UIndy News

Albright

Still in her first year at UIndy, Assistant Professor of Political Science Laura Albright served as an in-studio commentator for WXIN-Fox59 during last week’s State of the Union address.

Needless to say, the speech drew fire from political opponents, but Dr. Albright said President Obama’s intentions were clear: appealing to the middle class and linking his policies to the nation’s gradual economic recovery. You can watch a clip here.

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Gouard

The UIndy men’s basketball team is likely to retain its No. 1 national ranking this week after trouncing McKendree 87-56 on Thursday and Illinois Springfield 74-57 on Saturday. The Greyhounds are now 17-0 overall and 9-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

In a five-minute interview Sunday on Fox59’s Indy Sports Central, head coach Stan Gouard said the team is trying to focus on fundamentals, like solid defense, and not let the ranking distract them. Watch the interview here.

The Hounds face a tough road game Thursday night at Wisconsin-Parkside. Follow the latest team news here.

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The Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, longtime ensemble-in-residence at UIndy, was featured last week on American Public Media’s Performance Today, the nation’s most popular classical music radio program, with 1.4 million listeners on nearly 300 stations across the country.

The performance in question was Michel Blavet’s Flute Concerto in A minor, recorded in October in our very own Ruth Lilly Performance Hall, known far and wide for its superior acoustics and broadcast-quality recording system. The episode can be heard here.

Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra

WTHR reporter Jeremy Brilliant talks with UIndy student-athletes Tyler Walden and Connor Barthel about allegations of football tampering in the NFL. (WTHR image)

With the shocking news (ahem) that the New England Patriots might have cheated in last Sunday’s hideous rout of the Indianapolis Colts, journalists scrambled to bring some perspective to the issue. Naturally, they found it at the University of Indianapolis — and the nation is listening.

WTHR caught the Greyhound football team in weight training and persuaded junior quarterback Connor Barthel and freshman wide receiver Tyler Walden to participate in an experiment, tossing two footballs around in the Athletics & Recreation Center to see if they could tell which one was deflated, Pats-style, by 2 pounds per square inch. They could tell quite easily, the teammates agreed, and could see possible advantages.

To close the segment, head coach Bob Bartolomeo laid down some wisdom: “We play within the rules, and I think that’s real important, because you’re teaching integrity and doing things the right way for these kids.”

The Channel 13 story by reporter Jeremy Brilliant spread quickly across the Web and around the country, airing on stations in Michigan, Iowa, Maine, Texas and elsewhere. You can watch it here at NBCnews.com.

Evans

For an even heavier angle, WISH-TV turned to Dr. Jonathan Evans, associate professor and chair of UIndy’s Department of Philosophy & Religion.

Does cheating in professional sports have broader implications for society and for the human spirit? You bet, said Dr. Evans.

“This is an opportunity to reflect and to ask, ‘Am I willing to do something that disrespects other people in order to get what I want?'” he told reporter Howard Monroe. “That’s a tough question. That’s not just a Bill Belichik question. I think that’s an everybody question.”

Watch that report here, via WLFI in Lafayette.

UPDATE: UIndy men rout McKendree 87-56; WTHR highlights

Indianapolis Star
1070 The Fan ESPN Radio

The undefeated UIndy men’s basketball team is riding a No. 1 national ranking as it gears up to host Great Lakes Valley Conference opponents tonight and Saturday.

Lawson

The 15-0 Greyhounds rose from No. 3 to the very top of the latest NCAA Division II coaches poll after defeating Bellarmine and Southern Indiana last week. Senior forward/center Joe Lawson was named D-II Player of the Week for the second time this season.

The No. 1 ranking is only the second in the program’s history, and the first since a 1996-1997 team that opened the season with 18 straight wins.

Tonight, the Greyhounds face Illinois’ McKendree University, with the women’s game at 5:30 p.m. and the men’s game at 7:45 p.m. in Nicoson Hall. On Saturday, the Hounds host University of Illinois-Springfield, with the women’s game at 1 p.m. and the men’s game at 3:15 p.m.

Read more about the men’s matchups here and the women’s matchups here.

Pennell

Dr. Greta Pennell, associate professor of Teacher Education, will recount her week of research at Oxford University for the next UIndy Faculty Forum, taking place Wednesday.

Pennell was a Summer Research Institute Fellow at Oxford’s Harris Manchester College. Her talk, “More than Hogwarts and Humanities:  Reflections on the Harris Manchester College Summer Research Institute,” will begin at noon Wednesday in the Trustee’s Dining Room of Schwitzer Student Center.

“Imagine a week with almost unlimited access to one of the world’s most comprehensive library collections, interdisciplinary collaborative opportunities, inspiring conversations over gourmet meals with scholars from around the world, and time to walk and reflect in centuries-old gardens,” she says.

As always at the monthly Faculty Forum, refreshments will be served, and brown-bag lunches are welcome.

It was a good year for UIndy’s Music Education students at the recent Indiana Music Education Association/National Association for Music Education Conference in Fort Wayne

The UIndy Collegiate Chapter of the National Association for Music Education was selected to receive the 2015 Outstanding Collegiate Chapter of the Year Award for the state of Indiana. The criteria include the quality and extent of chapter activities, enrollment and growth, and student member participation.

Also, senior instrumental music ed major Daniel Dorsett and senior choral music ed major Daniel Watson were among just six Indiana college students to receive the 2015 Outstanding Future Music Educator of the Year Award. They were honored for their leadership and participation in chapter activities and community-based music education efforts.

Community leaders and news media came to the UIndy campus in force today to catch a public address by Troy Riggs, director of the Indianapolis Department of Public Safety. Looking back on 2014 and ahead to 2015, Riggs said the implementation of business principles and data-driven decision making — “being a little geeky” — is helping to put more police on the street and improve the effectiveness of all the city’s safety-related agencies.

“This is a fundamental shift in the way we do business,” he said, noting that the city is drawing national attention for its efforts.

Riggs also noted the challenges the city faces, including a disturbing homicide rate and a rise in heroin use. He called for a holistic approach in which police and city officials work together with churches, mental health agencies and community groups to tackle problems in key neighborhoods.

“We’ve got to do better,” he told the assembled audience in Schwitzer Student Center’s UIndy Hall.

With classes canceled Monday, hundreds of UIndy students spent the day taking part in activities marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day, including a bus tour throughout the city to hear speakers and visit sites related to the civil rights struggle.

Above, a UIndy group visits Martin Luther King Jr. Park, where Robert Kennedy delivered a historic speech the night of King’s assassination in 1968. Right, Sister Jane Marie Klein, who was present when King died at a Memphis hospital, speaks to students Monday night on campus.

UIndy is canceling classes and closing offices Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a change from the past practice of opening with an adjusted schedule and a special mid-day program to mark the occasion.

Despite having a three-day weekend, hundreds of students have signed up for a series of university activities arranged around the King legacy and the struggle for civil rights. If you’re into the social media thing, look for their photos and comments under the hashtag #MLKUIndy.

The day begins with a morning service trip to paint and clean at Indianapolis Parks & Recreation’s Indy Island facility. Buses will depart UIndy at 8:30 a.m. and return to campus by noon.

The university also is transporting students to the Madame Walker Theatre for a presentation by Sarah Collins Rudolph, a survivor of the infamous “Four Little Girls” church bombing in 1963. Her talk, “Journey to Freedom from Racism —Moving Forward While Looking Back,” begins at 10 a.m. Buses leave campus at 9:15 a.m. and return around 11:30 a.m.

Another option is a tour of civil rights-related sites around Indianapolis, followed by a catered dinner and discussion on campus. Participants will visit Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, tour the Crispus Attucks High School museum, watch the documentary “Ripples of Hope” and hear remarks from community leaders. The tour will begin at 1 p.m. and return to campus in time for the 5:30 p.m. dinner, which will feature music from UIndy’s Voices of Worship gospel choir and a talk from Sister Jane Marie Klein, who helped to administer last rites to King upon his assassination.

The day will end with a private screening of the acclaimed film “Selma” at the nearby AMC Southern Plaza multiplex. Buses leave at 7:30 p.m. and return around 11 p.m.

Dr. Stephanie Piper Kelly, dean of the College of Health Sciences, is the subject of this weekend’s “5 Questions” feature in The Indianapolis Star’s business section.

Kelly

In the interview, Dr. Kelly talks about her career path in physical therapy, which began with a UIndy degree, and the possibilities presented by the now-under-construction Health Pavilion, where the university’s programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, kinesiology, nursing, psychology, gerontology, athletic training and social work will move in together this summer.

“The best part of my job is having the opportunity to lead a tremendous group of faculty who are passionate about their teaching, research and students,” she says.

The story should appear in print Sunday, but you can read it online here.

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Barker

Thursday’s grudge match against the rival Bellarmine Knights of Louisville brought some media attention to the undefeated UIndy men’s basketball team. The Indy Star weighed in today with an update on the Greyhounds’ 14-0 season in the form of a feature story on scrappy, playmaking point guard Lucas Barker. The junior Sport Management major, who hails from Australia, helped lead the Hounds to a hard-fought 66-62 win over Bellarmine.

“Our plan from Day 1 was to get better every day and hopefully be alive in late March, playing for the national championship,” he tells sportswriter David Woods. Read the story here and see a short video interview with Barker here. The Star’s photo gallery from the game is here.

The UIndy women’s team had an easier time with Bellarmine on Thursday, winning 89-72 on scoring by Princess German (28 points), Nicole Anderson (25) and Kelly Walter (20). Read about that game here.

UIndy President Robert Manuel presents a game ball to auto dealer Ray Skillman during a special announcement at halftime of the men’s basketball game Thursday.

Auto dealer’s gift will buy new floor, lights and more for Greyhound basketball

The University of Indianapolis’ successful basketball teams – including an undefeated men’s squad currently ranked third in the nation – will have a renovated home next season, thanks to the generosity of a local businessman and philanthropist.

Ray Skillman Auto Group has pledged $500,000 to replace the basketball floor and install more effective and efficient LED lighting in UIndy’s 4,000-seat Nicoson Hall, home to the Greyhounds since 1960. Skillman himself joined university President Robert Manuel on Thursday to announce the gift at halftime of the men’s victory over rival Bellarmine University, which improved UIndy’s season record to 14-0.

The renovation work, which includes other improvements to the facility, will begin immediately after the current season and should be completed in time for 2015-2016 play. In recognition of the gift, the competition floor will be dubbed “Skillman Court,” with a dedication ceremony taking place this fall.

“Our student-athletes certainly have earned these upgrades with their performance on the court and in the classroom,” Manuel said. “It is quite fitting that this support comes from Ray Skillman, who shares the university’s commitment to the residents and the economic vitality of this part of the city.”

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