April 26, 2023 | The Reflector

Youth gender-affirming care ban passed

IN Senate Bill 480 was signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcolmb on April 5 and takes effect July 1

By Olivia Cameron MANAGING EDITOR

April 5, 2023. Senate Bill 480 prohibits medical professionals from “knowingly providing gender transition procedures to an individual who is less than 18 years of age” and “aiding or abetting another physician or practitioner in the provision of gender transition procedures to a

minor.” The law, authored by Republican Sens. Tyler Johnson, Ed Charbonneau and Gary Byrne, takes effect on July 1, 2023.

University of Indianapolis Assistant Professor of Sociology Elizabeth Ziff said that “gender-affirming care” is an umbrella term for a variety of practices utilized by an individual to align their physicality with the gender that they identify with. These practices include hormone therapy, puberty blockers and surgeries to augment the body, she said.

According to Ziff, there are currently providers in Indiana who offer genderaffirming care services, but they are not easy to access. Finding a provider in one’s insurance network, long waiting lists and socioeconomic barriers can make accessing care more difficult, she said. Ziff said the new law will not only prohibit minors from accessing gender-affirming medical care but end access for minors already receiving care, as well.

“Let's say you are maybe on hormoneblocking therapy or are on some type of hormone replacement therapy, I believe the stipulation is that you have six months until you have to stop this, once the law goes into effect,” Ziff said. “... So by December if you are somebody who is already receiving that care, your doctor is supposed to stop that.”

Sophomore English major Danni Conn came out as a transgender male in 2019. Conn said that after coming out, he began starting the process of getting his name changed and taking testosterone shots. Starting the transitioning process was difficult, but it saved his life and he was able to get through it with support from his mom and sister, he said.

“It [transitioning] definitely saved my life and helped me just be so much more comfortable, not only in my body but just in society, itself,” Conn said. “Because getting misgendered and everything is definitely not fun to go through… My mom's always been my backbone, she's always been my number-one supporter. It's really always

been her and my sister. I'm just very grateful that I had them in my life. And even when I was going through hard times mentally and then through the transitioning process, I was able to have them be there for me.”

Conn said he felt scared for his younger trans friends when he heard about SB 480. He has friends who have begun receiving gender-affirming medical care and now will have it taken away from them. According to Conn, not receiving this care can cause depressive thoughts, but other trans youth seeing they have others who are there for them helps a lot.

“I worry about the lives of the trans youth a lot, especially now, with this bill being passed and signed,” Conn said. “So I'm just making sure that I'm reaching out to them and letting them know that it's a bump in your process, but there's bumps in all processes. Even before this, I had many bumps in my process and in my journey, but there are things that you have to overcome. And I think that that's something: them knowing that they have people there for them, and they have people there to support them. I definitely think that that helps them know that their life still has meaning, even though the one thing that's helping them the most is being taken away from them.”

Junior art major Cj Sparks identifies as genderfluid. For them, genderaffirming care is seeing a therapist. Their therapist is able to help them in multiple ways, including talking through gender dysphoria and exploring options for medical care, such as testosterone and surgery.

“I've been able to talk through if I want to use this name, have my therapist be the first person to use

that and see if it feels comfortable [or be the] first person to use a certain pronoun, to talk through the pros and cons of different physical transition things, how to approach coming out or talking about different things with parents or siblings or friends, dealing with repercussions of those things,” Sparks said. “And having someone who is always going to be on my side in the way that they're going to be supportive, it's definitely very helpful.”

Sparks said that while they have not pursued medical care for physical transition, they may still want to seek medical gender-affirming care in the future. They said that it is scary to see that even trans adults in other states are having their rights questioned. According to Sparks, only negative outcomes can result from the ban on gender-affirming care for minors in Indiana.

“If I—in the state that I was in as a minor seeking gender-affirming care —if I had not been able to access that [therapy], I may not be here today,” Sparks said. “And I believe that will be the case for many minors, and I hope that they are able to access some kind of mental health care, even if it's not for the things that they're seeking.”

According to Ziff, the ban will be detrimental for trans youth, as genderaffirming care improves mental health and lowers incidences of self-harm. Communities in Indiana will be negatively affected as a whole, she said.

“Laws are important because of what they signal as far as values, and this is a huge signal that essentially transgender people don't belong,” Ziff said. “I would not be surprised if we see rises in incidences of things like hate crimes and other types of issues like that. You are probably going to see some people choosing to leave the state because they cannot access the care.”

Holcomb said in a statement that gender-affirming medical care should occur in adulthood. Ziff said this statement seems disingenuous to her, as many advocates and activists believe that

State Supreme Court visits campus

By Hannah Hadley NEWS EDITOR

The Indiana State Supreme Court visited the University of Indianapolis’ campus to hear oral arguments for a class action lawsuit on Tuesday, April 11 in Ruth Lilly Performance Hall.

According to the press release from the Indiana Judicial Branch, UIndy students and professors, judiciary and legislative professionals, media, high school students from across the state, the six state supreme court justices and others listened to the traveling arguments from lawyers from both parties in the Keller J. Mellowitz v. Ball State University, Board of Trustees of Ball State University, and State of Indiana case.

The synthesis provided by the Indiana Supreme Court’s Office of Communication, Education and Outreach said the class action lawsuit being discussed on campus was brought about by a BSU student claiming the university breached the student-university contract and provided “unjust enrichment” during the COVID-19 pandemic. The arguments heard in the performance hall were about an appeal by Mellowitz

regarding the Marion Superior Court’s ruling for him to amend his original complaint to comply with a law passed about COVID-19-related class action lawsuits. The superior court’s ruling then went to the Court of Appeals and was reversed.The reversal was then challenged by BSU and Indiana’s supreme court assumed jurisdiction over the case.

Senior political science student, President of the Pre-Law Society

Registered Student Organization and Treasurer of the Janus Club Meagan Tadevich—who plans to attend the Indiana University McKinney School of Law after graduation—served as the honorary bailiff for the hearing on campus. Bailiffs gavel a court into and out of session.

“It was super cool,” Tadevich said. “I didn't really realize how involved I would be. I didn't know I'd have this script to follow. I didn't know I'd actually be banging the gavel. I thought it was more like a title type of thing. But it was super cool to be able to be interacting with the real bailiff. And I got to shake one of the justice's hands, which felt unreal… This is what I want to do with my life, [to be] in the courtroom. So to be able to be

> See Court on Page 3

their

A bill banning gender-affirming medical care for minors in Indiana was signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb on

Graphic by Breanna Emmett

Photo by Erin Rostron

The Indiana Supreme Court came to the University of Indianapolis' campus to hear oral arguments from lawyers representing different parties in a class-action lawsuit involving Ball State University. Attendees from all over Indiana came to the university to watch the event.

...It [transitioning] definitely saved my life..."

Saying goodbye: Senior sendoffs

Hallie Gallinat and Kassandra Darnell comment on their time at The Reflector

By Hallie Gallinat REFLECTOR ALUMNA

During my sophomore year of high school, I joined the student newspaper as a writer. I barely knew anything about the inner-workings of a newspaper, but I loved writing, so I figured I would give it a shot.

Come production time, my teacher came over to check on my page, only to see I had barely done anything. I had greatly underestimated how important and imminent our deadline was, and, because I was sharing a page with someone else, I was preventing them from working on their section. My teacher stayed late with me and the editor-in-chief to work on my page. I was the last person done, and I had to come in the next day to finish the page.

I went home that night, thinking to myself, “Maybe I am not meant to be a journalist. Maybe I should just continue to work on becoming a graphic designer.”

Well, high school me, joining that class was the best decision you ever made,because it led me to the University of Indianapolis and The Reflector,and what I was truly meant to do in life.

While applying for colleges, I had heard about UIndy’s outstanding communication department and student newspaper. I knew UIndy was the school I was destined to be at; it just seemed like a place I would belong. I could not have been more correct. I can not even count the ways journalism has positively benefited my life. When I joined my high school newspaper, I was a shy, introverted sophomore who had a hard time talking to others. Now, I am far more outgoing and confident when interacting with people. If I did not take journalism back in high school, I would have not had the opportunities I had to really come out of my shell.

Adding onto that, when I was on my high school newspaper staff, I was horrified of becoming an editor. I was worried I would not be able to handle everyone else’s stories on top of my own–let alone in addition to my school work. Because of that, I never held an editorial position in my high school newspaper. However, when I joined The Reflector, I knew it was time to move up

to an editorial position, and I not only proved that I was capable of holding an editorial position, but two at once. If I had told my high school self that, I do not think she would have believed me.

My journalism experience also gave me the opportunity to interact with so many types of people and tell their stories.

From my time on The Reflector, I have interviewed artists, athletes, actors and so many others. Having the opportunity to tell these people’s stories is a unique job that I am proud to have held.

By far, though, the best aspect of writing for The Reflector was being with the people who ran it. We were more than just a newspaper staff; we were a close group of friends. We supported each other not just with newspaper-related matters, but with personal situations. I will never forget our late-night productions together, the stress of work being relieved by the most random conversations we could think of and laughing until our sides hurt. And, through it all, we not only published an award-winning newspaper, but had fun doing it.

However, my time at The Reflector was cut short by my early graduation. Leaving the newsroom for the last time hurt. I was leaving not only my co-workers but my friends as well. But, I knew deep down it was time for me to leave and show the rest of the world what I can do.

I have so many people to thank for helping me get to where I was and where I am going to be, starting with Jeanne Criswell and the amazing communication department at UIndy. I truly cannot thank you enough for all the support you have given me during my time at UIndy and beyond. To my high school newspaper teacher, thank you for seeing the journalist within me and always being there. I owe so much of where I am now to you. To the alumni of The Reflector , thank you for continuing to be there for me through online means.

And to all the current and upcoming members of The Reflector, I have no doubt that you will keep working hard to make The Reflector what it is. I really do miss writing for The Reflector and getting to see you all everyday but I am confident you will continue to do great things, and I promise I will too.

By Kassandra Darnell EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The beginning of my time on The Reflector was not what I expected, to say the least. I joined this staff as a freshman in the Fall of 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Coming into college while the whole world was shut down resulted in a lot of boredom and feeling lost in a new place with no real way to make friends. And after four years on the student newspaper in high school, joining The Reflector was familiar territory. I joined the class and was quickly able to crank out stories while learning more about the campus community.

After one semester on staff, I became an Editorial Assistant for Reflector alumna Kiara Conley, who was the News Editor at the time. Working with Kiara, I became more familiar with the editing process and more versed in news writing, in particular. Additionally, joining the editorial staff helped me make more friends, despite only communicating virtually. College still was not as fun as I hoped, but it was getting better. At the end of Spring 2021, I applied to be the News Editor for the next year and solidified myself amongst The Reflector editorial staff. And with in-person classes resuming the following semester, things were looking up.

Actually going into the newsroom and interacting with other members of The Reflector editorial staff was my first opportunity to make friends outside of my freshman dorm. I was quickly met with a tight-knit community that deeply cared for one another. Whenever I doubted myself as a writer or editor, there was always someone there to help and motivate me. This group of fellow journalists became my biggest support, and I always tried to be the same for them. And outside of the newsroom, I formed long-lasting friendships with like-minded people. I soon learned the true meaning of camaraderie as I spent late nights in the newsroom, talked for hours in campus parking lots and went to (cheap) steak dinners

on a whim. My time on The Reflector has also shown me what it means to be a leader and a mentor. I am grateful to have been a part of a staff that supports me every step of the way, even after they have graduated and I am still making my way as a student journalist. My fellow staff members acted as examples of great leaders, which was something I internalized as the News Editor and when I became the Editor-in-Chief. While many of my friends are alumni now, they continue to be some of my biggest cheerleaders and have helped me become a great mentor for all of the new people on staff this past year.

However, I think the most formative time for me on staff has been this past academic year. Taking on a leadership role has helped me become a better journalist because I frequently have to help my staff with tough decisions or teach them the different aspects of being editors. I have learned the importance of harmony between leaders while working alongside Managing Editor Olivia Cameron, whom I would not have been able to do this job without.

I am grateful for her and all of her amazing qualities every single day. On top of that, I have become extremely close with some of my fellow editors, like Mia Lehmkuhl and Hannah Hadley, who inspire me to work hard for the sake of others, but also consistently show me that hard work pays off.

Ultimately, my college experience would have been vastly different without The Reflector. I have made some of the best friends I have ever had while a part of this staff, and each person I have befriended along the way has my undying gratitude and appreciation. Each of these friends have helped me to become a better journalist, leader, companion and person. I can easily say that I would not be who I am today without their constant love, support and acceptance. While I am excited to move on to the next chapter of my life, a piece of my heart will always be with this staff, and I wish them all the best. I know they will be great.

Res-Life: Is it worth the price?

The furniture in Roberts, East, Central and Cravens is movable (only the beds are moveable in Cravens), while the furniture is built-in in Cory Bretz, Crowe and Warren.

Red Line causes more problems than it fixes

By Mia Lehmkuhl OPINION EDITOR

The Red Line, an IndyGo bus system designed for rapid transit service throughout Indianapolis, began construction in 2018 and service began in 2019, according to MidtownIndy. University of Indianapolis students are able to ride the Red Line at a stop located on Shelby St. and go 13 miles all the way to 66th St. and back to the University of Indianapolis, according to IndyGo. MidtownIndy said that, throughout most of the day, riders can expect buses to arrive every 10 minutes for 20 hours each day every day of the week.

The idea behind the Red Line is sensible, for it connects many different Indianapolis hotspots such as Fountain Square, Broad Ripple and downtown Indianapolis in one bus route for an affordable fare (college students can purchase the S-Pass for $30 to have access to all IndyGo buses for 31 days). The convenience behind the idea of a transit system like this is difficult to argue against; however,the buses came with other problems. For example, problems with buses arriving at irregular intervals were reported as soon as the Red Line’s first year of operation. According to the Indianapolis Star,bus riders complained about buses arriving one after the other or 30 to 40 minutes late. Others said a bus never came to their stop, or that buses passed riders by standing on the platform.

In 2022, WishTV reported that IndyGo is undergoing station enhancements such as rub rails to protect buses, removing concrete pads that have cracked under the weight of the buses and repairing damaged asphalt. Repairs will cost $5,147,025.38, according to WishTV. Not to mention that the creation of the Red Line came with Red Line dedicated lanes that confused drivers, causing three incidents between motorists and buses early in its implementation, according to the IndyStar. However, it is important to note that these particular accidents occurred on Capitol Avenue where buses have both a northbound and southbound lane right next to one another; IndyGo planned to install more signage as a result of the confusion, according to the IndyStar.

With all of the changes and construction happening around Indianapolis, why was this not thought of earlier? According to crowdsourced data reported by WFYI, Indiana’s roads were ranked third worst out of 37 states.It was an oversight,considering this data is from 2018,when Red Line construction began,not to think of our current road conditions before introducing a slew of new,heavy machinery on already stressed asphalt. Additionally, it seems as if IndyGo built these platforms to sustain different buses,for the repairs needed on them are from the buses themselves.

units include a full kitchen, two bathrooms and an in-unit washer and dryer.

By Olivia Pastrick ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

For many students at the University of Indianapolis, on-campus housing is the only reasonable option. According to US News, approximately 51% of UIndy students live on campus.So this raises the question of whether the dorms and apartments that UIndy offers are really worth the money for those students, especially when there are limited choices.

There are seven residence halls on campus: Roberts, East, Central, Crowe, Warren, Cory-Bretz and Cravens, according to UIndy Housing. Each building has different amenities available to students,such as an onsite fitness center in Roberts or common area space in Central. Single rooms are available in every residence hall except Central and Crowe, and the price for a single room is either $4,470 in East and Roberts or $4,432 for a single room in Cory Bretz, Cravens and

Warren per semester, according to UIndy Housing. For a double room, the cost is $3,596 for Central and Roberts and $3,218 for Cravens,Crowe,Cory Bretz and Warren.

Lastly, a triple room is available for $3,096 in Roberts and Central Hall and $2,718 in Cory Bretz, Cravens and Warren Hall.

One of the biggest differences between the buildings in which rooms cost more is that, in Roberts, East and Central Hall, bathrooms are not communal but instead are connected to two rooms in Roberts and East and one room in Central.This is a huge difference in amenities, but for some people, sharing a bathroom with an entire wing of people may be worth saving $378 for the triple and double rooms. All residence halls come furnished, but another key difference is the ability to move the furniture in the rooms. Although I was never particularly interested in rearranging my room, I know that for some people being able to personalize the room is important.

I was given the opportunity this year to live in the Honors Living-Learning Community in Central Hall. One of the biggest factors in my decision to accept that offer was being able to share a bathroom with only one person, as opposed to an entire floor or wing of people. That seemed like a great trade off for a little bit more money. Additionally, all of the dorms on campus are very close to buildings that students walk to each day to get to class, eat and participate in campus activities,which is not always the case at other universities. Because the dorms are so close to campus, students save money that they would otherwise spend on gas if they were driving to campus. They also save time that would be spent walking across campus at a bigger university or driving if they chose to commute. Not everyone may like how compact UIndy’s campus is, but, for living purposes, I think it is a good, convenient thing that on-campus housing is not miles away from lecture halls.

In addition to the on-campus residence halls, three apartment complexes have units available for lease through UIndy: Greyhound Village, University Lofts and College Crossing. Greyhound Village offers units with one, two, three or four bedrooms; University Lofts one, two or four bedrooms; and College Crossing two, three or four bedrooms.

For each type of room, College Crossing offers the cheapest option. Two-bedroom apartments cost $4,650 per semester or $775 per month; three-bedroom apartments cost $4,530 per semester or $755 per month; and four-bedroom apartments cost $4,080 per semester or $680 per month. Some of the amenities available in College Crossing

University Lofts has the most expensive units: one-bedroom apartments cost $6,570 per semester or $1,095 per month; twobedroom apartments cost $5,610 per semester or $935 per month; and four-bedroom apartments cost $4,770 per semester or $795 per month. Greyhound Village apartments fall between the other two complexes in price, with one-bedroom units costing $6,480 per semester or $1,080 per month,two-bedroom units costing $5,220 per semester or $870 per month, three-bedroom units costing $5,040 per semester or $840 per month and fourbedroom units costing $4,620 per semester or $770 per month.

According to Zumper, a website that posts house and apartment listings and prices in major cities, the median monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Indianapolis in April 2023 is $1,195, which costs $100 more than the most expensive one-bedroom apartment at UIndy.

So while apartments seem generally more expensive than living in a residence hall, all of the on-campus apartments available at UIndy are cheaper than leasing an offcampus apartment in Indianapolis. All of the apartment complexes at UIndy also come furnished, according to UIndy Lofts, Greyhound Village and College Crossing.

According to the UIndy Office of Financial Aid,the estimated cost for full-time undergraduate students’living expenses in the 2023-24 school year will be $15,878. Across the United States, tuition has increased from $42,695 for private institutions in 2021 to $44,433 in 2023, according to US News. While tuition as a whole is incredibly pricey, and costs only continue to grow, the cost of living on campus at UIndy is worth it for the students who do not have the option to commute.

City-County Councilor Brian Mowery said in a FOX59 article that it is very disappointing to have to redo millions of dollars and resources worth of work in order for the buses to operate smoothly. An IndyGo statement said that they are learning how Indianapolis’ “aging infrastructure” reacts to heavy buses running over the same lanes again and again, according to FOX59. To me, it seems like common sense to assume that aging infrastructure would not be able to sustain heavy buses running over and over the same route for 20 hours a day every day. The convenience is there.The idea is there.But, unfortunately, the logistics are not.

Corrections

The Reflector acknowledges its mistakes. When a mistake occurs, we will print corrections here on the Opinion page.

If you catch a mistake, please contact us at reflector@uindy.edu.

In our April 5 issue:

The SGA article stated that Bryce Logan is a Poltical Science major. This was an error; Logan is an International Relations major. Additinally, it was stated that Logan is running for president and Harley Avery is running for vice president. That was incorrect; Avery is running for president and Logan is running for vice president

In our March 8 Issue:

The article about Indiana marijuana bills, the subhead stated the article was about HB 1039 and 1297. The story was actually about HB 1039 and SB 237.

In the article about the Messages and Conversations concert, Eileen Mah was misattributed in a paragraph. A corrected version is on The Reflector Online.

What do you think?

Send your letters to the editor or other correspondence to: reflector@uindy.edu

GALLINAT

Graphic by Hannah Hadley

DARNELL

The cost of living on campus at UIndy is worth it ...

Indy hosts NRA Convention

People from across the nation visited the Indiana Convention Center for NRA events and exhibits

By Mia Lehmkuhl & Anika Yoder OPINION EDITOR & FEATURE EDITOR

Indianapolis hosted the National Rifle Association convention for the third year in a row April 14-16. The annual conference,held at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, drew an NRA-estimated attendance of more than 77,000 people, according to the Indianapolis Star. Speakers at the convention’s leadership forum on April 14 included former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Indiana Republican Sen. Mike Braun, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, Ohio Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, according to the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum website. Video messages from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley and South Carolina Republican Sen.Tim Scott also were shown at the forum. Indianapolis likes to build itself as a convention-friendly city, according to University of Indianapolis Associate Professor of Political Science Greg Shufeldt, and 2023 is the last year Indianapolis is under contractual obligation to host the NRA’s convention. Shufeldt said that with Indiana being considered a Republican state, and with most people likely being supporters of the Second Amendment, Indianapolis would be a favorable place to hold the convention.

Shufeldt said the NRA’s featuring of speakers at the leadership forum such as former President Trump and former Vice President Pence highlights the importance of the NRA in the Republican party.

“As we think about the 2024 Republican primary, people might try to distinguish themselves between being more conservative or moderate,” Shufeldt said. “But every Republican that's running for president is going to be there. There's not a Republican [politician] that is speaking out against gun rights.” (The New York Times stated in an article that, “Polls show that the overwhelming majority of Americans support some restrictions on firearms, but G.O.P. lawmakers fear they would pay a steep political price for embracing them.”)

the end of the first day, according to the NRA convention schedule. Saturday, the second day of the convention, included more seminars and workshops, according to the schedule, as well as exhibit halls where different businesses showcased their products. The convention concluded on Sunday with a National Prayer Breakfast and more workshops and seminars. With high-profile speakers comes high-security precautions. The U.S. Secret Service required that all media representatives attending the NRA ILA Leadership Forum leave their equipment in Exhibit Hall A for a security sweep before going through additional security measures to regain access. The line to see the speakers spanned down the convention center, and soon the room was filled with thousands of NRA members and media representatives.

Gov. Eric Holcomb - IN

Holcomb discussed the State of Indiana's infrastructure, state tax cuts through budgeting formulas and ways in which Indiana is a prominent supporter of the Second Amendment. Indiana hosts multiple outdoor recreational opportunities, Holcomb said, as well as the NRA National Marksmanship Competition. In 2024, Holcomb said, Indiana will host the World University Shooting Sport Championship.

Sen. Mike Braun - IN

Braun mentioned the Greenwood Park Mall shooting in Greenwood, Ind. last July 17, and the patron who shot the attacker while concealed carrying his firearm. The Biden-Harris Administration’s enacting a nationwide vaccination mandate for businesses down to 100 employees was an overreach, Braun said, that damaged the country during the pandemic. He said the federal government is trampling on the Constitution and attempting to replace the nuclear family, which he aims to work against.

life, Pence said, and last June they ruled to eliminate the license requirement to carry concealed weapons in New York in the Bruen Decision. Under the current White House administration, attacks through gun violence are the products of a lack of crime control, Pence said, and that gun confiscation endangers lives. Shootings in the U.S. have resulted from a decline in mental health and a reduction in institutionalizing the mentally ill, Pence said.He said placing police resource officers in every public and private space in America would put a stop to the violence.

Former President Donald Trump

Trump said that releasing criminals and abolishing borders are part of the Biden-Harris Administration's agenda, and interference is part of what the Democrats want for the upcoming election. Trump showed the audience the current Republican presidential candidate polls in different states (which were shown to be in his favor, according to InteractivePolls’ Twitter) and discussed his signing of the “Right to Try”law, which allows terminally ill patients to access experimental drugs. Three Supreme Court justices were confirmed under the Trump-Pence Administration,as were 300 federal judges, Trump said. He said Biden’s handling of classified documents, as well as 1,850 boxes of unaccounted for documents in Chinatown, revealed Biden obtained millions of dollars from China. Trump said his plans for office include restoring safety to the nation from gang violence and increasing security in schools. He said the shooting that occurred in Nashville, Tenn., on March 27 was a result of the reduction in school security and a mental health, cultural, social and spiritual problem that could be offset by arming school teachers."

Part of his administration’s plan to address mental health in the country,Trump said, is to direct the FDA to create an independent, outside panel to examine transgender hormone therapy and whether its effects upon increases in depression,aggression and violence. Trump also said that genetically engineered cannabis and other narcotics are causing psychotic breaks. In closing, Trump discussed the damage done by the Biden-Harris Administration, which he said has caused the nation to decline, and how in 2024 the Trump Administration will make the country great again.

China and Taiwan during his remarks, and named Chinese leader Xi Jinping directly to support his position.

“If you want to stop Xi Jinping from invading Taiwan, put a gun in every Taiwanese household and have them defend themselves,” Ramaswamy said during his remarks. “Let’s see what Xi Jinping does then. That’s what it means to be an actual American.”

Paul Rak, a marketing consultant and lifetime NRA member, attended the convention with his wife and shed some light on why he attended the convention.

“I’ve been a member for probably 20 to 30 years,” Rak said, “and really, [we came] because it was in the area.We’re from Illinois and just hadn’t been able to come out in a number of years. So I just thought it would be interesting. And [my wife] really wanted to see Trump.”

Rak said that he believes gun owners have a right to self-defense and that he felt comfortable at the NRA convention because he was around people who know what they are doing. He also mentioned the Greenwood Park Mall shooting that occurred this past July.

“... It [comes] back to some people doing violence and so forth,” Rak said. “[In] Indiana, I think…, sometime within the last year, there was a shooting in a mall. And guns were not supposed to be there. But there was a good guy with a gun who stopped the perpetrator.”

to carry firearms.

“We think you have to have a permit,” Worthington said. “You have to have a permit to drive a car. . . . You can't lease a car at 25, [but] you can buy an AR-15 at 18. And you think that makes sense?”

McQuinn said what brought her to the convention center was that she was offended by the Indiana General Assembly being used as a platform to publicize the NRA, when the assembly passed a special resolution to honor the NRA and its Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre.

“It's a poorly run organization," McQuinn said. "And to think that our statehouse, dominated by the Republican supermajority, would do that, I think, is unconscionable.”

Shufeldt said that having the convention in Indianapolis provided an opportunity for students who might not like Indianapolis' hosting the NRA, in light of recent shootings,to take part in interest groups and organizations opposed to the association. He said that for those who support the NRA and the Second Amendment, the convention was likely a good sign and an opportunity to get involved and learn more about the organization.

Care from Page 1

The convention began Friday, April 14, with the NRA Foundation's Annual National Firearms Law Seminar, and continued through the NRA Institute for Legislative Action Leadership Forum at this law is just the beginning of more laws against gender-affirming care, and some lawmakers' goal is to eventually ban all types of transition at any age.

According to Ziff, it is very rare that minors receive irreversible procedures. Many interventions take place before any procedures can happen. Children and young adults should not be dismissed so easily when it comes to making these decisions, she said.

“There's also this kind of assumption that kids are making choices that they won't be able to change,” Ziff said. “And that's not quite the case. And even if it were the case, let's just say, I don't know that we should dismiss children or young adults so easily. We tend to clump all kids together. What an eight-year-old decides, I think, is drastically different than what a 12-year-old decides than what a 16-year-old decides, as far as understanding long-term consequences and bigger picture issues. To even just kind of wave our wand and let make this blanket idea that somehow 18 is this magical dividing line between where you can decide something about your body versus can't… I don't know, that he [Holcomb] gets to make that decision for youth, but also for families. If a parent has felt that their kid is aware and rational, and they've seen the doctors and they've seen the psychiatrist

Former Vice President Mike Pence Pence spoke about the Trump-Pence administration’s four years in office and about the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. A conservative majority on the Supreme Court gave America the opportunity for the right to

and the psychologist and the other practitioners, I don't know why that decision doesn't get to get made in that setting.”

UIndy can support trans students by being vocal, Ziff said. It is important that trans students see the community standing up for them and feel that campus is a safe place. She encourages students to get involved by reaching out to state representatives and congresspeople.

Conn said that the entire trans community needs support, not only right now, but always. He said that he wants people to understand that genderaffirming medical care saved his life and that it’s a life-saving thing for trans youth to receive. He said trans people do not just wake up one day and decide to get big surgeries; it is a thought process and a big decision.

“Even if this wasn't going on, we still need it [support]; we're still a community that gets pushed down,” Conn said.

“And we're not always heard, because people always say, ‘it's a phase’ or ‘you'll change your mind in a couple months’ or something like that. But it's not something that will change. It's just who we are. I think that a lot of people just need to realize that we're not going through a phase. We were just born in the wrong body, we were born in a way that we didn't want to be, but we're trying to make

Overall, many of the speakers highlighted similar aspects in their platforms, including a heavy emphasis on mental health crises across the country and the need for American citizens to bear arms in order for other rights listed in the U.S. Constitution to be enforced. Ramaswamy mentioned tensions between

the changes to be who we want to be. So having people around us, letting us know that who we are is okay and we shouldn't be ashamed of it, that would mean everything. That would be great.”

On April 18, the Office of Inclusion and Equity sent out a campus-wide email regarding recent LGBTQ legislation in Indiana.

“As we watch the progress of LGBTQIA+ legislation within the Indiana State House and across our country, we wish to remind the campus community of the things that are most important to us, which includes diversity, equity, and inclusion,” the OIE’s email said. “All members of our community are supported and accepted. LGBTQIA+ students belong at UIndy and in Indiana. Inclusion and equity are core components of the educational mission at the University of Indianapolis, and we strive to uphold these values by instilling the structures and processes needed to better meet academic, cultural and social needs of all entering the educational environment. All students are welcomed and encouraged to engage with us authentically, and to have conversations with each other that are thoughtful, considerate, and kind.”

Resources for the LGBTQ community at UIndy can be found on the university’s website.

Protesters during the conference were present across from the convention center. Retirees Kerry Worthington and Elizabeth McQuinn were among the protesters. Worthington said that what brought him to the convention was his anti-AR-15 beliefs and opinion that people should have permits

Court from Page 1

more than [on] the outside looking in was really cool.”

Senior political science student and 2022-2023 President of UIndy Democrats Priscilla Garcia—who also plans to attend the IU McKinney School of Law after graduation—served as a building escort to Chief Justice Loretta Rush and was able to converse with her one-on-one.

“She is such a respectable woman and I admire her so much, and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to meet her and to meet all of the justices…,” Garcia said.

Tadevich and Garcia both thought the supreme court’s visit to UIndy was a noteworthy, real-life experience with the judicial branch.

“I thought it was incredible,”Tadevich said.“...It was really cool to see real lawyers in a real time case that's not like a TV drama.”

“I thought it was such a unique experience that I think I was very fortunate to be able to witness that,” Garcia said. “And I think a lot of other students can agree to that, that it was such an impactful visit, for especially someone like me, who is aspiring to go to law school, to be able to kind of see their session in action and seeing how the lawyers interact with one another… And so I think overall, the visit was very amazing and such a great honor

“Gun laws change pretty quickly,” Shufeldt said.“And ...not all of our students are Hoosier residents. I would encourage students to be mindful of what gun laws are in their home state, realizing that they change from state to state.So if you do carry a firearm, be mindful of that if you're going back and forth.Likewise,if you don't like the laws in your home state...state governments have some power to do something about it and other state governments might be more responsive than ours.”

and privilege for the students.”

Tadevich said the supreme court was supposed to visit UIndy’s campus in 2020 by invitation of political science professor Laura Wilson, but the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the event back.

“...I want to say Chief Justice Loretta Rush was here in 2018 and visited Dr. [professor] Wilson's classes and everything,”Tadevich said.“And then they had planned to hear a case on campus… So in April of 2020, they were supposed to be here with the high schools coming to us. But obviously COVID[-19] hit and everything fell apart.”

The IN Supreme Court’s visit to UIndy was only the 49th time they have traveled outside the State House to hear oral arguments since 1994, according to Rush.

“I think having that accessibility and that transparency is really really cool,” Tadevich said. “I understand logistically that [hearing traveling arguments has] a lot of moving parts [and] that's not a super sustainable way to do it. But my honors project was about public opinion and the Supreme Court, and seeing that dynamic. So it’s really cool to be able to see [how] they're interacting with the public, but they're not accounting for what the public may or may not want. It was really cool to see that.”

The recording of the hearing at UIndy’s campus can be found at Courts.IN.gov.

Photo by Mia Lehmkuhl

An attendee at the NRA convention stands up with part of the crowd and applauds Ohio Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan during his speech. NRA's convention was held in Indy.

...Every Republican that's running for president is going to be there."

Brady Ware sets NCAA record

UIndy pitcher and hitter throws a no-hitter while hitting for the cycle all done in the same game

By Connor Mahoney SPORTS EDITOR

Throwing the last pitch of the game forcing a pop-up out, UIndy graduate student baseball player Brady Ware etched his name into NCAA history as the first person to ever throw a nohitter and hit for the cycle in the same game, according to UIndy Athletics. Ware threw for seven innings, tallying 11 strikeouts to complete the no-hitter, and he hit a single, double, triple and a home run to round out the cycle. Ware said the moment did not really hit him at first, but the rush of his teammates storming the mound was a great feeling.

“I didn’t really realize at the time that it was such a big deal,” Ware said. “But I think that the feeling of getting rushed by your team on the field [is] one of the best feelings you can have on the baseball field.”

The Greyhounds ended up winning the game 14-0 against Drury University, according to UIndy Athletics. Baseball Head Coach, Al Ready, said he shook hands with the opposing head coach, who acknowledged Ware’s performance.

“When the game ended, we shook hands, and he looked at me and he said, ‘I don’t think that’s ever happened before,’” Ready said. “‘You should have that fact-checked…’ And that’s when it really hit me. ‘Wow, I think you’re right. I don’t think that’s ever happened.’ Come to find out it’s, it’s the first time, anytime [that’s happened], something like that; people go nuts for it, and it couldn’t happen to a better guy, either. He’s just a fantastic kid.”

Junior catcher Will Spear, supported the no-hitter from behind the plate. According to Spear, Ware was in control of the whole game.

“It was amazing,” Spear said. “There’s not a lot of words that I can really put forth to describe how it was other than like it was just amazing. It was my first no-hitter that I ever caught [for.] And I knew that it was happening throughout the game once we got to the fifth and the sixth inning, and there were still no hits. I was like, ‘Wow, this could actually be happening.’ So, it was very surreal. It was a really cool thing to be a part of.”

According to Ready, Ware was coming off injury, so to put together the performance he did was something special. Once the news was released of the accomplishment, Ware’s game spread across social media, appearing on The Athletic, FanDuel, CBS Sports MLB, ESPN and more.

“[The attention has] definitely been different,” Ware said. “I came out here this year from California and have kind of been on my own, at least, [before I] got to meet a bunch of new people. And so getting that attention, it’s been kind of a whirlwind.”

Ware also appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and later threw out the first pitch for an Indianapolis Indians

game. Ready said the attention has been positive for the program.

“[The accomplishment has] brought a lot of notoriety to our program,” Ready said. “Just having, basically, every major sports media outlet picking up the story, it continues to gain traction. I think the MLB Pipeline tweet had over a million views. That is just unbelievable publicity for the University of Indianapolis, for our baseball program here at UIndy, [and] for [Ware] and his family. It has just been great.”

Ready said Ware is a humble player but is also an aggressive hitter. According to Ware, he wasn’t a pitcher until later in his career, and he credits some of his success to his previous school.

“I would say my coaches in my last school were probably the biggest help in my baseball career,” Ware said. “...I wasn’t even a pitcher [in high school], and they saw talent in me that I didn’t even see in myself. They developed me over the last four years I was with them. And then now [I have been] able to come out here and kind of show off my talents at a different place.”

Ware said he got into baseball at a young age because his dad was a baseball fan; they would throw wiffle balls in the backyard as soon as he was able to. Ware and Spear said the opportunity to throw the no-hitter was a special moment for the two of them.

“Getting to throw the no-hitter to our catcher, Will Spear, is probably the coolest thing,” Ware said. “The reason being is my dad and his [Spear’s] mom both passed away of the same cancer. And they’re both the same people; they both loved watching us play…. They just loved watching baseball, [they] loved watching their kids play…. [Spear’s] mom passed away pretty recently, and my dad has been [passed] a couple of years, but doing that with him, it seems like [we’ve] been on a similar path of what’s been going on in our life and get to do that with him; it’s been pretty cool.”

Spear said that he told Ware after the game that their parents were watching.

“I told him after the game that day, ‘Hey, our parents were watching that game with each other,’” Spear said. “And that was just a really special moment for both of us and just for both of us to be out there together and just being able to experience that.”

Ware said that he isn’t sure what kind of effect this game will have on the team for the rest of the season. According to Spear, this shows the special moments that can happen at the ballpark.

“I definitely think that everybody comes to the ballpark with a different set of mind after [a game like] that happens,” Spear said. “We all kind of enjoyed being here more [once] we realized that this game can be so special [and] things like that can be a part of this game.”

Track and field approaches conference

By Olivia Pastrick ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

The University of Indianapolis’ track and field team began their outdoor season March 30-31 at Marion University’s Knight Open meet, according to UIndy Athletics. Assistant Coach of Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Brad Robinson said the biggest goal for the team at this point in the season is getting as many athletes in position to qualify for conference in order to put the team in a better spot to do well at the conference championship.

“... Beyond qualifying, [we want to] put ourselves in a position to maximize points by being the fastest heats possible to score the most points at conference as best as we can to help the team collectively,” Robinson said.

According to Robinson, this year’s team has a lot more depth overall than it has had in the past. He said that this is important because he can rely on more than only one or two athletes to score points for the team.

Sixth-year-thrower Keeton Adams said that he wants to finish his last season off strong, reach personal and team records as well as for the team to win a conference title. Adams said since he is coming back from an injury that has held him back in previous seasons, he hopes to make the best of his last chance on the team.

“No matter [what,] even hard practices, good practices, you just take a little bit every day and try to really enjoy the time

that you have left with teammates and everything else and just really truly enjoy what you do,” Adams said. “... When it comes to the team, the goal every year is to win conference on the men’s and women’s side.”

According to Robinson, the main focus at practices is preparing to compete every weekend at meets in order for more athletes to qualify for the conference championships.

“We’re in that mindset now, making sure every weekend when we compete during the regular season; we’re making the most of it and not trying to rely on the weekend just before the conference

championship to get people in,”Robinson said.

Junior sprinter and hurdler Olivia Brimmage said her mindset has changed as the season progressed, as she wants to make the most of her final season with the team. She said this year’s team is different from previous years because the team is closer than they have ever been before.

“ … We’re just more of a close-knit

group than we were,” Brimmage said.

“After COVID[-19] things were just weird, but I feel like now we’re a lot closer as a track team.”

Robinson said the team has battled with resiliency throughout a tough season, but has continued to work hard in practices and meets. He said that it is like seeing the daylight at the end of the tunnel as the team approaches the postseason.

“Battling resiliency more than anything

[has been important],” Robinson said “This team has had some ups and downs and they’ve not let it define them. Their ability to keep working through everything across the board in any area has been inspiring and remarkable.”

The Greyhounds’ next meet will be at Indiana State University’s Sycamore Open on April 28-29, and the Great Lakes Valley Conference Outdoor Championships will take place in Rolla, MO, May 4-6, according to UIndy Athletics.The team will finish their season competing at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships will be held in Pueblo, CO, on May 25-27.

Photo contributed by Jacob Walton/UIndy Athletics

University of Indianapolis graduate student Brady Ware throws a pitch from the mound. Ware has pitched for the Greyhounds in nine separate outings. The UIndy pitcher currently has a 3.13 earned run average. He has a 3-1 record in the games that he has pitched in.

Photo contributed by Jacob Walton/UIndy Athletics

UIndy’s Brady Ware awaits the pitch while taking command at the plate. Ware usually bats out of the designated hitter position for the Greyhounds. Ware has a .309 batting average on the season with five home runs and 31 runs batted in while in a Greyhounds uniform.

Photo contributed by Brady Budke/UIndy Athletics

University of Indianapolis thrower Keeton Adams competes in the hammer throw for the Hounds. The team competes in their next meet on April 28-29 in the Sycamore Open.

“... We’re just more of a close-knit group than we were.”

Photo contributed by Brady Budke/UIndy Athletics UIndy runner Olivia Brimmage picks up the pace while running on the track. The Greyhounds have competed in five different meets to start the outdoor season so far.

The UIndy women’s lacrosse team develops for the conference tournament

Jones said, and she tries her best to listen to the team’s suggestions, as she considers herself mild-mannered and easygoing. Additionally, Jones said she expressed her own perspective at times but gives the team leeway to show their own creativity, resulting in a successful collaborative effort. In spite of that, Fowley said they can be a stubborn group of girls but Jones overcame that.

“Seventy-five percent of our team right now is returners,” Fowley said. “And we’ve had the same program for three years. So it was a challenge to switch over, but a lot of our girls are loud-mouthed and proud of what they think so it definitely took some change to start fitting into this new program that’s changed for the better. And we’ve definitely changed some good things in terms of culture…. We’ve got some loud personalities.”

UIndy dance adds another trophy

By Mia Lehmkuhl OPINION EDITOR

By Kassandra Darnell EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As the Great Lakes Valley Conference and NCAA tournaments approach, the University of Indianapolis women’s lacrosse team is currently ranked No. 6 in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association, according to UIndy Athletics.The GLVC tournament begins on April 28. Junior attacker Joey Fowler said the season has ultimately been very exciting, despite changes in the coaching staff and players transferring at the start

By Connor Mahoney SPORTS EDITOR

Starting the spring season back in February, the University of Indianapolis men’ golf team has now neared the end of their season. Meanwhile, the UIndy women’s golf team teed off their season in March. The men’s team wrapped up the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships finishing sixth out of 11 teams, according to UIndy Athletics. With a younger team this year, graduate student golfer Cam Carroll said there were opportunities to learn this season.

“I have personally just been trying to do my best to be a good leader to the guys on the team,” Carroll said. “And show them sort of the right way to practice and the right way to conduct yourself when you’re out on the golf course. I think everybody’s had a lot of learning moments this year. I hope for this program that moving forward, they can sort of implement the things that they learned from me.”

Throughout the learning process, the team has traveled to different courses around the country, according to UIndy Athletics. Carroll said a big lesson he has tried to teach is to stay positive.

“One of the big things I’ve tried to help people out with is really staying positive, and being in the right mindset out there,” Carroll said. “I’ve been in situations, a lot of times where you’re just out there and you feel lost, and you’re really just having a horrible time. Through my time at UIndy, I’ve sort of honed in [on] what it really takes to play good golf. And I really want to pass that on to the people who are younger than me.”

Performing on an individual level, Carroll and the rest of the team competed at the Ken Partridge Invite in Noblesville. Carroll broke the course record and program record by shooting 63 which was nine under par, according to UIndy Athletics. Carroll said that day he was able to put every aspect of his game together.

“I started off with a birdie, and I rolled in a put that was sort of a tough put,” Carroll said. “I had some good feelings the week prior to this one, in terms of my swing and my game. I just was able to put it all together… [it was] one of those rounds where everything sort of went my way.”

For the women’s team, as of The Reflector’s press time,they are competing in the GLVC Championships looking to win the competition and retain their title. Graduate Student golfer Elyse

of the season.

“It’s [tournament season] also pretty nerve-wracking for our team, especially because we’ve had so many changes in the last year,” Fowler said. “So it’s a little different feeling than it has been in the past, but definitely exciting. And I think we’re anxious to get to the championships.”

Head Coach Elaine Jones said these changes were part of a rocky start to the season, creating a lot of challenges for the team as they got to know the new coaching staff and the underclassmen on the team moved up into more leadership

losing three senior starters to injury. Additionally, the team was ranked No. 8 in the IWLCA preseason polls back in January, according to UIndy Athletics, and Jones said this served as a wake-up call.

“This team is not last year’s team…,” Jones said.“We were ranked low for a team winning the national championship; to be ranked eighth I think was a little reality check for the players, like, ‘Hey, this is going to be an uphill battle.’ I think we faced adversity throughout the season…. We’re just ready to prove ourselves.”

There have definitely been obstacles,

Jones said she felt the freshmen and sophomore on the team had to step up and take on more responsibilities to fill those extra spots. These players did not have a chance to be freshmen on the team and take the time to hone their skills as they had to play their best from the beginning, Jones said. And while the goal has always been to defend the title and win the championship, there is still improvement to be made before then, she said. According to Fowler, this also includes working on the chemistry among the offensive players.

“To win the conference tournament and things that we’re going to need to do is, I think offensively [is to] still continue to improve our motions and sets and our execution,” Jones said. “Defense, we’re still working in a couple players. We’re working our one senior we lost back into the defense. So every day we’re working on every part of our game. Just making sure we cover the details that it’s going to take for us to be successful to achieve the goal of winning the conference.”

Looking towards the postseason Golf takes on tournaments

The University of Indianapolis dance team won its second championship in a row at the Dance Team Union’s College Classic National Championship, according to UIndy Athletics. They placed first in the DII Pom category but came in second in the DII Team Performance category by 0.86 points, according to UIndy Athletics. The win came after a long season, spanning from July to April. The routine that the team competed with holds sentimental value for the team; it was performed in honor of a 2020 alumna of the team who suffered from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, according to UIndy Athletics. The team used neon green poms to represent lymphoma awareness during their winning routine.

Head Coach Carlee Bachek led the team this season and said that the two victories have contributed to a culture of success on the team.

“Everyone was bought into the story behind the routine and the reason why we were doing it,” Bachek said. “And I think that made it kind of extra special for us and put a little more fight into it, because we really wanted to bring home that first place for her.”

Sophomore dancer Andi Parks said that the dance team starts off a new season with a dance camp where all the girls bond, some of those girls entering their first year on the team, where they learn their routines for the season.

“[Dance camp is] a really good experience for all of us, really good for the freshmen to really get to know the upperclassmen and [have] all of us bond.”

Parks said.

This season, in particular, proved challenging for the team, according to Bachek, due to the team experiencing their first year being a part of club sports full time. Additionally, there was a large number of rookies joining the team this season.

“That kind of brought a different set of stressors,” Bachek said. “For me, there was definitely benefits to that. But something new is always a little bit more challenging. And you want to make sure that you’re doing everything you can to represent our team well on campus....This year has been just a lot of hard work. I feel like the girls really bought into working really hard and trying to push ourselves to see what we were capable of doing. And that has been really fun to watch.”

Parks said the team’s successes last year created a strong bond between existing members of the team and that about half of the team this season consisted of rookies.

“We all found a way to bond…,” Parks said. “We were so hungry, that everybody who was on the team prior was so hungry for that win, that it made all the new people on the team hungry for that win [too]. We wanted them to experience and understand how it feels to win that national championship.”

Bachek mentioned that her favorite part about coaching the team is seeing the dancers grow as the seasons come and go. Parks said her favorite part of the team are the girls on the team and the close bonds they share.

“... Going into college, it’s a very scary thing,” Parks said. “And you’re like, ‘oh my gosh, am I gonna make friends.’ And [the team members] already all have that bond of loving dance. And so it’s very easy for all of us to bond and we’re with each other so much that I feel like it’s just such a good little sisterhood bond.”

Stasil the team has been working on their short game in order to prepare.

“[The team has] seen a lot of our statistics [which] have shown that our short game is definitely the weakest part of most of our games…,” Stasil said. “So I think doing that, spending a lot of time…working on our wedges is going to benefit us moving forward. And we’ve also been playing a lot of golf. We’re completing the things that we’re doing in practice and play.”

Whenever the women’s team has competed this year, they have finished in the top three against their competition. However, Stasil said they are looking

to finish as high as possible.

“I think as a team we are trending in the right direction; we had a little trouble out in [California], the scores were a lot higher than we really wanted them to be,” Stasil said. “So we put in a lot of work. And I think a lot of our players are coming around and showing a lot of light heading into [the] postseason, which is nice to see. And then we just came off of a win. And

Photo by MaKenna Maschino

The University of Indianapolis women’s lacrosse team celebrates after scoring a goal on the turf at Key Stadium. The Greyhounds are currently 6-1 at home and 7-0 away on the season. The team has combined for 256 goals for the season to their opponents 113 goals. roles after

that’s definitely the momentum that we need.”

Photo contributed by UIndy Athletics

UIndy golfer Cam Carroll drives off the tee to put the ball in play towards the fairway. The University of Indianapolis men’s golf team competed in the GLVC Championships in Smithville, MO. The GLVC Championships was the team’s highest finish for their season.

Photo contributed by UIndy Athletics

University of Indianapolis women’s golfer Elyse Stasil works on her swing at the driving range before heading onto the course at her tournament. The women’s golf team has competed in tournaments in various locations such as Ohio, Florida, Texas and California.

I think as a team we are trending in the right direction.”

Showcase at DesignSpine Expo

Engineering students present year-long projects at the DesignSpine Expo for local Indianapolis partners

By Grace Lichty ONLINE EDITOR

The University of Indianapolis R.B. Annis School of Engineering hosted the inaugural DesignSpine Expo. DesignSpine, which took place April 18, is a showcase of what engineering students have been working on all year, according to junior general engineering major Autumn Hotopp. Associate Dean and Director of Engineering Kenneth Reid said that students doing a DesignSpine project is unique to UIndy.

“Most other schools do a senior design project,” Reid said. “So they do something pretty unique and innovative, but they only do it in their senior year. Our students do it their sophomore, junior and senior year.”

According to Hotopp, DesignSpine is a class that engineering majors take, lasting three hours once a week,where teams work on their projects. Hotopp said that engineering alone takes up at least 60 hours a week for her.

“We start these projects back at the beginning of school, so in August, then we go and we work on them straight through,” Hotopp said.“...We typically even work over all of our breaks, so we've put a lot of time and effort into it. I think the DesignSpine Expo is a great way for us to showcase all the hard work and dedication we've put into this.”

Students are placed into teams based on what their strengths are and each team creates something different, according to Reid. He said that the students create everything themselves,with some guidance from faculty to keep them on the right path. According to Reid,the students do not come

up with their project ideas on their own, but instead the ideas come from businesses.

“We got proposals from industry partners, people all around Indianapolis,” Reid said. “So they'll come in and they'll say ‘I have an idea for a project for next year.’ Then we work with them to make sure they know it's going to take all year. So it shouldn't be crucial to success in their business, it should be sort of a side project that would be cool.”

Hotopp said that her team created a project called “The Vault.” According to Hotopp,her and her team finished collecting data for their project in November and have been working on building it since then.

“The Vault is an attachment for your phone that allows you to have external storage at your fingertips, and you can keep it plugged into your phone,” Hotopp said.

“It has a microSD card in it that allows you to have more storage than what your phone allows.Without unplugging or removing the attachment, you're still able to charge your phone through the cords, so that’s to help with some usability by not having to take it off all the time.”

Hotopp said that she has always been interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and has always naturally gravitated towards a career in the field. She said growing up, she was often told she would be good at engineering because she has an engineer’s mindset. It has been a goal of hers to be an engineer since seventh grade.

“I think, for me, engineering is utilizing all the skills that we've learned, different methodologies, things like that, combined with your thinking and ideas, to make the

UIndy engineering students showcased their group projects

Students were grouped together based on strengths. Teams had to create different projects and present them at the end of the year. Expo will make a huge difference for UIndy’s R.B. Annis School of Engineering, and hopes it makes a positive impact.

world better,” Hotopp said.

At the DesignSpine Expo, Hotopp won the award for Outstanding Junior Student in DesignSpine. She said that the award is a big accomplishment and she has worked very hard this year to get her team to where they are now. She also credited her team for making it possible. Hotopp said she was the only woman at the event to receive an award and she wishes there were more women in STEM.

Reid said that he believes the DesignSpine

“I think it’ll have a huge impact,” Reid said. “Because if we can get more industry partners to come in, we can get more proposed project ideas. Then we can really get the word out about UIndy engineering. A lot of schools say they’re hands-on,I think we're really beyond hands-on.”

Hotopp said she believes the DesignSpine Expo went very well.DesignSpine is a unique

experience that you will not find at another college and it has made a huge impact on her wanting to continue at UIndy, she said “I’ll get to talk to friends who are in engineering at other schools and learn that they don't get to be hands-on until senior year,” Hotopp said. “They don't do a lot of engineering classes until their junior and senior year. So they just don't know as much as we would know going into our junior and senior year, I think that has made a huge impact.”

New cancer screen 'Arab Indianapolis' film showing

By Olivia Pastrick ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

University of Indianapolis Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Katie Polo has developed a tool that will screen cancer survivors to determine their need for occupational therapy, called the Screen of Cancer Survivorship-Occupational Therapy Services according to UIndy360. Polo found that only 29% of cancer survivors received occupational therapy services, UIndy360 said, despite there being a greater need for it. Polo said that one of the goals with SOCS-OTS is to empower cancer survivors and help them better understand issues they may be having.

“What gave us this idea was in practice, at Cancer Support Community, one of our community partners at UIndy, a lot of the clients in there had indicated issues with performing some of their daily activities, which is often an indicator for the need for OT services, but none of them had actively received OT services before,”Polo said. “In the literature, we did notice that OT services are underutilized in cancer care, but there's a huge need for it, and so I kept thinking to myself, ‘Why is that?’”

Polo said that the process of developing SOCS-OTS took three years and was done by herself as well as her occupational therapy doctorate students. She said that they researched what issues cancer patients struggle with that occupational therapy would help with and started developing a list of items that would make up the screening tool. Polo said that with her second group of OTD students, she used the Delphi process to sort through which criteria were most important to include on

the tool. This means she and her students looked at the list that they had compiled and continuously asked current cancer patients to verify if the things they were finding were consistent with a minimum of 70% of patients. “We did that for four different rounds of the Delphi process until we finally whittled down the items to 20 items for the final rendition of the screening tool,” Polo said.

According to Polo, if a patient says they are having trouble with three of the criteria on the screening test, their results indicate a need for occupational therapy services. Some of the questions on the test are about sleep, work, leisure, social participation, health management and daily living activities according to UIndy 360. Polo said that these are areas in which she found many cancer patients struggled with and that can be helped through occupational therapy.

Polo said the tool will be used by oncologists, nurses, nurse navigators and others on the front lines of oncology care. She said it will be utilized by healthcare providers with the client and then reviewed by referral sources. According to Polo, SOCS-OTS is the first of its kind because cancer care is a new field in occupational therapy. She said that she hopes the tool will allow clients with cancer to recognize the need for and benefit of occupational therapy.

“My biggest hope and aspiration is this screening tool will allow for clients with cancer that need OT services to recognize that need and to receive services,” Polo said. “Because there is an astounding amount of literature that says that our services are underutilized, but very, very needed.”

By Hannah Biedess EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

The film “Arab Indianapolis: A Hidden History” produced by Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Professor of Religious Studies Edward E. Curtis, is a film that talks about Indianapolis’ past with the Arab community and was screened at UIndy’s Schwitzer student center according to UIndy360. Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center of Ethics Lacey Davidson said that the film started as a blog for a community history project and moved into a full-length documentary and is now a book.

“In 2005,when I arrived in Indianapolis to take a new job, I had no idea that people like me had been living in the city since the 1800s,” said Curtis in an article by statewide nonprofit Indiana Humanities. “That hidden history inspired me to work with other Arab Americans to make a film that reveals our community’s origins and development. I hope that it makes everyone in attendance, no matter where they trace their roots, feel more at home in Indiana.”

Davidson said that the film was a group collaboration between the Political Science, History, English, Religion departments as well as the Center for Ethics. The documentary was more focused on the Center of Ethics, he said, because it is in line with the University of Indianapolis mission.

“Part of UIndy’s mission is to prepare students for their responsibilities in complex societies,” Davidson said.

Davidson said that there are some good things that come with having a campus with vibrant life, but it is important to keep in mind the social, political and cultural context.

“We’re really looking at the mission of the University of Indianapolis and seeing, how can the Ethics Center contribute to that through the programming?” Davidson said. “And one of the things that this documentary brings forth is understanding the complex nature of human migration in the United States, but specifically in Indianapolis, and, how do we tell those stories in a way that honors those histories and also helps us understand the cultural, political and social context that we live in.”

According to Indiana Humanities, the documentary was directed and produced by local filmmaker Becky Fisher and was filmed by owner of Chroma Productions and Emmy award-winning videographer Vinnie Manganello. The article said that the film covers the new chapter in central Indiana with its diverse history. The documentary also covers the first

Arab-speaking neighborhood, to how Arab-American food has had influence in Indianapolis.

The documentary discusses the first Arabic-speaking neighborhood in Indianapolis, and the establishment of a prominent Arab American business on Monument Circle and the founding of the first known Arabic speaking Orthodox Christian location in Central Indiana,St. George Church in the 1920s. The service of Arab-Americans in World War II and the election of Arab-Americans to political offices in the Indiana Capitol, according to Indiana Humanities, were covered in the film along with the contributions of ArabAmericans to medicine since the 1920s and the influence of Arab-American food on menus throughout the city.

Davidson said that it is important to know how those things shape how the university interacts with the city. The university's interaction with the city itself has shaped the experiences of other people who live in Indianapolis, Davidson said, as well as those who are not affiliated with UIndy and who are.

“For example there's students who are Arab,” Davidson said. “They can identify with this film and see there's a rich history here, and that they're a part of the story that we're building so that anytime something's hidden, or covered over or not highlighted, any chance to excavate that is going to help us understand our location and more than just ‘Where's it on the map?’”

Photo by MaKenna Maschino

at the DesignSpine Expo on April 18 at the R.B. Annis Engineering Hall.

There's students who are Arab, they can identify with this film..."

Graphic by Hannah Hadley

‘What Does Faith Mean to You?’

Students enrolled in COMM 341: Topics in Communication produce faith-based documentary

By Olivia Pastrick ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Students enrolled in the class COMM 341:Topics in Communication have been working throughout the semester to create a documentary titled “What Does Faith Mean to You?” that will be screened in Health Pavilion 138 on May 2. According to Assistant Professor of Practice and Communication for Electronic Media Rick Dunkle, who teaches the class, his goal with having students create a documentary was to bridge the gap between journalism and long-form entertainment. He said that it was always his intention to create a class that would focus on this since coming to the University of Indianapolis in August of 2022.

Senior communication major Amanda Mumphrey said on the first day of class Dunkle wrote the word ‘faith’ on the whiteboard and let everyone in the class define the word for themselves. She said the students found that everyone has a different definition of faith.

“When we discovered that everyone in the class had different beliefs and different ideas around [the word faith,] we decided it would be a great way to document and show UIndy students, because of how diverse our campus is,” Mumphrey said.

Dunkle said after the class determined an idea for the documentary, the next steps were to figure out who they wanted to interview, what questions they needed to ask and what kind of story they wanted to tell. He said the class had to map out everything and research as much as

they could about different religions. Members of the class have interviewed religion and philosophy professors as well as leaders of different religions, according to Dunkle.

Dunkle said some of the goals for the students in the class were to cater to the skills they already have as well as to help them learn new skills. He said the process of making the documentary has been different even to the students

involved that have been a part of UIndy TV already.

“In TV, we teach how to tell a story in under two minutes … now we’re doing it in 90 minutes,” Dunkle said. “So you definitely have to keep track of that narrative and weave it through such a longer project.”

Mumphrey said that one of her favorite parts of the experience has been the opportunity to expand on the work she has done previously in

public relations as well as to learn new skills. She said doing PR for the documentary, as well as parts of it that are new to her, has been a unique experience.

“My favorite part definitely has been the amount of experience I’ve gotten other than PR,” Mumphrey said. “One of the big things Rick [Dunkle] wanted to emphasize through this course is that even though you’re coming from PR, TV, radio,

journalism, wherever you’re coming from, … you’re taking this course it’s going to benefit you. Because not only have I helped my own PR skills [by] working in different areas like a documentary, but also [Dunkle has] allowed me to be on camera, interviewing people.”

Dunkle said that in addition to the screening on May 2, the documentary will be entered into festivals in the future. He said that while most films and documentaries go through a focus group, the screening will act as the focus group for the documentary, as there will be a survey for viewers to fill out at the end.

Mumphrey said that she hopes everyone who goes to see the documentary will leave inspired. She said nobody should feel targeted or hurt if they have a different definition of ‘faith,’ because they are not alone. “We want people to leave the documentary asking themselves good questions about their own faith and what it means to them,” Mumphrey said. “Because in all, we can come together for the greater good.”

Dunkle said he hopes everyone who sees the documentary feels represented and understands that nobody has the same definition of faith, but that there are similarities between people despite that. He said that he wants everyone to feel that they can pursue faith without fear or judgment.

“ … I want everyone to be able to pursue faith without fear of judgment or worrying that they found the right one or the wrong one,” Dunkle said. “If it speaks to you, and it works for you, then who is anyone to tell you that you’re wrong?”

Faculty artist concert season winds down

By Seth Wall and Arriana Gupton STAFF WRITER AND EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

The Faculty Artist Concert Series conducted its season finale performance on April 17, according to UIndy 360. Faculty musicians from the University of Indianapolis performed at Ruth Lilly Performance Hall in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center. Each concert in the series during this academic year has been performed free of charge to the Greyhound community and general public, according to the university website.

Director of Percussion Terence Mayhue said this season was built on the strengths and interests of everyone involved. They started asking faculty for submissions at the beginning of the year, he said, and then congruent sounds are pieced together throughout the season.

Mayhue said the Faculty Artist Concerts are usually more classicallyoriented, but the series finale strayed away from this. Director of Keyboard Studies Ryan Behan, who performed a solo piano piece, said this concert was special since

it highlighted lesser-known compositions from names less-frequently played in a concert hall.

“I think one of the wonderful things about our faculty artist concert series is that it offers such a wide variety of pieces that one rarely hears in the concert hall…,” Behan said. “What’s special [is], you’re not going to be able

apply it to their own performances.

“It gives [students] a chance to kind of reenact what they were seeing the faculty do… and that’s how we use it as a faculty; we use them [the concerts] as moments where we can teach through example,” Mayhue said.

Those who will return to campus next year or are able to make an evening of it will have more chances to experience these faculty-run performances. There are already ideas being generated for performances next season, according to Mayhue. He said he enjoyed working with his colleagues throughout the season and that it is a close-knit faculty.

to find anywhere else where you can hear such a variety—in one place, at one time—of great music performed by great performing artists.”

Mayhue said the concert is only a small part of what the music department does in a single season. He said the concert series offers a great opportunity for students to learn by watching professionals to then

According to Behan, one of the benefits of the Faculty Artist Concert series is that it offers and highlights a wide variety of pieces rarely heard in concert halls. He said they offer a chance to share musical expression with others.

“I would just encourage students, faculty, everyone to come,” said Behan. “Once you walk through that door and you enter the concert hall, you’ll realize what we have to offer, and you won’t want to miss another one.”

Review: ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’

By Olivia Pastrick ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Whether you have played every Mario game in the Nintendo franchise or have never touched one, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is a must-see. With wellknown actors like Jack Black and Chris Pratt being combined with something so dear to my childhood, I had extremely high expectations for this movie, and I

was not disappointed.

The movie begins with a commercial from the Super Mario Bros’ plumbing business, for which we find out the brothers dropped everything they had in order to pursue their dream. At first, I thought it was strange that Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., but as the movie progressed it made sense to introduce them into the Mushroom Kingdom and Dark Lands associated with the

Super Mario universe throughout the games.

One of the technical design choices I loved about the movie were the moments when the movie would become twodimensional in order to allude to the style of the Super Mario Bros games. I thought those moments, as well as the inclusion of a wide variety of classic Nintendo characters, made the movie a great balance between the new story that they were telling, while still satisfying

the nostalgia that myself and so many others were looking for. As for some of the popular characters that were not seen—Princess Daisy, Rosalina, Wario and Waluigi especially come to mind—I think the clip at the very end of the credits gave me some hope that we will be seeing them in a potential sequel.

My absolute favorite part of the movie was the soundtrack. Other than Bowser’s (Jack Black’s) stunning, and frankly shocking—I had no idea that was coming—performance of the original song “Peaches,” the movie included several soundtracks from a variety of Mario games. While the DK Rap was a very clear nod to the song from Donkey Kong 64, a lot of what I loved was the more subtle aspect that people may not have picked up on if they are not as familiar with the Nintendo games as I am. It was so cool to hear the producers use and slightly change some of the environmental music that made the games, and now the movie, so immersive and incredible.

I also thought there was a good mix of action and comedy.The scene in which Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy,) Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and the Kong army were being chased by Bowser’s Koopa army on Rainbow Road was not only an incredible nod to the Mario Kart games, but also packed a thrill. This, as well as several high-

intensity fights were well distributed between other scenes in which Mario and Luigi were worried about each other, Bowser was scheming to marry Princess Peach and Mario and Peach falling in love. I will say, I felt Mario and Peach’s romance felt a little bit forced. Although they have always been a canonical couple, and therefore it follows logically that they would be love interests in the movie, I felt that that background was really the only thing that gave a solid foundation to their relationship.

I did like seeing Peach as a strong character throughout the movie. It was a refreshing change from the games, where she is almost always portrayed as a damsel in distress in need of a man saving her. In this movie, she was the one teaching and helping Mario and she defended her kingdom from Bowser’s rule. Although I did not particularly enjoy the romance between her and Mario, it was well done considering it was there. Peach remained a strong, female lead despite her romance with Mario.

Overall, I was thrilled to see this movie, and equally thrilled that it was as good as it was. With a fantastic mix of old and new, I would absolutely recommend anyone, regardless of whether or not they’ve played any Nintendo games, to go see “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” in theaters.

Students in COMM 341 and General Manager of UIndy TV and Assistant Professor of Practice in Communication Rick Dunkle pose for a photo; Dunkle is top right. Their documentary: “What Does Faith Mean to You?” will be screened May 2 in Health Pavilion Room 138.

Photo contributed by Amanda Mumphrey

Photo by MaKenna Maschino

Adjunct faculty member Steven Hawkey plays the cello at the Faculty Artist Concert season finale. He played a duet, ‘Mariel,’ with Terence Mayhue, who played the marimba.

Mario, voiced by Chris Pratt, left, and Princess Peach, voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy, in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” (Nintendo, Illumination

Entertainment and Universal Pictures/TNS).

...Once you walk through the door... you’ll realize what we have to offer.”

Photo by Nintendo, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures

Changes to UIndy's pet policy since 2010

Just over a decade ago, UIndy did not allow animals in campus buildings or at campus events

By Michael Harrington BUSINESS MANAGER

According to the April 21, 2010 issue of e Re ector, the campus had a strict policy forbidding animals in campus buildings at any time. Animals were allowed on campus grounds, but not at events; regardless of whether or not the events were indoors.

The ban on pets came down to a liability issue, e Re ector said. If someone was bit or hurt by an animal it could pose risk for a lawsuit against the university.

Currently, UIndy allows students to have pets on campus with some exceptions. According to UIndy’s Animal on Campus Policy, animals may be kept on campus if they are emotional support or service animals. Students may also keep non-aggressive sh in ten-gallon tanks, according to the policy.

ose who wish to have a pet on campus at UIndy must sign the Student Affairs Pet Policy Agreement. The agreement covers topics such as pests, examinations and responsibility for the pet’s actions.

“I assume any and all liability and responsibility for any actions of, or related to, said pet. Neither Student A airs nor the University of Indianapolis shall be responsible for providing for any pet,” the agreement says.

According to the UIndy Pet Policy, pets such as Emotional Support Animals or service animals may be kept in a private student residence or the campus apartments, Greyhound Village and University Lofts.

“Only cats, dogs and caged hedgehogs, hamsters and gerbils are allowed. Cats

and dogs must weigh under 35 pounds at all times,” the policy says. “Before acquiring a pet, the live in professional sta member must discuss their plans with the Assistant Director of Residence Life and/or Association Dean of Students and receive prior approval.”

Since the allowance of ESAs on campus in 2018, students have said having an ESA is essential to their life on campus. UIndy freshman communication major Alli Cook said that her ESA, a cat named Pigeon, has been something that

she needed. Cook said that she was scared that she would not be able to bring Pigeon to campus with her because it is a long process to

get approved for having an ESA. Having her cat in her suite has been a positive experience for her and her roommates, she said.

“Having animals on campus is actually really important. For a lot of students emotional well being, for my well-being,” Cook said. “[ESAs] are a nice reason to come back to your dorm and rest.”

A report by News Record showed having pets on campus can signi cantly reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety for students. Students who had a pet on campus reported feeling less lonely,

anxious and unhealthy, according to News Record. Having a pet such as a dog on campus can also increase exercise for students, according to e Station.

Cook said that she nds it strange that pets were banned on campus, considering how essential they are to student’s mental health. According to Cook, the process for getting an ESA worked out well for her.

“I’ve really appreciated having [Pigeon] on campus with me this year. And I think a lot of people on my oor have as well,” Cook said.

Improvements to accessibility

By Lindsey Wormuth DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

e Re ector published an article on April 21, 2010 titled “Wheelchair friendly?” e article goes in depth about the parts of campus that meet accessibility requirements as well as places that could use some work when it comes to accessibility. ey used student examples as well as an interview with Executive Director of Student Development Debbie Spinney, who discussed the accessibility around campus in 2010. Although, how many things have really changed since the 2010 article was released and what needs to still be changed?

According to the UIndy website, there is an accessibility map that explains if a building has automatic doors and which buildings do not have them.

ere are a total of six buildings that do not have automatic doors, those being the University Lofts, Warren Hall, Cravens Hall, Crowe Hall, the Athletic Development house and the Campus Police station. Warren also does not have a ramp and is not considered wheelchair accessible, either. Out of the ten residence hall options, four of them do not have automatic doors.

In an article written in 2021 by former Editor-in-Chief Jacob Walton titled “Accessibility issues at UIndy,” Spinney said, “Over the years, we have tried to put automatic doors. Those are not required by law. So what’s accessible is that the door opening is wide enough for a wheelchair.”

There is an automatic door for every building that has a ramp, but what about the ones that house people with disabilities and have neither a ramp or an automatic door? According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, “Although automatic doors can provide greater accessibility, they are not required by the ADA standards.”

In the 2021 Reflector article by Walton, a student said that “As a sports management major, I spend a lot of time in Ruth Lilly. I wish it had an automatic door.” Since this article, there has been one automatic door added to Ruth Lilly at the end of the ramp. Also, within the same article a student states that, “So if I have a class in a building, and I use all of the strength and energy that I have to go up the stairs, because another method is not available, like an elevator, that means that in class, I’m in pain.” Ensuring that all the elevators work and that the ramps are available would be a good way to make sure that buildings are accessible for everyone.

According to the 2010 Re ector article, ramps were not clearly marked, which caused safety concerns for some students. Since then, there has been no marking of ramps around campus, which can be one thing they can add to ensure people do not have the potential of getting injured.

As for accommodations and accessibility for students with disabilities, accommodations for students are still case-by-case for student’s needs, strengths and goals, according to the university’s website, which is the same as it was in the past.

In honor of The Reflector's 100 year anniversary, each issue this year has one page dedicated to looking back on past front pages and the history within them. This issue features the front page from April 21, 2010, which can be read on Issuu.com.

Graphic by Olivia Cameron

Having animals on campus is actually really important...

Photo by Michael Harrington

The wheelchair ramp outside Schwitzer Student Center provides accessibility to the building for students and faculty. This building's entrances also have automatic doors.