Kelley implements new admission policies
By Safin Khatri safkhat@iu.edu
The Kelley School of Business will implement new admissions policies for the upcoming semester.
Students entering IU in fall of 2026 or later will not be eligible for automatic direct admission to the business school. All applicants seeking direct admission to Kelley must complete a Kelley Prospective Inventory which will be reviewed by the Kelley Admissions Committee.
The committee will consider multiple aspects of applicants including rigor and academic performance in high school, academic achievements and “the potential for success at Kelley”. Previously, applicants
seeking direct admission could qualify automatically by maintaining at least a 3.8 GPA and a 1370 SAT or 30 ACT score.
The business school has also changed admissions criteria for students applying as standard admits.
Students pursuing standard admissions to Kelley entering IU Bloomington from fall 2025 to spring 2026 must receive at least a B+ in all classes in order to be automatically admitted, and students entering IU Bloomington from fall 2026 to spring 2027 must receive at least an A- in all classes to be automatically admitted.
Previously, standard admits needed to receive at least a B in all classes to be automatically admitted.
Thomson
By Jonathan Frey jonafrey@iu.edu
Mayor Kerry Thomson addressed housing challenges in Bloomington in the wake of arrests at Seminary Park and Crawford Apartments at a press conference Tuesday at City Hall.
She expressed the importance of focusing on the problem regionally and curbing the relocation of people experiencing homelessness from other jurisdictions being moved to Bloomington. Thomson also gave updates on the status of the Hopewell neighborhood, a project that began in 2021 and has been symbolic of the city’s efforts to reduce housing costs for both middle class and low-income Bloomington residents. She alluded to efforts to remove obstacles and friction stunting developers in the permitting and building process.
Arrests in encampments and low-income areas
Mayor Thomson confirmed arrests were made at Seminary Park earlier this summer and addressed new arrests made the morning of July 29 near Crawford Apartments, a housing complex geared toward housing individuals experiencing homelessness.
Thomson said those arrested were suspected of dealing drugs within lowincome and unhoused communities.
Bloomington Police Department Chief Mike Diekhoff added the city will continue targeting drug dealers for arrests in the future.
“Drug dealers prey on
welcome week
By Natalia Nelson nelsonnb@iu.edu | @natalianelsonn
The week before classes begin on Aug. 25 will be a busy one for IU’s incoming freshmen, but welcome week is also one of the best times to meet other Hoosiers, explore the campus and see what the university has to offer. Here’s a list of events to mark on your calendar.
Monday, Aug. 18
Move-in free store: Forgot something at home?
Students, whether on or off campus, can obtain up to 3 items, including mirrors, hangers, lamps and microwaves for free from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the IU Office of Sustainabil-
ity E-House located at 704 E. 10th St.
Tuesday, Aug. 19
Eskenazi Museum of Art tour: Observe tens of thousands of artworks at the Eskenazi Museum from noon to 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 20
Poster sale: Choose from hundreds of posters from movies and television to music in the Georgian Room of the Indiana Memorial Union from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The annual sale will continue through the first week of classes.
Thursday, Aug. 21
New student induction
ceremony: Held at the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall at 10 a.m., the IU tradition of inducting new students is a welcome week staple.
Majors, minors and careers fest: Discover degree programs, student support resources and student employment opportunities from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Herman B Wells Library first-floor lobby and patio.
CultureFest: Stop by the Fine Arts Plaza from 4 to 7 p.m. to catch dinner from food trucks, watch live performances and make crafts. IU Cinema open house: Tour the IU Auditorium start-
Graduate student reception: From 3 to 5 p.m. in the Herman B Wells Library, graduate students are invited to share refreshments and meet other students and staff.
ing at 4:30 p.m. to eat snacks and check out programming for the upcoming semester.
Friday, Aug. 22
Culture Center open houses: Visit the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the LGBTQ+ Culture Center from noon to 2 p.m., the Jewish, First Nations and Latino culture centers from 1 to 3 p.m., and the Asian Culture Center from 2 to 4 p.m. Part-time jobs fair: Search for fall job opportunities at the Indiana Memorial Union’s Alumni Hall from noon to 4 p.m. RecFest: Learn about IU Recreational Sports’ programming and check out club sports at the Bill Garrett Fieldhouse from 1 to 4 p.m.
Mayor addresses housing challenges following arrests
discussed recent arrests and city efforts to increase wages and decrease housing cost
these people hanging out in the camps, in the parks,” Diekhoff said. “We are focusing our efforts on taking the drug dealers into custody so that they aren’t able to deal drugs to people who have addiction issues.”
Thomson said despite President Trump’s executive order intended to spur arrests of individuals experiencing homelessness, the city does not believe arrests are the proper way to address the issue.
“If you arrest people, they will end up in our jail — perhaps overnight,” Thomson said. “Then they’ll be back out on the streets. They then will have a record that will cause them to be much more difficult to be housed. This will perpetuate the issue of
homelessness not only in Bloomington, but throughout the United States.”
Homeless population from other jurisdictions
Thomson claimed a portion of the unhoused population within Bloomington consists of individuals from other jurisdictions. She did not cite any specific jurisdictions but noted for the city to solve its housing challenges, it must take on only as much of the problem as it can handle.
“The safety nets we have in place have become flooded,” Thomson said. “And that flood is happening in a multitude of ways.”
When housing-insecure individuals are relocated to new cities or regions, it cuts
them off from their local support systems and communities that may otherwise be able to help, Thomson said.
She told the story of one unnamed individual who needed medical treatment at the Regional Academic Health Center in Bloomington for 20 days, but ultimately spent another 23 in medical respite when they were unable to find somewhere to go.
The IDS reported last year 456 individuals were experiencing homelessness in Bloomington and Monroe County, an uptick from 2023’s number of 427. Heading Home, an organization partnered with the city in ending homelessness, reportedly conducted a survey earlier this year, but those
numbers are not yet available.
“You can’t teach a drowning person to swim,” Thomson said. “In Bloomington right now, I think we’re barely treading water with our homelessness.”
The city recently hired Brian Giffen as homelessness response coordinator, a role that will facilitate resource and personnel allocation to addressing issues faced by the homeless community.
Updates on development of the Hopewell neighborhood
Thomson and several city officials addressed the development of the Hopewell neighborhood, citing plans to rework the permitting
process which has been significantly slowing developers and driving housing costs.
Thomson said builders and developers often have to wait 12 months before their permit is approved, leading to an entire year of paying employees with no work to be done. This artificially inflates the cost of developing in the city, and thus increases the price on Bloomington consumers.
Thomson said revisions to the permitting process could be complete as soon as the end of this year. With new policies in place, Thomson hopes several developers can take on the Hopewell project instead of leaving it in the hands of just one.
David Hittle, Bloomington director of planning and zoning, added the city’s Unified Development Ordinance makes it appealing to build a house or a massive student housing complex — both of which Bloomington has in droves.
“It makes it relatively hard to build everything in between, which is where we serve the middle class and the lower-middle class — the people that work for the school system or work for the government that can't afford to live here,” Hittle said.
One city official said the average wage in Bloomington is around $22.85 while the average price of buying a house in Bloomington is $379,000 — two numbers that are incompatible. Thomson ended the conference on a hopeful note.
“If there is any community in the United States that could solve homelessness, it’s Bloomington, Indiana,” she said.
The Metz Carillon is seen Nov. 4, 2021, in the arboretum on IU Bloomington's campus.
IDS FILE PHOTO
Hodge Hall, home of the Kelley School of Business, is pictured Oct. 9, 2022. Kelley announced new admissions criteria for the upcoming semester.
JONATHAN FREY | IDS Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson reads an opening statement during a press conference July 29, 2025.
By Safin Khatri safkhat@iu.edu
The IU Board of Trustees met June 12, the first meeting following the removal of alumni-elected trustees. The board voted to amend and create 29 university policies, with many changes occurring to meet state and federal laws. Several policies also aimed to shift administrative influence from the University Faculty Council to the Academic Leadership Council. The University Faculty Council is a body representing IU faculty, and the Academic Leadership Council consists of cabinet level administrators from all IU campuses. Because these policy changes can be difficult to understand, here are six of the most influential new policies and how they differ from previous versions.
Expressive Activity Policy UA-10
The Expressive Activity Policy was approved by the board last summer and faced criticism from students and faculty for allegedly restricting First Amendment rights and resulted in a lawsuit filed by university members and the ACLU against IU. In May, a judge ruled the policy likely violated the First Amendment. The board approved changes claiming a stronger commitment to free speech, adding “the policy should be interpreted in favor of free speech rights.” In addition, the policy states the university recognizes the historical importance of Dunn Meadow, but the policy applies to all historical sites on IU property. The overnight expressive activity portion, which prohibited gatherings between 11
p.m. to 6 a.m., was removed and replaced with “IU Community Members may spontaneously and contemporaneously assemble and distribute literature without any prior notice or application requirement, and regardless of group size.” Lastly, a supremacy clause was added, stating the Expressive Activity Policy overrides any conflicting policy or campus procedure.
Indiana University Board of Trustees BOT-01 (formerly ACA-01)
Following a last-hour change to the Indiana state budget bill, the governor of Indiana now has the authority to appoint all nine members of the IU Board of Trustees. The policy was also changed to bar any IU employee from serving on the board. The term-length for the student trustee is now a one-year term in-
stead of two. Furthermore, the policy eliminates outlining the explicit power of the board in favor of broader statutory authority.
Constitution of the Indiana University Faculty BOT-03 (formerly ACA-04)
In accordance with Indiana law, all faculty governance actions are now advisory only. In addition, emeriti faculty are prohibited from voting. Lastly, all faculty governance meetings must be public. Previously, Indiana law dictated a policy of shared governance between faculty, trustees and administrators to make decisions for the university.
Financial Exigency BOT-26 (formerly ACA-41)
The financial exigency policy was updated to allow campus-specific crises, not
just university-wide, to trigger exigency. Faculty input is no longer required and are now optional advisors. The updated policy also removes fixed timelines and guarantees. Financial exigency happens when an institution faces severe financial problems that threaten the ability to maintain and operate academic programs.
Post-Tenure Faculty Productivity Review BOT-24
BOT-24 is a new policy created in accordance with new state laws mandating five-year reviews of tenured faculty. The policy creates new productivity guidelines set for each campus based on teaching, scholarship and service. The policy also outlines violations of federal and state laws, violations of IU policies and procedures or failing to perform duties
as underperformance. All tenured faculty will receive a performance rating: exceeds productivity expectations, meets productivity expectations, does not meet productivity expectations or unsatisfactory productivity. Failing to meet productivity expectations can lead to administrative intervention, disciplinary actions or even dismissal.
Policy Development and Revision BOT-02 (formerly UA-08) The revised policy again affirms that faculty governance is advisory only. The updated policy also states that university policy explicitly overrides campus/ college/unit policies. Another change is stakeholder consultation on the development of new policies is explicitly required, rather than implied in the previous version.
Free online generative AI course launches this fall
By Nicole Blevins neblevin@iu.edu | @nblevins01
This fall, Indiana University will launch “GenAI 101,” a free online course focusing on the use of generative artificial intelligence for anyone with an IU login, including students, faculty and staff.
The course aims to teach participants 20 generative AI skills across three major areas: Foundational Prompt Engineering, GenAI as a Thought Partner and GenAI as a Productivity Amplifier. With eight modules and 16 lessons, the course will equip students with skills including prompt engineering, data storytelling, fact-checking AI-generated content and ethical AI use, according to a press release.
By Nicole Blevins neblevin@iu.edu | @nblevins01
A judge dismissed American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana’s lawsuit on Wednesday that challenged former Gov. Eric Holcomb’s 2024 higher education bill. ACLU filed the lawsuit in September 2024 against IU and Purdue University for policies incurred from SEA 202 that was signed into law in March 2024. The bill included an increase in “intellectual di-
versity” among higher education, requiring university boards of trustees to enact policies prohibiting faculty members from receiving tenure or promotions if they were deemed unlikely to foster free inquiry and expression or to offer students learning material from a variety of standpoints. The ACLU claimed the policies “infringe upon faculty members’ free speech and academic freedom, violating the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution.”
Judge Richard L. Young ruled against the lawsuit, citing a lack of consequences for professors from universities. Stevie J. Pactor, ACLU staff attorney, issued a statement in September 2024 announcing “One of our plaintiffs has already been the subject of multiple student complaints under the new university policy, all of which were ultimately dismissed. Professors should never be put in the position of choosing between their careers and
their academic freedom.”
The bill received backlash from IU and Purdue professors after several wrote a joint statement in February 2024 opposing it. They wrote the bill “mandates a system of surveillance and political scrutiny that will instead stifle the free flow of ideas.”
In a statement to the IDS, ACLU Communications Manager Laura Forbes said they are disappointed in the decision and are considering their options.
IU created the course as part of its commitment to cultivating a future-ready workforce, according to the press release. IU’s Center for Innovation Teaching & Learning released a website updated in May for generative AI resources.
“By building a foundation of AI literacy and practical skills, IU is preparing students to excel in their careers and support the evolving needs of Indiana’s workforce and economy,” IU President Pamela Whitten said in the press release. “I am looking forward to being the first to take this course when it goes live next month.”
The course will take four to five hours to complete and will be automatically added to canvas for students. Faculty can enroll themselves.”
‘Intellectual diversity’ lawsuit dismissed Policy changes approved by the IU Trustees
“Generative AI is evolving rapidly, creating real opportunities for those who are comfortable with these tools,” Brian Williams, lead professor for the course and chair of the Virtual Advanced Business Technologies Department at the Kelley School of Business, said in the press release. “We designed this course to help participants develop practical skills they can immediately apply in their own field to work more effectively and efficiently.”
IDS
JONATHAN FREY | IDS
The Board of Trustees is pictured in Henke Hall June 12. It was the debut appearance for the board’s three newest members — James Bopp Jr., Sage Steele and Brian Eagle.
The IU Trustees met June 12, voting on over 20 policy changes
IUPD becomes accredited as unified organization
By Maxine Cain maxcain@iu.edu
The Indiana University Police Department has been recognized as the first higher education law enforcement agency in the nation to achieve accreditation as a unified organization, as announced in a June 19 press release.
The International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators accredited IUPD as a system because it serves all nine IU campuses under one chief executive, Anthony Williams, with unified policies and one accreditation manager, Heather Braun, who oversees the effort.
Accreditation is a voluntary process where an external accrediting body recognizes a department’s commitment to accountability and continuous improvement in policing, according to their stability criteria and community feedback.
To achieve accreditation, IUPD must adhere to the IACLEA’s rigorous standards, validated by peer review. These standards, outlined in
the IACLEA Accreditation Standards Manual, cover areas such as training and human resources, organization and administration, administrative and technical services and crime prevention and community involvement.
Braun has been leading IUPD to this accomplishment since she filled her role with the rank of major in July of 2022, though IUPD started the accreditation process at the beginning of 2020. Accreditation is valid for four years and subject to renewal upon expiration. IUPD is also required to submit annual reports confirming that IUPD is consistent with IACLEA standards to hold accreditation.
“Achieving compliance with the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators’ state-of-the-art standards in policy and programs required the teamwork of the entire IU Police Department,” Braun said in a press release. “The IUPD worked toward achieving each goal with purpose and a drive to innovate, and it is exciting to complete the accreditation process.”
What to know about student government Environmental Commission launches
By Grace Romine gmromine@iu.edu
What is IUSG?
Founded in 1912 as a student council, the group was dedicated to “student welfare and self-governance.”
Having undergone several transformations since its creation, the student organization was known as the IU Student Association (IUSA) for nearly 45 years before adopting the name IUSG in 2018.
As stated in the preamble to its constitution, “IUSG exists to give voice to our common grievances, concerns, and hopes, and to take action to realize an ever-stronger University. We work to protect student rights, enrich student life, and improve Indiana University.”
What do they do?
Just like the U.S. federal government, IUSG has three branches – the Executive, the Student Body Congress and the Student Body Supreme Court.
The Executive Branch is made up of the student body president and vice president, who campaign together in the spring during an election all students can vote in. Their administration includes a chief of staff, executive secretary, congressional secretary and several departments, offices, and executive advisory groups, including the student rights department, grants management office and the multicultural advisory council.
Members of Student Body Congress are the policy makers. Among many other responsibilities, the congress reviews the student body president’s cabinet and judicial nominees and passes the IUSG Budget Act each spring, in which they determine how their six-figure annual revenue will be spent. The money
comes from a portion of the Student Activity Fee, which all students are required to pay each semester. The branch is led by the speaker, then congressional press secretary, recorder and parliamentarian.
The supreme court is led by one chief justice and 10 associate justices. According to their website, justices work “on behalf of students to keep elections honest, represent the student voice on university committees, and hear cases from the university judicial system.”
Legislation and programs put into action previously by IUSG include free emergency contraception at the IU Student Health Center, a mock exam day — offering free proctored mock exams for the LSAT, MCAT, DAT and GRE — and the calculator loaner program.
Several IUSG students are also appointed to serve on university committees where they participate in shared governance, meaning students provide insight into university decisions
alongside faculty, staff and administrators. Committees include the Hazing Prevention Coalition, IUB Substance Use Coalition and the Climate Action Plan Implementation Committee.
Who represents me?
The ACTION Administration — Student Body President Zachary Goldberg and Student Body Vice President Ava Smith — took office in April and will serve for one year. They campaigned on three pillars: safety, community and success.
As for congress, there are 20 elected student representatives from academic districts and 20 elected from residential districts. This means there are a certain number of students who represent each school and students who represent each of the three neighborhoods on campus, as well as Greek life housing, oncampus apartments and offcampus living. The number of seats per district is determined by student population.
Kelley School Direct Online MBA program ranks No. 1 from Princeton Review
By Nicole Blevins neblevin@iu.edu | @nblevins01
The Princeton Review recognized the Kelley School of Business Direct Online MBA program as No. 1 for the seventh consecutive year in its “Top 50 Online MBA Programs.”
Kelley was the first to offer an online MBA program in 1999 and was ranked No. 1 with U.S. News in January for the fourth consecutive year. The school also ranked as the No. 1 online MBA program in North America for 2024 in Fortune and QS Quacquarelli Symonds.
The Princeton Review ranked Kelley’s Full Time + Flex MBA Program as the third-best MBA for marketing, 10th best for consulting, third most familyfriendly program and fifth for “best professors,” according to a press release.
The Full Time + Flex two-year program allows
students to enroll for the first year in-person with the option to complete their second year in person or online, the only MBA program of its design.
“This recognition is a powerful reflection of Kelley’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and adaptability, and I am im-
mensely proud of our program leaders, faculty, and staff, whose leadership and expertise continue to shape and elevate our programs, both in person and online,” Patrick Hopkins, dean of the Kelley School of Business and Conrad Prebys Professor, said in the press release.
There are also multicultural representatives appointed by their organization, including the Indonesian Student Association, Multicultural Greek Council and the Muslim Student Association.
Representatives serve one-year terms.
How do I get involved?
IUSG holds general elections in both fall and spring, which all students can vote in through BeINvolved. Details on the fall 2025 general election are not yet available. Students are also encouraged to apply for any vacant congressional seats, both residential and academic, that were not filled during elections.
Freshman can be paired with an IUSG executive branch member to shadow and work toward implementing a project of their own through the First-Year Internship Program.
More information on IUSG can be found on their website.
By Ian Collier icollier@iu.edu
Early this July, Bloomington’s Geographic Information’s Department released an interactive Habitat Connectivity Map. Along with the city’s Habitat Connectivity Plan, the interactive map seeks to promote environmental conservation through bio-diversity.
The map functions around three main “priority greenspace areas”, defined by The Habitat Connectivity Plan as areas “contributing to plant and animal habitat, ecological diversity, healthy air, soil, water, reductions in energy use, and climate change mitigation.”
The three main priority greenspaces in Bloomington are Griffy Lake, Clear Creek and Jackson Creek. Around these areas, the map aims to highlight nearby geological features like Potential Corridor Links, which are areas that provide connection for organisms to priority greenspace areas. According to Environmental Commission Vice Chair Matt Caldie, corridors are key in the conservation of the enviroment.
“When we as a city develop land, we fragment the habitat for area plants and animals,” Caldie said, “Some creatures – like maybe a hawk – can make it past our roads and buildings to another area of habitat, but other creatures – such as a grasshopper – might have to stay where they are. Corridors are essentially landscape features that allow for the movement of organisms between areas of habitat.”
Individuals can mark existing or new habitat corridors, as well as native and
invasive species in the area by making a pledge signaled by a diamond on the map. Users are able to add areas as specific as their backyard as greenspaces in the connected environment.
The map, which can be found on their website, lets individuals mark their own participation, but also seeks to inspire by showing other contributions by members of the community. This element excites the Environmental Commission: the ability for citizens to visualize their community interacting with the local area.
“The map may help encourage folks to take action in environmental stewardship and even see the contributions in their own neighborhoods,” Senior Environmental Planner Rachael Johnson said in an interview.
“As residents add their pledges to the map, we hope to see the diamonds representing the pledges start to look like bridges between those priority greenspaces,” Caldie added. By going online and taking the “Habitat Connectivity Pledge,” Caldie believes Bloomington residents can inspire one another to participate in the conservation of the environment.
“Sometimes it feels like individuals can’t do much for the environment, but with a map full of participants, it becomes clear that we can accomplish a lot collectively,” he said. “So I hope it serves as a motivator, because as people see the environmental stewardship of others, it may empower them to do more and to share that energy (and the map) with friends, neighbors, or coworkers.”
School of Medicine dean, IT vice president leave
By Jonathan Frey jonafrey@iu.edu | @byjonathanfrey
Indiana University School of Medicine
Dean Jay Hess and Information Technology Vice President Rob Lowden are both leaving their positions, according to a July 16 IU press release. Lowden accepted a position in the same role at The Ohio State University, while Hess will remain in his role until July 2026. Hess began his tenure at the School of Medicine in 2013. During his tenure, research funding from the National Institute of Health increased by 125%, according to his webpage. Today, the school ranks 30th nationwide in NIH funding and 13th among public universities. He is attributed with many changes and improvements to the School of Medicine and its services, most notably condensing more than 65 independent physi-
cian groups into the single entity IU Health Physicians. Lowden’s exit follows a weeks-long saga of university-wide website outages attributed to unknown security issues. Lowden has worked in IT services and other leadership positions for more than 25 years, including the position of vice president and university information officer for the past five.
Lowden led the charge on implementing two-factor authentication across all IU campuses and developing the course management
system, according to his IU webpage. He also served in Hawai’i and southeast Asia as a member of the U.S. Navy, earning an honorable discharge for his services.
“We’re grateful to Rob for his leadership and dedication to IU, which has empowered innovation across our campuses,” IU President Pamela Whitten said in the release.
Whitten announced the university’s nationwide search for Lowden’s position to begin in July and Hess’ position Aug. 1.
IDS FILE PHOTO A banner reads “Indiana University Student Government” on Sept. 30, 2024, inside the IUSG office at the Indiana Memorial Union in Bloomington. Students are elected to occupy seats in the Executive Branch, the Student Body Congress and the Student Body Supreme Court.
BRIANA PACE | IDS
IUPD police cars sit at the IUPD station on March 5, 2023, on East 17th Street. IUPD became the first higher education law enforcement agency in the nation to achieve accreditation as a unified organization June 19.
JAY HESS ROB LOWDEN
IDS FILE PHOTO
A student walks through Hodge Hall on March 30, 2021. The Kelley School of Business began offering an online MBA program in 1999.
House approves media funding cuts
By Nicole Blevins neblevin@iu.edu | @nicoleeblevins
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a final rescissions package July 18 cutting more than $9 billion from the previously approved Congressional budget bill, including more than $1 billion from public media stations.
The vote returned to the House after the Senate voted 51-to-48 on July 17.
President Trump signed the package into law on July 24.
“The loss of both federal and state funding is not just a setback; it’s a direct threat to our ability to serve the people of Indiana,”
Greg Petrowich, WFYI CEO and President
The cuts will likely not affect NPR and PBS as a whole, as NPR only receives about 2% of its annual budget from
federal funding, and PBS receives about 15%, according to the New York Times. The real impact will be to local and rural stations, which often heavily rely on federal grants to support their reporting.
Local news outlets near Bloomington will face the effects. The rescissions package will cut the allocated funds for the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years. WFYI of Indianapolis will lose $1.5 million from their annual operation budget, nearly 11%. Additional state funding cuts to-
tal to nearly $2.1 million.
“The loss of both federal and state funding is not just a setback; it’s a direct threat to our ability to serve the people of Indiana,” WFYI CEO and President Greg Petrowich said in a public statement. “We are deeply concerned about the impact this will have on our viewers and listeners across the state.”
Indiana Public Media’s Interim Executive Director Jay Kincaid said they will lose nearly $1.4 million, or 14% of their total funding,
although they said they will keep staff positions and will continue to work closely with PBS, NPR and university and community partners to understand the full scope of the changes ahead, according to a statement sent to the IDS.
“We’ve been part of this community for 75 years, and our ability to endure has always come from the support of our audience and our partnership with Indiana University,” Kincaid said in the statement. “That hasn’t changed.”
Gov. Mike Braun appoints three more new trustees
By Jonathan Frey jonafrey@iu.edu
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun appointed three new trustees to the Indiana University Board of Trustees July 1, according to a press release. The new trustees will be Marilee Springer, Isaac White and Dr. David Hormuth, all IU alumni.
The appointments follow the expiration of the terms of three outgoing trustees: Cathy Langham, vice chair Cindy Lucchese and student trustee Kyle Seibert. Their terms ended June 30. Who are the new trustees?
Marilee Springer is a nonprofit lawyer and current partner at the firm Faerge Drinker Biddle and Reath. She graduated from IU McKinney School of Law with a J.D. in law in 1996.
By Jonathan Frey jonafrey@iu.edu
“Springer serves as outside general counsel to her clients, providing concierge-level service to tax-exempt organizations, social impact entities, donors and high-networth families, and quasigovernmental entities,” her website reads.
Braun appointed her to the Indiana Efficiency and Modernization Transition Council in November 2024, a board dedicated to streamlining public spending.
Isaac White is an honors student studying finance, real estate and economics at the Kelley School of Business at IU Indianapolis, according to his LinkedIn profile.
White is also a staffer for Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R) of Indiana’s 6th congressional district. He lists his position
CAROLYN MARSHALL | IDS
The IU Board of Trustees sits during a meeting June 13, 2024, at Henke Hall of Champions in Bloomington. Gov. Mike Braun appointed three new trustees July 1.
on LinkedIn as “special assistant” to Shreve’s office.
White, currently a junior, will serve as student trustee. The student trustee position, formerly a two-
year position, was reduced to one year in the April state budget bill that also gave Braun complete control over the IU Board of Trustees.
Dr. David Hormuth is
Over 400 Indiana degrees cut
249 programs from will be impacted, with 116 from IUB
By Nicole Blevins neblevin@iu.edu @nicoleeblevins
Indiana higher education institutions eliminated, suspended or have plans to consolidate over 400 degree programs, or roughly 19% of statewide programs.
Six university systems voluntarily submitted degree programs with zero-to-low enrollment on June 30 to comply with House Enrolled Act 1001-2025, effective July 1, which requires programs to have at least 15 graduates for a bachelor’s degree and 10 graduates for an associate degree. After July 1, state educational institutions must seek approval from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to continue under-threshold degree programs.
“This will help students make more informed decisions about the degree they want to pursue and ensure there is a direct connection between the skills students are gaining through higher education and the skills they need most,” Gov. Mike Braun said in a press release. A total of 249 programs from IU campuses will be impacted, with 116 from IU Bloomington.
IUB eliminated 22 degree programs, suspended 31 with Teach-Out toward elimination (currently enrolled students to complete program) and suspended 63 with a commitment to merge or consolidate. An IU spokesperson said 27 new degrees would be created through mergers and consolidations if the recommendations are approved by the Indiana CHE in July.
a cardiothoracic surgeon who graduated from IU with a medical degree in 1983 and received an M.B.A in business of medicine from IU in 2015.
Dates to know for the fall semester at IU
It’s not always clear-cut which dates you need to pay attention to on the IU calendar, especially as a freshman. Here’s everything you need to know:
August Aug. 25 – Classes begin Aug. 31 – Last day to drop a class without a grade of W
September Sept. 1 – Labor day, no classes Sept. 8 – Deadline to request a Pass/Fail Option for first 8-week classes. Requests for approval of this option must be submitted to the school/division dean. Sept. 15 – Deadline to request a Pass/Fail Option for 13-week classes. Requests for approval of this option must be submitted to the school/division dean. Sept. 19-21 – Family weekend Sept. 22 – Deadline to request a Pass/Fail Option for full term classes. Requests for approval of this option must be submitted to the school/division dean. Sept. 28 – For first 8-week session, last day to drop a class with automatic W or add a class
session begins Oct. 26 – For full term, last day to drop a class with automatic W or add a class. For second 8-week session, last day to drop a class without a grade of W
November
October Oct. 10-12 – Fall break, no classes Oct. 13 – For 13-week session, last day to drop a class with automatic W or add a class Oct. 13-17 – For first 8-week session, final exams and last day of class. Oct. 20 – Second 8-week
2 women face neglect charges
By Nicole Blevins neblevin@iu.edu | @nicoleeblevins
The Monroe County Sherrif’s Office arrested two Bloomington women on charges of neglect of a dependent after the death of a 3-year-old girl. Officers were dispatched to an address on the 4000 block of North Thomas Road for a welfare check on Aug. 8 and found the girl unconscious and not breathing. The victim arrived at IU Health Hospital Bloomington and flew by helicopter to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis the same day. The victim died
Aug. 13 while in the hospital.
Detectives began an investigation on Aug 8. and arrested Keera L. Braun, 27, and Millissa D. Hicks, 50, on Aug. 14. Braun faces charges of one count of Level 1 neglect of a dependent and two counts of Level 6 neglect of a dependent. Hicks faces charges of one count of Level 1 neglect of a dependent and one count of Level 6 neglect of a dependent.
Officers booked the women into the Monroe County Correctional Facility, and the investigation remains active.
Nov. 3 – Deadline to request a Pass/Fail Option for second 8-week classes. Requests for approval of this option must be submitted to the school/division dean. Nov. 17-21 – For 13-week classes, final exams and last day of class Nov. 23-30 – Thanksgiving break, no classes Nov. 23 – For second 8-week session, last day to drop a class with automatic W or add a class.
December Dec. 13 – For full term
and second 8-week classes, last day of class Dec. 13 – For full term, withdrawal from all classes deadline. Last day a student may request a complete withdrawal from all
enrollments for the semester Dec. 15-19 – For full term and second 8-week classes, final exams Dec. 24 – Official transcripts available
Card skimmer device found
By Nicole Blevins neblevin@iu.edu | @nicoleeblevins
Bloomingfoods found a credit card skimming device attached to Register 3 inside the east location near College Mall on July 12, according to a statement sent to the IDS.
The device was an illegal attachment to the payment terminal to take data from debit and credit cards inserted or swiped through the device. Contactless payments likely would not have been affected. The device was immediately removed, but after reviewing security footage, the staff discovered the device was placed on June 28.
Bloomingfoods said in a statement to the IDS there have been no confirmed customer data breaches, but users of Register 3 between June 28 and July 12 should assume their data has been compromised. Register 3 is the closest to the exit door and one register away from the bathrooms. To confirm, the top of a receipt stating “Your cashier is Floater 3” would indicate an affected transaction.
The Bloomingfoods staff has increased terminal inspections to multiple times a day since the incident. The store also upgraded hardware and security, enhanced surveillance and monitoring,
updated staff training to detect tampering, reviewed Payment Card Industry security standards and continued following state and federal data protection laws.
Bloomington Police Department is working with the Secret Service to determine what data, if any, the device captured. Bloomingfoods verified three individuals were involved with placing the device, but they were not employees. The investigation is still active. If you are an affected shopper, monitor your accounts and report any suspicious activity to your card issuer. Bloomingfoods will continue to provide updates on its website.
Of the suspended programs, many consisted of language and art-related degrees. Notable among them were B.A.s in Spanish, Italian, French and Art History; B.F.A. in Dance and B.S. in Music/Ballet. The Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies is the #1 school in the nation for the number of foreign languages taught, and the Jacobs School of Music hosts over 1,000 performances a year.
Indiana CHE’s changes were made to better align with student and industry demands according to the press release, but Indiana employment projections for 2022-2032 predicted only three industries will decrease: office and administrative support, production and sales. The IDS spoke with several students pursuing now-suspended degrees who said they have not heard directly from IU regarding the status of their programs.
IUB eliminated programs: A.A. in General Studies
A.S. in Audio
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
The Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis is pictured. The House voted Friday, July 18 to cut more than $9 billion in federal funding, including more than $1 billion from public media outlets.
Editor’s note: This column contains mention of depression and suicide.
On June 18, the Supreme Court officially issued its ruling on U.S. v. Skrmetti, upholding Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming medical treatment for minors.
My heart absolutely sank with grief when I heard this news. Because here’s the truth: kids will die.
I am transgender and nonbinary. In December, after years of wearing a binder to flatten my chest, I underwent a gender-affirming chest reconstructive surgery colloquially known as top surgery, which gave me a chest shape more typically associated with cisgender men.
The surgery has made me so happy. I have begun to feel at home in my body in a way that I hadn’t even imagined was possible — the constant buzz of dysphoria in the back of my mind has at last abated. It has, without a doubt, changed my life for the better. Not for one moment have I regretted it, even when I was laid up for three weeks, in pain, with my chest wrapped in ace bandages. When the bandages came off and the swelling went down, I felt normal, like I’d always had a flat chest.
I’m 21 years old now, but when I initiated the process of seeking surgery, I was just shy of 17. I’ve heard my fair share of concerns about transgender healthcare for
OPINION
THEO’S THOUGHTS
Gender-affirming healthcare is good, actually
kids. It’s everywhere, and a lot of it comes from very wellmeaning people, including people who consider themselves allies.
And the thing is, I get the fear. It’s normal for us to care about kids. Most people just don’t know enough about trans healthcare to know that there really isn’t anything to fear — most people have never had any reason to do that kind of research. And the idea that trans healthcare is somehow understudied, or that its benefits are debatable, or that it’s risky, or that kids are being rushed into it is extremely pervasive and pushed even to those who aren’t paying much attention to trans issues.
The New York Times, for instance, a respected legacy newspaper, has devoted a lot of coverage of this idea and received criticism for presenting trans youth healthcare as an issue with two equally believable sides or just straightforwardly peddling misinformation. On June 6, the New York Times launched a six-part podcast series on the issue by Azreen Ghorayshi, a reporter who has made a name for herself elevating anti-trans misinformation and voices like discredited “whistleblower” Jamie Reed for years. The New York Times was cited seven times in the Skrmetti decision.
In 2021, when I began seeking surgery, it was still legal for minors in the state of Indiana to receive this kind of gender-affirming care, but my parents were initially resistant. Even my educated, socially liberal ally
parents had fallen for the misinformation that had already begun to swirl.
But this panic, like the panic about trans women in sports, is just a way to get anti-trans talking points into polite conversation, and it’s fueled by misinformation. The truth is that the science is overwhelmingly in favor of transgender healthcare.
Trans people, including trans youth, are at very high risk of depression and suicidal ideation. The 2022 US Trans Survey of over 92,000 people found that 78% of participants had consid-
JOAQUIN’S JOURNAL
James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ makes a role model out of an alien god
Joaquin Baerga (he/him) is a junior studying journalism.
This column contains minor spoilers for the 2025 “Superman.”
I grew up liking superheroes and owning their action figures. Batman, Spiderman and Iron Man were my big three. Superman, though, never stood out to me. I feel it’s because I wasn’t exposed to good Superman content during my childhood.
When it comes to live-action films, Christopher Reeve is the definitive Superman for many — but his films came out in the 70s. I never got around to watching Brandon Routh’s 2006 adaptation, and I found Henry Cavill’s version forgettable. When I saw trailers featuring David Corenswet in a bright blue suit and red trunks, reminiscent of the hero’s suit in the comics, I was invested. The new film looked bright, colorful and faithful, and Superman felt welcoming. I felt like I might finally see why he’s a favorite for many.
Superman is often dismissed as a boring, allpowerful Boy Scout, but his newest iteration made this characterization meaningful. He confronts evil with overwhelming kindness and believes everyone can do good.
This attitude, combined with his god-like powers, makes him seem generic — almost lacking emotional depth. But as the face of superheroes, he should be ge-
neric and embody common traits that people find inspiring. Even with his powers, you watch him struggle, and he carries himself like a man raised by humble Kansas farmers. James Gunn’s writing made it overwhelmingly clear that Superman wants to help everyone in Metropolis, even a giant kaiju terrorizing the city or a squirrel about to get stomped. This makes him relatable and lets us know we can aspire to be like him. Although we can’t fly or shoot lasers from our eyes, we can choose to help others and do what’s right. It’s a beneficial message for kids growing up in a fractured world plagued by war, discrimination and unrest.
Despite its hopeful tone, the film hasn’t been without controversy. Gunn has faced backlash for branding Superman’s character development as an immigrant story and including a territorial conflict between the fictional nations of Boravia and Jarhanpur, with some viewing it as a symbol of the war on Gaza. Ex-Superman Dean Cain criticized the film for being too “woke,” with its apparent pro-immigration commentary.
Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, sons of Jewish immigrants. They understood the challenges faced by refugees and used their knowledge to shape the character. If we ignore the fantasy and consider his origins, we realize
Superman’s story is about a refugee (from another planet) trying to do good and striving in the face of persecution.
Despite criticisms, Gunn maintains the film is about kindness, something “everyone can relate to.”
As apolitical as he wants the film to remain, superheroes are reactionary constructs. Superman’s character is a reaction to the struggles that people face when they adjust to life in a new country.
The rise of the gritty Byronic superhero in films (take for example Cavill’s Superman) is a reaction to post 9/11 politics. These heroes symbolized America, specifically the dichotomy between the country’s bad actions and its status as the model republic. They were a digestible way of representing America’s identity crisis.
This new adaptation of Superman moves away from that, instead symbolizing classic democratic values like championing the weak and fighting against corporate greed. To me, “Superman” (2025) is a reaction to the division in the U.S., advocating for hope and unity over cynicism and conflict.
There’s no separating it from politics, and that’s divisive. But maybe America really needed this new Superman film, because it reclaims his hopeful essence and presents a moral compass and positive role model in the form of a superhero on the big screen.
gender-affirming surgery is a long process. No one is getting rushed into it unprepared — especially minors, who do not often receive surgery at all. I had many appointments with several different mental health professionals and doctors over the course of the four years it took me to get the surgery. I was 18 when I had my first consultation with the surgeon, and 21 when I actually had the surgery. The healthcare system didn’t just take me, at 16, at my word. Neither did my parents — it took a lot of negotiation and explanation to get them on board.
Those first few years were especially difficult for me. There were times when it felt like it was just never going to happen, and I had this overwhelming sense of despair. Just the consultation with the surgeon in 2023, the confirmation that it would happen sometime in the next couple of years, was a relief. It helped just for the end of that feeling to be in sight.
ered suicide, and 40% had attempted suicide in their lifetime. Another 2022 study found that access to healthcare reduced the odds of depression by 60% and the odds of suicidality by 73% among trans teenagers. Furthermore, puberty blockers — which are sometimes prescribed to teenagers to give them space to figure things out without the distress of undergoing puberty — are safe, with reversible effects, and have been used since the 1980s to treat gender dysphoria in kids. Most of the time, getting
Those on the right who push narratives against transgender healthcare simply are not acting in the interests of children. If they wanted to protect children, they would trust the doctors and researchers who have shown time and time again, for years, that trans healthcare saves lives. They would listen to trans people. Instead, they further harmful ideas about trans healthcare and trans people to further a patriarchal, white supremacist, fascist agenda. Queerness challenges the social order on which their power
and control are based. A study published June 21 found that state-level antitrans legislation, such as restrictions on access to healthcare like this one, bathroom bills and restrictions on trans people in sports, lead to an increase in suicide attempts among young trans and nonbinary people by up to 72%. To make matters worse, the Skrmetti decision has arrived at the same time as the Trump administration’s plans to shut down the national LGBTQ+ suicide and crisis hotline by July 17. Children seeking healthcare are the first step, because existing social concern about kids and limits on their autonomy make them an easy target. But we know that trans adults are next, now that the Overton window has shifted from years of Trump-dominated politics. We’ve already been targeted. My gender is no longer legally recognized, nor can I legally change my name. Transgender people are being dishonorably discharged from the military. Trump is blaming ICE crackdowns on trans people, or… something. Who does this protect? Certainly not me. Certainly not children.
My parents still don’t get it, not all the way. A lot of people in my life don’t either. But my parents trusted me, and they trusted doctors who had been doing this for years. That’s what matters. Listen to the experts. Listen to us and trust us when we tell you what we need. Stand with us—stand with children — as human beings deserving of respect and care.
How a running app encouraged me to become a runner
Aryana Amin-Tehrani (she/her) is a senior studying marketing, management and digital and social media business applications.
“Some say success is the best revenge,” Emily Ann Willcox, who refers to herself as the British Gossip Girl on Instagram, said at the beginning of a reel. “I say it’s running 26.2 miles just to prove you can.” It was Willcox’s Instagram reels slowly appearing on my page every week that somehow got me to participate in the sport itself. She begins most of/all (whatever is more accurate) of her Instagram reels with phrases like this one.
Although running can feel like an exclusive sport, reserved for those with the best equipment, perfect form and years of experience, it is truly meant for anyone. Today, apps and social media are quickly changing the “perfect” image of running into something that is attainable for everybody. In fact, Willcox films herself training for runs, as well as portions of her races on the internet. The documentation of running has recently become a trend on social media platforms. Did I mention, though, that I have no prior running experience?
In middle and high school, I’d simply walked the mile and accepted defeat when it came to the PACER test during gym class — a 20-meter course set with timed beeps that increased in pace, making it more difficult to keep up with throughout the process. However, the more reels I saw about running, the more advertisements that came with it as well. Eventually, I found myself downloading the “Runna” app. I wasn’t expecting to keep up with the program at all, but here I am, now signed up to run a 5K in Wisconsin on July 19th.
Here’s how it works: once you fill out your basic information, such as your name and email address, you choose if you’re (1) completely new to running, (2) getting back into it after a while or are (3) already active in the sport. Once you inform the system of your status, you then select the distance of a race you want to participate in — a 5K, 10K, half marathon or marathon. Although you don’t have to actually sign up for said race,
the app aims to prepare you to be able to run the distance within a specific time period. As I mentioned earlier, I was not a trained runner prior to downloading the app — I chose the option of being completely new. I was then able to specify, with the help of “Runna” and its free version of their recommendations, that my plan was to run twice a week: Wednesdays and Sundays.
On my first Wednesday, I began with a five-minute walk for a warm up followed by running at a conversational pace for one minute. After each minute of running, I was instructed to walk for one minute and 30 seconds. This was repeated six times until I walked another five minutes to cool down and complete the session. I loved that running at a conversational pace was at my own rate, and not at a rushed time to meet someone else’s standards of what pace was considered running. In fact, at times, my running was more of a jog. I made sure to take it slow, and in the end, I wanted to enjoy myself on my journey of improvement. In fact, for my very first run, it took me over 28 minutes to run a single mile. I was so proud that I did it.
Don’t let me deceive you, however, the first three weeks were tough. After long days of school or studying for exams, I had to drag myself off the couch to go on my runs. According to Nike, running outside requires more effort from your muscles than running on the treadmill, but sometimes, just to stay consistent, I would find myself running
indoors on the treadmill instead — and that’s okay! I prefer to run outside because it requires more effort, but consistency is the ultimate key and the most important thing to maintain. Even on the days when it was hard to start, I ended up grateful I did so and began to enjoy my runs a few minutes into starting. The Better Health Channel claims that running helps build strong bones, strengthens muscles, improves cardiovascular and overall general fitness . According to a Harvard Health article by Dr. Aaron Baggish, running regualarly can increase moods. “[Long-term runners] run because it makes them feel better,” he writes. From personal experience, I relate to what Dr. Baggish mentioned. Running clears my mind, and gets me moving after a stressful or long day at work. It’s a dedicated slot to have time for myself. This summer I happen to be living near a beach, and it’s become my favorite de-stressor to run by the water. Running can make you feel better and more energized. Two weeks ago, I introduced the concept of running and the app I used to my roommate, who has now been running consistently since then. She seems to enjoy it and was also someone who’s never run before. Your background doesn’t matter — anyone can run! It doesn’t have to be fast right away, and you don’t need a fancy watch, expensive shoes, or years of experience. You just need a place to start and the drive to improve.
Theo Hawkins (they/them) is a rising senior studying Media with a minor in American Studies.
ILLUSTRATION BY THEO HAWKINS
ILLUSTRATION BY BRI SUCH
WARNER BROS. PICTURES
David Corenswet as Superman in “Superman “ (2025) is pictured. The film, starring David Corenswet, was released July 11, 2025.
Indiana’s ‘Speedway Slammer’ opens to ICE
The Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, Indiana, will be used as an ICE detention space
By Nicole Blevins
neblevin@iu.edu | @nblevins01
The Department of Homeland Security an-
nounced plans on Aug. 5 to partner with the state of Indiana to house 1,000 unused beds for ICE detention space in the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, Indiana, calling it the “Speedway Slammer.”
According to a press release from DHS, the facility marks the second state partnership to expand ICE detention space after Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz.” President Donald Trump’s HR 1, “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” passed on July 4, funded the expansion of 80,000 ICE detention beds, according to the press release.
“Today, we’re announcing a new partnership with the state of Indiana to expand detention bed space by 1,000 beds,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in an X post. “Thanks to Governor Braun for his partnership to help remove the worst of the worst out of our country.”
Noem encouraged people living in the U.S. illegally to self-deport using the CPB Home App to avoid arrest.
“We are proud to work
with President Trump and Secretary Noem as they remove the worst of the worst with this innovative partnership,” Gov. Mike Braun said in the DHS press release. “Indiana is taking a comprehensive and collab-
orative approach to combating illegal immigration and will continue to lead the way among states.”
Braun signed an executive order in January aligning with President Trump’s stance on combating illegal
immigration. He ordered law enforcement agencies to fully cooperate with ICE and perform the functions of immigration officers in relation to the individuals illegally or unlawfully present in the United States if neces-
sary and appropriate.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth revealed on July 15 in a letter to members of Congress a plan to house 1,000 beds for individuals detained by ICE at Camp Atterbury in Edin-
burgh, Indiana, a
facility for the Indiana
tional
Braun reviews state programs for DEI initiatives
A report identified 350 instances of DEI language in state government programs
By Nicole Blevins
Governor Mike Braun released a report July 9 on the administration’s progress in removing and replacing programs or language related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with Merit, Excellence and Innovation.
Braun signed an executive order in January and asked state agencies to submit a report to the Gover-
nor’s Office by July 1. The latest report identified 350 uses of DEI language or initiatives in state government programs which have already been reviewed for adjustments, updated or eliminated.
A press release identified 70 cases of DEI training, instruction, or programing for state employees which have been eliminated; 34 grants within Indiana state agencies that included DEI initia-
tives which are now open to all Hoosiers and 200 DEI initiatives in state agency policy and procedures which will now prioritize the values of MEI.
“Diversity and equality are hallmarks of what we believe as a country, but these top-down DEI mandates led to division and inefficiency by forcing decisions to flow through this office whose purpose was to achieve a political goal, rather than fo-
cused solely on maximizing results for Hoosiers on the kitchen table issues that affect their lives,” Braun said in a statement.
Each government agency was reviewed for potential changes to their programs or statements. Notable changes were made within the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
“Padres Estrellas,” a program on contract with CHE to connect with schools,
neighborhoods and community partners to help enroll students in the 21st Century Scholars program will be discontinued at the end of the year due to the programs focusing “only on Hispanic and Latino communities,” according to a report.
Three grants — the Career Coaching Grant, the College Success Program and the STEM Teacher Recruitment Grant — were cancelled, and funding was
reallocated to other programs due to being tailored to low income or minority groups. Many changes across agencies included updated language in mission statements, descriptions and websites. Other changes included archiving past annual reports from the Indiana Department of Correction that included DEI language. The full report is available to view online at in.gov.
training
Na-
The Indiana Statehouse is pictured Jan. 4, 2021, in Indianapolis. Gov. Mike Braun announced Aug. 5, 2025, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security to open
new detention center in Indiana dubbed “The Speedway Slammer.”
neblevin@iu.edu
Community gathers for vigil honoring deported
By Maxine Cain and Jonathan Frey maxcain@iu.edu | jonafrey@iu.edu
Bloomington community members gathered May 31 at the Monroe County Courthouse for a candlelight vigil supporting immigrants deported without hearings in the previous few months. The event was hosted by 50501, a national grassroots initiative dedicated to organizing peaceful protests against alleged human rights violations in the U.S.
The vigil came in response to reported “disappearances,” a term used to describe deportations carried out by ICE covertly and without due process. Disappeared migrants are often sent to “third countries,” countries that are neither the country of origin nor of residence, and detained without legal recourse.
Reports of the number of
immigrants deported in this manner vary greatly; 50501 cited an independent database tracking more than 4,000 disappearances, but the IDS was unable to verify this number.
At least 238 Venezuelan and Salvadoran immigrants were sent to Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, a prison in El Salvador, on March 14.
“Everybody, whether you are a US citizen or not, you have a right to due process in this country,” event organizer Gretchen Clearwater said. “These people are not even getting the chance to defend themselves, to say who they are and what they’re doing, and why they’re being taken away. This is a breaking of the law of the land.”
Roughly 75 attendees held lit candles as dusk turned to dark while representatives from several local organizations gave speeches
condemning the Trump administration’s wave of deportations.
“These people are not even getting the chance to defend themselves, to say who they are and what they’re doing, and why they’re being taken away. This is a breaking of the law of the land.”
Gretchen Clearwater event organizer
Erin Aquino, Bloomington resettlement director at Exodus Refugee Immigration, addressed the administration’s defunding of nonprofit immigrant and refugee resources.
“Our office opened in 2022, and we’ve welcomed about 500 immigrants of humanitarian concern here
in Bloomington since that time,” Aquino said. “As of January 20, Trump has completely shut down that program.”
Aquino said fear in immigrant communities is on the rise due to increased ICE presence across the U.S. and in Bloomington. She encouraged listeners to know their rights, including that they were not obligated to comply with police and ICE investigations without a warrant, and to support local nonprofits providing resources to people seeking asylum in the US.
“People call us and they have to ask, am I free to go to school? Can I go to work?” Aquino said. “Refugees and many immigrants have legal status here, and it shouldn’t be something that they’re worried about – but they’re worried, because ICE has detained and deported people who have had legal
status.”
In March, President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 wartime statute, to authorize the deportation of Venezuelan nationals alleged to be members of newly designated Foreign Terrorist Organization Tren de Aragua without immigration hearings. The administration asserted that this FTO had infiltrated the Venezuelan government, leading to his designation of the gang as an invading entity requiring wartime recourse.
The Trump administration has since faced legal challenges to deportations under the statute, with the U.S. Supreme Court deciding in a 7-2 vote detainees were not given enough time to challenge their deportation.
The U.S. National Intelligence Council also found in a recently declassified report
that Tren de Aragua was not supported by Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro or other senior government officials, casting doubt on the administration’s classification of the group as an invader. The vigil continued in speech and song, with United Universalist Church of Bloomington song leader Angela Gabriel leading the group in a recitation of a Brooklyn Peace Poets protest tune: “My condor, my eagle, no human is illegal.” The crowd dispersed around 10 p.m., most taking their candles with them.
“A lot of people don’t want to look at the news because it’s too depressing, they don’t want to see it,” Clearwater said. “But you have to. I think it’s our duty. It’s our democracy, and we’re losing it if we don’t stay really attuned to what’s going on.”
MAXINE CAIN | IDS
Protester Lori Stumpner hangs a sign reading "Vigil for the Disappeared" May 31 outside the Monroe County Courthouse. President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to authorize expedited deportations of
certain migrants in March 2025.
MCCSC announces no teacher layoffs this year
MCCSC announced no teachers will be laid off for the 2025-2026 school year, despite ongoing financial challenges
By Maxine Cain maxcain@iu.edu
The Monroe County Community School Corporation announced no teachers will be laid off for the 2025-2026 school year, despite ongoing financial challenges.
The district has lost over 800 students since 2019, resulting in a projected $22.4 million revenue loss. Meanwhile, payroll expenses, accounting for roughly 85% of MCCSC’s budget, have grown by $28.6 million. Superintendent Markay Wilson said no teachers will lose their jobs because of natural attrition and the elimination of non-classroom roles such as food service, custodial and health aide workers.
Senate Enrolled Act 1, passed March 2024, is ex-
pected to
The district has not yet reached financial balance, and future staffing reductions still remain possible in years to come. “We continue to face political and financial headwinds,” Winston said in a press release. “But we remain committed to keeping students at the center of
A Way of ChiropracticWellness
Dr. Andrew Pitcher, D.C.
Dr. Crystal Gray, D.C.
Mon. - Thu.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. 1121 W. Second St. 812-336-2225 bloomingtonchiropractor.com
Oral/Dental Care
Baron D Hall, DDS, MSD Jake
Willhite, DDS, MSD Orthodentists
Erica Hall, Hannah Elliott, Kaitlyn
Jacobs, Marilyn Lee, Adrian Price
With modern techniques and a fun style, B-town Orthodontics is the most up-and-coming orthodontics office in the Bloomington area! We offer the latest technologies including invisalign, gold brackets, laser treatments, and even mini implants that can help restore missing teeth and even eliminate the need for surgery. B-town Orthodontics offers FREE consultations and don’t forget to download The Braces App, the hottest free app designed by B-town Orthodontics’ Dr. Baron Hall.
Tue. - Thu.: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Lunch 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Mon. & Fri.: Appointments Only 1320 W. Bloomfield Rd., Suite B 812-287-8851 btownorthodontics.com
Ryan D. Tschetter, DDS Lauren R. Hoye, DDS Jackson Creek Dental is conveniently located on South College Mall Road. Most insurances accepted, including the Indiana University Cigna Insurance plans as well as the IU Fellowship Anthem. Dr. Tschetter and Dr. Hoye offer state of the art dental technology such as Zoom whitening, same day crown appointments, and Invisalign. We also provide restorative, cosmetic and emergency care. We pride ourselves in giving the best care to our patients while offering a pleasant yet professional atmosphere.
Mon. - Thu.: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fri.: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. 1124 S. College Mall Rd. 812-336-5525 jcdsmiles.com
A Way of Wellness Chiropractic specializes in comprehensive spinal care. We offer treatment for several different spinal conditions, while also addressing the body as a whole. We provide effective chiropractic care helping patients reduce or eliminate pain, reduce stress, improve mobility, improve function and overall spinal health. The exceptional treatment we provide is always fit to your individual needs and goals. Let us help you achieve and maintain good spinal health. We look forward to meeting you!
COUNSELING CENTER INC
Cheryl Mansell, LCSW RPT
Kyle Fouch, PMHNP
Alisa Doty, LMHCA
Kaitlyn Merwin, LCSW
Bethany Sammons, LCSW Chi-Wei “Diana” Kan, LMHC
Angie Miller, LMHCA
Marisa Soliday, LSW
Stephanie Blandford, LSW
Alexandria Conger, LMHCA
Amber Hancher, LSW
Sydney Conger
Providing individuals, couples and family counseling as well as psychiatric evaluation and medication management. We ensure that individuals of all ages, experiencing mental illness can better manage life
Mon. - Thu.: 9 a. m. - 6 p. m. Fri.: 9 a. m. - noon 5010 N. Stone Mill 812-929-2193 newoutlookcc.org
A Way of ChiropracticWellness
Dr. Andrew Pitcher, D.C. Dr. Crystal Gray, D.C A Way of Wellness Chiropractic specializes in comprehensive spinal care. We offer treatment for several different spinal conditions, while also addressing the body as a whole. We provide effective chiropractic care helping patients reduce or eliminate pain, reduce stress, improve mobility, improve function and overall spinal health. The exceptional treatment we provide is always fit to your individual needs and goals. Let us help you achieve and maintain good spinal health. We look forward to meeting you!
Austin C. Starr, D.D.S Board Certified Oral Surgeon HOOSIER ORAL SURGEON Dr. Starr is an IU Football Alum who provides pain-free experiences for all Hoosiers with IV sedation. He specializes in Wisdom Teeth Extractions, Dental Implants and Plasma Therapy while utilizing 3D imaging technology. Accomplish fast and predictable healing with Plasma Therapy to avoid dry sockets after extractions. Voted the Most Trusted in Bloomington, they look forward to accomplishing continued successful results every day for all Hoosiers. Go IU!
Mon. - Thu.: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fri.: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. 473 S. Landmark Ave. 812-318-1023 starroralsurgery.com
Health/Beauty
Dermatologic Care for All Ages at the Bloomington
we provide expert dermatologic care for patients of all ages. Our team specializes in the
and treatment of skin cancer, as well as the management of a wide range of skin conditions, including acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, warts, and more. We also offer care for disorders of the hair and nails. Your skin health is our priority.
Mon. - Thu.: 7:40 a. m. - 4 p. m. 415 S. Landmark Ave. 812-333-7433
Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri.: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wed.: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sat.: 8 a.m. - Noon 744 E. Third St. 812-855-8436 1160 W. Michigan St. 317-278-1470 optometry.iu.edu NEW OUTLOOK
Mon. - Thu.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. 1121 W. Second St. 812-336-2225 bloomingtonchiropractor.com
Our eye care clinics serve patients in Bloomington-Atwater Eye Care Center and Indianapolis Eye Care Center, with faculty doctors and student interns who work together to provide the most comprehensive eye care available. Our many services include primary care, pediatrics, low vision, dry eye, disease, laser and surgical care, contact lenses including specialty lenses, myopia management, aniseikonia, and eye wear center. Open to the public and accepting most insurances. Free parking.
Jan Taylor-Schultz
Spotlight
guide to health resources
Mental health resources
Pharmacy needs
By Jonathan Frey jonafrey@iu.edu | @byjonathanfrey
It’s always important to familiarize yourself with local health resources whenever you move to a new place. No time is this more important than moving to a new school, where freshman mishaps and unexpected obstacles are prominent. IU provides several resources for both mental and physical health and well-being, so we’ve compiled a guide to get you started.
Emergency resources
If you are experiencing an emergency, your best bet is the Emergency Medicine clinic located at the
main IU Health Bloomington Hospital.
IU Health Bloomington Hospital — 2651 E. Discovery Pkwy.
Alternatively, if you need medical care without an appointment but are not in immediate danger, the Urgent Care clinic is another good option.
IU Health Urgent Care — 326 S Woodscrest Dr. For mental health crises, in addition to the national 988 suicide and crisis hotline, IU’s Counseling and Psychological Services provides a crisis line staffed 24/7 which will be listed below. From the IU Bloomington emergency contact
site, this list of phone numbers should cover most crises that may occur in your time as a student.
Emergencies: Call 911
IUPD: 812-855-4111
Safety Escort: 812-855SAFE (7233)
IU Emergency Management & Continuity: 812855-2004
Sexual Assault Crisis Line: 812-855-8900
Crisis and Suicide Hotline: 812-855-5711
Medical care For general care cases, the Student Health Center is a crucial resource for all students. It is the only campus health resource covered by the health fee you pay as part of tuition.
The health fee entitles you to free or reduced care costs at the SHC. Student Health Center — 600 N Eagleson Ave.
IU Health has several clinics across the city for both general and specialized care. In addition to the wide range covered just inside the hospital, here are a few other specialized clinics likely to be of use during your time at IU:
IU Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine — 2605 E Creeks Edge Dr.
IU Health Cardiology - Bloomington — 1302 S. Rogers St.
IU Health Primary Care - Bloomington — 995 S. Clarizz Blvd.
IU’s Counseling and Psychological Services is the main mental health resource provided by the university. CAPS provides a free 45-minute mental health consultation, after which they will assess your needs and set you up with a personalized care plan.
To schedule a first appointment, call 812-8555711.
If a student you know appears to be struggling with their own mental health, you can also submit a Care Referral through its page on the Student Life website. For assistance making a referral, you can also call 812856-2273 or email iucare@ iu.edu.
There are numerous pharmacy options in Bloomington. The previously mentioned Student Health Center also has a pharmacy with over-thecounter meds and prescription medication.
Outside of the SHC, it will probably be most convenient for you to use a chain option such as CVS. There are two convenient CVS locations in Bloomington that you’ll find useful: 121 E Kirkwood Ave. 2701 E 3rd St. In addition to both prescribed and over-thecounter medications, CVS provides vaccines, including updated COVID-19 boosters.
ILLUSTRATION BY MADHUMITHA MANIMARAN
Students voted to fund the IDS. IU still won’t.
IU Provost Rahul Shrivastav rejected a student board’s vote to fund the Indiana Daily Student, according to a letter we received June 5.
The IDS applied for funding from mandatory tuition fees last October, a process reviewed every two years by the student-run Committee for Fee Review. That process started after The Media School implemented its new student media plan, which included cutting back on our print edition — a vital part of our operation. We went from printing on a weekly basis to every two-to-three weeks in the spring and not at all this summer. In an attempt to reconcile this financial and educational loss, we looked elsewhere for answers.
We immediately faced hurdles. First, the Office of Student Life told us we needed approval from the dean of The Media School before submitting our application — a policy which is, to our knowledge, not a standard part of the application process. Student Life did not respond to a request for comment. Upon seeking approval from the dean, we were told we would have to apply in conjunction with IU Student Television and WIUX — despite both groups previously applying separately for the same funding. Again, we are unfamiliar with any other organizations facing this requirement.
At the time of our appli-
cation, we had not yet, and still have not, merged business operations with IUSTV and WIUX, something outlined in The Media School’s student media plan. Student leaders are still largely in the dark as to how and when The Media School plans to implement this merger.
Media School Dean David Tolchinsky said in a follow-up email exchange he was trying to foster holistic thinking among student media leaders in the wake of the student media plan by suggesting a group CFR application.
“Once we got the message that the students weren’t interested in doing so, we didn’t want to stand in their way, so I granted permission,” he wrote in the email.
The dean eventually approved our lone application. But IU still wouldn’t budge.
The CFR was informed in the midst of its deliberation that the initially expected increase in mandatory student fees for IU Bloomington students would instead stagnate with a 0% change. Its final recommendation for the IDS, submitted in late March and accounting for the 0% fee increase, was a $1.11 allocation from each student’s yearly mandatory fees. For students taking more than six credit hours, that’s less than 0.15% of the total $761.02 they pay each term. This would have been a boon of roughly $50,000 per
year for the next two years, a number trivial to IU but monumental for us.
All CFR recommendations are subject to the provost’s approval, and the provost ultimately decided he would not approve funding for new applicants given the 0% fee increase, according to the June 5 letter. He rejected a unanimous decision by the CFR made with that number in mind.
Shrivastav added the recently approved state budget significantly lowered state appropriations to IU, further constraining the university’s funds over the coming cycle.
The IDS was the only new group to apply for funding and the only group to be denied. We are not aware of any examples in recent memory of the provost re-
jecting CFR recommendations. In a follow-up email to the IDS, Shrivastav did not address whether this was common practice.
In the letter, the CFR informed us it had additionally recommended the vice provost of Student Life allocate us $200,000 from fee reserve funding, something we will pursue.
If the provost’s decision is purely due to an aversion to increasing fee allocation over a cycle where tuition isn’t growing, that is something we understand. We are as aware as anyone that state funding for universities is dwindling.
But it is a concerning trend that we are bucked at every turn when we seek support. And it’s not a trend unique to Bloomington.
Christ Community Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Rose House LuMin & St. Thomas Lutheran Church
3800 E. Third St. 812-332-5252 Stlconline.org lcmiu.net
Instagram: @hoosierlumin facebook.com/LCMIU facebook.com/StThomasBloomington
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m.
@ St. Thomas Lutheran Church
3800 E. Third St.
Tuesday: 6:30 p.m. Dinner & Devotions
@ Rose House LuMin 314 S. Rose Ave.
Rose House LuMin and St. Thomas Lutheran Church invite you to experience life together with us. We are an inclusive Christian community who values the faith, gifts, and ministry of all God’s people. We seek justice, serve our neighbors, and love boldly.
Rev. Adrianne Meier Rev. Lecia Beck
Rev. Amanda Ghaffarian - Campus Pastor
The Purdue Exponent announced June 5 that Purdue suddenly refused to facilitate distribution of its print edition on campus, something it had done for more than 50 years. Reporters from The Columbia Spectator were barred by Columbia Public Safety officers from reporting on the scene of a protest in May. Student newspapers across the country face unprecedented barriers to reporting in what should be our sanctuaries.
The IDS has been a pillar of IU, Bloomington and student journalism since 1867. We have maintained our editorial independence throughout our 158 years of existence, even when that involved publishing news or opinions critical of powerful figures — including IU administration.
The same week we received the letter, recent IU graduate and IDS alumnus Nicole Blevins was named a finalist in the Hearst National Journalism Championship, and IU won fourth place overall for writing. We are proud of Nicole and the rest of our staff, but not surprised. We are a consistently awarded and recognized publication.
It’s concerning for administrators to reject the careful consideration of students — who should be the driving force behind any university decision. It’s concerning that a student government-affiliated en-
503 S. High St. 812-332-0502 cccbloomington.org facebook.com/christcommunitybtown Instagram: @christcommunitybtown
Sunday: 9:15 a.m., Educational Hour 10:30 a.m., Worship Service
We are a diverse community of Christ-followers, including many IU students, faculty and staff. Together we are committed to sharing the redeeming grace and transforming truth of Jesus Christ in this college town.
Bob Whitaker - Senior Pastor Adam deWeber - Worship Pastor Dan Waugh - Adult Ministry Pastor
United Methodist Presbyterian Church (USA)
St. Mark’s United Methodist Church
100 N. State Rd. 46 812-332-5788 smumc.church facebook.com/BloomingtonStMarksUMC instagram: @stmarksbloomington
Sunday: Worship 10:30 a.m.
Office: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
St. Mark’s United Methodist Church of Bloomington, Indiana is an inclusive community, bringing Christ-like love, healing, and hope to all. We embrace the United Methodist ideal of open hearts, open minds, and open doors by welcoming those of all races, cultures, faith traditions, sexual orientations, and gender identities.
Rev. John Huff - Pastor Rev. Mary Beth Morgan - Pastor
Trinity Reformed Church 2401 S. Endwright Rd. 812-825-2684 trinityreformed.org instagram.com/trinityreformed facebook.com/trinitychurchbloom
Sunday: 9:15 a.m., Sunday Bible Classes 10:30 a.m., Worship
We are a Reformed Protestant church on the west side of Bloomington with lively worship on Sunday mornings, Bible classes beforehand, home groups, and a college age group called The Mix (a group of young adults who are both attending college and beyond).
Jody Killingsworth - Lead Pastor Max Curell - Shepherding Pastor Stephen Baker - Discipleship Pastor Philip Moyer - Worship & Youth Pastor
Christian Science
Christian Science Church
2425 E. Third St. 812-332-0536 bloomingtonchristianscience.com facebook.com/e3rdStreet
Sunday Church Service: 10 - 11 a.m.
Wednesday Testimony Meeting: 7 - 8 p.m. Mon. - Fri. Reading Room: Noon - 2 p.m.
Interested in spirituality and healing? We welcome you to our church to explore how you can address issues spiritually and experience healing.
tity had its unanimous decision rejected before it even reached the Board of Trustees for a vote.
We will continue to try in good faith to reach an agreement with IU. We will continue to assume good intentions from administrators. If this letter is to serve as anything, we hope it will be a wake-up call. To the administration, we ask that you hear us and take us seriously. We are a learning lab and an invaluable educational resource to all who walk through our doors. We create professional-quality work and train professional-quality journalists because we are given the financial and editorial freedom to do so. If IU has an interest in maintaining The Media School’s longstanding sterling reputation, part of that plan must be helping student media to thrive.
To students, parents and the Bloomington community, we ask that you make your voices heard. Regardless of whether you read us or even like us, our existence should not be a debate — no more than any other club or organization.
If you have anything you want to share with us, please reach out to us on social media or at editor@idsnews. com
Inter-Denominational
Redeemer Community Church
111 S. Kimble Dr. 812-269-8975
redeemerbloomington.org
facebook.com/RedeemerBtown
Instagram & Twitter: @RedeemerBtown
Sunday: 9 a.m., 11 a.m.
Redeemer is a gospel-centered community on mission. Our vision is to see the gospel of Jesus Christ transform everything: our lives, our church, our city, and our world. We want to be instruments of gospel change in Bloomington and beyond.
Chris Jones - Lead Pastor
United Methodist
Jubilee
219 E. Fourth St. 812-332-6396
jubileebloomington.org
Facebook: First United Methodist Church of Bloomington, IN
Instagram: @jubileebloomington
Sunday: 9:30 a.m., Classic Worship 11:45 a.m., Contemporary Worship Wednesday: 7:30 p.m., College & Young Adult Dinner
Jubilee is a Christ-centered community open and affirming to all. We gather on Wednesdays at First United Methodist (219 E. 4th St.) for free food, honest discussion, worship, and hanging out. Small groups, service projects, social events (bonfires, game nights, book clubs, etc.), outreach retreats, and leadership opportunities all play a significant role in our rhythm of doing life together.
Markus Dickinson - jubilee@fumcb.org
Unity Worldwide
Unity of Bloomington A Center for Spiritual Growth
4001 S. Rogers St. text/call: 812-333-2484 unityofbloomington.org IG: @unityofbloomington facebook@UnityofBloomington
Sunday Celebration: 10:30 a.m.
Discover a vibrant, welcoming community at Unity of Bloomington – “a positive path for spiritual living”. Our center offers a space for spiritual growth; embracing all with open arms. We proudly affirm and welcome the LGBTQ+ community, fostering love, acceptance, and inclusion. Join our loving congregation, where everyone is valued and encouraged to explore their spiritual journey. At Unity of Bloomington, all are welcome and together we thrive!
Minnassa Gabon - Spiritual Leader Phyllis Wickliff - Music Director
Jonathan
IDS FILE PHOTO
A stack of newspapers sits on a desk in Franklin Hall. A student board voted to fund the IDS for the next two years but was rebuffed by the provost.
Meet new IU trustee Sage Steele
Steele was appointed
By Safin Khatri safkhat@iu.edu
On June 2, Governor Mike Braun removed alumni-elected trustees from the IU Board of Trustees and appointed three new trustees including former sports journalist Sage Steele.
Steele received a Bachelor of Science in Sports Communication in 1995. While an undergraduate student, she was involved in ROTC and had an internship with IU Athletics.
Following graduation, Steele worked for news organizations in Indiana, Florida and Maryland before being hired by ESPN in 2007. In 2008, she was recognized as a distinguished alumni.
In a speaker series with the former School of Journalism in 2014, Steele said she faced gender and racial discrimination, which turned into motivation for her.
“What I realized was that this was one of many tests along the way, some having to do with race and some that don’t,” she said. “It was preparing me for the future in the television world.”
by Governor Mike Braun to replace an alumni-elected trustee
During her 16-year stint at ESPN, Steele served as a cohost of “SportsCenter,” a host of “NBA Countdown” and covered the NBA Playoffs, NBA Finals and the NBA All-Star Game.
In 2021, Steele faced controversy for her comments regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and former President Barack Obama, which led to her suspension from ESPN. She sued ESPN claiming a breach of contract and violation of her civil rights. After settling her lawsuit with the network, she departed in 2023.
Steele hosts the weekly podcast, “The Sage Steele Show” featuring notable guests such as former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In 2024, Steele’s name circulated as a potential contender for then-candidate Donald Trump’s White House Press Secretary, a rumor she denied. On June 2, Steele said on X (formerly Twitter) of her Trustee appointment she was, “Honored! Can’t wait to get to work!”
In 2015, she was the undergraduate commencement speaker.
Society of Friends (Quaker)
Bloomington Friends Meeting
3820 E. Moores Pike bloomingtonfriendsmeeting.org
Sunday (in person & by Zoom):
9:45 a.m., Hymn singing 10:30 a.m., Meeting for Worship Children’s program available
We practice traditional Quaker worship, gathering in silence with occasional Spirit-led vocal ministry by fellow worshipers. We are an inclusive community with a rich variety of belief and no prescribed creed. We are actively involved in peace action, social justice causes, and environmental concerns.
Rex Sprouse - Clerk rsprouse@iu.edu
Bahá'í Faith
Bloomington Bahá'í Community and Bahá’í IU Association
424 S. College Mall Rd. 812-331-1863 bloomingtoninbahais.org facebook.com/Baháí-Community-ofBloomington-Indiana-146343332130574 Instagram: @bloomingtonbahai
Sunday: 10:40 a.m., Regular Services, Devotional Meetings. Please call or contact through our website for other meetings/activities
The Bahá'í Association of IU works to share the Teachings and Principles of the Founder, Bahá'u'lláh, that promote the "Oneness of Mankind" and the Peace and Harmony of the Planet through advancing the "security, prosperity, wealth and tranquility of all peoples."
Karen Pollock Dan Enslow
Independent Baptist Lifeway Baptist Church
7821 W. State Road 46 812-876-6072 lifewaybaptistchurch.org facebook.com/lifewayellettsville
Sunday: 9 a.m., Bible Study Classes
10 a.m., Morning Service
5 p.m., Evening Service
*Free transportation provided. Please call if you need a ride to church.
Student Ministry: Meeting for Bible study throughout the month. Contact Rosh Dhanawade at bluhenrosh@gmail.com for more information.
Steven VonBokern - Senior Pastor Rosh Dhanawade - IU Coordinator 302-561-0108 bluhenrosh@gmail.com
Non-Denominational
Christ Community Church
503 S. High St. 812-332-0502 cccbloomington.org
facebook.com/christcommunitybtown
Instagram: @christcommunitybtown
Sunday: 9:15 a.m., Educational Hour 10:30 a.m., Worship Service
We are a diverse community of Christ-followers, including many IU students, faculty and staff. Together we are committed to sharing the redeeming grace and transforming truth of Jesus Christ in this college town.
Bob Whitaker - Senior Pastor Adam deWeber - Worship Pastor Dan Waugh - Adult Ministry Pastor
Great Harvest Ministry Center (GHMC Family)
1107 S. Fairview St. 812-325-2428 (GHMC) ghmcfamily.org
Sunday: 10:30 a.m.
GHMC Family is a small church with a big heart. We follow Jesus and not a religion. We believe God’s Word as written for real people living in a messy world. We are a family of believers — your home away from home. Casual, welcoming, and here to support each other through life’s challenges. Come grow with us!
Tony Taylor - Pastor
Christian Student Fellowship
1968 N. David Baker Ave. 812-332-8972 csfindiana.org Instagram: @csfindiana office@csfindiana.org
Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) exists as a Christ-centered community focused on helping students truly know Jesus Christ. Our ministry hub is located on campus at the last stop on the B bus. Reach out to schedule a tour, or join us for our 8 p.m. Thursday night worship service (Encounter)!
Ben Geiger - Lead Campus Minister
Stephanie Michael - Campus Minister
Nick Conrad - Associate Campus Minister
United Church of Christ and American Baptist Churches-USA First United Church 2420 E. Third St. 812-332-4439 firstuc.org facebook.com/firstuc instagram.com/firstuc2420 youtube.com/@FirstUCBtown
Sunday: 10:30 a.m., Worship
Monday: 10 a.m. via Zoom, Bible Study
We are an Open, Welcoming, and Affirming community of love and acceptance dedicated to welcoming the diversity of God’s beloved. We exist to empower, challenge, and encourage one another to live out Jesus’ ways (compassion, truth, and justice) authentically as human beings in community to create a better world.
Rev. Jessica Petersen-Mutai Senior Minister
Nazarene
Bloomington Eastview Church of the Nazarene
4545 E. Lampkins Ridge Rd. 812-332-4041 eastviewnazarene.org
Facebook - Eastview Church of the Nazarene
Sunday: 9 a.m.: Morning Prayer
9:30 a.m.: Sunday School
10:30 a.m.: Worship Service
3 p.m.: Cedar Creek Worship
Wednesday: 10 a.m.: Bible Study
Join us at Bloomington Eastview Church of the Nazarene, where faith meets community! Connect with fellow students through engaging worship, meaningful discussions, and service opportunities. Discover a supportive space to grow spiritually and make lasting friendships. Everyone is welcome - come as you are and be a part of our vibrant family!
Rev. Bruce D. Yates - Pastor Alicia J. Dollens - Facility Manager
Episcopal (Anglican)
Canterbury Mission
719 E. Seventh St. 812-822-1335
IUCanterbury.org
facebook.com/ECMatIU
Instagram: @ECMatIU
Youtube: @canterburyhouseatiu9094
Sunday: 3 p.m.
By Appointment
Canterbury: Assertively open & affirming; unapologetically Christian, we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ by promoting justice, equality, peace, love and striving to be the change God wants to see in our world.
Ed Bird - Chaplain/Priest
Baptist Emmanuel Church
1503 W. That Rd. 812-824-2768 Emmanuelbloom.com
Instagram & Facebook: @EmmanuelBloomington
Sunday: 9:15 a.m., Fellowship
Sunday: 10 a.m., Worship
Groups: Various times
Emmanuel is a multigenerational church of all types of people. Whether you are questioning faith or have followed Jesus for years, we exist to help fuel a passion for following Jesus as we gather together, grow in community, and go make disciples.
John Winders - Lead Pastor
Second Baptist Church 321 N. Rogers St. 812-336-5827 sbcbloomington.org facebook.com/2ndbaptistbloomington youtube.com/@secondbaptist churchbloomington
Sunday Service: 10 a.m., In house and on Facebook/YouTube Sunday School: 8:45 - 9:45 a.m. Bible Study: Available In House and on Zoom Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., Thursdays, Noon Please come and worship
COURTESY PHOTO
Sage Steele, a newly appointed member of IU’s Board of Trustees, is pictured. Steele is one of three trustees appointed June 2 by Gov. Mike Braun.
Ballantine Bike Hub
Chairman of Monroe County Democratic Party resigns
By Nicole Blevins neblevin@iu.edu | @nblevins01
Samuel Ujdak, chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Party, resigned, effective June 23. Due to developments in his personal life, Ujdak said he is unable to serve the role with “the amount of commitment and clarity necessary to honor the gravity of the position,” according to a press release.
He urged citizens not to turn inward amid American policy decisions, like conflict with the Middle East, ongoing ICE raids throughout the country and increasingly inaccessible gender affirming care for transgender youth.
“You have a responsibility, when you step into this fight, to hold the line and open your heart to your community,” he said in the press release.
Ujdak said even with his retirement, he will remain open for advice and act as a sounding board for community members.
“It has been an honor to serve you in the many capacities in which I have done so these last 8 years,” he said in the press release.
“Being one of the few openly queer political party chairs in Indiana is no small thing. Love each other. Love yourselves. Protect trans kids.”
By Nicole Blevins
neblevin@iu.edu | @nblevins01
Editor’s note: This story was originally published on the IDS website on June 19 to highlight Black-owned businesses on Juneteenth. Juneteenth is a national holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African people in America.
Restaurants
The Cabin: 4015 S. State Road 446 (812) 214-4324
A great place to stop by while camping, located near Lake Monroe, The Cabin serves traditional American dishes in a lively atmosphere. They also host live music events frequently, including an open mic night almost every Thursday, according to their social media pages.
Carson’s BBQ and Catering: (812) 369-4449
The self-proclaimed “best barbeque in Southern Indiana,” Carson’s BBQ and catering is temporarily closed, but will be at the Ellettsville Farmers Market every Saturday this season, serving lunch 11 a.m. to 1
p.m.
Chef’s Table Catering: 3860 W. 3rd St. (812) 287-8016
This family-owned business combines savory dishes with baked goods for the ultimate dining experience.
Phat Daddy’s BBQ: 4747 W. State Road 46 (812) 908-2196
The barbeque restaurant’s mission is to serve their community first. All tips are directed toward local donations and charities.
Services
Angela’s Ebony Hair Designs: 155 S. Kingston Dr. (812) 331-2472
The family-owned business combines “the talents of multiple generations to provide top-notch barber and beauty services.”
Lé Esthetics: 619 N. Morton St. (812) 360-0714
Lé Esthetics offers bridal, beauty and relaxation services located in downtown Bloomington.
Small Businesses
The Cat’s Closet: 223 S. Pete Ellis Dr., Suites 1 and 2 (812) 322-2363
The Cat’s Closet is a halfthrift store, half-cat lounge for locals to shop and cuddle all in one. All cats are available for adoption from the Greene County Humane Society. LushPOP Balloons & Décor: A luxury balloon decorating service, LushPOP designs decor for events and parties. Visit here to place an order.
Sweet Treats The Inkwell Bakery & Cafe: 401 S. Woodlawn
COURTESY PHOTO
Samuel Ujdak poses for a headshot. Ujdak resigned as chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Party, effective Monday, June 23 at 11:59 p.m.
IDS FILE PHOTO
Popcorn Kernels With a Twist is located at 122 S College Avenue, pictured June 2020. The black-owned business sells gourmet popcorn.
Cignetti adopts ‘SEC scheduling philosophy,’
By Dalton James jamesdm@iu.edu | @daltonmjames
Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti defended the program’s decisions on non-conference scheduling at Big Ten Media Days on July 22 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
The Hoosiers made national headlines earlier in July when they cancelled their home-and-home series with the University of Virginia that was slated for 2027 and 2028, paying the Cavaliers a $500,000 buyout.
That judgment was made as an institution in 2023 before head coach
Curt Cignetti was hired to replace former head coach Tom Allen, although he did sign off on it. Instead, Indiana added Kennesaw State University and Austin Peay State University to its slate in place of Virginia.
“Look, here’s the bottom line,” Cignetti said in a press conference. “We picked up an extra home game, and we play nine conference
games.”
Each Big Ten school plays nine conference games in the regular season, as opposed to the Southeastern Conference’s eight. Like Indiana, SEC schools play Group of Five or Football Championship Subdivision opponents during their nonconference schedule.
Cignetti came prepared with a plethora of numbers to back up the Hoosiers’ future schedule.
“12 of the 16 SEC teams play three G5 (Group of Five) or an FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) game,” Cignetti said. “12 of those teams play 36 games, 29 G5 games and seven FCS games, and one less conference game.”
SEC power Georgia’s non-conference schedule includes Marshall University, Austin Peay and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The Bulldogs then finish their season with a rivalry game against Atlantic Coast Conference rival Georgia Institute of Technology.
“We figured we would
just adopt SEC scheduling philosophy, you know,” Cignetti said. “Some people don’t like it. I’m more focused in on those nine conference games.”
During Indiana’s historic 2024 season in which it went 11-2 and made its first appearance in the College Football Playoff, the Hoosiers were dragged for their widely dubbed weak schedule. The Cream and Crimson played two G5 schools and one FCS school before playing just one ranked team in their conference schedule: Ohio State.
However, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti defended Indiana during his press conference, explaining Indiana played the two teams — Michigan and Washington — that made the national championship game the previous season.
Cignetti didn’t just come armed with statistics to defend his program. He also laid out a new CFP format — one the Big Ten has proposed to the SEC — should it expand past the current 12-team layout to a 16-team
one. The second-year head coach suggested staging play-in games to decide who earns automatic qualification in the CFP from the Big Ten and SEC. The two teams that reach the conference championship game would automatically qualify. Meanwhile, Nos. 3 through 6 in the regular season standings would face off with a playoff berth at stake.
“You want to decide that on the field and make sure everybody’s strength of schedule is what it needs to be?” Cignetti said. “Let’s make everybody play nine conference games, and on championship weekend, three will play six, four will play five.”
Cignetti cited Ohio State, which won the national championship in 2024, as an example. The Buckeyes finished fourth in the Big Ten, meaning any of the four teams could be capable of hoisting the national championship trophy come Monday night in mid-January.
Under the format Cignet-
ti discussed, the Big Ten and SEC would each have four automatic bids, the Big 12 with two, the ACC with two and G5 with one. The remaining three slots would be at-large bids.
Each Power Four school would also transition to playing nine conference games during the regular season.
Contrary to Cignetti and the Big Ten’s vision, the SEC wants the CFP to remain in its current format where each Power Four conference champion earns an automatic bid alongside the highest-ranked G5 school.
Maryland head coach Michael Locksley, who was backstage during Cignetti’s press conference awaiting his turn at the podium, gave his opinion on Cignetti’s proposal.
“I heard Curt,” Locksley said. “Man, he had this whole thing mapped out. Whatever Curt said, I agree with, because Curt has that thing figured out.”
Locksley then stated he wanted to “stay within my lane” as playoff nego-
tiations are a part of Petitti’s — whom he said he trusts — responsibilities as commissioner.
Petitti, who assumed his role just over two years ago, said the Big Ten wants to “better connect” the regular season with the postseason.
“A critical goal of any post-season format, regardless of sport, is to keep as many teams alive as deep into the season as possible,” Petitti said. “We want more conference games to matter in November. Also, the playoff format should not function as a disincentive to schedule tough, nonconference games.” No matter how the CFP looks in the future, Cignetti has one prevailing belief that could help decide which teams are worthy of selection.
“We need to standardize the schedule across the board if we want to have objective criteria for who should be in the playoffs and who shouldn’t,” Cignetti said, “and we need to take the decision-making off the committee to some degree.”
Highlighting international sports stars at IU
By Ben LeGrand
With over 6,500 international students, Indiana University’s campus and sports teams have felt the impact from IU’s international community. Indiana boasts a total of 261 Olympic births, representing 30 different countries since 1904. Here are some recent international Hoosiers who have performed for the Cream and Crimson and across the world:
Men’s soccer
• Collins Oduro
Oduro is an incoming junior forward from Ghana. He has started 41 games and scored 8 goals in two seasons for the Hoosiers, receiving Big 10 all-freshman honors in 2023 for the conference championship winning Hoosiers. The team has made the sweet 16 of the national tournament 10 years in a row.
Jacopo Fedrizzi
Fedrizzi is an incoming junior from Giulia, Italy. The midfielder led the Missouri Valley Conference champion University of Evansville in assists in 2024[SN1] .
Men’s basketball
• Aleksa Ristic
Ristic is an incoming freshman guard from Nis, Serbia. He played three years in Serbia’s top basketball league and averaged 13.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this past season.
Women’s Basketball
Swimming
• Yarden Garzon Garzon, originally from Ra’anana, Israel, recently transferred to the University of Maryland, but she left her mark during her three seasons with the Hoosiers. She set the program career 3-point record with 206 in March.
The women’s basketball team has four international players on their roster for this upcoming season.
• Phoenix Stotijn Stotjin is a Netherlands national team player and incoming sophomore transfer from the University of Arkansas, where she averaged 7.2 points in 21 games.
Men’s Track Martin Segurola Segurola, a native of San Sebastian, Spain, was an All American in the 1500 meters this past NCAA championship[SN3] [LB4] after finishing 12th in the final.
• Rikkoi Brathwaite On the international side, Brathwaite qualified for the 2024 Olympics in the 100-meter sprint
LAUREN MCKINNEY | IDS
Hoosiers went 11-2 in Cignetti’s first season at the
GISELLE MARSTELLER | IDS
Forward Collins Oduro drives the ball down the field during a game against Northwestern on Oct. 29, 2024,
in Bloomington. Oduro is returning to Indiana after being selected in the MLS SuperDraft.
Indiana Athletics unveils 2025 Hall of Fame
By Nathan Shriberg naashri@iu.edu | @nshriberg
Indiana Athletics announced its 40th class of Athletics Hall of Fame inductees July 31.
Meradith Dickensheets (Rowing, 2012-15), Angel Escobedo (Wrestling, 200710), Mel Groomes (Football, 1944-47), Dr. Peggy Martin (Field Hockey/Women’s Basketball/Softball, 196972), Glenn Terry (Men’s Track and Field, 1990-93) and Cody Zeller (Men’s Basketball, 2011-13) will be inducted Sept. 5 and celebrated during halftime at the Indiana-Kennesaw State football game at Memorial Stadium Sept. 6. Philadelphia Phillies outfielder/designated hitter Kyle Schwarber was also selected in his first year of eligibility but has deferred his induction to a year that better fits his MLB schedule.
Dickensheets joined the women’s rowing team in 2012 as a freshman walk-on without any rowing experience. She went on to become a two-time first-team AllAmerican and two-time firstteam All-Big Ten rower, leading the team to NCAA Championship berths in both 2014 and 2015. Dickensheets will become the first rower inducted into the Indiana Athletics Hall of Fame.
Angel Escobedo is an NCAA champion wrestler (2008) who won three Big Ten titles (2008-10) and finished in the top 5 nationally in each of his four seasons at Indiana. His 137 wins are second in program history, and he’s the only Hoosier to be a four-time All-American. Escobedo went on to wrestle for Team USA in international competitions, placing fifth at the 2013 World Championships. He currently serves as the head coach of Indiana wrestling.
Mel Groomes was the leading receiver on Indiana’s
Six new members will be inducted at the Hall of Fame dinner on Sept. 5
undefeated 1945 Big Ten Championship team, where he played alongside legends George Taliaferro and Bill Armstrong. Groomes was an All-Big Ten athlete in both football and track and field. After graduating in 1948, he followed Indiana coach Bo McMillin to the Detroit Lions, becoming the first Black player in Lions history and the first Black Hoosier to play in the NFL. Groomes passed away at age 70 in 1997. Dr. Peggy Martin was a three-sport athlete at Indiana, playing basketball, field hockey, and softball. Her
Indiana women’s basketball teams made three straight AIAW Tournament appearances. After graduation, she became the winningest NCAA coach in a fourth sport, volleyball. Dr. Martin has won 28 Coach of the Year awards in 49 seasons and currently serves as the head volleyball coach at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. Kyle Schwarber was a two-time first-team AllAmerican in his three seasons at Indiana. He hit .341 in his 180 career games, racking up 238 hits, includ-
ing 40 home runs. He led Indiana to two Big Ten regular season and tournament championships and took the Hoosiers to their first ever College World Series in 2013. Schwarber was drafted 4th overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 2014 MLB Draft and has cultivated a decorated professional career. A three-time All-Star (2021, 2022, 2025), National League home run leader (2022), All-Star Game MVP (2025) and World Series Champion (2016), Schwarber is one of the most accomplished baseball players in Indiana
history. Glenn Terry won NCAA titles in both the 55-meter hurdles indoor and the 110-meter hurdles outdoor as a senior in 1993. Over the course of his career, he was a five-time All-American and six-time Big Ten individual event champion. During his time at Indiana, the track and field team won 5 Big Ten titles. Cody Zeller joined Indiana as a five-star recruit in 2011. His arrival helped reshape the program, as the team went from 12-20 to 27-9 in his first season.
As Indiana’s leading scorer, Zeller was the 2011-12 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. His efforts led the team all the way to the Sweet 16. As a sophomore, Zeller’s 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game led Indiana to the Big Ten Championship and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, earning him second-team All-American honors. Zeller was selected 4th overall in the 2013 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats. His 11-year NBA career was highlighted by an NBA finals appearance with the Miami Heat in 2023.
Kyle Schwarber hits the ball against the Michigan State Spartans in a 3-2 win at Sembower Field during his freshman year at Indiana. Schwarber was selected to the Indiana Athletics Hall of Fame July 31.
The Bison is officially back as Indiana’s mascot
By Conor Banks conbanks@iu.edu
The bison is officially set to return as Indiana Athletics official mascot, the school announced in a social media post Tuesday.
Following its first College Football Playoff appearance and the most successful football season in recent memory, the Indiana
Student Government introduced the Bring Back the Bison Act of 2024. The bill was passed in December and officially signaled the return of Hoosier the Bison to represent Indiana Athletics. The bison debuted as Indiana’s official mascot in 1965, but it was quickly phased out in 1969. The school briefly adopted Mr.
Hoosier Pride as its mascot ten years later in 1979.
However, this version was retired after just one year.
Indiana first hinted at the return of the bison on its social media platforms in a video released on May 15.
The school then released a series of teasers, including appearances from former Indiana women’s basketball player Sydney Parrish,
football head coach Curt Cignetti, and men’s basketball head coach Darian DeVries, before officially announcing the adoption of the bison.
Tuesday’s reveal kicked off with a “Star Wars” inspired opening sequence featuring the title “Return of the Bison.”
The sequence explained the history of the bison
and its ties to Bloomington. “For centuries bison walked through what is now known as Bloomington along the Buffalo Trace,” the post said. “As a result, bison imagery has been found over the last 200 years on the campus of Indiana University. It is the distinguishing feature of the state seal.”
The video concluded with the depiction of a pa-
per signed by Hoosier, with the words “I’m Back,” before including an overhead shot of the new mascot overlooking Memorial Stadium. Hoosier the Bison’s return marks Indiana’s first physical mascot since 1980, as the bison looks to play an integral role in representing the school’s storied athletic programs.
Indiana sells out Big Ten opener against Illinois on Sept. 20
By Dalton James jamesdm@iu.edu | @daltonmjames
Indiana football’s Big Ten-opener Sept. 20 against Illinois at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington is now sold out, according to the program’s X post Thursday.
In Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti’s first season at the helm in 2024, the Hoosiers’ final four home games - all victories against Nebraska, Washington, Michigan and Purdue – were each sold out. A limited quantity of tickets are still available for the season opener against Old Dominion University on Aug. 30 and homecoming against Michigan State on Oct. 18. No matter the Hoosiers’ opponent, Cignetti said in a press conference Wednesday that he expects Memorial
Stadium to be sold out. He did, however, acknowledge Indiana’s Sept. 12 matchup against Indiana State University may be more of a challenge.
“It gets a little tougher to get to the stadium for some people on a Friday night, but we create a lot of excitement around here, and I expect to have great crowds.”
In the Big Ten preseason poll, the Fighting Illini ranked No. 4 while the Hoosiers checked in at No. 6. Illinois, led by fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema, is coming off a 10-win season and retain starting quarterback Luke Altmeyer, who earned preseason All-Big Ten honors. Before facing off with the Hoosiers, the Fighting Illini will take on Western Illinois University, Duke University and Western Michigan University.
Indiana safety Louis Moore sues NCAA for 2025 eligibility
By Nathan Shriberg
naashri@iu.edu @nhriberg
Indiana football safety Louis Moore has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA for his eligibility this season, as reported by ESPN. In a hearing Wednesday, Judge Dale Tillery granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, finding “there is evidence Moore will be harmed irreparably if he is not able to join the Indiana football team.”
The ruling allows Moore to join the team for 14 days. A full hearing will be held on Aug. 27. If an injunction is granted, Moore will be
Moore last played for the Hoosiers in 2023
allowed to remain with the team for the full season. Moore started at Navarro Junior College, playing there from 2019-21. The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After junior college, Moore enrolled at Indiana in 2022 before transferring to Ole Miss for the 2024 season and then back to Indiana, hoping to play in the 2025 season. After a federal judge granted Vanderbilt University quarterback Diego Pavia an injunction for an extra year of eligibility, the NCAA Division 1 Board of Directors approved a blan-
ket waiver granting an extra year of eligibility (2025-26) to former junior college transfers in Pavia’s position. Moore transferred believing he’d qualify for the extra year since COVID-19 caused one of his seasons to be cancelled. Despite this policy, the NCAA denied Moore’s initial request for a waiver, the decision which led Moore to file the lawsuit.
Following the denial of his waiver in June, Moore was ineligible to play. He argues that his time playing at Navarro (2019-21) should not count against him, while citing potential losses in earnings of
around $400,000. Moore is being represented by Dallas-based attorney Brian P. Lauten.
“The NCAA rules are now subject to the Sherman antitrust act,” Lauten told the Indiana Daily Student. “The NCAA cannot restrict the right of student athletes to pursue name, image and likeness contracts and deals.”
The Sherman Antitrust Act, enacted in 1890, is a federal statute designed to prevent monopolies by prohibiting actions that restrict interstate commerce and prevent competition. The Supreme Court ruled in
NCAA v. Alston (2021) that the NCAA rules limiting education-related compensation violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act.
“The NCAA cannot restrict the right of student athletes to pursue name, image, and likeness contracts and deals.”
Brian P. Lauten, Attorney
Regarding the Diego Pavia case, Lauten said, “the exact same situation is presented here and the outcome should be the same...
No school should have an advantage by having the rule selectively and inconsistently applied.” In denying Moore’s waiver, the NCAA is attempting to enforce a bylaw that states that time spent in a junior college counts against their NCAA eligibility. “Restricting junior college eligibility at non-NCAA schools basically penalizes the student athlete for not going to an NCAA school,” Lauten said. “And [it] also penalizes the junior college because their athletes are dissuaded from coming there.”
IU’s bison mascot is pictured in 1966. The mascot was introduced in 1965, retired in 1969 and brought back in 2025.
LAUREN MCKINNEY | IDS
Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti is pictured during a press conference at Big Ten Football Media Days inside Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas on July 22, 2025. The Hoosiers’ 2025 Big Ten-opener is Sept. 20 against Illinois.
Palmer Ault adapting quickly to life with Indiana
By Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer matfuent@iu.edu | @mateo_frohwer
Palmer Ault and the state of Indiana have long been connected.
The Hoosier senior forward is a native of Noblesville, Indiana. He played high school soccer for Noblesville High School, winning a state championship in 2021. He joined Butler University for the first three seasons of his college career, racking up accolades in every season with the Bulldogs.
It seems fitting that Ault is finishing his collegiate career at his home state’s titular university. Saturday marked Ault’s first goal of the preseason, which was also the first of three in Indiana’s 3-0 victory over the University of Louisville at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington.
For some, the goal might have provided a sense of relief, one which marked a player’s arrival to a new program and team.
But internally, Ault arrived at Indiana long ago.
“At this stage of my career, it’s been a great change to come into this new environment and really just integrate with these guys and their culture,” Ault said postgame. “It’s been fantastic. I feel right at home.” December 2024 marked Ault’s official decision to join Indiana, leaving a Butler program he still feels thankful for. His career with the Bulldogs featured lots of personal success, with Ault earning Big East Freshman of the Year honors as well as an All-Big East First Team selection. Despite a slight dip in production, he still received All-Big East Second Team honors in each of his next two seasons.
However, with Indiana’s
need for attackers following the departures of Tommy Mihalic, Sam Sarver and Justin Weiss coupled with Ault’s emergence as one of the top transfer portal targets, the match seemed perfect.
Ault’s early addition to the Hoosier squad helped with his transition. In Indiana’s first spring season match March 1, he netted two goals against the University of Evansville. But the squad still wasn’t totally solidified in the spring, leaving more questions as to Ault’s adjustment to his new teammates.
But if the preseason has shown one thing, it’s that Ault has had no issue adapt-
ing to his surroundings.
“Palmer is a great kid,” Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley said. “He could adapt (to) any team, but he already knew some of our players, and he just feels at home — he’s an Indiana kid, he’s very welcome here and so I think his acclimation was really clean and smooth.”
Monday’s match against Western Michigan University marked Indiana’s first test with its entire 2025 squad, but most notably, it was also Ault’s first match next to freshman Colton Swan in the attack. It took no time to see Ault and Swan had a level of
chemistry beyond their time as teammates.
“It’s been a great start to our connection on the field,” Ault said. “And he’s a great person as well, so being able to connect with him off the field is another thing. It’s just been free flowing, and I feel that connection and chemistry is only going to continue growing.”
Indiana’s first goal against Louisville showcased the Hoosier forwards’ connection. After graduate student defender Ben Do beat his man down the line, Swan sprinted to the near post, freeing space for Ault to direct the cross into the back of the net.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
It almost certainly won’t be Ault’s only goal for the Hoosiers this season, but if it is, then that won’t necessarily be an issue to him. Success this season won’t be personal accolades for the senior, although a Player of the Year award is certainly on his radar.
Yeagley labeled Ault as “arguably one of the better attackers in the country,” which was validated by the senior’s inclusion on the United Soccer Coaches Forwards to Watch list. But Ault also understands that national awards will come with team success, which is paramount to him.
“It doesn’t matter if I
have no goals and Colton has all the goals,” Ault said. “At the end of the day, it’s all about getting wins in the win column.” Ault and the Hoosiers will take it one game at a time, starting with No. 9 Clemson University at 8 p.m. Thursday at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington.
Only then can Indiana’s win column start to grow — and the Indiana kid can put a stamp on the legacy of the storied Hoosier program. “With the success that Indiana has had, I hope to contribute to what they’ve had in the past,” Ault said, “and hopefully go above and beyond.”
Indiana tallies 6 goals in rout of Youngstown State
By Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer
Indiana women’s soccer wasted no time proving its attack could be a difference-maker in 2025. With six different scoring plays — including two goals each from sophomore midfielder Maggie Ledwith and senior forward Sarah Sirdah — the Hoosiers’ offense powered past Youngstown State University 6-1 Thursday night.
The Hoosiers commanding victory gave first-year head coach Josh Rife his first win in his Indiana coaching debut, and his 50th victory all time.
Both programs entered the contest in similar positions, each looking to start strong under a new head coach. The Penguins, who finished with just five wins last season, aimed to make history with their first-ever victory over a Big Ten opponent.
Sophomore Haden Vlcek got the scoring started for the Hoosiers in the 12th minute. After receiving a free kick from Senior Olivia Albert, Vleck put a nifty header on the goal. Despite the attempt being saved, the sophomore tapped the rebound off of her right foot and found the bottom right corner of the net to open the scoring. In the second half, the Hoosiers were able to turn the constant pressure into
five more goals in the final forty-five minutes. Ledwith peppered a shot to the bottom left corner, past the diving reach of redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Maya Naimoli. Her shot came a few yards past the 18-yard box in the 47th minute, adding to Indiana’s lead shortly after the break.
With Indiana attacking in the 60th minute, freshman defender Grace Hamm put a seamless through ball into the box. Sophomore forward Aleyna Quinn met it with her right foot, netting her first collegiate goal to extend the Indiana lead. Just a minute later, Ledwith found herself in the
right place at the right time, as a deflected pass in Youngstown State’s box found her feet. She followed with her second goal of the night, rolling a shot past the shielded Naimoli who didn’t see the shot until it was too late. In the 75th minute, Penguin freshman defender
Ava Paris tripped up Sirdah in the box, which led to a penalty. Sirdah did not waste her opportunity as she knocked in the penalty kick to push the Indiana lead to five.
Youngstown State found a score in the 79th minute, ending the shutout. Freshman forward Baylee Wil-
Devin Taylor becomes highest-picked Hoosier since
By
jamesdm@iu.edu
Indiana baseball outfielder Devin Taylor became the highest-drafted outfielder in program history Sunday, as the Athletics selected him in the second round with the 48th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Taylor, who played the past three seasons in Bloomington, is the highest-drafted Hoosier since the Chicago Cubs picked Kyle Schwarber with the fourth overall pick in 2014. From the moment Taylor
arrived at Indiana, he was poised to become a star. Indiana head coach Jeff Mercer, who began recruiting Taylor when he was 14 years old and already had the plate approach of an MLB veteran, dubbed the Cincinnati native a “program changer.” Taylor was the 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and went on to earn eight total All-American honors across his three seasons donning the Cream and Crimson. He was a unanimous All-American in his junior season, which ended
without a trip to the NCAA Tournament in the spring. Taylor set the program record for home runs with 54. He finished his collegiate career with a .350 batting average, 220 hits and 179 RBIs. The Athletics, which are amid a relocation from Oakland, California to Las Vegas and are currently playing in Sacramento, California, had previously selected five Hoosiers in previous drafts — pitcher Jack Perkins being the most recent in 2022 — before Taylor became the sixth Sunday.
Taylor was drafted at a slot value of $2.03 million, which serves as a beginning point for contract negotiations. Taylor will likely begin his professional career with either the Stockton Ports in Single-A or the Lansing Lugnuts in High-A. Since Mercer took over the reins of the Hoosiers ahead of the 2019 season, he has now produced 27 MLB draft selections — a number that will certainly grow as one of Taylor’s counterparts in 2025, Korbyn Dickerson, is slated to be drafted.
liams netted a breakaway opportunity past the diving effort of Indiana senior goalkeeper Dani Jacobson. The goal cut the Indiana lead to 5-1 but was the extent of the Penguin scoring. Indiana’s control of possession throughout the match aided their commanding victory. The Hoosiers dominated the stat sheet throughout, leaving Youngstown State with very few opportunities to strike. However, one errant pass from Jacobsen was intercepted and sent up for a score as the Penguins were able to find themselves on the scoreboard as the game began to come to a close. Sirdah and the Hoosiers weren’t satisfied as she struck a laser into the top left corner from twenty yards out. Her shot sailed past the goalkeeper with 1:30 remaining in the match, tallying her second score and the Hoosiers sixth score of the match. In a postgame interview with Big Ten Network, Rife credited his team’s success to their coachability and the changes implemented following halftime. The Hoosiers notched their third consecutive season opening victory as Rife begins his coaching career at Indiana with a win. Indiana takes on Ball State University at 5 p.m. Thursday, at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington.
JIMMY RUSH
Oduro sole returner in new look forward line
By Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer
matfuent@iu.edu | @mateo_frohwer
Consistency is often a word associated with the Indiana men’s soccer program — and it’s certainly an accurate description. The Hoosiers have reached the NCAA Tournament every year since 1987. They have made it to the Sweet 16 for 10 straight years. The last eight Major League Soccer SuperDrafts have featured a Hoosier drafted in the top 10.
It’s no surprise this level of consistency extends to their front line, which has featured forwards Tommy Mihalic and Sam Sarver for the past four seasons. The duo combined for 48 goals and 30 assists over the course of their Hoosiers tenure, with Mihalic earning 2024 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year while Sarver secured consecutive thirdteam All-American selections in 2023 and 2024. Mihalic and Sarver both joined the professional ranks after graduation at Los Angeles Football Club 2 and FC Dallas, respectively.
Additionally, forward Justin Weiss netted seven goals in 2024, his only season donning the Cream and Crimson before leaving the collegiate level. So, with two program stalwarts and a key contributor departing, Indiana has a challenge on its hands to replace them.
But it’s something the Hoosiers are prepared for.
Oduro returns following draft selection
Only one player remains from Indiana’s starting frontline for the majority of the 2024 season — junior Collins Oduro. And after an offseason that featured his selection in the second round of the MLS SuperDraft to Orlando SC, even more is expected of the Bibiani, Ghana, native.
“I think he is maybe one of the attackers that has to be and is ready to be a big-
ger contributor, not only in the stat sheet but just in his overall play and the way he’s looking,” Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley said in a press conference Aug. 5. “I don’t see why that won’t be the case.”
Oduro opened his collegiate career scoring five goals and assisting two while starting in all 24 matches of the 2023 season. Building off his freshman success, he overcame a rough start to finish strong with three goals and five assists in his final 12 games of the season.
But now, Oduro is set to be one of the most experienced Hoosiers on the squad. Development is still necessary for him, Yeagley said, specifically with his action in the final third. And with sights still set on silverware, a lot is needed from Oduro — regardless of
whether he decides to stay for his senior season with Indiana or join the professional ranks.
“We (Oduro and coaching staff) are not making any predetermined decisions,” Yeagley said. “He just wants to have the best season he can, and then we’ll address it after the season on what his best next step would be.”
Ault poised to make immediate impact Replacing the No. 10 shirt that Mihalic has worn for so long will be a daunting task.
But if any player is ready to do so, Yeagley believes it’s senior Palmer Ault.
“He’s going to be arguably one of the better attackers in the country,” he said.
Ault joined the Hoosiers in December from Butler University, where he contributed 21 goals and 12 as-
sists in 49 games. His freshman campaign proved to be his most decorated, with both Big East Freshman of the Year honors and an AllBig East first team selection. Ault’s following two seasons weren’t bad either as he earned All-Big East secondteam selections in both.
Joining a new-look Indiana squad means Ault is being forced to take on a leadership role that he may seem uncomfortable in at first, Yeagley noted, but the head coach and his staff have challenged him “to be more of an on the field leader.”
“He needs to step up, and he has,” Yeagley said. “He demands a lot from himself, but it’s demanding more from his teammates.”
If his past reflects any of the future, Ault’s output won’t be an issue — and coupled with his developed
leadership skills, he could be the critical piece to unlock Indiana’s attack.
Youngsters provide depth Sophomore Michael Nesci jumped onto the scene early in the season a year ago, scoring a goal against the University of Notre Dame on Aug. 29 — his second college appearance — as well as netting the winner against the University of Kentucky on Oct. 8. Yeagley expects a “step up” from some of his youngsters in the attack, with the Chicago native included.
Along with Nesci are sophomore Easton Bogard and junior Clay Murador, who both provide meaningful depth. The two forwards saw limited time last season but could play meaningful minutes this season with multiple gaps needing to be filled.
One of Indiana’s new additions, freshman forward Colton Swan, is a name Yeagley highlighted. The Detroit native played club with the Colorado Rapids academy, where he totaled 34 goals and 14 assists in two seasons while also securing the U16 MLS Cup Golden Boot award.
“We thought he’s a nine that could also help in how we build our attack with not only a rotation, but just his skill set and his danger to be on the end of things,” Yeagley said.
Yeagley will have a tough task in slotting all his capable forwards into one, cohesive group. The first look at this new front line will be in the Hoosiers’ exhibition against No. 20 Western Michigan University at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington.
T101
T120
Design
T-D231 Introduction to Dance Studies
The Indiana men’s soccer team walks to the halfway line before a game against the University of Akron on Nov. 24, 2024, at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington. The Hoosiers were ranked no. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll entering the 2025-26 season.
Mendoza named to Maxwell Award watchlist
By Dalton James jamesdm@iu.edu | @daltonmjames
Just two days ahead of Indiana football beginning its fall camp, its marquee quarterback-receiver duo earned preseason recognition Monday.
Redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza and senior wide receiver Elijah Sarratt were both named to the Maxwell Award preseason watchlist, according to a National College Football Awards Association release. The watchlist for the award, which honors the most outstanding player in college football, is comprised of 80 total players. Only running back Anthony Thompson has ever won the award as a Hoosier, earning the honor in 1989. Thompson rushed for 1,793 yards and 24 touchdowns in his senior season in Bloom-
ington.
Semifinalists for the award will be announced Nov. 11, before the three finalists are unveiled Nov. 25. The winner of the 89th Maxwell Award will be announced Dec. 11 as a part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
Mendoza made 19 starts in 20 career games played during his first three collegiate seasons at the University of California, Berkeley, before entering the transfer portal at the end of the 2024 season. Rated as the No. 14 overall player and thirdbest signal caller in the portal by 247 Sports, the Miami native committed to the Hoosiers on Dec. 24, 2024.
Mendoza started 11 of Cal’s 12 contests last year, throwing for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns. He completed 68.7% of his passes and earned a 144.6 passer rating.
In Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti’s second season at the helm, he’ll have yet another starting quarterback who came from the portal in Mendoza. Once the signal caller entered the portal, Cignetti said he watched “a lot” of his tape.
“Saw a quarterback that had played a lot of football, a lot of good football,” Cignetti said at Big Ten Football Media Days on July 22. “Has size. Has mobility, quick release, good arm. Can extend plays. Smart guy. He has areas he has to improve, but I really liked his last five days of spring ball. I have a lot of confidence in him. Excited to see how he develops.”
Sarratt earned thirdteam All-Big ten honors in 2024, notching 957 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The James Madison University transfer graded out as the fourth-best receiver in the Big Ten and
13th-best in the Power Four in his first season in Bloomington, according to Pro Football Focus. Indiana is one of 16 programs to have multiple players on the preseason watchlist, including just two other Big Ten schools — Penn State and Washington. The Cream and Crimson are slated to begin their fall
Transfers fill the shoes of graduating seniors at midfield
By Elakai Anela eanela@iu.edu | @elakai_anela
Midfielder Patrick Mc-
Donald’s impact on the pitch was one of the main reasons for Indiana’s men’s soccer team’s success during the 2024 season.
Despite being drafted in the third round of the 2024 MLS Superdraft, McDonald opted to return to Indiana to finish his final year of eligibility last season. Ultimately, the Hoosiers wrapped up their season with a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament.
However, with McDonald completing his senior season and being drafted by Toronto FC in the third round again (59th overall) of the MLS Superdraft, the
Cream and Crimson will have to rely on a plethora of new players and a couple of returning players.
Transfer Bruletti slides into the forefront of the midfield attack
While Indiana has decisions to make as to who will start in the midfield position, senior Cristiano Bruletti appears to be one of the top options. The 5’11” midfielder, who transferred from Michigan State after previously playing at the University of South Carolina, appeared in 49 matches with 44 starts last season. Bruletti scored three goals and totaled three assists, contributing to 15 clean sheets for the Spartans. All signs point to him playing full minutes in his
first season with the Hoosiers.
“With Patrick [McDonald] moving on, Bruletti brings a tough, gritty attitude,” head coach Todd Yeagley said. “He’s a twoway midfielder who can help ensure the midfield is in good order on the pitch... he is a guy who has amazing winning qualities. I think he’ll be a voice in our midfield that will help, along with a collection of other players.”
Incoming international transfer enters the fold
Another key addition to the midfield group is Jacopo Fedrizzi. Fedrizzi is an incoming junior from Giulia, Italy, and spent the last two years at the University of Evansville.
In 2023, Fedrizzi only appeared in four matches but scored his first career goal in a 3-1 victory over Cal State Fullerton.
He took a major leap last year, leading a successful Purple Aces squad to the Missouri Vally Conference Championship. He tallied a team-high six assists and scored four goals in 20 matches played with the Purple Aces.
At the end of the year, Fedrizzi was named to the Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference.
Returning options help support depth
Even with several transfers coming to Bloomington this year, the Cream and Crimson retained a few key pieces at midfield.
One such player is sophomore Charlie Heuer, who cracked the starting lineup at the end of last year. In the offseason, he has continued to take strides and is expected to take on a bigger role this season.
“Charlie was very, very patient last year. He’s an ambitious kid; he came in with a lot of accolades,” Yeagley said. “In the last third of the year, he excelled in his role. I think he can step into a much bigger role this year, not only with his minutes but also with his presence and quality of play.
Heuer was featured in 11 appearances with the Hoosiers last season. He recorded four goals and two assists. The Elmhurst, Illinois, native was named
to the Big Ten All-Freshman team as well as the Big Ten All-Tournament team.
Another key piece returning is senior Jack Wagoner. In the 2024 season, he played all 21 matches, starting 20 of them. Wagoner made his mark last year for Indiana in a crucial win over UCLA on October 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. Both Wagoner and Heuer are expected to start for the Hoosiers and play vital roles in the midfield. Although Indiana’s lineup isn’t set in stone just yet, Coach Yeagley and the rest of the staff have much to deliberate.
Yeagley described the outlook for the substitution pattern as one that has “plenty of options.”
Indiana University
an
Cristiano Bruletti and Jacopo Fedrizzi slide into the Hoosiers’ depth chart
ARTS
WFHB set to lose almost 25% of funding
The Bluebird Nightclub was crowded with over 200 people July 10, for the “WFHB Past and Present” commemorative concert. Memorabilia of WFHB’s 50 years as Bloomington’s community radio station decorated the venue’s tables. It was intended as a walk down memory lane — an echo of the radio station’s first fundraiser in 1975 at the same venue — but beneath the celebration lay uncertainty about the station’s future.
July 18 Congress voted to approve the $9 billion Rescissions Act of 2025, which included $1.1 billion in cuts for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. For WFHB, this federal funding cut represents nearly a quarter of the station’s budget.
“The difference is about $110,000, which is quite a stretch to just have a couple extra fund drives and expect the listeners to continue funding us at that level,” said Jar Turner, the station’s general manager. “We really got no choice but to consider cuts.”
The WFHB concept was first conceived in 1974 by Mark Hood, Jeffrey Morris and Craig Palmer. The first fundraiser for the station was held July 9, 1975, in the Bluebird, and raised over $700 — equivalent to about $4,200 in 2025.
Although the station recognizes the 1975 fundraiser as its origin, the first broadcast didn’t occur until much later on Jan. 4, 1993. The 18 years between were spent with the founders spending the time fighting for space on the radio dial, purchasing an acre of land for the future WFHB tower and obtaining construction permits. Turner started volun-
By Sydney Weber syaweber@iu.edu
It started as a joke. The Figs, an indie band, posted an Instagram Reel where they wrote part of a song in the style of Forrest Frank, a Christian pop/hip hop artist. Frank responded, The Figs responded and then the song, titled “LEMONADE,” came out on Aug. 1. A day later, it was briefly the number one song across all genres. The upbeat, uber-catchy song is one of the many new releases I’ve been enjoying this summer, even as others, like music reporter Elias Leight in the Wall Street Journal, lament the lack of mainstream megahits.
While it’s true we’re not getting fresh material from big names like Taylor Swift, I
teering at the station in 2013, about five years after he moved to Bloomington. Turner said it was the city’s strong music and arts scene that drew him in, but it took him until 2013 to find out about WFHB after a friend mentioned it to him.
“I was just like ‘Wait, you can just do that?” Turner said. “‘There’s a radio station where someone I know could just go and play music on the radio?’ So that was intriguing.”
He started out as a volunteer DJ and recording engineer, before moving into a part-time position doing operations tasks from 2013 to 2016. He became the general manager in August 2016, and that almost nineyear tenure makes him the longest running GM in the station’s history.
“The first thing you’ll notice is that there’s no format for the station. It’s not a country station, it’s not a classic rock station, it’s everything,” Turner said. “So, it’s whatever the programmer makes it.”
WFHB doesn’t rely on advertising revenue and predetermined playlists like commercial radio stations, and it produces unique programming that serves underrepresented communities. WFHB hosts the only dedicated weekly show to African American issues in Indiana, called “Bring It On,” and also features “BloomingOUT,” the state’s only weekly show dedicated to LGBTQ+ issues.
WFHB has no direct connection to NPR, like other local radio stations might, but is still being impacted by the bill targeting funding meant for NPR and PBS.
“There might be a syndicated program that is producing an NPR station that we air, but we have nothing
disagree that there aren’t any good new songs for the summer season. I understand that pronouncements like “no good new music” and “there’s no ‘song of the summer this year’ ” are sweeping generalizations not meant to be taken literally — people also point to the success of the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack which released June 20 — but I’m still taking the opportunity to highlight some of the music I’ve had on repeat since school got out.
“More Than I Could Ask For” by Ben Rector Rector’s latest album, “The Richest Man In The World,” came out May 30, and this is one of my favorite tracks. The sweet, rolling chorus never fails to make
to do with NPR,”
“And that is not a dig to NPR. We’re just caught in the crossfire”
The rescission package couldn’t have come at a worse time for WFHB, which Turner says already runs on a shoestring budget that leaves almost no wiggle room to absorb a $110,000 hit.
“Unfortunately, we live pretty lean. You know, once in a while we’ll have events or something like that, but we live pretty lean,” Turner said. “And so, a lot of our fixed expenses are just that; they’re fixed. We don’t have any control over them. We can’t reduce the light bill. I mean, we can turn the lights off a little bit, save some pennies here and there, but we can’t do much about those fixed expenses.”
The station has grown during Turner’s tenure, expanding from five staff members to eight, but the future for some of these positions is now in jeopardy. And when you can’t cut the electric bill or rent, the only things left are people and programming.
Test of community
When word got out about the potential funding cuts, donations started pouring in from listeners who finally understood what was at stake.
“We had a lot of people turning up for WFHB, and you know we’re riding a momentum right now. I think the question is like how we have to still adjust our sights because that momentum is not likely going to be enough to replace government funding,” Turner said.
After the bill was passed, Turner still felt grateful for community members who reached out to Congress members to advocate on the
me nod along with the beat.
“Right in the Middle” by Brandon Lake and Hulvey Christian alternative artist Brandon Lake released a new album, “King of Hearts,” on June 16, and this is indisputably my top pick from the 24 tracks. I’m a Christian and find the lyrics both relatable and encouraging. Hulvey’s rapped lines are raw and really add to the honest and earnest song.
“On My Mind” by Alex Warren and Rosé Ahead of releasing the expanded version of his album
“You’ll Be Alright, Kid,” Alex Warren dropped the single “On My Mind,” a collaboration with former BLACKPINK member Rosé. The song, released June 27, starts softly, building to a more
behalf of public media. Because of Congress’ staggered funding approach, WFHB has time to figure out exactly what will happen in 2026 when the cuts hit.
“There will be some pain felt, but we’ll do everything in our power to minimize disruptions to our core programming,” Turner said. “It’s a tall order to ask our community to fill a gap that large all at once, but it’s an opportunity and a good reminder that local support is where it all started. The event held at the Bluebird on July 10 to celebrate the first fundraiser for the station was a great display of that spirit. WFHB marches on.”
Turner thinks WFHB represents something increasingly rare in media, as algorithms and perfectionism overtake the human element.
“The simplicity of getting into your car, turning on the ignition, and the WFHB is just playing,” Turner said. “It’s a fun ride. ‘What’s going to be next? What is this person going to follow up this song with?’ And so, there’s a mystique. There’s still a magic about radio that I think people are drawn to.”
The politics of public radio
Adriane Pontecorvo has watched WFHB evolve since she started volunteering in 2011 as a music programmer and genre director. She’d never heard of community radio before stumbling across WFHB, but like Turner, she was immediately intrigued by the idea that regular people could just walk in and get on the air.
“When I first came to Bloomington, I was neither a student nor a ‘townie,’ and that’s a hard place to be in a college town,” Pontecorvo said. “WFHB welcomed me and gave me the tools to
plug into a very multidimensional version of what South Central Indiana is: a place shaped by students, townies and everyone in between and beyond those labels.”
She had spent two months in Finland before moving to Bloomington, and the presence of Finnish music on WFHB caught her attention.
“When I first tuned in to WFHB, the very first track I heard was from Finnish band Frigg — not during a ‘world music’-specific show, but just in the middle of the day, mixed in with a whole cross-genre array of music,” Pontecorvo said. “It was a surreal moment for me at the time. Since then, I’ve heard countless stories from countless people that were just as remarkable as moments of connection.”
While her volunteer position at WFHB is safe from the budget cuts, she knows the reductions will ripple across everything the station does. CFB announced it would be shutting down in response to the package’s passing Aug. 1. Congress issues the CFB’s funding two fiscal years in advance, with the recission package targeting 2026 and 2027 funding. The rescission procedure within the congressional budget process began with the passing of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which further defined if a president had the constitutional right to impound approved allocated finance. Recissions are one of two ways the 1974 act allows the president to legally disagree with funding — the other was deferral which the Supreme Court later found unconstitutional. The process allows the president to submit requests to cancel specific financial appro-
priations which haven’t yet been fulfilled. Congress has 45 days after the request is submitted to respond and vote on the bill, with this recent package passing on its last possible day. Turner describes the process as the president “clawing back” promised funding.
“To have it not only defunded but to have its funds for the next year rescinded after they have been promised is nothing short of authoritarianism, especially given how unpopular the rescission actually is with the general public — and how little taxpayer money it actually saves,” Pontecorvo said. “In short, it’s a disgraceful abuse of power that does not reflect what the U.S. Congress’s constituents want. I’m furious about it.”
Development director Brooke Turpin joined the station in 2021, drawn by the opportunities that community radio offers.
“(Community radio) is a really good example of people power when people are like literally coming together and making things happen,” Turpin said.
Turpin sees the funding fight as bigger than just one radio station’s budget problems.
“This is a great moment for us to come together as a community and show our support and show our strength about making sure that community radio stays alive, that it stays strong,” Turpin said. “You know, we represent the people’s voice. And right now, it’s really important everywhere for people to make sure that their voice is not being suppressed.”
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of Turpin.
powerful chorus about an ex-love. Rosé’s and Warren’s voices go together like salted caramel and dark chocolate, and the second half of the chorus, comprised mostly of percussion and background
vocals, gives me the same thrilling, rollicking feeling as
with
SYDNEY WEBER | IDS
WFHB in Bloomington is pictured July 26, 2025. The station moved into the former fire station in February 1994.
By Emerson Elledge eelledge@iu.edu
Turner said.
early OneRepublic-style instrumentals.
“Forever Ain’t Long Enough” by Max McNown
July 18 was a great day
for me because, on top of the new Warren album, we got indie-folk artist Max McNown’s “Night Diving (The Cost of Growing Up).” Many of the songs on this album are bittersweet, like the eponymous track, but “Forever Ain’t Long
Enough” belongs at the high point of a road-trip romance. It’s sweet, adventurous and full of imagery. That song, along with “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes),” from the same album, are two of my favorite love songs right now.
“bad times” by Jessica Baio Jessica Baio, a pop artist I’ve been following for a while now, released an album late last year that I really enjoyed, so I was excited about her new single before even listening to it. Now, after its release on July 25, I’ve
replayed it more times than I can count. “bad times” is up-tempo and dreamy, like a hot summer night spent blasting music from the car speakers. From personal experience, I can say it’s a great song for rocking out in the kitchen.
Reports that there’s no good new music this summer have been greatly exaggerated. We might not have a new Beyoncé album, but that just means that we have the chance to discover some new favorite songs and artists to wrap up the season.
COLUMN: ‘My Oxford Year’ offers big emotions with little surprise
By Ursula Stickelmaier
ustickel@iu.edu
SPOILERS: This column contains major spoilers for the film “My Oxford Year.”
Can one year abroad change your life? “My Oxford Year,” released on Netflix Aug. 1, shows us that even when you think you’ve got everything figured out all it takes is one decision, or one flight to a new country, to change it all for the better. Based on the novel by Julia Whelan, Netflix’s latest film is certainly an interesting addition to its romance library.
The film follows Anna De La Vega (Sofia Carson) as she spends a year in England studying Victorian poetry at Oxford University. The American’s life is changed in more ways than one when she begins a passionate and tumultuous relationship with her professor, Jamie Davenport (Corey Mylchreest).
If you’ve seen any slightly cheesy film following an American girl in a foreign land (“Leap Year” and “What a Girl Wants” immediately come to mind for me) then you probably already have a grasp on what this movie is like. While Anna gradually gains her footing in England as she meets new people and her relationship with Jamie develops, there was always an undercurrent of her being some spunky, slightly clueless American. This cliche served as one of the most tiring aspects of the movie as the plot progressed.
Coupled with the fact that Carson seems to be typecast as the sarcastic, too-cool-tobe-here character in every
one of her films, the constant “underestimated badassery” trope was overdone. While this attitude worked better in “The Life List,” which premiered on Netflix in March, it often comes across as poorly timed when much of this movie carries a more serious tone.
One of the only other extremely noticeable and overdone aspects of this movie was the exaggerated foreshadowing. As a Victorian poetry student, Anna spends a lot of time, especially at the beginning of this movie, analyzing poems. While I love a good thought provoking poem as much as the next person, the way every single bit of writing came back to the idea that “love can be fleeting” and “you should make every moment last” felt very on the nose. We learn from the beginning that Jamie is hiding something. Though his secret illness is already known to those who read the book first, as someone who opted to go into the movie blind the constant foreshadowing made the outcome of the film incredibly obvious. I’ve always prided myself on my ability to guess the endings of sappy rom-coms like this one, but even then all the not-so-subtle hints they made throughout the film left the bittersweet ending a lot less impactful. As a viewer, I don’t need someone to hold my hand throughout a film in order for me to get it. When done well, foreshadowing can be an excellent addition to already beautiful writing, but in this case it felt like the plot was being dumbed down for me.
However, not every aspect of this film was disap-
pointing. I found that “My Oxford Year” truly excelled at something that I’ve seen other rom coms seriously lack: intriguing subplots and supporting characters.
While a majority of this film revolved around the lives of Anna and Jamie, what really brought the story to life for me were both the friends Anna made at Oxford and Jamie’s parents, William (Dougray Scott) and Antonia Davenport (Catherine McCormack). I’ve seen many rom-coms lose some of the audience’s interest because they only care about developing the main characters. I don’t want to watch or get invested in a simple, twodimensional character, even if they’re only on screen for a small period of time. But in “My Oxford Year” this isn’t an issue. Not only was I intrigued by the supporting characters and their stories I often found myself more invested in what was happening to them than anything that Jamie or Anna were doing.
Maggie (Esmé Kingdom) and Charlie (Harry Trevaldwyn), two of the first friends Anna makes at Oxford, are a hilarious duo that captured my attention immediately. Charlie’s ability to break up the awkwardness in a lot of the scenes had me wishing he was on screen all the time. And I cared more about Maggie getting her happy ending with her love interest Tom (Nikhil Parmar) even more than I cared about the relationship Jamie and Anna had. Cecelia (Poppy Gilbert), Jamie’s friend and the ex-girlfriend of his deceased brother, made me cry with her story of lost love. I felt for her when she wor-
ried that she could never fall in love again after losing Jamie’s brother and rejoiced when she decided she was going to try.
Then there were Jamie’s parents who really stole the show with the emotional pull of this movie. The fear and the heartache that comes with losing a family member is a feeling that can be so universal even if you haven’t lost someone. For William and Antonia, who have already lost one child, this feeling is only amplified when it comes to Jamie
and his medical care. While Jamie has no desire to try a dozen different treatments and prolong his life at the expense of losing both his freedom and himself, William pushes the issue and his son even further away. It’s a losing battle either way, but at its core it’s easy to see that this is just the story of a father fighting for a little more time with his son.
Loving someone and knowing you have an expiration date is never an easy task, and it’s certainly not an easy dynamic to portray
on screen. Despite its flaws, “My Oxford Year” does exceedingly well at showing the highs and lows of Jamie and Anna’s relationship. While I could never promise this will be the best movie you’ve ever seen, I can say that it will hopefully make you think and feel more deeply about the relationships in your life, so why not try it? And as they remind us several times throughout the movie, “you should never regret the things you do, you should only regret the things that you don’t do.”
Electric scooters are a quick, fun way to get around Bloomington, and a great alternative to driving. So, whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, check out these safety tips to help ensure a smooth ride!
»Protect your head: Your brain is pretty important, so let's keep it safe. Always wear a helmet, just as would on a bike or skateboard. Complete IU’s free, custom Ride Smart course for scooters and bikes online and receive a free helmet from IU Transportation!
»Scoot sober: It's a simple but crucial rule: Don't ride high or after you've been drinking. Slowed reaction times and impaired judgment are leading factors in scooter accidents—and highly preventable.
»Check your ride: Before you take o , do a quick inspection. Test the brakes, check the tires, and make sure the handlebars are secure. If something feels o , swap it out for a di erent scooter.
»Practice, practice, practice: Before you hit a busy street, get comfortable with the basics. Find an empty parking lot or a quiet path to practice accelerating, braking, and turning. It'll build your con dence and help you feel more in control when you're in tra c.
»Follow road rules: Treat your e-scooter like any other vehicle. That means stopping at red lights and stop signs and following all tra c laws. It's the best way to stay safe and keep tra c owing smoothly.
»Be aware: Stick to designated bike lanes whenever possible. If you need to ride in the street, be aware of your surroundings and the cars around you. Avoid riding on sidewalks. If there’s no other option, be courteous and yield to pedestrians.
»Park with a purpose: When you're nished with a ride, park your scooter somewhere that's out of the way and not blocking sidewalks, building entrances, or ramps.
Following these tips will help you enjoy all the bene ts of e-scooters while keeping yourself and everyone else safe.
MOVIE STILLS DATABASE
Sofia Carson (left) and Corey Mylchreest (right) are pictured in a scene from “My Oxford Year.” The film
premiered on Netflix on Aug. 1, 2025.
COLUMN: Building
community when you’re far from home
By Sydney Weber syaweber@iu.edu
I’m no stranger to being
“the new girl.” By my count, I’ve had to reestablish myself in five different places since 2014. I moved across Michigan right before eighth grade. I came to Bloomington for college without knowing anyone here. At the same time that I started university, my parents moved to West Texas, so now when I go home for the holidays, I’m not going back to either of my hometowns. I spent the fall of my senior year in Argentina and worked in Spain for six months in 2024. With each of those moves, I’ve needed to build a community all over again. I’ve had to meet people, make friends and get to know my new locale.
Humans are social creatures, and we benefit from connecting with oth-
ers. There have been studies showing a correlation between social bonds and longer lifespans, increased wellbeing and better cancer survival rates.
Though starting over in a new place is hard, I’ve learned a lot from my five moves, and I hope these lessons can serve you too, whether you’re a freshman, transfer student, or just generally new to town. So, here are my tips for building a community when you’re far from home.
Just do it
It’s easy to skate by without really getting to know people if you think you’ll only be somewhere for a short period of time. Resist that temptation. There are so many cool people to meet and experiences to have that require you to be present first.
I’ve spent much of two summers in towns where I
didn’t know anyone my age. I could’ve stayed home during that time — it was only a few months, after all. Instead, I got involved in things — for instance, a local Bible study — which helped me start meeting people. Getting out of my shell is how I ended up with friends in West Texas and southwestern Michigan. It’s how I first tried hot pot and visited a new beach on Lake Michigan. There’s a lot I would’ve missed out on if I hadn’t made the effort to be part of a community while I was away from what felt like home.
Join local groups There are plenty of extracurricular options for getting plugged into a new town: running clubs, gaming groups, volunteering. Knowing that you share an interest with people in a club can make it easier to jump in.
For me, joining a local church is one of the first
things I do when I move to a new place. That’s what works for me when it comes to meeting people and starting to make friends. It also helps me feel more settled, even though I’m usually transient.
In Argentina and Spain, going to church got me out of the American/expat bubble I was in when I went to class or work. I met some good friends there while also getting to practice my Spanish. Here in Bloomington, church is where I get to interact with people who are older or younger than the typical college demographic, which helps me to remember that there’s life outside of school.
You’ll always feel awkward, until you don’t
Walking into a room where you don’t know anyone can be hard. If you’re a confident extrovert and that’s an easy task, I’m happy for you! Go forth and make
friends. In fact, adopt a few introverts while you’re at it, please. But for the rest of us, the awkwardness is real. And, unfortunately, it’s something you have to keep dealing with until you finally feel like you belong in a group. In my experience, that sense of belonging springs out of knowing other people and having shared memories with them. You can play the “me too!” game to figure out what you have in common. It’s like a conversational scavenger hunt where you try to find points of connection with others. Maybe you’re both Pittsburgh Penguins fans or you both think pineapple on pizza should be illegal.
It’s not all or nothing
When I moved across Michigan, I resisted making friends. I thought that if I started to build a life in East Lansing, it meant I was giv-
ing up on what I’d left behind in the Detroit area. It took me some time to realize that wasn’t true. I could talk to my old friends and hold on to my favorite memories from home no matter where I was. But it still took time to adjust to a new place, and it certainly didn’t happen all at once. Building a life never does.
As you start to establish yourself in a new place, it’s more than okay to take baby steps. Go for a drive or a walk. Figure out where the best ice cream place is. Read the city news, listen to local radio, check out bulletin boards around town. Join a club and make new friends. Moving to a new place — whether it’s a different town, state, or country — can be scary, especially if you’re alone. Even though it’s hard, putting in the effort to build community is what can make a strange place feel like home.
Months after the tornado, PALS continues to rebuild
By Sydney Weber syaweber@iu.edu
After the storm hit their rental house, the front of the building was gone, but a paper check still lay on the bookkeeper’s desk. People and Animals Learning Services, or PALS, was damaged by the EF2 tornado that hit Bloomington on May 16, 2025. The horsebased therapeutic organization that hosts programs for adaptive riding, horsemanship and team building had to pause operations until around mid-June.
The hours after
Though the check was left in place, as was a pile of sawdust — two things PALS executive director Christine Herring thought would be flung far away in the chaos — more solid structures such as a storage barn for hay and the main arena were destroyed.
Herring said she was the first one on the scene after the storm. She had heard reports of a large debris field on Elwren Road, and she knew it had to be the PALS site.
“I drove out, maybe got about a mile and a half on (State Road) 45 and had to park my car, and ran,” Herring said. “And when I got here, of course, all of this was demolished.”
Herring estimated that 30 percent of the fencing around the site was down. Most of the 19 horses living at PALS were outside when the storm hit.
“As I ran up, I didn’t see any horses,” Herring said. “I was expecting to see pretty horrible things, as you can imagine. But when I went over the hill here, I could see the horses had all grouped in a tight herd at the back of one of these pastures.”
Four more horses were trapped in a barn, Herring said, but they were safe. Out of the entire herd, only one horse was injured, and the wounds were minor.
“It was pretty amazing,” she said.
The days after After the storm, it was
time to begin the task of rebuilding.
“The night of the event, people just came out of the woodwork,” Herring said. “That was probably one of the most conflicting moments, because you’re so happy to see people, but there are so many people saying ‘What can I do to help?’ in the middle of trying to triage everything.”
Herring said PALS has been receiving incredible support in their time of need from companies and individuals, from Bloomington and beyond. Bruce Miller, a longtime
PALS volunteer, helped pick up pieces of the barn, which he said had been strewn all over the site.
“I came out here two days later, and as soon as I turned off 45, I saw parts of the barn and I thought, ‘Whoa,’” Miller said.
Plenty of Bloomingtonbased companies came to pitch in as well. Crider & Crider, a contracting company, supplied PALS with temporary office space during the reconstruction. Carpenters from Loren Wood Builders donated their time to fix the fencing. Jonelle Gross, operations
manager at Loren Wood Builders, said employees Landon Mobley, David Parsch and Ellis Worstall went to help remove debris, dig new fence post holes and replace the fence.
“We just have a big internal motto that’s just, you know, be good people and leave an impact,” Gross said. “And so, when there’s opportunities like this that we can help give back to the community, we always look to see how we can help in those moments.”
The months after Two months after the
storm, the PALS site is still in the process of cleaning up debris so reconstruction can begin in earnest. A manure storage barn has been repurposed as an indoor arena to give horses and campers relief from the summer heat. PALS resumed programming in mid-June, according to Herring.
“We’re at a very limited basis because we can’t have a lot of our specialized equipment we use to help people mount and things like that, but we were able to get back and get going,” she said. One of the limiting factors for restarting programs is the lack of hydraulic lifts. PALS uses those for assisted riding programs, but they were destroyed in the storm. They couldn’t be used outside, anyways, and the main arena still needs to be reconstructed.
“It’s our hopeful goal that we will have our main arena up, just not finished on the inside but the outside maybe by the time the snow flies,” Herring said.
While Herring said PALS’s insurance is very good, it won’t cover everything. PALS, she said, continues to need donations, which they are accepting on their website.
“You cannot plan for something like this,” Herring said. “We’ve been very determined and incredibly grateful for all of the outpouring from the community. And we’re just moving forward.”
PHOTO BY SYDNEY WEBER | IDS
Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego in Argentina is pictured November 2022. Building a sense of community can be hard when you’re far from home, literally or figuratively, but it’s worth it.
PHOTO BY SYDNEY WEBER | IDS A damaged building at People and Animals Learning Services is pictured July 21, 2025. PALS was hit by an EF2 tornado in May 2025.
By Abby Whited abwhited@iu.edu
I’m no stranger to being “tIt’s no secret that music is a huge part of my life. I love studying and talking about it, but even more so, I love listening to it almost constantly. A year ago, if you had asked what was playing in my headphones at the time, it absolutely would have been a song – listening to a podcast was the furthest thought from my mind. Back then, I would have said podcasts just weren’t for me. I wasn’t interested in listening to them by choice in my everyday life; music was always my first choice. But discovering these three podcasts has changed those opinions drastically for me. Now, I have found shows that resonate with me and my interests, and they have completely changed my outlook on the value and appeal of podcasts.
“Celebrity Memoir Book Club” It would be impossible for me to talk about my favorite podcasts without mentioning “Celebrity Memoir Book Club.” This was really the podcast that changed it all for me. CMBC, as it’s known to fans, became my go-to listening material when I first discovered it. On the podcast, comedians Ashley Hamilton and Claire Parker discuss a different celebrity memoir each week, analyzing the parts they find most telling of that celebrity’s character and story. This podcast introduced me to the versatility of the celebrity memoir genre, getting me interested in books I might have never picked up if it weren’t for Parker and Hamilton’s thought-provoking commentary. It’s refreshing to hear them share their unbridled opinions on the quality and content of each book, especially combined with their comedic sensibilities. I am always seated for a new CMBC episode, especially considering it could introduce me to a new book I can
add to my reading list.
“Binchtopia” I am very interested in meaningful cultural commentary, and for that reason, “Binchtopia” is my current favorite podcast. The show is hosted by Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb, and each week the girls release a new episode conducting intensive deep dives into hyper-specific topics. Past episodes have included niche subjects such as the phenomenon of iPad babies, the horse girl archetype, the ori-
gins of Furbies, and the psychology of Almond Moms. What I find so captivating about “Binchtopia” episodes is that they are extremely well researched and planned. The hosts cite multiple sources per episode, so I know that they’re backing up most information they share. In a way it feels rewarding to finish an episode because it feels as though you’re walking away from it having become more wellversed on a niche topic, and you may even be encouraged to do more research on
it yourself. I always feel as though I’ve learned something new after each episode. Although “Binchtopia” episodes are full of facts and analysis, they often detour into unserious and funny conversations about pop culture and current trends. This makes the episodes feel like a good balance of both educational and lighthearted content, which makes for the perfect listening material when I am in the mood to feel intellectually stimulated but also enter-
tained. By reading emails sent by viewers, providing media recommendations, and sharing memories from their years-long friendship, I think Hava and McLamb are very effective at making their podcast feel approachable and enjoyable.
“Dinner Party History”
“Dinner Party History” has the fewest listeners of all the podcasts I listen to regularly, and I think that makes it something of a hidden gem. The show is hosted by best friends Maz and Fatou,
and each episode explores a specific historical topic, often viewing them through a modern analytical lens. As someone who loves history, I really appreciate having a podcast that takes the time to provide detailed summaries of certain events and people throughout history. Each episode is named for a “dinner” with one or more historical figures, and dinner party “guests” have ranged from Catherine the Great to Judy Garland and Liza Minelli. What really distinguishes “Dinner Party History” from your typical history lesson is that it does the work to disprove common misconceptions and myths through solid research. It aims to establish context around historical instances that might not be widely known to the public. The show does a great job of exploring the nuances of the historical situations it discusses, putting a focus on getting as close to the truth as possible. As a result, I receive an extensive history lesson in the form of an entertaining podcast episode, and I always come away wanting to keep learning. These three podcasts made me realize that I never really hated podcasts, I just hadn’t found the right ones for me. There really is something for everyone when it comes to podcasts, even for those like me, who never found them interesting. Podcasts can be such a powerful medium of creative expression, and there is something so endearingly human about listening to people speak in detail about subjects they have passion for. Your new favorite podcast could open your mind to so many valuable new ideas and conversations, provide you with something enjoyable to listen to or just give you a new perspective to consider. In the current societal landscape where critical thought and creativity don’t seem to be prioritized enough, podcasts can be just the stimulant or inspiration one needs in their daily life.
DID YOU KNOW? The US Department of Labor reports that…
• The median annual salary for pathologists is $95,410 and job growth is projected at 18% from 2023-2033 (much faster than average).
• The median annual salary for audiologists is $92,120 and job growth is projected at 11% from 2023-2033 (much faster than average).
• Clearly, an SLHS major offers the opportunity to “do well” for the foreseeable future.
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists diagnose and treat communication disorders in people ranging from newborns to older adults — our majors have the chance to enjoy a life-long ful lling career in which they also “do good” by helping their fellow human beings.
To start your journey, register this fall for SLHS-S104.
COLUMN: The joy of writing terrible poetry
By Sydney Weber syaweber@iu.edu
Inside a worn note-
book from the mid-2000s — or perhaps it’s a binder — I have a copy of a poem that I wrote in elementary school. I remember being very proud that I figured out what rhymes with “turkey;” it’s obviously “Albuquerque,” and I probably misspelled it.
It’s not a good poem. I have no intention of that piece ever seeing the light of day — so no, I’m not going to transcribe it here — but it does give me a window into my fourth-grade world. Comparing those lines with ones I’ve written
more recently, I can see how my voice has developed over the years, or, at times, hasn’t.
Especially in high school, I often wrote poems when I wanted to capture a moment and wrestle it onto a page. The goal was to remember what happened and how I felt. Inspiration was fleeting, so I jotted down what sounded good to me at the time. I rarely edit those pieces. They’re rough around the edges, but they serve their purpose. I’ll polish them up if I’m submitting them for publication — I might go back and change up the line structure, the rhyme scheme or the vocabulary.
A friend recently read over one that I wrote on a spring evening in high school, after my mom and I drove home from watching Lauren Gunderson’s play “Silent Sky.” I had wanted to bottle up the feeling of cruising along country roads with someone I loved, soft night air blowing past us.
My friend had good, constructive feedback for me, but my perfectionistic side chafed a little bit at her suggestions. Perfectionism hates the idea of a rough draft; can’t it be flawless the first time around?
This is where a G.K. Chesterton quote becomes very applicable. Chester-
ton, an English author, is attributed with a great many quotes. They’re often witty, silly, profound or all three at once. I’m a big fan of the observation that “Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese,” but relevant to this column is the seemingly inside out truism, “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.”
Upon hearing this for the first time, I thought it was a garbled version of the motivational maxim attributed to, among other people, Hunter S. Thompson: “Anything worth doing, is worth doing well.” I don’t know if I’ve ever actually seen it on a motivational poster, but it
seems like the kind of thing that would hang on a CEO’s wall.
Chesterton’s quote seemed like Mark Twainstyle satire until I learned that he was referring to hobbies when he penned those words. As a result, I thought about the line from a new angle and it made a lot of sense.
I look back at some of the things that I’ve written over the years and cringe, especially at a poem that I wrote about U.S. holidays that repeats the line “with good ‘ol holiday cheer” entirely too many times.
But poetry, like walking, isn’t something you have totally figured out the first time you try it. You’re likely to be quite wobbly at first. Skills take time to develop. This is a lesson that I have to learn over and over again, but I’m growing in appreciation for wobbly attempts at new ventures.
There’s joy in writing terrible poetry. In looking back at it and laughing a little. It’s the joy of having tried something for the fun of it and doing something because you loved it. You don’t have to be good at everything. This summer, I recommend attempting a new hobby. Don’t worry if it doesn’t go well at first (or even after twenty tries). If a thing is worth doing, it’s worth doing badly.
ILLUSTRATION BY MADHUMITHA MANIMARAN
BLISS HAR RY BLISS
DUke tumatoe - 8/29
The Man of Tomorrow... Hear Today
Buffalo Nichols & Sunny War - 9/4
Presented by BCT
John Moreland - 9/9
With JUSTIN BLOSS
Bonny Light Horseman - 9/12 With ANGELA AUTUMN
32nd Annual Lotus World Music & Arts Festival - 9/2 5-9/28
Presented by Lotus Education & Arts Foundation
Natalie Boeyink Jazz Ensemble - 10/13 FREE Event!
Jazz@BCT - Latin Jazz Ensemble - 10/20 FREE Event!
twitty and lynn - 11/2
A Salute to Conway & Lore a
Joshua Redman - 11/10
Presented by BCT
Bob Schneider & Rhett Miller - 11/14
Presented by BCT
moms unhinged - 9/18
Stand Up Comedy Show
Michael Palascak - 9/19
Hooiser-Born Comedian
Fred Armisen - 10/9
COLUMN: ‘Boutique’ has lost its charm
By Hayden Kay haykay@iu.edu
Comedy For Musicians But Everyone Is Welcome
When I hear the word boutique, I immediately think of a clothing store. Specifically, a shop that curates a particular aesthetic with high-end pieces. But I have recently noticed that businesses other than clothing stores are using boutique as an adjective to describe their establishments as small but sophisticated. Various countries have had different words for small shops since some of the earliest centuries. By the late 14th century, the French were using ‘botique’ to describe fashionable Parisian stores. Around the 1950s and 60s, British people started opening ‘boutiques’ in hopes of being associated with the haute couture of Paris. What drew my attention to the use of ‘boutique’ in the non-fashion sector was when I was walking down Kirkwood in Bloomington and passed the construction for Posh Hotel. I read the sign, and I couldn’t understand why the distinction was necessary; a hotel is a hotel, right? Posh Hotel
describes its business with words like chic, sophisticated, luxury and stylish which are reminiscent of the exclusivity and specialization of French-inspired boutiques.
I have since learned that boutique hotels have a long history and the business model was intentionally a step away from the growth of commercial hotels.
American businessmen were drawn to the cozy, intimate atmosphere of European boutique hotels, where the buildings had personalities and weren’t just a place to stay the night. They wanted to bring that kind of charming experience to U.S. hotels without the expensive price tags of other luxury hotels or the blandness of conventional hotels.
I can somewhat support this use of boutique. If hotels want to continue to draw from the upscale, specialty allure of the French term to set themselves apart from a monotonous landscape, then I can get behind that.
But there has to be a line somewhere. When I heard that a boutique cafe was opening soon in my
hometown, I was excited to think that I could grab a coffee then shop in the retail space. I was disappointed to learn that the cafe would just be your typical coffee shop. ‘Boutique’ simply alludes to the Europeaninspired decor and refined vibe the shop hopes to bring to my downtown.
Fashion boutiques are the very opposite of commercial stores full of massproduced clothing. When I walk into a boutique, the shop has already set the expectation that the items I will find inside will be one of a kind. Boutiques strive to make every new piece different from the last, but when I go to a hotel or cafe, I want to be greeted with familiarity and the comforts I know I like.
Even though I can understand the modern spread of boutique businesses, the term seems to be losing its meaning. Personally, I would prefer it if we held on to the original connotation of the word. If ‘boutique’ appears everywhere, it makes any business that uses it feel less special.
It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley (2025) - 8/28
Presented by BCT
The Bloody Lady (1981) - 9/10
With Live Score by Claire Rousay
Girl Climber (2025) - 10/5
Presented by BCT
An Evening with Hannah Bonam-Young - 9/11
Presented by Morgenstern Books & BCT
An Evening with JOhn Green - 10/24
In Conversation with Michael Koryta Presented by Morgenstern Books
CrimsonCast Live! - 9/5
An Indiana Football Podcast
Steve Gonsalves LIVE – A Life With Ghost
An Interactive Evening of Hauntings
Halloween (1978) - 10/17
Presented by BCT
Haunted Mansion (2023) - 10/30
Presented by BCT
COLUMN: Five films that are better than a plane ticket
By Ursula Stickelmaier
ustickel@iu.edu
I have vacation brain. It doesn’t matter if I’m thousands of miles away or one town over, the second I start traveling it’s like my brain flips a switch and everything relaxes. The air smells nicer. The sky seems more blue. Life is just more pleasant when you’re on vacation. But what happens when the vacation is over? It’s unrealistic to travel all the time, but sometimes you just need an escape. That’s where these movies come in for the perfect trip you don’t have to leave your living room for.
“Crazy Rich Asians” (2018)
When I think of love stories that never get old, I am not ashamed to say that the 2018 romcom “Crazy Rich Asians” is one of them. The film is centered around Rachel (Constance Wu) when she attends a wedding in Singapore with her boyfriend Nick (Henry Golding). There she meets Nick’s family and struggles to find her place in their luxurious lifestyle. This is one of my go-to films when I am traveling for three reasons. One, the love story between Rachel and Nick always seems to warm my heart. Two, the writing has never failed to make me laugh and has provided several iconic cinematic moments I hold dear to my heart. And three, primarily filmed in both Singapore and Malaysia, the backdrop of this film is absolutely stunning. Though it is extremely unlikely I will ever reach the same level of wealth as the people in the film, at least for two hours I can sit back and imagine I’m attending that lavish wedding in Singapore with Rachel.
“La La Land” (2016)
A good vacation isn’t just about the destination. It’s about the memories. Those beautiful moments, no matter how fleeting, that you can look back on fondly. And no film does fleeting yet heartbreakingly beautiful
moments as well as “La La Land.” Directed by Damien Chazelle, the Oscar Award winning film tells the love story of Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) as they struggle to figure out what’s best for their future versus their relationship. Though it’s set in a present-day Los Angeles, the film is reminiscent of a dreamier era of Hollywood musicals in the 1940s and 50s. With filming locations scattered around Los Angeles at places like Griffith Observatory, the Watts Towers and The Lighthouse Cafe, a jazz club in Hermosa Beach, it’s clear to see why the City of Angels is one of the most visited places in the U.S. For two hours and 8 minutes, take a break and step into the world of “La La Land.” Who knows, it might even inspire your next California vacation.
“The Sound of Music” (1965)
The hills are truly alive in Robert Wise’s 1965 film
“The Sound of Music.” The musical follows Maria (Julie Andrews) when she is sent to take care of the seven motherless children of the von Trapp family. But when she arrives, the aspiring nun finds more than just a simple job; she begins to find a family of her own, and even a little romance. When I think of films where the setting plays as much of a part as the actual characters do, “The Sound of Music” is always high on my list. Set in a pre-World War II Salzburg, Austria, the film does an excellent job at capturing the essence of the cozy Austrian town and surrounding scenery. Couple that with the enchanting soundtrack and even the least musically inclined person will want to head to the nearest field for their own rendition of “The Hills Are Alive.”
“Mamma Mia!” (2008)
If I had to list of some of my dream destinations, there is no doubt that Greece would be at the top. And while a potential Greece
trip is probably very far in my future, I can still revisit the scenery in just a few clicks with the 2008 musical “Mamma Mia!” Starring Meryl Streep as Donna and Amanda Seyfried as Sophie, the film is an adaptation of the Broadway jukebox musical of the same name. The movie follows the chaotic events that ensue after Sophie invites three of Donna’s former lovers to her wedding in hopes that one of the men is her father. Though set on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi, “Mamma Mia!” was actually filmed on Skopelos, along with the nearby island Skiathos and the seaside village of Damouchari in Pelion. With all the charm of a classic, small Greek village and the catchiness of every ABBA song they sing throughout this film, “Mamma Mia!” is the perfect film to watch for a temporary island getaway.
“Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) While my idea of a perfect vacation may consist of relaxing with a good book and the occasional scenic walk, I can understand that some people want a little more thrill in their time off. For those searching for adventure, look no further than Steven Spielberg’s hit franchise “Indiana Jones.” Starting with “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” the film stars Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, the titular character, an archaeology professor racing against the clock to find a lost artifact called the Ark of the Covenant. “Raider of the Lost Ark” was filmed in a wide variety of locations including Hawaii, Tunisia and France. This gives us a cinematic, action-packed trip around the world that is sure to get your blood pumping. While I could never see myself surviving while being chased by a boulder or dragged behind a moving truck like Indiana Jones does in the film, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and its following films are perfect for any thrill chaser.
ILLUSTRATION