A couple of weeks ago, I sent out a campus-wide email about the Fitness Center and programs that we offer during the summer months. Women on Weights (WOW) is one of those programs.

This program will begin Monday, June 1, and run for five weeks. You have a choice of either coming Mondays and Wednesdays after work (4:45 to 5:30 p.m.) or Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch (noon to 12:45 p.m.).

If you get in a bind, the first two days of the week should be the same (Monday/Tuesday) and the second days should also be the same (Wednesdays/Thursdays) – so if you have conflicts with a particular day, we could possibly work around it.

During these five weeks we will talk about all the basics – cardio, strength training, nutrition, and fitness lingo. Each session will have a short “talk” session before you are shown some type of activity. After that, you are welcome to workout with what you are taught that day or over previous weeks – for the remainder of the 45 minutes or longer, if you so desire.

You will be given handouts each week to help you follow along, a workout log, and a folder to keep all your information in. Please keep in mind this is not a personal training session – you won’t get put through a workout each session. We are going to show you the equipment and how to use it and what you need to know in order to put a workout together for yourself.

In order to register for a certain session, all you need to do is contact me by Friday, May 29, and let me know you are interested – and which session you would like to attend. Also – fill out the physical activity readiness questionnaire that I attached to the email I sent out and bring it to the first session you attend. If you did not receive the questionnaire or need one, email me at sgdavis@usi.edu. If you think that you may need a doctor’s clearance for this – please get one! We will keep it on file with all your other information.

We will meet in the stretching area (right behind the front desk) for the first week. Depending on how many people have registered, we may need to move our “talk” session somewhere more conducive. Remember:the temporary entrance for the Fitness Center is on the south side of the building…and you need your eagle access card in order to be let in. So please bring it with you or you won’t be able to join us!

If you have questions, call Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness at 812/461-5270.

I hope to see you soon!

POST CONTRIBUTED BY: SANDI DAVIS, program coordinator in Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness.

Just like the recent Hulu commercials, the iPhone is Apple’s secret weapon to bring the PC world into the Mac fold. I can’t wait! We Mac users have been in the minority of computer users for far too long now. Estimates keep us hovering around just six percent of total computer users. We like to call it the upper six percent.

My belief is that the iPhone is finally going to change that trend for the better. The iPhone’s huge popularity among non-Mac folks is our new gateway drug, our Trojan Horse, our evil plot to take over the PC world. It sneaks into unsuspecting PC owner’s hands and before you know it, they fall in love with the elegant and intuitive interface and the sheer genius of its design. Soon they may decide to check out the full-blown version of its operating system on a desktop or laptop Macintosh. Perhaps this will lead to a future Mac purchase? That’s our ultimate goal.

When I heard the new USI email system upgrade was going to include support for ActiveSync technology I could hardly hold in the excitement. I knew this amazing “Push” technology was going to get even more people excited about the iPhone on campus.

For those that don’t know, Push is the term used for constantly and wirelessly syncing to the mothership. In this case, that’s the USI Exchange 2007 Server. That server keeps all your email, contacts, and calendar. You may think that your data is stored on your local computer, but most of it resides on the server. That’s how you can check your email via the web interface anywhere in the world.

Using Push syncing is just like editing calendars or contacts on your desktop computer. As soon as you make a change on the iPhone, it shows up on your desktop and vice-versa. No more plugging the phone in to sync up – it’s always in sync! As you read email on the phone, the messages are marked read in Outlook. If you add a calendar event or new contact while on the road, when you return they are already in the system, no plugging-in required. You can even accept Outlook meeting requests on the iPhone. An added bonus is you can now send email through the USI Exchange Server. Before the update you had to either turn off Wi-Fi and use the AT&T outgoing email server, or keep Wi-Fi turned on and use another outgoing server such as Google. Everything works as it should now.

The iPhone has been set up since the v2.0 firmware to use ActiveSync via an Exchange Server, so as soon as my email account was moved to the new system I began figuring out how to set it up. With a few settings provided by Carol Schmitt (programmer/analyst 1 in the Computer Center), I was up and going in just a few short minutes. I’ve documented the steps so you too can enjoy this new technology.

Here are the five simple steps to help welcome you new black turtleneck overlords (that’s a Steve Jobs joke, you know, because he always wears black turtleneck sweaters… oh never mind).

Before starting, be sure to delete any POP or IMAP USI email accounts you’ve previously set up.

1.      Go to: Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars. NOTE: You also want to turn on “Push” under Fetch New Data which is essentially instantaneous sync. This does negatively affect battery life.

2.      Select  “Add Account”

3.      Select  “Microsoft  Exchange”

4.      Enter your email address, domain, username, and password as shown then select Next to verify your account. Now enter the Server “exchhub.usi.edu” as shown.

5.      You can now select what you would like to sync. NOTE: If you turn on Contacts or Calendars it will erase your local iPhone data and replace it with data from the Exchange server. NOTE: Select “No Limit” to retrieve ALL your old mail on the server.

Click each step for a larger graphic:

That’s it. To sync music, movies, bookmarks, etc. you will still need a wired connection to a Mac/PC and the latest iTunes software. Enjoy!

POST CONTRIBUTED BY: Chris Norrick, senior graphic artist in Publishing Services.

As some of you know, I have expressed my concern at times over the “futuristic” look of the new Business and Engineering Center and tower in the quadrangle. I apologize for being a “doubter” of our new architecture style for these buildings.

Yes, they are different, but at the topping off ceremony, it dawned on me just how hypocritical my views really were.

We are preparing students for the future! The world is changing so rapidly now that the future our students face will likely be vastly different from what we see today.

I am probably the most vocal advocate for innovation and change on campus, but, sadly, I had not thought that way in terms of the new University architecture. I teach innovative thinking in the classroom, but I did not do what I taught when I looked at the designs for our two new buildings! I am sorry for that.

I have repented! True, we cannot blindly disregard the “traditional” in education or life, but we must embrace the future. While much of the future can be planned, we cannot be so dogmatic in our attachment to the past that we limit our thinking about future possibilities. I have caught the “vision” of our new architecture style.

Change is difficult to get used to at times, but change (like death and taxes) does come!

POST CONTRIBUTED BY: Dr. Les Nunn, associate professor of business law and chair of the Department of Accounting and Business Law.

There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza.

1. Avoid close personal contact.

Avoid close personal contact with people who are sick, and keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.

2. Stay home when you are sick.

You should not attend classes or go to work if you are experiencing a fever, vomiting and/or have diarrhea. You are contagious until 24 hours after the symptoms have resolved; i.e., if you last vomited at noon on Monday, you may return to school and/or work after noon on Tuesday.

3. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of the tissue immediately after use and wash your hands.

4. Clean your hands.

Washing your hands frequently and often will protect you from germs. You should use an antibacterial soap and rub hands together for at least 30 seconds. Thirty seconds is about the length of time it takes an individual to recite the alphabet or sing “Happy Birthday” twice. When soap and water are not available, alcohol based hand sanitizer may be used.

5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Germs are often spread when a person touches a contaminated surface then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Wash contaminated surfaces (sinks, toilet handles, computer mouse, TV remote control, door handles and countertops, etc., with sanitary wipes. Wipe off shopping carts with sanitary wipes before use.

6. Practice other good health habits.

Drink plenty of water – your goal should be eight to ten 8-ounce glasses a day; eat nutritious foods – three to five servings of fruits and vegetables a day; get plenty of sleep – aim for eight hours a night; be physically active – aim for walking 20 minutes a day three times a week; and take steps to manage your stress.

POST CONTRIBUTED BY: LYNN S. SCHNAUTZ, family nurse practitioner in the USI Student Health Center.