This week I sat down with Jermel Lamarr, a Student Life employee who has taken it upon himself to show leadership in coordinating and planning several campus events, including the Twister Challenge, Turkey Trot, and the wildly successful Wii Wednesdays. We discuss how IU Northwest has changed, and what students can look forward to in the next season of intramural sports.

Don Sjoerdsma: What's your major?

Jermel Lamarr: I have a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. I plan to go for my
Masters soon.

DS: What brought you to IU Northwest?

JL: This school was close to home, less distractions and I liked the affordability.

How did you come to be involved more directly with the Athletic Department?

I've worked for the Office of Student Life for years, so they gave me the opportunity to help student workers learn how to work game day operations such as scoreboard and timekeeping.

Who came up with the idea for Wii Wednesdays?

I believe Athletic Director Dr. Charles Gary came up with the idea. It's an activity to help promote campus life here.

Do you ever see any of the athletes playing the Wii? What's the response been like so far? Most of our athletes don't want to play because they're so busy but it's fun asking and harassing them to play as they run from me. Otherwise Wii Wednesdays has been a big hit on campus.

You coordinate all of the intramural sports. What goes into planning these?

First of all, getting students interested is the biggest challenge; so, I put the word out through email, flyers, and word of mouth. I set up dates, times, and locations. We currently have basketball, dodgeball, and ping pong intramurals this semester with an even bigger lineup next semester

Tell me about the Turkey Trot.

Turkey Trot is part of our Fit-N-Fun Series, where we have fun activities mix with some type of exercise to promote a healthy lifestyle. On Nov.19^th, we our going to host a race around Gleason Park. Men and Women will have separate races. They can pick between a walk or run race. Winners in each category will receive a turkey.

Tell me about the Twister Challenge.

Another event from our Fit-Fun Series. We held this activity back in September. We set up several Twister games in the Student Moraine Center and dared students and staff to play as they walked by. A lot of students had fun and the winners received t-shirts and book bags. It was such a success that we will be having another one really soon.

How do you come up with these event ideas?

Most of the ideas come from student workers of the Office of Student life and students who come up to me just to give me suggestions.

Did you play any sports in high school?

I love basketball, but I'm not too good at it.

What do you do on your free time? Do you have any hobbies?

I play basketball until I get hurt, which happens 90% percent of the time. And I watch movies a lot.

Name some of your favorite movies.

There's Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber, and Meet the Parents.

Do you have a favorite food?

Yes: free food.

Do you have any words of advice for future RedHawks?

Yes. IU Northwest is getting better every semester with campus life and athletics. Our academics have always been good, so this is a great place to go to school!