Katie Williams



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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 Rolls Out Newest Product: The Apple Watch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE

Media Contacts
Katie Williams
Luke Voss
Danny Durkin

CUPERTINO, California (Sept. 9, 2014) –

Apple unveils revolutionary Apple Watch, redefining wearable technology, in Cupertino, California. On September 9, 2014, Apple Inc. introduced the world to its first smartwatch, the Apple Watch, marking a bold triumphant step into the new wearable technology market for customers. Designed to integrate seamlessly with current and future iPhones, The Apple Watch delivers its wearer a combination of cutting-edge functionality with a sleek, customizable design, offering an entirely new way to connect, communicate, and stay healthy.

“The Apple Watch is the most personal device we’ve ever created,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, during the product’s unveiling at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino. “It’s not just with you; it’s on you. It empowers users with new ways to communicate and enhances their lives with fitness and health monitoring.”

Young man toggling with Apple Watch
With the Apple watch being a hot item nowadays, this student checks all the cool features the watch provides including incoming calls, text messages and much more.

Tim Cook stresses the personalization as well as The Apple Watches functionality for users, “It’s as much about personal technology as it is about style and taste.” The Apple Watch teeters the edge of being a fashion statement as well as an everyday tool for its wearers. The new Apple product is available in three distinct collections: The standard Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch Edition. The device offers a variety of materials and bands to suit individual styles. Featuring a new retina display with ‘force touch’ technology, a digital crown for intuitive navigation, and haptic feedback for discreet notifications, Apple’s first smartwatch reimagines personal interaction for its users with state of the art technology.

A major innovation of the Apple Watch is its ability to track its users physical activity and health in real time with remarkable precision. The built-in heart rate sensor and accelerometer work together to encourage the wearer to be more active, while the Workout and Activity apps provide the wearer real-time insights and progress tracking. The Watch also integrates with Apple’s brand new health app on iOS 8, reinforcing Apple’s unwavering commitment to customer’s health and wellness.

Beyond fitness, the Apple Watch introduces a new form of communication through “Digital Touch”. Apple Watch users can send: sketches, taps, and even their heartbeat to other users in i-messages. The “Taptic Engine” delivers a gentle vibration for incoming i-messages, calls, and all other notifications ensuring users always stay well informed.

Woman checks Apple Watch sitting down
After a long day of work, the lady reviews the health app on her Apple watch as she checks all of the calories burned and the steps walked throughout the day.

In keeping with Apple’s history of innovation including: The iPhone, The iPad, and The Mac, The Apple Watch brings an entirely new level of convenience to its users with integration of Apple’s newest services. “Apple Pay” was introduced alongside the Watch at the Cupertino event. “Apple Pay” allows Apple users to make secure payments with the tap of their wrist, eliminating the need for personal credit and debit cards. Siri integration and customizable watch faces further personalize the experience for users, making the new Apple Watch an exciting and groundbreaking extension of Apple’s tech products.

Set to publicly launch in early 2015, the Apple Watch starts at $349 and requires an iPhone 5 or later to operate. As Apple continues to push technological limits for its customers, the Apple Watch marks the beginning of a new era not just for the company but for the world, one where the future is worn, not just held.

Steve Job discusses how the Apple Watch has a combination of features, from fitness to style. 

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