page 6

SLOWLY STRIPPINGBoudoir Bombshells Discuss Burlesque

The Communicator | October 19, 2011 www.ipfwcommunicator.org

news&politics 3

Photo courtesy of Indiana University

On Oct. 3, the College of Arts and Sciences held its first “First Mondays” lecture. The series is intended to bring students closer to the research their professors are doing.

Dr. Carl Drummond, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said to the student audience, “This lecture series is intended for you, primarily.”

The speaker for this first lecture, Dr. Suin Roberts, a German and international studies professor, spoke to the crowd on the matter of immigrants and their portrayal in media. Specifically, Roberts focused upon the hidden meaning behind language that might often be overlooked.

The audience had a diverse make up, ranging from students of all classes to other professors interested in hearing the speech. The lecture hall was packed full of students, with almost the entire audience staying the entire length of the talk. They seemed to prove their interest by asking a considerable amount of questions afterwards.

Roberts had a specific hope for her lecture, “What my hope would be, would be to sensitize the students to language in general but specifically in media … there’s always an agenda that is in the forefront of things,” she said.

Max Fowler

“First Monday” Lecture Series Bridges the Gap Between Professors and Students

While fall break was spent by many professors grading exams and reading papers, Dr. Robert Nowak, associate professor of science education at IPFW, undertook a project with an international spin. He traveled to Kosovo as part of the Basic Education Program.

The project in Kosovo is in tandem with the United States Agency for International

IPFW Professor Travels, Aids Education in Kosovo

She intended for her lecture to open the minds of the listeners to the fact that words might hold a deeper meaning and might even have something wrong just lying underneath the surface.

Roberts had praise for the series of lectures in general as well.

“The turn out today was great … I do think this is a great venue for the students to get to know their teachers,” she said. She was excited about the fact that the lectures gave students a chance to connect to their professors’ research, an opportunity not provided in the classroom.

The idea of a lecture series in general drew positive support not only from Roberts but also the students present. Junior history major Cory Lautzenhiser was very pleased with the lecture and the idea of the series as a whole. “It’ll be a positive for the student body…I think its focusing on things closer to us that we don’t get in class,” he said.

Freshman history major Shawn Burns said he didn’t think the lecture series would particularly drum up interest. “But I would recommend it,” he said. While he said he was personally pleased with the idea of the lecture series, he was uncertain others would agree.

Jessica GeyerDevelopment and the Kosovo Education Center. It is meant to help the education system there modernize. Nowak worked with teachers to bring their classrooms into the 21st century in terms of both technology and the role of teachers and students.

Though his last trip to Kosovo lasted 16 days, Nowak only stayed for a week.

“They would prefer to have me staying longer,” he said. However, he had a conference to attend in America as well as classes to teach.

Nowak is the only American in Kosovo as part of this project. It will also be his third trip there. In addition to that, he has also traveled to Macedonia as part of the Macedonia Primary Education Project.

“I was originally chosen because of my work in the state in project-based learning … they enjoyed my work,” said Nowak.

Some of the work Nowak did in Kosovo was holding a workshop for teachers.

“We train our teachers to be next generation leaders,” Nowak said. In turn, he added, “the teachers prepare the students in the workplace of tomorrow.”

In addition to the workshop, there was a classroom renovation project aired on national television in Kosovo.

“I’m really excited about the classroom makeover,” said Nowak. “It’s going to be a little

bit unique.”As part of this side of the project, classrooms

“that are in need of a modernization” were transformed from bare to equipped with technology and other resources.

Though the primary goal of the project is to aid education in Kosovo, it also strengthens the relationship between it and the United States.

“Wherever we can establish global stability … it serves the US well,” Nowak said. Helping the country, which has only been internationally recognized for three years, educate its citizens helps them compete in the economy which in turn “strengthens our international ties and relations.”

The governments of Kosovo and the United States are already strong. “Kosovars love Americans,” Nowak said. “There’s a main boulevard called Bill Clinton and there’s a big bronze statue of him.”

“They aspire to have the opportunities we as Americans have,” he added.

For Nowak, the trips he has taken overseas are rewarding. “I’ve made some wonderful friends,” he said. Also, “It helps me become a more effective teacher.”

Nowak said he encourages any student, especially those in the field of education, to consider projects like this overseas. “A greater understanding of the planet on which we live can be learned through teaching,” he said.

Upcoming EventsWednesday, Oct. 19

The Fort Wayne City Council-at-Large Debate. Audience members must be seated by 6:45 p.m. for live TV coverage. NF 101.

Thursday, Oct. 20

Dr. Lesa Vartanian, IPFW psychology professor, will be discussing near-death experiences as part of the University Religious Forum. 12 p.m., Walb 222-226.

Monday, Oct. 24

Sigma Xi is holding a panel discussion on IPFW undergraduate research. Free pizza. 12 p.m., Kettler 246.

Safe Zone presents “Killing Our Kids with Love: The Conflict between LGBT Youth and Communities of Faith,” by IPFW alum Rev. Roland Strangefellow. 7 p.m., Walb Ballroom.

Wednesday, Oct. 26

The UC2 series airs President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1965 speech to Congress about voting rights. A panel discussion will follow. 12 p.m., Walb Ballroom.

The Communicator | October 19, 2011www.ipfwcommunicator.org

opinion 5

Staff Editorial

CORNER

CAREER

The Occupy Wall Street movement is working through its fifth week, despite attempts to have the protesters removed from parks in New York City’s financial district. These protesters have now been joined by individuals throughout the US and various international cities.

There can be no doubt that the protestors have a resolve that is fueled by their sense of injustice. However, a clear sense of direction is something this leaderless movement lacks.

The protesters of New York released their “Declaration of the Occupation of New York City” on Sept 29, in response to critic’s claims that the movement has no vision. The manifesto states, “…our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors….We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments.” It goes on to cite anger over improper use of bailout money, discrimination, inequality and oppression on the part of corporations as grievances.

The problem is that the Occupy Wall Street movement, embodying the many silenced arguments of the 99 Percent, has not limited itself to a purposeful goal, and while this means that many Americans, fed-up with every perceived injustice imaginable, are willing to join the protest, just as many are reluctant to commit themselves to such a volatile movement. The majority of US citizens agree that there is a problem and it needs to be fixed, but not all of those people believe that camping out on Wall Street is going to do that.

The world is watching, and those who are protesting should use that attention before they lose it. The first step should be to separate themselves from those who are co-opting their movement. The images of sex and drugs that the media has painted for the public are undermining

the intentions of those who are protesting because they are actually fed up with corporate greed and injustice.

The next step is to make sure the right people are getting the message. Corporations have an obligation to listen to their stockholders. If none of the individuals involved with the Occupy Wall Street movement are stockholders, who is to say the bankers and investors on Wall Street will listen or care what those camped out in Liberty Plaza or any other city have to say? If the movement is fed-up with corporate lobbying and unfair practices, they need to take their issues to Congress and make legislators listen to them. That is where the power of change lies - in those who make the laws that govern corporations.

And the most important part is having a plan. It’s one thing to complain about a problem, but an entirely different one to come up with a list of solutions. If you don’t tell legislators how you want them to change something, chances are the changes they make will be unsatisfying. If the government has a responsibility to listen to the people, then the Other 99 Percent should realize that they have the responsibility to clearly articulate to the government what they want to

Occupy a Clear Set of Goals

Career Corner: Career Assessments!Need help answering the question, "what

do I want to do as a career?" Well, a career assessment  can give you an indication of which jobs match your personality type and which careers you may have an aptitude for right now. You do need to remember that the test results are only an indicator and should not be relied on as an absolute assessment of which career is best for you. Several career assessments are available to help  IPFW students and alumni  learn about personality, measured interests, and preferences for various work environments. These assessments can help you understand how your interests, skills, and work values

relate to different occupations. We offer the following career assessments: FOCUS (Free for students and alumni)

FOCUS is a self-paced, online career guidance tool used to assist you in self-assessment and career exploration. Users of FOCUS learn to make more realistic decisions about their goals and plans, how to self-manage their careers and the importance of adaptability in these times of change.Self-Directed Search

The Self-Directed Search (SDS) is an instrument designed to help you organize information about your interests and abilities. After you complete the inventory, you will be able to see how your interests and abilities connect to occupations and fields of study. Myers/Briggs Type Indicator

Christina Mosteller Hall The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) helps determine your preference for gathering information and making decisions. The MBTI recognizes these preferences, allowing us to interpret and realize how we can effectively work together.Strong Interest Inventory

The Strong Interest Inventory (SII) helps you make career decisions by identifying your likes and dislikes. It compares your choices, analyzes them, and makes a general summary of possible career choices based upon your responses. This allows you to plan your career direction and determine which path is right for you

A meeting with a career counselor will help you determine which assessments and resource are right for you. Contact Career Services, 260-481-0689.

Dissent by Alysen Wade and Jessica Geyer

To begin, I will agree with the statement, “However, a clear sense of direction is something this leaderless movement lacks.” This seems to be the biggest point of contention among non-supporters, yet for those involved in the movement it is less a problem and more an invitation to garner support and consensus.

The first stage in any movement or social awakening is dispelling horizontal hostility. This requires taking stock of the fact that you have more in common with your fellow man or woman than you do not, and coming to appreciate him or her as your equal. Thereby creating a collective system, people may become aware of the dominating and discriminatory forces that are the actual causes of oppression.

The second stage requires building consensus. In order for there to be a truly democratic process, it is necessary to gauge opinions and work towards

setting major goals. The more people join the movement with positive solutions, the more viable options for implementing social change may be discussed and eventually agreed upon.

To date, there are many means to ending the corporate greed and inequitable policies that have contributed to so much suffering. Some suggestions include breaking up monopolies, ending the federal reserve and making it illegal to provide public funding for private lobbyists. All of these solutions (and others) will continue to be compiled as a formula for change presents itself gradually and organically by true democratic consensus.

To assert that the movement is “volatile” suggests discord and chaos. Rather, I would like to draw attention to the amazing organizational and systematic process that has been constructed and consented upon by most of the ‘Occupy’ movements that are taking place in cities all over the United States.

According to the New York City General Assembly website, General Assembly is an “open, participatory and horizontally organized process through which we are building the capacity to constitute ourselves in public as autonomous collective forces within and against the constant crises of our times.” This system has sought to eliminate inconsistencies and has successfully provided thousands of ‘Occupiers’ a forum for which to raise their concerns/proposed solutions.

I agree with the statement, “many are reluctant to commit themselves...” It is difficult to want to join a movement with no clear plan of action. However, if no one adds their voices to construct the plan, there will never be a plan to enact. This is why the movement needs physical people representing their interests (which are admittedly numerous and varied) at this crucial moment in time.

Yes, the world is vigilantly watching and scrutinizing the ever-expanding ‘Occupy’ movement. Major media corporations seek out the less articulate, the vagrants, the vandals, the druggies and sex addicts to depict the movement in a negative light. It is unfortunate that these

Continued Online at ipfwcommunicator.org

Arts&EntertainmentThe Communicator | October 19, 2011

6-7

Music Movies Theater This page is sponsored by

260.755.55591836 S. Calhoun St. Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Z .B . Smith

Once tucked-away in a quaint office space on the second floor of the North Anthony Shopping Center, Intergalactic Toys has made the move to more spacious digs. The store

is now located at 2618 Maplecrest Rd. and completes a sort of spontaneous tri-force of pop culture vendors.

Intergalactic Toys, McVan’s Video Game Trader and Books, Comic & Things are now all located

within a block of each other. Storeowner Michael Schott has been

in business for nearly two years and supplements his shop by also selling online.

“Fort Wayne has been a city where we tend to stick to the things that we know and are comfortable with,” said Schott. “I wanted to do something unique that was not over saturated.” Intergalactic Toys

specializes in offering an alternative to the selection of Toys R Us or the toy department

of a big box store, while still carrying some of the same product. A customer won’t find vinyl

figures marrying the highly collectible world of action figures and plush dolls with the unique vision

of artists stretching across all disciplines or hard-to-find Japanese imports at these stores. Though, being an upstart alternative can be a very daunting task.

“In comparison to the places other stores like mine are located, Fort Wayne is a smaller town and it could be considered a little bit of a risky business to start,” Schott

explained. “Especially in this current economy.” Until recently, area collectors have had to rely on the

selections of big box stores like Target, Meijer or Toys R Us to get their fix.

Joe Mendenhall has been collecting Star Wars memorabilia since 1997 and has gone to great lengths to acquire hard-to-find pieces. “I have spent numerous nights driving and searching stores from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. to score something right off a pallet,” he said. “Then went home to take a nap, then got to the stores that open in the morning.” To Mendenhall – who estimated his collection to be worth over $12,000 – toy runs are a serious business.

“I cannot divulge all of my toy run secrets and tips of success or else I would possibly lose a hard to find figure,” he said. “It can be a real rush when you find a rare item.”

But these veteran collectors that have survived on the selections of big box stores for so long, do they have any use for a shop like Intergalactic Toys? Mendenhall seems to think so.

“Intergalactic has a massive selection of anything pop culture you can imagine and he smokes a lot of online places in price,“ he beamed, though not without concern. “With this town it is really about word of mouth.”

Intergalactic Toys’ new location is sure to garner Schott some attention as he is hosting a daylong grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 29 in celebration of his store’s move to a legitimate storefront. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., food will be vended by the likes of Brava’s Dogs, multiplayer-friendly video games will be available to play and a costume party

New Storefront Creates Pop Culture Tri-Force

With roots dating back to the early 18th century, the art of burlesque has been blossoming in Fort Wayne over the past year. As local troupe the Boudoir Bombshells approach their first anniversary, they discussed criticisms and reflected on how shaping the burlesque community has impacted their lives.

Burlesque is most commonly characterized by theatrical, often satirical elements and exaggerations of the female form. Early incarnations of American burlesque were an offshoot of the Victorian era, and evolved into more risqué styles. Today, it is a genre of variety show typically involving comedy and striptease.

Burlesque maintained a strong presence in American culture throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Its influence on film and literature was significant, but by the 1950s social crackdown of public nudity and negative stereotypes of led to a gradual demise.

Following nearly three decades of virtual obscurity, a new generation of burlesque began to crop up in the 1990s. This proved to be a fervent revival of millennial proportions. Modern manifestations—often termed “neo-burlesque”—have taken on significant updates while giving wink and nod to a sensational past.

Neo-burlesque can encompass traditional elements of vaudevillian performance while opening the stage up to a no-holds-barred spectacle of mixed gender, age, race and shape.

Popularized in the cabaret theaters and festivals of major cities across the country, a few Fort Wayne ladies sought to make their brand of artistic expression valid in the community.

In November 2010 the Boudoir Bombshells began implementing and practicing to take the stage for their first performance in March 2011.

With names like Sugar Darling, Goldie Glitteratti, Jezabel Gingersnap, Lacey Punch, Cherie Chevelle, Vivien de Light, Lorna Lockheart and Annabelle Lee, the troupe sought a return to more classic elements of the 40s when burlesque was at its peak.

Co-manager for the troupe, Sugar Darling cheeckily calls their performances, “a misfit variety show.”

The Bombshells have been performing at various bars in the area and have become accustomed to making the most out of every performance. Co-manager Jezabel Gingersnap said the group chooses the venues in which they perform “very carefully." Gingersnap is not above “banging down doors to get bookings,” according to Darling.

“Skipping around [to various venues] helps us be more easy going and connected with a wider audience,” said Gingersnap. She recalled a particular performance where the girls made due with a makeshift greenroom behind the dumpster of a biker bar. “That was the worst case scenario, but we definitely learned from that.”

Top priority for the Bombshell brand is keeping it classy. “We are professional businesswomen,” said Co-manager Glitteratti. Darling noted that a large part of their process is damage control and keeping a positive outlook on how the troupe is portrayed. “The Fort Wayne mindset sometimes includes a lot of people grumbling, but we wanted to draw in everyone...we've even done charity work,” said Glitteratti.

Still, the “art of burlesque” has not been met without criticism. Former IPFW student Julie Peebles expressed

her concern with local burlesque by stating, “I am offended that I go into a bar with my husband and our friends- a reputable establishment- where this troupe has booked themselves as a 'band' and proceeds to strip onstage instead of playing music.”

Peebles has seen two burlesque performances and believes that “it's a way for unlicensed facilities to get nudity into their establishments.”

Scarlet Fever, another local burlesque troupe whose members were not available for comment, has undertaken a running show at The Cabaret—which according to the venue's website, is a “Premier venue for luxury adult entertainment." This could lead to a blurring in lines between burlesque and stripping.

Other members of the community see a danger in the intrinsic objectification of female bodies participating in acts of striptease and performance meant to eroticize.

Women's Studies scholar Dawn Kennedy, expressed her view of burlesque when she said, “It encourages the male gaze by objectifying women. It turns the focus onto particular parts of the body, namely the breasts and hips.”

Admittedly, Kennedy has never witnessed a live performance of burlesque, but her question to those involved in this type of entertainment was, “why do you need to stand on a stage and whip your boobs around to feel good about yourself?”

The Boudoir Bombshell ladies addressed these criticisms by acknowledging that their organization has not been without scrutiny, especially with a brand that is sponsored by adult novelty store, Boudoir Noir.

Firstly, the girls pointed out that they clearly advertise their shows as burlesque entertainment, not musical performances.

Secondly, they noted the contrast between burlesque

Alysen Wade

OffGlovesare

The

BOUDOIR BOMBSHELLS CELEBRATE A YEAR OF LOCAL BURLESQUE

and stripping: “There's a difference, we don't take tips,” said Glitteratti.

Darling also innocently described their performances as “a little random naughtiness.” She said that their shows include everything from striptease, music and hula-hoops to whatever creative endeavor the dancers can come up with.

Darling shared a compliment she received from a male newcomer who exclaimed that he would never go to another strip club again because he enjoyed the nuances of entertainment the Bombshells provided, “as opposed to some girl swinging around a pole,” Darling pointed out.

All of the Bombshells agreed that performing burlesque has boosted their self-confidence. Darling said, “it's my way of saying 'you can look but don't touch' in a sassy way.” Glitteratti said she feels “glorified not objectified,” and Gingersnap said she interprets criticism constructivly: “I'm more in charge of myself. I'm more of an adult. … You're not living up to anyone's expectations. You're only living up to the best you can do and ultimately the only person you have to impress is yourself.”

Indeed, the Bombshells had only positive things to relate about their last year performing burlesque. With an audience demographic of about half women they said that the number of show attendees continues to increase though they remain realistic not everyone will catch onto the provocative nature of burlesque dancing.

“I think most of us can say that this experience has given us opportunities that we never thought were possible,” said Gingersnap. “And we are looking forward to the future by taking it one step at at time.” Perhaps those steps mean also one glove at a time.

Arts&EntertainmentThe Communicator | October 19, 2011

6-7

Music Movies Theater This page is sponsored by

260.755.55591836 S. Calhoun St. Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Z .B . Smith

Once tucked-away in a quaint office space on the second floor of the North Anthony Shopping Center, Intergalactic Toys has made the move to more spacious digs. The store

is now located at 2618 Maplecrest Rd. and completes a sort of spontaneous tri-force of pop culture vendors.

Intergalactic Toys, McVan’s Video Game Trader and Books, Comic & Things are now all located

within a block of each other. Storeowner Michael Schott has been

in business for nearly two years and supplements his shop by also selling online.

“Fort Wayne has been a city where we tend to stick to the things that we know and are comfortable with,” said Schott. “I wanted to do something unique that was not over saturated.” Intergalactic Toys

specializes in offering an alternative to the selection of Toys R Us or the toy department

of a big box store, while still carrying some of the same product. A customer won’t find vinyl

figures marrying the highly collectible world of action figures and plush dolls with the unique vision

of artists stretching across all disciplines or hard-to-find Japanese imports at these stores. Though, being an upstart alternative can be a very daunting task.

“In comparison to the places other stores like mine are located, Fort Wayne is a smaller town and it could be considered a little bit of a risky business to start,” Schott

explained. “Especially in this current economy.” Until recently, area collectors have had to rely on the

selections of big box stores like Target, Meijer or Toys R Us to get their fix.

Joe Mendenhall has been collecting Star Wars memorabilia since 1997 and has gone to great lengths to acquire hard-to-find pieces. “I have spent numerous nights driving and searching stores from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. to score something right off a pallet,” he said. “Then went home to take a nap, then got to the stores that open in the morning.” To Mendenhall – who estimated his collection to be worth over $12,000 – toy runs are a serious business.

“I cannot divulge all of my toy run secrets and tips of success or else I would possibly lose a hard to find figure,” he said. “It can be a real rush when you find a rare item.”

But these veteran collectors that have survived on the selections of big box stores for so long, do they have any use for a shop like Intergalactic Toys? Mendenhall seems to think so.

“Intergalactic has a massive selection of anything pop culture you can imagine and he smokes a lot of online places in price,“ he beamed, though not without concern. “With this town it is really about word of mouth.”

Intergalactic Toys’ new location is sure to garner Schott some attention as he is hosting a daylong grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 29 in celebration of his store’s move to a legitimate storefront. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., food will be vended by the likes of Brava’s Dogs, multiplayer-friendly video games will be available to play and a costume party

New Storefront Creates Pop Culture Tri-Force

With roots dating back to the early 18th century, the art of burlesque has been blossoming in Fort Wayne over the past year. As local troupe the Boudoir Bombshells approach their first anniversary, they discussed criticisms and reflected on how shaping the burlesque community has impacted their lives.

Burlesque is most commonly characterized by theatrical, often satirical elements and exaggerations of the female form. Early incarnations of American burlesque were an offshoot of the Victorian era, and evolved into more risqué styles. Today, it is a genre of variety show typically involving comedy and striptease.

Burlesque maintained a strong presence in American culture throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Its influence on film and literature was significant, but by the 1950s social crackdown of public nudity and negative stereotypes of led to a gradual demise.

Following nearly three decades of virtual obscurity, a new generation of burlesque began to crop up in the 1990s. This proved to be a fervent revival of millennial proportions. Modern manifestations—often termed “neo-burlesque”—have taken on significant updates while giving wink and nod to a sensational past.

Neo-burlesque can encompass traditional elements of vaudevillian performance while opening the stage up to a no-holds-barred spectacle of mixed gender, age, race and shape.

Popularized in the cabaret theaters and festivals of major cities across the country, a few Fort Wayne ladies sought to make their brand of artistic expression valid in the community.

In November 2010 the Boudoir Bombshells began implementing and practicing to take the stage for their first performance in March 2011.

With names like Sugar Darling, Goldie Glitteratti, Jezabel Gingersnap, Lacey Punch, Cherie Chevelle, Vivien de Light, Lorna Lockheart and Annabelle Lee, the troupe sought a return to more classic elements of the 40s when burlesque was at its peak.

Co-manager for the troupe, Sugar Darling cheeckily calls their performances, “a misfit variety show.”

The Bombshells have been performing at various bars in the area and have become accustomed to making the most out of every performance. Co-manager Jezabel Gingersnap said the group chooses the venues in which they perform “very carefully." Gingersnap is not above “banging down doors to get bookings,” according to Darling.

“Skipping around [to various venues] helps us be more easy going and connected with a wider audience,” said Gingersnap. She recalled a particular performance where the girls made due with a makeshift greenroom behind the dumpster of a biker bar. “That was the worst case scenario, but we definitely learned from that.”

Top priority for the Bombshell brand is keeping it classy. “We are professional businesswomen,” said Co-manager Glitteratti. Darling noted that a large part of their process is damage control and keeping a positive outlook on how the troupe is portrayed. “The Fort Wayne mindset sometimes includes a lot of people grumbling, but we wanted to draw in everyone...we've even done charity work,” said Glitteratti.

Still, the “art of burlesque” has not been met without criticism. Former IPFW student Julie Peebles expressed

her concern with local burlesque by stating, “I am offended that I go into a bar with my husband and our friends- a reputable establishment- where this troupe has booked themselves as a 'band' and proceeds to strip onstage instead of playing music.”

Peebles has seen two burlesque performances and believes that “it's a way for unlicensed facilities to get nudity into their establishments.”

Scarlet Fever, another local burlesque troupe whose members were not available for comment, has undertaken a running show at The Cabaret—which according to the venue's website, is a “Premier venue for luxury adult entertainment." This could lead to a blurring in lines between burlesque and stripping.

Other members of the community see a danger in the intrinsic objectification of female bodies participating in acts of striptease and performance meant to eroticize.

Women's Studies scholar Dawn Kennedy, expressed her view of burlesque when she said, “It encourages the male gaze by objectifying women. It turns the focus onto particular parts of the body, namely the breasts and hips.”

Admittedly, Kennedy has never witnessed a live performance of burlesque, but her question to those involved in this type of entertainment was, “why do you need to stand on a stage and whip your boobs around to feel good about yourself?”

The Boudoir Bombshell ladies addressed these criticisms by acknowledging that their organization has not been without scrutiny, especially with a brand that is sponsored by adult novelty store, Boudoir Noir.

Firstly, the girls pointed out that they clearly advertise their shows as burlesque entertainment, not musical performances.

Secondly, they noted the contrast between burlesque

Alysen Wade

OffGlovesare

The

BOUDOIR BOMBSHELLS CELEBRATE A YEAR OF LOCAL BURLESQUE

and stripping: “There's a difference, we don't take tips,” said Glitteratti.

Darling also innocently described their performances as “a little random naughtiness.” She said that their shows include everything from striptease, music and hula-hoops to whatever creative endeavor the dancers can come up with.

Darling shared a compliment she received from a male newcomer who exclaimed that he would never go to another strip club again because he enjoyed the nuances of entertainment the Bombshells provided, “as opposed to some girl swinging around a pole,” Darling pointed out.

All of the Bombshells agreed that performing burlesque has boosted their self-confidence. Darling said, “it's my way of saying 'you can look but don't touch' in a sassy way.” Glitteratti said she feels “glorified not objectified,” and Gingersnap said she interprets criticism constructivly: “I'm more in charge of myself. I'm more of an adult. … You're not living up to anyone's expectations. You're only living up to the best you can do and ultimately the only person you have to impress is yourself.”

Indeed, the Bombshells had only positive things to relate about their last year performing burlesque. With an audience demographic of about half women they said that the number of show attendees continues to increase though they remain realistic not everyone will catch onto the provocative nature of burlesque dancing.

“I think most of us can say that this experience has given us opportunities that we never thought were possible,” said Gingersnap. “And we are looking forward to the future by taking it one step at at time.” Perhaps those steps mean also one glove at a time.

The Communicator | October 19, 2011 www.ipfwcommunicator.org 8

YES, ALL OF THIS IS FAKE. C’MON. FAKE, FAKE, FAKE, FAKE, FAKE. THERE AREN’T TROLLS ON CAMPUS OR HIPPIE COMMUNES IN OUR WOODS. DUH.

WARNING!

the nugget

Laura Rosenbaum

Zach Crook

Alysen Wade

THE COMMUNICATOR HAS TICKETS TO THE HAUNTED CASTLE TO GIVE AWAY. ALL YOU’VE GOT TO DO FOR TWO TICKETS IS TAKE A PICTURE OF YOURSELF WITH AN ISSUE OF THE PAPER AND TAG US ON FACEBOOK. DON’T DELAY – THERE IS A LIMITED SUPPLY!

SMILE WITH THE COMMUNICATOR

The MusTards

Comic by Ryan Nooe

Students at IPFW certainly miss people dancing with perfectly synchronized choreography to songs like the late Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and they miss the massive pillow fights, freezing at a certain time and “silent discos.”

“Flash mobs have been used as a way for criminals to organize crime much, much easier,” said IPFW sophomore Turd Ferguson. “People are being arrested left and right for expressing their individualism. Just because of a group of people, everyone else has to suffer for it.”

In order to properly protest this act of inhumanity, students organized to do what they felt was right. After fall break, students who knew what was going to happen assembled on campus wearing matching uniforms—white t-shirts and Hammer pants. Students walking about were treated to a revised version of the classic MC Hammer song, “Can’t Touch This.”

“We revised the lyrics to protest the way flash mobs have become so taboo,” said Ferguson. “And I couldn’t think of any other way to show people what flash mobs are really about.”

Students Protest Illegality of Flash Mobs with Flash Mob

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Actuarial science major Greg Walsh missed an exam in his analytical geometry and calculus course Tuesday. But according to Walsh, he had much bigger concerns.

“Primarily, I’m concerned with not dying,” said Walsh over the sounds of continuous mouse-clicking and sword-clashing.

Walsh is an avid League of Legends player.The match was started with the best of intentions,

but when a game that Walsh expected to last a mere 20 minutes stretched into an hour-long campaign, there seemed to be no other option than to continue.

“I had to leave a game the other day because my Grammy came to visit,” he said. “I didn’t want to get banned for leaving too many times, so I didn’t see any alternative.”

“I told him he should probably drop from the game and go to class,” said a friend of Walsh’s, also in the midst of a campaign. “He doesn’t seem too concerned about it.”

“It’s fine. I’ve totally got this,” said Walsh as he faced a screen full of opponents.

A follow-up interview with Walsh revealed that this particular campaign ended in defeat.

Student Misses Exam, Video Game to Blame

Over the weekend Andrea Chaff met with her usual study group to finish

physics homework. During the interaction, one group member made an unintentional sexual innuendo to which Chaff exclaimed, “That’s what she said!” No one was amused.

“I don’t get it,” said Chaff. “They used to always laugh at my ‘that’s what she said’ jokes … everyone knows me for those jokes.” The group agreed that her jokes had reached a pinnacle, but they had simply become annoying.

“It’s gone on long enough,” said Chaff ’s study partner, Joel Roob. Chaff quickly retorted with yet another ‘that’s what she said’ antic as soon as Roob finished the sentence.

“See …,” said Roob. “We can’t get through anything without Andrea finding some dumb reason to say it.”

Apparently, words such as ‘long,’ ‘hard,’ ‘hit,’ ‘touch,’ and ‘down’ have been stricken from the vocabularies of those within earshot of Chaff in attempt to avoid her derisive jokes.

‘What She Said’ Jokes Aren’t Funny, Student Says

The Communicator | October 19, 2011

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Photo by Nicholas Demille, Indiana Daily Student

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As Tom Crean made his way through introductions Saturday at Hoosier Hysteria, he was interrupted.

The normally talkative head coach paused, trying to regain his train of thought as the nearly full Assembly Hall chanted “Ga-ry Har-ris.”

After apologizing for interrupting the raucous crowd, Crean continued on with his introductions in what is undoubtedly the biggest recruiting weekend of the year for the Hoosiers.

The headliner of a plethora of prospective student athletes was Harris, the No. 25 ranked player in the Class of 2012, according to rivals.com.

Many believe Harris is the final piece of one of the nation’s top-ranked recruiting classes.

Harris made his official visit to IU this weekend. It was the second of four officials that Harris has planned, having already visited Purdue on Oct. 1 and scheduled to make trips to Kentucky on Saturday and Michigan State on Nov. 5.

A crowd of 16,100 at Assembly Hall greeted Harris and the other recruits doing their respective official and unofficial visits.

Compared to last year’s season attendance numbers, only nine schools in the NCAA averaged more fans for their games than the people who showed up for the Hoosiers’ Saturday night practice.

“If we play as close to as well as you guys cheer, we’ll be cutting down nets very soon,” Crean said.

All five commits from IU’s 2012 class took in Saturday night’s festivities.

Guests brought in for Hoosier Hysteria included former IU basketball players Eric Gordon

and D.J. White. ESPN’s Bill Raftery emceed the event.

Five years ago, it was Gordon in Harris’ place as the can’t-miss in-state shooting guard prospect making a visit to Hoosier Hysteria. The 2007 Mr. Basketball went on to commit to IU, and even though he only stayed for one season, Gordon said it’s always fun to come back to Bloomington.

“(There are) not too many fans like Indiana fans,” Gordon said. “They always remember you, and the fans are great supporters here.”

Taking a seat in the front row under the north basket, Harris chatted with IU commits Collin Hartman (2013) and Yogi Ferrell (2012) throughout the evening.

The official visit to IU comes a night after Harris set a school record in receiving yards (189) at a Hamilton Southeastern football game.

Harris has offers from a number of major college football programs, but it is expected he will play only basketball in college and sign his national letter of intent during the fall signing period from Nov. 9 to 16.

It was announced Saturday that IU has sold 7,601 of its 7,800 student season tickets allotment. The student section is the largest in the nation, and the 7,601 tickets are 1,500 more than were sold last season.

Raftery said he couldn’t believe the support from the Hoosier faithful as fans lined up outside of Assembly Hall hours before gates opened.

“The student body has really done a great job of hanging in while they get everything straightened out,” Raftery said. “It’s crazy how basketball is so big here and so important.”

IU Recruits Take in Hoosier Hysteria, Hoosier Nation

By Kevin Bowen, Indiana Daily Student

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I’m willing to bet this was the first time in Assembly Hall’s 40-year history that blow-up guitars, imitation Ray Bans and Usher shared the same floor that was once graced by Bob Knight’s airborne chair.

Yes, guard Victor Oladipo singing Usher’s “You Got it Bad,” with the rest of the men’s basketball team serving as backup dancers as part of the introduction for Saturday night’s Hoosier Hysteria, was a welcome change.

The well-performed R&B act showed me IU Athletics is trying to gradually make IU’s version of Midnight Madness a spectacle that appeals to every member of a 16,100-person audience.

And that’s not an easy thing to do.As a Blue Ribbon basketball program so deeply

rooted in tradition, Indiana has struggled in past years to infuse contemporary entertainment appealing to a younger generation of Hoosier fans into a season kickoff that is sure to celebrate IU’s pristine past.

The three-point shootout and dunk contest preceding the team’s scrimmage have become staples of Hoosier Hysteria and are entertaining at times.

This year, sophomore Will Sheehey dazzled a packed Assembly Hall with his slam via a pass he threw off the backboard to former all-state high school soccer-player-turned-IU-guard Daniel Moore. The teammate headed the ball from the far corner of the paint back to Sheehey, who threw it down for a contest-clinching jam.

It is worth noting Sheehey accomplished all this while wearing retro IU basketball shorts hiked halfway up his thighs.

But aside from these memorable moments, Hoosier Hysteria dragged on for me as the usual repetitions of the annual event took hold.

Toward the end of the evening, it seemed the crowd agreed with me. People slowly filed out of Assembly Hall before it was through.

Hoosier Hysteria isn’t designed just for me, though.

Isn’t it for the highly touted recruits taking their official visits to IU? They represent the future of the program.

Or maybe it’s for the throngs of Hoosier faithfuls that made Saturday night the best-attended Hoosier Hysteria of the Tom Crean era.

Then again, should Hoosier Hysteria be for the students? The mass that makes up the largest student section in the nation and is a mere 199 season tickets away (7,601 of 7,800) from selling out that monstrous Crimson Guard segment?

The truth is, Hoosier Hysteria is for all these groups. The tricky part is appeasing all of them.

Alumni and long-time season ticket holders are not going to appreciate, much less understand, a live musical act from the Top 20 charts as much as the student body or a high school senior submerged in present-day basketball culture.

Conversely, the out-of-state IU freshman and five-star recruits might not be able to identify Keith Smart nailing a game-winning shot as

he drifts toward the sideline in the 1987 Championship Game.

Regardless of its Hoosier hoops IQ, the diverse group inside Assembly Hall was all there for the same reason and expected to see something that kept its interest.

There needs to be some balance between the rock show ego-fest the folks in Lexington put on and a mundane snoozer that follows the same script of intro video, player walk-out songs, three-point contest, dunk contest and scrimmage.

Hoosier Hysteria and IU Athletics as a whole are on its way to finding this medium. I hope to see this metaphoric see-saw continue to balance with an event that seamlessly blends the new with the old.

Who knows? Maybe next year, we’ll see Cody Zeller and Jordan Hulls belting out a duet of Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now.”

Column: Teaching an Old Tradition New Tricks

By Avi Zaleon, Indiana Daily Student

The IU volleyball team had a different script to the same ending. IU volleyball (8-11, 0-8) lost another two games this weekend at home against two Big Ten opponents.

After winning eight of the first 10 games this season, the Hoosiers have lost their last 10.

On Friday, No. 24 Ohio State (14-6, 4-3) defeated IU in four sets, 25-16, 23-25, 25-12 and 26-24, at University Gym.

Emily Danks, OSU junior outside hitter, led both sides with 21 kills and played a crucial role, blocking in the Buckeyes’ front line defense. OSU finished with a .408 attack percentage to IU’s .137.

The Hoosiers were led by junior right-side hitter Kelci Marschall with 13 kills and junior outside hitter Ivie Obeime with 10 kills.

Senior libero Caitlin Cox recorded 19 digs, as well as one of the IU’s two serving aces in the game.

“Our communication was better, our effort was better,” Marschall said. “I think we were a whole lot more aggressive with everything.”

On Saturday, the same result was written into the record book, but this loss took

three sets.No. 9 Penn State (14-6, 4-3) beat the Hoosiers

in three sets, 25-18, 25-16 and 25-21.The crowd showed up with good attendance,

even with Hoosier Hysteria the same night.“I was really happy with our crowd, even

going against Hoosier Hysteria,” IU Coach Sherry Dunbar said.

Marschall had six kills in the game.Junior middle blocker Samantha Thrower

also added six kills.“We really made Penn State play hard,”

Dunbar said. “Every point was a mini-battle for them.”

So far, Big Ten play hasn’t been easy for the Hoosiers, and eight of the next 12 games are against ranked Big Ten opponents.

“Every game and every point is going to be a fight,” Marschall said. “The harder we work, the better we get.”

Dunbar discussed the game plan to improve at this point in the season.

“We need to win the battles in practice,” Dunbar said. “Also, we still need to find that potential, and there are still a lot of games left.”

Losing Streak Now 10 Games for Volleyball

By Aaron Siegal-Eisman, Indiana Daily Student