June 8, 2023

does the debt ceiling agreement mean for student loan payments?

‘LAY MY HEART OUT’

Indiana baseball eliminated in regional final, veterans produce

By Matthew Byrne matbyrne@iu.edu | @MatthewByrne1

advance to the program's first Super Regionals since 2013. The Hoosiers lost by double-digits June 4 16-6, then fell 4-2 at the Game 7 winner-take-all matchup

Ty Bothwell's eyes and nose were swelled speaking in the postgame press conference. The redshirt senior didn't pitch at all from March 15 to April 4. In his welcome-back outing, Bothwell walked four batters. Then, he didn't pitch for two weeks.

When he did return on April 19, Bothwell walked one batter on six pitches and was instantly yanked from that contest by Mercer. But Monday was Bothwell's finest hour –– in perhaps his most crucial collegiate outing. At least, it was for Indiana's program since the 2019 season.

fact that I was able to go out and compete and lay my heart out for this team meant everything to me. Just to go out there and compete for my teammates and do what I could for as long as I could meant a lot to me."

ing lineup made their postseason debuts, and still, the Hoosiers began regional play 2-0 for the first time since the 2014 NCAA Tournament, beating Kentucky 5-3 June 3. Indiana required one more victory over Kentucky in two tries –– either June 4 or June 5, if necessary –– to

Bothwell gave up two first-inning runs, as the Wildcats went up 2-1. Spanning from the second to fifth innings, however, Bothwell retired 12 out of 13 batters, not counting an error in the field. Bothwell sprung from the mound once striking out the side in the third, flexed his forearms, and yelled at the turf. On Friday, he had closed out Indiana's regional-opening win.

"It meant everything," Bothwell said postgame Monday. "Being in a hole in the beginning of the year, like, everything wasn't working out right. But the

Wolfe Bender withdraws from city council election

By Marissa Meador marnmead@iu.edu | @Marissa_meador

David Wolfe Bender, an IU student and the former Democratic nominee for the Bloomington City Council’s sixth district, withdrew from the race Thursday.

The decision follows months of uncertainty about Bender’s residence at the time of filing his candidacy following the publication of an IDS story that found Bender did not live at the address he was registered at according to residents of the property. William Ellis — vice chair of the Monroe County Republican Party — filed a complaint with the Monroe County Election Board in March, culminating in a hearing on May 18.

At the hearing, Bender said he did not intend to violate any laws and believed he was signing a legitimate sublease agreement for the property he listed as his address. However, Justin Fox, the landlord of the property, confirmed at the hearing that he had no knowledge of the agreement, making it invalid. Bender said he discovered in late February or early March that the person

he signed the agreement with was not on the primary lease for the property — more than two months after signing the agreement and weeks after the publication of the IDS article.

At the May 18 hearing, the election board unanimously voted to refer the matter to Monroe County Prosecutor Erika Oliphant, while two of the three election board members — Chair Donovan Garletts and County Clerk Nicole Browne — voted to send the case to Attorney General Todd Rokita as well. The board cited IC 3-14-

1-13 and 3-14-3-1.1, which both refer to fraudulent reports, as potential violations. Both are Level 6 felonies, which is the lowestlevel felony under Indiana law.

A Level 6 felony requires a prison sentence, which ranges from six months to two and a half years. However, a court can enter a judgement of a Class A misdemeanor, particularly if it is a first offense. This does not require jail time but has a maximum penalty of a year in jail.

SEE

Bloomington's 7 Day Forecast

Bothwell eventually ran out of fuel in the sixth in ning, as Kentucky knocked two doubles in three atbats to go up 3-2. Ken tucky Proud Park erupted. Kentucky players in the dugout were even throw ing team mate Evan Byers in the air to the beat of the song "Pump It Up" by En dor. As freshman right-hander Brayden Rise dorph entered the game mid-inning, the Wildcats doubled once more, doubling their lead to 4-2. The run was charged to Bothwell's stat line. Risedorph had labored the night of June 2, throwing 82 pitches in Indiana's regional-opening victory.

SEE BASEBALL PAGE 4

COLUMN: Swing, don’t walk, to ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse'

By Danny William dw85@iu.edu | @deepwizardry_

Well, the wait’s finally over. It’s been a whopping five years since “SpiderMan: Into the Spider-Verse” graced our screens, and we’ve finally been blessed by the spider-gods with a sequel.

For a film with five years of hype behind it, “SpiderMan: Across the SpiderVerse” lives up to expectations and more. With stunning animation that has come to define the series and action that will please die-hard fans and newcomers alike, “Across the SpiderVerse” is the perfect film for the summer – and any time.

The film picks up where “Into the Spider-Verse” left off, with the first movie’s spider-squad split up across their respective dimensions and performing their superhero duties. After Gwen encounters a group of dimension-hopping Spider-People and Miles faces the new villain, Spot, the pair come back together. However, not everything is as it seems with Miles’ new friends or his new villain, and circumstances may be much more dire.

The plot isn’t really why I’m here, though. For me, it’s all about that animation.

If you’ve seen the first film in the series, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The animation style looks like a comic book come to life, complete with cel-shaded character models, split screens and hatched backgrounds. There’s also a million tiny details in the background to the point that you would literally need to go frame-by-frame to see all of them.

“Across the Spider-Verse” ramps up this animation style even more. We spend a good amount of time in Gwen’s universe, which features stunning watercolorthemed backgrounds that change with the mood of the scene. There’s some outstanding character design as well, including Spider-Punk with his papery textured look.

The animators are pushing the limits of what computer-generated animation can do, and I’m all for it. Each action is dynamic and fun. The backgrounds are beautiful and there isn’t a single scene where the characters feel lifeless. They feel like they’re real and tangible, even if they were created by software.

After seeing just how stunning it is, I’ve come to the conclusion that all su-

perhero movies should be animated. It’s so much easier to make a character look — well — “super” by putting them in an animated space where they can squash and stretch.

The action of “Across the Spider-Verse” also feels so much more satisfying than live-action actors can ever achieve. Spot’s psychedelic superpower allows him to jump through space by generating black holes – a power that is perfectly captured by the animation. The Spider-People are energetic and exciting to watch as they hang upside-down or leap from wall to wall. There are no limits in animation just as there are no limits to their powers.

If you’re a Spider-Man fan, you’ll appreciate the animation and the tie-ins to the larger Spider-Man universe. The film has a ton of references, from common to obscure, without being overbearing.

Disney Marvel fans will appreciate some references to every live-action SpiderMan in recent memory. As the last living 2018 “Venom” fan, I was delighted to see Mrs. Chen. I promise I have good taste in film.

SEE SPIDER-MAN PAGE 4

SCREEN STILL

IU student and former Bloomington City Council candidate David Wolfe Bender speaks during public comment at a July 2022 city council meeting. Bender, the former Democratic nominee for the Bloomington City Council’s sixth district, withdrew from the race Thursday.

WOLFE BENDER PAGE 4

PHOTO BY OLIVIA BIANCO | IDS Sophomore thirdbasman Josh Pyne crouches down at Kentucky Proud Park June 4, 2023 against University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. Indiana lost to Kentucky during Game 7 of the 2023 NCAA Lexington Regional.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA BIANCO | IDS Senior shortstop Philip Glasser watches a foul ball at Kentucky Proud Park June 5, 2023 against University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. Glasser was named shortstop on the NCAA Baseball Lexington All-Region Team.

What does the debt ceiling agreement mean for student loan payments?

By Mia Hilkowitz mhilkowi@iu.edu | @MiaHilkowitz

Borrowers will need to start paying back their student loans by the end of August as part of a provision included in the debt ceiling deal signed by President Biden Saturday. The legislation ends a three year-long student loan payment pause introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The deal will also prohibit Biden from issuing another extension on the freeze, which he has done numerous times since 2020.

Why are payments resuming?

Ending the freeze on student payment loans is just one of numerous provisions included in the legislation, which Biden signed after weeks of negotiation with congressional leaders. By approving the legislation, the U.S. averts a default on the federal government’s debt. If no agreement was reached, the Treasury Department warned the government would run out of cash to pay its bills this past Monday.

“No one got everything they wanted but the American people got what they needed,” Biden said in a press release issued by the White House. “We averted an economic crisis and an economic collapse.”

Ryan Brewer, associate professor of finance and head of the IU Division of Business in Columbus, said historically, the government has run up a deficit when the U.S. faced things — such

as pandemics and wars — that require the government to spend more capital than they have available through taxation or issuing bonds. To understand how the government can spend more money than they have available, Brewer provided a comparison on a smaller scale.

“You graduate from college, you get a new job, and let’s say you decide you like the job, like your location and you want to buy a house,” Brewer said. “Because buying a house requires so much capital, you typically have to get a loan to do that. So, part of that responsibility is that over time, you have to pay the loan off.”

The agreement will suspend the U.S.’s borrowing limit until January 2025 and limit government spending. The deal will allow the Treasury Department to borrow money to pay the debts it has already incurred. If Congress had not come to an agreement last week and the government defaulted on its debt, Brewer said there would have been massive financial consequences –both domestically and internationally.

“As soon as we fail to perform on servicing our debt, that would dynamically cause many bad things to go around the world financially,” Brewer said. “There would be a pullback worldwide and in the immediate aftermath, it would cause a pretty severe recession.”

Why was there a pause on payments?

Phil Schuman, executive director of financial well-

ness and education for IU, said the original freeze on student loan payments was implemented during COVID under the Trump administration March 20, 2020, due to economic and financial uncertainty across the country. In addition to pausing payments, the government also issued a zero percent interest rate on loan payments, meaning interest on unpaid student loans would not accrue during the time of the freeze.

The Biden administration continued to extend the freeze since its introduction in 2020. However, Biden had previously stated the freeze likely would end around August 2023 anyway. Schuman said there has not been another freeze on student loans that sets a precedent for the agreement. The pause on student loan payments has been controversial among some politicians in recent years. For instance, after Biden extended the freeze in April 2022, House Rep. Bob Good (R-Virginia), introduced a bill to end the pause, arguing the freeze benefited those in higher social and economic classes rather than low-income individuals. Most recently, the Senate passed a bill to block Biden’s student loan forgiveness program — which is not included in the debt ceiling agreement — while the legislation awaits a Supreme Court decision to determine if the program can take effect.

Schuman said this contention can be partially attributed to arguments sur-

rounding political motivations behind extending the pause.

“There’s a lot of argument about whether or not the extension should have lasted this long,” Schuman said. “There was skepticism about whether or not it was actually necessary for people to have it or if it was just a political ploy.”

What impact will this have on borrowers?

While resuming student loan payments may help lessen national debt, Schuman said the short notice for repayments may cause additional stress for many borrowers. According to a 2022 American Psychological Association report, 66% of U.S. adults surveyed said money was a significant or very significant source of stress in their lives.

“The reason for the extension was to basically allow people who are struggling during COVID and coming out of COVID — and we’re still struggling now — to buy some flexibility to get themselves back on their feet financially,” Schuman said. “So, we are talking about a potential mental health crisis that’s stemming from people having to make these repayments because it’s just not something they might be able to do.”

Student loan payments have been paused for three years, so there are many people who might have never had to make a loan pay-

ment before, Schuman said. He said there will also be people who find themselves out of the habit of paying loans or not expecting to have to start paying by the end of August.

“You might see a lot of people backtrack and figure, ‘Okay, how can I actually make this work now, because I’ve never had to do this before and I’ve committed this money to something else,’” Schuman said. “So, I think there’s potential that a lot of people are going to struggle financially as they try to get their feet set with what’s going on.”

Where can I find information about my student loan payments?

For those with questions concerning their own student loan payments and the upcoming end to the freeze, Schuman recommends several resources. IU Bloomington students can contact the Student Center to learn more about grants, loans and financial aid as well as ask questions about their payments.

IU students can also contact the Office of Financial Education to receive help figuring out what payments they need to make, who their servicer is and other loan payment information.

Borrowers can also access important loan information — such as how much you owe, your loan provider and projected payments — by logging into

their account on the Federal Student Aid website. You can then contact your loan servicer based on that information.

“If you’re a person who doesn’t think you’re going to be able to afford those payments, you can also talk with them about what additional options you might have to lessen your financial burden each month, if needed,” Schuman said.

One option is to apply for income-driving repayment plans, plans that set monthly student loan payments at amounts based on income and family size. On the StudentAid.gov website, borrowers can use a Loan Simulator to find repayment plans best fit to their financial needs. These repayment plans can be modified over time depending on changes in the borrower's financial situation.

Schman also suggests borrowers contact their loan service providers with questions and requests as soon as possible because a potentially overwhelming influx of people may cause delays in service.

“It may be hard to get a hold of somebody in an efficient amount of time,” Schuman said. “They’ve had to cut back on their staff, had to lay off the staff over the years because they’ve had nothing for them to do. So now they’re going to have to recalibrate and hire people again and that process is going to take some time.”

Indiana Environmental Reporter to cease operations

By Mia Hilkowitz mhilkowi@iu.edu | @MiaHilkowitz

The Indiana Environmental Reporter, an independent environmental reporting organization supported by The Media School, will cease all operations June 30 following loss in funding for the organization. Originally funded by grant money and later by The Media School, the funds will be reallocated to support teaching, research and service needs, according to Audrie Osterman, director of communications and marketing for The Media School.

In 2018, The Media School partnered with the Environmental Resilience Institute to launch the Indiana Environmental Reporter as part of IU’s Grand Challenge initiative, a $300 million research initiative launched by former IU President Michael McRobbie. The Grand Challenge provided funding for research and initiatives in three challenges: the Precision Health Initiative, Responding to the Addictions Crisis and Prepared for Environmental Change. The Indiana Environmental Reporter received funding as

part of this third category.

Osterman said in an email that the Indiana Environmental Reporter was funded by a three-year grant through the Grand Challenge. When the grant funding ended in 2021, Osterman said The Media School provided funding for the Indiana Environmental Reporter to continue operations through June 2023. Osterman said The Media School informed the news organization’s staff of the end date for funding approximately one year ago. She said The Media School is proud of the impact the Indiana Environmental Reporter has had during their five years of operation, including covering work in all of Indiana’s 92 counties.

The Indiana Environmental Reporter employs two full-time reporters, Beth Edwards and Enrique Saenz, as well as one parttime employee and numerous student workers. Since learning the Indiana Environmental Reporter would not be receiving additional funding last year, Edwards said the organization tried to find other funding sources, but the search was ultimately unsuccessful. “I think it was a surprise

that we didn’t find additional funding, but I knew that this could happen,” Edwards said. “But I kept hoping that there would be this last-minute miracle.”

During her five years reporting for the Indiana Environmental Reporter, Edwards focused on the environmental impacts of coal ash, which are byproducts produced from burning coal in coal-fired power plants. Edwards wrote and produced the documentary “In the Water”, which looked at impacts that unregulated coal ash disposal had on groundwater sources across the state. The documentary was selected to premiere in the Indy Film Fest and Luleå International Film Festival in 2020.

“I think what was unique and special about us is that we could take our time and do longer pieces,” Edwards said. “I think more investigative pieces and longer form stories are going to be missing or not as many to be had.”

Saenz, who worked as a reporter in Texas before coming to the Indiana Environmental Reporter, said working as an environmental reporter helped him realize covering environmen-

tal issues involved all facets of journalism from crime to legislative issues to the economy.

“It seems like for a lot of people it’s something that doesn’t touch your life unless you go out into the woods or something,” Saenz said. “But from my experience, the environment affects everything. It’s everywhere you live, everything you do."

Saenz said he enjoyed reporting on wetlands, or areas of land covered with water or saturated water. According to the National Parks Service, wetlands provide ecological services such as water quality control, flood and erosion control and wildlife habitats. Saenz said he would report on stories showing how environmental issues affect

everyday people. This past May, Saenz received six different first place awards for his environmental reporting from the Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

However, Saenz sees the loss of the Indiana Environmental Reporter as a loss for student opportunities in The Media School. He said he hoped the Indiana Environmental Reporter would one day become an established news outlet where students could get their stories published and operate like other organizations in The Media School. Saenz said numerous students had expressed interest in being involved with the organization before it lost funding. The Indiana Environ-

mental Reporter website, where people can access stories and podcasts from the organization, will be online for another year after operations cease.

Saenz also hopes that reporting from the Indiana Environmental Reporter will encourage people to continue investigating environmental issues.

“Who benefits from that? Why are they doing this? What effect is this going to have? Just ask yourself, ‘Why?’” Saenz said. “Anyone can ask these questions from their lawmakers and hopefully get an answer. I hope that we showed people it’s okay to ask questions about these environmental issues and I hope it’s stirred something in them so they start asking questions too.”

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

U.S. President Joe Biden (right), joined by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks during a meeting regarding the debt limit, with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and other Congressional leaders, May 16, 2023, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C.. Their newly-introduced legislation ends a three year-long student loan payment pause introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Biden should not be re-elected

Jared Quigg (he/him) is a senior studying journalism and political science.

In March 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act into law. It was a huge economic stimulus bill that, among many other things, included an expanded child tax credit which provided monthly payments for low-income families with dependent children.

The expansion of the child tax credit was a huge success, with the child poverty rate falling 46 percent and lifting nearly 4 million children out of poverty.

But at the end of the year, the expansion expired. Congress failed to renew it. Millions of children fell back into poverty.

The passing of the debt ceiling bill last week has made me think about the many failures of the Democratic Party during Biden’s term. The story of the child tax credit has been replayed over and over. Promises of progress have repeatedly been compromised away or allowed to fail.

The Democrats had no reason to compromise with Republicans over the debt ceiling. Many alternatives were suggested in the media and endorsed by some Democrats. Biden could have invoked the 14th Amendment to bypass Congress, getting around the debt ceiling or minted a trillion-dollar platinum coin.

Instead, he struck a deal with Kevin McCarthy in which the Democrats gave only concessions to the opposition, minority party. The debt ceiling bill will claw back $28 billion in unspent Covid relief funds, eliminate

$1.4 billion in IRS funding, restart federal student loan payments and add additional work requirements for those who need SNAP benefits — policies that will hurt those in poverty most of all.

Not to mention that the state of America is much worse than it was three years ago. Under Biden we’ve experienced rampant inflation, the end of Roe v. Wade, increased attacks against LGBTQ people and on and on.

All of this to say: Biden should not be president in 2024. It’s not too late for him to drop out of the race, and he should do it immediately. The American people

deserve far better than the embarrassment of another Biden-Harris ticket.

I’m sure some liberals will say the failures I attribute to the Biden Administration were the fault of others. They’ll blame the Republicans, rogue Democrats, the filibuster. To all of this I say — fine. So, the problems aren’t his fault. But is his failure to solve them the fault of someone else as well?

Think back to early 2021 when the unelected Senate parliamentarian killed the $15 minimum wage that was set to be in the Democrat’s budget reconciliation package. Democrats like Ilhan

Omar suggested the parliamentarian be fired — why should the parliamentarian, some unelected nobody get to make such a decision? And besides, it had been done before — the Republicans did it in 2001 to get what they wanted after the parliamentarian said they couldn’t.

But the Biden Administration refused to do it, just like they’ve refused to add more Supreme Court Justices to the Court to restore abortion rights and defend student loan forgiveness. The filibuster was blamed on the failure to pass the voting rights bill in 2022, but Biden

has mostly shied away from calling to end the procedure.

And yes, the Republican Party is full of ghouls who prey upon minorities and the poor. So, why compromise with them? They don’t have the Senate or the White House, and their majority in the House is slim. Why give them anything they want?

The people didn’t vote for them, or their reactionary agenda. The liberals who defend Biden by blaming Republicans need to take a closer look at who they’re defending. Every step of the way Biden has placated to conservatives.

On issues of climate

change, Biden has been a failure — he promised no new drilling but gave us the Willow Project instead. The tepid gun reform law he signed in 2022 has done nothing to stop the almost daily bloodshed in this country.

On foreign policy he’s been incredibly reactionary. Whether it’s hawkishness with China, continuing to pour money and weapons into Ukraine instead of trying to diplomatically end the war or depriving the people of Afghanistan billions of dollars of much needed money, the Biden administration’s foreign policy has been unconscionable.

And need I say it? Biden is too old to be president. Questions about his cognitive ability are valid, and concerns that he may not survive another term equally so. But as I’ve laid out, it’s Biden’s institutionalism that makes him most unfit for another four years. His refusal to whip party members who don’t fall in line, his commitment to the filibuster, the parliamentarian, the Supreme Court — all of these have stood in the way of progressive policies the majority of Americans support.

If these institutions stand in the way of progress, what good are the institutions? The undemocratic Senate with its undemocratic filibuster, the unelected parliamentarian and the unelected Supreme Court — all these things must be swept away. These institutions are poisons that strangle social justice. Biden will never provide the cure, so he needs to get out of the way.

jaquigg@iu.edu

GENTRY JUDGES DANNY’S DIATRIBES

Time moves so fast: my three weeks in Prague

Gentry Keener (she/her)

is a junior studying journalism and political science.

Three weeks ago, I sat in my father's house with my dog in my lap and sobbed.

I had wanted nothing more for my entire life than to leave the safety of my home and to go explore the world. The moment had come, yet I was utterly terrified. I sobbed and I freaked out and I baked a lot of random desserts — a random coping mechanism I have recently developed — in an attempt to calm the nerves.

I was so excited for what the next two months would hold, but it was too real. Suddenly, I actually had to do what I had been telling everyone I would.

Now, I am sitting in a hidden coffee shop in Prague, Czech Republic. When I return to my apartment tonight, I will again pack my bags. Tomorrow as I walk up the 300 or so steps to our classroom, I will probably cry. I will probably cry again as I walk out of the classroom for the final time and say goodbye to my professor.

These tears will be of sadness, fear and excitement, just like they were three weeks ago.

I found a home here in Prague, whether I expected it or not. I found a piece of myself I think has always been missing.

Yes, maybe that piece is traveling and exploring new places, but it feels deeper than that.

In the last three weeks, I got to explore a city that is so rich in history. The people here are so loving and so passionate about their way of life.

One thing that never occurred to me before arriving here was how much the Ukraine War was affecting the Czech people. Hearing the stories from locals about the things their families have been through, the fear they feel for the future and the love they have for the refugees they have taken in changed my whole outlook on the city.

I got to experience so much that this breathtak-

ing place has to offer, from the pastel renaissance architecture around every corner to the jaw dropping views overlooking the city to the countless dance clubs and music scene. There was never a dull moment and never a moment I would take back. I got to meet new people from all around the world. I made friends from Scottland, Germany, Ireland and more. I made connections with people I never thought possible and got to learn about so many different cultures and ways of life.

As I walked down the street with three of my friends from the class, a

17-year-old kid complimented my friend. When he responded in English, the group of kids began screaming, “You’re American! Guys, I found more Americans.”

We proceeded to talk to them for the next 15 minutes in the dead center of a bustling street. As hundreds of people passed us, we stood, talked and laughed. Over 4,000 miles away from home, and we managed to make a connection with people from Ohio – how does that even happen?

On Saturday, I will board a bus with three people I met three weeks ago, and we will begin a new

adventure. I’m sure I will be equally terrified then as I was three weeks ago. In fact, I can already feel the fear creeping in.

But life moves so fast. These three weeks came and went in the blink of an eye. I swear it was less than a week ago that I was lugging my massive backpack up eight flights of stairs to my apartment that I would share with four people I hardly knew.

I cannot repeat it enough: life moves so fast. If you let the fear overcome you, let it hold you back, you might miss the whole thing. gekeener@iu.edu

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIETTE ALBERT

Conservative cancel culture: an ironic reality

Danny William (they/them) is a sophomore studying media.

Many corporations are facing these cancellations as the recent LGBTQ culture war rages. For Target, it was their pride merchandise. For Bud Light, it was their sponsorship with trans activist Dylan Mulvaney. But some people have gone further than just boycotting these stores. Several Target and Bud Light facilities faced threats and violence to employees in the wake of conservative outrage.

All of this noise, from the boycotting to the tweeting to the yelling at employees, shows one clear thing — the online mob of conservatives have no consistent values.

Let’s look at just three or four years ago. Conservative political commentators would constantly moan about how they had been censored by the radical left and cancel culture for just stating their opinions. Just one example is Marjorie Taylor Greene in 2021 complaining about cancel culture — during her time to speak on the literal House floor. Back then, shutting down opposing voices just because you disagreed with them was wrong.

Now, conservatives are fine with canceling these large corporations who don’t grovel at their every request. Even a token of support for the LGBTQ community sends them into a frenzy. Somehow, it’s different when they do just what they hated liberals for doing years ago. But, I ask every conservative who loves the free market: what’s so wrong with making money? Isn’t that what corporations should do, even if you don’t agree with their ideals?

So much of modern Republican politics are purely reactionary. If there’s nothing to get mad about, there’s nothing to do politically. Just look at Ron DeSantis. His entire hope of being president seems to be simply based around hating LGBTQ people and the vague threat of “wokeness.”

Now, companies are bending to their will. Target has pulled pride merchandise and Anheuser-Busch offered little support to Mulvaney and the trans community at large. It’s clear that many of these companies are content with using the LGBTQ community for a quick buck and then dropping us when there’s backlash.

If companies want to weather this culture war, they need to grow a backbone. Their willingness to give into this hateful rhetoric only emboldens homophobes and transphobes. They see that they’re winning, so they keep trying to push for more regression.

Corporations’ support for pride was never going to change the world. It was always for monetary gain — as is everything a business does. But now, in the fraught landscape that we live in, the lack of support is telling and terrifying.

Conservatives created a world where all corporations care about are profit margins, nothing more. If they want that to change, they’ll have to do more than just cancel businesses they disagree with. They should keep in mind, however, that they have much more in common with the trans people they hate than the billionaires whose rhetoric they spew. dw85@iu.edu

COURTESY PHOTO

The class of Short Film Productions in Prague stands in front of the Astronomical Clock, June 3, 2023. The class ended Saturday after a three week session.

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

President Joe Biden delivers remarks, May 28, 2023, in the Roosevelt Room about a deal struck with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to raise the national debt limit. Support for Biden’s reelection has been decreasing with his recent decision-making.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Risedorph pitched 2⅓ scoreless innings after that double, before sophomore left-hander Ryan Kraft relieved in the eighth inning and stranded two runners. Still, Indiana's lineup was unable to come up with many clutch hits. Indiana batted 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

The only time the Hoosiers converted in that category was Whalen's RBIdouble in the first inning, which scored Glasser. The fifth-year shortstop beat out what would've been an inning-ending double play in the top of the second inning, which tied it, 2-2. That marked the final time the Hoosiers scored; they were held scoreless across the final seven innings.

Kentucky right-handed sophomore Mason Moore, who threw five no-hit innings in the team’s regional-opening victory June 2, returned in June 5's fifth inning to pitch the regional finale. Like June 2, Moore tossed five shutout innings, striking out five, while stranding four runners.

“He’s really good, it was

going to be tough,” Mercer said. “You have to score early. We had to do what we had to do to keep our arms safe… if I run those guys out (June 4), they're not going to be as good… but by doing that you also realize that you're going to end up getting their arms back up, too. So it's the roll of the dice. You'll pitch it better, but so will they.”

Glasser tailled Indiana’s final hit of the season in the ninth inning June 5 –– he and Whalen went 5-for-9 combined. The fifth-year senior has no eligibility remaining. Mercer said postgame Glasser turned down chances to join an MLB organization two or three times.

“That guy gave his heart and soul,” Mercer said. “He's played every day for five years, and he's still the most motivated, laserfocused, dutiful player I've ever coached. That doesn't happen. It's not normal. He's just wired different and he's elevated everybody else around him.”

son, including the postseason. The shortstop has batted leadoff in the lineup for almost every, if not, every game, the entire year. Glasser had a .350-plus batting average, walked more than he struck out, and scored 70 runs.

“When you're looking at this guy who's broken, and now you got to try to console him,” Mercer said. “You know how much he's invested and how much he's given to everybody around him. You wanted to send him away in his last college baseball game to go to a Super Regional.”

History repeated Monday night. When the Hoosiers hosted in Bloomington in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, they won their first two games to advance to the Regional Final –– then lost twice to Stanford University –– missing out on back-to-back Super Regional appearances.

No. 2-seeded Indiana along the way to advance to the program’s first Super Regionals. They did precisely that this weekend.

Indiana players were motionless against the dugout rail. Kentucky players ran past in their victory lap, also passing by players in Indiana’s bullpen. The Hoosiers ended this year 40-23, reaching the postseason, which is better than last year’s 27-32 postseasonabsent season.

Back-to-back victories to open the NCAA Tournament added an exclamation mark to the program’s turnaround this year. The Hoosiers were one win away. They not only gain postseason experience for the majority of their young roster, but the thirst to return.

In a letter sent to the BSquare Bulletin on Thursday, Bender reaffirmed he never intended to violate the law and said he is confident his interpretation of the law is correct. Bender also said he hopes students continue to run in the future and that they do not let his experience deter them.

“Still, withdrawing is what is right for the residents of the Sixth District,” Bender said in a letter sent to the BSquare Bulletin. “Allowing a new candidate to run in the general election will ensure our election in November is about nothing but the issues facing the Sixth District.”

With these references, the film manages to comment on the tropes and legacy of Spider-Man. Nearly all SpiderPeople share common events and struggles in their stories, and the film explores this concept in the realm of the multiverse. It’s an interesting metaanalysis that adds to the depth of the film.

the

Glasser started all 63 games for Indiana this sea-

The last time Kentucky hosted was 2017. The Wildcats lost their first game in the winner’s bracket, but went on to win three straight games. They beat

“We experienced a really young team,” Indiana freshman Devin Taylor said postgame. “We've been here now, got this under our belt. But now we're just going to embrace it. Embrace this loss and then carry it on for motivation for next year.”

To fill Bender’s vacancy on the ballot, the Monroe County Democratic Party must convene a caucus to choose a new candidate. The deadline for filling a vacancy is July 3.

According to the BSquare Bulletin, a potential candidate may be IU student Sydney Zulich, who has filed paperwork to run as an independent candidate but could still amend her filing to run as a Democrat. Health

Dr. Diana Christensen, O.D. Tessa Shaw, L.E.

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Optometry

DDiChiOD

Dr. Diana Christensen, O.D. Tessa Shaw, L.E.

At Allure Eyecare + Aesthetics we do more than comprehensive eye care. We specialize in dry eye treatment and spa services to help you have healthy eyes and skin.

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The movie is tied together with an outstanding voice cast and script. The cast from the last film is still amazing and the new additions are magnificent. Daniel Kaluuya gives an incredibly fun performance as my favorite new character, Spider-Punk. Karan Soni and Oscar Isaac are great as their respective Spider-People as well. Along with this, the script is fun and quirky without losing its emotional core. The final installment of the trilogy, “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” is set to be released in March of next year. Personally, it can’t come fast enough. I hope, however, that the animators are given the time and space to bring the same creativity to “Beyond” as they did to “Across.” Maybe not five years this time, though. For my sake.

Dr. Zachary Short, O.D.

Dr. Madison Witthoft, O.D.

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Hoosier Army loses to Newtown Pride FC

By Leo Paes lpaes@iu.edu

The Hoosier Army fell 3-1 to Newtown Pride in The Soccer Tournament at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina and was knocked out of the tournament. This was the Hoosiers’ only loss in the four-team group stage, but their goal differential was not enough to push them through to the knockout round.

The first few minutes were completely dominated by Newtown Pride FC, with the Hoosiers just running after the ball and defending the best they could. Three minutes in, Nikita Katlov hit the post from the far-left side to show Newtown Pride that the Hoosiers were still dangerous.

But Newtown Pride struck first. William Eskay was alone inside the box and given an easy tap in after a low cross from the left, the Hoosier Army were down 1-0, losing for the first time in the tournament. Newtown Pride had control of the ball and Indiana was over-relying on long passes by goalkpeer Christian Lomeli, which were not connecting. And with seven minutes, Lomeli was forced to make two point-blank saves in back-to-back attacks from Newtown Pride.

The Hoosiers were being

boxed in, but 15 minutes into the game, they recorded their first shot on goal which came from an Austin Panchot header after a long cross. The Hoosiers started to generate better chances.

Newtown Pride, however,

took advantage of Indiana’s boldness and scored another tap-in on a 2v1 counterattack. It was Gabriel Costa’s first goal in the tournament after missing a penalty in the final kick of the game against Kingdom FC.

After regulation, the match went to Target Score Time. The target score, which ends the match, is set upon the leading team’s score plus one goal. Whoever reaches the target score first wins the match. It has no time limit

but after every five minutes one player from each side is taken out.

In the other game of the group, Kingdom FC had won 7-1 against Borussia Dortmund and passed the Hoosier Army in goal differential, so the Hoosiers had to win the game to advance.

Indiana made it 2-1 after a mistake by Newtown Pride’s defense offered an open lane to the goal. Kyle Spencer placed it in the right corner and gave some hope for the Hoosiers.

A couple minutes later, Newtown Pride’s Gabriel Ganzer received a lateral pass off a free kick and smashed it in. The ball went off Lomeli’s hand into the net as Newtown Pride reached the three-goal target score to win 3-1, ending the Hoosiers’ chance to advance to the knockout stage.

The Hoosiers played well in the first couple of matches, beating Borussia Dortmund and Kingdom FC. But The Hoosier Army did not show up when they had to, needing to outscore Kingdom’s goal differential in group play, which cost the Hoosiers a spot in the next round.

The Soccer Tournament continues June 2-4, with the quarter and semi-finals played on June 3 and the final on June 4. The winner takes home a prize of $1 million.

Tyler Cerny’s ejection draws NCAA officiating into question

By Nick Rodecap nrodecap@iu.edu | @nickrodecap

To cap off its sixth 40win season in program history, Indiana baseball headed to Lexington, Kentucky to compete in an NCAA regional for the first time since the 2019 season. The Hoosiers defeated the University of West Virginia in their first game of the tournament and faced the Kentucky Wildcats with a berth in the regional championship game on the line.

With the score locked at 1-1 in the top of the seventh inning and two runners on base for the Wildcats, Indiana freshman second baseman Tyler Cerny committed a throwing error on a double play opportunity, giving Kentucky a 2-1 lead that extended to 3-1 on a sacrifice fly.

The Hoosiers got the lead back in the bottom of the frame with a three-run homer from senior catcher Peter Serruto, a hit the Rutgers transfer described as the biggest of his playing career.

Given the newly announced record attendance of over 6,000 at Kentucky Proud Park, adrenaline was running high for all players in the Indiana dugout. Among those players was Cerny, who flew out prior to Serruto’s homer. Amidst the rowdy celebration of the hit that minimized his error, Cerny, with Indiana’s home run chain in hand, stepped onto the turf mere feet outside the Hoosiers’ dugout and placed the chain around Serruto’s neck. This short excursion

away from the Indiana bench led to Cerny being ejected from the game and suspended for the next, which became a 16-6 loss at the hands of Kentucky. NCAA baseball rule 5, section 2, clause D states that bringing celebratory props onto the field of play results in an ejection. When it was initially put into place, the NCAA rule allowed for a warning prior to ejection, but the rule was updated on March 1 so that any player in violation would automatically be ejected without warning. Nobody can say whether Cerny’s suspension played a part in Indiana’s two subsequent losses to Kentucky. Hoosier pitchers struggled in the lopsided loss on June 4 and the offense faltered repeatedly in the winner-take-all game on June 5 night. The focus here does not lie in the outcome of the regional, rather, it lies in the precedent that the NCAA rulebooks have a glaring discrepancy which was brought into the limelight this postseason.

While Indiana was in Lexington, Stanford University softball was making a run to the Women’s College World Series. As they did in Kentucky, emotions ran high for the Cardinal softball team. While they were celebrating a home run, a pink hat was spotted in close proximity to home plate — much more decisively on the field than Cerny and the ill-fated home run chain were. However, because there is no rule prohibiting this in softball, no Stanford players were ejected.

In an era of baseball that is headlined by bat flips and strikeout celebrations that have become known as “K struts,” the ejection harkens back to an age when unwritten rules reigned supreme.

One could point to inconsistencies in the same ballpark as well. In Monday’s regional final with the game tied 2-2, Kentucky’s Devin Burkes celebrated a sixth-inning double with a much more emphatic celebration and no punishment was issued. Furthering these inconsistencies, Kentucky went on to take the lead and celebrated by throwing Evan Byers in the air while in the dugout.

College baseball and softball both celebrate the student athletes who

give their all for a chance to reign supreme at the conclusion of the College World Series. Any athlete who has ever come through in a clutch moment or been on a team fighting to keep their season alive will inevitably get fired up when their squad has success.

The fact that one sport bans props from entering the field of play while the other does not can cause confusion for fans who do not understand the discrepancy, drawing the ire of those who root for teams affected by the rule where it still exists. If NCAA baseball wishes to leave antiquated officiating practices behind and bring college baseball into the 2020s, getting rid of the celebratory prop ban is a

Indiana softball players huddle at the NCAA Tournament against the University of Tennessee May 21. Two players entered their name into the transfer portal, according to a report the morning of June 6

ERICKSEN GOMEZ-VILLEDA

Indiana’s Taryn Kern enters transfer portal

By Austin Platt auplatt@iu.edu | @AustinPlatter

Indiana softball freshman infielder Taryn Kern entered the transfer portal June 5, according to a report from Justin McLeod of Extra Inning Softball.

Kern, who batted second in Indiana’s batting order for the majority of the year, led the team in nearly every offensive category. The freshman was atop the conference in several statistics as well, receiving Big Ten Freshman and Player of the Year awards.

The California native had a .404 batting average along with 23 home runs, 68 runs batted in, 68 runs scored and 45 walks.

Kern broke multiple Indiana single-season records held by former gold-medal Olympian Michelle Venturella and was named to multiple All-American teams. Kern was one of three finalists for the Division I National Freshman of the Year award.

Kern is the first member of Team 50 to enter the portal and has three years of eligibility remaining.

good start.

Indiana baseball had a lot of shining moments this season — Devin Taylor being named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Morgan Colopy’s walk-off home run versus Iowa, Luke Sinnard breaking the single-season strikeout record and Ty Bothwell giving the Hoosiers a chance at their first super regional trip since 2013 are just a handful.

Cerny’s contentious ejection and suspension should not overshadow that, but it also should not be swept under the rug. Officials stealing the spotlight from players has been a persistent plague on the game of baseball and it shows no signs of going away.

Indiana’s Randle El, Dunbar on 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot

By Evan Gerike egerike@iu.edu | @EvanGerike

Former Indiana football stars Antwaan Randle El and Vaughn Dunbar were both named on the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame induction ballot, according to a release from Indiana Athletics on June 5.

Randle El played quarterback for Indiana from 1998 to 2001, earning both Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year honors during his career. In his senior year, Randle El was named First Team All-American and finished sixth in the Heisman voting.

Randle El was the first player in NCAA history to complete 40 passing touch-

downs and 40 rushing touchdowns. He still leads Indiana’s program history in total offensive yards with 11,364, and is second in career passing yardage with 7,469, rushing yardage with 3,895 and touchdowns with 45.

Randle El went on to play nine seasons as a wide receiver in the NFL, splitting his career between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Redskins. He won Super Bowl XL in 2005 with the Steelers and threw a 43-yard touchdown pass in the game, becoming the first wide receiver to throw a touchdown in a Super Bowl game. Randle El currently coaches wide receivers for the Detroit Lions. Dunbar, a running back

Elle Smith, Kate Rehberg enter transfer portal

By Austin Platt auplatt@iu.edu | @AustinPlatter

Indiana softball freshman outfielder Elle Smith and senior pitcher Kate Rehberg have entered the transfer portal, according to a report from Softball Portal early June 6. The news comes nearly a day after freshman infielder Taryn Kern put her name into the portal.

Smith was mainly used as a pinch runner. She appeared in 39 games, scored 15 runs and stole four bases in five attempts. The Blue Spring, Missouri native had two hits and one walk at the plate in only three at-bats. Smith also recorded three putouts in the field and has three years of eligibility remaining.

Rehberg enters the portal as a graduate transfer with one year of remaining eligibility after graduating from IU in May. Rehberg hails from Omaha, Nebraska and in four years with the Hoosiers tallied 13⅓ innings pitched in 14 appearances, collecting seven strikeouts with an earned run average of 12.29.

1991

a

for Indiana during the 1990 and 1991 seasons, was a consensus All-American in 1991 after leading the nation in rushing with 1,805 yards. Dunbar ran for 106 yards

Indiana has six players who are currently in the College Football Hall of Fame, including Anthony Thompson, the program’s most recent inductee

Indiana has now lost three members of Team 50 to the transfer portal, a group that made it to the regional final in the NCAA Tournament before falling short to the University of Tenessee.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SOCCER TOURNAMENT TWITTER (@TST7V7)

The Soccer Tournament logo on the field at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.

IDS FILE PHOTO BY OLIVIA BIANCO

Freshman second baseman Tyler Cerny hits the ball April 18, 2023, against Louiseville at Bart Kaufman Field in Bloomington. Cerny was ejected from June 3rd’s NCAA Tournament Regional, which Indiana lost.

and

touchdown in the

Copper Bowl’s 24-0 victory over Baylor University, earning MVP honors. This remains Indiana’s most recent bowl victory.

in 2007.

Former IU quarterback Antwaan Randle El begins the option with DeWayne Hogan at his side during the Hoosiers’ 2000 victory against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Memorial Stadium. Randle El is one of two former Indiana football players included in the 2024 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

COLUMN: Must-have songs for your summer playlist

By Marg Barnett margbarn@iu.edu

As June starts and the weather heats up, making a new playlist of music is the perfect way to kick off the new season. Whether you’re listening to music while hanging out in the backyard with friends or going on a walk through town, these songs embody the good energy that summertime brings.

Hot and Heavy - Lucy Dacus

This song just feels like the dog days of summer with the build up of energy from start to finish and the sound of the jangly guitar. Though the song speaks of lost love, the fact that the song has a danceable beat is an interesting contrast. This is a good song for driving anywhere, particularly with the windows down.

Uncle John’s Band - Grateful Dead

Grateful Dead is a band with consistently summer-

By Grant Wheeler grawheel@iu.edu | @wh33lg

SPOILER ALERT: This column contains potential spoilers about "Succession"

“Succession,” perhaps the least predictable show to have ever graced the silver screen, has ended. Its fourth and final season featured major twists in nearly every episode, but the finale pulled out all the stops to take viewers by surprise. The show, while always entertaining, was not always as pleasant to watch. It provoked a sort of stress akin to watching a toddler build a house of cards, knowing that it’s only a matter of time before everything comes crash-

sounding music, but this song especially has that feeling. I remember my parents playing this song when I’d go swimming and it truly does have a relaxed, poolside-type vibe. With a catchy chorus, you’ll find yourself singing along by the time the song ends.

Fight - The Lemon Twigs

This band’s 2020 album “Songs for the General Public” is an alternative rock album that feels like bands of the 1970s, like Big Star or The Kinks. This track is bright and energetic, with uplifting harmonies through the chorus.

Cut Your Hair - Pavement College rock is summer music in my mind, and it comes down to the fact that much of this type of music has a youthful feel. Pavement is a lyrically sarcastic band, making it lighthearted, lively music for summertime.

20191009 I Like Her - Mac

ing down.

And crash down it does.

The first domino to fall is Logan Roy (Brian Cox), whose rapidly declining health has made his death feel inevitable since the very first episode. In fact, the series has delayed his passing for so long that when it’s announced in this season’s third episode, my first thought was that it was a political move.

Although it is one of the most eventful episodes of the season apart from the finale, it also feels like the slowest.

Because Logan was on a plane when he died, he could not be officially pronounced dead until landing, leaving his children and other characters to stew in their anxiety. As a result, much of the episode

DeMarco

Out of Mac DeMarco’s recent 199-song album, there are a plethora of songs that work well with summer. Demarco’s alternative surf rock

consists of characters’ panicked scrambling for information that doesn’t yet exist.

This slows the usuallybreakneck pacing to a near halt. While it certainly keeps the viewers in suspense, the sequence somewhat drags on.

Worth acknowledging, though, are the performances of Logan’s children, Connor (Alan Ruck), Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Siobhan (Sarah Snook). The scene in which they learn of their father’s death is a grueling, 27-minute uninterrupted take that stretched their acting chops to the absolute limit.

With Logan out of the picture, the show finally makes good on its title as the siblings clamber for power. Kendall

sound is heavily present in this sweet love song featured on the album. It feels like spending a lazy summer evening on the porch with someone you love.

and Roman cling desperately to the company and try to prevent its sale to Lukas Mattson (Alexander Skarsgård), while Siobhan covertly works with Mattson in exchange for a promise of the CEO position.

The semblance of unity the siblings shared at the end of the third season is dashed upon the rocks in the power struggle, and it quickly becomes apparent that no one can be trusted. The Roys employ the dirtiest of tricks for personal gain, going so far as to interfere with the presidential election.

Up until the series’ final moments, the issue of successor remains almost completely in the dark, and speculations ran wild in the weeks preceding the finale. Even

Say You’ll Be There - Spice Girls

Spice Girls bring a sort of sass to the summer, and this song is especially perfect for channeling that energy. This

with just minutes of runtime remaining in the episode, the position has yet to be filled, but two sides seem to have emerged.

When it’s revealed that Mattson is no longer considering Siobhan for CEO, the siblings band together to keep the company and instate Kendall in the position. Going into the board meeting, they have the votes needed to do so, but, in true “Succession” fashion, there’s one twist remaining.

When Siobhan — the deciding vote — has second thoughts during the meeting, Kendall shows his true colors, throwing a tantrum that is abrupt, but not altogether surprising. In the end, Siobhan votes against Kendall, leaving him emotionally des-

is true for their entire 1996 album “Spice,” but this song makes for a poppy track perfect for dancing and singing your way through the season.

titute. Perhaps I was shortsighted, but I predicted a Roy sibling in the CEO chair until the very end: it seemed to me to be the natural conclusion. And in a different story, this may have been a satisfying ending, but in hindsight, I’m grateful it didn’t happen.

“Succession” takes every opportunity to show that its main players are some of the most despicable, selfish people imaginable, and it speaks to their magnificent performances that I had any sympathy left by the end. The more I think about it though, ending on such a morose note, with all the Roy siblings unhappy only seems right in the context of the full show.

It’s just what they deserve.

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIETTE ALBERT

COLUMN: Halle Bailey brings life to lackluster remake of ‘The Little Mermaid’

By Chloe Fulk cdfulk@iu.edu @chloesfilm

Let me preface this by saying that I’m not the biggest fan of live-action remakes.

It’s not because I think older animated films are sacred or untouchable. They weren’t a big part of my childhood anyway – I was more of a “Spy Kids” kind of girl. But in an era where original stories are becoming more financially vulnerable at the box office, I can’t help but give the side-eye to studios that continue to recycle the same stories.

Disney is, and always will be, the biggest culprit. So far, the media conglomerate has churned out over 20 remakes

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Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Today is a 7 - Encourage your partner. Develop new possibilities together. Resolve challenges with love. Support each other around a transition. Listen generously. Share from your heart.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

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including surprise hits like “Alice in Wonderland” and “Cruella” and duds like “Pinocchio” and “Dumbo.”

With many remakes currently in development, Disney clearly has no intention of stopping this cycle of story regurgitation any time soon.

Why would they? Within its first week in theaters, “The Little Mermaid” grossed more than $200 million worldwide.

I had few expectations for “The Little Mermaid” but went into the theater with an open mind. I knew I’d get to hear Halle Bailey sing, and that alone is worth the price of admission.

In the first act, we’re in-

troduced to Ariel, her animal friends, Prince Eric and the sluggish pacing that weighs the film down for the rest of its 135-minute runtime. For context, this film is 52 minutes longer than the animated film. It’s understandable that Disney wanted it to be longer since 80-minute films rarely have successful theatrical distribution, but the extended runtime still feels excessive.

Even though the new musical numbers affect the pacing of the central story, some of them are pleasant additions. “Wild Uncharted Waters” gives Jonah HauerKing the space to showcase why he won the role of Prince

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Publish your comic on this page.

The IDS is accepting applications for student comic strips for the summer 2023 semester. Email five samples and a brief description of your idea to adviser@iu.edu . Submissions will be reviewed and selections will be made by the editor-in-chief.

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Eric over hundreds of actors including Jack Whitehall and Harry Styles. His charisma and strong vocal ability shine in the spotlight. The same can’t be said for “The Scuttlebutt,” a rap number performed by Awkwafina as Scuttle, a dimwitted bird and friend of Ariel’s. This song feels incredibly out of place amongst the soundtrack’s powerful ballads and fun ensemble numbers. You can tell that it was written by Lin ManuelMiranda, and not in a good way. Awkwafina’s vocals – if you can even call them that –combined with her refusal to portray the character in a way that is different from her own

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Today is an 8 - Prioritize self care and beautification rituals. A home spa moment could include bubbles and candles. Enjoy a haircut or style for a new personal phase.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Today is a 6 - Get lost in thought. Find a peaceful setting for planning. Creativity and imagination flower. Hope bursts through again, when least expected. Follow intuition.

personality prove that she was terribly miscast.

Halle Bailey, on the other hand, was born to play the part of Ariel. Her background as a successful musician is apparent; she performs every number with a particular gravitas and sincerity. Bailey’s rendition of “Part of Your World” is pure magic. With every high note, she'll have you convinced she’s a real-life Disney princess. Her playfulness and sensitivity bring dimension to the character and her chemistry with Hauer-King feels genuine.

As for the rest of the film, I guess it’s... fine?

That’s the issue with Disney’s live-action remakes.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Today is an 8 - A friend inspires you. Shared dreams deepen bonds. Imagine beautiful results. Align forces for common gain and extra fun. Fight the good fight.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Today is an 8 - Discover lucrative opportunities in potentially new directions. Polish public bios, resumes and portfolios. Update websites and materials. Keep an open mind and stay in action.

Even with a lead as fantastic as Bailey, the film still feels empty. I saw “The Little Mermaid” only two days ago, yet I’m having a difficult time remembering details about it as I write. It’s difficult to be invested in a story that you’ve seen before, especially when it exists alongside a catalogue of films that serve the same purpose. Young audiences will undoubtedly fall head over heels – or head over tail – for “The Little Mermaid,” but Halle Bailey’s star-making performance is the only thing that can save this film from joining the other Disney remakes in the sea of irrelevancy.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Today is a 6 - Pursue a dream with determination, step by step. Follow your heart to grow. Passion pulls you forward. Assess conditions. Your investigation shifts; try new directions.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Today is an 8 - Collaboration gets lucrative. You can get what you need. Draw upon hidden resources. Use what you’ve previously stashed. Replenish resources. Nurture seeds for growth.

©2023 Nancy Black. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.

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Halle Bailey is pictured as Ariel on promotional art for the new live action film “The Little Mermaid.” The movie premiered in cinemas May 26, 2023.

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

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HARRY BLISS