holidays

holidays

Women Who Serve

Women Who Serve

, , Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
IU East is fortunate to have over 100 veterans as part of our student body, 52 of them women, including this year’s stirring commencement speaker, Brea Hunter.  The perspectives and lived experiences of veterans and active-duty servicemembers adds immeasurably to the discussion in any classroom, from nursing to history to criminal justice.  IU East seeks to grow this relationship, offering online Bachelor’s and Master’s programs targeted to help mobile service-members to complete their degrees, and returning something of value to those who bravely serve in our defense. May is Military Appreciation Month, and contains Memorial Day and Armed Services Day, which give us the opportunity to reflect on the courage and selflessness of veterans.  Women have been part of the … Continued
National Library Week 2025, April 7-11

National Library Week 2025, April 7-11

, , , Library Services
Currently, the entire staff of The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has been placed on administrative leave. Despite Congress’ support to continue funding this agency, President Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling IMLS. This small agency, which only receives about 0.005% of the annual federal budget, greatly impacts communities across the country. IMLS awards grants to museums and libraries to support programs such as job training, psychological and wellness needs, collection preservation and exhibits, disability services, climate change preparations, reading programs and bookmobiles, and basic library services such as access to internet, technology, and digital books (Limbong, 2025; Curlin, 2025). Attacks on libraries and librarians are nothing new in recent years, but with the disheartening announcement … Continued
Popeye Belongs to All of Us

Popeye Belongs to All of Us

, , Matt Dilworth
On January 1st each year, Public Domain Day, new materials fall out of copyright and become free to use and adapt for anyone, without needing to clear rights or pay royalties.  These include audio recordings first copyrighted in 1924, and books, films, plays, musical compositions, artwork, and characters copyrighted in 1929.  In recent years, these have included the original iterations of Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse, who have featured in a plethora of new marketable for-profit works; most notoriously low-budget horror films. This year, books like William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury have now become free to use, adapt, and sell, as well as Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, Agatha Christie’s ninth novel, The Seven Dials Mystery … Continued
The Christmas Eggnog Riot

The Christmas Eggnog Riot

, Matt Dilworth
In 1802, West Point Military Academy was founded, a pathetic joke of a military institution whose lax recruitment standards, negligible resources, and few teachers contributed little to the nation’s safety.  Then the War of 1812 happened, and losing the White House to the British convinced Congress that it would be prudent to train better officers and soldiers.  In 1817, Colonel Sylvanus Thayer was appointed as superintendent.  Thayer was a hero of the War of 1812 who had studied in France, and a man known for strict discipline in every sense of the word – both military and personal.  He quickly moved to change the character of the institution, and the character of the men who graduated. He created a stable four-year … Continued
The Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice

, Other
On Saturday, December 21st at 4:19 AM, the winter solstice will usher in the season of Winter.  Along with snow, lower temperatures and less daylight, however, the winter solstice also brings wonder, traditions and atmospheric changes that have inspired and connected humans for millennia.  Take a look at some of the phenomena that accompanies the solstice. The word solstice comes from two Latin words meaning “sun stoppage” because the amount of daylight is shorter or longer than usual.  In winter, the sun is closer to the earth, a phenomenon known as perihelion, but the angle that the sun’s rays reach the earth make them less warming.  Hence, the seasons are dependent on the sun’s position relative to the earth.  The … Continued