Ava DeSena



Projects by Ava DeSena

News Story

NIL: A Concept Overshadowing the Life of College Athletes

By Ava DeSena, Peyton Giesler and Chris Zajac

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Nov. 5, 2024)- As humans, we often try to differentiate between selfless and selfish. This concept daunts people as they always attempt to be their best selves. Being selfless in most situations is morally the correct path, but when does life call for us to be selfish? Is it always okay? Is it never okay? Does being selfish overshadow others?

NIL was passed by the Supreme Court in 2021, allowing college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. Since then, the public has seen a plethora of college athletes emerge from the field or court and onto our screens; between social media, commercials and brand deals the opportunities for these athletes are endless. Dr. Galen Clavio, a Professor of Sports Media and the Director of the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University said, “rights to publicity is a right that everyone has.” But does that mean all college athletes gain the same or a fraction of the opportunities? 

College freshman and D1 athlete, Lucy Mineo competes in a lacrosse game at Marquette University. Mineo protects the ball from her opponent and looks for a opening to make a shot.

College freshman Lucy Mineo from a small town in New Jersey decided to commit to Marquette University, continuing her lacrosse career as Midfielder for a D1 athletic program. “NIL did not play a role in my decision process because I feel lacrosse lacks NIL deals, especially women’s lacrosse,” she said. About 34% of women sports athletes are paid through college NIL deals according to www.bestcolleges.com, splitting that scarce percentage to over 20 official women’s college sports teams makes you realize how little women’s opportunities can become.

For Mineo, her decision was more based on the “school, the facilities, coaching staff and the people who go to the school.” As Mineo comes from a legacy of D1 athletes within her family she has seen and developed her opinions of the difference between college athletes before and after NIL. NIL has definitely taken over the world of college sports. NIL has created ideals and an atmosphere where it’s not that you love the game, it’s more of, okay you’re good at it so we [the brands] are rewarding you with something not you rewarding yourself with self-enjoyment for the game.” Mineo explains how NIL can overshadow the joy and camaraderie once felt by college athletes. This change creates an environment where sport feels more transactional instead of focusing on the essence of sports.

Dr Galen Clavio, a Professor of Sports Media and the Director of the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University conducts a press conference in Professor Stephen Layton’s C250 Story Lab classroom. Calvio uses his knowledge on NIL to share information and his opinions on the subject, while answering students questions.

Prior to NIL, athletes in the power four conferences such as the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conference already had a platform to gain attention on their name. Clavio provided his input on how NIL has affected the athletics department. “Indiana has an athletic budget of 135-140 million dollars,” said Clavio. “The Big 10 school will be pulling in 100 million dollars from [TV deal] revenue shares.” How the money is divided is up to the school’s discretion and how the athletics department will see it best fit. Indiana has newfound success in a sport they have the most losses among power four schools in, football. Dr. Cavio explained the impact of NIL on Indiana Football’s success. “IU football is going to sell out potentially 4 games this year, that’s not because they have popular players,” said Clavio. “It’s because they are winning and have good players.” NIL is making a direct impact on the success of Indiana University sports.

Jaylen McClain, college freshman at Ohio State University plays in a football game against Nebraska at Ohio Stadium. McClain tackles his opponent, causing him to lose possession of the ball.

NIL has provided various opportunities for many different athletes across the country. Ohio State University’s football Safety, Jaylen McClain shared the impact NIL made on his commitment decision and his life thus far as a college freshman. “[NIL] did play a factor into my decision, but it wasn’t the main thing I was worried about in my recruitment,” said McClain. Schools such as Ohio State University can gain and maintain large-scale NIL deals for their athletes, with benefits many other schools don’t have the resources for. “I get the luxury of having certain things that other people wouldn’t as a college student,” said McClain. “I am able to have my own car and apartment so I am able to pay the rent for it, pay for gas on a consistent basis and in the future.” Such amazing opportunities could make people grateful, but also it could be a crack, where selfishness could seep in. “You can just tell between people from different schools and how people would rather go to a school for the money, or would rather just do things for the money rather than for themselves and their development. You can just tell certain people are thinking, “I’m trying to get paid rather than I’m trying to get better,” McClain said.

Mineo and McClain are in different positions in their college careers, but they can agree on one important idea: NIL is beginning to overshadow the revolving world of college sports. “Rights to publicity is a right that everyone has,” said Clavio, but it is essential that college athletes along with grasping well-earned opportunities of gaining profit and exposure do not lose sight of how they got there and who helped them along the way. The desire to be great, to excel in one’s game and to contribute to a team should be the driving cause of an athlete’s college career, not the amount of attention or money. 

https://youtu.be/XKEabqmMIMA

Justin Molander, Magnuson Larslott and Michael Drebes, students at Indiana University were interviewed on the impact of NIL. Their responses show their support of NIL’s impact on the success of Indiana University athletics. 

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Public Relations Story

Apple unveils newest product

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Computer, Inc., Showcases Newest Innovation, the Apple Watch Collection 

Media Contacts
Ava DeSena
Jayne Bills
Jaymi Curtis

CUPERTINO, California (September 9, 2014) – Today, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Computer, Inc., announced their newest product, Apple Watch with its innovative and profound design features and details.  

Tim Cook revealed the Apple Watch, Apple’s newest product, released on Sunday at a special event held at the Flint Center at De Anza College in Cupertino, California. 

Young man using Apple Watch.
IUSTV News Director Ashton Hackman responds to a text message on his Apple Watch. Being able to communicate quickly with his news team is very important.

 

 

 

What differentiates Apple Watch from past products is it creates an entirely new audience and consumer for the company and could open up new doors to future innovations in their technology. This product features groundbreaking interface, profound personalization features, and its momentous operations to enrich everyday lives. “This product and how it functions will redefine what people expect in its category,” Tim Cook said.  

Apple Watches deep innovation and precision leads it to be “the most personal device we have ever created,” Cook said. With Apple Watch being entirely customizable in appearance and capability to fit the user’s personality and style, users have  freedom to be creative and showcase their individuality right on their wrists. With the precision and functionalities given by Apple Watch, personalization can go far beyond the small screen. Apple has designed six different straps and a mechanism that makes the straps easily interchangeable. The sport band, the leather loop,  leather maudlin buckle, leather classic buckle, stainless steel link bracelet and the milanese loop. All the bands listed can be used for different occasions, activities, and styles. One size does not fit all, so Apple assured to create a smaller watch with matching smaller straps to guarantee all differences were taken into account.  

Young woman using Apple Watch.
Professor Jill Romack checks the time on her Apple Watch. Her watch lets her multitask by checking the time while also responding to emails.

Apple created three distinguished collections of Apple Watch to accomplish a feeling of inclusivity and range to their consumers. The first, Watch, then Watch Sports, and the last collection, Watch Edition. 

Pairing seamlessly with the iPhone, Apple Watch enables additional, more progressive, and intimate forms of communication such as sending a sketch to a contact, getting someone’s attention with a light tap on the screen, or users can share their own heartbeat. Those features all align with digital touch communication, a prime goal in the creation of Apple Watch, just by tapping on a contact picture on the screen users can have live communication by drawing or tapping. The watch also showcases features as a comprehensive health and fitness device.   

Health is extremely relevant to people of all ages, Apple Watch enhances and reintroduces ways to improve users health and daily activities. The four sensors and sapphire lenses located on the back of the watch detect users pulse rates. New features instilled into the watch along with the pairing of the GPS and Wi-Fi from users’ iPhones, the watch provides an extensive picture of daily activity. Two profound applications have been created with Apple watch, one being the fitness app that monitors all movement and activity throughout the day and the second is the workout app which allows users to set specific goals that are achievable and personal for numerous types of workouts. “Overtime Apple Watch actually gets to know you the way a good personal trainer would. It’s designed to deliver intelligent reminders to keep you motivated and on track.” Apple’s Health and Fitness team said.   

The Apple Watch required a revolution of user interface to be set into motion, completely different from iPhones due to its smaller size. After careful consideration and collaboration from Apple, they decided to add a dial on the side of the watch called a digital crown. The dial allows users to navigate and enlarge content on the small screen display. It allows zooming features, precise adjustment, serves as a home button and is used without touching or blocking the screen. Along with the dial, other input technologies accommodate the watch’s size. The watches screen recognizes the difference between a tap and press, providing immediate access to a range of controls. The chip inside the watch is extremely complex and advanced that it compares a miniaturized computer system onto a single chip to essentially enhance and change the way users feel, use, and hear this product.  

Steve Jobs unveils the new revolutionary Apple Watch. Apple Watch establishes a sense of convenience to users and enriches the simple tasks of everyday life. 

Jony Ive demonstrates this new technology. Apple Watch will officially be released in stores early next year starting at $349.

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