Students Address Climate Change

Dean Auer gives a lecture to students about the Copenhagen climate talk
during a dinner discussion hosted by the SFPI.

Last Friday, the Student Foreign Policy Initiative hosted a dinner discussion with Hutton Honors College Dean Matthew Auer about this week's climate talks in Copenhagen. Dean Auer, who has worked as a negotiator on behalf of the United States at the United Nations, spoke about what issues he believes will be at the core of this week's discussion, as well as tactics he learned were key to successful negotiation from his own experiences.

Student Foreign Policy Initiative Chairman, Christian Hines, speaks
to students as he concludes the event.

Following Dean Auer's presentation, students were given the opportunity to ask questions, and many stayed to talk about the issues surrounding Copenhagen 2009. As a member of the Foreign Policy Initiative, it was great to see such a great turn out, but it was even more encouraging just to be a part of such a fantastic event that focused on a really interesting and important topic. Plus, the pizza and breadsticks we had for dinner was delicious.

Dean Auer answers a student's question during the Q&A session following the event.

Crean and Crimson!

It's basketball season! Finally! IU has now finished their pre-season games of the year, first battling off against Grace College, and then last night against St. Joesph's College. In both games, a new and renovated IU basketball team completely dominated their opponent. Now that they are one year older, and having season tickets, I'm excited to see how this team is able to compete when the regular season starts on Friday.


Assembly Hall has a fantastic atmosphere and IU basketball games have a great sense of tradition. This tradition engulfs you from the time you walk in the doors at the south entrance and see the Athletics Hall of Face, to when you walk up the ramps to the student section seating and see large pictures of historic IU basketball moments on the wall, to when you finally get to your seats and see a wall of banners with Big 10, Final Four and NCAA tournament appearances and victories. Get up to Assembly Hall and get your tickets to cheer on the Hoosiers and be a part of this IU tradition!

Nashville, Indiana?

So I know that I've spent quite a bit of time these last few weeks talking about all the stuff going around IUB, most exclusively the weather and season. Growing up in Phoenix where people don't know what fall look like, and having never experienced fall myself before coming to IU last year, this season is a truly unique part of my college experience that I enjoy sharing with others. While the weather is still fluctuating, it is now starting to show a bit of a downward trend, so I fear this is my last post I can tie to this season before it is too cold to enjoy the end of fall that technically remains.


I know I mentioned last week about taking a drive to Brown County. If you're an IUB student or Southern Indiana resident and you have not been to Brown County then you need to clear your Saturday for this weekend. My boyfriend just took me on a fun day trip to Nashville, Indiana, and I can't recommend it enough! Although I highly suggest Brown County State Park, Yellowwood State Forest is a great alternative, which was where we went. You get almost the same outdoors experience and hiking as Brown County, without having to pay the park admission fee and dealing with the tourists.


You don't have to be much of a hiker to take to the trails and enjoy the gorgeous rolling hills and beautiful colors. We walked around and enjoyed the nice weather and beautiful fall colors. But, if you're keen on the sporty outdoors experience, I suggest stopping in downtown Nashville. We spent our afternoon browsing around in all the eclectic downtown shops and found a cute hole-in-the-wall restaurant that was decorated as a shrine to former IU basketball coach Bob Knight.


After a week of stressful tests and projects, visiting Brown County, hiking and perusing in the shops made for a nice end to the week. If you haven't made the trip one county over, you're missing out!