Harvesting Hope Second Harvest Food Bank believes that everyone deserves dignity and to not go hungry.03
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01.11.24
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On the cover: A group of volunteers sort tomatoes Dec. 1 at Second Harvest food bank in Muncie, Indiana. TRINITY REA, DN
BallStateDailyNews.com Did you miss it? Catch up on the news from Dec. 7-Jan. 10 and take a look at upcoming events...
AP: Trump reelection status to be decided
SUE OGROCKI, AP PHOTO, PHOTO COURTESY
Jan. 9: The Supreme Court of the United States announced Friday, Jan. 5, that it will decide if former President Donald Trump can be kept off of the 2024 presidential ballot. This decision comes after Colorado and Maine Supreme Courts disqualified Trump from their state ballots last month. Deliberations will begin Thursday, Feb. 8.
Ball State hosts UC San Diego
Jan. 11: In their first home
MYA CATALINE, DN
game since defeating Thomas More University Jan. 3, the Cardinals’ men’s volleyball team will face UC San Diego on Jan. 11 with the match starting at 7 p.m. Ball State is coming off of two road losses and will look to find the win column. The Cardinals are 3-2 on the season and will follow up this match against Tusculum University on Jan. 12 and Jan. 13.
VOL. 103 ISSUE: 17 CONTACT THE DN Newsroom: 765-285-8245 Editor: 765-285-8249, editor@bsudailynews.com
The Ball State Daily News (USPS-144-360), the Ball State student newspaper, is published Thursdays during the academic year except for during semester and summer breaks. The Daily News is supported in part by an allocation from the General Fund of the university and is available free to students at various campus locations.
EDITORIAL BOARD Daniel Kehn, Editor-in-chief Kyle Smedley, Print Managing Editor, Co-Sports Editor Olivia Ground, Digital Managing Editor Grayson Joslin, Director of Recruitment Trinity Rea, Associate News Editor Katherine Hill, Associate News Editor Elijah Poe, Co-Sports Editor Zach Carter, Associate Sports Editor Hannah Amos, Lifestyles Editor Ella Howell, Associate Lifestyles Editor and Copy Editor Kate Farr, Opinion Editor Elaine Ulsh, Associate Opinion Editor Jacob Boissy, Video Editor
AP: Earth broke global heat record in 2023 Jan. 9: According to the
European climate agency Copernicus, last year, the Earth was 1.48 degrees Celsius (2.66 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial times, and just under the 1.5 Celcius limit set by the 2015 Paris climate accord. This January is on track to be so warm that 2024 will exceed the new record.
Ball State to play Toledo on the road
Jan. 13: Ball State men’s basketball will travel to face Toledo Jan. 13 as the Cardinals and Rockets meet for the first time this season, with the tip set for 7 p.m. Last year, the Cardinals split the series 1-1 with a 90-83 win at Toledo. Ball State is 8-7 on the season and 0-3 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Rockets are 9-6 and have a conference record of 3-0.
Oakley Myers, Social Media Editor Mya Cataline, Photo Editor Andrew Berger, Associate Photo Editor Meghan Holt, Visual Editor Jessica Bergfors, Visual Editor Brenden Rowan, Visual Editor Lisa Renze-Rhodes, Adviser TO ADVERTISE • (765) 285-8256 or dailynewsads@bsu.edu • Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri. • ballstatedaily.com/advertise TO SUBSCRIBE Call 765-285-8134 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mon. -Fri. Subscription rates: $45 for one year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Daily News, AJ278, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306 JOIN THE DAILY NEWS Stop by room 278 in the Art and Journalism Building. All undergraduate majors accepted and no prior experience is necessary.
CORRECTION
In the graduation edition of the Ball State Daily News, there were repeated pull quotes on pages 12 and 13. In the same issue, the middle left photo on page 22 was incorrectly credited. The photo was taken by Kate Farr. To submit a correction, email editor@bsudailynews.com.
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4-DAY WEATHER
FORECAST Hope Kleitsch, Weather forecaster, Benny Weather Group
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
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THIS WEEK: Frigid arctic air will seep down into east central Indiana, bringing in the coldest air of the season. Monday and Tuesday will be the coldest two days with highs barely making it out of the single digits.
START CHECKING, FROM DAY ONE.
Waking Up with Cardinal Weather is Ball State University’s first and only morning mobile show focused on getting your ready for the day through local news, weather and lifestyle trends. Waking Up with Cardinal Weather airs every Friday morning at 8 a.m. at @cardinalwx live on Facebook.
DNNews For the past 40 years, Second Harvest has been dedicated to helping the hungry in East Central Indiana.
01.11.24
03
Local
Sue Errington announces reelection campaign Sue Errington, State Representative of House District 34, has filed to run for reelection in 2024. Errington has held this seat for the past 12 years and has worked on bills and legislation surrounding women and working families in Indiana. A campaign kickoff will take place in mid-March according to her staff’s press release.
State
Congressman Greg Pence not running for reelection Rep. Greg Pence, R-Ind. District 6, announced Jan. 9 that he is not seeking reelection for a fourth term in 2024. Pence, the older brother of former Vice President Mike Pence, has held the seat since 2018 and joins more than two dozen fellow house members who are not seeking reelection or retiring before the 2024 election.
Campus Second Harvest ‘Mobile Markets’ sit waiting to be driven Dec. 1 at Second Harvest food bank in Muncie, Indiana. The vans travel to rural areas in the community to provide food to those who cannot make it to events. TRINITY REA, DN The initiatives at Second Harvest are also neighboring counties, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana is hoping to simultaneously important to the community as, according to the Trinity Rea feed, educate and better the lives of those they help. organization’s website, 13.6 percent of Delaware Associate News Editor “We at Second Harvest believe that everyone County faces food insecurity. This equates to 15,270 people in Delaware The warehouse-turned-food bank on Old State deserves dignity and deserves to not go hungry,” Road in Muncie, Indiana, has seen a plethora of Robby Tompkins, former director of philanthropy County who each day don’t know where their next different food pallets across the previous four at Second Harvest said. “It’s not just about meal will come from. Tompkins helped run projects aimed at decades, along with an average of 4,000 volunteers throwing food at the problem, it’s working with folks and making sure that we help the person and expanding its role within the Muncie community each year. with hopes that the organization can create a world Every morning at the food bank, volunteers family as a whole.” Tompkins worked at Second Harvest for three- free from the cycles of generational poverty. and staff show up ready to work, either packing To achieve this, Second Harvest focuses on boxes, organizing produce or connecting with and-a-half years, being drawn to the non-profit due to what he described as “lived experience” different locations and demographics within the community members. Together, they dream of doing much more than in food lines. Along with this lived experience, community that make the most impact. Tompkins recognized the work at Second Harvest just eliminating food insecurity. Across Delaware County, and eight other was something special and unique. 4See HARVEST, 04
Ball State secures grant for ‘Cardinals vote!’ campaign Community-Engaged Alliance has awarded Ball State University a grant to support “Cardinals Vote!,” a new partnership between Ball State and the local community, which will be managed by the Center for Economic and Civic Learning on campus. The partnership looks to foster civic engagement and empowers.
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01.11.24
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HARVEST Continued from Page 3
Recently, the non-profit has realized even with continued community efforts, it cannot always reach those who need to be helped. In turn, ‘Mobile Market’ vans were created and designed to drive out and serve more constrained, rural areas. Once these Mobile Markets are set up, and with an upcoming DoorDash partnership, community members within a 10-mile radius of the market will be able to request food directly to their doorstep for free. “To be able to actually reach folks who are now homebound or physically disabled or don’t have a vehicle and can’t come to us, it’s extremely impactful,” Tompkins said. “We’re hearing stories of homeless veterans living out in the woods that are getting food from our initiative that we would never have been able to reach.” Another one of the places the food bank focuses on is local schools, which through the bank’s school initiative, offers numerous different experiences for kids of all ages. One of these experiences is a makeshift food mart that is set up in a participating school. Here, parents and students get to shop together, interacting with school staff who in turn find out what student life is like at home. “It’s inspiring the kids and the parents to have big ideas for their future and what they want to be when they grow up,” Tompkins said. “It’s all about the whole family.” Over the summer, Second Harvest continued work in another of their missions, helping for today, and hope for tomorrow, by creating a community garden. Here, volunteers, community organizations and neighbors came together and learned how to grow their own food. A big portion of volunteers in the garden were a part of TeenWorks, an organization that provides high school students with a six-week summer
We at Second Harvest believe that everyone deserves dignity and deserves to not go hungry,” - ROBBY TOMPKINS, Former Director of Philanthropy at Second Harvest
job. In turn, the skills they learn propel them into their futures, college and beyond. “Teens are so impressionable. When they first walk in, they might have attitudes, but then at the end of the day, they hug me goodbye like they’re never going to see me again,” Tina Clifton, volunteer coordinator at Second Harvest said. Clifton has been with Second Harvest since the beginning of June and has worked closest with operations surrounding teen engagement within the community and with the community garden project. She said the experiences shared with them over the summer are what motivate her to wake up and work each morning. While Clifton attributed her work in the garden to holding some of her favorite memories, she primarily finds herself in the warehouse. Here, she works all day with volunteers from across the county who come together to help their neighbors. “On average, we serve about 10,000 people an event… unfortunately, the need is going up… one in seven people throughout the country are food insecure,” Tompkins said. Unlike the rest of the country, the amount of food-insecure individuals has gone down in recent years in Delaware County. According to the FeedingAmerica website, between 2017 and 2021, the rate of food-insecure people has gone
A volunteer packs a box of food Dec. 1 at Second Harvest food bank in Muncie, Indiana. Second Harvest has around 4,000 volunteeers a year. TRINITY REA, DN down by 2.5 percent. Over the time of this decline, Second Harvest expanded its operations and reached more people than ever. The food bank has been continuously expanding its reach and has brought in people like Clifton to help organize, manage and recruit more volunteers. A lot of these volunteers have been Ball State students, working for their peers, and Muncie locals who need help. “I volunteer about twice a week, and I genuinely do like my time here,” second-year nursing student Emelia Paris said. “It’s simple, and it’s rewarding because I know it’s going to people need it.” Paris admitted that while she initially visited the
food bank for course credit, she has been coming back on her own accord, enjoying the work that is done here. Along with this, each time she’s volunteered, Paris said meeting other students and making lasting connections has felt good. Paris said Ball State students who are interested or would like to help, volunteering at Second Harvest is a great place to start. She attributes this to the laid-back environment which comes with shared recognition that the work they do might be hard, but is important. For those looking to help fight food insecurity with Second Harvest, head to their website and visit the ‘Get Involved’ section. Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity.rea@bsu. edu or on X @thetrinityrea.
“On average, we serve about 10,000 people an event… unfortunately, the need is going up… one in seven people throughout the country are food insecure,” Robby Tompkins, Former Director of Philanthropy at Second Harvest
MEGHAN HOLT AND JESSICA BERGFORS, DN ILLUSTRATION
DNSports
01.11.24
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Track and Field
‘Playing in May’ After falling on their home court in last year’s conference championship, the Cardinals are hopeful for a deep postseason push. 07
Ball State travels to Iowa for its third indoor meet For the first time since Dec. 9, the Cardinals track and field team will be competing Jan. 13 at Iowa’s Hawkeye Invitational. In the Dec. 9 meet, Ball State picked up wins against Bowling Green and Cleveland State in only its second meet of the indoor season. Some teams competing are Northern Illinois, Bradley, Iowa State and more.
Women’s Basketball
Ally Becki wins MAC Player of the Week The junior picked up her second Mid-American Conference (MAC) Player of the Week honors after her start to the conference season. In the two games, Becki is averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 4 steals. In an overtime win against Akron, Becki scored seven of the 11 points in overtime to push Ball State to victory.
Women’s Tennis
Cardinals start their spring season at Purdue
Ball State will start its season against Purdue Jan. 14. In the fall, the Cardinals played in two invitationals and also competed against Michigan State. Ball State is coming off a Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship. The match will start at noon against the Boilermakers.
Ball State men’s volleyball practices for its upcoming game Jan. 10 at Worthen Arena. More than one-third of Ball State’s 2024 roster is new to the program. MYA CATALINE, DN
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01.11.24
DNSports
Ball State looks to continue the success in 2024 after last year’s 20-win season.
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Adam Altobella Reporter unior opposite hitter Aaron Hernandez has been a member of two Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) regular season championship teams during his time in Muncie and even helped the Cardinals reach the NCAA Tournament during his freshman season. However, the last memory of his sophomore year wasn’t one he’d like to remember. More than 3,000 fans filed into Worthen Arena last April for the MIVA tournament championship,between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the hosting Ball State Cardinals. Though the Cardinals captured wins in 14 of their previous 16 home matches, Ohio State rallied before Ball State’s largest crowd of the season to secure the tournament title — ending the Cardinals’ postseason aspirations on their home court. Ball State’s 20-win 2023 campaign concluded in bitter fashion, but last season’s close has not hampered the Cardinals’ outlook this spring. Hernandez, a Fishers, Indiana, native said the standard has not changed. “Our goal is to win the national championship,” Hernandez said. “We have all the pieces that we can put together, and I think we can do it. We believe in ourselves, and we believe in each other.” The Cardinals — who were ranked 11th in the first American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason poll this season — will journey toward playoff success without a trio that was integral to the team’s accomplishments last season: All-MIVA honorees Kaleb Jenness, Felix Egharevba and David Flores. Despite the program’s losses, third-year head coach Donan Cruz underscored his confidence in the players who will be called to fill larger roles in 2024. “Anytime you lose really good players, as a coach, you're always trying to figure out who's gonna step in,” Cruz said. “We've had a lot of time to try to sift through that in the fall, and I feel good.” Cruz identified sophomore setter Griffin Satterfield as a player who is poised for a breakout season, as he takes on the primary setting duties this year. The 6-foot-7 native of Camano Island, Washington, saw action in just two matches in his freshman campaign as he played behind Flores and Jakub Wiercinski — a pair that combined for over 88 percent of the team’s total assists in 2023. After the opening week of the campaign, Satterfield has already eclipsed his playing time
Sophomore setter Griffin Satterfield saves the ball from hitting the floor during a practice Jan. 10 at Worthen Arena. Satterfield has played in two games this season as of Jan. 10. MYA CATALINE, DN
from last season. In his starting debut against Wabash Jan. 2, he recorded a career-best 31 assists and earned the title of “player of the game” from Cruz for his perfomance. Satterfield attributed his confidence to run Ball State’s offense in his first season in the starting rotation to the guidance from upperclassmen. “[Flores] was honestly like a dad figure to me — him and then our other setter, Jakub,” Satterfield said. “Last year was a nice skill-building year. I just looked at them, and they taught me how to do stuff.” Graduate student middle blocker Wil McPhillips said the transition to hitting Satterfield’s sets has been smooth for him and his fellow attackers. “It's good to play with Griff,” McPhillips said. “He's been on the team for a minute now, and it's great for him to get a chance to step up and be that guy because he's been working. It's not been too hard to gel with him.” Cruz and his coaching staff welcomed nine newcomers to the program this season — two transfers and seven freshmen — to help fill the void left by recent departures. With seven of these players seeing action in the Cardinals’ opening matches, Cruz said he has been especially pleased with the early contributions from freshman libero Cameron Gray and sophomore outside hitter Patrick Rogers. Gray appeared in two of the Cardinals’ first three matches, leading Ball State in digs (14) across that span. The 6-foot freshman played outside hitter prior to his arrival in Muncie, but has made a full transition to back row play. “Transitioning to libero has taught me a lot, so trusting [Cruz] and the coaching staff has brought me to where I am now,” Gray said. Rogers made an immediate impact in Ball State’s offense after arriving from St. Francis, Brooklyn, where he averaged 3.84 kills per set last year — which ranked ninth in the nation — and earned Freshman All-American honors from “Off The Block,” a national media outlet covering collegiate men’s volleyball. The 6-foot-7 attacker paced the Cardinals with 10 kills in their win against Thomas More on Jan. 3, and saw action in Ball State’s opener against Wabash. “I really love how Pat Rogers played,” Cruz said of Rogers’ opening week. Although more than one-third of Ball State’s 2024 roster is new to the program, a number of returners look to anchor a Cardinals team that is inexperienced in some areas.
4See VOLLEYBALL, 08
It comes down to playing consistent and keeping our low end as high as we can because we’ve got some high level players. We’ve just got to take care of the simple things, and I think that’ll get us to playing in May like we want to.” - WIL MCPHILLIPS, Graduate student middle blocker
DNSports
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VOLLEYBALL Continued from Page 07
Junior outside hitter Tinaishe Ndavazocheva enters the season as the lone Cardinal to earn Preseason All-MIVA honors after posting one of the top offensive ledgers in the country last season. The 6-foot-6 hitter recorded 3.60 kills per set in 2023 (the 6th-highest mark in the MIVA) at an efficient .328 hitting percentage. In addition to Ndavazocheva, the Cardinals’ front row will benefit from the return of senior opposite Dyer Ball, junior middle blocker Vanis Buckholz and sophomore middle blocker Eyal Rawitz. Ball and Buckholz each earned the most starts of their careers last season and posted the finest statistical marks, as a result. The left-handed Ball earned 154 kills (third best on the team) and 42 total blocks, while Buckholz recorded 143 kills and the nation’s sixth-best mark in blocks per set (1.096). Rawitz was limited to just four matches last season due to injury. The 6-foot-6 blocker displayed potential in his shortened freshman campaign, however, hitting at a .364 clip.
Our goal is to win the national championship. We have all the pieces that we can put together, and I think we can do it. We believe in ourselves, and we believe in each other.” - AARON HERNANDEZ, Junior opposite hitter
Freshman opposite hitter Mateusz Karpow spikes the ball against his teammates during a practice Jan. 10 at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals were ranked 11th in the AVCA preseason poll. MYA
CATALINE, DN
Sophomore opposite Keau Thompson, senior outside attacker Trevor Phillips and McPhillips should also see considerable playing time in the rotation, as they combined for 129 kills in 2023. Cruz said the Cardinals will run a similar offensive system as it has in recent seasons, highlighting his intent to develop a high-tempo attack. The libero position will likely be shared between Gray and senior Lukas Pytlak. Although Pytlak appeared in more sets (102) than any other Cardinal last season and is more experienced, Cruz said both defenders will likely see action in 2024. Cruz cited the program’s strong schedule, which features eight teams ranked in the AVCA poll, as a key to preparing the Cardinals for postseason play. In addition to scheduling matches against ranked opponents, the Cardinals’ lead mentor also highlighted the importance of enduring challenging road trips — like the squad’s trip to BYU over the first weekend of the season. “We’ve got to be prepared to be thrown curveballs all the time,” Cruz said. “In the postseason, you might play on the road, and you’re guaranteed to play on the road in the national championship. So,
for us to be going through the process of waking up early and getting on the road is a good routine for our guys.” With the start of MIVA play looming Feb. 1, Hernandez and McPhillips — two players who have been around some of the most distinguished teams in program history — said the new-look Cardinals will need to find consistency and lean on its chemistry, in order to achieve their goals. “We really just have to stay consistent,” Hernandez said. “With other teams, we've had star players like Quinn Isaacson and Kaleb Jenness. For this team, I feel like we are closer than the past years. So, our unity and how we gel together are gonna propel us a lot further.” McPhillips echoed Hernandez’s insight, adding the phrase “playing in May” is often mentioned by Ball State players and coaches when talkin “It comes down to playing consistent and keeping our low end as high as we can, because we’ve got some high-level players,” McPhillips said. “We’ve just got to take care of the simple things, and I think that'll get us to playing in May like we want to.” Senior middle blocker Rodney Wallace spikes the ball during a practice Jan. 10 at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals won 20 Contact Adam Altobella with comments on X @ matches last season. MYA CATALINE, DN AltobellaAdam or via email at aaltobella@bsu.edu.
DNLife
Lights, Camera, Action
01.11.24
09
Community
4 films that pass the Bechdel Test, and 4 that don’t. 410
Pet nail trims
Muncie Delaware County Senior Citizens Center will host “sit-stayplay” pet grooming four times a year. The first event of the year will be held Jan. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon, and cats in a carrier and dogs on a leash are welcome. Services cost $7 per pet and are free for those 55 and older. The next event at the senior citizens center will be in April.
Community
January vendor event
Local vendors are selling their wares at Downtown Nutrition Muncie, a local smoothie and juice bar. Local businesses, such as Evermore Jewelry, the Chocolate Drizzle, Sweet Potato Designs, Coop’s Creations, Frankly Candle Co. and more will be at the event Jan. 13. The event is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Campus
Artist Talk on campus
Dede Ayite, award-winning costume designer, will be in the Fine Arts Building Recital Hall from 7-8:30 p.m Jan. 18. Ayite has worked on nearly a dozen Broadway productions. The event, put on by the College of Fine Arts and the Arts Alive program, is free and open to the public. The Arts Alive program’s mission is to make art and entertainment accessible to the community and students. BRENDEN ROWAN, DN ILLUSTRATION
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: 3 TIPS AND TRICKS TO START JOURNALING THIS NEW YEAR
DNLife
01.11.24
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The Bechdel Test shines a light on female inclusion in movies. Ella Howell Associate Lifestyles Editor and Copy Editor There are many ways the general public can review the overall reaction of a movie: Rotten Tomatoes, IMBd, news publications, etc. People have also developed tests that can be applied to movies to measure the level of inclusivity. One example of these tests is the Bechdel Test. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the Bechdel Test is “a set of criteria used as a test to evaluate a work of fiction (such as a film) on the basis of its inclusion and representation of female characters.” It was developed by a well-known cartoonist, Alison Bechdel, and has three requirements for a movie to pass. The movie must contain two or more female characters who have a conversation about something other than a man. According to Martha Lauzen, a researcher of female representation in media, 85 percent of movies feature more male characters than females and only seven percent have more females than males. Wes Gehring, a Ball State University professor of film, said the Bechdel Test is important and a start to tackling the problem of female representation in movies. But he also said he thinks the test can be improved. “I think Bechdel is a goal in the film industry, but it has a long way to go,” Gehring said via email. “The test, however, needs to be tweaked. Films that pass and/or filmmakers that might not pass are still wild cards, such as say the “Kill Bill” movies. One has an auteur that initially one might not include, but here you have a strong woman lead.” Because of the various factors and subjectivity that go into a film review, the test is not a flawless method for measuring a movie’s representation of women. In other words, a movie passing the Bechdel Test doesn’t inherently make it a respectful or fair depiction of women. The results don’t necessarily determine a film’s overall quality but rather allows viewers to make a determination of their interest based on its inclusion of active female characters. So, here are four movies that pass the Bechdel Test and four movies that don’t.
Movies that pass the Bechdel Test: Barbie
The Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie, has no problem hitting the first requirement on the Bechdel Test of having two or more female characters. There is also no shortage of women talking to each other about something besides a man in the movie directed by Greta Gerwig. According to the film critic and journalist Peter Travers, “Her movie rides high on a pink cloud of feminist wish fulfillment in which Barbies come in all shapes, sizes and colors.”
Don’t Worry Darling
Movies that don’t pass the Bechdel Test: Back to the Future
The science-fiction movie “Back to the Future’’ came out in the 1980s and has two out of the three criteria for passing. There is more than one female character, and they talk to each other, but their conversation only consists of a discussion about the lead character, Marty McFly.
Ghostbusters (1984)
The movie features four main characters, who are all men, and has few named female characters. Like “Back to the Future,” the movie possesses two of the three requirements to pass the Bechdel Test since the two named women don’t speak, aside from on the phone about the Ghostbusters. While the original doesn’t pass, the 2016 adaptation features four female ghostbusters and passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors.
The 2022 movie featuring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh takes place in the 1950s and features traditional gender roles. According to Manohla Dargis, the chief film critic for The New York Times, her opinion of the film is that “Its targets are amorphous,” and the portrayal of the “prison-house” of the traditional expectations of women was superficial. Shrek So, while the movie passes the Bechdel Test, Dargis’ review The early 2000s animated film has a majority male cast with only demonstrates the subjectivity of the test results. The exceptions and one female who has significant dialogue. Cameron Diaz plays Fiona, outside factors that can impact a movie’s representation of women are but the character doesn’t speak to another woman, so the movie dependent on an individual’s opinion, which varies. featuring the well-known ogre has a one out of three rating for the Bechdel Test.
Frozen
The Disney animated film revolves around two lead female Star Wars characters who are sisters. Besides the fact that there are only three In the 1977 movie that launched a major franchise, “Star Wars: women in the movie, including their mother, the movie passes the Episode IV — A New Hope,” the men outnumber the women by a Bechdel Test. The two sisters talk a few times throughout the movie significant amount. The film checks the first requirement, but barely. about their lives and relationship to each other. Only two women in the entire film have speaking parts in scenes with only men, and few women can be found sprinkled into the background. According to Rebecca Harrison, a lecturer of film at multiple UK How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days While “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” falls under the category of universities with a Ph.D. in film studies, only 15 percent of the initial romantic comedy and revolves around a man and woman, the movie movie of the Star Wars trilogy features a woman on the screen. passes the Bechdel Test. The lead female character, Andie Anderson, is a journalist, and the opening scene of the movie consists of her and While the Bechdel Test can be a good measure of female inclusion a female coworker discussing work, so the movie passes from the in a film on a surface level, there are movies that pass that have get-go. questionable depictions of women, and there are films that don’t pass that can still be great movies. So, it can be useful to consider other things, like movie reviews, in addition to the test when choosing what to watch for the next movie night. Contact Ella Howell with comments at ella.howell@bsu.edu.
87% 7% of movies feature more male characters than females.
of movies feature more female characters than males.
Source: Martha Lauzen, “It’s a Man’s (Celluloid) World”
Source: Martha Lauzen, “It’s a Man’s (Celluloid) World”
BRENDEN ROWAN, DN ILLUSTRATION
DNOpinion 12
01.11.24
The Power of New Year’s Resolutions
New Year’s resolutions can set you off on the right foot if you have a healthy mindset.
MEGHAN HOLT, DN ILLUSTRATION
Trinity Rea
Associate News Editor, “Bury the Hatchet” Trinity Rea is a second-year journalism major and writes “Bury the Hatchet” for The Daily News. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.
I
still remember some of my first New Year’s resolutions. At the dawn of the new year at age 10, I promised to quit eating Cheetos, a silly idea that quickly turned permanent. A few years after that at 14, I vowed not to tie my shoes for a whole year, which proved to be more difficult than I originally thought. And the following year, I decided I needed to lose an unreal amount of weight. The need to lose weight had been nagging me, building up year after year. I felt pressured to adhere to societal expectations of how my body should look. I worked out intensely for a few months until I inevitably burnt myself and my body out. I hated it but could never find a way out of this continuously pressuring mindset, thus creating the resolution and the same destructive cycle every year. Each December, I’d read online about how to create and maintain the best New Year’s resolutions while simultaneously watching different talk shows that ran similar segments about bettering yourself. In reality, the segments only encouraged me to hit the gym, eat less and lose weight. They were usually followed up by where to find the best yearlong gym membership deals. The consistent and harmful messages from these sources fueled my unhealthy mindset and held me to unreal expectations. I grew tired of hating myself, and I wanted to change. But I was stuck. Breaking this mentality took a lot of time and effort. I didn’t even know that one could work out and become physically fit without the goal of shedding weight. As the first New Year’s Eve rolled around where I felt comfortable with myself and my body, I found myself asking: What is a resolution if I am already content with my physique? Recently, the pressure and mindset I used to feel have come not just from television or online content, but I’ve recognized and heard it in recent conversations with peers. Many people I know still surround the topic of resolutions with weight-losscentric ideals and not for actual health reasons. According to a 2023 survey by YouGov, 19 percent of Americans had a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, while 17 percent had a resolution to be happy. Almost a quarter of Americans decided their 2023 resolutions would be based on changing how
they look or their level of overall satisfaction with life. When I would make resolutions to lose weight, I just wanted to be happier. But I was blinded by the impression that there was only one way to do it — endless crunches, fewer calories and home workout routines aimed at shedding pounds. I recognize now the only way I can genuinely be happier is by taking care of myself, both physically and mentally, without an emphasis on changing for the wrong reasons. Taking care of myself does not include reshaping my whole identity or how I look but rather accepting and loving myself for who I really am. Since this realization, my New Year’s resolutions have become more meaningful to me and, honestly, healthier. In 2022, I resolved to journal every day. I had just finished the first semester of my senior year of high school. My friends encouraged me to make more time for myself as graduation approached.
Taking care of myself does not include reshaping my whole identity or how I look but rather accepting and loving myself for who I really am. I took this encouragement as the final push to start taking care of myself for real. I came to recognize that I no longer wanted to suppress anything, and I began to write out all I felt and believed. Along with journaling, I came up with a healthy workout routine — one I have stuck with and built on over the past couple of years. Since I made this resolution two years ago, I have become much more confident in myself and my identity. Most importantly, I feel good. According to Forbes Health, 34 percent of American adults are basing their 2024 resolution on weight loss, while 36 percent want to improve their mental health. These numbers are higher than last year, which is great and showcases a desire for change. However, 62 percent of those surveyed feel pressured to simply create a resolution. I think the stigma surrounding New Year’s resolutions is improperly based on false ideas and societal goals. What matters above all is selfimprovement, and we’re at a point where more people need to recognize that when reviewing their past year.
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RESOLUTIONS Continued from Page 12
For 2024, those who desire to create a resolution need to be more realistic about their self-improvement goals. To do this, we must first recognize that resolutions shouldn’t be viewed as a way to apply pressure or place immense responsibility on oneself. They should benefit you, not drain you to the point where you can’t continue. With this in mind, think of a goal of yours. For example, you could try eating healthier. Instead of this being your overall resolution, break it down into a smaller goal, something realistic and achievable. With this example, that could be as simple as making a healthier choice for dinner just one night each week. Creating a resolution that encourages growth is beneficial, and is easy to obtain is very important. When you create something healthy and achievable, you propel yourself into a new sense of selflove. A resolution can be something so small but, in reality, very fulfilling. Become a parent to a succulent and resolve to keep it alive all year. Journal something short every other night before bed to better your emotional expression. Go outside more and become more aware of the nature around you. Maybe your goal is to just go to bed earlier or to allow yourself to focus on breathing a few times a day. Above all, you should feel good about yourself, successful and, hopefully, proud too with the help of these self-set resolutions. This year, my New Year’s resolution is to step out of my comfort zone and try something each month I have never done before. I’m not going to jump out of a plane, but I will be attempting to be more open with others, try therapy and write different pieces that I have not done before. 2024 should be the year we should all try to take care of ourselves. A healthy and beneficial New Year’s resolution is a great place to start. Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity.rea@ bsu.edu or on X @thetrinityrea.
2024
UNITY WEEK Monday, January 15:
MLK Breakfast: 9:30-11:00 a.m. at Cardinal Halls at Student Center MLK March: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
starting at Student Center
Tuesday, January 16:
Disability Presentation: 2:00 p.m.
at Student Center Forum Room
MLK Speaker Featuring Ben Tapper: 7:00 p.m. at Pruis Hall
Wednesday, January 17: Spectrum Queer Monologues: 7:00 p.m. at Pruis Hall
Unity Week 2024 marks the 44th annual Unity Week celebration at Ball State University. Saturday, January 20: Beneficence Leadership Conference: 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at
Student
Thursday, January 18: Housing and Residence Life Service Event: 1:00-4:00 p.m. at
Residence Halls
Asian Student Union Sushi Night: 5:00 p.m. at the Multicultural
All Are Welcome at Late Night: 8:00 p.m.-Midnight at Student Center
Sunday, January 21:
Black Student Association Unity Pageant: 7:00 p.m. at Pruis Hall
Center
SCP Open Mic Night: 8:00 p.m. at Noyer
Friday, January 19:
Latinxpalooza: 6:00 p.m. at Student Center Ballroom
Unity Week Movie (Back to Natural): 9:00 p.m. at Pruis Hall
MEGHAN HOLT, DN ILLUSTRATION
Students and guests attend the Beneficence Leadership Conference Jan. 21, 2023 at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center. Samantha Ramirez-Herrera presented as the keynote speaker for the event. OLIVIA GROUND, DN
Several Ball State students participate in a march in honor of Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy and racial equality Jan. 16, 2023 on Ball State’s campus. ZACH GONZALEZ, DN
Dancers from Folklorico perform during the Latinxpalooza event Jan. 20, 2023 at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center. Folkorico had six dancers that performed at the Latinxpalooza event. MYA CATALINE, DN
15
Crossword & Sudoku
ACROSS 1 Mediterranean isle for which a style of pants is named 6 Periodic table’s Pb 10 Female lobsters 14 Butcher’s garment 15 Killer whale 16 Lobster catcher 17 Takes hold 18 *Bureaucratic obstacle to environmental projects 20 Portuguese greeting 21 “Call Me by Your Name” name 23 Declined, with “out” 24 *Extreme winter-weather event 28 Before, in verse 29 Dolly Parton hit 33 Nonpoetic writing 36 Phobia 38 Daffy or Bugs 40 *Nickname for a Mozart work in C major 43 Pit 44 Tons 45 Lather, __, repeat 46 Aspirations 48 PC alternative 49 *Writer of the 2023 legal thriller “The Exchange” 55 Tyler of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” 59 Cereal grain
60 Prefix with tourism 61 Protection of intellectual property, and what the answer to each starred clue literally has 64 Boise’s state 66 Couple of magazines? 67 Mayberry boy 68 When the sun rises in the west 69 Dishwashing brand used to clean animals after oil spills 70 D.C. MLB team 71 Honking birds DOWN 1 Chocolate substitute 2 Speed skater Ohno 3 Many a charity tournament 4 Go bad 5 Behind closed doors 6 Puzzle solver’s skill 7 Former “CNN Newsroom” anchor Barnett 8 Blackjack card 9 Actor Daniel __ Kim 10 URL intro 11 Q.E.D. part 12 Travel pillow spot 13 Raced 19 Fielding of “The Great British Bake Off” 22 Caustic chemical 25 Next to
26 “Love Train” group, with “The” 27 Convention 30 Law school course 31 Midday 32 Geological spans 33 Comfy attire that’s rarely worn out? 34 Regretted 35 Abbr. on old phones 36 Future soph 37 Contractor’s fig. 39 “Science Guy” Bill 41 Red “Sesame Street” resident 42 Lauding 47 Somewhat open 48 “Rocky III” actor with a mohawk 50 Like three Justin Verlander games 51 Stadium entries 52 Throw 53 __ and pains 54 Boxing legend Archie 55 Caustic chemical 56 Little bit 57 Gush 58 Church song 62 Charged particle 63 Transcript fig. 65 Dead end?
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