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Freedom Indiana Faith Organizer Angie Alexander and volunteer Donna Kordes bow their heads in prayer at the Statehouse yesterday. The group gathered at the Rotunda to pray and protest several bills they think are discriminatory to the LGBT community.
Debating freedoms “Super RFRA” shot down by Republicans By Carmen Heredia Rodriguez caheredi@indiana.edu | @caheredia21
Republicans in the state Senate Judiciary Committee killed a bill that would have repeated the controversy of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act by protecting religious liberties while providing no safeguards against discrimination for LGBT individuals. Senate Bill 66, known as “superRFRA,” would have made it more difficult for the government to pass laws regulating the exercise of religion, free speech and the right to bear arms. However, the bill contained no clause prohibiting businesses from using the law to discriminate against LGBT individuals based on religious objection. Two other LGBT-related bills in addition to SB 66 were also discussed in the Senate Wednesday. Late afternoon, the Senate Committee for Rules and Legislative Procedure had a hearing to discuss Senate Bill 100 and Senate Bill 344. Both bills aimed to provide specific protections to LGBT individuals. After four hours of testimony, the
committee approved an amended version of SB 344 in a 7-5 decision. Legislators added safeguards against discrimination based on sexual orientation and veteran status. Local government agencies also cannot refuse legal documents such as marriage licenses. However, faith-based organizations, including adoption agencies, can refuse services based on religious objections. Transgender individuals have no legal protections against discrimination under the bill. SB 344 will be deliberated by the full Senate. The committee didn’t move to vote on SB 100. During the SB 66 committee meeting, audience members crowded Room 130 in the Statehouse as Sen. Michael Young, R-35th district, testified in favor of SB 66. “No matter who is in this room today, no matter what you believe in, I am protecting every one of your rights,” he said. After Young’s statement, Sen. Brent Steele, R-44th district, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
Breaking down Freedom Indiana volunteers pray in protest of controversial LGBT bills the bills SB 66
Alexa Chryssovergis aachryss@indiana.edu | @achryssovergis
Repeals the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, saying there are certain provisions in Indiana’s state constitution that are “fundamental rights” and prohibiting governmental entities from infringing on those rights unless the government can provide a valid and case-specific reason
In the Indianapolis Statehouse, the people wearing red prayed. They stood with a red ribbon twined around them, holding them together. They formed a circle directly beneath the arched stained glass top of the Statehouse Rotunda in the center of the building. The prayer was organized by Freedom Indiana, a statewide grassroots campaign that advocates for LGBT rights. All morning, LGBT supporters hung around the main level of the Statehouse, singing, reading Bible verses and speaking out against a slew of senate bills that were discussed in the General Assembly on Wednesday. The worst offender, according to opponents of the bills, was Senate Bill 66, which was struck down in committee early Wednesday morning. The bill was dubbed “Super RFRA” by opponents and would have repealed last year’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act and replaced it with stronger
SB 100 Would provide protections for gender identity discrimination, but has broad religious and service exemptions. The bill was not voted on at the Statehouse Wednesday.
SB 344 Adds protections for sexual orientation in the state’s civil rights law, but does not include gender identity
SEE BILL, PAGE 6
protections of what the bill says are “fundamental rights,” such as freedom to practice religion and the right to bear arms. In a few hours, the Rotunda would be packed with people rallying for LGBT rights. But at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, there were only 11 people practicing their faith in the small circle. They prayed for peace, common sense and freedom. They prayed for healing and for strength. Most of all, they prayed for Indiana legislators to see reason and keep their oath to protect all citizens by halting the controversial bills. Some of their prayers were seemingly answered when SB 66 was killed in committee around 9:20 a.m., less than a half hour after the meeting began. Robert Shaw, 68, a retired pastor said the group chose to wear red because it represented the flames of Pentecost, a Christian celebration of the day the Holy Spirit filled SEE PRAY, PAGE 6
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Smedley’s sister IU stays perfect at home, off to files complaint best Big Ten start since 2010 The family of IU student Joseph Smedley, whose body was found last October in Lake Griffy, has filed a formal complaint against the Bloomington Police Department. The complaint, written by Smedley’s sister, Vivianne Brown, was filed Jan. 20, after Brown said she had received little cooperation from BPD. Brown said that after multiple attempts to request information from BPD regarding the investigation of her brother’s death, she has received no response from the department. “With all of the friends and family that Joseph has, we’re going to keep talking about him and we’re going to keep putting pressure on them until they realize that it’s not going anywhere, we’re not going anywhere and you actually need to step up,” Brown said Wednesday. Brown, who said she does not believe her brother’s death was a suicide, wrote the complaint on behalf of her mother. Brown’s mother, who lives in the U.S. Virgin Islands, transferred her power of attorney rights to Brown, who lives much
closer to the case, so that she might be able to communicate with local officials. BPD, however, has only kept contact with Smedley’s father, who Brown said has been estranged from the rest of the family. “My father has been kind of acting as a wedge between the Bloomington Police Department,” Brown said. “I’ve been trying to work with him but he hasn’t really been responsive.” The complaint was filed against BPD on grounds of “obstructing an autopsy, withholding information from the mother while speaking to the father and being unreasonable with Vivianne, who has tried to do nothing but be kept in the loop to continue to find the justice for Joseph that he deserves,” according to the complaint. In early December, Monroe County Coroner Nicole Meyer determined Smedley’s death to be a suicide by drowning. Brown has since hired forensic pathologist Thomas Sozio of Central Indiana Forensic Associates to perform a second autopsy of the body. SEE SMEDLEY, PAGE 6
64-48 By Teddy Bailey eebailey@indiana.edu | @TheTeddyBailey
Sophomore forward Amanda Cahill launched a 3-pointer with 6:21 remaining in the game. Her shot rattled around the rim for what seemed like an eternity. Wednesday’s announced crowd of 2,496 gasped as Cahill’s shot appeared to be bouncing out of Assembly Hall’s north cylinder. That never happened, though. Cahill’s shot bounced in to give the Hoosiers a 13-point lead. The IU faithful roared, as Cahill’s shot was a dagger for any hopes of a comeback. Although the Hoosiers shot just 18-of-52 from the floor against the Scarlet Knights, IU capitalized plays such as Cahill’s all night long. Sophomore guard Tyra Buss scored in 24 points and corralled seven rebounds as IU won 64-48 against Rutgers. The win kept the Hoosiers unbeaten at home, with a perfect 9-0 mark inside Assembly Hall. IU improved to 13-8 (5-4) — their best Big
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Junior guard Alexis Gassion pushes the ball up the court against Rutgers. IU defeated Rutgers 64-48 on Wednesday to improve their home record to 9-0.
Ten start since 2009-2010. Rutgers cut the IU lead to 45-40 with 9:21 remaining after a jumpshot from junior guard Tyler Scaife. The Hoosiers responded with an 8-0 run, courtesy of junior guard Karlee McBride’s 3-pointer and Cahill’s favorable bounce from long-range. “We knew they were going to make a run,” IU Coach Teri Moren said. “Give our kids credit for not giving up the lead. Once Karlee hit that
Winning with defense, page 5 IU kept an opponent under 50 points for the second time. three and Cahill came down and hit a three, we had a lot of momentum on our side.” For the first time since their second game against Chattanooga,
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