22 October 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. — J.R. Pico speaks three languages, has earned multiple advanced degrees, and teaches college-level Spanish at Indiana University Kokomo.

JR Pico with some of the local children. See more photos here.But he finds that because he is Hispanic, some people believe he must be an illegal immigrant who only speaks Spanish, and is illiterate.

As an educator, he sees it as his job to dispel some of those myths about Hispanic people and culture. He accomplishes this both through campus and community activities, and by leading humanitarian trips to his native Colombia. This month he is leading campus activities for Hispanic Heritage Month.

"This is a good way to educate our students and community about the Hispanic world, Hispanic values, and Hispanic culture," Pico said. "There are more than 500 million people in the world who speak Spanish, in many countries. We're unified by our language, but we have different values."

Pico's passion is for humanitarian service. He leads at least three trips each year, taking Americans to give donated school supplies, clothes, and other items to children in Cartagena, Colombia, through Fundacion Cartagena, a non-governmental agency. His trips are not sponsored by any university or college, so they are open to students and families nationwide.

Because Colombia is on a travel-warning list from the U.S. Department of State because of violence in certain areas, Pico said some potential travelers are nervous about going there, but "when they get there, they love every moment."

He's never had any travelers threatened or injured, he said, and they have a positive learning experience.

"For me, it is incredibly good to see students from Kokomo who have never been outside Indiana have this experience. They come back saying, 'I have seen the world from a different perspective, and this has been a life-changing trip,'" Pico said. "They've learned about another culture, another language. They learn the world is not just one way. That is my best motivation to continue leading these trips."

Nida Zia, an IU Kokomo graduate who is now in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program, said going on the trip made "a lifelong impact" on her.

"I was transcended to a very different culture, and it taught me about how we as human beings are so similar," Zia said. "The visit also made me realize how much I want to give back after furthering my education. I want to help and be able to communicate with the people in the village and the hospital we visited."

Zia has started learning Spanish since her trip to Colombia, and plans to go to medical school.

"It's my hope that after completing my education, I can go back and provide medical care to the many who lack access to any health care," she said.

Pico said his humanitarian focus is on children because, "I am an educator, and children are the future. If we educate the children, they will develop into good citizens."

The students volunteer at a cancer hospital for children and schools, providing coloring books, toys, clothes, and supplies they collect year round. The trip is not all work, however. They also visit museums, take cooking classes and dance lessons, and participate in water sports.

"The best of Colombia is its people," he said. "The children steal your hearts away. In our culture, we don't shake hands. We hug."

Seeing Colombia's rich heritage gives them a different perspective on Hispanic culture, he said.

"There are so many misconceptions about Hispanics, and you overcome those when you see it in real life."

Upcoming activities include a presentation about football soccer, the passion of the Hispanic world, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 23, in the Kelley Center; a talk about the DREAM Act and immigration in the United States by IU Kokomo alumnus Brandon Rush at 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 24.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

18 October 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. — Indiana University Kokomo's physical plant staff takes great pride in making sure the campus looks its best every day.

James Vincent helps prepare Admissions' display.They were happy to have many extra hands to help at the recent fall campus beautification and decoration day. Campus offices competed to see who could create the most beautiful, and most creative autumn displays.

"We're very happy everyone came out to help us keep the campus looking good," said Mark Baker, physical plant staff member. "We want to make it a welcoming environment for everybody to enjoy. We couldn't do this without you."

Interim Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke commended the physical plant staff, including Baker, Vivian Chase, Greg Shirley and Louis Wagner, for their work all year, and thanked volunteers for helping out for the beautification day.

"All of us are very proud of our campus, and we want to show it off even more," she said.

At the east entrance to the Kelley Student Center, James Vincent, assistant director of student financial aid; and Becky Leffler, financial aid counselor, set up a picture board, painted with pumpkins, for students, faculty and staff to pose for pictures as the "prettiest pumpkins," "sharpest pumpkins," or "scariest pumpkins" on campus.

Volunteers from the Office of Admissions and the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid created the display.

Vincent said planning the display was a fun way for him to get to know people on campus, since he is a new employee.

"This has been a fun way for me to meet people," he said. "I'm glad to be able to do something to decorate for fall."

Their efforts garnered second place for their departments. Human resources took first place. The chancellor's office placed third.

"If you want to motivate the campus to build on their excitement for the future of IU Kokomo, we ourselves have to be engaged," said Dana Larison, payroll specialist in human resources. "We had such fun, and made terrific memories together."

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

18 October 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. — Indiana University Kokomo students already know their fine arts and new media faculty do excellent work in the classroom.

Starting Wednesday, October 24, students and the community can see what five of them do creatively outside the classroom, with the opening of the New Media and Fine Art Faculty Exhibition.

The exhibit includes prints by Minda Douglas, assistant professor of fine arts; sculpture and video work by Gregory Steel, assistant professor of fine arts; graphic design pieces by Erik Austin Deerly, assistant professor of new media communications; jewelry by Susan Skoczen, lecturer in fine arts; and ceramics by Walter C. Brown III, adjunct faculty in fine arts.

Skoczen, who is also art gallery director, said the exhibit showcases the diversity of interests in the fine arts faculty.

"There are traditional ways of working, such as printmaking and ceramics, that date back to many thousands of years, but are contemporary in design.  Then there are digital pieces that reflect contemporary ways of creating art and show what it means to be in the new media program at IU Kokomo."

The exhibit opens with a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. October 24 in the Art Gallery, 2300 S. Washington St. The exhibition continues through December 6. The Art Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sunday, Monday and Friday. Free parking is available on campus.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

17 October 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. — When Cathy Archer began work on her degree in general studies at Indiana University Kokomo, she bought two ornate diploma frames and hung them in her office, as a reminder of her goal to earn an associate degree, and then a bachelor's degree.

Cathy ArcherMonday, October 15, she realized her dream, receiving her bachelor's degree. Friends, family, and campus leaders in full academic regalia packed the small dining room for the ceremony at Fairmount Rehabilitation Center, where she was being cared for in the final days of her battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Hours later, Archer died, leading friends to believe she was just holding on to fill her empty diploma frame, after five years of hard work and study.

Archer, 56, who also was an administrative secretary in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, expected to complete her degree in August. However, in late spring she began experiencing short-term memory loss and dizziness. Doctors initially suspected she'd had a stroke, but as her health continued to decline, they continued testing. In late summer, she was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare, degenerative, fatal brain disease. It affects about one in one million people worldwide, with about 200 cases per year in the United States.

Monday, she attended the ceremony in a cap and gown, seated in a wheelchair with her husband, Chester "Archie" Archer Jr., by her side, holding her hand. He occasionally leaned in close to whisper comments to her.

"I appreciate everyone at IU Kokomo doing this for her," he said. "It's overwhelming."

Sciame-Giesecke reminded those attending that Monday's degree conferral was a joyous and long-awaited day for their friend.

"I am going to be positive and upbeat. This is a day of celebration for Cathy. She has been working on this degree for a long time," she said.

She recounted Archer's many accomplishments, both on campus and in the community. She had received the 2004 Virgil Hunt award for service, and also was the outstanding general studies student in 2010, when she earned her associate degree. She was president of the staff council, coordinator of the annual craft show, was a member of Altrusa, and participated in Relay for Life.

"Only Cathy Archer, with all her energy and drive, could have accomplished so much while working two jobs and volunteering extensively in the community," Sciame-Giesecke said.

She also noted that Archer's degree is the first from the new School of Sciences.

Friends and family shared stories about Archer, talking about her "Cathy-isms," where she made familiar phrases into her own funny jokes, her enjoyment of her music classes, her caring for others by offering treats and snacks, and her enthusiasm for her classes.

JL Murdoch said Archer was in the first class she taught at IU Kokomo, an oral interpretation class. She remembered that students were doing dramatic readings and could bring pieces of costumes to suggest a character, but were not required to be in full costume.

"Cathy came to class dressed head to toe as a nun," she said. "That is how committed she was to doing her best in class. This degree conferral is a wonderful thing for her."

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.