Martin Hall and Smith Hall are both receiving much-anticipated renovations and upgrades this summer. Martin was completed in 1958, and Smith was completed in 1964. This renovation will be the first that either hall has received.

VIEW A FLICKR SLIDE SHOW OF THE RENOVATIONS.

Anderson University was recently awarded a Spring 2008 Recycling Bin Grant from the National Recycling Coalition and the Coca-Cola Company. This fall, numerous bottle-shaped recycling bins will be placed around campus to promote recycling at AU.

AU was one of 75 grant recipients chosen from 1,100 applications and one of only two grant recipients in the State of Indiana. The recipients represent a cross section of community groups, local governments, colleges and non profit organizations across the country.

The Weinstein Company is enlisting the help of 1990 AU alumnus, Cory Edwards to write and direct a live-action musical version of Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock.

The film is based of HBO’s Emmy-winning first TV series, Fraggle Rock, which premiered in 1983 and ran for five seasons. The series tells the adventures of an underground civilization’s inhabitants, portrayed by Jim Henson’s Muppets.

Kathleen Dugan stood with her arms folded, each hand clutching the opposite elbow, as if she were looking for something to hold onto and found only herself.

Her 11-year-old twins, who were diagnosed with autism eight years ago, had been suspended from school a few days earlier.

Hannah, annoyed that vocabulary study was going to interrupt her reading, threw a dry erase board, which accidentally struck another child. Ed threw a chair when two kids he’d been working with wanted to put a label at the top of a map instead of the bottom.

Now, Dugan’s pair of fifth-graders lurched up and down the hallway at the Indianapolis Art Center. Hannah, wearing pink Crocs, brown cords, and a lilac T-shirt and cardigan, was blinking excessively. Ed, in a blue polo shirt, jeans and Nikes, was putting his hands up to his face. Both bit their bottom lips and stared at the floor as often as they looked up at their own portraits on the wall.

Dugan, a 47-year-old associate professor of art at Anderson University, stood still, finally, after rushing to arrive for the reception for her exhibition, “Facing Autism.”

To Dugan, it feels as if she’s always running late, always struggling to keep it together.

A DVD of an earlier interview played in the background, where the artist described her work, attesting to her children’s battle against the fastest-growing disability in the country, the words “problem” and “so hard” echoing through the gallery.

“You have these stretches where they’re functioning pretty well. You think maybe we can do this,” Dugan said. “But then you hit a bad stretch, and it rears itself up, and they tantrum—you’ve never heard such screaming—and you think, ‘How am I going to cope with this?’ ”

Twenty years ago—when Dustin Hoffman gave his Oscar-winning performance in “Rain Man”—autism was diagnosed nationally at a rate of roughly 1 in 2,000.

Today, the rate is 1 in 150.

Better recognition, shifting diagnostic rules and expansion of the autism spectrum itself are part of the growth, but there is also an alarming increase in incidence, and the medical system is struggling to keep up.

When Hannah and Ed were diagnosed in 2000, all doctors and educators could tell Dugan was to go to Riley Hospital for Children, even though the wait for a first appointment could last 12 months. Now, the wait is roughly four months, at what is now known as the Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center, an outpatient center that started as a much smaller facility in 1997.

“It was two people,” said Dr. David Posey, chief of the clinic. “Now, we have a staff of 21. But we could use more providers.”

Dugan soon found she would not only have to educate herself about autism, but educate people in the education field, as well.

“The challenge with children with autism is that there’s never one way of doing things,” said Dr. Cathy Pratt, director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism. “What works with one child may not be what the next child needs.”

And the public still has a poor sense of what autism means.

Art is Dugan’s way of combating this ignorance. Using blunt brush strokes in bold colors, she portrays the world according to children with autism—a world that is frightening and nonsensical—showing the difficulties they face and the dignity they possess.

“If you’re a parent of a child on the spectrum, you become an activist by default,” said Dugan’s husband, Mark Tourney. “Most of what has been done has been done by parents.”

Dugan said that what she’s done is to paint the beauty of suffering.

But the pain isn’t on the canvas. The kids there are happy. Perhaps uncomfortable, or bewildered, but not in pain.

The suffering is in the artist.

Things used to be easier.

In the late ’70s and early ’80s, Dugan was a young Hoosier in Bloomington, caught up in the modern art scene, graduating from Indiana University with a BA and BFA, then heading to New York for a summer art program at Queens College. Before long, she was on her way to Yale for an intense MFA program.

She eventually returned with her husband to Indiana, where she received grants and awards throughout the region. She worked at Marian College and Franklin College and took a role in the art department at Anderson University in 1992.

But an art career is hard enough to pursue, said Tourney, let alone with twins who have autism.

Dugan poured her frustration into her art, and that was possible only after a Lilly Scholars Grant she received through the university. The grant allowed her to spend the past three years painting and putting together a symposium, featuring Posey, Pratt and Susan Pieples, president of the Autism Society of Indiana. It was held at the arts center in April, Autism Awareness Month, before an audience of about 80, including parents and professionals. Dugan donated her honorarium to cover the food.

“My art provides me with the respite I need when I have no control,” said Dugan, “and my faith helps me to understand that the control I seek is not mine to orchestrate.”

Dugan accepts that Ed can figure out the surface area of a cylinder but can’t make regular eye contact; that Hannah can speed-read and comprehend books at a 12th-grade level but can barely keep up with a conversation among her peers.

“I started to come to the realization that it’s a journey,” said Dugan, as Ed lay down on a bench and Hannah snuggled into her mother’s side. “It’s not going to be fixed. It’s long-term.”

It’s bittersweet, too.

Dugan recently had to separate Ed and Hannah. They were bickering in the yard. Ed was pretending to drill for oil. Hannah was chastising him for contributing to global warming. Such scenes are difficult to deal with even as they are a joy.

Even the suspensions from school wrought some tenderness.

Ed, as they were driving from school, sensed his mother’s unhappiness and said, “Mom, I’m really sorry. I know I’m messing up your day.” Hannah made her own gesture, giving Dugan her Mother’s Day present—a scented candle made in an after-school program—early.

“They do have empathy,” said Dugan, “for those they love.”

And that can be seen in the paintings.

Dugan requires you to deal directly with the subjects, and the subject at hand.

Ed averts his gaze, yes. Hannah, too, looks down and away.

But they do that when they’re happy.

—Konrad Marshall is a reporter for the Indianapolis Star. Story republished with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

AU junior Eryn Britt was selected to participate in the 500 Festival Princess Program on Saturday, May 17 for her dedication to academics and service.

Britt was one of 33 selected participants from an applicant pool of over 250 other Indiana collegiate women. Finalists were chosen for their communication skills, poise, academic performance and community and volunteer involvement.

Britt explained why she decided to take part in the program, which helps promote the Indy 500 race. “I grew up five miles from the track. The race has always been a part of my life, and I’ve always been interested in the tradition of the 500.”

Britt is involved in several campus and community service activities. This past year, she was a resident assistant in Martin Hall. She is a fellow in the Center for Public Service, and has volunteered with After School Fun. Additionally, she has traveled to Honduras with Tri-S and Ghana with her church.

Through the program, Britt has taken part in various community outreach and service opportunities. She has read books to elementary school classes, helped with an opening day youth softball event, led tours of the track, helped with a mini-marathon and other events.

Britt is majoring in Biology and Teach Science major and minoring in Chemistry.

—David Hynds is the Web Content Specialist for Anderson University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

For years, Krista Allen has used her free time to help others in need.

In high school, her older brother started a program to give meals to the homeless, so Allen helped with that and other social projects. Since she started at Anderson University, she has gone on several mission trips within the United States, and one to Nairobi, Kenya.

Today, Allen will be one of the 640 students to graduate from Anderson University.

But shortly after that, she will leave on her next adventure: an 11-month internship in Ethiopia.

“I think when I have some time to sit down and think about it, there will be some fears, especially with leaving everyone here, but right now, I’m very excited and I’m awaiting what will come,” the 22-year-old said.

Allen, who calls Lexington, Ky., home, said she had learned a lot of skills during her four years at AU that she could bring with her when she goes to Africa.

Allen will work for Remember the Poorest Community, a group started by an evangelical church in Ethiopia. As a project manager for RPC, Allen will write for the newsletter of the organization, as well as work on site with women and children on the street.

“Part of what I’ll be doing in Ethiopia is writing stories of women and children that the organization helps,” she said.

Before Allen goes off to Africa, she will spend two weeks in Costa Rica with a social organization at AU.

“We’ll be helping to do some painting work at a homeless shelter,” she said.

While Allen is excited to graduate, she said she would miss some aspects of college.

“There are parts of it I’ll miss a lot,” she said. “I’m glad to not have papers or tests, but I’ll miss the people. I’ll miss the community we’ve developed. I’ll miss the activities provided for us, all the things to do in the community and on campus.”

—Jessica Kerman is a reporter for the Herald Bulletin in Anderson. Story republished with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Baby could hardly keep his eyes open by 2 p.m.

The beagle-mix puppy was in high demand at Anderson University during “Rent-a-Puppy,” a fundraising event for social service organization Alacritas.

“It’s good publicity for us and the shelter,” said 20-year-old Samantha Smith, president of the group.

For $1, students could play and pet and cuddle with one of the six puppies out for rent.

AU seniors Laura Boltz and Mark Price were recently awarded the Stevenson Outstanding Student Award for their academic achievement. As outstanding students, Boltz and Price were selected for the $2,500 award by Dr. Blake Janutolo, dean of the College of Science and Humanities, and the biology faculty. The Stevenson Award is made possible through a gift by Dr. Jerry and Patricia Stevenson.

Falls School of Business Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) won the regional championship in Cincinnati on Friday, March 28th. The team also received top awards for the individual competitions of Business Ethics, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability by ranking in the top 20 in each topic.

This year’s competition marked the best results in Anderson University SIFE history. In previous years, the teams have won two individual topics. This year, the team added Entrepreneurship to their tally.

The team has worked extremely hard over the past five months to create their presentation of SIFE:Full Throttle. “Other SIFE teams pack out our room at regionals to see what we have been up to over the past year,” explains Stacey Jaracz, president of SIFE. “They view us as a model of how they should run their teams. We’re proud of that.”

Ben Hayhurst, vice-president of SIFE Consulting explains, “My favorite part was when our team presented, and there was standing room only in our presentation room. Students from many other SIFE teams crowded into our presentation room to watch our presentation and learn about our projects. I saw jaws drop and eyes open wide as our team presented our work for the past year. In short, those people were there to watch Anderson University because of the great work our SIFE students do.”

The students in SIFE do much more than compete, however. Throughout the year SIFE gives back to the economic community. “I’m proud of what AU SIFE is accomplishing in our community, Jaracz states. “We’re a group of hardworking students who take what we do seriously. Whether dealing with students or business professionals, AU SIFE is fully committed to servant leadership. I couldn’t have chosen a better way to spend the last four years in college than the time I spent with SIFE. Students who get involved are truly making a difference, not just in our community, but across the globe.”

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

School of Theology student Shannon New-Spangler was named the inaugural recipient of the Jeeninga Fellowship in Archaeology.

“I am pleased that Shannon New-Spangler is the 2008 recipient of the Jeeninga Fellowship,” said David Sebastian, Dean of the School of Theology. “Shannon is an outstanding scholar and will make a positive contribution in biblical archaeology. We are grateful to the Jeeninga family for making such an experience possible.”

New-Spangler plans to spend three weeks on an archaeological dig in Tel Dan, about twenty miles north of the Sea of Galilee on the Jordan River.

“I am terribly excited about this opportunity,” New-Spangler said. “This is not something that I could have done with my own resources. This fellowship is an opportunity for me to further my education with hands on experience.”

In addition to her time in Tel Dan, New-Spangler will spend about a week in Jerusalem, visiting holy sites such as the Mt. of Olives, Gethsemane, the Wailing Wall, the temple mount, Mt. Zion and others. She also plans to travel to the Dead Sea, Jericho and other places in Israel.

David Neidert, Jeeninga Museum Director and Fellowship Committee member, said, “As a student deeply interested in biblical studies, we are excited that Shannon will spend several weeks in Israel learning the culture and studying archeology. It is our belief that Shannon has a bright future in teaching and sharing her expertise in biblical studies. We are pleased she will have this opportunity to grow through this Fellowship.”

Students, faculty and staff will have an opportunity in the coming months to hear a report of her research and experiences.

The Fellowship was established by the late Dr. Gustav Jeeninga, founder and former director of the Bible Museum, for assisting students to study up to four weeks in the Mediterranean basin around archaeology or personalized research in periods from the Early Bronze Age to 1000 A.D.

The Selection Committee for the Fellowship consists of Dr. Blake Janutolo, Dean College of Science and Humanities; David Neidert, Jeeninga Museum Director; Dr. Alan Overstreet, Chair, Religious Studies Department; and Dr. Barry Ross, Professor of Old Testament in the School of Theology.

—David Hynds is the Web Content Specialist for Anderson University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.