Indiana Daily Student eEdition - Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025 by Indiana Daily Student - idsnews

IDS

‘It’s

very heartbreaking’

Students, politicians host vigil for Charlie Kirk at IU

By Mia Hilkowitz and Andrew Miller mhilkowi@iu.edu | ami3@iu.edu

Aaron Walpole, an IU junior, was studying at the library when he saw on social media that right-wing activist Charlie Kirk had been shot. He said he fell into a thousand-yard stare.

He noticed another student put his hand over his mouth.

“I go, ‘Charlie?’” he said.

“And he said ‘Yeah.’”

In a lecture hall later that afternoon, Walpole said, he heard someone ask if their friend had heard “the good news.” After the student described what happened, Walpole said he told them to “shut up.”

“Do you think it's okay to kill someone for their political beliefs?” he remembered himself asking them, hours after Kirk’s assassination.

But that discord was absent the night of Sept. 14 at the Indiana Memorial Union’s Alumni Hall, as mourners of Kirk sought to honor the activist they looked up to.

Kirk was fatally shot in the neck Sept. 10 at an event at Utah Valley University. The alleged killer, 22-yearold Tyler Robinson, was arrested Sept. 11.

Kirk is survived by his wife Erika and two children, 1 and 3 years old. In the killing’s fallout came an outpouring of grief, anger and

more.

None of Walpole’s friends wanted to talk about Kirk’s assassination at first.

But Sept. 14, at the two-hour vigil commemorating Kirk and his life’s work led by elected officials, pastors and students, Walpole said it was great to see everyone coming together.

Some in the crowd wore shirts reading “I AM CHARLIE” and “FEAR IS A LIAR.”

Others wore MAGA hats or white shirts they scrawled messages on in marker.

Some told the Indiana Daily Student they’d gravitated toward Kirk for his messages on faith, others for his politics.

Hundreds of them filled Indiana Memorial Union’s Alumni Hall — students, parents and children. Numerous elected officials were in attendance, too.

Speakers included Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, Attorney General Todd Rokita, Sen. Todd Young and representatives for Rep. Erin Houchin and Sen. Jim Banks.

Security — featuring the IU Police Department, Allied Universal security and Indiana State Police — was tight around all; everyone had to go through metal detectors.

And that’s perhaps an effect, or at least a reminder of, continued fears around politically motivated violence in America. In June, Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband Mark Hortman

were shot and killed in their home.

Before his killing, Kirk garnered a reputation as a prominent face of the youth conservative movement. He founded the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA in 2012 when he was 18. According to the organization's website, it has chapters on over 2,000 high school and college campuses, including at Indiana University. IU’s chapter was supposed to host Kirk at IU Bloomington on Oct. 21.

Kirk gained a following for his unique debate style, which often featured him sparring with students on their views of controversial topics, including religion and abortion. He was embarking on his “The American Comeback Tour” when he was assassinated.

For many students and Americans at large, Kirk was known for his positions on issues deeply personal to them. That included what he said about people’s race, religion and gender.

“Islam is the sword the left is using to slit the throat of America,” he wrote in a post on X, the day before his killing. “Reject feminism. Submit to your husband, Taylor. You’re not in charge,” he said on his show about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement. He once described being transgender as “a throbbing middle finger to God.”

IU graduate student Terrence McGoldrick was on a Zoom call when he first got an alert from Fox News that Kirk had been shot. He hoped Kirk had just been grazed in the ear, like President Donald Trump was. But when he opened X to see the video, he knew “this is not good.”

He sent the video to his fiancée, Stephanie Rivero, also an IU graduate student.

“He sends me this horrific video, and I just felt like the world stopped for a moment,” Rivero said. “Because at first I thought it was AI. I was like, ‘That can’t be real. I can’t be seeing this.’ To see somebody murdered over freedom of speech. It’s very heartbreaking.”

McGoldrick and Rivero decided to attend Sunday’s vigil to pay their respects to Kirk and his family.

“This is not a TV show,” Rivero said. “It’s real, and a real-life person lost their life, and their children will grow up without a father, and their wife is now widowed.”

Much of the vigil focused on the role of free speech in society. IU student Hamza Sahli represented Indiana Sen. Jim Banks during the vigil, but he also took his time at the microphone to recount his own experiences at IU, including when protesters disrupted a College Republicans at IU event with Banks and “Libs of TikTok” founder Chaya Raichik in April 2024.

“Despite that fact, Sen. Jim Banks decided to invite

them in and to let them join the discussion. The ones that had no interest in having that conversation were let out,” Sahli said. “The ones that were willing to made that atmosphere the best it could have been.”

McGoldrick stood with 12 other students behind Sahli on stage. He held an American flag out to the crowd.

“(To) the people who are scared, I say this: don’t give in to people who want you to be fearful that you’re going to end up hurt or victimized like Charlie was,” McGoldrick said. “Don’t give in to that. Go out there and if something does happen to you, embrace it, because it’s what was meant to happen that day, and people will pick up the mantle that you left behind and carry on.”

Derek Britt, pastor and director of Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship at IU Bloomington, said 300 to 400 students gathered Sept. 11 at Willkie Auditorium for a weekly service. In the “chaotic moment” after Kirk’s death, he said a freshman named Tyler asked him to pray with him and for a hug after the service.

He asked all the students in Alumni Hall to raise their hands, then encouraged audience members to reach around and put their hand on a student’s shoulder. Heads bowed, they prayed.

“Lord, we are living in a

world that is broken. Lord, and we need you,” Britt said. “We need you. This campus needs you, God, and we’re grateful tonight, Lord, that across this campus, Lord, we have thousands of students that are serving you, that are walking with you.”

Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith addressed the crowd while wearing a white shirt reading “Freedom,” the same shirt Kirk wore when he was shot. Beckwith, a Noblesville pastor and selfdescribed Christian nationalist, said he loved and admired Kirk. During his almost 15-minute address to the crowd, he frequently referenced Kirk’s commitment to Christianity. Beckwith said he will pray for Kirk’s accused shooter.

“How amazing would it be to see in heaven Charlie and his shooter worshiping the same God, celebrating him for a thousand years because they both found Jesus,” Beckwith said. “I think Charlie would want that, and I think you should want that.”

Beckwith continued to say he thinks the country will see a revival in Christianity across the nation following Kirk’s death.

“But what this shooter didn’t realize, he was being lied to by demonic forces, by lies from the pits of hell,” Beckwith said. “But you know what he didn’t realize? When Charlie took his last breath in that moment, about 12 million Charlie Kirks were created.”

Animal shelter, emergency boarding programs strained

By Ella Curlin elcurlin@iu.edu

Animal care technician

Shelley Cook greeted the dogs by name Sept. 6 as she walked through the kennels at the Bloomington Animal Shelter.

“Hi Drama,” Cook said to a brown bully-breed dog in one kennel. “She’s like, ‘I’m bored, can you take me to the pool!’” Due to a rush of activity that day, Cook said she chose to work overtime through her lunch break, as did the other three animal care technicians on staff. In addition to routine animal care, staff juggle animal intake, foster appointments and trial adoptions during the shelter’s public weekend hours from 12-3 p.m. Shelter Director Virgil Sauder said the number of animals coming in has strained the shelter’s finances. In a July Facebook post, the shelter said its dog kennels were over capacity and asked locals to adopt or foster.

The shelter is currently running a matching fundraiser for its medical fund, which goes toward emergency vet bills or medical treatments.

The shelter’s total intake has risen every year since it sharply dropped in 2020, reaching 3,328 in 2024, according to city data. Cook started her animal care technician training before the lockdown, and she’s worked at the shelter for nearly six years. After the pandemic, the shelter instituted a waitlist for people looking to surrender their pets and cut its hours from 12-7 to 12-5 p.m. on weekdays.

“It’s a sense it’s been good, but in a sense it's been hard also,” Cook said. “It feels like things are busy all the time now.”

Sauder said the shelter is at manageable capacity, with about 160 animals in kennels and another 190 in foster homes. He said capacity isn’t an exact number and depends on the species, the maintenance level of the an-

imals and staff availability.

Sauder said the shelter is seeing more community members struggle to care for their pets amid rising costs of living and limited housing.

“People are trying to figure out how to feed their kids, or, you know, clothe their children, and they have a pet and things have to give,” Sauder said. “And so that's how we end up with a lot of our animals.”

When these problems are temporary, pet owners can apply for help from the Monroe County Humane Association’s Crisis Housing Center, which provides boarding for two to four months, according to CHC Outreach Coordinator Liz Austen. The program is intended as a last resort to keep low-income Monroe County residents from permanently losing their animals.

Austen said most people who use the center’s services are facing eviction, medical crises, incarceration or domestic violence, or are spending time in rehab for drug addiction. When Austen joined in 2023, the CHC only kept animals for two weeks, she said. Now the limit is two to four months, so pet owners have time to find housing, employment or go through rehab for drug use. Austen said the CHC has been expanding its capacity since 2023, with the help of volunteers. But the need for temporary pet housing is still outpacing the CHC’s capacity. Austen said she estimates that for every animal the center takes in, there are two to three it can’t. The CHC also can’t house pets indefinitely, so when pet owners ask for help because their landlord instituted a no-pet policy or added pet fees the tenants can’t afford to pay, Austen said their best option is the shelter. “People are finding it harder to make their ends meet, and so unfortunately, when those things change and people feel stressed in those areas, often animals are the ones that can suffer,” Sauder said.

BRIANA PACE | IDS

An attendee of the vigil held in honor of Charlie Kirk gets emotional listening to a speaker at the event Sept. 14, 2025, at the Indiana Memorial Union in Bloomington. Many people in the crowd wiped away tears during prayers or while listening to different politicians discuss the impact Kirk had.

KATHERINE MANERS | IDS

Puppy Gina Linetti sits in her kennel Sept. 9, 2025, at the Bloomington Animal Shelter. Gina has been in the shelter since Aug. 15.

IU provides AI resources for students, faculty

By Adelyn Rabbitt adrabb@iu.edu

Indiana University has begun providing AI tools for students and faculty, with a GenAI 101 course released at the beginning of the fall semester and the planned rollout of ChatGPT Edu.

“Indiana University is empowering our students, faculty and staff to lead as AI transforms every sector of the economy,” IU President Pamela Whitten said in an Aug. 28 press release. “Working with an industry leader like OpenAI gives the IU community cuttingedge tools that will enhance learning, increase efficiency and prepare our graduates to thrive in the careers of today and tomorrow.”

Generative AI has recently become a prevalent tool for many college students. Survey results released by Inside Higher Ed in August showed that about 85% of college students report that they have used generative AI for their schoolwork within the last year.

Here’s how IU is approaching the rise of AI in higher education:

GenAI 101

The university’s new GenAI 101 course was codeveloped by university technology experts Brian Williams and Anne Leftwich along with more than 40 others.

The eight-module course, Williams said, assumes a student knows very little about generative AI, so it begins with the basics. It includes 31 YouTube-style videos with an average length of seven minutes. An animated AI assistant called Crimson interacts with learners and progress assessments are given throughout the course, Williams said.

The entire course takes

about four and a half hours to complete, Williams said, and by the end of the course, students are taught to make a custom AI assistant.

Williams is the chair of the Virtual Advanced Business Technologies Department in the Kelley School of Business and taught and developed Kelley’s first four generative AI courses.

He said IU leadership asked him and Leftwich to develop a practical, skillbased course in generative AI this summer to help students be more productive and use generative AI as a “thought partner.”

This launch is part of IU’s new “AI Academy,” Williams said, and will likely be accompanied by several other courses in the future.

Williams said IU is one of the first schools to make this scale of practical generative AI learning material available for its students, and other institutions, including Harvard University, have reached out to the coursebuilding team to learn from their approach.

“It’s really turning heads across the nation,” Williams said.

Williams said more than 30,000 people had started the course by Sept. 8, and students and teachers alike have given positive feedback. However, Williams acknowledged that AI use can be problematic.

“There’s real concerns with AI and environmental issues,” Williams said. “I also think there’s real concerns with copyright issues, or there’s real concerns with ethical issues. There’s a lot of concerns with AI in general.”

Williams said IU is attempting to be cognizant of the issues with using AI while facing the reality that many employers “won’t even hire students who don’t know how to use them (AI tools)” and trying to help prepare students who are

interested in learning AI skills. The course material, Williams said, consistently points out to the learner that AI can make mistakes and that it is not a substitute for doing one’s own work.

GenAI 101 co-creator Anne Leftwich is a professor who teaches technology integration, AI and computer science classes at the School of Education. She has been the associate vice president of University Information Technology Services Learning Technologies for all campuses for the last two years.

She was responsible for teaching the ethics unit of the GenAI 101 course and said the best first step for students to learn how to use generative AI ethically is to take the course.

ChatGPT Edu

Leftwich said, ChatGPT Edu provides ChatGPT Pro features and added security, as ChatGPT cannot use any of IU’s data from ChatGPT Edu to train its models, which are systems trained by data to find patterns and make decisions without requiring human programming.

More than 30,000 individuals have signed into the free ChatGPT with their IU emails, Leftwich said, so IU hopes providing ChatGPT Edu for these individuals to use instead will keep any internal university data shared with ChatGPT private in case of a data breach.

IU’s rollout of ChatGPT Edu will be the second largest of all time for OpenAI, according to an IU press release. Faculty and staff can now access ChatGPT Edu and student access will launch Jan. 1. Of the 200 faculty who tested several AI tools over the summer, 80% said ChatGPT worked the best for aiding their teaching and research.

“It’s helpful to have all the possible tools in front

of you to really think about, ‘How do I reach my students better? How do I build assignments that are going to resonate with them?’”

Leftwich said.

Leftwich said AI can be a helpful tool but acknowledged the reality of students using generative AI.

“If a student is using it to cheat, then obviously it’s not a good learning tool,” Leftwich said. “However, if a student is using it for a way to brainstorm, to iterate, to get feedback on whatever it is and then incorporating that feedback, or better yet even learning and incorporating that into their next draft, then those can be exceptional ways, in my mind, to learn.”

Leftwich said discouraging students

from using generative AI to cheat falls to the instructors and those who create the curriculum. If students are given assignments without an explanation of the relevance or purpose, it’s hard for them to create a good final product and not be tempted to cheat, Leftwich said.

“Because AI is kind of destroying the assignments that we typically assign our students, I would love to see us do more experiential learning where you’re going out into the field,” Leftwich said. Experiential learning is a hands-on approach to teaching in which students are encouraged to learn through direct, in-field experience.

Junior Jonah Katz, president of a new student

organization called Advances in Technology & AI Tools, said IU’s planned rollout of ChatGPT Edu shows the university’s initiative in integrating AI and emphasizing the importance of AI.

“I think it’s a great step,” Katz said. “I think that it lowers barriers for students to use AI responsibly. It can help with research, brainstorming and writing, but this is only if professors set clear expectations.” Katz said AI has helped him be more time-efficient and search for internships.

“This is an innovation that isn’t going to go away and it’s only going to progress over time, so it’s important to be at the forefront of this transformation rather than be left behind,” Katz said.

Unemployment for college students up in August

By Samantha Camire scamire@iu.edu

Unemployment has long been regarded as a key economic indicator, and the latest numbers are noteworthy — particularly for young adults.

The unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds climbed to 10.5% in August, the highest point in nearly four years. The 0.5% increase from July comes amid economic instability and advances in AI technology that threaten to upend the labor market.

The overall unemployment rate also rose slightly in August to 4.3%, a number not hit since October 2021.

Marquita Walker, interim chair of labor studies at the IU School of Social Work, attributed much of the increase to instability caused by the Trump administration.

“I don’t know that there’s an industry you can go to right now — manufacturing, finance, environmental, health care — that hasn’t been impacted in some form or fashion by some of these administrative executive orders,” she said.

Since his inauguration, President Donald Trump has issued many executive orders impacting the econo-

my, immigration and more.

Notably, he began imposing tariffs in February, citing his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which allows the president to regulate economic activity “to deal with any unusual and extraordinary threat” to the country’s economy.

Under the Trump administration, the average U.S. tariff has grown from less than 2.5% at the beginning of his term to more than 18%, according to the BBC. Trump’s authority to impose these tariffs has been challenged in court, and the legal battles are ongoing, with the Supreme Court agreeing to review the legality of most of the tariffs in November.

Implementation of tariffs has been inconsistent. Changing deadlines and abrupt pauses on reciprocal tariffs has fueled confusion for business owners.

The uncertainty surrounding tariffs and Trump’s executive orders, Walker said, makes business owners reluctant to invest in new workers.

“Facilities aren’t able to project in three months, six months, a year, what their needs are going to be, and so they’re not going to hire people if they believe or as-

sume that within a short time frame they’re not going to need those workers,” she said.

Walker predicted that in the coming months, unemployment will continue to increase. That means new college graduates may not be able to find jobs in their field and may see themselves accepting lower-paid jobs than expected, she said.

She also highlighted the effect of AI on the labor market. Goldman Sachs reported that their economists predict a small rise in the unemployment rate as companies adopt AI.

Compared to historic unemployment numbers, today’s unemployment rate is not alarmingly high, said Uric Dufrene, the Sanders Chair in Business at IU Southeast. But there are other signs of a tightening job market. The U.S. only added 22,000 jobs in August and lost jobs in June. In comparison, the three-month average for jobs added in the first quarter before Trump implemented tariffs was 111,000 per month, according to News Nation.

“The last time we saw numbers like that, we have to go back to the Great Recession, 2007-09,” Dufrene said.

It’s typical for the un-

employment numbers for young people to be higher than the overall unemployment rate, Dufrene said. But as the economy slows down, the gap will widen. Employers will be reluctant to hire and when they do, they’ll hire those with greater experience.

“Young people tend to be employed in sectors that are more cyclical: leisure, hospitality, retail,” Dufrene said. “So these are sectors that when the economy is slowing down, it’s where con-

sumers tend to pull back.”

A college degree is still valuable, Dufrene said. Employment for recent college graduates ages 22-27 is consistently higher than employment for all workers of the same age.

Still, unemployment for recent college grads sits at 5.3%, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York dubbed this job market to be one of the toughest for recent graduates since 2015.

To stand out in a downturned job market, Dufrene

suggested college students and recent grads focus on developing marketable skills, such as familiarity with software systems used in their field of work.

“There has to be a conscious effort on the part of graduates and students to think about, ‘What are the skills I need to be developing to make sure I’m competitive in the marketplace?’” Dufrene said. “Focus on developing the kinds of skills and competencies that are in demand by employers.

Novo Nordisk cuts 9,000 jobs, Bloomington impact undetermined

By Benjamin LeGrand benlegra@iu.edu

The Danish pharmaceutical company

Novo Nordisk announced Sept. 10 it is cutting 9,000 jobs, 4,000 of which will be outside Denmark.

The company, one of Bloomington’s major employers, did not comment on whether any jobs at its Bloomington campus would be cut.

“This is a global transformation, and each country, site or region will be impacted differently,” a Novo spokesperson said in an email to the Indiana Daily

4,000 of the cuts will be jobs outside of Denmark

Student. “We will not be able to share specific numbers or additional facts about our site in Bloomington until plans are finalized and the appropriate consultations have been carried out, in line with local labor laws.” The cuts come after the company has struggled against pharmaceutical competitors and cheaper, similar drugs. The company’s share price has dropped 60% in the last year. The company also recently hired a new chief executive in August to correct the company’s performance.

Novo Nordisk produces GLP-1 weight loss and

diabetes drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. It cited the increasingly dynamic market of diabetes and obesity drugs as a contributor to the recent slowing of company growth.

Novo Nordisk acquired its Bloomington plant from Catalent in 2024 for $16.5 billion. At the time, an undated, since-deleted letter on Catalent’s site said the company employed 2,400 people. The acquisition occurred after hundreds of layoffs by Catalent in multiple years leading up to the deal and alleged mismanagement, including multiple safety breaches under Catalent.

IDS FILE PHOTO

Then-senior, now IU alumna Julia Friedman speaks with a J.C. Penney senior college recruiter Jan. 29, 2014, about internship and job opportunities. The unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds climbed to 10.5% in August 2025,

COURTESY PHOTO Research and development worker Annamaria Tessitore is seen at Novo Nordisk Oxford Research Centre at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Novo Nordisk announced it is cutting 9,000 jobs, 4,000 of which will be outside Denmark.

Jacob Fry (he/him)

is a junior studying political science.

For much of the past decade, progressivism has been on a steady rise. Marriage equality became law; climate change entered the mainstream and terms like “equity” and “inclusion” became institutional cornerstones. For many people across the country, it felt like the tide was flowing into a better and more open tomorrow.

However, sometimes the current doesn’t move the way it’s supposed to, as today the United States is in what I like to call “the Great Regression”: a tsunami of reactionary politics pushing back against progress that’s working at a quick rate. This backlash isn’t just on Capitol Hill; it’s unfolding across Indiana University’s campus, other campuses and social media. These policies are impacting people, programs and the lives of students.

This spring, IU closed its Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Its functions were folded into broader student services, and the Office of Institutional Equity was rebranded as the Office of Civil Rights Compliance to emphasize legal compliance over inclusive programming.

Many campus-wide cultural centers were reassigned to the Office of Student Life, raising concerns about a potential decline in support and focus. These changes come after Indiana Gov. Mike Braun’s executive order banning DEI initiatives in state agencies and

The Great Regression

IU’s efforts to align with both federal and state mandates.

The same statewide push has affected academics, too, with legislation changing the number of graduates needed for a degree, which has slated over 100 programs at IU Bloomington to be axed over time – including several graduate programs. For students and faculty, these are more than just numbers; these are their passions, culture and academic opportu-

nities on our campus.

These local shifts are simply echoing national trends. Across politics, regressions in healthcare, education, culture and sports reflect a counter to change. Conservative leaders such as President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Gov. Braun frame the backlash as a good thing and that it’s “restoring merit-based opportunities,” and bringing back tradition, while critics, such

as Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez and the Senate Democratic Diversity Initiative, see it as a deliberate rollback of progress.

The regression extends into healthcare (restrictions on reproductive and genderaffirming care), entertainment and sports culture (arguments over transgender athletes and LGBTQ+ characters in media) and academia itself (tenure reforms and suppression of minority

JOAQUIN’S JOURNAL

voices). Fearmongering and a desire to bring America back to the “good old days” through institutions fuel this momentum.

What’s chilling about

The Great Regression is how deeply it has become embedded in the structures meant to promote inclusivity. At IU, policies intended to celebrate diversity are now being restructured to minimize it, even in areas such as bias-reporting protocols,

which the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to this year. Justice Clarence Thomas, in his dissent, said the court will eventually need to resolve a split among lower federal appeals courts on the matter. Students’ sense of belonging, the availability of identity-affirming resources and the preservation of academic disciplines are tangible casualties. Reorganizing cultural centers, dismantling DEI infrastructure and disappearing programs disrupt and dismantle the reputation that IU has tried to build for years: being a place where everyone belongs. Understanding this backlash helps us see it not as an accident, but as an intention. Recognizing it means we can better resist normalization of regression. On campus, that might mean advocating for the return of cultural centers to their original department, pushing back on program cuts or organizing to retain disciplines threatened by elimination.

History shows the tide can always turn back to a better tomorrow, from the Civil Rights movement to Obergefell v. Hodges, to the election of Barack Obama. Progress is not guaranteed; it requires vigilance. As IU students, faculty and members of our community, we stand at a crossroads. Fighting for our future is important, not just for policy or to “stick it to the man,” but for the campus, our different cultures and our collective potential.

fryjf@iu.edu

James Gunn reminds us to give the less conventional a chance

Joaquin Baerga (he/him) is a junior studying journalism.

Jame’s Gunn’s “Peacemaker” features a 90-second dance sequence as its intro in every episode. What other superhero projects can you think of that do anything like this?

Gunn’s creative vision and unique approach in building the DCU show how risk-taking can refresh a familiar genre and reinvigorate the public’s interest in it. By putting lesser-known characters at the forefront of stories and casting unconventional actors, he proves audiences can embrace unfamiliarity.

For example, he kickstarted the cinematic universe with “Creature Commandos,” a show featuring mostly unknown characters like Nina Mazursky and G.I. Robot. Now we have the DC show “Peacemaker” on its second season. It’s about a previously unpopular character who has become more mainstream after Gunn created the show. This proves you can succeed by betting on material people aren’t used to.

Writing and producing a show with a lesser-known anti-hero at the forefront is already a big risk, but Gunn didn’t stop there. The show also blends crude humor with deep emotional honesty and juxtaposes political satire with cartoonish gore.

Sure, Gunn’s decisions might alienate some fans, but they’re helping revive a franchise and genre that are notably affected by convention and repetitive tropes. Taking risks can breathe new life into creative work and inspire others to break new ground.

In art, boundaries are constantly pushed. For many artists, taking risks is closely tied to making their work stand out. It’s hard to leave a lasting impression if we don’t have some willingness to explore the unfamiliar.

This is not to say you can’t occasionally resort to conventions, because those can be useful to draw people in. The key is not relying on them to create your art.

When Jordan Peele made “Get Out” (2017), he tackled systemic racism through the lens of body horror. In doing so, he appropriated a

common horror trope, built upon it and confirmed the power of a unique, socially conscious perspective, inspiring movies like “Candyman” (2021) and shows like “Lovecraft Country” (projects Peele helped produce).

When Bob Dylan went electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, folk purists booed him, but his risk redefined pop music. In blending folk’s storytelling with rock’s energy, Dylan helped transform rock, a popular genre, into a vehicle for deep artistic expression. This inspired bands like The Beatles to write more experimental, introspective music that differed from their early, conventional love songs.

We can’t yet claim any other superhero adaptations are Gunn-inspired, but he’s certainly operating in that same realm as Dylan and Peele, who strive to keep art genres alive and meaningful through reinvention. By delving into the unconventional, he is proving that superhero movies don’t have to be mass-produced crowd pleasers; instead, they can be artistically daring and character -driven.

When making our own art, we may not have the reach to redefine genres or kickstart radical movements, but we can still push ourselves to think outside the box.

A key ideal we strive for in art is authenticity, and that’s hard to achieve without risk. Opening ourselves to failure

SASHA’S SHEETS

can be more fruitful than adhering to norms. So, feel free to bend the “rules” of writing a poem or use the “wrong” colors when painting a landscape. If these choices are made confidently, with intent, and they come from the heart, you can do no harm.

Art that avoids risk may be appealing, but it rarely

leaves a lasting impression.

Artists like Gunn remind us that embracing the unconventional is what keeps genres alive. If we want our own work to stand out, we must be willing to create art outside of our comfort zones.

jbaerga@iu.edu

I still want to be a teacher amid budget cuts, curriculum changes and uncertainty

Sasha Burton (she/her) is a sophomore studying elementary education with minors in English and Spanish.

When I stepped onto campus for my first year of school, I was sure of exactly one thing: that I was going to be a teacher. Studying education was my calling, the way I could do the most good in the world. I’m still sure of it now, beginning my second year, even when the news in education has been less than uplifting. Earlier this year, the Monroe County Community School Corporation terminated 61 custodial staff, health aide assistants and lunchroom cooks or supervisors to cut costs. The school corporation is facing a $17 million reduction in state funding over the next three years after Senate Enrolled Act 1, tax relief legislation, was passed. The district also decided not to replace many retired or resigned employees. It is an unfortunate truth that schools perform better

when they have more money to spend. Better materials and facilities, as well as the ability to pay staff who are skilled at their jobs, are just a few things that can improve the school experience for students. The fact that the state is willing to risk that, and that MCCSC is already making difficult decisions about where to save money, means that public schools will continue to be in danger. This is not the only area in which schools are struggling right now. The recent crackdown on diversity, equity, inclusion, or DEI, programs has affected K-12 education. In Indiana, Gov. Mike Braun promoted a directive to eliminate programs and language he calls “divisive” and “politically charged.” An executive order has already required K-12 schools to remove references to equity and inclusion from instructional materials, websites and educational standards, as well as phrases about offering support to diverse learners. Programs like Pa-

dres Estrellas, which was designed to help Latino families enroll in college scholarship programs for low-income students, have also come under fire. In fact, when I attempted to visit Indiana government website pages that referenced Padres Estrellas, I found that they had been taken down.

The only thing this is doing is hurting people who already face barriers in the educational system. DEI is not designed to give unfair advantages to anyone. It is designed to help the people who are hurt by the system. Acknowledging that the system often disadvantages people who belong to minority groups is not a bad thing; it is an acknowledgement of the truth. We should be broadening access to public education, not limiting it, as this has done. Every child deserves to have the same opportunities to learn.

At the national level, schools are also facing money trouble.

In July, the United States

Department of Education withheld nearly $7 billion from K-12 schools to conduct a review of funded programs and ensure they aligned with the White House’s message. The money was allotted for afterschool and summer programs, English language learning and migrant education programs, and educator training. The Department of Education later released the funds to school districts, 25 days after they were expected.

The delay left schools scrambling. Summer vacation is a time when money is needed to maintain programs, hire new staff and budget and plan effectively for the upcoming school year. This year, school districts were left with little time to prepare. Instead, they rushed to decide which programs they could afford to cut. They tried to figure out how they would support English language learners if the money didn’t come.

This sets a precedent. It sends a clear message that

programs we have long had in place, that people rely on for their children, will continue to face this kind of danger. I also don’t think it’s any coincidence that the withheld funds were largely meant to go to English language learner programs. By now, I’ve listed several reasons why I should run for the hills. That is exactly why I’m here.

Now more than ever, we need teachers. Teachers who, despite everything, show up every day and do their best for their classrooms. I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I understood that, in the eyes of a student, we can have a major impact. In my senior year of high school, I worked with first graders every other day for an hour. I saw the way that, every time I showed up, kids rushed to tell me about their weekends, wanted to sit near me, wanted to ask me for help. I thought, if I can be that much of a positive influence in such short

a time, then what can I do if I’m there all day, every day? It is the teachers who decide how they want to teach and how they treat their students. They have the most significant influence day to day. Students may not be aware that their school is facing budget cuts. However, they know that their teacher cares about keeping them safe and making sure they learn. If all the passionate people, who really want to make a difference in children’s lives, abandon the profession, who is left? Who will be there to make sure that every kid is getting what they deserve, at least at the classroom level? There is something teachers can do, however small, to make a difference in a child’s life, if we are willing to face this uncertainty that is sure to follow us. We will always need teachers. If I don’t do it, who will?

sashburt@iu.edu

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

President Donald Trump addresses supporters Oct. 26, 2024, at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania. Conservative leaders

including Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Indiana Gov. Mike Braun frame backlash against progressivism as a good thing.

MOVIE STILLS DATABASE

(Left) John Cena and Danielle Brooks are seen in a still from the second season of “Peacemaker.” James Gunn created the show.

Who’s IUB’s most performative man?

By Stella Klaus ssklaus@iu.edu

Matchas, feminist literature and Clairo vinyls filled the Fine Arts Plaza on Sept. 12 as around 30 students lined up to compete for a coveted Dubai chocolate Labubu.

Over the next hour and a half, competitors — many dressed in thrifted outfits with baggy jeans and graphic tee shirts — threw tampons and pads to the crowd and played songs by Clairo and other indie artists.

From speeches to playing songs, all the competitors had one goal: to be named IU Bloomington’s most performative man.

The archetype of the “performative man,” has taken social media, specifically TikTok, by storm. A performative male, according to social media users, often pretends to enjoy reading books by women, drinking matcha lattes, carrying tote bags, listening to indie artists and wearing baggy pants, among other traits.

These activities and interests can seem harmless on their own, but IU freshman Tia Tsataros, one of the competition’s organizers, said it’s more than that.

“To me, a performative male is a person who craves female validation so bad that they change every aspect of their personality to just fit that role of what women want them to be as a man,” Tsataros said.

Tsataros and co-organizer freshman Ashi Agarwal said “performative men” are such a common occurrence that it seems like everyone they know has had an experience with one, including them.

“I’ve definitely had relationships with performative men as friends and as relationships,” Agarwal said. "It’s weird because you feel like they are going to understand you and they’re there for you and you’re like ‘wow you have so many of the same interests as me’ but they never really do.”

But not everyone online views the trend in a comedic light. Many have pointed out the harm that could come from making fun of men who engage in reading feminist literature and participating in other activities viewed as “performative.” If men are discouraged from engaging in these things, it could lead to an uprise in toxic masculinity and unhealthy gender stereotypes being put on these men.

Tsataros and Agarwal decided to organize the contest after attending an informal performative male contest held Sept. 5 at Showalter Fountain. The two heard about the original competition on the social networking app Yik Yak, but only around a dozen people showed up to watch and just two performative men competed.

Before the contest began, “performative” men roamed around Showalter Fountain

showing off their vinyls and throwing tampons into the crowd — a common occurrence in other similar competitions happening across the country that pokes fun at performative men caring, or at least pretending to care, about women and their struggles.

The contest began when around 30 competitors lined up around the fountain. Each contestant got a turn to stand in front of the crowd and show off their outfit or talent.

Some people even came up and gave short speeches, with one competitor chanting, “no periods, no men, tampons free.” Some contestants received a roaring applause for their speeches, like when one person claimed to get a call from

Michelle Obama telling him to stop promoting her book because she’s making too much money.

Others showed off entertaining talents like playing the guitar or, in the case of one participant, doing a magic trick where he made the card an audience member drew disappear and then reappear inside of an orange. The audience even got to sing along with one participant playing “Bags” by Clairo on his guitar.

Competition dwindled as the audience picked their favorites to continue. During the second round, which contained six participants, contestants were asked to define women in one word. One said “complex,” another “multifaceted,” but freshman Nathan Udal kept his mouth

shut. A man should never define a woman, he said.

For the final round three contestants remained: freshmen Dexter Smith, Adrian Chavez and Udal. For the final round contestants had to give a one-minute speech campaigning for themselves before the judges’ final decision.

The judges — Agarwal, Tsataros and two of their friends — wanted to find the most authentic performative man. One who actually believed the things they were talking about and liked the things they claimed to like, instead of putting on an act. And, after some deliberation, that’s what they found.

Following the finalists’ speeches, the judges huddled up for around a minute discussing who they thought was the most performative male at IU. After a drum roll and lots of anticipation from the audience, Agarwal announced the winner.

“The most performative man, on the IU Bloomington campus is... Dexter (Smith),” Agarwal said to the large crowd of attendees.

Smith had come straight to the competition from a club meeting where his friends had convinced him to go compete. He came in with no plan and no costume, just the outfit he had on that day and the stuff he had with him.

To Smith, a performative man is about more than just looks. They should be someone who appreciates

women. He believes performative men should be men who don’t manipulate women, but instead truly care about them and aren’t embarrassed to be inspired by them.

“You know, I think it goes beyond being a performative man and this is really what a man should be like in general,” Smith said. “All men should behave the way that performative men try to behave.”

While the idea of performative men began as an internet joke, the trend has taken a positive turn for some people.

Udal, one of the other finalists, believes many performative men used the trend to try and take advantage of women, but now it seems to him that women are taking the trend back.

“What being a performative male to me is embracing the tradition of femininity that has gone completely up and over the moon over the last hundred years,” Udal said.

Being performative seems to be a good thing to some but bad to others. It all comes down to if they actually believe what they are preaching or not, Tsataros said.

“You can say you’re a performative man as a joke, you can dress the style, you can have the interests and all that,” Tsataros said. “But at the end of the day it really just depends on where your like ideals lie.”

EMERSON ELLEDGE | IDS

A contestant interacts with the crowd before the performative male contest starts Sept. 12, 2025, at Showalter Fountain. Thirty people competed to be the “most authentic” performative male.

BLISS HARRY BLISS

By Sophie Albert soalbert@iu.edu

COLUMN: Jumpstart guide to shooting film photography

In recent years, I have no-

ticed that there has been a wave of younger people getting into film photography, bringing the old-fashioned practice back into a modern era.

I personally fell in love with film photography because of how gratifying it is. When you wait for weeks to see the final image after you’ve taken it, it makes good results all the more satisfying. Film also adds a softness and realness to photos that you simply can’t get digitally.

This isn’t the easiest hobby, but it’s easy to fall in love with. Bloomington is a great place to get into film photography because it provides beautiful scenery to photograph, so you’re sure to find inspiration at every corner.

But, before you get started shooting on film, here are some important things to know and tips I have learned from personal experience.

Film can get expensive

The first thing you should know is that film photography can be an expensive hobby. Film cameras themselves can range anywhere from $30 to over $4,000. While you may be tempted to get a cheap film camera, it is much more difficult to get good results with them.

My first camera was a Kodak Ultra F9, which is in the cheaper range for a new film camera. While I got satisfactory results from my first film roll, my next three had many pictures either half or fully blacked out. Earlier this year, I decided to get a new, nicer camera and it made a huge difference. I got the Canon Rebel G from my local photography store, and while I bought it used, it’s worked great so far.

Used cameras are a great way to get good quality cameras at a cheaper price. However, it’s important to purchase them from a business that has knowledge and experience in cameras.

You’ll also need to buy film rolls. While these rolls typically cost $7 to $20, the cost can add up quickly. You then need to get your film developed after taking pictures which usually ranges from $10 to $20.

There aren’t currently any film developing studios in Bloomington. The closest one is Roberts Camera in Indianapolis, which has drop off and mail in options. However, it’s also easy to find oth-

er labs online where you can mail in your film. It is also possible to develop your own film, so it’s always feasible to give it a go yourself.

Choosing film There are many different types of film out there, so it’s crucial to get the right one for your camera that will achieve the look you want. The most common film format is 35 millimeter, and while it can be helpful to investigate other formats, 35 millimeter is a great starting point.

It’s also essential to choose the correct film speed. Film speed refers to the film’s ISO, which determines its sensitivity to light.

Constellation

By Ishwari Dawkhar idawkhar@iu.edu

The Tony Award and Pulitzer-winning rock musical “Next to Normal” is bringing Broadway to Bloomington at Constellation Stage & Screen’s Waldron Auditorium. The production is directed by Kate Galvin and brings to life Brian Yorkey’s book and lyrics along with Tom Kitt’s musical score.

The musical, running through Sept. 21, is an intense and empathetic story of grief, trauma and healing, taking the audience into a family’s journey through complex emotions.

Diana Goodman, played by Alex Keiper, is a mother suffering with bipolar disorder due to past trauma. Her husband Dan, played by Ben Michael, and daughter Natalie, played by Claire Summers, struggle to connect with Diana in her ongoing battle with the illness.

The musical officially opened at Broadway’s Booth Theatre on April 15, 2009.

Jordan Stephens, the audience services manager at Constellation, said this musical’s production with a live band fell into place seamlessly because of the team and the preparation they did over the summer.

Along with casting, which began in May, the actual design of the show happened over the summer. Stephens said the process of designing a set and all its accompanying elements takes anywhere from one to three months. After that, the turnaround from rehearsals to performances is quick.

“Once those things are

An easy way to interpret ISO numbers is to remember that a lower ISO should be used for subjects in bright lighting while a higher ISO is more suitable for darker environments.

If you plan on mostly shooting outside, it’s best to choose ISO 100-400. But if you are mostly going to be shooting indoors, try ISO 400-1600. Higher ISOs also have higher grain, so if you want a grainier look, try choosing a higher ISO. You must also choose if you want color or black-andwhite film. I have shot using both, and I love qualities in both of them, so I usually alternate. However, choosing either type of film means you

are committed to it for the entire film roll. You cannot mix and match on the same roll.

Be intentional when shooting When going through a roll of 35 millimeter film, you only have 36 pictures, so it’s important to use them wisely.

It’s helpful to test a picture using a digital camera first to better visualize how a photo will turn out on film. Sometimes the picture I’m visualizing in my head doesn’t work in real life, so playing with it on digital first can save yourself from getting a picture you’re not happy with.

It takes practice and patience

It can be daunting to start film photography since there are so many technical aspects to consider, but the best way to get started is to just go out and take pictures. These don’t have to be works of art, as long as you are taking pictures. Just like anything, shooting on film is a learning process in which there is a lot of trial and error, so it’s important to not get discouraged if you don’t immediately get the results you’re hoping for. Personally, it’s taken me two years to be happy with my results, but it has made the process all the more gratifying.

together and we have our cast, it’s usually about a two to three week rehearsal period,” Stephens said. “The actors are all in the same room together, they get the scripts and the book in advance to learn the music and their lines.”

The cast performs empathetically to strike a chord with audiences and brings out the emotions wrapped within the changing dynamics between characters as the story progresses. Summers, a junior at IU playing Natalie in the show, elaborated about the cast’s creative process, especially in a show that dives into such heavy topics.

“We all got together as

a cast and deep-dived into our characters and the emotions,” Summers said. “We did a lot of workshopping. We had a psychiatrist to come in and talked to us, which was cool because the show deals with so much. We got more of a deeper understanding of medicine and bipolar disorder on how that could affect someone.”

For Summers, the process of bringing her character to life relied heavily on understanding the character’s strained dynamic with her mother, Diana.

“I think the most challenging part would be at the end of the show when Natalie goes to her mom and they have that song ‘Maybe,’”

Summers said. “She must accept what’s not going to be perfect by and she needs her mother in her life. It’s just such a sweet moment.”

The musical also depicts how reaching out for help and having people around to count on during tough days is important while going through something emotionally grappling.

IU junior Jonah Broscow plays Henry, Natalie’s partner, in the musical. With a character like Henry — who tries to be a calming presence in Natalie’s life — Broscow felt like it was his own patience that helped him relate more to the character.

“I think his (Henry’s) patience and passion to pur-

sue what he’s into is what resonates the most with me,” Broscow said. “I think he sees a lot of Dan in himself, too. As Dan sticks with Diana for a long time, and he just wants to continue to stick with Natalie in the same and knows that he can help her get through this.”

The stage production and lighting form important elements of storytelling throughout the show and are designed to convey character subplots. In a show that bounces between different storylines and time jumps, the lighting helps highlight the themes and intensity of the scenes to the audience.

Anna Shea Safran, a junior at IU and an audience

Bloomington is a great place to get practice since it’s easy to walk outside and find great photo opportunities. On IU’s campus, my favorite place to photograph is the area around the Sample Gates. I love the red brick road that breaks off into different passages, the old, beautiful buildings and the statues. Downtown Bloomington also provides great scenery for photos with its vintage homey feel. I encourage you to go out, explore different parts of Bloomington and get inspired to shoot some pictures. Remember, the more pictures you take, the better you will get.

member during the production’s Sept. 14 show, felt the lighting helped influence her interpretation of the songs and characters.

“I love the lighting in this show,” Safran said. “I thought it added so much to the story and indicated where we are, what’s real and what’s not. The ‘I’m Alive’ song for instance, had the lights going crazy, you can feel that’s what’s going on in Diana’s mind. I think it added an element to this story.”

The story brings out each character’s personal journey of navigating grief, loss and feeling lost from within, leaving the audiences thinking of the show from each character’s perspective instead of just one. IU junior Tessa Wittenbaum said she resonated most with Dan.

“You could tell that he had been going through it the entire time,” Wittenbaum said. “But they never really focused on the grief until he processes his son’s loss. I thought it was beautiful.” At the heart of “Next to Normal” is a powerful message: mental health matters and it is never too much to seek support from loved ones and professional help. The production emphasizes the idea of families fixating on being “normal” whereas most homes need to be “next to normal” to get through life.

“Next to Normal” is scheduled to run at the Waldron Auditorium until Sept. 21. Show tickets and timings can be found on Constellation Stage & Screen’s website.

SOPHIE ALBERT | IDS A clock tower is shown June 18, 2025, down a small street in Stockholm, Sweden. Columnist Sophie Albert shot the image using a Kodak Ultra F9 with 35 millimeter black-and-white film, giving the image more of an aged look.

SOPHIE ALBERT | IDS The Frances Morgan Swain Student Building is pictured Feb. 21, 2025, on Indiana University’s campus. Bloomington’s historic buildings have been a great place for columnist Sophie Albert to practice her film photography.

SOPHIE ALBERT | IDS

partially blacked out image depicts wind turbines

SOPHIE ALBERT | IDS

seagull stands

the edge of a dock June 26, 2023, in Portree, Scotland. Columnist Sophie Albert used a Kodak Ultra F9 and 35 millimeter color film to take the photograph.

COURTESY

Mendoza, Cooper Jr. lead Indiana to victory

By Conor Banks conbanks@iu.edu | @conorbanks06

Waves of Cream and Crimson attended now-No. 19 Indiana football’s final non-conference regular season game against Indiana State University on Sept. 12 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.

While a plethora of Hoosier fans in attendance applauded throughout Indiana’s commanding 73-0 victory, members of the crowd sporting blue in support of the in-state Sycamores were quickly let down.

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti emphasized a higher sense of urgency and mental intensity to his team, sparking a dominant offensive output for the Hoosiers.

“Okay, so the message today to the coaches and the team: Mental intensity and urgency equals energy,” Cignetti said postgame. “And we wanted to play one play at a time like it was a game on the line, regardless of the competitive circumstances. But urgency and mental intensity, and that it would come from the coaches. If it came from the coaches at all times, the players would feed off of it.”

Carrying Cignetti’s message, Indiana struck early with an efficient and urgent offensive tempo and never took its foot off the proverbial gas pedal. With Indiana State deferring the coin toss, the Hoosiers earned the first possession of the game and took full advantage.

Redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza orchestrated a seven-play, 66-yard drive that was capped off by a seven-yard rushing touchdown by the Hoosier signal caller — the second rushing touchdown of his Indiana career.

The Hoosiers’ opening touchdown drive took three and a half minutes, as consistent chunk-gains led to an efficient possession — a trend that continued throughout the game.

Indiana averaged 10.1 yards per play Sept. 12 — its highest mark of the season

and a step up from a 7.02 yards per play average through its first two games of the season.

After rushing in the first touchdown of the game, Mendoza continued to propel the Hoosiers to a quick 21-0 lead after the first quarter. The University of California, Berkeley transfer found redshirt junior wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. for two 13-yard touchdown completions in the opening frame.

Indiana continued its efficient offense into the second quarter, scoring two touchdowns in possessions

that lasted under 40 seconds.

Despite not playing in the second half, Mendoza completed a season-high 95% of his pass attempts — the most by a Hoosier in a single game ever. The redshirt junior recorded 270 yards through the air, with six total touchdowns on the night — placing him in a fiveway tie for most touchdowns in a single Indiana football game. Meanwhile, Cooper Jr. posted the best game of his Indiana career and played a pivotal role in the explosive and efficient Indiana offense. His 207 receiving yards

and 10 receptions marked career-highs, while his four receiving touchdowns set a career-high and tied former Indiana wide receiver James Hardy for most receiving touchdowns in a single game in program history. While Mendoza delivered the ball accurately to Cooper Jr., the wide receiver gained most of his production after-the-catch. Cooper Jr. displayed bursts and quickness, taking an in-route completion from redshirt freshman quarterback Alberto Mendoza 58 yards to the endzone in the third quarter. The redshirt junior

finished the game with 136 yards after-the-catch.

“Omar Cooper. 10-for207, four touchdowns,” Cignetti said. “That’s a pretty good day’s work. I think they had a hard time out with him on the perimeter obviously, and we got him the ball. There was some space, and he took advantage of it.”

Going into their game against the Sycamores, Indiana held a 36-minute average time of possession across its first two games, which ranked third highest in the nation. Despite a seasonhigh 73 points against the Sycamores, the Hoosiers owned possession for only 33:36, demonstrating the explosiveness and efficiency of the Indiana offense Sept. 12. With this refined efficiency, the Hoosiers’ offense has improved upon its scoring output each week of the season so far. After struggling with red zone execution in their season opener against Old Dominion University on Aug. 30, the Cream and Crimson have generated points on all 16 red zone trips since. The Hoosiers will look to build upon this offensive trend as they begin Big Ten competition against No. 9 Illinois. After dominating its non-conference schedule, outscoring opponents 15623 through the first three weeks, Indiana will have an extra day of rest before preparing for the ranked matchup. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at Memorial Stadium and will be televised on NBC.

Indiana extra day of preparation ‘a help’ ahead of matchup

By Dalton James jamesdm@iu.edu | @daltonmjames

Indiana football had no trouble improving to 3-0.

But with its biggest test so far this season in No. 9 Illinois coming to Bloomington on Sept. 20, the No. 19 Hoosiers have a slight advantage.

An extra day.

“It’s nice, real nice, just being able to spend time with family and rest this weekend,” redshirt junior wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., who scored four touchdowns in the victory over Indiana State University on Sept. 12, said postgame. “It’s going to be big for a game like we got this week.” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti explained after the Hoosiers’ victory that the coaching staff would be off Sept. 13 while the players would have “trainer checkin.” The Cream and Crimson defeated the Sycamores on Sept. 12, while the Fighting Illini also moved to 3-0 with a 38-0 win over Western Michigan University on Sept. 13. Although redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza went 19 for 20 for 270 yards passing and five touchdowns through the air,

he said there’s aspects of his play that he feels he needs to “clean up” before the primetime showdown.

“I need to have better footwork, I need to be a little bit more smarter and more effective with my red zone decision making,” Mendoza said. “There are some other stuff that I won’t get too deep in that I got to get better at.”

The University of California, Berkely, transfer said he came to Indiana to play in the Big Ten and to play against “great” opponents like Illinois.

And with eight days instead of seven between games, it gives Mendoza and Indiana an extra day of opportunity for preparation, he said.

“Instead of starting your Illinois preparation on Sunday, you can start now on Saturday,” Mendoza said, “which gives us another little go around instead of maybe trying to squeeze some things in at the end of the week to really get those good reps in practice when it’s like that red zone, third down that a lot of teams usually have those preparation later in the week.”

In 2024, the Hoosiers had just one Friday game in the

regular season — a 77-3 victory over Western Illinois University. They followed that drubbing with a dominant 42-13 win over UCLA in the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California.

And although Indiana has two Friday contests this season, the other is in the final week of the regular season against in-state rival Purdue. The Hoosiers will enter that contest coming

MEN’S SOCCER

off a bye week. But that’s in late November. It’ll be the Hoosiers’ final test of the regular season. Their first comes against the Fighting Illini.

“I feel like that game is going to show us what we capable of this year,” Cooper said. “I feel like that’s going to be our first real big test. So, being able to go out there is going to be fun and it’s going to be a great atmosphere, so I’m excited.”

Cooper wasn’t the only Hoosier who was excited to play Illinois after just defeating Indiana State.

Redshirt junior defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker was asked about the soldout crowd that’ll be in attendance for the matchup. He said he was “looking forward to it” and couldn’t wait to see The Rock being packed like it was for the Hoosiers’ final four games of last season.

Senior defensive lineman Kellan Wyatt, Tucker’s counterpart, said the game “should be fun.”

He agreed the extra day will be helpful.

“It’s good,” Wyatt said. “When we’re playing an opponent like that, you try to steal as much as you can. I feel like an extra day, it’s a

help. It will help us in many ways, really.” For the Hoosiers to earn a victory, they’ll surely need all three units to turn in high-quality performances in their first conference contest of the season. Not only does the extra day of preparation give them an advantage in doing so, but they also have an opportunity to heal injured players.

Freshman safety Byron Baldwin Jr. still hasn’t made his Indiana debut, as he’s missed all three games so far. Cignetti said nearly two weeks ago that Baldwin was dealing with a “more dayto-day” injury.

After senior punter Mitch McCarthy boomed his first punt as a Hoosier against Old Dominion University on Aug. 30, he limped to the sideline with an injury. He hasn’t played since, as he’s “dealing with a little issue,” Cignetti said Sept. 8.

“So, I think it’s great for our guys to get a little healthier,“ Mendoza said, “and it’s just great for another day of preparation, especially for a quarterback, which is a very cerebral position, to get some game tape and get a good feel of them tomorrow (Sept. 13).”

Indiana stages comeback, falters in 3-2 loss to Michigan

By Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer

@mateo_frohwer

matfuent@iu.edu |

The Hoosier faithful fell to a hush.

Referee Cesar Ibarra walked to the field after having just consulted the monitor. He put the whistle to his mouth, produced the VAR signal and pointed directly to the spot.

Penalty for then-No. 1 Indiana men’s soccer — and a chance to complete a miraculous comeback.

Minutes before, the fans were heading in droves to the exits, disappointed by the result on a rainy Sept. 13 in Bloomington. Michigan had just earned a 3-1 lead, firmly in control of the match and prepared to knock off the top team in the country on their own turf.

But following a Collins Oduro goal in the 84th minute, the junior forward’s

third in three games, the energy inside Bill Armstrong Stadium returned. And after the referee confirmed the foul for Indiana, the Hoosier faithful couldn’t contain their excitement.

Up stepped Palmer Ault with 39 seconds to go. The senior forward already had two successful penalties this season alone.

First came his shuffle to the side. Then, his run-up to the ball.

His foot struck the ball cleanly — and the ball struck just as clean off the post. No goal.

Ault sat on the ground and slowly returned to his feet. Oduro and freshman forward Colton Swan attempted to console him as a shocked silence fell over the stadium.

Half a minute later, the final whistle blew — a 3-2 defeat for the Hoosiers, the

first of their young season.

“I’ve been around a long time to know that the Big Ten’s not won or lost game one,” Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley said postgame. “I wasn’t disappointed in them, I was disappointed in the result, not them. They fought hard.”

Indiana’s first half featured a goal from junior defender Alex Barger, but just before halftime, Michigan junior midfielder Joao Paulo Ramos leveled the game from the penalty spot. A finish in the 71st minute from freshman midfielder Kyle Pierson gave the Wolverines the lead, and sophomore forward Grayson Elmquist headed home the insurance goal in the 81st minute.

With a defeat seemingly imminent, the Hoosiers pushed forward hard. Chance after chance came their way. Whether it was

a deflected shot from sophomore forward Michael Nesci, a header off the post from Swan or a misplayed pass from Ault to Oduro in the box, the ball wouldn’t go into the back of the net.

Until Oduro’s strike with just over six minutes to go, returning a fervor to the otherwise numb crowd.

Fans heading for the exits stood and watched from the edge of the fence behind Michigan’s goal, waiting for a moment of magic to complete the comeback.

The moment came, yet it left just as quickly. Even still, the positives of a comeback opportunity arriving from almost nothing are a positive note the Hoosiers hope to take with them.

“We’re playing with a confident mindset that we can make a play, it’s not over,” Yeagley said. “That gives the whole team, and

obviously our staff, a lot of confidence that no matter what the situation (is) — you know, we hope we aren’t in those, but we can find ways to come out.”

Ault’s early-season performances featured four goals, including two converted penalties, and two assists in the first six matches.

But recently, his goalscoring has dried up, with no goals since Aug. 31 against Oregon State University.

Sept. 13 marked the perfect opportunity to return to the scoring column, but to no avail, a seemingly perfect opportunity for both Ault and his squad fell short. With support from Oduro and Swan after the pen, and even more comfort from numerous Hoosiers after handshakes with the Wolverines postgame, Yeagley made it clear Indiana has Ault’s back.

“We just said, ‘Hey, you’re still our guy, keep your head up,’” Yeagley said. “He’s obviously really disappointed because he felt he let the team down. He’s been great for us, so he’s done nothing of the sort.” Yeagley and his squad knew that an undefeated season and No. 1 ranking comes with a target on their back. They expected Michigan’s best, and that was exactly what they got. But the resolve of his side leaves Yeagley with no big picture concerns. The conference slate isn’t ending anytime soon, and the Hoosiers are still well within reach of a third-straight Big Ten regular season title. Indiana’s quest for glory is anything but over.

“It’s a long season,” Yeagley said. “Just reshape the focus, and once we do that, then we’ll be fine.”

LAUREN MCKINNEY | IDS

Redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza eyes the end zone against Indiana State University on Sept. 12, 2025, at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. Mendoza completed 95% of his passes against the Sycamores.