Feb. 8, 2023 | The Reflector

Tuition increasing next year

By Kassandra Darnell EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Full-time undergraduate tuition at the University of Indianapolis will be $34,416 for the 2023-2024 academic year, according to an email sent by Interim President Phil Terry to the UIndy community on Dec. 9. This is an increase of $1,164 from the previous year’s tuition.The costs of room and board and the 14-meal plan will be increasing as well, with the cost of a double room in a residence hall increasing by $304 and the price of the meal plan increasing by $284. Student fees will not increase and the rates of campus apartments will depend upon leasing documents, according to the email.

Terry said the primary reason for these changes is increased costs, primarily for payroll expenses, utilities, vendors, updates to the Cory Bretz residence hall and initiatives to improve safety on campus, which all lead to a need to increase revenue for the university. Despite these changes, UIndy remains one of the more affordable private universities in the state, according to Terry.

“If you look at our tuition, compared to other private schools in Indiana, of the 19 private schools, we're still the fourth most affordable, meaning there's 14 schools with higher tuition than UIndy,” Terry said. “In the private college world, it's still very affordable.”

Senior psychology major Isabel Stearns said she has seen her fair share of price increases on campus and has grown to expect an announcement about rising tuition rates because that has been the pattern in recent years. She said it becomes harder to pay each semester and she is worried about the debt she

has accumulated as a result.

If any students believe that affording tuition, room and board or a meal plan will be difficult to afford following these increases,Terry encourages them to reach out to the Office of Financial Aid for assistance, as the university has resources to help students who are struggling.

Director of Financial Aid Nathan Lohr said one of the main roles of the financial aid office is to help students maximize their eligibility for financial aid from many sources, including the federal government, the State of Indiana, outside scholarships and the university itself. Lohr said it is a priority to ensure that students receive all of the aid that they are eligible to receive.

“We also look at what money the university has available to provide to students. And that's an area where the university is really committed to helping students,” Lohr said. “Last year, for example, UIndy provided over $73 million in grants and scholarships to our students. We're not just relying on money from the federal government or from the state. We're also looking to provide money to help our students pursue their education here.”

Lohr encourages students who are looking to plan for next year to make sure they have filled out the FAFSA by April 15. The Office of Financial Aid will begin processing financial aid for the 2023-2024 academic year later this spring. If students have questions in the

meantime, Lohr said the financial aid office is there to help with any concerns.

“We really encourage them [students] to reach out to our office or stop by to see us because we can go through their financial aid package with them individually to make sure they understand what all is available to them and what other options they might have available to explore to assist with their educational costs,” Lohr said.

Some of these funds will be allocated toward payroll benefits and continuing increases to professor pay and benefits, according to Terry. Last year, professor pay went up by 2%, as well as a 2% increase in benefits, primarily for retirement benefits following a pause during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Terry said the university has almost restored retirement to pre-pandemic numbers.

“We've got great staff, we've got great professors and we've got to make sure that they're being rewarded at least market rates [average pay]. I think in terms of looking at the future, I think that'd be something we very much want to work into any plan for the future,” Terry said. “That's a priority of ours, is to make sure that our pay and benefits are competitive.”

While the cost of room and board will be increasing, Terry said that it is still competitive with other state universities, but it also has the same cost pressures as everywhere else in the university. Additionally, Terry said some of the funds will go toward a look into the dining experience at UIndy following student complaints. This has begun with opening a dialogue between the university’s vendor, Quest Food Management Services, and faculty regarding what improvements students would like to see.

While tuition has steadily increased

in recent years, Stearns said she would be more comfortable with paying more if she could see where the money is going. Currently, she feels there have not been many changes.

“The food doesn't seem better, the dorms don't seem better, safety has made improvements, but it's still not where it could be with the increases that they're getting each semester…,” Stearns said. “For example, I'm a commuter; we've had increases in tuition raises, but we lost our commuter lounge [in Schwitzer Student Center], so commuters don't even have a place to go anymore that's designated

for them. It's [the] little things like that make it really hard to be okay with the tuition increase when you're not seeing anything come from it.”

Terry said the university understands the need to make the cost of its product as reasonable as it can, with lots of time spent with academics, faculty and the athletics department to ensure the university is as efficient and effective as possible.

“In fact, as an interim [president], I think that's my job, on this interim period, I gotta make sure that everything we're doing is done [as] efficiently as effectively as possible,” Terry said.

UIndy Police Department updates

New initiatives to UIPD include increased patrols, communication and student-officer interaction

By Mia Lehmkuhl OPINION EDITOR

University of Indianapolis Interim

Chief of Police and Director of Campus

Safety Brandon Pate sent out a campuswide email on Jan. 14 detailing new initiatives that the University Police Department has begun implementing for the spring semester. The email describes new campus patrol strategies, educational programming, increased communication between officers and students and a

dedicated public safety engagement space in Room 208B of the Schwitzer Student Center. The substation is next to the Office of Student Affairs and directly across from the Professional Edge Center, according to the email.

“The biggest takeaway would be a more focused approach to engagement and education with the students,” Pate said. “…We want to be more readily available, more well seen, provide more opportunities for us to get together face to face, learn to know each other.”

The new campus patrol strategy

initiative will result in more visibility of UIndy police officers across campus, according to Pate’s email, through vehicle, bike and on-foot patrols. In terms of what programming students can expect, Pate said that he wishes to “bridge the gap” between students and officers and that he is open to students’ perspectives.

“I really don't consider it [students’ perspectives] backlash as much as a lot of it is constructive criticism. Some of it is a major criticism in and of itself. But it's important to frame the way that we look at it. It is stuff that we can learn from because it’s the true student voice; the student voice is saying, ‘We're not hearing enough fast enough.’ Then it's our job to kind of look at how we can bridge that, how do we fix that and find a solution,” Pate said.

In terms of the new programming that students can expect, Pate emphasized an inaugural Public Safety Week at UIndy Jan. 23-27, according to his campuswide email. In addition, Pate described a new Public Safety Advisory system being implemented this semester to bolster communication between police and students.

“That's [the Public Safety Advisory] something new that's come to UIndy, as of December, where you're starting to see more of us putting things out quicker and saying, ‘This is happening,” Pate said. “We’re working on it.’”

Safety concerns on campus were raised as a result of a break-in at the Greyhound Village apartments just

before students returned to campus on Jan. 7. According to an email sent by Pate after the suspect was in custody, “At 5:42 p.m. [on Saturday Jan. 7, 2023] University Police receive[d] a call of disturbance with information regarding a loud bang with a broken door from the Marion County 911 Emergency Communications dispatchers.”

A Public Safety Advisory was sent out to students via the UIndy app after UIndy Police were aware of the breakin and were dispatched to GV. After an arrest was made, UIndy police provided a timeline of the crime from the moment University Police received a call from Marion County dispatchers to when the suspect was in custody. However, students took to the UIndy app to express their concerns about safety on campus.

Sophomore history education and gender studies major Isabelle Lehman, who posted on the UIndy app about wanting more accessibility to the blue call boxes that campus security put in place last year, said she wants to see more improvement from UIndy Police.

“[UIndy Police] definitely need to use Watchdog more. They need to have more officers around. And I think blue

light boxes need to be closer to buildings because they said that there are 24. I know where three of them are. And they need to make it more obvious and safer,” Lehman said.

According to Pate, students are advised to remain vigilant about their surroundings. He urges students to use services such as UIndy’s Safety Walk or police escorts if they feel unsafe on campus. “It does come down to risk assessments about where you're going to be, where you're going, what time of night and who knows that you're going to be there,” Pate said. “You can attend any of our self-defense programs. We talk about what safety steps you can take to make sure you’re safe[r]. You're always welcome to use safety walks and escorts. And just reach out to us if a student has a specific concern that they're worried about.”

Students can contact Pate with any safety concerns or questions through his email, pateb@uindy.edu, or students can come to the substation in the student center to speak with him directly. Students can also request police incident reports through the UIndy Police webpage or by emailing Pate.

Graphic by Hannah Biedess

In the private college world, it's still very affordable.”

Photo by Erin Rostron

A University of Indianapolis Police Department patrol vehicle sits in the parking lot of the police station. The Greyhound Village apartments are diagonally across Shelby St.

AI is detrimental to artists

By Olivia Pastrick ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

According to Harvard University, artificial intelligence began to take root in the United States in the early to middle 20th century. There are several uses for AI in 2023, but recently there has been an emergence of AI generated art, which has caused a controversy for artists and critics alike.

Digital art has been around since the 1980s, according to Tate, which has similarities to AI generated art. The major difference, especially for artists, is that when it comes to digital art, they are still the ones creating the art and putting meaning into it; with art made by AI; however, there is no person putting meaning into it, but rather a machine taking aspects of artists’ work and generating its own.

According to American Scientist, since a computer cannot put feelings into art, this new phenomenon brings into question the very nature of what art is. One of the definitions for the word ‘art’ in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects.” Given this definition, the art that is produced via AI would not be considered art at all. Without consciousness and creative imagination, there is a beauty that

comes from creating that is lost when the humanity of the artist is taken out of the picture.

Regardless, this new phenomenon is still referred to as art, according to CNN. As someone who has been creating art my entire life, I think that the process of creating art and the stories that can come from artists are some of the most valuable components of art itself. With that said, I find it incredibly difficult to consider something produced by AI art in the same way I would label art made by a human being art.

In addition to the question of whether AI generated art can be considered art at all, there is a pressing ethical dilemma in the way that the AI derives its art.

According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, apps that create art by using AI do so by gathering data from other artists’ work without their permission to do so. This can be frustrating for artists who spend hours pouring their heart into their work only to see that a computer could generate something similar in a matter of seconds. Additionally, there have been artists that have looked into the copyright laws regarding their work being used in the creation of AI generated art—however, since the work being created by the AI only closely resembles artists’ original work and does not copy it, there is not a viable avenue for artists to take in terms of copyright.

As well as there are concerns from

artists regarding their intellectual property, there are also concerns that AI generated art will take away jobs from working artists, according to Forbes. Artists are often employed in movies and video games for animation purposes, but if a computer can do their job more quickly and without pay, why would movie companies keep real people around? Although this is just speculation, there is a major concern amongst working artists that they could be replaced by AI soon.

According to a study done in 2019 by the University of Oxford, the researchers predicted that up to 30% of jobs could be replaced by AI by the year 2030. One of the main takeaways from this study, however, was that AI could become a tool for artists to use rather than a replacement for them. Oxford Internet Institute researcher Anne Ploin said that artistic creativity is about making choices to deliver a message to an audience, which is something that machines cannot replicate.

As AI becomes more pervasive in our society, jobs for artists will continue to be at risk. Whether AI art is ethical or not remains a debate as artists fight for intellectual ownership and credit for their art. Personally, I think it is unethical for AI to create art that takes input from and mirrors art that comes from art done by real people.

UIndy should be supportive of ESAs

By Hannah Hadley NEWS EDITOR

It was the summer of 2020. I was a new high school graduate,mentally drained from my COVID-19-filled senior year and excited to finally go away to college. College meant independence and freedom, which I longed for. I had no fears about stepping into college life–except one: not being able to bring my emotional support animal to the University of Indianapolis.

I was formally diagnosed with generalized anxiety and major depressive disorder in middle school,which continue to be obstacles in my adult life. To help me cope with my mental health issues, my parents allowed me to get a dog (a very cute corgi named Leo in my junior year of high school). Leo changed my life immediately, giving me new-found joy and a sense of purpose. So, anyone could probably gather why I wanted to keep Leo with me–especially when I went to college an hour away from my hometown.

Before the school year began, I had my psychiatric provider fill out UIndy’s Disability Verification Form for Support Animal, which is basically paperwork that has to be filled out by a health professional confirming that you have some sort of mental illness or impairment. On my end, I filled

out the Service/Emotional Support Animal Request Form (which was on paper then), detailing my reasons for requesting to bring an ESA on campus.

My request to bring Leo to UIndy was denied a couple of weeks before freshman move-in. I was devastated and confused. I reached out to the UIndy Services for Students with Disabilities office for an answer, and they simply told me that there was not enough evidence of my need for an ESA to grant my request. My options were to start the whole paperwork process over again (did I mention at the time that they required everything to be sent to them via mail?) or to go to college without my ESA. I chose to start the process over again.

When I explained the situation to my psychiatric provider, she was taken aback. She said that in all her years of practice, she had never had this much trouble with a university accepting an accommodation request for an ESA. I remember her asking if they wanted my whole life story when

I told her that the information she had provided about my conditions was not enough for the Services for Students with Disabilities office.

I know I am not the only student who has struggled to get his or her emotional support animal verified through the university.One of my very close friends also went through the same experience; however, they had to take an extra step and have a video conference

with the office and my friend’s health care provider to dispute the denial.

I understand that the university cannot just let any animal on campus as an ESA. There are governmental rules and liabilities involving service animals. However, it seems a bit unsound that, even with the word and signature of a professional health care provider, the university’s SSD office can deny a student’s request for an ESA.

I suppose the fact that the university does not charge students for having ESAs or other service animals on campus might give someone a reason to “fake” an accommodation application. According to the university’s Animals on Campus Policy, bringing a pet to campus costs $250 and requires approval from the Assistant Director of Residence Life and/ or Associate Dean of Students. I believe that the majority of students who request an ESA do not apply to avoid the fee. First, owning and caring for an animal is already

expensive. Second, and more importantly, telling others about your mental health conditions takes a lot of courage. It takes even more courage to defend your conditions when they are invalidated by someone (or an institution). Students do not out these forms for no good reason. So, what should UIndy do to improve the process of gaining approval for an ESA?

First, if the university has strict guidelines for disability certification, then those should be made obvious. Second, the SSD should direct itself with more gentleness and altruism to address all kinds of disability accommodation requests. Please do not simply mail/email us back our forms with a note saying you regret to inform us that we have been denied. Set up a meeting with us to explain what more you need from us and offer words of encouragement. Kindness and understanding are required to be good at working with people who have any type of disability. It is difficult to struggle with mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. ESAs can help make life a little less difficult. When an institution makes accommodating people's needs more difficult, it worsens mental health. Can we all just have a little more understanding for those who have disabilities? It will make our lives a lot easier, I promise.

SB 354: LGBTQ youth are at risk

Senate bill 354 reports students' gender identities to parents

By Michael Harrington BUSINESS MANAGER

IndianaStateSen.JeffRaatz,R-Richmond, authored and prepared a now-proposed bill on Dec.26,2022,thatwouldrequireIndianaPublic Schools to notify parents if a student,“Changes, expresses a desire to change,or makes a request to change the student's name,attire,or pronoun, title,or word to identify the student in a manner that is inconsistent with the student's biological sex at birth.”

According to Indiana Captial Chronicle, the bill would also require school staff to notify parents if a student expresses difficulty or conflicting feelings with gender identity. Senate Bill 354 is dangerous to students’ well-being and was proposed by someone with a known history of voting on anti-transgender bills according to BillTrack50. Furthermore, it highlights a potentially dark future for transgender and nonbinary youth.

gender identity may harm that person.

Another issue with SB 354 is that it is being proposedbysomeonewhohassponsoredother billstargetingtransgenderandnonbinaryyouth.

Forexample,RaatzsponsoredaSenatebilltitled, “Dignity and nondiscrimination in education,” according to the Indiana government website. Raatzsponsoredthisbillthatwouldrequirethat schools “shall not promote certain concepts as part of a course of instruction or in a curriculum or instructional program, or allow teachers or other employees to use supplemental learning materialstopromotecertainconceptsregarding age,sex,gender identity,sexual orientation,race, creed,color,maritalstatus,familialstatus,mental orphysicaldisability,religion,ornationalorigin.”

Nowheproposesabillthatwouldmakeschools

not accepted are more likely to develop depression, suicidal behavior and other negative health outcomes. What is “best” for the parent may not be what is absolutely best for the child. Rather than focusing on the parent, the focus should be on the child, who is most affected by the consequences of coming out, whether voluntary or not. After all, it is the child’s identity, not the parent's.

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

What do you think?

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

The first issue with SB 354 is how it could be used essentially to “out” transgender and nonbinary youth to their parents. According to WebMD, the term “outing” means to reveal someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity without their, which can have detrimental effects on the person's physical, mental or even financial well-being. Young LGBTQ+ people have a greater risk for suicide than their peers," according to WebMD. "Transgender youths, specifically, are twice as likely to think about suicide or attempt it,compared to cisgender lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning youths. Clearly, outing a student who is expressing a change in

report transgender students to their parents. I find this disturbing and disgusting.

According to Indiana Captial Chronicle, Raatz turned down a request for an interview about the bill but said in a written statement that “parents should know if their child is struggling and shouldn’t be kept from the situation.” Raatz, and people who believe this idea, may think the child's best interest is served by parents' knowing about their child’s gender identity concerns, but this can actually work against the child. According to the Movement Advancement Project, transgender youth who come out and are

As a non-binary individual, I feel no one should have to come out if they do not want to. They should feel free to express themselves in spaces and situations where they feel safe. If I were not able to express my gender identity in school for fear of being outed, my mental health would have been in shambles.Notifying parents of something so sensitive and personal as gender identity is dangerous and an unnecessary measure. A school’s environment would become even more hostile to transgender students than it currently is, according to an NBC report. I believe that rather than forcing students to hide their gender identity, a bill should be passed in Indiana to increase resources for helping transgender students feel comfortable in their schools, such as using the GLSEN pronoun guide or referencing the Schools in Transition guide.

Transgender students should not have to live in fear of the the next bill drafted or the next law passed that negatively impacts their lives. It has been proven time and time again that transgender youth who are accepted, or even have a safe space, are able to grow and flourish in their lives. I may not be a lawmaker, but I do know that, if I were an Indiana lawmaker, I would focus more on the current housing crisis than on outing students’ gender identity.

Graphic by Breanna Emmett

Graphic by Breanna Emmett

Editorial Cartoon by Breanna Emmett

The opinions in this section do not necessarily reflect those of The Reflector staff.

Transgender students should not have to live in fear of the next law passed...

TikTok bans in United States increasing

Several state governments, colleges banning social

By Olivia Pastrick ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Numerous states across the nation have placed bans on the use of TikTok on government devices, according to USA Today. In states such as Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia, for example, colleges are limiting access to TikTok. Indiana is one of the states that has blocked TikTok from state-owned devices as of Dec. 7, 2022, according to WTHR.

These bans in part stem from U.S. legislators' concerns that ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, is based in China, according to USA Today, and could share the information it is gathering from American users with the Chinese government, according to a recent article by Time.

University of Indianapolis freshman psychology major Elyssa Merrill said the bans will not be successful in limiting the use of TikTok on college campuses because they will serve as an inconvenience for students.

“Some things would get altered, but because a lot of people can use cellular data or their own personal devices, it wouldn’t affect the mass population at all,” Merrill said.

According to UIndy Interim Chief Technology Officer for Information Technology Matthew Wilson, there is a valid concern regarding what ByteDance can do with users’ information.

“Certainly all social media companies

are collecting [personal] data, and they’re all bound by the jurisdictions in which they’re operating, but the fact that ByteDance is headquartered in China makes them subject to Chinese laws, and China is notorious for being very involved and having oversights for those sorts of companies,” Wilson said.

Wilson said that the main difference between the information that other social media platforms collect and the information that TikTok can collect is the due process laws in the U.S., where other social media companies are based [such as Meta.] Due process laws in China do less to prohibit the government from accessing user information, Wilson said. According to Ballotpedia, substantive due process in the U.S. outlines the restrictions on the government’s ability to infringe upon constitutional liberties regarding privacy such as “personal autonomy, bodily integrity, self-dignity and selfdetermination.” Wilson also said there is a risk in using a platform that is based in China because the Chinese government has different due process laws than those in the United States.

TikTok’s privacy policy states that the company is committed to protecting users’ privacy and explains how and what data it has the ability to collect.

The TikTok privacy policy states, “We share the categories of personal information listed above with service providers and business partners to help us perform business operations and for business purposes, including research, payment processing and

media app on affiliated

transaction fulfillment, database maintenance, administering contests and special offers, technology services, deliveries, sending communications, advertising and marketing services, analytics, measurement, data storage and hosting, disaster recovery, search engine optimization and data processing.”

Wilson said that although Indiana has a statewide ban on TikTok that applies to state-owned devices and government technology systems, UIndy will not be affected by this ban because it is a private institution. As of press time, no colleges or universities in Indiana–public or private–have announced a campus WiFi ban on TikTok. However, according to WFYI, Purdue University deleted its official TikTok account in December and “notified all colleges and departments within the university that they must follow suit.” WFYI also reported that Purdue is still “considering further action beyond simply deleting TikTok accounts,” in reference to blocking the app on university networks.

“About 50% of U.S. states have now banned TikTok for state-owned devices and some universities have interpreted it as also applying to university-owned devices and networks. Now, that only applies to state-run institutions, and the University of Indianapolis is a private institution. As there is [a ban on TikTok in the government] in Indiana now, it would not apply to the University of Indianapolis,” Wilson said.

Wilson said that for students who are concerned about potential information gathering by ByteDance, closing their

TikTok account is always an option.

“The kind of things that they’re collecting are anything that you’ve ever searched, anything that you’ve watched [and] any content that you’ve engaged with. That kind of stuff can be used to put together a profile of what you’re interested in, and so if that is ever a concern for you, then I would recommend closing your TikTok account immediately,” Wilson said.

Merrill said that they think it is unfortunate that the ban is affecting colleges that are following suit with their state legislators out of fear that they could lose public funding. They also said that there are students who make money from posting on the app who will not be able to do so anymore because of the bans in place at their universities.

“I think that it’s a real shame that… some colleges are only doing it out of the fear that because their state legislators are banning [TikTok]. [Some colleges fear] they could get fined or lose public funding because of the lack of support they’re giving [compliance with the government],” Merrill said.

Merrill also said that there are students who become popular on TikTok by posting about their university, and that by their schools banning TikTok on campus, their schools are taking away those students' source of income.

“I think a little bit of it [government and universities' reactions] might be blown out of proportion, but there is some risk from a national standpoint,” Wilson said. “I think there is a valid risk there.”

Indiana housing prices rising

By Michael Harrington BUSINESS MANAGER

According to a U.S. News and World Report, 46 out of 48 states surveyed saw an increase in rent for a one-bedroom apartment from Oct. 2021 to Oct. 2022.

According to Zumper.com, a website that posts available housing and tracks housing prices in the U.S., the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in

Indianapolis is $975 a month, a 2% increase compared to last year. Over the past month, the average rent for a studio apartment increased 13% ($999) with 69 units available in the greater Indianapolis area. According to Zumper, only 25% of one bedroom apartments available are $1,000 or under a month.

According to University of Indianapolis Assistant Professor of Practice at the School of Business Eric Harvey, the current unavailability of affordable

housing in Indianapolis is due to a combination of a small supply of housing and stagnant wages.

“An affordable home based on the area median income in Marion County is around $54,000 for a family. That puts them only being able to afford a home under $200,000 total,” Harvey said. “…The average price of a home in the area is [around] $250,000.”

Harvey said even though attempts

have been made to produce affordable housing, the supply is still below the demand. According to Harvey, in the past 20 years, wages have not kept up with the rising costs of housing, which also contributes to the crisis.

“When talking about what adds to the inability to buy a home, it starts with wages. Are there enough good jobs that pay enough salary to afford the homes and the rent in the area where you live and work?” Harvey said.

UIndy professor of Economics and Finance Timothy Zimmer said that the rise in working from home has resulted in developers being hesitant about building units in urban areas.

“One of the reasons why we've seen kind of a halt in the supply of housing— especially downtown—is some of the home builders are a little worried about where they need to be building their homes,” Zimmer said. “Is it in downtown markets or is it more in the suburb because more people are moving to the suburb to work remotely?”

As a result of the halt in housing development, Indianapolis city planners received a $4.5 million grant from the Biden Administration’s American Rescue Plan, according to WTHR. The funding will go to the Vacant To Vibrant program which will purchase and restore 100 vacant properties in the Indianapolis area. The program aims to turn vacant homes into affordable family housing, according to Indy.gov.

Zimmer said that the grant is a start, but in order for the area to be revitalized, the city will have to invest in services to encourage people to move in.

“I think it's a great start, but you have to get buy-ins from the local community, the state government and the local government,” said Zimmer. “Not only do you need the housing, but then you need the services to encourage people to move into those new housing.”

Indianapolis has utilized more than $50 million from American

Rescue Plan funding to develop affordable housing and infrastructure to support it, according to WFYI. A report by WFYI said residents who earn 80% of the median Indianapolis income will be offered the new housing once completed. According to Harvey the biggest obstacle in selling housing now is affordability. Modular housing and changes in zoning regulations are the best ways to provide more affordable housing to buyers, Harvey said.

“Modular housing and [changes in] zoning ordinances [to allow] it is our best opportunity to provide more affordable housing,” Harvey said. According to Zimmer, housing costs are expected to soften over the next year, but market variables make it difficult to make certain.

“Over the next 12 months, there's some indication that [housing costs] are heading down and interest rates are going up. That's going to ease some of the demand pressure for new housing, and that's going to ultimately affect rental rates as well,” Zimmer said. “But again, I say that and then something unexpected happens and it's really hard to make a prediction on that.”

As of Feb. 2, Rep. Justin Moed (D-Indianapolis) authored a bill that would allow Marion County to set up a system of tax increment financing (TIF)for housing, according to a recent report by WFYI. Another bill recently proposed will clarify state legislation regarding responsibilities of nonprofit entities that own commercial properties as “Indianapolis has had difficulties holding badacting, out-of-state landlords accountable for property neglect,” according to WFYI.

“This housing TIF, instead of capturing the future development of a business property, captures the future development and tax base of residential homes,” WFYI reported Moed said.

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...The average price of a home in the area is [around] $250,000.”

Photo by Dreamstime/TNS TikTok has been banned from numerous state governments and universities due to fears that U.S. users' data could be stolen.

Competing on the court together again

By Connor Mahoney SPORTS EDITOR

Winning a state championship together, men’s basketball redshirt sophomore guard Jesse Bingham and senior forward Jakobie Robinson said their connection has grown stronger since playing together in high school to playing together at the collegiate level.

“It just benefits [the] both of us and our teams because we played together for that long; I feel like we both figured out each other’s tendencies and what one another is going to do, where we want the ball at…,” Bingham said. “Playing with [Robinson], it just makes my life a lot easier.”

When playing at Warren Central High School together, Bingham and Robinson helped lead the team to a state championship while going undefeated, according to Robinson.

“Just being able to win that title together, it was fun,” Robinson said. “[An] undefeated season is something you might not ever see again, so I just feel like doing it together was very special.”

Bingham said that once the two of them became friends they were always hanging out. According to Robinson, winning that state championship has led to a hunger for more at the collegiate level, but it is a whole different playing-field.

“[Winning a championship is] much harder at this stage than it was in high school…,” Robinson said. “The position we put ourselves in through these 18 games and the way we’re playing right now, as long as we stay locked in [and] continue to do what we do together to get us here again, I feel like we’re capable of achieving that goal [of winning a championship].”

Throughout the years Bingham and Robinson have been here, UIndy Men’s Basketball Head Coach Paul Corsaro said these two players know what needs to be done to win games. Likewise, Corsaro said he has seen this in games and practices.

“You can tell that they know what it takes to win by the way they go about their business, how hard they work every day; you can tell they came from a good, successful high school program because they bring it every single day at practice,” Corsaro said. “And then, in games, they’re not fazed by the biggest moments. They’re guys that I trust during crunch

time in games, and all their experiences leading up to this point prepare them for the moments that they’re in now.”

Prior to his time at UIndy, Robinson transferred from McKendree University before sharing the court again with Bingham, according to Robinson. The first person Robinson called was Bingham.

“I remember one day I was at home, and then [Robinson] called me. And it’s him and his whole family just around the phone,” Bingham said. “They’re all just smiling… [I’m]out [of] the loop… I’m still trying to figure out, ‘What’s the point? What’s the point of [the] call,’ and then he finally told me that he committed [to UIndy]. I remember I went outside the house and just start[ed] running around… just out of pure excitement. I was like, that’s my brother right back with me.”

Bingham said they are like brothers and always have each other’s back. Robinson said he and Bingham are always joking around with each other and that it can rub off on their teammates.

“Me and [Bingham are] always goofing around, so it brings out the goofiness… in others [the team] to be comfortable around everybody,” Robinson said. “… When our teammates see us do that [joke around] they [can] feel comfortable with being themselves and being able to express themselves.”

As of Reflector press time, the Greyhounds are 20-2, and they are currently ranked seventh in Division II basketball, according to UIndy Athletics. Corsaro said Bingham and Robinson have brought an unselfish mindset to the program. According to Corsaro, Robinson’s ability to play any position on the court and Bingham’s ability to score at will have had an impact on the team. Throughout the season, Corsaro said he has enjoyed the team’s character, which both Bingham and Robinson add to.

“The character [has been my favorite part]; we have awesome guys in our locker room, and the personalities make this such a fun group,” Corsaro said. “And I think [that’s] what really makes a talented team into a great team is the character and the personalities and the types of people we have. It’s just a great group of guys. And I think that’s the most enjoyable part for me. And I think they’d probably say the same thing.”

Preparing for the new season

UIndy softball season begins Feb. 10 with their first game located at the University of Alabama

By Olivia Pastrick ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

The University of Indianapolis’ softball team begins its season on Feb. 10, where they will be competing at the University of Alabama in the Huntsville Charger Chillout, according to UIndy Athletics. The team finished last season 48-10, suffering a loss in the championship game of the Greater Lakes Valley Conference tournament, and later advanced to the NCAA Division II National tournament, where they lost in the first round, according to the NCAA. This year, Head Coach Melissa Frost said the team’s goal is to bring a national title to UIndy and compete to the best of their ability.

“I think [winning a national championship] is obviously our goal year-in and year-out,” Frost said. “Win the regular season conference and then win the conference tournament, and then make our way to the World Series that way.”

Junior pitcher Kenzee Smith said that one of her goals is to enjoy her last two years playing softball for UIndy.

“Personally, I really want to enjoy these last two years,” Smith said. “I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself to perform a certain way, and I think sometimes that hinders me because I start stressing out.”

In addition to enjoying the latter half of her collegiate softball career, Smith said that she hopes to live up to expectations, including ranking among the top 11 pitchers in Division II.

“It’s a great honor, so I think anything I can do, on and off the field to resemble whatever they’re seeing—that’s basically what I’m shooting for right now,” Smith said.

According to Frost, the current team has an impressive work ethic, which she hopes will carry them to a national championship. She said there

UIndy

preparing to enter into her 23rd year as the

is offensive power in this team to complement their All-American pitcher and their All-American catcher, as well as a rock-solid defense behind them.

“I think that this team is really a team that works,” Frost said. “And I think that something that we’ve seen a lot here in the spring season so far is just the work ethic. They get in, they do the work and they get out.”

In addition to the work ethic on the field, Frost said the team also works extremely hard in the classroom. According to UIndy Softball’s Instagram, the team had a cumulative grade-point average of 3.8 in the fall 2022 semester,

which Frost hopes will continue moving forward into the spring.

Following the team’s loss to the University of Southern Indiana in the GLVC Tournament finals last season, Smith said it stung, but that it also gave the team a new drive to

be competitive with other teams, as well as each other. Frost said that although the team could not pull out a win, the game against USI was one of the better games they had played all year and it springboarded them into the national tournament.

“When we left the field that day, we felt very good about how we played, regardless of whether it was a win or a loss,” Frost said. “We felt like it was up to the standard of our program. We measure wins and losses not necessarily by wins and losses, but [rather] if they meet the standard of our program.”

Smith said this season’s UIndy softball team will be exciting to watch and will be different than it has been in past years.

“We did lose a lot of seniors and we’re pretty young,” Smith said. “But I also think we’re eager and ready to be on the field. And I think that’s going to bring a lot of hustle, a lot of effort.”

Frost and Smith both said they are excited for the season to start, and hope to see a good showing of students and faculty at their home games. Their first home game is Mar. 19 against McKendree, according to UIndy Athletics.

Photo by MaKenna Maschino

UIndy men’s basketball player Jakobie Robinson dribbles the ball beyond the three point line as he drives to the basket. The Greyhounds played Missouri S&T where they won 86-67. The Greyhounds won this game in Nicoson Hall, continuing their win streak.

Photo by MaKenna Maschino

UIndy men’s basketball player Jesse Bingham drives into the lane throwing down a dunk in transition against Ohio Christian University.

The Greyhounds defeated Ohio Christian University that day 97-61. Bingham finished the game with 16 points on 8-11 from the field.

Photo contributed by Jacob Walton/UIndy Athletics

Softball Head Coach Melissa Frost applauds her team during the game. Frost is

head coach for the softball team at UIndy.

Photo contributed by Jacob Walton/UIndy Athletics University of Indianapolis softball pitcher Kenzee Smith prepares for her next pitch to the batter. Smith finished the season last year with a total of 247 strikeouts from the mound.

But I also think we’re eager and ready to be on the field.”

UIndy wrestler takes top ranking

UIndy wrestler Derek Blubaugh reigns in the number one position for the DII NWCA standings

That ability to balance performing on the mat as well as in the classroom has not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff, according to Warthan.

“I think if one would come in and watch our practice, I think you would be drawn to him [Derek Blubaugh],” said Warthan. “... He’s a workhorse, but he’s also very humble.”

Warthan, an alum and three sport athlete that graduated in 2001, remarked on Derek Blubaugh’s tenacity.

“He does the right things outside the wrestling room and outside the classroom walls too—rise early and eat and drink and sleep; all the right things,” Warthan said.

In the 2020-2021 season, Derek Blubaugh was voted a Kelso Reid Mental Attitude nominee, according to UIndy Athletics.

“I was extremely grateful to receive that [Kelso Reid Mental Attitude] award,” said Derek Blubaugh. “That, honestly, meant just as much to me as any awards that I would win from wrestling.”

Derek Blubaugh’s grandfather, Doug Blubaugh, was the 1960 Olympic Gold medalist in Rome, according to the Olympics’ website. Doug Blubaugh and his brother Jack Blubaugh, both won Gold at the PanAmerican games in wrestling. Derek Blubaugh said the effects of that lineage mean everything.

UIndy wrestler

to take down his Lake Erie opponent on the mat at the University of Indianapolis in Nicoson Hall. The Greyhounds competed in the 43rd Midwest Classic. UIndy wrestling has a record of 9-3 on the 2022-2023 season at this time. Wrestling is looking towards the NCAA DII National Tournament coming up on Feb. 26.

By Seth Wall STAFF WRITER

The University of Indianapolis Greyhounds are currently ranked sixth in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) poll, exemplifying excellence in the program. Six UIndy wrestlers that qualified for the 2022 National Championships returned this season, including defending national runner-up redshirt sophomore Derek Blubaugh at 197 pounds. Derek Blubaugh holds the top individual ranking in the country for his weight class, according to UIndy Athletics. Three additional wrestlers hold spots in the top ten, according to

NWCA rankings, including the Bailey brothers—Breyden Bailey and Logan Bailey at 133 and 157 pounds respectively—as well as 165 pound Jack Eiteljorge. Head Coach Jason Warthan, now in his fourteenth season as head coach, said there is a significance to having a veteran crew.

“It’s also great to have experienced guys to return, just from the practice standpoint,” Warthan said.

During the break between semesters, according to Warthan, the team doubled down on preparing for the remainder of the year. The Greyhounds will make their fourth trip to a non-neighboring state when they go to Springfield, Missouri for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships on Feb. 12, according to UIndy Athletics.

At the NWCA National Duals in Louisville, Ky. in early January, the team faced off against three of the top five Division II ranked programs in the country, according to UIndy Athletics as of Reflector press time. Having managed a season of such rich competition, Warthan said he is optimistic about the team’s prospects heading into the postseason.

Breaking the records

“It’s been kind of a tough year,” Warthan said. “Hopefully, we can get guys healthy and hit this last part of the home stretch hard.”

Coming into this year, Warthan— himself a former Academic AllAmerican—had shepherded 105 Scholar All-American honorees, as well as three NWCA Academic Championship teams, according to UIndy Athletics. Banners for those National Championships hang along the north wall of the Velez/Wetherald Wrestling room.

Engineering major Derek Blubaugh is one such Scholar All-American. Last month, UIndy Athletics reported that Derek Blubaugh won a rematch of the 2022 final by overcoming the Central Oklahoma wrestler at National Duals.

“Especially as I’ve grown, I meet people again and again that want to come up to me and share stories…,” Derek Blubaugh said. “It’s definitely [been] heartwarming stuff to hear.”

As he takes inspiration from that history, Derek Blubaugh said that he is continually motivated by his teammates.

“I am extremely grateful for everyone on the team. I count them as brothers. Guys like Phoenix Rodgers, like Cale Gray, that I wrestle a lot in the room, obviously, have a great impact on successes that I have, and I hope that I have the same effect on them,” Blubaugh said. “We definitely try to just build off of each other, not only in the room but also outside the room—going back to that friendship, camaraderie aspect of it. We’re definitely a tight knit group.”

Intramurals changes

By Anika Yoder FEATURE EDITOR

By Hannah Biedess EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Junior psychology major and University of Indianapolis swimmer Mia Krstevska recently added a new national record to her collection after breaking North Macedonia’s record for the 200 meter backstroke and won the North Macedonia Championship in the 50 meter backstroke, according to a UIndy Swimming and Diving Instagram story. She said that it took a lot of dedication and support from her parents to get to this level and attributes her hard work ethic to her success as a swimmer and recordbreaker. Krstevska has been swimming for 15 years, and during that time she has secured more than 20 national records. She said her first record was the most impactful.

“I have more than 20 national records combined, and the first one was definitely the most surreal one [be]cause I didn’t expect to go to that level,” Krstevska said. “But [with] every single one, it’s not getting less exciting. It’s the same adrenaline; I get the same happy feeling.”

At the North Macedonia National Championship, she swam her main events: the 50, 100 and 200 meter backstroke, according to Krstevska.

Additionally, she also swam the 50 freestyle and some relays with her team.

Head Swim and Dive Coach Brent Noble said that Krstevska is a driven person and has an understanding of what she needs to achieve her goals. Krstevska’s goals include setting more national records and continuing to represent her country, Noble said. He said it was not a surprise when she broke the record because she has put in the work after having to undergo surgery in May.

“She’s a good swimmer and she works hard,” Noble said. “I think she’s the best 200 [m] backstroker Macedonia has, so she earned it.”

Noble said this achievement has helped the team’s overall set of goals. The program is recruiting students who are the best in their countries and working towards international success, he said, and Krstevska’s accomplishment showcases this. He said that it is not all about competing in college but also staying engaged in what is happening internationally and representing their countries.

“To have people who are competing in [the] NCAA, swimming shortcourse yards is what we compete in here at college, but then [they are] also staying very engaged in what’s going on internationally and

representing their countries and doing things like setting national records,” Noble said. “It’s very much part of who we are now and something we want to continue to highlight and illustrate as we go forward, as [it is] of great importance to who we are as a team but also who individuals on our team want to be.”

Noble said that, as a coach, he is there to help along the way, but there needs to be mutual effort. He said Krstevska does a great job of having her own ideas and engaging with them.

“We want to be able to walk together towards success,” Noble said. “It needs to be a mutual effort where she’s the one putting in the work, she’s the one doing the swimming and I’m helping her along. I want her to be able to have her own ideas and to be able to engage in the thought and she does a nice job of that.”

Krstevska said at the mid-season meet at the House of Champions, she made the national cut for 100 and 200 meter backstroke.

“Now the main focus for [Great Lakes Valley Conference] is to better my times so I can secure a better spot for nationals and then we’ll see how nationals go, hopefully good,” Krstevska said.

The University of Indianapolis’ intramural sports have started up again for the upcoming semester. The program has introduced new software to its processes, as well as new social media initiatives to enhance the program’s promotions, according to sophomore sports management major and Intramurals Coordinator Ethan Hite. The program has created an Instagram account for updates about registrations and upcoming events for the semester in addition to team highlights. The new program software, IMLeagues, was used in previous years for intramurals, according to Hite. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic and restarting much of the programming, the software was recently brought back for this semester. The previous methods used for intramurals included Google Forms and QR codes as well as email updates for team members. Hite said the transition to IMLeagues created a more streamlined process for people to sign up for teams and input information. to put everybody’s teams, everybody’s schedule, everybody’s scores all in one place,” Hite said. “It makes it a lot easier to find things and we can do a lot more with it that we couldn’t do last semester.”

introducing an Instagram

profile is also a way to highlight different events and expected tournaments, according to junior sports management major and Intramurals Social Media and Marketing Manager Marcel Atisso. The initiative to enhance social media presence is an effort meant to attract participants and show the UIndy community the opportunities offered by intramurals, Atisso said. With UIndy located in the city, people can find a way to get involved with sports in an area that does not allow as much physical activity for those not committed to sports teams at the university, Atisso said.

“This is a really good program that we’re trying to build… [We have] a lot of people just go to school and they don’t really have much else to do because we’re kind of in the city,” Atisso said. “I feel like it’s another escape from school and from stress, to have another avenue to meet people and stuff like that.”

According to Hite, with the increase in social media presence, part of the plan for expanding outreach includes weekly email news notifications and posts on the UIndy app channel. Hite said the program is a way for people to get out of their dorms and have fun with friends.

“It’s a great time too; we’re here on campus most weekday nights,” Hite said. “And usually we don’t want people to just kind of sit in their dorms. We want people coming out and

Photo contributed by Jacob Walton/UIndy Athletics

University of Indianapolis swimmer Mia Krstevska swims for the finish. The UIndy women’s swimming and diving team is currently 7-3 for their record while also playing several Division I schools. They have won games against DI opponents, such as IUPUI and Butler.

Photo contributed by Jacob Walton/UIndy Athletics

Derek Blubaugh looks

It’s definitely been heartwarming stuff to hear.”

Graphic by Olivia Cameron

Wit Theater replaces Books and Brews

The Wit Theater entertainment club replaces Books and Brews on Shelby St.

By Grace Lichty ONLINE EDITOR

The University of Indianapolis’ Shelby Street has a new business, The Wit Theater, which opened fall 2022. The theater, formerly where Books and Brews was located, is a comedy club and entertainment space. The theater houses many comedy shows, including ComedySportz, according to company founder, Co-Owner, President and CEO Ed Trout. Trout said that the organization currently has about 26 locations around the world. The organization presents improv comedy competitions done by professionals to a wide range of audiences, Trout said.

“We do improvisational comedy. So it's presented as a sporting event between two teams of professional improvisers. There's a referee that moderates, gets all the suggestions from the audience, calls fouls, because it is a real sport, and the referee also helps keep it clean, because it is intended for everybody,” Trout said. “So it's not a kids show, but we want everybody to feel welcome there.”

Improvisational comedy, according to ComedySportz Co-Owner and Artistic Director Todd Kenworthy, is an art form where a group of people try to come up with a collective mindset to tell a story on the spot. Kenworthy said matches are usually 90 minutes long between teams competing for the most laughter.

“We really can't do anything without the audience's suggestions. So they're gonna give us anything from our settings to a topic, whatever it may be to help drive the game and then at the end of a couple of rounds, the referee may stop and have the audience vote on which team they thought did a better job,” Kenworthy said. “And then points get awarded and we have a different winner each performance.”

Trout said that in the future, the Wit Theater would love to work collaboratively with the University of Indianapolis and to give students more opportunities to get involved with the organization. ComedySportz looks forward to getting involved more with the community, according to Trout.

“We've been around for 30 years and

we always like to be a positive influence in the community. So being open to hosting community events, being open to donating tickets for silent auctions and things in the area,” Trout said.

“We are open to all of those kinds of collaborations, we really want to try to be a force for good in the world.”

According to Trout, if a student is interested in joining the professional performing team, they would need to try out for a role. Performers must be 18 or older, Kenworthy said and they will be hosting their next round of auditions for roles on Feb. 25-26.

If a student is interested in learning more about how to do improvisational comedy, the organization offers classes that meet once a week for six weeks, costing $195, according to Trout.

“We have four levels of regular classes, and then sometimes some oneoff classes for special skills. But our next round of classes will be starting in March,” said Trout.

According to Trout, the ComedySportz shows take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m.

Kenworthy said that the theater also hosts late night shows starting at

9:30 p.m. that are for ages 17 and up, consisting of more adult-oriented comedy and that the late shows range from games, to improvised musicals to parodies.

“I really believe in improv both as an entertainment tool, and just as a way of approaching life," Trout said. "There are a lot of improv skills that I think are life skills. So I think everybody could benefit from being exposed to more improv”.

According to Kenworthy, prices of tickets to these shows differ depending on whether purchased online or at the door. Tickets are available to purchase online up to a month in advance at CSZindianapolis.com. Tickets are $18 online and $23 at the door, according to Kenworthy and large groups or parties are encouraged to call ahead to work with them on deals. Food and drinks are available at the venue for additional cost, Kenworthy said.

Kenworthy said he believes that improv can help people in finding more joy in their own daily lives. Improv comedy helped to overcome a fear of public speaking, Kenworthy said, and is an outlet for relieving stress,

UIPD host Coffee with a Cop

By Mia Lehmkuhl OPINION EDITOR

UIndy Police Chief and Director of Campus Safety Brandon Pate opened the new semester with the promise of new educational programming between officers and students according to a campus-wide email sent on Jan. 14. One of the first new events hosted by UIndy Police was their Coffee with a Cop event.

“It's something that's been done for as long as I've been a police officer,” Pate said. “And the idea behind it was that we want to seemingly create a space that isn't necessarily agenda oriented. It's just getting together, having coffee, talking about notifications, talking about how your semester is going and learning about our community.”

whether it is in the form of performing or watching improv.

“I started doing improv in 2002 when I graduated college, for the sole purpose of overcoming a fear of public speaking. During that process, the people that I've met, it's become more of performing improv and watching improv has become more of a stress reliever than I ever thought it would be," Kenworthy said. "So, coming in watching one of our performances, whether it's our ComedySportz match, or one of our late night offerings, it allows, even if briefly, allows a nice little escapism for somebody to come in and just kind of take a step away from their day and have some laughs because ultimately, we always say laughter is the best medicine”.

Kenworthy said that ComedySportz is looking to expand their offerings over the year and currently has about 50 members of their ensemble. According to Kenworthy, ComedySportz will be celebrating its 30th Anniversary this month and they will be having anniversary matches the weekend of Feb. 24 with more available shows.

African Student Association at UIndy

Coffee with a Cop is a global program according to Pate and the program’s website. The purpose of the program is to bring officers and their community together through conversations over coffee according to the program. It serves as an opportunity for barriers to be broken between law enforcement and the community they serve, or, in other words, bridge the gap between them according to Pate.

Sophomore elementary education major Ivy Harkenrider attended the Coffee with a Cop event that took place on Feb. 2 in the Schwitzer Student Center Atrium. Harkenrider said she learned about dispatch procedures and more about what the job entails.

“The event went very well. I got a free coffee. And then I sat down and we made small talk for about 20 minutes,” Harkenrider said. “I took away that our police officers are probably doing more than we think they’re doing.”

Pate said that he is planning on instating Coffee with a Cop as a regular, recurring event that takes place on Wednesdays all over campus. The UIndy Coffee with a Cop programming will involve co sponsors as well, said Pate, with groups like the Black Male Initiative, UIndy Athletics, the Criminal Justice department and Indiana State Police partnering with UIPD to engage with more people.

“The next one is in Ender's Engagement Center. And then we’re going to move to the Health Pavilion and to the library,” Pate said.

Coffee with a Cop is not the only way students can connect with UIndy Police officers. According to Pate, the new substation located in Schwitzer Student Center Room 208B is open to students if they want to sit down with Pate and have a conversation. UIPD is also looking to organize a safety walk according to Pate where police officers and UIndy community members can walk around campus and discuss student concerns.

“As the Acting Chief, I will be here Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 to 4:30 as long as I don't have meetings, so they can walk in anytime, ask me any questions, say hi, sit down, have a drink, have a meal, whatever it may be,”Pate said.

In addition, Pate said that UIndy Police are planning more programming such as Pizza on Patrol, hall events and states that he is open to suggestions and ideas from students. UIPD looks to develop more programming where the police department and the UIndy community can facilitate engagement according to Pate.

Junior political science major and president of

Septemer of 2022 for African students to be able to engage in a variety of African cultural acivities

By Logan McInnes STAFF WRITER

The African Student Association at the University of Indianapolis’ was formed in September of 2022 to allow African cultures to be embraced in a predominantly white institution and to educate those that are not of African descent, according to junior political science major and President of the ASA Oluyemisi Kareem.

According to Kareem, she formed the club due to disappointment from the lack of student organizations geared toward African students. Kareem said she spoke with people about how the organization could be created which led to the formation of the ASA.

“To me, ASA is having a community

here on campus that caters more to the African people of Indianapolis,” Kareem said. “It gives people the space to be their true, authentic selves.”

The ASA helps students of African descent who feel uncomfortable speaking to their professors about academic or outside-theclassroom matters, according to junior public health major and Secretary for the ASA Hélène Lutumika. Lutumika said when the ASA was formed, she asked Kareem if she could join which led to her becoming a member.

“When I started school here in 2020, there was no African organization, and I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. I felt like I didn’t belong because I didn’t know

any of the American songs,” Lutumika said. “If there was an ASA where I knew they were going to play African songs, then it would have been better if I was surrounded by people who understood me.”

Board member positions are geared towards African and African-American students according to Kareem, but all are welcome to attend events. As president, Kareem said she oversees ASA events and keeps in contact with other college and university ASAs so groups can collaborate across schools.

“The main mission of ASA is to educate those who don’t come from a traditional African background and

to allow people to know that there are differences within Africa but that we are one as a whole,” Kareem said.

Kareem said she hopes to see more involvement from the UIndy community and that those that want to learn more about the association and its purpose, to discuss culture can come to ASA events. The ASA will be hosting an upcoming event on Feb. 15 titled “Nollywood Night” according to Kareem and the event will be an African movie night where people can come and see what African film is like in comparison to American film.

“A long-term goal would be to find a freshman or sophomore that has the same passion as I do to take over so that there’s always a continuance of the ASA presence here at UIndy,” Kareem said.

“[UIndy Police officers] are dedicated individuals to UIndy,” Pate said. “I wish that it was more readily known how many of those officers are UIndy graduates, came through this school, got their undergrad degrees here, got their graduate degrees here, decided to either continue to stay here or come back here and be police officers. They're motivated by the Greyhound community. All of them have a personal mastery in trying to keep this campus safe.”

The Wit Theater, a comedy club and entertainment space, replaced Books and Brews on Shelby St. last semester. The theater houses ComedySportz Indianapolis, which is an improvisational comedy organization that facilitates comedy events as a competitive sport.

Photo by Erin Rostron

the African Student Association Oluyemisi Kareem smiles for the camera at the Office of Inclusion and Equity. The ASA was formed in

and events. All students will be able to attend ASA events regardless of identity.

When I started school here in 2020, there was no African organization..."

Photo by Arrianna Gupton

Etchings earns first place in ASPA contest

Issues 34.1 and 34.2 of Etchings Literary and Fine Arts Magazine earn first place and special merit

By Anika Yoder FEATURE EDITOR

The University of Indianapolis’ student-run literary magazine Etchings, received First Place with Special Merit from the American Scholastic Press Association competition as well as Most Outstanding College Literary Art Magazine for schools with enrollment of 2,500 or more for 2022 according to UIndy360. The ASPA invites colleges and universities nationwide annually to submit publications for review to compete in multiple categories based on enrollment as well as advice on publication development and improvement.

For the 2022 contest, Etchings submitted its issues 34.1 and 34.2 which are comprised of the publications from the fall 2021 issue, and winter 2022 according to junior Professional Writing and Creative Writing major and Submissions Editor for issues 34.1 and 34.2 Emma Knaack. The magazine is a compilation of submissions of literary and art work from UIndy students, staff, faculty and alumni Knaack said, and once submissions come in for the magazine, the Etchings staff votes on the pieces they feel are good for publication and discuss with members their thoughts on why or why not submissions should be included.

“We discuss the votes and so a lot of times, about half of the pieces will have kind of unanimous decisions. And so whether that be you a majority voting yes and majority voting no those pieces kind of automatically get in or out of the magazine,” Knaack said. “But we do offer the ability for editors to comment

on those pieces. So if there’s a piece they’re really passionate about, they have the opportunity to talk about that piece during class.”

According to senior English and Secondary Education major and Design Editor for issues 34.1 and 34.2 Ali

Viewegh, initiatives to expand outreach for magazine submissions were a focal point for issue 34.1. The Etchings staff looked to reach people outside of the English department.

“We were trying to have a larger outreach to say, ‘Hey, anyone and everyone please come submit to us,’’’ Viewegh said. “And I think that really paid off because I know a piece of feedback that we got from other things that we submit to is them noticing that ‘Hey, you have a much more diverse group of people being accepted to the magazine now.’”

With the magazine receiving Special Merit in the first place category, a distinction that recognizes special and outstanding design and content according to the ASPA website.

Contest entries are judged on a 100 point rubric according to Associate Professor of English and Co-Advisor of Etchings Liz Whiteacre. The judges are anonymous, Whiteacre said, and submissions are judged on a variety of criteria from industry professionals

across the country.

“They have different categories like first place, where all of the literary magazines who submit across the country who achieve that score on the rubric earn first place,” Whiteacre said.

“A first place with honors means that you’re a standout among that category of recipients.” According to Whiteacre, receiving recognition on a national scale with associations like ASPA and superlatives like Most Outstanding College Literary Art Magazine display the work done not only for the annual submissions but also for the time put in by students before that in the years before the current publications. Whiteacre said since students from all over the university can submit to the magazine, awards makes the recognition for the magazine’s work an opportunity for people to know more about the publication.

“It’s exciting for the students to not just have those two issues to be recognized, but that success is built upon a really strong foundation that students have been building for a number of years. We’ve made a lot of innovative changes to the magazine,” Whiteacre said. “Students have been diligent about getting the word out and making people feel included and invited to participate as contributors. And [they] have been very open to new voices and new styles within poetry, prose, musical composition and the arts. So I think what this means to the campus community is not only do we have a lot of talented, creative people, but also we have kind of carrying curators of that through the production of the magazine each year.”

Climate-focused art exhibition in CDFAC

By Michael Harrington BUSINESS MANAGER

The University of Indianapolis is hosting an art exhibition in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center that concludes on Feb. 17, according to UIndy 360. The exhibit is titled “39.7684° N, 86.1581°,” which are the GPS coordinates of the gallery at UIndy, according to University of Tennessee Associate Professor of Art Jason Brown. Brown said the exhibition is meant to show the relationship between humans and the natural world.

“The exhibition is intended to

be educational, but also hopefully a catalyst for conversation about a lot of issues of land use, water rights and land sovereignty,” Brown said. Brown said “39.7684° N, 86.1581°” uses a variety of media to convey the different aspects of human impact on the environment. According to Brown, his piece uses raw coal in order to show the effects the coal mining industry has had on the Appalachian landscape.

“As you can see, this piece behind me here is one of many sculptures in which I just use raw coal as a reference to energy consumption. And there’s a piece in the gallery that I have there that has coal from Eastern Kentucky,”

Brown said. Brown’s sculpture is made of coal and LED lights. “It’s part of my ongoing series about the impact of extractive industries on Appalachia.”

Brown is part of a group of artists called the Land Report Collective that has held exhibitions since Jan. 2015, according to Land Report Collective. Brown said that artists in Land Report Collective have always put motifs of climate and environmental impact into their art, while at the same time consistently updating their work.

“From the beginning, all of us were interested in ideas about human relationships to landscape and

the natural environment, and the exhibitions are always a different and ever-changing collection of artwork,” Brown said.

According to Brown, the artists’ time as college professors has geared the group to focus on having exhibitions in colleges and universities.

“Half of us are teaching college students. It’s our bread and butter—our day jobs—but it’s also our passion, and then it’s a natural extension of a lot of our networks being connected to art and education,” Brown said.

According to UIndy 360, the exhibition’s final date, Feb. 17, will host a reception from 4-6 p.m. Brown said

that the reception will allow students and faculty to communicate with the artists about the exhibition.

The group will head to Birmingham, Ala. to put on their next exhibition according to Land Report Collective. The exhibition will be open August through October of 2023 at the Alabama School of Fine Arts.

“We’re always looking for more opportunities. We have a new member from Atlanta who’s [going to] be joining us for that show in Birmingham” Brown said. “We don’t have anything scheduled in 2024 yet, but I would imagine there are things on the horizon.”

Photo contributed by Liz Whiteacre

Photo contributed by Liz Whiteacre Etchings staff at the launch party for Issue 34.1. From left to right: Liz Whiteacre, Kim Owen, Emma Knaack, Danielle Shaw, Ali Viewegh, Sam Jackson and Olivia Cameron.

Photo by MaKenna Maschino

Photo by MaKenna Maschino Space Blanket 6 created by Shelby Shadwell is a charcoal drawing of emergency thermal blankets. The artwork is displayed in Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center as part of the Land Report Collective’s exhibit.

Sacrificial Still Life: Lake Mead Produce is a series of Still Life paintings created by Patrick Kikut. The series will be on display through Feb. 17. The pieces in this exhibit focus on natural environments.

... A first place with honors means that you’re a standout...”

Etchings staff poses for a photo at the launch party for Issue 34.2. Writers and artists featured in the issue are given the opportunity to read their work and discuss their art.

A look into UIndy's Black history

By Olivia Cameron MANAGING EDITOR

Every year, Black History Month gives the University of Indianapolis the opportunity to educate and reflect. While the university has “from its beginning… been coeducational and open to all races,” according to the UIndy website, that does not mean that all students have always felt welcomed. The university’s archives give a peek into a complicated past at UIndy while also serving as time capsules for the culture around race relations at the time.

Black history has been celebrated on the UIndy campus for many years. As seen on the front page of the Feb. 24, 1977 issue of The Reflector, before Black History Month, there was Black History Week. According to History.com, “By the late 1960s… ‘Negro History Week’ had evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses.” In 1976, United States President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month. Every U.S. president since has recognized February as Black History Month.

This year, UIndy is celebrating Black History Month with multiple events throughout the month, including “Talk Tuesdays” on topics such as identity and inclusivity and a “Black Excellence Dinner.” These events and more were announced in an email from Vice President of Student Experience, Success and Belonging Amber Smith.

The aforementioned Reflector front page features coverage of a Black History Week event on campus, in which the former mayor of Gary, Ind., Richard Hatcher, was a guest speaker.

for Black History Week. The exhibit was titled “The Black Family, Invisible Sinew” and featured collectibles that belonged to Black Indianapolis families. The article also mentions upcoming musical events and programs that were presented by Black students.

By the 1990s, the university was

Lugar's lasting UIndy legacy

By Hannah Hadley NEWS EDITOR

Nearly 46 years ago, The Reflector published a front-page article detailing an interview with U.S. Senator for Indiana Richard G. Lugar (1932-2019) two months into his inaugural year in Congress, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Lugar was on the Indiana Central College, which later became the University of Indianapolis, Board of Trustees for 32 years before retiring in 2002, according to a 2012 press release from UIndy. Lugar served as a Distinguished UIndy Board Trustee and a Distinguished Professor in UIndy’s Department of History & Political Science, according to a 2021 press release from UIndy.

Lugar began the Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow’s Leaders at UIndy in 1977; it is a daylong, nonpartisan event for high school juniors to gain global literacy and perspective, according to the 2012 press release. UIndy’s website states that, “The Richard G. Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow’s Leaders at the University of Indianapolis is hosted each year to celebrate the legacy of the late Senator Lugar.” The 2021 press release stated that more than 20,000 Indiana students have attended the symposium. The latest Lugar Symposium was on Dec. 3 of last year.

In 2008, the Richard G. Lugar Center for Tomorrow's Leaders was created, according to a 2007 issue of The Reflector . The founding of the Center permanently established the Lugar Symposium.

In 2012, the senator and UIndy announced a partnership to create the Richard G. Lugar Academy—a

nonpartisan program that promoted opportunities for leadership development and policy education through a semester-long internship in Washington D.C., according to the Fall 2013 edition of the Inside UIndy magazine. The program abruptly ended in 2015, partially due to Lugar’s declining health, according to UIndy Political Science alumnus Tyler Knierim.

The UIndy Office of Admissions also offers the Richard G. Lugar Academic Recognition Award to incoming freshmen who have “strong college preparatory curriculum,” according to UIndy’s website. The annual merit scholarship amount for 2022-2023 incoming freshmen is $17,000.

Before his career in federal politics, Lugar served as mayor of Indianapolis from 1968 to 1976, according to Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.

After serving as mayor, Lugar taught political science at UIndy in 1976 while running for the U.S. Senate. He served from 1977 to 2013 in the U.S. Senate—the longest congressional term in Indiana’s history, per the Lugar Center. Lugar focused on issues such as bipartisanship, eradicating weapons of mass destruction and cooperative international relations, according to the Lugar Center and the Indiana University Bloomington, respectively. NPR reported that Lugar passed away in April 2019 at age 87 from complications with a neurological disorder.

In the words of Lugar himself: “I am convinced that the majority of American people do understand that we have a moral responsibility to foster the concepts of opportunity, free enterprise, the rule of law and democracy. They understand that these values are the hope of the world.”

importance of Black History Month and the events happening on campus. The university celebrated that year with Lecture/Performance series events. The article also shares “excellent WorldWide Web sites that feature Black History.”

Although these articles throughout

accusing him of being racist himself and stereotyping white people as racists. The student continued to write about his experiences with racism and his belief in holding others accountable.

The Feb. 21, 2007 issue of The Reflector includes an article titled

“From Discrimination to Diversity” by Katy Yeiser, the editor-in-chief at the time of its publication. The article discussed both the hardships and achievements of Black and African American students throughout UIndy’s history. Yeiser said that the university’s first Black students were there as a result of missionaries associated with the university, including the first editor-in-chief of The Reflector , David Manley, who came to the university in 1919. UIndy President I.J. Good said in the preface of Manley’s university biography: “Therefore, let us know more of the condition of our neighbors in the dark lands and we will the more eagerly help to train those who will take the light."

Additionally, Yeiser reported that illustrations in the 1917 yearbook and a 1927 comedy skit promoted in The Reflector both featured derogatory characterizations of African Americans. In the 1930s, President Good advised Black students to not attend social activities on campus after they showed up to support Bud Smith, the first AfricanAmerican to play on the football team, according to Yeiser.

“The university’s African American history is one of intolerance, bigotry and progress—accented by the African-American students who overcame discrimination to shape UIndy,” Yeiser said. This sentence still rings true in 2023. UIndy’s 12% Black or African American population continues to face instances of racism, but also exhibit excellence both on and off campus.

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 Feb. 24, 1977.

Graphic by Breanna Emmett

... Lugar served as mayor of Indianapolis from 1968 to 1976...