September 18, 2024

SEPTEMBER

18, 2024

101 101 Election THE REFLECTOR Election

What Hoosiers will see on the ballot during this election cycle, federal and state

By Elyssa Merrill OPINION EDITOR

With Election Day rapidly approaching and the deadline for voter registration coming even sooner,those in the UIndy’s student, faculty and staff population that can vote may be wondering what the ballot will look like, especially with over 1,600 positions open in the state of Indiana alone, according to BallotReady. While the two presidential nominees may be wellknown, especially after the debate, other offices on the ballot this election cycle for Hoosiers feature gubernatorial candidates to local coroners, according to Ballotpedia.

Local Government

According to Ballotpedia,within Marion County, there are four different types of positions open for election: Marion County Coroner, Marion County Surveyor, Marion County Treasurer and the Marion County Superior Court Judges. Additionally, within the city of Indianapolis, there are the Indianapolis Public Schools school board districts one, two, and four along with the Indianapolis Public Schools school board at-large race. Within these races, some are uncontested, meaning no one is running against them such as

the coroner position. Additionally, some candidates, such as the county treasurer or Indianapolis Public Schools school board atlarge, are incumbent, meaning they are campaigning to keep their current public office. Te current Marion County Surveyor, Debra Jenkins, and all current Marion County Superior Court judges are running to keep their public office unopposed, according to Ballotpedia.

Largely, these positions such as judges or school board members are non-partisan, meaning they do not identify with a political party. However,there are some candidates who run with a party affiliation, such as the coroner, surveyor and treasurer for Marion County. For those not from Marion County or just curious about other county or city candidates, Associate Professor of History and Political Science Laura Merrifield Wilson said she recommends Ballotpedia as a source, regardless of its ironic similarity to Wikipedia, to view who is running and their views.

State Government

Associate Professor of History and Political Science Gregory Shufeldt said this election season is a busy one for Indiana. All seats within the Indiana House of Representatives and half the seats

in the Indiana Senate leave 125 positions (100 from the House and 25 from the Senate) open for Hooseirs to vote for. Shufeldt also said Indiana has some “high-profile” elections this year such as Indiana’s gubernatorial race.

According to Indiana’s Voter Portal, in the races for governor and lieutenant governor, there are three pairs running: Jennifer Mccormick and Terry Goodin (D); Mike Braun and Micah Beckwith (R) and Libertarians Donald Rainwater and Tonya Hudson. When looking to vote at a booth, Shufeldt says Indiana is one of the states where straight-ticket voting is provided. According to the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, straightticket voting is when you can check one of the parties, and the ballot machine will vote for the selected party on the ticket. However, this option is not provided for at-large races in Indiana. Shufeldt said that, for Indiana in particular, the races may not be as competitive.

“Indiana is a pretty safely Republican state right now,” Shufeldt said. “82% of Americans live in what we call a trifecta state, where one party controls the State House, the State Senate and the governor's mansion.”

Additionally, the Pew Research Center conducted a survey in 2020

analyzing American voter behavior and found straight-ticket voting is susceptible to supermajorities. An alternative, split-ticket voting, is on the decline, Shufeldt said. Pew also found only 4% of voters were voting for a Senate candidate in opposition to their Presidential candidate, meaning that the vast majority of voters do not deviate from their party affiliations across candidates. For the majority of the U.S. that is not a swing state, this can lead to a trifecta state instead. Tis can lead to a change in the culture and experience voters can expect leading into the election, Shufelt said.

“40 of the 50 states are trifectas, so Republicans have a super majority controlling government right now,” Shufeldt said. “And so, while voting is important,I think most voters and most students should realize that we probably aren't going to see as many campaign ads.We're going to see less candidate visits from national office holders,because most people assume that the outcome of these races are often a foregone conclusion.”

While Indiana may be a solidly red state and most districts are a noncompetitive race for Republicans, those identifying outside that party still have a reason to vote, Shufeldt said. Although it is less egregious in Indiana, Shefeldt said, “ Te New York Times” wrote

Biology evolves its program

By Gabriel Tice STAFF WRITER

Science is always evolving, and UIndy’s biology department is evolving by updating its curriculum to address the needs of students, according to Professor and Chair of Biology Sandra Davis. Tis overhaul seeks to add more flexibility to the major as well as making it more efficient for students to pursue their passions within the discipline, Davis said.

“We're changing the curriculum because we want to meet the needs of the students, that's always our first goal,” Davis said. “Biology is a very broad field. We go from DNA molecules all the way up to ecospheres, so there's lots of diff erent areas that students can specialize in. I think one of the things that we do really well is we try to work with our students to help them figure out what they want to do and how to pursue their goals.”

Along with an updated core,the new curriculum has seven new and updated concentrations including general biology, organismal, cell and molecular, Roche, pre-dental, pre-medical, and pre-veterinary. Davis said offering a variety

of concentrations aims to give UIndy biology students a more direct path to achieve their career goals.

Davis said that although the changes were implemented a year ago, updating the curriculum had begun years before 2023. Despite this, Davis said the Covid-19 pandemic caused a delay in the process.

According to the new curriculum guide. Tese changes have affected more than just the biology department. Some changes involve removing classes that were previously required for all biology majors, specifically chemistry courses, by making them optional.

science course. Again, depending on what a student wants to do, something might be more useful.”

Associate Professor and Chair of Chemistry David StyersBarnett said the curriculum is changing to adapt to the needs of students, and hopes these changes will have little impact on the department's class sizes.

... There's lots of different areas that students can specialize in."

“Chemistry has always been about working with students to help prepare them for what's next, and we want to make sure we're preparing the right set of students with the right courses.”

“Under the old curriculum, students had to take two semesters of organic chemistry and then one semester of a chemistry elective, we've opened that up now,” Davis said. “Students under the new curriculum can take a natural science elective, not just in chemistry, but they could take a geology course or another natural

StyersBarnett said these changes did not come as a surprise to him or the chemistry faculty. He said when a department goes through curriculum changes, it must receive signatures from departments that will be affected, such as getting chemistry’s approval to the changes being made to the biology department. Ten changes go through multiple approval processes in various committees that start within the college, and move all the

way to the university. StyersBarnett said this allows other departments to give feedback, input and ask questions about why a department is changing its curriculum.

Styers-Barnett said students who desire a more traditional biology degree still have the option to take these optional courses. For example, biology students who want to pursue medicine can still take the optional chemistry courses.

Styers-Barnett also added that the chemistry department is looking to make changes of its own, with a similar goal of o ff ering more flexibility when pursuing a chemistry degree at UIndy.

According to Davis, these changes are occurring at around the same time UIndy’s gen-ed core was revised, and departments across the university are looking for ways to make it easier for students to double major or major and minor in multiple programs across campus. Te department believes these changes are a good thing, Davis said, and will hopefully make a biology degree from UIndy more appealing by allowing students to pursue their interests more directly.

about how many candidates run unopposed in elections with less and less Democrats running to oppose Republicans.Tis may cause voters to feel as though they have no reason to vote, but Shufeldt explains there is a reason to vote, regardless of outcome.

“I would identify that there's still a reason to vote, even if you feel pretty comfortable that you know the outcome,” Shufeldt said. “… I think for students and for Generation Z and even for other young generations, taking the long game is appropriate. In that the only way that we would expect this to change is that candidates have somebody to run against, and that democracy requires some sort of choice. … And so while it might not be ideal that your party only gets 40% of the vote, that needs to happen so that better candidates start running, more people start raising money, more people get enthused and start volunteering.And,eventually,things could change.” Federal Government

When thinking of the federal government, the Presidential race may be the only election that comes to mind. In this election, other “high-profile” candidates such as U.S. senators are on the ballot across the nation — including Indiana.

> See Election on Page 8

Butler to offer nursing amid shortage

By Livi Lytle STAFF WRITER

Butler University will be starting a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing program in the fall of 2025 as part of its College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Butler University, nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report for its pharmacy, physician assistant and pre-med programs, has never before offered a nursing program. Former University of Indianapolis Assistant Professor of Nursing and current Butler University Assistant Professor of Nursing and Simulation Coordinator Krista Searles said the timing of Butler creating a nursing program was in response to the nursing shortage in Indiana. She said given Butler’s wellrespected programs within the > See Nursing on Page 8

THEATRE IS BACK

Senior Dee Woods turned his capstone into student-led production in September. Flip to Page 7 to read more! UIndy Alum Loren Strickland is

Headline Graphic by Emma Foutz

Editor predicts WNBA awards

By Olivia Pastrick MANAGING EDITOR

Editor’s Note: All statistics listed are per Reflector Press Time.

The WNBA Finals are quickly approaching and with more hype than ever surrounding the league, many eyes are turned to the races for the end-of-season awards. Some awards have a clear front runner while others have been a tight race since May. Records have been broken and many players have seen career highs, but the most important factors to keep in mind when choosing award winners are not only statistics, but also how the player has impacted their team. I may not be a pro, but I know and love all things basketball, so here are my predictions on who will be honored in this year’s postseason awards.

Most Valuable Player

After receiving one fourthplace vote and finishing third in the MVP last year, according to NBA Communications, the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson has put on dominant performance after dominant performance this season. Not only does she lead the league in points (27.0) and blocks (2.7) per game, she is second in rebounds (12.1), according to ESPN. In several games, Wilson has carried her team on her back to victories — like the team’s playoff-clinching win over the Atlanta Dream when she had 26 points and 16 rebounds — or to close losses, such as her 42-point performance in the Aces’ loss to the Dallas Wings. Although the Aces have not had the same record as the

past two years, Wilson has only improved in defiance of that fourth-place vote. According to ESPN, Wilson’s top challenger for MVP is the Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier, who averages 20.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. While Collier’s play has been incredible, and she has helped lead the Minnesota Lynx to a projected second or third seed in the playoffs, Wilson has been undeniably dominant in this year’s MVP race. I think the bigger question and anticipation lies in whether her selection will be unanimous. Rookie of the Year

Since Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese declared for the draft, everyone knew the intensity for

Rookie of the Year would be a fight to the end, and it certainly has not disappointed those who have watched them battle since the 2023 NCAA Championship. Some of the milestones Clark has reached in her first season have been breaking the single-game assist record (19), recording the first ever rookie triple double, setting the new WNBA record for most assists in a single season, tying the record for most career games with 25+ points and 10+ assists as well as several franchise records for the Indiana Fever. Additionally, Clark leads the league in assists per game (8.4), rookies in points (19.1) and steals (1.3). Reese has proved impressive in similar fashion as

she did at LSU — rebounding. Before her unfortunate seasonending wrist injury, Reese broke the league record for singleseason rebounds, passing Sylvia Fowles’ record from 2018 and ending with 446, according to ESPN, as well as recording three consecutive games with 20 rebounds, according to Yahoo Sports. She also leads the league in rebounds with 13.1 per game. Despite both women displaying incredible skills in their rookie seasons, I think the Rookie of the Year can be decided, maybe unlike other awards, by looking at the overall team records for the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky.

> See WNBA on Page 5

Do trends belong in politics?

Two writers discuss how some voters are affected by social media

By Ella Harner STAFF WRITER

Social media is not just for funny memes and selfies, it is a powerful resource that can change the entire basis of how we learn and engage in everything, including politics. For many people, it may be their main way of communicating online.This widespread use of social media has pros and cons, but one of the best things to come out of this craze is the attention it has brought to politics. While other generations might stick to the daily news, Generation Z and Millennials consume most of their news on various social media platforms, according to Statista. From accounts focused on how to register to vote, to public relations teams hired to run presidential candidates’ TikTok accounts, politics is all over social media. When it comes to this political craze on social media, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, has a verified TikTok account in her favor with the username @kamalahq that follows popular trends among Gen Z, aimed to promote the Harris campaign. While the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, and Harris do not have similar views, they do have one thing in common: joining TikTok trends, as there is a similar account to @kamalahq promoting the Trump campaign under the username @teamtrump. The presidential candidates,arguably two of the biggest political figures in America today, post TikToks to support their campaigns on the accounts @kamalaharris and @ realdonaldtrump.These short videos range in topics: dramatic edits, monthly recaps and the general hyping up of their campaigns. However, they both have the same end goal — they want to get voters to the polls in hopes this election will end with a win in their favor.

Letter from the Editor: We are more than another email

By Mia Lehmkuhl EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

If anyone is curious on how to reach us, we are available at reflector@uindy.edu, our Instagram or X (@reflectoruindy) or our emails listed in the directory on Page 3. As editor-in-chief of “The Reflector” for two years this May, I am responsible for teaching staff members how to approach and communicate with sources. Little did I know how challenging it would be to get a sit-down interview with a “Greyhound;” I have had more face time with Grady. At times, it’s like pulling teeth.

In my opinion, social media helps drive people to engage in politics. Not only do the presidential candidates make videos about their campaigns, but social media influencers contribute to creating content as well. According to NBC News, influencers were given fullaccess passes at the Democratic

convention. The article explained the pass gave creators time to express their opinions and experiences of what was happening behind the scenes at the convention. Having creators post about the importance of being educated on politics in America can inspire younger voters to want to do the same, according to NBC News.

By Luke Cooper ONLINE EDITOR

PRO CON

According to the Tisch College Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, 27% of youth ages 18-29 voted in the 2022 election, making the 2022 election the second highest voter turnout for youth in three decades. Additionally, according to CIRCLE, 41 million Gen Zs will be eligible to vote in the upcoming election, which is over 8 million new and available voters compared to the 2022 midterms. If these statistics show one thing, it is that youth are now a major determining factor of American politics.

Social media greatly influences Gen Z, so it is important to use these platforms to speak about all topics and hear multiple points of view. With the help of social media, minorities are able to share their opinions to a wider audience more successfully: with 45% of the new, eligible voters being people of color, it is important for their stories to be heard. Having social media so accessible to the public enables a faster way of communication.

Overall, the fact politics were introduced on social media is influential and revolutionary in the fight to increase political participation. It inspires people to get educated, helps people learn how to get registered to vote and gives them quick insights on things viewers may not have seen from the news yet. While social media is widely known as a tool for young people to share their new dances or makeup skills, it can also be a valuable tool to getting youth to know they have a voice.

Corrections

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

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

Getting young people to vote has been a large concern for Democratic campaigns, especially in the past few election cycles. Hillary Clinton’s “Pokémon Go to the polls” quote is still widely remembered. The Harris campaign has a new approach: instead of being turned into a meme, take over social media with them, like falling out of a coconut tree. It is a great approach to excite young people to vote, but my concern is whether they are actually making an informed decision.There is a shocking number of people who potentially could be voting based on internet culture alone.

Thus, this brings the rise of the “Femininomenon” — the social media meme that has taken TikTok by storm. According to Forbes, 60% of TikTok users are part of Generation Z. Campaigns that can use TikTok effectively have the potential to greatly impact the election. According to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning Engagement, 41 million members of Gen Z will be eligible to vote in the upcoming election. It is important to get young people out to vote, but the way they consume news does not always give them the full picture. According to Pew Research, 48% of TikTok Users under the age of 30 say they use the platform to keep up with the news/stay informed. The main flaw of getting news via social media is the fact anyone has the ability to upload/post a video. Influencers and others on the app simply lack credibility compared to a news organization, but, seemingly, many people trust these social media stars for news despite whether they have actual education on the topics they cover or not.

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

When it comes to getting information, 61% of Gen Z gets its information from YouTube, but TikTok trails closely behind with 57%, according to SocialShere’s survey reported by NPR.The survey also found roughly a third of Gen Z wished it knew more about candidates and their ideologies in the previous election. What better way to get to know them than memes, right? Wrong. Candidates can and will spin news however they want (as will third-rate journalists), so the best bet is to seek out a credible news organization on social media to become informed. They might not report everything, seeking out local news or as a last resort the candidate’s website provides a candidate’s stances.

According to Pew Research, 88% of people under 30 who use TikTok say they have seen funny posts related to the election, and the same amount say they have seen people expressing their opinions on social media. Roughly 65-70% see either breaking news or real news articles. According to the same article by Pew Research, 33% of people overall say TikTok has a positive impact on democracy with 45% of people under age 30 approving of that statement. This leaves a considerable portion of this crucial voter demographic who can go to the polls based on internet culture.

It may be a small percentage of people, but it means millions of people may vote, basing their decision on internet culture alone. It poses a threat to elections, and it should be fixed sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, living a free market capitalist society means news organizations need to step up their game. It is widely accepted that social media algorithms show people content it thinks they are seeking. This creates the possibility of echo chambers.

People will do as they please and research what they decide. Keeping up with current headlines, however, seems to be too inconvenient to actually read. Some people will devote more time to internet culture rhetoric rather than fixing the actual issues affecting them and the people they love. Memes are great, getting young people to vote is great. These are two topics that should stay separate if possible, like oil and water.

Our university is rich with experts, but this common thread of unresponsiveness from potential sources, or, in some cases, refusal to be interviewed, has led to missed deadlines and empty space. It also causes a trickle effect from source to writer, writer to editor and editor to adviser, meaning if even one story is in crisis, it affects us all. So, when all is said and done, a source falling through means a valuable story goes untold. Now, in the world of journalism, one would be naïve to expect every source will respond in a manner that best suits their timeline; however, it colors me confused that those who most benefit from our coverage, UIndy students and faculty, seemingly ignore our requests for comment. At “The Reflector,” the majority of what we cover is campus-related, and all of what we cover is campusconnected. During my summer internship at the Daily Journal in Franklin, most sources replied quickly and eagerly or, at the very least, kept me updated if there was a delay. I can get in touch with an Indiana state representative quicker than a professor who shares a building with our newsroom; this is a problem that needs to be addressed.

It is this cooperation ... that our journalism demands.

Even I had an interaction in early August where multiple staff members in the university’s admissions office denied my request for comment and told me to contact the university’s official communications team — which is usually not the case unless we are contacting someone in upper administration like the president or provost about a story that needs their expertise for a story about enrollment, for example. Although it is customary in this industry to go through media relations, we are an in-house, independent media organization. I walk by the admissions office everyday on my way to the newsroom or to class. Staffers come to me, frustrated, telling me that a professor whose expertise is listed on the directory as the most relevant for the story replied back and said they did not think they could answer their questions. It is even more common to not receive a reply.

The campus community must understand that sources are essential to what we do and what a lot of us seek to do in our careers. One cannot write a story without sources even if it is an opinion piece or review. Journalism itself crumbles and frays at the seams without them. Allow us to tell others’ stories, whether it be a professor publishing a debut novel, highlighting a student business or a plane crashing near campus and make facts or anecdotes accessible and accurate for our readers. To those who are willing and eager to help us grow as reporters and as individuals through our work here on “The Reflector,” we thank you. We know every member of the campus community is busy with, but it is this cooperation between “The Reflector” and the broader campus community that our journalism demands.

Graphic by Olivia Pastrick

INDOE unveils HS diploma changes

Indiana Department of Education seeks to revamp outdated high school curriculum

By Mia Lehmkuhl EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

With a message of bringing an outdated curriculum to date, the Indiana Department of Education has unveiled multiple drafts of its proposed changes to Indiana high school diploma programs. According to INDOE, the structure of the American high school experience has not changed in a century, and it has not been updated since the late 1980s. Tus, a need for change was born with the intention of better preparing students for college and employment after graduation, according to the INDOE. Upon releasing the first draft to key stakeholders, such as parents,educators and policy experts, not all approved of the changes.Most notably — in a letter addressed to Indiana’s Secretary of Education Katie Jenner, Purdue University expressed concerns about the first draft, citing the changes would not meet the university’s admission requirements. Te letter was signed by Purdue University President Mung Chiang.

“Because we know that success in college begins with rigor in the high school curriculum,we respectfully ask that you consider an enrollment seal aligned with the requirements for competitive applications to Indiana’s R1 institutions,” Chiang wrote.

Purdue sent a follow-up letter with proposed solutions to the changes that would not satisfy Purdue’s admission requirements and the level of college readiness recommended for students. Among them were credit adjustments and suggestions to increase competitiveness in the college admissions process.

Director of Strategic Communication at Butler University Mark Apple said the university shared these concerns expressed by many other Indiana colleges and universities about the state’s proposed minimum high school diploma requirements.

“As the Indiana Department of Education weighs feedback from interested stakeholders and revises its proposed plan, we recommend that it consider providing high school students with a prescribed pathway for college admission that takes into account both academic rigor and curricular choice — similar to the current Academic Honors/Core 40 requirements,” Apple said.

As opposed to Indiana’s Core 40 program, the proposed changes include a total of 42 credits — the minimum requirement for high school graduation.

New Base Requirements

8 credits of English

7 credits of Math

• 7 credits of Science, Technology and Engineering

5 credits in Social Studies

2 credits in Physical Education or Health

• 12 credits in Personalized Electives

1 credit in College and Careers

Additionally, per the second draft from INDOE, students can opt for various seals that create a “unique path” for high school students. Provost and Executive Vice President of the University of Indianapolis Chris Plouff said it is meant to give students options beyond an aspiration to go to college, for example, preparing students for the workforce after high school.

Tere's enrollment, which is really the traditional,although that's being changed to the traditional college-bound pathway,” Plouff

2028 Making its way to Indiana High Schools

New Indiana Diploma

said. “ Ten there's employment, which is, you know, go out and get, hopefully, employed because that's where the gap is. And so there's a pathway there that will help them be better prepared for employment right after high school. And then the third is enlistment and service, which is really more geared towards, if you want to go into military service, primarily, although there's other service you could do, like through the community, as well as part of that pathway, and they will allow it'll allow for better preparation there as well.”

Honors Enrollment Seal

Complete at least 4 World

Language and 6 Social Studies credits

• Complete at least 8 Math credits (Algebra I plus any advanced math credit aligned to students’ course of study)

• Complete at least 6 Science credits (Biology I plus any advanced lab credits aligned to students’ course of study)

Earn a C or higher in all courses and earn a cumulative B average

And complete one of the following: 4 credits in AP courses and pass corresponding AP exams

• 6 college credits

4 credits in IB courses and take corresponding exams

Score a 1250 on the SAT or a 26 on the ACT

Honors Employment Seal

Earn a market-driven credential of value aligned to a specific occupation or 3 courses in a Career and Technology Education (CTE) pathway

Complete 100 hours of work-based learning

Demonstrate skill development in Communication, Collaboration and Work Ethic Meet attendance goal

Honors Enlistment and Service

Seal

Meet attendance goal

Demonstrate skill development in Communication, Collaboration and Work Ethic externally verified through a mentorship experience with current military personnel, veterans or other public safety professionals

And complete one of the following:

• Introduction to Public Service course or approved locally-created equivalent One year of JROTC

Achieve a score of 31 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery and complete all three components of the Career

Exploration Program

For all honors plus seals, students must complete the honors seal requirements in addition to the following, per INDOE.

Honors Plus Enrollment Seal

Earn a credential of value that may include:

• Associate degree Technical Certificate Indiana College Core AP Scholar with Distinction

• Cambridge AICE Diploma

• IB Diploma

Honors Plus Employment Seal

Earn a market-driven credential of value that may include:

Associate degree

• Technical Certificate

• Indiana College Core Advanced industry certificate

And complete additional,focused work-based learning (total of 650 hours in one or more experiences) that may include:

Source: Indiana Department of Education

• Pre-Apprenticeship Modern Youth Apprenticeship

Demonstrate skill development in Communication, Collaboration, Work Ethic and any additional skills determined locally

Honors Plus Enlistment and Service Seal

• Achieve a score of 50 or higher on the ASVAB And demonstrate excellence in leadership through one of the following:

• Completion of 100 hours of public service Holding a leadership role in a co/extracurricular activity

Completion of two seasons of a team-based physical sport or activity

President of the University of Indianapolis Tanuja Singh said this second draft is better than what was presented the first time around. Additionally, she identified challenges and concerns about students’ college readiness and student retention. Particularly, those students who may be the first in their families to attend university or pursue higher education.

“ Te other challenge we do have, the concern we have, and we'll have to see how it pilots,” Singh said. “What we really see is that we get a lot of students that are first in their family to go to college. Research has shown over the years that they may have perhaps a lesser level of preparation ….”

Educators across higher education and K-12 education have weighed in on the proposed changes. Dean of the School of Education at UIndy John Kuykendall, who calls this collaboration between K-12 and college educators “K-16,” said teachers and school counselors are also a part of the conversation. In short, Kuykendall said he is encouraged by the changes to Indiana’s high school diploma program.

“I think these additional tracks

really prepare a high school student to have a meaningful skill or an option to go to work right away,” Kuykendall said.

According to American School Counselor Association data from the 2022-23 school year, Indiana has a student-to-school counselor ratio of 519-to-1. The ASCA recommends a ratio of 250-to-1.

“You know all those impact the scheduling, what counselors have to do to make sure that students are getting appropriate credits for that type of diploma,” Kuykendall said. “ Tere's going to be a learning curve in terms of understanding the process over the next few years, particularly with so many students. So I think what will happen is you'll see students coming out of middle school kind of getting into these tracks sooner ….”

Singh shared concerns about student counselors potentially being spread too thin, especially for counselors who will advise students to opt for the more workforcecentered diploma seal.

“So now you're asking these counselors to also advise them to work with employers who would make sure that these students have jobs that they can actually go to serve as sort of the conduit,” Singh said. “And our worry is that the level of college counseling would go down or would be affected in terms of quality, if these counselors are now expected to do this in addition to continuing to counsel students.”

Singh said that what ultimately matters concerning UIndy is ensuring students are retained and successful in their higher education journey.

“Our work is driven by student success,” Singh said. “... Every single data piece that I see out there basically says that more and more jobs are going to require at least a bachelor's degree, at least a bachelor's degree. And that is not far out into the future. Tat's actually in the next five to seven years. It's already changing.”

Graphic by Olivia Pastrick

UIndy alum goes pro

UIndy football alumnus Loren Strickland becomes the first Hound to go to the NFL

By Caroline Krauch SPORTS EDITOR

University of Indianapolis

Alumni Loren Strickland (‘21) recently made school history, becoming the first Greyhound to ever make it on to an NFL team’s 53-man roster after earning an official spot with the Detroit Lions, according to UIndy Athletics.

After Strickland graduated with a degree in finance in December of 2021, he transferred to Ball State University where he said he had the opportunity to play against some of the larger schools from the Southeastern Conference. He said one of the biggest changes was the size of the crowds, going from around 10,000 fans to 100,000 fans at some of their bigger games. Going from being a captain at

UIndy, Strickland said he had to adjust to no longer having as big of a role on his new team which was a humbling but good experience. Strickland said one of the main reasons he transferred to Ball State was because of an opportunity for a “pro day” there. Pro days are events hosted by Division I schools where athletes get to showcase their talents in front of NFL scouts and coaches, according to NBC.

Strickland said he was not one of the players being looked at by the NFL prior to going into his pro day with Ball State. This was not new for Strickland, as he said he had been underestimated coming into college as well.

“Coming out of high school I was undersized and overlooked a lot,” Strickland said. “I only had two opportunities to go play college football.”

Strickland said he started receiving recognition and attention from scouts after performing and testing well. He said he talked to other teams, but the Lions were the ones that called and signed him after the draft ended. Since he was signed, he said this meant that he had secured a spot as one of the 90 players that the team will carry over the summer before cutting down to itsfinal 53-man roster.

The day-to-day of the NFL is demanding, with three to four practices a week and days that start at 7 a.m. and do not end until 7 p.m. sometimes, Strickland said. Despite the taxing schedule, Strickland said it is worth it in the end. Strickland said one of his favorite parts since having made it to the NFL is the amount of people he is able to have an impact on now.

“Especially being up here in

Detroit, doing the preseason games and all that stuff, it was very special with the way their fans rallied together that day and showed up and even the kids and everybody that I’ve made an impact on so far since I’ve made it,” Strickland said. “From family, to friends, to teammates I’ve had in the past, coaches I’ve grown up with, or even just kids in the community where I’m from, that look up to me. It’s those kinds of things, they’re very inspired, motivated by you, very proud.”

Strickland said one of his fondest moments at UIndy was a pick six he had against Lindenwood University in 2019. Head UIndy Football Coach Chris Keevers said Strickland was a driven and focused player as well as a good student. Keevers said Strickland knew what he wanted and worked

hard for it.

“He wanted to play in the NFL,” Keevers said. “He made that very apparent to me for a long time.” Keevers said Strickland set himself apart from players in the past because he turned himself into an NFL prospect. Strickland was a good player for UIndy, Keever said, but it was the extra work he continuously put in to make himself a better player that allowed him to achieve his goals.

“I’ve been in this business a long time, played at Purdue, coached at Purdue, coached some really good players, coached some NFL players, but you don’t get there without a drive and a want to, and he had a lot of want to,” Keevers said. “And it was very important to him, and he believed it, and not a lot of people did, but he did, and that’s all that mattered.”

September 18 - October 2

Photo contributed by UIndy Athletics

UIndy alumnus Loren Strickland running the ball during a play in the Fall 2021 season. Strickland graduated in December 2021, then transferred to Ball State University which is Division I.

Photo contributed by UIndy Athletics

Strickland was picked up by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent shortly after his time at Ball State, becoming the first Greyhound to ever make it on to an NFL team’s 53-man roster.

Graphic by Olivia Pastrick

Graphic by Allison Cook

Fall intramural sports

Intramurals kicks off with four sports being offered

By Caroline Krauch SPORTS EDITOR

Intramural sports are back this fall with some new sports being offered, according to Intramurals Coordinator Marcel Atisso. Atisso said one of the featured sports students can join is flag football.

Atisso said he is in charge of marketing along with scheduling and communication. Associate Vice President for Athletics & Campus Wellness Bob Brubeck said he gives a lot of credit to Atisso and how he has been able to grow the program.

“It [intramurals] has really been kind of his baby and he’s done a really good job with it,” Brubeck said. “I kind of gave him some parameters and he’s been running with it.” Brubeck said a large part of what they try to do with intramurals is cater to the students. He said they have sent out surveys and questionnaires to try and tailor the program to what is most convenient for the general student population.

“We based our programming off of what the students said that they wanted,” Brubeck said. “So I originally thought ‘Go after a night class?’ and

the survey came back that the students would rather have it from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., so that’s what we did. That’s the population we’re trying to serve so that’s what we’ve done, tried to try to hear what the students want and then give those offerings.”

The deadline for signups was midnight on Sept. 6. Once the signups closed, Atisso said he sent out the assigned schedules and teams for the new semester. Even though the signup is over, Atisso said people can reach out and they will work something out in order for those interested to still get involved.

... tried to hear what the students want and then give those offerings.”

Atisso said that they are currently offering basketball, volleyball, soccer and flag football. All of these sports are co-ed and open to the entire student population as well as faculty.Intramurals are held on campus, Atisso said, and are scheduled for the evenings. Brubeck said although it is rare to have faculty

UConn men’s basketball returns to the White House

By Joe Arruda HARTFORD COURANT (TNS)

WASHINGTON – Dan Hurley and a few returning members of the UConn men’s basketball team looked somewhat comfortable as they filed into the East Room of the White House on Tuesday.It was only about 15 months ago thatHurleywalkedshoulder-to-shoulder with President Joe Biden into the same room, and saw his team standing on the same risers between the same paintings of George and Martha Washington.

“Well, let me be the first to say welcome back,” President Biden said. “I won’t be here next year, but you may be.”

Biden recalled Hurley’s famous “You better get us now” line from a loss to Villanova in 2020 – “Coach, you were right”– and said the repeat championship team was underestimated,remembering the departures of Jordan Hawkins, Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson Jr., who presented him a home white jersey last spring. He noted that UConn passed Duke and Indiana in the all-time

national title count and proclaimed:

“Now there’s no doubt at all about who are the blue bloods in basketball.”

UConn toured the White House before the event, as it did last spring, and Hurley got the same photo walking through the red-carpeted halls alongside Biden.

“People questioned whether or not you had the talent to go back-toback. I guess they didn’t see you guys standing up,” the president quipped.

“Although I should note, I picked you guys on my ticket.”

The entire 2023-24 roster, including NBA draftees Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, Cam Spencer and Tristen Newton, made the trip. Newcomers to the program – Aidan Mahaney, Tarris Reed Jr., Liam McNeeley, Isaiah Abraham and Ahmad Nowell – did not attend.

But if the trend continues, they may be able to get their turn next year.

©2024 Hartford Courant. Visit courant.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

participate, he is not opposed to it.

Compared to last year, this program made minor changes, Brubeck said, the most significant being the growth of flag football. Atisso said that flag football being added and gaining popularity had a lot to do with student advocacy.

“Another student who works with us went out on his own then we kind of put it under the umbrella so that they would be supported as well,”Atisso said. “It’s been great, started last year and it’s picked up a lot which is good.”

As intramurals continue to grow, Atisso said they aim to continue to develop and widen its audience flag football is a great example of how students can advocate for themselves and see a result.

“There’s always room for growth, it kind of depends on right now just spacing and stuff,then general interest,” Atisso said. “It’s hard with some of the spaces not being available because of athletic teams, but we are looking to expand.”

Any student interested in a sport not currently offered in the program, can talk to the RSO director and see about implementing it in, Atisso said. Those interested in an existing program can reach out to Atisso at atissom@ uindy.edu.

WNBA from Page 2

Last season, Indiana’s record was 13-27 and Chicago’s was 18-22, according to the WNBA. This year, while the Sky has struggled and is sitting right on the edge of playoff contention with a record of 13-24, the Indiana Fever is 19-19, having reached a winning record in their win against Dallas on Sept. 1, the first time the team has been over .500 since 2019, according to the Indy Star. Because of the tremendous impact she has had on her team, leading them to a winning record, her incredible ability to hit her teammates up with jaw-dropping assists and to score just about anywhere on the floor, I am taking Caitlin Clark as my Rookie of the Year pick.

Coach of the Year

A team cannot improve without a good coach to lead the way, and the Minnesota Lynx have shown tremendous improvement from last season. This is seen by Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve to be ESPN’s front-runner to win Coach of the Year. Last year, the Lynx ended the season 19-21 and were ranked sixth in the playoffs where they fell to the Connecticut Sun.This year, the team is 28-9, won the Commissioner’s Cup in-season tournament and have the potential to be title contenders. One of the main differences between the Lynx’s past couple of seasons and this one, from a viewer’s standpoint, is the chemistry and defensive energy — both of which, cannot happen without a solid coaching staff. Other notable coaches this year have been Christie Sides who — although I do not think is in the running for Coach of the Year — I would certainly nominate for Most Improved Coach, if it were an award. The growth of the Fever throughout the season has been tremendous, and watching Sides and the team learn how to play together has been incredible. ESPN has New York Liberty Head Coach Sandy Brondello and Sun Head Coach Stephanie White — both leaders of championship-caliber teams this season. Although White has built a roster I love to watch play, and Brondello and the Liberty are always entertaining to watch, I will take Reeve for Coach of the Year due to the team’s jump in the standings from last season to this season. Defensive Player of the Year

Although being the predicted runner-up for MVP, the Lynx’s Napheesa Collier is ESPN’s frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year. However, with two-time, defending Defensive Player of the Year A’ja Wilson right behind Collier, the race is far from over. Collier ranks in multiple defensive statistical categories, including third place in rebounds per game (9.7)

and steals (1.9), according to ESPN. Collier’s leadership on the defensive end of the court has helped make the Lynx as successful as it has been this season, allowing teams to score an average of 75.7 points per game, according to WNBA. As previously mentioned, Wilson leads the league in blocks and is second in rebounds, making her a strong contender to go for three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards. In my opinion, what gives Collier the edge is the Lynx’s overall defensive efficiency and success this season. The Aces’ opponents score 81.3 points against them on average, according to WNBA, and they are 24-13 compared to the Lynx’s 28-9. While this is an individual award, the success of the two teams highlights how Collier’s defense has built her entire team up, where Wilson’s defense is phenomenal, but has not led to as much success as Collier’s.

Sixth Player of the Year

For those unfamiliar with basketball awards, the Sixth Player of the Year award is given to the best bench player in the league, and players must start less games than they do not start in order to be eligible to win. According to ESPN, this year’s race for Sixth Player of the Year could follow the same formula as last year — the strongest bench player from the strongest team. Last year this was Alysha Clark from the Aces, and this year ESPN gives it to the New York Liberty’s Leonie Fiebich. Although she averages 6.8 points per game, according to the WNBA, her minutes are efficient. She is averaging 46.9% from the field, 43.8% from three-point range and 72% from the free throw line.

Fiebich has also had to jump in and play important minutes for the Liberty this season as they have dealt with injuries from two of the team’s starters, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Courtney Vandersloot. According to ESPN, the only bench player averaging double digit points is Los Angeles Sparks guard, Odyssey Sims, who has played on different contracts and teams throughout the season. ESPN’s runner-up for Sixth Player of the Year is the Aces’ Tiffany Hayes, who came out of her short retirement to join Las Vegas this season. Since playing a starting role for most of her professional career, Hayes has played well with the defending championship this season, contributing valuable minutes on both ends of the court when the team has needed it. This is a close call for me, since it is often less clear-cut than most other awards; every team needs something different from their sixth player, but this year I would give it to Hayes.

Hayes is averaging 9.2 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists per game, according to WNBA. While she is not shooting as efficiently as Fiebich, Hayes is far from inefficient, shooting 50.3% on field goals and 39.2% from three.

Most Improved Player Connecticut Sun Guard DiJonai Carrington has continued to grow with every season she has been in the league since being drafted in 2021. In 2023, she averaged 8.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, according to WNBA. In addition to her even contributions on the offensive end of the court, Carrington really shines on defense which has only become more impressive this season. In 2024, Carrington is averaging 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game, according to ESPN. While Carrington was a defensive menace last season, anybody who has seen her match up with the Fever’s Caitlin Clark knows how tough she plays. Carrington has consistently been a starter for the Sun this season, contributing important minutes, which will hopefully continue in the postseason. According to ESPN, Carrington’s top challenger is Chicago Sky Guard Chennedy Carter. While Carter has typically been in and out of the spotlight for negative reasons this season, she has certainly improved with the Sky and Head Coach Theresa Witherspoon. However, I do not see her as a strong contender for Most Improved Player. After being traded from the Atlanta Dream due to misconduct and released from the Los Angeles Sparks for similar reasons, this has been the first season where I think viewers have really seen Carter shine. This is an improvement, of course, but I think Carrington’s improvement has overall helped put her team in a better position this season than Carter’s contributions to the Sky. WNBA Champion

At the beginning of the season, I would have bet anything that the Aces would be looking at a probable three-peat at this point in the season, but reality has not been kind to Las Vegas this year. While they are not out of the running for the title, they are looking at a 4or 5-seed compared to its 1-seed in 2022 and 2023. The strongest contender for the title this year is the New York Liberty. The super team New York built in 2023 has continued to shine behind the reigning MVP Breanna Stewart as well as Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones, and after losing to the Aces in the finals last season, I think they want to prove themselves more than any team going into playoffs.

Photo contributed by Dylan Euler

Sophomores Nole Marchand and Hunter Baker practicing and running plays during intramural flag football, one of four intramural sports being offered.

Photo by Andrew Harnik University of Connecticut Men’s Basketball NCAA championship team in the East Room of the White House (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/TNS).

Graphic by Allison Cook

Students create stunning space Students come together to build a new studio space for UIndy’s music department

By Luke Cooper ONLINE EDITOR

UIndy’s music department is opening a music studio this semester to provide students a space to mix music in Dolby Atmos, a new music format, according to Director of Music Technology Programs and Associate Professor of Music Brett Leonard.

“The newest sort of evolution is a [sound] system that is more three-dimensional,” Leonard said. “Now you have surround [sound] around you but you also have sound above you so you really feel like you’re in a space with sound. This facility will give us the capability to teach classes and help students learn about this 3-D sort of audio technology.”

I’ve done that before, I can do that for you.’”

According to Leonard, UIndy is special in getting the technology and ability to mix in Dolby Atmos on campus, one of only a handful of places in the state where Dolby Atmos mixes can be made.

... it’s going

be a really cool, unique space ....”

“I think it’s really kind of awesome when this comes online, we’ll be only the third school in Indiana and the first place in Indianapolis, including private commercial facilities where you can do this.” Leonard said. “You gotta go an hour [away] somewhere to get another studio like this, it’s going to be a really cool, unique space and it’s been super fun.”

Leonard said the industry needs people, especially students who can mix in Dolby Atmos. There are rewards for artists to release a mix in Dolby Atmos.

“Apple Music and Amazon are about both paying artists higher royalties to release in immersive [Dolby Atmos],” Leonard said. “It’s really a need in the music industry, people are demanding that we do this kind of thing and this will allow us to get students involved with it so when they hit the workforce they can say ‘Yeah,

According to Leonard, five students and Associate Professor of Music Peter Nichols have contributed to the project. Exercise science and music major Jake Lin is one of the students involved in building the space.

“I’ve done things from … help paint to help put up frames for the bass traps, to help build some of the cable traps,” Lin said.

Lin described having the space at UIndy as a necessity. He also talked about the importance of having the skills to mix in Dolby Atmos from a student perspective. Even if the skill may or may not be used depending on the situation.

“It’s kind of hard to get your ears acquainted to that sort of sound if you don’t have access to it or aren’t taught how to use it either,” Lin said. “I definitely think it’s a necessary addition to have at UIndy and even if you don’t end up using that skill in your professional career, it’s like a pocket knife, right? You have that skill that you can pull out and use it if you need to, but

Housing exhibit displays disparities

By Caroline Krauch SPORTS EDITOR

The University of Indianapolis Sociology Department has recently opened a new interactive exhibit titled “Unwelcomed”: A Fair Housing History of Sales & Lending Discrimination. The department collaborated with the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana to create the exhibit.

The FHCCI is an organization that works to protect the rights that are provided under the Fair Housing Act which, “protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, seeking a mortgage, or engaging in other housing-related activities” (HUD.gov). According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, this act was put into place in 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson after Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated.

Associate Professor of Sociology Colleen Wynn said that despite this law being in place, there are still instances in which housing discrimination occurs. Wynn said there is a technique realtors used called racial steering, where realtors

would place their clients based on their race. The law was amended in 1988, she said, to add more protected classes which has aided in the decline in the amount and types of discrimination.

“There’s still a pretty persistently high level of discrimination, much more than people would expect,” Wynn said. “One of the groups of people who are protected under the Fair Housing Act are people with disabilities, and the largest number of housing discrimination cases reported each year are about discrimination due to a disability.”

According to the National Fair Housing Alliance, there were 34,150 fair housing complaints in 2023, over 1,000 more than in 2022. In the same report, it recorded there was over a 66% increase in complaints of harassment.

Students, faculty and the general public are able to visit the exhibit, and can reflect on the impact that societal barriers have had on housing. The point of the exhibit, Wynn pointed out, is to highlight how these discriminatory practices continue to affect the housing market.

“This kind of discrimination still happens today even though

there are supposed to be processes in place to keep it from happening,” Wynn said. “It [the exhibit] will talk about that, and it’ll have a little bit of information about Indiana and Indianapolis as well.”

The exhibit is on display in Krannert Memorial Library until Sept. 26 and will be available during the library’s normal operating hours, according to the news release. Director of Education and Outreach of the FHCCI Erika Fotsch led a discussion on housing discrimination on Sept. 16 to talk about what the organization does to combat these types of issues.

In addition to the exhibit which will give a general introduction to this topic, Wynn said there will be resources available. She said a lot of times students and the public may not even realize they are being discriminated against, which is why learning about this topic can help.

“I think one way we can try to make sure this type of discrimination doesn’t happen again in the future is through education and through knowing that it’s wrong for these things to happen,” Wynn said. “Through people knowing that there are these resources available.”

otherwise you can just have it.”

Although Lin is primarily involved with music performance he appreciates his dedication to the new space and gaining experience in the studio.

“It’s been a really great experience to have the opportunity to work on something like this, especially as a performance major wanting to get into commercial music professionally in the future,” Lin said. “It’s been a really great experience to kind of get hands on on what goes on in the studio.” According to Leonard, the studio should be open in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center in October if everything goes as planned. He said the department may host a studio party for the UIndy community once the space is ready to use.

UIndy student to premiere documentary

By Emma Foutz STAFF WRITER

Per the music department curriculum,all music majors complete a research paper or project for their upper divisional evaluation, but junior music therapy major Anna Miles decided to take a more creative approach.

Miles premiered her documentary “What Is Music Therapy? An Exploration of Various Perspectives” at the music departmental showcase on Sept. 11.The documentary focuses on the purpose of music therapy and what it looks like for different populations of people.

Assistant Professor and Director of Music Therapy Amy Foley said music therapy is a tool to work on someone’s non-music goals, such as overcoming an obstacle or diagnosis in their life. Music therapists work on creating connections with people to increase their ability to express themselves or better manage emotional stressors in their lives, according to Foley.

“I think it’s neat because the power of music is that it has the capacity to rewire and help build stronger brain connections,” Foley said.

Miles was inspired to create this documentary rather than complete a research paper for her final in May 2024. Hearing about the experiences of professionals and other music therapy majors, Miles said she felt like it would be more beneficial in the long run and still fit within the project’s criteria.

“Other music therapy majors before me are like, ‘There’s really nothing fun you can do’like ‘You have to write a paper,’” Miles said. “Well, I don’t really want to do that. I want to do something creative.”

To present as many perspectives as possible, Miles asked participants in the documentary why they decided to pursue a career in music therapy. Miles said they shared their personal experiences of being introduced to music therapy and their reasoning for pursuing it as a career.

A common theme throughout the documentary, Miles said, is the frustration that comes with working in a profession that is misunderstood and under-appreciated. Miles said people tend to mistake music therapy as music education or the psychology of music, but it is its own entity, and it is frustrating

to hear people say music therapy is “putting headphones on and listening to music.”

“These stereotypes and generalizations… it’s not what music therapy is like,” Miles said. “I think that was neat to know other people share those frustrations. Even professionals share those frustrations as well.” Foley said there are misconceptions in the field of music therapy because they may work alongside other therapy professionals in various settings. Music therapy sessions are a little bit of an anomaly, but they utilize their clients’ passion for music in a fun and motivating way to work on skills, Foley explained.

Interviewing music therapists has helped increase Miles understanding of the profession. She said nothing truly prepares students for the clinical space, but hearing professionals’ experiences validated her feelings about music therapy.

“I think also just to see like when people talk about their clients, and just what their clients have taught them and everything,” Miles said. “It’s so beautiful to think how music connects us … that became very evident for me doing this project.”

As a result of this documentary, Miles hopes viewers will gain a basic understanding of music therapy and have an appreciation of it. She said she wants people to understand the value of music therapy for their clients.

“I just want people to see… how powerful music is,” Miles said. “It’s not something that you really internalize until you actually sit down and listen to other people and their experiences.”

Aside from the premiere at UIndy on Sept. 11, Miles hopes to share this documentary with high schools. She said she would have committed to music therapy sooner if she had known it was a career option earlier in high school and coming into college and wants to give others that opportunity.

“I love music, but it’s not practical,” Miles said. “If I had known, I mean, bam, it would have been my first decision.”

For students interested in learning more about music therapy, there is a registered student organization, the Music Therapy Association for Students, or contact Professor Foley at foleyan@uindy.edu.

Photo by Allison Cook

A side-by-side comparison of the new music studio space in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center shows the room before renovations and the current, in-progress state. The space is set to open in the next month for students to use.

Photo by Emma Foutz

“Unwelcomed: A Fair Housing History of Sales & Lending Discrimination” is an interactive exhibit about the impact of systemic barriers that shaped the Indianapolis community. The exhibit is on display in KML from Aug. 30 to Sept. 26.

Hispanic Heritage Month gallery opened

New gallery from OIE aims to fulfill student desire to recognize Hispanic heritage

By Livia Lytle STAFF WRITER

With Hispanic Heritage Month beginning on Sept. 15, the University of Indianapolis’ Office of Inclusive Excellence and Retention Strategy’s new art gallery exhibit, dedicated to Hispanic culture, made its debut on Sept. 12, according to the OIE Instagram.

The Art Experience Lab is located in Schwitzer 203, next to the OIE office in Schwitzer 201. The art gallery has been open since June 10, 2022 and “Hasta Las Raíces: To the Roots, Embracing Heritage” will be the fifth exhibit in its history. While it is the fifth exhibit for the gallery, it will be the first to feature Hispanic heritage and artists, according to Director of Institutional Belonging & Title IX Coordinator Cari Freed.

The inspiration for this exhibit can be credited to OIE Belonging Fellow and Hispano Latino Colectivo Delegate Leslie Samperio. Samperio said she brought up to Freed and OIE Belonging Fellow and Art Curator Sy’mere Durrett that the office should pursue an exhibit centered around Hispanic Heritage Month. Although Samperio was not sure

whether it would come to fruition this semester or later, Freed and Durrett loved the idea and thus began the process, she said.

The process is handled mainly by the art curator, Samperio said. Durrett said they mostly find art and artists to showcase at the display through Instagram or other forms of networking. Durrett said they wanted the exhibit to be as authentic as possible, so all of the artists featured are Latinx in culture, with the goal to offer a space to share the experiences of those underrepresented.

“The goal is to showcase things that are underrepresented … especially being at a predominantly white institution,” Durrett said, “This one is very colorful and lots of Hispanic and Latino things are very, very colorful, very alive. I wanted the pieces to represent that and collab with artists.”

Durrett said a way the exhibit can benefit those at UIndy is by enabling more information to be shared and accessible. It is beneficial to see “the roots” of where people, like some of the UIndy students, faculty and staff on campus, originated, Samperio said.

“Overall, it gives them a place to feel comfortable where they can show a lot of their culture … and it kind of broadens a lot of

the students’ ideas of what they can do in life and what they are capable of even though they are Hispanic,” Samperio said. “Sometimes it is hard to jump into certain things because you feel like that might not be for you or it might not be something you can go towards.”

As far as the art goes, the HLC Delegates, Samperio and Imelda Pozos, created an interactive piece for students to be a part of. There is a map of all Hispanic countries where students will be able to

Mage’s brings magic southside

By Mia Lehmkuhl EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lined with shelves filled top to bottom with comic books and racks full of trading cards, Mage’s Comics is a nerd’s slice of heaven — marking a new but familiar addition to the southside.

Director and Co-Owner Eli Vida said he knew he wanted to retain the previous store’s, Comic Book University, emphasis on comic books, trading cards and gaming the moment the opportunity arose to take over the space. Vida is also a University of Indianapolis alum, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Fresh out of college, he began his journey as a Comic Book University employee in 2016. However, postgrad, he encountered difficulties feeling fulfilled in roles tied to what he studied.

“... I worked there [CBU] for a year, and then I went off and started a marketing firm, and then I started a financial planning firm, and I did a bunch of stuff that I didn’t love,” Vida said.

In terms of how he came to be co-owner, Vida said it was largely because the previous owner wanted to retire. Originally opened in 2005, CBU specialized in comic books, graphic novels, tabletop gaming and trading cards to name a few.

“He was talking to somebody about retiring, and that person fell through.” Vida said. “And when I first moved back, I was like, ‘Man, I’d love to do this.’ … And so, end of 2023, [we] came to a deal with the old owner. … And we kept like, 95% of the like customers, and then we’ve added a bunch of new customers.”

In regards to comic books, superheroes, games and everything in between, however, Vida said the passion started young.

“I love Spidey. I’ve been a SpiderMan fan since I was a little kid and Batman,” Vida said. “My third birthday cake — there’s a picture of my cake with a big old Batman logo. I love, you know, ‘The Boys’ and ‘Pokémon,’ I was obsessed with ‘Pokémon’ growing up, and like, I got bit by the ‘Magic the Gathering’ bug ....”

According to Mage’s Comics’ website, it offers a variety of comic books, trading cards for games like

“Magic the Gathering,” and graphic novels among other offerings. Upon visiting, store goers can also pick up card sleeves, card storage options or even a soda. When he knew he would be able to purchase the space and open up a new store, Vida said he wanted to preserve what was already there and then some and offered advice for those looking to get into running a small business — especially those who might not have what Vida refers to as social infrastructure. In short, the more resources an entrepreneur has, the more likely they are to succeed even with a few bumps in the road.

“Honestly, find a small business owner who is looking to retire,”Vida said. “I think that is the safest way for people in what I’m gonna call our generations, like millennials and Generation Z. ... I’m saying, like,

the biggest determining factor on whether an entrepreneur is going to succeed is literally how many times they can fail.” Additionally, Mage’s Comics offers a space for gamers to come and play — tables are located in two back rooms for tabletop gaming. Vida said that the space is generally free with the exception of paid tournaments; however, Mage’s Comics sets certain days aside for certain games. For example, Mondays are usually for “Pokémon” and Thursdays are dedicated to “Dungeons & Dragons.” Though, players sometimes pay a $5 fee to dungeon masters leading a “D&D” session, Vida said. Other than that, more detailed information about scheduled events and open board days can be found on Mage’s Comics’ event schedule.

place a pin on the map where they are from or where their families originated, according to Durrett and Samperio.

UIndy has also had an altar for El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in past years to honor and respect family members and friends that have passed on, but this year it will be housed inside the art gallery to keep it more protected, according to Durrett. This is done in partnership with the Student Organization of Latinx, a registered student organization on

by

campus promoting the Hispanic and Latinx culture on campus, according to its Instagram. Along with the two interactive pieces, there is artwork in the gallery created by artists on campus, local artists as well as one artist who is currently living in Barcelona, according to Durrett.

“If you feel like you don’t have a place to go, just come to the office,” Samperio said. “We will be able to guide you to the right place and be able to help you with whatever you might need.”

Student-led play debuts

By Allison Cook PHOTO EDITOR

A student-led production of “All in the Timing” by David Ives will be making its upcoming debut at the University of Indianapolis. The performances, taking place Sept. 19-21 at 7 p.m. in the studio theater, will feature four plays out of a 16-play program, according to senior theater major and the play’s director Dee Woods.

The focus of the various plays revolve around the concept and power of words and time, Woods said. Woods said he always wanted to go to school for the performing arts, so after he completed military school and was accepted into UIndy’s theatre program, he took advantage of the opportunity.

Woods said he has been acting since he was an adolescent, so having experience working in several a variety of theater roles has proved to be helpful in leading this show, as this project is the largest one he’s been involved with. Part of being a director means having more control over various aspects of the production, Woods said.

“Directing the show is more so me and my other peers around helping me out, rather than producing the show,” Woods said. “I’m the one that’s coming up with the designs, the budget, the space, the times that we need to use the space. Basically just handling all aspects of the show, minus stage management and crew.”

and behind the scenes, while they have been a student. The play is a strange comedy, according to Dickerson, and the cast will have more freedom to perform when the production makes its UIndy debut, where their performances of “All in the Timing” at IndyFringe, an independent Indianapolis theater, limits their time.

“They [the plays] are really short, and they’re all about different things,” Dickerson said. “I would say it’s kind of like the wackiest thing you’ve ever seen.”

Dickerson said the studentled production process was challenging at times because of the different skill levels of those involved. However, being able to see everything and everyone come together for the end product is the essence of theater. Woods said working through the hiccups of a completely student-led production to have a successful and finalized production on a stage has been his favorite part of the process.

I tell my actors all the time, the beauty is within the detail... ”

Woods said the project is his senior capstone, and he feels grateful for the opportunity as he hopes this will open up more chances for student-led productions, which have not been a possibility in the past few years.

Seeing all the pieces come together for “All in the Timing” has been a cool experience working as the director, Woods said.

“I tell my actors all the time, the beauty is within the detail,” Woods said. “Working everything from scratch and seeing it fully produced on a professional stage like that has been my favorite [part].”

Senior theater major Dipper Dickerson is part of the acting cast for “All in the Timing.” After joining their high school theater program and feeling a connection, Dickerson said they decided to pursue theater at UIndy, since they had a friend already in the program. Dickerson said they have been a part of every UIndy theater production, either on stage

Assistant Professor of Communication and Director of the Theatre Program Grant Williams said he advised the students, but other than that did not do much at all. He said he envisions a similar process moving forward in the department, especially now that theater has merged with the communication department, and experiential courses are a part of the communication curriculum. Having opportunities like studentled productions at a professional theater gives students the agency to figure out how theater processes work, Williams said.

“They [the students] are having to figure out the problems and brainstorm themselves,” Williams said. “They’re also building important contacts in the community, which will help them, when they leave the university, to be professionals with contacts in town.”

Anyone in the UIndy community can get involved with theater on campus, Dickerson, Woods and Williams said. Woods added that there are exciting opportunities coming up through the rest of the year including the fall show “Circle Mirror Transformation” by Annie Baker and the Rocky Horror shadow cast. Woods and Dickerson also expressed their excitement for the spring semester’s production of “Tick, Tick… Boom!” by Jonathan Larson, and said students should be on the lookout for interest forms.

Photo

Livia Lytle

Photo by Mia Lehmkuhl

Photo by Mia Lehmkuhl

OIE Belonging Fellow and Art Curator Sy’mere Durrett stands next to mixed-media artist Jazlyn Gomez’s piece,“Y la Mia Tambien,” at the “Hasta Las Raíces: To the Roots, Embracing Heritage” gallery opening on Sept. 12, 2024.

Director and Co-Owner of Mage’s Comics Eli Vida poses amid comic book racks, pictured Sept. 5 after he recently took over the space, formerly CBU.

Red racks are filled with comic books, manga and more at Mage’s Comics. The store is located at 7623 Shelby St. or on Instagram @magescomics.

UINDY ONLINE

What the campus community needs to know

By Reagan Sexton-Godsey STAFF WRITER

Editors Note: This is the second part in a three part series covering UIndy Online and the Sease Institute.

The University of Indianapolis announced the arrival of UIndy Online and The Sease Institute this summer. According to the university website some of the degrees and certifications offered online include healthy diploma certification, master of science in aging studies, nurse leader graduate certification and more. Executive Vice President and Provost Chris Plouff said UIndy Online will meet the demands of students who are referred to as adult learners, or students who have taken time off from schooling and need a more accessible education.

According to its website, The Sease Institute was founded in order to adapt to the changing world of work with the goal of better outcomes for Indiana businesses and communities. The website also says The Sease Institute evolves along with the needs of the business community. Plouff said UIndy Online

and The Sease Institute are separate programs but both share the same goals.

“They are two different things,” Plouff said. “UIndy Online is the post-traditional learner degree completion as well as support for our online programs. The Sease Institute has been around for a while … it's really intended to be primarily, but not exclusively, noncredit-bearing education and training for the community at large.”

UIndy Online is the post-traditional learner degree completion ...

UIndy President Tanuja Singh said UIndy Online provides an accessible opportunity for many people looking to go into the workforce but may not have the credentials, as well as for students who may have had to step away from pursuing a degree for various reasons and are now looking to return to school.

“If you look at the governor's office initiative, also Workforce Indiana, what

Nursing from Page 1

health sciences field, having a nursing program seemed like a “natural fit.”

“Butler is really working to develop programs that help meet the needs of the local community, so I think that was why they [Butler University] decided to go in this direction,” Searles said.

According to Vivian Health, enrollment in 4-year nursing degree programs is down nationally. Despite this, Searles said she is not concerned about filling the 48 seats Butler’s program has been approved for in their inaugural year.

“Across Indiana every year there are hundreds, if not thousands, of fully-qualified students that apply for nursing programs that get turned down because there’s not enough room, so I would be really surprised if we don’t fill all of our seats,” Searles said.

UIndy Associate Dean of Nursing Cynthia Bowers said she attributes the decreased enrollment to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Nurse. org, the enrollment in 4-year BSN programs was consistently increasing for 20 years and began to decrease in the 2021-2022 school year.

Bowers does not believe Butler’s new nursing program will cause a further decrease in UIndy’s nursing enrollment, and having more nursing programs in the state is a good thing. She said UIndy’s program has lots of connections locally, statewide and nationally.

“ Te good thing for UIndy is that we are very well-established with our hospital partners locally and statewide,” Bowers said. “... Being competitive is also a good thing, I think that keeps us all on

our toes and makes sure that what we’re teaching is fresh.”

While Butler may have already claimed one of UIndy’s own faculty members, Bowers said she is not concerned about the possibility of losing more, and that the position that became open was filled almost immediately. Bowers said the hardest part about faculty leaving is narrowing down all of the qualified applicants and choosing someone to replace them.

Searles said she has no bad blood with UIndy, and jokingly said she chose to join Butler because it was only five minutes from her house. She added that it was a really hard decision, because UIndy felt like her family and like home after being here for so long.

“Leaving all of you was hard, but ultimately it was an opportunity to do something new and big and exciting to come here and start this new program,” Searles said. “Nursing programs are not like a competition. If we can all have a great nursing program that produces a great nurse, then that’s the goal.”

Bowers said there are many reasons prospective students choose different nursing programs. She said she has been with UIndy for 10 years, and hopes others love it as much as she does.

“I hope they would pick us for the same reason that I stay,” Bowers said. “I like our smaller campus feel, more of a family feel. I have a great faculty team who love their students and work really hard to make sure students get what they need when they need it, and are able to pay a little extra care to the students that might need a little bit extra.”

UIndy reveals $5.2 million endowment

By Peter Roeger STAFF WRITER

Te University of Indianapolis

announced a $5.2 million donation from J.J. and Mary Kaye Ott last month, in the form of a scholarship endowment, according to a university press release, with the goal of benefiting students for years to come.

According to University of Indianapolis President Tanuja Singh, the endowment will benefit students in numerous majors. She said at least 50 students will be able to receive benefits from the endowment. She described the gift as one that grows over time, and said she hopes the endowment will help open doors for students interested in attending college but may have financial difficulty getting there otherwise.

they’re saying is we have a large percentage of people who would be qualified to do the job, they just do not have the credentials,” Singh said. “We want to make it easy for them to be able to complete a degree that helps them move up.”

Singh said UIndy already offers online courses, but it is not as focused as UIndy Online will be. She added that students will be able to take individual courses if that is all they need to pursue their goals.

“What we’re hoping is that people can do credentialing, they can do stackable certificates …” Singh said. “They may be able to come in and say ‘I just want to take twelve hours.’”

A nationwide search for the Founding Dean of UIndy Online and The Sease Institute is underway. Singh said the dean will work closely with Academic Affairs to build the courses available for UIndy Online. The press release said the dean of UIndy Online will join the same leadership level as the other four colleges at UIndy.

“We’re looking for someone who understands how the world is evolving and understands the responsive nature of education we are focusing on,” Singh said.

Election from Page 1

According to Indiana’s Voter Portal, it has three candidates looking to represent the Hoosier state in the U.S. Senate: Valerie McCray (D), Jim Banks (R) and Libertarian Andrew Horning.After Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped out of the race and swiftly endorsed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, he remains on the ballot in 29 states. Tose on the ballot are as follows: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz (D), Trump and J.D. Vance (R), Libertarians Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat and for the We the People Party there is Kennedy Jr. and Nicole Shanahan. Since the U.S. mostly operates via a two-party system, much of the presidential race will revolve around Harris and Trump. Since policy positions can impact a voters decision on who they vote for in the Presidential race, the topics within the debate, held Sept. 10, discussed the more important issues raised by voters such as inflation,immigration and healthcare.

For Harris, some of the values featured on her campaign website are as follows:

• Cutting taxes for middleclass families Making rent more affordable and homeownership more attainable Growing small businesses and entrepreneurship

• Strengthen and make healthcare more affordable

For Trump, some of the values features on his campaign website are as follows:

• Sealing the border

• Carrying out the largest deportation operation in America to date Ending inflation to make America affordable again

“We got $5.2 million, and the investment income from that endowment, if you will, is what translates into what we can spend,” Singh said. “Imagine if you put money in the bank, and, essentially you are using the interest, if you will, but this is the income that we will use.”

Singh said there is a percentage of income earned from the endowment, which the university will spend on scholarships. Meanwhile, according to Singh, the original gift is preserved, allowing it to continue earning income and benefitting future generations of students.

Te press release stated the donors, the Otts, met at Indiana Central College, UIndy’s former name, while they were students, and married while still attending the university. Te release says J.J. Ott graduated from the university in 1972, going on to have a successful career in healthcare administration, while Mary Kaye Ott continued taking classes at the university. UIndy Board of Trustees Chair Deborah Daniels said in the press release that she hopes the endowment will give students an opportunity to enjoy the education provided by UIndy regardless of the point in their life or learning journey they are at.

“One of our big promises [is] that we want to make sure that education is affordable and accessible,” Singh said. “So this enables us to expand that promise to a group of students who might not otherwise have had this.” Singh said a donation of this significance and amount empowers the university to support students financially who wish to pursue higher education at UIndy. She described the gift as very generous, and hopes its impact will be felt long into the future. According to Singh, an endowment is different from an unrestricted gift.

• Making America the dominant energy producer within the world

According to the Pew Research Center, a survey conducted of U.S. adults held in late August through early September found what was deemed very important by voters, organizing them based on who they are likely to support in the election. Harris supporters indicated their biggest concerns are healthcare and Supreme Court appointments followed by the economy and abortion. Trump supporters indicated their largest concerns lie with the economy and immigration followed by violent crime and foreign policy, according to the survey. For immigration, it is rated as very important by 82% of Trump supporters and 39% of Harris supporters. With foreign affairs and immigration concerns impacting voters, Professor of History and Political Science Milind Thakar said many do not have a great knowledge on international affairs. He said that can cause a lot of voters to go along with claims any politician makes in regards to global affairs. However, Takar explained that the U.S. has an obligation to support its allies, through offering them, for example, because it needs to maintain the important relationships that preserve its influence on the global stage.

“For the US to maintain its primacy, for the U.S. to maintain its relationships that bring it advantages in terms of good trade deals, in terms of security, it is necessary for the U.S. to maintain its big power status and to play an active role, rather than sit back,” Takar said. “Countries that sit back and do nothing find that their power ebbs away. Because, and this

is a key part, power is only good as it’s exercised. If it is not exercised, if it's just potential, it isn’t power.” Students Weigh In

Whether it is decided by policy or party,votes cast at the poll Nov.5 will dictate who takes office. For Imelda Pozos, senior history and political science major and president of the University of Indianapolis College Democrats, she said this election is very determinate of seriousness and equality. Additionally, Pozos calls for people to take the initiative to register, be active in the community and vote come Election Day.

On campus, there are resources for UIndy students, staff and faculty to ensure they are registered or to get registered to vote, Wilson said. On Monday, Sept. 16, through Tursday, Sept. 19, from 2-4 p.m., students and other volunteers will be at Krannert Memorial Library to help with the process, according to an email sent through Intercom. And,for those who may be apathetic to the idea of voting because they do not feel represented, Shufeldt said for students to also keep in mind that they are able to run for office as well in addition to using their voice.

Voting and voices matter to Bryce Howard, president of the University of Indianapolis College Republicans. He said that this election is important, especially for young people, and everyone over the age of 18 should get out and exercise their right to vote regardless of political opinion.

“Because at the end of the day, yeah, people might think, well, we're — I'm just one person, but your opinion does matter,”Howard said. “Your voice does matter, and you have the right to an opinion because an American soldier died for your right to have an opinion.”

Photo by Allison Cook

UIndy announced the arrival of UIndy Online, in collaboration with Sease Institute, on July 3. It will offer a variety of programs at the undergraduate and graduate level. It is expected to accept their frst students this winter.