South Bend

Blogging Returns!

by Jerry Madsen

Summer is over.

The students are back.

And so is the Ivy Tech Student Blog!

We are looking for new bloggers for the 07/08 school year.  Please contact me if interested!

What a Rush!

by Ladifrog

I got my first taste of connecting with a student today. I'm in school to become an English teacher at the college level. Today while working in the Learning Lab I helped a gentleman who had no computer experience at all, get started on using the computer.  He'd never used a computer and was a little intimidated by it. I was able to convey to him that a computer is just a tool, and like any other tool, all it takes is a little patience and practice and anyone can learn how to use one.

He got it!  Right in front of my eyes he went from being unsure of what to do, to printing out his first document.  I can't tell you what a sense of accomplishment he had and what a rush I got. I connected with him! I was able to teach him something he'd never had the opportunity to learn.

My second grade teacher, Mrs. Kurtz, taught me not only my letters, but she also made reading come alive for me. Mrs. Kurtz showed me that with books, I could go anywhere, be anyone, and do anything. She affected me in such a postive manner that some 35+ years later I still remember her. That's the kind of teacher I want to be. I want to be able to touch someone like that, just once in my career.

I discovered today, that the dream is possible. I can touch my students (even if they are only tutoring students at the moment). My dream is possible!

What an incredible rush!!

I'm Back

by Darryl Mitchell

Did you miss me?  I know it has been a while since my last post so let me catch ya up to speed.  The spring semester is over (thank you God) but I only get a little break for summer semester is right around the corner and I have 2 classes to take (sociology, and microeconomics).  I'm looking forward to the challenges of the summer semester.  I should be starting a new job soon with Fed Ex along with my work study so I will be quite busy.  I just began my newest creation, the FWC (Fitness & Wellness Club).  It is designed a as a support system to those who wish to make changes in their life.  We have a great agreement with the YMCA of Michiana where they have graciously cut their membership prices by over 50%.  If you are interested either see me in the Ivy Tech Library (South Bend campus) or e-mail me and I will get you the information.  This weekend I received a letter from poetry.com, I sent them a poem a few months back and I am now a finalist for their poet of the year award (I don't plan on really winning but it is an honor just to make it that far) Also I will have my work published in a book that is due for release this summer.  I will let you all know when it is out.  I just served as junior marshal to this year's commencement ceremony, it was a nice ceremony and now I also know how the ceremony is suppose to go so for those graduates who will be graduating next year see me at the graduation, I'll be the one wearing a pair of stunnas (those are shades for those who don't know lol).  Seriously, things are beginning to move at Ivy Tech and I'm glad to see that, I plan on making this next semester my best one yet.  The Black Student Union is looking to do some big things, As wee is the Student Government Association.  I plan on lighting a fire under PTK this semester and Alpha Phi Omega is planning on becoming nationally recognized this fall.  The fitness & Wellness Club has already soared and I just started it a week ago and I have 16 members and counting.  So if anyone wishes to join any of these organizations or want to learn about another organization, perhaps you may even want to start your own organization hit me up at dmitchell73@ivytech.edu and I will give you all the help and support that I can (Sorry Jerry lol)

Hour glass

by Weston Payne

Every moment counts

grains of sand slip through

hissing watches..

The Dancer

by Weston Payne, Poetry and Lit Club

The Spanish dancer claps her feet,

swinging her hips to a lightning beat.

Left and right she moves with grace,

stylish clothes with a passionate face.

She stomps her feet on the ground,

creating a loud thunderous sound.

The flamingo dance is more than an act,

as the dancer arches her back.

The Spanish dancer claps her feet,

swinging her hips to a lightning beat.

Spring

By Ladifrog

Spring

Blue skies, the color of Easter eggs,

Daffodils, yellow as a noon sun,

New grass, waiting to be mowed the first time,

Robins returning to their nests after the long winter,

These are the signs that spring has arrived,

Mother Nature gives birth to beauty once again.

Spring Break and much more...

by ACLdragonfly

My goodness I can't believe how much time has passed since I last posted. I apologize for slacking off, however now I really have a few things to talk about. Let me start off with telling you all about my spring break. It was so wonderful being able to sit back and relax. Relaxing isn't something I get to do much, so I really enjoyed my time off school and even work; that's right I took time off work. The week was full of fun times with friends and family, and I got to go horseback riding practically everyday. I have been so busy that I haven't been able to ride my horse, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed going for a ride in the middle of the afternoon. Spring break was a great time to catch up on lost sleep, and I relearned to appreciate a quiet day around the house.

After spring break I started an intense job search. I was going to about three interviews a week and really just trying to find a job that will make this summer and the months to come go smoothly. I never thought that a job search could be so tiring. I would go to an interview and feel really good about it when I left and never get a call back. I went to an interview for a cleaning job in the area...and they actually called me back. I was so excited about it. They gave me the position and I was ready to work hard and get things accomplished. However, in the beginning they never told me that the hours weren't going to be consistent, and that I had to drive almost and hour each day. I'm sure some of you reading this can relate. I have a car, yes it's reliable, but there's always the possibility of something going wrong with it; especially if I'm having to drive an hour to and from work each day. Then there is the fact that I'm a poor college student. If I had the  money to fill my gas tank three times a week why in the world would I be looking for a better job?? Anyways, I worked for them a couple days and then realized the job wasn't cut out for me. It's rather unfortunate that it worked out that way, but I made a pros and cons list and the cons definitely outweighed the pros. So the job search continues. I know the right job will come around sometime soon, I just hope it's sooner then later. If any of you readers have or currently are going through something like this, just remember that things will always workout with time. I don't know how I've made it this far, but it's happening. I hope all of you have a great day!!!

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

SURVIVOR
A poem by Ivy Tech Student Stephanie A. Nicklas and read live on FOX28's Morning Show, Friday, April 6 by the author.

A "pony" ride
A scary, gentle side
A big secret
A silent cry
They didn't listen
It's NOT a lie
It makes me less
A life's a mess
I told
I'm STRONG
He's less
I'm more
SURVIVOR.

The YWCA of St. Joseph County will partner with the IU South Bend Social Action Project will host a community awareness program on women's issues on Friday, April 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. in Wiekamp 1001 on the IU South Bend campus, 1700 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend.  The program will include a screening of the documentary NO! by filmmakter Aishah Shahidah Simmons, followed by an open mic poetry jam and other artistic expressions by local artists. This event is free and open to the public.  For more information contact the YWCA or the Ivy Tech Student Government Association.

Brother From Another Mother (best friends)

by Weston Payne, Poetry and Lit Club

Chapter 11 - “Brother from another Mother” from Wes Side Story

I was in math class and I saw some kid drawing dragon ball z pictures. So I walked over to him casually (without stumbling) and I asked if he liked the show. We ended getting in an argument over who was better Vegeta or Goku. I of course was an-all out Vegeta fan and was insulted by his argument. Yet for some reason one of us started laughing and then I just couldn’t stop. He told me the name I’ll never forget. His name was Will Cole. Will was and still is my best friend. He and I loved hanging out together. We loved playing video games and ditching our homework and we loved gossiping about who was hot and who was not at our school. We both joined the Eco club, and we both wanted to live next to each other when we got older. We laughed so many times everyday. We had our own world together and nothing will or ever can change that. There are many things that I find too hard to remember about Will. Like when he told me how much he liked Amy Conroy. He told me everything that went on between them. He even asked her to prom but he got real bummed out when she decided to in a group instead. I shared with Will my problems with Jenny John and how bummed out I was when I found out that I had to find new date. I remember talking about Video games in math class. During the end of my senior Year he died from a roof accident. I was so shocked. I didn’t know if I could cry or I should kill myself or what to do. I was so mad at God. He took away my most trusted, loved, and all around best friend. When I said Will and I had our own world together I really meant it. I was failing all my classes when I met Will. And he was too. Now understand that before I wasn’t OK with failing but I didn’t want to try more than was needed. However when Will entered my life I HAD to try. For Will, for me and for our future as friends. We grew on each other. He worked real hard so I would too. That’s how it worked. If I started falling short I knew he’d help me. We were equals with attitude. If you’ve never lost a loved one I don’t know if I can explain it well. When will died, denial set in quick but that sweet ignorance didn’t last. Soon his lifeless body lay before me as I hugged him goodbye on a hospital bed. A final few words to my friend was all I could muster out of my already jumbled speech. I was so sad at the truth. I wanted to save him. I wanted to be his hero. I wanted to show that our great eternal friendship wouldn’t, couldn’t end in death. But what if it did, and how could god let this happen. Did he care? As I stood near him in the hospital, with friends and family crying around me I wanted so badly to switch places with him. He had finally found peace. In my restrained tearful eyes I wanted peace too. I felt really old when it was all over. I felt like I was near my own deathbed. I had known death for a moment. But he took my friend and now I was all-alone again. I felt bad for all of his family. I wasn’t feeling bad for myself as much as I was for the time we lost that we would have spent having fun together. A few nights previous to his death we had talked. He told me that if he died he was going to try asking God to make him into a Super Saiyan. Like on the show Dragon Ball Z. At the time I agreed I too would ask him and me and Will could train in heaven forever. And so when Will died I thought to myself “Will is a Super Saiyan, he beat me to it”. I think of Will all the time and his picture rests atop my x-box so that everyday I wake up I see him smiling at me, so I smile back.

Who Knew You Could Learn So Much...

by ACLdragonfly

Car Auctions: Are they worth your time?

Who would think one could learn by going to a public car auction? I sure didn't think you could. However, once I went and experienced it, I really did learn a lot. Some may ask, "What made you decide to go to a car auction?"  Mostly because it's not something I would normally do.  But in truth, the main reason I went was because a friend of mine was selling his truck and he needed a ride home after it was over.

However, I learned so much in the short amount of time that I was there. I learned what to look for in a used car, how a car auction actually works, and I also got to learn about my friend.

The place was full of energy once the auction actually started. As the cars were pulled through the garage the bidding took place. There were people yelling all around me making sure their bids were heard. It was exciting.  But the the most exciting part of it was when my friend's truck went through, it didn't take long for people to start bidding.

I really enjoyed just sitting back and observing how the perspective buyers acted. Some were really serious, others just looked confused, then there were others who seemed over joyed. There was a young boy there with his father and by the looks of it he was trying to find his first car. His facial expressions were priceless. Watching his father bid on one of the cars he was interested in and then finally seeing that they had got a car...it was a great thing to witness.

The weather could have been a little better, by the time I was able to leave my whole body felt like an ice cube. Cars really can be interesting, especially as you start to learn about them and can actually hold your own in a conversation.

I leave you with this thought: Always go through your day looking for ways to learn. I went to this auction only expecting to take my friend a lift home.  I didn't expect to learn anything and I did.

Ivy Tech Region 2 Vending/Food Service Survey

To complete the Ivy Tech Vending/Food Services Survey, go to:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=113273469956

when prompted for a password, type:

ivytech

Your administration is listening, so thank you for your feedback! 

Spring Fever

by Ladifrog

Spring has sprung,
The grass is riz,
I wonder where,
Da birdies iz?

As I sit here and type this, it’s almost 60 degrees outside, the sun is shining and the sky is a beautiful blue color. You can smell spring in the air and yes folks, Spring Fever has hit! Spring is my favorite time of year. The earth is reborn and there are new births with animals, flowers, almost everything on the planet gets renewed in the Spring.

For me, it’s more than just the warm temperatures and sunny skies. After being cooped up in the house all winter, it’s finally time to throw open the windows and air the house out. Time to get rid of all the leftover cooking odors, pet smells and just everyday pieces of daily living.

It’s also a time to look at myself and see what changes I’d like to make in the new year. (Ok, so I’m a little late for resolutions, but THIS is my new year!) Since I’ve started here at Ivy Tech, I’ve made some wonderful friends. The Learning Lab staff is now my extended family and I couldn’t be happier. When I entered the doors of the school for the first time, it was as if a door to the world had been opened and it was laying there, just waiting for me to grab it.

Several years ago, I was working as a Medical Assistant and loving every single minute of it. I was able to make a difference in people’s lives, even if it was just to bring a smile to their face for a few seconds. When I lost that job, and wouldn’t be able to do it again for health reasons, I thought that feeling was gone from my life. I discovered to my joy, that it’s not. I get the same feeling when I’m tutoring a student. When I can see the light go on and everything clicks into place.

Everyone likes to know they matter, but for some, like me, it’s not just a simple like, it’s a real need; a  need to make a difference, to make the world a better place. I’m so glad that by being here at Ivy Tech, I’m being given the chance to do just that.

So when you look at your life, in this season of rebirth, look to see where you can make a difference. Sometimes all it takes is an encouraging word for your neighbor, or a silly joke to bring a smile to someone who’s having a rotten day. It doesn’t take much effort, but the rewards you get back are amazing!

Poetry for Week 3/13/07

"Mesmeric Revelation", Edgar A. Poe:
   
"They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which
escape the dreamers by night. In their grey visions, they
obtain glimpses of eternity, and thrill, in their awakening
to find that they have been on the verge of the great secret.
In snatches, they learn of the wisdom which is of good, and
more of that mere knowledge which is of evil."

The poem was taken from this link.

So Many Plans, So Little…

by Ladifrog

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about plans. I have so many plans in my head, things I want to do, classes I’d like to take, experiences I’d like to share. I have so much to give and unfortunately, I’m finding myself hitting a brick wall.

I’ve just joined the Poetry and Literature Club, and it’s a lot of fun. We have some really creative and talented people here on campus. The poetry club is even thinking about printing a collection of the best of submissions from the club. And that is where they are going to run into the brick wall.

I came up with the idea to start a small student run newsletter. I thought it was a great idea. A place we can share info on upcoming activities, share thoughts/ideas/poems with other students, a place to vent frustrations and/or share triumphs. The only problem is that I’d have to get permission first. Ok, that’s not so hard to do right? I wrote up a proposal and sent it to the appropriate persons. Now I’m waiting, and trying really hard not to be too impatient, but waiting to hear the yea or nay still the same.

It’s now been two weeks since I submitted it. I know that it could be a great thing for students here on campus. I’ve spoken to several professors and they think it’s a good idea. I’ve spoken to other students and they all think it’s a good idea. So now I guess I just have to wait to see if the ‘powers that be’ think it’s a good idea. In the meantime, I’m standing in front of this brick wall, trying to figure out a way to take it down carefully.

I like the idea of students getting involved on campus. Going to college isn’t just about the academics, it’s also about the social education we get while being here. Getting the most out of the whole ‘college experience’ is what rounds us out as individuals. Sometimes it almost seems as though some people have forgotten that and would prefer us (as students) to just come to class, do the work, and go home.

I am not going to waste the chances I’ve been given while I’m here. I’m going to do all I can and get the most out of my college experience!

I don't know what to put here...

by ACLdragonfly

Lonely in a crowded place

Wishing I could see your face.

Blocking everyone out

Life is filled with so much doubt

They tell me they love me

But their actions hate me

Pretending they're real

When we know how they  feel.

You say you're here with me everyday

leading and guiding every step of the way.

Now I'm in control, so I think

I've got this one, whether I swim or sink.

I used to be so filled with love

Now I would love just to be filled.

Where's all the passion, fervor and joy?

My hearts no longer a toy.

Just to have you again, I'd give anything.

But the price is everything

and I have nothing.

Where do I go when I've hit rock bottom?

Why has my heart gone completely numb?

What's it matter to you?

you've got me for eternity.

But do you really?

How do I know certainly?

Can I be sure? Are you really real?

How do you know my thoughts and exactly how I feel?

Did you love someone so much and they loved you too

but they never spent time with you?

Where you kicked out? Asked to leave?

Thinking you were loved and all along, were deceived?

Where you hated because you loved?

Masking all the pain you hid.

Hated because you were good at what you did?

If you are right here, then why do you feel so far away?

If you are right here, then why am I so lonely in such a crowded place?

Conductor of Words

by Weston Payne, Ivy Tech Poetry and Lit. Club

I am a conductor of words,
My instrument, is my keyboard.
The audience is all who listen,
to the song I envisoned.
The notes are letters on a page,
a beautiful song that I've arranged.
For I am a writer and a musican.
So gather around and try to listen,
to the melody beneath the lines.
A melody of words that rhyme.

Malcolm X Movie Screening @ Ivy Tech

by Darryl Mitchell

Attention Ivy Tech students, this is an important announcement.

On Friday, March 9th at Noon in room 1148, the Black Student Union will be showing the movie Malcolm X starring Denzel Washington in it's entirety (running time: 202 minutes).  Food and refreshments will be served.  I will be there and so should you. Hope to see you there.

This promotion was paid for by the Black Student Union (hahaha).

Those Seven Words

by Darryl Mitchell

I really do not feel like hearing you complain once again
    About how come there are no more good men
Perhaps you should look within, don’t worry you can tell me
    What is it inside of you that you see?
Think about it, what about you attract these feeble minded souls
    Don’t tell me I don’t know because you do have control
See sometimes what you are looking for is staring you in the eye
    You don’t know a good thing until it passes you by
Stay out of your own way; let that organ do its part
    Quit thinking all the time and listen to your heart
The heart wants what the heart wants; it knows love by no other name
    L.O.V.E. is all that matters and 2 can win at this game
Do you really think that I want to hear about the problems that you bear?
    Is there big bold print on my forehead that spells out share?
Do I dare! Speak my mind open and fluently
    See girl you don’t know what it is you do to me
The way you walk and talk you have a natural sex appeal
    Only God almighty knows how I truly feel
But still, I stand back and continually listen
    While in my mind all I am doing is wishin
That it is your lips I’m kissin, but back to reality
    An ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on is all you see
But I can’t take it anymore the time has arrived
    My true feelings about her I can no longer hide
So I tell her how I feel, spilling out all my internal feelings
    I say “Your heart has broken enough, let me do the healing”
On and on I go until she puts her fingers to my lips
    I kiss her finger gently as they begin to slip, down to her hip
She cocks her head to the side and my heart begins to swell
    Then she gives me this look that I know all to well
What the hell, “Darryl I think you’re sweet and you’ve been there through thick and thin
    But I love you like a brother and……………………… I just see you as a friend”

Remaining SGA Spring 07 Schedule

by Jerry Madsen

For those who would like to attend any Student Government Association meetings, the following is the remainder of our Spring 2007 schedule:

• Wednesday, March 7, 2007 (3pm in room 1148) – Parliamentary Procedure Training
• Wednesday, March 14, 2007 (3pm in room 1148) – SGA Public Meeting
• Wednesday, March 21, 2007 – NO MEETING – SPRING BREAK
• Wednesday, March 28, 2007 – (3pm in room 1148) – SGA Public Meeting
• Wednesday, April 4, 2007 – (3pm in room 1148) – StrengthsQuest Leadership Training
• Wednesday, April 11, 2007– (3pm in room 1148) – SGA Public Meeting
• Friday, April 06 or 13, 2007 – (11pm to 2pm on Front Lawn) – SGA Chicken Lunch Extravaganza
• Wednesday, April 18, 2007 – (3pm in room 1148) – Year-end SGA Public Meeting
• Tuesday, April 24, 2007 – (4pm in Cyber Café) – Honors Convocation

If you have any questions, please contact Jerry Madsen.

Look on the bright side....

by ACLdragonfly

Looking on the bright side is not always an easy thing one can do, especially when things are not going the way one feels they should be or hoped they would be. However, when one figures out how to look through the negative things in life and focus on the good, one's whole outlook on life will change and what used to seem hard and depressing will pass smoothly and the stress levels will decrease.

Time and time again, when I find myself getting down, I tell myself to step outside of my box and take a look at the whole picture versus just what I see in the moment. Sometimes I can be so blinded by the walls of my box that I don't realize how much is going on outside; things that impact into what's going on in my life. I find it amazing just how much easier it is to deal with things when I do step back and get perspective on all the factors contributing to what's going on; whether it's positive or negative, it helps me get through life.

I encourage you all to step outside of your box and really look at what's going on around you. Look for the positive in situations going on in your life and try to notice the positive aspect of the people you meet everyday.  Making fast assumptions and judgments can hinder your actions. Have you ever met someone and immediately thought that no matter what, you wouldn't get a long with them? Then after spending a short amount of time with this person you realize just how good they are?  People are very interesting and there are so many walls people put up in order to protect themselves from what others may think of them. Give people a chance to break down their own protective walls and allow them to prove themselves.

The Bible implies we should knock the sand out of our shoes after three days. Roughly translated, we should mourn briefly, move on swiftly, and smile through lives ups-and-downs. Just think about it. :)

I hope you all have an outstanding week and remember to SMILE!  Be Blessed.

Spring Love

Water Falls
by Nic S Williams, Ivy Tech Poetry and Lit. Club

The water falls
Cascading down my face
Every drop takes my breath away
I would like to be with you.

SGWhat?

by Jerry Madsen

Did you know that as a student of Ivy Tech Community College, there is a group of fellow students who have committed themselves to representing the needs of the student body?  That would be the Student Government Association or better know as SGA.

SGA serves 6 key functions for the student body:

1. They advocate for student rights and interests – As the voice of the student body, SGA’s more vital role is real representation.  They champion student interests, from keeping tuition reasonable to making sure class times and availabilities fit student needs to making sure parking lots are safe.
2. They have funding authority – They administer the students’ activity fees to student clubs and organizations.  They see to it that student activities fees are spent on initiatives that represent student interests.
3. They plan and organize student activities – While students may not be aware of all the lobbying efforts on their behalf, they do take notice of student programming.  SGA sees to it that student activities are geared towards the things students are interested in.
4. They perform campus and community service – They take on specific service projects and encourage the student body to get involved to help those in the community we serve.
5. They maintain a good relationship with the administration – They make every effort to maintain a positive relationship with the administration that is based on open communication.
6. They have control over hiring and firing of SG staff, removing corrupt officers and provide general oversight for all student clubs – They serve as a built-in form of checks and balances within the student club and organization system.

Who is are your SGA Officers and Reps?

• Stephanie Nicklas, President
• Darryl Mitchell, Vice President
• Lori Hicks, Secretary
• Brandi Morales, Treasurer
• Nikki Johnson, Representative
• Lou Ann Martin, Representative

Are you interested in serving on SGA or voicing a concern at a meeting?  SGA meetings are held in room 1148 every Wednesday at 3 p.m.  Feel free to forward any questions or concerns to any member of SGA or adviser Jerry Madsen.

Sunny Days are on their way

by Weston Payne, Ivy Tech Poetry and Lit. Club

Ever wonder where the sun goes when it goes down,
when the moon floats in the sky and darkness surrounds.
Star gaze into the night,
grab a loved one hold them tight.
The sun will be back tomorrow,
so soak up all your sorrow.
Sunny days are on their way.
and maybe this time they'll stay.

In A Blurr

by ACLdragonfly

Why are friends so IMPORTANT?

Why do you MISS friends when you are away from each other?

What makes a GOOD friend?

Friends play a very important part in a persons' life.  I have been thinking about friendship a lot lately well more like the past six hours. What would you do with out your friends?  Have you forgotten all the wonderful things they have done for you today, last week, a year ago?  Hold them all close to your hearts and thank God for them everyday.  Good friends can be hard to come by most of  the time, so when you find one/many they should be very dear to you.  Here are just few fun things about friends:

Friendship is...a gift that can be opened ever day, and it still holds lots of happy, sweet surprises.

It's the friends we meet along life's way who makethe trip more fun.

A friend is quick to listen, slow to judge, and always ready to shop.

Friends are always having way more fun that it really makes sense to be having.

When the laughter is light and the memories are many but time is too short...you know you're with a Friend.

A good friend...calls back if you don't sound quite like yourself.

Friends make the good things better and the bad things not so bad...simply by being there.

When I first realized I was going to have to transfer schools and leave Cornerstone, one of the first things that hit me was the fact that I would be leaving all my friends behind and would be entering unknown territory. It was a very hard thing for me to deal with, but one things I learned was this; when time and distance separate a friendship, if it really means something to both people involved the friendship will only get stronger with time. When the semester came to a close and it was time for me to leave, I had a peace about me. I knew that no matter what, the friends who actually care would be there, no matter the circumstances.

Now that I've moved back to Indiana and have gotten my own apartment, been going to school, and have a few new jobs, I've been making plenty of new friends. That's the best part of going someplace new. I love to meet new people and hear their stories of how they became who they are today. Ivy Tech is a great place to meet new people of all different backgrounds. It's wonderful!!

Considering that it is almost Valentine's Day. :) Let those who are close to you know how much they mean to you. Some people go throughout their whole lives not knowing they were appreciated, don't let that happen to one of your close friends or family members.

Have a wonderful, blessed day!

~*ACLdragonfly*~

Finally, Here I am

by Darryl Mitchell

Here I am.  I know some people have been waiting for a guy like me for a long time. 

I am the truth sayer.  See, I'm the kind of guy who will say what you all want to say. 

First, of all let me give out my credentials to all of those who do not know me.  My name is Amengo Montoya you killed my father prepare to die! LOL.  (That's from the Princess Bride for those who don't know.)  But seriously my name is Darryl Mitchell.  I am a father of 3 (two girls and a boy), I am taking 5 classes this semester, I work in the Ivy Tech Library in South Bend, I tutor Math and Financial Accounting, I have a 3.3 GPA, and I am a member of 4 different student organizations on campus (I hold office in 3 of them).  So needless to say I have a little insight as to what is going on around here.  I do not bite my tongue because I realized that it hurts.  So let me get something off my mind.

One thing that I noticed is that most students come to Ivy Tech because it is either the only place they can go or it's the only place they can afford.  I pride myself on being an Ivy Tech student, but lately I haven't been as happy as I should be or would like to be. 

I said I was a member of 4 student organizations.  Well that use to be 5 until recently and honestly I act like it does not bother me but it does.  The Campus Activity Board, an organization that I prided myself to be a member of, has just been put on the table and laid to rest in a catatonic state.  It may be brought back to life and it may not.  For those who do not know, the Campus Activity Board (or CAB as we called it) was an organization that is designed to give the students at Ivy Tech activities to give them a better college experience.  I believe that it bothers me a little more than most because I know what is expected of this school at the regional level when it comes to student retention and increasing enrollment and while I won't get into the particulars, I will say that right now our campus is on the short end of the stick.  There are several reasons as to why Ivy Tech South Bend is at the level that it is and part of it is not the fault of the school but part of it is. 

I know that the only way to get this Campus above a sub par level is to increase student life.  The organization that was here a couple of years ago understood that, but for some reason this belief has been cast away.  I will admit, when I first came to Ivy Tech it was because the school was cheaper than IUSB and if I was never introduced to Jerry Madsen (Director of Student Life), I'm positive that I would have never known about all of the student organizations if not for him.  Since I hooked up with Jerry, my college life is more fulfilling than I had ever thought it would be at Ivy Tech.  I have met many interesting people through different clubs and am in the process right now of bringing a nationwide co-ed fraternity to Ivy Tech.  I will admit that the demographic at Ivy Tech is nothing like major universities but there is no reason that we can't do some of the things that they do.

What I am asking today is that all students, no matter what campus you are on or what your goals may be, just think about and look into some of the organizations that are at your campus.  And to those here at Ivy Tech South Bend, I need your help to improve student life.  I know that some of you have to work and some of you have other obligations that may hold you back but there are other ways that you can help, by partial memberships and so on.  In order to improve this campus it is on us the students not the staff.  The students make Ivy Tech what it is today and if you are not willing to do what you can to help improve the school then you have no right to complain about it.

If anyone wishes to contact me about student organizations, or just wishes to converse on a one on one level just e-mail me dmitchell73@ivytech.edu  This school is what we make of it and I wish to make it great for years to come.

You Can't Handle The Truth