Winter 2010 The Magazine of the UIndyUniversity of Indianapolis Portico IN THIS ISSUE KEEPING UP WITH GROWTH The renovation and addition to Schwitzer Student Center (glimpsed at left) and the new East Hall come just in time as UIndy reaches the 5,000-student mark. Page 6 ‘WAIT! THERE’S A PULSE’ As the University’s School of Nursing celebrates its golden anniversary, a student offers a day-in-the-life view of clinicals. Page 18 LEARNING TO WRITE COMEDY A former Reflector editor leaves journalism to study at Chicago’s famed Second City. Page 20 WWW.UINDY.EDU 1 UIndyPortico Table of Contents 4 6 9 16 President’s forum Keeping up High-tech answers ‘Military Friendly’ The Lilly Endowment with growth to ancient questions tag acknowledges awards another major The debut of a deluxe resi- The Anthropology support for vets vote of confidence in the dence hall and the student Department’s new G.I. Jobs has recognized the important work of UIndy’s center addition come just microscope—only the University as being in the Center of Excellence in in time for a milestone: second of its kind in the top 15 percent of education Leadership of Learning. enrollment has reached the nation—will provide insight institutions providing University’s target of 5,000. into our ancient ancestors. support of military veterans. 5 ‘Transforming 8 15 18 education’ is goal of Scholarly pursuits Lilly Scholars Wait! There’s a pulse $7.5-M CELL grant Faculty, staff, and students Network focuses The School of Nursing, The grant will make it keep making contributions on giving back celebrating its 50th possible for the center to in every discipline, as these Student recipients of Lilly anniversary, invited Ashley continue to develop high examples show. And the Endowment Community Patterson ’10 to share a school reform networks and Ben half of Ben and Jerry Scholarships form a new day-in-the-life view of life in efforts to improve middle visits to speak about social organization with a goal clinicals—which can be life- school education. responsibility, the theme of of giving back by serving changing for all involved. the University Series. the community. On the Cover The Schwitzer Student Center has grown into a vibrant, bustling, cosmopolitan center of activity on campus. Pages 6 and 7. 2 PORTICO WINTER 2010 Welcome, Ace 2009–2010 Thanks to a gift from Orvall Alumni Association Board of Directors McCleary ’49, Homecoming Day on October 24 included Amber Harrison Stearns ’95, the dedication of a six-foot- President Brian Martin ’88, long statue of a greyhound, Immediate Past President the University mascot. The Marvin Pavlov ’98, President-Elect greyhound, named “Ace” Cindy Lewis ’99 ’05, Secretary by students, rests inside Stephen Arthur ’76 the southeast vestibule of Ron Bolyard ’70 Schwitzer Student Center, Chad Brandenburg ’98 where it will welcome Amy Burton ’94 alumni and other visitors to Roberta Brooker ’74 campus for years to come Cameron Causey ’02 while serving as a source of Gretchen Craft Fox ’93 pride for the faculty, staff, Suzanne Davidson ’02 ’06 and students who pass by. Thomas Flanagan ’95 Bill Hartung ’81 Jeff Irvin ’65 Philip Jackson ’94 Nick LaGuire ’04 Clance LaTurner ’01 Bruce Miller ’74 Kelly McWilliams ’91 Juan Paz ’95 ’96 ’99 Anita Samuel ’98 Joe Stafford ’98 20 28 Portico Shane Steimel ’95 ’97 Learning to write Sports update The magazine of the Eric Stone ’02 University of Indianapolis comedy at Chicago’s Women’s basketball ranked Mary Massing Sturm ’84 ’90 famed Second City #4 in a preseason poll, and R. Peter Noot ’77 ’84 Kelly Thompson ’02 Katy Yeiser ’07 invented the volleyball team was 35-1 University Editor one Charles Finkleman, at press time. For the latest who then graciously agreed UIndy sports news, visit Jeannine Allen Nondiscriminatory to interview her about her athletics.uindy.edu. Art Director Policies experience so far. Jennifer L. Huber ’07 The University of Indianapolis 32 Assistant Director does not discriminate on the basis for Publications 24 Alumni events of race, color, gender, age, religion, The path to job Special events in the Monica M. Woods creed, sexual orientation, marital success offing include an Alumni Director of Alumni Relations status, or ethnic or national origin Three alumni have found Association trip to Dubai. in any of its program offerings their niche at the Indiana Don’t miss a thing! Visit Myla Edmond Department of Workforce http://alumni.uindy.edu. Assistant Director or employment practices. The Development. of Alumni Relations University is committed to the spirit and letter of the Rehabilitation 38 Jenny Pettit 26 Class notes Kathryn Reinhardt ’11 Act of 1973 and the Americans C’est la vie The University mourns Class Notes with Disabilities Act and strives to the passing of longtime provide equal access to all phases of Julia Cook ’08, an elemen- Mary Atteberry ’07 Alberta Miller tary education major, found professor , Scott Hall University life and activity. a teaching job last year—in wife of the late vice Valerie Miller Wahlstrom ’07 Paris, France. She liked it, president Leo Miller, Contributing Writers and voilà! found herself and Virgil Webster ’54 Please address correspondence back for more this year. (remembered on page 37). and address changes to the Office of Alumni Relations. WWW.UINDY.EDU 3 President’s Forum Making the grade Transforming education in Indiana Since its founding in 2001 through a generous grant from Lilly Endowment, UIndy’s Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning has been a key driver of school transformation in Indiana. In just eight years, CELL has established itself as an effective partner with schools, universities, governmental agencies, educational organizations, and policy makers at every level and has fostered collaboration among them. As a result of this unique leadership role, the Endowment just awarded the University a new $7.5-million grant (story, opposite) to enable CELL to build on its success and expand the support it provides to school communities across the state. Thanks to CELL, Indiana school officials and community leaders have begun to implement leading- edge high school improvement models, link educational transformation to economic development, and explore strategies that can sustain reform. CELL is well established regionally and is even gaining national recognition for some of its work. With this new funding, CELL will be able to develop its high school reform networks further and begin focusing statewide attention on the critically important middle school years. We are grateful to the Endowment for its continued confidence in the University and in CELL, and promise in return more great work ahead. Beverley Pitts, President 4 PORTICO WINTER 2010 Lilly Endowment’s CELL grant of $7.5 million enables middle school initiative, bolsters high school efforts UIndy’s Center of Excellence in Leadership of performing schools so that their successful practices can Learning is expanding its efforts to transform Indiana be replicated elsewhere. CELL’s goal is for the majority schools, thanks to a $7.5-million grant from Lilly of Indiana middle schools to be participating in a Endowment Inc. statewide Middle School Network within four years, and for 10 Hoosier schools each year to meet The funding will allow CELL—which Gov. Mitch the criteria for Schools to Watch recognition. Daniels has called “an organization of critical importance to the state and its citizens”—to launch “The middle grades are a crucial transition in a child’s several new initiatives while continuing to lead life and education, so it’s time to focus more resources in successful networks of schools that are implementing that area, as we have with high schools,” Dresslar said. the innovative New Tech and Early College high The funding also will support new efforts to enlist school models. business leaders in regional strategic planning “Communities throughout the state are increasingly for Indiana schools, establish new networks of coming together with the goal of making their schools international schools and alternative schools, more effective,” CELL Executive Director David expand professional development for teachers and Dresslar said. principals, and enhance graduate programs in the UIndy School of Education, such as the iLead princi- “With this renewed support from Lilly Endowment, we pal preparation program. can continue our support of those efforts while seeking new approaches to transforming education in Indiana.” Another portion of the funding will help CELL sustain its work into the future, with the addition of One new initiative, aimed at middle schools, will development staff and the establishment of a $1-million leverage the national Schools to Watch recognition endowment to generate matching funds for further program, which identifies and supports high- external support. “I have had the opportunity to work with CELL and have experienced firsthand its strides to transform education across Indiana. CELL has been a valuable partner in statewide efforts to improve education, promote innovation, and further develop Indiana as an economic leader through high-quality educational systems.” —Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels CELL C ENTER OF E X CELLENCE IN L EADERSHIP OF L EARNING WWW.UINDY.EDU 5 Keeping up with growth If you haven’t been to campus lately, you haven’t been to campus. That observation has often been the case in recent years. Yet the University’s remarkable growth in people and programs is apparent this year more than ever, and facilities have grown to keep pace. Enrollment (graduate and undergraduate), which has more than doubled since 1990, reached the 5,000 mark this fall, a target established in UIndy’s strategic plan. Eighty percent of freshmen now live on campus, whereas at one time most commuted. This fall saw the opening of the new East Hall, a gracious lodge-meets- contemporary-style res- idence hall with 160 single-occupant rooms.