Indiana University’s Little 500: Corean LegStrong

Students trickled back from the sandy beaches of Florida, slot machines of Las Vegas, cruises though the tropics, or where ever they have may resorted for Spring Break, in hopes to find some motivation to finish out the 2010-2011 academic school year. The next major celebration to take place is the Indiana University’s Annual Little 500.

The Little 500 (also known as the "Little Five"), is the annual bicycle race held annually at Bill Armstrong Stadium on the IU campus. The race was founded in 1951 by Howdy Wilcox Jr., who modeled the race after the Indianapolis 500. Racers compete in teams of four, racing relay-style for 200 laps (50 miles) along a quarter-mile (440 yards) cinder track. Thirty-three teams are selected in qualifications trials to compete in the main race. Money raised by the event goes towards a scholarship fund for working IU students.

This year, the team Corean LegStrong has been training and conditioning in preparation for qualifications. Corean LegStrong is a Little 500 bicycle team composed of four riders and one student coach. Members are all from South Korea. The team was formed just this year, and it will be their first time competing in Little 500.  If qualified, Corean LegStrong will be the second Asian team to be race in the Little 500.

Team members include:

Hae Young Oh –
senior, entrepreneurship
Jung Joon Choi -
junior - entrepreneurship
Kyung Jun Koh - sophomore, sports marketing & management
Dong Chul Lee - sophomore, management
Taesoo Kim -
senior – entrepreneurship

Qualifications take place Saturday, March 26, 2011 and the qualifying teams will then go on to compete in the 2011 Little 500 on Saturday, April 16, 2011.

                                                                                  -Ian

Student Corner

Many students may, or may not, have noticed the recent construction on the West Apartments in the Southeast Neighborhood on IU’s Campus. The demolition of these apartments has not been a big deal around campus among students.  I lived in the Read Residence Hall during my freshman year here at IU and noticed that a majority of the residents in the West Apartments consisted of international students or graduate students. The demolition of the these apartments poses many issues.

With the university’s current shortage of housing for student living on-campus, what will be implemented to replace the West Apartments to either supplement for the housing that once was? Will the university add more housing which will replace the space that was demolished and also alleviate some of the shortage of on-campus housing for students?

Is this fair to students that could have potentially lived on-campus in these apartments by making them live off campus or finding alternative living arrangements? What would you  like to see be put in the place of where the West Apartments are located?  

                                                                                                          - Ian White