IDS Thursday, June 9, 2022
Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com
‘Blippi the Musical’, p. 7
A day in the life of an elf:
Inside the Lothlorien Nature Sanctuary
Indiana announces name, image, likeness merchandise store
FILE PHOTO BY ALEX PAUL
Sophomore forward Trayce Jackson-Davis walks off the court following the end of the game Mar. 17, 2022, at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Indiana will partner with Campus Ink and NIL Store to launch a program for student athlete merchandise. By Emma Pawlitz epawlitz@iu.edu | @emmapawlitz
AVERY ANTILL | IDS
A hand-painted sign reads “Lothlorien Nature Sanctuary” on May 1, 2022, at the entrance of the 121 acre patch of forested land near Judah, Indiana. The community is home to a handful of full-time residents and more than 400 members. By Lauren Ulrich laaulric@iu.edu | @LaurenUlrich5
Just 18 miles south of Bloomington, off a county road, past the unincorporated community of Judah and hillsides dotted with cattle, a nondescript gravel road leads into the forest. When the oak and beech trees lining the drive open to a clearing, they reveal a place that could be many things — but is definitely not another rural Indiana farm. In curling yellow font, a sign reads “Lothlorien Nature Sanctuary.” Beyond the entrance, a mishmash of small buildings lies nestled among the trees. A wooden shed here, a tent or two there, a half-finished house over here. Drive slow, another sign warns. “Elves At Play.” Spots of color peek out amid the sprawling green springtime vegetation to show evidence of human — or perhaps elven — activity. Neon pink fairy wings are tied to a tree. Rainbow mosaic benches line pathways. Teapots dangle from fences. The sight is more reminiscent of a "Lord of the Rings" movie set than a typical Indiana dwelling, but it’s not
fictional. It’s the residence of members of the Elvin Holy Order of Mother Earth — also called HOME. The Elvin HOME organization operates 120 acres of forested land in Southern Indiana called the Lothlorien Nature Sanctuary, which was created almost four decades ago as a nature preserve, residential community, spiritual retreat and festival site. The sanctuary is named after Lothlórien, an ancient forest and the fairest of elven realms in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” novels. The community, with all its mystique and fantasy, is a surprisingly human undertaking. More than an act of theater, it’s one group of humans' attempt to find joy and create meaning in an ordinary forest they’ve deemed extraordinary. And maybe, while they’re at it, to serve as an example to the society outside its borders.
* * * “Protectors of the forest” It’s a sleepy spring morning at Lothlorien. No elven songs or rhythmic chants can be heard, just the nostalgic calm of leaves rustling in the
wind. Trees cocoon the community from any sounds of traffic on the nearby highway. The echo of birds chirping is the only sound Conney Freese-Posthuma hears as she meanders along one of Lothlorien’s hiking trails. “I try to stop thinking and just be in the woods,” she said, pausing to pull invasive garlic mustard creeping onto the trail. “It’s very peaceful. I’m checking in with the trees, listening and looking at what’s growing and what wildflowers are blooming.” Freese-Posthuma’s been wandering these woods for more than 30 years. She and her husband helped found Lothlorien in 1987 and are one of a small handful of members who reside permanently at the sanctuary. She said the rest of the group’s more than 400 members camp at Lothlorien for short periods of time or visit for gatherings like full moon celebrations. Members can camp for free in exchange for volunteer hours helping maintain the sanctuary, Freese-Posthuma said. Something new appears with every turn on her walk through Lothlorien — a shrine at the base of a tree, a sculpture of twigs in the
shape of a dragon, a labyrinth of rocks for meditation. There’s composting toilets, a wood-fire boiler for hot showers and a few small buildings with solar panels. A wooden archway draped with butterfly windchimes leads Freese-Posthuma to a small footpath. She follows the path, pointing out a patch of bluebell flowers on the forest floor. In the middle of the flowers grows a black cherry tree. It’s called the Heart Tree, Freese-Posthuma said, because it symbolizes the “heart of the forest” and is a way to make sure the energy of the forest stays near their community. Freese-Posthuma said Lothlorien’s tract of forested hills used to be owned by a farm. After they purchased the land, she said, the community set out to improve the ecosystem’s health by clearing invasive species and protecting the forest from development. Indiana’s “elves” have received international recognition for their communitybased approach to forest management. The International Forestry Resources
Indiana Athletics announced Friday afternoon the addition of a name, image and likeness merchandising program that will allow student-athletes to design and sell personalized apparel. Indiana will partner with NIL Store, a company powered by Campus Ink, to open a store in fall 2022. The store will feature a “personalized digital locker room” for each student-athlete working with NIL Store and “officially licensed shirseys and apparel,” according to an IU release. "Campus Ink is the national leader in the NIL merchandise space, making them a perfect fit for our student-athletes," Scott Dolson, IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, said. "I am excited for what this means not only for our students' ability to maximize their NIL opportunities, but also for our fans who will have first-of-its-kind opportunities." Campus Ink will work directly with Indiana studentathletes to help them understand the marketing and
sales trends needed to capitalize on their name, image and likeness. The company will also take charge of aspects of the collaboration such as design, customer service and production. "We are proud to work with Indiana University to provide an NIL merchandising solution for their student-athletes," Steven Farag, CEO and co-founder of Campus Ink, said. "Indiana's vision of an NIL merchandising solution for all athletes, not just some, aligns directly with Campus Ink's mission in the NIL space." Campus Ink, which is headquartered in Chicago, partnered with the University of Illinois in 2021 to create merchandising locations in which student-athletes were the primary benefactors. The Illini Store opened as a pop-up shop in Lincoln Park, Illinois on March 14, 2021, and has since expanded to include studentathletes’ name, image and likeness. The Illini Store NIL Locker Room opened additional locations in Lincoln Park and The Lab, located on Illinois’ campus in Champaign, during March SEE ATHLETICS, PAGE 4
Susan Sandberg forms exploratory committee to run for mayor
SEE SANCUTUARY, PAGE 5
Middle Way House to celebrate 50 year anniversary with concert, picnic By Tory Basile
vlbasile@iu.edu | @torybasilee
Middle Way House will celebrate their 50th anniversary during the 50 Years of Caring Concert and Picnic in the Park at noon on June 12 in Switchyard Park. In 1970, Middle Way House was founded as a general crisis intervention service for the Bloomington community. Today, Middle Way House provides education, shelter and resources to combat domestic and sexual violence in any person’s life — regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, according to its website. The event will feature live musical performances by Krista Detor, Janiece Jaffe, Amanda Biggs, Lara Lynn and the Kid, Second Baptist Church Choir, and Bethel AME Church Choir. Nell Weatherwax, a local artist
and IU fine arts professor, will be the emcee. The event is entirely free to the public, and all are welcome. Detor, a Bloomingtonbased singer-songwriter, has worked with Middle Way House on various fundraising projects in recent years. Detor will perform some of her original songs, and she said she’s excited to support Middle Way’s mission again after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. SEE ANNIVERSARY, PAGE 4
COURTESY PHOTO
The Middle Way House will celebrate their 50th anniversary during the 50 Years of Caring Concert and Picnic in the Park at noon June 12 in Switchyard Park. The event will feature live musical performances, food trucks, children's activities and dancing to thank the Bloomington community for their enduring support of Middle Way.
FILE PHOTO BY JENNY BUTLER
City Council President Susan Sandberg listens to Mayor Hamilton April 6, 2022, at Council Chambers #115. Sandberg filed paperwork June 1 to form an exploratory committee for a mayoral run in 2023. By Marissa Meador epawlitz@iu.edu | @emmapawlitz
Susan Sandberg, who currently serves as president of the city council, filed paperwork June 1 to form an exploratory committee for a mayoral run in 2023. An exploratory committee allows potential candidates to accept financial contributions but does not require an official declaration of candidacy. Candidates cannot declare they are running for mayor until January 2023. Current mayor John Hamilton is expected to run for reelection, although he has not made a formal announcement yet.
Sandberg has served on the city council since 2007. She is also the chair of the Jack Hopkins social services funding committee, a member of the citizens advisory committee for community development block grant funding and has served on the Bloomington plan commission. Sandberg’s priorities on the council include affordable housing, neighborhood stabilization, economic development through arts and public safety. She also worked with councilmembers Dave Rollo and Ron Smith to increase police pay, and the council voted for a 13% pay increase earlier this year.