John Whittenberger Society – Page 2 – Stories and Updates from Union Board Alumni

Get to Know the 2023 Union Board Directors

Posted on February 28, 2023 by James McHaley

Gabriella Couloubaritsis

Year: Junior
Major: Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation
Minor: Law & Public Policy
What is your favorite band/group? Pitbull
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? Psych
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Samira
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? UB Office
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? Building relationships, Inclusive and diverse programming, Internal processes. I am very excited that this year, Union Board has the unique opportunity to participate as student leaders for the IMU’s role in the campus-wide 2030 plan.
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) This year’s Malkin Retreat. Playing games, exploring Bradford Woods, and getting to know each other!

Sahir Mir

Vice President of Finance
ubvpfine@indiana.edu

Year: Sophomore
Majors: Finance and Business Analytics
Minors: Theatre & Drama, Computer Science
What is your favorite band/group? Weston Estate
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? Severance
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Social Cantina
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? The Tudor Room – amazing food!
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? I want to make the proposals process as transparent and efficient as possible.
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) Going to Karaoke with the Board!

Laurie Frederickson

Vice President of Internal Affairs
ubvpia@indiana.edu

Year: Sophomore
Majors: Psychology and Criminal Justice
What is your favorite band/group? Taylor Swift
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? New Girl
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Farm Bloomington
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? IMU Starbucks! Its a great place to study or meet up with friends.
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114?
1) To foster a vibrant, supportive, and fun board-wide community
2) Approach DEIA in an authentic manner, and incorporate these values into all facets of being a director, not just programming
3) Provide meaningful opportunities & resources for personal and professional development to all UB members
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) Malkin Retreat at Bradford woods–slay fresh ’14!

Rezwana Habib

Vice President of External Affairs
ubvpea@indiana.edu

Year: Sophomore
Major: Exercise Science – Pre-Med track
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? YOU, Kaleidoscope, Brooklyn 99
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Siam House
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? The Globe! For it’s diverse food options
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? To help Union Board collaborate with different organizations on campus and make our events more welcoming and fun for all IU students.
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) Union Board 114th Installation!

Audrey Waite

Director of Canvas Creative Arts
canvas@indiana.edu

Year: Sophomore
Majors: Anthropology and Spanish
What is your favorite band/group? Taylor Swift
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? Community
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Sunny Poke and Tea
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? The south lounge because the stone and wood are just beautiful and the large windows let in the perfect amount of light. It’s a nice quiet place to study and has a great atmosphere.
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? My goals as a director on the 114th board are to connect with other organizations on campus to bring more programming into the IMU and foster those relationships as well as create more space in the IMU for student artwork.
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) My favorite Union Board memory so far is getting to go up to the roof of the student involvement tower after installation. It was a really great moment to share with all of the other 114 directors and was such a unique experience to see out onto campus like that. It was such a bonding experience for all of us to be up there in the mist and close out that important evening.

Adamifoluwa Adenekan

Director of Concerts
concerts@indiana.edu

Year: Sophomore
Majors: Finance and Accounting
What is your favorite band/group? I love Dreamville
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? Desperate Housewives
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Uptown Café
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? Starbucks, because it has a nice vibe
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? To provide more concerts that appeal towards more historically marginalized groups.
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) The last night during retreat

Carley Mosby

Director of Concerts
concerts@indiana.edu

Year: Freshman
Major: International Law and Institutions
What is your favorite band/group? Father John Misty
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? Extraordinary Attorney Woo
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Little Tibet is my recent fav
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? IMU garden by the tree suites (2nd to the Union Board office of course)
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? Bring back the carnival at Block Party!!
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) I’m currently in LA repping UB at Pollstar so that’s pretty cool. Also meeting Stanley from The Office was insane.

Marina D’arco

Director of Culinary Arts
culinary@indiana.edu

Year: Sophomore
Majors: Finance and International Business
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? White Lotus
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Siam House
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? Fireplace because it’s cozy
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? Plan three events per semester where students enjoy themselves, learn about different cuisines, and have hands on experience cooking.
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) Retreat!

Anagha Kumar

Director of Films & Entertainment
ubfilms@indiana.edu

Year: Sophomore
Majors: Accounting and Finance
What is your favorite band/group? The Lumineers
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? Severance
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Lan Ramen
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? I really like the Dunn Meadow because of how there are so many things to do, but it also works as a place to just relax and read.
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? Programming events and shows where relationships can be fostered between people who are interested in the same type of movies, or artists, while also making sure to emphasize on having more culturally aware films.
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) Malkin Retreat!!

Mason Zhang

Director of Films & Entertainment
ubfilms@indiana.edu

Year: Sophomore
Major: Media Advertising
Minor: Marketing
What is your favorite band/group? Wallows
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? You
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? The Bowl
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? The Union Board office because it contains all the cool people that makes up Union Board!
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? To be able to create inclusive and fun programs within films and entertainment that reflects the current student body needs and wants.
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) The Union Board Directors retreat!

Vinay Vankina

Director of Global Connections
ubworld@indiana.edu

Year: Sophomore
Majors: Economic Consulting and Business Analytics
What is your favorite band/group? 88rising
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? Loki
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Korea Restaurant
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? Among all the spaces in the IMU, my favorite one is the Union Board Office. I find it to be a welcoming and cozy haven that offers an excellent environment for collaboration and relaxation. I love spending time there with my fellow UB directors, and it’s a great way to take a break from my busy life.
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? As a Union Board Director for the 114th Board, I’m really excited to work with my fellow directors to make the IMU and Union Board even better! I’m especially looking forward to being a part of the UB House Committee and brainstorming ways to improve our services and spaces by restructuring policies. Additionally, I want to put on some fun and engaging multicultural events that showcase the amazing diversity we have on campus. By doing all of this, I hope to make a positive impact on the student community and make their time on campus more enjoyable and enriching.
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) My favorite Union Board memory is from the UB retreat at Bradford Woods, where we went on a hike. It was an amazing experience to explore the site and bond with some of the directors while watching the beautiful sunset.

Brandon Huang

Director of Internal Communications
ubicom@indiana.edu

Year: Sophomore
Majors: Finance and Business Analytics
Minor: Economics
What is your favorite band/group? Doreen Ketchens
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? How To with John Wilson
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Lucky Express
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? Alumni Hall for the grandeur and huge organ
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? Streamlining and standardization of recruiting, onboarding, and retention. Encourage a centralized board culture that inspires connections and collaboration!
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) Getting to know everyone better on the Malkin Retreat!

Brayton Rose

Director of Lectures
ubspeaks@indiana.edu

Year: Sophomore
Major: Marketing
What is your favorite band/group? Coldplay
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? House of Cards
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Malibu Grill
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? Probably the east hallway by the tree suites, if you can catch one of the tables it’s the best quiet study spot with tons of natural light.
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? To get as many people to see my lecture events as possible and to see all the other UB events go off with as much success as possible!
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) Hanging out with the other directors and Sundance 2023!

Maggie Ison

Director of Live From Bloomington
lfb@iu.edu

Year: Junior
Majors: Philosophy and English
Minor: Latin
What is your favorite band/group? The Greeting Committee
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? You
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Siam House
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? The Union Board office! I love getting to hang out with my fellow directors and decompress from everything going on! It’s always fun to laugh with everyone.
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? I hope to continue bringing music to the IU community and making the music scene here more diverse and accessible!
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) BDMC Presents 2022! I worked with Bloomington Delta Music Club to produce and end-of-year concert showcasing all different types of music! I made so many friends through Presents who I still keep up with and I loved seeing our hard work play out.

Jinal Karani

Director of Marketing
ubmarket@indiana.edu

Year: Junior
Majors: Marketing and Business Analytics
Minor: Sustainability and Environmental Studies
What is your favorite band/group? Quinn XCII and Sasha Sloan
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? New Girl and Love Island (UK)
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? The Owlery
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? The Bryan Room on the 8^th floor of the tower!
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? Get more people on IU’s campus to be aware of UB and all the great programming we do!
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) Retreat!

Stephanie Belmontes

Director of Mind and Body
ubbam@indiana.edu

Year: Sophomore
Major: Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management
Minor: Criminal Justice
What is your favorite band/group? The Lumineers
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? Criminal Minds or 9-1-1
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Rally’s
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? The area with the fireplace next to Starbucks. It’s so cozy and calming.
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? My main goal as a Union Board Director on 114 is to try my best to create quality and helpful events for students, to listen to their opinions and suggestions, and cater these programs to what they want to see. I want to try my best to see the students happy.
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) Fribbert, the office pet frog

Nick Sanchez

Director of Spirit & Traditions
ubspirit@indiana.edu

Year: Sophomore
Major: Finance
What is your favorite band/group? Kygo
What’s a show are you watching or would recommend others to watch? How I Met Your Mother
What is your favorite restaurant in Bloomington? Sunny Poke
What’s your favorite space in the IMU? Fireplace because it’s a great spot to chill
What are your goals as a Union Board Director on 114? To create fun events that reach all aspects of campus
Favorite memory from Union Board (so far!) The chair activity at retreat

Alumni Spotlight: Jeff Williams

Posted on February 28, 2023 by James McHaley

By Brandon Huang, 2023 Union Board Director of Internal Communications

Jeff Williams graduated from Indiana University in 2012 after serving on Union Board as the Director of Destinations / Spirits on the 2010 board. He is a marketing professional as well as a social entrepreneur that takes pride in working to support his communities. Jeff is from Indianapolis, Indiana and is currently based in Dallas, Texas. In this segment, Jeff shares successes from his foundation and his experiences with Union Board. Jeff Williams

What is your current occupation and what are your responsibilities?

I am a Marketing Manager focused on Consumer Insights at PepsiCo Frito Lay based in Plano, TX, a suburb of Dallas. Alongside my full-time job, I am the co-founder of Be Nimble Foundation, a non-profit I started back in 2017, based in my hometown of Indianapolis, IN where we focus on workplace development and tech/entrepreneurship support for the Black and LatinX community!

We have industry-focused accelerators for Black and Brown founders and upskilling programs that provides access to tech-based certificates for free.

Garden Pardi and Pardi Gras are the anchor events of our winter and summer event series that serves as a bi-annual fundraiser and a huge awareness campaign for our programs to help increase our pipeline of talent and entrepreneurs we support.

Since we have started, we provided over $1.5 million in startup capital and resources for founders of color and helped over 200 people get higher paying jobs in tech!

How has Union Board and the IMU contributed to your success since graduation?

Union Board gave me the confidence and courage to step out and inspire others to unite over common goals that positively serve my community. Tangibly, it helped me learn the skills required to throw high- scale events and programs from budgeting to vendor-sourcing.

What was your role with Union Board and when were you involved?

I started early on as a committee lead and after being inspired, I ran for Union Board and was blessed and honored to be the #1 vote getter that year! I ran the Destinations / Spirits committee!

What advice would you give to current and future Union Board members?

Be daring! Also, think beyond what may serve you and your social circles, but get active in the community and gather diverse perspectives to enhance the creativity, participation, and experience of your programs!

What’s your favorite memory from when you were involved with Union Board?

So many! The bonding at the Union Board retreat comes to mind first. But in thinking of our programs, I’d say our cultural excursions to DC and our alternative spring break to New Orleans. It was awesome to provide students an opportunity to travel, immersing themselves in a different culture albeit still in America, particularly those who have historically not had the resources to do so!

Alumni Spotlight: Kat Posada

Posted on February 28, 2023 by James McHaley

By Cathy Deal

“History has its eyes on you,” sings the cast of the Broadway musical “Hamilton.” JWS member Kat Posada has risen to that challenge. In 2018, she was teaching at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, when the horrific shooting massacre of seventeen students took place there. In its aftermath, Kat “felt called to do everything I could to make sure something positive came out of that event.” She reached out to the deans of the School of Education at IU Bloomington and to some of the Union Board Directors at that time to ask if there was any way she could share her experience. Her initiative resulted in Kat speaking with education majors at IU, “mainly to encourage them to continue on their path to become educators, despite the turmoil that the educational world is facing.” Kat also shared her insights with the general public in a question-and-answer conversation in the Whittenberger Auditorium during her visit back to campus.

Kat Posada and her family in front of Mt. Rainier.

Kat’s commitment to furthering insight and understanding through education in its multiple forms is of long standing. Currently, she teaches high school English at Durham Academy in North Carolina, including Sci-fi & Dystopian Fiction as well as Issues in American Literature and Society. She also is one of two Lead Advisors for the Class of 2024. In outreach to the wider community, Kat is a co-sponsor of the school’s Red Cross Club as well as the Urban Ministries of Durham Club. Her background in performing arts informed her involvement in musical theater back in college.

It was the encouragement of a 2001-2002 Union Board Director friend, Kevin Mogyoros, that sparked Kat’s audition for and participation in a UB-produced musical. She subsequently participated in committee meetings and helped plan other events on campus. Having realized how much fun Union Board was and how much Union Board was doing for the students of IU, Kat applied to be on the Board the next year. As a Board member, Kat was Director of the Performing Arts Committee.

What did her Union Board experiences teach her? Says Kat, “It taught me lots of things I would need in life: time management, how to work with different kinds of people, including ones with differing interests and motivations, differing management styles and ways of doing things, and how to lead a team. I also learned a lot about myself: the experience gave me a chance to fine-tune my organizational skills and figure out what I was good at – and some things I wasn’t as good at.”

Travel is an enduring passion of Kat’s, with husband Ray and kids, Noah and Maya. A cross-country RV road trip in 2017 gave her a chance to show them the IU campus as well as the Union Board Office. Other adventures include trips to Disney World, Mount Rainier, and the Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau, AK. Up next summer: Paris, Jerusalem, the Greek Isles, and Iceland.

Kat’s advice to current Union Board committee members and Directors? “Get involved! Union Board does so much good for the students and community of IU, and being a part of it is such an amazing experience. You will make friends you will never forget and will gain experience that will serve you in everything you do going forward! Work hard but be sure to have fun!”

From the 2023 Union Board President

Posted on February 28, 2023 by James McHaley

Hello John Whittenberger Society – I am a junior studying Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation and Law & Public Policy and I am originally from Memphis, Tennessee. I have been on Union Board since Fall 2021 – first as a Lectures committee member, then as the 2022 Lectures Director, and now as the 2023 Union Board President.

This year is off to an amazing start! Our Malkin Retreat at Bradford Woods was a fun, team-bonding experience. There, we solidified three equal goals for the 114th Board: building relationships; diverse, inclusive programming; and strengthening internal processes. As for programming, we have already hosted more than ten events, such as a comedic Q&A with The Office actor Leslie David Baker, an anti-AAPI hate roundtable, a Mario Kart Tournament, Live From Bloomington lunchtime shows, a slumber party, and a First Generation student merch giveaway. We have enjoyed partnering with various campus groups to host these meaningful events. Looking ahead, we are preparing for a 4th Street restaurant tasting tour, a Noah Kahan concert at the IU Auditorium, and a party for the Pasifika community. Additionally, we will announce our a few big lectures to the student body later this semester.

Gabriella Couloubaritsis2023 Union Board President — 2023 Union Board President Gabriella Couloubaritsis

Thanks to the John Whittenberger Society’s continued support, our students have several travel and scholarship opportunities. This semester, Union Board directors have attended once-in-a-lifetime, meaningful experiences through Sundance (Park City, UT), Pollstar (Beverly Hills, CA), and ACUI (Boston, MA).

The structure of Board has evolved and expanded to better serve student needs. We created three additional non-programming student director positions – Marketing, Internal Communications, and Vice President of External Affairs – as well as paid positions for graphic designers and photographers. This means that our directors include eighteen student directors across ten committees and three non-student directors (we are still looking to fill the administration rep role because Tim Lemper received a significant promotion at the Kelley School of Business.)

We also redesigned the Union Board office space to accommodate this new structure (we can wait to show it off this fall at the Biennial Reunion!) We have an incredible team of four advisors, program leads, marketing leads, committee members, and the IMU support system.

And what’s going on my end? At the beginning of the semester, the Vice President of Finance and I presented on behalf of Union Board for the Committee for Fee Review process. Now, I attend the monthly Cabinet of Student Leaders lunches with the Vice Provost for Student Affairs, various campus events, and weekly IMU Leadership meetings.

Through the Union Board House Committee, I aim to improve safety in the IMU, especially in light of the recent mass shooting at Michigan State University; further our IMU Art Initiative to increase diverse, digital, and student pieces in the building; and simplify the IMU venue reservation and catering process for student organizations.

Thank you for entrusting me to lead these endeavors. If you have any questions about our current or upcoming programs and events, please reach out to me at ubpres@indiana.edu.

Gabriella Couloubaritsis
2023 Union Board President

Union Board at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival

Posted on February 28, 2023 by James McHaley

From left to right: Brayton Rose, Vinay Vankina, Anagha Kumar, and Sahir Mir.

By Brandon Huang, 2023 Union Board Director of Internal Communications

This January, four Union Board Directors had the opportunity to attend the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on behalf of Union Board. Since 1985, the Sundance Film Festival has been a premier showcase of emerging talent in American and international independent film. In this segment, these Union Board directors share their experiences.

Anagha Kumar, Director of Films & Entertainment:

Sundance was incredible to witness; it hosted a collection of indie filmmakers and storytellers that had the chance to exhibit a subject they were passionate about. We were able to view a wide variety of movies, each with its own genre, language, and culture. What made this experience so unique was that we got to watch them in real time with the actors and directors, who were all really welcoming to us film enthusiasts! We also had the opportunity to vote on our favorite films, what we think should be shown to the rest of the world, and see distributors and labels auction on what movie they’d represent.

Brayton Rose, Director of Lectures:

Sundance 2023 was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. While at Sundance I saw a dozen films from every genre imaginable. I saw everything from a documentary about Michael J. Fox, the premier of Stephen Curry’s documentary, “Underrated” with him in attendance, disturbing thrillers, compelling indie films, and thought-provoking comedies all in the span of four days. As director of lectures, I am in charge of bringing in the Union Board speakers to Indiana University who inspire and invoke conversation, and Sundance has inspired me more than ever. Many of the films I saw explored the struggles and complexities of minorities, stigmatized groups, or culturally-relevant struggles. I left Sundance not only with lifelong friendships, but also a deeper appreciation for the art of film and a richer understanding of my role in an increasingly complex world.

Vinay Vankina, Director of Global Connections:

My experience at the Sundance Film Festival was absolutely incredible, but the film that truly left an impression on me was Radical. This powerful and thought-provoking film, based on a true story, dives deep into the concept of achieving one’s full potential despite facing adversity and how original thinking and ideation can help break down barriers and lead to unforeseen possibilities. Sundance Film Festival

Of course, Radical wasn’t the only film I watched during the festival. Every movie I saw had cultural significance, allowing me to learn about different perspectives and nuances from around the world. It was an incredibly enriching and educational experience.

One thing that stood out to me in particular was the land acknowledgment that was played before the start of each film. This simple but powerful gesture served as a reminder of the history and culture of the land we were on, and its significance to the Indigenous people. It made me realize the importance of acknowledging and honoring the land’s traditional custodians and their culture, and it’s something that I believe we can incorporate into our own film series to pay homage to the land and its people.

This trip was funded through the John Whittenberger Society Fund through the approval of the JWS Board.

Alumni Spotlight: Barbara Singer

Posted on November 18, 2022 by James McHaley

By Cathy Deal

Barbara Singer’s history is one of initiative. She likes to say that she majored in student activities while she was an undergrad student, because she dabbled in many different organizations and committees (while achieving academic success as an eventual Mortar Board member.

Barbara was heavily focused on Union Board committee work, in part due to the encouragement of a roommate, UB President Gail Ransom. Once

Barbara Singer and Russ Kennedy on the court at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

selected for the Board, 1970-71, Barbara concentrated on creating and guiding the Onion Theater with Russ Kennedy (UB 1971-72). The Theater was aimed at providing students who had a love for acting and live performance an outlet in the IMU. Performances ranged from an Open Mike evening to a readers’ theater as well as contests for one-act, student-written plays and musicals.

As Vice President on her second Board, Barbara’s time was in demand with internal management of Board event oversight and Board member dynamics as well as representing Union Board externally to a multitude of University constituencies. She served on a campus committee that installed advertising kiosks that saved campus trees from the clutter of paper event flyers, a major environmental concern at that time. She also represented students in November 1969 in Washington D.C. at the national Vietnam War Moratorium March.

From her Union Board years, Barbara followed a long and winding road. She worked a brief stint as a high school teacher after college, then went on to attend the IU Maurer School of Law, where she had the opportunity to use her undergrad major in French to translate medieval legal documents into English. This fusion of skills then led her to Cambridge University in England to complete advanced degree work in legal history, then back to the USA for employment in legal education in Miami, where several of her family members live. Today, she works as Associate Dean for Professionalism and Bar at St. Thomas University College of Law in Miami, Florida.

Members of the 1971-72 Union Board at the 2021 Biennial Reunion.

Teaching nonprofit law courses, among others, intertwined with Barbara’s background in dance, music, and the arts; her skills honed on Union Board in event planning, budget preparation, scheduling, report generation, negotiation, public speaking, and advocacy, among others, also equipped her to both participate in and teach others about the world of nonprofit activity. Significantly, she initiated the creation of and helped develop the Miami City Ballet, now a world-class institution. She has assisted other dance companies, and even composed a musical for her bar association. Barbara is an avid fan of guitar and keyboard, with annual attendance with friends at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and performances in New York, Toronto, and elsewhere by luminaries such as Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Jon Batiste.

Barbara’s memorable travels also have included historic sites in the U.K., the Beatles’ Liverpool, and walking across the Zebra crosswalk at Abbey Road. Her student days at Trinity College at Cambridge were memorable. As one of only eight women in the college of 800 men, she was also coxswain for the first women’s rowing team. As she recalls, “We would go out to the Cam (River) very early in the morning to practice. Gliding down the Cam in the quiet morning mist was incredibly peaceful.”

Her athletic prowess extended to a role as starting pitcher for her law school co-rec softball team, probably a legacy of her lifelong affection for her Chicago Cubs. As Barbara recalls, “ I started going to Cubs’ games with my Aunt Lil when I was three or four years old. During Summers, my mother would drop me off at her parents’ house, and my aunt and I would hop on the L for a daytime game at Wrigley. During those days, the Cubs were cellar-dwellers, so we had the left-field bleachers largely to ourselves. I didn’t care if the Cubs won or lost if I got to spend time with my favorite aunt and see my hero, Ernie Banks.” There was a happy postscript. Barbara eventually met Ernie Banks, but for years “joined the constant refrains of true, die-hard, lifelong Cubs fans: ‘There’s always next year’ and ‘Let’s play two!’” Then the Cubs won the World Series, with Barbara in the stands at Wrigley to cheer on their magic.

Barbara credits her experiences through Union Board for enhancing her perseverance and initiative. She offers the following advice for current and future Union Board members: “Take advantage of the incredible opportunity that UB gives members to develop professional skills, to make professional contacts, and, especially, to make friends for life!”

How Ernie Pyle’s journalism helped create the IMU

Posted on November 18, 2022 by James McHaley

By Susan Burns

When Ernest T. Pyle arrived at IU in the fall of 1919, the university was just composed of 15 buildings lined up along Third St and Indiana Avenue, bordering woods and the old Dunn farm, whose meadow stretched out along Seventh Street. Enrollment had jumped to 2,300 men and women who scrambled to find housing in the rooming houses, fraternities, and sororities of Bloomington. Social life centered on the Book Nook bookstore, the Student Building, the Greek houses, and a smattering of church-sponsored spaces.

When Ernest Pyle signed onto the Indiana Daily Student, he was assigned the “bookstore beat,” where he covered student social life. This soon put him in touch with the Men’s Student Union, the Panhellenic groups, and organizations sponsoring dances, concerts, plays and visiting speakers. This also meant that, when it came time to form a publicity committee for the big Fund Drive, Pyle was tapped for the all-campus student committee. It was a role he filled with dedication – and plenty of written words.

The drive is a topic in his letter home Feb. 19, 1922, when Ernie said, “Yesterday I wrote one thousand words of ‘dope’ on the Memorial Drive for the downtown papers.” A plan had been approved a month or so earlier to add three much-needed new buildings all at one time. The buildings would honor the students who had fought and died in the Great War in Europe, hence the “memorial” in the names of the new Union Building and the football stadium to be built between Seventh and 10th Streets. Memorial Hall, which eventually become part of Agnes Wells Quadrangle and substantially ease the dilemma of young women who did not pledge one of the sororities or whose parents did not favor renting a room in a rooming house.

Beyond those news releases, Pyle demonstrated commitment to the $1.5 million campaign and devotion to the public good. As stated in a resolution of praise by the Executive Committee of senior Deans, President Bryan and leading alumni, “Through its columns, the Indiana Daily Student has already made a valuable contribution to the Fund – if not in the form of dollars and cents, certainly in that mysterious substance known as college spirit, which is at the heart of every great University.”

In a letter home marked March 9, 1922, Pyle gave an excellent first-hand account of the finale of the drive. He describes putting out multiple extra editions throughout the day on March 8 to report on events of the big day. “Dear Folks, Well the drive went off at midnight last night and I am sure not a bit sorry, for it means that most of our hard work is over. The drive opened at 5 o’clock Tuesday evening after a wonderful meeting at the Men’s Gymnasium. … Yesterday was a holiday and now, since the drive has gone over the goal, there will be no more school the rest of the week.”

Pyle pledged $200 towards the Fund Drive. (For perspective, he had written a whole letter home about how grateful he was to get $2 from his father.) The Executive Committee’s minutes of April 1922 reported that they had received 2,115 pledges, with an average per student of $141. Pyle also noted proudly in his letter home that his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, was “the first to pledge 100%, that is everybody in the fraternity pledged to the drive.”

For a great article reporting on Ernie’ Pyle’s letters home from IU, including the full text of the letter describing the day of the Fund Drive, check out the article “It’s in the Air” by Owen Johnson in the Indiana Magazine of History, Sept. 2011.

Fall Update from the Union Board President

Posted on November 18, 2022 by James McHaley

Hello John Whittenberger Society members,

This past fall has been an extremely vibrant time on IU’s campus and the 113th Indiana Memorial Union Board. Over the course of the semester, the directors on board have been extremely busy creating rich, powerful, and fun programming for the booming 47,000 students on campus. A few notable events have been our Homecoming 5k run, a conversation with former professional wrestler AJ Mendez, a lecture featuring Pulitzer Prize winner Nikole Hannah-Jones, and of course our weekly films series. As we enter the last stretch of the semester, we intend to take this momentum forward with more incredible, high-quality programming such as our Black Panther screening- which will take place at a rented-out AMC, our bi-weekly Canvas Coffeehouses, and our mental health programming geared towards destress week right before finals!

As the directors of the 113th Board set their eyes on the remainder of their term, we focus on transitioning to the newly elected and selected 114th Indiana Memorial Union Board! The new board comes with some great revisions to the constitution of the board, some of the most notable ones being the addition of a Director of Marketing and a Director of Recruitment, and the evolution of the Assistant Director position into the Program Lead position. The new board is filled with some incredible students who I am sure you all will be hearing from soon, and I cannot wait to see all the things they accomplish as their term kicks off in January!

As always, thank you and if you’d like any information on our current or upcoming programming, please feel free to reach out to me at ubpres@indiana.edu.

Diptanshu Rao
2022 Union Board President

Mervis Lecture featuring Nikole Hannah-Jones held in October

Posted on November 18, 2022 by James McHaley

The third installment of the Lou Mervis Distinguished lecture series was held this fall. Gabriella Couloubaritsis, the Union Board Director of Lectures expanded the lecture this year to include more opportunities for students to interact with Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Knight Chair of Race and Journalism at Howard University, and creator of the New York Times’ The 1619 Project. During her four class visits across campus, a student leadership dinner at Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, and the IU Auditorium moderated Q&A and meet & greet, Nikole discussed how the legacy of slavery and racial discrimination continue to shape modern American life.

Mervis Lecture — Union Board students meeting Nikole Hannah-Jones

As a journalist, Nikole Hannah-Jones has spent her career investigating racial inequality and injustice, and her reporting has earned her the MacArthur Fellowship, known as the Genius grant, a Peabody Award, two George Polk Awards and the National Magazine Award three times. In creating The 1619 Project – whose book version was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller, includes 19 essays, 36 poems and works of fiction, and several portraits – her goal was “to explain America’s present-day reality and challenge myths not to tear down or further divide this country, as some critics suggest, but so that we can truly become the country we already claim to be.” She has continued expanding The 1619 Project into a narrative podcast series and in the coming months, a 6-part Hulu documentary in partnership with Oprah.

As the Knight Chair of Race and Journalism at Howard University, Hannah-Jones founded the Center for Journalism & Democracy. She is also the co-founder of the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, which seeks to increase the number of investigative reporters and editors of color, and she has opened the 1619 Freedom School, a free, afterschool literacy program in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa. Hannah-Jones holds a Master of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned her BA in History and African American studies from the University of Notre Dame.

In her closing to this year’s Mervis Lecture at IU Auditorium, Gabriella read a James Baldwin quote included in The 1619 Project: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed unless it is faced.”

This event was only possible through Union Board’s generous sponsors. Thank you to the Mervis family for supporting us and choosing to honor Lou in this way. In addition to the Mervis family, Union Board would like to thank the College of Arts and Sciences Themester Program, IU Bookstore, Maurer Law School, the Media School, Hutton Honors College, and OPVDEMA.

Fall Update from the JWS Advisory Board President

Posted on October 3, 2022 by James McHaley

Hello John Whittenberger Society Members –

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the John Whittenberger Society’s fall meeting—one of two in-person meetings annually. This year I was struck by how much activity the IMU was absolutely brimming with, thanks in large part to some of the recent (and ongoing shifts) to the Union to increase student use space. I wanted to share a few highlights, themes, and insights from the weekend!

From the IMU

We learned that since the 1960s student enrollment was increased by about 55% and now includes approximately 47,000 students. In addition to an increased student population students have more options than ever for involvement—over 750 student organizations—as well as options for arts, food, and engagement in town. To keep up with the needs of current students, faculty, staff—and even Alums like us—the IMU has:

Reorganized the bookstore to uncover beautiful architectural features including the Lincoln Fireplace, vaulted ceilings, and to open the exterior doorways for entrance on the south side of the bookstore. Importantly, they’ve also added seating and student workspace within the heart of those features—increasing student use space.
Increased seating near the stage and recently renovated dining area on the main floor—both the dining area and the stage were in near constant use all weekend.
Increased the use of the Centennial Patio by adding additional seating for gathering and live musical programming weekly, along with refreshments from the new Vault Pub.
We saw a sneak peak of the new “club hub”. While the IMU is early in the renovation process we could already see the vision for a vibrant student leadership center coming to life.

The most important takeaways—the building was alive with activity for our whole visit and the students and staff remain committed to ensuring our beloved IMU is relevant while honoring its rich history.

From Union Board

Through the weekend we interacted with Union Board directors both formally and informally. Of course, as everything changes—some things stay the same. Students shared their commitment (and sometimes struggle) in practicing skills like delegation and time management. And so often when a student would share their experience, an alumni would give a knowing nod or smile—we’ve been there too.

At the same time, they are doing many creative and inspiring programs. In October alone, Union Board is hosting seven films, a homecoming 5K, a craft night which benefits the local animal shelter, a conversation with former professional wrestler AJ Mendez, a lecture featuring Nicole Hannah Jones, the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of “The 1619 Project.”…and they continue to add programs that contribute to the Union’s vibrant use.

Finally, your own JWS advisory board reflected on not just what got us involved but what made us “double down”—What made us keep going to Union Board meetings, rise to the level of Director, and for some of us continue for more than one term. While each story was unique, the short answer was—someone asked us to DO something.

In that spirit I’m asking you—don’t be a stranger. If you make a visit to campus stop into the IMU (or better yet stay at the hotel), go see the Executive Director Hank, listen to some music on the Centennial Patio, and of course—introduce yourself to a current director or two!

Most importantly, let me know if you are interested in volunteering, or if we can answer questions. That’s what your Advisory Board is here for!

With Gratitude,

Anne

Anne M. Kostyo
President, John Whittenberger Society
2008 Union Board Director of Comedy

John Whittenberger Society Advisory Board:

Anne Kostyo (UB 2008), President
Lydia Shanklin Roll (UB 2003), Vice President of Alumni Relations
Julie Singer (UB 2009), Vice President of Development
Cathy Deal (UB 1969-70, Alumni Rep. 2014-17)
Martín Gimenez (UB 2001)
Scott Gudeman (UB 1982-83, 1983-84)
Adele Kaplan (UB 1985-86, 1986-87)
Beth Loeb Davies (UB 1981-82, 1982-83)
Kerry Maller (UB 1996, 1997)
David Miller (UB 1970-71)
Sharon Tubbs (UB 1993, 1994)