The Franklin: October 2020

OCTOBER 2020 | THEFRANKLINNEWS.COM

LOST

CREDIT

COLLEGE AIMS TO REGAIN ACCREDITATION FOR TRAINING ELEMENTARY TEACHERS PG. 6

DIVERSITY INITIATIVES INCREASE PG. 10

IN TOWN: NEW ELOPEMENT CHAPEL PG. 12

NEWS

WHO MAKES THE FRANKLIN? Executive editor Hope Shrum hope.shrum@franklincollege.edu

EDITORS’ NOTE

Executive editor Taylor Wooten taylor.wooten@franklincollege.edu

HOPE SHRUM & TAYLOR WOOTEN | STORY hope.shrum@franklincollege.edu, taylor.wooten@franklincollege.edu

Opinion editor Carolina Puga Mendoza carolina.pugamendoza@franklincollege.edu

The Franklin persists in new and uncertain times

In the spring, Erica Irish and Emily Ketterer’s time as co-executive editors and our transition to a glossy news magazine was interrupted by a global pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic sent us home to challenging workspaces while we yearned for our desks and in-person interactions with friends and staff members.

But, we adapted. The transition was rough, and undoubtedly messy. We developed a new schedule and moved all of our coverage online. We increased the frequency of our email newsletter to weekly and continued our coverage of the Franklin community.

Meanwhile, the nearly empty Franklin College campus was undergoing changes of its own. Many faculty members left us, like former Dean of Student Retention and Success Keri Alioto. Others were promoted, like Director of Athletics Andrew Hendricks.

And during all of this, the COVID-19 task force, led by Dean of Students Andrew Jones, was in the middle of formulating the Fortify Franklin return to campus plan.

Franklin feels unfamiliar. We’ve returned to a campus of mask-wearing, social distancing and Zoom meetings. Regardless, The Franklin is persistent.

This semester, we will unveil a completely redesigned website. Our experience working online-only in the spring, it was a wake up call that our 4-year-old website needed a reboot.

We’ve been working with a team of tech experts to put together a fast, secure, freshly designed website. While our new website is under construction until later this semester, you can still find us at thefranklinnews.com.

We will also pick up where we left off,

and hopefully publish three monthly news magazines over the course of the semester. (If you’re reading this, we made it through one!)

This is the first issue with us as co-executive editors, and we are aiming to continue producing quality content despite the barriers caused by the pandemic.

We also invite you to grow with us this semester. In our last print issue, we published a guest column from then-student, nowalumna Sam Fain. Over the summer, we posted two separate letters to the editor: One from retiring professor Hank Nuwer, and another from Assistant Vice President of Facilities Tom Patz memorializing dedicated facilities worker Jim Carter. We hope our readers will consider opportunities to contribute to our publication.

News editor Victoria Ratliff victoria.ratliff@franklincollege.edu

Sports editor Alexa Shrake alexa.shrake@franklincollege.edu Copy chief Emily Ketterer emily.ketterer@franklincollege.edu Photo editor Tabby Fitzgerald tabatha.fitzgerald@franklincollege.edu Web editor Erica Irish erica.irish@franklincollege.edu Design editor Emily Hales emily.hales@franklincollege.edu Publisher John Krull jkrull@franklincollege.edu Adviser Ryan Gunterman rgunterman@franklincollege.edu

HOPE SHRUM, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

The Franklin aims for accuracy and clarity in all articles. We take errors seriously and regret any mistakes. If you find an error, please send an email to thefranklinstories@gmail.com Submit letters to the editor to thefranklinstories@gmail.com

TAYLOR WOOTEN, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

3

“THE Q:

What’s something you’ve never been able to do well?

// OUR TEAM

“

Morgan Bryant Reporter “Play guitar.”

Ken Casey Reporter “Math.”

Taylor Dixon Reporter “Public speaking.”

Tabby Fitzgerald Photo editor “Draw.”

Isaac Gleitz Reporter “Inflate balloons with my mouth.”

Emily Hales Design editor “French braid.”

Erica Irish Web editor “Dance.”

Emily Ketterer Copy chief “Stay out of drama.”

Ariana Lovitt Reporter “Ride a bike.”

Carolina Puga Mendoza Opinion editor “Speak English.”

Victoria Ratliff News editor “Shut up.”

Alexa Shrake Sports editor “Swim.”

Hope Shrum Co-Executive editor “Throw a football.”

Lacey Watt Reporter “Play cornhole.”

Taylor Wooten Co-Executive editor “Make decisions”

DON’T MISS A BEAT Visit thefranklinnews.com for daily news from campus.

Sign up for The Franklin’s email newsletter for weekly updates.

A

fter years of wishing to get out of her hometown of Louisville, Kalyn Johnson’s wish came true when Franklin College hired her.

As the new residence life area coordinator and center for diversity and inclusion program coordinator, she will get to apply her experiences from her hometown to her work in the position.

Growing up in a part of the city with a higher crime rate and in a low socioeconomic family, Johnson learned early on that everyone has different barriers that overlap and make their lives hard.

Having just graduated in April from Eastern Michigan University with a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and a focus in higher-education student affairs, Johnson was looking for jobs, mainly dealing with residence life, at large institutions.

Ever since she started her college career at Western Kentucky University, Johnson has loved working in residence life. She started incorporating aspects of diversity, equity and inclusion into her residence life jobs to immerse the students in discussing topics like race, gender and sex.

“At Eastern Michigan University, there were a lot of racial incidents aimed at Black and brown students,” Johnson said.

“So, I wanted to create an environment within my residential community that said, ‘This is not tolerated,’ and ‘We are here to educate, and we are here to learn.’”

Even though she has never had a job specifically dealing with diversity and inclusion, one of her final projects for her master’s degree was creating a diversity summit.

So, she created a two-day experience where students and professionals could talk about topics they’re passionate about, including race, sex, gender and ability.

Johnson said she would like to offer this summit here at Franklin, but she first wants to get to know the college’s culture before setting KALYN anything up.

That is her goal for this first semester in her position: Understand how students want to be treated here, the best forms of communication and what kind of programming students like to attend.

“If I don’t understand that, then I don’t understand how to do my job at all,” Johnson said. “I’m learning how to do my job through the students.”

Senior Reilly Jones, resident assistant in Elsey Hall, was a part of the interview process for a few candidates for the job.

She said that out of all the candidates, Johnson stuck out the most in terms of preparedness, boldness and selfconfidence. Jones liked how much experience Johnson had in residence life.

She said that she liked Johnson so much, she texted her supervisor after the interview saying she was the one.

Johnson’s favorite part of working in student affairs is getting to help students and watching them blossom, grow and even fail.

“Through failing, they learn so much,” she said. “I see it as ‘OK, what are we going to learn next time.’ And I always form it in a ‘we’ because ‘we’re in this together.’”

Even though Johnson had been looking for jobs at larger universities when she first started, she changed her mind after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country. She started to think more about the health and safety of herself and the students around her, and she couldn’t see herself in the position to do her job at a place with a

higher infection risk.

She also said that working at a smaller institution provides more opportunity to grow in the field, especially since she has both roles in her title, which is something she couldn’t get at larger schools.

Johnson was very happy to learn she can work on both since she is passionate about each of them. Her responsibilities will involve maintaining programming with residence life and with some of the diversity and inclusion programs, including the diversity advocates.

“You can’t see me smiling, but I’ve been smiling this entire time,” she said, referring to the fact that she wore a mask during the interview with The Franklin. “Because doing stuff like this and serving students with my whole heart gets me jazzed. It rocks my world.”

You can’t see me smiling, but I’ve been smiling this entire time. Because doing stuff like this and serving students with my whole heart gets me jazzed.

It rocks my world.

JOHNSON

TWO

IN

ONE New campus hire discusses getting best of both worlds with new position HOPE SHRUM | PHOTOS, STORY & DESIGN

6

EDUCATION After Franklin College fails to keep elementary education program, new administrators strive to repair reputation

ERICA IRISH | STORY

TABBY FITZGERALD | PHOTO

EMILY HALES | DESIGN

I

I

n what would become her last weeks — in 2010-2011 — Franklin College at Franklin College, aspiring elementary reported 105 declared elementary teacher Hailey Pardue found herself education majors and 30 graduates. “shocked” by an announcement that Now, as the college is pushing to get landed in her email inbox while working the accreditation back, it’s become a a shift at the Franklin Boys & Girls Club. priority for President Kerry Prather, a A key part of the major she had former high school teacher from a family been working towards for a year — of educators. the two-year educator preparation “This is the hand we’ve been dealt,” program, designed to give students Prather said. “So you have to play the classroom experience and a path to a best you can.” required teacher’s license — had lost its AN AMBITIOUS TIMELINE accreditation after an unfavorable review by its national accrediting body.

Franklin College learned it lost the It’s this change that led Pardue, a rising accreditation in April from the Council sophomore, to transfer to the University for the Accreditation of Educator of Indianapolis early this semester.

Preparation, or CAEP, after submitting Unwilling to risk her future, she made a report that failed to meet all five of the the tough decision to change her lifestyle, council’s requirements. uprooting herself from her friends and But the college did not tell students fellow softball players. until an Aug. 21 email, using the spring “I wanted to find a school where I and summer to go through three rounds was 100% certain that I could get my of appeals. Prather said administrators degree,” Pardue said. hoped this would resolve the issue before And for some of the students who it affected students. stayed, like junior Lauren Schuld, that CAEP denied each appeal, and in a uncertainty remained as the conversation final letter to CAEP in August, Prather around accreditation welcomed more expressed disappointment in what he questions than called “a strict answers. adherence to “I came process instead of to Franklin a thorough review assuming all of of the substance the professors and quality of and faculty and the college’s staff were doing education what they needed program.” so I could get Prather said the education the Indiana they promised,” Department Schuld said of Education, after the who partners department held with CAEP to JUNIOR LAUREN SCHULD an emergency review educator meeting Aug. preparation 24 to explain the issue to students. “I programs around the state, is now thought more of the people who were working with the college to get the in charge.” accreditation back as soon as possible.

The elementary education major “They recognized that this has... remained a flagship of the college for traditionally been the preeminent small years, despite declining enrollment. college program in teacher education Data from the college registrar show the in the state of Indiana,” Prather said. program had 48 declared majors and 11 “So I think they’re anxious to help graduates in 2019-2020. A decade earlier get this behind us and reestablish that reputation.”

Loss of Accreditation

Timeline

2019

November 2019

2020

CAEP visits FC

April 2020

CAEP revokes accreditation

This is the hand we’ve been dealt, so you have to play the best you can.

I thought more of the people who were in charge.

FC conducts study of education programs

August 2020

2021

College announces accreditation issue; Prather sends final letter to CAEP

April 2021

The earliest FC can be granted accreditation again

8

Council for the Accreditation

of Educator Preparation

CAEP Standards

1 2 3 4 5

Content and Pedagogical Knowledge Clinical Partnerships and Practice Candidate Quality, Recruitment, and Selectivity Program Impact Provider Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement Source: 2013 CAEP Standards

If all goes according to plan, state accreditation could be granted as early as April 2021. That will require a favorable recommendation from IDOE and a positive vote from the Indiana State Board of Education. CAEP will then review the department’s plans for national accreditation.

The college wouldn’t name who was responsible for sending the failed report to CAEP or discuss specific pitfalls, though Prather emphasized the failure doesn’t indicate flaws in the program itself. But David Moffett managed accreditation efforts for the college in 2019, the period that would have affected CAEP’s latest decision about the elementary education major.

Moffett did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is unclear what other employees, if any, may have been involved in the reporting process.

IDOE confirmed juniors and seniors already part of the elementary preparation program won’t be affected by the lost accreditation.

But where students are seeing changes is within their classes and the overall curriculum, which is part of an ongoing cleanup effort by two consultants — Sally Ingles, who formerly served as vice president for accreditation with CAEP, and Cindy Prather, who worked at the college for 23 years before leaving to enter consulting in 2018.

In a memo to faculty March 31, President Prather said Ingles and Cindy Prather, his wife, would report directly to him as they reviewed the college’s education programs.

He noted Cindy Prather would serve in this role without compensation because of their relationship.

SHIFTING PROGRAMS The college faced similar challenges in 2018, when it closed its secondary education program.

Franklin College students who want a license in secondary education will now get one at a separate school. After

completing an education studies minor and a major in the area they intend to teach, students will practice teaching through St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in South Bend, Indiana, for a semesterlong “transition-to-teaching” program.

Prather said he didn’t understand the logic behind this program, which was created before he became president in January. So when he hired Ingles, the two agreed to apply for this program to also return to Franklin College.

IDOE officials said they will review this request this fall before offering a recommendation for approval.

Former administrators like Provost Lori Schroeder, who left the college in the spring, told The Franklin they saw the transition-to-teaching program as the only way to offer students a secondary education program. The college did propose a post-baccalaureate option, where students would have completed their teacher training through Franklin College in the semester after graduating, but IDOE did not approve the plan.

NEW CURRICULUM, NEW OPPORTUNITIES When Ingles and Cindy Prather began reviewing the college’s education programs in the spring, they also noticed changes needed to be made to the elementary education curriculum.

That’s because some of the classes included haven’t lined up with state standards since at least 2018, Cindy Prather said. For example, students often followed a strict sequence of classes, when the standards could be satisfied by a student taking one of a number of different classes.

“Did you ever have a closet that just kept getting fuller and fuller because you just could never find time to clean it out?” Cindy Prather said. “Instead of purging the things that perhaps were no longer necessary, and that other institutions had already purged, ours just kept getting piled higher and deeper.”

So a key part of the work Cindy Prather and Ingles did involved cleaning the closet, so to speak, by reviewing state standards and eliminating classes that were no longer needed.

The program also had to make adjustments because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the college is limiting internships to virtual opportunities, and

because schools aren’t allowing many guests, education students, including the elementary education majors still on track to getting licensed, will work in digital classrooms this semester.

To do this, Ingles and Cindy Prather researched different options until they discovered TeachLive, powered by a website called Mursion. Here, education students will spend a few hours each week in a virtual classroom. The students will interact with live avatars, voiced by education experts, who will simulate real disruptions and questions.

It’s technology like this, Ingles and Cindy Prather said, that can also help the college regain favor with CAEP, whose standards look for how well programs use new technology to prepare teachers for the classroom.

REPAIRING TRUST

Reporter Sydney Byerly contributed reporting.

The Education Department, located on the third floor of Old Main.

EMILY HALES | PHOTO

GRADUATES FROM ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROGRAM VS. DECLARED MAJORS 120

Graduates

Declared at end of spring

100 80 60 40 20

20 -2 0

19

19 20

-2 0 18

18 20

-2 0 17

17 20

-2 0 16

16 20

-2 0 15

15 20

-2 0 14

14 20

-2 0 13

13 20

-2 0 12

12 20

-2 0 11

20

10

-2 0

11

0

20

When Pardue chose to leave Franklin College, she got a call from President Prather encouraging her to stay. But she couldn’t square what he couldn’t guarantee — a path to licensure and a job — with her own plans.

Pardue said she also wishes the college told students about the problem earlier, to give them time to consider alternatives. Because she didn’t find out about the issue and consider transferring until late August, Pardue’s options were limited: Her first choice was to transfer to Purdue University, but because of the timing, she said few schools were willing to work with her.

Pardue said it was this realization that damaged her trust in the college.

And trust is a theme that’s been repeated by the students who chose to stay, too, who said they hope that as the college pushes to repair what’s been lost, they’ll be more included in the conversation.

“I’m hoping that there’s more communication, and not just with the students, but between the professors,” said Katie Bond, a senior elementary education major. “It causes a lot of unnecessary panic and stress when not everyone knows what’s going on.”

Source: Lisa Mahan, Registrar

PLAN WITH A

New diversity initiatives strive to improve the Black student experience ISAAC GLEITZ | STORY

CAROLINA PUGA MENDOZA | PHOTO

TABBY FITZGERALD | DESIGN

F

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ranklin College’s new diversity and inclusion initiatives — part of a comprehensive plan shared by President Kerry Prather in late August — outline what steps the institution will be taking to create a better home for Black students, faculty and staff.

The email discussed a house newly adapted to serve as a living and congregating space for Black students and the recruitment and retention of Black students. It also mentioned a new presidential advisory group tasked with integrating student feedback, additional funds for the Black Student Union (BSU), anti-racism training on campus, and the diversification of the board of trustees.

But Terri Roberts-Leonard, director of the college’s center for diversity and inclusion, or CDI, said the community needs to be reminded that is shouldn’t just be her office doing anti-racist work.

“Diversity, equity and inclusion does need to be infused into the fabric of the institution,” Roberts-Leonard said.

In a recent interview, Prather echoed this point and said that cooperation among different departments is at the core of the college’s new diversity plan.

“Until we get to a point where every experience here is equally successful, equally fulfilling, equally enjoyable, we’re not living up to our mission,” Prather said.

In a joint statement, the executive board of the BSU—who informed college administrators about the current Black student experience during their writing of the plan—applauded the college’s approach.

“Overall, the plan sent by the college is multi-faceted, which is necessary to do the work which is needed to make Franklin College its idealized self,” the board said.

But they also have critiques. They said the college administration doesn’t prioritize offering leadership positions regarding diversity and inclusion.

“If the Center of Diversity and Inclusion was appropriately staffed and if senior leadership at the college included a chief diversity officer at the cabinet level, the college would not have quite as hard of a time putting a focus on these issues and coming up with a

streamlined plan to address them,” the board said.

They also regret that RobertsLeonard is the only full-time staff member in the CDI, aside from the newly hired program coordinator, Kalyn Johnson, who splits her time with residence life duties.

On a similar note, RobertsLeonard said the CDI has been underfunded since its inception.

In response, an additional $10,000 from student involvement is being channeled to the CDI. The BSU is also slated to receive a higher allocation of student activity fees in coming years. Taylor Dwyer, director of student involvement and Greek Life, didn’t respond to a request for that amount.

“

Until we get to a point where every experience here is equally successful, equally fulfilling, equally enjoyable, we’re not living up to our mission.

PRESIDENT KERRY PRATHER

Roberts-Leonard said the funds will help promote diversity, but the other initiatives seem more like a collection of ideas than a plan. She said it appears to be a reactionary move, taken because of mounting social pressure. If the college wanted these changes, they could have taken action years ago, she explained.

“All of the things that are coming to the surface now are not new things,” Roberts-Leonard said. “I’ve been saying these things for years— since I walked on campus in June of 2012.”

Prather and Dean of Students Andrew Jones said that recent action is just part of an ongoing process.

“This is not something we dreamed up in reaction to anything,” Prather said. “Everybody is being reactionary right now, but it’s not as if you’re starting from scratch.”

Building on the President’s Council for Diversity and Inclusion, which will

have a few more student members this year and focus on Black issues, Prather formed a presidential advisory group to better hear students’ concerns. He said that students of color now have a chance to project their thoughts to campus policy makers. In their statement, BSU leaders agreed that Black students have a better platform from which they can speak, which is an important step toward change.

Black students can also take advantage of the Arthur Wilson Black Experience Living/Learning Center for the first time this year. The house, located just off campus on Maple Street, is a response to Black students’ appeal for a gathering place of their own.

In reflection, both Prather and Jones said that Black spaces are essential for a welcoming environment.

“That’s a relatively small thing for us to do that makes a big difference,” Prather said.

To further accomplish goals for Black students, Prather’s email called for the increased engagement of Black employees.

Yet Roberts-Leonard, a Black staff member, is concerned since there are only 11 others at the college, and those people already have to deal with racism in their daily lives.

“You also have to be careful when it comes to trying to utilize those individuals, so that they’re not overutilized,” RobertsLeonard said. “You don’t want to ‘Black tax’ them.”

Prather agreed that caution is needed, although he said that most Black employees are eager to speak about issues faced by African Americans. Their participation is valued but should be voluntary, he said, continuing that the diversification of the college’s Board of Trustees could further help the college consider Black perspectives. He expects to see progress on this matter soon.

Overall, Prather said these goals will lead to a healthier college because the student body will become more diverse and grow in volume. BSU leaders said they feel that they have been given the chance to influence the future direction of diversity at Franklin, but they will continue to call for more staffing in the CDI and a diversity leader in the president’s cabinet, while Roberts-Leonard will continue advocating for the causes she took up when she started her job in 2012.

Save the Date

A Local company provides affordable, intimate weddings LACEY WATT | STORY & PHOTOS

EMILY HALES | DESIGN

A

fter dating for a year and a half, Chad and Christina Romnie decided to hold a small ceremony in Indianapolis at Crown Hill Cemetery. After multiple attempts of trying to contact their original planner the day before their wedding, they reached out to the photographer they hired, Beth Waterman, for help.

Waterman hadn’t heard from the planner either but offered the couple a solution. She owns Intimate Indiana Wedding Company, which specializes in small weddings. Waterman was able to plan the Romnie’s wedding the next day, and they tied the knot later that night.

Christina Romnie said the company she originally hired never contacted Waterman and had a history of poor

service in the past based on reviews, she said.

“To my surprise, and hers, they never booked with her and she hadn’t worked with that company in over two years due to unprofessional business transactions,” Christina Romnie said.

“Talk about a bridal nightmare.”

In less than six hours, Waterman wrote the new wedding ceremony, officiated it, took the photos, and saved the Romnies’ wedding day.

She wrote vows specifically for the couple, and easily met them at their “rabbit hole” location for the ceremony in the cemetary, Chad Romnie said. He commended Waterman for bringing their wedding vision to life.

“To have the Intimate Indiana Wedding Company take our thoughts and ideas, listen to us, and without hesitation, made everything perfect,” Chad Romnie said.

“It was the perfect small ceremony full of laughs, love and friends.”

Waterman has been a photographer for more than 20 years and she’s specialized in wedding photography for the past 15 years. She loves helping other couples, like Chad and Christina Romnie, capture their special moment no matter the obstacle, Waterman said.

To help more couples, Waterman opened the Intimate Indiana Wedding Company venue in downtown Franklin Aug. 1. And she will soon add another venue on Meridian Street in downtown Indianapolis starting Oct. 1.

“I love weddings,” Waterman said.

“I’m a romantic, and it’s fun for me to be involved in someone’s biggest day.”

Intimate Indiana Wedding Company offers multiple packages for future brides and grooms to choose from, with prices ranging from $199 to $5,999. It also independently contracts with wedding vendors, so couples will work with just the wedding company. This allows the couple to have their big day without the added stress of hiring separate vendors for catering, music and photographry.

The “Elopement Packages” are the smallest options for weddings. This deal offers an intimate venue space at the Franklin location for the couple to say “I do.” The package also includes the officiant, the a photo-op and a bottle of champagne to celebrate tying the knot.

These packages are priced ranging from $199 to $499, Waterman said.

Waterman also does all-inclusive weddings, which is another option held at the Franklin venue that costs $999.

It gives the couple a two-hour wedding, photographer, officiant, food, cake cutting and the couple’s first dance.

“It’s a really awesome option for the couples who want these couple of important moments but don’t want to spend the money,” Waterman said.

Bigger packages, also known as micro-weddings, offer similar services to a larger wedding. Couples get to pick the venue, tables and chairs, a DJ, decorations, catering, floral arrangements and more.

“It’s basically a complete wedding.

Everything’s included in that package price,” Waterman said. “We built it to help COVID couples that have had to cut back on their guest count, but we also find it that not a lot of people want to have 100 guests now, so it makes sense to me. I was surprised they were going to be that popular, but they have taken off.”

This $5,999 package allows up to 50 guests to attend, and also has a photographer available for the full wedding, which lasts four hours.

Several of her clients’ recently came to her after their weddings were postponed, canceled or needed to downsizing due to COVID-19-related crowd restrctions, Waterman said. “[Couples] still want the experience,” Waterman said. “They still want to put on the gown, and be in front of their friends and family, but know they have to drastically cut back.”

Despite having to cut back, Intimate Indiana Wedding Company still creates weddings for couples so they never forget their special day.

“I hate to repeat myself, but Intimate Indiana Wedding Company saved my day and gave me one the best memories of my life,” Christina Romnie said. “It truly was one of the best days I have ever experienced, and I am so thankful I was able to work with them.”

OPINION

EDITORIAL | A NEW ERA CALLS FOR CHANGE Students speak up against injustices at Franklin College Franklin College needs to do more than sending emails and releasing statements, an actual change must be seen for students of color.

THE FRANKLIN EDITORIAL BOARD

Students Andrew Jones said.

It took the college six weeks after Floyd’s death to release a public statement stating “Black Lives Matter.”

Terri Roberts-Leonard, director of diversity & inclusion, said the statement, released on Facebook July 9, sparked rage among alumni, current students, staff, and former staff. Roberts-Leonard was contacted throughout the summer, dealing with rage and disappointment concerning the college’s lack of involvement and response.

At the start of the new semester, the college released a new, comprehensive plan for diversity and inclusion, the first of its kind under President Kerry Prather and a step that stood out from past conversations for its transparency and breadth.

The plan talks about the goals the college has for different areas around campus, such as academic affairs, business and finance, athletics, enrollment and more. Each section shows what the college wants to accomplish in that department and how they will do it.

The plan arrived amid continued conversations about SENIOR ALEXIS CHEATHAM racial justice in America. Those conversations began with new force after the deaths of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by Minneapolis police, and the The statement did not directly wrongful death of Breonna Taylor, a mention the movement in response Black woman killed in her home while to the Black victims, but instead was sleeping. Just last week, a grand jury a general statement that expressed indicted one of the officers involved in sympathy. It noted the “shocking Taylor’s death, not for murder, but for violence of racism in images and names wanton endargement charges. in the media” and said explicitly Black Before the plan was released, Lives Matter.

Franklin College departments made “I think it just ended up making it services available to students affected by worse,” Roberts-Leonard said. these events.

Prather said statements from the The counseling center and the college about Black Lives Matter were chaplain offered a safe space for students meant to make Black students, faculty, to voice their emotions, making sure staff and alumni feel supported, even they felt heard. Faculty and staff reached under the social constraints of the out to students individually, checking on COVID-19 pandemic. their mental health and demonstrating “We couldn’t wrap our arms around their support. it, both because of distance and because “The timing of all of it is challenging nobody is wrapping their arms around given that we are such a tight, small anybody right now,” Prather said. community, and we were not together The post stands in solidarity with the during that time,” Vice President for Black community and says that Franklin Student Development and Dean of College is working to combat racism.

I know a lot of people who don’t go to certain events by themselves because of things that have happened and they just don’t feel safe.

But comments under the post mostly disagreed with previous approaches by the college to diversity and what they called the college’s failed actions throughout time.

Alumna Betsy Dunbar replied, “it has gotten better, but nowhere near [where] it should be.”

Taylor McElwain, 2019 alumna, proceeded to share her experience as a student of color on campus where she called out the college for their lack of accountability when she was harassed by two white students and nothing was done. A former employee, Michael Rivera, said he had to deal with multiple racially driven incidents but they would later be forgotten.

Comments like this are an example of the long path Franklin College still needs to walk before becoming a college who embraces diversity and inclusion. It is beyond making promises but standing up to your word and making a change students can see.

“People are rightfully upset by injustice, and if you are either in a population that has directly experienced oppression and injustice or are closely in community with those folks, then you won’t have patience for anyone who tries to tell you it’s going to take time to change,” Director of Religious Life, Chaplain and Black Student Union coadvisor Hannah Adams-Ingram said.

Roberts-Leonard said students have shared their frustration towards the current and past administration multiple times. They talk about how they feel their voice is shut down or dismissed at times.

“They want real systemic change,” she said. “They said they got the feeling that administration is like, ‘Woah look at these things we have done, like aren’t you happy with that?’”

Throughout the years, RobertsLeonard said Franklin College has

17 improved significantly when it comes to creating events for the Black community. There’s the Brother-toBrother and Sister-to-Sister mentoring programs, Diversity Advocates, Black Student Union, webinars about race and inclusion, the Arthur Wilson Black Experience Living/Learning Community.

But there needs to be more. As sophomore Maya McCloud said, there’s still a disconnection among the white and Black students on campus.

McCloud, who is Black, shared a moment where BSU students took the time to write the names of Black victims of police brutality and “Black Lives Matter” with chalk on the sidewalks.

But for what it looked like, people tried to erase those messages by purposely throwing liquids on them.

They never found the ones responsible for the act, but for the Black students, that was an act of racism.

“Some people are willing to learn, but that was obviously malicious,” McCloud said. “It makes me sad almost.”

McCloud talked about the feeling of being an outcast on campus. She doesn’t feel the same support between Black students and other clubs that involve mostly white students. Senior and President of Black Studen Union Alexis Cheatham said she feels like they don’t belong at campus events or activities.

“I know a lot of people who don’t go to certain events by themselves because of things that have happened and they just don’t feel safe,” Cheatham said.

BSU members are not in charge of getting students to participate and learn about diversity. They are students like the rest of us who have classes, extracurriculars, and jobs. It is the school’s responsibility to involve and educate the campus because one person or group alone, like Roberts-Leonard, Diversity Advocates and Black students, cannot be the only ones working to be accepted. Ot hers must also work on accepting them.

Cheatham pointed out the diversity plan is a strategy to listen to the Black students on campus. But diversity should not stop at Black and white community members. Diversity is about listening

to everyone’s needs: Those who are Black, Hispanic or Latinx, those with disabilities, women, older students and much more. Not everyone is being heard equally.

“While the Black Lives Matter movement is one of the most prominent things going on right now, on the page they should’ve said, ‘while this page is focusing on this movement, we acknowledge other minorities groups are having issues,’” Cheatham said about the diversity plan. “I’m not just black, I’m also queer and I’m also a woman.”

CARTOON | ARIANA LOVITT

Change has a long way to go, and Franklin College becoming aware of these changes is just the beginning.

What should come next is proof they are keeping the promises they are making.

Students like McCloud and Cheatham are happy the administration is listening to their concerns and demands, and hope the communication continues to happen for future students.

“We have to have hope that we can change, because if we’ve given up then I don’t know that change can happen,” Adams-Ingram said.

OPINION

SEARCHING | SUICIDAL THOUGHTS IN YOUNG PEOPLE Demystifying the trends and resources around suicide awareness

ERICA IRISH

Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately.

You matter.

It’s those words printed on a sign I see one morning as I drive to my family home on Indianapolis’ south side.

The sign was part of a series posted outside Perry Meridian High School in September, suicide awareness and prevention month nationally. They listed affirmations for students as they returned to school in a pandemic.

Don’t give up.

Thousands our age have considered suicide during the pandemic, according to a recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

The survey, conducted in June, found that 11% of respondents had “seriously considered” suicide since COVID-19 became a national crisis in March.

But for respondents ages 18 to 24, that number was double — some 1 in 4 had considered suicide during the pandemic.

It’s a troubling finding that reflects a longer trend of spiking depression, anxiety and suicide among young people.

As the American Association of Suicidology reports, suicide remains the second leading cause of death for those ages 15 to 34 in the United States. Rates also remain higher than they have in 50 years for Americans, according to the association, and that’s been the case since 2017.

But what is encouraging, said Franklin College counselor Sara Kinder, is the willingness of some students to talk about their experiences having suicidal thoughts — a part of mental health treatment that still remains stigmatized and feared.

“Most suicidal people want to live,” Kinder said. “They want to find a way to live, but don’t want to live with the pain and suffering they’re experiencing.”

You got this.

True, young people may be more

One of the signs listed outside of Perry Meridian High School in September reminded students “don’t give up.”. ERICA IRISH | PHOTO

likely to talk about topics like mental health and seek assistance like therapy than their predecessors. But there are bigger, sociological issues at play.

Members of Generation Z — those now between the ages of eight and 23, according to PEW Research Center — saw a stable economy and record-low unemployment be upended this spring by the pandemic. Gen Zers have been disproportionately affected by the strain, reporting lost jobs and financial crisis at rates higher than other generations.

Cheryl Crane, sociology professor at Franklin College, said people are most at risk of suicide when they lose their sense of place in society. Students who are poor, who are first-generation college students, who identify as Black or brown at a predominately white institution like Franklin College all face greater risk of alienation in times of crisis.

“Feeling untethered to the systems that make you feel like you have structure and identity is a risk,” Crane said. “You may still have all those same resources you had, but it doesn’t feel like you’re connected to the community.”

Whether through real or perceived marginalization, isolation isn’t good for anyone, Crane said, and it must remain a focus when creating structures that aim to prevent suicide on campus.

“We need to be cognizant of the fact students are grieving,” Crane said.

“Most students haven’t been interacting with the institution of education like this at all.”

Jamie Bromley, associate professor of psychology, said it is hope communities need to keep those at risk connected.

And a major part of that process, Bromley said, is removing barriers to effective treatment.

“Treatment can give people hope, but we can also instill hope in each other,” Bromley said.

Don’t give up.

And when someone you love attempts suicide, reasons like this don’t come to mind. What does arrive is panic. Trauma in crisis, then grief as we wonder if it will ever get better. And sometimes resilience will appear, too, as we join hands to fight a beast that might have a name, but isn’t as easily demystified when it becomes part of a person.

When one of my relatives began a mental health journey, it upended our family. Years of old habits and mindsets had to go out the window to ensure that person survived — and thrived — in a world that’s caused them immense pain, uncertainty and isolation.

We’ve come to realize in that time suicide prevention is much more than affirmations and resilience. It’s about good policy, access to affordable treatment and communities that embrace real conversations about mental health.

Always offering this simple reminder helps, too.

You matter.

19

REALITY CHECK | AN ADVENTURE, A NIGHTMARE Immigration laws make it difficult to receive equal travel opportunities Everyone dreams of an excellent trip; of going places and exploring all cultures the world CAROLINA PUGA has to offer.

MENDOZA Many students from Franklin College took the opportunity to travel the world, whether it was for a month, a semester, or a year. They prepared for the trip of their life, but what do you do if everything you plan and prepare for falls apart in a single moment?

For a year and a half, I prepared the perfect trip to London, England. Jenny Cataldi, director of global education, introduced me to all the possibilities for travel and told me it was possible, even for someone like me, an immigrant. I had a farewell party, but who would’ve thought things were going to go downhill from there.

After a 10-hour flight, I arrived at Roehampton University, in London, which would be my home for the next four months.

At first, news of COVID-19 had just begun, so I continued to make travel plans. I waited before exploring the city because I would tell myself, “I have time, there’s no need to rush.”

February was about getting used to my classes and meeting people on campus. All my traveling would take place in March and June. At the beginning of March, I kept receiving emails that our program continued operation, and we were reassured things were okay. Slowly, international students began to return home. And one day, I woke up to the email I had been waiting to receive.

“This is the message I feared was coming. It is now time to start planning to return home,” Cataldi said in the email sent March 16.

When preparing for my return, I said my last goodbyes to London and packed. But the borders shut down. My

mother called me, and she said, “You can’t come home.”

I changed my flight until May, hoping things would get better. I cried. I did not eat. I did not leave my bed. I was a wreck. There was no point.

Franklin College students received similar news from Cataldi. Those who were going to go abroad during their summer were told those trips were canceled too. Fall semester and immersive term trips were canceled soon after.

Like me, many students were going through the stages of grief, as I call it.

We experienced denial, anger but no one to be mad at, bargaining, depression about our trip canceling and some sooner than later, acceptance.

“Lots of anger, not at me, but just at the world because of a loss of control,” Cataldi said.

After two weeks, I went on walks, started eating healthy again, and tried to get a lifestyle again. I met Elizeh Basim, an international student from Hawaii, who also stayed behind. She became my closest friend during quarantine.

She made the loneliness go away. We laughed, cried, partied, had adventures, all within the campus’s walls.

The amount of support I received during those grueling months was impressive. I constantly received emails

from faculty and staff checking on me.

While I was hundreds of miles away, it felt like the Franklin College community was with me the whole time.

I moved my flight from May 16 to June 17, but it was okay, because Basim was there.

“When I really became worried is when the weeks became months, was your mental capacity to handle something like this,” Cataldi said.

June 17, Basim and I said our goodbyes and took different paths. As I arrived for check-in, they made me wait two hours for someone to check my passport. I sat and observed all the desperate travelers. Someone came rushing to where I was seated, picked my passport, looked at me, and said, “You cannot board this flight, you are not a U.S. citizen.”

There I was crying, not caring if people stared at me at the airport. Sitting in a corner of the busy airport, nowhere to go, no one to call, I was by myself, and did not know what would happen next.

I called my parents and Cataldi. My mom said my only option at that point was returning to Mexico.

After two mentally draining days, I tried again and this time, I checked in to my flight. It took a 27-hour trip to make it to Mexico. The moment I saw my grandmother, relief rushed to my body. I wasn’t alone anymore. It was not just me, and I finally received the human touch I was craving for, a hug.

After compleing my two-week, required quarantine, I tried again and took a flight back to Chicago. The anxiety as I approached the immigration officer, shaking with the thought that he could turn me down and I would not be able to see my family, who were a door away. But then I heard the words, “Welcome to the U.S.” I took my passport; I took my luggage and finally reunited with my family.

The travesty was over, and I was tired.

LAST LOOK COREY HEATH, JUNIOR

Heath takes a swing at a golf ball during Tau Kappa Epsilon’s recruitment campus golf event Sept. 24.“I’m excited to meet new guys and make friendships that will last forever,” Heath said.

TABBY FITZGERALD | COVER PHOTO EMILY KETTERER I BACK PHOTO