Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com
2 cars set on fire
IDS
Police investigate whether incident was arson or accidental From IDS reports
Around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Bloomington Police and Bloomington Fire departments responded to reports of a vehicle fire at 1030 W. 17th St. When BPD arrived, firefighters had already put out one fire and were in the process of putting out a second. BPD Sgt. Jason Shaevitz said four vehicles had been parked close together and the fire from one spread to another. There was severe damage to two KIAs and minor damage to the other vehicles. The building that the vehicles were parked near also had some fire damage, but Shaevitz said the damage was minor. The case is active, but BPD is unsure if it was arson or an accidental fire, Shaevitz said. Dominick Jean
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Blackmon helps knock off Kansas By Andrew Hussey aphussey@indiana.edu | @thehussnetwork
Junior guard James Blackmon Jr. is back. After missing half of last season because of a knee injury, Blackmon played the role of hero for IU on Friday in his regular season return to the court. Blackmon’s 26 points helped IU knock off No. 3 Kansas 103-99 in overtime in Honolulu. Late in the game, both teams were plagued by foul trouble as seven different players fouled out and the game became a war of attrition. Blackmon survived that stretch of play and put IU on his back late in the second half, knocking down difficult shots with ease. As the clock wound down, he and Kansas’s Frank Mason III — who finished with 30 points — traded scores to give their teams the lead. Whenever IU’s offense bogged down, Blackmon was always there to rescue the Hoosiers with a miracle shot late in the possession. IU Coach Tom Crean said he loved Blackmon’s performance and couldn’t talk about him without choking up. “I’m proud of him,” Crean said. “I’m just proud of him. It’s been a long road to get him back and his dad was here which was great. I’m just proud of him. He’s going to get better and better. He’s got an unbelievable work ethic. He’s made a lot of strides.” Crean praised Blackmon’s defense late in the game. Blackmon did most of his damage in the second half, when he scored 19 points. The sharpshooter was deadly from three and shot three of six from downtown in the second half. Sophomore Thomas Bryant was an unlikely candidate to fire up 3s, but he hit two and lived up to the offseason hype. Bryant notched a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. However, he fouled out and the offensive onus was put on the shoulders of Blackmon. “I know it’s November, but with every thing that James has been through, it’s a great feeling to watch him have the game that he had,” Crean said. IU struggled in the first half to establish their offensive flow as the Hoosiers relied heavily on the three point shot. The 3 was the difference -maker for IU as it outscored Kansas by 24 from behind the arc. However, neither team could really take control of the game. The game was tied 16 times and the lead changed 17 times. Whenever one team would go on a run, the opponent would answer right back. Kansas opened the second half scoring the first five points to stretch its lead up to nine, which SEE BASKETBALL, PAGE 6
KINSEY JOHNSON | IDS
People split into groups to discuss the importance of Islamic civil liberties Sunday evening at Boxcar Books.
‘Time to mobilize’ Bloomington Against Islamophobia met at Boxcar Books to discuss how to educate and support the Muslim community in the wake of the election By Emily Miles elmiles@iu.edu | @EmilyLenetta
Bloomington Against Islamophobia mobilized in an emergency meeting Sunday evening to discuss how the community can educate, collaborate, protect and support Muslim members in the face of Donald Trump’s impending presidency. Dozens of students and community members crammed into Boxcar Books and Community Center, circled up in the main space and spilled into an adjacent room. Many had never been to a Bloomington Against Islamophobia meeting before. The activist group began with a few rallies last year, organizer Amanda Lanzillo said, and it has since delved into educational events, including panels and a teach-in. Looking forward, its members hope to reach out to the
“People here have to be ready to stand up when they see hatred directed at new members of our community. There’s going to be a whole bunch of new people coming here in March, both Congolese and Syrian, so we have to be ready to find ways to ally with them and say, ‘Look, you are wanted here.’” Amanda Lanzillo, Bloomington Against Islamophobia activist group organizer
larger Bloomington community, which is slated to accept about 60 refugees next year. “People here have to be ready to stand up when they see hatred directed at new members of our community,” Lanzillo said. “There’s going to be a whole bunch of new people coming here in March, both Congolese and Syrian, so we have to be ready to find ways to ally with them and say, ‘Look, you are wanted here.’” Representative from the Islamic Center of Bloomington and founder of the Openhearted Campaign Anna Maidi spoke to the present
sense of urgency less than a week after the election. “Stay connected with our community,” Maidi said. “Don’t let it just be today.” Spilling onto the front porch to do just that, people divided into education, safety and support, collaborations, and refugee support committees. The education committee then divided into groups for Islam — foreign policy and civil liberties. SEE MEETING, PAGE 6
‘White Christmas’ tour helps ring in holidays at its 1st stop By Mallory Haag mjhaag@indiana.edu | @MalloryHaag
Christmas came a little early to Bloomington this year as snow and carols filled the room Saturday night in the IU Auditorium. The story of “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” came alive on the auditorium stage as two former army men find love and plan to help their former general 10 years after World War II. The classic musical showcases a multitude of ensemble dancing numbers and includes Christmas carols and crooning love songs alike. Aaron Galligan-Stierle, who plays the stage director in the musical, said the style of the show and the time period in which it is set are some of the most engaging parts. “The style of the show, the era, the specific way comedy works at that time and the way everyone talks to each other — it’s a very unique and special time to get to play in that bubble,” Galligan-Stierle said. The musical was originally adapted from the 1954 film of the same name nearly 50 years after its creation. The story is set during Christmastime in Vermont and includes some of the images classically conjured from the holiday season. “The show really offers a message of helping others and doing something for others,” said Dave Schoonover, who played Ralph Sheldrake in the musical. “That really is transient among all seasons and not only exclusive to the holiday season.” For the performers, Bloomington was the first stop on their tour, which will travel primarily throughout the West Coast and end Jan. 1. The performers led a mas-
ter class for IU theater students while in Bloomington. During the classes, the performers share their own business experience and personally instructed students. Schoonover said he enjoys participating in these events because he knows how formative they are. “I remember every one of those that I did when I was a kid,” Schoonover said. “It sticks with you, so I’m always glad to do those because I remember all the ones I went to.” The group often travels by bus or plane to get to its next venue, and while many find the travel exhausting, Bryan Moore, who is a part of the musical’s ensemble, said time spent with one another brings the performers closer together. “It was such a treat to come back and see all of these people that I worked with last year,” Moore said. “This feels like a family.” Kristyn Pope, who plays Rita and is the musical’s dance captain, said the people she works with are special to her and they help create an escape. “Life can have its ups and downs, and it’s so great to be able to come to a place that’s just pure joy,” Pope said. “It’s like no matter what is happening in life, in the world or whatever, you come here and there’s so much love and there’s so much joy and there’s so much passion.” Schoonover said he hopes the musical gives audiences a break from their troubling lives for an evening. “I’ll be honest with you, I hope it’s a really beautiful escape right now,” Schooner said. “I hope that people will both be able to get that escape and also be inspired to help others and do things for others, and that makes you feel good in turn.”
DOMINICK JEAN | IDS
Participants at Hands Across the Trail are encouraged to sign a pledge that asks everyone to stand with their community to end sexual violence.
Activists speak out on stopping sexual violence By Dominick Jean drjean@indiana.edu | @Domino_jean
Saturday afternoon, in the 43-degree weather, more than 100 people gathered at Showers Plaza outside City Hall to raise awareness of sexual assault. Rachel Himsel, a Bloomington resident and singer, was performing the song for the beginning of Hands Across the Trail, an event put on by Middle Way House to promote safety in public spaces and an end to sexual violence. Middle Way House is a resource center where women and children who have suffered domestic abuse go for support and information. Himsel said the song is a constant reminder for her about what still needs to be done by every member of the community. “Am I perfect?” Himsel said. “No, but I’m trying to be better every day.” Musicians, speakers and poets all came together on Saturday to help Middle Way manage the event. Actor Jesse Eisenberg was also in attendance and played the drums as a band member. Hands Across the Trail was meant to help bring people together and say sexual assault and violence in public spaces is not acceptable, Himsel said. “We’re here to say enough is enough,” Himsel said. Himsel said she had her own
stories of sexual assault and understood what it was like to feel helpless. She said she was on a red eye flight when the man next to her brought his hand up to her inner thigh during the flight. “It happens to too many people,” Himsel said. The event started off as an idea from a Facebook post by Aubrey Seader, a Bloomington resident, who said she had to find a way to deal with her fear and anger. Seader recalled a rape reported during the middle of the day before on the same trail the event was being taken place. Seader said she was shocked and appalled from the initial news. “In broad daylight on a public trail, I had to worry about being raped,” Seader said. Seader said the next time she wanted to go outside and workout, she just felt this cold fear settle in and she was tired of that feeling. She said she could not go on living in a city where public spaces were not safe. “I would no longer accept a Bloomington where acts like that could happen,” Seader said. Donna Storm, an employee at Middle Way for 11 years, also said how happy she was people had come out to the event but that she wished the event was unnecessary. “I think it’s troubling we even SEE AWARENESS, PAGE 6