Hair2Honduras

Most people would not be keen on shaving their head, but talk to Milena Pisani, and the senior civil engineering major breaks out in a big smile at the mention of it.

“I always had a secret desire to do it and felt I needed a reason to do it,” she said. “People listen so much more to my cause because of it.”

Pisani is referring to Hair2Honduras, a cause she developed. If she raises $2,500, she will shave her head on the Daytona stage during Dayton to Daytona.

She will use the $2,500 in the fall to travel to Honduras, where she will help construct water purification systems.

“I was there last summer,” she said. “There was no clean water.”

The village Pisani would be working in has water, but it is not purified or stored properly and is left exposed to mosquitoes and other elements of disease.

“You completely re-evaluate the meaning of ‘poor,’” she said.

Pisani wants to return in September to continue learning.

“I want to study how to make community projects happen and how to make something sustainable,” she said.

Pisani has currently raised $1,100 dollars and will continue accepting donations until the week of May 7, and perhaps after.

Pisani is also competing for a Fulbright scholarship for the trip, and if she receives it, plans to donate all Hair2Honduras collections to Heart to Honduras, “a holistic organization centered in Christ with a goal to address the spiritual and physical needs of the poor in Honduras and beyond,” according to its website.

Either way, Pisani says she believes it will be a fulfilling experience where good work will be done.

“I expect a huge change in my faith and world view,” she said.

To make a donation, visit Hair2Honduras. Pisani has also started a Facebook.

Women for the win

It’s a man’s world they say, but not to Nicole Auerbach. In a sea of navy blue and black, Auerbach stands out in a pink sheath dress, one of the only female sports journalists in UD Arena for the NCAA tournament.

“At the Final Four last year, I looked around and there were like 200 men there and I think three other female print journalists,” said Auerbach, a college basketball reporter for USA TODAY.

Auerbach says there are certain things she has to think about as a female sports writer that many of her male colleagues don’t face.

“I have to be very conscious of what I am wearing at all times,” she said. “If you are doing an interview and you need to get someone’s phone number, you have to be very careful how you ask it. It’s just all these things that male colleagues don’t have to think about.”

Auerbach says some female reporters, though males do as well, take note of the sports stories off the court, particularly relating to family and relationships.

“Today I did a story on Deshaun Thomas at Ohio State,” she said. “His son turns one today and he’ll be here. Last year he had to play when his son was born.”

“No one else did that story today,” she went on to say. “That was just something I was immediately drawn to.”

Auerbach tells female sports journalists to pursue their career and to not forget about print, which is where she sees the least amount of female sports journalists.

“I think people should do it,” she said. “Some women growing up now just see sideline reporters or the occasional anchor and they don’t see the print writers.”

There are definitely not enough women in print journalism, Auerbach said. She also encourages women to go into the field without any fear of a stigma.

“I know a ton of girls who love sports and know a lot about it and we just don’t have a lot,” she said. “I know a few, but there should always be more.”

Hoosiers gear up for madness

As a born and raised Southeastern Conference fan, covering the NCAA tournament at UD Arena is a whole new experience for a southern football fan like me. Besides, I was besieged by plagues of Irish and Buckeyes close to home.

Before Thursday’s madness behind March Madness — an open practice day for Temple, James Madison, Indiana, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Iona, Iowa State and North Carolina State — I had never seen so many Indiana Hoosiers in one place.

Their fans and players say they are excited to get the games started. Even though Indiana holds the No. 1 seed, players and fans alike are not going in with arrogance.

“There’s a reason all of these teams are here,” says an Indiana native and Dayton resident. “Each team has earned their spot.”

“I was so excited [for Indiana] because I’ve been a fan of them for a very long time,” says a young fan from Lawrenceburg, Ind. “It made me so happy that they’re doing so well this season.”

The Lawrenceburg residents say they feel confident about the game against 16-seed James Madison and the rest of the games “at least for a few rounds.”

“To be a No. 1 seed is a great honor, and we’re just going to cherish the moment, enjoy it, and go out there and have fun and play hard,” says senior Indiana player Jordan Hulls.

The Hoosiers are excited to be in Dayton and are prepared to take on the madness. Even though I’m far from Rocky Top and the Tide in my southern comfort zone, the Hoosiers’ good nature and enthusiasm radiated throughout the UD Arena, making fans from all over feel right at home.

O-H, I-O

I was born in Michigan, but I was raised a Buckeye fan. So I knew how to respond yesterday when someone in the small — but loud — crowd of scarlet and gray in UD Arena stood up and shouted, “O-H!”

The Ohio State basketball team didn’t have far to travel to play in the second round of the NCAA men’s Division I basketball tournament. In fact, they were able to practice on their home court Thursday morning before busing down to Dayton in the afternoon. They’re fans of UD’s arena, too. “When I was a [college] player, I had my greatest game ever in this building,” said Thad Matta, OSU head coach, in a press conference before his team’s open practice began.

UD Arena has hosted more NCAA tournament games than any other venue. “The atmosphere is great; I understand why they have this here,” said Omar Williams, a Dayton resident. “The facility is second to none.” Williams has been to the arena before, but not for an NCAA event. He brought the fourth grade AAU basketball team he coaches to watch Ohio State’s practice. “It’s great for the kids to learn what we’re teaching them … I’m excited for the kids to have this opportunity to see some guys here that they see on TV.”

By the way the fans stood up and sang the fight song as the Buckeyes walked onto the court for their practice, everyone was pretty excited to have that opportunity.

Watch 2-seed Ohio State take on 15-seed Iona at 7:15 p.m. and click the photo for more pictures from Thursday afternoon at UD Arena.

NCAA Second Round – Photo Blog

Check out our photos from the NCAA tournament’s second round games at UD Arena. We’ll be adding more at halftime and at the end of each game.

Buckeyes and Hoosiers and Irish… oh my!

After another successful First Four, UD Arena will prepare to welcome another 10,000-plus crowd Thursday afternoon for another day of basketball.

There aren’t any games scheduled today, but the teams playing in the second round, or round of 64 in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, will hold free, open practices for fans throughout the day.

With No. 1 seeds Ohio State and Indiana scheduled to play here on Friday, and 7 seed Notre Dame also playing in Dayton Friday, expect to see plenty of fans take advantage of the opportunity to see their favorite players in action this afternoon.

Want to watch? Here is Thursday’s free practice schedule.

Noon-12:40 p.m. – Temple
12:45-1:25 p.m. – James Madison
1:30-2:10 p.m. – N.C. State
2:15-2:55 p.m. – Indiana
4:25-5:05 p.m. – Ohio State
5:10-5:50 p.m. – Notre Dame
5:55-6:35 p.m. – Iona
6:40-7:20 p.m. – Iowa State

#FirstFour – Day 2 in photos

Check out the photos from last night’s games … Warning: One or two of them just might ruffle your feathers!