Oct. 13, 2021 | The Reflector

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OCTOBER 13, 2021

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Dining safety questioned Posts on UIndy App spark conversation about food safety, dining experiences supply shortage

By Kiara Conley ONLINE EDITOR

The University of Indianapolis’dining services have been criticized by students on the UIndy App in recent weeks.

Some of this has been attributed to a post from UIndy Uncut, an Instagram account not affiliated with the university and run by senior political science major Nick Means. The post showed a chicken sandwich that Means claimed had been served to a student with raw chicken in it. Means also posted the picture on the UIndy App. Since both posts were shared on Sept. 14, conversation on the UIndy App regarding the university’s dining services’quality has increased, with many more students also sharing photos and posts on the subject.

Dining services did acknowledge the concerns regarding food safety involving the raw chicken sandwich, which Executive Chef Darren Lewis said he investigated himself. General Manager Amy Dugan said that on Sept.

15 Lewis spoke with the student who posted the picture of the raw chicken sandwich. Lewis said he then spent two nights working in Streets Grill, one of the fast-food dining options on campus, from 4 p.m. until midnight, running the register and talking to students. He said he did not receive any negativity from students on those days and was not sure where the claims about food quality were coming from. A health inspector came in about the report of raw chicken being served, Lewis said.

“So the health inspector came in [and] visited about the raw chicken.

What happened was [that] we were short-staffed that evening and somebody that hasn't been trained on the grill was cooking,” Lewis said. “So again, I could have made two decisions: I could have shut the Streets down, and no one got fed, or we run [Streets] with what we had.”

Dugan said that UIndy Dining utilized that experience and feedback from students, adding that it was incredibly helpful to reassess and retrain the employee and that they were able to redirect the employee to a position more suited to their skill level.

“I think that, overall, receiving the information was really helpful to us because any information from the student population—good, bad or indifferent—is going to be beneficial to our operation, regardless,”Dugan said.“It was good that we had the information. We definitely addressed it very quickly. We were able to pinpoint when it happened, what shift, which employee was involved, so that we were able to train effectively [and] make good decisions from an operation standpoint. And I think that recovering from that and making certain that we did the retraining and stuck to all of our sanitation procedures and all of that was really important.”

Means, who runs UIndy Uncut, said that the account is a large platform that he thinks students check more than other accounts related to the university. He said that students were concerned about issues related to dining and knew if they sent concerns to him they would get posted. “ … And it would be more likely that more students would see it and be more likely to speak up and say something,” Means said. “So I just do it just because I believe that I can use my platform to help the school.”

Since the food safety issue was brought up in September, Means said

that he has received more pictures from students of food they have issues with.

He said one of those included a grilled cheese sandwich that looked like it was not grilled all the way because the cheese was not melted. In response, Dugan said she was not made aware of any complaint regarding the grilled cheese sandwich.

She said that dining services are always happy to remedy any issues on site, so if an instance where the grilled cheese was not to someone’s liking occurred, dining services would be happy to fix that immediately.

Senior communication major Max Ramirez said he believes the food services have declined and said that may have a lot to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. He said before COVID-19, and even during some of the pandemic, the breakfast in the morning offered by dining services had well-prepared food, such as bacon, sausage, eggs and biscuits and gravy.

After June, Ramirez claimed, the food quality decreased exponentially. He said in regards to breakfast, he believes the eggs may have been powdered. He said that lunches are also fairly bad.

Dugan said that the eggs used by dining services are not powdered. Because of dining services’ food philosophy, they are not permitted to use powdered eggs and only use a certain level of cage-free eggs within their operation.

The dining hall stayed open after the pandemic initially started in order to feed international students and continued to stay open since the lockdown was lifted and campus reopened, according to Lewis. With the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewis said, there have been supply chain shortages nationwide, as well as a shortage of staff because people were receiving unemployment benefits when businesses closed. Dugan said that dining services were never in a position where they did not need to be at work. She said dining services were able to work throughout the pandemic because there was always a community on campus.

Dugan said that the changes can be broken down into two categories: supply chain issues and staffing.

“Those are two big changes we've experienced across really all lines of business, obviously, retail, residential, university-related foodser vice environment…. Yes, we've experienced a lot of changes, a lot of them related to either staffing or supply chain issues.”

UIndy Dining has been attempting to provide the same level of service as it did before the pandemic, Dugan said, but that is just not a reality right now. Dining services has about 40% of its product line, while other weeks it is about 60%, and cannot order products that have been with their operations previously, according to Dugan.

“I think that we want to meet the demands of the students first and foremost,”Dugan said.“And I know there are a lot of things that our population would love to see that we are just not able to get our hands on right now. But I do know that our vendors are working through supply chain issues and really working hard to get us those things. And collectively, I think week by week and day by day, we are opening up, [and] we're able to get more things….”

Dining services is working with its vendors but cannot get certain products because of its food philosophy in place, Dugan said. This means meeting certain standards and certain percentages of local items.

“So it's really a balance,” Dugan said.

“And I think that that's kind of what

Graphic by Jazlyn Gomez and Lindsey Wormuth

we're targeting right now is being able to meet the demand of what we want to give to everyone [and] what you deserve, and then matching that to what we are able to obtain from our suppliers right now. So I think that's essentially what we are doing on a day-to-day [basis].”

Lewis said that cooking methods have not changed, and the menu has been simplified with the products that dining services are able to get without having to worry about those products not

. . . I just want to keep students aware of what's going on. . ." arriving. The food quality and quantity can be misrepresented in two ways, Lewis said, and he does not feel the quality has suffered with fewer choices.

“So I can do one of two things: I can up the quality to here [a higher level], and you might get that once a week and not seven days a week,” Lewis said. “Or I can bring not the quality [but] the choices of what's on the menu down to this [lower] level, so that you get the same quality seven days a week.”

Ramirez has posted his concerns with dining on the UIndy App, which is not something he does often, he said.

Ramirez said that he was in the military service, and the food there was bad, so

he never complained about the food at the university and was wondering what other students were complaining about.

He said once the food in UIndy Dining started to drop below the low and inedible standard in his mind, that is when he began posting about it. Ramirez claimed that the waffles would have a chemical aftertaste and ended up having to throw his food away.

“I had it, I left my breakfast, and just went and tossed it, and I'm a student that pays; I don't have a meal plan,” Ramirez said. “So when I go to the cafeteria, it's because I actually choose to go, not because I'm in a captive audience, like people who pay for the meal plan. So for me, I was throwing actual money away.”

Dugan said the waffle mix is provided

by Heartland Waffles, and the waffles are made in old-fashioned waffle makers.

Students make the waffles themselves, so they are fresh, and there are no chemicals involved in the process at all, Dugan said.

There is a nonstick, all-natural spray that is provided at all stations, to be used when students prepare waffles, according to Dugan. All products used at the waffle station are accessible and can be seen at all hours of the operation, she said.

Lewis said that there were also reports of social media posts that students had gotten food poisoning from chicken tenders and some may have been served raw at Streets Grill. Lewis said that the chicken tenders that dining services receive are fully cooked when they arrive, so there is no way they could have

been raw. Dugan said that perception is something dining services find valid and that dining services want to address every concern that comes across to them. She said concerns are addressed individually, sometimes through email or in person and she thinks that it is good for a student to come talk to dining services. “ … We show them research, and we go through it together. Everybody leaves more educated, us and them,” Dugan said. “So I think that it was a good opportunity, too, and sometimes perception is just as important as reality because it's really … it's something that can be spread throughout the community.

And anytime that we have a student that feels like something is undercooked, we want to address it right now, whether it's true or not.”

Dugan said that dining services have found the most success with concerns being reported to dining services’website, because it provides the email addresses of those working in dining services. She said her email address, Lewis’ email address and Director of Operations Derek Palmer’s email address all can be found on the website. Dining services also have Facebook and Instagram pages that can be accessed to contact them. Dugan also said that students can come talk to them in person.

UIndy used to have a Food Committee composed of students who met with dining services, Lewis said. > See Dining on page 8

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OPINION

THE REFLECTOR

Missing persons media coverage

The issue with racial disparities in media coverage of missing persons cases

By Jazlyn Gomez ART DIRECTOR

Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old white woman, was declared missing on Aug. 30. After a three-day search, the Federal Bureau of Investigation discovered her body on Sept. 19. Petito’s case became a national sensation, in large part because of the awareness that people brought to the case on social media platforms, according to The New York Times.

Following Petito’s disappearance and death, there have been calls for the United States Justice Department to do more when investigating the cases of missing women of color, according to NPR. In an article from The New York Post, “missing white woman syndrome” is described as the disparity between the attention paid to white women

who are missing and the attention paid analyzed both CNN’s and Associated to women of color who are missing.

Press News’ on their coverage of “Missing white woman syndrome” missing white children in comparison was trending on social media sites as to missing children of color. The media outlets and authorities focused study looked at stories between the on Petito’s case, according to The New years 2000 to 2004 and found that York Post.The syndrome is nothing new 162 of the AP News stories and 43 to me, as a person of color. Growing of the CNN reports overrepresented up, I knew that my w h i t e c h i l d re n . skin color always Using these was going to make ... Women of color do not numbers, one can me different from make a rough get this same treatment my predominantly comparison with white peers. I was the Petito case that when they are missing. constantly aware speaks volumes of the disparities about how missing between us. It’s not something people white people and missing people of color of color can escape. All my life I have are treated differently. Petito’s case was known that skin color is usually one a horrible and tragic event. However, of the first things others notice. the flood of news sources covering According to a study published in 2016 the Petito case from beginning to end by the Northwestern University School of should also cover the cases of missing Law, the Scripps Howard News Service women of color.

Helping to end these disparities begins with self-education. The Black and Missing Foundation is a great place to start researching this topic.

The organization was created to help spotlight missing people of color, according to its website. Somewhere, there are little brown and Black girls missing, Black and brown mothers missing, and Black and brown friends missing. They need for this disparity to change.

This is not intended to undercut the seriousness of the Petito case, but simply to help others recognize that missing women of color do not get the same treatment. I have personally experienced this and can attest to how difficult it is to grieve when no one seems to be listening or willing to help. This reflection is for all the missing women of color... may they be found safe and alive.

Assessing Biden's term thus far

By Kayla Jennett STAFF WRITER

After an intense race and a rough transition of power, Joe Biden has now been the president of the United States for nine months. In that time, he has been able to accomplish or begin to accomplish, many of his campaign promises, according to the Politifact website, which tracks Biden’s campaign promises and his progress on each one. Like many others, I voted for Biden not because I believed he would be the best president this country has seen, but because to me, he was the most promising candidate. This is not to say that I voted for Biden simply because I did not like former President Donald Trump. Biden’s campaign promises appealed to me.

Specifically, his promises to get COVID-19 under control, initiate stricter gun laws and begin to end the war in Afghanistan.

Since Biden has been in office, not only have vaccines been made available in the U.S., the number of COVID-19 cases as a whole and deaths f rom COVID-19 have been declining, according to Politifact.

Obviously, Biden has not solved the COVID-19 problem, but he

has made it a priority to make sure it is taken seriously, such as calling for mask mandates and social distancing in public spaces, as he stated in one of his first interviews with Vice President Kamala Harris, according to BBC News. While has not yet fulfilled his promise, he has steadily worked toward doing so, as the numbers since his taking office demonstrate. According to Politifact, those numbers include infections down 61% and vaccinations up 85%.

B i d e n a l s o p rom i s e d d u r i n g his c ampaign to end the wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Biden did pull troops out of Afghanistan in an effort to end the ongoing war, according to Politifact, although, I think Biden could have handled the situation much better.

A Reuters article by Steve Holland and Trevor Hunnicutt reported that at least 12 U.S. troops were killed and 15 wounded during the removal period.

While Biden’s heart was in the right place in his desire to end the conflict in Afghanistan by removing U.S. troops f rom the country, his head was not. In a speech made on Aug. 16, Biden attempted to explain his decision: “ W hen I came into office, I inherited a deal that President

Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/TNS

President-elect Joe Biden addresses the nation after the presidential election ended on November 7, 2020. He was named the victor at Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware.

Trump negotiated with the Taliban.

Under his agreement, U.S. forces would be out of Afghanistan by May 1, 2021… The choice I had to make, as your President, was either to follow through on that agreement or be prepared to go back to fighting the Taliban in the middle of the spring fighting season."

Biden failed the troops who were lost in Afghanistan by not providing a foolproof plan for all of the stationed troops, and their weaponry, to leave at the same time. This tragedy might have been prevented with a well thought out plan.

Another of Biden’s campaign promises was stricter gun laws, m o re s p e c i fi c a l l y, b a n n i n g t h e manufacture and sale of assault

rifles and high-capacity magazines.

With the high number of school shootings in the U.S., it was no surprise that many people, including me, clung to Biden’s promise for reform. As of Oct. 1, Biden had yet to make any official movement toward fulfilling this promise, which is ver y disappointing, especially given increasing gun violence and the growing fear of it in society.

Biden has taken many steps toward making this country better.

In nine months, according to Politifact, Biden has started the process of fulfilling 42% of his promises and has completed 12% of them. While he may not be a perfect president, Biden was the better choice.

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 Sept. 29 Issue: On Page 1, in the subhead for the "Accessibility issues on campus" article we misspelled accessibility.

On Page 2, in the article "Returning to in-person classes," we used an outdated call out from a previous story.

On Page 5, in the byline for the article "Price is Olympics bound," we misspelled Olivia Cameron's name as well as Special in the photo caption.

On the same page, in the article "Football moves on without two key players, we misspelled Kiave Guerrier's last name.

On Page 6, we misspelled Kassandra Darnell's name in the photo credit.

On Page 7, in the article "Tall tales retold" we misspelled Crawfordsville in the second photo caption.

On the same page, in the "'The Starling' movie review" we forgot to credit Chicago Tribune.

On Page 8, in the article "UIndy provides produce" we misspelled vegetables in the first photo caption.

Graphic by Jazlyn Gomez

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OCTOBER 13, 2021

The issue with social media influencers

By Giselle Valentin SPORTS EDITOR

People would be hard pressed to go through their social media accounts these days without coming across an influencer and their content. An i n f l u e n c e r, according to Birmingham City Institute, is a person with a significant following on social media sites. Influencers of ten make mone y f rom persuading their fans to purchase products.

Over the years, social media has surged in popularit y, with several apps receiving millions of u s e r s d a i l y. A c c o r d i n g t o Backlinko.com, 4.48 billion people currently use social media as of 2021, a number twice as large as in 2015. With the growth of social media has come more influencers, many of which have grown exponentially and become some of the most popular people on their respective platforms.

Although people enjoy social media for its addicting content, it can have a negative impact. According to Common Sense Media, tweens spend an average of four hours and 44 minutes on social media everyday.

My concern is that kids may believe the clothes, the unrealistic body standards and the luxurious lifestyle that influencers display is the only way to be accepted.

In a study conducted by RSPH, individuals who spent the most time on social media platforms showed a 66% h i g h e r r a t e o f d e p re s s i o n i n comparison to those who spent the least amount of time on the platforms. I am concerned as these numbers continue to grow and children and young adults spend more and more time on their phones and on social media, they will tie their identity and self-worth to their following and trends. I am worried that kids will go to great lengths to gain this unhealthy attention.

However, there are platforms that are putting forth the effort to help alleviate the issues of self-esteem and i m a ge i s s u e s i n yo u n g ad u l t s that may be caused by what is seen on social media. T ikTok, a platf or m that has exploded i n p o p u l a r i t y, a n n o u n c e d i t is releasing a safety guide to address mental health issues, according to Shape.com.

The safety guide, which is available online and in the Safety Center of the app, provides information, advice and support per taining to eating disorders, bullying prevention and overall we l l - b e i n g. I a p p re c i a t e a p p s that incor porate resources like this and make them readily available to their users.

Another one of my major c on c e r n s w i t h t h e g row t h o f social media, especially in the younger generation, is the lessons it may teach. I am worried that it could teach young people that college is unimpor tant, that becoming a social media influencer can be a quicker path to success.

Young people may spend their f ree time making social media videos in the hope of becoming famous and signing with a t a l e n t a g e n c y. I n s t e a d , t h e y should devote their energy to going to school and earning a degree.

In my opinion, having a steady career is preferable to rel ying on the ‘likes’ of your followers to help pay the bills.

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THE REFLECTOR

OCTOBER 13, 2021

UIndy combats food insecurity

By Hallie Gallinat

FEATURE EDITOR & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR The University of Indianapolis Food Pantry is a space where students, staff and faculty can get food in their time of need, according to Executive Administrative and Lead Title IX Investigator Assistant Angie Presnell. It currently operates in the lower level of the University Heights Methodist Church and opened in August of 2021, according to Associate Director of Inclusive Excellence and Retention Strategy Jolanda Bean.

According to Bean, students can sign up to receive food from the pantry through an email sent f rom Vice President for Student and Campus Affairs and Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli. This email is currently sent out once a month and contains a Google form for people to sign up, Bean said. After checking in, Bean said those attending are given a bag and are able to pick up as much food as they need from two large closets and items stocked include non-perishable items, such as canned vegetables and macaroni and cheese. Bean said fresh bread and glutenfree bread are also bought every week. “[It’s] non-perishable at the moment, but we are working to look at our resources to see what else we can do and how we can, if we can bring a refrigerator here, how to work with other, the [UIndy] Garden, and how can we get that going in the fall or the summer,” Bean said.

According to Bean, other items such as shampoo, dishwasher soap and toilet paper are occasionally stocked, although the main portion of the pantry is food.

Angie Presnell said that the campus community can also donate money as well as food and other items. Bean said the food and items stocked come from donations from faculty, staff and students, and if the pantry runs out of food, the staff of the pantry will also buy food to stock.

“Right now, we will buy the food too, if we run out of food, we would

buy food based on our donations,” Bean said. “But a lot of it will come from the campus community. I will be sending out an email, hopefully shortly, with a list of items that people [need], and I'll put that on a Google form in an email, that's where people can say, 'Oh, this is what they need.'”

Bean said that it is part of the university’s plan to establish a permanent location, but is not sure where it will be located. A website is also being developed for the food pantry, she said.

There was previously a virtual food pantry on campus during February in the Spring 2021 Semester, according to Bean.There, members of the food pantry would pack food for participants instead

of participants picking which specific food they want. Participants would then pick up their bags of food in Schwitzer, Bean said.

According to Bean, the food pantry was created by the Inclusive Excellence Strategic Leadership Coalition and the Paul Washington Lacey Leadership Institute. Bean said they worked with an existing food pantry that was for mothers and babies in the University Heights Methodist Church.

Presnell said the food pantry was created due to food insecurities around campus and students not having funds available to provide food for themselves.

According to Presnell, food insecurities on campus can impact people in multiple

ways.

“If they're hungr y, they can't concentrate,” Presnell said. “If they're concerned about having food available, it just affects your mental capacity to be able to do homework. Many times if you're hungry in class, it's harder to pay attention and it just causes all kinds of problems.”

According to Bean, food pantries are very common in Indiana schools. Bean said food insecurity impacts multiple grade levels, including upperclassmen, graduate students and adult learners. She said that they have other responsibilities, such as paying for books, and because of this they may be missing the food portion of their responsibilities. Bean said she

believes it is important to have an open dialogue about the food pantry.

“I think we're still talking about it and learning from other universities and learning how to work on that,”Bean said.

“It's something that we're still working with. But, I think the food pantry is a nice start. I think dialogue and conversation and promotion is another start too, but I think really just listening to the students, knowing what they need, and then going from there.”

Students, faculty and staff may donate to the food pantry in Schwitzer 208 or at the food pantry directly on Thursdays, Bean said. According to Bean, the hours that it is open are flexible and it is open to all students, faculty and staff on campus.

Photo Illustration by Kiara Conley

UIndy awarded grants

New BelongSpace

UIndy receives $21.4 million in grants, awards for 2021

in helping create these kinds of spaces. Including marginalized ART DIRECTOR groups like trans and nonbinary people means giving them a voice in The University of Indianapolis the community, the National Harm will be creating a new BelongSpace Reduction Coalition said. for the transgender and nonbinary Vice President & Chief Inclusive community, Assistant Professor in the Excellence and Retention Strategy School of Nursing S. Alexander Kemery Officer Amber Smith said that she said. According to Kemery, it is easy agrees with creating this community on for people in these communities to feel campus. The goal is to create a space alone and he wanted to create something where the trans and nonbinary people where trans and nonbinary people can on campus feel safe, Smith said. come together in their own space.

“We just want to make sure that we're “When I was early in my transition, doing everything we can to support all one of the things I think that was the communities, and specifically, tailoring best for me was having space with programming to this population is very other trans people important,” Smith said. to hang out and In an email sent out byVice do things that had nothing President of Student and to do with being trans,” Campus Affairs and Dean Kemery said. of Students Kory Vitangeli, Kemery said he wanted a questionnaire was to create a space where attached in order to collect t r a n s a n d n on b i n a r y data on how many people people can simply watch would benefit f rom the movies, hang out and play creation of a trans and games. In these spaces, nonbinary space at the t r a n s a n d n on b i n a r y university. people do not have to “People did it [created keep their guard up a space] for me. Those people KEMERY and can be comfortable who are trans would see with themselves, Kemery me at community events said. and be like . . . ‘You're coming to “The plan is to have some getthis thing because it's where we togethers. My goal is not to center all hang out,’” Kemery said. “Just being those get-togethers on what it means able to build that kind of community to be trans or to have a support was really good for my mental group type of thing, for sure,” health.”

Kemer y said. “I'm sure that A c c o r d i n g t o K e m e r y, t h e there will be relationships results in the questionnaire have that grow out of that, that end up helped Kemery and Smith figure being supportive of people who out how big the community is and participate in those ways.” figure out how many people would be According to the National Harm able to come to the events.

Reduction Coalition, trans and “I'm already seeing that the nonbinar y people deser ve to be trans community at UIndy is bigger supported in every space and those than I even thought it was,” Kemery around them should contribute said.

By Anika Yoder STAFF WRITER

The University of Indianapolis received a record amount of over $21.4 million in grants for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The amount is recognized to be a 139% increase from the last fiscal year, according to UIndy 360. The money received through grant awards was the sole source of compensation for those who applied for them, according to Director of the Office of Grants & Sponsored Programs Jeanie Neal.

More notably, no grants earned were obtained from any COVID-19 federally distributed relief, according to UIndy 360, this alone is an over $12 million increase from the $8.9 million awarded the last year.

According to Neal, organizations, such as Lilly Endowment Inc., offer grant applications for professors to fill out that detail if the money is awarded, where funds will go specifically and how they are to be disbursed for the duration of the proposed project. Neal said, as Director of the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs, she offers faculty a skeleton proposal that serves as a sort of resume or cover letter for future grant applications. Professors can outline goals and descriptions as well as qualifications and budgeting for any possible forms needed to be filled out for organizations.

“I have a template that I give folks,” Neal said. “Maybe they haven't found a grant that they want to apply for yet.

And maybe they just know they have something they want to do that they don't have the money for. They'll need a grant at some point, and it makes it a lot easier.”

Some notable UIndy entities that are

grant-supported, according to Neal, are the Metropolitan Indianapolis-Central Indiana Area Health Education Center (MICI-AHEC), the Center on Aging and Community (CAC) and the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL).

“So for example, especially CAC and CELL, since they're really well known for the work that they do, occasionally people will approach them and say, ‘Hey, we'd like to give you a contract to do some work for us. And this is how much money we'll do,’” Neal said. “So I help vet those as well, to make sure that the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed and those sorts of things.”

According to UIndy 360, one of the top grant awards for the fiscal year was listed as $2,950,000 from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education for Non-STEM Dual Credit Credentialing. The grant will go towards providing dual credit credentials for Indiana educators through UIndy in K-12 schools. The credentialing will allow for high school instructors to help students earn college and high school credits simultaneously according to UIndy 360.

Students can learn more about grants and how they affect the courses they cover and jobs as research assistants by asking professors or members of certain grant-funded organizations, Neal said. According to Associate Pro f e s s o r o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t of Psychologic al S ciences and Associate Director of the Honors College D r. K athr y n Boucher, students who are working through assistantships for grant-funded research projects are financed through stipulations detailed in the grant application process.

“Grants, oftentimes, especially some

of the larger ones, provide either stipends or the ability to offer more assistantships,” Boucher said. “They also provide positions and that way that students can work on something that's actually related to their major, related to what they want to do postgraduation.”

According to Boucher, funding is justified in the application process as funders look for measurable impact in a research project as well as the rationale for specific support given through the amount listed in any available grants. Boucher said grant accounting services provided through the university allow time for faculty to outline costs needed for research that may be difficult to assign a price.

“There's certain things that you can sort of ask for funding for. Some of it’s time for the faculty member, time for students to help,” Boucher said.

“Some are expenses for the work, like if you have to buy things, or if you need to purchase technology or have services.

And there's also a certain amount in each grant that's built in to help support the university in supporting you.”

Boucher is a recipient of a grant from the Raikes Foundation and said there are two types of awards that can be given within the Office of Grants.

She said one is an internal grant and is applied to through UIndy where a small amount of funding can be allocated from the university. The other type of grant is external where awards are given from outside of the university and the application process varies depending on the organization offering the grant.

“Some of the bigger awards that UIndy has also gotten shows how we're working to do really innovative > See Grants on page 8

By Jazlyn Gomez

4

SPORTS

THE REFLECTOR

OCTOBER 13, 2021

UIndy announces club sports New program will introduce eight new sports to campus, incorporates multiple existing teams

By Jacob Walton

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CO-BUSINESS MANAGER For years at the University of Indianapolis, there have been students interested in athletics, with many different registered student organizations, such as UIndy Water Polo, Ultimate Frisbee and Dance Team, that all give students the opportunity to compete.

Now, UIndy Athletics has announced a new club sports initiative as an addition to their varsity lineup, with the goal of helping to advance those opportunities, according to the new head of the program Associate Vice President for Athletics & Campus Wellness Bob Brubeck.

The club sports initiative has been talked about since the arrival of University President Robert Manuel in 2012, Brubeck said. Brubeck was chosen to lead the program due to his previous role within facilities management for athletics. He said that this new program seeks to enhance the university on top of the already established high-level athletics programs at the university.

“The overall mission is that we already have a great Division II athletics program, we are at the absolute upper echelon of NCAA Division 2 sports, especially in the private school,”Brubeck said.“So, we believe that there are kids out there that are still very athletic, but want to have other things outside of athletics that they're able to do. That maybe, the constraints of being a student athlete and having practice six days a week and having your competitions and those types of things, maybe that's not for everyone, but we can develop and implement a program where kids have a little bit more laxity to be a college kid and have their athletics.”

The new teams being introduced will be women’s wrestling, men’s and women’s powerlifting, men’s and women’s bowling and men’s volleyball, according to a UIndy press release. Alongside those new additions, five previously existing campus organizations; ultimate frisbee, water polo, tennis, cheerleading and dance, will all be brought on as club sports.According to Brubeck, the ideology behind the sports that were chosen lies in the facilities available and student interest.

“We already have a wrestling room that only really gets used from three to five so there's an open practice time for a women's wrestling program,” Brubeck said. “For men's volleyball. We h a v e t w o g y m s . T h e re ' s t h i s space for them to do that. For tennis we have a tennis dome,there's a space for them to do that. Powerlifting, I also thought,

was hugely beneficial because we were adding this new fitness center, of which I will be

overseeing, and then we also have our weight room that could be used in the evenings or whatever.”

According to the Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Yo u n g , being able to

incorporate the already e s t a b l i s h e d organizations into this new program is incredibly beneficial to its early stages.

He said it helps lay the framework for years to come.

“Starting with nothing makes it very challenging,” Young said. “ B u t n ow we c a n s t a r t w i t h something that's pre-established on campus and just kind of have something in place this year, as we prepare for [20]22 to [20]23.”

One of the sports that Brubeck looked to add alongside the lineup was esports. He said due to the monetar y commitment that an esports program takes to establish, it is not possible at this moment.

He said that it is something that will hopefully come in later years along with plenty of other club sports. He said that there will be a survey released by Athletics in order to gauge the student body's interest.

“And I will say this part of the club sports will be to add more club sports in the future. This is just year one that we're talking about. I would say by

year three, I would hope to have at least several more,” Brubeck said.

“I've spoken with USA archer y, USA triathlon, there's other clubs out there that are real possibilities, but we have to get these up and going first, so esports could very well be one of them in the future. It just is not one that we felt like financially made sense [in] year one.”

According to Young, another limiting factor when it came to esports was the amount of immediate competition within the sport. He said that as the program evolves and there are more teams added, the focus will be on feasibility when it comes to acquiring students.

“ I don't think that's a guarantee either because like I said, the market’s getting pretty saturated when it comes to esports,” Young said. “So we're gonna look for things that we can get a little bit on the front end of and not so much, chasing everybody else.”

One of the biggest advantages to this new program, according to Brubeck, is the funding and other resources that these clubs will have. The new teams will receive increased budgets for uniforms, equipment and other necessities.

For the already present teams, such as cheerleading, the funding will help revitalize the program with new equipment, according to Head Cheerleading Coach Tessa Wolsiffer.

She said that one of the first priorities is replacing their game day cheer tools.

“We have had the same signs and the same flags and the same mats for years.

I've been at the university for a long time…,” Wolsiffer said. “I just think that

that's going to provide us with a great opportunity to purchase new equipment, and purchase some of the things that we've held on to forever.”

Alongside the additional funding for the teams, they will also be introducing scholarships for the students on the teams, according to Brubeck.

He said that while they will not be fullride scholarships, they will be beneficial to those in these programs. According to Yo u n g , this program and the opportunity for scholarships is going to be a tremendous asset for UIndy. He said that this program has the potential to help separate UIndy from its competitors when it comes to recruiting students.

“I think that if we can grow this

down t h e road, I think this can be a real asset to A) the university B) the club sports program and C) the athletic departmentingeneral,”Youngsaid.“Ithink this can really benefit a whole lot of people on campus. If we can really get this going and done right, which is why I was willing to house it in athletics, because I think if you want to create something that's similar to NCAA athletics, then it probably needs to be run by people that run NCAA athletics.”

Alongside the offering of scholarships, the ability to recruit high schoolers to come to UIndy for this program will be a n e w o p p o r t u n i t y. Wo l s i f f e r said that Brubeck is going to be helping the team set up a recruitment program that

will link high school students that have shown interest in, or been accepted to UIndy with the team.

“So it links those two things together, and then it gives us their contact information so that we can reach out to them, and invite them to a clinic, invite them to a game, [and] invite them for a campus visit,” Wolsiffer said. “And then that will allow us then to make that connection and start to build that relationship and hopefully, get them to want to participate and try out for our team.”

According to Brubeck, they are currently in the process of hiring coaches and other staff members in athletics to support the ne w teams. He said that a goal is for club sports with varsity equivalents such as women’s wrestling for the varsity coaches to help with the hiring process.

“I think that I will certainly be leaning on Jason [Warthan], because he knows wrestling and I want those coaches to work well together,” Brubeck said. “That when we're doing the hiring process that they would be involved. I don't want it to be... I would like to have them help sign off on it before we bring them in. So, similar with volleyball and tennis.”

Since the sports being introduced are not of the varsity level, they will not be subjected to NCAA rules and regulations, according to Young. He said that for some, such as bowling and powerlifting, there are other governing bodies that they will have to comply with, such as the United States Bowling Congress for bowling.

Brubeck said that early on in the process, identifying the sports that would be successful in this program has been one of the largest challenges, as well as getting the word out about the new program.

He said early next year, the coaches will be hosting recruitment meetings for current students to have opportunities to join the teams. He said that the coaches are going to be the deciding factor in who makes the teams and who does not. Brubeck said he is very excited to see this program start.

“The excitement is to be able to recr uit ne w people to the institution and show them how great of spaces we have opportunities, and things that we have here at the universit y, ” Br ubec k said.

“I think it's a chance to highlight the university quite a bit.

And I'm excited for the potential students or incoming students to be able to compete and we can show off how great we are."

Graphic by Olivia Cameron

New Sports Business Organization the sports industry,” Mills said.

Senior sports management major SPORTS EDITOR and SBPA’s Director of Public Relations Landon Owens, said he was presented Sports Business Professionals the opportunity to start the organization Association is a registered student with senior sports management major organization at the University of and SBPA President Brody Watson.

Indianapolis where students can According to Owens, he wanted to join network, volunteer and gain handsthe organization to help others break on experience in the sports industry, into the sports industry. according to UIndy’s student “I wanted to join because one, it's organizations website. a great thing for my resume, but also According to Assistant Professor I wanted to help others, in the sport of Sports Management and SBPA’s management major, to really just get advisor Isabell Mills, the organization connected with industry professionals was founded last semester. She said that and network … to help them have a the Kinesiology department decided to real shot at getting a job in the future,” diffuse what was originally known as Owens said. the Kinesiology Club, which previously As public relations director, Owens encompassed all majors said his responsibilities in the department. This include managing SBPA’s was due in part that way LinkedIn account each program has its own and keeping members student organizations, she informed about events and said. meetings. Owen said each “We [the Kinesiology board member’s overall Department] started there goal is to ensure they are and we did this because we providing leadership to the felt like it would be a better other members. way to engage students in “There are people that our program and improve are going to have to take overall effectiveness,” Mills my spot,” Owens said. “I said. want to really make sure I OWENS Mills said the group hone in on that leadership tries to meet once or twice a month. aspect, and leave the organization in According to Mills, the meetings good standing, for others to take my involve professional development place eventually.” workshop opportunities for members SBPA has a pretty full month of to network. events in October, according to Mills.

“We want this and the meetings to She said the organization is hosting a be available to help create a community UIndy Women Sports Night on Oct.13. amongst people who are interested in The event will be targeted towards

By Giselle Valentin

female sports management majors, as well as other women at the university who are in the sports field. She said the event will provide them advice on how to be confident and succeed as a woman in the sports industry.

The panel will include UIndy faculty, coaches and athletics administrators.

According to Mills, SBPA will conduct

an Indianapolis athletic director panel at the end of the month.

Mills said anyone interested in joining should email uindysbpa@gmail. com to be on the email list so they can stay informed about upcoming events and meetings. She said students who are interested in working in the sports field should join to develop industry

connections.

“I like to think of this organization as an opportunity to build a community within the university, and also to build connections,” Mills said. “... One of our main goals is to help students understand the sports industry and have put themselves in positions to get jobs.”

SPORTS

5 OCTOBER 13, 2021

THE REFLECTOR

Golf teams’ look ahead to 2021 season

By Tim Mathioudakis STAFF WRITER

In his 16th year as head coach for men’s golf and 11th year as head coach for women’s golf, Brent Nicoson is looking to continue the success of the program as they enter a new season.

According to UIndy Athletics, the men’s golf team finished second in the GLVC Championships and tied for thirdoverall Division II Championships.

Nicoson said he sticks to the same process year in and year out.

“The goals don’t change at all,” Nicoson said. “New season and same expectations and that is how we go about it every year.”

The men’s team lost key players during the summer in Eric Edwards and Spencer Klimek. Returning players such as senior Keegan Bronnenburg and fifth year Oliver Mast are all going to have a crucial role in the season, according to Nicoson. Bronnenburg and Mast averaged a score of +1 par throughout the 2020-2021season.

NICOSON “We also have our conference player of the year back, Oliver Mast. So there is not much difference on the men’s team as far as being an experienced team,” Nicoson said. “I don’t just want to win, I want to win every tournament, but I want to win with the right kids in the right way.”

Two-time GLVC player of the year, Mast is striving to become a national champion this season, he said. He said he plans on reaching this status by setting specific goals for himself week in and week out. Mast said everybody still holds the same values but everyone also has specific goals catered to themselves.

“I want to lower my scoring average by one shot from last year,” Mast said.

“I want my score to count every time I am in the lineup.”

The men’s team placed first out of eighteen teams in the Doc Spragg Invitational in their second tournament of the season. According to UIndy Athletics, Bronneburg has dropped 3 strokes, dropping him to -2 par on the season. Mast continues his success in his fifth year and stays at +1 par through the 2 tournaments so far this season, according to UIndy Athletics.

Following suit, the women’s team lost three of their top five players during this off season due to graduation, Nicoson said. Prior to the beginning of the season, the UIndy women’s team was ranked third in the preseason poll, according to UIndy Athletics. In the first invitational of the season, the women’s team placed first out of fourteen teams, led by fifth year Anna Kramer and senior Elyse Stasil. Kramer, now in her fifth season as a Greyhound, is fulfilling her role as the leader of the team, Nicoson said.

“They are really taking the young guys and girls under their wings, and all the players on the teams have mentioned that the leaders are really stepping up this year, they take it very seriously,” Nicoson said.

Kramer is continuing with her success in her fifth year, averaging +2 par in the 3 tournaments played so far this season, according to UIndy Athletics. She has found success in not only athletics but in the classroom as well, being an Academic AllGLVC three times in her career, according to UIndy Athletics.

Golf, a time consuming sport, has played a crucial role in teaching Kramer how to better manage her time, she said. Kramer said she believes she plays her best golf when she is fresh off of a solid round or practice.

“I just try and have a really good practice on Saturday or a really good team practice that Friday,” Kramer said. “This gets my confidence going.

I just try and find that calmness and positivity really.”

Dance becomes club sport

By Kassandra Darnell NEWS EDITOR

The University of Indianapolis dance team has received an upgrade to the club sport level this semester. The dance team was formerly recognized as a tier two Registered Student Organization (RSO), which created restrictions that included less participation during game days. In addition to their usual halftime show during sporting events, the dance team will now be able to do band dances. They are able to dance along to the pep band’s music and help fire up the crowd during the game instead of sitting in the stands, according to Head Coach Carlee Bachek.

“The girls were able to do band dances on the sideline of the football field, which is a program first,” Bachek said. “And that’s something that I’ve been working towards, basically since I started coaching. It’s been a few years.

Finally being able to see that come to fruition and the girls being on the sidelines, being really involved in game day was a really rewarding thing for me to be able to see.”

Bachek is an alumnus of the UIndy dance team. She said she joined the team in 2010 when they were still student-led. Bachek said the leadership of the team at the time pushed to have a coach in order to ensure future members would be led by someone with a background in dance that the team needed. As an alumnus, Bachek said the team’s growth has been amazing to watch and is one of her favorite parts of coaching.

“I’ve seen the team grow a ton in my time on campus and with the dance team,” Bachek said. “It’s really inspiring to see all of the growth that the program had made in the years that I had been coaching. And now we’re getting even more support from the university, which has also been really nice to see that kind of whole program growth, over the course of the years that I’ve been the coach.”

Team captain and junior Taylor Rice said she got involved with the dance team because of her lifelong history with dance. Rice said she has been dancing since she was three-

years-old and had a primarily studio dance background when she joined the team. She said she ran for team captain because of her knowledge and interest in leadership positions.

Bachek said the typical tryout for the dance team consists of either attending a clinic led by current members to learn different routines or girls can come to the tryouts and learn routines in small groups. The girls trying out also answer interview questions, as well as submit an application and references. Rice said she used the clinic as her tryout.

“Mine [tryout] was a little bit different because I had a high school dance competition on the day of tryouts for my incoming freshman year,” Rice said. “. . . I used a prep clinic as my tryout. But normally, we come to tryouts, we learn a hip hop routine, usually, either a jazz or a pom routine, we learn the school’s fight song. We do all of that.”

According to Bachek, the dance team’s season begins in July when they attend the Universal Dance Association camp, where the girls spend about a week learning their routines for the year. Those who attended come back to teach the routines to the rest of the team members during the intensive in August. Bachek said those routines are used throughout the year when the team dances at different sporting events on campus. Then they begin learning their routines for national competitions in October and compete in April.

Rice said the 2020-2021 academic year was hard for the team because of how restricted practices were due to COVID-19. Practices had to take place less often, only lasting one to three hours, and there were no games to dance at, Rice said. But, according to Bachek, the dance team still submitted a virtual tryout for a Dance Team Union competition in their Spirit Showdown category, which showcases what the team would do during game day. The team came in third place nationally.

Team morale has improved since the transition to club sports, Bachek said. The dancers feel more invested in the game, she said, now that they can actively be on the sidelines

Contributed photo by Jordan Menard/UIndy Athletics

The dance team performs their routine at halftime for the football games. Recently, due to the team becoming a club sport, they are also assisting during the game with cheers.

Contributed photo by Jordan Menard/UIndy Athletics

One of the UIndy Dance Team members performs a routine at halftime of the UIndy Football game against Ohio Dominican on Saturday Sept 25.

and support UIndy Athletics instead of sitting in the stands. According to Rice, the team gets to have a more choreographed routine during the game and not just during halftime so they are more separate from the cheerleaders. She said this change from an RSO to a club sport was a huge step from the past, as the team is now being recognized for its athletic ability.

“There's not a lot of other things that are set in place for us yet [as a

club sport],” Rice said. “But we also got to hang up one of our plaques for winning at Nationals last year in the room, which, that seems like it's small, but we've never really had a place to put any of our trophies or plaques or awards or anything. So the person that's in charge of the club sports came and hung that up for us, which was a very small victory,but it's just one of the things that we're starting to get to do because we're club sports.”

Tennis stirs up competition

Women’s tennis team dominates 2021-22 tournaments with new ITA player

By Steven Pagel STAFF WRITER

The University of Indianapolis Women’s Tennis team is back this year with a similar squad that led to a national championship appearance.

They are carrying the same goals f rom last season, according to Head Coach Malik Tabet. Personal accolades are of many with this group, but that does not stop the team from staying hungry and staying true to the culture that Tabet has implemented.

“I think the culture that we’re trying to implement is that we’re never satisfied with our results until we get that national championship,” Tabet said.

This team is coming off of its helps him benchmark where this team most successful season in history, is currently at and what to do from according to UIndy Athletics. here.

According to Tabet, the team “One thing that I’ve done with won the ITA National Indoor my tennis programs every year is I Championship in Oklahoma City, keep trying to sharpen my coaching,” with a finals win over GLVC rival Tabet said. “Some things work, S o u t h w e s t some things Baptist University, d o n’t . B u t a t sweeping them least my student He took a chance on me 4-0.

They athletes are aware also won the of the changes and I’m grateful for that GLVC conference that I’m trying to championship, make, whether opportunity.” with senior Nikol i t ’s f o r m e Alekseeva and to become senior Anna Novikova taking No.1 a better coac h and f or them in ranked doubles. According to Tabet, to become a better team... the 2021 ITA Midwest Regionals, As a coach, you always tr y to held already this year on Sept. 24 improve your style. I don’t want to

Photo contributed by UIndy Athletics

UIndy Tennis Graduate Student Bella Dunlap returns a ball in a match at the ITA DII Regional Tournament. Dunlap, in her first season with the Greyhounds, went on to win the singles bracket with a championship match against fellow Greyhound Anna Novikova.

be old school, I want to be growing.”

Growing is exactly whatTabet has been doing. Tabet said he recentl y earned accomplishments of being named GLVC Women’s Coach of t h e Ye a r, b o t h I TA M i d w e s t R e g i on a l Wom e n’s a n d M e n’s coach of the year, and National ITA Women’s and Men’s coach of the year last year.

Graduate student Isabella Dunlap, a former ITA All-American, is new to the team this year and brings in a storied resume with her. She reached the ITA National Championship match her first semester as a college student. Already this fall, Dunlap has won 2021-22 ITA Midwest Region Singles and Doubles Championships, according to UIndy Athletics.

D unlap said she wants the team to continue to embody their mantra of winning and she hopes to contribute to it. She said she is very happy to be here.

“I have a lot of respect for the team,”Dunlap said. “When my coach left, I got on the transfer portal and contacted Malik. And he took a chance on me and I’m grateful f o r t h a t o p p o r t u n i t y. A n d i t brought me here.”

The team mentality is already being shown in Dunlap’s actions, as she took the humility to say she still has to earn her place.

“You know, as a newcomer, I am still the newcomer,” Dunlap said.

“I’m still kind of following in.”

The team as a whole has no shortage of talent with the added depth and returning players carr ying on the culture of the program. One being Alekseeva, powerhouse for the team last season, who is currently still in Russia, trying to make it back to the U.S. “Right now, my biggest concern for her is to make sure she gets back in January. We keep an eye on her very seriously. She’s a major component to our program, of course, number one player in the country in Singles and Doubles,” Tabet said.

6

FEATURE

THE REFLECTOR

OCTOBER 13, 2021

Healing Hounds helps UIndy community

By Giselle Valentin SPORTS EDITOR

Photo by Logan Wong

On Oct. 9, UIndy celebrated homecoming with a parade around campus. UIndy student volunteers pulled an inflatable football float to celebrate the game being held that day.

Photo by Logan Wong

Student Body Director of SLAB and junior communication and psychology major Bhumibol oversaw the prize wheel at the Homecoming Midway on Oct. 8.

UIndy Homecoming 2021

Homecoming returned for another year, adjustments made from COVID-19

By Alex Vela

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT After two years spent in a pandemic, the University of Indianapolis has prepared for homecoming once again.

According to Assistant Director of Student Activities Steven Freck, the overall events looked similar to what they did before COVID-19.

“Overall, I’m super excited for homecoming,” Freck said. “It’s one of the busiest times on campus, there’s a ton of stuff going on and it’s just a great opportunity for everybody to show their love for UIndy in general, I would say.”

According to Freck, they tried to adapt the events as needed and make sure that safety protocols were followed. If people were vaccinated, then they did not have to wear their masks outside for the events, Freck said.

According to Freck, they tried to make homecoming as normal as possible and a fun atmosphere for the students.

Associate Director of Alumni Engagement Coran Sigman said that Friday, Oct. 8 was the 50-year class reunion. Because there was no homecoming last year, the class of 1970 was invited back for their 50th year along with the class of 1971 as well, Sigman

said. She said there were various events of the final total of the amount that we all weekend for those classes, one of raised. It’ll be a really fun event, again these events being the 50-year club just a way to celebrate the success of our breakfast from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. in campaign.”

UIndy Hall, according to the schedule According to Freck, one of the on the homecoming website. big events was on Friday, Oct. 8, “We [Student Leadership Team] call being the UIndy Midway, which it the ‘50-year club,’ it’s where anyone replaced the Gala this year. The Gala who graduated over 50 years [ago] or is still taking place, but will be at the more helps welcome the 50-year classes beginning of December, Sigman said. into that club,” Freck said that the Sigman said. “We reason the Gala did have an alum who happen during We want to have as normal not graduated in 1955 homecoming coming back to a homecoming experience week is because help welcome the the university did as possible..." classes. It’s a really not know where it special moment would be at in terms to say, ‘ Yeah I of COVI D-19 graduated f rom what would have management. been Indiana Central College 50 “I know that he [Steven Freck] and years ago and I’m back on campus our student leadership team is planning celebrating homecoming today.’” the Homecoming Midway on Friday According to Sigman, there was night,” Sigman said. “I think the dance is a President's Lunch and Campaign going to happen at a different time of year, Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 9. Sigman they’re not going to have the annual dance said it was the first time that the at homecoming, but there’s supposed campaign's final dollar amount raised to be a big carnival, midway type thing was publicly announced.

Friday evening. I think that’ll be “ We’re really excited to have new and exciting for students. a moment to thank everyone who helped I think they’ll really enjoy that.” support UIndy and our students,”Sigman According to Sigman, the Student said. “And then have a grand unveiling L e a d e r s h i p Te a m w i l l a l w a y s

adhere to any policies set in place by the Protect our Pack plan for the university. Sigman said that all of the planning for events this year did have to reflect the university’s current policies on COVID-19.

“We’re here to protect our pack, our campus community’s health and safety is of the utmost importance to us,” Sigman said. “We want to have as normal a homecoming experience as possible, but not at the expense of the health and safety of our community. It ’s been two years since we’ve had something like this and I think we’re all due for the excitement and feeling that palpable energy of Greyhound love and spirit in the air, I think that’ll be exciting to see.”

According to Sigman, the football game and the parade are always a big hit. Sigman said that is the end of her homecoming experience and the beginning for so many others.

“I always leave homecoming feeling exhausted, naturally because it’s a lot of planning, but so inspired by our alum and our students connecting,” Sigman said. “Again just the overwhelming good spirit and fun that you leave from that weekend and I can’t wait to experience that for the first time in two years. I’m pretty excited for it.”

Service-Learning makes impact

By Justus O’Neil

MANAGING EDITOR & CO-BUSINESS MANAGER From loc al to inter national ser vice-learning opportunities, the University of Indianapolis Center for Service-Learning & Community Engagement extends experiential learning to every student. According to the Center’s website, the Center coordinates with existing partners to offer development workshops, promote social responsibility and create opportunities for community connections.

According to Director for the Center for Service-Learning & Community Engagement Marianna Foulkrod, the mission of the Center is to educate people by building a foundation for them to become civically engaged and caring citizens. Foulkrod said that her job is to bring in resources to the faculty to help support their teaching endeavors at the UIndy, while also developing relationships with students and community partners.

“There [are three] main audiences that we help support through the Center for Service-Learning & Community Engagement.One of them is our students,” Foulkrod said. “Our job is to provide the best, most enhanced experiences through service and service-learning initiatives through their courses.”

Alexis Cooper, senior sociology major and Center for Ser viceLearning and Community Engagement undergraduate assistant, is one of the many students that has engaged with the Center. Cooper said she got involved through her roommate, and after learning more

about the work that the Center Even though she is not directly in does, she applied for the first open the field right now, she gets to place position available. According to students and make partnerships in Cooper, her interaction with the communities that are making an Center was through taking a course called impact, according to Cooper. Some of Sociology 104 social problems.The course Cooper’s responsibilities on staff include included a service-learning placing students with organizations, lab that she opted to take where drafting a monthly newsletter and she worked with Pink Ribbon, an working with Hounds Connect, UIndy’s organization that spreads awareness new hub for connecting students to about breast cancer and is a partner that service-learning opportunities, according works with the Center. to Cooper. “... You get to work with so many In order to be able to different people, and you get to help place students in these experiences, the so many different communities,” Center has to prepare the faculty with Cooper said. “Now I’m the necessary resources, doing a practicum for my tools and support to be able to major and concentration, teach using service-learning and I am working with the as a teaching methodology, Hoosier Environmental according to Foulkrod. The Council.”

Center supports faculty Cooper said being on through various endeavors staff at the Center gives her throughout their time at access to a lot of connections UIndy, Foulkrod said. with community partners.

“The Center typically After working with Pink supports training and Ribbon, Cooper said that cohorts and we support our her experience helped faculty when they apply FOULKROD her learn about what nonfor funding to support their profit organizations do. That projects, in their scholarship, experience,paired with Cooper’s role in in their promotion and tenure process,” the Center, solidified her passion for Foulkrod said. “We also have a few working with nonprofits in the future, committees that we oversee, including according to Cooper. the S er vice-L ear ning Council, “Being here on staff, you get to that kind of helps us move the work of make a lot of connections with partners the faculty forward.” and it can help you find exactly what The final facet of Foulkrod’s role is to you’re interested in and what you prepare the community to engage with want to do in the future,” Cooper said.

UIndy faculty and students in different “So it opens up a lot of different ways, according to Foulkrod. She said opportunities and you can take it in so that this is done through building many different ways.” up collaborations with community Growing up, Cooper said she partners so that they are agencies that always knew that she wanted to are prepared to co-lead and co-teach help people in any way she could. the students that are taking the service-

learning course.

“If we fail at one of these, then the experience fails,” Foulkrod said.

“My job is to really look at the big picture of how UIndy as an institution helps prepare the grounds for effective, reciprocal, sustainable… or curricular service-[learning] experiences.”

Through the effor ts of the Center, UIndy is currently in its second year as a Carnegie classified institution for community engagement and civic leadership, according to Foulkrod. According to a UIndy 360 article, this classification is an elective designation that indicates institutional commitment to community engagement. UIndy is also a member institution of the Indiana Campus Compact, which is an organization for higher education institutions that are teaching using the service-learning methodology, Foulkrod said.

The Center supports any efforts of UIndy faculty, staff and students that engage in service and service learning, Foulkrod said. The Center has been able to develop partnerships with international organizations reaching as far as Belize, Cyprus and Greece, but their home base remains in the southside of Indianapolis, according to Foulkrod. “ When I look at some [partnerships] like Hornet Park Community Center, or the Burmese American Community Institute, or SENSE Charter School, [or] College Mentors for Kids, all of those agencies are agencies that when we look at the depth of the partnership, it’s truly amazing the things that we’ve been able to do, because we engage with them in multiple multi-disciplinary ways,” Foulkrod said.

When senior social work major David Car penter first arr ived at the University of Indianapolis, he said he was surprised to see the university did not offer any mental health suppor t groups.

According to Carpenter, while in an alcohol addiction recovery program, he met fellow senior social work major Jennifer Leonard, where the two collaborated to create a recovery-focused group on campus.

“We thought about doing something AA [Alcohol Anonymous] related at the beginning, but we were like, ‘let's make it broad[er],’ more open, cause that can kind of turn students away,” Carpenter said. “So that's really what started to get the ball rolling. And then Jenny started networking and bringing in a lot of students. That's how we really started becoming the organization we are.”

Healing Hounds, according to Carpenter, is a peer support group for students dealing with mental health or addiction issues. Carpenter said he wants it to be inclusive to all students, as well as faculty and staff.

Prior to being an official organization, Carpenter said he and Leonard hosted meetings in the Krannert Memorial Library where people would come and discuss the problems they were going through. However, meetings came to a sudden stop in February of 2020 due to COVID-19, according to Carpenter.

“Some of the students graduated, so the attendance got less and less and then COVID[-19] happened,” Carpenter said. “And we never had a chance to pick that ball back up and try it again. I would love to see that occur.”

Leonard serves as vice president for the group. According to Leonard, some of her duties include recruitment, networking and event planning.Although everyone has a specific role in the group, Leonard said she views the group equally as one.

“Everybody has different skills,” Leonard said. “We're all [the] president.

We all help each other. There are no leaders here.”

The Healing Hounds were honored with the 2020-2021 Student Organization of the Year award last year, Carpenter said.

According to Carpenter, when making the club, their ambition was not to win the award, but to serve as many students as possible. He said the award could not have been possible without the help from the Social Work Association, a campus RSO. Carpenter said that the two RSOs collaborated on an event this past spring, titled the “Out of the Darkness” walk, to help raise awareness for suicide prevention.

“It was very surprising to get the award, but we are very, very grateful and humbled,” Carpenter said.

The group’s main focus this semester, according to Carpenter, is the safeTALK Workshop. According to Carpenter, the safeTALK Workshop is dedicated to providing participants the tools and resources necessary to help someone that is struggling with suicidal thoughts or ideations. “...There is a specific series of steps that they teach you in the workshop,” Carpenter said. “When you leave, you’re certified. You can have that certification and you can put that on your resume.”

Carpenter said he hopes to see the Healing Hounds establish a collegiate recovery community on the UIndy campus in the future. A collegiate recovery community is a large umbrella organization of groups on campuses around the nation that supply recovery services and peer support to individuals on those campuses, according to Carpenter.

He said he believes that is the direction that Healing Hounds is headed in with new leadership within the group.

“I would love to see the Healing Hounds kind of not just be a student organization, but something that the entire university recognizes as a resource for people in recovery,” Carpenter said.

He said he encourages people to join Healing Hounds because the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health is finally starting to be addressed to a younger generation. Carpenter said he hopes people can be educated on the topic.

“I think students joining the Healing Hounds and advocating to reduce that stigma and helping one another, we'll just break the barriers and change,” Carpenter said.

ENTERTAINMENT

7 OCTOBER 13, 2021

THE REFLECTOR

Ceramics Past and Present

New ceramics exhibition introduces new art annex building, features current, past UIndy artists Schaad worked at UIndy for 38 years while Barnes has been here for eight, STAFF WRITER according to Barnes. This exhibition will be a way to include the work of The Art and Design Department at students from those 46 years and include the University of Indianapolis will be work from a variety of different UIndy opening up its new art annex with the alumni and current students, according Ceramics Past and Present Exhibition. to Barnes.

The exhibit will be on display from Oct. “It’s really a celebration of ceramics 6 to Oct. 29 and will feature the work at UIndy over the last 45 years,” Barnes of Assistant Professor Barry Barnes, said. “For us in the art department it’s a Professor Emeritus Dee Schaad, alumni great chance to celebrate the expansion. and current students, according to uindy.

This increased more space for the entire edu. Barnes said students of any major can art department.” have their work shown in the exhibition.

Barnes said that this exhibition The ceramics exhibition will be the will help the department recruit more event that introduces the new Art Annex, students and introduce people to the according to UIndy Events. The event Art Annex. He says that the exhibition will have both functional and sculptural will let people know what work they are ceramics being shown, according to doing in the art department.

Barnes. He said the Art Annex will have “I think many people don’t know what the name of Schaad, this building is yet, being named the like at the beginning Dee Schaad Student of the semester I had It’s really a celebration of students miss the Gallery.

This exhibition is days because ceramics at UIndy over the first a part of the Indiana they couldn’t find Clay Conference, last 45 years.” the Art Annex,” which Barnes Barnes said. “A lot said reached out of it is just publicity to him asking if he wanted to make and to get the word out that we’re over the exhibition coordinate with that here, kind of introduce people to what event. This conference is the second this building is about as well because we state-wide biennial clay conference started a sculpture program a few years and is open to everyone, including ago so the other side of the space is for non-Indiana residents, according to that. So it’s really to just let people know indianaclayconference.com. Barnes what we’re doing over here.” said the exhibition being a part of the The new Art Annex will allow Indiana Clay Conference will help students to have more space to do spread the word to people from outside their work, according to Schaad. He the UIndy community. The Indiana said that when he taught at UIndy, Clay Conference took place Oct. 8 students did not have enough space nor and 9, with the gallery reception for were the facilities as nice as they are the UIndy Ceramics exhibition being currently. He said that it is important on the evening of Oct. 8, according to for art students to have the space to indianaclayconference.com. keep their work, and it is difficult for “They approached me over the students when they do not have that summer to inquire if I would like to put space available to them. the show together that would coordinate “In the new annex, space is doubled with the Indiana ceramics conference, and you really need that to store your which is the same weekend that the things,” Schaad said. “It’s hard to do a show opens,” Barnes said. “So we’ll have quantity of work without space and it’s people from out of town, people that certainly difficult to do pieces of any size are interested in ceramics, who will be without space, so this is going to make a coming over.” huge difference.”

By Molly Church

Photo by MaKenna Maschino

According to a sign at the exhibit, Professor Emeritus Dee Schaad, whose works are showcased here, served as a chairman of the UIndy Department of Art and Design and has had his works showcased across the nation. The student gallery will be named after him.

Photo by MaKenna Maschino

The Ceramics Exhibition, located in the new Art and Design Annex, displays works from Professor Emeritus Dee Schaad, as well as current UIndy students. The exhibition opened on Oct. 6 and will remain open to the public until Oct. 29, according to UIndy Events.

Mailhot hosts reading

By Olivia Cameron OPINION EDITOR

Students at the University of Indianapolis will have the opportunity to hear an excerpt of the New York Times bestselling memoir “Heart Berries”from author Terese Marie Mailhot herself.The reading is part of the ongoing Kellogg Writers Series at UIndy and will be in person on Oct. 14 in UIndy Hall A of the Schwitzer Student Center at 7:30 p.m., as well as virtually via Zoom, according to Barney Haney, Assistant Professor of English and Chair of the Kellogg Writers Series.There will also be a book raffle for copies of “Heart Berries” during the event, according to Haney.

Mailhot said that she started writing at a very young age while growing up on Seabird Island Band, a First Nation reserve in Canada. Her mother was a writer as well and her writing about their culture and colonization inspired Mailhot’s own writing about Indigenous identity. “[My mother] wrote about the subjugation of Indian people in a way that was about restoration, and reclaiming our ways as a people,”Mailhot said. “It was always so empowering to read her work, because I feel like I understood myself better when I read it. And I wanted to write something like that, for Indigenous women, and also for women who had been victimized in their lifetime.”

While studying creative writing at the Institute of American Indian Arts, Mailhot started working on a novel.

When she realized that she was writing about her own life, she decided to turn it into non-fiction.

“I realized that the thing that I’ve been working on my whole academic life was actually just a collection of analogies,” Mailhot said. “It kind of relieved me to know that I didn’t need to pretend anymore, I didn’t need to imagine these were two separate experiences.”

The title “Heart Berries” comes from a story that Mailhot was told by a friend, she said. The story is about Heart Berry Boy, the first healer in her culture, who left to find medicine for his people who were passing away from an illness. She said she was empowered by the idea of journeying alone to find yourself, but

coming back to bring the medicine.

Mailhot said that she worries everyday to some degree about the repercussions of what she has put out publicly about her personal life and relationships. However, she decided to take a risk on telling her own story.

“The only thing is that I was already known as a troublemaker in my family and my community,” Mailhot said. “So it’s not like the book was that different than my personality. I just took a risk on the art. I already argue about my family, about our history and whose fault is what.

I think all families are really like that, like

MAILHOT just different ideas and different traumas and different experiences. So I figured I would take a chance on mine, and try to get it to be as honest and forthright as it possibly could be given as just my experience. And nobody has sued me yet, so that’s a great sign.”

Haney said that the Kellogg series has been dedicated to including diversity amongst the featured writers.

He said he had been wanting to have an Indigenous writer do a reading for the series when he reached out to Mailhot, who teaches creative writing at Purdue University. The reason he reached out to her specifically was because of how powerful “Heart Berries” is, he said.

“She’s an amazing writer. It hits the diversity goals and objectives that we’re going after,” Haney said. “It also touches on things we really feel are important to the students with the mental health that she’s discussing here... I really was looking at writers who were speaking to that, because I felt like students needed to hear people that have worked through struggling to manage a serious mental health disorder

and... made it through. Terese Marie speaks very, very much to that. I know she has a powerful thing to deliver our students so that was a big reason for bringing her here.”

Mailhot said she hopes that readers who have experienced or witnessed abuse or who have mental health issues will feel less alone after reading “Heart Berries.”

When she does readings of her work, she approaches them with the thought that someone in the audience needed to hear her words that day, she said.

“Sometimes I’ve gone to a reading, like in Montreal, and I remember a man came up to me, he held my hand and he was crying, and he didn’t need to say anything, I just kind of knew that it touched him,” Mailhot said. “And that was cool. But, I mean, with others, it’s always something like that… I hate public speaking and I hate sharing my work. I wish people would just read the book and not make me talk to anyone.

But, the reality is, it’s this way to connect with people in a very immediate way where they can shake your hand after and they can talk to you about their lives.

And I think that’s the best part of it.”

Attending a reading can be a moving experience, according to Haney. Students have the opportunity to sit with their peers and hear from an amazing writer, and potentially relate to what the author expresses in their work, he said.

Haney said the event could also be very inspirational for future writers who would like to write about their own lives.

Mailhot’s advice to aspiring writers is to practice and find individuality.

Writers should not feel discouraged about the importance of their stories, she said.

“I think follow your guide regarding your voice and your cadence, and who you are as an artist, and also never feel discouraged that your stor y ’s not important because, I mean, art really isn’t about shining light on important figureheads or speaking to the meaning of life,” Mailhot said. “Sometimes it’s just about enjoying and sometimes it’s just about sharing experiences.”

More information on the Kellogg Writers Series can be found at events. uindy.edu. Students can also register there for the Zoom link to Mailhot’s reading.

Hanna Garden Review

By Logan Wong

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Located in Schwitzer Student Center, Hanna Garden provides great options for those with a vegetarian or vegan diet. This restaurant has replaced Ace’s Place, which was moved into the dining hall. Of course, you don’t have to be either vegetarian or vegan to dine there. It’s not often that UIndy gets a new restaurant. Much like Fiesta Grill, there are many menu options, all of which are customizable.

I am personally not vegetarian, but I do love all kinds of foods which is why I was curious about this new restaurant.

Before Hanna Garden, there really were no vegetarian or vegan specific options available at UIndy, so it is good that dining can provide for those people.

Hanna Garden works much like Fiesta Grill in how you order food. There are the regular menu items, but you can also get a personalized meal. All of the fresh toppings are laid out behind the counter.

On my visit to Hanna Garden, I asked for their most popular orders and the gentleman behind the counter pointed to the top two items: the goat cheese and tomato and the falafel. I got the falafel served on flatbread and the

goat cheese and tomato served in a bowl.

The service was top notch. The people helping me were very nice and they finished my orders very quickly.

The falafel was pretty big, and I was confused on how to eat it, so when I got home I cut it up and ate it like a pizza.

The refreshing toppings and the warm flatbread created an interesting dynamic that I enjoyed.

On the other hand, the goat cheese and tomatoes were not as impressive. It was evident to me that it is meant to be served on a flatbread so that the cheese can melt. I will take note to try that next time. I was left satisfied with the meal, and I highly recommend everyone to try anything from the menu. I will definitely be returning to try some other combinations of foods.

Both items were unlike most things that I have eaten, so they are good for the more adventurous diners. Some other menu items include the Sunshine, made with fruit and cabbage, and the Mediterranean, made with hummus, spinach, and pepperoncini.

Overall, I would highly recommend this new dining stop at Streets not just to vegetarians and vegans but to anyone looking for some diversity in their diet. It is a healthy, delicious and cheap option for all UIndy students and staff alike.

Photo by Logan Wong

A Hanna Garden staff member prepares a falafel by adding tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions to a flatbread. Finally, the staff member bakes it in the oven to make it warm.

NEWS

8 THE REFLECTOR

OCTOBER 13, 2021

Motor vehicle theft trends on campus

Campus police, dean of students talk about motor vehicle thefts on campus, prevention tactics

By Kassandra Darnell NEWS EDITOR

Since the beginning of the 2021-22 fall semester, there have been a total of four attempted motor vehicle thefts on the University of Indianapolis campus, according to UIndy Police Chief David Selby. There was a report of one car theft on Oct. 1, according to a Watchdog Alert.

The attempted thefts have occurred on the north side of campus, Selby said, and most of the vehicles have been older model pick-up trucks. Older vehicle models are easier to get into, according to Selby, and the perpetrators have attempted to access the vehicles primarily through their steering columns.

Selby declined to comment on the most recent theft.

While there has been one theft this semester, the majority have only been attempted. Selby said this is a difference from the thefts of the previous academic year. A major reason for this change, according to Selby, is because students are more conscious of suspicious activity and are not leaving vehicles unlocked.

“Locking the car, that gives us time to get involved, to get there, because . . . it's a lot different when you see a car and you want to steal it, if you just go out and the door opens and you sit down in it—that's not very suspicious to anyone, right?” Selby said. “But if you're jacking around with the handle, or you're trying to break [the] handle off, . . . then we

kind of know something's up, and other people around campus do.”

Vice President of Student and Campus Affairs and Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli said the university has been working to combat vehicle thefts on campus by increasing police presence and adding cameras to the parking lots on the periphery of campus.

“The police have stepped up patrols and they're adding officers to the night shift to patrol the parking lots,” Vitangeli said. “. . . We are taking these things extremely seriously. And looking at how we can make sure that we are

monitoring them in new and different ways, including looking at cameras.”

The primary goal is to make sure students feel safe on campus, Vitangeli said, and the best way students can ensure the safety of their vehicles is to be aware of what could make them a target for theft.

“Too many times, what we've found when something has happened to someone's car is that the car was left unlocked, or they've left their phone, their purse, their keys, whatever, laying in plain sight,” Vitangeli said. “I think it's important for people to remember we do live in the 13th largest city in the

United States, we are in a suburb of an urban area of downtown Indianapolis.

And so everybody kind of needs to be aware and making sure they're locking vehicles.”

Selby said it’s important for students to check on their cars frequently so that they know if something has happened to their vehicle, such as parts potentially being stolen or damaged.

“I'll have students that haven't gone out to their car in a month,” Selby said.

“So check on your vehicle. They'll go out there and they'll say, ‘I started my car and it was really loud.’Well someone cut their catalytic converter off.Then that leads me to [think], did I have a group of people come on campus and hit three or four cars? And we don't find out about [it] until a month later.”

According to Selby, students can do their part to create a safe campus by reporting any suspicious activity to campus police. Vitangeli said students should report activity by calling (317) 788-3333 or 911, and both will route back to campus police when students state they are located at UIndy.

“One thing I think that would be great for this campus is that when people see suspicious activity to call us right away,” Selby said.“Because a lot of times what I'll get is, something will happen, then I hear three days later, ‘Well, you know, I saw somebody over there.’ . . . Our students are great here, but getting that call at the time something's happening—we're going to be able to catch that person a lot easier if we do that.”

Consequently, suicide-alert helpers are an essential part of college campuses.

The President of the Healing Hounds and senior social work major David Carpenter believes that suicide-alert helpers are extremely important to have on UIndy’s campus.

“If somebody is in dire need of help, they should always seek that help out from a professional whenever they can,” Carpenter said. “But the reason why we should have safeTALK certified individuals on campus is so they become more aware of the resources in the community. . . Another student can approach them and say ‘Are you thinking about suicide?’ [and] get them to open that conversation and then link them with necessary resources.”

The main purpose of the safeTALK workshop is to provide UIndy ’s campus with more resources for suicide

prevention through students and even faculty, according to Vice President of the Healing Hounds and senior social work major Jennifer Leonard. She said suicide is not a light topic and most people are nervous to bring it up—it’s something that a lot of people struggle with and more often than not, this struggle happens in secret. SafeTALK is designed to help “embrace the awkward” of talking about suicide, Carpenter said.

“SafeTALK provides us with the language that can be used with someone that is struggling [with suicide], or allies [and] survivors,” said Leonard.

According to Leonard, during the workshop, students will learn that the main way to help someone who is thinking about suicide is to just be straightforward and clear with them.

The safeTALK advocates for students to question those who appear to be suicidal

. . . Everybody needs to be aware and making sure they're locking vehicles."

Graphic by Jazlyn Gomez

Healing Hounds SafeTALK workshop

By Sara Brummett STAFF WRITER

The Healing Hounds are partnering with the Social Work Association and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to hold a safeTALK workshop on Oct. 15 in hopes to bring suicide awareness to the University of Indianapolis community, according to a post from the Healing Hounds Instagram page. With the completion of the four-hour-long workshop, people who attend will become suicide-alert helpers. Suicide-alert helpers are people who learn special skills that allow them to be a resource for those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that suicide is one of the leading causes of death among college-age students.

Bus schedule changes

By Kassandra Darnell NEWS EDITOR

IndyGo will temporarily change its bus schedules starting Sunday, Oct. 10, due to staffing shortages as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the IndyGo website.The website states these adjustments are meant to improve their service reliability and minimize service impacts for both their riders and staff.

Updated schedules will be available on the IndyGo website and updated maps will be available the week of Oct. 10.

Bus routes 2, 4, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 24, 25, 28, 30, 31 and 86 will all experience a change in operating times, according to the IndyGo website. Routes 2 and 86 will change from their previous 30-minute frequency to a one-hour frequency from Monday through Saturday.Routes 12 and 13 will experience a two-hour frequency

by simply asking them “Are you thinking about suicide?” The question is so blunt and sudden that individuals will be inclined to answer honestly, Leonard said.

“We’ve all struggled with anxiety or depression, all of us have had it,”Leonard said. “We know that [it] tends to build up inside of us. And, so, a lot of times if somebody is thinking of suicide, just to be asked that question is a relief because they want help, usually.”

As the Learning Center of North Carolina reports, college students face a lot of stress—between keeping up with their classes and extracurriculars to having a social life and possibly even keeping a job. However, according to Leonard and Carpenter, the safeTALK workshop provides communities with suicide-alert helpers who are trained and certified to be a resource for students who are struggling with an overload of stress.

Monday through Friday, a change from its normal one-hour frequency. All of the other previously listed routes will not have any frequency changes, but will not have high-frequency service between the rush hour times of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., according to the IndyGo website The only other affected routes will be 3, 8, 10 and 90 and will only experience time adjustments of a few minutes.

University of Indianapolis students can purchase IndyGo S-Passes, which are 31-day passes, through the Office of Student Affairs, according to Dean of Students and Vice President for Student and Campus Affairs Kory Vitangeli’s weekly activities emails. Passes can be purchased for $30 and can be picked up at the Student Affairs office in Schwitzer 208 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or can be purchased online through the UIndy Marketplace website.

Graphic by Justus O'Neil

Dining from page 1 However, when the pandemic started, the committee was shut down, according to Dugan, but with a population back on campus, UIndy Dining is open to reinstating the committee.

“And that way, now you've got another channel of communication ...” Lewis said. “Because we ... need to satisfy our students. We don't need to satisfy ourselves; that's not relevant.”

Means said that dining services is trying its best, and he does not blame anyone, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic. After his initial post, Means said, he spoke to Lewis about concerns with dining services and was told that the raw chicken was served after an employee was working on the grill who should not have been. Means said that those things can be fixed by talking with staff and conveying that sending food like

“You never know when you’re going to come in contact with somebody that’s struggling,” Carpenter said. “. . .So, it would be nice for other college students to have the skills and the tools necessary to approach them and help them through those difficult moments.”

While all 30 seats for the workshop are currently full, students can still register to be placed on a waitlist, according to Carpenter. Additionally, the Healing Hounds plan to try and make safeTALK an annual event on UIndy’s campus.

However, if students are not able to attend the safeTALK, Carpenter said, the Healing Hounds will host other events relating to several mental health issues that are open to everyone, including allies. Information for all events can be found via the Healing Hounds social media @uindyhealinghounds on Instagram.

Grants from page 3 that to students can cause food poisoning or salmonella.

“I feel like the UIndy dining operations, they do the best with what they can. I know they're understaffed, just like everywhere else,” Means said.

Ramirez said that customer service is excellent, and when students need something, dining services try its best to do it, even with limited resources. He said that management has been transparent in at least trying to address and acknowledge problems. Ramirez also said that dining services stayed open, even with limited resources.

“In my mind, that's the best thing they did was, even with limited resources and problems, they stayed open to try to serve the clientele the best that they could do,” Ramirez said.

Means said that even after talking

to dining services, he still plans to post about students' dining concerns. In regard to meeting with Lewis, Means said that he felt the blame was being put on whoever was cooking the food.

He said that he put in his notes, which were posted to UIndy Uncut, that the meeting was productive and that he was brought back into the kitchen and was shown some of the issues dining services were dealing with on that day. Means said that many people working right now will understand staffing and supply shortages and that if dining services were more up front with students, that might relieve some tension that students are having with dining services. “... I just want to keep students aware of what's going on … I told them, my main thing to the chef was that the school needs to do better, like the dining

services especially should be reaching out to students over the UIndy App,” Means said.“Maybe posting about some of their issues that they're having and just being up front ... about it and giving students the opportunity to just make their own decisions ….”

Ramirez, who has worked in the food service industry in the past, said it is a very hard and demanding job with no reward. While there have been significant problems with UIndy Dining, he said, dining services are doing the best they can.

“But this is most likely an operator problem. And that even though they share responsibility in it, then maybe they can't control what's happening,”Ramirez said. “So I would at least say that ... it's a thankless job, but I thank them for at least being there and doing it.”

things with teaching, and in doing collaborations across disciplines,” Boucher said.

Neal said the increase in awards was surprising given the fact that the amount increase was not distributed from any COVID-19-related grants.

According to Neal, the activity directed towards research and faculty projects was interesting to discover within the last year with the pandemic having reduced campus in-person interactions.

“I think that since faculty have the support of their chairs and their deans all the way on up to the president's office, to pursue external funding, . . . to do additional research and to create new and innovative projects, then I think that has a big role in making that happen,” Neal said.