Indiana
Indiana AG: We Must Stop the Evil Forces of Antisemitism | Opinion
Antisemitism is on the rise across America.
We are seeing it with riots at college campuses, protests in our streets, and threats against our Jewish friends and neighbors.
This spike began with the brutal terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel on Oct. 7, and Israel’s subsequent justified efforts to defend herself and her people.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
In the three months following the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, the Anti-Defamation League recorded 3,291 antisemitic incidents—a level unprecedented during any previous three-month period over the last decade and a 361 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year.
Even here in our beloved Indiana, we have seen far too many vile expressions of hatred and prejudice against Jewish individuals.
A significant portion of the vitriol directed against our Jewish brothers and sisters has erupted in the form of campus protests and encampments on the grounds of public universities—including in places such as Dunn Meadow on the main campus of Indiana University in Bloomington.
Although often veiled in the guise of support for Palestinian innocents, the words and actions directed against Jewish people have all too often crossed the line from legitimate expressions of opinion into something far more sinister—harassment, threats, and intimidation that endanger Jewish people’s safety and violate our laws.
As Indiana’s attorney general, I have vowed from the beginning of these protests to stand firm in upholding the law.
Last May, I sent a letter to college officials warning them they are duty-bound to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by combating all forms of antisemitism on their campuses—or risk losing their federal funding. I further reminded them that they must ensure that student groups do not materially support foreign terrorist organizations.
House Enrolled Act 1179, which took effect July 1, requires state educational institutions to adopt policies to prohibit providing funds or other resources to foreign terrorist organizations or state sponsors of terror.
When spring semester concluded earlier this year, some of the most troubling antisemitic activities on college campuses seemed to subside.
With classes back in session, however, some signs point to a resumption of protests. (After winning control of student government earlier this year, for example, pro-Palestinian activists at the University of Michigan now continue to withhold funds for student activities until the university divests from companies doing business with Israel.)
At the same time, we have seen that antisemitism is an evil stain that spreads beyond the confines of college campuses into the fabric of general society—and that we must deal with this ugliness wherever it arises.
Therefore, my team and I this month are taking two important additional actions.
First, in an official advisory opinion issued Sept. 10, we explain how the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Indiana Civil Rights Act provide 1) statutory protections protecting students and employees in educational settings and 2) the authority and obligations of schools and universities to combat antisemitism in educational settings. You may read our advisory opinion here.
Secondly, our office is leading the effort to combat the disturbing rise in antisemitic behavior by providing important legal education and law enforcement training on Sept. 20. Learn more here.
Beyond these immediate actions, we will continue fighting the scourge of antisemitism in other ways because few notions are more antithetical to the values on which America was founded.
Religious tolerance and freedom of worship have been central to America’s laws and values since colonial times. Many of the first European settlers of North America—and numerous immigrants and refugees since—came here to escape religious persecution in their home countries.
After achieving independence, Americans enshrined those values in the U.S. Constitution, which provides strong protections for religious freedom against encroachment by government authorities.
So, we must keep fighting antisemitism—just as we must fight other forms of hate, prejudice and racism.
We must fight the forces of darkness that would undermine the values that make America a beacon of light.
Each of us—wherever we are and whatever our calling in life—must stand on the right side in these kinds of conflicts.
We must defend good against evil—and the rule of law against illegal forms of harassment, threats and intimidation.
We each must do our duty.
As Indiana’s attorney general, I intend to do mine.
Todd Rokita is Indiana’s attorney general.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
The Indiana High School Sports Awards, Presented by the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, is proud to announce the nominees for players of the year for all winter sports and the watch list athletes for the spring athletes. The winter winners will be announced during the live show on Sunday, April 27 at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University. Doors open at 4 p.m. with the show starting at 5 p.m.
During the live show, these nominees will be honored, along with player of the year nominees and winners from the fall. Those fall athletes were announced earlier in the school year and can be found here.
The show will also announce the winners of premier awards such as overall male athlete of the year, overall female athlete of the year, Courage Award, Team of the Year and Coach of the Year. Nominated athletes and watch list athletes who RSVP for the event can receive a free ticket here thanks to sponsors. Additional tickets are also free, thanks to the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, but must be obtained here.
Additionally, the Indiana Mr. Basketball Award, Presented by the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, will be announced live during the show. The finalists for that award will be announced on indystar.com soon.
The guest speaker at the event will be Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White.
The Indiana High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards program.
Here are all the winter nominees and the spring watch list athletes …
IndyStar Miss Basketball – Presented by the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever
- Addi Baxter, Columbia City High School — SR
- Jaylah Lampley, Lawrence Central High School — SR
- Maya Makalusky, Hamilton Southeastern High School — SR
- Meredith Tippner, Noblesville High School — SR
Girls Wrestling
- Aleksandra Bastaic, Highland High School — JR
- Heather Crull, Northeastern High School — SR
- Monica McMahon, Columbus East High School — SR
- Kendall Moe, Hamilton Heights High School — JR
- Julianna Ocampo, New Haven High School — SR
- Ysabelle Ocampo, New Haven High School — SO
Girls Swimming & Diving
- Lynsey Bowen, Carmel High School — SR
- Ellie Clarke, Carmel High School — FR
- Lucy Enoch, Carmel High School — JR
- Kate Fetters, Carroll High School — SO
- Adelyn Flessner, North Central High School — JR
- Jordyn Glassley, Carroll High School — SO
- Faith Gorey, Carmel High School — SO
- Reagan Graves, Franklin Community High School — SR
- Simone Hall, Park Tudor High School — JR
- Ava Metzger, Zionsville Community High School — JR
- Julie Mishler, Wawasee High School — SR
- Madeline Moreth, Valparaiso High School — JR
- Liliana Ratzlaff, Franklin Community High School — SR
- Alex Shackell, Carmel High School — SR
- Molly Sweeney, Carmel High School — JR
- Lylah Theriac, Mooresville High School — JR
- Alexandra Ward, Carmel High School — SR
- Emily Wolf, Fishers High School — SO
Girls gymnastics
- Samantha Boster, Chesterton High School — SO
- Jillian Creager, Homestead High School — JR
- Megan Garibay, Valparaiso High School — SR
- Avery Gleave, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger — JR
- Kobi Johnson, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger — SO
- Maria Szczepanski, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger — SO
Boys wrestling
- Jayden Bartoszek, Hanover Central High School — SR
- Case Bell Brownsburg, High School — FR
- Waylon Cressell, Warren Central High School — JR
- Revin Dickman, Brownsburg High School — JR
- Traevon Ducking, Brownsburg High School — FR
- Tommy Gibbs, Brownsburg High School — JR
- Mason Goelz, Avon High School — JR
- Eddie Goss, Center Grove High School — SR
- Kameron Hazelett, Lowell High School — FR
- Gunner Henry, Brownsburg High School — SR
- Peyton Hornsby, Center Grove High School — SO
- Gavin Jendreas, Crown Point High School — SR
- Michael Major, Carmel High School — SR
- Michael Ortega, Portage High School — SR
- Adrian Pellot, Merrillville High School — SR
- Parker Reynolds, Brownsburg High School — JR
- Nathan Rioux, Avon High School — JR
- Isaiah Schaefer, Evansville Mater Dei High School — SR
- Peyton Schoettle, Roncalli High School — JR
- Matthew Staples, New Prairie High School — FR
- Lucas Szymborski, Crown Point High School — SR
- Noah Weaver, Rossville High School — SR
- Julian Weems, Center Grove High School — SR
- Michael White, Lawrence North High School — JR
Boys Swimming & Diving
- Lucas Ackermann, Franklin Community High School — JR
- Trent Allen, Carmel High School — SO
- Grant Cates, Oak Hill High School — SR
- Michael Gorey, Carmel High School — SR
- Carter Hadley, Carmel High School — JR
- Jonny Hines, Fishers High School — SR
- Anderson Kopp, Carmel High School — SR
- David Kovacs, Bloomington South High School — SR
- Mason Lawson, Fishers High School — JR
- Jonah Lee, Valparaiso High School — SR
- Henry Lyness, Center Grove High School — JR
- Lukas Paegle, Bloomington South High School — SR
- George Patterson, Valparaiso High School — SR
- Andrew Shackell, Carmel High School — SR
- James Stewart, Bloomington North High School — SR
- Jake Tarara, Brebeuf Jesuit Prepatory School — SR
- Ethan Zhang, Carmel High School — SR
- Yi Zheng, Carmel High School — SO
Softball Watch List
- Maddie Engle, New Palestine High School
- Ana Geyer, New Prairie High School
- Carley Keller, Roncalli High School
- Anna Moore, Cathedral High School
- Izzy Neal, Brownsburg High School
- Ava Ratliff, Bedford North Lawrence High School
- Lizzy Sinders, Clay City High School
- Grace Swedarsky, Hamilton Southeastern High School
- Addy Ware, Floyd Central High School
- Sadie Winsett, Castle High School
- Ava Zachary, Penn High School
- Berkley Zache, South Bend St. Joseph High School
Girls Track and Field Watchlist
- Omema Anyanwu, Zionsville Community High School
- Ellie Barada, Bloomington South High School
- Ahniyah Bennett, Connersville High School
- Elizabeth Butler, Hamilton Southeastern High School
- Kya Crooke, Heritage Christian School
- Libby Dowty, Indian Creek High School
- Gwen Howard, Whitko High School
- Ava Jarrell, Pendleton Heights High School
- De’Janay Layne, Evansville North High School
- Emily Norris, Carmel High School
- Jane Paddock, Lawrence North High School
- Isabella Sotelo, Eastern Hancock High School
Girls Tennis Watchlist
- Anni Amalnathan, South Bend St. Joseph High School
- Mischa Briggs, Fishers High School
- Shaeli Castaneda, Marion High School
- Lacy Hancock, Washington High School
- Ava Harris, Angola High School
- Maya Harris, Angola High School
- Sophia Heaton, Kouts High School
- Izzy Ireland, Fishers High School
- Anna Kolb, Guerin Catholic High School
- Katie Kolb, Guerin Catholic High School
- Addison Lind, Warsaw High School
- Emerson Lindsey, Waldron High School
Boys Track & Field Watchlist
- Ian Baker Brownsburg High School
- Kieran Barnewall Chesterton High School
- Noah Bontrager Westview High School
- Landon Dobbs Henryville High School
- JonAnthony Hall Fishers High School
- Jay Hmurovich Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School
- Denhm Holt North Central High School
- Weston Ott Churubusco High School
- Will Riley Greenwood Community High School
- Mason Schmitz Hamilton Southeastern High School
- Marcus Townsend Avon High School
- Caleb Winders Bloomington North High School
Girls Lacrosse Watch List
- Alexa DeHart, Zionsville Community High School
- Avery Goehl, Carmel High School
- Breckin Hare, Carmel High School
- Sophie Mock, Carmel High School
- Lauren Richer, Park Tudor School
- Lyla Weir, Center Grove High School
Boys Lacrosse Watch List
- David Gould, Hamilton Southeastern High School
- Max Kemp, Hamilton Southeastern High School
- Trigg Lee, Cathedral High School
- Dillon O’Rourke, Hamilton Southeastern High School
- Caden Snapp, Center Grove High School
- Collin Stevens, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School
Boys Golf Watch List
- Peyton Blackard, Gibson Southern High School
- Jake Cesare, Westfield High School
- Silas Haarer, Westview High School
- Will Harvey, Westfield High School
- Brody Holubar, Center Grove High School
- Luke Johnston, Evansville North High School
- Brayden Lamborne, Castle High School
- Brayden Miller, Fairfield High School
- Ryan Parker, Homestead High School
- Brycen Tisch, Zionsville Community High School
- Mattingly Upchurch, Hamilton Southeastern High School
- Eli Wessel, Guerin Catholic High School
Baseball Watchlist
- Alex Barr, Kankakee Valley High School
- Mason Braun, Penn High School
- Caden Crowell, Valparaiso High School
- Rob Czarniecki, Chesterton High School
- Matthew Fisher, Evansville Memorial High School
- Gannon Grant, Center Grove High School
- Brandon Logan, Fort Wayne Snider High School
- Austin McNabb, Perry Meridian High School
- Aiden Reynolds, Noblesville High School
- Parker Rhodes, Greenfield-Central High School
- Aiden Smith, Shelbyville High School
- JD Stein, Carmel High School
One by one, members of the Indiana Hoosiers’ men’s basketball team entered their names into the transfer portal Wednesday, as the program shifts in a new direction under head coach Darian DeVries.
DeVries, previously with the West Virginia Mountaineers, did not get a chance to meet with his team immediately when he was hired March 18, though with Indiana’s spring break wrapped up, it appears the process of moving beyond the Mike Woodson era is in full effect.
Seven scholarship players from the 2024-25 Hoosiers roster have entered the portal so far, including three of the team’s top four scorers in Malik Reneau (13.3 points per game), Mackenzie Mgbako (12.2 points) and Myles Rice (10.1 points). That leaves DeVries with just one scholarship player from last season: 6-foot-6 forward Bryson Tucker. Luke Goode could return if his injury waiver from the 2022-23 season is approved; nonetheless, DeVries is essentially starting year one in Bloomington, Indiana, from scratch.
Building from the ground up isn’t anything new to DeVries. Despite bringing back just 5.3% of the minutes played from the 2023-24 Mountaineers team, he brought in a handful of transfers — including a South Bend, Indiana, native in Javon Small — and assembled a team that many felt was deserving of an at-large bid into the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Yet, despite boasting wins over the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Arizona Wildcats from nonconference play, West Virginia was snubbed, and DeVries decided to move on after one season at the helm.
Following that overtime game in the Battle 4 Atlantis opener, the Zags bounced back with an 89-73 win over the Hoosiers on the second day. Oumar Ballo led the way with 25 points against his former team, while Mgbako was the only other Indiana player to score in double figures, finishing with 13 points and four rebounds.
Rice, the former Pac-12 Rookie of the Year with the Washington State Cougars, only had six points and committed five personal fouls in 20 minutes against Gonzaga. The 6-foot-3 guard was capable of filling up the scoring column on any given night with his ability to get downhill and attack the basket. Other nights, however, Rice was much less effective as a scorer. He had 23- and 20-point performances during his first four games, but then followed with 11 points combined over his next three games.
As a freshman with the Cougars, Rice started all 35 games and averaged 14.8 points, 3.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals while guiding WSU to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008. He transferred after his head coach, Kyle Smith, left to coach the Stanford Cardinal and remained in a power conference structure.
Following another coaching change, could Rice make his return to the Inland Northwest — this time to play for the team in Spokane?
The Zags are likely in the market for another guard this offseason, knowing that Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman and Khalif Battle exhausted their final years of eligibility. Those three combined to knock down 173 of the team’s 263 made 3-pointers, or about 65.8%, along with the many contributions they made this season on the playmaking and defensive fronts. Rice hasn’t been known for his outside touch in college, though he did improve from 27.5% as a freshman to 32.5% his sophomore season.
Braeden Smith is set to take the reins at the point guard spot, while Emmanuel Innocenti could return for his junior year to bolster the backcourt as well. With Dusty Stromer in the portal, the Bulldogs don’t have much in the way of guard depth for next season outside of Smith and Innocenti. Mark Few will run 3-guard lineups when he and the coaching staff see fit, and with Innocenti’s versatility at 6-foot-5 and Smith’s ability to set the table at the point, Rice would in theory have a spot in an off-ball role that allows him to share touches with Smith.
Gonzaga’s offenses have historically operated at a high level when it’s being run by experienced guards who can both handle the rock and create for themselves. Rice’s one season with Indiana was somewhat of a letdown compared to his freshman year with WSU, but with the right coaching staff, he could get back on course.
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