April 20,2023

‘The church’s answer was hurting them’

Former members of Bloomington’s High Rock Church allege spiritual, emotional abuse

By Marissa Meador • marnmead@iu.edu | @Marissa_Meador

Editor’s Note: This story includes mention of suicide, spiritual abuse and sexual assault.

Pastor Scott Joseph was worried his congregation was under attack.

In response, he spoke to his congregation during a sermon in August 2022, informing them of a website called “Leaving the Network,” along with a Reddit thread of the same name. He claimed these sources were saying “nasty stuff” about the church and its vast network.

Joseph advised members to stay away.

“The reason is, I'm caring for sheep,” Joseph said in the sermon. “If I see them going over to drink from a toxic cesspool filled with leeches, I’m going to say, ‘Hey, there's a better pool over here. This is a good place to drink from.’”

What Joseph described as a “toxic cesspool of leeches” is an online community of former members, staff and pastors of network churches, including from High Rock. Among them are Tim Reeves, a former pastor at High Rock Church in Bloomington who had been with the church since its inception in 2008; Clint Deck, a former small group leader who belonged to the church for six years; and a young couple, Kim and James, who no longer felt the church could be a safe place for the child they planned to adopt. Kim and James asked not to have their last names listed out of concern that it would affect their relationship with their clients, as they both work in the mental healthcare field.

The emotional pain they describe is long-lasting. For some, the damage is left permanently unresolved, which Clint believes is the case for former member Andy DeYoung, who committed suicide a year after leaving the church.

“I was hurting people,” Clint Deck said as he looked down at his hands. “People were truly looking to me for answers, and I was only supposed to give them the church’s answer. And the church’s answer was hurting them.”

Tim, Clint, Kim and James all claim what they experienced at High Rock was spiritual abuse. Communicating with former members through Reddit and reading testimonies from members of other churches on the website became a part of the healing process as they learned they were far from alone.

As of April 2023, 20 months after the website went live, 27 stories have been posted to the website. The Reddit thread currently has 813 members.

As both sites gained popularity, a consensus grew: the emotional harm former members allege appeared to be rampant throughout the network of churches, a system created and maintained by religious leader Steve Morgan.

SEE HIGH ROCK, PAGE 4

Bloomington's 7 Day Forecast

SOURCE:

Bodies of missing students recovered in Monroe Lake

By Marissa Meador marnmead@iu.edu | @Marissa_Meador

On the fourth day of the search for two missing IU students, the bodies of Siddhant Shah, 19, and Aryan Vaidya, 20, were recovered from Monroe Lake on April 18.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources had searched for the students each day since they disappeared under the surface of the lake Saturday while swimming with friends.

The DNR press release said the bodies were found in 18 feet of water east of Paynetown Marina.

The two students were on a pontoon boat Saturday and anchored the boat to swim in the lake. According to a previous DNR release, friends tried to help when the two students did not resurface but

they were not able to find them.

Lieutenant Angela Goldman told the IDS that winds were high on Saturday and worsened the

following days, which interfered with sonar technology and prolonged the search. Intense winds can affect currents in lakes, creating dangerous condi-

tions for swimmers. According to IU spokesperson Amanda Roach, Shah and Vaidya were both students in the Kelley School of Business.

Spring farmers’ markets open for 2023 season

By Madelyn Hanes mrhanes@iu.edu

Bloomington farmers’ markets opened April 1 for the 2023 season and will run until the beginning of November. Shoppers can find locally grown produce, music, flowers and more every Saturday.

Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market

The Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday in the Showers Common at 401 N. Morton St. “Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market is one of the few markets in the country ran by a city government,” Cortland Carrington, the chairperson of the market’s advisory council, said. This committee discusses policies relating to the market and strives to connect customers with local food sources. He said they have many hopes for the spring season including continued market growth and local participation.

“COVID and some racerelated issues in 2020 really set us back and caused a lot of problems, shielding people away from public places,” Carrington said. “Since then, we have seen a major growth and hope it will continue.”

According to the City of Bloomington, Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market will also launch a Tuesday market with the same vendors, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. starting on June 6 at 1611 S. Rogers St. On Tuesdays, shoppers can find locally grown produce, plants, entertainment and informational booths. Birdie & The Bees Farm, Hoosier Honey and Wilderlove Farm, among other vendors, will have booths at this particular market.

“There’s so much variety, everyone is so friendly, and it’s a nice opportunity to find different things and nice thing to do with friends,” IU sophomore Caroline Dhana said.

Woolery Mill Farmers’ Market

The Woolery Mill Farmers’ Market is run by a volunteer board of directors that consists of farmers, prepared food vendors and customer representatives.

Woolery Mills Famers’ Market also runs the oldest winter farmers’ market in Indiana. According to their website, the organization works to lengthen the farmers’ market season and expand accessibility of local grown products to the community.

The Woolery Mill Farmers’ Market is located in the Woolery Mill front lot at

2250 W. Sunstone Drive. The market will run from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday. Locals can find fresh produce and meat, baked goods, live music and free parking. The WMFM market will host 30 vendors, including 3 Dogs and a Mom, Freedom Valley Produce and Pie First Bakery.

The Peoples Cooperative Market

The Peoples Cooperative Market’s mission is to provide a space that is welcoming and inclusive for all people while supporting local farmers and small businesses owners. According

In a previous version of this page, “Bill proposed for delivery apps to get restaurant permission” and “Chabad IU will host Holocaust survivor speaker” were incorrectly attributed to Sophie Goldstein and Mia Hilkowitz, respectively. Bylines have been updated to credit the correct authors.

City council to create climate coalition

By Andrew Miller ami3@iu.edu

Bloomington’s city council unanimously approved a resolution to adopt Project 46, a coalition between Bloomington, Nashville and Columbus, Indiana, aiming to combat climate change on April 12.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop, Nashville Town Manager Sandie Jones and Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton announced Project 46 on March 24. The three leaders have called on their town and city councils, county commissioners and county councils to sign a resolution pledging their support for the project.

After the resolutions pass, a task force will be established with representatives from each community to oversee the project, according to a City of Bloomington news release. Nashville’s town council will vote on the resolution on April 20. The City of Columbus has not yet set a date to vote on the resolution, according to their website.

lican,” he said. “I just want to show people that those differences don’t apply when we’re talking about municipalities and doing our best to leave as little of an environmental footprint as we can.”

In addition to the benefits of collaboration, Lienhoop said friendly competition between each involved community will also help accelerate efforts to decarbonize.

“There’s no grand prize, there’s no money to be had at the end of the finish line,” he said. “But I think we all do well when we have a bit of a goal.”

to its website, the market values include equitability, access to locally grown food, anti-racism and support for underserved communities.

The Peoples Cooperative Market will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. It is located at 2420 E. Third St. in the fellowship hall at First United Church. According to the organization, PCM delivers items sold at the market to your front door. People can start an order with a pickup or delivery option here. This market has locally grown meat and vegetables, baked goods, seeds and plants and herbal products.

Bill proposed for delivery apps to get restaurant permission

is.

By Kathleen Tran trankat@iu.edu

A new bill waiting to be signed by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb would require third party food delivery services such as DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats to get written consent from restaurants before listing them on their website or app.

Lawmakers in the Indiana Senate passed House Bill 1279 on April 3 after its passage in the Indiana House on Feb. 27. If Holcomb signs the bill, it would be effective July 1, 2023.

In addition to requiring written consent from restaurants to join the platform in the future, the bill, authored by Rep. Robb Greene, R-District 47, would also require restaurants to notify thirdparty food delivery services if they wish to terminate their contract. If a restaurant wants to terminate their contract with a food delivery service, the thirdparty food delivery service must remove the restaurant from their platform within a specified time period listed in the food delivery service’s

contract. However, if there is no specified time period for termination in the contract, the food delivery service must remove the restaurant from their platforms within 72 hours of the termination notice. If the food delivery service violates any part of the proposed bill, restaurants have the option to resolve the issue in court. If the court finds the food delivery service is in violation of the contract, restaurants are entitled to receive liquidated damages of a maximum of $50,000 per transaction after the agreed termination date.

IU junior and DoorDash driver Gavin Meng has driven for DoorDash since 2021. Meng was not aware that third party food delivery services didn’t need to receive consent from restaurants in order to put them on their platforms.

“I figured that would’ve been something they already needed to have — like some sort of partnership,” Meng said. “So, the fact that they don’t have to ask restaurants and just list them is a little bit strange.”

Meng chose to work for DoorDash because it had a flexible schedule and was a quick way to earn money during academic breaks. The app allows drivers to work on their own time.

While Meng said he doesn’t think HB 1279 would affect him or other food delivery drivers since they only pick up and drop off the food orders, he sees the possibility of fewer restaurants in the future being available on the app for customers because the restaurants would have to go through the process of giving written consent.

“But at this point, I don’t see why (the restaurants) would say no,” Meng said. “It’s extra revenue for the restaurant, so it’s a win-win.”

IU freshman Kyra Horton works as a crew member at McDonald’s located on Third Street and said the specific location has three different positions: drivethru, front counter and food delivery service orders. Horton said food delivery service orders don’t add extra workload with other orders they receive because of how constantly busy the location

However, the owner of Baked! of Bloomington Jeremy Ness said in an email that the bakery’s overall business, including its revenue and number of customers, has grown because it uses thirdparty food delivery services like DoorDash and Delivery. com. However, Ness said in the email the company has experienced complications with third party platforms before. The business used to be listed on the EnvoyNow platform, a third-party food delivery service primarily targeting college students that is no longer active, but there was no prior consent or communication between the bakery and delivery platform, which caused issues with their customers.

“They completely bungled our menu setup, and it resulted in angry customers having no recourse to get their issues resolved,” Ness said in the email. “This is one of many laws that I would support and that I think are necessary to prevent these Wall Street-backed firms from steamrolling our small businesses.”

Chabad at IU will host Holocaust survivor speaker

By Sophie Goldstein sophiegoldstein@gmail.com @Sophie_gold3

Chabad at IU will present “A historic evening of inspiration from a survivor of Auschwitz & hard labor camps: Helga Melmed” from 5-6 p.m. April 23 at Presidents Hall in the Media School. The speaker event

will be in commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Chabad at IU is a Jewish student organization that includes Jewish classes, homecooked meals, Shabbat services and leadership opportunities. Chabad at IU is located at 703 E. Seventh St.

Melmed was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1927, and

at the age of 16, Melmed was found at 46 pounds and alone in Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Despite the suffering, Melmed fought to stay alive in the infamous camp. She has said she refuses to let hatred in her heart and chooses to share her story around the world.

“As a child I didn’t understand what was happening,”

Melmed said in promotional materials for the event. “The hatred, the violence then as a teenager, the labor camps, the gas ovens. Eighty years later, I’m here to tell you what happened.”

The event is free for the public. However, patrons are required to RSVP at the Chabad website. Doors will open at 4:45 p.m.

Alex Crowley, director of Bloomington’s Economic and Sustainable Development Department, said the project aims to increase collaboration and secure federal funds for sustainable development.

Crowley said cities like Bloomington and Columbus, and especially small towns like Nashville, often get lost in the shuffle when it comes to gaining access to federal climate grants, due to their smaller size. He said with an increase in federal funds due to the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, securing grant money will be exceedingly important in coming years. By forming a coalition, Crowley said the combined population and resources will help them apply for more funding.

Crowley said utilizing the City of Bloomington’s efforts in climate action, as well as Columbus’ private sector’s efforts, will make the coalition’s plan stronger, due to it’s cross-sectoral nature. For example, Bloomington adopted a climate action plan in April 2021, with the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Columbus-headquartered company Cummins has pledged major reductions in water use and greenhouse gas emissions.

“We’re an interesting counterbalance to each other,” Crowley said. “Some of our strengths are some of their weaknesses, and some of their strengths are some of our weaknesses.”

Lienhoop said he hopes the measure will increase collaboration across the political aisle and lead to more bipartisan solutions, at least on a municipal level.

“Mayor Hamilton is a Democrat, and I’m a Repub-

Lienhoop said though there are not many specifics yet, he anticipates the coalition’s plan will include setting up a greenhouse gas inventory, a system to measure the total greenhouse gas emissions in a community. After a measurement is completed, each community will be better able to track their reductions.

Hamilton said he wants to see the project bolster the region’s chances of receiving federal grant money, reducing transportation’s carbon footprint and increasing the efficiency of buildings. He said incorporating protective measures for rural watersheds, forests and agriculture will be key to the coalition’s goals, as well as larger clean energy installations.

“It would be terrific if our area could get a large-scale clean energy project, whether it’s a big solar array or a wind farm,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said he hopes the plan will inspire other regional coalitions to address what he refers to as “the climate emergency.”

“I don’t think there’s any place in Indiana that’s done this,” he said. “We hope that as we find a way forward with this, if it’s successful, others can learn from us.”

Hamilton said although they do not have a formal process for other communities to join the project, he hopes connected counties and nearby towns will join by passing a resolution and committing financial resources to support the project’s efforts.

“This is one of the most difficult challenges in front of governments, societies and communities,” Hamilton said. “Addressing it together is really encouraging, and I think we’re more likely to be successful.”

The sun rises March 30, 2021, on Monroe Lake. The bodies of missing IU students Siddhant Shah, 19, and Aryan Vaidya, 20, were recovered from Monroe Lake on April 18, 2023.

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA SMITH | IDS

David Vadas is seen selling honey on April 2, 2022, at the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market. Three Bloomington farmers’ markets opened April 1 for the 2023 season and will run until the beginning of December.

SARAH PARRISH | IDS IU’s coal-powered central heating plant is shown Jan. 23, 2023, on North Walnut Grove. Project 46 aims to address climate change through regional collaboration.

DANNY’S DIATRIBES

The pandemic of live-action remakes

Danny William (they/them)

is a freshman studying media.

Nothing can really top the magic of seeing an amazing film for the first time. The characters are fun and fresh.

The twists are exciting and new. And when the credits roll, you know you’ve been changed forever.

But what if you could recapture that particular magic and see the film for the first time again? And again? And again?

That’s what Disney’s trying to do with its recent deluge of live-action remakes and sequels. While it may seem fun to revisit the worlds we loved as children, Disney is using its old properties to prey on nostalgia instead of coming up with original works.

Live-action remakes are nothing new, of course. Films like 2000’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” or 2002’s “Scooby-Doo” are live-action recreations based on its respective cartoons. However, they’re nothing compared to the current era of remakes we’re living in.

Disney’s precedent started

way back in 1994, with its release of “The Jungle Book,” a remake of the 1967 animated film of the same name. However, the current era began in 2014 with “Maleficent.” Since then, Disney has released 13 other live-action remakes and sequels. The company released five in 2019 alone. There’s more in the works, as well. At least three films –

“Peter Pan & Wendy,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Snow White” – will be released within the coming year. There’s a large handful of others in various stages of development, including a “Moana” remake. “Moana” came out a mere seven years ago, and somehow it already needs to be retold.

So why does Disney insist on recreating its biggest hits?

Easy. Money – because of course it’s money. 2019’s “The Lion King” made $1.6 billion at the global box office. Admittedly, it’s debatable if the film even counts as “live-action,” since all the characters are still animated, but it was seen as a more “realistic” version of the original. In its glory days, Disney

was seen as one of the most creative production companies out there. Now, however, a large amount of its output is simply recreations of its own films. Yes, many of these films were retellings of fairy tales and fables that have been around for centuries, but the films put a unique voice and character that has since become iconic.

It’s incredibly sad to see such a powerful company stoop to this level. New ideas are everywhere. It’s not impossible to find them. But somehow, they’re so creatively bankrupt that they can’t possibly take a risk on a new film.

Along with this, a certain philosophy behind these remakes troubles me. These films aren’t just simple remakes – they’re supposed to make the original animated creations more “realistic.” But animation isn’t less realistic –if anything, it can be truer to life than live-action.

Many critics have pointed out a lack of emotion in the remake of “The Lion King.” In an effort to make the sequences more “authentic”

Audrey Vonderahe (she/her) is

a sophomore studying journalism and criminal justice.

This week, the weather was beautiful, and I couldn’t help but be grateful. It’s the most cliché thing in the world, but the sun puts a smile on your face. I sat on my balcony and basked, and I wrote down what exactly I was grateful for in as much detail as I could feel. I think it changed my life. Here is what I’m grateful for this week:

Sunny, beautiful mornings, where sitting outside for morning coffee feels simple but enormous at the same time. Where a lull of a hazy morning contradicts the intended caffeine rush, but it feels worth it to be slow for a while.

Friendship – in its depths, hardships, triumphs and silliness. Companionship and knowing laughter, the glow of each day knowing you walk not alone, but alongside the ones you love dearly,

– lions don’t have intense, human-like facial expressions, after all – no one emotes. Simba just looks on with lifeless, computer-generated eyes as his father dies.

As Guillermo del Toro said in his Oscar acceptance speech for the delightful “Pinocchio,” “Animation is cinema.” Animation, whether it’s hand-drawn, stop-motion or computer-generated, is a

GROWING PAINS

List your gratitude

and who love you, too.

Breakfast with said friends in your college town’s local deli. A big pancake with sticky maple syrup. Eggs over medium, potatoes, hot sauce. The noises of clanking dishes wear as the morning rush settles in. Walking through the pouring rain to reach the door to the restaurant, though it was a summer day less than 24 hours ago. The typicality of discussing unpredictable weather made great by good company.

BLACK

Music, and its impact on the whole wide world, and on my own little Earthly experience. The power of listening and reflecting, of guessing meaning and making my own. The first drive with my windows down, the sunset ahead of me and green grass beside me. A thick humidity broken by the occasional cool breeze.

The color green. The rich, reflective chlorophyll pigment on each blooming tree. The green that screams

beautiful and creative medium that often surpasses liveaction films in impact. Think of the surreal, fascinating art of Disney’s “Fantasia.” Could that really be captured with real actors?

Disney is unwilling to take that risk. It won’t let its animated works speak for themselves anymore and are instead content with wringing every last dollar out of the

love millions of people hold for them. I would have much more respect for Disney if it was taking chances on new ideas, even if they bombed. At least then it would be adding to the cultural conversation, instead of just repeating themselves over and over and over again.

dw85@iu.edu

life. The green that returns each spring to softly pad the white flowers. The green that feeds on the hot beams of the sunshine, the sunshine that permeates the summertime. The sunshine that makes the days first chilly, then hot, then blows a warm breeze across your heart and your lungs at approximately 7 p.m.

The dew on the grass, as though it hasn’t been said before, one million and one times and in one million

and one ways. The water, the clear perspiration of the sweet green blades. The rich conditioner of nature, that particularly hopeful feeling of the rain cycle. And that’s what I’m grateful for this week, and I think you should write down what you’re grateful for, too. Or just think about it. To each their own: isn’t that great? Either way, I think it will change your life.

abvonder@iu.edu

Highlighting Black women who have made history in 2023

By Thursday Currence tcurrenc@iu.edu

As 2023 wraps up its first quarter, Black women are on a roll, setting record after record this year. Black women were “given their flowers” all throughout Black History Month and Women’s History Month, with record-breaking accomplishments.

Grammy-nominated singer SZA released her sophomore album in December 2022. By January 2023, her album had gained impressive momentum and was being streamed globally. Just nine weeks after “SOS” had been released it had broken the seven year Billboard record when it consecutively ranked first on the charts throughout the top of the year. In the R&B genre, SZA’s album had broken Janet Jackson’s 1993 record. SZA’s “SOS” was the first R&B album in nearly 30 years to spend four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

Following SZA’s impressive run was Beyonce’s ground breaking record. In February 2023, Beyonce set an incredible record of winning the most Grammy awards ever won by a single person. At the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, she was the most nominated artist, with a total of nine nominations for the night. She took home four of those Grammy’s. Beyonce now has a total of 88 nominations, making her tied for most Grammy nominations with her husband Jay-Z. Then came Rihanna with her iconic, headlining Super Bowl performance. The singer took a hiatus from her music career to focus on her other interests, like make up and fashion, but in February 2023 she decided to reemerge herself onto the music scene with a noteworthy performance. This was Rihanna’s first public performance in five years. She played many of her most popular no. 1 songs over the past 18

years.

Although Rihanna did not invite any other performers to share the stage with her, she did have a crew of talented back up dancers and a baby bump that stole the show. Rihanna used her Superbowl performance to announce she was expecting her second child with rapper ASAP Rocky. This exciting news made Rihanna’s halftime performance the most viewed halftime performance ever.

Finally, throughout Women’s History Month, also known as March Madness in the basketball world, Louisiana State University Women’s basketball team dominated the court. This landed the team as finalists in the National College Athletic Association National Championship.

The final game took place on April 2, and LSU’s starting lineup consisted of all Black female student athletes.

Angel Reese, starting forward of LSU, was named

Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four this year. Reese scored 15 points and 10 rebounds during the championship game. The LSU Tigers beat Iowa, 102-85.

This was LSU’s first national championship win.

So far, 2023 is off to a great start with record after record being topped by Black women. This year

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIETTE ALBERT

hasn’t even reached its halfway mark, which means there’s a lot more time for Black women to amaze us as they achieve their 2023 New Year resolutions.

Trump’s indictment is historic, but the repercussions are concerning

By Siddharth Nelluri

sidnellu@iu.edu

It’s been two weeks since former President Donald Trump was indicted by the Manhattan District Attorney on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal evidence of negative stories about himself leaking to the public, according to an article by MSNBC. There is a lot of speculation that these stories could have influenced the 2016 election had they come out.

According to documents released by the Manhattan District Attorney, the falsified business records in question account for $420,000 used to cover up stories of Trump’s sexual affairs with Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal,

as well as one story about a child of Trump born out of wedlock. These hush money payments were made in the months preceding the 2016 election by Michael Cohen, Trump’s former counsel. Over the course of his first year in office, the Trump Organization made monthly payments to reimburse Cohen under the guise of legal service fees in accordance with a falsified retainer agreement.

Upon hearing why the former president was indicted, many may be confused about why he hasn’t been indicted for more severe cases relating to his breaches of democracy, especially since the hush money payments took place over six years ago. In addition to the Manhattan DA, Trump is also being in-

vestigated by the DA of Fulton County, Georgia, and the Department of Justice for his involvement with election meddling and the January 6 capitol riots. This makes his indictment potentially the first of many.

Despite all this, Trump maintained his innocence and promised his legal troubles would not stop his 2024 presidential run in an interview with Tucker Carlson on Fox News.

“They’re weaponizing our justice system,” Trump said during the interview.

“It’s all disinformation”

It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that many still defend Trump and reacted positively to his appearance with Carlson, but it is still alarming. While news of Trump’s

indictment may feel triumphant to those who oppose him, myself included, I feel we might not be paying enough attention to how Republicans are choosing to respond. Many Republicans in Congress, such as Rep. Lauren Boebert and Sen. Ted Cruz, described the indictment as a “‘weaponization of our justice system” on Twitter. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene went so far as to tweet out “Impeach Biden.” and “Enough of this witch hunt bullshit.”

A few Republicans used the events as a call to action to raise more money. According to an article by the New York Times, the National Republican Congressional Committee sent a fundraising email to supporters that read “the deep state thinks

this will destroy our movement and keep you quiet” and urged readers to “prove them wrong.” This reactionary language is used without ever being clear about what Republicans are urging voters to do, and it’s natural to fear higher rates of rightwing violence. In fact, Fox News host Tucker Carlson was quoted saying it’s “probably not the best time to give up your AR-15s.”

It would be reductive to classify all Republican voters as endorsers of reactionary violence, a CNN article rationalized Trump’s current lead in the Republican primary polls against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a result of immense support from Republican voters of color who are largely in middle class or lower income communi-

ties. The Republican Party has been steadily aligning itself as the party for the working class in the years since the 2016 election while the Democratic Party has aligned itself with wealthier, more educated voters, according to an article by Axios . Democrats could steer voters their way if they made good on benefits promised to these same communities that are increasingly voting Republican and better addressed the issues these voters consider the most important.

Trump’s presidency may feel distant now that we’re right in the middle of Biden’s term, but the violent and passionate response of the Republican Party to his indictment is an indication of all that hasn’t changed since.

A still from the 2019 movie “The Lion King” is shown. Since 2014, there have been 14 Disney live-action remakes and sequels.

Optometry

Steve Morgan’s network of churches began in 2006, when Morgan, writing that he was inspired by a message from the Holy Spirit, left the Association of Vineyard Churches to start his own church network. He renamed his Illinois church Vine Church, and off the vine went, sprouting saplings across the country, and eventually, the world. Today, there are 26 churches across three countries in Morgan’s church network. Each new church was formed under Morgan’s unnamed, nondenominational network, tethered by a triedand-true strategy of growth. Churches focused on a small group structure intended to extend reach while maintaining close ties, particularly for university students, and 5% of monthly tithes flowed to the general fund of the network, according to the network bylaws. That same document states that local church bylaws can be edited by network leadership at any time, giving Morgan the ability to directly affect individual churches.

In 2008, Morgan’s sixth church was established in Bloomington, Indiana.

Among the church plant team was Scott Joseph, the current lead pastor, and Tim Reeves, a pastor who left the church in 2021.

The church would be called High Rock, fueled by IU students as they sought a place of refuge for their faith. But the image High Rock projects was fractured in the summer of 2022, when the decades old crime of the network’s founder and leader was shared with the world.

At the time, sex offender lists did not exist in Kansas and much of the U.S., so Morgan was free to move across the country and bury his past from many, going on to become a revered leader with a tremendous amount of power.

Disclosing his crime to only a few leaders he trusted in the church, Morgan maintained his position under the pretext of repentance. But Morgan was not fully transparent: Andrew Lumpe, former board member of a church in Seattle, recalls Morgan saying the victim was older than he actually was when Lumpe was first told in 2007.

After attempting to remove Morgan quietly, Lumpe decided to send a letter to network leadership detailing the crime in 2019.

He received no response.

In 1987, Steve Morgan was arrested for aggravated criminal sodomy of a minor in Johnson County, Kansas.

Despite the severity of his crime — abusing his power as a youth pastor and raping a 15-year-old boy — and the fact records state the Johnson County District Attorney’s office believed he was guilty, the court decided on a diversion agreement. This agreement did not require jail time, but it mandated he pay for the therapy of his victim and receive counseling for his crime.

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In 2020, almost four decades after the incident, Morgan finally confessed his crime to all of the lead pastors, according to Lumpe. In the summer of 2022, a former member of the church found and published Morgan’s arrest records on Leaving the Network, exposing details of Morgan’s crime he had tried to hide.

At no point was Morgan held accountable, according to those the IDS spoke with for this story. To this day, Morgan is still president of the network and the lead pastor of Joshua Church in Texas.

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He scrambled to find a job, eventually earning his teaching license and finding a job in Brown County.

Tim acknowledges that what he did was wrong, but he still felt betrayed when he found out about Morgan months later, whose sin was criminal and not consensual.

“I think that the number one reason it’s different is because I’m not Steve Morgan,” Tim said.

Without Morgan, he said, the network would not survive.

A

t 38, former pastor Tim Reeves navigates the classroom with the ease of someone born to deal with middle school kids. He is lighthearted yet focused, determined to make a lasting and positive impact. When he is teaching, it is difficult to imagine him as the solemn and serious Pastor Reeves that former members describe.

School was over on a Friday afternoon in November, with chairs stacked on desks and hallways quiet. Children occasionally popped their heads in the doorway to say goodbye, and Tim paused to wave back at them.

Teaching is the natural next step for Tim; it is the thing he liked best about being a pastor. Here in the breezy world of middle school, he feels free. He can encourage students to be at their best without carrying the burden of making spiritual decisions for them.

“For a lot of these kids, it’s just great to have someone who cares,” he said. As a pastor, Tim saw the inner workings of Morgan’s church network. He alleges church leaders manipulated their subordinates, asking young men to give up everything to become pastors or expecting total devotion from congregation members, such as asking people to stay at the church instead of pursuing career opportunities.

“It’s hard for me to feel trusting of leaders in churches because I feel like once you’ve seen the sausage and how it’s made, it’s hard to go back,” he said.

When Tim first met Morgan in 2005, he said it felt good to be wanted. But after leading a church plant of his own, he felt like a failure whenever he could not meet High Rock’s goals for growth.

“You just push and push and push, even if you're unhappy, even if your thing’s not working, because there’s just this sense that you can’t go against God’s calling,” Tim said.

In the pursuit of growth, Tim said pastors were encouraged to act intentionally, with every interaction building the strength and numbers of the church. Looking back, Tim thinks he played a part in hurting people.

Although Tim regrets some of his actions while being a pastor at High Rock, his departure from the church was not his own decision.

In his final months as a pastor, Tim was having an affair with another member of the church. When other church leadership found out, they swiftly fired him. Tim and his nowgirlfriend, Tabby Whitcomb, both feel they never got an opportunity to repent.

Facing the immediate loss of his job and support system, Tim suffered extreme anxiety and lost 30 pounds.

With close-cropped hair and an inky vine of tattoos on her arms, Kim, 34, admits she did not fit High Rock’s mold. Between alleged disagreements over how issues of mental illness were handled and conflicts over Kim’s personal choices, she began to feel unfairly targeted by Scott Joseph, the lead pastor at the church.

In one instance during a sermon, Joseph allegedly chastised some members of the church who were asking for donations to fund adoptions. At the time, Kim and James were attempting to fundraise to adopt a child from another country. However, Joseph denied that the sermon was about them when Kim asked, she alleges.

But the turning point for Kim was far quieter. Wandering among the shelves at Once Upon a Child to pick up some toys for a client, Kim checked her phone to see a text from a volunteer for High Rock’s children’s program.

Kim said the volunteer wanted her to be a one-on-one aid for a 3-yearold child diagnosed with autism who was deemed a distraction for the other kids.

The distraction, according to Kim, was that he couldn’t sit still on a square.

Thoughts flashed through her mind. She remembered the embarrassment of going through school with a personal nurse to administer medicine for her diabetes. She imagined the isolation and stigma the 3-year-old would face if he was taken away from the group and treated as different.

Finally, she thought of her own child’s future. Kim and James had spent over a year trying to adopt a child with Down syndrome. Now they were close to success – if the final paperwork worked out, they would soon be the proud parents of a child from a foreign country.

But while the 3-year-old at High Rock had only some additional needs, Kim’s child would have profoundly more, arriving to the states with no English language proficiency and attachment issues. The request was only a small example of how she felt the church viewed the vulnerable, whether they had a disability, had mental health issues or were unhoused.

“We don’t want them to grow up in a culture that puts them off to the side for the comfort of everyone else,” Kim said.

On July 10, shortly after Steve Morgan’s arrest records were published, the vice president of the network, Sándor Paull, released a letter to churches within the network.

In it, Paull denied allegations of spiritual abuse and called the characterization of Morgan’s crime “distorted.” He said the board believes Morgan’s sin has been forgiven by God, detailing Morgan’s conversion to Christianity, confession to overseers and subsequent walking in “character, purity and ingenuity” as proof of his repentance. Paull closed the subject with a condemnation.

“We believe it is cruel, evil and the antithesis of the gospel message to dig up and disclose a person’s sin that has already been dealt with in a biblical manner,” he wrote. “This is a great offense against the cross of Jesus Christ.” Morgan himself has not spoken publicly about the issue. But in a letter to former overseer Andrew Lumpe, Morgan apologized for the hurt he caused Lumpe by forcing him to carry the burden of Morgan’s crime in secret. “If Jesus hadn’t saved me and forgiven me over 30 years ago, I would have had no hope at all,” Morgan wrote. “I have lived in purity before God and people since that time and I am so grateful for the mercy that has been shown to me.”

But former members of Morgan’s churches disagree. Clint Deck, a former small group leader at High Rock, said Morgan’s private repentance overlooks the people that would have made different decisions about attending the church if they knew about Morgan’s past.

“It doesn’t take into account all the countless people who gave their lives to this church network,” he said.

The IDS reached out to both Scott Joseph and Steve Morgan for comment but did not receive a response in the months between reaching out and publication.

Morgan’s current church, Joshua Church in Texas, has no listed contact information for Morgan or a publicly listed phone number. The latest contact information for Morgan, provided by Andrew Lumpe, included a deactivated email attached to his current church and a phone number that the IDS left a voicemail for. The IDS also contacted two other phone numbers believed to be associated with Morgan, but both were disconnected, and the IDS emailed another Joshua Church pastor in addition to the general email listed for the church.

In total, the IDS has tried to contact Morgan in seven different ways but has not received a response since the first attempt on Dec. 12.

The IDS sent two emails to Scott Joseph and visited the church to ask a staff pastor to let Joseph know the IDS was requesting comment.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

MARISSA MEADOR | IDS

TOP LEFT: The outside of High Rock church is shown on March 20, 2023.

COURTESY PHOTO CENTER LEFT: Steve Morgan in the early 2000s leads an event at Vineyard Community Church (now called Vine Church) in Carbondale.

BOTTOM LEFT: From left to right: Shu-hui Morgan, Steve Morgan, Amanda Paull, and Sándor Paull from the early days of Vineyard Community Church (now called Vine Church) in Carbondale, Illinois.

SAMANTHA SMITH | IDS

TOP RIGHT: Tim Reeves is shown in his classroom on March 24, 2023. The former High Rock pastor said pastors were encouraged to intentionally build the church's numbers.

COURTESY PHOTO CENTER RIGHT: Steve Morgan is shown speaking to a young man attending a conference of people from multiple Network churches.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Andy DeYoung holds a fish he caught. Feeling sad and angry, DeYoung took his own life after leaving High Rock Church.

hotlines, and the people on the other end always told him that the church was not good for him. He knew he had to leave, but it would be painful.

In its simplest form, repentance

means expressing remorse for a sin and committing to doing better. It is the bedrock of Christianity, allowing imperfect people to still receive salvation. It is also the network’s justification to let Morgan remain at the helm of the system.

L

ong before Morgan’s past bubbled to the surface, from 2009 to 2015, group leader Clint Deck was fighting the battle of his life in the high-control environment of High Rock Church, where he alleges his leadership forced him to pressure people into life-altering decisions and make harsh judgements. What had begun as an experience of community and faith had morphed into something inescapable, and Clint found himself on the verge of suicide.

Now 36 and involved with 4-H youth, Clint tries to show weakness and awkwardness because he says trying to be impressive feels inauthentic. He describes himself as a hillbilly, coming from four generations of Monroe County families with connections to farmers, industrial workers and limestone cutters. As he recounts his story, Clint’s feelings write themselves in the contortions of his brows and the pale fluttering of his eyes.

He fiddled with a pair of tortoise shell glasses one day and looked to the left corner of the room, a meeting space in a county building that provides space for Purdue University’s Monroe County 4-H program, which Clint works for.

“Sometimes I wonder if I’m even still OK,” Clint said. “I never feel right about anything.”

Clint said one of his greatest failures was standing by as the church isolated its member Andy DeYoung, even as he was struggling with his mental health. Feeling sad and angry, Andy left the church and took his own life a year later.

Andy enjoyed fishing and writing poetry, according to his fiancé Audreyanna Lagenour. He was fun to be around and found joy in helping others. Although he struggled with joblessness, he once worked as a mental health tech at Bloomington Meadows Hospital.

But in addition to struggling with mental health himself, Andy had a history of childhood trauma and substance use.

Former pastor Tim Reeves recalls Andy speaking about deep topics regarding his struggles to his small group, which was making other members uncomfortable.

Tim said Pastor Scott Joseph decided to prevent Andy from attending small group, instead asking him to meet Tim for private Bible study. Clint recalls that Andy was prevented from attending regular church service as well.

Tim said High Rock was not trained to help people with mental health issues and wasn’t connected with any local agencies that could help at the time.

“I wish I would have known more of what I should do to help him,” Tim said.

Audreyanna said interaction with people was what made Andy thrive. He loved helping people, she said, and his faith was important to him.

“He did love God, and he wanted to be God’s son,” she said.

Audreyanna still wonders why he did what he did. She thinks about him often. Above all, she misses him every day.

Clint thinks the church should not have isolated Andy. Years later, Clint still reads the old messages Andy sent him and stumbles across one criticizing what Andy saw as a lack of commitment to those truly struggling.

“This world is dying, Clint. We need to bring Christ to screwed up people like me. We need to show them the commitment and dedication that Christ showed the world, otherwise we become those that world thinks us to be,” Andy wrote.

In his final months at High Rock, Clint himself suffered from suicidal ideations. He felt like he was losing himself, forced to sacrifice his morals in the name of obedience. He connected with several suicide

Before leaving, Clint had a leadership meeting where they received detailed instruction on how to help members bring out the Holy Spirit, including shaking one’s hand to suggest the presence of the spirit.

Clint came away shocked. In the hours of instruction, there was not one mention of who they were even praying to.

But on the other side of Morgan’s repentance is a victim struggling to heal. The sister of Morgan’s then-15year-old victim, who is now in his fifties, said he is still dealing with the psychological aftermath of what was done to him.

Ben Powers, a former pastor at a network church, said Morgan was often compared to the Apostle Paul, whose conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a good man underscores the power of forgiveness.

On Oct. 28, 2015, Clint met with Pastor Scott Joseph to deliver news of his resignation.

It was almost 10 p.m. when Clint made his way through the church. It was dark and eerie, strange without its noise and fullness. The past few months in the church had been tense, with major disagreements between Pastor Scott Joseph and Pastor Michael Eckhardt leaving the place at a crossroads. For weeks, Clint had met with Eckhardt, who attempted to persuade Joseph to have a heart-to-heart with Clint so he wouldn’t leave. When Joseph never reached out, Clint decided it was time to leave.

Clint slipped into the office and sat on the couch. Joseph swiveled his chair to face him.

Clint was nervous, but he needed to get his feelings off his chest. He told Joseph everything he thought about the church, including how he felt it had forced him into a role where he had to mask weakness and exercise control over others.

When he was finished, he alleged Joseph began screaming.

“I am not weak. I am not broken,” Joseph allegedly yelled. “That is just not how we lead in this church, and you can’t just tell me I am something I am not.”

Clint was shocked. He’d never seen Joseph like this.

Despite the budding tears in his eyes, Clint made sure he had the last word. There was a shift taking place, he said, and if Joseph wasn’t open to change, the church would be split.

But Joseph didn’t change. Instead, he allegedly spun Clint’s departure, telling the church that Clint was a “goat among sheep.”

“That broke me,” Clint said. “Painting me as someone who never belonged.”

After years of healing and finding support in a new church community, Clint is much happier. When he talks about his job working with kids in 4-H, Clint’s face relaxes and his mouth breaks into a smile. He marvels about the way experiences, challenges and opportunities for leadership can ripple through a child’s entire life.

Clint’s experience at High Rock has taught him a lot about the importance of self-reliance in faith, but it has also informed the way he does his job.

“I never want a kid to rely on something other than themselves for their selfworth,” he said.

Both Paul and Morgan wielded tremendous power over the people they led. But Powers and others who left the network do not think Morgan should have this power; Powers said the comparison fails because while Morgan hid his sin, Paul made his sin public.

For the 15-year-old boy in the 1980s, or the many members and leaders of Morgan’s churches, healing is hemorrhaged by Morgan’s actions and refusal to take public accountability, a denial that ripples throughout the network.

I t is almost time for Sunday service at Genesis Church, the Bloomington church where Kim and James now find refuge. A child sings gleefully as he zooms across the lobby.

“Hot chocolate, hot chocolate, hot chocolate hot!” he yells.

He hops on a bale of hay decorated with pumpkins and squash while his mother snaps a photo. Another kid rushes to the door and sticks her hand outside, where a patchwork of bluish clouds sweeps the Earth with rain.

The service is starting, so people filter into the main sanctuary. Worship music flows out of the double doors as stragglers try to grab a last-minute coffee, finding only a dry well: the coffee is gone.

Kim arrives 10 minutes late, filling a cup with hot water for her tea. She sits in the back while the worship team plays a rousing Christian song. Her husband, James, is playing guitar in the corner.

In place of pews are rows of cushioned chairs mostly filled by young people, who sway and lift their arms to the music. As the song reaches its climax, hands raise higher and swaying increases. Wedge heels lift off the ground, sneakers tap, and palms turn over, loosely cupped, as if looking for something to fall in.

One young man closes his eyes and mumbles something into his sleeve. He begins to cry, wiping away his tears with his sleeve.

Kim presses her hands flat against the chair in front of her, her fingers outstretched, and bows her head. Slowly, she lifts her hands off the chair, allowing them to hover by her hips. It was a slow, rocking step toward trusting again.

Consider it burned: the day of Burning Couch Festival

By Charlotte Jones cmj35@iu.edu

It was freezing — I forgot to look at the weather on Sunday morning and ended up wearing shorts and a tank top in 47-degree gloom. Even though the weather was gloomy, the festival was a rousing success.

Burning Couch is an amalgamation of Bloomington art — from clothes to bands to doodles. The grassroots event took place at none other than Switchyard Park, a beautiful and spacious outdoor space. Sprinkled with the occasional couch, the expansive lawn was ready to go.

The day started with ForeDaze’s final performance as a band. It was bittersweet to hear “Co-sign” for the final time, but all good things must come to an end.

“It’s nice to have our last show be part of this huge community,” Alex Cappelli, their bassist, said.

This won’t be the last you hear of these talented musicians though. Their drummer, Carsen Outwater, is already part of hardcore band Fox Body, providing a core drive to their music. Marty Abaddi will spend the next school year in Italy but not before she makes some music with Cappelli.

“We have one song already,” Cappelli said, “We’re hoping to be doing that this summer and maybe even remotely next year.”

After thawing my fingers in the pavilion, I ran outside to catch a band I’d never

seen before; psychedelic rock band Tree To Stone returned to the festival for a second try. Its "anything goes" attitude provided a collaboration with the following band The Atomic Misfits. The horn solos added an extra layer to their musical charm.

“When we were sound checking, I heard the horn players warming up in the background,” Luke Bird, guitarist and vocalist of the band, said. “I heard that they were playing on top of what we were sound checking anyway. I recognized that they had talent. We had nothing to lose here.”

I grabbed a few exclusive Burning Couch Pizza X cups and darted inside to hide from the cold. The pavilion

was lined with art vendors selling their work. Cut It Out sold creative collages, including those made of parking tickets. There were several vintage clothing booths throughout the day with $5 clothing bins that I had to dig through. Pins and patches took over the corners of the room, proudly selling the bands’ merchandise.

Lily Selivan, an IU freshman, sold her and her sister’s paintings and prints in a big portfolio propped open on the table. She credits New Grounds, an artistic forum website, for providing her a place for artistic growth and inspiration. Like many other vendors present, this was her first time selling art in a fair-like environment.

“I feel very proud of my-

IU students celebrate Latin American culture at LatinXpo

By Isabella Vesperini isvesp@iu.edu

Latiné music was blasting, people were laughing, colorful flags and balloons were scattered around the lobby of the Global and International Studies Building as students paired up to dance to the music.

After months of preparation, the IU dance team Paso a Paso hosted the sixth annual LatinXpo to celebrate Latiné culture on April 15. IU students performed 13 different dances from clubs Paso a Paso, Ballroom

IU, Mariachi Perla del Medio Oeste, Ritmos Latinos and more.

Paso a Paso aims to educate the Bloomington community on Latinx culture through dance; they hold dance workshops, performances and the annual LatinXpo. Lukas Adams, president of Paso a Paso, said in an email the LatinXpo is meant to highlight the voices of a growing Latiné student body. He said through this celebration, IU aims to recognize many talented groups and communities.

“We wanted to highlight the resources that Indiana University offers students of different races, ethnicities, sexualities, gender identities and other titles that "Latiné" can encapsulate,” Adams said in an email.

Originally from Costa Rica, IU student Sofia Cre-

spo was invited to perform at the event and did two Flamenco-style dances, which is an art form that originated in Spain. Crespo said she has been dancing for 12 years, and she honors her grandparents and culture through dancing.

“I think it’s important for people to know about various cultures and be open to learn about new dances and styles,” Crespo said. “There’s a lot of diversity here.”

Paulo Ventura, a Brazilian guitarist and computation epidemiologist at IU, was also invited to perform the Spanish version of the song “Everything.” Ventura said he was happy to represent his culture and talk to people about his performance.

“I like to play. It’s a hobby,” Ventura said. “It’s always important to show our culture to people.”

IU student Malique Blythe said he joined Paso a Paso this year because many of his friends encouraged him to. Blythe said he was both excited and nervous to perform a group dance with Paso a Paso. During practices, Blythe said club members take 5-10 minutes to socialize and get to know each other before learning and rehearsing different dances.

“I love it a lot. It's a great way to make friends,” Blythe said. “If they like dancing and want to learn about Latin culture, they should join.”

self for actually putting the time, money and effort behind making my pieces,” Selivan said. “The little compliments really go a long way. I don’t care if they buy it or not, it’s just them saying ‘oh, that looks cool.’ It means a lot.”

The acoustic stage shared the pavilion with the vendors, giving it an even warmer atmosphere for attendees.

I was entirely captivated with Silvia Josefina’s performance, a local artist now experimenting with electronic music after five years in Bloomington. Their passion seeped into their stage presence, hooking the whole room into their music.

“I’m lucky to have been able to enter this community,” Josefina said. “The

best part of Burning Couch is that I can actually interact with these people and share the space. A year ago today, I would not expect to be where I am in this room.”

I checked the time and rushed to the outdoor stage to catch the last half of hardcore band Callejera’s set. I got there just in time. Lead singer Mia Rivas had just taken a huge swig of their water bottle. It wasn’t filled with water; they let the fake blood they stashed in their mouth pour out as they prepared to crawl into the crowd. Bassist Tyler Eubanks wrapped their amp cord around their neck, pretending to choke themself. Callejera will never have a boring performance.

“The best part about our shows is definitely the audi-

ence,” Armando Tandy, the drummer, said. “We don’t want to be a band that everyone goes to because of the people performing. We want it to be an experience.”

After jumping around for Callejera, I was hungry. I grabbed some spring rolls from Pinoy Garden Café and headed inside for The Reys’ set. I had the pleasure of performing with Zach Gutzwiller and Connor Barcus last October and the two have only gotten better since then. Barcus said they’re aiming to play at the White House if they can.

I was cold, I was tired, but I couldn’t miss Westhead’s performance. The crowd was incredible, singing along to all their new music and dancing like their knees could never give out.

“I could barely open my eyes because it was scaring me a little,” said Max DiFrisco, songwriter and vocalist of the band. “It was really awesome.”

After every interview, I asked each artist what their favorite performance was. ForeDaze loved Callejera’s performance the most. Tree To Stone, Callejera, The Reys and Westhead couldn’t get enough of Ed Winn & The Atomic Misfits. They were even signing shirts after their set, proving their stardom.

As the night came to an end and the rain fell harder, it was time to leave. It couldn’t have been a more perfect day. In a way, this was Bloomington’s DIY Coachella with a lot less sun and a lot more layers.

African American Dance Company returns

By Grant Wheeler grawheel@iu.edu | @wh33lg

IU’s African American Dance Company presented its spring concert at 7:30 p.m. April 15 at the BuskirkChumley Theater. Currently directed by Stafford C. Berry Jr., the ensemble has performed at IU since 1974, combining numerous traditions of Black dance.

The theme tying together this particular performance was “Brave Enough.” Berry — known as “Baba Stafford” to the students in the ensemble — said he invited performers from IU’s ballet and contemporary dance departments to participate in this show.

“It’s the biggest show that we’ve done thus far,” he said. “There are a lot of works in this piece and it’s the most guest folks I’ve invited to be in a show.”

The first piece combined sounous, a traditional Guinean music of healing, with the lyrics and melody of Rihanna’s “Diamonds.”

The Indianapolis Pan African Dance Ensemble provided the sounds of sounous while members of the AADC sang and danced.

The crowd was immediately responsive and vocal. The Company came out swinging with bright, active energy and the audience responded in turn, fuel-

ing the spirited dance. The combination of traditional and modern idioms served to introduce a show that incorporated musical practices from a broad range of places and times.

Berry came out between songs to lead the audience in participatory activities. One was a call and response in Twi, a Ghanaian language, where Berry would request the crowd’s attention and they would assure him they were listening. Another asked them to stand and introduce themselves to their neighbors.

Although these meetings were brief, they helped to establish a sense of community among the audience that reflected the harmonious performance of the ensemble. IU junior Assata Dailey talked about how the company feels like a family.

“When you’re up there, there’s this energy that bounces off of everyone,” she said. “This is more than just a course for a lot of us. This is home on campus, especially being a student of color at a PWI.” She said this feeling of closeness follows the group on and off the stage, no matter what they’re doing. Dancers consistently had smiles on their faces and their precise, coordinated

movements demonstrated immense trust in themselves and each other.

Dailey and Berry both emphasized the significance and scale of the collaboration taking place for this show. They said the theme, “Brave Enough,” referenced the difficulty of stepping outside of one’s comfort zone to work with others who may be steeped in unfamiliar traditions.

“Over the past year we have entered, interacted with and engaged with other dance spaces on campus,” Dailey said. “Baba was brave enough to do that, something that hasn’t been

done before.”

Although the Company had to face difficulties in preparing for this show, its mission of bravery brought together artists of several disciplines in taking a leap of faith to learn something new, resulting in a strengthened sense of unity among IU’s dance community. “We’ve had some challenges with going to other spaces where the majority of folks don’t subscribe to the same cultural aesthetics we do,” Berry said. “It’s this idea of being brave enough to at least take one step forward before we take another step forward.”

Limestone Comedy Festival to take place June 1-3

By Erin Stafford ecstaffo@iu.edu | @erincstafford

The 10th annual Limestone Comedy Festival will be held from June 1-3 in downtown Bloomington.

The festival is a three-day long comedy event featuring performances from stand-up comedians and podcasters.

Headliners for the event include comedians

Kyle Kinane, Melissa Villaseñor, Shane Torres, Sara Schaeffer, DeAnne Smith, Mohanad Elshieky, Calvin Evans and Kelly Collette.

Founded in 2013 by Mat Alano-Martin and Jared Thompson, the festival has always featured a wide array of comedians. Dwight Simmons joined the duo as a co-director in 2020. Although Limestone was unable to occur in

2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival returned in 2021 and has remained active ever since.

Performances this year will take place at multiple venues downtown, including the Comedy Attic, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, the Bishop, the Back Door, Blockhouse, Backspace Gallery and the Orbit Room.

Attendees must be at

least 18 years old to attend, while some venues only allow admittance for the 21+ crowd. General admission and VIP badges for the event are available now, with prices starting at $65. All single show tickets will go on sale May 2. Tickets and more information about the festival can be found on Limestone Comedy Festival’s website.

The Jewish Theatre of Bloomington to present ‘Madeleines’

By Sophie Goldstein goldsso@iu.edu | sophie_gold3

The Jewish Theatre of Bloomington will present the play “Madeleines” at 7:30 p.m. May 4, 6, 11, 13 and 3 p.m. May 7 at The Waldron Arts Center Fire Bay — located at 122 S. Walnut St.

Bringing to life the winner of the 2022 National Jewish Playwriting contest, “Madeleines” fol -

lows the story of a family of Jewish women finding ways to love each other through shared grief and the solace of baking. The events in the play occur when two sisters — after their mother’s death — discover a family secret embedded in the recipe.

“Madeleines” will feature an IU acting teacher, Martha Jacobs, from the Department of Theatre, Drama and Contempo -

rary Dance — who plays the role of Rose Moritz and Lilia. Director Francesca Sobre r , is a former theatre director at Bloomington High School North.

Tickets are $30 at the Bloom Box Office — located at 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. — or online at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater website. Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of each show.

ZUZANNA KUKAWSKA | IDS

Burning Couch Festival is named after the iconic Burning

ZUZANNA KUKAWSKA | IDS

A traditional dancer performs flamenco April 15, 2023, at the Global and International Studies Building. The event hosted Ballroom IU, Ritmos Latinos, Paso a Paso and more.

GRANT WHEELER | IDS

Members of the African American Dance Company strike a pose April 15, 2023, at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. This number was a part of their Spring Concert, whose theme was “brave enough.”

Indiana drops 3 games in series against Nebraska

By Dalton James jamesdm@iu.edu | @djames1824

Just two days removed from a 9-1 defeat in six innings against the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, No. 24 Indiana softball returned home to Andy Mohr Field looking to bounce back. The Hoosiers did everything but bounce back, dropping all three games of a series against Nebraska April 14-15.

“Well, not what I expected with this group,” head coach Shonda Stanton said after the 12-2 run rule loss. “We really wanted to bounce back after that Notre Dame game.”

Entering last week, sophomore pitcher Brianna Copeland was 14-0, but after losses in the circle against Notre Dame and twice against Nebraska, Copeland’s record stands at 15-3. Game one

From the first pitch, Nebraska jumped on Copeland after junior infielder Billie Andrews singled to lead off the game. The Cornhuskers didn’t look back in the first, scoring three runs after a passed ball and a two-RBI double. Nebraska landed their first blow, and Stanton expected her team to re-

spond throughout the game.

In the bottom half of the frame, the Hoosiers found themselves with the bases loaded and no outs. After senior utility player Cora Bassett singled and freshman second baseman Taryn Kern was hit by a pitch, sophomore outfielder Taylor Minnick singled to load the bases. Senior pitcher Courtney Wallace found herself in a jam and followed it up by walking in two runs but was able to get out of the inning after a flyout and a 5-6 double play.

“They got the double play to get out of the inning, and I think that was kind of the turning point for us,” Stanton said.

The Hoosiers seemed to be in a promising position, but the pair of singles were the only Indiana hits in the ballgame.

After Nebraska scored four runs in the second inning via a pair of RBI singles and a pair of RBI doubles, the game was delayed for two hours due to lightning detected in the area, which Stanton felt would favor her ballclub.

Not only did the rain delay not favor Indiana, but Nebraska also added five total runs in the fourth and fifth innings to bring the

score to 12-2.

With Copeland allowing seven runs on nine hits in just 1 2/3 innings, sophomore pitcher Heather Johnson entered the circle in relief but was unable to slow down the Cornhusker’s offense, allowing five runs on six hits.

After the two hits in the first inning, the Hoosiers could not get anything going off Wallace. She hurled a five-inning complete game shutout on just 81 pitches.

Wallace leads the Big Ten with 18 wins and 146 2/3 innings pitched, and Stanton felt like she got what she wanted against the Hoosiers, keeping the ball down in the zone and inducing weak groundballs.

After the April 14 12-2 beatdown, Stanton’s message to Team 50 was simple.

“Get some rest, shower up, eat, watch a little film and come out ready to grind and battle,” Stanton said April 14. “(Saturday), I expect us to come out and execute and take our shots, and wherever the result falls, we’re surrendering the outcome.”

Game two

The two squads were originally set to play on April 15 and Sunday, but a poor forecast forced a double-

WOMEN’S GOLF

header.

Nebraska’s offense picked up where it left off on April 14, scoring four runs in the first inning off junior pitcher Macy Montgomery, including a two-run home run from junior outfielder Abbie Squier. With one swing of the bat, Kern drove in as many runs as the Hoosiers had in game one with her two-run home run. After a scoreless second frame, a sacrifice fly from Kern cut the deficit to just one run. Sophomore outfielder Taylor Minnick stepped to the plate after Kern and hit a deep two-run home run to center field to take the lead 5-4.

A scoreless fourth inning brought the Cornhuskers up to bat down one run, but not for long as the visitors put up a four spot with an RBI single, an RBI double and a run scored via an error by Kern. Sophomore third baseman Brianna Copeland hoped to spark a rally with her solo home run in the sixth, but Indiana’s offense was unable to continue that comeback effort, falling to Nebraska in the first leg of the twin bill by a score of 8-6.

Game three

In the series finale, Ne-

Indiana finishes 13th at Lady Buckeye Invitational

By Zeke Shapiro zeshapir@iu.edu | @ZekesBoxTalk

Indiana women’s golf finished 13th out of 14 teams at the Lady Buckeye Invitational at the Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio, from April 15-16.

The Hoosiers came out to a surprisingly fast start in their final regular- season match of the season, ending round one in 13th with a score of 294 (+6), but within striking distance of the top 10. However, the second round wasn’t as kind to IU as it scored a 305 (+17), which distanced itself from the other teams in the pack.

“We stressed getting off to a good start in practice,” head coach Brian May said April 18. “I was happy with the way we started, but the focus started to go down afterwards.”

Going into the final round on day two, the Hoosiers knew that they weren’t going to finish in last place as Rutgers did not compete in round three. The final round saw IU improve by a single stroke from the second, scoring 304 (+16), to finish the tournament in 13th with a total score of 903 (+39).

The 14-team field included 13 Big Ten teams with No. 40 Kent State University being the only out of conference opponent. Alongside Kent State, five

other top 50 teams competed in the tournament: No. 44 Michigan, No. 46 Purdue, No. 33 Maryland, No. 34 Michigan State, and the hosts No. 25 Ohio State, who won the tournament with an 854 (-10). “It was a tough field, but we weren’t intimidated,” May explained. “We just wanted to go out there and play our game.”

Senior transfer Alexis Florio, in her return to the team after sitting out the

last outing with muscle tightness, led the Hoosiers with a score of 216 (E), which tied for 12th. Florio finished round one with an impressive score of 68 (-4), which was fifth in the field.

Senior Valerie Clancy was next for IU with a score of 225 (+9), which tied for 41st. Junior Dominika Burdova and sophomore Margaret Fernandez finished tied for 61st with a score of 232 (+16). The Hoosiers were

braska got out to another

quick start as it scored two runs in the first inning off Montgomery via an RBI double and an RBI single.

Indiana responded in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI single from sophomore first baseman Sarah Stone. After a scoreless second inning, Nebraska extended its lead to 3-1 with a solo home run from junior outfielder Brooke Andrews. The two teams combined to score four runs in the first three innings, but the contest then became a pitcher's duel between Copeland and Wallace. That was until the seventh inning when junior infielder Sydney Gray hit a solo home run to give Nebraska an all-important insurance run and extending the lead to three.

With the Hoosiers down to their final three outs, Stone sent an RBI double to left field to cut the deficit to two. Indiana had an opportunity to tie, or possibly win the game with freshman utility player Avery Parker and Copeland each having at-bats with two runners in scoring position. Neither Parker nor Copeland were able to drive in any runs as Team 50 was defeated 4-2.

“We gotta do a better job

of executing our game plan at the plate,” Stanton said after the two games. “I don’t think this weekend we did that.”

In each of the three games, Indiana’s offense was unable to do much of anything against Wallace, totaling just eight hits in large part due to chasing pitches off the plate where Wallace was able to work.

Over the three-game series, Nebraska scored 24 runs, and Stanton said their veterans throughout the lineup and in the circle were the difference between the way the two teams competed when their backs were against the wall.

“I thought we made some great plays at times but just not enough,” Stanton said. “When you don’t make enough plays against a team that can swing it, (losses) are what you’re going to see.”

The Hoosiers dropped four in a row starting with a midweek loss against the University of Notre Dame on April 12, which was followed by the three-game series against a tough opponent in Nebraska. Indiana will now have five days in between games as it travels to Piscataway, New Jersey, to take on Rutgers beginning on April 21.

TRACK AND FIELD Indiana produces strong showing in Louisville

By Michael Livingston mbliving@iu.edu

Indiana track and field split the weekend, sending one heptathlon athlete and ten distance runners to the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California. The rest of the athletes headed to the Louisville Invitational in Kentucky.

In Azusa, graduate student Sarah Schmitt ran a personal best in the 5,000-meter race with a time of 15:53.34 seconds, best for fifth place in the meet. In the men’s 1,500-meter race sophomore, Camden Marshall placed fourth with a time of 3:41.45 seconds.

in field events, winning five events and placing nine athletes in the top two of the field events. In men’s high jump senior Grayson Rolen won with a height of 2.05 meters, and in the women’s junior Mahogany Jenkins took first place with a height of 1.78 meters.

In the long jump, graduate student Serena Bolden won the event with a jump of 6.44 meters. On the men’s side, graduate student Robert Blue placed second with a jump of 7.38 meters. Bolden also placed second in the triple jump with a distance of 12.68 meters.

rounded out by sophomore Beatriz Junqueira who finished tied for 73rd with a score of 235 (+19), and senior Hanna Tanaka who finished tied for 81st with a score of 242 (+26).

IU has now finished its regular season ranked as the 129th team in the nation and will next compete in the Big Ten Tournament at the Fox Chapel Golf Course in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from April 21-23.

Starting off in Louisville, senior Antonio Laidler broke a school record in the 100-meter dash. Laidler ran a time of 10.20 seconds and took home the gold along with a personal and school best time. In the women’s race senior Alyssa Robinson also took home the gold with a personal best time of 11.45 seconds.

Robinson continued her hot streak in Louisville, winning the women’s 200-meter race with a time of 23.46 seconds. In the men’s race freshman John Colquitt placed third with a personal best time of 21.67 seconds.

The Hoosiers continue to show their dominance

The Hoosiers placed four athletes inside the top seven of the men’s pole vault. Senior Nathan Stone won the event with a height of 5.35 meters, and sophomore Tyler Carrel finished right behind him in second at 5.25 meters. Freshman Riley Johnston placed fourth and junior Tyler Sierks placed seventh.

Finishing out the meet in Louisville junior Shanna Esters placed second in the women’s javelin throw with a distance of 33.77 meters.

The Hoosiers are at home this upcoming weekend April 21-22, hosting the Indiana Invitational. All athletes will be at home in their only home invitational of the outdoor season.

OLIVIA BIANCO | IDS

Sophomore first baseman Sarah Stone watches a foul ball April 15, 2023, against Nebraska at Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington. Nebraska swept Indiana over the weekend.

IDS FILE PHOTO BY BEN FITZSIMONS Freshman Áine Donegan drives a ball at the IU Invitational April 9, 2022. The Hoosiers competed at the Lady Buckeye Invitational April 15-16.

‘Want to be where they need me’: Phillips’ outing pushes Indiana past No. 12 Louisville 7-3

By Matthew Byrne matbyrne@iu.edu | @MatthewByrne1

Returning from Christmas break in the preseason, Ethan Phillips aspired to qualify for Indiana baseball's travel roster. Opening Day was a mere seven weeks away. Phillips was unsuccessful, however, and didn't tour with the team in the first few weekend-road series.

Phillips was confined to observing Indiana's home midweek games. Phillips said head coach Jeff Mercer opted for him to gradually develop. Indiana's season began Feb. 17. Phillips only made his first-career appearance March 8. For the inexperienced freshman right-handed pitcher, that idle span allowed Phillips to notice what's successful at the college level.

Phillips landed at the realization: "I'm good enough to be here. I'm good enough to play."

***

Phillips strode into Indiana's locker room April 18. The day's weather started brisk, yet warmed to the mid-60s by evening. Senior catcher Matthew Ellis bantered with Phillips, asking if the freshman felt anxious.

Mercer had asked Phillips, if the coaching staff called his name to throw against the No. 12 University of Louisville that day, was he prepared?

"He says ‘I'm ready to go. Do you just want me to start in the bullpen?’"

Mercer said. "Most pitchers start in the dugout. So, when a guy says do you want me to start in the bullpen? He's saying I'm ready to go if you need me, whenever you need me. You love that confidence."

Before April 18, Indiana owned an 18-1 record at home. The Hoosiers would have to protect that nearflawless stretch, while wel-

coming their first-ranked foe to Bart Kaufman Field, per D1Baseball. Louisville freshman catcher Will Vierling opened the scoreline 1-0, crushing his firstcareer home run 416 feet against Indiana starter junior Seti Manase. Mercer yanked Manase after the next batter doubled down the left-field line toward Indiana's bullpen.

Mercer signaled for Phillips in that same direction, who trotted from the outfield.

Phillips stranded the runner in scoring position to conclude the third inning, tossing four more innings after that — setting a new career-high — without allowing an earned run.

Indiana simultaneously rallied to beat Louisville 7-3, improving to 19-1 at

home.

That's the team's most impressive victory this season, largly thanks to Phillips. Before April 18, the freshman allowed four runs in 12⅓ innings total. Phillips threw one-fourth of his season numbers against Louisville — 4⅔ innings, no earned runs, with four strikeouts.

“I don't think I was nervous,” Phillips said postgame. “I'm here to win and I think I have the ability to do that. No disrespect, but coming into this game, I couldn't tell you a hitter on their team. That's not to say that we don't scout them… but it wasn't anybody specific where I was worried to throw a pitch here and there. I was just playing off my strengths.”

Maintaining composure and executing pitches in succession are obstacles Mercer stated Phillips has trained to overcome. Phillips issued a lead-off walk in the seventh inning, as Indiana led 7-1. Louisville junior Isaac Humphrey's single, followed by an error, allowed the lead-off base runner to score unearned. Now 7-2, Humphrey advanced to scoring position.

Yet, Phillips retired the next two batters, dismissing the threat.

“You could see him a couple times step off the mound and collect himself,” Mercer said. “That's a big environment for our freshmen. With a lot of people in the stands, you're playing against a really good team. I've seen that arsenal… you

have a chance to be a star, like you're a wonderful player, if you would just believe in yourself like I — like we believe in you.” ***

Faith is paramount to Phillips.

The Christian cross is tattooed on his nonthrowing forearm. Mercer said around 10 players, including Phillips, gather for weekly Bible study. Phillips attributes personal troughs and crests to God’s plan — achievements Phillips has worked to attain has been provided by God.

“He’s very disciplined,” Mercer said. “He's very structured. He shows up and does his work every day. His faith is super im-

portant to him. He has just a great foundation to work from.”

As Mercer stated, Phillips asking whether to start the game in the bullpen suggested the reliever's eagerness to pitch. Indiana greatly benefitted from that season-best outing.

“I just always want to get in the game,” Phillips said. “I love to pitch. I want to be out there. I want to eat up as many innings as I can. I want to be where they need me.”

The 7-3 victory over Louisville considerably bolsters Indiana's postseason resume. Now 4-7 in Quadrant 1 wins, accompanied by the 39th-best strength of schedule, Indiana improved to No. 14 in the rating percentage index.

OLIVIA BIANCO | IDS

Freshman right-handed pitcher Ethan Phillips throws a pitch against Louisville April 18, 2023, at Bart Kaufman Field in Bloomington. Indiana beat Louisville 7-3 on April 18.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rose House LuMin- Lutheran Campus Ministry at IU

314 S. Rose Ave. 812-333-2474 lcmiu.net

Instagram: @hoosierlumin

facebook.com/LCMIU

Sunday: 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. @ St.

Thomas Lutheran Church 3800 E. 3rd St.

Tuesday: 6:30 p.m. Dinner & Devotions @ Rose House LuMin 314 S. Rose Ave. Rose House is an inclusive Christian community that offers a safe space for students to gather, explore faith questions, show love to our neighbors through service and work towards a more just world. Rose House walks with students to help them discern where God is calling them in life.

Rev. Amanda Ghaffarian, Campus Pastor

St. Thomas Lutheran Church 3800 E. Third St. 812-332-5252 stlconline.org

facebook.com/StThomasBloomington

Sunday: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m.

We are the worshiping home of Rose House Lutheran Campus Ministries. As disciples of Christ who value the faith, gifts and ministry of all God's people and seek justice and reconciliation, we welcome all God's children* to an inclusive and accessible community. *No strings attached or expectations that you'll change.

Rev. Adrianne Meier

Rev. Lecia Beck

Independent Baptist

Lifeway Baptist Church 7821 W. State Road 46 812-876-6072 lifewaybaptistchurch.org facebook.com/lifewayellettsville

Sunday: 9 a.m., Bible Study Classes 10 a.m., Morning Service 5 p.m., Evening Service Barnabas College Ministry: Meeting for Bible study throughout the month. Contact Rosh Dhanawade at bluhenrosh@gmail.com for more information.

Steven VonBokern, Senior Pastor Rosh Dhanawade, IU Coordinator 302-561-0108 bluhenrosh@gmail.com

*Free transportation provided. Please call if you need a ride to church.

Episcopal (Anglican)

Canterbury Mission

719 E. Seventh St. 812-822-1335

IUCanterbury.org

facebook.com/ECMatIU

Instagram & Twitter: @ECMatIU

Sun.: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Mon., Wed., Thu.: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Tue.: Noon - 8 p.m.

Fri., Sat.: By Appointment

Canterbury: Assertively open & affirming; unapologetically Christian, we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ by promoting justice, equality, peace, love and striving to be the change God wants to see in our world

Ed Bird, Chaplain/Priest

Jacob Oliver & Lily Dolliff, student workers

Unitarian Universalist

Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington

2120 N. Fee Ln. 812-332-3695 uubloomington.org facebook.com/uubloomington

Sunday: 10:15 a.m.

We are a dynamic congregation working for a more just world through social justice. We draw inspiration from world religions and diverse spiritual traditions. Our vision is "Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, Changing the World." A LGBTQA+ Welcoming Congregation and a certified Green Sanctuary.

Rev. Connie Grant, Interim Minister

Rev. Emily Manvel Leite, Minister of Story and Ritual

Church of God (Anderson Affiliated)

Stoneybrook Community Church of God

3701 N. Stoneybrook Blvd. stoneybrookccog.org

facebook.com/StoneyBrookCCOG

Sunday: 10:30 a.m.

10 a.m. Coffee & Treats Stoneybrook Community Church of God is a gathering of imperfect people learning to follow Jesus. We invite you to join us on the journey.

Mitch

Ripley, Interim Pastor

Evangel Presbytery

Trinity Reformed Church 2401 S. Endwright Rd. 812-825-2684 trinityreformed.org

facebook.com/trinitychurchbloom

Email us at office@trinityreformed.org

Sunday Services: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m.

College Bible Study: Contact us for more info.

"Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.'" Proclaiming freedom from slavery since 1996. Only sinners welcome.

Jody Killingsworth, Senior Pastor Lucas Weeks, College Pastor

Bahá'í Faith

Bahá'í Association of IU 424 S. College Mall Rd. 812-331-1863 bloomingtoninbahais.org

facebook.com/BaháíCommunity-of-BloomingtonIndiana-146343332130574

Instagram: @bloomingtonbahai

Regular Services/Devotional Meetings:

Sunday: 10:40 a.m. @ Bloomington Bahá'í Center

Please call or contact through our website for other meetings/activities

The Bahá'í Association of IU works to share the Teachings and Principles of the Founder, Bahá'u'lláh, that promote the "Oneness of Mankind" and the Peace and Harmony of the Planet through advancing the "security, prosperity, wealth and tranquility of all peoples."

Karen Pollock & Dan Enslow

Non-Denominational

Calvary Chapel of Bloomington

3625 W State Road 46 812-369-8459

calvarychapelbloomington.org

facebook.com/calvary-

chapelbloomington

YouTube: Calvary Chapel Bloomington IN

Sunday: 10 a.m.

Tuesday: 7 p.m., Prayer

Wednesday: 6:30 p.m.

Hungry for God's word and fellowship with other believers? Come as you are and worship with us as we grow in the knowledge of His love, mercy, and grace through the study of the scriptures, and serving those in need. May the Lord richly bless you!

Frank Peacock, Pastor

Alissa Peacock, Children's Ministry

Christ Community Church 503 S. High St. 812-332-0502 cccbloomington.org

facebook.com/christcommunitybtown

Instagram: @christcommunitybtown

Sunday: 9:15 a.m., Educational Hour

10:30 a.m., Worship Service

We are a diverse community of Christ-followers, including many IU students, faculty and staff. Together we are committed to sharing the redeeming grace and transforming truth of Jesus Christ in this college town.

Bob Whitaker, Senior Pastor

Adam deWeber, Worship Pastor Dan Waugh, Adult Ministry Pastor

Church of Christ

825 W. Second St. 812-332-0501

facebook.com/w2coc

Sunday: 9:30 a.m., Bible Study

10:30 a.m. & 5 p.m., Worship

Wednesday: 7 p.m., Bible Study

We use no book, but the Bible. We have no creed but His Word within its sacred pages. God is love and as such we wish to share this joy with you. The comprehensive teaching of God's Word can change you forever.

John Myers, Preacher

City Church For All Nations 1200 N. Russell Rd. 812-336-5958

citychurchbloomington.org facebook.com/citychurchbtown

Instagram: @citychurchbtown

Sunday Service: 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

*Always check website for possible changes to service times.

City Church is a non-denominational

multicultural, multigenerational church on Bloomington's east side. 1Life, our college ministry meets on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. David Norris, Pastor Sumer Norris, Pastor

Trinity Reformed Church

“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.” Proclaiming freedom from slavery since 1996. Only sinners welcome.

Jody Killingsworth, Senior Pastor Lucas Weeks, College Pastor Sunday Services: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. College Bible Study: Contact us for more info.

Society of Friends (Quaker)

Bloomington Friends Meeting 3820 E. Moores Pike 812-336-4581

bloomingtonfriendsmeeting.org

Facebook: Bloomington Friends Meeting

Sunday (in person and by Zoom):

9:45 a.m., Hymn singing

10:30 a.m., Meeting for Worship

10:45 a.m., Sunday School (Children join in worship from 10:30-10:45)

11:30 a.m., Light Refreshments and

Fellowship

12:45 p.m., Often there is a second hour activity (see website)

Wednesday (by Zoom only):

9 a.m., Midweek Meeting for worship

9:30 a.m., Fellowship

We practice traditional Quaker worship, gathering in silence with occasional Spirit-led vocal ministry by fellow worshipers. We are an inclusive community with a rich variety of belief and no prescribed creed. We are actively involved in peace action, social justice causes, and environmental concerns. Peter Burkholder, Clerk burkhold@indiana.edu

United Methodist

Jubilee 219 E. Fourth St. 812-332-6396 jubileebloomington.org jubilee@fumcb.org

facebook.com/jubileebloomington

Instagram: @jubileebloomington

Sunday: 9:30 a.m., Classic Worship & 11:45 a.m., Contemporary Worship

Wednesday: 7:30 p.m., College & Young Adult Dinner

Jubilee is a Christ-centered community open and affirming to all people. We gather on Wednesdays at First Methodist (219 E. Fourth St.) for a free meal, discussion, worship and hanging out. Small groups, service projects, events (scavenger hunts, bonfires, etc.), mission trips and opportunities for student leadership are all a significant part of our rhythm of doing life together.

Markus Dickinson, Campus Director

Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod

University Lutheran Church and Student Center 607 E. Seventh St 812-336-5387 indianalutheran.com facebook.com/ULutheranIU instagram.com/uluindiana

Sunday: 9:15 a.m.; Sunday Bible Class 10:30 a.m.; Sunday Worship

Wednesday: 7 p.m.: Wednesday Evening Service 7:45 p.m.: College Bible Study Student Center open daily, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

We are the home of the LCMS campus ministry at Indiana. Our mission is to serve all college students with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. Located on Campus, we offer Christ-centered worship, Bible study and a community of friends gathered around God’s gifts of life, salvation and the forgiveness of sins through our Senior Jesus Christ.

Richard

Woelmer, Pastor

2401 S. Endwright Rd. 812-825-2684 trinityreformed.org

facebook.com/trinitychurchbloom Email at office@trinityreformed.org

Inter-Denominational

Redeemer Community Church

111 S. Kimble Dr. 812-269-8975 redeemerbloomington.org

facebook.com/RedeemerBtown

Instagram & Twitter: @RedeemerBtown

Sunday: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Redeemer is a gospel-centered community on mission. Our vision is to see the gospel of Jesus Christ transform everything: our lives, our church, our city, and our world. We want to be instruments of gospel change in Bloomington and beyond.

Chris Jones, Lead Pastor

Baptist

University Baptist Church 3740 E. Third St. 812-339-1404

ubcbloomington.org

facebook.com/ubc.bloomington

YouTube: UBC Bloomington IN

Sunday: 10:45 a.m., Worship in person & live streamed on YouTube

A welcoming and affirming congregation excited to be a church home to students in Bloomington. Trans and other LGBTQ+ friends and allies most especially welcome!

Annette Hill Briggs, Pastor Rob Drummond, Worship & Music Minister

Mennonite

Mennonite Fellowship of Bloomington

2420 E. Third St. 812-646-2441 bloomingtonmenno.org

facebook.com/Mennonite-

Fellowship-ofBloomington-131518650277524

Sunday: 5 p.m.

A welcoming, inclusive congregation providing a place of healing and hope as we journey together in the Spirit of Christ. Gathering for worship Sundays 5 p.m. in the Roger Williams room, First United Church. As people of God's peace, we seek to embody the Kingdom of God.

John Sauder mfbjohn@gmail.com

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

205 E. Kirkwood Ave. 812-332-4459 fccbloomington.org

Sunday: 10 a.m.

We are an inclusive community of people who are diverse in thought and unified in spirit. We are an LGBTQIA+ welcoming and affirming congregation known for our excellent music and commitment to justice. Our worship services will not only lift your spirit, but also engage your mind. You are welcome!

Pastor Kyrmen Rea, Senior Pastor Pastor Sarah Lynne Gershon, Student Associate Pastor Jan Harrington, Director of Music

Horoscope

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Today is a 7 - Discuss, coordinate and sort resources. Keep your patience with delays. Build a bucket brigade to bail someone out. Together, you can move mountains.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Today is an 8 - Look for professional opportunities hiding behind changes Solutions around blockages arise in conversation. Clean messes for extra reward. Read the small print before signing.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Today is a 9 - Learn from a talented teacher. Simplify your investigation. Reinforce the basics. Make backup plans for travel or shipping. Patient connection can open valuable doors.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Today is an 8 - Collaborate patiently. Avoid wasting time and money with financial arguments. Budget for value. Focus on marketing, fundraising and investments. You’re building for the future.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is an 8 - Listen carefully to your partner. Avoid automatic reactions. Misunderstandings abound. Compromise for now and work it out later. Share encouragement and support.

Provide stability.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Today is a 9 - Focus on what you know works. Don’t push into a brick wall. Follow the rules. Keep lines of communication open. Nurture yourself and grow stronger.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Today is an 8 - Connect with your creative muses. Capture ideas onto paper, files or film. Edit carefully before publishing. Practice diplomacy. Controversies and misunderstandings abound. Consider multiple views.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Today is a 9 - Carefully check financial statements and invoices. Mistakes, miscommunications and delays could slow cash flow. Collaborate to keep balances positive. Kindness and patience returns magnified.

Crossword L.A. Times Daily Crossword

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

How

Answer to previous puzzle

© Puzzles by Pappocom

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF THE LITTLE 500

By Dalton James jamesdm@iu.edu | @DaltonMJames

“The World’s Greatest College Weekend” is upon us once more.

Last year’s running of the Little 500 was the first held with fans since 2019, a race that saw Phi Delta Theta victorious in the men’s race, while Melanzana Cycling won the women’s race. This year brings a women’s field that has increased to 27, compared to 22 in 2022. The men’s field is composed of 33 teams, just like the Indianapolis 500, the race the Little 500 is modeled after.

Alpha Chi Omega will start from the pole position for the 35th women’s race, which lasts 100 laps. The race will take place at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 21.

Cutters, the all-time winningest team with 14 victories, will start the 72nd running of the men’s Little 500 from the pole position. The 200-lap race will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 22.

RULES

Pits : Each team has chosen a pit according to their qualification position. Each pit is sixteen feet long and along the circumference of the track. Teams are allowed to have a maximum of six people in their pit on race day — the registered four riders, one credentialed coach and a credentialed undergraduate student coach.

Exchanges :

Each team is required to complete exchanges throughout the race. Ten exchanges are required for men while five are required for women. The exchanges must be completed within a 32-foot area which is made up of each team’s pit and the pit directly following.

Line-Up:

All starting riders will be mounted to their bicycles and ready to ride before the pace lap. Riders will be lined up based on the qualification order.

Penalties : If teams have committed a violation of rules, they will be penalized for a minimum of two seconds. Penalties will be served in the penalty box located near the start/finish line.

Penalties must be served within 10 laps of them being issued.

Entering the infield: The cement gutter around the inside of the track is considered part of the infield and shall not be ridden on. If a team is forced onto the gutter and into the infield, they will not receive a penalty and can rejoin the track. If a team attempts to improve its position by going into the infield, it will receive a penalty.

OFFICIALS

IUSF Little 500 Race Director: Emily Carrico is 2023’s race director and is responsible for overseeing all administrative duties and management of the race.

Chief Steward: The Chief Steward decides all questions relating to the conduct of the race for which the resolution is not provided in the rulebook. They have the power to disqualify riders for unsportsmanlike conduct and assess penalties.

Judges : Seventeen judges will be stationed around the track and will report irregularities to the Chief Steward.

Chief Observers: Three observers will be positioned in observation towers to aid the Chief Steward in the enforcement of the race rules.

Starter:

The starter is responsible for waving flags when necessary.

Safety Officials: Safety officials will help to clear the track of accidents, control re-entry to the track, point out infractions to the judges and are responsible for the immediate safety of the riders.

KEY TERMS

Bike:

Each team receives two bikes from the IU Student Foundation for race day. The State Bicycle Co. bikes are single-speed, coaster brake, 700c wheeled bike and are not allowed to have any modifications.

Pole: The team that starts the race in first place.

Flags:

There are seven flags used throughout the race: green, yellow, red, white, checkered, black (ride on outside of the track) and blue with an orange stripe (bicycle attempting to pass).

Pack: A group of riders together, usually including the teams near the lead.

Draft: A rider will line up behind another biker, reducing air resistance and allowing the rider to draft — putting in less effort to maintain speed.

Sprinter : A team’s fastest rider in shortbursts, who will often be tasked with the last lap or two to finish the race.

Burn: In preparation for an exchange, the current rider will sprint to separate from the pack before they exchange, “burning” their remaining energy.

Marking: When a team begins a burn, a second team will mark them to pressure them into an exchange, to prevent the burning team from faking and creating a lead.

Set: A period of laps a rider spends on the bike before exchanging. Riders with more stamina may ride longer sets, while sprinters will ride shorter and faster sets.

Lapped traffic: Once a team is off the lead lap, they will be directed to the outside of the track as the pack passes them to avoid interfering with the leaders.

Yellow jersey: The winning team from the year before wears a yellow jersey on race day. Last year’s winners were Phi Delta Theta for the men’s and Melanzana Cycling for the women’s.

Spring Series: A series of four events in the weeks leading up to the race that involve all the riders, including Qualifications, Individual Time Trials, Miss N Out and Team Pursuit. The overall winning team of the Spring Series gets to wear a white bike jersey on race day.

Qualifications:

Also known as Quals, a team gets four laps to set a fastest time and qualify within the 33-man Little 500 field. The fastest team qualifies on the pole and receives a green jersey to wear on race day.

Individual Time Trials : ITTs are also a four-lap event, but are completed individually. Four riders compete at the same time, starting in each corner of the track, to complete four laps first.

Miss N Out:

Starting in heats of five to eight, the last place rider is eliminated every lap until three riders remain. The three advance to the next round until the final heat of eight. Once three riders are left on the last heat, they begin a one-lap sprint to determine the winner.

Team Pursuit:

Two teams of four start on opposite ends of the track and chase each other down in a pace line for 15 laps. The teams are timed based on the third rider to cross the finish line. The two fastest teams compete to determine the winner.

“Breaking Away”: The 1979 movie about the Little 500 won an Academy Award for best original screenplay. The race team Cutters, who won in 2018 and 2019 and has the most wins in the men’s race with 14, was named after the movie.

2023 LITTLE 500 PIT GUIDE WOMEN’S TEAMSFRIDAY

SATURDAY

MEN’S TEAMS -

displays yellow flag, clears the track of wrecks, controls re-entry and points out infractions.

located in the press box, is responsible for the lap counting and time.

INDEX

presides over pits to monitor conduct, such as in exchanges. One judge presides over every two pits.

gives the flag signals for the start and finish line.

CORRECTION: In a previous version of this page, the fifth spot for the Men’s race was incorrectly labeled as Pi Kappa Alpha. The section has been updated to include the correct team for the fifth spot.

JERSEY COLORS

WOMEN’S RACE

Alpha Chi Omega Teter Kappa Alpha Theta

Independent Council Kappa Delta Alpha Gamma Delta

Each year, three jersey colors are designated to certain teams. The white jersey goes to the winner of cumulative Spring Series event points, yellow is worn by last years’ winners and green is worn by the pole winners.

MEN’S RACE

Cutters Sigma Phi Epsilon Sigma Alpha Epsilon

2

Delta Gamma Kappa Kappa Gamma CSF Cycling

3 4

Theta Phi Alpha SKI Novus

5

Melanzana Cycling Cru Cycling RideOn Cycling

6

Phi Gamma Nu Delta Zeta Alpha Omicron Pi

7

Gamma Phi Beta Chi Omega Bison Cycling

Phi Mu Sigma Kappa Alpha Sigma Alpha

8 9

Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Epsilon Phi Sigma Delta Tau 10 11

RULES OF THE RACE

THE RACE

The women’s race is 100 laps, which is equivalent to 25 miles, while the men’s race is 200 laps, or about 50 miles. Both races are on the quarter-mile cinder track at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Entrants are given State Bicycle Co. bicycles. Teams are made up of as many as four riders.

The riders treat the race much like a running relay.

When a rider is tired, they exchange the bicycle with a teammate. Any full time IU undergraduate can ride in the Little 500.

THE LINEUP

The order of the starting lineup will be determined by qualification times.

These teams will be grouped in rows of three, starting with the No. 1 pole position team on the inside of the track. All No. 1

riders will be mounted and ready five minutes before the pace lap, after which no crew member will be allowed on the inside of the track.

PITS

Each team will be assigned a pit along the outside of the track according to its qualification position. These pits are approximately 16 feet wide and 6 feet deep. All exchanges and bicycle repairs must be made within these boundaries. An exception is when adjacent teams are exchanging simultaneously, one team may step beyond the restraining line to complete its exchange. Each team is allowed to have a pit crew not exceeding two persons — one in the pit and one in

the infield with the bicycle.

PENALTIES

Teams guilty of violating these rules shall be penalized no more than 20 seconds. This time will be spent in the penalty box located near the starting line. A black flag given to the team indicates that a penalty has been imposed. Penalities include imposing another team, including pit and crew, 10 to 20 seconds; illegal exchange from bicycle A to bicycle B, two seconds; using more than three pits for an exchange, two seconds; and unsportsmanlike conduct, five to 20 seconds, depending on severity.

CHANGING RIDERS Teams will be allowed to

Alpha Kappa Psi Phi Kappa Psi Phi Gamma Delta

Chi Phi Cinzano Human Wheels

Alpha Sigma Phi Delta Tau Delta Pi Kappa Alpha

Alpha Kappa Lambda Chi Alpha Gray Goat

Ghost Cycling Phi Sigma Kappa Novus

CSF Cycling Beta Sigma Psi Sigma Nu

3PH Cycling Delta Sigma Pi Lambda Chi Alpha

Forest Cycling Phi Delta Theta Evans Scholars

Tau Epsilon Phi IUDM Cycling Bears

Wild Aces Cycling Army Cycling Beta Theta Pi

THE FLAGS

change riders as often as they wish, but the team must change a minimum of 10 times in the men’s race and five times in the women’s race. Each bike exchange must begin in front of the pit of the team concerned, and it must be completed by the time the rider has reached the far limits of the next pit on the right. Should the incoming rider fail to start the exchange in front of the correct pit, he or she must continue around for one more lap. If the rider backs up, the team will be subject to penalty. The outgoing rider may use the preceding pit to run and gain momentum for the exchange, but the actual exchange of the bike must take place in the correct pit area.

Scan here for men’s and women’s live updates

Meet the Racers: The Men

Q&A WITH LITTLE 500 LEGACY AUDREY LA VALLE

By Ellie Albin ealbin@iu.edu | @EllieAlbin1

Growing up, the La Valles had a basketball hoop in their driveway. And when Audrey La Valle would play with her brothers — Albert, the oldest, and Andrew, the middle child — they’d adjust the rules a bit: when Audrey scored, her points were worth more than theirs. It wasn’t to belittle her; it didn’t stem from competitiveness. It was because, La Valle said, her older brothers were always the ones showing her the

phase where we thought about swimming in college, but none of us were like star-studded athletes who are gonna go D1 or anything. So my oldest brother (Albert), when he came here, he joined swim club — and had a great time with that — but sort of wanted something more competitive, you know, where more people were really working toward an end goal. He decided, ultimately, he wanted to go through (fraternity) recruitment, because the way he explained it to me was just like, “Even if you

much when they were swimming, or whatever, I was like, “Oh, that’s definitely something I want to do.”

And I just remember being at the pool with our babysitter, we were in the deep end playing tag or whatever — and (Albert and Andrew) were off swimming. But I think I was too young to have that fully figured out, so I was just on the wall. And I was like, “Man, I want to figure this out. I want to be able to swim.”

So, would you describe

Andrew actually has been helping me with my training a lot. And, you know, I call him a lot for advice on that. He was able to become one of, if not the strongest rider in the field, so I know so many other riders look up to him. So to have him as my brother is so awesome, because even all the other current male riders will tell me how awesome he was and how much they enjoyed riding with him. The fact that I’m able to get continuous free advice from him is super cool.

Albert came in and no one knew who he was. And he was starting up a team that hadn’t even raced previously. So the fact that I get to come in having had two brothers who were so influential in the race, and also be a part of such a great team in and of itself with so much history, I think just helps.

How do you usually feel right before the race starts? Do you get brain fog? But is there a certain feeling that you get, physically and mentally?

has that been like?

It’s way more than I thought it would be. I don’t think I realized all the work that goes into this because last year, and the year before, my only job was to ride my bike and you have to kind of separate the two and be like, “OK, this is my captain hat — this is the moment when I have to support the other girls on the team, find what motivates, which is different for every member on the team.”

I think it’s funny. Some girls really need the “I

Hotel options for Little 500 weekend

By Christy Avery averycm@iu.edu | christym_avery

Every year, IU’s Little 500 brings together students, families and even celebrity guests — Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj performed in 2011 — to view the iconic bike race. As the weather warms up, so does the celebration, as visitors come from across the country to spend the weekend exploring the city. For those who need a place to crash each night, there are several hotels in Bloomington close to locations such as College Mall and Kirkwood Avenue — so even if you’re not a townie, you’ll have everything you need to have a successful Little 500 weekend.

Some hotels advise guests to expect heavier traffic and increased rates. Here’s what you can expect from hotels in the area and where they’re situated in the city so you can pick the best place for you.

Travelodge Hotel is less than half a mile from IU’s campus and across the street from College Mall. Guests can take a stroll through campus, shop or rent a boat at Monroe Lake — and when hunger strikes,

Bloomington’s nearby Fourth Street is filled with international dining options.

Because of problems with rowdy parties that happened at the hotel in the past, Travelodge Hotel manager

Josh Long said Travelodge requires guests to put down a deposit during Little 500 weekend which ensures costs will be covered if issues such as property damage happen. This deposit is usually $100.

While the last few years have been quieter at the hotel, particularly since the pandemic, people looking to book a hotel who are not visiting for the race but are concerned about potential noise should inquire about how busy a given hotel might be before they book so they know what to expect, Long said.

“Any hotel I know will cooperate with you and let you know,” he said. “They’ll have a better idea of where to put you in the hotel for a quieter area if that’s a concern to you.”

Comfort Inn is also located near College Mall and offers an outdoor pool and pet-friendly rooms.

Little 500 weekend, typically running up to $300-$400 a night. Rooms at Comfort Inn normally start from $194 a night, according to Choice Hotels.

Lewis said guests are usually a mixture of students, families and visitors from out of town, especially during the summer when the pools open.

Hampton Inn, located on North Walnut Street, offers free parking and is within walking distance of IU’s Memorial Stadium. Oliver Winery and The Golf Club at Eagle Pointe are also nearby.

Deonte Love, an employee at Hampton Inn, said for last year’s race Hampton Inn saw a spike in reservations, including bikers staying at the hotel for the weekend. However, prices usually stay fairly consistent during Little 500.

“As far as our rates, I want to say they’re just above average, but not nearly as expensive as our busier events like sports,” he said.

“Not too out of typical range.”

Closer to campus on Kirkwood Avenue, just a five-minute walk from IU’s Sample Gates, is the

the Square before heading out to browse the shops or take advantage of the bustling college nightlife. The Graduate is pet-friendly and offers free bike rentals, a 24-hour fitness center and even a “Stranger Things”themed suite experience. The Graduate typically sells out or gets close to selling out during Little 500 weekend, Graduate guest experience manager Matthew Hazen said.

“I would say that we see a good mix of alumni and parents of current students at the hotel during the weekend,” Hazen said. “We do receive a decent number of out-of-towners that have heard about Little 500 and want to experience it which is always great to see, but the majority of our guests for the weekend are definitely people with ties to the university.”

With artwork and design elements that reference Little 500 and other iconic Bloomington characteristics, even those who aren’t staying at the hotel come in to check out the lobby, Hazen said.

“We try to be the ‘“living room of the community’ and love to be a frequent stop for locals like ourselves,” Hazen

By Gentry Keener gekeener@iu.edu

Little 500, the largest collegiate bike race in the U.S., has been called “The World’s Greatest College Weekend” and brings more than 25,000 people to Bloomington each year.

Thousands of people — including alumni, families and more — flood the streets of Bloomington, after a hot day of sitting in the sun or a long night of celebrating, they are hungry.

“We are nonstop busy from Thursday all the way through the end of the night on Sunday,” a manager at Nick’s English Hut on Kirkwood Avenue said. “It’s always a good time. We love it.”

From breakfast stops to dessert, many restaurants have lines out the door from Thursday through Sunday.

The Runcible Spoon on East Sixth Street, a local restaurant well known around town for its breakfast, gets busy the moment the restaurant opens at 8 a.m. with college students and families alike.

“People are already waiting outside,” Angela Frezza, manager at the Runcible Spoon, said. “Usually, we’re pretty busy in the morning for breakfast and brunch, but Little 500 pushes those busy hours through til we close.”

Race goers can prep for the long day in the sun with some filling breakfast at the Runcible Spoon, the Village Deli or even grab a quick bagel from Bloomington Bagels. However, the party doesn’t stop there.

Local restaurants on Kirkwood Avenue and on the Square become flooded with a lunch rush and the chaos doesn’t let up until the closing sign switches off.

Even fast-food restaurants that have secured a top spot on Kirkwood Avenue, such as Chipotle and Five Guys, are filled to max capacity with race guests trying to refuel and prepare themselves for the night.

“It will usually be about $4,000 to $5,000 more in revenue per day than a typical weekend,” Jarod Delt, a manager at Five Guys on Kirkwood, said.

However, not every business

in town sees an uproar in customers. Matt Houghton, a manager at Lennie’s Brewpub on Kirkwood Avenue, said his restaurant actually sees a decrease in customers due to locals avoiding the chaos that Kirkwood Avenue can become.

“All of the locals with any sense steer clear of the area because there are a million drunken college kids running around,” Houghton said.

Houghton said Lennie’s Brewpub preps their workers by making sure they are on high alert, monitoring intoxication levels of guests by paying close attention to alcohol intake within the restaurant and looking out for anything that could cause danger to the staff or other customers.

Lennie’s Brewpub is located in close proximity to Kilroy’s Bar N’ Grill, one of the top bars in Bloomington for college students and alumni on any given weekend.

On Little 500 weekend, Kilroy’s hosts special events such as Breakfast Club, an event that opens the bar at 7 a.m. and includes a free breakfast buffet and special offers on drinks. This event brings in mass amounts of customers and increases the crowds on Kirkwood.

It isn’t just the college students who take over the businesses, though. Families pile into restaurants for dinner and often follow it up with some dessert from places like The Chocolate Moose.

“It definitely gets packed in here,” Beth Calgaro, a manager at The Chocolate Moose, said. “We have to double our staff.”

Calgaro said preparation for the Little 500 weekend also includes making sure they have enough supplies and food to serve everyone and fulfill all catering orders.

Little 500 takes over the town of Bloomington in many ways. Food and drinks are a critical aspect to surviving the weekend of sitting in potentially hot weather and late nights out. Although not every restaurant is affected in the same way, many take precautions to prepare for the most iconic college weekend in America.

IDS FILE PHOTO

Kirkwood Avenue is seen Oct. 26, 2021. The Graduate Hotel, located on Kirkwood Avenue, is minutes away from local restaurants like Nick’s English Hut, Kilroy’s on Kirkwood, and Lennie’s Brewpub.

it’s a shame you can only pick one.