IU Southeast—three ‘non-traditionals’ hit academic milestones, ready for next steps forward

By Katherine Sears

However, for three women who graduated from IU Southeast May 6, the ceremony carried a special significance. The women—all non-traditional students—have persisted against some odds to earn a college degree.

Jill Warner

A native of the historical community of Portland in Louisville, Ky., Jill Warner became inspired to return to college to earn a history degree after witnessing a youth writing graffiti on the back of a building in her old neighborhood.

Now, five years later at the age of 33, Warner has earned two degrees for a triple major: a bachelor of arts degree in history and Spanish, and a bachelor of science degree in secondary education. Within her five-year college career, Warner studied Anglo-Saxon history at Cambridge for a year and also studied Spanish in Spain. However, Warner said completing the triple-major feat was not too difficult because she carefully selected her courses. Her mission is to teach and to channel her first-hand knowledge and research about Portland into publishing a book about the neighborhood.

“I see myself as a historian who can teach,” she said. Warner wants to dispel all of the misconceptions about the neighborhood, which she said is rich in character and heritage. “Portland is incredibly significant in the early shipping industry. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the country,” Warner said, adding that famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead designed the community.

While Warner now lives in New Albany with her musician husband, Tommy, her family remains in Portland, and she returns there every weekend to attend church and to help in community outreach and clean-up endeavors.

In earning her degrees, Warner credits several IU Southeast people who encouraged her to be persistent with her goals, including academic adviser Carolyn Kraft, Spanish lecturer Amy Zink, and Glenn Crothers, an associate professor of history.

“Glenn taught me that I could be a historian. Amy Zink is awesome. She drilled that (Spanish) grammar into my head,” Warner said.

Warner also attributed her faith in God and her optimistic outlook. “When I look out my window, it’s always partly sunny and the glass is always half full. I found school fascinating!”

Claudia Beyl-Petri

One might not expect a typical philosophy major to be a 58-year-old grandmother of 10. But Claudia Beyl-Petri of Sellersburg isn’t your typical philosophy graduate.

After her four children were grown, Beyl-Petri decided to return to college part time to take a philosophy class. “The more I went the more I liked it. I really didn’t go with the idea of graduating,” said Beyl-Petri.

A native of Jeffersonville, Beyl-Petri first attended the IU Southeast campus in Jeffersonville in 1963. However, marriage and children became her main priority, so she left school.

When her children entered college at University of Louisville, Beyl-Petri grew interested in their studies. “I’d get excited about it,” she said.

Although she knew she wanted to return, Beyl-Petri felt apprehensive when she entered her first classroom and saw a majority of 18- to 20 year-olds. However, their warm reception toward her eased that initial fear. “They sort of adopted me,” said Beyl-Petri. “They were great!”

A couple of professors inspired Beyl-Petri to remain persistent with her studies: Brian Jones, professor of fine arts, and William Rumsey, professor of philosophy. Jones encouraged Beyl-Petri to enroll in an art course and Rumsey reassured Beyl-Petri that she could overcome her fear of giving an oral presentation in front of her class.

Beyl-Petri also gave credit to her husband of 40 years, James, who supported her endeavor. “He was all for it,” she said.

Although Beyl-Petri sees the field of philosophy as not very female-friendly, she said she grew fascinated with it when she read some works on her own. Her favorite philosopher? “Plato, absolutely! He’s an idealist and so am I. He, by-the-way, didn’t discount women,” Beyl-Petri said.

Earning a bachelor’s degree won’t end Beyl-Petri’s education. She intends to pursue a graduate degree in creative writing through the University of Vermont’s distance learning program.

Beyl-Petri originally had no intention of participating in commencement exercises. However, she realized an opportunity to communicate a positive message to her grandchildren.

“This is something my 10 grandchildren need to see,” she said, adding, matter-of-factly, “I’m walking.”

Linda Fugate

A California native, Linda Fugate, now 51, first tried her hand at college in the late 1960s when she attended the University of California at Irvine for two years with intentions of becoming a translator.

However, Fugate left college, married and reared seven children, now ages 29 to 35. Eventually, the family moved to Southern Indiana and Fugate was determined to keep a promise she made to her mother: to finish college.

In 1996, Fugate, who lives in Clarksville, enrolled in classes at IU Southeast. While being a non-traditional student posed its own challenges, Fugate found an even greater hurdle to leap when she developed non-age related macular degeneration. Fugate is now legally blind and uses a white cane to aid her navigation across campus and to signify to others that she can’t see them.

Fugate received a bachelor of arts degree in history. She chose history after taking a course from Stephanie Bower, who also has helped Fugate with transportation to and from her senior seminar course this year.

The most difficult task for Fugate was in ordering the books necessary for her classes because she cannot see any type. She received most of her books through the Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic.

Fugate expressed gratitude to Michael Shipton, coordinator of services for students with disabilities, for assisting her with obtaining recordings of materials through IU Bloomington.

Living with a visual disability has not only been a learning process for Fugate, but educational for others as well. “Students have learned how to help me,” she said. She described the faculty as “phenomenal” in their efforts to assist her.

For example, Bohdan Bochan, professor of German, allowed Fugate to rely solely on his classroom instruction to complete a semester of the language.

Fugate also uses a laptop designed for the visually-impaired to take classroom notes, which are popular for fellow classmates to borrow. “What’s been really cool is, although I don’t take the best notes, they are the most legible,” Fugate said with a laugh. She also reads and writes in Braille.

Commencement hasn’t stopped Fugate’s education. She plans to continue at IU Southeast to pursue a master of liberal studies degree. “My intention is to work with adults who’ve lost their vision,” she said.