Indiana Daily Student eEdition - Thursday, May 22, 2025
IDS
INSIDE
Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith speaks at Ellettsville town hall
By Marissa Meador marnmead@iu.edu
When IU announced plans to merge the IU School of Journalism into what would eventually become The Media School, then-president Michael McRobbie compared the journalism school to horses in an age of automobiles.
“There’s no point in saving a school that trains people to manage fleets of horses if the motor car has taken over horse-drawn transportation,” he told the Herald-Times in 2012.
McRobbie is no longer president, but his philosophy continues to echo in the school’s messaging and curriculum.
For years I thought about writing this column. It stunned me that a school with such excellent faculty and student media opportunities could be teaching and promoting concepts that I saw as antithetical to the profession. I wasn’t alone in noticing this trend
— faculty, staff and other students have each voiced similar concerns.
I am grateful for The Media School in a lot of ways — the fact it gave me the ability to learn from and teach my peers at the IDS, the generous scholarships from donors that allowed me to graduate debt-free and the faculty and staff that taught me how to get to the heart of a story.
But the leadership of the school has its eyes on a different vision entirely, one that I fear could harm IU’s decades-long legacy as a top school for journalism.
When the merger occurred, it was promised that journalism would get its own department. That promise was never kept; instead, the school became a unit of The Media School and no longer enjoys the budgetary or curricular control it had previously.
Perhaps that’s why I’ve
How much will IU’s new chancellor make?
By Natalia Nelson
IU’s incoming chancellor, David Reingold, will make $655,000 a year, according to an offer letter obtained by the IDS. He will also receive retirement benefits and an extra $1,000 a month in executive allowance as a member of IU President Pamela Whitten’s executive management team. His salary is $5,000 more annually than Whitten’s initial offer when she began her presidency in 2021. The offer includes his administrative salary and academic salary as a tenured faculty member in the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, though his teaching position is contingent on a decision IU’s Board of Trustees will make in their June meeting.
Reingold previously worked at IU from 1997 to 2015 as a professor of public policy and executive associate dean of O’Neill. In the 2014-15 fiscal year, his salary was listed as $191,612.
Since leaving IU, he has worked as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and professor of sociology at Purdue University. He attended a chancellor candidate town hall at IU in February and was announced as the new chancellor in March. He will assume the role June 2.
He will be IU’s first chancellor since the position was eliminated in 2006 after IU struggled to fill the position. Whitten announced the reinstatement of the
COURTESY OF PURDUE UNIVERSITY
David Reingold will return to the Indiana University Bloomington campus in June as executive vice president and chancellor.
chancellor position in June 2024 in an email to the Bloomington campus. She cited “challenges of higher education paired with the size and complexity of the Bloomington campus” as motivations for the decision. The university created a search committee of IU students, faculty, staff and members of the Bloomington Faculty Council to determine candidates alongside search firm Isaacson, Miller.
Every other IU campus currently has a chancellor, and most have had the position filled consistently over the past few decades. According to a press release announcing Reingold’s hiring, he will oversee the Office of the Provost as well as the university’s finances, community engagement, student life, campus research, enrollment management and creative activities.
COLUMN: Reflecting on my paradoxical journalism education
found many of my classes here so disappointing. The program’s core curriculum focuses on giving students video and audio skills as well as writing, but the result — at least from what I’ve experienced — is never creating anything substantive or building any longlasting skills.
For example, I’ve only been required to write one story on my own in the fourcourse sequence that made up the core of my journalism degree requirements (I’ve written over 200 for the IDS in comparison). All other major assignments were either done in a group or allowed students to choose a medium — either a photo, graphic, video, podcast or written story.
While it’s good to be well-rounded across storytelling platforms, repetition and practice is critical for every type of media career. If it wasn’t for student media, internships or the advanced reporting electives I took, I would be hopelessly
unprepared.
In response to a request for comment, Media School Dean David Tolchinsky wrote in an email that the school hired two journalism faculty this year; one is not yet listed in IU’s system and another who specializes in sports broadcasting. He also wrote that the school had recently added a data journalism course (which I actually took this semester — it’s now one of my favorite classes I’ve taken at IU).
“Journalism is sewn into the fiber of who we are as a school,” he wrote. “Keeping pace with journalism education and creating a worthwhile learning environment for students is central to what we do as a school, and I think our track record in this area indicates that journalism is emphasized just as strongly as any other aspect of the school.”
I think the disconnect may come from what the word “journalism” really means. To me, this profession is about knowing how
to find information, ask the right questions and discover untold stories. We can tell those stories in a variety of ways, but it must be told clearly and concisely. Choosing which stories to tell depends on whether it serves the public interest and helps keep the powerful in check. Sometimes that can mean a feature story about a dog learning to heal from abuse. Other times, it can be a piece investigating how government decisions impact vulnerable communities.
What The Media School’s core curriculum struggles to do is teach us how to go through this process, with too heavy a focus on the technical skills involved in creating content. This may help graduates feel prepared to produce media, but it is not sufficient when it comes to producing quality journalism.
There’s no question
journalism must become more digital than it has in the past. I’m not advocating that IU teach us as if we will all be seeing our work in print, and I don’t disagree that journalists should be more aware of how to use video and audio to tell stories. The school is in the process of revising its journalism curriculum. I hope these changes allow students to experience a more focused education, where all students can learn the fundamentals of interviewing, generating story ideas and filing public records in their core courses. I hope they’ll incorporate more opportunities to produce depth audio and video courses to bolster quality multimedia journalism education. And ultimately, I hope their process involves discussion with the countless students who no longer feel like their classes will adequately teach them how to be good journalists.
COLUMN: Keep cool and caught up this summer with these shows and movies
By Ursula Stickelmaier ustickel@iu.edu
Summer break means more time to do what you want: more time to hang out with friends, more time to go on fun adventures and most importantly, more time to watch all the shows and movies you've been waiting to see. While your watchlist may be full of shows and movies that have already come out, you shouldn’t ignore everything set to release in the coming months. So, here’s some of the must see shows and movies that you’ll be able to watch when they are released on streaming platforms this summer.
“Fear Street: Prom Queen” (Netflix)
In July 2021, Netflix released their hit horror trilogy, “Fear Street.” Based on the books of the same name by R.L. Stine, the film series told the story of the dark forces in play in the town of Shadyside. Set to release May 23, “Fear Street: Prom Queen” functions as a standalone sequel to this trilogy. While it won’t feature the same cast of characters, the upcoming movie, set in 1988 between the events of the first and second movies, will follow the same theme of a serial killer attacking the residents of Shadyside. The movie is centered on a group of “it girls” fighting to be prom queen when they start vanishing without a trace.
If you’re looking for a good scare this summer, “Fear Street: Prom Queen” should be an instant hit.
“Ginny & Georgia” Season
Three (Netflix)
Murder, blackmail and money laundering are all part of the American dream in “Ginny & Georgia,” Net-
flix’s romantic drama. The show has been a consistent hit since its series premiere in February 2021, and it’s back for its third season set to release June 5. The show itself follows Georgia (Brianne Howey), a mom with a dark past, and Ginny (Antonia Gentry), her angsty teenage daughter after they put down roots in the fictional town of Wellsbury, Massachusetts. Season Two ended with a cliffhanger when Georgia is arrested for murder during the first dance of her wedding with Paul (Scott Porter), the mayor of Wellsbury. In this latest season, viewers will explore what happens after Georgia is arrested, leaving Ginny and her younger brother Austin (Diesel La Torraca) to handle the fallout of her actions. While this show is almost always too dramatic and there are enough uncomfortable moments to last you a lifetime, what this show never has been is boring. So, if you’re looking for something fun and interesting this summer, keep your eye on Netflix for the third season of this series.
“The Buccaneers” Season Two (Apple TV) “Bridgerton” may not be making a return this summer, but if you’re looking for a fun, historical romance, look no further than “The Buccaneers” on Apple TV. Set in London during the Gilded Age, “The Buccaneers” follows five American girls who travel across the ocean together in search of wealthy English husbands. After receiving tons of praise for the first season of the show, Apple TV will release season two beginning June 18, with one episode coming out each Wednesday until the series concludes in
August. While not a lot has been released on the exact premise of season two, the show is expected to pick up right where Season One left off.
“Iron Heart” Season One (Disney+) Marvel’s newest show “Ironheart” will focus on Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), a genius inventor first seen in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” who adopts the super-alias Ironheart. “Ironheart” will follow Riri as she gets mixed up with a mysterious man named Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos), also known as The Hood, and is introduced to a new world where technology meets magic. While I personally feel like Marvel shows and movies have been missing something in recent years, I am hopeful that “Ironheart” will bring in a new group of characters that can help revive the genre. Scheduled to drop on Disney+ June 24, “Ironheart” is worth checking out for any superhero fan.
“F1” (Apple TV) If you’ve been an F1 fan for the past few seasons you’ve probably heard about “F1,” a movie starring Brad Pitt that has been filming select scenes of the movie during actual race weekends. With F1 growing in popularity, Apple TV is shifting into high gear with their own spin on the world of racing. Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, an F1 driver who had a promising career in the 90s until an accident took him out of the game. Thirty years later he is brought out of retirement to redeem himself by racing for Apex Grand Prix, a struggling F1 team. Having been off the track for so long, Sonny quickly realizes that becoming the driver he once was will be more of a challenge than he expected. The North American theatrical release is set for June 27, but Apple TV users can currently get a sneak peek at the film with the two trailers and teaser available via Apple TV. Whether you’re a fan of F1 looking to see their favorite drivers make a cameo in the film, or you just want to see some cool cars go really fast, “F1” is the movie for you.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” Season Three (Amazon Prime) Since its first season in June 2022, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” has been a staple in the summer romance genre. Based on the book series of the same name by Jenny Han, Amazon’s adaptation starring Lola Tung as Belly Conklin has been a consistent hit for the platform. Now for their third —and allegedly final — season, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” will be taking over social media, and our screens, as fans wait to see who Belly ends up with on July 16. The series itself has always been about the competing affections the Fisher brothers, Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) and Conrad (Christopher Briney), have for Belly. While those who have read the books know how this story ends, Amazon has been known to change plot points in the story to create a more compelling narrative. The finale could still be anyone’s guess. This last season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” is probably one of my most anticipated watches of the summer, and I am sure I’m not alone when I say I can’t wait for Season Three to arrive.
MIA HILKOWITZ | IDS
A statue of Ernie Pyle is pictured in front of Franklin Hall in Bloomington. The Media School should listen to students when revising their journalism curriculum.
Reingold was first introduced as a chancellor candidate during a Feb. 27 town hall.
Indiana Lt. Gov. Beckwith speaks at town hall
By Nicole Blevins and Jonathan Frey neblevin@iu.edu | jonafrey@iu.edu
Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith fielded questions at a contentious Ellettsville town hall meeting Monday evening following a series of controversial remarks defending the Three-Fifths Compromise.
A crowd of at least 60 protesters gathered outside town hall around 90 minutes before the meeting in direct opposition to his justification of the compromise.
Beckwith faced widespread criticism after defending the 18th century law determining enslaved people counted as three-fifths of a person for census and tax purposes.
Beckwith argued that the compromise was “designed to make sure that justice was equal for all people” in a video posted on X.
“This was a great move by the north to make sure that slavery would be eradicated in our nation. They knew what they were doing,” he said in the video.
Among the protesters’ ranks was Indiana State Senator Shelli Yoder (D), who denounced Beckwith’s comments.
“I needed to be here to support those who wanted to continue to ask for an acknowledgment of wrong and an apology,” Yoder said.
Several other speakers addressed the crowd, including Rev. Ned Steele of Ellettsville First United Methodist Church and
Monroe County NAACP
President Jim Sims. Beckwith wasn’t challenged directly about his remarks on the compromise, but did face many questions about his beliefs on racism in America.
One audience member asked Beckwith whether he thought Black people were mistreated at a greater rate than white people in America.
“No,” he said. “The left likes to push that systemic racism still exists. Show me a system where a Black person can’t do what a white
person can do.”
Prolific research has been conducted on systemic racism, and while difficult to singularly define, significant disparities in wealth, education and other quality-of-life indicators suggest a disadvantage in nonwhite communities.
The crowd grew increasingly restless, often jeering and interrupting Beckwith during his answers.
Beckwith added several other provocative remarks, including his beliefs that identifying as transgender is a “mental illness” and that
the constitution does not discourage the association of religion and the state.
At least half of the audience left the venue before the meeting officially concluded, with many shaking their heads and muttering as they walked out the door. Some also thanked him for representing the state in town hall meetings.
Ellettsville police blocked two IDS reporters from entering the town hall meeting roughly 20 minutes after it began, citing maximum capacity. The two police officers present said no
one else would be allowed inside. However, an IDS reporter already inside the meeting confirmed there were several empty seats, causing some uncertainty as to how maximum capacity was measured.
In an interview with the IDS the following morning, EPD Administrative Deputy Chief Tony Bowlen said Beckwith’s team requested the maximum event capacity be set at 100, considerably lower than the venue’s capacity. He added that those who left early may not have removed their cars, leading to parking overflowing into a grass field by the town hall. Beckwith’s town hall was initially planned for April 28 in Bloomington, but it was delayed to May 19 and moved to Ellettsville apparently due to a scheduling conflict. As the audience continued to dwindle, Beckwith offered closing remarks to the remaining crowd. “Thank you, guys, for coming out,” he said. “We may not agree, but I’m going to keep on coming, and we’ll keep dialoguing, and we’ll go from there.”
The IU Foundation stored sensitive docs, donor info
By Andrew Miller ami3@iu.edu | @andrew_mmiller
The Indiana University Foundation stored sensitive documents on a public SharePoint group that anyone with an IU email address could have accessed.
The server had files including information on donors, internal financial documents and private correspondences. Experts described the security lapse as “huge,” and said it could put donors at risk for fraud. The SharePoint group was made private after the Indiana Daily Student notified the foundation of the server’s inadequate access controls.
The foundation is an independent, tax-exempt nonprofit that solicits donations and manages investments for philanthropic means — largely supporting students, faculty and programs at IU.
An IU Knowledge Base article published last year described SharePoint as intended for “internal sites,” and “an excellent tool for creating intradepartmental websites that require users to authenticate to gain access.”
“The files primarily contain data in our audited IUF financial statements, which are made available on our public website,” a foundation spokesperson said when reached for comment.
“Protecting the privacy and security of our donor and financial information remains a top priority.”
Though audited IUF financial statements were a part of the public folder, the data available appeared to go far beyond the foundation’s public disclosures. The IUF spokesperson
didn’t say whether anyone was aware it was public. The spokesperson also didn’t indicate what actions the foundation would take to bolster its security following the lapse.
The group was published in February 2022, and the foundation spokesperson didn’t answer how long the SharePoint group had been public.
A major security lapse
The files were stored in a SharePoint group labeled “O365-Finance & Accounting,” which was marked as public. It had 18 members, including two owners — an IUF accounting coordinator and an “IUF employee.”
Others included:
• IU East’s director of cash management and payroll
• Multiple IUF accounting and analyst staff
Multiple simply labeled as an “IUF employee”
The extent of the connection between the foundation and the university, two distinct organizations, is unclear. IU general counsel, in response to one public records request this year, said, “Indiana University and Indiana University Foundation are separate entities, and Indiana University does not have access to or maintain records of the IU Foundation.”
What was inside included private memos, correspondence and internal staffing and financial information. It also included a spreadsheet outlining the foundation’s travel reim-
bursements for IU President Pamela Whitten. Various other reimbursements, expenditures and banking information could also be found on the server.
Australian web security consultant Troy Hunt said that insufficient access controls, likely accidental in this case, aren’t anything unusual for larger organizations. Most go unreported and are detected and fixed internally. Still, he said, the information on donors stored in the public SharePoint group posed a privacy risk, putting donors at risk for fraud.
Jeremiah Fowler, a cybersecurity expert based in Europe, said unintended viewers could potentially use donors’ information for scams or targeted attacks.
“If they’re donating to an
endowment or something like that, these are probably high-wealth individuals, so they would be perfect highvalue targets,” he said.
The documents appeared to include donors’ names, contribution amounts and the intended use of some donations. One document appeared to include a donor’s personal contact information.
Phishing refers to a process where attackers send emails or messages to trick people into clicking harmful links or giving away personal information. It’s one example of social engineering, a broader method of tricking people via manipulation, often by using personal details to gain trust.
The information freely available on the SharePoint group could have easily been used to this end, Fowler said. He said the @iu.edu email domain could be easily spoofed by a malicious actor outside the university. It’s unclear how many users could have accessed the folder. In an announcement of last year’s initiative to unify everything under the @iu.edu domain, the university said it had more than 250,000 valid email addresses. Those already on the inside, Fowler said, could be more dangerous.
“You get a disgruntled employee, angry former student, something like that, you run the real risk of that person dumping that information,” he said. The foundation didn’t respond to questions regarding whether it had conducted a review of who accessed the group while it was public.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Indiana Daily Student found the public group after clicking on one of the group member’s Outlook profiles. The profile linked to files associated with that individual, that, once opened, gave access to the public group’s contents.
If malicious actors obtained the knowledge and financial information found in the documents, Fowler said, they could send false invoices to donors pretending to be the foundation. Malicious accessors of the SharePoint could have also gleaned information on the foundation’s internal workings from the contents of the documents, allowing for more complex phishing or social engineering schemes.
Monroe County Election Board rejects vote centers
tradicts
ANDREW MILLER | IDS
The Sample Gates are pictured during a thunderstorm March 30, 2025. The Indiana University Foundation stored sensitive documents, including
information, on a public SharePoint group that is now closed off.
NICOLE
A love letter to IU
still discovering new spots.
Halie Jasinover (she/her)
is a senior studying journalism with a concentration in public relations.
Dear Indiana University,
Ever since I was little, I craved college. I was obsessed with indie music, specifically Vampire Weekend. In their 2008 song “One (Blake’s Got a New Face),” they sing “Oh, your collegiate grief has left you dowdy in sweatshirts. Absolute horror.” I had no idea what it meant, but I felt this temptation to go away for school. And yes, the second I started class here, their song “Campus” accompanied me on most walks.
I remember the first time I stepped on your campus. It was February 2021, it was freezing, and there was not a single student walking
outside. At the time, tours weren’t being offered, so my Mom and I tried to understand where everything was by ourselves. It was so overwhelming; I knew that Indiana’s campus was huge. I did all of the virtual tours and knew the enormity of the student body. So, it was daunting to think about finding my place in Bloomington.
Your campus is one that in the bleakest of weather, still puts a smile on my face.
One with vibrant greenery that even with the worst of allergies, I still feel the pull of the outdoors. I always tell people who ask me about this campus that you can make a big school feel small. I’m so lucky that I have found a million different communities, and even now in my last week here, I am
I am a completely different person from the one who arrived in Bloomington in August 2021. After a two-day car ride with my family from New Jersey, I stepped onto campus. I was extremely blonde, consistently wearing crop tops and carried a semi-heavy Jersey accent. I was absolutely terrified of Indiana. Everyone was way too nice, smiling as they passed one another. The overwhelming sense of Midwestern kindness was almost unsettling.
Yet, you have changed me and become home in the truest sense.
Like many people who come to college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. My senior year of high school was my exploration year. I took all of my classes on-
line, not stepping into my school building until I had to when I attended rehearsal for a production of Mamma Mia. Every day of my life was filled with music. I was in choir, a competitive a cappella group and did every musical I could. And while I loved all those things so much, I knew that I wouldn’t pursue it professionally.
After a brief stint directing my first film for a mass media class, I thought I was about to become the next Sofia Coppola. I had applied here as a media major and quickly changed to film. I told my parents, and they were a little lost.
I had absolutely no connection to the industry. They were not going to fund any future projects, and they had the very real fear that I would never be employed.
Then came my first media school course, the freshman staple MSCH-C 101, It opened my eyes to the many paths I could take in the media world. That’s when I discovered public relations. Before this class, I only knew about PR (in true me fashion) was Samantha Jones from Sex and the City who worked in it.
That discovery changed my life. Three years later, I have had two successful internships, I write about arts for the Indiana Daily Student (perhaps the most helpful IU related opportunity yet) and I have my dream job.
When I graduate, I am headed to New York City and will be working for Creative Artists Agency in their agent trainee program. I look at myself from fresh-
man year and do not recognize that person. Since meeting you, I’ve studied abroad, made best friends (many with that great Midwestern kindness) and have come into my own in a way I had never imagined. My dreams for the future: to finally move to New York, to become a big time Hollywood agent and attend The Oscars, to find love and happiness with myself and others and to keep everyone that I have met here close to me no matter the distance. Without you, I would still be nervous to venture outside my New Jersey bubble. Today, I crave that freedom. All the love, Halie Jasinover hjasino@iu.edu
Michael Jonelis
has a BS from Indiana University and an MS from Purdue University. He currently works as a data scientist in Chicago.
I take no pleasure in writing these words, but as an alumnus of Indiana University, I feel it is my responsibility to advise its current and prospective students. As this academic year ends, the best advice I can offer is for underclassmen to transfer to a different institution and for prospective students to enroll elsewhere. University leadership has had so many missteps in recent years, one could be forgiven for believing their intent is the destruction of Indiana’s flagship institution. In April 2024, faculty voted no confidence in President Pamela Whitten by an overwhelming margin. The Board of Trustees responded with a statement of support not for the over 800 faculty, but for Whitten. Less than two weeks later Whitten’s administration created a policy to limit students’ First Amendment rights on the eve of a planned protest in Dunn Meadow. To enforce this hours-old Constitutional violation, she invited a militarized police presence to campus — including a sniper perched atop the Indiana Memorial Union. Students, especially student media, were rightfully critical of her for jeopardizing their safety. In response to the spotlight on her failings, Whitten moved to suppress student voices. Her administration succeeded in limiting the IDS to seven prints in Spring 2025 but — if you’re reading this — has not yet fully stifled dissent. In February 2025, the Board rewarded her performance with a raise ($900k annually) and an extension through 2031. Whitten’s leadership has been deeply damaging, and the Board’s near-unanimous
support of her is astounding. A recent development, however, will make things worse. In a midnight coup, Governor Mike Braun seized control of the three alumni-elected Board seats. He now has direct control of the entire Board of Trustees, a body meant to hold Whitten and other University leadership accountable. Whitten has been relegated to an impotent figurehead meant to absorb the ire of students, faculty and alumni while Braun works behind the scenes to dismantle academic freedom. His work has already begun with revisions to requirements for tenured faculty and the attachment of non-disparagement agreements to buyouts for retirees. The recent excitement
around the Athletics program may serve as a welcome distraction from the University’s attacks on students and faculty. But it is only that: a distraction — circuses to entertain us during the fall of our empire. And make no mistake: Whitten and Braun will be fiddling as IU burns. The actions of Braun, Whitten and the Board raise
two alarming questions: Why are key decisions being made in the eleventh hour without input from students, faculty, and alumni? And why are you so afraid of hearing what they have to say? The consequences the University will face if it stays on its current path are clear. First, it will struggle to attract and retain talented faculty, eroding the brand equity created over its 200year history. Soon, top-hiring companies will look to Bloomington less and less. Top-caliber students will choose to go elsewhere, donations will start to dry up, enrollments will fall, and IU will no longer be thought of as one of the best public universities in the country. The exact timing of these developments is unclear, but the path is certain. It will not be long before the value of a degree from IU is greatly diminished. The reputational harm may have already begun, as the University was unable to secure a commencement speaker for the spring undergraduate ceremony, a role previously held by the CEO of Disney and President of Ireland. I encourage current and prospective students to choose a university that will actively work to ensure your safety and provide you with a valuable education. Unfortunately, you won’t find one in Bloomington.
mjonelis1700@gmail.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF HALIE JASINOVER
The author, Halie Jasinover, poses in graduation regalia with friends April 18, 2025, in Bloomington. Jasinover enrolled at IU in fall 2021.
FILE PHOTO | IDS
IU President Pamela Whitten addresses the graduating students May 6, 2022, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. In February, the IU Board of Trustees voted to give President Pamela Whitten a contract extension and a raise of nearly $200,000 more per year.
COLUMN: The Met Gala’s ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ was a night of excellence
By Halie Jasinover hjasino@iu.edu
The Metropolitan Museum is one of my favorite places in the world. It helps that it borders Central Park in New York, the greatest city in the world — I’m sorry Chicago. In high school, I would take the train into the city whenever I could and use the student “pay what you can” deal — which was not a lot — to spend my day among some of the greatest art in the world.
My first time seeing fashion as an artform was with the 2019 Met Gala theme, “Camp: Notes on Fashion.” I went a handful of times that summer and dragged my friends and family with me. I would joke that I was “taking them camping.” That exhibit opened something inside of me. It showed me that fashion was more than just clothing — it was a look into history.
By Lily Saylor saylorl@iu.edu
This year’s Met Gala became a piece of fashion history itself. The exhibition that will be featured in the museum is the first in 20 years to focus on menswear exclusively. The theme was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” It was a celebration of the role of Black culture in fashion. This role was on full display, casting a long-overdue spotlight on the artistry and cultural impact that Black creatives have brought to the industry.
The red carpet started with an acapella performance of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by gospel choir Silk Sound, led by Allen Rene Louis. Dressed in sleek, elegant black suits, the performance paid homage to Black dandyism, described by Vogue as “a fashion revolution, a movement steeped in history, resistance, and pride.”
With Black dandyism,
fashion was used as a force of self-expression and resistance. People dressing with intention and challenging racial norms.
Ty Gaskins explained the word best to Vogue, “In a world where Black people have been marginalized, the dandy became a figure who defied the rigid categories of race and class that sought to confine them.” It is this reminder that we must hold with fashion. It is never just about the clothing, but the identity behind them.
One of my favorite quotes was from Pharell, who said, “You work your ass off all week and when it’s time for Sunday’s finest. You throw it on.”
The best dressed of the night went to the co-chairs of the event: Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky and Pharell Williams. Each of the co-chairs brought a distinct interpretation of the theme.
Domingo wore two looks, his first a bright blue, Valentino cape. The cape came off revealing a black-and-white zoot suit underneath. Domingo drew his inspiration from kings and from the late Andre Leon Talley, Vogue’s legendary editor-at-large. He is without a doubt one of the best dressed men in Hollywood.
Domingo’s Formula 1 cochair, Hamilton, was one that I was excited for. Hamilton’s look was by Grace Wales Bonner. We saw quite a bit of the all-white suit on the red carpet, but his stood out. The look was a nod to jazz singer Cab Calloway. As Hamilton said, “This is more than a suit. This is ancestral history.”
I was excited for A$AP Rocky to arrive as I knew that Met Gala icon Rihanna, A$AP Rocky’s partner and pop star, would be walking the carpet. And walk she did, revealing her pregnancy
to the world. His look was a custom design from his agency AWGE. Pharrell Williams wore over 100,000 pearls in his piece. Williams serves as Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Creative Director, so it was not shocking that his look was perfectly tailored to his body and to the theme.
“To me, dandyism is about intentionality—a sport of getting dressed,” Williams told Vogue. “It’s not just about dressing well. It’s about using style as a form of self-expression and freedom.”
My favorite look of the night was worn by the living legend Diana Ross in a gown designed by her son Evan Ross and designer Ugo Mozie. Ross has not attended the Met Gala since 2003 and what a return she had. Her look featured an 18-foot train and the names of her children and grandchildren. It was beyond.
Zendaya followed Ross on the carpet, proving why she is the fashion darling of her generation. Dressed in a crisp tailored white suit, her look paid homage to an era of power dressing in the 1970s and 1980s. Her design was a custom look from Louis Vuitton designed by Pharrell.
Another great fashion moment was from singer Coco Jones. It was her first Met Gala, and she did not disappoint. Jones was dressed in Manish Malhotra. Directly after the event, she headed to her first date on her “Why Not More?” tour in Philadelphia. This year’s Met Gala was not just a celebration of fashion, but a celebration of identity and the incredible legacy that Black creatives have left and continue to leave. The first Monday in May will always be one of my favorite days of the year and this year was one for the books.
COLUMN: 10 songs to add to your summer playlist
My favorite season by far is summer. I love everything about it: the sunshine, the lake days, the tanning. Summer has that freeing feeling that can only truly be encapsulated through a good summer playlist. With that being said, here are 10 songs that help capture the essence of summer.
“Sun is Shining” by Bob Marley & The Wailers
As soon as this song comes on, the only place I want to be is at the beach, listening to Bob Marley and the waves crashing onto the shore. The simplistic percussion and guitar provide a groovy and calming feeling, while the upbeat lyrics serve as a reminder to be appreciative and grateful for each day.
The first verse opens with, “Sun is shining, the weather is sweet. Make you wanna move your dancing feet now.” The song concludes by saying “Awake from your sleep and slumber. Today could bring your lucky number,” which is a great mindset to have.
“Dani California” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Dani California” was one of the first songs that
introduced me to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and it has been on my summer playlist for as long as I can remember. A few years ago, I visited California over the summer, and this song was seemingly playing everywhere I went. Because of that, I will always have fond memories attached to it. I love everything about “Dani California,” from the lighthearted energy and lyrics to the stunning guitar solo at the end.
“Smaller Acts” by Zach Bryan
Every song off of Zach Bryan’s 2023 self-titled album should be listened to during the summertime. I’m highlighting “Smaller Acts” in particular because of my love for the lyrics that tell a story about a girl who appreciates the simpler things in life. I love each little detail in the verses, from how she likes honey in her coffee, songs by Prince and, of course, a “scorchin’ summer.”
“Alive” by Empire of the Sun
“Alive,” like many of Empire of the Sun’s songs, is unequivocally summer. The 2013 synth-pop song is perfect for late night drives with the windows rolled down after a long day at the pool or beach.
I love the simplistic and repetitive chorus, “Loving every minute ‘cause you make me feel so alive, alive,” because it feels so youthful and genuine.
“Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac
It’s impossible to be in a bad mood if Fleetwood Mac is playing, and “Rhiannon” feels like the perfect sunny summer day song. Every time I hear it, I am reminded of Misty Day from American Horror Story (if you know you know) and I want to get up and dance. With Stevie Nicks’ hypnotizing vocals and the band’s effortless guitar riffs, “Rhiannon” is a flawless track.
“Sold out of Love” by The Nude Party
This 2023 song exudes nostalgia and warm weather. When the guitar comes in at the start of the song, I can almost smell the salty ocean air and Sun Bum sunscreen. “Sold out of Love” is the ultimate tanning by the beach track.
“Knock Knock” by Mac Miller
I already featured a Mac Miller song in my spring playlist column, but “Knock Knock” off Mac Miller’s 2010 album “K.I.D.S” is too fitting to not be included.
This song, and the entire album, is a celebration of youth and freedom; an upbeat, carefree anthem to blast as soon as the temperature gets above 70 degrees.
“West Coast” by Lana Del Rey I’m not sure what Lana Del Rey put into this song, but I have probably listened to it a million times. The sultry vocals, melody and the addicting transition from the verse to the chorus are perfectly executed. To me, this is the perfect Lana track for either a late-night drive or a midday picnic.
“Smoke Two Joints” by Sublime
I couldn’t make a summer playlist without including Sublime. I have to give credit to much of my music taste to my dad, since I grew up listening to bands like Sublime and Cage The Elephant with him. The humorous lyrics and laidback beat of “Smoke Two Joints” make it an essential summer song to listen to while tanning at the pool or taking a walk outside.
“Summer’s Over” by Jordana and TV Girl
Unfortunately, summer
is fleeting, and its ending is always bittersweet for me.
“Summer’s Over” by Jordana and TV Girl captures the nostalgia of September when the nights start to get colder and the world begins to resume. This mellow, calm song provides the perfect bridge between your summer and fall playlist. I can’t wait to grab a speaker and head to the lake to give these songs a listen. No matter how you’ll be spending these upcoming summer months, I hope that it will be with a great selection of music.
COLUMN: Indiana comedy heats up this summer with these events
By Ursula Stickelmaier
ustickel@iu.edu
Though the student crowds may thin over the summer, Bloomington’s comedy scene continues to thrive in the warmer months.
In fact, Indiana has tons of comedic opportunities for those looking to watch more comedy or get into it themselves. So, if you’re staying in-state this summer, here are some great ways to get involved in Indiana’s comedy scene.
Find local comedy in Bloomington Even as many students leave Bloomington for the
summer, there will still be plenty of comedic outlets for Bloomington residents to enjoy. The Comedy Attic will have a long line up of stand-up comedians, like Jared Freid who will make his Bloomington debut in July, to entertain Bloomington crowds over the summer. More stand-up comedians will make their way into town to perform via the Limestone Comedy Festival which will take place at venues all over Bloomington from May 2931.Fans of improv will also have a chance to get in some comedy this summer. Constellation Studios will host Improv Bloomington, a live comedy show, on May 24. The
event is free for all, though attendees are required to register in advance.
Comedy in Indianapolis
If you’re looking for a wider range of comedy, look no further than Indianapolis. Popular spots include the Helium Comedy Club, which offers both regularly scheduled open mic nights and stand-up performances from prominent comedians, like Natasha Leggero who will be performing June 13-15. White Rabbit Cabaret, a night club located in downtown Indianapolis, will include multiple comedy events in their summer calendar. This includes their continuation of
An Evening with the Authors, an event where real comedians pose as fake authors. The event, which has been taking place at White Rabbit Cabaret since June 2014, is 21 and up and occurs the first Thursday of every month.
Improv is alive and well in Indianapolis at The Wit Theater, home of ComedySportz, an event where two teams compete in different improv games and the fans are the judges. Along with ComedySportz, The Wit Theater hosts a variety of comedy events including The Improv Mixer, a free event that takes place the last Thursday of every month and Family Fun! Stand-Up for Everyone, at $15 per person
this is a family friendly comedy event at 1 p.m. June 7. More comedy outside of Bloomington When looking for comedy in Indiana, there is no shortage of fun and interesting comedy events to attend. Next Stop Comedy, a group of comedians who aim to bring professional level comedy to all corners of the United States, will be making one of their next stops at Chateau de Pique Winery and Brewery in Seymour, Indiana. Like other Next Stop Comedy shows, the lineup for this event is a secret but promises to include both experienced and new coming performers to enter-
tain attendees. With general admission tickets costing $25 per person, the event will take place at 8 p.m. June 21. If you’re looking to enjoy some comedy in the fresh air, Hickory Stick Golf Club in Greenwood, Indiana is hosting their very own outdoor comedy night July 26. Part of Sean Leary’s Chips & Bits Comedy Golf Tournament, which is hosted at Hickory Stick Golf Club, the outdoor comedy show will be headlined by comedians Sean Leary and Anna Simeri. Held on the club’s driving range, tickets will be $20 per person and the show will begin at 9 p.m. after the golf tournament concludes.
TRIBUNE
Diana Ross attends the 2025
ILLUSTRATION BY KELSEY GAULT
IU’s bison mascot is pictured in 1966. The mascot was introduced in 1965 and retired in 1969.
Indiana Athletics hints at return of bison
By Conor Banks conbanks@iu.edu
Indiana Athletics released a teaser video on its social media platforms May 15 hinting at the return of the bison as the school’s official mascot. Despite its storied athletics and rich traditions, IU has historically lacked an official mascot to represent its programs. In 1965, the Indiana Student Senate voted on the bison to serve as the school’s official mascot. But the bison’s stint was brief, as it was phased out just four years later in 1969. In 1979, IU adopted Mr. Hoosier
Pride as its official mascot but was retired after just one season. IU has not had a physical mascot since. However, with the revitalization of the Indiana football program following its first College Football Playoff appearance in school history, Hoosier fans and the student body rallied
to call for the bison’s return as Indiana’s official mascot. With the teaser, it appears the school may have listened to these requests.
The video includes a series of animal noises coming from a wooden crate with the words, “DO NOT TOUCH” and “DANGER” engraved on it.
SOFTBALL
A scene depicts three Indiana athletics employees, with two of them advising the third against touching the crate. “Remember to turn out the lights,” one employee said. “Remember to lock up. And whatever you do, don’t touch that.”
The teaser ended with the employee deciding to open up the box. As he does, a gloved hand reaches out before the video ends with a black screen and the words, “TO BE CONTINUED…”
If the bison is re-implemented into Hoosier tradition, it would immediately become an integral figure in Indiana athletics.
Indiana collapses in season-ending loss to Oklahoma St.
By Conor Banks conbanks@iu.edu
Indiana softball’s 2025 season came to a close in the NCAA Tournament at the Fayetteville Regional May 17 with a 16-8 loss against Oklahoma State. Despite holding a 2-1 lead after the first two innings, the Hoosiers’ pitching staff allowed 12 runs in the third frame and couldn’t bounce back at Bogle Park in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The Hoosiers played three games over the weekend, losing twice to eliminate them from the tournament.
They kicked off regional play with a matchup against Oklahoma State on Friday. Senior outfielder Taylor Minnick started the scoring with a two-run home run in the first inning and hit a solo home run in the third frame to propel Indiana to an early 3-2 lead.
Redshirt junior outfielder Melina Wilkison launched a three-run home run in the fourth inning to add to the Hoosiers’ early lead. But it was all Oklahoma State from there.
The Cowgirls scored nine unanswered runs, including seven in the sixth inning to secure an 11-6 victory over the Hoosiers. With the NCAA Tournament regionals featuring a double-elimination format, the Hoosiers faced a winor-go-home contest against Saint Louis University on May 17. After surrendering five earned runs across five innings against the Cowgirls on Friday, senior pitcher and utility player Brianna Copeland still earned the start and a shot at redemption in the circle against Saint Louis. Copeland delivered for the Cream and Crimson with their season on the line.
The Pelham, Alabama native held the Billikens to just two earned runs across a seven-inning complete game to guide the Hoosiers to a 4-2 victory. With the win, Indiana advanced to compete against Oklahoma State for a second time in Fayetteville. While the Hoosiers’ strong offensive attack led the nation with a .365 batting average, their struggles
lied within their pitching staff, who owned a 4.58 ERA. These inconsistencies in the circle continued to plague the Cream and Crimson against the Cowgirls on May 17.
As it has done for much of the season, the Hoosier offense got out to a strong start offensively with Minnick and Junior catcher Avery Parker each driving in a run during the opening frame.
Facing a 2-1 deficit in the third inning, the Oklahoma State offense reached new heights, while the Indiana pitching staff had zero answers.
The Cowgirls collected 10 hits, including back-to-back home runs, on their way to an explosive 12-run third inning. Throughout the inning, the Hoosiers cycled through their entire pitching staff.
Head coach Shonda Stanton made three different calls to the bullpen before freshman pitcher Jenae Berry secured three outs to stop the bleeding.
The Hoosier offense threatened a comeback in the fourth inning, scoring six runs to cut the deficit to 14-8.
But the Cowgirls responded with two additional runs of their own in the sixth inning and secured a 16-8 run-rule victory to end the Hoosiers’ 2025 season with a 34-20 record.
This year’s NCAA Tournament marked Indiana’s third consecutive appearance— the longest streak in program history. But the Hoosiers have failed to advance past the regional round in all three of these seasons.
Head coach Shonda Stanton and her squad hope to make a deeper tournament push during the 2026 season.
It was a historic season for the Cream and Crimson seniors. Copeland hit her 41st career home run to break the program’s alltime record before
surpassed that mark with 45 career home runs.
also concludes her Indiana career with a program-leading 204 career RBIs. The Hoosiers have significant holes to fill in the offseason as the program will be left without Minnick, Copeland and senior outfielder Kinsey Mitchell, next season.
Former Indiana team physician Brad Bomba Sr. dies at 89
Editor’s Note: This story includes mention of sexual violence or assault. Former Indiana men’s basketball team physician Brad Bomba Sr. died at age 89 on May 15, as
firmed by the
when
history at
played football for the university from 1954-56, leading the team in receiving all three years and earning All-Big Ten honors in 1955. He later became a contracted physician for IU sports teams from 196270 before ultimately filling the role of team physician for Indiana men’s basketball from 1979 until the late 1990s. Along with former Indiana head coach Bob Knight,
Bomba Sr. joined the 1984 USA Olympic Men’s Basketball Team as the team physician. He was inducted into the IU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994, as well as the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2007. In September 2024, an undisclosed former Indiana men’s basketball player, later identified as Haris Mujezinovic, alleged Bomba Sr. performed invasive and in-
appropriate rectal examinations. Charlie Miller, another former player, later joined Mujezinovic in a lawsuit against IU in October 2024, claiming the university “systemically mishandled” the players’ complaints of Bomba Sr.’s exams. On Dec. 3, 2024, a judge ruled Bomba Sr. competent to provide a deposition in the lawsuit despite Joseph Bomba, Bomba Sr.’s son
and guardian, filing a motion to quash the plaintiff’s subpoena for a deposition. Bomba Sr. gave his deposition Dec. 4, invoking his Fifth Amendment rights against self-criminalization 45 times. The lawsuit against IU was later amended in January to include former trainer Tim Garl as a defendant, alleging Garl assigned players to Bomba Sr. despite know-
ing Bomba Sr. would sexually assault them. Following Indiana’s hiring of head coach Darian DeVries on March 18, Garl parted ways with the program March 31 after 44 years with the Hoosiers. John Flowers joined the lawsuit in January along with Larry Richardson Jr. and Butch Carter in March, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to five.
Minnick
Minnick
EMMA PEARCE | IDS
Members of the Indiana University softball team huddle together on the field during the softball game against the Bowling Green State University Falcons on March 7, 2025 at Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington. The Hoosiers lost to Oklahoma State 16-8 in the NCAA Tournament at the Fayettevile Regional.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2025 GRADUATES!
Kaitlyn Grifonetti
Mia Grust
Jason Guo
Shujun Guo
Katey Gussler
Ashton Hackman
Audrey Haigh
Henry Hamelberg
Luke Hamilton
Aiden Hammond Violet Hannan
Avery Harcourt Emma Harden
Liliana Haro
Oscar Harrison
Sydney Harsh
Annika Harshbarger
Ziyang He
Ashlyn Heiser
Nicole Hemmens
Lauren Henn
Easton Hensley
Angel Hernandez
Emma Herwehe
Morgan Hippie
Ellie Hobson
Mark Holder Sean Holman
Barbara Holsclaw
Henry Hopper
Cassie Horn
Anthony Howard
Zachary Howey
Cole Hudson
Dylan Hunt
DeSilva Caroline Desormiers Isabelle DesRoches
Samuel Dexter
Isabella Di Meglio
Dibitetto
Dickerson Gino Diminich Meghan Disko
Dorf
Dorton
Drane
Driscoll
Colin Dusek
Jacob Dwoskin Ava Dzurovcik
Eastwick Charlotte Eigen
Sam Elster Audrey Engel Jacob Erb Olivia Essary Claire Faberbock Paige Falcon Lauren Falor
