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(04/26/19 3:40pm)
Ahhh yes, here we are again, beloved finals week. College students across the country are gearing up for one of, if not the most, stressful weeks of their semester. From overly-clenched buttcheeks, to caffeine binges and sleep-deprived zombies roaming campus, we have all experienced and witnessed the varying symptoms of stress and student coping mechanisms during finals week.
A 2016 survey done by MentalHelp.net asked more than 1,000 college students about the their stress levels and sources of their stress while also analyzing 2.9 million tweets in a one-to-three mile radius around college campuses. The survey results shed some light on the current state of college student stress.
31 percent of students surveyed indicated they are stressed two-to-four times a semester, 30 percent indicated they were stressed the entire semester and 28 percent of students indicated they were stressed five-to-seven times a semester. 31 percent of those students admitted that finals and midterms were the biggest source of their stress.
Stress symptoms can be debilitating and affect a students life physically, emotionally and academically. Depression, anxiety and loss of sleep and appetite are some of the symptoms of stress that college students can go through.
With evidence of the negative effects on students, IUPUI, along with colleges across the country, has stepped up in recent years to help students cope.
For this years finals week, there are multiple events and perks set up around campus designed to help reduce students stress levels. These events are located in the University Library, Cavanaugh Hall second floor and Lot 71 across from North Hall. The Office of Health and Wellness has also stepped in to help.
The University Library will be hosting their UpLate at University Library event starting Sunday April 28, through Thursday, May 2. This event includes IUPUI’s annual therapy dog session, located in the main lobby of the library. The sessions will be held from 8 to 9 p.m. and will include therapy dogs from Paws and Think, a local not-for-profit organization established to improve lives through the power of the human-dog connection. Here, students will be able to interact with the pups in order to reduce their stress levels, take a break from studying and boost their mood.
Liz Gomes, an IUPUI graduate, fondly remembers the benefit of going to one of the therapy dog sessions.
“Going to the therapy dogs helped me because it took my mind off of the stress of finals and deadlines. I love dogs. So interacting with them and petting them made me happy and feel more relaxed for my finals.”
Chandler Cruse, a junior at IUPUI, is looking forward to going to a therapy dog session.
“Being someone who loves dogs for one would help me wind down from all the school work at hand. Also, being in contact with something living that is not a human takes stress away.”
Also during UpLate at University Library, the library will remain open until 2 a.m. for students. On each night, the library will also be serving refreshments that include coffee, tea, hot chocolate and snacks while supplies last. All students need is their CrimsonCard to enter or remain in the library for the extended hours.
The Office of Health and Wellness also has events and activities in place to help give students peace of mind and a break from studying. They have established kits that include coloring pages, puzzles, games and magazines to give students that break from studying.
On Friday, April 26, on the second floor of Cavanaugh Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., there will be a Stress-Free Zone for students that provides snacks to help reduce stress. These snacks and a sign-up sheet are located on tables in the hallway just left of the staircase.
Jagapalooza, an annual end-of-the-semester carnival, will also be hosted on Friday, April 26 in Lot 71 across from North Hall from 5 p.m. to midnight. Free with a CrimsonCard, students will have access to carnival rides and carnival-themed presentations such as fire performances, palm readers, juggling stilt walkers and magicians.
Food trucks, including Dizzy Izzy’s, Hoosier Roots and Brozinni Pizzeria, and carnival games will be there but will cost money.
The stress of finals can be difficult for students. IUPUI has shown an awareness of this through hosting these events. Students must always remember that they are more important as a person than the grade they may receive.
(04/19/19 4:17pm)
Nathan Brown and Arturo Martinez, both sophomore filmmakers studying media arts and sciences at IUPUI, have recently started a documentary series titled Indy Artist Spotlight. This documentary series takes a look at different artists coming out of Indianapolis and shines a spotlight on them and their inspiration for what they produce.
“I think it would be cool to get the Indianapolis art scene out there,” Brown said in a sit-down interview about his inspiration behind the project. “There are a lot of Indianapolis artists not really recognized. Indianapolis in general is not recognized.”
Their first Spotlight was released on March 22, 2019 and focuses on Indianapolis native rapper Mark Battles.
In his documentary, Battles focuses on what got him into music and why he loves being a music artist. After going to one of his concerts to film the documentary, Brown had this to say about the experience.
“Meeting Mark was my favorite part. I listened to his music a lot before so I was kinda starstruck about it. It was a surreal experience because I was the one interviewing him, straight to his face. He’s a really cool dude.”
Brown continued, “Planning for it was hectic. He messaged us back a week before his concert so we had a few days to get everything together.”
He shared his thoughts on the interviewing aspect of the documentary.
“I had never done an interview before that, so I was a little nervous. He’s the real deal, he’s on iTunes and shows up when you search hip-hop. That was really cool. I watched a bunch of YouTube videos on what exactly goes into interviewing somebody.”
Brown talked about the night of the concert.
“We had to wait until after his meet-and-greet, after the show, so it ended up being around 1 a.m. until we could talk to the guy and he was still down to do it. Really cool dude.”
Indy Artist Spotlight was intended to be one large documentary but once they started the interviews, they knew it would have to be a series. Brown explained how they came to that conclusion.
“Whenever they started talking about themselves, nothing matched up and so we decided to produce them as a series.”
Indy Artist Spotlight is not just limited to music artists. They have already interviewed photographer Edrece Stansberry, an IU graduate, and current IUPUI student Armando Salvador, who is a Latin dance teacher. Both of which are in the editing phase. Brown mentioned the potential for more.
“We want to keep going with it, potentially getting a tattoo artist, we feel like that would be a good Spotlight.”
This isn’t Brown’s only project. He has short films posted on his Youtube page “A Man Named Dog” that include The Vlogger, Treasure, The Approval and Dyngus Day. He also posts updates on projects through his Instagram @nathanmakesmovies.
He credits IUPUI with teaching him everything he knows about filmmaking and giving him the resources, such as cameras and editing software, to help him improve and execute his craft.
“A lot of resources are available here. We were able to check out all of the equipment for the documentary at IUPUI.”
What’s next for Brown is still to be determined. He says he’s unsure of his end goal, but knows video production will be involved.
“I’ve still got two years to figure that out, but I’d like to maybe go into sports. Either being the actual camera guy or being one of the production guys behind the scenes. Being able to work in sports would be awesome.”
In the meantime, Brown and Martinez will continue to shine a spotlight on Indianapolis artists, one artist at a time.
(04/12/19 4:36pm)
For the third time in school history, IUPUI will be looking for a new men’s and women’s head swimming coach. This comes after Matt Bos, who’s been head coach the last eight years, announced his resignation due to family relocation, which is effective May 10.
Hired on May 24, 2011, Coach Bos took over a program that in back-to-back years had finished last and second to last in the Summit League standings, respectively. Over the course of his eight years, he turned IUPUI into a perennial contender in both the Summit League and the Horizon League.
Under Coach Bos, the men’s team finished in second place four times and third once. The women’s team finished in second place and third place twice each.
His first season in 2011-2012 showed instant progress as both the men’s and women’s teams finished two spots higher than the year prior, placing fourth out of six teams.
During the 2013 campaign, Coach Bos and the swimming program had their breakout year. He was named the 2013 Summit League Women’s Coach of the Year for his work helping 14 swimmers reach all-conference honors.
The highlights of the year came when Jenny Oleksiak won the individual title for the 200 breaststroke, marking IUPUI’s first individual conference swimming champion since 2005, and the teams setting a combined 25 new records for the school during the meet. Out of the school’s 42 swimming records, 40 of them have come under Matt’s leadership.
Current IUPUI swimmer Samantha Roll, a junior, had this to say in an email about her coach.
“On the pool deck, Matt's ability to know when something is off with the team's morale or chemistry is [a] way he greatly impacts the success of the program. Swimming is a very individual sport - once you dive in the water, it's up to you to finish the race. But your individual performance greatly impacts the success of the team as a whole, which means having support from your teammates is crucial. Matt Bos constantly stressed the importance of the TEAM in swimming - he was never afraid to call us out when that support system wasn't there, but also never hesitated to praise us when he felt we had performed well as a team.”
In all, Coach Bos coached 125 all-league performers and 24 student-athletes named to All-Academic teams, both in the Summit and Horizon League, at IUPUI.
His success doesn’t stop in the pool, however, with his most important work happening outside the IU Natatorium. He impacted his players in the classroom and the community surrounding IUPUI.
“One of Matt's - and the swimming program's - main focuses is on academics. Matt Bos stresses the importance of emphasizing the "student" in "student-athlete,” Roll said. “This, in my opinion, is Matt's most impactful strategy on his swimmers' success.”
IUPUI’s Athletic Director, Dr. Roderick Perry, listed some of Matt’s qualities that contributed to his success, “Commitment to his student-athletes - he wanted to make sure they had a first-class experience from an educational and an athletic perspective.”
Dr. Perry continued, “He had a really good quality of developing his student-athletes. He was committed to his athletes being involved in the community, on campus and their focus on their academics.”
Samantha highlights the community work that Coach Bos promoted.
“Over the years, we have been given countless opportunities to volunteer at meets both big and small that are hosted at the IU Natatorium. I personally have helped time and sell merchandise at multiple meets held at the Nat, including the 2017 Men's NCAA DI Swimming Championship, and most recently Paralympics Pro-Series Meet.”
She continues on Coach Bos’ impact. “Matt Bos emphasizes representing IUPUI as best we can, and one of the easiest ways for us to do that as a swim team is to help events at the Nat run as smoothly as possible.”
Coach Bos’ biggest impact was on his student-athletes academics. In his eight seasons, he coached nine IUPUI Top 100 Students. Samantha became the ninth player when she won the honor this year.
“I personally owe many of my successes academically to Matt Bos - including being named among IUPUI's Top 100 students. Without his support I would never have been able to accomplish that. I don't know if I could have found the same level of understanding and support of athletes beyond their athletic performance at any other university. This program will greatly miss Matt Bos, and so will I.”
Dr. Perry addressed the legacy Matt leaves. “He laid the foundation for success, and the foundation is laid for the next coach to build upon that level of success.”
From here, IUPUI will find a new coach. When asked about the coaching search, Dr. Perry said he has tasked Senior Associate Athletic Director John Rasmussen to lead the search. They have received multiple national inquiries about the vacancy and are currently doing a national search.
(04/05/19 4:31pm)
Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana business leaders progress on a new hate crime bill took a successful turn on April 3 when Holcomb signed Senate Bill 198 into law. The law, which Indiana hopes takes them off the list of five states without hate crime legislation, was passed by the Senate on April 2 and is effective July 1.
Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon, who filed House Bill 1093 (which became Senate Bill 12), amended Senate Bill 198 to include language about hate crimes. SB 198 originally was a bill concerning drug offenses at penal institutions.
SB 12 was a hate crime bill that had originally had a list of specific characteristics, but was stripped of them in an amendment on Feb. 19. After being assigned to a House committee on March 4, no further action was taken place.
SB 198 allows a judge to consider a longer sentence if the crime was motivated by bias. However, instead of listing specific traits, the law refers to Indiana’s biased crimes reporting statute that mentions specific characteristics such as,
“Color, creed, disability, national origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation of the injured person or of the owner or occupant of the affected property was associated with any other recognizable group or affiliation”.
SB 198 defines bias as a, “real or perceived characteristic, trait, belief, practice, association, or other attribute.” The bill, however, draws criticism for failing to include gender, gender identity, age or any specific group.
Gov. Holcomb and Republicans were happy with the bill and he issued a statement to the public on April 3 after signing the law saying,
“Our goal was to achieve a comprehensive law that protects those who are the targets of bias crimes, and we have accomplished just that. We have made progress and taken a strong stand against targeted violence. I am confident our judges will increase punishment for those who commit crimes motivated by bias under this law.”
Many, including the worldwide organization Anti-Defamation League (ADL), oppose the law because they think it is weak due to the unspecific language. ADL maintains the list of states that have hate crime legislation, which Indiana wants off.
ADL and a number of worldwide civil right advocacy organizations sent a coalition letter to Gov. Holcomb on March 7 expressing their concern over SB 12 or any other legislation that is vague.
The organizations wrote in the letter, “...to offer you facts around Indiana’s Senate Bill 12, and to urge you to consider the implications of potential enactment of an unacceptable vague and weak state bias crime law in Indiana.”
This law comes after pressure following another potential hate crime which occurred on the west side of Indianapolis on Feb. 16.
Dustin Passarelli, 33, has been charged with the murder of Mustafa Ayoubi, 32, after a road rage incident. Passarelli followed Ayoubi off the 38th Street exit on the highway after Ayoubi “flew up” from behind. He shot Ayoubi once in the shoulder and seven times in the back after a verbal altercation at Ayoubi’s apartment building. Since Indiana did not have hate crime legislation at the time, Passarelli’s investigation is being monitored by the FBI.
Indiana, when compared to other states in the midwest, was either ranked in the middle or at the bottom of national hate crime statistics.
In 2017, the FBI recorded that Indiana had the second fewest hate crimes reported by midwest states with 55, with Wisconsin recording the lowest at 46. The most hate crimes reported of midwestern states in 2017 was Kentucky with 378.
Indiana’s low number of hate crimes reported could be affected by having no prior legislation penalizing such crimes.
In 2018, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) tracked hate groups across the nation, state-by-state. They listed Indiana with 24 known hate groups, which ranks them in the middle compared to the other midwest states. Ohio had the most with 36 hate groups while Kentucky had the lowest at 13.
(03/29/19 3:52pm)
Traveling around downtown Indianapolis, chances are you’ve seen the homeless. Sitting or sleeping under bridges and on sidewalks as signs begging for help or money rest next to them.
Whether their predicament stems from mental illness, addiction, abuse or a disability, many homeless citizens of Indianapolis are not getting the help they need. .
According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, Indiana ranks in the middle in homeless population compared to the other 50 states. From 2017 to 2018 the homeless population of Marion County dropped from 1,783 to 1,682 according to the IU Public Policy Institute (PPI).
Even with the decrease, Indianapolis has shown they are addressing this problem. The city began in August 2018 by launching a five-year plan by partnering with the Coalition For Homelessness Intervention & Prevention (CHIP) and the Indianapolis Continuum of Care to end homelessness in the community.
That’s not the only solution Indianapolis is implementing. They have studied the results of a panhandler program that Albuquerque, NM started back in 2015 called There’s a Better Way. Based off the success Albuquerque saw, they have begun to launch a similar program by partnering with Downtown Indy, Inc. and the Horizon House.
There’s a Better Way was originally started in Albuquerque to reach out to panhandlers, many of which are homeless. The program pays the panhandlers $9 an hour to do beautification projects around the city like picking up trash and pulling weeds.
They started out small, but now the program has become world famous and has grown to paying 80-90 people. When their work is done they receive an envelope with the cash they earned that day. They also have a van for transportation and drops them off at a homeless center to connect them with the help they need.
Starting with a $50,000 budget given by the city council, the program has grown to a budget of $365,000.
The Indianapolis programs funding began as Proposal 88 and was approved on Feb. 6. On Feb. 25 the $300,000 budget was approved. Half of the money would go to employing the panhandlers, the other half would cover the transportation and logistics. The money comes from Indianapolis extending parking meter times to 11 p.m.
The program is more than employing the homeless. The program is about getting the homeless connected with the help they need, giving them the opportunity to develop skills and giving them back their dignity.
Horizon House Executive Director Teresa Wessel loves the idea and believes it can impact the homeless population.
“If this may be the first job that someone has had in a long time, it can help them with those soft skills," she said. "If they learn some skills and then they can go and get a more long-term job, one that is life-sustaining for them, then I think this can be a real boost to that self-confidence to get back there and making a difference and just being part of the community again.”
(03/08/19 4:04pm)
The Indiana Senate has approved a bill that will provide the Capital Improvement Board (CIB) an estimated $8.5 million in extra revenue and give the Indiana Pacers a 25-year lease extension to stay in Indianapolis.
Language to fund a $150 million, 20,000 seat soccer stadium to attract a Major League Soccer (MLS) team was also included in the bill.
The bill, Senate Bill 7, was proposed by Senate Appropriations Chairman Ryan Mishler and is now headed to the House Ways and and Means Committee to be further debated.
The bill generates the money from extending the life of tourism and entertainment taxes that fund the CIB. In order to receive the money, the Pacers’ and CIB must sign a 25-year agreement before April 1.
The CIB, which manages the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium (ICC & LOS), needs the money to replace $8 million that is being directed to annually pay off bonds for the $120 million expansion of the Convention Center, which includes building two new hotels at the Pan Am Plaza and future renovations on Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The bill will immediately affect Indianapolis because of the additional funding the CIB will receive. Along with owning Lucas Oil Stadium and the Convention Center, they also own Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Victory Field. Maintaining these tourist sites is crucial for Indianapolis’ economy, allowing them to continue to host major conventions like Gen Con or another Super Bowl.
Indianapolis leaders know there is room for tourism improvement. “We cannot afford to sit idle,” said Chris Gahl, senior vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Indy. “Other major cities are quickly approaching and looking to pass.”
For Indy Eleven, this bill keeps their hopes alive to attract an MLS team to Indianapolis. Before they receive taxpayer money, Indy Eleven must come to a 25-year agreement with a MLS team by 2022 and must front 20% of the stadium’s construction cost. MLS also charges a $150 million expansion fee.
This comes after Indy Eleven’s majority owner Ersal Ozdemir proposed a $550 million stadium redevelopment called Eleven Park back in January. $150 million of that is being asked for stadium costs and the other $400 million comes from private investors to build office spaces, apartment units, a 200-room boutique hotel, and retail space. No location has been chosen yet.
(03/01/19 5:31pm)
Indiana has a serious opioid problem and it’s only getting worse. IUPUI has partnered with state health leaders to address this crisis.
Marion County has the highest death by drug overdose rate than any state in the nation with 37.4 deaths per 100,000 people. Of those overdoses, 81% of them were caused by opioids. Between 2011-2017, there was a 123% increase in overdose deaths by residents of Marion County and a 75% increase in Indiana as a whole. In 2017, the state of Indiana reached an all-time high with more than 1,700 Hoosiers dying from drug overdose.
These numbers, obtained from a study conducted by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, have state leaders attention. That is why the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation gave out a $376,000 grant to create The Community Behavioral Health Academy. A program launched by the partnership of Community Behavioral Health at Community Health Network, the Indiana University School of Social Work at IUPUI, the University of Indianapolis and Ascend Indiana to address the opioid epidemic.
The program, designed to address the lack of trained behavioral health professionals, will annually yield 15-30 dually licensed clinical social workers and addiction counselors. This comes after Indiana fell 7,000 workers short of meeting the need.
Factors that have contributed to the need of trained behavioral health professionals includes low pay and stressful working conditions. This program is set to address these issues by, per the grantee’s website, “offering students financial incentives, licensure support and employment pathways following graduation."
To further address the education and addition of more behavioral health professionals, participants in the Academy will complete specialized curriculum and an internship over the course of two semesters. Graduates will also receive financial benefits and educational opportunities which includes priority in job interviews at Community Health Network upon graduating.
“The Community Behavioral Health Academy is one step in what should be a comprehensive approach to meeting the significant need for treatment among those suffering from substance use disorder and mental illness in Indiana,” said Claire Fiddian-Green, president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation. “To help save lives and stem the growing toll of the opioid epidemic, making other substantive changes and replicating this model around the state will be key.”
Recruitment for the program began in February 2019 at IUPUI and UIndy, with coursework beginning in the Fall 2019 semester. Per the grants webpage, eligible students include current students seeking their Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and in their first year of coursework. Undergraduates and current social workers with a bachelor's degree in social work should apply to one of the participating MSW programs to be considered for the Academy.
This is not all that Indiana is doing to combat the opioid problem. In April of 2018 Gov. Eric Holcomb signed three bills to help address the problem. House Bill 1007 allowed for funding of nine new opioid addictions centers, increasing Indiana’s total of these facilities to 27. Senate Bill 221 requests doctors use the INSPECT program, which is statewide prescription tracking system, when prescribing opioids. Senate Bill 139 requires coroners to conduct a thorough investigation to suspected drug overdose victims.
(02/15/19 5:18pm)
In IUPUI’s storied history, not everything is positive. Displacing many African Americans from their homes, many can look back and make assumptions about this school. Starting with their treatment of Black History Month, IUPUI has tried to rectify past transgressions.
Black History Month’s origins date back to September 1915, 50 years after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery. Historian Carter G. Woodson and Minister Jesse E. Moorland together founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), which is “an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by black Americans and other peoples of African decent.”
Now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), this group chose the second week in February to form a “national Negro history week” in 1926. This was the start of the formation of Black History Month.
This event inspired communities and schools nationwide, leading them to form local celebrations, establish history clubs and to host performances and lectures educating people on the history and achievements of African Americans.
Fast forward to the beginning of the 1960’s where major cities across the country began recognizing Negro History Week annually. Thanks to the civil rights movement and growing awareness of black identity, Negro History Week transformed into Black History Month, especially on college campuses, by the end of the 1960s.
Finally, in 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in order to, “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
IUPUI prides itself on being an ethnically diverse campus. One of the reasons it does so is not only for the amount of diversity throughout the students and staff, but also because they recognize cultural celebrations like Black History Month. Throughout the years IUPUI and IU affiliated campuses across the state, according to Campus Life, “host events, speakers and programs that highlight African American achievements in culture, art, history and leadership.”
Going back only a few years, IUPUI has hosted many events for Black History Month.
To start Black History Month, IUPUI holds their annual ‘Black History Month Kick-Off’ event. Hosted by the Multicultural Center, this event is celebrated at the beginning of each February (the 4th this year). Located in the Campus Center Atrium, it focuses on celebrating African American heritage, art, culture and history.
During the Kick-Off, IUPUI also hosts a performer(s) that are involved with African American culture. This years performers were the Oakdale Children's Choir from Chicago, IL.
In years past, IUPUI hosted the following events for Black History Month: ‘Student Activities Programming Board (SAPB) film showing of “Loving,”’ ‘LGBTQmmunity: Queer Black History’, ‘Young, Gifted and Black: Stop to Love’ and ‘African Studies Open House.’ They hosted award-winning actor, best-selling author and philanthropist Hill Harper for their Stewart Speaker Series. They also held “Critical Conversations on Black Homicide”which discussed violence in Indianapolis.
This year along with their ‘Black History Kick-Off’ event, IUPUI hosted “Young, Gifted and Black Presents: Love Being Woke: A Conversation About Black Love” on Feb. 5.
They will also be hosting “Catch a Fire! Honoring the Black Arts: An Evening of Spoken Word Poetry and Drumming.” Babalawo Awodele Ifasina will be on the drums and Lasana Kazembe will be doing spoken word poetry. This event is free and will be held on Feb. 20, located in University Library Room: Lilly Auditorium (Lower Level).
Founded in 2006, The Multicultural Center at IUPUI has hosted many of these events and shines a spotlight on the different cultures present on campus.
(02/08/19 4:42pm)
After an undefeated season and a trip to nationals, many rugby clubs around the country would be satisfied and consider that a success. Not the IUPUI Jaguars Rugby Football Club, though. They have their eyes set on the spring season and a national championship.
In the fall season, the Jaguars finished ranked top five in the nation with an 8-0 regular season record. This included a four game stretch where they outscored their opponents by a staggering 178-0. They also played a Division 1 school, Middle Tennessee State, and beat them 39-32.
They secured the top seed for their conference tournament where they took care of business for their second consecutive conference championship. They beat Kent State in their tournament game by a score of 63-14 and Thomas Moore in the championship game, 60-12, securing a trip to nationals.
The magic ended when they matched up against Iowa Central, a team loaded with international talent, and lost 56-15.
Team Vice President Spencer Strout, who lead the team in trys (a five point scoring play where the ball touches the opponents in-goal area or their goal line) with 13, is returning for the spring season. Zach Harlan, Levi Hawk, Will Richards and Brandon Boals, who were all listed in the top 20 for their positions in the country, are also returning and ready for another campaign.
They only lost a graduated senior from the fall to spring team. With a talented group of players that have continuity the sky's the limit for them.
When asked what he’s most excited about this spring, Spencer pointed out the new freshmen coming in, “I’m really excited about the freshman recruits coming in and giving us a little more depth.”
For the spring season, the Jaguars already have four away tournaments lined up; Moosemen 7s, a tournament at the University of Kentucky (TBA), Fools Fest 7’s and the Upper Midwest 7’s.
Moosemen 7’s is located in Murfreesboro, TN and it starts on Feb. 23. For the Fools Fest 7’s, the team will travel to Winona, MN and that begins on March 30. On April 27, the team will travel to Cottage Grove, WI to participate in the Upper Midwest 7s tournament.
Unfortunately, while their away schedule is busy, the team has not been able to book any home matches yet, but are currently looking. If they manage to find home matches, they play at Carroll Stadium on the soccer fields.
They even have their own hashtag on social media. Look up #RollJags throughout the spring to keep up on their performances.
Success in sports is hard to achieve and even harder to sustain, but this team is up for the challenge. Spencer spoke for the team about their expectations via email, “We have big expectations. We plan on playing more D1 teams and winning the national tournament.”.
#RollJags, indeed.
(01/25/19 4:40pm)
Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana businesses have made it clear they want Indiana to make changes regarding how they treat hate crimes. As one of five states to not have biased or hate crime legislation, lawmakers are working to fix that.
On Jan. 3, 2019, Avon Republican Rep. Greg Steuerwald filed House Bill 1093, effective on July 1, 2019. This bill will allow judges to consider a crime an aggravating circumstance (thus allowing the judge to impose a harsher sentence) if the crime committed was because of bias and an intent to harm or intimidate a party based on, “the individual's or the group's real or perceived characteristic, trait, belief, practice, association, or other attribute the court chooses to consider.”.
The bill has drawn some criticism for the vague way it is written, as people want the bill to give judges clear language on how to treat hate crimes.
Steuerwald defended the bill’s non-specific language, saying that he wrote it in a way that would leave nobody out. He also stated that it was written in such a way that lawmakers will not have to go back and keep adding protected groups as they pop up. The language of the bill will also help it be passed easier.
This bill comes after a string of recent hate crimes that have been reported in central Indiana over the last few years.
On the morning of July 28, 2018 Nolan Brewer, 20, of Cloverdale vandalized Congregation Shaarey Tefilla, a Jewish synagogue, at 3085 W. 116th St. by spray painting Nazi flags and iron crosses on the walls outside. Working without a larger group or agenda, his reasoning to authorities was to intimidate the “influential Jews” and wanted them to “back down”. Brewer has since been indicted on federal charges and will serve a minimum of 10 months and up to 10 years in prison. He worked alongside an unnamed 17-year-old female who was not indicted.
On Nov. 2, 2018, Vietnam veteran Phil Rossman went golfing at Smock Golf Course in Indianapolis at 3910 E County Line Rd when he stumbled upon a swastika and a racial slur carved into the eighth hole. No suspects have been identified or arrested for this incident.
Recent hate crimes are also present on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus and affecting students.
On Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016 a still unidentified person or group of people went around campus and hung white supremacy flyers, making students feel unsafe.
Another similar incident, this time targeting undocumented immigrants and the LGBT community, happened during the week of Jan. 22, 2017. Here another unidentified person or group of people hung flyers around the School of Business, the School of Public Policy and the engineering building. These flyers, titled ‘Hate Facts’, listed hateful and wrong statistics targeting these groups.
Students around campus are happy that Indiana is moving forward and starting to address this issue. When asked about the bill, sophomore Bobby Trezzo had this to say,
“I think it is great that Indiana is finally deciding to pass legislation that punishes hate crimes. It seems like our state is very much stuck in the old times, and I think steps like this move us closer to a more modern mindset.”.