Class of 2029 arrives at UIndy
How to be a Greyhound
Two seniors give their advice on becoming a great
By Luke Cooper and Logan McInnes
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & MANAGING EDITOR
Luke’s Advice College is not easy — even for communication majors. Being prepared for changes is the greatest key to success. It is a life-changing experience. I look back at my success, and it would not have been possible without my failures. The goal is to succeed, but learning from mistakes is a part of the process.
The University of Indianapolis is focused on experiential learning. Embracing the stepping stones of success and failure go a long way. In my experience, my peers have wanted what is best for me by talking to a lot of people across campus, I think it goes across the board.
Freshman year is the best opportunity to try everything and make mistakes. It is better to be brushed off as a clueless freshman than a clueless sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student. Embrace mistakes and learn from them. It is also a great opportunity to find yourself.
I started out pursuing my communication degree and a business administration minor. I took one business class and learned it was not my cup of tea. The business professors and students here are some of the best at what they do, but I was not cut out for it. All around, UIndy has world-class professors in their respective fields.
Social dynamics can be complicated in college. Some people arrive at college and think it is middle school with all the drama. If you find yourself being brought into some drama, be the bigger person and not engage with it. Schoolwork is more important than a drama-filled life. Let people say what they want, as long as you know your truth, you should be fine. We are all adults here.
Your college journey is up to you. Freshman year is a clean slate to build a strong foundation, so take advantage of it. Arriving at college is the beginning of new opportunities. Anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
Logan’s Advice Being a part of the UIndy community is a privilege no student should take for
granted. UIndy may be a small university, but it offers great opportunities. The professors on this campus are not only knowledgeable in their areas of expertise, but more importantly, the class sizes at UIndy offer a unique opportunity for students to get to know their professors and classmates on a personal level. It is your job to fully experience UIndy. Utilize the resources available all around you on campus to not just get by academically and socially but to excel in every aspect of your time here at UIndy. Send emails to professors, say “hi” and “bye” to them every time you have class, introduce yourself, ask them questions and start conversations when you run into them in the halls. Do not be intimidated by their titles because they were in your shoes once. If you continually interact with your professors and establish good relationships with them, it is only a matter of time before they will become mentors to you. They may share networking contacts with you for career advancement after graduation or sign letters of recommendation. Professors are there to help you and care for you, so use that to your
Greyhound
advantage. Introduce yourself to your classmates and get to know them beyond the class subject material. Find similar interests with them and ask them what they are doing on the weekend or if they are involved in any fun extracurricular activities or clubs on campus. Put yourself out there and go outside of your comfort zone to get involved in whatever you can. Getting involved allows you to meet new people, who may become good connections for future job opportunities or best friends for life. Everybody knows somebody, so always be kind, make good first impressions and follow up.
To be a standout Greyhound, go beyond the average student and put your best foot forward in any and every way that you can. Do not settle for mediocrity, and push yourself to be extraordinary. Have an open mind to trying new things, always be eager to learn and do not limit yourself. You never know what lies ahead of you after college, so make the most out of your time and learn as much as you can so that you will be prepared for the real working world. Being a UIndy Greyhound is a blessing.
News briefs: August 2025
By Luke Cooper EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ICE detention center to open in Indiana Indiana began a partnership withU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold undocumented immigrants earlier this month.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, said it plans to hold up to 1,000 undocumented immigrants at the Miami Correctional Facility, located 75 miles north of Indianapolis. DHS partnered with the Indiana Department of Corrections to make the beds available.
The prison has been dubbed the “Speedway Slammer,” following Florida obtaining the temporary "Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility, according to the Associated Press. DHS said the Miami Correctional Facility will hold “some of the worst criminal illegal aliens arrested by ICE.”
Redistricting efforts ripple throughout Indiana, U.S. Earlier this month, while President Donald Trump put pressure on Republican-run states to redistrict congressional boundaries, Vice President JD Vance visited Indiana. Vance visited with Indiana Governor Mike Braun, according to the Associated Press. The push for redistricting aims to maximize Republican advantages in upcoming elections. The same day, Trump called for a new federal census via social media, according to the AP. The federal census traditionally happens every 10 years, with the last one being held in 2020. Trump’s call for a new census has been questioned after the Supreme Court struck down his proposed citizen question on the census in 2020.
Texas and California’s governments are currently working on redistricting plans, with California aiming to counter Texas’ potential Republican advantage, according to the AP. After Vance’s visit, Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith took to X and posted he “fully supports” the effort to redistrict.
Trump aims to set up trilateral meeting
President Donald Trump said he is working on arranging a meeting between him, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenkskyy, according to the Associated Press.
This comes after Trump held separate meetings with Putin and Zelenskyy earlier this month. The meeting will aim to discuss an end to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has been ongoing since February 2022, according to the AP. Trump also said the U.S. would back Europe in security guarantees for Ukraine, which should prevent future invasions from Russia.
“Love Island USA” season seven was released over the summer. Check out Page 4 to read one writer’s thoughts. For the first time in nine years, the UIndy Greyhounds will face the Marian Knights in the “Crosstown Matchup.” Flip to Page 3 to learn how each team is preparing for it.
Photo by Ella Harner
University President Tanuja Singh addresses the Class of 2029 at convocation on Aug. 20, 2025. The event was held in Nicoson Hall.
Photo by Ella Harner
President of the University of Indianapolis Student Government Association Jo’Tan Johnson addresses the Class of 2029 at convocation.
Photo by Ella Harner
UIndy freshmen pose for their official class of 2029 photo at Key Stadium. The photo was taken with a drone at the center of the football field.
UIndy alumna lands dream job at Rolls-Royce
By Logan McInnes MANAGING EDITOR
December 2024 University of Indianapolis graduate Emma Manwell, formerly known as Emma Neargardner, was accepted into Rolls-Royce’s two-year graduate program, designed to help young professionals discover their place within the industry.
Manwell began her latest adventure in July 2025, joining the Operations Management Graduate Development Program, where she currently serves as the Planning and Delivery Leader. Manwell said every day is different, whether it be shadowing industry professionals, doing employee training, getting familiar with computer software, or attending lunch and learns, meetings or networking events.
During Manwell’s years as a student at UIndy, she served as
VP of Business Development for the Student Business Leadership Academy, on the SBLA Board of Directors, and as a Student Recruitment Manager for the UIndy School of Business. From her time as a student, Manwell said she learned how to manage many things going on at once.
“There are so many different aspects of the job [at Rolls-Royce], and especially since I’ll rotate every six months, I’ll be learning new jobs,” Manwell said. “I felt like at UIndy, it was always something new, and that’s kind of what’s going to be happening here. So I’ve been able to get used to that process a little bit.”
Manwell said through the RollsRoyce graduate program, she hopes to discover what she wants to do for the rest of her life. She also aspires to get more comfortable outside of her shell within the realm of networking.
“I want to go into a quality role on the plant,” Manwell said. “I want to figure out what I am made to do and what my calling and purpose are within life and this organization.”
UIndy students should not wait until the last minute to start applying for jobs or tell themselves they can only find the first available one after college, according to Manwell. She added that students should utilize their professors because they each have a professional network and are more than willing to help.
“This is kind of my dream first job, and I’m really happy with it,” Manwell said. “And because I was looking early and asked my professors, ‘Hey, who do you know here?’, I was able to connect with them, which was huge.”
Former UIndy professor, current Chair of Management and Operations and Supply Chain Programs,and Assistant Professor of Management at Marian University, Jim Russell, connected Manwell with two people at Rolls-Royce who were able to help her with the application process. Manwell praised Russell for his teaching methods, which prepared her for her current everyday job.
“I loved the case studies we would do in class, and I appreciated how he brought in his own personal, real-world experience,” Manwell said. “It wasn’t just a textbook,
which helped me apply it to realworld situations. I’m sitting at work now, and it’s like, okay, Jim talked about this.”
Russell said he is no different in teaching this way.He complimented the UIndy School of Business faculty, who also implement realworld examples outside of the textbook and advocate for job opportunities for their students after college.
I want to figure out... what my calling and purpose are...”
Manwell started from a very high level of performance, and she honed her skill sets in public speaking, writing and problemsolving, according to Russell. He added that from the moment he saw Manwell speak in public at an SBLA event, he knew she was going to be a superstar.
“Through the case studies, the applications in class and the discussions we had, I think it prepared her to be able to answer questions…,” Russell said. “Her natural presentation skills, her natural demeanor and her personality are what ultimately got her the position [at Rolls-Royce].”
Corrections
The Reflector acknowledges its mistakes. When a mistake occurs, we will print corrections here on the Opinion page.
If you catch a mistake, please contact us at reflector@uindy.edu.
In our Oct. 21 Issue:
On Page 1, in the article "Living-Learning Communities at UIndy," we incorrectly stated the status of the LGBTQ+ LLC. The university is working on adding the LLC. It has not been officially established.
On Page 6, in the article "Professors research alleged murderer," we neglected to include the full name of A. James Fuller.
On Page 7, in the article "Theatre department hosts radio drama," we misspelled Orson Welles’ name.
In that same article, we also included incorrect times for the broadcast of the radio drama.
What do you think?
Send your letters to the editor or other correspondence to reflector@uindy.edu
The opinions in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of The Reflector staff.
New prison in our backyard boils emotions for many
By Ella Harner ARTS & GRAPHICS DIRECTOR
The Speedway Slammer, the new bright and shiny name given to yet another U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, this one opening in Indiana. 1,000 beds at the Miami Correctional Facility will be made available to house the “worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,”
according to the Department of Homeland Security, following the One Big Beautiful Bill. DHS received funding for 80,000 beds to house more undocumented immigrants.
DHS announced plans for The Speedway Slammer on social media. The post appeared to be AI-generated, featuring an IndyCarstyle vehicle with “ICE” written on it. The weirdest part? The car was also labeled No. 5, which happens to
be the number of the one and only Mexican driver in the IndyCar series, Pato O’Ward, according to ESPN.
The idea of spaces made specifically to hold people who are often just trying to build a better life in America is scary.Knowing that this space is being made available in our home state is even scarier. It almost makes you question what is so special about our little state in the Midwest that makes us suitable for the home of the next Alligator Alcatraz.
Is it due to Indianapolis being the “Crossroads of America?” Or maybe to our Hoosier hospitality, with things like Visit Indiana that bring in tourists? Personally, I think the reason has more to do with our government. But the question shouldn’t be “Why in Indiana?”. It should be “Why at all?”
After the ICE raids in California, many people of color claimed to be afraid to leave their homes, according
to the Los Angeles Times. Will this fear hit Indianapolis? Has it already been here? What will people feel when the new detention center officially “welcomes” its detainees? People should not be afraid to leave their homes. Children should not be terrified that their parents will never make it back home again. Students should not be afraid to attend classes. Hoosiers should not be scared of being detained, no matter their immigration status.
Contributed by Emma Manwell
Emma Manwell stands with a mixture of graduate students and full-time employees at Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis.
She is fourth from the right.
MANWELL
Leadership beyond the game
UIndy debuts student leadership academy for student-athletes to win all around
By Logan McInnes MANAGING EDITOR
UIndy Athletic Director Kim
Pate led the start of the Hounds Leadership Academy, a threeyear program designed to allow student-athletes the opportunity to excel in the classroom, as individuals and in their sport.
Pate created a similar academy at her previous university, LenoirRhyne, and observed its impact on student-athletes. She said she wants to bring the Hounds their own leadership academy because it is a pillar for student-athlete development.
“We want to prepare student athletes for success in life, and we talk about winning as students, as people and as athletes,” Pate said. “To me, I think leadership is one of the most impactful skills we can give to our student athletes.”
Pate said the HLA has begun to select members of their inaugural class, and the program is searching for student-athletes who have a strong desire to grow and become leaders. Coaches can recommend athletes of high character whom they believe are suitable for the program. Student athletes also have to complete a minimum of five service hours per semester and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, according to Pate.
“The first year [of the program] is foundational, learning the leadership concepts,” Pate said.
“The second year is building on those concepts and starting to incorporate mentorship for the previous cohort. The third year is focused on helping them to discover how to transition to life after sport and how they will apply their leadership skills to their careers.”
Associate Athletic Director for Academics and the Senior Woman Administrator, Andrea Walker, brings a background of service to the program, having worked for AmeriCorps, according to UIndy Athletics. Walker said one of UIndy’s mottos is “service for impact,” which this program
will fulfill as student-athletes continue to give back to the community through a local, nonprofit organization called Team Impact.
We want to prepare student athletes for success in life...”
“We have six athletic teams that work with Team Impact and essentially have adopted a younger person who may have
some limitations that stop them from being able to participate in sports,” Walker said. “These Team Impact members get to really be a part of the team and an athletic experience they may not be able to have on their own.”
Walker said the HLA ties directly into the strategic plan of leveraging athletics to support enrollment, retention and student engagement. She added that the leadership program is strategically positioning UIndy to recruit and retain student-athletes who value that well-rounded experience.
The athletic department is looking forward to launching
this new initiative and providing student-athletes with an opportunity that will benefit them in the future. According to Walker, that is ultimately what the HLA is all about, ensuring that student-athletes are invested in and are developed beyond their years at UIndy.
“It’ll provide a unique learning opportunity for professional and career development that will extend beyond the locker room to the campus and community,” Walker said. “It will give student athletes more skills and tools to use beyond their experience here at UIndy.”
‘Monumental Matchup’ preview
By Brayton Bowen SPORTS EDITOR
For the first time since 2016, the “Crosstown Matchup” between the UIndy Greyhounds and Marian Knights will take place on August 28 at Ascension St. Vincent Field.
The Knights lead the all-time series 2-0. They outscored the Greyhounds 28-22 in the first matchup and 38-16 in the most
recent game. Head coaches Ted Karras Jr. and Chris Keevers are very familiar with each other. In an interview on the UIndy Athletics YouTube page, not only are the two coaching against each other, but they also competed against one another during their playing days. Keevers was a two-year starter at Purdue, and Karras Jr. was a four-year starter at Northwestern.
A key member in turning the
Hounds’ luck around against the Knights is Redshirt Sophomore Brandon Stuckey. Stuckey, a 2024 All-GLVC First Team selection, started at center in all 12 games last season for the Hounds.
“I am excited to play football.” Stuckey said, “It is the only game in the world where you can hit someone as hard as you can with no consequences. I also love this rivalry. We are winless against them, so we have something to
prove.” Stuckey is switching positions from center to guard this season, which is a small but impactful move for the Hounds’ offensive line.
“It definitely was a transition,” Stuckey said. “This fall, I was playing center and was approached about moving over to guard and was more than happy to make the move. I am going to bring my physicality like I did at
SPORTS SCHEDULE
center, and I know that the other four guys around me are going to do the same thing.”
Marian Redshirt Junior Kobe Ottinger is looking forward to making an impact on this game and throughout the rest of the season. During Ottinger’s recruiting process, he attended recruiting camps and was offered by UIndy. “Yes, I was offered by UIndy, and yes, you could say that there’s extra incentive for me,” Ottinger said. “At the end of the day, I will prepare like it’s a normal game, but in the back of my head, there’s an incentive to play just a bit harder.” Coming off a season in which he recorded a sack in his first career game, Ottinger is looking to earn consistent playing time and become a leader on the defensive front. Ottinger, along with the rest of the defensive line unit, are looking forward to building on last season’s momentum, strengthening their chemistry and making an even bigger impact in stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback.
“I have been getting some reps with the starters, as well as getting some reps with the second unit,” Ottinger said. “Our coaching staff has hammered home that we just need to do what is asked of us and do our jobs.”
Photo by Luke Cooper
Ascension St. Vincent Field at Marian University pictured on Aug. 13, 2025. The Marian University Knights will host the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds in the first “crosstown matchup” since 2016 on August 28.
Contributed by UIndy Athletics
UIndy athletes share laughs and good times with older adults.
Student-athletes in the HLA are required to complete five service hours with their assigned group per semester.
WELCOME WEEK SPECIAL
Reality TV tries too hard sometimes
By Ella Harner
& GRAPHICS DIRECTOR
ARTS
“Love Island USA” season seven might have brought the most dramatic reality TV has seen in a while, but it isn’t because of what aired on screen.
This season was nothing short of chaotic, with everyone’s favorite Hurricane Huda crashing out on screen, or the Villa’s “ringleader,” Ace, we might’ve gone over the line of how intense we wanted.
“Love Island USA” went viral last season, becoming the mostwatched original streaming series in July 2024. Due to its popularity, it seemed production was convinced the people wanted more than what even season six offered, with more spots to sit in the villa, juicier challenges, and an unlimited number of crashouts. With a higher budget, the “Love Island” production team even brought in Megan Thee Stallion, which had my watch party shocked from the
couch.
Yet, was all the extravagance necessary? It was fun watching the new challenges with bigger and brighter sets, but it somehow felt forced. Even my favorite part of every season, Casa Amore, didn’t live up to my usual standards.
If anything good did come out of Casa, it was Nicolandria. Being a day one shipper is not for the faint of heart, but having Nic’s parents even shipping him with the Bama Barbie, it was almost easier to believe the ship might someday come true. That was the ultimate reason this season had so much drama: the internet was all over it.
Half the original Islanders were either influencers or models. While I learned to love them, it is always questionable if people really are just using the show for fame rather than its intended purpose: love.
I think this season was more focused on drama because the Islanders truly were not what I wanted, even if they were what production decided would be more
beneficial for the viewers. There was drama from insane challenges, America voting to split couples up left and right, and even Islanders being dumped from the show due to things they’d done before entering.
This is why Love Island fans watch Reality TV. The dramatic bits are the best parts, but the show almost lost its spark due to production draining every bit of happiness from the Islanders.
Fans debate the ending of “Squid Game” Season 3
By Ella Harner ARTS & GRAPHICS DIRECTOR
“Squid Games” season three – the end of an era.
“Squid Games” has been one of the most talked-about shows over the past few years. From the initial shock of season one, where we got to watch 456’s downfall. To season two, where we watched new characters rise and fall once more – it was almost scary wondering where season three was going to take our beloved players.
This season was almost like a part two of the previous season, starting where we left off, the rebels failing. Watching the similarities between the Front Man and 456 was incredible, and I didn’t know what to expect from either of their decisions. A big part of
“Squid Game” season three was obviously the baby. 456 and the baby. The
grandma and the baby. No offense, but can we shut up about that baby?
I get the point, it shows the new life coming into the world while the games gain a new life as well, everything falls together. So yes, it does work well for the story. Yet it’s the same thing I thought about last season and the voting; it just kept getting mentioned.
The one thing I enjoyed about the whole baby thing was during the hide-and-seek game. It showed three women, all at different stages of their lives, working together through such a troubling time. It was a beautiful scene, which ultimately ended with us being sucked back into the game’s reality. I think people have a problem with this season because of the ending, but personally, I
think it was needed. It marked the end of an era, but it left space open for a new version of the show fans love. It was important to watch Jun-ho reach the end of his mission, no matter the result of it. So many people are involved, and everything can self-destruct at any moment.
Even after the destruction, there is nothing I want more than another season of Squid Games. According to Netflix, this is the end, but it didn’t stop fans from speculating a spin-off due to the final scenes of season three.
Graphic by Ella Harner
Graphic by Ella Harner