sofie yurewicz



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News Story

Navigating the New NIL Era: Insights and Impact on Student-Athletes

By Kennedy Gaynor, Charlie McLain, Ava Boyd, and Sofie Yurewicz

BLOOMINGTON—Indiana University football is undefeated and having its best season in program history, and NIL is thriving for hoosier athletes.

It’s Saturday, November 2, 2024. The Indiana Hoosiers are in East Lansing to take on the Michigan State Spartans for the Old Brass Spittoon, but that’s not all the Hoosiers are looking for. IU football has started 8-0 for just the second time in program history and is seeking their first ever 9-0 start—but how did the Hoosiers get here?

Dr. Galen Clavio giving an engaging and fascinating lecture on NIL and how it affects the world of a student athlete.
Dr. Galen Clavio delivering an engaging lecture on NIL and its impact on student-athletes.

A program that’s won just nine games over their previous three seasons is about to win their ninth game of the 2024 season in as many games played. One of the greatest turnarounds in college football history is taking place right here in Bloomington, but what is the key to this sudden success? The answer is Name Image and Likeness (NIL), the recent initiative in college sports that allows college athletes to be paid for their brand. “Name, image, and likeness is another set of words for right of publicity,” says Dr. Galen Clavio; the head of IU’s Sports Media program.

With recent Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations, Indiana University athletes now have new ways to profit from their personal brands, gaining financial support and career-building opportunities while still in college. Proponents argue that NIL reduces athletes’ financial stress, allowing them to focus more on academics and sports, while critics worry that NIL could shift focus away from team dedication. Mika Millbach, a longtime IU supporter, believes these deals are vital for athletes’ growth both on and off the field, asserting they allow students to reach their full potential without the financial pressures many face.

James Murphy, sophomore quarterback at Brown, discusses the impact of NIL on student-athletes.
James Murphy, sophomore quarterback at Brown University, shares his perspective on NIL and its growing influence on student-athletes.

Brown University’s sophomore quarterback James Murphy shared his insight on the new landscape of NIL. He shared valuable information about the opportunities and challenges athletes at the collegiate level face because of NIL—something he knows very well, having been affected. In an interview with Murphy, he says “NIL has completely changed the landscape of college sports as a whole. Athletes are not only finally getting financially rewarded for their hard work and sacrifice- but it also has played a big role in recruiting more student athletes as well. Schools that can offer more money to the athletes through collectives and brand deals will be more appealing during the recruiting process.”

Mika Millbach, best friend of an IU professor and massive Indiana sports fan, believes that NIL deals are vital for the Indiana football team to reach its full potential. He asserts that these agreements not only offer athletes financial support but also contribute to their overall education by lessening financial stress, allowing them to focus more on academics. “I think the program has had an incredible impact and without this program I think that the students would suffer…” he said. For IU, Millbach argues, NIL could mean attracting more talented athletes and boosting the team’s performance, which would ultimately bring more recognition and funding to the university. Millbach also believes that NIL leads to more educated athletes by the persuasion of the deal. 

Two junior students, Kate and Olivia, admitted they didn’t know much about NIL or its impact on student-athletes but were eager to share their thoughts. “I do not keep up with football much,” Allie noted, “but I have noticed that our team is continuing to succeed and are leading the season 6-0.” This led Olivia to ask Kate if the team’s winning streak might have more to do with coaching than NIL. After a brief discussion, they both concluded that Coach Cignetti’s leadership, rather than NIL deals, is likely the driving force behind the team’s recent success. Their perspective suggests that factors beyond NIL, like strong coaching, could play a larger role in team performance, providing a counterpoint to the idea that NIL alone is shaping athletic outcomes.

Tayven Jackson, sophomore Quarterback at IU shares his personak experiences with NIL and provides insightful advice for other athletes.
Tayven Jackson, sophomore quarterback at IU, shares his personal NIL experiences and offers valuable advice for fellow athletes.

Football’s second-string quarterback, Tayven Jackson, shared his insights on how NIL has positively impacted student-athletes, especially those from challenging backgrounds. “A lot of my teammates come from a rough background, and so now that they can make money, they can help their families and their cousins and people that are sick in their families,” Jackson explained. For Jackson, NIL deals go beyond personal gain—they offer student-athletes a chance to support loved ones and make a difference off the field. He also noted the importance of being wise with NIL opportunities, advising fellow athletes to work with agents to secure the right deals and invest earnings responsibly rather than spending recklessly. In the long term, Jackson hopes to see NIL deals that help athletes promote their brands and use these platforms meaningfully, rather than just providing a paycheck. His perspective showcases NIL as a unique opportunity for financial growth, family support, and career preparation, but one that also requires thoughtful management.

As Indiana University’s football team makes history with an unprecedented winning season, the role of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in their success has sparked discussions across the campus and beyond. While some attribute the team’s performance to skilled coaching and strong leadership, others, like quarterback Tayven Jackson and IU supporter Mika Millbach, believe NIL has provided athletes with essential financial support and opportunities to grow both on and off the field. NIL has not only helped players like Jackson support their families but has also created a new pathway for student-athletes to build their futures beyond college sports. As NIL continues to evolve, its impact on programs like IU’s football team highlights a transformative shift in college athletics, one that empowers athletes to succeed academically, athletically, and professionally. Whether through coaching or NIL, the Hoosiers’ extraordinary season is a testament to the power of investing in student-athletes, marking an exciting new era for Indiana University sports.

Tayven Jackson, sophomore quarterback at IU, opens up about his experiences with NIL and its impact on college athletes. In this interview, he offers valuable insights on navigating the new landscape of student-athlete compensation.

In a series of street interviews, people connected to IU share their thoughts on the changing landscape of NIL. Their perspectives highlight how NIL is shaping the future of student-athletes and the university community.

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Public Relations Story

Apple Announces The Release Of Impressive New Product: The Apple Watch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts
Sofie Yurewicz
Katie Stein
Alison Brown

CUPERTINO, California (Sept. 9, 2014) — On Tuesday, September 9th, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the release of the brand new Apple Watch. The product is the first of its kind and will be available to users later this year. Tim Cook’s introduction of the new product left the audience speechless as they gave him a standing ovation.

Cook was thrilled to share the innovative watch in front of hundreds of Apple users- he could barely hold in his enthusiasm considering his proud laugh and fist pumps. Apple’s new development is very customizable to the user, allowing them to track workouts, quickly communicate from the device, and use third-party apps with their innovative features. The three versions of the watch will allow the customer to choose the perfect fit for them. 

Man using his Apple Watch to track his workout on the bike.
A pedestrian uses the Apple Watch to track their workouts. The activity tracker is one of the most notable functions of the new watch and will allow people to record their physical progress.

 One of the most prominent facets of the new product is the fitness and workout component. These two features help watch wearers track their workouts in addition to customizing specific personalized goals.  The watch contains sensors that are activated with the movement of the user’s wrist.

During the Apple Watch introduction, a video was shown featuring Jay Blahnik in which he said, “It can track a wider variety of activities because it’s able to collect more types of data. It uses an accelerometer to measure your total body movement. It has a custom sensor that can measure intensity by tracking your heart rate, and it uses the GPS and WiFi in your iPhone to track how far you’ve moved.”  In addition, the watch can measure total burned calories, how long users have stood up, and all physical activity users have completed.  Blahnik then said, “Over time, 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. And it can suggest goals that are personal, realistic, and most importantly, achievable, which gives you a far better chance of succeeding.”  The Apple Watch is both intimate and unique allowing users to use new, innovative software that promotes fitness and a healthy lifestyle like never before.  The watch has several unprecedented features that can benefit watch users day to day life as well as having impressive accuracy and efficient communication.

Student displays her apple watch while completing her homework.
A student wears her Apple Watch while studying to keep track of time and communicate with peers. Apple Watch users are able to receive and respond to text messages from their watch, allowing them to communicate with people from anywhere at any time.

The watch has multiple attributes that give users the ability to contact others in countless ways in a matter of seconds.  “You can get someone’s attention with a gentle tap.” Tim Cook said, “You can send a quick sketch, or you can even share something as personal as your own heartbeat.”  The Apple Watch is helpful for fast and efficient communication as well as quick interactions on apps.

The watch also notifies users when they receive a notification by making a small vibration that they can feel on their wrist.   The watch contains extra functions that make the device easy to use and navigate considering its small size.  With a multi-purpose crown for zooming and scrolling, a taptic engine with audio and speakers, and infrared LEDs that work alongside the digital crown and engine, the watch can be reactive and responsive for direct and precise transmission.  With these features, watch wearers can call contacts from their watch, send messages, and share emojis and expressions with friends right from their wrist.  The product is unique with ingenious capabilities. “It is so simple and elegant. It’s something only Apple could do.” said Cook.  Users are able to improve their lifestyle and benefit from the watch using methods never seen before.

Lastly, the watch can directly work with third-party apps to enhance the product’s features for users.  With the invention of Watchkit, third-party developers can create additional ways in which users can profit from the product.  During the demonstration of the Apple Watch, examples of third parties that have already worked to develop new features for the watch were shared.  Throughout the demonstration, Kevin Lynch previewed an instance with the GPS app and said “Now, while you’re walking, Apple Watch will give you taptic feedback on each turn. So you’ll know whether it’s time to turn left or to turn right. And those feelings are different for each direction. So you can actually know without even looking at your watch, which way to go. It’s like having this invisible guide with you.”  Lynch further discussed additional apps that were in the process of formatting watch-specific components which include American Airlines, Starwood Hotels, City Mapper, Pinterest, BMW, MLB, Honeywell, Lutron, Nike, and more.  These current brands along with the potential, other developers have to create features using Watchkit, will change the way consumers live.

The customizable and intimate watch is offered in three different styles including the traditional Apple Watch made from stainless steel, the Apple Watch Sport with an aluminum case, and lastly, the Apple Watch Edition made from 18-carat gold.  The three watch designs all can be personalized to best fit the user and their preferences.  The watch is offered with various watch bands that can each be used for different activities, purposes, and styles.  The watch can be purchased starting at only $349 and will be on the market within a year.


Tim Cook describes the functional purpose of the digital crown on the device and how it is there so you can scroll and get to thing son the product without blocking the small screen.


Kevin Lynch  demonstrates how to use the product while also showing its incredible features- customizable reminders, the stock market, music, weather, etc. 

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