October 16, 2013

Ten minutes before the annual Mister and Miss Gay ISU Pageant, students were greeted by their host Beuleh Bak-dat-azz-upp, portrayed by Charles Martinez.

His jokes and stories were designed to loosen the crowd that attended the drag show in the Tilson Auditorium Saturday.

Spectrum Public Relations Director Allen Zielinski said the show is the group’s contribution to ISU’s Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transexual and Questioning community.

Spectrum, an ISU student organization, strives to raise awareness and host events geared toward alternative lifestyles, he said.Sodexo and ISU Student Health Promotion also sponsored the event.

“� is year we worked hard to have the competitors only be ISU students so that we could properly represent the school, very similar to ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’” Zielinski said. “� ey have a queen every season and they kind of became the top dog and they represent LGBTQ organizations.”

Zielinski said the Terre Haute community donated � owers to show support.

As the show began, four contestants, Jerry Curl, Nikki Saint Queer, Anita Greencard and Ande Rogenous, were introduced to

Indiana State University Honors Program leaders are working to improve the honor students’ experiences on campus.

“� e size of the student body in our program has grown,” University Honors Program Executive Director Greg Bierly said. “We have more than 300 students.”

As a result, Bierly said he saw a need for change in the policies “that have been renewed and stayed the same since the fall of 2009.”

“� e seniors who were freshmen at [that] time just graduated during the 2013 year,” he said, so the time was right to implement new policies.

� ose changes o� er new opportunities to enhance the honors community, Bierly said, and new policies focus more on meeting the standards of honors classes. New policies also provide for a greater number of peer advisors for freshmen honor students.

Bierly said an important part of the Honors Program is keeping students connected. Student advisors are key in helping younger students track of their academic progress.

Cecilia Van Wijk, a sophomore honors advisor, applied last winter to be a part of the Big Help for incoming freshmen.

“As an honors advisor, I am one of the � rst people that incoming freshmen come in contact

with because I email all my honors students during the summer,” Van Wijk said. “It’s a good way to get connected and better acquainted with the students.

In addition to the student advisors, the Honors Program uses MySam to monitor students’ progress in classes. It highlights students’ improvement and also assists advisors in scheduling students’ classes.

Bierly has also introduced into the program more opportunities for socializing.

During an Honors Welcome Session at the beginning of the school year, Bierly introduced

Pageant is a real dragMen and women channel the opposite sex and bend gender roles

in Indiana State University’s annual Mister and Miss Gay ISU pageant

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Wednesday October 16, 2013

Indiana State Universitywww.indianastatesman.com

Volume 121 Issue 23

Honors program changes policies to meet growth

Dying trends: Is the digital age killing books and radio?

Happy in Hollywood: An ISU alumna gets her shot on a hit television show

On the street: How does America’s treatment of the homeless stack up?

PAGE 8

PAGE 6

NKENGIE HUMPHRIES Reporter

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

INSIDE THIS

ISSUE

Nick Penington, as his alter ego Nikki Saint Queer, serenades the crowd at the Mister and Miss Gay ISU Pageant. Penington, a junior social work major, was crowned Miss Gay ISU while Tabitha Barham, a sophomore predentistry major, won the Mister Gay ISU title (Photo by Corine Johnson).

DIJONNAE MORGAN Reporter

PAGE 7

the honors professors to the students in the program and helped students better understand what was expected of them in the program. Student advisors also attended the event and led icebreaker events to help incoming students get to know one another better.

Sophomore Ashley Borhart, vice president of the Honors Council, said she was confused in her freshman year about the program’s expectations and about what she should expect from it.

“After a few group sessions with my advisors, I grew more comfortable with the program and my progress as a student,” Borhart said.

As vice president, she now plans and organizes the large events for honor students and faculty, she said.

One event she organized included the Honors Council presence at Tent City during homecoming, where the group served root beer floats to the ISU students, alumni and fans.

By hosting these sorts of events, she said her intent is to get more students involved with the Honors Council and to build community.

“There is a huge diversity of students in the Honors Program and along with the diversity in students, we are involved with activities on and off campus,” Borhart said.

NEWS� �Wednesday,�October�16,�2013�•�Page�2

CoNtiNuEd from PAGE 1

News�Editor,�Tamera�Rhodes�[email protected]

Makenna Graham, a freshman accounting major, is one of the students contributing to the University Honors Program’s high enrollment this year (Photo by Kira Clouse).

Repairs to close Federal Hall entrances on rotating basis

Beginning this week, the east doors of Federal Hall, will be closed for repairs throughout the day.

The northeast doors (facing Cherry Street) were closed Tuesday and the northwest doors will be closed today.

All repairs will begin at 8 a.m. and last for most of the day.

Hoosier Glass is beginning the

dismantling of the decorator panels for repair and cleaning. They will be obtaining field measurements and installing some temporary materials to cover the affected areas until the new panels are ready for installation.

The south entry will be accessible throughout the process.

Briefs

The Department of Public will conduct a drill shelter in place drill in Tirey Hall some time this week.

During the drill, occupants of Tirey Hall will be asked to secure themselves in offices and other areas of the building until the “all clear” is given. This drill will directly affect the

College of Graduate Studies, Office of Financial Aid and the Center for Community Engagement. In an effort to make the drill as realistic as possible the exact date and time of the drill will not be publicized until it actually occurs.

Shelter in place drill set for this week in Tirey Hall

Student Employment Programs has begun issuing violations to students working more than 20 hours per week without permission and those working more than 28 hours per week.

Per the Student Employment Program’s Hours Guidelines, students cannot work more than 20 hours without permission from Student Employment Programs and if granted permission cannot work more than 28 hours per week.

The Student Employment Programs

Hours Guidelines are available at: http://www.indstate.edu/carcen/student-employment/formsGuides/HoursGuide.pdf

Students in constant violation of the guidelines will be terminated from their student position. All supervisors and timekeepers are encouraged to read the full policy.

Anyone with questions may contact Tradara McLaurine at [email protected] or 237-2584.

New violations on student hours

www.indianastatesman.com� �Wednesday,�October�16,�2013�•�Page�3

A new report by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education highlights the significance of four straight years of enrollment growth at Indiana State University.

“While enrollment has declined recently at many colleges in Indiana and across the country, Indiana State has seen consistent increases, especially in undergraduate enrollment,” said Molly Chamberlin, associate commissioner for information and research. “This is due, at least in part, to a variety of initiatives being undertaken by ISU to attract more freshmen and to ensure that these students persist to earn degrees.”

Freshmen enrollment at Indiana State has shot up by 45 percent since 2009 and total enrollment of 12,448 reflects an increase of more than 1,900 students during the past four years. Statewide enrollment at four-year public universities has declined by more than 3,700 students during that same time period and stands at 161,007.

“The terrific recruiting and retention efforts by faculty and staff are allowing us to stand out among our peers,” President Daniel J. Bradley said.

A number of new initiatives are responsible for Indiana State’s growth, particularly when it comes to freshmen, said John Beacon, vice president for enrollment management, marketing and communications.

“None of these initiatives would be possible without a group of committed, smart and creative people behind them,” Beacon said.

Those initiatives included an expanded prospect pool, an overhaul of merit scholarships, earlier notice of financial aid packages to admitted students, an enhanced

web presence, greater use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter and creation of a calling center to stay in contact with prospective and admitted students.

“We also have focused special attention on encouraging families to visit campus as part of the decision process,” Beacon said. “Once prospective students and their parents see how attractive this campus has become and they have a chance to sample the Indiana State experience, they realize how much Indiana State has to offer.”

Other new enrollment initiatives include a revised, mandatory new student orientation program, a reorganized fall move-in and welcome program, greater focus on the university’s strongest feeder schools around Indiana, ventures into tertiary markets in surrounding states and the targeting of specific countries to grow international enrollment. Indiana State has also built its

honors program into the largest in history.

Graduate student enrollment is also up at Indiana State. Beacon attributes a 7 percent jump in the number of students seeking master’s, doctoral and other advanced degrees to new programs in health care designed to address a shortage of providers, especially in rural areas, and an expanded professional

MBA program.A new “Pathways to Retention and Student

Success” enrollment management plan is also paying off, Beacon noted. The freshman-to-sophomore retention rate is up 3 percent this year, and this fall’s launch of University College and its “intrusive advising” (in which advisors work more closely with first-year students) is expected to result in continued improvement.

While it is still early, Beacon said all indications are that 2014 will mark continued progress en route to Indiana State’s goal of having 14,000 students enrolled by 2017.

Enrollment and retention rates continue to climb for Sycamores

Dave TaylorISU Communications and Marketing

“While enrollment has declined recently at

many colleges ... Indiana State has seen consistent

increases, especially in undergraduate

enrollment.”

Molly Chamberlin,associate commissioner for information and research

Page 4 • Wednesday, October 16, 2013 www.indianastatesman.com

Indiana State helps middle school students make cents Otter Creek Middle School teacher

Kristen Eberly coached her students for a financial literacy event by embracing her unique perspective.

Not only had Eberly volunteered to help the kids budget during the previous year’s event when she was still a student at Indiana State University, but the Terre Haute native had gone through the same event years earlier — when she was in eighth-grade.

Eberly was one of the many Vigo County School Corp. teachers who took their eighth graders to the annual Let’$ Get Real financial literacy event at Woodrow Wilson Middle School. Indiana State students, staff and faculty members volunteered in the workshop that provides students a glimpse of a hypothetical adulthood and lets them plan for budgeting of their monthly bills based on income.

“I know that learning at a young age is going to be helpful for them,” said Eberly, who holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education from Indiana State. “Even as eighth -graders, they’re already learning money. As high school students,

they’re going to start paying some of their bills, so this is a really good exercise, especially with eighth-graders, to start really learning how important it is to be on top of their money.”

Students started the event with a budget worksheet that includes a career, the level of education required for the position and the position’s monthly salary. They also have a family status, including if each person is single or married and the number of children that they have. The family size has an impact on a variety of costs, including housing, health insurance and household needs.

“I think it really stressed the importance of education,” said Casey Jonas, an event volunteer and Indiana State student from Merrillville who is pursuing her master’s in clinical mental health counseling. “It says if they went to high school or college, and you can definitely see the salary differences.”

The Woodrow Wilson gymnasium had tables stationed for the 18 categories that students fill out on the worksheet. They started with the biggest necessary costs — taxes, of course, and housing — while

taking out five percent of their salaries for savings.

Kaitlyn Hankins, an eighth-grader at Otter Creek Middle School, was surprised “about how much taxes cost, really, because I’ve never noticed that,” she said. She also learned about the costs of child care and other monthly necessities.

“I think it’s a good idea, because you have a lot of fun doing it,” Hankins said of participating in Let’$ Get Real, “and you learn in the process.”

Indiana State volunteers worked at a variety of tables for the event. At Jonas’ table, students spun a wheel to determine their fortune — ranging from paying for a doctor’s visit to unexpectedly receiving money. Several times, students who had to pay an unanticipated bill lacked the necessary funds, which required them to head to the financial counseling table to rework their budgets.

“They’re simple things that could happen every day, like your car breaks down, stuff like that,” Jonas said. “Some of the students didn’t know how to balance a checkbook. So I think this was a really

good opportunity for them. We never had this at my school.”

Indiana State junior Haley Shawhan helped students budget for entertainment.

They had options ranging from budgeting for video rentals to allotting funds for concert tickets.

“I was actually surprised by how well students budgeted,” said Shawhan, an elementary and special education double major from Dale.

“Some knew they only had a few dollars and they didn’t want to go into debt, even though they wanted to have fun,” she said

The students finished the activity with donating to any of a series of local non-profits.

One of the most popular was the Terre Haute Humane Society, which helps save cats, dogs and other animals while helping find them a loving “forever” home.

“What you give to the community goes back to you,” said Peggy Murdock, interim president of Junior Achievement of the Wabash Valley, which helped organize Let’$ Get Real. “It’s important to instill that in students at a young age.”

Indiana State University Communications and Marketing Staff

Fresh take on religion offered at lunch and lecture series The ISU campus community is invited to

learn today about religion and spirituality through a fresh perspective.

Indiana State University’s Campus and Community Lunch series has been around for 30 years and features discussions about religion during hour-long sessions. It provides opportunities for students to listen and understand other’s views of religion

The Rev. Jack Diel created this series for the community, and the next event takes place from 12 to 1 p.m. today at 321 N. Seventh St.

It features Haider Al-Mansury, a master’s degree student in linguistics.

Speakers are chosen by a committee of volunteers.

The lunch-hour discussion is also designed as an alternative for those who may not go to church, or don’t have the opportunity to do so because of their studies.

Michael Shepard Jr., a freshman history and political science major, said he hasn’t been to church since school has started.

He said it’s not that he doesn’t want to go to church, but he is so heavily involved in his academics and campus life that is hard for him to find time to attend.

Shepard said he had never heard of

events such as this, but he would like to attend one of the sessions in the series to see what it’s like.

He said in college it is good to try different things and learn about things such as religion in different ways.

Shepard said many people are confused as to what to believe in, but by attending the series they may learn about other religions.

Kendall Howard, a sophomore undecided major, said he has not been to church either, but attending the series can be a learning experience.

“The series has helped me to open my eyes and look at things differently now,” he said. “I have not always been a ‘church boy,’ but by going to these sessions, I look at religion differently.”

The Campus Ministry organizes and hosts events other than just the campus series, such as a student table discussion on Wednesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. and women’s fellowship on Fridays at noon, as well as a tea party.

Joni Clark, the campus minister, said the event is free and all are welcome.

She said through the years they have lost a few, but they have many events she encourages everyone to come out and join them for any event.

“This is to bring the community, Indiana State University faculty and staff together,” she said.

Jazmyne King Reporter

“I have not always been a ‘church boy,’ but by going to

these sessions, I look at religion differently.”

Kendall Howard, sophomore exploratory major


An insurance industry publication has named two Indiana State University graduates as among the Midwest’s top insurance broker leaders.

Business Insurance magazine named Maureen Biehl, senior vice president at Marsh Inc., in Indianapolis; and Tim Leman, chief executive officer of South Bend-based Gibson as honorees for its 40 Under 40 awards. Biehl, who graduated from Indiana State in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in insurance and risk management; and Leman, who graduated in 1997 from the same program, were two of the magazine’s eight honorees from the Midwest.

“It’s just a tremendous honor. I think it really reflects on the group of people that Tim and I work with too, because it takes a team to build a successful business,” Biehl said. “We’re both surrounded by talented people that it makes our job easy, but it is still a tremendous honor.”

Biehl and Leman first met while students at Indiana State. Leman worked in the insurance and risk management department’s office, and recruited Biehl to the program. She was uncertain about her initial major - accounting - and after learning more from Leman, decided to switch.

“There are so many things you can do with a foundation in risk management,” Biehl said. “That was what really interested me. I decided to change my career path, and a lot of it was due to Tim’s introduction.”

Leman and Biehl credit the insurance and risk management program for providing them with the experiences and network needed to be successful in the industry. The program helps students organize internships to provide them with real-world experience, they said, along with bringing in industry executives to provide insights on how classroom lessons are implemented in the workplace.

“Getting the jumpstart and boost from ISU is a big part of this as well,” Leman said. “Having people like that looking out for you and helping make steps along the way is a

huge, huge deal.”They both have volunteered to serve

Indiana State in a variety of capacities, from membership on alumni and advisory councils to participating on panels to provide current students insights about the insurance and risk management industry. Leman’s company, Gibson, has made it a regular practice to hire graduates from Indiana State.

“Maureen and Tim have been very generous with giving their time and energy to the university, including helping to improve the quality of our insurance and risk management program, along with the Scott College of Business in general,” said Scott College Dean Brien Smith. “The insurance and risk management program is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and it is because of the commitment of alums like Tim and Maureen that our program is able to prepare our students to have a tremendous impact

on the industry from the moment they graduate.”

The insurance and risk management program’s visibility has been increasing in the industry, Leman said. He initially did not want to go into the field, as his father had been in the insurance business for decades. But he was recruited by faculty members in the program,

and he started to realize the opportunities that existed in the field.

“Having a couple of Sycamores in the rankings is great for the university, too,” Leman said of the honor from Business Insurance. “In the IRM programs around the country, ISU’s reputation has been growing. The program is highly regarded.”

Biehl, who received her first job at Marsh through an initial contact from insurance and risk management professor Peter Mikolaj, is part of a mentoring program that connects professionals with current students to help them learn more about how current experiences and opportunities in the industry.

“It’s fun to build relationships like that and to help the university, because I really want to give back the way that Dr. Mikolaj helped me,” Biehl said. “There’s no better way than to help someone find a job because you believe in them and you want to help their career.”

Grads garner insurance and risk management honors

Austin ArceoISU Communications and Marketing

“There’s no better way than to help someone find a job because you believe in them and you want to

help their career.”

Maureen Biehl, senior vice president at Marsh

OPINIONStatesman editorial

Wednesday, October 16, 2013 • Page 6

Opinions Editor, Samual Clark [email protected]

Editor in Chief, Brianne [email protected]

Darwin takes a crack at Kindles, evolving entertainmentWe have come to live in a world of

progression in minutes and grati cation in an instant. It’s a beautiful new world we live in. � ere are many of us who don’t even bother paying for cable anymore. A� er all, why should we pay over $100 a month when we could pay just $8 for Net ix — except, unlike cable, Net ix o� ers us instant streaming, commercial-free and at our convenience. � ey have even started their very own studio to produce original shows including “House of Cards,” “Orange is the New Black,” “Hemlock Grove” and even bringing back the cult-favorite, “Arrested Development.”

YouTube has also started their own studio to provide massively popular video producers including Tobuscus, PewDiePie and Jenna Marbles with professional equipment and to make their own productions. Toby Turner, better known as Tobuscus, actually is now a major host of children’s network, Cartoon Network.

When it comes to radio, we can now de ne just exactly how and when we want to listen to something. We can custom tailor our show to our bene t. And with e-readers, we literally can carry a library in the palm of our hand. Oh, did we mention you could also check Facebook, play “Plants Versus Zombies” and check your email all while reading “Game of � rones” or “World War Z?” We are seeing the evolution of the new world order, in terms of entertainment. But are we ready to kiss our current trends goodbye?

Let us look rst to literature. Amazon Chief Executive O� ce and founder, Je� rey P. Bezzos actually bought out the Washington Post and a� liates back in August. Yes, that’s right, he bought the whole newspaper. Amazon itself did not have their hands in the take over, but we have seen a recent increase in the availability of the Washington Post and a� liates to a primarily electronic base. And they’re not the only ones.

In fact, most every single major player in the journalism eld has shi� ed at least partly to an online home base. Turning o u t an electronic copy of these papers gives us a laundry list of bene ts in so many ways: all the way from an ecological point of view, were we save billions of trees by doing a cloud storage theme; to the convenience factor, where we don’t have to travel anywhere past our living room. We can read “Times” or “Rolling Stone” over co� ee in our own bed.

When we think of books proper, to publish in print only is almost nancial suicide for an author, assuming you’re

not working in a monopoly-based area such as textbooks. Actually, many authors these days get published because they printed online rst. � ey start a blog of some sort, get their work out there and get picked up by a major corporation. Badda-bing, Badda-boom,

you’re the next Anne Rice. We are actually seeing a deadly spike

downwards in the availability of most bookstores, as we now have Kindle and Nook apps for free on our computers, tablets and smart phones.

� ere’s just such a convenience factor that

comes electronic print, though. We as college students are well-

versed in the—very literal—back breaking feeling

of carrying a p s y c h o l o g y textbook, an ethics book, binders, note books (god forbid someone assign a N o r t o n ’ s Anthology) etc.

Now that we just carry a tablet that will hold everything for us, it’s so much easier.

But readers are not without their aws. We have certain convenience issues with load-times and the infamous “turn to page (insert number here).” We also see issues with the personal ow and feeling

of such writers as Emily Dickenson and E.E. Cummings. How can we translate their feelings of hand-written work into an electronic text? All in all, though, we put forth that this is an evolution, not the death, of the book.

When it comes to TV, the situation becomes a bit stickier. With such programming as Net ix, Hulu Plus and all the streaming and pirating sites out there, we are seeing a very di� erent kind of metamorphosis. While the evolution of book formatting appears to be moving the world to take a second look at books, cable appears to be ghting a losing battle. While many of us still tuned in at 9 p.m. last night to watch the season premiere of “� e Walking Dead,” there was a surprising amount who said, “Eh, I’ll check it out later.”

In the mid ‘50s, we saw the death of radio programming as everything went straight to TV. But now, in the early 2000s, we are seeing the death of TV as the streaming community begins to rise. Now we can binge-watch “� e New Girl” in a couple days. We don’t have to wait for it to come on. We can now watch whatever we want, when we want, and most importantly, for cheaper than we used to.

It’s a bright future ahead of us, in the entertainment world. We now have 3-D TV at home, computers that stream to projectors that come out of our phones and a tablet that contains thousands of books at a time. Worlds of information, right at our ngertips, and what do we do? Watch videos of cats.

The opinions page of the Indiana Statesman o� ers an opportunity for the Indiana State University community to express its views. The opinions, individual and collective, expressed in the Statesman and the student sta� ’s selection or arrangement of content do not necessarily

re� ect the attitudes of Indiana State University, its Board of Trustees, administration, faculty or student body. The Statesman editorial board writes sta� editorials and makes � nal decisions about news content. This newspaper serves as a public forum for the ISU campus community.

Make your opinion heard by submitting letters to the editor of the Indiana Statesman at [email protected] .Letters must be fewer than 350 words and include year in school, major and phone number for veri� cation. Letters from non-student members

of the campus community must also be veri� able. Letters will be published with the author’s name. The Statesman editorial board reserves the right to edit letters for length, libel, clarity and vulgarity.

Opinions Policy

over, but we have seen a recent increase in the availability of the Washington Post and a� liates to a primarily electronic base. And they’re not the only ones.

In fact, most every single major player in

o u t an electronic copy of these papers gives us

you’re the next Anne Rice. We are actually seeing a deadly spike

downwards in the availability of most bookstores, as we now have Kindle and Nook apps for free on our computers, tablets and smart phones.

� ere’s just such a convenience factor that

comes electronic print, though. We as college students are well-

versed in the—very literal—back breaking feeling

www.indianastatesman.com Wednesday, October 16, 2013 • Page 7

No hobo: America’s honesty and morality are in question

Abortion fanatics at the fountain have really crossed the lineAs you walk around

Indiana State’s campus you may sometimes run into people a cause or group.

On Monday, I ran into some people just like that. Unfortunately, they, like many others recently, were disturbingly

accusative. As an opinions columnist, I write on my beliefs and stories that I may share with others. � is doesn’t mean I force

my opinion onto student readers. However, the activists that were on

campus last Monday were violating this sacred trust.

As I got out of my car on campus, I was bombarded by a group of women

and children handing out � iers. I wasn’t interested so I kept walking; A woman then asked why I would not accept one, and I then tried to explain to her I wasn’t interested and was in a hurry. But she began to follow me and tell me how I need to know about this to protect me from sinning in the future.

I was extremely angry and wanted to say something but I kept walking. Later that day, I was heading toward the Commons and the same lady was there handing out � iers again and told her group I wouldn’t accept one earlier that morning. � ey proceeded to question me, demanding to know why I wouldn’t take a � ier. I kept quiet and kept walking. � e fact that she picked me out of the crowd because I wouldn’t take a � ier upset me even more.

I should be able to walk to and from classes on campus without being

badgered, and so should other students. � ese activists were the � rst that had ever done anything like this to me since I have been a student at Indiana State. However, this doesn’t mean that all protests are like this.

Activists have every right to share their opinion, but if someone does to not accept a � ier or keeps walking, the activists have no right to hound or continually badger us throughout our day. � is is not the atmosphere I want Indiana State to have; It should be a safe and friendly place for us to focus on school.

On campus we need to feel safe and secure, so long as we are in this campus. � ose activists yesterday took that away from me, and probably other students. � ey made us feel uncomfortable and pressured.

� is was something that was crossed

the line in so many ways, and I feel like, in the future, the university should place someone in charge to monitor these things and stop them from happening again. Without the university stepping in on this issue, it will never be resolved.

In the end it comes down to their rights, but they also need to respect ours as students. For many students, this is their home away from home, and they don’t need to feel like they are in danger or pressured to think a certain way.

We all have our individual opinions and the right to voice them, but what we shouldn’t do is throw them at people or chastise them for not agreeing.

For those out there who went through something similar on Monday, I hope you stayed strong and didn’t let it a� ect you. You have every right to have your own opinion.

Madison QuickColumnist

Many years ago, I was out west and was lounging outside a San Franciscan Starbucks waiting for the rest of my family. I had already downed my drink and decided to sit down; there was no chair, so I

resigned to dwelling on the ground and closed my eyes.

Not long a� er, I heard a few clinks as strangers started throwing change

into my emptied cup. Shocked, and pleased, I went inside to alert my family; and so my father and I played “Homeless” and made $40 between the two of us in about � ve minutes.

While this is an amusing anecdote, it always made me ponder; why was that so easy? It’s not unheard of for people to panhandle, despite having a home and plenty of food. To them, it’s just an easy way of making a buck. Many people see this as an issue of someone abusing the populace’s generosity; but I see it in a di� erent light.

My family was on vacation and we were all dressed very nice (or at least decently);

and yet people just started throwing us money without a second thought. Is the issue really that we — the panhandlers — are abusing generosity, or has society just trained the masses to throw money at people lying on the street?

I’ve met very few people who give money to the homeless because they honestly care about that individual; many of us do it because we’ve been told it’s a good thing to do.

Most of the people I’ve met in this world — you’re probably one of them — have come across people down on their luck, and have never paid them any mind. Sure we all say, “It’s a shame,” or, “Someone should do s o m e t h i n g about the homeless.”

But how many of us truly care enough to actually help them on our own dime.

Most, if not all, students at this school have to do community service, and a very popular activity is to work in the soup kitchen at the Light House Mission. For

many people, myself included, that’s the only time we volunteer at a homeless shelter; and we only did it

because it was a class requirement.

My proudest moment in the past 10 years hasn’t been graduation, climbing the P h i l m o n t mountain range, reaching 21 years old, getting my own apartment or even

making it through four years of college.

It was when two years ago, two other friends

and I were walking to Denny’s and a homeless lady asked us if she could come with. I bought her some co� ee and food,

and we sat there for almost three hours just listening to her talk about life and where she’s been. At nearly daybreak, we headed back to the dorms, and she hitched a ride with one of the sta� who was going her way. My friends made me swear to never pick up homeless people with them again and we never saw her again.

Two years later, I couldn’t tell you what she speci� cally said; but us just sitting there and actually paying attention meant the world to her.

I’m not calling for action where we all rise up and build enough shelters or buy enough food to make every homeless person live like a king. � e point isn’t that we should donate; the point is that we should care. As it stands, we treat homeless people as a fact of life, giving no more thought to them as you do a tra� c jam.

All I’m asking is that the next time you see someone down on their luck, o� er to buy him a drink; listen to their stories. Just caring about them, even if only for an hour, will do more good than all the money in the world for them.

A� er all, the only thing anyone ever really wants is for someone to give a damn.

Jake PorterColumnist

— are abusing generosity, or has society just trained the masses to throw money at people lying on the street?

I’ve met very few people who give money to the homeless because they honestly care about that individual; many of us do it because we’ve been told it’s a good thing to do.

Most of the people I’ve met in this world — you’re probably one of them — have come across people down on their luck, and have never paid them any mind. Sure we all say, “It’s a shame,” or, “Someone should do s o m e t h i n g about the homeless.”

kitchen at the Light House Mission. For many people, myself

included, that’s the only time we volunteer at a homeless shelter; and we only did it

because it was a class requirement.

My proudest moment in the past 10 years hasn’t been graduation, climbing the P h i l m o n t mountain range, reaching 21 years old, getting my own apartment or even

making it through four years of college.

It was when two years ago, two other friends

and I were walking to Denny’s and a

FEATURES� �Wednesday,�October�16,��2013�•�Page�8

Features�Editor,�Joseph�Paul�[email protected]

Aspiring model and actress Angela Sprinkle, a recent Indiana State University graduate with a degree in communication, is finally getting a taste of her dream.

Upon graduating, Sprinkle wasted no time by moving to Chicago only a day later to pursue a career in modeling.

Because she hoped to be famous by the age of 25, allowing time to find the perfect agent and a flexible job, an apartment and the necessities of living on her own had all slipped her mind.

After struggling to get by in the windy city, Sprinkle moved to Los Angeles, the hub of entertainment in the United States, and eventually landed a spot on the popular TV series “How I Met Your Mother.”

Sprinkle said she will appear in an episode airing on Nov. 11. She said her exact amount of time in the show will depend on how the producers edit the program.

In her scene, Sprinkle said she is with Neil Patrick Harris’ character, Barney, in the bar where the main characters of the program hang out, MacLaren’s.

“Both moves were challenges, their own set of fun, adventures and set- backs,” Sprinkle said. “I think people underestimate that being a performer is tough.”

But Sprinkle’s journey from a struggling college graduate to appearing on a hit TV show wasn’t easy, she said.

In Chicago, her funds were extremely low. With only $1,000, the experience was rough, Sprinkle said. However, blessed with several day jobs to stay afloat and fed, Sprinkle said she survived and eventually made it to Los Angeles.

While most might think living on the magnificent mile or Michigan Ave. in Chicago would be the dream, Sprinkle

was continually struggling to make herself known in the acting industry.

“My first apartment was on Michigan Avenue,” Sprinkle said. “Which sounds fancy, but it was actually a one-bedroom that I shared with two other girls. I was paying about $500 for rent every month. We were living the dream.”

Luckily, Sprinkle had caring and flexible employers who allowed her to go to auditions, which were during business hours. She made acting her priority and never had to turn an audition down.

“My meals usually consisted of peanut butter and crackers and popcorn,” Sprinkle said. “No joke, I ate like this for almost a year. I refused to allow my lack of finances send me back home. I saved every penny I made and threw it toward rent, transportation, classes and headshots.”

Ben, Sprinkle’s husband since 2009 whom she met in her very first show booking, changed his career and now works in the corporate environment.

After living in Chicago, Sprinkle had booked two roles on different TV shows. Both, “Shameless” and “Underemployed,” shot part of their seasons in Chicago.

“I was fortunate enough to land small roles in single episodes of these series,” Sprinkle said. “With those credits, it was time to move to Los Angeles.”

Satisfied with her accomplishment in Chicago, Sprinkle, Ben and their dog, Indiana, packed up and drove to Los Angeles.

Life in Chicago gave Sprinkle more experience and she said she was better prepared for the world of professional performance. But she hadn’t factored that she would be starting over completely.

On the big trek to the west coast, Sprinkle opened up to her husband,

Zhane’ Pica Reporter

Above: Angela Sprinkle, a recent ISU graduate, holds a “How I Met Your Mother” screen play detailing her apperance as a guest on the show. Below: Sprinkle, who will perform as a friend of the character Barney, displays the sign on the door of her dressing room in Los Angeles (Submitted Photos).

HOW SHE MADE HER LIVINGRecent grad Angela Sprinkle pursues career in Hollywood, lands a spot on “How I Met Your Mother”

ConTInUEd on PAGE 9


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Continued from PAGe 8

sharing with him all her hopes for the upcoming year: first, to get an agent and manager who believed in her work and would push her. And secondly, to get booked on an episode of “How I Met Your Mother.”

Her expenses in Los Angeles almost doubled from what they were in Chicago, Sprinkle said. Cost for headshots, classes, casting workshops, car expenses, meetings, agents and the cost of moving was a strain on the Sprinkle’s wallet.

In just a little over six months, though, Sprinkle said she was fortunate enough to get a good manager and agent who she said made a huge difference in her career.

“We’ve been blessed, but it’s a struggle,” said Sprinkle.

Knowing that “How I Met Your Mother” was going into its last season

fueled Sprinkle’s fire even more, keeping her determined.

Taking classes from Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre helped to advance Sprinkle’s acting to the next level, and from there she received the necessary tools and guidance to navigate through the industry, she said.

Sprinkle also said that her school and support team, Chris Lee at RPM Talent Agency and James Cole at Evolution Entertainment, along with her husband, have supported her the most.

It’s a world of perpetual auditions, relentless rejections, unsteady income and uncontrollable circumstances that are curtained by those who believe they know the industry looking in from the outside, Sprinkle said.

In such a subjective business, there will always be a thousand different reasons why someone does not get a part, even if they had a great audition; it’s just the industry, she said.

“I try not to dwell on the negatives,” she said. “I’m still here today pursuing my dreams, pushing through the rejections and rejoicing in the occasional triumphs.”

“We’ve been blessed, but it’s a struggle.”

Angela Sprinkle, a recent indiana State grad, on her career as an actor

Briefs

Indiana State University will hold a wellness bash today from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center.

The event is sponsored by Student Health Promotion at ISU and is designed to encourage physically and mentally healthy habits among college students.

The bash is annual fair that is open to ISU students, faculty and staff.

Local health vendors will be attending the event to share information and encourage students to become aware of their own health.

Some of the screenings and services that will be available to those in attendance include: blood pressure screenings, glucose-level screenings, cholesterol screenings, HIV testing, posture analysis, chair massages and flu shots.

For more information, contact Student Health Promotions at 812-237-3939 or contact Aimee Janssen-Robinson at aimee.janssen-robinson.indstate.edu.

Wellness Bash set for today

Students to eat pizza, talk politicsIndiana State University will host a

panel discussion Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Cunningham Memorial Library titled, “Pizza & Politics: Politics, Ethics and the Immortal Life.”

The event is co-sponsored by the University College and the American

Democracy Project in conjunction with the University Fall Read.

Free pizza will be available during the discussion.

For more information, contact Carly Schmitt at [email protected] or visit indstate.edu/adp/.


Katie Ash stood with 29 other Indiana State University students and gazed up and up at the golden-clad, ivory-bodied Athena, who stared imperiously ahead with Nike, the winged goddess of victory, held in her right hand.

“We knew it was big, but we didn’t know it was that big,” said the sophomore nursing major from Alexandria. “It was massive.”

Seeing the 42-foot-10-inch statue dominate the inside of the replica Parthenon in Nashville, Tenn., brought ancient Greece to life for the students.

“It helps me understand really how amazing the Greeks were,” Ash said.

Marilyn Bisch, Latin instructor, and Steven Stofferahn, associate professor of history, transported their students to Greece via the replica, which shows how the temple of Athena would have appeared to Greeks in 438 B.C.

“If there’s one symbol of Athens in the fifth century, all the good and bad, it’s the Parthenon,” Bisch said.

“This is a way to enhance their experiences,” Stofferahn said. “In teaching about Greece, the Parthenon serves as an ideal touchstone. Students have a general awareness about it, but once we get into the details, there is so much more to learn.”

A domestic travel grant from Indiana State’s Center for Community Engagement provided the funds to take students from their classes in Classical Cultures of Greece and Rome, Advanced Latin and Ancient History on the one-day field trip to see what the Parthenon resembled before its explosion into ruins during a 1687 battle between the Venetians and the Turks.

“It gives students a chance to see a classical

spectacle,” Stofferahn said, adding it can be difficult to have field trips to visit ancient historical sites. “Ancient temples were meant to overwhelm and impress. That’s certainly true for the Parthenon, both then and now.”

Written about in poetry and ancient travel guides, the 58-columned Parthenon has long inspired and awed travelers, whole and in ruins. Organizers decided to construct the Parthenon. In 1896, as Nashville, then known as the Athens of the South for the number of schools located there, prepared for the Tennessee Grand Centennial Exposition. While other buildings erected for the exposition were torn down afterward, the Parthenon continued to enthrall visitors. In 1920, the city began an 11-year journey of making the building more permanent. Builders closely followed writings, descriptions and art to recreate the former Temple of Athena and Athens treasury.

“In some ways, this one is better than the old one,” Bisch said. “In terms of seeing what the Athenians of the fifth century had in mind, this is better than the ruins they have in Athens.”

After a guided tour of the building, Bisch led a discussion of the building’s construction, Greek legends and art.

“These are?” she said gesturing to the giant fluted columns without bases that support the building.

“Doric,” replied numerous students.She continued quizzing the students about

their construction, bringing their book knowledge into the darkened, recreated temple.

“It helps me to get a better understanding of the Greek culture,” said Taiwo Oshun, a junior criminal justice and criminology major from Chicago, about touring the Parthenon replica.

Seeing plaster casts of the marble friezes that formerly graced the Parthenon in Greece and now on display in the British Museum, helped freshman Jeremiah Edwards learn more about Greece and its myths. Though he had heard the story of Athena’s birth —springing fully grown from Zeus’ head — and the legend of how Athens came to be, he had forgotten them until he saw them brought to life in plaster.

“I know that I will retain them now,” said the nursing major from New Albany. “You get hands-on experience. You can learn more by seeing them than by just visualizing and hearing about them in class.”

From learning about the Parthenon in class and seeing the replica, Ash now has a goal to gaze upon the ruins.

“I’d like to go to Greece one day,” she said.Indiana State University students gaze up the statue of Athena in a replica of the Parthenon in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and Marketing).

Replica monument reveals historic structure in heydeyJennifer Sicking ISU Communications and Marketing

“In teaching about Greece, the Parthenon serves as an ideal touchstone. Students have a

general awareness about it, but once we get into the details,

there is so much more to learn.”

Steven Stofferahn, associate professor of history, describing a replica of the Parthenon built in Nashville, Tenn.


Continued from PAGe 1the anxious crowd before competing for the crown of Mister and Miss Gay ISU.

Additionally, four exhibitionist performers offered their perspective of drag, including Ruby Lockheart, who was last year’s Miss Gay ISU and wooed the crowd with her sparkling outfits and precise vogue dances.

“I liked that she expressed who she was through music,” said ISU communication major Amina Madrid. “I liked her fierce and sassy attitude. I was very entertained.”

Stepping onto the stage with black heels to match her feathered scarf, Anita Greencard, portrayed by Carlos Martinez, performed “Dancing on My Own” to show the crowd his softer side.

Later, Ande Rogenous, portrayed by Andrea Molina, performed “I Started a Joke,” by The Bee Gees.

Backstage at the event, both contestants expressed their interest and love for drag at a young age.

“I have been to several drag shows and I’d seen some drag kings perform, so when we decided to open this up as a drag queen and drag king event, then I was like I want to do it,” said Molina, a senior secondary education major. “We

never had drag kings in the pageant here on campus, and I think it’s overdue.”

As the night progressed, each participant was scored under four categories: appearance, confidence, talent and performance.

After two hours, the host called each contestant to the stage where he announced the 2013 Mr. and Miss Gay ISU with Lockheart, who announced Jerry Curl, portrayed by Tabitha Barham and Nikki Saint Queer, portrayed by Nick Penington, as the winners of Mister and Miss Gay ISU of 2013.

Shortly afterward, friends and family ran to the stage with smiles and cameras to capture the moment everyone had been waiting for.

“I honestly didn’t think I would win,” Barham said.

“This was my first time doing drag ever, let alone in a competition. At first, I wasn’t planning on competing at all. If it wasn’t for my best friends suggesting and pushing me ... it wouldn’t have happened,” he said. “I’m so thankful for them though or I would’ve missed out on a great experience.”

Carlos Martinez, a freshman business management major, performed as Anita Greencard during the MIster and Miss Gay ISU Pageant Saturday (Photo by Corine Johnson).

SPORTS� �Wednesday,�October�16,�2013�•�Page�12

Sports�Editor,�Thomas�Beeler�[email protected]

Shannon Cooke, president of the women’s club rugby team and who plays the hooker position said ISU has what other universities doesn’t: a chance for women to play a sport they otherwise would have never gotten to play.

Cooke has been playing the sport for one year but has been involved in rugby for most of her life.

“In the town over from mine there was a men’s rugby tournament every St. Patrick’s day that I first saw when I was a little kid,” Cooke said.

The rugby team has been a part of Indiana State for four years, but they went through some reconstruction, Cooke said.

“Women’s club rugby has been on campus for four years, but this year we are starting

Thomas Beeler Sports Editor

Women’s rugby makes a comeback at ISU

The women’s club rugby team plans to start competition in the spring semester against universities around the area (Submitted photo).

STATESMAN RUNDOWNIndiana State

Women’s Volleyball vs. Missouri St. 3-2 (L) vs. Wichita St. 3-0 (L)

Women’s Soccer vs. IUPUI 4-0 (W)

Football vs. USD 17-14 (L)

Missouri Valley Standings

Football North Dakota St. 6-0 Youngstown 6-1 Southern Illinois 4-3 South Dakota St. 4-3 Northern Iowa 4-2 South Dakota 3-3 Western Illinois 3-4 Illinois State 2-4 Indiana State 1-5 Missouri State 1-6

Women’s Volleyball Wichita State 16-4 Illinois State 14-4 Northern Iowa 13-6 Missouri State 11-8 Bradley 10-6 Southern Illinois 10-10 Loyola 8-11 Evansville 7-12 Indiana State 7-11 Drake 2-17 Women’s Soccer Evansvillie 9-2-2 Missouri State 5-7-2 Illinois State 7-6 Loyola 4-6-4 Indiana State 5-8 Drake 2-8-3 Northern Iowa 1-12

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

“To me, rugby is an amazing sport that brings people together as a family because it takes strength, trust and teamwork to succeed.”

Shannon Cooke, president of women’s club rugby


Mon • Wed • FriStatesman

the

Look for

Confession Number One: I’m still new here.

Stereotypes—we have them for all majors and professions. When someone says that they are majoring in exercise science, you might expect them to work out every day and enter triathlons every week.

You also might expect accounting majors to do math for fun every night before going to sleep or play Sudoku in between classes.

Whenever what I am studying comes up in conversation, other

people look to me—or the plate in front of me—as the nutrition gold standard.

I’m expected to know how many calories are on their plate, how to lower their lipoprotein cholesterol and figure their caloric needs by just looking at them.

It’s true that I have the resources to help them, but I just do not have everything memorized yet.

Yes, I have some clinical experience, but I still have the rest of the year left to learn, so do not set the bar too high just yet.

Confession Number Two: Not all dietitians are mad about weight management.

My passion is for geriatric nutrition and poverty. I have put more hours into studying these two subsets more than any other aspect of nutrition.

The elderly have less desire to eat, often battle depression and are more likely to not have the resources or the ability to acquire and cook food.

People in poverty do not have the money to afford nutritionally-balanced food, but rather foods that are high in fat and calories. Some are forced to eat safety-compromised food or rely on soup kitchens and food stamps to feed their families.

I am actually more concerned with the

people who are not acquiring enough nutrition, more than the obesity and overweight epidemic that we face all over the world.

Confession Number Three: Dietitians really do not want to hear how you are too busy to change your diet.

There are 168 hours in a week, and after eight hours of sleep each night that leaves you 112 hours a week to do whatever you need to do. How much of that time do you truly utilize?

Research some healthy-version recipes of your favorite foods that you know how to cook; then make a grocery list, buy the food and decide what you will cook each day of the week.

Confession Number Four: We can tell when you are lying about your diet, even though we might not call you out on it.

Whether we find out by a fluctuation in your weight, whacked out labs or your inability to recall something you stated earlier, we know when you are not being

completely truthful. Diabetic patients have it the worst since a hemoglobin A1c lab can let us figure their average blood sugar value over the past three months.

Confession Number Five: I did not make the definitions.

“Obese” has the definition of having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. It’s not dietitian speak for “I hate you.” The formula for BMI is (weight in pounds/ height in inches ²) x 703.

Confession Number Six: I don’t always practice what I preach.

I know a lot of people have a problem saying no to sweets, and luckily that is not my problem. My problem is cooking with butter, cheese and other high-fat dairy products. My favorite dish to make is a creamy artichoke spinach dip. I love it, but it is extremely high in saturated fat and calories. Because I am still human and desire comfort foods, as well, I can realistically assess you and together we can formulate a sensible plan.

Natalie J. E. SympsonNutrition Columnist

Taking a look into the mind of a future dietitian

starting over with almost all new girls and a whole new outlook,” Cooke said.

The team will spend the majority of the semester practicing because of the team’s restructuring. Players will hold internal scrimmages near the end of the semester. Next semester will be a different story as the team battles Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University, DePauw University, Indiana University and Purdue University.

“To me, rugby is an amazing sport that brings people together as a family because it takes strength, trust and teamwork to succeed,” Cooke said.

A normal practice begins with a warm-up, moving on to passing and tackling drills. Then the team splits up into backs and fronts to work on individuals skills for each position.

Practices are held at the rugby field at Third Street and Locust Avenue by the ISU baseball stadium. The team practices every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 4 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Women who are interested can contact Cooke at [email protected]. To join the team, students can request to be added to the ISU Women’s Rugby Facebook group and OrgSync page or go to the one of the practices throughout the week.


Scrum - The eight forwards from each team bind together and push against each other. The scrum-half from the team that has been awarded possession feeds the ball into the center of the scrum from the side most advantageous for his hooker (which is typically the side of loose head prop).

Forwards • Hooker - the decision-maker; coordinates the timing of the scrum and is responsible for winning possession in the scrummage by hooking the ball back through the prop’s legs.

• Props (loose/tight) - Stops scrum from moving backward and secures the ball when a player has been tackled.

• Lock - the engine room of the scrum and the target person in the lineout. Their second duty is to be one of primary ball carriers.

• Flanker - collects short passes from tackled players and make their own tackles in open play.

ConTinued FRoM PAGe 12 • Number Eight - picks up the ball up from the base of the scrum.

• Scrum Half - links the forwards and the backs. The scrum half controls when the ball is fed out to the backs from the rear of the scrum.

Backs• Fly Half - decides when to pass the ball out to the centers and when to kick for position. They orchestrate the team’s back line and decides what moves to put into action.

• Left/Right Wing - finishes attack and often the last line of defense.

• Inside Center - stands closest to the fly half when the backs line up.

• Outside Center - tries to expose gaps in the opposing team’s defenses.• Full Back - receives deep kicks from the opposing team and stay tactically aware to recognize counterkicks.

The women’s club rugby team practices Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 - 5:30 p.m. at the rugby field to work on team and individual skills (Submitted Photo).

Rugby Positions and Terms

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COMING SOON!“ ”THE PROBABILITY THAT WE MAY FAIL IN THE STRUGGLE OUGHT NOT TO DETER US FROM THE SUPPORT OF A

CAUSE WE BELIEVE TO BE JUST.– ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Imagine a great-grandmother’s genomes being stolen from her body months before she died. Then, 25 years later picture learning that the great-grandmother’s cells had been used time and time again around the world in search of a cure for various diseases.

Henrietta Lack’s great-granddaughter Veronica Spencer, currently a nursing student at Baltimore City Community College, gave a presentation about the ethical dilemmas in medicine regarding the HeLa genome Monday.

Accompanying Spencer to the presentation was her cousin–in–law Shirley Lacks, who retired from the bank industry and now travels over the country to spread awareness about her great-grandmother.

“This is where it began in Lacks Town,” Lacks said as she pointed to multiple pictures depicting the life and history of her great-grandmother.

Spencer also represents the Lacks family on the National Institute of the Science’s panel uses the HeLa genome in research. Spencer is also a mentor at John Hopkins for Dunbar Scholars and an active member of the Lacks Family Foundation.

The curiosity of Rebecca Skloot and her book, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” finally revealed the hidden history of Lacks to her family.

Skloot took notice of Lacks’ story in a community college biology class at the age of 16. She wanted to learn more about this woman, who many consider to have changed the history of medicine.

Henrietta Lacks was a poor tobacco farmer who, after giving birth to her first daughter, experienced a strange feeling in her womb.

Not taking the knot very seriously and neglecting to go to the doctor, she had total of five children after her last son, Joe Lacks, was born. A few months later, she experienced symptoms that lead back to the feeling of a knot in her stomach.

Howard Jones, the gynecologist on duty, listened to her complaint and researched her medical chart. He noticed a lengthy

history of untreated medical conditions, including a series of nose and throat problems, a possible case of sickle cell anemia as well as untreated gonorrhea and syphilis.

Lacks had refused most of the tests and treatments doctors had re c o m m e n d e d for these conditions.

Once the tumor was found,

the doctor cut samples to send to a lab at John Hopkins Medical Institution for further research without revealing that

Lacks’ tumor contained cells that would eventually be vital to many medical breakthroughs.

According to www.smithsonianmag.com, the cells “were essential to developing the polio vaccine. They went up in the first space missions to see what would happen to cells in zero gravity. Many scientific landmarks since then have used her cells, including cloning, gene mapping and in vitro fertilization.”

While these HeLa cells, named for her great-grandmother, contributed to many groundbreaking advances in the medical field, Spencer said she felt that the family was lied to.

“Violated is the only word I can say about their actions,” Spencer said during

the presentation. She also described how she felt when

she learned how her great grandmother was treated. Her mistreatment gave two members of the Lacks Family an opportunity to be a part of the National Institute of Health, which allowed them to have a say in how Lacks’ cells would be used.

Lacks told the audience that knowledge is key in all situations.

“Her family didn’t know for 25 years. It took a book in 2013 to know what happen and the family was kept in the dark,” Lacks said. “Whatever your goal is, never stop reaching for it. There are struggles but keep going. Make a change. No matter what, change the world.”


Family of Henrietta Lacks discusses her ‘immortal life’

Veronica Spencer, great-grand daughter of Henrietta Lacks, addresses the audience about Lacks’ cancer treatment and the ethis surrounding it. Taken without her knowledge, Lacks’ cells would lead to several medical breakthroughs (Photo by Kira Clouse).

Denise smith Reporter

“Violated is the only word I can say about [the doctors’] actions.”

Veronica Spencer, great-granddaughter of Henrietta Lacks

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October 16, 2013