By Olivia Pastrick MANAGING EDITOR & FEATURE EDITOR
Every election cycle voters in historically blue or red states have to wonder — do their votes really make a difference? While a vote for Vice President Kamala Harris may not go very far in Indiana this year, a vote holds more value than its contribution to the electoral college.
In order to win the presidential election, a candidate must win 270 out of 538 electoral votes. Each state has one electoral vote, represented by electors, for each Member in the House of Representatives and Senator that contributes to the 270 needed. Electors are first chosen by the state’s political parties and selected by voters to represent and vote for their state in the electoral college, according to the National Archives. Due to this process, the power of one individual’s vote may get lost, especially in states that have traditionally been Democrat or Republican.
Indiana is considered the “reddest” state in the Midwest, according to 270 to Win, and the Republican Party has had three consecutive double-digit victories over the Democratic Party. While the state did go blue in 2008, it was only by 1.1%. This leads many democrats in Indiana wondering if it really matters whether or not they vote. Voting, first and foremost, is a privilege. Some people may choose to forgo that privilege, but having the right to vote
should be enough reason to do so anyway. Anyone who believes in either candidate enough to consider voting for them should do so, even if it is only an act of expressing their opinion, regardless of whether they think
Graphic by Olivia Pastrick
it will effect the electoral college. Although it is very likely Harris will lose in Indiana and Trump in traditionally blue states, it is important for the president to know where and how strong their voter base is. Even if support for Harris may be weak in Indiana, it is valuable to her campaign to know how people throughout Indiana, and other red states, voted.
By Reagan Sexton-Godsey ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Editor’s Note: The following story contains the discussion and depiction of child abuse. Reader discretion is advised. Family vlogging channels have morphed into something different, and it is not for the better. What was once a lighthearted day in the life of families became a nightmare. There is a large difference between capturing memories and exploiting children for viewership and monetization. These family channels raise many valid privacy concerns. Who is watching these videos? How can the safety of the child be ensured? Is consent from a child even possible? One family-vlogging channel in particular is 8 Passengers. The Franke family children have a large history and saddening story — being exploited and neglected off camera by their own mother.
Ruby Franke, “mother” and family YouTuber, was found guilty for child neglect, alongside her business partner
particular situation makes me question why Franke was not confronted. She chose to not feed and provide food for her hungry daughter, who was far too young to feed herself. I know that when I was this young I relied heavily on my parents. My mother and father made sure I was always fed, and knew that I was not capable of packing and remembering my lunch on my own. The factual evidence provided from the Franke case further proves the danger behind monetizing and giving people like Franke a platform. This should open people’s eyes as it tells the true horrors of what can happen when children are reduced to clickbait.
Parents are concerned with their income over the safety of their children.
Jodie Hildebrandt, according to Washington County Attorney General’s press release in St. George, Utah. Franke’s son Russell, 12 at the time, had escaped Hildebrandt’s home and was found begging a neighbor for help. Franke neglected her youngest son, his living conditions were described as horrid and isolated as he was forced to complete strenuous tasks while being denied food and water. When the young child first initially tried to flee from his mother’s abuse, he was restrained, his legs tied together as punishment, according to the press release.Franke is charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse, and this was not the first sign of neglect from the Franke family. In fact, there are countless signs of abuse from the channel’s videos. One particular incident involves her eldest and youngest sons Chad and Russell as Franke expressed her eldest son was punished for pranking his younger brother. To punish her son, she took his bedroom away for seven months, forcing him to sleep on a bean bag in what she refers to as the “family room.”I understand the importance of teaching your children respect and how to take accountability,but Franke was extreme. Additionally, Franke expressed during a vlog that her six-year-old daughter is responsible for packing her own lunch after explaining her daughter was hungry at school. This
A presidential vote may not hold very much power in a firmly blue or red state, but there are several other elections on the ballot this year. In Indiana we are voting for governor, senators, representatives and many local positions depending on the county. Although Indiana has had a republican governor since 2005, votes are determined by county rather than state, meaning that individuals’ votes hold much more power. When people choose to abstain from voting because they do not believe their single vote matters, they are often forgetting to consider the elections that are much closer to home.
According to Pew Research, approximately 62.8% of people of voting age voted in the 2020 election, which was a dramatic increase from previous elections. This year, a survey done by Pew Research found that 72% of registered voters said they were very motivated to vote in the 2024 presidential election. Hopefully that survey is correct and there is a large turnout at the polls on Nov. 5 — the 2024 election is important to many Americans, so it is more important than ever for everyone to educate themselves and get to a voting location.
Whether an American feels compelled to vote because it is their privilege or they feel strongly about one of the candidates, it is important for everyone to use the opportunity to make their voice heard. Even if it amounts to little in the outcome of the presidential election, an individual’s vote matters to everyone else who participates in our democracy.
By Reflector Staff Writers
This is a compilation of impromptu questions answered by the UIndy community.
Are you registerd to vote for the upcoming election?
“Yes, I am. I do believe that voting is important. Every vote counts because I know some people don’t like to vote because they think it doesn’t matter but. Your vote can go a long way in help in any way possible so go out there and vote.”
-Parris Bevelle ‘27
“I registered to vote as soon as I turned 18. Voting is one way to make sure that your opinion can be hear in the government. I want to know if I’m heard, and this is how.”
- Karma Sykes ‘28
Do you feel prepared to vote in this upcoming election?
“I feel prepared because I know what my morals are in terms of politics and the changes I want to be made.”
-Nejatt Cheikh ‘25
“I’m very prepared for this upcoming presidential election, but I was a little hesitant at first, because this is the first presidential election that I will be voting in. I turned 20 a couple months ago, so this whole process is somewhat new, but I think now more than ever, it’s important that every single person is able to vote that can vote.”
-Michelle Torres ‘25
By Mia Lehmkuhl EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & NEWS EDITOR
Imagine opening your laptop, typing something into the search bar, finding a news article that would tell you everything you need to know and then — no intrusive paywall? It is too good to be true!
there cannot be droves of people that read more than four to five articles from one news site a day casually, right?
By Elyssa Merrill OPINION EDITOR
What better time to fall in love than during fall? Relationships are more than a trend, but you can turn what is behind your screen into reality.
Love is in the air this autumn, and it is a great opportunity to get out there and start or continue something great. My social media has been blowing up with various ideas on “boo baskets,” couple’s costumes and date ideas, and it has been great to get such accessible ideas to do with my boo! To preface, doing, or the lack of doing, these things does not define a relationship. Always do what makes you happy and communicate what you do and do not want to do this Halloween! So without further ado, here are some great gift ideas and activities to do in the Indy area to spend this spooky season with your special someone or even friends. First and foremost, we are college students, so it is not always easy to go on dates that require a lot of spending. Fortunately, there are many cost-effective ways to still have fun and go out while not breaking the bank. For a fun event to do using what is all around us, arts and crafts activities with leaves can be a silly way to get out, take photos and create keepsakes for those involved. It does not matter if you visit Garfield Park, Military Park or stay here on campus, leaves are not a difficult find in Indy. Whether it is a leaf imprint collage, leaf bookmarks or a decorative garland, these crafts are easy on the wallet and still a hands-on activity to make the night!
As social media evolves, I have noticed an influx of parents posting their children on the popular app TikTok. I feel as though these social media influencers are obsessed with making money, even if that means endangering their children. It is common knowledge that there are dangers to posting online. I question why parents aren’t doing more to hide their children’s identity and personal information. Simply, parents are concerned with their income over the safety of their children. It is important for viewers to recognize the signs of child abuse, neglect and exploitation.
If you believe a child is suffering from neglect, contact the Childhelp’s, a nonprofit organization, child abuse hotline at (800) 422-4453.
We need to prevent another Franke case because protecting children is important.
Corrections
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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.
What do you think?
Send your letters to the editor or other correspondence to reflector@uindy.edu
I do plenty of research online. Like many others, I like to stay informed, look information up for my classes, or maybe I am just in the mood to get the latest Fever game results. Without fail, the “$1 for a Year,”s and “Subscribe Now,”s begin to close in on my computer screen. And, I must admit, the length in which some of these sites go to trap you in this information purgatory is admirable. Sometimes it just blurs the rest of the article (which can be easily bypassed, but you did not hear it from me), offers you the article for free as long as you hand over your email for their mail lists, or, in the most severe of cases, scrambles the entire article so it is illegible. Nonetheless, it plagues us all: paywalls.
As a lover and producer of news, I understand more than many that newspapers need to make money to stay in business. There are few left who pick up a tangible newspaper and read it, and circulation numbers of United States daily newspapers continues its steep drop year after year. Newspapers have to do something to stay afloat or print journalism dies. I support selling advertisements, digital subscriptions or even enforcing a (reasonable) limit on the amount of articles one can read without an account per day — I mean,
Even if you are like me and consume news regularly, I hop to different outlets depending on if I want Indiana news, national news or if I want to verify potentially skewed information. Paywalls now have gone too far, bordering on gatekeeping. Is journalism not, at its core, a public service?
Especially now, when the large majority of U.S. adults consume news through digital devices, the spread of misinformation is rapid and dangerous to true journalism. Social media apps like TikTok and X grow as a means of getting news, especially among my generation. Social media, although convenient, is also a major player in this spread of misinformation.
In my experience on TikTok, someone could get the entire U.S. to argue whether or not the sky is actually blue if they had enough views. Combine the virality of social media-sourced news and true news being under lock and key and you have a democracy ripe for chaos and corruption. The values of journalism are rooted in public service and utilitarian methods of conveying information — down to the style of our writing, the words we use and the ethics we (should) follow. We must make access to accurate reporting a norm, not a commodity. If not, I fear for the fate of the Fourth Estate.
Back to photos — a photo shoot at Brown County State Park is a fun drive with beautiful sights all throughout the park and super close to downtown Nashville, Indiana. Additionally, Indy has some events going on this fall with SPARK: on the Circle, adjusting Nov. 3 to compliment the holiday season, still being available to those interested. For when you have a little extra cash in the bank, go to the thrift store to build outfits for each other to go to an orchard like Apple Works or a nice stroll downtown as the leaves change. For a step above, visiting stores in the Greenwood Park Mall or around the Circle can offer a lot of cute opportunities for you and your partner. As a gift, you can create a fun basket or bag for your boo for as much money as you are able to spend. At Target and Five Below, a lot of fun knick knacks can be found within the dollar bins, and thrift stores are always an option. Additionally, antiquing or shopping second hand can also be really fun ways to get niche gifts for an affordable price. For a homemade sweet treat or dinner, a great hands-on event for two is to pick a fall recipe and make/bake it together! There is something for everyone this season between the delicious cream of potato soup, baked butternut squash and pasta or a classic pumpkin roll for a sweet option. For the kitchen-averse, decorating cookies is still a simple and fun way to make something sweet together with little to no room for error.
Finally, for those interested in going all-out this season, Spirit Halloween has some great costume ideas and even more for two or a group of people. While there are budget-friendly options, those who may be going out this Halloween and having fun can easily find what you are looking for at a huge place like Spirit Halloween or Party City. However, for those who may prefer having a cozy night in on Oct. 31, there are opportunities to pour your own candle at Penn and Beech with new fall scents to enjoy or watch a variety of spooktacular movies or shows (I always opt for Coraline). Additionally, there are haunted houses all around Indy from Hanna Haunted Acres to Indy Scream Park with a variety of different options to enjoy and choose from on-site.
Fall is my favorite season, and there is so much to do in Indianapolis. I hope you have so much fun with your boo and stay safe this spooky season.
By Ella Harner STAFF WRITER
The University of Indianapolis has added two new NCAA women’s sports this 2024-25 season — triathlon and bowling.Both teams spent the summer recruiting and getting ready for both teams’ first season.
UIndy was the seventh school in the GLVC to add bowling, and only the second to add triathlon, which was made possible through a grant from USA Triathlon, according to UIndy Athletics. Triathlon Head Coach Doug Robinson and Bowling Head Coach Cam Estes said they were only given two months to form these teams. After this past summer of recruitment, the teams have officially kicked off the debut year of training and competing as Greyhounds.
The triathlon team just ended its regular season as of Sept. 21, and will be starting its postseason on Oct. 12 in Springfield, Mo. at the NCAA Regionals,according to UIndy Athletics. Graduate student Gabrielle Harrell, a veteran of the UIndy cross country team and member of triathlon, said the goal was to get into the B-team Nationals, so the team needs to finish high at the regional race. Harrell said she was ready for change and decided she wanted to see more of what she was capable of which led her to getting in contact with Robinson.
The bowling team is currently in its pre-season.Freshman Emily Heldman said she is excited to begin her collegiate bowling journey and was happy to see UIndy added a bowling program. Heldman explained that during the team’s pre-season,they spend two days
on the lanes and three days strength training or conditioning. Estes said with the way the team is shaping up, he expects them to be a well-known Midwest college bowling team by next year.
A point of emphasis for the bowling team when it comes to goals is players academics — the players have set a goal for themselves to have a combined 3.75 GPA by the end of the season. Estes also said he aims for his team to strive for excellence off the lanes.
“I want young ladies that want to be part of giving back to the university community as well as the surrounding communities and other nonprofits in our area,” Estes said.
Robinson believes that because his team had the bravery to try, they have already shaped themselves from singlesport athletes, to true triathletes. Both of these teams have a specific set of goals to follow, Robinson said, and a lot of them have to do with accepting who and where you are, and then setting a path to become better.
“I think one of the things that excited me about coming to the University of Indianapolis and taking the job is there’s just such a long, rich tradition in the history of having good teams, and I want to be a part of that conversation,” Robinson said.
While these teams are new, the players are both proud of how far they’ve come. According to both Robinson and Estes, they are excited to be Greyhounds.
“It means something special to be part of the Greyhound family,” Estes said, “and that’s for me as a coach as well, as our athletes, and because of what we’re building, the future looks even brighter.”
The Indianapolis Colts have overcome many challenges after only playing five games in the 2024 season. The Colts are now 2-3 this season.
By Elyssa Merrill OPINION EDITOR
Following eight seasons of service for the University of Indianapolis Men’s Lacrosse team,Austin Grimes has been promoted to associate head coach.
Grimes has been with the team since a year after its conception, and has helped to lead the team in the correct direction during his time here, senior attacker Triston Schaffer said. During Grimes’ time as assistant coach the UIndy football team has gone to the postseason NCAA tournament five consecitve times, multiple conference championships and had 18 players earn All-American honors, according to UIndy Athletics.
“I think he’s a great leader,”Schaffer said.“I think he’s guided our defense the past seven years to be one of the best defenses in the country,year in,year out. His philosophies and his coaching styles obviously have made our team great,and I’m just happy that he got a promotion and he’s associate head coach.”
According to UIndy Athletics, Grimes has contributed to the previous success of the lacrosse team, helping them to five consecutive postseason trips and the national semifinals. Schaffer said the past success of the team is what convinced him to transfer to play at UIndy.
“… One of my main goals in playing lacrosse was to win a national championship, and I felt that the University of Indianapolis gave me the best opportunity,” Schaffer said. “And I loved what Coach Stocks and Coach Grimes had to say.”
Throughout Grimes’ seven years at UIndy, he said he has had a role in the recruitment of players and transfers. Additionally, the team started in 2016 and Grimes joined in 2017, so he said has had a hand in building most of the teams.
“There was only about two recruiting classes that I didn’t help recruit,” Grimes said. “So I definitely feel a big part of it. And obviously
this program is our players, and they’re the ones that obviously build it and everything, but I’m just a small part of it.”
For Grimes, he said the new title is a great addition to his resume, but not a change in how he hopes to approach coaching his teams. As his career advances he said he hopes to continue helping lead the team and its players the best way he can.
“I don’t think my role has really changed too much,” Grimes said. “I was always helping out,Coach Stocks always gave me the opportunity to be that second-in-command. It’s definitely been a good boost to the resume with the title change, and I think hopefully the guys feel comfortable coming to me along with Coach Stocks.”
Within the team, Schaffer said that, while he is happy Grimes got the promotion, it will have little impact on the team dynamics itself as he has always had Grimes and Head Coach Greg Stocks as the coaching staff.
“The promotion changed his title, but regardless of that title, he’s always been like a second head coach,” Schaffer said. “He’s been very vocal in practice, and I’ve always seen both coaches as equals, so, as chemistry or how things change, I don’t really think anything’s changed. I think everybody respected him in the same way.”
Grimes said he hopes to continue to help the teams and shape the players into who they are after high school, whether it’s with a career, their lives or whatever else comes after. He also said everything he has been able to accomplish within his role and up to the point of this promotion has been with the help of the team.
“... Our guys, Coach Stocks and everyone have helped me get to this point,” Grimes said. “Everything I do is to help the program, help the team, make coach Stocks’life a little easier,and just be able to help put the best product on the field and hopefully create the best culture that we can for our team.”
By Caroline Krauch SPORTS EDITOR
University of Indianapolis women’s tennis is off to a great start, with senior Tyffaine Pais taking the crown at the ITA Midwest Regional tournament for the second year in a row, according to UIndy Athletics.
The mens and womens tennis teams only have one competition left in the fall semester according to its schedule, with select qualifiers taking part at the national competition depending on regional results. With Pais winning the title, she will now go on to compete at the national level, the ITA Cup in Rome, Ga. on Oct. 10. Last year she and Tom Zeuch both represented UIndy at the competition.
The men’s team competed in its side of the tournament this past weekend. Director of Tennis Malik Tabet said junior Matthieu Derache went into the men’s tournament ranked first regionally. The winner of this competition will also receive a bid to the national competition in Georgia.
Tabet said training and taking advantage of these tournaments is crucial to the overall development as a team. Because there are so few tennis tournaments this early in the season,he said this will be the only competition the team faces prior to the spring.
Though the competitions are solely individually-based, it still serves as a good test to see what the team needs to work on. Tabet said it provides the basis for what specific aspects the team needs to work on, whether that is physical, fundamental, strategical or mental.
Tabet said that during the fall, the team spends a lot of time working on the basics and getting the fundamentals down. He said it is sometimes harder to adjust practices in the fall because
of the lack of competitions, whereas in the spring there are competitions almost every weekend and can adjust based on those.Tabet said he is excited to see how the teams will do in the spring season based on the talent his team has.
“I’ve got a young talented team,” Tabet said. “I’ve got three returners from last year that were part of the lineup, so I’m excited to see how much they’re going to grow this year.”
One of those returners is Pais, the sole member of her team continuing on-to nationals.According to the recap, Pais battled back after falling behind in multiple matches. Sophomore Jimena De Pablos Hernando also made it far into the competition,going undefeated up until the semifinal match. Pais said even though the competition is individually based, the team still trains and supports each other the same as if it were team scores.
“At the end we’re still supporting each other,”Pais said.“If my teammates are losing, I’m still sad for them, even if it doesn’t really impact me.”
Pais said even though she won last year, she did not want to pressure herself to win again this season.She had already achieved the huge milestone of making it into nationals in 2023.
“My goal was to go to nationals at least once,” Pais said. “I’ve done it. If I’m doing it one more time, it’s just a bonus…It’s not that I wasn’t expecting it,because of course,whenever you’re in a tournament, you want to win, you’re not going for losing.”
Pais said her goal going into the competition this year is to improve upon last year’s performance.According to ITA rankings from last fall, Pais finished 7th overall nationally.
“I just want to do better than last year,”Pais said.“Going there as a senior, it’s my last year, so I’m just gonna enjoy every moment and try to have fun on the court.”
The Colts got off to a rough start after falling to 0-2 with losses to the Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers. Things were looking up for Colts fans as the team battled back in a tight game against the Chicago Bears to secure their first win of the season. Anthony Richardson, 2023 fourth overall draft pick and projected franchise quarterback, finally started to prove why he deserves that status. With star running back Jonathan Taylor increasing his average running yards from 4.4 in 2023 to 4.8 in 2024, according to ESPN, it is safe to say he picked up right where he left off. Despite the win against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 28, the Colts had major losses. After hits to both his head and hip,Richardson was taken into the locker room where he was then ruled out for the game.In the final minutes of the game, Taylor was taken out of the game after injuring his ankle. With Richardson out of the game, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco took the spot and pushed the team to a win making the Colts 2-2.
The Colts played the Jaguars at Jacksonville with both Richardson and Taylor being ruled inactive for the game on Oct. 6. The Jaguars sought their first win of the season while the Colts turned to Flacco to lead the offense against a hungry Jaguars defense.With Taylor out for the game, Trey Sermon was the running back in his place, with Sermon averaging 2.5 yards per carry, there is some ground room to make up in the running department. The Colts battled back after being down at half, but with a Jaguars field goal to take a 3-point lead in the last second of the game, they ran out of time to pull off the win.
The Colts play next on Oct. 13 against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans are ranked 3rd in the AFC South below the Colts, according to the NFL, with a record of 1-3. If the Colts are able to regroup, this game should be a win, especially with Flacco leading their offense as an experienced quarterback who performs well under pressure. The Colts play the Miami Dolphins at home on Oct. 20.
The Colts battled back after being down at half ...
Even without Richardson and Taylor, Flacco may be able to keep fans’ dreams alive and give the Colts a strong shot of being a contender for the division. Wide receiver Alec Pierce has made some explosive plays and if the offense can continue to build on this chemistry, they will continue to be a competitor.
Currently ranked second,the Colts have the potential to make a playoff spot if they stay healthy. Injuries to major players like Richardson and Taylor happening later in the season could be detrimental to the Colts and any chance they have at postseason play. The Colts will rematch the Texans on Oct. 27 and if they win the next two, there is a significant chance they could continue that momentum and complete an upset against the Texans to take first in the AFC South.
By Luke Cooper ONLINE EDITOR
The “Night Calls” gallery at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center brings a taste of rural Indiana to the University of Indianapolis.
Rebecca Norris Webb is an artist who grew up in Rush County and the pieces in “Night Calls” focus on where she and her father, a doctor, grew up in rural Indiana, according to Associate Professor of Photography Sarah Pfohl.Webb served as a mentor and teacher to Pfohl.
“The work is an homage to her country doctor father, he served the Rush County area for 52 years,” Pfohl said. “She went back through some of his patient log books and then retraced some of the routes that he drove to visit his patients while he was a doctor.”
the making. Pfohl said the “Night Calls” project took Webb six years to complete. Pfohl worked with Webb and the Department of Art and Design to bring Webb’s work to the gallery; it took about three years to come to fruition.Gallery Coordinator Mark Ruschman worked with Webb to ensure the gallery was to her liking. It was a change of pace for Ruschman who usually designs the space for each exhibition.
The work is an homage to her country doctor father ....”
Webb’s style of photography is raw which means she does not edit the photos, according to Pfohl. Normally in modern photography projects, photo editing is used to enhance pictures. Webb also strays away from collaging and compositing, she focuses more on collaborating with the world around her to create art.
The photographs are just one part of the gallery. “Night Calls” also consists of Webb’s handwritten poetry along with interpretive text to help give context to the pieces. Pfohl said Webb has distinct handwriting and when she was in undergrad, poetry is what she studied. Webb experiments with the relationship between image and text in her projects.
The gallery has been years in
“The exhibit that’s up right now, the artist had a very clear description of the way she wanted the work to be installed, the order of the pieces, the general distance between the pieces, you know, just the overall look of it, that was predetermined by the artist,” Ruschman said. “So any conversation that took place between myself and the artist was just to fine tune the details. Other times… the artist will drop the work off and leave it up to me to lay the work out.”
The target audience for the gallery are UIndy students according to both Pfohl and Ruschman. Their goal is to get students to visit the gallery, Ruschman said.
“I’ll do a painting show the next [semester] and I’ll do a sculpture show the following exhibition. So it’s always changing, which keeps things exciting, keeps things interesting and hopefully provides a benefit for everybody that comes through our doors.”
The gallery is on display at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center through Oct. 25, open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday except for university holidays.
By Livia Lytle STAFF WRITER
UIndy’s International Education Celebration kicks off Oct. 16-18, featuring a multi-day event for students to celebrate international education.
The Celebration of Flags is one of UIndy’s campus traditions. It is modeled after the Olympics opening ceremony, and there are over 75 countries represented. The flag bearers wear their national colors and clothing, and there are also international student performances followed by World Fest, previously known as the International Expo.
While this is going to be the 36th annual Celebration of Flags, it is the first year UIndy has done a multiday celebration. Assistant Director of Retention Strategy and Student Experience Designer Cesone Snowden said UIndy wanted IEC to be more than just one day. According to UIndy’s website, IEC is “an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.”
The IEC will also feature food from Latin America, the Caribbean, Poland, Argentina and Jamaica.
“Indiana is on the path to being a very diverse place,” Snowden said. “The cities are particularly more diverse than the outskirts. The associations and community groups are very much involved and doing all sorts of things to represent their own culture across the state, so a lot of the groups were already booked out through October when I tried to talk to them in May. Doing this event means we are supporting the community around us.”
Snowden also said that most of these groups are understaffed and volunteerbased, so it can be hard to focus on one nation or continent from year to year for World Fest — it’s about what the city has to offer at the time. The events are based on what is going on at that time, Snowden said, and what she thinks will be eye-catching to students. She enjoys incorporating student artists as well.
“My job is to amplify voices, stories and cultures,” Snowden said. “I can do that freely because I inform myself first. I would not want our students to feel like they cannot participate or get involved because they do not come from the community. There are safe ways to be a part of other people’s cultures.”
The Celebration of Flags will be taking place on Oct. 17 this year along with World Fest, but there will be additional events on the days before and after the Celebration of Flags as well. According to Snowden, there will be passport photo and application events, an international coffee hour,a couple of international speakers and more. She said there is something for everyone regardless of their schedule or interests.
IEC will feature food, artists and performers of different nations. UIndy works with local businesses and artists to support the community around it, according to Snowden, and she said this year there will be a Haitian jazz group, a Bollywood-inspired Indian dance group and a Venezuelan group.
Music therapy senior Sofia Casasola, a veteran Celebration of Flags performer, will be singing at the event for the fifth time.Being an international student from Costa Rica and Spain,she said Celebration of Flags is one of her favorite things that happens at UIndy.
“For international students,it is really cool because we get to see ourselves integrated as part of the community, while also showcasing our own country and where we are from,” Casasola said.
“At the end of the day, where we are from is part of who we are.”
Everyone can benefit from IEC, Snowden said, and it is a time and place where everyone can learn about other cultures and do it in a safe and enjoyable environment.
“It is an opportunity for international students to feel appreciated when they see their culture be represented,”Snowden said. “For domestic students, it is a chance to explore different cultures in a safe space where they can ask questions. It is a way for them to get an appreciation of different cultures. World Fest is for all of the students and it will benefit everybody.”
By Emma Foutz STAFF WRITER
Parkside Public House is no ordinary restaurant. Combining culinary cuisine with artistic expression, this new art-house gastropub in Garfield Park is a creative experience on all fronts.
Josh Haines, co-owner and general manager of Parkside, said he thought fusing an art gallery with a restaurant just made sense. His art background and previous work at Garfield Brewery made this concept feel like a perfect fit, he said. Haines’ vision was fully supported by Phil Kirk, co-owner, who shared the same goal of creating a unique gathering space for the friendly neighborhood and park visitors.
“I love painting… I love service,” Haines said. “I like giving people a really fun,
unique experience.”
At Parkside, every corner is a new discovery waiting to happen. The carefully curated art collection, a vibrant contrast against the dark interior, breathes life into the space. This energy, as Haines describes it, is one of joy, creativity and happiness. It makes the place consistently intriguing for patrons.
The connection between the staff and customers at Parkside is not just professional, it is personal. Every guest who walks through the doors is not just greeted with a smile, but with a genuine warmth that flows throughout the entire establishment. The friendly exchanges and shared laughter create an inviting atmosphere that makes everyone, regardless of age, feel at home.
“This is a space that we want for neighbors to enjoy,” Haines said. “But I love when I can
overhear someone else at another table say, like, ‘Oh yeah, this is my first time in Garfield Park.’ To be a part of not just activating this corridor for our neighbors, but to be the first introduction to the neighborhood… That’s a rewarding aspect.”
That just speaks to the culture here, which is something special.”
The people of Garfield Park are deeply proud of their neighborhood, Kirk said. The community warmly welcomed him, and he felt more known and appreciated within a few weeks of buying the building than he had living in other neighborhoods. To Kirk, this pride and sense of community
ARIES
Plopping on the couch at the end of the day is relaxing, and you have made it a sport. Break the habit by taking a short walk and enjoying the fall season. You may think you are recharging your energy on the couch, but you will feel even better being active.
TAURUS
A setback has you feeling down, but are you sulking for a legitimate reason or because it feels comfortable? Your mood will brighten if you allow it and, like magic, you will attract all you have imagined for yourself. Move upward and onward.
GEMINI
All work and no play makes a Gemini wither away. You are entering a season of fun. Allow yourself to lessen your load. Your inner child has watched others on the playground long enough. Pick up a bow and arrow and aim for the stars. The moon is waiting.
LEO
Change is happening, and, while it will bring unease, this new phase is long overdue. Verbalize your thoughts or needs to a partner or trusted friend. Lean on your support system during this transition and reestablish boundaries with co-workers.
VIRGO
Trust yourself to make good choices instead of allowing others to dictate your every move. Seek answers within yourself and go with the flow rather than resisting it. You have been fighting yourself in the ring and it is time to step out.
LIBRA
Power feels mighty in your grasp, but you cannot control everything, Libra. Realizing this will make everything easier. Your temper can get the best of you at times, but the carrot is mightier than the stick. Positive motivation wins.
SCORPIO
makes Garfield Park truly special.
“Everyone who lives here feels, in my opinion… a powerful sense of ownership,” Kirk said. “People really take pride in their neighborhood. I mean, almost every day you see people walking down Shelby Street picking up trash, just like we do constant events in the park for that too. There are a lot of things that bring, like, the neighborhood together.”
Seeing the creative vision for Parkside is rewarding for Kirk, he said, and the community is buzzing with having a new sit-down restaurant in their neighborhood. Families can now stay in the area to enjoy a meal, with Parkside being the only all-ages sit-down restaurant in the surrounding neighborhood.
A five-minute drive or a few stops on the Red Line bus will take UIndy students right in front of Parkside’s building. From movie nights to live music, Parkside can connect the UIndy community to the surrounding neighborhood and downtown Indianapolis. The collaborative space offers opportunities for students to meet others.
Haines said students do not
SAGITTARIUS
You are thriving in unprecedented ways with newfound freedom. Now is the time to request a raise, take the next step in a relationship or try something new. Avoid waffling. Keep flying high and gaining momentum. Life’s shackles are off!
CAPRICORN
You are in high demand and spreading yourself thin. People seek your support and companionship, but remember relationships are only as healthy as the individuals.Are you being nourished? If you cannot be true to yourself, you cannot be true to anyone else.
CANCER
Caught in the middle of an issue? You’ve been tip-toeing around important conversations and have lost sight of your purpose. Don’t fool yourself into taking sides; change-makers avoid jumping on the bandwagon. Refocus; you’re in the driver’s seat.
Too much work is affecting your relationships. While accolades and achievements are rewarding, friendships will prevail if you put in just as much time and effort into them. Begin balancing work and play,or you may find your messages left on “read.”
AQUARIUS
If an upcoming trip has you feeling anxious, think big and steady your pace. The destination will be worth the journey. You have been in your head too long and will return with renewed motivation wondering why you even worried in the first place.
PISCES
Yourluckischanging, as opportunities abound and new friendships emerge. Your dream world is becoming reality and you are reaping the benefits of hard work. Your star is shining brightly, so choose wisely who you allow to bask in your light.
Graphics by Jona Hogle
have to stay on campus and should explore what makes Indianapolis amazing —the local neighborhoods.
“That’s what makes a city a city,” Haines said.
With a fluid and open approach to business, Parkside’s mind is focused on growth for more creative and collaborative opportunities. Haines and Kirk want their business to match the vibrancy of the people and be the community hub Garfield Park deserves. Collaboration is open to anyone, and the opportunity to engage with the community is hard to pass up.
“I have a strong desire to see this corridor become more activated,” Kirk said. “This corridor still doesn’t quite match the energy of the people who live here…. We were able to essentially either stabilize, start or lease like 10 different small businesses just in this pocket over the last two years. So the idea of getting to continue to do that and do more of it excites me.”
To find more information about Parkside and upcoming events, visit www. parksidepublichouse.com.
