Cali Stouder



Projects by Cali Stouder

Journalism Story

The Redsteppers: Beyond the Sidelines

By: Katie Williams, Cali Stouder, Matt Novello

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Mar 27, 2025)-

Odds are if you go to the football and basketball games here, you have seen the Red Steppers. The Red Steppers of Indiana University are a dance team here at IU and perform multiple times during Indiana athletic events. Similar to cheerleaders, they perform on the sidelines during the football games while also performing on the field during breaks within the games. Whether it be timeouts, the end of a quarter, or halftime, they go on the field multiple times to provide entertainment for the crowd. And when it comes to basketball games, it is very similar, they perform on the court during breaks within the game so there is entertainment for the crowd.

The Red Steppers are actually not associated with IU Athletics, as according to blogs.iu.edu, they are a part of the Marching Hundred, which is also a part of the Jacobs School of Business. Just like the athletes at Indiana University, the Red Steppers have to put in a lot of work.

Most of the dancers have been dancing their whole life and have been practicing since a very young age so they were able to get to the skill level they are at now. In practice and before events, they have to master the routines they practice so they can be perfect when performing. They practice every day, around six to twelve hours a week, while still having to attend class and do school work, but unlike athletes, they are not the center of attention when it comes to the events they perform at. The Red Steppers even have to put in a lot of offseason work so they are ready for when the season arrives. They are a big part of the athletics here at Indiana University and for our story, we interviewed two current Red Steppers at Indiana University, Sophia Sales and Mia Fox.

The Red Steppers warming up for practice

In these interviews, we asked a lot of questions so we could learn about what it is like to be a Red Stepper here at Indiana University. Sophia Sales mentioned that during football season, they have to make sure they perfect their routines before the games. In our interview with Sophia, she said, “During football season, for anywhere from four to six practices which are three hours each…” This goes along the lines with how much work these dancers have to put in to be successful and perform to the best of their ability.

The Red Steppers practicing a routine

Sophia also mentioned how she believes that the hard work she puts in helps her in life by teaching her how to have a strong work ethic along with having a work life balance. Just like how being on the Red Steppers is physically challenging with how much practice they have to put in, it is also mentally challenging. The Red Steppers are a big family and they are there to support each other, just as teammates are on a sports team. Sophia also mentioned how her coach does a great job at making sure their whole team has a great bond. This contributes to everyone having more fun while performing as they are a very close-knit team.

Sophia Sales practicing a routine with fellow Red Steppers

When we asked Mia about practicing before events, she mentioned how they first learn the routine from a video at home. This shows that Red Steppers do not only have a lot of work to put in at practices with the team, but also at home on their own. It’s very similar to how athletes practice on their own to perfect their craft, Red Steppers do the same thing. Mia also mentioned that being a part of the dance team makes it hard to have a “normal” college life, and they have to give that up. Mia stated, “I have made a lot of sacrifices to be part of the IU dance team, I feel like the biggest one is you give up that totally normal college girl life.” It is hard for these dancers to be able to still have a lot of fun in college with how much work they have to put in, but overall, Sophia and Mia both said they have loved college so far including being a part of the Red Steppers. Being a part of the Red Steppers has been a dream come true for both of them.

Public Relations Story

Apple Unveils A New Device In Their Long Series Of Products

Contact Information:
Ursula Stickelmaier
ustickel@iu.edu
Whitney Stephen
stephewm@iu.edu
Calli Stouder
cstoude@iu.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CUPERTINO, California [Sept. 09, 2014] – Apple redefined the smartwatch when CEO Tim Cook unveiled the company’s new product, the Apple Watch, this Tuesday at the “Wish We Could Say More” Event in Cupertino, California.

Held at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts, Apple debuted its new product alongside the iPhone 6 line of smartphones. Cook showcased the product with Apple Vice President Kevin Lynch. As well as, British-American designer Johnny Ive and Apple’s Vice-President of Fitness Technologies Jay Blahnik. 

The Apple Watch features a multitude of capabilities all designed to create a personal experience for the user. From a customizable timepiece to a brand new way for Apple users to communicate to an all-encompassing fitness tracker, the Apple Watch is tailor-made for whoever uses it. “We designed the Apple Watch as a whole range of products, enabling millions of unique designs and parallel personalization both in appearance and capability,” Ive said. 

Man relaxes in the couch, his Apple Watch prominently on display.
Aaron Stephen embraces the comfort of his new Apple Watch in his home in Whiteland, Indiana, on Feb. 14, 2025. Full of many capabilities for all age groups, the Apple Watch allowed accessibility and comfortability on your wrist.

The design choices in particular that make the Apple Watch unique for the wearer include interchangeable watch bands and multiple case options which go with three different models of the device available: the Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition.

One of the new design choices that Apple made with the Apple Watch is the introduction of the Digital Crown which allows users to easily scroll through their Apple Watch device without anything obstructing their view. Should the user need to interact with the screen directly, the Apple Watch is able to detect both touch and force. This allows the watch to tell the difference between a tap meant to pause your music and a press meant to access contextually specific controls, that differ between app to app.

The apps available on the Apple Watch range from Apple designed apps to third party apps like Twitter or Pinterest. Third party app developers are able to use Apple’s WatchKit which will help them seamlessly integrate their own software onto the Apple Watch device. Any app on the apple watch will be able to provide automated functions for its users to quickly access.

The Apple Watch also comes with Digital Touch, the latest innovation by Apple. With Digital Touch wearers will be able to communicate with other Apple Watch wearers in new and unique ways. By tapping their screen in this function they can send physical vibrations to their friend’s device, users can draw pictures that will be sent and there is even the option to send your own heartbeat. This heartbeat function is just one of the many ways that Apple has made the Apple Watch more personal and intimate for their users. “That’s never been done before,” Lynch said. “It’s a really great aspect of this new form of communication with Digital Touch.”

Girl checks something on her Apple Watch.
Tara Stephen checks her Apple Watch to see if she hit her fitness activity rings for the day after coming home from her workout in Whiteland, Indiana, on Feb. 14, 2025. The Apple Watch allowed student athletes to be able to check their steps, heart rates and calories burned through the day.

What truly separates the Apple Watch from all other watches though is its fitness capabilities. It combines the information gathering technology of your typical fitness tracker with the easy to use and personal technology of an Apple device. Divided between two apps, the Fitness App and The Workout App, the Apple Watch is designed to give you a complete profile of your health.

The Fitness App is there to monitor all your activity and movement throughout the day as you wear the watch. It is then stored on your phone so you can track your day to day progress through something that is unique to you. In the Workout App the user is able to set personal goals based on how long they want to work out, the amount of calories they want to burn or even the distance you want to travel. You can also change your workout to fit whatever activity you are doing whether that is biking, running or lifting weights. 

Over time the Apple Watch will become tailored to you and is designed to provide helpful and healthy reminders to keep you active throughout your day. These goals will be both personal and realistic to you and your everyday life so you’re not getting any unneeded stress when it comes to working out. “Apple Watch is going to greatly improve the way we keep track of our activity and change the way we look at fitness,” Blahnik said. “We think it’s going to help a lot of people live a better day and a healthier life.”

Users of both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5 lines of smartphones will be able to connect their phone to the watch and can access all the Apple Watch functions seamlessly. Starting at $349, all three models of the Apple Watch will be available for purchase in early 2015. “We think people are going to love to use Apple Watch,” Cook said.”It empowers people and enriches their lives. Apple Watch is the most personal device Apple has ever created.”

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FIRST CLIP – Apple CEO Tim Cook discusses the key points of the Apple Watch at the “Wish We Could Say More” Event in Cupertino, California, on Sep. 9, 2014. According to Cook, the Apple Watch featured multiple unique functions including a customizable time piece, new ways for Apple users to communicate and brand new fitness capabilities.
SECOND CLIP – The Vice President of Apple, Kevin Lynch, demonstrates the communication capabilities of the Apple Watch to a large audience at Apple’s “Wish We Could Say More” Event in Cupertino, California, on Sep. 9, 2014. The heartbeat function on the Apple Watch allowed users to send a real-time and accurate replication of their heartbeat to a friend’s device creating a more intimate feel for both wearers.