Indiana Daily Student eEdition - Thursday, March 6, 2025

IDS

ASIAN CULTURE CENTER HOSTS MEHENDI WORKSHOP

IU named in list of ‘woke’ DEI grants from NSF

By Deshna Venkatachalam devenkat@iu.edu

In a Feb. 11 press release,

Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz released a database of over 3,400 National Science Foundation grants awarded toward alleged “questionable” projects that promoted diversity, equity and inclusion efforts or “advanced neo-Marxist class warfare propaganda.”

The Trustees of IU were named as one of the many recipients of NSF grants on Cruz’s database, totaling 29 grants worth over $15 million since 2022. Grants to IU trustees support the university’s research and creative projects.

IU did not respond to a request for comment.

The NSF is an independent federal agency dedicated to supporting the progress of science and advancing the nation’s health, prosperity and welfare. On its website, the NSF states its investments account for 25% of federal support to American universities for basic research.

In October 2024, Cruz released a report alleging over a quarter of NSF spending supports “left-wing ideological crusades masked as ‘academic research.’” According to the press release, the database served as a “backbone” for this report.

“The Trump adminis-

tration has been taking a sledgehammer to the radical left’s woke nonsense,” Cruz said in the recent press release. “I am proud to release our investigation’s database, which exposes how the Biden administration weaponized federal agencies.”

A week after President Donald Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20, the NSF temporarily froze payments to all existing grants in response to a slew of presidential orders that ban all federal funding for DEI efforts. It announced the restoration of these payments Feb. 2 under the condition it will continue to review funding to comply with agency-wide

Republican chair wants new energy in the party

By Jack Forrest jhforres@iu.edu | @byjackforrest

Cory Grass has worn a lot of hats. IU and Bloomington police officer. FBI agent. Monroe County Jail transition team director. Currently, he’s a realtor, consulting and training company owner and government affairs director for political lightning rod Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith.

But the newest cap he’s donning is red. Monroe County Republican precinct committee representatives elected Grass, who was unopposed, chair of the Monroe County Republican Party during its reorganization March 1.

He told the Indiana Daily Student he hopes to inject his party with new energy, with his boss Beckwith serving as a role model.

“I use that phrase a lot: I want to be cautiously aggressive,” Grass said Monday. “I don’t think being passive the last — in the recent past — has been helpful to our party at all, so I want to challenge the norm.” Grass takes over for William Ellis, who served as chair from 2015 until he resigned in 2021. Then 18-year-old IU student Taylor Bryant won the vacant position. She resigned last July, and Ellis finished the rest of her term.

Grass aims to get the party more involved in Monroe County and Bloomington’s everyday life. His ideas include a fundraiser to support a baby box, cookouts, cornhole and other chances to show Republicans aren’t “crazy, radical people.”

Amid his daily commutes between Indianapolis and his home in Monroe County, he’s also connected with IU College Republicans. Grass met the recently-reformed organization’s leadership team, and on Monday, he attended the club’s meeting: not to speak, but just as a guest as he tries to establish himself as the “face” of a local party he said is aging.

Monroe County voted largely blue in the last two general elections. In the presidential race, Kamala Harris received about 63% of the vote. Joe Biden got nearly identical numbers in 2020. The majority of the county-wide, local races in 2024 were not contested by a Republican candidate.

The Monroe County rac-

es Republicans did win were in districts that cover outside of Bloomington, which has a blue city council and mayor. It’s likely influenced by IU students, which Grass said is “unfair” since many come from out of state and leave after four years.

Though Grass said he hasn’t had a chance to fully evaluate the upcoming local elections, he has spoken to a potential candidate about running for Monroe County Sheriff. He also said he would like to see challengers for county council, county commissioner and Bloomington City Council. The county council has one Republican, and the other two are fully Democrat-controlled.

SEE REPUBLICAN, PAGE 4

and federal standards.

Now, Cruz has requested significant examination of these specific awards listed on the database. The grants listed in this database were separated into one or more categories including social justice, race, gender, environmental justice and status.

For IU, 27 of 29 grants identified had the “status" tag. According to the report Cruz created in 2024, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Republican staff defined "status" as any grant that describes a person based on their membership in a population considered underrepresented.

Twenty-three of the NSF grants awarded to IU also fell under the social justice tag, claiming they prioritize inclusivity over scientific advancements. Similarly, seven of the grants also were tagged with race, which was attached to programs aimed at addressing racial inequality.

Nine of the grants fell under the gender category, which according to the report, presents “far-left ideological theories about men, women and other identities.”

Lastly, two of the grants were considered environmental justice projects that “claimed the environmental sciences must be investigat-

ed through the lens of leftwing social activism.”

The IU grants targeted by Cruz are set to end within the next few years, except seven grants that ended in 2023 and 2024. Moving forward, Cruz has called upon Congress to end the “politicization” of NSF funding and reinstate the credibility of scientific research.

The NSF responded to the possibility of grant termination based on executive orders with an FAQ on its website. “NSF can not take action to delay or stop payment for active awards based solely on actual or potential noncompliance with Executive Orders,” it read.

Democratic chair hopes to bring community back

By Jack Forrest jhforres@iu.edu | @byjackforrest

Samuel Ujdak thinks there’s work, home and a “third place.” That can be church. A 24-hour diner. The dive bar. But he said that community space, the third place, has eroded.

“We’ve lost the Steak ‘n Shake of high school, right?” Ujdak said March 4.

He said without it, people have lost regular face-to-face time with their neighbors. That’s something he wants to change as Monroe County Democratic Party chair.

Monroe County Democratic precinct committee representatives chose Ujdak to be the next county party chair Saturday. He was unopposed. Ujdak succeeds David Henry, who was chair for three years after taking over for Jennifer Crossley, who resigned after being picked to fill a vacancy on the Monroe County Council. Both Henry and Crossley now serve on the council.

Ujdak is director of grant development at Ivy Tech Bloomington. He was previously director of development and grants manager at Middle Way House and taught “History of the Arab Israeli Conflict” at the University of Michigan.

Ujdak said his family’s involvement with Democratic politics goes back generations, including in St. Joseph County, where he’s from. His involvement locally started after the 2016 election, though, when his friends distraught by the results who recognized him as the “political nerd” asked him what they should do to get involved.

He said after getting

SCOTUS declines IU bias policy challenge

By Maddie Hensley henslemm@iu.edu

The U.S. Supreme Court declined March 3 to hear a conservative group’s appeal to block IU’s bias-motivated incident reporting policy. The Washington-based group Speech First claimed the policy was a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s First and Fourteenth Amendments. Indiana University defines a bias-motivated incident as “any conduct, speech, or expression, motivated in whole or in part by bias or prejudice meant to intimidate, demean, mock, degrade, marginalize, or threaten individuals or groups based on that individual or group's actual or perceived identities.”

Speech First filed the suit against IU in May 2024 on the basis that “students shouldn’t face disciplinary sanctions for simply expressing their views, asking ques-

tions or challenging their peers’ assumptions,” Speech First Executive Director Cherise Trump said on the organization’s website.

The original complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, called for IU’s policy to be declared unconstitutional and prohibited. IU President Pamela Whitten is included as a defendant, who requested for the case to be dismissed. After the initial district court ruling in August 2024, which concluded Speech First was not the primary party of interest and therefore did not have a case, the group appealed to a higher court. According to the IU bias incident reporting website, IU does not take disciplinary action or conduct formal investigations of bias incidents. Instead, the bias reporting team invites reported students to “voluntary discussions.” Conservative justices

Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the court’s decision to not hear the appeal. In his written dissent, Thomas expressed concern that since hundreds of schools have bias response teams, the court will eventually need to resolve the rift. Last year, the Supreme Court declined to review a similar dispute where Speech First challenged Virginia Tech University’s policy for monitoring and reporting bias incidents. The school disbanded the pro-

gram by the time it reached the high court. The debate over free speech has become a point of tension at universities across the country, especially following widespread protests concerning the IsraelHamas war in 2023 and 2024. Last summer, IU approved the expressive activity policy which set guidelines for speeches and protests on IU campuses, sparking further concerns in the IU community about free speech.

questions of when he’d run for political office — which he said he doesn’t have a lot of interest in — he decided to see how else he could get involved.

That involvement started with knocking on doors, and he eventually became chair of the Monroe County Democratic Party fundraising committee in 2019 and party treasurer from 2021-22.

Ujdak also recruited Thomas Horrocks, the Democrats’ candidate for Indiana’s 62nd House District last year. Horrocks lost by a thin margin to incumbent Republican Dave Hall.

Ujdak said he and Horrocks particularly agreed Democrats have focused far too much on the Republican policies people should vote against instead of what issues face citizens. One ex-

By Natalia Nelson nelsonnb@iu.edu

IU’s Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association have temporarily paused all social events until March 24.

In an email to the Indiana Daily Student, the IFC said the pause was intended to address community health and safety concerns.

“This move reflects our community’s willingness to take accountability,” the email read. “The safety of our members and guests is our utmost concern, and we will be taking appropriate action to ensure chapter compliance with updated risk management policies from both councils, as well as a detailed action plan going forward.”

The IFC represents 27

ample, he said, was income concerns from farmers he heard while knocking on doors this summer.

“We weren’t really hearing anybody talking about that,” Ujdak said. He worked with the Horrocks campaign and party during the election as deputy chair for strategy and infrastructure, which was around when he decided to run for chair.

Ujdak also thinks the state Democratic party needs to try something new. He said there’s an instinct to “chase the middle,” but the party should recognize the issues specific to where they’re running.

“It’s okay to have different messages in different parts of the state,” Ujdak said.

SEE DEMOCRAT, PAGE 4

of IU’s fraternities, while the PHA is home to 22 of its sororities. The councils are led by Andrew Golde and Abigail Worrel respectively.

Beta Sigma Psi was placed on cease and desist Feb. 28 for alcohol and endangering others. The IU Police Department crime log reported three cases of aggravated battery and illegal consumption or possession of alcohol by a minor the same day at the Beta Sigma Psi house. The fraternity was previously placed on elevated disciplinary probation from Aug. 23, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2025, for alcohol, controlled substances, endangering others, hazing, sexual harassment and lewd and indecent conduct.

SEE GREEK LIFE, PAGE 4

JACK FORREST | IDS

Monroe County Republican Party Chair Cory Grass poses for a photo outside the IU College Republicans meeting March 3, 2025, in Hodge Hall in Bloomington. Grass was elected chair March 1.

COURTESY PHOTO

Samuel Ujdak is pictured. Ujdak was elected Monroe County Democratic Party chair March 1.

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Building is pictured June 14, 2024, in

declined Speech First's appeal to

Meet IU chancellor finalist David Reingold

By Natalia Nelson nelsonnb@iu.edu | @natalianelsonn

IU hosted one of its two chancellor finalists, David Reingold, in a town hall meeting on Feb. 27.

The second finalist has yet to be announced but will participate in a second town hall March 6.

The proceedings began with a faculty meeting at noon, followed by an open town hall in the Indiana Memorial Union’s Whittenberger Auditorium attended in person by about 50 people.

IU President Pamela Whitten reinstated the chancellor position last June after a 19-year hiatus, which began when Kenneth Gros Louis, the last person to hold the position, had his title changed to university chancellor emeritus in 2006.

In an email to the Bloomington campus in June, Whitten said that the “challenges of higher education paired with the size and complexity of the Bloomington campus have made it clear that a chancellor is needed”.

“There are clear trajectories for all staff to be able to advance their careers, to develop their skills, to achieve the kind of heights that they are aspiring to in their professional lives.”

David Reingold dean of the College of Liberal Arts and professor of sociology at Purdue University

The email said the chancellor would oversee diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, campus finances and student life.

A search committee consisting of 16 IU students, faculty, staff, members of the Bloomington Faculty Council and the firm Isaacson, Miller, narrowed the selection process down to two finalists.

Reingold, the first candidate, is the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and a professor of sociology at Purdue University. He’s served in that role since 2015 and has been senior vice president for policy planning since 2023.

Prior to his appointments at Purdue, Reingold served as the executive associate dean of IU’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs from 2008 to 2015. He was a professor of public policy at IU from 1997 to 2015.

“I have no intention, if given the opportunity, to sort of take the things that have worked at one university that I’ve been involved in and just simply move them to another university,” Reingold said.

He said his solutions and innovations would be campus-specific. He highlighted his work at Purdue, including reimagining general education requirements to create 15-credit certificates that would cover up to 60% of students’ core curriculum. He oversaw the hiring of 120 faculty members to “revitalize some of the core disciplines” of the humanities

and social sciences. He said he broke down barriers for students seeking multiple degrees, allowing them to double-dip in their major requirements.

Reingold mentioned his “laser focus” on Purdue’s graduate programs. He said they received some of the highest stipends and lowest teaching loads across the Big Ten.

At IU, he said he aspires to be the kind of chancellor who would work with graduate students, professional colleagues and faculty to address the challenges they faced, address concerns and find solutions.

“I’m committed to working with all graduate student groups,” Reingold said.

He touched on the turbulent federal funding environment and how he would work to develop a revenue plan that would help alleviate the disruption in income flow, stating that philanthropy would have to become a central part of the strategy to chart a path forward.

Another central issue, according to Reingold, was professional staff and faculty relationships. He said as chancellor, he’d ensure a model where faculty members worked “shoulder to shoulder” with professional staff.

“Faculty, you know, need to understand that their ability to sort of achieve those goals for the university depend on the ability to rely on their partnership with professional staff,” Reingold said. As chancellor, he said he’d have to take a closer look at how IU celebrated and provided career lad-

ders to professional staff. “There are clear trajectories for all staff to be able to advance their careers, to develop their skills, to achieve the kind of heights that they are aspiring to in their professional lives,” Reingold said.

Bloomington an oasis among maternal healthcare deserts

By Ella Curlin elcurlin@iu.edu

Monroe County has full access to maternity healthcare, according to a report from maternity and child health nonprofit March of Dimes. But Morgan, Owen and Brown Counties have little or no access, forcing residents to navigate increased travel times for delivery or prenatal care.

Indiana’s struggling rural hospitals are cutting their birthing units, leaving pregnant women to travel further for care during delivery and prenatal appointments. That limited access to maternity care can contribute to poor health outcomes.

“At some point, you can’t let your OB unit take down the whole hospital.”

Jessie Reynolds, family medicine physician

Jack Turman, a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine, said the availability of maternal healthcare in south central Indiana becomes increasingly limited further from Monroe County.

“Monroe County has very good supports,” Turman said. “But when you get to places that are more

distant and more rural, it really becomes problematic.”

Laney Martlage is a junior at IU majoring in human biology and an intern for Tandem, a local nonprofit that provides inclusive maternal healthcare. She said these low-access areas drive people seeking care to Bloomington.

“Monroe County is kind of an island,” Martlage said. “Having Tandem in this area and having the hospitals in the area is a really big deal because everybody comes here to have their kids.”

Martlage was born in 2004 in Martinsville at her mother’s local hospital. That facility closed its birthing unit soon after.

“By the time she had my sister three years later, which would have been 2007, they had closed that down,” Martlage said. “Her only option was to drive all the way to Bloomington and give birth there.”

This matches a national trend of rural birthing unit closures.

Jessie Reynolds, a family medicine physician specializing in rural health, graduated from the IU School of Health in 2005.

Two of the rural hospitals she’s worked at since, in different states, have closed their birthing units.

Reynolds said these hospitals often survive

on a “shoestring budget,” meaning the personnel costs of running a birthing unit can be financially unsustainable.

“At some point, you can’t let your OB unit take down the whole hospital,” Reynolds said.

“I merely wish that we could come to a place where they are really prioritized for their health and well-being in every way.”

Jack Turman, pediatrics professor at IU School of Medicine

Without a birthing unit at their local hospital, Reynolds said her patients drove 45 minutes or more to deliver, often in inclement weather or unsafe road conditions. She delivered multiple children outside of a birthing unit because her patients could not reach a hospital with a birthing unit in time.

Reynolds said she used to keep a medical kit in her car in case she encountered a pregnant patient going into labor on the side of the road.

“You see a car flashing on the side of the road, you definitely were looking to see if it was your patient,” Reynolds said.

In much of the area around Monroe County,

COURTESY PHOTO

David Reingold, one of two IU chancellor finalists, is pictured. Reingold has served as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and a professor of sociology at Purdue University since 2015.

How Muslims in Bloomington observe Ramadan Kadeem

By Safin Khatri safkhat@iu.edu

Muslims around the world and in Bloomington began observing Ramadan on March 1, fasting from dawn to dusk to create selfdiscipline and a deeper connection to God.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and one of the holiest, as the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan. Since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, Ramadan shifts every year, falling from March 1-29 this year.

The Quran outlines the rules for fasting through Surah Al-Baqarah. The surah states all those capable must abstain from eating, drinking and committing reprehensible deeds from sunrise to sunset during the entire month, to focus on bettering oneself mentally, physically and spiritually.

Asma Afsaruddin, IU professor of Middle Eastern languages and cultures, said the significance of Ramadan is to create a commitment to God, mainly through fasting.

“Abstaining from food and drink during the day and going hungry creates empathy for the poor who go hungry not out of choice but out of necessity,” she said. “The practice of fasting inculcates self-discipline and compassion in the individual for those less fortunate and reminds humans to be grateful for the bounties they receive from God.”

According to UNESCO, iftar is the meal eaten after sunset that marks the end of the day’s fast. It usually involves gatherings for individual families or entire communities, such as in Bloomington.

Mohamed Khaled Sayed, imam of the Islamic Center of Bloomington, said Ramadan in Bloomington strengthens community bonds.

“They can visit the ICOB, and they can also come and have a dinner with people here and start conversations.”

Mohamed Khaled Sayed, imam of the Islamic Center of Bloomington Sayed said the ICOB hosts daily iftars, with a different family, cultural community or caterer each

preparing various foods for the meal. The iftars feature specific cuisines like “African Night” or “Pakistani Night,” with Muslims from the greater Bloomington area attending.

“We usually have 300 people attending those iftars and we have other prayers and worships all throughout the night,” Sayed said.

Sayed said Ramadan is a time dedicated to family, which can be difficult for many college students who are away from their families — students like Ahmed Al Baharna.

Al Baharna, president of the IU Muslim Student

Association, said celebrating Ramadan is very different in Bloomington versus his home country Bahrain, which is a Muslim-majority nation.

“I’d have my iftar at home with my family, which is not something that I have the option here, and most students will not have the option here,” Baharna said. “So instead of facing their family for iftar, they would face people of other backgrounds.”

Al Baharna said the IU MSA also has iftar dinners planned on campus that are student-focused, catered by IU Student Government and the Union

Board, separate from the ones hosted by the ICOB.

Sayed said Ramadan in Bloomington is unique because of the diversity of Muslims who live here, as well as students from IU.

“You will find food from all over the world, people dressing in different ways, yet we eat all together and we pray together,” he said. “So, we focus on the unified part, which is the religion that unifies all those cultures.”

Both Sayed and Al Baharna encouraged nonMuslims to attend iftars to learn more about Ramadan and Islam.

“They can visit the ICOB,

and they can also come and have a dinner with people here and start conversations,” Sayed said. “And people are always happy to receive guests and talk to them and explain to them what Ramadan means for them and what to know.”

Sayed also said the ICOB has a specific event planned March 8 at the Union Street Center Auditorium for community representatives and religious leaders from IU, Bloomington and Indianapolis to learn more about Ramadan and Islam.

A 2019 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 52% of American respondents of all major U.S. religions said they knew not much or nothing at all about Islam. Sayed said parts of Islam and Ramadan are unknown to some Americans, and he hopes that anyone at IU or in Bloomington feels comfortable asking questions.

“I give a brief intro about Islam and then encourage them to ask any question, even if they think it’s going to be offensive or anything, there are no red lines, any questions are welcome,” Sayed said. Al Baharna also encouraged IU students to ask questions and approach Muslims on campus.

“As Muslims, we not only are happy, but we encourage people to ask questions when they have questions,” Al Baharna said. “We are very happy to answer questions. We like when people are interested, because it makes us feel interesting and that makes us feel at home at IU.” More information about future IU MSA events can be found on its Instagram. The ICOB services and iftar schedule can be found on its website and Instagram.

Could Indiana see a state administered retirement plan?

By Adelyn Rabbitt adrabb@iu.edu

Looming Social Security cuts have prompted Indiana lawmakers to make retirement savings accounts accessible to Hoosier workers. Senate Bill 513, introduced in January, sought to create a state administered retirement program for private sector employees. The bill died, however, after getting a committee hearing. Though SB 513 won’t see more legislative action this session, there’s a chance it could serve as a precedent to give state government a better understanding of how a state administered retirement program could look in Indiana. This issue has previously been brought up to legislators, as millions of Hoosiers do not have access to retirement savings plans through their employers but hasn’t yet progressed through the Senate.

The bill would have created a board, likely based in the Indiana Treasurer’s office, to design and operate a retirement program for private sector employees in Indiana. The board would have contracted with either private financial institutions or investment managers to provide employees with access to Auto Individual Retirement Accounts, or Auto IRAs. Under the bill, employers who had not offered their employees a qualified retirement plan within the past two calendar years would have been required to adhere to the program, automatically opting their employees in.

Sen. Fady Qaddoura, DIndianapolis, a co-author of SB 513, said the bill posed a fiscal issue for the state. He said Indiana will undergo limited revenue growth over the next two years, or the lifespan of the biennial state budget.

Qaddoura said the approach of Republican supermajority fiscal leaders has been to refrain from

adding new programs into legislation that could possibly cost the state more money. This explains part of why the bill died.

“We want to make sure that this is also something that we’re fighting for: this is for everybody, and not just for aging Hoosiers.”

Ambre Marr AARP Indiana state legislative director

Ambre Marr, AARP Indiana state legislative director, said AARP has tried to workshop a solution to the lack of accessible workplaceprovided retirement plans across multiple states for many years.

She recalled that during the first seven years she worked at AARP, her team pushed for a state administered retirement plan in Indiana. When the idea did not progress, her team took some years off their efforts. Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville, later talked to Marr about bringing the idea back to the Indiana legislature, resulting in SB 513.

“Most of the time, if individuals do not have access to a retirement savings plan through their job, they don’t go out and find one on their own,” Marr said. “So, we know that to help people save for retirement...making sure that employers can offer a retirement savings plan is very important.”

People are 15 times more likely to save for retirement if they are given access to a retirement savings plan through their workplace, according to the Center for Retirement Initiatives at Georgetown University speaking to Indiana Economic Digest. Still, Hoosier employees at varied income levels are left without those employer-provided retirement savings plans, according to the AARP Public Policy Institute.

About 886,000 working

Hoosiers with annual incomes of $53,000 or less are not provided with a retirement plan by their employer. The same applies to about 200,000 employees who make more than $53,000 a year. About 42% of all private sector employees in Indiana are not offered retirement plans through their workplace.

Providing a state administered retirement program, Marr said, would especially help small businesses who cannot otherwise afford to create or set up a plan on their own. Giving small businesses a plan to provide for their employees, she added, could help with their employee recruitment and retention.

Greg Geisler, a clinical professor of accounting at the IU Kelley School of Business, echoed that small businesses feel the greatest impact of Indiana’s lack of a statewide workplace retire-

ment program. He said such a program would be much less expensive for employers than providing 401k plans to their employees. According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, smaller businesses are less likely to provide their employees access to a retirement plan. About 72% of workers at Indiana workplaces with less than 10 employees do not have access to a retirement plan through their employer. The same goes for about 57% of employees at companies with 10-24 employees and over 549,000 employees at companies with under 100 employees.

Marr also said the program would help not only senior Hoosiers, but all working Hoosiers to “take control of their own financial future.”

“We want to make sure that this is also something that we’re fighting for: this is for everybody, and not just

for aging Hoosiers,” she said.

“We know that Social Security was not meant to be the sole source of retirement income for anyone, so anytime we can encourage savings, we do.”

Geisler said over time, the U.S. government has collected more Social Security tax than it has paid out in benefits. However, in the next decade, the Social Security Board of Trustees predicts that the reserve funds will run out and there will not be enough Social Security taxes collected to cover the necessary benefits. This is partly due to the aging population in the U.S. and many workers being at or nearing retirement age. If lawmakers do not make a change within the decade, there will be a predicted 17% cut in annual Social Security benefits by 2035. However, if Social Security does begin to run out of money, having an accessible retirement savings account

would be especially important, Geisler said. Helping retirees rely less on benefits would also help decrease the fiscal pressures on Social Security. As for the potential impact of a state administered retirement program on the Indiana government, Marr said that by helping workers save, the financial burden on the local government and taxpayer programs would lessen.

Though the bill died, Marr said there may be an opportunity for the state legislature to do a study on the topic, seeing what other states are doing successfully and what might work for Indiana. She said it is unlikely that this specific bill will get revived, but that a state administered retirement program could be written into a future budget or another bill.

She said a study is the “best we’re probably going to get right now.”

we

MICHELLE REZSONYA | IDS

The Indiana Statehouse is pictured Feb. 10, 2024, in Indianapolis. Senate Bill 513 sought to create a state administered retirement program for private sector employees but died after receiving a committee hearing.

He said a lack of difference of ideas and political challenges aren’t healthy for a community. Here, that’s Democratic dominance, but he said that elsewhere it could be the opposite. But Grass said he’s not interested in running “cannon fodder;” rather, he wants strong candidates who stand for what they believe in.

In Monroe County, that includes a better “ground game”: listening to people, pitching a larger tent and training volunteers.

Ujdak hopes to get a new, permanent headquarters by the end of his four years where campaigns, the Monroe County Young Democrats and other groups can have a space: a third place. The current headquarters is

“I’m a big believer that if you’re going to complain about something, you should try and fix it,” he said. His role as director of government affairs for Beckwith, which he started in January, has given him a chance to put his face behind his politics, something he couldn’t do during his more than 20 years at the FBI. Grass said at a recent anti-abortion rally in Indianap-

in a suite on Second Street by Gold Casters Diamonds and Fine Jewelry and a Big Red Liquors. Ujdak said some people have a hard time finding it, and others wandered in during the day last year.

He also wants to reach more renters, who make up much of Bloomington.

Amid uncertainty with federal and state funding, Ujdak said he wants the party to focus on people at home by being ready to volunteer at food banks, clothing drives

olis, state Treasurer Daniel Elliott tagged him in a photo along with Beckwith, Gov. Mike Braun and other state leaders — something he found humor in.

He hopes to leverage those connections at the state level locally, including by asking Beckwith and Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales to attend the party’s Lincoln Day dinners. Grass was drawn to Beckwith after hearing him speak

and more. There’s only so much the local party can do to respond to outside actions, he said, but he wants to focus on the state and national impact on people locally.

Part of his planned push for community is instating quarterly caucuses for Monroe County Democratic Central Committee members. He hopes that’ll allow them to share what’s working, what’s not and other ideas in a shared space.

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on the radio, ultimately running as a delegate to support his lieutenant governor bid at the state party convention in June. Grass said he took a $30,000 pay cut by taking the lieutenant governor’s office job but was happy to because he believes in what Beckwith is doing.

“To be honest with you, he’s addictive. He is just a good guy,” Grass said. “Just a nice guy. He’s not a politician at heart.”

lems before they grow out of control, and it just makes you healthier as a community,” Ujdak said. “It’s a good check-in.”

Ujdak said he’s looking for candidates who are passionate about an issue and looking for an avenue to do something about it.

“This is sort of tonguein-cheek, but I also kind of mean it: my number one trait for a potential candidate is somebody that doesn’t want it,” Ujdak said.

But that disruptor status hasn’t won everyone over. From the campaign trail through taking office, Beckwith, a self-described “Christian nationalist,” has drawn controversy for moments such as his comments on deporting legal Haitian immigrants, an online threat to the IDS and apparent social media use while presiding over the State Senate. Grass said, though, he often hears from people who

» GREEK LIFE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

are surprised that Beckwith is not like they read in the news when they meet him. But Beckwith doesn’t shy away from the people who may not like him, Grass said, including in public. He recalled a person who refused to shake his hand at one recent event. That’s a trait he wants to embody himself.

“It’s uncomfortable, but it’s okay to be uncomfortable,” Grass said. “Not everyone’s going to love you.”

Another fraternity, Sigma Chi, was placed on cease and desist November 2024 for hazing. Sigma Delta Tau also suspended activities Jan. 28 of this year and entered into a voluntary resolution agreement for hazing March 4, 2025, through April 6, 2025. Alpha Kappa Lambda entered a similar agreement Feb. 27, 2025, through April 10, 2025, to resolve an alcohol-related matter. In the past month, multiple sororities and fraternities have appeared on the IU crime log for reports of illegal alcohol consumption, aggravated battery, domestic battery and petty theft. Many cases remain open or have been referred to university officials. If you have a tip about Greek life at IU, email newstip@idsnews.com

Physicians

Ryan D. Tschetter, DDS

Lauren R. Hoye, DDS

Jackson Creek Dental is conveniently located on South College Mall Road. Most insurances accepted, including the Indiana University Cigna Insurance plans as well as the IU Fellowship Anthem.

Dr. Tschetter and Dr. Hoye offer state of the art dental technology such as Zoom whitening, same day crown appointments, and Invisalign. We also provide restorative, cosmetic and emergency care. We pride ourselves in giving the best care to our patients while offering a pleasant yet professional atmosphere.

Mon. - Thu.: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fri.: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. 1124 S. College Mall Rd. 812-336-5520 jcdsmiles.com

Austin C. Starr, D.D.S

HOOSIER ORAL SURGEON?

A Way of ChiropracticWellness

Dr. Andrew Pitcher, D.C.

Dr. Crystal Gray, D.C.

A Way of Wellness Chiropractic specializes in comprehensive spinal care. We offer treatment for many different spinal conditions and problems, while also addressing the body as a whole. We provide effective chiropractic care helping patients reduce stress, improve mobility and spinal health. The quality treatment we provide is always fit to your individual needs and goals. Let us help you achieve and maintain good spinal health. We look forward to meeting you!

Mon. - Thu.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. 1121 W. Second St. 812-336-2225 bloomingtonchiropractor.com

Ricardo Vasquez MD Mon. - Fri.: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 815 W. Second St. 812-336-6008 vascularcenterandveinclinic.com

Optometry

Dr. Andrew Jones, Dr. Marzia Zamani, Cheyenne Brown, Megan Sipes, Milli Nally, Kenzy Hawkins, Christina Thompson

Dr. Tavel Family Eyecare is your partner in your personal eyecare journey. Since 1940, the company has believed that every Hoosier deserves quality eyecare and vision solutions at an affordable price. Dr. Tavel offers comprehensive eye exams, special testing, management of eye diseases, glasses, contact lenses and much more, all backed by an insurance acceptance guarantee. The company is committed to advancing eye health by investing in the latest technology and providing treatments that are right for every patient’s unique needs.

Mon.: 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tue.: Closed Wed.: 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thu.: 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Fri.: 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat.: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Sun.: Closed

2552 E. Third St. 812-233-2343 drtavel.com/locations/bloomington

Our eye care clinics serve patients in Bloomington-Atwater Eye Care Center and Indianapolis Eye Care Center, with faculty doctors and student interns who work together to provide the most comprehensive eye care available. Our many services include primary care, pediatrics, low vision, dry eye, disease, laser and surgical care, contact lenses including specialty lenses, myopia management, aniseikonia, and eye wear center. Open to the public and accepting most insurances.

Mon., Tue.,

744 E. Third St. 812-855-8436 optometry.iu.edu

General Health

Eating Disorder Brent Mezger, FNP-C Alyssa Van Duzer, PA-C

Our board certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants provide primary care, acute care, physicals, vaccines, weight management and more to patients 12 months and older. Appointments and walk ins welcome. We accept most commercial insurance, Medicare and several Medicaid plans. We offer transparent pricing for the uninsured. Mon. - Fri.: 8:30 a.m. - 7:30

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Dr. Josh Chapman At Chapman Orthodontics, we know what you look for in an orthodontist: someone who is professional, experienced, outgoing and dedicated to helping you achieve your very best smile! We offer free consultations for children, teens and adults. Let us give you a smile you can be proud of using state of the art technology and cutting edge treatment options. We offer clear braces and Invisalign. Chapman Orthodontics is a privately owned orthodontic practice. Dr. Josh Chapman attended IU Bloomington for undergraduate and received his Doctor in Dental Surgery (DDS) and Masters (MSD) in Orthodontics at IU school of Dentistry in Indy. Go Hoosiers!

Mon. - Thu.: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 3925 E. Hagan St., Suite 201 812-822-2489 bloomingtonbraces.com

Dr. Starr is an Indiana University Football Alum who provides pain-free experiences for all Hoosiers with IV sedation. He performs specialized oral surgery services including Wisdom Teeth Extractions, Dental Implants, Bone Grafting, and Plasma Therapy. Equipped with modern 3-D technology, he has the most up-todate surgical skills and techniques to accomplish beautiful results with his patients. He looks forward to accomplishing beautiful results with his patients, enhancing confidence and satisfaction for all he serves. Go Hoosiers! We look forward to taking care of you!

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Jan Taylor-Schultz

eating disorder behavior. I work with clients in a safe space that is needed for healing and support, while building on client strengths and solutions. I also work with local physicians and dietitians.

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Dr. Zachary Short, O.D.

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Health Spotlight

Chiropractic

MCCSC’s 2-year plan aims for financial recovery

Superintendent Markay Winston proposed a long-term plan for fiscal health

By Gabby Rogers rogersgm@iu.edu

A chorus of slightly

off-pitch violins pierced through the auditorium’s attentive silence Feb. 26 night during the Monroe County Community School Corporation inaugural superintendent’s Student Excellence Awards and State of Our Schools address. The musical performance by Fairview Elementary School violin students set the stage for a night recognizing student excellence and the future of MCCSC.

Superintendent Markay Winston began by congratulating the students being honored.

“Every day our students remind us what is possible when opportunity, access, dedication and passion come together,” Winston said.

The recognition invited a round of applause from the couple hundred parents and community members in the audience.

Winston served six months as interim superintendent starting in July 2024 before she was named superintendent in early January of this year.

She held around 200 listening sessions in the six months she served as interim superintendent. She met with parents, teachers, students, bus drivers, custodians and others as a part of her three-phase initial plan to superintendency:

Listen, learn and lead.

“One thing became clear, every parent I spoke with, no matter their income age, race, ethnicity, language spoken in the home or their zip code, they all want the very best for their children,” Winston said. “They want opportunities for their children, they all want good teachers, they want excellence.”

Though the spirit of the night was celebratory, Win-

ston did not refrain from addressing the challenges facing MCCSC.

MCCSC receives funding from the state to cover wages and benefits for the teachers and support staff. The sum of state funds relies on student enrollment.

Indiana provides a fixed base amount of funding per student. Declining enrollment has led to considerable financial strain on MCCSC.

Over the past three school years, factors such as declining population growth, lower birth rate and an aging population have contributed to MCCSC’s enrollment declining by approximately 7.6%, or around 835 students, Winston said.

Monroe County predicted a reduction of approximately 400 additional students for MCCSC over the next 10 years, accord-

ing to Winston. The shrinkage will result in a loss of nearly $17.2 million from the state. On top of that, the cost of wages and benefits increased by nearly $30 million as a result of raises for teachers and support staff in the same time period.

“It’s not sustainable,” Winston said. “We cannot afford a decline in state and federal funding resources. MCCSC has already experi-

enced loss in state funding over the years.”

Proposed legislation to cut property taxes that MCCSC schools rely heavily on would further the financial strain. If Senate Bill 1, a controversial Indiana property tax bill, is passed, the corporation stands to lose millions of dollars over the next three years. Winston made it clear she is voicing her concerns to lawmakers and elected officials and urged the audience to do so as well. As daunting as the losses seem to her, Winston hopes her two-year strategy to achieve financial balance could be the answer.

The five-phase plan beginning in Spring 2025 is a student-centered strategy to provide lasting financial health for MCCSC. The first phase, an extensive fiscal review, began in July 2024 and is largely completed, according to the MCCSC website.

Phase two will begin this spring and prioritize natural attrition.

“Over the next two years, we will focus on identifying the most appropriate structural strategies to position MCCSC for long-term fiscal health while minimizing disruption to student learning,” Winston said. Winston has committed to providing quarterly updates at board meetings so the public can remain up to date on the progress toward these goals.

Will Indiana budget affect 21st Century Scholars program?

By Deshna Venkatachalam devankat@iu.edu

Indiana Republicans’ proposed state budget does not include the College Success Program grant, set to continue through the end of this year. However, not much will physically change for those impacted by the grant at IU.

In 2023, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education awarded $1 million to IU under the House Enrolled Act No. 1001 for the 2023-25 state budget. This was called the 2023 College Success Program grant and allowed IU to dedicate funding towards hiring 12 full-time student success coaches for the 21st Century Scholars program across the campuses.

While the original grant will expire at the end of the year, the student success coach positions will continue to be supported by other state funding.

Founded in 1990, the 21st Century Scholars Program provide financial and academic resources to support low and middle-

Indiana Republicans’ budget omits College Success Program grant

income college students. Freshman and 21st Century Scholar Kali Yazel said having access to her student success coach has been important for her college career.

“I have not met with anyone in person or like phone call, but she is constantly connecting with me to make sure that I know she’s there,” Yazel said. “I think this is really important for students who don’t necessarily have people like that they can text.”

The College Success Program was originally set to end on Oct. 31, 2024. However, an extension of another $1 million for the second year was granted based off the growth the program showed after receiving the grant.

According to a IU Today article last year, IU Bloomington was one of the six IU campuses to see increased retention of first year 21st Century Scholars from the 2022-23 academic year to 2023-24. Additionally, it also saw an increase in bachelor’s degrees earned by scholars.

“It’s almost like being

in a club,” Yazel said. “It’s like its own bubble with monthly newsletters, social events and things like that. There are girls that I’ve met through it who I’m now good friends with.”

The Braun-backed budget is a step toward his pledge to cut $700 million in government spending over the next two years.

This involves excluding some of the money toward state educational institutions.

Martin University, a Predominantly Black Institution in Indiana, began receiving state funding just two years ago. They are now facing possible withdrawal of state funds.

“The withdrawal of state funding does not mean that the university lacks funding,” Martin University’s Board of Trustees Chair Joseph Perkins said in a statement online. “Martin has appreciated the support from the state, but it is not the foundation of our operations.”

On the other hand, the exclusion of the College Success Program will not stop all state funding to-

ward 21st Century Scholars at IU.

“Governor Mike Braun’s proposed budget continues to fund Indiana’s 21st Century

Scholars Program,” Emily Price, communications director for Indiana Commission for Higher Education, said in an email to the IDS. “The College Success Program is separate and was established through HEA 1001-2023 as one-time funding to create the College Success coaching positions.”

Bowling, axe throwing, and pickleball center opening in May

Hoosier Alley Entertainment will be offering both food and drink options with waiter service

By Marty Blader mblader@iu.edu

Bloomington will soon welcome Hoosier Alley Entertainment, a new activity center with games ranging from axe throwing to pickleball, tentatively scheduled to open in May.

Hoosier Alley Entertainment is located at 2424 S. Walnut St., the former location of Lucky’s grocery store. It will offer a wide range of games and activities with 20 bowling lanes with six VIP lanes, six lanes of axe throwing, around 50 arcade games, bumper cars and two-story laser tag. There will also be a “flex space” with three indoor wooden pickle ball courts that will occasionally function as a skating rink.

The owners, Stacy and William McCrary, met in 1999 while working in a bowling center, Plateau Lanes, in Crossville, Ten-

nessee. The couple has incorporated bowling into their relationship ever since. William and Stacy, along with their three kids, opened Paoli Lanes in Paoli, Indiana, in 2003 and expanded it to Paoli Rock-N-Bowl Center in 2007. William has spent much of his career building bowling lanes in 48 states, but decided he wanted to get off the road and stay closer to home with the opening of Hoosier Alley.

Their first family business, Paoli Rock-N-Bowl, offers similar activities and atmosphere to the soon-to-open Hoosier Alley Entertainment. Hoosier Alley Entertainment, however, will have more lanes, a bigger arcade and a three-way alcohol license, which will allow it to sell liquor, beer and wine. There will be both food and

with

GABBY ROGERS | IDS Monroe County Community School Corporation Superintendent Markay Winston addresses the crowd Feb. 26, 2025, at Tri-North Middle School in Bloomington. Though the spirit of the night was celebratory, Winston did not refrain from addressing the challenges facing MCCSC.

Bruster’s re-opens for the season

By Grace Romine gmromine@iu.edu

On the outside of her left arm, Victoria Wisley has a tattoo no bigger than the size of three quarters. Resting right above her watch band is a small, single scoop ice cream cone.

When Wisley was 14, about two decades ago, she was searching for a job. Her great grandpa went to church with the assistant manager of an ice cream parlor just down the street from the neighborhood where her family lived.

Wisley pulled into the shop for an application and now, with its season opening Friday, she has worked at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream for nearly 20 years. She was promoted to general manager about seven years ago.

She and three other team members got the matching tattoo — originally doodled by one of the store’s employees — to commemorate their time there when the shop was closed for the season one winter. She said she wants to get the simple black ink tattoo filled in with color and sprinkles. The franchised ice cream shop, more commonly known as Bruster’s, opened in 1998 on the far east end of Third Street, on the way to Lake Monroe. As the 27th franchise to open in the U.S., the Bloomington Bruster’s is now considered a pioneer location, Wisley said. Bruster’s now has nearly 200 independently owned locations across 22 states and Guyana.

Wisley said a lot has changed since she first started in 2005. At the time, Bruster’s only accepted cash payments, and she can only recall having her personal MySpace page, much different from the several active Bruster’s social media channels Wisley manages now. She had to memorize all the menu prices to manually punch into the register, compared to the point-of-sale system Bruster’s has now, which takes online orders.

“Three of my high school girlfriends worked here. And now I just bring my wife here, she never worked here.”

Ezra Dehner Bloomington resident

But for the 27 years Bruster’s has been open in Bloomington, the ice cream shop has made ice cream fresh in-house daily, offering at least 24 of the brand’s 150 flavors in rotation each visit.

Wisley was in the shop Feb. 26, preparing for Bruster’s noon opening in the next two days on Feb. 28. A mix of pop music like Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” played throughout the empty parlor. Since Feb. 24, Wisley and her team did everything from yard work, to unloading the truck delivery, to making fresh ice cream.

But she said it’s more than just a week of prep-work.

“I kind of work on stuff throughout the winter,” Wisley said. “With marketing, planning our social media calendar and what promotions we’re going to do.”

Bruster’s offers “BYOB!” — a weekly “bring-yourown-banana” promotion for half-off banana splits every Thursday. It hosts customer appreciation night every third Tuesday of each month, gives away a free extra scoop in rainy or snowy weather and will celebrate a pajama day March 8, which is also a fundraiser for the Bloomington Animal Shelter.

If guests wear pajamas, or bring an item to donate to the shelter, they get a free small cone of any flavor. Wisley said that several animal shelter employees are regular visitors, so the fundraiser was an “easy choice.” Still, she hopes events like this can introduce new people to Bruster’s, too.

“It is about the experience, even if they’ve never been here before and they’ve seen it on a post or the sign, then they get to try our ice cream.” Wisley said. “They get to try a fresh waffle cone, they get to bring their kids, and the kids get to enjoy it. And most likely they’ll come back, and they’ll get ice cream later or they’ll tell their friends and families about it.”

Bruster’s also works with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington, making vanilla ice cream for the annual Strawberry Shortcake Fes-

tival each summer. It’s also starting a “Read Your Way to a Reward!” bookmark program with local schools this season where students get a free kids’ size ice cream after reading a certain number of books.

Crew Leader Rachel Kring was in the store with Wisley on Feb. 26. As a junior studying events management at IU, Kring has opportunities to use what she’s learned in the classroom at Bruster’s.

Wisley said Bruster’s set up a sundae bar for the United Way Blue Jean Ball, which Kring served at. Wisley realized she’d never had an employee with event and promotions knowledge and wanted to invite Kring to do more of the like.

Other than just professional development, Kring said she’s built relationships with team members, spending time outside of work at the gym or going out to dinner together. She said the job, and the friends that came with it, have been a big part of her college experience.

“I feel like I’ve met a lot of people that I’ll remember throughout my life and like, keep contact with after I move on from Bruster’s and start in the event world,” Kring said.

Regardless of weather, both Wisley and Kring said they expected opening day to be busy, especially later in the afternoon, after work and school let out. They had one day left to prepare.

“I think overall we’re just

excited,” Kring said. “We expect it to be pretty busy.”

Nearing 6 p.m. Feb. 28, a crowd surrounded Bruster’s, lining up at the windows to order. Families sat in the grass while Harper Jent, a freshman at Bloomington High School North and an eighth-year girl scout, sold cookies on the west side of the building with her mom, Caree Jent.

“It’s a meet up place for all ages and families. It’s lots of fun and we definitely run into people that we know when we come here. It’s just a fun time.”

Jennifer Fettchenhauer Bloomington resident

The ice cream shop will host “Girl Scout Days,” from Feb. 28 to March 9, with different troop members selling cookies several days throughout. Harper said she’s been selling at Bruster’s for a few years and got first pick on when to sell, so she chose opening day.

“We’ve been coming here for years,” Caree said. “It’s really good ice cream; it’s just kind of nice that it has a big variety of flavors.”

Bruster’s also has three girl scout inspired ice cream flavors, “Campfire Smores,” “Thin Mint” and “Caramel Coconut Cookie.” The Jents

were handing out samples until the ice cream got too melted.

Ezra Dehner, a Bloomington native, enjoyed chocolate ice cream with rainbow sprinkles, joined by his wife Taylor, young daughter Charlie and dogs Milo and Hero, who themselves were indulging in vanilla pup cups.

“Three of my high school girlfriends worked here,” Ezra said, laughing. “And now I just bring my wife here, she never worked here.” Ezra said Bruster’s is a staple, and the only place his family would go for ice cream.

“We don’t hesitate if the weather is nice,” Ezra said. “We like to come here, you know, it makes the day pretty fun.”

Scott and Jennifer Fettchenhauer brought their dog Luna to celebrate her fourth birthday on Feb. 28. The family moved to Bloomington 11 years ago and recalled coming to Bruster’s often when their now 25-year-old son was younger. Luna’s small, birthday pup-cup had been licked clean, flipped face down on the pavement in front of her parents’ feet. She, of course, had vanilla; her parents had “Coffee Toffee” and a hot fudge sundae.

“Everyone would kind of meet up, you know, at Bruster’s” Jennifer said. “It’s a meet up place for all ages and families. It’s lots of fun and we definitely run into people that we know when we come here. It’s just a fun time.”

MOLLY GREGORY | IDS

Bruster’s crew leader Rachel Kring scoops ice cream Feb. 28, 2025, inside Bruster’s Real Ice Cream in Bloomington. Kring, an IU event management student, said the skills she’s learned at the ice cream shop will help her in her future career.

MOLLY GREGORY | IDS The Fettchenhauers’ dog, Luna, stands on the pavement Feb. 28, 2025, at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream in Bloomington. Luna had a vanilla pup cup to celebrate her birthday.

MOLLY GREGORY | IDS

Jennifer and Scott Fettchenhauer eat their ice cream as the sun sets Feb. 28, 2025, at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream in Bloomington. They came to celebrate their dog Luna’s fourth birthday.

MOLLY GREGORY | IDS Charlie Dehner and her mother Taylor Dehner sit on a bench to eat their vanilla cone Feb. 28, 2025, at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream in Bloomington. Taylor’s husband, Ezra Dehner, said three of his high school girlfriends worked at Bruster’s.

MOLLY GREGORY | IDS

The Bruster’s Real Ice Cream sign is pictured Feb. 28, 2025, in the ice cream shop’s parking lot on East Third Street in Bloomington. Bruster’s opened for the season Feb. 28, 2025.

Editor’s

Throwback culture is equally nostalgic and problematic

Meghana Rachamadugu (she/her) is a senior studying marketing and business analytics and pursuing a minor in French.

During this year’s Superbowl, Hellmann’s released an ad called “When Sally Met Hellmann’s,” reuniting Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in a recreation of an iconic scene from Nora Ephron’s classic rom-com, “When Harry Met Sally,” which was released in 1989. Similarly, the sensational thriller classic, “Jaws,” released June 20, 1975, is set to celebrate 50 years this summer with multiple events including a National Geographic documentary on the movie production.

Speaking of other revivals, fashion styles like baggy/bootcut jeans (think Kendrick Lamar at the Superbowl) and platform shoes are viral nods to 1990s’ and 2000s’ trends making a comeback.

And my personal favorite: a rise in vinyl record sales. Vinyl album sales grew almost 300% from 2016 to 2023, according to data from music and entertainment analytics company Luminate.

Throwback culture isn’t a random coincidence but a reflection of personal, social and economic forces we will continue dealing with for years to come. Whenever I watch reruns of hit shows or movies from previous decades — “Friends,” “I Love Lucy” or “My Cousin Vinny” —

Ainsley Foster (she/her) is a junior studying elementary education.

Around this time each year, thousands of visitor’s flood Yosemite National Park hoping to see the iconic “Firefall” at Horsetail Fall.

Spectators gather as the sun sets, and as it does, the falls reflect the setting sun, giving the spectacularly unreal appearance of molten fire pouring from the cliffs of El Capitan.

This year, the scenery was a little bit different.

An American flag, measuring 30 feet by 50 feet, was displayed upside down on the side of El Capitan by a group of frustrated Park Service workers, some of whom rappelled down the side of El Capitan, which rises more than 3,000 feet above the base of Yosemite Valley.

According to the U.S. Flag Code, the flag should “never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”

That’s precisely what these Park Service workers are worried about.

These protests follow

I remember the times I enjoyed watching them with my family. I love the sense of nostalgia washing over me, providing comfort after a long day and a reliable source of entertainment. I love noticing how the dialogue, references and comedy style differ from today, and it is equally welcome and feelgood. Likewise, I relish the predictable nature of such content because it always feels right and there when I’m indecisive. In retrospect, this reliance on nostalgia is a viable coping mechanism and raises a question about whether I am growing with the characters or staying in a

comfort zone.

In those lapses between reruns, I notice myself becoming used to a certain type of plot, character conflict and lack of emotional drama. That’s not necessarily bad, and I will disagree with anyone who says “My Cousin Vinny” doesn’t warrant a rewatch. But in sticking to what I know, I’m not learning anything new, setting expectations or challenging themes in entertainment. If we refuse to stop watching the past, we’re not able to embrace new stories, listen to other perspectives or try new things even if it’s just what we’re watching during

dinner time.

This practice on a communal level has mass implications. If marketers and companies continue capitalizing on nostalgiadriven trends, it’s not just our Instagram and TikTok feeds that will change. More and more current microtrends like butterfly clips and aesthetic compilations are evolving into “Songs that Defined My Childhood” videos and the “Childhood Photo Challenge”— where TikTok users compare former and current pictures of themselves to show reflection — and overall influence identity.

AINSLEY’S ANECDOTES

Companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi are bound to increase campaigns with their own retro product refitting and the movement continues.

While that’s a pretty picture, too much throwback culture can stifle one’s ability to connect authentically or embrace something new, regardless of whether it’s a social media user or a conglomerate brand. Not everything from the past has aged well, and who’s to say companies won’t use those outdated messages? For instance, we used to thrive in an environment of stereotypical humor, a “boys

National Parks and Forests are not for sale

the Trump administration’s abrupt firing of a thousand National Park employees and 3,400 Forest Service workers. Workers say these cuts are a severe blow, with the National Parks Conservation Association warning that reduced staff will leave parks understaffed and struggling with decisions about operating hours, public safety and resource protection — especially as they enter their busiest season in the spring and summer months. These terminations in national parks and forests have left employees confused and worried about the future of America’s public lands. Not only for their own well-being, but for the well-being and future of millions of acres of onceprotected wilderness.

These layoffs are part of the Trump Administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government. Layoffs nationwide impact all 50 states, and also affect agencies that millions of Americans rely on, including the National Park Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, the Internal Revenue Service and the National

Institutes of Health.

The Trump administration is simultaneously working to open up federal lands to oil and gas leasing. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox News his department is “completely embracing the DOGE effort.”

It’s convenient that National Parks are among the first targets of this downsizing initiative, especially as the administration increases efforts to exploit these lands for commercial mining and drilling. Executive Order 14154, titled “Unleashing American Energy,” cites “burdensome and ideologically motivated regulations” as obstacles to developing these critical areas. As a result, the Department of the Interior is currently reviewing national monuments and public lands, including these 13 national monuments “at risk” of losing federal protections, as potential sites for oil drilling and mining.

This idea is nothing new; from the beginning, the creation of National Parks faced resistance from those who saw the

will be boys” mentality and unflattering trends like lowcut jeans just because skinny was deemed the ultimate beauty standard. We must acknowledge this wasn’t good for our cultural landscape and prioritize being aware of how nostalgia and throwback culture influence your spending habits. Are you memorializing something that provides comfort and happiness? Or is it something problematic?

Generally speaking, throwback culture offers communities and generations with the means to reflect and bask in nostalgia. Revisiting the past can help with personal growth just as much as it can keep us in a comfort zone. However, as this trend grows, it poses a question about whether we are still able to connect authentically and try new things. If throwback culture doesn’t age well and companies or social media influencers continue to proliferate these messages, we’re cultivating a problem on a mass level. And in terms of economics, products marketed on throwback culture have been proven to be good and bad. At the end of the day, I say celebrate popular culture and nostalgia but recognize the merits in cultural evolution and understand the implications of what you’re choosing to consume whether it’s a throwback product, film or philosophy. megracha@iu.edu

land as a resource for economic growth rather than conservation. When the national parks were established, the idea of acquiring these massive swathes of land and limiting their commercial use was quite contrary to the expansionist attitude of the time. But what people understood was that these lands were worth protecting.

The administration’s current move to exploit these lands for commercial purposes undermines the very essence of conservation that led to the establishment of National

LEILA’S LENS

Parks. These terminations could be the beginning of the privatization of millions of acres of wilderness, a shift that not only threatens the ecological integrity of these areas but also contradicts the longstanding recognition of their intrinsic value beyond mere economic gain.

The fight over America’s public lands is more than just a political or economic debate — it’s a battle over what kind of legacy we leave for future generations.

National Parks were created with the understanding that some places are too

valuable to be sacrificed for profit and that the natural beauty and biodiversity they contain should be preserved for all to experience. The future of America’s National Parks and public lands now hangs in the balance. Whether they remain protected or are opened to industry will depend on those who recognize their value — not just as resources to be extracted, but as irreplaceable treasures that define the nation’s natural heritage.

ainsfost@iu.edu

Neil Gaiman and his apology prove the myth of the nice guy

minors in geography and urban planning.

Editor’s Note: This story includes mention of sexual harassment.

Last year, a male student in my gender studies class said something to the effect of, “all these women say that they have been assaulted or had bad experiences with men, but of all the men I know, none of them would do something like that.” He was genuinely confused at the apparent asymmetry between victims and perpetrators. Though to many of us, especially women, it is apparent that there is no single personality or type of person who can commit sexual violence, I sympathize with him. It is painful and confusing to come to the understanding that men who sexually harass, coerce and assault women are not always obviously evil and easily identifiable.

Perpetrators can be

brothers and fathers, they can be friendly and kind and they can be in jobs meant to protect us. Unfortunately, for all of history and for all of time to come, the worst crimes can and will be carried out by those who carefully curate their images to be clean, trustworthy and humble.

Neil Gaiman is a horror and fantasy author with a cult following, well known for works such as “Coraline” (2002) and “The Sandman” (1989). I have a “Coraline” poster on my bedroom wall with his name drawn across the bottom. Gaiman has also maintained an active presence on social platforms such as tumblr, X and his personal website.

In July of 2024, five women came forward with allegations of sexual assault against Gaiman through a podcast, “Master,” produced by Tortoise Media. This January, New York Magazine published an article detailing more women’s experiences with Gaiman, with a total of nine women coming forward

since July 2024.

It is important to note that while some victims do come forward publicly with their experience of sexual assault or choose to pursue legal action, many victims are simply trying to live peaceful lives and continue pursuing their goals after facing trauma.

Sally Thomas, the director of the IU Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Advocacy, regularly helps students who have experienced sexual violence with succeeding in their education despite the challenges of processing trauma.

“The bulk of the students that come to our office, their main concern is their academics,” she said.

In many aspects of his career and public image, Gaiman appeared to advocate for women and other marginalized groups — creating art that brought people comfort and a sense of belonging. He described himself as a feminist.

Gaiman posted a

response to the allegations made against him on his blog Jan. 14. He denied all claims that he engaged in nonconsensual sexual activity; however, he apologized for being emotionally unavailable and behaving poorly in relationships. A line stood out to me: “Like most of us, I’m learning, and I’m trying to do the work needed, and I know that that’s not an overnight process. I hope that with the help of good people, I’ll continue to grow.”

So many men like Gaiman take a tone of humility — understanding they are not perfect but will always strive to be the best allies they can — which feels so unsettling and dangerous after their truth comes to light. Not only do they recognize and want to fight the patriarchy — they acknowledge their imperfections and shortcomings.

Take comedian Louis C.K., who, for much of his career, also positioned himself as a feminist who understood women’s

struggles with men. In 2017, five women accused him of sexual misconduct.

The problem is that one cannot use public relations and therapy buzzwords to repent or express regret for sexual assault. The actions Gaiman was accused of — with many women sharing very similar specific experiences — are deliberate, manipulative and violent actions. It would make sense to apologize the way Gaiman did for something like ghosting a partner or being rude to a fan. Gaiman is 64 years old. There is no more “growing” or “doing the work needed.” In his 64 years, he has jeopardized the safety and damaged the dignity of many women. Of those we know of, all these women are younger and less well-known than him.

Further, Gaiman asserts that all nine of these women lied about him committing sexual misconduct toward them. I alone cannot confirm the truth, but, according to Thomas, most victims are

primarily concerned with moving on with their lives without being retraumatized — not reporting the perpetrator solely for the purpose of personal gain. Less than a third of sexual assault is reported, and far fewer lead to arrests, convictions and incarceration. It is deeply unsettling to realize how many men who appear to be the best allies, activists and partners to the public are sinister in their private lives. I do not mean to say that people should never trust, feel close to or believe in men. There are plenty of men that understand the importance of consent. The takeaway from the allegations against Gaiman is that people must be careful not to idolize certain people or place them on pedestals — deeming them “one of the good ones.” There will never be a way to truly know the good ones — we will simply keep becoming aware of the bad ones.

lfaraday@iu.edu

Leila Faraday (she/her)

By Ursula Stickelmaier ustickel@iu.edu

When Ethan Williams went to do stand-up for the residents of Brookdale Bloomington, an assisted living facility in Bloomington, he expected to be out of his comfort zone. The 24-year-old YouTuber from Bedford, Indiana, is aware that he isn’t a professional comedian. Even with that, Williams couldn’t have guessed just how bad the stand-up performance would go.

“During the set of that stand up it was one of the most uncomfortable and awkward experwiences of my life,” Williams said. “I bombed for about 30 minutes, no laughs from a

bombed for about 30 minutes’

zero experience I had would put themselves in a difficult position and try to perform stand-up comedy.” Williams — who isn’t a Bloomington resident — chose Sample Gates, and Bloomington as a whole, due to the heavy foot traffic and wide variety of people the town has to offer. He said around eight of the people he asked agreed to do the performance. Currently, his plan is still to go back and do stand up for the older adults at Brookdale. But Williams’ biggest challenge has been figuring out when he can get everyone together to perform. Though an official date hasn’t been set up yet, he hopes that he can get something figured out and the video done soon. ‘I

single soul in that nursing home.”

Williams said he was met with an overwhelming lack of laughs from his Brookdale audience. He had some previous success at two other nursing homes before performing at Brookdale. He posted those two performances on his YouTube account. However, after watching back the footage he had recorded at Brookdale, he said it was easier to save himself from “the embarrassment of having gotten zero laughs” and decided not post the video.

Williams started his self-named channel in April 2024. He started the channel as a way to get out of his shell more and talk to people that he may

not have met otherwise. Currently, he has nearly 5,000 subscribers. Most of his videos consist of street interviews, allowing him to talk to a wide variety of people.

“It’s a lot of just connecting with people that you never normally meet in your day-to-day life, unless you go out and try and do something that is strange and weird,” Williams said. “It’s just about asking somebody a question they would not normally expect to be asked.”

He uploaded his first attempt at performing stand-up comedy in front of an audience at the Brown County Health and Living Community in Nashville, Indiana, in June 2024.

During his first try with

the nursing home-related comedy, titled “Performing Stand Up Comedy To The Elderly,” Williams admitted that he had never done stand up before.

“Some of the best comedians had to start somewhere and I decided for my first ever performance I was going to try and make the senior citizens of America get a laugh,” Williams wrote in the video’s description.

This was followed up with another show at Spring Valley Meadows, a nursing home in French Lick, Indiana. The success of both these videos encouraged Williams to try that third performance at Brookdale, when it did not work out. He realized he wanted to do something to make it up to

those residents.

Determined not to give up, he came up with a new idea that brought him and his camera to IU’s Sample Gates during a couple different days in February. Williams was trying to find talent for a new performance. This process primarily involved him going up to strangers and asking them a few questions to gauge their interest in performing stand-up. The goal was to find hopeful, new comedians looking to try out some jokes with an older audience.

“A little while later it dawned on me how to make up for that poor performance and to that audience,” Williams said. “By seeing if complete strangers with the same

Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington

2120 N. Fee Ln. 812-332-3695 uubloomington.org facebook.com/uubloomington

Sunday: 10:15 a.m., via in person or livestream

We’re a multi dynamic congregation actively working towards a more just and loving world. We draw inspiration from world religions and diverse spiritual traditions. Our vision is “Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, Changing the World.” A LGBTQA+, Dementia Friendly, Welcoming Congregation to all ages and groups and a Certified Green Sanctuary.

Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Bloomington Young Single Adult Branch

2411 E. Second St.

To Contact: Send message from website maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/ wards/237973

Sunday: 12:30 p.m.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has four congregations in Bloomington—Three family wards and our young single adult branch for college students. This info is for the YSA Branch. Weekday religious classes at 333 S. Highland Ave, Bloomington IN 47401, next to campus.

More info at churchofjesuschrist.org.

Lutheran - Missouri Synod

University Lutheran Church and LCMS U Student Center

607 E. Seventh St. 812-336-5387 indianalutheran.com facebook.com/ULutheranIU instagram.com/uluindiana

Sunday:

9:15 a.m.: Sunday Bible Class

10:30 a.m.: Sunday Divine Service

Wednesday:

7 p.m.: Wednesday Evening Service

Student Center open daily: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.

The LCMS home of campus ministry at IU, our mission is to serve all college students with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, located across from Dunn Meadow and the IMU. The Student Center is open daily for study, recreation, and prayer. For full schedule, visit our website.

Rev. Timothy Winterstein - Campus Pastor

United Methodist

Jubilee

219 E. Fourth St. 812-332-6396 jubileebloomington.org

Facebook: First United Methodist Church of Bloomington, IN Instagram: @jubileebloomington

Sunday: 9:30 a.m., Classic Worship 11:45 a.m., Contemporary Worship Wednesday: 7:30 p.m., College & Young Adult Dinner

Jubilee is a Christ-centered community open and affirming to all. We gather on Wednesdays at First United Methodist (219 E. 4th St.) for free food, honest discussion, worship, and hanging out. Small groups, service projects, social events (bonfires, game nights, book clubs, etc.), outreach retreats, and leadership opportunities all play a significant role in our rhythm of doing life together.

Markus Dickinson - jubilee@fumcb.org

Inter-Denominational

Redeemer Community Church

111 S. Kimble Dr. 812-269-8975 redeemerbloomington.org facebook.com/RedeemerBtown

Instagram & Twitter: @RedeemerBtown

Sunday: 9 a.m., 11 a.m.

Redeemer is a gospel-centered community on mission. Our vision is to see the gospel of Jesus Christ transform everything: our lives, our church, our city, and our world. We want to be instruments of gospel change in Bloomington and beyond.

Chris Jones - Lead Pastor

American Restoration Movement

North Central Church of Christ 2121 N. Dunn St. 812-332-2248 nc3family.org Facebook.com/nc3family

Sunday: 10 a.m., Worship 11 a.m., College Class

Come learn about historic Christian teaching on theology, ethics, and culture. We offer an alternative to the post-modern ideologies and teachings you often see in your lives today.

Shane Himes, PHD - Senior Minister

Christian Science Church 2425 E. Third St. 812-332-0536 bloomingtonchristianscience.com facebook.com/e3rdStreet Sunday Church Service: 10 - 11 a.m.

- 8 p.m.

Testimony Meeting:

- Fri. Reading Room: Noon - 2 p.m.

Interested in spirituality and healing? We welcome you to our church to explore how you can address issues spiritually and experience healing. Knowing God loves, guides and cares for each one gives a sense of peace and joy. We appreciate the Christian Science Monitor news magazine for its integrity, fairness and compassion.

(Christian Science Monitor) csmonitor.com

Orthodox

All Saints Orthodox Christian Church

6004 S. Fairfax Rd. 812-824-3600 allsaintsbloomington.org webbrk1@gmail.com Youtube video of services on website

Sunday: 9 a.m.: Sunday Matins 10 a.m.: Sunday Divine Liturgy

Peter Jon Gillquist Thomas Przybyla - Pastoral Assistant

Bahá'í Faith

Bloomington Bahá'í Community and Bahá’í IU Association

424 S. College Mall Rd. 812-331-1863

bloomingtoninbahais.org facebook.com/Baháí-Community-ofBloomington-Indiana-146343332130574

and Principles of the Founder, Bahá'u'lláh, that promote the "Oneness of Mankind" and the Peace and Harmony of the Planet through advancing the "security, prosperity, wealth and tranquility of all peoples."

Karen Pollock Dan Enslow

Bloomington children display art in Eskenazi museum

By Stella Klaus ssklaus@iu.edu

Youth Art Month kicked off in Bloomington with the opening of the Monroe County Community School Corporation’s K-6 art exhibit on March 1 at the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art.

Bloomington’s National Art Education Association organized the annual Youth Art Month. The Council for Art Education has managed national Youth Art Month every March since 1984.

Jean Graves, chair of education at the Eskenazi Museum of Art, said the museum’s involvement in the event began under her predecessor Edward Maxedon. She doesn’t know exactly when they began hosting the event but it’s been over a decade she believes.

According to the National Art Education Association website, the program aims to recognize

art skills in youth, support quality school art programs and promote art material safety. The theme for Art Month this year was “healing through color.”

“It is important to recognize children’s artistic expressions,” Graves said. “It encourages future artists, but also helps young people develop the confidence to reach for whatever goals they may have.”

The opening ceremony included remarks from Interim Museum Director Mariah Keller, a group photo of the students and an open house where attendees could roam and look at the artwork on display. Daniel Maxson, a sixth grader at Grandview Elementary School, is one of many students whose work is on display at the exhibit. Maxson said that while he enjoyed admiring art, what he enjoyed most was the process of making it.

“It certainly feels astonishing because I

Society of Friends (Quaker)

Bloomington Friends Meeting

3820 E. Moores Pike

812-336-4581

bloomingtonfriendsmeeting.org

Facebook: Bloomington Friends Meeting

Sunday (in person & Zoom) :

9:45 a.m., Hymn singing

10:30 a.m., Meeting for Worship

10:45 a.m., Sunday School

(Children join worship 10:30-10:45)

11:30 a.m., Refreshments and Fellowship

12:30 p.m., Events (see website)

Wednesday (Zoom Only) :

7 p.m., Meeting for worship for Peace

Friday (Zoom Only) :

9 a.m., Meeting for worship

We practice traditional Quaker worship, gathering in silence with occasional Spirit-led vocal ministry by fellow worshipers. We are an inclusive community with a rich variety of belief and no prescribed creed. We are actively involved in peace action, social justice causes, and environmental concerns.

Peter Burkholder - Clerk burkhold@indiana.edu

Non-Denominational

Christ Community Church

503 S. High St. 812-332-0502

cccbloomington.org

facebook.com/christcommunitybtown

Instagram: @christcommunitybtown

Sunday: 9:15 a.m., Educational Hour

10:30 a.m., Worship Service

We are a diverse community of Christ-followers, including many IU students, faculty and staff. Together we are committed to sharing the redeeming grace and transforming truth of Jesus Christ in this college town.

Bob Whitaker - Senior Pastor Adam deWeber - Worship Pastor Dan Waugh - Adult Ministry Pastor

Christian Student Fellowship

1968 N. David Baker Ave. 812-332-8972 csfindiana.org

Instagram: @csfindiana

Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) exists as a Christ-centered community focused on helping students truly know Jesus Christ. Our ministry operates from an on-campus house where students can live. Reach out to schedule a tour of the house or a visit to our Thursday night worship service!

Ben Geiger - Lead Campus Minister

Stephanie Michael - Campus Minister

Joe Durnil - Associate Campus Minister

Hailee Lutz - Office Manager

wouldn’t expect it (the exhibit) to be in an actual gallery,” Maxson said.

This was many of the childrens’ first time having their artwork displayed in an art show, which was very exciting for many of them. The displays included a variety of different paintings

City Church

1200 N. Russell Rd. 812-336-5958

citychurchbloomington.org

tiktok: @citychurchbtown

Instagram: @citychurchbtown

Sunday Service: 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:45 a.m.

City Church is a multicultural church on the east side of Bloomington. We provide transportation from campus. Our college and young adult ministry meets on Tuesday nights.

David Norris - Pastor

Sacred Heart Church

615 N. Fairview St. 812-345-5239

sacredheartbloomington.org facebook.com/sacredheartbloomington

Sunday: 10:30 a.m.: Refreshments and Fellowship 10:45 a.m.: Worship Service Tue., Wed., Thu.: Midweek Meals (Check Facebook)

Sacred Heart is a nondenominational church that seeks to follow Jesus by acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God. We strive to be a safe, inclusive community where you can bring your doubts, questions, struggles, and joys before a loving God and find true belonging. All are welcome!

Dan Caldwell

Episcopal (Anglican)

Canterbury Mission

719 E. Seventh St. 812-822-1335 IUCanterbury.org facebook.com/ECMatIU

Instagram & Twitter: @ECMatIU Youtube: @canterburyhouseatiu9094

Sunday: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Mon., Wed., Thu.: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday: Noon - 8 p.m. Fri., Sat.: By Appointment

Canterbury: Assertively open & affirming; unapologetically Christian, we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ by promoting justice, equality, peace, love and striving to be the change God wants to see in our world.

Ed Bird - Chaplain/Priest

Independent Baptist

Lifeway Baptist Church

7821 W. State Road 46 812-876-6072 lifewaybaptistchurch.org facebook.com/lifewayellettsville

Sunday: 9 a.m., Bible Study Classes 10 a.m., Morning Service

5 p.m., Evening Service

*Free transportation provided. Please call if you need a ride to church.

Student Ministry: Meeting for Bible study throughout the month. Contact Rosh Dhanawade at bluhenrosh@gmail.com for more information.

Steven VonBokern - Senior Pastor Rosh Dhanawade - IU Coordinator 302-561-0108 bluhenrosh@gmail.com

could help children learn to express themselves in meaningful ways, the same way an author might express themselves through words.

Kelly Murphy, art teacher at Summit Elementary School, said giving children a space to create art at school was important because it could open up their minds to creativity and self-discovery.

and drawings.

“I think it’s a really good experience for them just to be able to see what it’s like to have their art exhibited in a real museum,” Eric Weingarten, father of one of the students, said. Weingarten said getting involved in art early on

“I just think that there’s a real lack of avenue for creativity and sort of using your mind to come up with your own things,” Murphy said. “It’s like there’s nothing original anymore and I think sometimes that’s the way the kids feel.” Murphy said art is in every part of peoples’ lives. Art can be found in anything from buildings to signs on the wall, from clothing to vehicles. Murphy said anything can be designed to be beautiful.

“I mean, art is the world, so without it, it’s not a beautiful place,” Murphy

United Church of Christ and American Baptist Churches-USA

First United Church

2420 E. Third St. 812-332-4439 firstuc.org facebook.com/firstuc

Sunday: 10:30 a.m., Worship

Monday: 10 a.m. via Zoom, Bible Study

We are an Open, Welcoming, and Affirming community of love and acceptance dedicated to welcoming the diversity of God’s beloved. We exist to empower, challenge, and encourage one another to live out Jesus’ ways (compassion, truth, and justice) authentically as human beings in community to create a better world.

Rev. Jessica Petersen-Mutai Senior Minister

Baptist

Emmanuel Church

1503 W. That Rd. 812-824-2768 Emmanuelbloom.com

Instagram & Facebook: @EmmanuelBloomington

Sunday: 9:15 a.m., Fellowship

Sunday: 10 a.m., Worship Groups: Various times

Emmanuel is a multigenerational church of all types of people. Whether you are questioning faith or have followed Jesus for years, we exist to help fuel a passion for following Jesus as we gather together, grow in community, and go make disciples.

John Winders - Lead Pastor

Second Baptist Church

321 N. Rogers St. 812-327-1467 sbcbloomington.org facebook.com/2ndbaptistbloomington youtube.com/@secondbaptist churchbloomington

Sunday Service: 10 a.m., In house and on Facebook/YouTube Sunday School: 8:45 - 9:45 a.m. Bible Study: Available In House and on Zoom Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., Thursdays, Noon

Please come and worship with us. We are in training for reigning with Christ! Need a ride? Call our Church bus at 812-3271467 before 8 a.m. on Sunday

Rev. Dr. Bruce R. Rose - Pastor Tallie Schroeder - Secretary

Unitarian Universalist

Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington 2120 N. Fee Ln. 812-332-3695 uubloomington.org facebook.com/uubloomington

Sunday: 10:15 a.m., via in person or livestream We’re a multi dynamic congregation actively working towards a more just and loving world. We draw inspiration from world religions and diverse spiritual traditions. Our vision is “Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, Changing the World.” A LGBTQA+, Dementia Friendly, Welcoming Congregation to all ages and groups and a Certified Green Sanctuary.

Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray

said. “I just don’t think kids realize that art touches everything, and so once they start to realize, ‘Oh wait, that is art,’ I think that’s a really exciting moment for them.”

The opening event was bustling with children excited to show their friends and family their artwork. Many children were excitedly posing for pictures in front of their works.

“It’s uplifting for anyone, young or old to see children and children’s art in museums,” Graves said. “It brings energy at a time of the year that can be otherwise dreary.”

The Youth Art Month exhibit will be open for viewing throughout the month of March and is free to visit.

“I mean it’s just so much fun, there’s such a variety of art and every kid brought a little something different to the table and they just had so much fun with it,” Weingarten said.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rose House LuMin & St. Thomas Lutheran Church

3800 E. Third St. 812-332-5252 Stlconline.org lcmiu.net

Instagram: @hoosierlumin facebook.com/LCMIU facebook.com/StThomasBloomington

Sunday: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. @ St. Thomas Lutheran Church 3800 E. Third St. Tuesday: 6:30 p.m. Dinner & Devotions @ Rose House LuMin 314 S. Rose Ave.

Rose House LuMin and St. Thomas Lutheran Church invite you to experience life together with us. We are an inclusive Christian community who values the faith, gifts, and ministry of all God’s people. We seek justice, serve our neighbors, and love boldly.

Rev. Adrianne Meier Rev. Lecia Beck Rev. Amanda Ghaffarian - Campus Pastor

Unity Worldwide

Unity of Bloomington A Center for Spiritual Growth

4001 S. Rogers St. text/call: 812-333-2484 unityofbloomington.org

IG: @unityofbloomington facebook@UnityofBloomington

Sunday Celebration: 10:30 a.m.

Discover a vibrant, welcoming community at Unity of Bloomington – “a positive path for spiritual living”. Our center offers a space for spiritual growth; embracing all with open arms. We proudly affirm and welcome the LGBTQ+ community, fostering love, acceptance, and inclusion. Join our loving congregation, where everyone is valued and encouraged to explore their spiritual journey. At Unity of Bloomington, all are welcome and together we thrive!

Minnassa Gabon - Spiritual Leader Phyllis Wickliff - Music Director Reformed Protestant

Trinity Reformed Church

2401 S. Endwright Rd. 812-825-2684 trinityreformed.org lucas@trinityreformed.org facebook.com/trinitychurchbloom

Sunday: 10:30 a.m., Sunday Morning Services

7 p.m., Bible Study at the IMU

We are a Reformed Protestant church on the west side of Bloomington with lively worship on Sunday mornings and regular lunches for students after church. We love God and His Word. Please get in touch if you’d like a ride!

Jody Killingsworth - Senior Pastor Lucas Weeks - College Pastor

STELLA KLAUS | IDS

Youth Art Month exhibition attendees admire artwork created by Bloomington children March 1, 2025, at the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art in Bloomington. A hundred pieces of artwork were debuted at the reception.

COLUMN: The dangerous politicization of the Kennedy Center

By Michael Sigal msigal@iu.edu

For decades, the Kennedy Center has stood as a beacon of artistic excellence and cultural innovation, a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy’s vision of a nation enriched by creativity and diverse expression. It has served as a platform where artists of all backgrounds can share their work and where the American spirit finds its voice in dance, music, theater and more.

Now, this institution faces an unprecedented threat: the dangerous partisan politicization of the arts driven by President Donald Trump’s administration.

Trump’s intervention in the Kennedy Center’s leadership has raised eyebrows across the cultural and artistic community. The appointment of a politically aligned chair of the board, the removal of longstanding and respected board members and the installation of political allies with limited arts experience have turned a traditionally nonpartisan

institution into a stage for ideological influence. These moves threaten the integrity and future of American arts and culture, with dangerous implications for local communities, music education and the broader creative landscape. This political interference erodes artistic independence. The Kennedy Center’s tradition of nonpartisanship has ensured that the arts remain a space for diverse perspectives and free expression. Under Trump’s newly minted leadership, that independence is now in question.

Trump’s history of targeting expressive platforms, including news outlets, the arts and cultural institutions underscores the threat to creative independence.

Trump’s shooting down programs of education and artistic diversity claiming they are un-American under the label of diversity, equity and inclusion goes to find excuses for more power and control over the social conversation.

This undermining of cultural excellence and innovation is already evident. The firing of respected leaders like Deborah Rutter and the resignations of prominent artists and advisers, including Ben Folds, reflect a growing unhappiness within the arts community. In their place, Trump’s appointees with limited or uncertain artistic credentials and clear political agendas threaten the center’s ability to champion groundbreaking and diverse work.

Republicans and some of Trump’s closest allies, including second lady Usha Vance, chief of staff Susie Wiles, long-time confidant Richard Grenell and many others were appointed in place of many longtime artists and philanthropists tied to the center like singer and musician Jon Batiste, billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein, among others.

More recently, singer and musician Rhiannon Giddens called off her Kennedy Center performance, along

with actor Issa Rae, singer Adam Weiner and author Louise Penny, all making official or social media statements regarding their decisions.

The weaponization of the arts for Trump’s political agenda and perception is perhaps the most troubling development. Trump has initiated a push for a narrowly defined “traditional American culture,” as stated by former Florida representative Carolos Curbelo, a Republican. This risks creating a cultural homogeneity that excludes and silences marginalized voices. Arts institutions must be spaces where all stories can be told—not tools for partisan ideological or political messaging.

The consequences of this dangerous partisan politicization extend beyond the Kennedy Center, impacting local colleges, music schools and arts communities nationwide.

The center’s vital role in arts education and outreach through Kennedy Center Education is at risk, with

the potential redirection or defunding of educational programs that foster creativity and accessibility.

Emerging artists, already struggling for visibility, may find opportunities further diminished by favoritism and political alignment. The ripple effect could weaken the entire arts ecosystem, reducing support for regional programs and diminishing America’s cultural influence on the global stage. These developments should send concerns and warnings to communities of wellestablished music schools and institutions around the country, including those here at IU.

Artistic freedom and creativity must be defended, ensuring space for a wide range of voices and resisting ideological conformity. We must also support local arts communities and music education initiatives, advocating for outreach initiatives and partnerships that empower schools and artists nationwide. Too often, music and arts are the first fundings to be cut or reduced

from public school budgets. However, by strengthening these connections, we ensure that creativity and expression continue to grow and develop across the country.

Defending artistic freedom is essential to fuel innovation, foster empathy and reflect the constant complexity of our nation, world and human condition. When artists are free to explore ideas without fear of censorship or political interference, they challenge societal norms, inspire progress and open dialogue between diverse communities.

Bipartisan contribution of national cultural assets is not just preferable — it is essential. The arts are a cornerstone of democracy, reflecting the multiplicity of voices and experiences that shape our nation. Partisan politicization of cultural institutions like the Kennedy Center under Trump endangers this democratic spirit, turning spaces of creativity into battlegrounds for ideological control.

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE | IDS

President Donald Trump is pictured Feb. 28, 2025, at the White House in Washington, D.C. President Trump was made chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Feb. 12, 2025.

Meet the IU students bringing Depop to campus

By Hayden Kay haykay@iu.edu

Senior Riah Washington used to think she wanted to work on the business side of fashion; that was until she modeled for the IU fashion show her freshman year and realized she wanted to join the creative side. Sophomore Hannah Shepherd started college as a biology major, but discovered her passion lay in merchandising. Now, the two work together as IU’s Depop Student Ambassadors.

Depop is a popular online secondhand clothing and accessories marketplace. The Depop Student Ambassador Program started at universities in California but came to IU in fall 2024. Students have the opportunity to work with Depop and gain marketing experience while also promoting sustainability on their campus. Ambassadors complete training for a few hours over Zoom. Shepherd said ambassadors are not limited in how many semesters they

serve; as long as they are currently enrolled at their collegiate institution, they are still eligible for the program.

Having switched to a fashion design major, Washington does fashion projects outside of school, including directing a few creative photo shoots, aided by her minor in fashion media. Despite just recently realizing her interest in creating, she has been drawn to fashion from a young age. “I wanted to be around the shoots and do the creative direction. I wanted to get hands-on experience with creating my own clothes too,” Washington said. “But I think the inspiration started when I was really young with my parents because they always like to dress up too.” Washington saw an advertisement on Instagram for the Depop ambassador program in summer 2024. She said much of what was on the application were things she was interested in doing. After completing an interview, she got the

position and was an ambassador by herself for the fall semester. Since Shepherd joined in the spring, Washington has enjoyed collaborating with someone in the same role.

“Doing it by myself last year was nerve-racking, but I feel like it helped me get out my comfort zone and pitch myself,” Washington said. “I honestly love the fact that I have another person to do it with because we both are interested in the same thing. It’s easier to bounce ideas off someone that’s also doing the program and know what we need to get done and we’re just able to create a lot of cool stuff and work together.”

Shepherd is a member of the marketing committee for the student organization Fashion Forward and a member of the IU Retail Studies Organization. Shepherd found out about the Depop program through an announcement on the RSO Canvas page.

Shepherd’s favorite part of the program is network-

ing with different campus groups for events. They have done an event with RSO, one with Fashion Forward and hosted a tabling event. They plan to work with more groups in the coming months.

Ambassadors are paid $16 per event, and the program was recently given a larger budget that allows them to go from a limit of eight events per semester to 13.

“I think it’s a good way to network and broaden my horizon of what I can do in the fashion industry.”

Riah Washington, IU senior Shepherd used to be part of the Youth Power Indiana program of Earth Charter Indiana, which teaches sustainability and environmental work to kids. Part of being a Depop ambassador is raising awareness about sustainability to other students on campus.

The program has taught

Washington that a lot of people have the same mindset regarding sustainability and are trying to create better fashion habits. She has also learned aspects of the industry she was not familiar with before, even as someone who was already an occasional seller on Depop.

“I just wanted to get my foot in the door with trying something that wasn’t really offered from IU directly. I think it’s a good way to network and broaden my horizon of what I can do in the fashion industry,”

Washington said. “I think just practicing more sustainable habits, and realizing how much what we do in our day-to-day lives affects the world and affects other people, especially people that can’t afford to get everything brand new.”

For their one tabling event so far this semester, Shepherd and Washington had make-your-own Valentines and candy. They also handed out Depop branded merchandise like tote bags,

stickers and buttons. Shepherd has boxes of Depop branded merch piled in her dining room that the company has sent her.

Being an ambassador does not require experience in professional marketing, but Shepherd said her experience with Instagram helped her stand out as a candidate. There is no IU Depop account, so the ambassadors promote events on their personal accounts.

“I have always posted more than the average person on Instagram,” Shepherd said. “The more you already post, the more likely you will be able to get this job because they need to know that they can rely on you to be posting frequently about this program and about the events you’re hosting.” At the end of the semester, ambassadors have the opportunity to get invited to do a summer internship with Depop based on who had the most impact on their campus or produced the most impressive work outside of events.

Salsa and spins at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater

By Emerson Elledge eelledge@iu.edu

There was quiet chatter in Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Most of the seats on both levels of the theatre were filled. The stage was littered with chairs and instruments, both waiting for their companions. IU’s Latin Jazz Ensemble came onstage to start the show, appropriately titled “Jazz at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater,” on Monday evening.

“The first thing: whatever’s happening on the outside world right now, get that out of your head,” ensemble director Wayne Wallace said before the show. “We’re going to do our best to take your mind off all those troubles and just get you in something like a positive mood.”

Then he and the band began clapping a simple rhythm and encouraged the audience to join in. When the audience finally got the hang of it, the band started their first piece, after a quick countdown from Wallace.

“I hate just playing music at people, it’s like you’re going to have a dinner and meal, and as soon as you open the door, you shove food in front of someone,” Wallace said. They had only been playing for a few minutes when the first duo from the audience ventured to the front of the theater to make an impromptu dance floor. Another person, community member Seaforth Breeze, joined soon after. The audience cheered for both the brave few dancers and the band.

“It’s just one of my favorite things in the world,” Breeze said. “And I, specifically at the very beginning, I was one of the first few people out, specifically because I wanted to get other folks to feel less self-conscious about it.”

As the show went on, more and more people joined the dance floor. Some of them were clearly a bit nervous about their form, staring at their feet more than anything. Others appeared to be salsa experts or at least had the enthusiasm to appear like it. By the end of the ensemble’s second piece, “Now You Know” by Joe Gallardo, the stage could barely be seen through the thick crowd of dancers.

IU junior Carissa Yu attended the concert to support her friends in the ensemble. According to Yu, she doesn’t dance — she wiggles. She had planned to come to the concert with

friends of hers, but they had arrived late. That didn’t stop her from dancing.

“I actually was dancing by myself for a minute because a lot of people had to come later,” Yu said. “But it’s just like, I don’t know, like going to a restaurant and eating by yourself is good and well if the food is good, but if you go with friends and then you get to have time together and build community and invest in your relationships.”

Watching the dancers was almost like a game of telephone. Unlike awkward middle and high school dances, people moved however they wanted to without any inhibitions. When

they stopped to look at their dance partner, they weren’t mocked — instead, their partner would imitate their dance move, making it even bigger than it had been.

“There’s a synergy between the audience and musicians that’s lacking in, say, classical or even jazz, where they give energy back to you as you give them energy,” Wallace said. “So, if I smile at somebody or dance with somebody, it just creates this wave that goes back and forth.”

Wallace acted as a trusting director, only giving cues to his musicians when necessary. He focused on the audience more than anything and helped lead

salsa dances. Even the band members danced when they weren’t actively playing and watched the audience members when they were.

“I love dancing and I love watching,” first-year master’s student Zoe Willingham said. “I feel like I want do both, but I can’t, but I was getting a bit distracted, so I had to lock in a little bit.”

Senior bongo player Ethan Choo, who has been in the ensemble for one year, said he has never played a show with the Latin Jazz Ensemble where the audience didn’t dance.

“It’s dancing music,” Choo said. “It comes from

tradition, all the rhythms come from traditional dances.”

Audience members would dance down the aisles of the Buskirk-Chumley just to get to the dance floor. Even people who didn’t join the dance floor danced in some way, with some sitting with their eyes closed, clearly enjoying the music, and others on the second level of the theater, standing up near their seats and swaying. By the end, the air was noticeably warmer than it had been at the

CHLOE LAVELLE | IDS

Dana Badcock (left) and Wayne Wallace (right) sway while singing during the Latin Jazz Ensemble performance March 3, 2025, at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater in Bloomington. Badcock and the ensemble danced, clapped and posed to entertain the audience.

COURTESY PHOTO

IU Depop student ambassadors senior Riah Washington (left) and sophomore Hannah Shepard (right) are pictured. The Depop Ambassador Program came to IU in the fall of 2024 after being at universities in California.

Asian Culture Center hosts mehendi workshop

By Hayden Kay haykay@iu.edu

Students crowded inside the Asian Culture Center on Feb. 25 to attend a mehendi workshop. Mehendi, also known as henna, is a form of body art originating from India and South Asia.

Mehendi involves applying henna paste to create temporary tattoos. It is traditionally done as a pre-wedding celebration, especially to identify the bride. This was the ACC’s first henna workshop of the semester, which allowed students to come and learn basic techniques, but the center has hosted the workshop for a few years. The ACC purchased a new box of henna cones for the event. Students shared cones and practiced on one another. Some checked Pinterest for inspiration while

others drew various floral designs.

The workshop volunteer was IU freshman Utsavi Gilder. Gilder told the ACC during new student orientation that she did henna, and it asked her to help at some of its events. She did henna at CultureFest in August as well as the ACC’s open house.

“I just want people to be more educated about my culture.”

Utsavi Gilder, IU freshman Gilder began the event by demonstrating how to hold the cone and a basic flower design with lines and dots.

“I just want people to be more educated about my culture,” Gilder said. “I’m very proud about my culture, and henna is one of the things that is very much

associated with the Desi culture. I love it and want more people to be exposed to it.”

Linda You, the ACC program associate, graduated in 2023 with a degree in international relations and Chinese through the Hamilton Lugar School. Since then, she has worked at IU in the Chinese program and took her position at the ACC at the end of October 2024. As a program associate, she does financial administrative work and programming events like the henna workshop for the center.

“I was like, it’d be cool to give it a try and work with student life and also fulfill ACC’s mission of promoting more awareness of Asian American Pacific Islander issues and histories around campus,” You said.

The ACC also has programs like cooking demonstrations, calligraphy and

language tutoring to teach students about different Asian cultures.

“Our center hosting this specific kind of workshop to foster more interaction and engagement among our community, we think it would be a good way to just kind of detach them from their phones and learn about and enjoy new cultural experiences,” You said. “I think overall, these culture activities such as henna can be a fun way to introduce students to different traditions and cultures.”

Members of Delta Sigma Pi, a co-ed business fraternity at IU, were connected to the event through their organization’s vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, freshman Sofia Scott. Scott said she has always been passionate about DEI and became interested in the position when she joined the

fraternity.

“I’ve been looking into all the culture houses for different opportunities for the brotherhood, and then I saw henna at the ACC,” Scott said. “This is something that I’ve always heard about because I have a lot of Asian friends here and back home. I wanted to not only learn because of myself, but to have people that I’m friends with that are connected to the culture be able to teach me.”

IU sophomore Jack Carmody is also a member of Delta Sigma Pi. He had experience with henna in elementary school and was excited by the opportunity to experience it again in college. Carmody got the Delta Sigma Pi Greek letters hennaed on his right hand.

“In elementary school, I had a lot of friends from India, and around the Indian

holidays their moms would come in and give us really cool, intricate dots on our hands,” Carmody said. “I found out that this was happening at the Asian Culture Center, and I was immediately intrigued and knew I wanted to come and learn more about it now that I’m in college and can experience it once again.” From start to finish, the workshop was alive with students sharing their knowledge of henna. They were focused on their designs but still took time to interact with everyone else in the center. At the time of their February event, the ACC didn’t know when its next event would be, but events are regularly posted on its website.

“Hopefully we will do it next month and the month after and hopefully more people will show up,” Gilder said.

EMERSON ELLEDGE | IDS

An event attendee holds her arm steady while her friend pipes a henna design on her wrist while attending the Asian Culture Center’s henna workshop Feb. 25, 2025. The event was the first of the semester, but the center has hosted variations for a few years.

EMERSON ELLEDGE | IDS

An event attendee pipes petals around a large spiral Feb. 25, 2025, while attending the Asian Culture Center’s henna workshop. The Asian Cultural Center purchased an entire box of henna in preparation for the event.

EMERSON ELLEDGE | IDS

An attendee carefully pipes a design on someone else’s hand Feb. 25, 2025, while attending the Asian Culture Center’s henna workshop.

he was piping, he had to be careful not to smudge the henna, as it would mess up the careful stain.

EMERSON ELLEDGE | IDS

Freshman Utsavi Gilder pipes a design onto an event attendee Feb. 25, 2025, while attending the Asian Culture Center’s henna workshop. Gilder worked as the workshop volunteer and offered advice and assistance to attendees.

EMERSON ELLEDGE | IDS

Sophomore Jack Carmody smiles while sophomore Georgie Thomas pipes a henna design Feb. 25, 2025, while attending the Asian Culture Center’s henna workshop. Both are members of the Delta Sigma Pi co-ed business fraternity, which encouraged its members to attend the event.

EMERSON ELLEDGE | IDS

Sophomore Annamarie Diaz smiles while concentrating on piping henna on her left hand Feb. 25, 2025, while attending the Asian Culture Center’s henna workshop. Diaz is also a member of Delta Sigma Pi and sat with her fraternity peers while working on her henna.

COLUMN: Indiana lost again. Its March Madness hopes are still in reach

By Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer

matfuent@iu.edu | @mateo_frohwer

Indiana men’s basketball’s resume is one of the most unique in the country.

Entering March 4, the Hoosiers had zero Quad 2, Quad 3 or Quad 4 losses, a stat not even No. 8 Michigan State, No. 9 Texas Tech University or No. 10 Iowa State University can boast. Conversely, their 11 Quad 1 defeats spell missed opportunities, and lots of them. Even still, Indiana’s four wins in that category gave them enough of a boost to challenge for an NCAA Tournament berth.

A matchup against Oregon on March 4 was all that stood in the way of effectively sealing that berth. But the Hoosiers again dropped a close, winnable Quad 1 game, losing 73-64 to the Ducks inside Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon.

Both Indiana and Oregon entered March 4 with winning streaks of three and five games, respectively, and neither team appeared willing to end them in the first half. Entering halftime with the score 35-32, both teams needed a positive second half.

The turbulent nature of the contest continued in the second frame, with neither team taking a lead more than 6 points until there was under a minute remaining. Ultimately, Oregon emerged victorious, powered by sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad’s 17 points and clutch 3-pointer with a minute and a half to go.

As the buzzer sounded, Indiana ended the game shooting 40% from the field and 36% from 3-point range, while Oregon shot 39% on field goals and 24% from behind the arc. Both teams dished out 15 assists, the turnover battle was 10 to 9 in favor of the Hoosiers and the Ducks only had two more steals and blocks than their counterparts.

The main discrepancy lay in the free throw shooting.

Indiana only shot five free throws in the first half compared to Oregon’s four, but the issue was it only made one while the Ducks hit all four. Then in the second half, Indiana only had two free throws while Oregon shot 15 for 17 from the line.

“In a physical game like that where both teams are battling their asses off, you can’t punish one team and put one team at the line for 21 times and the other team only gets there seven times,” Indiana head coach Mike Woodson said postgame. “That’s awful.” Indiana has lost tight

contests before. The Hoosiers fell to Maryland on Jan. 26, then-No. 10 Purdue on Jan. 31 and UCLA on Feb. 14 by a combined score of 10.

Those were all critical Quad 1 games that could have firmly cemented Indiana’s place in the NCAA Tournament; instead, the Hoosiers continue to fight for an at-large bid, and March 4 loss did little in helping with that.

But it didn’t exactly hurt Indiana either.

With one final game remaining on the schedule, the Hoosiers are set to face Ohio State, a squad they have al-

ready faced before. Previously, the Cream and Crimson defeated the Buckeyes 7776 on Jan. 17 in Columbus, Ohio.

Ohio State is in a similar situation as Indiana. Despite being ranked No. 36 in the NCAA Net Rankings, the Buckeyes were one of the “Last Four In” teams according to ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi on March 4. Indiana was in the “Last Four Byes” group.

Now, following its thrilling 116-114 double overtime victory March 4 over Nebraska, Ohio State likely swapped places with Indi-

ana. But none of that matters because Saturday will almost certainly mark a “win-andin” situation for both teams.

Almost as important, the contest between Indiana and Ohio State will determine which team attains the No. 9 seed in the Big Ten Tournament along with a first-round bye. From there, the opposition will likely be Illinois or Oregon, although that is still yet to be determined.

“We are in the mix of a battle, we got a chance to get to the Big Ten Tournament and anything can happen when you get into tourna-

ment play yet,” Woodson said. “Right now, we are staring Ohio State in the face, and we got to go figure that out.”

But none of that matters in the grand scheme of things — all Indiana can do is focus on its next game, which is exactly what Woodson and his players have preached for most of the season. So, even with another critical loss to a Quad 1 opponent, the Hoosiers still have aspirations of reaching March Madness — and as of now, those dreams are still a possibility.

BRIANA PACE | IDS

Fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway dribbles the ball in a game against Penn State on Feb. 26, 2025, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The Hoosiers lost their 12th Quad 1 game against Oregon.

Yarden Garzon sets Indiana program record

By Savannah Slone srslone@iu.edu | @savrivers06

WEST LAFAYETTE,

Ind.

— At the seven minute and nine-second mark in the first quarter of Indiana women’s basketball’s contest with Purdue, junior guard Yarden Garzon etched her name in program history in just her third season with the Hoosiers.

The Ra’anana, Israel, native made a 3-point basket, the 206th of her collegiate career. With the bucket, Garzon tied Indiana guard Kris McGrade’s record for the most career 3-point makes, which she set in 1994.

Later, in the final period, Garzon passed McGrade’s record as she made two more 3-point baskets to put her career total at 208. This season, Garzon has 76 baskets from long range on 40.4% shooting.

“It’s hard to become the leading, whether it’s 3-point scorer, rebounder, it’s hard to achieve things like that,” head coach Teri Moren said postgame. “We get to see it every day with watching her in practice and then watching her even in an individual instruction. It’s kind of fun to watch a kid like that that can shoot it the way she shoots it. But for her to get it here at Indiana, I think it is extra special.”

Not only did Garzon’s first basket tie the program record, but it also put Indiana ahead of Purdue for the Hoosiers’ first lead of the game March 2. And once they held the lead, the Hoosiers retained it to claim a 20-point win over the Boil-

ermakers at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Garzon recorded 15 points and seven rebounds as one of three Hoosiers to score in double figures in their victory over Purdue. Graduate student guard Sydney Parrish and junior guard Shay Ciezki scored 20 points and 18 points, respectively.

“We are their biggest cheerleaders,” Moren said about her staff’s support of the players. “And even on the days that they don’t do anything out of the ordinary, we want them to excel. We want them to do well. We want to help them any way we can.”

And Moren has proved that throughout the course of Garzon’s third year. Even when her shots weren’t falling at certain moments of the season, Moren continued to put the ball in Garzon’s hands.

During the Hoosiers three-game losing stretch against Illinois on Jan. 16, then-No. 4 USC on Jan. 19 and Oregon on Jan. 24, Garzon struggled to connect on her shots from all areas of the court. She made just one basket against the Fighting Illini and went 3 for 17 and 4 for 14 against the Trojans and Ducks, respectively. Her showing at Oregon included a 0-for-5 shooting performance from beyond the arc.

After the period, Moren expressed her concerns for Garzon’s cold stretch, but still emphasized her importance to the Hoosiers.

And just three days later, Garzon put together one

of her best 3-point shooting games of the season. Against Washington on Jan. 27, she made a career-high eight 3-pointers in a game on 8-of-10 shooting from long range.

Moren stressed that it’s important to put the ball

in the hands of players like Garzon even when they are going through rough shooting periods. The gesture gives them a vote of confidence from Moren and the coaching staff.

Indiana has continued to run through Garzon, but

when she struggles, so does the rest of the team. Garzon made just one 3-point basket during the Hoosiers’ back-to-back road losses to Minnesota on Feb. 9 and Michigan on Feb. 12. But when she went 3 for 5 from long range against

then-No. 8 Ohio State on Feb. 20, Indiana emerged with a win over a ranked opponent. With the Hoosiers’ success being so closely tied to Garzon’s, she will play an important role for them as they enter the postseason.

Former football QB Kurtis Rourke details torn ACL

By Daniel Flick danflick@iu.edu | @bydanielflick

INDIANAPOLIS — Lead-

ing a record-setting offense on a record-setting Indiana football team, quarterback Kurtis Rourke helped take the Hoosiers to unthinkable heights in 2024.

And he did it while battling a serious knee injury.

Rourke, who spoke with reporters Feb. 28 at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, said he partially tore his ACL during a fall camp practice in July 2024. At an unknown point between then and the end of the season, he fully tore it.

Still, Rourke played — through nagging discomfort and instability issues in his knee and, later, a broken thumb.

“I was healthy enough to play, and all that’s mattered to me,” Rourke said. “I wanted to make sure I gave it everything I had this year, especially being my last year. And if I was feeling great, I was going to play, no matter what was going on.”

Despite missing the second half of Indiana’s 56-7 win over Nebraska on Oct. 19 and not playing in the Hoosiers’ 31-17 triumph over Washington on Oct. 26, Rourke threw for a singleseason program-record 29 touchdowns and ranked fourth in Indiana football

history with 3,042 passing yards in 2024.

The 24-year-old thanked the Hoosiers’ training staff for helping him overcome his injuries, and he said he was happy to make it through the season.

Rourke’s initial injury, which wasn’t revealed until after the season, occurred while escaping the pocket during a play in fall camp.

“They said it was going to be all right, and I was able to walk it off and finish practice,” Rourke said. “So, I was like, ‘There’s no way anything could be much worse.’”

But things worsened. Rourke’s broken thumb forced him to wear a brace on his throwing hand, yet he missed only six quarters. He returned to action Nov. 2 against Michigan State, leading the Hoosiers to 47 unanswered points while going 19-for-29 passing for 263 yards and four touchdowns.

Rourke, who also tore his ACL in 2022 while playing for Ohio University, said injuries show him how much he loves football and doesn’t want to miss it. It’s why he kept playing despite suffering prohibitive injuries.

“I didn’t want to miss any time,” Rourke said about his partially torn ACL in fall camp. “I just wanted to be out there. And so, any opportunity I was given to get

in to play, I wanted to, and that’s kind of going back to when I hurt my thumb — I wanted to be out for as little amount of time as possible. So as soon as I could grip a ball, I was ready to go.”

Rourke said his mobility was affected “a little bit here and there” by his knee injury. He sparingly but effectively used his legs in Bloomington, rushing for two touchdowns while often evading pass rushers in the pocket.

Known more as a traditional pocket passer than dual threat quarterback, the 6-foot-5, 223-pound Rourke was efficient working within structure. Still, he didn’t play with a clear head.

“Changed my mindset,” Rourke said. “I feel very confident throwing the ball, and that’s what I like to do anyways, so (it) didn’t really change too much of what I usually want to do. But I definitely had (it) in my mind. If I can make more time in the pocket to deliver a throw, I’d rather do that than just run around. But I knew it’s part of the game, part of the position and something that I need to utilize. And so, if I had to run, I would run.”

Rourke will not participate in drills at the scouting combine, which is the premier athletic testing event before the NFL draft. He will, however, meet with NFL

teams and undergo medical examinations.

During his interviews with pro scouts, coaches and executives, Rourke said he can use his story — performing at a high level despite injuries — to his advantage.

“I look back and look at how great the team did and how well I was able to perform with a torn ACL,” Rourke said, “and so I just look at it and want to tell teams that if I did that on

SWIMMING & DIVING

a torn ACL and a broken thumb, imagine what I could do when I’m fully healthy.”

Rourke is taking his recovery on a day-by-day basis, and he doesn’t anticipate being healthy for rookie minicamp in May or NFL organized teams activities in June. But once training camp and the preseason starts in late July, Rourke anticipates being a full participant.

“Talking to my doctors, my different surgeons — training camp is definitely a realistic possibility now,” Rourke said. “Thankfully, progressing pretty well and training camp my goal, and I think I’ll be able to hit that for sure.” And so, one year removed from the start of a painful but successful final season in college, Rourke will return to the gridiron — but this time, wearing an NFL jersey.

Indiana swim and dive wins 4th straight Big Ten Title

By Nathan Shriberg naashri@iu.edu @nshriberg

No. 2 Indiana men’s swim and dive led wire to wire at the 2025 Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championship from Feb. 26-March 1 inside the Jane K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis. As the meet wore on, the Hoosier lead only grew larger as they cruised to a fourth consecutive conference title and their seventh in the last nine years. Indiana set three all-time Big Ten records and totaled a whopping 1,597 points. The Hoosiers’ 448-point margin of victory over second-place Michigan is the widest in Big Ten history. The Indiana team of junior Matt King, seniors Luke Barr and Finn Brooks and graduate student Brian Benzing kicked off the meet by outpacing the field in the

200-yard medley relay. Their NCAA A Cut time of 1:21.39 set a new Big Ten record and gave the Hoosiers the early lead. On Feb. 27, Indiana extended its lead to triple digits with three individual event winners, each earning their first Big Ten Championship. Hoosier junior Zalán Sárkány claimed the conference title in the 500-yard freestyle, and King took third in the 50-yard freestyle. Senior diver Quinn Henninger won the 1-meter springboard, with fellow senior Carson Tyler taking third.

Indiana junior Owen McDonald led the Hoosier charge with a standout performance in the 200-yard individual medley championship. His A Cut time of 1:39.89 is the second fastest in the country this season, and it set both the Big Ten Championship record and

an Indiana program record.

On Feb. 28, the Indiana lead swelled to nearly 300 points as the Hoosiers added nine more medals to their tally.

Indiana flexed its might in the 100-yard breaststroke, taking each of the top five spots in the event. Brooks set a Big Ten Championship record to secure the top spot, with Benzing and senior Josh Matheny each within a second behind him in second and third place, respectively.

Brooks and graduate student Tomer Frankel took silver and bronze, respectively, in the 100-yard butterfly, while senior Rafael Miroslaw secured bronze in the 200yard freestyle.

McDonald captured his second individual championship of the event with an A Cut time in the 100-yard backstroke, and Indiana freshman Miroslav Knedla

posted a career-best time to earn the silver medal.

The Hoosiers closed Feb. 28 with another Big Ten Championship record, this time in the 400-yard medley relay. The squad of McDonald, Brooks, Frankel and King posted an A Cut time of 2:59.87, finishing with nearly three seconds of separation from second place.

On March 1, the final day of the meet, Indiana’s dominance continued, picking up three more individual titles and another conference record.

Sárkány claimed his second Big Ten title with a win in the 1650-yard freestyle, and Tyler took silver in platform diving.

Indiana swimmers represented each of the top four times in the 200-yard breaststroke. A Cut times from Matheny and graduate student Jassen Yep, along with a ca-

reer-best time from sophomore Toby Barnett, topped the standings. King took silver in the 100-yard freestyle, and sophomore Dylan Smiley’s career-best effort earned him bronze in the event. Just a day after winning the 100-yard backstroke, McDonald did the same in the 200-yard backstroke. His A Cut time of 1:37.15 set another Big Ten and program record. Knedla once again earned silver in a backstroke event with a career-best time. Sophomore Mikkel Lee joined McDonald, Smiley and King to set Indiana’s third Big Ten record in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Their A Cut time of 2:45.62 was almost two seconds faster than the second place Ohio State team. The Hoosiers will aim to add to their trophy case as they compete in the 2025 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships starting March 26 at Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way, Washington.

BRIANA PACE | IDS

Junior guard Yarden Garzon drives toward the basket against Purdue on March 2, 2025, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. Garzon set the program record for most 3-pointers in

JACOB SPUDICH | IDS

Then-sixth-year senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke catches the snap during the College Football Playoff First Round game against the University of Notre Dame on Dec. 20, 2024, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Rourke spoke with reporters Feb. 28 at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

GISELLE MARSTELLER | IDS An Indiana men’s swimmer performs the breaststroke in the annual Cream and Crimson intrasquad exhibition on Oct. 11, 2024, at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington. The Hoosiers won the Big Ten Championship on March 1.

Indiana transfer Ault displays instant impact

By Elakai Anela eanela@iu.edu | @elakai_anela

The excitement that was etched across his teammates’ faces showed the experience Butler University transfer junior forward Palmer Ault had already brought to his new team.

Ault made an instant impact in Indiana men’s soccer’s 3-1 victory over the University of Evansville on March 1 at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington. He scored his first two goals as a Hoosier within his first 10 minutes on the pitch including an acrobatic bicycle kick shot that netted the first goal of the match.

The last time these two teams faced off, the match ended in a 1-1 draw last season at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl in Indianapolis.

Although March 1 meeting was merely a spring exhibition game, the energy of the match increased with Indiana attacking the Evansville defense more effectively. This was evident as the Hoosiers scored three total goals in the second period.

However, to kick off the match, both teams’ intensity was low. Each squad was sloppy, especially the Hoosiers, who turned the ball over often in the first period. Indiana also struggled to move the ball down the field, often falling short of Evansville’s defensive structure. After the first 30 minutes of action, the match was still a scoreless tie.

During the brief break, Indiana made a couple of substitutions. One of the major changes was Ault. As soon as the Noblesville, Indiana, native came onto the pitch, the game’s momentum flipped. While it didn’t necessarily render immediate success, Ault’s ability to find open space with his dribbling opened the field for

his teammates. Pushing the pace, Ault constantly found small ways to put his teammates and team in a position to thrive.

Indiana’s offense started early in the second period. Led by Ault, its first chance to push against Evansville was on a breakaway in the 34th minute.

Heading toward the goal

on Evansville’s side of the pitch, the Hoosiers looked to break through. Freshman midfielder Charlie Heuer’s through ball set up Ault with a chance to give Indiana a 1-0 lead. However, Ault was unable to put Indiana on the board, but his fast-paced energy sparked the team.

Indiana’s first goal of the game came just five minutes later. With his back facing the net and defenders closing on both sides of him, Ault settled junior midfielder Jack Wagoner’s pass in the middle of Evansville’s box. Ault then fired a bicycle kick to the bottom left corner of the net, opening the scoring for the game. The elite-level touch

WOMEN’S TENNIS

on Ault’s bicycle kick was the major turning point in the game for Indiana. After their first goal, the Hoosiers seized control of the game. In the five-minute span of game time, Ault and the Hoosiers scored two quick goals as the transfer made his skillful presence known.

The Cream and Crimson’s second goal came just four minutes later off Ault’s right foot, finding the same right corner of the net once again. After receiving a pass from freshman forward Easton Bogard, who appeared in seven games last year, Ault notched his second goal.

Indiana continued its domination in the latter half of the second period. In a favorable offensive attack position, Ault launched a shot that hit the crossbar. The rebound trickled back out to Bogard, who scored the Hoosiers’ third goal of the game. In spite of the fact Ault couldn’t convert on a couple of prime scoring opportunities, he still provided a boost of energy to his teammates. Although Evansville scored a goal toward the end of the game, Indiana held on to secure the win In the first of five spring matches on the schedule, Ault showcased

Indiana swept by No. 8 Ohio State in dominant road loss

By Noah Gerkey ngerkey@iu.edu | @noah_gerk

It was the biggest challenge that Indiana women’s tennis faced this season — a road bout against a top 10 team. The Hoosiers had the opportunity to snag their third ranked win since the 2021-22 season.

Indiana, however, couldn’t capitalize on the prime opportunity for a signature win.

The Hoosiers traveled to Columbus, Ohio, to face off against No. 8 Ohio State. The Buckeyes won the previous eight meetings leading up to March 2 match, and they once again prevailed, defeating Indiana 4-0.

Indiana fell behind early as the Buckeyes took the doubles point. Ohio State senior Dani Schoenly and sophomore Audrey Spencer rolled to a 6-1 win over Indiana junior Nicole Teodosescu and sophomore Elisabeth Dunac on the No. 3 doubles court. Ohio State later claimed the doubles point on the No. 1 doubles court when sophomore Luciana Perry and freshman Nao Nishino pre-

vailed over Indiana’s sophomore Magdalena Swierczynska and freshman Marina Fuduric 6-2.

The home team’s dominance in doubles continued in singles play. Indiana continued to play without graduate student Lara Schneider, who is battling a rib injury, according to head coach Gabrielle Moore. Schneider is a big loss for the Hoosier squad as she is undefeated in singles so far this season with a 7-0 record.

Spencer, who is ranked No. 79 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, had no trouble with Swiercznska, winning 6-0, 6-0 on the No. 5 singles court. Similarly, No. 86 Nishino defeated Fuduric in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, on the No. 2 singles court.

The matchup was later sealed on the No. 3 singles court. Senior Shelly Bereznyak defeated Indiana freshman Nicole Sifuentes 6-0, 6-4.

The loss puts the Cream and Crimson’s record at 6-6 on the season. With 11 matches left in the season, nine against ranked teams, there is a lot of time left for

marquee wins, but more importantly, conference wins. The Hoosiers have not won

a regular season conference match since April 23, 2023, when they defeated Minne-

Indiana’s Copeland and Minnick make program history

Seniors Briana Copeland and Taylor Minnick helped the team move to a 12-5 season at the Tiger Invitational By

Indiana softball traveled to Clemson, South Carolina, the first weekend of March to compete in the Tiger Invitational. Despite finishing the event with a 2-2 record, senior pitcher and utility player Brianna Copeland and senior outfielder Taylor Minnick had historic performances. The pair of seniors helped Indiana move to 12-5 on the 2025 season. The Cream and Crimson kicked off the Tiger Invitational with a 22-run scoring outburst in a win against Florida International University on Friday. This total marks the sixth-most runs scored in a single game by the Hoosiers, and their most since a 23-run performance during a win against Rutgers in 2017. Copeland provided a massive spark to the Hoosier lineup during their matchup with the Panthers while batting second in the order, collecting five hits, seven RBIs and four runs to tie previous single-game records in the

three categories. Since being named to USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year Top 53 Watchlist in January, Copeland has picked up nine hits and 11 runs while playing a pivotal role on the pitching staff prior to this weekend’s invitational.

After racking up four hits across the first four innings against the Panthers, Copeland had a final opportunity at the record books in the top of the fifth inning. The Pelham, Alabama, native lined a double to right center and later scored in the inning to secure her spot in Indiana softball history.

Copeland also became the first Hoosier with five hits in a game since 1986 and the third in program history to collect seven RBIs in a single game.

Minnick followed up Copeland’s dominant performance by setting a school record of her own. In an 8-2 win against East Carolina University on March 1, Minnick notched her 154th career RBI — a program record. Sitting three RBIs short

of the mark heading into the matchup, the Bloomington native got on the board early when she roped a double in the first inning to bring junior outfielder Melina Wilkison around to score. Minnick then singled to right field in the fourth inning, clearing the way for Wilkison to cross home plate.

Minnick entered the batter’s box in the bottom of the sixth inning for a chance at the record. With two outs and nobody on base, the lefty blasted a solo home run to center field to become the program’s all-time RBI leader and secure a six-run advantage for the Hoosiers.

Following her record-setting weekend, Minnick now leads the team with 21 RBIs, while hitting a joint teamhigh three home runs on the season.

Copeland and Minnick look to build upon their historic performances this upcoming weekend as Indiana prepares to host the Hoosier Classic and its first home game of the season at 3:30 Friday against IU Indianapolis.

JAMES RUSH | IDS

Then-junior Brianna Copeland swings during a game against the University of Notre Dame on April 16, 2024, at Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington. Copeland tied three separate single-game Indiana program records.

sota due to a forfeit. Indiana will hit the road again at noon Friday as it travels to University Park, Pennsylvania, to face No. 52 Penn State.

CHLOE LAVELLE | IDS

The Indiana women’s tennis team huddles before the double matches against the University of Illinois-Chicago on Feb. 28, 2025, at the IU Tennis Center in Bloomington. Ohio State swept the Hoosiers on March 2.

Dickerson’s offense powers to 3-1 weekend

By Joe Elms jpelms@iu.edu | @joeElms1

Indiana baseball redshirt sophomore center fielder Korbyn Dickerson led the Hoosiers to a 3-1 showing the first weekend of March in DeLand, Florida, as it collected two wins over Mount St. Mary’s University and one over Stetson University. Dickerson’s play was vital to the Hoosiers’ success throughout the weekend.

He got started right away during Indiana’s first game against Mount St. Mary’s on

Feb. 28, as he blasted two home runs into center and right field, respectively, and drew in two RBIs along with three runs. Indiana would ultimately ride its newfound offensive momentum and put up 18 runs on the Mountaineers as the game quickly turned into a blowout.

The Hoosiers didn’t skip a beat offensively in their next game against Stetson, and this time it was a complete team effort all the way around. A monster ninth inning on the offensive side propelled Indiana to an 8-1

win over the Hatters, and sophomore second baseman Jasen Oliver’s twoRBI single in the bottom of the ninth put the finishing touches on the win for good.

After dropping the next game against the Hatters, the Hoosiers came into their final game in the Sunshine State against Mount St. Mary’s looking to pounce, which is precisely what they did.

Dickerson led the way once again as he recorded a hit in three of his five at-bats, including drawing in three

RBIs before the start of the fifth inning. And during the sixth inning, he sent a shot deep into center field and drew in three more RBIs, officially sealing the Hoosiers’ third win. Indiana dominated the Mountaineers 20-7 to close out the four-game stretch.

The center fielder ended the weekend for Indiana with a statline of .448, four home runs, 10 RBIs and 11 total runs. Dickerson, a University of Louisville transfer, has gone from a player who got little playing time with

MEN’S SOCCER

the Cardinals to putting up monster game after monster game in the early going for the Hoosiers.

Dickerson didn’t get a lot of opportunities to showcase his skills at Louisville, as the Jeffersonville, Indiana, native redshirted during his true freshman season in 2023, and he only played in 21 games in 2024. He hit .235 and only brought in three RBIs over the entire season. But after he returned to his home state to play for Indiana in 2025, he has made an immediate impact for this high-powered Hoosiers offense. Dickerson hit three home runs over the course of three games against University of Nevada Las Vegas, Fordham University and Harvard University earlier in the season, and he hasn’t hit any lower than .300 during the first 12 games of his tenure in Bloomington. And it wasn’t just Dickerson over the weekend, as Indiana’s offense was practically unstoppable, recording 50 total runs and 54 base hits across the four games.

Defense shines as Indiana stifles Evansville in opener

By Will Kwiatkowski wdkwaitk@iu.edu | @wkwiatkowski_15

With the stands emptied by the frigid spring weather, players’ voices echoed across Bill Armstrong Stadium. For Indiana men’s soccer, this constant communication proved crucial in a strong defensive showing.

While Butler University transfer and junior forward Palmer Ault made headlines with his attacking play, it was Indiana’s defensive dominance that set the tone for the 3-1 victory. Holding the University of Evansville to just six shots on goal, the Hoosiers’ back line controlled the game, disrupting attacks and limiting scoring opportunities throughout the match.

In their previous meeting last season, the two teams played to a 1-1 draw, so the intensity of this match was immediately felt from the first whistle.

The Hoosiers held a shutout behind redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Cooper Johnson until the 79th minute, when Evansville finally broke through. The Aces capitalized on a corner kick, scoring off a header from the far-right side of the pitch.

Prior to that goal, Indiana’s defense looked impenetrable. Aside from a few long passes, either deflected to the keeper or intercepted by defenders, the Hoosiers kept their 18-yard box large-

ly untouched.

Indiana’s defense stood tall, shutting down Evansville’s attacks with aggressive challenges and key deflections. Despite sloppy play and turnovers from the midfield and attack, the Hoosiers’ back line held firm through the first of three 30-minute periods, absorbing constant pressure and keeping Evansville silent.

Indiana’s defensive effort was a collective one, with multiple players stepping up to shut down Evansville’s attack and maintain control throughout the match.

Redshirt sophomore midfielder Seth Stewart, freshman defender Josh Maher and redshirt sophomore defender Breckin Minzey deflected passes and disrupted lanes. Each Hoosier defender played his part in the stout performance, shutting down the Aces’ attacks.

Throughout the match, Indiana’s back line displayed remarkable cohesion and communication, a crucial element in their defensive success. Early in the first period, Evansville attempted a quick counterattack after a Hoosier turnover in midfield.

However, Minzey read the play well, intercepting a through ball just before it reached the feet of Evansville’s forward. Minzey then calmly played the ball back

to Johnson in goal, who wasted no time distributing it to set up the next Hoosier offensive sequence. Later in the match, Indiana’s defense turned a key stop into a quick counterattack. After Maher broke up a dangerous cross, he quickly

fed the ball to Stewart, who then played it up field to Easton Bogard. With quick footwork, the freshman forward advanced the ball to set up Ault for a goal in the 39th minute. This defensive transition, paired with strong in-

WOMEN’S SOCCER

dividual efforts, energized the Hoosiers. The defensive unit not only stifled Evansville’s offense but also set up fast breaks that contributed to Indiana’s control over the match.

The Indiana squad aims to continue setting the stan-

dard as inexperienced players fight to make a name for themselves. The chance to see Indiana soccer’s next star

‘Great young coach’: Peyton York joins Indiana staff

By Will Kwiatkowski

Just

Feb. 25. A familiar face for Rife, York joins the Hoosiers after serving as the goalkeepers coach under Rife at Ball State University for two

years. During her time with the Cardinals, she played a pivotal role in developing a high-performing goalkeeping unit, helping the team achieve an impressive 80% save rate. In 2023, York helped guide Ball State goalkeeper Bethany Moser to a program-record 113 saves, with Moser earning Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors twice.

“I am extremely excited to continue this journey

with Coach Rife at Indiana University,” York said in the release. “Josh has always been an incredible mentor to me from my collegiate playing days to now as colleagues on the field. I am honored to be trusted with this opportunity. I am pumped to get started and help move this program forward.”

In a standout career at Prosper High School, York recorded 54 shutouts as a goalkeeper in just three seasons. She recorded 22

saved in her sophomore season, earning her CoGoalkeeper of the Year honors in 2015-16. Her career took her to Mississippi State University where in 2018 she suffered a seasonending injury leading her to transition to a new journey taking a position as student assistant coach.

“I am so excited to have Peyton York join us here at Indiana University,” Rife said in the release. “In just a short time working with her, she was able to elevate

all areas of our program, from on the field training, community engagement, recruiting visits, and camps to name a few. Her infectious enthusiasm and ability to connect with the players only adds to her value within our staff.” In addition to her coaching duties, York is continuing to pursue a Ph.D. in biochemistry at Ball State.

“She is a great young coach who has a bright

ture ahead of her,” Rife said.

JAMES RUSH

Redshirt sophomore defender Breckin Minzey dribbles the ball up the field during an exhibition match against the University of Evansville on March 1, 2025, at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington. The Hoosiers conceded one goal against the Purple Aces.

LAUREN MCKINNEY | IDS

The Indiana baseball team lines up before a game against University of Cincinnati on Oct. 5, 2024, at Bart Kaufman Field in Bloomington. Korbyn Dickerson

JIMMY RUSH | IDS

Then-Ball State University women’s soccer assistant coach Peyton York is pictured in Muncie, Indiana. York joined Indiana’s coaching staff Feb. 25.

Indiana falls victim to late game struggles

By Daniel Flick danflick@iu.edu | @bydanielflick

Fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway strolled back toward Indiana men’s basketball’s huddle, high fiving his teammates with a subtle confidence after giving the Hoosiers a 64-63 lead over Oregon with just under two minutes remaining.

But Indiana (18-12, 9-10 Big Ten) didn’t score again — while the Ducks (22-8, 11-8 Big Ten) scored 10 unanswered points en route to a 73-64 triumph March 4 at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon.

Late-game struggles have been a common theme in the Hoosiers’ recent defeats, as their last three losses — and seven of their last eight — were all by single digits. Indiana had chances to tie or take the lead inside the final minute in five of those defeats.

The Hoosiers rode significant momentum into Eugene, having won their past three games and four of their last five overall. Their NCAA Tournament hopes, once an afterthought, were revived by the winning streak. Indiana had a chance

to further cement its case as a March Madness squad March 4. The Hoosiers were two minutes away from doing it. They fell short.

Oregon sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad put the first dagger in Indiana’s hopes, burying a deep 3-pointer from the left wing with the shot clock winding down. Shelstad, the Ducks’ leading scorer entering the day, had only 2 points in the second half before his clutch triple. Indiana head coach Mike Woodson said after the game his team — specifically fifthyear senior guard Anthony Leal, who defended Shelstad — didn’t defend the play well.

“We didn’t, because (Oregon senior center Nate) Bittle caught the ball up top, Anthony was sucked in, and all he had to do was stay out,” Woodson said postgame.

“We did not defend it well. I mean, make Bittle be the guy that beats you. Jackson has shown he can make shots and beat you, and he did. It was a big shot when we were up one.” Still, the Hoosiers had a minute and a half to work, and their deficit was only 6664. But after a discombobu-

lated possession finished without a shot attempt due to Galloway losing the ball in the paint, the game slipped further away.

Be it out of frustration or as an attempt to get the ball back, Galloway fouled Bittle, who nailed a pair of free throws on the other end. With just over one minute left, Indiana trailed 68-64.

The Hoosiers called timeout. Six seconds after resuming play, sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako, who was 2-for-9 shooting from the field but 2 of 4 from distance to that point, missed a contested 3-pointer from the right wing.

Shelstad grabbed the rebound, and he hit two free throws after being fouled by Indiana redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice. The Ducks’ lead grew to 6 points.

Rice raced down the floor, jump-stopped and popped a midrange jumper. Had he made the shot, the Hoosiers still would’ve trailed by two possessions. Rice missed the attempt, and Shelstad secured another defensive rebound.

Though he hit just one of two free throws, Shelstad extended Oregon’s lead to

three possessions. Indiana didn’t take a shot on its ensuing possession, as Oregon deflected and ultimately stole Rice’s pass intended for senior forward Luke Goode. Shelstad made two more free throws, and Goode failed to connect on a contested 3-pointer on the Hoosiers’ next trip down the floor. Oregon dribbled the ball across halfcourt, and Woodson called off the proverbial dogs, admitting defeat.

When the clock hit zero, Goode aggressively pointed a finger at a referee. Woodson expressed frustration with the officiating postgame, dubbing it “awful” that Oregon shot 21 free throws to Indiana’s seven.

“We had our chances,” Woodson said. “But listen guys, in a physical game like this, it can’t be 21-7. You got to be kidding me. 21-7 on fucking free throws is bullshit. It just can’t be, not in a physical game. They’re a physical team, and it can’t be that lopsided. It’s impossible.

Officiating is out of a team’s control. Attempting quality shots and converting is a controllable factor, as is avoiding turnovers in lategame situations. The Hoo-

siers have checked the box several times lately, including in a 71-67 win over Michigan State on Feb. 11 and an 83-78 victory over Penn State on Feb. 26. But on March 4, Indiana faltered.

“I just thought we poorly executed our offense,” Woodson said. “We had good calls, good play calls made, but they took us out of it. That’s something we got to learn from. When it’s nutcutting time, you got to step up and make plays, which we’ve been doing. We’ve been making good basketball plays down the stretch, but tonight we didn’t.”

After Galloway’s goahead 3-pointer, Indiana missed its final three shots from the floor and turned the ball over twice. Oregon, meanwhile, went 7-for-8 shooting at the free throw line following Shelstad’s critical triple, and the Ducks’ defense blended ferocity with rebounding to hold the Hoosiers to one shot — if they could get it off. Indiana was far from perfect overall. It shot only 3 of 7 at the foul stripe and made only 40% of its field goals. Oregon outrebounded Indiana

43-36, and the Ducks scored 23 second-chance points to the Hoosiers’ 13. And yet, Indiana snatched defeat from the jaws of victory after a neartwo-minute closing stretch in which seemingly nothing went its way.

“The kid hits a big bucket, and then we just didn’t regroup from that point on,” Woodson said. “And you got to give them credit because their defense picked up when it needed to. They got a big steal out of our possession, and we threw it away. So, I mean, that was the difference in the game I thought coming down the stretch.” Woodson added he has no complaints about the Hoosiers’ toughness in the aftermath of Indiana Athletics announcing Woodson won’t return at the end of the season. Indiana has fought time and again, and Woodson implied a conversation about the team’s tournament hopes wouldn’t happen if the Hoosiers caught a break at various points. But sometimes, teams make their own luck. And Indiana, on several occasions this season, has shot itself in the foot instead.

Starnes shines as Indiana takes 10th at weekend match

By Will Kwiatkowski

Sophomore Cole Starnes’ individual performance took center stage for Indiana men’s golf, even with a disappointing overall team performance at the Colleton River Collegiate on March 2-3. The Hoosiers finished in 10th place out of 16 teams, as they struggled to find consistency throughout the tournament. They shot a collective 31 over par.

However, Starnes made an immediate impact at the outing in Bluffton, South Carolina. He carded a 3-under-par 69 in the first round, which put him in a tie for first headed into the second round. Starnes stepped up his game from the strong play he displayed in the first, as he continued to dominate the Colleton River Club Dye Course. Starnes scored a 68 in the second round. He finished the day at 7 under par and extended his lead to three strokes. He played the entire front nine of the second round bogey-free, with a score of 3-under-par 33.

Starnes thrived on the par-3s on day one, scoring birdies on three of the seven

across both rounds, which played a crucial role in maintaining his lead, as he consistently dominated the shorter holes.

However, Starnes’ performance in the third round did not provide the strong finish he needed to maintain his position atop the leaderboard.

After the first two rounds, Starnes struggled to maintain his momentum in the final round, posting a 5-overpar 77 to close out the tournament. He bogeyed the first, third and fourth holes, before a double bogey on the par-4 ninth set him even further back. Settling back in, he shot 1 over par on the back nine. Starnes was able to maintain his position on the podium and finished third overall with a total score of 214 across 54 holes and finished at 2 under par.

Starnes’ play solidified a strong start for the Hoosiers, however, through the struggles of the rest of the Indiana teammates, freshman Bradley Chill Jr. shined. Freshman Chill Jr. rose to the occasion after head coach Mike Mayer challenged him after the Hoosiers’ last tournament.

“I expect more out of Chill,” Mayer said Feb. 14. “I

understand he’s just a freshman and has a lot of learning to do, but I have high expectations for him. Today just wasn’t the best version of him.”

Chill Jr. earned 22nd place after posting a 6-over-par 222 over his three rounds, living up to Mayers expectations.

His first two rounds posted scores of 74 and 77, respectively. In the first round, he recorded four birdies and four bogeys. The second round, however, was more disappointing, with two double bogeys, three bogeys and just one birdie, causing him to fall behind in the tournament.

A strong final round saw Chill Jr. catapult up the leaderboard. He jumped 15 spots after posting a one-underpar 71 March 3 with four birdies.

Other golfers on the squad struggled, including redshirt junior captain Clay Merchent, who had a solid start but faltered in the final round.

Redshirt junior captain Clay Merchent had a solid start to the tournament. He sat at 6 over par after the first two rounds but struggled in his final round. He posted an 8-over-par 80, which caused him to drop 21 spots and finish in 52nd place.

Nick Piesen finished in 56th place with a total score of 15 over par. Throughout the tournament, Piesen struggled with consistency, as nine bogeys and five double

impacted his overall performance.

finished in 75th place with a total score of 20

He struggled throughout

a triple bogey, six double bogies and 11 bogies, weighing down his scorecard despite notching an

BRIANA PACE | IDS

The Indiana men’s basketball team huddles together in a game against Penn

inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The Hoosiers lost to Oregon on March 4, 64-73.

MEN’S GOLF

Sophomore

bogeys

Sophomore Alec Cesare

over par.

the tournament. Cesare had

eagle on the 11th hole in the first round.

Ultimately, Indiana men’s golf secured 10th place at the Colleton River Collegiate with a 31-over-par team score. The Hoosiers will look to rebound at The Schenkel Invitational on March 21-23 at Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro, Georgia.

BRIANA PACE | IDS

An Indiana men’s golfer places a ball down April 7, 2024, at The Pfau Course in Bloomington. The Hoosiers finished 10th at the Colleton River Collegiate.

Indiana lets game slip away in loss to Oregon

By Quinn Richards qmrichar@iu.edu | @quinn_richa

Senior forward Luke

Goode approached a referee, who stood on the sideline opposite of Indiana men’s basketball’s bench. After a moment of hesitation, Goode outstretched his right arm and swiped it away in disapproval, summing up a game-long frustration the Hoosiers had with the multitude of foul calls.

A fiery Mike Woodson criticized officials following Indiana’s 73-64 loss to Oregon on March 4 inside Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon.

“We had our chances,” the fourth-year head coach said postgame. “But listen guys, in a physical game like this, it can’t be 21-7. You got to be kidding me. 21-7 on fucking free throws is bullshit. It just can’t be, not in a physical game. They’re a physical team, and it can’t be that lopsided. It’s impossible.”

Woodson’s tirade was instigated by the Ducks’ 17 attempts from the charity stripe during a back-andforth second half. The Hoosiers had two such attempts in that span.

While Woodson’s feelings about the officiating disparity had merit, so did his opening statement: Indiana had its chances.

A win over Oregon would have likely given the Hoosiers breathing room in an ever-condensing bubble ahead of the NCAA Tournament. Instead, numerous missed opportunities prevented Indiana from earning

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a vital Quad 1 win on the road against the Big Ten newcomers in its penultimate regular season matchup.

Junior forward Malik Reneau was rewarded with one of the Hoosiers’ rare excursions to the free throw line after he was fouled with one second remaining in the first half. He missed the front end of a one-and-one and Indiana entered the half trailing 35-32. Reneau finished the game 0 for 3 from the charity stripe.

With just over 12 minutes left in the game, Oregon went into a full-court press. Reneau inbounded the ball to redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice, who proceeded to dribble into the corner, where he was trapped by a pair of defenders. With no help around, he threw the ball out of bounds, resulting in a turnover.

“We got outrebounded tonight. I thought that was a big difference as well.”

Head coach Mike Woodson

The Hoosiers struggled to close out defensive possessions throughout the game. The Ducks scored 23 second-chance points off 15 offensive rebounds — the most Indiana’s allowed since its blowout loss to Illinois on Jan. 14.

“We got to be better at rebounding the basketball,” Woodson said. “We got outrebounded tonight. I thought that was a big difference as well.”

Arguably, the Hoosiers’ biggest missed opportunity came in the game’s closing minutes with a poor conclusion to an otherwise sound defensive possession. Indiana led 64-63 with less than two minutes remaining thanks to fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway’s catch and shoot 3-pointer.

On the ensuing possession, Oregon’s senior center Nate Biddle — a 31.9% 3-point shooter — held the ball at the top of the perimeter with the shot clock ticking under five seconds. Instead of forcing Bittle to chuck up a shot, the Hoosiers allowed him to find sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad — a 39.2% 3-point shooter — beyond the arc.

Shelstad stepped into a tough long-range shot from near the logo to give the Ducks the lead. While it was undoubtedly a difficult shot, Indiana shouldn’t have allowed him to take it.

“We did not defend it well,” Woodson said. “I mean, make Bittle be the guy that beats you. Jackson has shown he can make shots and beat you, and he did. It was a big shot when we were up one.”

Shelstad’s 3-pointer was the start of a 10-0 run by Oregon to close out the game and solidify the Hoosiers’ defeat.

Letting valuable opportunities slip away has been a trend throughout Indiana’s 2024-25 campaign. The Hoosiers’ led in the final minute in back-to-back games against Maryland on Jan. 26 and Purdue on Jan. 31 —

both teams currently ranked inside the AP Top 25 — but walked away with heartbreaking losses.

Indiana’s most recent collapse adds enormous NCAA Tournament implications to its regular season finale against Ohio State on March 1. A loss would likely force

the Cream and Crimson to make a deep run in the Big Ten Tournament, which they’ve historically struggled in, for their name to be called on Selection Sunday.

“These guys have been fighting, fighting and fighting,” Woodson said. “We have a break here or there; we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” The Hoosiers missed that break once again as their “fighting” didn’t translate to a win against Oregon. With the regular season ending, Indiana can’t afford to have any more chances slip through its hands.

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BRIANA PACE | IDS

Redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice looks to pass the ball to a teammate against Purdue on Feb. 23, 2025,

at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. Rice scored 4 points in the Hoosiers’ loss to Oregon.

3 Indiana starters awarded All-Big Ten honors

By Savannah Slone srslone@iu.edu | @savrivers06

The Big Ten announced its 2024-25 women’s basketball season honors according to a release March 4. The media and coaches awarded three Hoosiers with All-Conference honors this season as Indiana finished the regular season with an 18-11 overall record and 10-8 mark in conference matchups.

Yarden Garzon

The junior guard earned a spot on the All-Big Ten second team by the coaches and media. It marks the second time Garzon had received the nod, her first coming in 2022-23 after her freshman season when she was also on the All-Big Ten freshman team. Last season, Garzon received All-Big Ten honorable mention honors.

Garzon leads the Big Ten in 3-pointers made this season with 76 while shooting 40.4% from long range, which also leads the Big Ten for players with a minimum of two 3-pointers per game. Throughout the regular season, Garzon led the Hoo-

siers in scoring and steals with 14.1 points and 1.4 steals per game. She averages 5.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, which each rank second for Indiana.

During the Hoosiers’ win over Purdue on March 2, Garzon passed former Hoosier guard Kris McGrade for the most career 3-pointers in program history in just her third season. McGrade set the record at 206 makes from beyond the arc, while Garzon recorded three against the Boilermakers to bring her current total to 208.

Chloe Moore-McNeil

For the third time in her collegiate career, MooreMcNeil earned All-Big Ten honors. The media and coaches awarded the graduate student guard with an All-Big Ten honorable mention. Moore-McNeil earned a place on the All-Big Ten second team and defensive team during her junior and senior seasons. She was also recognized as the Hoosiers’ Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree.

Moore-McNeil averaged 9.1 points, 4.1 rebounds

and a team-high 4.3 assists per game this season. She is shooting 41.2% from the field headed into the postseason. In her final season of collegiate basketball, MooreMcNeil passed guard Grace Berger for the most games played for the Hoosiers. Moore-McNeil — who has spent all five seasons with the Hoosiers — played in her 149th game for Indiana against Purdue on March 2, which put her ahead of Berger, who played in 148 games.

Sydney Parrish

The Fishers, Indiana, native was awarded an All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media. The graduate student guard earned the same honors last season as a senior in her second year with the Hoosiers.

Parrish, who transferred to Indiana from Oregon following her sophomore season, averaged a team-high 5.6 rebounds per game. She has recorded 12.2 points per game on 45.2% shooting from the field and 34.1% from beyond the arc this season.

SOFTBALL

Indiana navigates ups and downs at Tiger Invitational

By Kasey Watkins kaslwatk@iu.edu

After suffering two losses to Texas Tech University on Feb. 22-23, Indiana softball looked to bounce back over the weekend at the Tiger Invitational in Clemson, South Carolina.

Indiana came out strong in the first two games of the invitational but were plagued by inconsistencies in the final two games, resulting in dramatically different outcomes for the Hoosiers.

In day one of the invitational, Indiana’s offense and defense rolled to defeat Lafayette College 22-0 in five innings. This was the sixthmost runs in program history and the most since March 24, 2017, when the Hoosiers scored 23 against Rutgers. The Hoosiers outhit the Leopards 20 to four, led by Brianna Copeland. The senior pitcher and utility player tallied up five hits, the third most hits in a game in program history. Indiana carried this momentum into their next

game March 1 against East Carolina University, which it defeated 8-2. The Hoosiers once again outhit their opponent by a total of 10 hits to five. In its second game of the day March 1, Indiana faced the host, Clemson University. The Hoosiers were unable to limit the Tiger’s offense, allowing 11 runs off 12. Indiana was outhit for the first time in the invitational by a margin of 12 hits to nine, resulting in an 11-5 loss. The Hoosiers looked to get back on track March 2 in

their second matchup with Clemson, but they were unable to do so, performing like a completely different team than they did in the invitational opener.

Indiana’s offense was outhit three to 10, while its defense allowed eight runs. Freshman infielder Madalyn Strader, junior center and utility player Avery Parker and redshirt junior outfielder Melina Wilkison were the only players to get a hit in the contest against the Tigers.

This up-and-down play resembled the Hoosiers’ in-

consistencies that occurred in the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic with a strong start and poor finish.

In the previous invitational, Indiana outscored its opponents 19-6 during the first half of the tournament but were only able to score two runs in the final two games. Similarly, this weekend, the Hoosiers started off play outscoring their opponents by a total of 30 runs to two in the first two games but were outscored in the final two 19 runs to five. The Hoosiers are now

12-0 in neutral site games and 0-5 in away games, bringing their overall record to 12-5. While inconsistencies have been the story of Indiana as of late, the team has the opportunity to take advantage of their upcoming schedule as their next 12 games will be at home at Andy Mohr Field. The Hoosiers will be back in action at 3:30 p.m. March 7 for their home opener against Indiana University Indianapolis in the Hoosier Classic.

BRIANA PACE | IDS

Graduate student Chloe Moore-McNeil stops to position her shot with Michigan State forward Grace VanSlooten racing to stop her Feb. 23, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan. Moore-McNeil, graduate student guard Sydney Parrish and junior guard Yarden Garzon earned All-Big Ten honors this season.