Indiana Daily Student -- Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023

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IDS Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023

INSIDE, P. 3

What to expect at 2023 Winter Commencement

Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com

The first season

JACOB SPUDICH | IDS

Eastern Greene starters gather in a huddle ahead of kickoff against the Bloomington Bobcats, a homeschool soccer club, on Sept. 28, 2023, at Karst Farm Park in Bloomington. This is Eastern Greene's first season as a soccer team.

Just 16 miles away from IU men's team, a rural high school ignites a legacy of soccer.

By Marissa Meador

marnmead@iu.edu | @ marissa_meador

The Eastern Greene Thunderbirds, embarking on their first season as a soccer team, are still learning to fly.

When the co-ed team takes the field at Mooresville Christian Academy on a late summer day, they are halfway through the season and still winless. Though the TBirds' 26 players come from an array of other sports at Eastern Greene High School, few have experience with soccer.

Yet the smattering of red shirts remains determined.

As the players trade the ball up and down the field, the two teams prove themselves equally matched, with neither able to take control of momentum.

Miraculously, the T-Birds take a 1-point lead, rallying the small enclave of parents

in folding chairs tacked along the sideline. Then tragedy strikes — in a scuffle near the goal, a gangly player taps the ball too hard. It rolls in.

As the dust settles, it is the T-Birds’ freshman midfielder Timothy McCoin who has scored — for the other team.

The Thunderbirds hail from rural Greene County, just 16 miles from one of the best collegiate soccer programs in the nation. Despite their proximity to such success, the coaches and players have long struggled to bring soccer to Eastern Greene.

T-Birds head coach Kurtis Moffitt, whose bushy white beard and booming voice betray a softer, more emotional side, jumpstarted his quest to bring soccer to Eastern Greene when he

started a junior high league in the summer of 2021. The first practice was on a field behind Cincinnati Christian Church, bordered by an electric pole and snaked with mole hills and patches of gravel.

Enter the T-Birds' assistant coach, Tracy Crane. A former college soccer player and coach who instructs her players with precision and a blunt attitude, Crane found the field’s conditions unacceptable and allowed the team to practice on the Crane family farm instead.

Though people at Eastern Greene had tried and failed to start a high school soccer team for years, the recruiting success of Moffitt’s junior high team exposed a genuine interest in soccer in the area.

In a high school of around 300 students, Crane’s initiative to prove they had the numbers and would not si-

phon players from the football team — a major concern of the community according to Moffitt and Crane — was the recipe for success.

In October 2022, Crane finally secured board approval for the high school team.

After receiving the green light, Moffitt and Crane then had the delicate task of organizing a team of varying abilities and backgrounds.

One player, junior midfielder Clara Hawk, showed incredible speed on the field due to her running background but struggled to stop herself from catching the ball with her hands. Zac West, a senior defender with a background in soccer, had to miss some practices for football, which he had joined as a kicker before the school board approved the soccer team.

When the team suffered a blowout loss to Bedford

North Lawrence High School in their first scrimmage in August, Moffitt expected to lose at least five players.

That is, until junior midfielder Roman Valentine approached him with a grin.

“I didn’t know what I was doing, but that was fun!” Roman said.

A yellow butterfly crosses the turf at Mooresville High School’s Pioneer Classic Tournament on Sept. 23, hosted by a 3A school at a facility that dwarfed the TBirds' humble grass field.

Though Eastern Greene has just faced a crushing loss at the hands of the host team in the first game of the tournament, there is a sense of lightness in the air.

Moms of the players swarm the group as they gather in the shade, handing

IU’s Palestine Solidarity Committee holds vigil

By Andrew Miller

ami3@iu.edu | @andrew_mmiller

As the sun set over Sample Gates, over 100 people gathered Dec. 11 to remember Palestinians who have been killed in the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war and demand action from IU and the U.S. The crowd, some holding small candles, protest signs and Palestinian flags, stayed silent as speaker after speaker read Palestinian poetry, led chants of “free, free Palestine!” and advocated for a ceasefire in the conflict.

Migratory birds flying south, cars honking in support and an officer inside an unmarked police car watched the event. IU’s Palestine Solidarity Committee led the vigil as part of a global strike day for Palestine.

The vigil began at 5 p.m. and ended around 6 p.m., but many stayed afterward to talk amongst themselves about the war.

One student, who requested anonymity because

of the harassment and doxxing other pro-Palestinian college students have faced, said they were there to continue their family’s tradition of fighting for justice.

They said their family were Jewish refugees from Ukraine, who fled the region’s pogroms, anti-Jewish riots, in the early 20th century. They said they came to the U.S., taking what they learned from their own oppression and using it to fight for all others who are persecuted.

“It's really inspiring to see a lot of people from different backgrounds and cultures here,” they said.

“There's people of Jewish background, Middle Eastern background, Hispanic background, white people, all different backgrounds who are coming here to fight for justice, liberty and a ceasefire.”

Serena, an IU student who requested to not include their last name due to concern for her family’s safety, said she was there to fight

out sandwiches rapid-fire.

Among their cornucopia of snacks are bananas, Capri Suns and pickle juice — a magical elixir that vanishes cramps, according to the TBirds. Just a few feet away, three young boys kick a soccer ball into the chain-link fence, its metallic shudder mimicking the pull of the net.

It’s been four games since they played Mooresville Christian Academy on Sept. 11, and they still have not clinched a victory. This approaching rematch with the school, who is also in the tournament, provides the opportunity for redemption.

The match begins, and immediately the T-Birds struggle to communicate with one another on the field, a critique reiterated by the coaches time and time again.

SEE FIRST SEASON, PAGE 4

IU chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha suspended for dishonest conduct, hazing, retaliation

By Jack Forrest jhforres@iu.edu

ANDREW MILLER | IDS

A speaker talks to a crowd gathered at Sample Gates on Dec. 11, 2023, to honor the lives lost in Gaza. IU's Palestine Solidarity Committee hosted the vigil in support of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

for her family, who are Palestinian and some of whom live in the West Bank, and raise awareness about their people.

“It hurts to see the amount of people on this campus who don’t care,” Serena said. “So, I will continue to show up and continue to speak and do what I can to educate people at this university.”

She said she wants to see an immediate ceasefire and

wants IU and IU President Pamela Whitten to recognize Palestinian suffering.

Whitten came under criticism by many students and faculty after a second statement on the war condemned Hamas and expressed empathy for Jewish students and faculty but made no mention of Palestinians on campus.

“Pam open your eyes,” one sign at the vigil read.

SEE VIGIL, PAGE 4

Bloomington's 7 Day Forecast

The IU chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated was suspended by its national chapter on Dec. 6 for dishonest conduct, hazing and retaliation, according to the IU Office of Student Life.

The fraternity was previously put on cease and desist Sept. 1 for hazing.

According to the IU Office of Student Life, 15 of the 20 organizations subject to discipline this academic year violated either IU or their national organization’s hazing policy.

According to IU’s definitions of disciplinary statutes, a suspended chapter is required to cease and desist all activities and disband.

There are currently 10 organizations on suspen-

COURTESY PHOTO

The logo for Alpha Phi Alpha is seen. The IU chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated was suspended by the national chapter Dec. 6 for dishonest conduct, hazing and retaliation, according to the IU Office of Student Life.

sion, including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. On Nov. 27, Delta Upsilon was suspended by its board of directors for endangering others and hazing. There are also three organizations on cease and desist and two on voluntary resolution agreements.

SOURCE: ETHAN STEWARD | ETBSTEWA@IU.EDU GRAPHICS BY: THE WEATHER CHANNEL

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Indiana Daily Student

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NEWS

Dec. 14, 2023 idsnews.com

Editors: Mia Hilkowitz, Luke Price, Andrew Miller news@idsnews.com

20 Greek life organizations faced disciplinary status

By Jack Forrest jhforres@iu.edu

The Sunny Cup and Applicator kit is pictured. Sunny’s product officially launched Sept. 30, 2023.

COURTESY PHOTO

A look into ‘Sunny,’ a self-care brand

By Haripriya Jalluri hjalluri@iu.edu

Sunny, a startup co-founded

by IU alumna Drew Jarvis while she was a student at the Kelley School of Business, is aiming to make period care more accessible to people across the world.

When Jarvis was a senior at Fishers High School, she researched menstrual cups and participated in a pitch competition. Jarvis won the competition and $25,000 in funding for her early-stage idea of a menstrual cup that inserts like a tampon.

She went on to co-found Sunny, a period and self-care startup.

Jarvis is the Chief Marketing Officer of Sunny, while Sunny’s co-founder Cindy Belardo is CEO. When Sunny’s product demonstration videos went viral on TikTok in April 2022, Sunny gained traction and opened pre-orders for their menstrual cup and applicator kit. After five years of development, their product officially launched Sept. 30, 2023. The kit is now being batch-produced and shipped to customers.

Experience in Bloomington Jarvis graduated from the Kelley School of Business with majors in marketing and international business in May 2022.

From her sophomore year to senior year at Kelley, Jarvis worked on product development and building Sunny as a brand. Kelley served as a resource for her, and she was able to connect with various professors about developing Sunny.

Her classes served as a learning opportunity that allowed her to implement business practices into Sunny in real time, Jarvis said.

Bloomington’s entrepreneurship community was a resource for Jarvis as well. The Mill, a nonprofit center for entrepreneurship in Bloomington, served as a place for Jarvis to network. Elevate Ventures, a local venture capital firm, was one of Sunny’s first investors.

Jarvis connected with IU Venture’s Chief Venture Officer Jason Whitney through the pitch competition in 2018.

IU Ventures provides IU entrepreneurs with connections to investors and Whitney works specifically with early-stage founders such as Jarvis.

Right before Sunny’s product launched, Sunny was pitched to the IU Angel Network, a network of 150 investors looking for opportunities to commit capital. Sunny was presented to investors due to the company’s growth since 2019, significant product pre-sales and Sunny’s partnership with Glassboard, Whitney said.

In Spring 2022, Sunny closed a $1.5 million pre-seed

round, where investors contribute capital to a business. This allowed Jarvis to start full time and salaried with Sunny after graduating.

“It was a leap of faith that made going viral in April, just one month before graduation, so surreal,” Jarvis said. “The universe was gifting me something for having faith in Sunny is always what it feels like.”

Working with Glassboard In 2019, Jarvis reached out to Glassboard, a product engineering firm in Indianapolis that she was connected to after winning the pitch competition in high school. At Glassboard, she pitched her problem statement to Ben Ettinger, the current director of product. Jarvis’ product statement focused on what the problem to solve is, why the problem matters and how her product would solve that.

Jarvis, who had done previous research on period products and the history of menstrual cups, wanted core features of her product to include environmentally-friendly ingredients and reduce rough user experience. Her original product pitch idea was for a menstrual cup that inserts similarly to a tampon, Jarvis said. The final product is a foldable menstrual cup that is put into an applicator, like a tampon is, to allow for easier insertion.

To the partnership with Glassboard, Jarvis brought background knowledge on the benefits of using a menstrual cup, the difficulties of application and the lack of innovation since the cup’s development.

She presented this information to the team of engineers at Glassboard, who were excited to develop the product with Jarvis.

“She could speak to the customer experience and the demographic of potential users that this idea would resonate with really well from day one,” Ettinger said. “Her energy around that was pretty contagious for everyone at Glassboard.”

The engineers at Glassboard that Jarvis was working with were all male. Ettinger and the team’s approach to development was to first understand the end clients need through empathetic research. Ettinger said this approach, along with Jarvis’s research and experience, allowed them to build mutual trust.

The biggest potential concern they had at the start of product development was that Jarvis was the only person on the team who could test out the menstrual cup and applicator. However, this did not stop development as having limited knowledge on the product us-

age proved to be a benefit in the overall development process, Ettinger said.

“We got to look at it with fresh eyes, hear all the problems that Drew was talking about, take those to heart and then look at it through a much more engineering product design lens,” Ettinger said. “Not having any preconceived notions ended up being a benefit, and I think Drew saw that early on.”

Glassboard connected Sunny with manufacturers and all kit components are manufactured domestically, Ettinger said. Sunny is Food and Drug Administration registered and uses medical grade materials that are both safe for the body and reusable to make their product, according to their website.

Meeting Cindy Belardo Nine months into developing the product idea with Jarvis, Glassboard got an inquiry from Cindy Belardo with a similar idea to develop a novel, easier to use approach to menstrual cups. Glassboard has a policy where they do not work on developing competitor products, so they could either say no to Belardo or connect her with Jarvis. They connected her with Jarvis and the pair became cofounders; Belardo is now the CEO of Sunny.

“We said ‘you two seem to have a lot in common and have the same heart and mission behind this idea, so you two should at least connect,’” Ettinger said. “After they connected, they hit it off and they blossomed into co-founders together.”

Belardo graduated college with an environmental studies degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2019. During college, she founded a period care club and traveled to Northern India in 2018 with a grant to do research on first-time menstrual cup exposure and usage.

Belardo presented her grant research during a TedxOU Talk in 2019. Her research highlighted that insertion fear and difficulty in learning how to use a menstrual cup are the main barriers to product use, Jarvis said.

With the data Belardo collected during her research trip and her background in college, Jarvis saw the benefit of partnering together. The information Belardo could contribute would help Jarvis and Glassboard by driving the decision-making process to develop a better product for consumers.

“The starkest difference was having another voice in the room that had the heart for this category of product, forcing conversations about the product features,” Ettinger said. “It forced a better conversation; it

sparked a lot more dialogue that ended up being beneficial for the product.”

Sunny as a self-care brand When she joined the development team, Belardo brought her period care brand “Menstrual Mates” with her. As cofounders, Jarvis and Belardo decided to originally use the Menstrual Mates branding for their joint-venture. They rebranded to the current branding of Sunny in January 2022 to be more encompassing of the brand’s direction and vision.

“We realized we needed something a little bit catchier,” Jarvis said. “We want to be that older sibling to inform everyone on period care, that friendly voice. That is what Sunny tries to embody.”

Sunny has three main pillars of focus: earth-friendly products, inclusive education and global impact, according to their website.

“A lot of people know us for the Sunny cup and applicator but we are also really interested in period and reproductive education that is inclusive to all genders and global impact to help end period poverty,” Jarvis said.

Through their research, Jarvis and Belardo have learned more about period poverty. Period poverty encompasses the disparities in access to period products, especially the cost associated with period care and the limited access to products that exist globally, Jarvis said.

For their education pillar, Sunny works to educate their target demographic through newsletters and use of social media. Jarvis said they are hoping to eventually work with schools, healthcare providers or period care advocates to expand their education pillar.

For their global impact pillar, Sunny has partnered with period.org, a global non-profit working to end period poverty.

As they continue to expand as a brand, Sunny is looking to increase their non-profit partnerships, create a non-profit arm of their own and begin product donations, Jarvis said.

“From the beginning it’s been both my mission and Cindy’s mission individually and eventually our mission together to help end period poverty,” Jarvis said.

Besides Jarvis and Belardo, Sunny also has four employees based remotely across the U.S., Jarvis said. As the period and self-care brand continues to grow, Jarvis wants to continue expanding Sunny’s values and reaching more people.

“Our goal is to just reach people with periods,” Jarvis said.

“It doesn’t matter who you are beyond that.”

Fire Department Chief Jason Moore resigns Ethan Roberts

ethrobe@iu.edu | @usaethanroberts

Bloomington Fire Department Chief Jason Moore resigned from his position Monday, just three days after mayorelect Kerry Thomson reappointed him as chief.

According to The HeraldTimes, Moore sent an email of his letter of resignation to the Bloomington Fire Department staff saying he is leaving the job that he started in 2016.

“I appreciate the relationships and connections established between IU and BFD during my tenure,” Moore said in an email sent to the Indiana Daily Student. “Being a guest instructor, providing fire and incident management services to IU athletic events, or working with student projects around the IU Crisis Technology Innovation Lab has been a great source of joy and inspiration. Thank you

IDS FILE PHOTO BY DEONNA WEATHERLY

Bloomington Fire Chief Jason Moore is attempting to set up a support program to help firefighters feel more comfortable sharing their struggles with mental health. Mayor-elect Kerry Thomson announced an interim chief.

to everyone who made this happen.”

In his resignation letter, Moore alluded to challenges within the fire department as his reason for leaving.

“While I realize there are still big challenges ahead, I am hopeful that you are on a great path with continued support from the city administration

and council to correct the last three major hurdles to elevate you to the staffing levels, pay, and dispatch services you deserve,” Moore wrote.

The local fire union has attributed a recent exodus of firefighters to low pay and staffing shortages.

“Chief Moore let Kerry know Tuesday afternoon of his deci-

sion,” Thomson spokesperson Jeff Harris said in an email to the IDS. “We thank him for his service to the community and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”

Thomson announced former chief Roger Kerr as interim fire chief in Moore’s absence.

“Chief Kerr will bring experience and a steady hand to the Bloomington Fire Department, and I am grateful he has agreed to step up once again,” Thomson said in a press release.

According to the press release, Kerr has been with the fire department since 1988 and served as chief from 2008 to 2014. He will assume the position on Jan. 1, 2024.

“As with other department leadership vacancies, Thomson and her team will conduct a search to find the best person possible to fill the fire chief’s position on a permanent basis,” a representative said.

This semester, 20 Greek life organizations were on some form of disciplinary status, including eight that were suspended in years past, according to the IU Office of Student Life.

Of the 20 organizations that faced disciplinary status this semester, 15 faced discipline for hazing, 10 for endangering others and nine for alcohol. Organizations can be placed on disciplinary status for multiple acts of misconduct.

By comparison, in addition to organizations suspended in years past, 13 organizations were on disciplinary status in the fall 2022 semester, and 11 were on disciplinary status in the spring 2023 semester.

No organizations were suspended during the 2022-23 academic year.

In addition to the eight organizations whose suspension from prior years carried over into this semester, two organizations were suspended this fall by their national chapters: Delta Upsilon was suspended Nov. 27 for endangering others and hazing, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated was suspended Dec. 6 for dishonest conduct, hazing and retaliation.

There are 10 suspended organizations on campus.

Suspended organizations must cease and desist all activities and disband, according to IU’s definitions of disciplinary statutes. Both fraternities were on cease and desist prior to their suspensions. Delta Upsilon’s cease and desist was for endangering others and hazing and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated’s cease and desist was for hazing.

Additionally, three organizations were placed on cease and desist, including Kappa Sigma on Aug. 15 for alcohol, endangering others and hazing. Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated were placed on cease and desist for hazing on Oct. 10 and Oct. 27, respectively. All three organizations were ordered to suspend all organization activities until further notice.

“A cease and desist is an interim measure that restricts a student organization’s operations when

there is an immediate or substantial threat of harm and/or ongoing investigation,” Mark Bode, IU executive director for media relations, said in an email.

“This interim measure will remain until the reported matter is resolved through the Organization Misconduct Process, or until it is determined that there is no longer an immediate or substantial threat of harm.”

Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Mu, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Theta Chi and Zeta Beta Tau are on disciplinary probation under conditions stated in writing. Any violations of the conditions or further acts of misconduct while under probation could result in additional sanctions, including suspension or expulsion, according to IU’s definitions of disciplinary statutes.

Alpha Phi and Chi Phi organizations entered into voluntary agreements with the Office of Student Conduct to resolve matters regarding violations of OSFL policies, according to the Office of Student Life.

In addition to the suspensions and the three indefinite cease and desists, three organizations will be on disciplinary probation for the entirety of the spring semester: Pi Kappa Alpha for alcohol, Theta Chi for hazing and Zeta Beta Tau for alcohol, hazing and non-compliance with Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life policies.

The new program prepares formerly non-business majors for a career in business.

The Office of Student Conduct investigates reports of hazing based on the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct’s definition of hazing and other code violations, and it accepts anonymous reports of hazing on its website.

“Indiana University takes reports of alleged policy violations seriously,” Bode said in an email.

“The Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life has implemented a number of initiatives over the last several years aimed at creating a safer and healthier community, including the implementation of policies and required prevention programming. Indiana University encourages students to report any behaviors that may violate Indiana University policy.”

Unidentified man killed near Wheeler Mission

By Madelyn Hanes mrhanes@iu.edu

Officers responded to reports of a death near Wheeler Mission at 5:40 p.m. Dec. 7 on the 200 block of S. Westplex Ave. According to Bloomington Police Department Captain Ryan Pedigo, a caller reported an unknown man had been found in a wooded area near Wheeler Mission and they believed the male was deceased. Officers then arrived at the scene and located the deceased man.

The man had severe noticeable injuries, including being cut and/or being struck by a sharp object according to the press re-

lease.

Investigators searched the area and interviewed several individuals for evidence related to the man's death. Craig Pearson, a 42-year-old man identified in the release as transient, meaning he has no fixed place of residence. Pearson was found and was transported to Monroe Country Jail. He has been remanded for the charge of murder.

At this time the victim's identity has not been confirmed by Monroe County Coroner's Office.

The investigation is ongoing. BPD is asking that anyone with information about the murder call Detective Josh Burnworth at (812) 339-4477.

Salomé Cloteaux Editor-in-Chief Emma Uber and Marissa Meador Managing Editors

Vol. 156, No. 39 © 2023

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Indiana Daily Student

GRADUATION

Dec. 14, 2023 idsnews.com

3

IDS FILE PHOTO BY IZZY MYSZAK

Members of the class of 2022 listen to one of the commencement speakers, CEO of The Walt Disney Company Bob Chapek, on May 7, 2022, in Memorial Stadium. The winter commencement ceremonies will take place at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 15, 2023, at IU Auditorium.

What to expect at 2023 Winter Commencement

By Isaac Perlich iperlich@iu.edu

IU will hold two Winter Commencement ceremonies at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 15 at the IU Auditorium, located at 1211 E. Seventh St. Schools participating in the 11 a.m. ceremony include the Kelley School of Business, Maurer School of Law, School of Medicine, School of Optometry, School of Social Work, Jacobs School of Music, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, School of Education, School of Nursing and School of Public Health.

The 3 p.m. ceremony will include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Media School, Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture, and Design, the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies and the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Graduates receiving degrees from the Graduate School will join the school closest to their field of study.

Here is what guests and graduates alike can expect at 2023 Winter Commencement: Schedule Graduates in the 11 a.m. ceremony should arrive at the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center, located at 275 N. Eagleson Ave., by 9:30 a.m.

The auditorium doors will

open for guests at 9:30 a.m.

The procession will begin at 10:45 a.m., and the ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. A recession will follow the ceremony at approximately 12:30 p.m. outside.

Graduates in the 3 p.m. ceremony should arrive at Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center by 1:30 p.m. Doors will open for guests at 1:30 p.m.

Procession will begin at 2:45 p.m., and the ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. A recession will follow the ceremony at approximately 4:30 p.m. outside.

Parking Free parking and shuttle services will be available at Henderson Garage located at 310 S. Fess Ave. and Poplars Garage located at 415 E. Sixth St. Shuttles will run from 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Free parking will also be available near the IU Auditorium at East Garage located at 150 N. Eagleson Ave. A map and more parking information can be found on IU’s website.

Seating The ceremony is free to attend. Graduates may bring as many guests as they wish, but guest seating will be on a firstcome, first-served basis. Ushers will be available to assist.

Graduate seating is organized by school in the seats nearest to the stage. Graduates may sit anywhere within

their school’s designated section.

Guidelines regarding accessible seating can be found on IU’s website.

Ceremony Each school’s dean will recognize undergraduate and master’s degree graduates together. No individual names will be announced.

Doctoral degree candidates, however, will be announced and hooded individually.

A recession outside IU Auditorium will follow the ceremony. Graduates must return their gown apparel but are welcome to keep caps, tassels and cords. They may also keep their stoles of gratitude, the neckpiece graduates traditionally give to a loved one.

Reminders Graduates should wear business or business casual clothing, arrive with their cap and gown on and stay for the entire ceremony. Personal items such as umbrellas or briefcases should not be brought to the ceremony.

Guests should arrive early for the best seats. Large groups should wait until all members are present as saving seats is prohibited. Guests may also pre-order a bouquet of flowers and photos for the ceremony.

More information regardIDS FILE PHOTO IZZY MYSZAK ing the ceremony can be A student waves to friends and family before the 194th undergraduate commencement May 6, 2023. Each found on IU’s website. school’s dean will recognize undergraduate and master’s degree graduates together.

JARED’S JOURNAL

OPINION: In which IU throws me into the deep end Jared Quigg (he/him) is a senior studying journalism and political science.

People keep asking me how I feel now that I’m graduating from IU. Everyone is doing it; they are dying to know.

How do I feel? Well, things are falling apart, the center is not holding, mere anarchy is being loosed upon the world and some rough beast is slouching toward Bethlehem to be born.

I’ve felt like I’m spiraling a little bit and so I reread Joan Didion’s “Slouching Towards Bethlehem,” and like she felt in 1967, I feel now as if we have aborted ourselves and butchered the job.

Longtime readers will know me for my columns promoting socialism. There is an old slogan attributed to Rosa Luxemburg – “Socialism, or Barbarism!” – and it seems as if we have elected to choose barbarism.

I’m entering the actual adult world now, and the whole thing is a nightmare.

For starters, I do not yet have a job lined up, and soon enough the govern-

ment will demand that I give them back the tens of thousands of dollars they loaned me (the parasites!).

The industry I’m attempting to enter – journalism – is actively dying. Then there’s climate change, the constant death and destruction funded by my tax dollars, the government’s utter inability to do things that help people – Things are falling apart.

The center is not holding.

Here is your diploma.

When I was asked to write something for the graduation guide it was suggested to me that I submit a reflective piece about my time here. Something of a victory lap of sorts. And in some ways, I do feel good.

I’ll never have to get up at the ungodly hour of 9:45 a.m. for class anymore.

My friends and family are showering me with gifts.

George Santos is giving us some good content.

But mostly I just feel dread. And the graduation guide needs a column about dread.

I’m inheriting a world in flux, and it feels so lonely. There are people in my

life trying to help me find jobs and apartments, it’s true, and yet it feels as if I just have to do this all on my own. The government uncaringly watches, indifferent to the status of my employment, healthcare, housing.

Have people always worried about these things?

Has the American Dream always felt as much like a false promise as it feels now? Surely not; economically speaking, workers had much more power in the first decades post-World War II. Like Tony Soprano, lately I’m getting the feeling that I came in at the end.

The best is over.

As a socialist, it’s very strange to me to feel such despair. We always talk about the inevitable victory of the working class, how communism is the “real movement” of things and not just an ideal we strive toward. And I do think this is true. We will win. This is the direction things are going.

But the real movement often feels like it’s moving very slowly. Along with Didion, I’ve been thinking

about Antonio Gramsci a lot lately. “The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born; now is the time of monsters.”

I’ve always wanted to be a writer of some kind, since I was a little kid sitting at my desk writing stories about dinosaurs. When I was a little older, I began my first novel, a Harry Potter fanfiction that I intended to send to J.K. Rowling to ask if it was cool with her if I published it. Then I was a teenager, writing songs and poems, dreaming of being Bob Dylan or Allen Ginsberg.

And now it’s journalism. I think every writer feels this way to some extent, but I’m always wondering – am I cut out for this? Would anyone ever pay me to write about dinosaurs, or love poetry, or – god – journalism?

No one even reads that anymore, do they?

How can a person know everything at 18, but nothing at 22?

Thanks, Taylor. You always know what to say.

I want to end this b y wishing luck to my fellow graduates. I hope you feel better than I do. I hope when people ask you how you feel, you have a better answer than mine. I hope you don’t feel scared. jaquigg@iu.edu

IDS FILE PHOTO IZZY MYSZAK

A student holds his cap in the air at the end of the undergraduate graduation ceremony May 7, 2022, in Memorial Stadium.

Students have expressed dread heading into graduation.

4

Dec. 14, 2023 | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com

» FIRST SEASON

» VIGIL

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

One voice, however, rises above the chatter.

“MINE!!!!”

It is a primal scream from the T-Birds' freshman goalkeeper, Bryce Bowersock, as he sweeps the ball up and sends it to the other side of the field.

It is an unwritten rule in soccer that the goalie should indicate when he’s heading for the ball, but the intensity of Bryce’s scream, outof-step with his skinny frame and freckles, almost seemed to confuse and intimidate the opposing players.

A player on the bench confirms: he screams like that every time.

Beyond ferocious stops at the goal, the T-Birds seem to have sharpened their game and found a rhythm. German exchange student and junior midfielder Finn Wulbrandt scores the first goal, but it’s quickly matched by MCA. “No more ties,” Crane yells. “Go, let’s do this!”

Freshman midfielder Ethan Moffitt, one of the sons of the head coach, answers with a goal, putting the T-Birds in the lead. When the ball hits the back of the net, Bryce lets out his signature scream again, this time in joy.

Momentum carries into the second half with another goal from Finn. The tone has shifted, putting the T-Birds in a rare position. MCA’s players start to unravel, and the MCA goalkeeper struggles to reign in his frustration.

“We are not losing to this team,” their keeper calls out to his team.

The T-Birds do not respond.

But trouble is mounting for Eastern Greene.

Finn, who has scored 2 of their 3 goals so far, falls to the ground. Another player hoists him up and helps him walk to the bench, while another player hunts for pickle juice.

“I’m out,” Finn says, defeated. “I’ve got the biggest

cramp of my whole life.”

Things start to peel apart.

Junior midfielder Clara Hawk gets possession of the ball several times near the goal but fails to keep control of it, at one point ending up on the ground with the ball flying.

Now the score is tied once more, at 3-3. It’s a spot Eastern Greene is used to, always being on the edge of victory with the dread of knowing one wrong move could result in yet another defeat.

But then Ethan scores again. It is the final goal of the game — the winning goal — as the final minutes drain without a response from MCA. The team is almost too stunned to celebrate, quickly gathering their things amid a few hugs and the obligatory “good game” with the other team.

But at the post-game huddle, the coach reminds them that was the first win in school history. Years from now, they will be the team that broke in the cleats, blazed the trail, shattered the barriers.

On a chilly October morning, Zac, Clara, Esther, Finn and senior forward Oliver Pate get together for breakfast at Cloverfield Restaurant South in Bloomington.

Zac orders Lucky Charm pancakes with chocolate chips, bacon and scrambled eggs. Finn orders the same, sans chocolate chips. They report back: it just tasted like a normal pancake, not “magically delicious.”

Across the table, Clara and Esther peel open a strawberry jam packet and taste it. Oliver, who is still recovering from an injury, arrives in Shrek Crocs.

The players mostly live in rural areas. While their school is addressed to Bloomfield, it is actually 12 miles away from the town. Surrounded by fields,

churches and abandoned gas stations, teenagers don’t have much to do for fun other than walk around Walmart or spend time at one another’s homes.

Oliver lists off some things they like to do for fun — shooting bottle rockets, hunting and playing hideand-seek at Clara’s house — while Clara jokes about “fishing in the crawfish hole.”

But soccer gave the kids an opportunity to hang out on the field, with much of their time absorbed by practice, games and schoolwork.

Without it, the kids describe feeling almost bored.

When asked if they feel like they’re trailblazers, the group is modest. Esther says it’s more like they’re “bushwhacking a trail.” Zac describes it as “those dudes in Ohio who first got cars,” painting a scene of swerving Ford Model T cars rumbling over cobblestone before the invention of traffic lights.

Though he’s graduating soon, Zac wants to return to help the team next year.

In his role as captain, Zac had learned a lot about how to coach people, including knowing how to respond to someone when they make a mistake.

“I want to win soccer games too, but we gotta teach these darn kids,” he said.

The Rock Creek Lions are a hive mind.

Though they knew the Lions were the toughest team in their division going into the first game of sectionals Oct. 2, the T-Birds did not expect the sheer interconnectedness of their opponents.

The Sellersburg, Indiana, team demonstrated a choreographed grace, exercising a discipline the T-Birds' coaches say can only be developed through the muscle memory of endless drills.

The match quickly becomes a game of “monkey-

in-the-middle,” players say, as they hopelessly test their speed against Rock Creek’s relentless movement and sophisticated passing. Goalkeeper Caden McCormick valiantly defends against a barrage of shots from the Lions, eventually succumbing. Rock Creek continues to mark up the scoresheet, and frustration mounts.

By halftime, winning seems out of the question. In the end, the T-Birds lost 8-2 to Rock Creek.

As the game winds down and twilight descends, the floodlights switch on. Exhausted and under pressure, Finn flings himself on the grass. When he stands, he kicks the ground, sending a clump of dirt flying with the tip of his cleat.

It was a sour end to a sweet season. For some of the players, it was not only their first high school soccer season, but their last.

Zac emerges from the postgame huddle crying. It is a quiet kind, signaled by redrimmed eyes and the vanishing of his characteristic smile. The whole season, Zac had been the one to comfort, to inspire, to lead. Now, his team was here for him, flooding him with hugs.

But on the 74-minute bus ride to Eastern Greene, the T-Birds transform back into a group of teenagers. The bus makes a stop at Circle K, where ravenous players grab half-dozen boxes of donuts, entire tubs of ice cream and an endless stream of chips and soda. Back on the bus, they eat, chat, scroll on TikTok or sleep, cherishing one of their last moments as a team.

As the kids lug their bags off the bus and head toward their parents’ cars, headlights cast a glow on the hill by the school, where a gravel road leads to Eastern Greene’s new soccer field.

Its verdant green now weathered, it awaits next season, when a new version of the TBirds will return.

This attitude, Serena said, taken by many in the U.S., impacts Palestinian people deeply, she said. She described a shift in her parents’ attitudes while speaking to people because they fear being targeted, acting more carefully around their heritage.

Other signs included information on the war’s toll in Gaza.

“18,000 murdered.

8,000 children. 50k injured. 7k missing,” one sign read.

As of Dec. 11, over 17,000 Palestinians have been killed and around 90% of the Gaza strip’s population have been forced away from their homes after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack which killed around 1,200 Israelis, according to the Associated Press.

Recently, Israeli military operations have expanded rapidly into south Gaza after a week-long ceasefire for the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners ended Dec. 1.

The U.S. vetoed a widely backed United Nations resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire Dec. 8.

Bryce Greene, a member of the Palestine Solidarity Committee, said he was there to oppose America’s role in supporting Israel in the conflict.

“I want the U.S. to adhere to international law and call for a ceasefire, and I want them to cease giving Israel weapons, military, economic and political support,” he said.

Speakers over their megaphone shared their stories, starting by reciting a poem by Anees Mokhiber with the repeating line, “if only you knew a Palestinian.” One speaker who knew people who survived the bombing of the Gaza Strip’s north under evacuation order described their friends’ diffi-

culty in finding food, often eating one meal per day.

Another speaker, who is Palestinian, described his experience growing up in a dual-faith household with a Muslim father and a Catholic mother.

His family on his mother’s side, he said, will not be celebrating Christmas this year out of solidarity with the people in Gaza.

“800 Christians exist in Gaza, but somehow, they’re not Christian enough to warrant sympathy from around the world,” he said.

Recently, he said he was named godfather of his Palestinian niece, who also has a Catholic mother and a Muslim father.

“Through her, I see innocence and hope and humanity,” he said. “And I think to myself, what would happen if we were to lose her? What would happen if she didn’t get the chance to grow up?”

After the event concluded, people stayed to talk and gathered their signs and candles to one side. Hanah Yuisa Vargas, who said she has heritage from the indigenous Taíno people from the Caribbean islands, beat smoke from burning white sage with a smudge feather fan onto willing people, herself and finally onto the vigil site itself.

She said the Taíno people were the first to meet Christopher Columbus when he landed in the Americas and were almost immediately subjugated by him and the Spanish Empire. She said white sage is used for cleansing people only in serious situations and ceremonies, and she used it at the vigil to show the importance of the issue and their solidarity.

“I'm bringing this out here for Palestinians to show that for our grief, we are all together,” she said.

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Indiana Daily Student

OPINION

Dec. 14, 2023 idsnews.com

Editors Jared Quigg, Danny William opinion@idsnews.com

5

COLUMN

Hollywood hates women Halie Jasinover (she/her) is a junior studying Journalism with a concentration in Public Relations.

Anne Hathaway and I hail from the same town: Millburn, New Jersey. With its notoriously academically challenging and competitive school district, it trains its students to want the same thing — the best.

It is so uniquely toxic our former middle school principal wrote a tell-all book about it. Hathaway and I followed similar paths, staring in our high school’s productions and doing everything arts related. While she graduated and ascended to stardom a la “The Princess Diaries,” I find myself here, penning this article.

Spreading the knowledge that Hathaway was our leading alumna filled me with pride. However, the reaction from others growing up was beyond negative.

When I would Google Hathaway, I was met with her name in bold letters in some top three most hated celebrities list. There was even a word for it: Hathahaters.

Why was she hated so much?

According to The New York Times, “Ms. Hathaway seems to embody the archetypal high school drama geek who cannot turn off the eager, girlish persona, even away from the stage.”

What was her crime? Being a theater kid.

I can understand the hatred for the theater kid. After each performance, the cast (all 30 of us) would visit a local diner, ask for separate checks for the minimal food ordered and almost always break out into a song from the musical we had just performed — the most memorable being a spirited performance of “Voulez Vous” from Mamma Mia

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIETTE ALBERT

much to the chagrin of patrons (I have to add that this was at a chic 4 p.m.).

While other male actors are praised a la Timothée Chalamet for their theatrical origins, women are left the butt of the joke. Hathaway’s main crime appears to.be being a woman in Hollywood. The film industry’s demonization of some of its star actresses is infuriating.

When Rachel Zegler came into the news for her comments about her role in Disney’s live action “Snow White,” all of the feelings I had regarding Hathaway flooded back. Zegler gained fame after being selected

out of 30,000 auditionees to play Maria in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.”

Now, at the age of 22, the New Jersey native has faced criticism from various news sources for her remarks.

“I mean, you know, the original cartoon came out in 1937 and very evidently so.” she shared in a 2022 interview with Extra. “There’s a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird! Weird. So, we didn’t do that this time.”

The criticism that she is “too woke” and “annoying” seems to be a part of a broader pattern of the media dismissing and alienating talented young women

for speaking their mind.

Zegler had previously commented on taking a role in Shazam because she “needed a job”. She was labeled ungrateful by an army of Tiktok commenters. When Jacob Elordi said something similar, he was labeled “real.”

For years, I felt the need to hide my love for Taylor Swift. Embarrassed of appearing too outwardly feminine, I would play anyone but her when given aux.

According to a Medium article titled “This is why you hate Taylor Swift”, “She embodies her outrageous success in a way that just isn’t culturally acceptable

for a woman to do. She knows she’s ‘the man’ and she absolutely delights in it.”

Misogynistic smear campaigns represent one of the darkest undercurrents in Hollywood. It is a disturbing trend where women are targeted and subjected to unfair scrutiny and criticism based on their gender, while their famous male counterparts skate on their reputations.

An article from 2013 by The Cut burns deep in my soul. It hates on female actresses for “trying too hard” instead of addressing male actors for their racism and misogyny. On Gwyneth Pal-

trow it reads, “She’s a “rich white woman with an eating disorder turned into a branding opportunity,” critics say. She tries too hard at acts that should be effortless, like digesting”.

There is a history of labeling women in Hollywood as “difficult” for advocating for themselves, and despite ongoing efforts for gender equality, Rachel Zegler’s near cancellation serves as a stark reminder there is still work to be done.

And if being a theater kid is deemed a crime, then lock me up! hjasino@iu.edu

JACK’S JAMS

Intramural sports build foundations for success Jack Davis (he/him) is a freshman studying journalism.

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIETTE ALBERT

BREAKING FREE

You won’t know what will happen unless you say yes Natalie Fitzgibbons (she/her) is a junior studying journalism with a minor in American Studies. She hopes to inspire people with her words and make a positive impact in people’s lives and the world.

I tucked my hair behind my ears as the wind continued to blow my hair into my face, both left and right, as I stood 70 floors above the streets of New York City.

Keeping my hands wrapped in my scarf, safe from the crisp, cold mid-November air, the red and purple lights of the Empire State Building stared back at me as I stood on top of the Rockefeller Center.

As a little girl it was a dream of mine to go to New York City. Was it the hustle and bustle of the city life?

The big, tall buildings? The city that never sleeps? I don’t know. But I knew I had to be there, someday.

I didn’t know that someday would be then. As I prepared for my midterm for my Racism and Law class on Oct. 12, I checked my phone and there was the notification about the Media School

New York trip in my inbox awaiting my response.

The trip was supposed to happen two years ago, when I was a freshman in the Media Living Learning Center, however, because of COVID-19, it got cancelled. When that happened, I thought my next opportunity to go would have to be a trip I planned on my own.

“Do I say yes?” I debated.

At the time, I didn’t know anyone on the list who was going. I knew my uncle lived in the city.

I said yes.

After a 14-hour bus ride, connecting with an old friend, making new acquaintances and having my uncle play the role of an ambitious tour guide, I fell in love with the city within 72 hours.

We arrived at the hotel before our rooms were ready, so I changed my clothes in the hotel lobby bathroom and redid my makeup, using my phone as a mirror. Then I got on the subway to get pizza with the old friend from my dorm floor two years ago.

We sat outside watching the New Yorkers on the sidewalks as we ate at John’s

Pizzeria in West Village, processing how we went from Indiana to New York in 14 hours.

“Will I be one of those New Yorkers one day?” I thought to myself.

Later that evening, my uncle showed me Central Park, Rockerfeller Plaza and Bryant Park’s Christmas Market only to end up back at Times Square for the third time that day to watch the Broadway Show “Book of the Mormon.”

About 12 hours later I would be watching a Rockettes show, having seen their practice video on Instagram only a few days before becoming a reality.

And I even got to try a hot dog with ketchup from one of those New York carts for lunch.

That night I would be 70 floors up overlooking Manhattan.

A few weeks before, I was on TikTok and Instagram seeing that view in people’s videos, not knowing the view would be mine only a few weeks later.

Writing this column as I rewatched Friends for the

100th time I saw the building where my uncle took a photo of me. Unfortunately, the Little Owl restaurant is below the apartments, not Central Perk.

My uncle and I ended the night eating burgers at Judy Z’s and reminiscing on the past 48 hours and catching up about life: college, work, dating, everything.

My next and last day would have me standing in the newsroom at the New York Times, eating bagels and wandering around the New York Public Library with a trip buddy I made from breakfast the day before and being in the audience of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” with David Letterman as the special guest.

As the bus pulled onto the road, the lights of the city stared at me as I stared back at it. In 14 hours, I would be back in Indiana.

All because I took the chance and said yes, I will always remember the view from 70 floors up. natfitzg@iu.edu

When I started as a freshman at Indiana University this semester, I knew I wanted to join IU’s Ultimate Frisbee team, the HoosierMama?s. I began practicing with the team within a few weeks and knew immediately I had found the right fit for me.

These past months on the team have been beneficial for my mental health and made me a more confident athlete. I also gained a tight group of great friends right away. Joining intramural sports is one of the best ways to find a community on campus.

One of the benefits of being at a large university like IU is there are plenty of options for intramural activities to participate in.

You can get involved in traditional sports like basketball, soccer and volleyball.

Or you can pursue more unconventional sports such as cornhole, badminton and Spikeball, among many others. We’re also lucky to have other organizations offering community sports in Bloomington, such as the YMCA and Twin Lakes Rec Center.

Like many freshmen, I was worried about the transition from high school to college. I knew it would be difficult and stress could cause me to experience mental health challenges.

But, because of my participation in Ultimate Frisbee, I have had way more ups than downs.

My own experience is backed up by research.

“Exercise positively impacts levels of serotonin, a chemical that helps regulate mental health, and stimulates the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which improves mood,” ac-

cording to a Newport Academy article.

My mood is not the only thing improved by playing an intramural sport. My physical health has been positively impacted, too.

In addition to throwing the frisbee almost every day, being part of the team has compelled me to go to the gym more often. I know by working hard off the field, I’ll see more success on the field. And these healthy habits will continue into other parts of my life.

However, my favorite reason for joining Ultimate Frisbee is the comradery of being on a team. I didn’t know most of my teammates before joining, but after a short amount of time, I have a supportive group of friends both on and off the field. It turns out, building community through an intramural sport is part of why it is helpful for our well-being.

While direct participation in sports improves mental and physical health, working with a group of people who share a common goal is just as important.

“Team sports are a fun way to get in your exercise for cardiovascular health because you get to do it in a group as opposed to doing it alone, plus it’s a great stress reliever, which helps lower your risk for heart disease,” Helga Ven Herle, an MD at Keck Medicine of USC said.

Life gets busy. There is school, work and family obligations to manage. But if you can make the time and have the energy, intramural sports are an excellent way to build relationships and improve your overall health. To find ways to get involved, you can visit IU’s Intramural Sports webpage. jjd5@iu.edu

Indiana Daily Student

6

ENTERPRISE

Dec. 14, 2023 idsnews.com

Editor Nadia Scharf enterprise@idsnews.com

THE CLIMBER: Dominic Solomito is chasing weightlessness in a heavy world

By Jared Quigg

jaquigg@iu.edu | @jared_quigg

Photos by Haripriya Jalluri

hjalluri@iu.edu

1

Design by Amanda King

ark1@iu.edu

HE

never goes up without a plan.

Dominic Solomito slaps the chalk dust on his hands and approaches the boat-shaped rock wall at Hoosier Heights. Standing before the wall, Solomito examines it up and down, his eyes narrowed.

“Beat It” plays quietly in the hall. Before the wall became the main attraction at Hoosier Heights, the building housed a church, and old pews covered in chalk dust line the sides of the room.

“Let’s go worship,” Solomito said.

After staring at the wall for a minute or two, he begins to climb.

His powdery hands grip the rocks and he quickly ascends the wall. The chalk keeps his hands dry – sweaty hands are the enemy of a climber.

Solomito is methodical – he climbs quickly but he considers every move. Halfway up the wall, he pauses. He often contorts his body when he’s climbing, and now all his limbs are stretched apart from each other, like Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man,” and he is still. Solomito reaches for a pink rock on his upper left.

He falls to the ground.

Dominic Solomito is pictured on the padded mat at Hoosier Heights, after falling off the climbing wall Nov. 17, 2023.

While on the mat, Solomito stared at the climbing wall to find a new method.

It doesn’t hurt to fall at Hoosier Heights – the floor at the foot of the wall is heavily padded. Solomito lands on his back and sits up quickly. He doesn’t rise to his feet right away. For several minutes, he examined the route he took. In the background, Michael Jackson is singing. “No one wants to be defeated.”

“I think I know what I did wrong,” Solomito said. “My right foot was too low.”

He finally stands and begins to go up again. There’s power and grace in Solomito’s climbing – after a few seconds of hanging and plotting his next move, he leaps diagonally in midair to a rock on his right. The muscles in his arms are bulging.

After this stunning motion he finds himself paused once again, this pause even longer than the others. Solomito never goes up without a plan, but he realizes that his plan isn’t going

to work.

He falls again.

He doesn’t get up right away – again.

He studies the wall.

••• When Solomito was 14, his mother got him a Rubik’s Cube for Christmas. He can’t remember asking for one, but he was instantly obsessed. He was unable to solve it on his own for more than two weeks, but he isn’t embarrassed about this – he points out that it took Erno Rubik a month to do it.

Solomito is enamored by puzzles. For several of his teenage years he collected Rubik’s Cubes and would work on them every single day for hours after school. He eventually became quite good at solving them, and his record speed is 13 seconds.

Dominic Solomito is pictured standing in front of the bouldering wall at hoosier heights.

Today Solomito is a senior at IU studying journalism who’s traded in Rubik’s Cubes for the daily New York Times crossword and climbing. For Solomito, climbing combines his love for puzzles with his desire to be strong.

Solomito has been an athlete his entire life. In high school, he played baseball, soccer, golf and tennis. In the bathroom of his childhood home in Indianapolis, there was a pullup bar Solomito used every morning with glee, building up his muscles.

But eventually, Solomito had enough of team sports. After playing baseball his entire life, he began to find it alienating to compete with his teammates for better positions on the team. He said he no longer enjoyed spending three or more hours a day with people who were only interested in talking about “sports and girls.”

He was 16 when he stopped playing baseball and took up climbing. He owes his interest in climbing to the YouTube algorithm – every day he would watch recommended videos with titles like “Climbing Shenanigans with Alex Megos and Liam Lonsdale” and “The Insiders: Sasha DiGiulian, Ashima Shiraishi, Paul Robinson Shred in the Climbing Gym.”

“It got to the point where I just couldn’t watch them anymore without trying it myself.”

—Dominic Solomito

4

5 1. Domonic Solomito is pictured Nov. 17, 2023, scaling the rock climbing wall at Hoosier Heights. Solomito started climbing in high school.

2. IU senior Dominic Solomito is pictured at Hoosier Heights on Nov. 17, 2023. As a climber, Solomito combined his love for puzzles and desire for strength.

3. Domonic Solomito is pictured Nov. 17, 2023, scaling the rock climbing wall at Hoosier Heights. Solomito started climbing in high school.

4. Dominic Solomito scales the rock climbing wall Nov. 17, 2023, at Hoosier Heights. He often contorts his body when he’s climbing, and now all his limbs are stretched apart from each other, like Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man.” 5. Dominic Solomito is pictured on the padded mat at Hoosier Heights, after falling off the climbing wall Nov. 17, 2023. While on the mat, Solomito stared at the climbing wall to find a new method.

He decided to join his high school’s climbing club, and not long after, found his affinity for climbing far surpassed his peers. While his fellow club mates were still figuring out beginner’s routes on the school’s rock wall, Solomito would spend most of his time working exclusively with the club’s instructor on more difficult climbs.

With climbing, Solomito had found his passion. He stopped participating in all other team sports. Competing with people who were supposed to be on his team depressed him.

Now every time he puts his hand on the wall, willing his body to reach the top, he’s only competing against himself.

••• In October, Solomito got a job as a setter at Hoosier Heights. In addition to his course load, it’s his third job – he also works as a host at Samira and delivers the Indiana Daily Student early on Thursday mornings. As a setter, Solomito designs the courses patrons climb at Hoosier Heights.

“I’m trying to make it extra hard,” Solomito said.

It’s Friday, Nov. 10, and he’s wearing a pink shirt that says “Hoosier Heights” on it and has a black tool belt around his waist. In one hand is a power drill and in the other is a slab he’ll place into the wall for the climbers to grab. He says the course he’s making is like a crossword puzzle – other people have to figure it out based on the shape you give it.

“If I told you exactly what to do, it would be really boring,” Solomito said.

Every Friday, Solomito shows up at 8:30 a.m. to begin constructing his routes on the rock wall. After a lunch break at 2 p.m., he and the other setters test out their creations, often finding them too difficult and requiring adjustment.

When he’s designing his routes, Solomito has to imagine the shape people will be in when they climb it, and place exactly the right holds so the course feels good to patrons. He wants to give them the weightless feeling he craves when he climbs.

Solomito has a mild fear of heights, but the fear is overcome by the weightless sensation he gets from climbing.

When he’s pulled himself far from the ground, he is forced to trust himself. On the ground he feels heavy, but when he climbs it’s only him up there – he alone must prevent himself from falling.

“When I fall – that’s adrenaline in a ‘oh my God I’m gonna die’ kind of way,” Solomito said.

Solomito steps onto a ladder now on the soft, wobbly padding lying before the rock wall.

Though the ladder isn’t on solid ground, he isn’t worried – he’s fallen on the padding so many times he trusts it with his life. At the top of the ladder, he pauses and peers at the holes in the wall, looking for the perfect spot to finish his puzzle.

His co-worker Sasha Wiesenhahn approaches to check out Solomito’s latest creation.

He’s not the only one interested; since his start as a setter, Solomito’s routes have been popular with patrons, with many attempting to climb his courses rather than some of the other setters.

“I don’t know if that one’s happening,” Wiesenhahn says looking up at the tail end of Solomito’s route.

“Yeah,” Solomito answers with a grin. “It does seem pretty brutal.”

He adjusts some of the slabs with his drill and climbs down to take in what he’s just made. For several minutes he just stares at it. He says he feels a little selfish – he gets to make the kinds of courses he enjoys.

But when he says this, his face betrays an obvious giddiness.

Solomito, now satisfied, grabs a sticker that says “Finish” and climbs to the top of the ladder to stick it to the wall. He rushes back down.

A photo of Solomito hanging to the top edge of the wall after ascending one of the routes on the bouldering wall at Hoosier Heights Bloomington.

“I think this one’ll be great,” he said. “It might even be impossible.”

Normally the setters will wait until after break to test their routes, but Solomito excitedly begins to chalk up his hands and step to the wall.

Halfway up, he falls down.

Solomito, flat on his back, stares up at the wall he’s just made, saying nothing. Erno Rubik, sitting with his cube.

2

3 roof. It’s about 40 feet from the ground to the top of the grocery store, and Solomito has come to climb.

He said he’s wanted to climb Fresh Thyme for a while. He’s always on the lookout for structures to conquer, and he noticed on his IDS delivery route that the store was suitable for climbing.

Night is the time for outside climbing. Solomito is always seeking that weightless feeling, and it’s never better than when there are no padded floors beneath him – he must trust himself completely. He’s spent many Bloomington nights climbing trees, statues, the marquee outside of the Upstairs Pub, even residence halls.

It has to be night. Not everyone appreciates Solomito’s need for the puzzle, his need to feel light. He once had the cops called on him, but he was able to get away before they could catch him.

The night is a little chilly, worrying Solomito. If his hands are too cold, he won’t make it to the roof. He eschews chalk for this climb – the beams are the perfect texture for his hands. He steps up to the side of the building and he finds the beams fit into his hands like a book. He eyes the building up and down for several minutes – he never goes up without a plan.

After finally concocting his scheme, he begins rapidly making his way up. Solomito is a wonder to watch – you would think he’d climbed the grocery store a million times the way he shimmied to the top. In exactly 57 seconds he stood on the roof looking down.

When he’s up there he says everything looks small. He starts to feel a little woozy – when there’s no padding, the trust in himself is harder to come by. But mostly he can feel his heart pumping. The heaviness of the ground is a distant memory.

“This is the sort of thing that feels like something you can’t do, but you can. There are no rules in life.

You can eat dirt if you want. You can climb a grocery store.”

—Dominic Solomito

••• Now Solomito is taking the hard lessons he’s learned at Hoosier Heights into the outside world.

It’s 10:56 p.m. on Saturday. Solomito is dressed in all black in the side parking lot of Fresh Thyme at College Mall.

On the side of the building are steel beams leading up to the

When trucks pass by the side of the store, Solomito ducks under the wall of the roof. He’s taking no chances tonight. For a while he stands at the top, having conquered another structure, basking in the glory of another puzzle solved.

Then, he comes back down.

Indiana Daily Student

ARTS John Oliver talks history, celebrities at IU Auditorium

Dec. 14, 2023 idsnews.com

By Elizabeth Bowling elibowli@iu.edu

John Oliver was three months late. The awardwinning late-night host was supposed to perform at the IU Auditorium on Sept.

30, but two days before his performance, the actors strike ended, and he rushed off to resume “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.”

“We’re very happy that he was able to reschedule,” IU Auditorium Executive Director Maria Talbert said.

“We were really pleased when we learned this summer that he would be available to make a stop in Bloomington.”

Talbert said Oliver’s one night show was not part of the auditorium’s original season lineup, but as soon as the auditorium executives learned he was available, they jumped at the chance to book him.

“He was someone who we knew we wanted to bring to Bloomington for many years, ” Talbert said. “We really are proud of the fact that we are able to bring to our community these big-name artists, to allow them to be able to share the same space with and enjoy an evening of laughs with hundreds and even thousands of other people.”

Both Talbert and Oliver himself highlighted that this was the comedian’s first visit to Bloomington.

Oliver joked he remembered why he hadn’t been to Bloomington before when he interacted with heckling crowd members, specifically

Editors Tory Basile, Taylor Satoski arts@idsnews.com

a heckler who shouted “f*** the monarchy.” Oliver joked the audience member had beaten him to the punchline and needed to “show his work.”

However, Talbert said she was sure that Bloomington residents would enjoy Oliver’s comedy as much as other audiences had.

“He has a really interesting take on current events,” Talbert said. “His wit and his unique perspective is one that our community would absolutely appreciate.”

Oliver is well-known for his satire, beginning each late night show with a sardonic recap of the last week’s most popular news headlines.

In Bloomington, it was apparent almost from the moment he stepped on stage.

One of his first quips was, “I like watching bad things happen to billionaires,” as he described watching Elon Musk short-circuit his own dreams of success by publicly wrecking X, formerly known as Twitter.

Graduate student Leigh Levinson felt the show mirrored her own struggles as someone who works in technology.

“The climate around what happened with Twitter (now X) was really heated for us in our daily lives, so it was fun to hear it again,” she said. “I think he does a good job of blending important messages into satire.”

Jessica Jones came from Brownsburg to see Oliver.

To her, Oliver’s show was a bright spot.

“It’s really helped bring a

Horoscope Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 9 - Your work is gaining attention. Take advantage of a lucrative situation. Stash a windfall into savings. Repay debts and favors. Make valuable connections.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 9 - Catch a lucky break to advance a personal project. Keep an open mind.

Let go of habits that no longer serve. Build for the future.

COURTESY PHOTO

Comedian John Oliver poses onstage to promote “John Oliver: Live in Concert.” Oliver performed at the IU Auditorium on Dec. 3, 2023.

lot of levities to some really difficult times over the past few years, and so it was a great opportunity just to see him in person,” Jones said.

The audience loved Oliver, cheering him on with huge laughs and rounds of applause. At times, Oliver would engage in a backand-forth with members of the crowd. He riffed with the audience about Americans’ love of “The Great British Baking Show,” joking that the show proved how repressed British people were.

Oliver also showed off his knowledge of history as he described the process leading up to Charles III becoming king of England, centering it on that establishment’s terror of Catholic monarchs

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

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 7 - Notice your dreams, visions and thoughts.

Intuition inspires your planning.

Hide into your private sanctuary to organize and prepare for what’s next. Recharge.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is an 8 - Synchronicity between friends leads to new possibilities. Participate with groups and teams. Network, connect and engage. Deepen bonds with people who share your enthusiasm.

BLISS

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is an 8 - Catch a lucky break at work. You get a second wind. Communication can gain extra. Consensus can be achieved.

Repay a favor. Set priorities.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 9 - Take advantage of an opportunity for exploration and adventure. Expand your own boundaries. Try something new.

Follow a spontaneous fascination.

Learn valuable tricks.

HARRY BLISS

as well as current events.

He joked that the royals have no ground to say that Meghan Markle is ruining the monarchy when their own past is so turbulent.

However, Oliver also took aim at America, describing how the military accidentally dropped two nuclear bombs on North Carolina and one nuclear bomb on South Carolina during the Cold War and told the audience his fear of being kicked out of America prior to gaining his citizenship.

Oliver also discussed COVID-19, describing how his lifetime loathing of the children’s TV show “Paw Patrol” was born. According to Oliver, he would use the show to buy his children’s

silence while he filmed the socially-distanced version of “Last Week Tonight.” He would load up an iPad with episodes, set it in front of his children and run to the other room to rant about the dangers of a police state while his children watched episodes that, according to Oliver, were glorifying a police state.

He argued that the characters’ high use of technology had caused the citizens to become over reliant on them and bemoaned the fact that they taught his son the meaning of “surveillance drone.”

Oliver’s dislike of technology was showcased vividly throughout the show, as he crowed about

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is an 8 - Discuss opportunities, options and align on decisions. You’re building for the future. Grab a lucky break. It pays to advertise. Celebrate success privately together.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 9 - Research best practices to hone your technique.

Grab a lucky break to get moving.

A walk outside reconnects you with earth, wind and sun.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is a 9 - Everything seems possible. Give in to a mutual attraction. You’re magnetically drawn to someone charming.

Develop collaborative plans for the dream you’re building together.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 9 - Indulge in some unexpected fun. Catch an opportunity to play with someone talented. Get creative. Try something new.

You could fall in love.

su do ku

ACROSS How to play: Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9, without repeating a number in any one row, column or 3x3 grid.

Answer to previous puzzle

© Puzzles by Pappocom

BREWSTER ROCKIT: SPACE GUY!

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 7 - Assess household needs and make necessary repairs.

Discover an opportunity, value or bargain. Take advantage of favorable domestic conditions to make long-desired improvements.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is an 8 — Monitor the news for changes. Intuition, luck and surprises abound.

Watch for hidden opportunities and prepare to jump when the getting is good.

Crossword L.A. Times Daily Crossword

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

Difficulty Rating:

the havoc Musk’s $8 Twitter Blue verification system had caused. He laughed when describing how a verified Coke account tweeted that “Pepsi is better” and that a verified Chiquita account posted they had just taken over Brazil.

Oliver ended the night by returning to how he had started it: anger against celebrities. He said that life will return to the way it was post-COVID when people hate celebrities again, mentioning the communal backlash that occurred after the final season of the TV show “Lost” and how it brought Americans together.

He said people just don’t have the energy to care about television or celebrities anymore.

In particular, he said, we will know America is back to normal when we hate Anne Hathaway again. Referencing the storm of hatred against her, he described how one day, in the distant future perhaps, people in the US would turn on the TV and see Anne Hathaway on a latenight show.

He told a warm story of how she would ask the latenight host to sing happy birthday to her crew member who loves the show – yet followed that up with how people should respond: “f*** Anne Hathaway.” As the show ended, he left us with a vision of hope, albeit in an untraditional way. In his sardonic way, he showed how America could finally come together: by hating someone.

©2023 Nancy Black. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.

Publish your comic on this page.

The IDS is accepting applications for student comic strips for the fall 2023 semester. Email five samples and a brief description of your idea to adviser@iu.edu. Submissions will be reviewed and selections will be made by the editor-in-chief.

7

1 Have a ball?

6 Part of the fam 9 Parking unit 14 Some foreign language exams 15 "The View" co-host Navarro 16 Super-duper 17 Fashionable sort?

19 Reflexology targets 20 The "you" of "Do You Want To Build a Snowman?"

21 Trumpet, e.g.

22 One of Australia's six 23 Crow bar?

25 Ship 26 Store 29 Lined up for a cornhole toss 31 Strikes and rebounds 33 Copy 34 Moore of "G.I. Jane" 38 Pointed a finger at 40 Welcoming presence 42 "That's the __ ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"

43 Rowing need 45 Deli slice 46 Penne, essentially 48 Stirs up 49 Attack

53 Emmy-winning journalist Connie 55 Begin 56 Televises 57 Test the weight of 61 Alabama city in civil rights history 62 Embellish the truth, and what the sets of circled letters do?

64 HP rival 65 Garment edge 66 Even 67 Romanov rulers 68 Mind reader's claim 69 Optimal

11 Map lover's book 12 Island with the ancient Minoan palace at Knossos 13 Artist's support 18 "Why, what's this!?"

24 Units of resistance 25 Zigs or zags 26 Con 27 Chipotle order 28 Lines on a flight-tracker map 30 EPA concern 32 Gangnam District city 34 On cloud nine 35 Latin abbreviation in a bibliography 36 Spider-Man pointing, e.g.

37 Spring perennial 39 Smack-__ in the middle 41 Merit 44 America's Test Kitchen output 46 Giants 47 __ cocktail 49 Selling point 50 Choreography units 51 Topping for a 27-Down 52 Knight's protection 54 SEAL's org.

56 Tennis icon Arthur 58 Roof projection 59 Pest that pesters pets 60 "__ me about it!"

63 Soccer star Krieger

DOWN

1 Agricultural giant whose mascot is Bobby Banana 2 __ Sea: lake documented in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register 3 2019 World Series champs 4 Takes it on the lam 5 Keyboard panic button 6 Potatoes-and-peas pastry 7 Obstacle to progress 8 Rural sight 9 Doped (out) 10 Tracts

Answer to previous puzzle

TIM RICKARD

Indiana Daily Student

8

SPORTS

Dec. 14, 2023 idsnews.com

Editors Will Foley, Dalton James sports@idsnews.com

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

No. 16 Indiana makes first victory in conference play

By Quinn Richards qmrichar@iu.edu | @Quinn_richa

No. 16 Indiana women’s basketball’s long-awaited Big Ten championship defense began the afternoon of Dec. 9 with an away matchup against Rutgers. The Hoosiers battled through a turnoverheavy four quarters against the scrappy Scarlet Knights and ultimately found themselves 1-0 in conference play with a 66-56 win.

It’s notoriously difficult to play in hostile road venues in the Big Ten, and Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey, is no outlier. Rutgers held a 12-20 overall record last season, yet the Scarlet Knights held a winning record of 10-7 when playing at home.

“Any time you can go on the road and win in the Big Ten, it’s a good feeling,”

Moren said postgame. “I’m proud of our group because winning on the road is hard.”

Oftentimes winning on the road requires composure under pressure, which tends to come from experience, a quality not lost on a veteran Hoosiers roster. Senior guards Chloe Moore-McNeil and Sydney Parrish and graduate student forward Mackenzie Holmes played a combined 10 seasons of Division I basketball heading into the season, and that veteran play was essential in the Hoosiers’ win over Rutgers.

First and foremost, the play of the AP Preseason AllAmerican Holmes was an obvious X-factor for Indiana.

She tallied a season-high 25 points on 12-for-15 shooting and added eight rebounds, dominating the paint on the offensive end. The one-two

OLIVIA BIANCO | IDS

Graduate student forward Mackenzie Holmes makes a move in the post against Lipscomb University on Nov. 19, 2023, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. Indiana defeated Rutgers on Saturday behind its veteran leadership.

punch of Holmes and Parrish in the post sliced through the Scarlet Knights’ defense.

Parrish provided Indiana with her second doubledouble of the season posting 14 points and 10 boards. Although she was

averaging 8.5 points per game compared to last season’s 12 points per game, Parrish has strung together three straight games with doubledigit rebounds, including a 17-point performance in a Nov. 30 comeback win over

Maine. Moren has high praise for the University of Oregon transfer in her second year with the Hoosiers.

“Syd has been a great addition to Indiana and our program,” Moren said. “Syd is a special kid, and she’s about all the right things.”

The playmaking capabilities of Moore-McNeil were also on full display against the Scarlet Knights.

After Indiana lost its assist leader, senior guard Grace Berger to the WNBA draft, there was an obvious gap that needed to be filled for a primary facilitator in the half-court offense. MooreMcNeil stepped up into that role and then some against Rutgers, finishing with a team-high seven assists to go along with 11 points on the offensive end. Additionally, she’s provided Indiana with

a team-high 1.8 steals per game, good for 14th best in the conference.

Indiana’s upperclassmen scored 55 of the team’s 66 points against Rutgers, proving the importance of composure in a hostile environment.

“Tonight was one of those nights where we had to keep the vets on the floor,” Moren said. “You can’t rely on inexperience when you’re in a tight game like this.”

Next up for the Hoosiers is a pair of non-conference games at home against the University of Evansville on Dec. 18 and Bowling Green University on Dec. 22 before the bulk of Big Ten Play resumes.

The matchup with Evansville is set to tip-off at 7 p.m. Dec. 18 and will be broadcast on Big Ten+.

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Chris Jones - Lead Pastor

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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: 6 p.m.: Free Student Meal 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.

Modern Buddhism KMC Bloomington 234 N. Morton St. 812-318-1236 meditationinbloomington.org Instagram, Facebook, MeetUp @kadampameditationcenterbloomington Weekly Meditation Classes: Mon., Wed., Fri.: 12:15 - 12:45 p.m.

Tuesday: 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

All classes In-person, Sunday and Tuesday also offer live-stream.

Retreats two Saturdays per month: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

See website for specifics.

Amidst school pressures, financial struggles and tense relationship dynamics, we need to focus our attention in a beneficial way through meditation.

KMC Bloomington’s meditation classes give practical, ancient advice so you can learn to connect daily life experiences with wisdom perspectives and maintain mental peace.

Sunday: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

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

Tuesday: 12 p.m. - 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

Buddhist Gaden KhachoeShing Monastery 2150 E. Dolan Rd. 812-334-3456 ganden.org facebook.com/ganden.org Dedicated to preserving the Buddha’s teachings as transmitted through the Gelukpa lineage of Tibet, for the benefit of all beings. The lineage was founded by the great Master Je Tsonghkapa in the 15th century in Tibet.

Christian Science First Church of Christ, Scientist 2425 E. Third St. 812-332-0536 csmonitor.com bloomingtonchristianscience.com Sunday: 10 a.m.

Wednesday: 7 p.m.

A free public reading room in the east wing of our church is open weekdays from noon until 2 p.m. Here you may read the award-winning Christian Science Monitor and other church literature. An attendant is glad to answer questions.

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 (Via Zoom) : 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 beliefs 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 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. We gather on Wednesdays at First United Methodist (219 E. 4th St.) for free food, honest discussion, worship, and hanging out. Small groups, service projects, events (bonfires, game nights, book clubs, etc.), outreach retreats, and leadership opportunities all play a significant role in our rhythm of doing life together.

Markus Dickinson - jubilee@fumcb.org

Sunday: 10:40 a.m., Regular Services, Devotional Meetings.

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

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Rose House LuMin & St. Thomas Lutheran Church 3800 E. Third St. 812-332-5252 Stlconline.org lcmiu.net Instagram: @hoosierlumin facebook.com/LCMIU facebook.com/StThomasBloomington Sunday: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. @ St. Thomas Lutheran Church 3800 E. Third St. Tuesday: 6:30 p.m. Dinner & Devotions @ Rose House LuMin 314 S. Rose Ave. Rose House LuMin and St. Thomas Lutheran Church invite you to experience life together with us. We are an inclusive Christian community who values the faith, gifts, and ministry of all God’s people. We seek justice, serve our neighbors, and love boldly.

Rev. Adrianne Meier Rev. Lecia Beck Rev. Amanda Ghaffarian - Campus Pastor

9

Dec. 14, 2023 | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com

FOOTBALL

COLUMN: Curt Cignetti wants to change Indiana football narratives

By Daniel Flick danflick@iu.edu | @ByDanielFlick

Indiana University President Pamela Whitten looked to her left and made eye contact with her newest employee, head football coach Curt Cignetti.

Whitten leaned back, smirked and uttered seven words that resonated throughout the walls of Indiana’s team room at Memorial Stadium on the aftrnoon of Dec. 1.

“You were born to be a Hoosier,” Whitten said.

Cignetti agreed, still just hours into his new job after five years at James Madison University. A Pittsburgh native, Cignetti’s prior experience at Indiana came over seven hours northeast – in Indiana, Pennsylvania, with a population of less than 14,000 people.

The last time he was at Memorial Stadium was Sept. 9, 2000, when true freshman quarterback Philip Rivers threw a late

Check

touchdown pass to lift North Carolina State University over the Hoosiers, 41-38.

Cignetti was the Wolfpack’s quarterbacks coach and developed Rivers into the No. 4 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft.

Rivers is one of several NFL stars Cignetti’s coached.

Julio Jones, a seven-time Pro Bowler, is another.

Cignetti spent four years at the University of Alabama working under Nick Saban as receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.

Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson said Cignetti’s experience under Saban was impressive and fostered an enlightening conversation.

This discussion centered around all Cignetti learned from Saban, which the former said was more than he’d gathered in the previous 27 years of his coaching career.

“Just everything from A to Z,” Cignetti said during his introductory press conference.

“Monthly calendar, how to lead and

manage people, how to avoid complacency, which he was so good at on a day-to-day, minute-to-minute, secondto-second count. How to practice, how to play the game, plan for winning the game, how to recruit, how to evaluate, how to staff or restaff every year.”

As Cignetti’s chapter in Tuscaloosa ended, the next edition of his story began.

Cignetti left Alabama to become the head coach at Indiana UniversityPennsylvania. He inherited a team just removed from its worst two-year stretch in nearly 30 years, going 11-11 and just 4-10 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play.

In his first season, Cignetti led the Crimson Hawks to a 7-3 record while going 5-2 against conference foes and winning six of their last seven games. The year after, they won the PSAC and went to the NCAA Regional Finals, going 12-2.

Over his final four years

at IUP, Cignetti went 34-12 with two more NCAA playoff bids and another conference title, bringing the Crimson Hawks back to their winning standard.

Cignetti departed Indiana University-Pennsylvania for Elon University, accepting the head coaching position in 2016 on New Year’s Eve. In the five years preceding Cignetti’s arrival, Elon went 12-45 and just 6-34 in the Coastal Athletic Association. The Phoenix went 14-9 in Cignetti’s two seasons at the helm, including 10-5 in the CAA, and made the FCS Playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time in program history.

While unsatisfied with the final record, Cignetti used the change in the program’s trajectory as proof his blueprint works.

“I don’t like 14-9,” Cignetti said. “That’s not very good.

But we know how to do it.”

Cignetti’s second season at Elon peaked with a road victory against James

PHOTO COURTESY OF INDIANA ATHLETICS

Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti is pictured at his introductory press conference Dec. 1, 2023, inside the team room at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. Cignetti previously coached at James Madison University before being hired at Indiana.

Madison in Week 5, snapping the Dukes’ 22-game CAA winning streak and 19-game home winning streak, then the longest mark in the FCS. Between that victory and his overall body of work, Cignetti became the top candidate when James Madison head coach Mike Houston left for East Carolina University after the 2018 season.

As it had in each of the two previous stops, success followed Cignetti, who took the Dukes from 9-4 the year before to 14-2 and FCS runner-ups in his opening act. James Madison went 19-3 and made two FCS Semifinal appearances in the spring and fall of 2021, which was altered by COVID-19.

SEE CIGNETTI, PAGE 10

the IDS every Thursday for your directory of local religious services, or go online anytime at idsnews.com/religious For membership in the Indiana Daily Student Religious Directory, please contact ads@idsnews.com.

Your deadline for next week’s Religious Directory is 5 p.m. Monday.

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

Baptist Emmanuel Church 1503 W. That Rd. 812-824-2768 Emmanuelbloom.com Instagram & Facebook: @EmmanuelBloomington Sunday: 9:15 a.m., Fellowship Sunday: 10 a.m., Worship Groups: Various times Emmanuel is a multigenerational church of all types of people. Whether you are questioning faith or have followed Jesus for years, we exist to help fuel a passion for following Jesus as we gather together, grow in community, and go make disciples.

John Winders - Lead Pastor

Second Baptist Church 321 N Rogers St 812-327-1467 sbcbloomington.org facebook.com/2ndbaptistbloomington youtube.com/@secondbaptist churchbloomington Sunday Service: 10 a.m., In house and on Facebook/YouTube Sunday School: 8:45 - 9:45 a.m.

Bible Study: Available In House and on Zoom Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., Thursdays, Noon Please come and worship with us. We are in training for reigning with Christ! Need a ride? Call our Church bus at 812-3271467 before 8 a.m. on Sunday Rev. Dr. Bruce R. Rose - Pastor Tallie Schroeder - Secretary

Evangel Presbytery Trinity Reformed Church 2401 S. Endwright Rd. 812-825-2684 trinityreformed.org facebook.com/trinitychurchbloom Email: lucas@trinityreformed.org Sunday: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m., Services Bible Study: 7 p.m. at the IMU We are a Protestant Reformed church on the west side of Bloomington with lively worship on Sunday mornings and regular lunches for students after church. We love the Bible, and we aim to love like Jesus. Please get in touch if you’d like a ride!

Jody Killingsworth - Senior Pastor Lucas Weeks - College Pastor

Independent Baptist

Unitarian Universalist

Non-Denominational

Lifeway Baptist Church

Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington

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

Barnabas College Ministry: Meeting for Bible study throughout the month. Contact Rosh Dhanawade at bluhenrosh@gmail.com for more information.

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

503 S. High St. 812-332-0502 cccbloomington.org facebook.com/christcommunitybtown Instagram: @christcommunitybtown

Sunday: 10:15 a.m.

Sunday: 9:15 a.m., Educational Hour 10:30 a.m., Worship Service

With open hearts and minds, we celebrate diverse beliefs and engage in a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We are passionate about social justice and lifelong learning. We are an LGBTQA+ Welcoming Congregation.

Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, we welcome you!

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.

Rev. Constance Grant - Lead Minister Anabel Watson - Connections Coordinator

Bob Whitaker - Senior Pastor Adam deWeber - Worship Pastor Dan Waugh - Adult Ministry Pastor

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Unity Worldwide

Christian Student Fellowship

United Presbyterian Church

Unity of Bloomington

1701 E. Second St. 812-332-1850 upcbloomington.org

4001 S. Rogers St. 812-333-2484 unityofbloomington.org facebook@UnityofBloomington

1968 N. David Baker 812-332-8972 csfindiana.org Instagram & Facebook: @csfindiana

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

Sunday worship service: 10 a.m.

Tuesday Bible Study: 6 p.m., in-person and via Zoom A diverse and inclusive people of God determined and committed to reflect an authentic presentation of the church universal. We cherish the authority of Scripture and the elemental Presbyterian confession that that God alone is Lord of the conscience.”

Sunday: 10:30 a.m.

Unity is a positive, practical, progressive approach to Christianity based on the teachings of Jesus and the power of prayer. Unity honors the universal truths in all religions and respects each individual’s right to choose a spiritual path.

Our God is Love, Our Race is Human, Our Faith is Oneness.

Cheryl Montgomery - Reverend Benjamin Watkins, PhD - Music Director Allen Pease - Event Coordinator & Secretary

Doris Brinegar - Administrator Phyllis Wickliff - Music Director

Inter-Denominational

Mennonite Fellowship of Bloomington

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

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Bloomington Young Single Adult Branch 2411 E. Second St. To Contact: Send message from website maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/ wards/237973 Sunday: 12:30 p.m.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints has four congregations in Bloomington—Three family wards and our young single adult branch for college students. This info is for the YSA Branch.

Weekday religious classes at 333 S Highland Ave, Bloomington IN 47401, next to campus.

More info at churchofjesuschrist.org.

Mennonite

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

United Church of Christ and American Baptist Churches-USA

First United Church 2420 E. Third St. 812-332-4439 firstuc.org facebook.com/firstuc Sunday: 10:30 a.m., Worship Monday: 10 a.m. via Zoom, Bible Study We are an Open, Welcoming, and Affirming community of love and acceptance dedicated to welcoming the diversity of God’s beloved. We exist to empower, challenge, and encourage one another to live out Jesus’ ways (compassion, truth, and justice) authentically as human beings in community to create a better world.

Rev. Jessica Petersen-Mutai Senior Minister

Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Office Thursday: 8 p.m., Worship Service Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) is a ministry built on Jesus Christ. We exist to help students pursue authentic faith and build intentional communities while in college. Come check out our campus house and/or any of our other various ministry opportunities.

Ben Geiger - Lead campus minister Joe Durnil - Associate campus minister Stephanie Michael - Associate campus minister Hailee Fox - Office manager

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., 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. The Loft, our college ministry meets on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

10

Dec. 14, 2023 | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com

» CIGNETTI

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 That’s how Cignetti’s time as an FCS coach ended.

James Madison leveled up to the FBS in 2022, but its success didn’t stop. The Dukes went 8-3 in their first year at the NCAA’s highest subdivision and followed suit by going 11-1 and becoming nationally ranked this season.

Cignetti took IUP back to its standard and elevated Elon to a new one. He kept James Madison humming and proved the quality of the program by maintaining success while navigating a change in level.

Whitten had a simple yet loaded question for Cignetti when interviewing him earlier in the week of his hiring: what’s the secret to having a winning record every year?

“He responded to me, ‘I wage a tenacious battle against complacency,’” Whitten said.

“When you look at what he’s accomplished, I think those

words actually ring true.”

Cignetti’s next challenge may be his biggest. Indiana is 9-27 in its past three seasons and just 3-24 against Big Ten opponents, leading to the firing of head coach Tom Allen. Over 20 players have entered the transfer portal and several recruits have decommitted.

The most difficult element of rebuilding a program?

“Changing the way people think,” Cignetti said.

Cignetti is in the office at 5 a.m. each day. Staff meetings don’t start until 7 a.m., but he wants to be prepared and ensure everybody around him has the right mindset. Avoiding complacency is a top-down approach, Cignetti said, and it starts with him and his staff.

The process of instilling belief is on Cignetti’s shoulders. He preaches high standards and expects accountability, commitment and work ethic in return. For this reason, Cignetti values production over potential in his recruits. He’ll look at high

school transcripts, believing academic results reveal a player’s habits.

Cignetti’s blueprint may be old school, in his words, but it’s proven successful – and it starts with the mentality he embodies.

“It’s wanting to be great versus wanting to be normal,” Cignetti said.

“Normal kind of equals average. Average is okay.

There’s no problem with average except in my business. My business, average is the enemy, and to be great, you’ve got to have special focus, special commitment, special preparation, and discipline and the ability to say no to some things.”

Stacking days is one key. Being able to compartmentalize each play and approach every snap as its own is another.

Cignetti believes these traits allow teams to play free and focus on the task at hand rather than the scoreboard, creating better performance in crucial moments.

Cignetti’s teams have

frequently won close games.

In his first year at Elon, the Phoenix won eight straight games, each coming down to the final play. Entering this season’s final few weeks, James Madison led the country in one-score wins with five.

In comparison, Indiana went 2-4 in one-possession games this past year. Each of its final three contests – all losses – were decided by four points or fewer.

“It’s a way that you do things, and it’s a mindset,” Cignetti said.

Cignetti learned this mindset from Saban, who’s won seven college football national championships.

While Indiana’s newest coach is still chasing that level of success, he’s routinely led strong, wellrounded programs.

The 62-year-old Cignetti noted each of his past four quarterbacks have won Conference Player of the Year. At James Madison, his offenses led the conference in scoring each season.

Defensively, the Dukes

had the best run defense in college football, allowing 61.5 rushing yards per game, and finished tied for third in sacks with 45.

Many assistants from Cignetti’s staff at James Madison have followed him to Bloomington, including offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan, defensive coordinator Bryant Haines and quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri.

Cignetti acknowledged other teams in the Big Ten may have more resources, whether it be recruiting or NIL costs, but it won’t be detrimental to what he’s trying to build, because he’s focused on finding players with the right mental makeup rather than the biggest price tags.

Stars have never mattered to Cignetti in recruiting; he trusts the work he and his staff do in the film room, and the on-field results endorse it.

Success has been synonymous with Cignetti at each stop, and Dolson believes that trend will

continue in Bloomington due to the experience, evaluation skills, developmental track record and recruiting his new coach provides.

What defines success in 2024? Cignetti hasn’t thought that far ahead – but he aspires to build a team that listens to coaching, applies it, commits to the program and follows the process-oriented approach the staff will implement.

If the Hoosiers do that, Cignetti believes they’ll be just fine, and his past success proves he’s more than alltalk.

Dolson said he thinks Indiana’s a sleeping giant; he told Cignetti as such in their interviews. The latter bought in, and the former made it happen. Now, it’s time for Cignetti to prove Dolson right – and take the Hoosiers to new heights.

“This is a tremendous institution that its time has come to make some noise and make a statement,” Cignetti said. “And we’re going to work every day to make that happen.”

MEN’S BASKETBALL

COLUMN: Indiana ‘not ready for big time’ after crumbling vs. Auburn

By Daniel Flick danflick@iu.edu | @ByDanielFlick

ATLANTA — As Indiana freshman guard Gabe Cupps’ 70-foot heave sailed off target, senior guard Trey Galloway and freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako jogged to the locker room inside State Farm Arena.

Everybody else on Indiana’s bench trudged slowly, still feeling the effects of Auburn University’s dominant 42-12 run to close the first half of the Dec. 9 game, giving the Tigers a 5234 lead.

The Hoosiers’ fortunes didn’t change in the second half, as Auburn ran away with a 104-76 victory.

“We’re not ready for big time yet,” Indiana head coach Mike Woodson said to a staff member while walking off the court into the tunnel after the game.

Indiana (7-2) entered the contest riding a wave of momentum, winning four straight games after its 20-point loss to the University of Connecticut on Nov. 19. The energy showed up early, as the Hoosiers stormed out to a 22-10 lead with 12:54 to play in the first half.

But from thereon, Auburn (6-2) dominated, outscoring Indiana 94-54.

The Tigers went on a 33-6 run and scored on 16 of 20 possessions after falling behind by 12. Woodson pointed to Indiana’s bench, which was outscored 41-20

by Auburn, and turnovers,

as the Hoosiers had 12 to the Tigers’ three, as key factors in the result.

Perhaps most importantly, Indiana couldn’t match Auburn’s energy, intensity or physicality over the 40-minute event.

“I’d say they were the most physical team tonight,” Woodson said in his postgame press conference.

“In a game like this, you’ve got to force more turnovers, get more stops, rebound. I just thought physically, they were the better team tonight.”

Indiana’s far from where it needs to be, but it’s also not disheveled after the 28-point beatdown in Atlanta. The Hoosiers are fresh off consecutive Big Ten wins, both without injured starting point guard Xavier Johnson.

Still, after another uncompetitive loss, Indiana’s at a crossroads – to rally together and correct its errors, or let this feeling linger.

Cupps believes his team has the mentality needed to turn a disappointing defeat into a positive experience.

“There’s a good balance of not letting the taste out of your mouth, get beat like this, but then also using it as motivation to practice harder, communicate better, give more effort,” Cupps said.

“That’ll allow you to become a better basketball team.

Everybody can feel we need to get better, so I think this can bring our team together more.”

Cupps added all the reasons the Hoosiers lost – defensive breakdowns,

offensive turnovers and an inability to regain their early energy – are in their own control, which feels indicting now but encouraging for improving future outcomes.

However, there’s another important element to consider: Auburn played extremely well, going 35-of72 from the field, 14-of-29 from distance and 20-of-23 at the foul stripe with 25 assists to just three turnovers.

Some days, you just get beat. On Dec. 9, Indiana was beaten badly, but Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl believes it’s not an indication of where the Hoosiers stand.

“As you look up and down our roster, virtually every player had a big day,” Pearl said. “And so, I wouldn’t be so hard on IU in the sense that I don’t know right now that we can play much better.”

Pearl also said Johnson’s absence hurt Indiana’s ability to handle Auburn’s press defense, which threw the Hoosiers out of rhythm offensively and led to the swing in momentum that snowballed into the defeat.

Woodson agrees with Pearl’s lack of long-term concern surrounding Indiana’s loss, and while the Hoosiers’ third-year coach is adamant about needing to be better, still boasts a clear sense of optimism about what his squad can accomplish.

“We’ve got a lot of work still left in front of us,” Woodson said. “I’ve always said that. We’ve got to take it a practice at a time, a game at a

JACOB SPUDICH | IDS

Senior guard Trey Galloway (left), freshman guard Gabe Cupps (center) and freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako gather at the free throw line against Maryland on Dec. 1, 2023, at Assembly Hall. Indiana lost to Auburn 104-76.

time and build. This won’t set us back. We’ll rebound from it and keep marching on.”

The Hoosiers have a chance to not only rebound but send a statement when they host the No. 2-ranked Kansas University in Assembly Hall on Dec. 16.

The Jayhawks already have three wins over ranked opponents, including a 4-point victory over the same UConn team that ran Indiana out of Madison Square Garden.

As such, Indiana needs to build quickly – especially with Kansas marking the Hoosiers’ final marquee nonconference litmus test before they fully enter conference play.

“At the end of the day, it’s a long season,” Reneau said. “One game’s not going to determine how we play.

We bounced back from the UConn game. We’re trying to win the Big Ten. We’re going to go back to the drawing board; we’ve got a week to work on Kansas. That’s what we’re going to do, we’ll go in there and practice hard.”

Last season, Indiana suffered a 14-point nonconference loss to the University of Arizona before playing Kansas the week after. The result was a 22-point road defeat to the Jayhawks. The Hoosiers used it as a learning experience and ultimately finished fourth in the Big Ten.

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When punched in the mouth for the first time this season against UConn, Indiana responded, playing an encouraging four games that carried into the first seven minutes Saturday.

Now, the Hoosiers are left searching for answers, with Woodson needing to get his team “ready for big time” – or else, a repeat of both the Auburn game and last year’s loss to Kansas may be in store the tipoff at 12:30 p.m.

Dec. 16.

“We’ve got a big week coming up,” Woodson said.

“We’ve got to play Kansas; we’ve got a week to prepare.

I’ve got to get us in a better place where we can play a 40-minute ballgame.”