Olivia

Hey there,

When I first arrived at the University of Iowa I knew that I wanted to get involved. I attended the student volunteer fair the second week of classes and stumbled upon TONS of great student organizations and volunteer opportunities. One of them included volunteering at The Black Box Theatre located on the third floor of the IMU, which I LOVE. I conducted an interview with Emily Lennon, a docent and art enthusiast to let you all know more about the new exhibit and the Black Box Theatre.

1. What is your role within the Black Box Theatre currently?
   I am the volunteer co-chair for the University of Iowa Museum of Art Members Council, so I helped train volunteers for the Black Box Theatre’s current exhibition, New Forms. I am also a Docent for the museum, so I lead tours for UI classes, visiting students, and other docents. I also volunteer as a Gallery Host most Wednesday afternoons.
2. Could you tell me a bit about the exhibit currently at the Black Box Theatre?
   New Forms is an exhibition based on American Scene and Avante Guarde art movements in America after the Great Depression. This exhibition shows how these two art movements collided in the Midwest, specifically at the University of Iowa. There is a combination of prints, painting, and photography from the Federal Arts Project, New York’s Avante Guard movement, and also amazing works of art by UI students and professors of the time, such as Mauricio Lasansky, Phillip Guston, and Grant Wood. It is a great show of American Art during this time period and there is a lot of important artwork and history about the University of Iowa Museum found in this amazing exhibition.
3. What is your personal favorite work of art in the exhibit?
   It is always difficult to choose a favorite, but I do love the collection of prints from the Federal Arts Projects that the University of Iowa was given around 1937. We do not get to see this kind of originality and variety of subject matter or techniques used this often, so it is a real treat to have them on display!
4. What are ways in which University of Iowa students can get involved with The Black Box Theatre?
   Students can get involved with the Black Box Theatre by volunteering or visiting the exhibitions! It is free and open to the public, so this is makes a perfect afternoon out with family and friends. Students who are interested in volunteering for the University of Iowa Museum should contact Kathrine Nixon, kathrine.nixon@gmail.com or Emily Lennon, Emily-Lennon@hotmail.com. There are many ways students can volunteer, so don’t hesitate to contact us!
5. Are there any events coming up that readers should know about?
   The UIMA hosts a First Fridays each month at Hotel Vetro. For $5, you can look at original art, listen to local musicians, and enjoy great conversation at these events. Our next First Friday is on December 6th, from 5-7pm. There are also art and art history lectures held often, usually relating to the exhibitions at the Black Box Theatre, so look at the UIMA website for those details. http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/FALL2013CALENDAROFEVENTS.pdf.

Thus, readers, please check out the Black Box Theatre! It will surely be worth your time.

Hey all!

For my blog I will be starting a segment called, “Tip Tuesday,” where I dole out some helpful tips for prospective and current college students. For all of you that do not know, The University of Iowa has an AWESOME Greek life… I should know because I am now a member (Shoutout to Delta Gamma!). When I started recruitment, I knew next to nothing, which brings me to my first tip…

Tip 1: Enter with an OPEN mind. Because I did this, I was able to view each sorority without input from others. Choosing a sorority is so personal. It is YOU that is joining the sorority. A chapter may feel like home to your best friends, but not to you. That is FINE! Go where you want, and do not be deterred by someone else’s opinions. I tried to not discuss my thoughts on each house with my friends and was stunned when on Bid Day my good friend from high school was in my sorority. We had not discussed it prior and now we are sisters for life! We are in the same sorority because we were both best fit for it, not because we planned it.

Tip 2: You may drop at any time during the process but I recommend seeing it through to the end. If a sorority that you love doesn’t call you back for a round, do not be discouraged because each sorority has such amazing things to offer! Recruitment spans over two weekends and has some long days, do not be overwhelmed… the days fly by!

Tip 3: Be prepared to not always get your top choice. From personal experience, I loved a certain chapter and was CONVINCED they would ask me back to the Preference Round (which is the last round before Bid Day with your chapter) but they did not. I was a bit crushed and I have to admit that my self-esteem took a hit. But after a quick call with my amazing mom, I snapped out of my gloomy state. The sororities that DID call me back were awesome in their own right and ultimately a better fit for me.

Tip 3: Sororities are also called “chapters.” Knowing this prior to starting recruitment would have saved me so much confusion!

Tip 4: Trust the process. All of the current members of sororities I talked to all said that everyone ends up where they are supposed to. I can attest to that! DG already feels like home.

Tip 5: Bring snacks. The days are long as mentioned before, and even though there are breaks, sometimes it is not enough time to head back to Burge or Hillcrest for a real meal, especially when you are traveling from an outhouse chapter.

Tip 6: Wear what makes you feel comfortable. I plan on putting a post up about outfit suggestions for each round! Keep your eye out for it, readers!

Tip 7: Take notes after you leave the chapter! After a long day, all the houses begin to blend together, making it harder to form an opinion on each chapter. Jot down what you talked about, what the girls looked like, or anything else to jog your memory when making your selections.

Tip 8: Do not be nervous to talk to the girls at each house. Usually they are just as nervous as you! They want you to like them so you’ll come back and you want them to like you so you can come back to the house for another round. Try to be as real to your personality as you can when talking to the girls, get to know them and let them get to know the “real” you… they may become your sisters!

My high school friend (left) and I at Bid Day where we found out we were both members of Delta Gamma!

New members of DG! I am second from the left in the 5th row.