THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS • FOUNDED 1922
SPOTLIGHTING DEMOCRACY
The Refector's Editor-in-Chief sits down with Democratic Candidate Jennifer McCormick
By Mia Lehmkuhl
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & NEWS EDITOR
Hoosiers have six days to cast their ballots — marking the end of election season as voters all over the country watch to see who will lead their states, counties and country in the coming years.
In an e ff ort to better inform voters at the University of Indianapolis’ campus, Editorin-Chief of "The Reflector"
Mia Lehmkuhl sat down with Democratic Candidate for Governor Jennifer McCormick to ask about her stances on popular issues and her plans if she is elected.
United States Senator and Republican Candidate for Governor Mike Braun did not respond to requests for an interview.
Why sit down on-on-one with a student journalist?
“It's incredibly important that we inform Hoosiers and that they go and inform others. And there's so much at stake this year from the federal level, from the state level, even the local level, that there is no opportunity here and no room for anyone to sit this out. But I know it's a matter of getting to that voter and doing everything we can, through social media, through TV, through any interviews we can get to make sure people are informed.”
According to your campaign website, you list “commonsense” plans for Indiana. Why “commonsense?”
“We've been without common sense for too long. So when I was at the state house, I served as the last elected state superintendent of public instruction, and when I was there for four years, it was a four-year term, I saw a lot of things that were being done with the absence or the lack of common sense. And so, for me, Indiana prides itself on strong
Hoosier values, and one of those is we are common sense oriented, and we just get things done. But we use a lot of what makes sense and what's practical and what's reliable in order to do that. So that's common sense, and it just makes sense that we're trying to bring that back to the state house.”
A 2022 study from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce found that nearly 40% of Indiana college graduates will move out of state within a year of graduation. Over half will leave within five years. How can Indiana keep and attract younger generations?
“Young people, that's our biggest export. It really is because, you know, we call it brain drain. We call it a lot of di ff erent things. And the goal is to make sure that we have very talented individuals, and we hang on to all of them, but
We've been without common sense for too long."
we've not talked about it, but we're not doing anything in order to make that happen. So a lot of it is making sure, being diligent in creating jobs that are good, paying jobs. You have aff ordable housing, that you have access to healthcare, but you also have costs that you can manage.
T en there's such a bigger piece of the puzzle than just saying, ‘Hey, we're business friendly’ and assuming everybody's going to want to stay here, part of it too. What I hear from young people is that they like diversity. T ey like inclusion. T ey like people to get along. Tey don't like petty infighting. T at's just not who young people are, for the most part. And so making sure that we
are creating a state environment in which people want to live here, thrive here, play here, be educated here and work here is incredibly important, but that takes work, and that takes leaders who understand that. You know, a lot of that is our rhetoric, but it's also our actions.”
How will you make a splash in a state house that has a red supermajority, given that Indiana has not had a Democratic governor in 20 years?
“We've never had a female governor, one of the few [states] that's never had a female governor. We haven't had a Democratic governor for 20 years, and so it's time and making sure that we're doing our due diligence in the responsibility that comes with that, and I'm well aware of that. I was the first female principal in my elementary school. I was one of the few female superintendents in my district. And so I get what that means. … So with that comes a responsibility and to make sure that I'm representing women well, so I take that very, very seriously. But that 20 years has also been an absence of a lot of people's voices. So making sure that we're being diligent in working across the aisle, being very open about bipartisanship, which I have, and that's why we have so many Republicans supporting us and independents, because they like how we're staying true to the issues that really matter to to Hoosiers, but also making sure that we're expressing our interest to work with all not just small pockets of people. And we've done that during a campaign, and we'll stay true to that once we get elected.”
In 2016, you ran and won the Indiana superintendent of public instruction election. However, you ran as a Republican and on a GOP platform, earning the endorsement of the Indiana
> See McCormick on page 8
Photo by Allison Cook
Republican Candidate for Governor Mike Braun at the Indiana Gubernatorial debate on Oct. 24 in downtown Indianapolis. The event was hosted by the Indiana Debate Commission at WFYI.
Photo by Allison Cook
Libertarian Candidate for Governor Donald Rainwater speaks at the Indiana Gubernatorial debate on Oct. 24 in downtown Indianapolis.
Photo by Allison Cook
Democratic Candidate for Governor Jennifer McCormick speaks at the Indiana Gubernatorial debate on Oct. 24 in downtown Indianapolis.
Photo contributed by Evan Porterfeld
“The Refector” Editor-in-Chief Mia Lehmkuhl sits down for an interview with Democratic Candidate for Governor Jennifer McCormick on Oct. 23.
Culture is not a costume
By Reagan Sexton-Godsey ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Halloween is meant to be fun.
Getting dressed up as your favorite character, monster or celebrity creates memories and a night to remember. Dressing up as another culture does not.
I enjoy the holiday and consider it one of my favorites. That being said, I do find great importance in being dressed respectfully. Cultural appropriation is very real and happens far too often. Oxford Languages defines cultural appropriation as “the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc., of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.”
backlash for dressing as a Native American woman for Halloween in 2014. The singer posted a picture to Instagram but quickly removed it after receiving backlash. Goulding is not the only person in the public eye to make this mistake.
Cultural appropriation is very real and happens far too often.
Being dressed as a person from a different culture is disrespectful, and it is important to avoid these “costumes,”as they are not costumes. Changing your appearance to appear as another ethnicity, culture or religion is offensive. Stay away from “costumes’’ that portray a person, thing or an event that holds great value and represents significance to a cultural group of people such as Kimonos, headdresses or Hanboks.
Plenty of celebrities and influencers have made the mistake of wearing offensive costumes. Singer and musician Ellie Goulding faced
Paris Hilton, a reality star, was called out for dressing as a Native American woman in 2010, sexualizing that culture’s traditional clothing. Similarly, Heidi Klum wore a costume portraying herself as a Hindu goddess, Kali, Halloween of 2008. As the goddess is sacred to the religion and culture, a costume based in rich history used for entertainment can easily be seen as offensive. While this ignorance towards other cultures and appropriation may be a less common issue nowadays, it was not long ago that people would see their livelihoods in bags marketed to other people — your favorite celeb could have made this mistake, too.
If an influencer or celebrity wears a culturally insensitive outfit on Halloween, it is hard to forgive, especially if they are an adult. I feel it is common sense to know if something is appropriate to wear or not. Cancel culture can be harsh, but adults mocking or dressing in a manner that is disrespectful to others, especially a minority, should not be taken lightly.
People with large followings do
impact their audiences; whether it is negative or positive. Their followers and fans may idolize them and take what they see from them as good or the truth.
It is important to hold people accountable in order to educate everyone. Halloween is meant to be fun, so let’s avoid normalizing ignorance on Halloween.
Rising star-studded advocacy
Should influencers be expected to address complex, hot topics?
By Elyssa Merrill OPINION EDITOR
Actions may speak louder than words, but words elicit action.
Influencers and celebrities who do not use their platforms to aid in social and political issues ignore the possibilities their voices and audiences can make. The amount of times a talking fish head on TikTok has reported local news rather than local news outlets is deplorable.With information so easily accessible, forming concrete and educated opinions has simultaneously become easier and more complex.
I am aware of people who use their platforms to spread misinformation, throwing red herrings to distract from the pain and devastation of many issues whether in the Middle East or our fellow Americans affected by the natural disasters in the South. However, the advocacy I call for and believe should be expected is educated and backed by facts, rather than a story someone may have heard about Springfield, Ohio. I call for an advocacy that helps those in need and who deserve a voice, not an AI generated picture for everyone to share.
We have seen influencers have consistently successful fundraisers through examples like Thankmas, led by YouTuber Jacksepticeye (Seán McLoughlin), where streamers big and small join for a single cause and raised over $26 million, according to Tiltify.Additionally,a classic example — Mister Rogers invited a Black man to join him in a kiddie pool in 1969 amid segregated pools and civil unrest. Quite recently, pop singer Lizzo (Melissa Jefferson) publicly endorsed presidential candidate Kamala Harris in an Instagram post on Oct. 14, garnering over 300,000 likes. Whether it is through charity or a call to action for social change, celebrities who make their voices
Introducing new ‘Reflector’ adviser
By Katie Greenan ADVISER & PUBLISHER
Hands-on, applied, experiential learning. Although the language changes, my education and career experiences have centered around this learning model.
In 2004, I began a 13-month master’s program in broadcast journalism at Syracuse University. It was the most challenging year of my life but also a time of tremendous growth in my practical skills, critical thinking and confidence.
I produced television and radio news stories throughout Central and upstate New York, which included pitching, writing, interviewing, recording, editing and delivering stories under intense deadlines. The region served as my laboratory, and classrooms included edit bays, recording studios and newsrooms, where my peers and I participated in lively discussions, critically examining television packages and media ethics.
heard not only remind people they are human but further solidify they care about their audience.
As a long-time fan of people like YouTubers Markiplier (Mark Fishbach) and MatPat (Matthew Patrick), I understand why I consume their content and watch their videos. I do not see them as political advocates nor as news sources, but I do see the potential for what their platforms can do and have done, as Fishbach is a well-known silent donor from the money he makes as a content creator. Additionally, it is not wise to base a decision off the voice of one person, not even 100. It is incredibly important to find truth among all the information.
It is a disservice to those affected by strife and injustice to not speak their names and hear their grief in any way. Big or small, win or lose, it should be a desire to use what they have to promote and speak for those without a voice. Even pop singer Chappel Roan, although not endorsing Harris explicitly, has made her voice known for disservices she believes both parties have done. Advocacy does not need to be in the form of endorsement or seeing an issue in black and white; advocacy should just be care. Care for people’s lives and livelihoods by listening when they speak and spreading their story for others to hear, and I think it is only fair that influencers and celebrities care about their audiences.
By Olivia Pastrick MANAGING EDITOR & FEATURE EDITOR
A lot of people, especially Generation Z, get more news from TikTok than they do from credible news outlets, and many expect influencers to tell them who to vote for rather than thinking for themselves.
Graphic by Emma Foutz
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.
The opinions in this section do not necessarily reflect those of The Reflector staff.
think?
With every big political event, some celebrities and influencers take to their Instagram stories, others stay silent and, rarely, some try to make a difference using their platform. Regardless, their fans are constantly looking to them to form their own opinions on these big topics. Because becoming “informed”on social media has become so common, fans become outraged when celebrities keep silent on important issues such as the 2024 presidential election and the IsraelHamas War. Recently, fans of pop singer Chappell Roan were disappointed in her for not endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president. According to the Washington Post, Roan said in a TikTok video that she would be voting for Harris, but would not “settle” and endorse a democratic candidate because she does not support the party as a whole. Many of Roan’s fans are women and members of the LGBTQ+ community, and, as those are important and growing voting blocs that typically lean left, members of the queer community and other fans were unhappy that Roan would not endorse Harris. According to The Guardian, Roan said there are problems with both parties, and that she encourages people to use their own critical thinking skills to cast their vote. This is a fundamental issue — expecting celebrities to always endorse a candidate — people use celebrity opinions in place of their own research and critical thinking,which is leaving them as less-informed voters. If a celebrity feels strongly enough to endorse a candidate, of course it is good for the candidate and their campaign, but when celebrities like Roan do not fully support a candidate,
they should not be expected to endorse them just because their fans expect it.
Another celebrity that was “canceled” for not using her platform as her fans thought she should have was Brittany Tomlinson,better known as Brittany Broski. In a TikTok, Tomlinson said it was “dystopian” for people to expect influencers that “look like her” and have a platform based on comedy like her to be their source of news and opinion. This sparked an outrage among her fans that were demanding that Tomlinson publicly support the Palestinian people. In the TikTok, Tomlinson provided reasons for not speaking up such as avoiding the spread of misinformation and not repeating information people had been hearing. While she acknowledged the damage she could have done by not speaking up, it should not be an expectation for influencers who may not be wellinformed to inform their audience. Additionally, Tomlinson said there should never be any doubt that she is against genocide and the loss of life in Gaza, and she should not have to defend herself when she stays quiet.
Celebrities and influencers like Tomlinson and Roan should not be expected to tell fan bases what to think; there is, however, a higher expectation for people with large platforms to do good and support causes they believe in. Privately supporting candidates, organizations and causes they believe in can be much more powerful than just posting a video giving their opinion about a situation — after all, actions speak louder than words. An example of this is Mark Fischbach, better known as Markiplier, who silently donated $192,000 to the Creatorsfor-Palestine fund, according to the donation leaderboard on Tiltify. Before fans found evidence of Fischbach’s donation, many people threatened to stop watching his videos because he had not publicly supported the Palestinian people. Again, this is an instance where Fischbach, whose claim to fame is gaming,should not be expected to make a public statement just because his fans want to hear that he agrees with their opinions. It is much more impactful to donate to relief funds and charities that directly support the causes rather than making a post on Instagram about it. Because politics and current events in America have become so pervasive in our popular culture, it is easy to expect influencers and celebrities to take advantage of their platforms and speak up. However, unless the person has gained fame because they present news and opinion on politics or current events, these influencers should not be obligated to do so.
I consider that year one of my most defining life experiences. It set the stage for my career in journalism in Washington, D.C., where I lived and worked after graduating.
After almost a decade in the nation’s capital, I returned to school in the Midwest for a doctoral program to work toward my dream job of becoming a professor of communication.
I appreciate the vastness of the communication discipline; it is unique since it requires my colleagues and me to continually learn new technology and mediums as well as stay current with pop culture.
So, when I was asked to serve as The Reflector’s adviser last year, I immediately responded, “Yes!” I was eager to teach students how to integrate academics into reallife settings and watch their skills grow and flourish.
Communication departments excel at experiential learning. Students in COMM 120: Experiential Journalism are motivated and dedicated individuals who practice researching, writing, synthesizing information, factchecking and publishing.They learn how to tell stories and contribute to their communities productively and meaningfully.
I am excited to grow the staff by bringing students on board from other majors. Various perspectives and skills will enhance the newspaper and increase its representation on campus.
Over time, I look forward to helping build the newspaper’s online publication and social media presence. Nowadays, the industry requires journalists to do it all. They must learn and produce multimedia to survive in a competitive, everevolving industry.
The staff and I welcome your story ideas and feedback and invite you to stop by the newsroom in Esch Hall room 333. Thank you for providing staffers with invaluable learning opportunities by providing interviews. You are contributing to “education for service,” which student journalists exemplify.
Graphic by Jona Hogle
PRO CON
Globalizing higher education
President Singh and Provost Plouff form international educational connections in India
By Livia Lytle BUSINESS MANAGER
University of Indianapolis
President Tanuja Singh and Provost and Executive Vice President Chris Plouff visited India to create partnerships with several universities in the country.
“Our primary purpose of this particular trip,” Singh said, “was to seek partnerships at the universities that have a similar mission, similar goals, similar objectives, and where our commitment to student success is very similar to theirs. It is a part of our school’s strategic plan to grow internationally, both in terms of the number of students we bring in and the number of students that go from here to overseas.”
Singh said she and Plou ff had a very focused visit, having condensed the list of universities they wanted to see. Plouff said they had been having conversations with the universities virtually for two to three months prior to their visit. Tey visited seven universities and signed memorandums of understanding with four of them: Alliance University in Bengaluru, FORE School of Management in New Dehli, NIIT University in Neemrana and Manav Rachna Educational Institutions in Faridabad, according to Singh. Te MOUs indicate the shared intention to work together toward a common goal without being legally binding.
Singh said part of the reason they chose to focus on India for these partnerships is because of the big investment the country has in higher education. Plouff added that there is a large variety of opportunities in the country. “ Tere are certainly countries that have some similar characteristics, but probably none that mirror the same combination of a large population of growing middle-class, collegegoing people who are in support of higher education,” Plouff said.
Tey are looking to expand and grow their partnerships in other parts of the world, including the
We are truly a connected world."
U.S., so all of those combinations of things make it the ideal country to do work in.”
Singh said UIndy plans to partner with these universities by having programs at the undergraduate, graduate and potentially the doctoral levels. Plouff said he is hoping to see faculty exchanges, research partnerships and joint projects between the Indian universities and UIndy.
“I believe the ability to globalize our campus, to be truly a global university, as we want to be according to our strategic plan is a really big benefit,” Singh said.
“Part of our strategic plan focuses on making sure that we have more students studying abroad. At this time, the percentage is lower, but these very intentional partnerships allow us to expand that number substantially.”
International student enrollment would increase with these programs, Singh said, and although the partnerships will require investments to maintain, financial benefits are very important as well.
“Every time I travel to India or any other part of the world I am reminded of how young people across the world have similar dreams, care about the same things and how aware they are of both opportunities and challenges in the world,” Singh said. “We are truly a connected world.”
UIndy receives $1 million gif
By Gabriel Tice STAFF WRITER
The University of Indianapolis recently announced a $1 million gift to set up a scholarship that will be awarded to a senior chemistry or biology student with goals of attending medical school.
The scholarship comes as a gift from Robert E. Dicks, who graduated from UIndy in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and went on to graduate from Indiana University School of Medicine. According to UIndy 360, Dicks chose his career in medicine due to William Pitt Morgan, the former chair of biology at UIndy who the scholarship is named after. Morgan graduated from UIndy in 1919, then known as Indiana Central College, and began teaching biology at ICC the same year. This is not the first award to be named after Morgan, as the award for the outstanding student in biology is named in his honor, and the plaque can
be found in Lilly Hall today. According to Professor and Chair of Biology Sandra Davis the scholarship comes as a “pleasant surprise.”
“This gift was made by an alumni who has made the gift in the name of a former
Frederick D. Hill Archives
department chair because that chair had an impact on his life and changed the direction of his career,” Davis said. “I think
that's a great, great honor.”
She also stated that the scholarship's parameters, such as the amount, who will be eligible, and how the recipient will be decided are still being decided upon. Davis said she hopes the scholarship will be available by next year.
Professor and Chair of Chemistry David StyersBarnett said it is always great to have these kinds of opportunities for students.
“I think one of the nice things about this one is unlike most scholarships you apply for as an incoming freshman and you have that scholarship while you're here,” StyersBarnett said. “This is one where you can be rewarded for your performance in college as opposed to your preparation for college. It's always nice to be able to reward students for hard work that they've done while they're here.”
Styers-Barnett went on to say the gift would be given in increments and was unaware when the full amount would reach the University.
UIndy PD releases annual security report for 2023-24
By Emma Foutz EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
The University of Indianapolis publishedthe2023-24AnnualSecurity Report, as mandated by the Clery Act. According to the Clery Center, the Clery Act requires colleges and universities to report campus crime statisticsandoutlinesecurityprocedures and policies to improve campus safety. It established a standardized process for universities to disclose information about crimes that occur on campuses. Itaimsfortransparencyaroundcampus crime policy and statistics.
Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety Brandon Pate said the most common offense on campus is theft of opportunity, but the most reportable crime is drug and liquorrelated,with36combinedtotaloffenses.
With the average UIndy student age being 23,per CollegeData.com,UIPD cannot control whether of-age students drink,but the department’s approach to responding to liquor offenses is through education and awareness.
“It is something that is going to be ever-present no matter what we do,” Pate said. “We can’t tell you that you can’t drink, but we can give some education about what is a safe way to consume alcohol.”
Title IX offenses increased from 2022, with seven stalking offenses, nine dating violence offenses and three domestic violence offenses. According to the report, Title IX regulations, procedures and assistance for victims are comprehensively outlined to offer transparency.
Pate said the department's biggest challenge is shifting from responsive to proactive action. This requires the department to be “data-informed” to develop predictive strategies and proactive tactics rather than responding after the fact.
“The challenge is making sure that we’re always kind of on the front of the mitigationofcrime,”Patesaid.“Wedon’t want to sit back and become responsive to things.”
The ASR shows an overall decrease in most offenses compared to the previous two years. Pate said UIPD took a targeted and concentrated approach to a public safety plan's three prongs: education, enforcement and engagement.
“We knew if we leaned into those [three prongs] and cultivated it, we would create a more visible campus safety culture and that was going to reduce crime just based off the fact that you knew who the officers were, you knew who the students were,you knew who staff and faculty was…” Pate said.
UIPD programmed safety events for students, such as workshops, presentations and the annual Public Safety Week educational campaign, to promote prevention and awareness. Pate said UIPD sees reduced crime on campus and greater engagement with the campus community.
“Theendresultsofthat[workshops] isusuallyreducedcrimebecauseyoustart to feel more comfortable speaking to law enforcement,” Pate said. “... It’s the relationships and collaboration really drive down, not just crime occurrences, but the ability to respond to those in a timely manner.”
Photo contributed by Tanuja Singh and Christopher Plouff University of Indianapolis President Tanuja Singh signs agreement of cooperation papers alongside Manav Rachna University leadership in India.
President Tanuja Singh and Provost & Executive Vice President Chris Plouff stand with the Alliance University leadership team in Bengaluru, India. Alliance University is one of the oldest private universities in southern India.
WILLIAM PITT MORGAN
Photo contributed by Tanuja Singh and Christopher Plouff
Cosmic baseball comes to Indy
By Olivia Pastrick MANAGING & FEATURE EDITOR
Cosmic Baseball will bring black lights and excitement to Indianapolis as it partners with the Indianapolis Indians in May 2025 as part of the Cosmic Takeover Tour.
Cosmic Baseball is an exhibition-style team that was formed from the Tri-City Chili Peppers, which plays in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer league.
According to founder and owner of the Tri-City Chili Peppers Chris Martin, the team was formed in 2019 and began playing after the COVID-19 pandemic. Martin said Chili Peppers games combine high-quality baseball and entertainment.
“We have players that are looking to play at the next level, have fun and compete and grow, and hopefully they do well enough where at some point they’re getting drafted and playing professional baseball,” Martin said. “So our atmosphere has always been entertainment-focused and focused on fan experience and providing an atmosphere where you don’t have to necessarily be a massive baseball fan, but you
can have a great entertainment experience and enjoy time with the family and friends.”
Martin said Cosmic Baseball is separate from the TriCity Chili Peppers and the Coastal Plain League and features exhibition games. He said the concept of playing baseball under black lights came from fan experiences from Chili Peppers games.
Cosmic Baseball played for the first time this summer at
We honestly never thought it would blow up worldwide...”
Shepherd Stadium in Colonial Heights, Va. After selling out games in under 24 hours, Martin said he realized there was an opportunity to take Cosmic Baseball on tour to reach more fans.
“We honestly never thought it would blow up worldwide the way that it has,” Martin said. “The concept was always, ‘Hey, we’re just going to play at home, and if this does great and our fans like it, we’ll just keep doing it.’ And what happened was, when all the games sold
out in 24 hours at home last year, we had to add more games… We had people flying in internationally coming to see it, and we just felt like if we’re going to continue to do this, we want to take it on tour and give the opportunity for everybody in different cities to have the same experience.”
Martin said one of the coolest parts of being a spectator for Cosmic Baseball games is that fans can wear UV reflective gear and the black light will make everyone on the field and stands glow. He added that there are events and experiences in between and half way through innings to keep everyone engaged the entire time.
“I think the environment would be the first one with this high energy, a lot of stimulus and music and a ton of energy,” Martin said. “It’s almost like the game is a little bit altered, in a sense.”
The Cosmic Takeover Tour is visiting five cities in 2025, and will be announcing more games soon, according to the team’s Instagram. The only way to get tickets is to enter the Cosmic Lottery, and Martin said he expects those tickets to sell out within 24 hours as well, so fans should act fast.
The beginning of a new era
By Livia Lytle BUSINESS MANAGER
The 2024-25 UIndy basketball season is kicking off a new era for the men’s and women’s teams with both debuting new head coaches.
The women’s and men’s basketball teams open their seasons with a double-header on Nov. 8 at 5 and 7:30 p.m., respectively.
UIndy Men’s Basketball Head Coach Scott Heady was hired in April and started recruiting immediately. According to Heady, the team has 10 new players — three freshmen and seven transfers — and an entirely new coaching staff. Because of his late start, Heady said he built this year’s team mostly from the transfer portal. When he was hired, the team only had four returning players and an empty staff.
Heady was previously the head coach for men’s basketball at Marian University for seven years. During his transition to UIndy, he brought two players with him. One is a freshman who followed Heady to UIndy and the other is senior, Brody Whitaker, who Heady said averaged about 20 points per game last season at Marian. Heady said one of his goals for the UIndy men’s basketball program is to compete for conference and national titles year after year.
“From a standpoint of goals,” Heady said, “There is no question
that we want to be contenders for GLVC and for our Division 2 championships every year. That is a program that we need to be; that has to be the goal.”
As far as long term goals, Heady said he wants to focus on the team building an identity. He wants the team to maintain consistency, to build a championship culture and to win.
“We want to be great defensively,” Heady said. “We want to win the possession battle and we want to play fast, but we also want to play smart. On the offensive end, we want to be a team that is balanced and very aggressive. We want to play in attack mode all the time and feel that we are dictating the tempo of the game.”
Heady said the players to watch out for this season are Whitaker and UIndy returners Zac Szul and Dylan Ingram. He said transfer Pierce Thomas, who played at Butler University and Eastern Kentucky University, could also be a name to watch for.
UIndy Women’s Basketball Head Coach Jama Sharp was hired in May, after coaching for five years at Stetson University in Florida, and started recruiting upon her arrival. Graduate and transfer student Amyrah Sapenter said there are three returning players this season.
Sharp said she is excited to bring women’s basketball to the forefront and to see the team can grow this
season and to build the program.
“The biggest goal is getting us back to a winning season, a winning record and competing in our conference tournament,” Sharp said. “I want us to compete on the national level. There are a lot of sports at UIndy that already have that, and I think women’s basketball has fallen behind.”
Sapenter said she is excited to experience what this conference holds. She attended Northeastern University as an undergraduate and played on its basketball team for three and a half years before graduating. Sapenter had three different coaches throughout her time at Northeastern, which she said helped her navigate which school and team she was going to transfer to.
“When I spoke with Coach Sharp on the phone her enthusiasm really stood out to me and I could tell immediately that she genuinely cared about what she was looking for in her players and her program,” Sapenter said.
Sapenter said it is a nonnegotiable for the team to make it to the tournament. On top of that, she said she wants UIndy to be one of the top four best defensive teams in the GLVC.
“It is definitely a process, having so many new pieces, new coaches and lots of new people, but I feel like we have the potential to be great,” Sapenter said. “I am really excited to see how that comes to fruition.”
Photo contributed by Matthew Bowman
Photo contributed by Matthew Bowman Cosmic Baseball players line up in the dugout during a cosmic baseball game. The team was formed from the Tri-City Chili Peppers, which plays in the Coastal Plain League.
Photo contributed by Matthew Bowman #3 Matthew McGovern high fives First Base Coach Nick Windom as he approaches the plate during a game in the Cosmic Baseball 2024 season.
Photo contributed by Dylan Euler
UIndy Men’s Basketball Head Coach Scott Heady during an Oct. 4 practice. The team has an entirely new coaching staff this year.
Photo contributed by Makenna Maschino
UIndy Women’s Basketball Head Coach Jama Sharp during an Oct. 16 practice for the upcoming 2024-25 season. She was hired at the end of May.
Colby Motley stands in front of home plate with the crowd behind him during a cosmic baseball game in the 2024 season. The atmosphere of the games focuses on the experience of the fans.
Wrestling gets ready to rumble
By Elyssa Merrill OPINION EDITOR
The University of Indianapolis wrestling team is approaching a new Great Valley Lakes Conference season on Nov. 3 as new and returning wrestlers aim to make their mark.
Head Coach Jason Warthan said the team consists of mostly upperclassmen with some returning from a red shirt year to compete and multiple graduate students on the roster. Warthan explained that the team has five All-Americans, one a recent transfer from Mercyhurst University, and all of the teams’ national qualifiers but one are returning this competition season. However, despite the team’s experience and qualifications, Warthan said what matters is what they can do with what they have despite the adversity facing the team.
“There’s injuries. There’s going to be times where some of these
guys are going to be put into high stakes, high pressure situations,” Warthan said. “And so, yeah, there is certainly mentorship … And that in the guys they’re there [on the mat], they take responsibility for where they’re at, and they’re learning and they’re wrestling, and so they come in with questions.”
Warthan said that, while the team is fortunate to be successful, it can often be attributed to the culture and tradition within the program helps foster the environment that leads to winning. Not only is there the expectation of achieving success, but Warthan said there is a desire and want from the entire team that makes everything easier.
“And that tradition thing is real,” Warthan said. “I think it pulls the best out of kids. … So it just brings an extra fire to them, and they don’t want to give up for their team, or they want to fight as hard as they can, because every point counts for the team.”
Heavy-weight competitor and red-shirt junior Cale Gray said the
culture within the team is what has kept him around for the past five years. Gray said he feels the team has always been light-hearted and accountable. As a grad student and a veteran, he hopes younger players can look to him for support and as a friend.
Additionally, Gray said that, although there are people on the team known and expected to flourish, he believes each and every member of the lineup has the same potential. As a team, he hopes they find success.
“We have a lot of returning guys at the national level, and the other guys we have on the team have just the same potential to be as successful with that,” Gray said. “With all that potential and with all those credentials coming back, I’m very confident that a team trophy is on our path. And I hope that with no injuries coming by, holding each other accountable and keeping everyone upbeat, we can achieve that.”
According to the UIndy
wrestling schedule, the Hounds take on McKendree Dec. 6 at home, a team they hope to beat after losing to them last year, Warthan said. With four matches before then, Warthan said he hopes to work the roster and see where players land leading into January.
“Second semester is really when things start, where we’ll have duals every weekend,”Warthan said.“And so we’re just trying to prepare as much as we can and continue to grow and kind of evolve as wrestlers and people and stay humble and hungry.”
Warthan also said that, this being a festival year for track and field, swimming and wrestling, the University of Indianapolis will be hosting Nationals on March 14 and 15. He hopes there will be a big home crowd to support the Hounds. To learn more about the team, its tournaments and matches and where they will be hosted, check out “The Reflector” sports schedule or the UIndy Athletics wrestling schedule.
Cross country concludes
UIndy greyhounds compete at conference championship meet
By Audra Hogan STAFF WRITER
The 2024 cross country season is coming to a close for the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds.
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Brad Robinson said he is looking forward to watching the athletes compete and transition into track season.
The UIndy cross country team traveled to the University of Illinois Springfield this past Saturday, Oct. 26. The men placed sixth in team competition while the women’s team placed tenth, according to UIndy Athletics. Junior Felix Revit placed second overall,
earning All-GLVC honors and setting a new school record for the 8-kilometer race that had stood for nine years.
In the weeks preparing for the GLVC championships, Robinson said his athletes endured heavy training with the women running 40-50 miles a week. The men’s heavy-training weeks were 80+ miles a week. Robinson said in the days before the conference, the mileage decreased so athletes could recover and prepare for a quality race.
Robinson said he is excited to watch these athletes move to regionals and potentially the national level. Athletes that could be competing at this caliber, he said, are Revit
who is leading the men’s team, freshman Conyer Wilson who is showing his strength as an athlete within his first year and senior Tom Saint-Juvin who is a good competitor and shows up in championship meets.
“On the ladies side, junior Emma Gaston will be leading the charge for us,” Robinson said. “If things really came together and she had a phenomenal race, there’s a chance to be top 20 and be all conference.”
Athletes who qualify at conference will be moving on to regionals at Lewis University in Illinois on Nov. 9. The national meet is in Sacramento, California, on Nov. 23. Robinson said he is very
happy with how the athletes have run this season and is excited to see how training this season will affect race times for indoor track and field season starting on Dec. 6. The cross country team is made up of 400-800 meter runners, hurdlers and multis. This means that a lot of the athletes on this team are not specifically training for these long distance races but are competing to help their performances with their main event in the spring.
“I do feel optimistic and strong about the trajectory for where we are headed for the track season,” Robinson said. “We are going to look to build off that momentum and keep that going into the track season as well.”
Pacers 2024-25 season preview
By Audra Hogan STAFF WRITER
The Indiana Pacers have wrapped preseason and officially started regular season games with a win on Oct. 23 against the Detroit Pistons.
The Pacers advanced in the NBA Finals during the 202324 season, losing in the second round of semifinals against the Boston Celtics who won the championship. Leading up to this, the Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks.
Coming off this great momentum, the team is looking strong and will have another good season this year. There are a few star players such as point guard Tyrese Haliburton, power forward Obi Toppin and center Myles Turner, as well as a few new players such as small forward Johnny Furphy, power forward Enrique Freeman and shooting guard Tristen Newton. These rookies could bring a lot of youth and promise to the team, and it will be interesting to see how the team plays together.
I think that the team is looking strong and will have another good season.
Haliburton had the opportunity to play on Team USA in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics. He gained more experience by playing with highly experienced players on the national team. It was very cool as a Hoosier to see someone represent our state and see how much he grew from the experience.
The Pacers have played four games in the preseason going 2-2. The games have been competitive, especially the last game against the Charlotte Hornets. The Pacers were down with under 10 seconds left when Ben Sheppard had a 4-point play that led into overtime and a Pacers win.
This season looks like it is going to be very promising with so much talent. If they can work as a team and stay healthy, it should be a great season. No matter the outcome this season, having the Pacers play in a stadium that is just 15 minutes away from campus gives UIndy students and the community a unique opportunity to easily attend games and support the team. Tickets can be found at ticketing/event sites like Ticketmaster and the schedule can be found on the team website.
Photo contributed by UIndy Athletics Head wrestling coach Jason Warthan sits during a meet in the 2023-2024 season. The roster features both new and veteran wrestlers for 2024-25.
Photo contributed by UIndy Athletics
Heavy-weight competitor and red-shirt junior Cale Gray faces an opponent during a match in the 2023-24 season. The team opens matches on Nov. 3.
Student reels in potential discovery
Senior biology major Jackson Hoover travels to Vietnam to conduct honor’s project research
By Mia Lehmkuhl EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & NEWS EDITOR
A University of Indianapolis honors student traveled internationally — returning home with a potentially groundbreaking discovery, memories of good food and hiking in jungles and a unique take on his honors project.
Jackson Hoover, senior biology major, traveled to Vietnam to investigate a new species of fish.
Associate Professor of Biology Dean Wiseman suggested the idea after having Hoover in class.
“He was asking about doing an honors project, and I pitched a couple of ideas for him, you know, more conventional projects,” Wiseman said.
“But then I said, ‘You know, if you want to do something different, I’ve got something for you.’ And as soon as I told him about it, I literally saw him lean forward in his chair. He was like,‘Yeah, let’s do that.’”
Although Hoover spent time with the ecology side of biology with his honors project, he said he is focused on going into medicine during the rest of his studies at UIndy and in his future career.
“I knew I loved biology,” Hoover said, “... but I didn’t know what part of biology I wanted to go into, and then I was able to work at a local neurologist clinic and get to interact with patients on a daily basis and experience that part of medicine, and I kind of fell in love with it.”
We can adopt foods and traditions that enrich our lives.”
The fish, which has not yet been confirmed as a novel species, was discovered inside the multi-cave Tiger Cave System with more than 25 miles of surveyed passage, according to Wiseman. Because of stricter conservation efforts and regulations in Vietnam, Wiseman and Hoover were able to bring back DNA samples and high resolution photographs to continue or publish their findings. Hoover said the cave surveying work was largely a team effort.
“Basically what we would do is we were as a team, dividing up into a certain area, whatever area that we decided to look at,”Hoover said.“And we’re taking pictures of all the different organisms, whether it was remains of crabs or insects, like whatever we could find.We were just documenting it. And then once we got back here, we’re hoping to work to identify some of those organisms ....”
THINGS TO DO
Hoover said the next steps are to publish their research with hopes of notifying the local community and government of Vietnam about the species so it can be protected and confirming if the fish is a novel species. His honors project involves statistical analysis of the measurements of the fish — the full length of the body or from its nose to its gills.
Surveying wildlife benefits more than the researchers. Wiseman said preserving the value of biodiversity and “pristineness” of these sorts of areas rather than extracting its resources is a win-win for researchers and greater humanity. By assigning more value to these spaces, they can be enjoyed and sustained more easily.
For Wiseman, this sort of surveying work is important not only from an ecological perspective, but personal growth as well. For Americans who have not been abroad or to Vietnam in particular, it could prove an enriching experience and an opportunity for personal growth.
“From the American perspective, it’s relatively inexpensive to visit,” Wiseman said. “It’s less expensive to go to Vietnam for a week than it is to go for three days in Hawaii. I can speak that from experience. And so we benefit as tourists experiencing a culture that’s different from our own.
We can adopt ideas and foods and traditions that enrich our lives.”
ONGOING
The Eras Sing Along Cruise (Oct. 31 - Nov. 4)
Presented by Gondola Rides: Old World Gondoliers, a 50-minute tour on a Yacht of the Indianapolis canal happening everyday until Nov. 4 for $36 a person. Seats can be purchased at 4gondola.com and can be found downtown at 801 W. Washington St.
Indy Scream Park (until Nov. 2)
Located Northeast of Indianapolis, the Indy Scream Park features multiple attractions that are open until early November. Tickets can be purchased at indyscreampark.com.
Early voting (until Nov. 5)
The Marion County Clerk’s Office will be open until 10:00 p.m. Nov. 1 - 3 to accommodate early voters. The office is located downtown at 675 Justice Way.
OCT. 31
Happy Halloween!
Boo Bash with Professional Edge Center (11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
Celebrate Halloween by trick or treating with various university departments in the Schwitzer Student Center Shreve Atrium.
Día de Los Muertos (4:005:00 p.m.)
Día de Los Muertos will be celebrated in Schwitzer Student Center Art Experience Lab, room 203, with altars, feature photographs, marigolds, and cherished items. Everyone is invited to come together for the holiday. It is also for L/P credit.
UIndy Art and Design’s 33rd Annual Halloween Costume Contest (3:30 - 6:30 p.m.)
Students and faculty are invited to stop into CDFAC 111 anytime between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to enter in the Art and Design department’s Halloween costume contest. Prizes will be given to the best contenders!
NOV. 1 - 3
Taylor Swift Weekend Celebrate Taylor Swift’s coming to Indy with various activities happening over the weekend across the city, including events at the Indianapolis Zoo, bars around town, SPARK on the Circle and more.
NOV. 2
Holiday Jewelry Gift Making (12:00 p.m.)
Guests can visit the Garfield Park Conservatory and Gardens, located at 2432 Conservatory Dr., to create a pair of earrings, a necklace or keychain with pressed flowers. Trunk or Treat (12:00 - 6:00 p.m.)
The UIndy Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will be hosting a Trunk or Treat in the tailgate lot behind Nicoson Hall. The event is open to the public and costumes are encouraged for all that attend!
NOV. 4
Walking Group (10:3011:30 a.m.)
Join the BeWell walking group every Monday afternoon in Nicoson Hall.
Strength Training for All! (3:15 - 3:45 p.m.)
This 30 minute class in HEAL 104, on the first floor of the Health Pavillion, will focus on strength exercises and stretching. Visitors just need to bring water, as weights will be provided.
Faculty Artist Concert Series: Faculty Pops (7:008:30 p.m.)
UIndy music faculty will be performing reimagined popular hits, but with a fresh take. The UIndy community can see their performance in the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall in CDFAC. The event is also L/P credit approved.
NOV. 5
ELECTION DAY
Happy election day! Be sure to cast your vote at a polling location near you.
NOV. 6
Orlando Magic vs. Indiana Pacers (7:00 p.m.)
The Indiana Pacers will take on Orlando Magic downtown in their home arena, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, located at 125 S. Pennsylvania St.
The Nutcracker presented by Grand Kyiv Ballet (7:00 p.m.)
Leading Ukrainian ballet dancers with the Grand Kyiv Ballet will be performing “The Nutcracker” at Warren Central High School. Guests can enter through door 27, and tickets can be purchased at grandkyivballet.com.
NOV. 7
Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival (7:30 p.m.)
Indy Pride will be showing an array of feature films, shorts, and documentaries throughout the month of November. “The World According to Allee Willis,” directed by Alexis Spraic preceded by “ILY, Bye,” directed by Taylor James will be playing downtown at 1258 Windsor St., and tickets can be purchased at indylgbtfilmfest.com.
NOV. 8
VETERAN’S DAY
Campus is closed and classes are canceled in observance of Veteran’s Day.
Photo contributed by Dean Wiseman
Associate Professor of Biology Dean Wiseman exploring part of a multi-cave Tiger Cave System in Vietnam as part of an expedition to investigate a potentially new fish with senior biology major Jackson Hoover and a team of researchers.
Photo contributed by Dean Wiseman
As part of his honors project, senior biology major Jackson Hoover and Associate Professor of Biology Dean Wiseman traveled to Vietnam to investigate the fish.
Hound Pound revives student spirit
UIndy Hounds bring school spirit
By: Ella Harner STAFF WRITER
On Saturday nights in Key Stadium the Hounds show out on the field, but what about in the stands? The Hound Pound is bringing back school spirit at sporting events.
Sophomore communication major Hunter Baker has taken the lead on getting the student section to be the best it can be. Baker said he spoke to Matt Donovan, senior associate athletic director for advancement, who told him there had not been a full student section since COVID-19 hit schools in 2020.
Baker saw this during his freshman year, and entering his second year, he said he knew he needed to take the reins and start something for all students to be a
back to the stands and have something to say about it
part of. It has been a lot of work, Baker said. He said he has to talk to the head of the athletic department every week before a home game.
The Hound Pound had its first successful student section under
... The most important thing is that you can bond with each other.
Baker’s lead at the Homecoming game on Saturday Sept. 28, 2024.
“We had such a great turnout, everyone was in it, and it was just an amazing feeling,” Baker said.
Baker said he had a lot of involvement from other students to get the Hound Pound up and running. According to Baker,
about 20 people helped make signs and posters, generated ideas and brought props to the student section. Baker said the student section is not just about cheering at the games, it is a way to bring students together.
“I think the most important thing is that you can bond with each other,” Baker said, “You don’t have to have any knowledge of sports to be in the student section.”
Baker was an athlete in high school and said he knows other athletes look forward to having a good student section at their games. Baker says the long-term goal for the Hound Pound is to expand it to all sports. He wants every athlete from every team to feel like they have a fan base.
Everyone is welcome in the Hound Pound, Baker said, and the section is marked behind a
HOROSCOPES
Read your astrological destiny this spooky season
ARIES
You are hungry to escape your daily routine but afraid your relationships will suffer. Fear not, Aries. Loyalty and independence can coexist if you let them. The longer you hold out, the longer you are stunting your growth.
TAURUS
LEO You are at a fork in the road. Step aside and let the stars guide you. It will allow you to focus on your path, which is the only path you can control. You have been distracted by what others have, and jealousy is a guaranteed way to lose your power.
So much has changed over the last year. You learned hard lessons and realized you were more resilient than you knew. Your personality and spirit are aligning as opportunities abound. Keep your eyes and ears open to seize on them.
GEMINI
Appeasing others is exhausting. Use what your mama gave you, a backbone, to live a more fulfilling life. Start by easing up on your schedule and spending time with select friends without being beholden to the clock.
CANCER
VIRGO
SAGITTARIUS
Overworked and underpaid, welcome to a large club. While commiserating with others may relieve stress and be comforting, be careful whom you trust. The club is significant, and its members love spilling tea.
Some people are born with wings, and others have both feet planted firmly on the earth. You are so grounded it can feel like quicksand. Visit a trampoline park and jump until you can’t. You will find your equilibrium.
LIBRA
Buzz. You are quite the busy bee buzzing around others’ hives. Stick to yours, and the worker bees and honey will follow. It is time to choose your role. Are you a busy bee or a queen bee? Choose one; you can’t have both.
The only way to handle pain is to go through it. Nobody enjoys dealing with heartbreak, but we all must confront it eventually. You have two options: avoid it and suffer more, or acknowledge and tend to your feelings.
CAPRICORN
Your selfconfidence is at its highest, and friends admire your growth. An unlikely friendship is allowing you space to express yourself. Foster the relationship, and you will have a kindred spirit for life.
AQUARIUS
You tend to be impressionable,which is OK around the right people. However, you have been hanging around clowns. You are entering a new phase of enlightenment. Get out of the clown car before you become one.
SCORPIO
The stars are aligned in your favor. You have more rizz than usual and undeniable magnetism. But, like the Northern Lights, it won’t last forever. Don’t fear; your vision will remain clear even on darker days.
PISCES
You have paid your dues, and your hard work is returning to you two-fold. Savor every success and reward and celebrate them with others. You have been hustling far too long. Welcome to your next era: reward.
Icons by Jona Hogle | Art Director; Spread by Mia Lehmkuhl | Editor-in-Chief
large sign. Anyone who wants to join is encouraged to. Baker wants anyone with ideas to shout them out. There is no student section without the inclusion of everyone.
“If you’re going to go to the games that you get into for free,”
Baker said, “you might as well cheer.” You can find the Hound Pound and stay updated with themes on their Instagram, @x_uindydogpound_x
“The Reflector” staff’s favorite fall films
My favorite fall movie is Twilight. Some may argue that Twilight is not a fall movie, but I cannot think of anything that puts me in the fall spirit more than the first installment of the Twilight saga. *hoa hoa hoa hoa hoaAaaa*
As the weather starts to grow colder, I love wrapping myself in a fuzzy robe, popping some popcorn, and cozying up to watch one of my favorite film trilogies:
“The Lord of the Rings” movies.
My favorite fall film has to be The Haunted Mansion with Eddie Murphy. This movie screams nostalgia to me with its hints of humor and a few kid friendly jump scares. I have to rewatch this at least once during the season!
Growing up, every Halloween my mom made my little brothers and me watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Now that I’m older, I can’t help but appreciate the timeless 1966 animated film. It holds a special place in my heart.
Photo by Allison Cook
Mia Lehmkuhl EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & NEWS EDITOR
Audra Hogan STAFF WRITER
Allison Cook PHOTO EDITOR
Livia Lytle BUSINESS MANAGER
Puzzles by Allison Cook
Sophomore student section leader Hunter Baker and UIndy students cheer for the UIndy football team during an Oct. 12 game against Quincy University.
By Caroline Krauch SPORTS EDITOR
After a complete overhaul, the University of Indianapolis Student Government Association has named its new cabinet members who will work alongside President Mallory Tompson.
SGA began the school year with Tompson being the only official leader named, according to a previous article by Te Reflector. In addition to the primary cabinet, it also added a representative cabinet made up of ten members from various departments and backgrounds.
To pick the cabinet, Thompson said applicants underwent multiple rounds of interviews before being selected. She said many people applied to multiple positions, and there was a lot of thought that went into selecting the best candidates.
Thompson said primary cabinet members are involved in every campaign that SGA runs and focus on the big-picture issues. Tis cabinet is made up of the president, vice president, communication chair, DEI chair and financial chair. Vice President Jotan Johnson said it is important to have cabinet members from various backgrounds with different opinions so they can better combat big issues as a team.
“ Teir role is crucial as well, because they bring in new ideas from different backgrounds that we might not be familiar with and then we can fight for change,” Johnson said. “We can't really advocate for change if we are not aware.
We assure you that the student government will act as a voice ...."
Having that diversity within the cabinet allows us to better help and support the students on campus.”
having all these different advocates for the different colleges,” Ramirez said.“We can directly go and talk to the students, meet with the deans of the colleges and ensure that we're working closely with the students.”
Ramirez said the primary board will focus on broader student issues and the goal of the representatives is to make sure that more specific concerns are being met. She said students can reach out to her or any board member if they have questions or concerns SGA could help with.
“We assure you that the student government will act as the voice for the student body,” Ramirez said. “We will advocate for your concerns, interests and comments to the faculty, staff and administration. And most importantly, student government will provide transparency to the students.Te most important thing is that we are all students and we are all part of this big UIndy family, so we all have to look out for each other.” Tere are a total of 15 students
“ Te hardest part was telling people that there wasn't a position on the board for them because all we ever want is for students to be involved and engaged with student government,”Tompson said. “It's very difficult to have to tell people no, but we always encourage them to stay involved even when they're not holding an official position.”
Te representative cabinet is made up of 10 students with more specific roles and populations they are representing. Sofia Ramirez, the college of health cciences representative and part of the SGA cabinet last year, said the representative cabinet serves as a way for students to easily access their student government. Its goal is to advocate for students, something she said was lacking last year.
“With this new cabinet you're
McCormick from Page 1
Chamber of Commerce and Republican representatives. Now, you run as a Democrat and advocate for the Democratic platform. What changed?
“It's not about party, it's about people. And when I was elected in 2016 the Republican Party was very di ff erent, and my values didn't change. T e party changed. My values have always been about people, and I told kids for 20 years as an educator that character mattered and that we should take care of each other, and we're stronger together, and we should embrace diversity and inclusivity, and we're better when we're educated, we're better when we're healthy. And what I saw at the state house was a party who simply did not get aligned with that. And so, for me, my values didn't change ….”
How does your background in education correlate with the o ffi ce of governor?
“We're over half of the state budget, so we're expensive, but we're an investment. So I was in charge of over $9 billion and so I took that very seriously. I'm very fiscally conservative, and I know people work really hard. We don't waste our money, but
education is a huge part of what we do in the state, not just K-12 but post high school. … I mean, our economic developments are based upon that. Our safety and security is based upon education.
How we get along with each other is our educational level.
I mean, there's so much at risk.
Democracy is about education. So that educational piece is huge, and there's no one who's better equipped and suited for that than an educator. And so I look forward to bringing my skills and my passion to that o ffi ce.
Our kids deserve it, and also our economy is dependent upon it.”
How can the governor
e ff ectively help to reduce gun violence and work with the state legislature to pass bipartisan gun legislation?
“We have to have mental health, we have to have common sense gun violence prevention laws, which are so welcomed by 80% of Hoosiers. We have to have some common sense approaches to community safety, and that means partnering at the local level trying to pass those common sense gun violence prevention laws. Why are we trying to — my opponent [Sen.
that make up SGA’s full cabinet, all with the goal of building on the foundation from last year.Tey said they plan on better advocating for the students and making sure their direct needs are met.
“I want students to know our board this year,” Johnson said. “We had our first whole, big meeting and the energy is really good. I think we're ready to bring change to the university so students can feel they belong at UIndy so for sure, we're definitely working.”
SGA announces cabinet Honors relocating House off Hanna to be used for Honors College
By Gabriel Tice STAFF WRITER
Te University of Indianapolis Honors College is planning to move from its established location on the second floor of Esch Hall to a newly renovated house on the southeast side of campus.
Even though this change was recently announced, the idea to move the honors program to its own building has been in the works for quite a while. According to Dean of the Honors College James Williams the idea to move the program to its own dedicated building has been around for a while, but was buried due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the change in presidents at the university. With the announcement of the increased gift in February by Laura Strain, the idea could finally move forward. Williams said the specific plans on how the honors college will use the space are still in the early development,
Mike Braun] is trying to roll back red flag laws. And red flag laws are simply when someone's in crisis, you have the ability to go take their weapons so they don't hurt themselves or hurt someone else. And my opponents like, leave people alone, and I'm like, ‘No, we need to educate people on how to use those wisely.’”
As part of your 2016 campaign, you pointed out an aura of divisiveness plaguing your community. Now, the Pew Research Center reports that there continues to be “wide gaps on cultural issues” among American voters. How will you maintain bipartisan support or unity in an increasingly partisan political environment?
“And so finding that common ground, but being an example of that, being top of the ticket and the leader of the executive branch, we need to have someone who will show that this can be done in Indiana, because we deserve that. As Hoosiers, we deserve if there's an answer to a problem, let's find a solution. Who cares who puts it forth? Who cares? T e political party. We need the solution so we all are in a state that's better.”
and that as of right now, the only renovations currently being made are to make the house ADA compliant, along with some repainting. As of now, Williams said his office and the honor’s student lounge will be located in the new house, and they plan to move before the start of the spring semester.
Te house is not new to UIndy’s campus, as it was was previously used by the Greyhound Club, which moved to the Stierwalt Alumni House, according to Vice President of Advancement Phillip Tornton.
“There's been a transition of departments given the new strategic plan,” T ornton said, “and as part of that we made the decision to unify the three alumnifacing departments of campus so that would be the Office of Advancement, Alumni Relations and Athletic Fundraising also known as Greyhound Club, and unify all three into one team in one building.” According to Tornton, the Greyhound Club used the house
as office space, housing four people who worked with UIndy alumni in support of student athletics and the athletic department. The Greyhound Club, along with Alumni Relations, now work under one roof as the three departments are now combined under the Office of Advancement, Tornton said. One of the largest changes, according to Tornton, has been reevaluating the space in the Alumni House for the incoming departments.
“It's gonna be a positive in every way possible,” Tornton said. “... A big part of this is we want our alumni to have the best experience possible, and in this new model, we have an opportunity to design one holistic experience instead of kind of three separate groups all working separately on this. It's gonna be one team working in one direction, and I think it's gonna yield some great results.” Both departmental changes come as the university has worked to meet the goals of its new strategic plan which was released to the public in April.
Photo by Allison Cook
From left to right, UIndy Student Government Association members Jotan Johnson, Mallory Thompson, Brenna Bastin, Liv Evilsizor and Livia Lytle stand in front of the UIndy emblem in the Schwitzer Student Center on Oct. 24.
Photo by Gabriel Tice
The former Greyhound Club & Athletic Development building remains unchanged as renovation plans are still in early development.