Tommy is the evening on-air personality for 99.5 WZPL, the leading Top 40 radio station in the Indianapolis market. He can be heard every weeknight from seven to midnight, and periodically throughout the weekend. He is releasing his debut book, Turbulence, in the summer of this year, which walks the reader through his rocky childhood, the many mistakes he made when he was young and the life lessons he gained from those experiences. Tommy is currently enrolled in the Falls School of Business at … [Read more...]
Q&A: Brian Dirck
Dr. Brian Dirck, professor of history, received his Bachelor’s in history at the University of Central Arkansas. From there, Dirck went on to receive a Master’s in history from Rice University, and later a PhD in history from the University of Kansas. Throughout his many years of teaching, Dirck has also written over half a dozen books focusing on various aspects of Abraham Lincoln’s life and presidency. Where are you from? I was originally born in Missouri, but I moved around quite a bit … [Read more...]
Spring semester brings new faculty to campus
Among the new faculty this spring semester is Professor Kris Rinas, who is the new operations director and instructor of cinema and video in the Department of Communications and Design Arts. He will be teaching Audio Concepts, Television Studio Production and the Cinema and Media Arts practicum this semester. Ever since high school, Rinas has wanted to follow his passion for video production and pursue it as a career. “When I turned 18, my parents encouraged me to begin thinking … [Read more...]
New scholarship to be offered to Madison County students
More than 79 percent of the students at AU received financial aid help last year, according to usnews.com. This aid came in many forms, such as grants, loans and scholarships. With the increasing need from students for some form of financial aid, colleges around the country are feeling the pressure to support their students. This year, AU is trying harder than ever to try to supply a few more fiscally-saving opportunities to its students. For instance, AU has recently announced it will begin to … [Read more...]
Senior recounts impactful internship in Bolivia
In the routine of life’s mundane activities, it is easy to lose sight of passion. Thus, when an individual openly discusses their passion for whatever field they may be in or activities in which they participate, it entices listeners. One such individual who is passionate about her field is senior Michaela McCurdy, who had the unique opportunity to complete an international internship over the summer. McCurdy is majoring in international relations, with a complementary major in Spanish and a … [Read more...]
AU E-Sports Club builds community through gaming
The clicking of mouses, strategic conversations and a myriad of emotions is what you can find at an E-Sports Club meeting. E-sports has taken the world by storm, and it is starting to be introduced to the AU community. According to the Oxford Dictionary, the definition of e-sports is “a multiplayer game competitively played for spectators, typically by professional gamers.” However, at AU, the E-Sports Club takes a more relaxed approach. “We’re a bunch of nerds in a computer … [Read more...]
Q & A: Joel Shrock
Dr. Joel Shrock has been at AU since 2005, beginning as an assistant professor of history before being promoted to full-time professor in 2012. At AU, he leads courses in modern U.S. and Middle Eastern history. Since 2014, Shrock has been the dean over the School of Humanities and Behavioral Science and, since 2016, he has served as the associate provost. Shrock is a published author—in 2004, he wrote “The Gilded Age: American Popular Culture through History”—with another manuscript underway. He … [Read more...]
Q & A: Dee Allen
Dee Allen is the goalkeeper for the women’s soccer team. She has been recognized three times this season as the HCAC Defensive Player of the Week, and has not allowed more than one goal in a conference game this season. The senior has helped manufacture nine shutouts in 15 games and has been a key part of the teams record-breaking season. Last year you were the backup goalie and didn’t see any playing time. What did you do to prepare yourself for the starting role? At the end of my … [Read more...]
AU Homecoming weekend traditions persist
The temperature reads 70 degrees. Clouds cast shadow over the adjacent soccer field. The weather conditions are perfect for a pleasant Homecoming Saturday morning. From Oct. 18-20, Homecoming weekend was upon us. Students, faculty, families and alumni ventured to some of the many events put on by AU. If you visited the street fair or catch a football game, the options were vast and the school spirit was high. Throughout the week, students took part in Homecoming … [Read more...]
International students leave impact on AU athletics
Sports have been around for about 3,000 years, since the first Olympic games in 776 B.C. For so long, athletes have traveled to different countries to showcase their skills in their specific sport. Jesse Hernadez and Ackeem Hanna are international athletes who came to AU to showcase their athletic skills. Hernadez is a sophomore musical theatre and marketing major from Trujillo, Perú. He is also part of the AU men’s tennis team. Hernadez, like many athletes, started learning his craft … [Read more...]