By Eric Stoff & Navar Watson

The physical campus of a university often is an ever-changing organism, just like the student body. Every year brings new faces to the campus, and with them, new needs and attitudes. So it stands to reason the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University changes in sync with the students who attend, and vice versa.

Jay McHenry, assistant vice president of campus planning and construction, says the campus is currently at the end of its second phase and about to enter its third.

“Marion College was ‘Campus 1.0.’ What we have today is ‘Campus 2.0.’ The next iteration is ‘Campus 3.0,’” says McHenry. “I think [our] new president will have a lot of new insight and expectations of what the next iteration will be.”

Marion College – Campus 1.0

Before IWU was Marion College, it was Marion Normal Institute, Dr. John Maher, professor of music, says. Normal schools specialized in the training of teachers, which explains why the education department has been such a highlight at IWU.

According to IWU’s website, trustees of the Indiana Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church were “driven by a desire to establish an institution of higher education in Indiana” and bought Marion Normal Institute in 1919. In 1920, the school officially became Marion College.

Maher attended Marion College as a student and began teaching there in 1978.

“The core is not hugely different,” Maher says, referring to the academics and close-knit community. The facilities, however, have drastically changed, especially within the last 20 years.

“Some of the facilities [used to be] poor, and there were people who would visit and say, ‘Well, I’m not going to let my son or daughter go here.’ I saw it happen. People would just turn around and leave,” says Maher.

McHenry says residence halls used to be a very different atmosphere as well: “More and more families have one or two kids. The old style of [a] residence hall was everybody shared a bathroom. [Now] that’s a hard sell. More people and more students will more likely be attracted to or want to have their own rooms and bathrooms.”

Maher explains that just because the campus was small didn’t mean the academics were poor.

He says visitors would often dismiss the school because of its size and wouldn’t consider “how many great composers learned and practiced from a sheet of paper and pencil and nothing more.

“Be always a little bit suspicious if somebody can’t teach certain things under a tree with a slate board,” Maher says.

Indiana Wesleyan University – Campus 2.0

The name of Marion College changed to Indiana Wesleyan University in 1988. Dr. Eunice Rickey, professor of music, believes changing the name from “college” to “university” has helped the school grow.

“Just the name alone has been a very attractive thing. Students that want to go out of state for a university and want to get away will pick something that’s got [an attractive] name,” says Rickey.

“[The construction] has done more than most students in Marion realize,” says Maher. He explains that the bigger facility attracts more students, which in turn, allows for more programs.

“We’ve always had strong students. There’s just more of them now,” says Maher. “We’re able to do more than we did.”

A larger student body has enabled certain areas, such as the Music Division, to be more ambitious, according to Maher. For example, it now able to utilize a full orchestra, jazz band and other various ensembles, which wasn’t feasible in the school’s early years.

Growth of the student body and the physical campus frequently occur in tandem, but it’s difficult to say which variable prompts the other. McHenry says it’s much like the “chicken or the egg” question.

He asks: “Does the number of students in residence halls drive the plan for more academic space? Or does your academic space bring more students on campus to make more residence halls?”

Regardless of which comes first, growth of campus means a growing list of maintenance jobs.

McHenry explains the current campus is relatively young, but it’s becoming more mature and the challenge that has begun to surface is what he calls “deferred maintenance,” replacing and improving a facility that is beginning to show signs of wear after it has been around for several years.

According to McHenry, a common challenge among all universities isn’t so much building its facilities, but maintaining them. Specifically, donated buildings are tough to deal with.

He explains, “Donors donate buildings, which are paid to be built, but then they become extremely expensive to maintain.” However, he thinks IWU does a good job of having good facilities that aren’t too expensive to manage.

“There’s a real legacy of facilities here and I think there’s a good balance of facilities. We’re making them nice, but we’re not making them so extravagant that they’re becoming maintenance nightmares,” says McHenry.

Future plans – Campus 3.0

As for the future of IWU’s campus, McHenry believes the new president will be the instrumental factor in directing changes. Specifically, McHenry says he thinks more communal spaces and the integration of more graduate school programs will shape the future alterations of campus.

Although he doesn’t know what having more graduate students on campus will look like, he says communal spaces like McConn Coffee Co., which is consistently crowded, will be of priority.

“That’s part of the nature of our institution, is having community,” says McHenry. “We want people to be together, so finding space for them to be together [and] finding spaces for them to do their work are important spaces to find.”

After attending, graduating and working for Marion College and IWU, Rickey is happy with the progression of the school over the years.

“I believe in the next generation,” says Rickey. “I really believe that they’re going to do new things. They love the Lord, and I’ve seen this over and over. They are more in-depth; they’re spiritually strong; they know where their strength comes from. I just see great promise.”

Indiana Wesleyan University students see a variety of familiar faces every day at Wildcat
Express, and these adults have dedicated their daily lives to serving members of the IWU
community. The following employees are just a few of those who have made a positive impact
on students.

Connie:

Occupation: Wildcat Express expert cashier
Years of employment: Three years
Favorite part of job: “The people. … I like my fellow employees, but I don’t really get to
socialize with them like I do with students.”
Any advice for college students? “Don’t drop out!”

Before her three years at IWU, Connie worked at a high school and public deli. She says that
out of all her experience, working with IWU students has been her favorite.

“People in public and high school kids are nothing like the students here,” Connie said. “I love
the students here.”

Many have noticed this love for students. Bethany Caraotta (fr) describes Connie as a “beautiful
lady with an awesome heart.”

“[She] has this relaxing, comforting and welcoming way about her,” Caraotta said. “When I feel
discouraged, all I have to do is go to Wildcat and visit Connie.”

“I want the students to know how great I think they are,” Connie said. “I’m going to miss them
during the summer.”

Lisa:

Occupation: Casa del Gato quesadilla mastermind
Years of employment: Two years
Favorite part of job: “The students. I love taking care of you guys.”
Any advice for college students? “Take each day as it comes. Don’t worry about the future;
don’t worry about the past. Worry about today.”

“You kids are like my kids,” Lisa said, addressing the student body. “You guys are from all over,
and a lot of you don’t have your moms or dads with you. I try to fill that void for you. I love you
guys.”

Lisa, whose foster daughter will be graduating this year, said she enjoys interacting with
students every chance she gets and tries to keep up with the lives of those she meets.

“She has a kind spirit about her,” Daniel Staffan (sr) said. “She’s always friendly. She’s always
there to give people an encouraging word. … She makes you feel like you’re the only person in
there and that she’s serving just you.”

Staffan has known Lisa for a year and says she makes “some of the best salsa on the planet.”

According to him, “Lisa is one of those ladies that when you walk away from Wildcat you
go, ‘Yeah, it’s going to be a good day.’”

“I love the students,” Lisa said. “That’s why I’m here.”

Nancy Jo:

Occupation: 42nd Street Deli sub maker
Years of employment: 33 years (since Oct. 11, 1979)
Favorite part of job: “Working with the people and the students.”
Any advice for college students? “Just to follow their dream and follow their heart.”

In the words of Nancy Jo herself, she’s worked here “too long,” ever since Wildcat was located
in the Century Hall Dining Room near the Commons. Her co-worker Pat, who also works at the
deli, often jokes with her and says she’s worked here since IWU was a one-room schoolhouse.

Several students have gotten to know Nancy Jo over the years. An anonymous note addressed
to Nancy Jo on the “IWU Secret Admirers” page credits her with “the ability to make an amazing
sandwich.”

Aside from her sandwich-making skills, many students know her for her stories, which range
from daily experiences and observations to various jokes and wisecracks.

“Nancy Jo is an energetic ball of fun,” Tabitha Vachon (fr) said. “She makes my day better with
her daily stories.”

Pat:

Occupation: 42nd Street Deli sub maker
Years of Employment: Seven years
Favorite part of job: “Interacting with the students.”
Any advice for college students? “Enjoy what you do.”

Pat, though sometimes seen working at Wild Wok, is known mostly for her work at the deli and
as the co-worker and friend of Nancy Jo. One often sees the two making jokes at each other
while they work.

According to Angela Davidson (fr), Pat is a hard-working employee who cares about the lives
and needs of her customers.

“She’s so sweet. She always asks me how my day’s going. She compliments me on my hair,”
Davidson said. “We have a nice conversation every time she makes my sandwich.”

“I guess I’m a people person,” Pat said. “I like being around people.”

Rachel:

Occupation: Wildcat chief commander
Years of employment: Six years
Favorite part of job: “The students. The different cultures of the students.”
Any advice for college students? “Do everything with pride. Everything that you do, do it with
pride.”

“She really knows how to take control and handle the situation,” Rebecca Stephenson (fr) said.

Stephenson specifically recalled a time when she discovered “pink chicken” in her meal and
reported it to Rachel. Stephenson said Rachel was very understanding and personally took care
of the situation.

Though most students know her by her manager position, Rachel considers herself an equal to
her fellow workers.

“They’re not my employees. They’re my co-workers,” Rachel said. “I believe I’m their co-worker
because I do work with them.”

“She’s great at handling things and working with people,” Stephenson said.

By Ashley Nossett

For health as well as ethical reasons, those in the relatively small vegetarian and vegan
population on Indiana Wesleyan University’s campus continue to make specific diet choices.
However, they do not feel that they receive enough of a selection from the food services.

Though many people vary the specifics of these diets, Margaret Busch (jr) explained there are a
few main differences between vegetarianism and veganism.

“With vegetarianism, really the only thing you choose not to eat is meat. But with veganism, you
eat no animal products at all,” Busch said. “It’s really going back to the basics of food, eating a
plant-based diet.”

The vegan diet cuts out all meats, dairy products and poultry products, according to Busch, who
has been a vegan for a little more than a year. The result means avoiding products such as
eggs, butter, milk and yogurt.

Busch, who is also diabetic, attributes to health reasons much of her decision to adopt the
vegan diet.

Conversely, Zachary Arneson (sr), who has been a vegetarian for more than two years, adopted
vegetarianism for different reasons.

“I couldn’t ever myself kill an animal to eat it, so I [thought], ‘Well, I shouldn’t be eating them,
then,’” said Arneson. “My reason is mostly ethical in that I don’t want to be killing animals.”

Vegetarians and vegans, a minority among the IWU community, come together through a
Tapestry thread. The thread is an online community for the education, advocacy and celebration
of cultural subgroups, according to Kyra Pappas, the interim director for Intercultural Student
Services at IWU. Pappas has been a vegan for nearly a year and a half. Arneson co-runs this
thread with another vegetarian student.

Because of the varying personal definitions people hold for being vegetarian or vegan, Pappas
could not give any exact numbers on how many students or faculty members make up this
campus minority group. As far as vegetarians, she estimates there to be at least 20 on campus.

The website for Pioneer Food Services, the provider of IWU’s meals, shares the company’s
desire to personalize the service for its clients. However, some would consider the vegan and
vegetarian-friendly food choices at IWU to be narrow.

“Pioneer Services does serve to those with vegetarian, vegan and/or allergy specific people,”
said Wildcat employee Alexandra Asbury. “However, the selections are limited for each station.”
said Wildcat employee Alexandra Asbury (jr).

“You really do have to be creative,” agreed Busch. “I know what I can eat here, so I eat those
things. Is it more difficult than at home? Yeah, definitely. There definitely is not as much of an
adjustment for people who have alternative diets.”

Asbury said she believes the food services at IWU could do more to aid students and faculty
who practice healthier diet choices, including broader selections of fruit in both Baldwin and
Wildcat.

Though many people who practice vegetarianism and veganism make gradual changes to
establish their diet, Arneson, Busch and Pappas all went into their diet changes immediately
without much of a transition. None of them had much difficulty with the adjustment.

Although there are some negative stereotypes associated with vegetarianism and veganism
exist, those practicing the diets wish the stereotypes didn’t exist.

Busch has found that in Christian environments, vegans typically are associated with strong
liberalism and heavy politics.

Pappas noticed this stereotype as well. “I think it’s like with anything, if we don’t know about
it then we kind of treat it with a lot of fear and stigmatize it and then put a label on it that’s
like, ‘Oh, all vegans are like this,’” she said.

Despite the stereotypes, vegetarians and vegans at IWU continue to maintain healthy diet
choices that make them feel good physically and morally.

“I really feel that it’s very positive,” said Busch. “And I think that it’s something that people just
need to be open to. I would challenge everyone to just try it a little bit.”

On the band’s website, the Nicolases describe Trouper’s music as “sounds of acoustic and classical composition alongside electronic drones and trip hop beats.” The band also lists traditional instruments, such as banjo and acoustic guitar, along with seemingly peculiar additions, such as iPads and iPhone, as the instruments the two play live.

Although the mix of folk instruments and electronic devices may seem off-kilter to some, Jocelyn explains that she loves folk and her husband loves electronic music, so the mix is natural for them. Also, some of their favorite artists blur the line between traditional and progressive music, which further inspires Trouper’s style.

“I am in love with Sufjan Stevens’ music and love folk and indie, but I am also absolutely obsessed with orchestral composition and soundtracks,” says Jocelyn. “I think it’s funny because that kind of folk-meets-electronic result that came was because we just didn’t want to compromise any of our loves in music.”

It goes hand-in-hand with the ever-changing idea of music. The art is becoming less and less tangible. Physical copies of songs and albums don’t have to exist for music to exist. Instruments have also been redefined — they aren’t constrained by the idea of strings, woodwinds, brass, keyboards or percussion. Electronic interfaces on iPads have become acceptable instruments to perform with on stage. Both sides of pop music — performances and records — are becoming increasingly less physical, which is not to say less real.

Jocelyn suggests that audiences are becoming more and more educated and accepting of the shift in digital music performed live.

“People have been brought up watching the rock band, which every sound you hear is physically being strummed or hit right in front of your eyes and you can attribute any sound to its origin right in front of you,” says Jocelyn. “I think there’s an education [occurring within] general audiences — a learning. There’s also a huge amount of artistry that can happen beforehand with composing electronic music or samples or beats.”

Aaron explains that his main instrument while playing live is his iPad, from which he uses software called Ableton Live, but everything that’s heard is still being performed live and “has the ability to be very, very badly messed up and mistaken.”

The band’s first single, “Barabbas,” was released online Jan. 21.

The track features electronically affected vocals from both Nicolases paired with plucked banjo and a hip-hop beat. As the song builds, Jocelyn’s vocals become more emotive as she repeats the lyric, “Empire germ in his head.”

The song’s lyrics mention “Adam in Eden,” “Son of the Father” and the song’s namesake, “Barabbas,” the criminal who was released to the crowd instead of Jesus, which led to Jesus’ crucifixion.

All of the duo’s influences can be heard in this single track. The banjo harks back to their love of folk music, specifically Sufjan Stevens. The electronic percussion loops and affected vocals nod to Aaron’s passion for electronica, and the song’s outro features synthesized strings, which pays homage to his wife’s love for orchestral compositions.

“Barabbas” is one of the four tracks featured on Trouper’s debut EP,“The Eden EP,” which Aaron estimates to be released sometime this spring or early summer. Although “Barabbas” and the other songs were largely composed in the Nicolases’ home studio, Charisma House, Trouper plans to depart from that style of songwriting for its first full-length album.

The full-length album, already titled, “Oh Ah Oo,” will craft a more traditional songwriting process. The songs from “The Eden EP” originated in production and left the Nicolases trying to figure out how to perform them live. Conversely, the songs from “Oh Ah Oo” will be written with the live performance in mind and then move toward the production process.

Aaron says he is thrilled to write as a duo with his wife, but he mentions two challenges have arisen with Trouper.

The first is one electronic musicians have explored since the genre’s creation. “‘How do we turn electronic music into something a little bit more organic?’” he asks himself. “I’m hoping to really accomplish that and flesh that out more on the full-length.”

The other challenge is the gimmicky stigma that exists with marriages in music.

“When we initially formed Trouper, one of our friends said, ‘Oh it’s great that you guys are going to be a husband and wife duo, but just don’t make it cutesy,’” says Aaron.

Jocelyn says the two never marketed their marriage during their time with La De Les for fear of it being seen as a marketing gimmick. Likewise, they try to handle their marital life professionally when at a performance.

Trouper will play twice at Friday’s sole performance of FNL, which will be held in the Chapel Auditorium. Doors for the show open at 8:20 p.m., and the show begins at 8:45 p.m.