IDS Thursday, July 7, 2022
Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com
"Stranger Things 4 Vol. 2", p. 6
IU Athletics celebrates 50 years of Title IX By Amanda Foster
amakfost@iu.edu | @amandafoster_15
IU ARCHIVES
The IU Women’s Recreational Association poses for a group photo in 1949. The organization The organization worked to expand the recreational athletic opportunities for women on campus before Title IX was enacted in 1972.
Monroe County Prosecutor says she may prosecute abortions By Marissa Meador
marnmead@iu.edu | @marissa_meador
In the event of an abortion ban in Indiana, Monroe County Prosecutor Erika Oliphant said she cannot legally or ethically commit to not prosecuting those who seek an abortion, according to a June 28 statement given to Indiana Public Media. Oliphant said in the article she is pro-choice and was disappointed by the Supreme Court decision. However, she said she has sworn to support the state constitution and cannot entirely refuse to prosecute a certain crime. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears, who announced in 2019 he would
not prosecute simple marijuana offenses due to their disproportionate effect on people of color, is one of dozens of prosecutors across the country who have pledged to refuse to prosecute abortion. He is the only Indiana prosecutor to make this pledge so far. Indiana legislators have tried several times to pass a bill that would punish “noncompliant prosecutors” like Mears. All attempts, including one from the 2022 legislative session, have failed to pass. The Indianapolis Party for Socialism and Liberation organized a protest at Oliphant’s office Monday to secure her commitment to not prosecute abortion cases.
Title IX, while largely synonymous with equal opportunity for female athletes, was not created just for sex discrimination in sports. When the legislation was signed into law in 1972, along with the Education Amendments, the goal of the authors — one of whom was an IU alumnus, Birch Bayh — was to provide equal access and opportunities for women at publicly-funded universities. Athletics was one of many aspects of life impacted by Title IX, but it was one that had some of the most profound effects on women and the world of sports as we know it today. "For today's generation, it's largely unimaginable to think of a time when women did not and could not compete in intercollegiate athletics," IU Vice President and Athletic Director Scott Dolson said in a release from IU
Athletics. "That was the reality prior to Title IX. This anniversary is a great time for everyone to reflect on not only the strides we have made during these last 50 years, but also the work that we still have ahead." Women still played sports in some capacity before 1972. Indiana women’s basketball has existed since 1890, when basketball became a part of the curriculum in the Department of Physical Training for Women. The basement of Wylie Hall, a chemistry building at the time, was home to the first interclass basketball games. Women’s basketball continued to thrive to the extent it could in a time when women playing sports was largely not taken seriously by the general public and when IU provided little funding. In 1961, the team started
SEE TITLE IX, PAGE 7
IU graduate Grace Leckey releases “Best Supporting Actress” album By Taylor Satoski
tsatoski@iu.edu | @TaylorSatoski
IU 2022 graduate Grace Leckey, half of the local band GraceKellie, debuted as a solo artist on June 25 with the release of “Best Supporting Actress.” The album parodies women receiving praise for following the script men
have given them. Leckey said each word of the title has meaning. “Best” is the name of the Oscar awards. “Supporting” represents the realization that women are never the main character and how they often play second to men. She chose “Actress” to symbolize women acting in the role
that was handed to them and only being praised for doing what they are told. The song “Best Supporting Actress” conveys this meaning as well. “It's a coming of age song, and it's also a coming out song. It's both a metaphor for women anywhere who feel like the script they've
been handed is not for them,” Leckey said. “More specifically, it's about heteronormativity and what that means to grow up in a world that's like, ‘Here's your really specific script that involves you wearing this dress, and you're going to kiss a man.’” SEE LECKEY, PAGE 4
IDS FILE PHOTO
The Monroe County Courthouse stands at 100 W. Kirkwood Ave. In the event of an abortion ban in Indiana, Monroe County Prosecutor Erika Oliphant said she cannot legally or ethically commit to not prosecuting those who seek an abortion.
COURTESY PHOTO
Grace Leckey released "Best Supporting Actress" on June 25. The cover of the album, which is is Leckey's first solo project, represents women accepting awards for the work they were told to do.
Buskirk-Chumley Theater to host CatVideoFest July 16 By Tory Basile
vlbasile@iu.edu | torybasilee
The Buskirk Chumley Theater will present CatVideoFest 2022 to raise money for cats in need at 2 p.m. July 16 at the theater on Kirkwood Avenue. The event will feature a 90-minute compilation reel of cat videos, including original submissions, animations, music videos and other catthemed entertainment. General admission tickets are $8 and student tickets are $6. Tickets are available on the Buskirk-Chumley Theater’s website. A 10% portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Monroe County Humane Association. The BCT encourages viewers to wear masks to the indoor event. CatVideoFest, an international organization based out of Washington state and founded in 2016, is dedicated to raising funds and attention for local animal shelters across the globe. CatVideo-
Fest works with local animal advocates to designate funds and attention to community organizations that they feel need it most. Theaters and community spaces across the United States and world have featured this family-friendly event. CatVideo Fest has been celebrated in more than 200 theaters in North America and more than 100 in Europe. In 2019, more than $50,000 was raised for local shelters, according to the CatVideoFest website. “People love cat videos, and they love coming together for a shared experience,” the organization’s website said. “CatVideoFest is committed to bringing the joy of cat videos to the masses, while doing good for the worldwide community of people working to help cats in need.” Those interested can learn more about CatVideoFest at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater or submit their own cat video.
COURTESY PHOTO The Buskirk-Chumley Theater will celebrate the CatVideoFest 2022 event at 2p.m. July 16 on Kirkwood Avenue. A 10% portion of the proceeds for the 90-minute cat video screening will be donated to the Monroe County Humane Association.