Andrea Minuto



Projects by Andrea Minuto

News Story

Student Athletes Struggle to Use NIL Due to Tasking Schedule

By Saige Arnold, Karen Flores and Andrea Minuto

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Nov. 5, 2024) — The struggle of balancing athletics and academics has always been a challenge for student athletes, but the inclusion of NIL rights has significantly added a new layer of complexity. As they navigate the opportunities and difficulty of earning money from their personal brand, many find themselves struggling to execute the benefits of NIL while being a student athlete. 

In July 2021, name, image and likeness laws went into effect benefitting college athletes to get paid through their NIL. This allows the athletes to accept money for their popularity which can be seen in many different ways. The athletes are able to do commercial endorsements, appearances and social media posts, hosting camps and more. However, these tasks are already too much to put on a student athlete.

Diver prepares to dive
Diver William Jansen mentions how priorities are often changing. He works around his sport and academics to gain NIL opportunities, which is a task he has not yet had to chance to focus on.

Student athlete, William Jansen, a junior diver at Indiana University, seeks to grow his NIL and use his image to his advantage and for the opportunity to make some money. Jansen expresses that he does not have the time to lean into his NIL opportunities. “There are some days when like I won’t come to practice at all just to focus on school, and then I’m about to miss school on Thursday and Friday for a meet.”  With practices and meets being incorporated into Jansen’s academic schedule, it can be hard to find the incentive and interest in implementing it. 

Dr. Galen Clavio, Associate Professor in the Media School at Indiana University answers questions at a press conference on October 15th, 2024. Dr. Clavio explains that social media plays a huge part in the world, allowing people to make a living off of their name on social media. When it came to NIL in the sports world, there were often times where college athletes names were being used by the university or even other companies like NCAA video games that were benefiting off of these athletes name, image and likeness. After many court cases, the NCAA was no

Dr. Galen Clavio speaks to Indiana University Students at a press conference about NIL.  Focuses on how student athlete struggle to balance their time, on top of taking advantage of their NIL. Photo taken by Emma Pearce.

longer allowed to keep student athletes from using their name, image and likeness to make their own money. Although these students now have the access to their NIL, it doesn’t exactly mean they’re able to focus on it. Dr. Clavio explains that the schedules young adult student athletes have don’t always allow them to use NIL, “To me its a false dichotomy in a lot of ways and its part of a larger problem with the way we think about athletes at the college level in many cases, which is that they need saved or that they need all of this special structure around them, when in reality a lot of the reasons for this is because of the insane scheduling that we place on them in the first place.” With student athletes trying to manage such a time-crunched schedule, all of the NIL deals they could be taking, they don’t always have time for.

Marina Fuduric, a freshman tennis player at Indiana University, experiences the same challenges. With being a first-year college student and athlete, she struggles to find the right balance, on top of growing her NIL. She currently does not have a large following on social media, but works to grow her account. Working with what she has, she tries to reach out to people and brands, but since she does not have a large following and certain brands have follower requirements, she gets denied. She has to find other ways to grow her platform and to have brands be excited or willing to work with her. “I’m trying to figure out different ways to get more followers and I might have to make content or something in the future,” Fuduric said. This is prevalent in new student athletes because this is not necessarily taught or implemented within their sports. Student athletes have to go out on their own to find these experiences, having no guide on securing deals. It is significantly more challenging if the sport is not popular on a college level, making it harder to seek opportunities. 

Tennis player
First -year student athlete, Marina Fuduric talks about balancing tennis and academics. She mentions how difficult it is to find the right time for everything throughout her days. Courtesy photo by IU Women’s Tennis.

Fuduric talks about her experiences balancing playing tennis with her academics. Allotting free time on top of her sport, education and personal life. When she talks about this, she said that if you want to study, maintain yourself and find time to hang with friends, you will have to be efficient with your time. But it is not easy for Fuduric, especially when trying to get the hang of being a first-year student. Accountability is a huge thing that Fuduric has to do.

Because of the benefits that come with NIL, it is important to Fuduric and her future plans. She wants to rely solely on her NIL as an income to help support herself. As she settles and comfortable with being a student athlete at Indiana University, she sees herself growing her platforms and finding ways to get deals. She wants to learn how to grow her NIL and motivates herself to endure the obstacles that come with it.

NIL is crucial to student athletes, as it leads to greater opportunities for them in the future.

Students at Indiana University answered questions involving their opinions on name, image and likeness. Having strong ideas on what NIL can do for student athletes, if they take full advantage of it.

Public Relations Story

Apple CEO Tim Cooks Unveils a New Era For Apple

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts
Adelyn Rabbitt
Andrea Minuto

CUPERTINO, California (Sept. 9, 2014) — Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled the first ever Apple Watch on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the annual Apple Event in Cupertino, California.

Tim Cook took the stage of the Apple Event in a navy button up and black pants, addressing the audience and describing updates to current Apple products. When he finished, he clicked a new slide on the presentation that read, ‘One more thing.’ “But we’re not quite finished yet,” Tim Cook said. “We have one more thing.” The audience burst into applause and excitement, as suspense built about was going to be revealed. Once the cheers and whistles died down, Cook revealed the new, exciting, never-done-before Apple smart watch by playing a video on the presentation screen.

The video consisted of smooth music over videos of a sleek, glossy, smartwatch. The clips showed the features of the watch such as browsing apps, telling time, working as a stopwatch, and more. The video ended, followed by loud clapping and cheering from the audience as Tim Cook raised his fist in triumph and excitement. Cook proceeded to tell the audience about some of the incredible features of the watch. Cook noted that all Apple products have been created out of innovation, mentioning the original Mac, iPod, and iPhone. He then commented that the Apple Watch was also created thanks of innovation and that it is an incredibly exciting product.

After a brief vocal description of the Apple Watch, Cook played another video on the presentation screen. This video, narrated by Jony Ive, delved deeper into the features of the watch.

Apple Watch on the arm of a man.
A person’s arm sports an Apple Watch as the watch shows the time and the temperature. The Apple Watch is a smartwatch that is capable of showing precise information about the user’s current surroundings.

At the beginning of the video, Jony Ive set up the basis of the invention of the Apple watch. “We’ve designed a range of products so personal that you don’t put them on your desk or in your pocket,” Ive said. “You wear them on your wrist.”

The Apple Watch is a precise timepiece, synced with the universal time standard. It can be customized completely by the user through its many features and its synchronization with the user’s iPhone. A dial on the side of the watch acts as a tool to zoom in and scroll through apps, lists, or messages, deleting the pinch and scroll aspect of using a typical touchscreen device. This dial also works as the home button when pressed down. The watch can be worn at all times, is created to be pleasing to the eye, and can complement one’s personal style. Monitoring your movement, the watch’s display turns on when you raise your arm, showing the home display of apps. The sapphire display is manufactured with touch and force monitoring. The inside of the watch includes the technology that a computer includes but in a package small enough to discreetly fit on your wrist. 

Apple Watch on a person's arm, on a fitness feature.
An Apple Watch with a blue band is on a person’s wrist, showing the workout tracking options that the watch offers. The Apple Watch can be used to track the health and fitness activities of the user.

Personalization of the watch extends beyond the screen. Apple has designed six different straps to be easily interchanged per personal preference. The magnetic latching system of the straps is strong and gentle, keeping your watch safe on your wrist. There are two sizes of straps and watches to make sure people with all sizes of wrists can enjoy this product.

Kevin Lynch, Vice President of Apple, came onto the stage after Tim Cook to give a demo for the Apple Watch. Lynch was wearing a light blue button up with black pants and an Apple Watch on his wrist. Lynch proceeded to screenplay the display of his watch to the presentation screen on the stage and then showed the audience how to change the colors and settings of the interface. When swiping on the watch, one can access music, time, maps, calendars, and more from just the home screen. Siri is built into the watch and can be used just as it can be on an iPhone. The photos app can sync with your iPhone so that you can look at your photos from your iPhone on your wrist. Additionally, a user of an Apple Watch can send a drawing from the face of their watch to the face of another Apple Watch user’s watch.

Finally, Tim Cook took the stage once more to discuss the health and fitness aspects of the Apple Watch. The fitness app on the watch monitors all health information received from the user’s body throughout the day, while the workout app tracks workouts and allows the user to set goals. A video explaining these features then played, leading to the conclusion of the revolutionary event.

The features of the Apple Watch have never before been programmed onto such a small and mobile device, able to be carried on a person’s wrist. Apple changed the world of technology and the lives of Apple users with this development and will undoubtedly continue to do so.


Tim Cook celebrates the unveiling of the brand-new Apple Watch. Cook receives a standing ovation as he reveals the new watch on his wrist.  


The fitness features on the brand-new Apple Watch are shown. Both the iPhone and Apple Watch calculate the fitness and health data of the user. 

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