student’s academic achieve-ments, can provide significant benefits to members.

“Many people in the business world know about Beta Gamma Sigma, and it signals to employers that the student was a top performer in college,” Christian-

sen said.However, she said there

are benefits for joining near-ly any campus organization, not just the academic ones.

“Campus involvement ac-tivities help students grow and mature,” Christiansen said.

She advises to join at least one group that helps establish leadership roles and career opportunities.

The Young Americans for Liberty, or YAL, is a group on campus that creates op-portunities for students.

Shawn Billups, chapter president, said the group’s main purpose is spread-ing ideas of liberty to the student population. Billups said The Young Americans for Liberty aims to change the lives of their fellow classmates by educating them on various issues throughout the country.

“Officers of YAL will have the opportunity to intern or even receive full-time jobs with the Young Americans for Liberty National, as well as many other organizations looking for young leaders,” Billups said.

He said he thinks being involved is important be-cause students who partake in organizations outside of

the classroom tend to take themselves more seriously inside the classroom.“Be a part of what you love,” Billups said.Another group at IU Southeast is the Asian Pop Culture Club. Cendra Stacy,

psychology and criminal justice junior and club president, said the organization ultimately provides insight into Asian culture through media. Stacy said the club serves as a nice place to watch anime and make plans to attend conventions and cosplay events.

She said for students who feel overwhelmed as is, getting involved might seem like a burden. Stacey said joining an organization can actually serve as a stress

reliever for those who need one.“Students who are involved on campus get the chance to experience more than

just the academic side of school, which allows for some fun down time, especially during exam week,” Stacy said.

Stacy said the Asian Pop Culture Club hosts study nights and offer free aca-demic help.

“It helps me a lot, because I still get to relax with my friends while doing my homework,” Stacy said.

Whether your interest lies in establishing yourself academically to get ahead in your career or just meeting people who have a similar hobby, Stacy said you can find something to become involved in.

“Seriously, there is a club for everyone,” Stacy said. “And I can honestly say I have met some of my best friends through the organizations I’ve been involved in.”

To learn more about the opportunities for involvement at IU Southeast, visit Campus Life in University Center South or go to www.ius.edu/involvement.

Students gather in the University Center during Phi Sigma Sigma’s “Survival of the Phierce” field day in October. Phi Sigma Sigma, a sorority on campus, is one of the many groups IUS offers to students looking to get involved.

Photo by Rain Hopkins

Photo by Rain HopkinsMegan Kelly, business sophomore, and accounting Allyson Stenbro, accounting junior, partner up to prepare for the sack race during Phi Sigma Sigma’s “Survival of the Phierce” field day in October.

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES CAN HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED