INHERITING THE
MESS
Mounting concerns about climate change have led to eco-anxiety for younger generations. 06
MEGHAN HOLT, DN ILLUSTRATION
11.09.2023
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11.09.23
02
Letter to the Editor Find us on BallStateDailyNews.com
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Protestors listen as one of their members gives a speech calling for the freedom of Palestine at a peace vigil Nov. 1 at Beneficence Statue. ANDREW BERGER, DN Editor’s Note: The Daily News publishes Letters to the Editor with minimal copy edits. The views expressed in letters do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper. We reserve the right to withhold submitted letters depending on the content. Ayah Eid is a second-year graduate student in the Emerging Media Design and Development program. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily News. I am writing to express my profound dismay in response to a recent email sent by Charlene Alexander, chief strategy officer of Ball State University. In her email, she extended an invitation to students to partake in a peace vigil. My concern does not stem from the vigil itself, but rather from the email’s harmful rhetoric and omissions. To state that Hamas invaded Israel and killed hundreds of innocent civilians,
including children and then as an afterthought passively discussing the lives lost in Palestine, and calling it an inevitability, shows disregard for a certain section of people, my people. Furthermore, the email’s portrayal of the situation beginning Oct. 7 ignores the 75 years of suffering endured by Palestinians at the hands of Israel. Credible organizations such as Amnesty International, the United Nations and Human Rights Watch have highlighted longstanding issues of colonization and human rights abuses, leading them to declare it an apartheid. Israel’s control over essential resources in Palestine and well-documented cases of human rights violations cannot be swept under the rug. For 75 long years, the Palestinian people have lived in perpetual uncertainty. The injustices they face predate the creation of Hamas, and the attacks on Palestinians are
VOL. 103 ISSUE: X CONTACT THE DN Newsroom: 765-285-8245 Editor: 765-285-8249, editor@bsudailynews.com
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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 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 Brisa Porter, Associate Video Editor
not confined to the Gaza Strip where Hamas is located. Regrettably, we rarely witness peace vigils or international attention for Palestine when Israel commits actions that are widely condemned as war crimes. The message from Ball State University aligns with a narrative that devalues the humanity of Palestinians, and this narrative has dire real-world consequences. Recently, a heartbreaking incident occurred when six-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume was tragically stabbed to death by his landlord. He will never have the opportunity to grow, and his parents will never have the chance to hold their son again. It’s time for us to choose the right side of history and recognize the suffering of the people in Palestine. Their punishment is a grave injustice that requires our collective attention. — Ayah Eid Graduate Student
Emma Plank, Associate Social Media Editor Mya Cataline, Photo Editor Andrew Berger, Associate Photo Editor Meghan Holt, Visual Editor Jessica Bergfors, 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
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THIS WEEK: Much cooler temperatures into the start of next week, though conditions will start to dry out. Temperatures will start to warm up into the mid-60s by the middle of the week, however, this is still a touch below normal.
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DNNews
A new perspective For some, volunteering is more than just a way to help others, it’s a way to help themselves.
11.09.23
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State
AP: Hoggsett wins third term as mayor Indianapolis Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett cruised to a third term in office after an expensive race against Republican Jefferson Shreve, who had a significant fundraising advantage. Hogsett took 59.51 percent of the votes while Shreve, a businessman and former city-county councilman, received 40.49 percent of votes, according to the Associated Press.
Campus
Two students arrested in firearm incident The incident occurred inside Baker Hall in Noyer Complex, resulting in a non-life-threatening, self-inflicted injury for one of the students, UPD announced Wednesday. UPD found the suspected firearm and a secondary firearm in a residence hall room in Woodworth Complex. UPD sent out a public safety advisory on Wednesday, two days after the incident.
National
AP: Ohio voters protect abortion
Lory Nunn (left), Kelly Vannetter (center) and Charlotte McKnight (right) pose for a photo Oct. 31 at Muncie Mission headquarters in Muncie, Indiana. The three women all credit volunteering to saving their lives in one way or another. KYLE SMEDLEY, DN
Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday to ensure access to abortion and other forms of reproductive health care, according to the Associated Press. Ohio is the seventh state where voters decided to protect abortion access and was the only state to consider a statewide abortion rights vote this year.
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: REACTIONS TO DELAWARE COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS
DNNews
11.09.23
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After turning to volunteering following the death of three loved ones, Charlotte McKnight said her life changed. Kyle Smedley Print Managing Editor and Co-Sports Editor Before those who walk into the Muncie Mission’s pantry see a pink, green, orange or yellow number lying on sign-up sheets on a plastic foldable table, they see Charlotte McKnight’s blue eyes behind thin-rimmed, silver glasses. With sunlight shining through stained glass windows, providing the pantry with natural light, McKnight – usually wearing a Muncie Mission top, jeans and slip-on shoes – greets each customer by name, something she said is important to learn in order to build a unique connection with each client. While they sit and wait to receive their food, either donated to the Mission by local churches/ organizations or bought by the Mission’s staff, McKnight sits next to each person and treats them as if they were her neighbors. She said volunteering gives her, and those she works closely with, a sense of belonging. “Some people just have a light inside them that shines and Charlotte’s is one that shines real bright,” Kelly Vannatter said. Lory Nunn, family service director at Muncie Mission, called McKnight’s passion for her faith and for volunteering “contagious.” “I would not want to be here if she wasn’t here,” Nunn said. After retiring from 36 years of nursing at Ball Memorial Hospital, McKnight started volunteering
Charlotte McKnight, a volunteer for Muncie Mission, goes through sign-in sheets Oct. 31 at the Mission’s food pantry in Muncie, Indiana. McKnight began volunteering at the Mission following the death of three loved ones in 2016. KYLE SMEDLEY, DN
“I understand what it’s like to not know where your next meal is coming from. I know what it’s like to have people that are supposed to love you hurt you more than a stranger.” - KELLY VANNETTER, Volunteer at Muncie Mission at the Mission’s Attic Window thrift store. However, once her parents and husband became terminally ill, she had to give up volunteering so she could help take care of them before all three of their deaths came within three weeks of each other. McKnight spent more time in a funeral home over the course of those three weeks than she ever did in her previous 69 years of life. And yet, she doesn’t remember what the rooms around Meeks Mortuary looked like. She doesn’t remember what colors the walls were, how bright the lights were or what furniture and decor inhabited each room. She doesn’t remember the atmosphere, the temperature or the smell in the building. McKnight said it was just a fog. “The funeral people said, ‘Are you here again?’” McKnight said. “When you get to know the mortician on a personal basis, you’ve known them too long.” Even though she had been a Christian her entire life – she first met her husband when she was a 4-year-old at church – McKnight was entirely confused by the timing of the losses of the three most important people in her life. “I questioned Him for a while,” McKnight said. “I tried to bargain with God and said, ‘If you’ll just let my husband come back, I promise I will take care of him forever. I won’t complain. I’ll do everything I need to do.’ Of course, that was a silly thought; he wasn’t coming back. But you have those thoughts, and you just don’t want to let them go.” Her husband, Darrell, suffered from melanoma, affecting his brain and bones so much so that his normal 180-pound frame fell below 100. “He just gradually wasted away, I don’t know how else to say it,” McKnight said. McKnight said Darrell was active for the majority of his life prior to his diagnosis, often going for long runs or walks as he got older. She still remembers the last walk they took together on a late February morning. “I didn’t think I was going to get him home,” McKnight said. “I had to hold him up by the belt of
Charlotte McKnight, a consistent volunteer with Muncie Mission, grabs canned goods for families Oct. 31 at the Muncie Mission food pantry in Muncie, Indiana. McKnight has been volunteering in her current capacity since 2016. KYLE SMEDLEY, DN his pants to keep him from falling.” The next day, he fell out of bed trying to start his day. McKnight made sure a hospital bed was then sent to their house to try and make things easier. She and Darrell were married nearly 50 years before his death. Her mother, Doris Shock, suffered from dementia. While her father was in a hospital leading up to his death, Doris and Darrell were being taken care of by McKnight from the comfort of Charlotte’s own home. Eventually, she said she couldn’t handle taking care of both of them at the same time, moving her mother to Morrison Woods nursing home about a month before her death. “My mother was so confused, she didn’t really know me,” McKnight said. “She called me her friend, but she didn’t remember what a daughter was and she didn’t know my name. “She didn’t remember how to go to the bathroom. She didn’t remember how to put her clothes on or comb her hair.” Eventually, her mother developed congestive heart failure and died soon after. Darrell died April 2, 2016; Doris died April 4, 2016. Two weeks prior, her father, Derald Shock, died after failing to recover from a bad fall he took in his home. “They were wonderful people,” McKnight said. “I still miss them; It’s been seven years.” Shortly after their deaths, Muncie Mission staff reached out to McKnight to share their condolences and ask if she would want to return to volunteering. “I knew right then that that was my call to come back,” McKnight said. “If the Mission never called me back, I don’t know where I would be. It has saved my life.” Soon after, she began working with the Mission’s
family services department, mostly with its food pantry. McKnight said she feels like caregiving and helping those in need is her calling, something instilled in her from a young age when her mother worked at a mental hospital in New Castle, Indiana, when McKnight was a child.
Numbered papers signify spots for the at-risk community to be served by Muncie Mission’s food pantry Oct. 31 in Muncie, Indiana. Each guest must tell volunteers how much food they need for their household. KYLE SMEDLEY, DN
05 She said volunteering fills the void in her life that was left when her husband and parents died. While she has children and grandchildren, they live either out of state or multiple hours away, so not even they can fill that space like those she helps while volunteering. In addition to her work at the Mission, McKnight also helps volunteer with Muncie Southside’s Panther Pantry, an after-school food program that sends over 140 backpacks filled with food and supplies home with middle school students per week. Vannatter, who helps in the free clothing room at the Mission, said when a volunteer has gone through struggles of their own like McKnight has, they can better relate to and better help serve those at risk, forging a bond unlike any other. “It can be hard for us emotionally to bear that, having those bandages ripped off all the time,” Vannetter said. “But without exposing that injury, you’re not going to connect with them.”
If the Mission never called me back, I don’t know where I would be. It has saved my life.” - CHARLOTTE MCKNIGHT, Volunteer at Muncie Mission Vannetter said she sees McKnight’s efforts to build relationships with every person she comes into contact with as a volunteer. In a sense, Vannetter said McKnight becomes a member of their family, someone they may not have in their life. Although Vannetter and Nunn often have to meet with clients in a small office with shelves crammed with materials and supplies, behind a desk cluttered with papers, pens, desktop computers, a candy bowl and more, Vannetter reminds herself to be as vulnerable as possible during these interactions. To be for her clients who she needed by her side during her own times of struggle. Vannetter experienced various different kinds of abuse throughout her early life, including a 15year marriage to an alcoholic. She became a teen
mom and was outcast by her former church after getting pregnant as a 16-year-old. Vannetter said she struggled to make enough money to provide for her household, facing potential homelessness. “I understand what it’s like to not know where your next meal is coming from,” Vannetter said. “I know what it’s like to have people that are supposed to love you hurt you more than a stranger.” When Vannetter was a child, going through abuse at home, she resorted to the church as a refuge. She was the only person in her family who attended, calling it a place of escape, and a place where she found acceptance before eventually being shunned. Years later, she visited a school giveaway event hosted by a church and listened to those in attendance give testimony as to how God pulled them out of struggles. She felt an urge to share her story, too, and her faith was rekindled. “I would rather believe in it and be wrong than to not believe in it and be wrong,” Vannetter said. “Life doesn’t happen the way that mine has happened without divine intervention there. “You don’t have to be a Christian or a faithbased person to be a good human being. It’s just common, human decency. You start there, and every day it’ll grow until you become a beacon of light without even knowing it.” While Vannetter turned away from faith for a period of her life, McKnight said although she questioned God’s timing when the three most meaningful people in her life all died in less than a month, she never thought about giving up her Christianity. In fact, she said her faith has grown more in the last seven years than ever before. “God became my companion,” McKnight said. “I still get down, don’t get me wrong, but I know who I can talk to.” McKnight even leads a bible study at Cardinal Care nursing home, continuing to serve the elderly, like her late parents. Nunn, sporting gold earrings in the shape of a heart with the word “faith” inscribed, said her belief in God has “kept her going” during the darkest periods of her life. Like Vannetter, Nunn went through abusive relationships in previous stages of her life. Additionally, she’s struggled with various health issues such as a battle with breast cancer; one she eventually won. While Vannetter said she has been volunteering in her current capacity for 15 years, Nunn has been doing so for over 20. Nunn recognized the struggles of trying to be the best resource for her clients at the Mission while also battling her own trials.
11.09.23
DNNews
A member of the Muncie community sits with numerous bags of food provided by the Muncie Mission food pantry Oct. 31 in Muncie, Indiana. Muncie Mission provides 20 families at least twice a week with food for their households, free of charge. KYLE SMEDLEY, DN
She said her oldest child, Tamika Young, is going through breast cancer right now, but those she helps as a volunteer help her get through each day with a smile. Aside from her faith and her coworkers, Nunn said the volunteers she helps are her biggest source of support. “There have been times that it got so overwhelming that I threw up my hands and said, ‘I can’t do this anymore,’” Nunn said. “Then I think about Paul or Bill or Alice or somebody that’s come into my office and shared with me. That keeps me going.” Tears streamed down Vannetter’s face when she said volunteer work saved her life, too. Vannetter also experienced depression, but her’s went one step further, developing suicidal thoughts once she was given a discouraging diagnosis by a doctor. The doctor told her she had degenerative disc disease, spinal deterioration disorder and fibromyalgia. In simple terms, Vannetter said the doctor told her these conditions were creating so much nerve damage in her back that it makes simple tasks painstaking. In the years since, she has had over 20 surgeries, including some to remove organs. None of these conditions are curable, and doctors told her the most they could do was make the pain
manageable. Following the diagnosis, Vannetter spent the next three months in her bed, rarely even feeling motivated to shower. “I felt completely useless. I had no purpose left,” Vannetter said. “I thought about suicide all the time.” Vannetter feels like God called her to volunteer during her lowest points to save her, rather than to save those she would be helping. She began to shift her focus from the list of physical restrictions she had to follow to the things that she was still able to do. Vannetter realized she had to keep fighting for her life because there were at-risk members of the Mission who depended on her to turn their lives around. “If I was not in a position to help people every day, I don’t think I would be here,” Vannetter said. While the volunteers are enthusiastic about helping others and speak highly of the support the Mission receives, McKnight recognized they are always looking for more support. When she walked down to the basement of the Mission’s headquarters, milk crates, storage bins and shopping carts that are normally filled with food to give away sat empty.
91,153 meals
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were served to residents of the Mission and other community guests in 2022.
JESSICA BERGFORS, DN DESIGN Source: Leigh Edwards Muncie Mission
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As Generation Z reaches adulthood, many are faced with mounting anxiety linked to the climate crisis. Kate Farr Opinion Editor Brooke Bailey, a third-year architecture major with a minor in sustainability at Ball State University, said she and many of her peers feel the burden of responsibility attributed to climate change. Even when it comes to the “little things” like picking up trash littered on campus or trying to find the closest recycling spot, she and other members of Generation Z feel like they’re the last resort. Bailey remembers when she first became conscious of the climate crisis at hand. In the third grade, she recollects lecturers handing out pencil sharpeners that looked like recycling bins. When she got her first iPod Touch in middle school, she was exposed to news and activism on social media platforms.
Oh, we made our beds and now we have to lie in them’ … it’s younger generations that have to lie in those beds when it comes to climate change.” - NOELLE QUIROGA, Second-year biology student
She remembered feeling “helpless about the environmental issues.” “I keep having to remind myself that I cannot single-handedly save our environment, so I resort to posting on social media to spread the word, verbally educate people when the opportunity arises and apply environmentally friendly designs to my own ideas in my architecture studio,” Bailey said.
Climate change concerns in young people Out of 10,000 young people (16-25 years old) surveyed in 10 countries across the world, many of them were worried about climate change. MEGHAN HOLT, DN DESIGN Source: Lancet.
According to an article published by Nature Mental Health, spikes in anxiety and depression reported in all communities, particularly young people, have been linked to threats posed by the climate crisis. In September 2022, Hurricane Ian leveled restaurants and knickknack shops along the coast of Fort Myers Beach, Florida. According to Maui County officials, Maui wildfires caused nearly $5.5 billion in damages in August 2023. Indiana experienced record temperatures every month during the summer of 2022. According to the Indiana Labor Insider, humidity and temperatures reached up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. But those numbers were topped in the summer of 2023. June, July and August combined were 0.41 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than any other summer, and 2.1 F warmer than the average summer between 1951 and 1980. This August alone was 2.2 F warmer than summer averages previously recorded, according to NASA. The heat wave resulted in wildfires in Canada and flooding in Europe and Asia, among other catastrophes. Along with the high-pressure heat dome and the consequences that followed, a February train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, caused hazardous waste to permeate water sources and affect air quality. The derailment even led to concerns of the toxic chemicals affecting Indiana residents situated near the Ohio River. The Environmental Protection Agency provided information on the recovery and cleanup efforts, such as air and water safety monitoring, but it’s still unknown if and when the area will return to normal. “It does affect my mental health,” Bailey said. “I believe the government needs to fully step in and take hold of these issues and their sources. More policies need to be implemented, even in architecture … Climate anxiety fuels a lot of my work as an architect.” A 2021 study points to natural disasters, like heat waves, paired with mounting media coverage causing mental distress in younger generations. “Eco-anxiety” — a relatively new term for the mental distress caused by events of climate change — has become a budding phenomenon.
Third-year architecture major Brooke Bailey poses for a photo Nov. 7 at Christy Woods. MYA CATALINE, DN
‘Inherit the mess’ Regarding challenges placed on younger people in terms of climate change, Robert Koester said younger generations “absolutely are” affected more heavily than his own. Koester, a professor of architecture at Ball State, incorporates his passion for design and sustainability in his teaching. For him, architecture and architectural sustainability work hand-inhand. Outside the classroom, Koester speaks out about climate change — even when it’s affecting a generation outside of his own. “It’s more than falling into the trap of single-line clichés like ‘We need to recycle more,’” Koester said. “We need to talk about it, focusing on varying scales of intervention.” Koester serves as the founding chair of Ball State’s Council on the Environment, which promotes the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of ecological systems that conserve life on campus and in the Muncie community. But his sights are set beyond the campus and the state of Indiana. “Future thinking means envisioning desirable and possible futures,” Koester said. “We are part of nature’s systems. We need to strive for whole system effectiveness.”
59% 83% Respondants who reported being very or extremely worried about climate change. 84% of respondants reported being moderately worried about climate change.
Respondants who believe people have failed to take care of the planet. 75% of respondants reported that they believe the future is frightening.
In 2012, Koester developed a methodology many United States universities use to reduce carbon emissions and promote campus-wide energy conservation. His work is now embodied as the Second Nature Carbon Credit Purchasing Program, funded by the Chevrolet Climate Reduction Initiative. The program allows universities to accelerate their progress toward campus carbon neutrality. “Climate change thwarts our very existence,” Koester said. “Younger generations will inherit the mess we are in.” The Committee on Energy and Commerce in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a bill — H.Res.975 — in March 2022 that expressed the mental health impacts of climaterelated disasters on America’s youth. The bill referenced reports from the American Psychological Association and ecoAmerica about increasing rates of emotional strain connected to natural disasters, displacement caused by weather and stigmas surrounding mental health. The committee met again that June to discuss improvements to Medicare’s Mental Health Access Act, suicide prevention guidelines, and crisis care for high anxiety and stress related to climate catastrophes, according to the committee’s website.
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ANGRY HELPLESS SAD POWERLESS ANXIOUS GUILTY Over 50% of respondants reported feeling these emotions about climate change.
DNSports
11.09.23
07
Cross Country
Ball State heads to NCAA Great Lakes Regional After their 10th place performance in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships, Ball State cross country will travel to Madison, Wisconsin, for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Nov. 10. Sophomore Carly Spletzer led the Cardinals in the MAC Championship and placed 26th overall during the event. The regional race will begin at 12:30 p.m.
Women Volleyball
Taking
Stock
How Tyler Stockton went from Wall Street to a football field. 08
Assistant head coach Tyler Stockton poses for a photo Nov. 3 at Scheumann Stadium. Stockton was named assistant head coach in the summer of 2022. MYA CATALINE, DN
Cardinals finish their regular season against NIU After dropping two games to Western Michigan last weekend, Ball State will host Northern Illinois Nov. 10-11 as the Cardinals’ last home games of the season. Ball State sits second in the MAC West heading into the games. Both games are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Saturday’s contest will honor seniors with a senior day.
Men’s Basketball
Ball State vs. Old Dominion in the MACSBC Challenge As a part of the MAC and Sun Belt Conference (SBC) Challenge, Ball State will host Old Dominion Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. The Cardinals kicked off their season with a 101-40 win against Goshen. Junior forward Basheer Jihad led Ball State with 21 points in the 61-point win. Old Dominion will be the first Division-I opponent of the season.
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: BALL STATE FOOTBALL WINS 20-17 OVER NORTHERN ILLINOIS
DNSports
11.09.23
08 Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach Tyler Stockton looks on from the sidelines against Western Michigan Sept. 30 at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Cardinals surrendered 42 points – their third most this season – in the loss. DANIEL KEHN, DN
How Tyler Stockton climbed the coaching ladder. Elijah Poe Co-sports editor It was June, and Tyler Stockton was in his final year at the University of Notre Dame. Tyler sat in his corporate finance class pursuing success in the shadow of the Golden Dome. He had aspirations of working on Wall Street and was set up for his future. While playing football for the Fighting Irish, Tyler knew he was not going to play football after his college career. In the summers, Tyler went to Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs to do a two-week job shadow. “I thought that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It was all set up for me to do that after getting my MBA,” Stockton said. Tyler listened to other’s experiences on Wall Street. After listening to their stories, he thought to himself, “I do not want to do this.” The next day, Tyler knew his degree was important for his life, but the thing he wanted most was to coach football. While being a leader on the team, Tyler expected to walk on as a Graduate Assistant (GA) right away, but his world of college football was shaken up after his defensive coaches went their separate ways with new job opportunities. Tyler thought he might not even be able to coach, thinking stepping up as a GA at Notre Dame was his only option. He thought it was over, ready to walk back to Wall Street. “Right after the Pinstripe Bowl [in 2013], the next day I was about to send out an email to every person I met on Wall Street, asking for a job,” Tyler said. With his alarm set early – to fool executives into thinking he was up and working hard – he was ready to send the email and go back to bed. But he never sent the email. Hours later, head coach Bob Diaco was calling Tyler, asking him if he would like to be a GA at UConn. “I thought about it for 30 seconds after our conversation and said that I wanted to,” he said.
“I have always felt I have to outwork people.” Before becoming the assistant head coach for Ball State, Tyler said his football journey started at a young age. He said it all started with his father, Lyndon, his biggest mentor. Tyler said his dad was able to make him understand what it would take to achieve his goals. He said Lyndon was the hardest-working man he has ever met, a trait ingrained in him.
Nothing was going to be given to me, and I had to work harder than anyone else to achieve what I wanted to achieve.” - TYLER STOCKTON Assistant head coach
Lyndon said he remembers a conversation he had with Tyler while driving; Something he remembers being so profound for a fourth grader to say to him. “‘Dad, you won’t have to pay for college. I am gonna get a scholarship,’” Tyler said to Lyndon. Working to fulfill his promise, Tyler was a “film junkie” at an early age, always breaking down film at his school - The Hun School of Princeton. “The coaches would come up to me and say, ‘One day we are going to be working for Tyler because he breaks down film and studies the game as if he is a head coach,’” Lyndon said.
Tyler said people were bigger, taller and faster than him in high school, but this never mattered to him. “I was an undersized defensive lineman with a chip on my shoulder; that is kind of how I see myself as a coach now,” Tyler said. “I kind of feel underrated all the time and know I have to outwork people.” With his work, Tyler developed into a four-star recruit, the No. 1 player in New Jersey, the 10thranked defensive tackle in the country and the 100th-ranked player in the nation during his time in high school, according to 247Sports. Fulfilling his promise to his father all those years ago, Stockton committed to the University of Notre Dame. “When I got my Notre Dame offer, my dad cried,” Tyler said. “He was bawling his eyes out, and I already knew where I was going after that based on his reaction.” Lyndon said he had always been a Notre Dame fan, so when his son got the offer, he was very emotional. “It was one of those moments where out of all the offers he received, that particular offer was just different,” Lyndon said. Lyndon said with the decision to attend Notre Dame, Tyler was able to pursue a great education and have options set up for him after graduation. “I have always told people that every father should have a son like Tyler,” Lyndon said. “He is disciplined, a hard worker, passionate and nobody is ever going to outwork him.” Starting his collegiate career, he found himself only focusing on football, letting his GPA slip. During a defensive meeting, Diaco read off a list of names who would leave the meeting and not
come back until their grades were up; Tyler was on the list. The discipline and help from Diaco, in Tyler’s eyes, got him two degrees from Notre Dame: An undergrad in marketing and his MBA in corporate finance. “If it wasn’t for him showing an interest in me outside of football, I don’t think I would have ever thought about doing that or taking that as seriously as I needed to,” Tyler said. As he got older, Tyler said he realized how valuable the education side of college truly was. A short time after getting his education, Tyler was reunited with Diaco.
Answering the call When deciding to pick up Tyler as a GA, Diaco said it was a “very easy choice.” He described Tyler as tough, hard-working, gritty and smart. Tyler said from the outside it may look cool to be a coach and make money, but at the end of the day, he got into the profession to change people’s lives, much like Diaco did for him. “I learned at UConn that it is bigger than football, it is about impacting people’s lives,” he said. One thing is clear about Tyler’s mentality as a coach. It can be off or on the field but for him, it all starts with one thing: Love.
09 “I want to show the guys how much I care about them,” Tyler said. “I feel if I show them how much I care about them, then they will feel the same way.” He knows sometimes it will have to be tough love. Tyler said if someone wants to achieve something, it is his job to hold them to a higher standard and push them to be the best they can be. After his time at UConn, Tyler spent 2016-18 at Western Illinois. By 2018, he worked himself up to a defensive coordinator position. As he climbed the coaching ladder, Tyler wanted to make sure not to disappoint those who gave him the opportunity.
thinks there is no other coach in the nation who has the same intensity as him. “You can tell he loves the game,” Newson said. “His love for the game is different. I have never been around a coach that has cared about the game and his players like he has.” While working at Ball State, Tyler was named to ESPN’s 45 minority coaches under the age of 45 in the summer of 2022 and was also chosen to the American Coaches Football Association (AFCA) 35 under 35 list in 2021. When it comes to those awards, he said he has only gotten them because of the great work his players put on the field.
Coaching on the Big Stage When the Ball State job came calling, he knew he wanted to be there. Tyler said he wanted to coach in Division 1 since he left Notre Dame. Redshirt senior linebacker Cole Pearce has seen Tyler throughout his entire time at Ball State. I know some people think it is As a walk-on one year prior to Tyler joining the program, Pearce said he was focused on trying to about winning and losing, but adjust to life as a student-athlete in college. He said Tyler has already won. I am Tyler made an impact right away for the Cardinals. happy because he is happy “He is always showing he cares, has been doing what he is doing.” genuine, loving and passionate about being a football coach,” Pearce said. - LYNDON STOCKTON When looking to hire Tyler, head coach Mike Neu Tyler’s Father said he was looking to improve the run defense. With Tyler not being that far removed from his playing days, Neu still sees the fire and work ethic “When it is all said and done, hopefully, they Tyler brings to the table every single day. “We see the effort he attacks every day with. He can look back on me and say that I changed their life,” Tyler said. has got a lot of passion and energy,” Neu said. As a mentor, Newson said Tyler has always Although his first thoughts were that Tyler was pushed him to be “the best me.” He said Tyler always crazy, junior linebacker Keionté Newson said he expects the team to be at their best at all times. “I love coach Stockton to death,” Newson said. Pearce said with Tyler’s ability to be a genuine coach, he can give that mentorship/father figure role to help players out in situations for the better. Even though he is past his playing years, Tyler can still be seen with pads on during practice, encouraging the players to hit him. “When we played Army, he put on an Army
Connecticut Graduate Assistant Coach
2018
Western Illinois Defensive Coordinator/ Outside Linebackers Coach
2016-17
Western Illinois Defensive Line Coach/ Run Game Coordinator BRENDEN ROWAN, DN ILLUSTRATION
DNSports
helmet and was running around at times randomly during practice trying to cut guys,” Newson said. “I was like ‘Man I hope he doesn’t run past me.’ He would call your name out before hitting, and if you were not expecting it he would get you. He most definitely ran a couple of players over.” With Tyler putting on pads from time to time during practice, Neu said he can see the little kid in him during those moments. “The one thing I love the most is when we do a Fast Friday, the last thing we do on the practice field is an onside kick and work on hands; Well, he is the kicker,” Neu said. “He comes in at four o’clock in the morning and practices his kicks to make sure that they are on point for that day.” While Tyler has climbed the coaching ladder at Ball State, Neu said it’s been great to watch Tyler move up over the years. “It is what you hope to see [in coaching], to empower guys and give them a chance to run their room and side of the ball,” Neu said. “In his Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach Tyler particular case, he has really done a great job. Stockton talks to the defensive unit on the sidelines against Georgia Southern Sept. 23 at Scheumann Stadium. The Ball State defense gave up 40 points in the loss while only The man off the field scoring three points. DANIEL KEHN, DN “Nothing was going to be given to me, and I had to work harder than anyone else to achieve what I “No ceiling,” Diaco said. “He’s got the energy, wanted to achieve,” Tyler said. In a life dominated by football, Tyler focuses as he’s got the work ethic, he’s got the humility [and] much on the field as he does off it. Helping with he’s got the brainpower to ascend in this profession the well-being of his players, his wife or his child, as high as he possibly wants to go.” The game of football is more than just Tyler’s passion. Lyndon said. “I just love it. I love everything that goes into the “I could have done this interview when he was growing up and my answers would have been the game of football,” Tyler said. “It means everything same,” Lyndon said. “I saw it at an early age where to me. Every step of my life is because of football. his path in life was going to take him, and I am so Football got me to college, football got me to UConn, football got me to Western Illinois where happy that he is on his path. “I know some people think it is about winning I met my wife. So every little step in my life, about and losing, but Tyler has already won. I am happy 90 percent, has been from football.” Contact Elijah Poe via email at elijah.poe@bsu. because he is happy doing what he is doing.” Each of Tyler’s mentors - Diaco and Neu - know edu or on X @ElijahPoe4. the sky is the limit for Tyler.
2014-15
Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach Tyler Stockton poses for a photo Nov. 3 at Scheumann Stadium. MYA CATALINE, DN
11.09.23
2019
2020-22
Ball State Defensive Coordinator/ Inside Linebackers Coach
2022-Present
Ball State Ball State Co-Defensive Coordinator/ Associate Head Coach/ Inside Linebackers Coach Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach
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Closing out Friday Night Lights The season has ended for three of four Delaware County high school football teams.
Zach Carter and David Moore Daily News Editor The most wins in a season, the first sectional championship since 2016 and some standout performances filled the regular season and sectional rounds of 2023 Delaware County high school football.
Delta
The only team that remains in the state tournament is the Delta Eagles (8-4) after defeating Garrett (6-6) in the sectional championship. That achievement brings others with it. Before the season started, head coach Chris Overholt said he wanted his team to retake the “765.” “This was a big year for putting Delta back on the map,” Overholt said. “No one was really talking about us anymore.” Part of this season’s success can be traced to how last season ended. The Eagles finished the 2022 season with a 3-7 record and a sectional loss to their rivals, the Yorktown Tigers. “You didn’t want to endure that again,” Overholt said. “And we had enough kids on the field that didn’t want to go through that again.” Senior running back Kaiden Bond, receiver Johny Manor and linebacker Braxton Russel are just a few names who have all been key components. Bond leads the Eagles with 817 rushing yards
Muncie Central senior Leo Boyd throws the ball against Arsenal Tech Oct. 13 at Muncie Central High School. MYA CATALINE, DN
and nine touchdown rushes. Before the season, he switched positions, which allowed junior Bronson Edwards to take over the starting quarterback role. Edwards has 1,550 passing yards and 15 touchdown passes heading into Delta’s regional matchup. Now the Eagles move on to face Bishop Chatard (12-0) at home in a regional championship contest Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.
This was a big year for putting Delta back on the map, no one was really talking about us anymore.” - CHRIS OVERHOLT, Delta head coach
Wes-Del
Coming into this season, Wes-Del football was not a program known for winning. In their last three seasons, the Warriors only recorded a combined four wins. “Our big focus was trying to increase our numbers and increase the product you’re seeing on the field,” Warriors head coach Matt Nuckols said. “[We wanted] to get our guys bigger, faster, stronger and better.” With that mindset, the Warriors still struggled and started the season 1-5. After falling to Monroe Central 27-0 in week six, things changed during a halftime speech. “Us coaches really challenged the team with making those big plays and not expecting someone else [to do it],” Nuckols said. “It was a game that we went into expecting to be a little more successful in that first half.” After calling out the seniors, they became the leaders the Warriors needed. Senior quarterback Triton Blevins finished the season with 1,035 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns and just one interception. On the ground, he ran for 444 yards and nine touchdowns. Another senior, Trey Adams, ran for 698 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He also logged 450 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Even though their season is over after a 4334 loss to Monroe Central in the semi sectional matchup Oct. 27, the work next year has already begun. “The biggest push looking at the next season
Wes-Del senior Trition Blevins runs the ball against Union County Oct. 7 at Wes-Del Junior/Senior High School. ZACH CARTER, DN is making sure from day one, we just continue to push that pride in the weight room,” Nuckols said. “I think that’s going to continue to grow, because the weight room is something you have to do but something we love to do.”
Muncie Central
The 2023 season was like looking in a mirror for Muncie Central after 2022. An identical record (4-6), same conference standing and the same end result with a first round sectional loss to Beech Grove. One of the few bright spots was first-year quarterback Leo Boyd. He was the epitome of a dual threat as he amassed 771 yards and seven touchdowns through the air, and 1,044 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. It was a slow start to the year for the Bearcats as they replicated a five-game losing streak from the previous season. “Starting 0-5 is rough,” head coach Kyle Padgett said. “The things that us as a coaching staff go through, and that your players go through. The doubts you start to have, they just start to seep in.”
A major key for the Bearcats turnaround was the contributions and leadership from some unexpected players such as sophomore linebacker Marquis Allen. “We had a tighter locker room,” Padgett said. “A team that enjoyed being around each other and didn’t want it to end. They wanted to keep playing til November, and that was the difference from last year.” The Bearcats rode the leadership wave into a four-game winning streak to close out the regular season. They dominated the home stretch, outscoring their opponents 170-75. Muncie Central was in search of its first sectional win since 2016, however, it ended in heartbreak as they fell to Beech Grove 42-28 Oct. 20.
Yorktown
The Tigers ended the 2022 season with a sectional championship and a 9-4 record. As they geared up for this season, they knew they needed some new weapons on offense due to the graduation of Swiss army knife Kolton Nanko.
4See LIGHTS, 18
BALL BEARINGS MAGAZINE
THE SPACE ISSUE ON NEWSSTANDS NOV 16
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Celebrating senior day with victories The Cardinal Swim and Dive continue successful season with wins in lone home meets of the year.
Above: Senior Sophia Kuehn swims back stroke in a race against IUPUI Nov. 3 at Lewellen Aquatic Center. Below: Sophomore Haley Sakbun prepares for a race against Eastern Michigan Nov. 4 at Lewellen Aquatic Center. MYA CATALINE, DN
Above: Sophomore Alyssa Messenger dives into the water against Eastern Michigan Nov. 4 at Lewellen Aquatic Center. Below, left: Junior Eliza Bader swims butterfly against Eastern Michigan Nov. 4 at Lewellen Aquatic Center. Below, right: Senior Marcella Ribeiro swims freestyle in a race against IUPUI Nov. 3 at Lewellen Aquatic Center. Ribeiro placed first in the women’s 1000 free stroke race. MYA CATALINE, DN
DNLife
Mission to
Muncie A glimpse into the lives of Latter-day Saint missionaries. 14
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Community
Muncie Exotic Pet Expo Located at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, there will be various breeds of exotic pets, including snakes, spiders, frogs and many more. They also have supplies necessary to care for these animals, such as feeders, like mice. There will be several vendors at the expo, including exotic plant vendors. The event will take place Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Memorial Building.
Campus
Tropics to Table The Rinard Orchid Greenhouse is holding an event where attendees can learn more about common tropical produce. Ball State culinary students will be preparing dishes incorporating ingredients that originate in tropical rainforests, such as chocolate, bananas, coffee, etc. The event will begin at 10 a.m. and last until 3 p.m. Nov. 11.
Community
Gobble Wobble
Elder Bobbi Seiley and Elder Michael Clark discuss scripture Nov. 7 on Ball State’s Campus. Elder Clark is from Oregon and Elder Wallace, Clark’s previous partner, is from Utah.
Following Thanksgiving, the “Gobble Wobble” will take place Nov. 25 in Downtown Muncie. It consists of a pub and eatery crawl among downtown businesses, but there is an added element. Starting in any downtown location, participants must visit six of the locations on the map and purchase an item to mark it off. The first 10 people to post on the Downtown Muncie Facebook page win.
ANDREW BERGER, DN
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: STUDENT JAZZ BAND LOOKS TO ENGAGE OTHERS IN JAZZ MUSIC.
DNLife
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Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spread their message across campus. Colin Brown Reporter White shirts, dress pants and wide smiles: it’s an iconic look, one many students of Ball State University are keenly familiar with. For some, missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are as much a staple of life on campus as Greek’s Pizzeria or surprise rain showers. But despite their commitment to open dialogue, it can be a struggle to maintain their place amidst growing ideological and religious polarization. A 2023 survey from the Pew Research Center found 59 percent of Americans are unsure what to think of the church, while a quarter hold an outright negative view of practitioners. Elder Michael Clark is a missionary from Oregon; his companion, Elder Jaxon Wallace, is from Utah. Together, they are fighting back against that stigma. “We’ve talked with a number of students,” Wallace said. “They’ve been super friendly. It’s actually been really good. We came out to find some ways to serve the people here in Muncie, so we’re looking to do that.” Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are paired in groups of two, as
It’s not only uplifting spiritually, but also in all these other aspects, that turn you into the person you need to become.” -SISTER LAUREN LOUTHER, Missionary
Elder Seiley and Elder Clark pose for a photo Nov. 7 under the Bell Tower on Ball State Campus. ANDREW BERGER, DN
per a passage from their Scripture in The Doctrine and Covenants. They are separated by gender and assigned to each other by their mission president: a high-ranking priest within the community. It’s a process that, at least for these two elders, seems to have worked well. Both were raised within the faith from a young age, and said they found a lot of reassurance in its teachings. That is what they’re ultimately seeking to share with students. “We don’t get paid to do this,” Clark said.“We love coming out and inviting others to learn. We’re not here to force people; we are just here to invite people to learn, to grow, to hear what we believe and really to learn about Jesus.” Clark has been on his mission for nearly 20 months; For Wallace, it’s close to 24. The two aren’t the only Latter-day Saint missionaries on campus, however. Sisters Jezreel Franco and Lauren Louther are more recent arrivals; Franco has been in Muncie since July, whereas Louther arrived just a few weeks ago. Despite this, the two echoed Wallace’s sentiments about the atmosphere on campus. “A lot of people here have been very nice, very open and receiving,” Louther said. “They may not agree right off the hand. That’s OK. Not everybody does. I don’t expect them to, but they’ve been respectful, nice and generous.” After listening with a smile, Franco nodded in agreement and offered her own thoughts. “I really appreciate those who stop and take the time to listen to us,” Franco said. “They’re very kind and very understanding. Again, as [Louther] said, sometimes you don’t agree, but you can be respectful about it.” Like the elders, the two sisters come from different states. Louther is from Utah and Franco is from California. Despite this, both found their duty calling them to Indiana. Louther began her mission in Columbus, Indiana; Franco began hers in Carmel, Indiana. From there, they moved all across the state: Zionsville, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Terre Haute and Elkhart. But it was in Muncie that their paths converged, and the two found themselves companions. In regard to the selection process, Franco laughed and said, “It would be awesome,” to get to choose her companion. “But we believe that we are selected by divine revelation,” Franco said. “The mission president – he goes to God, he prays about it and he receives revelation or guidance on who should go where, and who should be with whom; so that’s how we got together.” Missionaries can change companions over the course of their mission, especially as they move from one location to the next. Wallace recently finished his, leaving Clark to partner up with new arrival Elder Bobbi Seiley. The memories the two made, however, will stay.
Franco, Clark, Wallace and Louther all expressed a sense of holy purpose: a duty to share the lessons and love of their faith. But in fulfilling that duty, they’ve walked a path many college students will find familiar: they left their homes, traveled the country, made new friends and –above all else –- changed. “I think I’ve experienced a lot of character development on my mission,” Louther said. “ I feel like that was an essential part in my life. It’s not only uplifting spiritually, but also in all these other aspects, that turn you into the person you need to become.” Many misunderstand the teachings of the church, confusing it with its fundamentalist counterpart; they associate it with practices abandoned decades ago, like arranged marriages and polygamy. But more than that, there’s a misunderstanding about its members. The same Pew Research Center poll that found a quarter of Americans reported a negative view of the church surveyed members of the denomination on their opinion of other faiths. It found they did not express a net negative opinion of any other religious group, being strongly positive towards several. College can be isolating. It can be intimidating to reach out and try to make friends, and students often struggle to balance their social lives with their studies. But when it comes to meeting new people, there’s one group on campus that is always open to talk. They wear white shirts, dress pants and wide smiles –- and they’re here to stay, until their two years are up, or they are transferred. Contact Colin Brown with comments at colin. brown@bsu.edu.
62,544 Full-Time Teaching Missionaries
27,070 Senior Church-Service Missionaries
2,736 Young Church-Service Missionaries
OLIVIA GROUND, DN DESIGN Source: churchofjesuschrist.org
Love on a Budget
15 11.09.23
DNLife
There are possibilities both on campus and in the community for a low-cost date.
Ella Howell Associate Lifestyles Editor and Copy Editor
Farmers Market
No Weight Wednesday at Berry Winkle
It’s common that college students aim to be cautious with money. Finding ways to save while maintaining your social life can be hard, but when you are conscious of your spending, you can save a lot of money in the end. Dating itself can be a source of anxiety for some individuals. Adding the stress of sticking to a budget can worsen those anxious feelings, so here are six cheap date options in Muncie:
Farmers markets can be a great place to get out in the community and spend time with your partner. Minnetrista hosts a popular outdoor farmers market May through October, with occasional indoor events held in the colder months. Visitors can use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or electronic benefit transfers (EBT) to purchase goods from qualifying vendors. The Muncie Makers Market also holds farmers markets on Saturdays from the months of May to October. Like Minnetrista, The Makers Market accepts EBT, as well as SNAP benefits for those eligible for these food assistance programs.
Berry Winkle Frozen Yogurt, located on Tillotson Avenue, holds a weekly special that allows customers to save money. No Weight Wednesdays are exactly what they sound like; you are charged by the cup rather than the weight of the frozen yogurt, so piling on the toppings comes at no additional cost.
Minnetrista Minnetrista Museum and Gardens doesn’t just provide a scenic location, events are held there yearround with a wide variety of things to do. Some of the attractions they offer include gallery exhibits and the Bob Ross Experience. They have The Orchard Shop, a resource for people in the community to buy local goods and foods. They also sell hand-made artwork, including jewelry and pottery, and they have merchandise available revolving around their attractions.
The Berry Winkle sign outside of the front of the store on Nov 7. The shop prices on No Weight Wednesday are $4.89 for a small, $6.99 for a medium and $8.99 for a large cup of frozen yogurt. ELLA HOWELL, DN
David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA)
The sun sets over Minnetrista Museum and Garden on Nov. 7. The community events that take place at Minnetrista rotate throughout the year. ELLA HOWELL, DN
Planetarium The Charles W. Brown Planetarium, located on Ball State University’s campus, hosts shows available to the public. This is a date option that fits a description a lot of college students like to hear; free. The planetarium holds events consistently throughout the year, and the show’s themes change, with the occasional seasonalthemed production.
The tree canopy of Christy Woods on Nov. 7 near the Quad. Christy Woods is 17 acres and home to the Rinard Orchid Greenhouse. ELLA HOWELL, DN
Christy Woods and the Greenhouse
According to Ball State University, Christy Woods is a “17-acre outdoor classroom and laboratory that provides opportunities for hands-on learning.” Christy Woods also contains the Rinard Orchid Greenhouse, home to the largest orchid collection held by a university. Walking through trails and the greenhouse while observing diverse plants is another free activity accessible to all Ball State students.
According to DOMA’s website, admission to the museum is free and available year-round. The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays, and on weekdays it is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. Saturdays are more limited with hours being 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. DOMA is located in the Fine Arts Building with rotating exhibits each semester. Viewing the art through the two floors is easy to access for students living on campus, and admission being free makes it a convenient and affordable date.
College is expensive, and finding ways to save money where you can improves your likelihood of being a self-sustaining individual after leaving Ball State. The sooner you start focusing on saving money, the more resources you’ll have after graduation. Contact Ella Howell with comments at ella. howell@bsu.edu. BRENDEN ROWAN, DN ILLUSTRATION
DNOpinion 16
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DANIEL KEHN, DN ILLUSTRATION MEGHAN HOLT, DN DESIGN
The 21 things I learned in my first 21 years.
Third-year journalism and media major Daniel Kehn reacts after getting cake thrown at his face Nov. 6 at the Art and Journalism Building. Kehn turned 21 years old on Nov. 5. MYA CATALINE, DN
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: LEARNING CONCERT ETIQUETTE IN THE POST-PANDEMIC WORLD
17 Daniel Kehn
Editor-in-chief, “A Kehn Perspective”
Daniel Kehn is a third-year journalism and telecommunications major and writes “A Kehn Perspective” for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper. I’ve had birthdays come and go my entire life, just like everyone else on this rock floating in space. But turning 21 had a different feeling. This is the age adulthood really begins – where “growing up” turns into living. With that in mind, I compiled a list of 21 things I’ve learned in my first 21 years.
Sticky Notes have become a huge key in remembering important things since I’ve gotten to college, it’s much do. I better than just writing on my arm, which I used to use have evolved to the Reminders app, but I still like to I nts. mome good the of f mysel d remin Sticky Notes to my have decorated the back of my bedroom door and with desks’ surfaces — both at work and at home — from little notes to remember. Notes like a ‘Love you!’ or Mom or a quote I really like. Physical reminders motivations keep me going. I have my life arranged and scheduled into three places: the Reminders app on my phone, my Apple in Calendar — which is superior to Google Calendar, my opinion — and my notebook/planner. The effort ts, is what matters. Scrawling down your appointmen life assignments, projects and even dates helps keep structured, and structure helps me stay in control.
Now is the first moment of the rest of your life. Dwelling on the past — whether it’s mistakes or regrets — will do nothing to change it. Be the best version of yourself today, and build on that tomorrow. A sports team, an author, Noah Kahan or the weekly Daily News Crossword that I will never solve. Whatever it may be, find something to truly love. Put time into it, and let it soak up the miscellaneous pieces of your life. Whether it be paying way too much to scream 1989 (Taylor’s Version, of course) or watching your team live, these moments may never happen again. It might be a craft after finishing homework or buying season passes to your favorite amusement park, but allowing yourself to both love and enjoy the small things is an important part of life.
Never in my life have I had a bad walk. Post-meal walk? Yes, please. Adventure hike? Point me to the trailhead. Long day? I can solve that in a mile or two. The fresh air, observing the seasons changing, seeing a cute dog — always pet dogs if possible – walks can be everything you need and more. Include friends if inclined.
My time as a Boy Scout in Troop 391 ended when I was 18, but I still visit as an Adult Leader whenever I am home for Tuesday night meetings. The Scout Slogan “Do a Good Turn Daily” reminds you to do something good each day — a random act of kindness, if you will. It’s stuck with me after all of these years. Put love into the world. Be a good human being. Etta James, ELO, Billy Joel, Pitbull — the list goes on. Reenact the scene from Risky Business if you must. Slide around and have a good time. Some of my favorite memories come from bouncing around the kitchen with my family or having a disco moment with my roommates.
Nature is all around us. Part of living is experiencing the world from the human perspective. Lay with your head in the cool grass and stargaze. It’s worth it, I promise.
If you’re working out, take pictures. If you’re waking up early, write down the times. Progress doesn’t look like anything major on day one, but you’re going to wish you had a picture of how far you’ve come at day 100.
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DNOpinion
I’ve been down and out, looking up at my previous high point. When you’re down there, you’d give everything to be back at the top again, but that’s not how it works. The top of the mountain is only so breathtaking because we walked through the valley to get there. Appreciate the low points even when it’s hard. But remember your past highs and look forward to what’s to come. One pump of caramel is great, but black is just fine. And Starbucks makes it best, just for the record. Comfort care is coming home from a long day, throwing pizza rolls in the microwave and watching TV. Self-care is having a tough day and going for a walk after work, seeing friends or cooking a good meal that feeds your body. Do what is going to best serve you tomorrow. According to the Mayo Clinic, the average person needs between 91 and 125 ounces of water a day. There are varying opinions about what exactly water does for you (keeps your temperature normal, lubricates and cushions joints, protects sensitive tissue, etc.), but the bottom line is you should have a water bottle and set a goal for how much to drink per day.
Today’s minor problem is tomorrow’s major problem. Don’t let the little things slide.
That’s self-explanatory, right? Hug the people you love and hug them tight. As dark as it may seem, the next hug is not guaranteed. Cherish them. Squeeze the people you love extra tight and put your heart into it every time.
Call me cliché, but if it costs you your peace of mind, it’s probably not worth it. Protect and value your wellbeing, even if it means making the hard choice. Don’t be embarrassed by it. If somebody else wants to judge your joy, that’s their problem. Have those big belly laugh moments. Laugh until you cry. Don’t stifle your happiness. Another one from the wonderful world of Boy Scouts. If it rains, do you have an umbrella in your car? A spare change of clothes? Being prepared in the sense of packing, yes, but also be mentally prepared. Be prepared for whatever adventure life might throw at you today. Don’t let the big opportunity slip by because you weren’t ready.
I am probably one of the worst people to be advisi ng on work-life balance, but I have begun to prioritize it, espec ially as I have stepped into jobs with more responsibilit y. There is always going to be the urge to get ahead and set yourself up for success in the future, but taking Friday night off won’t be the end of the world, I promise. This past summer, I wanted to get in shape again. I wanted to lose weight and be comfortable in my body, so running was the best way to do that. However, I quickly found peace and mental solitude on long runs. Now, I look forward to lacing up the Hokas and pounding some pavement. Whether it’s running or any other physical exercise, get out there and get moving. Exercise impro ves mental health.
I’ve felt myself giving up before. I’ve started to check out. But it always comes back to “Can I keep going ? Just for one day? What if I can make it through one more day, then the next, then the one after that?” Just keep going . It’s a long road, but one worth living. Contact Daniel Kehn with comments at daniel.kehn @ bsu.edu or on Twitter @daniel_kehn.
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NOW
LIGHTS
Continued from Page 05 In less than a month, the Mission plans to give away hundreds of free meals to community members during its annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner. Last year, more than 150 meals were served at the site, while about 370 meals were delivered to home-bound neighbors in the county. Leigh Edwards, director of community engagement for the Mission, said the non-profit served 91,153 meals to residents of the Mission and other community guests in 2022. Additionally, the Mission assisted 1,352 families with food, clothing, hygiene and household items. McKnight said those interested in volunteering or donating food items should call Edwards at 765-288-9122, ext. 109 or email her at ledwards@ munciemission.org. Additionally, those looking to give to the Mission in any capacity are called to participate in Giving Tuesday, a nationwide day of donation for all nonprofit organizations held Nov. 28, 2023. McKnight encouraged those who haven’t volunteered before, or perhaps fell out of it like she did, to give it another chance. Not just because the Mission needs more donations and more volunteers, but so they can experience the same “blessing” she has. So those potentially falling deeper into depression, like she was when she lost Darrell, Doris and Derald, can potentially turn their life around as they’re helping at-risk members of the public do the same. Contact Kyle Smedley with comments via email at kyle.smedley@bsu.edu or on X @ KyleSmedley_.
There have been times that it got so overwhelming that I threw up my hands and said, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ Then I think about Paul or Bill or Alice or somebody that’s come into my office and shared with me. That keeps me going.” - LORY NUNN, Family service director at Muncie Mission
Four bags of hot dog buns remain available Oct. 31 for Muncie Mission’s food pantry ran biweeklys in Muncie, Indiana. KYLE SMEDLEY, DN
Third-year architecture major Brooke Bailey poses for a photo Nov. 7 at Christy Woods. MYA CATALINE, DN
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Continued from Page 06 However, little has been done to progress the bill past its referral and introduction. While the resolution expressed that the House of Representatives must take action on climate change and address the mental health effects of climate change on children and families, it’s been at a standstill since early 2022. Eco-anxiety has begun to manifest in young adults, and prospective legislation like H.Res.975 was looking into ways to improve mental health during crises.
‘A sliver of hope’ Before coming to Ball State, second-year biology student Noelle Quiroga was exposed to the gravity of climate change in an Advanced Placement Environmental Science class in high school. She learned how detrimental ecological threats were for younger generations like hers — Gen Z. “The difference between being a part of a younger generation, versus generations like baby boomers, is that they don’t have to say, ‘Oh, we made our beds and now we have to lie in them.’ It’s younger generations that have to lie in those beds when it comes to climate change,” Quiroga said. Whether it be visiting a dining hall and feeling guilty about her produce wrapped in plastic or the endless scroll of news reports on diminishing natural resources, Quiroga’s increased environmental consciousness led her to experience heightened eco-anxiety. A Lancet study of 10,000 people between the ages of 16 to 25 in 10 countries found 75 percent of respondents said they thought the future is “frightening,” with 45 percent saying they “worry negatively about climate change” affecting their day-to-day lives. The study, published in December 2021, concluded respondents across the polled countries were worried about climate change. The study reported that children and young people in countries around the world experience climate anxiety, as well as “distressing emotions” and “thoughts about climate change” that impact their daily lives.
“Growing up in northwest Indiana, near Chicago, was a lot with the steel mill production in the area,” Quiroga said. “There was so much concern every day with water pollution, unclean air … it was overwhelming, but that fear and the blatant lack of regulation in these industries have affected me into young adulthood.” Instead of feeling consumed by fear and guilt, she tried to find relief in the small victories. She started to do what she could in her own way to fight against climate change while acknowledging that authoritative figures, like elected officials and corporation heads, had the most impact on the situation. “The blame shouldn’t be put on individuals,” Quiroga said. “I do what I can to play my part whether that be reusable products or less energy consumption … I feel a sliver of hope sometimes in the news, such as how the Biden Administration hopes to push climate-focused bills, but more needs to be done.”
‘Collective effort’ While the United States has taken action in addressing the climate crisis — such as reentering the Paris Agreement in January 2021 — the nation is still lacking in evolving its climate policies and initiatives. America has a substantial carbon footprint; the U.S. comes in as the second-largest polluter in atmospheric emissions, according to Statista. The country’s emissions have declined by 12 percent since 2010, but there’s still a long way to go. Addressing the climate crisis — including its effects on the nation’s youth — goes beyond activism and inching government efforts. According to the study by The Lancet, the distress behind climate change is boiled down to young people feeling “they have no future, that humanity is doomed.” As climate change enters the therapy room, it needs to be acknowledged that it’s less about a single person’s climate footprint. It’s more about collective effort rather than governments and corporations shifting the blame onto individuals like those of Gen Z, Koester said. “[It’s not about] single dimension efficiency or perfection,” Koester said. “That thinking ebbs the foundation for younger generations.” Contact Kate Farr with comments at kate. farr@bsu.edu.
Continued from Page 10 However, injuries and streaky play led to Yorktown’s 5-6 record and a sectional semifinals exit. The 2023 season started on a low note on the very first play of the year, as senior running back Jalen Thomas, a near 1,300 yard rusher last season, went down with a season-ending injury. There was a need for leadership to rally the team after the early season losses. Wilhelm looked to his captains to find that leadership to bring his team back together. “We have guys who understand what our culture is about -- Mason Moulton, Sean Gibson and Jayce Key -- were purposeful every single day in making sure that our team was attempting to head in the right direction,” Wilhelm said. Yorktown was able to shake off the losses and open the season 2-0 against the likes of Anderson and Muncie Central, outscoring them 105-13. “We had several woulda, coulda, shoulda games this year,” Wilhelm said. “That truly demonstrates that every one of those plays matters. It certainly mattered in the Greenfield game, and in our first and second Delta game they mattered.” Yorktown went on to win their first round sectional matchup, but then fell to rival Delta in the sectional semifinal 21-24 Oct. 27. “It’s a different feeling because we have to hear about it,” Wilhelm said. “We see the paper, I hear it on the radio. We’re continuously reminded about it, that’s what makes it a little more challenging [to forget].” Contact Zach Carter with comments at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or on X @ ZachCarter85 and Contact David Moore with comments at david.moore@bsu.edu or on X @ gingninj63
BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM Read the full story online.
Wes-Del senior Triton Blevins runs the ball against Union County Oct. 7 at Wes-Del Junior/Senior High School. ZACH CARTER, DN
Crossword & Sudoku
ACROSS 1 Lose it 10 Malleable 15 One of two in a historic 1869 Utah meeting 16 Desensitize 17 Coloring of some papers? 18 Former birds only found on Mauritius 19 Fluid obstacles 20 In this way 22 French military cap 23 Projection, e.g.: Abbr. 24 Fancy, in slang 25 One-named fashion icon 26 Lunar dark spot 28 1930s J.B. Rhine coinage, briefly 30 Uncanny 31 Branch-dwelling rainforest reptile 34 Eleventh-hour 36 Hardly reputable 37 Defiant admission 38 Proves 41 Kept on riding 43 Lab sound 44 Quote qualifier 45 2021 Pac-12 champs 46 Muck
48 Word before hack or jack 50 “Never to suffer would never to have been blessed” writer 53 French for “unbleached” 54 Spill the beans 55 Herringbone, e.g. 57 Paris possessive 59 Required network announcement 61 Dwarf, with “over” 62 Presidential carrier that flew with an all-women crew for the first time in 2009 63 Gin berries 64 Intelligence boss DOWN 1 Very short putt, in golf lingo 2 Snack brand with a 2012 100th-anniversary “Daily Twist” campaign 3 Wordlessly greet 4 Class division 5 Cartoonist Addams 6 Throw to a tot 7 Horn of Africa country 8 Tokyo brewer 9 Picked up 10 Raise a paddle, perhaps
11 Ramen morsel 12 Uncovered subject 13 Rat (on) 14 “You know it!” 21 Passable 24 Country club employee 26 Social media spreader 27 Tartarus, in Greek myth 29 Group that follows a star? 31 Users of travelers’ checks? 32 Back in after going out 33 Dine expectantly? 35 Actor William of “Boy Meets World” 39 Informed advice 40 Great divides 41 Liszt’s homeland 42 Had a fast break? 47 Blender button 49 Coming up soon 50 Cab alternative 51 QB protectors, in football lingo 52 Senior 55 Amy’s mid-2000s “Weekend Update” partner 56 Burdens 58 TV drama settings 60 South Carolina senator Scott
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