Two long-time Men’s track professors team wins retire at the end ECT Great Lakes of the semester. Valley See Pages Conference. 4 and 5. See Page 7. CAMPUS EVENT Stand-up comedians provide U of I students with laughs song and another for its writing. Katy Hicks “Mr. Show” is a combination of com- Ooinion Editor edy from Cross and Odendirk. The show mixes live scenes and pre-taped video pieces combined with commentary from The Campus Program Board (CPB) Cross and Odendirk. Each show consists sponsored a night of comedy for students of controversial topics such as religion at the University of Indianapolis. Come- and timely political issues in the news. dian David Cross and special guest Eddie Ifft, the other comedian who visited Ifft performed April 20 at 8:OO p.m. in U of I, began with a political science the Schwitzer Student Center Dining degree from the University of Pittsburgh Hall. and later found his calling in show busi- “It is a roller coaster of laughter in ness. Ifft switched to comedy perfor- here,” said Ifft during his half-hour per- mance after an internship for a senator in formance in the dining hall. Washington, D.C. During this intern- Laughter went up and down while ship, he realized that politics was too both comedians, Cross and Ifft, per- serious for his laid-back nature. formed for the student body. “The reason I became a comedian “I liked Eddie Ifft because he kept my was because I got fired from every job I attention,” said junior elementary edu- ever did,” Ifft said. “I was a volunteer cation major Jenelle Carlini. “It seemed once, and I got fired. My dad fired me! like it [the show] dragged on with David This [comedy performance] is the only Cross, and there were too many dull job where I can’t get fired, because it’s points and [too much] dead air during his pretty hard to fire a guy who only works performance.” for an hour.” For Cross, comedy gradually began Ifft discovered his niche in comedy shaping his career and his life. Drawn to one night at a Pittsburgh comedy club, the spotlight and attention of comedy, he when he gave stand-up comedy a try. moved away from his prior goals. Soon after being in the spotlight, Ifft “I believe it was more of a natural moved to New York City to pursue a progression towards stand-up comedy,” career in comedy. His break eventually Cross said. came from writing for an off-broadway At the age of seven, Cross said he stand-up competition that was sponsored started doing stand-up comedy in At- by Caroline’s Comedy Club. lanta, Ga., at open-mic nights in random Since his big break into the comedy comedy clubs. He was discovered sev- scene, Ifft has performed on NBC’s Late eral years ago at the Montreal Comedy Friday Night and appeared in Jerry Film Festival by his current business Seinfeld’s documentary film “The partner, Bob Odendirk. Anatomy of a Joke.” Soon after being noticed by Odendirk, Ifft gave advice to those wanting to go Cross began a series of five shows at a into comedy: “Be funny! Most comedy place called the Diamond Club. After clubs have open-mic nights; start there. successful runs, three executives at HBO Worry more about being original and decided to offer Cross a set of four shows, true to yourself than being funny. That for a comedy entitled “Mr. Show.” [being funny] will come eventually.” Subsequently, Cross was granted a Ifft closed out his performance by set of six more episodes to create a sec- bringing attention to the U of I grey- on- 0.The series aired in hdptwtehn the CPB banner on the Photo by Kuthy Oshornr November 1996. stage. “It looks like your mascot has Finally in 1997, a third season of 10 been in a fire,” Ifft said. COMEDIAN VISITS U OF I-Campus Program Board sponsored an event that brought comedian IDavid more shows was added. That same year, This localized pun on the university’s Cross to the campus. Cross used to perform on HBO’s “Mr. Show” and has been on other network “Mr. Show” was nominated for two mascot brought a final wave of laughter programs throughout the years. Emmy Awards, one for best original throughout the dining hall. CAMPUS DIVERSITY Diversity Team develops presence within campus cornrnunitv J express a concern and not take us any- ‘Oh my gosh, we have a flag from Ire- But then we can’t say that because it’s a Gretchen Rush Jefferson said that everyone attending where .... So, what’s the point?“ land, a flag from Nigeria, a flag from social issue we can’t do anything about Editor-in-chief has a book and several articles to read After encountering this roadblock, Germany, a flag from Greece, and these before the training. it. That’s not right, either.” Israel worked with Bonnie Cameron, are my fellow students.’ ” No one attending the upcoming con- Last May, four members of the Diver- President Jerry Israel asked the Uni- assistant professor of teacher education. However, Israel recognizes that the ference knows what activities will take sity Team-Wesley Jones, associate pro- versity of Indianapolis to launch a “war to create a diversity team. University of Indianapolis is not exempt place, but Jefferson has asked people fessor of business; Kathy Simpher, key on racism” in his speech at the Opening Israel does not attend Diversity Team from worldly problems such as racial across campus to e-mail her stories about advisor for the School for Adult Learn- Convocation in September 2000. The meetings because he does not want to tension and discrimination. Israel said diversity at U of I to use at the training. ing; Jefferson and Cameron-attended a speech was titled “The American Di- interfere with discussion. “I see myselt‘ that he used to believe that racism would She said that the stories include issues workshop in Washington, D.C., that was lemma” arid challenged every person as a fairly accessible, non-intimidating be erased across America. “Now I know with gender, ethnicity and international run by the same diversity trainers that associated with the university to make a type of fellow,”Isracl said. “But 1realize I will go to my grave with that not done, background. will help this year. “commitment to do more.” Israel an- that other people don’t see Jerry Israel, and my children will go to their graves “I think it does speak to the fact that “It’s kind of interesting,” said nounced that he would appoint a Cam- they see the president of the university. with that not done,” Israel said. “We’re some people are having a difficult time Jefferson. “I always thought I talked pus Diversity Team to act as a “constant “I am trying hard not to be the puppe- not going to become perfect as human here,” Jefferson said. freely, and I have, but there hasn’t been reminder that the climate of race rela- a whole lot of risk involved [for me].” tions on this campus can, must and will Following the training last summer, improve.” the team developed and conducted a sur- Co-chairs Dr. Pat Jefferson and Paul vey during the facultyhtaff institute at Washington-Lacey, along with Israel, the beginning of the 2001-2002 school chose the team from over 60 people to year, because the president asked them create a balance of gender, as wcll as for an update on their progress. ethnic and international diversity among The team administered 150 surveys the team members. Jefferson and Wash- and 80 were returned. The survey exam- ington-Lacey lead the team in discus- ined whether people encountered insults sions and actions to improve racial ten- or faced fear due to their race, gender, sions on campus. sexual orientation, religion or ethnicity. “It‘s another cxample of Jerry walk- The survey also documented what ing the walk and talking the talk,” said people felt when these problems occured Dr. Everette Freeman, senior vice presi- and where they happened most frequently dent arid provost. He said that the Diver- on campus. sity Team is important because it shows “It isn’t the ‘thought police’ because that U of I is not reacting to the world, I think a university is a place where you but embracing it. “What we’re saying is should be able to have discussion that’s we understand how rich and diverse the teer here,” Israel said. “Because, first of beings, and therefore we’re in a continu- One problem the team faces is find- open and free,” Jefferson said. world is, and we want to be sensitive and all. I don’t know enough. It has to be :I ous process toward that. But knowing ing a time when everyone can meet, and “But I do think, for me, if I became responsive to the diversity of the world.” collaborative effort. that we probably won’t ever get there, Jefferson said they have yet to do so. aware of the fact that I had some behav- Freeman also said that Israel is open “One of the things that this effort is it‘s not the end point that matters, it’s the However, the team encountered more ior that was making a student in my class to the ideas ofthe Diversity Team and teaching us is about privilege.. ..Even process.” pressing issues after a year of develop- feel really uncomfortable, and someone other people on campus, and that he though I see myself as bcing open-minded Since its formation, the team has ini- ment-some felt the team members told me about it, I would try not to do it openly accepts their comments and criti- and tolerant, I’m a white male--a white tiated the observance of Dr.