Taking a DIFFERENT course

Students have the chance every day to learn from professors who have made remarkable achievements within their respective fields. But what they may not know is that some of their professors also have interesting hobbies and activities outside their academic lives. VEGAS, BABY, VEGAS
Cable TV shows such as Bravo's "Celebrity Poker Showdown," where audiences get to see their favorite stars either win big for charity or languish in the Losers' Lounge, have taken the poker game to the forefront of popular consciousness in the last several months. Accounting professor Chris Falk said he likes the new attention the game is getting. Falk regularly visits the Caesar's Indiana casino near New Albany, Ind., to play Texas Hold 'em poker, and he said that the newfound popularity of the game makes it even more fun. "It's good for the game," Falk said. "A lot of people who don't know how to play decide to try their hand at it." While in many games the appearance of green newcomers is a drag, Falk said in poker, it only augments the more seasoned players' chances at winning, which, of course, is the point. "We are sharks," Falk said. "They are like a wounded baby seal in the water, and we're coming after them." Falk, 30, said he began playing poker when he was 17 years old. He had always been into horse racing and casinos and was introduced to the game at a young age. "I like the money," Falk said. "But then also, you know, it's a challenge. You're competing with other people." Aside from the competitive aspect of the game, Falk said that poker also fits in nicely with his academic background. "It's a thoughtful game … there is a mathematical and probability element to poker, which fits in nicely to my accounting," Falk said. While Faulk regularly plays poker in-state, he said he also enjoys traveling outside the state to places like Atlantic City, N.J., around once a month. But as far as Falk is concerned, the best place to travel to play poker is undisputed: Vegas, baby, Vegas. "Vegas is the greatest place on the face of the earth," Falk said. "It's just constant action." Although he enjoys poker enormously, Falk said he would not want to pursue it as a full-time career because he doesn't want to spoil a good thing. "It can become a grind," Falk said. "You've got the smoke, and you're sitting for hours and hours. I'd stop enjoying it if I played a lot." UP A CREEK WITH A PADDLE
While Falk spends his time outside of class raking it in at casinos, Michael Valliant, who teaches classes at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and serves as applications and systems analyst at the School of Journalism, spends his weekends and school breaks leading kayaking trips in exotic locations. "I enjoy leading groups of people outdoors and exposing people to the environment in nature," Valliant said. Valliant, who has been paddling for 15 years, teaches R110 Outdoor Leadership Skills classes in HPER. Over the past several years, he has taught this one-credit class on varied subjects such as vertical caving, coastal kayaking, whitewater kayaking, canoeing, showshoeing and cross-country skiing. Outside of class, Valliant works for IU Outdoor Adventures, leading students on trips all over the country and the world. In the past, he has led trips to the Apostle Islands in northern Wisconsin, Costa Rica and, earlier this year, he led a one-week sea kayaking trip through the Everglades. "Outdoor Adventures really finds importance in developing student leaders and outdoor leaders, and it's a really phenomenal organization in that regard," Valliant said. Valliant said that although some students might be intimidated by the thought of kayaking, canoeing or camping for the first time, even beginners can take trips with Outdoor Adventures. "Most of the people we take out are just interested in gaining new skills, Valliant said. "We have to teach camp-craft, and it's all a group effort." THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Telecommunications instructor Russell Castillo teaches students the art of audio production both in the classroom and his off-campus studio Castle Creek. There, he gives students the chance to use classic audio recording equipment for their projects, while teaching them the tricks of the trade he has learned in three decades in the music business. Castillo has been around famous rock musicians since he was a teenager, when he went to school with the son of John Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas. In 1979, he got a job at Producers Workshop, a studio in Hollywood that Castillo said had six Grammy Awards to its name at the time. Within his first six months of working there, one of his projects was to work on Pink Floyd's seminal album, The Wall, an experience that he called "two months of intense learning." Throughout his time at Producers Workshop, Castillo had the chance to work with many famous names, including Bob Ezrin, who produced albums for Pink Floyd and Alice Cooper and discovered the band Kiss, and Bob Rothchild, who produced almost every album by the Doors. Castillo said that his experience working with the big names of the music industry inspired him to pass his knowledge on to others. "That was pretty exciting for me because I got taught by some of the best people in the world," Castillo said. "I can never pay them back, and I want to pay them back. They told me, 'If you want to pay us back, just pass it on.' I thought that was pretty cool, so that's what I'm doing," Now, Castillo said he takes his students to his studio and allows them to record and produce a song, while they learn about all the classic equipment he has amassed in the last several years. Several local bands, including The Swell, Right Side Down, Blue Moon Review and Three Minute Mile have recorded music at Castle Creek with Castillo's help. Josh Gilmore, a former student of Castillo's who was in Right Side Down and is currently in the acoustic band 20 Minutes to Park, said that Castillo is very helpful to his students. "He always goes out and supports every band he works with, which is kind of cool," Gilmore said. "He's such a cool guy; he's like a friend." Castillo said he feels lucky to have had the opportunity to work in the music business for so long and that he is glad to be able to pass his knowledge on to his students. "I really do love being around the students and working with them. They're very intelligent and very advanced and very technologically knowledgeable," Castillo said. Castillo said although the music industry is difficult to get into, he encourages his students to pursue their dreams. "Sometimes I wonder how I became so lucky," Castillo said. "But somebody's got to do it. So if you've got the guts to do it, then go out and do it."