OPINiON

We’ve. got a reply to last
week‘s “Horror" story.
Page 2

AEE

The Auto Show is in town 8:
we’ve got an exclusive scoop!
Page 6

SPORTS

Women's basketball is
back!
Page 7

Student newspaper of the Illinois Institute of Technology since 1928

TUESDAY,
FEBRUARY 11.
2014

""‘ottin-‘c 1 :78 l issue 3

technewsiit.com

OPINION 2
CAMPUS 3
AETE 5
SLIPSTICK 6
SPORTS I

 

ASB fundraising efforts in full swing

Utsav Gandhi
CAMPUS EDITOR

Amid the gloom of the snow and the
frigid temperatures of Chiberia, it might be a
little difficult to envision spring break at this
point—but surprise, surprise —it’s just a little
bit over a month away! And while many stu—
dents are thinking of going home, maybe even
some place a little warm, IIT’s long-standing,
flagship service learning experience, Alterna-
tive Spring Break is in the midst of one of the
most prolific fundraising campaigns in recent
years.

This year, a group of 26 students and
four staff members will be traveling to Pendle-
ton County, West Virginia to one of the most
under-developed regions in the Appalachian
Mountains to spend a week volunteering at
a Habitat for Humanity site. The team is get-
ting excited to see this alternate perspective on
poverty and social justice, participating in an
outreach into the community, interacting with
the homeowners, understanding the model
of , sustainable human development, making
friends with other Collegiate Challenge'volun-
teer groups—besides some free time exploring

the natural beauty of the surrounding moun-
tain areas.

To make this trip on as low of a per-
sonal financial contribution as possible, as well
as to facilitate some team bonding before the
trip, the team is traditionally involved in fun-
draising efforts, which are in the midst of the
busiest few weeks leading up to the trip. Over
winter break, the team undertook a letter-
writing campaign to friends and family asking
for donations during the holiday season, and
the team is looking to follow up with a corpo-
rate/alumni outreach effort for the same. This
semester, the team has put together a range
of traditional and new fundraisers, including
Penny Wars among the residential halls in
MSV and Rocky’s Tip Matching Night, both
of which saw enthusiastic participation from
students. Another successful event was “Don’t
Forget the Lyrics” Karaoke Night in The Bog
this past week, with some great raffle prizes
and enthusiastic participants in the audience.
It really is much more difficult to know the
exact lyrics to all your favorite songs than you
would imagine.

before the team makes final logistical prepa-

rations for the trip are the traditional Singing
Valentines (in partnership with IIT A cappel-
la) and Pie in the Face, happening in the next
two weeks. Singing Valentines gives all IIT
students, faculty, and staff the opporttmity to
request a song serenade devoted solely to their
friends, family and loved ones. We’re partner-
ing up with IIT A cappella to make this hap-
pen.

Each song will be $3. To purchase
a song, ASB Volunteers will be on the bridge
February 10, 2014 through February 14, from
11 am. to 2 pm. The song list is L.O.V.E. by
Nat King Cole; Can you Feel the Love Tonight
by Elton Iohn; All You Need is Love by the
Beatles and (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With
You by Elvis Presley. A cappella will call them
(anywhere in the US or Canada) or leave a
voicemail. You can even submit an anonymous
request!

Finally, one of the last big fundrais-
ers before the trip will be Pie in the Face. A
great way to relieve stress, the event invites you
to throw pies in someone’s face! From 11 am.

       

2 pm. on the MTCC Bridge on February 25,
'I‘Wo'rnore fundraisers Tammany-#26 - "l - . . « ' is.

2 for $5 and pie friends, administrators, pro-

fessors or anyone on the IIT campus you can
think of. In previous years, we had stalwarts
such as Betsi-Pinkus Huizenga (Director of
Residence and Greek Life) and Gerry Doyle,
Vice Provost for Student Access, Success and
Diversity Initiatives.

If you would like to get involved
with Alternative Spring Break this academic
year, but missed out on team recruitment, we
are partnering up for the first time with the
Oflice of Service Learning and an external
organization called Architecture for Human—
ity, to provide an exclusive opportunity for a
similar project right here in Chicago. The proj-
ect, similar to the traditional spring build, will
run for three days, the March 19 to 21, during
business hours at the Architecture for Human-
ity site. For those looking to apply for future
Alternative Spring Break trips this is a fantastic
opportunity to get some preliminary exposure.

We are looking for volunteers from
all fields of study, class years, levels of experi-
ence and even previous volunteer/construc-
tion involvement. Please stay tuned for more
details, because sign-up spots are limited.
Email asbiiitetgmailicom‘, gandhi@hawk.iit.
edu or lmeyer2@iit.edu for more details.

Sharing Table promotes conversation with instructors

Shireen Gul
COPY EDITOR

Once again, lIT’s Student Center for
Diversity and Inclusion (SCDI) organized
their amazing event known as the Sharing
Table. The Sharing Table is held on the first
Thursday of every month during the academic
term. It is a special program to help foster
personal interaction between undergraduates,
graduate students, and faculty. You can
engage yourself in spirited conversation about
hobbies, culture. sports, or current events
while dining at The Commons. A small group
of students are given the chance to learn a
great deal about their instructors in this type
of social setting.

Improving students’ relationships
with instructors has important, positive,
and long-lasting implications for students’
academic and social development. If a student
feels a personal connection to a teacher,
experiences frequent communication with
a teacher. and receives more guidance. then
the student is likely to become more trustful
of that teacher and show more engagement in
the academic content presented.

This month's Sharing Table served
as a preview to the main event happening this
upcoming Thursday: A Historical Glimpse
of the Negro Baseball League which will take
place in Galvin Library’s Cherry Room at
12:50 pm. to 1:45 pm.

David Shiner, Professor of
Humanities and the History of Ideas at Shimer
College will present a historical overview of
this great time period. It will also consist of
captivating memorabilia.

This program can be a good
platform for all of us to understand and to
get to know each other.

“I have rescheduled a few of my
appointments so I can come and join you
all here,” Professor Ray Trygstad, of the

Information Technology and Management
Department said. “I am really enjoying the
experience because I am getting to meet
students out of my discipline.”

You may have already marked your
calendar for the coming luncheon which will
be held on March 6 at The Commons. Don’t
forget we also have personal invitations that
you can give to your instructors.

You can get them by sending
an e-mail to scdi@iit.edu. Last but not the
least, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter
and lnstagram @iitdiversity and like us on
Facebook SCDI IIT,

Hope to see you all there with your
shining faces and beautiful smiles!

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

Photos by Shireen Gul