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Scholar Newsletter: Winter 2011/2012
Winter Closings
The Office of International Services (OIS) will close at 12:00pm, Friday, December 23, 2011 for the winter break, and will re-open at 9:00am, Tuesday, January 3, 2012. If you have an urgent immigration concern during this time, please either send an email to ois@indiana.edu or leave a message at (812) 855-9086.
The International Center (IC) will be closed for much of the winter break, but will offer a few activities. Please check the IC website or watch for emails from the IC.
Consult the Campus Emergency Preparedness website for information about how to prepare for adverse weather, safety tips, and other helpful information.
Important Dates
December 10, 2011: Last day of classes for the Fall 2011 semester. Final examination period is December 12-16. Final grades must be submitted from faculty to the Office of the Registrar by 3 p.m. of the third day following the last class or final examination.
December 23-January 2: Office of International Services closed.
January 9, 2012: First day of classes for the Spring 2012 semester.
January 16, 2012: Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Classes do not meet, and most university offices will be closed.
Scholar Profile
Each month, we recognize the activities and accomplishments of one of our visiting scholars, offering insight into some of the research activities and nationalities represented on the campus of IU Bloomington. This month, our featured scholar is Mansee Bal.
Mansee is originally from Ahmedabad, India and has a full grant from the Institute of Housing and Urban Development Studies to pursue her PhD at the Department of Public Administration, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. There she also teaches environmental governance and management of public open spaces to International Masters Students. Her PhD research is on "Sustainability of Urban Lake Systems in India: A Governance Approach," which highlights the role of urban lakes as potential public open spaces and takes a closer look at the dynamics of land and water governance in the current urban developments in India. Mansee is visiting IU as a Short-Term Scholar at the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis, where she is continuing research on her PhD topic.
Prior to her PhD studies, Mansee was a member of the Netherlands Fellowship Programme, where she earned her Masters in Urban Management and Development at the Institute of Housing and Urban Development Studies, and she held the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship while earning her MPhil in Planning, Growth & Regeneration, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge (UK). She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Urban Design from the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (India).
Late in her visit to IU, she will be joined by her husband, Akshay Bhargava, who is a landscape architect. Then, she will return to Erasmus University to continue her PhD research and resume her lectures for the academic year. After her PhD studies, she plans to return to India and work as a social-political activist in the field of environmental governance.
We asked Mansee to share more about her experience at IU:
Q: Why did you choose to come to IU?
A: My PhD research is heavily inspired by Dr. Elinor Ostrom's work on governance of social-ecological systems and the best place to experience is at the Workshop. Meeting Elinor and other visiting scholars over lectures, colloquiums, and informal chats is indeed a bonus to be at IU.
Q: Are you involved in any activities or events at IU?
I'm regular to swimming and fitness at HPER and attend the Themester movies at IU Cinema. I've also attended quite a number of seminars and events at IU, such as the Lotus Festival and the recent Presidential talk at the Auditorium.
Q: What advice do you have for other scholars, especially those new to IU and Bloomington?
I found that Bloomington has lot to offer socially, academically and personally. So make the most of it during your stay. Being an open and liberal society, Bloomington also opens up future opportunities for future associations. I strongly believe that life will bring me back to Bloomington for something, definitely for the search of tranquility.
If you would like to share your story with us, please email Jennifer Ashcraft at jeashcra@indiana.edu.
J Regulation Reminder
Enrollment in Classes
J1 Scholars are expected to engage in the activity described in Section 4 of the DS-2019 form. It is important that Exchange Visitors pursue the original program objectives for which you were invited to the U.S. Enrollment in classes should not interfere with your original program objectives or delay your J1 program. Consult the Office of the Bursar about the cost of tuition and fees of enrolling in or auditing classes, and consult the Office of the Registrar regarding what classes are offered and how to get enrolled. Scholars who choose to enroll in classes will be required to pay all tuition and fees unless you have special arrangements with your host department. The only fee that can be waived by the Office of International Services is for the student health insurance, as you must already have scholar health insurance as part of your J1 program. If you have questions about enrollment in classes, and how it may affect your J1 program, please contact the Office of International Services.
International Events
A Scholar Luncheon will be held at FARMbloomington (108 E Kirkwood Ave) at 12 Noon on Tuesday, December 13. This will be a time for scholars to meet and network with one another while we enjoy a delicious meal together. Everyone must pay for his/her own lunch. If you would like to attend, please email jeashcra@indiana.edu by 5pm Friday, December 9. The reservation is limited to the first 12 scholars who reply, and more details will be sent before the luncheon. If you are unable to attend the luncheon, we hope you will visit FARM and enjoy a meal there at another time.
The International Spouses Circle meets every Thursday from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the International Center (111 S. Jordan Ave.) to do arts and crafts and to practice English. Spouses of scholars are welcome to join the group at any time.
J1 Scholar Eva Mroczek, visiting lecturer in the IU Department of Religious Studies will present "Scribes, Scrolls & Scriptures in the Ancient Jewish Imagination" on Friday, December 2 at 12:00pm in the Hoosier Room of the Indiana Memorial Union. This workshop is intended for faculty and graduate students interested in the topic.
The East Asian Film Series will show "Repatriation" on Sunday, December 4 at the IU Cinema. The film tells the story of North Korean political prisoners and their decade-long struggle to return home following their release. For information about this and other events, visit the East Asian Studies Center.
Things To Do
The Indiana University Press will hold their Holiday Book Sale on November 30 and December 1 in the Georgian Room of the Indiana Memorial Union. More than 300 titles will be available for sale at 20-80% off suggested retail prices. You can also order books from IU Press any time, online at http://www.iupress.indiana.edu/.
The Bloomington Winter Farmers Market is a great opportunity to buy directly from local growers and craftspeople, and enjoy live music and tasty food. The market is held on Saturdays, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm December 2, 2011 to March 31, 2012 (closed 12/24 and 12/31) at Harmony School (909 East 2nd Street).
The Archives of Traditional Music will present the Hoagy Carmichael Birthday Concert on December 2 from 12:00-1:00 pm in the Hoagy Carmichael Room, Morrison Hall 006. To learn more about this American composer and Bloomington native, see the Wikipedia entry. For information about this and other events in the Noon Concert and Lecture Series, visit the Archives of Traditional Music.
The IU Department of Theatre & Drama present Lysistrata on December 2, 3 & 10. The IU Union Board Performing Arts Committee brings Chicago to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater December 2-3. The Cardinal Stage Company presents the musical Annie December 16 – January 1. The IU Auditorium will present "Chimes of Christmas" on December 7 and the exhilirating "STOMP" on January 27 & 28.
The IU Art Museum will host its third annual "Meet the Designer" even on December 1-2, featuring Brazilian jewelry designer Andres Kruman. The Angles Café & Gift Shop at the museum will be having a holiday sale December 5-15. For more information, see the IU Art Museum Events Calendar.
J1 Scholar Carmel Vaisman has created the IU TEDlike Salon, inspired by ted.com, where you will find inspirational talks by students and scholars at IU. The next event will be at 5pm, Sunday, December 4, at Rachel's Café (300 E Third St.).
If you have children, you might enjoy the following family activities happening in December. Family Night at the SRSC is offered monthly. The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra will host their annual children's concernt "To Infinity and Beyond!" on Saturday, December 10 at the College Mall. Children can "meet the instruments" at 2:00 pm and enjoy the concert at 3:00 pm. The WonderLab museum is featuring "Whoosh! Amazing Air" now through May, and will offer several special programs over the winter break.
Indiana Men's Basketball is offering Mini Series Ticket Packages for 4 games that will occur over the winter break. Mini Series pricing is $136 for main level and $92 for balcony seats. Parking passes for the series are $40. For more information, contact the IU Athletics Ticket Office. Other IU Athletics teams in action this season include women's basketball,
Volunteer! The City of Bloomington Volunteer Network helps connect people with agencies that need volunteers throughout the year. They would especially appreciate help during the holiday season to "fill the gap" while student volunteers are away. You can also honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 16, 2012, by making it "A Day On! Not a Day Off." Visit bloomington.in.gov/mlk for more information about this day of service.
For a more activities, visit the IU Events Calendar and the Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Did You Know?
IU Bloomington is now more global than ever!
According to the latest Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, released in November, IU Bloomington now ranks 8th in overall number of students studying abroad and ranks 11th in the number of international students enrolled. For more information, view the full press release.
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