The Arts

Winter Term 2013 has come to a close.  Students and faculty from across campus and across the world shared what they learned.  Check it out!

A fascinating tour of China brought students to explore the Terra Cotta Warriors and the Qin Dynasty.  You can read more about this group's travels and learning by visiting one of the leaders' blog here.	Students in The Rock n Roll Experience gave a performance in The Duck at the Inn at DePauw.  A standing-room-only crowd turned out to see the the eight bands in the class perform. During the class, students had to form their own band, write an original song, learn how to play together and, for many, perform in front of a crowd, all while learning what it is that makes rock n roll what it is.  Read more in this article in local paper, The Banner Graphic.
The Boulder is the student newspaper during Winter Term. Stemming from an on-campus class led by Dave Bohmer and students who have experience working on The DePauw, the campus newspaper, students learn to write articles, take photographs, experiment with newspaper design and even sales.  News was published online throughout Winter Term, culminating in a print version.  Check it out - The Boulder.	Students in New Zealand explored the geology of the country.  It was a hands on exploration of the volcanoes, glaciers and outcrops that make up the country's diverse geological and environmental history.  Read more on the DePauwRocks blog for more of their experience.
Students in YouTube Physics explored the many physics videos on YouTube, learning what makes an accurate, effective and interesting physics demonstration video.  In groups, they designed, constructed and presented their own online video.	Students Craig Hadley and Pauline Ota's class, Introduction to Museums and Galleries, worked on the Asian Gallery in Emison, the Admissions building.  They enhanced the gallery with new labels and an audio tour.  They also created a website to visit.  Feel free to come to Emison any time to see this gallery and others.

Believe it or not, staff members in the Center for Student Engagement are already working with faculty and students to plan what they will do next January.  Possibilities include another course traveling to Cuba, exploring geology of the western US, service in El Salvador, and more!  

What would you like to learn during Winter Term 2014?

Upon arriving in New Zealand, I've definitely noticed the presence of the Māori, the indigenous Polynesian people who arrived in New Zealand by 1300 A.D. As reflected in the current day names of most cities and streets, the Māori language is also the national language of New Zealand.

While our Winter Term trip focuses more on the country's geological history than its political history, we embraced our Liberal Arts roots and spent Tuesday night learning about the Māori culture at Te Pō, an indigenous evening experience at the Te Puia Māori Cultural Center, in Rotorua, New Zealand. The experience included a traditional pōwhiri (Māori welcoming ceremony), a kapa haka (Māori concert), a Māori feast as well as a trip to the Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley. During the kapa haka, several students volunteered to learn some of the traditional dance moves, as shown in the video below.

Have you ever participated in a ceremony of a different culture before? If so, what did you take away from the international experience?

This past Sunday provided a wonderful opportunity for students and community members.  The School of Music brought the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra to DePauw for an amazing performance featuring Milos Karadaglic, a classical guitar player.  He played beautifully and I enjoyed the mix of classical guitar with a traditional orchestra.  That was something I hadn't heard before.  The tickets were free for students, and Kresge Auditorium was packed!

After the ISO finished their performance, the audience applauded so enthusiastically for so long that they even gave an encore performance!  The best part is that the ISO is coming back to DePauw again second semester...I cant' wait!

I love being a College of Liberal Arts (CLA) student at DePauw because while I am not actually part of the School of Music (SOM), I can enjoy the concerts and events such as these frequently!  The music school provides over 150 concerts and performances a year, so there is always something to watch!  

Welcome back from Fall Break, world! (What's that? You thought Fall Break lasts all of fall, too?! I agree--breaks are always all too short--but that's the great thing about student life here at DePauw University: there's never a moment missable!)

Thursday, October 11, I had the incredible pleasure of meeting with Mr Bill Rasmussen, former DePauw student, a mind behind the Media Fellows Honors Program, and the Magic behind ESPN. I've got to admit: this series of 175 Years of DePauw has introduced me to some notable, notable alumni, and it's made me only prouder to be a student of the university--one from a world faraway, one International; one capable of engaging and easing with a myriad minds I'd otherwise hardly have access to. Listening to Mr Rasmussen's story, his start from the very scratch, as well as the ability to talk with him briefly while anchoring my World News section for DePauw's own news show, The Source--humbled and honoured me so: not only was Mr Rasmussen extremely patient and considerate about addressing student questions, he was so, so very down-to-earth and free with the students, mingling with them, becoming their very own. I then had the immense pleasure of talking with him again during my TV Production class, whereby we discussed Film Criticism a bit--and I was again raptured by just how willing and warm Mr Rasmussen was, awarding and aiding me in the time and inspiration I sought. It's these sorts of things--meeting marked minds, and yet finding them so very easy and humbling to be around--that has me awed and incredibly grateful to be here at DePauw!

He'll be here in another couple of weeks, so be sure to watch out for him if you're at DePauw, and if not--throw me a question you'd like to ask him!

(Oh, and do watch The Source, folks! World News is always good to be worded on. :) )

"If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run, yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, and - which is more - you will be a man, my son!", ends a British poem that would inform the title of Craig Mullaney's coming of age story, "The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier's Education".

On Monday, The Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics hosted Craig Mullaney, author of The Unforgiving Minute. A Westpoint graduate, Craig graduated second in his class, was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, led an infantry platoon trapped in a deadly firefight in Afghanistan, and returned from war to teach at the US Naval Academy before working in the Obama Administration.

During lunch hour, we had the opportunity to meet Craig and ask questions about his riveting account. Later in the afternoon, we had a reading and book signing session at the new bookstore, Elli Books located downtown before his main discussion event in the Union Building Ballroom. During my time at DePauw, I can testify that special events like these that are woven into academics and student life are not uncommon.

The Unforgiving Minute is one of the assigned readings for Dr. Robert Steele's first-year seminar "This I Believe: Storytelling About Our Core Values" which focuses on stories about the values that reflect our paths and passions in life and the meaning of values on a personal and societal level. Not only do first year students in Dr. Steele's first-year seminar get the priviledge to engage with gripping texts at a top liberal arts school, but they also get the chance to meet and talk to the authors, ask important questions, and grow intellectually.  Do you have a book that has had a significant impact on your life?

As students, we are reminded of DePauw's academically challenging environment especially during weeks like this.  Midterms have kept almost all of us busy for the past two weeks, so at this point, we're all looking forward to our full week-long fall break!! 

While we have been studying and writing papers constantly this week, there have also been some amazing study break opportunities to take advantage of.  

Last weekend was one of the athletic hallmarks of the school year.  For the Old Gold Football game, many alums come back to see DePauw and interact with current students.  It was also Dad's day at my sorority, so my dad came down to watch the game with me!

  Another student life favorite event happened last night.  The Greek God and Goddess competition is a dance competition between all of the fraternity and sorority houses.  The level of effort put into routines ranges from several hours of practice to several weeks of practice and all of the houses show off their routines in the Lily Gym.  Kappa Alpha Theta won for the sororities, and here's their winning routine if you want to check it out! 

Last night was also one of the Guest Artist Performances hosted by DePauw's School of Music.  Voces8, a British acapella group, sang in Kresge!  Not only did they perform for students, faculty, and Greencastle residents, but they also worked with the music students throughout the day and hosted a master class.  During their performance, they took a break from their planned pieces and called up the DePauw Chamber Singers to perform a piece for the entire audience.  It's opportunities like these that make me appreciate my small liberal arts college environment where as a science major, I can still enjoy the incredible events hosted by other departments, or in this case, the School of Music. 

A crusader for peace and author of the Arias Peace Plan, former two-time president of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Dr. Oscar Arias spoke at yesterday's Ubben Lecture in Kresge Auditorium located in the School of Music. The former President's visit and lecture comes a few weeks after DePauw University's first ever International Education Week (IEW) Celebrations themed after the Millennium Development Goals, a topic that reverberated throughout Dr. Arias' speech. After winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. Arias founded the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress, and the Center for Peace and Reconciliation to work for demilitarization and conflict resolution in the developing world.

"We make our world more dangerous when we invest in war instead of moral choices."

-(President Oscar Arias)

In his speech, Dr Arias asserted that even though we could not have prevented the earthquake in Haiti,  we could have prevented what followed. The provision of clean water could have prevented the cholera epidemic. What followed after the earthquake was not inevitable. It was not just unfortunate but immoral, he said. The President also discussed how poverty is a major barrier to education, especially among older girls in developing countries. Dr. Arias' Center for Human Progress helps to promote equal opportunities for women in all sectors of Central American society. He also reminded the audience that the power to eradicate preventable diseases is in our hands. "If we reduced the U.S military spending by only 5%, we could provide enough mosquito nets to protect the entire populations of developing countries from malaria three times over, but we are caught up in military spending," he remarked.

"Moral Leadership has always been about making the choices that enhance Human Life."

-(President Oscar Arias)

Dr Arias also emphasized the need to protect the environment for future generations to come. I had the chance to ask President Oscar Arias what the toughest challenges in meeting the Millennium Development Goals are, what needs to be done and by what means? The President is a staunch proponent for disarmament, cutting millitary spending, and channelling resources where they are needed the most. "We declared peace to the world when we decided to get rid of our army. We chose the right path... We don’t have to spend our resources this way but we do it by choice... The decision to choose life does depend on us and the choices that we make... There is a reason to believe in a better future, a future that our children deserve... What we need is a world guided not by greed but by our ideals... If we all prioritized our moral choices our countries would never, never be the same," he responded.

"As a student, it's very difficult to find free time to get involved, but I think as DePauw students we prioritize and contribute our time to causes that really mean something to us."

-(Molly Nolden, '10)

Tonight I had the chance to meet CNN's chief political correspondent and moderator for the upcoming presidential elections debate, Candy Crowley. Crowley visited DePauw University today to speak at the Ubben Lecture Series, made possible by a generous gift from DePauw Alumni Timothy and Sharon Ubben, both graduates of 1958. I am grateful for the uncommon opportunities that DePauw continues to offer me everyday. As an international student, I have been following the election campaign from afar, but I am interested in what the candidates have to say about the U.S Foreign Policy towards Africa. So, during my conversation with Candy Crowley, I asked her to ask the presidential candidates -- during the foreign policy debate -- how they are going to ensure that the slaughter of innocent civilians in Sudan does not continue on our watch and with tacit U.S support. A petition is available online. After dinner, Candy Crowley gave her lecture "Campaign 2012: A View from the Frontlines" in the Kresge Auditorium located in the School of Music. My favorite quote from her speech was, "This race really is about what do you want your government to be responsible for?"

Wow, senior year!  It's very surreal to walk (or bike) around campus and think that this is actually my last year.  It seems like I was a freshman just yesterday and that senior year would never arrive.  But here I am, a senior.  Every day is a new last.  Yesterday was my last first day of DePauw and today was my last first time to go to the nature park.  I know, too sentimental.  But I can't help feeling oddly nostalgic.  I know I still have about eight months here, but I'm so busy this year that pretty soon I'll be graduated and gone.

That said, I'm really excited for this semester!  I think I'll have a good mix of fun and challenging classes.  Today was the first day of the music topics class I'm taking on 20th century composers.  Someone that we'll be focusing on this semester is Leonard Bernstein (think Candide and West Side Story) and coincidentally today is his birthday!  So, happy birthday to Mr. Bernstein.  I actually wouldn't have known this if the professor hadn't emailed us all to let us know.  That's one of the great things about small liberal arts colleges.  Forming relationships with professors happens automatically.  It seems like there are less hoops to jump through here than there would be at a big school because we communicate directly with professors in stead of a TA or some other assistant.

My Spanish class is also going to be really interesting.  It's advanced grammar, so even though the topic might be tedious, the class is taught by the professor from Argentina.  All during class yesterday I was just reminded of all the good times I had while abroad.

So, this is it.  Right now I feel like I'm on the beginning part of the rollercoaster that is DePauw University.  Things are slowly cranking up, leading towards the best part.
 

Well, I've been very busy the past two weeks, and very neglectful of my blog. My apologies!

The senior art exhibition at DePauw University was on April 14. All of us senior art majors spent the day practicing our speeches, which had to be about 3 minutes long. Then, at 5:00, we showed up at the gallery in some decent clothes, where we greeted our friends, families, and professors. My parents and brother came from Indianapolis, and my sister drove down all the way from Chicago! A group of my friends also came up from Bloomington. It was great to have so many people I care about there.

Then, we each gave our talks with microphones in hand. I was insanely nervous about giving the talk, and especially because there were at least 100 people in the gallery! I ended up doing fine, although my hand was shaking a bit. :) For such a small liberal arts college, we usually have really great turn-outs at the senior exhibition each year.



That's me giving my talk -- my work is on the left hand side of this image.



Another series of work I included.

Here's a section of my artist statement, which I included in my artist talk in the gallery:

As an artist, I am interested in beautifying banal moments, spaces, and objects through the transformative quality of light. I photograph banal spaces with interesting light sources, and then submit my film to processes that are normally warned against because of their damaging effects. Putting my film through the laundry machine and exposing the undeveloped film to light create unexpected, spontaneous, and nearly uncontrollable results. The outcome of these processes allows me to redefine the banal by abstracting the imagery with unexpected shapes and colors.{C} 




This picture was taken after we all gave our talks. All done! Afterwards, we went out for a celebratory dinner. There was so much anxiety, tension, and stress built up in this show that it feels really strange to have finished the opening. Although I'm relieved to have successfully completed such an enormous project, I have to keep reminding myself that I still have a lot to do this semester -- even in my art seminar.

Tonight, there's a senior showcase in three of DePauw's academic buildings. I'll be in the gallery for half an hour to talk to visitors about senior seminar and the work that's currently in the gallery. The show will be up until graduation on May 22, so I hope many more people will be able to see the show between now and then.

Currently, I'm working on finishing up the last section of my senior writing seminar project, I'm printing and matting a large photograph (about 5.5 feet tall) for a professor who wants to buy it, I'm printing and matting a photo for a show I'll be in at Christopher West Presents in Indianapolis, I still have a lot of work to do for my art seminar (like a critique with the faculty, a presentation to the faculty, another art project, and an artist's portfolio), I need to apply to some jobs and internships, and I want to try to enjoy my last month at this top private university! There are a lot of great events going on in this last month, like fraternity formals and campus events for seniors, so I need to make sure I can balance my academic and social life to get the most out of my last semester in college. 

It feels very surreal to be in my last semester at DePauw University. Although I'm excited to be more independent, travel more, and possibly hold down a job, there are a lot of things I'll miss about being a college student at this top 50 liberal arts college: namely, the awesome professors and my amazing peers. There are so many wonderful resources at this school that I sometimes take for granted -- like the gym, the awesome materials available to us in our art building, the free yoga classes, the campus events, speakers... I could go on and on! Maybe you'll just have to come see this place for yourself. :)

This year, Earth Day falls on Good Friday, so happy Earth Day and happy Easter! This week, DePauw Sustainability and the Environmental Club co-hosted several events to celebrate and foster the appreciation of the earth's environment, and to increase awareness on the issues that threaten our environment. On Monday, we watched Matt Demon's "Plan B 3.0:  Mobilizing to Save Civilizations" followed by a scintillating discussion from both students and professors. I spoke on Tuesday's panel of discussion on "Conflict Minerals and Electronic Waste."  Two guests came to present and talk about their environmental sustainability projects. Art Donnelly presented his work designing and building highly efficient sustainable stoves that benefit Latin American women's health by reducing the risk of smoke inhalation. DePauw University students had the opportunity to build their own stoves after the presentation.  Most students enthusiastically showed up to this event, having had prior experience during their 2011 Winter Term In-Service trip to Costa Rica. What I liked about Art Donnelly's work is that besides just building these the stoves, he also educates the indigenous Latin American communities on how to use the technology through training sessions. Professor Julian Agyeman from Tufts University gave a presentation on "Just Sustainability, Equality, and Re-Imagining Communities of the 21st Century."  He highlighted the fact that we live in a world where 4.5% of the world's populations owns 25% of the world's resources, which says a lot about our global sustainability and equality. Borrowing John Barrow's words, I learned that while we seem to be consuming without limits and have slowly developed a throw-away culture, we throw away stuff and the natural resources that make it possible. We throw away people by turning a blind eye and we throw away ideas when they don’t fit into our ideological norm.   By mobilizing to save civilizations, we are not only trying to make a difference but we are creating a different world where stewardship, resourcefulness and thrift are valued. What do you think can and should be done to promote environmental justice in your local community?

 Hello Everyone, 

There are so many events going on campus this week/month. These are some of the events that I am/will be attending. I have taken the decription from the events to showcase some of the events that take place on DePauw University's campus. So many activities happen on campus that it gets hard to manage everything. DePauw students are over committed and they are passionate in whatever they do. 

Jewish studies and Prindle Institute sponsoring: 

1) On Tuesday, April 19th, "Reading Exodus Today."

How do we read and relate to this text? Why does it resonate so deeply with so many different groups of people? The discussion will be held at 11:30 in Emison lounge. Lunch (kosher for Passover) will be provided by Treasures on the Square. 

2) On Wednesday, April 20th, at 4:15 in the Prindle Auditorium:  "What drives Liberation?"

Panelists (Jeff Kenney, Mike Forbes, Glen Kuecker, Jeremy Rinker) will address various liberation movements and the motivational forces behind them. Are there unifying features of these different movements? A reception (also kosher for Passover, also provided by Treasures) will follow in the Great Room.

3) On Thursday, April 21st, at 7:00 in the Prindle Auditorium, Rafia Zakaria (Director, Amnesty International USA) and Shaul Magid (Professor of Religious Studies and Jay and Jeannie Schottenstein Chair in Jewish Studies--IU Bloomington) will present a joint keynote address on the topic: "Exodus and the Politics of Liberation."

What are the responsibilities that go along with having experienced liberation or the fruits of liberation? In the aftermath of the Egyptian Revolution, what is the responsibility of new power towards old?

4: "PRESENTATION: THE INVISIBLE GIRL PROJECT--APRIL 21, 2011

 In 1990, Indian economist Amartya Sen famously reported that 100 million women were missing from the world, citing national sex ratios that favored men. Sen asked, “How can we understand and explain these differences, and react to them?”

Two decades later, the Invisible Girl Project is striving to do just that: understand why girls have become “invisible” and bring them into view once again. Founders Brad and Jill McElya started IGP in order to combat discrimination against young girls in India, including feticide, infanticide, trafficking, and other offenses against young girls. 

The Prindle Institute welcomes Brad and Jill to speak about India’s invisible girls and their work on Thursday, April 21 from 4:15 to 5:30 pm in the Prindle Auditorium. Shuttle service will be available, leaving the UB at 4:00 pm and returning at 5:45 pm. "

5: Icecream!!! An ice cream truck will be driving around campus, so take advantage of this sweet opportunity!. Sponsored by Campus Activities


6: "Shout Out AAPIs~! is an Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) empowerment weekend (April 22-24) where fellow AAPI DePauw students, faculty, and staff will speak out about their stories of being a minority on campus and in the United States. We seek to empower AAPIs to take pride in who they are and where they come from, while also encourage non-AAPIs to contribute in discourse. This program is restricted to DePauw students, faculty, staff, and alumni (with the exception of guest speakers leading DePauw-relevant activities). In doing so, AAPI issues can be made more realistic and relevant to DePauw’s campus. Through story-telling and presentations, this program seeks to create the framework for a stronger, more closely knit community on campus, so that AAPIs and our Allies can ignite change both at DePauw and beyond.

The theme for the Spring 2011 date will revolve around underlying theme of the Myth of the Model Minority.

“In a lot of ways, Asian Americans have done remarkably well in achieving ‘the American dream’ of getting a good education, working at a good job, and earning a good living. So much so that the image many have of Asian Americans is that we are the ‘model minority’ - a bright, shining example of hard work and patience whose example other minority groups should follow” (asian-nation.org). While this stereotype is viewed in a positive light, it glosses over the harsh reality many Asian-American groups face, such as issues with health care and educational access. This stereotype may not affect the majority of DePauw students, but this year’s “Shout Out AAPIs~!” event will encourage AAPIs to share how the Model Minority stereotype has affected them. Not only will “Shout Out AAPIs~!” encourage students to talk about this issue, but also try to deconstruct it by introducing various problems in the AAPI community that are often overlooked, such as LGBTQ issues, identity crises, and ethnic minority experience."

7: CONFERENCE: ETHICS AFTER DARWIN: ETHICS AND PUBLIC POLICY IN THE LIGHT OF EVOLUTIONARY THEORY--APRIL 26-28, 2011

This conference will bring together scholars from three areas of study: evolutionary science, ethics and public policy. These visiting scholars, along with DePauw faculty and students, will address questions, such as what are the ethical precepts implicit in Darwin’s theory and how can these ethical principles be applied to public policy decisions. During the three-day conference, these ideas will be applied specifically to the history of evolutionary theory and its relevance to public policy as it relates to gender issues and conservation. Through workshops, conversations, lectures, and informal interchanges among all the participants, we hope to reach a deeper understanding of the intersection of evolutionary theory, ethics and public policy

8: LECTURE: PRISONER RADICALIZATION AND SACRED TERRORISM--APRIL 28, 2011

Dr. Mark Hamm, professor of Criminology at Indiana State Univerity and former prison warden from Arizona is a leading scholar on prisoner radicalization in the United States. He will deliver his lecture at
4 p.m. on April 28, in Julian auditorium.

Hope you get the taste on events that happen on campus 

Signing off, 

Sehrish Khan 



 

I had to compartmentalize what I did this week, for better or for worse.  There was school work, and there was the play.  Until Saturday evening at about 10pm when I left the play for my fraternity formal, that was it.  While I liked the simplicity of my schedule, I did feel rather trapped.  I would go to class, do my homework immediately after, go to dress rehearsal (which lasted anywhere from 3-4 hours), do more homework, and then go to bed.  Fortunately, I did not have too much due, though I did have to read a romance novel for a literature class.  Let me repeat that.  For a literature class.  We're currently discussing the difference between great or canonized literature and popular literature.  It's really very interesting.  And hilarious.  Everyone read a different romance novel (of their own choosing), and then we all discussed ours in class.  I had a lot of fun with the assignment, despite the embrassment I faced when buying a romance novel and reading it in public.

The play, however, was far from embarassing, though I did have to play a drunk who fell down a lot.  I received a surprising amount of praise and compliments for my efforts, which both flatters me and concerns me.  Overall, the performances went really well and seemed to go over very well the audiences.  I don't think we had a bad crowd, and we sold out two of the four nights.  It was a wonderful way to end my DePauw Univeristy Theatre career.  It was a short run (I did 4 shows), but I'm so glad I did it.  I'm grateful I even got the chance to be on stage.  There's just so much you can do at a good, small liberal arts college.  Below is a picture of me during our dress rehearsal.  That's right.  I grew a 'stache and chops.  And I'm keeping them until I have a job interview or graduation, whichever comes first.  Now that the play's over I guess I need to focus on both those things.  Anyway, enjoy!

 
 

Hello Everyone, 

I attended a session of the Ethics symposium at the Prindle Institute. The speakers were amazing, and they highlighted the issues relating to ethics. Alison Bailey talked about hate crimes, and raised questions on whom the responsibility for those hate crime falls.  A lot of students asked very interesting questions from the speaker. It was good lively discussion and I realized that it is so hard to answer what-to-do questions in ethics. June Cross talked about the ethics of journalism from her personal experience, when she made a documentary on Hurricane katrina. 


"PURPOSE
The Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics fosters interdisciplinary reflection on moral issues, including questions of justice and public policy, character, duty, and responsibility. In this our fourth year, we will again host the Undergraduate Ethics Symposium, designed to encourage undergraduate scholarship and artistic work. This symposium is an outstanding opportunity for student scholars, creative writers, film makers and photographers to discuss their ethics-related work with leading scholars and professionals in their fields and to participate in a significant discussion of ethical concerns."

 




















Hope you enjoyed the blog. 

Signing off 

Sehrish Khan Saddozai

Where has this semester gone?? I've been so busy that I've lost track of my time at DePauw University. But apparently, I have 6 weeks left to finish two theses, participate in two art shows, and find a post-graduation job. Phew! At least I had a very productive week and a very relaxing Little 5 weekend. 

I spent the greater part of this week in Greencastle art galleries. The senior art majors have been working closely with our galleries curator, Kaytie Johnson, to lay out our upcoming senior show. Curating is much harder process than I imagined -- we spent hours arranging and rearranging my photographs until we came up with the perfect combination and lay-out. Here's a peak at our layout process:

 
I can't wait to have all of my work installed in the gallery! It's going to be a huge relief to see my year's work professionally mounted and installed and ready for viewing. At the opening on Thursday, each of the senior art majors will give a short talk followed by a Q&A session, and then we'll have celebratory refreshments. I am really anxious to get my talk done and my questions answered so I can finally enjoy all the hard work I've done this year.

Here's a look at my studio space, where I've been practically living this year:



It's really great that our small liberal arts college provides these spaces to senior art majors to collect and manage our work. It's been a huge help to me -- and my studio space is a great place to get work done, listen to music, and exchange ideas with my fellow senior majors.

We also had an opening at the Low Road Gallery this weekend. It was the last part of our Indiana Artists Series, and this one included work from Keira Norton, Adams Puryear, Ben Valentine, and Sarah Wilson. Ben is one of my best friends, and he moved to New York last fall. It was exciting to have his work included in the show, and since he couldn't make it, I was asked to speak a few words on his behalf. 

Here's one of his pieces -- an interactive, audience-participation piece.



And we had a beautiful sunset following the opening:



Although this weekend's forecast was for lots of storms, we ended up having the most beautiful weather we've had all year -- perfect for the Little 5 races yesterday! We soaked up a lot of sun while we watched our friends race at our private liberal arts college. But Little 5 weekend means more than bike races; it also means that Everyone is hanging out outside, leaving the homework til Sunday, and enjoying the day stress-free. 

What a great way to lead into this upcoming week! Now it's time to put the final touches on my work for the senior show on Thursday...
 

 I feel like it should feel more like Spring than it does... but sadly, I am wearing a cardigan, a jacket, and a vest today and I am still cold!!!
Sunday was such a beautiful day here at DePauw University... at least 70 degrees, but very windy! I was wearing shorts and sandals and loving it! Then Monday came, and it rained all day and was probably 40 degrees at most!  I wore shorts and sandals again... I really need to start checking the weather before going outside!!!
I'm pretty excited because tomorrow it is supposed to be in the upper 60s!! Can't wait! 

Right now I am at a movie that is presented by the Comptom Center for Peace and Justice.  They have a film series that is being played, and this is the fourth video that is being screened.  The movie is called "The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo."  It is so depressing, and it makes me want to do something to help these women who's bodies are considered nothing more than playgrounds in a time of war.  

Here at our Small Liberal Arts College, there are movies and events almost on a daily basis. Sometimes they will be required for class, but other times they are just really interesting topics! I'm attending this movie because for my anthropology class we need to attend an event and relate it to our class material. 
Thursday DePauw University willl be hosting Philip Auslander for his talk "Sound and Vision: the Audio-Visual Economy of Musical Performance."  It should be pretty interesting too!!

This weekend is the Little Five bike race, so hopefully I'll have some awesome pics to show after!!! 

While I stand by my previous statement that Depauw University times its breaks perfectly, I would like to add that I do not use the time on my breaks perfectly.  I came back to school having not done any writing for my seminar project, and, therefore, had to make up for my error this past week.  By the end of the week, I had about 13 pages of solid comedy writing and a few other pages of not so solid writing.  Not bad.  Unfortunately, I had to dedicate most of my week to working on it.  The comedy group did not meet at all, and I saw little of my friends.  Further complicating my week was that my computer got infected with a virus.  That's just what happens to old computers I guess.  The get sick easier and start falling apart.  I don't know a whole lot about computers, but if you're on the fence about what kind of computer to get for school, go with apple.  It'll make you're like easier, or at least senior year.

It's kind of sad, but that's really all I did this week - work on my seminar and go to play rehearsal.  That's just how weeks at college go sometimes.  I'd rather work a lot now, though, than at the end of the semester.  I know that's what I said about spring break, but it's easier to focus on my homework when I'm at school as opposed to when I'm at home.  

Also, the play is going really well.  My lines are memorized, and I've got my costume.  Coat tails and a white bow tie.  With the mustache I'm trying to grow, I'm gonna be one suave dude.  I hope to get some pictures of all this.  More details to some.  We open in a week and a half!

This week DePauw University students took to the challenge of "disconnecting" from their electronics devices and the internet for a day. I'm curious to know how many people actually disconnected, knowing how much digital natives are dependent on technology. At times, I get a little obsessed with tech-gadgets. This past Winter term, I spent at least eight hours a day buried behind my computer screen.

On the day of the challenge, Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia and Nicholas Carr, author of The Shallows came to campus to debate the pros and cons of technology and what the internet is doing to our brains. Most Computer Science students and Information Technology (ITAP) Associates had the opportunity to meet Jimmy Wales during a Q&A session held in the afternoon. I remember walking into the Julian auditorium and seeing Jimmy all "wired up" and ready to answer questions. Wikipedia says Jimmy Wales is a co-founder of Wikipedia. Curious to know who the other co-founders are, I asked Mr. Wales, and even though he indirectly answered my question, he seemed to suggest that he is the sole-founder of Wikipedia. As ironic as it may sound, I'm still a little skeptical about how reliable Wikipedia really is.

Before proceeding to watch the debate in the Kresge auditorium, we had dinner with Jimmy Wales at President Casey's house . President Casey occassionally invites students for dinner and other events at his house. Several professors also attended the dinner and I enjoyed the casual conversations that preceded the delicious meal at the President's house.

As argued by Nicholas Carr in The Shallows, do you think the existence of the online world is making it harder for people to engage with difficult texts and complex ideas?

 It is hard to believe that Spring Break 2011 has already come and gone...
I spent the week in the lovely sun of Cancun, Mexico! I was able to put my spanish speaking skills to use with all of the different workers at our resort, and I must say, it was a very relaxing and toasty break! 
Now I find myself back in Indiana, freezing once again! The 80+ degree weather in Cancun makes me hate this 40 degree whatnot that we have been feeling these last couple of days here at DePauw University! But, I guess it could be much, much worse!! 

This weekend, the Union Board here at our Small Liberal Arts College is bringing Mike Posner  for a sweeeeeet concert!! I am so excited.  Wale, Big Sean, and Kelley James are also going to be here as openers, and I cannot wait to see/hear the beats and jams!!!

Tickets have been on sale, and it's pretty awesome that the tickets are only 10$ for DePauw students! WAYYYYY cheaper than any other concert of this sort would be!!!  I cannot wait!! DePauw brings artists to campus each year.  Last year Jack's Mannequin, Asher Roth, and  Fabulous all came, and the year before that Third Eye Blind graced our Private liberal arts college!!


 

Here's a pic of Mike P and Big Sean! Together they sing one of my favorite songs =)
I can't wait to hear it this Saturday night in Kresge!!!

 

So in my last post, I said I wanted to work really hard on my thesis, send out a lot of resumes and cover letters, and get ahead on material for the comedy group.  While I did send out fifteen letters to various friends of the family regarding my impending graduation and job search, I did not work on my thesis or anything related to the sketch comedy group.  I did, however, finish writing a song for which I have been working on for like two or three years.  That is not to say that I have been slaving over it every day for the past few years, but rather that I wrote a few lines and just never found time to finish it, despite saying I would.  The song is a part of the EP I mentioned in my last post, something that also didn't go as planned.  Garage Band (Apple's music recording software) is great, but doesn't do well when recording multi-track songs.  If you don't have a sound board (which I don't), then a delay occurs on the additional tracks when you're using headphones.  Long story, my friend and I did not make the elaborate demo we wanted to make, but instead had to settle for single track recordings of the five songs we had.  I'm not too disappointed, but I was expecting a slightly better end result.  I guess it is just a demo, though...

Anyway, here are the lyrics of the song I wrote, proudly displayed for the first time ever to you.  Whether you are a DePauw University alum, current student, prospective student looking at liberal arts colleges, my mom, or just someone who likes to read student blogs, I hope you find something in these rather playful words.  In short, the song is about kids fighting off the snowmen they made which have become evil in the nighttime, but I'll just let the song speak for itself.

Snowman Invasion
By Gerard Pannekoek

Don your boots and your warmest winter clothes.
Keep the lights off.  Watch the windows.
Grab a sled, follow me into the night.
We made them wrong, now we've got to make it right.
The main fort's about a quarter mile from here.
Stay low!  The coast is never clear.
We're outnumbered 25 to 1.
Snowman invasion has begun!

If you go running back,
Be sure to cover all your tracks
Because the snowmen are trying
To catch you and force you to work
For their snowman king.

From the fort, we can see for mile around.
We've got the trees.  We've got the higher ground.
See the shifting silhouettes below? 
They're the snowmen we made just hours ago.
So find a stick and get behind your sled.
Nevermind all the stories we were read.
The snowmen want to steal our precious fun.
We're going to take out every one!

Chorus

And we'll fight
Under starlight.
Our hearts shine bright
On this snow night.

The watchman gives a signal from the trees.
All's clear on the front he oversees.
Sound the horn so that everybody knows
The time is ripe to down the dominoes.
Hold the line as we scamper down the hill.
Stand tall!  Embrace the winter chill.
Leave behind all your doubts it cant be done 
For we have the promise of the sun!

Chorus